FB Killed it.

As much as I am a huge fan of the Zuckerberg boy (He's precisely what my six-year-old self wanted to be by the time I was twenty-two, namely, stinking rich) I cant help but rue the fact that Facebook has led to the destruction of several facets of human interaction. To name a few, here goes,


1. Blogging- Sigh! The dying art of blogging! I have see the number of comments dwindle on even the most ardently followed blogs. Who would want to go click on a link, then read a post, then click on 'comment', then type the comment, then go to user verification, then verify email and password and then wait for the comment to be read and moderated?!?
Instead, your amateur wannabe writer comes along with a simple 'FB Note' about his/her random shenanigans and tags you to draw your attention. You, in return leave a one step comment or if you are least interested, make-do with a polite 'Like' and your're good to go. Not to forget the mass publicity for the FB Note. Clearly Zuckerberg got this feature right.


2. Genuineness- Courtesy FB, we all have dual personalities today. The FB self and the Real self. The real self is the genuine you, with a bunch of close friends, at a coffee shop, amidst honest conversations. The FB self is you, the Celeb, chased by the paparazzi! The 'You' who goes to a party all decked up, perfect smile and make-up just so you can have a brand new FB display picture. The 'You' who makes plans to hangout with friends based on which post-hangout status update will sound cooler. The Genuineness is lost in the constant need to show the world how 'Cool and Happening' your life is. Once again, FB killed it.


3. Phone conversations, Email, Texts- And I needn't elaborate. Convenience being the key, our perennially online selves would much rather communicate, send attachments and messages via FB. We would also make excessive use of 'Wallposts'. What better way to let the world eavesdrop on our apparently interesting conversations and gossip?. One word of advice however, quite frankly, Nobody cares.


4. Friends, enemies, frenemies, Same difference- On FB, we're all one big family. Strangers become 'FB friends', Acquaintances become 'FB Friends', Friend's friends become 'FB friends', Relatives become 'FB friends', Colleagues and bosses also become 'FB Friends'! Clearly we dont know where to draw the line. Nor do we make optimum use of privacy settings to demarcate the boundaries of social interaction. You life is now on display sans privacy. Once again, FB killed it.


Obviously, this is not an all-inclusive list since I await the death of YouTube, Picasa Web Album et al, courtesy Facebook. Yet we cant help but marvel at the genius that is Facebook. See you in the real world!


P.S. #1- For obvious reasons, this blogpost is not saved as an FB note!
P.S. #2- In other news, you HAVE to watch the Simi Selects episode with Shahid Kapoor! Sigh! Fallen in love all over again! <3 :P

Its a new life...

Job Search and Arranged Marriage.

Same difference? Think about it~

Letter to the New Age Romantic

Frivolous, Fake,

Frippery Love

What happened to the feelings

That were communicated thru' a Dove?

The fluttering of the eyelashes

The running around trees

The overdose of chivalry

What happened to all of these?

The knights in shining armour

v/s. the goons in deadly black

Prince Charming travelling miles across

To bring his Princess back

The subtle hints of romance

All blushing pink and shy

The eternal joy of togetherness

The heart wrenching goodbye

Snap back into the present

And we're back to Line 1

Frivolous, Fake, Frippery Love

Yours sincerely, Lots of Love

- The Dove

Untitled

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I try to cry

But the eyes are dry

Have I become emotionally strong?

Or plain heartless- And is that wrong???

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Mind over Matter? ALWAYS!

Heart over Mind? NAH! ;)

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The BEST Days of My Life...

“Those were the days my friend
We thought they’d never end…”

Alas! They did…

5 years ago, I thought the same thoughts as I bid farewell to those glorious school years. From being a perpetually confused, underconfident, frequently bullied 4 year old, I grew up to be an outspoken & confident teen. It was my school which taught me the importance of believing in myself.

I then stepped into Narsee Monjee college, certain that my ICSE 90% and an impressive list of school achievements meant that I had an edge over most others.

