Vaaranam aayiram...

Finally the movie that had kept us waiting for a long time is here. Vaaranam aayiram starring Surya, Sameera Reddy, Simran, et all directed by the Kaaka kaaka fame Gautam Menon. Following Patchaikili Muthucharam belonging to genre of drama one would have expected a action filled flick from the Director who believes in making movies with a style and urbane touch. Vaaranam aayiram is a depiction of the connection between father and son. Most of the Tamil movies, especially Dhanush’s ,caricatured father as a villain in son’s life. But this one embraces every child’s unspoken belief in taking father as the first hero. Surya has given an impeccable performance in both the roles of Father and Son.

The story opens up with the father taking his last breath. On hearing this news Surya (son), while he is away on Army mission, narrates his life and his closeness with his father .But this narrative style of presenting a movie has had one disadvantage. Just for the reason that the movie has a foregone conclusion. Son finally comes to father’s funeral. And that’s the end. The director could have won over the audiences had he tried to unravel some new elements at the end. And the rescue operation that Surya heads looks patched up and disconnected though it explains that something of an urgent nature had taken the son away from seriously ill father. These are few flaws.

But ,by and large the movie touches you. It definitely does connect with some part of your life. The meeting between Surya and Sameera Reddy and the way surya courts her love is every man’s fantasy and a dream that we aspire to realize one day. It looks cute and convincing on the screen. But real life is hard all around. Love between Father Surya and mother (Simran) is aesthetically picturized . It reminds us of MGR-Saroja Devi on screen and it looks as though colour is added to those black and white pictures. But I may not call this a new idea.

Harris Jeyaraj like always for Gautam’s movies has composed music for this one too. The song “Mundhinam parthenae” and “ Nenjukkul peidhidum” would definitely steal your heart . This movie is definitely going to take Surya places. He has proved as a capable actor. His hard work and dedication is written all over the movie.

Watch this if you really the one who appreciate good cinemas.

Society,Who?

Freedom, baby... is never having to say you're sorry.. This is a line from the movie The devil’s advocate. And that kind of freedom is available in abundance in our country. One has the freedom to urinate in public. Facing the wall, of course. You have all the rights to litter all across the road. And commit petty crime with impunity like breaking traffic law, smoking in a public place when its actually banned. You never have to feel or say sorry to the society at large. In fact these bunch of law breakers and nuisance creators are very much the society. He could be your neighbour, your friends and your own folks at family. But all of them hoping that someday this country would change and look spic and span. Distant dream, though. But what pains me more is the image you see on the pictures here. I captured them on one fine chilly morning at a road which used to make me feel oh god! at least this stretch of road is clean. The cause of my pain is not the dump that is lying there. It was just that it was heaped right outside the FICCI auditorium in Barakhamba road. The make-shift arrangements for the dinner the previous night in the open space of the auditorium premises was visible from outside. Yes, FICCI – Association of some of the largest companies in the country.

This happens at a time when the concept of corporate social responsibility is gaining prominence. Of course credits must be given to several Indian companies that have taken up the social cause zealously. But this kind of callousness evokes a bad image of the organization, at least in this regard. I know it is only a auditorium, run by FICCI , let out on rental basis. May be. But is it not the responsibility of the FICCI or whosoever in charge of the auditorium to refrain their users of the auditorium from causing any inconvenience to the society by committing any such act. And that is not all . On the other side of the wall along side the Tansen Marg our men folks attend to their nature’s call without any sense of guilt nor shame. This is indeed everyday sight. I wonder why such thing has been overlooked by the administration of the auditorium.

Cleanliness is one thing that needs to be taken seriously by all. Would we?

Petty Politicians...Pity People..

If there is one thing about India that amazes Western countries it is primarily India’s integrity to stay together as one nation despite its diversities in every aspect of a civilization. This becomes more sacrosanct when we come to think of it in the light of various secessionist forces acting in various countries across the world. In fact world’s history is replete with such bleed-a-nation-to-death stories. The controversial Holocaust, “Ethnic cleansing” in Bosnia , breaking up of Serbia and Montenegro, UN orchestrated separation of Kosova from Serbia, Russia backed breakaway of South Ossetia from Georgio, Clash between Shia Muslims and Sunni Muslims in West Asia are some of the bloodily written pages on it. And looking at the war going on in Srilanka against LTTE one wonders if they would ever arrive at a solution. Here again there are accusation against Srilankan Army forging to wipe out Tamils in their fight against LTTE. And the story in our backyard is equally bad too casting a doubt on the virtue of our nation’s integrity.

Secularism remains an ideal thing to talk about. But the order of the day among fundamentalists is showing not a modicum of tolerance towards other religions. The act of vandalism against churches in Orissa and Karnataka performed shamelessly by the Hindu Fundamentalist and a rape of a nun is all highly condemnable. Worst thing is hundreds of people were displaced and turned into refugees in their own land. This situation was close to a civil war. The lethargic action by the governments of both the states reeks of vote bank politics.

