Often on this blog I have posted lines from songs that I feel are suited to my mood of the moment. Often these are a bit of an exaggeration, mostly part of them fit while others don't. This particular one I'm writing however matches verbatim my state of mind, a beautiful Hemant Kumar number.

Rulakar Chal Diye; Ek Din
Hansi Bankar Jo Aaye The
Chaman Ro Ro Ke Kehta Hain
Kabhi Gul Muskuraye The

Agar Dil Ke Jubaan Hoti
Yeh Gham Kuchch Kam To Ho Jaata
Idhar Woh Chup Udhar Seene
Mein Hum Toofan Chhupaaye The

Yeh Achcha Tha Na Hum Kehte
Kisise Dastaan Apni
Samajh Paaye Na Jab Apne
Paraaye To Paraaye The

The (Anti) Butterfly Effect In Its Full Horror

I have tended to believe in the butterfly effect in every form. Sure the mathematical meaning is quite different but I also tend to appreciate and would like to believe its populist version: That a butterfly flapping its wings in China can affect the wheat production in Indonesia and cause thunderstorms in other parts of the World etc.

In fact I would like to take a step further and ask what if the corollary is also true ? Can it be possible that a butterfly that was supposed to flap its wings in China to keep the World order going failed to do so and that led to a horrible disaster like the tsunami in Indonesia ?? Quite plausible ain't it ?

Tangentially does the butterfly effect apply in time as it does in space ? Can the flapping of a wings (or lack of it) by a butterfly in Indonesia today affect the occurence or non-occurence of a tsunami some 2000 years in the future ?

Don't they say that words that once leave your mouth, you cannot control and can come back to haunt you in the future ?? Don't they say "Speech is silver, silence is golden." ?? All very fine but IMO paints a very one sided picture. What they fail to tell you is that what you did not say some time in the past may come back to horribly haunt you in the future and mess up the rest of your life. I have today been firmly convinced by what someone said at my graduation ceremony last year - "You will always regret more what you did not do than what you did".

Butterflies all over the World, flap your wings, at least that way no matter what the consequences you will not be left with the regret of what if.

Bhoola Afsana Koi
Gujra Zamaana Koi
Saathi Purana Koi
Banke Bahaana Koi
Agar Dil Mein Woh
Sama Jaaaye Toh
Yeh Dil Kya Kare?

Us Paar Reh Na Sake
Is Paar Aa Naa Sake
Kehna Tha Keh Na Sake
Chup Bhi To Reh Na Sake
Main Bechain Hoon
Tu Betaab Hain
Yeh Dil Kya Kare?

A situation has occurred in life that makes me want to reminisce on these beautiful lyrics from a favorite song of mine.

Anjaane Hoton Par Kyon Pehchane Geet Hain ?
Kal Tak Jo Begaane The, Janmon Ke Meet Hain.
O Mitwa Re, Kal Tak Jo Begaane The Janmon Ke Meet Hain
Kya Hoga Kaun Se Pal Mein, Koi Jaane Na.

Isn't it amazing when you suddenly begin to feel someone's emotions be they pain or joy because you have been through a very similar experience ? You really do begin to see the World in a different light, from the eyes of that person, and you appreciate him/her like never before.

Trouble

I am being troubled these days. I know what it is about. I can’t do anything about it. I want to do something about it. I want to get over it. Move past it and lead a life unfettered by it. Accomplish something wonderful and then laugh down on this thing that is troubling me, mocking it, like it is mocking me right now, telling it “Look you tried your best to pull me down and you failed and I succeeded.”

But right now it is the trouble that is having the upper hand. How long will this situation last? When will I be able to turn things around?

Writer's Block ?

I can’t think of what to write. Every time I try to write something I feel like taking the easier option of surfing the net. Really what kind of a necessary evil this World of laptops and wireless connections is.

The Strange Case Of Conchita Martinez

An ideal example of how you do not really like someone initially (well, who am I kidding might as well say I hated her) then you get to know that they are not that bad and finally when they leave you feel so attached that you actually feel a tinge of sadness !

What Does Amit Have To Say About This ?

Just came across this article on FOX via a link on The Corridor of Uncertainty.

Basically, my point of interest lies in this paragraph:

And you do not need to own a satellite dish to watch it, as, by government decree, any successful bidder for the TV rights to Indian cricket must allow Doordarshan, the state channel, a feed.

This requirement has been imposed on Nimbus, the production group that recently paid $867 million for a four-year deal with the Indian Cricket Board, and it has served Indian cricket well because it is playing its part in spreading the sports gospel to areas where, thanks to the growth of vibrant cities and improved transport, aspiring cricketers can be put in touch with good facilities and coaches.

So what we have hear is a clear case of restriction on the concept of free markets one which is very dear to Amit and Gaurav, both of whose blogs I am a keen reader of and whose views I respect immensely. Yet, as this article mentions and I think I agree it has been of great benefit to young Indian cricketers in rural areas and Indian cricket in general. About the only persons suffering from it are the guys at Nimbus.

