Now what do you do at crossroads?Follow the crowd or walk alone?

Today I made a phone call to the Shakti Foundation for their fundraiser show by the universally acclaimed music group ‘Remember Shakti‘ comprising jazz exponent John McLaughlin, tabla wizard Zakir Hussain, mandolin maestro U. Shrinivas, popular singer and music director Shankar Mahadevan and kanjeera artiste Selvaganesh.After blocking my pass,the woman on the other end asked for my age.Though I wondered about the question,I replied instantly.She askedme whether the pass was for my parents for which I gave her a hard NO!!May be because I sounded boorish,that she flooded me with the reasons for asking those questions.

The reasons were

1)Only 1% of youngsters come for the Carnatic and Hindustani concerts.

2)Any youngsters making the bookings were always made for their parents/grand parents.

3)From the past experiences,bookings made for youngsters did create problems as most of them don’t turn up for the concert,making losses for the foundation.

Now before making the rest of my generation culpable,let me take you to my childhood.My parents being hard-core fans of Carnatic and Hindustani music,played keerthanams and albums very often.My brother and I developed a natural scunner as we always had conflicts about which album to be played at home.Such an insurgentism led to a stage where we played two albums at a time.Once you come home,you can hear the soulful voice of Dr.K.J.Yesudas from the ground floor and once you escalate to the first floor my brother and I will be head banging for some metal rock music.But since our life at home had a background score of Carnatic,Hindustani,Instrumental music and ghazal,a twist happened making me realize that I was falling in love with the Indian music.During school days,knowledge about English albums made me put on a pedestal in my friends gang.After the revelation,I started liking a varied range and genre of music; yes,I was in love with music.From then onwards,it never mattered for me what type of music I hear,it just depends on my mood swings.

Now coming back to the post,I feel youngsters take the western music as a status symbol than a sincere liking for it.It gives them a place in their social circle.Some say that if we don’t have an enviable playlist of English songs in our phone,then we are abashed in front of the others.People including my dear ones are very reluctant to avouch that they like the traditional Indian music.What Prasanna says,”Indian youth consider classical music to be too old for their taste.” should be seen as a serious issue.A change to such a mentality is necessary.I have heard parents bragging about their kid’s liking of “only” English albums.So I would say,it all depends on how kids are brought up.If my parents never encouraged us to listen to the Indian music,I am sure that today even I would have made attractive playlists of songs and would have laughed at people who go for classical/ghazal nights.

Last weekend when I attended the classical night of Dr.K.J.Yesudas,my friends gave me weird looks.But after getting inside the auditorium,I felt weirder.Why?I could not find ANYBODY of my age in the crowd.In between the concert,Yesudas sadly repined that the younger generation is behind fame and glamor.He added that most of the kids learned Carnatic music for competing with the peers in reality shows without the passion for it.All he wanted was an upcoming generation to carry over the tradition of Indian music.

Now if we lack a generation to inherit the Indian music,then looks like my grand-kids and the coming generation  may not even know what Carnatic music was or who Yesudas was.

Now what can we do for generating interest in Indian music?

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So few minutes back,Debo tagged me for the prestigious Liebster Blog Award.

Thank you Debo for this award,like you said,it did cheer me up

So now let me give an opportunity for few of my well deserved blogger friends to do their part of grandiloquence after receiving this award

According to the ritual of the tagging business,before announcing the winners,I am suppose to magniloquence about myself.So here it is.

Recondite facts about Me

1)People  say that I’m a kid masqueraded as a grown-up.But the truth is the other way round.

2)When I am depressed,I shop!! :0

3)For past 3 weeks I am dreaming about getting an iPhone 4S as a gift

4)I wish I get married in ten different rituals and of course to the same guy

5)I fress when I am alone and thank God I never put on weight.

6)Even at the age of 25,I make my Mom hug me and sleep next to me when I’m home for a vacation.

7)I flaunt about my beautiful hair

And the winners are

1)Rajeswari -ssh raji@her_world

My soul mate and insane friend.I started my blog inspiring from her.But it’s been a while that she has written any posts.So let this award give her the mood to scribble out the wonderful sunrise we had.She maintains a pseudo-photoblog and her photography is awesome that she made me look sexy in some pictures

2)Z – Zradar

My supporting pillar and my Pari’s beautiful Mom.It was an honor for me to baptize her to the blogging world.We share the bond of similar thoughts and views in life.At times I wonder,she is my twin heart.

3)Nidaa – Reclaiming Lost Marbles

My partner in crime.I think we have commensurate experiences in life.You can read about her pranks and eventful incidents from the past in her blog.

