girishvr

[girishvr]

A girl in bathrobe

She walks in in a tiny bathrobe-like dress. Her eyes all puffy and tells a story of a sleepless night. Of guilt and gluttony. Grump and greed.

She sits. At first one thinks that she is waiting for a company who may or may not turn up. Then she takes out her diary, and start writing.

And then all of a sudden she turns into a totally different person. She is engrossed - Her dreams, an aspirations, a plan, a todo list or just a list of groceries.

Just a pen and paper. That is all is required -- from a loser to a winner

Life is not sorted yet. However, we keep trying. That is all we need.

Life throws you a punch, You give back a smirk.

#bathrobe #coffee #cafe #write #writing

[girishvr]

Hello. What can I deliver for you?

“What? I don’t have to come to the bank to open an account?” I asked just to make sure that I am not imagining things again.

The voice at the other end of the line reassured me. “Yes sir. We will send a representative. All you have to do is keep all the necessary documents ready.”

“Hmm, and I used to think that ATMs were the limit for ruining the banking experience.”

He continued enthusiastically and completely ignoring my previous remark, “Sir, that is not all. We also have emergency cash on demand service. Where, if you need cash, we will deliver it to you on making a single phone call.”

Obviously, he didn’t get my sentiments. I had to end the phone call with a fake reason just when he was about to discuss his brilliant ideas for my investments. I had no patience to explain him that I did not have any and I was on the verge of losing my job as the magazine that I was working for was losing its business.

‘What else are they delivering these days?’ My first thought after hanging up.

Groceries, vegetables, jewellery, baby products, books?.

On a little research and on calling a friend I also found out that now they deliver shoes, spectacles, contraceptives. Just when I was expressing my amusement, he went on listing, midnight meals, cigarettes, alcohol.

And if you think that that was the limit, think again. Now we can also order parsad online from onlineprasaad.com and get our kundli prepared and delivered from onlinepundit.com.

Where is this world going going these days? There is an app for almost everything?

Mail delivery was ok or pizzas, even newspapers for that matter but shoes? This is ridiculous. What about the fun of shopping? Not more than a decade ago the only idea of fun for the urban population was going out for shopping on a weekend. That was the only exercise left in their life.

My grandmother used to say that world is bad place and its getting dangerous out there everyday.

‘Don’t worry grandma they are doing everything to keep me indoor, safe at home these days. I don’t even have to go out to buy my clothes.’

Why was I agitated at the current trend? My thoughts continued.

One of the news that was disturbing me was that -

Readers digest had gone bankrupt and never recovered from it.

What exactly happened there?

In simple words, readers switched from print media to electronic media.

When Readers Digest was buried in a graveyard with other fellow institutions and inventions. Its tomb stone read -

    “RIP

Killed by technology”

Why did people give up on the subscriptions of the age old source of wisdom? I wondered.

In the history of mankind there’s always been this one ‘sane person’ trying to question the new methodology or the inventions.

That person has entered oblivion every single time. What exactly happened to him? I sometimes think about it.

When the first wheel was invented. This ‘sane person’ said - “Why do we need wheels mate? We can carry our own load.”

When the first telegraph was sent, this person was like - “Come-on! What will happen to the good old system of delivering the mail?”

Or when the first television was introduced - “What? No more theatres and musicals? This is ridiculous.”

Little did he know that that in future friends would be asking questions like - “Shall we go for a movie or just stay at home and stream?”

Of lately, I hated the fact that everyone were reading their books on their computers and mobiles and tablets. I argued - “What about the feeling of holding the book and smelling its pages and maintaining a bookmark or dog ears?”

“Why are you giving up on the books and magazines? Aren’t they being “delivered” these days?”

Until, I bought my first kindle, which weigh about 250 grams and could save over 1000 books. I had to shut up and eat my own words.

I still wonder about that ‘sane person’ though from time to time.

But today the call with the “friendly” banking executive was like a wake up call to me.

Where are we going with this? This trend of getting everything delivered and having everything on our finger tips. The transformation of everything that is physical to something virtual?

I used to work for a magazine too. I am going to loose the job. Who will hire me now?

Am I supposed to sit at home and order stuff all the time?

Am I supposed to turn into a 150 kilo couch potato while streaming all the movies that I wanted to watch?

I could feel the noose tightening around my neck.  

Oh my God! I think I am getting a headache. I need something for the panic attack. I don’t have any medicines.

Sudden panic and then one line of thought brings me back to normal.

‘I am sure there are some online services that is going to deliver me some pills.’

“Fret not dear heart.” I said to myself. “I am sure we will find a job. I am sure there will be some openings in near future. There will be a lot of demand in the home-delivery department. After all who is going to deliver all those stuffs that we ordered online. Now I see the big picture. Soon the entire population on earth would be engaged in delivering stuffs to each other. And the mankind will live in harmony once again. That would be one fine day. Peace in our time.

[girishvr]

The Pune Marathoners Club recently completed its 2nd anniversary. This video is dedicated to al the runners and the coach of this amazing club.

