tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16478531.comments2024-02-11T10:00:47.031+08:00My Lazy WorldSuvro Sarkarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566528823068653051noreply@blogger.comBlogger189125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16478531.post-58437663535314193172011-08-13T15:56:22.133+08:002011-08-13T15:56:22.133+08:00I don't believe in rakhi brother/sisters conce...I don't believe in rakhi brother/sisters concept either. I don't have a sister so there were some girls who always wanted to gift me rakhee. <br /><br />Nicely writtenVoicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02691985661099575595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16478531.post-66029934556524954922011-08-13T05:14:40.070+08:002011-08-13T05:14:40.070+08:00Ha ha ha !! this was hilarious !! reminds me of al...Ha ha ha !! this was hilarious !! reminds me of all those "rakhi-chase" in school ! :)Sourohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00536548438161786054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16478531.post-91558173904899403792010-05-11T03:19:59.728+08:002010-05-11T03:19:59.728+08:00Thank you for writing. I am learning so much from...Thank you for writing. I am learning so much from your perspective - even on seemingly trivial topics like rain and wind. Being an American I am intrigued as much by what is not said and I enjoy the difference. Perfect English wrapped around a completely different set of cultural assumptions. Took me a bit to get the bug out of my mind when you mentioned cricket. One thing I noticed. There is a lot more driving from the rear view mirror, and that may be because blogs are retrospective but it seems on the whole history matters more there then here. Personal history seems like it can be a challenge if you did not make all of your plays perfectly. Not much forgiveness in the system. The Hindi dream and the American dream have a much different set of roots it seems. Here if you mess up get up. That's our general rule. Where you came from isn't the leadership key nearly as much as having a vision about where you are going. The dream dominates. We try to keep the attetnion on the dream and not the idiot.<br /><br />On the negative side for usa we are suckers for a bargain and will drive any bubble to explode if given the opportunity. Sorry bout that. But leveraged economies would not have been sensative to our spat of overspeculation so we can take it for being the spark but not for being kindling soaked in gasolene. Not our bad.<br /><br />It is increasingly more difficult to expect sanity in the public sectors, at least here in usa. Perhaps all that means is that I am getting older. Left all the simple problems and answers in my youth.<br /><br />The stories about hooking up in India are killing me. Been married for 15 years so maybe its like that everywhere but ouch! One of those impossible to imagine for me things. You have my prayers. There is nothing like having a family, though you are broke most of the time.<br /><br />www.rzim.org Ravi Zechariah, a Bombay born evangelist was advised by his brother who wanted his parents to arrange a bride for him said (he was a Dr. and didn't have time to find someone), "Love is an act of will". It is something you do. The feelings come later. This is the closest I can get to where you live. Maybe its a stupid thing for me to say. Its true for other people or institutions or cultures or even sports, except I can't stand baseball. I don't care now many bottles of golden sparkling beverage you buy me. Hope cricket is different. Never watched more then one or two "Pitches?". I think I am ADD. Ravi says India has gone nuts on cricket. Better then going "nuts" on mortgage backed derivatives.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16478531.post-73078929671194093542010-05-10T22:43:57.057+08:002010-05-10T22:43:57.057+08:00Competition generally creates strife and contentio...Competition generally creates strife and contention. (the pain of social justice). After-all, someone has to pay for all that the nights eat and drink. A bottle of sparking amber liquid must go for a few gold pieces these days. When I read cricket for the first time I had to think - it was quite a surreal story following the knights tale until I figured you were referring to the sport. A USA cultural bias and I apologize. No utopias in the cricket field either, with or without the amber fluids ;-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16478531.post-8821398518566528532010-04-23T12:59:48.144+08:002010-04-23T12:59:48.144+08:00:-) podium finish!! congrats!! :-):-) podium finish!! congrats!! :-)ashkdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08335708169096928316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16478531.post-81423341305081335742010-03-24T04:28:03.491+08:002010-03-24T04:28:03.491+08:00Interesting at very interesting points...Interesting at very interesting points...Shuvojithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09574746008379101450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16478531.post-43212050210008960432010-03-16T00:22:41.131+08:002010-03-16T00:22:41.131+08:00nothing except the bottle of Chivas regal seemed i...nothing except the bottle of Chivas