Life In Express

It is nearly six months at Express now. Having started my good old journalistic career again, I am seeing the same old used things in a different scenario. This career is still new to me as I embraced it after nearly four years. So many things have changed. I deal with city news, page 2, 3 and 4. Sometimes more work and some other times less. But everyday is definitely a challenge - to coordinate and to see that pages go on time.

Everyday is not a same day here. That's how it is, like it was earlier in DH. The only similarity in both offices is that I am seeing the same kind of news flow. I am working with Adobe Indesign, not Quark to which I am very much used.

Though I took time to adjust to the new environment, it all happened so quickly it seems now. Yet there are so so so many things to learn, to try and to understand in my new innings. With some of my good colleagues leaving the office, the work pressure is increasing day by day.

೨೦೧೦ ಅವಲೋಕನ

ಹ್ಯಾಪಿ ನ್ಯೂ ಇಯರ್. ಮತ್ತೊಮ್ಮೆ ತುಂಬಾ ದಿನಗಳ ನಂತರ ನಾನಿಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರತ್ಯಕ್ಷನಾಗಿದ್ದೇನೆ. ಹೊಸ ವರುಷ ಹೊಸ ಹರುಷ.

ಕಳೆದ ವರ್ಷ ತುಂಬಾ ಘಟನಾವಳಿಗಳ ವರ್ಷ. ವೃತ್ತಿಪರ ಏಳು ಬೀಳು, ಗೊಂದಲ, ಗಜಿಬಿಜಿ, ಗಲಿಬಿಲಿ ಒಂದೇ ಎರಡೇ. ಎಲ್ಲ ಅನುಭವಿಸಿದ್ದಯ್ತು. ವಾಕಿಂಗ್ ಒಂದೂವರೆ ತಿಂಗಳು ಕಾಲ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದೂ, ಹೊಸಮನೆ ಆಕಾಶದೀಪ ಕೊಂಡದ್ದು-ಗೃಹಪ್ರವೇಶ, ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಓದಿದ್ದು ಬರೆದದ್ದು, ನನಗಿಷ್ಟವಾದ ಸೀಡಿಗಳನ್ನೂ ಕೊಂಡದ್ದು, ಕೆಲವು ಸಂತೋಷಕರ ವಿಷಯಗಳು. ನಿದ್ರೆ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದೂ ಕಳೆದು ಕೊಂಡದ್ದು ಎಲ್ಲ ಆಯಿತು. ದೈಹಿಕ ವ್ಯಾಯಾಮ ನಡಿಗೆ, ನಿದ್ರೆ ತುಂಬಾ ಮುಖ್ಯ ಅಂತ ತಿಳಿದದ್ದು ದೊಡ್ಡ ವಿಷಯಕ್ಕಿಂತ ಕಡಿಮೆ ಏನಿಲ್ಲ. ಒಟ್ಟಾರೆ ಒಂದು ಮಹತ್ವಪೂರ್ಣ ವರ್ಷ. ಪಂಚರಂಗಿ, ರಾಜನೀತಿ, ಮೈ ನೇಮ್ ಇಸ್ ಖಾನ್, ಅಪ್ತರಕ್ಷಕ, ರೋಬೋ, ಇಷ್ಟು ಸಿನಿಮಾ ನೋಡಿದ್ದು. ಆರ್ ಎಂ ಟೀಂ ಕಟ್ಟಿದ್ದು ಬಿದ್ದದ್ದು ಎಲ್ಲ ನೋಡಿದ್ದು. ಹೊಸ ಹೊಸ ಪುಸ್ತಕ ಕೊಂಡದ್ದು ಸಾಧನೆಯೇ.

ನೋಡಿ:
http://longevity.about.com/od/lifelongenergy/tp/sleep_myths. htmhttp://longevity.about.com/od/mentalfitness/tp/Mental_fitness.htmhttp://chestofbooks.com/health/natural-cure/The-Hygienic-System-Orthotrophy/Two-Meals-A-Day.html

ಕೈಬರಹ

ಕಂಪ್ಯೂಟರ್ ಬಂದ ಮೇಲೆ ಕೈನಲ್ಲಿ ಬರೆಯುವುದು ಅತ್ಯಂತ ವಿರಳವಾಗಿದೆ. ಶೇಕಡಾ ೯೯ ಭಾಗ ಇಲ್ಲವೇ ಇಲ್ಲ ಅಂತ ಹೇಳಬೇಕಾಗಿದೆ. ಇತ್ತೀಚಿಗೆ ಒಮ್ಮೆ ಬರೆಯೋಣ ಎಂದು ಕುಳಿತರೆ ಬರೆಯೋಕೆ ಆಗ್ತಾ ಇಲ್ಲ. ಬರವಣಿಗೆ ಅಂತು ನೋಡೋ ಹಾಗಿಲ್ಲ. ಕೈಗಳು ಅಭ್ಯಾಸ ಇಲ್ಲದೆ ಸೋಮಾರಿ ಗಳಾಗಿವೆ ಎಂದು ಅನ್ನಿಸಿತು. ಈಗೇನಿದ್ದರೂ ಟೈಪ್ ಮಾಡುವ ಕಾಲವೇ ಹೊರತು ಬರೆಯುವುದಲ್ಲ ಎನ್ನುವಂತಾಗಿದೆ. ಆದರೂ ಬರೆಯುವುದರಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಆನಂದ ಟೈಪ್ ಮಾಡುವುದರಲ್ಲಿ ಇದೆಯೇ.

