anshulgovil

[anshulgovil]

Running & Swimming

Till my college years .. thats till i was almost 21/22 years old.. most exercise i had was .. my jaw moving up/down while eating.. It just demonstrates the ability of human body to take years of neglect & abuse .. The college years were specially.. Decadent.. A combination of enormous quantities of hotel food & experimentations with almost all kinds of stimulants.. I think from 16 to till say 26 years.. is the most dangerous period in a persons life. As we feel we know everything.. We are right always.. & people who disagree with us.. are basically dim witted fellow beings.. Only later on we realise.. That may not be the case .. Funnily enough.. The most important decisions in a persons life .. are made during this period.. career, marriage etc .. I discovered jogging/ swimming by chance.. Whenever i am doing either of the them.. i am sort of cut off from the world.. My only concentration is on my breathing.. I have this weird stamina .. Specially for swimming.. At normal steady pace i can continue doing my swimming for long.. I can spend couple of hours doing my laps continuously & i will not be out of breath when i exit the pool .. Running stamina is limited largely due a tendency of injuring my feet if i run more than 6/7 km.. By alternating both i have found the perfect balance.. Both exercises are tremendous boosters & makes one feel they can achieve anything.. In my case being regular gives me total & complete freedom to eat anything without weight issues.. So a secret mantra .. Do either of the things for one hour daily & you will never have to worry about the weight issues.. The most important word in the above sentence is " Daily " .. means daily.. everyday.. tou les jour !! & so it goes..

[anshulgovil]

Valentines..

For a period of about 10 years.. 14 feb used to be a very tension filled day for me & cause of tension was not any sort of heart troubles.. We used to own a card shop for a period of 10 years & Valentines day was very important to the sales as that was the most profitable day for us in the entire year. But for some groups the particular day "Valentines Day" was not a good influence on the younger minds & in a effort to curb its influence they came in large groups shouting slogans & carrying sticks .. Threatening to beat the shopkeepers if they didn't close the shop on Valentines Day. As it is we were losing sales ever since mobiles sms became popular & closing down the shop was the last thing any shopkeeper wanted to do. On the particular day that is 14 feb.. i was standing guard outside the shop.. keeping an eye & ready for any eventuality. Suddenly i saw a group coming, they came silently without shouting to try to surprise us i guess. I ran back quickly inside to warn my mom & mausi & to lock the bill machine & simultaneously i tried to tell the customers to move back inside the shop so that they may not get injured in case they started breaking our shops display glass windows. That day i saw true courage. My mausi she came & stood right next to the glass door entrance of our shop & as the leader tried to push her & gain entrance , she said " You will not enter the shop till i am standing". The leader started shouting at her , told her to move aside or they will break the glass door, but my mausi didn't budge. All our shop staff.. we stood behind the glass door as they tried to push it open.. As we knew once they enter the shop .. they will ransack & destroy everything. My mausi.. She stood up against the mob , To this day i don't know how she did it.. but after a little while there attack lost steam & one by one they melted away. I guess that's the best way to handle bullies .. to stand up against them.. as thats the last thing they expect.. & so it goes..

[anshulgovil]

Festivals

I always asked my grandma .. what's the need of festivals ? i always got the same answer.. " Beta in old days we didn't have any diversions or entertainment.. so we enjoyed the festivals " Nowadays .. with tv, cinemas , mobiles & so many other avenues for enjoyment.. i thought this business of celebrating festivals would become a little less.. But i was totally wrong.. like those people who thought once VCR becomes popular people will stop going to cinemas.. Cinemas became better.. Evolved to Multiplexes & people kept going.. Festivals have also evolved.. they have become.. louder, noisy, expensive, everything more garish & outlandish.. Sometimes its like a competition.. who has biggest pandal, murti, yatra, tazia.. Sometimes i wonder whether people forget the basic principles of festivals.. To look inwards.. To look , think & reflect.. & change.. so that one's life & of those around us becomes better .. & so it goes..

[anshulgovil]

KV Zindabad..

