Subhajit

Freedom of speech is something that has been endowed upon us by the constitution. Now, to what extent we use it or allowed to use it is matter that is quite debatable. Even the government that rules us, curbs that freedom to a greater extent and refrains us from speaking our mind or saying what is correct. The other angle to this thought is what is to be spoken on a public domain and what not. Who decides this? The speaker or law-makers? We have laws that states we cannot make inflammatory speeches, talks that violates the integrity of the country, anti-national remarks and comments on any community that can cause instability in the peace. What about somebody’s opinion about another individual? Can anyone say he/she feels about another person in a public platform in a civilized way, let me repeat ‘civilized way’? Or is it just not allowed? Is an individual free to express his opinions on the current corporate culture being a part of a corporate himself? Is a journo allowed to discuss t

Sometimes nothing but a road-side, greasy, floppy, bread-slice-overwhelming, onion-infused, whipped-to-death omelette will do. This was more or less my type of schedule during Christmas celebrations. This year is different, thanks to my office and my colleagues. All the buzz, hype and preparations are making it one of the best so far. I have been doing shopping since 21st. And it really is exciting. I hope I enjoy it to the maximum. We have few competitions chalked out for tomorrow. After long the employees are kind of charged up for these events. I hope we make a great day tomorrow at work and somehow define ‘fun at workplace’. This concept rarely comes in the dictionary of small organizations as they do not have the liberty of spending time and workforce behind all these. Yet, we have managed to try our best whenever we got an opportunity and we always kept our spirits high. There were not one but many occasions where the employees didn’t show that much of interest in the celebration

I was just trying few things in Google, and I don’t know why, I typed the name of our village, Dad’s birthplace. It’s been 7 years that I have been there. And in last 12 years I have been there just twice. Coming back to the Google thing, I found few results from Wikimapia. And I clicked it to see that place where I stayed for few years and started my education. Mom was never happy as I had to study in vernacular medium, so did my maternal side. She was born and raised in the best city of Odisa, and had to come to this raw and secluded village and so was the reaction. This village along with another 3 villages was actually cut off from other localities by 2 rivers. I exactly could not locate my school on the virtual map, but found one next to it. Found the two rivers, and few houses. Today when I am looking at these locales through Wikimapia sitting in Mumbai where I am living for last 4 years, I just realized how far I am from all those quiet places I stayed. I really miss them. This

It's been 25 years now. The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. For me, it has more effect than facts. My own attitude towards life has changed a lot and is still on a changing cycle. I know being a 25-year-'old' gives me the leeway to call my mistakes as experiences. No matter what I do from now on is going to represent me as well as give me my own identity. Talking of identity, I have not been able to carve one for myself so far. I know it for sure that it's not late, but surely I have to start working towards it right away. My father is someone I always looked up to. And even if I achieve 50% of what he has got in his life, then my life would be worth living for. While I will be working to establish my identity, I will make sure that I am happy and content in what I will be doing. I hope I can keep on writing, atleast for next 50 years (somebody predicted I would be bidding adieu to the world @ 73, so that leaves me with 48 years exactly

When I look back and read my post http://dreamzrforever.blogspot.com/2009/01/oh-dear.html , I feel... this is me, so me. I want my closed ones to care for me, I don't want them to be overly caring; I want them to be always near me, I also do not want their too much of presence; I want someone who calls up at night to ask me whether I had my dinner or not, yet I don't want it everyday.... so on & on & on. Exactly what do I want? Do I even want anything, any damn thing? May be not. May be I do not deserve. I don't know. I am going mad. Whatever... I have this commitment-psychosis, thanks to my ever changing mood. And marriage. To fuel this thought in mind, not 1 but 3 of my cousins bros are getting married in next 3 months, while 1 got married last month. The entire family is happy as the boys are into the marriage-thing after a hiatus of close to 7 years. Even I was tired being a part from the bride's side for last 7 years. But being a part of baarati and being i

