US ‘the jazzy’ Open grand slam...

                 For all you tennis fans and for you who aren't tennis fans :):). Another year of tennis grand slams have finished as we have come to an end of another exciting US Open. This is my favourite grand slam and "the Flushing Meadows" has all sorts of things apart from tennis like drama, action, all kinds of clothing etc... And the list goes on, to make it one.
                 Rafa won his First US open men’s singles to complete his career grand slams. Kim Clijsters successfully defended her women's singles crown (home support???)... Obviously for Bryan Brothers who beat the historic Indo-Pak 'partnership' of Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi >>>I was particularly impressed by Rohan's play, especially the backhands he played. I could c he has grown stronger but still very less to compete with higher ranked players. The issue with the Indian players is that they are highly skilled but physically not as strong.For women's and mixed doubles....m not interested, may be?
                 Well there were many unexpected moments in the tournament like the entire Spanish Davis cup team assembled in the men’s quarters in flushing; Elena Dementieva rolling out Venky’s endorsement on dress, Nadia Petrova dons a hideous dress. No name was better than the punchy 'Jack Sock' (who even wears tube socks. I smell endorsement!) And Federer runs into Djokovic, his victim for 3 successive years, who shuts the door on the dream of the king this time.
                 Infact I was pitching for Novak to win the title but in the final it was Rafa all the way... He is that big occasion player u see...
                 Amongst the intensity of Wimbledon, the excitement of French open and the exuberance of the Australian open, the US open is like , it says 'I am Awesome'.

Cheers,
Rohit

Lateral Thinking...... hmmmmm Really!!!

                  Once in an aptitude workshop I was asked,” How would u make 4 equilateral triangles out of 6 matchsticks?”. As clueless as ever I could not answer it................. Hey, r u thinking already? Well can u do it??? Answer however, is to make a *Tetrahedron*. That time I could do nothing but to smile at my ignorance.
                  As time passed I began to realize it was not just ‘not able’ to answer that question, it was something else, more intense, and that was lack of ‘Lateral Thinking’. The ability to think out of the box, have creativity in problem solving, to have a 3-dimensional view of the problem. In that particular question it was never told that the triangles have to be co-planer, only if I were able to have that ‘3-D view’ of it.
                  In fact, it’s not just about being Maverick in problem solving but it’s a skill that does potentially bring about revolutions. Be it Kerry Packer’s series which revolutionized world cricket, the introduction of each of the products of Apple company, and even the invention of Telephone , light bulb. All these were results of lateral thinking exhibited by one or more individuals.
                  When I used to talk to my friends about this concept, a predominant reply used to be ‘it’s an inborn talent yaar’. I beg to disagree and say that this is a misleading belief. Lateral Thinking is a skill and like any other skill it can be developed. There need not be a conscious effort to develop this skill.. It can be achieved with a little logical and mathematical analysis. Edward de Bono the professor who coind the term ‘Lateral Thinking’ says that ‘intelligence is a potential and thinking is a skill to use that potential.’ Just as the skill of the driver determines how a car is used, thinking determines how intelligence is used.
                  One may be a good thinker without being an intellectual and vice-versa. But it’s always good to be both at the same time.

Cheers,
Yoursrohit

A new Beginning…

                  “Everything happens for the first time in life”. So today something happened for the first time in my life. I made a switch in my job for the first time and joined me new place of work “Diamond Management and Technology Consultants”…
                 Its not even half a day here when I am writing this blog. But I am starting to enjoy the ambience. The office is small but ‘state of art’. It has everything which one might need to have to work well. It is a calm and quiet bay with occasional chirpings. I think it will take me some time to be a part of it and to know the whereabouts…
                 In the morning when I left home at 8, I had little nerves and was constantly thinking of giving the best first impression. I had to change buses to come to Chakala, Andheri(one of the most crowded western suburb of Mumbai). Had oe of the longest waiting times for the buses and had one of the slowest bus drivers of BEST driving my bus. When boarded the auto, had one of the worst traffic jams I had ever seen… It took me almost quarter to three hours to reach my office. Even amidst all the irritation the excitement never died.
I                  really hope I have a great time ahead at this place.

