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cheers
priya

17th Convergence India 2009

South Asia’s largest ICT event is scheduled to take place during 18-20 March 2009 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. Convergence India, an annual exhibition & conference is in its 17th year and enjoys patronage of regular clients. The success of the show not only lies in getting as many exhibitors to showcase their products but to ensure these exhibitors get to meet their potential customers under one roof. The way Convergence India event has succeeded in featuring in the annual marketing spends of these companies year after year speaks volume of its superiority.

Having been associated with the company behind the show (Exhibitions India), I nurture fond memories. The adrenaline rush before and during the show, the swanky setups done by domestic & overseas architects, hoards of people to interact, myriad activities, it’s a gala affair in its own right. Added advantage was all that fat you accumulated during the year you could look at shedding some of it during the event, with all running around from one end of the hall to the other!

The event this year will be featuring Telecom, Mobility, Broadcast, Cable, Satellite, Entertainment, Information Technology and Information Security. Prominent international speakers will debate on the trends, challenges and solutions for progress in the ICT sector.

Here's wishing the Ei team all the best....

Nedumbassery airport gets its medical unit..

I remember clearly the agony on the face of my friend as she narrated to me about her painful experience at the Delhi airport 2 years ago. It so happened that her husband who had a back problem was suddenly reeling in excruciating pain. Unfortunately for them, they didn’t have the medicines handy. But for a fellow passenger (God bless him) who helped them with a pain killer, I don’t even want to imagine where things would have lead for my friend.

So, when I read about the medical unit being commissioned at the Kochi International airport at Nedumbassery, I was happy. I think it should be made imperative for all the airports to have medical facilities. Even the railways stations should be encouraged to make available first aid besides a medical shop. It would save many a passenger in emergency.

The unit at Nedumbassery is run in association with the Amrita Institute of Medical Science and is equipped with all basic medicines and supporting infrastructure. The unit will function round the clock at the Kochi International airport. They have tied up with nearby hospitals for doctors, Para medical staff and ambulances in cases of emergency.Besides providing medical support to the passengers the medical unit also will provides the airport employees with first aid when the need be.

Hope all the other airports follow suit…

Way to go gal!

If rumors were to be believed, the Slumdog millionaire fame Frieda Pinto is to play Daniel’s Craig’s gal in the next bond flick tentatively name Bond 23. She has been called for a screening and believed to be under scrutiny of the casting crew since Quantum of Solace.

That will be one great news for the Indian cinema fraternity. Freida Pinto has also been cast in Woody Allen’s latest movie, shooting of which is scheduled mid this year. She is the next to join the few who have made already made appearances in Hollywood flicks.

Well, thinking of it, life is all about surprises and opportunities - few taken, few missed. The key is to keep moving in the direction your heart leads and to prepare yourself better for the next opportunity life surprise you with. The mantra is to set priorities and understand what makes you happy and go for it!

What women want?

The bride hunting for my BIL has left me wondering about many a question about women in general. Don’t get me wrong here; I have high respect for ambitious ladies, who want to leave a mark. But I still feel that one needs to act according to the circumstances, prioritize and then take a call.

After the rigmarole of PB (prospective bride) hunting through the matrimonial site, matching of horoscopes (yes it still is a big thing in Kerala) and chatting up of parents when it actually comes to the guy and gal talking, I am quite surprised at the flippant behaviors of the gals. They either are too busy to talk or haven’t found time to check the PG’s (prospective groom)! Half of the time they are worried about their non transferable jobs. Again, don’t get me wrong, but if you are good you surely fill find a good job elsewhere!

I am aware at this point that had I been a male I would have been branded as a MCP by now; thankfully no one has come up with a MCP equivalents for females so I am spared for now at least (or have I pre empted the ladies to come up with one…I fervently hope not!)

The point I am trying to make is that a relationship can’t start let alone sustain without certain adjustments. One need to question oneself at this juncture, does the PG possess all qualities that you expected for? If yes, do I trade it for a nice job and let go of this person whom you really think you can be happy with? Well, is it worth it?

No matter how much you deny, any lady working / non working would always want to have someone at home they can go back to. And that one person needs to be chosen without preconditions pertaining to one’s career, that is. The focus should be on the person, his characteristics and your compatibility together.

I feel people are forgetting that you need to happy at home to be happy elsewhere….

Jai ho...

Hearty congratulations to A R Rehman and all those connected to the much acclaimed Slumdog millionaire. As I was reading the news from the red carpet I chanced to read a small opinion article of that of Aadesh Srivastava (music director in Bollywood). He, like few other critics, appear to be furious at the movie and the fact that India through Mumbai has been shone in the bad light to the extent that foreigners have started calling Indians the slumdogs!

Chill Mr. Srivastava! You stay in Bombay. Ever heard of Dharavi? By playing ostrich you cannot ignore the ground realities. Let’s stop being hypocrites and give the movie its due credit.

And about people regarding us slumdogs… please excuse them..for they aren’t well traveled or well read (I am sure or rather hope the percentage of such people isn’t high). Probably they don’t know that their own comrades find India attractive enough to be here on a vacation, business or even life long stay!

Your anger is genuine to an extent; but your statement that you will never get associated with any project which shows India in poor light…if it at all happens..Bravo! But these things should rather be left to situation, if you were given a chance to be a part of a project which means international fame, would you leave it? Well, you need to think about it.

