My tryst began after meeting Pradeep (read ‘The Tour Director’ and ‘My Good Pal’), Ravi (the Doer and Cycle Champ), Sharath (the Model, the Marketing-Whizz, Cycle Lover) and Arun (brand lover, perfectionist, the boss). As they poured out their plan for the tour and the ideas behind it, I was left wide-eyed with the sheer passion that exhilarated from these gentlemen. One could feel their love for cycling, and clearly see that they were out to do something BIG.

And as I was listening to them, the old school days came tumbling down the less-trodden memory lane. Those long cycle rides were the most memorable moments of my life till date. While cycling, you realize how connected one can stay to the place, people and all the beauty around. You think you could care to stop on a bike than to lower your car window every time you wanted to experience something?

Now that I knew about their plan, which was called ‘Tour of Nilgiris’ (TFN from here on), I think I was more than fortunate to design the brand (posters, website, badges etc), including one of my best works: The TFN logo.

And trust me, I haven’t stop talking about these guys ever since!

What is TFN?

Imagine yourself away from the hustle-bustle of the jam-packed roads, away from the daily routine, away from the world of Internet, cell-phones or anything that keeps you connected with that materialistic part of your life that keeps you ‘busy’ and far far far away from the deadlines and the worries.

And, now imagine yourself on an 8-day breakout for once-in-a-lifetime experience amidst the forest ranges and the small pathways, traveling through the tiny villages breathing the fresh air, pushing your limits without the need to fuel your saddle. To add to the adventure you won’t be alone, you will be accompanied by 80 odd new people who wish to cherish all this beauty along with you in crudest and purest form possible.

Just imagine the HIGH! Experiencing it is twice as much as said.

So much will happen over these 8 days and at the end of it possibilities of new human beings are created. Why do I say so? Because participants go Eco-friendly, a new sense of comradeship emerges, self-confidence multiplies and of course you get to beat your own cycling record with the feeling of triumph!

So what does it really take to do a TFN? Money?  A kick-ass bike?  Prior experience? Nah.

It takes a heart and the will to do so. Last year I saw Dattatreye Patil ride bare foot on a cycle no better than a hero hawk, I saw people take on cycling for such long distances for the first time, I saw young women challenge the men on the track, I saw 12 year old Sukhdev cycle all the way up to Mysore. One thing was common; each one had the passion…the zest. They hardly cared about the world around or the reasons not to do it. They had the two wheels, a saddle and a journey calling them…

And if TFN08 was such an experience, you can well guess what TFN09 could be. If you haven’t done TFN, you haven’t done much yet.

Now this boils down to why I posted this write-up almost 10 months after the tour. Simply to relive the magic moments in the virtual world and look forward to a bigger, better, exciting TFN09. Well this also happens to be my chance of being the official blogger for TFN09. I want to capture the Nilgiris, the ranges, the green & wild with it, the trail, the people, the sweat and blood behind (literally), the local food, the spirit of sharing and spirit of  ‘2 wheels and a saddle.’

Are you game to experience the spirit of cycling? I AM!

TFN09 -  “LETS RIDE AND SHINE.”

It’s a maze of self contentment vs quantifiable parameters.

In startups? In Exams? In Jobs? In Relationships? In Business?

What do you do then? Look back and feel good you traveled.  Ask yourself why you doing this? Or set some new things for your self. The more I look deeper the more I’m lost. As humans we are just  not going to stop.

Dhirubhai started at a petrol pump, sold polyester, then manufactured, then exported.. and on and on. As a kid you want toys, then you want a cycle, then you want to be a fav of a special teacher, then you want friends, then you grow up a bit and start liking girls, then you fall in love, then you want bike, then you want to crack IIT/CET/XYZ, then you want good job, years later then you say boss let me startup/study again, then you marry, then you have kids, then you have … .. cycle again.

The spark never stops. The quest never ends. Beauty or a curse? Purpose or an endless game of games.

Am I the only one feeling so.

Can I break some rules here? Visit mars? Create families in 9 planets, Go back to jungle, Reverse the internet, why do we exist? Why do we “want”. Why do we “think!”

As humans that’s what we are gifted with I think. Ripples, quest and questions that can keep popping out of no where. You then create answers not because someone else wants answers but because YOU questioned!