Just to cite some examples of the benefits - the names Pathan, Dhoni, RP Singh, Munaf etc quickly come to mind. Plus the fact that Uttar Pradesh has won the Ranji Trophy for the first time !

So was wondering whether Amit and Gaurav will concede that this is an aberration to their staunch belief in the fact that free markets end up benefiting all or do they not consider this to be beneficial in the long term ??

Me, as I candidly admit am yet to make up my mind on this free market issue. This is just another interesting manifestation of my dilemma that I am pondering over.

Freedom Of Speech In Gujarat !

This is what happens in one of the most prosperous states of the World's largest democracy.

Link via Amit Varma.

Update: All is not dark of course, here is a site that lists the good that is happening in India. Check it out for yourself. I haven't explored it in full detail yet, but seems interesting.

Shocking

Read this post on Amit Varma's India Uncut.

I absolutely agree with him. There are so many things we as a nation have got to learn.

It is only through reading the blogs of such people having knowledge of economics that we can realize how much there is still to be done and that an 8.1 annual increase in GDP is only 1 part of the story.

Watching Live Cricket In Class

This is an amazing experience, folks. I am actually watching live coverage of the India v Pakistan game while in class !

Several factors have combined to make this possible.
1. Luckily the cricket is available on my unreliable link today.
2. I have just discovered that paying attention in this class does not pay anyway.
3. I am particularly pissed off at this particular teacher because she did not accept my last homework even though it was submitted on time simply because she was not in office during her office hours.
4. Usage of laptop in class is liberally allowed here.
5. There is excellent wireless signal strength.

So all in all it feels very brilliant and very powerful.

I am taken back to those good old school days when we used to stealthily listen to the radio commentary in class. Now it is video and it is open. Just brilliant.

A Question Of Classification

Should I consider playing outdoor sports as part of my physical exercise routine ??

As most of you will readily agree in graduate student life there is precious little time for anything other than academics. So this time needs to be devoted with great care to all other activities.

The overlap between sports and exercise makes this particular choice rather difficult. For sports can give you exercise but in a rather more unpredictable manner than the gym. But when the weather is great it does seem a shame to be cooped up inside in a gym.

Of course I, like many other people primarily play sport for the love of it than for the physical exercise. Hmm ... an interesting choice this. One which will take some thought.

A Victory For Free Choice

This.

An Experience

Had been to John Nash's lecture today. More to follow ...

I Hate You !

That might sound like a horrible thing to say - but I was just wondering - is hatred better than indifference ? I remember making a post a few days back about my desire to hurt someone and the more I think of it I realize that if I want to hurt that person it is because it MATTERS to me whether he/she is hurt. So clearly I am not indifferent towards him/her.

I remember reading a poem in Hindi in Standard 10. It went something like:

Agar Phool Nahin Bo Sakte To
Kaatein Kam Se Kam Mat Bovo

Meaning if you can't make a person happy at least don't hurt him/her.

Now I can't say I totally disagree with that - but I do feel hatred is perhaps a better emotion to have than indifference. I don't know whether I would feel better to be hated than to be not cared for.

I Disagree

As I am reading one "Manacha Shlok" everyday I begin to realize that I disagree with several rather most of what it has to say. With the notable exception of the insistence on truth, of course. I do not understand whether I am being a fool to disagree with an acknowledged great soul like Shri Ramdas Swami or whether I am just not being able to understand the deeper meaning. Of course in due time I will try to come up with specific points about where and why I disagree. But for now I am just wondering whether I am right to dispute what he says.

Hurt

Right now I really feel like hurting one person. And hurt him/her real bad. Because he/she has hurt me. But I don't know whether I should. I have started reading Manache Shlok every day and they teach me not to hurt. However somewhere at the back of my mind I have this intense desire to hurt.

I don't know whether what I am doing or going to do is right or wrong. Hell I don't even know if that person will be hurt or not ... hmmm.

Ram - Maryada Purushottam ? Or Just Human ?

Very interesting - Read here.

Thanks Kanishka for the link.

Suddenly remembered this brilliant Kishore Kumar song and thought I might as well blog it down.

Jin Raaton Ki Bhor Nahin Hain, Aaj Aisi Hi Raat Aayi
Bojh Se Gham Ke Doob Gaya Dil, Saagar Ki Hain Gehrayee

Raat Ke Taaron Tum Hi Bata Do, Meri Woh Manzil Hain Kahan
Paagal Bankar Jiske Liye Main Kho Baitha Hoon Dono Jahan

Raah Kisi Ki Hui Na Roshan Jalna Mera Beqar Gaya
Loot Gayee Taqdeer Mujhe, Main Jeetke Baazi Haar Gaya

Bluffmaster

I would recommend it. It might seem extremely slow and boring in parts especially in the first half. But it is worth it. Expect what you might from and English romantic comedy. If you go in expecting non-stop action like DHOOM or comedy like No Entry you will be frustrated.

Priyanka Chopra is frustrating. Abhishek is good as usual but surprisingly Ritesh Deshmukh has stolen the show.

I wouldn't want to even venture into the story here because who would I be bluffing ??