Reincarnation

Reincarnation, literally "to be made flesh again", is a doctrine or metaphysical belief that some essential part of a living being survives death to be reborn in a new body. This cycle continues until the soul receives moksh.

Having stated this, my cousin, Krishna, and I were pondering about a particularly cheesy pick up line/scenario about having known someone in a previous life time (meeting in a pichla janam). While no guy has ever come up to me and said they knew me from a previous lifetime - if they had, as cynical as I am I probably wouldn't believe them. I'd have a laugh it off and move on. What if someone I knew from a previous life with whom my soul is connected to is out there somewhere?

Which brings on an experiment. I’ll try to connect with a random subject as their girlfriend/love interest from a previous life. Does this pick-up line work on guys? My subjects should only be flattered, I only consider guys that I think are attractive. Keep you posted.

Update 1:
Here's message sent to subject 1 - ", you probably don't remember, but we laid eyes on each other during a sunset at the Mela in a past life in an eastern Gujarati village. Our eyes met and there was an instant spark, a deep connection. We briefly spoke and you had to return to the neighboring village where you resided. You vowed to come again to the Carnival the next day, but star-crossed as we were, it didn’t happen. My then sister, Mangi, hypothesized it was due to those pesky ‘gaon vallons’ [our villages feuding and all] or the village gunda that had an unnatural interest in me. I think destiny has brought us back to acquaintance with each other. “Tera Mujhse Hai Pehle Ka Nata Koi…”? Jog any memories??
--- Jagruti from a previous life/ Sheel in this one"

Attitude

I read this and thought it was really cute:

If A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
equals
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

Then,

Hard Work
H+A+R+D+W+O+R+K
8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%

Knowledge
K+N+O+W+L+E+D+G+E
11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%

Love
L+O+V+E
12+15+22+5 = 54%

Luck
L+U+C+K
12+21+3+11 = 47%

.
.

Most of us think these are the most important ???

Then what would take us to 100% ?

Is it Money ? ..

NO ! ! !

M+O+N+E+Y
13+15+14+5+25 = 72%


Leadership ? ....

NO ! ! !

L+E+A+D+E+R+S+H+I+P
12+5+1+4+5+18+19+9+16 = 89%


Every problem has a solution, only if we perhaps change our attitude.

To go to the top,
to that 100% ,

What do we really need to go further... a bit more...

ATTITUDE
A+T+T+I+T+U+D+E
1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%

It is OUR ATTITUDE towards Life and Work that makes OUR Life 100% ! ! !
ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING

Attitude Can Change Our Life

"The basic thing is that everyone wants happiness, no one wants suffering. And happiness mainly comes from our own attitude, rather than from external factors. If your own mental attitude is correct, even if you remain in a hostile atmosphere, you feel happy."
-H.H. the Dalai Lama

Twitter

Twitter -- What is it? Well it's just a place you add your status -- what you are doing? Then you add friends who are using Twitter. They tell you what they are doing and read what you are up to. How interesting? Not really – who cares. I have the same feature on Facebook. It takes me forever to figure out what to type in that. Something exciting, something relevant that everyone would want to know. I can’t manage to use that real well. So I was like, ‘why join twitter?’. Lately, I’ve had a lot of thoughts. Really I’ve had them all my life.  Seriously, they were like one sentence thoughts, which weren’t really enough for a single blog entry, but I can put a couple of these thoughts together for an actual blog entry, so I thought I would join Twitter. It’s allows me to write the things that I’m thinking as I’m thinking them. So if that’s it’s purpose then it’s useful. I don’t have any friends on it though. Sad but true. No one I know is on it. If you are on it comment.

The URL: http://twitter.com/sheelshah

To Achieve Work/Life Balance

Understand the importance of what type of work/life balance you need.
I'm personally not the kind that likes a balance. I prefer to tip the scale in favor of life.

Take less to work. Sometimes you have a laptop, which is understandable. Remember a laptop is way your employer tries to get you to work at home.

Looking for a New Job: Benefits

Some of the things they don't tell you in an interview are some of the most important.

