Never Say Die - Battling HIV with Biceps - Bravo Pradip Kumar !!

Todya, I read about this guy Pradip Kumar in Times of india and couldn't stop myself sharing his inspirational story with my blog readers. This picture depicts bodybuilder Pradip Kumar flexing his muscles during a body building championship at the Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata on Saturday.

The 38-year-old from Manipur is just like any other fitness freak who can benchpress 200 pounds for a warm-up. The only thing that makes him different is he’s a HIV-positive and that the deadly disease hasn’t stopped him from living life to the fullest.

Pradip was into drugs and that's how he contracted the disease. But being HIV didn' t let him down. Infact, he used his anger and pain to become strong and channelised his emotions into body building.

I believe that Pradip is a role model for millions suffering from HIV and offers a ray of hope to them.

Hats off to Pradip for his spirit and that's why he was chosen as a brand ambassador of HIV/AIDS in 2008 by the Manipur State AIDS Control Society.

Mumbai Marathon 2009 - The spirit of Mumbai

Run Mumbai Run !!


Mumbai, yet again, showed the unflinching attitude of standing together in face of adversity. It has not been long when terror striked Mumbai. But Mumbai was in high spirits again on 18 Jan 2009 readying itself for Mumbai Marathon 2009. I too got the oppurtunity to run half marathon ( 21.097 kms)




Some were running for peace, some for health and some for various NGOs. And so was I- running for peace, for health, for the undying attitude of Mumbai !! For me, it was needed a long run. After all, what can you expect from someone who is used to walking just 1-2 kms per day !!


There is something that kept me moving till I reached the finish line. There were old people somewhere around their 70s who were ahead of me. There was support and cheer from crowd. There were thousands of volunteers who kept providing me water and ORS ( Oral rehydrastion solution) throughout my marathon. There were sweet little kids who were cheering 'Come on.. You can do it' and were offering biscuits and bananas..


Not only my own friends, but even I couldnt believe that I could complete the half marathon. The motivation to cross the finish line kept me moving throughout. What I learned from this marathon experience is that you can do much more than what you set for yourself. Initially I was targetting just 6-7 kms but challenging myself I ended up running 21 kms.



What I witnessed was also awesome. There were numerous NGOs in dream run. Lots of celebrities. Roads were too clean. Standard chartered and TCS billboards everywhere. 7 km, 18 km and other markings on the way. Kenyans who went ahead of me like a breeze !! Words would not be enough for me to describe my experiences. You ll have to be there to experience it yourself !!

For those who ran full marathon, I salute you ! It not only takes a lot of guts, but also perseverance and a lot of effort to keep one healthy after completing the full marathon. For those who are thinking of running next year, believe me it would be a great experience for you. But just keep in mind that you ll enjoy it more if you keep practising even 3-4 kms per day.

So what are you waiting for ? Get on your heels - Run Mumbai Run !!

How to avoid Job Loss in a turbulent economy ?

Lehmann bankrupt ! Merill Lynch Sold out !! Is AIG next ???Since the credit crisis began last yr, the financial markets are badly hit.
Bear Sterns fall, 6 months ago, created panic in the financial sector. The impact is not just US and financial industry. The impact is world over. Since the big banks play a major role in the economy of most countries, all the countries have been badly hit.What happens in such a market is quite evident. Job losses, panic in market, gloomy scenario about the future haunts everyone.
Is there something you can do to get rid of such unexpected situations.
The answer is a big "YES" and I am here to suggest a few alternatives.

We all know that we should have a plan B ready, in case plan A fails. But how many of us really think about plan B ??

Let's suppose you were working with Lehmann or with Merill or you're working somewhere and you dont feel job security. What you possibly do is to look at various alternatives:

1. What are you really good at, except the work you do in your office. May be you're a great Cook and you always thought of running a restaurant. Whatever happens to lehman or merill, you can always be sure that your hotel/restaurant will make money becoz people wont stop eating if there's a financial meltdown !!

2. Did you always felt a desire to teach your favorite subject but never had time to do so ?Why dont you start part time tuitions in Arts, Science or history at your home ? A part from doing what you love, you'll make yourself independent of a need for a job !!

3. Well, if you still want to be in the financial domain, what about a teaching faculty position in a business school, where you can use your current banking/finance experience. I am sure even after financial markets have crashed, you ll find a plenty of teaching positions related to your experience.

