The Firaaaang in Me !!!!!

I have had my share of jokes and laughter on me being a FIRAAAANG. Have travelled to places far and wide, depending on the co ordinates in Hindustan, I get treated as a West Indian, Afro American, African or Malaysian respectively and a citizen of many other countries.

Now this incident to be narrated is the latest that happened last weekend.

I was on my Road Trip with my Fellow Club mates at V11 Royal Enfield Riding Club. Me along with 10 other club members rode to Pondicherry on our Bullets. We halted at the beach huts at Auroville.

The next day me and Prasad, along with with Balaji, Harish and Lalith decided to roam around Pondicherry, We headed to Marine Drive.

I was riding on Rajesh's Bike. An Old Bullet Standard that was re modelled.

Somewhere in the traffic we kinda got split and I was suddenly driving all alone on the streets. I brought the vehicle to a halt at the Marine Drive and parked the vehicle when a Traffic Constable rode his bike and camped next to me and began

Consable : Vehcile,your's ??

Me : Yes.

Constable : Show Papers, vehicle Papers !!

Me : Here take them ( giving him the papers )

Constable : Driving License

Me – Here take it ( giving him the license )

Constable : Insurance is expiry, vehicle not in name, your name.

Me – Yes, yes. Friend's vehicle.

Constable – No Insurance, huge fine. 150 Dollars only.

Me – Sir, no. Fine too huge.

Constable – Fine is compulsory. You Pay or I take Vehicle to Polics Station.

Friends passing by, suddenly see me talkin to somebody, they stop and Prasad comes to me and asks, Yenna Aaache Machhi ( What Happened Buddy ?? in Tamil )

That was when the look on the Constable's face began changing. He understood that his prank dint work out instead he turned out to be at the receiving end of my Prank.

Prasad just looked at the constable and handed over a Rs. 50 Note and said Iddu Podam Sir, Kalambinga kalambinga. ( This is Enough, now carry on )

We all laughed our asses off for a very long time.

That was when Prasad and the other began analysing what all the Constable would have thought and planned to do with 150 Dollars that he would have got from the Firaang in ME.

V11 - Royal Enfield Riding Club

 

This is like the moment I have been waiting for from a very very long long time.
Always wanted to be a Biker, in a very pleasant and enjoyable manner and not professionally though. Ever since I got my Royal Enfield Bullet Classic 350, i have been etching to go on a ride. The day came when i joined the velavan club rider for a trip to Kolli malai ad then went on a second trip to Bandipur.

Once we got back from the trip, there were enough members on the team who wanted to somehow begin a Biking Club, so we got together and Formed V11, the Velavan Motors Royal Enfield Riding Club.

I am very priviledged to be a member of the club.

Now the journey begins, where i can actually get the team together and make all the dreams come true.

The next scheduled trips are to Pondicherry and also to Goa.

Into The Wild

The trip was scheduled for 26-28th Jan 2012. The day before the trip, i happened to get to Velavan Motors to get my bike tuned. I happened to meet Prasad and Balaji apart from certain other members of the Back Up Crew. I headed back home, the adventure that awaited just wouldn't let me sleep. I was wide awake by 4.30, its hard to believe that i saw the rising sun after a very long time. I reached Velavan Motors by 5.45 am and to my utter disbelief everybody had come in on time and i was the last Biker to arrive. With the Luggages quickly loaded onto tthe car. Hari the Lead Biker began the tips, rules to be followed while driving.

The Bikers Gathered were

Hari ( Lead Biker ), MP Prasad, Sharon Padmanabhan ( Myself ), Lalith, Jaiswal, Suresh, Manikandan, Aravindan, Christudoss, Balaji, Saras, Anand, Rajesh, Saravanan, Harish, Prabhu, Jagannathan.

By around 6 am we mounted on our BEASTS and began to Roar our way to Bandipur.

We first halted for Petrol at Poonamalee. Then as soon as we hit the Highway Hari hit the throttle and we were sailing past other vehicles with the onlookers on the road baffled and amazed to see like 18 bikes roar past them. The thrill was just so amazing, can't remember the last time life felt so fulfilling.

Hari was to lead the pack, but we behind him took turns for 2nd and 3rd place. The pack ws divided into 2

In the lead pack, it was Hari, Me, Prasad, Lalith, Jaiswal, Mani and Christudoss. The rest were following behind.

