Nihalisms

2008-09-06T20:57:00.001+05:30

And Some More Pictures

2008-09-06T20:55:00.000+05:30

My Adventures in the Far East

2007-08-05T13:33:00.000+05:30

My Date with Lucy

Was in Ethiopia last week and had to go visit Lucy at the National Museum in Addis Ababa. She is a 40% complete Australopithecus afarensis skeleton discovered by Maurice Taieb in 1974 and it is estimated that she lived around 3.3 million years ago.

You can read more about her here. I must say this was my first celebrity date!

2007-05-18T10:29:00.000+05:30

The Maldives!

My wife and I were honeymooning in the Maldives earlier this month. We stayed at the Taj Coral Reef and it was an experience to remember.

The resort is situated on an Island in the middle of the Indian Ocean and I would venture that it is one of the best honeymooning destinations in the world.

We are definitely going back soon. Here are the "shareable pictures" that we took ;)

2007-05-16T12:16:00.000+05:30

Wedding Snaps from Sundar Nagar!

And so the wedding snaps are all in. Neisha and I have managed to put some of the best ones together in a few albums here.

I now reside at 29 Sundar Nagar, New Delhi. My phone number remains the same for the next couple of months.

2007-05-11T22:08:00.000+05:30

In the middle of moving house ... but got some time to put up the official pictures here.

More later from Delhi..

2007-05-08T20:50:00.000+05:30

We are Married

The official wedding pictures are not in yet. I'll upload them the moment I get them. In the mean time...Kim did a fine job with her camera. You can see her web album here

Yen has also captured some exciting moments. You can take a look

2007-03-19T09:08:00.000+05:30

Getting it Right
This week really seems to be good for the father. He is in the news again this time in the Mumbai Mirror. Read all about it here

2007-03-18T18:53:00.000+05:30

(God)Father in the News!
For those of you who have not seen this yet. Valerian Fernandes got some more press coverage. This was an article that featured in the local supplement of the Times of India.

2007-03-09T13:57:00.000+05:30

One Wed Bitch!

It is true, I saw it and I have pictures. Mr. Ankur (The Bitch) Vohra was wed early this morning. Everyone turned up for the event, loved ones, friends, family and even a horse. But the star of the evening (after the mule that is...) was a visibly excited Ankur enjoying the attention.

Till the official pictures are out I have put up a little web album of a few interesting snaps from the evening.

Congrats Ankur... and all the best Jaya!

2007-03-05T23:00:00.000+05:30

Wifi Connectivity

As of 9 this evening, my house is Wifi Enabled. This is my first blog entry on the new wireless Internet ! We have come a long way since VSNL text only student accounts...

2007-02-17T22:00:00.000+05:30

From You Tube: The Flautist to Remember!

"Beatboxing Flute player Greg Pattillo inspector gadget with a twist like nothing you've heard (unless you've been wandering through washington square park and heard him there)"

2007-01-22T07:55:00.000+05:30

Guru : (2007) , Mani Ratnam

Over the weekend I had a chance to watch what I can clearly say is the younger Mr. Bachchan's best performance. Guru a movie about an "am admi" from Gujarat who comes to the big city to start a business, is an immensely well told story. It is not any secret that the story is modeled on the life of Dhirajlal (Dhirubai) Hirachand Ambani and makes references to specific events from his life like the enmity with Nusli Wadia (Bombay Dyeing) and the media war with Ramanant Goenka (Indian Express Group).

This movie goes far beyond just telling the story. It is an insight into the culture of the Reliance Group. It is by far one of the better biographies in Bollywood.

2007-01-07T20:11:00.000+05:30

A Good Year: (2006), Ridley Scott

A very nice movie and definitely a good watch over a lazy Sunday after noon. The plot revolves around a big city finance professional's (Russell Crowe) struggle after he discovers the joys of a life he enjoyed as a child.

While IMDB rates it a 6.6 (here) its worth more and definitely a good watch with your beloved!

2007-01-06T09:24:00.000+05:30

In Years Gone By!

After much searching and even more technical nightmares I have managed to digitize a photograph of myself as a baby.

(Forgive the image quality, you must understand that it was shot by equipment that was aging 26 years ago!)