regal seemed interesting though off late am more into bourbon than scotch.jata korchis baba...fine hoye jabe...hujjuti koris na raasta ghateAvikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07807280534481175621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16478531.post-10037586963342743622010-02-25T11:08:12.111+08:002010-02-25T11:08:12.111+08:00Well, we had this 4-day long Chinese New Year (CNY...Well, we had this 4-day long Chinese New Year (CNY) weekend recently (Feb12-16), when, for the first time in 3 years, we decided not to travel anywhere but to stay put in Singapore. Yes, the recession has been tough on the finances, you know. <br /><br />Now someone who has not been hit so hard financially, returned from his weekend tryst back home, and asked us what we had done over the weekend. This post is an attempted lyrical response to the query, composed jointly by my flat mate, Anoop P.S., and myself. <br /><br />The “hero” and “two knights” mentioned here are: respectively, me, and my two esteemed flat mates (Anoop and Vivek Shankar). We were on our way to a lunch gathering organised by a friend on Valentine's Day morning. Since all the locals were on holiday, and public transport was scarce, we had to trudge quite a few km on foot under a hot afternoon sun to reach her place.<br /><br />To entertain ourselves during the arduous walk, we invented this story where I, motivated by this golden chance to meet my beloved on Valentine’s Day, was the one leading us on amidst much hardship. Yes, for the girl, and not for the free food. So we decided to celebrate this story by hatching a plan to help me gift my beloved a bouquet of red roses. <br /><br />Where to find red roses in the afternoon heat? So we tore off any red flowers – from bushes, trees, and shrubs – that we saw along the way and built our bouquet, flower by flower, leaving the peace loving people of Singapore suitably scandalized by this rowdy act of public vandalism. Finally, we reached the lunch venue, where there was lots of eating, drinking and merry making, as expected. If you think I managed to sing a song (I can share the impromptu “shayri” we composed offline) and actually hand over the flowers to the fair maiden…well then, come on, who are we fooling?<br /><br />In the evening, yet another party organised by a happily married couple - friends and neighbours of ours – ostensibly to celebrate…hold your breath… the birthday of their pet dog, Frodo, and pet rabbit, Bruno. So now, you know where all the pro-Communist propaganda came from. <br /><br />Rest of the activities referred to in the post include: I) attending traditional CNY luncheons organised by colleagues, ii) eating traditional CNY oranges for dinner, iii) watching Sehwag and Tendulkar and Laxman and Dhoni make merry at Eden Gardens iv) watching a movie titled “Men Who Stare at Goats” and v) downing a bottle of premium Chivas Regal Scotch. <br /><br />Hope that wasn’t too boring. Sorry for not warning you at the outset.Suvro Sarkarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01566528823068653051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16478531.post-75758175344845073902010-02-24T15:35:45.711+08:002010-02-24T15:35:45.711+08:00Quite. I too am rather mystified without the '...Quite. I too am rather mystified without the 'story behind the story' as Sandip puts it.Suvro Chatterjeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01027202980259279420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16478531.post-38051147139133200162010-02-24T01:05:10.630+08:002010-02-24T01:05:10.630+08:00interesting...would like to know the story behind ...interesting...would like to know the story behind the storysandeephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07399973370684346054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16478531.post-45349318092508550342010-02-11T14:04:02.281+08:002010-02-11T14:04:02.281+08:00None the less another thought provoking and straig...None the less another thought provoking and straight from the heart piece.Indrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14078355296549627132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16478531.post-7136575021903022762010-02-11T13:31:53.228+08:002010-02-11T13:31:53.228+08:00ei comment moderation ta ki amar comment filter ou...ei comment moderation ta ki amar comment filter out korar jonnoAvikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07807280534481175621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16478531.post-19919484843654233512010-02-04T12:39:58.789+08:002010-02-04T12:39:58.789+08:00Yes, Suvro, these are the sort of developments all...Yes, Suvro, these are the sort of developments all around us that make it necessary that we keep thinking, and maybe sometimes revise our opinions. Regionalism is indeed a growing menace all over India, and it cuts across all social, educational and age groups, as I have been seeing with my own eyes as well as reading about with increasing concern and chagrin.<br /><br />Good to see you writing more often.