Ave Maria

Sometimes the background catches your attention more than the actual scene in forefront. In this particular case, it was the beautiful Roman Catholic prayer Ave Maria played in the background of a Newsroom episode (aired on November 30, 2014).

I am not a music person but this song somehow touched a chord and ever since has been on my mind. Very unlike me, I looked for this song, heard it over and over again and it still remains magical.

It's actually a very old song, was composed by Franz Schubert in 1825. [source: wiki] - "Ellen's Third Song". The version that I heard on Newsroom was sung by Katie Boeck - her voice is absolutely beautiful.

Ave Maria, gratia plena,
Maria, gratia plena,
Maria, gratia plena,
Ave, Ave, Dominus,
Dominus tecum.
Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus,
Et benedictus fructus ventris (tui),
Ventris tui, Jesus.
Ave Maria!

Sancta Maria, Mater Dei,
Ora pro nobis peccatoribus,
Ora, ora pro nobis;
Ora, ora pro nobis peccatoribus,
Nunc et in hora mortis,
In hora mortis nostrae.
In hora, hora mortis nostrae,
In hora mortis nostrae.
Ave Maria!

Car... more cars and still more cars....!!!

My brother is one of the most important influences on me… I have learnt a lot of things from him… there are few that he is aware of … but there are more that he is not… :)

He is the one who got me hooked to the cars… !! I love cars … sure I can never match his intrigue and detailing… but still I do love cars… :)

Whenever we traveled together on road… we would compete with each other to guess the brand, model and make of cars on the road… and of course he would always win… !! If ever we are found enjoying television together… it has to be one of those auto show (we have very few common TV shows… )!!

It was my husband who taught me how to drive a car… but it is my brother who taught me all about cars… !! Knowingly he would explain the exteriors, the interiors, the engine and the stepney (spare tyre)… but unknowingly also the car-servicing, petrol pumps (gas stations) and even how to change a flat tyre…!!

Now we live very far away… but every time a ‘car’ catches my eyes… I remember him… and our times together… it sure was so much fun… !!

Coming back to ‘cars’… recently I got a chance to visit an auto show – Silicon Valley International Auto Show 2011 (at San Jose McEnery Convention Center)… and it definitely was an experience… simply WOW… !! It felt as if I was standing in some ocean of cars... and more cars and still more cars…  :D!!

Under one roof... there were HONDA, TOYOTA, INFINITI, LEXUS, NISSAN, JAGUAR, VOLKSWAGEN, SUBARU, BMW, MERCEDES, GM, CHEVROLET, CHRYSLER, FORD, MAZDA, ACURA, SCION, LOTUS, HYUNDAI, LINCOLN and also BENTLEY, ASTON MARTIN, LAMBORGHINI, FERRARI and of course ROLLS ROYCE...! These are all the brands that I remember... but I may have missed a few!! The auto show sure was sumptuous... though I still wished for a PORSCHE and an ALPHA ROMEO... :)

All in all it was such a breath-taking exposure… and I loved every moment of it... !!

I so want a wife...

Notes -
1. The canvas for my discussion is mostly India… but from the exposure that I have got from books, movies, internet , etc., I do feel that I would not be totally wrong even if I generalize my thoughts.
2. I am blessed to have a very understanding and supportive husband and that is precisely the reason that I can even write this post.

The story is of one Mr. A — my brother — who got engaged to this very lovely girl... in July this year (2010) and his marriage is planned for January (2011). I know... all this information appears unwarranted for... but... believe me... all this is relevant to set the right context... :) So coming back to the background story... the courtship period is on and the world is all mushy rosy for A and his fiancée... !!

As A is counting days to his D-day… we tease him for that... at times he defends... at other times... he blushes... and the other day he replied that he is indeed in a hurry to get married and I quote what he said — “Of course....Can't wait for some 'ready home food'...'laundry done'....'bed sheet changed'.....'wet towel being dried'... 'reminder to take handkerchief to work'... :)”

I have known A for a very long time - around 27 years — and we have been really close — he has been my closest pal — and I can vouch that he would make for a very loving husband… but still I felt a pinch of pain that he too has a sorted list of expectations from his wife… !!!

