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Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Letters from a gal to her dad
Found this on a FB post. http://www.facebook.com/#!/note.php?note_id=200772913270748&id=1543476803
Thought this was interesting and could spark healthy debates.
It’s a story of a Brahmin gal who loved a non-Brahmin and due to father’s compulsion married a Brahmin guy and leading a perfect life with little happiness!!
(Some tamil words included)…
Dearest Appa,
27th Jan’1965
Hope this letter finds you, Amma, Raji and Seenu in good health. The weather here in New York City is icy cold. But Avar sollraar- I have missed this winter’s biting cold. I still wish I had seen the snow… But then, I still wish I had not left Trichy at all. I do miss Trichy, Appa. You, Amma, Raji, Seenu, pakkatthaathu Rama, Vikatan,Ucchi Pillaiyaar Koil, filter coffee, Holy Cross College, the Maths Department and of course Sakthi. I know you wish I hadn’t brought his name in this letter.But not to worry Appa, I understand that you got me married to Visu because you thought it was best for your daughter.
I still remember Amma wiping her silent tears with her madisaar thalappu and you shouting at me the day I told you about Sakthi.Later, when the initial shock wore off you patiently listed umpteen reasons why I should not marry Sakthi. I agree Appa, that 20 is too young to decide, that Raji and Seenu would have been affected greatly by my ‘mistake’, the Agrahaaram would have scoffed at you… a meat eater was not a good match for someone who had never even tasted onion and garlic. The reasons were innumerous. I knew you’d still have objected and offered other reasons even if he had become a Dhigambara monk.
Visu on the other hand, wore a poonal, he is the son of Neelakanta Sastri, an Engineer and he researched about computers which is what made you jump for this alliance. Am not complaining Appa, Visu is a nice man. Tell Amma that I could not try her kozhakkattai recipe this Pongal because coconuts were too expensive and Avar nenacchar that it was ridiculous.
Anyway, we went out on Sankaranthi day and dined out. He thought it would be a good idea to invite the Chatterjees also. But I didn’t speak Bengali and Mrs.Chatterjee spoke English in an accent that comes with living years in America. Hence I made myself busy with the menu card. They ordered various species of fish,shrimp and a lot more of items I had never seen in my life. I ordered orange juice and a sandwich. The other diners thought it was queer coming to a seafood restaurant and settling for a sandwich. That day, I learnt that Avar prefer pannradhu beef, pork, bacon and seafood.
Do you know, Appa… Sakthi gave up meat because of me? I didn’t ask, he just did. But then, Sakthi is not Neelakanta Sastri’s son and that made it imposible for Subramania Iyer’s daughter Kalyani to marry him.I will keep you posted on what happens here. I don’t think I can make it to Seenu’s Upanayanam. Tell Amma not to get me a pattu podavai for the poonal, I don’t use them here. I wore it once and felt like a clown here.
Your loving daughter,
Kalyani.
Dearest Appa,
20th Oct’1968
We are fine here. Gautam is speaking his first words and I swear they sounded like ‘Dosai’. But Visu claims it’s just gibberish. From your previous letter, I gather that pakkathatthu Rama is married and
settled in Jamshedpur. Nice to know that. Please find out her address from Saarada maami and write it to me. I want to keep in touch with her. I hope Raji is happy with her husband in Madras. I spoke to her last month, great to know that she has a phone. Do tell Seenu to study well and prepare for his school final exams.
Raji also told me that Sakthi is married now. I wish him good luck, but I could not convey the message to him. Raji refused to be the messenger and I know you have severed ties with Sakthi’s father, your long term friend Sankaravel, thanks to me. I hear his wife is his cousin… He must have succumbed to his mother’s wishes.
How did Avani Avittam go? Visu’s mother gave me a bunch of new poonals for Avani Avittam but Visu was in Boston that day. He wouldn’t have used it anyway, I haven’t seen him wear one in the last three years. Gautam is now playing with the spool of thread- mere thread it is, what else can I call it? Gautam will not even know what it signifies, I guess.
