BUCKET LIST!!!

People always dream about things that they want to do in life and I’m no exception. Though it may seem premature, I have a few things on mind which I keep thinking about; of doing it in the near future. Here are the ones which are on priority.

- to turn into a Business Analyst

- to help my dad set up a Business

- to send my parents on a Euro Trip

- to marry the Girl of my dreams

- to build my own House

- to go Sky Diving

“Business Analyst”:

Call it destiny that I got into Mobis India Ltd.  Since my childhood, I was keen to work in Auto-mobile Industry and my interest in management and operations did help my cause. It was a fortune moment when i joined MIN after my masters. Adapting to the new environment wasn't difficult; what with the likes of my peers being so friendly. Healthy learning over a couple of years and with the guidance from all around, I was able to contribute to the company's cost saving for which I was recognized with the "Proud Mobisian Award", which I take pride in. Literally. Leveraging this start, I would like to put in my best efforts to get a deep understanding of dealer sales and operations so as to turn into a business analyst soon. I only hope I’ll earn it with time.          

Business for Dad:

               Kids more often than not term their dad as their role models and I have always seen my dad as one. I have witnessed him go through tough times in his career and eventually succeed with excellence. It is his passion and commitment that inspires me the most and I would as well like to grow up like him for my son to look up to me. Through all these years, I hardly remember him spending leisure time. His favorite past time would always be working on something or the other and not rest a while. He is about to get his retirement come July. So in all likelihood he would not want to be idle at home. And there is always my childhood interest of turning an entrepreneur; so why not try it out! I would want to help my dad establish a business - an apparel outlet probably, where we can design our own apparel range with suggestions from friends and colleagues who’d volunteer. So in a few months, I wish I could help my dad into this set up and there is always this pride of owning a business.

“Euro Trip”:

While in Sweden (doing my MS), I had the opportunity of witnessing the scenic beauties of Europe which has a multitude of countries, diverse mix of cultures & traditions and regional & ethnic communities. A trip to Frankfurt, Helsinki, Florence, Rome, and Venice made me savour its architectural excellence, years of preserved history, fashion and design that the place very much symbolizes.  The collage below would best suffice the fun I had.

And, I’m looking forward to gift this wonderful experience to my parents. A Euro trip so they could get themselves off on a holiday, sans all stress that one would go through at their age. Just to let them enjoy time together after all these years of constantly looking after me and my brother. I think it is an opportune moment for me to show them my love once more, and since I’m in a position to afford it, it would only be wise to gift them a week of their own life back to them. Plans are on for spring.

“Dream wedding”:

During the course of this, I would like to get married to the girl of my dreams. I think it is just the right time for me to get settled with a family of my own. Just like all guys do, I too dream of a girl. I believe I would get to meet her soon and when I do, I won’t hesitate to confess my love. It comes in handy being friends with a lot of couples, I have learnt a lot about relationships and that there are bound to be difference of opinions. But then, I firmly believe that I will be able to make it through since relationships aren’t just about what couples have in common but how they make it through, even with disparity.

So I just hope to meet my girl and get married. And with marriage comes a moral obligation of having kids and since I myself love kids, I would love to have a couple of them, a girl & a boy ideally. Raising children are always fun and it is the greatest feel a father and mother could get. I know how happy a mom & dad could get just cherishing the moment of watching their kids grow up & I wish I experience that soon. 

“Duplex”:

I have never felt the need for luxury all my life since I was fortunate enough to have been brought up without being given too much than what I actually needed. So it has never occurred to me to desire for things that I don’t need. But I think there are times when desires and needs change. I have been living with my parents since my birth and I had been comfortable all along but once I’m married, I feel the need of moving to a house of my own, of course with my parents to feel more responsible and also, to be able to give my kids the comfort level that I had while staying with my parents.

So I have started planning and probably in another couple of years, I’ll get started with my dream project of my “Duplex”. However, it is quite a challenge, with the current boom on realty taking land prices to staggering heights. But then, with every challenge comes an opportunity and I’m pretty confident of making it count. “Home. Sweet Home”

“Sky Diving”:

As children, we always had our insights about superheroes - Superman, Batman and so on. We wished we had those super human abilities - to fly, to fight and to be charismatic. We were so intrigued to those characters that at times we even tried  to imitate them resulting in a fracture or a bruise. But having grown to know those were just fictions, we can now only have a grin in our face thinking those unfulfilled dream; the very dreams which we could only fancy fantasizing. But still, fantasies do come alive.

