Photograph...

Pic, picture, foto, photo, photograph, art, click, what ever you call it...its beautiful. Encapsulating a beautiful moment of life that runs away as time flies by is one of the best things man has ever invented. Mountains and seas, oceans and beaches, trees and bees, light and dark, animals and birds, underwater and inside caves, man-made or nature....you name it, a click is all it takes.

However, I find that one of the most challenging things to do is to capture true emotions on a photograph. Smile, as you may see in most photos is mostly faked!! Tears are almost never clicked; Fear, anger, disgust, depression, solace, peace, doubt, joy, shy, excitement etc etc.. these are hard to capture (apart from models, actors, public figures who mostly fake).. it is very rarely clicked with in a group of friends or family. Happy occasions are the ones we click and keep them forever to remind ourselves of our joyful moments in times of sadness.

The best pictures are always clicked when you don't pose for it... Well... smiles are always good, fake or real.. they can cheer you during nostalgic moments.

I hope to get a new DSLR for the new year and I am going to take all kinds of pictures but I am going to take up the challenge to take as many true expressions as possible. Friends please do not hate me if I click when you are crying.[:p]..and I am already dedicating my first good 100 photographs to my Family!!

1-2-3-Say Cheeeeeeezzzzzeeeee! Well thats the worst line ever.. Just Click as you go.... be free!!

The Men vs A God!!

The title and the timing would give you clues that I am talking about 'The God of Cricket' Sachin Tendulkar. A terrific innings of a hundred and seventy five runs under peak pressure of winning and getting close to winning the series. He was awarded the Man of the Match for this knock, while I think he should have a special award incomparable with human achievements in the world of Cricket! During his award winning speech Sachin told that he was 'disappointed' despite a great batting show he put on the field. His tone concurs his mood of unable to bring India to victory and I am sure in his mind, best knocks of his life would still be the twin centuries scored against Australia in Sharjah '97-'98. There is no question 10 years later he is not only better batsmen he has become 'The Best' India could ever imagine. And thats when we lose..

India for long depended on 'one man to win' theory and tried and will continue this trend. We need a HERO, always. I know India has travelled a long distance to be a team rather than a few players and fewer Gods. On the top of my head I could name a few greats.. Gavaskar, Srikanth, Kapil, Srinath, Sidhu, Dravid, Ganguly and above all and many more is Sachin. While Australia has a few great players (out of the ordinary) their ordinary players would hit 90's and make centuries on a foreign turf. Is the standard of cricket that is poor in India or is it because we still look up for One Heroic innings every time we watch match? I may not be following the series very well but one thing that India lacks is consistency in all three areas. While we had 12 or more misfields and gave away atleast 20 runs, Australia has saved and making run outs by falling and scraping knees and those few crucial runs which gave them an extreme advantage. While one of the well experienced bowlers is giving away runs like a high school amateur, Australian new-bee on his debut match picked up 3 wickets including Sachin's while giving away just 59 runs. To me he is the man. A 25 year old making a hundred and another making 90+ runs for their first wicket partnership while maintaining a 100+ strike rate at all time. They are no Gods just mere men who pulled Australia to their victory. Yes it is their win. It was not bad luck that India lost this match, it was one God who pulled so close to victory and the rest (mostly) failing to move a few more inches to win. Most of the statistics prove that Indian players lack consistency, a sine wave is not the way to play cricket it is only good for your heart! A players performance I believe should be an exponential or a almost straight line...

Some of you may think I am writing this because India lost this close match. While I may not deny that, I wanted to write this to remind that A God we worship in Indian Cricket could not win this match alone. We need MEN to fight our wars!

Nobel Obama !!

I am not going to complain about awarding of Nobel Peace Prize to Obama. So if you are looking to read for some jokes or stupid schedules of Mr.Obama look somewhere else...