 

  

        

All of us were cruixing at 90's and 100's, the only difference being the overtaking maneuovers. We at the lead just hit cruize control and whizzed past the other vehicles with utmost ease. Then Hari decided it's time for a Re-group and we stopped at some distance after kanchipuram. We had all just got off our bikes and were waiting to signal to our 2nd pack, in the mean time one of our bikers Suresh was like drafting behind a CAR and before we could signal to him he had already sped past us. We just had to let him go, as he hadn't noticed us. Then the rest of us regrouped and then we began to Roar again.

The thrill and the joy and the respect the road, the other drivers were all giving was just too awesome. It just felt so amazing.

Only when we reached the Arya Bhavan, CCD wala Petrol Bunk, we saw Suresh Waiting for us, nearly after 45 kms from where he crossd us. As and when we reached him, he was like I dint C u guys behind me, I was driving to catch u guys at the front, but when i din't see u i thought I must atleast wait for the Sweeper to catch up with me and then to proceed further.

Then we moved further to a place called Pallikonda where we all had Break Fast, most of us Gobbling Dosa, Idly, Poori and Coffee. Once done, we decided to stop next at Krishnagiri, to our utter suprise after finishing Break Fast at pallikonda by 10.15 am, we reached Krishna Giri by 11.45. and then while we were sipping coffe and waiting for the 2nd pack to arrive, discussions on lunch began to happen, but as everyone's stomach was full they kind of wanted to keep on the road and cover up as much distance as possible in the day.

   

  

From Krishnagiri we drove on and halted at Hosur - This halt was majorly to get our stock of Liquor for the evening parties.

Once the Stuff got loaded in the vehicle, we took a deviation from the regular highway wanting to explore a more crazier route.

We took the Hosur - Thally - Kanakpura Route. On this route fortunately, Prasad’s bike ran into a Screw that gave us another break and photo session near a lake. Here the tyre tube that we accidentally purchased in Krishnagiri was used effectively to keep the pack pouncing forward.

  

  

The road was splendidly awesome with loads of twists and turns and some breath taking views. It was unfortunate, we missed to take pics on this route Thally – Kanakapura. It was a Different terrain altogether, ghats, hilly plain terrain passing few villages. Enjoyed it thoroughly, will surely hit it back again just for the missed photographs.

Once we hit the Kanakpura main Road, we halted as we saw a few roadstide stalls for a quick Munch.

Grabbing cheap fried rice, Ash fried Omlettes, Sandwiches, Bhel Puri's and Paani Puri's.

There on we wanted to go through Nanjangud - Mysore and then Bandipur via T Narsipura.

Just as we crossed Nanjangud, it was beginning to get dark. So we again took a smal regrouping stop, tok rest for abut 15 mins before we began to proceed further.

There was a huge discussion in this break on whether to take the simpler route or the challenging T Narsipura road, spend most of this break on decidind whether to ‘GO’ or ‘NOT GO’. Finally Hari decided to take the T Narsipura route and his decision was ruled out by the impeccably bad roads. With a fair amount of distance left to cover as well as the parameter to reach Bandipur before 9.00 PM as that is the stipulated time for vehicles to enter the Forest Reserve.

Then before we knew it, we were in the middle of Mysore, so we kind of had to wait at that signal so that we could guide all the other Bikers. Once everybody had regrouped we hit the throttle again. As soon as we began, we had to take a right turn once done the road seemed Smooth and Wide, I hit the throttle over taking Prasad and Christudoss only to hit a Huge Hump on the Road. It just seemed like I had hit Flying Gear, As i regained my senses and realizing that I was still on my bike was when everyone in and around me had a huge grin on their face as everyone had hit the Hump real hard and went flying in different directions, our sweeper Rajesh hit the hump so that that he was virtually sitting on the petrol tank.

