Let there be tubelight......

Holy Bible

1:3 - And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

9th July 1975

Again the god was in mood to create something different, Something interesting, Something Special.....

And God Said, Let there be "Tube Light" : And I was there....

34 times around the Sun and I am still thinking...

What is the purpose of my life...?
What is that I want to do in my life...?

That one thing after doing which I say "Yes....the Tube light can be switched off now..."

Thanks for the tons of wishes showered on me, makes me feel special.

Closing Thoughts..

Birth and Death are the two noblest expressions of bravery
In between what you do just decides
If dates of these expressions are worth celebrating

Wow....So you read through...Did not make sense ?
We are Twins....Glad to meet one more of my kind

The RUN

It was 2009 and the Month was one

Ticket booking was the only thing Done

Prepration was a real pun

Still it was time to RUN

Marathon running is always fun
With no Preparations Done
When also joined by Sun
Its like facing the Gun
Still it was time to RUN

Distance was just Twenty One
Seemed like an endless Run
Lack of Preparation was Seen by Everyone
Still it was time to RUN
As I ran the last mile
I saw myself Smile
with mix of Pleasure and Pain
That was the End of Run
Next three days were just Fun

It will be 2010, I tell Myself
Better Preparations will be done
It will be again time to RUN
And Running will always be FUN
If you are already not a RUNNER
It high time you become ONE.

Running the Mumbai Maraton - 2009 was an Amazing Expirience in itself, here is the route map we took to run the Half Marathon, I hope I will get some time soon to capture my Emotions during the run and make a write up, If I happen to make will post and will keep you guys posted.

Sant and Deepak Who Ran with me in the Mumbai Maraton, made this Fantastic video, and hats off to their sharp eyes that Captured the Nano second of our appearance on TV news...below is the video.

Change....

"Change....." a simple English word, on second thought it is not as simple as it looks or sounds, This simple word when its gets into your life can play Havoc...,
If you are wondering, why these thoughts ?

I have resigned from my current Job, what more reason do I need to ponder on this word.Change is uncomfortable, unmanageable, unwanted and most hated thing...at least for me this is the case

I have been around in this environment for 5 yrs now or I should be saying 8 years now with one years gap where I struggled to change, failed :-( and came back to this environmentSomething about this Place holds me backMay be fear of unknown or Comforts on knownWith great difficulty I have convinced myself to say Yes to CHANGE...

As I count my days in my current Job...I ponder on my choice

Strangers in my Life

It is close to 4 years that I have taken up few travels across India and abroad. during my travel, I came across so many people who helped me with directions, planning my trip etc...

but there are few faces that I cannot forget for some reason unknown to me, I just remember them as Strangers, I don't know their name or any other details about them, but yes the moment I met them on my journey, my camera just clicked and they went down my memory line for ever.

Here is a collection of some such faces, These are not the people who travelled with me, nor they were in our group, still I recollect them with what ever little details I can remember about them

This lady I saw with her grand children at the foot hills of Chamundi hills selling butter milk in the hot sun.

During our trip to Badami, just outside the Durga temple at Eihole a lady selling Guava with her grand son smiling at the camera, reminds me of the great relation I had with my granny or any child has with his/her Grand parents.

This old man caught my attention as we were trekking from kajjiar to chamba, the amazing features of the face and that smile, I can never forget, can we have it on our face when we reach this age ??? Children we met on our trek in Himalays during Dec. 2005 Valley of flower trip, this Girl impressed me with her smile and somehow her ear rings caught my attention. Amazing, is it not ??

Unaware of the trekking crowd, busy within their own world.

Snow all around, having fun, look at his eyes asking, what is this box you have ? well its a camera :-)

We travel all the way to Himalays to trek, but for some ppl. its not back pack on their back. its the weight of their day to day needs.

Look at the selfless work, to keep the road clear, even in peak winter. Don't you think its high time we aid them with Automated instuments ??

During my Beajing trip, just outside the forbidden City, in the tiananmen square, kids showing their martial arts.

During our bike trip to Mangalore, we went to Udapi, the huge group of children leaning Vedas gave me hopes of keeping our culture alive.


Unknown trekker, whom I noticed during my trip to Sikkim,

The End of Indian Civilization, Zero point, a team of ppl. laying roads for us, look at the smile on the face. Does it reflect on your face ?