ಆ ದಿನ ಬರೆಯಲು ಟೇಬಲ್ ಮೇಲೆ ಕುಳಿತರೆ ಕೆಳಗೆ ಕೂತು ಬರೆಯುವುದೇ ಚಂದ ಅನ್ನಿಸಿ ಕೆಳಗೆ ಕೂತು ಬರೆದೆ. ಇದು ನನ್ನ ಅಕ್ಷರವೇ ಎನ್ನಿಸಿತು. ಹಿಂದೊಂದು ದಿನ ಎಷ್ಟು ಮುದ್ದಾಗಿ ಬರೆಯುತ್ತೇನೆ ಎಂದು ಹೊಗಳಿಸಿಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದೆ ನಾನು. ಆದರೆ ಇಂದು ನನಗೆ ನನ್ನ ಕೈಬರಹವನ್ನು ನೋಡಲು ಆಗುತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ. ಏನಾದರು ಬರೆಯೋಣ ಅಂತ ಕುಳಿತರೆ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಹೊತ್ತು ಕೂರಲು ಆಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಹತ್ತು ವರ್ಷದ ಹಿಂದೆ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಲೇಖನ ಬರೆದು ಕಲಿಸಲು ಒಮ್ಮೊಮ್ಮೆ ಮೂರು ನಾಲ್ಕು ಸಲ ಬರೆದದ್ದು ಉಂಟು. ಇಂದು ನಾಲ್ಕು ಸಲ ಇರಲಿ ಒಮ್ಮೆಯೂ ಸರಿಯಾಗಿ ಬರೆಯಲು ಆಗುತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ. ನಾನು ಕೆಲಸಕ್ಕೆ ಸೇರಿದ ಮೊದಲ ಕಚೇರಿ ಮತ್ತು ಎರಡನೇ ಕಚೇರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕೈನಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ಬರೆದು ಕೊಡಬೇಕಿತ್ತು. ಮೊದಲನೇ ಕೆಲಸದಲ್ಲಿ ಇದ್ದದ್ದು ಒಂದೇ ತಿಂಗಳಾದರೂ ದಿನವೂ ಬರೆವ ಕೆಲಸವೇ. ಮೊದಲು ನಾವು ಬರೆದು ಕೊಟ್ಟದ್ದನ್ನು ಟೈಪ್ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು. ಅಲ್ಲೊಂದೆ ಅನ್ನಿಸುತ್ತದೆ ನಾನು ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಬರೆದದ್ದು. ನಂತರ ನಾನೊಂದು ಮಾಸಪತ್ರಿಕೆಯನ್ನು ಸೇರಿದಾಗ ಅಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಕೈನಲ್ಲಿ ಬರೆಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದೆ. ಹೆಚ್ಚೆನ್ನಿಲ್ಲವಾದರೂ ಪ್ರೂಫ್ ನೋಡುವುದಕ್ಕೆ ಪೆನ್ ಬಳಸಲೆಬೇಕಿತ್ತು.

ನಂತರ ನಾನು ಇಂಗ್ಲಿಷ್ ದಿನಪತ್ರಿಕೆ ಸೇರಿದ ಮೇಲೆ ಮೊದಮೊದಲು ಬರೆದ ಲೇಖನಗಳನ್ನ ಕೈನಲ್ಲೇ ಬರೆದು ಟೈಪ್ ಮಾಡ್ತಿದ್ದೆ. ನಂತರವನ್ತು ಕಂಪ್ಯೂಟರ್ ಗೆ ಹೊಂದಿಕೊಂಡ ಮೇಲೆ ಕೈಬರಹ ಸಂಪೂರ್ನವಗಿಯೇ ನಿಂತಿತು ಎನ್ನಬೇಕು. ನನ್ನ ಅಭಿಪ್ರಾಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಕೈಬರಹಕ್ಕಿಂತ ಉತ್ತಮ ಅಭ್ಯಾಸ ಬೇರೊಂದಿಲ್ಲ. ಕಂಪ್ಯೂಟರ್ ನಿಂದ ಎಲ್ಲವು ಯಾಂತ್ರಿಕ ಎನ್ನುವಂತೆ ಆಗಿದೆ. ಆದರೂ ಕೈಬರಹದಲ್ಲಿ ಸಿಗುವ ಆನಂದ ಕಂಪ್ಯೂಟರ್ ನಲ್ಲಿ ಟೈಪಿಸಿದಾಗ ಸಿಗುವುದೇ? ಅದಕ್ಕಿಂತ ಮಿಗಿಲಾದ ಉತ್ತಮ ಅಭ್ಯಾಸವಿದೆಯೇ?

