सब कुछ चलता हैं!

आज कल यह एक ख्वाब रात भर सताता है,
आँखें जब खुलती हैं वो ख्वाब टूट जाता है,
ख्वाब टूटता है तब दिल ज़रासा जलता है,
पर क्या करें यार, अब तो सब कुछ चलता हैं!

पता नहीं क्यूँ पर तन्हा घूमना रास आता हैं,
पता नहीं क्यूँ भीड़ में दिल घबराता है,
फिर भी दूसरो को खुश देखके मनन में कुछ खलता है,
पर क्या करें यार, अब तो सब कुछ चलता हैं!

तू अगर अच्छा है, सच्चा है, तो तेरी यहाँ जगह नहीं,
यही आज की रीत है, इसकी कोई वजह नहीं,
सबको अपनाने वाला आखिर में सिर्फ हाथ मलता हैं,
पर क्या करें यार, अब तो सब कुछ चलता हैं!

दुनिया अब किसी की नहीं रही, सब अपने में मस्त है,
दोस्ती एक नाकामयाबी है, ख़ुशी गंगा में अस्त हैं,
दोस्तों, सिर्फ अपनी सोचो, अब इसी में सफलता है,
क्या करें यार, अब सिर्फ यही चलता है!!

मिलना है तुमसे, बहुत कुछ कहना है
जुदाई यह कुछ भी नहीं, आगे बहुत कुछ सहना है
मिएँगे कभी, साथ रहेंगे, यह अरमान दिल में पलता है,
पर क्या करें यार, अब तो सब कुछ चलता हैं!

Adios.
Regards,
Kunal Lodha

The Child!

Before writing anything, I would like to thank Mr. Varun Gandhi for reminding me if this incident that i had forgotten in the mundane activities of life. His "famous" speech led me back to those dreadful time after the bomb blasts in mumbai in 2007. It was a small incident i want to share here!

it was a week after hundreds of people lost their lives in the mumbai local train bomb blasts. things were getting back to normal, people had resumed their work, lives and were slowly coming out of the terror caused by the blasts. i can't recall the exact day or date, its been a long time now. but what happened is still etched very clearly in my mind. i was standing near the gate in the first class compartment of a churchgate bound virar local in the morning at around 7:50. the compartment was not even half filled of what it is generally. things were not still good. some of the daily commuters had lost their friends or colleagues or family members, and the heaviness of their hearts could be felt in the small compartment. everything was silent, the silence which people long for in a normal - all good day! but not today. everyone was uneasy.

suddenly i noticed a muslim family sitting in the train. the old uncle, aunt and a small child , probably around 2-3 years old. he was crying aloud but they didn't do anything. they were afraid of all the eyes looking at them. the hatred which was never shown on the news channel during those days in fear of causing more troubles, was being felt by them (on them) and many others at that time. the fellow passengers who used to sing bhajans and play cards were all silently staring at the crying kid. their eyes were moving from him to the guardians (or probably grandparents). it wasn't a scene that was observed daily. a beautiful, innocent child crying and people just ignoring him!

the train haulted at andheri station and in came a haughty mister whom i had noticed quite a number of times in this local. he was an extreminst hindu and was known to pass strange, unnecessary and abusive comments on the muslims and be proud about it. when he entered, i had a strange feeling - an uneasiness, a fear that something bad is about to happen. and something did happen. but not what i had expected...

the mister went inside and stood near the opposite side of where the scared family of three was sitting. he heard the cries of the child and turned back. i was observing each and every second of this event and i swear, my heart was skipping beats. you must be thinking why! because the mister had entered shouting abuses on the muslim community and all the things the people inside he train were already feeling. i was afraid that his one comment or action might spark off a fire that could have burnt the whole train that day. the mister was in an aggressive mood. (i later came to know that he had lost his friend in the blasts and it was his first day to office after the horrible events). he turned back and saw the child crying - the child's eyes red with tears, his cheeks all swollen up and probably he was also hungry.

the mister stood staring at the child. everyone could feel that he was getting disturbed at the sound and that the volcano in his mind might just burst. but it was not to be. nobody knows why but he started whistling. whistling the complete song - "aa chal ke tujhey main leke chalun aek aise gagan ke tale. Jahan gham bhi na ho aansoon bhi na ho, bass pyar hi pyar pale". i was shocked. amazed. and i could not believe what was happening. it was in a minute or two the child stopped crying. he was looking at the mister (who was not looking at him). and everyone was looking at them.