Lesson # 1: - I was wrong!
With not more than 120 in a batch in school, here I was in a classroom of 120 students! I also had the fortune of making it to the high cut-off ‘I.T.’ division where a 90% score was considered ‘Average’. From day one I knew I was pitted against the best. And I’m so thankful for that because there was no better incentive to improve myself than comparing myself with the very best. Junior college is perhaps the only aspect of college life where I have a few regrets. For the first two years, I was plain overwhelmed! It took a while just to ‘fit in’. Besides, those were the days when studies were the be-all and end-all of an academic institution. At least, thats what I used to think.

Lesson # 2:- Studies are only a tiny aspect of college life.
I write this well aware that my T.Y. exams are fast approaching with little efforts on my part. Yet, only in First Year Degree College did it hit me that there’s more to college life than just studies. Ironically, it was in Degree College that I decided to take up Chartered Accountancy. That’s when the juggling act began. With CA class & articleship and constant tension of PCC studies, I wanted to do something more- as a hobby, as a diversion, at times, as a backup profession! And college provided loads of avenues for experimenting. From excelling at speaking events to hosting functions to finally winning at Umang in my last year of college to going for dance competitions (knowing that I had no chances of winning with certain fabulous dancers like Krishna Patel participating) to making a fool of myself at an inter-college RJ Hunt to winning the ‘Best Speaker’ college award for 2 years consecutively and finally to winning the prestigious Forum of Free Enterprise elocution, I had done it all & most importantly, truly enjoyed what I did. None of the co-currics were forced. There was never any pressure to succeed. And there was always infinite support from professors, friends and family. It is this little part of college memories that are the most important to me.

Lesson #3:- Respecting my seniors- Age is almost always a reflection of wisdom.
Our college has a very supportive group of professors who provide just the right kind of guidance, knowledge, expertise and encouragement. Our professors were the guiding force behind the various clubs and societies ( special mention to the Planning Forum, for Dylan; and the Wildlife and Nature Club, in appreciation of the peacock dance performed by Priyanka & Dhaval). The college professors have a major contribution to N.M.’s victory at numerous fests. A big ‘thank you’ to some of the professors who I have had the opportunity of interacting with: -

1. Prof. Ami Vora- whose house was the hangout spot for numerous rehearsals and whose bungalow terrace was our party place for celebrating the Umang win. A big ‘thank you’ to her for being so passionate about Youth Fest and sharing her enormous talent by taking out the time to train amateurs like us [read: Dylan, Harsh, Srishti, Rohan, Kailash & Yours truly ]
2. Prof. Sneh Choithani- Her Economics lectures had sleeping stray dogs and Afroz Dairkee as the only student. Yet Sneh Ma’am is the reason the Young Endeavour became a Somebody from a Nobody in the last 2 years. A big ‘Thank You’ to her for having so much faith in the editorial team[read: Supriya, Krishna, Radha, Arati & Yours Truly] and giving us a fair degree of autonomy with the mag.
3. Prof. B.K. Nair- for being a powerhouse of knowledge. For being able to provide talking points on a wide range of topics and for encouraging reading & thinking habits among the students.

Enough said about the professors- The praises would be never ending...
Time for the icing on the cake- The last but not the least, in fact, the most crucial part of college for me- F.R.I.E.N.D.S.!

Lesson #4:- Friends can make or break you, so choose wisely.
As a fresher, my perception of college was largely defined by Karan Johan movies. I must admit however, that there were no Kuch Kuch Hota Hai moments out here. Or even if there were, I was probably playing Kajol. Nevertheless, friends are my sweetest memory about college. This post is dedicated to all my college pals.
[Disclaimer- The names are in alphabetical order so as to avoid speculation about my love interest/ best friend/ frenemy/ whatever]


