Reflections from life

Ghosts of past

2011-12-03T17:22:00.000+05:30

Time has moved on

Memories have faded

Life has composured

N God is happy again

Seems that its only me

who wants to be with

YOU !!!

Image courtesy:30-daysnet

Love Transpired

2011-06-08T20:47:00.002+05:30

A couple of smokes

and JD on rocks

The air is benign

and clock strikes 9

Baby you are gone

and my heart still moans

But that's alright

coz you're just fine

Baby you're just fine

Image courtesy: shutterstock.com

Aaj dil dukha hai... tum yaad aaye...

2011-05-21T23:13:00.001+05:30

Ab agar tum mile to

Itna yakeen hai

Has denge hum to

Rona nahi hai.....

Thursday Photo Challenge

2011-04-22T12:37:00.000+05:30

P.S.: Inspired by Tikulli

A visit to Vishwa Shanti Stupa

2011-04-16T21:15:00.000+05:30

Vishwa Shanti Stupa, New Delhi was inaugurated on November 14, 2007 and dedicated to the people of India and the World with hopes of cultivating long-lasting peace as envisioned by Fujii Guruji. This work was made possible by the Shanti Stupa Society in partnership with D.D.A. and Nipponzan Myohoji. Relics and Sacred Objects for this Stupa were donated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the President of Sri Lanka, the President of Mongolia, and the Prime Minister of Nepal.

Nipponzan Myohoji was founded by Most Venerable Nichidatsu Fujii (1885-1985) with the mission of building Shanti Stupas all over the world as a way of creating peace and transforming people’s mind and heart. This order has built more than eighty Shanti Stupas all across the globe. Nishidatsu Fuji came to India in the year 1931 and became a close friend of Mahatma Gandhi who named him as "Fuji Guruji". He also set up the Japanese Buddhist order of Nipponzan Myohoji. The three monkeys depicted here convey the message of Mahatma Gandhi--speak no evil; hear no evil and see no evil. These monkeys were gifted by Fuji to Mahatma Gandhi.

The Stupa stands against the backdrop of some magnificent historical buildings like the Old Fort and Humayun's tomb. It was built at a cost of two crore rupees. The "Vishwa Shanti Stupa" is 28 meters high. Its construction was inspired by the world famous Sanchi Stupa at Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh. It's this hemispherical dome which inspired the chief architect of Rashtrapati Bhavan, Edwin Lutyen, who built the imposing dome over the President's house.The newest stupa at Delhi is the 74th in the series of stupas or pagodas around the world.

A Peace Pagoda is a Buddhist stupa designed to provide a focus for people of all races and creeds, and to help unite them in their search for world peace. The first Peace Pagodas were built as a symbol of peace in the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki where the atomic bombs took the lives of over 150,000 people. By 2000, eighty Peace Pagodas had been built around the world in Europe, Asia, and the United States. The Peace Pagoda was awarded the Courage of Conscience award June 5, 1998 in Sherborn, MA.

Other than Delhi, such stupas have also been built at Rajgir, Darjeeling, Vaishali and Ladakh. Some of the international locations where more such stupas have been established are Hanaokayama, Sapporo, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Mount Kijosumi, Narita-chi in Japan, Lumbini, Pokhara in Nepal, Jeju island in Korea, Ampara, Unawatuna in Sri Lanka, Brisbane in Australia, Vienna in Austria, Birmingham, Milton Keynes in England, Comiso in Italy, Kuchary in Poland, Benalmadena in Spain, Manitoba in Canada.

Here you can find some more of my clicks of this monument.

This information has been compiled from various websites found using google.com

A visit to tomb of Rahim Khan-I-Khana

2011-04-12T17:55:00.000+05:30

Khanzada Mirza Khan Abdul Rahim Khan-e-Khana ( 17 December 1556 - 1627, popularly known as Rahim, was a composer of Mughal times during the reign of Akbar. He was born in Lahore on 14th Cafar 964. He was one of the Navaratnas(minister) in the court. Father of Abdul Rahim, Bairam Khan, was a trusted caretaker of Akabar, belonged to Turkic ancestry.