2007-01-01T09:30:00.000+05:30

Have a happy 2007 !

Wish you and all your loved ones a very very happy 2007. May the year bring you prosperity and good times.

2006-12-30T14:45:00.000+05:30

Acquisition of the Year 2006

And the verdict is in. For me the last year has been one for picking up electronics. Everything from an Ipod to a Digital Camera to a Laptop. And while I tend to be partial to computer gizmos this time I must confessed I was most impressed by something completely unrelated to computers.

I picked up the Harman/Kardon AVR 240 a couple of months back and it is by far the best piece of electronics I own. Definitely recommended for anyone who is looking for an entry high end amplifier to set up a home theater system. This 7.1 Dolby dts compliant amplifier may look a little bulky in your living room but turn it on and you know its worth the space. The coolest thing about the amplifier is an accessory called the bridge that comes bundled with it and allows you to plug in your Ipod and use it with the remote. And while like most Harman/Kardon amps in its class the remote is still a little difficult to maneuver this is hardly a downer for someone buying this amp. You can read the reviews here

2006-12-29T08:11:00.000+05:30

The Consultants at Express Towers!

Meet the office Clan....

From Left to right:
Sheetal aka Sheets
Asha aka Ash
Pradeep aka PDC aka The King of the World (or so he would like to be called)
Amrita aka Amu aka Ams aka AVK
Samta aka Sam

...and finally behind the camera
Nihal aka Ferdie

2006-12-29T00:05:00.000+05:30

Damian

Seen in the window of Damian, a quaint little furniture store in Bandra.

A recommended visit if you find yourself at Hill Road anytime during Christmas week!

2006-12-28T22:56:00.000+05:30

Lily Valles

Just thought I'd introduce to you an old and dear friend...

Quote from my testimonial for her on Orkut

"Coffee Mate, Car Lender, Theater Buddy, Movie Companion, Fellow Philosopher and most of all Friend.Lily and I go back a long way and while our paths did cross on many an occasion over our long association it is but recently that we have come to call each other Friends. Lily is, and always will be one of the most honest people I know. A conversation with her is a good way to get back in touch with reality. For no woman can call a spade like she can. And beware all ye who think of her as a “sweet little pretty girl” for here is a woman who is a powerhouse of energy and who has succeeded where most others (including me) have failed (read set up Olio, St. Andrews College Alumni Association and a whole lot more). Yet a more kind heart and more cheerful a face in any crowd would not be found. Lily has a truly multi facetted personality and is someone I have great admiration and respect for. "

2006-12-28T00:01:00.000+05:30

Sony DSC -W30

As you may have noticed the quality of images on this blog has improved significantly. The key reason for this being the recent acquisition of a 6 Mega Pixel Sony digital camera.

So while I am not yet in the league of the proverbial Japanese Tourists I must confess that I have been spending a little too much time amusing myself with it.

2006-12-27T22:52:00.000+05:30

Malaka Art!

Since I seem to be getting so many queries about my picture on orkut I thought I'd clarify.

The Picture is Pencil on Paper by a cartoonist called Prashant. It was sketched at a very nice eating house in Pune called Malaka Spice that serves the very best South Asian cuisine.

Sorry can't remember the exact address to the place but ask any Puneite and they will direct you!

2006-12-27T22:21:00.000+05:30

It’s going to be official!

We spent a few years being just friends and a few more being best friends and about a year and some odd being more than just friends... but from April we’ve decided to be even more…

Yes its official Neisha and I shall be wed on the 21st of April 2007 at a special ceremony in Bandra. So this Christmas we have a lot to be cheerful about...

Here is wishing you and yours the very best this festive season

2006-05-07T14:58:00.000+05:30

The Engagement

I shall be getting engaged to Neisha Machado, one of my oldest and dearest friends later this month. Our relationship often reminds me of the words of William Parish (Anthony Hopkins) to his daughter in the movie Meet Joe Black (1998).
"Love is passion, obsession, someone you can't live without. If you don't start with that, what are you going to end up with? Fall head over heels. I say find someone you can love like crazy and who'll love you the same way back... To make the journey and not fall deeply in love - well, you haven't lived a life at all. You have to try. Because if you haven't tried, you haven't lived."

