Category: Personal

My new hobby


For last couple of years I’ve cultivated the habit of creating new hobbies. Couple of hobbies I’ve started in the recent past and I’ve been successfully doing is; 

  • Vagabond travel trips where in I travel to places in India in all local transport / low cost transport. In this one year I’ve travelled to Kodaikanal, Munnar, KaniyaKumari, Coimbatore, Andamans etc.
  • Investments
  • Reading
  • Social media activity and I’ve become a consistent Blogger, Twitter and actively participating in Linkedin and Peerpower kind of networks.
  • Long drives and finding new routs in and around Chennai.
  • Amateur photography.

Other than this I’m adding an additional stuff to this list. Last week when I was in Coimbatore I visited G.D.Naidu’s museum and I was carried away by seeing his collections.

I always think ahead which people thing I must be crazy. When I was in college I booked my domain name WWW.AnandNataraj.Com for Rs.4000/- then using all my savings. When my parents and friends questioned my I said when I become Bill Gates one day and when I don’t get the domain I might feel bad. Though I’m not to the level of Bill Gates I’m happy that I’m the owner of the Domain name which has my name.

Likewise when I visited the museum I thought even after my death there must be something I did or I used and I thought I must start collecting something different. All my hobbies are low cost or inexpensive. So I’ve decided to collect designer articles. The first in the list is a Key-Chain in the design of shock absorber which costs Rs.350/-. So what is special about this key chain is it is GM’s Official Design.

Next thing in my list is to buy a designer wooden showcase to display all my collections. It is time to get stingy and save money for new goal.

4th Block memories


Today I took my mother and grandmother to Jaya Nagar 4th Block. This was a spot which we use to frequent almost everyday for shopping. Yes 12 years back when I first visited Bangalore my father took me to shopping to 4th block. For me everything looked different compared to Chennai. The language, the people, the culture and I really enjoyed the new place and culture. From then on I use to frequent this place when ever I’m in Bangalore.

Though 4th block had one-way traffic system even 12 years back but a lot of things changed other that that too. It was not this much crowded and one can see lots of retired old people gathering and talking with each other. The climate was even better than now. The bus stop was one the corner in an open space.

After the malls started occupying importance I stopped visiting this place from the year 2002 though I frequented to Bangalore.

Today the bus stop was changed into a commercial building. Traffic has gone really 10 fold more without exaggeration. I can’t see any old gentlemen.

Today it was really nice to walk down the memory lane. Walked through nook and corner of the place. I remember how I nagged my parents for all nonsense things (I feel them nonsense today), but which I thought of importance then, the I got on the platform shops, paw-bajji on cool joint, then juice and ice-creams.

Today I’m independent and can buy what I like but those were special day. But nagging parents to get something and cherishing the past is cherishing historical moments…

Back to active blogging


It’s been a long break from active blogging. The reason is not that I was busy but it was because of technical issues which took time to get sorted… 

  • My blog and company websites are all hosted in a single host and we have reached a point that we have to move to different host because of support issues.
  • We were unable to transfer the files to new host because of Iframe malware which affected our web server.
  • So we had to clean all the systems in the organization and then we had to clean the web server.
  • Cleaning 30 systems which is used by developers and web server which is also actively hosting all websites is not a small task.
  • Finally after all hard work for last 20 days we finally changed to a new host.

Now I’m happily started blogging. I must thank Kannan & Co for their efforts to make this happen amid all challenges.

Rahul Gandhi Blocks Traffic


Rahul_GandhiYes our wonderful Youth & People’s leader is in Madurai today. Coming to the story I started from office to have dinner in Bell Hotel in Tamil Sangam Road, Madurai. Then entire Tamil Sangam Road & roads leading to the road were blocked as he was travelling through that road.

I got irritated because they call themselves as People’s Leader and the end up creating all sort of agony to public and my hunger added up to my frustration. Then having no other choice I parked the bike again near office and decided to walk to hotel.

After reaching Tamil Sangam Road we notice both ends of the road were filled with people who wanted to have a look at Rahul Gandhi. While we were walking on the corner of the road we were interrupted by a cop asking us not to walk and asked us to stand. This again made me wild but I didn’t want to show my piece of mind to the cop and disobeyed him and kept walking and thought that would be the best way to humiliate him.

