THE UNFORTUNATES

I saw him and I saw ecstasy,

It was neither a ball nor a balloon,

But his vision of a beautiful world he dreamt,

He hopped against the dancing breeze,

And played with an imaginary sword,

And I wondered “who are the real unfortunates”?

I saw him as I crossed the bridge,

And he waved with all consummate happiness,

I waved back but failed to par,

He neighed and stabbed me with his imaginary sword,

I fell down like a lost warrior,

I wondered …“who are the real unfortunates”?

I was no way better than a goosy creature,

He saw me fall and laughed like a demented celebrity,

I presented him a ten rupee note; He grinned and ran to his tent,

With all the fervor he offered me an envelope,

I opened them with a little circumspection,

I observed…..and I cried!

It was a beautifully crafted airplane

with all the vigor and elegance.

He was no better than a slum kid,

But he had a lovely world in his eyes,

He hopped again and stabbed me with his imaginary sword,

I fell down but this time without wondering….”who the real unfortunates are”?

-Manoj Kelath

Flame and the forest fire

We are born as ingenuous children but are brought up in capricious circumstances.Right for Obama is wrong for Osama. Similarly every mater has two or perhaps more ways of being perceived. Unanimous agreements are rarely witnessed today.And this fact has to be conceived substantially. We are moving on to a stage where disagreements are becoming a part in the process.The sooner we understand the better we progress.

Even as the problem is stated, it still is a strenuous task to bring about a truce.The X factor being "EGO". People find it hard to compromise on this factor.The problem could be about a comment on an unseen person(say a film star) .The flame generated spreads and is then a massive forest fire.The X factor doesn't allocate spaces for "i give up",or "let it be".It always finds justification for anything and everything.

Self respect is misunderstood at times.To pardon, to bend down is not against one's self respect.We have to be wise and discerning to act according to the situations.

How to quench the flame before the forest fire sets out ?.How to control or stabilize the X factor ?The real solution might require a spiritual inclination. One idea would be to "talk from inside".I'll have my emotions under my control; when i am too loud,say(from inside)"Let me calm down for a while".Emotions,senses should always be under our control.Easy to preach,tough to follow.But the greatest tool "practice" helps.

Jai Ho Mumbai

Those were real quaint days after my graduation. Never been in such a dingy imbroglio.Well,i had to face it and it was time to PLAN(this thing

never worked out in my life) my future.Had BIG ideas of doing a diploma in my subject(electronics) and for that i had to move on to Bangalore.Few more thoughts and i found reasons to obviate.So whats next...."why not an MBA?,it has 3 good letters.I'll have to prepare for the exam,but never from here."

I wanted a change and decided to go to Mumbai to my aunts house.I had never been to mumbai and was really excited about the trip.The first few days,i was stranded on to a corner;i din't know the place and people.Then i joined a coaching class and made few friends.I had a wonderful time with them for they were just like me 'confused enthusiasts'.And one could well guess, how the chat waded.

Every day i used to go for an evening walk.And this walk taught me lot more about mumbai and its people.There were hawkers all around selling anything and everything.It was great time watching them sell hot VADA PAVs and Frankkies ; i too had them frequently,and i loved eating them.Every week i tried something new and the food list included Sev puri, pani puri so on and so forth.

There were frequent workshops on film-making and photography at various places in mumbai. I badly wanted to attend them and so i inquired with my uncle.It was then i came to know about the mumbai train journey.I was stuffed in with a one hour lecture on "How to flush in and how to flush out of a train"?Well he said at Mumbai Stations the phrase 'to board a train' was not applicable.And now it was time for the practicals and i was prepared.My first journey was to Dadar(20 min from Ghatkopar,the place where i stay).I held my breath and unveiled my muscles(i din't know i had them).The train flashed with tremendous speed and fortunately it was still after a few eye blinks.The crowd flushed in;i just had to be at the right place(thanks for the theory lecture).I got hit here and there but was happy to see myself inside the train after a few seconds.Sighs of happiness for a moment but very soon had to draw a scowl face for this was just part 1(flushing in),part 2 was still left.

I enquired with a person who was reading Chetan Bhagats latest novel and the reply "i am getting down at Dadar too" helped me release some hot air inside. The flusing out process then was easy.But this experience was one which i cannot forget because i never thought a train journey at mumbai could be so complex.Well...few more days and i was used to this thing.

Everything seemed normal and unconsciously i was getting a glimpse of a mumbaikar in me.Four more months and i was among them.It was totally a new experience,the one i would always cherish in my life. Today i proudly say "Jai Ho Mumbai".

The Great Designer

The world is entering into a new era.This time it's not an era where the complexity of living form transform but an era which will witness the emergence of a Herrenvolk ;"Yes",i am talking about the Robots which will rule the world tomorrow.Talk to a Robotics Engineer and he'll expound on the complexity involved in building a modern robot.So it has to be agreed that it is not a kids game and involves higher maths and prodigious thoughts.

Homo sapience distinct from other animals have the ability to think and think to that extent that they can create an enemy,an enemy of their own.Now it would be unanimously agreed that we are great designers.Leonardo da vinci drew the portrait of Mona Lisa,wright brothers invented an airplane , Beethoven composed magical music;but have we ever thought of the the Greatest Designer who invented or designed the world.An atheist would slam on the thought of GOD,but let me put it this way;"if we adore the scientists,the great musicians,the artists we adore them for their creativity,for their wonderful brain and we hardly doom it as an accident."So are the atheists saying that the WORLD was an accident.If so they are the poorest appreciator of an art and themselves a poor artist.

