Beyond Da Vinci Code

The best seller of Dan brown’s work Da Vinci code ,no doubt, turned to be the favourite of so many ardent mystery book lovers. I am no exception. The book caught me in clutches when I read it first. Still when i read it, it keeps me from getting distracted.

After reading the book, I started exploring more and more on the Templars, Constantine, Roman and Jewish Practices. Any book shop I go, these books catch my attention and end up in my book shelf at home. One such book is ‘Beyond the Da Vinci Code’.

When Dan brown confirmedly declares Jesus would have got married, this book focuses on all the Practices, rituals of the Jews at that timeline and concludes saying Jesus may or may not have got married. I would not term it interesting; it was a big hard bound book full of facts. It changed my complete view on Leonardo of Vinci.

But what intended me to share in this blog is not about Dan brown or his works. When I was pondering over all these, something struck hard in my thoughts. Being a Christian and grown in beliefs, virtues and values of Christianity, with faith in Christ, why do I show much interest on something that defames my root of faith and that too not proven anywhere. But meagre interest I have on the realism.

There are so many silent achievers in my surrounding and family which I am not aware of. And the history of India is the richest in the world. I never had the urge to know about all that till now. Is it human tendency? Are we following whatever he has said, the good virtues, and the life of a perfect Samaritan? The answer is big no. Then why feel betrayed that our root of faith is misled?

There are so many intrusions of other cultures in our lives today. Are we satisfied with any Indian brand for any product we use? We always look out for an international brand. When the life of a common man is deeply influenced by other cultures, imagine the impact of the contemporary cultures on Christianity.

It is best to explore Bible and learn to live on its discourses rather than trying to find the family life of Jesus Christ. I don’t care a thing if Jesus is married, had a kid or any sort. I had, have, and will have faith on the man who walked the very earth I am living now, and gave excellent principles for human beings to live ethically, and shed his blood to save the lot from their sins.

A day in my life with an Earthquake of Richter scale 5

When the earthquake at Indonesia carried its impact till Chennai, it was the first time I encountered an earthquake and it was the very first time I ever realised how much I valued my life.It all started after lunch on that ‘D-day’. I remember I had so much work and post lunch, I was busy continuing them. Suddenly, my friend Anu pinged me in the MOC and asked whether my chair is shaking. I thought she was kidding. I turned back and asked Pradeepa whether she experienced anything. She too laughed at this.

But there started a commotion, when all the people who experienced this got agitated and wanted to move out. It was, by then, I realised a little movement. I got literally scared out of my wits. I started feeling a bit of nausea. Then all of us took the emergency exit and assembled at the safe point. All were so sceptic and wanted to know if their dear ones at home are safe. They wanted to reach them but in vain.

Only one mobile had network. 3 Guesses who. Yes, it was mine. Idea 3G. :) Such a great work of the Idea sir Ji to have a good connection at my office. All the while, we were chatting, made fun of all, and reacted like school kids who were just announced a holiday but I felt the worst is not over. I called up my aunt to check if she is fine and she said there has been a tsunami alert.

My thought was just one thing. It’s going to be my last day on earth. Well, believe me folks, I am not exaggerating, you see, my office is at the OMR and most probably affected, when, I should say, if ever Tsunami hits.

A while later, fed up of waiting in the hot sun and thinking of the pending work to complete, we made our way back to cubicles. I was so relieved to see a mail from the management saying the worst is over and things have restored to normalcy. My dear brother George was calling me every ten minutes asking me to leave office ASAP as it was very close to the sea.

As I was answering his calls and reading the mail again, I experienced the same shaking again. I was confused. Should I believe the mail or my senses? I voted for my senses. (Of course I trust myself alone :) ). I decided to flee.

Then we got the news that our buses would ply in another half an hour. I couldn’t run immediately as I had work to complete. Finally completing everything at a speed equal to the speed of light, (ok ok, I accept, less than that :P ) we ran towards the bus bay.

It was more crowded than usual (Obvious). I was so lucky to have got a seat in my bus after which there were around 20 standing. Now another problem. The traffic was just too much. The driver declared he would reach the destination in about 3 to 4 hours or even more which would usually take 1 and a half hour.

