...non periodic oscillations...

Architectural internships, for most practicing architects I know, are either an unnecessary headache or a means to get some affordable “hands on deck”. For the students looking for an internship though, it is a critical juncture of their lives. Many are of the opinion that internships aren’t required at all while many consider it a rite of passage to professional practice. The way I see it, I believe it is a good thing to give students a flavour of what professional practice feels like, before they step in to the big bad world. Academia is such an insulated, cocooned life that for some students, internship can be a pretty harsh awakening. For some interns, working in an architectural practice helps them to understand what skills are more likely to get them employment quickly. For others still, applying their thoughts in a real world scenario is a thrill. The problem with internship though, is the manner in which it is implemented. The Council of Architecture (CoA) is, of cour...

A friend shared a link to an Instagram video today, of a bunch of riders who decided to rip through the streets after attending the Distinguished Gentleman's Ride. As most you might know, the DGR is a charity ride where they ask you to dress up and ride "dapper". While I have my own reservations against big group rides, DGR or otherwise, I support the idea of such a ride as long as it is for a good cause. However, I have a problem with riders like these who, in the spirit of being “dapper”, wear minimal protective riding gear and then go speeding through public roads. These guys were riding at speeds in excess of 160 Kmph on public roads. I remember that video where a group of riders were doing close to 300 Kmph, in full gear, on a public road and then they crashed. I have seen the entire video and trust me, it was not a pleasant sight. Imagine if, God forbid, they had an accident? People will say that the DGR encourages unsafe riding habits. Yes, I know that is stup...

During my internship, I used to ask my boss why did we not participate in design competitions and/or publish our projects. I obviously did not believe him when he said that all one had to do was "donate" or "sponsor" to the organisers/publishers and, lo and behold, you were on your way to fame and architectural glory. Now, I get a lot of calls/mailers for architecture/interior/design awards with a very subtle hint (pretty direct at times) that for a small fee/sponsorship, I can become a rockstar. I see a lot of awards, a lot of glitzy events and a lot of glamour but where is the love?

In the age of information overload and instant gratification, it is easy to forget that our existence may have a deeper meaning and a larger purpose. Every once in a while, we need a reminder and Fables from India is just such a book. A collection of short stories, although woven around simple contexts and characters, reaches out to the reader with a profound message. This is a book that everyone should read, especially the young ones. Simple yet profound, you might be tempted to question yourself whether you are being the best you can be? I already know which little kid is going to get this book from me. I hope he asks himself that question.

01/01/2007 Moving into another new year, I look back today and reminisce about the one gone by. A year that was full of hope, anticipation and of utter helplessness. A year which distanced me from a lot of good people and at the same time brought some close. Of times spent with my solitude and of living in the silence within. A beginning with hope of achieving a goal and then watching it disappear along with the promises on which they stood. Of finding hope once again and learning to hang on to it no matter what. Of pain that knew no limits and of love that knows no bounds. A year of lost faith and of rediscovering it in the most unexpected of places. As the new year starts I hope once again that it will be good to all of us and I pray that each one of you start it with a hope and a strength that will carry you through the inevitable highs and lows of life. I thank all of you for being a part of my life and for always teaching me something new about it. Have a happy and p...

“And so rock bottom became a solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.” _J. K. Rowling Our lives today are lived at a pace unprecedented in the history of mankind. We try to extract something out of every single moment, meaningful or not. Each one of us is in a race and honestly, most of us do not know where the finishing line is. Losing My Religion is the story of Rishi, one amongst the many of us, who believes in winning and is part of the same race which most of us are participating in, willingly or unwillingly. The story really starts once Rishi hits rock bottom in life. Having struggled to keep it all together, he believes he has reached the nadir till the chance encounter with Alex takes him on a path which he could never have imagined himself. The journey of a man who lives his life with a plan along with a man who has no plans whatsoever, creates moments which are exciting, refreshing and downright crazy at times. Just when life seems to start making sens...

“Destiny is a funny thing.” Each one of us must have experienced this in varying degrees. The Sialkot Saga picks up on this and builds a story which weaves through centuries and generations to culminate is a moment which leaves one wishing for more. The story revolves around two protagonists, Arvind and Arbaaz, whose lives are separate yet intertwined in more ways than either of them could have ever imagined or might have been willing to admit. The story starts in the bloodbath of one of India’s darkest hour and takes the reader through a maze of time frames that seem disconnected yet it never loses the plot. The lives of the protagonists are interspersed with love, fear, respect, ambition, greed, vengeance, sorrow, penance and what have you not. As Arvind and Arbaaz learn the ways of the world, each one carves out their own territory and is consumed by the never ending lust for more money, more power and more of that ever scarce commodity, love. While the story of Arvind...