Happy Republic Day

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make difference or die trying.

You got Talent

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you got see it to believe it and feel it. I got a fwd with this link. under the subject "don't judge by appearance"

Carphone salesman in British TV's 'You got talent' show, which is what american idol is based on. Paul Potts, a regular guy working as salesman in carphone warehouse, came into the show and did no one expected him to do... Sang Opera- to amaze the crowd and judges. I don't know opera well but iam talented enough to understand & appreciate that he sang with emotions and he got great voice.
He eventually won the program and went on to release his own record("One Chance").

World is full of talented people; lack-of-confidence and prejudging, is making so many other Paul-like vanish in the crowd. Hope this will help some of us to change if not in helping them atleast by not underestimating anyone.

Hitler’s Indian Army

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If you were wonder why in cemetery near Le Touquet, northern France some Indians graves were next german in same shape/size and not that of Allied focus then you can find the answer in BBC documentary - Hitler’s secret Indian Army

We know Indian army was found to flight against British rule in India and how they aligned with Japan. But Both British & India locked away the details about “Free India Legion” alignment/involvement with Hilter.

Although Bose is right-wing activity he was not a extremist like Hitler. Creation for Indian National Army with the help of Hitler may not be common knowledge among us. As I struggle to reason out Indian army taking help someone from Hitler, I would only think— Its more of a case of enemy of enemy is friend. It’s no secret that INA fought the British troops in parts of Burma, Philippines, Japan and Indonesia. If one has to reflect strong comments that Subhash Bose took help from industrialized economy to achieve his goal- freeing India from British brutal rule.

Bose ofcourse wouldn’t be aware of SS true practices and Japan’s intentions when you asked for help. From enough historian evidence we now even British, Americans, good part of German people don’t know either. Britain infact went to german had talks with Hitler and turn blind eye about Poland. Its only when Hitler turned to Britain they fought. I fail to accept that Britain or Americans would have went with war with Hitler for human right reasons (like they ‘claim’ today for Iraq). They don’t care and nor did Vatican cared to stop or talk strong against Hitler while its was happening. Again, we do have enough historical evidence to interpret this.

Subhash Chandra Bose was a patriot, who had radically approach for india’s freedom but nevertheless his intentions was not to rule India but to free India from foreign rule. Soldiers who followed Bose were freedom fighters with version to liberate homeland. Rape can never be viewed only with civil right version. That would west’s version of exploiting commonwealth history for to hide its dirty past. afterall, we cannot forget British troops- using cannos to blew old men, raping women. And who can deny or forget Jallaianwala Bagh massacre or Komagata Maru.
If India would have won freedom Bose's way, no doubt today’s india might be (good or bad) different (/may be turkey or may be we had have been broken into different states). We would never know and can never make any judgment about the same.

I am very glad and proud about our past and the way we achieved our (Gandhi’s way) freedom.

I am not very nationalist nor do I doubt intention of today’s western populations and their way of democracy. It be stupid to ignore and turn blind eye for all the help we received/receiving from Britain, America and wilder international community. and ofcourse, I am not trying to justify 'so-called' wild rampage act for Free India Legion but what I don’t want is-- for historian to judge the past with very narrow one-side view. After all, it’s totally not correct to read British’s version of Indian history.

Relocation & Culture Shock…

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As I face yet another relocation, convention with friend natural reached this topic and as always, I was bragging about my optimist outlook on relocations and so he suggested that I should pen down my thoughts about culture shock during relocations. I don’t claim to be expert to know the trick of the game but with experience of crossing 5different culture/language in past 6years, I can say my social extrovert attitude made things easier for me.

When relocating abroad, there is so much to think about, so much to do that invariably the departure date seems to come out of nowhere. One of the most important things, and unfortunately, the thing that is most often overlooked, is the emotional and very personal reaction from all those involved during the adjustment to life in any new country and its culture.