the uneasiness had started to lift and the atmosphere was becoming light. dadar came. the grandparents got up and started to leave. it was here their eyes met the mister. it was at this time the mister really saw the child.

and it was here the child smiled!!! that innocent smile lit up the faces of all the fellow passengers. i could see they were just as happy as the child was. the mister smiled back. it all happened in two minutes and the child and the grandparents were lost in the crowd as the train started moving.

the child who could have been the victim of the hate that day had brought happiness in the small train compartment. by the time we reached churchgate, i am sure everyone had that innocent smile in his heart and i am also sure that their day was brightened with the sunshine of a smile. oh i forgot to add. the smile of a muslim child!

how can i believe you mr. varun gandhi, or for that matter any person who is trying to propagate hatred in our hearts. i agree that our innocence has been lost in the attacks that have happened in all these years. but there is still innocence in the smile of every child, and that innocence is what the world needs today. the mister was a hater like you mr. gandhi, but in front of a child, even he could not show his feelings. the feelings vanished with that smile.

the smile that was neither hindu, nor muslim, or any other religion. it was the proof that we all still are the same and that just because people like you and others for their political and other benefits try to bring in the divide among people. i just wish you would get a chance to see that kind of smile. and i hope it is soon.

adios.
regards,
Kunal Lodha

Lost!

i had lost you, years ago,

but the strange thing is -

now i don't want you back,

i don't want anything bright here, or white here,

i m now used to black,

i am used to the darkness,

the hopelessness,

the loneliness...

the never ending tunnel of despair,

my life got screwed such,

that nobody can repair!

i don't want you, o smile!

you better be lost...



you know na why were you lost,

'cause some friends took you away,

friends - the word, the illusion that doesn't exist

anyway,

they took you, and you went along,

singing that goddamn song,

and i was left here,

with tears,

with hopes,

that you would return...

but you didn't, oh damn you!

you didn't!

i waited and waited, and finally...

i lost!

i lost my battle with sadness,

it has empowered me,

tortured me...BUT!



but tell you what ? i am also through...

i don't want you,

now do whatever you can do!

let people ask "kunal, don't you smile ?"

i ll say happily,

no i don't,

i don't, i don't, i don't!!



P.S.: This is dedicated to my college people from K.C. College.

Breaking up "MANAGEMENT"

was sitting in the class, trying to pay attention to the lecture but was not in the mood today (yet again, ufff) suddenly i saw the word "management" - okay i have seen it more than a hundred thousand times now but todaywas something different. i started breaking it up (told you notin the mood to do anything constructive or productive) to get the smaller words and was amazed how nicely management could be broken up to form new words that relate to management.

Okay, it's childish and it may not appeal to you, but then, who cares. J/K ( haha)!

Here come some of the words I took from management and also how I broke them (people from ABS who'll accidentally or forcefully read my post, i want to clarify that the post is 100% original ;) )

1) Man/Men - of course management is done on the four M's - Money, Method, Material and Men. Man/men had to be a part of it.

2) Age - The art of management (managing people, resources, decision making etc) improves with age and experience.

3) Team - Aha! this was a surprise. Management decision today are not taken alone, your team has to be with you. employee empowerment and making them participate in the decision making is a part of many corporate cultures (my HR book said so) and thus team will always form a part of "management"

4) Mate - Some of your team members may become your mates, friends, buddies, etc. This improves communication within the team and helps to manage things better. Communication is an important key to the room leading to success.

5) Name - Creating a name for your organization, team , project etc. is important for a manager. the name (or call it the brand) will determine how much importance you have in others' opinion.

6) Neat - The art of management should be not be sloppy. Risk should be taken when making decisions but one should not just "jump" into it. Calculated risk is required. Also the work you perform should not be just for finishing it on a deadline. Ofcourse time is important but the work should be neat and in a way that stands out.

