The pleasure of finding things out

Some songs are meant to be heart for pleasure, while others are meant to be heard for their sheer beauty/art factor. Some voices can bring a flash flood of memories from the past. I doubt it matters if the memories are good or bad? :)

Below are 3 songs that totally rock my world whenever I hear them. I'll also state the reasons why. Of course if you just want audio, check my shared playlist for these 3 at phulki.

1. Bandya Ho from Khuda Ke Liye

Though I don't understand the language [I believe it's urdu], the vocals and the simple background music evoke a tide of memories.. Farah Zala [the female lead on the song] pours her soul into the vocals, and I can actually feel the energy with which she sings. I haven't heard a better voice outside of Norah Jones [and she is amazing]. Just close your eyes for full effect.. don't watch the video [which isn't bad .. but takes away from the raw energy].

2. Ha Raham from Aamir

Nothing special about the song, but just that it hits something inside me.. hey if I could tell you exactly what each time around I'd be omniscient!! :) Something to do with the subconscious mind I guess..

3. Delhi Destiny from 99

Oh this is my absolute "wake me up" number. I think it makes for a good long drive number.. me wanting to take my car out for a spin.. not that the vocals are amazing or that the lyrics are to die for.. just a peppy number with the right attitude.. but something reminds me of my times in college in Kharagpur..

Some songs are just meant to make sense to your DNA.. these are just some of them that work for me :)

Yesterday's Economic Times editorial titled "Single Minded" made for interesting reading.

I can't remember exactly what stood out in the brief writeup, but it got me thinking about writing letters and observing people. I'll talk about each, and how it can help us grow as a person.

Writing Letters:

Gone are the yesteryears where writing letters was the defacto mode of communication. There were so many aspects to it:

• The smell of paper and envelope traveling through various lands
• The excitement and the wait of reading replies to questions/comments made in previous communiques
• Thinking through what you want to write, and structuring the information in a consumable format
• Extending hobbies and making penpals

I used to write regularly to my Mama in Mumbai, while growing up in Dubai. We used to exchange random things, and collectibles.

We both collected stamps, and he collected Phone cards. I would make it a point to send him phone cards from Dubai, with different pictures on each [as unique as stamps could be]. He would in return make sure to buy new/different stamps and use them to post the letters to me. This way we were able to extend our hobbies as well as keep in touch.

I remember waiting for 1 particular letter, after he got engaged, to see what my Mami looked like.

I used to write to Atamjeet Kainth regularly too, who was my best friend till 5th grade, when he migrated to Canada. We are still in touch, but now use email *sigh*.

I find it all so very missing in our current lifestyle. The excitement, the personal touch, the exchange of pictures awaited, the extension to hobbies.

All we have is a drab email in a boring interface, with photos attached at will, without consideration or excitement.

I intend to write 1 letter per month, to begin with, and try and review the art at least from my side :)

Observing People:

I remember reading, as a child, about Jim Corbett sitting in a Ferry and observing people. He was trying to guess the profession and place of origin of each passenger on board the vessel. He happened to meet another traveler on the vessel who was doing the exact same thing! :)

They ended up chatting and exchanging notes on the art of observation. It was an impressionable read to say the least. Even my dad would tell me while growing up, to observe things around me and to understand what it could mean. I was always more for books than for observance.

But after yesterday's article I decided to spend 10 minutes a day just observing people [we have a huge cafeteria in the office, so I don't need to find ground]. I believe there is much to be learned. :)

Lets see how this goes. Will keep you guys posted.

In California. For 3 weeks.

Back to the same old grind. Memories flourish. Want to run away. But I won't.

Meeting old friends. Feels as good as having a perfect cappuccino.

Want to break free. Drove a car in the US for the first time. Took zero pictures so far. Hoping to change that. Bought a new Macintosh.

Work is good. Travel even better.

Sameer: Aisi baat nahin hai, hum cake khane kaheen bhi jaa sakte hain..

Aaaaaaaakaaaaash!!

Kaisa ajab yeh safar hai,
socho to har ek hi be khabar hai....
Usko jana kidhar hai
jo waqt aye, jaane, kya dikhaye..

Sameer: She's from Switzerland.. main sochta hoon ki agar main wahan chala jau.. to ek chotasa farm lekar shehar ki makhiya paalu...

Sameer: Haan haso haso.. arre tum se acha to woh truck driver tha jisne mujhe Bombay tak lift dee...

Heard this song on the radio the other day, and simply had to post it. It's from the movie Ek chaalis ki local. The lyrics as well as the name of the movie brought back a flood of memories... but then adaptation is the name of the game. :)

woh kehte hai na
jo hota hai achche ke liye hota hai
galat kehte hai

kismat ka khel hai saara
phirta tha main aawaara
yeh kya se kya ho gaya
chaar din ki zindagaani
har pal ek nayi kahaani
kya tha, main kya bana gaya
kya huva jo laaree chhooti
jivan ki gaadi looti
kwaab hai toh mujhko na jaga
zindagi ek pal mein saali

I've always wondered about the effect of music on the human condition.

I had read in the paper years ago about a doctor who believed in the power of music therapy. The hypothesis that he'd put forward stated that a person can consciously pull himself out of the strongest mood he is in (doesn't matter which mood) and into another one simply by listening to the right kind of music.

Was setting up my room (again) and came across all the photographs I had taken over a span of 4 years at IIT Kharagpur and in India. Found some old memories, some best forgotten and some to be cherished for ever.

I went back to the good old days when I had just entered IIT Kharagpur in the department on Electrical Engineering. I was in awe and all wet behind the ears. There on my first day in college, I had my chemistry practicals and we were assigned partners based on our roll numbers in class. My eyes were darting all across the room to see who it would be. My first instinct was to see if one of the girls would be the lucky ones to pair up with me (hehe) and then I realised I would be better off with one of the guys (as the non-males in the class did not measure up to being called female).

manik: "Disco It is " bhul gaaya
myself: hahahahahahahahahahahaha
manik: aur Indians kitne hai wohan pe
myself: yeah .. i forgot man...
myself: theek thak hain.. not too many
myself: but man i miss kgp
manik: oh really .I miss the time and friends yaar
myself: yeah man.. exactly!
myself: it was so much fun.. life kind of sucks compared to that
manik: How are ppl over there
manik: Why ???
manik: Got good friends. How do you chill out there ?
myself: arre bus yaar.. woh lab files likhna last minute ko, TP karna, raat raat ko chedis jana..
myself: baarish mein bhi class jana, exam last minute pe dena.. all of that man
myself: yeah friends are good here too.. but still
manik: haan yaar seriuosly ... Shall never forget those times. Those were the best days of our life..

And so started my day.

This past sunday I had the opportunity to talk to Som and Biswanath after a very long time. It was good to reminsce on the good old Kharagpur (affectionately known as KGP) days.

We discussed everything from the latest crappy movie we had seen, to the latest trend in school and business. We even had a big discussion on Quixtar and the never ending debate of Ph.D vs. M.S. advantage.

But just the fact that it was friends from KGP which got me going on a nostalgia trip. Been too long since I smelt the earth there, or ate at the horrible yet fun filled Harry's. Can remember very vividly the first and last time I went to Cheddis for a Maggi and a chai. Remember all the birthdays that were celebrated at eggies in the dead of the night.