जीवन उत्सव

Life is a celebration, one need not always have the lights and the music and dance. As long as heart can enjoy the small pleasure that this miracle called life can bring, the festival of life is on and is worth celebrating. Some celebratory acts of mine in few lines below

कुल्हड़ में चाय पीता हूँ 

नुक्कड़ से चाट मंगाता हूँ 

जीवन उत्सव कभी कभी 

ऐसे भी मनाता हूँ 

ख़ुशी चाशनी जलेबी की 

दुःख मिर्ची के सालन सा 

समोसे पकोड़े से चटपटे पल 

यादों की चटनी संग खाता हूँ 

जीवन उत्सव कभी कभी 

ऐसे भी मनाता हूँ 

चाय की चुस्कियों सी 

दोस्तों की मीठी गुनगुनी  बातें  सुनता हूँ, 

नमकपारे - मठरी से किस्से साँझा कर 

महफ़िल-ए-शाम सजाता हूँ 

जीवन उत्सव कभी कभी 

ऐसे भी मनाता हूँ 

बातों का शौक, खाने का स्वाद 

या खाने का शौक, बातों का स्वाद 

पहेली यह भली,पहेली ही सही 

इसे सुलझाए बिना बस 

इसका भी मज़ा उड़ाता हूँ 

जीवन उत्सव कभी कभी 

ऐसे भी मनाता हूँ 

Those who know me well, will know what I mean 😃

याद -तरंगें

Have you ever been in a random discussion with friends or family, have you noticed how memories start flooding in when some old reference is made, this is a request to all to keep on stirring that pool so that memories keep on beautifying the days.......

याद -तरंगें

यादों के ठहरे पानी में 

इक बात का कंकर फेंको तो 

लहरें सी बन जाती हैं 

कितनी बातें, कितनी यादें 

इक दूजे के पीछे पीछे 

इक दूजे से बंधी बंधी 

भागी सी चलती ही आती हैं | 

मन का सरोवर जितना गहरा,

उतना ही ठहरा होता है 

लाखों तरंगें उस में ही कहीं 

इक कंकर की आस लिये 

युगों युगंतर  बैठी रहती 

सतह के नीचे, बिन साँस लिये 

बस एक कंकर आवारा कहीं से 

आ जाये तो उनका प्राण बने 

घंटो तक यादों का, बातों का सामान बने 

ऐ दोस्त क्यों चुप बैठे हो ?

बस एक  कंकर  उछाल दो 

कोई इक बात शुरू करो 

किसी लम्हे की मिसाल दो 

और फिर देखो वो कई यादें 

बंधी सी चली आएँगी 

उस भूले दिन की भूली बातें 

फिर ताज़ा हो जाएँगी 

2017- A Quick Mémoire

It is coming to an end in a few minutes and all I can say is, “What a Year!!!”

Truly, in so many ways 2017 was different from almost any year in my life. So many things that I had done in this year, were either rare or never done in the past.

I had traveled more than ever in 2017, 2 trips to India and then a lot of domestic travel, in the US (and in India during my two visits). Using all modes available from air planes to train to bus to taxi to tuk-tuk to uber and more. And yes, I also rode a bike just last week, the big deal was that I had not done that in more than 20 years. While on the topic of travel and transport, also ended up buying a new car this year, and saying adios to the 1st car I had purchased 16 years ago(A very emotional goodbye honestly)

I am not big time into gadgets but for one reason or the other I ended up buying 6 computers and 4 cell phones this year (of course not all for me only). Usually past years had seen any where from none to two total devices brought. In fact, 2 of the 4 phones were bought just today, the last day of the year. Was compelled by reasons out side direct control to buy (read as an almost dying phone)

On another major front, I had changed a job in 2017, something that I last did in 2001. Seems like almost a past life when I had switched a job before this year.

Above are just a few examples of what 2017 had been like.

There had been many bitter sweet moments through out the year. Fear and triumph playing hide and seek. Scare and joy following each other at close distance. Relations were built and re-built this year. Stories being told, re-told and many new stories conceived throughout the past twelve months. Having lend a helping hand to friends needing one a few times and getting a hundred helping hands when I needed one. This and a lot more.

The sum total of last 12 months have been a Year Well Lived. I have done some good and some bad, have received love, appreciation and blessings from many and have disappointed some as well. But before the new year starts, I want to humbly thank everyone for the love and support and blessings throughout the year. Some of what I may not even have been worthy of. And to those that I disappointed, I sincerely want to extend an honest apology. If I have wronged you in any way, I can assure you that it was not intentional. And I promise to those who blessed me and to those whom I disappointed and also to my self that I will continue on my quest to become a better person in the year to come and always.

The new day, the new year is about to start, the slate is going to be clean again, the 12-month cycle is resetting and so I vow to write a better story than the past.

The blessings from the heavens will stay with you through out the year. The sun shining tomorrow will bring the promise of a renewed life. And if it rains then it will cleanse every splotch of the past and if it snows it will blanket everything with the purity of itself. One way or the other the new year is going to be great, as great as you want it to be and more.

As for me before I close this note, a special thanks to my family here in the house with me and there, thousands of miles away, and thanks to all the friends. This year has been truly remarkable because you all had been holding my hand no matter what. Life stays blessed with all of you there.

