The Kid In Me-I

“Let's dance in style, let's dance for a while
Heaven can wait we're only watching the skies
Hoping for the best but expecting the worst
Are you gonna drop the bomb or not?

Let us die young or let us live forever
We don't have the power but we never say never
Sitting in a sandpit, life is a short trip
Music's for the sad men

Forever young, I want to be forever young….”

That’s how the song goes. Wonder years of everyone’s life- The Childhood. It would give all of them- moments to cherish & events to recollect, stupidity to smile about & audacity to be proud of. This series is an attempt to recreate those wonder years. Hope you enjoy it.

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The Great Escape

It was in class VI, in 1997, that he got admitted to Sainik School Bijapur. It was achievement to be proud of. With children all of north Karnataka seeking a place in this prestigious institution (by far the only one in that region), the competition wasn’t to be easy. So, when he did accomplish the great feat, it was a feather in his small cap.

He was excited at the prospect of living one’s dream. But the excitement did not last long once he was admitted into the school. To stay in boarding school all-alone, away from his parents, for seven long years when max he had done was a week. That wasn’t the only reason. For a kid, who for all his life lived a leisurely routine, the hectic schedule proved too much to deal. The early morning exercise when he never, once, woke up to rising sun, the English speaking teachers when he always started with ‘A for Apple’ because he found ‘aeroplane’ too tough to spell. The overpowering seniors when all he had faced were the street kids of his age he played with. He could no longer put up with this ordeal. It was then a plan struck him. Plan to sneak away from this hell of boarding school to heaven of his beautiful home. At the end of first week, he even found an accomplice in his hometown pal.

It was a sunny Thursday afternoon. The strategy was worked out a day before. Just as the school bell rang at 1:30 PM all the students rushed for the lunch at the mess. Hastiness even more intensified by the fact that cooking team had special dish to offer them, but not special enough to deter the two warriors from accomplishing their mission. With empty corridors in the premises, two of them set forth for the journey. First hurdle would be a quick passage through the never-ending school ground & a climb over the compound walls. All that was cleared with little fuss & more importantly drawing no attention from the security guards. Once over the wall, they were all of sudden exposed to the world of people who all too well knew the uniform of the school. So, that forced them to conceal badges from shoulder, belt from the waist & nameplate from the chest. Taking a casual stroll across the streets of the city, they headed towards unknown central bus stop. However, the adversary would soon be solved by interactions with intelligentsia of the local people. The conversations tactfully carried out so as not to elicit a slightest of hint that they were on an escapade. In the end, after a four KMs of directed stroll, they were at their first pit stop of the mission.

It was time to embark on a trip to the second pit stop. The mode of conveyance was discovered with little trouble on platform no 14. But on the enquiry, the ride was determined to be on wrong side of budget they could afford. (We were only VI std kids. Don’t expect us to check financial viability of the mission beforehand. We only learn it in B-School..J). As they had ventured too far to abandon the mission, a alternative had to be concocted. After much of contemplation, it was finally decided that one of them would have to board through back ladder on to top of the bus, just as it makes its way. With everything depending on the timing of the climb, the two were anxiously waiting for the precise moment. Just then, they experienced the weight of two hefty hands on their shoulders. They turn back only to realize the worst nightmare. It was housemaster of one of them. The hopes were dashed. Mission had failed. It was now time to be hauled back to hell.

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I don’t exactly remember the emotions that I went through on ride back to the school. May be it was mix of disappointment of not making it to home & fear of what would happen. But, on reaching we were in for a special treatment at the Registrar’s office. Consoling & soothing words were pouring from all ends. After that incident, life was never the same for me at school. I was, for once, fortunate that I failed, for life wouldn’t have been so pleasant.

What's in a name?

It was some time in 1987, two weeks after the birth, I was given a name by my parents to help people address me. This very same name, twenty-two years down the line, would come up with a link to my blog in the very first page of the google search. Thus, giving the blog & its writer their own little moment in the celebrity world (At least, in the google world). It is with gratitude to this, that I write this post.

“Channabasava” was the name that certainly didn’t need any introduction during early years of my life. The name, originated after 12th century social reformer & spiritual preacher “Basavanna”, is as popular in my place as Rahul & Akshay were among Bollywood directors (Its no surprising, run of the mill stories would require protagonists with run of the mill names). As the followers of Basavanna- “The Lingayats”-are dominant sect in north Karnataka region, it wasn’t surprising to find every other guy in our street named either Channabasava, Basavaraj, or Basava. This also meant me, throughout my school days, staying under illusion that mine was simplest name to spell with letter ‘A’ being half of it. But that cloud would not remain for long once I put my foot down in land of coconuts.

