Christmas

I was invited by Al's family to their home near Berlin for Christmas. The family was so very affectionate that when I was returning I suddenly started missing my own home. For the first time I ever went to Church on a Christmas day. One of Al's brothers married a mexican girl and people visiting the church thought I was her brother :). When all of us returned home after the mass everyone played musical instruments. Father on the piano, mother singing the carols, the children playing clarinets and flutes made the evening one of the most wonderful evenings of my stay here in Germany. We then exchanged christmas gifts ;-)! After having the dinner, we went to a church at which Al's grandfather was a pastor for 30 years. The musical concert at the Church got over at 12 midnight. The next day, we went on a sight seeing tour. Al's father was my guide and explained the historical significance of many places that we visited (a shiplift, a monastry, a kind of hill top from where you could see sever lakes, an Ostrich farm ..).

During my stay, I told them many stories about India and Indian Culture. I told them about the Indian marriage system and the life long dedication of Indians to their spouses. Their bewildered ears didnt believe that this could be true, their curious minds had many questions and incessantly sought answers.. The experience of staying with them was very educative and relaxing. I was getting the first hand experience of the life of germans and i should confess i really enjoyed my christmas.

This being the last post of this year, I thank all the people who crossed my way and enriched the experience of living on this earth.

Wish you A very very happy and prosperous new year!

On Freedom

The Freedom to BE
To live and love
The DREAM

The Freedom to SEE
To feel and judge
The EXPERIENCE

The Freedom to THINK
To inquire and question
Conventional WISDOM

The Freedom to EXPRESS
To imbibe and profess
One's BELIEF

The Freedom to ACT
To succeed and win
Someone's HEART

The Freedom to GROW
To pursue and realise
An AMBITION

The Freedom to BE
A HUMAN BEING

Musings of Jagannadha Tamvada

ICE and Cologne

I had to go to Cologne the other day. Naidu(a parthi classmate of mine) lives there and I met him after almost two years. Incidentally, it was also the 80th birthday of Sai Baba and we both went to the Sai Organisation in Bonn for bhajans in the evening. For the first time I travelled at a speed of 320 Kms/hr on ground. The Inter-City Express International going from Frankfurt till Amsterdam covered the distance between Frankfurt Airport and Cologne(197 Kms) in 57 minutes. The breath-taking speed and the picturesque landscape made for a heavenly combination that left me thrilled. Normally the ICEs touch a speed of 160 Kms an hour, but this one was an exception! 

Abdul Kalam

These were some of the questions that children asked our President on children's day. I feel we are very fortunate to have Abdul Kalam as the president of our country. For a full list please see rediff or Indian President's website

Ragamala Rahi Datta : Respected Sir, Mahatma Gandhi loved India, Subhash Bose loved India, They fought for freedom of India. How I love my India?
President APJ Abdul Kalam: When you are a student, acquire as much knowledge as possible. Work hard and have a mission in your life

M.S.Adityan : Respected Rashtrapatiji, You are a great man and a national hero. I am keen to know one strong reason that makes you a great person. I am asking this as I don't know how to idolize you. As a Nuclear Scientist, As President of India or as a humble down to earth person who likes children. Namaskarams
President APJ Abdul Kalam: My dream is to have a thought that "I should known for being a good human being".

Radhakrishnan: Respected Our President what is your highness message for children on children's day, November 14,2005 with love and god bless you
President APJ Abdul Kalam: Dear children, I have got the following message: Dream, Dream transforms into thoughts, Thoughts results into action, action results into achieving the mission. I suggest you to have a purposeful d ream in your life.

S.Arun Venkat Krishna : Sir: If God appears before you, what request will you make at HIM ?
President APJ Abdul Kalam: I will pray: Almighty God bless my nation with people of hardworking and knowledge and thereby make the nation economically developed nation.

Surbhi Jain : I am a student of class ix. In our School's report card, there are two items where grades are provided - "Concentration" and General Efforts". My father says if I have Grade A in both, I will always have good marks in all subjects. Is he right?
President APJ Abdul Kalam: Normally, father should be right. My father, used to tell me, the highest education is the acquisition of knowledge continuously.

G.Uday Kiran : Dear sir,Kalam, how can you manage to build a dynamic India in the conditions of unemployment,poverty and corruption?
President APJ Abdul Kalam: Problems gives challenge. Challenge leads to achievements with knowledge and work.

D N Joshi : Sir, how much time one should dovote for becoming a good student?
President APJ Abdul Kalam: A good student arrives when his learning process takes care of two aspects. One is knowledge acquisition, another acquisition of a good value system.

NITESH SONI : Mr. President, What's your first priority for the nation?
President APJ Abdul Kalam: Lifting the 260 million people from below the poverty line.

Tushar Wadhwa : Sir, I want something new and I work new experiment. my parents and my friend laugh me
President APJ Abdul Kalam: Don't get disheartened. The people who have a dream and worked hard and didn't deviate from the aim have all succeeded.

President APJ Abdul Kalam: In Conclusion: Friends, I have a message for you. Can you send me a mail in a quarter page for the following question? "What will I be remembered for?" The "I" stands for you friends. Each one of you can answer to my question through my website: www.presidentofindia.gov.in. In short, you may share your dreams with me. I will respond to the interesting mission of yours with a book of mine. May God bless you

Poster Presentation

Imagine being marooned on a land with plenty of good food surrounded by sea on all sides. Also imagine being lucky to share the same plight with some beautiful people. Would you grumble? Not necessarily! I experienced the same feeling today when I attended a conference in which almost every presentation was in German. I understood some presentations that had more pictures and less text. I also made a poster for the first time in my life and notoriously I am penning down here almost everything that I did for the first time.

