Bye Bye 2006 .. WelCome 2007

New year has now become just transition of days... whats new about a new year, it keeps coming after every 12 months.

Exotic Goa -GoGoa

Goa-Pics-22_26-Dec06

Dil Chahata hai...

All set for Goa tour.

As per Plan the Rock Solid candidates were,

1] The Truck Driver
2] The Guru
3] Toshi
4] Ganpat Mavali -> Declined
5] Balvir Pasha -> Declined

The new stars on the horizon,

4] Mayank Chandu
5] ChimanTunda
6] Jayant Chappri
7] Jammu BC
8] Shani
9] Raju Bhai

We will leave today mostly by 8:30PM and be back on 26th Dec.

Sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Enjoyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy....

Kabhi na bite.........Chamkile din...

Ruke Na Tu, Jhuke Na tu

Dharaa hilaa, Gagan gunjaa!
Nadi bahaa, Pawan chalaa!
Vijay teri, Vajah teri!
Jyoti si jal, jalaa!
Bhujaa bhujaa, phadak phadak!
Rakt me, dhadak dhadak!

Dhanush uthaa, Prahaar kar!
Tu sabse pahela waar kar!
Agni si dhadak dhadak!
Hiran si sajag sajag!
Sinha si dhahaad kar!
Shankh si pukar kar!

Ruke na tu, thake na tu!
Jhuke na tu, thame na tu!
Sada chale, thake na tu!
Ruke na tu, jhuke na tu!

--This one is from Harivanshrai Bachchan. The great author of "Madhushala".

Decisions make a life, neither potential nor qualities.

If a Star come down to earth, the only wish I would make is to restore my qualities.

Kadaklakshmi - An inhuman tradition in Maharashtra

I hate that continuous sound of drum. It sends chill through my spine whenever I hear it. This is known as Kadaklakshmi, a tradition in Maharashtra. A man and a women strolls around the city begging in the name of god/goddesses [may be Kadaklakshmi is a goddess]. The women beats a kind of drum and the man, who is half naked whips his bare back. This is a inhuman tradition in Maharashtra. The man whips himself in the name of god, so hard that at times I have seen blood coming out of his back and forearm with those violent blows from that huge whip.

The sound of that drum is a peculiar one. I can identify it from a thousand sounds, it bugs my brain. I feel like thousand honeybees making that buzz sound hovering around my brain assuming my brain lobe as there beehive.

Who will STOP this tradition???

At Chennai Airport, Enjoying BSNL WiFi Connectivity... Flight at 5:30 AM.

This Chennai tour was not less than a dream, The day when I was arriving Chennai, Soni appeared Satyam Off Campus second round of GD and interview, and by the time I reached Chennai She was over with the interview and was confident that she will get through it. She Came directly to the guest house where I was staying with her friend Ashwin, her DESD classmate. He is very nice, talkative and friendly. The results were displayed late night on Satyam Web site and I found her name in selected candidates list. There were total 5600 candidates out of which only 154 managed to get through. The next day on 10th-Dec-2006 We went to the same college VEL Engineering College in VEL TECH city, Avadi. It took entire day to travel to Avadi and to get back to Chennai. Then in the evening we mate PaneerSelvam, he is the same guy who helped Soni to reach Avadi for Satyam Online test. We had dinner together. He is same like Ashwin, nice and friendly.

Today we went to VGP Golden Beach Resort, its on Way to Mahabalipuram. The VGP Resort is excellent, simply marvelous place. It's full of fun, and one needs entire day to freak out there. Lots of Joy rides, Deer park, rose garden, go carting, fort, And the most amazing thing is beach.


The rolercoater ride was really an experience. Today Ashwin got placed in LGSoft at Campus in C-DAC Chennai Centre. So the entire group Soni, Ashwin, Sweta, Shruti, Maheshwari were in happy mood. We all gathered in the evening to have dinner together. All were really amazing friends.


As Soni got placed at Satyam, and soon she will be receiving her offer letter, so she told me to take back the laptop. And Now I am sitting at Chennai airport writting this blog and chatting with Bals. The technology advances and Internet are really boon. Last time I remember I was at Chennai central waiting for Mumbai Mail and
chatting with Karthik from a netcafe at cennai central. It's only because of net you are connected all the time with friends.

Go Goa - Finally Finalized

For those who are interested and ALIVE

So we are geared up for Goa Trip,
I hereby declare the list of final rocksolid candidates,

1] The Truck Driver
2] The Guru
3] Toshi
4] Ganpat Mavali
5] Balvir Pasha

The plan is as below,
--------------------------------
Tour Start:
Friday 22-Dec-06 -> Leave from respective origins.
----->Candidates responsibilty to insure that he reach Goa early next morning. Plan your transit accordingly.

Saturday 23-Dec-06 -> Morning - Reach at a common Place in Goa (Somewhere in  Panjim)
----->Tushar's  responsibility to  convey us about accommodation and place to gather. [ Before 18th-Dec-06]
       Accommodation formalities to be completed before 20th-Dec-06 with all gentlemens approval and suggestions.

