Zindagi...

From the Movie Umrao Jaan... (the old & original one..)

Jab bhi milti hai mujhe ajnabee lagti kyun hai...

Zindagi roz naye rang badalti kyun hai..

Tujh se bichhade hain to ab kis se milati hai hame...

zindagi roz naye rang dikhati hai hame...

Hi... Not in touch for a long time, well the reason is not "the creativity Crunch" but the lack of time.. Rather quality time...

.....will be back soon ....

Luv.

VT

Yahi jeena hai doston to phir marnaa kya hai...?

Hi,

Thanks for your suggestion on "creativity crunch" and here I am going to paste one of the finest lines I have heard on sliver screen. Generally I prefer the real litrature than the "filmed" one, but this was simply amazing... It was featured in Lage Raho Munnabhai.. and when ever I listen to this masterpiece, it simply takes me to a different world.

Definately credit also goes to "Vidya Balan" for the soul touching recitation...

Shehar ki is daud mein daud ke karna kya hai,
(A)gar yahi jeena hai doston, to phir marna kya hai?
Pehli baarish mein train late hone ki fikra hai,Bhool gaye?
Bhigte hue tehelna kya hai!


Serial ke kirdaron ka sara haal hai maloom,
Par maa ka haal poochne ki fursat kahan hai?
Ab ret pe nange pao tehelte kyun nahi?Ek sau aath hai channel,
par dil behelte kyun nahi?


Internet pe duniya se to touch mein hai,
Lekin pados mein kaun rehta hai, jante tak nahi.
Mobile, landline sab ki bharmar hai,
Lekin jigri dost tak pahonche aise taar kahan hai?


Kab doobte hue sooraj ko dekha tha yaad hai?
Kab jana tha sham ka gujarna kya hai?
To doston shehar ki is daud mein daud ke karna kya hai?
Agar yahi jeena hai , to phir marna kya hai?

Ponder a while...
Bye for now...

Luv VT

Creativity Crunch...

Hi.

Creativity crunch, sounds like a new term, well it is.. If you do not agree, try it on google, you will not find a definition, OK. so now let me introduce this term to this world.

Well Creativity crunch is similar to cash crunch or credit crunch, basically crunch is "lack of it" but the difference is This "Lack of.." or scarcity is due to extensive utilization of that particular object.

So here come I define it: Creativity crunch is the lack of creativity felt by an individual/ unit when there is extensive utilization of one's creativity and he/she finds his/her creativity is almost dried.

Now here comes the reason of writing this Post: I am writing this post because For last couple of weeks, even more than that I am in creativity crunch and the reasons are:

1. I took some creative initiatives in my organization to run few motivational and knowledge centric series's.

2. Every Monday I mail "Monday Morning Motivation" to everyone here, containing a brief motivational story, I repeat Brief and motivational. Now There are many sites and similar material there on Internet, But I do not pick up any thing which I find not enough 'Brief" or not enough "Motivational". So each and every pick is chosen one, and I really need to search or read a lot for this. Initially i thought I can discard this thing after some time but the kind of response I got from readers made me realise that people actually wait for a Monday Morning for this read. And the same made me continue this venture ( Yes it is..). At times I just write some thing from my own mental records based on some past readings..

3. The knowledge Management initiative We have started is a team work but we have created a unique comic character, who has his own e mail ID and I write on behalf of that character. This character is called 'Wiz' and very very popular in among all the employees. Not many of them know that who writes it. Actually I used to write almost 3 times a week and now we have disciplined the frequency to twice a week only. The funny thing is that this character talks like a college guy, really cool one, it has its own visual and Avatar which i cant share due to professional commitments. But Yes people do reply on his ID they write to him as if they are writing to some real friend. This again give me a lot to think creative and reply, and also keep posting to all on his behalf.

4. I have some how decided to take up all new short term projects in our dept. I believe I can complete them, and actually I am completing them. Its a great learning experience, puts a lot of pressure too at time and worst of all it also requires creativity. In fact now if I am in a project than I am by default assigned to handle the creativity part.

The impact is visible in my blog posts. I know the language is no more so appealing and interesting.

Well I need some remedy. I repeat remedy and not riddance. I would like to handle these all better. with more creativity, some what like a bank who was getting dry due to Cash crunch, but got a huge sanction of funds.

I need to know how the people who are "professionally creative" like radio jockeys, ad-men and cartoonists keep then creativity ready all the time...