Visu is making sure Gautam grows up listening to English only. He says it will make his life easier. But I do read out passages from Ponniyin Selvan and Bharathiyaar’s poetry when I am alone with him. It’s more of reading to myself, I guess. I actually got that poetry book as a present from Sakthi, it still has his scrawling signature in the first page.
By the way, Visu saw that book and asked me about Sakthi, I told him. Hold your breath Appa, he didn’t throw me out of the house. He is a good man, no question. He said it is okay and that he doesn’t mind. And then he told me of his American girlfriend whom he was once in love with, when he first reached America- Amy, a fellow Researcher who was in a brief relationship with Visu when she was in New York. They lived together for 3 months and decided against marriage, somehow. Amy once dropped home when she was in New York. Nice lady, she was.
Ask Amma to send me Sambar Podi for this whole year. My friend Sudha is coming to Madras next week. Ask Seenu to catch the Rockfort Express and give it to her. I will collect it from her here.
Your loving daughter,
Kalyani.
Dearest Appa,
3rd June’1974
We have arrived here safely. After two months in India, I find it hard to adjust back to normal life here. Gautam and Ranjana demand vadai,paayasam and vaazhai ilai here. Visu’s relieved to be back in
America. I left a set of my books there. If it’s not in Trichy it must be in Visu’s parents’ place. If you find them, safeguard them until my next trip. They mean a lot to me since they were gifts from Sakthi. By the way, Appa, I found out Sakthi’s present address in Madras from Rama and Saarada maami. I wrote to him. I am extremely proud to know that Dr.Sakthivel is a cardiologist much in demand there in Madras. He was thrilled to hear from me after so long. You know what he has named his daughters? Kalyani and Raagamaalika. He called me. You know what, he’s still a practising vegetarian, Appa. He didn’t revert back just because he lost me… He asked me if I still sang and whether Gautam and Ranjana could sing. I could see a proud father in him, when he claimed his daughters could sing upto Rara Venu Gopala. That’s when I remembered that I was once a good singer. I wonder why I stopped singing, wonder why I never exposed the kids to Music and Dance. But then, I realize that I had buried all that deep inside me when I left Trichy; after bidding farewell to my best Rasika, actually. Sakthi. After the call, I tried singing ’Kurai Onrum Illai’. I could not rquite reach Charanam, because of the lack of practice and more importantly because of the tears that filmed my eyes and the constriction in my throat. I sang to Visu and the kids one of these days. Though Gautam was impressed, father and daughter could not just wait for me to finish! By the way, next time some friend comes to India, send me a Sruthi Box. I would like to start singing again.
Your loving daughter,
Kalyani.
Dearest Appa,
14th Aug 1978
Just back after our tour to California. Find our photos, picture postcards attached herewith. After you are done with showing all family members,relatives, friends and neighbours, pass them to Visu’s parents. It was a welcome break for the four of us. But I missed my paattu class students all along and was happy to resume the classes again last evening. Did I mention in my previous letter, before we left on the tour - I finally got my driving license here. I sent a few photos to Sakthi too. He has sent me quite a few records and cassettes. I loved it! I’m reminded of AIR, almost! I’m circulating them among my friends too. And of course, playing them for my students too. They are picking up beautifully. Funny news is, I, a Tamilian, is teaching Telugu and Sanskrit kritis to a cross section of Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada,Telugu, Marathi, Bengali students in an English speaking nation. The music sessions have resulted in a reborn Kalyani, Appa. Thanks to Sakthi, really. I would have never taken it up had it not been for his reminder. I am now thinking of what life would have been like if I had indeed married him. I would have of course lost you and Amma. But right now, with this life in America, Visu and these monthly letters to you, Rama, Raji and Seenu what have i gained? I don’t find an answer, Appa. Neither do I think I ever will. Again, as I have always reiterated, Visu is a good man, no complaints there. He is every bit the son in law you wanted. Researcher, American Post-Graduate Degree holder, a dutiful husband and father,earning a comfortable income. I know it is too much to ask for anything else. That is a fantasy I left midway in my life… Once upon a time in Trichy with someone else.