Interviews

Today for the first time I interviewed students to hire research assistants for myself and for our group. My heart wanted to ensure that the students feel comfortable and relaxed. Possibly I was imagining myself being there in their shoes or I was behaving the way I wished someone interviewed me. We humans are undeniably sensitive to the fact that we have many things in common.

Being on the uncommon side of the table, I could gauge the minds of people whom it seperated. One mind concious of opportunity, the other looking for a productive colleague. One trying to impress, the other making judgement about the impressions. Each attempting to explore the other and the possiblity of profitable fructification from a potential wedlock. Few minutes, intricate yet simple questions, insightful answers, 'biased or unbaised' opinions that lead to decisions.

Might is Right?

Does a nation have a right to impose its principles and convictions on another? In twenty first century when the meaning of 'sovereignty of state' is clearly understood, what on earth could justify a nation teaching another the concept of Democracy? History stands testimony to the fact that mounting civilian casualties is the only fruit of such misadventures. Is the value of human life so insignificant that world leaders could afford sacrificing it in such huge magnitudes?

The fact that democratic nations are waging this war, makes me question if democracy could be considered synonymous with civilization. Whether war is breaking terror networks or creating them has become a simple question with an obvious answer. Unfortunately even today, the world doesn’t dare to contest the actions of mighty! Unable to appreciate this war, I feel either they are deluded or they wish to delude the world into an improbable safe and heavenly order.

On Being Human

Somehow human being is a 'wonder' and reflects the pinnacle of God's creative prowess. As a micro-cosmic representation of the universe, he inherits a pretty rich legacy. He wondered why the sky was blue and how the bird flew. He reasoned the blueness of the sky and designed a plane that made him fly! He wondered if he could touch the moon and lo! he walks on it pretty often now. Man aimed at victory and relished glory. His inquisitiveness, his ability to dream and his power to turn his dreams into reality, his love for his posterity mark him as the crown prince of the creation. I am proud to be a human. Beyond the pseudoness of being German, American, Indian or African dont we see a realness of being Human?

A 'Natural' Question?

Long since I started believing that the basis of the Universe is love, a fundamental question arose in my mind again and again: Why do people suffer? and this turns into a more pertinent question when I see that the suffering is a direct result of nature's fury.

Either we have a 'Mother' called 'Nature' who is both loving and furious or her love manifests at times as 'fury'. If love and love alone is the fundamental basis of the creation, none of the explanations satisfy my heart and make me understand why suffering exists in this world. 'Law of Karma' that defines the process of our life as a reflection, reaction and resound, the 'Law of Non Dualism(Adwaitam)' that emphasises the role of the 'One' who is responsible for everything seem to some how contradict each other.

After pondering for a long time, after asking this question so many times, I just wonder if we have enough insight into the way the universe works. If this world with all its glory and suffering is rooted in 'Love' then there is something that we missed all the way..!

My First Trans-Atlantic Trip

My first journey across the Atlantic ocean to the United States of America let me with beautiful memories. The main purpose of the trip was giving a presentation in Kansas City. Erik and I were together till we reached Kansas. On the morning of 27th we boarded the German high speed train that would take us to Frankfurt Airport. I reached the railway station just 3 minutes before the departure time and joined a tensed up Erik who was eagerly waiting for my arrival. The Conference was enjoyable with everyone eagerly giving their visiting cards to everyone! My presentation was also well received. My first impression of US is somewhat paradoxical. I never felt like nor was I ever treated like a foreigner in this land of foreigners. Thanks to the multitudes of people from across the world that constitute the vitals of America, I felt pretty much at home. Color is the spice of life of here! I also jumped in joy to browse through thirty channels on TV that were all in English. I was equally thrilled to see an english newspaper in the morning and I could ask for directions without bothering least about understanding them!

On Friday evening I left for my cousin Sanju's home in Richmond. He is one of my cousins who ventured into America for doing his Masters in 90s. I admire him much and conversing with him is lively and insightful. His parents(dodamma and peddanaaru) live with him and he lives with his wife(vadina) and nine months old son(sameer) who is more American than Indian. I had a great time at Richmond. Peddanaaru resembles my father very much. He retired from Indian Airforce and is enjoying a retired life now. Dodamma and Vadina made exquisite south indian cuisine throughout my stay. We drove to Washington DC on saturday. Shiva Vishnu temple in Baltimore, Capitol Hill, Smithsonian, NASA space museum, White House, Jefferson House, Lincon Memorial were some of the many sites we had been to( most of them were previews and we saw more of exteriors than interiors!..:). 'Pulihara', 'Daddojanam' and 'Prasadam' formed the main course of the menu that we relished in front of the Capitol under a huge tree. We returned to Richmond by around 12.30 midnight and retired after a long day. On sunday, we watched 'Paramanadaiyya Sishyulu Katha', an old telugu hilarious classic that leaves its audience with many giggles. I spoke to my cousins Rama, Raghu, Radhamma, Saila and Sugreev on phone and saw Akhil and Alekhya on webcam.

On monday morning, I left for Boston and I will write about my soulful experience in Boston later. I came back to my pavilion in the picturesque and disciplined Germany yesterday!

On Academicians

Someone pointed to me today evening the irony of his choice of becoming an academician..

"I thought (before becoming an academician), that I will work for two hours a day (giving lecture at the University) and the rest of the time is there for myself..Now I realise I work for not two but twelve to fifteen hours a day." Laughing at this irony and the twist in the time that is needed to devote to work, this gentlelman dreamt for a second about being an MBA and a relaxed heaven!