Oh it's raining! Raining since almost 2 days. Rain in November... is there something wrong! Dhoni & Ponting's men are staying at 'Four Points' and looking at the weather. It seems they will end up in spending majority of their time inside the hotel and the rest in shopping at Inorbit. Their wives have already started shopping and eating some real oily stuff at the Inorbit food-court. Dhoni would be happy not to face the Aussie heat (that to in wet conditions ;-) ). Raj baba's men went nuts as usual inside Maharashtra's assembly for some weird reasons taking MNS's image to another low. The MET department has given a cyclone (they have given it some alien name also) warning for today, thus making sure that it is not going to happen. Today, also marks 2 years of my first post in this blog, which actually was an excerpt from one of my e-mails. It was written for my ex and then I thought of putting it here. That is how I started writing on a blog, for the fir

What do you understand by cold war? How are you going to define it? Is it because the relationship has become cold? And why do we always have a cold war with a person who is close to you? Is it because you want to fight with them or is it something. What I found in most of the cases, it is the clashes of ego, or may be clashes of the way we think. Every individual is different from each other, but we don’t accept this fact easily. We want the person in front of us to think the way we are thinking. But to what extent? I am not writing this post of because I am having one such thanda war with anybody, but mainly because I am tired of losing people close to me in my life. I am too tired even to think about that. So each time I feel that I am having such kind of a tiff with someone close to me, I can’t take it easily. It’s really tough on my part, even though it’s not a new thing, anymore. If that someone thinks the same way or everything goes ‘perfect’ (may be an overstatement) for a lon

[ You may find certain words in this post which may not be appreciated in a public forum, but I am/shall NOT be apologetic about it, as I am just expressing my thoughts as a normal frustrated and disgusted crcket fanatic ] A banner in SCG ground on 4th January 2008 read, " Commit all your crimes when Sachin is batting. They will go unnoticed because even the Lord is watching ." We, Indians, grew up watching Cricket. You can smell its flavor in every nook & corner of our homes. We eat cricket, sleep with it & wake up thinking about it only. Obsession is not wrong, even for a passion like this over-obsession can also be understandable. But turning blind or analyzing the reasons behind our failure should not be avoided as well. And today, we are also debating about being a top class team and reaching the number one position in world cricket. Have we ever asked ourselves, that whether do we even deserve it or do we have the skills, temperament and the attitude to be in t

It has been an eventful October, a month I would remember. Today, while writing this, is the last day of my home trip. I came home after 10 months, the longest so far. I stayed for 11 days, including 3 unpaid leaves, man that’s some money. I have spent maximum time at home in this trip, which I missed in the earlier ones. But missed out on meeting all of my near & dear ones. It’s bound to happen if you are going to visit your hometown as a guest for 10 odd days. Don’t know, but sometimes I feel I should take off for a couple of months or so and spend time here. It’s so calm & relaxing. You don’t have to think anything else apart from comfort. All I seriously did here was two things: eat & sleep. I made up for all those lost sleep in last 9-10 months and had best of the cuisines. If my bosses permit, I would be coming down in four months time to attend two of my cousins’ marriage. Fingers crossed. This October, as I posted in my previous post, Nipun left us to go back t

Saturday 10th October, 2009 Life is a great leveler. Today was one of those days, I realized it, again. My day started with those thoughts in mind where I feel like going back to home and do nothing. The sun was shining, a bit too much and was humid as usual. But there was something in the air, could not recognize, may I be did not want to. Went to have a vegetarian lunch, thanks my Saturday thing. Then lots of shopping and a good dinner. All through this, someone was there with me, and helped me do shopping, as I stay in my confused state of mind during buying anything. That someone is there for some time now, just that now I can count upon her . A great person and a great companion to be with. Time literally flies, when she is around. Well, please do not read between/beyond these lines. But the day also contained the separation of one my flat mates who was leaving Mumbai permanently to join their family business. I never interacted with him during my MBA days so much apart f

The transition phase between monsoon and winter is pleasant. Especially the late afternoons and the evenings. I stayed at 6 places in last 25 years of my life. Each place has its own memories and I keep on connecting myself to each of them. Today, as I am sitting idle at my window gazing at the sky through the branches of the coconut tree next to my flat, I am thinking about all those afternoons and evenings I have spent. I still feel nostalgic as I used to feel while leaving each one them. But now, all I want is just one thing: I want to go back in time, and live all those moments all over again. I have no regrets about what I have done so far in my life, just that I found that I was more happy while growing up. Happiness without any conditions. Running to home back from school was the biggest journey for me. Seeing off Dad going to office was the saddest moment of the day. Hitting a boundary off my brother’s bowling was the biggest achievment. And stealing cashew nuts from kitchen wa