This lady atracted my atttention as I myself had never seen this scene, I jumped out of the car and took this photo, best thing was she never noticed me, so much into her work. may be we should learn.
At Rumtek Monestary, the Old was caught my camera's attention, as he adds a strage Dimension to the row of prayer wheels.


Spark in this little monk cannot go unnoticed.

Strange clamness in the eyes of this monk, I was there in the temple looking at the monk for close to 10 min, the expression on his face did not change. Suddenly I wondered, he is looking at me at all ??

Now here is something strange about this person, I know this guy from his Birth, still I know nothing more then his name and few facts about his life, I laugh with him, I cry with him, I love him once in a while, I hate him for things he does but still he remains a Stranger, and life is about knowing him.

!Oh Spark, Where are you ?

Today 28th Feb is A's Birthday, Here is a Bouquet of poetry just for him.

SKY !
Now that you reached thirty five
Let me ask you WHY

In all the girls you met
I am sure and I can bet
Many were so sweet
What are your expectations
That they did not meet

I know you will ask, why not
I am looking for a SPARK
till date I could not spot

your life will nolonger be dark
I can see a flashing SPARK
getting into your ARC
That will light up your life
That day is not far
when the SPARK will be your wife.

Here is another composition by Sunand

As I Go By,
Along This Lonely Walk
All Day I Think
And Step In Dark
Fond Thoughts Of You
In Mind We Talk
As I Search To See
That Single Spark

I Am The Akash ,
You Are The Only Lark
Come Towards Me ,
Get Into My Arc
This Is The Open Heart
You Make The Mark
Please Come To Me
You Have That Single Spark

I Will Go To Park
Not Even Leave The Saarc
Sky Is The Limit My Dear
I Want A Splash Of Your Spark

M also has put his share of the flower in the Bouquet

A Wish you a very happy B'day, Have a great day.

ಷಷ್ಟಾಬ್ಧಿ ಶಾಂತಿ

ಇಂದು ೧೭ ನೆ ಆಗಷ್ಟ, ೨೦೦೬, ನನ್ನ ಅತ್ತಿಗೆಯ ಚಿಕ್ಕಪ್ಪನ ಅರವತ್ತನೆ ವರ್ಷದ ಶಾಂತಿ ಅಂದರೆ ಷಷ್ಟಿ ಪೂರ್ತಿ ಶಾಂತಿಯನ್ನು ನೆರವೆರಿಸಲಾಯಿತು.

ಅವರ ಮನೆ ಮುಟ್ಟಿದ ತಕ್ಷಣ ಬಂದ ವಿಚಾರ ಯಂದರೆ, "ಒಳಗೆ ಹೋಗಿ ಏನು ಹೆಳ ಬೇಕು ?"

"ಹುಟ್ಟು ಹಬ್ಬದ ಶುಭಾಶಯಗಳು...." ಅಥವ "Happy Married life" ಎನ್ನಬೇಕೆ ???

ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಇದ್ದ ಜನರನ್ನು ಕೆಳಿದರೆ ಯಾವುದೆ ಒಳ್ಳೆ ಉತ್ತರ ಸಿಗದೆ, "Congratulations" ಅಂದೆ, ತಿಂಡಿಯ ನಂತರ ನನ್ನ ಕೆಲಸದ ಕಡೆಗೆ ಪ್ರಯಾಣ ಬೆಳೆಸಿದೆ.

ಆಟೋ ಹತ್ತಿ ಕೂತರು ನನ್ನ ಬೆನ್ನ ಬಿಡದ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆ.....

ಅರವತ್ತು ಎಂದ ಕೂಡಲೇ ತಲೆಗೆ ಬಂದದ್ದು, "ಅರವತಕ್ಕೆ ಅರಳು ಮರಳು"....

