DK Kapila The Oracle

O Vandana. What did you do . Anyone thinking I found a new flame or remembered an old flame just got it wrong. Totally. All I know is that a girl, or maybe lady, by the name Vandana tried to play matchmaker and just broke a guy’s heart. Badly. I was walking alone in the park. It was dark already and the lights were on. Before I forget a young owl or maybe a small owl  is always there when I walk alone through a wooded section. Any forecasts, why this happens. In any case it sits on the bushes, flies about till the end of the trees and then flies away.  It’s happened a number of times. This is also the time I love, you walk with your thoughts, or If I could put it, I walk with myself. Thoughts come and go, some light, some dark, some give clues to the future, some are what could have been and what actually happened. Just as I was walking with myself, I crossed two young men. Our pace matched and I could not pull away. Age, even If I concede I am not actually old, does s...

Driving in The Greater Punjab. This is not a short note on what was Punjab and what remains, all that is water under the bridge. But the sheer bliss of driving in my beloved region has to be shared. For this article I am taking Greater Punjab as Punjab. (Not Pakistan Punjab, not been there, not going there), Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi (to some extent) and of course Chandigarh. On a strictly honorary basis, I am including Jammu & Kashmir since I worked there. Honorary as otherwise God Knows what some feverish soul may find offensive in it. Me, I am focusing on the driving part only. However I culturally found J&K guys quite the same on driving. Except the ability for some to shout for azadi when checked for documents ! I find something unique in Chandigarh the past few years. If coming from the right and you find a stop sign (red light), you do not lose time. As absolutely punctual Indians, as is our predominant trait, take the slip road on the left. Enter the next road...

Clueless. Yeah That's Me. Now I do hope that this piece does not offend anyone, specially of the religious bent of mind. I have always been a rather straightforward guy, sometimes maybe reasonably blind even to subtle undercurrents and messaging practised by many. I have managed by I would say quite happily, though maybe being more clued into cultural messaging would have been better. For me life ideally is meant to be batted through by slogging, with a push and a shove to oneself if required and also to some others  who need it. Add to it, read some, discuss some. have a small drink leisurely and listen to music and the days chug along. Not for me, beyond a point, an over analysis of who said what and to whom or why or who married whom or even discussing the deeper meaning of life. I do pray, am proud of my religion and culture but am not prone to diving deep into it for meaning. But then the better half will always now and then just get exasperated and advise me to keep at it,...

Transfer and Farewell – From Shimla to Srinagar On Friday (19th July 2013) was given a farewell at Shimla. Now am in transit mode, mentally and physically, waiting for 23rd July to fly to Srinagar. Srinagar, the way things are panning out recently will be a challenge in all senses but that is a separate chapter. Right now I can reminiscence only about the slightly four plus years I passed at Shimla –  the capital of a mountainous state at 7000 feet, the years have passed so swiftly . These have been happy engrossing years in which I have felt professionally enriched. It has been a pleasure to work with bankers and state government officers alike in HP, polite and very devoted and committed to their state even if perceptions may vary from us. One can learn how a State can develop on the social indices front by interacting with them. There were adventurous days also at times in these four years. I remember one snowy day paying Rs 500/- to a local guy, to drive my car essentially 5...