A Nobel Prize is awarded for achievements in Chemistry, Physics, Medicine, Literature and Economics. I am not including Peace prize in this category because it was not meant to be looked as an achievement by some group or person. No single person can change the world-- Mahatma was not one person, he was a voice of all the Indians who could not speak for their freedom, a motivator to lead a path of non-violence, an action of courage to stand up to fight against the then ruling government, for freedom. I feel he should have been awarded and I think he was honored by not awarding a Peace prize as 'there was no suitable living candidate' in 1948. 

It is not my intention to compare Obama to Gandhi here, but since there are Facebook messages saying the Nobel prize has become a JOKE because Gandhi was not awarded but Obama was awarded and so on.. I am trying to bring some perspective here. September was when the invitations to nominate were sent out by the Nobel committee to a qualified  group for listing deserving candidates. Mr.Obama was one of the 205 candidates nominated. He may have been a Senator Obama or a President Obama depending on when he was nominated. Was he deserving a nomination in the first place? Did he do something extraordinary? or in typical words Did he ACHIEVE something?? He was courage to stand up to run for Office despite of his race and the perceived interest in black community. The words 'Yes we can!' resounded in the entire world, a motivation to change the way it is. He was only campaigning for the office. And it paid off, may be because everyone were so fed up with the unpopularity of Bush and his mishaps or may be because of a HOPE, Obama was proposing to the Americans across the nation. He won, despite being Black, and granted US her first Black president. 

Lets move to his office as President Obama and his job and responsibilities. Look at this article about his first 12 days schedule if you are so interested. I don't know what is the point of these 12 days. This time gap between Obama taking oath to his office and the last day to submit the invitation may not have any correlation on why he was awarded Peace prize. He may not have been judged for these 12 days people. He may not have been nominated after he became President Obama.

During his office, President Obama did something an American president would not dare to do (at least post 9/11). He outreached to the Muslim world to speak the words of apology and addressing the crowd 'As-Salam-Alaykum' meaning 'let Peace be upon you', won over a majority of the US hating crowd. There are still Anti-US groups who thinks peace is a joke to their land and who thinks US is the cause of all violence in the middle-east. Wouldn't you call this an effort to bring peace upon nations? A call to stop terrorism was very much required and he gave it to the world. Brought back standing army troops from Iraq slowly bringing stability to the cities with in. However as many would agree, Is that all you need to do to WIN the Peace Prize? Pardon me it is not a WIN, Nobel peace prize is Awarded.

With US in such a miserable state of recession, conservatives and Republicans behind his back picking, and major industries begging for financial support, health care imbalanced and many more in the first few months he addressed a few or may be none of these issues but made a point to talk to Muslim world. Friends, what I am trying to say is that a Nobel Peace prize is just not awarded when you do or achieve extra ordinary results. It is a motivation to keep working in the same way to bring peace between nations, between Religions; an understanding between cultures. However I do not think Nobel prize has become a joke. It is given to a deserved candidate for his work towards peace, unity and togetherness. If parties and speeches could bring Nobel prize, hollywood would be better place for many good looking candidates. As Obama himself was surprised and humbled, he told that this award is a reminder for his responsibility; It is "A CALL FOR ACTION" and thats the word...

A note from an interview from a website...

I think most of them are for something very concrete, more of a Camp David-like peace accord, when you know, Begin and Sadat won, for example. That would be classic. Other time, organizations like UNICEF wins. One year, the Quakers won. So it really depends on the year.

But I think Obama's is unusual in how young he is. He's a 48-year-old man. And I thought about it some today, and I think you have to really think about it more in the terms of Martin Luther King. He won a Nobel Peace Prize at 35 years old, right in 1964, before the historic Civil Rights legislation of '65. And King was at that point 35. He had his whole career ahead of him. So it was kind of an award to encourage King to continue fighting for Civil Rights.

And I think Barack Obama's is to encourage him pushing, particularly as the Nobel committee mentioned, to abolish classifications of nuclear weapons and to continue the Cairo speech, where he's seeming to put an olive branch out between Christians and Israel and the Muslim world.

A beautiful sight..

