If you speak the language that is native to the South Indian state of Tamilnadu, you know what I am talking about (correcta?) Back home, we call this Tongue-lish (it must have been Tam-glish, illai?)
Incidentally, the Tonge-lish language has a lot of oxymorons (just like this title maadhiri). It starts with the funny professor who says, "Yen Pa, Why"? And goes on to the rickshawala who asks you to sit in the Nadoo center, just so he can maintain a balance. There are lot more such oxymorons. But aana, I am not able to remember them right now. Seri OK, let us come to the point.
There are these people who say, "Chumma, Just Like That". They will call you at your home and if you ask them what the matter is, they will say, "Nothing. I called Chumma, Just Like That". There are children who will doodle on pristine white walls with their jumbo crayons and when you ask them why they did it, will innocently say, "Chumma, Just Like That".
There are people who go for a walk Chumma, Just Like That. And then there is the proverbial wife who returns from an entire day of shopping with the most meaningless stuff spilling out of her bags and when you ask her why she bought all that stuff, she will say, "Chumma, Just Like That". Your blood pressure will rise Chumma, Just Like That!!!
The problem is one can't take all this Chumma, Just Like That. Becuase the caller who calls Chumma, Just Like That will invariably call on a Sunday afternoon when you are trying to get that much desired cat nap. The landlord of your rented house will not spare you Chumma, Just Like That when he comes in for his quarterly inspection. When you finally vacate the house because you are moving into your own new flat, you will find that the house advance you paid him would have reduced by half Chumma, Just Like that.
The one who took a walk Chumma, Just Like That would be the one person you dint want to run into and good luck if you resent your wife's purchase sense, she will return to the same set of shops the next day and will exchange everything she bought for something more expensive. It will only want to make you say, "Aiyo. Not Like That".
To those of you who managed to stay with me until this, I want to say, "Romba Thanks", becuase when I started writing this article, I did not even believe i could write this far, forget it getting published or you clicking on this.
In fact, I wrote it Chumma, Just Like That.
P.S. This is an original post published on msn.co.in on May 29, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Thursday, May 22, 2008
What is it about Sachin Tendulkar?
He is 35 years and 1 month old. Not an age that cricket boards across the world would endorse players to still be in any team, leave alone the national team. I remember an account that Sunil Gavaskar gave in his book - One Day Wonders. When India went to Sharjah for the Rothmans trpohy in 1985, and that was right after winning the World Championship of Cricket down under, the board and many fans were circumspect of the several OTs (over 30s) the team was carrying. Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Amarnath, Madan Lal, Binny... there were more perhaps. But it was the OTs that contributed maximum to India winning that Rothmans Trophy. In fact Sunil Gavaskar was Man of the Series.
Pardon the digression, now let's come back to the Man in question. At 35, he is chosen as the captain of a professional team in a form of cricket that millions of critics believe he is not suited for. He is a non-starter due to injury and his critics shout harder. Silently but surely, he makes his debut. And what happens? The crowds swell more than ever. A whilrind in the form of Sanath Jayasuriya rises and sweeps out the opposition. Unknown names like Nayar and Chitnis deliver soul stirring performances. And the Man himself plays one of the cleanest knocks in 20-20 in a run chase that would have been among the greatest in 20-20 history. Alas, Mumbai fell one run short of Punjab.
Who else is most talked about in his presence or his absence? Who else does the cricketing world wait more in expectation of, whatever the form of the game? And who else has silenced his critics more times than one can count? May be one Mr. Sanjay Manjrekar can answer that last question in respect of the recent Indian ODI series triumph in Australia.
It remains to be seen what will happen to Mumbai in the IPL. It further remains to be seen how many more international centuries the Man will score. And then there is the Billion Dollar Question, "Will Sachin play another World Cup?". No one knows the answers yet, but like Balwinder Singh Sandhu said, if he is available at that time, the Man will select himself to the team. No one selects Sachin. Pardon me, Mr. Anil Ambani, no Kudos to you that Sachin was made the captain of the Mumbai IPL side.
So what is it about Sachin Tendulkar. The talent, the toughness, the hard work, the humility, it's all there. I try to think of one thing about the Man that's not right and my mind goes blank. Consider me deaf to all those people who say, "He is not a big match player" or "He cannot close the game". There is nothing that Sachin needs to prove anymore.
