Memoirs of Madras :) :) :)

Some find Bombay to be the city of their dreams, some find Bangalore, some Delhi, but for me its one and only Madras. This was not just a place but a part of my life. A place that redefined my life and got so many that was latent in me until then. I live with a group of people who just hate Chennai for its attributes like climate, govt set up, however nothing can shake the strong emotional bond I share with Chennai. Chennai, for instance, was rechristened from its original name of Madras due to some issues of unexplainable logic. I prefer to call it Madras over Chennai.

Lemme try and capture the reasons that make madras, second closest city to my heart. To get started, its not my native place. My native is Trichy. However,from early childhood, Madras has been an integral part of my life due to my relatives who are mostly based out of that place. During summer hols, every year, while was a kid, I use to visit that place and started falling in love with that place. However, those were very kiddish fantasies like playing, visit the beach, go to Zoo, go to the planetarium for a show and the like. However, during my later years of formation, I realized that this place has a lot to offer beyond the kiddish fantasies of life.

I must use the phrase, I was 'growing up' in life when my strong encounter with this place started on a more serious note. It was the summer of 2004 when I completed schooling and was getting geared to enter into the next phase of life, Loyola College, Chennai. We as a family studied in Loyola like my dad, uncles, cousins etc. So, I was naturally inclined to go to Loyola and pursue my dream subject Economics, despite the fact that I was a science student at School with 94 % in the final exams. For strange reasons, dad was not so keen about my relocation to Chennai and was insistent to continue studies at St Joseph's College, Trichy. However, after a long and thorough debate and after winning the backing of sister and other relatives, I was succesfull in persuading dad to allow me to go to Madras.

I am a dreamer and I was a dreamer then. I use to dream about life in Loyola before joining college. Finally, I joined Loyola. :) However, i was not given Economics due to Madras Uni regulations. However, i was given my second preference and luv, Sociology. From that moment my life was transformed to greater heights. Madras, helped me to realize that I had something in me and several times, reassured my faith in me. College was a great place to be in. Hostel was yet another marvel that helped my growth in several ways.

The most important twist or rather fortune took place in the second year of my life in college. This will involve a bit of metaphysics. Those were the most happiest and glorious days of my life. There is an unique reason that strengthened my bond with madras, however, the reason discontinued itself from my life. However, its worth mentioning the importance of that particular factor and the impact of that factor in my life for the years to come.

Now coming to the 3 day hol in Chennai. Beautiful 3 days of time in Chennai. My clock has never ticked so fast like how it did in Chennai. Wish I feel the same in College so that the boring lectures run away fast :P . I took the bus to Chennai on Thursday night 10.30 PM and reached Chennai at 6 o clock in the morning. Reached Aunt's place and then as usual relaxed( slept like a pig :D). Then i was greeted with the most aromatic Madras Filter coffee, which I rate as number one. Followed by a grand king size breakfast of Pongal and vadai - Typical Madras style. :)

Did all the catching ups with all the family members and started planning the day. All the agenda items included meeting a fren or the other. In the meantime sister had come to meet me and we discussed all the plans regarding the new flat "BETHEL". The next day dad came down to madras from Trichy. This day was spent primarily visiting the site of BETHEL and doing the legal documentation regarding the new flat. Had high quality discussion with dad and sister on a range of issues. Then came the final day viz sunday. we three went out to meet a relative and took her out for lunch. This was one of the best places that offer Aappam in Chennai. Its named 'Nalas Aappa kadai". Belted food there and then got back home around 4 ish in the evening.

In the evening I was shocked to see my return ticket to be not usable as it was incorrectly booked for a date that was already over. So, had to rush to the bus station and then fight with many standing in the queue to get a ticket done. What a drama it was. :) Then at night 10 I started to Bangalore and dad left to Trichy.

To sum up, Madras means a lot of emotions to me. The place has seen the best of my emotions and the worst as well. :)

Super Sunday :)

What a wonderful day it has been. A day that started on a very sombre note took serious turns when I started cooking. the menu for the day was Chicken Briyani, Chicken gravy, Drumstick and potato Sambhar, rice, lassi. Last evening was a very nice evening owing to MAGNIFICAT - an amazing time of blessing and communication with God. However, as I got back home I wasn't greeted by good moves that were happening. The events were sick in the night that brought my spirit down. However, the dawn was ready to offer several positives. Life is always like that. Hopes are juxtaposed with despair. :)

A quiet hectic day i must say. But nevertheless, a wonderful day as its a bliss to host guests at home. The pleasure of cooking makes u forget any amount of issues going inside your mind and helps get rid of boredom. First, me and Kenz went out to Neelsandra to buy the groceries needed to make the lunch. And after coming back from neelsandra, got into the act straight away. A wonderful recipe for briyani was ready to be done. I am not sure if it turned out to be great :P I leave it to the choice of people who had tasted it. :D