Khanzadahs, the royal family of Muslim jadon Rajput, accepted Islam on their association with the sufi saints. Khanzadah, the persian form of Rajputana word 'Rajput', is the title of the great representatives of the ancient Jadubansi royal rajput family, descendant of Krishna and therefore belonging to Lunar dynasty (Chandravanshi).

After Bairam Khan was murdered in Patan, Gujrat, his wife and young Rahim were brought safely to Ahmedabad, and from there they were brought to Delhi, where they were presented to the Royal court of Akbar, where he was awarded the title of 'Mirza Khan'. There he was married to Mah Banu, sister of Mirza Aziz Kokah, son of Ataga Khan, a noted Mughal noble.

Later on, Akbar married Bairam Khans' wife, thus making Abdul Rahim Khan-e-Khan his stepson. Although a muslim by birth, Abdul Rahim was a devotee of Lord Krishna and wrote about him in his poetries. Other than poetry he was also an noted astrologer and known for two of his important works namely - Khet Kautukam and Dwawishd Yogavali, which are still popular.

Also, Rahim was known for his peculiar manner of giving alms to the poor. He never looked at the person he was giving alms to, keeping his gaze downwards in all humility. When Tulsidas heard about behavior of Rahim, he wrote the following couplet in his honor.

"ऐसी देनी देंन ज्यूँ, कित सीखे हो सैन ज्यों ज्यों कर ऊंच्यो करो, त्यों त्यों निचे नैन"
"Sir, Why give alms like this? Where'd you learn that? Your hands are as high as your eyes are low."

Realizing that Tulsidas was well aware of the truth behind creation, and was merely giving him an opportunity to say a few lines in a reply, in all humility he replied

"देनहार कोई और है, भेजत जो दिन रैन
लोग भरम हम पर करे, तासो निचे नैन"
"The Giver is someone else, giving day and night. So they won't give me the credit, I lower my eyes"

Apart from writing dohas, Rahim translated Babar's memoirs, Baburnama, from Chagatai language to Persian language, which was completed in AH 998 ( 1589-90). He was extremely fluent in Sanskrit, and could work with Arabic, Persian and Turkish language.

The tomb was build by him for his wife in 1598, and later he was himself buried in it 1627. This monument is carved with stucco work and intricate patterns.

This information has primarily been compiled from Wikipedia

Here is the link to my Picasa web album with some more clicks of this monument.

Misinterpretations.... Misunderstood

2011-04-10T13:50:00.000+05:30

Sometimes its unfortunate but really funny when people intend to write something, but what they write conveys totally different meaning. Below you can read some of such texts with regard to various contexts in life. Do Enjoy.

"Since I have to go to my native village to sell my land along with my wife, please sanction me one week leave."

-- Leave application by an employee

"As I want to shave my son's head, please leave me for two days."

-- Leave application by an employee who wanted to have mundan done for his 10 year old son

"As I am marrying my daughter, please grant me one week's leave."

-- Leave application by an employee

"As my mother-in-law has expired and I am the only one responsible for it, please grant me 10 days leave."

-- Leave application by an employee

"Since I have to go to the cremation ground at 10'o clock and I may not return, please grant me half day casual leave."

-- Leave application by an employee who wanted half day leave

"I am suffering fromfever, please declare one-day holiday."

-- An incident of a leave letter

"As I am studying in this school I am suffering from headache. I request you to leave me today."

-- From a student to headmaster

"As my headache is paining, please grant me leave for day."

-- From another student to headmaster

"I am enclosed here with..."

-- Found on a cover note

"Dear Sir, with reference to the above, please refer to my below..."

-- Found on another cover note

"My wife is suffering from sickness and as I am her only husband at home, I may be granted leave."

-- Leave application from an employee

"I am well here and hope you are also in the same well.