With darkness hampering our visibility and head lights of opposite vehicles turning us occasionally blind on curvy roads the road began to get difficult and the air also began to get completely chilly. The lights from the on coming vehicles was a real pain, the road ahead was barely visible and so our speeds reduced considerably and we were more concerned about safety. As we reached Gundlupet, Karnata Bank, Opp to a Petrol bunk it was 9.00 PM. The courteous Ashwini Residency resort manager sent us jeep to Gundlupet to take us through the alternative way to reach bandipur as we couldn’t ride through the usual way.The escort Jeep was there in NO time. From there on we began the ride into the Forest, little did we know that after the Highway, The narrow road, the villages now we would get to Off road on our bike at about 9.30 pm. The ride into the forest ws almost 25 kms. That felt so cruel after 575 kms and 14 hrs on the road, that it kinda took us almost 2 hrs to get to the resort from that point.

Once we reached the resort, there was this huge sense of achievement and the spirit which was waiting in the car that beckoned in everyone's minds.

There were small small cottages, it ws 3 Bikers in one Cottage. There was time for us to freshen up and then regroup for Bon Fire and Dinner. Tiring was thejourney but still everybody was ther for the bon fire and dinner. The plan for the next day was yet to be decided. We just left it at that and went to sleep. I got up by 8.30 and asked for Coffee, and as i walked outside, to my horror i saw my fellow bikers playing Cricket already. No points for guessing what I did - Just ran in to join them.

  

 

  

Then we all regrouped for Break fast and decided that we must like just drive in to the jungle and see it for ourselves. It was Me, Hari, Anand, Saras, who all ventured in to the wild. We went to the pond close by to see loads of Elephant foot marks and a few deer marks and Loads n Loads of Shit on the banks of the pond. Then Hari we bagan to trek into the Jungle and walked a few kms (to be exact its less than a KM J)looking into the trees hoping to find a few cats in there in a hot afternoon just to check the intensity of our luck, but as usual we returned with the luck of being unlucky.

  

 

 

By afternoon after lunch we decided we will go to a few places close by and as we roared again, this time I mounted on Prasad's bike leavin my bike for it to take rest.

We went to Mudumalai and then drove to Gundlupet to fill Gas and also to get money from ATM's. On our way back from Mudumalai it was decided that we will hit the road towards Masinagudi, just to have Tea.

  

The roads again were so much fun, with loads of sleeping bends and curves. We spotted many many Langur's and Peacock's. On our way back we did see 2 antelope's/ deer's. The camera's had a ball, lots to capture and the views were simply amazing.

We got back to the resort and then took rest before we began partying again. Thsi time the Resort owner surprised us by revealing to us the Dance Floor that they had come up with in the middle of nowhere. Then all of danced and partied.

The journey back began with the customary photography sessions and other routines.

The Bikes Roared waving Good bye to the Resort and taking the Chamarajnagar Route.

Rest to be continued.

The Rocking Bhajan

radha raman radha raman radha raman kaho
radha raman radha raman radha raman kaho

Jis desh me jis bhesh me jis dham me raho
radha raman radha raman radha raman kaho

jis dham me jis kaam me jis naam me raho
radha raman radha raman radha raman kaho

jis rang me jis sang me jis dhang me raho
radha raman radha raman radha raman kaho

jis rog me jis bhog me jis yog me raho
radha raman radha raman radha raman kaho

jis deh me jis geh me jis sneh me raho
radha raman radha raman radha raman kaho

jis rag me jis anurag me jis virag me raho
radha raman radha raman radha raman kaho

jis maan me jis samman me jis apman me raho
radha raman radha raman radha raman kaho

jis dharm me jis karm me jis marm me raho 
radha raman radha raman radha raman kaho

jis gyan me jis dhyan me jis dhyey me raho
radha raman radha raman radha raman kaho

jis vrundavan me jis mathura me jis gokul me raho
radha raman radha raman radha raman kaho

chahe haridwar me chahe hrishikesh me pryaag me raho
radha raman radha raman radha raman kaho

chahe is lok me chahe parlok me golok me raho
radha raman radha raman radha raman kaho

Girivalam - Tiruvanamalai

I had just finished my lunch when Kamesh bhai, said hey sharon, are you comin to tiruvanamalai, i said yes and in no time we had already hit the road, after a quick pitstop at home to change clothes. Once we reached the Temple, we went in for a quick darshan and then began our walk around the saccred hill, this walk is very ancient and has its own sacred values and history. It is said to be very sacred when one walks around the hill on a full moon night. This walk is termed Girivalam. We started the walk around 9. pm, which we had to complete by 11.50 so that we could finish off before the Lunar eclipse was to set in.

