0 HAPPY POHRI !!!!!

Finally the much awaited festival of ‘Lohri’ has come…but this time I am not at home ,in Punjab, with my family to celebrate  Lohri. The moment I hear this word ‘Lohri’, all those memories flash on my retina…..Lohri bonfire, Mungfli(ground nut), Reodiyaan, Chidve(puffed rice) and the ever hit song ‘Sundar mundariye HOYE ,Tera kaun Vichara HOYE, Dullah Bhatti wala HOYE….’ Sung in the praise of Dullah Bhatti, a punjabi avatar of Robinhood who robbed rich to help poor.

         Gone are the days….when I was a kid…..as free as a bird,when we, The Basanti Gang(a group of some fifteen children) would go from door to door singing folk songs and demanding the Lohri ‘loot’ in the form of money and eatables like til(sesame )seeds, peanuts, jaggery and sweets like gajak(chikki), reodiyaan etc….when getting 500g of gajak meant everything to us.

I remember Lohri  eve,13^th January 2011, the first festival of the year for us(punjabis), was a day of festivity and merrymaking. Goody Aunty and I had specially bought parandi. Though it didn’t fit in my hair as it was not that long, but I still managed to fix that with pins. My exquisite green and yellow Patiala salwar –kameez made me look adorable. Those voices still echo in my ears and I automatically get a smile when I think of Lohri.

Yeah….I could see everybody was ready, looking elegant and cheerful in their lovely traditional Punjabi outfits. With the setting of sun, amidst the freezing cold, temperature vacillating between 0-5 degrees Celsius and the dense fog, huge bonfire was lit in the front yard of our neighbour, Sharma Uncle’s house. We all were excited as it was the first Lohri of their daughter-in-law at their place. I thought I was looking the most elegant, but then came the newly wed couple.Bhabhi(their daughter-in-law) was looking absolutely graceful in purple and green, pure silk salwar-kameez. Her maroon phulkari dupatta (spectacular style of embroidery
peculiar to Punjab) almost took my breath….I envied her….I even asked her to get me a dress like that. Mati(my grand mother) and her friends(other elderly ladies) sang folk songs and blessed the newly wed couple. We all gathered around the rising flames, circled around(Parikrama) the bonfire,throwing puffed rice, pop corns and ground nuts into the holy fire, shouting “Ishar aaye, dalidar jaye….”(May the God come and the poverty vanish).After parikrama, all the people were meeting their friends, relatives and exchanging greetings and gifts.Mati told me to distribute Prasad(offerings made to God). Prasad comprises of five items : til, gajak, jaggery, peanuts, pop corns). Winter savories were served around the bon-fire with traditional dinner of makki di roti(maize hand rolled bread) and sarson da sag(cooked mustard herbs).

As I had to leave for internship at Infosys Mysore after some days (22/01/2011), all were wishing me luck and showering their blessings. Then came the time for the event, I had been waiting for…..THE BHANGRA. All the members of Basanti Gang(I laugh when I say this) were there. We were no more  kids  but that evening  ,we had forgotten this fact for some time .I along with fun loving, energetic and enthusiastic young friends of mine, was then lost in Bhangra amidst the beats of the drum. And the Bhangra continued till our bodies ached.

Yesterday, I got a courier, guess what, Bhabhi has sent me something…..the same kind of dress she wore last year on Lohri , the dress I envied her for. Wow !!!!! I feel so elated to have this surprise. It reminds me that miles away, people remember me. I got an intense feeling of Deja-vu when I had first glance of my gift. Thank You Bhabhi !!!!!!  This year I will celebrate Pongal with my friends from this part of India….I think if I wear my new Punjabi dress on pongal…I can call it POHRI(Pongal+Lohri).

The message spread by both Pongal and Lohri is same….the same message of oneness and the spirit of brotherhood while thanking God for good harvest and prosperous life. Wow !!! It feels so amazing to imagine myself in Punjabi suit with malli-pu(jasmine flowers) in my hair !!!!!

