A Little Something

Batphang Palgrave Blah Nongsiej

2011-04-28T10:12:00.007+05:30

The boy was born on 14th December 2010 at Nazareth Hospital, Shillong. Batphang Palgrave Blah was baptised on 13th April 2011 at All Saints church, Shillong, two days after his mother's birthday.

Peter with his baby boy on 15th December 2010

Happy grandparents at home

Sleeping

With Meimei

Sleeping in his crib..bliss

A new way of sleeping

Palgrave and his aunty (Nia Jackie) sharing a joke

Connecting with Mum

Say...You like my cheeks?

Both bored

Can you move your hands like this?

Check out my paws people...!

Yeah! this is the way I like it!

Am cool huh?

Catching up time

With uncle (Mama)

Jump

2010-04-08T17:59:00.005+05:30

Taken on various days...

More pics to come here....!

Sometimes it's good to jump.

Lenny seems unimpressed by Peter's feat

The road to Jakrem near the Kynshi river

My bro Basil doing his thing

Namrata and Deepa doing their part

Somebody tell my bro to stop...he's causing minor tremors

Peter tries another one

Oh my God.. Sis where did you learn to jump like that?

Zel star jumps

Yeah.. thats a cool one

Lenny in a Matrix move

Soulmate's blues

2009-03-09T16:44:00.005+05:30

Dated: 7th March 2009

I came to know from Teilang that a band from Shillong will be playing at a concert somewhere near CP at around 8 pm. I invited my good friend Riwin whom I have not met since 2005. Our rendezvous was Meghalaya house at 6.30 pm. The venue, which we later came to know, was an open air theatre, and the concert was part of the event called 'Romancing India's Northeast: An Akshara Theatre Celebration'. The most striking thing about the venue however, was that it was just behind the 'Trauma Care Centre' of the Dr. R.M. L. Hospital!!

...and I was pretty sure that either the patients were getting traumatised or revitalised, and I hope it was the latter since these days 'music therapy' is in...and though it would probably be the first open air blues therapy session they would have ever experienced, I sure hope it kicked some immune cells into action.

Soulmate, the blues band from Shillong was already playing by the time we parked our behinds on the chairs facing the stage. The music was undoubtedly very groovy...Rudy with the guitar was excellent as was Tipriti with her characteristic raw-smooth vocals. The band rendered cover songs as well as self-composed ones, among which the blues version of the Khasi song 'Sier Lapalang' got me and my friends cheering at the top of our voices.

Soulmate in the act

"Voodoo Woman"

A swing at the tee

2009-03-09T00:38:00.008+05:30

Dated: 8th March 2009

It was my first game of golf that I played. Jishnu took me to the Sri Fort Sports complex where they had a mini golf course with 9 holes. Jishnu learnt the game in Jakarta and I eagerly listened as he told me how the game is played. So I began to understand things like par, boogey, birdie and eagle. I also learnt how to use the clubs with the mark 'S' and '7', and what they meant. We did not need to use the 'driver' today as it was a mini golf course, but nevertheless I felt good swinging the 'S' and '7' and seeing the ball fly and land on the grass (and sometimes on the sand pit).

Jishnu said I did pretty well for a start with 2 pars, 1 boogey and 2 double boogeys in my game. I know I can become seriously addictive to this game...Maybe one fine day, I shall visit the greens more often. Thanks Jishnu for the lovely experience :)

Positioning myself to hit my ball

This was at the second tee, where I got a par

Jishnu trying to liberate his ball from the sand pit

A squirrel near the 3rd tee oblivious to our game of golf but engulfed in its own affairs

Raag and Daniella

2009-03-09T00:01:00.004+05:30

Dated: 6th March 2009

Raag (formal name Swetabh Changkakoti) is now 6 years and Daniella 3. They both have earlier stories in my blog (Raag - http://aibz.blogspot.com/2006/10/raag-wonderful-boy.html and Daniella - http://aibz.blogspot.com/2007/03/daniella-simply-adorable.html). It is wonderful to see them grow into beautiful children with wonderful personalities.

They amaze us with their talents, their grasp of language and the matter-of-factly comments they make. Raag is in Class 1, loves playing football and making 'masterpieces' (paintings and drawings). He's recently learnt how to whistle and it has been 4 days now that he has been whistling. He speaks English, Hindi and Assamese with ease. His current favourite song is 'Delhi 6' from the movie by the same name.

Daniella is in pre-school, and a month ago she and her friend, Ohm exchanged lip-to-lip kiss in school. She asked me the other day 'Are you crazy?' because I didn't know there was a bird by the name Sunbird. She obviously know the names of many birds she can identify from her bird book. So also with fishes and other animals...I'm so glad she is learning about birds and fishes at this age. She's become extremely cute with her curly hair and dainty behaviour. Her favourite colour is pink. She likes to converse in English with her mother and in Khasi with her dad!

Raag and Daniella on the balcony. Daniella is holding a strawberry pastry which she did not eat

Of course she has become quite photogenic too

Watching cartoon channel

About the woods, about life

2009-02-22T10:31:00.009+05:30

Morning walks by the woods....

There is something about the woods that speaks to my soul...in reality it's not just the woods, but the abundance of life and wisdom that nature freely gives us that really captivates me. Each time I visit the woods and forests I stand in awe and silence at the wonder all around me. It lives, it feels and understands us... I feel the connection, it lives in me.

Peter and I share this connection, and our morning walks to the woods always refreshes our understanding of life and the meaning of our own existence in this wonderful planet. This is an honest sharing about what makes the woods special for us. Peter by the way is my brother in law and a man my heart respects deeply.

He especially likes to walk bare feet while in the woods...I get the sense that he is trying as much as he can to be one with the ground beneath his feet and everything that draws life from the soil. I tried it too sometimes...though the sharp pricks of small stones and twigs tend to make me put my shoes back before too long.

My favourite walks are those in the forests beyond the golf links and up the hills overlooking Mawpat and Mawlai. The slender trees sway easily as the wind blows. The sound of the wind, the freshness of the air and the songs of birds give me my daily dose of contentment...ushering a certain peace of mind that I eagerly absorb each time I'm there.

I especially treasure moments when the sun shines through the trees, and when the forest vegetation is bathed by the early morning sunlight. Such joy in my heart to witness the awakening of the forest...

Green leaves wear their colour with an abundance that impress my imagination every time I see them.

During the time when Peter's grandfather (Grandpa) was in town, we would take him for a morning walk as well... He's an old tough guy, 84 years young. Travelled by himself all the way from Entebe (Uganda) to Shillong. Though his pace was slow, he made up by sharing interesting stories along the way making the walk quite enjoyable. I took this picture while Peter took Grandpa along a path leading to the golf links. I'm so thankful that we have such easy access to the forests and woods.

And we like to lay on our backs on the soft ground carpeted by soft grass and fallen leaves to gaze at the blue sky above, listening to the sound of silence and then sharing thoughts. There are several monoliths along the way, laid by our ancestors. They make the experience even more special. For me, the forests and the woods hold much wisdom and provides the environment for the mind to open and free itself, and on special moments, I sense a connection as if my being is immersed within the completeness of what surrounds me.

Right to Education

2008-11-21T20:54:00.005+05:30

Dated: 20th November 2008

Venue: LSE, Classroom H101
Time: 3:00-5:00 pm

The Right to Education Week (17-21 Nov 2008) organized by the LSESU Palestine Society and ActionPalestine had various activities, one of which I attended yesterday. It was a presentation by a group of students from An-Najah, Hebron and Birzeit Universities followed by Q&A.

There were three girls representing each University. The first is from the city of Nablus and a student at An-Najah University, the largest one in Palestine. She's 19 years old and she presented her slides. The University has 18,000 students and 60% live outside Nablus. Given the multiple and continuous checks they are subjected to at every Israeli checkpoint, many of them have to find accommodation within the city. Fifty four percent of the students are females. I must say I respect the young women of Palestine for the determination they have to get an education even in such difficulty circumstances. In 2002, the city witnessed 219 days of 'invasion' by the Israeli army accompanied by curfew (both 'comprehensive and partial'). In 2003, 71 days and in 2004, 16 days. Hence as a student, she described how difficult and at times almost hopeless the situation was for her and other students to attend classes. She also mentioned that 'since 2000, more than 43 students have been killed by the Israeli army'.

She spoke of the first Intafada (Arabic for Rise Up) in 1967 when teaching institutions and the education system was brought to a standstill as the Israeli army made arrests inside the University followed by 'administrative detention' - a tool used by Israel to arrest anyone on suspicion for interrogation and detention. She spoke about the second Intafada (2000) which again disrupted student life. Then came the Apartheid Wall constructed by Israel (10 metres high and 2 metres wide) to separate Israeli and Palestine land. She told how 'village lands belonging to Palestine were confiscated' when the wall was built.

The second girl who presented is from Hebron University (the first University in Palestine established in 1971). There are eight colleges having 48 programmes of study. There are the College of Art, the biggest (estd.1980), College of Science (1986), College of Agriculture (1987), College of Finance and Management (1994), College of Nursing (1998), College of Higher Education (2000). The total number of students in the University is 7500 and 76% are female. The main source of funding for the University comes from Suadi Arabia. Currently 3899 students are denied education as a result of the ongoing tension with Israel leading to economic hardships of the Palestinian people.

She narated about the various checkpoints that students go through and the 'harrasments' they have to undergo. She informed that the students can access only one library as thay are not allowed by the Israeli army to go to other libraries like the one in Bethelem University for reference and research purposes. She also mentioned that between 2000 and 2003, 149 University students have been killed by the Israeli army, and that 3 schools have been converted into military barracks.

The final speaker was a girl with a distinctive American accent. She is from Birzeit University. She highlighted three main tools used by Israel on Palestine that is affecting the lives of students - actions that impede economic capacity, restrict movement and detention and harrassment. She spoke about salaries of teaching staff in her University being halved as a result of decrease in funding from the PA (to economic incapacity). How 3000 students have had to drop out. She stated how administrative detention is affecting the lives of those arrested based on suspicion alone. How they are kept in jails for 6 months not knowing what they are charged for and how they can be detained for another 6 months. She informed that seven previous student council presidents have been arrested. She then narrated the bleak picture that is Gaza where 98% of children suffer debilitating psychological trauma, 78% of the population are now living under the poverty line, 30% of students are without text books, 50% of students could not reach school and even raw materials to make paper and binding material have been banned.

She presented messages from her student friends from Palestine including the present Student Council president. The message that struck the most was the one that says "...they (Israeli army) are taking away the hope and capability to look for joy in our life". She ended with the statement that she and her fellow students are here to bring the hope back for all generation to come.

For me, sitting and listening to these young committed students, makes me believe that there is hope for the students of Palestine. Their collective understanding and will to get their education in all its wholeness is worth appreciating. The politics of the ongoing Israeli-Palestine conflict is deeply complex and at the root of it all, I believe, it comes down to religion!! But politics and religion should not obstruct the way for young minds in conflict areas who seek education.

HIV, TRIM5 and the Red Queen

2008-11-21T03:04:00.008+05:30

Dated: 18th November 2008

Venue: Darwin Lecture Theatre, Darwin Building, UCL

Time: 1:15 - 2:00 pm

I was running a bit late and made a dash as soon as I got off the bus. By the time I reached the hall, it was almost full. I quickly settled myself on a seat and tuned my senses to the lecture by Dr. Greg Towers (UCL, Immunology & Molecular Pathology). Its been a long time since I attended a strictly medical science lecture I thought to myself.

Anyway, the lecture was about retroviruses such as HIV that have been infecting mammals for millions of years. Host species have therefore evolved ways to protect themselves but then the virus counter-evolution is leading to an evolutionary arms race, described by the Red Queen hypothesis. Focusing on HIV /AIDS, the speaker discussed about the innate antiviral restriction factors (RFs) and pointed how viruses escape them to cause disease. In immunology, we are taught of three immune system responses - the antibodies, the cytotoxic T cells (together forming Adaptive Immune system) and the Innate Immune system, comprising of natural killer cells, antiviral protiens and RFs.

Currently there are about 33.2 million people living with HIV, and 22.5 million are in sub-Saharan Africa alone!!! So why do humans contract HIV? Well, lets see what is this Red Queen hypothesis. Simply put, it states, If the host changes through evolution, so must the virus in order to catch up with that change. And what are these restriction factors...Well, they are proteins that inactivate viral infection and provide symptom free immunity. The RF, TRIM5 (tripartite motif) works by labelling viral cells for destruction by other RFs. But this HIV destruction occur in certain primate species (Rhesus monkeys, Owl monkey, etc.) and not in humans. The human version of this RF inhibits other kinds of viruses (murine leukemia virus-MLV and equine infectious anemia virus -EIAV). Another RF, Tetherin that is present in humans on the cell membrane surfaces, act by adhereing and causing aggregation of viral duaghter cells, thus making them more easy for killer cells to identify and destroy them. But then as the RFs kill HIV viral particles, the viruses too have started developing new ways to escape detection by the RFs, and they do that by changing the structure of their capsid (HIV core). Hence the Red Queen hypothesis!!!