When your parent works in the defence services.. One of the advantages or disadvantages.. is getting frequently posted from one place to another.. there by giving a chance to experience new places.. Compared to others i was lucky.. as i changed school only 6 times from class 1 to 12th !!! but one thing was constant.. KV schools.. a hassle free admission process for defence personnel children ensures most of their children go KV's.. & A fees of Rs 15 for 3 months was attractive .. Facilities.. Well the word " barely there " comes to mind.. whether from drinking water or bathrooms or playground or computer ( in one KV they had one PC in the whole school !! ) .. I don't ever remember visiting the bathrooms of any of my schools as i could not tolerate the fragrant atmospheric conditions .. But all things has its advantages.. Funniest thing is .. In spite of the so so many obvious inadequacies .. The teachers we had were most of the time very good.. They really put in the effort.. To make something of us .. Had a maths teacher named " Ram lal" Of course his actions were not like Ramji at all !! I got a lot punishment from his scales on my knuckles.. But it conditioned me .. to study & be ready with the answers.. Sitting in classes with barely functional fans & frequent power cut off's made one more tough to face difficulties later in life when times maybe tough.. But the best thing about KV's was.. it was a class equaliser.. a subedar's son & a brigadier's son.. maybe the best mates in the same class.. it brought people together.. If KV's were not there.. then there is no way they would be going to the same schools.. I think in modern context.. KV's were like a restaurant.. Which has good food .. but lacking in cutlery, furniture etc.. Me .. i prefer good food.. were ever it is .. so it goes 😀..

[anshulgovil]

What God means to me..

Being of a rebellious nature is ever since i can remember & all this kow towing in front of various figurines , small / big statues of God was not just my cup of tea or coffee or whatever. The one thing i realised very early on that whenever we think of God we are supposed to think in only two modes .. Thankful mode : Where we thank him for anything & everything Asking mode : Where we ask him for something important. We were told in a sense that God is not our friend but someone very powerful & we should fear & respect God. Despite various pressures as a person living in a household in India .. i refused to follow any religion .. i remember in 2/3rd class .. i got a royal scolding as i refused to fold my hands & bow my head during diwali puja.. i just didn't understand the logic behind it.. I developed my own personal philosophy.. I do believe in some mysterious power.. it is there everywhere.. but i refuse to fear it or respect it or expect anything from it.. i don't give it any names like jesus, ram, rahim.. its just there & sometimes it will help us other times it will trouble us .. And i have also realised the basic function of temples, mosques , churches etc.. It is not that God lives there .. There basic function is that of a psychiatrist.. People go there .. pray .. pour their heart out .. tell there troubles & it gives them some measure of peace.. or they may go to ask something & again it gives them hope.. that it will be fulfilled.. So all these places are basically helpful in calming people, giving them peace.. they think once they share their troubles with there respective Gods .. They will take care of them & make their life better. Me i simply believe.. There is no God .. Just a power.. Don't expect anything from it .. You be in your own zone & do good .. & For God's sake .. don't fight over it .. In simplistic terms.. Think of religion as clothes for your soul Someone may like a pajama or jeans or trousers.. let people wear what they want & don't fight over it .. So it goes..

[anshulgovil]

Pedal Rickshaw.. Food ..God

Late 90's .. a rare visit to home state.. Its cold around 10am.. Distance from station to home 5km.. easiest way a Rickshaw.. Rickshaw guy is very thin emaciated looking chap.. get the impulse of making him sit & i drive the rickshaw.. Resist the temptation.. Rickshaw guy says . "Sahib can i stop for 1 minute on the way.. as i have to pick my lunch " I say " Sure ".. We enter the busy bazaar.. a shop is there.. lot of very poor are lined up & sitting patiently at the entrance.. my rickshaw guy enters the shop .. his package is ready.. i guess he is a regular.. he picks .. pays & leaves .. As he sits back on the rickshaw.. i ask his name.. he says its " Mohan" .. i notice he is also wearing a small trident locket.. I ask him " You know what you got packed ? only one type of food is available at this shop .. don't you think its against your religion to eat this ? " He looks at me with a ironic smile & says.. " Sir religion following is for the rich.. this plate costs Rs 5 & this is my only one meal for the day.. if i buy a veg dish its Rs8 & is less filling & gives less energy .. I know what i am doing maybe against my religion.. but maybe God will understand.. as i am doing this for my children.. that at least they get two meals a day" I hope God does understand his predicament.. & so it goes..

[anshulgovil]

India & Pakistan

India & Pakistan..

Its been almost 70 years.. since both countries got their freedom.

The million dollar question is .. whether Mr Jinnah & Gandhiji would be happy at the state of our respective nations or both of them would be thinking it would have been better for the masses.. if Britisher’s had continued ruling India & Pakistan.

The first thing of course which both the nations did after gaining independence is start fighting amongst themselves & this was followed by two major wars & of course not counting the numerous minor ones…

A conservative estimate by most economists has calculated that each major war costs both the countries at least 10 years of economic development.