I don't know what it is about Sachin Tendulkar. I don't know what makes me take time to write about him than follow my home team Chennai Super Kings as they duel with Bangalore RCs. But I know for sure, that soon there will be a day, when I may not even follow cricket anymore, leave alone write about it. That is the day, Sachin Tendulkar decides to hang up his boots.
I don't know what it is about Sachin Tendulkar, but if i were to be born again, I would be blessed, if I was born as Sachin Tendulkar.
P.S. This is an original post published on MSN.co.in on May 22, 2008
Pardon the digression, now let's come back to the Man in question. At 35, he is chosen as the captain of a professional team in a form of cricket that millions of critics believe he is not suited for. He is a non-starter due to injury and his critics shout harder. Silently but surely, he makes his debut. And what happens? The crowds swell more than ever. A whilrind in the form of Sanath Jayasuriya rises and sweeps out the opposition. Unknown names like Nayar and Chitnis deliver soul stirring performances. And the Man himself plays one of the cleanest knocks in 20-20 in a run chase that would have been among the greatest in 20-20 history. Alas, Mumbai fell one run short of Punjab.
Who else is most talked about in his presence or his absence? Who else does the cricketing world wait more in expectation of, whatever the form of the game? And who else has silenced his critics more times than one can count? May be one Mr. Sanjay Manjrekar can answer that last question in respect of the recent Indian ODI series triumph in Australia.
It remains to be seen what will happen to Mumbai in the IPL. It further remains to be seen how many more international centuries the Man will score. And then there is the Billion Dollar Question, "Will Sachin play another World Cup?". No one knows the answers yet, but like Balwinder Singh Sandhu said, if he is available at that time, the Man will select himself to the team. No one selects Sachin. Pardon me, Mr. Anil Ambani, no Kudos to you that Sachin was made the captain of the Mumbai IPL side.
So what is it about Sachin Tendulkar. The talent, the toughness, the hard work, the humility, it's all there. I try to think of one thing about the Man that's not right and my mind goes blank. Consider me deaf to all those people who say, "He is not a big match player" or "He cannot close the game". There is nothing that Sachin needs to prove anymore.
I don't know what it is about Sachin Tendulkar. I don't know what makes me take time to write about him than follow my home team Chennai Super Kings as they duel with Bangalore RCs. But I know for sure, that soon there will be a day, when I may not even follow cricket anymore, leave alone write about it. That is the day, Sachin Tendulkar decides to hang up his boots.
I don't know what it is about Sachin Tendulkar, but if i were to be born again, I would be blessed, if I was born as Sachin Tendulkar.
P.S. This is an original post published on MSN.co.in on May 22, 2008
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Saturday Mornings!
What is it about Saturday mornings? Does the sun shine brighter? Do the birds sing better? Or do the flowers smell sweeter?
None of the above. Yet, Saturday mornings are different. The cup of coffee invigorates, the rays of the sun energize and the gentle wind in the face soothes. The mind is at perfect equilibrium with those very elements of nature that remain imperceptible every day of the week, Monday to Friday.
I wonder if I simply feel better because I don't need to go to work for 2 days? But then, to say that I love my job would be sham.
Or is it that I am so much into a routine from Monday to Friday that I look forward to something refreshingly different on Saturdays? Negative again, becuase most of the things I do like eat, sleep, watch tv etc. don't change on the weekend. (I just do more of these).
Come to think about the fun I am going to have on the weekend. Whoever said fun is a lot of hard work is absolutely right. Long drives or late night parties, they are all good till they last, but hurt like hell once they are done.
And finally, work itself is no less on the weekends. Clean the carpet, do the laundry, fix the leaky tap, clean up the messy room, buy groceries, wash the car...So when someone tells me its Saturday morning, I feel like saying, "So What?"
So what is it that makes Saturday mornings different?Maybe some professor of psychology will endeavour to conduct a research study on this and I will then get to know the answer.
Just for now, I am happy I have the time to sit and write this, even as the sun shines, the birds chirp and my coffee is calling me to take a sip.
Ah! Saturday mornings...
P.S. This is an original post published on msn.co.in on Saturday, May 17, 2008
None of the above. Yet, Saturday mornings are different. The cup of coffee invigorates, the rays of the sun energize and the gentle wind in the face soothes. The mind is at perfect equilibrium with those very elements of nature that remain imperceptible every day of the week, Monday to Friday.
I wonder if I simply feel better because I don't need to go to work for 2 days? But then, to say that I love my job would be sham.