The next evil that is gaining strength is regionalism. It has been apparent in a subtle way so far. But the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena has blown up the evil to a size larger than life. The recent event involving MNS activists, of course this is not their debut act, beating up North Indians aspiring to take Railway Board Exams on the claims that Marathis are denied jobs is hooliganism that needs to be nipped in its bud. Raj Thackeray, MNS chief, following the attack addresses a gathering, “ Press your demands in such a way that they would have no alternative but to accept your demands”. He dared the government to arrest him and said “Maharashtra would burn if he gets arrested”. If he claims he is for People of Maharashtra why would he let it burn and let the people suffer. This is a utter display of what power can do. To everyone’s surprise Maharashtra government mustered courage to court his arrest.

And in another event in Tamilnadu there is widespread protest against attack on Tamils in Srilanka by its army. The State has some prominent political leaders who are known to be sympathizers of LTTE, an organization banned as terrorist organization across the world. Vaiko one among such leaders made an uncalled for statement. He said his party cadres would not hestitate to carry arms to Srilanka Tamils in their struggle for Tamil eelam. And as if adding fuel to fire his party chief warned centre not to force Tamils in the State to launch a struggle for a separate Tamilnadu. The Tamilnadu government in no less time arrested them on sedition charges.

What has become evident is that politicians who are expected to adhere to the constitutional principles are blatantly violating them. In their fight for power it is the people’s day to day life that takes the bashing. And as long as these leaders have followers that are very much likely to thrive on.

Rock On!!

Rock on-just as what the title says it thoroughly rocks you. For those who are thinking this is another film about friends much like the greatest hit Dil Chahta Hai you are in for disappointment. No doubt DCH is the greatest movie ever made on friendship in Bollywood. Though this movie directed by Abhishek Kapoor with lead role played by Farhan Akthar co-starring Arjun Rampal ,Koena purie and others is short on friendship there is lot of rocking music in it. This would indeed fit into the genre of “ Musical”

The movie opens with the touch of reality showing the diverged lives of four friends. Each one of them is class apart. This truly portrays how once celebrated and cherished friendship is pushed into oblivion in the struggle for livelihood- either in search for more riches or just to create an identity for oneself in the life of uncertainties. Debutant Farhan Akthar , the famed director of DCH, plays a role of Aditya, wealthy Investment banker who keeps pretty much to himself even at the cost of making his wife Sakshi feel like he is stranger in her life yet staying under one roof. The story moves forward as his wife finds out his past as lead vocalist in a fledgling Rock band in Mumbai. In an attempt to bring a smile back on the face of her husband Sakshi invites the other three friends played by Arjun Rampal , Purab and Luke Kenny to Aditya’s birthday party.

Later the movie switches between the four friend’s endeavor to make a music album in the past life and their dissection from music in the present life. Here the story unveils why their lives have found differnt direction. Each one of them realizes how their music created magic and they vow to resume what they had left unfinished. And then the story has an happy ending.

The debutant Farhan Akthar has not made a great impression as an actor. But he has proved himself to be a scintillating singer with his unique voice. My personal favorites are “Pichle saath Dinon Mein” and “Rock on” sung by Farhan himself. The music by Shankar-Eshaan-Loy has lot of energy and is set to create trend in Indian music. Rock music is soon to be heard and be played all around the corner. May god keep the moral policing self-styled protectors of Indian tradition off the road.

The movie Rock on though did not meet the great expectations I had it is a great feast for your ears and would definitely give you a feeling that you are in the midst of thousands of audiences swaying left-to right in a Live concert. If you really want to get yourself rocked on and take a break from the regular bollywood style movies then Rock on is for you. Go ahead and get perspired in the heat of rock music.

Beginning to End

Its been five months since I blogged. I can give umpteen reasons for my abstinence from this little space that belongs to me. One of them being my journey to success has been stretched a bit. And it is not that I have dispossessed the time that I should reasonably spend for things like blogging or taking a stroll across the street on a moonlit night or even a movie show. I just despised that thought of having to put down the misery of my failure. Yeah, I know that failure makes one stronger and makes one learn the lessons the harder way. But the raise from the fall is ain’t that easy. Its painful and its more than a struggle. One thing is sure the success is going to taste a lot sweeter than the sweetest thing I have ever known.

This journey has brought me to Delhi again, the place where I reached the threshold of success once. And I see lot of changes. The competition level in the exam has gone up and looks even fierce some just like the rental values here in Rajinder Nagar. The place which once had my favorite tea shop had to wind up for it couldn’t afford the daily rent. A single room which would give enough space for a cot, a table and for you to move about a little bit costs a rent of minimum five grands. I really wish if someone could take the pain of suing the House Owners here for charging such exorbitant rent.

