Virtually There- V2

This article was originally posted here in ManipalBlog.

After VT-V1, I got some reviews saying that I brag a lot about Manipal. Well, I welcome healthy comments wholeheartedly, so in VT-V2, I’ll try to sneak Manipal feeling in, without mentioning Manipal anywhere( oops, did I mention Manipal again!)

Welcome to Virtually There (VT) – V2, version two, let’s try discovering our power!

Who hasn’t seen the Vodafone song video- “You and I, in this beautiful world”, little pug jumping around the boy, complimenting and playing with each other. Questions pop up; does “two” always make a perfect couple? Perfect couple are happy only when they are together? Being together make a happy couple? Does happy couple means empowering of two?

Did you get a hint that I’ll talk about old crap of love and relationships, definitely NO!

Let me tell you a story. It was a Thursday evening when I got off from the office shuttle, on the way back to my room. As usual, in the popular Bengaluru slow traffic, I managed to set my foot in the footpath. A grey innova car that was passing slowed down. Foreigner sitting in the backseat of the car immediately took out his camera and started clicking pictures. For a moment, I thought, had I become so popular with my first article in ManipalBlog!

I turned back to see what exactly he was trying to capture. It was a drunkard who had collapsed in the footpath. Foreigner looked around and started clicking in other direction. This time, group of men and woman waiting for their turn to fetch water from municipal water tap fascinated him. It literally made me look back and think, what is he trying to take back home, those stills from movie like “Slumdog Millionaire” that projected India as a poor, useless country?

It’s time that we brag about our country. When we two sit together next time, let’s talk about corruption, dirty politics, black money, violence, rape and murders, women molestation, hockey failures. Let’s not about how we have progressed, our economy’s constant GDP, our IT/industry sourcing, our military missile technology, innumerable PSLV launches, widening roads, connecting villages, Mary Kom’s bronze medal or anything that makes us proud!

We both are partner in the crime!

Because of us, today foreigner forgets to click the lady belonging to a different community dressing up a child as Krishna on an annual fancy dress competition. Because of us, he thinks that people are colourless here although we have a magnificent holi. Because of us, he thinks that we are in dark although we have diwali. Because of us, he thinks that we are in debt although we invented the zero that he counts daily!

Redefine INDEPENDENCE.

Virtually There- V1

This article was originally posted here in ManipalBlog.

If you are in Manipal and if you have read V1 as Version one, you got it right!

For those who didn’t, welcome to Virtually There (VT). Time to move on, time to read on!

Most of us always start on a very high note, on different aspects that becomes a part of our life, either knowingly or unknowingly. Positive start is always commendable and pumps us with lot of energy. Biggest illusion of these aspects is the mysterious unknown destiny. Well, It’s said that, journey is always beautiful than the destiny. Has the word “journey” replaced the word “present” here? Give it a thought...

Tomorrow is called future, yesterday is called past and, today is called the present, indeed; life is the present and is a present!

You would have seen a retired old man in his seventies, lying down in an old wooden chair, thinking about his past and smiling. He would have spent all his life working. Rising a family, supporting them, living for them, contributing for the society, getting the necessary things done, struggling for each rupee, planning for the better future, all this would have given him a pillow full of worries. There could have been a time where he would have faced adversities and blamed the God for his life. In the process, the innocent smile, his lone processions till his twenties, given by Him, would have died. He rediscovers!

Imagine a world with one religion- the present. Where each one of us would plan and work for its empowerment. When we say one world, why not think “we one”. Now, when I look back, Manipal seeded this feeling in me. Yes, it is definitely a mini melting pot. I have made friends with my classmates from all around the country. Some of them from abroad too. I think, this is what lit the kindle, a term called “Manipal Spirit”, in all of us. We have overcome the constraints, we have overcome the barriers. We are able to connect to any human of this world. We are designed like this in our stay here. We have developed humanity. We have won. Now I have defined we one, Cheers!

Disclaimer:
1. My placing of exclamation symbols may be wrong, but whenever Manipal spirit arises, I can’t help placing them.
2. Vocabulary that will be used may be limited; my articles will not help GRE preparations.
3. I won’t promise the number of versions that I’ll write in VT, but I promise, with each new version, learning will increase.
4. I’ll let my readers to give the verdict in the end; I’ll only put my points and views.

Love Marriage ya Arranged Marriage

Wow! Writing is such an exciting art where you push yourself into a situation that you could never think of. Marriage, I enjoy those ceremonies. Great food, glitters around, women dressed up and more importantly, sweets of extra calories which we never mind!

Today, I tried standing in bridegroom’s shoe. Fantastic, I knew half the crowd in the wedding hall. If it was an arranged marriage, from now on, I will have to start loving the individual standing next to me, else, carry on with what I have done best till date. Loving finally matters. Has life ever given us choices!

Take one:

Man has always tried to formulate rules. At times, we feel our traditions are noble and well thought. Arranged marriage is one such kind of institution. This is governed by infinite rules. They match horoscopes and consider on what stars has got to say. They do background check better than our FBI/CBI. Financial and family status in the society carries equal importance. Finally, if everything goes right, boy and girl speak to each other, and they have got two minutes to make a decision!

