Saath-Saath

In June 2009, I acquired my Engineering degree in Electronics and Telecommunication – First Class with Distinction – something that my parents always dreamed of and that made them proud. But as soon as that dream came true, the next one in the pipeline made its presence felt more prominently than ever – my marriage. All of a sudden, the fact that I am still single, with no history of affairs to my credit, began to seem like my biggest mistake ever rather than a laurel for my patience and virtue. Even my close family members that I highly respect (I think) started blurting out quotes like “Can’t you find anyone on your own? We wouldn’t have to go through this torture if you had a boyfriend, you know”. Oh Hello! I am the one going through the torture that you guys are putting me into! I am just 21 years old, and am not sure I can handle myself well, let alone an entire family! That was when I decided that I am not going to succumb to the traditional way of marriage and I am not committing to anyone till I get the concept cleared. Hmm.. noble thought, but how to accomplish that?

That was when my aunt informed me about Saath- Saath. Initially when I heard the concept, I felt like my prayers had been answered, and God has created this institution just for me (He has been known to do that time and again, you know). Saath- Saath literally means ‘Co-existence in real sense’. I decided to give it a try. And that has proved to be my best decision so far.

The prominent aspect of this institution is that it focuses on making a well-thought and informed decision that is the result of serial meetings, role-plays, trips, workshops, informal discussions, and so on. Whenever a person wanting to get married visualizes a happy married life, he or she tends to focus on their partner – their qualities, physique, and the way they make us feel, and so on. But we tend to forget that there are two people in that picture – and the one we forget – is us. This is what I primarily realized at Saath-Saath. The reason I adore this institution is because it is here that I realize more about myself- what are my qualities, what are my expectations from  myself, what do I want to achieve in life, which are the areas where I can compromise, and which are the areas where compromise is impossible. Then I can actually think of what I expect from the other person.

More importantly, this institution has also made me realize that the way I have expectations from my future life partner, he too will have some expectations from me. And this realization motivates me to better myself to meet those expectations – for the sake of a happy and fulfilled life. The process has helped me gain clarity of thought, wherein I now base my expectations on realistic notions, rather than the lovey-dovey romantic fantasies that are inherently the effect of watching too many rom-coms.

The members at Saath-Saath are a cohesive group that consciously tries to maintain an atmosphere of friendliness, respect, equality, and support. They are enthusiastic and innovative. I have met many people here who have inspired me in one way or the other. It helps me break out of my comfort zone and learn about hereto unknown dimensions of my own personality. The organizers and counselors are well-trained and experienced professionals, with the rare quality of progressive thinking. They are eager to help you out with any question, or in my case, confusion that one might have. They are always open to new ideas and are very supportive in their implementation.

Thanks to Saath-Saath, I have gained a better understanding of the sacred institution of marriage, wherein it poses as the optimal opportunity for us to grow and progress as individuals, rather than a social obligation. It has helped me make the process an enjoyable one, rather than a “have-to” and “get-it-over-with” approach. I wish them all the very best and may they continue on this benign path to help the troubled souls reach their magnificent destiny.

What is Love??

What is love? Good Question. According to me, it isn’t what they usually show in movies – girl meets boy, they fall in love, get married, and live happily ever after. It is just one perspective.

Love is that emotion which binds the entire universe together. It is the only Truth. It can be understood by anyone and everyone – irrespective of caste, creed, gender, race, living and non-living. It is the connection of two souls. Love is the dark energy that encompasses the whole existence. It has no boundaries of time or space – its time is eternity, and space is infinity. It is omnipresent.

Physical attraction has no meaning beyond reproduction and evolution of life species. The bodies will perish one day, but the soul, the love will go on forever. Thus we must strive to enrich and beautify our souls. This is the purpose of life according to me – to enrich and strengthen our souls with acts of love and kindness, so that we can step up the ladder of existence. Also we should lend a helping hand for those who are lagging behind, if they want.

This is love for me -the love of God for me. As rightly said in the 2007 movie, ‘Year of the Dog’, we have just one life to live, and so many things to experience, so many forms of love to experience - the love fora spouse, the love for a girlfriend/boyfriend, the love for children. This is my kind of love. The one Bella felt for Edward in Twilight. Forbidden, Impossible love. Realistically insane, impossible, impractical. Yet this is the only kind of love that I truly know, have completely experienced. I can never explain it, not even to myself, but this is the only truth I know.

