India Nite photographs...

India Nite 2008 photographs are up on the net... check out this link-

http://picasaweb.google.com/culturalassociationofindia

Some more photographs are pending, I will upload them on my personal page once I will be back from Utah...

P.S.- Thanks to Bharat and Kamakshi for such a wonderful work...

Yaaden

Baaten bhool jati hai... yaaden yaad aati hai...

I was listening this song almost all day today, may be feeling nostalgic after getting so much time in hand. It has been two weeks when I was busy as hell, and now I am sitting without any good and troubling myself, trying to meet people (most of them are apparently busy with the coming exams) or reading the world news and caring about all those issues that I have never cared before. In short, I am trying best to keep myself as much busy as I can, but still got no luck.

Now involving myself in the preparation for the next road trip to Utah, on paper it sounds like true adventure and fun. Once again, its a new group and new people... its always been a great learning experience when you go out with unknown faces. At least for me, they are much better those known ones who always bring pain towards end. Anyways, learned some really thoughtful lessons in past couple of months so its time to keep quiet and look forward towards a hippie life rather then having a life with worldly things and relations...

Its Election time

MP, Rajasthan, Delhi, and CG, apart from being a part of Republic of India the have one more thing common this time, all these states have state assembly elections this time. On one side we have BJP ruling states (MP, CG, and RJ) and other side we have Congress rule (Delhi). These election will be a major indication of the next year's national elections.

I always like reading about politics and on and off screen stories in a number of news papers. This year, being in US it was not that easy but thanks to revolution information technology that I can read all those stories here as well. Sometime I do feel nostalgic reading those stories, and finding myself at home reading tidbits and depth stories of India Politics. This time two news stories attracted me and surprised me-

1. This was a coverage of MP elections, which says this time election is more about the local issues that involves development, education and basic supplies rather then what we have seen in history of the state. I have seen and read about the past when elections were more about national issues or some time emotional issues, but these elections are like a breeze in desert of the politics of central India. I am just hoping for this trend to continue for future.

2. This shows a real face of the silent heroes of the country, this story is from Narayanpur, CG. This district is infamous for Naksalite influence and in past I read stories about these guys killing people those who went for voting. It has been a long story of blood and ballot there, people have been killed, some have lost their fingers but still there is a passion about voting. These people mainly belong to SC and ST and then have spent their life in forests of Narayanpur without any modern facility like electricity, school etc. but still their passion for exercising their right to vote is surprising for me when I compare them with the people in South Mumbai, so called posh areas of Delhi, east Indore and many developed cities. I think we all have something to learn from these true champions of carrying forward the dreams of modern India that our grandparents have seen some decades back.

Go Wild!!!

This is latest blog entry on Priyanks's blog... after reading it, I feel like someone is speaking my mind (except for the starting part) . So this time lets 'Go Wild!!!' by Priyanka...

"I was watching this series on Discovery, "Thrill Zone", based on the stunts daredevils performed on Niagara Falls. I was not at all happy with people risking their lives (and of the rescuers) for few moments of mad thrill but what fascinated me was the power of nature. And I wondered how every time we try to conquer natural force, mother nature shows us our limits. I had a crazy idea of not getting involved in the family and social bonds and earn money and discover the wonders of nature. Go places and see wonderful things. Go wild..!!

Go to Grand Canyon and see the largest canyon, go Australia and see the largest coral reef system, climb the might Himalayas, see the beautiful and amazing northern lights, witness an active volcano. Go wild in the jungles of amazon and feel the love in Swiss Alps. Feel the thunder of waterfalls. Float on the dead sea. Witness the most wonderful sunrise in key west and mesmerizing sunset in Langkwai. Have an adventure in raw hills of Arunachal and back waters of Kerela. Get burnt in the heat of Sahara and freeze in Alaska..

And if some day I want to see how we have done wonders.. there is always Colosseum of Rome, Pyramids of Giza, Beautiful bridges and underwater tunnels, epitome of Love, Taj Mahal, always awake metro cities..

There is so much to explore that a lifetime seems to be too short. And here we are wasting our lives in the day to day miseries.
I wish some day God would grant my wish and say that I am being relieved of all my duties and responsibilities and could go and see what he has in store. Heaven on Earth..!!"

India Nite... Preparation to presentation!!!

Those of you who have just heard about the India Nite, but not got chance to see the event this short collection will probably help you to get a feel of the event. This is a behind the screen collection, I will post a link of live event photographs soon on this blog.

Photographs by: Bharat Choudhary

Sorry! This video is no longer available due to technical problems.

ⓒAnoop Jain and Bharat Choudhary

CAI over... what next?

So finally Diwali Night is over, it was the last event of the year for CAI and for me as president of the organization. It was a great year for us, I started with certain objectives to strengthen this organization. I think it was partially successful reign, I would rate it 6.5/10. I have a lot to share about this organization and I had some interesting experiences while working with this organization, but it would be better to share all those after the elections.

Now the question is what next? Its been a while since I have been wild as before, and did lot of things that was not in my basic nature (though did some wild things ;-)). I never wanted to be in any comfort zone, but working in CAI was making me within this zone, working with people you know, being within the community and interacting with same people. Now really looking for some 'true' adventure. I also must admit that studies have been affected up to a certain extent, so its time to get on the research work again.

tidbits

1. India Nite is over with record breaking attendance

2. Our dance was super hit with great song selection... though we were lacking in coordination

3. IndiaNite afterparty was grand success with about 200 attendance, and thanks to day light saving starting from mid night that we have got chance to dance one extra hour

4. Diwali night is next in the list, our last event of the year and for me last CAI event as the president

5. Its really hard to get back to study after a long break... just trying hard to start over with a new energy