Reminded of old days!

It's been more than two years since I last penned in this forum.. I'm pretty sure my blogging skills have deteriorated, but still this comes through easily and I write as I feel..

It's Monday after Diwali and guess what, my manager calls me and says "Chetan, don't come office.. your yesterday's work for weekend release assures you of a day off".. Now such miracles don't happen quite often, isn't it.. :)

Got a chance after a long time to study for my MBA exams.. and that's what made me remind of my engineering days. Here's what's happening:
1. Getting tea/coffee in bed
2. Books and laptop lying around on bed
3. Sometimes reading, sometimes sleeping
4. Reading a lot of stuff on internet
5. Python, JavaScript, Startup have filled up my minds
6. Strategic Brand Management seems to be boring, sometimes compulsary
7. Awesome lunch at Dhaval's place
8. Will go in evening to study.. I mean to meet them (study to bas bahana hain :P)

I mean what else.. ha ha...

Famous in an hour...

Yeah, that's what happened to Vishal and me when we presented our thoughts on Python threads and GIL at PyCon India 2011 on Saturday 17 Sept.

After a very interactive, informative and well-received session on 'Python thread: Dive into GIL!', we went to BigBazaar mall at Kothrud Pune, miles away from where we had delivered our talk. We were doing some research on various types of Bakarwadi (Indian spring roll) available when a few college grads flocked us..Why?

Well, they were really inspired by our talk. They came, they congratulated us and just left.

Wow!! That was really cool! We had become famous in an hour :)

By the way here's the link to our slides..

I am against corruption…are you?

10 things to know about Anna Hazare and Jan Lok Pal Bill:

1. Who is Anna Hazare?

An ex-army man. Fought 1965 Indo-Pak War

2. What's so special about him?

He built a village Ralegaon Siddhi in Ahamad Nagar district, Maharashtra

3. So what?

This village is a self-sustained model village. Energy is produced in the village itself from solar power, biofuel and wind mills.

In 1975, it used to be a poverty clad village. Now it is one of the richest village in India. It has become a model for self-sustained, eco-friendly & harmonic village.

4. Ok,...?

This guy, Anna Hazare was awarded Padma Bhushan and is a known figure for his social activities.

5. Really, what is he fighting for?

He is supporting a cause, the amendment of a law to curb corruption in India.

6. How that can be possible?

He is advocating for a Bil, The Jan Lokpal Bill (The Citizen Ombudsman Bill), that will form an autonomous authority who will make politicians (ministers), beurocrats (IAS/IPS) accountable for their deeds.

7. It's an entirely new thing right..?

In 1972, the bill was proposed by then Law minister Mr. Shanti Bhushan. Since then it has been neglected by the politicians and some are trying to change the bill to suit thier theft (corruption).

8. Oh.. He is going on a hunger strike for that whole thing of passing a Bill ! How can that be possible in such a short span of time?

The first thing he is asking for is: the government should come forward and announce that the bill is going to be passed.

Next, they make a joint committee to DRAFT the JAN LOKPAL BILL. 50% government participation and 50% public participation. Because you can’t trust the government entirely for making such a bill which does not suit them.

9. Fine, What will happen when this bill is passed?

A LokPal will be appointed at the centre. He will have an autonomous charge, say like the Election Commission of India. In each and every state, Lokayukta will be appointed. The job is to bring all alleged party to trial in case of corruptions within 1 year. Within 2 years, the guilty will be punished. Not like, Bofors scam or Bhopal Gas Tragedy case, that has been going for last 25 years without any result.

10. Is he alone? Who else is there in the fight with Anna Hazare?

Baba Ramdev, Ex. IPS Kiran Bedi, Social Activist Swami Agnivesh, RTI activist Arvind Kejriwal and many more.

Prominent personalities like Aamir Khan is supporting his cause.

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

Ok, got it. What can I do?

At least we can spread the message. How?

Write in your blog, talk in orkut, face book, chat.