4)Nikhil -Random Thoughts

My kiddo elder brother who is younger to me in age but elder to me intellectually.An avid reader and an upcoming writer.

5)Zephyr – Cyber Nag

My favorite lady of blogosphere.Somebody who gives me an insight about relationships and family tie-ups.This is my way of showing my love for you Zephyr.Visit Chennai soon

6)Joshi – Tomato Blog

My satire blogger friend who shares the birth state and the mother tongue  with me.His posts makes you ROTFL so it is a highly recommended one.

7)Bikram – Me and My Random Thoughts

Singh is King!! says it all about him.You get into his blog and you will feel like you are entering into his life.

Now let me see those grins of happiness on your face.Happy blogging!!

Once again,Thank you Debo for making me smile

Why do we feel that the other side is greener?

Why do we feel that certain things could have done better if it had happened now?

Why do we feel that certain matter should have not told that day?

Why do we feel lonely even after being in a crowd?

Why do we feel that at times nobody feels your pain?

Why do we feel void even after having everything in life?

Why do we lose the charm after possessing the one we wanted?

Why do we get things when we try to get rid of it?

Why do we lose things when we badly wish for it?

Why do we feel that we should have born somewhere else?

Why do we feel that at times we are the best/worst in the world?

Why do we feel that we didn’t live the life to the fullest?

Why do we feel that we are right,no matter what others say?

Why do we feel that certain questions can never have answers?

And why do I feel this way?

May all your dreams and resolutions come true.

May the new year erases the scars of the past.

May something new happen in this new year leaving the past and giving strength to live a brighter and peaceful future..

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

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It is a sad bare truth that nobody has ever surprised me.I somehow smell the fish even before they cook it.

I am yet to find whose hereditary genes gives me instantaneous creative ideas.

Since my childhood,I hated people gifting rubbish to others.My Mom stopped taking me for gift shopping as I comment on whatever she picks up as a gift.There are some standard gift items like crockery,dinner sets,pens,wall decorators etc which spoil my moods.Whenever I dig in my personal gift trunk,it gives me a hard time to recollect who gifted me what.So many soft toys,desk decorators,photo frames(without pics ) and some other junk.Of course there are valuable gifts which I keep close to my heart,but I wonder why people can’t surprise me.

As far as I remember,the first surprise gift I made was for my 3rd standard friend,Shameena.She was addicted to the color of gold.She wanted the world painted in golden shades.Those days as we were too young to remember anybody’s birthdays(even our own birthday unless Mom pull me out of the bed early morning to go to temple),I couldn’t plan anything.She distributed sweets in the class that day,so when I got back home from school I had a great idea.I cut out her name from a thermocol and stuck those in a chart paper.Then I applied glue on those letters and sprinkled golden glittering powder on it.Whoa!!I got her name written in golden letters(Now don’t ask how come in such a small age I had this idea.I have no clue ).I still have her excited and happy face in my mind as she was jumping with joy after seeing my gift.It was then I realized how much surprises can make a person happy in life.

During school days,I cannot shop gifts like how I do now.So I always made gifts.Whenever my dear ones’ special day is nearing,I always went panic if I am out of ideas to surprise them.Prasun and I were fed up of giving letters and stories to our Mom on her birthdays.I was still out of ideas when there was only a day more for her birthday.The night before her birthday as the monthly felon made her sleep early,I didn’t know that was a boon for me.She didnt do the dishes,she didn’t wipe the kitchen floor and has forgotten to press our school uniforms too.So Prasun and I sneaked out of the bed at 3am(she wakes up at 5am sharp without an alarm).I did the dishes,cleaned the floor and made a big mug of milk for her.Prasun managed to iron our uniforms.I pulled a new carpet on the kitchen floor to make my work look perfect.We hung the birthday banner on the kitchen door and stuck a painting which Prasun made for her.But unfortunately,we slept off in the couch.But Mom being very generous(realized it later in my life),made some noises which woke up us.We sat straight in the couch with half closed eyes and sleepy heads;Prasun fell on to my shoulders every two seconds when I heard her footsteps at the staircase.We wished her,gave kisses and ran back to sleep.My Mom still talks about it to people.I wish my kids give me sweet birthday surprises