Afroz- The original ‘Chandler’. He has the wittiest sense of humour and could probably make a fortune out of writing joke books. One of the most intelligent people in the group and in a group full of geeks, that’s an achievement!
Akanksha- This kiddo plays the perfect hostess whenever we decide to drop in to her place. Her giggling, bubbly demeanor can change just as quickly to the serious, studious person she really is.
Anirudh- This non- CA student is most envied by us for his spare time, awesome college campus, creative curriculum and the list goes on. What’s great is that despite being in our class for only 2 years, he is still in touch with the whole group. Calling him ‘Popular’ would be an understatement.
Dhaval- The ultimate 'Good Boy' would also be the ideal student if only it wasn't for his filthy handwriting and 'overconfidence' :) He also has the amazing skill of putting up with all our teasing and 'peacock dance' jokes. Yet, he continues to remain loyal to the Nature Club and frequently wears the colour green in support of the 'Forests'.
Dylan- 'Dielllluuuunn' as his favourite senior fondly calls him (hehe!) has gradually transformed from the dude to the ranker. A friend who you can always rely on, his 'passion' for Economics is what really sets him apart. Also possesses the art of talking non-stop on the phone at lightning fast speed without managing to bore you.
Krishna- This gutsy gal adds the ‘IT’ factor to the group. Blessed with immense talent, especially in the field of dance, she is conspicuous by her absence, always! Her chirpy, high-pitched voice never fails to brighten your day. (Or that of your colleagues sitting nearby who can hear her from the other end of the phone!)
Kshemu- This ‘Weirdo’ is committed to the computer and the internet till death does them apart! He’s a powerhouse of knowledge with varied interests. As nice as he is weird, ‘Crazy Genius’ is an apt description for him.
Monal- This 'Depressed Prani' is quite the hardworking soul. Ever-helpful & knowledgeable, he's another one of those intellegent, studious people that are the trademark of NM college.
Nikita- The most outgoing girl in the group, she’s always Been there, Done that. Always game for anything- Movies, Shopping or Random TP, a Friend in need is a Friend indeed, and thats Niki! Also one of the coolest people what with her fantastic fashion sense.
Priyanka- By far, the most dominating person in the group, she knows how to get her work done. Towering above all others you cant ignore her. Another popular PR person, there's loads to learn from her chilled out approach to life.
Shriram- The PR guy. He should get an award for his social networking skills. Loads of people think our group is pretty ‘cool & happening’. Well, the credit goes to the PR guy for that! He is also the chief source of entertainment because of his antics and I will not go into details.
Supriya- This ‘Little Girl’ is not quite inconspicuous. One of my closest friends in the group, she claims ‘Big things come in small packages’. Quite true, her loud voice has managed to scare away many-a- beggar(Hehe!). The chirpy kiddo is the ideal giggle companion and is 'Fun' & 'Friendship' redefined.

Phew! That was one long post. But its very difficult to document every little memory of the last 5 years. What I'm hoping for, however, is that somewhere down the line, when we're all grown up, maybe we could meet at a coffee shop to reminiscence about the good ol' days ...
“Those were the days my friend
We thought they’d never end…”

P.S. #1 - I couldn't possibly write about everyone. Saving it for later, k?
P.S. #2- Return the favour & write nice stuff about me in the comments section please. Thanks! :)

Genuine Fake

I said, " I really admire you... A lot!"

I thought - Do I really ???

I reasoned - "Bolne mein kya jata hai?"

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Be the Change...

