time to do something new

so after spending 10 years in the management consulting space/ industry, I am finally making the switch to business line. Am going to manage the north and east region as a business manager for one of the biggest entertainment companies in India. So I am very excited and thankful that this opportunity has come my way..So you all wish me luck...I am gonna crack this one too...

new years in bhutan

this is coming a bit late. Was in Bhutan for New Years. It is definately one of the most beautiful places in this world. Clean, quiet, quaint and peaceful. I cannot begin to tell you how much fun we had. Was there with some close friends. Here are some memories

broken bones

Have just been told by the doctor that I have displaced the L4 - L5 in my spine. Need to be off sports completely for the next two months I guess. Thats a real toughy.

In 2002, I had displaced the L2 - L3 in my spine. Here is a list of previous injuries I have sustained.

right elbow, right ankle, left knee, four fingers, four ribs, two toes, left fore-arm and left wrist. I now have atleast 400 - 450 stitches, 15 titanium screws, metal plates and K wires placed in my body through around 8 surgeries.

Cannot carry one like this for too long. One day, will just disintegrate and splatter all over the floor.

such a useless day

I turned 33 years old today. So the day really did not start off too well. Went to the airport to drop my wife and kids to the airport but found out that the travel agent had incorrectly booked the tickets for 4th March instead of 4th April. Then had to deal with Swaty's and the childrens dissapointment. Then I had a punctured tyre on my way to the office. Arrived late which is not that unusual.

If this is a sign of how this year will be, my future doesn't look all that bright at all

The great indian cricketing debate

The cricket world cup has come and gone for the Indian cricket team but the debate lingers on. While Navjot Singh Sdhu, Ian Chappel, Geoffrey Boycott, Sir Richard Hadlee and Arjuna Ranatunga amongst many others discuss, dissect and debate the Great Indian Cricketing Debacle, I have a few things to say as well.

1. Sachin Tendulkar needs to decide his commitment and rediscover his passion for the game before he comes back in the India colors. No one for a moment, is doubting his talent.

2. Something needs to be done about the mental strength of all those who dawn the India colors. Their abilities to withstand mental pressure, especially on the cricket filed, in my opinion is the biggest problem that the team faces. When faced with tight match situations, these guys just crumble. Some one needs to consult a sports psychologist and get him to support the Indian cricket team.

3. Greg Chappel and Rahul Dravid have all good intentions. They cannot be blamed for us getting squashed in the first round of the world cup. The problem lies in this cricket team not being able to execute the strategy and plans on the cricket field.

4. Greg Chappel should stay on. Otherwise, the last 4 years effort of moving in the right direction, will be wasted. Rahul "the Wall" Dravid should go back to being a middle order batsman. Saurabh Ganguly should step in as an "interim captain for a period of not more than 12 - 15 months with a clear mandate to turn around things in this time period. Post which, he should withdraw from the game. This time should also be used to find and develop a new captain for the Indian cricket team

5. We need to send out clear messages around what it takes to sustain your self in the Indian cricket team. Perform or perish, you're only as your good as your last game and no resting on past laurels will be the ground rules hereon.

6. Some of the other big guns of the current Indian team should be phased out over the next 12 - 15 months. This needs to be made clear to them right away and managed extremely carefully. These guys have given their life to the game and we need to at least respect them. I am talking about Dravid, Ganguly Sehwag, Sachin and Kumble.

7. There is no problem with Indian cricketers earning pots of money from endorsements. They have a short professional life and they have every right to protect themselves financially.

8. The Board needs to stop exploiting Indian cricket like they have done over the last 3 - 4 years. Reduce one playing engagements across the next 12 months. Dont get the team to play 2nd string sides and exhibition matches in Nairobi and Canada. Does not serve any ones purpose.

9. The overall governance and management structure of Indian Cricket needs to be fundamentally over hauled. The richest cricketing board in the world needs to be made more accountable. Plus cricketers need to manage the show, hand in hand with professional managers rather than politicians. The money that the Board generates, needs to percolate downwards and be spent on developing cricket and cricketing infrastructure across the length and breadth of my great country.

10. The media needs to back-off. Stop putting so much of focus on cricket and cricketers. You are the guys who create this hype and then "pull the plug" when things go wrong.

11. And its not, "just a game" for us Indians. It is religion. And we expect our team to perform like "rockstars" and win matches for us. And obviously they have our support.

and the memory remains...

