Keys, mouse, chips, webs, viruses......CiIlitetrate

Cilliterate....or Computer Illiterate
Yes you are if you failed to connect the above words.
Computer literacy can also refer to the comfort level someone has with using computer programs and other applications and technologies that are associated with computers.
My exposure to computers started quite early in my age. I had my own PC when I was in my 6th Standard thanks to my dad who envisioned that Technology is the future. I was only 11 years when I first got to work on a computer of my own. It was year 1992 and by those days standards I had a fairly fast and efficient system. The configuration of today's mobiles are better than my first PC. It was a
Intel 80286 (In an era of 64 bits 286 has had 7 predecesors to Todays P4/Athlons)
Running at 20 Mhz Speed (yes Mega Hertz was big in those days 1024 times lesser than that of todays)
1 MB Ram (we talk of 1 GB as miminmum today thats 1024 times lesser than todays capacity)
40 MB HDD
Display - MDA (Moncrome Display Array) - 14 inch B&W L&T Monitor
Sound card - Our only sounds we heard were beeps
123 Key - TVS Keyboard
Mouse - Never needed one
OS - MS DOS 5.00
Spread Sheet- Lotus Spread sheets
Word Processor - Word Star 4
Database - Fox Pro & DBase 4+
Languages - C, BASIC
Anti Virus - MSAV
DiskDrive - 5 1/4 Floppy Drives

This was the system I had and continue to have (of course its packed) as an antique since 1992 with a bundle of 5 1/4 and 3 1/2 inch floppies. The software which is stored in it is specific to that system and none of todays software runs on the system. I wanted to add some bit of interactivity to the system and install Windows 3.11 which used to run as a front end for DOS, but decided against it as it was too resource hungry for my system.The system then costed my dad a little over 30K rupees without monitor and printer (dot matrix).
All my initial days I learned and played on this system. I was envied by adults and kids alike. I was able to speak a language which many where not even aware off. My first computer was operational to the fullest till 1999. After 7 years it was replaced, I moved to adapt a non intel processor.
I got an AMD K6 in later 1999 (Pic - my cousin - with L&T Dotmatrix printer and K6 on Viewsonic). The system had 128MB RAM, with Windows 98 and 20 GB HDD and 400 Mhz (20 times faster than my older 286)with a 15" Viewsonic Monitor. I used this system during my engineering till 2004. This is system which provided me my first multimedia expereince and internet expereince. Those were the early days of internet and it was costly to have an internet connection. I remeber using various dial-up connection and due to my high internet usage at times our telephone bills used to run up quite high. My primary dial-up those days were Dish-net connection and occassional a Tata Nova. I used to borrow accounts to meet my craze those days. During my early days of internet I was hugely into intenet contests. Quite popular and an addict I was for Contests2win, Hungama.com and occasional MTV contests. I at one stage used to get gifts and memorobila on an weekly basis from these sites (mostly Hungama). Loved collecting points for playing contests and redeeming the same for some cheeky gifts. Approximate count of gifts I collected run in excess of 200 items.
Next I got an AMD Athlon 1800. It was a 1.6 Ghz processor with 384 MB RAM. I got it assembled at Parklane, Secunderabad before carrying it all the way to IIM-K. Incidently I ran Windows 95 on this system.This system I used for 2 years while I was in Kozhikode between 2004 and 2006, and later dumped it at K before returning back to Hyderabad in March 2006. Post which I continue to use my bro's AMD Athlon and my bro's Dell Inspiron laptop which he got it from US.
While in Genpact I was using the companies provided Dell Latitude D510 model. I felt this was the most robust and sturdiest of all Desktops and Laptops I ever got to use.
Moving from Hardware to Software I started with BASIC based programming and games like Prince of Persia, Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego, Genghis Khan
From Banner Mania, Wolf Pack,Para Trooper, Packman, Test Drive to name a few. As years went by and technology improved I got newer games. I still remeber I used to steal a few bucks from my dad's change and save enough to buy one single game from a small computer shop (PARAS Computers) on the road connecting Mozamjahi Market and Koti. Each floppy game costed 20/- then. Much for privacy of today :).
Initial utilitis like Banner Mania and Paint pro were fun to work and impress the guests who came in. I also remeber we used some Basic based application to generate Astrology charts. It was so much fun those old days, for uniqueness is definetly something to cherish.
Today as I blog this I am amazed at the journey I made from 1992 to 2009. 17 Years is time taken, I have moved from a 80286 to a P4 mobile processor, from floppies to SD Micros, from PC Games to Playstation, from B&W monitors to 32" LCD's from beep speakers to 5.1 DTS Home theatre from a small selffocus cam to a Compact DigiCam . From Bannermania to Photoshop; from DOS to Windows Mobile; from PacMan to NFS; from text to HDDVD authoring, I feel I have come offage in technology. It's not that I thrive on getting the latest Gizmos, but addition happens automatically; If that technological tranformation is not happening am afraid to say that one is Technophobic and Cilliterate.
Yes there might be circles who differ on amount of adaption technology in daily life, lets not debate it today. Technology is part of parcel of modern day's life.

Shivaratri - Importance & Lingashatakam

Shivaratri unlike many other traditional Hindu festivals doesn't reflect celebrations or fun or new clothes or sweets or well-wishes. One hardly see's a one getting up early and bathing to wear new clothes on this day. The festival may be a bit unpopular because of these mentioned aspects. But Shivratri has upteen religious importance and spiritual austerity attached which the larger population are unaware. And for the ignorant they believe its the birthdate of Shiva which is untrue.
Shivratri festival falls on the 14th day of the dark fortnight(a night before amavasya) in the month of Phalgun which pleases Lord Shiva the most. This has been declared by Lord Shiva himself, when Parvati asked him as to which ritual performed by his devotees pleases him the most.
It is said that if a devotee performs sincere worship of Lord Shiva on this auspicious day he/she attains moksha breaking the birth-rebirth cycle.
On this day after having the having a dip in a holy river, one proceeds to Shivabhishekam or the Ritual Bath of Shiva Lingam.
Lord Shiva is worshiped in a special form of Lingam called ‘Lingodabhavamurti or Jyotirlingam.’
Lord Shiva the ParamAtma or the supreme soul is considered to have no form, and endless energy. Shiva manifests in form of Lingam; in the form of fire which has neither a beginning nor an end. It must be noted here that ‘linga’ only means ‘sign.’ And it is merely an attempt to capture the formless of the almighty. It's believed that the first appearance of Jyotirlingam (Somnath) signifies the importance of this day.
As per Shiva Purana one have to use six items for the same.

