Can we human beings really forgive a murderer?

It is not everyday that death is celebrated. Hence, the hanging of Ajmal Kasab marks a very important chapter in the history of Indian judiciary. This also raises an important question. Should capital punishment be given out so rarely? Many kind hearted people and hordes of human rights groups will raise their voice against this kind of punishment being meted out. But again is it really such a cruel punishment?

The victims and next of kins of the deceased from the 26/11 attacks acclaim that justice has been delivered to them through the execution of the terrorist. But what about the families and dear ones of the innumerable ones who have been murdered brutally by fellow countrymen? Will the maximum punishment of a life sentence given out by our Indian judicial system bring peace to them? Are we human beings really so generous when it comes to forgiveness? Then what is the difference between the Almighty above and his creation below? If the whole point of life sentence to such criminals is to punish them by providing them an opportunity to realize their crime and repent, what about those who lost their lives to the brutal acts of these death eaters? Don’t they deserve another chance to live as well? Why this partiality? Where is their second shot at life?

Just because Mr.Ajmal Kasab was a terrorist from Pakistan and took the lives of many, we wanted him to be hanged. But what about those heart less criminals from our very own country who still walk on the roads freely after raping and killing women brutally? Such crimes have become daily news now. Still the steps taken aren’t enough to reduce these crimes. Or is our government really taking any steps with regard to this matter? Suggesting mind baffling ideas such as getting girls married very early is not a solution.  

We say that capital punishment is inhuman. So is the act of murder. The Arab countries are probably the only countries where real justice prevails. Due to the fear of such harsh and strict punishment, crime rate is also lower in these countries. An eye for an eye makes the whole world go blind but think of it this way. Would you be at peace and glad if the person who killed your loved one is still living when he clearly doesn’t have the right to? Would you still vouch for human rights? I am sure even the most humane of us would not answer in the affirmative for this question.

Our Indian judicial system is filled with loop holes providing criminals with every opportunity to escape. When will these loop holes ever get covered? While dreaming to be a super power and get the tag of a developed nation, it is necessary to have an efficient judicial system where the defaulters of the law are penalized heavily. Only the fear of harsh punishments will bring down the crime rates. I am not saying that every murderer should be sentenced to be hanged. No. Every case must be treated on its merit and the circumstances under which the crime was committed needs to be analyzed and only those who deserve nothing less than death for their crimes should be sentenced to be hanged till death.

Birthday Reflections...

Another  birthday comes along. It's just another day. But your birthday is the time you are supposed to feel special. It's your day! It's also a day to reflect on how your life has been and how lucky you have been to celebrate another year.  Well I have been a very lucky guy. Very grateful to God Almighty for all the blessings he has showered me with.

First of all I am very lucky to have a family like mine. My mom and dad are the best in the world. Like Shahrukh says in OSO, "I feel like the king of the world." What I am today is because of them.  My every success belongs to them. When I see and hear about parents of my friends and how conservative and strict they are, I realize I am living a life of luxury. My parents have allowed me to live my life the way I want. They have always let me make my own choices and supported me all the way through. This I feel has helped me a long way as I have been able to decide and make decisions myself without depending on someone else (although I need my dad or my mom most of the time to make the final choice and I can still never choose a shirt myself). This has made me independent and face whatever comes confidently.

It took me 18 years to realize how much I love my parents. It's only when you are away from your loved ones that you realize how much you love them. Well my parents have never deprived me of anything. I have got what I have wished for most of the time. Makes me feel like a true prince. Contrary to what most of my friends think, I am not from a super rich family but my dad has always strived to give me the best. Be it the Samsung S3 I am holding right now or the laptop I am typing this post on, I have always got what I wanted. Maybe slowly, but surely.

My parents have never questioned me on the money I spend. They have never asked me where I spend all the cash. And believe me I am a huge spendthrift. Give me how much ever cash and it will be gone in no time. This trust of theirs, that I will not go on the wrong path is what I love. My father happily puts forward his glass to me when he is having a drink. This is cos he knows that I hate its taste or that I will never take more than one sip. How cool is it to see your dad offering you a drink gladly? My dad is cool.