Sunday late evening, I had no work and had a boring long day, all alone at home watching Conan O'Brien mouthing some odd jokes, that made me give an expression of "what fool am I watching this show?". At last I reached my limit of tolerance and grabbed my trousers and went out. No where to go, I walked to my Friends place just in the same apartment complex. Lucky I was, they were planning to go watch a movie. We all decided on 'The Informant' and headed out in a car to the cine complex which is also a shopping spot called Tempe market place.

As soon as I got down from the car, I saw two planes landing at the Phoenix airport at the same time on different runways, just a few 1000 feet away. My eyes just kept following the planes like a small kid who sees these artificial birds his first time. I just kept glancing west observing the tail and wings of this invention and there was this sight, a beautiful creation, better than any man made wonder, seems heavenly. How ever I describe it, consider that it is a thousand times beautiful.

An empty sky covered this ground as far as I can see, mixed with colors that can be described by emotions. Like a dull red fire somewhere far off, giving colors of saffron and mixture of deep blue, just turning the other side to black coal. As the light fades away, there rises a white angel in shape unknown to human eye. Such beautiful, marvelous wonder, kept me looking, caught me stranded in the middle of a parking lot. The rare mixture of colors in the sky made the beauty to bring out a wonder. Bent and curved like bow of a divine nature, made me wonder how could anyone miss this sight... It made my mind wander to compare if it can be, collecting memories from deep in my brain matter. All possible combinations could not match up with this sight, just an amazing view.

Then there is a shower of a couple stars falling down to earth like a balls of fire. Making this a spectacular scenery. I searched for one full day to come up with a right lines I hope it makes sense...

"There was another sign in the Heaven, and behold a great red dragon...And his tail draweth a third part of the stars in Heaven.-----The Relevation of St John the Divine, 12.14"

How could I ever forget this sight of a white curved line, the sight of this heavenly body, that of the earths orbital object, that which just reflects, The New Moon on the 3rd day, on the auspicious day of Ramzaan...

Old is still Gold??

Why are people afraid to change or of change? A change that may bring better things to surface, may help many more people than now, may become a good lesson for the future generations. Make mistakes learn from them and CHANGE...I made mistakes, many mistakes... I don't regret thinking I wish I had not made such a stupid mistake. We learn and we move on...But there are some things that don’t change. You and your inside do not change. Your attitude changes, your perspective changes but not you. How ever we are not talking about the unchangeable in this one.

Recently I came across a feud or should I say 'constructive criticism' between ‘a group’ and ‘an individual’. Frankly speaking I supported the individual but not with zero knowledge or involvement with the group. I have known the group for a few years; I vaguely have an idea of what the group is capable of and what it does. I have seen them do and perform the same things for three years. Presidents changed, projects changed, time changed, group’s quantity and quality changed. But why none of this changed the method or medium the group works. It is the same objective, to raise funds for an NGO back in home land to support projects that are meant to do something to the needy. The method is the same: ‘A day with India’, ‘World of Dances’, ‘A table in International food festival’ and recently a ‘Cricket tournament’ (may be the only change). The events with in the event bare no changes either. It’s high time that there was a change in the method and quality. As the individual says portraying India in its deepest and darkest situation is not correct for the sole reason that is insulting the country. Look at US take pride even when begging. Has around 4 trillion dollars debt around the world. What money can people living in US give to solve India’s problems? India is a strange yet a marvelous country. In a couple years India will have some the Worlds richest men and at the poorest men possible in the same city.

Now, when I speak for the group, in their defense, the objective given to them is to raise as much funds as possible for a project that an NGO has taken up in India. So I hope they are doing to the best of their abilities, with existing time and academic constraints. I really appreciate their efforts personally. I do think this group has been trying to bring change in many lives and give hope to others who knows of this movement. However this is not enough. We as responsible citizens of a country should take up responsible jobs and not just work here to raise money or donate to the group. This is what I should say but I am not eligible to speak that way since I am not doing it. But instead I would at least want to understand the root cause and try to eliminate it. As the individual said “You have to be the change and also be the medium, ‘modus operandi’ for its induction!”