The wars were a welcome bonanza for other countries who made vast fortunes by selling weapons, fighters, tanks to both countries.. A bit like hindi saying .. “Do bhai ki ladai mein doosara maza le gaya” ( brothers fight & advantage of it was take by the neighbours).

The biggest tragedy for both the countries has been the lack of caliber in the ruling class. Apart from a handful most of the leadership in both the countries have put their interests first in filling their pockets & thereby ensuring the benefits of freedom don’t reach the masses fully.

Funniest thing is .. People of both the countries.. Don’t realise.. The politicians never would want total peace.. As then they will not have the “ Villian” to blame all that is going wrong in both the countries.

The idea is for everything going wrong in India blame Pakistan & vice versa.

The worst part is .. other countries are taking full advantage of this situation & furthering their own agendas & interests.

So people of both the countries wake up & focus on the real problems.. & real enemies of our both countries. & so it goes…

[anshulgovil]

Cricket Bike Fire

Two engineers from MIT (India not US !!) in the mid 90's faced a unique problem.. the solution they found got them into even more problems.. objective: Two watch India pakistan ODI .. sahara cup in Canada.. problem: only one channel shows the matches.. not available in hostel.. telecast time very late night Solution: Now the first objective was to of course locate a tv set where such a channel was available.. luckily in India there is no dearth of cricket crazy individuals .. so a friend.. of a friend.. of a very distant friend was located about 20kms away whose parents were rich enough to have a dish antenna at their home & kind enough to extend their hospitality.. of course later on when the duo reached the bungalow . They realised that the parents were out on a holiday & the enterprising chap was letting in anyone & everyone in his house provided a small fees was paid at the front door!! This incident is before the ola's, uber's & since leading a fairly sedentary lifestyle .. a Lazy bum would be a more apt description.. the thought of walking or cycling ( watchman's ladies cycle) for 20 kms was instantly rejected.. Procurement of transportation by way of borrowing a motorcycle from fellow mates proved to be very very difficult.. as ones reputation of always emptying the petrol tank.. on returning the vehicle was very well widely known.. Another gentleman had the kind reputation of always loaning the bike whilst when his petrol tank was almost empty .. so the person borrowing his bike had no choice but to get it filled .. So finally the bike was procured with promises of returning it with some substance in the tank.. our nocturnal departure from the hostel premises silently without waking up the watchman or the warden required a stealthy silent step .. Being slightly hefty.. actually quite hefty .. the feather touch noiseless departure was slightly difficult.. of course not helped by " moti" .. the hostel dog of questionable ascendancy.. his lineage regarding dad , mom , grandparents always a widely debated topic at our post dinner conferences after imbibing some nectar of the gods.. Anyways all well ends well .. the two successfully left the hostel premises.. starting the bike after some distance from the hostel.. the duo reached the bungalow.. saw the match.. After ensuring that tendulkar had followed all their instructions.. regarding batting, balling & fielding... shouting until voices were hoarse & made sure India won !! So with a vein of an optimism the duo departed.. around 4am.. with forgiveness for everyone in our hearts.. being happy with the whole world.. of course while we could never think of filling anything in the petrol tank .. as finances were always stretched due to compulsory expenses ( movies, restr, nectar!!) so with optimism we said " we will reach ".. no need to fill the tank unnecessarily.. when the duo were about a couple of kilometres from our hostel.. could sense a slight coughing of the engine.. this indicates generally petrol situation maybe precarious... The friend driving the bike was doing petroleum engineering.. being very dark.. Very wisely he said "Let me check the level of petrol " While sitting on the bike he opened the petrol tank & tried to get a look .. as it was dark.. the 2nd wiser friend got up from the back & said " Wait let me light a match stick to get a better look !! As people having even a little grey matter between there ears advise .. Lighting a match stick near a petrol tank & then lowering it almost into the petrol tank to get a even better look at the petrol level may not be a very wise thing to do .. But our two wise men did exactly that.. Bcoz of the petrol fumes .. the tank immediately caught fire & a explosion took place.. by divine providence as the level of petrol was very very low & it was not deadly.. Both were thrown off the bike & the most serious injury.. was to their eyebrows .. they were singed .. looked strange for the next few days.. the eyebrows that is .. of course.. they were the butt of jokes for next few weeks.. " ok so you checked the petrol level using a match stick very very wise .. next time maybe do it again when the tank is full !!! " & so it goes..