When I left home for college for the first time, my parents were a little concerned initially cos I have always been a kid (not that I have grown now). But it was the faith and confidence that my father had on me that actually helped me pass my 4 years in college without falling into bad company and without touching a single drop of alcohol or smoke. I was able to stand strong on my belief that one doesn’t have to booze or smoke to enjoy life and have fun. I did enjoy my college life. I visited lots of places in these 4 years, met lots of people and done crazy stuff. All within my limits. Very few people can compete with me when it comes to the number of certificates and accolades I have won. I was able to organize a world class event. I was able to win in some of the most prestigious institutions in the country. I was able to complete my engineering degree without a single arrear and I was able to land a job in a top notch company. You might sense some pride in my voice now. But that is not my voice. It’s my father's voice that you can hear the pride in with his held high. Trust me when I say, the satisfaction you get when you see your parents' face brimming with pride and happiness because of you, there can be nothing better than that.

I have been a very naughty kid and have thrown a lot of tantrums. I used to get beatings from my dad till very recently. But I hope somewhere down the line I have been a good son. Hope I can keep my parents happy and proud in all the years to come. That's my all time birthday wish.

Well looking back at the last one year. It's been a great year. I truly enjoyed my final year in college. I am now a certified engineer and have started working in one of the best IT companies in the world. I was fortunate enough to meet some distinguished personalities in the last one year. One thing that I will always remember is the TEDx event that I was part of. It was my dream event and I am grateful to all the people who helped me make this dream come true. I had a rocking time on the beaches of Goa and a delightful few days in Delhi. All in all a fantastic year.

The saddest part of this year was the loss of a dear friend. Will always miss him and still find it hard to get rid of the image of his family grieving.

Hope the next one year of my life is a very eventful and a cherish able one. Thank you all for your prayers and wishes… God bless… Cheers!!!

7 Lessons i learnt from TEDxSonaCollege

Lessons I learnt from TEDxSonaCollege that I would like to share with other TEDsters:
      1. Plan well in advance: If you have the idea of organizing a TEDx event, its better you plan the event months in advance. 4 months would be a good time. Make a plan of even the smallest details. Never leave anything for the end. Get things done as fast as possible. This will reduce a lot of confusion and tension as you approach the event day.

             2. Approach speakers early and have backup speakers: Make a list of speakers you think you can approach. Do this after finalizing the theme of your event. From the list first approach a set of speakers. Wait for their reply for a maximum of two weeks and then approach the remaining speakers if needed. It is always advisable to get a confirmation from speakers and also have a set of speakers whom you think will accept your request as back up. No matter how much confirmation you get, never rule out the possibility of speakers backing out at the last minute. Two of them ditched us at the last minute. Luckily we could cover up for one of them.
        3. Advertise and publicize your event from atleast 45 days before the event day: Many people are unaware of TED and TEDx. They think it’s similar to a normal college symposium. So advertise your event well. Put up posters at important places. Use newspaper as a medium for promoting your event. But if you are getting a lot of demand for tickets, then have a procedure of registration in place and sell tickets only to those who think deserve it. Make people aware of TEDx through your fb page, website, twitter etc. by posting amazing videos and providing more info.     
      4.  Have a good set of people as organizers and be a strong leader: Only include those people in the organizing team who you think will bring some value. Team selection is crucial. You don’t want a bunch of people who will promise things and not deliver. Be a strong leader. Be ready to get harsh if needed. Your priority should be to get the work done in time. So always a good idea to have a dedicated set of people.
         5.Approach sponsors well in advance: Once you are ready with a rough draft pf your event, start looking for sponsors. Its going to be really difficult to get sponsors keeping in mind the stringent rules of TEDx. So approach whoever you can. Explain about the event and their profit clearly. Even small amounts received can help you a great deal. If you have contacts, use them. That will be the best way of getting some funding. Also try to get in-kind sponsorship like food, hotel rooms, travel etc.
        6. Videography: Go and meet your videographer a few days prior to the event. Show him a few TED videos and explain to him how you want the video to be recorded. The last thing you want is your TEDx videos getting screwed. I just hope my event videos come out in proper quality. Fingers crossed!
        7. Hospitality: You are not paying your speakers here. So take good care of speakers’ needs. Make sure the hospitality is excellent. Provide them with good stay and travel. Also it would be really sweet to give them some gift or mementos after the event.

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The event that changed my life....

What is it that we feel when we achieve something that we dreamt of or really wished with all our heart? Is it a sense of achievement? Happiness? Or a feeling to show off and tell the people who were against you at some point of time to **** off? Or is it just calmness and peace? Well I have felt all these feelings at different points of time.  When a team that I support wins, I feel like showing off and shouting out to the world. Sometimes, its happiness which passes away very quickly.