I'm sure at the end of our lives we will both confidently be able to say that we had made the journey and fallen deeply in love.

2006-05-06T16:45:00.000+05:30

A British company is developing computer chips that store music in women's breast implants.This is a major breakthrough.Women are always complaining about men staring at their breasts and not listening to them.

2006-02-24T20:24:00.001+05:30

A Dyslexic Man walked into a bra....

2006-02-09T10:25:00.000+05:30

"In science, 'fact' can only mean 'confirmed to such a degree that it would be perverse to withhold provisional assent.' I suppose that apples might start to rise tomorrow, but the possibility does not merit equal time in physics classrooms." - Stephen Jay Gould

2006-02-05T15:53:00.000+05:30

On Why I Prefer to Stay In India.

A couple of years ago there was a mad flurry to leave the India. Every person I knew (who had half a chance) would try getting on a plane to make a better life in “the land of the free”. Most of these people left for a better life. And why not? The standard of living is better, the opportunities are better, work life balance is better, schooling and colleges are better, there are better opportunities for children. So why not go?

If we were to indulge in some intellectual masturbation for a bit you could say that the first reason not to leave is because you owe a debt to your country. And leaving would amount to cheating the government out of the money it invested in you by subsidizing the education system. But as I said this is purely intellectual masturbation because it has an inbuilt paradox in the argument.

For at a macro level if one had to maximize utility then of course this makes perfect sense (for a country). But when that is applied to a micro sense, the aggregate utility that an individual derives from leaving the country seem to be higher. And hence he should go. However it only seems that way.

My humble submission to you is that there is a solid micro level argument to staying and here.

The Economic Scenario:
In the last few years there has been a flurry of economic activity in India and China. Liberalization of the economy has made the world get up and look at India as more than just a market of 1Billion Consumers. Today the corporate world is looking at it as a source of cost advantage.

While the growth in India’s Economy was technology led, other sectors seem to be showing promising results. Some even say India is poised to become the next manufacturing hub of the world. Something that was unthinkable of even 10 years ago. Companies are increasingly beginning to believe that if they have to grow significantly then they need to invest in countries like India that show high growth potential. While India’s economy grows at between 6-7 % developed economy growth rates are around 2-4%.

The Labor Surplus Economy:
Ever wondered why cars in Hollywood movies are mostly dirty and dusty. It is the same reason that the circulation of daily newspapers in developed economies are suffering. There simply is no one to do these things.
Today I employee a number of people to do things for me. Wash my car, polish my shoes, delivery groceries home, drive me around, take care of my garden the list is endless. I can afford to do this because of the fact that we live in a country where labor is surplus. I live in an economy where I can (being an average Joe) afford these luxuries.

The Land of Opportunity:
Gone are the days when opportunity was the privilege of the citizens of a few countries. Today increasingly the most challenging opportunities lie in the developing world. The Indias of the world are seeing such a burst of economic activity that people from here who have done international stints now consider it a plus on their resumes to be back where the action is. Most of larger companies in the world will have a presence in India and hence exposure from an Indian perspective is now becoming critical.

These are just some thoughts that I put to you before you decide to take that big decision. Maybe what you are looking for is right here.

2006-02-05T10:38:00.000+05:30

An Interesting View On Thinking
"A great many people think they are thinking when they are really rearranging their prejudices." - Edward Murrow

2005-10-26T09:17:00.000+05:30

An Interesting Article that I found on Time Delhi,

His Principle of Peace Was Bogus
Gopal Godse, co-conspirator in Gandhi's assassination and brother of the assassin, looks back in anger--and without regret

Fifty-two years ago, on Jan. 30, 1948, Mohandas Gandhi was shot dead by Nathuram Godse, a Hindu extremist. Godse believed that the Mahatma, or great soul, was responsible for the 1947 partition of India and the creation of Pakistan. Godse and his friend Narayan Apte were hanged. His brother Gopal and two others were sentenced to life imprisonment for their part in the conspiracy. Gopal Godse remained in jail for 18 years and now, at 80, lives with his wife in a small apartment in Pune. He is still proud of his role in the murder. Although Godse is largely ignored in India and rarely talks to journalists, he agreed to speak with TIME Delhi correspondent Meenakshi Ganguly.

