While driving back home from the airport after a failed attempt to meet a long lost yet an absolutely irreplaceable friend, I heard a band on the radio. It was the Raghu Dixit Project. Absolutely awed by their performance on radio, I decided to attend their live concert later in the evening at Old Delhi fort. I raced back home, called a friend who agreed to accompany me and quickly grabbed a bite.
It was 7 PM and Delhi's roads were trying their best to emulate an automobile factory. Not an inch to move and noise levels at deafening decibels - only Delhites could survive the conditions.
In that commotion I spurted out, "Fcuk, India is magnificent!" and my friend who was battling the traffic screamed, "Are you fcuking crazy!"
Standing amidst chaos was a magnificent fort which I had seen at least a thousand times before but never had I noticed it. I was teleported to the times when this fort housed powerful kings. The lake besides the fort looked serene almost as if it was trying to blanket the scores of bloody wars that were fought on its banks.
The music was alien too. The Raghu Dixit project is music that I've never heard before. I was in a different world. The fort, the lake and soul searching music.
India is magnificent. India is colour. India is my tomorrow.
Friday, December 11, 2009
The battle between principles and needs
Why can't he get into a relationship with a let-me-see-if-it-works attitude? Why can't he be a bad ass? Why does he feel uneasy even at the slightest hint of deceit? What should he do when needs wage a war against principles?
Such questions constantly trouble Arun, who unknowingly inherited his father's ideologies. Is he too constrained by his beliefs? He hopes it is a phase, a phase that has lasted a little too long.
He can feel a change taking place in him but what that change is and in which direction is it leading him, he is still unsure. He hopes the change lets him become free, less tied by the code of conduct he himself chartered. He is stronger today but will this strength help him stifle that voice within that chants the words, "Cheater-Cheater!" at the slightest hint of fraud.
He hopes he was not a musician because music amplifies those chants. He hopes the world is just like him. He hopes everyone fought the same battle, the battle between principles and needs. It is lonely up here.
Such questions constantly trouble Arun, who unknowingly inherited his father's ideologies. Is he too constrained by his beliefs? He hopes it is a phase, a phase that has lasted a little too long.
He can feel a change taking place in him but what that change is and in which direction is it leading him, he is still unsure. He hopes the change lets him become free, less tied by the code of conduct he himself chartered. He is stronger today but will this strength help him stifle that voice within that chants the words, "Cheater-Cheater!" at the slightest hint of fraud.
He hopes he was not a musician because music amplifies those chants. He hopes the world is just like him. He hopes everyone fought the same battle, the battle between principles and needs. It is lonely up here.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Are you religious? Chances are you might end up in prison.
http://moses.creighton.edu/JRS/2005/2005-11.html
- Paper by Gregory S. Paul
Do people abstain from criminal activities because they fear god? Consequently, is religion or the concept of god good for the world?
While I was researching on this subject, I stumbled upon this paper that questions the primary argument put forward by theists - believing in a moral creator or god makes people better human beings.
This paper was published in the year 2005 by Gregory S. Paul. It establishes that in countries with more religious people, crime rates are higher. This has been observed even at a micro level. Regions where people visit the church/temples more have higher crime rates whereas countries with the maximum number of atheists are safer. Doesn't this imply a positive correlation between theism and crime.
I will pen down a few of my observations later and try to support this paper's outcome with my own hypothesis... i'm sleepy now.... zzzzzz...
- Paper by Gregory S. Paul
Do people abstain from criminal activities because they fear god? Consequently, is religion or the concept of god good for the world?
While I was researching on this subject, I stumbled upon this paper that questions the primary argument put forward by theists - believing in a moral creator or god makes people better human beings.
This paper was published in the year 2005 by Gregory S. Paul. It establishes that in countries with more religious people, crime rates are higher. This has been observed even at a micro level. Regions where people visit the church/temples more have higher crime rates whereas countries with the maximum number of atheists are safer. Doesn't this imply a positive correlation between theism and crime.
I will pen down a few of my observations later and try to support this paper's outcome with my own hypothesis... i'm sleepy now.... zzzzzz...
Friday, November 20, 2009
My dad
After a lot of years, I finally have managed to say a few words, "amma" the first I believe. I look at these people around me and they all seem threatening and huge, and could use me as their pillow if they wished to. I am no one, just a piece of rock, lying around, wailing, desperate for food and for some warmth. I cannot even run from them if I want to.
Just then, I see that familiar face, smiling at me. I see those strong arms, arms as big as those of anyone around. I see those eyes that are telling me, son, you are safe. I am there to take care of you. You are not helpless, not lonely.
It is my father, my appa.
Just then, I see that familiar face, smiling at me. I see those strong arms, arms as big as those of anyone around. I see those eyes that are telling me, son, you are safe. I am there to take care of you. You are not helpless, not lonely.
