21st AGENT OF CHANGE

Change is the word that is most beautiful at times and at times most lethal. You love change when it happens for good and you dislike it when it tears apart your comfort zone. Change touches you every day, every second with or without you knowing it. Agent of change has been having various forms throughout the different timelines in history and now when we stand in a world made smaller by those long running optical cables across it, the agent of change has never been so close to us.

Back in 90s, we had the telephone landlines that helped us to get connected with each other and as we moved towards 21st century cell phones came that made us closer. Though they made us close we were never close enough to know what exactly is happening each day in your friend’s world. Then orkut came that changed the game, the way it had been being played for all these years. Orkut brought a new dimension to our life until the day we started logging into facebook that showed us that the new dimension shown by orkut was smaller. Though I joined FB in 2007 I was never an active user. Before I write further let be clear that I am not here to write praise songs for FB.

Slowly with passage of time my inbox started getting numerous requests from my friends and from people whom I had no clue who they were, as the race to increase the friends count had started. FB had started making its mark in world’s largest democracy and the marketing gurus were realizing the potential it could open up for a one to one marketing. Initially I logged just once in a week and that soon changed to once in every day which soon ended with every couple of hours. The fun of exposing my life to others and pleasure in peeping into others life were all time high. Number of likes for every crap we put out there was like medals on the chest. I could see change sitting in my home, at park, car or even at office just by running my fingers across the smart phone. I could see change kissing my friends every second. I could see where they are, what they are doing, whom they are with, what they are eating, what they wear, did they sleep or woke up, did they exercise, do they love their mom, did they graduate, did they engage or break up, how it looks when it rains in Dubai, what movie they saw, which car they are driving and even what they are feeling right at this moment...In a nutshell I could see every second in their lives when change touches it. As we walk down further and the present becomes past and part of the history I am sure this agent of change would be remembered for a long time, for the generations to come.

1995 - Dream Faded by Magic

I was born at a time when my generation used postal service as a mode of communication. So if I had to send a piece of message to my dad who was stationed at Kashmir with his regiment, I had to walk in to a post office or an authorized centre, buy an inland, write my letter, stick it with glue and give it to amma when she goes to office next day so that she can post it. It would take few days before he gets the letter and it would be further delayed if he was on duty at the border. But hope keeps me spirited that the letter would have reached him and he would have replied to mine with a promise that he would be soon back at home with the Sony Walkman that he promised last time. After a few days I got a letter with my name written bold in ‘to’ address. I was ecstatic for two reasons, one that was the first letter that I ever had received under my name and second it had the news that he would be coming for his annual leave in May. It was only March and I was occupied with the year ending exams. Summer heat was getting hotter with each day passing by.

Temperature at Ottapalam was reaching new highs. Bharathapuzha was dry causing water shortage in the region. We always say that water level in the water well in our compound and the level of water in Bharathapuzha are same. Though never proven I wished to believe it that way. As exams ate a good number of days in March I was too close to the day in April when the world loved playing practical jokes on every one. School had announced the closing dates and it was mid of April just after the Vishu. For me Vishu always had a special place though Onam was considered the state festival of Kerala. The special part of Vishu was kaineettam which helped me raise my pocket money for the next year. My school was closed two days after Vishu got over. Amma had got a letter from dad which said that he would be landing at Ottapalam on May 7th. That gave me a new goal line that I need to target for. 

Though I was spending my vacation with the days split between mine and relatives home I always took some time off to dream on what I would be doing when I will get by Walkman. I dreamed of hearing the music in bus, on the banks of Bharathapuzha, in bed and on and on. But that was fun as they say what you heard is sweet and what is yet to be heard is sweeter. I had decided that I would go to Ottapalam railway station to pick my Dad. Then came that day, the day when sun shined a bit brighter. I was in my best dress. A red checked shirt untucked against black trousers. I took the platform ticket and waited at the platform number one. Twenty more minutes were left for the arrival of Kerala express. From the platform I could see Bharathapuzha.It was dry with only a trail of water which flowed on the left side of the river. The weather and illegal sand mining had taken a heavy toll on the river. They were saying Bharathapuzha was dying and I hated to hear that. The diesel engine roar broke all these thoughts, the long whistle signalling everyone in the train and on the platform that it was coming to a halt. I adjusted my position where S10 compartment would stop. Train slowly passed me and I could smell the friction between the running iron wheels and the mighty rail as the engine tried slowing the train. There goes S2 and then S3 and I could see dad’s hands waving signalling me. That moment was always special though how many times you would have had it before. I need to say that I hated the same moment when the waving hand was moving against me. It always wets my eye though even after years when I was the one who was waving hands and dad was the one at platform. As he came closer to me and I could see him clearly. S10 stopped in front of me and I helped Dad to get his luggage out from the train as the stop was hardly for two minutes. We did it with more than a minute to go and I need to say that his training years in Army had moulded him to be fast enough on his responses. He hugged me and I was so happy and excited. We rented an Auto from the Auto stand in front of station and reached home in less than 10 minutes. 

