Being edwin aldrin

Life is full of firsts. You know your first steps, your first crush, your first fight,... And we live in a world which is all about being first. The first guy to fly the plane, the first guy to ride a car, etc. No one seems to remember the guy who was second. Who cares about him yaar? he's the perpetual bride's maid, the guy who never made it and then there's edwin aldrin.

Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin is the guy who was the second man on the moon. Imagine sitting in that small little Lunar module with the computing power of today's casio calc, not knowing whether you are going to ever go back to earth and watching while you see Neil Armstrong land his foot on the moon. That must've hurt. Well the inside story is that they flipped a coin to see who'd set foot first but the coin never landed so Mr. Armstrong pulled rank and walked on the moon or was it a grand set in Texas.

The world is full of Edwin Aldrins. The guys who just missed being CEOs. The guy who just lost the race. the guy who just lost wimbledon and unlike Mr. Aldrin they are forgotten much faster. We are a world who works like a Pyramid. There has to be an apex. A leader, a king. The greeks began democracy as a rule by many, but today we still need a figurehead, a president/Prime minister to lead the country. It's not that he alone can do anything, but we as a race need someone to idolise, someone to berate.

It's really not bad to be an Aldrin. Not everyone can be an Armstrong (be it Neil or Lance). If you've been to Mumbai during Gokulashtmi, you've probably seen the human pyramid of people. I've been part of that. The tallest and strongest generally form the base. It's generally the scrawniest who climbs up and braks the handi. Every Pyramid needs that strong base and yet it's always the hindi film hero who breaks the handi whereas logically he'd be much more useful downstairs.

The egyptians knew what they were doing when they made the pyramids. It's the ultimate structure of power. They like all of us know that it's the top that counts. The world is choc - a -bloc full of people in the pyramid. It's the top who every1 knows.

So think about it, it's really not being an Aldrin. Actually it would be great to be him. You really need the peole who support the top. Who help the guy on top being who he is. So go ahead and don't feel bad about being that number 1. It's OK. There's always place for an Aldrin. Though if it's all the same I'd rather be Armstrong :)

- Pranay

P.S. any1 remember the 3rd guy who was orbiting the moon. Scott something I believe.

Poetry in motion

IMG_0903, originally uploaded by Pranay Rao.

One of the most technically brilliant scenes that I remember is from this movie called blade - trinity, where count dracula walks in slow motion while the crowd around him seems to be moving at full speed. The scenes been replayed in a zillion movies yet it sticks in my head because of the sheer poetry in motion. there's something about the timing. It's that moment in life when you stand still and the world whizzes by. It's retrospection time.

I'm right now in Bangalore down with a tummy infection again. I think it's time I visit a proper gastroentologist. I've been keeping busy. Looking at sales, trying to read some books which I picked up at the strand book fair.

This Sunday was most different, beginning with meditation, moving on to a nice french lunch at Bat & Ball which reminded me of Satsanga in Pondicherry and then scategories with friends read Manish, Andy, Tanmay and Angad and dinner at Manish's. Bangalore is turning into more of a things to do place. At least I am surrounded with people who are enthusiastic to do something.

Anyway all the beautiful markets which are part of my market have yet to be visited by me. I really have to get my act together and start travelling more. Anyway travelling will have to wait a couple of days. till I recover at least.

My good friend during all this travelling has been the Kamath's restaurant. Unfortunately experimented at Kollegal, which caused my tummy problem. The Kamath's restaurants are these complete vegetarian places where you are served excellent veg food. The food reminds me of the fare my granny (Amma) conjured up for Gokulashtmi. You have a choice of Puris and/or Jowar Rotis with an assortment of curries, each uniquely tasty. The curries are really not designed to go well with the rotis. The flavour comes out excellently with rice, which is quite the staple here.

I have hardly had an opportunity to use my camera during my tours yet, mainly because they have been hectic one day affairs. Once fitter I plan to do a good long tour of the entire branch territory, trying to understand each part. There's only so much you can understand through hearasay. Part of learning is experiencing.

BTW blade - trinity is quite the OK movie, so don't go and watch it because of this post. But there are contless such movies which have a special part which people will always remember. Take Chamma Chamma from China Gate. The movie sank like a stone but the song lives forever through Moulin Rouge. And even the greatest movies have their sore points. I hope you have seen Seher, this wonderful movie about the UP underworld with Arshad Warsi and Pankaj Kapoor. There is this irritating little trick in this very real movie. Every time Mahima Chowdhury (looking nice for a change) comes onto the scene, there's a fan blowing on her face, which I tell you is quite out of place.

Anyway life has moved onto a completely different job in a completely different city with very different things to manage. For a moment I too need to pause and watch as the city passes by, just like in the picture I clicked in Ernakulam.

Till next time,

Luv,

Pranay