-- New letting writing style introduced

And the best one

"This has reference to your advertisement calling for a 'Typist and an Accountant - male or female'.... As I am both for past several years and I can handle both with good experience, I am applying for the post."

-- Job application by a candidate

Image courtesy: nscblog.com

A mans' tension

2011-04-09T01:01:00.001+05:30

A man and his wife were spending the day at the zoo. She was wearing a loose-fitting purple dress, sleeveless with straps. he was wearing his usual jeans and t-shirt. As they walked through the ape exhibit, they passed in front of a large, silverback gorilla. Noticing the wife, the gorilla immediately went crazy. He jumped on the bars and, holding on with one hand and two feet, he grunted and pounded his chest with his free hand. He was obviously very excited by the pretty lady in the pink dress.

The husband, noticing the excitement, thought this was funny. He suggested that his wife tease the poor fellow some more by puckering her lips and wiggling her bottom. She played along and the gorilla got extremely excited, now making noises that would wake the dead.

Then the husband suggested that she let one of her dress straps fall to show a little more skin. She didm and the gorilla was about to tear the bars down!

"Now, show your thighs and sort of fan your dress at him," he said. This drove the gorilla absolutely crazy, and he started doing flips and charging the bars!

Immediately the husband grabbed his wife, ripped open the door to the cage, flung her in with the gorilla, slammed the cage door shut and hollered, "Now, tell him you have a headache and you are not in the mood now."

Image courtesy: coffeecoffeeandmorecoffee.com

Office romance

2011-04-05T19:31:00.001+05:30

she: the world has said it. i'm waiting for you.
he : oh !! yes !! best of luck. and don't shout this time.
she: why do i need luck ?
he : i kinda thought you were going for your review meeting.
she: duh ! why are you always like this ?
he : did i miss something ?
she: did you even looked at me. for god sake.
he : ok !!
she: everybody noticed me, said i'm looking beautiful, but you didn't even noticed.
he : wow !! you really look stunning today.
she: i really don't care what others say.
he : i mean you really are looking so good. did you lose some weight, too ? i think that make you even more sexy.
she: very funny. huh !! i thought... but never mind.
he : ok ok !! say now
she: i wore this suit, put some extra kajal, lip gloss, my heels... everyone said i'm looking nice. and you...
he : i noticed
she: i think i made all these efforts in vain
he : i noticed you look different
she: duh! i shouldn't have done all this, at least not for you
he: but i really noticed. that you're actually looking beautiful today.
she: it doesn't matter anymore.
he : but listen...
she: now what ?
he : you know naa, i can't do this so openly.
she: so, you could have messaged.
he : oh yes !! of course.
she: i put in so much of effort, only and only for you
he : ok ok, now don't be angry. and... did i tell you how beautiful you look with this intensity in your eyes... it just kills me... oh my god.
she: tell me more.
he : i'll, but at the food counter. lets go, grab a bite, i'm hungry.

She giggles, he sighs and they both move, hand in hand.

P.S: This is a work of fiction but relation with reality is quite possible.

image courtesy: google image search

Solitary visit to Lodi Garden

2011-03-26T19:06:00.000+05:30

Front view of Shah's tomb

The tomb of Mohammed Shah, the last of the Sayyid dynasty rulers, the earliest of the tombs in the garden, was built in 1444 by Ala-ud-din Alam Shah as a tribute to Mohammed Shah.

An inner view of Shah's tomb

As there is little architecture from these two periods remaining in India, Lodi Gardens is an important place of preservation. The architecture is characterised by the octagonal chamber, with stone chhajjas on the roof andguldastas on the corners.

Landscape inside the garden

Spread over 90 acres (360,000 m2) the site is now protected by the Archeological Survey of India

Information bar

Click on the images to view them in full size.
For more information, please visit the link - Lodi Gardens

Perspicuous

2011-03-26T02:30:00.001+05:30

Relationships are complicated.

Love is not.

Love is....

2011-03-25T19:29:00.000+05:30

If ever I will not be able to justify what I get; I will quit.

