#AeDilHaiMushkil

Last week we went for a move... after a very long gap! This is almost like breaking news on the idiot box?!

We love to go for movies. There is a multiplex nearby. They play all languages, we can speak. #Bookmyshow makes it convenient to book & go across. 

- God has given everything..... Time is a constraint. God would expect me to manage my time, after all. 
- Also, At the cost of sounding snobbish, quality of films..... (are not to our liking)! 

We went for 915PM show of "MS Dhoni". 

We reached the 3rd floor of Park Square (nothing  green about this 'park', but concrete IT Park:(( )

There was a huge crowd in the common area, with a lot of lights and sound! (Stating the obvious? We always make a lot of noise, don't we!) 

People were sitting on the stationary elevator, lying on the floor, a few holding guns, with lights & cameras. A shooting was going on. Going by the scale of settings, it was a film. Perhaps serials can manage without the details and depth?

The film was a 3 hour long one! We stepped out after 12 AM. When we reached the common area, the 'situation' and settings were almost the same. The "shooting" was still on. Not just with camera & lights, but also with filmi-guns. The artists were at the scene of a terrorist attack - on the elevator (still stationary) and on the floor. The artists were busy, behind lights, camera, and all other paraphernelia. It appeared as though no much progress made over the three hours, when we were enjoying MSD & popcorn!

How much effort goes into the making of a film. Suddenly I felt a sense of respect for all those technicians who work so hard, behind the scenes. They looked very simple & ordinary. I wondered if they were there chasing their dream or the next meal?!

So much noise about the ban on upcoming Karan Johan Film, #AeDilHaiMushkil. There is a lot of demand to ban the movie, when it is ready for Diwali release. Is it practical to go back to drawing board after completion of the movie? Do we think of consequences...? They might have received their wages. 

But for an artist, the real joy is to see their artistic effort out there. In the case of movies, when the movie hits theaters. For one actor, there are hundreds of such poor artists & technicians. They have a dream too... And this dream is Diwali-special!

Most importantly, do we think of all those poor junior artists, technicians who work on the films? Do we care? Don't they deserve a happy Diwali too? 

Drive to the Attic for Session #9 – Dogs & Cabs

Eight weeks have passed since the sessions started at the Attic. No 9 is an auspicious number. I seem to be bent upon making it not so auspicious, by being late. I had “planned” to leave 30 minutes earlier. Just “planned”, not decided?! 

My body clock seemed to have got used to the session starting at 1030 AM. Even Fussy, my beloved dog, was in no hurry to get back from her morning walk! I left at usual 930 AM. I sent out the intent to the Universe to reach Attic by 1015 AM.

The FM started off with a prank on a girl, who was getting married to a guy in Bahrain. Prank-calls seem to be the flavor, with virtually all FM channels having their own versions. After the prank, I switched from radio to the CD. The bhajans helped me to be a little more mindful, as my Yeti enjoyed sprinting along the now familiar route.

As I made exit from Old Madras road to the road parallel to it, it was easy driving, at high speed.

Even at the high speed, I managed to avoid hitting dogs, which have little respect for traffic rules, just like us, the so-called masters. Nevertheless saw two dead dogs on the route. I sent out silent prayers to the departed souls. I wondered what it is to meet a fatal road accident! How would Manjunath have felt when he was hit on Hassan-highway and passed on? A quick, vertical takeoff, with less pain and suffering? What happens to the soul when the cause of death is not natural? 

Traffic was light, by Bangalore standards. The roadside vegetable vendor was there as usual, with fresh papayas, for a change. Will try my luck next time to stop & pick up few. So many Facebook friends want us to support these roadside vendors.

Love the trees with red and yellow flowers, all over namma Bengaluru.

As I passed Jessica’s dog stay, there was a traffic jam. People were just using the road as though it belonged to their grandfathers.

State govt seem to have started dispensing (plastic) water cans. They should be providing clean water through taps. Not through tankers and cans. One more “mafia” in the making?