Saturday 23-Dec-06 -> Evening & Night - Beaches and Bottles[ Perfect Combination ]
----->All patrons are requested to loosen there moral bindings.

Sunday 24-Dec-06 -> Traveling to nearby tourist destinations
----->Nearby Beaches and water sports [Water Volleyball, if possible cricket]

Monday 25-Dec-06 -> Till Evening - Traveling to nearby tourist destinations
----->Christmas shopping and sight seeing in Goa.

Monday 25-Dec-06 ->Evening - Transit for our destinations
Tour End.

Tushar will give us a rough idea about total expenditure on accomodation/food. [excluding round trip from your place]

So All gentlemen are requested to ride on cloud nine and bring some good suggestions about this plan. This is just a tentative plan.
It will be better if we decide about all logistics beforehand.
So please give your valuable suggestions and affirmative reply to this mail asap.

Things required;
Lots of pairs of shorts and briefs.

If I have missed any name on mailing list , Im sorry, Please forward this mail to him/her.

Regards,
The Guru

Technorati Profile

I am a proud Indian who fought to get his passport without using money(bribe) and power.

The End of Passport Drama. Finally I won.
Today I received my Passport.

Application Date: 19/Oct/2005
Passport Number: G0761173
Date of Issue: 23/Nov/2006
Date of Expiry: 22/Nov/2016

Thanks Mr JaiKumar. The next small worry is that of ECR(Emigration Check Required). I have taken special care while filling up the form to get my passport with ECNR (Emigration Check Not Required). But when you are in India you should always be ready for such surprises. I am thankful that there were no spelling mistakes in name and address on my passport. ECNR is not a worry, coz I have my passport with me. I have gone through the blast of fury and frustation for getting the passport; ECNR is not a big thing at all :) :) :)

Bigg Weekend at Bigg Boss' flat No: 6

Friday 1-Dec-06:
The weekend started wonderfully in Bigg Boss's flat. The Friday evening around 8:30 PM{India Vs SA was about to start} a "chamgadad" means a "bat" entered in flat. First it was in Naren's bedroom and later it came to living room and the real mess started here. Everyone covering himself with towel, napkin, bed sheet whatever came in hand. Naren took "Baba's" role and tried to fly away the bat with zaadu. Zaadu ke sare tinke bahar aa gaye lekin Bat bahar nahi gaya. Then we tried with towels but the Bat scared us with his lowered flights. After a long time when the bat got tired it settled on Jammus "Siebel" book on table. "Baba" came back into action. He carefully put a box on the Bat and captured it. With lot of courage holding the Bat between
Siebel book and box he went downstairs to release it. A-One nazara tha.
This is how the weekend started at Big Boss's flat.

Saturday 2-Dec-06 Morning:
This incident happened at this flat for the first time. I was sleeping on my bed in living room, time around 10 AM. Someone knocked on door. "Baba" again in action opened the door. There was a man standing out there and talking to "Baba" in low voice. Baba let him come in. He told us that he is selling branded items like suite pieces, shoes, laptops, cellphone stolen while transporting the goods. We left us numb, thinking why Baba let him come in. The person who told us that he is from "Hoshiyarpur, Punjab" and has brought branded suite material{GWALIOR mills}. He instantly started showing the pieces. We were repeatedly saying NO NO to him, and he was like "Dekh toh lo ek bar...". The pieces were really looking branded and price is like whatever suitable we say. BUT NO means NO. We told him to pack-up and told that we always wear readymade clothes. He was in real mood now and told that he was looking for a relationship so that if next time he steals any laptop or cellphones he will give us those "Chori ka item" in "moohmanga daam". We scold him not to show up again. and also scold "Baba" not to let in such people. And also the watchman who let him in the apartment.

Evening:
I woke up around 4 PM, when Naren-Baba was preparing himself to visit "Kaya Clinic". I told him to wait so that I will accompany him. I was bored at flat so decided to give company to Baba. We went to Kaya Clinic, off Karve Road. On our way we saw "Barista" and decided to pay a visit there on our way back. When Baba was IN, I went to nearby netcafe to pass the time, there I saw snaps of Karthik with Irfan Pathan and Greig Chappel. Shame on Zamya and Pride for those two morons. Baba's "KayaKalp" was over and we headed for "Barista" for the first time. Meanwhile Jayant called and we decided to go late night show of "Dhoom2".
At Barista, Baba decided to stick to Expresso(with lots of milk and foam) to avoid any surprise. So I ordered the first in the list "Expresso Italiano - Large (Kadva zehar)[20ml - Rs 30]" for Baba and "Cafe Mocha Large - strong (costly but safe)[Rs 67]" for me along with "Chocolate Excess Pastry with Vanilla scoop[Rs 220]". To Baba's horror the expresso was milkless. All the time we were eating pastry, Baba was confused with "which is expresso and which is mocha", and I was confused because on bill it was written expresso large and in reality it was only 30 ml in a small cup. So I went to waiter to clarify my doubt, and it was 30 ml expresso LARGE. After first sip Baba quit the kadva zehar(Expresso Italiano), by that time I had sipped half of my cafe mocha. I told Baba about gr8 taste of black coffee and mixed that kadva zehar in my mocha. and then.... I too quit my mocha after few sips. Was it really worth a visit and drink ????.
While coming back to flat I had an idea( from subconscious mind ). We stepped out of auto near Barista FC Road, and went straight to "Venus Stores". There I purchased whole accessories needed to start Painting like water colors, brushes, color pallet, sketch book etc., Came back to flat(7:30 PM), and started painting. Movie time was 11:10 PM. I was having ample time and started to paint my first picture named "Wilson's Waiting". Jayant and Baba gave there valuable suggestion and "Vishesh Tippani" over my new venture{They called me psycho and suggested to meet some doctor ...obviousaly. I would have done same if they would have acted like me}. The theme was "Caste Away". "The Wilson", volleyball which is accidentally left in water, was waiting on the same beach for someone to come there, and to talk to him. Later me, Naren, Jayant, Jammu all went to watch "Dhoom2".

