On Startups (and Software and Violin)

I think I may be a bit presumptuous in incorporating “Startups” in my blog title.  Like the other two items in the title, this is something Id like to do well, not something I am an expert at or even know anything about.  At best, its an effort to documenting my efforts in creating a (successful) startup (which is probably more imaginary at this point in time than the lord of the rings trilogy).  Hope that clarifies it.  Same applies to Software and the Violin.

Arranged Marriages

Well, I guess it is time I come out of the closet and admit my selling of the soul to the system of arranged marriages. Yep, Ive succumbed (actually a year ago) to a combination of the cultural carrots and sticks that are so common for us beans who sprout from indian parents.

Sticks (best read in an indian language or in an indian accent) including parents giving you the “oh you are too old to going on enjoying your single life” to “look at your friends (really meaning, their friends’ kids) who are married and giving their parents (ie their ‘friends’) lots of grand kids – why do you want to let us down and be such a bad boy”..

Ofcourse the biggest and the juiciest carrot is really the ending of such sticks delivered on a daily basis. Not to mention getting a decent meal (or six) every day. I was going to add that sex on tap (atleast while it lasts) isnt a bad deal either, but I guess anyone used to the sydney life style wouldnt think thats a great advantage .

Dont get me wrong, I am not one of those blokes who lets his wife do all the work for him (seriously, how can you live with such a shameless view). I am simply facilitating a conducive environment for said class of partners (only one in this case) who are happy to perform said duties (purely to vent their creative outlets) and indulge in other related activites!!

I am sure my wife would agree with this. I guess Il find out soon one way or another! But since I think she agrees with this, there’s no point in her really finding out about this is there?

Carnatic Violin

Well Ive been learning vocal carnatic music (South indian music) since 1996 and started violin since 2002. Just love it even though I struggle with it at every level. I know it sounds corny (even for me), but there is a certain bliss when you are sitting down with the violin and start making those noises (carnatic music involves sitting down!).

The person I need to thank most for helping me is my violin teacher, Mr Murali Kumar. My first and foremost guru, he himself learnt the art, unlike me at a very young age, from Violin Vidhwan Kanchi Janardhanan, and later had the great fortune of receiving advanced training from violin maestro, M.S.Gopalakrishnan. Needless to say, for all you MSG fans out there, his style takes a few lifetimes to just understand, let alone master it! Il post out more in the future what Ive learnt (drops) and what I would love to learn (the ocean). If you have any tips for improving MSG style of violin playing please pass them along.  Id be eternally grateful to you.

BarCamp Sydney

BCS (http://www.barcamp.org/BarCampSydney) was hosted on 3rd March at University of Technology Sydney (UTS). It was a gathering of entreupreneurs and wanna-make-it-biggers (like myself). Only one way to describe it – AbsolutelyFantastic (no spaces so its a single word!)

Key speakers were Martin Wells from Tangler, Mike from Atlassian amongst others.

HelloWorld!

Here I finally am. After years of avoiding blogging (due to neutrality and laziness rather than passion – or anti passion), I have jumped online, to yell to the world, all I can yell about.

So as an engineer here is a big HELLO WORLD to you!