As I landed, dint really, for once, think I would face problem with my name. After all, keralites were the most literate of all Indians. To write or pronounce a name would be piece of cake for them. But soon, all those high expectations would crumble. Through the first one week of my college life, my roommates, friends, & my college professor would show me the fallacies of this over-expectation. My time at Hostel rooms, Dining hall, Playground would all compound to misery unbearable. But nothing could do anything to match that inflicted at classroom. Every time at the end of the class, teacher would open attendance list & start announcing the names. The process would go at blistering pace( but for pauses at some northy names) until it would reach my name. The teacher would stare at it as if it was some unpronounceable Latin word. To save both, my teacher & myself, from any embarrassment I would suddenly give out my attendance, but not before him giving one or two tries at the name & everybody staring at me with the look- “What kind of name is that?”.

The wretchedness of this unpopular name reached new heights during my job as sales engineer. Anytime you meet a client, first thing you do is to take your hand out & say your name. “Sorry, come again” would be the next question from other end or else it would be a muted nod acknowledging that i do have a name. Trust me, there is nothing worse than repeating your name to the person who cant make anything of it, specially if he is meeting you the first time. But as with everything, like 2 faces of coin, even this had a good side. It was during the B-School interviews that something good came of this extraordinary name. No matter what, I was always ready with the answer to one question-“whats the meaning of your name??”

It does feel little awkward to hear people messing up with your name. But, I am not the one to lose sleep over it. Because it gives me a identity of my own. Atleast, if not anything, ‘a guy with weird name’.

PS: And I am yet to discuss the surname!

Pop Music- The Best Of Year Gone By

(Yep, this is channa's blog. No doubt whatsoever. And you, probably, read the title rightly too!. For all the people who know me from the college, this review will be as bad , if not worse, as Shaw's on Darwin's Theory of Evolution. This might still be as bad. But, no doubt, it will be much better off than it would have been a year ago. The time when listening to music was last thing on earth, when every song lyric was too complex to make out (Its not that, now every word in lyric makes sense) & when every singer’s name sounded Jewish.)

We talked about “change” all through last year. Be it "Obama- the peacekeeper" or be it the “Go green" revolution. The Music industry had its own “Change” in 2009. The female lead pop music finally nudging its nose infront of Rock music. Surely, the gagas & the swifts have taken pop music to different level altogether.So, i thought it would be befitting to dedicate a post to them. So, Here We Go. The Dabbler’s list of pop songs that had the heads banging,err..Nodding, feet tapping, legs moving & of course, RJs airing them on radio stations in the past year….

My life would suck without you-Kelly Clarkson
Such a free flowing song. You don’t really realize that song, a low tempo to begin with suddenly has changed to such a high tempo. No doubt, voice is her forte for this former American idol. So she makes sure Vocals are as clear as resonating tongs. Chorus is very catchy. People may shrug it off as same old Kelly Clarkson. As far me, I never heard her before.


Poker Face/Bad Romance/Paparazzi – Lady Gaga (you get to choose)
“Rah-rah-ah-ah-ah! Roma-Roma-ma-ah! Ga-ga-ooh-la-la!….”. Now how many of the singers would want to start with lyrics like that. That’s Lady Gaga for you. As eccentric & erratic as her name. But never does gaga fail to cast her spell on the listeners. No matter what she does, its bound to click. And of course, how can we forget the insinuating lyrics..;)

Halo-Beyonce
Definitely, romantic song of the year. Video makes you further fall in love with this song. Certainly infectious, makes you listen to it over & over again. You are in love! & not heard this one, its high time you did. Background score is such a melody to the ears (specially the beginning). By the way I got this one as my Ring tone.

Fireflies- Owlcity
I just love the way it starts of with. The electronic blips are truly enthralling. The lyric takes us into our childhood mystical worlds. Definitely song to listen in case you want to free yourself from day to day hassles. It has such a soothing effect, specially the processed vocals when song breaks down.You just have to love it. Hell, we all want to be children again!…

You belong with me- Taylor Swift
A lovely song from the lovely lady. It’s a song, no doubt, every teenager would relate to and lets them cherish those high school crushes. Almost all singers are known for their haughtiness, but I think taylor swift is one exception to it. She seems such a humble person, which is all too explicitly expressed in this song. That’s about Taylor Swift the singer & her song. Taylor swift, the beautiful looking lady, hmm.., lets keep it for some other day.