As kamesh had predicted we covered about 6 kms in the first hour itself, 5 in the next hour and 3 in the next. By the time we did around 10 kms, i already had blisters in both the feets. I just continued walking chanting Om Namah Shivaya all the way.

Gagan had forgotten his HTC mobile at the end point where we had assembled. But then by god's grace once he rushed back to the spot he found his mobile.

We finished the walk as per schedule, once done we then left. Had tea on the way back and reached back home around 4.30 in the morning.

One amazing trip.

I was back in this temple after about 12 yrs, the best part was that i did this walk on a tuesday evening and the very coming sunday i was at the temple again. This time with Dad n Mom, while on our way to a marriage.

Back On Track

For some crazy ass stupid reason, I kinda haven't written in a very very long time. I feel very ashamed that i like havent even checked my blog for like ages now. I have been thinking of making up an excuse that would kind of atleast help me take the weight of not meeting my own expections and also to fail in such a manner.

I really do love writing. In fact i have been doing loads of activities and the main issue or the roadblock or hassle is only that where i sit n work in my dad's office they have the "Web Filter Violation" thing which doesnt help me log in and write for my blog.

But then i know that passion to blog should have actually driven me n motivated me to somehow drag myself to a cyber cafe or a friend's place, so that i could  have blogged. But then as the saying goes, "Better late than never". and that its never ever tooo late.

This blog is actually like the lull before the storm. I will be writing more stuff on a very regular basis now.

This simply reminds me of my Home work exercise on my Yes+ course.

What i wanna say is that i take completely responsibility and blame for not writing/posting on my blog.

I don't wanna make up any excuses and make myself happy.

Like my dad always says. a horse can loose its way, but once it gets back the saddle and the other racing gear, it surely knows as hell as to where and how it is supposed to move.

So now i am back with my gear and on track.

Blackberrielia and Eggs Box 360

It's akin to that zombie instinct, if i may say so, where the infected subject is desperate to transfer the virus to us normal humans! I've been subject to the same... they try and lure by extolling about something known as 'bbm' (which I suspect to be the active element which helps the virus spread..) 
They also very strongly recommend you to some crazy ass Eggs that are all put in a box to make us a huger box.

It's all in the air, my friend! Beware, and stay safe!

This is a God Damned Epidemic.

"Zindagi" - "Mazduri"

Just Something that each and every one of us must keep in mind at all times good or bad.

We normally feel that our life is finished, over, doomed, khallas, khatam and so many many prefixes can be added on to it. I'd rather say that we must always assume the saying "Whatever happens, happens for the best."

Its not easy to feel so when one has failed in an examination. Instead suicide seems a better option.

But then history has a say for itself when you we look at the lives of the  multi billionaires who haven't really done well in academics. They just had belief in themselves and knew everything would work out positively in future.

They were constructing an absolutely bright future from Debris and Salvage

This picture easily depicts the state of mind that we always ought to be in and work towards. One must always strive to do better in all situations.

It's just my interpretation and one school of thought.

Any comments and interpretations are welcome.

Capturing Osama

Just the one man the entire world was searching for, gets captured all off a sudden. Ever wondered why ?? and more importantly did you wonder how...??? I just simply got this picture and could not help but put it on the blog just to enlighten everybody on the role our Super Star Rajnikanth played in capturing the Terrorist. if you still dont believe me, then check out the picture below.

Obama thanking Rajnikanth

Bolo Rajni Babu ki Jai... ki Jai...ki jai

Ode to the Padmanabhan

This post has been taken from http://nevermadeitasawiseman.blogspot.com/2011/02/ode-to-padmanabhan.html That is Raghav Mehrotra's Blog.

"He just pinged me on Fb one fine day and said Bhai.. I want you to check a link.... i really dint have much to say..... i have always been much of a reader and so i love to browse through blogs.... he just sent me a link and this is what i got to read that day."

In a strong desire not to break my new years i am here.. Not clearly knowing what to writ..well its not like thats the case every time but i usually hav a topic in my head.. None today..

