Kolkata

Next stop for me was the “City of Joy” Kolkata! Now I still wonder if the joy in the “City of Joy” is actually the joy (as being happy) or because of every fourth boy being named Joy. In fact I am very interested in knowing if the name Joy is a corruption of the name Jai or just Joy as it is.

Chennai

Chennai, the capital of the southern state of Tamil Nadu and one of the most important ports on the east coast, was my destination this time as I flew out of Mumbai on a new client assignment. A new profile and the first extended experience in a state where I didn’t understand the vernacular had me on edge – the only solace being that I was traveling with a colleague who was my senior. People warned us about everything from scoundrels aka auto drivers to the language barrier to the food to the climate.

The World is a small place

The world truly is a small place… and the two terrorist incidents in this month have only proven this further. The first was targeted at one of the densest populated cities of Asia as terrorists struck at the heart of Mumbai, at the peak rush hours. On the heels of this cowardly attack, Oslo’s government center was targeted early yesterday.

Amritsar

After Chandigarh, we moved on to the holy city of Amritsar. The bus ride from Chandigarh on a Punjab Transport Corporation bus was an experience to remember as the vehicle made its way through rural Punjab.

Second guessing the Gaffer

This is a special post in anticipation of the Sunday game between Manchester United and Liverpool at Anfield. This is my proposed side and strategy.

Between the Devil(s) and the deep ‘C’!

A moment of inspiration and the result was the title of the blog post. And so it is necessary that I also explain the context.

All the Captain’s Men

The ICC Cricket World Cup draws ever closer. Teams are being announced and players, past and present, are handing out threats and predictions in equal measure.

Chandigarh

This is the first post in what I intend to be a series of posts describing my travel experiences to various places.

Jaane Ye Kya Hua

I have nothing sensible to think or write. So I’m taking up a post similar to the one posted by celestialrays

Rules:

• Put your iTunes, Windows Media Player, IPOD etc. on shuffle.
• For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
• YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS.

The True Champion

Being second is to be the first of the ones who lose

Losers and Winners

The FIFA World Cup 2010 ended almost two weeks ago but the void it has left is yet to be filled.

Who’s the Bad Guy?

The ball was set rolling for this post by a blog post from one of my friend’s mom, Zephyr. While her post dealt with the hidden meaning in nursery rhymes I will be putting some more controversial views here so if you have a weak disposition or are a Hindu fanatic, now is the time to close this browser window.

So lets get the show on the road.

The Fall of (a) Man

Anyone who has reached here expecting a religious discussion with reference to a certain Biblical episode in the Book of Genesis, I hate to disappoint you but you came to the wrong place. This post is about the fall of a man who did however eat the proverbial forbidden fruit.

The man who four years ago was a candidate for UN General Secretary is today disgraced and shamed. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I introduce to you once again: Dr. Shashi Tharoor, former UN Under-General Secretary and former Indian Minister of State for External Affairs.

Aapli Mumbai!

For the benefit of my non-Marathi speaking brethren, let me translate the title. It means: Our Mumbai.

But what is peculiar is the word “Aapli” as opposed to the more conventional “Aamchi” in the usual phrase. “Aamchi Mumbai” is the loving phrase used by Maharashtrians in general, and Mumbaikars in particular, to refer to their beloved city, the economic capital of the country, Mumbai.

The Nokia N97 mini Mobile device

I have owned my Nokia N97 mini for the last 4 months now having purchased it two days after it was launched. It seems appropriate now to post a review about the device for the benefit of others.

The Nokia N97 mini (referred to henceforth as N97 mini or just mini for purpose of brevity) is a stylish top of the line device from Finnish mobile phone giants, Nokia. The phone is the younger sibling of the Nokia N97 but there are very few things to set apart these two devices.

King of the Jungle

Over the past couple of years, I have been reading up on animals especially wild cats a lot. An interest sparked by the Animal Planet feature “Big Cats Diary”, it has been a very informative journey as every day I come across some new piece of information that I did not know. And even after so many years I still feel I know nothing about these wonderful animals. However, while talking to one of my friends recently, I realised that a lot of people are misinformed about cats no thanks to our myths and beliefs brought down through the ages and so decided to consolidate my little knowledge into one place for the benefit of my fellow beings. And what better family member to begin with than the king of them all – the lion.