• Bathing of Shivalinga with water, milk and honey and Sandal/ bel leaves added to it, represents purification of the soul.
• The Ashes paste applied on the linga after the ritual bath represents virtue.
• Offering of fruits symbolizes longevity and gratification of desires.
• Burning of incense sticks yields wealth.
• The lighting of the lamp symbolizes attainment of knowledge.
• Offering of betel leaves marks satisfaction with worldly pleasures.

Devotees take up Upvas (fast) & Jagran on this day.
UpVaas - Is formed by culmination of two words. Up means closer and Vaas means adobe of God. It means being closer to the Supreme Spiritual form, in a state where one forgoes all the earthly body needs including thirst and hunger. One should strive to get close to the supreme self by concentrating on achieving this closeness and discovering the divinity in ourselves. One by not having even a drop of water one in denying the body of all its urges and attempts to divert our concentration and meditative state focussed on the Paramatman.
Jagran - Is is the awakening of the soul to the resonate onself to the frequency of the Supreme soul. One's endevour should be to connect to the almighty and fill ourself with divinity on this day and all days to continue.
All-Night Shiva WorshipWorship of Lord Shiva continues all through the night on Shivaratri Festival. Devotees stay awake all night and spend the night in Shiva temples in worship of Lord Shiva. Singing of hymns and verses in praise and devotion of Lord Shiva besides the intense chanting of Om Namah Shivay, the mantra that is said free people from all their sins, continue through the night on Shivaratri.
The Lingashatkam is culmination of Eight Slokas. And it's believed that whoever recites these eight slokas, in praise of the Shivalinga with the presence of Lord Shiva, with outmost sense of devotion attains that Supreme abode of Shiva and enjoys everlasting bliss with Him
Text One
Brahma Muraari Suraarchita Lingam Nirmala Bhashita Shobhita Lingam Janmaja Dukha Vinaashaka LingamTat Pranamaami Sadaa Shiva Lingam
I always bow to that Shiva Linga, which is adored by Brahma, Vishnu and other Gods, which is praised by pure and holy speeches and which destroys the cycle of births and deaths.
Text Two
Devamuni Pravaraarchita Lingamkaamadaham Karunaakara Lingam Raavana darpa Vinaashaka Lingam Tat Pranamaami Sadaa Shiva Lingam
I always bow to that Shiva Linga, which is the destroyer of desires, which the Devatas and the sages worship, which is infinitely compassionate and which destroyed Raavana's pride.
Text Three
Sarva Sugandha Sulepitha Lingam Buddhi Vivardhana Kaarana Lingam
Siddha Suraasura Vanditha Lingam Tat Pranamaami Sadaa Shiva Lingam
I always bow to that Shiva Linga, which is smeared with variety of perfumes and fragrances, which incremental elevates the wisdom and enkindles the light of discrimination, and before which the Siddhas and Suras(demi-Gods) and Asuras(Demons) prostrate.
Text Four
Kanaka Mahaamani Bhushitha Lingam Phanipathi Veshtitha Shobhitha Lingam
Daksha Suyajna Vinaashaka Lingam Tat Pranamaami Sadaa Shiva Lingam
I always bow to that Shiva Linga, the destroyer of Daksha Prajapathi's sacrifice, which is decorated with Gold and precious jewels and which is coiled by a sparkling glow emiting from Serpent Lord, Naga.
Text Five
Kumkuma Chandana Lepitha Lingampankaja Haara Sushobhitha Lingam
Sanchitha Paapa Vinaashaka Lingam Tat Pranamaami Sadaa Shiva Lingam
I always bow to that Shiva Linga, which is smeared with saffron and sandal paste, which is decorated with garland of lotuses and which wipes out all accumulated sins.
Text Six
Devaganaarchitha Sevitha Lingam Bhaavair Bhakti Bhirevacha Lingam

Dinakara koti prabhakara Lingam Tat Pranamaami Sadaa Shiva Lingam
I always bow to that Shiva Linga, which is worshipped by all of Gods with devotion and outmost faith and whose splendor is like that of a million suns.
Text Seven
Ashta Dalopari Veshtitha Lingam Sarva Samudbhava Kaarana Lingam

Ashta Daridra Vinaashaka Lingam Tat Pranamaami Sadaa Shiva Lingam
I always bow to that Shiva Linga, which stands on the eight petalled Lotus and which is the creator of all and destroyer of eight types of misery & poverty.

Text Eight
Suraguru Suravara Pujitha Lingam Suravana Pushpa Sadaarchitha Lingam

Paraatparam Paramatmaka Lingam Tat Pranamaami Sadaa Shiva Lingam
I always bow to that Shiva Linga, which is the Transcendent Being and the Supreme Soul, worshipped by all Suras and their king (Indra), with innumerable flowers from the celestial gardens.
Text Nine

Lingashtakam, Idam Punyam padeth Shiva Sannidhow,

Shivalokam avapnothi shive na sahamodathe.

Any one who chants the holy octet of the Lingam,In the holy presence of Lord Shiva,Would in the end reach the world of Shiva, And keep him company.

I hope people get to believe in the Supreme Soul (Parmatma) and connect self to Supreme Energy and in this process are enlighted.