Any suggestions... Please do write...

Would like to end here... "Politics is the art of the Possible, Creativity is the art of the Impossible."

Luv

VT

Freedom is not Free

(An speech on 15th of August..well Almost an speech...)

Hi... Remember our college days. I can not remember any of the independence day celebration from my childhood to SVITS days, when I did not celebrate it or not make an speech on the occasion. I used to be most worried whenever I changed a school or college to get just first chance to make an speech on 15th of August and then rest of the years get an assured slot for me.

I remember in SVITS our first year batch started a Little late and we missed the 15th of August so I finally had my debut on 5th September -teacher's day. And I still remember to get a slot for my 3 mins speech on Teacher's day celebration I had to struggle a lot.

There were some of our seniors who were organizing the event and were assuming themselves as "god"..Well almost "god" and I remember I had to give audition 4-5 times and they have not only listen to me but gave me the vaguest suggestion in the world to correct my speech. I still remember their faces and names but will not mention it here as I am sure after our college no body remembers them. I am not cribbing them and neither behaving like a 'self-obsessed arrogant brat'. But I just want to mention to my readers that the world is full of idiots who can criticize any one till the time you have proven yourself, and you should take all the pain till the time you get acclaimed..

So I gave all the auditions, they asked me to repeat this para,,, that para... they asked me to give my speech in writing also (which I have never done in my life). And the funniest thing was-My speech had some very emotional moments (as always) they used to call their friends and used to ask me to repeat just that part.. All these things in the so called 'Audition'.

Finally I got an approval to present my speech on 5th September. And I was confirmed a slot after a particular song. But i had a small gut feel that something wrong is about to happen and it happened. The anchors missed my name and announced the next program instead of me. ( I believe it was all intentional, as those anchors could not say even a single world on the mic. without a written page and the page they had in their hand, had my name, I have checked that..)

I immediately jumped and reached to the anchor all in the middle of the running program and stood there asking the obvious. one of them said with a sorry face.."Oh sorry missed your name" expecting me to return and accept the defeat.. (Must be making the worst assumption in her life) I said calmly, no issues I am going to make my speech just next to this performer and Gave the rock solid confident look, She understood that this guy is not going back and Yes I didn't gave them a 2nd chance to repeat their mistake, I went ahead after the performer and took the mic. to begin my speech and I did. The rest is a history (...In SVITS only)

That was my first speech in SVITS and the last time I had struggled to get an space on the stage. It was the best show that day and those anchors announced my name after my speech, But no one was listening as they were claping for almost 45 seconds.

Anyways.. I mentioned the above story not as a memoire but i want to relate it to the title of the post.- "Freedom is Not Free"

Well This title is borrowed from a book by Shiv Khera, where he defines freedom and its cost. A really good book.

But I just want to say that in our life the best thing one can achieve is "The Freedom". Freedom from Poverty" or "Freedom from Deceases" or Freedom from Emotional atyachaar" or Just Freedom from any Exigency". Freedom is the superlative comfort of any desirable pleasure.

You will be given total freedom on a stage only if your are The best performer.

You will be given total freedom at work only if you are the best employee.

You will be given total freedom at the pitch only if you are "Tendulkar"..

I hoe the point is understood.

I remember I was never questioned in SVITS post 5th September 1999 for anything I wanted to do . (..on the stage, of course..) I had my set of struggles in all the initiatives I took, but Yes the entry barrier was demolished once for ever.

I admit, I was not "The Best material on the stage" but I believe many better artists were got ruined in the so called "auditions". During my days as a mentor (in my final year) I tried to give chance to many of the deserving candidates and I admit, I did injustice with many (with mostly my closed ones..) But there were no one to supersede me and bring the justice, I realise that I have overshadowed a lot of people and I am not happy about it. It would be really great to get overrun by a better one, I believe Gawaskar would not have any complains from Tendulkar.

Every Fair player would love to get outdone by a better contender. I agree that there were many talented people in SVITS, much much more talented than me but they were not the game to face the entry barriers. The message I would like to give to them all and to all my readers is:-

The biggest luxury you want in life is to get freedom in a chosen field, and you would not get it only because you are blessed with great talent, You have to fight for your freedom, you have to take the pain of waiting in queue and facing the most idiot screenings. But once you clear it all You will get you Freedom.

