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!!!!

Social Networking: A boon or a curse

           In some way or the other everybody in this world indulges in what is called ‘Social Networking’. To me social networking in general terms is communicating via a network formed in a society by people having something or the other in common. And in this High –tech era of Globalization this term has become even more significant.
           There are various ways in which Social Networking could be done but the one which has become much more prevalent in the 21st Century is 'online Social Networking' (through Internet), more so with the upcoming of the social networking websites. And is has really gained momentum in the last decade or so. Sites like Orkut, Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter etc have become so famous all over the world that almost every individual of the 21st century has an account on one or the other.
           This has helped different people in different ways. The biggest advantage is that we stay connected with family, friends, and even acquaintances with whom we would have not spoken to otherwise. Apart from it we get to know more people. It’s an irony that two people know about each other, although miles apart. Others use it to find employers and employees for them. It forms a very good supplement to the naukri sites. In short it is helping The ‘Social Animal’ to socialize.
           But along with it brings many threats and security concerns to the individuals doing Social Networking. First and foremost is the identity theft. When we tell the world about ourselves we tend to tell a lot including our personal information which could very well be used to ‘screw’ us, sometimes financially, sometimes mentally and in a few cases physically. We might be trapped and release confidential information risking others, may be the place you work, or your family.. There have been numerous cases in which pple fell prey to anti social elements through Social Networking.
           I don’t say that Social Networking sites are bad but they have their pros and cons. It is up to the individual to decide what and with whom to interact and there is a thin line b/w entertainment and embarrassment in this case.

Cheers!!!
Yoursrohit...

Michchhami Dukkadam

The most important day of the year for the Jain community is of Samvatsari …
The last day of Paryushan (Samvatsari) for the Shvetämbar sect and the first day of the Das Lakshana Parva (Kshamä) for the Digambar sect is the day of forgiveness .This is the day when all of us repent for our past sins, ask for forgiveness from family, friends, enemies, and especially from those with whom we have struggled, for hurting them in any way either knowingly or un-knowingly during the past year. It is essential to our spiritual advancement that we do not harbor ill will or hold grudges beyond a year. Hence, the annual occasion for repentance and forgiveness is the most important day in Jain tradition.
By meditating and purifying ourselves during these eight days of Paryushan, we come to realize ourselves. We call the Festival of Paryushan, the Festival of the Soul; for, when we forgive, we become one with the light of our soul. Developing the feeling of brotherhood towards fellow human beings and forgiveness for living beings, visiting neighboring temples, are all important activities at this time.
After performing the Pratikraman we ask everybody ‘Michchhami Dukkadam’ or ‘Khamat Khamana’. Michchhami means to be fruitless (forgiven) and Dukkadam (Dushkrut) means bad deeds. Therefore the meaning of Michchhami Dukkadam is my bad deeds (with you) be fruitless. So concept behind saying or writing someone Michchhami Dukkadam" is that if I have done any harm to you than those bad deeds to be forgiven (be fruitless).
So I would ask:
On This Auspicious occasion of ‘Samvatsari’ I beg forgivness for all My intentional and unintentional wrongdoings…..

Paryushana Parva

           Paryushana is the most auspicious occasion or Parv of the Jains. Paryushana can be litrally translated as “coming together from all directions” and is taken symbolically as a period when it is possible to re-establish closeness with the soul. It is the holiest time of the year for Jains.
The word “Paryushan”(Pari+Ushan) has several meanings:

• to burn (shed) all types of karmas.
• Another meaning of “Ushan” is, To stay closer to our own soul from all directions and to stay absorbed in our own-self
• Pari + Upashamanä = Upashamanä means to suppress, to suppress our passions (Kashäyas - anger, ego, deceit and greed) from all sources.