Anyways, India is the most beautiful country in the world. And there’s no denying that. For people making opinions sitting miles across…God bless…

Jai ho!

Wah Ustad Wah!

Inaugurating the year long programme for the Dharani society, (an initiative by the Dharani School of performing arts) it was none other that Ustad Zakir Hussain, the great great table maestro who graced the stage by his unbelievable performance, here in Kochi (Feb 17, ‘09).

Having grown up watching him fleetingly on various shows on the television (I don’t have the patience to watch music concerts on TV, prefer live) and the most famous wah ustad wah advertisement that intercepted the then popular chitrahaar, the weekly much awaited movie or other soaps, it was an enchanting experience to watch him performing live.

The humble maestro was teamed up with Shri Dilshad Khan the young promising Sarangi player. His swift hands moved on the instrument with so much grace, it almost felt the music was getting generated elsewhere! Be it be a steam engine effect or galloping horses, Ustad fingers presented these gentle variations along with his original compositions with unquestionable class.

Ustad Zakir Hussain yet again won a Grammy this year in the Contemporary World Music Album category for his collaborative album Global Drum Project. Born to Ustad Allah Rakha, Ustad Zakir started performing way back when we barely 12. He has various national and international shows and awards to his credit.

After yesterday’s performance, the whole of the audience was left spellbound as the heart craved for more.

Hail you Ustad ji…. Par ye dil ne maanga tha more!

Fame & Shame

What a start to 2009! On one hand we have the Indian industry’s biggest fraudulent case coming to light and there on the other hand we our very own Dilip Kumar a.k.a A R Rehman earning glory on the international stage by bagging the Golden Globe award for Best Original Music Score for 'Slumdog Millionaire', a rags-to-riches story of a Mumbai slumdweller.

I almost fell of the chair when I read online news about Satyam reading “I didn't pay much attention to balance sheet says Satyam CFO”.!!!! When did the abbreviation CFO become Chief Fun Officer, I wonder! No seriously, I found the statement really funny. I met few people who are darn worried about their investments but on the contrary there are people who still think things can only get better. Well only time will tell.

I have wanted to read Q&A book by Vikas Swarup (Slumdog millionaire has been inspired by this movie) for sometime now. Incidentally, only recently I finished reading 6 suspects, another book by Vikas Swarup. This book talks about the murder of a corrupted son of a equally corrupted politician who gets away with anything be it be drunken driving over innocent pedestrian dwellers or even a daylight muder of a bar girl who refuses to give him a drink beyond bar timings. This book portrays the sorry state of the country where even delayed justice favors the influential thus tramping over the innocent. Tragically enough most of the incidents are pictures of real life scenario.

Getting to talking about the proud moment of watching AR Rehman holding the globe award and thanking billion people back home, I wonder how he and his family is reacting when I, a mere fan is so overjoyed. He probably wouldn’t have dreamt of coming this far himself when he started his musical career. But it is his creativity, the ability to connect with mass with his versatile kind of music that is making him more successful and more popular. I really wish that he wins the Oscar too…now wouldn’t that be great!

On that happy note, let me get back to finishing the book I am currently reading… The Choice, by Nicholas Spark. I am at a sad juncture of the story hoping everything turns fine afterall I am all a happy story ending person, you see :)

Around the world on a bike

Almost all of us have an innate dream to travel the world but ever thought of doing it on bicycle? Sounds bizarre? Well that’s what Philipp and Valeska Schaudy have been upto. This couple who were recently in Kochi have been on roads since the year 2006, is set to cover all continents in 5 years. They have covered in the last 2+ years Europe, SW Asia, Africa, and Australia and are going to be spending some time in India making their way up north before they cycle away to their next destination in Asia. ‘Abnormal’ is how Philipp and Valeska describe themselves on their website www.2-play-on-earth.net.

When asked about the idea behind this travel, they said “When we travel from our arm chair, we sometimes misjudge about places and its people. We draw conclusions which might not be right. The world is so beautiful and there are people just like you out there eager to welcome and share with you their bits of life. They are if not more equally warm and loving. And you get to know all this only if you travel and have a first hand experience.”

We chose bicycles for our travel because it gives us opportunity to mingle with the local crowd. It gives us the flexibility to stop at a small roadside shop to have a cup of tea and chat with the locals who we would have never been able to do had we traveled by plane/ trains, besides its emission free, added a smiling Valeska.

Working as lecturer photographer, author and guide in the Arctic (Svalbard, Greenland), Philipp plans to go back and share with all, his experiences with people at large. Both Philipp and Valeska dream of spreading a message of love at all places where they leave their footprints. There is no need to be apprehensive of people of different color or who speak a different language. It’s just a matter of extending your hand and you will be surprised how many friendly hand shakes you get, signs off Philipp.

Hello world

I am filled with mixed feelings of anger, sadness and frustration. Anger because of the current situation in Mumbai, sadness at the plight of the innocents lives suffering and frustration at our helplessness.

Can’t we all come together and do something about the growing terrorism? How many more events of terror do we go through before we wake up? When will we all feel each other’s pain and not live in fake environment of personal security? Its someone else today tomorrow it can be us.

Everyone needs to be clear on one thing; terrorism can occur anywhere to anyone, we Indians were just unfortunate.

Saluting all the soldiers who have put their lives on the line of fire….jai hind!