Sunday, April 24, 2011

Tom, Dick and Harry

Who are Tom, Dick and Harry?
It was when I joined BC(Brahma Chaitanya) Hostel, I heard this word for the first time in my life - TDH. Known for glorious cultrure, BC Hostel was always on top. For every known thing there was an unknown word defined in hostel dictionary. There was no ragging in hostel, only introduction. BC Beer (butter milk) was a cool drink which can cause hangover to anyone. Prefects are the richest people directly proportional to X; Ringing phone @ mess hall always reminds the (fe)melodious voice of seniors so called friends :)
OK, back to TDH, an exciting game with two participants. Player1  will pick a chit to find a personality name of any kind(a famous personality like Sania Mirza, Anna Hazare etc). Player2 will not be knowing anything about this personality. They sit like 36, back facing each other. Player1 can only say Yes, No or Pass and Player2 can ask n number of questions to crack the personality known by Player1 and it has to be in limited time!
One example Conversion for Sachin Tendulkar could be like this:
                 P2: Politics?
                 P1: No
                 P2: Sports?
                 P1: Yes
                 P2: Ball Game?
                 P1: Yes?
                 P2: Cricket?
                 P1: Yes (off course with more excitement!)
                 P2: Indian?
                 P1: Yes, Yes
                 P2: Kapil Dev?
                 P1: NoOO (Longest No I guess! tapping his head for participants madness)
                 P2: Sachin
                 P1: Yes. Thats it.

Thats it and it took about less than 15 seconds.
Its more exciting and needs more knowledge. But most important learning by this game than anything else is being TDH. TDH is defined in wikipedia as "The phrase "Tom, Dick and Harry" is a placeholder for multiple unspecified people." TDH in my view could mean that nothing, no one or ZERO. When the game starts P2 is just another TDH and he could become Hero if he can understand the unknown partner's thought, have knowledge, take decisions for next step and learn quickly what is right. At the end of timeline, together a team can be winner of TDH to become Hero from Zero or just another TDH-just another no one.
There is one bollywood film with this title but  I didnt see it.

I am nothing, when I joined hostel, I was just another no one. another TDH. BC Hostel tought me everything. In fact I also invented words like database and HNM (Censored meanings!) for the dictionary of BC Hostel.
Most of us, who joined hostel in first year were afraid to participate but it was mandatory to participate. It took us very less to know the game and be part of it. We were excited mostly because of reactions and interactions our seniors showed towards game. These are the people who inspired us! And these were the same people who took our introduction($*@&) as well. Hats off to all seniors! We are proud to be what we are today because of you!

TDH is a game of life. When you enter into life you are no one. With all patience you have,learnability and most importantly decision taking capacity can make you winner of TDH, an identity to you, your name and your family.
Getting degree is not just about gaining marks. Marks are the most important factor to get a job. But What makes the job easier is what you learnt when you were earning degree. You will be another TDH or winner of TDH based on your learnability, decision making skills and off course knowledge. Luckiest part is, its never too late; You can change everything that went wrong till now!
Just be ready to second round of TDH!*

*Game is more interesting when partners have good UI(Understanding and Interaction).

-prati

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Request from your Friend

My Dear Friend,
As you got up this morning, I watched you, and hoped you would talk to me, even if it was just a few words, asking my opinion or thanking me for something good that happened in your life yesterday.
But I noticed you were too busy, trying to find the right outfit to wear. When you ran around the house getting ready, I knew there would be a few minutes for you to stop and say hello, but you were too busy.
At one point you had to wait fifteen minutes with nothing to do except sit in a chair. Then I saw you spring to your feet. I thought you wanted to talk to me but you ran to the phone and called a friend to get the latest gossip instead. I watched patiently all day long. With all your activities I guess you were too busy to say anything to me.
I noticed that before lunch you looked around, maybe you felt embarrassed to talk to me, which is why you didn't bow your Head. You glanced three or four tables over and you noticed some of your friends talking to me briefly before they ate, but you didn't. That's okay. There is still more time left, and I hope that you will talk to me yet.
You went home and it seems as if you had lots of things to do. After a few of them were done, you turned on the TV. I don't know if you like TV or not, just about anything goes there and you spend a lot of time each day in front of it not thinking about anything, just enjoying the show. I waited patiently again as you watched the TV and ate your meal, but again you didn't talk to me.
Bedtime I guess you felt too tired. After you said goodnight to your family you plopped into bed and fell asleep in no time. That's okay because you may not realize that I am always there for you. I've got patience, more than you will ever know.... I even want to teach you how to be patient with others as well. I love you so much that I wait everyday for a nod, prayer or thought, or a thankful part of your heart. It is hard to have a one-sided conversation.
Well, you are getting up once again. Once again I will wait, with nothing but love for you. Hoping that today you will give me some time. Have a nice day!
Your friend,
GOD