When you were a kid, imagine your dad throwing you in the air. You were all smiles; you knew he would hold you when you fall down. The same trust is here as well. Parents can never make a mistake in choosing a write match. It’s like they’ll show the way, but ultimately it’s on the couple as they are the travellers of long journey, they can either sail smoothly in the waters or choose to walk the forest of thorns!

Take two:

Loose control, break the rules, rewrite them!

Scientific acumen has always taught us this. Centuries rolled, Indian society longed to dawn the modern gown. In the process, we forgot Aryabhatta, we called our philosophy ancient, sold our numbers and welcomed void.

Thirties were defined as new marriage age, and twenties as the age to fall in love. College were shown as the place where hero and heroine meet, bunk classes, roam around the garden, share the umbrella as the first rains took no time to kiss the earth, fight with the untidy goons, thrash them for the girl, make mid night calls as telephone vendors keep slashing their night tariff, unlimited texting all day, convince parents, threaten that only death is the alternate option, get married, movie ends, life starts!

If we go to car showroom, we take a test ride before we make a purchase. Same holds good here. One can make a right choice of vehicle after reading thousand of reviews, but if the piece delivered is faulty, company will replace it, but marriage doesn’t!

Final Verdict:

With my limited knowledge, I have tried connecting the dots. Love or arranged, prefix doesn’t matter. If the couple pledge to choose “love” as the suffix for the word- marriage, institution of marriage will be heralded. A moment spent with no love and no respect, is the life spent unworthy.

[This article is written for Contest]

Masks of Wonderland: A Haiku

My poem entry for Illuminati 2012, annual poetry and story writing competition conducted by ManipalBlog(posted originally here). Declared winner in public choice category.

From zero

An endless journey

Quest of life

World we see

Is a wonderland

Love portrait

River runs

Royal ocean roars

Heart beats heard

Bricks delight

Every sculpture built

Cast a spell

Zestful path

Realism reckons

Thirst to dwell

Masks circle

Kid, teen, youth, adult

To zero

Enlightenment, main aim of our existence, is the dream of every soul. When we reckon the ‘realism’, wonderland builds in front of our eyes.  Thirst to live in this wonderland is the enlightenment. It involves us playing many roles at times- from zero (birth) to zero (death). Zero defines an infinite life (endless journey) – all in the big circle- where ‘the start’ and ‘the end’ is indefinite!

This is haiku written with eleven syllables count.

[Haiku is Japanese poetry form that has three meaningful lines which are complete and reflecting nature. Haiku have syllabic limitations as well. Syllables and words aren't the same thing. For e.g. the single word "traditional" would have four syllables since it's pronounced "tra-di-tio-nal". A traditional haiku has eleven or seventeen syllables, in a strict 3-5-3 or 5-7-5 format. ]

Person of the Day: My Interview

It was my privilege to be interviewed by ManipalBlog.com(originally and first posted here) on 17 June 2012.  

1. Jaideep Rao is …

a man whose punch line is “When I am here, nothing to fear”!. Highly inspired by Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam, from his immense personality and deep poetry.  Also inspired by Rajnikanth at times  . If this question was asked a year back, would have given an interview answer  , thankfully placed with a job (Indian kid’s highest dream  ) and happily(with loads of luck)  graduated now!. Living a life midst two disasters, studies just behind the back and doomsday looming in front 

2. What does Manipal and ManipalBlog bring to your mind?

Original Manipal product! Came here for 2^nd standard and ended up living 16 years (geek mind tells me that is 2 power of 4!). Have seen it loose thick greenery gradually and buildings rise exponentially. As they say, beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder, once a Manipalite, always a Manipalite!

ManipalBlog is an ultra active blog bringing out true Manipal spirit. I realised the uniqueness of this blog when I was out of station during internship. For the days to come, I predict that it’ll simply get better. Looking forward to be a part of Illuminati 2012.

3. What can you tell us about the Philosopher’s stone?

People say love inspires poet in a person. I say Manipal makes you a poet  . We are indeed inspired by life!. Started with writing small poems, now an integral part of haiku world, where three meaningful lines from heart are used to describe love, life, emotions and everything  .  I believe that writing allows one to explore the dreams and make them come true. Message to friends who want to blog -  Experiment, fail and rise again to triumph – In life and in writing. Cheers!

To know more do visit Philosopher’s Stone. Comments, suggestions, likes, criticisms are always welcome  .

4. What has changed after Manipal?

Those 8’o clock classes, 10’o clock samosas, overly crowded canteens, gruelling afternoon labs, way2sms messages to my class (I was a CR for 3 years, hi-fi!), head football flash games with friends, instant decisions to hangout in greens or crumbz/snack shack or a movie, joyous delta bike rides, TechTatvas, Revels, I only feel that I am blessed to be a part of this dream. Dream indeed!

 Stepping into real world, I see that these dreams can turn into thoughts, thoughts into actions, and actions into success! Years down the line, I’ll be able to figure out the amount that Manipal affected my life. For now, I have just opened my eyes, again a beginner, longing for beginner’s luck  

5. Smile and the world smiles with you . . . Pontificate and??

I add world also smiles in you with the smile. Smile is best expression and when it’s from the heart can win enemies as well as non-existent self! Spreading joy is not just the tagline of coke; it’s the mission of life. I thank you for making me smile with this opportunity, first interview yaar, and little senti is must  . To conclude, as I always say, Be good, Do good, Results- Good