Three more balls to go.......

While as a middle order batsman I was in a habit of asking to the umpire, balls to go in the over whenever I went to bat. That habit is still with me, it just gives one a chance to assess how much has gone by and how much is yet to come.

While applying that to the present state of affairs in life, I found that now only three balls are left. Yes, half of my post graduation is over, a year later lot of things will be expected of me, by myself and by others. Just as in cricket, in life too last few overs play an important role. They can swing the game in either ways.

No wonder, there is an unnerving feeling in mind, however there are some things worth noting for the first half of this terminal over!

First, and foremost, I am still not out. Despite lot of hue and cry, losing faith at times, brooding over hits and misses, I am still on the crease. Firmly grounded. Anyone who has done MBA knows this as a fact of life.

Second, I have had my share of bouncers and beamers from the bowlers! This includes all the rough experiences that you think will never have an ending. From friends who never did their part of assignment in time to some truly malicious ones trying various machinations, they too have taught a lot. Crisis management is also another important thing I have learnt in the first half!

Third and most important of all has been the fact that just as in cricket, here too, I have had some brilliant team players to support me, guide me, correct me and encourage me. Be it a pat from the captain or a comment by a comrade to improve, all of it has and will go a long way to build a healthy partnership and post a huge total!!! This team spirit also has another advantage that seldom comes to our notice in day to day life; it is that it helps us being better individual in every sphere of life. Not only does it help by improving the communication with and understanding of others but it also allows us to give and earn respect among people who we value

I do not know the result of this game, nor do I dare to speculate or gamble. All I can say is, playing has been enthralling experience till now. And I hope it will have a befitting ending too.

A must read for everyone... Tiya, Parrot's journey home...

Author of the book - Samarpan

Comments on the book- Dhruv

This book is a wonderful account of experiences that one face during the course of life. Tiya, protagonist parrot listens to the voice of his invisible guide, Hans. Motivated by this he leaves the cosy comforts of his life at banyan and moves into the unexplored lands. Through his journey he encounters myriad types of people and creatures. Each encounter is a challenge of life, and it just keeps getting tougher as Tiya moves ahead in his journey.

Character of Tiya is an illustration of how an individual moves up from one stage to the other in life. Each stage is different and offers unique perspectives on the psyche and learning of an individual at that particular stage. This is described beautifully in an event where Tiya initially shows exuberance for being a teacher to all, soon discovers that it is impossible to teach anyone anything. In addition to this, one also sees that the progression from an insolent young parrot to a poised parrot was not an overnight transition; Tiya had undergone a lot in order to achieve that transition.

Another thing that the book very subtly describes was the importance of all the people that Tiya met in his journey for the attainment of his ultimate stage. This underscored the importance of all the experiences in one’s life.

Another thing which is worth thinking is perhaps, that there is no clear definition of what all we could achieve, what all we could be, the limit to the function of life is dependent totally on us. However one thing is sure, however and wherever you may take it, it will have to have some essentials like humility, simplicity and truthfulness in order for it to be called a true attainment.

This book will have to be re-read after some time to see which stage of journey am I now at?

I hope to return home soon, and successful.

Sweet accidents on the memory street!!!

Long down on the lane of memory, there appears to be an image not as clear as to be identified as one particular person. This image is so unclear, hazy clumsy that every onlooker is confused about its identity.

This is not an uncommon occurrence. When we look carefully on our lane we will discover so many unidentifiable faces that we will get confused, however if we keep ourselves indulged in the world of photo albums we will miss the chance to be astonished by the sheer hugeness of our memory lane. Because in photographs, we tend to focus more only on those whom we know, to whom we relate greatly, this at times prevents us from being overwhelmed by memory and warmth of many such friends whose names we have forgotten.

I had changed couple of schools in my childhood. (no reflection on my ability as a student, a mere chance event each time) there have been times when I have met some people in bus, in theatres halls, in a restaurant who are a bit different. Difference in this meeting is that I know them, as a classmate and relate them with some important event but cannot recollect their names.

And to my surprise, I find that most of these people also do not recollect my name. Yet the friendliness and warmth towards each other is unaffected by the fact that we do not even know each other’s names!!!! Some people may like to call it a formality, but to me all these sweet accidental meetings, that gushing joy in heart, is the sign of goodness of life and relationships.

To you,

“We all have a realm where dwell deathless memories of people who have brought divine light into our experience of life. You live as one such immortal in the paradise of my heart and mind.”

– Rabindranath Tagore.