All the guys who I grew up admiring on the sports field, seem to be calling it a day. Think about the last 3 - 4 years and reflect on the number of sporting greats who have left their respective games and moved on in their respective lives, leaving me with only memories of their personas and antics off and on the playing field. While I obviously knew this would happen, I guess I wasn't prepared for it.

David Beckham (best 30 hard free kick taker), Anil Kumble (Indian leg spinner), Michael Schumacher (ace formula one driver), Shane Warne (Australian leg spin bowler) & Andre Agassi (tennis legend) are just a few that have left the game recently. I almost feel lonely. How many years I played the game with each of these guys and lived their sporting highs and lows, alongside them.

And there are some more stars who are about to bid farewell to their respective games. Glen McGrath (ace opening bowler with immense control over line and length), Sanath Jayasuriya (exploding sri lankan opening batman), Sachin Tendulkar (Indian crickets favourite son), Brian Lara (possibly the best left hand batsman in the world) and Saurabh Ganguly (India's best cricketing captain ever). Very soon, I will be lonlier still.

its been a busy six months

Heh people......Its been sometime since I posted anything on my blog. Been busy at work travelling and working non stop.

Have spent a major part of this period in Sri Lanka on a immensely challenging project where has also been extremely self satisfying. Have jumped a band/ grade, joined the leadership team of this company, made a more than healthy performance bonus.

Travelled to Leh in Jammu and Kashmir in November 06 and Bhutan on New Years for two short holidays with the family.

Bought my wife a new car, am now contemplating buying myself a house, got sued by someone for whats bullshit, lost a friend and gained some new ones, bought my elder daughter a guitar and a squash racket (but its the younger one who seems to show some inclination towards squash, i must add), finalized the younger ones school admissions, saw one friend jumping into marriage, saw another get happily engaged.

Heard some really great music including "yeh hosla" by Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan & Karsan Sagathiya, "bolo na" by sona, "tere bin" by atif aslam, "bhula do" by raeth, "janne kya" by zubin from the movie 'pyar ke side effects' amongst many more. Then saw some great movies including omkara, crash, departed, babel, lage raho munna bhai, matchstick men and rang de basanti.

Then went through depression watching India stumble and faulter in South Africa to lose the test and one day series. But had my heart pumping with pride everytime I read or participated in a discussion on the griant strides that India has taken to establish itself in the global economy.......So it has been a busy six months for me.

A very happy new year to all of you. Peace and prosperity

a few of my latest pictures

This is me at the golf course. I play at a handicap of 14. I used to play to 6 in my younger days.

But I am trying to improve my handicap these days. Am on 7 days of leave and spend atleast 4 hours on the course every day.

I met this guy on the course who gave me a few tips on my stance and my grip that really helped. He seemed to say that he has seen very few people like me with a near perfect swing. But I need to change my golf set. Now thats a problem because a new set would cost me at least INR 120, 000 or USD 2800. Thats bloody expensive for me right now. I have other priorities that take precedence.

this picture says 10, 000 words

This picture says it all. Three close friends.
One I have known for 10 years, the other for 8 years.

tell me what you see in this picture.

such is the irony of my country

India and its development story presents a perplexing picture on the eve of its 60th Independence anniversary. The latest headlines over the last few days indicate the complex challenges India is trying to deal with today. Here are a few news snippets while present the true picture.

• The inability of our government to protect the citizens of this country against terror attacks. Delhi, Calcutta and Mumbai at the highest state of terror alert. The international terror outfit Al-Queda has established a base in India as per latest Indian intelligence reports
• Most states in India reeling under floods specifically the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh. Damages to industry, agriculture and services estimated at INR 25, 000 Crores
• The Deputy-Chairman of the Planning Commission, Mr. Montek Singh Ahaluwalia says that India is poised to grow at 8.5% in the 11th five year plan
• One report says that there are 5.2 billion cases of HIV in India and the implementation of the anti - HIV program has been a failure
• The India stock market has crossed 11, 000 points and is estimated to hit 16, 000 by the end of FY 2008

The government needs to put in place a wholesome national development agenda that simultaneously addresses all of these concerns.Need I say more...

amazing facts about India

The name `India’ is derived from the River Indus, the valleys around which were the home of the early settlers.

