Tuesday, June 16, 2020

Qualified - A philosophical tribute to SSR


Yesterday, a childhood friend messaged me on Whatsapp. "Bhai, my philosophy of life has changed. Now I don't need to run after success or making it big." This is what happens when someone famous dies an unnatural death and people start to realise the futility of their efforts in pursuing their dreams. These kind of situations trigger the unknown inside us and we start to ponder on our lives, goals and doubt on our capabilities.

Since my childhood I have seen lots of death. During adolescence, we used to cycle to school and there was a Hindu Samshan Ghat (Funeral place) en route and we used to encounter a death every few days. Also, we used to find dead animals like snakes, dogs etc. every now and then on the roads. You can imagine what impact will this have on kids who are growing up and learning about life. Even during my school days, there were couple of cases when there was news of unnatural death.

This incident of Sushant's death triggered an old incident which happened years back and I lost a close friend in that incident. I can very well relate to the pain of unnatural death and how depressing it can be for people connected to the passed soul. It hurts beyond belief and the brain is overflowing with only emotions. If you notice, I mentioned brain and not heart because scientifically the brain is wired to think and trigger any kind of emotions. That's what is the source of all emotions - our brain, our mind or our cerebral - whatever you may want to call it. That needs to be healthy.

I have seen few of his films and a very unique thing anyone might have noticed it that he gels so well with the character that you will hardly notice the real him. If you know about the upbringing in Bihar, children are always under pressure to perform in the competitive exams. I remember one of my teachers used to say - "IIT nahi nikale to zindagi kharab hai." This is a very general statement and is applicable in most cities in Bihar/Jharkhand. For a guy who cracked 11 entrance exams and got into one of the elite colleges, he was a Bihari parents' dream. And for someone to be connected to science and philosophy even after being surrounded by financial and social vultures, says a lot about the attitude. A person from Bihar can understand the depth of what I said just now because "papa ki maar se bahut dar lagta tha." For Bihari/Jharkhandi students, cracking a competition becomes the only goal of life when they get into their higher secondary as the state itself has very few opportunities to grow in life in THE RIGHT WAY.

Nevertheless, my point is that we already face a lot of hardships during our childhood, teenage and adolescence. But the one thing which keeps us going is curiosity. Curiosity to explore, to learn, to innovate and to do good. That keeps the child in us alive all the time. Anyone who is scientific in his brain has that child one way or the other. He knows that learning is the only way out to suffice the brain. So, what chokes that brain? The brain is choked when learning is compromised. That brain is choked when innovation is compromised. That brain is choken when philosophy is compromised. Who does that? Anyone who knows that he has the capacity to spoil my life will do that. The power, the greed, the avarice and the ignorance of the money minded Cassius kills the child in the mind. But the mind wants to be free. When the mind is unable to hold on to the string of life, it overcomes sanity and the unbearable happens.

I started following Sushant on Instagram after I saw his post that he has started to learn to build computer games. Doesn't that sound very ironical? A Bollywood celebrity trying to learn to make a game? But that shows the curious brain and will to keep going. But all this is overcome when the Cassius plays his game. And the mind succumbs to the will of others. It creates a rage inside the mind and a war of existence.

When someone makes a compromise, he/she kills a part of himself.

I have been thinking about the statement which I just mentioned for quite sometime. It is a life learning more than anything else. We should never rob someone of making a choice. It's the free will of existence. I think money, power and society makes you do that. It will make you oppress the freedom of someone's brain. Somehow, the same might have happened with the philosophical mind of SSR.

We know that Kaliyug will be only fortifying its existence as the days go by. So, we will need to strengthen our minds even more. May be he was too Educated to be in the coterie of dollar munching rats and his QUALIFICATION wasn't enough.

Let's celebrate the life of one of the finest actors and a science mate - Sushant Singh Rajput. Be well and may your soul get Mukti from the 'mrityu'lok we live in.

Thursday, January 09, 2020

Re-start!

It's been a while since I wrote anything and I have started to feel a void inside me as writing gradually eroded from my life. This year I have promised myself to do more art, write more stuff and get healthier and wealthier at the same time.

I had a fabulous start to the year as I made my first Artwork in quite sometime. Thanks to an inspirational pic posted by a friend on Instagram. Quite surprising that I can still do art is relatively lesser time which means I need to practise and do more.


