Riot @ Residential

I, indeed, borrowed this post title from my good friend Aditya, who uttered these words in reaction to the atmosphere at San Revo '08. It was a trip down memory lane, an opportunity to relive the moments of Std. XI that stay so dear to my heart! From early morning, we passed the day at St. Thomas Residential School's Auditorium, hoping to see an intense battle between passionate schools, hopefully unearthing a few refreshing talents!

To an extent, we were disappointed. The programmes were not nearly as engrossing as we'd imagined! Call me delusional, or even arrogant, but I can't help but state that the standard of inter-school competitions seems to have declined slightly since 2006. Whether it is due to even worse deadlines for preparations, or due to an increasingly strict view of schools to such extra-curriculars, I cannot say, but the outcome certainly seems dissatisfactory! Our trip to La Fest, our batch's first major inter-school competition, was planned virtually at the last minute! Given only 2 days to prepare, I felt we did an incredible job to finish overall runners-up in the event. Consistency seemed our Achilles' Heel, for even though we won several more individual events than the other teams, we failed to register points in a few key events, which took a toll on our challenge for the title! Yet, for such an under-rated squad consisting of several unheard voices(including mine), it was a remarkable achievement!

Our school's performance was abysmal, to be frank. Perhaps I'm being harsh on my juniors, for it seems they were facing equally little, if not even less preparation time than we had 2 years ago! Regardless, I will never believe that any batch of STCS is deficient in talent, or incapable of putting up a far greater challenge! The same could be said for many other schools, who were far below the standards of our times. The then-dominant Loyolites seemed to have given way to a far-inferior batch, and the same could be said of Christ Nagar, BVB and Sarvodaya! The prowess of these teams seems to have faded! I sincerely hope that my planned visit to La Fest, arguably the best inter-school competition in this city, leaves me with fonder memories!

Yet, one lesson that must be learnt, is that regardless of the quality(or lack, thereof) of programmes, the energy and passion which such occasions accompany is infectious! If nothing else, one of my prime aims was to absorb the spectacle of such occasions for one last time! The LORD alone knows where I'm headed next, and whether such experiences lay waiting upon my horizon, but I was determined to savour that atmosphere once again! And in that sense, San Revo did not disappoint. The crowd was boisterous, and our voices began to croak under the strain only a short while into the proceedings. It brought back to mind memories of La Fest '06, the sheer joy with which we celebrated our successes! We truly had a ball, dancing to "Dhoom Machale", sung before the final presentation by the chief guest of the ceremony(whose name fails to reach my lips at the moment!). Arm in arm, we jumped, danced, sweating in the overwhelming heat of a jam-packed hall! There were participants who had won events, and others who had fallen just short, yet particulars were lost in the harmony of the moment. It was ecstacy! I hope my juniors find similar inspiration within themselves, and yearn to live through the sort of moments which we now cherish! It's such memories which make life worth living, and make every personal struggle seem fruitful at the end!

KUNG-FU HUSTLE : Big Vish and Arun Lal rediscover their hidden fighting powers, as they square off in a gripping martial arts showdown!(with Aditya giggling in the background)

Remnants of a Treasured Life

The 8th of June marked my 18th birthday, and though I could blabber incoherently for hours about the minor changes this brings to the life I've known, I choose to look back. This birthday will not remain in my memory for the celebrations, the calories gained, or gifts received, but, if anything, it shall remain in my memory on account of a simple phone call. It's incredible to consider the number of people who influence us in one way or another over the first 18 years of the incredible odyssey that is life. We remember our parents who helped us recover from every fall, rise from every debacle, and guide our every step. We remember our siblings, whose love, though camouflaged through their mischief and name-calling, is never-the-less, more bankable than the dearest of friendships. Yet, there are others, whose faces remain hidden in the shadows. At times of need, they prove truly indispensable to us, and yet, for them, the need for recognition never arises. We forget the person who held the camera, taping our parents as they guided us through our first steps. We forget the tender hands that nurtured us when our parents couldn't. We forget those eyes that watched our each step we took, waiting to catch us before we tumbled to the ground.

