Being Confident versus Showing off

One lazy afternoon we were driving to Kanha, the Tiger Country. The conversation was typically desultory. It some how veered towards the topic of being cocky or showing off. I was ribbing off my 13 year old on being a show off only to be rebuffed that I did not know the difference between "being confident" and "showing off".

This is how he explained the difference between the two -

"Main kar sakta hoon" - is being confident.
( "I can do it")

"Main hi kar sakta hoon" - is showing off.
("Only I can do it")

I marvelled at his take on the issue and drove on.

The Reunion - A Heartwarming tale

Here, let me share with you this little heart warming tale so beautifully portrayed. Amazing blend of an old world charm, immense grace, friendship and technology. Truly amazing!

Here, check this out.

Note
I have occassionally noticed that the the You Tube video does not display. Some technical glitch or may be I am yet to breach the digital divide. Nevertheless, in case the video does not show up here is the link to it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHGDN9-oFJE. Further, you may also watch it by typing - "Google Search : Reunion" - in you tube. There we go....!

Discharging Ones Duty Responsibly

I have a simple take on setting the affairs of the country right.

On a micro level, if everyone starts doing his or her designated duty with a sense of responsibility things are bound to work. Just doing ones duty correctly is bound to bring a phenomenal change in the way things run. Yes, occasionally, it may throw a few glitches but then, in general, things will start moving in an orderly, systematic manner consistently. And what is more, this simple philosophy applies in every walk of life.

Let me explain. If a teacher goes about teaching his or her subject (primary duty) with a sense of responsibility, he is bound to make a positive difference in the lives of his students. Now, if the students in turn pay attention to what is being taught (primary duty) by the teacher, things will definitely take an upward swing. Let us take this conjecture forward. If the principal of the school, goes about his job dutifully, he would be fair in appraisng the teacher (a part of his duty) there by promoting excellence. 

The same hold good on the macro level as well. If all the organizations and their sub units carry out their designated duties properly, sloth and corruption - ills that plague our country will be things of the past. Orderly traffic (primary duty of traffic police), good policing (primary duty of the police department), good governance (primary duty of the government), effective health setup (primary duty of the department of health) can all actually happen, if, at the individual level we start doing our duty the way we should. 

What a difference would it make to our lives and the quality of life? 

Imagine, just imagine.     

Look around. The  success story of any nation that is stable, strong and powerful will always have - "discharging ones duty responsibly", a recurring leitmotiff inherent in its people !

What have I got on my own

Sometimes, well quite sometimes you hear an eminently hummable number that hither to was unknown to you. You hear it once and then here it again and again ! And before you realise you get hooked to it. I guess you know what do I mean. 

Here, let me share with you the number that is now a days constantly on my lips. Well, it is called "What have I got on my own" by Trini Lopez. I hope, like me, you too would appreciate the beauty of the lyrics and be enthralled by his near hypnotic vocal timbre. 

Folks and all those of you who liked it, here is another number called "The Lemon Tree" by Mr Lopez. 

Long Live Trini Lopez!

And Long Live You tube !

Club 180

Club 180, our club organised a badminton tournament for the kids of the station from 30 Aug to 01 Sep. The tournament witnessed a decent turnout and saw some memorable matches. Enthusiastic kids and proud parents came in numbers for the finals. It was fun organising the same for our kids. Have a look at some snaps of the event -

Little ladies with their coach smashing their way around 

Rahul and Chris (runners up doubles)

                                                      Rahul (winner singles)

Parul (runners up sub junior girls)

The players with their prizes

Inspirational Stuff

The other day, I was leafing through books at the library and chanced upon "The 10 Natural Laws of Successful Time and Life Management" by one Hyrum W. Smith. Generally, such books fail to find favour with me. However, a little poem at the beginning of the book had me rivetted. The poem, the author says, is inscribed on a sun dial at Wellesley College and goes like this -

The shadow by my finger cast

Divides the future from the past.

Behind its unreturning line,

The vanished hour, no longer thine..

Before it lies the unknown hour,

In darkness and beyond thine power.

One hour alone is in thine hands,

The now on which the shadow stands. 

The Sun Dial

Inscription at the Sun Dial

I did some googling around and found out that Wellesley College is in US and was founded in 1870 by Henry and Pauline Durant who were "passionate about higher education of women". I visited the college's website (www.wellesley.edu) and was impressed by what I saw.

No, I am not in the good College's pay roll !

Presently, I am wading through the book and  I must admit Mr Hyrum. W. Smith has not disappointed me. Alas ! he doesn't pay me either.  

The Lamb’s Got A Kick | Uttam Sengupta

At last in a week that was rife with sad and depressing news here is a success story that would indeed warm the cockles of the heart.....our own Koh Panyee Football Club! The news is indeed brilliant and has come at the right time.
The Lamb’s Got A Kick | Uttam Sengupta