Your loving daughter,
Kalyani.
Dearest Appa,
14th Apr’1984
Met Dr.Sakthivel after 19 years… He had come to New York for business purposes and paid me a visit. Visu and the kids welcomed him home with great pleasure. And they liked him too. Infact, they did most of the talking initially. And of course, he got me a whole load of books, cassettes, Mysore Paak and lots more. Your loving daughter,
Kalyani.
Dearest Appa,
20th Jan’ 1990
I just went through all these letters lying in my closet draw for years together. These are letters I started writing to you and then decided not to post. For obvious reasons. I could not mention Sakthi to you even though I was itching to. Not because I was afraid to invite your wrath. I just did not have the heart to hurt you, I know these letters would have hurt you. Because deep inside, I know you were disturbed- you knew Sakthi was a good man, you knew he was a man of substance, yet you didn’t want to go further. Society, I know. ..Family… I know… And all these letters would have only wounded you more.Today, 2 years after your death, and 6 months after Dr.Sakthivel’s untimely death in a road accident, I somehow felt like re-reading all these letters. To me, all these unstamped, unposted letters mean a life that could have been. Kalyani Viswanathan.
Thought this was interesting and could spark healthy debates.
It’s a story of a Brahmin gal who loved a non-Brahmin and due to father’s compulsion married a Brahmin guy and leading a perfect life with little happiness!!
(Some tamil words included)…
Dearest Appa,
27th Jan’1965
Hope this letter finds you, Amma, Raji and Seenu in good health. The weather here in New York City is icy cold. But Avar sollraar- I have missed this winter’s biting cold. I still wish I had seen the snow… But then, I still wish I had not left Trichy at all. I do miss Trichy, Appa. You, Amma, Raji, Seenu, pakkatthaathu Rama, Vikatan,Ucchi Pillaiyaar Koil, filter coffee, Holy Cross College, the Maths Department and of course Sakthi. I know you wish I hadn’t brought his name in this letter.But not to worry Appa, I understand that you got me married to Visu because you thought it was best for your daughter.
I still remember Amma wiping her silent tears with her madisaar thalappu and you shouting at me the day I told you about Sakthi.Later, when the initial shock wore off you patiently listed umpteen reasons why I should not marry Sakthi. I agree Appa, that 20 is too young to decide, that Raji and Seenu would have been affected greatly by my ‘mistake’, the Agrahaaram would have scoffed at you… a meat eater was not a good match for someone who had never even tasted onion and garlic. The reasons were innumerous. I knew you’d still have objected and offered other reasons even if he had become a Dhigambara monk.
Visu on the other hand, wore a poonal, he is the son of Neelakanta Sastri, an Engineer and he researched about computers which is what made you jump for this alliance. Am not complaining Appa, Visu is a nice man. Tell Amma that I could not try her kozhakkattai recipe this Pongal because coconuts were too expensive and Avar nenacchar that it was ridiculous.
Anyway, we went out on Sankaranthi day and dined out. He thought it would be a good idea to invite the Chatterjees also. But I didn’t speak Bengali and Mrs.Chatterjee spoke English in an accent that comes with living years in America. Hence I made myself busy with the menu card. They ordered various species of fish,shrimp and a lot more of items I had never seen in my life. I ordered orange juice and a sandwich. The other diners thought it was queer coming to a seafood restaurant and settling for a sandwich. That day, I learnt that Avar prefer pannradhu beef, pork, bacon and seafood.
Do you know, Appa… Sakthi gave up meat because of me? I didn’t ask, he just did. But then, Sakthi is not Neelakanta Sastri’s son and that made it imposible for Subramania Iyer’s daughter Kalyani to marry him.I will keep you posted on what happens here. I don’t think I can make it to Seenu’s Upanayanam. Tell Amma not to get me a pattu podavai for the poonal, I don’t use them here. I wore it once and felt like a clown here.
Your loving daughter,
Kalyani.