Currently, human gene therapy for HIV/AIDS is the only treatment that can make a patient symptom free. Dr Greg also cited the news item about an HIV-positive man has been left free of the infection, almost two years after undergoing a bone marrow transplant. He was suffering from leukemia as well, and doctors in Germany replaced his cancer cells with healthy stem cells from a donor who had a natural genetic resistance to HIV (see http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20081113/tuk-bone-transplant-offers-aids-hope-45dbed5.html).

Dr. Greg pointed that only a small amount of change was needed to be applied to RF's structure to enable it to outsmart the viral counter-measure and kill it. So his reasearch is how to make the race (according to the Red Queen hypothesis) be in favour of the RF. Some of the other points I took home were:

> RF mediate potent species specific blocks to viral infection (eg. like in Rhesus monkeys).

> Expression of RF are stimulated by Interferons.

> Both RF and their viral counter-measure are under strong selection pressure to change as proposed by the Red

Queen hypothesis.

Well, it was an exciting lecture.

Navigating Global Economic and Financial Change

2008-11-13T17:21:00.008+05:30

Dated: 11 November 2008
Time: 6:30 - 8:00 pm

This LSE public lecture was held at the Sheikh Zayed Theatre in the new academic building of the college. Sheikh Zayed was the late President of the UAE (1971-2004).

The speaker was Mohamed A El-Erian, co-CEO and co-CIO of PIMCO, the world's largest bond investor company. He is a widely respected financial analyst of Egyptian origin and has just published a book called 'When Markets Collide: Investment Strategies for the Age of Global Economic Change' in May 2008.

The theatre's capacity of 500 people was nearly filled by the time Mohamed El-Erian arrived. He started with a brief introduction of himself and went straight to the topic with a statement, ''We are witnessing a historic event, one which our grandchildren will talk about later''. I knew that the lecture will contain elements that are beyond my grasp, but fuelled by the basic understanding of what led to the present day financial collapse (thanks to Sandeep, an economist friend), I sat and listened.

He stated that the present crises is because the market & financial system have been hit right at the centre. It has become a crises of the system rather than within the system - the crises is truly global, truly indiscriminate and truly consequential. Big words for a big crises! He went on to say that the crises started with the cardiac arrest of the US financial system on September 12th this year, and that the unthinkable has become thinkable.

WHY this crises?
The financial development and transaction that the world has gone through, especially within the last few years, has led to a creation of new facts on the ground that has altered the institutions - their relationship with the financial system; the balance between the private and public relations - and this has also brought in unpredictable and volatile feedback into the institutions and to the system. By new facts, I understood them as being the different financial instruments and mechanisms that institutions like banks, investment firms, governments, etc. have developed over the years to reap more profits.

With regards to this present crises, he says that every policy response due to it will involve collateral damage (that means the governments will protect some institutions and let others be swept away and drown). Of course some will not drown but will be completely altered (merged), and along with them the entire system will alter to an extent that a reset will be impossible but rather resulting in the system reaching a new destination altogether. He gave the sandhill analogy to depict the current global financial system as a sand hill but having structural weaknesses, one of them being the disequilibrium that seemed stable.

This disequilibrium or imbalance has been magnified by the failure of risk management at every level in the global financial system, failure of the ratings agencies and failure of the regulatory bodies. And so the sandhill crumbled. Whoa!! thats a big failure. Things like structured finance are some of the instruments that contributed to this failure, resulting (for example) in people taking mortgages they cannot afford! And obviously, housing is linked to the stock market which in turn is linked to feedback loops (unpredictable and volatile). So for those people who were using the house as an ATM the sudden realisation that the party is over was a bitter shock.

When the Lehman Brothers went bust, with it, the trust (that most valuable component in banking) it has built for so long was destroyed. A big big OUCH!! So what happens next is the financial sector started to cut loans, sell assets and businesses...people's incomes suffer, there is credit loss, there is no spending...the system undergoes arrest!!

WHY care?
The crise is changing the rules for investors, policy makers and business strategic positions to navigate through this bumpy journey to reach the new destination. The investor can no longer depend on history for asset allocation. For policy makers it is a seriously difficult position to be in - on September 15th the global crises spilled, on October 10th there was a policy paradigm shift (eg. the US$ 700 billion rescue package in the US). But then there is no perfect policy response. As Gordon Brown said its now WIT (Whatever It Takes) policy response.

Imperfect data flow, blunt instruments, collateral damage, political checks and balances, clash of political and financial worlds and blame game all play a part in this crises.

Positioning and Retooling are essential to reach global rebalancing of the financial system. - a financial system with less institutions. He says retooling will not be easy,; it will not be automatic (as some institutions will not like to leave in a hurry what they has always been doing) and and it will involve risks. He also mentioned about the emerging markets which have experienced some financial problem between 1997 - 2002 and have begun to build self-insurance that has led them to have a high level of international return, low indebtednes and fiscal surplus. This part I didn't understand!! Will have to talk to Sandeep about this.

He felt that protectionism would be a major policy mistake at this juncture. He says that those with the will and wallet are in a position to clean up the massive liquidy in the system.

Climate Interactions

2008-11-08T19:18:00.007+05:30

Dated: 5th November 2008

Venue: JZ Young Lecture Theatre, Anatomy Building, UCL

It is always good to attend events that stimulate your interest, awareness and understand of certain issues that then contribute to improvement of knowledge and insight. So it is with the Climate Interactions - an event organised by the UCL Environment Institute with support from UCL Grand Challenges, UCL Graduate School and Arup.

I later came to know that Arup is a global firm that focus on buildings, infrastructure and consulting. Its pretty huge with 10,000 staff working in more than 90 offices in 37 countries and having over 10,000 projects running concurrently at any one time. So it is an engineering firm with a keen interest in climate change issues, because obviously climate change impacts everything, and engineering business (as rightly perceived by Arup) will benefit a great deal from the science and evidence yielded through such events.

The aim of this event is:

1). to showcase the breadth and depth of climate research being undertaken within UCL, and

2). to encourage interdisciplinary climate research within the UCL community and with external policy and research partners.

‘Humans, Energy, Climate: What next?’

Prof. Chris Rapley, Director of the Science Museum and UCL Fellow was the keynot speaker. Some of the points I took home were:

1. Organisms in order to live beyond their means, have to do so with energy, and with humans, the success to acquire this energy and how they use it to gain control has been testified through the ages from using beasts of burden to fossil fuels. The great thing about fossil fuel, like oil, is that 1 barrel produces the same energy as 3500 people cycling for 1 hour.

2. Energy generates prosperity and dependence. There was a graph he showed indicating GDP/capita over KiloWatt/capita - of course countries like Japan, USA, Canada, etc. are at the extreme upper right hand portion of the graph, while most poor countries are scattered towards the lower left hand portion.

3. Over the last 100 years humans have released 500 million tons of carbon into the atmosphere. Currently CO2 concentrations are around 380 parts per million and projected concentration for the year 2100 is 620 ppm.

4. Decarbonisong humankind - a heading in one of his slides, where he stated that there is no real evidence or knowledge on safety limits of global mean temperatur rise. The on-going rate of CO2 emission is 1-2 million tons per year and the later we leave it the harder it is.

5. AN ABSENT HUMAN HAS NO FOOTPRINT - another catchy line which obviously mean population control. How is the world going to control population growth, which is one of the major contributing factors to climate change.

6. The difficulties in tackling climate change are, 1) the evidence is complicate and methods are very technical; 2) there si still a disconnect (in knowledge and behaviour); 3) there is an inertia in the system in honestly dealing with climate change; 4) and there are vested interest (who sow confusion and doubt); 5) INEQUITY; 6) inadequate instruments and institutions and 7) market mechanism is weak.

7). Cost of inaction > Cost of action (Stern) - So what are the actions to reduce CO2. He presented a triangle - the govt. at the apex, business and people at the two opposite end on the base. Obviously the three have to work together - individuals (especially human ingenuity and enterprise), govt. representatives and businesses. Though 'corporate greenwash' may exist, it is wrong to demonise corporates, rather their engagement is important.

8). Leadership - Lots of rhetoric so far. So what is the Green New Deal that will address the triple crunch - oil, credit and ecological? Another line 'our problems are (hu)man made, they can be solved by (hu)mans' - a J.F. Kennedy quote which he added the (hu).

9). To regulate carbon extraction is the main step (citing the example of CFC) but oil companies and govts. are not interested in that.

Next was a lecture by Dr. Paul Brown, Earth Sciences, UCL, on 'Palaeoclimate - the context for future change'. Well it was interesting when it began but after 7 minutes into the lecture I was kind of lost... the palaeontology concepts were too much for me. But, anyway I did gt some points:

1). 10% of the world's population live within a few metres of the seas and oceans. Hmm.. scary scenario in the context of climate change. Ok.. that was easy.

2). The chalk beneath out feet - Ok.. so the ground on which we stand is made of different layers of soil/sediments/etc. Fine! Coming to chalk, it means that our world was mostly under water about 100 million years ago... Oh! Ok. Now on top of the chalk rest the Clay which then meant it was formed or laid down 50 million years ago. So what he was trying to convey is that scientists (in order to look back at the earth changes) drill the ground/ice/seabed beneath out feet. Ahhh!!! OK!

3). So drilling ice cores and seabeds yield information about climate change that occured over very long periods of time. Then he tells about the Halocene period (Halo what? Err, I've heard of Halloween...) and started comparing climate change events across periods before the Halocene (that began some 10,000 years ago and continuing at present) and the present! Shit!! How deep did he drilled?

4). So the Earth has been switching between Glacial and Non-glacial events before and according to scientific calculations and evidence, the CO2 that we have released and continuing to release is pushing the Earth to a Non-glacial era! Very scary indeed!!!! So by the year 2050, if its business as usual (BAU) now, then the CO2 concentrations will reach 850 ppm ; if controlled , then its 600 ppm and if active measures are implemented , its going to be 450 ppm. And we don't want it to reach 600 and dread intensely 850. The Non-glacial era occured between 542-100 million years ago and the Glacial era was from 80-5 million years ago.

5). The age of the oceans is between 150-160 million years. That's according to geochemistry study of organic matter. Wow!! So scientists are now studying not only ice cores, rock sediments, trees and coral but organic matter and living organisms to know about climate change patterns.

6). Tex86 - this is a bacteria fromt he ocean aving a lipid cellwall which scientists are studying to reconstruct the sea surface temperatures over long periods of time. Really? WoW!!! There is an increasing acidification of the oceans.

7). Life is resilient but the Earth will take more than 170,000 years to regain its original state.

'Predicting Impacts of Climate Change'

Dr. Richard Taylor (Geography), UCL began with, 'we don't know very much how 20%/30%/50% cut in CO2 emissions will result in'... Oh!...

1). Emissions - Concentrations of CO2, methane, etc. - Heat effects (cimate forces) - Climate Change effects (temperature, etc.) - Impacts (food, flood, etc.)

2). He informed about QUEST-GSI (Global Scale Impact), UCL - an alliance to assess the effects of climate policies.

3). Freshwater availability - Warmer atmosphere holds more water (estimated 7% more water for every 1 deg. Centograde rise in temperature) though corrently it is 1-2%. So then there is going to be more water...BUT only above the lattitude. And of course, more very heavy precipitation events (extreme events - floods).

4). Less crop per drop - Research carried out in the river Mubuku in Uganda to explore inter-relationship between precipitation, ground water recharge and run-off. Finding is, storage is more important rather than mean annual river discharge (and river discharge depends on precipitation).

5). What are the impacts of global rise in mean air temperature will be one of the key discussion points in Copenhagen COP-15.

6). He talked about Uncertainty research which deals with predictions. For example quantifying difference in predicted evapotranspiration, uncertain river basin response to more intensive precipitation. The aim would be then to translate uncertainty into policy. Hmm... but assumptions based on uncertainty have always palyed a role in policy right?

It was a dark cold day and it was getting even darker by 5 pm. So I decided to leave. And though I had a bad headache when I came in, I left feeling rather stimulated (intellectually of course).

Moments on air and sand

2008-11-08T05:00:00.014+05:30

Dated: 26th April 2008

These pictures were taken by a friend, Mahesh, a physicist with a Nikon D80 DSLR. The place is Råbjerg Mile - a migrating coastal dune between Skagen and Frederikshavn in Denmark - the largest moving dune in Northern Europe.

It has been 6 months and 7 days since I last saw these shots. I got the DVD today, sent from Denmark...Rajiv, thanks bro!!

Footsteps on the sand

Elevation...slightly

The flight sequence

Executing the Chest Bump

Na Cidade Vazia (Hollow City)

2008-11-01T21:47:00.008+05:30

Dated: 30th October 2008

The invitation a day earlier read:

"Hello guys,
..... my organisation is having a fundraising film event tomorrow evening. It's the first film by a female Angolan director, see the below link:

http://www.africaeducationaltrust.org/documents/Hollow-City.pdf
We'll be meeting for drinks beforehand at All Bar One in Notting Hill..... It's £10 but £8 for us students!!!

Would be lovely to see you there, but I know it's short notice!

Love Annie x "

It was close to 8 pm when I arrived at the Coronet Cinema. I bought my ticket and then met up with Annie and Latifur at the All Bar One. The movie hall was rather huge with its interiors in dark shade of pink (almost reddish). Resembled more of a theatre hall than a movie hall I thought. So the movie was called Na Cidade Vazia (Portugese for Hollow City).

