The curious case of 'Gulgule'

As winter has come knocking on our doors here in the great plains of India, I am reminded of our trip to Almora-Ranikhet last year. The thrill of the Himalayan winters can only be rivalled by the epicurean delights of the region, a place that I am a native to! 

Last year presented a special occasion. Mother had the opportunity to visit the place where she spent her childhood - Kailash Hotel , Almora. We took to the busy bazaars of this hill town this day to search for a sweet dish that mother remembered from her childhood - the gulgule. Now, as expected the area has changed in the more than 30 years that have passed. Old shopkeepers that mother used to know have been replaced by their sons and grandsons! Ancient buildings have given way to the suave  and modern architecture of today. Landmarks of yesteryears are few but still prominent. Yet much to our chagrin, the gulgule have disappeared from the markets. We searched high and low that day only to be presented with gulab jamuns and pedas but no gulgules. The near hour long walk yielded no results. 

It was with dejection that we returned to the home that we were staying in. No shopkeeper that we encountered in Almora had even heard about gulgule! But, luck smiled the next morning (or did not, as we missed an amazing snowfall that began hours after our departure!) as on a short stop at Karbala (A small hamlet downhill from Almora)  we sighted gulgule carefully put on display at a local tea stall. There they were all glistening in the sweet sugar syrup that they had been earlier dripped in. Success was achieved. We got a few packed and brought them all the way to Haldwani.

and true to the description that we had been treated to by mother, they were an amazing delight for our sweet buds.

A few months passed and we had the chance to visit Almora again. Guess what, we brought gulgule all the way back to Faridabad this time!

Though the calories may look forbidding for the health conscious, they are good for 'cheat day' Hope you have a great time discovering the gulgule!

Locations in the post:

Location shown with reference to New Delhi and Nainital

Top 7 Drugs For Motivation: My Daily Overdose!

The idea is that, one must never give up. No matter what adversities come one's way, you and I need to keep moving forward. It is as plain simple as that or so it seems. I have seen many of my fellow Out-Of-College-20-Something friends seemingly caught in that Not-Challenging-Enough trap that the majority of people face when they step out of college. Life may not be easy, yet we crib and complain, mostly regarding the stagnation (that we seem to have hit!). Mind you, I for one am not in this situation considering my career goals. In fact, such thoughts should be orthogonal to my mind set. Yet, I falter with my efforts and have to look for inspiration. These are some of the sources that I regularly use to boost my morale and get the engine back up and running:

# 1 Inspirational Speech in 'Rocky Balboa'

"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and I don't care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life.

But, it ain't about how hard you hit; it's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. It's how much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done.

Now, if you know what you are worth, then go out and get what you are worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hits, and not point fingers and saying you ain't where you want to be because of him or her or anybody. Cowards do that and that ain't you. You're better than that."

# 2 Inspirational Quote from 'Will Smith'

The only thing that I see that is distinctly different about me is I'm not afraid to die on a treadmill. I will not be out-worked, period. You might have more talent than me, you might be smarter than me, you might be sexier than me, you might be all of those things you got it on me in nine categories. But if we get on the treadmill together, there's two things: You're getting off first, or I'm going to die. It's really that simple, right?

You're not going to out-work me. It's such a simple, basic concept. The guy who is willing to hustle the most is going to be the guy that just gets that loose ball. The majority of people who aren't getting the places they want or aren't achieving the things that they want in this business is strictly based on hustle. It's strictly based on being out-worked; it's strictly based on missing crucial opportunities. I say all the time if you stay ready, you ain't gotta get ready

# 3 Inspirational Speech from The Legend of Bagger Vance

Inside each and every one of us is our one, true authentic swing.  Something we was born with.  Something that's ours and ours alone.  Something that can't be learned.  Something that's got to be remembered.

# 4 Swades: We the people, the Bollywood movie

I know this one's kind of weird, but it reminds me of the potential one has of influencing many lives radically. It is among SRK's most commendable performances. I watch it almost once every other month.

# 5 Pre-Workout Motivation Playlist

This playlist consists of some really good speeches. It's a good collection to listen to during morning runs.

