I am Back (well... briefly)

Hello dear followers! (Each of the twelve of you)

I am back for after a gap of close to 3 years, and for a short while. In the three years I was away, I did manage to study media (I specialised in journalism). I worked on various projects, internships, and now I am back to the academics as I pursue my Masters in English Literature.

My real motivation to return to Blogger is that this was my first blog and this was the place where I could connect with twelve people from across the world, who I had never met in person, but could be accessed through my blog. The thought was overwhelming and strangely empowering.  

Time changes a lot of things. I now see my self as exponentially more mature, with a perspective on the world around me. Though I still do not trust my self to be as informed about the political world as my peers, and ever be vocal about the same, I still believe I have bettered over the years.

My interests have developed to include photography among other pursuits. And to showcase this, well, I can't call it 'talent', so 'interest', I have decided to write another blog. this one is on Tumblr. the URL is http://samyuktashastri.tumblr.com/

But this was my first blog and my first set of followers.

I would like if the readers of this blog could sample my new blog 'The World Around Me'. As of now I have only posted a couple of photos and plan to showcase more. I would like for my readers to visit this blog and give me feedback, ask questions. I really want to know!

Thanks a ton :D



-Samyukta  

A little extra...

Human greed has never ceased to want a ‘just little more’; especially the one thing that can never be controlled.

How many times in our lifetimes have we wished for that one extra minute during an examination, five extra minutes before you reached the interview on time, one extra hour to spend with your best friend visiting after 2 years.

Our lives are filled with the strong urge to tick off all the items in our to-do-list; that has been gathering the dust of priorities, whims, obligations, prejudices, for years down the line. We somehow manage to suppress that craving to break free, to do what you really want to.

 Be it an issue of utmost importance like updating your blog that has been stagnant for the past six months or something as ‘trivial’ as expressing your feelings to the guy you have been eying for almost the same time now. We always put these things for the ‘right time’ or the ‘right day’.

And then one fine day life ceases to exist. The right time doesn’t matter now. Your pulse rate has dropped to zero. Your list will now remain in the same state for eternity. Actually, it no longer exists for nor do you; you are dead.

Then at the Pearly Gates of Heaven, you ask God for one day a single day to return to the earth and finally tick-complete all the items on that list. And then to your utter dismay, God tells you, “You lived on the earths for a purpose, the purpose of living your life, to the fullest. I gave you all the opportunity to complete that list, only you waited and hence wasted…”

Now the value of that ‘mere’ one day to you increases.

Mustn’t we, all those alive and kicking, learn to value that one day before it is too late. The ball, and God too, is on our side of the court. Periodically, God gives us that one day, that one opportunity to redeem routine for excitement, delight and the whacky. That is the quarter day every year that amounts up to an entire day every four years, the leap year.

Why should the 29^th of February 2012 ever be a normal mundane day? 

From trying out the wackiest and zaniest things pulled out from your wildest imagination to fulfilling the more serious and thoughtful desires that have been taking a back seat for long now. We need to do it all. Kick out the laziness your of your bones, gear up get/ find/draw inspiration and inspire others to complete their lists too. If you don’t have that list pull out the classiest stationery ever and start to jot it down in calligraphy.

Like this post is my way of embracing change of the six month routine in my life, bring out your desires and wants. Go ahead and help your selves to all the choicest experiences in the world!

Girls, go tell the guy you have had a lot more than a crush on, how you feel; don’t feel shy,  don’t wait for maybe he’s waiting too; and then we don’t want the Pearly Gates incident, do we?

            Guys, come on, go bungee jumping. Telephone stalk school friends, cook, paint, express or stich that hole in your pajamas that has gone way beyond the ten stiches. Learn new stuff, do gardening, or just stand and stare. PARTY!

Life gives a lot of extra, embrace it…

Back, Published and Interviewed!

"The pen is mightier than a sword."

-and none can convince me otherwise......

Last month I told you that I was headed to Mumbai to participate in the second round of Classmate Ideas for India contest and ...I am Back!

I was one of the most amazing experiences of my life(still a short life; more to come!). I had prepared well and was ready wearing a new sleeveless red top and white jeans; but somehow, for some unknown reason my adrenaline levels shot up and I took to wishing that our taxi looses its way but that did not happen as I was travelling with my mother, someone too well versed with with the city, enough to baffle cab drivers trying to take us for a toss thinking us to be outsiders.

However, we reached the hotel at the right time and proceeded towards the registration area. This was outside the main hotel premises and the scorching sun seemed to burn through my arms...I had forgotten sunscreen! Consciousness started to engulf me as I wanted to look perfect on that special day and all I got was sweat on my neck as I baked in the hot sun, no dressing on my arms and a topping of my waist length hair over my back.Believe me; Horrible.

It was a relief to get inside the air conditioned hall where we were to give our presentations. I found a vacant seat right in the front and my heart started to beat so hard that it was actually thumping! nevertheless, I was glad, I was there and that my chance came after lunch...