Hindola

Hindola is an important Hindu festival celebrated in India. The festival falls in the Hindu month of Shravan, which can be July to September depending on the year.
This is a festival of swings, wherein Lord Krishna is placed in a decorated swing and swung gently. The festival originates from 5000 years ago in Vrindavan when Lord Krishna was swung in a hindola by the Gopis to express their love and affection towards him. Hindola translates to swing, which is made in a variety of colors, shapes and forms. The hindola can be decorated with vegetables, leaves, flowers, earthen pots, fruits, dry fruits, beans, chocolates, steel dishes and cups, etc.

As this blog tries to be informative as well as controversial. I'm going to ask the question, why the deal with Swaminarayan mandir's celebrating the Hindola festival. It's not like Swaminarayan was ever swung on swing by gopis. And I don't want to hear any made up stories either of devotees swinging him.

With Great Power...

A couple of people recently said to me, "Sheel, God put you here to save me." I don't know if I want to save people, because if I'm here to save others, who is here to save me. I'm not looking to be a hero.

Draupadi was a picky woman...

Draupadi was a very picky lady..Can you blame the gal..she just wanted the best. If a soul like her is that demanding, than leaves little hope for us.

Draupadi is the wife of the Pandavas. She had in a previous lifetime prayed to Lord Shiva to grant her a husband with five desired qualities (Strong, Intelligent, Sharp witted, Handsome and a great archer). Lord Shiva, pleased with her devotion, tells her that it is very difficult to get a husband with all five qualities that she desired. But she sticks to her ground and asks for the same. Then Lord Shiva grants her wish saying that she would get the same in her next birth. She got them all right(be careful what you wish for). She got each of the five qualities she wanted, but one quality was present in one of the five husbands. She got five husbands.

It's crazy that "handsome" was part of her requirements in a good husband. If it's in the Mahabharat..you know all girls think like that and are somewhat shallow.

Could you imagine -- five husbands -- I could. Bet she was satisfied in more ways than one.. I of course mean, 5 salaries from the 5 husbands...

Aaja Nachle "Castes" a Spell

So I watched Aaja Nachle, the film being touted as Madhuri's comeback film. Let me say it was a good movie going experience. The dances, Madhuri's look and acting were excellent. I felt that it could have had a little more comedy in the story line. I wanted to laugh, cry and be mesmerized in the same movie. Akshaye Khanna was a nice surprise and so was Irfan Khan. Of course Konkana Sen Sharma and Kunal Kapoor were excellent, I loved their part of the storyline. Konkana has never been this funny and non-serious. The last 30 minutes of the film were beautiful to watch. Everyone of course loved the title song - visually if not lyrically.

Some controversy hit the film and the government in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana banned Aaja Nachle on the release date of Friday, November 30th and asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to impose a countrywide clamp-down on the movie alleging its title song was "unconstitutional".

"Bazar mein machi hai maramar; bole mochi bhi khud ko sunhar" (There is so much chaos in the market that even a cobbler is calling himself a goldsmith) -- was the objectionable line of the title song. First of all let me go by explaining the song, it talks about how Madhuri's character loses her jewelry and the attraction the men of the town feel for her that they will go to any lengths to help her. Even say they specialize in a specific trade, that they don't. I didn't find anything offensive in the line. But some felt as if the line was saying that the mochis are a lower caste than sonnars. What I'm saying is, 'Does it really matter? When you are comparing two low castes what does it matter who is higher or who is lower." Yeah...I said it. Watch this be my last post.

Concerned by the ban and protests, director of the film Anil Mehta announced the "objectionable" line from the song would be deleted. Censor Board chairperson Sharmila Tagore, who cleared the film for release, stated, "We saw the words 'mochi' (cobbler) and 'sonar' (goldsmith) as people of a certain profession, not a caste. Urban Indians would not I'm sure be offended - but as they say India lives in centuries, so to that extent people in smaller towns may find it offensive, and we are sorry we overlooked that,"

When promotional videos of the film had been running for a very long time, why did the government decide to wait until the film's release to deem the lyrics unacceptable? Answer -- simply --- Haters!! Deep down inside the government of UP, Punjab and Haryana are Sridevi, Juhi Chawla, Kajol fans..

