Historical background

Hi Friends, Hope you all had a good long weekend..Belated Republic day wishes..Again, this topic of historic background just stroke me. I was trying to think of the various background we come from and how our actions are determined by this background. May be the topic is a wrong one I chose. Anyways, as long as I try to explain the thing right, topic doesn't matter. Right ?

It is a very popular saying that in US, people don't stay with their parents after the age of 18. Of course, may be they are going for higher studies or jobs and they settle in some other places. But it is very rare they go and meet their parents, at least not like how we do in India - weekly once or monthly once. Again, this might be depicting not the majority. But still, I was thinking does this type of living helps us like in taking decisions independently, living life on our own ? Well, there might be a cultural barrier between the west and ours. But which is better ? I think you can never come to a conclusion.

Like for example, in our culture, even after completing the school, choosing the college - weather to go for engineering or medicine or public services - Do we decide them ? How many parents would agree to their children saying, after school, I want to take up modelling as profession or catering as profession ? The reason parents say is from their experience they know what is good and what is bad. Do you think that the guys have a foresight into the industry which they are going to enter. Do we know what and how the computer field is now and how it would grow, when we entered college for pursuing computer science ? Or for that matter, the medical guys or the civil engineers. Well, I would say if they had that idea then why are the confused when coming out of the college searching for IT job ? Is this the mistake of parents who blindly go by the trend existing at that time or the guys who blindly go with their parents ?

Ok, apart from the job, after marriage, how many of the Indian guys n gals are able to lead a life independently ? Without the support of parents ? Very few I hope. Is it because of the way we were brought up ? Does this needs a change ? If yes, in what way ? I would say, part of this is for our good. That, we are always under a shelter. But do we necessarily need to ? What could be the side effects of this ? Questions pile up in front of me. I have seen people who cant say a "NO" to parents even for the essential things and people who cant even talk to their parents - what is supposed to be called as discussion. I think at least this situation should change.

Well, it is not about the parents always. How many kids listen to the words of parents or friends when they point out the mistakes. Man, younger generation hate this very word - "ADVICE". The pendulum swings in both the extremes. There are good parents who always stand as a pillar when kids fall but the next generation always sees this is a headache. May be these kind of people can only learn from their personal experience than hearing it from others. Both the parents and the younger generation should agree to one point - that decisions once taken in life may never have a chance to revert back.

At this time, I would salute the family who are like friends to the children. They are with them all through the life, making sure that their kid makes right decision. Backing up at the right decisions and pointing out the wrong decisions they make. This is the exact kind of situation which the young guys of this age need. Young lads should be made aware of all the pros and cons of whatever decisions they make and this is the important part where parents come into picture.And based on that, the decision should be made. I don't think even in the western culture, parents play the part here, but may be friends or the dear ones help out them. 

There are many films in our Indian film industry which constantly revolves around this topic. The best one in Hindi I can think of is - "Fashion" which clearly says how kids who don't get the support, go n make their own decision learns through experience and another epic film in this topic in Tamil is the recent hit - "Abhiyum naanum" where the parents understand their kid's wishes and they stand with them guiding to make their own decisions. I strongly believe that, with this younger generation blooming up now, they understand this demarcation clearly and act promptly to get their family into a good situation.

Ok friends, I think I have written enough. It all started when I was seeing a movie where the hero goes with the word of his dad and never get a chance to "Discuss" with him about this life. It was pretty interesting movie and this made me think backwards as how the current generation stands on this point.

All the best and see you in the next post.

What an Idea sirjeee

A very cool picture and made me to think lots..This is one advantage when you are in IT.. You do really get some amazing forwards at times..

Passing time..

Hi friends, the third topic on row. This was an instantaneous topic I got it..I was thinking how people of different age groups, different category pass time. I think this is a very wide topic to write about. So, I decided to write on how I, or rather most of us passed time till we reach the age of 25-30. May be, in future, I can extend this topic and write more. Saying this, I know exceptions are always there. But it is always interesting to think of the past as how time flew and what things we did in the past. I know many would be interested in suggesting me things regarding passing time. Post it in comments section, I am sure gonna edit this and add yours if they are good. 