Being an academician is a wonderful experience, as it affords freedom; but at the same time it involves huge responsibility and self commitment. Even this gentleman would not trade into becoming an MBA if he had a choice, for nothing in the world can make a true academician relinquish the beauty of indepth study! Do you believe that people at the age of eighty three are still writing books? Does academics somehow promise perpetual youth?? may be..

Sania..I 'm impressed

An Indian girl confronted world no. 1(my favourite Sharapova) in US open fourth round yesterday. I was thrilled as I saw this not-much-experienced Indian girl powerfully attack the mighty one. After two games I couldnt resist calling other Indian friends to tell them history is happening.

Sania won the hearts with her tenacity. Playing with Sharapova is not a joke, and sania's undefatigable spirit inspired me. She lost the match as everone foresaw but she dared to dream. A girl of 18 years taught me many vital lessons of life.

The Wander TAG

This year's Institute's Wander-Tag(Hiking Day). We all assembled at the Jena Paradies Station at 8.30 in the morning, got into a regional train, got to our destination in 15 minutes and WANDERED. 

Across the rivers! 

Through the woods.. 

Aimlessly wandering on the Wander- tag! 

The First Football Match

Yesterday, I went to play football for the first time in Germany. Everyone, except me, was in shorts. I was unanimously chosen as a goal keeper by my team. Thanks to my best efforts the other team made eight wonderful goals. We had five goals to our credit at the end.

What struck me in particular is how everyone tried to be professional even though it was a mundane match. They wore perfect dresses. They fell and cried perfectly when they fell during the course of the match. It was after three years that I was running on a playground. The last time I remember playing was as the captain of our basket ball team at my university in India.

I was totally exhausted (and I liked the feeling). The Saale river with all the greenery around near the ground made it look beautiful.

Life is a play
and you have a say..

Enjoy it as you lay
under the sky so gray

Make love and happiness your way
Deep in them
Resolute as you stay..

Life is a play
and you have a say!

Jena

The place called 'Jena' in which I am living right now. Carl Zeiss (Sony Camera Lens) has its establisments in Jena. Three Max Planck Institutes( Economics, Chemical Ecology, Biogeochemistry), Fedrich Schiller University and University of Applied Sciences are the research institutes and educational institutions here. River Saale also flows through the town

The Spirit of Non-Dualism(Adwaitam)

One of the most wonderful things that happened to me in my life is knowing little about the real Indian philosophy of non-dualism. In its crux, the person who is writing this is GOD and the person who may read this is also GOD. There is only GOD and He became this creation. He loves Himself and He confronts with Himself. It is He doing everything to Himself!

Now comes the obvious question to my mind: who am I then? Who is this GOD and what is the relation that I have with Him?

'Earth is but a manifestation of My Being.
Made out of My Life!
Wherever you look, I am there.
Wherever you walk, I am there.
Whomsoever you contact, I am that person.
I am in each, in all My Splendour.'

"I am You;You are I; that is the truth.
There is no distinction.
The appearance of differences is the delusion.
You are waves; I am the ocean.
Know this and be free, be Divine.”

Gerhard Schroeder in Jena

Today, the Chancellor of Germany, Herr. Gerhard Schroeder was here in Jena for campaining for the elections that are scheduled to be held next month. I also went to the marketplatz to see him speak...(haha.. i would nt understand what he was saying anyway.. so I went there to see him speak..). There were three speakers before him but when Schroeder took over the podium, there was a huge uproar. I went there only to see this great human.. his personality spoke of his greatness and I felt impressed. He made people laugh, applaud, agree with most of the things he spoke. The huge crowd in the city centre made me feel as though I was in the age when the mighty Roman Empire existed and learned men of the city assembled in the Market Place to make decisions about the governance!

After his talk got over, everyone dispersed and I met Andre and Ingrid who were on their way to having a dessert. I joined them and enjoyed the ice-cream and came back to my office..:)

I can.. I can..

I really liked this post on PV's Blog..

The Berlin Trip

I went to Berlin on Wednesday. I wish to narrate something very interesting that happened on thursday morning. I had to catch two underground trains for getting to the Embassy, the journey in the 2nd one a little longer than the first one.

When I was in the second metro train, there was a mass exodus of all the passengers at one of the stations before my destination. I thought this could be a very important place which has all the factories of Berlin! In 30 seconds the doors of the train normally shut down and the trains zoom ahead. With three more stops to my station I was sitting in comfortably, yet I was pretty uncomfortable seeing that there is not a single soul other than me left in the train..

suddenly.. as the doors were about to shut.. one of the many co-passengers( i could make out.. she was not a German) came running and shouted... GET DOWN ..GET DOWN.. I jumped out and asked her whats the matter.. she told me that because of some damn problem everyone has to get down there and catch a bus for the next leg of the journey. I had very little time left for getting to the Embassy and I could see the metro train leaving for a maintenance shed somewhere down...

Just imagine where I would have been if I continued sitting the train.. ha ha.. the maintenance SHED!

Content is Important, not the container

This really is a wonderful post from Saka!

Mother ...

Mother..

Oh Mother..
Ever blessing, beautiful and benevolent
Lead us into light of wisdom

Your love inspires
Encourages
and transforms

Your presence guides
clears the vision
and fills our hearts with love

The Goettingen University's Auditorium..

This is the place where I will get my PhD!!

Let Go..

Did you ever try to LET GO..???

When I sit in front of my computer and try to write something and nothing comes out.. I let go(..the feeling that there is a deadline the next day)

When I get up at 10 o clock and there is a meeting at 10. 15 .. I let go(..having bath..)