But there are few things to cheer about. A few yards away from my room, across the shankar Road, lies another tea shop which really makes a tasty special chai. And not just that. There is a huge tree out there and under its shade I spend the few minutes of pleasant morning with a nice Chai to sip on. And there’s a park too where I go for my regular morning walk. But sad that most of the people who come there are old people fighting Arthritis and other old age related illnesses. It’s difficult for a person like me who had spent nearly the last twelve years of life in the company of lots of friends to sit in a lonesome room with no souls around to talk to. But the Library I have joined in Barakambha Road and some new friends I have made are a big relief.

Now this is just another beginning to end what I started. And I hope success is not so far.

Sab Khade Ho Jao...

Solidarity amongst citizens of a country is felt when they stand together and sing their National Anthem or while its being played. Well, all of us are taught in schools that National Anthem reflects a country’s traditions, its riches and its struggle. So far I have known, in India (of course I have never been out of India ) , National Anthem is played at the end of the formal occasions. And therefore its not unnatural that I was in for a shock when the National Anthem was played in a cinema hall before the start of the movie. They say it is quite a custom in USA. This initiative by the Satyam Cinemas, one of the multiplexes in Chennai, deserves appreciation. And many other institutions could also emulate this idea though it may have very little effect on the fundamentalists or regionalists like the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, who are determined to bleed our nation to death.

One thing must be remembered is that while playing the National Anthem no disrespect is made to it. It just happened that in Satyam cinemas when the National Anthem is being played on the screen the usher outside the hall kept himself busy sending people in . The new entrants were more obsessed with finding their seats either aware or unaware of what was going on.

You might know that last year a album titled Jana Gana Mana, comprising of the National Anthem sung by various artistes like Lata Mangeskar, S P Balasubramaniam, Balamuralikrishna and others, was released with the music by A R Rehman. And it was the one that was sung by SPB got played in the cinema hall. The song had duration of more than 100 seconds, contrary to the standard 52 seconds. The government of India must make clear as to what standard, in terms of duration ,tune,etc, one should follow while singing or composing National Anthem. This would curtail the liberty that many musicians take and even certain organizations that plays National Anthem in some unheard tune.

Its not about cigars!!

Who said it’s a globalised world? Apart from people still surviving on less than a dollar a day yet be part of the country which claims to have embraced globalization there are many countries which are embittered by seclusion, in varying degrees. Cuba is one such nation not quite far but just 90 miles from USA, the solo superpower of this world. Cuba’s tussle with USA dates back to some decades back and it has remained relentlessly without acquiescing to US hegemony despite economic embargo for 47 years. It’s a different story that this pride of Cubans is at the terrible cost of their sufferings, sorrow and deprivation.

This enormous power of a tiny island nation against the mammoth comes from its charismatic leader Fidel Castro, a revolutionary who led a 9000 strong guerilla army to eject out Fulgencio Batista, the military ruler in 1959. Since then his rule over the nation for 49 years has been invincible. This 81 years old ailing leader brought the world’s eye suddenly on Cuba when he announced on Tuesday that he has stepped aside as Cuba’s president. This is clearly a victory for the octogenarian against the US which had orchestrated many assassination plots on him with the aid of CIA. Some as unimaginable as fixing bombs in cigars and under the shells of turtles when Castro was out scuba diving. This news of descent of the staunch socialist brought cheer amongst the exiled Cubans, living in Miami, waiting to return and take control of their seized properties. And many American Investors in Florida are waiting with millions of money to rebuild Cuba.

The travails of life of Cubans may or may not undergo transformation. However, the leader of the socialist nation assured its people that the revolution can still count on cadres from the old guard and others who are very young in the early stage of process. What remains to be seen is would USA be able to instill a transitional government which it has been trying hard by supplying aid to the Cuban dissidents ever since the rise of Mr. Castro. But the pride Cubans, to whom the socialist regime had offered free education and health care, may not let Cuba turn into just another colony of USA.

Heart for Art...

If there is one thing I must credit my civil service mains exams, other than the prospect of success, it must be the way it has tried to broaden my horizon. But it’s a different issue as to how far I have been swayed by such positive influences. What else could one expect to go on in the mind when you have been just confined to one creepy room with books of all sizes. The temptation to day-dream is irresistible unless you are shaken by the fear of reappearing in the exam. Well, am just pointing out the strange thoughts and bizarre aspirations I used to get during those days. When I see a painting exhibition going on in the city my mind just wants to be there gazing at unfathomable modern art with a critic’s point of view. And when I see a dance performance scheduled that evening I wonder why I hadn’t become a dancer. Or at the least being present there myself. The thoughts go on, after all, it has no limits. Ain’t it??

Ironically, things changed after exams. I no longer seem to be interested in any other things. Except the movies I watched passionately. I tirelessly pursued this pleasure of watching pictures. But my interest in dance shows took rebirth when I incidentally met some of the dancers who had come to give their performance in Chennai. And moreover the Auditorium (Music Academy) was pretty close to my house. I know that the Music academy is of very high reputation and takes only the best performers. So I finally landed watching the show.