<br />Sir<br /><br />(I removed the earlier comment because there was a word misspelt there)Suvro Chatterjeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01027202980259279420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16478531.post-53371824978598944102010-02-04T00:06:48.598+08:002010-02-04T00:06:48.598+08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Suvro Chatterjeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01027202980259279420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16478531.post-74375100472277497632010-02-03T22:27:02.864+08:002010-02-03T22:27:02.864+08:00well... i am from a completely different world and...well... i am from a completely different world and so may be not credible enough to comment on ur post ,since i neither tried for IIT or IIM's, but one thing i must say tht am proud of you for such a wonderful and honest post, and I do agree with the fact tht whatever it is, the IIT's and IIM's are definitely the centres of excellence.I dont know how much the IIm's contribute to nation building,but IIT's definitely do.But yes they are not the only centres of excellence as percieved by most parents in the country.<br />To sum up, I really think u should start thinking of a career switch ;) ,.. truly proud of you brother.arijithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05034123754547038869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16478531.post-90355931964083901862010-02-03T18:38:51.426+08:002010-02-03T18:38:51.426+08:00@ Sir
With due respect to Bertrand Russell I beg t...@ Sir<br />With due respect to Bertrand Russell I beg to differ slightly and say that its not entirely true. However it is a just an opinion of mine (might be conceited).<br />Regarding the financial security part, I agree that greed and love of ease are major contributors. For some people like me i would say courage or the lack of it is a factor. The culprit for this lack of courage may be the society in general. My experience is too limited for me to comment. <br />Lastly about not keeping in touch I offer no excuses. However I am sincerely humbled at the fact that you remember me.<br />AyanangshaScrewDriverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02939198010552223996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16478531.post-12963743077539906112010-02-03T02:40:22.999+08:002010-02-03T02:40:22.999+08:00Suvro Da,
Thanks for your article. I read most of ...Suvro Da,<br />Thanks for your article. I read most of it on Suvro Sir's blog and then was directed here for the whole article. You have been quite coherent and might have spoken for a lot of us.<br />I seem to have offended everyone by my reference to 'pot'. Having been in Durgapur and in a rather controlled (and confined) environment, I had been led to believe that pot and such other things were bad. But now, a very good friend of mine (whom I befriended at IIT), does pot and what not and I don't let that bother me (as long as he doesn't spoil his health by overindulging).<br />Once again, thanks for your aticle. It, and Shilpi di's last comment on Sir's post have helped me organize my thoughts better.<br />Sincerely<br />Nishant.Nishanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04476670168055492486noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16478531.post-31197645250640572352010-02-03T00:59:52.547+08:002010-02-03T00:59:52.547+08:00Here's a quote from Bertrand Russell that migh...Here's a quote from Bertrand Russell that might interest Ayananghsha (who doesn't think it worth his while to keep in touch with me...):<br /><br />"If all of us had listened to our parents, we would still have been swinging from the trees".<br /><br />And by the way, I speak from a lifetime of experience that all those adult males who pee unashamedly by the roadside were taught by their 'good' mothers to do it when they were tiny tots.<br /><br />Finally, financial hardship never stopped any man from doing what he truly wanted to do. I don't need to cite historical examples of the good and the great: I have proved it to my own satisfaction with my own life that it is greed and love of ease and security and social approbation and the refusal to think for oneself that stops people from shaping up their dreams and following them up - never financial insecurity.<br /><br />No offence intended: just some food for thought.Suvro Chatterjeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01027202980259279420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16478531.post-22285071026954037252010-02-02T23:51:42.971+08:002010-02-02T23:51:42.971+08:00Suvro, nice post. The movie was good, well, except...Suvro, nice post. The movie was good, well, except for a few overdramatic incidents. I very much agree with your points and was thinking of blogging on a similar note. May be now I can just put a link to your post :)kbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07653336965905377162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16478531.post-9797280506061056202010-02-02T22:54:51.202+08:002010-02-02T22:54:51.202+08:00I saw the movie... I liked it .period. Somehow I a...I saw the movie... I liked it .period. Somehow I am not able to relate to it that much.