Tuesday, July 03, 2018

Portrait of my daughter

This series of pictures shows how I was able to complete the painting of my daughter (done in Acrylic on Canvas 32.5" x 32.5")

REFERENCE PICTURE


The ART IN PROGRESS

The Start

















FINAL WORK


Thursday, December 03, 2015

Determinant Studios

So, it has been over an year since I have been running my firm, Determinant Studios. I work in merging technology and creativity and try to address problems of different industries. My focus has been to work with more and more creative people. Being with them comes natural to me and I learn a lot.

One of my very good friends, Patricia Frischer, became one of my first clients and over the last 1 year, I have worked persistently in improving and simplifying problems faced by her in SDVAN website.

Patricia writes about me on her website. Thanks a ton Patricia for those words.

Sunday, November 22, 2015

Photography - Exploring the Lens


So, I have been out for long time. I need to get back to my writing but innovation is keeping me involved more than ever.

Meanwhile, I have been learning photography myself and honestly, it is fun.

Sharing my Flickr here.

Hope you like them.

Thursday, February 19, 2015

You

Fiction or illusion, you belong to me.
The waves in my brain triggers a silence in your presence.
It is that inexplicable feeling, that insane serendipity --
My senses meeting yours.

Surreal or real, you belong to me.
You balance the warmth in my heart.
The intangible connection we share without cognizance;
My thoughts are not mine, but yours.

Time or timeless, you belong to me.
You are a part of me or I am a part of you.
I sleep, the body lives and you listen;
Existence is not mine, but yours.

Dimensions or spaces, you belong to me.
Your silhouette is a master's composition.
Organic as I am - you are life;
I am not mine, but yours.

Anand Bora

Saturday, June 21, 2014

Aloo chops - the Indo-Italian way

Accidentally, I happened to make the most amazing Aloo (potato) chops I had ever eaten. It is Saturday and I wanted to go to eat Aloo Chops (quite a delicacy in East of India, also called Aloo Bonda in other places). So I decided to make these today. I wanted to add a touch of experiment and the outcome was delicious.

I had some Italian seasoning and red chili flakes sachets which were left over from the earlier times I had ordered pizza from Papa John's & Pizza Hut. I used them as well to create the stuffing for the Chops.




Recipe
For Stuffing
Ingredients
3 Big Potatoes
3 Green Chilies
1 table spoon Dry Mint Powder
Salt (as per taste)
3 Red chili flake sachet from Pizza outlet [coz I used them ;)]
3 Italian Seasoning

  • Boil the potatoes and peel off the skin.
  • Chop green chilies and mash the potatoes. Mix all the ingredients well in a bowl.
  • Make small round balls out of the stuffing and keep aside.
  • The stuffing is ready.


Cooking method
Ingredients
100 grams Gram Floor (Besan)
50 grams Corn Flour
1 tsp Carom Seeds (Ajwain)
1 tsp Cumin Seeds powder
Salt (to taste)
Water - 1/4th cup
Vegetable Oil - 1 Cup

  • Mix gram floor, corn floor, carom seeds, cumin seeds powder and salt in a bowl.
  • Add water and make a semi-thick paste but it should be on the watery side.
  • Add the balls to the paste and roll them well so that the balls are covered properly.
  • Boil the oil in a frying pan(kadai) and keep the gas intensity to medium.
  • Now, add the rolls to the frying pan such that only 4-5 rolls are fried at a time and keep the gas intensity to low.
  • Keep turning the rolls so that they get cooked in all parts.
  • Once the rolls are light brown, take them out of the pan and keep on a newspaper or tissue to get rid of the excess oil.
  • Serve hot.

Saturday, June 14, 2014

Garlic Chutney Rajasthani style


This is one of my favorite chutneys and I am always thrilled in eating as well as preparing it too. :D

Ingredients
  • 3 tablespoon Coriander Powder
  • Cloves from 3 full Garlic bulbs which should be peeled
  • 5 Green/Red Chilles chopped
  • Coriander Leaves
  • Mint Leaves
  • 4 Tomatoes chopped
  • 2 tsp Cumin Seeds
  • 2 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 2 tsp Red chilly powder
  • 1 tsp Pavbhaji Masala
  • Salt as per taste
Cooking Method

Add the coriander powder, garlic cloves, chillies, coriander and mint leaves and tomatoes in a mixer. Grind the mixture until it becomes a thick paste. Once done, keep the paste aside.