Or is it that I am so much into a routine from Monday to Friday that I look forward to something refreshingly different on Saturdays? Negative again, becuase most of the things I do like eat, sleep, watch tv etc. don't change on the weekend. (I just do more of these).
Come to think about the fun I am going to have on the weekend. Whoever said fun is a lot of hard work is absolutely right. Long drives or late night parties, they are all good till they last, but hurt like hell once they are done.
And finally, work itself is no less on the weekends. Clean the carpet, do the laundry, fix the leaky tap, clean up the messy room, buy groceries, wash the car...So when someone tells me its Saturday morning, I feel like saying, "So What?"
So what is it that makes Saturday mornings different?Maybe some professor of psychology will endeavour to conduct a research study on this and I will then get to know the answer.
Just for now, I am happy I have the time to sit and write this, even as the sun shines, the birds chirp and my coffee is calling me to take a sip.
Ah! Saturday mornings...
P.S. This is an original post published on msn.co.in on Saturday, May 17, 2008
What the Blog?
I mean, what the HELL?
Becuase HELL is what Blogspace is becoming. Like we don't have enough wars in the world, now we have Blog Wars. Aamir vs ShahRukh and AB vs Everybody. And so on...
The effects of the internet are far-reaching and fast. This medium has made the world a really small place. I used to like a particular advertisement that used to say "Solutions for a Small Planet". I mean, WHO THE HELL, would have thought of the earth as a small planet? But that is what the internet has done to this world, hasn't it? Shrink it.
Everyday the power of the internet is growing. But while life is getting better with internet banking, internet shopping and internet everything, Satan enters the internet in the form of Blog Wars.
My friend is trying to start a company and it involves some help from NRIs. Someone told him the best way to reach out to Indians in the US is to Blog. He tried it and he was amazed by the results. He was so encouraged by the results that he is actually moving ahead full steam with this new initiative.
If that is the power of the internet and that is the power of the Blog, then WHY THE HELL are these people using this all powerful medium for petty fights and ego trips.
And these are not ordinary people in anyway. These are the people, who because of who they are, have the ability to influence crores of Indians and may be billions of people around the world. Why do big brands use celebrities in their ad campaigns? Because consumers aspire to be like them - Advertising and Marketing 101.
So why not use Blogspace for better causes? Why not send the right message to millions of people who look up to them? Why not use this powerful medium for a zillion causes that need attention? Who needs to teach these people?
HOW THE HELL do I know? But I know there are a whole lot of you out there who feel the same way as I do and would like it better if Blogspace remained meaningful.
Mr. Khan and Shri AB. There are surely some people you make feel, "TO HELL WITH YOUR BLOG".
P.S. This is an original post that was published on msn.co.in on May 15, 2008
Becuase HELL is what Blogspace is becoming. Like we don't have enough wars in the world, now we have Blog Wars. Aamir vs ShahRukh and AB vs Everybody. And so on...
The effects of the internet are far-reaching and fast. This medium has made the world a really small place. I used to like a particular advertisement that used to say "Solutions for a Small Planet". I mean, WHO THE HELL, would have thought of the earth as a small planet? But that is what the internet has done to this world, hasn't it? Shrink it.
Everyday the power of the internet is growing. But while life is getting better with internet banking, internet shopping and internet everything, Satan enters the internet in the form of Blog Wars.
My friend is trying to start a company and it involves some help from NRIs. Someone told him the best way to reach out to Indians in the US is to Blog. He tried it and he was amazed by the results. He was so encouraged by the results that he is actually moving ahead full steam with this new initiative.
If that is the power of the internet and that is the power of the Blog, then WHY THE HELL are these people using this all powerful medium for petty fights and ego trips.
And these are not ordinary people in anyway. These are the people, who because of who they are, have the ability to influence crores of Indians and may be billions of people around the world. Why do big brands use celebrities in their ad campaigns? Because consumers aspire to be like them - Advertising and Marketing 101.
So why not use Blogspace for better causes? Why not send the right message to millions of people who look up to them? Why not use this powerful medium for a zillion causes that need attention? Who needs to teach these people?
HOW THE HELL do I know? But I know there are a whole lot of you out there who feel the same way as I do and would like it better if Blogspace remained meaningful.
Mr. Khan and Shri AB. There are surely some people you make feel, "TO HELL WITH YOUR BLOG".
P.S. This is an original post that was published on msn.co.in on May 15, 2008
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