B' Day - 2014

One more year passes and one more time... Greetings on Facebook, WhatsApp, Telegram, email (surprise that we still have it) and even on Linked In this time... Just happy that I was on the minds of so many individuals during these testing times.

On my last b' day, like every year, no resolutions made, but a few minor tweaks to me, my life style that I intended to make, a couple of which am able to continue and as always, quite a few that I missed pursuing. But as always, no regrets as there is no point.

It's been quite an interesting b'day year. Last birth day was so a quite an one when we spent the entire day as a family at Erode and this year only 4 us here in Derby! Well, yes! Could not believe that I said an yes to uproot my family and have them go through the pain of this hard transition in every sense, leaving my root alone, schooling for Nilaa, the reduction in affection for Oviyaa and of course everything for Leela, to name a few; the sacrifices that they have made is tremendous. I just wish that I do some justice for the pain that they undergo.

Yes, it is for my career sake that I did accept this unfamiliar role which was a bit of struggle in this uneasy terrain, but, I think as like everyone, am now up and running. There are a lot more stuff to learn and I would keep running I believe.

I do miss the warmth of being in my homeland and the comfort of knowing that my blood lives just 400 KMS away. I do miss the strength my friends gave me. I do miss the humidity of Chennai, the smell of sea and India at large, but that is the choice that I did make and I'll live with that. That said, I'm fortunate enough to have the same comfort and strength here in the UK! I don't know how mother nature enables me with a life full of good people wanting to see me succeed and lead a good life. I have made enough friends in here so much so at times it really overwhelms me that I cannot manage any time for them. For the affection that is showered on us here in the UK as well, I can only say that we are gifted. 

Last year, I did say that I would keep life simple. I believe it is still simple, though at times I feel a bit suffocated. May be life is a bit on high pace and tougher than what I anticipated, but again no complaints as it is a choice that we made and we will sail through this. It is a learning process and moving another inch to some sort of maturity. The pressure, the stress, the hardships are probably back to me after a long time, but I know I have no other choice than surviving. I, just like anyone else, will keep hoping that the new dawn is going to be just great.

As of what I shall intend to do the following year, I just want to do justice to the sacrifices the ladies have made for my career sake. I'm determined to make it happen. I know life is not easy and it keeps testing me every moment, but I know I'll prevail. So will everyone!

And finally, Thanks to everyone who had me in your thoughts on this day! These positive vibes would make me more determined. Ensure that you keep showering me with your love.. 

Back to my famous lines...

I love to be loved...

I live to be loved...

Regards,

Raj.

Hail BVB

Initially, I wanted to name this post as "Giving Back to our teachers", and even now, I feel that is right, but this one too is quite an apt one for the emotions that I have while I draft this post. May be the title looks a bit arrogant, but read through please..

It is said and felt that life is the best teacher as it trains us by giving all the tests. It's pretty much true isn't it? Now when looking back, all the teachers some of whom we adored and some of whom we abhorred, they are probably the best people in the world after our parents. I read it somewhere, teaching is the profession which creates other careers. How true is that! And yet, those teachers after doing the noble job of shaping us remain yet so humble. How much as a society, or even as an alumni have we given back to them.

Now, when I say, giving back, it is not pay back. All they need is acknowledgement and gratitude. When I look at my life, everything that I have including a great set of friends is from my beloved BVB; A school that was for all possible reasons of dominance during our generation, across studies and sports alike, was adored and abhorred as well. Lead by a great correspondent Dr. L. M. Ramakrishnan (I do intend to write a blog on him on how he taught us all what leadership means), supported by Mrs. Aruna Ramakrishnan as the president and administered by Mrs. Karthiyayini as the Principal, a great team of teachers who instilled a lot of dreams and aspirations in us! Am not emotional or overly proud about it. No other institution can boast of an holistic development of people that this team has done which has, in my personal view, created a lot of next generation leaders in almost all form of life!

When I wrote about CAP of life, little did I realize that it was BVB which gave me that. I truly believe that BVB handed us that CAP there by shaping our lives by training us on how to be committed in a cause, how to be passionate in what we pursue and most importantly a never give up attitude.

Alumni meets are a norm across all colleges, universities and institutions. 

As like any of the student batches, we our own circle of friends used to be in touch and of course meet each other during every Indian summer. It so happened that in 2012 when we met in Yercaud, we were discussing that this is not enough and we should possibly be doing a bit more and out of some instinct, a couple of us did say, why not do it at school in 2014 where we complete a double decades of being the alumni of the school and so on.