Dearest Appa,
20th Oct’1968
We are fine here. Gautam is speaking his first words and I swear they sounded like ‘Dosai’. But Visu claims it’s just gibberish. From your previous letter, I gather that pakkathatthu Rama is married and
settled in Jamshedpur. Nice to know that. Please find out her address from Saarada maami and write it to me. I want to keep in touch with her. I hope Raji is happy with her husband in Madras. I spoke to her last month, great to know that she has a phone. Do tell Seenu to study well and prepare for his school final exams.
Raji also told me that Sakthi is married now. I wish him good luck, but I could not convey the message to him. Raji refused to be the messenger and I know you have severed ties with Sakthi’s father, your long term friend Sankaravel, thanks to me. I hear his wife is his cousin… He must have succumbed to his mother’s wishes.
How did Avani Avittam go? Visu’s mother gave me a bunch of new poonals for Avani Avittam but Visu was in Boston that day. He wouldn’t have used it anyway, I haven’t seen him wear one in the last three years. Gautam is now playing with the spool of thread- mere thread it is, what else can I call it? Gautam will not even know what it signifies, I guess.
Visu is making sure Gautam grows up listening to English only. He says it will make his life easier. But I do read out passages from Ponniyin Selvan and Bharathiyaar’s poetry when I am alone with him. It’s more of reading to myself, I guess. I actually got that poetry book as a present from Sakthi, it still has his scrawling signature in the first page.
By the way, Visu saw that book and asked me about Sakthi, I told him. Hold your breath Appa, he didn’t throw me out of the house. He is a good man, no question. He said it is okay and that he doesn’t mind. And then he told me of his American girlfriend whom he was once in love with, when he first reached America- Amy, a fellow Researcher who was in a brief relationship with Visu when she was in New York. They lived together for 3 months and decided against marriage, somehow. Amy once dropped home when she was in New York. Nice lady, she was.
Ask Amma to send me Sambar Podi for this whole year. My friend Sudha is coming to Madras next week. Ask Seenu to catch the Rockfort Express and give it to her. I will collect it from her here.
Your loving daughter,
Kalyani.
Dearest Appa,
3rd June’1974
We have arrived here safely. After two months in India, I find it hard to adjust back to normal life here. Gautam and Ranjana demand vadai,paayasam and vaazhai ilai here. Visu’s relieved to be back in
America. I left a set of my books there. If it’s not in Trichy it must be in Visu’s parents’ place. If you find them, safeguard them until my next trip. They mean a lot to me since they were gifts from Sakthi. By the way, Appa, I found out Sakthi’s present address in Madras from Rama and Saarada maami. I wrote to him. I am extremely proud to know that Dr.Sakthivel is a cardiologist much in demand there in Madras. He was thrilled to hear from me after so long. You know what he has named his daughters? Kalyani and Raagamaalika. He called me. You know what, he’s still a practising vegetarian, Appa. He didn’t revert back just because he lost me… He asked me if I still sang and whether Gautam and Ranjana could sing. I could see a proud father in him, when he claimed his daughters could sing upto Rara Venu Gopala. That’s when I remembered that I was once a good singer. I wonder why I stopped singing, wonder why I never exposed the kids to Music and Dance. But then, I realize that I had buried all that deep inside me when I left Trichy; after bidding farewell to my best Rasika, actually. Sakthi. After the call, I tried singing ’Kurai Onrum Illai’. I could not rquite reach Charanam, because of the lack of practice and more importantly because of the tears that filmed my eyes and the constriction in my throat. I sang to Visu and the kids one of these days. Though Gautam was impressed, father and daughter could not just wait for me to finish! By the way, next time some friend comes to India, send me a Sruthi Box. I would like to start singing again.
Your loving daughter,
Kalyani.