I also believe if I had given this post without my own example it would be more acceptable, but I know my readers have a faith in me and would not misunderstand me.

SO one this eve of "The freedom Festival" all I want to say is go full hog to overcome the teething troubles so that you all can claim your biggest success in terms of "The freedom to live in your own way..."

Happy Independence Day...

Luv

VT

The Alchemist

(About the world's highest selling spiritual novel, written by Paulo Coelho)

Hi...

Birthday wishes to Aishvarya Vaid... (his B'day was on 3rd). I thought of righting something on his birthday about him, but just could not as I wanted to break the jinx of the birthday blogger. But it does not mean that I wont write about Him.

Dear Aishvarya, I owe you a write up... :-)

Last weekend I finally picked up "The Alchemist" , It seems like I am the last one to read this novel, as they claim almost everybody who loves to read must have read it. No doubt it is one of those books which defines what a best seller must be..

During first few pages I regretted the decision of picking it up, but then I surfed about Paulo Coelho and realised that he doesn't write in English and the book is a translation. (Just like dubbed movie some thing gets missing...) But the soul of the novel is the contemplation of the author... (Hey are you thinking the word 'soul' and 'contemplation' are due to the Alchemist-hangover... well you are right..)

Why I was avoiding this read for a long time:

Some times we develop a syndrome toward 'the most populars'. Which is based on our experiences with few of them. e.g. many popular & hyped things doesn't tastes as expected, like some most famous food joints whose food fails to explain the long queue at the counter, some of the super duper hit flicks fail to explain why all the notorious critics wrote just too good about it etc..

I was avoiding this book in an anticipation that it will not be too good ( My experience with "The monk who sold..." was the reason) and finally I will be disappointed. Thought I am not a fan of Paulo or of the book after finishing it. But one statement i would like to make, "This book is like movie 'Delhi 6' (or vise a versa) , Not too easy to understand and has many similes towards the real message, yet both are too good to teach others how to make a good movie or write a book".

Quite unlike Chetan Bhagat and his type of authors who not only write a scene but also give words to the expressions of the faces of the characters in novel, Paulo leaves all these things to imaginations. He no where talks about looks of his characters or their age or there expressions, still he is (rather the dubbing of his book is) capable of creating scenes in the reader's mind. (.. I am still a big fan of Chetan Bhagat..)

Yes, this book is only for those who can imagine while reading. finally the best thing in this novel, which even a normal (non imaginative) reader can enjoy are the 'dialogues'. I wonder they are so impactful, even in a translated version, then what would be the impact in the real one.

Listing down some of my favorites... You can add yours...

1. "When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it." - Dear Farah Khan I knew who have stolen this one...

2. "Maktub"- which means it is written, I simply love the way this word is used in this novel at many junctures.

3. "When You possess great treasure within you, and try to tell others of them, seldom you are believed." - The scene in which this dialogue comes was simply superb.

4. "Well, what all good it (money) be to you if you had to die? the alchemist answered. Your money saved us for three days. Its not often that money saves a person's life." - Simply wonderful.

5. "Everything that happens once, can never happen again, but everything that happen twice will surely happen a third time." This a proverb he used in the novel.

And last but not the least..this is not a part of the main story but a quote of Paulo in an interview when he answered -'what he want to be his epitaph?' (epitaph means the quote written on someones' grave) .. He answered...

" Paulo coelho Died when he was alive"... He explains further not everyone dies when he or she is alive, people live their lives in repetitive patterns and the same pattern repeating and over again, you are not alive anymore....

Hello...lost in thoughts.. I know most of you will not read this post completely, but those who will read till this points must be lost in thoughts...

Enjoy talking with the soul of the world....

Bye for now..

Luv

VT

29th July...

Hi.

Its 29th of the month today, and Its always an special date for me. Not just because 29th is my birth date but also i have found lots of positivity in this figure. sort of a belief in Numerology. Most of the positive surprises have come to me on 29th of any month. It does not turn my bad work into a success but yes if I am expecting some good return on my deeds it often comes on 29th. One of them is My Salary too.

Well today is a birthday of two special people to me. Good thing is that both of them shares few common qualities.

1.Both are innovative.

2. Both have always gone beyond expectations

3. Both are a bit ahead of respective concurrent time.

One of them is Mr. J R D Tata and the other one is Mr. Bhuvan Gupta. well we all know Mr. Tata and of course some of us definitely know Bhuvan. At least those who know him once can not forget him for a lifetime.