Sunday 3-Dec-06:
Nobody woke up till 12 AM, I was a kind of opening my eyes but woke up at 1 PM, ate my tiffin and slept. Then we enjoyed India's fourth consecutive one-day defeat against SA. Shame Shame Shame.

Thus the weekend passed, But no blame game, No falsity, No quarrels. Every One happy at Bigg Boss's Flat No 6. So nobodies out. Ghar se beghar inme se koi nahi hoga, but wait there is one who wasn't there on Saturday with us, yes he is Tarababu. Chances are likely that Tarababu will be beghar. Because he got 4 nominations out of five. Let's see who will tell him the pre-decided nomination.

Bigg Boss Bigg Boss at Flat No:6 "Shreeban Society"

Yes we four at our flat now gonna play the blamegame with Bigg Boss. On weekends the number grows to 6-7. Isn't it a fantastic idea. The only good thing about that show is the "right of expression" Each one with his/her frank opinion about others good or bad; but I really feel it is important. One comes to know about his shortcomings and merits, interpersonal things he need to improve for better relationship.

Shortly I will reveal the Bigg fights and Bigg thoughts expressed by my dear friends.
So stay tuned to know "Ghar se beghar kaun hoga?"

BRHS, Banarasidas Ruiya High School and Junior College, Katol

The pics of UCOE made me think about educational institutes I have attended. I haven't attended more than 3 schools, the most favorite among them is my lovely school BRHS, Banarasidas Ruiya High School and Junior College, Katol, where I have spent more than 7 years [5th std - 1992 - till - 12th - 2000].

The days of early morning "OM" chanting at our school, the regular prayers "Vande Mataram", "Itni Shakti hume dena..."

The BRHS really enriched us in every aspect. The teachers I most liked at BRHS were "Matakari Sir" and "Khona mam". They are like perfect individuals to me.

And how can forget the computer lab at our school. I think in 7th standard we got access to it. Those days were just the beginning of the IT era. At our school we worked on a machine which has a monitor like a old TV set and the cabinet[CPU, HDD] bundled in keyboard. I think the 5.44" floppy drive was an separate entity. The DOS was the Operating System on that machine. We did some programs on that machine in BASIC language. There were 5 machines at our lab at that time, among them two were like above and rest three were having decent monitors and cabinets. The time slots were decided for batches. We always use to hurl into lab in spare time{ lunch time was no exception}. We had lot of fun afterwards when we joined private computer institute just to play PACMAN :)

But the thing I most liked about BRHS is playgrounds, We had in all three playgrounds, the terrace ground, the courtyard type small ground, and the big lush green playground where NCC/Scouts parades and Games were conducted.

The remarkable events at school time were,

The tour to Chikaldara-Muktagiri[Sahyadri region].

The tour to Ajanta-Ellora caves.

The Sky Watch Program when Comet Hale-Bopp was near to Earth- the Great Comet of 1997. {The same night we the partners in crime me, Ravi, Jayant, Roshan frightened Sushil in the dark on our school terrace ground, and he screamed from the base of his stomach and fainted others who were watching the sky through telescope. } [9th std]

The Seminar on Self Hypnotism {I can't forget ever; I acted/danced on stage before entire audience/students/teachers at school playground... very very interactive seminar} [10th std]

The First ever students strike at BRHS, Yess we all students stood up against the college management body's politics regarding there decision of punishing/barring college professors for taking private tutions. The strike lasted 3 days, and finally we won. [11th std]

BRHS is really memorable.

When I went back to home this Diwali[2006], like each time I went around to see my school, and I was horrified to see the pathetic condition of big ground. The small and terrace ground also will not be there because the entire building re-construction work was going on. I kept my hand on my heart, because I felt this is the last time I am watching my good old school.

