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If we like them, they are freedom fighters. If we don't like them, they are terrorists. In the unlikely case we can't make up our mind, they are only temporarily guerrillas.

War and peace

I have heard of this book for long but did not have the guts to pick up something this heavy.  Finally, I picked the ebook and started reading it.  The book is fun to read and it has many wonderful things to say.  Somewhere in the middle of the book I started noting down some of the cool lines from the book.  This capturing went on for a few hundred pages.  

Marshal Davout was one of those men who purposely put themselves in most depressing conditions to have a justification for being gloomy. For the same reason they are always hard at work and in a hurry. "How can I think of the bright side of life when, as you see, I am sitting on a barrel and working in a dirty shed?" the expression of his face seemed to say. The chief pleasure and necessity of such men, when they encounter anyone who shows animation, is to flaunt their own dreary, persistent activity

A Frenchman is self-assured because he regards himself personally, both in mind and body, as irresistibly attractive to men and women. An Englishman is self-assured, as being a citizen of the best-organized state in the world, and therefore as an Englishman always knows what he should do and knows that all he does as an Englishman is undoubtedly correct. An Italian is self-assured because he is excitable and easily forgets himself and other people. A Russian is self-assured just because he knows nothing does not want to know anything, since he does not believe that anything can be known. The German's self-assurance is worst of all, stronger and more repulsive than any other, because he imagines that he knows the truth - science, which he himself has invented but which is for him the absolute truth.

Pfuel was one of those theoreticians who so love their theory that they lose sight of the theory's object — its practical application. His love of theory made him hate everything practical, and he would not listen to it. He was even pleased by failures, for failures resulting from deviations in practice from the theory only proved to him the accuracy of his theory.

Sometimes—when there is not a coward at the front to shout, 'We are cut off!' and start running, but a brave and jolly lad who shouts, 'Hurrah!'—a detachment of five thousand is worth thirty thousand.

What science can there be in a matter in which, as in all practical matters, nothing can be defined and everything depends on innumerable conditions, the significance of which is determined at a particular moment which arrives no one knows when?

Not only does a good army commander not need any special qualities, on the contrary he needs the absence of the highest and best human attributes—love, poetry, tenderness, and philosophic inquiring doubt. He should be limited, firmly convinced that what he is doing is very important (otherwise he will not have sufficient patience), and only then will he be a brave leader. God forbid that he should be humane, should love, or pity, or think of what is just and unjust.

"So others are even more afraid than I am!" he thought. "So that's all there is in what is called heroism! And heroism! And did I do it for my country's sake? And how was he to blame, with his dimple and blue eyes? And how frightened he was! He thought that I should kill him. Why should I kill him? My hand trembled. And they have given me a St. George's Cross… . I can't make it out at all

A doctor's usefulness did not depend on making the patient swallow substances for the most part harmful (the harm was scarcely perceptible, as they were given in small doses), but they were useful, necessary, and indispensable because they satisfied a mental need of the invalid and of those who loved her—and that is why there are, and always will be, pseudo-healers, wise women, homeopaths, and allopaths.

Dron was one of those physically and mentally vigorous peasants who grow big beards as soon as they are of age and go on unchanged till they are sixty or seventy, without a gray hair or the loss of a tooth, as straight and strong at sixty as at thirty

He had managed people for a long time and knew that the chief way to make them obey is to show no suspicion that they can possibly disobey.

At the approach of danger there are always two voices that speak with equal power in the human soul: one very reasonably tells a man to consider the nature of the danger and the means of escaping it; the other, still more reasonably, says that it is too depressing and painful to think of the danger, since it is not in man's power to foresee everything and avert the general course of events, and it is therefore better to disregard what is painful till it comes, and to think about what is pleasant. In solitude a man generally listens to the first voice, but in society to the second.