• The number system was invented by India. Aryabhatta was the scientist who invented the digit zero.
• India is the world's largest, oldest, continuous civilization
• India never invaded any country in her last 10000 years of history.
• India is the world's largest democracy
• India exports software to 90 countries?
• USA based IEEE has proved what has been a century old suspicion in the world scientific community that the pioneer of wireless communication was Prof. Jagdish Bose and not Marconi
• Sanskrit is considered as the mother of all higher languages. This is because it is the most precise, and therefore suitable language for computer software. ( a report in Forbes magazine, July 1987 ).
• Grammar constitutes one of India's greatest contributions to Western philology. Panini, the Sanskrit grammarian, who lived between 750 and 500 BC, was the first to compose formal grammar through his Astadhyai.
• Chess was invented in India.
• Algebra, Trigonometry and Calculus are studies which originated in India.
• The' place value system' and the 'decimal system' were developed in 100 BC in India.
• The first six Mogul Emperor's of India ruled in an unbroken succession from father to son for two hundred years, from 1526 to 1707.
• The World's First Granite Temple is the Brihadeswara temple at Tanjavur in Tamil Nadu. The shikhara is made from a single ' 80-tonne ' piece of granite. Also, this magnificient temple was built in just five years, (between 1004 AD and 1009 AD) during the reign of Rajaraja Chola
• India is.......the Largest democracy in the world, the 6th largest country in the world AND one of the most ancient and living civilizations (at least 10, 000 years old).
• The game of snakes & ladders was created by the 13th century poet saint Gyandev. It was originally called 'Mokshapat.' The ladders in the game represented virtues and the snakes indicated vices. The game was played with cowrie shells and dices. Later through time, the game underwent several modifications but the meaning is the same i.e good deeds take us to heaven and evil to a cycle of re-births.
• The world's highest cricket ground is in Chail, Himachal Pradesh. Built in 1893 after levelling a hilltop, this cricket pitch is 2444 meters above sea level.
• India has the most post offices in the world !
• The largest employer in the world is the Indian railway system, employing over a million people !.
• The World's first university was established in Takshila in 700 BC. More than 10,500 students from all over the world studied more than 60 subjects. The University of Nalanda built in the 4th century was one of the greatest achievements of ancient India in the field of education.
• Ayurveda is the earliest school of medicine known to mankind. The father of medicine, Charaka, consolidated Ayurveda 2500 years ago.
• Although modern images & descriptions of India often show poverty, India was one of the richest countries till the time of British in the early 17th Century. Christopher Columbus was attracted by India's wealth and was looking for route to India when he discovered America by mistake.
• The art of Navigation & Navigating was born in the river Sindh 6000 over years ago. The very word 'Navigation' is derived from the Sanskrit word NAVGATIH. The word navy is also derived from the Sanskrit word 'Nou'.
• Bhaskaracharya rightly calculated the time taken by the earth to orbit the sun hundreds of years before the astronomer Smart. His calculations was - Time taken by earth to orbit the sun: ( 5th century ) 365.258756484 days.
• The value of "pi" was first calculated by the Indian Mathematician Budhayana, and he explained the concept of what is known as the Pythagorean Theorem. He discovered this in the 6th century, which was long before the European mathematicians.
• Algebra, trigonometry and calculus also orignated from India. Quadratic equations were used by Sridharacharya in the 11th century. The largest numbers the Greeks and the Romans used were 106 whereas Hindus used numbers as big as 10*53 ( i.e 10 to the power of 53 ) with specific names as early as 5000 B.C. during the Vedic period. Even today, the largest used number is Tera: 10*12( 10 to the power of 12 ).
• Until 1896, India was the only source for diamonds to the world. ( Source . Gemological Institute of America )
• The Baily Bridge is the highest bridge in the world. It is located in the Ladakh valley between the Dras and Suru rivers in the Himalayan mountains. It was built by the Indian Army in August 1982.
• Sushruta is regarded as the father of surgery. Over 2600 years ago Sushrata & his team conducted complicated surgeries like cataract, artificial limbs, cesareans, fractures, urinary stones and also plastic surgery and brain surgeries.
• Usage of anesthesia was well known in ancient India medicine. Detailed knowledge of anatomy, embryology, digestion, metabolism, physiology, etiology, genetics and immunity is also found in many ancient Indian texts.
  
  article courtesy & link to http://www.indianchild.com/

why?

Why did god send me to this earth?
Why was I born? Why was I born a man?
Why was I born into this particular family?
Why was I born an Indian?

Did God really have a plan/ game in mind for me?
Did he expect me to do something distinct/ unique on this planet?

Why am I the ways I am?
Why is there so much anger and resentfulness in me?
Why do I hurt so much?
Why am I so unhappy when I seem to possess all the happiness tools?

Why is there so much wrong with me?
Why would god make me so imperfect?

When and how will I find the meaning of my life?
When will I find peace and happiness?
When will I find myself and come to terms with 'me'
When.....when...when

I just hope its not too late by then..........