It’s a season of FIFA 2010 and the fever has definitely caught up all parts of the world. It also has caught up the young guys who play in the play ground near my place. Each evening when I went out for a walk in the ground, I used to see them play with the cricket bat and ball. But this week it was all different. I saw five teams play football and was amazed and amused. What caught my sight was that there was this team of boys of around 12-15 years of age. The image I got after seeing them was that they came from one of the posh schools in the locality speaking the “cool” form of English and naming each other with the most famous footballers of today. I saw a “Rooney”, a “Ronaldo” and a “Beckham”. I was taking my usual path and when I was almost near the goal post, I saw a poor child all of 6 years staring at the ball. All he wanted to do was just pick the ball when it went out of the court and give it to the boys. He was also cheering them in the language he knew and the game went on…

After I finished a couple of rounds, I saw these boys hit a ball outside the goal post and within a blink of the eyes that poor boy went running behind the ball. Well, that was expected, but what I did not expect was this! As soon as he caught the ball, he called out for another four guys to just feel the ball. And they all came closer to see the ball and played with it for a few seconds until one of the boys in the team asked them to hurry up and return the ball. This was not uncommon in our country but I felt a strong comparison with that of capitalists and the poor, the policies, the law and everything else. Let me explain how.

Let’s go back to a decade earlier when the United States ruled the world in terms of technology and economy. (It’s not that they don’t do it now, but it was stronger before the recession). And the developing and underdeveloped countries were aplenty in the world, which waited for help from the riche rich. So comparing that with the football team, here is what I saw. I could compare the rich boys with these strong countries who have the money to buy whatever they needed and be always joyful. They had their own limits to cross and formed a different cult. That poor guy at the goal post was one of these poor countries who always waited for a missed opportunity at the goal post. And of course try and utilize every missed opportunity along with other fellow mates. Was this not how outsourcing started? Not that we are slaves or so, but that we had the knack of utilizing someone else’s opportunities waiting for it all the time. And that’s what put us where we are today! I was completely lost in these thoughts for few minutes. And when I came out of it I saw that the football team was continuing their game and the poor boy’s team started cricket on their own and of course indulged in the same! Is this inspired by today’s way of the world? I gave up thinking!

Coming out of the feverish blues, I was just analysing the other day as to what would be the worst (or rather call it best) way to hurt a person...Not that i am that bad to do it, but i am sure many of us would have at least been a victim of this, if not the cause :P So finally i came to a simple one liner that said hurt his/her ego and thats the most worst/best way of doing it!

I know its a well known fact but just mulling over what and why is the 3 letter word so important in ones life. I dont believe in people claiming "I am not an egoist" coz the sentence itself shows it all :P, but if one could say it from his/her heart that means they have achieved something great in life....May be something deserving more than a Nobel.....Sadly i have not yet come across someone like that, though i would love to :)

Psychologically i think the 3 letter word has a great impact on everyones' lives....Sometimes its a motivator to achieve something great in life...And many a times its the breaker in a relationship. Good that only humans can enjoy its benefits and pitfalls! (Imagine if every atom on earth had ego.......It would be a sad life to live) But giving it up like a saint is something not very practical i think coz at the end of the day "you"  live for "yourself" or rather "i" live for "myself".

Knowing this, why should someone's comment hurt your ego? I think its purely because "you" love "yourself" more than you love anyone else. And coming over this fact is something that i can never do :( Or may be i don't want to try.........

And will trying help? Well, i don't really know because day by the day you count the number of achievements "you" have done in life rather than what the "others" have done. And as the number of days increase, so will the number of achievements.Even if its a failure, you don't bother to count the "others" failure but only "yours"....So eventually its "you" all the way down.........

So when someone hurts your ego, its "you" who will be hurt and its obvious that you can never forget something/someone who hurt "you"! So the next time "you" are hurt, just forget it thinking that it was not "you" but "your" ego :) Sounds funny? Well, thats one idea that i have, to forget and forgive who hurts me :) :) (Thankfully, there have not been many..........)

Now you know the best way to hurt someone and how you can help yourself come out of it or nurture the wound :)
If someone has tried some other better ways of beating it, just put in a word here :) "I" might follow "you"!!!!

            Long time since i wrote something here and today i have a substantial amount to write! Well, its gotta do with my recent trip to Delhi, for an "innovation" competition. First time in Delhi, it was a different experience. Just thought that the visit was worth to be mentioned so penning the memories down here.

           As the Spicejet took off on a bright Monday morning from Bangalore i had many thoughts about Delhi. I knew about the couple of movies made on the old city of Delhi but the very picture that was there in my mind was the majestic "Rajpath", wide roads, ministerial cars, grand buildings........But as i landed at IGI, it was different :(. I could just see some marvelous buildings while the flight was landing which i presumed was Gurgaon, apparently a well planned city. But the view outside IGI was quite different. Our very own Devanahalli looked posh! As the taxi drove through the roads, it was just another city with the same problem of traffic congestion, lack of road sense and filth around. Being a capital of the nation does not really matter!

         After reaching the destined place which was in an institutional area, i was surprised to see a whole area around the IIT dedicated to only educational institutions, from IIFT to Kathakali International Society to Sangeeth Academy to Business Schools.....you name it, it was found! So also many hostels around for students. That was impressive. And it is campus life all round the clock! There are the roadside "kopchas" that take care of the lunch and dinner. Tasty parathas served with chutney and a smile is enough to satisfy one's hunger. Apart, there is a veg manchurian,thats actually saucy sambar and fried rice thats blackened to increase the carbon content! Well i had the privilege of tasting only these two "exotic" stuffs. I later planned to stick to the good old parathas.

          And i did have a chance to see old Delhi, the Mehruli area, where the Qutub Minar stands tall. You can see the rickshaw fellows waiting for capped visitors with glee in their eyes on seeing one. Then a whole lit of "must visit" places pop up! Of course i did ignore the list blissfully :) And it was pretty much crowded to be a residential area! Weather was chilling in the mornings and nights and the afternoons were warm-- thats typically Delhian, i was told. And being from a busy city, i found it great to see a city wake up at 10 or so. Hmm..will it ever happen here?

          One daunting feature in Delhi, the local CNG run public transport! If you have seen the Delhi Metro and assume that the other public transport is on par, be ready to take a shock. Its really pathetic! You can hear the engine screech half a kilometer away signalling you to move aside if you are on the road or the horn can actually shiver you to death! I promise i am not exacturating. The crowd happily hangs out of the doors and makes merry. I too travelled in one such buses and was confused to find who the bus conductor was, to collect the ticket. Yeah, they do not wear uniforms.......American culture huh? I dont know! But given all this, the ticket prices are 73.29% lesser than Bangalore's! That was stunning!

                But all these given, it was still a great trip. Unwinding for three days in a new and friendly environment was something great! Thank you Delhi :)

PS: This is in no way to hurt people with special sentiments for Delhi. Just my thoughts. Any co-incidence is purely non-intentional :)