Such magnanimity and sensibility are like the magnanimity and sensibility of a lady who faints when she sees a calf being killed: she is so kind-hearted that she can't look at blood, but enjoys eating the calf served up with sauce. They talk to us of the rules of war, of chivalry, of flags of truce, of mercy to the unfortunate and so on

"If there was none of this magnanimity in war, we should go to war only when it was worth while going to certain death, as now. Then there would not be war because Paul Ivanovich had offended Michael Ivanovich. And when there was a war, like this one, it would be war! And then the determination of the troops would be quite different. Then all these Westphalians and Hessians whom Napoleon is leading would not follow him into Russia, and we should not go to fight in Austria and Prussia without knowing why. War is not courtesy but the most horrible thing in life; and we ought to understand that and not play at war. We ought to accept this terrible necessity sternly and seriously. It all lies in that: get rid of falsehood and let war be war and not a game. As it is now, war is the favorite pastime of the idle and frivolous.

Most of the people at that time paid no attention to the general progress of events but were guided only by their private interests, and they were the very people whose activities at that period were most useful. Those who tried to understand the general course of events and to take part in it by self-sacrifice and heroism were the most useless members of society, they saw everything upside down, and all they did for the common good turned out to be useless and foolish

Krishna rambles

Long time ago, when humans wasn't there only apes, I just for fun thought apes used to do what we do now, but they don't talk. So there used to be a city in idta (India) which was called neingai (Chennai) there was a man in neingai called driska the greatest musician
of all in that time.He got a letter 1 day for the first time,opened it and read it aloud to himself "you,son of geanga meet me at miplo cafe,in 4 minutes from when you got the letter." When he finished reading the letter he thought who is geanga,and who everhe is.

In memory of

I received the news late one night.  It was shocking and unexpected.  In most cases, death comes as a shock for friends and family.  When unexpectedness is added the shock increases.  For a few minutes, the news stunned me.  Soon the phone calls started and everyone discussed what next.  A few hours later, I was sitting besides a freezer box which contained the mortal remains of my uncle.  His friends and family stood around with sadness.  A few of them had tears running down their face. Everyone looked at the immobile face in disbelief.  Many of them had talked and seen him a few hours earlier but now he will not be heard and in a few hours not be seen either.

My uncle was a principled person and almost everyone who came in contact with him ended up respecting him.  He helped his friends and family to the best of his ability.  He was a pillar not just for his immediate family but for many of us belonging to the extended family. We looked towards him for help and advice.  I don't remember a situation where he has refused help to anyone.  For him, relationships were more important than almost everything else (many a times his own self).  He also talked his mind and so many of us had no confusion about his thoughts and intentions.  I remember him recounting an incident, which displayed his courage to speak out his thoughts.  He worked in the North for many years in a Government organization.  Some people of his organization came to him to collect money for the Dusshera celebrations.  He refused to pay them saying that both he and Ravan come from the South and he will not support the burning of a South Indian's effigy.  

Such instances of courage and love will not be seen or heard anymore.  The person responsible lay frozen before us.  Many people came and all of us waited as long as we could.  As the evening gave in to darkness, wails were heard as he was taken away from his home.  A few minutes later, flames enveloped his lifeless body and he remained only in our hearts and mind.  We walked away, with the grief settling in and the everyday happening burying it slowly.   His family would support each other and grieve for the next few days.

On the fifteenth day, a ceremony was conducted on the shores of a river to ensure that his soul would be in peace.  The inability of rationalism to explain everything that happens around us ensured all of us to took part in the ceremony wholeheartedly.  The priest's calm voice and lucid explanations enabled us to envision the transcendence of his soul.  In a way, the ceremony is like the closing of a chapter.  The contents of the chapter will remain with us.  Its impact depends on the quality of the chapter itself.  

At the end of the day, the little grandson who had taken part in the ceremony turned towards his father and said "What a fantastic day! So many new experiences and learning.  I now know what to do when you die".