On reaching to the hotel we had to cross to get into the hotel. When we tried to cross the road we were again interrupted by the cop who said we are not supposed to cross. This time my temperament reached its extreme and it got exploded. I shot back to the COP claiming I was hungry and it took me more than 30 min to reach the hotel which is less that a Kilometer from my office. I said the COP to explain how a People’s Leader can cause so much trouble to innocent public.

I asked the COP to justify the agony faced by people who are returning home from hectic day, students who returning home etc. By this time the COP has realized that he has touched upon a frustrated person and I think he didn’t want any scene to happen when Rahul arrived. He allowed me to cross to the Hotel on allowing us a couple of people who were denied to cross the road also crossed the road.

Then I went into the hotel and placed my order only to find all the chef has gone out to have a glimpse of Rahul. This time had no option other than to laugh. Having left with no option I also went to the Hotel window waiting when our People’s Leader will cross so that I can get my dinner. Finally he crossed after 15 min.

Then I laughed at myself thinking how people in power misuse their power in the name of security. Then entire stretch was blocked an hour ahead of he travelling in that road which was less that 2 min.

Long live our People’s Leader and Long live his service to people I said to myself and I walked back.

Ten years back – Part I


Life runs so fast that when we turn back we can believe that itz been so long. Ten years back exactly on same day we went to Ooty trip along with college buddies. Yes we were in our final year and we know if not then it will never happen together. And we were right after that we were unable to make it as a team till date. Some one or other will miss because so some other priority.

Coming back it all stands ever green in front of my eyes the planning we did. Initially we thought of going as a class trip. But we had some problem; 

  • As usual there was a set of folks who said they cant spend money on tours.
  • Then college said we have to take some faculty along with us if we had to take girls.

We were so mean those days that we scraped the idea of taking girls as we were not ready to pay for a faculty. Also we thought we can go along with core group of friends so that we can have ball of a time.

Then it was time for planning we collected all the tourist spots from TTDC and thru other sources. Then collected college bonafide certificate from college as it gave us concession in train tickets, dorm rooms in youth hostel & concession in theme park. 

Then came the D-Day we packed our bags on 05/09/1999 where in we all planned to take Electric train and meet assemble at Mambalam station. So fun started from there where in confusion started from there; 

  • Venket boards a train and joins Balaji from Palavanthangal.
  • Both of them will join Karthik from St.Thomas Mount station.
  • All three will join me from Guindy Station.
  • We all join other folks other than Saravanan in Mambalam station.
  • Karthik has a habit to sleep when he stands. So we were unable to pull him down at Mambalam station because of crowd. So, Balaji caught the train and said he will pull him down at park station and he did that promptly.
  • Then we all joined at park station and crossed the road and boarded train to Mettupalayam. And it was fun from then on.

anand2Joy in Train: Venket took control by himself and claimed himself as the captain of the trip. Who cares we didn’t give him a damn and we were in our own world. So first step of control Venkat took was to lock all our bags and he was good at that and we were relieved that someone took care of our belongings.. Then he took all the snacks which we brought (we planned to have snacks for whole 5 day). But when Venkat slept we finished off all the snacks we brought within minutes.

Then we were shouting, talking, playing cards and didn’t sleep the whole night. We were pulling down each others socks. 

anand5Then finally we reached Metupalayam by 7 AM and we ran to board Ooty heritage train. It was a 4 hour right and we enjoyed first 2 hours by running behind the train. Taking snaps on the falls that pours en route. Then we got bored. Then we reached Ooty and we were sitting in a park before we found the youth hostel.

We refreshed our self and it was already 2 PM and we proceeded to Lake that day and we returned back as we were tired as we didn’t sleep that day. Then we returned to Hostel and slept.

As we stayed there for 5 days we need 5 parts to cover the entire episode as each day was an epic by itself.

Tribute to teachers


To start with I’m not a great admirer of teachers as I was always a below average student in my academics. But as usual I’ve my handful teachers who were very supportive and helped me come up. So these are the great ones to whom I’d like to pay my TRIBUTES; 

Jacqulin: She was my class teacher when I was in Class II in Alpha Matriculation Higher Secondary School, CIT Nagar, Chennai. She was young & good looking. I always had her affection and she was very supportive to me. Since she was a primary class in charge she did play an important role in my career. But she help to lay good foundation which was helpful in later stages.