We followed the story of a young boy, N'dala (played by Roldan Pinto João) from a village, Bie , fleeing the war in Angola who was rescued along with other children by a nun and brought to Luanda by plane. But he hid and avoided going with the other children to where the nun was taking them.We followed his short adventure that he took in the city, all the time his face conveying that sweet innocence that is always a victim of war in the most tragic of ways. I felt happy when N'dala's new found friend, Zé, decided to help find a place for him to sleep. I was laughing when an older intoxicated woman pulled young N'dala to dance Kizomba with her. I was deeply touched by his purity when he tells Zé that he wants to go to Bie to see his parents (who were killed). Zé asked how can he see them when they are already dead, to which N'dala replied "I will see them in the sky in Bie, for the nun told me that they are in the sky".

The ending was tragic, but has conveyed the message. I felt the movie spoke out loud against the injustice that children suffered due to war and portrayed how easy it is to manipulate a child's mind. N'dala's bright eyes and awe-struck expressions will stay in my memory for a long time.

This picture is a scene from the movie, N'dala with his friend Zé sharing stories. Zé's role as a gentle caring person is well portrayed by Domingos Fernandes Fonseca. He also exudes hope of a brigter future and this message is delivered (in the movie) through his pursuit of education. A well chosen movie by those in AET who screened and selected the movie from many others.

I got some information about the director of the movie from the internet:

Maria João Ganga (born in Huambo, Angola, 1964) attended the ESEC Film School in Paris. She was assistant director on several documentaries, including ROSTOV-LUNDA by Abderrahmane Sissako. She has also written and directed for theatre. Hollow City (Na Cidade Vazia) is the first full length movie directed by Maria João Ganga which was released in 2003. The film is one of the first to be produced in Angola since the end of the civil war and the first film produced by an Angolan woman. Filming was done on location in Angola in the capital city of Luanda. International versions of the film are in the Portuguese language with English and French subtitles.

British Arab Exchange

2008-09-17T00:48:00.004+05:30

Venue: 24 Greencoat Place

Date: 12th Spetember 2008

We reached the Initiatives of Change HQ at 6:15pm and the programme was just about to start. There were six of them. Five men and one woman. They are young, well dressed and calmly waiting for the the host of the evening to start the introductions. They are all professionals from Iraq - Haider A. Hmood, a teacher in Diwanyia; Rashad Salman Khayala Al-Rubae, and Mohammed Jaafar Saeed, both medical doctors in Baghdad; Waleed Khalid Khazal, a student of English literature in Amara; Saifuldeen Zaman Sahib, a microbiologist in Baghdad University and the only woman in he group, Zeena Jaafar Mohammed, a gynaecology and obstretics doctor at Hillah General Hospital. Along with them on the stage was Nihad Salih Mahdi Al-Samarrai, the Political Affairs Officer, UN Assistance Mission to Iraq (UNAMI).

Mohammed, the young doctor started the presentation with som pictures of Baghdad orientating the audince of what daily life was in Baghdad since the fall of Saddam Hussein. Obviously not good! Only 2-3 hours of electricity in the city of Baghdad which meant for most who can afford, buying generators which are the only means by which electricity at homes could be ensured to run for few more hours evey day. Then Rashad showed, through the pictures, the cultural aspect of Iraq - like the Baghdad Symphony Orchestra, freedom statue and street art galleries (artists have started using the barrier walls erected around the city as a concrete canvas to express their art).

Haider, the teacher from Diwanyia was next. he spoke about the problem of street children in Iraq after the war (well the war is still on...). He lamented that violence has broken his country and he feared that it will be reflected in the lives of the future generation - the children, especially the street children. He mentioned about the group's experience in Ireland, where they have been the week earlier, and how he was convinced that there needs to be forgiveness on the table for Iraqia to build the future. This was in context to the strong (violent) tension between the two sects - Shia and Sunni. He could not speak English and had Waleed translating for him. Waleed being a student of English literature was pretty fluent in English. So was Mohammed.

Zeena is a Senior House Officer (Gynaecology and Obstretics) and explained how the shortage of drugs and doctors in hospitals in Iraq is severely affected the people. Most of the doctors have either been killed or have migrated to other countries, including the UK. Alcohol addiction and abuse of women is becoming a disturbing trend, she says. She disagrees with the Ministry of Health, Baghdad that drugs are available, since in her experience, either drigs are unavailable most of the time or those that are available have expired!.

Waleed spoke about the hope that he and many Iraqis had for things to be better after the fall of Saddam, but were left with disappointment after disappointment to see the situation grew from bad to worse. There were shortages of textbooks and many University professors left the country. He told how his college was attacked 5 times and at one of the attackes, 100 studenst were killed. He didn't mention who made the attacks.

Saifuldeen, the mocrobiologist seemed to be the most senior in the group and he gave the vision for the future of Iraq, some elements of which included, working together and fighting selfishness (among the politicians), involving those who are not members of the government but with much insight and experience to participate in governing policies and that people should be encouraged to vote for the representatives of their choice. He ended with 'without peace there is no development and without development there is no peace'. Saifuldeen is also an aspiring politician.

These young Iraqis shared their experiences in London under the joint programme of the Kubba Foundation and British-Arab Exchanges (BAX) which has more than 30 years’ experience of arranging exchange visits, with the aim of building trust and respect between future decision-makers of the Arab countries and the West. BAX has in the past arranged exchange visits involving young people from the Lebanon, Palestine, Egypt and Sudan, Britain and other European countries to create and maintain a network of bridge-builders, train future opinion-leaders, provide space for dialogue, and focus on shared moral and spiritual values. The Kubba Foundation.is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation that promotes the social development of the Iraqi people and supports the rebuilding of a strong and viable civil society in a land ravaged by war, violence and dictatorship. The Foundation supports educational projects that directly benefit the people of Iraq, regardless of religion, ethnicity or background.

The first thing that struck me was the determination in Haider's eyes. Then I noticed the 'hardness' in Zeena's voice...made hard by the 5 years of witnessing dictatorship ending only to bring in death and destruction I thought. I asked Haider if there was anything new that he learnt during his visit that he would try to do when he gets back to Iraq. He says he will teach the school children about forgiveness. There were few more questions, but at the end of the event, I was not convinced I heard what I was supposed to hear or maybe, I did not hear the young Iraqis say what I sensed, they really had to say. To be honest, I expected a story that would give an Iraqi viewpoint on the war, what was wrong and what is right, what should be done and what can be done. After, attending the 'public diplomacy' talk a day earlier, I was expecting certain output/outcome indicators of this diplomacy. But, it was good that they managed to get their visas (they recevied their visas a week late) to come to the UK and share their stories. I wish them well and all the best in their difficult walk ahead.

Two-party and Multi-party negotiations

2008-09-13T20:44:00.005+05:30

I spent nearly 4 hours today trying to read and understand something about two-party and multi-party negotiations and their differences. By the end of this piece, I felt I have gained some insights about the negotiation process and their potential outcomes. This subject is very interesting and hopefully I will find more time to read about this subject. I also think that mathematicians can be the best negotiators given the mathematical foundation of such negotiation concepts.

There are several contrasts between two-party and multi-party negotiations, among which the key differences are coalition formation, management of coalition processes and the shifting (kaleidoscopic) nature of priorities of members/parties that may threaten negotiated agreements. The content and comprehensiveness of information, and the assumptions based on it in a two-party negotiation differs from the complex character of the information that is presented in multi-party negotiations. The two-party setting can enable prevention and solution of principal-agent problems in a more direct and straight forward manner once the parties have gained each others’ trust in coming to an agreement. Though parties may have different information with different outcome possibilities there is greater likelihood in two-party negotiations that tricky issues such as withholding relevant information to protect individual interests or undervaluing each other’s information can be more readily resolved than in a multi-party negotiation process. An important consideration is the personality of party negotiators which would impact on the level of their connection and interaction. A more powerful or dominant party runs the risk of ruining or inability to sustain a negotiation /negotiated agreement if it fails to give the required space and importance to the other less powerful party. The issues of personality and power relation become more complex in a multi-party negotiation where coalition formation is aimed for to achieve the common interest of parties.

The nature of coalition politics in India is an example of the complexity of coalition building, breaking and managing. Though different (smaller/weaker) parties opposing a current (stronger) ruling party may be united in ousting their common opponent through a coalition, yet within-party interests (on social, economic and/or religious subjects) may be differ to an extent that will either prevent formation of the coalition or establish a coalition that is short-lived. Further, when an underdog political party produces an unexpected victory, the dynamics of coalition suddenly change as member parties re-think their alternatives which may result in the inclusion of a new member and/or expulsion of another. Opportunistic alliances are a threat to coalitions, and coalition members and supporters need to create and maintain a certain degree of consensus and group-think on acceptable levels of transparency, commitment and adhesion to coalition principles.

Power relation and aggressive planning can impact a coalition’s formation and responsiveness. A stronger or powerful party, in a multi-party negotiation, may initiate the process of coalition building (to less powerful parties) through the means of incentives or sanctions. The manner in which this dominant player communicates its intentions will shape the decision-making processes in the negotiation. In a two-party negotiation the weaker party has fewer manoeuvres to demand, and its agreement to the stronger party’s proposal may result in it not gaining as much as it expected. In a multi-party negotiation however, weaker parties that unite in subscribing to the coalition formation present a greater leverage that can ensure their demands are met. Coalition management needs a high degree of leadership and interpersonal skills among coalition leaders. This translates into being responsive to coalition partner sentiments and consistently providing relevant feedback through clear communication and inter-coalition coordination. It also means establishing rules and norms that are agreed upon by coalition members and having a check-and-balance mechanism to ensure compliance. In a bilateral process, negotiated agreements and their implementation is less constrained by conflicting views than in a coalition resulting from a multi-party process.

Two-party negotiations can be scaled up to multi-party negotiations depending on the emerging potential or realization of the advantages of coalitions within a particular context. Hence, processes like managing group dynamics and decision-making become imperative if the subsequent coalition that is formed becomes a winning or blocking coalition. In reality, winning and blocking co-exits within a coalition and it depends how effective winning mechanisms are employed over their counterpart to ensure the success of the coalition.

The New Age of Public Diplomacy

2008-09-11T23:35:00.005+05:30

The title of the talk was catchy and I decided to attend this lunch hour (1-2 pm) Chatham House event (please see http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/). The venue was at the Geological Society, Burlington House at Piccadilly. The speaker, James K Glassman is the US Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. It's the first time I heard of 'public diplomacy' and sure enough, as Mr. Glassman completed a few introductory sentences, he explained what this meant. Public diplomacy is diplomacy directed towards the public he said. From what I could understand, it is the engagement (in a variety of 'non-militarised' ways) to achieve US policy goals of national security. The ultimate goal of his work he says, is to ensure a world in which violent extremism is no longer possible.

Drawing on the sad events of 9/11 seven years ago, he pointed out that Al Qaeda was responsible. This statement follows the next one where he says that the views held by some that the US masterminded 9/11 so it could invade Afghanistan was sad, because it is untrue. 'These (views) are trends that we need to combat', he said, and stated that his job is to win the 'War of ideas'. Suddenly 'public diplomacy' became clearer. It was made more vivid when he listed the ways in which public diplomacy would counter terrorism so that the US and the world could attain security and freedom. One way, he said, was through the exchange programmes (eg. Fullbright programme) by which international students can study in the US. He spoke about the Access Micro-scholarships, especially targeted for the Muslim society. Secondly, there are international information programmes (broadcasting of programmes in 60 different languages) in which the US would act as a facilitator of a 'grand conversation'. Thirdly, it is ideological education which translates to the 'War of ideas'. He said, 'winninig the war on terror means winning the war of ideas'. So the war of ideas is aimed to win hearts and minds which is the new age of public diplomacy.

The room was packed and was almost getting stuffy. Most people came well dressed in formal attire. I was the only one in short sleeves shirt and jeans. The question and answer round was bound to be interesting, and it was. A south asian man stood up and asked why is the US killing innocent children in Pakistan with its bombs recently, while denouncing Al Qaeda's terror tactics and killings. Mr. Glassman of course explained that the US does not intentionally kill innocent people but that Al Qaeda does, and that such collateral damages are regrettable. The chairperson also asked how the US will deal with the 'views' that many people now hold (like the 23% of Germans) that the US government was behind 9/11, to which no clear answer was given except that public diplomacy would have to counter that. I asked a simple question, 'If the aim is to rid the world of violence, then why is the word 'War' used to get to that?'. To me, it does not sound convincing that there is a true intention toward peace when the words used to explain this intention denotes violence and just the opposite of peace. Is the word deliberately put so that the public's mind think in terms of 'war', accepts that 'war' is the way to peace? Mr. Glassman listened to the last question of the final series of queries of the day (mine was number 3) and to my surprise, said that he will answer my question first (he even got close to pronouncing my name correctly). He says, he has been in the administration for just 3 months (he used to be a journalist before he became a diplomat) and that he does not like the 'War of ideas' phrase either, and though he tried to frame a different phrase, none was appropriate enough. Hence it stuck to that, but he reiterated that its the war of words not bullets that was implied. The truth however is that words and bullets have almost become merged such that we don't know the difference anymore.