It was my first experience to watch contemporary dance. They say it’s a collection of system and methods from modern and post modern dances. This group of dancers, part of Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts, consist of graceful and electrifying youngsters who are trained in various dance form from Bharatanatyam, Kuthchipudi, Tai Chi , Ballet to Kalarippayatu martial arts. They performed a theme called “Purushartha”, etched on an Indian philosophical concept, blended with Japanese digital and sonic arts.

Throughout the show the dancers looked vibrant and their movements were observed by each one in the audiences with such an awe. The theme tried to portray the dilemmas in life through dance movements and the digital lighting at the background. Honestly speaking, there was very little I could figure out from the performance. And after the end, during the discussion with the artistes few from the audiences had the courage to ask what exactly the theme was about. But the concept maker Jayachandran Palazhy dealt with it very subtly giving the freedom to audiences to perceive the way their mind desired. In my opinion, these form of art should not remain open only to the arm-chair analysts and reviewers but also should pull the first timers and people wedded to Bollywood and Kollywood ( Stands for tamil film industry).

Nonetheless, the dance was engaging and exhilarating.

A Distant dream

Ethnic conflict in Srilanka has remained alive and kicking ever since its independence in 1948. And it came as a bitter reminder to the people of Srilanka on the eve of their 60th independence day with suicide bomb attack by the LTTE aide killing around 12 people in colombo railway station. This comes at a time when LTTE is facing setback in terms of its military power with Srilankan army closing in on their heels capturing areas which were under the control of LTTE. The history of Srilanka is replete with instances where both the srilankan army and LTTE have fought over territories to gain control over it. And the current attempt by the army is only a repetition of the same. And undoubtedly the Eelam War-4 has begun. But one wonders if there would be a solution to the conflict irrespective of who wins. India and other international community are of the view that only a political solution, not a military one, would bring peace to the island nation.

What needs to be seen is what it holds for India particularly the State of Tamilnadu whose people are connected ethnically to Tamils of Srilanka the very soul of the issue. With the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi by the LTTE and post active intervention period (1987-1990) the mindset of politicians of Tamilnadu excepting few has changed. Tamils issue in Srilanka is no longer a political issue. And the recent clamoring by the Tamilnadu’s Opposition leader Jayalalitha for the arrest of few politicians who still espouse the cause of LTTE in Srilanka vouches to this fact. However the rise in the inflow of Tamil refugees to Indian soil is imminent. This would again demand India to actively involve with srilanka . And its time that LTTE realized that creation of Tamil Eelam is only a distant dream as only a federal state with devolution of power is the immediate solution.

Taare Zameen Par

Taare Zameen Par had reached us well with its trailers. And now the movie is rocking too across the country. Aamir Khan as we all know always plays for the perfection on the screen. That wonderful actor has just added another feather to his crown by directing his debut film TZP.

TZP deals with today’s parents and what they end up doing in trying to put their child on top of everything. The story revolves around a 8 years old boy Ishaan (played by Darsheel safary) who is in third standard for the second year. Yet struggling. He plays the role of a naughty boy and a lovely son to his parents and a caring lad who takes pride in his brother’s achievement. He has played his role stupendously making us laugh and making the parents and parents-to-be to think within. That’s clearly the handiwork of the Actor-cum-Director, the Amazing Khan.

As the story unfolds Director himself enters the movie doing what he is best known for. He plays the role of a teacher- the type which we wouldn’t find in our schools. He helps the child restore the self-confidence that had been shattered due to constant bickering, nagging and bullying.

TZP has a marvelous music made by the trio-Shankar Ehsaan Loy. The background music at many places simply moves you. Especially the music from the guitar makes you tap your feet. The song “ Kholo Kholo” is the final song in the movie that conjures up the spirit of the entire film.

This movie would definitely trigger your brain cells to go back to your school days. And more so if you had been to a boarding school. And this movie is truly for those who love kids. Please don’t miss it.

Here’s the official site of TZP: http://taarezameenpar.com/ (Highly recommended. It has an amazing designing)

Moment of Introspection

Life has various phases. Each one of them filled with its own share of happiness, sorrow, love hatred and regrets. every single day can be a chapter, in a book called life, waiting to be told. But at times we all go through what we had already lived in the past- may be when we were a child or a even a week back or 2 or 3 years ago. You may call it dejavu. This is what i am going through exactly at this point of time.

The long drawn process of my mains exams have finally ended. I could sense the same freedom, relief and pressure upon me not to falter in my duties that I felt last year. and this time I have a vivid precedence to fall back on. Its rightly said experience is the best teacher. I guess I have learnt my lessons well.

I have resolved to myself not to commit the same mistakes, I did last year, until my results are out. And I am not direction less like I was then. So Lord, preach me patience, perseverance and tolerance.

Running to win...