Grammy jury, reading this??…ah, forget it!..:P

P.S: This is dedicated to The Witty, The Humorous, and The Radio Jockey- Shabbeer. Whatever little I have come to know of music, its definitely because of him. Its isn’t strange that his favourite numbers are mine too! (That doesn’t mean this is his list of best of 2009). Bangalooru folks, never heard of him. Then its time you tuned into 101.3 FM at 10 PM on Wednesdays. Trust me, you wouldn’t want to miss him.

P.P.S: As i said, this ones coming from a novice of music industry. So all you music buffs, anything misquoted give the boy a break.

Rendezvous, that never really was!

(This might sound little too dramatised. I did that just to make a good read.)

I still remember that day, it was 29th Jan 2009 I was just back from my trip to hometown. Previous night bus journey had taken its toll on my sleep, which was all too evident from my puffy eyes. ‘Work’ was the last thing in my mind as made my way into workplace. “ This gonna be one helluva day” I thought to myself. The thought hadn’t even faded from my mind when I heard my boss call my name. Bad had just become worse.

After a brief chat with my boss, I learnt that I had a favour to do. And that was, to my surprise, to drop my boss’s boss daughter to airport from her home (Don’t be excited. We aren’t talking about bike here but a taxi). Never been the corporate saying -“Turn your problems into opportunities”, had made a better sense. After all the discussions about her place of residence & the way to reach there, it was decided I had to leave the office at six in the evening with route map. Then on, there was just one thing on my mind- Wall Clock.

Finally, the much-awaited 6 made its appearance in the clock so did the taxi in front of my office. It was time to embark on my most intriguing journey (literally meant) of my short professional career. Just as the taxi left my office, I opened the map given to me only to realise that I could not even make head or tail of it. As I consulted my driver, I was disappointed to learn he was as unacquainted as I with the city. But, with little help from my colleagues & boss over the phone, we did finally manage to get to the desired destination. I gave her a call to inform that we had reached her apartments. And after a while, there she was at the main gate. Beauty embodied in the human form as exquisitely as possible (Ahem!..Just take that as simple compliment). To be honest, She was beautiful. I was bowled over like Tom in T&J show, with only the gaping mouth & hanging tongue amiss.

After waving her friends goodbyes, we set forth – Just Me, Her and, of course, the Driver. I had seated myself in the front leaving whole of rear-seat to comfortably relax herself. [A thing to add here. You can either be pretentious gentleman or be yourself with girl. Its almost always the latter who the girl goes with. And of course, we are excluding true gentlemen, like me, here, as being chivalrous comes naturally to us..;)]. After ten minutes of ponder on what to speak, I finally managed to utter “what do you do?”, to break the awkward silence. “I work in TCS” She said banally. So I spent another ten minutes cursing myself for starting off with such a nonsense talk. That was just the starter, main course was yet to come. Through the course of the journey, we did have little conversation (if you could call it a conversation ie.) on various topics, from which I managed to learn that she was traveling to Chennai. Though topics changed, replies from her never grew longer. Through all this two things remained the same: She, the Answering Machine & I, the Questioner. It was time for one last effort. “Why you moving to Chennai?” I asked her. “I have been transferred” she replied as always. That was it, the last thing we ever said to each other. It was muted grunting of the car engine in our ears for the rest of the journey.

Finally my ordeal reached its climax as airport arrived. So was the time to say goodbyes. I didn’t expect a bollywood style big hug & ‘miss u’ climax (overambitious?!..hey comeon, we are always when it comes to girls), but then I did expect a little ‘Thank You’. As Fate would have it, I turned out a bit too optimistic as she made her way to foyer without even saying a word.

Whether the meeting was fruitful enough to be called rendezvous or not, one thing, for sure, was learnt from it- Beautiful ladies aren’t for the handsome men. (And I have nothing against my would-be spouse)…:P

P.S: Wondering, even a letter a day would have taken lesser time. Its just that, thoughts for & against this post were in a little scuffle. Needless to say who came on top.