ಆಲೋಚನೆಗಳು ಸಮುದ್ರದ ಅಲೆಗಳ ಹಾಗೆ

ಆಲೋಚನೆಗಳು ಸಮುದ್ರದ ಅಲೆಗಳ ಹಾಗೆ. ಬರುತ್ತವೆ ಹೋಗುತ್ತವೆ. ಗಾಳಿ ಸಮುದ್ರದಲ್ಲಿನ ನೀರನ್ನು ದಂಡೆಗೆ ತಂದು ಬಡಿದು ಅಲೆಯೆಬ್ಬಿಸುವ ಹಾಗೆ ದಿನ ನಿತ್ಯ ಹಲವಾರು ವಿಚಾರಗಳು ಆಲೋಚನೆಗಳು ಎಂಬ ಅಲೆಗಳನ್ನು ಎಬ್ಬಿಸುತ್ತವೆ.

ಅದೇ ಭೂಮಿ ಅದೇ ಬಾನು ಈ ನಯನ ನೂತನ ಅದೇ ದಾರಿ ಅದೇ ತಿರುವು ಈ ಪಯಣ ನೂತನ

ಇಂದಿನ ವಿಶೇಷ : ಆಫೀಸಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡುವ ಜಾಗವನ್ನು ಸತತ ಎಂಟನೇ ಬಾರಿಗೆ ಬದಲಾಯಿಸಿದ್ದು. ಕಳೆದ ಎರಡು ವರುಷ ೮ ತಿಂಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಇದೊಂದು ದಾಖಲೆ ನನ್ನ ಮಟ್ಟಿಗೆ. ಹಿಂದೆ ಯಾವ ಕಚೇರಿಯಲ್ಲೂ ಹೀಗೆ ಜಾಗ ಬದಲಾಯಿಸಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಇದೊಂದೇ ಕಚೇರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಹೀಗೆ ಎನ್ನುವುದು ಇಲ್ಲಿನ ಹೆಗ್ಗಳಿಕೆ. ಮುಖ್ಯ ಕಚೇರಿ - ಕೇಂದ್ರ ಕಾರ್ಯಾಲಯ - ದಲ್ಲಿ ಗ್ರೌಂಡ್ ಫ್ಲೋರ್, ಮೊದಲ, ಎರಡನೇ ಮತ್ತು ತಾರಸಿ ರೂಮಿನಲ್ಲಿ (೨೦೦೭ ಜುಲೈ- ಅಕ್ಟೋಬರ್, ೨೦೦೯ ಮೇ ನಿಂದ ೨೦೧೦ ಮಾರ್ಚ್) ಹೀಗೆ ಎಲ್ಲ ಕಡೆ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡಿದೆ. ಜೊತೆಗೆ ಕಾರ್ಯಾಲಯ-೨ರಲ್ಲಿ ನೆಲ ಮತ್ತು ಮೊದಲ ಅಂತಸ್ತು (೨೦೦೭ ಅಕ್ಟೋಬರ್ - ೨೦೦೯ ಮೇ) ಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡಿ ದಾಖಲೆ ನಿರ್ಮಿಸಿದ್ದೇನೆ. ಎಲ್ಲ ಕಡೆ ಕೆಲಸ ಒಂದೇ. ಆದರೆ ಜಾಗ ಮತ್ತು ವಾತಾವರಣ ಬೇರೆ ಬೇರೆ. ಈಗ ಹೊಸ ಜಾಗ. ಹೊಸ ವಾತಾವರಣ. ಇಲ್ಲಿ ನಾನು ಎಂದೂ ವರ್ಕ್ ಮಾಡಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಹಾಗಾಗಿ ಎಲ್ಲ ಹೊಸತು ಅನ್ನಿಸ್ತಿದೆ. ನನ್ನ ಟೀಂ ನ ಇತರರು ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು ಒಂದು ಅಹಿಸ್ಚಿತ ಅವಧಿಯಲ್ಲಿ. ಆದರೆ ನಾನು ಬಂದಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಈಗ ಟೀಂ ಗೆ ಟೀಂ ಹೋದ ಮೇಲೆ ನಾನು ನನ್ನ ಒರಿಜಿನಲ್ ಟೀಂ ಜೊತೆ ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡಲು ಶಿಫ್ಟ್ ಆಗಿದ್ದೇನೆ. ಈ ನೆನಪಿಗೆ ಬರುತ್ತಿದೆ -

ಅದೇ ಭೂಮಿ ಅದೇ ಬಾನು ಈ ನಯನ ನೂತನ ಅದೇ ದಾರಿ ಅದೇ ತಿರುವು ಈ ಪಯಣ ನೂತನ ನನ್ನ ಮೋಡ ನನ್ನ ಹಾಡು ನನ್ನ ಕನಸೇ ಒಮ್ಮೆ ನೋಡು ನನ್ನ ಚೆಲುವಿನ ನಂದನ ಏನು ಮಧುರ ಈ ಬಂಧನ ....

