Break the Rules

“Enough of taking life seriously, BREAK THE RULES”

Is it not to follow the traffic rules? Shoplifting? What is it?

If you do above things, you will end up in jail or paying fine. The intention of this statement is not that. Each individual has his own rules and regulation. These are either learnt from parents or acquired by peers or self-learning. We have been following that religiously for many days. This has been followed because of our ego does not allow us to think differently. Might be it has got you success or recognition. But one should always keep exploring and experimenting with his life/thinking. Then life becomes more and more meaningful.

Who is not encountered with unfair comments? Some just forget it to avoid any unpleasant experience. But inside they might be suffering. But this is strength of an individual. People start thinking this strength as weakness. Just give it back to unfair criticism once in a while. Since you are vegetarian Tiger won’t eat you?

For orthodox person, he/she does the action fearing of god. They do not take any action or does the work since the ‘muhurutham’ (aspisious time) is not good. But do they ever think that all the action taken at ‘muhurutham’ is not successful. There are many Hindu arranged marriages which are broken. There is a belief that Tuesday or Friday 13th is not a good day. Do not wait for right day. If you wish to do something good, just do it.

During childhood days our parents told me that old songs are good. We believed it is the best. Of course, they were good. But time has changed. We should try new things. We just resist contemporary music. They say olden days are golden days. We lead peaceful life. Should we always follow those thinking? Earlier days mode of transport was bullock cart. Do we travel in it now? We prefer Volvo bus. Sometimes following old ways/thinking has no meaning. Upgrade yourself if not you will be outdated.

Each person has formed his own routine in life. For sports person waking up early in the morning and playing is routine. For him once in a while sleeping late is good. Someone likes to sleep till 9 am in the morning on holidays. For him waking up early and going for a walk is change. For officials, take a mid of the week holiday. Just be at home and laze. It relives stress. Do not think why should I take leave with no function or personal work or being sick. Generally, these are the reasons for taking leave. It rejuvenates and incrreases productivity both professionally and personally. For a good student, no harm in bunking classes occasionally. Go play cricket or watch movie, but it should not be a routine.

I love travelling in western ghats. Minimum two-three times in a year visit these area. But this has become monotonous. Wanted to break this. Planned to go for a beach trip. Year-end been to Goa and stayed in beach hut. It was a different experience. New-year was welcomed with fresh mind.

If you tell the kid not to do, they do that simply. Sometimes we need to learn from them. Being simple and honest is the best way. Try being materialistic for a change. Pamper yourself.  I cannot tell what to break, how to break, which one to break, when to break. But you need to identify yourself.

First Learn The Rules Then Break Them

Indian Media

Why is the media here so negative?

This was a question asked by Ex President Dr. Abdul Kalam. Indian media always reports negative and spicy things. It never tries to find the root cause of the issue. Media is a powerful tool in this nation. Most of the Indians always listen to others. They always have doubt in their decisions. If media reports negatively and it spreads among people. They do not think is it right or wrong. They want to report only for TRP’s. They do not want to educate the people. Even the politicians follow the same. They fear if they do so, they will lose the control. They cannot make money.

They reported Anna Hazare Lokpal Bill Movement to the core. This brought people’s attention. Channels have utilized it for their marketing purpose. Anything over dose kills you. So they have sucked the issue fully and nothing much left from it. Now they do not report so religiously. Of course, political parties also played part in controlling channels. Now media has made U turn so that they can use other side of the issue. They are questioning Team – Anna’s decisions. Media has spoiled whatever the little good thing started to happen for country. Now people are also questioning Team-Anna’s decision. They have put the thoughts into public. Media report Team Anna is adamant and forcing government to act quickly. But from past 30 years this has been discussed in parliament and no action taken so far on bill. This time they are forcing government since it has reached patience breaking point. Media never got into root cause.

Media is always into making of money. They only report what sells. Probably, they categorize the place, person or issues. Tendulkar is always shown as demigod. While Rahul Dravid have been criticized for everything. I still remember Dravid’s reaction at Eden Garden Kolkata in 2001. He scored 185 runs against Australia. After scoring his 150 runs he pointed his bat towards media box. It was a gesture uncharacteristic of him. There are only 3 or 4 batsmen in world who have scored 10,000+ runs in both test and one-day format. Dravid is among them. Media never gave his share, except Harsha Bhogle. Tendulkar has been gifted Ferrari. He asked for tax waiver for import of this vehicle from central government. This was never been questioned.