Poonam Motwani: She took Biology when I was in Class IX in AV.Meiyappan Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Virugambakkam, Chennai. Class IX I came terribly low in my academics but I really excelled in Sports. In this year I represented my school in Zonals in Football, Basket Ball & Athletics. Poonam mam was newly married then and was a fresher to profession also she was gorgeous in her looks. I was pet student of Poonam mam as I was very naughty, mischievous & bottom topper in the class. She treated me like her brother and she really took lot of pains to improve my standards. But all her results ended in vain as I didn’t show any interest to learn. The very next year her husband got transferred and she left Chennai and I’m not sure where she lives. But I’ve high regards for her. 

Malathy: She took English when I was in Class IX, Class XI, Class XII in AV.Meiyappan Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Virugambakkam, Chennai. English is one subject which I was above average. Malathy mam was my well wisher and she keeps advising me to choosing a career path and she has shared a lot of her personal with me. She is one special person and I’d keep her at No.1 position compared to other teachers. After my schooling I didn’t take efforts to maintain contact with her and I feel ashamed for that. 

Usha Sundar: She was my HOD in by UG where I did Bachelors in Computer Science from Dhanraj Baid Jain College, Thoraipakkam, Chennai. She is one lady who stood as inspiration in my life for her courage and for her problem solving skills. Also today I dedicate my success to her. During farewell day she said; 

“You are all ending a life which is just filled with Fun and no worries.
You were shielded by your parents.
Now you are stepping into real world.
Real world is so cruel.
If you are successful it will take as its own success.
If you fail it will treat you miserably.
So, don’t take Success for Granted;
Failures to your heart;
Learn quickly;
Best of Luck.”

All these words hit me hard and since I ventured into business immediately after college I came across all the things she said and her words helped me to overcome struggles. You can understand as you can see I’ve typed her golden words even after 9 years. Again this lady is my courage, inspiration and a mentor.

Raghu Iyer: This man is a real legend when it comes to Finance, Teaching & Humor. He enlightened me by showing power of Ms-Excel as a tool to maintain finance. He really inspired me with his teaching style that I started developing admiration for Finance. He was my Finance professor at Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai.

In this list I’m in touch with Usha Sundar Mam & with Raghu Iyer thru linkedin.com. With other I’ve lost tough once after 1986 with Jacqulin, 1994 with Poonam & 1997 with Malathy. Let me see the power of internet and see if I’m able to get in touch with them.

Once again let me thank these important people as without you all I’m not what I’m today.

Also I’d like to thank Mr.Gopal Ramanan for igniting my inner self to atleast write about these great ones. He asked me to do it over chat and you can check his Teachers day tribute here.

Vicky’s marriage


7234_146060551952_724236952_3031304_2854647_n7234_146060561952_724236952_3031305_5670277_nYesterday was Vicky’s marriage and it was the moment we all were cherishing. He is the first in our Gang to get married. We are happy that we can take a call after seeing his experience (Smart way is learning from others mistake). I’ve been to many Bhramin marriage and I’ve stayed fully. But vicky’s marriage was the first where I sat for a long time. They have lot of rituals which runs for more than a day. In pictures you can see Vicky tying knot to Lakshmi.

Moments of the marriage; 

  • I missed the morning session on 1-09-2009. But Kuruvi & Sundar were on time for food.
  • It is nice to see Sundar coming to India for a week just to attend Vicky’s marriage.
  • I reached to the spot by evening and it was time to pull Vicky down. But Vicky was not disturbed as he didn’t bother us.
  • Then there was a counter offering fresh juice and I don’t have count on my intake. I think it must be more than 10.
  • Then time to pose for a snap with the couples. We are the ones to offer best gift. Yes we gifted Vicky to Lakshmi (Head Lakshmi inner self telling the gift was useless) which was the best (atlest we keep telling that to everyone).
  • Then time to pose for second snap with my mother. This time my mother saved my face by coming with a Gift.
  • Then time for dinner and the food simply superb & kudos for the caterers for their wonderful service.
  • Then next day morning got a wakeup call from Kuruvi by 5.45 AM. I got ready but Madhu was not ready and we decided to start by 9 o clock.
  • We reached the marriage hall by 9.30 AM and we were on time.
  • We were hungry and when we asked if breakfast was ready Vicky’s uncle interrupted asking us to wait as he will be tying knot in 5 min.
  • But it took 20 more min and we waited with hunger.
  • Then came the moment we all were happy, and I was more happy as I was able to make it to Breakfast.
  • Again time to Pull down Vicky and this time Vicky gave some attention to us.
  • Then shook hands with Vicky and came back home discussing golden moments with Madhu.