There are five essential activities of Parushana:

• Amäri Pravartan: Leading a non-violent life, working towards a non-violent world, and supporting animal welfare activities
• Sädharmik Vätsalya: Respecting fellow human beings and supporting humanitarian activities
• Attham Tapa: Observing fasts for the last three days of Paryushan
• Chaitya Paripäti: Visiting different different Jain temples and supporting other organizations
• Kshamäpanä :Repenting our sins, forgiving others and requesting forgiveness from others
  

           The original Prakrit(ardha-magadhi) term for Paryushana is "Pajjo-savana".We also call it “Pajusana”।The Shvetämbar sect observes Paryushan for 8 days while the Digambar sect observes it for 10 days where it is known as Das Lakshana Parva। During these eight or ten days, the entire Jain community becomes engrossed in an atmosphere of spiritual enthusiasm and religion.
           Some people fast for the entire period of eight or ten days, some for lesserperiods (a minimum fasting of the last three days is laid down in the scriptures). However,it is considered obligatory to fast on the last day of Paryushan. Fasting usually involvescomplete abstinence from food or drink, but during the daytime, drinking of water that has been boiled and cooled in the morning is a common practice. If one cannot fast for the whole day, eating only one meal also counts as limited fasting. On the last day those who have observed rigorous fasting are honored, especially to encourage others to follow their example.

Cheers!!!!

Yoursrohit!

Cricket India; is there a sense of Urgency?

            Well guys, I am a cricket freak. But I haven't watched any full cricket for sometime now:-Aus-SA test series, IPL2, T-20 world cup, Ind -WI one day internationals , and now the Ashes. But I still follow all the news and articles about it and interviews etc.. I was wondering about the present condition of the 'Team India' and the 'Men in blue'.
This team had everything in it. We won in Australia, Srilanka, England, South Africa, New Zealand and West Indies. In M S Dhoni we have a captain cool. Stalwarts Like Yuvraj, Gautam, Suresh Raina, the Pathan brothers, true genius of Veru and the Experience and 'Might' of the little champion Sachin. This team has it all. Zak and Bhajji have made their experience count and in Ishant we have a lethal weapon.
            Everything was going good till the T-20 World Cup where we were the defending champions. Unfortunately we were badly defeated. There we were defeated and here the talks and allegations started. Is the captain doomed? Are we good enough? Is there peace in the dressing room? Do the seniors go along well? Is there a fight between Veeru and M S? And all that stupid stuff. I read all this shit in the newspapers for a long time after India could not defend the t-20 world cup.
            Come on people... give us a break. This is The team which has brought you glory for the past 18 months. These are the players whom you love like anything. Actually I sometimes laugh when I read that the people worship the players. But cricket is like a religion in India. I can understand that the people are emotional about it.. I would say that the cricketing experts and the officials who play the blame game are to be blamed for all this.
            Above all I don’t find any problem with the team or the players. We must remember that all of them love their country and are Humans. None of them is a God. My be they were short of rest or may be they couldn’t click as a unit . May be the captain got some decisions wrong, but its ok. Rather then blaming them people should say 'Hard luck guys, hope for the best next time'.
            And to my surprise all the stuff was over when India won the one day series in the West Indies. Actually I was not surprised... (This happens always). One positive I got was the sense of the selection committee on the matter of performance. Under great pressure the selection committee maintained almost the same team and included 'The Wall' in the team. I am glad to c him back into the team. That guy has still not got his share in the Indian cricket. It would be gr8 to c Rahul in action in the Champions Trophy. Many would argue that we are going back and RD does not fit into Dhoni's scheme of things but with Rahul around along with Sachin would be a big boost up for the India's top and middle order batting which has been found wanting in the past few matches. As they always say 'Form is temporary but Class is permanent’. The selection committee actually showed that there in no urgency in Indian cricket and the team is competent enough.
            I would love to see the boys back in full swing in the next assignment, the Champions Trophy and till then the public, the experts and the Media, of course let them enjoy with their families and plz don’t try to find 'masala' in there personal life!!!

Cheers!!!
Rohit.

Article 377? Gay Day?

In a historic judgment delivered on Jul2, 2009, The Delhi High Court overturned the 150 year old section, legalizing consensual homosexual activities between adults. And our so called media hyped it (as they always do). All radio stations, TV channels wanted to give this "Rocking" news to the public of India. Although the news is not of *any* personal interest to me(for obvious reasons), I was 'compelled' to hear it. The media wanted to make the Indian people that we have gone mad with this decision and this is the best thing ever happened to us.