What do you do when you come across a pot-hole on the road? You blame the system.
When the electricity vanishes every now and then? You blame the system.
When the water woes don't seem to end? You blame the system.
Cliche as it sounds, this is the typical response of every Indian.
The 'system' that we so frequently pass the buck to comprises the govenrment and other authorities who are vested with the task of running the country.
What we forget is that we always have the privilege and responsibility of voting these people to power. Why then, do we vote for a bunch of circus clowns and expect them to excel at complex tasks? The ready counter argument is that it is only jokers and criminals who stand for elections. So people are left with no option but to vote for the best from the worst.
After that, the blame game begins until the next round of elections. The elected representatives thrive on money, the country goes to the dogs, the people sit back and criticize the government, the government in turn provides lousy excuses for their inaction, the people criticize some more but take no action and eventually, a new Government is voted to power with hopes of more avenues for criticism. This is the vicious circle that our country is trapped in.
There is zero accountability in the Govt. but we, the people, also need to pull up our socks. Majority of Indians completely lack civic sense. People are seen casually littering and spitting right in the middle of busy streets. People get immense pleasure in flouting all laws and rules. An even bigger victory is when they get caught and 'settle matters' with some dough, only to break the law again. We add fuel to fire by giving bribes and then end up cribbing about corruption. The 'Chalta hai' attiitude among the people has gone too far. The people also need to take partial responsibility for the nation's sorry state of affairs.
India is a patchwork of diverse cultures, religions and mentatlities. But instead of savouring the variety on display, most Indians are resorting to disgraceful acts of self importance by maligning other cultures only to favour their own. This has only intensified in the recent past and speaks volumes about the poor morals and ethics imbibed in the average Indian. As you can see, various factors contribute to the problems faced by India.
So what are the possible solutions to these problems? That is where the youth comes into the picture. Preachy as it sounds, India's young and talented population needs to be encouraged and guided to bring out the best in them. We need to revamp the education system to produce more Leaders as opposed to mere rote- learners. We need to stop cribbing about the system and be a part of the system ourselves. We need to invest our talent in places other than foreign MNCs alone. It could be a small step like associating with an NGO or a mass movement to join politics. Grab every opportunity to make a difference for the better. Be proactive with your intentions and vocal with your thoughts. The reigns are in your hands, only YOU can take the country to new heights. BE THE CHANGE! After all, Change we TOO need!

It's Complicated...

Right when I watch 'He's Just Not That Into You'
and convince myself that HE'S just not that into ME, HE calls.
And guess what? I realize, I'M just not that into him! :P

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I love Indian Politics... It's such a mess!

And for a cleanliness freak like me, it's also very tempting!

All Hail the (American) President!!!

I love the American system. It moves me to tears. Partly because of the beauty of it, and partly because of the sheer lack of it in India. Very rarely do I take any interest in politics but the new American President-elect Barrack Obama is such an extraordinary orator, he can make any Bollywood-obsessed teen sit up and take notice.
Sure, both countries are democracies. But the representatives are drastically different. Not a single Indian politician can deliver a heartfelt speech like Obama. No Indian politico can connect with the people the way he does. Its not about perfect pronunciation or fancy words. Its about the deeply embedded message that he conveys straight to a person's soul.
Never can one imagine the people of India as united in the victory of a leader as was recently seen in America. Our politicians are definitely the creme-de-la-creme when it comes to educational qualifications. Then why is it that they never speak effectively irrespective of the language in which they are communicating? Why is it that they never, I repeat, never dress smart? Why is it that they never have an impact on the people? Why don't the people get moved to tears or break into a smile on hearing the President's speech? Why haven't we ever witnessed a bright spark of enthusiasm?
Its high time our Indian politicos pull up their socks and change. After all, 'CHANGE WE TOO NEED'! In the words of Rahul Gandhi, we desperately need a few 'thousand Obamas' in our nation...

I'm a Rebel!

Wanna take the road less travelled by.

Redefine discipline, intelligence and joy.

Don’t wanna end up blindly following the herd.

Wanna be able to soar like a free bird.

Break the walls and find a new pathway.

Quit the rat race and head the opposite way.

Shatter the norms of the right and the wrong.

Dance with the rain, maybe even sing a song!

I’m a Rebel! I don’t stick to standards set centuries ago

Raise the level n set new standards

Bend those rules which were enforced by fools

Come on everyone! Take the cues….

Life is shallow, superficial...

Lost, abandoned in this wide, wide world

Nothing to do and nowhere to go to,

yet,so much to do with so little time...

The clock keeps ticking but the day is a drag...

rising tempers and falling hopes

Oblivious to the surroundings,

yet, aware of the observers

A tiny drop in a sea of people...

The destination is clear

but can't see the road!

Life is shallow,superficial...

P.S.- I was feeling particularly blue when I wrote this...

This goes out to all those movie stars who've been busy stepping in & out of jails(as convicts) & shrines(as "sincere devotees")...

"To Worship God for the Sake of Gain,
Is to Worship Gain,NOT God..."

You might WIN the RAT RACE...but you are still a RAT!

Its the basic truth of life... makes tons of sense doesn't it???