CHAOS 09 - Through my lens

Mangalore Incident - A shameful act

It's disgusting and disheartening to see such an incident taking place. Is this democracy that we boast about?

The day we met over coffee

And finally I got the song I was looking for so long. It's called "The day we met over coffee" from the album Aquarian Moon by Osunlade

It's 6:30 am and am enjoying the morning chill. There has been a sudden drop in temperature in last few days. I have a sensor in my body that is very efficient in catching such changes. The among of sneezing I do in a day is directly proportional to the delta temperature that was observed in morning. :)

Chaos is just a day away. Watching Pandit Hariprasad Chourasia performing live will be an experience in itself. Motherjane and Mohit Chouhan are lined up too, so the next few days are going to be a 'rock'ing. And then there is a hasya kavi sammelan. I am really looking forward to that. If anyone of you coming to this side of country and plan to drop in to chaos, do let me know.

on a break

Pritesh is on a break,
after an eventful long weekend.
To take stock of the things
and replenish the inventories.
Inventories - of energy,
purpose and enthusiasm.

Will be back soon.

strategy redefined...

Strategy is about making sacrifices.
I heard this definition in one presentation on marketing strategy by Nokia. It differs a bit from one that Saral da gave us in our OM class. Still I think the essence remains the same. It's all about choices we have.

My previous blog was kind of sad in many senses. But I think that tells the true state of my mind. I am not sad, just that I am not comfortable with things around me. Every now and then, I find myself standing on a crossroad, faced with a challenge to take a decision. Some choices to be made, some doors to be closed.

It's that time in wimwi when the next years SAC and club coordinators are chosen from amongst the batch. It's the time where you decide about exchange application also. It's the time where you define your tuchchadom in wimwi. Clearly lots of choices to be made. At one hand, I feel fortunate to have so many of them at my disposable. But when you are standing where I am, your concerns are different. Now that I have been give choices, I have to make a decision. The best possible decision. The wisest decision. Bhushit told me once that management is not about making the right decision, its about making the decision right way.

So what do I do?

Aspirations, dreams, hopes and capabilities - mixed in right proportions.
Is this formula for success? Clearly not by Bhushit's definition. It's formula for making the right choice. It's the formula for satisfaction of doing the right thing.

I am confused at this moment. I am hoping that I will be able to get out of it soon.

jai ho...

Sincerity speaks for itself? I doubt. I seriously doubt. Many a times I think that it has become my weakness. I have had my share of losses and forgone gains due to it. Today I find that this opportunity cost is hugh. I am feeling the pinch now.

Is a change inevitable now?
Jo abhi tak chalta raha hai, vo shayad ab nahi chalega.

Are you going to finish strong?

ps: Thanks Neha for sharing the link.

Slave of visiting card

The worst fear one can have about his/her job - to become a slave of his/her visiting card (or designation).

Clueless in Ahmedabad

Just got over a dreaded WAC moment. It's that time of the year when you see fachchas in IIMA spending a whole night to come up with a report, or an article as in today's case. Strict word limits, no scope for cogging and painful referencing - some of the things which make us hate WAC. But I know this is going to help in long term so will have to take the bitter pill.

It's been over 3 hours since the submission. I had sufficient free time for a long nice sleep, or a movie screening by a bunch of enthusiastic volunteers or a visit to NID to see a design exhibition. But alas, I did none of them. I just don't know why!!! I am clueless.

ps: jindagi ki is bhag-daud me bhul hi gaya ki ye post no 602 hai. :)

Some missed kites and a cadbury sandwich

I am cursing myself that I did not read the news about Internation Kite Festival properly. I was under an assumption that it will go on till 14th and had planned to go there again on 14th. Alas!! it ended on 13th itself. And I missed the chance to see the big event.
Still the fact that we did visit it on sunday and witnessed the trailor makes me content. Not to forget the 100% fresh fruit icecream and the amazing homely food at Gaurav's cousin's place.

So the most exciting plan for Uttarayan (as Makar Sakranti is called in this part of world) flopped. Nonetheless the enthu did not die, so we decided to go and visit parts of the old city to see people celebrating one of their favorite festivals. Who else could help us with this but our trusted Daulat bhai, so I called him and told that I wanted to roam around in the old city and se celebrations of Uttarayan.