Monday, April 11, 2011

Free Brand New Day - for everyone, on every day

 
The Japanese have always loved fresh fish. But the waters close to Japan have not held many fish for decades.
So to feed the Japanese population, fishing boats got bigger and went farther than ever. The farther the fishermen went, the longer it took to bring in the fish. If the return trip took more than a few days, the fish were not fresh. The Japanese did not like the taste.
To solve this problem, fishing companies installed freezers on their boats. They would catch the fish and freeze them at sea. Freezers allowed the boats to go farther and stay longer. However, the Japanese could taste the difference between fresh and frozen and they did not like frozen fish.
The frozen fish brought a lower price. So fishing companies installed fish tanks. They would catch the fish and stuff them in the tanks. After a little thrashing around, the fish stopped moving. They were tired and dull, but alive. Unfortunately, the Japanese could still taste the difference. Because the fish did not move for days, they lost their fresh-fish taste.
The Japanese preferred the lively taste of fresh fish, not sluggish fish. So how did Japanese fishing companies solve this problem? How do they get fresh-tasting fish to Japan ? If you were consulting the fish industry, what would you recommend?

How Japanese Fish Stay Fresh:
To keep the fish tasting fresh, the Japanese fishing companies still put the fish in the tanks. But now they add a small shark to each tank. The shark eats a few fish, but most of the fish arrive in a very lively state. The fish are challenged.
 
Have you realized that some of us are also living in a pond but most of the time tired & dull, so we need a Shark in our life to keep us awake and moving?
Basically in our lives Sharks are new challenges to keep us active and taste better..... The more intelligent, persistent and competent you are, the more you enjoy a challenge.
If your challenges are the correct size, and if you are steadily conquering those challenges, you are Conqueror.. You think of your challenges and get energized. You are excited to try new solutions. You have fun. You are alive!

No one can go back and make a brand new start. But anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.*
 
* But whatever you do, never forget the past. Memories are always sweeeet. They are steps for mysterious future.

Friday, February 4, 2011

गब्बर सिंह का चरित्र चित्रण

1. सादा जीवन, उच्च विचार: उसके जीने का ढंग बड़ा सरल था. पुराने और मैले कपड़े, बढ़ीहुई दाढ़ी, महीनों से जंग खाते दांत और पहाड़ों पर खानाबदोश जीवन. जैसे मध्यकालीन भारतका फकीर हो. जीवन में अपने लक्ष्य की ओर इतना समर्पित कि ऐशो-आराम और विलासिता केलिए एक पल की भी फुर्सत नहीं. और विचारों में उत्कृष्टता के क्या कहने! 'जो डर गया, सो मर गया'जैसे संवादों से उसने जीवन की क्षणभंगुरता पर प्रकाश डाला था.
२. दयालु प्रवृत्ति: ठाकुर ने उसे अपने हाथों से पकड़ा था. इसलिए उसने ठाकुर के सिर्फ हाथोंको सज़ा दी. अगर वो चाहता तो गर्दन भी काट सकता था. पर उसके ममतापूर्ण और करुणामयह्रदय ने उसे ऐसा करने से रोक दिया.