Hola Gran Canaria

2008-07-28T21:19:00.011+05:30

Dated: 12th - 21st July 2008

Probably one of the most exciting and amazing summer holidays I have experienced...and it was in Gran Canaria island, an archipelago located in the Atlantic Ocean and one of the seven islands of the Canary Islands off the coast of Spain and only 210 km from the northwest coast of Africa!

The Tres Amigos (as we called ourselves) seen here basking on the Amadores beach.

I especially enjoyed this diving area at the Amadores beach. Clear torquoise water was too hard to resist. Its about 3 meters deep here and the rocks and fishes swimming below are clearly visible.

Blissfully floating..ahhh how lovely it was.

Amadores beach...my favourite beach in Gran Canaria.

Snorkling was great fun. The captian of the boat lured the fishes with crumbs of bread and when they started to congregate near the boat, we went into the water to see them.

A full moon on the 19th as photographed from the Playa del Ingles beach.

Moments in Geneva

2007-12-28T20:55:00.000+05:30

Italian lunch at Christmas

(Fresco painting by Adobe CS2)

My bro at Geneva airport

(Focal Black & White by Picasa)

Meeting Lillian

2007-12-18T22:03:00.000+05:30

Dated: 20th November 2007

It was a Greencoat Forum that I was waiting for since the last one I attended on 2nd October 2007 (http://aibz.blogspot.com/2007/10/special-evening-with-gill-hicks.html). The speaker was Dr. Lillian Cingo, manager of the 'miracle train' Phelophepa that delivers basic health care to the rural populace of South Africa. (Website: http://www.mhc.org.za/)

During the height of the Apartheid struggle, Lillian was forced to go into exile and came to London (UK) where she worked as a specialist nurse in neurosurgery, a position she held for 30 years. She was twice nominated Nurse of the Year in London during the 1970’s. In 1975 she was presented to Queen Elizabeth as the best neuro-surgical nurse in London. Lillian is highly qualified with a wide record of experience in professional health care and has acquired skills in healing, counselling and building bridges between people. She returned to South Africa in 1994 and joined as manager of the Phelophepa. Lillian along with Lynette Coetzee, head of the health division of Transet, the company which launched the Phelophepa project in 1994, work together in managing it. Transet contributed 60% of the cost of running the miracle train. Lynette manages the Phelophepa train from the corporate headquarters in Johannesburg’s Carlton Centre while Lilian lives on board, ensuring the smooth running the all day-to-day operations.

Phelophepa means 'good clean health' - a service that has been brought to over 500,000 people since the train was launced. The 16 carriages have so far covered 60,000 miles in order to bring healthcare to areas without access to national health services. Lillian spends nine months annually on the train almost ever since it started and can say "WAKE UP" in as aman as 16 languages! :)

Her voice was calm as she spoke that evening. Hearing her story was inspiring and as she narrated her journey and expereince with Phelophepa, it became clear why Lillian was so successful in running the miracle train - her determination, sincerity and faith in God. During the question and answer session, I stood up and asked her about the difficulties she encountered and how she dealt with them. It was also an opportunty for me to tell her that I had written an email to her last year (7th August 2006) asking if I could volunteer in the Phelophepa. She smiled broadly and she immediately remembered my email while replying to my question. After the session, I went up to meet her and gave her a hug - she is an amazing person of calm - and she in turn gave me words of encouragement. I was extremely glad to have finally met Lillian and I hope one day I will get to meet her again, in South Africa.

More power to you Lillian.

Well....!

2007-11-02T18:32:00.001+05:30

Dated: 2nd November 2007

No comments...its just one of those days!!

But it was good fun...!!

My brother could not resist as well... Oh the things one can do with a wig!!

A very fancy head gear.

A special evening with Gill Hicks

2007-10-04T22:09:00.000+05:30

Dated: 2nd October 2007

There she was sitting at the other end of the room as she was being introduced by an elderly lady staff of Initiatives of Change, the organization that hosted the Greencoat Forum with Gill Hicks. I listened with absolute attention as words poured from Gill's mouth telling about the day that completely changed her life's direction. It was 7th July 2005, the day when a terrorist suicide bomber detonated his bomb inside the Piccadilly line tube train between Kings Cross and Russell Square stations.

To my great delight and amazement, Gill was a person with such a radiating positive energy that it was hard to believe she was one of those critically injured who lost both her legs due to the explosion. She narrated how she found great inner strength to fight for her life after the horrifying blast.

In her words, "As I lay waiting, trapped in what resembled a train carriage - but was now a blackened, smoke filled indescribable 'room' of destruction and devastation - I was able to think. This period of time, some 40 minutes, was to prove to be the most insightful and blessed gift that I am yet to receive, apart from the ultimate gift of a second chance at life. As the blood poured from my body (despite the scarf I had tied on each leg as a tourniquet to stem the flow) I felt incredibly weak, fighting to hold on, to survive. There were two voices holding a very powerful, conflicting conversation in my head – one voice willing me to hold on, to remember those who love me and need me here, the other calling me softly to let go, to drift away into a peaceful deep and permanent sleep. Both sides were stating their case – asking me to choose between life and death. I thought about all the things that mattered to me –my then partner and now husband Joe, my brother Graham, my family, my dear friends – I wanted to spare them this pain. They gave me the strength to choose life. I made a decision and the conversation ended. I wasn't going to die in the carriage, not there on that day; I had to wait for a light."

An Australian, Gill was formerly the Head of Curation at the Design Council. Now she is the Ambassador for Peace Direct, a UK based charity supporting local peace builders in conflict zones around the world.

Gill's book, "One Unknown" is sure to touch the hearts and minds of many. She is a person with so much love in her despite of what happened and it is this uncontrolled amazing love inside her that keeps her going. She says “The cycle has to stop – I cannot hate the person who has done this to me".

I went to attend the forum with a hungry stomach and did not know who Gill Hicks was. By the time she started talking, the evening rolled on and I didn't quite want it to end. I left the place after shaking her hand (of love and peace) feeling full...full of strenght in my belief that good things of great magnitude still exits in this world. Things that will shape this world for the better.

Thank you Gill.

Initiatives of Change (IofC) [http://www.uk.initiativesofchange.org/home/] is a diverse, global network committed to building trust across the world's divides. The London office is at 24 Greencoat Place, SW1P 1RD. It was formerly known as Moral Re-armament (MRA) having its branches worldwide, and one in Shillong as well. I got involved with MRA Shillong way back in 1994. The people and personalities I have known in MRA, now IofC, have enriched my experience.

In London

2007-09-23T21:08:00.001+05:30

Dated: 20th September 2007

The famous London Bridge by night. To me lighting is an art that redefines the way we perceive things. I have seen the bridge by day and it was not even half as beautiful as it was by night.

The Tower Bridge, another monumental landmark of London. This one however did look quite impressive by day too, though it looks more grand at night. I love the night...

Dated: 2nd Oct 2007

Westminister Abbey, a grand structure standing seemingly almost aloof.

Dated: 9th October 2007

The Millenium Bridge spanning across the Thames.

A boat speeds away along the Thames and the castle in the backdrop presents a good view.

A view of the Thames in the evening.

Modern architecture.

A pretty flower basket hanging on the wall.

Buckingham palace.

Dated: 2nd November 2007

The magnificient Wellington Arch at Hyde Park Corner beautifully lit up by lights at night.

Dated: 19th December 2007

Picadilly Circus at night wears a dazzling look. A favourite meeting place for us.

In Berlin

2007-09-23T19:22:00.000+05:30

Berlin, Germany

26 Aug-7 Sept 2007

The combined group consisted of students coming from 29 different countries and comprising 29 Erasmus Mundus, 14 tropEd and 3 DAAD students, including the facilitators of the International Health Summer School. We had our classes at the Humboldt University, Berlin and it was an exciting and interesting experience.

The TV Tower is an impressive structure standing 368.03 metres tall and situated in the centre of the city near the Alexanderplatz train station. The lift took us up to a height of 203.78 metres which gave us a bird's eye view of the city. It was great being up there and surveying the beautiful city. Towers around the world has always been associated with pride and achievement and this will always remain so.

Albert Einstein's house is located in a quite and serene hill overlooking the pretty town of Caputh. Simple in design and perfect as a getaway resort for the great man of science.

In front of the Studentendorf Schlachtensee, the student hostel where some of the Erasmus Mundus students were accommodated during the Summer School period. It was pretty far from the city centre but has its own charm. I remember the breakfast time before rushing to catch the bus to Wansee and then the train to Freidrichstrasse station which is near the Humboldt University. I also remember Sebastian and I taking a 15 minutes walk to Schlachtensee station and then taking another train to Freidrichstrasse. Good moments well spent.

My dear friend Sebastian, a medical doctor from Chile with a good sense of humour, seen here reading a Spanish novel on our was to Freidrichstrasse. He's pretty good with his Nikon camera and some of his shots are worth putting on display. I wish him the best in his track (health policy and management).

The Argentinian beverage Mate. Sebastian offered me a drink and I like it instantly. The shapely carved wooded cup and ornamental steel straw added to the charm. It tasted like herbal tea and is actually an infusion based on the herb Yerba Mate. Mate is usually taken with hot water. The drink is also common in other parts of South America.

This is a Turkish meal and it was definitely one of the most fulfilling meals I had in berlin. Each item on the plate has a distinctive flavour that tickles the taste buds resulting in an expression "Hmmmm,ummmmm.." each time the food is chewed upon.

And finally after a hard day's work, time for bliss.

School Drawings

2007-09-15T17:59:00.001+05:30

My school drawings at the time when I was in Class 7 and 8. Though I also drew from my own imagination, I also could replicate other pictures I see. Below are replications I made from various sources.

Stallion

It was from an old cowboy comic strip that I saw this picture. Actually there were few horses but I picked to draw this one, as it was leading the rest. I used pencil and sketchpens.

Lioness chasing antelopes
This was from a Tarzon comic strip. I used pencil and watercolours. Hopefully one fine day I would see such a scene somewhere in the African wild.

Anaconda attacks a mule
This was from some adventure comic strip. I just used pencil and sketchpens. I like to follow stories of these giant snakes in National Geographic or Animal Planet whenever I get the chance.

Obelix putting his menhir to good use
Definitely one of my favourite comic strips. Obelix doing what he does best. If anyone knows where to get a good deal for Obelix and Astrix comic strips, please let me know.

Kite flying
This drawing was incomplete. I was yet to colour the background or mountains and sky.

Ready to draw
One of those cowboy comic strips again. This chap was a good guy and pretty damn good with his gun too. So he was still seen till the end of the comic strip.

Gun battle
The lone chap was a good guy in the story. He was on a revenge path after his wife was killed by 'them scums' seen here biting the dust. Actually there were six of them and the good guy had just six bullets, one for each scum. He managed to kill 'em all. Thats the law of the wild west.

Those Good Old Days

2007-08-17T12:02:00.000+05:30

My sister and brother were in school while I was still at home till I was 5 years old. Sis was in Loreto Convent School from the start. Bro was in St. Joseph School then but later went to St. Edmund's School.

It was our sister's birthday this day. I was in Kiddies Corner School then. It was the second school I attended after Seven Set School where I completed my KG2. I joined Kiddies Corner School in 1984 where I attended Class I. I finally went to St.Edmund's School in 1987 when I was in Class IV.

With our cousin, Balashonshap. He was a bundle of cuteness and we love to take him around. Now he is 80 kgs, fair and handsome and its impossible to even think of carrying him.

My sister with her Santa Claus. It was winter and Christmas was approaching then, so we had those woollen sweaters on. Also notice the bell bottoms my brother and I wore. I guess I was feeling rather shy then and did not face the camera.

This was in one of the beaches in Goa when we went for a family tour of South India. It was the year 1988 during the winter.

My sister during a Walkathon in which she participated and won in her age group. She walked a few kilometres and dressed in her jainsem. We were pround of her and still are of her achievements.

I was 8 years young then and our cute cousin Shap was 2. We were standing at the entrance to our house. For some reason Dad made me hold the placard announcing in big words that I had turned 8!

Light at the Edge of the World

2007-04-23T11:23:00.000+05:30

Wade Davis was in Delhi and we made sure we did not miss his programme. It was April 21st 2007 and by 7 pm, we were already seated inside the Gulmohar Hall at the India Habitat Centre. I did not know about Wade Davis until that evening. This celebrated anthropologist, writer and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence was on tour to promote his film 'Light at the Egde of the World' a 4 series film on cultures in struggle in the face of modernization.

His voice was smooth and strong with conviction as he spoke about his work and the film he made. He said that 'power' was threatening to wipe culture away, but that just as we humans can wipe away cultures, so can we nurture them. By power, he was referring to the social, economic, political and spiritual forces of the 'modern/civilised' world that are impacting and destroying other cultures that are (viewed by the modern/civilised world as) not 'modern' or 'civilised'. Davis pointed out that there was also a significant part played by missionaries who were brought by the European explorers, which contributed to a rapid erosion of unique cultures. He gave the example of the ancient Polynesian civilization that was subjected to these external forces to the extent that within one generation, almost the entire ancient practices and customs of people slipped from history into the realm of myth and ultimately disappeared.