But until then, I'll look into your eyes and say "I am worth it"

Thursday Challenge

2011-03-24T18:33:00.000+05:30

A view of the beautiful Nani lake

Wordless Wednesday - 4

2011-03-23T04:26:00.004+05:30

Image courtesy : google images search

Jannat abhi door sahi...

2011-03-17T21:32:00.000+05:30

Baagh-e-bahisth se mujhe hukm-e-safar diya tha kyun

Kaar-e-jahaan daraaz hai, ab mera intezaar kar

Iqbal

Love Her

2011-03-11T11:11:00.001+05:30

Love her when she sips on your coffee, she only wants to make sure it tastes just right for you.

Love her when she is jealous.out of all the guys she can have, she choose you.

Love her when she has annoying habits that drive you nuts, you have them too.

Love her when her cooking is bad, she tries for you.

Love her when she makes you watch corny love dramas while the sport is on, she wants to share these moments with you.

Love her when she spends hours to get ready, she only wants to look her best with you.

Love her when often her eyes water suddenly, she actually had a thought of loosing you.

Take time to make her feel special.

Image courtesy: various websites

Wordless Wednesday - 3

2011-03-09T17:44:00.001+05:30

Image courtesy : facebook album of a close friend

The Story of Love

2011-03-08T00:01:00.001+05:30

Once upon a time, there was an island where all the feeling lived; Happiness, Sadness, Knowledge, and all others including Love. One day it was announced to all the feelings that the island was going to sink to the bottom of the ocean. So all the feelings prepared their boats to leave. Love was the only one that stayed. She wanted to preserve the island until the last possible moment.

When the island was almost under, Love decided it was time to leave. She began looking for someone to ask for help. Just then Richness was passing by in a grand boat. Love asked, "Richness, can I come with you on your boat?" Richness answered, "I'm sorry, but there is a lot of gold and silver on my boat and there would be no room for you." Then Love decided to ask Vanity for help who was passing by in a beautiful vessel. Love cried out, "Vanity, help me please." "I can't help you", Vanity said, "You are all wet and will damage my beautiful boat." Next, Love saw Sadness passing by. Love said, "Sadness, please let me go with you." Sadness answered, "Love, I'm sorry, but, I just need to be alone now." Then, Love saw Happiness. Love cried out, "Happiness, please take me with you." But Happiness was so overjoyed that he didn't hear Love calling to him.

Love began to cry. Then, she heard a voice say, "Come Love, I'll take you with me." It was an elder. Love felt so blessed and overjoyed that she forgot to ask the elder his name. When they arrived on land, the elder went on his way. Love realized how much she owed the elder. Love then found Knowledge and asked, "Who was it, that helped me?" "It was Time", Knowledge answered. "But why did Time help me?", Love asked. Knowledge smiled and with deep wisdom and sincerely, answered, "Because only Time is capable of understanding how great Love is."

Image courtesy: deviantart.net

Happy Sad

2011-03-04T16:49:00.000+05:30

I Face the World with a smile

No one knows what I hide inside

They see only happiness

They can't see the tears that I've cried

Image courtesy: happysigns.com

Happy Valentines Day

2011-02-14T00:01:00.002+05:30

On this Valentine’s Day, the day of affection,

My thoughts quickly turn only in your direction.

This lil Valentine poem is meant to show you

How lucky I feel, I've fallen in love with You

To be or not to be

2011-02-11T22:34:00.001+05:30

I like you,
And I think you like me
If you didn't
Then why would you want us to be ?
In their eyes, You are unreachable.
But in my eyes, You are adorable.
I might fall out of bed, I might fall asleep
But when I fall in love, would you hold me and keep ?
Our little conversations,
Are turning into little sweet sensations.
Oh my God, is this true,
Can't believe Am I talking to you ?
We hardly know each other,
But every second is like forever.
And we think so similarly,
Don't you think its destiny ? Or co-incidences maybe ?
May be it'll work out,
May be it won't
Will time tell us
If this is possible or nowhere ?