All are excited and the family was re-united after almost a year. I don’t know, but there is always a special fragrance when dad comes for Vacation and I and my sister loved it. We sat in our front room with his luggage towards the side of the room and he shared his train experience which we loved to hear. Amma prepared tea in between as we listened to all those exciting experiences from Dad during his train journey. Dad could see my excitement as well the hidden curiosity in me about the walkman. The next best part in Dad’s vacation was opening his luggage though years later I never felt it when I came with a bundle of luggage for vacation. May be he would have felt it then. Dad told me that he had got me Sony walkman, four set of batteries for it and couple of cassettes too. In the mess of luggage and the train journey he had forgot which suitcase or box he had kept it. So that left us with the beautiful task of opening every box and suitcase. We opened all that he brought in but couldn’t locate the walkman. I could see the batteries as well the cassettes but not the walkman. He was sure that he had packed it and he had no luggage missing. Latter we found a cut in a box that you would observe only if you closely look in.  A cut that was done smart enough for a hand to go in and grab the treasure there.  But next came the question of when and who? Dad had carried it all the way in his hand and the only time when he was away from the luggage was when it was carried from his camp to railway station and someone in the crew in the rickshaw did this magic of vanishing my walkman. When he did that magic he never knew that 3800 kilometres away he had vanished dreams of a boy too. Though it had dampened my spirit, I was cheered by the fact that he had brought a small little calculator with a flap to cover it. Though it couldn’t replace the walkman at least it could fill the vacuum that made me better. As I finished the tea we had relatives walking in to see Dad and that made me forgot about my dream faded away by a magic.

my life in 963 words...

It’s has been almost one year and 4 months I landed up here..Life has changed from been a baby boy to someone with responsibility..I love this and I am proud of this..It wasn’t all that easy from the day one when I landed up on this beautiful planet earth..I had my mum with few of my brothers..She fed us..I never knew who my father was..Mum told it was god and till today I love to believe that way as it gives me strength and wipes out any kind of loneliness I felt...I was fighting with mum and brothers for my share of milk from her..though it was a big family we were happy..But as said life isn’t that easy..It always throws challenges at you..to make you better and more better as the master programmer knows what he is doing..I lost my mother someway which I am yet to figure out..I don’t know and all I knew was me and my brothers were left out alone in the street against the cold wave and the hot sun strokes as our companions during night and day..I knew that my existence would be hard and I would perish down the soil with no one knowing the time I was born nor I died..life played again..I lost my brother to the changing climatic conditions as he was too weak to withstand the brutal forces of nature..I was counting my days laying under a shelter near a mechanic shop..My brothers moved out as they thought moving was a better choice than staying back..I never saw them again…It was November when the cold was creeping in and I was freezing in a corner..I closed my eyes and I could hear death walking around the streets towards to me to wrap me in a golden sheet and take me with her..I could hear it in the air..I closed my eyes and I could hear my heart pumping against a body which was bidding farewell to the world with still a hope of one more day in this beautiful earth.


But faith always pays off..I could hear sounds though my eyes were too heavy to open for my body was weaker to move..I gained strength..Shrugged against the wall and opened my eyes..I wasn’t dreaming, but was I ? I wasn’t... coz I could feel the energy in the room when I opened my eyes..I could hear those exciting voices touch my ear drum..I could feel the warmth of body against mine...From the roadside to a home..I was just too happy for been alive though my body was too weak against my strong emotions..I was bottle feed for the first few days..Food came from time to time and all I had to do was sleep and wakeup for the next round of food on my table..Days passed by and I gained strength to walk around the house..for I never knew that this was the place I was born for..


Turning back one and half years now looks like a story I love to tell..I have a strong Dad my Master, beautiful Mum, Lovely sister and a Bold brother..I have a family whom I can Look on..I am happy now coz I am the pet of the family…I have a beautiful kennel ..I have my own plate..I have my own territory defined and most of all I have the love I really want..I have the freedom for everything..I play, I run, I chase, I sleep, I hang around at times lazy but mostly I bark... coz that’s my business...