Suicide


Today morning I woke up only to hear a bad news that one of our good family friends and one time tenant has committed suicide two days back by hanging herself. I was really angry and had no words to utter. I’ve seen her as an inspirational lady. She was very much enterprising and I heard she was one of the early for women in her town to drive a car. She is known for her courage and talking face to face.

On hearing that she is no more has really upset me. He has a 10 year old kid and she hails from a wealthy family. I’m sure she must have faced many odds in her life before and she has stayed strong. It puzzles me what made her to take such a crazy move.

In Tamil there is a proverb Tharkolai (Suicide) Empathu (Is) Kozhainga (Cowards) Yeducura (Taking) Deiriyamana (Bold) Mudivu (Decision). It make it simple it “Suicide is a Bold Decision taken by Cowards”. After getting emotional I wanted to do some research on why people commit suicide.

Why people commit Suicide?

There is multiple reason for one to commit suicide and there are different types of suicide too…

Some types of Suicide are; 

  • Euthanasia and assisted suicide: This one is something like a mercy killing where in a person who lacks courage to get killed will be helped by some third party to get killed.
  • Murder-suicide: This is a kind of killing where one kills others and finally ends his life. In India off late farmers suicide has become common for poverty. So these farmers with an intention not to make their family suffer after their death kill their family and finally end their life.
  • Suicide attack: This one is common now-a-days in terrorism where in suicide bomber kills himself and innocent people.
  • Self-injury: Self-injury is not a suicide attempt; however, initially self-injury was erroneously classified as a suicide attempt. There is a non-causal correlation between self-harm and suicide; both are most commonly a joint effect of depression.
  • Suicide locations: We all must be familiar with this like we have tourist points like Suicide Point where people commit suicide.
  • Multiple suicides: Some suicides are done under peer pressure or as a group. Mostly terror groups follow this to avoid capture and torture.

Reasons of Suicide; 

  • Anger
  • Love
  • Stigma
  • Behavior
  • Insecurity / fear

Over all there may be plenty of reason but my judgment is Suicide is also a way of terrorism. We don’t have the right to take our own life. Having created us we / our lives are owned by almighty and he knows when to take someone to him. Person committing the act doesn’t know how far it will affect their closed one and put them into unnecessary trauma. As a family friend after knowing this I’m upset and I’m unable to concentrate on any work, imaging how it would have taken a toll on others around them.

Anyways happened is happened and all I can do it prey for her soul to rest in peace.

Welcome Mr.Baid!! Bid Adieu Mr.OP III!!!


DSC01579I remember I brought this notebook Compaq Presario B1900 for my eMBA classes and I brought it the previous day. So I remember the date very well. It was during 15/12/2006 evening 7 o clocks I got the delivery of the system. From then on this guy has come a long way with me and had been with my thought and good times…

This notebook has several accomplishments behind him and he has a special place in the heart in days to come… 

  • Started and finished my entire MBA classes with this system.
  • During 25/01/2007 I met with big accident neat Vaniambadi while returning from Bangalore to Chennai. He was thrown out of the car but nothing happened and today I’m typing about him.
  • Started actively blogging only after getting this notebook.
  • Travelled places with me like Andamans, Ooty, Kodaikanal, Chidambaram, Trichy, Erode, Coimbatore & Madurai.
  • He was awake for at least 16 – 20 hours a day. So taking 16 hours a day he has been awake for 15,840 hours, 990 days & 33 months.
  • Started tweeting in his times…
  • Didn’t blogging & tweeting using data card and this guy while travelling to Chennai in a Bus…
  • Searched for Cogzidel’s and freeze the name using this notebook…
  • Booked domain names associated to Cogzidel with this notebook…
  • Did all planning for Cogzidel using this notebook.

