A Day of Learning

Dedicated to October 24th, Vidyarambham. The day of learning.

I actually wanted to make this post on that day, just pen down all the lessons I have learnt, and share it with all my loving fans! But on that day, I did something much better - watched two movies, dined with friends and glued myself to the television all night. Life could not get any better. Love you Thiruvananthapuram! Love you vacations!

Before I go any further, thank you -  to those few, amazing and precious readers that I have. Who go through all of my blogs and also give me valuable feedback. What I am amazed about is that this is not a big budget movie. This is not a best selling blog. And my posts are not very small either. Yet you take your time and go through my posts, and give me suggestions. Help me improve. It's not like you think I am going to become Salman Rushdie tomorrow. Your advice may yield no fruit at all. Yet you support me, as if fighting for some great cause. My friends have shown genuine interest in helping me write these posts, and I will always be gratified for your blessings. Thank you fellows!

Today, I want to clarify a few things about this blog of mine. Writing is my biggest passion, and when I write this blog, I pour all my love into it. That is not actually a hard thing to do. I just love the feeling of clicking the keyboard in this smooth streamlined motion, thoughts flowing out so freely. This little page is truly a sanctuary. But leave that. That is all about me. What is this blog about? About me? Come on, that would be too shallow, even for Ramon Dharma Rajan. Is it about science, or politics. Nope? You need some amount of knowledge to write about any of that. Is it about love? Well, I am not Stephenie Meyer. Not yet. Ok, lets just say this blog is about everything (mostly digression)

Maybe it is because it is MY blog. I never stick to one subject. I choose to learn a wide range of topics than delve deep into a single one. I like to have a broad portfolio. Similarly, my blog wants to cover a wide range of things. Every post must be broad. This approach has definitely earned me criticism. I suck at connecting the different topics that I talk about. And I am too lazy to do a little proof reading (hence the spelling errors!) But I think it is a cool idea. I think it does away with boredom. For ne as a writer and for you as a reader. You are not being sucked into depths of something that you have absolutely no concern for. You are just skimming through a bunch of stuff, which I think sound rad! Well, I give you value for your time.

I know, it is really annoying when the title has absolutely nothing to do with the content. Exactly what I felt when I saw "Ayalum Njanum Thammil", Malayalam movie starring Prithviraj. Beautiful movie, a little boring at parts, but a must watch on the whole. A movie about growing up. The same genre as of "Wake up Sid" and "Vinodayatra". But much better - Trivandrum Lodge! It was truly amazing to see such a bold movie. What was thought to be a conservative film industry, actually pulled off all this perverted stuff. That too, in style. And the best part, in the midst of all those vulgar dialogues, it really moves you. Touches your heart. The idea of a One Woman Man, really inspiring!

And those are the two movies that made my day in the day of learning. After watching those two movies, back to back with my buddy, went off for dinner with friends. Came back home. Planned on making this post, but then, the vacation mood just caught hold of me. It is a hard thing. Vacation blues. From celebrating the laziest week of your life to washing all your clothes after a full day of office. From getting dinner stuffed in your mouth, to having to fetch for it all by yourself. From being spoon-fed, to having to fend for yourself. It is depressing. But then again, when you use words like, "Having to fend for yourself!", it does sound kind of cool. Worth it!

What more to say? A lot more actually. Went to a temple on Mahanavami. Wanted to speak a lot about the kind of rush at temples. People are so darn impatient when they approach the deity. Pinnacle of irony if you ask me. There was the same look on everybody's face, "Let's get this done with" and not "Thank you my Lord for this wonderful experience". All the pushing and jerking, just short of swearing. A temple is supposed to be the place of peace. Take you to the epitome of happiness, joy and comfort. Soothe your sense organs. And most temples do just that. Your mind is cleared of all worry. How easily you wear a smile when you are at God's home. But alas! When people come there just to catch a glimpse of the deity, and when the city folk, who as usual, are in a hurry to do that, it completely spoils the experience!

All this and much, coming up on the next post at Ram Positive. Till then...

Love

That's when u fall in love!

