My anatomy of some weird thing called 'Life' (Ver 1.0)

Disclaimer: These views are entirely my own and are written using the universal or generalised approach. It may seem to be paradoxical and pedantic at certain places and it's totally natural for others to have different opinions or disagree with it. We were all born and brought up in diverse environments, with different upbringing and with a different outlook towards life which, in comparison, is just like how all five fingers in a person's hand are not of the same size. So, your comments and feedback are most welcome.
This is written keeping in mind my present level of thinking and understanding. Subject to change or modifications in subsequent versions under the same title.

"Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyways." -- Anonymous

1. Don't judge a book by it's cover

What you see is not what you get, seems to be the mantra for most people. Pretense and hypocrisy is the order of the day. I don't understand why there is the need to show different standards when you really don't believe in or possess those qualities from within. It's a different thing altogether if you genuinely want to improve yourself like me (Come on! Get over it will you). Probably that's why my blog is named Unpretentious Mortal. So it's best not to create or have an opinion of any person/s through hearsay or what other people say about them. Read inside the book and find out for yourself.

2.Nothing lasts forever

Yes. Nothing. Just do some introspection and you will find out. Your habits, your dreams, your ambitions, your career, your wealth, your misery, your current state of life, your girlfriend/boyfriend, your spouse... You name it. It just isn't meant to be. Now you may say: "I have a diamond that will last forever," but when the survival of the very world you live in is in question, what forever? Even if it doesn't happen, will you survive long enough to keep the fancy stone in your possession forever? Or "We're a couple who will never break up no matter what," but what if death does you apart the very next day??? So love what you have when you still have it. Don't take anything for granted. You never know when things may come to an end.

3. Cheating is primordial within everyone

Especially in India. People ferret around for the easy way out. Why not do it in the easiest and most fructifying way than do it the right way? However, much one may deny that s/he (including me) doesn't indulge in such low level activities, it is nothing but lying to yourself. Do some introspection again! From throwing away your food when you were young and then telling your mother that you finished it or, tricking your friend in a board game or, paying a little bribery to the R.T.O officials to get your driving license easily or, taking a sneak peek at your friend's paper while writing your exams are only the beginning.

4. Marriages are not made in heaven and sanctified on earth

Marriages are made on earth and broken on earth itself and it's in the power of the people getting married to nurture it. It's a grand occasion in one's life that calls for a celebration, followed by dreams of a rosy future and high aspirations from each other. Berating criticisms and arguments that follow just show that it is in the hands of the people getting married to first understand what they want from life or, if they can adjust with all the jittering and commitments that follow after marriage, or is it just the lust for the opposite sex that has lured the person into it. After all, a marriage is not a compromise. It is about giving your 100%. Just think, if marriages were really made in heaven, then why there is such an alarming rise in divorce rates???

5. Communication skills play a pivotal role in attaining your goals

Have you ever wondered how some guys who look atrocious end up with beautiful damsels or, how some worthless idiot in office with subnormal skills overtake a better deserving candidate in the promotion rung or, why a person with a great sense of humour is the most awaited one in a get-together party? It's all due to communication. I agree that other factors like money, favouritism, plagiarism, timing, sympathy, etc. plays a part in it, but it all comes next to the way you put across the message and is in some way or the other connected to the way you communicate. It need not necessarily mean to say that your oral or written or verbal communication skills need to be superior to others. Non Verbal communication, which is the most widely used, will also do, as long as the message is passed on in the most effective and comprehensible manner.

6. Most of us have our priorities all messed up

Who/what is more important to you? Which one would you rather prefer to go with?

Your parents or your lover?
Your ambitions or your family?
Your friends or your close relatives?
Socialising or keeping to yourself?
Curricular or extracurricular?
Money or Peace of mind?
Health or wealth?
Most people make the wrong decisions in life and later regret badly for not having realised it earlier.
These and various other questions keep haunting you. In life, one needs to keep shifting between the poles, but knowing the limits and drawing the line of optimisation is what one must realise and work for.

7. Everyone has the delusion that s/he is almost always right

Now I deliberately put almost in the heading. It's because many people do acknowledge the fact that they commit mistakes or cheat or act in a derogatory manner, etc. but somehow, sometime later, people make themselves believe that it was all done keeping in mind the good interests or intentions for the overall well-being of everyone around them including themselves (No pun intended). Remember, there is a jungle filled with detractors and conceited people out there. So this leads to some people thinking that they're perfect, while all the others are at fault- constantly and conveniently forgetting- that they themselves fall under the category of others to the people around them. So before taking decisions about who is right or wrong, I feel one must step into the shoes of others to know them better and to give the prejudices a break.