College was the perfect platform for showcasing my talents in making surprises.Ideas just flow in like waterfalls when somebody’s birthday is nearing.Though there are lots,I will narrate the best from it.It was first semester in our college.Six of us became great friends in no time.The birthday girl and I were roommates.Another two in the gang were in one room and rest of the two in two different rooms.As it was the first birthday in our gang of friends,we were actually confused.We are having a hostel life for the first time.Moreover we hardly know her but we liked her so much and we were going to be together for another four years.We managed to get a cake and candles but gifting her cake was not a great idea.I stopped listening to classes as I wanted a kick-ass idea.At last I came up with a plot.We were sure that she must have not expected a surprise birthday party as the college days have just started.I made another friend in my gang to act for the day as if she was suffering from stomach ache.I made her whine about it till 11pm.We sat with her and made her sleep in the room where other two friends of my gang are roommates.We told those three that we will check with those people after one hour’s study.By the time we three got out of the room,they started the decoration work and made the cake ready.At 11.55pm the birthday girl got a call from the room that our friend collapsed because of severe stomach ache.Both of us ran to the first floor and rushed inside the room.The room was candle lit and decorated.She just couldn’t believe the surprise and shrieked out of joy.We hugged each other and shouted in joy.Of course,those hugs bound us together,even today.

Back home,I surprise my family members every year,especially for my parents’ wedding anniversary.Every year,I feel happy inside by seeing their surprised and happy faces.They always ask me how I managed to make plots in front of their eyes.I don’t have an answer for that question.

Now somebody please surprise me!!!

PS : Hey Z,I think it’s not a bad idea to open a gift shop of our own.

How bad our life would have been if there were no memories for us?Aren’t our experiences in life turning into an old guy as memories?

When life takes roller-coaster ride we learn to control the ride through our experiences.That’s why we have our grand parents and parents to tell us their adventures to us so that we have an idea about upcoming surprises in life.

I am sure that even the silliest and dumbest experience will turn out to  wonderful memories after years.

Shouldn’t we have some surprise experiences of our own from which we learned small lessons ?Otherwise how can we boast to our coming generations?

Below is a list of experiences which I had in 25 years of life.

When I was 6 years,I threw a stone on to the tree to make my paper rocket fall down.I stood under the tree and looked up to see my paper rocket falling.But the stone came down before the paper rocket gifting me two stitches on my right eye brow which later became the permanent identification mark.Thus I learned stone is heavier than paper and Newton’s law of Gravitation.

At the age of 10,I had to struggle with my short-tempered mannerisms and egoistic attitude.While playing cricket,the cricket ball got lost in the bushes of neighboring house.My brother and friends were reluctant to search for the ball.They told that there is a new dog in that house,also last week the boys saw a snake in the bush.But being very adamant I went in search for the ball.Two minutes later,they saw me running at a speed of 100 miles/hour with a stick in my hand having snake’s shredded skin, the dog chasing me and me howling at top of my voice.That was a wonderful lesson.Thereafter I always heed what my juniors tell me.

By dreaming the high-heeled shoes,at the age of 16,I understood “what all not to do while wearing a pointed high-heeled shoes”I wore it and ran down five floors of staircase for not to miss my bus.But one of the pointed heels broke during my adventurous running and I broke my right ankle.Though I expected to have a 10 days break from the school,unfortunately my Mom had made arrangements to take me to school.That was the first and last time I wore a high-heeled shoes.Today I am a big fan of flat sandals

How much ever we grow up we are never better than our parents.My 21st birthday was a disaster which I celebrated with food infection.My Mom stayed with me in my room in the hostel.Though she wanted to help me in taking the medicines,I refused as I was a proud last year engineering student with a job.Five minutes after having the medicines,I vomited my soul out which made all the undigested hostel food go outside my stomach.But anyway I got cured from the food poisoning as my stomach became clean and clear.I was blessed to have the most embarrassing moment of my life,when next day my Mom found out that I had vomited the night before because I swallowed the green capsules for inhalation.I had forgotten to check the medicine packets while arguing with my Mom about being a grown up girl.I mistook the green capsules for my Vitamin E Evion 400 capsules.Moms are always great and they will always know more things than us.

Though we think that we are the boss of our life,sadly it is not that way in office.Taking off for a day for our best friend’s wedding during a project launch is a difficult task.We cook up stories and situations to make others feel that we are sick.We walk like a zombie so that our boss thinks that we are terribly sick.After completing the drama,we transform into a beautiful bride’s maid next morning only to find out that the groom is our boss’ nephew.You see the boss sitting in the front row of the crowd dressed up for giving the blessings for my best friend and her husband.What a day!!Then I realized that I am bad at lying and cooking up stories.So better tell the truth.