Media can claim people wants these news so only we are reporting. News is like a drug. You made them to addict for such news. There is a celebrity cricket league is going on. Sudeep is leading Karnataka artists’ team. Rajkumar family is absent from the league. Now they are creating a hype on why they are absent. They are because of thier prior commitments. Karnataka team has won, but this issue over shadows it.

Height of the media nonsense is during tsunami in the year 2004. At Kanyakumari, small family, Husband, wife and kid, were boarding the bus. Bus was near the sea and sometime left before it starts. Kid asked his father to take him to sea for few minutes. Father honored his kid’s request. They both were playing on the banks of sea and mother was watching from the bus window. Suddenly, tsunami came and took both of them deep into the sea and they never came back. Seeing this Mother was shocked. After sometime, media people came and interviewed her. Interviewer asked, “ You have lost your husband and kid. How are you feeling?” Ridiculous question. Don’t they have sensitivity towards her? This was on Star news – Hindi. You might find this video on you tube.

Media is a very powerful tool, which can reach large audience at a time. They can make or break. But more often used for the later one. They should not be judgmental or biased. They need to educate the people and guide the nation in right direction. If they do so India can do much-much better in the world. 

"With great power comes great responsibility"

HAPPINESS

Happiness is a mental state of feeling good. Each one of us will have different interest. I don’t drink alcohol. So people say that I don’t enjoy life. Is consuming alcohol is only the enjoyment? As per this current era most of them would say yes, including women. I don’t understand how this is related to your enjoyment or happiness. You simply cannot generalize this.

For a learner, it is reading what makes him enjoyment. For a movie buff, watching movie gives him happiness. So each one of us has our own way of getting enjoyment or being happy. Smoking and consuming alcohol makes oneself lose their health. My Cricket team (Bruce XI), office friends and some of my cousins say that am not enjoying life. The reason they say to me is because I do not take alcohol with them. Last month I went to Goa with cousins.  People around me started commenting you don’t drink and what will you do there. Defying logic. Enjoyment or happiness is far broader in nature.

Some say that I over work during events like marriage, trips, or cultural programs. But I am happy taking initiative and accepting responsibility. It is a skill and ability of person. People say relax and enjoy why do you strain yourself. Sometimes I feel people are jealous of my skill and ability. May be that thinking is wrong on my part. I go for treks. Trekking is strenuous and it takes toll on your body and mind.  Why to stress ourselves. What is there in forest? Certain things cannot be explained and should be experienced. Am happy by doing it. That is what count most.

For orthodox people praying and meditation is the form of happiness. For those people watching movie or drinking alcohol is a sin. Going for temple is more enjoyment rather going for bar. It is just there way of finding happiness.

Indian classical music has a great history and culturally very rich. It is the base for other music forms. Music is also an act of expressing oneself. Rock and Jazz music lovers this form is Greek and Latin to them. But experts in music never think so. Fact is that Rock and Jazz music is in the shadow of Indian classical music. This is unknown to those who support rock or jazz for pride and prejudice. Anything foreign is great. I am sick of that attitude.

Playing virtual games inside house is source of enjoyment. They even claim that virtual game needs more intelligence. For outdoor players this is not acceptable. I don’t say who is right here. Both have different kind of enjoyment. For few people gaming is a waste of time. Why cannot humans be empathetic with others way of happiness? Probably this question is a material for another article.

People: what is he trying to convey here?

Suraj: Don’t bother. I am happy by putting these thoughts on blog.

Trek to Bandaje Arbi

I was travelling in the office cab on December third week with Anantha Shayana. He gave me the information that trek is arranged to Bandaje from office trek team. He also asked if I would be interested in going for trek along with them. Actually, I was craving for hardcore trek in western ghat for couple of years. I had been for small treks in past few years, but it was along with pleasure trips. Actually, my eyes lit up with the offer and immediately accepted the offer. Thanks to Anantha.