I was so happy when I heard my Bro found his girl..I was happier coz he was happy..I was waiting for the day when I could see my new sister..I was excited and thrilled which I didn’t hide and ran around my territory to diffuse my emotions..My bro though away from home comes to Visit me once in a month..He plays with me a lot and we used to share a bond of friendship.. Who said Animals can’t speak coz we speak without speaking...I loved him coz he was naughty so was I ..My eyes would always be wet when he finishes his vacation and moves back… But life had to be moved on..I was happy for him; though I would miss him…after all he is my only brother.


I was shocked and devastated when I heard it.I couldn’t believe what I heard..Why was this been told? Why was life giving me a shock again? Air froze around me coz I as not able to breathe, I was losing my hearing as I couldn’t believe what I heard.  As my new sister didn’t like me nor my brothers and she wanted me to be shipped to some different house..She was fearing that I would lick her, I would go near her..If I had an opportunity to speak in my life I would have told her that, that’s the way that I show my love, that’s the way I show my gratitude..How can someone do this to me..I am all alone and by shipping means I would be plucked from my sweet home, away from my loving parents to a territory unknown to me..away from home…away from what I had been all these years…I couldn’t cry as I was too weak and sick for that..My world has been torned apart..I have a bleak future..I could be back to the streets where I was born..to be survived if I am wild enough among my other brothers..Or to be perished to the soil, fighting with them or hit by a fast moving automobile, but this time with a gratitude that my small sacrifice made a huge difference for my master’s life..I wish if I could speak I would have told her why I lick...I wish I could speak

~a dog

A day photographing at Vandaloor Zoo,Chennai

Vandaloor zoo located located in Vandalur, about 31 kilometers fron Chennai,India is a Zoological park. The park is well connected by both metro buses and the sub-urban train networks. To turn few pages back shows that the park was founded in 1855 and now spread over 602 hectares. I personally oppose the idea of animals been caged and been showcased as show pieces. Vandaloor zoo stands apart as more than 70 percent of the wild are been left to live the life as they want. Here are some pics shoot randomly through the one full day at park.

The King

Always a photographers delight.He is enclosed in open fenced area where in he was having a afternoon nap. They have a lion safari in the park though not much is to be expected from that.

Lotus or Lilly 

But they throw good amount of challenge when its a rainy day..We were lucky as it had rained the previous night and washed off the dust and was ready for the snap.

Yet to figure out what to call it ?

But they were in bunches expect for the few like the below wandering alone in a lost state of mind. 

Mr DRAGONfly

He was there over the bud for a long time....May be talking to the bud.

Mr Giraffe 

Tall enough......

Lion tailed macaque

Is an endangered species usually found in western ghats of south India..

Mr Strong

Indian Biason is strong enough to knock you off...They are the heaviest and most powerful of all wild cattle, and are among the largest living land animals; only elephants, rhinos and hippos consistently grow larger, and the weight of gaur may equal or even surpass that of a giraffe. 

Mr Photographer

Photographing a photographer is always pleasant!! 

The zoo not only has wild animals but offers Safaris like Lion Safari,Elephant Safari. People flock in large numbers as there is also a children's park inside the Zoo..A good place to spend a day and with whom you come never matters (he he..could be your girl friend,family or friends) as the wild is going to cast its spell on you.

Is the ruling political spectrum listening to the nation ???

When the Nation is burning not with violence but with non-violence as the medium I would like to reflect the great leaders and their attitude towards this revolution led by a Man and followed by lakhs not just held to the Metros but through the veins of this nation. Never has been in the history of India after independence has been such a movement that has not just triggered but carried out with the same vigor and passion by all the flag bearers of the revolution. People who are not in the streets are supporting through the online medium and others through helping to spread the fever.  But all these doesn't reflect nor even alter the mood of the ruling class. May be they are deaf or may they are much smarter.

The dummy captain who rides the ship is a great navigator. But he is a bad leader, worse orator and a voiceless captain who gets too much eaten up by others. When the country is shaken by the revolution that desires for a change, a change for the best of the nation he gives a speech which sounds like written by a nursery kid who have been born with the portion of logic in his brain still undeveloped.

The true captain who pulls the string’s behind the show has been bed ridden and can’t help as this is a country where the Idea ‘Walk and Talk’ populated by Idea was a big hit. So if you can’t walk don’t talk.

The prince who may become the next captain is running from Poor men’s hut to hut in search of some left over rice soup to express that he is concerned about the poor men..My dear prince..Please do understand that people whom you think are dumb or even deaf are able to understand you as you not only empty their left our soup but also leave after they cast their Vote..Time to practice some satyagraha and let the poor man drink his soup.

The Congress spokesman is like a barking dog which only barks but never bites. I am sorry by comparing 'man’s best friend’  with the congress spokesman I am bit offensive with the dog..But can’t help out.