Seven Random Things

One of my friends’ mom tagged me on this one. She blogs under the alias of Zephyr and I would recommend you visit the blog at least once. Its almost like the story of your own family being narrated to you. Anyway, to get down to the business of putting up seven random things. Please forgive the rookiness since I’m new to this.

Les grandes equipes… The Champions!!!

As Manchester United sank to another defeat, at home, yesterday, there is a renewed level of enthusiasm among supporters of the other members of the Big4 club. Countless of my Chelsea and Liverpool supporting friends have not shied away from rubbing the twin defeats in my face. I guess that is the price one pays for vociferously supporting the Red Devils. What however interests me is the number of people who support Chelsea, and supported Bayern Munich on 30 March, only because the team(s) had the potential to beat ManU. It speaks volumes for the team’s popularity that there actually exists a section of fans who are united by the shared hatred for the club.

One man’s meat

Every once in a while I come across one piece or the other with people endorsing vegetarianism as a way of life. Movie stars tend to be the chief proponents of the Vegan way of life, singing paeans about the virtues of this lifestyle. I simply put this one down to personal choice. While a lot of religions prescribe consumption/non-consumption of certain or all types of meat, it primarily is a choice which an individual should be free to make. No point in someone trying to convince a “non-believer” to change his ways. Being an avid non-vegetarian fan myself I personally feel that the non-vegetarian dish is to a meal what Shah Rukh Khan is to a movie.

The Enemy’s Backyard

Is this their moment? Beckham… into Sheringham… and Solskjær has won it!

Words uttered by Clive Tyldesley on the night of 26 May 1999 and probably etched into the memories of Manchester United fans across the world. With a few hours remaining before the Red Devils take on their German opposition in their Last 8 UEFA Champion’s League clash, most fans of both clubs would remember that eventful night as the two European giants met at Camp Nou in Barcelona for the final match of the 1999 UEFA Champions League. Trailing for the most part of the match, Sir Alex Ferguson truly proved the monicker “Golden Substitution”. Second half substitutes Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær collaborated marvelously to shoot in two stunners in injury time and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat for the Devils.

Time to play the Game

It’s all about the game and how you play it.
It’s all about control and if you can take it.
I am the game, you don’t wanna play me.
I am control, no way you can change me.

Words sung by Motorhead and immortalised by 13 time WWE World Champion Triple H but they couldn’t have been more apt for the annual magnum opus that is currently gripping over 1 billion people in our country – IPL. The Economic Times of 16 March 2010 reckons that the BCCI could make upto Rs. 750 crores in this edition of IPL. Heck I don’t even know how many zeroes that has!

But what exactly is it that makes the IPL what it is?

Whose majority is it anyway?

Today, while reading a blog posted by one of my friends’ mother, I was forced into thinking about the state of affairs our great nation has come to.

Our country boasts of a cultural heritage which is one of the oldest in the world. In fact it is probably the only one of its time that survives to this date in this state of glory. But this glory seems to be superficial. For, the very heritage and history that we are proud of is today maligned by cheap political theatrics to voo minority vote banks.

Master of Puppets

I will occupy
I will help you die
I will run through you
Now I rule you too
Come crawling faster
Obey your master

These words from Metallica’s legendary single “Master of Puppets” kept popping in my mind yesterday.

The reason – Langeveldt to Tendulkar, bowled short of length and moving away from the batsman. At the last moment SRT gets his bat in to steer the ball behind point for THE single. As Gwalior erupted in joy, the little master made another milestone his own. He had done what no man had ever done in the 40 year history of the limited overs game

‘I’ of the Tiger

As Archies, Hallmark and co line up to drive business with the Year of the Tiger, it is ironic to see the posters being put up everywhere by Aircel’s Save the Tiger campaign. 1411 tigers, they proclaim. A visit to the website provides us with ways to contribute – blog, status message, social networking sites and, of course, cash donations. However, in a situation where the animal has completely disappeared from a couple of the sanctuaries set up, ironically, to protect it, the question arises if we are doing enough. Or is it a case of too little, too late?

The Taming of the San Siro

So here I am back again for the follow up post to the previous one. Tell me you weren’t expecting this and I’d say you’re lying through your teeth! I mean, for crying out loud, the Reds won!!! So why wouldn’t I be back?