Top Albums/Songs of 2007

I think I quite enjoyed 2007 musically. My top three albums of all time are of course Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Taal and Saathiya. Nothing has yet changed this but here are some songs from this year that I will continue to listen to beyond 2007.

Top Albums/Songs of 2007

1) Namastey London (Kya Yehi Pyar Hai, Main Jahaan Rahoon, Viraaniya, etc)
2) Life in a Metro (In Dino, Alvida, O Meri Jaan)
3) Jab We Met (Aaoge Jab Tum, Mauja Mauja, Tum Se Hi, Yeh Ishq Hai)
4) Anwar (Mithoon: Maula Mere Maula, Javeda Zindagi)
5) Saawariya (Jab Se Tere Naina, Yoon Shabnami, Masha-Allah, Saawariya)

These were good as well. I want to say that Guru initially was in the top five but had to be moved to an Honorable Mention once I realized Jab We Met was that amazing.

Honorable Mentions:
Awarapan (To Phir Aao, Tera Mera Rishta), Delhii Heights (Tere Bin), Cheeni Kum (Jaane Do), Guru (Ay Hairathe, Terre Bina)

Saawariya vs Om Shanti Om

I went to go see Saawariya first (Friday), due to the fact I despise Shah Rukh. I must say I enjoyed the towel drop in Saawariya. Yeah I know what you are thinking..who didn't? The movie was visually and musically excellent. It was like a Broadway play, but the story was on the simple side, making the movie about a little less than two and half hours. After watching OSO, I appreciated Saawariya's length. Rani's role and acting were one of the best things in the movie. She made the movie better.

The next day I went to go see Om Shanti Om to a packed and lively audience. The audience as a whole made my movie-going experience awesome. I enjoyed the cheering, screaming and whistling. The cameos by 30 something stars made everyone excited and it was fun seeing who got the most cheers. Kajol with the most, then followed by Juhi. OSO was a good experience watching in the theater but wouldn't say the same if you watch the DVD at home. Also wouldn't say the same if you don't understand the ongoings of the Hindi film industry, the jokes just won't make sense. I watched the bits that made me crack up just go over my dad's head.

The whole Manoj Kumar episode in OSO has been heavily talked about with Manoj Kumar protesting his look alike getting beat up by the police. Could that be offensive? Hmmmm. Is OSO just full of offensive jokes? Most of them are. There's a whole bit where Om pretends to be a famous South Indian movie start shooting for the fictional film, "Mind It". I recently read a blog about how offensive it was to South Indians. "Rascalah"

What I found to be offensive was the 'Apahij Pyaar' bit. Though it had me cracking up. My humor is on the offensive side though. It has Om playing this handless, legless, deaf-mute who is in love with a girl who is getting married to another guy. I loved the scene where Om is at her wedding showering flowers at her with his mouth (since he is handless). LMAO!!! I understand that 'Apahij Pyaar' was to show that even if limitations are placed because of the storyline, anything can happen in an Indian film in a dream sequence, but did it need to make fun of the handicapped. The dream sequence has the 'Apahij' dancing to the song 'Dard-E-Disco' with a six-pack. The term 'Dard-E-Disco' coined by Farah Khan the director of the film was one of the most innovative terms I've heard in a long time. The best part of the movie was that, the cameos and Deepika Padukone. The worst part of the movie was as Variety magazine said in it's review of OSO, "the movie also requires considerable tolerance of the King's limited range." I kinda got tired of him after a while.

So after so many chapters about Om Shanti Om, which do I think is the better film Saawariya or Om Shanti Om?
Neither. I found neither lived up to expectation.

Tere Bin Saanu Sohniya

- New Song of the Moment -

I'll have to admit, I've heard it a while ago..but it didn't register for me until I heard Mussarat performing it on SaReGaMaPa Challenge 2007...eventhough he messed up with the lyrics. He sang it beautifully. No clue what all of the words mean (This is before I did a PhD on the song)..my Punjabi (or Five-Jabi) is seriously beyond lacking. Evenso, the words are utterly beautiful.