For BRHS alumanies, Join here:
http://www.alumni.net/Asia/India/Maharashtra/Nagpur/Katol/

Alma Mater

Umrer College Of Engineering [ Umrer - Nagpur, MS, India ]. Better known as UCOE.

Where sincerity meets hardwork and fun tends to Zero.
Where teacher pressure tends to infinity and homework becomes Hulk.
Where friends tend to comp,mech,eletronics and friendship tends to Forever.
That's our UCOE, That's our UCOE, That's our UCOE.

That's my alma mater UCOE.

This is the time when my batchmates[ 2004 passout] were returning to UCOE to collect there degrees. For many of us this might be the last time we were visiting UCOE, because I know for many of us it will not be possible to pull time from our busy schedule to attend any alumni meet or SMRUTI at UCOE.

Target Accomplished. 12.5 KM...

Yesss, I ran for 12.5 KM at Pune Marathon. First marathon of my life. The marathon started at around 8:05 AM, celebrities like Rahul Dev, Amrita Thapar, Mandira Bedi and politicians Mr. Kalmadi, Narayan Rane flagged of the race from "Sambhaji Bridge". I was really tired after completing first 3 KM. So tired that I kept walking for a while and fastened the shoe laces.

Later started running again, Arvind was ahead me. I got the pace and continued running, I mate Arvind at MG road, there it was 7 KM. Continued with the same pace and crossed 10 KM mark at City Centre, After 10 KM it was " Forrest Gump " run. I ran because I felt like running. That continued till 12.5 KM somewhere near "Yervada". The time was 9:15 AM By this time the sun was shining bright and the traffic has become a real hindrance. I also sensed that there is a water bulb on the right limb's thumb. So decided to give up. But It was fun running on the road and so many people out there cheering and motivating your run with bands, balloons, banners and energy drinks.



Now the next marathon run target is 20 KM... and of course those 5 KM's Forrest Gump's run.

Climax of Passport story is near. Hurray On the verge of being a Proud Indian to get the Indian Passport without using money and power [unfair means].

Great day. At last the passport status changed. It's been more than a year and more than Rs 4500, that I could have saved by giving bribe of just Rs 100. But then I wouldn't have felt great and proud towards my country and towards myself. If I would have bribed and used unfair means, I would have contributed to this nation's bad system and pathetic condition. I am thankful to my Project Manager: Shrikant Dhumal who encouraged me to hold the patience. Now I can definitely hope that I will get the passport within a week. Chances never leave you. You should learn how to create chances.

Well My marathon target of 10 KM is now I think achievable. Today I went for jogging at {9:00 AM now this is real shame..but come on yaar it's weekend}. There again I saw few more international faces but this time fairer one's. The yesterdays African runners were actually Kenyans and Pune Marathon 2005 winners {They completed 42.5 Kms in TWO hours last year. I can't believe this..but I have to.}. Today I ran for 5 KM. Enough! and now I am confident that tomorrow I will complete 10 KMs {don't ask how}.

Gearing up for Pune International Marathon 26Nov'06

WOW the marathon effect. Woke up early in the morning and nearly after a gap of 3 months I went for Jogging. Excited to see the "MAHOL" I mean "NAJARA" ..that you can call a perfect scene at the Police Ground. The entire ground was full, and runners all over. Now I must appreciate the spirit of Pune People for such social activities. I spotted few professional runners as well( all four looking like Africans). When I was down after my first round I heard from a person that they were running since early morning ( Today I went to jog at 7:45 am.. shame shame ). They must be aiming to win the full marathon(42.5 KM).

And the target before me is to somehow complete 10 KM and still be able to stand on my two legs(Shattering, shivering....shut up I will be normal soon).

http://www.puneinternationalmarathon.com/
Be there.

A Day At Pasport Office : Pune

Entire day at passport office...

Can you imagine... Yes I spent entire 21Nov06(9:30AM to 5:30PM) at Passport Office Pune

9:30 AM : I went to passport office. Arvind my teammate was already there. We were in queue till 10:20 AM.

10:30 AM: Got a chance to see HONORABLE Mr. P.R.O. Mr. JAIKUMAR (Later I came to know he is Superintendent). He told Arvind that his passport is already posted and he will soon receive it.

10:40 AM: PRO wrote my passport file number on a paper and told me to sit outside. He said he will call me once they find my file.

11:30 AM: Folks rushing to see PRO. And we all were standing there in Q. The guard there repeatedly telling us to go back and sit. and No seat was vacant there. So I exchanged some heat with him after his 5th time advice to go back and sit.

12:30 PM: By now the persons who were standing out for their call, increased to more than 50. We were desperate by this time because they have lunch time at 1:30 PM.

1:20 PM: Time is approaching to lunch time so we rushed(by now we were 20+ who were still waiting for there call) inside to know the status of our passport applications. PRO again noted the numbers from all of us and He played a trick he told us to meet at 3:30PM after lunch time and meticulously wrote 3:30 on everyone's passport receipt.

1:45 PM: Called PK and told him that it would be difficult for me to be at office because of this passport related suffering.