Thereafter there have been long going debates as to whether the decision is good or bad and bla-bla. Times of India made it 'The Gay Day', of course they have there own way of doing such things. I came to know many Gay... Oops ... Homosexual people have long been living with grace and dignity in our country, Of course through TV and Newspapers. Of all this 'Hype' I could observe that masses have come to know about these people 'in good sense' and almost all have form some or the other opinion about this group of people.

The other day, I was sitting in a garden with one of my after taking a walk in the evening when this 'Blissfully' married couple(It looked so they were 'Blissfully' married) with a small baby came and sat near us. Suddenly we saw two girls walking past us and holding were hands. They were cheerful and were talking to each other. Suddenly the 'Aunty' sitting near us said to her husband, 'Kya zamana aa gaya hai..Dekha unko.."Woh" honge’, pointing towards the girls. She said that and my friend and I were astonished, not by the fact that those girls might be "Woh" but by the mentality of that lady (we didnt need any other evidence for it).

I had heard this for the first time ever. I had not an idea that people can form such opinions. I said to my friend that now it is not safe for two boys or two girls to hang around together. And both of us burst into laughter. I dont say that everybody has such kinda opinin but there must be a few like that. Even amongst friends we may end up teasing each other (Now for the same sex also)...

On the lighter side the benefit is that now when I hang around with a girl, people would no longer call me 'a Besharam' but they would probably end up saying 'normal Chae', meaning normal hai....

So at last, I can say that the decision was good and most of the people are happy(affected as well as unaffected people ) and only a few people are unhappy (like the mentally sick ..(oops I sry abt it) 'Aunty' ).



Cheers Rohit!!!

Indian Tennis sensation: Sania Mirza

            In a country like ours where cricket is worshipped and most of the youngsters wanna be a cricketer (both men and women), there is another sport which has brought glory to the country. There were a few men who are looked up to in the men's category starting from The Amritrajs to Paes and the Bhupatis. But in the year 2003 we had a 17 year old girl named Sania Mirza that came on the circuit. It indeed marked an era in the Indian women tennis.
            Born in 1986(the year after me), she started playing tennis at the age of 6, unlike me who did it at the age of 15. Well there is no comparison and the only similarity is that both of us have played tennis.
            Well well, this girl of any other individual tennis player in India has become a role model for any tennis player in the country. For us where this sport is still in its growing stages she managed to qualify and play all the grand slams. not only played has won a few matches as well. She has managed to get to the fourth round of the U.S. Open, third in the Australian open and second each in the French open and Wimbledon in singles events. And she has done more then awesome in the doubles and the mixed doubles.
            I think this is quite an achievement and I find no reason for anybody saying that she has not performed well. I do not say that she could not have done better, but keeping the infrastructure of the game in India it is superb.
            Pointing to the infrastructure in our country the toughest part is to find a proper trainer and coach because the stamina is as important as skill in this game, more so in the singles. Next difficult thing is to find sponsors. Many upcoming talents are not able to make it to the international coz they are not able to afford the game. Everything from the racket to the balls to the accessories are expensive.
            What this girl has done is made the officials and AITF look at the these concerns and the playing conditions and infrastructure is getting better. But there is still a long way to go. Well well well enough of the 'Infrastructure'.
            Sania's career has been a roller coaster ride like. She has been plagued by injuries and also some controversies. Talking of health my coach used to tell me that we Indians are not naturally strong physically, so utmost importance has to be taken or hte physical training.
            The people (who follow tennis) have been talking a lot about the career of this sensation. I wonder is there any question on her contribution to the Indian tennis and her game? Rather we should be proud of what all she has done on the court. I my opinion she would remain a star. Now she is all set to start a new chapter of her life. So we should wish her all the best in life .And as a tennis fan I would hope that she continues to play the game and take it forward.

Cheers
Rohit!!!