The old coterie that has been the head of the congress has lost its direction, its visions and looks like it is walking with eyes blindfolded. May be a good return for the people who voted them in there.

The list goes on. But I don’t want to spread a negative energy in my Nation at this time when my Nation is walking towards glory. I believed in the power of parliament for the past 64 years..Now spare me.I am not dead yet. I believe in a new power. The power of people.  The same power which have built this nation. The same power which has taken the nation from the clutches of poverty to the glory of sustainability. The same power which has won wars for the country. The same power which will make this Nation a Nation in my Dreams. Jai Hind.

**The writer is a free thinker and doesn't have any inclination towards any political parties

On a Rainy Sunday

The day started late with me waking around 08:30. When my mind came into senses the first thing I looked around was for the mosquitoes inside my net. These days this has been a routine. To fight back against the commando mosquitoes who sneak into the net during the course of night. Today was better as there was only one which was too careless to move even when it saw my hand coming towards it. 

May be it would have over worked and filled its belly than the normal dose of blood. Straight from bed to kitchen where the mirror smiles at me. Rain which started from Friday night was still pouring. I kept the kettle on the stove for my morning black coffee. After brushing teethes were shining as in the advt. I add a half spoon of coffee powder to the boiling water and few spoons of sugar make my coffee the best in planet earth.

I sip the coffee reading the news paper. After a quick round I finish off my coffee and rush towards the shower because time is 09:00 and I am already late for office. I finish off my shower and start by 09:30. Experience I gained from last few days had taught me what to wear and how to ride the bike on a rainy day. 

I took the blue rain coat laying on the dark corner of the hall untouched my any one in my room. The old tracks were of great use. I kept my Jean and T-shirt inside my bag. With helmet the makeup was complete. It was drizzling and the drops kept my glasses always covered to ensure that my visibility was less than 70%. I drove all the 20 km to office in 40 mins. At office a quick change of dress and the corporate guy in me was born. Been a Sunday the work load was less and thus the rain seemed more beautiful.  Around 04:00 I finished my Tea and started from office with the change of dress from the corporate back to a rain driver.

But this time it was not just a drizzle but it was raining. My visibility was less than 40%. But the good part was glasses were always kept clean by the continuous downpour. The 20km back home took nearly an hour.  My speedometer needle was ranging between 35-40 Km/hr.  Rain gave my bike continuous free water service. I was wet from head to toe expect the bag which was hidden inside the rain coat. Been wet, brought insane ideas in me to which I surrendered at last. I decided to go to beach. I kept my bag in my home and drove towards the beach imagining a bare beach with rain beating hard against the raising sea tides. But I was flabbergasted to see a flock of insane fellow humans on beach. 

A couple was sitting on the cement embankment without even a rain coat. They were enjoying the warmth of love been wet. Few guys were playing cricket. Few even dared to have a bath in the roaring sea. The sea had swallowed a part of beach were we used to play football on Sunday mornings. I couldn’t see more than 10 meters into sea. The rain drew a curtain of mystery on the sea. Even with the rain the business was spurring on beach with hot items calling the wet customers. I had a 50 rupee and a 5 rupee note folded in a plastic cover kept in my pocket. But I had no intention to mix the food with water as I was without a shade and the downpour hardened. There were cars parked on the road adjacent to the beach. People were peacefully enjoying the dark clouds. 

I decided to take a walk on beach. After the refreshing wet walk I joined the couple and sat with them enjoying the rain. Time was 06:30 by now. I kissed the sea and waved a signoff. On the way back home I had a hot tea and my 5 rupee was exchanged for that. Back home I had a quick shower and then into warm clothes as half of my body was still numb. The rainy Sunday could have been better. What a day was it? 

A Day at home

I started writing this page sitting in my front porch. I have my black wagon R on my right hand side and the pink sym – the moped on my left. Don’t get confused. I am sitting in a corner. The climate today has been pleasing. It’s neither hot nor raining, it neither humid nor dry. It’s a perfect November morning. I woke around 7.00 am. After five days at home I was felling dry with the thought that I was flying to Chennai today. It sucked my happiness at least for few seconds. Life at home was, is and would be the best whichever part of world u fly. As always home is sweetest. 

With all these thoughts in my head I woke from my bed. As always the birds had woke before me. They were busy with the chirpings which rose and fell like a chorus practicing. There were few notes that grabbed my immediate attention. The chorus had not only birds but squirrels too. They all were located at different parts of the Mango tree that stood in my backyard, a few meters away from my Window. The sun had its rays touch everything adding an extra dimension to their beauty. I woke with my arms stretched. My spectacles were kept on the table. I took them and climbed down from the first floor to the main hall through the connecting stair. 