P.S. : Sometimes we act less and expect more, while we need to act more and expect less

Rise & Shine

2011-02-11T00:23:00.000+05:30

I sit in the darks

A light inside my heart

I am holding on

You need to rise and shine

for me

Corporate Atyachaar ...the comical journey of an office doormat

2011-01-28T14:25:00.000+05:30

The Author

Ahay Nagrajan did his schooling in Mumbai and Bangalore. He did his graduation from SRCC, Delhi and followed that up with a Masters degree in finance (MFC) form University of Delhi. He worked at University of Delhi. He worked as a financial advisor for over two years. Besides working or writings, he enjoys reading up on cricket statistics-his first love since class five. This is his debut novel.

The Book

The book is about the professional journey of a 24 year young guy who has just passed out of college and has been placed as Associate Finance Advisor with Wealth Capital Associated Private Limited, a Bangalore based financial firm which deals primarily with limited set of exclusive HNI clients and helps them manage their personal finances. The story begins around March 2007 when the Indian economy is booming and is completely unaware of the following economic catastrophe. Shortly after joining, the subservient and enthusiastic lad learns that his new boss is dominating, obnoxious and has a very peculiar habit of constantly scratching his crotch. The story is a humourous journey during which the lad acquires along with professional experience, a lot of personal experiences dealing with his irritating boss and various clients of his firm and how their attitude changes with the arrival of the massive downfall of the Indian economy. The race to save his job while still maintaining the big reputation of the employers and in order to chase his first appraisals proves to be quite ludicrously amusing.

The Verdict

This is a debut book of the author. Overall the story is quite simple and flows easily. The author has been able to tickle the funny bone. None of the situations described seemed impractical at any point. Language used is very much ordinary, and graspable. Overall, the book is quite enjoyable and can be finished in short time.

The Recommendation

As a debut author Mr. Abhay Nagrajan has done quite appreciable job. He chose a storyline which is part of the life of an ordinary employed person. The front-cover of the book has been sparsely decorated but tries to insinuate the happenings in the story. And last but not the least, the book has been priced reasonably. Click here to buy the book on flipkart.com

The Details

Book: Corporate Atyaachaar : The Comical Journey Of An Office Doormat
Author: Abhay Nagarajan
ISBN:

9380349237

ISBN-13:

9789380349237

,
978-9380349237

Binding: Paperback
Publishing Date: 2010
Publisher: Srishti Publishers
Edition: 2010
Language: English

*NOTE: Upon request from Abhay, I am hereby publishing my personal views on his debut book and do not mean any kind of offence to anybody by any means.

Just do it !!!

2011-01-16T23:01:00.000+05:30

Be with the one who makes you happy
The one who makes you smile
The one who can make you laugh
And each day worth while
Live life for the moment
Try to make it last long
Because life is too short
It passes by so fast
So when you find love
Don't let it slip away
Hold it tight, close, forever
And cherish it each day
As long as you are happy
That is what you should do
Love that someone and let them know
Before the life is through!!!

Johnny Gone Down - Karan Bajaj

2010-11-26T09:34:00.000+05:30

Johnny Gone Down

Karan Bajaj

For those who love to read fiction, but mind it, I am not talking about fairy tale lovers, would definitely love to read it. Beautifully crafted and stitched with real world happenings, Karan has done a fantastic job.

Its story of life of Nikhil, an MIT graduate. How life turns upside down for him as he plans his vacation to Cambodia with his friend Sam. How he manages to escape from there the Khmer Rogue, peaceful monk life at the monastery, uncertain life as a Brazillian drug lord, to a multi-millionaire software developer and then back to what we consider a normal life. And certainly love does not misses to touch his life. A thoroughly complete journey of adventure, excitement, hope, love, fear, friendship and every other emotion you can think of, has been poured in. Interestingly the book manages to keep you glued to it from the first to last page.

At the end of the book, it might seem a little bit of unrealistic life one can have who has the best out of the worst fate in this universe, but none the less, reading it is very much enjoyable. Recommended.