Dearest Appa,
14th Aug 1978
Just back after our tour to California. Find our photos, picture postcards attached herewith. After you are done with showing all family members,relatives, friends and neighbours, pass them to Visu’s parents. It was a welcome break for the four of us. But I missed my paattu class students all along and was happy to resume the classes again last evening. Did I mention in my previous letter, before we left on the tour - I finally got my driving license here. I sent a few photos to Sakthi too. He has sent me quite a few records and cassettes. I loved it! I’m reminded of AIR, almost! I’m circulating them among my friends too. And of course, playing them for my students too. They are picking up beautifully. Funny news is, I, a Tamilian, is teaching Telugu and Sanskrit kritis to a cross section of Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada,Telugu, Marathi, Bengali students in an English speaking nation. The music sessions have resulted in a reborn Kalyani, Appa. Thanks to Sakthi, really. I would have never taken it up had it not been for his reminder. I am now thinking of what life would have been like if I had indeed married him. I would have of course lost you and Amma. But right now, with this life in America, Visu and these monthly letters to you, Rama, Raji and Seenu what have i gained? I don’t find an answer, Appa. Neither do I think I ever will. Again, as I have always reiterated, Visu is a good man, no complaints there. He is every bit the son in law you wanted. Researcher, American Post-Graduate Degree holder, a dutiful husband and father,earning a comfortable income. I know it is too much to ask for anything else. That is a fantasy I left midway in my life… Once upon a time in Trichy with someone else.
Your loving daughter,
Kalyani.
Dearest Appa,
14th Apr’1984
Met Dr.Sakthivel after 19 years… He had come to New York for business purposes and paid me a visit. Visu and the kids welcomed him home with great pleasure. And they liked him too. Infact, they did most of the talking initially. And of course, he got me a whole load of books, cassettes, Mysore Paak and lots more. Your loving daughter,
Kalyani.
Dearest Appa,
20th Jan’ 1990
I just went through all these letters lying in my closet draw for years together. These are letters I started writing to you and then decided not to post. For obvious reasons. I could not mention Sakthi to you even though I was itching to. Not because I was afraid to invite your wrath. I just did not have the heart to hurt you, I know these letters would have hurt you. Because deep inside, I know you were disturbed- you knew Sakthi was a good man, you knew he was a man of substance, yet you didn’t want to go further. Society, I know. ..Family… I know… And all these letters would have only wounded you more.Today, 2 years after your death, and 6 months after Dr.Sakthivel’s untimely death in a road accident, I somehow felt like re-reading all these letters. To me, all these unstamped, unposted letters mean a life that could have been. Kalyani Viswanathan.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Thiruppavai
Well this blog is called vetti arattai but I am sure I can say some useful things from time to time. It has been my long term wish to learn all the 30 pasurams of Thiruppavai especially in the form sang by MLV amma. As an attempt to help me do that I am going to post each day about the pasuram of the day. Maybe include a short explanation (if I find time that is). And include a clip of it sung by MLV amma. Since each pasuram is set to a different raagam, I think it is also appropriate to use this opportunity to discuss the raaga in my music blog. Let's see how far I can keep this up.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Nice verse
How deep, true and conquers time.
கலையாத கல்வியும் குறையாத வயதுமொரு கபடு வாராத நட்பும்
கன்றாத வளமையும் குன்றாத இளமையும் கழுப்பிணி இலாத உடலும்
சலியாத மனமும் அன்பகலாத மனைவியும் தவறாத சந்தானமும்
தாழாத கீர்த்தியும் மாறாத வார்த்தையும் தடைகள் வாராத கொடையும்
தொலையாத நிதியமும் கோணாத கோலுமொரு துன்பமில்லாத வாழ்வும்
துய்யநின் பாதத்தில் அன்பும் உதவி
பெரிய தொண்டரொடு கூட்டு கண்டாய்
அலையாழி அறிதுயிலுமாயனது தங்கையே
ஆதி கடவூரின் வாழ்வே
அமுதீசர் ஒரு பாகம் அகலாத சுகபாணி
அருள்வாமி அபிராமியே
கலையாத கல்வியும் குறையாத வயதுமொரு கபடு வாராத நட்பும்
கன்றாத வளமையும் குன்றாத இளமையும் கழுப்பிணி இலாத உடலும்
சலியாத மனமும் அன்பகலாத மனைவியும் தவறாத சந்தானமும்
தாழாத கீர்த்தியும் மாறாத வார்த்தையும் தடைகள் வாராத கொடையும்
தொலையாத நிதியமும் கோணாத கோலுமொரு துன்பமில்லாத வாழ்வும்
துய்யநின் பாதத்தில் அன்பும் உதவி
பெரிய தொண்டரொடு கூட்டு கண்டாய்
அலையாழி அறிதுயிலுமாயனது தங்கையே
ஆதி கடவூரின் வாழ்வே
அமுதீசர் ஒரு பாகம் அகலாத சுகபாணி
அருள்வாமி அபிராமியே
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Wrong region code error on Bose
Here's a easy hack. Works like a charm!!!