HAPPY LOHRI…..Rather Happy POHRI to all J

De Mai Lohri Jeeve Teri Jodi (May God Bless Your Marriage, Lady, Give Us Lohri) :)

0 Unconditional Love Triumphs

   Tick! Tick! Tick! I could hear clearly, Oh! It was the clock saying 4:30 am. I rose from the bed, picked my N72 phone and went on the roof. My eyes were fixed on the breathtaking ambience of the starry cover. I began thanking God for so many happy years and the life of bliss He has blessed me with.       

                                 Something in me knew, somebody miles away would be thinking of me.I was waiting with apprehension; silently hoping that he would call. TRINN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...................I picked as soon as it rung. A tear rolled down my cheek when I heard  “HAPPY BIRTHDAY my child” in an impeccable voice.

Sometimes I try to contemplate, how unpredictable, vacillating the life is. I can’t help myself from wondering when I feel its beauty, when I think of all it has given me in the past two decades. You never know what destiny has for you to unravel the very next second.                    

 In the course of life, people come and go and the cycle goes on and on…..But at certain heavenly moments, we meet some people who are a bit at odds, unlike the majority  who came before them and will come after them. You just like them, their presence fetches solace. I don’t know whether everybody is lucky to have such angels or not but yes, I am the LUCKY ONE. You just need a serene eye to recognize.

Like most of the humans on earth, I too have a family and love it like anything. I never had even a dimmest notion that someday I would admire and love somebody as one of my family members….but he deserves this. He, I know has always had a special place for me. They say, “The relations defined by blood are more intense than any other one”. But the unfeigned affection I see in his eyes for me has always challenged this quote. I just forget all worldly tensions and discomfort when his hand slowly revolves on my head, when he gently taps on my shoulder, touches my face and smiles back at me. Neither have I  ever addressed him as my father nor has he ever introduced me as his daughter to anybody but we both know what we are to each other.

Though an opinionated person on men and matters, he listens to others patiently who try to convince him but rarely concedes their points. People (who know us both) say, “Only Ashima can take up the challenge of convincing him”. He is brutally frank and outspoken, a quality very few understand and admire in him. The positive way of looking at it, I think, is total absence of hypocrisy in him. He believes in practicing what he often advises me-never compromise on ethics for money. The  other thing that I have learnt from him and which he himself practices is extending a helping hand when it is sought. He is brisk and efficient in whatever he does. Not everybody understands him. His frankness is sometimes misinterpreted as sourness, but such things can never dwindle my faith. He is strict disciplinarian and most of the times wears a stern expression but his stiff lips begin to widen into a smile when I come to his sight.

“Ashima, you will rise high and brighten my name”, has always been his refrain. I have never said to him but he knows I love him. I have my father, he has his children, still there is divine bond that binds us together. If I ever choose a guy, I will look for some qualities that I see in him. Something deep in me feels there is something that only I have and that others do not.

Flabbergasted I am, such are the surprises of life :)

0 NAMMA CHENNAI!!!!! (Our Chennai)

 VANAKAMM (NAMASTE!!!!!) to readers!!!!!

Today I complete two months of living in Chennai. Should I be glad at the milestone or sad that I have been separated from almost all loved ones. The day I left from Chandigarh Airport is still fresh in my memory, I had lived in hostel for four years, but when I heard last call for check in, my heart started beating faster.

Despite the chaos and noise at airport, I could hear my heart beat. The world around me became so silent for a moment. I was leaving for a far away land.

 I had already realised I would not meet my family for months. They could only be seen on web cam. My mother had not come to see off. I ran to hug my father. Reluctantly I let him go and said bye and started moving towards check in counter. I wanted to hug my sister but could not.  She stood still with her hand in air ,choked with emotions. I wanted to shout, "Apurva I will miss you". I had never known until then that I love her so much.