Had to do too many things and the constraints of just two burners in the stove made things get delayed. But, I must appreciate the patience of Shiny, Tush , Ashwini, and the others who were not able to make it :) They deserve a round of applause. :) Dont they? Also, its worth mentioning here about people who were not able to make it to the lunch. I still feel they were very much a part of the lunch. Appreciate them :)

The lunch was served in a phased manner. as there were some dishes being made in the kitchen when the finished dishes were being served. A big thank you to all who made this day a grand success. they need a big pat on the back. I am glad that am able to send some food back to hostel for peeps to taste the dishes.

Bliss :)

Life offers unlimited surprises. Some surprises bring a smile on your face but some can do the opposite. However, this evening has been a fantabulous one and I was full on smiling today. Yeah. For some time I have been thinking that I am unlucky at times as many things just don’t work my way. But, today was a different day. A day of different emotions, a day to be remembered for reasons of joy. I think it’s the beginning of the season of happiness that’s lying ahead in hand’s reach.

Once again it all started in a totally unanticipated way. I was as usual at my lazy best all throughout the day. Then, For some reason i was getting geared to go to college. My roommate had asked me to bring his camera for the teacher’s day function that was held at college. So, I got ready and left to college. At college, did some errand jobs to make the stage ready for the teachers day function and then this surprise comes up.

My close frens had shared about my FOCUS with this fren in the freshman year of college. Lets call him “Goodwill Angel”, in short GA. GA was at his best to help things happen the way my heart wished. Me, Bhris and Taria and a few other frens were standing down and blossom comes down after a gruelling session of class. GA started introducing her to us and everyone just couldn’t control their laughter for very obvious reasons.

Also, me being a great master of Goof ups, once again was at my best in goofing up. I just cant believe the fact that blossom was being introduced. Its not that I do not know blossom before. But yeah getting introduced again was a costly thrill. The group of frens around me just cant stop laughing at the series of events that was getting unfolded.

Many frens of mine got to know about my FOCUS today publicly. Then GA arranged a meet for all of us. GA planned a visit to sweet castle for a cup of coffee/cake. After an initial hesitation, blossom agreed to come with us. My senses were not able to believe the fact that it was actually happening as opposed to my usual scheme of things that happen in the metaphysical plane of thought. While, i deeply respect myself for my undying belief in the bliss of metaphysical state of my mind, today I realized the same happiness was possible in things of reality.

Again, life is full of surprises. I can vouch for that statement. My conversation with Blossom was centered around common topics like college, studies, CGPA and the like. Nevertheless, am very happy and thankful to GA, Bhris and Taria for standing by me all throughout the day. GA was simply superb in his actions today. He deserves a very loud and sound applause.

Let me try to capture my heart's feelings.

There was a renewed hope in me when I met her. Hope offered by blossom is beyond measure
A hope can ignite the sunken mind.
A Hope to go the extra mile.
A hope that offers positive outlook on life.
A hope that ensures that there is someone who you are accountable for.
A hope that brightens life like never before.
A hope that offers reasons to smile.
A hope that helps you keep going despite the fact that you know that you can't go. A hope that instills confidence in you.
A hope that reassures you.

The words of assurance from Taria and uncommitted statements from Bhris were the highlights of the day. I am feeling blessed to have frens like these who can take me to any heights. They mean a lot. I feel very elated that this day will go down in the personal history of Joseph Nirmal as a precious day. The future outcome of my FOCUS is not in my hands but I am glad that the spirit and strength of vibrant frenship is on my side to take me to great heights.
Thanks GA, Taria and Bhris. You guys are the best.

Friendship Redefined - Niky Kuruvilla

Finally here comz the day when My dearest fren has to leave India to take the next step in her life. A step that is gonna redefine her career and probably take her close to her aspirations. My best wishes and prayers. This moment offers me a chance to think back/rewind my life back to 3 and odd years to recount some of the most amazing and precious days of life in Hyd and how this fren was a reason for change and smile in my life.

It all started in one of the guest houses of Google. Got introduced to dis person there and then in office. Initially we were offering cold shoulders to each others and we were forced to say hi or bye when we bumped into each other accidentally. It all took a mighty and massive turn during one of the fun trips to a rainy place. The trip offered as the well needed ice breaker session where we got to know each other like never before. then probably I realized that I actually became a fren with her. yeah the spirit of frenship was its best then and after that there was never a moment where it went down.

