Humans - cancer of earth ?

I read somewhere that humans are the cancer of earth and it seems so true while reading the book "Germs, guns and steel" by Jared Diamond.
Let me start by stating the characteristics of cancer cells
1. These cells display uncontrolled growth.
2. Invasion and destruction of adjacent tissues.
3. Ultimately leads to death of the host.

Now if you think, humans exhibit all these traits. Homo sapiens have been growing and overpopulating the planet ever since the first human laid feet on the earth. Countless number of species are extinct due to their direct or indirect actions. In his book, Jared Diamond says that most of the mammals got extinct from Australia and Americas in short span just after humans made their first appearance there.
No other species has impacted the earth so much in its history of 4 billion years. And if the current rate of degradation continues, humans are bound to fulfill the third criteria as well.
The scars on earth's surface caused by humans are now visible from space. With the coming up of concrete cities, deforestation and melting glaciers and ice caps, the effect of human activities is all too visible.

The biggest difference though is that cancer cells do not realize that they are destructing their hosts, while humans do. And the worst part is that this does not change anything. Humans are too occupied with their own survival and conflicts to worry about the sustenance of the mother earth.
The only future that appears possible at the point is "start-over" !!

Ready, get set, Go (On behalf of a friend)

She is weird, she is a mystery. She wants the world to know her thoughts, but wants someone else to tell them.
Here is the blog I am hosting for Preeti -

Barely been a month since I made it to ISB….and my colleague frowned at my watch today suggesting its time for me to now buy a trendy corporate watch and lose this “college watch”…. an year form now I can picture another moron tell me how I now ought to give up driving tiny Altos…… stop living in 2 BHKs with no swimming pool or worse no golf course, stop carrying packed lunch to work and that 2nd class is for untouchables!!

So is this what life is going to become? Is my life “All Set” for me like every pseudo around me echos … Am I gonna take up just the right job (make more than I can spend), live away from particle filled Indian pollution and buy veggeis only from Spencer’s…. oh are we also expected to wear designer clothes now??!?

Its bad enough I bump into increasingly brand conscious junta everywhere, I have to now put up with these illogical social expectations. I mean I am someone who will take the public bus and not the auto whenever time permits, have chai in Santhi Sagar, bargain in Commercial Street, go to the local parlor in my neighborhood and know the Kirana store uncle by his name. Treating my folks Barbeque Nation is still an occasional luxury, flying (I’ve only flown once ) is still like going to Disney Land ( no I haven’t been there either). There’s something about ppl with Blackberrys and laptops, I don’t want to belong there. Maybe I don’t want to give in to them.

I dunno if its just coincidence or I’ve become overly perceptive after ISB…. Everyday I bump into someone I don’t wanna become after ISB. I don’t wanna be the person who beats stress flying planes in Malaysia every year. To me non- AC is perfectly normal, saving to buy my mom a microwave is the achievement of the year and I still meet ppl cus they are nice, not cus I am “networking”.

So this New Year, the resolution right on top of my list is gonna be “Don’t lose yourself”.

Everything on my shopping list will not be prefixed “Imported” after ISB. And yes, my journal and junk jewelry will continue to be the only 2 things I will run for if my house is on fire. No, I will not turn into them. I will be me.

Describe yourself to your classmates

... and feel free to be creative.

This was one of the essay topics for NYU Stern. For curious readers, my application is under review there.
So, as you guys know, the only creative thing that I am capable of is writing a few words and making them rhyme (sounds very simple, doesn't it), here I was again juggling with words to put in my points. And this is what I came up with -- (criticism and comments are welcome)

Born and brought up in a small Indian town,
For education and career I was bogged down.
Leaving the apprehensive family for higher education,
In the big city of Bombay I felt like a clown.

Took me a few days to get comfortable,
But soon I became one of the most desirable.
Taking up activities and organizing all parties,
I got the fun-loving and energetic label.

For professionals workplace can become serious,
When there’re needed a few moments delirious.
And this is exactly what I did at my job,
In making boring places fun, I am imperious.

I love travelling around and trekking,
Another thing that gives me a high is biking.
We’ll explore places around NY,
And conquer the roads and high peaks like a king.

Dance acts like a stress buster for me,
Though I am no Michael Jackson I agree,
But isn’t this the most wonderful thing,
You need not be a genius to enjoy dancing spree.

Took part in social service activities many,
I also co-founded the CSR committee of my company.
So now you have a classmate to enliven our clubs,
One who you will always like to accompany.

Fun is not the only thing I provide,
With me all your maths problems will glide.
Analytical skills I honed at the best engg college,
So project worries you can set aside.

So, with me you all can look for fun-filled two years,
Filled with laughter and lot of beers.
And if you think that fun and work don’t really mix,
Get all set and ready to change your gears.

