sound of silence November 22, 2008
Posted by Ken in life.Tags: diary, gibberish, life, opinion, routine, Story, thoughts
7 comments
Last Saturday, a old friend took me to Worli Sea Face. The place require no introduction to most Mumbaikars. For years we had been hanging out in suburb Ghatkopar; A home to my school, college, and place where I made all my childhood and teenage friends. For no reason this is the place where I find myself most comfortable. Sachin told me that instead meeting in Ghatkopar let us meet somewhere else; he was tired of meeting and eating in Ghatkopar.
Generally I do not oblige to such ideas. But I have not met him long, in fact had ignored him for long. Hence decided to surrender, in fact I was more than happy to oblige as he was going to drive me to what ever place outside Ghatkopar he wanted to go. In last two years, it is rare that I left Ghatkopar when ever I was in Mumbai. I am happy I did leave this Saturday.
For most time we spent together I had very little to talk about. In the midst of Global Economic Slowdown and Financial tumble, professionally I am not doing any thing great apart from playing carom in office. Even before the markets crashed my company had shown signs that it is miss-managed and reigns the company were not in safe hands. We had mishaps one after another. To add to frustration, price of $ in country hit the bottom for small period. I knew sooner or later we will fall, will be sold, acquired and our name will be lost forever.
Most of my friends advised me to leave the sinking ship, I thought I should, but unfortunately I could not think of any place to go. I have open offers from friends to join, but I doubt if they will match my salary. Even if they match, what about the repute I have build here in last 2 years, what about freedom I enjoy, in IT not many people gets to choose and pick their projects, deny onsite/overseas travel and enjoy the tag of best in business. I would have left all this for safe abode, but all these offers and opportunities are far away from Mumbai, and my current home Pune. I do not have courage any more to leave these palaces. There was time when I had no choice, I was dragged to Hyderabad, the city I called hell then. Today it is heaven, but I do not want to die right now.
It is being long since I enjoyed the sound of silence. I heard it in Hyderabad’s Durgam Cheruvu Lake and Sydney’s Darling Harbor. I heard on the Ghats of Lonavala and Khandala, I heard it at the water falls of Niagara and heads of high smoky mountains. It was there in hills of Mahabaleshwar. Sachin did most of talking, and I continued ignoring what he was saying. He spoke in length about his career in family business and arbitration. He talks about this every time we met after college. Sometime I feel that he enjoys sulking while I am around, and no one else. With most others he is happy as he never was. But this time he sounded much positive in the story narrated earlier thousand times.
For long time now, I am sulking as well. The only reason that there is nothing really happening in my life or is it that I am not trying really hard for anything to happen. In fact I am not aware what exactly I want to happen in my life. I have everything a content men would need, family, home, a job, and friends. I think most my friends are right; I should get married, if nothing, it will turn my life upside down and for sometime I would be lost in that chaos. I think this sound of silence which I was enjoying was illusion. Was it hollowness that needs to be filled? Is it absolute idle state of mind which needs something to focus on, or is plain regret that I am not able to make everybody happy, especially my loved ones. There was time when I used to be too eager to meet my friends; I had skip a dinner just to get the glimpse of them. Today I am afraid of the same people, intentionally or unintentionally I end up ignoring and avoiding them.
I know this is just another of those low phase in life when the morale hit bottom. It will pass on like the previous editions. I have this unmatched and ubiquitous ability to bring my chips down for no good reason. While everything in life is so good, I am feeling like looser, feeling like everything I have is useless, and everything I do not have are only important things in life. I think I only thing I need now is change.
Let is move towards chaos from silence.
The Secret June 19, 2008
Posted by Ken in after thoughts on articles, life, opinion.Tags: Books, life, linkedin, opinion, Review
6 comments
Ask – Believe – Receive
Yes this is secret to happiness, wealth, love and all you wanted in your life according to this book by Rhonda Byrne. Yeah, this is a three step process to get all those things you ever dreamt and desired. Rhonda Byrne and many happy, healthy and wealthy folks (in her book) like her have reiterated zillion times that this is the only secret to life. Law of Attraction forms the basis for her book and all the people she named in the book claim that it works in your favor if you use the way she said and these people did.
