Encouragement

Anything is possible with a little bit of encouragement from someone. At the point of giving up something tedious, someone comes up and says "You can do this! We are here for you", you are encouraged to push yourself and even exceed your expectations.

At a recent TEDx talk, one of the speakers talked about the role encouragement plays in shaping a child's dreams. If a child comes up to you with a cute painting ,you don't ask "What is it?",instead you say  "Tell me about it!". By motivating the child to speak for his/her work, you are imbibing a sense of ownership and pride in the child. If a child comes up to you saying that she wants to become a doctor, you pat her on the back saying "You will definitely become a doctor".

My grandmother is a retired English and Maths teacher who is known for her encouraging smile.My love for Maths is purely because of her . Every time we used to solve problems together , she would say "Its ok, I am sure you can get the next one right" or "Very good,now let's see if you can crack a tougher one". A student told my grandmom recently that she still remembers the way she taught the poem "Where the mind is without fear" by Rabindranath Tagore in class. She had been so inspired by that poem 30 years ago ,  that she still thinks of it every time she needs motivation. Such is the power of an encouraging teacher.

In a life with ups and downs,constructive criticism helps, but it is these sincere words of encouragement that drive us to achieve greater heights. So lend a few appreciative words, and you will just make someone's day!

Chennai..my city,my home

I am a Chennai-born girl .  I had never lived in any other city until I came to Singapore . Every time I go travelling and come back home, there is a distinctive feel about the city that sets it apart. Maybe because I call it my home , maybe because I have had lovely childhood memories in that place.  I display an overpowering interest when a random person comes and up to me and says he/she is from Chennai.

Chennai merrily straddles the border of modernity and tradition. It's a melting pot of all Indian cultures with people trying to borrow aspects of each tradition. People are simple, down-to-earth and work hard after a dose of filter kapi. Chennai is not a place where one displays a fierce sense of loyalty ,unlike our counterparts in Mumbai or Delhi or Bangalore. We often underplay our affection,mostly because we know its flaws. We know that it will take at least half a decade for it to be on par with the most developed city in the world. We know that we don't have late night parties or metallica concerts, or for that matter, standup comedy because we are too busy laughing at ourselves. We laugh about the crowded streets of T.Nagar, of Cooum river ,of fat policemen ,of Sowcarpet Northies,of TamBrahmin rage in streets of Mylapore and Mambalam .

A lot of Chennai humour is not targeted at outside individuals or stereotypes.It's ourselves that we find the most funny. It's the lighthearted manner of living that makes the city most happy to be in.You will come to Chennai and complain about its hot weather, poor infrastructure and callous maintenance. But you will go back after sharing a laugh about it with someone!

When you are at crossroads in life, take the Highway

Spoilers ahead!

I just returned from a surreal 2.5 hours watch of Highway, a phenomenal film that is bound to make you shed a tear (for me, truckloads..good i took tissues!) . Highway is a very emotional film at its depths. Imtiaz Ali has delivered his career best in this one.

It's a detour from a typical bollywood film , its a special experience that has to be felt to be understood . This movie is not for the mass audience who seek the entertainment quotient . It's for people who like feeling invested and emotionally drained at the end of a movie. 

Destroying all cliches surrounding stereotypical roles ,its an unconventional film which is very minimalistic in its delivery . It imparts a powerful feeling , yet its very subtle in its screenplay. The unhurried simplicity , the comfortable silence between the lead pair, the caresses between gunshots , the laughter amidst snowcapped mountains…it transports you to another world,one where you can find a renewed sense of freedom, just like Veera , the lead female character in the movie does.

A story which begins like a wedding documentary, rapidly changes pace when the hero appears in the kidnap scene. Most of the story is told from the perspective of the lead pair, we don't know how worried the girl's parents are , that their daughter is kidnapped (although a brief scene after intermission attempts to justify that). But most of the story is of the strange relationship Veera has with Mahabhir, she approaches him,he resists,she hugs him, he yields. We think of love that might ensue between them,but time and again , the story surprises us. No it’s not a love story,nor is it just a story of Stockholm Syndrome, where the abducted tries to kindle friendship with the kidnapper. Its a story of two people who find companionship in the memory of their traumatised pasts. There's a deep understanding that goes beyond a label on their relationships. In life, some bonds are inexplicable, like that between a mother and her son or a father and his daughter.