<br />Like you i would not seek to distance myself from the "centres of excellence". Havent been to IIMs so cant say much about it but I do strongly believe that IIT did educate me in a long way, and perhaps that had least to do with so called text bookish education. <br />The problem is by the time most of us do realize what we do want to do with our lives we are halfway through doing something else. From there to change and go somewhere is requires courage dedication and opportunity. I was in the same situation as you were in class 12 absolutely clueless what i would like to do in the future. <br />Most of the children in India see the future through their parents eyes. is that wrong ? I dont think so? In India as you pointed out financial security is a burning factor which is not present atleast in Europe. To change this even the economy needs an upheavel .. something which i am completely unsure of. <br />Finally saying that centres of excellence do not give out people who are passionate about their work is complete bullshit. I see around me people loving the thing they do and command a lot of respect for that. <br />AyanangshaScrewDriverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02939198010552223996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16478531.post-79461410991630666032010-02-02T22:41:50.509+08:002010-02-02T22:41:50.509+08:00And I am amused to see that you have enabled comme...And I am amused to see that you have enabled comment moderation. Obviously you too have gotten sick of too much pointless garbage pouring in...Suvro Chatterjeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01027202980259279420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16478531.post-18794943278230871642010-02-02T22:40:37.508+08:002010-02-02T22:40:37.508+08:00Thank you and congratulations, Suvro, for being bo...Thank you and congratulations, Suvro, for being both so articulate and so honest - not merely about the IIT situation, but about yourself. If all my old boys had been like you, India would already have been in much better shape! As I keep telling you, write more frequently: who knows that there's another, better version of Chetan Bhagat lurking inside you...<br /><br />As far as your other remarks are concerned, I shall only demur about the character-building claim: I know all about the odd Satyendra Dubey types, but I have had to deal with IITians all my life, including people who graduated two or three decades ago, and as a rule, they have left me unimpressed, if not always disgusted. Much worse than they, of course, are their parents and their wives - but that is another story. And very few of the characters I most admire in contemporary India are IITians, as you know, too.<br /><br />I wish you had written a little more about the movie as a movie, though.<br /><br />As for smoking pot and suchlike, I am entirely in agreement that there are far worse things that 'nice' people do, and I should know!<br />SirSuvro Chatterjeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01027202980259279420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16478531.post-79728869171540442652010-02-02T21:55:19.070+08:002010-02-02T21:55:19.070+08:00Dear Suvro-da,
I think the last two lines of your ...Dear Suvro-da,<br />I think the last two lines of your post more or less sums up the entire thing.If building one's character, or at least trying to do so, is a crime, most of the students passing out from any institution would be incriminated equally. However, it is indeed magnanimous of you to actually understand, and then say out loud and clear, that you were not cut out for a certain domain, or a certain job. Most of the people we know would be too bound by their state-of-denial, or their testosterone, to actually come to terms with themselves. I think the film has shed some light on these issues, albeit in a most melodramatic and hackneyed fashion. <br /><br />Now that we have identified the problems-I know you have- are we any better off than we were previously? Do we have any solutions for these issues? Merely raising our voices, and forcing people to listen, is a rather small step. We have to take a stand.<br /><br />On a more personal note, you need not worry about your posts being rambling or incoherent; in this reader's opinion, you have articulated effortlessly what you were trying to say.And smoking pot on the fields surrounding Joydeb Boys' School has more merits to it's credit than even you would believe. I know it, because I had the opportunity to meet your austere, stoned self, in person.<br /><br />Keep up the good work.<br />Yours' faithfully,<br />Krishanu Chatterjee (Chatu)Krishanuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17532562914806310280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16478531.post-47664473345072178962009-11-23T22:22:10.360+08:002009-11-23T22:22:10.360+08:00it never is what you anticipate...
but the journey...it never is what you anticipate...<br />but the journey is perhaps as interesting as the final destinationShuvojithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09574746008379101450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16478531.post-63680260413226974772009-11-20T22:31:31.131+08:002009-11-20T22:31:31.131+08:00:) nice one , halfway through when you were tellin...:) nice one , halfway through when you were telling about the rat and his attempts at the wire i though it's going to be one of those bruce and the spider stories :)sandeephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07399973370684346054noreply@blogger.com