For others, I might be insane, but I know that it is the only thing that keeps me sane in this mad bad world. It is the force that keepe me going when others tell me I can’t do it. It is the belief that gives me the strength to preserve my goodness and innocence even when I can see the triumph of evil all around. And it is the unconditional infinite love that allows me to love and care for all living and non-living entities unconditionally and selflessly(or so I honestly try) God Bless us all:)

Chetan Kelkar – My Boss, My Mentor

On graduating with an engineering degree from a reputed institute, I was raring to get going on the career front, just didn’t know how. I had the requisite talent, the capacity of working hard and so on, but without a direction. That was when I met Mr. Chetan Kelkar.

Chetan Kelkar is the CEO of Agile Technosys, a prominent web design and development company in India. I joined Agile Technosys as a Content Writer. That is how I got the opportunity to know this multi-faceted personality.

Chetan Sir is the true example of a self-made man. A Computer Engineer by qualification, a normal 9-to-5 job couldn’t satisfy the passion he has for his work. So after coming to Pune from Mumbai, he set out all by himself to carve his own niche in the IT domain. This is how Agile Technosys- as we know it- came into being. With the initial employee strength of 4 people, and the initial investment was of Rs. 8000 only he started the first office in a 250 sq. ft. basement. From there, Agile Technosys has grown to have employee strength of whooping 175+ and multiple offices at various locations.

Chetan Kelkar is one person in whom you can find totally opposite trends of human nature perfectly blended together to form an amazing personality. His astute calculations, flawless methodical planning, and business-minded nature mesmerize you completely; while his benign nature, helpful and friendly approach, simple and down-to-earth attitude make you feel comfortable in his presence.

He is a staunch believer in his values. His conviction of right and wrong guides his actions. He believes in fighting fair and sensibly, rather than following the tit-for-tat method. He believes in the policy of Equal Opportunity for all, and goes out of his way to help those in need, without projecting fake sympathy.

His dedication to his work is mind-boggling. For him, nothing matters more than his work. He is extremely methodical in his work, and a terrific planner. To see him juggling all tasks at once is a great learning experience.

He believes in talent and hard-work, and not degrees and certifications. He always promotes budding entrepreneurs and helps them set up their own organizations. He shares his knowledge and experiences with anyone who asks foe help. He encourages and motivates youngsters to excel in their fields and acts as the strong pillar of support.

His Never-Say-Die attitude is what separates him from the crowd. His plans to the minutest detail. At the same time, he is not afraid to take risks. He has a very positive attitude towards life, by which he considers every failure as a stepping stone to success. He never gives upon an idea he is convicted about; he follows it through and makes it successful.

He is an exemplary visionary. He thinks beyond the capacity of a normal person. To appreciate his thought process, one has to be exceptionally brilliant and attentive. He has a good insight for the current and future trends, and knows how to cash in on them. Every time you meet him, he astonishes you with one of his awesome ideas.

There are very few people who have the courage to dream, and make their dreams come true. Chetan Kelkar is one of them. To me, he is the person to whom I owe all my knowledge and experience. He has not only taught me the tips and tricks of a successful career, but also has helped me grow into a better individual. He is truly my ideal boss, my mentor.

Joy of Giving Week

India celebrated the Joy of Giving Week from September 27 to October 3. Whenever we hear the phrases ‘giving’ or ‘contribution’, the first thought that arises in our minds is – What can an ordinary person contribute to anything? How is my involvement going to make a difference anyways? But this is not true. Here are some ideas help you play your part.

To start with, remember this- money is not the only form of contribution, it is one of the possible options. There are various other ways that you can consider. The simplest form is – SMILEJ. That is all it takes. People have forgotten to smile. Wherever you go, they hang around as if mourning someone’s death. Even if you smile at them, they are hesitant to smile back, as if scared what you may ask of them in case they return your smile. This is one of the prominent reasons of increasing stress levels- people have just forgotten how to be happy!! So go ahead, smile freely, and make someone’s day. Don’t worry if they don’t smile back.. Just keep on smiling at everyone till it becomes a contagious epidemic and everyone starts smiling again!

The next you can do is increase the kindness quotient. The most practical way to do this is – use ‘Thank you’ as often as possible (but not to the limit of irritation). Whenever you take an auto, thank the driver. Whenever you go to the grocery store, thank the salesperson. Go to a hotel, thank the waiter. Or, go home and thank your mother, father and so on for just being in your life. Or better still, thank God for giving you a life in the first place. So go ahead, express your gratitude and make people feel better. Simple enough!

