1 साल बाद!

Its been an year, since my Goa trip;
& just like Goa, the memories are ageless; as are the wounds! Ouch!

Another year, when the "Har saal .. " resolution has failed.

The globe turns a full circle ..

as a 10 year old boy (circa 1995), I distinctly remember hearing time and again, why globalisation is bad for India, its economy, its people & more dramatically, for the survival of the country at large.
12 years later, things have come a full circle - Americans / Europeans are dreading the same globalisation.

Many Europeans, like many Americans, feel threatened by globalization. But the challenge cannot be met with Mr. Sarkozy’s misconceived ideas, including designating threatened European companies as nationally backed contenders, and giving them special legal and economic privileges. That approach will see sheltered European firms fall even further behind newer and more efficient competitors from India, China and elsewhere.

While much more can be said - it was amply felt during our time in France and reading articles otherwise. Indians are riding the wave, better than the Chinese apparently. Pepsi / Coke which were often the target of anti-economic-imperialism screams, finds an Indian lady at the helm. Ditto with Adobe.
Too inexperienced to comment more -- but :-)

You are in CSE, IIT Bombay when ...

... the following exchange pleasantly lands in your inbox!!

Dear Ram,

Your leadership in piloting this bold initiative through Tata Sons is finally paying off - and how superbly! My congratulations and compliments. I am glad that IIT Bombay has contributed in the effort, not only via its past students (who are also past faculty), but also a little through our on-going research collaboration.

With best regards,
Sincerely,
- Deepak

and just when you wonder who Ram is --

Thanks Deepak. You have been a great supporter and a source of strength. Warm regards

S Ramadorai
Tata Consultancy Services
Mailto: s.ramadorai@tcs.com
Website: http://www.tcs.com

"आरे!! हमारे ज़माने में ..."

Anti, Calvin and the above line are intricately linked.
However, if there was one thing I would say was truly unique to people of my age, it would have to be the taking down messages for others, for the calls they miss.
If you aren't figuring what I am talking about, remember the times, when a phone number had a one-to-one correspondence with a particular address (or worse, there was the funda of 'शेजार्यांचा फ़ोन नम्बर'). As a result, we answered phones (which were seldom for us) and we were supposed to take down hurriedly pronounced names / numbers & remember them for delivery to the correct person. I particularly sucked at this art & was sufficiently chided for the same!!

Anyway, since our parents never had phones in their childhood & the concept of a घरचा phone number is fast on the decline - it truly qualifies for a "आरे!! हमारे ज़माने में ..."
Aah! Those were the times ;-)
A Calvin to spread the cheer ...

A few times over ...

Some years ago, statisticians predicted that by the time He retired, Sachin would hold every batting record - well, they were only partially right.
He has records, by a decent margin as well.
A list of his Batting records :-
1. Most Runs (15800s) in Career (yeah.. yeah -- we all knew that)[Next best 12200s]
2. 5^th highest innings score.
3. 2^nd highest runs in a series.
4. 1^st (4^th and few more) highest runs in a calendar year.
5. More than 1000 runs in a calendar year - 7 times
6. 2^nd highest batting average among batsmen with 7000 runs or more.
7. Most hundreds in Career. (41 + 5 times this yr. that he has been out in 90s :-|) [Next Best :- 25]
8. Most hundreds in a calendar year. (Also, the 4th spot.)
9. Most 100's by a batsman against Australia, Srilanka, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, West Indies, South Africa & Kenya.
10. Most (14) 90s scores .. arrgh!! [Next best:- 9]
11. Most (3) dismissals at 99. [Pulling my hair.]
12. Most 50+ scores in career.
12a. Most 50-99 scores in career.
13. 50s in 5 successive matches [Highest by an Indian.]
14. 4^th highest number of career sixes.
15. Highest number of 4s. [1720 to 2nd best 1348]

Anyway, He has set the stage for a decent onslaught. So back to the match.

Mornings !

Mornings in IITB are little appreciated,
because like many other things here (read: lectures, labs, ...) people sleep through them!
However, once in the rising sun, when I happen to chance upon them --I do miss not meeting them more often.