7)Meet - Meet people. Need not say more about it

8) Meat - Not for food. I take this meat for money. All things are important but ultimately, the management decisions are all taken to maximize this meat and thus it forms an integral part of management

9) Mean - You gotta be mean at times (It's just what i feel, no compulsions :))

10) Maa - If there is someone from whom you wanna learn management its your mother. she manages everything so perfectly, that all management gurus should take a bow. Vande Mataram.

there are many more words, but these were the ones i found to be apt for the post (and also to keep it short)

Comments are welcome, ridicule is not :)

Adios.

Regards,
Kunal

P.S. I had forgotten a very important break-up of the word -

GAME - management's a game that is to be played with ethics (haha), with sincerity (double haha!) and with good intentions for the company, for its people, for customers, for the nation, in short, for everyone. Just ask Ramalinga Raju, he'll let u know! ;)
just kidding!
thanks gopika for reminding :)

Simply Nothing!

the fire inside

has burnt my soul today

i cant stand living in here

a place which is

full of lies, deceit...

i want to hang myself in shame

'cause i have been part of this dirty game

that's been played here every day

by everyone

the praises, the applause...

everything here is fake,

the people, the so-called friends!

for god's sake,

stop all this, it ain't gonna help,

sugar coating your insults and tryin' to belittle others

is not something we're here for

but who am i

to tell anyone this

the person whom nobody listens to

who's made fun of behind his back

who's remembered when the laptop has encountered

any problem,

or when you are alone and

want someone to accompany you for a walk,

or just to talk!

do you know who does that ?

a dog!!!

yes, may be, that's what i am!!!

Charlie chaplin as Hitler

The "Right" way of blogging!

Sitting in my room, I was showing a friend my new posts! And i got some very good ideas from him about "How to blog"

First things first...he told me to stop the 3-5 dots i put after every comment....see..these dots!
These ain't professional - you are not supposed to put so many dots in your blog.

Secondly, let the blog begin with a capital letter! oh, i knew that! dammit!

Thirdly, promote your blog!

And fourth, K.I.S.S.! (I hope you know)

I would like to thank him for his "constructive criticism" and I swear by my college that I would follow all these from now on!

Hail Stalin!

adios!
regards,
Kunal

bad presentations.......aaaaaaaggghhhhhh!!!!!!

the last 3 days have been tiring....lots of work....presentations and no result at the end of all of it.

i look upon Steve Jobs on how to give presentations....to learn from him the intricacies and things to be kept in mind while making the presentations. of course you cant be charismatic....its inborn (though my OB book argues it). but the way he presents there's a lot to learn...

i used to think i know a lot....i have learnt everything from watching his videos...imitating him in my close room and ALONE! but when it comes to presenting in front of an audience..that too comprising of all the people i know since 8 months now...i still don't deliver. my last presentations were as bad as they could get...in the first one i just could not speak due to some physical problems....and the second i took the safe way out by presenting two vague slides which were not at all important to the topic....and as it can be guessed..i dd not get marks for the "effort"...
feeling dejected and still tired of the work that has been assigned....i was going through seth godin's blog..(a new way to vent out my frustration.....reading blogs and trying to find mistakes in them..haha)...he writes that 'great presentations can be made when the presenter is respected by the audience and when s/he gives love to the audience in the form of teaching, learning, help and use of other forms'...and i totally agree with it..

but then what struck me was...when i try to justify myself (to me)...i thought....seth's right...i should get the respect (i don't know for what but i should get it) and i am giving my love to the audience by "trying" to make them understand something they know or simply don't want to listen to.


though there are some classmates who have got great body language, great speech and great convincing power (and some have great impression...an impression that forces people to listen and praise them even if they speak s**t)...they are the one people respect but they don't give "love" to the audience...something seth calls as "a self promotional talk"... :)

the problem all of us face in the class is that nobody bothers to listen to the other. everyone here wants to have his or her share of fun and enjoyment. nobody cares about the other (though we call each other friends) and will do nothing to encourage the presenter during the presentation, but will have hundreds and thousandes of motivational and consoling words after the presentation has gone bad. i have seen some people (not necessarily from my class) trying to console the others but end up irritating the person.

but that doesn't mean i am justifying my bad presentations...i was under-prepared, not well and of course just not in the mood to give the presentations......not my fault...haha!

though i know that the presentations can be improved by lots of preparations and pratice...but there's only one thing i got from the whole thing is that i don't call for respect from my own classmates (still don't know if that's important) and which is something i ll have to work upon.......
any suggestions ????

adios
regards
kunal