When I go for a talk and I disagree with everything ..I let go(..the necessity to understand the speaker and sleep with eyes wide open)

When I eat a heavy lunch and I wish to also have an ice-cream and the stomach is full.. I let go..(..the feeling that my stomach is full..)

I am sure we all do it.. 'let go the wrong thing always'..

Hollywood invites me!!

I am getting invitations from HOLLYWOOD to play the role of a hero sooon.. haha(:-p) .. till I get the actual invitation I should be content just watching some of their movies !!

My First Research Presentation

I gave my first research presentation at the Max Planck Institute today. I loved speaking and my audience loved listening to me. The presentation was a success. David took me to Roy and introduced me to him. Much of my presentation was based on Roy's earlier work. Roy comes from Netherlands and is a well known professor in entrepreneurship research.

Two days with Prof. Amartya Sen

Yesterday Prof. Amartya Sen came to be honourned with an Horonary Doctorate by the University of Goettingen. It was the most cherished time for his student Prof. Klasen and students of Prof. Klasen (including me) . We were very happy in the nobel laureate's presence.

It was thrilling to observe him. He looked so very simple yet so very powerful. I felt so very happy when Prof. Sen was acclaimed by the University President as one of the most prolific scholars of the contemporary times. He even said that it was an honour for the historic Goettingen University to confer an Honorary Doctorate on Sen.

We strolled together through the city centre till his hotel.I was holding his 'hononary doctorate' Certificate in my hand along with his other books and his long jacket. He took the jacket from my hands, wore it and said with a smile... I will make it easy for you. As the reception continued in Wilhelmsplatz, I, Julian and Prof. Sen went to the statue of the damsel of Goettingen which is kissed by everyone who obtains a Doctorate from the Goettingen university. He laughed at the idea of kissing it himself and agreed to getting photographed with the ceremonial statue of Ganseliesel.

We strolled by discussing Iraq war of which he was very critical. After reaching the hotel he looked at me and said.. 'Can I have my things now?' The night before he apparently didnt have good sleep and came to the hotel to rest for a while.

Later in the evening he came to the restaurant in which a formal dinner was hosted in his honour. The Indian Ambassador of India to Germany Sri Rangachari and the first lady, Consul General of India(Hamburg Consulate) and his wife, dignitaries from the university, other VIPs and our research team had dinner with Prof. Sen. When he came he stopped by and spoke to Isabel (a colleague of mine who organised most of the event). Towards the end of the dinner session, Stephan Klasen asked me to escort the Ambassador and the first lady to the Goettingen Railway Station. They left for Berlin after the dinner. When I returned, the restaurant was mostly empty. Prof. Sen was also going out with Stephan klasen. He looked at me and asked 'so you left the Ambassador at the Station'.. I smiled and replied in affirmative. I inquired if he liked the German food and he opined it was wonderful. He then left with Klasen to his hotel.

Today I got up early in the morning and got ready for the next meeting with Prof. Sen. Isabel went to his hotel to bring him to the conference room in the central library where around fifteen members of our research group and Stephan Klasen assembled to interactively learn from Prof. Sen. His scholarly nature so evidently expressed itself as he commented on various critical issues that arose in the research that our group presented in front of him. He came to the black board to explain diagramatically a point that he wanted to make and gave a game theoretic solution to one of the problems.

After the seminars at 12 o clock he had a press conference in the same room and all of us left. At 12. 45 Prof. Sen, I and Prof. Klasen started to the railway station. I had already purchased tickets in 1st class in the ICE leaving Goettingen at 1318 hrs for myself and for him. As we walked, the master and his student conversed with each other with the student expressing his heart felt gratitude to his master for coming to Goettingen and for accepting the invitation. The grand old man looked at me and asked me to give him his laptop bag as I was carrying all his baggage. I was adamant and asked him to kindly permit me to continue carrying his things as I didnt have any trouble. He consented with reluctance.

Prof. Klasen told that we could have lunch in the restaurant in the train. Yesterday also the Master had his lunch in the train while coming from Frankfurt Airport to Goettingen. He said that the lunch in the train was wonderful and he would like to definitely have it today also. "I hope you will not burden Pawan and he will not be needed to pay..", he said. "Amartya, you are our Guest of Honour", Klasen replied. We reached the station when the journalist who would take the interview of Prof. Sen in the train came. After formal introductions, Prof. Klasen bade three of us a good bye when the train arrived and I remember him saying, 'Thank you very much Amartya". The master and his student had wonderful chemistry between them.

Inside the train we went to the restaurant for having lunch. The tables were full and so Prof. Sen asked the journalist to begin his interview. In five minutes, however,a table got free we could go lunch. The interview continued.. the journalist was asking plently of questions..'Is outsourcing good for rich countries? Does globalisation help anyone? Your view of ethics ..does it imply a responsibility of richer countries towards poor? Is lack of ethics the cause for poverty? ..' Prof. Sen was looking at both of us as he gave his answers. Though I had no role in the interview I felt very much a part of it, as his gaze into my eyes made me feel that he was telling his opinions not to the journalist alone or but to both of us. After 30 mins, the interview had to stop as per the prior agreement with the journalist. He gave him little more time to ask two more questions. Lunch arrived and we started having lunch.

Prof. Sen now started speaking to me. He asked about mother father siblings educational background and about how I landed in Klasen's research group..:) I told him and we also discussed some of his answers to the questions raised by the journalist. Prof. Sen has to submit a new book by tuesday and this was the reason why he told me not to permit the journalist to interview him for more than 30 minutes.

