Unnikuttan Contd:

All those who read about Unnikuttan in the last post may not have got too many clues about who he is and what he does. So i thought I'd give some details about our "Unnikuttan de Kothannur". He began to be known as Unnikuttan from No 85, Anjinappa l/o. Unni is Nitin Kumar (or Nidhin as he spells it). He's talented as anyone would wish to be. He's an actor and dramatist. U can see that from the well crafted lies he says so innocently.

But he's ambitious. He has big dreams and his talents match them too. Two weeks of internship gave him the name "journalist" already. And what u say of an invitation by a TV channel, for next year's internship? He's capable, though he may look otherwise. He's got good oratory skills and the mock reportings he does sometimes will testify to that.

He acts and speaks. Hei, I am talking about drama and speech. He's won awards, and many of them for both drama, speech and bala. He's earned some bucks too, by doing bala with his friends. Oh and his oratory skill was exploited by some political parties too. I guess he can forgive them as it gave him a platform too. That too when he was young.

So u know Unnikuttan now. The seemingly, quiet and childish face has more than just innocence and restlessness about him. I call it "talent".

Unnikuttan...

Unnikuttan... He's the second personality i choose to write about! He's a talented young man with brains that'll fabricate the best of lies u've heard. ';-). He can act, and act very innocent. He's a travel lover and any chance to be outside, or hopping abt on the bike won't be missed by our dear Unni. A leftist by family tradition, he's understood the harms of remaining one by choice. And deciding to live without a leftist lopsidedness is the wisest thing he's ever done i guess. It takes courage and wisdom to do that though. Especially when your father and family are staunch followers (the question, whether by choice or not doesn't even arise here).

I like Unni for all the ready help he renders and the freebee nature. He's got an air of decency about him too.

Delhi - the seat of all that is HOT!

Delhi is hot and very hot and in all senses! Thaks to the occasional shovers, my stay there was damn pleasant. But I liked the hot part too. If u want to see hot girls (only see) Delhi is the place. The people are better behaved  and dressed. Hindi comes to you naturally (cuz there's no other way around) there I guess. All speak Hindi and even if someone spoke English it won't be more than a few words.

The metro takes you almost all the places u want to go. It's the national capital and the security check is stringent. But the airconditioned metro ride is worth the bucks. Each time I felt tired and unable to stand the heat, i got into a metro and got down in the next station.

It was my first time visit to an airport on 25 June. We have to report 3-4 hrs before for a two hr journey. That's a amazing! Huh? I felt I should have stayed longer just to make her feel that she isn't alone. But Joisy is cool. She knows how to get along with pple easily and fast. How can I forget the way she got the burqa to take a photo. She just walked upto a burqa clad woman and asked most persuasively. Honestly, I wouldn't have done that for anything in the world. (Am I an introvert?)

Afeter leaving her, it was my day all the way. I had not slept a wink the night before. Daisy aunty and I talked til 6.30 am we left from her house. It's after many yrs that we are meeting, let alone talking. I hardly knws her. I have only one or two memories of hers, that too as a child. But relationships are always what they are. I remember aunty asking (more than once) "what did we talk all this while?". It was amazing to be connected to one's own kin like that sometime.

Oh the day that was 25/06. I left Joisy in the airport and headed straight to Redfort. What amazing structure that is. Jesus!!! It was one sight that'll make us think of the country that was ours once upon a time. How many yrs they may have taken to construct that and so huge? Centuries back? And the lawns and gardens? Wow! Salutes, salutes and Salutes to the Kings that ruled us once. That's when glory did mean "glory"!

Oh i din't say. I had a two hr sleep in the lawns in front of the parliament. I am glad no terrorist chose to attack on 25/06. I slept like dead in the train. I have never been more tired! It was one beutiful journey too, with monsoon rains cooling the way.