She asks him about his mother whom he seems to miss, he snaps back at her saying its none of her business. But slowly, he starts finding a mother in her. When they get a house in the mountains,she cleans the house and prepares food for him. He experiences a deep pain when entering that house as it reminds him of his “amma” , he bursts down in a very emotional scene ,in Veera’s arms. She hugs him and sleeps on him like daddy's little girl, she finds in him a protective dad she never had. They both know that their 'rasta' comes with an expiry date, but they just wish that it lasts a bit longer, a little more freedom is all the rich wounded girl asks for.

Veera asks Mahabhir if she could hold the gun. True to his character,he tries to snatch it back from her. He confesses of having killed 3 people and he says that when he killed the first person, he also died. What can be more romantic than a principled bad guy? The guy who knows what he is doing is wrong, but has fallen to the perils of fate ? The facade of a tough guy with the heart of pure gold.

The movie delivered more than i expected.In the first few scenes,I was a tad disappointed with the slow pace of dialogues,with the story beginning in a lull. You often tend to expect Indian movies to start with a bang, with action or moving trains or music.But the audience is left to enjoy the silence of the breezy wind at night. Its a story true to its agenda from start to end. It will leave you with questions you know the answers for. It will leave you surreal, with thoughts about Veera and Mahabhir and their blissful life in the snow-capped mountains.

I would recommend this film a watch for everyone for its unique screenplay, divine music, stunning acting and above all,the postcard ending with two children hopping away in the glory of innocent unwounded childhoods, just like that of Heidi in the Alps. 

I don’t want to stop writing, just like Veera says that she doesn’t want to go back to the place where she came from , nor to her destination . Its the journey that she wants. Its the journey which makes life so beautiful,not the end pinnacles of success or failure. There’s so much in this movie that mere words can fail to convey .I bid a salute to Imtiaz Ali.He just blew me away from a mile, and raised his bar for my expectation of his future movies.As for Alia Bhatt , a girl my age to deliver such a beautiful role is a feat by no means . I look forward to 2 states,her next movie for another stunning performance!

When you are at crossroads at life, go watch Highway.You won't regret it. Sometimes, you need to hear a beautiful story to get your perspective of life in place.

Feeling Blessed!

The day dawned a bright sunday morning and I woke up feeling wonderful . Suddenly I realised that it's a wonderful time to be alive!

None of us were given a choice of where we are born, who our parents are, how we look like or what kind of education we are given. I have been blessed with a comfortable lifestyle and to share my life with some wonderful people. Many people do not even have their basic amenities, for absolutely no fault of theirs, but a fate of birth. While we all can find thousands of reasons to be unhappy about, there's always someone whose dream we are living. How incredible is that! 

Technology has changed the way we live our lives. Its never been easier to become smarter, keep abreast of latest world events , learn new things and keep in touch with people miles away . With an ipad filled with hundreds of books, a smartphone with instant access to information and a macbook which guarantees amazing productivity, even sky is not the limit for what we can get done. 

A few years ago, I had loads of free time to get bored. But now, there is so much to do and so little time. I want to read more books,learn more songs,write more often,play more sports...laziness is just not an option when it's such an amazing time to absorb what the world has to offer.

"Don't worry about getting old! It's a privilege denied to many!" Maintain good health, learn more and give back even more.

A happy video to drive in the message :)

Promise Yourself

To be so strong that nothing

can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness, and prosperity

to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel

that there is something in them

To look at the sunny side of everything

and make your optimism come true.

To think only the best, to work only for the best,

and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others

as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past

and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times

and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself

that you have no time to criticise others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear,

and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world,

not in loud words but great deeds.

To live in faith that the whole world is on your side

so long as you are true to the best that is in you.

-Christian D.Larson ,Your Forces and How to Use Them.