Well I would like to talk about the 3rd quality which I have mentioned above.

Yes Bhuvan is always innovative and Ahead of the time. The difference between a normal innovator and Bhuvan types is that normal innovators think just next to the current times and special ones (Like Him) thinks a little beyond, that is why they go un-understood by others many a times.

Even I had many conflicts on many topics with Bhuvan and his approach or Ideas. But most of the time i realised the worth of his ideas later.

For Example...

1. He started a CD club in our college days, like many i didn't believe in that idea, but now I think how innovative it was. All those who could not utilized it were really unlucky.

2. When he organized "Ankit Fadia" Event. I think some of the time, the kind of Risk appetite and organizing capability he had, almost 7 years back, prior to all management education he has got.

On his birthday today, I just like to wish him success, which was never too far from him and also a future which has a bridge between his ideas and peoples expectations. I am sure its gonna make this world a better place.

Luv

VT

P.S. You can also read 'testimonial' written by me to Bhuvan on his Orkut profile.

Rains in Mumbai

Hi,

Its raining cats & dogs in Mumbai (and at times just mice and chicks too..my nomenclature for drizzling). It has rained more than what i had seen in my last 6 seasons in Delhi. (Its a fact..) In delhi monsoon is like a 'theme summer' just summer with a monsoon theme. A Lil' bit of rains between scorching sun and hot weather conditions.

I had not seen such a rains in my life exactly. When I was at Barghat during my early days, it used to rain a lot there but there were no traffic jams, power cuts or water logging at all, so rains were simply a season to enjoy and at times we could avoid schools too as a bonus.

In Bhopal I had seen some heavy rains but as I was in boarding school, so avoiding school was not an option. As the school building was at a stone through distance. More over in boarding you could not request the choicest food suiting the rainy season so rains were just another phase of life.

In Indore I haven't seen much of rains, though i have spent 4 complete and continuous years there, and if we count 'July's only then I have been in Indore 6 times during July. It simply do not rain enough, this is my observation based on my very limited exposure there.

In Mumbai it is my first rains-The best weather I must say in the island city. Because winters aren't cool and summers aren't hot here. Rains are the only honest weather here and beautiful too, if we can cut all man made problems.

Rains started in Mumbai a bit late this year around the 2nd last week of June, however since then I have not seen a direct sunshine in the city, its cloudy 24*7, and as unlike winters & summers, Mumbai is not humid or sweaty during rains.. must be some scientific reason.

It was a Sunday evening (20th Jun to be precise), when it started raining, I and Neha were getting ready for our weekend refresher 'badminton'. All dressed in sports wear and equipped with accessories. The rains gave us a naughty thought and we left our Badminton kit and picked up swimming gear (None of us know swimming..but swimming is still the loveliest sport to me.. No pun intended..). We immediately rushed to our swimming pool (We do not have a private one, its the society club house.. just to clarify.. Ok) and jumped in the pool (its only 4 feet deep).

It was simply an 'out of the world' experience for both of us to be in the pool with the first showers of the season. The memories of that day can still refresh me any time ..(just like an F5 button on our keyboard). Rains were heavy but we were not alone there. There were some 5-7 people more. What i noticed next is that all other except us were kids, their parents were there, standing with Umbrellas around and calling them back. But kids were as casual as we were.

At times i think, its a great stress buster to behave like a kid (not to talk like a kid..like some irritating girls do... i know such girls are always there in any friend Circe..). I am suggesting to act or think like a kid. remember that scene from 'Jab we met' When Shahid flushes down the photo of his ex-girlfriend and feels better to do a kiddish thing, and moreover its more refreshing to accept such acts.

So all you who are too stressed with work, please do something which you used to do in your childhood or you wished but missed to do in your childhood.

Just finishing the post with few interesting observations (All Rainy..)

1. Samosas and all similar stuffs tests better in rains then in winters... believe me, else check it out yourself.

2. Any kind of Gazal, sounds suitable when you listen it during rains ..(Kind of Gazals..??? it is a question mark for many, but those who like Gazals with a deeper attachment would appreciate it)

3. To me 'Woh Lamhe..Woh Baaten.. ' is the best rain song till now.

4. Most of the favorite rain songs are not directly related to rains.

You can revert me with your favorite rain song...

Luv

VT