KEEP IN TOUCH: USE POSTCARDS

In this age of SMS, I find our good old "postcards" fascinating. We hardly have time and we don't want to write long letters. But how about sending hi note to someone in a postcard? It costs u just 50 paise. And u can maybe cheer someone up. Maybe u could surprise a friend with a congratulation note. You can send a feedback to the bank manager about how u felt when u last visited them. You can send a comment to the channel head on a tv programme you liked. Maybe a feedback to a newspaper. You can even reestablish a long lost friendship with an old classmate. All this with a postcard. Cheap, small and convenient. I for one, have found it very interesting. U don't have to write too mcuh. U write only about 100 words, or maybe less. U learn to say more with less words. You see.

We hardly have time for anything or even anyone! But a postcard with its simplicity can go a long way to keep our status as SOCIAL animals alive. It can be a beginning to a long cherished friendship that would otherwise go unnoticed. And u know friendships are fulfilling. And all of us want to live fulfilling lives. So check out how u like it. I love it. Especially now that i've overcome that feeling of inferiority cuz it costs only 50 paise. It's not the 50 paise. It's your THOUGHTFULNESS, the affection and of course the few mints u set apart for the receiver that matter. 

 

Radio Indigo: Quality over Popularity

 3 years back Radio City ruled Bangalore airwaves. There was no competitor. Then came Radio Mirchi. Now we have about 8 or more fm radio stations. But the one that began with a purpose and kept the quality going and even improved is Radio Indigo. It has the unique power to keep all its faithful listeners prisoners for ever. The quality of the station and it's programming style is exceptional. The music the station plays in outstanding, a mixture of contemporary and retro hits. It's a treat to the ears of any music lover.

The station has started it's on-air fiesta from Bangalore and now it has it's presence in Goa, too. The morning show is now hosted by its 3rd rj. Cindu, Malavika and now Ayesha D'Souza hosts "Indigo Rising". Oh come on, let me not give you their schedule now. You can check all that up at http://radioindigo.fm.

My point here again is that they have the best programming and they know (most of the time at least) what the listners want to listen. After 8 pm it goes I cant tell you what, but not so listenable is how i would rate it. As the clock strikes 8 you can hear some never-heard-before songs. It's interesting. It's like, you can catch up with all that you have lost so far in life. If anything that gives u more discomfort, it is the near suffocation that the RJ seems to go thru. You can hear him almost running out of air. But I think, it's his style to be "hyper-pitched". He'll need a lot of water and a special ENT therapy if he continues like that. At least that's the impression that we get.

What i most look forward to in 91.9 is the weekly "AT40" with Ryan Seacrest. Amazing and most well produced radio programme i must say. I love the way Roger the Security blends into the programme. Check out Ryan and the AT40 team and trivia at http://at40.com

Fever 104 hit the airwaves hard. With some modifications, people did listen to them. But with changes to include more kannada songs, i think, it has lost it's ORIGINAL audience. I would consider this an act of betrayal. But as they say, "kuch pane ke liye, kuch khona hai".

Radio Indigo is one station that has remained the best it is/was always. While other stations craze to top the surveys list, Indigo concentrates on it's quality. It knows that basic will always give them what they require. It's like, a cat following it's tails. If the cat just walks, the tail follows. Indigo knows the trick only too well. 

Gopu Sir

Today I want to write about Gopu Sir. Besides being informative, i'd like to share my thougts on people too. So in the list of people that i am going to talk about first comes Gopu sir.

A man much smarter than he appears. What i love the most about Gopu Sir is his adaptability. He came to KJC with no prior experience in teaching and in three years, he was the most loved teacher in the Dpt. No, he wasn't loved for just his attutude and kind behaviour. He was loved more for his classes. To be honest I loved him more for his classes than anything else. No experience, but still the best teacher. Now that's the adaptability that I am talking about. Teaching is not a big deal. Syllabus, a few years' question papers and you know waht to teach and what not. Simple as it might sound, we have seen teachers all along. Very knowledgeable sometimes, but with no clue absolutely. I guess it's about the presence of mind. and u got to be streetsmart.

The only teacher in the Dpt who finished his syllabus before the last day of classes. The only one who reserved at least a week's class for revision. The one who finished all his syllabus even if the class went for a three day picnic. The only one who gave his classes to others so that they can finish their syllabus. And he's not teaching any less. All this happned even when he was the lone star of the Journalism Dpt. Now that's something. I hope all are listening!