# 6 The All Blacks Haka

This great Maori war cry will surely get your blood pumping. This ritual performed by the NZ All Blacks Rugby team is a real boost. Make the challenge with a Haka.

# 7 If by Rudyard Kipling

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

But make allowance for their doubting too:

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,

Or being hated don't give way to hating,

And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;

If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim,

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

And treat those two impostors just the same:.

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,

And stoop and build'em up with worn-out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings,

And never breathe a word about your loss:

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,

If all men count with you, but none too much:

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,

Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,

And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!

# 8 Biographies/Autobiographies (Bonus!)

If you ever need inspiration, these are hands-down the best sources. The trials and tribulations that several leaders went through in their path to success shows that grit and determination can trounce all deterrence. No adversities are too great for man to conquer. If you are willing enough to sacrifice your today, you'll have a great tomorrow.

So, here are my regular pick-me-ups. Looking forward to adding more to this list from your suggestions. Till then, stay strong and stay motivated!

Around the World in 80 Books - The Asian Leg!

I have been slacking on my reading for a really long time now (over six months!) and this has left me all the more agitated. Having my hands full isn't really an excuse, since I do nothing except watch South Park in my spare hours (Yes Ladies and Gents, I watch a cartoon!) . In order to rid myself of this nasty habit, I have decided to resume reading and that too with a new challenge. I may not have any of the daredevilry or ingenuity of Phileas Fogg, yet I presume that I can read my way around the world in a year. So, here is the list of books I shall take up for this challenge, in the first leg:

S.No.	Book	Author	Country
1.	The Patience Stone	Atiq Rahimi	Afghanistan
2.	Bullets and Trains	Adeerus Ghayan	Pakistan
3.	Pax Indica: India and the World in the 21st Century	Shashi Tharoor	India
4.	The Lives We Have Lost: Essays and opinions on Nepal	Manjushree Thapa	Nepal
5.	Chinaman: The Legend of Pradeep Mathew	Shehan Karunatilaka	Sri Lanka
6.	The Rainbow Troops: A Novel	Andrea Hirata	Indonesia
7.	The Sorrow of War: A Novel of North Vietnam	Bao Ninh	Vietnam
8.	Waiting	Ha Jin	China
9.	Kafka On the Shore	Haruki Murakami	Japan
10.	The Railway	Hamid Ismailov	Uzbekistan
11.	When My Name Was Keoko	Linda Sue Park	South Korea
12.	Throwing Sparks	Abdo Khal	Saudi Arabia
13.	My Name is Red	Orhan Pamuk	Turkey

The two criteria that I used to make the selection were the nationality of the author and the subject matter of the book. Coincidence of both these criteria allowed me to select the above books from my to-read list.

My literary sojourn spanning thirteen countries (in the first phase) starts tomorrow. So, when do you begin yours?


Happy Reading!

And You Thought Dragons Didn't Exist!

Towered it did, yet did not deter,

The flames could no longer be doused.

He bellowed and cast aside the fetters,

And made strong for the pinnacle, aroused.

They called him back, he heard no soul,

The ears deafened by his heavy pants.

He bled, a darker crimson toll,

Yet, trudged on into darker lands.

Screaming thunder, blinding lightning,

Curses thrown like rocks and fire.

Weary, the clutches of despair tightening,

He lunged for hope, meeting mock and ire.

Entombed in black, he withdrew,

Courting the dreaded darkened pull.

Faith he held, courage found anew,

The inner fire soon stoked to full.

He surged , the final hurdles stood beyond
Fought each one with rigour and zeal.
Climbed atop, triumphant , now reborn
Or, in another mythical land, we did see-

A fierce roar, he spewed fire.

As darkness melted, the demons did twist.

Unfolded its wings, leapt, soared higher,

And you thought that dragons didn't exist!

Each one of us is like a dragon. We are beings capable of the extraordinary on the routine. But, it may so happen that in the face of adversity, we lose hope and falter, turn our back in failure instead of persevering. It is not our destiny to sit back and despair, it would also be inhuman to do so. We should strive to soar high, like the mighty dragon, and fulfil our destiny. Let us not shy away from our demons but vanquish them with the fire of determination and success. My best wishes to everyone on their endeavours. 