Roundup 2008

As a continuation to the last years blog, I wanted to sign-off on the last year in my blog, but as my constraints on limited blogging time continued to restrain me from completing this activity. The year 2008 started where 2007 ended with lots of unanswered puzzles, frenzy state of mind and dwindling state of mind with a directionless, aimless career, professional life and a personal life. Life was very much at cross roads, and slowly but surely admist all the confusion life slowly blossomed toward the last quarter of the year.

Biggest movers
- Quiting from my first Job and moving out of Hyderabad
- My attempt to reach back and re-engage lost relation with involvement of my family.
- Trip to my native place Machilipatnam, after thirteen (13) Years
- Lived a proper bachelors life after studies.
- Married once and for all now !!!

Biggest Learnings

• Never let go of love and hurt loved ones
• To take life easy and not to pressurise self.
• Understand and respect others feelings.
• Let time take its time to heal and set things right.
• Have immense and never ending belief in God.
• Trust the inner voice, learn to cultivate to let the inner voice to speak.
• Being positive in life does immense good.

Best for the year

Top Albums/Songs
1. Jaane Tu Jaane Naa - Kabhi Kabhi Aditi
2. Bachana Ae Haseno - Khuda Jaane Kyu

Fav Movies
None
Fav Quotes -
Madagascar - Escape 2 Africa
Skipper: Who says a penguin can't fly?
Skipper: We should be up and running in say... 6 to 9 months.
Alex: Sixty-nine months?!
Skipper: No! Six to nine.

Fav Holiday/Travel
- Havelock Islands, Andamans

Fav Food
1. Vada Pav
2. Aloo Paratha

Fav Shopping Spot
1.Big Bazaar, PCMC, Pune
2. Fathima Nagar, Pune

Fav TV Channel
- CNBC TV18

Chronological Milestones

January - Uncertain Days

I got my first Job confirmation from Ocwen for a very succesful process that got concluded in Dec 2007. I was offered a position in Mallad (west), Mumbai for joining its integration team of NCI (NationWide Credits Inc). I put in my resignations in on 9th of Jan 2008 from Genpact, marking an end of era. Here is where my hardships started. Genpact failed to release me on time to join Ocwen, forcing the latter to withdraw the offer and I forced to serve a 3 months notice period as against promised month release by Genpact HR. I went on to take new assignments.

I moved to take charge of a small assigment of setting up Quality team for Merrill Lynch's operations at Genpact. The role, the team and vertical I dreamt since my IIM days. But with this opportunity came in my old Gal and with resignation papers on table made it quite difficult to make a favourable decesion in favour of Genpact.

I finally broke off the emotional bond with my ex-fiance on a final phone call in a much inspired Jab-we-met movie fashion - "Flush karde life se"

February

As time progress I wait impatiently for my release, making short trips to DLFH Genpact office, and applying for other offers. HP, Infosys, EDS, CTS, BoA, CFC, HSBC where in fray but due to year beginning paradigm no confirmations. Rough times for me this month. Had vivid thoughts of going back to old time and undoing all that went off.

March

Got confirmations from CTS and EDS and was contemplating on what to join while I was chilling on time. Marriage talks harden back home, I was in a storm as I didn't want to risk another turn-down and have a hear break. My state of mind was not to be associated with any other girl and if any chance patch up for proven older relation.

April

I finally got relieved from Genpact in 1st week of April. This was after 2 years I decided to move on, I was shifting to Pune to join CTS. BoA was delaying its decesion to close in on hiring till the last date, while HP offered their role after I joined CTS. Infy and Wipro followed HP too late for all. Later on in May EDS was acquired by HP, both where offering me roles at that time. EDS role was attractive with onsite posting and frequent travel, but apparent lack of focus from the EDS team proved deterrimental in joining the team.

I packed and shifted to Pune in a haze without much hulla. Earlier I started my prayers and got my astrological redone to get some deeper insights. I started using two more stones Cat's eye and pearl to improve my present situation. Felt more nostalgic about my previous Gal though she was not in forgiving mood, try to make it up for my sinful acts of letting go.

My parents shortlisted a girl and my mom was wildly escastic about the girl she looked at that she ordered me to fly-back the very weekend I joined the company and confirm the girl as they will run into inauspicious times. Half-heartedly I come and agree to the wishes of the family. I was totally unprepared for all this

May / June / July

Joined a Life Sciences team at CTS, as a Quality Reviewer for the delivery team. Started learning, understanding, adapting, accomodating, adjusting to the new environment and people. Moved into a bachelors house, started a life of Bachelor after a long long time. I started using public and company transport more often. Travelling has become a Passe of life now. Music decorated through my headphones and books and magzines in my hand where a signature look I had. I slowly started finding peace in the role and with myself.

I used to travel back home every fortnight and really used to make out a hell lot of time. Started to read books. Got introduced to self help books like The Secret and Paulo's books by accident and found a new found love in reading. Blogging continued to gain momentum during this time. With access to pirated Telugu movie DVD's I used to frequently watch the new flicks more often than earier.

I hesitantently started preparing for an eventuality called marriage which was to happen in August, buying clothes etc. My communication with the fiance and her family was highly restricted and contained, nor I encouraged the same. I was still very undecided on the marriage all the time. But my parents interest kept a hold on everything.

August

The month proved to be the roughest of all times I ever had. I reached by to my earlier relation to patch-up and make up for the lost ground. I didn't want to risk another relation and make unjustice to my first love on grounds of me getting married. Involved lots of people from my parents, relatives, friends and well-wishers to my fiance relatives. After a period of nervous weeks I fell to the inevitable for what looked neither good or bad. I got married on 21st Aug in Hyderabad to Vijaya. Whats install for us in the future needs to be looked into as times goes by. Had the toughest, roughest, and the most emotional of times this month as I went into the marriage bandwagon. So much was my pain due to uncertainity that I had low BP for weeks and I could hardly talk and express myself. I love the innocense in my Wifes face. I love the eyes and her tender looks used to offer me the much required solace.

Made my trip to Machilipatnam tracing back to my roots and to seek blessings of my Grandparents and Janma Bhoomi after over a decade. My new innings as a husband, and a son-in-law starts off.