After lunch, we still had one more hour of journey to undertake. As we sat in the comfortable chairs of the 1st Class coach, Prof. Sen started working on the final touches that he had to give to the book. He told me that he wanted to have some medicine. I immediately jumped out of my seat and told him that I will go and bring water. He nodded. I went and got a glass of carbonated water and a glass of normal water. I told him that I got both the varieties and he smiled and said that he was feeling cared. I felt very humble at this remark of his and told him that he was the first Bharat Ratna I ever met in my life and that he was the pride of mother India. He smiled again and said that he got bharat ratna along with pt. ravi shankar. He recalled that there are only three Bharat Ratnas alive today, he, ravishankar and abdul kalam.(nelson mandela never crossed our minds)

He later resumed working on his book. Before the interview, he told the journalist that he was a little worried about finishing the book that he has to release this tuesday and he wanted to work. Later, we spoke about my research work and he said he is very interested. He told me to send my research results to him and he would be interested to see them. I felt thrilled. He told that I should come to HBS sometime as there are people who would be interested in the work that I am doing. He also told me to make a point to meet him when I come there. Two mintues before the train reached the Airport, Prof. Sen asked me to give him one of his bags. Something very interesting happened here. I wanted to tell him 'Please dont bother about me Prof. Sen'..but I landed up saying ..'Please dont bother me Prof. Sen'.. Haha.. He laughed aloud and told a fellow passenger.. 'see he is carrying my luggage and tells me not to bother him'..

We came to the shuttle bus stop for going from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 from where he was scheduled to take his flight to London. In the bus he asked me if the bus was going to Terminal 2 or to the Frankfurt City. I laughed and told him that my father also asks similar questions and that he too was very careful. He too laughed. I assured him that we are heading to Terminal 2. In few minutes, we were at Terminal 2. He showed me his United Nations passport and said that for going to London it doesnt help. I asked him to show me his ticket so that we can see if there were some more details about the flight. He told me that he has an e-ticket and he doesnt care where the printed copy of his ticket was. At the checkin counter, he got his boarding pass(seat 2-a in Business class) and asked the lady at the counter a variety of questions: about the longue, how he should procced and how many seats were booked in the flight, how many seats were there in the business class, what kind of aircraft it was ..

We took the escalator for going to the level above the ground and there we spoke the last few words of this meeting. He said in all his love that it was so nice taking to me.. I replied and told him that it was an honour to even get to see him.. He smiled as we reached the security gate.. I told him to give me permission to touch his feet. He told I should nt do that. I replied and told him that I touch my parents feet everyday and he too should permit me.. I could only bow...

Prof. Sen looked back after the first security check and waved his hand.. I too waved.. after 2 mins he looked back again and waved his hand again.. indicating that I could leave now.. but I could not leave this great man.. I continued standing there.. his hand baggage was checked and he was really on the other side and I was surprised when he turned back again and waved his hand for a third and the final time after which he was out of my sight.......

DADDY

Dad.. this is being written for you as I remember each and every moment that I spent with you when you came and stayed with me here..Wish you a happy flight back home and thanks for all the encouragement and love and for being here with me!

I miss you Dad.

I felt like a small child much loved all the time in your presence. Thanks for your care.. for coming into the kitchen and guiding me intutively as to how we could make Indian food(and for bearing with the wonderful taste I come up with) .. thanks for hugging me and sleeping in the night( making me feel so very secure as you used to do when I was a kid) .. thanks for telling me what I should and what I should not( and for being an example of idealism for me!)

Daddy.. as you fly back to India now..I am left here with a lot of warmth in my heart and rebounding spirits and ..I dont feel alone, thanks to your vision that you have made my companion!

Love You Daddy!

Pizza and Pepper

'Pizza and Pepper'..at Saturday get-together of Indian brahmacharis!

DADDY HAS COME!

Daddy came! Papa AAGAYE! Naannagaru Vacchesaru.. Tomorrow is Father's day and the day after is his Birthday..I am sure we will have a fantastic time here!

Euro Tours

Nannagaru (Father) is coming tomorrow on a business trip to France and Italy. He will travel much and will come to me on the 19th(the day before his birthday) and stay with me till the end of month. BON VOYAGE DAD!

On the 7th of next month Prof. Amartya Sen is coming to my University here. He is getting an horonary PhD from the Goettingen University. The best part for me, of his trip(i keep it a surprise), would be one of the most memorable events of my life.

Rain Rain come again!

For the last three days it has been drizzling often and one gets into a perfect mood of relaxation. In my childhood whenever climate was like this.. power used to go and no body would ask you to study when there was a power cut.. It was such a blissful time watching rain most of the time and playing around with cousins and friends.. the narrow streets used to get flooded with rain water and the heart too would flood so much love and joy.

On Friday, Sampath came to Jena. He did his masters in Germany and is now doing an internship in a place near to Jena. He was feeling little home sick and I invited him to Jena. He met other Indian students and felt Jena was more homely than the place he was living in(given that there are more young beauties in Jena and more old people in his place this should be a natural feeling..haha!).

The Short- Long Weekend!

This was the longest weekend ..one of total relaxation interospection and deep sleep! Monday was a holiday and I decided not to work on this saturday and sunday. So I had three holidays in a row..I watched CNN extensively at home and also some very good movies: 'Schindler's List','Chicago Blues', .....were two of the best. I recommend both of them to anyone who has not seen them yet.

On saturday morning ..I went for the weekend shopping and brought almost all things that contribute as fuel to the engine of my body! Things I got included vegetables,fruits, some fruit juices, butter, ...... On saturday morning I had food with pickles that my grandmom gave, evening I made egg curry. I spoke to Mom and Dad on Internet and after long time I saw them on the webcam..I felt they were with me and the feeling was so beautiful.. I showed Mom my new bike on the cam and also the GHEE that I made from butter by indigenous methods!(Haha.. it tastes perfectly like the one that Mom makes). She was so glad to hear this..

