My First Liebster Blog Award!

This is my first Leibster award. 

Thank  you Gayu Venkat for nominating me. It came as a big surprise. 

Now the rules (copied and pasted)

Each person must post 11 things about themselves. (Honesty is the best Policy)

-Answer the questions that the tagger set for you .

- Choose 11 people and link them in your post.

- Create 11 questions for the people you've tagged to answer.

- Go to their page and tell them.

- No tag backs!

11 things about myself.

#1 I am a Tambrahm from Mylapore
#2 I love football and Chelsea
#3 I worship John Terry and Frank Lampard
#4 I love Paneer
#5 Public speaking is my passion
#6 I think dictatorship for a small tenure would put India ahead of other countries
#7 I love the number 7 (I am born on the 7th March)
#8 I like to lead
#9 I like social service
#10 I am a lazy bum
#11 I like United States Politics 

The 11 questions given to me: 

1. What do you do on Weekends?
A. Usually the Saturdays are working, Sunday I try to relax by getting up late and whiling away time by sitting before my laptop or I play football.

2. Do you remember your first movie with friends?
A. No. I have a poor memory. 

3. Name of your first Childhood friend and how you became friends with him/her?
A. It's Kishan. I remember this day clearly, both of us were in our first grade and we entered the school together, his mom came and spoke to my mom. In a way me and him started interacting and we held hands entered the class and sat together. I am not in touch with him but he sure was a great friend. 

4. What is the recent lie that you have told your friend or parents?
A. Well I don't keep track of these. I lie a lot and my friends would know it better. I do it purposefully for the fun of it. I don't lie when it's a serious issue. My biggest lie till date is convince 15 of my friends that my friend Srivatsan Madhavan stole Aloo Bujjia from his roommate. :D

5. If you have a chance to create your own world how will your world look like?
A. Well I would create a world where there exists equality. I don't care if everyone is suffering or enjoying, I want it to be uniform so that everyone gets the same chance. 

6. If you are granted one wish by God, What will you ask for?
A. I would ask for me to spend life at Stamford Bridge! :D

7.What's your meaning and significance of your name?
A. Karthik-> Lord Muruga's name! 

8. Some naughty things you have done in your life?
A. Well there are loads. The major one would be is to lie. :D

9. How do you expect your g.f or b.f to be if you are unmarried?

A. I would also expect her to be the same. 

10. What strikes your mind when you hear the number 10?

A. Sachin Tendulkar.

11. Who is your inspiration for creating the blog?

A. A friend of mine named Veda Vyass! 

My 11 nominees are:

1. Yashodhara Lal - http://www.yashodharalal.com/
2. Veda Vyass - http://gvedavyass.wordpress.com/
3. Sneha Sankar - http://distractedneurons.blogspot.in//
4. Sreedeep Sreekanth - http://myuntamedmind.wordpress.com/
5. Shravya Kag - http://saxophonestories.blogspot.in
6. Pooja Ramakrishnan - http://randomtherambler.posterous.com/
7. Varsha Raveendran - http://wanderingsofateenagemind.blogspot.in/
8. Vishnu Supreet - http://mygepohts.blogspot.in/
9. Siva Karthik - http://diegute.wordpress.com/
10. Niranjan Raghavan - http://www.speculating-senses.blogspot.in/
11. Siddharth Kannan - http://beentheredonethat-me.blogspot.in

11 Questions for my Nominees: 

1. How did you get into the habit of Blogging?
2. Which is better; Dictatorship or Democracy and why?
3. How do you think is the best way to spend a rainy day?
4. What do you want to be in life?
5. If you were given a chance to be a famous personality for a day, who will it be and why?
6. What is the most happiest thing you've ever done?
7. What comes to your mind when you think about number 7?
8. What do you think is the most romantic place on this earth?
9. Which cartoon character you like the most and why?
10. Why are we addicted to music?
11. Do you still think the Earth can be saved? If Yes, How, If no, Why? 

Yes, I'm a Participant!

Choices

As the rooster crows to connote the dawn, the sun rises in the east marking the start of a day, and there begins  your choices for the day. It's not character or attitude that characterises you but the choices you make in your life. It's that, that invariably questions your actions and is detrimental throughout your life. Choices are always aplenty. It's just that you must be wise to choose the right one. The right one is not the easy one. But, it is the one that is always chosen cause the people lack dexterity.