Makes any sense?

PS: Excuse me for this useless post. Just too many questions I know

As a responsible citizen I walk upto the vote booth NMKRV college, Jayanagar, Bangalore South Constituency. To my utter dismay I find name there but says “Deleted” in front of it!!

‘ How come? ‘ – I ask the officers in the room. They say either you were not there when they came for verification, or you changed your residence or you are dead. These are the likely cases. On further inquiry I found out all my family members names are  intact. Weirdly I’m the one DELETED.

1. I have voted last time around. So there cannot be any confusion

2. If 4 of my family members are there and verified why was I not there?

3. I did get my “small” piece of paper before the elections with my name and constituency and where I should vote details.

There leaves no scope for confusion/change/editing at all. I have not shifted, moved, renamed myself or even died. I have been SIMPLY denied my right to VOTE.

Yes I’am being emotional here. Is’nt this my country? Can I not make a difference?

I then ask few officers whom do I talk to. They point me to the Returning Officers (Mr Hiremath) room. I walk in and tell the RO and his deputy (I guess) my problem. They are not surprised at the problem at all. The deputy (dont really know his name) then asks me to sit down calmly next to him on a bench. I was surprised by the hospitality. Only later I realize he has done this many a times through the day.

He calmly mentions that there has been a mistake from the printers/vendors who give out the list. He then adds that there have been many such cases and they can’t do anything much time around. I was completely shocked. Mistake? How many?? 10%? 20%?  God only knows!!

He then says I can vote in the August council elections by filling form 6 later on. WOW! They are doing me a favour ?? My name should have been there in the first place, I had already voted last time from the same place..

I then ask them for a written statement that there has been a mistake and they will rectify. They simply refuse to do this. The deputy then suggests I give him a written complaint which they will ack the same. In a way he was helpful and said he will try to do something about it.

But obviously no one willing to accept that something has gone wrong!!

I write the complaint, then go out to get two copies for the record. I submit the complaint to this deputy and then he asks his junior to sign the ‘photo copy’ of it. Nobody has read the complaint.

The poor junior comes and signs it blindly without even reading it.  I take the signed photo copy of it and walk out.I don’t really know if the ’submitted’ copy will go somewhere or even make a difference.

I recollect 2-3 such people having the similar problem but just walking away thinking its just another holiday.

Who cares right?

Find below the complaint I submitted. I really still want to vote!

1. Super Heroes take charge, so do entrepreneurs.

If you notice the movies of all the super heroes they have shown time and again how super heroes take charge of situations and win no matter what comes across. Super heroes are super heroes because they believe they can do it. They believe that no situation can come in the way of their good intentions. Entrepreneurs in real life face every possible hurdle. Just think of it. There are times when the whole family turns him down, there are times when the whole world thinks that his product is crap, there are times when his friends don’t have faith in him…. financial crisis, social dump, relationship crisis.. come what may he stands. He stands by his dream because he believes it will work and will do whatever it takes!

2. Superheroes have powers. Entrepreneurs have dreams.

A superhero is gifted with power. A power that surpasses other normal beings. Each entrepreneur has a dream. A dream that’s so inspiring, that keeps him awake at odd hours. The drive is to see that dream turn into reality. He might have no finances, no resources, no skills, no support structure but he continues to thread the path. He has the power to move ahead no matter what comes by. And we always thought only super heroes have power?

3. Superheroes let go things for a bigger cause. Entrepreneurs do that and call it part of journey..

Heroes make sacrifices at times, let go off their ego, let go off their love, let go a lot many things just to ensure the bigger vision is fulfilled. Entrepreneurs too have to sacrifice so many things. They are like super humans… they have missed n number of outings with friends, those priceless moments they could have spent with the loved ones, that well paid job, that extra respect in society, those movies they missed, those small little things that they saved money on, those cellar offices, those shared connections, those endless list of wish lists that didn’t see the light of the day.. an entrepreneur lets them all go by to make sure his dream comes alive.. I seriously admire these tons of great people I have met for they never complain about it.. they have a smile which says ‘I let it go, so what.. See what I’m doing now!’