And I know now that I asked the right person. What he arranged for us was one of the most simple yet enjoyable trip in this city.

4 of us (me, Abhinav, Josen and Ameya) took the auto and cruised on the roads that were deserted otherwise. It's almost like a curfew situation in this city on 14th Jan. There are two reasons behind it -
1. It's a public (and private) holiday and everybody celebrates the fest in their home. All the shops and establishments except eateries were closed.
2. There are chances of accidents due to manja that is everywhere on this day. So people prefer not to be on roads and chill out in their home with family and friends.

IIMA campus is in the new city and we did not see much of action here. But when we reached Alice bridge, the difference between old city and new ones became so apparent. On that side of the river sky was filled with kites, this side it was not the case. So we stopped on the bridge to enjoy the two faces of Ahmedabad city. At one side there were big billboards getting lighted as the sun was approaching the horizon, at other there were kites and more kites. Kids running here and there to grab the kites that got cutofied in the fierce competitions. Kaata hai and then kids running behind the kite.

It was almost dark so we decided to move from the bridge. Next stop was at the Jami Masjid in the old city. The biggest masjid in city, it is a beutiful place. It was mostly empty as there was still time to prayer. But in the area surrounding the masjid, the skyline was filled with kites. All the families had stationed themselves on the roof. The joy of having a get-together like this is unimaginable in our part of country. Superb!!

A trip can not be complete without some pet-pooja. So we asked Daulat bhai to take us to some place where we might get to try something nice and local. And he took us to the right place. Manik Chowk. For people who know Indore, I can say it is an equivalent of sarafa. Like the chat-streets in most cities of India. Shops are setup as the sun sets and the feast goes on till 2am (or till the food lasts). Sandwich, pizza, pulav, pani puri, pav bhaji - some of the things that we could see from the distance. We decided to try as much as possible. So first it was pani-puri (Spicy they were but we loved it), then sev puri. Followed by the visit to Sandwich stall. We asked to guy there to serve us his speciality and he did the same. A pineapple sandwich followed by chilly cheese. First one was a sweet preparation but trust me you would have never tried something like it. A must try dish in this side of the town. Cadbury sandwich - for the chocolate lovers. We just could not resist after seeing him apply chocolate preparation on the bread. What a nice way to end the feast. A hot cup of chai followed. Nice Adrak chai directly from the ketli. Reminded me of the tea I had in the morning when I reached Indore in the last trip home. We were full and so it was time to go. So much left to be tasted there, so I know surely you will see another post on Manik Chowk.

4 friends, 2 hours, 300 odd rupees and so many smiles. Not to forget delicious pineapple and cadbury sandwiches. It was my kinda fun. I missed it for so long. I am happy finally I did it. I guess I have found a partner in crime here - Abhinav. Always ready for something like this. Looking forward to more such trips to Old city. I am bored of the malls anyways. :D

100% Fresh Fruit Icecream

Tried it in Internation Kite Festival 2009. Amazing taste as well as the method of preparation.
I have their contact number, if anybody needs it, let me know.

Internation Kite Festival 2009

http://picasaweb.google.co.in/jain.pritesh/Uttarayan
Venue - Ahmedabad.

Polluted Air

CGPA PPO Exchange Placements Credits Grades

As soon as I enter these campus walls, these words start coming to me from all directions. Sometime I just hate it. I don't know why!!!

new year - new smiles

11 hour long train journey
To meet the people you love.
To see the smile on their face.
And the satisfaction
of having their loved one home.

A day full of emotions and confusions.
An evening filled with memories.
Of games of cricket that we played.
Of gossips we shared each day.
Of some broken bonds,
and some budding ones too.
A drive through the dusty lanes
in search of the hot cup of coffee
that we used to share.
Alas it was not there that night
No worries - atleast we were together
To cherish each moment
of our amazing friendship.
Gunjan - Thanks a lot is all I can say
To you and to the God.

That call at the midnight
unexpected, and so pleasant.
loved each moment of it.
and will keep doing it.

That was the new year celebration for me.

2009 - you have come
with lots of smiles and hopes.
I pray to god that it remains the same.
Amen...

Mausam and Escape

Listen to this song called "Mausam and Escape" in Slumdog Millionaire OST. Rahman's magic strikes a note that you will remember for a long time.