Situations may present itself such that the choices may be limited. That too the ones available will be the ones that might make you carry a baggage full of mistakes throughout your life. The baggage is difficult to drop.

The thought of having to choose between two options is scary especially when you know it's going to be life changing. But the game is played that way. You really don't have an option here but to choose the one that you could possibly put up with. Usually the travelling the road that is not commonly traveled by could make all the difference. You may be paranoid in travelling down that path when the alternate is so much easier. It may look to be promising in the short run but definitely not in the long run.

Choices are delusional. They trick you but in the end they eventually stick with you though you may not want it. There is this notion in various religions that you go to hell or heaven depending on the choices you make. That is cause actions are a consequence of the choices you pick and these actions saunter throughout your journey.

Some choices that are made are repented for, while some are cherished. Either the case, you really cannot sidestep from making one!

The Cliched Love Story

It was a cold morning, not only the climate but also the things that were going to unfurl. I couldn't wake up for I never slept. The reason being outrageous possessiveness.

I kind of felt uncomfortable in meeting her but nevertheless I got ready. Clad in best tee and jean from my unwashed collection, I decided to make a move to the cafeteria for my impatience was nagging and eating me alive though I was going to be an hour early. I asked the cheta there for a coffee giving him a ten rupee note for 6 bucks coffee. Collecting the coffee and the  change I kept to my usual place. Sitting down and staring into the void, I had this pale as a corpse expression in my face.

My brain was flipping through the pages of the novel of my past four-and-a-half months of life. Seeing that I no option left than to wait, I was brain storming my past and here is how it happened,

"It was my fourth year of college. The year began well for I never imagined I would get placed but miracles do happen and it did. As usual I skipped breakfast at the mess and headed towards the cafeteria to have a decent meal. Also there is nothing better than a morning's coffee at the cafeteria.

Walking all the way, I headed straight to the billing counter without having to look at the menu for I became a regular here over the period. There wasn't much of a queue and I stood behind two girls. The aroma of coffee was already refreshing my mind. The two girls were in a hurry I suppose; they forgot their change and headed to get food.

The cheta at the counter kept calling them but they simply walked away. Getting my bill and their change I went after them to give their change.  And that's when I met her for the first time.

Neha was her name which I didn't know at that instance. Anyways I walked up to them and explained what had happened and gave them their change. They thanked me and smiled and introduced themselves making me do the same. I told them I hadn't grabbed my food and forced myself out of an awkward conversation.

I met her again the very next day at the cafeteria. She was having cornflakes from what I could see in distance. After coming a bit closer, I bid her a hi and walked to the billing counter and placed my order. After having got the food, I was searching for a place to sit and that's when she called me to sit with her.

I had this long weird walk to the table and pulled a chair and sat opposite to her. She started asking me questions and that was the start to our first of many conversations that were soon to follow. She was indeed attractive.  She was in the third year which meant she was my junior. I couldn't help notice how her hair covered her eyes  every time she bent to feed herself a spoonful of cornflakes making sure the milk doesn't spill on her uniform. ( Yes uniform :|)

We exchanged numbers and left the cafeteria. I promised myself that I would get to know her. Being in fourth year meant lot of free hours and lot of time to spend either in my room or in the cafeteria looking at people and munching.

I kept bumping into her often; at first it was all unplanned but soon after we started texting, it became otherwise.

I kept calling her to the cafeteria but not very often because I didn't want her to think I was hitting on her already which I clearly was not. Or was I?

She had issues in the beginning meeting regularly but she came every time I called her which made me feel she had a thing towards me. But my inner voice which had never popped up till then made me think she was just obligated to come for I was her senior.

She started getting friendlier and comfortable than how she was initially. She started conversations through texts and I thought this was progress. But I never did expect any progress. Wait, now do I like her? It was strange. I never openly succumbed my feelings to love but this was different altogether. I was happy around her.

One day I was in my class and my phone vibrated. I read the text under the professor's nose and it read, "Cafe 4:30? :) :) :)"

My hand was shivering and I started to sweat. I was able to feel my skin's temperature rise. She called me to the cafe for the first time and I was wondering why. Controlling my excitement, I simply sent a yes.