May be deep down in my heart… I had expected him to be different… and to not belong to the crowd…. !! May be I am bit disappointed that he is also one of them — most of the people I meet/interact with everyday — who believe that responsibilities are for the wives…. and the rights are for the husbands…!! People label me feminist… and I don't have any qualms about that… but I want these same people to answer some of my fundamental questions… before they analyze my character…!!

Why is it that when marriage brings new relationships for both — the husband and the wife — then it is mostly the wife who is burdened to play all the new roles to perfection??

Why is it that even after the marriage the son can remain pampered and irresponsible but not the daughter-in-law?

Why do in-laws forget that daughter-in-laws were also brought up with as much love and care as their sons??

Why is it that even after similar education… when there is a need for one of the spouse to quit the job… then it is almost always the wife who is expected to leave her job??

Why is it that if husband and wife plan for family… then it is conveniently assumed that the wife would make most concessions at her job??

Why do people forget that we have also worked as hard for our education and that at times we were also away at hostel like men for studies and so we may not be perfect at cooking from the first day of the marriage??

Why is it that even after drawing comparable salaries that wife's parents are not supposed to be her primary responsibility??

Why is the definition of marriage so skewed.. so different… for a husband and a wife ?? ……………………. STOP…!!!

This discussion is never ending… ever continuing and painful ... and my intentions for this post is not to trigger any serious thought process… it is just a simple curiosity that what have we — wives — done so wrong to end up getting just 'husbands' ?? :):) Sigh!!... I so want a wife...!!

Commonwealth Games 2010 - Did we fail?

“Montego Bay (Jamaica), Nov 14 (PTI) India Friday outpolled the Canadian city of Hamilton 46-22 to earn the right to host the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.”

... It was indeed a historic moment for all of us, Indians, when we won the bid for hosting the Commonwealth Games 2010…!!

“India was the front-runner because it never previously staged the prestigious event and voters clearly were sympathetic to complaints from New Delhi officials that wealthy countries are picked too often.”
…this win established… that majority of the 72 member countries believed in our potential to be able to host a truly international event… that we are evolving and emerging on the world map… and that we could no longer be ignored…!! We are only the second Asian nation –after Malaysia - to be hosting this prestigious event...!!

After winning the bid, Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi had told the reporters. “It means a lot to us. We feel this will change the whole perception of the Commonwealth.”  

...and nearly 7 years hence… and with the total expenditure (including the non-sports-related infrastructure development) in excess of 70000 crores… we have occupied the centre stage of world’s attention... but all for wrong reasons…!! Now counting days … rather hours… to the start of the costliest commonwealth games ever …we have indeed taken the world by surprise…!!   

India's bid motto was New Frontiers and New Friendships. I am not sure about the new friendships…. but ‘frontiers’… yes… we have definitely reached and crossed new frontiers of… corruption… mismanagement…lack of accountability and involvement… not owning up our responsibilities… inefficiency… and above all … shamelessness…!! 

There is no doubt that the India’s reputation has been severely damaged by the messy preparations and the taint of corruption in managing the funds…!! Member nations are not confident in sending their contingent to India… they are not sure of security… of hygiene… of accommodation and of the so-called world class venues where sports events are to be held…!! 

Unfortunately… the CWG 2010 made to the headlines mostly for wrong reasons… the world press is abuzz with the stories of missed deadlines, athletes of Indian CWG squad failing the dope tests, “unliveable” condition of the accommodations, thumbs down for Rehman’s CWG anthem, collapsing infrastructure, security threats, high scale corruption in managing the funds, controversial remarks from one of the brand ambassador of the games, dengue threat and what not…!!

Majority agrees – unanimously- that we should not have bid for the games in the first place… and that the money would have been better spent on education, health and basic sports infrastructure…!! I am not sure… if we would still host the games… and if we indeed host… then would we be successful at that… but I am sure of one thing… that CWG has only brought shame to India and that we have failed… and we have failed in full public view…!! 

 

Beautiful Cacti...

From childhood... cacti plants would catch my attention and make me curious. My mother would tell that cacti are plants only... just a bit distinct and unusual... and she would also warn me to not go very near to the cacti plants... as cactus spines can cause painful injuries..!!

