Stories from a wanderer

The Winning Team Flight of the Phoenix: One hollywood movie that I found teaches quite a few management lessons in real life. Let me put forth a brief synopsis of the movie. After their oil rig in Mangolia is closed, Captain Frank Towns appears with his assistant AJ to ferry the crew back home. The complete crew of the rig along with the cargo which are mostly used parts and tools, board the C-119 Flying boxcar. The last one to board the plane is Elliot along with a group of people starting from Chief Ian to Chef Sammi and rig workers like Kyle to Dr. Gerber. The flight is caught by a strong sandstorm and loses one of its engines before crashing down in the desert. Few onboard are killed and rest are left marooned in the middle of the Gobi desert. The supplies are limited and can keep everyone alive at the best for a week. Captain Towns declares that the option left now is to wait for help to which the group agrees. However Elliot comes out and puts forth a proposal to r...

Kishore Kumar - A Golden Voice Forever Indian film music industry is blessed with many talented artists who have made their creations immortal, with their golden voice. One of such gems is Kishore Kumar who still rules the heart of listeners across the globe. On the eve of his birth anniversary on 4th August, here is a tribute to Kishoreda - the legend who has given us the treasure of many melodious songs. Childhood of Kishore Kumar Born into the family of Kunjalal Ganguly (a lawyer) and Gouri Devi, in Khandwa in Madhya Pradesh on 4th August 1929, Kishore Kumar's actual name was Abhash Kumar Ganguly. He was the youngest among the four siblings. As a kid, he used to watch his elder brother Ashok Kumar (and later Anoop Kumar too) act in hindi films. This inspired the young Kishore towards bollywood, the factory producing hindi cinema and music. Kishore Kumar was a big admirer of K L Saigal and tried to emulate Saigal's singing style in his songs. He has accepted his admir...

After the battle of Mahabharat came to end,  Gandhari  was mourning over her eldest son  Duryodhan . She was furious with  Lord Krishna  as he didn't agree to her requests to avert the war and the subsequent catastrophe. In the feat of rage, she cursed  Krishna  that he will die after 36 years along with this kins who would die fighting with each other.  Krishna , with a smile said "so be it".  36 year passed and one day  Sambha  who was one of the sons of  Krishna  was playing prank of being a pregnant woman with a group of sages visiting Dwarka. One of the sage  Kanva  cursed him that  Sambha  will give birth to whatever he was hiding and the very thing will take the clan to extinction.  Sambha  was hiding a mace to look like a pregnant woman, so due to the sage's curse he gave birth to a mace. The elders in the family asked their people to destroy the mace and dispose off. The  Yad...

A day on the Glacier Express The Swiss side of the Alps is blessed with landscape consisting of snow covered mountains, deep gorges lush green and narrow passes. Much to the delight of nature lovers, the country whose economy is mostly dependent on tourism has customised travel routes where one can be close to the mesmerising beauty of nature. One such tourist route is the Glacier express which includes journey between Zermatt and St. Moritz or Davos. The full day journey which is spread over 7.5 hours,  covers 91 tunnels and 291 bridges and across the Oberlap Pass which is the highest point at 2,033 m in altitude. While on the way from Basel, I came across this beautiful lake near Interlaken. The early morning sun was coming out of the horizon with rays of hope and vigour. Beautiful lake on the way The brief train journey takes you across the Rhine river up the mountain to connect the Glacier express. On the way to the Glacier express - acr...

Inspire a fragrance It was a November morning, the winters had set in. I was in the holy town of Haridwar with my friends out on a pleasure trip. The overnight train journey had made us little tired but the early morning chill was refreshing. After dropping the baggage in the hotel, we just rushed to Har ki peedhi to have a dip in the eternal Ganga. The water was too chill which will discourage you in all possible way to take a dip. Ultimately the conscience wins over mind. But the best part comes immediately after you come out after the dip. You are mesmerised by both the fragrance and scenery around you. There is a mixed scent of morning fog, smell of camphor balls used for morning aartis, smell of incense sticks and fresh flowers. All these fragrances mixed together with the early morning chants coming out from the temple, takes one very close to the divine power. Indeed a perfect setting to devour the serenity of the place which is believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva. Whi...