"Swades" in action

Few years back there was a Hindi movie Swades directed by Ashutosh Gowarikar. It was about a scientist, played aptly by Sharukh Khan, living in US. He leaves India for brighter career prospects in US. He later gets sucked in to the physical comfort of the life in US. Only when he visits India again he realizes what he has been missing. Subsequently, he decides to do something for his country and goes back to India to put his knowledge for his country's benefit. 


For all those who were not in India, this movie felt like a personal note from the motherland. Every time I used hear the soundtrack "Yeh Jo Desh hai Tera"  composed by A.R.Rahman, I used to think that it was written for me. It used to raise questions on whether I am doing the right thing by coming out of my country. In time of such doubts, I sought solace by looking at the abundance of talent my country is producing incessantly. For every few who leave India, there are a few who either stay back in India or decide to go back to India.


Today I read an opinion piece in NY Times written by David Bornstein about an entrepreneur in Bihar, India who has started a power company named Husk Power Systems. He left India, like many of us, for better career prospects in US. Years later, he heard the call and decided that it was time to go back and contribute towards the betterment of his roots. (You can go to the following link to read the complete article: http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/10/a-light-in-india/) 


I know I will hear my call someday. Till then, will take pride in the actions of my fellow countrymen, like these guys behind Husk Power Systems.


Good luck Husk Power Systems!

Few clicks from the past

O! 2010 where art thou?

Looking back at the year that whizzed past me, Oh 2010 where did you go? what did I do in these 365 days?

1.    Spent nearly 50% of my time sitting in front of a laptop (20% more in front of TV)

2.    Celebrated Indian Festivals for the first time in this country

3.    Rearranged the look of my living room thrice

4.    Worked out, quit workout, restarted work out

5.    Movie Inception made me wonder how amazing the human mind is to conceive such a story.

6.    Happy to see Indian Cricket team become # 1 team in test cricket and stay there

7.    Jubilant to see Sachin Tendulkar score 200* in an ODI cricket match

8.    Weekend Football became interesting due to office pick’em

9.    Lost in both my Fantasy Football leagues

10. Happy for Rehman to get an Academy award for one of his not-so-good number. (He was bound to get international recognition sooner or later)

11. Became a fan of PBS documentaries

12. Thanked Netflix for being there for me on most evenings

13. Reached level 94 in Farmville, a climb of 70 odd levels

14. Started playing and quit playing many other FB games

15. Posted 8 funny videos of strangers in FB

16. Aggravated my irritation with iPhone (Apps are still having my vote though)

17. Started writing a blog

The most meaningful of it all, saw my kid grow from a little bundle of joy in my hands to a little man!

Day 1 - Conversation

He: Why the title "Off the fence"?
Me: I have been on the fence about the whole idea of blogging. Now I am off the fence and decided to step into this world of blogging. 


He: What is the issue with blogging?
Me: I am not comfortable about letting the whole world know about everything in my life. 


He: What convinced you?
Me: The fact that I control what I publish made me feel comfortable about this whole activity. 


He: Does that mean you are going to publish esoteric posts that lack emotion and remain detached from reality?
Me: Firstly, a post being esoteric or not is up to the reader to decide. As far as the reality part is concerned, yes I will try and keep it close to reality as creatively possible. 


He: Will you be a regular in this blogging circuit now? 
Me: May be, may be not. Only time will tell. Thanks for helping me out with my first post by asking "meaningful" questions. 
He: You are welcome. I want to see what you come up with on Day 2.