Listening Station - a new blog on music

Let me branch of here and add a Listening Station

Dread dreaming

List of Characters
Mika:        Main Character (the original I).  Being the author of this piece, he has assigned himself the role of main character.  In reality, he is always the supporting character
Karma:     Character A.  The finance guy in the Mika's company.  Only makes a cameo appearance here.
Anoka:      Another Character (the I in dream). Though the author has assigned himself as the main character, Anoka is the protagonist of the story.  His character lives up to the Anoka name though.
Yaksha:      Yet Another Character. Many think he is a saint in probation and hence called Yaksha,
Leka:          Lady character. Though a character on her own right, she plays a minor role at the end.
Mrs.Mika:  Mika's wife makes a brief appearance.

SCENE 1

I is sitting in his office staring at the mobile.  He shakes his head and shifts his focus to the laptop. He plays around with the touch pad and keyboard and then stares at the screen.  He shakes his head and goes back to the mobile.  He throws the mobile on the table and holds his head between his hands.  A few minutes later, he picks up the phone, dials a number and waits for the response.

I: Karma, why is bank balance in the negative?

Karma: Sir, your last credit card payment pushed it to the negative.

I: Oh! Is that allowed?

Karma: Our account allows overdraft.

I: How much more can we push it to?

Karma: Another 1000 rupees sir.

I: Only another 1000 is it? How come we have not received any payment?

Karma: Which payment are we supposed to receive?

I: That customer.

Karma: Which one sir?

I: The foreign one.

Karma: We received it last week Sir.

I: We are in negative still?

Karma: Yes sir.

I: God save us.  Ok.

I cuts the phone and takes his head back to between his hands.  From the corridor, the excited blabbering of Anoka can be heard.  He walks into the room continuing the conversation with some one outside.  Once inside the room, he addresses I.

Anoka: I had this terrific dream early this morning.  You gotta hear it.

I: Early morning dreams come true.

Anoka: I don't know if I will be happy or sad if this one comes true.

I: Ok. I am all ears.  Tell me.

Anoka: Let Yaksha come.  He has to be here too.  Ah! here he is.  You have to imagine this as a drama.

Yaksha: Like all those Shakespeare stuff.

Anoka: Yes, like Shakespeare.

I: My life is a melodrama already.  I don't need any more drama in it.

Anoka: Come on.  This will be fun.

I: Alright, go ahead.

SCENE DREAM

I am entering the office...

TERMINATE SCENE DREAM

I: Hold on, hold on, hold on. I cannot imagine a drama in the first person.

Anoka: Meaning?

I: It has to be done in third person.
Anoka: What does that mean?
I: You cannot say I am.  You should say Anoka is

Anoka: I don't think that is true.

I: Well, I am not interested in your dream if you cannot do that.

Anoka: OK FINE.  If you want third person, you get third person.

Yaksha: What is this first person, third person?

Anoka: Never mind, the dream is more important.  ACTION.

SCENE DREAM

I is hurrying into the office in a state of excitement.  I walks into Yaksha's cabin and announces.

I: Yaksha, I heard that Mika has had a heart attack.  I think he is dead.
Yaksha: What nonsense! I saw him in his cabin sometime back.

The two of them walk towards Mika's cabin and finds it empty.
Yaksh: But he was here just a moment ago.
I: Impossible. He is dead.
Yaksha: Just shut up.  You always come up with these wild thoughts.  Remember the last time.  Mika's grand father had an attack and you went around the place telling everyone that Mika had a heart attack.
I: What nonsense! It was you who informed me that Mika had a heart attack.  I only informed others.
Yaksha: It was not necessary for you to inform the whole world.  Anyway, let us call him.

Yaksha takes out his phone and calls Mika. The phone rings but is not picked up.

Yaksha; There's no response.

I: Let us go to his home.

The two of them get out of the office and go to Mika's house. On reaching his home they see a crowd around the house. But the house itself is locked. The people are murmuring among themselves.

Murmurer 1: How can they not be here in such a time?