ವಿವೇಚನೆ

ಇಂದು ಬಹಳ ದಿನಗಳಾದ ಮೇಲೆ ಬರೆಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇನೆ ಈ ಬ್ಲಾಗನ್ನು. ಸುಮಾರು ೩ ತಿಂಗಳುಗಳ ಬಳಿಕ. ಬರೆಯುವುದಕ್ಕೆನೋ ಬಹಳ ವಿಷಯಗಳಿವೆ. ಆದರೆ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನದ ಕೊರತೆ. ನಾವು ಬೇರೆ ಭಾಷೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಬರೆಯುದಕ್ಕಿಂತ ನಮ್ಮ ಭಾಷೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಬರೆದರೆ ಚೆನ್ನ. ನಮ್ಮ ಸಹಜ ಅಭಿವ್ಯಕ್ತಿ ನಮ್ಮ ಭಾಷೆಯಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿ ಆಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಬೇರೆ ಭಾಷೆಗಳು ಚಂದ, ಕನ್ನಡ ಎಲ್ಲಕ್ಕಿಂತ ಅಂದ. ನಮ್ಮ ಆಲೋಚನೆಗಳನ್ನು ಅಕ್ಶರರೂಪಕ್ಕಿಳಿಸಲು ನಮ್ಮ ಆಡುನುಡಿಗಿಂತ ಬೇರೆ ನುಡಿ ಇಲ್ಲ. ಕನ್ನಡ ಯಾವ ಭಾಷೆಗೂ ಕಡಿಮೆಯಿಲ್ಲ. ಇಂದು ತಂತ್ರಜ್ಞಾನ ತುಂಬಾ ಬೆಳೆದಿದೆ. ವಿದ್ಯುನ್ಮಾನ ಮಾಧ್ಯಮಗಳು ಅಪಾರವಾಗಿ ಬೆಳೆದು ಒಂದು ದೊಡ್ಡ ಕ್ರಾಂತಿಯೇ ಆಗಿದೆ. ಕನ್ನಡ ಹೊಸ ಹೊಸ ತಂತ್ರಜ್ಞಾನಗಳನ್ನು ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿ ಅಳವಡಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಮುಂದೆ ಸಾಗಿದೆ. ಆದರೆ ಭಾಷೆಯ ಮಟ್ಟದಲ್ಲಿ ಹೇಳುವುದಾದರೆ ದಿನನಿತ್ಯದ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ನಾವು ಕಾಣುವುದು ಚಂದದ ಕನ್ನಡವೆನಲ್ಲ. ಜನಪ್ರಿಯತೆಯ ಹಂಬಲದಲ್ಲಿ, ಮಾರುಕಟ್ಟೆ ತಂತ್ರಗಳಿಗೆ ಶರಣಾಗಿ ಭಾಷೆಯ ಬಳಕೆಯನ್ನು ಅದರಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಲಿಖಿತರೂಪದಲ್ಲಿ ಸರಿಯಾಗಿ ತಿಳಿಯದೆ ಬರೆಯುವುದು ಹೆಚ್ಚಾಗಿದೆ. ಸುದ್ದಿಮನೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಗಂಭೀರ ವಾಗಿ ಭಾಷೆಯನ್ನು ಯಾರು ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಂಡಿಲ್ಲ ಎನ್ನಿಸುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಅದಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ನಾವು ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಈ ರೀತಿ ಅಕನ್ನಡ ನೋಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇವೆ. ಆಡುನುಡಿಗೆ ಪ್ರಾಧಾನ್ಯತೆ ಸರಿ, ಅದಕ್ಕೊಂದು ರೀತಿ ನೀತಿ ಸಂವೇದನೆ ಬೇಡವೇ? 'ಗೂಸ' 'ಧರ್ಮದೇಟು' ಇತ್ಯಾದಿ ಪದಗಳ ಬಳಕೆ ಸರಿಯೇ? ಕೇವಲ ಬಹುಜನರನ್ನು ತಟ್ಟಲು ಈ ರೀತಿ ಶಾರ್ಟ್ ಕಟ್ ಸರಿಯೇ? ತರವೇ?

I started walking again

Walking is one of my favorite pastimes and an all round excercise - a complete fitness regimen. I was a regular walker for two-three years. I cultivated walking as my main form of physical excercise since almost eight now.