Aren’t the spines central to the identity of a cactus? Somehow I find cacti plants very beautiful... in a unique way...!! That leaves of cacti have evolved as spines to support its survival in the surrounding environment teaches us a lesson – Adaptation!! :)

Golden Barrel Cactus

Brain Cactus

Mammillaria bombycina

Old Man Cactus

Saint's Cactus

Eriosyce sp.

Agave Cactus

Cleislococlus winleri

Hatpin Barrel Cactus

These photographs were captured at United States Botanic Garden, Washington DC on 28/03/2009.

Bond of Sisterhood...

Of late, I have been contemplating about life... the bygone and the yet-to-come...!!! Life has been, so far, quite happening... complete with ...lows and highs; success and defeats; beginnings and endings..!!

The highs have given me wings, success the horizon and beginnings the hope...!! Definitely I have also had my share of lows, defeats and ends... but thankfully God has always been looking over me...!! I am definitely blessed to have a wonderful family... which is my support system...!! But apart from the family ... I have also had some great friends... specifically my girl friends... who have stood with me through the thick and thin!!

I make friends easily... and definitely I don’t have a gender bias when I make friends... :) In fact I have lots of friends who are male... but the camaraderie that I share with my girl friends is special...!! And I thank each of them... for being there for me... and for making my life special...!!

The friendship that a girl shares with another girl is different... it is almost too hard to explain... it is a bond that cannot be replaced by anything else!! We are bound in this relationship by similar emotions, expectations, apprehensions, ambitions and dreams...!!

Men and women are very different from each other... in their communication styles, in their emotional needs and in their reactions under stress...!! It is always easier for a woman to understand another woman’s expectation in correct perspective...!! We are at the same page when we discuss love, life, ambition, expectation, anger, frustration and admiration.

It is not that we do not have fights... or that we aren’t jealous... but what I am talking about is that we speak and appreciate the same language - the language that belongs to the sisterhood - and that it is easier for a woman to connect with another women... to get the correct perspective... and to have similar emotional quotient... and that we talk at the same wavelength... of emotion... of strength... of fear... of apprehension and of character...!!

Those old mails...

We belong to the IT age... where the handwritten letters are soon going to be an extinct art...!! And I firmly believe that nothing can ever replace... the smell that comes from an old, folded letter... the warmth of words... the earnestness of feelings... and the effort of the person who wrote the letter....!!

I loved it very much... more than any precious gifts... whenever he (now my husband of 3.5 years :)) gave me handwritten notes or letters...!! And I have preserved nearly all of his handwritten notes to me :) ... and each of these notes is very close to my heart...!!

That he has written these notes... in his own handwriting... makes them ... all the more special and romantic :) :) Alas!!!... This not-so-new email culture has nearly killed the art of writing letters by hand... the real letters... but still sometimes ... on demand ... he writes to me... in his own handwriting ... :) :) and I love those letters so much!!

Nonetheless be it handwritten letters or emails.... I believe... all old mails are real treasures...!! Every mail has a history and a memory associated with it...!! Each of these mails has a story to remind.... a story that can make us smile... laugh... blush... and sometimes... even cry... but in any case... it stirs emotions...!!

After a very long time... today I got a chance to skim through some of my old emails... and I could not stop myself from being transported to past... and the memories overwhelmed me... !! I felt so happy... and at the same time... so content... and so blessed.... for having such wonderful memories... Touch wood!!!

Goodbye mails... the last few words...

I keep hearing... IT market is doing good... and that economy is picking up again... and soon it would be booming...!! :) :) Thank God!! This is definitely a breather... and a much awaited break from the bleak and gloomy global ‘recession’.... that we faced over last one year and a half...!! (October 2008 to the first quarter of 2010)!!

Even the stock exchange and the market indicators confirm the recovery and promise growth of the economy...!! But there is another... more prominent... and more visible indicator of the health of IT sector...  and it is the "ATTRITION"!! ... :):)

As things are now looking up... and future appears bright... so the job market is upbeat ...and we say that this is the best time to switch jobs...!! :):) The fact is... the industry is in a state of flux... with lot of people moving out... and lot of new people moving in...!!

Initially, I thought... that this is the story of my organization only... but then realized ... this is the same everywhere... across locations... and across companies...!! All of a sudden ... people are looking out for job change... primarily for money...  possibly for designation... or location... may be for quality of work... even for the work-life balance...!! There can be varied reasons... but one thing that is common and consistent... is the ‘Goodbye’ mail. :) !!!