8. Time is the biggest healer

This is something I strongly believe in. Whatever may be the cause of mental agony, disturbances or sorrows, it is all wiped out to a large extent if not completely, as time passes. Many new events come up in life to make up for the bad ones, and which make you get over the past. Love is another great healer, but is not as freely available as time.

Hoping the post made some sense and was interesting. Look forward to the later versions of the same post which will be written as and when I learn more about this wonderful journey called errr.. What was it called? ah! Life

Simplest way to make chicken masala: The Mohanlal way

Now I'm hoping there will be some jobless Mallu people reading my posts somewhere in the near future (it's alright if you aren't a Mallu too). I'm also hoping that they would have seen this romantic comedy movie called "Boeing Boeing". This in an example with reference to the disarray that a change in media can bring about in someone's life. Me, being a hardcore Mohanlal fan, thought I should incorporate some of his ingenuity into my writing. So here it is...

Chicken Disaster Masala (This is the link)

The first step here is to wake up all the others around you, if any. Then, tune into 'Akashavaani Madras' (known for giving out only the most practical and palatable recipes ever) for the recipe of the day which happens to be a delicacy known as Chicken Masala. The procedures are as follows (includes the mise-en-place):

1. Clean the chicken thoroughly with water and keep it aside.
2. Now keep ready the required amount of chilly powder, coriander powder, pepper powder, curry masala, ginger, potatoes, tomatoes, garlic and green chillies and leave it aside.
3. Grind to a fine paste the chillies, coriander powder, curry powder and garlic. Don't forget to add salt as per taste.
4. Hold the chicken in your hand. Then, slowly inhale, taking a deep breath. Move your hands towards your sides and get back to the same position with the poor dead bird.
5. Now spread the chicken's legs open holding it upside-down. Move the neck up and down and again go back to the previous position.
6. Get the chicken to rest on it's feet and stay in a vertical position. Rotate it's wings forward and backwards in a uniform motion. In the same way, loosen it's neck and rotate the poor thing's head (if it has any).
7. There you go! What lies in front of you is the delectable 'Chicken Masala'. You can now serve it in a clean vessel accompanied with salads.

സ്വാദിഷ്ടമായ ചിക്കന്‍ മസാല റെഡി .

How I wish every dish we made was so simple to prepare. You just have to twist, turn, roll, hurl, and voila! Saves so much trouble.

Hope you enjoyed it. It's as easy as 1-2-3. Please give in your feedbacks after trying out the recipe. ;-)

My Alma Mater: What I recall most

St. Germain High School is one place that I can never forget. This school, among other things, has played a pivotal role in making me the person I am today. So I thought I should pen down my thoughts about it. Hmm... Now what do I write about it? My memory is pretty bad you see (God forbid my modesty). :)

For starters, there were the teachers; most of whom had really pertinent nicknames. My classmates come in a close second. These guys who shared the same platform with me for studies, fun and games, and mischief of course (I'm deliberately putting mischief in the end because I wasn't a mischievous kid as most of you would have misunderstood me to be. Whatever incidents have happened which make you feel I'm mischievous were either by accident, or it was one big misunderstanding. Duh!). I can never forget the benders I've got from Pacho (my math teacher Mr. Francis D'souza who eventually went on to teach me SUPW) or the slaps I've got from Mr. Wajid Khan, our Chemistry teacher. Incidentally (and unfortunately), Pacho also used to be in charge of students who came late to school, and me, being me, was always late to school. I would then be sent to Mr. Fazal Bari Khan, who happened to be our "Discipline Master" (You read it right, a Discipline Master. You really needed someone with such a job position to control the guys there). The conversation goes like this:

Pacho: Come come bugger! Late as usual
Me: Sorry sir, actually I, actually I...
Pacho: I suppose you're not late. Rather, everyone else is early
Me: Actually...
Pacho: Give me your school calendar. Time for another late remark. For all you know, you may set a record this year for getting the highest number of remarks.
Me (with regretful eyes): OK, here it is.
Pacho: Now go to our beloved Discipline master's chamber (a lion's den I would say) and collect your reward
Me (Mentally cursing): @!#$%^&!!!!!!! Not again!