There’s been one question that haunted me for a while since last few weeks. What has kept me away from my blog? I wouldn’t really say I was bereft of ideas. I always get one when I sit down to update my blog. This procrastination was in anticipation of one of the few good things I was expecting to happen. So I did not want to reel in a story of what it is and what it means to me. It is a contingency solely counting upon my performance , to assess which I did not have even a bit of courage. Well, for those who are losing patience, I am talking about my preliminary exams .UPSC has put me back on the race again. A race which I not only have to run but win it too, unlike last time.The race is fierce I know. So here I take off…
(I apologize to the regulars on my blog. I couldn’t find a better analogy to the civil service exams. Its always a race to me)

Vroom Vroom..Pom Pom...

Chennai, the good old Madras, is brimming with the same energy as I had seen two years back. And people on the roads of chennai are still the same flouting rules if no cops around. In fact they have even become worse. Tout the economy for almost touching a two digit growth and easy-available vehicle loans. Roads are blooming with vehicles and it is utter chaos all through the day, not just during the peak hours. Motorcyclists jostling for every little space they see to glide through before the traffic signal turn red. Corporate honchos at the steering honking restlessly to crawl in. And poor pedestrians woefully sidelined in this celebration or you might see one or two running as if their house is on fire.

No doubt chennai's traffic has reached its peak and its evident for all. I was happy, when i found a house for me to stay in with my mother, at a locality i had once lived. Its road, dubbed as Chief Minister's Road, for it housed the Party chief of both DMK and AIADMK, was know to have a smooth traffic except when CM's convoy sped through at 90 kmph. This stretch of road, hardly 2-3 kms, i need to take to reach my CA institute, takes 15 minutes which once used to take just ten minutes. And its a nightmare with seven traffic signals to pass through. Almost all of them turning red before I were to cross the stopline.( The only time most of the two wheelers ,including myself, wait with patience is when the policeman stops everyone for all the girls of Stella Maris College to cross over the road. But colleges have some fixed timings, you see.)

May be these are signs that confirm the UNPF (United Nations Population Fund) report which says that world's populations is steadily moving to cities and town. Did someone say I just did that? It also says that the demographic transition is set to cross milestone in 2008, where very second person on the planet will live in urban area. Looks like the craze to live in cities is not going to relent. And that means more number of vehicles. Its high time that Tamilnadu government starts thinking and improve its public transport system. What the metro needs is not just more number of buses but sophisticated Metro trains, only which can bring a sigh of relief to the road users of Chennai. And not to forget the immense good it will do against what everyone is talking as global warming.

Salman versus Islam??

Not long ago was the theme “Clash of Civilizations”, put forward by Samuel Huntington, booed by people across the world through a widespread survey. But the recent honour of Salman Rushdie, by British queen, with knighthood and the tumult of protests that followed in some Muslim countries has cast a need for re-look at the theme again. Is it really a clash of civilizations? Many perceived it so. Iran and Pakistan denounced it as an insult to the 1.5 Billion Muslim population across the world. Leave alone the street protests. Even the Pakistan parliament and provincial assembly saw it as part of campaign by Europe and west to hurt the feeling of Muslims.

It is his book “The Satanic Verses” published way back in 1988 and the Fatwa against him that still keeps him as an apostate. And the honour of Mr.Rushdie by British government is just another Islamaphobic act. May be the protests and furore over this issue is another sign of Islamic fundamentalism. But the men who had taken to the streets must realize that Salman Rushdie was not honored for his “Satanic verses” but for his illustrious contribution to the literary world with a work of nine fictions and four non-fictions. And the writing on the wall is clear to the creative workers too. Book authors and publishers should be part of the solutions than be part of the problem itself.

Feeling at home....

I think this would be the first post that I write after a gap, as long as three weeks, ever since I started to blog with a resolution to update once in a week. But I do have an explanation. And there are many questions that need to be answered. Well, I wouldn’t say many questions. Its just one question that dangles here on my blog demanding a conclusive sequel to the story that I had passionately built here. What happened to my results? Did I come out successful at the end of my final lap?

I would be accused of being weak-at-heart if I keep it out of this place. So here I am finally breaking the news. The period of mourning is over. I had just walked through the trails of failure to the castle of success which is still out of sight. Why am I being so subtle? Alright, let me make it clear. The simple fact is that I could not make it to the final list. Marks weren’t big enough.

On the day of my result, mulling over my failure, the first thing that my mind sprang up to decide was to shift back to Chennai. But the spark came from my heart. I just thought I should go closer to the place I belong to and my parents who nurtured my dream of becoming a civil servant. I needed to feel stronger. And this decision I have come to still continues to haunt me. Delhi like we say America is land of opportunities is like a place where an IAS aspirant meets with opportunities to shed his weaknesses and harness his strength. Of course, the credit goes to its coaching institutes. I would be denied this. But I have kept the option to go back to Delhi open, at least not until I feel stronger to face what is more to come. But I think I would be able to overcome this with a good progress in my work. Go gugan, go!!

Now with the diastrous results I have come back to the place where I had started (yeah, had to take the prelims again). Literally too.