It is my father, my appa.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Blinded by lights
Blinded by the city’s lights, we move on
Knowing little of the road ahead, just being led by someone
The stranger in the front has promised us satisfaction
We look at each other, smile and we move on.
The lights get brighter and it’s getting hard to see
I get curious and ask the stranger, “What is satisfaction… Sir?”
He looks back and gives me a liquid..“Drink it.”, he says
I believe this man, he’s rich, he must have his ways
Without thinking twice, I gulp it.. I’m here to stay!
The lights fade and truth a little more
But who cares, this is satisfaction, as the stranger says
The night does its trance while the world seems vague
We all flock together it is time to play
In that moment of blanketed closeness, I think about my past and the future
Little seems to make sense as I look at our usher.
I gather enough courage and ask the stranger again,
“Sir, where is satisfaction?” he smiles and says,
“It is time to go son. There is nothing more to play.”
Knowing little of the road ahead, just being led by someone
The stranger in the front has promised us satisfaction
We look at each other, smile and we move on.
The lights get brighter and it’s getting hard to see
I get curious and ask the stranger, “What is satisfaction… Sir?”
He looks back and gives me a liquid..“Drink it.”, he says
I believe this man, he’s rich, he must have his ways
Without thinking twice, I gulp it.. I’m here to stay!
The lights fade and truth a little more
But who cares, this is satisfaction, as the stranger says
The night does its trance while the world seems vague
We all flock together it is time to play
In that moment of blanketed closeness, I think about my past and the future
Little seems to make sense as I look at our usher.
I gather enough courage and ask the stranger again,
“Sir, where is satisfaction?” he smiles and says,
“It is time to go son. There is nothing more to play.”
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Badminton during the MBA
After launching a pseudo war against the monopoly created by the footballers and after an engaging battle between the two parties, the badminton revolution finally took off. Badminton was accused of not being a sport. The Badminton Club did nothing and was tight lipped. Their strategy, “Let the games begin and people will flock to the courts” and that is what happened.
The “Beer Drinkers and the Iron benders”, a term coined by the footballer community at GISMA to promote their sport had to finally give in. They had to cede to the fact that Badminton was a “sport”, a fierce competitor to football. A collusion affidavit was signed between the two parties and badminton was finally given the official stamp of recognition at GISMA. The agreement said, “The football club hereby recognizes that Badminton is a sport and we footballers are no good at it. Anyone can beat us blindfolded. We hereby agree to work with the Badminton club so that our schedules do not clash and are in the best interest of the community at large.”
With a modest beginning, a few Indians and a lone ranger from Pakistan, the sport soon captured everyone’s imagination and was in vogue with people from different nationalities; India, Pakistan Taiwan, China, Vietnam, Germany, Nepal, Canada and Romania. Gripping games and some not so gripping games, when one wondered if the “bird” had started defying the laws of gravity and refused to come done, were played.
On hindsight, the collusion certainly did wonders to the overworked students. Thanks to the workouts, men finally started looking like “iron benders” and girls.. ehh… looked as beautiful as ever.
The “Beer Drinkers and the Iron benders”, a term coined by the footballer community at GISMA to promote their sport had to finally give in. They had to cede to the fact that Badminton was a “sport”, a fierce competitor to football. A collusion affidavit was signed between the two parties and badminton was finally given the official stamp of recognition at GISMA. The agreement said, “The football club hereby recognizes that Badminton is a sport and we footballers are no good at it. Anyone can beat us blindfolded. We hereby agree to work with the Badminton club so that our schedules do not clash and are in the best interest of the community at large.”
With a modest beginning, a few Indians and a lone ranger from Pakistan, the sport soon captured everyone’s imagination and was in vogue with people from different nationalities; India, Pakistan Taiwan, China, Vietnam, Germany, Nepal, Canada and Romania. Gripping games and some not so gripping games, when one wondered if the “bird” had started defying the laws of gravity and refused to come done, were played.
On hindsight, the collusion certainly did wonders to the overworked students. Thanks to the workouts, men finally started looking like “iron benders” and girls.. ehh… looked as beautiful as ever.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Disclaimer: Why does "Memoirs of a Maddu" exist?
If the caption does not already say it, I would encourage you to ponder over it again. This is not an educational or a philosophical page. It is an epilogue of events that happen around me, things that intrigue "me" and that I would like to remember, reflect back upon or laugh about a few years from today. If someone is looking to learn from my blogs, you are in for some disappointment.
Memoirs of a Maddu was conceptualized one day when I was penning down generic incidents. Convinced that blogspot's servers were less prone to malicious attacks than my own PC, I almost lazily created an account. I just wanted to chart my progress as an individual and retrospect at a later date, provided I was not too embarrassed.
Memoirs of a Maddu was conceptualized one day when I was penning down generic incidents. Convinced that blogspot's servers were less prone to malicious attacks than my own PC, I almost lazily created an account. I just wanted to chart my progress as an individual and retrospect at a later date, provided I was not too embarrassed.
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