One can’t oversee the classic from film maker Christopher Nolan - The Batman Series. It is a series with much logical sense which rationalizes the acts of a batman and doesn't defy the laws of physics even at a single frame. So I've been wondering if I would be able to make the flight of a batman. Not possible in real life unless there is something similar on its line - Sky Diving. At least I would be able to get a bird’s eye view and find myself afloat in the sky. Scary though!

The major obstacle of achieving anything is “not believing” in it. And they say,

“If you can imagine it, you can achieve it.

If you can dream it, you can become it”

I’m dreaming it. And I believe in my dreams.

   - DC 

And here comes the "Rice Bucket Challenge"!!!

Well.. the "Ice Bucket Challenge" has gone viral.

Basically it is an activity involving dumping a bucket of ice water on one's head to promote awareness of the disease Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)  and encourage donations to research. In simple words, (actually I couldn't find any, it's a bit too technical of course) ALS  is a progressive neuro-degenerative disease that affects the nerve cells and the spinal cord. 

Apparently a good initiative. However, with the scarce supply of water these days (at least in parts of Tamilnadu and elsewhere in India), rather than wasting water (now that it has already gone viral) why not spread the "Rice Bucket Challenge".

A Hyderabad based woman, Manju Latha Kalanithi has kick started this with a motive of helping the needy. It is a practical and innovative solution to feed the poor. This initiative seeks those who are interested to cook or buy a bucketful of rice for it to be given to the poor and needy in the neighborhood. Saves water. Helps the deprived. Donation need not necessarily be a bucket of rice, it can be of kind -  medicines, clothes and so on. It is just a way of showing "we care". we don't normally do things until we are told to or get a drive to. So here it is. Take it on and be the change. 

- TSC (Team for Social Cause)

P.S. TSC (Team for Social Cause) is a group devised at MIN - Mobis India Ltd (Hyundai Motors Group) at the start of this year with an aim of lending a helping hand for the welfare of the poor. A group of employees has taken pledge to save money every month and make voluntary donations to a social cause. TSC's contributions bring a smile to those who are in need and also drive the ones who wish to support. Such is the group and the people in it. 

And the journey has only begun. :) 

Rice Bucket Challenge - http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/now-rice-bucket-challenge-goes-viral/article6345407.ece

MIN - http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/hyundai-mobis-to-expand-network-for-spare-parts-supply/article4785034.ece
https://en.mobis.co.kr/

The Uber turns Elite!!!

Hyundai unleashed the 1st Gen i20 in 2008 that left a rousing impact. Four years forward and Hyundai introduced the mid-life facelift in 2012, which did not fail to impress either. Hence, the 2nd Gen i20 really has some big shoes to fill in and yet this would be quite an understatement.

The recent unveiling of Hyundai Elite i20 in India is a clear indication from the car-maker that it's focus is to strengthen its foothold in the domestic market. Also to cease the new Volkswagen Polo or the Fiat Punto Evo from gaining a head-start. And obviously to take on Maruti's Swift head-on. Needless to say, face-lifts and new generations are the need of the hour.

The Fluidic design from Hyundai was an instant hit in India and this time around the new i-20 comes with a "Fluidic Sculpture 2.0" design philosophy that's more European-esque.  The company claims this shift in the design philosophy was to transform the car's image. The new styling certainly allows the Elite i20 to look bolder (to come across as 'bold' instead of 'youthful'). The hexagonal grille at the front is hard to miss. The sweptback head-lamps and the sleek fog-lamps on the bumper help bring the much-needed 'cheer' to the hatchback's front. The absence of daytime running LED (as in the outgoing model) is quite strange though. That said, it is really the rear where the Elite i20 scores brownie points, thanks to the 'Alfa-Romeo styled' tail-lights. And the blacked out C-pillar blends in equally well.  To be honest, it looks all the more ravishing and make heads turn.

Now, the cabin. Its nice and pleasant inside the Elite i20; the dual-tone beige and black interiors look good and so does the neatly laid out dashboard. The fit-and-finish is as good as ever. Being a Hyundai product, the presence of lots of features is a given. The 3-spoke steering wheel has a nice upmarket feel to it and comes with lots of controls mounted on it. The hatchback gets a front -centre armrest with storage, a steering-sensitive rear parking camera, and a 2-DIN audio system with 1GB storage among other features. A one-touch function is also present onboard to warn lane change intentions as an added safety measure. So, the Elite i20 looks truly 'un-compromised'.