Finally I landed here in Chennai, my dreamland, my   karambhoomi (what my Mom calls it).Initially I felt as if I had landed on MARS, a place where people would stare at me, where I knew nobody, where I had no place to sit, no computer allocated, no place to sit(other than food court),nobody to talk to, and above all.....a tag of "ON BENCH"( Vehla).

So many worries would dance inside my head.I had got a job but I didn't know whether it was end of my troubles or was it a beginning.....While being here for two months, I have discovered something about myself. I have got closer to GOD. By God I mean the conversation I have with myself while sitting in front of image of Lord. I would sit and in an attempt to tell GOD my problems would talk to self and would find the solutions.....(amazing way to break your can of worms !!!!).

Blood curdling images would begin to rise from the depths of my imagination whenever I thought of staying in Chennai for months. I would inspirit myself that I was strong and resolute and could handle any situation.

Ok after enough of emotional ordeal, it was time to explore Chennai(meri jaan). One fine Sunday, I along with some new friends(people to whom I owe my survival here) went to Express Avenue, the biggest shopping mall in Chennai. It has couple of floors. I would get lost many a times not knowing where did I enter and where to exit. It was heavily crowded. People were coming in as if it was the most important monument.....Not to miss types.Two hours and I was all drained. Omg ! they charged us whole earth for a simple North Indian meal. Many a times I had to pay price for not knowing local language Tamil(Rs 200 for a single side drop). No wonder beach is beautiful. Just ten minutes walk along the beach.....and all fatigue had vanished into the beautiful surrounding. The waves lashing against the shore sent vibes of joy into me.

After much ado, I found a Gurudwara(I googled for it).On reaching the only Gurudwara in Chennai(Thyagaraja Nagar), I felt as if I had accomplished some eminent goal (like climbing mount Everest). I could feel the same divine ambiance that I used to feel at Gurudwara at Patiala. That was the best day in Chennai till now. Every evening when I reach my rented apartment, I thank heavens for placing me there. These MNCs just suck your blood. I have a small house where I live but at peace with my four friends. I never thought I would cut vegetables, mop.....all that domestic drudgery. By the time I leave Chennai, I will have enough of culinary experience. Every morning we wake up by a fixed alarm. Aunty who lives in the house below ours, shouts "Ashreya", "Ashreya", "Ashreya" around 7 in the morning. She calls out her daughter's name so loudly that it has become our daily alarm.What else.....huum I 'celebrated' dussehra here. Everywhere you would see broken watermelons. All nooks, corners, streets were red & green. Nobody burns Ravan's effigy here and some even consider him great scholar.

Huum.....about people they have exquisite manners, these south Indians. They remove footwear out before entering home. But I seldom hear anyone laughing here.Nobody even talks in bus or train. The most common suffix is 'a' (like 'curda' for 'curd').And when there is 't' at end of any name, they add 'h' to it (like 'Bharath' for 'Bharat', Preethi' for 'Preeti').Most of my neighbours follow 'early to bed early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise'. One day I was coming back from office. The street looked so desolate. It was only nine and felt like two in the morning in the quiet lane.

Huum if you ask me about weather, it is summer from october to feb and rest of the year it is deadly summer :)Only air conditioning and soothing music is respite from forty degree sun outside.

Huum for food I will say sambar rice, curd rice, spinach rice, pongal, vada, idli, dosa are their favourites. Food has good value in south. Initially I found that strange, vegetables are cut up and served in watery curries.

Good things about Chennai is it is a big city with small town attitude. Simple kurta will find same respect as apparels from French Connection. And a woman can stroll around even at midnight without the fear of prying lecherous eyes following her.

Being at Infosys Chennai DC, I have realised how diverse our country is, human beings of different ethnicities and religions, customs and costumes, cuisines and colors, languages and accents, are working together under the same roof, sharing same dreams. I have come to this wonderland for my career. I thought I would realise all my dreams. But then my dreams were simple, to have a home that is filled with books, CDs, my laptop, Sufi and folk punjabi music. And my loved ones to shower their love on me.