3. 
नृत्य-संगीत का शौकीन: 'महबूबा ओये महबूबा' गीत के समय उसके कलाकार ह्रदय कापरिचय मिलता है. अन्य डाकुओं की तरह उसका ह्रदय शुष्क नहीं था. वह जीवन में नृत्य-संगीतएवंकला के महत्त्व को समझता था. बसन्ती को पकड़ने के बाद उसके मन का नृत्यप्रेमी फिर से जागउठा था. उसने बसन्ती के अन्दर छुपी नर्तकी को एक पल में पहचान लिया था. गौरतलब यह किकला के प्रति अपने प्रेम को अभिव्यक्त करने का वह कोई अवसर नहीं छोड़ता था.

4. 
अनुशासनप्रिय नायक: जब कालिया और उसके दोस्त अपने प्रोजेक्ट से नाकाम होकरलौटे तो उसने कतई ढीलाई नहीं बरती. अनुशासन के प्रति अपने अगाध समर्पण को दर्शाते हुए उसनेउन्हें तुरंत सज़ा दी.

5. 
हास्य-रस का प्रेमी: उसमें गज़ब का सेन्स ऑफ ह्यूमर था. कालिया और उसके दो दोस्तोंको मारने से पहले उसने उन तीनों को खूब हंसाया था. ताकि वो हंसते-हंसते दुनिया को अलविदाकह सकें. वह आधुनिक यु का 'लाफिंग बुद्धा' था.

6. नारी के प्रति सम्मान: बसन्ती जैसी सुन्दर नारी का अपहरण करने के बाद उसने उससेएक नृत्य का निवेदन किया. आज-कल का खलनायक होता तो शायद कुछ और करता.


7. 
भिक्षुक जीवन: उसने हिन्दू धर्म और महात्मा बुद्ध द्वारा दिखाए गए भिक्षुक जीवन केरास्ते को अपनाया था. रामपुर और अन्य गाँवों से उसे जो भी सूखा-कच्चा अनाज मिलता था, वोउसी से अपनी गुजर-बसर करता था. सोना, चांदी, बिरयानी या चिकन मलाई टिक्का की उसने कभी इच्छा ज़ाहिर नहीं की.

8. 
सामाजिक कार्य: डकैती के पेशे के अलावा वो छोटे बच्चों को सुलाने का भी काम करता था. सैकड़ों माताएं उसका नाम लेती थीं ताकि बच्चे बिना कलह किए सो जाएं. सरकार ने उसपर 50,000 रुपयों का इनाम घोषित कर रखा था. उस युग में 'कौन बनेगा करोड़पति' ना होने के बावजूद लोगों को रातों-रात अमीर बनाने का गब्बर का यह सच्चा प्रयास था.

9. 
महानायकों का निर्माता: अगर गब्बर नहीं होता तो जय और व1रू जैसे लुच्चे-लफंगे छोटी-मोटी चोरियां करते हुए स्वर्ग सिधार जाते. पर यह गब्बर के व्यक्तित्व का प्रताप था कि उन लफंगों में भी महानायक बनने की क्षमता जागी.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

And why not?

 
One fine day, a bus driver went to the bus garage, started his bus, and drove off along the route. No problems for the first few stops, a few people got on, a few got off, and things went generally well. At the next stop, however, a big hulk of a guy got on. Six feet eight, built like a wrestler, arms hanging down to the ground. He glared at the driver and said, "Big John doesn't pay!" and sat down at the back.
The driver was five feet three, thin, and basically meek. Naturally, he didn't argue with Big John, but he wasn't happy about it. The next day the same thing happened -Big John got on again, said "Big John doesn't pay!" and sat down. It happened next day, and the one after that, and so forth.
This irritated the bus driver, who started losing sleep over the way Big John was taking advantage of his size. Finally he could stand it no longer. He signed up for body building program, karate, judo and all that good stuff. By the end of the summer, he had become quite strong; So on the next Monday, when Big John got on the bus and said, "Big John doesn't pay!" the driver stood up, glared back and screamed, "And why not?"