The reward was always the same- Chicken sitting- A cruel & barbarous way of making a person squat while bending and placing his head in between his legs. Anybody who dared lift his head up would get a very painful bender on his derriere. Believe me when I say, that it was a real torture and the pain was excruciating. Guys with long hair got a little something extra. Yeah, you must've guessed it by now. They got a free haircut. A haircut that made a porcupine on steroids envious of you.

The time spent in the classroom was no better (Not blaming the teachers, who used to work fervently and with immense passion for their respective subjects). Time to get your minds working and time to get your homework checked. I don't know why this system of giving homework came into being. As if the trees (for the books) we're already wasting on our class work weren't enough. This is when I get the second "reward" of the day. The reward gave me special privileges to stay back after school along with like minded kids. This privilege is better known as ‘Detention’.

Now we already know the inhuman methods of punishment used by Pacho (Benders/Slaps), Wajid Khan (Slaps @ 100+ decibels) and Fazal Bari Khan (Benders/ Chicken sitting). Here are a few others who make it to the list for the use of their unique weaponry.

Mr. Francis Mathew (Nondi)- Wooden Duster- Hard knocks on the knuckles with this lethal weapon. You also got a complimentary coating of chalk dust on your hand absolutely free!

Mr. Joseph Kumar- Some great philosopher once said in the Bible "If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also," but with Mr. Joseph Kumar, that probability never arose because he ensured that he always gave double sided slaps which left your cheeks red-hot, like newly smitten iron (that too, early in the morning).

Mr. I. Charles (Chori)- Here was someone who didn't resort to slapping or physical harm. His main weapon was the teacher's remarks that he gave on the student's calendar; remarks that had to be signed by the parents. If anyone showed the slightest tinge of misbehaviour his calendar was promptly adorned with beautiful remarks. I still remember the weirdest one I got from him- "Jumping and laughing around during the prayer time. Parents to meet the class teacher."

Mr. Samraj (Kaka)- The man who was responsible for our physical training, sports, games and athletics had another unique weapon. His whistle had a thick rope knotted to it (a mini whip) with which he used to lash the boys who went a little out of course (reminds me of bullocks and buffaloes). Making us run five or ten times around the ground was another option he had depending on the type of offense we committed.

Animals at least have PETA to back them up to tackle such ruthlessness, but the poor students (not exactly) had to be content with mental cursing, and a beseeching hope that such an event doesn't happen again.
But at the end of it all, I feel some students (I said some, not all, and definitely not me) deserved such a treatment in order to rectify their incompetencies and mistakes, and this was, according to these teachers, the best way of getting the students on the right path then.


Another thing that I cannot forget are our hockey matches. The times when our school beat its arch rival St. Joseph High School (European) in the finals was really something to look forward to. A typical hockey match included:

• The players from both sides of course (funny)
• Drums, trumpets and other such paraphernalia
• Charged up students who came to cheer for their respective schools accompanied by a few teachers to control them (most of them would quietly give up and surrender to the strings attached with such energetic matches, and the audience of course)
• Booing and shouting slogans against each other (and you guessed it right- slogans filled of profanity)
• Fist fights or throwing things (including corn cobs) at each other sometimes (yeah only sometimes. Honestly!) and finally,
• Victory! Mostly for us (I'm serious).

While hockey, cricket and football (for which our school received many accolades) came under the category of outdoor games, there were a few of us specialised in games played inside the classroom; me being one of them. The most popular among these were pen fight and arm wrestling. Needless to say, I was a champion in both. Only the big boys in class could defeat me in arm wrestling (a different league altogether isn’t it?). Pen fight was a game played on the benches or the teacher's desk by two or more people with the main intention of making the rival's pen fall off it and winning points. This was done by striking the pens against each other with planned positioning.

One more thing that I loved about school was the last day of exams. This was, according to me, a moment that brought about immense merriment in every student. Two months of vacations were a lot in the asking after so much of studying. I also used to look forward for the school to reopen with the same interest level. It was indeed a joyful occasion getting to meet all my friends again after such a long break. The anxiety of knowing which section I would be shuffled to, and which good friends would accompany me was also there. Another thing we missed, being part of an all-boys school were girls. This explains why I'm still not good at the flirting game. ;)

After school I don’t know why, but I didn’t keep in touch with any of my batch mates or teachers (I was shocked to find out that most others didn’t, just like me, and they were stepping into school after a period of 8 years. Now that makes it an even deal). It was only recently; with the help of certain social networking sites that I could rekindle the old fire (I said old fire, not old flame). Most of them couldn’t believe their eyes when they saw me the way I am today.

