December 31, 2022 at 1:22PM

Bhakta Band in 2022!

December 31, 2022 at 12:24PM

Day 3681: Christmas 2022

Christmas has a special value for me. It gives me the opportunity to own something cultural of the country that has given me so much. The country that I have chosen to live and love as much as the country in which I was born. So, every year I make a point of celebrating Christmas English way (in the way that I know, at least).

This year was no different. The Christmas decoration was up well in advance, as soon as December hit, really. Both Oneek and Ojaswi were excited that their present list was posted to Santa at a good time so that Santa can get them for Christmas. And both of them tried really hard to show their best behavior throughout the month but failed a few times as expected. As for the elders, it was an opportunity to spoil ourselves. Especially, Nikki’s parents being in the UK added more fun to the preparation.

Both Oneek and Ojaswi went to bed early because they were too excited to wake up early on Christmas day to disturb the elders from sleeping till late. Well, they don’t know me; no amount of screaming can wake me up when I decide to sleep.

The day started with me in the kitchen preparing the Christmas Meal. Last year due to Covid we missed the Christmas meal so, I had run out of practice for two years. But the food turned out to be tolerable, I guess. The menu was:

Starter:

*Shallow Shrimps:* Shallow fried king prawns with broccoli and sweet chili sauce

Mains:

Turkey Over-Roast: Over-cooked turkey with Sautéd vegetables, gravy, pigs-in-blanket, and cranberry sauce.

Dessert:

*No-Show Pudding:* The Pudding that I forgot to buy.

After the meal, the presents were opened. Santa thought he brought everything in the list for Oneek and Ojaswi but needless to say, there was always something that would be missed. Bad Santa, Good kids!

#christmas2022 #family

December 30, 2022 at 6:48PM

Day 3679: Good bye, Pele!

The first world cup final I remember was in 1994. It wasn’t because of any player on the field but because of ‘the player’ that wasn’t on the pitch. I had just started playing football on ‘the Chaur - चौर’; a ground near our house. All the senior players from ‘the Chaur (चौर)’ kept repeating the same name; Pele. Pele this and Pele that…’had Pele been there on the pitch, Brazil would have won the world cup already.’

This created an amazing impression in my mind. I had never seen Pele play. Actually, it took me many years to see the man in action because his video footages were not shown on television and there was no youtube, then. However, I had already formed a godlike image of Pele in my tiny head and make up skills as if I was Pele. I would say, this is how Pele would dribble, that is how Pele would shoot etc. I bet; it took me at least a day to remember Pele’s real name; Edson Arantes do Nascimento. I don’t know how I pronounced it but I was over the moon when I got the answer right in one of the quiz contests. The man had made such an impression on me without even being visible; exactly like ‘the god’- The god of football. My love for football was multiplied several times just by the name; Pele.

Today I feel sad that the God of football has left this world, but I thank him immensely for love for football he has generated in me. I hope he rests in peace.

THANK YOU and GOOD BYE, PELE!

#pele #football 

December 13, 2022 at 6:50PM

Day 3663: I have a new job

… after 2 years of being jobless (hopefully not useless).

In nearly a decade at Emerson, I evolved from a boy to a man. I feel incredibly fortunate and privileged for the belief and confidence my superiors and colleagues have shown in me during the time when I have moved 4 different roles - from a graduate Engineer to Product Manager - it has been a great learning and growth curve; it has been immense. While I have enjoyed the work, the trainings and the personal progress; the thing that made me happiest the most was the PEOPLE, most of them friends for life, now. I have, also, made friends all over the world through Emerson and I shall cherish them forever.

At Emerson, I thought I had a company where I could work for life; but not to be - the site was shut and I was made redundant. Quickly I realised, all dreams don’t come true.

Oh Well! I made the decision to fulfil my lifelong dream of earning an MBA, instead, which was an incredible experience.

Through this, I've met some fantastic people and has given me new perspective. And in the process, I've crossed off finishing MBA off my bucket list. Some dreams can be made to come true.

Finally, now, I have accepted and started a role of Business Development Manager in Safran Group, which operates within the sector of Aircraft, Military and Space. It is the industry that I have lots of passion for. https://www.safran-group.com

SAFRAN was one of the companies I dreamt of working for when I was studying Aerospace Engineering. Some dreams do come true.

…and in this new role, with each passing day, I miss Emerson a little less, and this is because I think I have been lucky again with the PEOPLE.

I feel this role adds a new dimension to the career I have had so far. Working towards a more commercial side; after progressing from Graduate Engineer to Manufacturing Engineer to Product Engineer to Product Manager and now to Business Development Manager, this would greatly support what I want to do and accomplish next. I'm definitely out of my comfort zone, but it also gives me the chance to embody my character. I can utilize my Emerson experience and MBA-acquired academic knowledge, in this role. I am very enthusiastic about this position and am eager to see what I can achieve.

For the past two years, student life has been a roller coaster ride: sleeping when I wanted, binge-watching television shows and movies, finishing tasks at the very last minute, hanging out with my favourite people, but most significantly, growing closer to my family; my wife and kids; recognizing the wonderful contrast and beautiful combination of delightfulness and challenges of spending (a lot of) time together.

Touch wood, my redundancy hasn't been as detrimental as I thought earlier; rather, it has allowed me to refocus my life in the way I desired. It has provided me the headspace I needed to decide what I truly wanted to pursue. In the event that the path I've selected is incorrect, I now know that not all dreams are not meant to come true – but the journeys are to be enjoyed!

Bon Voyage to me!

Hello New Job…

December 8, 2022 at 6:50PM

Day 3658: Yomari Punhi

Pasa Puchah Guthi UK, South East London Chapter are organising a Yomari Punhi on Saturday, 10 December 2022.

All are invited!

#Newah #NEWARS #Yomari