Murmurer 2: They should be home in such a time. But career is so important for people today. What is the point of working so much when they cannot take care of themselves?

I: What happened? Where are they?

Murmurer 3: All this running around for what? Family and peace of mind is more important.

I: Is Mika alright? Where are they?

Murmurer 1: They should have been here. Very irresponsible.

Anoka: This is pointless. Let's go to Mika's wife's office.

Yaksha and I reach Mrs.Mika's office.  They found her standing outside the office drinking tea.
Yaksha: Is Mika alright?  Anoka said that he has had a heart attack.
Mrs.Mika: What nonsene! Mika is sitting in the reception,

They walk into the reception.  Mika is sitting in the reception pondering into a newspaper.
Mika: Hey! Whatsup!
Yaksha: What are you doing here? Anoka is going around the world telling people that you had a heart attack.
Mika: Hey! Only people with heart have an heart attack (guffaws).
Mrs.Mika: Its about time you thought of something different and original.  People are getting tired of you stale jokes and statements.
I: But I am sure you had a heart attack and you are dead.
Mika: That guy Anoka is watching too many movies. Must be some leftover imagination from Race10.
Mrs.Mika: There is a level and limit to his jokes.  Anoka cannot get so heart less.
Mika: Hey! I am the heartless one here.
Mrs.Mika: Oh shut up Mika.  You are more brainless than heartless.  How can Anoka joke about someone's death?

I: But I am sure he has had a heart attack and is dead.

Yaksha: He is sometimes quite insensitive.  Ok, gotta go.  See you later.

Yaksha and I walk out of the office with I muttering this and that constantly.  Yaksha seems to ignore I and soon they reach the office.  They see Leka sitting in her cubicle.
Yaksha: This Anoka freaked us out today.
I: No I did not.
Leka: What happened?
Yaksha: Anoka said that Mika had a heart attack and he is dead.  We went to his home and then to  his wife's office.  We saw Mika at her office.  He is alright.  His wife is furious.
I: But he had a heart attack,
Leka: This is terrible.  How can he say such things?
Yaksha: Insensitive fellow.
I: Why don't they listen?  I was not joking or telling a lie.  Screw them all; I am going home.

I leaves for home.  When I gets home, I sees the place is filled with people.
I: What happened?  Why are you all here?  What is wrong?  Why are you not answering me?

I walks into his house and is shocked to him lying on the floor dead.

END SCENE DREAM

I: Is that it?

Anoka: Yes. Terrific right?

I: You have wasted 15 minutes of my life with a useless rehash of Sixth Sense.

Anoka: Why sixth sense?
I: What do you mean Why Sixth Sense?

Anoka: What is the sixth sense part in the dream?

I: Don't you know Sixth Sense. I can see dead people...

Anoka: You can see dead people?

I: The movie Sixth Sense.

Anoka: Oh is it?  Don't you know I don't watch English movies.  This is my dream, original dream.

I: Dreams are always inspired by real life occurrence. So it is inspired by something you have seen or experienced.

Anoka: My dream is original and I am going to make a movie out of it.

Yaksha and I laugh as Anoka storms out of the room.

END SCENE 1

... AND EVERYTHING ELSE

Some more on death

BBC travel has a write up on how thinking about death at least once a day helps one reduce fear of death and avoid anxeity attack.  The people of Bhutan are expected to contemplate of death at least five times a day.  It is similar for sadness too "We fear sadness. It’s something to get over, medicate. In Bhutan there’s an acceptance. It’s a part of life.”

http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20150408-bhutans-dark-secret-to-happiness

 The BBC travel also has an article on destinations that hardly seem real.  The article helped me realize that there are a set of island called Faroe island above between the Arctic, UK, Scandinavia and Iceland.  The islands have many such incredible locations.  Of the locations shown, I had the good fortune of seeing one.  

http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20151113-destinations-that-are-so-magical-they-hardly-seem-real