We sometimes think thousand times in taking a decision, sometimes it can be a real small one. But we take time. To do or not to. To be or not to be. Whether you are right or wrong. Whether the decision is morally correct or immoral. Logical or illogical. Justified or unjustified. Do I need to prove anybody with my decisions? May be no. It hardly matters to the world. All I need to prove is to myself. May be in my life, the number of correct decisions taken to the number of wrong ones tells me to take a call instinctively more often. At the end of it, your life is the sum of the choices that you take. Me being a teetotaler… sounds freaking scary. Don’t you worry guys. I still love world music and still die for Tom Hanks and Monica Belucci. I still hate travelling and taking calls in the morning. I still am nervous in presentations and still hate Mondays. You can’t take Subhajit out of me. Life’s the same minus some liquids. Will have to find a suitable replacement for that L J

Sometimes I think why I did MBA! I actually pondered over this thought many times post my MBA. Last 18 months in corporate life has been full of ups and downs. If I only analyze it with up and downs, it’s all right. Then I ask myself how many days I woke up in the morning and really felt like going to office, with a mind full of new ideas and plans? How many days have I thought of executing my thoughts into action in the office? How many days have I thought of going to office without thinking about my boss’s temper? How many evenings have I returned home with a smile of satisfaction on my face after work? You may ask the same questions to any professional working somewhere or the other and may add some more questions. The answer to more than 90% of them would come  “very few”.  But why? We are supposed to work at capabilities equivalent to the kind of study that we have done in our MBA days and a level where managerial expertise comes into play. But all we do is to just wake up, run an

Page 3. Sounds so glamorous. But just go back 10 years and you will find almost nothing. I wont talk about any gray side of this new and ever growing culture but rather I will write on we have become a part of it and it has become a part of our lives. We can start from fashion. Today atleast a guy doing engineering or MBA knows who is Manish Malhotra or a Neeta Lulla. They know them thanks to the coverage by media in both its formats, thanks to the Page 3 gatherings. Their curiosity and interest to know these also matters. Page 3 has become a platform where socialites from different walks & corners of life are meeting to discuss and exchange many ideas than just having some good time with a glass of Château de Villeneuve in their hand. The days are gone when only stars from movie industry were found on the guest list of a page 3 party. Now things are changed, for the venue to the menu and most importantly the kind of people on the guest list. Now one finds a party by Tarun T

I am a big movie buff. But this year has been a big disaster. Thanks to some worst possible movies made by the biggest possible producers and the great multiplex-producers fight over revenue sharing. The second half of the year looks brighter with some more directors getting ready to deliver their products and I am all ready to experience some long awaited unforgettable moments inside Fame. Asutosh & Rajkumar Hirani are two of those awaited movie makers in my list for this year as Karan delayed “My Name is Khan”  to next year. As far as Hollywood is concerned I am still awaiting a movie even closer to the likes of “The Pursuit of Happiness”.  “Milk” & “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”  were good but not outstanding. Missed “Revolutionary Road”,  “The Reader” & “Changeling”, will catch it up soon on DVD. My blog’s profile clearly states that I am not into fiction. Actually it puts me off, but don’t know why, today thinking to write a small little story. But as the post

Two men went fishing. One was an experienced fisherman, the other wasn't. Every time the experienced fisherman caught a big fish, he put it in his ice chest to keep it fresh. Whenever the inexperienced fisherman caught a big fish, he threw it back. The experienced fisherman watched this go on all day and finally got tired of seeing the man waste good fish. 'Why do you keep throwing back all the big fish you catch?' he asked. The inexperienced fisherman replied, 'I   only have a small frying pan...' Sometimes, like that fisherman, we throwback the big plans, big dreams, big jobs, big opportunities that God gives us. Our faith is too small. We laugh at that fisherman who didn't figure out that all he needed was a bigger frying pan, yet how ready are we to increase the size of our faith? Whether it's a problem or a possibility, God will never give you anything bigger than you can handle. That means we can confidently walk into anything God brings our way.

