16 June 2025

A perfect human being

This gentleman has been my friend for many a moon. Pushing half a century almost. I had found out some time back, thru a common friend, about some of the serious health issues he has been fighting. Himself being a doctor ,who alleviates pain for kids on a daily basis, it struck me as a bit unfair that he would have to go thru his severe health crisis.

There are stories about how when admitted to the hospital for surgery, he would go around and talk to the other patients and raise their morale level. It was like he was born to serve human beings, one way or the other.

It is with a modicum of justice from fate and a lot of discipline on his side that most of his battle is behind him. Although he will have to live with a few conditions for the rest of his life.

Now, for most of us those conditions would be emotionally, physically and mentally devastating. Not for this gentleman.

I had been wanting to see him face to face for some time. My first India trip after these many days gave me that opportunity.

That one hour that I spent with him showed to me the ultimate living proof of the aphorism – “In life, pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional!”

Thank you Sudipta for being that shining beacon that you have always been ever since I met you on that fateful morning of Jan 10, 1977 for the first time.

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15 June 2025

This young gentleman and I go back a very long time

And a lot of memories of talking about each other’s interests. Always marveled at his level of knowledge when it came to internal combustion engines, cars, autos and such. I do not know of anybody else who is better suited to studying Automobile Engineering… which is exactly what he has chosen to do!

His mom – Baisakhi – and I, of course go back even further back. Today was one of the few times we sat down over tea and coffee with no other friends or relatives around.

That meant a lot of great discussions about mutual interests.

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15 June 2025

India – a country of mind blowing potpourri in diversity

The walk from the hotel to my mother-in-law’s place is a fairly short one. 15 minutes at my brisk pace. 20 minutes if I am with somebody. The sights I see and the sounds I hear on that quick walk are an indubitable signature of the richness in variety that India is. The new fangled cars coexist peacefully with those toiling to push the bike pedals one more time around. The sound of the ambulance nearby reverberates with the Rabindrasangeet songs being sung by the young girl around the corner on her harmonium.

On the way, you will come across this communication pole by the road. The two adjoining boxes are fairly tired. As you can see, they are rusted and have all sorts of undergrowth under them. Probably one sharp shower away from a short happening and a loud bang followed by loss of power. (which, incidentally happened to a different box while I was at my mother-in-law’s place the previous day).

While that paints one picture, you might be well served to inspect the box a bit more closely. On that box is a handbill that offers you to teach… get this… the highest end of technology in software world today – Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML).

I realize some might scoff at the depth and quality of knowledge that would be imparted – but that is not the point. First, there is that entrepreneurship bit. But more importantly, it is the contrast of a chance to learn the most modern technology advertised in the good old printed street side hand bill form pasted on a much-rusted communication box that has clearly seen better days!!!

That is a multifariousness to be celebrated!

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