But after the success of TEDxSonaCollege, of which I was the licensee and curator, all I felt was peace after a long time. This was an event I had put all my effort and time into. I had put my heart and soul into it. It was an event I dreamt of making successful. I wanted it to be the best event the college had seen. I wanted to provide a quality TEDx event. The event was successful in many ways. But it wasn’t joy or the feeling to jump in the air that I felt. But it was just content and calmness within that I felt. Difficult to explain the feeling. It’s true that God rewards hard work if you have put in your best and I can vouch that it’s true after the TEDx experience.
I had always been a big follower of TED talks. When I was in my second year in college, TED India was held at Mysore in 2009. I so badly wanted to attend it, but the membership fees was too high for a normal person’s pocket. Then came TEDxSalem which was conducted in college by my seniors, but I couldn’t attend it again. It was a small scale event but a successful one. This year a few final year students from my batch decided to apply for the license of TEDxSonaCollege. This was a group of perhaps the best students in my final year batch. We applied for the license in February in my name. The licensing process took a while and we had given up hopes of holding the event since our exams were in April. We finally got our license granted in April. Time was a big constraint for us. We had to do all preparations for the event between our exams. We held an organizers meeting and I realized that the zeal and enthusiasm that these people showed in the beginning was missing. But anyhow, I wasn’t letting this opportunity pass. I decided to go ahead with the event plans, come what may. Three people who made this event possible –Mr. Balachandar, our staff-co-ordinator; Maitri, an organizer and me ofcourse. We literally planned the whole event and did 80% of the work.  Got to thank the other organizers for the remaining 20%.

Then our final exams started and people got busy. Assigned work was not getting completed on time. I realized that I did not want to get into the good books of people or be sweet. I had to be a little harsh and rude. So I did become and people started hating me. My only goal was holding a quality event with quality speakers. We contacted a few potential speakers and in a few days got replies from them. My excitement had no bounds when we got a confirmation from all the speakers we contacted for the event. The first hurdle was crossed.
Then came the big headache of garnering money for the event from sponsors. Getting sponsors in a small city like Salem where people are not so aware of TEDx was a challenge in itself. But in the end we were able to collect more money than expected through sponsorship. Thanks to Maitri again. I realized how important it was to have contacts.
We made arrangements for the speakers’ travel and accommodation. We ordered mementoes for the speakers. We wanted to make sure the speakers loved our event and felt happy for being there. TED auditions at Bangalore came up a few days before the event. We met organizers of other TEDx events in India. This turned out to be crucial. We were able to get help from some of these people and we also got a couple of people who were interested in being a part of our event.
Preparations were in full flow and my sleepless nights continued. The amount of stress and anticipation I had during this time was unparalleled. I could not devote my full concentration to my exams and as a result my exams did not go the way they should have. But that did not bother me much. All I wanted was the event to be a landmark in the history of the college. And it did.
In the week leading to the event, we had new problems cropping up everyday. Two speakers cancelled their availability at the last minute, gifts for the attendees would reach only on the morning of the event, the stage and venue was in a mess and tickets were not getting sold. In spite of all this we were able to overcome these hurdles.
The event went out smoothly. Audience was happy. Speakers were happy. Management was happy. What more could I have asked for? Sure things could have been better. But this was a success to be cherished. I could finally sleep peacefully at night. Thank GOD!!!

Every boy and girl in love or in a relationship must read the next 2 posts in my blog....
Happy reading...

LIVE AND LET LIVE – How to Stop Obsessing Over Your Boyfriend!

Girls, how many times does it happen, that you find yourself in depression and blame your boyfriend for it? If the number is a 2-digit one, it’s time you woke up and realize that it’s actually you who is pushing yourself into depression for no reason. If you feel like “the more I try to make it better, the worse it gets,” here’s what you’re doing wrong:

(1) YOU’RE SMOTHERING HIM
Make him an important part of your life, yes, but don’t make him your life. There is no bigger turn off for a guy, than a clingy girlfriend.

(2) YOU’RE TOO PARANOID
If he doesn’t talk to you for a whole day, it doesn’t mean that he has forgotten all about you. It also doesn’t mean that he was run over by a truck. Let him work in peace.

(3) WHY SO SILENT?
If you give him the silent treatment, chance are—instead of missing you terribly, like you intended—he might not even notice anything wrong! If he did something bad, TELL HIM. Silence doesn’t work.

(4) YOU’RE EXPECTING TOO MUCH
If you hate when he replies to your super-long, super-emotional mails with a monosyllable, STOP SENDING HIM THOSE. He is a guy. He finds it uncool to be so madly in love with someone.

(5) YOU’RE DERPIVING HIM OF “FUN”
If he spares a few seconds at that hot chick that just entered the club, it does not mean that he doesn’t find you attractive anymore. It’s just a reflex. To him, you’ll always be the prettiest. So, chill out.