2 states, story of my marriage

Book- Review: 2 States, story of my marriage

Author: Chetan Bhagat (CB)

Reviewer(FAN) : Dhruv Joshi

Charming, refreshing and enjoyable; these words come to mind quickly as I sit to review the latest book by Chetan Bhagat. There is a possibility that I may have a positive bias about the author, as I also belong to the clueless but confident breed of young MBAs!! However I have tried to reduce that bias to the extent I could.

The book opens with a sweet love story, moves through enticing descriptions of the relationships and ends at the macro level note of a unified India. CB’s ability to make concrete observations on the society has always grown better with each of his book. To give a deeper perspective on this, may I remind the readers that his first book, was a story of an individual with very personal set up and incidents. One night at call centre struck well with a particular section, larger than the one in his first book. Three mistakes – considered not so good by many- had some sincere and responsible remarks on the riots, passion for cricket and the entrepreneurial drive of young Indians. And the latest one opens even wider in terms of the scope and study. The following line from the book proves my point; “TV is the biggest boon for dysfunctional families” this shows the understanding of the author.

CB has also acquired an uncanny ability to relate his characters with many bigger issues, eg. In present book he almost covers all conceivable characteristics of people we find in our society. Though good at pointing the macro level issues his writing is not bereft of the personal touch and warmth. One of the most beautiful of all those cutely personal descriptions is expression of his desire to be an author, many of us personally relate to it to a great extent.

Ananya and Krish are the lead characters of the novel, they portray the ethical and moral dilemma of young generation of India. Though the story seems to be in sometimes in 1990s, this dilemma is still as astute as mentioned in it even today.

Their parents reflect the dilemma of a different order and nature. The episodes of the Minti’s wedding showcase the youth power against the ancestral and traditional autocracy. One point we, as youth, should not miss here is that the octogenarians (older people) are not against us or mutually exclusive to our thoughts, aspirations or desires. They are just a bit slower in adapting to them, understanding them. Who can forget that when everything ran out, it was Krish’s father – an old rigid and irresponsible man as described by Krish right from the beginning – who played a heroic stroke to salvage the ship of his son’s almost doomed love life.

We need both the types of unity that this novel brings, the obvious one is across the whole nation. And the not so obvious but a subtler one in terms of the generations.

I’d end on the clichéd but relevant quote,

United we stand……

POST SCRIPT: CB’s ability to create amusements, humour and tickle the reader is also appreciable.

Researching........

Once I heard someone saying that the most soothing sound to human ears is that of his own name. Indeed so many of us scribble our own names at the back of our register in free time (even during lectures!). We relish the thought of our victory, strength, advantage, goodness and of all possible virtues. We do like to love, praise and aggrandize ourselves, do not we?

Confusion comes when one tries to examine this natural ego, self love a bit seriously. One of my friend said to me that even our acts of help to others stem from basic need of satisfying our own ego.

In light of these confusing arguments, I would like to put just one question to all.

When was the last time you genuinely helped someone?

What was that act motivated with?

Answers are welcome, in case you do not find it right to post it on blog, mail it over…

Cricket.......

Participating in any sports sincerely teaches one most important thing, which is Sportsman Spirit. While it is true of all the sports, my experience comes from cricket as cricket is the sport I sincerely and passionately indulge in.

After a long break I got a chance to play for my class cricket team in an interclass cricket tournament. In the beginning of the tournament we were one of the weakest team on paper. By the end of the tournament, surprisingly we were the champion side.

One of the friends, while commenting on our performance said “you people played seriously”. Some of my teammates thought of this remark as rather derogatory, however I realized that this was actually one of the best compliments our team could ever get!

In all the matches, we reached the ground at scheduled time, each time our captain took some decision everyone followed it with great precision. Whereas other teams were late in coming to the ground, fighting with each others at times.

These small and rudimentary details may look very trifle, but in the end they impact the whole game in a huge manner, we learned this in a most enjoyable manner.

We struggled a lot, with umpires, unfair opponents but we were determined not to lose. This determination came from the vision of our captain, and was shared by the whole team.

We lost an important player before the tournament began but what we did not lose was the commitment to the cricket and the discipline that it directs.

In one of the matches we were given a raw deal, we were asked to bat under the bad light. Even when the match began the opponent team wasted a lot of time, forcing us to bat under bad light. That match was a true test of character, mental strength. The opponent was a seniors’ team so they played with rules, not the game!

In the end we went on to win that match, most dominatingly. From that match we learned to play under external pressure, doing our job well even if things are not going right with you.

To me, this thing is even more significant than victory, because in life too there will be raw deals thrown at you, people doing wrong things to you. In such cases the ability to do our job in most right and efficient way determines our mental strength, character and courage.

I am thankful to our team for this wonderful learning.