First Offcial Letter - A Flashback

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[This could be 'yet another' very boring post from me. Be aware.]

I distinctly remember the first ever official (professional) mail I had sent. In May 2005, when the HR of the company had sent a mail asking me to confirm that I would join the company, I had to send my first ever official mail. Not having any exposure and not knowing anything about the "so called software culture", I was wondering why would anyone turn down an offer?

The later had come from someone called Kanchan. With a lot of eager and enthusiasm, I clicked the 'Reply' button and for a long time, I couldn't type even a single word. How to address the person? Respected? or Dear? I was in a great dilemma, and even the bigger doubt is, is that a He or She? I asked my father and he was not sure.

So, I called my sister and asked 'Is Kanchan a female name?' and she was not sure. She said it is a female's name, but not confidently. I reasoned 'Kanchana is a female name... Kanchan should be a male name only... but is very odd...' After agreeing to join the company on the given date, I had the next big hesitation.

How to end the letter? All the training I had ever had was to finish the letter with 'Thanking You, Yours Obediently' or 'Yours Faithfully' or 'Yours Truly'. Nothing seemed right. So, I called my other friend who got placed in another company and asked him how to finish the letter. He said, "Start with Hi and end with Thanks..."

Not convinced with his answer, I started the letter with 'Respected Sir,' and ended the letter with 'Yours Sincerely'. The fact is, Kanchan was a female HR ;)

ஏன்டா?

டேய்... நீ ஒரு பொண்ண love பண்ணா அத அந்த பொண்ணு கிட்ட போய் சொல்லு... இல்ல, நேர்ல சொல்றதுக்கு பயமா இருந்த chat ல சொல்லு... அதுக்கு வக்கு இல்லனா  mail ல சொல்லு... இல்லன்ன SMS அனுப்பு... Indirecta  blog ல சொல்லு... இல்ல creative ஆ எதாவது யோசிச்சு செய்டா...

இப்ப நடக்குற கதை எல்லாம் கேட்டா... அவன் அவன் 9th 10th லையே fix பண்ணி,   அந்த பொண்ணு எந்த High  School ல சேருதோ அதே  school ல சேந்து Collage வரைக்கும் follow பண்ணி, படிப்ப முடிகுறப்ப  marriage வரைக்கும்  plan பண்ணி settle ஆய்கிட்டு இருக்காங்க...

நீ என்னன்னா, 'I love [some name]' னு கோவில் செவுத்துல oil வச்சு எழுதுற... ஏன்டா கொவில கலீச் ஆகுறனு கேட்டா 'என் காதல் தெய்வீக காதல் சுண்ணாம்பு காதல் னு சொல்லி வாய கேளருவ... சரி டா... கோவில் செவுத்துல எழுதுற... ok... ஏன்டா train toilet ல எழுதுற?

ஒரு பக்கம் வேற ஒருத்தன் அசிங்கம் அசிங்கமா வரஞ்சு வச்சுருகான், இன்னொருத்தன் கொச்சையா ஒரு  கவிதை (மாறி ஒரு கருமத்த) எழுதி   வச்சுருக்கான்... பக்கத்துலையே நீ 'I love [some name]' னு எழுதுற... உனக்கே கொஞ்சம் ஒரு மாறி இல்ல? திருந்துங்க டா... உருபுடுங்க டா... படுத்தாதீங்க டா...

[Don't Say] Happy Independence Day!

I really hate it when people show insincere love or fake care or pretense. It is not their act which sickens me, but the fact that I can't do anything about it. I know that it is fake and they know that I know that and I know that they know that I know that... etc. But still, diplomatically, you have to say 'Thank You' or at least give a fake smile back.

That is the reason I don't like when a lot of people simply say 'Happy Birthday' or 'Happy Diwali' etc. Most of the times, people wish others for diplomatic reasons 'oh... he/she wished me, I have to wish him/her back' or 'he/she wished him/her, so, I should also wish him/her'. Even if only a few people wish you, it should be sincere and it should come from their heart.

At least the other kind of wishes are necessary for the social lubrication, but why fake a 'Happy Independence Day'? How many of the people who say 'Happy Independence Day' really care about it? How many of you are still patriotic? You may like a particular political party (God only knows why) and you are going to vote for them even though you know that they may swindle India if they get a chance. Or you may not even vote.

Army people can say 'Happy Independence Day'. They are patriotic. Children can say 'Happy Independence Day' as they are truly happy about it as they may get toffy. Other facebookers, google+ers, bloggers saying 'Happy Independence Day' is bull shit.

When getting to know about politicians who have 10 or 12 digit number money in foreign country banks, what was your initial thought? "What are they going to do with that much money?", or "I would be happy if I can get a very small portion of that money", or "Bastards/Bitches, they are swindling my country, let them go to hell" I don't know how many will truly think about it from the country's stand point.

I love my country. I love her so much that now I can only pity her or even hate Her that She can't do anything about it and I can't do anything about it. I am not happy or proud the way She is now. She smiles and bestows wealth, fame and fortune even to the people who destroy Her. May the Gods be with her and bless her and give her real independence from the corruption within Her.

 So, if you are going to post 'Happy Independence Day' on your Facebook wall and 'Like' all the girls' similar status and check your mailbox for the old mail titled 'Proud to be an Indian' and send it to all your contacts in BCC and then go and sit in front of the TV (or computer) and spend the rest of the day without giving a damn about the Independence day, please save yourself some 1 or 2 minutes... Don't post that 'H I D' in your wall or send a mail. India is not going to miss your wishes and your contacts definitely are not going to miss your wishes.