[anshulgovil]

God..

  God does not live in golden, silver ,diamond, clay statues ..
 God does not live in temples, mosques, churches, gurudwaras ..

God is everywhere ..

Gods name is not Ram, Jesus , Mohammed or guru nanak..

Human beings are like water they always take path of least effort ..
Standing in front of a “ murti” for 5 /10 minutes or visiting a “ religious place” is much easier than doing actual good work ..like 
Visting old people homes
going to orphanages 
Blood donor camps .. Just giving ‘chanda’ or ‘money donation’ is not enough.. u must give your time..
So nxt time u close ur eyes at home or at a religious place  ..praying ..even for 5 minutes ..think ..u can use those 5 minutes to actually do some good work ..
stop taking the easy way .. 
Start a movement to convert all religious places to places of learning (schools) or of healing ( hospitals )
Believe me god will be more happy as he sees our actual deeds or “ karma" 

So nxt time u drive to a religious place e tc..change ur route & do something good which makes a difference to mankind !!   All of us should stop being HINDUS, Christians, Sikhs , Muslims , Buddhists.. Just be “ Human”   Its time wen we should stop dividing our world ..   If anybody asks us .. To what country you belong to ? Our answer should be “ Planet Earth”   What is your religion ? ‘Humanity”   only then we can make our world a better place…   anshul  the humannnnnnn !!!

[anshulgovil]

Buzo , Chicken, Nani

Well once during summer holidays i was with nanu,nani ( grandparents )& our dog “ buzo” at delhi  ..i must hav been in 6 or 7 class .. mom& dad were not there, now u must know how dogs luv there bones !! .. but buzo dear was forced to be a total vegetarian doggy as Nani  was vry vry strict abt non veg .. it was absolutely forbidden ..in fact she allowed nanu to eat egg once a week ..after which the whole kitchen had to be "purified ” !!

Anyway so there is this vry famous restr. Chain called “Nirulas” in delhi & they had launched a campaign to publicize there" special fried chicken" in the newspapers .. well nanu saw me looking at that advt pic lovingly quite a few times !! .. since his office was vry closed to the restr. .. he said he will get it for me while coming back in the even & since he had to take nani out for some shopping ..i cud eat it witout nani finding out .., evrything was going perfectly ..until nanu brought the chicken packet frm his car & kept it secretly in my room..

Now Dogs hav a vry keen sense of smell & buzo started going absolutely nuts !!! ..barking at me !! ..trying to open my room door !! ..now nani was vry vry suspicious ..somehow nanu managed to get her to the car for shopping .. 

As soon as they left got the packet frm my room ..sat at the dining table ..wit buzo literally on top of me ..nvr saw him eat so fast !! ..he had an expression of absolute happiness ..in heaven kind of face, anyway both of us are fully engrossed … Thn suddenly the main door opens & in walks Nani !! .. She knew something fishy was going on so she had left her purse behind .. poor nanu he got the firing of his life !!! ..

I can still picture the scene ..both hands behind his back .. Head down .. Facing full verbal assault !!.. “ woh to baccha hai !! ..aap to samajhdar hai !!” But u know wats the funniest part .. i & buzo hav still not stopped eating ..nani is firing nanu, me , buzo .. But me & buzo .. We are eating as if we hav fasted for a week !! & had food for the first time !!.. As kids i guess we can be like that !!..totally unconcerened abt result of our actions ..:)

i think we were more concerned that nani may not take our chicken backkk !!

[anshulgovil]

Rocky BALBOA

Engineering final exams .. totally not in mood of studying.. new movie in town .. Rocky 4 starring sylvestor stallone .. Not seen any of the rocky movies so far .. Went just like that.. blown away.. jumping in the seat .. training montage music awesome.. last fight epic .. Went for next consecutive 4 days.. In Rocky planet!! .. Started running in the mornings.. of course not as graceful as rocky.. more like a over weight buffaloe trying to run !! but the problematic part was.. Started imagining myself to be like Rocky.. Picked up a few unnecessary fights.. i guess one can’t become bruce lee just by seeing his movies!!! Anyways got a few beatings .. before realising.. that maybe joining a boxing school is required.. if i want to become rocky!!

for boys a kick on the unmentionables .. is generally supposed to be very or most painful.. this was before.. i got a punched in the nose by my trainer on the first day.. the word “ unadulterated pain ” took a new meaning.. of course trying act like i knew everything about boxing didn’t endear me to the trainer.. & so it goes..