Solving Rubik's cube!

I finally learnt how to solve Rubiks Cube! I have been wanting to add this to my bragging rights for a while now and it feels good that I finally can! Thanks to a good friend who taught me the nuances to Rubiking!

For those interesting in learning, here's a good youtube video to get you started!

As with most skills, it just gets better with practice. With a few days of practice,I am able to solve it in 5 minutes. However, I have heard that speed-cubing is a whole different story. It needs skills like muscle memory,finger dexterity and multitasking. But the good thing is that these are more of acquired skills than innate skills . Just like sports , some people are natural at it while some become very good with practice and hard work.

Though there isn't a direct relationship between solving Rubik's cube and intelligence level, research shows that the process of understanding why and how it works greatly aids in 3D visualisation and algorithmic thinking. Personally, it helps me focus on days when I can't concentrate.

Who knows? This skill might even land me up in a dream job. Remember Will Smith in Pursuit of Happyness? ;) Oh ,well!

5 Reasons why I love Suits!

Suits is a legal TV drama with outstanding script and classy acting. I got addicted to it during my final year and finished 3 seasons in 2 days! Packed with good suspense and witty banters, it's a show everybody should watch at least once in their lifetimes. If you don't like it straightaway, give it some time and come back to it. You can thank me later!

Here's are my top 5 reasons you should catch the show:

1) The show's got style!

If you thought Rajnikant has got style,wait till you start admiring Harvey Spector, the man who carries the show. Everything you need to know about Suits can be learnt in the very first episode. Sleek cinematography,smooth soundtrack and fantastic opening title sequence. I am liberal with my praises because the show is worth it. It's one of those rare shows which you know will be quoted for years to come.

2) Smart Writing.

Though the show has got some real talent, the reason why its awesome is really because of its smart and quick dialogues. Whether its WWHD(What would Harvey Do) or 'Don't Donna me' or 'You just got Litt Up', suits has its own unique lingo , apart from the sexy legal jargon. I can safely say I can carry off a conversation with my law major friend without taking the fifth(if you know what i mean!)

3) Pop Culture References.

One of the most enjoyable things to do during each episode is to spot the numerous pop culture references in the dialogues. Every season has some references to Shakespeare , Dead Poets Society,Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Pulp Fiction,Forrest Gump and even shows like Downton Abbey ,Game of thrones and many more. For a pop culture junkie like myself, there's nothing more exciting than movie quotes, comparisons to fictional characters and even some really awesome Lady Macbeth impressions!

4) Life's not so simple.

Suits models real life. The cases in Suits are morally complex,and so are the characters. No case is smooth and no character is perfect. Everyones' flaws,mistakes and misjudgements makes me question my own character. What would I do in that situation? Characters who may seem like stereotypes are actually facades to their actual selves. For example, the protagonist Harvey is the evil and proud lawyer for an outsider. But on suits, we root for him because we know the humane side to the character,why he is what he is. Everyone has a story to tell,don't they?

5) Relationships matter.

Once in a while,we forget that everything in business is operated by a human. We may blame a system,but it's a group of humans with real feelings who run the system. At its core, Suits is about relationships. Trust, loyalty and respect are important for long-term relationships. This perspective adds a unique emotional depth to an otherwise generic legal procedure. Harvey believes in the abilities of his protege,Mike and comes to care about him, while Mike has immense deep rooted respect for his mentor.

Suits is a show populated by genuine characters .Every combination of actors on this show produce dynamic scenes. I laugh every time Donna and Rachel gossip together, I cheer every time Harvey stands up for Mike(and vice versa), I feel all warm and fuzzy when someone is genuinely nice to Louis, I smile every time Jessica and Harvey strategise together and I melt when Donna and Harvey protect each other. I love television shows that make me think and reflect , and that's Suits in a nutshell.

I came for the smart writing and charming cast, I stayed because I feel invested in the show's journey.

Passion is over-rated!

