Spider Man

I want to be a "Spider Man" - My 4 year old son replied when asked what he would like to become when he grows up. Those innocent eyes conveyed the earnestness in the reply. When probed further on why he wants to be a spider man, the answer was instantaneous- "Spider man beats the bad boys and saves the good ones".

All of us want our children to excel in their careers and be successful. While this ambition in itself is earnest and justified, very few of us spend time to think outside the materialistic myopia of being rich and successful. How many of us want our kids to be spidermen, working for the cause of the society selflessly ?. How many of us want our kids to be spidermen - standing up and fighting for justice without shying away from the responsibility as a citizen ?

As children we start our lives with lofty ambitions. Ambitions that are not scarred by the world around us. Lurking within our little hearts, there was a spiderman in each & and every one of us. Somewhere in the transition from childhood to adulthood, we lose this gift of innocence. The spiderman in each one of us starts fading, replaced with a more mundane, normal human more concerned with himself than about the society !.

24 hrs in Wilderness - Part II

(This is the second part of the article on our overnight camping adventure in Wadi Asima)

Normally you would expect a day to dawn amidst the chirping of birds. In our case, the day dawned amidst the rhythmic snoring of my fellow campers. The early morning sun with its gentle warmth coupled with the cold morning air made the camping site even more beautiful.
After the ablutions, it was meal time again and we were looking forward to the cooking of Pav Bhaji in our camping stove. When we were selecting this equipment in Carrefour, we had compromised on cost and selected a cheaper model. True to the saying of “if you pay peanuts”… we ended up with a stove and a fuel cartridge that were not compatible.

With technology failing, it was time to fall back on the resources of Mother Nature and our own resourcefulness. Lalitha put together a traditional cooking stove (stones) that was fuelled by the broken twigs. In his eagerness to bring fuel, Vijay uprooted a few trees causing deforestation in Wadi Asima. The hot pav bhaji & tea brought in a lot of appreciation for Rekha from the famished campers.

After settling the issue of food, it was play time and we selected the traditional Indian sport of cricket. Lalitha & Mallika proved to be excellent learners and discovered their innate cricketing abilities in that 1 hour. Having enjoyed the camp thoroughly so far, we wanted a grand and exciting finale for the trip and decided to drive along with wild and rocky wadi bed. Half way through the journey, we discovered a small stream and frolicked in the water for some time. Vijay in his white brief, Vishal in his black brief (very tight!) and Senthil with a wet white clinging vest provided some adult entertainment during this session.

As the path ahead looked very rough, we decided to get back to our site. Inspired by the surroundings and the occasion, we suddenly changed our minds and made a stupid decision to drive through the rocky terrain. After negotiating the heavy rocks, our ford got stuck in a strange combination of water & loose gravel. The harder we tried to get it out, the deeper it sank along with our hearts. The rescue effort resulted in all the campers getting thoroughly drenched (Ram Teri Ganga Mali!). We finally gave up and decided to take help. Like God sent messengers, two U.A.E nationals offered their services and helped the ford finally onto firm terrain.

With our mood affected by the Ford incident, we started our journey back. During the onward journey, the weather was gloomy but our moods were cheerful. During the return journey, the weather was bright and sunny, but our mood was gloomy. However when we learnt that nothing major had happened to the vehicle, we brightened up and finished our odyssey with a nice snack in the saravana Bhavan.


Overnight camping might not rank very high in the scale of adventurous activities for a lot of people. But for first-timers like us, it was a thrilling experience, an experience which will always be cherished. Like beauty, adventure and excitement are also in the hearts of the beholders!

24 hrs in wilderness!

Wadi Asima ! Wadi Asima ! We shouted excitedly looking at the UAE off-road book. The picture in the book kept staring at us, enticing us to take the adventurous trip. Although the prospect of an overnight camping sounded exotic, the fear of the unknown was lurking on the back of our minds. To keep things simple, we decided to dump the excess baggage (kids!) and travel light.

After deliberating for more than a month, we decided to take the plunge on the 2nd of Feb 2007. We had at our disposal one 4 wheel drive and one pseudo 4 wheel drive car. As a result of a week of hectic shopping, both the cars were filled with items that we hoped might come useful.

