Speaking madly

9 days and 3 locations, where you enact yourself to make others believe what you think rather than what others think of you. This is precisely what the national conference held in Mumbai, Chennai and Delhi led me. Speaking before an expert audience, questioning them and trying to answer the unknown is what the whole story of the experience I have gained in the past few weeks.
Few things which can be taken out would be the manner in which each crowd responded to my presentation. The Mumbai crowd is straight forward and some delgates even found my ideas absurd, some liked it, some didnt question anything. It was a mixed crowd giving a mixed experience. Chennai was truly great, for all the audience were very kind and accepted changes with the existing framweork, something which I admire. I was able to strike a chord with audience who was delectable. Delhi, as the power centre showed its prowess, a fact which Mr Ravi Krishnamurthy of International Buisiness Conferences, the organizer of the Conference supported, were uncanny and naive, difficult to please or convince and highly volatile to any changes. I often find an average Delhite to have the PM or other ministers as their neighbours, enough to make them pride. It was more fortunate for been the co-speaker with one of the stalwarts of public contract, Mr OP Goel, Former CPWD Director, 75 years old who had more experince than the sum of the delegates experience. He answered all queries without an inch of despondency, with awesome humbleness and humility. For me, it was great for having seen him, and more for his encouragement of young people. "What is your age Madhuji?, 31?" "No. Sir, below that Sir", "28?", "No.Sir. Still Below!!", "Great, its very good that people like you are coming up in this profession. There is an emergent need to have fresh thoughts and fresh ideas which old people like me who cant even walk straight can do!!" .

I exploited the situation by networking with many construction industry professionals and engaging in other meetings demanded by my profession. Since the logistics and the accommodation was taken care of, I had nothing to worry and be luxurious enough to rest in peace. A deviation to Bangalore was important for me professionaly but not persoanlly, as I had to consume enough dust and compensate for the lost sleep. The sinking effect developed in the flights have made me partially deaf and even unresponsive to some queries raised by the delegates!!

Unlike the earlier Bharat Darshan yatra, this time I had ample opportunities to network with people of my profession, visit Chennai (something which I dont remember), experience the coldness of Delhi and warmness of Mumbaikars (Mrs Bindu Variath, VP, KLC Law college, a college which brings backs moot memories). This journey has instilled in me confidence and adventurism to venture out into unexplored areas. Goa, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh and Kashmir...

Living with football

If you ask me two things which inspires me and have been the most enjoying of my life, without doubt I would chose Football and Skits. The passion of the former and the spirit of the latter has made me what I am. They were those unforgettable moments which transpired in favour of me.

The taste of football grew with me in the 5 minute breaks which I enjoyed with my school mates. The rubber ball was small enough to ignite our passion leading to leave cricket and join 'the beautiful game'. The cash scam that hit cricket burned my idol Azharuddin and left an indelible mark which is still refusing to go. I find many compatriots who have made the same decision. Shihab, whom I met while playing for the lower courts in the Inter Bar Association Tournament is a living example.

I owe Sreekumar Sir, our Physical Education teacher in BVM Elamakkara for encouraging me to be a part of the team, for my uncanny ability to scoot the players and score the goals. I started as a defender owing to a natural vertical variation helping me to keep obstacles on others way. Finding that I was refusing to head any oncoming balls, he moved me into the striker position, where I started scoring goals, inspite of my shortcomings. Further I ventured into the midfield as a playmaker for my NUALS team, who have the credit of not scoring nor winning any games (till now). However I enjoyed being a frog in the well. The potholed NUALS ground provided umpteen chances to polish my skills with the ball. Most often I went nailess, which however never prevented me to leave the field as I was living with it.

At NUALS i was the coach, defender, midfielder, striker, goalkeeper and the sports secretary. I couldnt imagine anything more than that!! Thanks to all my school and college colleagues who shared my passion. I am indebted to them, for football is a team sport not to be played alone but alone.