In Alchemist Paulo Coelho said the same thing with amazing play of words and poetry. I loved it to the core. But primary difference between a Brazilian and his Australian counter part is putting in effort, the hard work, the endeavor and the exertion. Paulo says follow your dreams. Do what it takes to achieve what you want, and you have always dreamt. The whole universe will work towards achieving that for you.
“When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”
Like in Om Shanti Om Shahrukh Khan mugged it to Hindi version, “Kehte hain agar kisi cheez ko agar dil se chaho to saari kayanath tumhe usse milane ki koshish me lag jaati hai”
But according Rhonda and her friends; there is noting you do to get what you want. Just Ask. Keep Faith (Believe). And receive. Just live your life as you have always done. Change your thoughts, your style, your behavior and you are done. Leave rest to the universe. Like if you want marry and living in the house with two car garage, always park your car to one side and leave space for your to be spouse.
If you want money, give money, believe in charity. Feel and be grateful that you have plenty of it and money will come to you.
The irksome thing I found with book is your uselessness. It kind of gives you feeling that you are there only to consume, to get, and guzzle. There is no larger purpose to your life in this universe.
She agrees that it is being and acting like selfish to the core. Her justification says universe will react to your thoughts, your desires and dreams. You can not desire for others, you can not dream for others. Only thing you can do to make other people rich is dream for more money and share. Ask for money in abundance and create wealth for the world.
The Alchemist not only achieved what he always kept dreaming but in his path to his fortune he helped other people achieve their dreams. He acted as mean or aided others to in their path to their glory and success.
I personally think life and universe want you to get what you desire and what you dream. It works towards your goals and your needs if you believe in it and be gracious to it. In nutshell be buoyant and be optimistic.
Be grateful to life and keep working towards it. Your life is your dream, your life is your endeavor to get what you dream of and this is universe is your play ground. It is meant for you to play the game of life.
Just asking, believing and receiving is not life, at least not for me. It is the endeavor and adventure that counts for me.
Loneliness June 14, 2008
Posted by Ken in life, uncategorized.Tags: Cities, Friends, life, opinion, Personal Story
6 comments
6 years. On June 13 I had left home to work with company in Pune. It was my first job as computer programmer. I had done couple of small stints with uncles, cousins and dad. One with my uncle was fun. With cousin it was painstaking accountancy job. Amazingly boring. Data entry, debits and credits, phone calls and businessmen all around. Sounds dud haan?
With dad it was kind of strange. My job was that of caretaker. Go open the shop till he comes. Customer never came to us; my dad was salesman on the go. Mumbai trotter (Globe trotter) kind.
Leaving Mumbai was easy, I always loved the city I was born and raised. But I never had such great affinity as I have today. It is so true; a human being never values what he has. He is always in search of something different and new.
After living in 4 different cities, and 2 different continents today I miss Mumbai more than anything else. When I say Mumbai, I am talking about my family, extended family, and extra extended family. My few friends; very few. I do not even need fingers to count them, forget about tips.
One thing which always accompanied me since I left home was loneliness. I made many friends; some of them are great pals. These people really gave me sense of friendship and kinship; what friends are. But my loneliness never left me. She/he (what sounds better) is always walking with him, flying with me, riding with me, and sleeping besides me. Now I want to call it “she” for sure.
6 years. It was great journey. A hell of ride. I learnt about life, about people, about devils, and demons, about angels and about me, myself and Irene. Who is Irene? It should be me, myself and loneliness.
I said leaving Mumbai was easy; it was not because I did not like it much. I had bigger excitement of new job. Later I got addicted to my freedom and still not fully out of it. Philosophy says you can not be happy forever; you will have to give it up some day. One thing I must say; freedom is one side of coin. Other is my dear loneliness.
I think I can go on about my story, philosophy and psychology. I must stop here. I am back after long time and do not want my come back to be dragged brag. Okie Dokiee. Time to sign off.