My day had begun. As it was a working day Mother was busy at Kitchen. Dad was reading the news paper which was full of Obama as his foreign trip to India had concluded. News paper and the TV and had their chunk of flesh and rejoiced the Presidential visit. 

Our cat – Kitty was roaming around the room and was playing with a small green ball running across the breadth and width of the room. I brushed my teeth and started with my first tea of the day.

After the daily routine I planned to seek the blessings from god. To spent some time with my creator. I wore a dhoti with red lining and a shirt matching to it. The time was 8.30 am. By cousin would be starting to the school which is few meters away from the temple that I would be going. I picked him and dropped at his school. The view of the school brought back the memories of my school days.

My school was only 3 km away from home. To be more precise my parents decided to settle down near to the school. Though the distance seemed less I still used to travel by school bus. The days when the school used to start at 8.30 which were later changed to 7.30 to ease the traffic. The radio kept at home used to be my navigator. 

It ensured that I always followed time and never missed my school bus. My count of friends in my locality was limited but I had some real good friends in my school. School life was one dimensional. It was all about studying and scoring marks. I still remember the wait for the playing time period. In my time table I used to mark them bolder to ensure that I don’t miss them. Though I was never a champion in any sports you pick I had a larger heart and high level of energy to be part of it. But football had a special place in my heart. The time when the excitement was at its pinnacle was during the opening and closing of the summer vacation. 


At the closing time mind was full of ideas of how to get out the maximum of the time I spent. I learned time management from those days. The day started early and ended late. Life was busting with energy. I traveled to far places and stayed with my relatives for a small span of time. That was really refreshing. By the time the countdown for the school opening starts rain would arrive. This would give some days for rest as play was restricted inside home. Now again the excitement level peaks as with the covering of books, buying new bags, water bottles, boxes and a lot more. I used to paste the best label on the text which I loved the most. Science used to get the best label always. The excitement dies out some time after school opening. Soon life is mouse and cat race with exams and marks.

I press the quick start button and the engine comes to power. I drove from the school to temple. The temple was not crowded as it was a regular working day.  The temple is located in the centre of the ground which used to be the venue where the temple festivals would be conducted. It would be attended would by thousands and is a display of the culture and heritage of the region. That’s a festival that needs to be experienced once in life time.  I drove back after my prayers. I had my breakfast ready on the table. I switch on the TV and ate my breakfast watching it. Finishing my breakfast I sat over the sofa idle for few minutes surfing through the channels. Kitty my cat had taken the pleasure of sleeping over my tummy. I laid there for few minutes without disturbing her. Around afternoon I felt the pain with the thought of leaving to Chennai on evening. I stitched a web of positive scenarios to create the a better feeling. But it was worth of it as I got some relief. I had my tea and by the rain had started pouring.

I love when it rains. Rain has the power of invoking emotions. It makes the atmosphere wet. The wetness has the beauty that is so unique. Rain brings in new energy to the planet. The smell of soil on the first rain is something to cherish for a life time. Both flora and fauna respond to the natures call in their own way. The cry, sprout and every where the positive vibe is felt. I love rain for its mystery. A mystery that I love. I miss my loved ones. Rain always brings the memories of the left over days. The days when I used to go in a cycle to my kinder garden classes, the days at school when it rained, at college where the first romance sprouted and a lot more. Rain brings hope for me. It gives me memories that I have left in the race that I am part of.

Now it’s time for my train. I start after having a cup of tea. Mother packs the food for me which I would be having after some time getting into the train. Dad accompanies me to the station. I meet an old friend of mine at station. He couldn’t recognize me. I spell my name and his memory gets connected with my profile. We have a quick exchange of greetings and end up with a promise to meet sooner. 

I board my train. In my cabin I meet a couple, a young girl and two guy’s one aged around 60 and the other around 40. I exchange a pleasant smile with all and slowly pick a conversation with the couple. Soon all becomes part of the talk. We have subjects varying from climate at Chennai to Obama’s visit. The guy around 60, curses the politicians for the prime reason for the country’s so called under developed status. I defend him with my incorrigible optimism that change is on the way and our country is goanna be super power within the next 20 years. May be this could be the reason that President Obama told the world that India is going to become a super power with half of its population below 30. He would have calculated the power of youth in delivering things and in their power of dreams which could convert any nation to a super power. I still have that faith in me and my nation.

After the brief talk I got to the upper berth and finish the delicious home packed food. I rearrange the bags for me to sleep. Tomorrow when sun raises in East I would be in Chennai ready for the fast paced race.