Well, what did we do to pass time in our childhood days, during our school days? Passing time? in school days!!! huh...where was time left for us to pass it ? 8 hours of class, 30-40 min of lunch time..count the time when we get ready to school n come back to home after catching the bus. We had home works to do. And the most dreaded - Studies. I remember when I saw my sister's kid having a dairy n his grandma verifying it that each work is done as per the diary. Now a days, teachers have become more smart man..they specifically write a column for each subjects- what to be done in each. It was funny reading those. Some were like - "Science - complete the topics 3 and 4 in the science book", "English - read aloud poem 4", " Tamil - Write the words in your work book without seeing (supposed to be a test)", . Such huge was the tasks given to a 5-6 year old kid. I agree that only period where we expect to pass time was holidays. Playing, roaming about without even having food. This was a healthy time pass I suppose

After coming towards the end of the schools, in the higher secondary schools, there was no time..where to pass it. "Have to get good marks, have to get into a good college" - this was like a mantra which everyone used to say. Even during the occasional holidays or family get together, relatives, family friends used to say the same. Time was not ours' but we were in the hands of time and it was just passing us. I remember, the rare chance of passing time with friends was small gossips n chats we used to have when we wait for the tuition master to come in, or during the change of class. I really don't know if they were good or bad, but everyone of us have to pass through these times.

Enter the college, and all time is yours to pass. The first year may be hectic, getting used to college, new friends, assignments (of course, we all do our assignments perfectly in first year). Roaming around college, getting to know each and every corner of college, sitting in college canteen during the day and in the night canteen during the nights were truly good ways of passing time. Intermediate years, getting into the department, trying to understand everything in the world the profs used to teach, going home occasionally, getting together in one friend's room n talking about all the things in this small world were better ways of passing time than the first year. Coming to the final year, fearing about the job, studying the entire college syllabus in one night for campus (I call it as studying because, revising has got a different meaning !!!) and watching our close friends (of course who studied well) getting jobs, frustrating talks about them occupied most of our time till we get a job. Once we get a job, all the time in world is ours to pass..

Coming to the most important part of the life - after joining the job. New environment, more excitement. Whenever we get time, we call our friends. "Which project are you in ? which platform ? which technology ? howz your manager ? what facilities are there in your company ?" are the questions which we talk. I also need to tell this comment at this point - This is the place where all these things " Hatred, cunning mind, envy etc etc.." which were the desires of Satan which were passed to Adam enters life. Even though Darwin's theory "survival of the fittest" agrees to the above said things, I hope these getting a bit too much @ the job place. Coming back, we spend most of the time in office browsing, reading, learning more things. "System" or "The Box" becomes 90% the way for us to pass time. May it be either in office or in home. Why not, after these laptops becoming this cheaper and broadband coming to houses like the cable TV - Yes. Occasionally we spend time going outing - picnics, trekking,films..

I think more n more ways of passing time ends in the monitor and keyboard in modern days. We can count the activities which we do to spend our time apart from this. May be occasional cooking at home, meeting friends - get together, going out for shopping, dining..I am stuck now..what else ? May be few of us have couple of more things to add. But I m really afraid, fast moving world n technology - bringing people together everything have taken our most of time giving very less to our mind and body to relax. Oops.."enough of passing time here..now get back to work" strikes my head. 

Again, Best of Luck to you all and meet you in the next topic.

My fellow citizens: What a way to start President

Friends, thanks all for the feedback, comments and encouragements you gave me on my first blog. I am really motivated and so, you have to undergo the pleasure :) :) of reading more from me. Again, the disclaimer in my first blog stands valid. I promise to take your advices on my first blog and improve in the coming blogs.

After the comments I heard on my blog, I started thinking. Many of my friends got interested on the topic I chose rather than thinking that, this is our friend's first blog. Of course, people in IT must have read N number of nice blogs. I think the topic of recession in my last blog was in mind of many and so, I got more responses for the same. When I was thinking of the next topic - many things came into my mind - like Tamil film industry, politics in India but after I saw the swearing in ceremony on TV, I know what I am going to write about.

This topic might not be interesting for many coz, the very word "Politics" make faces crazy. In fact, I was one of these guys and I doubt I am still. But watching this man Obama speaking in front of crowds like ocean made me interesting. I was just browsing on the TV when I stopped to see the crowd and my roomie was asking why do people come and stand like this in the hot sun to hear his speech. Anyways, they can watch him on TV. Though he was wrong as it was winter in US, I was quite interested in finding the answer for this question.

Last winter 2007 December - 2008 Jan, when I was in US for the first time, I heard this name "Barack Obama". People were telling he is competing Hillary Clinton. I, having no idea on US politics was not quite interested. I was surprised to hear that, the elections in US last for an year and I was forced to see his campaigns in TV as the TV in my office showed nothing else. "CHANGE" was a very big word he used. I was quite amused as why he wants to change US when it is at the top in almost everything. Even a great astrologer wouldn't have predicted the fall coming exactly 1 year from that time.