Eventually, as always, we forgot that and we moved on. This year, when the natural organizers for our reuinion, made the proposal and out of nowhere came in a suggestion of a friend who visited the school, can we do it in school, in less than 5 weeks, here we are at the brink of what I call as history. 

Now, is it a get together?? No. It is a life time event for all of us when roughly 65% of our batch mates from across the globe are going to be under one roof where we meet and greet our beloved teachers and staff. When we set out to on this task, we knew very well it is an uphill task, but then with the CAP we had, we know for sure this will be nothing but a spectacular event. We quickly moved from a get together to a reunion which now is nothing but a show of gratitude to our school and its staff.

I know there people have said that we cannot create memories, BVB batch 1994 pass outs are creating a lot to cherish forever. We proudly, yet so humbly are showing  and the our gratitude towards them on the 12th of July, 2014 where 90+ of the alumnus meet and greet 55 teachers and 15 supporting staff at our own backyard. 

While I wish I was there in person, I would not regret that, because that is what BVB has taught me. To just keep moving..

This event is telecast live across the globe and I'll not miss it. 

Gratitude is attitude. BVB taught us that. 

Generations after generatations, BVB will continue to stand tall and its legacy will go on until each of the BVB students are alive! 

Frankly Never in my life have I ever felt so proud!

Hail BVB! Hail BVB! Hail BVB! Hail BVB!

Here goes the first video. Obviously mine, a pre-recorded one..... 

Regards,

Raj.

Ps.: 

1. Only BVB alumni can realize the colour coding in this! And yes mine is Maroon and yes am from Vivekananda.

2. The post will be appended with videos as and when they emerge.

Women!

The other day at work, on the 8th of march, we have been celebrating the International Women's day.

I thought it is a bit unfair to Women to celebrate them on just a day. Never the less, here is what I said and thought.

Every single relationship that a woman gives to a man has a lot of meaning. The below are a few roles that I see from my perspective and what they mean to me.

Grand Mother - Give unconditional love and affection. 

Aunt - Give the sense of direction and guidance.

Friend - Give a new perspective about life.

Daughter - Give the purpose of a life.

Sister - Trusted and loyal friend forever.

Wife - Life.

Mother - God (though I say nature is God and that is why we call her Mother Nature!)

Of course, there are many other relationships which mean a lot to a man and I mean no disrespect by missing them. I think they are pretty much included in the list above!

A woman is creator. Everyday is new and let us celebrate her everyday!

Women complete men!

- Raj

Words of Wisdom.

A few quotes of this yours truly over the years!


Passion is a choice, not an emotion.
Circumstances defines emotions, but how we remain passionate despite our circumstances is a choice!!

No one dump for anyone except for oneself...

The difference between Good and Great!
Both enjoy tremendous success. However, the great remain Humble!
Success without humility means nothing!


Good people are part of Success Stories.
Great People make those Stories!

Leaders choose what problem to live with!

Life is all about taking small but right steps!

Ego is the best poison to kill any relationship!

Honesty is not easy, but it is the only one that helps!

Fact of Life: Ladies teach Patience to men; Men teach Perseverance to Ladies.

You can desire for a lot, but know what you need and be happy when you get what you need! For this shall be the difference between greed and content!

While other teachers train you and give tests, Life trains you by testing!

No Problem solves by itself or can be differed! FACE IT straight away!


Cleaning shit or having sex, do it with passion for it defines whether you are doing a shitty job or a sexy job.
With Passion - a sexy job in cleaning shit; Without passion - A shitty job in having sex!

Being Proactive is not about completing a task (that you were supposed to do) ahead of schedule. It is about doing a task that none expected you to do, in an efficient and effective way. It is about taking an initiative, seeing through it till the end!

Things are not as complicated as they seem when we look at them retrospectively. So take life as simple as you can.

Information, if only it is shared, it becomes an experience of mine, else it remains as a distinct memory within myself.

To me no question is stupid or intelligent because the nature of the question depends on the answer! Anyone who has the guts to ask any sort of question to me is intelligent as he wants to learn more!

It is my experience.. when you have two choices and you are unable to decide which you "think" is the right one and you decide to flip a coin.... The right option will be known moments after you flip the coin up and you "feel" the right option even before the coin starts descending... You would desperately want the coin to take your feeling and give the right choice... 

Moral of the statement... do what you feel is right.. If it was wrong, you try to make it right or learn to live with it. And no regrets... 


மேகம் என்று என்னை எள்ளி நகை ஆடாதே...
மேகங்கள் மோதி தான் இடியும் மின்னலும்... 
நான் இடித்தால் வெடித்தால்...

If you think am a cloud that would just pass by.. 
Beware... 
Am the source of thunder and light....