#pune marathoners club running

[girishvr]

#Nachos

#nachos

[girishvr]

                                                 WORLD AIDS DAY

On 1st of December we, DGS's Wake Up Pune Group, were joined by Kirloskar Pneumatic Co. Ltd. and a group of AISEC students along with PMC to carry out a rally on FC road at 9 am. We rallied to the Modern college ground where a few dignitaries expressed their gratitude and support for the cause. We later spent a lot of time in KPCL campus to spread awareness among the employees. The day ended with the cultural dance performance by the kids from DGS at Pulse Mall.

  Guess who else had joined us in the rally?

[girishvr]

A Cry for Kasab

So Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab was hanged on 21st November 2012. He along with his allies were charged with murder of almost 166 people in Mumbai. His death was labelled as justice being done to those who died by his bullets. People rejoiced the death sentence. Called it revenge. Government and media expressed their satisfaction and marked it as an end to a painful chapter in Indian History.

However, can we really assume that we have got closure now? Isn't it a pity that we are dancing and celebrating death of another human being. Instead on focusing on the real reason behind the issue we are allowing ourselves to be blindfolded from the real truth again. We should ask ourselves this question - what could have led this person travel thousands of mile away from home and come to Mumbai and go on a killing spree? Killing harmless people whom he did not know? Shouldn't we feel pity of the situation and try to avoid it in future instead expressing anger and harbor vengeance? 

Kasab had come prepared to die. He served the purpose for which he was sent. Nothing is achieved by his death but cruel and temporary satisfaction that comes from revenge. We would be truly victorious when we would have established our-self and our neighbors away from these act of violence into peaceful and prosperous future. And then and then only it would be perfectly fitting to rejoice our existence. Remember, the only way to the future is together.

#Kasab #India #Pakistan #Peace

[girishvr]

Mee Pan Marathi Manoos?

                                                                                                                                                   Marathi is not my mother tongue but I love the language. I was born and raised in the state of Maharashtra. Does that make me a Marathi manoos? I don’t know. However, when asked that question, I say I am one. I wonder what would it take to become a Marathi manoos or a Maharashtrian?

     Maharashtra is not all about metropolitan cities and urban settlements. It is also about the rural area where majority of the people reside. Most of them are farmers, many of which are surviving below poverty line. Over the years while growing up here I've seen most of the people struggle miserably even to acquire the basic needs in life - food, shelter and clothing. And there was only one person in recent time who actually fought furiously for them so that they don't have to suffer so much to obtain their basic rights. His name was Bala Saheb Thackeray or Bal Thackeray as most call him.

     Bal Thackeray died last week and it marked the end of the some of the most remarkable time in the history of the state of Maharashtra. Not lakhs but crores of people mourned his death. Along with grief and shock, there was also surprise and criticism expressed about his life and death. I couldn't help but notice that Bal Thackeray and his ideologies appealed to majority of the Maharashtrians but very few non- Maharashtrian. Why is that?

     To know Bal Thackeray you should first live the life of a Marathi manoos. You should go through all the hardship and face all the calamities that every Maharashtrian faced.*

     This was the man who rattled the foundation of an ugly society which caused so much injustice to the common man in the state and he did it with aggression. This ultimately touched the souls of lakhs of youth from Maharashtra. Indian society was divided into two kinds of protests against the system since pre-independence era. They were Moderates and Extremists. Bal Thackeray's methodologies were supremely extremist. And that’s the reason when he died; it invoked such huge response from the masses that people were either too surprised or too scared. Scared because of the ignorance to the truth here or just too surprised that one man can be given so much importance, so much respect and feared so much. Yes we sometimes fear the person when we respect him so much. 

     Bal Thackeray's actions were controversial. He was brutal on some issues. To fight the corrupt and faulty system you had to take stringent stands. To fight those ugly politicians who had abused democracy he had to get his hands dirty. To benefit his own people he accepted enmity with the rest of the World. Some of his words were - "You come to my home and spread the mess; I have to take steps to clean them up." And that’s what he tried to do. This might have angered the people coming from outside the state.

     The debate of an "outsider" and an "insider" is never ending. When I asked about it to a friend he stoutly said - "What makes you an outsider is when you come here and point fingers at us without knowing the basics, without having lived the life of the people who have suffered here since years, without knowing about the man who could realize these sufferings and fought for it." May be, what makes one an outsider is simply the inability to understand the common sentiments of the masses of that region/province. He continued - "If you don't like it here, you can always go back home but quit criticizing my people in my home. I am sure you got a nice home but it’s not perfect enough otherwise why would you be here?" (Clearly, he was offended by the criticism of the people who did not understand the sentiments of the local masses).