(6) YOU’RE BEING STUPID
Expecting him to remember what you wore on your first date is downright unfair to him. He won’t remember. Neither will he notice your nail colour.

(7) YOU’RE NOT RESPECTING HIS BRO-CODE
If he has fifteen guy friends, it might be that each of them is more important to him than you. Bitter truth. Live with it. You don’t own every free second of his life. Let him hang out with his guy friends.

(8) YOU’RE IMPOSING ON HIS GAME TIME
It is very hard to accept, but you will never, ever, ever be a priority over his PlayStation. Dancing nude in front of him when he’s in the middle of God of War will stir nothing other than sheer irritation.

All said and done, it’s true that girls want their guys to be crazy about them. But today, there is a difference between love and relationship. The guy who truly loves you will not feel smothered when you pay too much attention to him, he’ll not be irritated if you call him in work-time—he’ll feel wanted, your silent treatments would kill him, your long mails would be cherished, he’ll lose all appetite to look at other girls, he’ll remember the exact shade of green you wore on your first date, you’ll be a priority to him over every other friend.

Who am I kidding? 99 per cent guys are not like that. And that’s because they are . . . well—guys! Accept that and cherish your relationship, just like the way it is.

P.S. Love or relationship, PlayStation is still more important.

Courtesy Miss Malini's blog

Durjoy Datta – MAKE HER LOVE YOU MORE: 10 Reasons Why She Will Brag About You to Her Friends!

Guys! It is time you realized that it is not ”gay” to make your girl feel special. You know she loves you, right? And you love her back. But why do you still find her cribbing sometimes, about things you did not even realize you were doing wrong? That’s because it’s those small, seemingly insignificant gestures that make all the difference. It’s not too much of an effort, and if you get it right, she’ll find no reason to not love you totally and completely!

Here are a few cheat tips:

1. Don’t text on a date. BBM can wait. You are supposed to look at her. Why else do you think she got all dolled up? Stare at her. Make her blush.

2. Don’t mention PMS-ing, ever. There’s nothing more irritating to a girl than, “someone’s on her periods.” Seriously.

3. Your ex is a bad person. Always. Never make the mistake of comparing your girl with one of your exes, especially when the ex is better in the given context.

4. When she frets about stupid things, she does not want your, “Chill. It’s no big deal.” Listen to her, hold her, and let her know that you are there with her.

5. She cares about what her friends think about you. Make a good impression. Also, you’re not allowed to be extra friendly with her girlfriends.

6. If you have got time, leave her a sweet text message. Or better yet, give her that short thinking-about-you phone call. She’ll be taken.

7. Don’t always walk ahead of her. She doesn’t always feel like jogging after you to catch up. Getting the doors for her might not be such a bad idea either.

8. She’s NOT fat, NOT too skinny either. Yes, you are a gym freak and know all about body types, but don’t treat hers as an object. It’s a person. It’s your girl.

9. She is extra sensitive when it comes to you. She ONLY cares about your opinion, no one else’s. Your reaction can either make her love you or hate you. It’ll always be extreme.

10. Don’t take her for granted. Cherish what you have, and make her feel loved. Or one day, you’ll look back and realize what you have lost. It won’t be a good feeling.

Courtesy: Miss Malini's blog

Legends never really die... That's why they are 'LEGENDS'...

It is strange that how some people can impact your lives, minds and philosophy without even meeting you. 

I have always looked up to Steve Jobs for inspiration based on whatever I read about him. To be honest I became a fan of Steve Jobs only after reading the transcript of his famous commencement address in Stanford, and who wouldn’t after hearing the awe inspiring stories of connecting the dots and staying hungry and staying foolish. If you haven’t heard or read this address you are missing something in life. 

Some of my favourtie quotes from Steve Jobs which would I have inspired me time and again -

“Sometimes when you innovate, you make mistakes. It is best to admit them quickly, and get on with improving your other innovations.”

“Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected.”

“You can’t just ask customers what they want and then try to give that to them. By the time you get it built, they’ll want something new.” – Inc. Magazine

“Why join the navy if you can be a pirate?”

“Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.”

“And we’ve all chosen to do this with our lives. So it better be damn good. It better be worth it.”

“Almost everything–all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure–these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.”

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.”

“I’m the only person I know that’s lost a quarter of a billion dollars in one year…. It’s very character-building.”

“Innovation has nothing to do with how many R&D dollars you have. When Apple came up with the Mac, IBM was spending at least 100 times more on R&D. It’s not about money. It’s about the people you have, how you’re led, and how much you get it.” – Fortune, Nov. 9, 1998

“If I were running Apple, I would milk the Macintosh for all it’s worth — and get busy on the next great thing. The PC wars are over. Done. Microsoft won a long time ago.”