We are still afraid to change the old methods, the old constitution, the old political parties, the old politicians and the old systems and many more. Instead we are changing the one which we respect the old culture, old heritage, ole people and the old words of wisdom…. So I ask is Old still Gold??

Turtle Ways

A violent wave hurl up, washing new born turtles

Welcoming into wicked world, warm waters but cold

Saving from six legged shells but safe they are not

Hatched with an armored back, hard enough it is not

One remains a thousand births, but still carries a ton

Flapping along with fins, nothing on limbs to hold on

What miserable life it goes through, a misery untold

On the verge when sea meets sand, a fate decided

What’s less evil, eternal pain or a quick mercy death

Yet fights hard for life, unknown to their tiny minds

Is it nature or nurture, after all, His tyranny found

Water and earth, foes and food, till nut-shell turns

Into hard rock, still wavering of desires that runs

These turtle ways, are tough yet slow adventure

Living for ages that only mean a burden, a grief

For lost siblings and deep guilt for this selfish life

Mother to thousands more but mothering none

Mourning to memories of embryos born, unborn

A cruel labor serves as a mere prey, saves one

Of many, to begin a journey, an essential scorn

Of turtle ways, these sad, silent yet heavy marvels

The Other side of Fear!!

Fear...as we all know is a word that does not describe strength, courage or honor. What are we afraid of? We could be afraid of something or someone, from Water to Daddy or something tangible. We could be scared of certain intangible substances like heights, ghosts and sometimes God.

Fear of failure is something that makes you weak, lost, confused, frustrated about yourself and can not show any one what it could be. Neither are we humble enough to accept that you are scared about times that are hard and tough to make any move. Making any plan or taking any decision is hard because of many possible factors that make you confused about now and future. Fear does not want you to lose a comfortable position that you are in now.

However, something makes anew of all the old, like a Phoenix coming out of ashes, you will be reborn. Like throwing up after a few drinks, which you were afraid you would do, it is the Courage to move on that has made the mind up. Courage does not come with the absence of fear, it only comes when you are afraid but cornered to make a decision. It makes you look at fear from a different perspective, from the Other side. "Fear--Something that keeps you awake, makes you to fight, keeps you hungry and gives courage to win---all it needs is CONTROL"

Sometimes we choose, but most times we can't. But we create that opportunity so that we would have more than one choice left. Many times we decide to do either Right or Wrong, between justice and crime. But most times we have to decide either to do the Right thing or keep ourselves Happy. We tend to keep ourselves happy, but the human inside ends up doing the Right thing. Its the Fear of humanity...

The first apple tree

Inside, dark and humid, soil smells of blood
deserted but dense, black fog, smokey logs

alone I walk through the woods to bright corona
feel its near, miles away, darkness prolong tall and large

feet sticky with black dirt, knees tremble, hips bent
only to feel fingers on land, eyes hunting in weakness

skin pale and cold, dry and cracked mouth pass
venomous air, heart pounds harder every step ahead

hope is what left, right I see the first apple tree
green and glowing, such a gorgeous odd

strength unknown hits hard, to grab such
beautiful red fruit, easy to get hold 'smell'

still admiring, color and quality lucrative it is
waters my mouth, burns cracked lips, wait to taste

"don't eat it" told a voice far from long inside
a question "why?" resonates, shivers all around

"the forest, its the forest" replied frightened voice
never let it pass through me, I bite the fruit of glory

closed my eyes tried to captivate flavor of red color
skin thin, rich flesh, its appeal dominate the intellect

it's bitter yet flavored juices flow through dry throat
like Hercules and blissful apple, no clue otherwise

I turn blue, slowing my heart, throat choking
eyes blinding to pull me down more and more

A wild, poisoned fruit, a false fascination
deceptive plant, too late, choice made, I regret

courage to fight, desire to stand and walk to light
reached the end, out from darkness, still weak and lost

a lovely farm I see, lush green and calm, an apple orchard
wonder what kind, lost my last breath kneel to fall ground

men round my left overs, making sounds of pity and grace
face no surprises, I knew 'am not the first one not the first......