The Crazy One

ImageThat is a tribute I made with the help of a friend who is a awesome graphic designer on the occasion of the late visionary Steve Job’s first death anniversary last year. Here is the post back then.

Today is his birthday and he would have been 58 years old. He has been a big inspiration to me since I was a school kid and he has struck millions of lives (in whatever way you can think, and no doubt especially after his death as people often get recognized only after they kick the bucket sadly)

I’m not going to re-quote any of the many brilliant things he said (besides I’m doing that since years and do that often). Here I would rather silently ponder and while at it wanted to show the above piece first time in this blog of mine. I would recommend to watch his documentary Secrets of Life, apart from reading his biography and seeing his 2005 commencement speech which most would have done by now. If not, do that too.

Again, thank you Steve, for always being an inspiration to me.

Legendary Maybe

Video

Maybe it’s my fault.
Maybe I led you to believe it was easy when it wasn’t.
Maybe I made you think my highlights started at the free throw line, and not in the gym.
Maybe I made you think that every shot I took was a game winner.
That my game was built on flash, and not fire.
Maybe it’s my fault that that you didn’t see that failure gave me strength;
That my pain was my motivation.
Maybe I led you to believe that basketball was a God given gift, and not something I worked for… every single day of my life.
Maybe I destroyed the game.
Or maybe… your just making excuses. – Michael Jordan

This is one of my old most favorite ads/quotes which has always inspired me.

Someone whom I admire

There are quite some individuals whom I admire, most notably Steve Jobs who has been my life long idol. But here I would like to be a bit different and talk about someone quite different and uniique.

To start with I’ll list some of his traits:

  • Trained to physical and mental peak
  • Arsenal of gadgets, vehicles, and advanced technology
  • Inventor, detective, genius-level intelligence
  • Expert in most known forms of martial arts
  • Trained in all aspects of criminology
  • Mastery of the physical sciences
  • Computer expert
  • Master of disguise
  • Photographic memory
  • Trained in stealth and espionage techniques
  • Expert escape artist
  • World’s Greatest Detective
  • Unbreakable Will

By now (especially looking at the last 2 points for sake of humanity) you must be sure about whom I’m talking about- (the goddam) Batman. You must be thinking, hey he’s not even real! But let me tell you this – Batman has been more real than any hero on earth, and let me try to tell you why and why I admire him.

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Batman is a fictional character created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger who came into this world in May, 1939 making him one of the first superheroes (#2 after Superman in 1938) and after over 73 years with various iterations from a funny costume guy running with bombs to the most sophisticated/complex character ever created, is still the most, immensely popular in practically all areas ranging from comics, books, video games and movies. He is a phenomenal icon in pop-culture and needs no further explanation and this will be just another post about him among hundreds or even thousands of fan sites and others.

Now why me? I grew up reading and watching Batman, and I would safely say that must be probably one of the first things I’ve read when I became capable of reading. What I listed above are more of his skills/attributes than traits, but I would like to highlight the last one – Unbreakable Will. Although he is a fictional character and anyone can spin up a story about always trying and never giving up, that is perhaps the single most thing among the others which always gets to me.

While there are many other characters with whom we people can relate to more, and Batman being more of a god. There is in fact a famous line which goes:

“There are only two gods – Death, and Batman”

Okay honestly, I made that up and full copyright goes to me. If that goes viral by any chance, then odds are I will be able to buy a Ferrari than claim I said that, but oh well letting you know just in case. There is no doubt he has been an inspiration for me and personally and millions in the world. The very purpose of his character was perhaps give hope to people in our real world, that anyone can be a hero and stand up to make a difference, just like his fictional world (and make billions of $ for DC)

Thank you Bob Kane and Bill Finger. I can keep on quoting from hundreds of sources, but I will end this with the one which really got to me and must have had a tear in my eye:

“And as the sun, that had been too afraid to show its face in this city, started to turn the black into grey, I smiled. Not out of happiness. But because I knew… that one day, I wouldn’t have to do this anymore. One day, I could stop fighting. Because one day… I would win. One day, there will be no pain, no loss, no crime. Because of me, because I fight. For you. And one day, I will win.”