Virat Kohli's nine ODI hundreds - The makings of a champion batsman!!!

“Well, I have seen Sachin and Rahul also play some great innings at the Test level at this age. Virat has also got it all” – Sunil Gavaskar

The dazzling century by Virat Kohli at Hobart had the world watching in awe and rubbing its eyes in disbelief. His heroics may have resurrected India from the dead and secured an imperative bonus point against all odds, but his onslaught on Laisth Malinga- the most feared bowler in limited-overs cricket - is something that would be etched in memory for years. Such was the brilliance of Kohli’s display that the legendary Sunil Gavaskar compared him to Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid’s exploits at a similar age.

While Kohli has just kicked off his Test career, he is a proven force in One-Day Internationals (ODIs). He has scored nine hundreds in 82 ODIs, six of which have come in successful run-chases. Time and again, he plays a knock that rallies the team and takes them through to victory - the win at Hobart being the latest example. Without doubt, this knock is a defining moment as it signifies his value to this Indian line-up.

Therefore, it would be fitting to revisit his previous eight tons - each of which have been special and brought a new dimension to his game. 

Here are his ODI centuries:
 

1.  107 vs Sri Lanka at Kolkata, 2009

The iconic Eden Gardens witnessed Kohli announcing his arrival on the international stage. Chasing a formidable 316 under lights, India were dented early as they lost both Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag inside four overs. Kohli joined Gautam Gambhir at the crease to resurrect India. The Delhi duo sustained their pressure on the Lankan bowlers by good running between the wickets and hitting the boundaries whenever the opportunity presented. Kohli’s mature approach coupled with Gambhir’s experience put India on course to a comfortable win. By the time Kohli was dismissed with the score on 247, Indiawere way past the initial wobble. This game marked the beginning of the successful Gambhir-Kohli partnership which has flourished since then.

2. 102 not out vs Bangladesh at Mirpur, 2010

The hundred at Eden Gardens had raised everybody’s expectations of Kohli and he didn’t disappoint as India travelled toBangladesh after the Lanka series. It was the last league game of the tri-series featuring Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh withIndia ensured of a place in the final. Nevertheless, a win was imperative, albeit against Bangladesh. The openers had got Indiaoff to a good start in pursuit of 248. Kohli walked in at No 3 and played a very sensible knock to see India through without major hiccups. His 102 came at better than a run-a-ball and nullified the Bangladeshi challenge. This performance affirmed the belief that he could be a consistent performer at the highest level and can be relied upon to anchor a run-chase.

3. 118 vs Australia at Visakhapatnam, 2010

A huge target of 290 started looking mountainous as India lost two early wickets during their run-chase. Batting at three, Kohli initiated damage-control in the company of Yuvraj Singh. Without taking many chances, the two milked the Australian bowling and made scoring look very easy. Kohli, in particular, was a delight to watch as he stuck to his basics and placed the ball in the gaps. The harsh conditions took their toll on him as he started cramping during the latter stages of the innings, but he maintained the flow. As the target neared, he decided to take his chances and cut loose. This Indian team didn’t feature the likes of Sehwag, Tendulkar and Gambhir - a fact that makes Kohli’s effort truly meritorious. Furthermore, it came after an indifferent run of form and he admitted to have felt the heat. His coach, Rajkumar Sharma rated this as his ward’s best knock. But of course, this was before the Hobart dazzler. 

4. 105 vs New Zealand at Guwahati, 2010

If one felt that the knock at Visakhapatnam was a jail-breaking act, they couldn’t be more wrong as Kohli smashed his second consecutive hundred in ODIs to convince the critics that he was here to stay. His maiden hundred batting first set the tone for an easy win. As the other batsmen wielded their willow by playing aggressive strokes, Kohli was relatively sedate in his approach and focused on timing the ball. He anchored the run-chase and accelerated as the slog overs approached.

5. 100 not out vs Bangladesh at Dhaka, ICC Cricket World Cup 2011

It was Kohli’s first exposure to the biggest stage and his efforts helped India kick-start their dream run in style. Traditionally,India have been slow starters at the World Cup and the horrors of the defeat to Bangladesh in the 2007 edition would have been there at the back of the players’ minds. Sehwag’s brutality was matched by Kohli’s class as he eased into his first World Cup. The cover-drives and the shots down the ground were a feature during this knock. A lot of the attention was hogged by Sehwag’s display, but one cannot take anything away from Kohli’s effort. It is very easy to get overawed during a World Cup debut or get carried away by looking at Sehwag bludgeoning the ball to all parts of the ground and attempt something similar. However, Kohli’s temperament was the winner which conquered those distractions and allowed him to play his natural game. 

