From an alien

--From an Alien
I wonder why Steven Spielberg thinks too hard to depict the story of imaginary aliens when there are thousands of aliens spread across the globe in real.
Yes I am talking about the (Non-Resident) Aliens. The prestigious name given to people staying in developed countries after struggling a lot in their motherland. No one would go and stay with the richest Mother available if their Mom is not doing well. But we don’t mind leaving our motherland if someone else provides more comfort, good job and more money. It has become life time achievement for many to come out of their land and earn more for their survival. Only those people are applauded and appreciated. The cost of this realization is too high. They sacrifice so many things and miss so many enjoyments which come without any pain in their motherland. Some miss to enjoy their precious present life just to achieve their great goal of getting their job in abroad. I would call it as escapism. The real challenge is to face the tough competition in your own motherland and win over every situation. Learn the good things from the developing countries, implent it in your land and feel happy with the success. I wonder how the financial ministers of developing countries feel so proud of the increasing FDI without bothering about the percentage of their fellowmen staying abroad. Probably I am yet to master myself in economy!!! The politicians never take any steps to stop the brain drain. This is just a topic in schools and colleges to win prizes in debate. The winner of the competition would have ended up working for an MNC in a developed country.
The NRAs might think they are leading a happy life, but being an alien for about 6 months I feel it is life without soul. Yes you are thrown apart from your own space. You tend to forget your basic family block. You are forced to cling on to the available persons of your community. However hard you and the citizens of the developed countries try you can’t get into a bond with each other. You confuse your kids with two different cultures. Your mind still worries about the happenings in your motherland. So many and so forth…..
But these people feel it is far better to lead a life without soul than to go back to their motherland which can’t provide proper basic facilities, good infrastructure and all things to make up a quality life unless they are forced to get out of the foreign land. The politicians are so bothered about their position and wealth than the country’s development. No measures to control the population, no actions to reduce poverty. The so called great leaders out from famous foreign colleges can give a splendid speech about the country’s culture and development. But they are just puppets in the hands of their alliances that don’t even have a single educated person in their party. No master plan to see the country in a better position in years to come. Democracy doesn’t say you need to be crazy in ruling the country.
NRAs need to be appreciated for bringing in the best things they have learnt in the foreign land to their motherland. They are the major contributors for all non-profit organizations to develop down trodden kids.
The shame is not on the aliens, but on the country that don’t bother to call their children back with better offers. The government can give many reasons as financial deficit, natural calamities etc., but the reality is it lacks a good leader who can take up the country to a better position.
I can’t take this life of an alien anymore and I am waiting to go back to my motherland with a hope to see the best leader soon.

Life's most precious moments

I got moved by the movie 'World Trade Centre'. Why should innocent people be punished for the selfish interests of some people. I never get an answer for this and I believe there are many sources throughout the world who dont want anyone to get an answer for this. In the past few years there have been more of natural and man made calamities. Has the technology and man power developed so much that we could trouble ourselves to the maximum.!!!!
Everyday begins with the rush to be in office at 8am, you get loaded with tasks that you dont even remember your family members till the clocks tick 5pm. you struggle a lot to leave the office by 6pm and rush to home. you are happy but you dont express it and start cribbing about the bills, dinner, cleaning, washing etc. force yourself to finish off all your duties and go to bed with no smiling face.
why do we need to have such a mechanical life. cant we take time to enjoy what we are doing or cant we do only things that you enjoy to do.!!!!
why dont you give time for yourself to express. Then what difference does it make to be an animal and a human being. I feel animals express their feeling better than us. now dont say the reason that I dont get time. you have to take time to express your feelings. you can give extra time to take up new assignments, watch your favourite match, movie...then why dont you get time to express yourself. that is just because you feel it is not necessary.

but as this movie says you will never know what you are going to face the very next moment.
so why not be happy and keep everyone around you happy.
stop cribbing, maintain work life balance, enjoy your time with family, go to bed and wake up everyday with a good cheerful smile.

Live everyday with great happiness.

Interesting websties

http://www.kamat.com/
This is an excellent site which gives an extensive records of Indian history.
Biographies of great Indians, details about our vedic period, types of ancient architecture, painting etc.

http://www.personalmba.com/
Would you like to gain the knowledge of an MBA graduate without joining the course. Then check out this site and actively participate in the group discussions.

Pilgrimage

More than tourists spot, only temples are so crowded in India. I feel people believe in the power of so-called "GOD" than they believe in themselves and they have ample time to waste standing in long queue and they enjoy being crushed in that.

Iam not an atheist. Iam a person who strongly believes on destiny and the supernatural power that really controls us. But after my recent visits to Tirupathi, Darmastala, Udipi, Kollur now I feel I could pray peacefully at home rather going to these temples.

I appreciate the temple assocation who try to manage the crowd(min 50people/hour visit these temples and it takes min 2 hours to finish the darshan). Still government should take more initiative to preserve and maintain these temples.
especially in Darmastala the temple is maintained in an excellent way and the "anna thana sala" is very neat.