One guy suggested prototypes of new taps that would refuse to open if there was no water in the pipeline and then there was the dangerous idea of the guy who said he would install such gadgets in every car that would sense alcohol in the driver's body and then refuse to start!

The rest went on uneventfully, until the results were declared and the tap guy got into the final round.
Also, the judge appreciated me and my idea and said so aloud to every one. I felt ecstatic!

Everything seemed so normal and I came back home. As usual I reached out for the morning's newspaper and found that the 71St convention of the Indian Roads Congress was being held in my own city and found it amusing that this should have happened right after I returned after giving a presentation on bringing up the quality of roads.

The though of having my idea published in the newspaper crossed my mind but I did not pay it any heed to it (I agree that I should have being a WB student). later my Mother read the article and started to tell me of more fantastic things like going to the IRC or the municipal corporation and that too in a tone which suggested that I was a huge dimwit and had missed the opportunity of my life! She was actually, SCOLDING me!

Nevertheless, we finally went to the 'Hitavada' office and directly spoke to the editor there. He hardly looked at the write up and said that he was ready to print it and added that it would come mostly in the next day's newspaper. I did note that 'mostly ' from his sentence and could hope only for the best. the next day was a Saturday and there was no trace of my article.

Later that afternoon, I got a phone call from my school and they asked me whether I had submitted any article. For a moment I felt relived and thought that I had overlooked it in the morning but it was somewhere in the paper and I actually asked him: " Has it come?!!!" ( the exclamation in my voice was so evident that even though my WB tutor suggests against it, I feel compelled to use quadruple punctuation marks at once.)

But the reply on the other end was not in affirmative. He then went through lengths explaining that the news office had called them to ask for a soft copy and my photograph so that it could be printed. This news however, gave me no joy instead I hung up the phone in a haste and started to cry and weep like hell!

I somehow felt betrayed.

When I went to the editor, I expected that my article came in any small but normal area of the paper. But after I got the call, I somehow was sure that they had considered my piece for the weekly special youth page(the page, according to me, no one reads...)( though people do read that column, I wanted mine to come along with the normal others). I didn't like this idea and regretted that I would have to wait for  the Tuesday's paper to finally see my article in print.

As expected there was nothing in the Sunday's paper and I again took to a fit if wailing!
I made a big fuss out of it but my mother cut me short and told me that I had no right to insult my Alma Mater at least after the fact that they were the ones who brought out my talent of acting and anchoring and they being the ones who made all of the "High Profile" Nagpur know me...
Somewhere I knew she was so right.

Then came Monday morning and  voilà! There it was! I was made to realise that life isn't all unfair! Things might take time to come your way but they do for certain...
More than quarter of a page!

Ecstatic!

Not only had they printed the article, but also given a small write up on me!


I felt so guilty...

Nevertheless, I basked I the glory of this achievement as I received a number of calls of appreciation. Then rang another call. It was from school and this time I profusely thanked them...and got over the guilt!
But the call was for more than mere appreciation...'Radio Mirchi' wanted an interview with me!
Private radio in in India can be known by no other better name, the largest private radio channel, the most popular and always tuned in on me set; RADIO MIRCHI!

Aaaa...!

Could there be a better expression?

The next day the whole thing about the interview and all ended. At least that's what I thought...
The merchant navy group of our family friends decide to give me a Party!

Party?...Fun?....They asked me to give the whole presentation there!

Never mind...

Just returned from there.
But wanted to finish posting before, in a few hours, November ends...

P.S. : I agree that they did not pay me or any thing of that sort and also changed one single word in the article that changed the whole sense (I to she) but in the whole I liked it a lot...In print for the first time officially is just so great.

Round TWO!

I had been thinking of this all along yet it seems to have really jolted me when it actually arrived.

Almost a month ago I sent off a small essay to Classmate Ideas For India, a competition that asked the youth of the country to present their ideas for a better India of tomorrow. It started as a plain writing exercise and then turned into a deep longing to be the winner.

To give you a better idea, here's what I sent-

LOCK INTERLOCK

                                                                        -Samyukta Shastri

The first piece of infrastructure that catches the eye when one enters a new place is its roads. Sadly, the condition of the roads in this country is not that pleasing.

I suggest the use of interlocking tiles to build roads instead of tar. This has a number of advantages.

The gap between these kinds of tiles allows the seepage of water into the ground rather than simply evaporating or logging and thus helps the water table increase.

One of the favourite hobbies of our municipal corporations is to build roads and then dig them up to fiddle with the cables underneath- and we are ditched! However, this jaggedness is ruled out if tiles are used. Tiles can be removed and replaced for minimal wastage and the unevenness is resolved.

Since these are made of cement, they are strong and have a longer life span as compared to tarred roads. Interlocking tiles don’t wear off easily and thus needn’t be replaced frequently. The use of these tiles saves us a bit more of our natural resources.

Though more expensive than tar, interlocking tiles are a onetime expenditure. The laying of tiles is easy and also has the potential to provide employment to a large section of the unemployed society.

Lastly, these kind of roads will provide a better aesthetic quality and green trees paved alongside will further add to their splendour.

