We should quit our jobs!!!

Sometimes I wonder am I doing the right thing? Having a top-notch corporate job, with status, benefits and high-class pseudo show-off....is that all I want. How about this hot-dog guy whose franchise payment is almost 5 times of what I make...he can buy his own benefits and what not. Sometimes, I wonder, may be it's time to think out of the box.
The scanned article was sent to me by my friend, who himself now is thinking about starting a hot-dog business.

Banalata Sen

For thousands of years I roamed the paths of this earth,
From waters round Ceylon in dead of night to Malayan seas.
Much have I wandered. I was there in the grey world of Asoka
And Bimbisara, pressed on through darkness to the city of Vidarbha.
I am a weary heart surrounded by life's frothy ocean.
To me she gave a moment's peace -- Banalata Sen from Natore.

Her hair was like an ancient darkling night in Vidisa,
Her face, the craftsmanship of Sravasti. As the helmsman,
His rudder broken, far out upon the sea adrift,
Sees the grass-green land of a cinnamon isle, just so
Through darkness I saw her. Said she, "Where have you been so long?"
And raised her bird's nest-like eyes -- Banalata Sen from Natore.

At day's end, like hush of dew
Comes evening. A hawk wipes the scent of sunlight fom its wings.
When earth's colors fade and some pale design is sketched,
Then glimmering fireflies paint in the story.
All birds come home, all rivers, all of this life's tasks finished.
Only darkness remains, as I sit there face to face with Banalata Sen.

Translated by Clinton B. Seely.

"Haans chilo sojaru".

STEW MUCH

A duck once met a porcupine ; they formed a corporation
Which called itself a Porcuduck ( a beastly conjugation ! ).
A stork to a turtle said, "Let's put my head upon your torso ;
We who are so pretty now, as Stortle would be more so !"
The lizard with the parrot's head thought : taking to the chilli
After years of eating worms is absolutely silly.
A prancing goat - one wonders why - was driven by a need
To bequeath its upper portion ta a crawling centipede.
The giraffe with grasshopper's limbs reflected : Why should I
Go for walks in grassy fields, now that I can fly ?
The nice contented cow will doubtless get a frightful shock
On finding that its lower lombs belong to a fighting cock.
It's obvious the Whalephant is not a happy notion :
The head goes for the jungle, while the tail turns to the ocean,
The lion's lack of horns distressed him greatly, so
He teamed up with a dear - now watch his antlers grow !


Translated by Satyajit Ray.

"Last Night I Dreamed I Was in Love,"

~ John Dugdale

By night, Love, tie your heart to mine, and the two
together in their sleep will defeat the darkness
like a double drum in the forest, pounding
against the thick wall of wet leaves.

Night travel: black flame of sleep
that snips the threads of the earth's grapes,
punctual as a headlong train that would haul
shadows and cold rocks, endlessly.

Because of this, Love, tie me to a purer motion,
to the constancy that beats in your chest
with the wings of a swan underwater,

so that our sleep might answer all the sky's
starry questions with a single key,
with a single door the shadows had closed.

~Pablo Neruda

Anjan Datta in Jishnu's Guitar

A physicist taking time off from string theory.

Chess Theory : Revitalized

One can find the link between philosophy and mathematics. Mathematics can also be sometimes linked to chess theory. But what about the missing link between chess theory and philosophy.

To quote, René Alladaye in his "Petite philosophie du joueur d'échecs",
"It's difficult to imagine two activities wich call for more brain-work than chess and philosophy. Both of them demand a reflection, an exchange, a dialogue, a debate, in which each player or philosopher tries to prove that his or her theory is the right one."

In the same line, one might wonder the art of war can be perfected through the game of chess. The startegy, the mindset, the crisis and the climax.

Chess Theory is constituted by the set of all general concepts developed to understand mechanisms of the Chess Game and in fine to reach a better level playing chess.

A game of chess can however easily be viewed as the journey through life, where the defeat of the opponent will be the attainment of a desired goal in life. The complexities, the challenges, the options, the temptations, the risks and the rewards of every move in a game of chess has to be well measured and timed like many of the decisions we make in every day life with a definite broader motive in mind. This might sound a bit suffocating, it does as I am feeling it while writing, but I believe its all true. Chess theory can be a very important recipe for one's life. Mastering chess theory might just make one a happy sailor in life and a great warrior in the same time.

just another monologue

It’s the same old day everyday
Change, yes that’s what I need
Everyday, all the time
The burgundy sheets, the lemon yellow wall
a wallpaper partly torn but still hanging
stairway to heaven
the call of the idiot box
a cursory look at the study table
guilt and anxiousness
a mixed feeling
resort to the easier and warmer alley
the one that makes you dream
and laugh and wonder
also to think and may be ponder for a while
but at the end, that’s the only change I get
a look beyond the same old everyday.