Later that evening I met her and she ordered coffee for both of us and we both sat opposite to each other sipping the coffee. She asked me all of a sudden as to what my plans for her birthday were. I was puzzled. I thought it was her birthday and that I didn't know. I apologised shamelessly for wishing late and she started laughing.

Her birthday was the following day and she was as surprised and a bit disappointed that I didn't even know her birthday. That's when I actually realised I had feelings for this girl. Just 4 and a half months and here I was being consumed by feelings towards a girl.

I didn't make any special arrangements for her birthday for I didn't want to be all cheesy. I wrote a birthday letter hoping she would like it. I called her exactly at the stroke of 12 to find the line busy. I was disappointed much. I kept trying again and again only to find the line busy. I gave up in frustration and slept in anger.

My alarm rang an hour earlier and only after five to six rings did I realise it was a phone call. I lazily picked up the phone and to my surprise, it was Neha. The minute I heard her voice, I found myself startled. She reckoned we meet at the cafe around 8 for breakfast. I told her okay and kept the phone without even wishing her a happy birthday."

It was like being awoken from a dream. I saw her standing before me clad in a beautiful white salwar making her look more gorgeous than ever. She was wearing bangles and her nails were painted in red. I had never paid heed to many details but now they were right in front of my eyes and I couldn't help but notice how pretty she looked.

I wished her a happy birthday and gave her the letter and a huge bar of toblerone. She smiled and whispered, "thanks", brushing her hair from her face.

We sat next to each other with our plates and started talking. She kept getting prettier and I couldn't help but fall for her. When I was about to confess my feelings for her, She apologised.

She was like, " I saw your missed calls. I am sorry the line was busy and that you couldn't wish. In fact a lot of people had called but to their dismay, I couldn't return even one of them except for yours."

I assured her it was not a problem and out of curiosity I asked her who she was talking to and her reply trickled a tear from my eye and it fell into my coffee. 

"My boyfriend!", was her reply.

Disclaimer: This work is purely fictional. Resemblance to any person alive or dead is coincidental. 

P.S. Thank you Siva Karthik and Arun Yogesh.

Incredible India- Credible?

When the whole world is focussing on their technology to tackle the power crisis and improve the standards of living, India is having a hard time dealing with the numerous Rape cases that are popping up recently, flooding the entire print and visual media.

Meanwhile, Delhi Rape case: Sonia breaks Silence, Offers prayer.

What use are prayers when you cannot assure the victim that her friend or her sister or any other girl  won't undergo the same situation as the victim?

When the entire country is in a mental trauma over what happened in Delhi, here are our politicians trying to politicise the incident in their favour. They are simply playing mind games with the citizens. Sexist and chauvinistic comments are being passed by the politicians that not only hurts the sentiments of the people but also ruins the image of the country. They are trying to shelter themselves behind the comments they pass so that a self-assurance can be made that nothing big happened.

This dented and painted poignant article is just to express my acrimony against the shame that is piling up on the country and  tearing it apart.

Why do these rape cases keep occurring?

It doesn't take a Sherlock to figure this out. The answer is simple and it is right in front of us. Rapes were so common back in the 20th century when the industrial capitalists were busy waging  wars to establish superiority. Women were captured and raped brutally. People craved for food and sex.

In India, lack of punishment is the reason. The punishment should be such that the one that assaults should face pain twice the amount faced by the victim.

What does it take for a man in poverty to feed himself in India?

It's easy. Rape a girl, get arrested, enjoy your meal at the jail, come out in a year or two and repeat the same thing again.

We are suiting ourselves to the western style in terms of clothing, food, lifestyle but when it comes to the punishment for the offenders, we go easy. We have got our own system that actually ensures that people commit crime, a system that is corrupt and tarnished.

Meanwhile, Abhijit Mukherjee: I withdraw my comments. I appalasize(apologise).

So much from the President's son.

Benefits from all these?

First of the beneficiary is the psychopath who actually commits the crime in the long run.

The next on the list is the opposition party.  This is how the politics behind a crime starts. The opposition party prepares a detailed statistics of the crime rate and the success rate of the police in catching the offenders, they use this to edge the ruling party accusing them of erratic ruling.

The last on the list of the beneficiaries is the media. Enough said.