Since the Elite i20's wheelbase is the longest in its segment, there is little doubt that the rear row gets quite a decent amount of legroom and headroom. The seats are firm and comfortable, with good under-thigh support. Then there are also the AC vents in the rear row. Simply put, you will be comfortably riding in the Elite i20's rear row. As far as the boot space is concerned, it has shrunk a bit, as compared to the outgoing model, but is still good enough to fit in baggage for a couple of days trip.

Coming to the driving dynamics, Hyundai has turned smart to improve the Elite i20's by adding a bit more zing to the petrol engine and refinement to the diesel. 

The 1.4-litre U2 diesel engine delivers 89bhp of power and an impressive peak torque worth 220Nm. Also, it doesn't make much noise, even at high speeds, and the cabin is really quiet. In terms of transmission, the 6-speed gearbox (only in Diesel variant) is quick and responsive and is perfect for highway driving. 

The 1.2-litre petrol engine has been tweaked to offer more low and mid-range power. It produces 82bhp and 115Nm of torque and comes mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. Expect the petrol model to get an automatic transmission pretty soon. The fuel efficiency figures are impressive too; Hyundai claims that the petrol engine offers 18.5Km/l, while the diesel promises 22Km/l.

In terms of suspension, the one on the Elite i20 is softer than that on the outgoing model. With a ground clearance of 170mm, driving on poorly-built roads wouldn't be a challenge anymore. The steering is precise around corners and the car handles well at high-speeds. Overall, the new i20's ride and handling certainly feels more confident.

The crux of the matter is that the Elite i20, with it's improved driving dynamics, added features, more space and new styling, will easily fill in the big shoes of its predecessor. With a price tag of Rs. 4.89 lakh for the base petrol and Rs. 7.67 lakh for the top-end diesel, the Elite i20 looks a bit pricey , but that didn't deter many in the past and we doubt it will affect the new-generation model's prospects either.

- DC

Courtesy: Autocar, Team BHP, Wikipedia, Kun Trial :)

Yes, Yuvraj is to blame...

Yuvraj is to blame for giving an entire generation of Indians the winning feeling reserved for champions of the cricketing world

We shared the jokes, we mouthed the expletives, we published the memes. We vented our ire in all ways we could,some of us even breaching the boundaries of ethics in doing so. We went over the case and passed the verdict. We pronounced the offender guilty.

Yes, Yuvraj Singh is to blame. For hitting an English bowler out of the park six times in as many deliveries, and instilling a belief in the minds of India's cricket fanatics that one of us could destroy an English bowling attack on foreign soil.

Yuvraj is to blame for pulling of an unprecedented heist at the sanctum of world cricket that left the cricketing universe gaping in awe, and evoked a feeling of unbounded pride in the heart of each and every fan of Indian cricket, for we had beaten those who ruled us for centuries.

Yuvraj is to blame for arduously carrying a billion dreams to fruition and giving this country something its incumbent youth had never seen the country possess, the Cricket World Cup.

Yuvraj is to blame for mesmerizing cricket fans of this country with such clean hitting that each and every time a bowler was in his delivery stride, somewhere deep within we expected the bowl to sail into the stands. Every darned time.

And Yuvraj is now also to blame for exhibiting the mortal side of a man who we had long believed to be Superman. Yuvraj is to blame for persevering through cancer to perform for fans who manifest their love by hurling stones at his house. Yuvraj is to blame for opening our eyes to the bleak reality that he is a mere human.

Those who have truly embraced cricket will know that this display of irreverence was blasphemy of the highest degree. For every stone that was pelted, let a thousand apologies be uttered. Let us show the king where he truly lives in our hearts. Sorry Yuvi.

Courtesy - Bhaskar Bhowmik @ cricinfo
http://www.espncricinfo.com/thestands/content/story/735753.html

The Indian Wedding!!!

They say marriages are made in Heaven, so why not make it an exotic lifetime affair!!! That's what usually happens at weddings in this part of the world.