Walking is indeed a great excercise. I used to go to office after walking. It was mainly inspired by my aunty, uncle and grandfather. I was the last one to go for walking in my aunty's house. It started with half an hour walking. My uncle, aunty and grandfather would go for walking before dawn. I used to go, in the beginning, from 6.15 to 6.45 am, then come home take bath, worship, have breakfast and leave home by around 8.15 taking lunch box. This was in 2001 when I was working for a magazine aimed at those appearing for civil services exams and students (It's another thing I used to read this magazine Dikschoochi when I was a student).

When I joined a daily newspaper office, I continued it with diet too for sometime when I found my weight was increasing. This was on 2002. Mention must be made of an article I wrote for Jeevanadi health mangazine in 2003 after reaping the benefits of walking. Subsequently it was, to my surprise, published in a book on walking. The later years saw me walking for about 40 minutes, jogging (2004 thanks to Olympics sportspersons) and then came a period of full stop. Three to four years no walk. The Mini Park was good for walk and there used to be rush of walkers even at 8.

I got married, started my own family then I started walking again. Juggling with shifts, it continued and was synonymous with 'Bel Belagge Belagere', Ravi Belegere's Good Morning Programme on FM Rainbow (2006 end-2007 beginning). It was fruitful. I changed the job, it was a general shift job but I could not walk. Here and there, some efforts were made in early 2008 for a week early in the morning from 5.50 to 6.30 but no. The park was at some distance say some 10 minutes from my house.

I changed my place of location in September 2009 and started again walking which I thought I would be committed for life, at least 10 minutes, if not for 30 mins (That's the minimum doctors suggest) but no. The park is just a 5 minutes walk, almost on the backside of my house I should say. After some 10 days, I fell ill and stopped. Then no, then yes. This has been an up and down journey all along in the last eight years. But I am certain that walking had helped me a lot as my favorite fitness regimen for over 2 years and will certainly help me now and in the years to come.

Again

Hi, me again. After a long time. I have so many things to tell. A lot of things are happening. First of all, let me tell you about the work. Work is going on well and is hectic. Many projects, many issues and i am wading my way through a thick foerst called work. The work, howmuchever heavy, is manageable.

Secondly, i have to tell about my son Akash, now one year and three months old. He is growing fast and walks easily.

He is also learning to communicate. His utterings like "ayes", "ya", "bee" and "oo" are all cute. He has become a demanding baby. He demands water by saying "jiji". He wants me to entertain him at all times. He plays with mobiles, remote and all the things that we use. I feel he wants to explore everything. He touches them, spoils and gives a horrible time to us everyday. He can't sit silently for a second. When he came here to Bangalore, he was a kid of five months. A tooth is coming now and he wants to bite everything he gets including me hand.

Thirdly, I am reading and writing also. These are two of my favorite things. With a lot of things happening here and around, there is a need to get updated about all the things possible.

Meri Awaz Suno: Many Moods of the Melody Queen

To mark the 80th birthday of the legendary singer.

Courtesy: Rediff.

Akash My Son

ನನ್ನ ಮಗ ಆಕಾಶ್ ಈಗ ನನಗೆ ಒಂದು ವಿಸ್ಮಯ. ಅವನು ದಿನೇ ದಿನೇ ಬೆಳೆಯುತ್ತಿರುವ ಪರಿ ಆಶ್ಚರ್ಯ. ಅಚ್ಚರಿ. ಏನೂ ತಿಳಿಯದ ಒಂದು ಮಗು ಹೇಗೆ ಬೆಳೆಯುತ್ತದೆ ಎಂದು ತಿಳಿದು ಅದನ್ನು ಅನುಭವಿಸುವುದು ಒಂದು ಬಗೆಯ ಸಂತಸ. ಆಕಾಶ್ ಈಗ ಒಂದು ವರ್ಷದ ಕೂಸು. ಅವನಿಗೆ ನನ್ನ ಪರಿಚಯ ಈಗ ತುಂಬಾ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿ ಆಗಿದೆ. ನನ್ನ ಕಂಡರೆ ಸಾಕು ಹೊರಗಡೆ ಟಾಟಾ ಹೋಗೋಣ ಎಂದು ಕೈಸನ್ನೆ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಾನೆ. ಹೇಳುವುದನ್ನು ಅರ್ಥ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತ ಇದ್ದಾನೆ. ಅವನ ಜೊತೆ ಕಾಲ ಕಳೆಯುವುದು ಗೊತ್ತಾಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ.

Old pastimes, but where have they gone?