After 8 weeks, Muniswamappa Layout is still not easily located. The taxi in front was slowing me down, as he was in no hurry. Over the last few weeks, the roads have been repaired in the layout. 

Vedan’t car was not there at its usual place. Has he usurped my parking space? I see another blue car under the tree, with a youngster sitting at the wheel, looking at his phone. As I took the turn to the Attic, a cab came in opposite direction, in a hurry to exit layout.

As I parked the car, the brown slim, dog, Vani, was there, as always to greet me, not only wagging her tail but also “smiling”. I wish I had got her some biscuits. For every safe & happy dog at home, so many are vulnerable along the road.

My watch showed 1015 AM, the Universe did conspire, yet again.

Becoming a Writer

A few months ago I came across an article (in The Hindu?) about an author’s visit to Anita’s Attic. She explained about the difficulty to locate the venue and the chance to interact with the writers! 

Bangalore has multiple things to boast of. It is not only IT capital, but also has HAL, IISC, IIM, AoL and Saibaba Ashram. I was not aware a successful & popular author, Anita Nair, was conducting writer’s workshops too. It is one thing to write. But totally different to coach and mentor aspiring writers. 

I reached out reluctantly, sent in my application with no hope of selection. I was on cloud nine when I was shortlisted. Other prior engagements prevented me to join. I sought permission to join next batch.

I was sure they would go for ‘better and more deserving’ candidates for the next batch. I was not sure if I would fit in. Hence, also the reluctance to dedicate time, energy and money. 

When I shared the development with my son, he said I should have joined. “They have selected you. You wanted to do something like this. You love to write. You believe money should be the last reason to avoid it. Go for it pop”, he had said. As always, the better-half was in support.

When they called back to inform about the next batch, I grabbed it. I was ready… I was ready to pursue my dream to become a writer.  Rest is history!

PS: Why this obsession to become a writer... that is a story by itself. Shall narrate later :)

Honey Bee's Colony Collapse Disorder

Nature is designed with the highest level of interdependence. 'We know so little of the humble honey bee'!

Honey bees are facing #ColonyCollapseDisorder, killing them. Bad news for the environment, food security.
Let's go natural, organic. Let's enjoy 'ToxicSoup' till then :(

Of course, 'organic stuff exported to US from India is by Indian standards, not USFDA'

Author opted for child-fiction, instead of an adult book! Very thoughtful. This is a big entrepreneurial opportunity. '11 year old has tied up with Whole Foods'. They are the hope for a better environment, future.

BEES ON THE ROOF by Robbie Shell https://www.amazon.com/dp/1943431213/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_x_VX03xbRQ6BEKF via @amazon

Courtesy: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/knowledge-wharton/id120724941?mt=2&i=375343008

RIP NSK

In 2014, I went to Dubai to attend ICF meet. Met up with Dr. Marshall Goldsmith, Janet Harvey, Ram & Gautam at Right Selection, ICF leadership team at Dubai, coaches from all over the globe... Among them was NSK. Soft spoken, a keen student. Got to connect and interact briefly on the sidelines.

As we remained in touch, got to know him better. On a subsequent visit, he took me home, was treated to an authentic south Indian lunch. Met his wife, who is an English language expert. 
His academic qualifications were very impressive. IIM-B to European Universities, throughout his career he was a student. He picked up degrees in diverse areas related to human capital, analytical tools (MBTI), coaching, mentoring, et al. He was a keen student of numerology. He was a corporate honcho. And he drove a Merc S-Class! He was a doting father, though his kids were well-settled. He was a foodie. 

Everything I would want to be in my early sixties. 

It was a pleasant surprise when he reached out to me and signed up for our coach-training program. He came all the way from Dubai to attend our sessions at Chennai. The objective was very clear - it was always the journey. The destination was incidental. 

And he was a brilliant student. In that space, that we jointly created, all were all students. We, facilitators, learn more. He was as interested in my journey to Mastery in Coaching and painfully shared all the details of areas of common interests in Coaching, Mentoring and Healing. He had a fine sense of humour. Fitness was not his priority.