Embrace each person according to his or her characteristics, not position or title.

Everyone you encounter is your teacher!

 உடல் உழைக்க சொல்வேன்.. அதில் பிழைக்க சொல்வேன்...

 "I'm responsible for what I say, not for what you understand!"

 A wise man once sat in the audience & cracked a joke.

 All laughed like crazy. After a moment he cracked the same joke again and a little less people laughed this time. He cracked the same joke again & again, when there was no laughter in the crowd, he smiled and said,

 When u can’t laugh on the same joke again & again, then why do u keep crying over the same thing over and over again....

 Learn to move on

- Anonymous

Birth Day Acceptance Speech - 2011

Thanks to all the love and attention that was showered yesterday!
All the emails, messages, phone calls, FB, Orkut, personal visits. It is just so an amazing feeling to be loved.

When I look back at my life at large, I'm really fortunate to have good people around me and always. Family, friends, work, team and everyone that I have met in my life have been very kind to me and have always been with me and wished that I always fared well.

Yes it was a day to remind me of those people who cared and loved me a lot. Also, a day which told me that possibly am not returning all that love and care! Well, anything that I would say are excuses but not the reasons. Need to see, how best I can get out of shell of so called over working! But certainly realize that I need to do more than what am doing now to my family and friends. I know I have said it in the past, but well, I'll keep trying until I set it right.

While I do not celebrate any days, I have to admit that it really felt good to be remembered and loved! And it was so special that my entire family was with me for probably the first time in the last 15 years on my B'day.

It is Bliss and Bless!

Keep loving me....

I love to be loved....
I live to be loved!!!!

- Raj

Congress, Lokpal, Ramdev, Civil Representatives and Stupid Indians!

Congress Achieved what it wanted to achieve with Ramdev!

Now the focus is on Ramdev and the attrocities and not on Lok Pal!

Even The civil representatives are curious about this and are boycotting the panel discussion today and will do so even tomorrow! What a shame! What a shame!

Congratulations Kapil Sibal, you now can get highest rating during your performance appraisal this year!

Ramdev, we all know your political ambitions and if ever your have true intentions, fight along with others and with pragmatic requests. If everyone with money starts doing this, what is the difference between corporate lobbyists and you? Both of you do it because of excess money! They have bought MPs and you are trying to make them! Stop it for now and ensure that Lokpal is tabled!

Stupid Indians: We can now bet that Lokpal will not be tabled this monsoon session and we can very confidently say that it will never be! I will be glad if am wrong!

- Raj

என்ன தான் நடக்கும் நடக்கட்டுமே...

இருட்டினில் வீதி மறையட்டுமே...

Appreciate Ladies in your Lives!

I really was really ashamed that I never did this . Not that it was intentional, but it was ignorance!

Please go back to your homes and just say thank you! Be it your wife or mom or sister!

Please read through some of the sacrifices a lady makes to just keep us happy!

- Raj

Here is a girl, who is as much educated as you are;
Who is earning almost as much as you do;

One, who has dreams and aspirations just as
you have because she is as human as you are;

One, who has never entered the kitchen in her life just like you or your
Sister haven't, as she was busy in studies and competing in a system
that gives no special concession to girls for their culinary achievements

One, who has lived and loved her parents & brothers & sisters, almost as
much as you do for 20-25 years of her life;

One, who has bravely agreed to leave behind all that, her home, people who love her, to adopt your home, your family, your ways and even your family ,name

One, who is somehow expected to be a master-chef from day #1, while you sleep oblivious to her predicament in her new circumstances, environment and that kitchen

One, who is expected to make the tea, first thing in the morning and cook
food at the end of the day, even if she is as tired as you are, maybe more,
and yet never ever expected to complain; to be a servant, a cook, a mother,
a wife, even if she doesn't want to; and is learning just like you are as
to what you want from her; and is clumsy and sloppy at times and knows that you won't like it if she is too demanding, or if she learns faster than you;

One, who has her own set of friends, and that includes boys and even men at her workplace too, those, who she knows from school days and yet is willing to put all that on the back-burners to avoid your irrational jealousy, unnecessary competition and your inherent insecurities;

Yes, she can drink and dance just as well as you can, but won't, simply
Because you won't like it, even though you say otherwise

One, who can be late from work once in a while when deadlines, just like yours, are to be met;

One, who is doing her level best and wants to make this most important,
relationship in her entire life a grand success, if you just help her some
and trust her;

One, who just wants one thing from you, as you are the only one she knows in your entire house - your unstinted support, your sensitivities and most importantly - your understanding, or love, if you may call it.

But not many guys understand this......

Please appreciate "HER"