ಈದರ ಅರ್ಥ ಏನು ? ಯೋಚಿಸುತ್ತಾ ಕೂತೆ,

ಕೋನೆಗೆ ತಿಳಿದ ವಿಷಯ

ಅರವತ್ತು ನಾವು ತಿಳಿದ ಹಾಗೆ, ಮುದರುವ ವಯಸಲ್ಲಾ, ಅರಳುವ ವಯಸ್ಸು

ಅರವತ್ತರ ಹರಯದ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿ ಮಗುವಿನ ಸಮಾನ, ಅಂದರೆ "ಬಾಲ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ಮರಳು"

ಅರವತಕ್ಕೆ ಹೂವಿನ ಹಾಗೆ ಅರಳು, ನಿನ್ನ ಬಾಲ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ಮರಳು

ಈ ಯೊಚನೆ ನನ್ನ ಮನಸ್ಸಿಗೆ ನೆಮ್ಮದಿ ತಂದು ಕೊಟ್ಟಿತ್ತು, ಆಟೋ ನನ್ನ ಕಛೇರಿಯ ಮೂಂದೆ ನಿಂತಿತ್ತು

೬೦ ರೂ ಕೊಟ್ಟು ನನ್ನ ಕಛೇರಿಯ ಕಡೆಗೆ ದಾಪುಗಾಲು ಹಾಕಿದೆ.

ಶಾಂತಿಯ ಹಿನ್ನೆಲೆ

ನಮ್ಮ ಹಿಂದು ಪಂಚಾಂಗದಲ್ಲಿ ೬೦ ಸಂವತ್ಸರಗಳು ಇವೆ, ಒಬ್ಬ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಗೆ ೬೦ ವರ್ಷ ವಾದರೆ ಅವರು ಎಲ್ಲಾ ೬೦ ಸಂವತ್ಸರಗಳನ್ನು ನೋಡಿ ತಾವು ಹುಟ್ಟಿದ ಸಂವತ್ಸರಕ್ಕೆ ಮರಳಿರುತಾರೆ, ಇದು ಆ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಯ ಹೋಸ ಜನ್ಮವನ್ನು ಸೂಚಿಸುತ್ತದೆ, ಈ ಶುಭ ಸಂಧರ್ಭದಲ್ಲಿ ಶಾಂತಿಯ ಮೂಲಕ ಅವರ ಧಿರ್ಗಾಯುಶ್ಯಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಪ್ರಾರ್ಥಿಸುವುದು.

ಆಷ್ಟೆ ಅಲ್ಲದೆ, ದಾಂಪತ್ಯ ನಡೆಸುತಿರುವ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಯು ತನ್ನ ಪತ್ನಿಯೋಡನೆ ಮರು ಮದುವೆಯಾಗಿ, ತನ್ನ ಅಧಿಕಾರವನ್ನೆಲ್ಲಾ ಮಕ್ಕಳಿಗೆ ಧಾರೆಯರೆದು ತನ್ನ ಪತ್ನಿಯ ಜೊತೆ ವಾನಪ್ರಸ್ತಾಶ್ರಮ ಸೇರಲು ಮಾಡುವ ಸಿದ್ದತೆ ಈ ಶಾಂತಿ.

ನಮ್ಮ ಶಾಲೆ, ನಮ್ಮೂರ ಶಾಲೆ

ನಾನು ಕೆಲಸದ ಮೆಲೆ ಚಿನಾ ಪ್ರವಾಸದಲ್ಲಿ ಇದ್ದಾಗ, ಆಕಾಶ, ರೋಹಿತ ಹಾಗು ಮೈತ್ರಿ ನಮ್ಮ ಪುಸ್ತಕ ಆಂದೋಲನದ ಮೂಲಕ ಹಂಚುವ ಪುಸ್ತಕದ ಮೇಲೆ ಮುದ್ರಿಸಲು ಒಂದು ಕವಿತೆ ಬೇಕು ಅಂದಾಗ, ಅಕಸ್ಮಾತಾಗಿ ಜನಿಸಿತು ನನ್ನ ಮೊದಲ ಕನ್ನಡ ಕವನ, ನಮ್ಮ ಶಾಲೆ, ನಮ್ಮೂರ ಶಾಲೆ.