I am not wedded to the idea of finding a passion. I believe that passion is an end result of a process of becoming good at something. Cal NewPort , author of the famous book 'So Good They Can't Ignore You' says "Don't follow your passion.Rather,let it follow you in your quest to become so good they can't ignore you"

The final semester of University life is the most stressful one, mainly because of the "ultimatum" that is the end of a student life. Many career talks repeatedly quote or rather misquote Steve Jobs. If Steve Jobs had known his passion early on in his life,he would have most probably ended up as a Buddhist monk. It was only after those deliberate hours of effort that he put into something he believed in , he ended up being successful in the technology field.

Everyone wants to find their purpose of life or rather their passion. Except that there is no shortcut to passion.If you choose a career- any career ,you have to put in those 10000 hours of work. You slowly start becoming good at what you do. Success leads to happiness and hence , you start becoming passionate about it. History shows that the career path of all successful people follows this learning path. No one knows what they are going to do in a random strike of enlightenment.

Skills trump passion in the quest for work you love! Build those skills with nothing but hard work.

Pursuit of Happiness

I am a happy person by nature. I have had a blissful childhood and a great support system I can fall back on in times of difficulty. In spite of all the lovely blessings I have, I do have my bouts of sadness due to no particular reason. 

On one such days , I passed by an urban slum near my home in India . I have been always surprised at how the poor are able to find their moment of fun, even when I am depressed over their lifestyle. 

Even the poorest take time to be happy and even the richest find ways to be unhappy. Surely, there is no linear relationship between success & happiness or money & happiness. But, there should be some relationship. 

Here is my hypothesis:

 Happiness = log(Success) * log(Environment) * Personal Happiness Constant

If everything else is the same, one's achievements or environment should improve the happiness. However, given that this is a logarithmic function, there is a point beyond which improvements in money or environment would have little impact on happiness. Classic principle of law of diminishing marginal utility. As Bill Gates put it "Once you get beyond a million dollars,it's still the same hamburger". Money can buy happiness, but beyond a point, its effect becomes unnoticeable,hence the log function!

But, the more important factor is our "personal constant". This is our innate ability to be happy, regardless of our surroundings. This is why even the poor can smile and laugh, even when their bank balance & surroundings are abysmal. 

If a person's personal constant for happiness is high, he/she can be happier compared to a person with a better surrounding & success factors but poorer personal constant.This personal constant defines who we are and how we can manage the downturns of life. While our successes can push up our happiness, we are always weighed down by what is inside us.

This personal happiness constant can indeed be increased by spirituality, reading good books and by interacting with more optimistic individuals.

Here's to more Inherent Happiness Constant for years to come!

Why I think Aam Aadmi Party is here to stay!

For the first time in 60 years of independence, the whole nation is keenly looking forward to the Lok Sabha general elections. Disruptive innovation in politics reached new heights when Aam Aadmi Party campaigned and won against established political parties in the 2013 Delhi elections. Their activities in the national milieu reminds me of a famous quote by Steve Jobs.

"Here's to the crazy ones,the misfits,the rebels,the trouble makers, the round pegs in the square holes.The ones who see things differently-they are not fond of rules.You can quote them,disagree with them,glorify or vilify them,but the only thing you can't do is ignore them because they change things.They push the human race forward,and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius,because the ones who are crazy enough to think they can change the world,are the ones who do"

This aptly embodies the top leaders of AAP party,especially Arvind Kejriwal. While Kejriwal's moves are debated almost everyday in the top news channels of the country, nobody tries to get the full picture. All that is left is a game of wordplay by media , followed by heated debates and angry rebuttals by opposing parties.

The interview of Rahul Gandhi ,Vice President of Congress went viral two weeks back. People in India have a great sense of humour. While Rahul Gandhi spoke quite seriously in his interview, the whole country mocked about how dumb a top leader of our nation was. The virality of the video and publicity by media invoked huge criticisms from different parts of the nation. Videos like these make people believe in the voice of the media and make them forget the underlying purpose of the political party.

But actions do speak louder than words. Every interview of Aam Aadmi Party's representatives have qualitative actionable items either performed or to be performed. They give specific answers to important questions. As debatable as the answers may be, specifics are what the country needs the most. We are tired of jargons like empowerment, system,concentration of power ,education and poverty. We are done with the long essays of Vision 2020 of a corrupt free nation. We are done with fantasising about being a superpower. We need to start challenging the status quo even if that means giving up power.