I am trying to get up as early as possible nowadays. Though i (If you think the i here should be I you are right, but see what Times of India's Speaking Tree column, they are using it like this and i believe hardly anyone has noticed it? Why? Any answers?) I am not yet practising it on a daily basis but my sincere efforts are on. I made a firm resolve not to get up late and that subsequently sees going office late (BTW the office timings are strict 9 am to 6.30 pm, the longest i ever worked). So even if i get late five minutes late everything is delayed. Like it happened today - I had come to bus stop but then remembered i had forgotten the mobile, again i went back home and got it and it finally resulted in 40 minutes delay. I reached office at 9.40. Though i got up at 6.30 it was not use today. I slept lazily for 15 mins and hardly the early get up was useful. Like my wife says there's nothing i do which is really really useful - yes, not to forget i cleaned the house with a broom. Generally my usual chores which i think i can do at home are - cleaning, getting water, milk, groceries - these are all usual but my favourites are listening to radio (Its my old habit to switch on to radio as and when i get up. I tune into Akashavani Bengalooru), reading papers, if possible see TV (Mathooru Krishnamurthy's Gamaka Vachana), or catch an old B&W movie on Udaya Movies or play the tape recorder and lend ears to my favorite songs - some in cassettes and some recorded. Rarely it happens, but if i look back 10 years, there was hardly any day when i stepped out of house without listening to Lata Mangeshkar's songs. Indeed there were the heydays of film music DDLJ, HAHK, DTPH, Border, KKHT etc etc. I have enjoyed those days. I clearly remember listening to thought provoking and inspiring Chintanas on Akashavani Mysore (Some of which I remember crystal clearly remember even today) and i rarely listen to Chintanas on Akashavani Bengalooru now (Thank God I have listened to two continuous Chintanas yesterday and today about Achara and Oduva Havyasa) . Was all that a glorious PAST? Ten years on, all that looks so good. Old pastimes, but where have they gone?

Good Quotes

After all consciousness is something we seek, and then run from. Why? Because consciousness demands responsibility and action. If I know I'm being harmed, if I know I'm harming someone else, if I know I'm not living up to my own personal honor code, there is only one way to respond consciously: I have to act. I have to change whatever I am doing or not doing. I have to change the way I am living.

Living consciously means living in the body, conscious from moment to moment of thought and sensation, but not becoming attached to thoughts which hurt, frighten, create anxiety and/or punish.

Reeling under RECESSION

It has been quite a long time since I blogged. A lot of things are happening. An obvious reference to the recession. Where is India and where is the USA? Still we are reeling under the recession. It's a concern that we are also facing and battling recession. I have witnessed the painful scenes of my colleagues being given pink slips in the recent days. It will be very hard to forget all those miserable moments. Thankfully some of them have found jobs and are doing good. I couldn't stop my tears when a good colleague, who sat beside me, was sent out. It took an hour to recover and be normal. Our team of 5 has became a team of 3 now. It was a high concern issue indeed. However, i am braving all odds and coming up to new realities in life. Each day is becoming a challenge. But i am facing them couragiously. Once i dreamt a bad dream. Generally my dreams don't come true. I still believe in values and these are tough times indeed. The first such a critical time i am facing.

ನ್ಯೂ ಇಯರ್ ೨೦೦೯

The new year - 2009 - has already started and a month is over. New year. New challenges.
I have not blogged for all these days. Though I wanted to update, I couldn't. I wanted to make some new year resolutions but later thought what is the use of making new year resolutions when none of them would be achieved. If I had made such resolutions, the fitness regimen would have topped the list. Yes. Badly I need to get into a fitness regimen or simply a regular walking schedule. I wanted to change my lifestyle and come out of the old things. Then reading a lot could have also joined that list. At least one hour of reading everyday. Though I have built up a libray of 30 and odd books for myself little I have read. And it is quiet a long time I bought any books. The last one I bought was Nimma Magu by Anupama Niranjana which I liked. It is a book about children.

Now my family is talking a lot of time. My six-month-old child Akash is with me. His growing up is a wonder for me. I am amazed at his growth everyday and wonder how my parents had felt while seeing me growing up. This is indeed a wonderful phase of each human's life, i believe. He is recognizing me and with him I spend a high quality good time. He has become my aankhon ka sitara nowadays.

The year 2009 signals the end of the first decade of 2000. A lot of changes happened in the last nine. The country has witnessed tremendous, pathbreaking changes in the last eight years. The biggest, i believe, is the advent of internet into all parts of the country.
Barack Hussein Obama has just been sworn in as the 44th President of USA. I watched the swearing-in ceremony live on news channels. Said to be the largest swearing-in of any US President, the event had more than a billion viewers glued to the TV. Obama has been praised as a man of change.

India is gearing for the next general elections. Hardly two months away.

LIFE is all about...