6. 107 vs England at Cardiff, 2011

The last game of the horrendous tour of England heralded a new era for Kohli. Keeping the team’s failures aside, he was under pressure due to his personal form as he had run into a lean patch. The spotlight was on Rahul Dravid, who was playing his last ODI. Hailed as the next Dravid in some corners of the cricketing fraternity, Kohli started off like the original “Wall” by playing himself in and then opening up. He kept rotating strike and avoided doing anything silly. The best part about his innings was the way he chose his big shots. It was almost as if he had a map of the field in his mind and could place the ball with geometric precision. Even though some of the strokes were hit in the air, there wasn’t any risk involved as they were played in the safe areas. One can say that this hundred signalled a coming of age and symbolically, Dravid passed on the baton to Kohli. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to secure a win and it remains Kohli’s only ton in a losing cause.

7. 112 not out vs England at Delhi, 2011

A very familiar task lay before Kohli as two early wickets had stuttered India’s pursuit of 238. India were looking to crush the demons and avenge humiliation of the England tour and were already 1-0 up in the series. Gambhir and Kohli were in the act yet again as they strolled towards the target on their home ground. The fluency with which Kohli scored was a sight for the sore eyes as he outstripped his partner on the scoreboard after being level for sometime. Both were unbeaten as the win was achieved with nonchalant ease. This knock is special because it was his first hundred at his home ground - a momentous occasion for any cricketer. 

8. 117 vs West Indies at Visakhapatnam, 2011

A run-chase, two early wickets - isn’t a Kohli ton the most likely eventuality! Ravi Rampaul’s late hitting took West Indies to 269 and the early dismissals of Parthiv Patel and Gambhir threatened to take the game away from India. However, Kohli walked into his comfort zone and went about the script in a familiar manner in the company of Rohit Sharma. Kohli fell with India on the brink, but had yet gain set-up a comfortable win after initial worries. 

9. 133 not out vs Sri Lanka at Hobart, CB series, 29-02-2012

Going into this game, India had to win with a bonus point and their uninspiring form prompted Sunil Gavaskar to say“despite mathematical chance, don't think India can make it to the final.” 

When Sri Lanka piled 320, staying alive in the tournament looked a mountainous task as they had to overhaul the target inside 40 overs. Tendulkar and Sehwag got India off to a brisk start. Once they fell, the dependable firm of Gambhir and Kohli were in business. Compared to their previous heroics, this task looked even more enormous. 

Kohli punched his first ball through mid wicket for a boundary, but was struggling with his timing for a while. As the innings progressed, he regained his fluency and played handsome strokes to keep up with the asking rate. The moment of the day came when India required 42 off 36 balls and Malinga was introduced into the attack. That is when the game unexpectedly swung completely in India’s favour. Kohli took two of the first to get his hundred, but his best was yet to come. In the next five deliveries, he hit 6,4,4,4,4 to crush the aura surrounding Malinga.India achieved the target in 36.4 overs, leaving their qualifying chances to fate

The Unforgettable Goa trip - Final shots

Final Day and Trip back:

This was our last few hours in Goa. So we got up very early in the morning and left for Baga beach which is quite close to Calangute beach. Every beach in Goa is unique and so is Baga. The sea and river meets here creating a beautiful sight with water on two sides.

We saw the sunrise and played beach soccer for the last time. Then got back to hotel and packed our bags. The hotel manager asked us to pay more than what was said before. But lucky for us he didn’t refer to how much we had paid advance. So we played along and escaped. Had he cross checked, we were literally screwed cos we had no money left.

We vacated the hotel at 10am. Well our bus back to bangalore is only at 5pm from Panaji. So we went to the beach and sat in the sun baked sand for a few hours looking at the sights around. Then we headed to a veg restaurant nearby and ordered the cheapest stuff on the menu. Then we left for Panjim. A wait of 5 hours in Panjim. We waited at a park near the bus stand. We passed time playing football with a few guys from Sikkim. Probably Baichung Bhutia's followers.

Must say the bus journey was way better than the train. Sleeper seats. Very comfortable. We got to Bangalore early in the morning. Luckily the bus stopped right in front of the railway station and we had a train to Salem. Getting tickets was an eventful experience for me. I almost picked up a brawl with a policeman while standing in the queue to buy tickets. Luckily he didn’t use his stick on me. The train was deserted. In fact most of the compartments were empty. So again a peaceful trip. Relief at last on reaching our destination.  100 rupees remaining in pocket. God is great!!!!