Cooking is an awesome area to experiment if only we eat whatever we had experimented.I cannot make myself embarrassed with the blunder I made while cooking that day.Of course I won’t admit to be dumb to that extent.But unfortunately I am;at times.The lesson learned is never do experiments in cooking when he is tired and hungry after sitting through a conference skipping the lunch and snacks.
Warning:It can cause world war 3

So what are your dumbest experiences?

Being a premature baby,I have made my parents run to the doctors often.Those days Mom’s office was closer to home that she could come home for lunch.So when I am sick,she kinda shuttled between office and home.One day when she was about to lock me up and leave to office,she realized that there was something wrong with me.My eyes rolled up making me helpless to look straight.My neck strained as if I was looking up to the sky.She tried to bring my neck back in normal position but my eyes and neck were still attracted to the sky.She took me and ran to the gate to get an auto rickshaw.As my neck was still reluctant to heed my brain’s commands,it was difficult for her to make me walk on the road.She cried badly and made me walk.Suddenly a jeep came and stopped next to us.They took us to the hospital.My problem was due to the medicine Stemetil.Then I came to know that I’m allergic to the medicines for vomiting.The interesting part is my Mom still don’t know who they are.She remembers like they helped her by lifting me to the casualty and paying the bill too.

When my parents were trying hard to build their dream home,they went short of Rs.10,000 due to an unexpected surgery in the family.But the piece of land which they had selected had too many competitors.18 years back Rs.10,000 was a big amount for us.At the verge of giving up the plot and the dreams of having a house they seemed to lose the life in them.But two days before the registrations one of our family friends gave the cash to my Dad.He got to know about the shortage of cash through someone and helped my Dad.Later we came to know that he had to exchange his wife’s jewellery for giving us the cash.Today my parents live in their dream home situated next to a river bank which has a vast courtyard and lots of coconut trees.

Earlier this year when my brother was hospitalized due pneumonia,I felt immensely down.To add the pain there were no flights to Calicut as I got Mom’s call only at 7pm.I rushed to the railway station but the last train to Calicut had already gone by then.When I checked at the railway enquiry one guy told me to stay till the 1130pm train and promised me to help me in getting a reservation ticket.Even though he was a railway officer I was in a dilemma whether to trust him or not.Thinking of Prasun I couldn’t hold back my tears.By the time the train came I was tired of crying and I had forgotten to have my dinner too.I got inside the sleeper class compartment expecting to get a berth to sleep.The guy which I had met at the enquiry suddenly asked me for my ticket.I gave him the ticket and he vanished.Next moment I cursed myself for being a fool under tensed situations.I gave my ticket to some stranger and I don’t know where he has gone.Tension was building towers in my mind and I went in search for him.The train had already started and I was inside it without a ticket.After wandering through the compartments I came back to the seat where I had kept my bag.To my surprise he was sitting there with my ticket converted to a reservation ticket.Next day morning he woke me up early so that I don’t miss my connection train.I wonder what I would’ve done if he had not helped me.

Going late to office became a habit only because of the advantage of having empty metro trains.One morning I felt like going early to office.Like I expected,I got squeezed like the sugar canes in the juice machine.Upon reaching the second station I had to step down for giving way for people to get down.While getting back to the foot board I got just enough place to keep my legs.While nearing to Mambalam station I lost the grip and I fell down to the platform when people inside the train tried to make a move to get down.I remember rolling on the floor a dozen times.I went numb and I was in a shock.People surrounded me and shouted at top of their voice and some sweethearts took a picture of mine using cellphones.I didn’t know what to do and I realized that my legs have damaged badly.Suddenly a middle-aged woman helped me in getting up and cleared the way for me.She took me to the hospital.She dropped me back home and then to my surprise she was my new neighbor who had moved in the day before the incident.

Now aren’t these people incarnations of the Almighty?No wonder I still believe that God is inside you and me,and not locked inside a particular place.

Read about another incarnation.

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Now the concern is NOT about him or his visit or he talking in Malayalam.

In the advertisement,they say like “It is the world’s greatest wedding collection”.

Why are advertising agencies OBSESSED with the word “WORLD”?

Don’t they know that they are lying on their face?

Here are some more examples.

Emmanuval Silks – World’s Largest Wedding Collection

Joy Alukkas – World’s favorite Jeweler

V JOHN Shaving Cream – World’s Largest Selling Shaving Cream

G-Tech Education –  World leader in IT Education

Parle-G – World’s Largest Selling Biscuit

Medimix -  World’s largest selling ayurvedic bath soap

Tide Detergent Powder – Largest selling detergent in the world

Do you want to add more?