After his talk, there was an exclusive screening of his film 'The Wayfinders'. The film is about the Wayfinders of Polynesia who inhabited the largest culturesphere in the human history, spanning 1/5th of the surface of the planet. Navigators of the sea, Wayfinders used wave pattern 'fingerprints' and the stars to travel thousands of islands. However this culture that once flourished over 25 million square kilometres of ocean has seen mush of its history and tradition die out. The film also tells about one Hawaiian native trying to preserve and learn this art form of Wayfinding, and designing a traditional Polynesian canoe (Hokule'a) to sail across the islands.

Hokule'a, the Polynesian sea-faring canoe.

(Picture taken from http://www.pbs.org/wayfinders/polynesian8.html)

The pictures below were taken from the website:

http://www.theconnection.org/photogallery/wade

The front cover to "Light at the Edge of the World," by National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Wade Davis, published by National Geographic Books in February 2002.

National Geographic Exlorer-in-Residence Wade Davis.

The eyes of Rara at the town of Desdunnes, Artibonite Valley, Haiti.

A Yagua shaman from the northwest Amazon region of Peru.

Note: The other 3 film series in 'The Light at the Edge of the World' are:

-> Hunter of the Northern Ice: About the Inuit of Canada and Greenland who have survived for thousands of years in the harshest climate on earth. But will global warming bring an end to the Arctic hunt and the Inuit way of life?

-> Sacred Geography: Wade accompanies villagers from the town of Chinchero, Peru, as they make the trek to the annual Qoyllur Rit'i festival, which attarcts more than 25,000 people a year across the Andes mountains. A rich illustrations of beautiful rituals dating as far back as the ancient Incas and Spanish Conquistadors, this festival showcases the cultural fusion of pan-Andean culture.

- > Science of the Mind: Wade goes on a spiritual trek through the Himalayas of Nepal, looking at Buddhism as a science of the mind.

Learning to Ski

2007-04-19T12:58:00.000+05:30

Vacation time is back. My elder brother arranged another trip, this time to Auli, the ski resort at Uttarakhand. We stayed at the Clifftop Club from 6th - 11th April 2007. The journey - a train from Delhi to Haridwar (the Mussoorie express taken 10 hours and the Shatabdi takes 4 hours!), then by hired jeep from Haridwar to Joshimath (another 9 hours). From Joshimath the cable car takes people 4 kms up in 15 minutes. Too bad for us, it was undergoing annual maintenance, so we had to take the jeep up for another 14 kms. The road for the entire 14 kms was bad and we kept bouncing like dolls as the jeep rolled up along undulating mountain terrain. But the journey was worth it.

Brothers and sister are all smiles. Happy to breathe fresh mountain air at 10,000 feet elevation.

Learning to ski. For me the balancing was not difficult, but how to turn while skiing was the tricky part. It was great fun...Can't wait to go skiing again.

One of those moments when a clumsy fall suddenly arrests what seems to be a good attempt at skiing. You get up and start laughing at yourself, half amused and half embarrased. But it's ok...thats how you learn.

Jane Goodall - The Legend

2007-03-09T16:18:00.000+05:30

Jane Goodall (rather Jane 'All Good') is a woman of great character and patience, a woman of grace - A living legend whom I admire immensely. She visited Delhi in January 2007 as part of the British Council sponsored 'Wildscreen International Wildlife & Environmental Film Festival'. Though I could not attend her lecture, I asked my friend Amitangshu, who got to attend the event, to take her picture and video-record her lecture.

She spoke about her journey to study the chimps in East Africa. How in the summer of 1960, when she was 26 years old, she arrived on the shore of Lake Tanganyika in East Africa to study the area's chimpanzee population.

At that time, it was unheard of for a woman to venture into the wilds of the African forest, but for Jane Goodall the trip meant the fulfillment of her childhood dream. Jane’s work in Tanzania would prove more successful than anyone had imagined.

Her favorite books as a child included The Story of Dr. Dolittle, The Jungle Book and the Tarzan series. By the time she was 11, Jane dreamed of going to Africa in a time when it wasn't thought the proper thing for a young woman to do. But Jane's mother Vanne told her, "Jane, if you really want something, and if you work hard, take advantage of the opportunities, and never give up, you will somehow find a way."

What her mother said is amazing. It can make any child be a the most accomplished person in life.

Below are photographs that depict Jane Goodall's life and mission. All the photographs and captions are taken from the Animal Planet website:
http://animal.discovery.com/fansites/janegoodall/jane/bio/slideshow.html

The First Chimp

When she was just over a year old, Jane's father gave her a toy chimpanzee named Jubilee, which she still has to this day.

Jane's Tea Party

Jane entertains her stuffed toy animals. As a child Jane's favorite books included The Story of Dr. Dolittle, The Jungle Book and the Tarzan series.

Puppy Love

Even as a child, animals were an important part of her young life.

The Right Stuff

In Jane, Dr. Louis Leakey, the legendary paleontologist, found the right person for the job. He needed someone with maticulous observational skills and a lot a patience.

Mother and Daughter

British officials refused to let a young woman venture into the African jungle by herself, so Jane took along a companion, her mother Vanne.

Getting Close from Afar

Once in Gombe observing the chimpanzees proved difficult and they fled when Jane tried to get close.

Patience, Patience

After a few months, the chimpanzees began to accept Jane's presence in their world.

Patience Pays Off

A male that Jane called David Greybeard was the first to venture into her camp.

Life's Work

Jane Goodall's work in Gombe was has become one of the longest uninterrupted field studies of any animal species in its natural surroundings, and research continues there to this day.

Daniella - Simply Adorable

2007-03-01T12:42:00.000+05:30

This cute angel's name is Daniella, daughter of Tom (my brother) and Lisa. She will be 2 years young in April 2007. These pictures were taken recently at Deer Park, New Delhi, where she got to see deers and other animals and birds for the first time. Interestingly she was very comfortable and was not sacred to feed the deer and converse with the dog.

Daniella seems to be saying, "Hi I'm Daniella, whats' your name?"

The deer must be thinking..."I wish I had cheeks as cute as those..."

Daniella is one girl who does not like doing only one thing at a time. For example, during her potty rituals she would also do some intense reading and catching up on whats in the news.

Raag - A Wonderful Boy

2006-10-01T17:34:00.000+05:30

Raag was a year old when we met in 2003. It was a humid June evening and his dad, Jishnu was carrying him. His mom, Aradhana was nearby and introduced Raag to me in a language only a mother and her one year old child can understand. After a few visits Raag became more friendly and has started calling me Aiban 'dada' (meaning elder brother in Assamese). Raag and his parents lived in Churchgate, Bombay (Mumbai) and our friendship grew through the two years I was there. Jishnu is an Assamese from Shillong and Aradhana hails from Guwahati, and they became my local guardians in Bombay.

Raag and I regard each other well, and we used to communicate with each other in many varied ways, ranging from facial expressions (including making faces) to verbal monosyllables and everything in between. He is one of those very smart and very cute things who knew well beyond their biological age. Raag loves music, singing and dancing and hence he was appropriately named. On many occasions I would take Raag for a walk along Marine Drive and he loved to run. Few times he has suddenly halted from his run when he hears some loud music from some fancy car that zooms pass, and he would raise both arms skywards and shake his bumbum in the most adorable fashion. At home he loved to play 'Achikima' - a game in which I would have to shout 'Achikima' and run towards him, and Raag in turn would also shout 'Achikima' and run ahead of me. I really enjoyed playing 'Achikima' with Raag. He would sing few lines of 'Abhija...abhija', a song from some Bollywood movie which was quite popular then.

When Raag turned 2 years in 2004, he already could recite numbers and alphabets, sing some nursery rhymes and could identify objects by their names. All this having learnt at home, he was over qualified for a pre-school (which in Bombay was a mandatory step towards entering school). Another area he was particularly good at was flirting with girls of all ages. I have seen little girls drool and aunties swoon at the touch of his charm. He used his baby fat and his 'damn-I'm-so-cute' smile to make them flip.

One particular occasion that will always be in my memory is the New Year's eve of 31st December 2003, a night that was Raag's. After having dinner with Raag and his parents, we all went to Marine Drive to spend the rest of the hours that remained on the 31st of December of 2003. We were walking along Marine Drive and there was a sea of people, men, women, children of all ages, waiting for the big celebration to welcome the new year of 2004. Raag was as usual running ahead of us, but he suddenly stopped and turned to his right. He has spotted a pretty young thing in red skirt standing next to her dad. He walked purposefuly towards her direction and when he was sure that she noticed him, he stopped, flashed his charming smile and looked at her admiringly. The amused girl smiled back and that was when he inched closer and kissed her on the lips! Having done that, he looked at her again and she was still smiling. Then suddenly Raag smiled and turned and started running again. The little girl meanwhile started crying and had to be consoled by her dad who lifted her up and hugged her. He already broke a very young heart.

Raag is now in Jakarta as his dad got a new appointment in his company which required him to shift base from Bombay to Jakarat. The family shifted last year in August. I called Jishnu 2 days ago and got to speak to Raag after almost a years' gap. He still remembers me and said 'Hello Aiban dada'. Aradhana tells me that Raag's baby fat is disappearing as he is growing. I missed him and everytime I remember him, I recall those moments when we would run along Marine Drive and eat ice cream at Naturals (a famous ice cream joint in Bombay). I remember the times he would cry when I leave and how Jishnu or Aradhana would console him. I remember fondly those times we watched Cartoon channel together and share a good laugh. Raag is a specal friend and I wonder when I meet him again, whether I will be able to lift him and carry him as he runs to me, or will he hug me tight as he used to? Whenever I tell people about Raag I shamelessy brag about him and I know that when I see him again I shall indeed be very happy and I hope he would feel the same way too.

The painful moment I vividly remember is the evening I had to leave after having spent almost the entire day with Raag and his parents. He cried so bitterly as he saw he waved and walked away. I love kids and Raag is a special friend I will always have and adore. His antics and energy, his homour and affection and the special bonding we share I will treasure for always.

Dr. G Rajan Babu - My Mentor, My Friend

2006-08-04T10:07:00.000+05:30

Dedicated to you Dr. Rajan

My first meeting with Dr. Rajan was in the summer of 2004 in Delhi. It was the month of May and the Delhi summer heat was overwhelming. I was to do a 1-month summer job with The Leprosy Mission (TLM) Trust-India (www.leprosymission.org), and after I was being introduced to the staff at the head office, the head of HR informed that Dr. Rajan was going to be my Supervisor.

Dr. Rajan's room was compact and partitioned into 2 compartments. In one of the compartments, sits his Secretary, a jovial ever smiling man whom Dr. Rajan referred to as Babu. Dr. Rajan seemed pleased to see me and after a bit of informal chat, he briefed me about the assignment that I was required to do. I was to conduct a study (cohort study) to determine the "Defaulting from long term treatment for Leprosy, Hypertension, Tuberculosis and Vitiligo", using secondary data from TLM’s Hospital at Naini, Uttar Pradesh. Dr. Rajan is the Head of the Evaluation Cell of TLM-India and also holds the Deputy Director post in the organization.

My impression of Dr. Rajan was that he was quick to smile whether he is correcting or agreeing. A special quality he possess is the art of being humble but firm. To have an interaction with him is a pleasant as well as a learning experience for me. Given the fact that Dr. Rajan [MBBS, Msc-Epidemiology (London)] has served with TLM for more than 20 years, his experience and knowledge about leprosy and its management is vast and significant.

I completed the study and he was happy with the report. I left Delhi in June and went home to conduct another study into the problem of rickets in Meghalaya. Little did I imagine I would be coming back to TLM to work in the organization. It was in the month of December in 2004, that I got a phone call from TLM Delhi. The Placement Process for our batch (MHA-2003-05) was just being organised at TISS (www.tiss.edu) and I already got a job offer.

The date was 20th May 2005. It was my official joining date at TLM as Medical Officer - Evaluation. My Boss is of course Dr. Rajan. By then the Evaluation Cell office had been shifted to a new address, C-85, Inderpuri, and is more spacious with a quieter working environment. Its been a year and 2 months working with Dr. Rajan and I admire him greatly for his professional guidance and personal charisma. I must confess, had Dr. Rajan become a diplomat, he would have been a very respected one indeed. He also has the gentle ability to resolve a conflict. He is direct and appreciative, soft but convincing. Having a Boss like him is such a blessing I must admit.

He gives me the space and the opportunity to work. I seriously believe that he is one man with so many friends and so few opponents. Surely, he must be held in high regard in the 'Favour Bank' that Paulo Coelho writes about in his book "Zahir".

Dr. Rajan may look serious, but should you hear him share a joke and burst into laughter, you will know this man has his humour uniform under his office dress at all times. Despite his hectic schedule of coordinating the work of ILEP (www.ilep.org.uk) in India, there has never been a time that he does not listen and share his inputs on any work I have. He is always quick to listen and provides sound advice. He has this interesting habit of making a 'checklist', which sooner than later I found to be very important indeed. Monitoring and evaluation requires among many other things, a good reference to the correct information and procedures that a simple checklist can provide in the hour of need. He has taught me to value the small things and for that I am grateful. There is only one thing I would like him to stop, and it is smoking. Many a times, I would see him steal a puff outside the office near some corner and I swear he looked like a famous South Indian actor in a villian role.

I regard him as my mentor but he is also a dear friend who understands and listens. I will always have fond memories and deep respect for this honourable man.

Finally we met!