Just one such person comes to mind vividly. The formative years of my childhood were spent in a small apartment in the staff quarters of the WREB, located in Andheri West, Mumbai. My parents were both working, and after my birth, had to hire a young 18-19 year old girl living in the "jhopad-patti" near our locality to look after me. Her name was Shubhangi, and till date, I don't know her last name, for I have always addressed her only as "Didi". Didi stayed with us full-time, and though it was an expensive proposition, from the day of her arrival, she became deeply cemented in our hearts. She was as much a part of our family as I was, and we were inseparable. She catered to my every whim, took care of me when I was ill, and fulfilled every duty that one would expect only of a mother. The first sight of her each morning filled me with joy. She was my companion, my playmate, my best friend and my caretaker. My brother, too, loved her in much the same way that I did. We played, laughed, cried and sang away the 6 most glorious years of my life. Shubhangi Didi brightened my life to such an extent, that the transfer from Mumbai literally broke my heart! Didi loved us like her own blood, and till today remembers to call on occasion to hear from us. A lot of others may forget, yet she has never failed to call me on my birthday. This 8th of June, too, was no exception! She may have her own family to concern her now,yet, even after 12 long years of separation, no water seems to have passed under the bridge......and her love for us remains unchallenged! In what way, can my gratitude ever be enough??? At a time in my life where I face the proposition of perhaps leaving home, venturing into a city where I have no contacts.......it's humbling, and so incredibly heart-warming to know that Didi, living in a rural town in Maharashtra, still prays each night for my well-being.

She has shaped my life in ways not many others will ever manage. She will forever remain dear to my heart. Here's hoping that she forever finds favour in the eyes of the Lord, that he may shower upon her every blessing which she so richly deserves. May she find happiness and peace wherever she is. Her memories shall abide with me for as long as I live!

Dr. Dolittle 4

Habel, showing off one among his many amazing talents, speaking to cousins from across the species divide!

Rediscovering the Golden Era

Rock music has had a rich history but having been born in the 90s, the pop culture has dwarfed out the glorious past from my view for long! Musically, western music, at least in my view, seems to have stagnated, much like music around the world has undergone a transformation with the growing preference of keyboard sounds and beats or recording effects over blissful melody. True rock died seems to have died a slow and tragic death. Vocals appear to be the main thrust of new bands, yet their lead vocalists could never be spoken of as in the same league as a Steven Tyler or a Freddie Mercury.

I've been a fan of rock bands for several years, Bon Jovi and Bryan Adams being among my favourites among the 90s era artists . Post 2000, not a single band has come across as in the same league as Pink Floyd,Metallica, or my personal favourite, Aerosmith. A couple of good songs apart, they fail to rise above anything other than mediocre and forgettable. Linkin Park is perhaps the only band that has managed to produce anything that can be termed an "anthem", Numb. It's an exciting period, as I finally have the time to begin turning back the clock and listening to some true classics. Eric Clapton's "Layla", "Tears in Heaven" and "Wonderful Tonight" are truly outstanding. Immersing myself in music for the next couple of months should be an awesome experience. Though my wild and unrealistic dreams of joining a band might have faded to dust, the passion for music will always live on, perhaps long enough to see a child of mine fulfill the fantasy I had once dreamed for myself!

Music of the olden days had soul, exemplified by the standard of lyrics in the greatest hits of past generations! They were deep, heartfelt, meaningful, and easy for a listener to connect with and understand. They spoke to you on several levels, and spoke of messages that seemed more crystal clear than ever when conveyed through the magic of song. Music came first, and vocals last, and yet some of the greatest vocalists in rock history hailed from the pre-90s era. I shall share more in my posts once I've spent some more time listening to the treasure-trove of music of my pre-birth era.....until then, my recommendations on Eric Clapton are must-listens! The guitar riffs in "Layla", in particular, will blow you away. Though I don't love the vocals in the original, in which Clapton never himself sings, Eric Clapton's vocal rendition of "Layla" on an episode of MTV Unplugged is truly divine!

The Future Beckons

There are lessons I have learnt during this last year of my life that will stay forever imprinted in my mind. Through the last year, I have endured a myriad of emotions : desperation, hatred, anger, joy, laughter, anxiety, even heartbreak(don't ask, i'm not one to spill the beans....blogger doesn't have smilies/emoticons, so let's imagine that I'm winking and smiling as I write this)! It's been a treasure trove of experiences that will serve me for a lifetime.