3:00 PM: Had lunch and phoned Shrikant and told that I will not be coming to office. then I went to a nearby temple to sit there for few minutes as 30 minutes were remaining. Soon I heard the word "Passport"... I looked around, an uncle (I have seen this man in the morning Q) age around 55+ was also there talking with some folks.

3:20 PM: Went inside. Again waiting for the call.

4:00 PM: PRO didn't showed up. And the guard kept telling that he is coming...

4:15 PM: We all 20+ went upstairs, crossing all the cubicles to his place. All officers were looking at us. PRO was also startled to look at all of us above and told us to wait downstairs and that he is coming soon.

4:20 PM: At last PRO came down with a assistant. They started searching files and resolving the issues.

5:20 PM: PRO went upstairs. I too went upstairs. The assistant was also upstairs holding my passport application. He passed the application to PRO. I told him my scenario (no bribe). and PRO finally told me to sign on my passport application form.
There I saw the first Police Report(sent by Mr. Patole of Deccan Police Station) dated 30-12-2005. He is a ***** moron who wrote that I am residing at my place from 9 months only.

5:25 PM:
Manish: Ok Sir, So by what time I should expect my passport.
Jaikumar: We will send it in 5,6 days after attaching the report.
Manish: Thank you sir.


And When I came out of the office, there I saw Mr. Pardesi, He is the same fellow who works at Passport Verification Branch, Police Aayuktalaya Pune. AND TO MY HORROR he called me by my full name. They meet thousands of people everyday, but I was astonished to hear my name from his ***** mouth. He is the same person who first asked me to give Rs 600 and later Rs 100 for giving outward number. Both times I ditched him. and Today when we exchanged glances and he called me by my name , I DITCHED HIM again. Didn't paid any heed to him and walked straight down my way. He kept calling, he was with other officers, he might have felt ashamed of himself. Let him go to hell.

So Let's hope...I have 5,6 days more to hope for the most hopeless thing.

Mist everywhere...

dhuke dhuke dhuke...

The Makeover

“Even though we've changed and we're all finding our own place in the world, we all know that when the tears fall or the smile spreads across our face, we'll come to each other because no matter where this crazy world takes us, nothing will ever change so much to the point where we're not all still friends.”