A soldier sobs

My love, here I am on the battlefield
Fighting the war- To uphold our nation’s
Freedom, Sovereignty, rights and pride.
Holding in my heart the pain
Of your unfathomable words you reeled out
On the night before I was to leave.

You said: I would die one day young and brave
To the swords of my foes, leaving you
And our unborn children downcast
On the coast of dejection and depression.
Remorseful you were
For having made a bad choice.

I know, all young men in our village, lined up
To catch a glimpse of your ravishing beauty
Your long braided hair that swayed graciously
Eyes that could intoxicate even the strong-at–will
Dimples that could bring back life of a deadman.
Ruthlessly stunning, you were.

The deep love I have for you is not unknown too.

Ask the river on whose banks we laid
Hand in hand for hours, Hear those trees
Speak of the veracity of our love. And talk to
The holy idol in our temple- you’ll realize that
The bond of our love is fortified with truthfulness and trust
Unshaken it will remain.

Hold on till I return unruffled.

Looking back....

Anniversaries are part of our life. Birthdays, wedding anniversaries, business anniversaries and many other. Now here on my blog I’m going to celebrate the first anniversary of my entry in to this blogosphere. It’s a world filled with ideas and thoughts coming from people with different interest in variety of fields. I guess each one of us here would have a different perception in owning a blog. I am not really very sure what impelled me to start this blog of mine. But there are few things that I have gained and lost from this space.

Things I gained :

1. I became more conscious of the world outside and the things that happened around me. Not that I was desperate to post them here. But it gave a sense of fulfillment in life.
2. It kindled my thoughts and ideas provoking me to explore whatever creativity (please allow me to use this word) I have and got me playful with words. I even tried my hands on poem. (Wordsworth, to take note)
3. It give me a new identity ,not very much different from what I am already in real. But the fact is that I live here.
4. It got me new friends and I got myself exposed to new world of ideas and people with incredible prowess, which taught me humility without affecting the little pride I take from my contributions here.
5. It gave me a sense of belongingness in this blogosphere. Yes, I am part of this blogging revolution.
6. It got me more curious to the new technological developments. (But it’s the question of money, anyway)
7. I adopted a new hobby that was worth filling my civil service exams forms with. And it even formed part of my interview session and it helped my tread on path that I was at ease with.

Things I lost:

1. Doled out time and some money on surfing hoping to see some comments and new visitors to my blog. I have no regrets.
2. Accused of “self-advertisement”. But my argument is: aren’t blogs a form of online diary.
3. I guess there is not much I lost. So I’ll stop with this.

Anyways, thanks a lot for your gracious presence on the day of my blog-anniversary. Please do stay back for dinner :)

A day with UPSC....

In my post last I had discussed about the 13th of April, the day that was fixed for my interview. First, I was thinking if I should sit here in front of the computer and type the entire details about it. Then for the sake of record I decided to do that. Here’s the transcript. (please leave your comments)

I was put under Dr. Bhure Lal’s panel. And I was the third person to go in the group of 5 candidates. I was waiting for my turn outside when the second candidate was being interviewed. He was out and said the panel members were very cordial. He wished me best of luck and left. I asked the attendant for some water before I was to go in. As luck would have it, there was no water there and he had to go to fill the bottle. Meanwhile the door was opened for me by another attendant there. I did not wait for the water and delay the process that was to begin. So I entered the room with mouth almost run dry.
There was a lady member among the 5 panel members,including the chairman.
First I wished the lady member and then others.
I was asked to take the seat by the chairman.

Chairman (CM): hello! Guganesan. How are you??
Me: I am very fine, sir.
CM: (he looks at the form again) G ganesan (and just moved his body forward)
(I sensed here that he was in a good mood)
Me: ( I just smile at him) yes sir, Guganesan.
CM: So, you are a chartered Accountant.
Me: yes sir!!
CM :why do you want to come to civil service after CA?
Me: sir, I had decided to join civil service even before doing CA. In fact after clearing my CA I came for civil services preparation immediately.
CM: What is money laundering?
I explain that to him
CM: What is the link between terrorism and money laundering?
I tell him about how terrorism is funded ,about drug deal and all that.
CM : what are the three stages involved in money laundering???
I started explaining. There he stopped me and asked “ do u know the stages or not”
Me: No sir. This is all I know
Then he explained me the stages with its specific names (this was moreover close to what I said, except for the jargons he used)
CM: What are the duties of CA under prevention of money laundering Act?
Me: sir, I’m not aware of any provisions under the Act.
CM: oh, I though they’ll teach u all that in CA.
CM: how much is our Forex reserve?
Me: sir, its 199 billion dollars.
CM: ok, that’s fairly 200 billion dollars. Do you think we are secured?
Me: yes sir. It is said we have so much of reserve that it can fund 13 months of our imports.
CM : I don’t feel secured.
Me: (after giving serious thought) May I ask you why,sir.
(Both the chairman and the lady member bursted in to laughter )
CM: Yes. You have every right to ask me.
( He explained me the reason to which I almost agreed)
CM: How do you manipulate stock market?
I explained him about insider trading, one of the manipulative practices.
CM: why there’s so much of volatility in the stock market now?
I gave two reasons and explained them.1. hike in interest rate. 2. Appreciation of Japanese yen.
Then the chairman showed sign for the lady member to ask questions.