Now, boil some oil in a pan (kadai) and add cumin seeds. As soon as the seeds start to crackle, pour the paste in the pan. Add red chilly powder, pavbhaji masala and salt to the chutney. Keep stirring while added and keep the flame to a minimum. Cover the pan and cook for 5 minutes. Remove the lid and stir for 5-10 minutes until the oil separates from the mixture and is visible on the top.

Voila! The chutney is ready.

Note: If you want to make it more tangy, you can try adding dry mango masala or chat masala.

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Thursday, May 15, 2014

So what next?

I have been following Politics since childhood and have always been vocal about my preference. Being an idealist with staunch nationalism, BJP always coincided naturally with my ideology as far as Indian polity is concerned. But I am an educated citizen and I reserve my discretion as far as choosing my government and the adequate candidate for the constituency is concerned.

But in this post, I want to talk about the fledgling political party of India, AAP, which has been in news since they formed the government in Delhi and then quit the government for legitimate reasons. AAP has been able to galvanize good people from different places of India and bring them into Indian polity in these elections. That, in itself, is an indication of success of the party.

Nevertheless, I just want to talk about the things AAP should have done more strategically and things they should do going forward. Please note that this post is only my personal opinion and I only talk about the critical mistakes they have done which they should have handled tactfully.

First, people have been critical about them forming the government in Delhi with 'forced' support of Congress. They formed the government after taking a referendum from people of Delhi which in itself was an innovative and mature way to finalize on a difficult decision in this age of information and connectivity. Their opposition have been critical about them taking support from Congress which is quite natural as they had been blasting Congress before the elections. But this should have been the biggest learning for them as modern politics in India is a team game in which you have to collaborate even with enemies.

Second, AAP had raised eyebrows with its 'vigilante' governance. It might not be correct legally and conventionally but it should be acceptable if it solves the purpose of serving the people. This might seem incorrect as it defies and undermines the structure of governance and administration. But if you know about how the Indian police machinery works in practice, you would be aware that these kind of vigilance on them is required. This is not meant to denigrate and belittle the police, but to make them realize the importance of their duty of serving the people in the right way. AAP should have tried to avoid Public Media for the raid which they conducted. This wouldn't have bloated the issue and solved the problem of the public as well.

Third, AAP has been questioned about so many candidates in the general elections. Their defense is that they got unprecedented response from good people throughout India and they couldn't deny them from contesting elections from their respective constituency. In a way, this is justified but it is yet to be seen as to how much does it convert to votes. If AAP candidates are able to garner sizeable votes at their constituencies, this would be remarkable even if they are not able to send many MPs to the Parliament.

Fourth, AAP is a phenomena which resides in the subconscious of every Indian. Every person in this country wants good people in the Parliament and good governance. Over the years, the vested interests of different parts of society have spoiled the administrators and the 'aam aadmi' had to bear the brunt of it. The idea of AAP is to address this issue comprehensively. Their clean image is their strength and appeal as well. The performance of the MPs sent by AAP should set benchmark for the MPs of other parties. This would address the criticism that AAP doesn't do its duties adequately.
Fifth, AAP should be very meticulous in selecting each member hereafter. They should work as if they have to build a world class company destined to prove its point. They should strengthen district and state level units and recruit people at those levels. This would give them a bigger and better base and foundation for the future. Additionally, AAP has to take preventive measures to mitigate the risk of political vendetta. They suffered heavily from it in Delhi for which they paid heavy price.

There are many more suggestions which can be given to groom this idea of alternate politics for India. AAP is analogous to the Five Star Movement of Italy from 2013. In their first elections, they came as third largest party in Italy. But India is a much bigger country than Italy where we have innumerous factors governing the choice of a voter. Nevertheless, AAP should continue to ignite the dormant souls who want to have a better India in the future. The platform which AAP has provided to the country should ensure that we head towards a mature democracy and a mature society.

AAP, Best of luck for the results tomorrow.  Be an excellent opposition and a perfect representation of your people.

Anand Bora

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Derek O Brien - Ambigram


I have been a fan of Derek O Brien, the quiz master since long. This is for him. :)

Saturday, May 03, 2014

Sangeet



This is a work in progress based on Newton Laplace equation. This is being done in acrylic on canvas.