2006-07-29T14:20:00.000+05:30

And finally it came to pass…the long anticipated meeting of four guys…guys who have been together since Class 4, who have seen many good and bad days together, who have broken rules and established new ones…guys who knew each other’s dark and bright side…guys who swore to stick together…until the end of Pre-University exam (1996) came, and they had to go their separate ways in their quest for higher learning, a journey each knew they had to take one fine day. We met last night at JNU campus. It was a special night for the four of us and even the weather seemed to arrange its elements to make it most enjoyable for us – the night was cool, the rain was drizzling and the air was wrapping us in a welcoming chill.

Sometime in middle of 1996, Basil went south to Pondicherry to join JIPMER (http://www.jipmer.edu/), Aditya went north to Delhi and found meaning in JNU (http://www.jnu.ac.in/), Vikram went to Mysore’s Central Food Technological Research Institute (http://www.cftri.com/) and I went to RNTMC in Udaipur (only the site, no web!).

As we hugged and greeted each other with so many words and gestures, it was hard to contain the excitement. At that moment we all wished another person was with us. He is Bibek Yumnam, the best artist we have known at school. He is based at Dehra Dun at the Wildlife Institute of India (http://www.wii.gov.in/). We drove to Aditya's hostel and Vikram was kind enough to have bought a bottle of wine to celebrate the occasion. As we settled ourselves comfortably in Aditya's room, I persuaded Basil to narrate to all present some of his amazing 'ward stories'. Basil was meeting Vikram and Aditya for the first time after more than 10 years. Vikram and I met about 3 weeks ago in JNU along with Aditya, and that day we had visited a very dear teacher of ours, Mrs. Gopalakrishna, our favourite Biology teacher in school, who has now just settled in the capital.

So Basil, the great gynaecologist that he is, started telling us his ward stories, one at a time, and with a purposive pace, as we hung on to his every word. As you can see, his stories were truly awe inspiring for Vikram and Aditya. They didn't miss a word, and at times when the terminology in the stories became too 'medical' for them, Basil and I would explain the meaning in, as they say, 'layman's speech'.

So the night went along fine with great stories and wine. For those who are curious or interested to know about the 'ward stories', please catch hold of Basil and ask him. He is usually spotted in the labour room and OT (Operation Theatre) of AIIMS, though he also frequents Nescafe shop near AIIMS Hostel No. 7.

We ended up talking about good old school days, our teachers, our buddies in class and the moments we cherished the most. Then I started telling them about my first experience in the Dissection Hall (DH) of RNTMC, and how it felt like to see a cadaver on the dissection table. Aditya and Vikram, though interested they were in listening to our medical tales, were not quite certain about continuing to hear more about cadavers and dissections. I smile as I remember Aditya's facial expression when Basil and I told him about DH stories...poor chap. I wonder if he slept that night....

Anyway, Aditya was finally a very relieved man when the subject of discussion changed. We started pulling Vikram's legs on some remarks that he made, for Vikram by then, was a very 'high' man indeed, thanks to the drinks. Basil and I finally left JNU at 1:00 am.

We promised ourselves we will meet again on a weekend. It was a meeting well made. Cheers to us.

Udaipur Memories

2006-07-25T11:17:00.000+05:30

UDAIPUR...UDAIPUR...Now where do I begin? Six years of my life was spent in this City of Lakes. Those 6 years in medical college have indeed brought many a change in my life. The memories are fresh still; those faces in class and those postings in the wards - like a slideshow the events roll in my mind as I write.

I joined the Rabindranath Tagore Medical College (RNTMC) in October 1996, almost 10 years ago. The RNT medical college was established in the year 1962 and received the Medical Council of India (MCI) recognition in 1966. It was named after the acclaimed Indian poet, playwright, novelist and Nobel Prize winner, Rabindra Nath Tagore, as an honour to this great man.

My batchmates from the North East were, Kara (Meghalaya), Franklin (Mizoram) and Duhawma (Mizoram). Kara was by far the most studious one from among us and she was one of those who scored the highest marks in class. We were of course very proud of her. When Kara got through the AIIMS entrance exam with flying colours, with a sense of pride we rejoiced. Now she is a Paediatrician and we wish her well.

Franklin, Dohawma and I adjusted well to hostel life within a few months, thanks to the support of our seniors and friends. Boys Hostel was one heck of an experience, and one that taught the three of us many of life's lessons.

We used to eat in one of the many 'Mess (es)' run by a particuler group. During our days at Udaipur, groupism was pretty strong among the students of the college. A Mess is similar to a 'canteen' but the management is by the students themselves. A particular group would have its own Mess and all students belonging to this group were expected to join the Mess. A student coming from Delhi or Jaipur would be in the DJ (Delhi-Jaipur) group, while those coming from other parts of Rajasthan, like Kota or Dholpur, would be in the Kota or DLP (Dholpur) group respectively.

One day we decided to open our own Mess as most of us from the North East have a GIT (gastro-intestinal tract) system that does not tolerate the heavy dose of spice in the food that we ate in other Mess (es). Franklin became the Manager and I assisted him in the accounts. Duhawma took the freelance role of a food and beverages consultant. We were all very happy with Duhawma when our Mess menu started having items like 'Bai' (the Mizo vegetable cocktail), 'chicken stew', 'egg curry', etc. Our cook, Hari Singh, picked up the cooking style that suited our taste buds very well. We would shower our appreciation on him and many of us also presented him with many gifts. After a few months of starting our own Mess, many of our batchmates started joining us as they found the food much to their liking.

Hari Singh was envied by many other cooks, not only because he commanded a knowledge and skill of many a dishes alien to them, but also because of the Nike shoes and the Adidas T-shirts that he sports. By the time we left Udaipur, Hari Singh's gifts included an array of branded T-shirts, denim shorts, Lotus 'floaters' and other items.

About other things...

Jason was one year our senior at RNTMC. It was rumoured in many corridors and gatherings that he could eat 1 kg of rice and 1 kg of meat alone. We found it hard to believe, until one day this picture that was taken by an unknown source, proved it to be true indeed.

Jason is a good friend currently working with the Meghalaya State Government in the Garo Hills.

On many occasions we would go for a group picnic to one of the many scenic locations in and around Udaipur. Udaipur being bordered by the Arravali ranges has some of the most beautiful lakes in Rajasthan.

This picture was taken by Franklin during one of those picnics. I had lush hair growing on my scalp then, and it was a beautiful day at Baddi lake. Some of us would come on bicycles and some on bikes. We would gather firewood and cook our meal, sing songs, sip beer, dance and have a jolly good time. In 1999 the lakes dried up due to the draught that swept across Rajasthan, and it broke our hearts. Thankfully by the time we left Udaipur, the rains has filled them up again.

Franklin was known more for his exploits in Yercaud than in Aizawl. For he was one who saw most of his growing up years at Monfort School, Yercaud. He would narrate with a passionate flair about his days at Monfort, and since he was good in telling stories, he always found a quick audience to listen to his tales.

I remember a day during a particularly hot June afternoon, when Frank (as I call him) and I were studying and preparing for our next paper in our 2nd MBBS pre-university exam. After a heavy dose of studying, we decided to chill. Frank pressed the play button of his tape recorder, and as Roxette's 'June Afternoon' blared from the speakers, I went to retrieve the beer bottles which we kept in the cooler facing the room. By evening, we were prepared for the next day's paper. I must mention that at times, studying well is a better tactic than stydying hard in MBBS, and one that has certainly helped us.

Franklin is now of course an IAS officer, after having cleared one of India's most difficult exams this year. I'm very proud of him.

Duhawma was always the energetic dancer at parties. I also call him 'Mercury boy' for this man was a Freddy Mercury fan. He had almost the entire collection of QUEEN and sang a new Queen song each day.

On some days and at unsuspecting moments, he would display random acts of happiness which I managed to catch here in this picture.

Now working with the Mizoram government, this dear friend has done well for himself. Few of the many things about Duhawma that I admire are his gentle nature, humility and sudden burst of the most contagious laughter I have ever heard.

In 1997 the Trident Oberoi hotel was opened for business in Udaipur, and fortunately for me, having close friends working in the hotel meant easy access to the hotel and its surroundings, including discounts at the restaurants. Behind me one can see the Monsoon Palace (barely visible here) that sits proudly on top of the mountain in the background. Oberoi now has another 5 star hotel called the Udaivillas running in Udaipur. It is located in the same area not too far from the Trident, but closer to the Pichola lake.

How do I love Thee?

2006-07-11T12:41:00.000+05:30

"How do I love thee?", began, by far the most famous poem written by Elizabeth Barrett Browning and definitely with one of the most famous opening lines in poetry.

I chanced upon this lovely poetry while in Udaipur, where I completed my medical studies. It was one of those lazy Sundays when I would go to Franklin's room with the Times of India in my hand, to read the Sunday newspapers. Duhoma would join us, bringing the Hindustan Times. Franklin of course has the Indian Express. Franklin and Duhoma - my batchmates in R.N.T Medical College, Udaipur and my partners in crime. Having different newspapers was our ploy to ensure those lazy Sunday afternoons pass by without making us feel too bored. On one such Sunday afternoon, Duhoma came in holding a piece of paper in his hand which bore the impression of having been carefully torn from a newspaper. He showed us the poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, the wife of the famous English poet and playwright, Robert Browning (1812 – 1889).

I felt the poem radiates with the intense love Elizabaeth had for her husband. The choice of words she used spoke of her character and the values she believed in. If any lover were to present his or her beloved a gift, it should be this poem.

About Elizabeth Browning:

Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806 – 1861) was a member of the Barrett Family and one of the most respected poets of the Victorian era. Elizabeth Barrett was born on March 6, 1806 in Durham, England. She was the eldest of twelve children of an autocratic father who forbade his children to marry6. Elizabeth began writing at a very young age, publishing her first works while in her teens.

From an early age Elizabeth suffered a chronic lung ailment. She spent most of her time in a darkened room writing poety and many letters. The famous English poet Robert Browning admired her "Poems" (1844) so much that he wrote to her. They met, fell in love, and were secretly married in 1846. Soon after their marriage they ran away to Florence, Italy, where Elizabeth began a remarkable physical recovery.

In 1849, they had a son, Robert Wiedeman Barrett Browning. She increasingly took up contemporary issues including the Italian Nationalist cause, the abolition of slavery in the United States, and the position of women in Victorian society. Elizabeth died on June 29, 1861. Many critics agree that Elizabeth's best poems appear in Sonnets fromt he Portuguese, a series of 44 sonnets recording the growth of her love for Robert Browning.

Browning is generally considered the greatest of English poetesses. Her works are full of tender and delicate, but also of strong and deep, thought. Her own sufferings, combined with her moral and intellectual strength, made her the champion of the suffering and oppressed wherever she found them. Though not nearly the equal of her husband in force of intellect and the higher qualities of the poet, her works had, as might be expected on a comparison of their respective subjects and styles, a much earlier and wider acceptance with the general public.

Mrs. Browning was a woman of singular nobility and charm, and though not beautiful, was remarkably attractive. The English novelist and dramatist, Mary Russel Mitford thus describes her as a young woman: "A slight, delicate figure, with a shower of dark curls falling on each side of a most expressive face; large, tender eyes, richly fringed by dark eyelashes, and a smile like a sunbeam."

Browning's most famous work is 'Sonnets from the Portuguese', a collection of love sonnets. Sonnet number 43 from this collection is the the poem that formed a part of the history of Browning's own love-story.

How do I Love Thee

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.

I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.

I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints,—I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life!—and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

For more information please see the links below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Barrett_Browning

http://www.cswnet.com/~erin/browning.htm

http://www.cswnet.com/~erin/ebbpoem.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonnets_from_the_Portuguese

Chief Seattle

2006-07-06T11:52:00.000+05:30

I read the Chief Seattle's great speech for the first time almost 3 years ago. It was at the dining table in TISS -Mumbai, when a friend gave me a page on which was printed the great speech. It was simply brilliant; the words seemed to have life; the Chief's words took my thoughts along a journey where he revealed his wisdom and showed the meaning of the harmony of man with 'mother' earth and the great importance to respect, protect and preserve our 'mother'.

Chief Seattle (1786 – 1866) was a leader of the Suquamish and Duwamish Native American tribes in what is now the state of Washington in the United States of America. He was a prominent figure among his people and pursued a path of accommodation to white settlers, and formed a personal relationship with doctor David Swinson "Doc" Maynard, an advocate of Native America rights. It was at Maynard's suggestion that Seattle, Washington was named after the Chief.

In 1851, Chief Seattle and other Native Indian tribes around Washington's Puget Sound, delivered what is considered to be one of the most beautiful and profound environmental statements ever made. Chief Seattle's speech was in response to a proposed treaty under which the Indians were persuaded to sell two million acres of land for $150,000."

The Speech:

How can you buy or sell the sky, the warmth of land? The idea is strange to us. If we do not own the freshness of the air and the sparkle of water how can you buy them? Every part of this earth is sacred to my people. Every shining pine needle, every sandy shore, every mist in the dark woods, every clearing and humming insect is holy in the memory and experience of my people. The sap, which courses through the trees, carries the memories of the red man.