Sometime during last month I had a visit to Inorbit, Vashi and was sitting in the food court with 2 of my friends. There was an artificial children playground there. The number was increasing inside it as it was a weekend. In front me many new cute little angels went inside it and got lost with each other. It really is surprising to know that how in this world, and in today’s time there are still some moments which you see live and wish it would be the exact scenario in the entire world. None of them knew each other; they never even met each other before. But mixed and played as if they know each other for years and as if this is the one last time they are meeting. These days our siblings don’t believe in each other! Friends deceit, our relatives don’t trust us. Our parents don’t believe on us. May be we ourselves don’t believe on our own capabilities. Where is that trust which one can see in those tiny eyes, where is the blind faith which sparkles in those eyes? For those 15 minutes

When I see my write up on this blog which I penned on Sunday, February 1, 2009; I wonder how fast things can change, and have changed. It was only Roger’s tears which made me write that piece. Today, while writing this I feel this world is a great leveler. For a split of a second on Feb 1 st I thought whether Roger still has it in him. But no one knew that Australian Open final on that day was just the beginning of a new surge in him that is here to stay. French open followed and before that he defeated the Nadal in Madrid Open. Nadal was shocked by Soderling in the French Open 4 th round. Nadal is yet to come back to play tennis after that and Federer is yet to lose a match after Madrid Open. Fates turn, they do turn fast. Come Wimbledon, Roger’s home for last 7 years and Britain’s child. But this year Britain was behind Andy (Murray) and he did not disappoint as well. He went till the Semis only to get defeated by the other Andy. This year actually saw the resurgent Roddick in his

Today I reached Mumbai. Today I faced the monsoon in Mumbai for the first time. I could not sleep last night. As I left my home, left it long long way back. By rail it is 1932 kilometers. Dad is with me. But I can feel the time is running fast, running out. Boarded on the local train for the first time. Landed at Belapur station, not realizing that Kharghar is a different place altogether. Then one great auto driver decided to do his job as it was raining heavily every two minutes. We went to college directly, then to the hostel warden’s place. My first glance of the college was its name on the front and two big trees surrounding it. It still remains in my mind when I think of ITM. I was not happy for a moment, as time was running out. I got my hostel registration done and the college bus took me to my hostel. I got the fifth floor which also happens to be the top floor. Dad came with me, saw the flat, was impressed, but was not happy with the fact that 6 of has to share it. The day wa

What's going on? I mean wherever I see, I can see people getting married. I have lost count how many people are got married this year and how many are slated!! I mean something is seriously wrong with them or with me! I can not even think of getting married now or in near future, though Mom has set a deadline of 2011 for me. Oh God!!! Help Me.... Monsoon started from today in Mumbai.... This is my 4th meet with monsoon in Mumbai. I hate going out in rain but love spending the quiet afternoons with pakodas or a cup o' coffee gazing through the window pane to those uncountable rain drops all over. The best thing I like about the first drizzle of the monsoon is the smell of the soil. It smells heaven and takes me back many years into my life. What else!!! Paki boys and Lanka are fighting it out for the world cup T20. All the Indians will be rooting for Srilanka, for obvious reasons. Saina won a Super Series at Indonesia (first by an Indian). Still waiting to see Indians featuring

I really do not know what’s the reason behind blogging less these days. Yes, T&D is taking a big chunk of my time & energy, but I could still manage with my long weekend offs. I feel sad as I am not even able to read Shobhaa’s blog. The only people I am keeping a track are Nainy & Sharad. And I must mention two posts of these guys which I found outstanding. Sharad’s views and analysis on the book ‘India: A Wounded Civilization” by V.S. Naipaul. It is not exhaustive, yet it is quite narrative and the 13 pointers he has given are really thought provoking. It shows how much he has gone into the root of the book and his own perspective which represents a lot of our thoughts. And Nainy’s take on her parents and the upbringing. It so beautifully written & narrated that I recommended atleast 4 of my friends to have a look at it. She talks about the way her parents have changed themselves in course of time and the outlook they share with their children. One line that really mov