Friday December 23rd 2011, we all assembled at the ThomsonReuters Pinnacle office. The team left for the trek in Swaraz Majda around 11pm. We all introduced our self. After the introduction found that it was officially unofficial trip, because few of the members moved from ThomosonReuters world. There was a question raised, who will be the silent person in this trip. All pointed towards me without second thought. I know all my friends will strongly disagree with this. I am not silent but I do take sometime getting adjusted to the new team.

Alcohol can dissolve in water easily, but honey takes sometime to dissolve.

We reached Nethravathi River at Dharmastala on Saturday morning around 7am. We freshened up in the river, before heading to our destination. Nope, destination was not the peak, but Breakfast. All had nice breakfast at hotel GuruPrasad at Ujire. Anantha wanted extra energy, so with the courtesy of Vijay(without Mustache) had special energy drink – cocktail of Bournvita and Coffee. After 20 minutes journey, we reached Kadidudyavara village from where the trek begins. There is an estate house of Narayana Gowda, who helps trekkers.

Behind the estate there is a way, which leads to top of the hill. We all took photograph with sunscreen-protected faces with big smile. Vijay(with Mustache - Hebsur) gave the instruction to the team and briefed about trek. He also announced Mr. Krishna as trek lead and all should follow him. He will stay right at the back and team should always be between them. Team consisted of 4 female and 12 males. A 16-member squad on a Mission Bandaje, which is known to be one of the difficult treks in Western Ghat. Vijay Hebsur asked did we take all the essential material and Ramesh acknowledged with yes.

Around 11 am, team started the up hill trek with full of enthusiasm. The hill was very steep in nature. Every ten minutes of trek consumed lots of energy and need to stop for breath. The body got dehydrated and required water supply into it. We trekked for 90 minutes and found the water stream. As soon as we saw the stream, all thrown the baggage and rushed towards it. Every one splashed the water into face and filled the stomach with water. The water stream was very clear and soothing. This is a common feature of all the water resource in ‘Malenadu’. The team found fresh energy from this break and moved further.

But nature was very tough on us. It was becoming uphill task literally as you move further. Few of them were first time trekkers. The excitement has started giving way for tiredness and thought came for them why did I choose this. Let alone the first timers, even the experienced trekkers were feeling it hard. For a moment even that thought came to me. If I was at home at that time would be having nice lunch. It was almost 2 pm and time for lunch. But Vijay Hebsur asked the team to climb little bit further before lunch break. It would have been difficult to climb, if we had lunch at that point. We all moved and reached around 2/3rd of the hill. Now it was difficult to climb without food.

We stopped the trek and had lunch. We have taken Chapatti, Jam and Pickle from Bangalore for lunch. There is also mixture. Some made chapatti role using jam, pickle and mixture. Food was awesome. But water was at scarcity and we tried to consume less water. But all were tired and drank more water. Only few bottles left with water that too half. The next water point only is at the top of the hill i.e. Bandaje falls. Still, we need to climb 1/3rd of the hill. The steepness of the hill also kept increasing.

Trek Law - Steepness of the hill always indirectly proportional to water.

By the time we reached 7/8th of the hill, water level has gone down drastically. Only one or two liters were left. But at that point we were able to see the beauty of the nature. In between the trees and rock waterfall was teasing us. We got the courage to consume the reserve also. We also took photograph of the waterfalls from there. All were tired at that point of time and last stretch looked very far from the destination.

But finally with great difficulty we all reached Bandaje Waterfalls. The destination has been reached. There was a sense of achievement in everyone’s face. All removed the baggage and rushed towards water. Again, we repeated the same exercise, which we did during our first break. It was around 5:45pm and sun was saying goodbye to us. One group did set up the tents beside the waterfalls. Others started searching for the wood. Cooking team set up the fire and wanted to prepare tea. There was search for the milk. We have left the milk, lemon and curry leaves at the bus only. We all had nice black tea and it tasted too good. Milk is not the essential ingredient to have tea.

Tent is ready for the tight sleep. Time for the food preparation. We cooked rice and sambar with potato and onion. We have taken the packet oil to cook bajji’s. Hot onion bajji’s was prepared and served along with dinner. Dinner was out of this world. The tamarind has been put bit more, which made us to recover the body salt. We all ate nicely. Thanks to Krishnamurty, Mohan and Vijay Hebsur for this wonderful food. Also thanks to Kavitha who helped them. We also played ‘anthyakshari’. All old kannada songs came out.