Anohter thing i like about Gopu sir is his love for movies, dramas, art and photography. That makes him a man of solild sensibilities. The movies he wantches and love for drama and theatrics will in themselves give him all the respect anyone would want.

And he's smart. He doesn't get into trouble. He knows he's no Jesus Christ. To save others nor to save self. So he, as i see it, keeps himsef from getting into trouble rather than save himself/others from trouble. That's something anyone can learn from him, if u want to go far in life. "There are those who stand up and face the music and there are those who take cover. Cover is better" (The Scent of A Woman). Sir has understood that better and much before all of us. ';-)

Come what may, say whatever u want to. The BA Dpt of KJC doesn't and will not (even after all the flattery to all the rest) miss anyone as much as it has missed Gopu Sir. And for whatever reason you choose. He's been a tough disciplinarean; a mother that understand and forgives and brother who advises and a friend who stands by us and  is always with us.

Thank you sir for all those beautifully crafted classes. You've been an inspiration! Though our tears may have dried, our love for you still stands. At it's peak! Always!

Memoirs of KJC Cntd:

Memoirs of KJC Cntd: Wish It was...

The first day of my college started after meeting with Fr. Josekutty. He advised that i meet Gopu Sir, before i go to class. Indeed, it was a nice meeting. He showed me a copy of the "Quadrangle", the biyearly college magazine. He told me, what would take us far and long is activities.

I realize that today, as I am almost out of college. I realize the value of gaining experience only now. Thank God, I got an opportunity to be the editor of "Quadrangle". That gave me all the confidence I needed in my writing skills. Maybe the very fact i decided to do this blog explains part of that story.

How i wish we continued the initiative of Ms. Bharati "KJC News Broadcast". It was a fantastic idea that would have given us all the experience we needed to work in the visual media. I can say this more confidently after going thru the one week observation in TV9. what they do is almost the same, except that we did not do any evaluation. I wish all of us took it more seriously.

Now that all is over, I wish good luck to the ones that still have the opportunity right under their nose. Even if no one helped, try it on your own. It's easy and u CAN do it. It's gonna be one thing that'll give u that edge over the others.

Google Calendar! No More Misses On Your Schedules

Have you checked out Google Calendar yet? God!!! It's one tool on the net that u'd love it all your life. I love Gmail. And the second best thing from Google I have seen, is the CALENDAR. I vouch for it. When u have it, u won't anymore forget your loved ones' birthdays and important meetings, events and even examination dates. You'll get reminder emails, SMS and even pop-ups if u wish.

What's more. You can add preset calendars to your account. These are there on the net already.. Some example of these would be, Christian Calendar, Islamic Calendar, Indian calendar, US Calendar and many more such calendars. U can even get a five-day weather prediction for your city. One calendar that'll fill all your space is the "Celeb Calendar", with so many celebs sharing the same birthday. Forgive them. It's not their mistake. They are so many, but there are only 365 days in a year. ';-(.

You can copy dates and events from any calendar to yours. You can set up more than one calendar too. All with different names. Name one "birthdays", another "anniversary", another "exams: and another "Holidays". 

And what if u want to keep a copy of it on your desk? Trust me it's the best. Your can customize ur calendar with all your dates, deadlines and events right on your desktop. U can download the whole thing in .pdf format and print it. U can eliminate the calendars that you don't want to print. It's not a good idea to print the calendar with the weather report. It actually will not look exactly as u see it on screen.

The Mobile providers that support Google Calendar Reminders in India are Hutch and Spice. So if u have a hutch phone u can get all those reminders for free. You can have upto 6 reminders at the time and date or your choice. Reminders can be Emails, SMS and even a pop-up within you Gmail. All according to how ur wish and like. So here's yet another chance for you to remain more organized and scheduled. U won't miss any of those birthday parties anymore. Neither that rock concert that you had planned but forgot in the middle of your heavy work schedule. Google will remind you. U just make sure u reach there in time!!! ';-)

Success Story of my "FOLLOW UP" folder

I am very forgetful sometimes. But I cannot any more be less organized. Writing things on a notebook and carrying it around was an idea. But it wasn't always possible with only a two pocket which are alreay occupied with mobile an wallet. What i ended up doing was simple. I named one of my folders in the email as "follow up". I put all my "TO-DO" lists in that folder. I dint forget to add a "DONE" folder too. The emails will remain in "follow UP" until it is done. Once the date is passed and i have done the work, the reminder email moves to the "DONE" folder. And when i look at about 94 emails in the "DONE" folder, i couldn't be happier. and you've guessed the reason already.