After listening to it a one-trillion-gazillion times and searchin' the net...this is what I have come up with..

Tere Bin
Music and Performed By Rabbi Shergill
Lyrics By Sanyukta Verma

Tere Bin Sanu Sohniya Koi Hor Nahio Labhna Jo Dave Ruh Nu Sakun Chukke Jo Nakhra Mera Ve Main Sare Ghumm Ke Vekhia Amrika , Roos, Malaysia Na Kittey Vi Koi Fark Si Har Kise Di Koi Shart Si Koi Mangda Mera Si Shama Koi Hunda Surat Te Fida Koi Mangda Meri Si Wafa Na Koi Mangda Merian Bala Tere Bin Hor Na Kise Mangni Merian Bala Tere Bin Hor Na Kise Karni Dhup Vich Chhan Tere Bin Sanu Sohniya Koi Hor Nahio Labhna Jo Dave Ruh Nu Sakun Chukke Jo Nakhra Mera	Besides you my love I shan't find another Who'll give peace to my soul Who'll endure my fickle temperament (nakhra) I have gone and seen it all America, Russia, Malaysia It didn't matter to anyone They all had some conditions Some asked for my time Some were fascinated with my face Some demanded my fidelity No one asked for my demons/flaws Besides you no one else could Ask for my flaws/demons Besides you, there isn't anyone with whom I could Create a shade under the sun Besides you my love I shan't find another Who'll give peace to my soul Who'll indulge me
Jiven Rukia Si Tun Zara Nahion Bhulna Main Sari Umar Jiven Akhia Si Akhan Chura "Rovenga Sanu Yad Kar" Hasia Si Main Hasa Ajeeb Par Tu Nahi Si Hasia Dil Vich Tera Jo Raaz Si Mainu Tu Kyon Ni Dasia Tere Bin Sanu Eh Raaz Kise Hor Nahion Dasna Tere Bin Peerh Da Ilaaj Kis Vaid Kolon Labhna Tere Bin Sanu Sohniya Koi Hor Nahio Labhna Jo Dave Ruh Nu Sakun Chukke Jo Nakhra Mera	The way you paused slightly I won't forget my entire life Looking away you said "You will weep remembering me" I Laughed a strange laugh But you didn't laugh The Secret that lay in your heart Why didn't you tell me? Besides you, this secret of your's I won't tell anyone Besides you, the cure to my ailment Which doctor could possess Besides you my love I shan't find another Who'll give peace to my soul...
Milia Si Ajj Mainu Tera Ik Patra Likhia Si Jis 'te Tun Shayr Varey Shah Da Parr Ke Si Osnu Hanjnu Ik Duliya Akhan 'ch Band Si Seh Raaz Ajj Khulia Ki Tere Bin Eh Mere Hanjnu Kise Hor Nahio Chumna Ki Tere Bin Eh Mere Hanjhu Mitti Vich Rulnha Tere Bin Sanu Sohniya Koi Hor Nahio Labhna Jo Dave Ruh Nu Sakun Chukke Jo Nakhra Mera) - 5	Today I found A Letter of Your's In which you've Scribbled A Couplet of Varis Shah Upon Reading it Fell a teardrop That was trapped in my eyes All the secrets were revealed today That besides you, these tears of mine Won't be kissed away by no one else That besides you, these tears of mine Will wither away into the dust Besides you my love I shan't find another Who'll give peace to my soul...

Best Quotes

The 'British Raj' Influence

The British Raj left many marks upon India and Indians. One of which is the English language, which has become one of the countries official languages. The language has so become intertwined with the daily language --that you can't tell what are Indian words and what are British words.

My study of the Influence in our language started when I was reading the book, A Passage to India, in high school. I learnt of words that could possibly be of British origin that I thought were Indian. Like the word, tiffin -- who knew that the container we refer to as a tiffin, originated from the Brits.

Lets take the food item, "Ragda Petis" or "Ragda Patties" as I have recently realized it could possibly be hinting to. I am simply amazed that the thing I call Petis, could be referring to a Patties.