As soon as we started our journey, the heavens opened out, sending shivers down our spines. With a prayer in our hearts and the steering wheel in our hands, we traveled along the dhaid east coast road towards our destination in pouring rain. As we neared our destination, the rain reduced to a drizzle and eventually fizzled out. Thanks to the expert navigation skills of Senthil, we lost our way a bit towards the end and eventually made it the Wadi.

We found a very nice elevated place for our camping, with a ready made arrangement for the camp fire. The evening light was dimming fast and we started unfurling our camping tent. Having never pitched a camping tent, we struggled our way and managed to put together a shaky camping tent. Just as we were finishing the task, it started raining again with full force, forcing us take shelter in our cars. The rain Gods eventually relented and the rain clouds made way for clear full moon.

Using the mats, comforters and the sleeping bags, we managed to make the tent as cozy as possible and then set out to start the camp fire. Mallika and Rekha had managed to buy one of the most expensive camp fire logs available in the U.A.E and hence had comprised on the quantity of the logs. Aided by the printed instruction (thanks to Google) and expert advice from one and all, the camp fire was lit and was met with a loud cheer from everyone.

Gradually the evening was giving way to the night and the full moon was shining like a new bride. The view from our camping site was breath taking. Melodious music from a small tape recorder (thanks Jaya!) was wafting in the air soothing our nerves. A cool breeze was gently touching our faces and the raging fire from camp fire provided the welcome warmth. We enjoyed every minute and second that ticked by, absorbing nature in all its glory.

Soon the hunger pangs were out and it was time for the barbeque. In order to minimize the risk, we had brought instant barbeque kits and they looked quite small amidst the raging camp fire. A well organized team-work saw us finishing the barbeque exactly as per the plan leaving aside a few half-cooked mushrooms & broccolis.

After consuming several kilos of meat and vegetables, followed by sumptuous dessert it was time for retiring to the tent. The lantern provided dim white light and the warmth generated by 7 bodies in a small place made the tent very cozy. A bout of card game (Bluff) was followed by a session of pure unadulterated adult jokes. The wind was raging outside, singing lullaby to 7 little kids (that is how we felt!) and our eyes closed automatically embracing the welcome sleep.

To be followed ……

We want taboo topics in toastmasters

I gave this speech in this year's humorous speech contest and won the second prize....


In this year's new year party, each one of the guests were asked to do an item of entertainment. Some of them did the rock and roll. Some of them did the Cat walk. Being a toastmaster, I wanted to do something that I normally don't do. I gave a speech.

Within the first 1 minute, 90% of my audience had switched off to watch Mallika Sherawat dancing in body suit and welcoming the new year. And the remaining 10%, they were fellow toastmasters...

As I sat there analysing the reason for my failure, the answer came to me like a lightening... My inability to talk about taboo topics...

Religious Contest Chair, Politically correct judges and Sexy toastmasters, A good evening to all of you.

In my school, we had a strange punishment for naughty children. Playing time was replaced with an additional class of moral science. The moral science teacher used to come to the centre and repeat "you should not be telling lies", "you should not be using bad words" "you should be respecting elders". When I came to the toastmasters meeting for the first time, the seargant at arms came to the centre in the same manner and said "we refrain from speaking on Sex, Politics and Religion". I was shocked and horrible memories of my moral science class came flooding back to me.

The moment we remove the colourful aspects of the taboo topics from our context, we transform ourselves from normal human beings to a special TZ mode. TZ refers to "Toastmasters Zombie" mode where we talk about success, dedication and hardwork. If toastmasters is expected to train us to face the real world, think about the pressing and anxious issues that we are faced with in the real world

1) When will Aiswarya and Abhishek get married ? What will happen to Salman Khan and Vivek Oberoi
2) How far will shipa shetty go in the big boss contest ?
3) When will Michael Jackson finally become a full fledge woman ?

Important issues that we are never allowed to raise in our session. It has become so bad that whenever I talk with my colleagues in office, there is a constant alarm bell which goes "Taboo topic, stop talking"..

To get a third party opinion, I brought my wife and friend to last year's international speech contest. The feedback from my wife who is addicted to serials " It was like watching multiple serials of Ekta kapoor for continiously for 3 hours" Serials ?. "The main content of almost all the speeches were the same", different speakers were saying it in different words...

The feedback from my friend - "Too violent" Violence ? "Every speaker managed to kill atleast one of his close relative or introduced us to a mysterious illness. The worst part, the speaker who spoke about tragic condition and inability to get married had actually brought his wife for the contest.