How India Works. Where are we today?

It was business as usual today in the morning. After a quick jog and with a cup of green tea (A newly acquired taste!) I settled down to read the newspaper. Scanning the front page, I could not but be struck by the irony of the entire presentation. The entire efforts of the advertisement that boldly rests at the top are laid waste by the news item on the bottom right. The advert proclaims that there exists no crime or corruption in the state. To blow all such claims aside, the news item narrates the gruesome burning of a 'lower caste' family by members of the upper caste wherein two children succumbed to the burns. This horrific tale belongs to a village quite close to Faridabad, a satellite township of the National Capital Region. I'll leave the details out of this post but clearly there exists a big problem which the incumbent fails to realize. A few months have passed, but the memory of a communal clash in the very same region still remain. The evils that mark the old age divisions that we seek to abolish are visibly prevalent in the state - be it caste based discrimination or communalism. 

Not only Haryana (I hope the PR team will have realized its blunder by now), but the entire country is currently under siege from radical elements. The right to freedom of expression seems more precariously balanced than ever before. Being a majority/minority doesn't matter as pressure and interest groups are lobbying to wrest power to serve their narrow goals. While the media reports, it fails to rise above the bias and is increasingly falling into controversies that it can best avoid. Enough ink and blood has been spilled (literally!) on this in recent times for me to make any significant contribution.

But, I look for hope. I search for change and believe me that it exists. I do not brag about big government schemes or multimillion dollar investments pledged from the PM's foreign forays. Look around you as I do around me. The boy who comes and cleans our car at 4 a.m. finances his school education with the money. The maid who works in three houses is sending her children to school and spending time on their studies. While people leave their parents on the doorsteps of old-age homes, we have a friend who is taking all pains to shift his parents with him abroad. On my daily runs, I come across young kids who will pick up trash and throw it in the bins even as several adults just remain indifferent. There are illiterate workers going to night classes to learn the alphabet. Religious and caste differences lose all meaning during a football match on the basketball court each evening as kids jostle with each other to score goals. Many don't care about Indo-Pak tensions but would love to see an Ind-Pak cricket match once again. It is these little things that make you believe that hope exists, that the society is resilient and will never succumb to the twisted needs and beliefs of a few. It is this quality of being human that unites us not only as a nation but as a species. It is this that the policymakers of today must take lessons from and contribute more to 'Make India' rather than ' Make In India' (yes I borrowed a line from the Delhi CM's recent rants!)

To end, each time I see the negatives bearing me down, I watch this ad from Coca - Cola Umeedon Wali Dhoop! and smile for there is still hope!

Source

Cheers!

Jose Mujica - An Inspiration for Global Policymakers!

Source 

Today, I stumbled across this wonderful speech by Jose Mujica, former President of Uruguay. For those who don't know where Uruguay is, I have marked it here. (I know a lot of us are unaware of certain things, so here is the information that you may/may not need.)

A small country sharing borders with Argentina and Brazil - Uruguay!

In the video, the President speaks about himself and his understanding of the values of being human. His perception of democracy transcends the political definition and embraces the socio-economic aspect . The continent of South America has witnessed many revolutions in the past century. His struggle was related to one of them in his home country. A fight to secure justice in all aspects of life so that people could grow and develop together, in an all-inclusive manner. He talks about how the world is dragging its feet on the Kyoto Protocol. It stands as a shame that the second- largest carbon dioxide emitter is yet to ratify the same. Moreover, the Protocol though comparatively sound in wording, has seen a significant lack of will on the part of the member states. This is a story for another post, another day. He mentions the instance when the government of Uruguay prudentially purchased a helicopter for emergency services rather than an expensive jet for the President. He talks with pragmatism.