Well i should write about something i have been delaying for quite some time.. To be precise from the 25th of december 2010 

Mr Sharon Padmanabhan.. And his blog unwinding..

http://sharoon3112.blogspot.com

Met him one day at a gathering.. some common friends we had.. Well he seemed different.. Both in the retarded way and the sweet n joyful way..

But i soon realized that his retardation was one of the coolest things that evening..

So here was a fun loving sweet guy.. Okay..

one day on fb he had put up a link to his blog.. Out of sheer boredom n hope for a shot of madness i checked it out..

I can remember which post it was but i remembering saying to myself." okay dude! This stuff is really good." it wasent the madness i had expected it was who he was.. It was beautiful.. Heart felt stuff...

His blog gave a good feeling.. Something was there in the way he wrote that u had to read more.. I remember once when i knew that i dint hav anything to do in the metro i copied all the old posts of his to my ipod at home and for 45 min just read his stuff.. Heart warming to down right funny.. He can control your feelings for the time you r reading his posts..

I owe him a lot. As it is because of him that i started blogging.. I know the blog is not very famous yet but one day it will b.. I just kno it cuz writing gives me this good feeling its like a thirst being quenched.. And before i read sharoon bhs simple take on things around one self i would hav never gotten down to actually writing...

Thank you bh..

I kno u kno but still.. u rock..


"I have always had people coming up to me to say, Bhai you are this and you are that, you did this and that, but this was for the first time that someone had taken the time and pain to actually sit and pen down their feelings for my actions. "


Thanx a TON Raghav. (http://nevermadeitasawiseman.blogspot.com)


You are a Super Star.

Family is Everywhere

As I have been travelling more often than not ever since I was a Kid as my Dad always kept getting transferred every once in a while. Having been in places like Cochin, Bangalore, Nagpur, Bombay, Hyderabad, Noida and now Madras. I have never felt alone or in any desperate need for friends when ever there was a change. This has mainly gotta do with my attitude towards life. I have always believed that everybody in this world belongs to one another and that I could easily be friends with anybody on the streets too. Be it any place, I have been able to have always made friends like family. One just has to feel oneness with the world and that would easily just trigger of this feeling - Family is Everywhere. Friends are a family and have to be treasured and preserved with utmost care. it can be ranging from 5 year old to a 90 year old. from a Rickshaw driver to a Manager. It just has to spring up from within.

One can only feel lonely because of fear to speak up or to interact with colleagues or classmates. This can be removed only when the individual begins to accept the fact that Family is Everywhere around.

I just hope everyone is in agreement with my Idea.... ???

Beating Chennai's Heat

A few means I have adopted to beat Chennai's Heat.

1. Padma Sadhna n Kriya
2. Satsangs
3. Sitting on my Bean Bag on the Balcony where I have cool breeze
4. Studying at home.
5. Staying Indoors as much as possible.
6. Having loads of water.
7. Getting a pair of Shades
8. Having a Cap on.
9. Juices n Fruits as much as possible.
10. Ice Creams in the evenings.
11. Using the Microwave more often to cook.

Wow.... I am beatin the Heat easily without gettin effected much. Hope everybody has their plans and Strategies to beat the heat.

Change Your Perception by Rahul Joshi

This is written by a very Dear friend Rahul Joshi, who volunteers with the Yes Plus team Noida Full Time and works Part Time with Adobe Inc

Life isn't designed to run from the hardships.

But is to teach you to face challenges with smiling lips.

Troubles ain't meant to make you depress.

But they come to make you accordingly dress.

Quarrel never shows someones protest.

Rather, People Quarrel to show that even you can be the best, unlike the rest.

And neither do people criticize to show dislike.

But they instead grill you for your next strike.

Friendship doesn't means a timely support.

But, is a feeling that someone's always there to escort.

LOVE is not meant to ask.

But, it's rather a give and forgive task.

A Celebrity Hero - Guru Stories

Yesterday I attended a Guru Puja and Satsang organized by a Yes Plus Teacher Shreya Ramkumar at her home in Chennai. One of my Juniors from college Dewang Vora accompanied me to the puja as he was very keen on it. I reached early to help her in arranging the place. A few of Shreya's kids also dropped in for the puja. At 5.30 pm, bang on time Neelanjan Bhardwaj a.k.a Anil arrived, he was the one who was to perform the Guru Puja. On his arrival Shreya told me that he was a Kick Boxer earlier and he did look like one, standing at 6.5 feet and a very huge built he was very intimidating. The Puja then started with the customary chanting of OM 3 times after which the chanting began and once the Guru Puja chanting was over, the satsang team took over and sang a few bhajans.