Things are going well & fine. I mean sometimes it’s going so fast that I want to have a pause; sometimes it’s too slow. I have got reasons for both. Details some other time. IPL fever is on rise and the fever is getting on the nerve for sure. Who all were saying shifting the tourney to South Africa will lose its charm; had to eat their words. Man, it’s India and you don’t need to play only in Eden Gardens to make it a hit. Wake up guys, this is a different age altogether. Taking a look at the political scenario, it’s getting dirtier everyday and the level is also decreasing. Even Mr. Advani is looking clueless. No need to talk about others. I am getting mad hearing same kinda news everyday. Let Mr. Singh come to rein us again, even if he says “ Soniya ji se puchna padega” for everything. We all so-called intellects will talk about BJP but won’t vote, so let Congress take us forward to Gandhian age again! Oh, look at the democratic me! Sorry, politics is only on my other blog. This

Oh Dear... I am posting after a month... Do not know what's keeping me busy off late; my job or my laziness...or both!!!  I always believed that HR is like a doctor. When a doctor saves somebody’s life, the patient terms him as a God. He becomes the biggest hero of that patient’s life. Just like when an HR offers a job to a needy guy. Neither the doctor nor the HR classifies what is the background of a patient or a candidate before they start their job. Neither they do any favors nor do they take the place of the God. They just do their job. When we see the other side of the coin, it makes the scenario real tough. When a patient dies, then apart from his/her family, the entire mass blames the doctor. As if he deliberately let the patient die. Just like an employee blaming HR and making him/her the biggest villain when they are sacked/laid off. This is just a part of their profile. But a normal person or an employee does not understand this. For them their life or job means everythi

Yesterday was a great day. I got some time off and I think I made the most of it. My usual Saturday night outs are now becoming monotonous after exploring all the places in this central suburb. Yesterday was Friday and I had my lunch at Inorbit, Vashi followed by a ‘Choco Mint’ at Costa Coffee. I love coffee, but was bored by going to CCD every time. So Costa Coffee was the result, the concept is same including the menu (they literally ripped of some names from CCD as well). The only differentiating factor was the music. And, here you have to place the order yourself at the counter and then they will serve you. In this case I prefer the traditional waiter-approach at CCD. After getting my order my table, my friend asked for extra sugar to a coffee-waiter. But he just nodded his head and went away; he did the same while I was placing the order. So I was almost ready to fire him next time. My friend called him again, I was ready, and so was my friend. He came and politely directed with a

I was not convinced with all the principles of ‘Gandhism’, also questioned many of his decisions in the later part of his life. Keeping these things aside, I respect the father of our nation immensely just because of his ability to influence billions of people without adhering to any easy way or short cut. He did whatever he could to send back the Britishers, and we did whatever we could to put him in our everyday life. Monuments, currency, roads, museums, movies and what not. He is everywhere. He is everywhere in this materialistic world and we worship him in our constitution, at our college entrance and in uncountable songs. So much so that he and his ideas has now become a hot selling property. Westerners have emulated two things from us with utmost passion: Yoga & Gandhism. Deepak Chopra has become a billionaire doing something I never understood and numerous others are following him. As I have pointed out the commercial value (don’t say commercialization) of Mr. Gandhi in to

I wanted to post this on Sunday, but all my desperate attempts went in vain thanks to the long Saturday night out and Sunday engagements. I really made it a point to post this in time which I rarely do for other posts. Apologies to my good self. ----------- A small baby…a cute little girl…an obedient daughter…a supporting sister…an well-behaved and faithful wife…a never-complaining and ever-sacrificing mother…and somebody’s aunt and somebody’s in-law and so on. Hmm…Well, a boy also goes through many different phases in his life. But, as a 25-year old guy in this male-dominated society (yes, we still are); I would have to admit the fact that a girl spends her life with more contentment than her counterpart. This has been a norm, a fact & such a truth that I often wonder but agree. We got to accept it, realize it & acknowledge it, sooner…the better. Life starts and it moves on, so fast that we forget to ask our closed ones few simple yet important questions. We ask th