September

After the Ganesh Chaturthi festivities at home I set back to Pune after nearly a 20 day stay in Hyderabad. I started to look out for house for us, while Vijaya continued to work in Hyderabad. Rough weather, lack of housing supplies, high brokerage only increased the agony of zeroing in on house for us Pune. Towards the last week paying a 13k brokerage I decided on moving into a decent 1BHK house in a very calm and homely locality. Bought a Honda Aviator solely meant for commuting for a family life (:)). This purcahase would be my second vehicle purchase after my TVS Victor bike in Sep 2003.

October

Spent quality time at home in Hyderabad for the Dusheera. I was supporting office from Hyderabad which drew a bit of flank from my supervisor. I had completed my bout of Pooja and Havan's for the year. Post the festivites I set back to my new home in Pune accompanied by my wife and my maradhi (bro-in-law). The whole month witnessed one of the frenziest shopping by me ever as we slowly set to settle down in the home. We made it back home to celebrate diwali braving all the odds of hardships of travel by train in this Diwali journey.

Novemeber

Things slowly setteled down with regular friction between the newly weds. Work pressure and volume began mounting, while we still continued to shop and celebrate our life. Trips to Hyderabad continued, though nothing significant happend. My gal was searching for Jobs, with most of them not in her fit.

Decemeber

This was a month of Vacation to be. We had been on our holiday trip to the Andaman's. Had a blast on the trip though we would have done better with slightly longer trip. Post this my Gal had to stay back at Hyd for 15 days for her exams and I took her along not before the Cristmas celebrations at home.

Andaman's Trip

Video from our recent Andaman's Visit. The clip is a trailer of the full version of the Video. The full compilation has been included in my personal DVD.

My Exploits in making my Marriage DVD cover

Yeah marriage's done, and got the DVD of the entire marriage ceremony, courtesy the videographer who happily editted added special video graphic editorial effects and delivered. As for a person who believes in making professional looking DVDs and for a person who prides on his DVD collection, its all but sub-standard not to have a professionally done DVD of the most important event of my life. So the process of Do-it-yourself started for me. "The DVD project" as I liked to call started out with simple search on google for ready DVD cover titles. Then searched for DVD art, DVD covers for wedding ceremony. Hardly found any. Then a few samples and research on how to design my on DVD decided to design everything from scratch.

Started with a sample wedding card, and used Photo Shop 7 for the entire design. I also used NERO Cover design and Ashampoo, soon realised that Photoshop 7 is worth a try given the options and features especially that of layers, rendering and shadows. Apart from background rendering and stuff. Though I wasn't using Photoshop for the first time my earlier usage of PS was for purpose of copy pasting photos to a larger A3 size canvas for purpose of printing and nothing more. So I did go through a few hours of help from online material and tutorials helped me ease some.

Before starting some bit of effort also went into editing, indexing the entire set of Photographs which where in different internal dates. Used PICASSA, MS Office's Picture Editor, MS Paint to edit, crop, improve and recrop the pictures. While I used EXIF Date changer to change the time of imprinted digital camera data on the photographs.
I used Nero Cover Designer, Ashampoo Cover Studio, and photo shop 7 for cover design. While Nero was used for layout actual design was done in PS. Ashampoo was useful in making a quick desgin in a rapid time. But for designing the entire cover it took me 3 weeks in all incorporating various fonts, font sizes, patterns, photographs, messages etc. Its only but getting into a very detail that the professional look would come for the dvd.

Then for compressing the DVD I used DVD2one and DVD shrink. I extensively used Nero Vision for making the slideshow and I believe it was various easy and convenient too though it had a ap of 100 snaps one could add more just by adding 2 or 3 more session sets to include all. For making DVD menus I tried DVD Lab pro, it has great features but when it came to final composition it failed so had to switch back to Nero Vision and found it quiet fast and convinent compared to DVD Lab pro.

I am still to solve the compilation/burning a DVD player compliant DVD. I found Nero burnt DVDs hardly played on most of non-divx enabled DVD-players. Tried Cheetah burner, Roxio but to no use.








Above is the final cover and CD for the marriage DVD, In all more than a month of effort over the evening and night time, lots of trial and error combined with tons of googling for patterns and relevant mp3 songs. Am proud of this cover for the effort and interest I put into. I released over a dozen of the prints which had DVD-Video and DVD-Photo 2-in-1 copies to our relatives and friends during the 2nd week of Novemeber though origianlly I intended to do it in the 1st week of October. I guess the wait made the DVD watching expereince a worth while....

Changing times and sprinting time.

Time Check

62 Months - Since the purchase of my first bike

33 Months - Since I wrapped up my Studies

31 Months - That's my Post-MBA work-ex

7 Months - That's my time I moved to Pune

3 Months - Since I had been Married

2 Months - Gap between my last blog post

Amazing is only what I can say when I give out the statistics. There might be more numbers to add probably on a forgettable side, but I am looking forward to add only the brighter past contrary to my earlier blog posts.

I have realised that we skip a blink and time flies off; Sometimes we keep wondering if time could come to a stand still and we be in a state of blissfulness or better suspended animation, other times we really want the time to go at a Jettison speed. Either ways on one end we never want the good time to abandon us and other end we want to see off the bad time at the earliest. People hate to wait to see the results and go through the pain, but time has its own pace and moves so consistently nonparallel to any. The pace ensures that all good things taper out sometime or other and same fashion all bad things seize after some time. Time in this aspect proves to be an excellent guru teaching us the art of patience and perseverance. It makes us refined and a calculated person with the experience it provides to us. Going through a rough patch makes people stronger equipping oneself for facing tougher situations of future, making a person mentally strong and stable and at one stage can support others when situation demands and time is perfect. Going through a good time makes a soul free and relaxed free from all desires may be momentarily but sets the pace for future action. One could really set priorities which are in tune with his happier times. One then really works hard for the same.