4. What if you are a spanish, Italian or a Chinese living in a country whose native language is none of these languages. You may start your own Foreign Language classes ! I am sure you never even thought about this !!

These are just a few of the oppurtunities.
So guys and gals, dont feel depressed about the current financial situations in the world.
Take it positively ! Such situations make a stronger person and prepare you for unexpected possibilities ahead !

Just look around you ! You'll find thousands of oppurtunities !!

Goa Trip: College Guys reunion after 4 years

Goa Trip with college buddies: 16 May-19 May 2008.


Planning for GOA:

It all started around mid April when one of my close friends, Lambu aka Pramod spread the virus of visiting Goa among us ( Me and my college buddies). Imagine college friends reunion, after almost 4 years ( we left college in 2004 and its 2008 now), that too in one of the most exciting, enthralling Tourist Spot in India- Goa.

After a long series of email exchange among my close buddy group, we finally decided to reach Goa on 16th May 2008 and leave on 19 May 2008. So now we were gearing up for a great blast at Goa !! Yeppie, even the thought of reunion was superb- thanks to Lambu for pushing all for the Trip.

Finally the D Day arrived. I left my room in Mumbai at 12.00 pm and reached Goa at 4.00 pm. Was getting too excited to meet lovely old college guys after 4 yrs. After waiting for almost 2 hrs at the airport, 4 guys ( Sud, Daju, Chinu n Daddu) who were coming from Banglore arrived. Well, i cant express my feelings in words now. It was amazing to see all 4 of them. One looked slim, another one looked bald and yet another gave a 'DevDas' look !!! It was around 5.30 pm now.Our other two friends ( Ankit aka Ganja, and Lambu) were expected at 7.15 pm. So we 5 headed towards Bosco, around 20 mins in Bus. We had some snacks there and came back to Airport at 7.15 to receive Ganja and Lambu.So now we were 7 people now.



Brief intro of crazy buddies:
Let me give a brief account about my crazy buddies to make this post interesting:




1. Lambu aka Pramod- You can easily make out when he talks that he's a businessman. He is the guy who, on one day, can convince you to buy a Nokia set claiming that Motorola sucks. On another day, he is the same guy who will convince you to buy Motorola ( becoz it is great in design, low cost, has more features- and he will say he is using it for 2 yrs) and will claim that Nokia sucks. He really is a decent guy. You'll notice his decency in one of the pics i have shown below.



2. Ganja aka Ankit- This guy was most excited after meeting all the old buddies. Well there's nothing new about it. He's always excited meeting Guys !! This guy can beat you in any race as he is most adventure-prone. He defeated every one in a GO-KARTING race. We believe that he takes care of his falling hair, more than his girlfriend ( if he cud ever make one !! ). Still the hair keeps falling every moment.

3. Sudd aka Sudhir- This guy keeps making faces and tries to copy me. I enjoy irritating him the most and will continue to do so !



4. Daju aka Servesh- Though this guy looks like a human being, he is not !! Well, do you think a normal human being can climb a coconut tree in just 30 secs and bring a coconut from the tree ??? He keeps entertaining you with his talks, which more you ask him to stop, more he continues !!

5. Daddu aka Satya- Dont know why this guy has become like a 'Devdas' ( Guy who has long beard, moustache and gives a saint look) ? Well, he seems to be most intellectual guy in the group. I mean yeah he is !

6. Chinu aka Chinmay - This guy is always smiling. You should see him while he is swimming- he makes weird faces while swimming- dont know why so ?



Finally, We got a room to stay:

We took a Chevrolet and headed for some place to stay. This was not the peak season so we expected somewhat decent rates, but the hotel rates were exorbitant. A hotel owner asked us 7500 for 3 night stay in a single room ( Was he kidding or had he gone mad ?). We left this place and moved to another hotel. As you know Lambu, he made us go from one hotel to another for almost 2 hrs and kept negotiating. Thanks again to "decent Lambu", whose negotiating skills have always been a saviour.
 His Marwari style convinced the owner to rent us two big rooms at just 1800 per night. So we paid a total of 3600 for our stay.


DAY 1:BAGA Beach( 16th night): Baga beach looks great at night. It was full moon night and the view of sea was simply superb.This beach is a must visit for anyone visiting Goa. It is located in North Goa.

DAY 2:WATER SPORTS, HUKKA, SNOOKER( BAGA BEACH: 17th May )

Enjoyed Parasailing, WaterScooter and Scary banana ride ( Scary becoz they will take you on a banana shaped boat, in the middle of the sea, and then the boat will be turned upside down). Banana ride and WaterScooter - I enjoyed the most. Parasailing was not that scary..