Once it was all done then everyone got into a group while having delicious prasad ( Sundal, Sweet Pongal and Modak ) and then began discussing knowledge and how we came into the path and more importantly and the most interesting thing - GURU STORIES.

Everybody had their share of experiences and Guru Stories. that was when Anil began to share on such Guru Story of his. He started by saying that once while driving on his bike he got hit by a vehicle from behind, which forced him to over railings of the Fly over he was going on.

That was when I said, " SO YOU ARE THE ONE"?, and he was like, Oh man this is for the umpteenth time that I have not been able to finish my Guru Story.

I had already heard this story from Gauri Bhake a teacher in Delhi when I was volunteering in one of her courses. So this Guru Story of Neelanjan would be shared by many such teachers when they would be talking about GRACE.

The Story then continued for those who had not heard it,

So the moment he fell off the bridge, the others driving behind were scared to look down on his certain death. But when they looked down they saw Neelanjan waving at them frantically from a truck that was full of HAY which was coincidentally moving under the bridge. Every one there was dumbstruck n speechless as it looked like a completely filmy scene which would have taken more than a few retakes to perfect. But then as its said, when the divine is the director, perfection becomes the order of the day.

That's when I added, Neelanjan you are a Celebrity Hero for Guru Grace Stories in most parts of India.

Neelanjan's story is mentioned in a post on Bawa n Dinesh da's Blog - http://bawandinesh.name/chennai-story/

Examination...??? Oh my Gawd.... not Again.......

The very thought of an examination gives jitters all over my body even after so many years and for many other kids who are studying in some form or the other. It also raises many a concern in the minds of the Parents about the progress of their child.

Most Students are so very worried at all times during Exams, It so reminds me of myself

Examinations in Schools n Colleges are so heavily weighed by the Parents that they always feel that any kid who gets a high percentage of marks in school and college examinations is by far an intelligent kid and the one with more responsibility.

What everybody fail to understand here is that these examinations are just a test of some knowledge that has been dumped into the kids heads, whether they want it or not. They cannot really speak in volumes about one's intelligence and Moral Responsibilities and Values.

One of my mentor's Mr. Virat Chirania, would always raise a question when addressing any group of youngsters as to on a Scale of 100 how much would you give value to the 15 yrs of education that we compulsorily are given, how much does that add value to your personality and character. Astonishingly after a series of such sessions we came to a conclusion that most youngsters agreed that it is more of the Soft Skills that we otherwise learn from our experiences in life that are more valuable than education in itself.

Whether you score 100 or 60 it doesnt really reflect on your Character and your personality. We may take examples of very highly succesfull people in their respective fields of work, Right from Bill Gates to Steve Jobs to Dhirubhai Ambani to Sachin Tendulkar to Warren Buffet to to 50 Cents all of them had less of education but they were very very high on the soft skills aspect of life.

A study by the top job recruiting portals and the HRM of various companies have revealed that Job offers have been given in plenty to candidates with an average score of 60-70 percent than to most of the toppers as the study shows that the candidates with 60-70 percent scores are the ones with all round abilities to perform while the others are just inclined only to studies.

The main cause for concern here is the fact that these toppers are merely awesome pukers and that they dont really have any real understanding of the subject.

Children Learning and Mugging Up the answers - Last minute studies

To have really passed the examinations in Life we may reflect on a few situations and how we would have acted in these situations.

1. How much do we value Punctuality, are we always in time for our meetings, appointments , dates or we keep the others waiting.??
2. How often do we stand up against anything thats wrong, or do we give in citing peer pressure and fear of the wrath of the superiors.??
3. Do we initiate Bribe at any given situation, like telling Mom to buy you a bike in case you pass with Flying colors.??
4. Do we always finish up any work or task that we have agreed to perform at all costs or do we give up in between citing some silly reason.??
5. Do we do things because we like doing it or because we have committed to it.??
6. How do we address any elderly person that we meet.??
7. Do we offer a seat in a bus/ train to anyone who is old/ pregnant or is handicapped at all times or have we ill treated them.??
8. How often have we given up and contemplated suicide or thoughts its not my job.
9. Has there been a situation wherein you have lied that has come to haunt / hurt you in future.
10. How often have we only complained about the Pot Holes in the Roads, the Scams, the Slums and never ever taken any step towards eradicating the problem.
11. Whether you Drink and Drive or whether you use your mobile phone while driving ??
12. Do you ever cross the railways tracks or use the foot over bridge always ??
13. How much have we valued every piece of information that has come our way ??