Arvind Kejriwal's recent resignation as Delhi Chief Minister after 48 days of power has provoked the media. They have now started debating about 'political strategies' and 'conspiracy theories' . One interview with the leader is enough to prove that all that he wants is true Democratic nation that gives power to the people. India cannot ask for a more candid leader.

There are debates about lacuna of decisive policy making of AAP. The refusal of FDI in Delhi sparked further questions. So many questions and the answer is quite straightforward.

The root of all issues in the country be it education,poverty,economic policy, FDI, financial progress lies in corruption. So deep rooted is the problem that the country needs a fundamental change in the Constitution to bring a system of good governance. And that's exactly what AAP is trying to do. While we may question their methods, their motive is crystal clear.

If only we could all look beyond the noise of the media and social networks, we can respect and believe in the group of Aam Aadmis who came together to do something about the dirty politics of the nation while all of us sit and just rant about it in social media sites.

While AAP have a dismal chance of winning the 2014 General Elections, they are here to stay and change the way the country is governed. I can bet on that!

Moondram Pirai : a timeless classic movie

For Non-Tamil speakers, the title of this blog post is of a famous Tamil movie which means, crescent moon. The moon , on the third day after New moon stays only for a brief period of time (about 30 min) and seeable only in the evening . Hence, very few people see the moon during that day.

The character of the protagonist is akin to that of the Moondram Pirai : a rare occurence, a saint to the commons. Kamal Hassan portrays the role of a school teacher who rescues a young girl with amnesia from the house of a prostitute , out of sheer kindness. He takes care of her , treats her in a respectable manner and slowly falls in love with her. He takes the girl to a famous ayurvedic to treat her amnesia illness. Once she recovers ,she forgets all about her stay with him and leaves him. The final scene is right out of an English poetry scene. Kamal Hassan runs towards Sridevi while she mistakes him for a beggar and tries to help him by throwing a food packet.

The acting by Kamal Hassan and Sridevi was so profound that I cried for an hour after the first time I saw the movie. I watched this movie at a young impressionable age, say 10 years and I remember thinking about the young , chaste and caring character that the hero portrayed. I must have watched the film at least 20 times and I fall in love with the character every single time. Sridevi looks at him with innocent eyes at the prostitute place and his first thoughts are about rescuing her!

Cinematography by the late Balu Mahendra was so natural and lifelike.Though it was a story which on surface seemed like it was ripped off from a throat-grabbing pulp paperback (Amnesia! Extramarital lust! Rape attempt!Thwarted love!), the resulting film would not have been recognised by someone who just knew the story outline. So subtle was his handling of the screenplay.The song 'Kanne Kalaimaane' brings a tear to anyone who can understand its lyrics. Its about love that is so pure in its expression that life itself seems like a facade.

Very rarely do we see characters such as these in present day films. Maybe its time, we take a leaf out of timeless classics such as these to bring more creative and thoughtful expressions in Indian Cinema .

Learning how to learn

I hated physics in middle school. It was a subject I found bizarre, tough and most of all filled with vague formulae that made no sense to me. I used to fear asking questions in class . Even if i did, teachers used to dismiss it as “out-of-portions” . We were taught time and again, how to score marks and how to become a school topper. Never in my school life,I was fascinated by science. It was just a means to an end.

But in my high school ,I just couldn’t take it. I wanted a teacher who would teach me physics from ground up. Thanks to my mom’s networks, I heard about a wonderful teacher who taught IIT Physics in Chennai. I was hooked in his first class. I remember his exact words were “You don’t utter a physics term without defining it first” .The first term was velocity , not nuclear physics. But we were stuck. We realised that to learn any subject, asking the right questions is really important. If I had asked my physics teacher to help me define it back in 6th grade,I would have been a happier physics learner. Instead I was stuck there, in a limbo,in an education system which places emphasis on rote learning and memorisation. Now when I interact with my American friends, I realize how they had chosen their subjects with passion and eagerness to learn while I sailed through my school days memorising silly answers to textbook questions.