In a country where even the deodorant advertisements are made vulgar, where ministers watch porn in the Assembly, Rape just becomes an another incident which has the spotlight for a month or two after which there are more important issues to be focussed upon like Sachin retiring from the One Day Internationals etc.

Sitting in the living room and writing all this would seem easy than doing something about it. But what can I do for I am just the common man, when the one with the power is unable to talk even three sentences?

Nothing but humiliation taunts me, scares me and is eating me out alive. 

Daunting Diversity

India is one of the largest democracy in the world. Diversity and Fraternity are a part of our constitution. In today's world almost all the nations are diverse. One can't complain cause diversity is something that cannot be eradicated. Although in other countries people are able to sustain midst the diversity in culture, In India it is quite a difficult task for the country is torn to pieces day by day.

India with its potential resources could possibly be one of the leading countries with its net growth in the field of economy surpassing that of the United Kingdom or Germany. But what is it that is preventing us from doing so?

Diversity.

A lot of weight is given to a person's origin than his skills/ideas. This is a parasite that is drawing us back, eating our chances of becoming a better prospect. Diversity exists everywhere. With the current scenario, people are migrating to different countries in hope for a bright future. So many Indians shift to the United States of America looking for jobs.

A lot of stress in diversity has pulled us back for quite a long time. When the British occupied India, we struggled to secure independence. This wouldn't have been the case if diversity was not given importance. The Hindu-Muslim controversies are an age old tale. This was the main reason why our independence was delayed. We were fighting amongst ourselves when we should have fought the Britishers.

The tensions continued even after the independence. This ultimately became a big barrier that sat heavily on progress. We are deeply caught in the web of problems and recovery is plausible but a long process.

Diversity has slowed our advancement for we Indians are busy with the caste system and untouchability. We are not able to join hands against the evil forces that prevails in our country. Diversity by itself is proving to be one. Diversity has resulted in schism and this proving to damage the integrity of the nation. As an acrimonious citizen, I detest the way the nation is heading.

Unless issues like this is not given a thought and tackled soon enough, it is going to pose as a problem in the long run for the higher caste people are going to become rich with resources, while the lower caste will be at your doorstep craving for food and money.

Diversity should prevail in the ideas and thoughts and not in culture and race.

With this in mind, one can certainly look further to see a gleam of light that could well be the path for development.

Diversity is an integral part of India, but why give it much of importance when our unity is undermined and our progress hindered? 

Far-fetched, Are We?

The sky was placid, the sea was calm, silence was setting in until the Mayans predicted the doomsday, which they have been doing for quite a long time. Not only them but also the "learned" ones who brand themselves as scientists  have been conducting various experiments in order to predict when the world is going to end.

There are movies released on this too. The entire world is waiting eagerly for the doomsday, 21-12-2012, just to sneer at the people who made this prediction. The numbers sure do look fancy. People are reacting to this in various ways. The god-fearing have turned their backs to the reality and are now too deep in their faith, oblivious to the surroundings. The impious just want to watch the world burn, god's own action, something that would make them believe some elemental force indeed does exist. Some are totally not bothered about anything.

Year 2012 seemed to be the one for so many reasons. The year was cursed the minute it was predicted that it was going to host way to the doomsday. Also there were many disasters culminating throughout the year. Though these disasters were not new or exceptional, they still convinced the feeble that the year was jinxed.

The scientists predicted the end to be by natural disasters like cyclone, earthquake, tsunami etc. What they have failed to understand is that right from the scratch it's the humans who are to be blamed for all the global warming, adverse climatic conditions and drought affecting millions throughout.

We've just been waiting for a co-relation. The movie has shown us a possible turn up of the events that may prelude the ultimate end. Any incident that occurs, we are trying to relate it to the movie like trying to fit a random piece in the puzzle just because the corners match.

With only a month and a half more, there is a chill running down the spine. Though nothing spectacular has happened so far to actually believe the end is nearing, but one may never know. A single domino strike is enough for a contraption in a infinite loop. The dominoes will keep falling creating a addled atmosphere with chaos. The gregarious will soon turn misanthropes.

The whole of human integrity will soon be put to question. The entire human race will be scrutinized  There is a minimal chance that the world will end on or before 21-12-2012, but with the current way of things, the world is sure to end in the near future. Only but this time, our hands won't point towards the natural calamities but towards each other. Our ignorance and atrocities will soon bite us back very hard.