The world is a wonderful place and so are its inhabitants.More than that its creator is the greatest designer ever.The least thing one should do is "appreciate"!

Is it Time to Die ?

"December 21,2012, the world ends",could be the shortest but a devastating heart plucking story one can ever listen to.It was a few years back during my third year bachelor's that i first came to know about the Mayan calender and its predictions.And very soon the next year after the launch of the movie 2012,i was literally set on an inquisitive fire.
Well,i am not going to unriddle the 2012 stuff nor my thoughts on this or whatever all this chaos is all about.I am going to share with you the responses i imagined when i shared this HOT NEWS with my amusing family.


Me: Dad,it's all over.We are nearing the tail."2012,THE WORLD IS GONNA END"...

Dad: Well,son am busy.Could you just set a reminder in my cell phone.

*.............................*

Me: Mom,at last it's gonna happen..."2012,THE WORLD IS GONNA END"...

Mom: Shit! Why din't you tell this yesterday,i would have worn a better gown for the wedding.

*...................................*

Me: Dude,it's gonna be our final ba-bye..."2012,dec 21,THE WORLD IS GONA END"..

Cousin: Thank god! I had booked my honeymoon hotel on 22nd and it was just yesterday that i got it to 20th.It's gonna be a real fun.

*.....................................*

Dec 21,2012 is just another day for them and i don't think they would sit reclined a tree and think about the doomsday.And i personally don't find a reason why they should.I think they are politically correct.Let's think of the present gift than brooding on the unpromising future.

-Manoj Kelath

When I felt your Love

My cloud teemed heart rained,

Pouring the heavy held love,

Little drops silently pattering,

Soaking my sweltering soul!

I lately felt her soothing warmth,

When I first held her in my arms,

She did make a silent cry,

Fearing my burning love eyes!

I send my kiss with quivering wings,

Miles it traveled trailing her vibe,

Hissing a feeble sorry she sent it back,

Restoring it with a coy countenance!

Her eye breakers reassured me,

That she found in me the finest love,

And her lips moved trifle aside,

Apprising bashfully “I felt your love”!

-Manoj Kelath

A Race With My Best

I decided to race with my utmost best,

With all my will and all my zest,

The gun was shot in my own home plot,

My best…I never knew were a hunter of bull,

He whizzed at once with a boisterous Pull,

And Before I stirred my legs in front,

My best had won in the great wild hunt!

I strived and lived with wondrous vim,

Then called for a race with vibrant limbs,

The gun was shot in my own home plot,

My best…I never knew were a ravening tiger,

He leapt over the grass and caught his quarry,

And before I reached my half hot spot,

My best had eaten the meat he caught!

I worked and worked all day and night,

Then called for a race with mightier sight,

The gun was shot in my own home plot,

My best…I never knew were Achilles in war,

Head for head and all at par,

And before I found my final foe,

The battle he had won in a lone square go!

I prayed ‘oh lord oh god oh lord’,

Then called for a race with fairer health,

The gun was shot in my own home plot,

My best…I never knew were a fine player,

The knight he hopped and chopped my pawn,

And as I moved my piece to the left,

The game was drawn ...and no regrets!

-Manoj Kelath

R for Recession

It was not a matter of surprise when pinku a 5 year old kindergarten sang the ABCD song this way: “A for anger, B for bomb blast…..O for Osama, P for poverty and R for recession. Nobody will dare blame this child because he just said what he heard. Gone are those days when A was for Apple and R was for Rabbit. Pinku soon learned that today is very much different from yesterday as his father doesn’t take him out for a movie and his mom doesn’t buy him his favorite dairy milk chocolates. Every day he sees his father coming home donned in wrath, scolding his mom and talking words that were hard for him to digest. Pinku didn’t understand a word his father said, but understood that there existed a cruel monster and that the monsters name was ‘recession’. This monster is perhaps the most popular personality in the world today. He recently had a global tour and is substantiating his flair in every aspect of day today life. Might be everyone doesn't know him but everyone has felt his presence in some or the other way round. Let’s embrace this grand celebrity or mind you he will embrace us all.

"In economics, the term recession generally describes the reduction of a country's gross domestic product(GDP) for at least two quarters. The usual dictionary definition is "a period of reduced economic activity", a business cycle contraction.” says Mr. Wikipedia. Whatever it is, the concern is how it is going to affect us and how are we going to face this daunting malady.
'isn't there any justice in this world ?’, is a question gushed by an electronics engineer who was dispatched from his dream company Honeywell and the heavier part being that he was a 9 pointer. What would you do when the best brains in your country chuckles and says ‘am unemployed’? Isn’t this enough for us to understand that this is not a joke and is a matter of serious concern. IT sector which provided the largest employment opportunities is now badly doomed to abyss which would mean that majority of the youth will be unemployed. Evolution turned monkey to man, well..recession might turn a man back to a monkey but the theory 'survival of the fittest' still holds and the coming years will witness the 'struggle for existence'(Charles darwin would be happy that his theories are being referred even in the year 2009 though in a totally different context).

So what’s next is the question everybody is asking and the painful fact is that nobody knows the answer for it." Dude, lets go for an MBA or an MS", is an obvious response from an impatient graduate. ‘if a blind man throws a stone somewhere in the Indian street it will hit either an engineer or a doctor’, someone said few years back; Lets not foresee a similar situation like that 4 years thence. Today people are extremely busy that they have very little time to think of themselves, understand their strength and work on their weakness. Best thing you can do is to do the job you love, follow your passion; after all “all are not born to be engineers”. In the present scenario where even the 5 year old pinku says ‘r for recession’, it’s time that we opt for a superior and passionate tomorrow.
-Manoj Kelath