Cheers,
Rohit

One of the best holidays of my life

One of the best holidays of my life….
                 They say that there is never a holiday for a “Software Engineer”. So it took me to get ‘Unemployed’ from ‘Employed’ to have a long vacation. It was ten days in Jodhpur, my home town, although very hot but extremely satisfying.
                 I got to stay with the most important people in my life for more than a week, visit all my awesome relatives and lovely friends. Also had a chance to visit my college and spend some time there. A trip to Nakodaji and Mandoli was the icing on the cake.
                 With all this I had a chance to some of the exquisite cuisines prepared by the love of my life, my Mom... Having evening tea with Dad, playing and losing in Carrom all made me smile…
                 And there was football world cup. Amidst Klose’s , Villa’s , it were Inesta’s and the Forlan’s who stole the show and I never missed a match.I would pray that such holidays keep cuming and I cud spent time at home frequently being employed at the same time.

Cheers Rohit

My Last day @ Mastek(mail I wrote)

Hi All,
This day, 2nd July 2010, happens to be my last working day at Mastek. It seems just yesterday when I walked into Mastek on 27th August 2007, fresh out of college, bit nervous coz of the thought of coming to the corporate world.
But here I met 20 odd strange people, with whom I was supposed to study and learn and boy!!! What time we had. I am lucky that I made great many friends in that batch. We truly we called ourselves “Warehouse Ki Khoj”.... Thank you guys for all the love, support, fun, masti, and companionship you provided.
Another very important thing that happened in those early stages of my career was - the trainers... I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every member of the then called ‘Training Cell’ for providing such an impeccable training.
The first of everything is very close to one’s heart and so is the first project of my career, BT- Spine-ERS. I really enjoyed working in there and the experience is priceless. I made extremely good friends. Those tea parties, working on weekends, onsite calls dinner parties and the list is endless. Remember the ‘Freaky Friday’? I would cherish each moment spent with you. Thank you so much for being there and making work such an ‘adorable’ event for me.
As they say ‘one good thing is followed by another’ so was my coming into MSN project. 1-Source was an experience in itself, an awesome learning experience in terms of technology and balance in life. Life was like a roller coaster for me then... And then there was SFA. Said to one of the dream teams to work in MSN and whoa! I got a chance to work with a bunch of highly committed technology experts. And the masti you guys do at work in marvellous. Thank you all guys for making me a part of it. The MSN bay seems like a second home to me and you all like family members.
The Mastekeers whom I've met during induction, bus travel, playing carom and TT and CS of course, just wanted to say that interacting with you was a gem of an experience.
I would also take this opportunity to thank all those people who I was involved directly/indirectly with, the TIS, Helpdesk and IR people, the Admin ,FnL and Travel department, the HR and the fun@work committee, the LnD and Edge team and the Masteknet team and RMG.
I would also thank the security guards, canteen people and bus drivers.
In a small or big way, I have learnt something from each one of you and would cherish it my entire life. I really enjoyed the work culture, with Friends and having fun with learning. I would be carrying from Mastek a truck laden with experience, knowledge, memories, and friendship.

AWESOME time is what I had at Mastek.
My Best wishes to all in your personal and professional endeavours.

It would be my pleasure to stay in touch with all you lovely people. You can contact me at:
rohitdilipmehta@gmail.com or rohitdmehta@ymail.com
Call me @ +91 9819268812

“Bas Yaadein Reh Jati Hain”

Phir milenge…..
Rohit!!!