Aapan Hyanna Pahilat Ka??? (Have you seen this person?)


~~~~~~~~~Inaam - $000000 (Live or Dead)~~~~~~~~~~

Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what your goin get.

Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure. You've got to find the treasure, so that everything you have learned along the way can make sense.

All you have to do is contemplate a simple grain of sand, and you will see in it all the marvels of creation. Listen to your heart. It knows all things, because it came from the Soul of the World, and it will one day return there.

Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second's encounter with God and with eternity. Everyone on earth has a treasure that awaits him.

I don't live in either my past or my future. I'm interested only in the present. If you can concentrate always on the present, you'll be happy. Life will be a party for you, a grand festival, because life is the moment we're living now.

And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.


Sooooooo...go ahead

The Departed

Getting departed is not that easy... but feeling departed is killing. And all this is because you expected something from life. Expectations make you feel unsecured. What if you were not able to live up to someone's expectations or your own. What if your expectations are coming true... but not sure how long you will be able to hold them. What if you have daydreamed something and the dream's got doomed till the evening. You feel lonely in the evening. But then who told you to daydream at all, it was you fooling yourself. If you weren't lied to yourself you may never feel departed from anyone. Being pure from inside connects you to the people. A beautiful mind is what needed for pure thoughts. And if you have set your expectations right there's no chance that your mind will get diluted with insecurities and chaos; that make you feel departed. So long I expect something- I am restless; The moment I lost expectations - I am departed.

These lines will be here.

... Amresh, I do not know you personally but these lines from your profile will be here:

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.
People really need help but may attack if you help them.
Help people anyway.
Give the world the best you have
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.
The biggest person with the biggest ideas can be
shot down by the smallest person with the smallest mind.
Think big anyway.
What you spend years building may
be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.

...Thanks Amresh for these motivating lines...May your soul rest in peace.
[ Amresh Sawant was victim of 7/11 mumbai blasts...#*^$ this terrorism. We are ready to die in a war; can't tolerate loss of so many innocent's like him. Just kill all those %^$#^@*.]

It doesn't matter to you... but a lot to her

This was just an incident happened to me few days back...

I was on my way to office after finishing some work at a bank the time was around 1:30 pm in the noon. The scorching sun on head that day. I took an auto to office... the auto stopped at a traffic signal and a poor lil girl came beside auto to sell the drawing books, At first I didn't paid any heed to the girl and told the girl to go away. Suddenly I heard the voice(nowadays the system is responding well) the voice told me that "It doesn't matter to you... but a lot to her". She was barefooted selling those books,flowers... She wasn't begging she was trying to sell me some articles. May be those articles are of no use or of a little use to me ... but If I purchase those articles she is earning her bread and butter, may be supporting her family as well. 20-30 Rs are not less but do I think every time when I spend this little amount. THEN why should I be a miser at a traffic signal. I called the lil girl and purchased the comic drawing book. The joy at her face and at my heart of realizing something is unquotable.

The same cubicle plight...

No more orkutting.

A mixed bag of feelings.
My favorite line from my favorite movie,
---
It's the sense of touch. In any real city, you walk, you know? You brush past people, people bump into you. In L.A., nobody touches you. We're always behind this metal and glass. I think we miss that touch so much, that we crash into each other, just so we can feel something.
---
All my friends know me better than myself. I Hope you all will forgive me for this crime. And I don't know why I don't want any more friends. Orkut is like you can peek into any ones life. I dont want to be so vulnerble or vice versa may be the truth. That's why this deletion. Im there only to be searchable mentioning my E-id and yahoo IM contact. So friends we are not a *scrap* away. Rather I will call you to hear from you, I will come to you to feel the sense of touch.


Excerpts from orkut ...
Testimonials written by my friends for me

This one is written by Jayant:

Hi manish urf matu, you r the one, jolly, confident, funloving and born with lots of courage and positive attitude..

our frdship has two sctions,one is when we wr at school and second is now we r together living in a flat...but the second one is more interesting and professional...

Talking about the first one we enjoyed a lot with all our best frds from Katol....I remember all the events when we wr in school....obviously that are our memories...

U have lots of interest in astrology and ur proper place is in that only.U have lots of knowledge about universe and planets...

The only thing i want to say at last is u r my best frd.....

cheers......

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Mayank:

Manish u are the most admirable follower of Scientific community and i think in your life u will make a mark in this field.Girls dont worry manish is a cool guy and u will know when u meet him....:)You are one of my best friends and i have learnt may things form u.U think u are not emotional but u are and i know that and the most attracting thing about u is you always make the energy flow to +ve limits and keep group motivated. I am glad that i have friend like u.....and i know u also think same for me.

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

By Suresh:

Matu, courageous person, very competing, likes fair competitions, little bit rigid on some points, nice friendly, nature loving and living, true, helping, adjusting, responsible and respecting, naughty sometimes. (I met him in a city library in my 1st yr. engg. days, then we were roommate). I glad to see doing masti with Vikrant and mayank. He was favourate of our seniors and few lecturers in engg. college time. Wish to be in touch always.

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

Scene at Passport Adalat

Awful, Frustating.... around 4-5 k people there.

Naya funda: I filled the Personal Particulars forms again and Passport Officer told me to go directly to Commisioner Office, Pune[where bribe only works]. This method is called as "by hand" method. Let's see if it works.

Chances are sure that the person there will definitely ask me for bribe "in hand"[His method of working]

Height of forgetfulness and trance