Having said that a lot of time and efforts now a days revolve around money and materialistic ends. I want to say that people should try to avoid chasing these materialistic things of the world because one might achieve them at some time, but one is not always happy with having money and luxuries of the world. One though needs to invest oneself for financial stability, a person should ideally plan and invest in himself and his time. For properly utilised time returns huge dividend which is exponential in nature. The return of investing in time is both tangible and intangible, gives in lot of options to tinker with.

One might have scarcity of food, water, money but one should not run out time on any day. Any person has only limited time with him/her which get exhausted at a rapid pace. More than half of our life time goes into sleeping and resting, while half of what is left goes into much of unproductive childhood and old age. 65% to 70% of the our life times just flies off without even touching it. Left is 35% to 30% of the time which flies at an unprecedented speed.

• One really needs to make the maximum use of this live life to fullest.
• Indulge in things what makes one happy the most and makes all around one more happier than before.
• Contribute to the family, society, country and the Earth (being a responsible citizen)
• Peace, harmony, happiness, joy are things to be spread. One needs to be on a constant endeavour for the same.

All the things above are those in which one needs to invest one's time in and returns are as simple as being recognised as human being worthy enough to be respected by everything and everyone living/non-living dead/alive.

Make best use of time, its rare, its scarce and its worth unlike any, priceless....

Acknowledge, understand and respect the importance of time and others valuable time too...

This will make us a better human beings....

Love that was and Love that is - The Love Life Cycle

I intend to keep this a running document and would keep appending as I feel I could.
One big thing I realised about being in love is that one needs to know the lifecycle of love. This is comparable to a simple brand / product / service life cycle which almost all the marketing students are aware of(Kotler is what am referring to) Anyways I am listing the same below

• Early/Introduction Stage
• Growth Stage
• Maturity Stage
• Decline Stage

The Early stage is where the hormonal and chemicals of the body take over the conscious. Love is supposed to be blind and people in love are in their elevated senses with one single point of thought and that is about the other partner. Similar to the state where a males of the elephant species are experiencing Musth and female is in estrus. Musth is the time for establishing reproductive hierarchy, which can differ from the usual social hierarchy in that a male in musth outranks nonmusth males. Similarly for humans around the teenages, is the time where they exhibit the maximum of non-compliance, risk and move out from the following the societal norms and feel invincible. If things where to be cut loose, they will surely seek a partner. During this time being with the partner, fighting for one, being possessive is all but natural. Thoughts of life being non-existent if one fails in love, or doesn't find one are very much common, but only baseless. People mostly fail to understand and interpret their true feelings, for compromising to get someone to be with is what is on the highest criteria. The second step is to please the other person, by means of flirty talks, treating, gifting and surprising each other. The risk taking as I said is maximum in the early stage, one might risk ones own health and physical well being and wouldn't mind getting badly injured at this stage. The early stage as I believe should last for 3-6 months by end of which either the relations fail or go to the next stage. They fail for the mere fact that the need to be with other person makes one get into a relationship and more its not planned or thought of affair. This stage is the most exciting, joyful of the periods and could determine the fate of an individual. A strength of person is also determined on how one handles adverse situation here.

The Growth Stage in a relation is the foundation for the base of trust, acceptance, faith and confidence, integrity and intensity are set-up. This stage is beyond surprising, people should understand how one should avoid surprising each others by creating awkward situations. Trust, confidence in each other, faith and belief in each others abilities are slowly established in this stage. One starts to develop respect for each other, by the end of the stage one should be in a position to atleast if know if not accept the other persons short comings. This stage as I suppose usually last 3-6 months.

In Maturity Stage or towards the end of the growth stage occurs a situations where one completely gives in and surrenders their feelings to each other. The amount of confidence and trust in each is so immense that one starts to believe in the other sometimes more than themselves. Unavoidably the expectations from the other also starts growing. It is this stage where almost all the freshness, blossom, Passion of the early days of love are lost, and are taken over by duty, responsibility. Couples who are intelligent enough to take responsibility as an opportunity will succeed in laying up a foundation for a life long relation, other would surely have a rough patch, while few might part ways for the egos come in their ways for a few and others are outwitted by their own expectations not matching up in terms of responsibility shouldering towards mutual and perhaps exclusive needs. I feel there is no timelines that can be humanly set here, for a very opportunistic couple will develop and sustain love even in daily chores and shouldering responsibilities while others might resent the same.

The Decline stage is somewhere when it happens the couple are very preoccupied with so many personal things and are probably bothered about just pleasing self, and are the least interested about their partner. This attention shift from the partner is complete and total, and might no longer seek attention from them as the assumptions on solutions, reactions to the situations is so much known that they can ignore the perspective of their partner and start seeking advice or a perspective of a different person as required. But usually the kind of joy and excitement necessary is completely non-existent among the couple themselves. Sometimes the responsibilities they shouldered till now would have started aching and burdening them that they wish to call an end, but one might still continue to be together as they have no reason to split, and will try to find sollace in probably trying to advice, and guide others from their own experiences.

But as an independent thought to this LLC (Love Life Cycle) there are few thoughts which I would like to share.

1. One if finds true love wouldn't have any expectations from the other, if some kind of expectations are coming up, its for the only reason that one is in a social environment and one needs to be a part of the social fabric that society sets for oneself and expects each other to be and act in a way which they interpret as "acceptable societal norms". Obviously each others understanding, interpretations, perceptions and tolerances towards each other operate at a different frequency so conflicts do happen and expectations are changing, reset continously; sometimes the expectations change at exponential speeds for the same to be kept, met and broken.

2. Love is always not about being together and partying (sleeping included). In today's world, atleast people who are in love expect to do everything to just to reach to that intimate level. This is the biggest mistake people make and its quite evident in a conservative society like ours, where moving around with a girl is a taboo. And for a boy reaching a girl is only got one societably acceptable path and which happened to be love and feeling of love. People needs to understand that being or assuming that liking a person just cause for a sake of moving around together is everything else but love.