Here I am doing Parasailing( Courtesy: Ganja dear)


DAY 3:SOME FORTS,VAGATOR BEACH, GO KARTING ( 18th May)

Picture of decent Lambu, while staring a bikini-clad foreigner along with localites :))
Now you know why I call him decent !!


Look at this guy, Can a normal human being do this ?? Crazy Fellow- Daju.


Shameless Ganja- Behaving as a race winner of GOKARTING race- though he came fifth !!


DAY 4: ( 19 May) GOOD BYE GOA:


It was time to bid adieu to my buddies and to Goa ! We hired a Chevrolet and moved towards Railway station as 4 of the guys had to catch train at 3.15 pm. We all hugged each other and left the railway station at around 3.45. Then the three of us (Ganja, Lambu and me) left for Airport. Our flight was at 6.30.We kept roaming at Airport. As the clock ticked 6.30, i moved to catch the flight to Mumbai and Ganja n Lambu moved to catch flight to Delhi. With this, the Goa chapter comes to an end. Good bye Goa, We will come again some day. We had a great n memorable time here.

One more thing: The best time to visit goa is from dec to march. There is no point in visiting Goa during June to Sep, as it is Off-season.


Bookmark my post in case you ever plan to visit Goa.

Pangea Day- Celebrating World Peace

Yesterday ( May 10, 2008) was World Pangea day, celebrated across the world. I was lucky enough to get an entry pass to NCPA( National Centre for Performing Arts), Mumbai India. Here it started at 11.30 in night and ended at 3.30 am in morning.

I took these pictures at Pangea Day Mumbai, India:

There were various short films showcased at the event. Some of them were really very creative and some were so touching. I ll discuss a few here.

Pangea Day- Films and message

The first film showcased Mozambique and starts by showing an Aunty hanging a sweater on a rope in her house. Next scene shows kids playing Football. All of a sudden a big guy comes and takes away the football, lashing at kids, "You bloddy kids tear away all the Condoms". The ball is gone now. The kids rush to a shop, gets a condom, blows it and tie a knot. Then they cover it with paper, cloth and wrap it with a thread of sweater that was hung in Aunty's home. They keep wrapping th ball till the Sweater vanishes. They keep playing and suddenly the ball goes to Aunty's house. And to your utter surprise, Aunty starts making the sweater again from the ball. The film ends from where it started- Showing the Aunty hanging the sweater again on the same rope.

Message: The film gives the message that in Mozambique there are more than 5 million Condoms supplied every year by UN, but on an average, a man in Mozambique uses just 5 condoms per year. Most of the condoms are used by kids to play football. Now i understand why HIV/AIDS is so prevalent there.

Some other films which are really touching are: The dancing Queen( Shows dance of two fingers on a table and at the end of dance - shows a girl who is on wheelchair), The Dog(This was my favorite film- This film had a deep meaning and its ending leaves you thinking what might have happened in the end. Must see for all)

Here I wrap up my post. Pls do see all the movies at www.pangeaday.org. The movies are awesomely Thought Provoking and show the immense creative talent of short filmmakers.

Pls do leave your comment about the films- Which film you liked most and what message you took home from the films.

StartUp Saturday Mumbai Launched

The most awaited StartUp chapter for Mumbai has been launched yesterday (Sat, 10 May 2008). We were a group of 40 people who met at Kohinoor Hotel, Dadar where we had two sessions- one by Preetam, CEO of Marcellus and another session on Adobe AIR by Brajeshwar.

Pic: Participants at StartUp Saturday Mumbai

The best part of such meetups is the interaction that we have with like minded people.

Startup saturday will be held every second and fourth saturday of the month.

Visit Mumbai Startup Saturday for more details.

Pic: Preetam, CEO Marcellus giving a presentation.

Visit StartUp Mumbai Pics to see all pics of StartUp Saturday Mumbai.

How to add google Ads within Blogger posts ?

Here are the four steps to quickly add Google ads inside your blog post.

1. Login to Google Adsense, select an ad format and Get the Ad code.

2. In the code, replace:

3. On template, click 'Expand Widgets', then select the HTML and paste it in a text file.
Now look for

4. Note that 'Adsense Code' refers to the code you got after doing step 2.

Thats it, you're done. You should see the Google Ads floating on left hand side with your content on right hand side.