Putting status message, links, video, changing profile pics.

we can support Anna Hazare and the cause for uprooting corruption from India.

we can hope that his Hunger Strike does not go in vain.

we can pray for his good health.

Courtesy: received from a fwded email.

Google makes you smile

Hmm... A personal blog after quite a while, but for a reason. Couldn't stop myself!

This time its for Google..
Google has made life easy for the whole world in a variety different ways. Be it gmail, google code, google docs, google blogs and what not. Few moments ago, I came across a feature in gmail that really makes life EASIER. It was so simple, yet so cool that it brought an "ear to ear" smile on my face. I felt, this is what we may call the "customer delight".

The feature:
Often it happens that we write the content and send the email only to realize later than we have sent the email without attaching the document or file that was meant to be attached. Gmail comes to your rescue with its cool feature. If your content says "find attached", while sending the email, Gmail checks if there really exists any attachment to your email.


The alert!

Mammoth MM

Courtesy: http://www.guardian.co.uk

It was an emphatic moment for all cricket lovers! Muttiah Muralitharan or just Murali, took 800th wicket and the whole world errupted in joy! The most soft spoken crickter from SriLanka humbled the Indian Team as Srilankan team won the first tie of three match series in Galle.

True champion of his era, as Murali is, has gone through a lot of tough times. Be it being the Tamil player in Srilankan team or the incident when he accussed of chucking the cricket ball, Murali has encountered the tragedies with self belief and has come out of them smiling.

What a career and what a way to end it! Last ball, 800th wicket and retired!

We'll are happy for you Murali. The whole world salutes you! Indeed, a life less ordinary!

One cycle completes, another begins!

It's been a long, rather a very long time, when I had last written something...No excuses, it's just that many other important things kept me occupied. But a very special reason has pulled me back!

Mumbai, Sunday, 23 May 2010, 0900: It was my nephew (Nachiket's) janeu (thread) ceremony. I along with my parents were at the venue quite early as we had to participate in preparations, after all it was a home function. I was about to reach the hall on the second floor, when a speeding Priyanka (my cousin) bumped into me. Before I could see anything, she ordered "Go and see if the caterers have arrived"..."oh man!", I said. I was already in the scheme of things. Nothing to worry though, my marriage had given me enough confidence that I could handle, and even take out, any sort of job, from anyone. Confidence paid and I could accomplish a few preparations only to see my sister happy about it.

Everything was ready and the pooja began. A big havan had converted an otherwise AC hall into a 45 deg. C boiling furnace. With everybody busy in either taking part in the ceremony or the preparations or gossiping, it looked as if the heat didn't matter to many. Or maybe, I am not used to such temparatures anymore!

Quite interestingly in whatever ceremony you talk, mama has to play a crucial role. Isn't it? It was my turn now, as Nachiket's mama. Didn't take much time to play my part in all the rituals but this made me realize one thing. And that was "One Cyle Completes, another begins!". Incidently, Nachiket's grandfather was my mama. I was with Nachiket performing all the rituals and could remember each and every single thing that my mama and mami had done for me. Things like going to Gurudev hotel to enjoy delectable idli-dosa, or taking me to films or giving me all the magzines for small kids and what not. It was really an emotional moment for me. It was, as if, I could almost see him in front of my eyes...

The function got over and I started for the airport. Sitting in the local train I wondered, life had now given me the chance to pass on all the love I had received from my mama-mami. I thought, would Nachiket remember us (his Chandani Mami and Chand Mama as he calls Deepti and me) when he is in my shoes? Will he remember me 20 years from now? Something struck me and I made a promise to myself; I will be there with him whenever he requires and give him all the love possible. That's a promise, I sincerely hope, I live upto.

10 suspense pact minutes…

I was waiting…

He was sitting in the chair, perfectly hassle-free….
Just then, a dark, red-eyed and robust looking man arrived and splashed water on his face.
He then captured a blade and put under his chin…
Small droplets of blood came out…
For next few moments nothing happened…

Again a splash of water on the face and the barber moved away…
Man stood up as he was done with the shaving...