Though shocked, I was relived to reach home. I plugged in my earphones to tune my FM to check the news. What I heard in the radio that day, I can never forget. The RJ was eagerly interviewing an earthquake victim about his experience. Then she said Please call to this number and share your experience too and you may win couple movie tickets to the recent movie released. ROFL.:) :) :)  (Well, actually I couldn’t really roll on the floor as it was crowded)

I called up my people back home and said I may turn up very late but that I was safe. Two guys suddenly declared in my bus that they know a different route avoiding the traffic. The driver agreed and with the help of them we started along ‘the path less travelled.’ The road was very bumpy. All along the way so many people were jeering at us, saying run run run tsunami is approaching. I felt bad. How can people behave like this in such a situation? The real reason was that the tsunami alert was withdrawn quite a long time back, I later realized. :)

Wonders of wonders, I reached home much earlier than my usual time, thanks to those two guys. I learnt two important things in life that day.

Life is not permanent and I cannot hold on to it as long as I wish. Anything can happen at any time. Be prepared.

Secondly, when just for an earthquake on a scale of 5, my scare level broke the scale; imagine the people who have suffered the worst in their lives. So, help those who are not that blessed as I am, as much as I can.

Earthquake news has taken the back seat very long back and I can understand your reaction at me for sharing this now. Couldn’t help it.  :)  

C&S Most welcome. 

Chubby Cheeks kids and Size zero teens of 2012

Every Monday I have a habit of checking my weight at the food court of my office. The mood of the rest of my week depends on the results displayed. When it is high, I used to scold myself now and then, cut all oily food (for one day alone, of course :P) and check my food habits for some time. Then 2 days will pass by, having planned a big diet chart.

Exact opposite when my weight has got reduced. I will be on seventh heaven. Will call up all my colleagues and convey this great news and even start advising diet tips to all. Though I too feel all this comical, it has become a routine. But a great relief comes to me when I see a particular kid in my neighbourhood. Always seen with a packet of kurkure, she has the chubbiest cheeks I have seen of kids of her age and very obese. Whenever my weight goes up I search for her on my way home. Seeing her, I would heave a sigh of relief thinking am not that fat at least.

To my surprise, I found myself spotting some more kids of same chubby nature. It was not the exact chubby cheeks I recall from my nursery rhymes. It was some sort of ‘chips’ cheeks. I mention chips cheeks because of all the kids I have spotted, none of them I could recall without a chips packet at hand. Also, they don’t have any physical activity. (My assumption, of course). I can never hear any outdoor activity nearby when I used to be at home during weekend. All I can hear is screaming and fighting sound when the power goes off. They seem to be glued to their television sets or play station or video game sets. Maybe that explains their obesity.

Exact acronym for describing the kids when they enter the teen age. Now that I don’t fall under the teenage category, ( :-( hmm became old) I can happily share comments about them. They all seem to be perfect size zeros, as bollywood names them. When the high obese kids enter teenage it is an alarming surprise on how they lose weight all of a sudden when shedding just a kilo seems impossible for me.

I started a conversation with a college going girl at my bus stop. The things she shared really shocked me. She has just one idly in the morning and has curd or dal rice for lunch and skips dinner. No chocolates, no fat fried foods or no junk. And once her weight sets as per her choice, She has a pizza or some other food when she goes on outing with friends.

I really felt so bad. Still now, whenever I go to a supermarket to get my kitchen shopping done, my hand
automatically adds chocolate to my basket. I wonder how they resist the small small happiness they can get at their age. But really marvel at their self control.

A serious question. Is it not unhealthy? This entire affair. Spending childhood glued to a spot with
unhealthy food habits and suddenly leaving all those to seem perfect among the peers. Who is to be blamed here? Is it the kids or the parents?. Should they not encourage them to do a bit of physical activity now and then, than getting them latest gizmos and spoiling their health and eye sight.
And as a college going teen, they do require lots of strength to do their bit. Unhealthy stringent diet and the makeover they use, I guess the parents are to be blamed more.

Are we losing the strength of our pillars of society? It’s better to start strengthening it rather than see it
wading away. I think I have started a bit of advising in my blog. But can’t help it guys. I see this as our responsibility of us as beacons of light to the future generation. As great programmer , coders and debuggers , why can’t we concentrate on this thing too and get our future installed in a healthy way.