Brain of a Bengali

I hit the delete button almost like a reflex action when I see the sign "Fwd" on an email subject line. A few however manages to escape. Here is a survivor from last week.


A Bengali walks into a bank in Delhi and asks for the loan officer. He tells the loan officer that he is going to Kolkata on business for two weeks and needs to borrow Rs.5,000.

The bank officer tells him that the bank will need some form of security for the loan, so the man hands over the keys of a new Mercedes parked on the street in front of the bank. He produces the title and everything checks out. The loan officer agrees to accept the car as collateral for the loan.

The bank"s president and its officers all enjoy a good laugh at the Bengali for using a Rs.30,50,000 Mercedes as collateral against a Rs.5,000 loan. An employee of the bank then drives the Mercedes into the bank"s underground garage and parks it there.

Two weeks later, the man returns, repays the Rs.5,000 and the interest, which comes to Rs.15.41.The loan officer says, "Sir, we are very happy to have had your business, and this transaction has worked out very nicely,but we are a little puzzled. While you were away, we checked you out and found that you are a multi millionaire. What puzzles us is, why would you bother to borrow "Rs.5,000"

The man replies: "Where else in Delhi can I park my car for two weeks for only Rs.15.41 and expect it to be there when I return"

Ah, the mind of the Bengali...

This is why what Bengal thinks today, India thinks tomorrow :o)

Delicious ambiguity

A few favorites, right from my bookshelf.

Testimonials: A few close friends of mine (not an exhaustive list off course)

Prosenjit: Prosenjit is one of my closest friends. He is as hard working as it gets; a very sincere, ambitious and dependable person. At the same time he is also very emotional and sensitive. If you find us together you will normally be hearing conversations about Indian economy, sports, our careers and TAX (since we both are tax consultants).Prosenjit as we say is "gyaner bhandar" about two things: world politics and sports. He even knows whats going on in the political front of Lesotho or ethiopia!! Its really annoying when he uses a computer and you need it for something. Most of the time you will not get it until he is done with reading all his favorite newspapers. He recently figured out that his risk taking nature is losing him money when playing poker and now he is learning to be patient and call the right bluffs. However, he is a grown man now with a top notch corporate job and he feels that the time has come to slowly think about settling down. I always wish him all the best in life!!

Sucheta: An amazing person she is, a childhood friend of mine, although sometimes ominously hyperactive she does give a reason to cheer for her companions and more often than not comes out with flamboyant colors of alacrity. Until recently, before she loomed on the horizon as a sensitive, solemn and easily incensed person, she was light-hearted, non-chalant and how can we forget her slapdash haymakers. But she is on a personality workout schedule now with the main focus being on patience, effervescence and acceptance and Im sure we will find her coming out of the cocoon in no time with her big smile and ever-irritating hyperactiveness....but folks we like her that way. This testimonial was long overdue and Im just glad that I can jot down my random thoughts, incoherent should I say, after repeated comminations from the "demon" herself. (JK)

Sourish: Amar beshirbhag bishoyei gyaan khub shimito. Tai majhe majhei amake sourisher daarostho hote hoy. Aaj obdi amar mone pore na amon kono proshno jar shothik uttor ami or theke paini. Amono onek baar hoyecche, je bhul kore hoyeto amon proshno korecchi ja onno keu hole shohoj boddho bhabe amake bojhate okkhom hoto. Kintu sourisher ashim gyaaner sheathe or shokolke tader moto kore bojhanor khomota oddytio. Baire theke dekhle khubi serious physicist mone holeo, ashole or moto down to earth othocho genius chhele khubi kom hoy. Agadh gyanner bhandar, amader boraborer first boy….aar physics ta jaar kaache akdomi challenging noy bole majhe majhei bimorsho hoy jawa photography pagol ei chheletar adorer daaknaam holo phutu.
For those who don't speak Bengali: "Sourish is THE genius. The most versatile guy I have seen in my life. One of my closest friends and a great teacher."