There are many more things I did using this guy and he has been with me for 33 long months. It is really hard to Bid Adieu to him. But I’m not planning to sell it or donate this system to anyone. It will surely rest in my personal museum and when Cogzidel becomes big this Notebook will be displayed with this description on him… Off late I started naming my car, camera et all. So I’ve not given a name till now so I think I can take this opportunity to give him a name and I’m naming him as Optimus Prime III… 

  • First one is the one in the movie Transformers…
  • Second is Balaji’s car…

Thank you OP III for this long association with me and for being with my tough and good times… I think it is time for you to take rest…

DSC01578Welcome Apple Notebook MC240ZP/A to my new world. I don’t think I’ve to give more induction about my needs as I’ve explained how your predecessor was… Having seen my requirement and the reputation you have for your brand I expect more from you and I’m more demanding for performance… Before I’d like to get you a name and from today onwards you will be called Mr.BAID named after my college name Dhanraj Baid Jain College. Being first time user of Mac today I’m planning to; 

  • Read the manual fully before using it.
  • Start is slowly (2 – 3 hours a day for next 5 days) till I get a groove.

Other than that there is noting more to add and I expect you will come along with me a long way like OP III…

FYI: This is the configuration of Mr.BAID…

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo 2.13 GHz
(3MB L2 Cache, 1066MHz)
13.3″ WXGA Glossy, 
2 GB DDR2 (2x 1 GB), 
160GB SATA HDD
DVDRW SuperMulti Double Layer,
Gigabit LAN, WiFi 802.11n
VGA NVIDIA GeForce 9400M 256MB DDR2,
ISight Camera
Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard,
Bluetooth, Firewire,
Weight 2.27kg.

Ganesh Chadurthi @Home


GANESH6-SmallLast week it was Ganesh Chadurthi a festival dedicated for lord Ganesh & famous with Hindus all over the world and particularly in India.

So who Ganesh is?

Lord Ganesh is the elder son of Lord Shiva & Parvathy…

Why Ganesh Chadurthi is celebrated?

Clay Idol we brought last week
Clay Idol we brought last week

Lord Shiva had Nandhi Deva as guard the house of Godess Parvathi. One day Godess Parvathi instructed Nandhi Deva not to allow inside the house as she is taking bath. Lord Shiva arrived at that time and Nandhi Deva allowed his as he is her husband and God of resolution. This Irked Godess Parvathi as Nandi Deva didnt obey her.

Then Lord Shiva was away for war. This time Godess Parvati wanted to bathe and having no-one to guard the door to her house, conceived of the idea of creating a son who could guard her & obey her orders. Parvati created Ganesha out of the sandalwood paste that she used for her bath and breathed life into the figure. She then set him to stand guard at her door and instructed him not to let anyone enter.

In the meantime, Lord Shiva returned from the battle but as did not know about Ganesha. Also Ganesha stopped Shiva from entering Parvati’s chamber. Shiva, angered by Ganesh’s impudence and cut off Ganesha’s head with his trident. Parvati emerged to find Ganesha decapitated and flew into a rage. She took on the form of the Goddess Kali and threatened destruction to the three worlds of Heaven, Earth and the subterranean earth.

Seeing her in this mood, the other Gods were afraid. Lord Shiva, in an attempt to pacify Parvati, sent out his deciples, to find a child whose mother is facing another direction in negligence, cut off his head of the child and bring it quickly. Also he said the head must reach him before the end of dawn.

The first living thing they came across was an elephant. That elephant was facing north (the auspicious direction associated with wisdom). So they brought the head of this elephant and Shiva placed it on the trunk of Parvati’s son and breathed life into him.

Parvati was overjoyed and embraced her son, the elephant-headed boy whom Shiva named Ganesha, the lord of his ganas (devoties / followers). Parvati was still upset so Lord Shiva announced that everyone who worships Ganesha before any other form of God is favored. So Ganesh is worshipped first in all Hindu occasions and festivals.

This is why we celebrate Ganesh Chadurthi…

DSC01491DSC01492Hailing from a Hindu family we celebrate as a grand occasion but performing pooja & cooking special food. We buy clay idol of Lord Ganesha and perform abhishegam on the idol. You can see picture on the left taken after performing abshegam by my father & specially cooked food in front of god to celebrate the occasion. We keep the idol in our Prayer Room for 3 days and immerse it in Sea or Pond or River or well inside our home. After the pooja is over first we offer a part of food to Crow (which we consider as our ancestors). After the Crow eats the first bite we come back and cherish the special food cooked. Also in the menu there will be Kozhukattai & Sundal which is my favorite.