Like the word "jungle" which originate from the Hindi word, 'jangal', which means a rough, waterless place. I recently heard the word jungle being used in a bhajan and thought that they started to use English words, when I checked dictionary.com and realized that the word I thought was English was actually of Indian origin.

Another word/phrase I theorized about recently was "phoot", which is slang in Gujarati and it means "to get out of here". When I said phoot, I thought of my foot and how the British were probably telling the Indians "phoot", meaning to get out. Possibly starting a slang term, that is still being used by me. Amazing. Or I just have a lot of time on my hands to wonder.

Update (12/31): The word "punch" orignates from "paanch" meaning five, the number of ingredients in the drink, punch.

New Song of the Moment

The song from Life in a..Metro, 'In Dino, Dil Mera' (Singer: Soham) has just become the new song of the moment. This is going to be the next film with Shilpa Shetty post Big Brother that I am really looking forward to. The movie looks slick, with a bunch of storylines (as I always like) and is produced by UTV Motion Pictures (I really like them).

Here are the lyrics...
(In dino, dil mera, mujhse hai keh raha
tu khaab saja, tu ji le jara
hai tujhe bhi izaazat, karle tu bhi mohabbat - 2) - 2

(berang si hai badi zindagi kuchh rang to bharoon
main apani tanahaayi ke vaaste ab kuchh toh karoon) - 2
jab mile thodi fursat - 2, mujhse karle mohabbat
hai tujhe bhi izaazat, karle tu bhi mohabbat

(usako chhupaakar main sabse kabhi le chaloon kahin door...
aankhon ke pyaalon kse pita rahoon usake chehre ka noor) - 2
iss zamaane se chhupakar - 2, puri karloon main hasrat
hai tujhe bhi izaazat, karle tu bhi mohabbat - 2
in dino, dil mera, mujhse hai keh raha
tu khaab saja, tu ji le jara
hai tujhe bhi izaazat, karle tu bhi mohabbat - 2

Kamdev, the desi cupid

Valentines Day has become too commercial in every country it exists in, including India and the U.S. In India, it is also a reason for protests. Something they both agree on…(In 2006), hard-line Hindu groups and radical Muslims burned Valentine's Day greeting cards and held protests across India against celebrating the festival of love, saying it was a Western import that spread immorality. So the hardliners have started protesting already.

On the other hand, Indian firms export a record 100 million stems of roses this year, which is worth $ 80 billion. D Damas, a jewelry company, is having Valentine’s specials.

In my opinion, Valentine’s Day lacks any essence of sanctity for any religion but commercialism. Even so, I bought myself a bag of Lindt chocolates. I figures “it’s all about loving yourself.” So I took that from Karan Johar.


"When Indians do something they tend to overdo it." Valentine's Day is fuel that gives the local gundas the power to bug the women in the neighborhood. If only the hardliners were out there detering these type of crimes instead of trying to stop those celebrating Valentine's day in a peaceful manner.

Eklavya - The Royal Guard

The Vidhu Vinod Chopra film releases this Friday, February 16, 2007. I am attending the Washington DC premiere.

Although I cannot find any information, the film's music has not been released. Evenso, they keep showing "Chanda Re" on the television. It's a beatiful song composed by music director, Shantanu Moitra.

Something about Chopra making the film on his own terms and the music not being released for this film, I'm guessing. When I say I can't find anything about the music anywhere, I mean anywhere.

Amitabh Bachchan (1.5 years ago) said in his interview in Koffee with Karan, that at his age, it is hard to get film centered around him. Since Indian films always have a younger lead actor and actress. So I guess, he gets his chance in Eklavya (besides Black that is). The usual Vidhu Vinod Chopra actors are within the movie, Jackie Shroff, Saif Ali Khan, Sunjay Dutt, Vidya Balan, Raima Sen, Boman Irani, and Jimmy Shergill. The only person that seems to be missing is Dia Mirza. Maybe she has a special appearance I don't know about.