These questions would have surely gone into the mind ringing various alarm bells asking you to wake up soon and realise the value of life and to pass the real test and examinations in life. All I am asking of you is to be aware of everything that is happening and to be at the tip of your toes in order to make your life completely fruitful.

Some eventful events in my Life wherein I have failed/ passed examinations.

• I have always had only enough pocket money to be able to just somehow manage my expenses at all times till now. So when ever I used to be Stopped by any Traffic Polic constable, the first thing I would do is to simply switch off the vehicle and put the keys in my pocket and just stand there alongwith the Officer. I would not show that I am very busy and instead just stand there with a long face asking him to pardon me. It would take a longer time but the constable in the end would just forgive me and let me go away.

There are two facets to the story, In case one we may say that I dint bribe the Officer in order to escape and that was really kool. If we see another side to the story we may easily observe that I broke the rules in the book and got away with it. The right thing for me to have done would have been to accept the violation and to have got a challan prepared by the Officer and to have paid the fine in a respective court. 

Had all of us requested for a challan at all times when ever we violated the traffic rules then we would be in a more stronger position to eradicate Corruption on the roads.

• It is not easy to be working in a job just for the sake of working. At all times one must always ask a question to oneself- Will I still be doing this job if I had 100,000 Dollars in my Bank Account. If the answer is yes then, it is purely because of one's love for the work that one wants to be in that particular job. Here the examination is when we decide with our heart more than the mind.

Realizing that we need to learn more in Life than these stupid questions and answers.

Every moment of every day in our Life is an examination that we have to keep giving in the school of the LORD. So one must be very conscious of every activity that they are doing because they must know that the Lord always is keeping a very close vigil on our activities.

Happy Days Ahead and All the Best for your Results.

May all of us Pass the Examinations with Flying Colours.

Jukebox Grace

A Jukebox for me is an instrument wherein I can go and make a request for the song that i really wanna hear . This post is about how grace took over in the form of a jukebox just to fulfill this petty little wish/ craving/ eagerness to listen to a particular Bhajan.

When I used to stay in Mumbai I would volunteer with the VnV Yes Plus team and would regularly attend the Thursday Yes Plus Satsang in Goregaon. The crowd would majorly be the entire gang of VnV team. It would start at 7.30 p.m and go on till about 9.30. The evening would comprise of a few Bhajans and a short meditation and then finally a knowledge session that would be conducted by Virat Bhai and Vasudha Didi.

Whenever I travel out of Mumbai there is nothing more than the VnV Satsangs that i Miss. Every thursday that I miss the Satsangs feels so Incomplete. I do keep pinging the guys in Mumbai on my Blackberry telling them that i miss them a lot.

I love all the Bhajans that are sung, but there is one particular bhajan that is sung there and that is just so reviving "Pandu Ranga Jaya Vithale", I had heard this song last on 9th December 2010 and then I left for Delhi to attend my MBA Convocation. I had my return tickets to Bangalore boooked on 25th Decemeber alongwith the enitire Yes Plus Gang and so in the 12 Days that I was in Delhi I volunteered for 2 courses with Deepan Mukherjee, one in Noida and one in Vrindavan where I was the OTC and the only Volunteer. This was the second time that I volunteered with Deepan Bhaiya as the only Volunteer which helped me learn and improve in leaps n bounds. Deepan Bhai is a celebrated singer himself and takes wonderful Sasangs. I repeatedly kept on asking him to sing the song "Pandu Ranga Jaya Vithale"  but he dint sing the song. He instead sang "Lena Hoga Janam Hame Kai Kai Baar" one of my other favurites that i had requested him to sing. Inspte of listening to all the wonderful bhajans for some reason i was still missing "Pandu Ranga Jaya Vithale" for some reason.

