Chetan's Random Thoughts

Mission Accomplished!!!

2008-06-25T02:37:00.006+02:00

Having studied at the Salesian University for long four years, I had my D-Day on 23rd June, 2008. I successfully defended my Master's Thesis. The thesis was on "Digital Divide: Is it decreasing or increasing globally? Examining the Domestic Digital Divide in India with Special Reference to Bangalore, the Silicon Valley of India".

The success was celebrated in a fitting manner on 24th evening with a grand dinner. The esteemed guests were my professors from UPS and my colleagues from the college.

I look forward to reaching India now after a gap of more than 4 years!!!

An Evening at the Faculty of Communication, UPS

2008-06-15T12:10:00.000+02:00

Saturday, 14th June, the evening at the faculty of Communications at the Salesian University was more than enjoyable. It was an occasion to meet all the colleagues for the last time and thank our professors too.

In the first part, 'Mediamania' - the best productions of the faculty were presented. Theatre, Languages of the Media, Multimedia, Television, Radio were the broad areas.
Then followed the dinner, with a variety of dishes, including the typical Latin American grilled meat prepared by Prof.Tone himself.

The music and dance that followed the dinner made no distinction between students and professors!! Every one tapped their feet and danced!!
Indeed a memorable evening. Thanks to the company of Br.Matej.

A Pilgrimage Tour to France

2008-03-30T11:29:00.000+02:00

After Easter, a 3 day visit to France was truly refreshing. Thanks to the company of Reginald and hospitality of Alwyn in Paris. The long cherished dream of visiting Lourdes and seeking the Mother's Blessings was satisfying. It was raining all through. Yet it made the pilgrimage different!! Very few have seen Lourdes while raining!!! I was fortunate!!!

A day in Paris with Eiffel, Louvre museum, etc.was not quite enough. The cleanliness, prompt and organized public transport system of Paris is something to me admired at.

The last day, the rarest of the rare visit to Mount St.Michael Abbey, that hangs between the sky and the deep Sea. It's truly one of the wonders of the world.

Finally one little disappointment. The security at the Orly airport in Paris did not allow the bottles containing the water from Lourdes pass through. Sad, they threw the water into waste baskets!!

A visit to the ruins of Pompeii, Naples

2008-02-11T23:04:00.000+01:00

Pompeii, the most famous archeological site in Italy, is located just 25km away from Naples. The excavations are visited by millions of visitors every year and offer one of the most important pieces of evidence of the past in the whole world. Life in this rich and prosperous city was dramatically and brusquely interrupted in 79 A.D. when Vesuvius erupted and totally buried it. The city and its inhabitants were wiped out in moments. A visit to the excavations gives you a pretty good idea of what life must have been like here two thousand years ago.

Five minutes from the ruins of Pompei, Italy, the great Roman city destroyed by the volcano of Mt. Vesuvius, there is a an area called Valle di Pompei where the town of Campania is located. In the shadow of the ancient volcano, a Marian Shrine was erected in the latter half of the 1800's. The shrine is dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary, named for the Marian image elevated on its high altar.

A Sunday relaxing visit to the ruins of Pompei was a life time experience.

2008-02-11T23:03:00.001+01:00

A Year Full of Opportunities and Blessings!!

2007-12-31T10:13:00.000+01:00

The Best New Year Gifts:

To your friend - loyalty;
To your enemy - forgiveness;
To your boss - service;
To a child - a good example;
To your parents - gratitude and devotion;
To your mate - love and faithfulness;
To all men and women - love;
To God - your life.

Have a Great New Year

The Dream Christmas Celebration!!

2007-12-15T23:25:00.000+01:00

Thomas of Celano, Francis' contemporary, writes: "The saint of God stood before the manger, uttering sighs, overcome with love and filled with a wonderful happiness....He sang the Gospel in a sonorous voice, a clear and sonorous voice, inviting all to the highest rewards. Then he preached to the people standing about and spoke charming words concerning the birth of the poor King, and the little town of Bethlehem....When he spoke the name, Child of Bethlehem or Jesus, his tongue licked his lips, relishing and savoring with pleased palate the sweetness of the words.

The manner in which St.Francis celebrated Christmas has been my dream celebration. Every time i read the above passage, i cannot but wipe my tears at the end. St.Francis simply shed tears when he meditated on the mystery of incarnation. The only attitude one can have while he stands before the crib, is SILENCE and only SILENCE. Words would spoil the message and experience.

This is my last Christmas in Rome. Next year Christmas celebration would be in my home sweet home, Holy Trinity Province, Karnataka, India. Isn't it thrilling?

May you all have a Great Christmas and a Peace Filled New Year 2008.

A Saint for All Times: St.Francis of Assisi

2007-10-02T18:26:00.000+02:00

St.Francis of Assisi, whose feast is being celebrated world over on 4th October, is a saint for all times and all people. In fact, the best known Christian saint after Lord Jesus Christ. St.Francis was truly human as his Lord and Master. He wept with those who wept, smiled with those who smiled, suffered with those who suffer. This, in fact is the essence of the brotherhood he preached. A brother/sister is always a brother/sister. One fine morning he cannot be seen as enemy. Even the enemy would turn into a brother/sister, with your fraternal touch.
Let St.Francis touch our hearts to see the brother/sister around us!!!
Wish all a Happy Feast of St.Francis!!

