May 16, 2014

Shift Happens

Shift Happens is a series stating the movement or distribution of resources in different countries across the globe. This is a phenomenon occurring due to natural as well as man-made factors and is too large to be controlled by any group of people or nations. The moot point then is to shift with the ‘shift’ in a direction that will lead to growth and prosperity for ourselves as well as for everything that we impact in our course of activities.

While this global shift of resources happened from the western nations to the emerging markets, I have been through my own ‘shift’ of 8500 miles in the reverse direction while moving from India to the United States. Despite arriving just a couple years before the Great Recession hit the US economy, I managed to make for myself a career in banking through the troubled times.However, considering the vast technological jumps and with it emerging careers and ways of doing business, it has me thinking on whether I should enhance my skills further to keep up with the global trends. Even though my personal inclination is to use technology only as much as absolutely necessary in today’s course of life, I believe staying abreast and honing new skills will become absolutely necessary to avoid being caught on the wrong side of the shift.

The presentation on Shift Happens lays focus on several aspects of growth in the emerging economies such as China and India. It also lays down facts about technological advances and how it precipitates a one-world norm for humankind. However, it doesn’t lay out the parallel shift that could be happening wherein developed nations are benefited by the growth of the emerging economies as well as information technology. For example, the off-shoring of jobs could lead to creation of jobs in the home country due to expansion of the entire industry made possible by the catering of the basic requirements through off-shoring.Countries could gain reciprocal advantages and join hands to eradicate some of the problems of the dark ages that still linger on as well as newer or emerging issues that plague humanity as a whole through multinational cooperation.


Globalization causes movement in multiple dimensions across the globe. It is for us to make sure that we reap its benefits while minimizing the bad effects. Our objective should be to remain engaged in information about changes that are taking place if we do not want to be left behind and ensure we are securing our future prospects in career growth and stability. At the same time, we should also keep in mind reciprocal benefits that we may be able to leverage even if a particular shift appears to impact us adversely. Shift has happened in our planet from its very genesis. Compared to the ones that history has recorded, this shift in the global power-houses and technology is trivial no matter how huge it appears in mankind’s own relative recent history. The goal should be to make the most of it for the benefit of everyone like never before.

Nov 2, 2013

Words

I have cherished words all of my life. With a heart brimming with gladness, with tempestuous eyes or with a soaring spirit, I have loved words. The joy of seeing the teacher’s note on an essay or on the first publication in a newspaper was all an inheritance from words.

The gurgling of the brook, the quaint little town of pines, the soliloquy of the minstrel or the pied beauty of autumn - paint pictures through words. The chant of the ‘Om’ and the ‘I can do it’ self-fulfilling prophecy radiates the incredible power  of words.

The sanctity and serenity emanating from words have mysteriously enriched life in ways indescribable. Spoken or tacit, written or unwritten, words have added meaning and ecstasy beyond words.

Nov 1, 2013

Dreams Unbounded

I was sitting by a small window in an attic with a view of the hills and the horizon. In my hands, I had a book which was about clouds and their beauty. To my extreme amazement, as I read the book, the sky in front of me changed to the same translucent shades I was reading about. The view was enchanting - the pastel pinks, the restrained teals and muted oranges all engulfed by the delicate cerulean. On leaving the kingdom of slumber, I realized that this was a dream.This was back in my college days, but it bewildered me since then as I wondered how a dream could be so splendidly ethereal.

I found my answer recently on seeing a picture taken by one of my friends from school in Barapani, Shillong. Growing up in Meghalaya – the abode of the clouds, clouds of every colour graced so many twilight skies. They are part of my fabric and the dream was only an extension of real magic of that land. 




During the same period, I had another dream that was absolutely mystifying. In that dream someone had given me a small figurine of a female form. It was about two inches in height and very slender. I tried but couldn’t identify who it was. After a long time and a lot of searching (all in my dream ) I suddenly noticed that she was holding a Veena*. That day I woke up with a smile.

When I saw the picture of the clouds posted by Devyani on Facebook and came to the realization of the truth of my beautiful dream about a month back, I wondered why I never saw such dreams ever again. This was at bedtime and magic struck again. This time I saw myself riding a cycle passing by a serene structure that some told me is a ‘Buddhist Church’. The building was about five stories high and made of wood with a burnished finish. The place exuded a divine grace as it rose up high behind me. I kept turning back to look at it, while riding the cycle by beautiful green gardens that were in front of it. I woke up with hopes that someday this place with extend into reality.

*Veena - A musical instrument played by the Indian goddess of learning, Saraswati
Photo courtesy: Devyani Sen

Oct 27, 2013

.......................***Providence***.........................

The morning dew
O’er the green grass,
Leaves of every hue
Fate’s image cast

A last wish,
A fancied tint,
Orange, yellowish
Or still a green hint

Candles burn brilliant
Ere the flames go down,
A conquest vibrant
Ere they renounce the crown

A Spring’s awakening,
A Mid-Summer night’s dream
The most winsome -
Man’s favorite season, Autumn

Sep 22, 2013

Magic


The miracle moon mirrors
The magic of her eyes
To mythical lands
Of myriads of mirages,
Of mystique
And muses

The shimmering moon steals
The sparkle of her stares
To sacred seas
Of seraphinas,
Of soothing sands
And silvery silences

The glistening moon gifts
The glint of her gaze
To starry skies
Of salvation,
Of the surreal
And sages


*Seraphina (from Seraphim): An angel of the highest order

Sep 19, 2013

Heterodoxy

My first attempt at a piece of verse, from when I was in my 11th standard. I don't remember all of it, but wanted to share what I do.

No walls separate one man from another,
No ill-feelings we carry,
No ill-feelings for one another,
And we speak in voices free

We don't say-
I, You, He or She,
We say 'We' - In unison!
Communion is decree

This is all a dream,
And truth is reality,
Pandora opened the box of troubles,
And there's wide-spread calamity

'Hope' still comes to preserve our integrity,
Making our dreams real for posterity


* 'Hope' is the fairy that came out last from Pandora's 'Box of Troubles'

Sep 4, 2013

Untitled


Ek ehsaas puraana sa,
Naye andaaz mein aayaa

Ek saaz jo kho gaya tha,
Nayi aawaaz ne gungunayaa

Ek anjaam,
Nayaa aaghaz layaa


An old feeling,
A new spring

A melody gone missing,
A fresh humming

A closing,
Ushers a new beginning

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