Living Legend

                 It’s been three days and I was itching to write about it. The festival of colors ‘HOLI’ is approaching and so there is a lot of enthusiasm amongst all the people of India. Also this is the Budget season in India. The Railway and Union budget this week would lay a roadmap as to where our country and its citizens are heading in the next one year.
                 Amidst all these things, we got a very pleasant surprise and enormous happiness when Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, cricket’s greatest son and arguably the greatest batsman ever, rocked the world of cricket and became the first man on the planet to score a double century in One Day International cricket.
                 It all started when Sachin hit a boundary of the third ball of the second over in his own style with a drive through mid-off at the Captain Roop Singh stadium, Gwalior. He was in a great mood and kept timing the ball extremely well throughout the innings. It was a treat to watch him bat, as it always is. But that day is was something more special. He hardly played a bad shot the entire innings and it seemed that it’s the same 16 year old boy as he was 2 decades ago. When he was on 199 and Dhoni kept hitting Steyn and company all around, virtually whole of India was on a standstill. We could not wait to see him on strike and when squeezed the ball past point in the last over of the innings the pleasure was immense. I felt as if I myself have achieved that….
                 In his cricketing career what not he has achieved, over 90 centuries in international cricket and over 30,000 runs. In addition to it records for most 100’s, 90’s, 50’s; a double century and respect of thousands of millions of cricket lovers all over the world. His only 'outstanding' dream as a cricketer probably now is to hold a ‘Cricket World Cup’. If cricket was an individual sport then this dream would have been achieved way back. Since it is not, the next year when India gets into the world cup, the little master would do whatever possible to get his hands on the world cup. If we are able to achieve that, it would be a fitting tribute to a fantastic cricketer and his contribution to Indian cricket.


Cheers
Rohit

Two States...

Already started guessing!!!!!! I wonder you have already guessed it... Yes, it is about Chetan Bhagat’s new latest novel “2 States”. I read it just yesterday. And the book touched me on various grounds.
I have read all his books but this one is surely a masterpiece. In the name of a love story, he put light on various other aspects of life and society. Firstly, he shows that how divided we are. With due respect to all my all Punjabi and South Indian brothers and sisters, he mentions that how clichéd we are and a little orthodox too. We on numerous occasions forget that we are Indians.
A few people call them very 'simple', but they aren’t. A few call them 'high class' but they aren’t. Even though called as a fiction, the author has tried to bring out quite a few colours. Entangled in the comedy and love story there are lots of emotions, almost b/w all members of a family.
Actually I am itching to summarize the book but I think it would be much better reading the complete book by yourself. Do Read the book...

Cheers,
Rohit

Socially Responsible... Oops... R we???

            I was sitting at a friend’s place and the door bell rang. My friend opened the door. A teenage boy in his school dress was standing at the door and he showed a paper of a social service organisation and was asking for donation for it. A good social service cause indeed. My friend said that he already does it, said thanks to the child and closed the door. The boy went away, obviously disappointed. My friend came back and we started smiling as if we have escaped a smashing.
            But that incident kept me thinking. Am I socially responsible? Is donating money for a social cause just enough??!! And I kept wondering......
Half of the people spend their life in doing what their parents expect from them. Half of the remaining half try to achieve what their parents could not but wished to achieve, and the remaining.., well I do not know. But that hardly matters.
            I see so many bad and unnecessary things in my society, my country. I just crib about it and try to avoid it. Why? Have we ever paid heed to try and resolve some of those and at least contribute, in whatever capacity for it? But we avoid it by saying that we have our own problems.
            A normal software engineer like me is very happy to slog in the office and when at home open my laptop to watch a movie or a downloaded thriller or a comedy program or Google about something... may be anything!!!! I say I am acquiring knowledge. Once in a while if we lend a helping hand to somebody (To cross a road and may be a seat in a bus or a train), we are on the top of the world and we assume that we are socially responsible and geeks too. Lolz....
            Well consider another point altogether more close to what we all do. We wake up every morning and read newspaper. If I ask why do we read the newspaper? A common answer would be “Jaankari Ke liye” and “to form an opinion based on that Jaankari”. But what do we do that with that opinion? NOTHING!!!! And if at all we do then the in the best possible effort we try and utilize a few learnings for our own benefit or well-being. That’s no-way incorrect but the issue is, Thats it!!!!! This is what the highly qualified and modernized, the Generation “X” does. So then who takes the onus of teaching the less privileged children and for that matter, even adults of our society?
            I believe that we could and we should do more than that. Don’t you feel so?? I am sure you do... I wish all the Social Beings have something or the other to say about this... But I am not sure how many would actually read and think about it?

Cheers,
Rohit!!!!