With a surprised look on his face, Big John replied, "Big John has a Bus pass." :)
 
Moral: Be sure to check if there is a problem, then think of solving :)

Sunday, October 3, 2010

No. 7

Believe me, I was a good volleyball player! I should thank to our PE teacher in high school(8th STD), Jagadal Sir. He is unique in everything he does. A good teacher, motivator,social reformer and a drinker also. In my small village - Tamba, he is famous for everything he does. 
Under his guidance I learned volleyball. All students of college were divided into four teams like white, blue, red and green. I was in white team which was strongest team in almost all sports like Baseball, Volleyball, Football and Kabbadi too. I left high school year after joining as we moved to Indi and joined SVVK high school. 
Couple of months passed by in new high school. New PE teacher Jadhav Sir joined our school. Sports season started. I was chosen as captain and a team is formed where me and my PE teacher selected players. We didn't have good ground for football so everyone's concentration was only on volleyball.
 A week after team selection, my grandma passed away and I was forced to take leave for about 15 days. When I came back from long holidays, I had a big surprise!
Our PE teacher, Jadhav Sir, was such a good coach, he just proved what he can do even with immature players. My team members were playing so good that I couldn't compete with them anywhere. I became an extra player. Number 7. Seven is my lucky number but not  at this time.
I had a big setback. I am odd man out of a team which was formed by me. I took it as a failure and I never played volleyball with interest. I had been to all competitions as No. 7 and thats all. I never entered playground; not even once in real competition, helped in arranging drinks, net practice and accommodation etc. We won everywhere we played, just lost to qualify at state level. I have certificates of all games I played who laugh at my failure.
Most of us had such situations in our life. Just like me we don't know where it went wrong.  We cannot avoid cases like long holidays/leaves, sickness, transfer and the most important thing is accepting change. If at all there is anything in this world which is constant then its CHANGE. We don't accept the change easily and we don't accept the fact that our juniors climbing higher than us. I was jealous of team. To name few of good players like Vishal Loni, Siddu etc they were all my good friends before. If I could have taken above situation sportively?  
I even started blaming my family who forced me to take such a long leave and to my grandma who died at that time. I always thought if I was there for those 15 days, I could have played better than team and I could have retained my position as a good player and captain. I was not ready to come down, I was just not ready to accept the fact. I denied the change. 
Here I am now, after almost 12 years of this incident. I still play volleyball sometimes but I always have it in my mind that I am not a good volleyball player. I realized my this mistake last week when I saw someone in same situation. I wish they won't repeat mistakes like I did. All experiences counts, no matter they are good or bad. 
Think of any teacher or lecturer; they taught us when we were kids. Today we might be earning in lakhs but they are still doing same! They are proud of us when we say that we are working as so and so, earning so much, whatever. They spread such information across society with proud and never jealous of us. A society is complete only when we have dedicated teachers. We have lot to learn from them, as always they are role models to us from childhood to our pension plan. Its a great honor to be a teacher. And it will be pleasure for everyone to be like teacher. 

Sometimes we will be left behind. Its natural. But if we don't fight back, we will be left behind forever. 

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Thinking (+/-)

Regular rumors, latest updates and new faces are hot topics of evening pantry visit. Today I was sitting with our test team members. One of new joinee in test team said "My parents always taught me to be positive, think positive. But now here in testing I have to think negatively to find all bugs". For a second we all liked his statement. I felt too good to learn another fantastic dialog. Just couple of days after that I read an article in Vijaya Karanataka which was something like 
While the optimists invented the airplanes, the pessimists invented the parachutes!Negative thinking is also necessary to make anything fool proof.Positive thinkers leave some holes in their plans while negative thinkers seal them.
It was like an avalanche in my unused brain and i started thinking (positively or negatively?) that negative thinking is much more required.  My thoughts get stimulated with many examples. Like breaks in vehicles are meant for negative scenarios. We carry water bottles for a journey with a negative thought that we wont get water on this planet while travelling where as earth is the only planet to have water. 
Soon I started feeling like everything we have here are actually because of negative thoughts. We build house to keep safe from sunlight, rain and other natural events. We have a big telecommunication system to spread news to be safe and to know others are safe. And Job security- we work hard in a negative thought of loosing job. All medicines, hospitals, military, aerospace, science and even holy books mention about hell . . .. 
beep beep . . . 
I just received an SMS which interrupted my serious thoughts. 
Received on 29th August @ 6.30 PM.  
Your Salary has been credited to your Account . . . .
Next thing in my mind - which movie s running at INOX and Forum? Nothing else.

-PC