Testimonial … a personal compliment. April 23, 2008
Posted by Dreamer in guest bloggers, uncategorized.Tags: Friends, life, opinion, Testimonial, View
8 comments
Everyone has been raving about the testimonial on this page , a thought crossed my mind … why not write a testimonial for Ken … and what better place than his own blog … it should even give some new life to this page … and so I take advantage of having the privilege of posting here.
Ken … have known him for quite some time now … and a little better than I could possibly know anyone else in the given time frame … and that’s because he is one hell of a smooth talker … Words in itself are powerless, they can neither benefit or harm you unless someone has the fine ability to combine them to use it for good bad and evil expressions … and he has a knack at it … one of the few people I know who have their way with words.
A cool guy … a good human and a perfectionalist by nature. He has a bundle full of patience don’t know where it comes from 
. Someone who is helpful, analytic … and the best has a decent ability to laugh at himself … I mean take humor in the
right spirit (well almost). How can I forget his ability to argue … this being in the right spirit based on beliefs and fundas … that’s so entertaining 
. And ya just read the gyan in the form of quotes on the home page of this blog.
I agree to his statement “Its difficult to define simple things” and so For now I am happy to stop here … maybe I will come back with more … some other time.
I know it’s all too good … but the fact is if I start writing the other part this is going to be an endlessly long … or should I say a never ending post 
… so for now just wishing him all the love, luck, success , happiness and prosperity in life.
real paradox of Munich trip September 7, 2007
Posted by Ken in complaints, life, opinion, photo blog, travel log.Tags: Adventure, Experience, Fun, Germany, Munich, Reviews, Story, Travel, travel log, View
14 comments
With my heart in my mouth; we boarded train to Nuremburg. It was late by twenty minutes. We got on bus to Opladen from office on time at 16:08 hrs. I saw my manager missing his bus back home. 
From Opladen we had to board a train to Cologne at 16:46. I am sure you are impatient while I am giving the account of each minute of this journey.
Believe me; I had jitters, goosebumps and all such feeling since I got on train to Cologne from Opladen. On Thursday I called up YMCA in Munich and I could book a twin room for €32.00 per night per person for two nights.
Once I knew I had place to spend night, I started looking for a cheap way to reach Munich. There was return flight for €200. But it was from Cologne airport and I had no clue on how to be there. Second option I thought was Thalys; but it does not travel between Cologne and Munich. Now the only option was to use ICE (InterCity Express); which will cost €178. It was okay; as this was the only option or we do not travel. It was expensive as next weekend we could have flew for €150.
The train to Cologne got delayed by long 45 minutes due to police inquiry in Cologne. We were to reach there by 05:05 pm, find a counter to buy a ticket to and from Munich. We reached at 15:45 hrs. We ran to counter to check if we can still board the train. Looking at long queue, we decided we will go to platform and see how the train looks like. And head back home with fool’s mug. Two minutes close to 17:53 hrs we were talking to station master about the status as there was no train on platform. At the back of my mind I was toying with idea; I have reservation; but I have not yet paid for ticket. Is it possible to pay on train?
Station master told me train is twenty minutes late. Immediate question was where to buy a ticket. He said on the train. Was there moment happier in near future? I doubled checked everything. A local guy helped me to have detailed conversation with station master. Now you must have understood why I was holding my breath.
Burscheid, life in Deutschland August 20, 2007
Posted by Ken in life, opinion, travel log.Tags: information, life, opinion, Review, travel log, View
12 comments
It is being while I posted anything. Friends have asked and some have actually pushed me to update paradox. But honestly there is nothing much to write and talk about. I can still try.
Last two weeks spent in Burscheid were strange and a learning experience. Strange because this is first time I am in non-English speaking country. Burscheid is small village near city of Cologne and Frankfurt in Germany or Deutschland. Before I can introduce you to Burscheid I must tell you something about Cologne. Ofcourse Frankfurt and Germany do need any introduction. Information on Cologne will help you to locate Burscheid on Google Map faster.