By refraining from talking about taboo topics, we are actually risking being categorised as social outcasts.

Then we move onto the table topics. This is one area which is expected to prepare us for the unexpected questions we face in real life. Think about the challenging questions that we face

Wife 1) Office finishes at 5pm, where were you doing till 10 pm ? 2) How come all your friends get more salary than you ?
and the most difficult one of all "Do you still love me ?"

Tricky questions from children watching advts on TV, Daddy " What are the 100 Million reasons and why are those uncles getting caught in the balloon" How do we prepared for these questions ? Even here we talk about time, planing, hardwork.


How can we possibly change this ?

1) Introduce a dedicated session for talking about taboo topics
2) Introdcue a gossip master who will bring us all upto date with the latest gossip
3) Ban the usage of personal tragedy in internal speeches


It calls for a rebellion to bring about any change and I am willing to turn into a rebel. I am going to start the change by means of a signature campaign and get all of you to sign for this noble cause (judges are also requested to put in their signatures). If that does not work, I am planning to start Satyagraha till this change is accepted.

When the next year's party comes along, I want to compete with Mallika Sherawat on equal terms and I am determined to come out as the winner.

9th Habbit

A pleasant evening at home and I was watching the wimbledon men's final between Roger Federer Vs Rafel Nadal. Federer was in absolute command and won the first set 6 Love. Being a Federer fan, I was jumping around shouting 6 Love. My 3 yr old son asked " Daddy what does Love mean ?". Without taking my eyes of the television, I replied "Love means nothing". He looked into my eyes and asked "Why is there no value for love ?, Doesnt Love count for anything ?

If you ask a mouse about the sharpest thing in the world, the reply would be a cat's teeth. If you ask a kitten about the softest thing in the world, the reply would still be the cat's teeth. The same cat which brutally destroys the mouse with its teeth, transforms into a loving mother and carrys its kitten softly with the same teeth.

As human beings we are no different from the cat, when it comes to exhibiting different characteristics to different people. In fact, the person that you might consider to be the most disgusting might be the most lovable husband / wife of another human being.

Similar to the cat's teeth, all of us possess a "sharp stinging snake" - our natural ability to criticize people. A snake that comes stinging out at the first possible sign of deficiency in other people.

"The guy in the opposite flat - he is an absolute moron" - because he failed to hold the lift for me....

"It takes a man of class to recognise talent. Unfortuntely our boss belongs to the 3rd class in this aspect" - because he gave me less increment.

"You spend a fortune on the telphone, half my salary is spent in paying etisalat bills" - Wife has spent an additional 100 dhs on telephone bill.

The snake spews venom, causing pain and discomfort to our fellow human beings. You can see this stinging snake all around us, in every aspect of our life. But there is one place, where the "snake" is kept under check ...

To be continued....

In Life, there are no winners, only survivors !

When man was is in the primitive age, hunting for food, the concept of survival of the fittest was probably applicable. However, for some inexplicable reason, we as a human race have not grown out of this mindset of winning at all costs. We do not even bat an eyelid while stepping on a fellow human to achieve another hollow victory. Love, an all conquering emotion has been quietly sidelined in our pursuit for moving forward. Life cannot be treated as series of contests where your sole objective is to win at all costs. Life is journey and it is important to enjoy that experience and to share your joy/pain with your fellow beings.

Imagination is better than Knowledge ?

In a recent edition of toastmasters, I was given this topic to make an impromptu speech and the following were my random thoughts on the subject.


Imagination is better than knowledge ?. A tricky question to answer. Similar to the chicken and the egg scenario, it is not always possible to clearly define what is more important.

Take the case of Adam and Eve. When they were frolicking in the garden of eden, all their imagination would not have helped them had they not had the knowledge of what is wrong and what is right. It is the knowledge, the capacity to differentiate between right and wrong that helped them move mankind forward. In effect, imagination without a semblance of knowledge would not be very effective.

On the other hand, take the case of Newton and the apple. It was common knowledge that apples will fall down to the earth from trees. However, it was Newton's imagination, the ability to think outside the box that made him come up with the laws of gravity. Mere knowledge about the falling apples was transformed to a path breaking finding because of the imagination.

To conclude, Imagination without knowledge or knowledge without imagination will not take us very far. It is only when they are combined, they become potent.