The reminder is more/only effective if we check the email on a daily basis. It won't give any reminder emails or SMS, but checking it daily does keep us on the toes to get the things done asap. And once it is done, moving it to the "DONE" folder is a joy. It gave me a sense of accomplishment. This could especially benefit working professionals who have a lot to do and in very little time. All the more reason when you have a lot of things and u cant possibly remembr all of them in the correct order or on time. It did wonders to me, I'm sure, it'll be of great help to you too. Try it.

The folder method will keep you organized and also give you the highs of being so! ';-). You'll see yourself accomplishing more and being more effective. All the best.

By the way u don't have to pay me for this piece of advice!... ';-)

KJC Memoirs

College days are over and Kristu Jayanti will only be memories now, except for the exams that still need to be scheduled. The farewell on 19 April was really cool. As we hear it, Deepu and co did a great job in organizing and then making us feel like kings of KJC. Thank you friends. We'll miss you; but we'll remember u too. Always!

 

Hmmm, how many cried now on that (ceremonious) last day! Ceremonious, cuz the actual last day of class was 29/04/2008. It was heartbreaking to realize that we'll leave KJC. We had a crying party earlier; when Gopu sir left towards the end of last semester. Now this time, it's all of us leaving each of us. It's indeed hard. Sajeesh, man I love you so much. Your tears nearly drenched my eyes too. You are the one who's been the same Sajeesh that I have always seen. You are one friend I'll always bank on. Once again, I'll miss you. Thanks for being so nice Sajeesh.

 

Br. Libin is my new found friend. Though I nearly hated you in the first and second year, in the third year, I came to like you so much. I think when u became a little naughty; u got your rhythm to be nice. When you are too holy, and innocent, it's difficult for other pple. Like they say, it's difficult to live with a saint. And you cry huh? That was very revealing. It also shows how nice a person you are. And of course, you told me that it was your best birthday celebration. I am glad; our little idea brought a lot of joy to you.

 

Shynge's tears came flowing as she looked slowly and constantly into my eyes. It was very sweet to see those tears rolling down her cheek. I am not being a saddist here. I was on the verge of crying, thank God, someone came distracted me from that. ';-).

Oh what class was ours!!! One bunch all different people. I had a different set of friends each year. First year, it was friends with individuals. But later, it was friends as a group. Second year also gave me another experience. Being the class rep. But trust me it was touch. Many complain that BA III wasn't close-knit as a class. But I must apologetically admit that the examples we had, was no better. Guess what could make me say that I nearly hate some teachers. Power is an issue everywhere. So was (IS) it in KJC. But, women crazy about power? It's the first time I see it outside a convent! ';-(. I am not trying to kill the spirit here; rather, I trying to be honest. At least in this forum. When sadists become teachers, they'll want assignments written a hundred times. They'd ensure that u write the assignments more than two times. They'll ensure that you collect your hall ticket from fr. Augustine and u face as much trouble as possible.

 

Anyways, I thought I'd share the good things. But the end was a little bad. Cuz second year was a struggle for me. It wasn't easy to do the things. When all are trying to kill what you try to do, it was very discouraging. I think what all of us need to do is encourage one another. We need to put down our subjective feelings home. We can't afford to shout at people and be doing things to please our ego.

 

The last day was the toughest. Just to realize that I can't sit with my "Angels" anymore. The last bench that was always mine. The privileged last bench that gave me some of my really good friends. I'll need to sit another day and update this data.

 

Thanks for taking the time to read so far. Dear friends, all the best for your life and career. May God's abundant blessings be always with you. Love you all.