That folks is the end of the unforgettable journey series…

Another journey coming up soon…. Stay tuned…..

The Unforgettable Trip Day 3

The most eventful day of the trip perhaps. As usual we got on our scooters early in the morning. Anjuna Beach was our first destination. So off we went. This was a different kind of beach. No activities here. Just a few rocks that extend into the sea. So clicked a lot of pics on the rocks. Last time I came to Goa, I was in love with milkmaid ice gola. Yummm….. So we tried ice golas on the beach. But unfortunately it was normal ice gola not milkmaid. :(

Then on our way back we spotted a water park. Though it looked small we thought it would extend inwards. So here we were after purchasing tickets at 300 bucks. And all there was in the so called park was just 2 rides. WOW…. 300 bucks down the drain. So just for the sake of valuing that cash we spent 2 hours in d water playing with a ball…. How awsome!

Again amazing lunch… I am mad about Goan food…. In the evening we went Go-karting. After a very very long time got on racing track. Believe me it is simply mind blowing. The thrill of driving at breakneck speed and overtaking the opponents. Nothing beats that. Just felt that it was too short after the race. I finished 1st among 6 drivers though. Maybe being a racer is not a bad option and I should probably  give it a shot. Every penny spent on that race was worth it.

Right next to the go-karting track is the Anjuna Saturday night market. This is again a main attraction in this part of Goa. You will find people selling all kinds of stuff here from pashmina shawls to fake branded watches. Some of the shopkeepers are foreigners. That was surprising.There is also a food court to satisfy your taste buds with different varieties of food. Did I tell you that my genius buddy who lost 1 pair of glasses in water before lost his new goggles on the race track.

Well after a round of the market and having some Belgian waffles and chocolate dipped strawberries and buying some stuff, I just thought why not check how much was left in my wallet. And perfect timing. I had the exact amount left to pay for the hotel. My 2 buddies were also broke. Great. We still had some to spend some time in Goa and get back. We had to manage all this with 400 bucks.

So we got out of the market as we had no cash to eat anything for dinner in our budge there. Luckily just outside the market we spotted a small pull cart selling some eateries. So we had a delicious dinner at 100 bucks for the 3 of us. Pav bhaji for dinner and also got stares from people eating there for asking how much an extra pav cost. Well I had to ask as I had to spend wisely now. Back to hotel after that. Funny how a cheap meal can also be so filling when you are out of cash.

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THE UNFORGETTABLE TRIP

DAY 2:

This was an awesome day. We hit the road early morning for Panjim, the capital of Goa. Panjim is indeed a beautiful city. First up we visited Dona Paula. This place is basically a view point. Spent a good one hour taking photos in all crazy poses possible. The drive to Dona Paula was a pleasure. Clean roads and greenery on both sides. On our way back we stopped at the Goa Science Centre. Well it might seem absurd going to a science centre in Goa but this was a famous location so we decided to spend so e time here. We watched a 3D movie here and gotta say it was amazing. It really was a 3 dimensional experience compared to lots of movies which claim to be 3D and disappoint.

Then we had a stop at CCD where we got the news of our semester results. We were here for a jolly time in Goa and exam results were the last thing we needed. We had decided in the morning that none of us would check the results. But when something is forbidden the curiosity to know about it increases. That’s what happened to both my buddies. Well I hadn’t bothered to check mine but what the hell both these guys were gleaming and I was feeling a little insecure. So I was the last one to see my results. But luckily we all did the exams well and nothing unfortunate happened.  So we decided to celebrate our exam victory with a movie at Inox. Sherlock Holmes 2 it was. The movie didn’t disappoint.

Time for lunch and this time it was the famous Delhi Darbar in Panjim. Amazing darbari food. Food is always good in this state. On our way out of the restaurant, we saw a bookshop selling books at 100 bucks. So we took a look here and ended up buying a few books worth 5 times this price.

Our last stop in Panjim was the Church Square where we spend some time. Our way back to Calangute was eventful. Half way through the journey, the second scooter went missing. We waited a while for him and as we were heading back in search of him he caught up with us. Guess what he was caught by cops for riding without helmet. He was fined. Now we understood what the biker who overtook us meant when he asked us to drive faster. The cop had missed us and he was suggesting us to escape his eyes. We instead thought he was mocking us that we were too slow. LOL…

Back to the hotel and then to the beach for some beach soccer and eye soothing…. Hehe… The dinner was awesome as always here. Finally got to taste pork, something that I had been longing for. But the pork vindaloo we ordered made us spit fire. It was that spice. I wanted to try the local beverage, Goan fenny. So ordered that as well, and I was glad we ordered just two glasses and not three…. Just two sips and I couldn’t take it anymore. Wasn’t exactly appreciated by my alcohol hating tongue…..