This hack WORKS for Bose 321 GSX!
1. Put in Wrong region disk
2. Wait for "Wrong disk message"
3. Press on the remote
- Right button
- Up button
- Shuffle button
- Stop button
- Hold the Mute button pressed until tray ejects and
goes back in
Now Region free
Thanks to 'gordong11'.....it works :)
(Note don't forget to change the video displayed from PAL to NTSC or v.v. to get the best quality picture)
This hack WORKS for Bose 321 GSX!
1. Put in Wrong region disk
2. Wait for "Wrong disk message"
3. Press on the remote
- Right button
- Up button
- Shuffle button
- Stop button
- Hold the Mute button pressed until tray ejects and
goes back in
Now Region free
Thanks to 'gordong11'.....it works :)
(Note don't forget to change the video displayed from PAL to NTSC or v.v. to get the best quality picture)
Monday, January 11, 2010
3 idiots - viewer review
After all the waiting, I finally managed to watch 3 idiots this past weekend. While the movie is kind of a feel good movie, it certainly does not live up to all the hype and the crazy ticket prices. I think the overall "message" from the movie was that our Education system and Parenting needs an overhaul. Good message, totally need of the hour with India progressing leaps and bounds and looking forward to another decade that could put it in the world leader league. The question is couldn't this have been better delivered without making a caricature of everyone? For example Raju rastogi's background. I am not sure if it was an attempt to evoke sympathy with that guy or just to have a good laugh at his expense. The former just doesn't happen, the latter was just in bad taste. Or Boman Irani, can we make him any more cliched and stereotypical? And the Chathur Ramalingam, poor guy, for him 3.5M house is a measure of success and why not? It is, for a vast majority of Indians. Maybe the intent was to ridicule the Indian education system and success metrics but given the lack of any viable alternatives in the film, I wonder if the joke is on the filmmaker. And what's with the whole Aamir is great scientist with 400 patents who also happens to have setup a school in a remote location in Ladakh? C'mon we expect a better closure than that. And why the delivery scene at all? Just to show that childbirth has arrived in mainstream cinema front and center? And to show that aamir can deliver a baby with vacuum cleaner and lens cleaner just guided by a powerpoint show, is perhaps mocking all the doctors and gynaes out there. I am surprised they didn't protest especially given that Kareena is being portrayed as a medical student but she only either constantly roams around on her scooty for no apparent purpose or gets into silly situations with her price-conscious fiancee (another caricature). I hardly see her even sporting a book let alone attend classes. Maybe they think the film doesn't even deserve a protest (and they may be right) :)
Don't get me wrong, I am not against the film. I like light hearted comedies. I liked munnabhai MBBS despite all its idiosyncracies. I like 3 idiots but I expect a lot more from Aamir. I equate Aamir to the likes of DCH, RDB, TZP. (I am happy to conveniently forget that he did Ghajini). The subject matter warrants a deeper thought and if any sensible filmmaker in Bollywood can give it the reasonable treatment that it deserves, I would have bet it would be Aamir (and I would have lost). Better Luck next time!
Don't get me wrong, I am not against the film. I like light hearted comedies. I liked munnabhai MBBS despite all its idiosyncracies. I like 3 idiots but I expect a lot more from Aamir. I equate Aamir to the likes of DCH, RDB, TZP. (I am happy to conveniently forget that he did Ghajini). The subject matter warrants a deeper thought and if any sensible filmmaker in Bollywood can give it the reasonable treatment that it deserves, I would have bet it would be Aamir (and I would have lost). Better Luck next time!