As part of the journey, we discussed his future plans - a quiet, retired life in Australia, after all these years of hard work in the corporate world. He wanted to pursue his interest in numerology, coach/mentor young professionals and do simple things in life. Nothing more... 

Yesterday, after a brief illness, he passed on. The saddest part is all his plans for his retired life remain unfulfilled. Our prayers for his recovery did not have the outcome we hoped for. The Universe had different plans. 

As a friend from healing space mentioned, 'he is in a better place now'. 
I have no doubt about it. He is in a better place... at a higher consciousness. The acceptance is the issue :(

It is said, there are five stages of grief: 

1. Denial
2. Bargaining (with God/Hi C/Master)
3. Anger (when prayer does not work)
4. Depression, sadness
5. Acceptance. 

I personally did not feel 1, 2 or 3. It was straightaway #4, sadness! Struggling to move to acceptance! As a student of numerology, I am sure he would have been aware of his own future. When it mattered most, his employer, colleagues and friends stepped in to help. His family must be very proud of him. 

And that is a legacy worth working for. 

In that struggle, I just read this in ET:
Most rituals associated with death are designed to enable us to reach a state of acceptance, of coming to terms with death as a natural, inevitable event. Whatever our belief system, it is clear that by focusing on helping the departed soul, our grief vanishes slowly but steadily. In doing so, we would perhaps move closer to understanding the impermanence of life. A medieval book on the craft of dying says, “Learn to die and thou shalt learn how to live.”

RIP NSK - you will be missed. Stay blessed!

Why Kerala not buying enough cars? ET

... And, it has nothing to do with cars !

A few generations of Keralites have toiled in the desert landscape and contributed to our economy (incl themselves). While they worked in the Gulf, their families have suffered the pangs of separation.

Successive governments have failed to live up to their expectations.

It is payback time. To listen to them, to be empathetic. Central and State Governments, with the active support of others like Sashi Tharoor, should pitch in and deliver.

That would be part of the legacy of these governments/political leaders.


http://auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/why-kerala-not-buying-enough-cars/53828200

Manifest Future, with Care

Living in 

- 1994-97:Interior MP and covering interior MP & Rajasthan,  

- 1997-2000: Extreme weather (& pollution ) in Delhi, 

- 2000-2006: Surviving the demands of the Maximum city for six years... had got stuck in the famous Mumbai floods,

- 2006-2012: Thereafter years in the Middle East, with weather closer to that of Delhi, minus pollution, thankfully...

I aspired to live in a city like Bangalore. Somewhere in Whitefield, which had old world charm, had spiritual centres like Sai Ashram & Siva Temple from Mahabharatha days! Kadu-godi still had elements of 'kadu', forest! Bangalore then was truly Garden city! 

We should be careful about what we dream of ! 

Today the city, where I have landed, is very different. It is no longer a Garden City. Concrete City would be more appropriate. 

I traveled from Whitefield to the other side of the city in the morning and returned in the evening. Parked myself near Lalbagh during the day, to work, 

At 330PM, when I stepped out, the bakery was filled with people drinking aerated drinks! I gulped down a lime juice, with little trace of the presence of any lime, left homewards. 

As FM played some good songs, and some cacophony, I kept focus on my driving, to navigate one of most chaotic traffic you can encouter anywhere in India... How much we honk!!! Ads for pan masala were most disgusting, with or without disclaimer. Still worse was a bollywood superstar (sic) romanticising pan masala!!

'The journey is as important as the destination....'

we keep reminding ourselves in all our work! 

I was reminded of a coaching conversation, where the coachee was struggling at work and at home. I wonder how many commuters were in that space - with issues at work and home. Then this commuting. Can it get worse?!

What are we manifesting? What are our dreams? What are we telling ourselves? 

As I passed the green patch in the heart of the city, saw this beauty at the signal, next to me. That was perhaps the only positive experience on road!! What have we done to Namma Bangalore :((