Throughout my school life I was a really skinny guy (It was only while I was doing my graduation that I started to bulk up and get to the way I am now). I used to curse myself for being like that. But I kept telling myself that one day I’ll become healthy and strong, and now, I’m so relieved that it materialised. One thing that made me famous throughout the school was Yoga. Coming from a pedigree specialised in the discipline meant I needed to know it too. I used to perform certain difficult asanas to impress my classmates, and my trademark trick was to hold my hands together and rotate it from the front of my body to the back of it (or vice versa, without letting go of my hands). I was elated and taken aback when my friends said that they still mentioned my name whenever they discussed Yoga and sorts with others.

The incidents that I regretted doing in school are too many to mention. But the one thing that clearly stands out was when I got caught passing on my answer script to my friend sitting on the other side of the aisle. I couldn’t even make up a different story to tell my mother because I had already confessed to indulging in malpractice, in writing to my teacher. My mum was called to meet the principal who later told me not to attend the rest of the exams. My friend, to whom I passed the answer sheet, was also shown the door but he was lucky his parents didn’t have to be bothered as he was a boarder.

Our Old Boys Association meeting and the reunions that followed is something I’ll always treasure and look forward to. The teachers were in fact very happy to see us all doing so well for ourselves. It made me feel good about the fact that we have changed a lot from what we were in school but changed for good I must say, all the while keeping our basic characteristics the same.

I end this topic with a few verses of the cheer we used to shout against the opposition team during all the hockey matches.

Wherever we go, people want to know
Who we are???
So we tell them...
We're the Germainites, the mighty mighty Germainites, We're the dynamites.........

MISSING LIFE

I miss my childhood, I miss my teens
I miss everything that happened in between

I miss my walks, I miss my talks
I also miss the good old ‘On the Rocks’

I miss the gatherings, I miss the meetings
I even miss the daily morning greetings

I miss the days, I miss the nights
I miss those bright and exciting daylights

I miss my rides, I miss my fights
I miss the occasional “love bites”

I miss my drinks, I miss my eats
I also miss a few heartbeats

I miss my dreams; I miss the screams
I miss the days of extremes

I miss my role, I miss my soul
I miss everything on the whole

I miss the beginning, I miss the ending
If I don’t say this, I’m #$%^&@ pretending

My Blog's 'Word Cloud': Elements

A Boon Indeed

I have found solace. Solace in writing posts for my blog. My new found interest and hobby. The pains that I have experienced this year was worse than any other (or at least that is what I'd like to believe). Actually it can't be called worse. Challenging is the right word for it. It's like 'Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger'. Thanks to blogger, I now get to pen down my thoughts online whenever I recall the past. Revert it to something that can be forgotten, to something that reminds me of the good times that I've had and the good times that lie ahead. Doesn't matter if anybody reads it or not, but it gives me a sense of achievement, an opportunity to improve myself, and help my thoughts to have a form. This is my way of retribution, in a good way of course. So don't worry if something or someone is inflicting pain on you. It may all be happening for your own good. A new confidant may sprout up to share all your hard feelings. To give hopes of a better tomorrow.

To live and accept life the way events (happy or sad, good or bad) get thrown in its path is the order of the day. Sorry if I'm sounding like a preacher of philosophy, but it's all because life has made me a stronger person.

For, if you wish to give up and "If you cry because the sun has gone out of your life, your tears will prevent you from seeing the stars"- Rabindranath Tagore

An Itinerary to Coorg: A trip that never happened

This is an itinerary I had prepared with my own efforts for our biking trip to Coorg in September 2009. The erratic weather played spoilsport to this otherwise well planned trip that did not materialise. Anybody wanting to go to this peacefully beautiful hill station can refer to this document if they're too lazy to do some research.

Itinerary
KODAGU- September 2009 (Read this Carefully)

Gentlemen and ruffians, friends and familiarities, it is with great elation that I announce to you the Itinerary for our trip to Kodagu- nicknamed the 'Scotland of India'. This document will contain all the necessary information you’d need to know.
This tiny district in Karnataka hosts a wide array of splendid flora and fauna for visitors; not to forget the weather, with temperatures as low as 14 degrees centigrade when we get there this Friday. So don’t forget to get your jackets, sweaters, or whatever makes you warm from within (You know what I mean):)


Timings
The lethargic among us are warned (Mr. X & Mr. Y to be precise): We need to get our asses out of this place by 6:30 am, no matter what. So don’t come out with excuses like “I didn’t go to the bathroom” or “I didn’t even inform my parents about the trip” and such lameness. Remember one thing- It just causes inconveniences to all the others. We need to get there before lunch time.