     Why did the life in entire state of Maharashtra come to a stand-still on that day? While to most of them shut their shops to pay him tribute, some of them simply followed the lead while rest were too scared. How can people be so aggressively crazy about someone? My friends from south should be able to understand this kind of sentiment since they experience if often.  I've seen how Bangalore came to a stand-still when Karnataka lost Dr Rajkumar. How there was chaos in the entire state of Tamil Nadu and the neighboring states when dear Rajnikanth was hospitalized. Crazy fan-following is not a thing in India alone. Remember the riots in Football stadiums where thousands of fans clashed with each other in Europe. Even West has crazy followers to someone like Lady Gaga. Not to forget the drug abusing Rappers also have got the highest number of fan following.

     Bala Saheb Thackeray's party Shiv Sena had some of the unacceptable agendas. For instance, I hated the fact that I was not allowed to celebrate Valentine’s Day. What must have provoked such a campaign? Filthy, vulgar and obscene parties in the name of St. Valentine, where rich spilled money? But, why not ban those parties? Why was my sober celebration opposed? May be it was necessary to uproot the problem from its foundation. Moreover, its mean to express one's mirth in such fashion when your fellow human beings are suffering to such great extends. Alright, if I have to give up my celebrations until my poor brothers and sisters are out of the misery and suffering of life. I think I should be fine with it. It was like swallowing a bitter pill.

     Shiv sena wasn't all about imposing and opposing. I've seen the poor and hungry manoos in those remotest villages in Maharashtra being fed at 'Zunka-Bhaka Kendra', an initiative by Bal Thackeray. Some of the facts the tweeting and blogging world has remained aloof from. Enough is being said about Bala Saheb & Shiv Sena. What annoyed me is the senseless exaggeration on the topic mostly over the Internet. They called him a Politician, while he never contested elections in his life. They called Shivsainiks Killer. Shivesainiks never killed a common man. They would beat you up to teach you a lesson but not without a reason. If they killed people then the Constitution of India would have declared them a terrorist group and banned them forever.

     My upset friend had more to add to it - "It pains me deeply when you call him a gunda or a dictator. If people can come out of their misery with this so called "Dictatorship" then I am OK with it. And before you pelt more stones at the life of this Person, you should learn Marathi, you have to listen to what he has to say, you have to understand his ideology & you have to know why for most of us back home here he was our God father."

*(Then and then only one would earn the right to criticize him, or else he will be dismissed as a just another stone pelting tramp).

#marathi manoos #Maharashtra #Bal thackarey #Shivsena #Mumbai

[girishvr]

How to Survive a HackFest

The event that I am looking forward to this weekend is HackFest3 in Pune. Its going to be an exciting event. Based on my prior experience at the event I'd like to suggest a few points to survive this hackathon and come out victorious. 1. Research:     Before you attend a HackFest carry out your own little research on the event, the venue, the kind of participants and also what to expect from the event. This will help you to save some time in familiarizing yourself to the event. You will not feel out of place.  Also you will be well prepared. So go ahead, read all about HackFest here and get rid of the fear of unknown. 2. Get An Idea:     It is always advised to walk into a HackFest with an idea or two. Who knows your idea might get chosen and before you know it, you are famous. Keep the ideas short and simple so that they are achievable in the given span of time. There will be bunch of talented people from various field attending the HackFest who will alway help you in implementing your idea. Do post your ideas here before hand and watch how your hack kicks off before the event. 3. Sleep Well the Day Before:     This time the HackFest is 24 hours. You might want to utilize the entire 24 hours on Hacking something interesting. Therefore, have ample of sleep before attending the event. Moreover, you need a fresh mind for some creative ideas and coding.  And if you would believe me, the event is too good to miss any part of it. 4. Make Contacts & Form a Team     As soon as you are done with your registration, you are bound to come across lots of interesting people, before and at the event, who would help you in implementing your idea or whom you'd like to help to build something using your expertise. So when you get some time to mingle with the participants before the event, utilize that time to make your acquaintance and share your ideas. This will help in forming a team which is well equipped with all the skilled people required to make the Hack. 5. Find A spot to Set the Camp:     Make sure that your team is well set for Hacking. Find a spot that can accommodate your team comfortably. Make sure that you get your network set properly. Check that you get proper coverage and power connections.  This is going to be you battlefield for next 24 hours.   6. Eat, Drink & Take Breaks:     Don't forget to take ample of breaks from coding so that your brain gets some time to refresh. Do not forget that your body requires fuel from time to time. Eat your food. Take some snacks break every now and then. Drink ample of water and other fluids. Beer might or might not be suggested but do carry a can or two of RedBull. 7. Done is Better than Perfect     Nothing is more satisfying than completing your Hack at the end of the day. Everyone gets a chance to present their Hack at the end and they are put to vote.  The time provided might not be enough to implement your ideas perfectly. In that case its ok to shift your aim from winning to finishing. A winner is appreciated as much as a finisher or a participant. It is the process of learning that counts.   8. Enjoy Coding:     Last but not least don't forget to extract the fun out of the event. Remember, you are here because this is what you enjoy the most. A HackFest is congregation of like-minded individuals. Its interesting to hang out and exchange ideas with other programmers. So, have fun and happy coding.

#Hackfest #hackfest3