I thought of studying on sunday when an intense desire to make fried rice overpowered me and I (was on a vacation in my own home) decided to feast myself with fried rice. I experimented.. mixed everything and luckily fried rice came into existence.. I spoke to Mom and Dad this day also and watched CNN extensively.. as it is the only English Channel (rest all Channels are GERMAN and now I am bugged of hearing the same old stories of CNN)

Monday was no different.. lot of time was spent relaxing my nerves that got tired eating and watching CNN. The best part was however watching 'Schindler's List'.. What a movie! My eyes got moist as the movie came to an end.. I loved 'Chicago Blues' and wished for a moment gambling glory was all mine!

I am here back in my office.. having cycled for 20 Mins in a drizzle ..

Mukti and Telugu Movies

I went to Mukti's home yesterday. Some friend sent him 3 DVDs through post. Trust me each DVD has 28 Telugu Movies.. how his friend could write 28 Movies on one DVD is still a mystery to me..3 more DVDs are coming to him next week..This means that Mukti now is a proud owner of a library of around 200 Movies( He already had some before also)! From Gundemma Kadha to Appula Apparao.. every one of them is there with Mukti now...

I think people watch more telugu films here than when there are in India and possibly I know precisely where I should head to have a FILMY weekend!

Old Indian Music!

I was born in a religious hindu family and much of my childhood was spent with my grand parents. I still remember going to watch movies like ramayanam, krishna arjunala yuddham, bhukailasam, maya bazar and many of those black and white movies which instills an impression in your heart that N T Rama Rao is Rama, Krishna and many other Indian gods!

I also used to hear lot of cartanic music at home thanks to my grand mother's interest in sangeetam..Now when I hear music from these films or some of those carnatic tunes of BalaMurali online, I know why she was so very interested in this music!

On Buying a BICYCLE

I am just wonder stuck at the prices of bicycles here. I and Torsten went to buy a bicycle for me. We first went to a second hand shop to see if any cheap bicycles are available.. Yes we found some and they were priced between 3 to 40 thousand Indian Rupees(these are just second hand cycles and not motor cycles).

I felt that we were not needed to go to a first hand shop. First hand ones, according to Torsten, which were cheap(somewhere around 10 thousand Indian Rupees) are not relaible and have bad parts! We did goto the supermarket and we did buy a new one(cheap as defined above) and I returned it in the evening as Torsten's words came true.. two of its nuts broke by the evening.

The German Public Transport!

The first day I was surprised when I saw the train coming exactly on time and the bus coming exactly at 7.11 AM to the local bus stop. It took me quite some time to digest this..Having come from a country where the public transport network knows everything other than punctuality and being hypnotised into thinking that public transport couldnot be any better any where in the world, getting surprised was normal. Even within small towns they have exact time of the bus/tram coming to each of the bus stops! I'm impressed!

Weekend Fun

Friday.. we had a dinner party at my flat. I invited all indians in this town. We had very nice time. The best part was when some ladies entered the kitchen..I could just get out and then the food was all ready!

Today..I JC Mukti Asim n Rajani went up the hill. It was a bright sunny day.. JC's Old German friend came with his Girl Friend. They both came with their respective children..His german friend had a daughter and his German friend's girl friend came with her son and daughter..Hahha! We had nice time up the hill..made some food..and came back by 5 PM..

On the Day before Saturday!

Friday.. is the most beloved of all the days..
She is like a virgin in my embrace!

I eagerly wait for her to come,
Bringin in so much fun
To go out happily into the Sun
Freedom in so many Tons!

In the Morning
Everyone knows this is the last day
Of work and and the week
And you see smiles as people pass by!

In the evening
Its a quick run into the Weekend FUN
A party, a meeting and many a sweet sound
Are joyous things that are pretty much abound..

Friday.. is the most beloved of all the days
She is like a sweet virgin in my embrace

Meaning of a Girlfriend..

The Indian Sense : A girl friend is someone who is a friend who also is a girl!

The German Sense: A girl who lives with you and loves you before marriage!

The American Sense: A girl or a guy who lives with you before or after marriage!.. Hahahah!

On Passwords!

Just imagine a world devoid of 'passwords'. You can see my mailboxes(and I can see yours).. You can write mails as me and I can as you.. You can use my bank accounts and I can use yours.. Wow.. doesnt that sound cool.. Cultivation of a real sense of sharing..!

However, your password is more like your girl friend. 'It is better to keep it safe, secret and well guarded .. '.

As I was wondering why there were no comments for the last four or five posts of mine, Adam came to my office and said that he is not able to post comments on my BLOG.. Trust me.. I just now found out: someone changed the settings of my blog!

Now I have secured my password and you can post once again... My password is no more like a girl friend ..it is like a wife now.. ABSOLUTELY SECURED!..:))

The Boundless!

One side of my office is completely glass. As, I look through it and let my mind wander into the unbound and limitless blue sky, even my joy gets boundless... There is some relation with this blue sky.. It is vast and it is comforting and takes me go beyond my own self and my daily routine.. It is dynamic and never looks the same ..

The more connected I am to this vastness the more fulfilled I feel in living!

The Wisdom Of The Heart

Lessons from From Saka's BLOG:

"Life is Not a Race. Take it Slower
Hear the Music before the song is Over"

"Life is Lived Forward and Understood Backwards" " The Greatest regrets in our life are the risks we didnot take. If you think something will make you happy Go for it.. Remember that we pass this way only once

"Somtimes I wish I could turn back time.. Impossible it may seem..but I wish I could..So badly..."