Once I was done with that I left for Bangalore in order to be in the Ashram and do Seva in the Vishala Canteen that was taken over by the Yes Plus gang during the Winter Break. I reached the ashram on 28th Dec did seva in the vishala canteen washing the dishes with Chirag. We had loads of fun washing the dishes. We created loads of jingles like "Bartan maanj bartan maanj bartan maanj be, hum nahi bartan manjenge to woh kisme khayenge" and a few more.

The clocked had ticked past 7.30 pm and everyone was rushing to the Vishalakshi Mantap ( VM ) for the evening Satsang. By the time we kind of wrapped up work and began running towards the VM the clock was already at 7.50. I was in for a very pleasant surprise as i huffed n puffed when i reached the shoe stand and began ascending the stairs towards the main gate of VM, that was when i realised and heard the bhajan being sung and there i could hear "Pandu Ranga Jaya Vithale, Vithale, Vithale" I was just motionless for a few seconds as it took forever to sink in that a wish of this tiny miniscule nature was taken care of and so I kind of was so grateful to Guruji for being there and fulfilling every wish.

I also realised that everything is being taken care of and that all my wishes will surely come true. I also realised that i really just have to enjoy life to the fullest giving the Guru the freedom to work his magic and paint my LIFE.

Creativity - Upside Down

Crayons is difficult to handle.... the shades aint easy at all.....!!!

Sketches

A wish to be at a waterfall standing right where it falls

My girl holding ME (teddy) in her arms

to ba as free as a BIRD

First Bloggers Meet

 I attended my first bloggers meet in Bangalore. It was in the ISKCON Temple in Bangalore. This was a collaboration between Indiblogger and Akshayaptra who provide food for school children who simply cannot afford food. the venue was not far away from my place so I took an auto rickshaw to reach the place. Once i reached I saw a few volunteers at the gate guiding us to the hall. I was very excited just to be there in the first place. I happened to be in bangalore just because i had come here to be with my Guru Sri Sri Ravishankar in the Art Of Living Ashram. I reached the place bang on time but then i wasnt really surprised when things went on in the normal Indian Stechable Time IST style. I was happy that they had snacks arranged in for us and I just gulped down a few glasses of the juice and also gobbled up a few samosas. i proceeded inside the auditorum and there was a bench right at the entry with beautiful volunteers manning the bench. They  requested me to simply enter in my eail id so that I could get registered for the meet. Once that was done I just went in and found a seat to sit and enjoy, that was when I loked at the huge projector screen and my name was on the screen and it said. Sharon Padmanabhan has just walked in 2 mins before. I was so elated and happy to be there. that was when i heard some body murmuring and talkin that the Wi fi is superb there. I immediately took ut my BB and started checking. the service was real fast.
The program began and they kind of welcomed everybody and then after a few introductions wherein the speaker began to mention there were a few who have come from outstations and mentioned my name and said Sharon has come from Mumbai , please welcome him. after that began the program wherin they selected 60 top bloggers outta the 277 attending to introduce themselves and their blog. Once that began and after about 35 of them introducing themselves my name cropped up on the screen again. I was more happy and elated that my blog was again being recognised. I just up and introduced myself and felt more happy, they even gave me a photo book.
Once that was done then we had to proceed for lunch in the Akshayapatra Dining hall. that was where i made a few friends. There was this poster on the wall that said - "the food here is Spiritually Elevating, Please don't waste the Food". we had fun eating our food and makng fun others sitting below the poster.
Then we came in back to the hall and then l the head of the Akshayapatra Program came and spoke about the program and shared as to how the akshayapatra program is carried out and how the school children are fed everyday.
After this we were all given a huge chart that had a thread to it and a sketch pen. we had to put it around out neck sso that people cud leave comments about you and your blog and similarly we had to do the same on others charts. that was just too much fun.
Once that was done we had been divided into a few groups on what interests you to blog. I was in the team where they were discussing how the internet is used to harrasss peple and how we can stop them. Again ha loads of fun doing that.

Then the meeting got over and we got our T Shirts.

I simply loved the program cos i made new blog friends for the first time. It was crazy and i hope to be at more such meets.

I am now very happy that my blogging is also for a cause.