Abhisek Basak: On matters of style, he swims with the current, on matters of principle he stands like a rock (Jefferson would have been very pleased). One of my closest friends back from high school. A "fashion guru" some might say, Basak creates wonders with his artistic and creative abilities. I would need a full book to jot down the adjectives to describe him....but keeping in mind that this is a public testimonial I would wrap it up with a few better ones - eclectic, humorous, graceful, generous, neurotic and well read - these should portray a perfect "Him" who can be full of surprises and yet not conceited or supercilious. At a point in life, one should look in the mirror and be true to his ownself and as George Herbert said "The best mirror is an old friend"..I don't think twice to consider this old friend of mine as a genuine and true friend who if ever stabs me..will stab me in the front.

Sukanya: Sukanya is probably the first friend in my life....I dont know if anyone remembers who their first friend was, it seems they only mention their best and close friends. however, it is true that she is also one of my best and closest friends. a very warm personality, confident, sincere, intelligent and guys dont get misguided by her goofy profile pic...she is beautiful..and hot should I say. As for me Im blessed to have a friend like her, who is so adorable and caring. I wish her all the success and happiness she deserves. May god bless you. AMEN!

Shijin: Close ur eyes and make a wish….
Angelz will b there to blow u a kiss…
They'll guide u and make all ur dreams come true …
Just like they did for me when I asked for a friend like u...

Ritanjan: nice guy...has a thing for bengali literature...dont know how it started, I always thought he used it as a means to impress some ppl...he knows who (including debashish da). frnds call him sheccha cuz of his "shecchashebok" nature..he was really vibrant in school days..kinda got into a shell in high school, but we all knew why. apparently loves saving and can get on ur nerves with his theories behind it, but hey at least he can show off his fat bank balance. he is full of surprises..one being, he started teaching in college when "we" - his frnds, are still in college. now leading a dual life as a lecturer and a student. must be hard but he is one of the most hardworking guys Ive ever met, when he is not having an affair. didnt want to mention this in the testimonial really, but I cant resist..the Ritanjan-P saga was really a trend setter in our childhood days. get to know him, he is full of surprises..good ones. forgot to mention before...sheccha is a die hard AB - amitabh fan. dont even try to instigate him if u ever had anything against the "boss" - the results wont be very pleasant.

Ishani: smartest, prettiest, sexiest, boldest and coolest gal under the sun. u think Im saying this cuz I had a thing for her. find out urself, ull not be disappointed. bestest frnd ever. I know Im on a superlative run here, but its all true when it comes to her.

Sandipto: Pucci..terrific debater no doubt. Law is his ideal career. although I dunno y he is planning to take some other road. I also agree with prats bout his craziness. I was actually amazed (in a good way) when he spent months enlightning lil lamas. But I have to say he is so far the smartest schemer I have met..find it out urself if its in a good way or not. hopefully ull end up on the rite side...Im just kidding, I bet u will. A great friend to keep and particularly when it comes to a need of inspiration and driving force. I wud not forget how he actually made me go thru a lane which I thought I cud never walk. baar khawate ostad..bravo my frnd. hope u stay that way forever...and gluck with ur policy making career (make smart ones, so that ppl like me can survive at ease).

Avishek: Avishek orfe jojo, is my "bestest" friend. He was always there for me during times of joy and ...lots of sad stories. Basically a happy-go-lucky guy who takes 2 things very seriously - sports and adda. Now a third one is added to the list - career. Himself a great sportsperson (ull know when u see his loads of prizes and certificates), jojo has also a very good singing voice. An introvert may he seem in the beginning, but once you get to know him, it will be hard to miss "the adda session". Not a schemer like me, he is a quiet person with lot of intellect who is going steady in a relationship for whopping 7 yrs..my friend you are unbelievable, keep it up.

Sayak: Sayak is a great person and a true scientist...Im not joking, he knows his physics really well. A great friend to keep...however dude I still dunno why u didnt upload a pic man. At least get a micky mouse or sumthing upthere. peace !

I wish I could fly

"Wish I Could Fly" (Roxette)

Halfway through the night
I wake up in a dream
Echoes in my head
Make every whisper turn into a scream

I dreamed I could fly
Out in the blue
Over this town
Following you
Over the trees
Subways and cars
I'd try to find out
Who you really are

In the middle of the night
Cool sweatin' in my bed
Got the windows open wide
Thinkin' about all the things you said

I wish I could fly
Out in the blue
Over this town
Following you
I'd fly over rooftops
The great boulevards
To try to find out
Who you really are
Who you really are

I wish I could fly now
Wish I could fly now
Wish I could fly now

I wish I could fly
Around and around
Over this town
The dirt on the ground
I'd follow your course
Of doors left ajar
To try to find out
Who you really are
To try to find out
Who you really are