"thats when u really understand the whole story
then u start digesting the story
thinking about it
and thats when u like
totally fall in love with it"

This was I had to say about the movie 'Barfi'. Really beautiful movie, and I don't think anybody would disagree. But the fact remains that I didn't actually enjoy it, due to the following reasons:
1. My dearest friend (how much I "love" that friend is for another essay) sent me an SMS in the middle of the movie saying that I was needed at office.
Did I say 'reasons'? Well, this one is worth a hundred as far ruining a movie experience is concerned! Not just ruining the movie, but also turning a comedy into a thriller! A nail-biting thrillier, you have no idea how tensed I got about what kind of welcome I would receive when I finally reach office.
But, to be fair, I can't put all the blame on this little fact. The movie was not exactly one that called for applause in every scene. It is not the kind of comedy that would make you laugh your guts out. It is a pretty boring movie to be honest with you.
And then after the movie, I rushed to office, and there was no trouble - thankfully. Office was great as it is always. Don't remember exactly what I had for lunch or when I reached home. But later that day I chatted with my "grand-daughter", to whom I narrated the whole story. I explained the movie to her, scene by scene, recollecting almost every minute of the movie, understanding the narrative, the fine gestures by the actors, the comedy, the tragedy, the message. And... I fell in love with the movie!

But before I move on to why I am really here, let me thank my handful of readers for their review about my previous blogs. And you know what was the best part of all those reviews? They were exactly what I had expected. That actually felt better than getting a good review! Thanks a million friends!

It is a real bother when you lose your flow. I like to write at one stretch, ideas just flowing through my head to the tip of my fingers, one streamlined motion. It is beautiful. But the bigger fact remains that everything that happens in life is just to make it a thousand times better. Think over it. Every single thing that has happened to you, since your birth to this very moment! Has it not made you life so much sweeter! Think over it, and the next time you get angry at something, stop for a second and think, should I actually waste my energy?
As I was saying, there was an undesirable break in flow, but that really made a change. I bought a table and a chair. This is cause to celebrate, because this piece of furniture has come home after a long time. Every week some interruption happens, and I postpone the purchase. Well, finally I have done it! Huzzah!

"The deviation is not to waste time but only to keep your attention intact." One of my favourite teachers, Shri Vikas Oswal, used to say this. In the middle of his lesson, he would take a break and tell us a really interesting story. And before starting every story, he used to say this line. Every single time. Amazing Man! However, let me get back to the topic, before I myself forget it. Barfi! No, that isn't the topic. I haven't reached that part of the story yet. The part where I tell you what the topic is. It is yet to come. So, my dear readers, bear with your humble blogger as he slogs on and on about his personal..... ummm.... can't get the right word! Well, you get the idea.

Lot of Amazing friends I had, at school. You know what's the best part. The sentence I just said is grammatically incorrect. It's 'have' not 'had'. And I am totally in love with them. They are in another state, and call rates are much higher, yet I call them. Almost ever week. They tell me in full length, about what happened during the entire week, because I was the one who called. They tell me if they met any new cute girl. They advice me if I happened to meet any cute girl. And most of the times, the advice goes like this, "Wear a helmet before you talk to her". They know me so well. And as the days fly by, they know me even better.
Friendship is like wine. The longer it stays, the better it tastes. Distance binds you closer. As you go apart, go to a different part of the world, meet different people, see new places, thats when u really understand the whole story, then u start digesting the story, thinking about it, and thats when u like - totally fall in love with it! The story of your friendship.
Not just friendship. It is love. True love. No, love is not always Romeo and Juliet and dancing around trees. It is that phone call you make to that friend who knew you inside out, reminding those hims and hers that you still remember and you still care. And that you are still in love.
Hmmm... If my memory is right, I have written the same thing around two posts back. Well, my apologies, but don't you think it is worth another post.
So, let this wannabe preacher give you his fortnightly dose of lecture. Think back friends. This is not just about friendship, or movies. Think of all the homework you did in 10th standard. All the games you played in 3rd standard, all the video games you finished during your vacations, all the imposition you wrote, all the thrashing you got, the stars in your books and the numbers in your report card. Take a second and think about it. You will fall in love with it.

Ramon Dharma Rajan

With a promise not to lecture you or advice you the next time
And a hope that you will not commit suicide on reading the words "next time"

(One more thing. Thank you my dear friend, for listening to my narration of the story, and selecting the topic for this blog! This is a tribute to.....)

Love