JC came to know about 'JC comes to Germany'

I was just wondering what would happen to me when JC reads 'JC comes to Germany..'. He found that something has been written about him on my site.. God SAVE me! Part II is yet to be written and hope he doesnt stop telling me his wonderful experiences. I met him just few minutes back and I feel that we all will miss him very much when he goes to Munich.

Something similar happend to both me and JC..

First let me tell what happened with JC .. He was already in Germany and doing a PhD here as a DAAD scholar. One day in Berlin some Indian met him and asked him.. 'Which restaurant you work in??'.. JC was shocked ..and before he could come out of his shock, the other guy told..'Hmmm..No problem .. I know, I know.. I know that you too dont have a visa. There are many of us who are illegal here..!!!'..HahahahHehehahhehehha

When I went to the German Embassy for collecting my Visa last year, the security gaurd at the Embassy's main gate asked me ..'Which restaurant?' I too was very shocked and I asked him to repeat his question.. He asked me again.. 'Are you not a COOK??'.. Unbelievable.. I was I imagining myself as a king but now I couldnot resist doubting my appearance; he then told me that usually more cooks come than students at this time for collecting the visa and so he questioned that way!

I should confess that I am a very good cook now.. it is all struggle for existence and one has no choice but to become a good cook for himself when he comes to a country like Germany! The girl who becomes my WIFE is certainly very very LUCKY!(.. like JC's.. Hahahahahah)

Friends and Bloggers!

I have successfully put the links of BLOGS of my friends on my site. We all studied together in Puttaparthy..

Saka was a 'Born Leader'. His duty was to enforce discipline and to make sure that we go in straight lines(which we seldom did).. Chax was a real academician. I admire him for being an inspiration. I consider PVSS a younger brother of mine. He grew very fast into a fine man. His hard work and intelligence earned him great regard and love of my fellow classmates. Jayadev is a Gold Medalist and so rest is understood!

I also introduce to you Adam. He is an american and is a colleague of mine at the Max Planck Institute. He has many interesting funny strories to tell as he looks at the German Life from an American Lens!

Free Coke

Just imagine being given a free Coke ..not just one but as much Coke as you drink!!

The University Canteen typically has three different meals each day. One is vegetarian the other two are non-vegetarian. The food is manageable and I cant tell you that it is exceptionally good(according to the Great Indian Standards). However, I do go there sometimes and I feel immensely satisfied on the day when Coke is given FREE at the entrance by the Coca Cola Promoters. Coke is naturally(obviously) my Lunch on such days!..

I love going to the 'Mensa'(the University Canteen) when it gives me such a cool FREE lunch.

Luxury

There is one thing that I always love to do and am sure that I will never get tired of doing this one thing! But for the huge contraints on my time, i would have indulged in this luxury for so many hours and let the world live in peace!

Sleep..

You and me, Oh darling Sleep...
Make such a fine team!

A terrace and a dark evening,
Stars in the sky so beautifully twinkling

Paradise it seems
Is no more just a sweet distant dream!

Heaven on earth it would seem,
As I hug you and fall asleep!

Its ME

Before Going to India(December 2004)

Someone ELSE??

After coming back(April 2005)

JC comes to Germany!

Last evening I went to Asim's home for dinner.. He invited me, mukti, JC and his wife and Rajani.. The best part of the evening was JC narrating his experiences with his life in Germany..

JC studied at IIT Madras and was awarded a special DAAD fellowship for doing his PhD in Germany in 2001. He is an excellent academician and is now going to join the University of Munich as an Asst. Professor. He finished his PhD in 2004. He is one of the most friendly Indians I met in Germany and has a wondeful sense of humour.

This was his first trip to Frankfurt from Chennai.. Around 8 am (according to his watch ) he woke up from his sleep, he was still in the flight and the flight was still in the sky. He was wondering why the Lufthansa flight which was supposed to land at Frankfurt at around 7.00 has not landed yet. A strange wierd thought crept into his mind that scared him, confused him and left him gasping for breath....'Possibly the flight landed at Frankfurt and then took off once again for some other destination when he was asleep..Nooooooo!' He went to the toilet..couldnot open the door.. appeared fused and confused when a hostess came by and asked him if he wanted a coffee.. He told that he wanted to goto Frankfurt.. She was a german hostess and didnt understand what he was talking. She called a colleague of hers' and she asked him his problem and if he would like to drink a cup of coffee.. JC said, 'NO.. I dont want coffee.. I want to goto Frankfurt!!.. Where is this flight going now?? We were supposed to reach at 7am and now it is 8 am..' . Apparently relaxed knowing that she can handle this, the Hostess told him that they were still over the Gulf and that they are heading to Frankfurt only and that he should change the time of his watch from IST to CST.

JC landed safely in Frankfurt. He had to goto Goettingen for doing a special German Language Course for few months before starting over with his PhD. He was desperately trying to buy a train ticket at the automatic machine.. He was pressing all possible combitions of buttons to see if he can buy the ticket to Goettingen. He was going up and down with his huge luggage..from one platform to another.. trying out at different machines for success. Ultimately someone took pity on him and helped him buy a ticket and he came to Goettingen. He baught a telephone card for 15 Marks(approximately 7.5 euros =400 Rupees) and called his friend in Goettingen to tell him that he has arrived. Now he was wondering how to use this card for calling.. He swiped it.. he swiped it again at a different place ..he did everything yet he couldnt.. someone came by and told him to insert the card inside and call.. In five minutes his card got exhausted .. JC put his hand in his pocket and counted the German Marks (the local currency in those years) ..and decided never to call again from the public telephone booth..