I forget to take dinner yesterday night... and today morning[8:00am] when tiffinwala asked me about the heavy tiffin I told to him that I have taken the dinner... might be naren had not, and height is that I have seen Naren taking dinner yesterday night[10:00pm] when I reached flat and I remembered these things when I was heading for office today[9:30am]. And all this because of PASSPORT related suffering.

Longing to Work on Linux :(

Man, console is console. May be green over black ... but that's life. Today, it started very hectic...reached office by 12:45pm. Long pending passport case... went to deccan police station for re-verification..and to my horror ....no personal particular's file found which i Submitted on 4th August 2006 after heated arguments with PO and PRO...

Seems the suffering is not yet over on this issue...

Gifted

We do not deserve this precious gift, but we all are already gifted.

You need very strong vision to work with XML & XSLT

My eyes are straining looking at the XML code.

My best banking experiences

Amazing Striking coincidence... this is the best of all. Around two years before my wrist watch failed and I didn't got time to repair it. After few days I realized why do I need a wrist watch at all and dropped the idea of bearing a wrist watch. ... thus passed one and half year and suddenly one morning I felt I should wear a wrist watch.

I went to cupboard, and searched for the wrist watch.. it was in coma as I left it. So decided to repair it after office hours. Went to office... And any guesses!!! in few hours a gift from HDFC came searching me. and it was a pretty wrist watch I am adoring till date. Isn't that amazing.

Now this happened yesterday. It was dandia night at office yesterday. Everyone has to bring dandias with him. I forgot to buy dandia a day b4 and went to office. The same day I went to HSBC bank for some work in the morning and decided to buy dandia way back. When I reached the bank, the ambience there was in festive mood. I finished my work and was about to leave the bank, there was a photographer at entrance lobby with polaroid camera, who offered me a snap with traditionally dressed cutout, Her companion girl in garba robes put pagadi on my head and gifted me Dandiyas. Then he took my snap in bank itself.

Last time prior to this when I went to HSBC bank was Ganesh Festival period. Same great experience... They established ganesh idol inside bank... Songs in praise of Ganesha were playing in the background. Then they did Aaarti, and distributed Prashad to all in the bank.

If these kind of experiences you get... surely you will not miss any reason to go to your bank.

A child lost in a cubicle... somebody help...

I own two laptops.
First one 1.6 Gigs, 60GB, 512MB, DVD r/w
&
Second 443MHz, 6GB, 128MB, cd rom

Today I was able to connect to net using the later one... and after few moments of surfing suddenly I heard a voice. I was not able to recognize the voice but it sounded familier. I started surfing again. It is possible using this low end machine... then why I was longing for a lavish machine. I long for so many things like a luxurious flat, car, laptop, digicam, branded clothes & shoes, foreign visit, and many more... Isn't this true for all of us who work in IT industry. This industry has given us the power to realize our dreams but what it has taken from us is undoubtedly uncountable in any measure.

Looking in the past I remember my childhood ... My father was able to give me and my sister, good education and life in spite of earning a four figure salary. The life was so beautiful at that time. We go to school, we dream of a good future and we pursue our hobbies & interests, and we decide that we will certainly do well in that area. We think we will live with our family forever and will give them all the happiness that we can.

Now I often search that child in my cubicle. That child is now become a software engineer. Starting five figure salary is less for him. He wants to earn more. He knows his radius very well. He do not even think of coming out of his cubicle... because his cubicle is the safest place for him. That cubicle gives him shelter, money and recognition...why he will come out of such a cubicle? He wants to have life like every other person in his surrounding and in industry. He starts running behind materials and completely forget about the child sadly staring towards him. That child thinks I will surely hold him and then he will sit on my shoulders. but I do not have any time to look towards him. At first that child complains a lot, later the child realizes that whatever I am doing is good for my career but, the child starts departing from myself. The child thinks he was never me who is just running for myself. The child then walks out of the cubicle because there's no one to take care of him and silently moves out from one's life... never to comer back. The child wasn't stopping me from what I was doing, neither he was unhappy with growth of technology... What he always wanted was few moments from my life.

I am searching for the child; coz I too dwell in a cubicle.

At Chennai Central....Mumbai mail at 10:50pm

India rocks!!!!

Coool...

Todays limelight, Are we Indians crazy...is the media gone completely mad...
Mumbai Mahim beach ..Lot's of people gathered there to drink sweet sea water. Media giving full coverage to them..and the enthusiastic youth of nation drinking that muddy water[and donno know how many chemicals are mixed in that dirty water]kipping one eye at the Camera; as if they have found an opportunity to be a STAR...

Now think if one is ready to drink such dirty, muddy water in this country then why shout about chemicals in Coca-Cola. They are less dangerous than this so called Sweet sea water. Even well suited, white collar people were seen on TV, drinking the holy water. And I being at my flat,[c,mmon Its a weekend] has no other job than watching the ediot box, full of ediots.

When a common man applies for a passport....

"Satya Ghatna Pe Aadharit- All Characters and events bears resemblence with real life characters and events.
Lead Cast: Manish Khurpade
Plot: Pune
Organizations involved:
Passport Authority of India,
Police Station Deccan Gymkhana, Pune
Police Aauktalaya, Pune
Anti Corruption Beurew, Pune

Prologue:
Manish Khurpade came to pune on 7th June 2004 after completing his BE. He started working in IT industry, where he realized that he should get his passport as soon as possible. This fellow is very stubborn so he decided to apply for passport from Pune instead of his hometown, because he has completed One year stay which is the minimum eligibility criteria to apply for a Passport from any place. After completing project at hand he applied for passport on 19 October 2005.

Story starts from here.

========>
Manish has carefully read the rules and terms for applying for a passport. He didn't want to go through a agent because he is the main cast of story. He decided to do all by himself. In this endeavour he wasted 5 passport forms. Another complication is that he has resided at two different places in his years stay at Pune. No matter what may come, He managed to properly fill up the form and attached necessary address proofs, and he did this without taking any help. So finally his form got accepted on 19-Oct-2005 at passport office.

He was waiting for letter from Police department for verification, which would have come after 15-20 days from the date of submission for passport. But December end came and still he hasn't received any, so he decided to go to police station and do his verification.