3. Intimacy at most of the times kills love, one need to understand that love can blossom and its true colors are fully revealed only by means of distance. Distances between true lovers helps them to understand and treasure each other, mutual respect grows, any false implications in the relations are fast healed. Intimacy creates friction, while distance and slight seclusion eases off that friction.

4. It's not always easy to move on having been in love. Love doesn't give second chance, and never loose what bit you possess with you, for people in love are easily heart broken in slightest provocation and might lead to a permanent loss; which is to be avoided at all lost. Things once out of hand needs drastic and dramatic measures to reposes the same lost Love. But I really doubt if the second innings would be as the same level as earlier.

5. Love is imperishable and a rare good and definitely not a commodity. Its costlier than diamond harder than titanium. Never fiddle around with for if you are you are fiddling around with your peace of mind and happiness.

6. In love one really needs to be hardlined with rest of the world, letting go of the love is as equivalent of letting go of life. If the entire world is against you and you know there is no reason strong enough for them to be against you it's only but stupidity to back of. For a step back is a step of cowardice and for there is no place for cowards in love.

7. Love is irreplaceable and has got no constituents. A replacement by means of getting a new person in place of person who one truly loved is foolishness and is torture for one gets tormented by the thoughts, feelings, comparisons and parallels which arise out of the new situation making one long for the lost love even more than ever. Bottom line get a Taj Mahal built than getting another Anarkali.

My two penance finding true love is hard, if you get one never let go and protect it at all costs. Love is irreplaceable and non-perishable. Never combine love and intimacy of physicality both are completely different and mistakenly assumed to be complimentary if not the same feelings. Respect the person you love more than an one else, if you don't you don't deserve the love.

Mangalyam tantu naanena........

" Mangalyam tantu naanenaMama jeevan hetuna.KanTe badhnaami subhagetvamjeeva sharadahshhatam"
Translated - Oh! The auspicious bride, you live a hundred autumn. I am tieing this thread which is a symbol of my life.
As I tie the Mangalsutra almost an hour past the Muhurthum of 10.35pm on 21st of August 2008, these where the words that kept resounding me for a days till today, as I gather time to put the same on the blog.
My journey towards this day wasn't a smooth sailing at all. Lots of turmoil, confusion, emotions and heartbreaks. As I start my new life trying hard to forget the past, filled of joy, love and passion mixed with tensions, emotional & morale turmoil I lay somewhere in middle, between my past which still casts long shadows and the future which offers now vision on how I can shape it.
Today as I write my blog, I feel terribly lost, and somehow disheartened over the past, for the confusions, hardships I've left behind for a few close people whom I revered for so many years.
The person I called my closest friend since 1999, where we envisioned to be together for rest of life and broke over an year back in 2007 still haunts my memories. Probably this was the reason I was unable to reconcile the fact that I was getting married and even commit just a couple of days for my marriage.
Earlier after having had a dramatically stupid and silly split I went on to get engaged to Shruti, which later broke, and this added fuel to my self discover and greater understanding and mindset towards true feelings and love which I've been running away from for sometime then. Now with the enlightenment I had though I wanted to go back I made my path back treacherous and complicated, which today is now a dead end. I am overwhelmed by everything that has happened to me, don't know what role all these things have had in terms of experience in life, and where will they lead to me in future, and whether I will be a better person or not and how well I can give back to the humanity. I just wish I become man of the people at the earliest and serve and return my debt of my sins and radical thoughts and decision making.
Today I feel having let go of her I let go off all my strength in life, while somehow I feel content for her; as for her I was her only weakness and now she would have let go of all the weakness in her life. I sincerely hope she will emerge braver, more courageous and stronger than ever.
And for my married life I am looking forward for another innings to start, and I sincerely pray for the well-being of everyone associated with me.

Movies of the Month (July 08)

I always believe that unless one connects to the movies one really can't get involved with the plot and pace of the movie. For if a movie is unable to connect to the person watching its a movie worth forgetting. Had my bit of good movies to write something good about them today. Though I wanted to scribble the moment I was done with watching them I really couldn't thanks to my constraints no internet access at home and also it was 2pm while I finished watching them.

First movie I was watching in the first week was during the prime time of Wednesday on HBO. Happened to land-in on this channel by chance and due to resemblance to Chiru's movie continued with it till the end. Really touchy one. Second was the latest bolloywood hit released five days ago.

Pay it Forward (2000)

Its about a Las Vegas, Seventh Grader named Trevor McKinney (Haley Joel Osment of Sixth Sense) is given a project to complete by his new social studies teacher Eugene Simonet (Kevin Spacey), who has terrible burn scars on his face and neck owing to child abuse during his childhood. Trevor's task is to come up with a plan that will change the world through direct action. On his way home from school later that day, Trevor notices a homeless man, and provides food and shelter covering up this from his alcholic mom Arlene (Helen Hunt) who herself suffered a bad childhood due to her alcholic mom. Trevor then comes up with the plan to "pay it forward" by making a difference in peoples life doing a good deed for atleast three people who must in turn each do good deeds for three other people.

As the movie progresses it shows how the small dream of Trevors spreads from Vegas to LA and to the rest of nation influencing not just his own people but the entire nation. Unfortunately Trevor is stabbed in a juvenile fight at school while trying to stop a fight and succumbs, just after making an appearance on TV and telling about his idea about making a difference and changing and how hard it is for people to be good because they stop trying. As the climax draws Trevor mom and teacher realise the sympathy and faith Trevor garnered due to his effort of making a difference and influence he had on so many lives due to his small act.

After Trevor was stabbed and succumbed I was crying for the rest of time till the titles came down. There is playback on TV in the movie airing the last moments of Trevor in which he was interviewed by the TV reporter who came searching for the originator of the Pay it forward idea. Really touching and felt it in my heart hard when he died.

The idea of the book and film has been brought to life by the Pay It Forward Foundation, and through the work of social activist Jane Tewson and the non-profit organization she founded, Timebank.