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Cell phones are the bane of the current times.
Case in point: I was flying back from Hyderabad to Bangalore and the moment we landed several cellphones started ringing. Not too bad, always happens, I hear you say. Agreed. Let's move on. We board the bus that takes us from the aircraft to the terminal (though it's only a few steps away and most people on the flight were perfectly capable of walking or so it seemed). A gentleman not only started talking loudly on his phone but proceeded to conduct an entire business meeting on the bus in the clear audience of everyone present evoking all sorts of emotions from the fellow passengers from irritation to chuckles to amusement. Remember this was 9pm in the night. This meeting didn't stop as we disembarked at the terminal but proceeded full blown as we went to the baggage claim and onto the exit. While I understand the necessity of having late night meetings given the global nature and hard deadlines etc, I really don't understand the rationale behind holding it in an airline bus and trying to out-shout the roar of engines. Couldn't he have explained to whoever it was on the other side, that he was just getting off a plane and he would call back in say 30 mins, when he ould be in the relative calm and quiet of his cab? I can even understand if we was actually firefighting and trying to keep the services up 24 X 7, I would have given that much leeway to him, but this was a purely business talk (like proposal, teams etc) and I really don't see any deadline that is shorter than 30 mins that would be impacted by this.
Now, thinking retrospectively about why this happened, I can only attribute it to the existence of this ubiquitous-always-on-your-life cellphone. Now imagine the same without a cellphone. The meeting would never have happened. Would this result in him losing an important client, probably not. The sole reason the meeting took place was not because of timezone, not because it was urgent to be dealt with right away but because cellphone exists and enables communication. Does it add significant value to the conversation, no!!! It just makes us more spur-of-the-moment, I-want-this-done-right-away-simply-because-I-can-and-not-because-I-need/have-to kind of people. To all those people who immediately relate themselves to our unknown gentleman, all I can say is, people lived, communicated, socialized much much before the advent of cellphones and probably did a better job at it than we do now.
Case in point: I was flying back from Hyderabad to Bangalore and the moment we landed several cellphones started ringing. Not too bad, always happens, I hear you say. Agreed. Let's move on. We board the bus that takes us from the aircraft to the terminal (though it's only a few steps away and most people on the flight were perfectly capable of walking or so it seemed). A gentleman not only started talking loudly on his phone but proceeded to conduct an entire business meeting on the bus in the clear audience of everyone present evoking all sorts of emotions from the fellow passengers from irritation to chuckles to amusement. Remember this was 9pm in the night. This meeting didn't stop as we disembarked at the terminal but proceeded full blown as we went to the baggage claim and onto the exit. While I understand the necessity of having late night meetings given the global nature and hard deadlines etc, I really don't understand the rationale behind holding it in an airline bus and trying to out-shout the roar of engines. Couldn't he have explained to whoever it was on the other side, that he was just getting off a plane and he would call back in say 30 mins, when he ould be in the relative calm and quiet of his cab? I can even understand if we was actually firefighting and trying to keep the services up 24 X 7, I would have given that much leeway to him, but this was a purely business talk (like proposal, teams etc) and I really don't see any deadline that is shorter than 30 mins that would be impacted by this.
Now, thinking retrospectively about why this happened, I can only attribute it to the existence of this ubiquitous-always-on-your-life cellphone. Now imagine the same without a cellphone. The meeting would never have happened. Would this result in him losing an important client, probably not. The sole reason the meeting took place was not because of timezone, not because it was urgent to be dealt with right away but because cellphone exists and enables communication. Does it add significant value to the conversation, no!!! It just makes us more spur-of-the-moment, I-want-this-done-right-away-simply-because-I-can-and-not-because-I-need/have-to kind of people. To all those people who immediately relate themselves to our unknown gentleman, all I can say is, people lived, communicated, socialized much much before the advent of cellphones and probably did a better job at it than we do now.
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