I did not go to see Salaam-E-Ishq, but will venture out for this one. It looks like its going to be an entertainer. I must add VVC to the list of directors, I really really like. Already on the list: Raj Kumar Santoshi, Mahesh Bhatt, Nagesh Kukunoor, VVC

New PayPal Promotion

I guess this is PayPal's answer to the Google Checkout promotion. If you use PayPal to pay for $30 or more purchase they will credit your PayPal account with $15.

$15 off $30 purchase using PayPal

Registration. You must first register for this offer on http://paypal.promotionexpert.com/greatshopping/signup/index.html using your PayPal account's primary email address.

Single Purchase. Once registered for this offer, you must use your PayPal account to spend at least $30.00 USD or $34.50 CAD on a single purchase on an eligible website.

Eligible Website. You must make a purchase on www.eBay.com, www.eBay.ca or any United States or Canadian website that accepts PayPal. Purchases on www.eBay.com and www.eBay.ca must be made through the eBay checkout flow via the eBay website and must not be made through the PayPal Send Money tab.

Promotion Period. Purchases must be made between February 8, 2007 12:01 AM PST and March 31, 2007 11:59 PM PST.

Excluded Transactions. The following transactions are excluded from this offer: Send Money transactions, payments to Personal Accounts, eBay payments made to Personal Accounts, donations, PayPal Mobile transactions, payments for services, Virtual Debit Card payments, PayPal ATM/ Debit Card payments, payments made when you are not logged into your PayPal account, and PayPal Plus Credit Card payments not made through your PayPal account.

Rebate Payment. The $15.00 USD rebate will be deposited into your PayPal account by May 28, 2007. If you made your purchase in Canadian Dollars you will receive the Canadian Dollar equivalent of $15.00 USD at the day of the rebate payment.

Limitations. Limit one registration and one $15.00 USD rebate per PayPal Account. Offer available for a limited time. Offer is limited to PayPal users in the United States and Canada. PayPal account must be in good standing prior to and throughout the offer period to qualify.

Ads Vying for the Indian Spending Power

With nearly $254 billion in annual buying power, Asian Americans are a powerful force in the U.S. consumer market. Over the past decade, their spending power has increased 125%, from $118 billion in 1990 to $253 billion in 2001. Over the same time period, the buying power for the U.S. as a whole increased by only 71%.

Source

This is probably why I'm seeing a lot of Ads being geared towards the Desi viewer lately.

Before the K-Fed Superbowl ads, Nationwide Insurance had the South-Asian centric ads on Desi Channels...these are my favorites (meaning there are more).
My Fav: Uncle Ko Bye Bolo


Others-
Mirror Mirror On the Wall

Hi, Cutie, Hello, Beauty

Nationwide isn't the first, but they are better to watch than the ones I've seen done before by New York Life Insurance, Wal-Mart, or others.

Facts and Figures
More Asian-Indian Americans (58%) hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, versus all Asian Americans (47%) and the U.S. population (27%).

The Honeymoon Chronicles

2007 will see the release of two "Honeymoon" films..one is Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. (HTPL) and the other is called Just Married.
Just Married is directed by Meghna Gulzar (Filhaal) and produced by Pritish Nandy Communications (Pyar Ke Side Effects).

They will be released a week apart from each other, if dates stay the same. Both are about a bunch of couples going on their honeymoon together. Both seem to have an older couple within a group. HTPL seems like an ensemble whereas Just Married seems to have a lead pair, Fardeen Khan and Esha Deol.

Remember when there were two movies about Bagat Singh releasing at the same time. One was with Ajay Devgan and the other was with Bobby Deol. The Ajay Devgan was a lot better and it was directed by Raj Kumar Santoshi. I guess I might be biased I think Ajay Devgan is a more powerful actor than Bobby.

My pick and why?
HTPL! I like the whole ensemble thing. I like how no one seems to be taking the limelight. Well Just Married is produced by PNC but still I'm going for HTPL. HTPL has a bunch of actors I would love to watch Dia Mirza, Sandhya Mridul, Ranvir Shorey, Amisha Patel, Kay Kay Menon. I'm no big fan of Fardeen Khan and I have a feeling he is going to ruin the movie-going experience for me.