Image source : http://www.flipkart.com

The Story of Appreciation

2010-11-21T08:51:00.002+05:30

One young academically excellent person went to apply for a managerial position in a big company. He passed the first interview, the director did the last interview, made the last decision. The director discovered from the CV that the youth's academical achievements were excellent all the way, from the secondary school until the postgraduate research, never had a year when he did not score. The director asked, "Did you obtain any scholarships in school?" the youth answered "none". The director asked, " Was it your father who paid for your school fees?"The youth answered, "My father passed away when I was one year old, it was my mother who paid for my school fees. The director asked, " Where did your mother work?" The youth answered, "My mother worked as clothes cleaner. The director requested the youth to show his hands. The youth showed a pair of hands that were smooth and perfect. The director asked, " Have you ever helped your mother wash the clothes before?" The youth answered, "Never, my mother always wanted me to study and read more books. Furthermore, my mother can wash clothes faster than me. The director said, "I have a request. When you go back today, go and clean your mother's hands, and then see me tomorrow morning.

The youth felt that his chance of landing the job was high. When he went back, he happily requested his mother to let him clean her hands. His mother felt strange, happy but with mixed feelings, she showed her hands to the kid. The youth cleaned his mother's hands slowly. His tear fell as he did that. It was the first time he noticed that his mother's hands were so wrinkled, and there were so many bruises in her hands. Some bruises were so painful that his mother shivered when they were cleaned with water. This was the first time the youth realized that it was these pair of hands that washed the clothes everyday to enable him to pay the school fee. The bruises in the mother's hands were the price that the mother had to pay for his graduation, academic excellence and his future. After finishing the cleaning of his mother hands, the youth quietly washed all the remaining clothes for his mother. That night, mother and son talked for a very long time.

Next morning, the youth went to the director's office. The Director noticed the tears in the youth's eyes, asked: " Can you tell me what have you done and learned yesterday in your house?" The youth answered, " I cleaned my mother's hand, and also finished cleaning all the remaining clothes' The Director asked, " please tell me your feelings." The youth said, Number 1, I know now what is appreciation. Without my mother, there would not the successful me today. Number 2, by working together and helping my mother, only I now realize how difficult and tough it is to get something done. Number 3, I have come to appreciate the importance and value of family relationship. The director said, " This is what I am looking for to be my manager. I want to recruit a person who can appreciate the help of others, a person who knows the sufferings of others to get things done, and a person who would not put money as his only goal in life. You are hired. Later on, this young person worked very hard, and received the respect of his subordinates. Every employee worked diligently and as a team. The company's performance improved tremendously.

A child, who has been protected and habitually given whatever he wanted,would develop "entitlement mentality" and would always put himself first.He would be ignorant of his parent's efforts. When he starts work, he assumes that every person must listen to him, and when he becomes a manager, he would never know the sufferings of his employees and would always blame others. For this kind of people, who may be good academically, may be successful for a while, but eventually would not feel sense of achievement. He will grumble and be full of hatred and fight for more.

If we are this kind of protective parents, are we really showing love or are we destroying the kid instead? You can let your kid live in a big house, eat a good meal, learn piano, watch a big screen TV. But when you are cutting grass, please let them experience it. After a meal, let them wash their plates and bowls together with their brothers and sisters. It is not because you do not have money to hire a maid, but it is because you want to love them in a right way. You want them to understand, no matter how rich their parents are, one day their hair will grow gray, same as the mother of that young person. The most important thing is your kid learns how to appreciate the effort and experience the difficulty and learns the ability to work with others to get things done.

P.S. This was shared by one of my Facebook friend Aswani Srivastava. Click here to view the original note shared by him on facebook.

Life

2010-11-20T17:05:00.000+05:30

Everybody wants happiness

Nobody wants pain

But you can't have a rainbow

Without little rain

The lonely walker

2010-11-09T01:58:00.003+05:30

I wander through the loose mornings