Well, Chennai has given me some of these. But my dreams have an icky habit of expanding their circumference time to time. Still I hope Chennai will treat me well!!!!!

GOD BE WITH ME !!!!!

2 ~~THIS IS MY INFY~~

"Wow See!!!! This building looks like White House!", my amazed friend uttered. We wondered which wonderland we were wandering in.I was too ecstatic about being called 'INFOSCION'.The mere glimpse of that young gentleman in infosys campus brought back the remembrance of that day.........the day of my interview when the same man in impeccable black suit spoke from his chair,"Lady, you are welcome to INFOSYS ".First twenty hours were terrific.I was on cloud nine because according to my family,correction,according to my extended clan,it was an eminent thing to get a job offer at an age of 20.5.

     Next morning we had to assemble in a titan hall.I can say unflinchingly,had Shah Jahan seen these buildings before getting Taj Mahal built,he would have definitely thought once of changing his design.Numerous policies,constraints,annexures,rules,conducts,principles were introduced to us.I was fascinated by PPTs.The maiden page of infosys intranet occupied with infy heroes in various kaleidoscopic combinations knocked over our minds.Immense silence ran through the hall when the man representing HR addressed us in a potent voice.His words penetrated deep inside me and I felt a strange happiness and bliss being associated with infy.But the other side of my brain was was occupied by a serious thought,I was about to play roulette with my life,either it could be a glorious start of my career or........(I would not like to mention).
      "Get up! it's 7:15", my roommate yelled at me.We had to report at 8:30 am.The first day,I somehow reached on time,courtesy my roommate.All cranned their necks to hear the lecture.All I could see was people busy in frantic note-taking.In just 34 days,they would make you learn six languages. OMG!!!!! a person like me who used to end up messing with eighteen errors in a printf statement, was left alone to huddle with troubles in the jungle of pointers,structures,files,objects,functions and so on.However it was a herculean task, I had to emerge victorious.Darwin's theory "SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST" would hold true.Finally after coming out of the deadly jungle,my C and C++ are not what they used to be.Like to see a sample?

#include<iostream>
#include<string.h>
using namespace std;

class At_Ucoe
{
protected:
char * wakeuptime;
char * sleeptime;
float studyhrs;
public:
virtual void SetThings()
{
strcpy(wakeuptime,"12.00pm");
strcpy(sleeptime,"4.00am");
studyhrs = 0.5;
}

void Display()
{
cout<<wakeuptime<<endl;
cout<<sleeptime<<endl;
cout<<studyhrs<<endl;
}
};

class At_Infy :public At_Ucoe
{
public:

void SetThings()
{
strcpy(wakeuptime,"6.00am");
strcpy(sleeptime,"2.00am");
studyhrs = 13.25;
}
};

int main(int argv, char ** argc)
{
At_Ucoe *Ptr ;
Ptr= new  At_Ucoe();
Ptr->SetThings();
Ptr->Display();
Ptr = new At_Infy();
Ptr->SetThings();
Ptr->Display();
return 0;
}

   I got Re(Retest) in continuity in first three subjects(I cleared all later),I cursed my desktop for that,so next time I sat on another PC and got through.Then onwards,I termed that computer as 'LUCKY COMPUTER' and occupied only that during tests....(don't laugh it's not a joke, my feelings are still associated with LUCKY).All the times,no matter it was 12:00 am or 12 :00pm,I could hear irritating keyboard noises.The speed of coding(typing) could tell the grade of the person.A nine pointer would do it abruptly fast and loud, an eight pointer would take a little longer,seven pointers referred book to type, six-five pointers would take forever to code.So decibels generated during coding was directly proportional to the CGPA of the person.
    Here in Infy,vacation is the best thing one can wish for.One fine sunday,I had a freak-out.On road sides,I saw kannada signs which resembled optical illusion puzzles.I never thought I would ever wander on mysore roads with Jasmine flowers(gajra) in my hair.Ladies wore as much gold as bodies could carry and silk saris shiny as road reflectors.All around I could see 'gajras' and coconuts and could hear alien voices.I asked my new south-indian friend,"Which place you belong to?" She said 'something something puram'.She pronounced it as if it was the easiest word on earth to pronounce.
     