This is the man who realizes that we should learn to think as a species, rather than individuals or countries as he is quoted to have said :

"We can almost recycle everything now. If we lived within our means, by being prudent, the 7 billion people in the world could have everything they needed. Global politics should be moving in that direction. But we think as people and countries, not as a species" - Source

The most important take away from the speech is the way the man conducts his life. He doesn't lecture us with ways to live, rather the exemplary way in which he lives leaves a lasting impression and makes you think twice.  He might be tagged as the 'Poorest President - BBC' but he is the 'Richest' when it comes to service to humanity.

His is a life that should be taken note of by policy makers too. While, expenditures on health, education and poverty alleviation are on the rise, downward trends are not visible in contentious areas such as defence. Certain splurges of the governing and the governed have no place in the developmental goals for tomorrow. This year is important as we have reached the deadline for the MDGs and are poised to take on the Sustainable Development Goals. Progress on the MDGs has been mixed with some goals achieved and others still sitting a long way off on the distant horizon. The SDGs lie on a steeper slope as the global dynamics are constantly changing. In fact, the entire SDGs rest on the bedrock of SDG #10 i.e. Reducing inequalities. So, it is up to the stakeholders to take wise decisions and create pathways that make the achievement of the SDGs possible.

17 SDGs as listed on the UN Website.

Remember:

A show of strength doesn't feed the poor. 

A girl denied freedom, doesn't preserve your culture. 

A shell fired doesn't protect biodiversity.

Most importantly, hollow agreements just sit as scribbles on paper.

So, it is but our responsibility to think as one, to act as one and to create a world that benefits generations to come.

Useful links:

• Kyoto Protocol - Wiki
• Carbon Dioxide Emissions by Country -2011
• United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
• United Nations Millennium Development Goals

_____________

I just realized that this is the second President that I have written about in two days. Two amazing lives to gain inspiration from, for me!

Dr. Kalam's Greatest Contribution to the nation : My thoughts

A little over two months have passed since the people's President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam breathed his last. Today is his birth anniversary, a day when millions not only in India but the world over are paying homage to one of the greatest sons of the nation. He is recognized as the face of India's missile program and the controversial nuclear tests which cemented the arrival of India as a nuclear power on the world stage.

His achievements are too many to count for at this stage. A few of the more well known ones include his tenure as Project Director for ISRO's Rohini launch aboard the Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III) and as Chief Executive of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP). For those unaware of the IGMDP, the programme includes development of the Prithvi, Akash, Trishul and Nag Missiles. The successful Pokhran-II tests saw his fame soar to new heights. These and many more stars dot his glittering career culminating in his election to the Presidency of the nation. 

Elected as the 11th President of the Republic of India, it was here that the next phase of his career began which by far has resulted in the biggest impact on lives all over. A few knew Kalam, the Missile Man, a bit more - Kalam, the nuclear scientist but it was Kalam, the President who influenced more people all around the globe than any of his achievements before. It was his ability to inspire generations with his words and deeds that even today he stands out as an icon for the youth to follow. His is not a story of rags to riches, but that of a poor boy from a small town who changed the very face of the nation and its standing in the world. The fact that his personal belongings only reflect the bare essentials that one needs gives us an example to emulate in our personal lives. No, he wasn't neglected by the state and neither did he have to spend a life in penury. He was a man dedicated to the nation, to public service and to rouse the young generation. There is no denying the fact that he was a 'jewel of the nation' a Bharat Ratna! 

A service to the nation, a service that transformed India's defence capabilities radically, a service that inspired 1.3 billion citizens of the country and millions of others, to that service I pay homage. To that man, I can only say that :

Sir, 

Your life speaks volumes even after your death. It is your hard work, that I take inspiration from. It is your humility and unparalleled dedication that serves as a reminder for me to give a little more each day in order to achieve my goals and to serve the society. It is the utmost friendliness that you demonstrated even in crowds of hundreds that showed me the value of being nice, of helping people and of  smiling. Tomorrow, I look to don my wings of fire as I take off into the world and script my life. Here, I hope to be of service to the nation and the society and when I look up for guidance, I hope to be led by the values that you have left behind.

Thank you for everything Dr. Kalam!