This "Help 3 people" Concept was originally a Communist philosophy, started by Lenin in 1918 as a means of establishing an egalitarian society.

Subsequently in 2006, Chiranjeevi's Telugu movie is heavily inspired by this movie and takes cues every now and then from the same, except that Stalin is an grown-up and survives the attack on him to see what the impact his moment has created in the society.

But the Pay it forward is something very touchy in the climax, loved the movie and a must see for sensitive people who look for inspiration and for sure they come from small seemingly insignificant things.

Quotes -

"When someone does you a big favor, don't pay it back... Pay It Forward"

"Some favours you are not allowed to pay back."

Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na (2008)

Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na is a simple, sweet, teen-comedy with debutant Imran Khan (Aamir Khan's nephew), which contrary to Aamir's first film Qayamat Se Qayamat se Tak which had women across India writing love notes to Aamir in their blood, is very genorous and sweet and less frenzy. This film also marks Abbas Tyrewala's (Munnabhai writter) directorial debut.

The movie revolved round the a typical C0-ed gang of friends from five years of college Jai Singh Rathore aka Rats (Imran Khan), Aditi aka Meeow (Genelia), Jignesh Patel aka Jiggy (Nirav Mehta), Sandhya aka Bombs (Aliskha Varde), Shaleen (Sughanda) and Rotlu (Karan) Jai and Aditi are best friends within the group. Rotlu likes Aditi. Sandhya likes Jai. But, Jai and Aditi like each other but friendly manner or is it ? The movie revolves about the evolving relation between Rats and Meeyoo where they discover the meaning of love, which until then was covered in mirage of college friendship.

Though the movie draws heavy similarity to the hit Telugu movie "Nuvve Kavali" starring Shreya, Tarun apart from resemblance to scenes borrowed from Gudumba Shankar, the movie is uniquely treated thanks to the direction and screenplay in casting out the roles which show casted some usually overseen aspects of life. To name a few - A brothers insecurity to loose his dear sister, a daughters effort to keep her parents from falling apart building a world of imagination for herself, or a mother who is too practical for being a social activist but still as vulnerable as any, a parents concerns and love for the future of their daughter, a smart boy who makes way with least of violence and a fun-loving yet well planned and dedicated bunch of youngsters. Without much fireworks the movie starts of with a good pace with a good mix of humor, music and bits of speckles of sentiment.

Cameo roles of Naseerudin Shah as late Rajput father of Jai and their tradition of Manhood concept is quite funny. Added to it towards the climax discovery of Bhaloo and Baghera (Arbaaz Khan and Sohail Khan) as cousins of Jai from Ranjhore. Though the horse riding dreams where bit of irritant they do some humor adding the Ranjhore-legend towards the end.

The in-movie narration of the story is also fun to watch, adds a bit of humor without getting involved in the plot. While the On the whole with delicate subtleties and near to life situations and good music and good overall performance the movie is a refreshing one which the younger viewers should appreciate.

At the end I felt I why couldn't I be like the cool Rats and think of singing out that special song to the most deserving one in full public presence when it mattered the most. Though resembled the part from Dil Chahta Hain's Aamir-Preity incident, this is treated differently with a special dream song in a airport with security personnel singing and updating the control room on his radio-walky. Hilarious !!!

Hancock (2008)

Hancock happens to be the movie of Will Smith where he is potrayed as a Comic book Super-Hero with super human powers to fly, be bullet proof and scratch proof. Though he tries to help out his careless attitude makes him the most hated super-hero due to the collateral damage of his deeds. Ray Embrey a corporate public relations consultant, who after being rescued by Smith tries to repay him by revamping his image. But Hancock secretly falls for Ray's wife who somehow dislikes and tries to avoid Hancock. As the story unfolds she reveals that she and Hancock are by fate soul-mates, if they decide to live together will make them mortals loosing all their super powers. The story unwinds with each choosing whats best for their survival as super-heroes and their roles in helping the world over their personal choices. The movie some what is onlines contradicting Nicholas Cages's "City of Angels" where he falls off to live a life of human to be in love. Well no complaints that was a too good love story to compare a bad super-hero movie like Hancock. For me atleast after a beautifully themed hero movie like the last of Smith' movie "I Am Legend" this fails to hold me back to the seat to look out for the next plot. Very much sub-standard by any standard. Signifies a movie not to be made and watched...hmm remenisance of another movie I watched in 2006 V for Vendetta.

Telugu Movies

Parugu (2008)

Krishna (Allu Arjun) supports his friend Babu to elope with his girlfriend Subbalakshmi, the elder daughter of Neelakantam (Prakashraj), a village elder. Irked over this, Neelakantam and his kin hole up Krishna and his friends to enquire about Babu. Krishna loses his heart to Meenakshi (Sheela), the younger daughter of Neelakantam, and quite hesitantantly she also falls for Krishna. Krishna after understanding how Neelakanta feels over his daughters condition decides not to woo his second daughter He breaks off to help her in her marriage. How they finally get married and how her father accepts realities is what the story is about. Neatly done movie, decent songs, very good comedy, nice localities (especially the ones in mornings in the village). Though it was overdone when the girl falls for the boy in the city, the sentiment part and sacrificing aspect of the movie made it a special one to watch.

Ready ...Denikianaa (2008)
Chandrasekhar aka Chandu (Ram - Devadasu hero), is from a well to-do big joint family, who elopes his cousin on her marriage day to get her married to her lover, and subsequently stays out of the family. He meets Pooja(Genelia) accidently while eloping her from her marriage. Chandu, falls for Pooja and tries to win her confidence over sequence of run and chase sequences unwind. They return back to Chandu's house while Pooja plans to flee to USA, and as fate has it, she falls in love and as everything gets set, she is forced back to her family. Post interval is where the fun part starts and movie beocmes really enjoyable and made it a worth while to watch. The rest of the story, woven through the hero playing Gudumba Shankar-mark tricks on the families of Pooja's uncles Peddinaidu (Kota Srinivasa Rao), and Chitti Naidu (Jayaprakash Reddy & Saranya. The comic Chaterred Accountant played by Brahmanandam who is caught in the middle was fun to watch. The movie was lots of fun, possibly didn't have so much of fun in a long time watching a movie. Felt this was the best of the movies for the current season in the Tollywood. Really laughed my stomach out.