Rather its always increasing and often challenges me metaphysically :) yeah. Thats the strength of frenship i share with this wonderful person. I probably can boast that I know her to a significant extent about her life and its attributes. And Yeah, she knows me to an equal extent. We where always there to listen to each other's problems, sympathize, empathize and console each other. Some of the best moments wud be cooking, eating, drinking, roaming in the streets, and everything.

If some one who is reading this gets a feel if we never fought for any issue, here comz the answer. Yeah . we did fell out of each other at times but the span of time is very insignificant and can hardly be accounted for. Once, I happened to throw a google ball on her head when she was almost writhing in pain with a bad bad head ache. I got to understand how she wud react to it then. This followed some strong apologies and then yeah we were smiling again.

Once again, we almost fell out due to a complex reason that cannot be put up on this note but yeah it was sorted out very soon. :) lemme focus on the most positive aspects of my relationship with this most valuable fren. There were several issues we would never agree on. We differed on several things. Infact if you could take into account the issues we differ on, then definitely that outnumber the issues we would agree upon :P but yeah. we broke stereotypes.

the true spirit of frenship does not look upon the issues were we agree upon, but on issues we disagree, yet respect each other genuinely for our differences and accept the fact that we can disagree. is that not a true testimony to the most treasured value of the essence of frenship. She has been my life saviour on many occasions. i am sure god sent her along with another angel named Jeff to rescue me from death bed and stand by me. :) it did not happen by chance but gods careful choice of people to bail me out.

I happened to leave Hyd before she could leave. Post which, due to obvious reasons my interaction and meeting her fell down. but there was and is onething that never fell or that would never fall down in the future. Thats the spirit of frenship :) that is the most indisputed factor.

I am very sad for the reason that you are leaving the country but am very happy for the very same reason too. Its a move for good. Also, the strength of frenship does not get constrained or contained by geographical boundaries. Its a state of mind and its strong to defeated by any physical factor. Thanks for being a great fren and making me believe in me more than what I believed in myself. :)

You have been a reason for change and you have brought several reasons to smile in my life :)

Phase of Transformation in Life :)

one of the biggest accidents(rather incident) landed me in Bangalore that I chose for all reasons of unexplainable logic. After the initial turmoil or rather I must say trauma I went thru in finding a place to accomodate myself, the turn of events became even worse. As usual I dint like the place to stay as there was absolutely no privacy but at a sky rocketing price for everything. This made me begin my place for stay hunt in a very short notice and I landed up in a rather wonderful place beyond my expectations. This is the saga or chronicles of the initial times in bangalore.

Then coming to the core issue of college. College had several fascinating things that gave me very pleasant surprises after the other. Not sure if they are pleasant or the otherway. I shall leave this to the choice of the readers.

Some of the most interesting characters I met in college are these three individuals. I used to meet this guy everyday in the cafeteria early in the morning who carries his red color statistics text book and keep reading it. I talk to this person often in the college on very diverse issues but not at a intense level. I still remember this guy sharing with me the one yr break he took after graduation and the like. But, then I must admit the fact that I was not close to this wonderful person at that point in time. I remember one question that I asked him "are there any good fellowships here in bangalore?". This person would also remember this forever.

Life went on then. There is this association formed in college called groups. Here I meet another interesting personality. The very first moment I see tis personality, I identified her to be of tamil roots that was confirmed later. Do not remember having any major interactions with this person despite the fact that we were in the same group. (primarily due to the wonderful track record of attendance :P) But then yeah I must admit the fact that she offered to help with assignments very often. I apprecaite that bcoz despite the fact that sh, she was sleeping only for 2 to 3 hrs a day, she was committed to college work.

The third personality I came across is this ever thoughtful person. She was always lost in thoughts or looked like lost her way. I dint know much about this person then like how i know her now. But there is one thing I noticed in her is the courage and confidence in her speech especially in the presentations irrespective of the amount of preparation. This stands a test for her crisis management skills. Also, on one specific occasion worth mentioning here is one of the Corporate finance presentation where she did a commendable job.

Getting into the core now. I tried to capture a pen picture of the three interesting personalities in the last three paragraphs. Now, I am going to write a brief of my association with them and how they have changed my life. Though we differed by region, language and every other sort of social segregation, there was one very vital magic word called FRIENDSHIP that bind us. This is the magic word that can unify anyone who can otherwise be separated several factors.

Also, there was this common word that bound us together. Thats the most powerful GOD. Belief in God and the levels of belief do differ between us but still there is somthing common in us. That is the quest to understand him and his love more. I would rather say we are extremely different people in our belief and our lifestyles. But, the unifying factors help us disregard the difference s and rather work on the commonalities in spirit and strengthen them further. If there is a person who can make a positive difference in your life, that is undoubtedly these three. I can vouch for that. My life has changed phenomenally after a brief time spent with them.