The white man’s dead forget the country of their birth when they go to walk among the stars. Our dead never forget this beautiful earth, for it is the mother of the red man. We are part of the earth and it is part of us. The perfumed flowers are our sisters; the deer, the horse, the great eagle, these are our brothers. The rocky crests, the juices in the meadows, the body heat of the pony, and man – all belong to the same family.

So, when the Great Chief in Washington sends word that he wishes to buy our land, he asks much of us. The Great Chief sends word he will reserve us a place so that we can live comfortably to ourselves. He will be our father and we will be his children. So we will consider your offer to buy our land. But it will not be easy. For this land is sacred to us.

The shining water that move in the streams and rivers is not just water but the blood of our ancestors. If we sell you land, you must remember that it is sacred, and you must teach your children that it is sacred and that each ghostly reflection in the clear water of the lakes talks of events and memories in the life of my people. the water’s murmur is the voice of my father’s father.

The rivers are our brothers, they quench our thirst. The rivers carry our canoes, and feed our children. If we sell you our land, you must remember and teach your children that the rivers are our brothers and yours; and you must henceforth give the rivers the kindness you would give any brother.

We know that the white man does not understand our ways. One portion of the land is the same to him as the next, for he is a stranger who comes in the night and takes from the land whatever he needs. The earth is not his brother, but his enemy, and when he has conquered it he moves on. He leaves his father’s graves behind, and does not care. He kidnaps the earth from his children and he does not care. His father’s grave and his children’s birthright are forgotten. He treats his mother, the earth, and his brother, the sky, as things to be bought, plundered, sold like sheep or bright beads. His appetite will devour the earth and leave behind only a desert.

I do not know. Our ways are different from your ways. The sight of your cities pains the eyes of the red man. But perhaps it is because the red man is a savage and does not understand.

There is no quiet place in the white man’s cities. No place to hear the unfurling of leaves in spring, or the rustle of an insect’s wings. But perhaps it is because I am a savage and do not understand. The clatter only seems to insult our ears. And what is there to life if a man cannot hear the lonely cry of the whippoorwill or the arguments of the frogs around a pond at night? I am a red man and do not understand. The Indian prefers the soft sound of the wind darting over the face of a pond, and the smell of the wind itself cleansed by a mid-day rain or scented with the pinion pine.

The air is precious to the red man, for all things share the same breath –the beasts, the trees, the man; they all share the same breath. The white man does not seem to notice the air he breathes. Like a man dying for many days, he is numb to the stench. But if we sell you our land, you must remember that the air is precious to us, that the air shares its spirit with all the life it supports. The wind that gave our grandfather his first breath also receives his last sigh. And if we sell you our land, you must keep it apart and sacred, as a place where even the white man can go to taste the wind that is sweetened by the meadow’s flowers.

So we will consider your offer to buy our land. If we decide to accept, I will make one condition; the white man must treat the beasts of this land as his brothers. What is man without beasts? If all the beasts were gone, man would die from a great loneliness of spirit. For whatever happens to the beasts, soon happens to men. All things are connected.

You must teach your children that the ground beneath their feet is the ashes of our grandfather’s so that they will respect the land. Tell your children that the earth is rich with the lives of our kin. Teach your children what we have taught our children that the earth is our mother. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth. If men spit upon the ground, they spit upon themselves.

This we know; the earth does not belong to man; man belongs to the earth. This we know; all things are connected like the blood that unites one family. All things are connected; whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself.

Even the white man, whose God walks and talks with him as friend to friend, cannot be exempt from the common destiny…We may be brothers after all. We shall see. One thing we know, which the white man may one day discovers – Our God is the same God. You may think now that you own him as you wish to own our land; but you cannot. He is the God of man, and His compassion is equal for the red and the white. This earth is precious to Him, and to harm the earth is to heap contempt on its creator. The white too shall pass; perhaps sooner than all other tribes. Contaminate your bed, and you will one night suffocate in your own waste.

But in your perishing you will shine brightly, fired by the strength of the God who brought you to this land and for some special purpose gave you dominion over the land and over the red man. That destiny is a mystery to us, for we do not understand. When the buffaloes are all slaughtered, the wild horses tamed, the secret corners of the forests heavy with the scent of many men and the view of the ripe hills blotted by talking vines…Where is the thicket? Gone! Where is the eagle? Gone! The end of living and the beginning of survival.

------------------------

A brief account of Chief Seattle's life:

The Chief Seattle was born around 1786 on Blake Island, Washington, and died in June 7, 1866, on the Suquamish reservation at Port Madison, Washington. His father, Schweabe, was a leader of the Suquamish tribe, and his mother was Scholitza of the Duwamish tribe.

Seattle earned his reputation at a young age as a leader and a warrior. He was very tall for a Puget Sound native at nearly six feet. He was also known as an orator, and his voice is said to have carried half a mile or more when he addressed an audience. He married well, taking wives from the village of Tola'ltu just southeast of Duwamish Head on Elliot Bay (now part of West Seattle). His first wife died after bearing a daughter. A second wife bore him sons and daughters. The most famous of his children was Princess Angeline. After the death of one of his sons, he sought and received baptism in the Roman Catholic Church, probably in 1848 near Olympia, Washington. His children were also baptized and raised in the faith, and his conversion marked his emergence as a leader seeking cooperation with incoming American settlers.

In 1912, a local sculptor, James Wehn created the statue of Chief Seattle. Myrtle Loughery, the chief’s great great grand-daughter unveiled it on Founders Day, November 13 1912. It was renovated in 1975, and today the statue presides over Tilikum Place, near the Seattle Centre. (In the background is the Seattle Center Space Needle)

"Man did not weave the web of life - he is merely a strand in it.Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself."

Chief Seattle, 1854

Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Seattle

Sohra

2006-07-05T13:40:00.000+05:30

When I was young, every visit to Sohra was filled with a mixed of excitement and awe. While still on the way, I would visualize those massive green mountains rising from the deep valleys to flirt with the clouds. The land is characterized by sheer beauty and ruggedness that leave many a traveler awestruck and breathless.

I remember the times when we would occasionally go for family picnics to Sohra. The family car was an old Ambassador Mark-I then (MLS – 4748), and Dad would drive slowly along the narrow way, which cuts through the sides of the mountains. I usually sit at the back seat with my brother and sister and we would nervously look through the window towards the edge of the road that borders what we believed was the beginning of the deepest abyss there ever was, plunging into the depths of the unknown. Nevertheless we would all pretend that we were not so concerned about this…and when one of us finally decided to unmask the brave countenance and emit a terrified sigh (that was being held for so long) the remaining two would declare their courage and bravery by looking more intently into the depths and commenting in an unrestrained tone “Oh what a beautiful scene!”.

Sohra also known as Cherrapunjee is one of the world's wettest places where the average yearly rainfall of 450 inches (1143 cms). Mawsynram, a village about 30 kms west of Sohra, has recently earned the title of the world's wettest spot with an average annual rainfall of 467 inches (1186 cms). For those who are interested, Mt. Waialeale on the island of Kauai in Hawaii ia also among the top wettest places in the world with 460 inches (1168 cms) of rain per year. The rainfall on Mt. Waialeale is spread over 12 months, while Sohra gets almost all of its rain in the six monsoon months of April through September.

Sohra rain facts:

The terrain rises steeply from the India-Bangladesh border to Sohra, which sits at an elevation of 4,500 feet (1372 m). After passing over the Bangladesh Plains, the monsoon clouds hit Sohra with a vengeance. A world record 1,042 inches (2647 cm) of rain fell between August 1860 and July 1861. More recently, the year 1974 saw 967 inches of rain with an astounding 323 inches in just the month of July. That's 10 inches (25 cm) a day for an entire month! There is only one kind of downpour that comes to mind, the one that came when Noah's Ark was completed. On June 16, 1995, a record 62 inches of rain fell in just 24 hours.

I took a trek with my friends to the 'living root bridge', the much talked about spectacle, in December 2005. There are in fact quite a number of these root bridges that have formed along the supports constructed by the villagers over streams and rivers so that people can cross from one side to the other. The roots of the trees, which have grown above the ground would grow, entertwine and spread along the supports and ultimately form a living root bridge. The village we trekked to was Nongriat about 20 kms from Sohra. It took more than 2 hours to trek to the doubled storeyed living root bridge, and along the way, we crossed few root bridges and also one made of steel wires that was constructed by the government. The journey was very tiring indeed and every sinew in my body ached as we navigated through the rough unsuspecting terrain. But the sight that greeted us was worth those drops of prespiration that rained on the ground along the way. It was unimaginable that local knowledge and wisdom could make use of trees in this manner. It almost looked like a scene out of a 'Tarzon' comic. We stopped, absorbed the wonder, then clicked pictures by the dozens...until we heard one of our trekmates' call from the village ahead becknoning us to taste the locally made fruit juice which he was sipping from a mug. Then we all ran and ambushed him.

To discover Meghalaya and the rest of the North East India please do visits my friend James Perry's site below.

www.culturalpursuits.com

Darts

2006-06-17T10:45:00.000+05:30

Three evenings ago I was playing darts with Amit 'Babumoshai'. After a couple of minutes of throwing the darts towards the board, we realized that though the game is fun, we could not compare who scored better since neither of us knew how scoring is done in the game. So we decided that one of us will have to find out how scoring is done in the game of darts. That evening, the game witnessed amazing feats by the players…like the one dart (of the three) which was propelled beyond the room and through the window with the help of my throw. We never found it again..maybe it struck a squirrel sleeping on the trees just outside the window…maybe it pierced a crow’s buttocks as it was dozing off on the branch…maybe it landed on a pile of ….anyway, it was gone for good and we knew it. But that didn’t stop us from playing with the 2 remaining darts. The game finally ended 15 minutes before the start of the second World Cup Football match of the day (Tunisia and Saudi Arabia).

So I went to google.com the next day and found some interesting facts about the game darts. Darts is a game, or rather a variety of related games, in which darts are thrown at a circular target (dart board) hung on a wall. Though various different boards and games have been used in the past, the term 'darts' usually now refers to a standardized game involving a specific board design and set of rules.

As well as being a professional competitive sport, darts is a traditional pub game, commonly played in the United Kingdom (the first to officially recognize darts as a sport), the Netherlands, Israel, the Scandinavian countries, the United States and elsewhere.

DARTS

Dart Boards:
Dart boards are usually made of sisal fibers and each section is lined with thin metal wire. The numbers indicating the various scoring sections of the board are normally made of wire, especially on tournament-quality boards, but may be printed directly on the board instead.

Height and distance:
In the standard game, the dart board is hung so that the bullseye is 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) from the floor, eye-level for a six foot man. The oche (pronounced 'ock-ey'), or throwing line behind which the player must stand, is 7 ft 9.25 in (2.37 m) from the face of the board, though a few British pubs set it at 8 ft (2.44 m) or 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m).

DART BOARD

History:
The dartboard itself may have its origins in the cross section of a tree, although some historical records suggest that the first standard dartboards were the bottoms of wine casks, hence the game's original name of "butts" (Aha…this is interesting). There is speculation that the game originated among soldiers throwing short arrows at the bottom of the cast or at the bottom of trunks of trees. As the wood dried, cracks would develop, creating "sections". Soon, regional standards emerged and many woodworkers supplemented bar tabs by fabricating dart boards for the local pubs.

The numbering plan known by many today has a 20 on top; however, a great many other configurations have been used throughout the years and in different geographical locations. By most accounts, the numbering layout was devised by Brian Gamlin in 1896 to penalize inaccuracy. Although this applies to most of the board, the left-hand side (near the 14 section) is preferred by beginners, for its concentration of larger numbers.

Scoring:

The standard dartboard is divided into twenty numbered sections, scoring from one to 20 points, by wires running from the small central circle to the outer circular wire. Circular wires within the outer wire divide each section into single, double and triple areas. Various quite different games can be played (and still are played informally) using the standard dartboard. However, in the official game, any dart landing inside the outer wire scores as follows:

a. Hitting one of the large portions of each of the numbered sections, traditionally coloured black and yellow, scores precisely the points value of that section.
b. Hitting the thin outer portions of these sections, coloured red and green, scores double the points value of that section.
c. Hitting the thin inner portions of these sections, roughly halfway between the outer wire and the central circle and again coloured red or green, scores triple (or 3x) the points value of that section.
d. The central circle is divided into a green outer ring worth 25 points (known as "outer" or "outer bull") and a red inner circle (usually known as "bull", "inner bull" or "double bull"), worth 50 points. The term "bullseye" can mean either the whole central part of the board or just the inner red section.
e. Hitting outside the outer wire scores nothing.
f. Any dart that does not remain in the board after throwing (for example, a dart that hits a wire and bounces out of the board or drops out with the impact of a later throw) also scores nothing. Variations on this rule exist - some judge that a dart which obviously hits a scoring section but then subsequently drops out will count if caught before it hits the floor or if it rebounds behind the throwing line before touching the ground it may be thrown again. In professional rules, a dart's tip must be touching a scoring section for the dart to count.
g. The highest score possible with 3 darts is 180, obtained when all three darts land in the triple 20. In the televised game, the commentator frequently announces a score of 180 in exuberant style.