The wise physics teacher always says, to learn anything, there should be intellectual discomfort ,yet psychological safety. His physics classes made me like the subject and if I could owe my University education to one person,it would be him.If not for his encouragement and unassuming approach to teaching ,I would have failed miserably in physics. He made me love a subject I never dreamt I would. My friends who already loved physics took it as a career,because of him alone.

School days are wonderful opportunities to make mistakes and learn. Learning to ask questions is the first step to education. I missed out on that. So what can I do to rectify a journey bygone? Not letting anybody I know get down by it.

Make time to learn how to learn! 

Valentine's day : A new perspective

4th Feb aka Valentines day is here ! Though I feel that this day is heavily commercialised , this is indeed a day to remind us to count our lives' blessings with our loved ones. But my definition of love is a bit broader.

A couple of days back,I saw a heart warming scene from the 7th floor of my college dorm. My eyes fell upon this beautiful scene : 

A family of 4 , parents and their 2 tiny children hold hands in a string and stroll late at night. The children try to run , with their tiny legs going haywire. The parents try to keep pace with them, thoroughly enjoying the moment. The son tries to climb up a nearby wall in a spirit of innocent adventure. The dad encourages him and lifts him up ,places him on the wall, and makes sure he is all right by holding his pinky finger. Yet, he gives him all the freedom to walk as he pleased on the thin boundary of the wall. His little sister watches him in awe. The mom realises this and she follows suit . She lifts her up ,and places her in front of her brother. The family hop in the charming pleasures of parenthood and childhood, as they walk in the moonlit starry night.

This nearly made me tear up. I was struck with guilt of almost stealing their joyful moments ,yet filled with bliss of having seen something so pure. It reminds me of my own parents who always let me do what I feel is right ,but are always there in case I stumble and fall to make me stand upright again.If this is not love, then what is?

Valentine's day should be beyond gifts and expensive candlelight dinners. It should be a day to celebrate with anyone whom you love : parents,siblings,friends,life partners,just anyone.

10 things about me !

Okay, time to get some perspective ! My blog post will be mostly about my learnings. Except for this post, where I try to boost my spirits by letting the world know 10 awesome things about me :D

1)A Chennai-born South Indian Iyer girl , who flew 3000 km at the age of 17 to study Computer Engineering in the hip city of Singapore. 

2)Believer of a Superior Power and swears by the school of thought that 'Faith can move mountains'

3)I am full of contradictions. Homely , yet a social butterfly. Super organised, yet clumsy when I feel like. Like spending time with close people, but equally love doing things alone. Hyper and cheerful most of the time, but also like being a silent spectator.

4)I am defined by my curiosity and thirst for learning. I buy more books than I can finish. I sign up for more online courses than I can complete. I have more things on my to-do list than I can ever do in my lifetime.

5)I am a chameleon when it comes to talking with people. I try to make myself relate in every way possible. This makes it easier for me to make new friends, which I love. Also,I tend to surprise people by remembering tiny little details about them :)

6)I love late nights and early mornings. Contradictions ,again! The silence of the night and the freshness of early mornings are the best things about a day.

7)There are only two people in this world so far, who can sometimes understand me better than I understand myself. Mom and sister.

8)I am in an eternal relationship with good Vegetarian food. Leave me alone with yummy food, and I wont care one bit if there is an Apocalypse.

9)If I could be anything for Halloween,I would be a bumble bee .In my opinion, a bumble bee symbolises cuteness as well as diligence (a hard-working, busy bee, for example.) Also,bratty sis loves to call me bumble bee,well,due to my steadily increasing bulginess.

10)I am very sensitive.Even the smallest thing a person says or does has the capability to hurt me, even when the person means no harm. I am so emotional that I actually like movies that make me cry! And did i mention i get angry pretty quick? though, i am desperately trying!

Well,that's 10 things about me. I can go on ,though but let's just save it for future posts,shall we? Until tomorrow :)