     Hello fellow engineers! if you have any plan to be in INFY, it's time to get up!!!!!! You must retain a CGPA of atleast 8 to pass.I can certainly say that in first one and a half month,I went through ups,downs,emotional stress,psychotic affliction,restlessness and did whatever it would take to reach 8.On the day when I appeared for my last exam,I was in a rattled state.'1 minute 28 seconds' were left to submit answers,my heartbeat became fast.The screen read '59 seconds left'.With every passing moment,I was advancing towards mouse,my fingers were growing numb,hubbub in my stomach was growing stronger.'40 sconds left'.....I prayed to the almighty to bless me with atleast 65%(passing marks)."30 seconds left"  and I clicked 'SUBMIT ANSWERS'. And the result screen popped up with 130/200.....dot 65% !!!!!Tinkles of relief ran down my spine.I closed my eyes and thanked God again.Guys it's hard to accept defeat especially when you know you were almost there, even harder to talk about it especially with parents and the hardest is to live with a feeling 'I COULD NOT'...So never let your spirits fall,never let your faith diminish,never ever give up.Always strive hard to face the monster and conquer it because nothing under the sun can stand before a dauntless spirit.So try till saturation and the rest must be left to the LORD.That's all we can do!!!!!!!!!!

P.S.  Poets and writers must start studying C,C++ seriously.
        Techies may ignore my words.
                                                                 (ISSUED UNDER PUBLIC INTEREST)

1 "WE ARE HAPPY"...the words to remember

Today I met them again…the elderly couple…yes the same couple who once asked me for a glass of water ….and showered upon me hundreds of blessings just for fetching them some water. I have met them many times and every time I feel a strange kind of happiness…

Since morning I have been haunted by the vicious thoughts….I am trying to search deep within me the way how I can lessen their suffering. I zoomed into my conscience and found no answer. It’s just the unease that has occupied me and does not allow me to think about anything else.

I was on my way to Library and saw a bullock cart advancing towards me. I could hardly subdue my gladness. Then I rushed towards them and asked them to stop. I went near them. I could feel the serenity in the voice of the old lady. She was happy to see me and then gently tapped me on my shoulder and touched my face. Her expressions were calm.Her silver hair was being straggled by wind. Every wrinkle of her face was portraying atrocity of the old age.

The old man was quiet for most of the time I stood near them. I asked him, “Bapu ji kidaan chalda?”(How is life going, Grand Pa?)

He didn’t say anything but managed to reply with his gestures…I got a little sad on seeing that. The glow I witnessed on his face last time was a little diminished this time. He had grown more feeble and could hardly manage to make the bullock cart move. 

I asked the old lady, "Bebe ji Ki haal hai?"(How are you granny?)She replied with much despair, “Puttar Gode nahin chalde hun bahut dard hundi hai.”(The pain in knee joints has grown severe, my child !)

I noticed she was losing “something” day by day. That “something” I may not be able to define consummately, but yes, that has to do something with energy, will to survive, urge to live…..

I said, “Hun tusi kamm ghatt karya karo te aaram zyada” (Now you must work less and rest more). Her answer was “Roti kithon khayiye?”(How do earn bread then?”)

I was like very much dismayed after hearing her those words.

They gather dry grass and sell in the market. That is how they make their living. Last time when I asked about their family, She replied, “Sade Bete vi ne, bahuyaan vi ne……par koi kise da nai…asi bojh ban gaye haan ohna te. Sada taan bas Oh hi hai. ” (We have sons, daughters-in-laws…but we have become burden to them. So now we have only one more member in our family other than two of us and that is THE ALMIGHTY”…..It’s only He whom we call our own!!!!!”)

Her answer almost set me still.