4. Superheroes Sequel. Entrepreneurs keep making a difference!

All our super hit superhero stories have a sequel, prequel and what not.. Our entrepreneurs have so much more than that. We always just see their super hit movie. Look at how many times they failed before making it to the top. Entrepreneurs by virtue don’t give up even after reaching heights. If the idea fails, they try again. Else they take up a new approach altogether. If it takes off, then he wants to have it take off once more. Even after all this, he will not sit back… he wants a new problem to solve; he wants to make a bigger difference. His journey continues..ups and downs filled with contagious enthusiasm and zeal that spreads like a fire, continuing to make a difference to the live he touches.

This post is to just give each entrepreneur out there a pat on their back for their efforts, a small way to acknowledge the great inspiration that they are. For they have taken a path less trodden and gone beyond means of being just comfortable. You folks are live examples of super-heroes. Some get to showcase a movie some remain as reels, some make it to the comics & books and some continue to script the pages… Nevertheless each of you have a great dream, a power that can cut through the greatest force.

Keep it lighted. It’s your DREAM. Come what may we are sure you are going to make it!

Heroes believe ‘With great power comes great responsibility!’ & as entrepreneurs we believe ‘With great dreams come greater visions!’

update: Another interesting article my friend Deepa found it here

Dear All,

I have been associated with web, design and starting up since the last couple of years. I’am glad that GOD let me chase my dreams right from my standard 10th.  I still remember the turning point of my life. It is etched so clear in my memory. It was a weekday and I was sitting in a cyber during my class X trying to build website on www.homestead.com. It was the year 2000 and the dot com was on a high. I was completely mesmerized by Internet by then! Whatever little money I got went straight to cyber cafes. As I sat in my chair fiddling with the options a gentleman next to me peered over to see, what was I doing curiously. He was MD of a startup called Together Technologies Pvt Ltd. He promptly asked what I was doing and will I be interested to come over to his office to discuss a few things!

My joys knew no bounds. A 14 year old me was called to discuss things … the gentleman was ‘Ashish Saraf’, funny thing is that he shared my name as well! So I landed up that Saturday at a house-turned-office which had about 6-7 member team. I was greeted by a warm lady Annapurna, who later became my first teacher-mentor. I was asked to draw few things and comprehend a paragraph in English. They were reasonably happy with my enthusiasm and unpolished art.

Ashish offered a proposition: I work for them during my 10th holidays and they train me on PhotoShop, Dreamweaver and Flash. Believe me I could not have asked for anything else! Man, I was on top of the world. 2 months from morning 9 to evening 6 I cycled to this wonderful house and lived my dream. Annapurna patiently gave me both skills and live projects! I remember Archana as well who was from ChitraKala Parishad guiding me during those crucial stages.They had sowed the seeds of design!

Of course at times I felt I could have enjoyed my holidays or gone on a vacation instead.. Thoughts like why am I doing this and what will I do with all this came up.. But nevertheless the passion for web remained.

If not for Ashish Saraf and Annapoorna I would not have been the way I’am. My heart felt gratitude to wherever you are & you were the most important mentors of my life.. I’am sure we will bump into each other again!!

Class 11 ( or I PUC ) is a time which most youngsters look forward to. As any other teenager too I was excited about my first college! Chirst College was a great place to be. As though things were planned something miraculous happened. On the very first day of the college I met ‘Sunny Shah’ who later went on to become my first partner and an even bigger mentor!

Sunny was from Gujrat and had come down for studies here. He had immense passion for computers and design. When we got to know about our common interests our joy had no bounds. We found our perfect entrepreneurial partners. It was very clear for both of us that we started something together. While Sunny had named his secret company as Genius Tech, I on the other hand had visioned to call my company Dream Technologies. Now that we clicked together we wanted a name that will inspire both of us. And we came up with ‘Genius Dreams Technologies’ and it stuck!!

At age of 16, Class 11 we both set off.  Our first client was a student who wanted to learn to build sites and animations. We got ourselves cards printed and showed them off as our prized possessions! We did a couple of sites, branding, computer assembling and what not! The happiest moment was when I got a call from Deccan Herald. They wanted to interview us!!  It was raining heavily in Bangalore, Sunny & myself didn’t have a snap together then. We rushed to the MG road office in that rain, got a photo clicked near by and spoke to the reporter. We felt we had conquered the world. I know you all must be thinking how ‘teenish’ we were or how ‘glamour’ crept in!