Member 2 (M2): Guganesan, explain over invoicing and under invoicing in foreign trade.
I explained her about that transfer pricing practices which related companies follow.
M2: ok. That relates to transfer pricing . Tell me in general. Suppose I’m an exporter in Tiruppur and you’re my client. I’m billing you at a price less that what it actually is.
I explained how it affects India and said the balance proceeds can be siphoned off to someother countries ( I guess she was looking for that word ‘siphon off’. After I said that she seemed more convinced)
M2: do you think India should accept foreign aid? I want your opinion on that.
Me: Yes Ma’am. I feel India should accept foreign aid. Although India is a developing country and sitting on huge forex reserve it needs so much of fund to finance our infrastructure needs.
M2: Ok. What is the legislation that regulates foreign aid.
Me: (think for a while) Ma’am ,its foreign contribution regulations Act.
M2: that’s. right. But do you think we need such kind of legislation. You know, NGO’s accept lots of foreign aid . do you think it needs to be regulated?
Me:Ma’am I’m not aware of the detailed provisions under the Act. But I know that NGO’s are under an obligation to file some kind of return with RBI after the receipt of the aid. I feel we should have these kind of regulations. B’coz some accountability is ensured on that part of NGO’s . It ensures that money is spent for the said purpose.
M2: But that’s between NGO and the foreign agency why should govt get involved.
Me: yes ma’am. Its true that its only between NGO and foreign agency .but NGO’s involve in social sector projects. So I think that it concern the government. So there is need for regulation.
M2: Ok.what are the preferences u’ve given?
Me: Ma’am I’ve given IAS as my first preference and IFS -2nd, 3rd-IPS and 4Th IRS.
M2: (she just smiled and nodded her head )ok, thank you. (she showed her hand to the third member) I just thanked her and looked in to the eyes of the third member.

M3: who are mafia?
I just gave an vague explanation.
M3: can we call phoolan Devi mafia?
Me: No sir. Mafia operate as network. They are widespread. Whereas Phoolan Devi just had a set of people.
M3: tell me who are the constituents of this Mafia.
Me; (I think for a while. Couldn’t really make out where the discussion is heading) sir, mafia would have set of musclemen.
M3: ok. They’re field staff. But what it takes to organize a crime?
Me: they need a proper plan before anytning is to be committed. And they collude with people on the other side.
M3: who are this people on the other side?
Me: sir, it’s the officials of the government.
M3: do you know chartered accountants play a major part in legalizing their money?
(here I realized why he started this discussion. So much of grudges against CAs, I thought)
Me: sir, there would be very few chartered accountants who are involved in such activities.
M3:Very few? (he looks at the papers in front of him) u’ve given reading as your hobby. What kind of books you read?
I answer that .(both fiction and non fiction)
M3: Have you read this book called “ Sacred game” by Vikram Chandra.?
Me: No sir, I haven’t read that.
M3: Read that book. It talks about how chartered accountants involve in legalizing the mafia’s money. They’re even called counselors.
Me: ok sir I’ll read that.
M3: what is the legislation that exclusively covers organized crime?
Me: no sir, I’m not aware of any specific legislation.
M3: ok. Blogging is your other hobby. On what kind of issues you write.
Me: sir, I have not restricted myself to any field. I write on anything that is interesting . It could be something interesting that happened in my life.
M4:like?
Me: once I wrote about the rag picker boy in my street. (I explained what I wrote in that post. The lady member seemed to be interested too although I dint make any eye contact with her)
M3: So you are interested in human behaviour?
Me: yes sir, u can say that.
M3:ok, now looking at the psyche of Indian people. Why there’s so much of adulteration in our country. Its not found much in other countries. Why only this subcontinent?u know, law allows some qty of stone in rice. There’s adulteration in drugs. Why is it so.
Me: sir, its because of the erosion of values among people in our country. India is a country where so many movies made every year. I think people pick such things from these movies.
M3: but adulteration has been there even before the movies came.
Me: yes sir. That’s true. But after movies these things increased in numbers.
M3: but where do we learn all this. Does historical books and religious books teach us?
Me: no sir. Our religious books and historical book don’t teach us these practices. I think its people’s desire to make easy money. They come out with new ideas and get involved in such things. I think its all about money, sir,
M3: suppose there’s a shop keeper who mixes stones in rice. One day his son falls sick. He buys medicine which is adulterated and his son dies. Do you think he’ll change.
Me: sir, it depends on the person. If he’s really learnt a lesson from this incident I think he’d change.
M3: I don’t think he’ll change.
(he thanked me and put me onto the 4th member)