Nervousness, wait, anxiety, euphoria, connections, lull

All these emotions/things have been going on in the last few days, in the same order.
It starts after I submitted my application at ISB, and got an interview date. As this was my first ever application to any B-school, I really wasn't sure that I was doing everything right and after going through the process I realize now that I could have done better.
But now, it doesn't matter :)

I am not used to wearing a suit, and was quite uncomfortable in one during the interview day. Add to it the fact that my interview was late in the evening and I reached quite early, and my nervousness will be clear. My friend and c0-applicant Archana was in the interview room when I reached and was waiting to hear her interview experience. She was pretty relaxed after the interview and that soothed my nerves. Went to the registration hall after that, and after a short essay and long wait, I heard my named called..
Now comes the interview experience --

Mr Menon came out to call me in the interview room. There was one alum along with him.
Mine was among the last interviews and the alum started as soon as I entered.

- We talked about my work at Amazon and what the company does in general.
- We discussed about why I want to do an MBA and I gave examples of people in my company.
- The alum was concerned about me being a core techie (involved in robotics in IITB and then working at Amazon in software) and whether I would be able to interact with managers with high work ex. I talked a bit about non-techie aspects of my personality. (This is interesting)

Alum. So you write poems !!
Me. Yes, mostly on day to day topics like birthdays, some event, greetings

Alum. Since when do u write ?
Me. Since I was in love for the first time.
The alum was pretty happy on hearing this. It was the high point of the interview. (I had also decided on which of my poems I was going to recite, if asked to do so)

After this, Mr. Menon spoke for the first time during the whole interview and gave me a "estimate the number" type of question, in which I thought I didnt really do well and this made me believe that my chances of getting in are not so good.
But seems that this question was just to kill time and that I was already in.

Then wait started for the results. Couple of days before Nov 20th (day of the results), people invented all sort of theories and posted on pagal guy. Posts like "I think the results will be out in another hour" had everyone hooked. Came the d-day and never in my life I had used F5 as much as I did that day. After almost giving heart-attack to quite a few, the results finally started pouring in after 9 PM. I got the holy mail, I could just read Congratulations!! and rest of the mail got blurred :D
Now comes the toughest part. As someone pointed - "you must have been jumping up and down from inside". Yes I was, as I couldn't do it on outside. Was in office that time and had an hour long telephonic meeting. I swear I didn't understand a word of what was said, and was just making a list to people to call. Heck, I was too excited to sleep that night.

After a couple of days, the itch started to get a glimpse of the future and hence we decided for a get together of Hyd junta. Really interesting people, specially a 36 year old (Ram, sorry for revealing), who has done engineering, MBA, worked as project manager in Europe, LLB and right now is in real estate business. Am sure Ram will help me in getting a good house in hyd for competitive price. So, you see, networking helps :P

I got my roll number (PG id) from ISB couple of days back and now it seems more real. But, there will be a lull for next few months before the tempo picks up when the session starts in April.

Will keep posting on the developments till then.

Ahh... I wish that April wasn't that far. Can't wait to get started !!

Anger, frustation, desperation ...............

Every India must be feeling the same emotions right now. My mind has gone numb with continuous news forecasting. I was supposed to be in Mumbai right now for a friend's wedding, but alas. Here are a few words which express my feelings ...

ये तबाही का मंज़र क्यूँ फैला रहे हो,
ये गोले ये बम क्यूँ ला रहे हो।
दो साँसे तो चैन की लेने दो,
अब तो हमें जीने दो।

वो बाप जिसके दो छोटे बच्चे हैं,
वो जोड़ा जिसने शादी की मेंहदी से हाथ रचे हैं,
दो पल प्यार तो उन्हें करने दो,
अब तो हमें जीने दो।

ज़िन्दगी की भाग-दौड़ में लगे हुए हैं,
फिर भी ये लोग डटे हुए हैं।
जीवन का अमृत-ज़हर ख़ुद इन्हें पीने दो,
अब तो हमें जीने दो।

क्या आतंक से किसी को कुछ हासिल हुआ,
क्या खुदा का नाम इससे कामिल हुआ,
ऊपर वाले को इस दुनिया पे शर्मिंदा मत होने दो,
अब तो हमें जीने दो।

ज़मीन पे खून, आसमान में धुआं,
ज़न्नत को क्यूँ ज़हंनुम बना रहे हो,
हँसी के दो फूल तो यहाँ खिलने दो,
अब तो हमें जीने दो।

आंखों से नफरत का परदा उतारकर देखो,
हर इंसान को अपना तो बनाकर देखो,
खुदको समझने को मौका तो दो,
अब तो हमें जीने दो।

I promise that I am going to continue this time. I have blogging on and off for a couple of years and now that I'll not be able to work much for next few months, I might as well write a few things.
I have a bad news though. Sometime back, my hard-disk crashed and I have lost many of my poems. I'll be posting the ones that have remained in my inbox.

Will come back with a poem.

Chau