Wonders of Social Media

If someone had told me while growing up that there would be free communication avenues to keep in touch with friends worldwide, I wouldn't have believed it. Being in a people-intensive profession (teaching), I also have students who are spread across the world, and ex-colleagues. Some of them have remained in touch since email days (they seem numbered, the email days). Many more media have appeared on the horizon since then that are better, with my favourite being fb..I know, the youngsters are groaning, again..but half the world's population can't be wrong, right?

Here's just one couple (and their cute kid) I met again due to our being in touch on social media.

But such wonderful technology was made possible by innovations in hardware and software by hundreds of different innovators, and funded by governments who may have originally developed some of it for military uses (spying, in other words). Whatever the origins, it has definitely been a Godsend for many people who like to stay in touch with people across the world. I keep saying though, that periodically, these virtual friendships benefit from a real handshake and looking into each others' eyes (not romantically, necessarily). I have had lovely meetings with students, colleagues, friends (new and old-some I met first on FB) over the last few years only thanks to their being in touch on facebook. Hope that silsila continues.. Zuckerberg bro, I am a Fan!

An aside- wherever I go, people tell me they need to win my DP Award soon, or complain about not winning it ever..my words of advice would be listen to the Gully Boy and believe in his song..Apna Time Aayega.

Pontification

We all (and not just the Pontiff) like to pontificate. We love to hold forth on subjects that we may or may not know much about. "Money makes the world goes around" is a blatantly wrong statement. Pontification does.

Count the number of pontiffs (defined as those who pontificate) around you. Start at the top and work your way down, until you get to the bottom of things. Random guys are fond of giving lectures or expert advice on just about anything, from curing baldness to making (not making out) in India.

Some species rather fond of this are the politicians/ministers, judges (look at irrelevant parts of judgements), lawyers (same with arguments), and the ones we encounter the most in life (no, I didn't say spouses)- the teachers.

Teachers in India like to think they are experts on everything under the sun. You could ask a teacher about how to climb Everest, and without batting an eyelid, he/she will hold forth for an hour or two. Change the question to something about paleontology, and he will do the same, even if he teaches computer programming in real life.

The best I have reserved for the last. The Amazing Cricket Fan. He invariably has the combined wisdom of Sunil Gavaskar, Harsha Bhogle, Ravi Shastri, Srikkanth, Sidhu (Khataaak!), Salim Durrani (he was known for hitting sixers at will before Gayle came along). He can't stop talking, period, when you open the subject of why India didn't make it to the finals of XYZ tournament. In his mind, He is a Champion -in mine, he is a champion, but among pontiffs. The full Ponty, if you will.

If you can't quantify, pontify!

Small pleasures

It is no secret that the small pleasures are capable of brightening your day far more than a jackpot that you may keep dreaming about. Some of these that I have encountered in recent times (and I am grateful for)-

A call, an email or a facebook contact from an unexpected source.

A long chat over coffee with a friend.

Meeting a fan of my textbook. We were sitting next to each other at a seminar.

A song that plays on radio, just when you were thinking about it.

A nice speech. Modi made one in Parliament that was excellent oratory after a long time. Why should parliament be boring?

A repartee. Sometimes it's better than a party.

An unexpected encounter. Met Amol Palekar at IHC. He was exhibiting his paintings.

Playing a computer game with a kid. I played a couple with my niece.

A nice conversation at the lunch table with colleagues. Happens frequently.

Unexpected weather. It's been raining almost every month at Indore this year.

Watching TV after a long time. I watched a few crime serials like Monk, NCIS (?) and Blue Bloods after a while, along with some Big Bang Theory, and quite enjoyed them. 

Also joined a group of like minded fans of Hindi film music through an old student of mine from XIMB.

Attended a rehearsal for The Importance of Being Earnest being staged by a colleague here. Great fun. Reminded me of Wating for Lefty that we had staged at IIMB years ago. I had starred in it.