He went to the Goethe Institute and was given royal treatment as he was a DAAD fellow. He slept well and got up around 8 o clock in the morning. He went to the recpetion in his lungi and asked the lady if some Milk man would come to give the milk in the morning..hahahahaha hahahahah!!!

I shall narrate more of JC 's interesting experiences in Germany soon..

Weekend Parties

Last evening Anya invited all of us for her birthday party. She is a junior student researcher of our group. We went around 7 PM to her place. There were many friends of her. She is a charming localite and helped me very much in finding a room when I was new in Jena. She liked the long hair that I had before and didnt speak to me much after I returned from India, thanks to my short hair that i sport now.

Today, in the morning Mukti and Rajani came to my place as I invited them for lunch. We all had pickles which my Granny brought for me from Vishakapatnam before I returned to Germany. It was so loving of her to have come from such a long distance to see me. I am still love-stuck for my Granny.

We met Asim in the Supermarket near my home and we all had ice-cream sponsored by Asim in the city centre.This was the first time I was meeting Rajani and Asim. Both are PhD students in different scientific institutes in Jena. We parted just to meet after sometime at JC's house in the evening.

JC is a Post- Doctoral Fellow in Neuro Biology in Jena. JC and his wife gave a party as they were moving to Munich as he has got a Professorship at the University there. He is a Tamilian and his wife is from AP. Almost all Indians in Jena were at his home. We had lots of food. Many dranks many bottles of German Beer. THEY LOVE IT. I neither drank beer nor did I eat non-vegetarian(I decided I will not eat non-vegetarian food long back) and now after the party I am here back in my office hoping that I will still be able to do some work after finishing writing this.

Selfishness and Righteousness

Where a clash between Selfishness and Righteousness takes place it is Selfishness that desperately seeks to win but it is ultimately Righteousness that wins. Many instances arise in my heart when my Selfishness ultimately lost in front of Righteousness and many others where my Righteousness led me to victories.

There is someone in me who feels.. He doesnt seem to be thinking all the while..He feels and He makes me express whatever He feels.

The CYCLES of NATURE

Its 10 AM and I am back in Office. It is a sunny cool day once again. The beginning of Spring. The dead trees and flowers are coming back to life ..they appear to adorn a smile once again..
Does our human life also have cycles akin to those of the nature?Those of Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter.. Spring is the birth of a new child bringing in his freshness and newness giving joy to everyone around him..Summer is his blooming into manhood, his display of his innate prowess ..Autum is his fragility as he begins to get older and winter, his recesion into the unknow!
As this cycle ends ..another new cycle begins ..there is spring once again with its fragrance and freshness ...

Restraint and Freedom

Its almost mid night now! I, Mark(Netherlands), Andrea(Italy), Katya(Ukraine), Antony(Spain) were discussing from 8 PM till now about cultural differences across the world and how people were forced to adopt to the systems to which they were exposed.. Our verbal confrontations spanned a rainbow that stretched from religion to sexuality.

Mark was liberal and stressed on the need for absolute individual freedom and I would argue about the necessity of having freedom with implicit value for restrain from indulging in extremes. Andrea and Katya turned judges and would most often go by the LIBERAL EUROPEAN MARK. My position of contrained maximisation of individual freedom was strong and so the debate remained inconclusive!

'Everyone of us is entitled to exercise our right to freedom and everyone of us is obliged to exercise restraint in exercising it,where the restraint is honoring the social and culutral values of the system in which we exist!'This appears perfect to my mind but the western mind hits back and questions: 'Why should I not rebel and do whatever I wish to'?

FORMULA for a SUCCESSFUL LIFE

1. Think WIN always
2. NEVER say DIE
3. Love YOURSELF first
4. EAT WELL and PLAY WELL
5. Do your DUTY
6. LOVE your WORK
7. DREAM and DAY DREAM
8. PERSEVERE
9. ENJOY company of PEOPLE

Remember:

'OPTIMISM pays..
but it is better to WORK'

'PESSIMISM pays too..
coz it makes you WORK'

Goettingen

I went to Goettingen on last saturday(I was supposed to go on Monday of this week.. but i decided in favour of a weekend in Goettingen).No one recognised me in Goettingen, thanks to my short hair these days!

I strolled by the city centre ..went to the most famous ice-cream shop and had 'Göttinger' and 'Stagacella'. Umesh invited me for dinner and what a wonderful cook he is! Shravan(he recently completed his PhD at Goettingen and is going to Zurich for a post-doc) also came and joined us. It was Kabuli Channa curry with puris and rice and sambar.. fantastic home food!

On sunday i stayed at my Office in Goettingen (this sunday was no different) and did some work.On monday I met Klasen over the lunch we discussed as usual about indian politics and economy and MY FIELD TRIP. He told that Prof. Amartya Sen, (the only Indian to have received a nobel in Economics and Klasen's mentor) is coming to Goettingen in July. He is being awarded an Horonary Doctorate by the Goettingen University. I felt thrilled thinking that the same university is going to give me also a Doctorate one day.. Ha Ha!

On tuesday I attended Klasen's lecture on MicroData and Household Surveys and the rest of the time was wiled away doing something or nothing.. in the evening i spoke to mom and dad online. Dad told that he may come to Paris and Milan on an official trip in may.I jumped with joy.. 'Holiday time when he is here'. I went back to the hotel and hit the sack pretty early as I was dead tired..

Wednesday morning I went to get a new Dell Laptop from the Centre for Statistics. The new one is simply beautiful..its colour is metallic brownish gray and the system is brand new! After installing some additional software in it I got into the train and came back to Jena in the evening.