You can also contribute your most valuable asset- your time. These days, we have every materialistic amenity possible, but what we lack is time for our near and dear ones. So go to a military hospital and serve the wounded soldiers there and tell them that you appreciate their courage and dedication. Go to an old-age home, and spend time with the inmates. Trust me, you will make their day. Or just take out some time form your crazy work schedule, and spend some quality time with your spouse, or children, or parents. There is no bigger reward in the world than to see the people you love being happy.

There is one more kind of contribution that you can make, and it is of utmost importance. It is the power of spiritual energy. I know it sounds all high-fundoo, but it is actually very simple. All you have to do is think good, positive thoughts about everyone and everything. Whenever you feel like cribbing or criticizing, stop yourself, and instead think of some happy thought, any good thought. Though we do not realize it, this really goes a long way to heal someone, or to balance things out. And the reason we don’t do it is that it is so simple, that we are just not aware of its power. So from now on, think as many good thoughts you can.

The choice of the means of contribution are personal- each person to his own. I have done my bit by practicing these ideas and sharing it with you all by writing this article. All the best with yours. Wish you the Joy of Giving!!!

Sanket Gandhi – The Relentless Dynamo

This is a regular scene in my office: everyone is working hard on their respective computers, deeply absorbed in their work, when suddenly, you hear a moan, and then a loud call – “Sanket!!”. Then, from nowhere, Sanket Gandhi, the savior, appears to rescue the programmers from the problematic computer, the ‘not working’ network, the ‘loss of Internet connection’, and so on. When the work comes to an absolute standstill, and the PC user is gaping helplessly at the computer, he resolves the issue and puts the machine back to its working form, God know how. He is a total pro in network management and administration.

No one, absolutely no one I know has better knowledge of this field than him. Extremely helpful, ever smiling, and constantly on the run are the prominent attributes that can be assigned to him. He is easily accessible, and never says no to help. Personally, I am grateful to him for answering all my stupid ignorant questions very patiently. I fondly call him ‘R&D’- for he is always learning and developing his skills. If he is not working on some complicated network issue, you can see him reading, thinking, and trying out new techniques and solutions with absolute dedication. He gets absorbed in it completely. Since I have joined this company, I have never seen him idle even once. Not only that, he even helps others to gain expertise in the field by training them.

All in all, a great human being to work with, with a lot of qualities worth learning and incorporating in my own life. On his birthday today, I wish him all the luck and success, which he rightly deserves. May God bless him..Happy Birthday Sanket!

Love. Marriage. Friendship…

IMG_2190, originally uploaded by CarlosMendozaPhoto.

 

What is love? This is a question that has been asked by many since the birth of time-and in varied tones-innocent, sarcastic, inquisitive, ponderous, and even angry! So, what is love? It is not what they project in movies – girl meets boy, they fall in love, get married, and live happily ever after. That is just one perception of it. But in reality, does this perception really hold ground? Probably not.

And marriage, what does that mean? Don’t you think that the whole “Do men understand women” and “Why are women so complicated” and “Men never understand what we mean” thing has stemmed from this institution? Now-a-days, marriage is supposed to be something that everyone is “supposed” to do..Once you reach a certain age, you are “supposed to get married”. How many couples that get married every single day, understand the true meaning and value of the concept?

According to me, love and marriage are the most over-hyped things on the surface of this planet, when, in reality, they should be the most natural and obvious things! You do not fall in or out of love( as per your convenience). Love just happens, it just is!

And marriage- truth be told, it is a very well-thought-of and pure institution. It is when two people decide to come together to share their lives together and help each other grow as human beings. This is what it means for me. But when plagued with the unrealistic expectations (that are ,in many cases, inspired from fairy tales), that problems begin to crop up.

The solution that I find most relevant to these problems is friendship. I have seen many couples, who used to get along really well as friends, started hating each other after falling in love and/or getting married. Think about it. If a couple were each other’s true friends, won’t they strive for each other’s happiness, without expecting anything in return? A guy would always help his female friend with the dishes, but would have to be coaxed by his wife to do the same. A girl would be more understanding about the need for space with her male friend than she would with her husband. To quote Monica from the popular television series Friends, “I don’t want a wedding, I want a marriage.” True isn’t it? Almost everyone of us thinks about a wedding, how many of us give a thought to marriage?

Practically, you can NOT ‘love’ someone every waking minute of your life, but you can be friends forever.

So I think to preserve any relationship, friendship should be the start, end, and middle of any relationship. Then love and marriage will be an experience that will make our lives worthwhile.