Their struggle to service the hardest phase of life is worth appreciation. I have learnt a good lesson from the Bebe Ji and the Bapu Ji…..The life has become more or less a test for them. I imagined...Had I been at their place, I would have never been able to sustain in such days.

To my utter surprise , she said, “WE ARE HAPPY ”…and gave me a contented smile. I can never forget that moment. Her those words are still echoing in my mind. Despite such back breaking hurdles, struggle to survive, she said, “We are happy”…This was something that my mind refused to believe. I could only say, “TUSI APNA DHYAN RAKHIYO”(Take care)…to conclude the conversation. She again touched my forehead and cheek softly with her rough hands. THEIR CART STARTED MOVING AND I STOOD STILL, WATCHING THEM MOVING AWAY…..

2 The Fern And The Bamboo

One day I decided to quit…..I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality…..I wanted to quit my life

 I went to woods to have a one last talk with God.

“God”, I asked ,”Can you give me one good reason not to quit?” His answer surprised me …..”Look around”, He said. “Do you see the fern and the bamboo?” “Yes”, I replied.

“When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed.

In the   second year the fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again nothing came out of the bamboo seed. “But I didn’t quit on the bamboo”, He said.

In three years there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit.

In year four, there was nothing from bamboo seed. “I would not quit”, He said.

“Then in the fifth year, a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern, it was seemingly small and insignificant”. But just six months later, the bamboo rose to over ten feet tall. IT HAD SPENT FIVE YEARS GROWING ROOTS. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive.

“I WOULD NOT GIVE ANY OF MY CREATIONS A CHALLENGE THAT IT COULDNOT HANDLE” .!!!He asked me, “Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots.”
"I would not quit on you"
"Don't compare yourself with others", He said.
 "The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern."
 "Yet they both make the forest beautiful"
 "Your time will come."
 "You will rise high."
God said to me.
"How high should I rise?", I asked.
"How high will bamboo rise", He asked in turn.
"As high as it can?", I questioned."Yes", He said, "Give me the glory by rising as high as you can". I left the forest and brought back the story.

I HOPE THE WORDS WILL HELP YOU SEE THAT GOD WILL NEVER QUIT ON YOU.
Never, Never, Never give up. Don’t  tell the God how big the problem is,tell the problem how GREAT GOD IS !!!!!                                                                                                                          

0 IMAGINATION

Are u in the habit of observing things?
Have u ever been to your garden? Of-course yes. But very honestly you should confess
that you seldom feel rejoiced being in the garden.....Let me take you to a new world.....THE WORLD OF
IMAGINATION.
Did you ever notice the climbs at the circumference of the garden.Two tendrils would seem like
two reptiles that are about to battle......The little area of Garden might be habitat to a million of
creatures,...for tiny insects,moving from one corner of the garden to other would be like hundred Kms are to us........every leaf might have felt the breeze......flowers might have competition among them, for blooming before one another.....Fruits might have felt the pain of separation from the beloved tree with whom they had spent a good period.......Birds might have thanked the Jasmine buds for the fragrance they spread.......Grass might have loved to taste the dew........How happy every leaf,branch,stem of the tree would have been when a new fruit had   appeared on the tree........It's like the arrival of new member in their family.......They might talk to each  other.......They might have their own ways of expression........They might feel the affliction when we pluck them......they might be distressed when some leaf or flower went dry........


I think your reaction would be a mix of ridicule and astonishment but great sculptures are nothing but conversations of artists.The greatness is not in the thing done.The greatness is in consciousness that makes u do that......Did you ever notice how austere and hardened  is the life of monks who live under vow.They envisage and design their lives in accordance with what they feel is perfect BUT we see this as the hardship.......All depends upon how we view things..........IMAGINATION IS ONLY THE POWER OF MIND.........
Crush all the materialistic bounds and view a thing as you wish to and not as shown by people.This will fetch you the confidence and if you confide in self ,you have won half the battle even before you have started.........And if you don't have this generous thing in you then you need to peep into yourself and decide what and how you wish to see...................