But trust me.. at that age it was fun. It was a sense of achievement and pride. I can never forget the smile on my mothers face and the glow in her eyes when she saw her son’s photo in Deccan Herald. God has been generous, very generous indeed!!

We continued to take up projects. Learnt to handle clients. Many a times the hard way. What we thought was professionalism was our innocence and weakness! Nevertheless we sometimes got underpaid or worked out too many designs for a commitment that was not formalized … so on and so forth.  But as said the journey is always important than the destination.

Sunny was a pillar of strength and a guiding force. He re-inforced my passion for computers and impressed me every time with his logic and creativity. He gave me the space to grow and showed the right doors at right times!

By this time we had moved to our engineering. This time around Sunny being in a different college. Genius Dreams chugged along smoothly. As I say, God planned another torchlight for me. I met Sridhar G at BNMIT (my engi college.)

Sridhar was 2 years senior to me and was an exceptional programmer and an uncommon thinker. He appreciated my design skills and even introduced me to ProInt Software where he worked part time during engineering days. My work at ProInt involved designing their corporate site, product collateral and a few other things. ProInt was a startup in the enterprise integration space.

The moment I met him I saw that the world has multitude of great people like Sri. The urge to make a bigger difference grew. While he went out to do his masters in London we would often discuss ideas, toss few thought processes that could change lives..  Finally Yulop happened. I have spoken earlier in detail about our Journey to Yulop.

I’am extremely humbled to say that in this 2 years of association with Yulop, it has taken its shape and form & grown beyond expectations. Yulop is today making inroads into Mobile and Location Based Services apart from being a ‘Local player’ on the web. I have gained immensely from this team and I think the story & growth of Yulop will be different from 6 to 8 months now on.

As a co-founder at Yulop, I saw what it takes to build something from ground zero. I experienced team being built, I experienced how we faltered. I experienced how to learn quickly from the flaws. I saw Sri taking on things head – on. Personally I grew leaps and bounds as well!! The kind of mentoring from MAK and the support from the team has been exceptional! I shall cherish these for the rest of my life!

Today I set to pursue my love for web and design. I’am heading off to design for people, startups and corporates as a designer. I believe in giving brands and user interfaces to different and varied sets of people which will let me sleep to my content in the night. My interest for design and online marketing has widened and strengthened! I would also explore another area which always interested me – Experience Design.

As I take this plunge a big hug and a thank you to all you folks for getting me this far!! You all ROCK!

More to come soon!

PS: www.netbramha.com

You can block tickets here  or buy them at the venue.

Life is full of passions… Here I’am indulging in another passion of mine that gives me immense joy! Theatre!

Engineering days were absolute fun because of the cultural fests & drama rehearsals. I still remember the days by when the team sat and did our own scripts, wrote our dialouges, made our own acts… all etched in the memory so clear.

With a bunch of engineering folks (almost all working in IT companies now..) we have started a professional theatre troupe called ‘Aavega’

Our first production is the Arthur Mille’s ‘Death Of a SalesMan’ and is being staged at MLR Convention Centre, Brigade Millenium on 16th Feb 2008 at 6.15 PM.

Do drop by to flag off another journey of ours. To grab a ticket do contact me.

Troupe and production details on the site www.aavega.in

Loads to come.Stay tuned.

Something dramatic happened. Something life transforming happened. Something out of the blue happened. Everything beautiful happened!

Life Happened!

I know you are puzzled and confused so as to what I mean by those philosophical lines above. But trust me they are all true and just reflect what I have discovered since Dec 8th 2007. I have found myself literally everything.

There are things that you need to experience to know them, telling or sharing them just spoils the beauty of actually undergoing them.

If you wish to really see life and live life the way you actually always wanted to give me a call(+91 9886464074) or leave a comment. I’ll be glad to show you the way. You can then either choose to take it or deny yourself the only chance!

Let this new year ring in a new life in you as well. Wake up!

It has taken me 9 years to start a blog. How more dramatic can I be in the first post?

Ok ok.. I know blogs were unheard of in the 90’s though they existed. Now that I have started I want to share with you all the some useful resources, my learnings, a few setbacks, some tricks and surely some fun!

To start off with please visit this site:

www.ohmygoodness.com

Cheers.