Indian weddings especially have a traditional flavor to it and are much filled with rituals and celebrations that continue for several days. Imagine the groom exchanging vows with his beloved, decked like a princess against a palatial backdrop and the elegantly decorated & well lit stage that offers a grand welcome to all the guests who come in to bless the newlyweds for them to embark on a new journey together in style. It’s an experience, which will be unparalleled, take my word for it.

This picture taken on the day of my sister's wedding brings cherished memories to all our hearts. It's where all my cousins came together once again sans their busy schedules with the guys wearing conventional dhotis & silk shirts and girls clad in silk saris - a trademark in south Indian weddings. The very sight of the colorful picturesque suffices the moment of joy. Towering brothers and pretty sisters!!! We feel lucky to have been growing up together.

This is all the more special since we hardly get to meet everyone these days, unlike our childhood days where we get together on every summer vacation.

The Indian Wedding that is just splendid and makes everyone stop and take a look!!! 

A cricketing prodigy!!!

When Sachin Tendulkar travelled to Pakistan to face one of the finest bowling attacks ever assembled in cricket, Michael Schumacher was yet to race an F1 car, Lance Armstrong had never been to the Tour de France, Diego Maradona was still the captain of a world champion Argentina team, and Pete Sampras had never won a Grand Slam.

When Tendulkar embarked on a glorious career taming Imran and company, Roger Federer was a name unheard of; Lionel Messi was in his nappies, Usain Bolt was an unknown kid in the Jamaican backwaters. The Berlin Wall was still intact; USSR was one big country.”

It seems while Time was having its toll on every individual on the face of this planet, it excused one man. Time stands frozen in front of Sachin Tendulkar. We have had champions, we have had legends, but we have never had another Sachin Tendulkar and we never will.

- IBN Live

Journey of a little boy to a legend:

The 1990s was a time of awakening for the Indian economy. It was a time of VCRs, Walkmans and Maruti-800s. It was an age when still cameras needed roll-films, the sensex was under 750 points and petrol was priced under Rs.10. It was also the start of an era of Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. Blessed with the keenest of cricket minds he has been the most complete batsmen and the most prolific run-maker of all time. 

The beginning of his career was marked by courage. Facing lethal deliveries on his test debut and battling it out with a blood soaked shirt against the most dreadful attack ever, he made a mark as a gritty young lad willing to take on the best in the world. The nation saw hope in the little genius. Records galore followed suit. The rest is history. For Sachin, failure was not an option. While he was at the crease there was always hope. India found a player who went after the impossible. Aged prayed for him, executives skipped office, and an entire generation of youths dreamt of becoming cricketers. 

He made seeming progress with his batting which won him accolades. Time and again, testing times gave critics a crevice for target but then he made all the talking through his super-heavy bat, synonymous with the burden of the nation he bore. He proved a nightmare to bowlers which gave opponent captains sleepless nights. Memories of the desert storm in Sharjah is still afresh where he single-handedly destroyed the Australian attack, his favourites - the most dominant team of his era. 'Aussies Destoyed' said a tabloid headline, 'Hail Sachin' said another. "We lost to Sachin," said Steve Waugh. With time, India has become a global giant, while the Little Master has become a legend.

It would be no exaggeration to say that Tendulkar's landmarks put him among the very top echelon of sports persons across diverse fields. He's probably got the most flawless technique, something beyond scientific measure. Something that has allowed him to to roam a territory of sport that  even those who are gifted enough to play alongside him cannot even fathom. Perhaps it is a testimony to greatness that can never be challenged by even the most ardent critic.

"To play for India" has always been his desire in life. Somehow, when he says it, you know it's not just a platitude but a heartfelt truth. Cricket has always celebrated Sir Jack Hobbs for scoring 199 first class hundreds. But of course there's difference. Scoring 100 hundreds in international cricket is a feat that has once and for all set Tendulkar apart from his predecessors, contemporaries and probably even generations of future greats to come. The only batsman against whom Sachin can truly be benchmarked is Sir Don Bradman. But then Bradman never played with the pressure of carrying the hopes of a billion-plus people on his shoulders, never had to deal with a situation where a loss was similar to a criminal conviction with the world's second-most populous country sitting in collective judgment. Bradman played a sport. Tendulkar is the presiding deity of a nationally-unifying religion called cricket. 