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The (Immortal) Secret of Amish Tripathi #INKtalks

 

Amish Tripathi, you sir are awesome. The first sunday of the 2013 I dedicate to you in this post of mine.

For those of you who call yourself an Indian and reader of sorts, he needs no introduction. Undoubtedly my most favourite Indian writer, I hardly read Indian fiction and The Shiva Trilogy is the example which shows the wonderful hidden writers in our country. Coming to his debut work, writing on the mightiest of the hindu gods and making him a being who eventually paves his way of becoming a god (it’s like stripping Superman of his powers and he his on his way to become Superman) is itself very intriguing. I mean who does that? (especially being in India full of fanatics who just like making a controversy on any dam thing)

Coming to why I’m writing this, see the above video from a INK 2011 talk (finish reading this please?) I find myself in the same dilemma of doing what I want most in my life, just a small problem is I’m one step behind- I don’t even know what I want from my life!

I think I’m also waiting for what my soul yearns for, finding that thing where success will cease to matter. Till then the search is still on for me. Till then I’ll continue writing, shooting, traveling, getting myself in trouble, helping others getting out, and all what I do πŸ˜€

I remember back in early 2010 being very excited about The Immortals of Meluha and reading the first chapter which was thrown out free for us hungry dogs desiring good Indian fiction. I was completely stroked. The Immortals of Meluha was IT. Still proud of being among the early fans (which is my specialty, liking and publicizing things before they go mainstream). I can’t wait for this to turn into a big blockbuster film and finally give the world Indian mythology which will be a good fight to the likes of famous Greek, Roman and Norse mythology (and in turn eradicate false/orthodox thinking of so many people here)

Here is wishing Amish big success for the upcoming The Oath of the Vayuputras which I can’t wait for and in my flipkart pre-order (dam I gave them such a big fortune so far, can’t they give me something as a compliment? :P).

Last month I got a personal invite for attending his talk in Churchgate from the organizers/friends, and I still curse myself (more the University of Mumbai) for having an exam on the same day in the afternoon. My young sister nabbed the opportunity, went met him and spoke with him also scoring an autograph for herself and she already has a crush on him (beware Amishs wife) πŸ˜›

Hopefully I’ll able to do the same (not the crush part) for the release of the third book *fingers crossed*

In other news, I enrolled for INK talks volunteering program for INK2013 (and subsequent years henceforth) for my desire of making the world a better place and in that process, hopefully myself. So expect a lot of INK related material coming up too. Hopefully I’ll make the cut. Check it out, you might be the next innovator too!

Quote Me

Quote

Do you have a favorite quote that you return to again and again? What is it, and why does it move you?

A very interesting question. I have many favourite lines/quotes which I have in mind always and some which come and go at a given instance of time.

These are my most favourite quotes which mean quite a deal to me:

“The Training is Nothing! The Will is Everything! The Will to Act.”

– Ra’s Al Ghul (Batman Begins)

This is perhaps one of my most favourite quotes both at a personal/individual and as a human being. It is well self-explanatory. For achieving anything in life, as an individual or as a group ranging from a society to a nation to as the human species itself.

“To say that nothing is true, is to realize that the foundations of society are fragile, and that we must be the shepherds of our own civilization. To say that everything is permitted, is to understand that we are the architects of our actions, and that we must live with their consequences, whether glorious or tragic.”

– Ezio Auditore da Firenze (Assassin’s Creed: Revelations)

This is from one of my most favourite video game franchises, and perhaps resonates with the one I said above.

“Keep looking. Don’t settle.” – Steve Jobs.

What is the most beautiful aspect of [these] is they are stated so beautifully. Now I don’t want to make this into a quotes list, so I’ll end (sort of) here. I know, those who know me well would have been surprised if they didn’t find a Batman reference here πŸ˜›

Oh and this one is a recent favourite, from one of the best games of 2012, FAR CRY 3:

“Society has taught you how to fail, not nature. Believe in yourself and your instincts, and that will help you succeed.”

Did I ever tell you… the definition of Insanity?