India
Over some drinks, last week, someone remarked how in some communities parents want their daughters to be married only to someone settled in the US. Now along those lines there were some other comments like "I will never go there", "And I am proud to be an Indian" and "I never felt at home there or could never somehow call that place my home". Anyway that apart, Fahrenheit 9/11 was coming on TV and there is one segment where they show how on a regular basis the US have invaded countries. That got me thinking...

In 1998 the US bombed a far away country and destroyed a primary school and an Asprin like drug making factory. They never helped Rwanda but they happily went and flattened Iraq twice. They gave Osama 3 billion to spend and god knows how much more to Saddam to fight against Iran. They have assassinated probably half a dozen presidents and leaders in South American countries throwing these countries in chaos and sending them spiraling into further poverty and then installing puppet dictators.

What I am getting at is my country has never done that. We have never invaded anyone. Despite having one of the worst neighbours ever possible we have never been the aggressor against even them. We have the worst corrupt politicians but still we have never bombed a primary school. We have never bred hate and violence in such blatant forms to satisfy the greed of the elite rich and the so called "corporations". I can safely say that our collective conscience is clear in this matter. This makes a big difference in my mind, proud of that record...

Che Guevara
The second thing that I quickly wanted to write, came to me while watching Motorcycle Diaries. The movie is about Che Guevara. While living in Los Angeles I had read and known about him but hadn't seen the movie as yet. The movie covers Ernesto Guevara and his friend taking a road trip on a rickety motorcycle across South America. Something changed in him during this trip. He saw the economic disparity in the countries he traveled through and that changed him to become one of the most influential leaders who fought for the weak and poor. His photo (below) is among the most recognized pictures in the world. Che, which became his famous nickname meaning "man" or "pal", is the symbol in the fight against inequality and injustice all around the world.

But what sort of popped in my head was a song that AC/DC plays in their live shows called Bonny. Angus Young, one of my all time favorite guitarists, plays a very soulful version of this song. Anyway the song goes:

I`ll take the high road
And you`ll take the low road
And I`ll be in Scotland afore ye

So did Che Guevara take the high road or the low road? I am not sure. Don't get me wrong, there is no doubt his intentions were righteous and I find what he accomplished very admirable and inspiring. But was it the high road? Now let me ask you if Gandhiji's road was the high one or the low one??? I have no doubt as to which road it was...

Apparently Che was inspired by Gandhiji and claimed armed conflict was never his first option but looks like finally revolución was the only option he was left with...

Never Let Me Go

I recently picked a book by Kazuo Ishiguro called Never let me go. While generally reading the back cover I found that Remains of the day was also written by Ishiguro. I hadn’t read “Remains of the day” but had seen the movie. Anthony Hopkins delivers a brilliant performance in the movie portraying the butler. So anyway, based on the jacket of the book, it was also a finalist for the 2005 Booker prize, I thought it was a very readable book and bought it…

I will definitely recommend this book to all. You can read this blog further, don’t worry nothing here will spoil your reading...

The book is a story being told by a 31 year old girl named Kathy. She walks you through her life experiences, up from childhood, largely with her two best friends Ruth and Tommy. I found myself a little lost at the beginning not able to understand what was special about them and what are “donors” and “carers”. But things clearl up as you progress. Anyway, despite that Ishiguro’s style will keep you involved. The portrayal of Kathy’s life is really heart felt and you will be able to associate with some of the things. Things like fighting with best friends over things both big and small, not being able express feelings freely due to circumstances, quiet but desperate separation etc…

The third and final part of the book is a punch to the gut, gentle though. Everything unravels in the final part. I found myself choking up many times as the characters near their fate. The story and theme are fiction, as you will realize, but the human feelings and situations described and portrayed are just so genuine and true. It is in this part that you start seeing through each of the characters, understanding them and the love they have always shared, although not openly, for each other.

As one of the reviews says the book is a “…a tour de force of knotted tension and buried anguish…”. Just like “Remains of the day” while reading this book you will many times feel as to why the characters don’t just bring out everything in the open. Kathy even thinks back that during one situation maybe the best thing to have done was to just go give Tommy a big hug. But you will realize, that is not how things work in life and sometimes feelings have to be left suppressed…

A very simple and warm story, told in a very different and novel way, that will leave a lasting impression on you...

This was lunch a couple of weeks back...All by hand... :)

Ahhhh!!! Finally a long weekend has arrived. We are having a long weekend after nearly 4 months and the team in office is going into a comatose :)

I recently bought some 30 movies. Actually 4 of us together bought 57 movies and my share was 30. Been meaning to rebuild my collection and finally got down to it this week. But you know what after buying these 30 movies the "to get" list has already grown back to another 30 odd movies... :)

Here are some of the movies I bought...

Fight club
To kill a mocking bird
Motorcycle Diaries
Gandhi
Bitter moon
Adaptation
American Beauty
Usual Suspects
Black hawk down
Capote
Crash
Finding Nemo + Ice age

Now just need find time in office to finish watching them ;-)

Have the time of your life...

Was listening to this acoustic song by Green Day (watch it here) that conveys a simple but vital message about life, "hope you had the time of your life". I see people around me, including myself, in misery struggling with life’s decisions, rights and wrongs, yes, no and maybes but as this song conveys that is just how it is (it being life) and in end it is all right (as in correct), so don’t forget to have a time of your life…

Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road
Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go
So make the best of this test, and don't ask why
It's not a question, but a lesson learned in time

My interpretation of this is that don’t question things too much, don’t struggle with things too much, these decisions are not questions that you absolutely have to and must answer in one way or the other. These are just circumstances, just make up your mind to go ahead either way and if required learn the lesson that is there in it. And if you have to just keep learning all the time, so f’ing what!?!

Here is the chorus…

It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.

Really life is unpredictable, plan it but don’t harp on it too much because finally it is unpredictable. And you know what, yesterday, today, now and in the end whatever you do it is all right. Just don’t forget to have a time of your life. Not meaning go out on a binge all the time or go around hurting people but you know what, stop worrying about things. Circumstances will never go away they will teach you lessons till kingdom come. Listen to this song, maybe it will have some effect...

Go ahead, have the time of your life because in the end it's right...