He has always had a rousing reception every time he has stepped out on the cricket field. And right through his career, he has had to deal with great pressure that only a few could sustain. The crowd usually gets so loud that it adds to nervous tension that makes things difficult to concentrate to even the greats. But again, he has had his own technique to counter just like he would counter the most deadliest deliveries. 

"Whenever I found the crowd too loud I decided to walk down the wicket and tap it for a while, giving myself an extra 15-20 seconds to adjust. I'd be hoping that in this extra time the crowd would mellow a little and settle down." Sachin has said. 

He will have to perform this ritual in two more Tests. And it's certain that the crowd will not settle down in 15-20 seconds. The applause and cheers will reverberate around the world non-stop. Eden Gardens in Kolkata and the Wankhede in Mumbai could as well turn electric and find itself in History books as these venues will host India's two Tests against West Indies in November, which will mark the end of Sachin Tendulkar's 24-year career. We may get to see the legend play for India one last time. He has made his peace with the fact that there is life after cricket. He has called it a day as arguably the greatest batsman and inarguably one of the finest gentlemen to ever grace a cricket field.  But millions of fans will be consumed by a feeling of hollowness as they try to come to terms with cricket without Tendulkar. 

- DC

Courtesy:

Sachin Tendulkar retirement - Cricketcountry/ IBN Live. Tendulkar's 200th Test set to be in Mumbai - Cricinfo. The Rise Of Sachin Tendulkar - TOI. Sachin Tendulkar will play his 200th and final Test match - Sun.co.uk. Sachin Tendulkar to declare at 200 - TOI. Tendulkar to retire after 200th Test - Cricinfo. 

The Comeback Man!!!

There are only a few who can hit the cricket ball as clean and hard as Yuvraj Singh does. When in rhythm he can tear apart any opponent with his effortless yet brutal hitting. A nightmare to the bowlers, a treat to the viewers, he made a mark in international cricket with his very first innings - a match winning knock of 84 against the mighty aussies. He hasn't looked back ever since. A multi-talented cricketer, he has always been more prolific in  limited-overs cricket, than in Tests for whatever reasons. His athleticism, aggression and his wily left-arm spin made him a dream one-day player as Indian cricket found a potential all-rounder.

His ODI career is full of highlights. Elegant sixes, flamboyant drives, breathtaking catches, acrobatic run-outs could all be associated to Yuvi. Be it his heroics in the 2002 Natwest final at Lord’s, his six 6s to Stuart Broad during the T20 World Cup in 2007 or his double Hat-trick in IPL 2009, Yuvi has given us several unforgettable moments throughout his career with the biggest impact being his contribution to India's World Cup triumph in 2011, where his all-round performances won him the "Man of the Tournament"- 362 runs, 15 wickets, and four Man-of-the-Match awards in all. 

He had certainly got to the peak of his career and then, quite suddenly, it turned into a downward spiral. Came the biggest challenge of his life, when he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer which required a ten week treatment in the USA. 

He won his personal match too, this time braving past the dreaded disease and making a full recovery. The ordeal had left him a changed man. He was fairly confident that he could resume his duties on the cricket field reasonably quickly. After a stint at the NCA, Yuvraj staged a heroic comeback to international cricket when he took on the Kiwis in a T20I in Chennai where he scored 34 off 26. It could have been the start of a more consistent dream but this time, inconsistency posed a massive challenge, especially with lackluster performances in the World T20 tournament  and then he had to put in his best efforts for a comeback into the national side. Again. 

Yuvi has stormed back into the national side after some solid showings against West Indies A, and the Challenger Trophy. Dropped for several months and confined to the sidelines, he spent the summer in France to take part in a rigorous fitness regime that lasted 6 weeks. Though there were doubts as to whether he was match ready, he was seen much leaner, fitter and younger. The training proved worthy as he made a grand come back to cricket. 

In his first competitive knock since the IPL, Yuvraj blazed 123 off 89 balls against West Indies A in a one-dayer, and followed it up with two more fifties in the next three innings. And then, with a couple of all-round displays - which has become a synonym to him, he led India Blue to the NKP Salve Challenger Trophy, thereby letting his presence known to the selectors who made the right call of getting him back to the Indian squad for the upcoming series against the aussies. 

Lofty highs as well as despairing depths, he has seen it all. Not one to give up, he has never lost hope and continues to be a man who seeks to write new chapters with his courageous self. For now we may expect him to do what he does best on the cricketing field. 


- DC


Courtesy: Internet