I admire these kids for everything that they are. At no instance did we believe that we shud compromise or modify ourselves to fit in some one else's scheme of things. These three kids are a part of my family and they fail not to miss any of the events held at my place. Mere presence in the event has very little value but presence with the fullest spirit makes them outstanding. I can bank on these three kids for the rest of my life.

One person is responsible for the spiritual transformation I am undergoing in life. Have given a new dimension to my life in terms of introspection. God given new brother in my life. Thanks for being around.

Other person who is living a dream by her sheer commitment to the work that she does and the spiritual life. the way she balances her life between work, college and spiritual matters is worth mentioning in this context.

the third person is a very good fren who instills very positive spirit in me by her sense of confidence. I admire her amazing confidence and the eagerness to learn is worth appreciating.

Thank U guys for being a reason for change in my life.

Complexities of Mind

Life offers surprises everyday and the list of events that either trouble you or delight are innumerable. Over the last few days I amount of events I have been exposed or rather I should say 'My psyche' has been exposed stand a testimony to the utmost and unrealistic complexities of human life. All i have been trying to capture over the last few days are really beyond comprehension to my mind. I tend to see even the monotonous activities in life with a implied or figurative meaning underlying. I have been exposed to several theories trying to explore several complexities of the mind. I use the word complexities of mind because when we say we are not able to understand some theories it is not that they are tough or not understandable. But, only the orientation of the mind or senses that determine the potential to simplify things and absorb them in a consumable fashion.

The important fact here is to tune the mind and not blame your potential to understand. Mind is the master of everything in life next only to the supernatural. For example, trying to analyze exams - what are exams? Certain standards required to be met by the process of institutionalization of education. But, in a symbolic sense what does an exam connote? Vertical and horizontal advancement of the mind to process more than what it used to do before. (May agree or may not :P). In a metaphysical sense, its used to combat the spirit of evil from defeating you which is what we call a Pass or Good marks in exams. Failure is considered to be yielding to the evil spirits in the battle. Exam is a very simple example.

However, there are more complex and complicated day to day realities of life. Lets take the concept of relative deprivation. In simple sense, it refers to the deprivation faced by an individual when he/she uses some social group as the reference. So what does it signify? What makes an individual think that he/she is deprived? is it because of the social construct of what is happiness or what one ought to enjoy? Probably, the deprived individual thinks that he has fallen short of what the social group is enjoying otherwise. Does this symbolically signify that the person is being pulled down by the anti-forces of internal harmony that ensures the alignment of mind and soul in a person.

First to deal all this in detail, there needs a very careful analysis of certain definitions. Mind? soul? what are all these? . This list is definitely unending. These are abstract realities and the definition of these terms lie on the individual who is trying or attempting to define these. The scales of measurement is primarily developed or designed by the individual in the context of personal and social milieu. While, I strongly think that these are left to the scope of individual comprehension and a external force to decode things would only be futile. However, there lies a social responsibility in every individual to contribute to the areas of lack of clarity.

Rest to be continued.

Bday Wish :)

Dear Kavya,

A birthday is definitely a very special day in many ways than one. This special day gives u a moment to reflect on the journey you had till date and also think of the journey that your life is embarked towards future. As a wise saying goes, "A bday does not remind u that one event full year has passed that makes u one yr old, but you grow stronger and more mature". The more you grow older, u become more stronger. Sorry for this gyan, as any bday wish shud have some gyan u c.. call it stereotypes :P

U have a lot of people to thank this day. First, the chief architect of life on this earth - The almighty, second the worldly architect - parents and this list goes on. But, I have a reason too, Thank u for being a wonderful friend. I might not have spent a great deal of time but I strongly believe that you are a very valuable person to bank on. A fren in time of need to share the tough times. There have been not many occasions that I sought ur help or u sought mine but there needs no occasions to show the genuineness of the healthy frenship that binds us. I dont believe in practical happenings that is being mandated by the society to call two ppl as frens. I rather believe in the invisible mutual respect that binds two people. Also, I strongly believe that you can definitely make a difference positively in the life of others. :) u can pat urself for this.

There have been similarity between us in some issues. like the belief in "Long wait" :P, blogging, etc. Its not the commonalities that nurtures the frenship between us, but even the differences( not able to come up with any, too early for that) will help to strengthen frenship.

I am sure you are here to win the best
Make a difference in lives
Live life to the fullest
Be joyful and be a joy to many
celebrate relationships to its fullest glory
Never say die in life to problems
Embrace success in all quarters of life
live a life of perseverance
Lead a life of meaning
Life of respect for genuine values
A true friend who is ready to do the expected and also not the expected.

Wishing you all the success in all ur future endeavors on this wonderful day. :)

Luv, wishes and prayers
Joe.