Twenty Six hours at JFK airport, New York

2007-09-04T19:09:00.000+02:00

Having spent two enjoyable months in the US, the last two days I spent in anxiety.
The Delta Connectio flight from BWI airport, Baltimore was delayed by more than an hour. As a result, when i reached JFK New York, the Delta Airlines to Rome had already left. Without much deliberation Delta gave me a seat in the following day's flight, i.e. after 24 hrs.
In the JFK airport i witnessed a face of US beauracracy. I went from pillar to post to change the ticket as i couldn't wait for so long. Everyone giving an advice, but a wrong one. Even for a one phrase clarification, i had to stand in a line for more than an hour. For the night, they wouldn't make any arrangement for accommodation. After much discussion, and questions like 'who's your MD? want to talk to him' etc., i was given a coupon for accommodation in a hotel with a dinner coupon. The dinner was costing 30 dollars of which Delta payed only 7 dollars and the rest from my wallet. Good business for the hotel at the cost of the stranded passengers. I was fortunate enough to get accommodation in the hotel for the night. Tens of other passengers spent the night in the airport lounge.
The next whole day I spent waiting in the arrival lounge. The flight to Rome was at 6.55 and again the usual dealy, took off at 8.35 and landed at Fiumicino at 10.25 in the morning. After the passport checking, i came to collect the luggage only to find that my luggage was missing. I waited, went round in the airport and checked with people but to of no use. Finally, stood in the line of Flight customer care line for another one hour to lodge a written complaint.
Thus finally reached the college, 50 hours after i lelft Baltimore.
A bad experience??? not really!! Next time i know what to do when my flight is delayed. Hope my baggage arrives so as not to make this a bad experience...haha

New York: The Commercial Centre of the World

2007-08-30T04:25:00.000+02:00

United Nations Security Council Meeting Hall

The stupendous stage at the Radio City, New York

The Statue of Liberty, New York

The ground zero at the famous World Trade Center

New York the commercial centre of the world, is in reality not only a state in the United state, but a mini world itself. One can find people from all nations around the globe in New York. Busy life,people not walking but running reminded me of Mumbai's busy life.
Culturally too, New York is very rich. The UN head quarters, the Liberty statue, Ellison Island, Brooklyn bridge, the Radio city, Rockefeller center, NBC studio, CNN, a number of museums, the beautiful and rich broadway theaters.. so many of them. It's a unique opportunity to watch New York city at night with all its glowing lights. The 'Les misérables' at broadhurst theatre was a memorable experience. The musical play has been running in the theatre since last 14 years, and every show is a jam packed one. The ticket a whopping 100-200 dollars. New York is very expensive indeed!!

Philadelphia: The City of Brotherly Love

2007-08-18T16:40:00.001+02:00

An Indian flag exhibited among other flags on the roads of Philadelphia

The Liberty Bell: the main attraction of Philadelphia

The Prestigious Annenberg School of Communication of the University of Pennsylvania

The city of Philadelphia in the state of Pennsylavania is a compact, little beautiful city situated between two rivers. Phil-adel-phia, truly means the city of brotherly love.
The city breathes the spirit of Liberty. Philadelphia was the original capital of the USA when in 1776 the constitutions were signed. The monuments like constitution center, independence hall, etc., narrate a thousand stories.
The symbol of liberty, the Liberty bell is housed in a new building now. Crowds throng to see it. For me, being in the Independence area was a special experience, because it was August 15th, the day of Indian Independence.
A visit to the Prestigious Annenberg school of communication and the University of Pennsylvania, celebration of independence day with the students of Drexel University and making friends and finally a tasty indian lunch at the 'Sitara' indian restaurant near the University of Pennsylvania were some of the highlights of my weeklong rich experience in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia indeed abounds in brotherly love!!

Washington: US capital

2007-08-12T04:18:00.000+02:00
The view of the White House from the Washington Memorial

The Washington National Cathedral

The Tomb of John Kennedy at Arlington Cemetery

The Administrative capital of the USA is Washington, a beautiful, clean city with majestic edifices. There are a number of museums, parks, gardens, historical places.
One great thing about these places is that the entrance to these places is totally free except a couple of places like spy museum, Albert Einstein Planetorium, etc.
All these places and monuments are situated around the capital, at walkable distance. A week was not enough for me to visit all the places and monuments.
In the Smithsonian chain of museums, the Air and Space museum was stupendous!!
The White House couldn't visit, it needs prior appointment (3 months someone told me!!)

St.Ambrose Friary, Baltimore

2007-08-01T16:14:00.000+02:00

St.Ambrose Church,Park Heights,Maryland
The Pittsburg province of the Franciscan Capuchins has 116 friars. At St.Ambrose Friary, Baltimore live 4 friars, the guardian Br.Roman,Pastors Brs.Paul & Mark, and the Capuchin volunteer program incharge Br.Dennis. Nice little community, busy with pastoral ministry yet all have enough time for fraternal sharing. It's nice to be here!!

America Diary

2007-08-01T15:31:00.000+02:00
Welcome my friend to my Blog

The last one month in the United States of America has been a period of cultural enrichment, new experiences and refreshing heart and mind. The human nature anywhere in the globe is the same. Indians, Americans, Africans..only the names differ. The basic human nature is full of goodness, generosity, understanding, love..of course, tinged with a little selfishness, anger, prejudices..
The Baltimore area where i am put up since a month is fascinatingly rich with culture and variety..tinged with crime, drug abuse..
Some of the beautiful landscapes of Baltimore..
The National Aquarium at Baltimore

The variety of fish