It was when I went to US the next time that I heard he won over Hillary. I then understood the whole political web in US when people told, Mc Cain will win over Obama and some people supported Obama. It was when this recession started and the greatest of the banks fell, I was again tracking this elections as how US is going to react. Personally, I thought Bush was fair enough towards the policies to India. Then, when the whole world was following the presidential election, the CHANGE actually happened. This man - the new president elect gave a historical speech at Chicago.

Yesterday, it was a refreshing speech. He started with the same lines as the topic of this blog. Well the speech he made was not only meant to US, but the world I hope. The energy with which he spoke, our hope is that he gets it converted into actions and the real CHANGE happens soon for the world to be a peaceful place to live in. For those who missed out his speech yesterday are some of the clippings which I liked the most:

"Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real.  They are serious and they are many.  They will not be met easily or in a short span of time.  But know this, America -  they will be met.Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers. Let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled.  In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river.  The capital was abandoned.  The enemy was advancing.  The snow was stained with blood.  At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:

"Let it be told to the future world...that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]." "

--Thanks to rediff.com for these experts

From the day I started to write Blog, I had a resolution that I would use others' words in my blog very less. I swear to follow that. But this blog has the words of Obama and I think it is worth in it. Ok friends, do comment on this. 

All the Best and meet you all in my next blog.

My First attempt

Disclaimer : Since I am new to blog, please tolreate any mistakes in this and help me in improving. I am sure you will not regret this help ...

It was my long time dream to write a blog. As such I am interested in reading blogs and I have this hobby for the past couple of years. But as time permits now, I start this in the new year of 2009. Well, the very idea of writing blog kindles me the next thing - on what topic. I have seen people writing their own experiences, society concerns or just timepass topics. I am always fond of discussing the current issues and so, I think writing about this recession would be a nice one to start with. Lately, there had been many discussions on the global recession striking the IT industry and for us - the younger generation who dreamt of IT jobs in our college time and currently hoping to enter into middle level management (Dont get confused :) Guys who passed out with me are neither developers nor in the top level managment, so I chose this funny term), its been a nightmare for the past couple of months. 

People who were crazy on IT jobs are having a second thought now. I even remember during my last visit to my hometown (Well, I boast it as a city among my friends !!!), in a small tea shop, guys were discussing the IT industry slow down having a cup of tea. It appears funny, but this tells us how deep this IT industry has gone into our society now. I was having a conversation with one of my friend when he announced that, he became a dad and told his concern that, dude, you must have got married when IT industry was in boom, now that, recession is there, even marriage market for IT guys are experincing this. Funny, but I think true !!! 

If we think of from where it all started, I am afraid that the roots are very deep. I personally dont accept that fact that, only the sub prime factor in US banks lead to all these. For those who dont know about this sub prime, google it. I came to know about this when I had a chance to work on it for a client in US. I swear it is very much interesting topic to read about. If not for sub prime in US, this situation has to come some day or other. Well, I think this has given a saturation level in this what is (was) said to a ver booming industry. I hear some voices - "boss, as long as you are not affected, you can write it anyway". Well, I agree..

This recession stuck me personally when a close friend of mine called one fine day (well, call in these modern days need not necessarily be a phone call, gtalk has very well covered that as well) and told me that, his company asked him to resign. Sorry if this is hurting my friend who might as well read this. But hearing about layoffs, reading it in newspapers n internet is very very different experience than experiencing among our close friends..Believe it..and slowly, even the after-effects are beginning to stuck me also as I hear few projects withdrawn because of this recession. I only hope for the best as everyone..

Sometimes, it appears that, doing a own business might be a good one. "Be a boss on your own". I dont know how better I have the talent for that or what future has in it for me. I was discussing to one of my relative - he is just a fresh college passed out and he got such wonderful ideas on business. Well, I do agree that, young blood have lot of innovation in them. I only hope this IT industry dont change their mind as it did for lakhs n lakhs (including me !!!) May be people are used to this luxurious life once they get in that, they hardly get back to their college days n think what they were planning.

Well, I think I thought of writing something and ended up writing many. For me, writing this was a very gud experience n I really feel it very good and refreshing. Man, now I feel how much late I am to this blog. I swear I will keep on this writing atleast once a week (may be more than that in these times of recession :) :) ) on any topics which might be interesting for me as well as for the readers. I would welcome any suggestions on this. 

Best of Luck to everyone. See you all in my next blog.