These are my views on this topic. I would love to hear yours and try to see another angle to it. Let me know what you think…

How to write a good blog

Many of my friends have complimented me on my blog, and expressed the desire to do the same. That’s why I decided to write this post to share some tips and tricks of the trade. So here goes:

1.Choosing a blogging platform:

To begin with, choose a blog platform that you find comfortable and interesting. Play around with the options before finalizing on any one. Blogger and WordPress are good to begin with.

2.Choose the theme of your blog:

Once you finalize the platform, decide the theme of your blog: whether you are going to write on sports, technology, literature, spirituality, or are you simply going to write about your experiences and thoughts. Trust me, deciding the theme beforehand, definitely simplifies the writing process.

3.Play around with the appearance to get the feel:

Most people feel that once you create a blog, you ought to start writing blog posts. I beg to differ. In my experience, I enjoy playing around with templates and widgets to get the feel of the blog, and then start the actual writing. This gives me a sense of ownership of the blog, and thus makes the writing experience much more enjoyable.

4.Begin the writing process:

Now for the crucial part – the actual writing process. Start with the topic that you know well, or are really passionate about. You must be wanting to share something with your readers. Do not be in a hurry to finish off this task. Take your own time, think extensively before you write, brainstorm, write, and review. That’s it. Simple isn’t it?

5.Keep it simple:

One of the common mistakes among new bloggers (including me) is that we tend to express our ideas in a complicated way. Since we have to say so many things, we tend to just go on and on and on. This leads to lessened interest in our posts, as reading long sentences on the PC is a bit tiresome. So say whatever you want in a simple, crisp, and precise way.

6.Express one idea in one paragraph:

Whenever you want to write a post that would consist of more than one ideas, always express each idea in a new paragraph. This helps the reader to keep track of what is being said easily.

7.Be interactive:

Always remember that there is a human being that is going to read your posts. Make sure that your posts are interactive in nature, like a general conversation. This lends a sense of involvement for your readers, and enhances their reading experience.

8.Use the active voice:

Use the active and direct sentence construction to increase readability and understanding of your post. Inactive voice or indirect speech often form a tedious reading experience. For instance, use the active voice is easier to understand than the active voice should be used.

9.Use visual indicators as much as possible:

Make use of as much images and graphics, maps, charts, and so on as needed to assist the reader in understanding of what is being said. Visual aids help a lot in conveying the meaning correctly. Just make sure that you do not clutter your blog.

10.Explore, Experiment, Enjoy:

Blogging is a platform which lets you express your creativity and thought process. It is an on-going process. Make the most of it. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Explore different options, experiment with them, and make sure you enjoy the process.

Here is another post by a pro-blogger on the same topic: http://www.problogger.net/archives/2006/02/14/blogging-for-beginners-2/

That’s all for now. If you need any more help, feel free to contact me. Till then, Happy Blogging!

Karpewadi – Paradise on Earth

In the frantic pace of today’s life, amidst the constant ringing of cell phones and the hectic work schedules, our heart craves for a solitary moment of peace and quiet. This is what you gain at Karpewadi. Situated near Alibaug, on the eastern coast of India, it is the perfect destination for a family get-away. No cell phones, no internet, no newspapers, television – just you, your dear ones, and nature – truly Paradise on Earth.

It is a private beach resort, just a 3-hour drive from Pune. The first thing that strikes you as you reach there is the soothing peace and quiet. The breathtaking beauty of nature is a treat for the eyes. On arrival, you are served refreshing natural drinks of kokam sherbet and coconut water. The accommodation provisions consist of well-furnished cottages which have a traditional-village feel to them. There are hammocks and swings to escalate the relaxing experience. The food is delicious as well as nourishing. The expert chefs at the resort prepare the typical dishes of the coastal area as per your requests. The staff is very courteous and helpful, and extends good service.

After settling in, you can proceed to the beach. The path to the beach is a beautiful way through the woods. Being a private beach, it is absolutely clean and not at all crowded. It is lined with ranges and ranges of coconut trees, smooth and firm sand, and crystal clear water. You can enjoy the boat rides, which take you deep into the sea and if you are lucky, watch the dolphins. The view there is marvelous. Surrounded by water on all sides, the sunrays playing on the water surface, the infinite sky overhead, birds sitting on the still water surface, and pin-drop silence – it is really a worthy experience.