M4: so you are from kancheepuram. What’s the name of the famous temple in your town.
Me: sir, its kamakshi amman temple.
M4: what is the name of the legendary who laid the statue there?
Me: I’m sorry sir. I’m not sure of the name.
M4: its adi shankara. How far is that temple from your house.
Me: sir, its 2-3 kms from my house.
M4: oh, so close and still u haven’t bothered to find out that. What is the relationship between culture and reading?
Me: sir , If one person had been unaware of his culture, he can know them by reading any books. That way one can come to know about one’s culture and get them imbibed in his life.
M4: what is culture?
Me: sir, culture is one’s way of life. One’s way of dressing, food habits. It covers these many things.
M4: why do we have so many myths in our life?
I explain him something.
M4:no,,no. u have not really understood what is myth. U know we celebrate diwali.someone killed someone.
Me: (having got the flash in mind)yes sir. We have these kind of festival in life. Although they are based on myths they bring our families together. We celebrate and stay happy. It even disciplines our lives.
M4: “churning milk out of sea” what do you interpret on this.
Me: (almost puzzled) its like getting the best out of something which is in abundance.
M4: how education has churned u?
ME: (having no clue how to address) sir, eduction has helped to meet people from different background. I have learnt to interact with them. And also I;ve been able to understand the values in their life and tried to take it if they are good.
M4: why filmstars are raised to the level of god in tamilnadu?
(M3 interrupts and says even temples have been built)
I explain something .
M4: that’s there’s everywhere. There’s one particular reason. What is it?
Me:no sir. I can’t think of any particular reason.
M4: ok, think on ur way back u;ll get it.
(he thanked me and passed onto the 5th person)

M5:I’ll just ask you few questions. (I was happy to hear tht)
How do you classify land?
Me: sir, agricultural land and non-agricultural land.
M5:ok. That’s one way of saying. U know , u can classify it as mainland and hinterland. (I uttered the word ‘hinterland “along with him, as he was very slowly talking)
And we have islands. Tell me the name of an island in Arabian sea.
Me: sir. Its lakshadweep.
M5: what is the total surface area?
Me:no sir, I’m not aware of that.
M5:ok, I thought since u were staying close to that place u might know that. Ok. Why British came to India, first?
Me: Sir, they came for trade.
M5: but there’s one incident that prompted them to rule India. What is it?
(Here this member was very vague in framing this question. Then the M3 explained it in a better way for me.)
Me(after serioulsly thinking) no sir, I have never come across any such incident.
M5: now I’ll give u a topic. I want you to deliberate on this and speak for and against. “All people who come for civil service preparation should not do that”
(I know it sounds confusing)
I spoke about why people want to come to civil service. Reasons like public service, improving the functions of govt. For against the topic I said there;’s so much o f corruption and abuse of power.Said “ civil service is even considered first resort of scoundrel “
(only after coming home I realized that what I spoke under :For” was actually “against” and vice versa. )
M5: do you really think people come for service?
Me: yes sir. There are many people who come for preparation with the public services in mind. In fact, I’m one such person myself.
(then M5 looked at the chairman. )
CM: guganesan, you interview is over . you can leave.

I thanked everyone and left the room. Wow. What a relief when I came out. Now I have to wait for the results. That could be anytime during the second week of May.

Here is another transcript of interview I had on 31st March,2010:
http://junkunlimited.blogspot.com/2010/04/yet-another-chance.html

13th Friday: Black or red

Now I have only few more days to pass before I go knocking at the doors of the interview panel at UPSC. It is on the 13th of this month. It falls on Friday. I have heard stories of 13th being an unlucky number. And even know that this number is most despised in western countries. There you’d see tall buildings which does not have 13th floor but 14th ,15th and so on. You won’t find a street that is numbered 13th. Those who do not believe in those superstitious stories would be dumping it as non-sense and say its just another number.

But to me its not so. No, I’m not afraid that my performance at the interview would be upset just because it falls on the 13th. In fact, the experience of preparing for this interview is quite bizarre. In all those written exams I have faced in life I had been under some stress. I have almost felt suffocated. But this is different. I feel the knowledge I have acquired over this few years is adequate enough to prove what I have in those 30 minutes of test. Yet, there is sense of incompleteness but without any pressure to finish them off. Strange it is ,indeed. Everyone here are telling me that it just takes a bit of attitude. Right one, of course.

Whatever it is. The 13th of April is a big day for me. Is it going to be a Black Friday or a red letter day in my life? The future holds the answer.

Final lap...

Finally the wait is over. No!!No!! Its not the ICC cricket world cup. That hardly interests me. This is about civil service(mains) exam results which just got declared this morning. Whatever little hope I had were shattered by the long wait that the results had put me through. Plus the speculation on the possible dates made me more restive.

Now let me get to that point. The results are out. And I am in for the interview. There’s whole one month for the preparation. Hope everything goes well till the final race…