Playing darts:
A game, or "leg", of darts is usually contested between two players who take turns in throwing up to three darts. Starting from a set score, usually 501 or 301, a player wins by reducing his score to zero. The last dart in the leg must hit either a double or the inner portion of the bullseye, which is the double of the outer bull, and must reduce the score to exactly zero. Successfully doing so is known as "doubling out" or "checking out". A throw that would reduce a player's score to one or below zero does not count, his turn ends, and his score is reset to what it was before that turn. Since the double areas are small, doubling out is usually the most difficult and tense part of a leg. Longer matches are often divided into sets, each comprising some number of legs.

Professional organizations:
Of the two professional organisations, the British Darts Organisation (BDO), founded 1973, is the older. Its tournaments are often shown on the BBC in the UK. The BDO is a member of the World Darts Federation (WDF) (founded 1976), along with organisations in some 60 other countries worldwide. The BDO organises all British darts players, with the exception of a small group of professionals.
In 1994 a breakaway organisation was formed, initially known as the World Darts Council (WDC) but shortly after known as the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC). Over the years a continued exodus of top players from the BDO has established the PDC as the home of Professional Darts. An influx of sponsors and rapid expansion of television coverage continues. Tournaments are broadcast in the UK on Sky Television, and in the Netherlands by Sport One with many other tv stations now involved across the globe.
The PDC tournaments often have higher prize money and without doubt the best player in the world - 13 times World Champion Phil Taylor. Cementing the PDC's dominance at the very top of the game in early 2006, four times BDO world champion Raymond van Barneveld moved to the PDC.

Professional competitions:
The major tournament within both the PDC and BDO organisations are the World Championships which take place at the start of each year. The BDO tournament has been running since 1978, the PDC tournament since 1994 and in 2006 the first prize offered and total prize fund of the PDC World Championship was double that offered by the BDO tournament. (£100,000 to the PDC Champion, £50,000 to the BDO Champion).
The other main professional tournaments are ; Darts Premier League, UK Open, Las Vegas Desert Classic, World Matchplay, World Grand Prix (PDC - all televised live and in their entirety)
International Darts League, World Darts Trophy, World Masters (BDO/WDF - with the former two only broadcast on Dutch tv (SBS6), and the latter broadcast on SBS6 and by the BBC in the UK)
The WDF World Cup (for national teams) has been played bi-annually since 1977.

Other facts:
(a). The American Darters Association offers league organization for casual singles players throughout the United States (http://www.adadarters.com/)
(b). The American Darts Organization is the world's largest national dart league, facilitating the organization of members' regional divisions, and promoting the sport via pub-based teams and individuals across the country (http://www.adodarts.com/)
(c). World Champion: Raymond van Barneveld Barney - 4 times BDO World Champion

KRITI FILM CLUB

2006-05-20T13:06:00.000+05:30

An email in my inbox...It was a forwarded email. I opened it and read out an invitation from the Kriti Film Club. It read -

"A screening of 2 Manipuri films and a discussion with the film maker - Kavita Joshi on Friday, 19th MAY, 5.45 pm-7.30 pm"

We (Nungshibi* and I) arrived at 5:30 pm at the address mentioned in the email. The Kriti Team Workplace was also the Kriti Film Club venue, a nice cozy room. The film club offers an informal space for screening documentary & mainstream films as well as slide shows, on a whole range of issues connected with development, human rights & social attitudes/ trends once a month. It also serves as a borrowing & buying space for documentary films. Consistently screening films since 1999 in New Delhi, non-funded and surviving on its audiences' contribution into a 'gullak' (survival contribution box)! It is open to all, and also stocks up some 'nimboo pani' (lime juice) and 'kurkure' (eatables) for everyone!

For those interested to watch films at the film club every 3rd Friday, the address is:

KRITI TEAM WORKPLACES-35

Tara Apartments, Alaknanda

New Delhi 110019

Phone: 26477845/ 26213088

There were two film being screened. One was the "Untitled 3 Short Films" and the other, "Some Roots Grow Upwards". The former captures the struggle of Manipuri women against the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 (AFSPA) enforced in the State of Manipur since September 1980.

The first of the 3 short films was about a dozen women (mothers) who protested naked on the streets of Imphal in front of the Assam Rifles base following the rape and killing of a young woman suspected of being a member of one of the insurgent groups in Manipur by the army personnel. The second film showed a mother who laments the extra-judicial killing of her teenage son after he was forcibly picked-up from his home by the army based on suspicion that he was a militant. The third film was about a woman, Irom Sharmila, who has been on a fast-unto-death since November 2000, demanding the removal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 (AFSPA). For this, she has been locked up in jail by the government under very dubious charges and is being forcibly nose fed.

Manipur is a conflict-ravaged State in India’s North-East region. For decades, it has witnessed insurgency and armed separatist movements. The Indian government has attempted to crush these through force, using military power. Arrests, torture, extra-judicial killings - Manipuri people have faced them all. Yet, little is heard about Manipur and its troubles. This is a place that mainland India has marginalised; that the world has forgotten.

Struggles in Manipur, whether by individuals or groups will continue for a long time to come. The films depicted the struggle against the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, though there is another problem deeply seated in Manipur, the problem of insurgency. The people are caught in between the army at one end and the insurgents on the other. There are other geo-political events that have the potential to cause massive disruption of the fragile peace existing in Manipur and in neighbouring North Eastern States. While a solution is being sought year after year, the common people continue to suffer.

The second documentary film - 'Some Roots Grow Upwards' explored the work of acclaimed theatre director Ratan Thiyam, who for over 25 years now, has been creating a theatre that is as visually compelling as it is intellectually stimulating. His theatre is steeped in the traditional performing arts of his home State, Manipur. But while his aesthetic influences are traditional, his concerns are intensely modern. His plays reflect upon the socio-political crisis gripping the region, the youth unrest, war and violence; at the same time, they also dwell on the larger human condition.The film seeks insights into the art of Thiyam – in portraits of the city where he works, in the quiet beauty of the terrain, in the violent riots that tore the land apart, in the living traditions that come alive at festive time… Formally, it is a juxtaposition of the ‘lived’ and the ‘staged’.

A scene from one of Ratan Thiyam's play about the cycle of violence and its consequences in the lives of the people.

Note:I wish to thank Kavita Joshi for the photos used here.

Link: http://kavitajoshi.blogspot.com/

MHA (2003-2005) Batch - Memories

2006-04-27T17:24:00.000+05:30

Well, here we go again!

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present the MHA 2003-2005 Batch, the irresistable bunch. Thanks to Shashwat's and Hemlata's cell phones, these memories were framed forever. The quality of the images may not be high class but our class was surely high on life then...and hopefully now too.

Those 2 years at TISS were special years. For most of us, along those 2 years we found new friendship, new bonding, new opponents, new ideas, new barriers, new shortcuts, new competition......and for 'Mommie', new cosmetics!

Our lives also witnessed a lot of change, some good and some not so good. But life in those 2 years was worth it. I'm sure, each one of us, at some point or the other, have carried that all knowing SMILE when memories of the times at TISS flashed in our minds. But people, whatever it is, if there is a smile upon your face, then life is good! Oh Yeah!

Those exam blues, those countless pranks, those endless last-minute-studying nights, those chilling times....the list will never end. But in all that we have gone through, the expereinces have certainly enriched our lives. When I see these images, I reminisce, I smile...I know a part of my life was lived well.

Many of us are now in different locations and situations. The job market is now shaping our professional lives and we have to survive, we have to strive. More importantly, we must stay connected and re-connect with old links. Its an unending cycle....but people, there must be fun too! And our batch needs no introduction to fun...cos we defined fun in TISS, didn't we?

However, all good things must come to an end right? NO! We better make it good and we better make it stay people. British Airways, in one of its advertisements gave this line - "When was the last time, you did something for the first time?". So for us there must never be any room for complacency...cos we ROCK people!!

Mezcal's Jazz

2006-04-26T13:55:00.000+05:30

It was late afternoon yesterday (25th April 2006) when Amit, my 'Bong Brother' called and informed me about a Jazz concert at the India International centre (IIC) Rose Garden to be held at 7 pm the same day. I, as usual, excitedly affirmed my presence at the event.

I arrived 20 minutes early for the show. The stage was set and the seats were gradually occupied. Amit arrived just as the show was geting started. The Jazz concert was actually a fusion of Classical Indian Music + European Jazz. The Classical team were Bikram Ghosh, Tabla maestro, Sunando Mukherjee, Sarod maestro and Parthasarathy Desikan, the vocalist. The Jazz team were 4 members of the French Jazz band, Mezcal!

The musicians were masters in their skill. At first the sound of the tablas and the saxophone didn't quite mix in my ears. Slowly as the rhythms began to emerge and merge, did I realise that it was indeed amazing.

Each musician displayed their talent to the applause of the people. Bikram was incredible at the tablas. He surely seemed to be the limelight of the evening. Nevertheless it was the superb combined music of the fusion that just swept through the place like a wave. Desikan's voice too blended well with the sounds.

It was 9:20 pm when the show ended and we were totally mesmerised by the music. Strains of it were still floating in our ears as we walked out of the Rose garden.

Puri Diary

2006-04-25T13:14:00.000+05:30

Puri re-visited!! I took an annual leave from work, I took my bag...and took the Delhi-Kolkata flight on 9th April 2006. Then another 12-hour bus journey from Kolkata to Puri....and I was there, at last.

It was a planned trip. Planned by my brother - to celebrate our sister's birthday. It was 17 years ago when we first visited Puri, Orissa. It was a family holiday then. The beach near the town was much cleaner then...Now, it has become very dirty and the smell of fish and prawns lingered in the air.

We stayed at Toshali Sands, a resort, which is a member of the Resort Condominiums International (RCI). The RCI pioneered the concept of exchange vacations since 1974. Today, RCI has more than three million members worldwide, who enjoy dream vacations at RCI's 3,700 affiliated resorts. These timeshare owners and resorts are a unique community of travel enthusiasts with the common bond of a lifetime commitment to quality vacations through timeshare. Toshali also has a sister resort in Shimla.

First day we visited the private beach near the resort and I was overwhelmed. Sadly this beach was also dirty, though not as much as the stretch we saw near the town. The rest of the days were spent in travelling around Puri and Bhubaneshwar, the capital of Orissa and a lot of swimming in the resort pool. We visited the famous Sun Temple at Konark, definitely the most notable marvel of Orissan art, which was built in 1250 AD during the reign of the Eastern ganga King, Narasimhadeva. The structure was designed in the form of a chariot drawn by 7 horses on 12 pairs of exquisitely carved wheels. The walls of the temple contain many animal, floral and geometrical and sensuously carved human forms in a variety of gestures and rhythmic actions.

Another place we visited was the Chilka Lake, the largest salt water lake in the country and located to the South West of Puri. We arranged for a boat ride which was to take us to a location where we could see the famous Chilka dolphins and then to the spot where the Bay of Bengal meets the lake. The sky was overcast and the air was heavy with moisture.

There were many fishing boats, almost all of them coloured in blue, as majority of the people living near the lake earn their livelihood from fishing. The boat ride took 3 and a half hours. We spotted the dolphins and walked on the beach washed by the waters of the Bay of Bengal. It was so clean. One could just walk on for hours and not feel tired. It was as if there was a spell that captivates one's senses.

I returned to Delhi on 17th April after a truly wonderful time at Puri, and I just could not wait to upload the pics and start writing this piece. I must confess that before the trip, I was doubting whether we made the right choice of choosing to visit Puri, as I thought the temperature would be too hot to handle. Fortunately I was wrong. Puri does gives the traveller an unexpected comfortable welcome. It was a trip well made.

Muzaffarpur

2006-03-29T12:44:00.000+05:30

Bihar finally! I said to myself as I boarded the Patna Rajdhani express from New Delhi on the 12 of February 2006. By 6 in the morning the next day, I arrived at Patna, the capital of Bihar. I was on an evaluation trip with 2 persons, Kamaraj a colleague and Madhura from PRAXIS. We were conveniently picked-up from the station by a Sumo (not wrestler!) vehicle arranged by the Project Manager of whose project we have come to evaluate. Patna did not quite look like a State capital, rather like a big town. But we were informed by the driver that with the change of government (from Laloo to Nitish), the people of Bihar are looking for the next big change.

Muzaffarpur is supposed to be one of the 3 biggest industrial areas in Bihar. The other two are Patna and Dharbanga. Again the scene looked like we have arrived in another big town. For the next 4 days we were involved in the evaluation. But we also managed to see the place. There were many modes of transportation in Muzaffarpur, from bullock-carts and cycles to Santros and trucks. Then there are the buses (private, See picture), which form an important link to many interior areas of the district and the State. As you can see, people have mastered the art of remaining on the roof in various manners of postures. I sometimes think, maybe the seats inside the bus are in such bad shape that people are more comfortable sitting on the roof.

Majority of the people in the neighbouring villages are agricultural labourers (many of whom are bonded labourers). They toil in the fields and earn a meagre sum to sustain themselves and their families. Tobacco cultivation is also big time here. Muzaffarpur is famous for its bangles. Moti Jheel market is the most happening market in the area and has a section exclusively for bangle shops. Here bangles are made, transported and sold all over the country. As my visit was not for leisure, the most memorable things about the place are the women we met in the field. How they are transforming their lives through the Self-Help Groups that they have formed with the help of the project is truly worthy of praise. From being a voiceless segment to a vocal and active participating group, it took a lot of determination and sheer will to change their lives that made them real ‘heroes’.