CRUX OF LIFE

I just watched Pushpa 2 over the weekend. This is it! "I am not going watch any action movie from now on", I said to myself.  Action movies in general are incredibly boring and head hammering with loudness. More so with the likes of Pushpa, Animal, KGF. I wonder what hapenned to Indian film industry, every other movie running in theatre is of the same genre, where violence is glorified, and the protaganist promotes narcissism, glorifies ego, romanticises violence. Emotional depth, vulnerability, or moral dilemmas are completely sidelined. When younger minds ( I guess older minds too),  when they watch movies like this, it might have corrossive influence, consuming the toxic ideas of masculinity, materialism, superficial self importance, style over substance, violence over storytelling, ego over empathy .  Why is it that movies like Bahubali and RRR dont feel equally wrong, while these movies too are action packed.?  It is the strong story telling with roots in selfle...

There is something special about memoirs. I realized lately that I love reading memoirs when compared to fiction, and in fiction, fiction narrated in the form of memoirs. Mitch albom's "Tuesdays with Morrie" and other novels, Shantanu naidu's " I came upon a light house". Recent addition to the list is "Born a crime" by Trevor Noah. I tend to like memoirs more than autobiogrpahies. Afterall, nobody can have their entire life interesting. It is the slices of the life, the most interesting parts of the author's life that connects with the reader. Memoirs cherry-pick the most significant, interesting or transformative events, making them more engaging.    One is daily journalling, which is basically reflecting on the events that occurred during the day ( one or two days old reflection) . And the other is when you go down the memory lane.. many years back...  I am now doing some random rambling on the later one.  When we look back at our past after...

Despite not being a dog or car enthusiast, I found the book captivating. Its unique perspective, storytelling, and lessons on resilience and navigating life's challenges made it a truly insightful experience. "The Art of Racing in the Rain" by Garth Stein is unique. It's told from the point of view of a dog named Enzo. It’s a touching story about family, love, and life's struggles, seen through the eyes of a dog with the soul of a philosopher. Some notable quotes from the book : "So much of language is unspoken. So much of language is compromised of looks and gestures and sounds that are not words. People are ignorant of the vast complexity of their own communication." "To be a champion, you must have no ego at all. You must not exist as a separate entity. You must give yourself over to the race. You are nothing if not for your team, your car, your shoes, your tires. Do not mistake confidence and self-awareness for egotism." "Learn to list...

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high Where knowledge is free Where the world has not been broken up into fragments By narrow domestic walls Where words come out from the depth of truth Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit Where the mind is led forward by thee Into ever-widening thought and action Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake. - Rabindranath Tagore I remember this iconic poem since childhood. During our very long assembly time at school, this was one of the poems that we recited daily. At that time, I think I didn't realise the power of these lines. What a powerful plea to the divine to awaken the country to this vision of freedom!! I am now glad that I had this experience in school and realise how it had impact on my younger subconscious self, even if full understanding and appreciation came later. It's inte...

I grasped for breath as I reached airport and rushed towards the counter for check-in counter. "How could I be so careless?!", I cursed myself. It was quite a run, when I realised that the flight is at 5:40 pm and not 6:40 pm. I ran towards the flight as the last call for passengers was being announced. I just didnt care that people were giving me weird looks when I was running fanatically while grasping for breath. I breathed a sigh of relief when I entered the flight. Took my seat, wiped the sweat on my face, took a few long breaths. I checked my mobile phone which was about to die with 10% battery. "10% -S××××!!!", I cursed myself again!  I messaged the important people that I have safely boarded by flight and switched it off, as i would need the remaining % battery when I reach the destination. Switiching off mobile sometimes is a liberation. Feeling disconnected with the OCD of looking at mobile is a blessing... in disguise... Opened my diary and wr...

Last week marked my 18th year in this incredible IT industry.  Reflecting on the years that have passed, I realise how every moment has been an amazing learning opportunity. Here are my musings on these learnings beyond the technical aspects: Has it always been fulfilling ? Perhaps, Not. There are some days when I might have cribbed about the job, about the coworkers, about increment, etc.  But in my view, the key is Persistence and Self awareness.   Persistence is self-discipline in action. The belief that the events that take place through out one's life are conducive to ones elevation and that there is no good or bad event, helps us find opportunity in all circumstances, for us to be assertive. Self Awareness is knowing that we become unstoppable when we work on things that cannot be taken away - our mindset, our character, personality, authenticity, integrity and our entire being.  We must keep assessing inner wisdom and let it guide us towards growth. The o...

I was surfing on youtube when I came across a video where birds were plucking the hair of the deer.  It was a cute video showing the deer enjoying a free hair cut while the birds collected raw material to build their nests. This got me thinking.  Over the years we have had a narrow belief that the survival of the fittest means that the strongest always wins. "Fittest" meant having the competitive advantage over others, winning over others. But in essence, Nature teaches us that  "Fittest" are often those who can coexist and support the health of their community. "Fittest" can mean the most effective collaborators, those who create independent web of ecosystem.  There are many such examples in nature of such symbiotic relationships. Food for thought - Are we intune with nature in this aspect? What can we do differently to cooperate and evolve within our ecosystems and with our fellow beings? Signing off with this thought. Love & Peace.

As appraisal cycle results approach, it's natural for some individuals to feel a sense of unfairness or disappointment, especially if they perceive their efforts haven't been adequately recognized or rewarded.It is easy to slip into bitterness. But thats a trap!! Avoid this trap if you are smart but disillusioned. Succumbing to bitterness only perpetuates a cycle of negativity that ultimately hinders personal growth and fulfillment. The most bitter people are the smart people who are not as successful as they thought they should be, because they feel that they are shining and the world should fall at their feet, but it doesnt workout that way.  I dont say that you should not disagree with the outcome. It's important to acknowledge and validate those feelings of disagreement or frustration. However, how we choose to respond to those feelings is what ultimately shapes our experience and future outcomes. While it's understandable to feel disappointed or even upset, allowin...

I ordered this book last year. And have finally finished reading it. I must confess that it felt like an eternity to finish the book. There were moments where I did feel a little bored. But I managed to continue and it's overall thought provoking and impactful. The time invested in understanding his journey and philosophy feels incredibly rewarding.  In an era dominated by misinformation and propaganda, Gandhi's autobiography, "The Story of My Experiments with Truth," stands as a beacon of authenticity and integrity. In a world where narratives are often manipulated to serve particular agendas, to diminish Gandhi's legacy and distorting his contributions, his firsthand account offers a genuine and unfiltered perspective on his life, principles, and struggles. I am particularly amazed at the willingness to openly acknowledge his own flaws and imperfections. This enhances the credibility of  the narrative. In an age where public figures are often portray...