Culture refers to the total way of life of a people. It includes everything they may think, do, say, and make – its customs, language, artefacts, shared attitudes, values and feelings. Culture is learned and inherited and passed down through the generations and it influences the way we think, speak and behave. Culture shock is not poor adjustment. It has little to do with strength of character. It is the result of stress overload, which is caused by a multitude of unpredictable incidents. we don't know how to behave, actions don't get the expected responses, and we don't understand the messages we are getting. Culture shock is the disorientation, which causes perpetual stress.

After a fairly brief honeymoon or tourist phase readjustment suddenly becomes a little more difficult due to culture shock. It is predictable and should be expected in any new country. Some tasks are challenging; accustomed resources aren't available, communication is difficult (for example, we don't get the jokes). These feelings build up over time and at some point start causing distress.

Communication problems and the accumulation of little stressors start challenging our own values and attitudes. Glorification of our own country, homesickness and missing friends and family can make this a very difficult time.

With time, greater understanding and appreciation of the new culture, values and attitudes are gained. We have more insight into our own culture and this allows us to adapt more easily to the new one. Once full adjustment is reached, both our home country culture and the new one have become natural and normal. Sometime we make unavoidable comparison to adapt and pick/modify our thinking process, values. We become truly multi-cultural person (greatest outcome of relocation – open mind, tolerance,)

Recently I took couple break from work to spend time with family and I understood, coming back home can bring its own problem. There may be unexpected changes at home and make you feel like a stranger on your own(/past) territory. There may be lifestyle changes and a need to adjust to that. Repatriation can be more dramatic than culture shock because it is not expected. The more successful the time overseas has been, the more difficult the repatriation process. Adjustment to coming home can take up to two years. New values might make it necessary to re-evaluate lifestyles, however it is always important to integrate the overseas experience into our new lives.

Expatriate or repatriate, be open and give change to strangers. may be you will be surprised, some of them might become your good friend of tomorrow.

Remind yourself— most things in Life, place, people, work,… is (mostly)our choice and we have to make most out it.

inSanity...(re)Defined

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when you think things are going just as fine,
and wild winds chases away the sweet rain,
comes a time in every once life,
you wonder if you're sane.

Hopes make the world look gold,
or that is what I've been told.

Theres so many things in this life
That we can not explain

Funny how things fell in place
how inspite these transparent emotions
I managed to stay composed and serene
inside somehow there's this little light
when will it shine to blind you
of all these questions all I can answer is a smile :)
a mask that will hide what's true inside

Book Review....Updated

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managed to post back dated entries to cover book of that month...

Happy Days by Laurent Graff

Freakonomics - Hidden side of everything

Others... http://www.librarything.com/catalog/iamyuva

Back Online... Happy 2008

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Even with months break from work... family, friends, zyoptix laser eye surgery, low speed internet connections kept me away from blogs..(excuses)

I never thought, I will make an opportunity to take months break from worklife to spend time with family to revisit past life. Lucky me, without making too much thinking and special considerations, I had option to spend couple of months at home between jobs. This was longest ever break I had since my school days.

Its feel great to revisit old lifestyle,..spending hours-hours in beach just like I used too,.. visitied friends in different cities, took parents to short trip aboard, and I made short trip to new country, reevaluated/re-allocated investment portfolio,.. found decent onine/home delivery DVD rental in chennai, as usual troubled parents & bros,..played lots of chess,.. O yes past couple of months had been (slow-phased but)eventful. ofcourse, Mom's love translated into 7+kgs and now somehow I have to keep the love and shred the fat.
I still don't have regular internet yet, might take couple some more time but I hope to be here atleast couple of hours every week(hopefully).

Here's to the bright New Year and a fond farewell to the old,
To the things that are yet to come and to the memories we hold.

Happy 2008 and beyond...

To divide one's life by years is of course to tumble into a trap set by our own arithmetic. The calendar consents to carry on its duall wall-existence by the arbitrary timetables we have drawn up in consultations with those permanent commuters, Earth and the Sun. But we, unlike trees need not grow annual rings.