Charity……… August 18, 2007
Posted by Dreamer in guest bloggers.Tags: Expression, Feeling, life, opinion, View
7 comments
The other day I was returning from a function and a small incident changed a lot of perceptions……. It was a heavily raining day with abrupt traffic movement n irregular n less trains working, so for the returning journey we decided to go with a friend in their car to a certain distance and then take a rick home from that point. At one of the traffic junctions a small girl not more than 6 yrs old was selling jarbera flowers and my friends husdand was like,,,,,,,,’bag kiti lahan mulgi ahey kay honar???’ and he shelled out a 10 rs note to give it to her,it was raining outside and the person on the window seat was contemplating how to give her the note from the window fast ;my instant reaction “arre ek flower toh le,who bheek toh nahin mang rahi hai” but the signal cleared and we moved…….then we started wondering how many times she must have got wet and dried at the same very signal in a single day. What life has in store for her? Will she ever get an opportunity to prepare for a better future? (more…)
Scapegoat of Indian Media – Orkut June 20, 2007
Posted by Ken in after thoughts on articles, complaints, opinion.Tags: News, opinion, Review, View
32 comments
Lately Orkut is being consistently finding space in world of lurid Indian news and media. Idle political leaders and party workers, heads of religious groups, and news papers/ channels have made Orkut scapegoat to gain TRPs, attention and highlight in media. People, not having great idea about Orkut, always think of it as devilry Internet phenomenon and spoiling the Indian youth. The kind of news stories floating in media will definitely raise eye brows of traditional Indian parent. Stories of girls facing abuse, people blackmailed, hate communities against India, political leaders and parties, and religion make people think that it is definitely some evil of modern day technology.
Customer service of world’s number one bank – crisp version June 8, 2007
Posted by Ken in complaints, opinion, uncategorized.Tags: Critisim, Customer Service, Experience, linkedin, News, Review, View
8 comments
I wanted statement of my account for last six months for applications of visa. Citibank gave me a shock, where I have my salary account; I will have to pay Rs 25 and even than it will be delivered in seven working days.
Are our nationalised banks fools to give us passbook for free and update them as and when wanted? Citibank charges Rs 100 for any activity in branch. To reduce cost it makes sense, discourage customers to come to the branch; and make them use online banking. Catch – the statement is issued online only at the end of quarter. I wanted statement in June (Dec – May), hence wait for July to come for April and May or get statement till March online and pay Rs 25 wait for four business days.
Customer service of world’s number one bank June 6, 2007
Posted by Ken in complaints, opinion.Tags: Critisim, Customer Service, Experience, News, Review, View
9 comments
This is going to be my longest post, and I am not sure if anybody would care to read. But in the moment of despair and my struggle with world’s number one bank I had to throw up some where. What better place then my own blog. One customer’s complain is not going to change the rule and neither one post. 
It is very normal that people who travel west; crib and complain in great length about things in India after coming back. We do not have good roads, we do not have clean cities, and we do not have access to basic infrastructure.
I usually have one complain and I crib about it to everybody around me. Customer Service. This is definitely not a problem of our country, but of our people and their attitude towards customer service (and after sales service).
We have never taken customer service as seriously as we should have. People, who pay thousands of rupees for electronic appliances, never get after sales service, maintenance and repair during the warranty and guarantee period. The people who try to get service they deserve often end up with nothing but despair and feeling of being cheated.
response to comment on – “can we be wiser than our parents” May 31, 2007
Posted by Ken in life, opinion.Tags: discussion, Experience, Expression, life, opinion, View
16 comments
This is in response to comment, I got on my previous post “can we be wiser than our parents.”
Darshana,
I agree with you that expression is missing in the quest. One primary reason is that we believe and do certain things on face value, blindly, bind either by faith or basic cultural values.
