Who was Anacreon?

I guess I should have posted this when I started blogging.But as they say, it's never too late. So this is for you Anacreon(the original poet, after whom I have taken my name).

Anacreon (ca. 582 BC–ca. 485 BC) Anacreon wrote lyric poetry, meaning poetry sung to the lyre. Dealing extensively with love and wine all but a few of his genuine poems remain. Most of those poems published in 17th and 18th century editions under the name Anacreon although dating from antiquity are now thought to be spurious. These are now known as Anacreontic verse.

The above two pictures are of Anacreon and one of his verses. This verse when translated in english reads as:

I, too, wish to sing of heroic deeds

(about the Atreides, and about Kadmus),

but the lyre's strings can only produce sounds of love.

Recently, I changed the strings,

and then the lyre itself,

and tried to sing of the feats of Hercules,

but still the lyre kept singing songs of love.

So, fare well, you heroes!

because my lyre sings only songs of love.....

translation by Ioannidis Nikolaos

It seems he was a die-hard romantic like me.Hence the name.

F.R.I.E.N.D.S.

I am a person who finds it difficult to make friends. I am always wary, quiet and conscious to start off. But inspite of this I have made some very good friends in school,college and at work. I was just browsing through some of my old photographs in office(I wasn't very enthu about work on a Sunday evening) and I stumbled across this photograph.

This is a photograph of the night we had a barbecue party at Aditya's place. One of those rare occasions when some of us from college met after college got over. This one photograph reminded me of all my days in college. How a group of around 10 people got together and then moved away once Engineering was over. It started off mainly because of the fact that all of us were from places outside Bangalore. This motley band of boys was confused and lonely,away from home,away from familiar conditions and old friends. I don't know why we formed a group but I think it was because of the inherent insecurity that lay within all of us. We were basically Hindi speaking people ,now in a South Indian state,which though didn't pose any problem on the language front,did make us feel out of place to begin with. All this wasn't planned but happened naturally,especially in the second year when everyone moved out of the college hostel.

I still remember our trip to Goa, Hogenikkal and Hesarghetta (we went there the day our class got suspended).The never-ending tamasha going on the Cherry-Kapoor-Mamu's house. No one can forget the festival of holi they decided to celebrate together and ended up painting the whole house with the colours of Holi.The orderly home of Deep-Chinmay and the unruly but happening house of Cherry-Kapoor-Mamu. Night rides to Sabu Bhai's tea stall on MG Road, devouring all the kachori's that Funti got from Delhi,porn at Bhopali's and Puri's (Abhi are you listening?) house. The beer party we had when Deep cleared all his papers,Diwali at Adi's place,the North Indians Vs South Indians cricket matches,the fights between Puri and me,Abhi being the only guy to help me out when I didn't have a place to stay,Maggi for breakfast with Deep on numerous occasions,Puri's antics in and outside the classroom,Abhi and me helping out Deep when he had problems,Deep helping Abhi and me when we had problems,Hecate with his long list of girl friends,ever increasing size of Adi's waistline. And ya,cramming just before exams. So much more that I can't even think of going on further.

We didn't have much money then, but we had each other's company. We helped each other out when needed(except for one guy fondly called "Bade").Even in a prison-like college ruled by a martinet-like principal,we had a lot of fun. Deep, Funti, Abhi, Puri, Kapoor, Cherry, Mamu, Hecate, Aditya,Bhopali I really wish you guys are happy where ever you are. I also wish we could start college all over again!!This time make sure we include some girls also in our group. :-)

Honey,I shrunk the seats!

It is Mandal Commission revisited.

The proposal to introduce 27% reservation for OBCs in 20 central universities, IITs and IIMs woke me rudely from my deep slumber. This proposal which is currently awaiting approval from the Manmohan Singh cabinet just made getting into the IIMs more difficult for people like me. People who unfortunately don't belong to the SC,ST or OBC. My father didn't help either by not serving in the armed forces. Nor am I handicapped(atleast physically). So I don't possess any of the qualities needed to make into our premier B schools.

Before you go ahead and label me a high caste, upper middle class, IT savvy, GenNext selfish guy, let me set some facts straight. My Dad comes from a family that didn't have enough money for two square meals a day, no money to buy books, no money for medicine. And his being a Brahmin never made things easier for him. But he had a dream which he chased and fulfilled. And he has given his children quality education and a good lives. So I am not really a guy who has always been seated on the ivory tower, unaffected by the "ground" realities.

Now, for the proposal that will make the overall quotas to go above 50%. The question uppermost on my mind is the purpose and timing of this announcement.If the purpose of it is to bring up those from backward sections of society,then I ask why the quota system that was incorporated by Mahatama Gandhi for a 10 year period is still in existence? Are not 60 odd years enough time to make all of us equal in terms of opportunity? Why is that despite this quota being present not many from these classes have actually benefited? Why is that like all good things in India this has also been concentrated to only a few? And why is it that this proposal has come just a few days before 5 states in India go for election? Another point to note is that the ruling party which has power at the centre has been losing the state elections regularly. These are some questions I would want everyone to consider before jingoism prevails.

If the reason is upliftment,then I am all for it. I just ask our leaders to make sure that it actually works and everyone has the opportunity to improve their living standards. It shouldn't be a political gimmick which serves the purpose of the political class and leaves the deserving in a hapless position. This proposal is more important in the present scenario when Indians are carving a niche for themselves in the world arena,with the alumunus from IITs/IIMs at the forefront. The mind boggling salaries offered across the Indian B schools this year were not based on the criterion of caste but ability. Why shouldn't merit be the sole criterion to get admission to these hallowed portals?

Upliftment of the downtrodden or less privileged is not something that should be thought of only when it is time to get votes. Neither can it be achieved at the top. If there really is a concern for them it should begin at the grass roots. Free education should be rendered at least till 8th standard, it should be ensured that teachers actually come to class in government schools, medical facilities should be available to all those too poor to avail of them, female infanticide should be banned.

Establishing quotas is not the panacea for all evils. And even if there needs to be some quota,shouldn't it be on financial lines(quotas for those who don't have money to eat or get decent education) than based on casteism?