This journey has taught me that truly, there is no substitute for hard work, and even though the most diligent of students sometimes suffer an unkind cut, it is the only semblance of a guarantee one can have for success! A victory deservedly earned has no parallel, for it infuses you with a sense of pride and self-esteem which is unmatchable, and which I wish I felt flowing through my veins now! Life is unpredictable, but your success depends on how you play the cards you're dealt! It has also taught me that one's own emotions are more malleable than any metal on earth. Within the last year, there have been incidents that have seriously affected me, words exchanged that have hurt me, and actions that were uncalled for, but all of that seems to have faded away into nothingness with the passage of time. There is a sense of tranquility that has settled upon petty squabbles of the past, and this delights me greatly. It is suicide to harbour such emotions and let them foster inside you! My affiliation with St. Thomas Central School shall never end, for those corridors will live on in my memories for years to come! The good times and the bad will forever come rushing into my dreams in a heady mix of nostalgia! I am filled with little other than love,respect and gratitude for the teachers who have moulded my young life! Time is the universal solvent which dissolves all feelings of dislike or hatred, but often drowns fragile friendships as well! With this in mind, I hope I can keep in touch with all of my friends, or at least the ones who have had a hand in shaping my life! I shall miss them dearly, as I will every other integral part of my present life which has treated me so kindly. The beauty of separation is that it makes re-unions all the more meaningful and memorable!


I am at a phase in my life where I can no longer lean back on the old ways and walk down familiar alleys. I must continuously look forward, and the thought excites me. I feel, for the first time, that I am finally ready, physically,mentally, and spiritually, to move on with my life! This is a time for optimism and determination. More than ever, I feel indebted for the opportunities that life has thrown my way, irrespective of whether my efforts have deserved them. I know I am fortunate to explore avenues unavailable to others, which is why it becomes all the more important to overlook what I sadly missed out upon, and work towards building a future in agreement with His grand design.The world outside has far more to teach me than I can learn from my cherished, yet geographically bound existence! Beyond state borders lie parts of India which I dream of exploring, cultures and traditions which I yearn to absorb. I must move on with a heavy heart, for the future beckons, and I dare not disobey its call!

Seeking out the Inner Voice

The mood of this post can at best be described as confused, excited, elated and humbled.....try finding something in the dictionary to encompass all THAT ! I suppose my immediate duty would be to explain the reason behind this milieu of mixed emotions. The results of most of my exams have been declared, and my feelings to each are mixed. First, the IIT-JEE failure can scarcely be considered a disappointment, as I had long before foretold what seemed like an inevitable outcome! The Board results, 89.8%, had me truly elated....not because the mark is revered by those around me, for it scarcely appears as a blip on the toppers' radars, but because I had never given a second thought to these marks. To score highly in an exam in which I never intended to break records, is immensely satisfying.

And now, to move on to the business end. The Kerala entrance results were a mixed bag. A rank of 735 is good, but nowhere close to where I should have been, which is within the top 350 at least. The Maths exam had left me with a bad taste in the mouth, which is why my rank suffered, and the results, to some extent, even exceeded my reduced expectations! Yesterday's disclosure of the AIEEE results came as a surprise indeed, and has certainly brought a faint smile to my lips. An AIR of 18715 with state quota rank of 630 is by no means a low rank, and with a little luck, could book me a ticket out of Kerala to a respectable NIT(WARNING : My beliefs are based purely on hearsay) !

What these results do leave me with is a puzzling conundrum? From the Kerala picture, my hopes of getting a Comp. Sc. seat in CET are dashed, miracles notwithstanding, but a seat in Mech. is guaranteed. A Comp Sc. seat is guaranteed in a number of other reputable colleges in the state....which brings to my mind the question of college vs course.......Though a Mech. seat in CET would be worth its weight in placements, I see little chance of doing an M.Tech in the same field, which would narrow my options to an MBA. With regard to Comp. Sc., my options appear limitless with higher studies,MBA or any other post-grad course(even Journo) within my reach.

The easiest solution to this conundrum may have walked through my doorstep all of a sudden. A seat in Comp Sc. in a respectable NIT could perhaps be the cure to every ailment plaguing my mind at the moment. But the fact remains....I have yet to decide who wins the battle of CS vs Mech......and it seems to be going down to the wire! Mech. is a subject I could love, for the Physics it entails is the same which I've always borne a great liking to...Thermodynamics, Motion, Rotation, Gravitation...........yet programming has its own appeal, and the challenge of testing one's logic to create efficient programs to solve basic needs seems to be one I would indeed relish!

What excites me about this confusion is the privilege of bearing this headache. Rather than bellyache about the opportunities I might have missed, I see only the opportunities that have been so graciously thrown my way without, in my mind, truly deserving them. It is a humbling feeling, and a thrilling one at the same time. The glass seems a good half-full in my eyes, and the future, though uncertain, could yet bear fruit! All that is left is to listen to that learned inner voice that has guided me through these years and guided my every decision!

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies: You anoint my head with oil; my cup flows over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

---Extract from the psalm "The Lord Is My Shepherd"