Now it's stopped snowing and started raining. Hopefully there will be snow in the mountains for skiing... 

Painting... who me

Welcome back, yes it’s been a while. There had been few things happening around and because of that I did not have time to write….

Anyways since I am back now, I will continue with my blog.

When I finally found the college and went in to get the application the senior students called me and asked me few question and trying to scare me. I was waiting for a fight. But at time the principle came and they left me saying that they continue when I come back for the entrance exam.

Which I did, but I did not realize that it was a 3 day entrance exam. I was still not sure whether I wanted to join here or will get admission here because I know how much I suck in drawing at that time. I was happy to see couple of known faces. Vasu, I went to high school with him. But we were not close and the second person was Rajini who I met during my Loyola entrance. Obliviously I was hanging out with Rajini in the college and this triggered the senior students more, how can a junior guy roam around the college with a girl (Yeah right).

So they pulled me alone and started asking question and begin to rag me(bulling and make you do crazy stuff typical in first few months in Indian colleges, which was banned in my 1st year of college due to a murder of college student) .I was not ready to anything they said, because I am have not joined the college yet . This attitude made the guys really pissed of at. So they called for help “Old Monk Karthik”. This guy was pretty scary. I told him dude if you want a fight I am ready for it but if you want to rag me you have to wait till I join the college. He got really pissed off, but he few he cannot afford to take me lightly. So he said he will take care of me when I joined.

Somehow I got admission and on the first day, I met on more senior guys they asked me to treat them in a tea shop which I did and “Old Monk Karthik” asked me for a “FULL” which he thought I won’t buy, but I did. That solved the problem between us and everything went smooth after that. I did what they asked me to do (Example: Standing on top of a Milestone and laugh loudly at a tree in public, Tell the traffic sergeant how big his tummy was…etc. ) and they became so friendly I started hanging out with 5th year students more then my own class. So nobody ever bothered me again…...

I made friends in my class too…

1. Vasu – Quiet and polite guy.
2. Dev- Naughty and mischievous
3. Raji – thunderous and confused
4. Shobha – strong-minded and striving
5. Arjun – I never understood this guy… he discontinued college in second year.

Some even called as “Super Six”. Did not last long but it was wicked for a year. Then I made more friends….
Pandi (everyone called him Muthu) was my friend and my teacher. Though he was in my class he is really good at drawing. He help me a lot in my class.

Prabhu: This guy came in his dhoti, typical malu.

Motta Mani: Crazy as one could get. Also stupid one can be.

There are lot names I can add to this list and it would take me for ever….
I met some amazing people during this time and learned a lot from them. At this time I would like to thank each and every one who came into life and taught me something that I didn’t know. Without you all I would have not been the person I am today.

Everyday is a short story...

Everyday in our life is like a short story, Thought I should give you some background about me. Born in Chennai (previously called as Madras) in India was the first best thing happened to me. City life in India is completely different to what people see in TV and what they think about India and to be born in a family where are lot of creativity and self dependencies… man that’s a gift.

My Dad is a Novelist who won his National award (out of billion people) in 2000 for his Novel “Vesaranai Commission” translates to “Investigation Committee”. I also won my Tamil Nadu state award (jus out of 6 million people) in the same year for my painting “space in space”.

Painting, yes I use to do painting. I did my Bachelors in Fine Arts, majoring Painting. After that joined Masters in Fine Arts in the same college (College of Arts and Crafts, Chennai). Its very old college began in 1857.

Funny how I got into this college, after finish Higher Secondary with obviously just below 1st class (70%), I got 68% not because I didn’t study well, just because I did not cheat enough. Yup I am not good in studies and I was never interested in studies. This was the reason why I was not able to join Cinematography in Film Institute. You have get 1st class, 1st attempt.

There goes my Dad’s dream of his second Cameraman son, and my mom well she stopped dreaming about her kid’s future when my brother flunked in his 12th grade. She wanted him to be an engineer, later realized they will who ever they are according to their destiny rather what she wants.

Not really disappointed in anything happening around me, I planned for my future with my current skill set at 17. They are as follow, I can drive, like to cook mmmm… what else. NOTHING ELSE. Since I thought my English was little better then others, I wanted to join BA English literature and guess what, I did.

My dad asked me “Is this what you really want to do?” my answer was a yes because Eng Lit was the easiest degree to get.

Next month he had to leave to Andhra (Neighboring state) for his job. He called me one day and said “Why don’t you apply in College of Arts” and learn painting. Not many dads ask their sons to join in Arts College.

Guess what my reply was….
As any other teen it was a big NO. Four years in college are you joking. I was back in my English class and this college is known for their gangs, fights, burning public property and what not. Couple of day in college a gang approached me and took me to identify my high school Math teacher and when I did, they started hitting the poor guy. At that point I did not feel bad because I hated Math’s and him. But later realized that it was wrong and I would not do anything like that ever again.

My dad saw something more me which I didn’t. After asking my mom to talk to me about joining the Arts College and which she did. I went and applied in 2 colleges for Visual Communication and Painting. Visual Communication in Loyola College was the hottest thing at that time. About 1000 people applied and I got through to final 40. Then the personal interview begin with the
1st question : Can we ask question in Chemistry?
2. Can we ask question in Physics?
My standard answer was NO, somehow during the process I lost interest in the whole Visual communication and I did not make it to the final class.

The very first day I went to get the application in College of Arts & Crafts. I saw few 5th year students in the college even though the college was closed they were hanging out and harassing people who are there to get application forms.

What happened then…

It's been almost 5 years....

I can’t believe that it’s been almost 5 years since I left India in search of Knowledge and obliviously money….

I have learnt a lot during this period… few that like to share today…

People: How wonderful they are, full of surprises. Just when you think you understood someone, you learn completely new thing about them and it makes you to start doubt about youself. Yes it has happened to me numerous times.

Money: What should I say about it, it more like a girl. You can’t live with at the same time you can’t live without it?

There have been days when I thought what I am doing here. Shouldn’t I be painting or something else? What has happened to me?

I don’t think I have ever shared this with the world but somehow I feel comfortable sharing this to the world through this blog. Or maybe I want to improve my writing skills.

Everyone thinks Life would be much easier if you move out of India. Well I was one of them, but my dreams were shattered the day I landed in Singapore airport on Oct 2nd 2000. Job was crazy, I mean really crazy working 16 hours everyday 7 days week all this to trying to impress your boss and to keep your job, for a job that did not pay me full salary the 1st month.

During my career was troubling me in Singapore, I had a major personal problem that was killing me back home. At 22, I thought I was mature enough to handle everything in best way possible. I guess did, I made everyone happy expect ME. Looking back I don’t know whether I should have taking that decision. Unfortunately can’t change time.

Second month at work no pay again. Company ran out money even before hiring me. But even though hired me and my Baskar, because they realized that both of us with the existing team are the only way to finish a major project that would give them $300000 SG dollars.

The whole team slogged thinking once we finish the project the company would get the money and pay us…. Yes finally we got paid $300 dollars. I lost 4 month of salary that company. That was major blow. I was such a pain that can’t explain this to anyone and I did not want to go back to India as loser.

During this I was already lost my soul back in India.

Let’s wrap up for the day…

See you soon…