We never question our rituals which are thousand year old. I have nothing against system of caste, language, religion and class. In fact at time I support it. It was required and was necessary when it was created. There was rational thinking and logical reason involved. It had its own advantage. It was created in time when survival was primary concern of any living being including humans. Caste, clan, class, religion and language bound people in groups, and these groups worked together for the welfare of each other.
can we be wiser than our parents May 29, 2007
Posted by Ken in after thoughts on articles, opinion.Tags: discussion, Experience, Expression, life, opinion, View
4 comments
This is not my new post. It is just paragraph I lifted (or wanted to share with all) from an great essay by Paul Graham. The original essay is on very different subject and has title “Why Not Not To Start A Start Up“
The parents who want you to be a doctor may simply not realize how much things have changed. Would they be that unhappy if you were Steve Jobs instead? So I think the way to deal with your parents’ opinions about what you should do is to treat them like feature requests. Even if your only goal is to please them, the way to do that is not simply to give them what they ask for. Instead think about why they’re asking for something, and see if there’s a better way to give them what they need.
Note: People who do not know Steve Jobs; can think of Bill Gates, Laxmi Mittal or Warren Buffet.
halwawala aa gaya May 22, 2007
Posted by Ken in movie reviews, opinion.Tags: Fun, humor, movie reviews, time pass, Travel, View
7 comments
Last Friday I was traveling to Bombay (Mumbai) from Pune in MSRTC Volvo bus. This days traveling between Pune and Bombay, has become really comfy. Air conditioned Volvo coaches, push back seats, video on the go, free news paper and bottle of water. It is very much like flying. I am waiting for the days, when drinks will be served on board (coach).
Some times these things can actually become a problem, like ACs, at times they are extremely cold for an Indian. Music played can be unbearably loud remix, and crap movies on poor pirated prints. Usually they show cheap comedies, recent flops flicks, or if you are lucky one of the Hindi version of Priydarshan’s (self grinded) Malayalam movie.
choice, perspective, spirit called life May 18, 2007
Posted by Dreamer in guest bloggers, life, opinion.Tags: life, opinion, perspective, View
8 comments
I was toying with this idea for sometime. I was not able to put a post in place for long now. Last one was more of scribble then post. I wanted something new and real. This great idea came to my mind. I do remember a friend of mine has used this idea. He invited friends to write post for him.
Since then I had this on my mind, I was wondering whom should I invite. First few who came to my mind could do good job, but they had their on blogs. Hence it would have become perfect example of copy and paste. We IT guys are very famous for and in awe with copy and paste.
Finally I zeroed on in my most dedicated reader. Some one who is first to read and comment on almost all my posts. Invariably she praises all my post, I am not sure why.
Here it is……
in conversaion with angel April 23, 2007
Posted by Ken in opinion.Tags: conversation, dialogue, discussion, Experience, Expression, life, opinion, View
5 comments
me: I believe everything u say ..
but then this things r not in ur control..
dreamer: when i say ,,it will be that ways,,,,,,,,,,,,i knw,,,,,,,,,cause i believe………
me: do u believe in God?
dreamer: patah nahin
me: say yes or no,
dreamer: arre its not yes or no for me,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
i do not believe in the wordly definition of GOD
thats for sure
me: then do u believe in the concept called god? its existance?
trail mix March 28, 2007
Posted by Ken in life.Tags: Experience, Fun, life, opinion, rambling, View
10 comments
It is being long I logged on to my own page. Nothing much has changed since last post. I went to India and had very good break from miseries. I was suffering in office, in my apartment and in Chicago. In office work was boring; people in the apartment were irritating and in Chicago weather was nasty. It was freaking cold in January and February.
A friend of mine said, I shall write. We were chatting and she found me either boring or bored with life. Here I am to scribble. To be very honest, there is nothing to talk or write about. Life has been very much like what it was in Dec, Jan and Feb. Let us have walk along trail while I am eating trail mix.
February 24th, I returned to Mumbai, India. I was trying hard to convince my manager that I shall not come back. But he was ruthless, and cared about nothing but project and money. I am happy that I did not have work permit otherwise I would have never been able to go back.
ramblings of unfocused mind and lost heart February 12, 2007
Posted by Ken in life, travel log.Tags: Experience, Expression, Feeling, life, opinion, rambling, View
8 comments
Past few weeks have been very strange part of my stay here. I am enjoying life, I am not enjoying life. The work in office is completely opposite of what I want to do, and personal life is lot better. Week from Monday to Friday eve is like burden on donkey’s back. I desperately wait for that Friday evening to get lost and run away from office, my roommates, and my professional life.