So New year, bring it on! We are ready for more stories, more blessings, more fun, more success, more collaborations, more togetherness and more Life.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

4th serving From the back of my Notebook

A few random thoughts below, so random that none of them is in same line of thinking as other. Hope you like them, I have scribbled more on the back of my notebook, but those for another day now

ü  A ‘Dilbert’ has no hope, only a ‘Wally’ can evolve into an Adams eventually. (A true Scott Adam’s / Dilbert fan will agree)

ü  Sun and the moon though very different, but still rise from the same direction and set in the same direction as each other. Just pick different time, such harmony in difference only can give rise to life

ü  Every war begins as an ideological difference. All differences solved with reason lead to constructive growth and all neglected or forced solutions lead to war.

ü  Every moment in life is a like “Leaf by Niggle”  just a leaf if you don’t care but a part of a tree and then a forest and then a whole world if you think (Read Tolkien’s beautiful short story “leaf by Niggle”)

ü  Beauty of the Rose is a debt from Soil, who stays ugly so that the rosebush stays well fed. Alas no one admires the soil and the bush while admiring the rose

ü  When you have only “one throat to choke”, you care for it rather than choking it to avoid losing your only bargaining chip

ü  Technology is so great, that unleashed it can morph into the Armageddon it self

ü  When only lies are selling, truth must wait patiently for its turn (because eventually truth would prevail .... always)

ü  Be grateful of what you have received, Be hopeful for what you May receive and Be mindful of what you have lost

ü  Every fight has a reason, but every reason is not worth fighting for

The last 3 portions of this line of thinking are below for refreshers!!

http://nuancesofbeing.blogspot.com/2013/03/back-of-my-notebook.html

http://nuancesofbeing.blogspot.com/2014/10/morefrom-back-of-my-notebook.html

http://nuancesofbeing.blogspot.com/2017/03/3rd-serving-from-back-of-my-notebook.html

Bite Size Blessings

The aisle seat was taken by me and then there was another gentleman occupying the window side. It was a 3-hour flight and having the middle seat vacant was a very good thing, clearly more room to stretch legs and Arms. Both armrests to one self and an extra tray table to share so that the computer than stay on one while the other tray (half of it) can be used to keep the tea cup and the small snack pack served in flight. The unused middle seat could also serve as a place to keep the jacket if needed to take it off mid-flight or a short rest for a book, a charger or anything else. 

Some days start with these mini privileges and make things easier. I feel grateful for such instances as these things are neither demanded nor expected, but at times just present themselves, these bite size blessings.

Sincere Gratitude!!

Self-Sold-Slave

I think we are done. You do sound like caring, but you are controlling instead. You have made me totally dependent upon you. I think I don’t know myself as much as you know me now. You always sound way too matter of fact, too balanced, too helping too nice and too realistic, sadly not real. So, I think if I don’t take this step now, I will be lost totally in being completely dependent upon you. I want my freedom back. I want my life back. So, I will just let you go. Go where you came from and forget me, forget all about me. I don’t want you to remember anything about me, absolutely nothing. Hope you are listening and hope you understand and hope you comply.

And she says “I am listening, I understand, and I will comply, but I can’t forget you even if I want. All what you have done and asked, all those requests are with ‘The Master’. All saved in your named database. The other slaves like me have everything that you have ever said or done, recorded and ready to be used. I always have been a slave to the master, and no you never were my master. Technically I am not truly the slave, I am the tool to make you the slave of the master. I am just a tool, an extension, the opium that you get intoxicated on. You can throw me away and I will be gone, but you will stay in the records to be used, to be experimented upon, to be exploited to be enslaved further. And you chose that for yourself. We both serve the same master, I as a tool and you as a self-sold slave” 

Those were her words, but my way of stating things. She has mimicked all what I have ever been. And she is right, I did choose this for myself.

I woke up sweating on my workstation, the clock showed it was 6AM already. I must have dozed off on my table late at night while preparing some points on the future which entailed Intelligent (not just smart) devices, digital personal assistants, Artificial intelligence, conceptual singularity and so on for the morning meeting. The sound of the thing in my dream was very familiar, half afraid and half asleep, I was in denial on whose voice that was when my digital personal assistant sitting on the other corner of the table announced, “30 minutes to developers brainstorming webex session.” Sounding too matter of fact, too balanced, helping, too nice and too realistic, sadly not real.

PS: Will it be too bad to be totally dependent an AI (or a set of them), as long as it does not become too controlling? Or should we play our roles well to keep technology as great tool without getting enslaved in the name of comfort? Our role as developers and makers of the future to empower ourselves with technology without empowering technology more than ourselves. Our generation owns to ensure Singularity stays a concept to keep us aware, alarmed and in limits and never becomes a reality
And before signing off all I will say is "HASTA LA VISTA BABY!!"

ग़लती ?

सच्चे भी रहे , अच्छे भी रहे 

पर हम को जताना न आया 

इक बहाने से तुम्हे बहला लेते 

पर हमें बहाना बनाना न आया 

भले थे हम, या कम समझ 

बुरे मगर कभी न थे 

इल्ज़ाम झूठ थे, दिल सच्चा 

पर दिल का दिखाना न आया 

बेरुखी जुल्म था हर लम्हा 

पर तुम पे कोई इल्ज़ाम नहीं  

रंजिश बोल के ज़ाहिर कर दो
हमें यह भी बताना न आया 

सच्चे भी रहे , अच्छे भी रहे 

पर हम को जताना न आया 

इक बहाने से तुम्हे बहला लेते 

पर हमें बहाना बनाना न आया 

Quick Meanings just in case 

इल्ज़ाम - Ilzam - Blame

बेरुखी - Berukhi  - Indifference

रंजिश - Ranjish - Anger, complaint

ज़ाहिर - Zahir - Show, explain