TIME: What happened in January 1948?
Godse: On Jan. 20, Madanlal Pahwa exploded a bomb at Gandhi's prayer meeting in Delhi. It was 50 m away from Gandhi. [The other conspirators] all ran away from the place. Madanlal was caught there. Then there was a tension in our minds that we had to finish the task before the police caught us. Then Nathuram [Gopal's brother] took it on himself to do the thing. We only wanted destiny to help us -- meaning we should not be caught on the spot before he acted.

TIME: Why did you want to kill Gandhi?
Godse: Gandhi was a hypocrite. Even after the massacre of the Hindus by the Muslims, he was happy. The more the massacres of the Hindus, the taller his flag of secularism.

TIME: Did you ever see Gandhi?
Godse: Yes.

TIME: Did you attend his meetings?
Godse: Yes.

TIME: Can you explain how he created his mass following?
Godse: The credit goes to him for maneuvering the media. He captured the press. That was essential. How Gandhi walked, when he smiled, how he waved -- all these minor details that the people did not require were imposed upon them to create an atmosphere around Gandhi. And the more ignorant the masses, the more popular was Gandhi. So they always tried to keep the masses ignorant.

TIME: But surely it takes more than good publicity to create a Gandhi?
Godse: There is another thing. Generally in the Indian masses, people are attracted toward saintism. Gandhi was shrewd to use his saintdom for politics. After his death the government used him. The government knew that he was an enemy of Hindus, but they wanted to show that he was a staunch Hindu. So the first act they did was to put "Hey Ram" into Gandhi's dead mouth.

TIME: You mean that he did not say "Hey Ram" as he died?
Godse: No, he did not say it. You see, it was an automatic pistol. It had a magazine for nine bullets but there were actually seven at that time. And once you pull the trigger, within a second, all the seven bullets had passed. When these bullets pass through crucial points like the heart, consciousness is finished. You have no strength.

When Nathuram saw Gandhi was coming, he took out the pistol and folded his hands with the pistol inside it. There was one girl very close to Gandhi. He feared that he would hurt the girl. So he went forward and with his left hand pushed her aside and shot. It happened within one second. You see, there was a film and some Kingsley fellow had acted as Gandhi. Someone asked me whether Gandhi said, "Hey Ram." I said Kingsley did say it. But Gandhi did not. Because that was not a drama.

TIME: Many people think Gandhi deserved to be nominated TIME's Person of the Century. [He was one of two runners-up, after Albert Einstein.]
Godse: I name him the most cruel person for Hindus in India. The most cruel person! That is how I term him.

TIME: Is that why Gandhi had to die?
Godse: Yes. For months he was advising Hindus that they must never be angry with the Muslims. What sort of ahimsa (non-violence) is this? His principle of peace was bogus. In any free country, a person like him would be shot dead officially because he was encouraging the Muslims to kill Hindus.

TIME: But his philosophy was of turning the other cheek. He felt one person had to stop the cycle of violence...
Godse: The world does not work that way.

TIME: Is there anything that you admire about Gandhi?
Godse: Firstly, the mass awakening that Gandhi did. In our school days Gandhi was our idol. Secondly, he removed the fear of prison. He said it is different to go into prison for a theft and different to go in for satyagraha (civil disobedience). As youngsters, we had our enthusiasm, but we needed some channel. We took Gandhi to be our channel. We don't repent for that.

TIME: Did you not admire his principles of non-violence?
Godse: Non-violence is not a principle at all. He did not follow it. In politics you cannot follow non-violence. You cannot follow honesty. Every moment, you have to give a lie. Every moment you have to take a bullet in hand and kill someone. Why was he proved to be a hypocrite? Because he was in politics with his so-called principles. Is his non-violence followed anywhere? Not in the least. Nowhere.

TIME: What was the most difficult thing about killing Gandhi?
Godse: The greatest hurdle before us was not that of giving up our lives or going to the gallows. It was that we would be condemned both by the government and by the public. Because the public had been kept in the dark about what harm Gandhi had done to the nation. How he had fooled them!

TIME: Did the people condemn you?
Godse: Yes. People in general did. Because they had been kept ignorant.