Then come those happy Friday eves, Saturdays and Sundays when I meet my friends staying away from downtown. Sometime I feel why am I here? I am not adding any great value in office to my work. I just do it as there is not alternative. While working on the PC eyes always stare at the clock on the wall. I wait for 5:30, 6:30, and 7:30. Then all the people will be gone from client’s team and it will be okay to leave with all issues hanging. Run away home, and watch TV to forget that pain. Eat and sleep.
vegetable biryani January 25, 2007
Posted by Ken in life, opinion.Tags: Expression, Food, Friends, Fun, humor, life, View
9 comments
I do not why Parag has these weird requests for me. Other day I was chatting with friend over the subject; which is almost alien to me, FOOD. Her final comments were very insane; “It is disgraceful to talk about food with you.” The very next day, my friend cum roommate, Parag prepared Vegetable Biryani at our place. Parag always has very unique way of praising him self. I am sure even Sanjeev Kapoor would be leaving space for criticism. It is not possible with him.
In our case we have only one feedback, we like it. You don’t want to stay hungry next day. Coming back to the request and Veg. Biryani. He wanted me to write post on his Biryani and cooking skills. I am in dilemma, someone who is so disgraceful about food, has been asked to write post on food and preparation.
In last one and half month, he probably tried preparing Biryani twice, with recipe on the pack of Biryani Masala. I could not believe he followed each and every step on the carton meticulously. I am sure he never have had followed any instructions while doing MBA like this. He kept the preparation of vegetables ready, half cooked rice, and then finally he placed them in multiple layers in big pan to cook. One layer of vegetables, next rice, next vegetables, and rice again. I was never so meticulous about anything in my life. I am sure even the gynecs are not while they bring babies to life.
are we suppose to do this? January 12, 2007
Posted by Ken in life, opinion.10 comments
I am working for outsourcing company. Recently our fantastic sales team had cracked deal with publishing company in Chicago, it is multi-year, multi-million dollar deal.
Publishing company had implemented an ERP with the help of few consultants and their own staff few years ago. The company continued growing all these years, they kept adding more and more resources to manage and maintain data as well as application.
Lately company is not doing well in stock market, and they are currently working aggressively on new strategy to bring the company back into the game. They adopted one of the most popular strategy; cutting down costs. The first department usually is technology, and within technology it is internal applications group. ERP falls in that area. No one wants to take chances with business application while company is already on pace maker.
short story cut long – believe me being audience is no fun January 5, 2007
Posted by Ken in life, opinion.8 comments
Life is strange. It is making me right this story. I was working in office, and only thing, which I could think, was about writing this story. Though, I am not protagonist, but I am important as I am going to tell story from my viewpoint.
I have profile in Orkut, which list most details about me. Starting from phone number, email address, my profession, my employer, my address and current location. I never share this detail on net, due to fear of any fraud or abuse. But on Orkut, I do not why I shared all the details. On this place more then I am supposed.
A girl added me on Orkut. I will call her Rashmi, I don’t know why, but I think this is correct name for her. She told me that she needs my help for job. I keep getting requests like that every now and then. I have listed most of my professional achievements (if u consider them) on my Orkut profile. I think that is what prompts people that I can help. Once you help a guy, news spreads like fire in India when it comes to job. Though there was no flood of people. But yeah at times when college semester come to an end, you kind of get tons of request.
She was doing course with some ERP, and she found that I too have similar career. She was already management graduate from the same campus I passed graduate degree. Both of us belong to same niche Indian community. Unfortunately there are not too many people from this niche in to IT, that to in niche IT segment of ERPs. She scraped and asked me to share my IM Ids, which I did not gave as I do not use any of them lately. I replied back to the scrap with my GMail ID so that we can chat in case there is need. (more…)