Kantri (2008)

NTR Jr, Hansika starrer was much of a let down movie for me, felt the plot of the movie was too stupid, again too much of superman stunts, very much away from reality. From backstabbing to revenge and vengance of the boy who'z family was backstabbed, robbed and murdered is what the plot of the story is. Too much of fiction is something which I was unable to connect, not much of musical numbers or commendable comedy, made the movie expereince sub-standard.

The Secret of "The Secret"

In the earlier blog under Book review I referred a self-help book by TV producer/director Rhonda Byrne "The Secret" 2006 which was a follow-up of the DVD movie. And as I did mention about how a neatly and clever age old philosophy and thoughts were well camouflaged to come out with the best seller of the recent times. Its as of today has sold nearly 5 million copies and the reprint has 2 million in pipeline, which makes it the among the single largest reprints ever. Bestsellers list include The Bible (55+ billion), Quotations from Chairman Mao Zedong (900 million), Harry Potter & Philosophers Stone (110 million), Richard Bach's "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" (40 million). "The Secret" is the best seller in its Genre of Self Help, Inspirational Series and that which comes close is 2007 edition "The God Delusion" byRichard Dawkins. Now in The Secret of 'The Secret' Karen Kelly delves into this extraordinary phenomenon. What is the secret? Where did it come from and does it really work? She also investigates why this little book has struck such a chord. Why are we drawn to seek answers and change our destiny using the power of the mind and the universe? Scholars and popular culture experts provide perspective on what makes the idea so appealing.
Several participants from The Secret share their behind-the-scenes stories and insights. Renowned psychologists, scientists and theologians weigh in on the power and limits of positive thinking and the Law of Attraction (the basis behind The Secret). Uncover the scientific and religious roots that form the building blocks of The Secret as experts evaluate the author's claims about the various connections between these principles and 'the Secret'.

The Secret of Secret tries to give credit to the innumerable people, methodologies, New thought practitioner's which Rhonda had failed to acknowledge, while challenging the claim that the Secret had been a secret to a few. The book tries to uncover facts, resemblances to the commentary stated in the book, and tries to establish the connection of the people whose quotes and names have been used. A few interesting pieces include those of Bethoven, Mozzart, Einstein, Ford, Shakespeare etc. The book explains how the facts and quotes can be misinterpreted by media and without validation and interpretation of the original speakers been included in the creation of the Secret.

Though the book is boring for its a semi-criticism book it tries to help uncover the source of complete stories and religious fundamentalism which were censored from the content in the book. It also takes the secret to the next level and dispel the usage of the Secret in which Rhonda confines herself to a lot of materialism and money making mechanism without actually doing anything. Kelly tells how misinterpretation could undo the goodness in the philosophy.

The book also speaks in length about the documentary movie called ""What the Bleep Do We Know!?" (also written as What tHē βLεερ Dθ ωΣ (k)Πow!?)

which is a 2004 film, followed by an extended 2006 DVD release, which combines documentary-style interviews, computer-animated graphics, and a narrative that posits a spiritual connection between quantum physics and consciousness. The film suggests that individual and group consciousness can influence the material world. The plot follows the story of a fictional deaf photographer as she struggles with her life.

The DVD has had lots of success owing to the Secret, but Kelly felt it was much refined in approach and content and very practical too. The DVD was perceived as next big step to Secret atleast the author felt of this in this fashion with the kind of demand and interest the DVD has been making after the success of "The Secret". Kelly tries to co-relate of few of commonalities and the fashion in which one can borrow articles from Quantum Physics, which none could understand leave alone interpret and make a total story out of it. She demonstrates the way Rhonda uses this in her book. The way Science can be used and misinterpreted in the usage of various philosophies and methodologies are also demonstrated.

Also she explains how the timing of the book was so perfect for the world audience especially the Americans, where the society in on verge of financial depression with the ongoing sub-prime and oil-crisis. And how the timing couldn't have been much better for people to look for hope and get encouraged to buy this book. And from the marketing mindset she tries to uncover how the method of guerrilla marketing, viral marketing, Internet marketing, word-of-mouth, cult marketing and circulations help boost the sales and popularity of the book and DVDs. She explains how the authors, presenters who already had a loyal set of followers helped "The Secret" achieve critical mass by recommending within their own distribution list and help it gather the critical mass.

Further readings and articles which can be read to make up ones own mind have been recommended for the readers to make their own decisions.
Kelly WebLinks: http://www.universallawstoday.com/

Personally felt the book by Karen Kelly was trying to balance out a lot things from the Runaway success of The Secret. Tries to do a factual analysis but failed to understand the reason of its existence. For me a best seller are made to be best seller and make money, and perhaps on easy way is to take it on from where one has left and carry on a crusade against it with a big PR campaign, but mind you one needs to have talent for anything. Was a little disheartened to learn that there has a New Thought book named "Art of living" written in 1937 by Norman Vincent Peale , for its the name of organisation which along with million others I respect here in India.
And a few pence from my end is that from our tradition, which speaks of knowledge being shared across with ones who seek it whole heatedly and for a good purpose. In the times of Gurukul, where the Guru's taught their disciples or Sishya's the expectation wasn't much in return nor they usually hide knowledge, yes things were held for sometime till the disciple were capable of handling the knowledge and have mastered the pre-requisites. Guru was supposed to manifestation of energy and energy can't be contained for long and it had to flow seamlessly. The Guru has to facilitate this without expecting anything in return. If this is applicable to the Secret I feel all the right and correct things shouldn't be selfishly sealed in the closet never to be discovered by the next generations. The wisdom of wise has to sustain and support the betterment of the current and future generations and not ever contained to self.