Day 3- the last day will be up soon.. Stay tuned…

Life as a Conscious Practice

‘Everything is practice.’ ~Pele

When we learn a martial art, or ballet, or gymnastics, or soccer … we consciously practice movements in a deliberate way, repeatedly. By conscious, repeated practice, we become good at those movements.

Our entire lives are like this, but we’re often less conscious of the practice.

Each day, we repeat movements, thought patterns, ways of interacting with others … and in this repeated practice, we are becoming (or have already become) good at these things. If you constantly check Facebook or Twitter, that is practice, and you are forming that habit, though it’s usually not with too much awareness.

When you smoke, or eat junk food, or speak rudely to others, or put yourself down internally, this is something you are practicing to be good at. You may already be good at these things.

What if, instead, we practiced consciously, deliberately, and became good at the things we really want to be good at?

What if you first, above all skills, learned to be more aware of what you are practicing? What if constant conscious action is the skill you became good at?

If you could learn to take conscious action, you could learn to practice other things you want to be good at, rather than the ones you don’t.

What Are You Practicing?

Ask yourself these things throughout the day, to practice conscious action:

• Do I want to practice rushing through my morning, or can I wake a little earlier and simplify my morning routine so that I practice a slow, enjoyable morning ritual?
• Do I want to practice checking my inboxes when I first get to my computer, or can I do something better?
• Do I want to practice leaving dirty dishes out, or can I practice washing my bowl when I’m done with it?
• Do I want to practice leaving clothes strewn about, or papers lying on the counter, or can I take a few seconds to put them where they belong?
• Do I want to speak angrily to my kids or spouse, or can I speak to them with kindness and compassion?
• Do I want to practice complaining and self-pity, or can I practice gratitude?
• Do I want to practice rushing and being busy, or can I practice simplifying and going slowly?
• Do I want to practice eating fried foods, sugary foods, salty junk food snacks, fast foods … or can I practice eating whole foods, vegetables and fruits, nuts and beans and seeds?
• Do I want to practice surfing time-wasting sites, or can I practice clearing away distractions and creating?
• Do I want to practice watching mindless entertainment, or can I practice moving my body and exerting myself in activity?
• Do I want to practice smoking, or can I learn a healthier way to deal with stress?
• Do I want to practice shopping, or can I practice giving?

These are only examples … your life will show you what you’ve been practicing, and you can decide what you might rather practice instead. Or you might be completely happy with what you’ve been practicing.

How to Practice

The first step is always awareness. When you are conscious of what you are doing, you can decide whether this is an action or thought pattern you want to practice, or if there’s an alternative you’d rather be good at.

As you go through your day, practice this awareness. It’s the first skill, and it’s the most important one. Be aware, without feeling guilty or angry at yourself, of what you’re doing and thinking. You will forget to to this, but remind yourself. You might wear a rubber band around your wrist, or carry a talisman, or make tally marks on a slip of paper each time you remember.

As you get good at conscious action, start to practice those actions and thought patterns you want to be good at. Start to notice the ones you’d really rather not be good at, and see if you can deliberately practice other actions and thought patterns.

As you consciously, deliberately repeat these things, you’ll get better at them. It takes a lot of repetition to get good at a skill, but you’ve got time.

Important Conclusions

You won’t be able to change all your habits at once, and I’m not implying that you should try. The habit you’re really changing is consciousness, and practice. Other habits will be difficult to change, especially if you’re trying to change all of them, but it’s OK if you mess up. Give yourself permission to make mistakes without guilt, and instead just deliberately practice again, and again.

If something is too hard, and you can’t get it right no matter how many times you practice, you can try it in smaller steps. If you can’t quit smoking, try not smoking once, and instead relieving stress through walking or doing some pushups or meditation or self-massage. If you can’t quit junk food, just replace one snack with a fruit, or add a tasty veggie to your dinner.

I’d like to emphasize that this isn’t about perfection. There is no perfect way of life, and you don’t need to strive to be perfect every moment of the day. I believe you’re already perfect. This is just about conscious action, which is a useful skill to have.

Remember that we become good at what we repeatedly do, and what we do repeatedly can be done consciously. It’s when we’re conscious that we are truly alive.

‘If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.’ ~Dalai Lama