Dealing with life, work, work pressure, life skills, life challenges, and changes have all become my favourite phrases nowadays as i am all set to complete the first year of my early thirties soon. Issues, challenges, and questions all are cropping at a new scenario. Knowingly or unknowingly i have spent some years in a wasteful way, in the sense, that i could have done many many things however could not. No regrets for that now. It was an experience. Recession blues, personal issues, domestic issues, illusionary issues, real issues, issues, issue and more issues - it seems life is made up ofissues only and finding solutions for it. Though many times, setbacks occur it is not all the way failures. So much to learn and live. Learning lessons in life never stops. May be this way life is more challenging, manageable and not certainly not difficult as all issues and challenges have their own solutions - whatever it may be. May be i am over thinking, but still it is an issue of utmost significance and no one teaches them except our life itself. Life, as i have seen, needs its own, altogether, skills and we take "our own" time to understand them.

I remember a Chintana aired by Akashavani Mysore nearly ten years ago, LIFE EXPECTS DIFFERENT AND ALL BEST THINGS FROM US. Our relief, happiness, satisfaction or whatever you call is depending on the fact that whether we provide it what all it needs. This is a simple fact but a challenge indeed. Having told this, I must also admit that I have already become a member of Future Forties' Club with two of dear colleagues and what i see a whole new journey of life ahead.I have always been interested to think, know and understand what is life, how it works, what way it should be etc.

In short, i am interested in life and this interest and dedicated and servicemindedness towards is entering into a new era now and Not but not the least, LIFE IS ALL ABOUT WHAT YOU MAKE OF IT.

Musings

Now i have sometime to blog. Work takes a lot of time, pressure, stress, commuting, oh...hundred and one things. Since nine days i was so busy with work. Today i have sometime to breathe and blog.

US economy slowdown has hit that country badly and we are witnessing its effects here too. I am reading, listening and seeing all this. Actively discussing about this too. The media have given it due coverage, though it is debatable. Some questions haunt me: Did India need all this? Given the free falling of free market capitalism in US, its visible effects here, what's the solution? Is this outsourcing, ITes sector not safe and secure?

First things first. Yes. India needed and needs this. The changes that we have been seeing in the last 10 years, are dream come true for millions. Common people (read middle-class educated Indians) have flourished a lot. ATM, mobiles, computers, credit cards, fat salaries (It's a fact that a young professional today earns more than what his father drew in the last month of his service).... this is all the result of this outsourcing, ITes jobs. It provided employment.
However, it is true that all this has been one-sided and as some say "abnormal" that has, to some extent, has had effects on society too (We all hear that people are becoming more and more materialistic like Americans and finally we also end up being so, I myself have experienced this). Now the moot question is how to deal with this? Will it be a doom? This is a phase and will pass too, some people say optimistically.

Hampi Tour

Finally, I have now got sometime to update my blog.

Last weekend, I visited Hampi, a world heritage site, more than 300 kms from the north of Bangalore, with one of my good friends. We walked and walked and walked over 6 kms in two days discovering Hampi, the grand capital city of the medievial period's Vijayanagar empire.
Though Hampi is in ruins, it's one time grandeur can be imagined through whatever is left - basements of royal buildings, foundations of palaces, buildings, idol less temples, broken idols etc.
All through Hampi, I was reminded of Michael Wood's legendary documentary "Story of India" being broadcast on Discovery Channel. If I had a handycam I would have made a documentary on Hampi just like Wood.

It was great to find royal enclosure spread over 59,000 acres at Kamalapur, 2 kms from Hampi. The monuments at Hampi are all unique, Ugranarasimha, Badavlinga, Kadalekalu Ganapa, Sasivekalu Ganapa, Hazararama temple, courtesans' street, Purandaradasa Mantapa, Seetha's cave, Kodandarama temple, royal hall, royal pond, tunnel, queens' bathroom, Mahanavami Dibba, Vijayavittala Temple, Gajashale, Kamala Mahal and much more. This royal enclosure fascinated me, sparkling discussions and imaginations.

It was amazing to see the Raja Beedi of the Virupaksha temple where the merchants were selling pearls, gold and diamonds like any grossery item. This fact itself is enough to find how prosperous the Vijayanagar Kingdom was in 16th century, the peak of its glory, particularly during the reign of Krishnadevaraya (1509-1529). Later on the empire disintegrated in the War of Rakkasathangadi in 1565. However the dynasty continued till later part of the 18th century.
Established by Hakka and Bukka with the divine blessing of seer Vidyaranya, the pontiff of Sringeri Sharada Peetha, in 1336, the Vijayanagar empire spread, expanded, and achieved its glory for over two centuries. Ruled by four dynasties, Vijayanagar empire's history is the golden age of Karnataka.

In all, it was experience to discover the once flouring royal city which was described beautifully by the foreign travellers. No wonder it was one of the most rich cities of its time, a world heritage site.

We were ably guided by Sandeep, a Hospet-based school teacher, my friend's fried, with whom I had good discussions on many issues. The discussions can be called walking discussions.
The mention of hills around Hampi Hemakoota, Matanga and Rushyamooka are found in Ramayana too. It is said Rama, Sita and Lakshmana were staying here during their Vanavasa.

A great tour for me. A welcome break from the boring busy Bangalore.