I suggest  that everyone who still hasn't read Dr. Kalam's works should give them a try. I list his works below:

• Wings of Fire 
• India 2020
• Ignited Minds

There are more, but these are the ones (except the last one, which is on my To-Read list) that I have read and found highly informative and inspiring. Why not add them to your 52 week, 52 books challenge?

Picture credit: A P J Abdul Kalam Wikipedia Page

Why Do I Blog?

After my daily dose of Quora and taking a break from the regular and mundane, I decided to review my blog last night. It has been five years since I began blogging on 'Deconstructing the Half-constructed' and it seems that the deconstruction has gone at a snail's pace. A mere five and forty posts over a span of its existence really made me think as to why do I still write here? I was confused. For one. the blog did not have a central theme (it appeared thus!) and there was no coherency - just hops and jumps! I remembered all those well structured blogs that I follow and envy reared its head. The childishness of the past seemed like a rebuke on the seriousness of today. The summary seemed quite disheartening.

While I looked for reasons, I began re-reading everything I had written over all these years. These posts invariably drove home the point. My expressions bore fruit as I relived those moments again. The joys of the past somehow elbowed past all that was rotten. It felt good to be there once more. This gave new meaning to my blogging. Here, I write, 

To express happiness, I scribble

With a tinge of sadness, I write

On boundless love, I compose

To nudge a thought, I opine

and to cherish a memory, I blog!

So, I continue to blog and add treasures to the book of life!

Confronting the question, as to which post would I consider as my favourite, I'll say there are so many that listing them here becomes irrelevant. You should stop being lazy (Look who's talking or rather typing?) and explore the blog to find out more.

P.S. For all those who care, the childishness still remains (Some things never change, I guess!)

A Citizen's Tribute : The Indian Air Force

Yesterday was October 8, the raising day of the Indian Air Force, a jewel among the armed forces of the country. A day that is celebrated each year with an amazing display of daredevil acrobatics performed by the brave pilots of the IAF. To these warriors, I raise my hand in salute.

As a civilian, I have always been overawed by the armed forces,, especially the Air Force. Seeing jets fly across the sky on every Republic Day and Air Force Day teases the imagination and compels one to fly alongside in a daydream as winds rush past and the aircrafts turn circles. It is a reverie that has kindled patriotic ambitions in the kids of the nation since the introduction of the IAF. A few of them have gone ahead and today serve the nation as proud members of the IAF. To these bravehearts, I raise my hand in salute.

A report released in 2015 states that the IAF has the fourth largest active fleet in the world comprising of combat aircraft, transport aircraft, training aircraft, helicopters etc. A fleet tasked with the mission to defend each and every inch of the 3.28 million sq. km of Indian territory. It is the presence of this impregnable line of defense that allows us to feel safe in a land that is constantly under a threat of attack from external forces. It is this might that holds them at bay and it is this factor that fills us with pride and awe as we witness the sacrifices of the IAF members. To those on a constant vigil, I raise my hand in salute.

Since its inception in the pre-Independence era, the Royal IAF (then) and the IAF (since 1950) have contributed successfully to many victories in the battlefield. From stopping the Japanese in their advances during World War II in Burma to the Kargil War, the IAF has been instrumental in turning the tide against the aggressors. Not only domestic security, but the participation in UN missions is another badge of honour for the IAF, To those who have laid down their lives for the nation, I raise my hand in salute.

In recent years, the most promising development has been the increasing role of women in the IAF. Active participation in rescue missions during the latest disasters proves their mettle and shows that they are second to none. To these women of steel, I raise my hand in salute.

Fly brave warriors , fly high

Touch the zenith as you beat the clouds

Show your valour, conquer the sky

Hold the enemy, fulfil your words avowed

The nation, the mother-as you defend

We salute you, O lion-heart

Be the protectors, the foe's dreaded end

O immortal souls, script your glorious part!

Best wishes to the nation and the IAF on this Air Force Day!

Jai Hind!

Note:I do not hold the rights to the above image and it has been sourced from Indian Air Force Official Website : Photo Gallery

Sources : World Air Forces 2015 - Special Report (Flightglobal)