Being in nature’s vicinity soothes the ruffled soul. It heals and resurrects the spiritual energy within you. All the stress and tensions of your daily life vanish into the thin air. You miraculously find the answers to all the troubling problems that you might be facing. The unpolluted, pure air refreshes your senses. The serenity of the place offers you a chance to reconnect with yourself and with nature. You feel one with nature, and can admire the splendor of natural beauty – the sunrise and the sunset, the scaling heights of the trees, the varied hues of natural colors, the mighty mountains next to the infinite water- it is a superb experience. You truly appreciate God’s powers and His Creations. It is an experience that rejuvenates your entire being and prepares you to take on your worldly responsibilities with a renewed vigor.

In the mad rat-race of our times, such a vacation definitely helps to gain the right perspective and regain your strength to face the obstacles. Hope you enjoy your stay at Karpewadi. Bon Voyage!

My advent into the ‘other’ world

Being in the content writing field for almost a month now, I have grown quite acquainted with it. My engineering college days seem like a distant past, though it was just a few months back. Also in my office, I sit with the marketing team, which is not concerned with the technological aspects. So when I got the assignment of preparing a User’s Guide for a software application, it was a completely new experience for me. And I was supposed to spend an hour in the programmers’ area. Hmm…

The first thing I noticed the moment I settled there, was the pin-drop silence. Being with the marketing team for so long, I am used to the constant chatter and ringing phones, but the picture here was completely reverse-and scary. Each and every one over here was engrossed in their own world. I could practically hear their brains wheezing around me. Everyone’s eyes were glued to the monitor screens, hands either rolling the mouse-wheel or moving frantically over the keyboard, looks of absolute concentration on each face. I was feeling totally out of place, and had to make an extra effort to maintain my voice level to that of a whisper.

The person who was supposed to guide me was busy, so I took this chance to explore this new world. On every computer, I could only see lines and lines of code in an alien language, and what bemused me was the fact that these people understood them! I was mightily impressed with their devotion-like attitude towards their work, and their extreme patience:)

I realized that the backend job is extremely difficult and, according to me, boring. It is these people that make our lives so much easier. The things that we achieve ‘at the click of a button’, are the result of hours and hours of the hard-work of the programmers. It was truly a humbling experience. It inspired me to put in everything I have to present the magnificent work of these dedicated beings in the best possible manner, to the rest of the world. Kudos to the programmers!!!

Change is inevitable

Change is inevitable – this is the tagline of my present company. For some strange reason, it has mesmerized me since the moment I heard it. It implies a far bigger concept than what these three words signify- this is because it is not only applicable to my company, it is the only truth of the moment.

If you really think deeply, every single thing in the universe is undergoing one or the other form of change every second- the electrons changing their speed and direction, the atoms changing their configuration, the planets changing their position, and humans changing their spouses! Ok, bad joke. But honestly, Everything’s changing!!

Now if the entire structure of the universe is changing, the time is changing with every passing moment, why the heck are we still bound by our ancient traditions?

The event that triggered this rebellious thought was the festival of Dussehra that we celebrated yesterday. There were loads and loads of flowers of marigold and leaves of some particular tree (aptyachi paane) on the streets. At first, I was delighted to see the beautiful flowers in such abundance; it definitely was eye-candy- till the time I realized that so many trees had been deprived of their flowers and leaves! Just because traditionally, this is what was exchanged as a token of good luck. But that was because in olden days, that was what was readily available! There were trees and leaves and flowers all around, and it was real easy to go pick them and exchange! But does it make any sense to do that anymore? As if we needed any more trees to be cut and the land eroded! Can’t we utilize that money to put a smile on the face of a homeless person?

And this is just the tip of the iceberg. There are many more such stupid, blind, mindless following of traditions. I am not saying that the traditions are stupid- at the time when they were formulated; it was the best thing to do. But they are not applicable anymore. What sense does it make to throw and waste rice grains over the married couple in marriage ceremonies, when so many poor people are dying on the streets all over the world because of hunger? When our ancestors decided on this ritual, it was the right thing to do, because at that time, food was in abundance and population was less, so it made sense to use it to signify blessings being showered on the couple. But not anymore. Won’t it be better if we now donate that amount of food to an orphanage?

The same thing in case of division of work between husband and wife. In the olden times, there was the clear-cut division of work, wherein the husband was the bread-winner of the family, and the wife used to take care of the household chores. But in today’s times, when women handle responsibilities at par with men, is it not necessary that men should shoulder some of the household duties? Then why does the “society” still insist that the woman should look after the work and house and kids, while it is derogatory for the husband to help her out? What age are we living in? Primitive??

All I want to say through this huge article is that times are changing- and we need to change with them- for the betterment of our future. Let us try and adjust with our time, share what we have with others, and make everyone happy:)  Happy living!!