There are enough of rewards of swapping tar for interlocking tiles and it is most practical and sustainable. 

Obviously I had been excited by the prospect of ever winning and kept thinking of it over and over again.

True as it is, thought carries mass, and also attracts the circumstances that help it materialize. The same happened yet again when I received a call yesterday saying that I was selected for the second round! This fact still didn't move me but when I got a confirmatory e-mail a few hours ago, I felt stunned. In fact I still am really numb.

Thoughts seem to have just vanished and I cant do much, only sit and stare at the print out.

They want me to travel to Mumbai and give a presentation... in just another 10 days!

Butterflies are flying all over my stomach and even the teddy form the old wardrobe is not large enough to cuddle away my nervousness!  

I have been in dramas before, anchored various times before a crowd as large as5000 people and have no stage fright what so ever; yet why do I feel that crawl in my gut? (OMG! Is that a new phrase I just coined?!)( Maybe being nervous does wonders sometimes.)

All now right now is that I am going to school tomorrow and catching hold of my Computer Science and Engineering Drawing teachers to help me make my presentation.

At this rate I'll go on writing forever!

DON"T BE OVERWHELMED!!!

I shall describe the second round in the next month's post.

...But just to boast about myself: ONLY 500 out of 60000+  entries from all over India were chosen!

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Vishnu and Sudarshan

      Life is full of coincidences and this is one of them. Let me give you an insight into Hindu mythology. Vishnu is one of the main of the main Indian gods. According to the scriptures, Vishnu's abode was underwater in the deep sea called the Vishnulok. Here he stayed with his beautiful wife Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. He himself was said to be very handsome but his skin (as argued in different scriptures) was blue or dark shaded. Vishnu has 4 hands and in them he holds- a lotus, a conch, a mace and the sudarshan chakra (wheel).

     This Sudarshan chakra is said to have been made from the sun dust and thus not surprisingly, must have been a radiant fair looking chap if he ever took the human form yet he could not have been as tall Vishnu. The wheel never left Vishnu's hand as it was the weapon of ultimate destruction; it stuck on like a true friend and coming to use many-a-time to kill evil forces that caused havoc on the earth.

     Now for the big coincidence;

     It was time for us to go home and the buses were waiting. I had entered first and preferred to stay waiting inside. Soon enough, the others started spilling inside as the bus driver threatened to leave. None of my friends had come that day and so sitting alone I started observing the things around me.

     It wasn't long before my attention diverted to two of my juniors. They always stuck around together. The first one was dark and very tall and the second one was puny but terribly fair. Sometimes people made fun of the first one and if the teasing crossed the limits, the usually calm second one would burst out on them. the first one was an ace swimmer. I don't remember what the second one did but surely he was the best friend the first one could have.

     You know where I am going, right?

     These two had qualities as if they were avatars of Vishnu and Sudarshan Chakra respectively.

      Talk of qualities, they were Vishnu and Sudarshan, at least their names said so...         

One anniversary for the country; and one for me too.

It is 15Th of August and India celebrates the 63Rd anniversary of its independence. After long years of British rule, India finally broke the shackles of slavery and rose like a free bird to soar into the enjoyment of its newly found freedom. 

On the eve of 15Th August 1947, the first prime minister of India, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, spoke these words which have not only been etched in  the pages of history, but also engraved in the heart of every Indian;

"...at the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A time comes which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, when the soul of a nation long suppressed, finds utterance..."

Today, as the curtains ring down on the 63Rd year of our independence,and we stand on the threshold of its 64Th anniversary,all institutions across the nation celebrate this day of independence in some level or the other.The PM hoists the Tricolour at the Red Fort in New Delhi, the capital of India; government institutions have their heads doing the same and the national flag holds its  head high on top of the buildings, it has the feeling of triumph and it is no longer under the iron fist of foreign rule.

At the school levels, the flag hoisting is followed by a march past, some sport competitions, prize distributions, and a wonderful cultural program and oh! Yes, lots and lots of speeches!


After talking of the Indian anniversary,the time comes that I tell you of what makes this date so important for ME...


I just told you of the celebrations at the school levels and that's where I come in.


I changed 3 schools in the same city and it was only in the last school that I gained recognition for my talent in oration and acting.The first English teacher of the 3Rd school gave me the first chance at comparing. ...and it was Independence day!


Since that day it was never looking back. I anchored all the functions at school and even some of the programs that were not by school but the only relation was that they were private events of the people who owned the school . I am thankful to all those people who kept faith in me even when I initially fumbled.


Today, I am celebrating the 5Th anniversary of comparing and acting. It was real celebration and I just returned home hoping that I finish writing this before mid-night.


This might not be the best blog post ever, but that is all I can write after returning from a movie, dinner and real late night shoe-shopping( seriously only my mother can go to shops just about to close and buy shoes only half an hour before midnight!).




    


  

The Lady from the newspaper...

Some days ago as I sat reading the newspaper, I came across a photo of a Lady, really pretty.

It somehow captivated me and I set to work copying it as a sketch...really poor...you can hardly recognize the lady!!!