Dependency

We are not defined to live without an inane sense of dependency.

Yet every time I establish a dependency, I am disappointed. Were existence and disappointment meant to coexist.

What is wrong with...

The Gujarat University has banned celebration of days like 'Chocolate Day', 'Rose Day' and 'Tapori Day'.

In a country that is still debating petty stuff of this nature at their state universities.... when will we get down to evolution of thoughts, determination and responsibility of one's actions, thinking liberation, internationalism, development.... Gosh, sucks!

A convol...uted view

Everything is about interpretation. The world thrives and sucks interpretation. The poets and philosophers are interpreters of metaphors, the authors interpret an imagination, the lovers interpret dreams, the business tycoons interpret market needs, the knowledge workers interpret skills.... the world is an interpretation ... an interpretation acquired through studied observation, knowledge gained through reading, experiences and interpretation of sensibilities that excite us. Why is it that sometimes the best is not good enough and sometimes just average is all we desire. Interpretation is thus our own convoluted view of the world, our inner feelings , our moods, our experiences rather than a rule. It is not rule based at all, afterall it is an interpretation.

How green is the grass in India?

I borrowed the tittle for my write-up from TOI. This best describes it. Many NRI are debating this, much of the brain-drain debating to get back, passions, family ties, a boost to the economy, the multi-stories with exclusive club benefits, the schooling, challenges involved with inculcating family values and cultural nuances in the younger generation, are among many a reasons for people to be getting back to India.

I moved in to the USA an year back from India. And my group of associates and friends are just waiting to get back in the next 5 years, set as a target. So i wonder, I debate and i really genuinely want to figure this out.

The very reasons you came here for initially - infrastructure, clean environment and a picture perfect set-up, commercialisation hitting the roof, gizmo and affordable gadgets, cars and the roads to drive it on, medical benefits, better higher education, or just the word OPPORTUNITY in general - are we saying you are done with it. Are you saying, India is now offering sufficiently enough or have you decided this is not important and we need to listen to out heart now. Sure, listen to out heart we must. Without that life is a struggle and everything is meaningless. But then is the tug in the heart, strong enough to brave reality.

I want to substantiate this with a live example of a friend at work. He decided to go back because that is where his heart lay. 1 year later... a house 45 minutes away from work, mazing through dilapidated chennai roads, confused at the fact if the money he makes will grow or just be eaten away in the struggle to build a house, car and basics, can he sustain the 9 to 9 work hours repeatedly.... so are the ties in India helping him get by.


Another couple , very well settled in the financial district uprise of Manhattan, are feeling the pinch of family ties. The lack of the essence of living, when financial security is no longer an issue.


Endless stories, each with their own struggles and logic to get back. Most of them at the end of the day disillusioned by the grass is greener on the other side of the fence.

Now if you were going as the CIO or the VP of Infosys, I wouldn't even debate it. But commoners like us, packing off in a haste, I hope the reality check are done before they venture out.

Coffee in Bulk

So we have between the 3 of us a coffee machine in office. And i am really done with this mediocre brew people like to swear by as coffee. Its caffeine for sure, but it is not coffee. Doesn't smell like one. And i hate to sip it.I honestly search for good blends to taste.

And there are very few i like. In America, a decent coffee i have come close to is Allegro by whole foods and Hazelnut house blend by Panera. Anytime good is Nescafe granular beaten with warm milk and sugar to froth enough and then hot water added to taste really delicious. The best i have ever had is the Sabre farm coffee from South Africa. Their medium roast is amazing. I once wrote in wanting to know if they would ship it to me in he USA but they probably decided i was nuts and didn't respond. This is a farm in SA which is family run and they roast their own coffee, with a passion and perfection that shows through in the beans.

Without offence but with major frustration to the bulk that sits across shelves in the stores, people like to drink wine and coffee but they don't probably know how to buy the right thing and savour it. Some things rather be boutique for the love of it.