Duration
The trips will last two days and two nights. (We're leaving on Friday morning and getting back on Sunday evening). Anything over this will demand a higher budget (from our limit of Rs.1500 per person).

The Route Map


The Distance from Bangalore to Madikeri, the district headquarters is exactly 250 km. The route we'll be taking for the onward journey will itself have a variety of offerings to travellers, but we need not get too excited about that as we have quite a bit to ride. At the most, we may visit Balmuri falls, which comes en route, take a few snaps from there (No playing in the water), and scoot from there ASAP. We can consider going to Mysore on our way back to B'lore.

Places of Interest

MADIKERI- Day 1 (Friday)
• Abbey falls- 9kms from Madikeri
• Madikeri Palace
• Omkareshwara Temple: In the heart of Madikeri, built in a Mohammedan style.
• Madikeri fort- 1km from Madikeri
• Raja's Seat - 1km from the bus stand- best time to visit is after 5 PM.

Overnight halt in Madikeri

KUSHALNAGAR- Day 2 (Saturday)
• Tibetan monastery- Bylakupee
• Dubbare Elephant camp: boat ride, rafting and playing endlessly in the Kaveri
• Nisargadhama: 3 km from Kushalnagar
• Harangi Dam- 7 km from Kushalnagar

A visit to ‘Thadiyandamole’ is also being looked into. This is the highest point in Coorg from where we can get breathtaking views of the Arabian Sea and the Kerala coastline.

Overnight halt in Kushalnagar

Coorg Map


Warnings & Precautions:
• Rash and reckless riding is a big NO-NO. Lives of people are at stake.
• Carry befitting clothes with respect to the climate
• Carry mosquito repellents.
• Good shoes suitable for mountainous terrain to be worn.
• Stick to the group. No drifting away allowed.
• Juvenile behavior and hooliganism of any degree shouldn’t be displayed.

Anyone trying to act funny will be ostracised. ;-)

Thanks and Cheers: ARJUN RAMESH

PS: Every year, thousands of tourists lose their lives while holidaying or travelling for leisure due to lack of seriousness. It is very important to give high priority to your own safety and the safety of others around you. Don't indulge in activities that can be detrimental to you or your loved ones in the name of 'just having fun'.

Meena Bhavan, Tellicherry

What is the image that comes to mind when anyone mentions Kerala to you? It would definitely be the greenery or the beaches or the backwaters or some picturesque hill station or scenic place. God has been very generous to this small state in South India, which has the highest literacy rate and migrant population in the country, in terms of Flora and fauna.

What comes to my mind when I think about this place is my paternal grand parents' house (See pics below), where I've spent a significant part of my life. This well-kept house, situated in a large, serene, naturally landscaped area filled with various fructifying trees and flowering plants, have many memories attached to it. From learning new things as a child (cycling, making bow and arrows using coconut leaf midribs and toys using the leaves, my first experience of school, socializing with people, drawing water from the well, going to temple festivals or Ulsavams, playing with my first set of pets, etc. to name a few) to making erstwhile friends, from having our yearly family get together, to seeing my cousins getting married and bringing in their brides, from learning the authentic way of cooking using grinding stones, earthen pots and firewood, to singing devotional songs in our ashram (See pic) and much more.

The house, situated in Tellicherry, a major town in Kannur district has seen, played host to, and sheltered many generations of occupants. The main structures within it's boundaries are the house, the ashram (with an underground enclosure for meditation), and the medicine manufacturing area (I hail from a well known family specialised in Siddha Vaidya, Ayurveda and Yoga, dating back to five centuries).

'Meena Bhavan', aptly named so after my dad's mother, is what the house is called. Sadly, ever since my grandfather (see pic) expired in October 2008, it has been abandoned. The house, which was ever filled with people, is now waiting for someone to occupy it (My dad's sisters of course, to whom the house eventually went after partition).

With sad thoughts filled in my nostalgic state of mind, I wonder whether those lively moments will ever come back (or will rather even come close to what it was in the past).