Why this Kolaveri?

After watching a big ad fight between the TOI and The Hindu, I decided to read both the papers. Both contained the same news but the prioritisation and the size of column for each category of news were the ones that made a difference. But this is not what I am going to blog now.
An Advertisement of a furniture mart really caught my attention today. I don’t remember the tagline exactly, it was something like, ‘This will definitely win your neighbour’s jealousy’. Did they think we will buy their furniture to get great pleasure in seeing the rush of envy in our neighbour’s eyes than the comfort of their product?

Almost all other ads carried the same news. Fairness creams said, use me. All will look at you with envy. Garment shops said the same thing. Electronics stores said ‘Get things from my shop. You will save more than others and all will feel jealous on you.

One recent popular sentence came to my mind after seeing all this. ‘Why this kolaveri?’
Gone are the days when we went to get things we require. Marketing skills should be to list the advantages of a product and to tell the consumer to get it. It has now become like ‘I am better than this and that. Get me’. But do we think we really need it?

Also, we have started something like a race and a stream of jealousy between us and our surrounding. When we get a cushioned chair to sit comfortably, why should we think our neighbours feel envy about it? Getting a flawless skin should be for health reasons and not for a ‘fight for survival’ with the other gender.

This hatred goes on with nothing positive coming out of it. Day by day we lose every healthy relationship surrounding us with all those stupid idiotic illusions. The TV ad jingles are the first thing a kid learns to speak when his/her parents are ardent TV watchers. So, is it not the right time we learn to sit and think about the products we buy by just seeing the ads and educate the upcoming generation.

Please do start thinking friends.

My New Year resolution (Part 2)

When my dear younger brother said in his unusual teasing tone that he expected an update blog by Jan 22nd, I got reminded of my new year resolutions. Forgot all about it this year too.
Drinking water and saving are the only resolutions I have already started following. Stop biting nails, as usual, is an utter flop, as usual. I hope to follow it in the upcoming days as my friend at office is always reminding me to stop.

Getting up at 6 and catching 6.30 bus makes no time for all my yoga and exercise. I should tune my alarm a bit anticlockwise, I guess, to achieve this.
I don’t want to miss out my resolutions this year too. Maybe we can move this to follow from march 1. :P

Expect a blog again on Mar 22nd(no, no, no bad words pls :P)
Keep watching. :)

My gribouillages: Welcome 2012

My gribouillages: Welcome 2012: Bidding farewell to anyone is a difficult task. Though I am eager to welcome 2012, mixed feelings to bid farewell to 2011. It had not been m...

New Year resolutions

As the dawn of a new year is round the corner, I thought it was time to make my list of resolutions. First in my list was not to bite my nails. This is my one and only disgusting habit. I have tried a lot to overcome it, only in vain and it tops my New Year resolutions every year. My aunt used to watch and scold me every time I do it at home, but, she too, has stopped doing that nowadays thinking it to be a waste of time.

So, again this New Year, it has topped my list. And when I started thinking about my next, I was so lost in thoughts, deeply engrossed, biting my nails frantically. No one can help me out. :) It will always top my list as long as I am making resolutions.

Then came a thought that I was saving less from my income. So, it is second in my list. Whenever I fall ill, all used to advice me to drink ample water to be in good health. So another resolution. Drink 2 litres of water every day without fail.

Long long ago, so long ago, I learnt Yoga to overcome back pain. And took up a resolution now to practise it every day and walk for at least half an hour daily to be in good health. (The real reason is to lose weight:P)

5 resolutions in total. I read somewhere that if we practise something for 21 days it would become a habit. My target now is Jan 21. Not a single day should pass with my resolutions broken.

All these strong words are fine. But trust me, one day will come when I will have a thought some time that resolutions are meant to be broken and life is to be enjoyed as such. That day I will stop following all these. (That’s what has happened in the past ;) )

Enough of boring you all now. See, the ultimate objective of this blog is to declare that I have made my resolutions for the New Year (Though I may or may not follow :P) Will update on Jan 22 whether they have become my habits as well.

HAPPY NEW YEAR AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!