______________

ನಮ್ಮನ್ನು ದಿನವು ನಲಿಸುವ ಶಾಲೆ

ಮನವನ್ನು ದಿನವು ತಣಿಸುವ ಶಾಲೆ

ಬಿಸಿಯಾದ ಉಟಾ ಉಣಿಸುವ ಶಾಲೆ

ನಮ್ಮ ಶಾಲೆ ನಮ್ಮೂರ ಶಾಲೆ

______________

ಓದುಲು ಬರೆಯಲು ಕಲಿಸುವ ಶಾಲೆ

ಜಿವನವ ಬೆಳಗಿಸುವ ಶಾಲೆ

ಪ್ರಗತಿಯ ಪಥದಲಿ ನಡೆಸುವ ಶಾಲೆ

ನಮ್ಮ ಶಾಲೆ ನಮ್ಮೂರ ಶಾಲೆ

______________

ಎಲ್ಲರು ಬನ್ನಿ, ಬರದವರ ಕರೆ ತನ್ನಿ

ಕುಣಿದು ಕುಪ್ಪಳಿಸಿ ಆಡುವ ಬನ್ನಿ

ನಿಮ್ಮಯ ಜಿವನ ರೂಪಿಸ ಬನ್ನಿ

ಕೂಲಿಯಿಂದಾ ಶಾಲೆಗೆ ಬನ್ನಿ

ಕೈ ಬಿಸಿ ಕರೆಯುತಿದೆ
ನಮ್ಮ ಶಾಲೆ ನಮ್ಮೂರ ಶಾಲೆ.

______________

After I posted this on my blog, I got quite a few reuests for translation, I thought I will try my hand at that also, and here is the result....

______________

School, that puts a smile on our face

School, that makes us Happy

School, that feeds us hot food

Its our school, its our Village's school

______________
School, that teaches to read and write
School, that lights up our life

School, that makes us walk towards progress

Its our school, its our Village's school

______________

bring others and you too come,

togeather Lets have fun

together Lets shape our future

waveing its hands, its calling us

Its our school, its our Village's school

______________

Now reading it, I know I have done very bad job of it :-), well that's my limit I guess, I request, if somebody can help me with this, it will be great, Don't worry I will post it with due acknowledgements ;-)

The Big Question

Its May 10th, as per the latest update the SSLC results are coming on 15th of this month. so what's the BIG Question ??

For us who are reading this Blog sitting in the comforts of a IT industry, it may be just about our promotions, projects deadlines...etc.

But for the Kids who have written their 10th Exam it is just, what next after 10th ? and for kids who have written their II PUC Exam, what next after this ?

Its is one of the most important choice a child makes in his/her life, but sadly more 45% of kids have no choice in this, because their parents want them to start earning. At the tender age of 16 they end up dropping out of school.

Do you care ? Do you want to support their education ? join hands with us.

We at Friends of Children are trying to work with them to make sure that they get into a college and have access to higher education.

you can support

By referring a college where they can offer discounted fees to deserving less privileged students

By Sponsoring a child his/her college education

Provide mentoring and career guidance, provide information about various courses, exam dates and so on.

If you believe in "catch them young.."

Team up with us to teach in Government schools, we are desperately looking for volunteers to work with Audgodi Government High school for Girls and Madivala Government school.

if this calls you, don't wait get in touch with Shrikanth or Ravi immediately or visit Friends of Children

They need your support to realise their dreams...

Exam Exam Exam....

Its March, Its Summer, Its all this and more, but for Students it is Exam time..

SSLC Exams are starting tomorrow ( 16th March ) Visit to Audgodi school today brought back the memories of my 10th Exam, hence this Blog.

I Stepped into Audgodi Government Girls High school, the atmosphere was tensed and I could see groups of girls scattered here and there. It appeared as if the girls are racing against time, just to grab that last bit of reading they can.

Have you Tried this problem...? A girl shows a paper and asks another girl, the girl promptly replies, "This Problem... ? Yes, I got it..."

I was impressed at the confidence..

I could see a girl sitting away form the crowd bending into her book untouched by the discussions happening around her, could not help my temptation to go and talk to her and find out how her preparations were....

The girl was very tensed and told me, she gets worried if someone asks her something which she did not know, that's the reason she wanted to be away from the discussion.

Students are Students always be it 1989 or 2006.... SSLC exam will always have its share of excitement, tension and anxiousness for teacher, Students and Parents.

On behalf of all the volunteers at Friends of Children Wishing all the candidates for their Exams

Do well and come out with flying colours...We are there to take you to your next step