ಯಾವ ಜನ್ಮದ ಕೆಳೆಯೋ ಕಾಣೆನು ...ಮೈ ಫೇವರೆಟ್ ಸಾಂಗ್

ಯಾವ ಜನ್ಮದ ಕೆಳೆಯೋ ಕಾಣೆನು ಕಂಡ ಕೂಡಲೇ ಒಲಿಯಿತು, ಕಣ್ಗೆ ರೂಪವು ಇಳಿವ ಮುನ್ನವೇ ಎದೆಗೆ ಪ್ರೇಮವು ಹರಿಯಿತು...

ದಿಕ್ಕು ದಿಕ್ಕಿಗೂ ಹರಡಿ ಹಬ್ಬಿತು ಹಸುರು ಹುಚ್ಚನ್ನೆರಚಿತು, ಚಿಗುರುಚಿಗುರಿಗೂ ಒಲವ ತುಂಬಿಸಿ ಹೂವು ತೋರಣ ಕಟ್ಟಿತು, ಒಳಗೂ ಹೊರಗೂ ಬೆಳಗು ಸಂಜೆಯೂ ನಿನ್ನ ದನಿಯೇ ತೇಲಿತು, ಎಂಟು ದಿಕ್ಕಿನ ಗಾಳಿಯಲ್ಲೂ ನಿನ್ನ ದನಿಯೇ ಕೇಳಿತು.

ಇಂದು ಮಾಗಿಯು ಮುಗಿವ ಮುನ್ನವೇ ನಗುವ ಬೇಸಗೆ ಬಂದಿದೆ, ಕಾಮನಂ ಬೆಳರನ್ನು ತಂದಿದೆ, ಬಾಲ ಹಾದಿಯ ಎರಡು ಕದೆಯಲೂ ಕಣ್ಗೆ ಹಬ್ಬವು ಹರಡಿದೆ, ಮಾವು ಹೊಂಗೆಗಳನ್ಥೆ ಮನವಿದು ಹೊಸತು ಚಿಗುರನು uttide .

Taking some 'TIME' to ಬ್ಲಾಗ್

Oh, God, I can't believe I did not get time in the last one and half months nearly, to update by blog. Amid all this huge traffic of life (Mainly job, domestic work like cooking, cleaning, family, commuting, lack of clarity of what and how to do things etc),I have been thinking of writing about so many many things. But what to do? I did not get time. This brings to me to one interesting point.

Earlier I disliked to hear words like "I have no time", "I did not get time", "I am busy" and so on. The irony is now I am taking refuge in these bland verbiages.

I am basically an idealist and read a lot of things about timeliness, ideals in my middle, high school and pre-university college days that I still cherish. I was following time, discipline and taking everything in good stride. Everything was going good and even if something bad happened, I used to take it as it is. When others used to say they did not get time, I wondered and did not understand what were they saying.

But now things have changed a lot and I have become one of them. Due one or the other reason, I put off so many things. Consequently things pile up on one another. For all I have to wait for the weekend. If I can't do one thing this weekend it gets postponed to next weekend and so on. Like this, I have a long list of things to do in the next four weekends, that means a week! OMG! Like updating the blog now. So all these days I "just did not have time to update my blog". Rather my commitment to blogging failed. Bombed.

This leads me to recollect a great sentence read in some magazine, paper or book long ago. WE all, actually, have sufficient time. We can't even imagine how much we have. What we lack is not time, but the WILL. Clarity. Commitment. Dedication. In fact, the greatest blessing that we all have is nothing else, but TIME.

My Child
After this, let me get back to blogging. My child (three months old now) has been one of the greatest blessings that I have received from God. Seeing him growing is truly great for me. A wonder indeed!

That he is so innocent, so dependent, so cute is beyond my expression. He is a rich source of joy to me. Seeing him, listening to his ununderstandable sounds, watching his movements is truly great. It's a great discovery for me to understand and assimilate how a child grows day by day. I have so many things to write about him. Truly emotional!

Stories and Miseries

This week is passing. Two days of Weekend again. Last week, as I wrote in these columns I was me, myself at home except attending Dr Mathoor Krishnamurthy's 'Maneyangaladalli Maathukathe' on Saturday and 'Nenapugala Meravanige' on Sunday with my younger brother. Recovering from emotional anticipations, demanding work, lack of time for personal pastimes, stress it was ok. Still my time and my space are elusive. And I fell ill. I saw doctor and took tablets lately, I came to office. Had a little quantity of food at office, at hotel and home too (in fact the vegetable baath that I made was too good), sometimes yielding to temptations (read bajjis and pakoras) and suffering later. This suffering has made me conscious and now wants to consume food in necessary quantity. This week can be summed as 'Stories and Miseries' with a number of experiences. With two my far-placed friends calling me after a long time, it was indeed an eventful week. Now again another weekend. Last week's pending work: Washing clothes, writing, reading, personal time ..... and much ಮೊರೆ.