Nearly everyone who leaves... sends in one last email from the (soon-to-be discontinued) official email id... to say the last few words...!! Some mails are short and sweet, some are longer. Some mails are professional and to the point, some are emotional and tear-inducing. But in any case, these mails are pretty interesting. :)..

Even without us realizing it or giving it any serious thought.... sending ‘Goodbye’ mail has become a tradition... though untold and unacknowledged...!!

In the recent past.... I have received quite a few goodbye mails... and each of these mails is distinct ... in its style... its content... its way of expression....!! These mails speak a lot about the person.... his or her emotional quotient...  attachment with the organization... the quality of the time spent...  and also of the memories created...!!

PS- I am not biased for any specific industry or sector... just that I am limited by my own exposure... I have only worked with the IT industry...!!

Leave without any reason...

No... I am not sick...!!
... Also I did not go home or to my in-laws place...for Holi...!!
Any crisis...?? of course not... !!
Guests at home..?? None...!!
Need for me-time.... Nah..!!

Actually there is no logically valid excuse for this leave per say.... And yes... I still...took a day off today...!!

WOW... after a long time ...did I take a leave ... just for the heck of taking one...!!!

In fact… if I can recollect correctly... I think... this is for second or third time in my career of around 6 years... when I absolutely knew... that the leave is without any reason...!! :)

And it did make me happy... very happy!!

Few days back.... when I applied for this leave... I was feeling little guilty... as I usually do whenever I apply for one…!! Sometimes…my husband would tease me... that I behave as if office would shut down... if I don’t go… :)!! ... Not his fault… I am fussy about my office... my work... my client... my calls... and my deadlines...!! I always have some reason... and taking off ... even for a day is a seriously thought about decision...!!

But this time… it was an impulse... definitely...and thankfully... I did not apply any logic to it...!! I am so glad... that I did not...!! Today I had this nice feeling... of peace... and of contentment...!! It was a much needed break... and I relaxed...!!

Living at our own terms… is this not the whole purpose of us working so hard?? Are not all these leaves well earned ... for ourselves... and should not be reserved …for some purpose... or exigency?? Shouldn’t we realize... that office is just a part of our life... and that it should not become the heart of it...!! If going to office everyday is normal... then simply being at home at times…when we wish… is equally normal!!

We work... because we want to have economical independence ... and freedom… of thought and of expression… we want to prove ourselves… we want to grow… we want to reach the sky… but among all this … have we become slaves elsewhere??

Teas and Coffees...and Breaks...

I yawn… and then I get up…!! My sub-conscious tells me… its time… to take a break… and I effortlessly reach the pantry…!! Habitually … I grab a tea from the vending machine... and come back to my seat!!

Sitting on my chair... and staring at my system... I take a sip....!! And instantly my taste buds send signal to my brain.... Yieekes...!! ...it tastes BAD... it has that peculiar smell of milk powder and it is as usual ...sugar laced... :(  I also know... it will leave a sickening sugary taste in my mouth for at least 15-20 minutes...!! I, sometimes, try coffee instead… in hope of better taste… but to no avail…!!

Well… well... nobody is forcing me to have such a tea or coffee... It is totally my choice... :) In fact… tea/coffee is distinct specialty of the corporate world....!! And so are the ‘Breaks’!!

I take a break...when my eyes are strained... or if I am bored... sometimes when I am looking for a solution to a complex problem... or may be to catch up on some rumor...!! It can be for a quick chit-chat...!! Simply to look around and observe... or for sharing a laugh...or to shed a tear...!! I might want to offer an opinion... or discuss politics and cricket!! Breaks can simply be for the heck of taking one…!! Believe me I always having a valid reason to take a break :)…

My 5.5 years of corporate career… spans ... at three companies... in cities of contrasting cultures... of varied languages...with radically distinct beliefs and upbringings... but at all these place… the corporate culture has imbibed these common characteristics… the tea/Coffee and breaks...!! :)

I had never thought on these lines before... but more I think... the more I appreciate this unexplored ... unacknowledged unity in this very diverse corporate world...!!

As I publish this post…I head for another tea…!! … Of course I need a break…:D