Another few hours and we enter the year 2008. One more year has faded into history. When I was young, a new years eve used to be fun. Weeks of preparation would go into planning on how best we could meet the new year. But as years go by and one mellows down with age, Things take on a different perspective. Delhi is buzzing with activity. The city is full of events to welcome the new year. Else where in the country we have Dance shows by famous actresses charging a exorbitant amount and cultural events organized aplenty. In short there is a lot of bonhomie around seemingly to welcome another year.

A curious thought entered my mind and that is basis of this article. We have become so accustomed to thinking in terms of time - weeks, months,years.We have started measuring our happiness and success in terms of chronological time. I personally opine that although for all practical purposes, we need to be in tune with linear time, but its absolutely essential that we live in the moment. It is the elixir of life. The moment has no time. It has no past or future and if one can live as it dictates the then we are not in the grip of time anymore. Having said that it cannot be a conscious decision to live in the moment, it has to happen spontaneously. And thats the catch here. When Oscar wilde wrote a century ago ” The best way to overcome temptation is to yield to it” , he meant the ecstasy of living without the encumbrance of time. When every moment is lived completely giving everything one has to it, then every second becomes a new year celebration, a party , an explosion of joy and fulfillment.

Well, I wish that this new year will bring joy to all around. Let all of us live and stop planning to live. Planning involves time. Lets experiment with timelessness. Cheers!!!!!

Benazir Bhutto has been assasinated today at 6.15 P.M. I do not know why I am slightly shaken by it. For some strange reason , when she decided to come back to Pakistan, I had a vague feeling that she may not return. Perhaps, its this thought that has moved me a bit. This is the third such incident in my life time. I was quite young when Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi were brutally killed and and I was quite puzzled by the reaction of the masses. But as I grow older, I have began to realize that such incidents can drastically change the face of the nation. The Bhutto family is a cursed one i guess. I personally liked Benazir Bhutto. She was charming, articulate and had a mind of her own. Bought up with the knowledge of the merciless hanging of her father, she somehow seemed to me as a personality destined to do something for her country. I may be wrong here, but thats my opinion.

I have earlier mentioned in one of my articles that violence is taking deep roots in Mankind’s societal fabric. The world is very quickly becoming a very unsafe place. One on hand we are becoming financially comfortable but on the other hand our lives are becoming insecure day by day. Meaningless violence, unnecessary confrontations, unhealthy competition and a sense of despair has become the order of the day. History is witness to the fact that unless Human beings realize their inner selves , we are doomed. That is the purpose of Philosophy. Not to blindly follow dogmas and beliefs but to understand our position in this universe.

What have we made of this world?. Suicide bombers,communalism, raping and pillage all over. Is this mankind’s true destiny. We have to as individuals rethink on this issue. We have lost another good leader to the blind alleys of terrorism. Hopefully Benazir Bhutto’s death will bring about the needed introspection and transformation in Pakistan. Its a hope. But I believe that Hope is life.

May Her soul rest in peace. I for one would fondly remember her for a lifetime.

Yes, I am back again. Sucked into the whirlpool of Corporate life, I didn’t have enough time to put my thoughts together. I recently watched a couple of films - “Saawariya” and “Chakde”. The first film was miserable. if Sanjay leela Bansali cliams that its an adaptation of a Russian short novel; then I am sorry to say that the film is nowhere close to the original. Russian writers have a strong sense of tragedy and its is pretty difficult to translate that into visual media. Even the best of directors have failed to capture the spirit of Anna Karenina on to the celluloid film, despite their best efforts.. I watched this adaptation of Sanjay with closed eyes. I was waiting for the film to get over .If not for my niece, I would have walked away from the cinema hall in half an hour. Having watched “Black” - a truly wonderful film, “Saawariya” is show stopper. Raj kapoor would have turned in disgust on the outcome of the film. I still have hope in Sanjay’s work. the last one may be an aberration from him but I am looking forward to better dreams from him.

On the other hand, ” Chak De” is a marvellous film. I have never been a great fan of Shah Rukh Khan. But the film smacked of seriousness and a sense of purpose. Choosing Hockey as game is a great idea;And especially Female Hockey. It had the right recipe for success. It was inspiring and entertaining to see the evolution of a disparate team cohesing into one unit and the dynamics behind it. The role of a an expert and his commitment and passion towards his job was awe inspiring to say the least.
Leading a team is not easy. To be tough when needed and to throw one’s arm over the other’s shoulder is a difficult choice to make.
Buts thats what great leader’s are made of. The art of management lies not in the MBA’s that one has acquired, but in the capacity to see things as they are. Their is no science to it. Its an art and can never be replicated across organizations. Each team has its own dynamics. Its upto the manager to tap it. When to play the right person, When not to is a decision that comes not from formal training but a deep down instict that “knows” what is right at this moment and what is wrong. There may be hurdles along the way but a true leader recognizes them and finds way to surmount them.

Watching Shah Rukh play the role of a coach who has a point to prove and his way of grooming the team is a revelation of sorts. Chak De inspires one to do something. The title song categorically states that the time has come to do something. Thats the Mantra for today. Lets not languish in apathy. Lets get into action. Right or wrong, we have at least done something. Thats the litmus test of life. Chak De !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!