After my visits to different places in last two months I am now wondering is there anything called "Tourism Department" in India. There are no facilities available to the tourists in any of the tourist spots, no proper sign boards, no proper explanation about the history and beauty of the place....
If we could properly maintain our historical buildings/temples and advertise it in the right way India would be the top tourist place. I bet we cant see such an artistic work which is very much complicated in any part of the world.

Hope it happens soon....

Belur & Halebid Temples

We reached Belur at around 2pm. It was a bright sunny day. There were no sign posts to guide us to the temple. I was bit frustrated with the way our tourism department works. Anyway all these frustrations and the scorching sun was ignored when we went inside the temple.
I was overwhelmed by the mix of architecture. The entrance of the temple(the gopuram) was in Dravidian style. There were small shrines in Jain Architecture and the main temple is in a pure Koysala Architecture. The temple has three gates which leads to the main mandap. There is a circular platform before the main God. It is said that the princess used to perform dance in this platform for God. The temple is named as "Chennakeshava" which means handsome Vishnu. Each and every sculpture in the temple was done with utmost dedication and perfection. I feel even the masters of the master of arts could find no fault in these sculptures. The artists of those days were highly intellectual. They have portrayed the ancient history, life style, culture that prevailed during those days. It took 100 years to finish this temple.

The temple is designed as per vaastu. There is a deep pond, food offering place, Lord Ram temple, miniature model of the main temple, devi temple, a lengthy corridor.
There were two things that surprised us.
1) A tall pillar that was supported just on its corners and was being held by gravitational force. We couldnt imagine how they erected it during those time when there were no cranes and good construction equipments.
2) A pillar in the main temple was rotatable.

The pillars in the main temple had lots and lots of designs engraved on it. It is said that the existing bangle and tyre designs are taken from this pillar designs.
There was nandi in groundnut size and ganesha in a pulse size.
The stones of the pillars are so polished and shinining even after hundreds of centuries. The design of the outer structure was excellent. All the corners were triangle shaped and had three layers.
The design was very complicated and just shows the excellence of the architect.
The expressions of the sculptures were carved so beautifully. The bottom three layers has rows of elephants, horses and warriors.

One section is for depicting the civic life which has beautiful sculptures of ladies with various hair styles, in different dance poses.
Other section has all sculptures of deities. The narasimha avathara sculpture was astonishing.
Even a day will not be enough to appreciate all this sculptures.
I was wondering how the artists of those days got such a perfection. When I saw the temples surrounding the main temple, I got the answer for that. It was through streneous practice they have attained this perfection. In the miniature model we could see how they have gradually got their perfection.

Halebid is also a Hoysala style temple which is older than this. The style and works remains same. The only difference is this has big sculptures in its outer wall and belur has many smaller ones.

We returned back nourished with the excellence of ancient architecture. Even today the beauty of the temple and the gracefulness of the sculptures are in my mind.

Cool Saturday

I was bouncing with joy when I reached home last friday ready to face the weekend.
My joy doubled when Venkat gave me a surprise about our trip to Sravana Belagola, Belur and Halibidu.Dad,Mom and myself were charged up and started doing all arrangements for the trip.
We started our trip on Saturday morning 5.30am. We reached Sravana Belagola at around 8.30am. Sravanabelagola means 'The monk on the top of the hill'. They had the facility of carrying old people so my mom took advantage of that. Dad, Venkat and myself started our trecking to the top of the hill through 614 steps. We saw the huge statue of Lord Mahavir. It is said to be the worlds tallest free standing statue with a height of 58 foot and 8 inches. Though I felt bit odd to see such a huge naked statue, when viewed from artistic feel its a real master piece.
Its really amazing to visualize the way they could have constructed such a structure some 10 centuries before when there were no high fi equipments to help them in their activities. People were doing poojas and abhishekas to lord. After an hour we started coming down the 614 steps. It was fun for me as you get a feel which you cant explain when u descend fast through the steps :) The four persons who were carrying mom in the doly(name for the chariot in which they carry a person) were so fast and their concentration and control were superb.
Then we had a good breakfast and then started off to Belur.....

Lok Paritran

Finally I have got one good news to be blogged this time.
Five IITians, all in their 20s, have decided to take up mainstream politics. Can you believe it!!!! yes it is true. Thanks in a way to Maniratnam(Yuva),Balachandar(Unnal mudiyum thambi),Rakesh Om prakash Mera(Rang de basanti) who keep motivating Indian youngsters to make their own rules. Now we have got real examples.
Hats off to Tanmay,Chandrashekar,Amit,Ajit and Santhanagopalan.

Check this link to know their policies and action items.
This is really a most welcoming step by Indian Yuva's.
Wishing them all the very best to succeed in their grand endeavour.
I would surely vote for Lok Paritran. Hope the same with you all.

Jai Hind.