I was lazing around on the rock and watching the sky. It reminded me a trivia in Kannada. “ammana seere madisokke aagolla, appana duddu yenisokke aagolla”. You cannot fold mom’s saree and cannot count dads money. The answer for this was sky and stars. The sky was filled with infinite stars. I was curious to count it, but was unsuccessful. Due to the trouble from the artificial light in cities, these stars hide in the sky. But here they were free birds and enjoying the night with moon. Probably, they all came to celebrate the Christmas Eve. This was the moment of trek for me as it was so peaceful and pleasant. Around 10pm, we all settled in tent and slept. There was light music of water stream. Felt as if Mother Nature singing song for her kids to sleep.

Malenadina bettada tutta tudiya mele jhariya ninadada naduve malagi nakshatra enisuvde ondu ananda. Anubhavisabhadu aste arthisuvudu bahala kasta.

Sunday morning, we woke up at around 7:30 am. Night was not that cold. It was below par of normal Christmas weather on the Western Ghats. Morning was even more pleasant. Finished daily morning nature call. Time for getting into waterfalls. Water was very cold and bit freezing. There is a area below the upper part of the falls where we can swim. I did take a dip along with Vijay Shivkumar. The dip did take away all the pain in the body due to trek. Very refreshing. Played for half an hour in the water came out. Got ready and ate breakfast. Then went to see the waterfalls from where it starts downward journey.

I was standing at edge of the Bandaje falls. It has a very nice view, and it is believed to be 700 Mtres above the sea level. It flows as a single stream, and falls from approximately 400+ metres in between the vallies of Western Ghat. This flows further and joins the river Netravathi as a tributary. Nature from that point was awesome. Some mountain looked like Shivalinga and some looked like Ganesh. There were various other structures formed by combination of mountain and trees, which is difficult to explain. It was also bit scary if looked below as we cannot see foot of the hill.

Prakruti Rudra Ramaneeya…!!!!

It was time to leave for down hill trek. We all removed the tents and packed luggage. I would have stayed one more day, but it was not possible. Vijaya Shivakumar turned into director and anchor mode along with cameraman Anantha to shoot the individual experience. Everyone was ecstatic. With heavy heart left said goodbye to Bandaje Falls.

Trek for getting down is also not an easy task. It creates pressure on knee and calves. It is more strenuous than the up hill trek. Also bit dangerous as you might slip. We climbed down with good pace. Reached the water stream and took break for almost an hour. We started moving again. Poornima told that we spent too much of time near water stream. But it’s worth every second as we do not go there very often. Being in nature is the best relaxing time. Ramesh, Poornima and myself did remember the works of Kuvempu and Shivaram Karanth. They have explained the Malenadu beautifully in their books.

By 4:30pm we have reached our bus. Again we took photo of individuals. The smiling face has been replaced with tiredness. But heart and head was smiling with satisfaction. Team reached the Netravati River hoping to meet Bandaje waterfalls. But we could not find it there. It was hiding inside Netravati River. The river is polluted by people. During trek, we did not leave any wastage. We did collect and thrown into dustbin in village. We did not even use the soap to take bath in waterfalls. We kept the nature clean.

Now team got freshened up in river and moved to Dharmastala temple. It is the place where most believed god of Kannadiga’s live. Lord Manjunathatha. It is also special place for Anantha as Lord Manjunatha blessed him with special sister Poornima. She has prayed for his Brother (annayya) that he will treat all females either as sister or mother. She told Anantha Annayya I have prayed for you. Anantha was spell bound by her wish and does not know how to react. Raghavendra consoled Anantha. Now boys got scared of Sister Poornima.

Monday morning we came back to Bangalore at 5:30am. During the trip we had loads of funny moments. It was a most memorable trek because of both toughness and fun. Once in a while we should go for trek. It is a great experience. Also Mother Nature teaches you lots of lessons and showers with abundance of love. No matter how you treat her, but she is always fair.

May Mother Nature bless you all….!!!!!