The morning of Dec 27, 2005 the GuruPoornima day; Manish got up early in the morning. He stays opposite Police Ground, so he went to the police station, just on the other side of road and told the scenario..

The shocker of life came when the Police told him that the area on the opposite side of road is under Deccan Police Station and not under his jurisdiction. What a spinner. He could see the entrance of his society from Police station but... alas.

So he went to Deccan police station, no one pays heed to anyone there. After enquiry he went to one specific Police officer designated for passport verification. The police officer took a deep look at documents and said nothing. There was silence for 10 mins. The officer again looked at applicant. He was like say something man.. but no words... Then the hero of the story asked .. sir is it done? Officer said yes.. go ahead. The hero of story felt happy, gave thanks to officer and left police station.

Little did he knew that this is the beginning of an ordeal.

-----

Update 1: Later I got to know that this police send negative verification report for no reason. Or may be because I failed to ask him the real thing and grease his hands with money.

Update 2: Came again for police verification to the same officer. This time too he send negative report. Wondering if something hinted on my application that "this fellow is not paying bribe, reject his verification" ... The guy at Police Aauktalaya must have done something.

Update 3: Third time, the same officer. He was surprised to see me for third time. This time he sent he sent positive report.

Now I’ve found you There’s no more emptiness inside..

Let's believe in soul of world.....It might listen to you someday...

I was standing
All alone against the world outside
You were searching
For a place to hide

Lost and lonely
Now you’ve given me the will to survive
When we’re hungry...love will keep us alive

Don’t you worry
Sometimes you’ve just gotta let it ride
The world is changing
Right before your eyes
Now I’ve found you
There’s no more emptiness inside
When we’re hungry...love will keep us alive

I would die for you
Climb the highest mountain
Baby, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do

I was standing
All alone against the worlk outside
You were searching
For a place to hide
Lost and lonely
Now you’ve given me the will to survive
When we’re hungry...love will keep us alive
When we’re hungry...love will keep us alive
When we’re hungry...love will keep us alive

I want, at least 10 people who can bet; that the worst personality they have seen on this planet is me

Trying to become a man of value...

clouds, rain and the soul

yesterday was again a day of rain both inside and outside.
There are very few days when clouds gather both in and out and starts pouring and on such a day feels like there exists a soul of world which listens to you. Is there any soul of world which listens to prayers or is it just a imagination of a writer. whatever it may be but one thing is for sure that when you believe in a power it helps you stand amidst situations, even hardships. But when you do not believe in any power...That's the real courage...you are alone
amidst a desert. Alone fighting the sand trying to bury you, the heat trying to burn you, the wind trying to penetrate you. only you can help yourself. The pain of a atheist is that he knows there exists nothing but still he wants to believe in somehing and he doesn't find anything because he has lost faith. How can he believe in things which he knows that they do not exist. Have you ever lived a moment as god. then only you can know what a atheist suffers from. This is not hypocrisy or exaggeration..This is a challenge. Have you ever tried to put yourself in place of god. You all say your god dwells everywhere then why not inside you. If you are a part of him you should know his pains. But there lies a distinction what we have made to ease our lives...we are a part of that power but still we are different from him we count ourselves in mortals.and carefuly part ourself from all worries what god might have suffered. I am not trying to be god here;I just want you to think rationally. But I love those who have who have faith in something, they are superior to all atheisths because They are doing exactly what they are supposed to do.

Finally i brought a machine

One wish has found it's way, this weekend i brought a brand new hp - compaq presario V2623TS laptop. It was there on my wishlist from so many days. so to celebrate the 2nd year at Pune (we came here on 7 th June 2004) i fullfilled my wish. It's a gud machine 1.5GHz celeron, 512 DDR RAM (i upgraded from 216 ), 60 GB HDD, DVD R/W, 14'' TFT, Touchpad with scrollpad, 6 in 1 media rader, 6 cell Li ion battery, Altec Lancing speakers, wireless LAN, 3 USB , 1 expansion, TV out, 1 PCMCIA & few more ports... and all this for only Rs 37000. It was a good deal . I took it from DCC, pune. Only thing is I took it DOS preloaded (no fancy XP or; no not so fancy Linux). So no driver CD's included. I installed both XP and Linux on it later. But I visited DCC again to get the video, audio and other drivers. On Linux the audio driver is not present with RHL 9.0 distribution. The display is not that excellent; but nothing to worry about it. The sleek looks and the stylish design takes over this flaw. Its very compact and all ports and DVD drive are placed properly. Great ergonomics....

overall I rate my compaq presario V2623TS -----> 8/10 . Its a very good machine in its class.

Being Positive...

Being so much positive doesnt always helps...One should be optimistic to see life, but being always positive; one will loose the essense of life. Nothing weird here....Be negative and fight back; sometimes to really live out that moment. There was times when men of words accesed there vocal facilities. Desperate situations needs desperate measures and being positive doesn't always helps in such situations. I am tired of being positive. Being always positive is like accepting any good or bad, thinking that it was you who can make something postive out of it. but wait if you think negative at moments; you will stop and analyze, you will rollback to arrange the things properly...but being always positive you cant rollback...cause its against possitivity..you keep pushing the things and end up messing all of them.

Surrya came to Pune

Thanks surrya..for coming to pune this past weekend. it was gr8 fun atop
Sinhgarh and the late night movie at E-Sqaure. We predecided to tire you
out..but your energy and spirit is awesome.. great man...always keep it
up and do tell the same to mayank and pratik..I am waiting for you all
three to come together next month...

DUS Team

The Team Spartan(DUS Team)...
(We were sitting on the biggest cannon located on Zanzira fort. Its known
as "KalalBangdi" which depicts the sound of bangles. It was known that
when a shell is fired the rings attached to this cannon use to sound like
that)

We went to Zanzira fort which is 3km inside sea. It was a adventurous tour as we went there on bikes at the time of midnight. First we went to "Dive Aagar" from there "Zanzira" is about 35 km.

Exploring the sites at Zanzira