Biography...

I just joined my new workplace. filled in the forms. logged in. and filled a few more forms and registrations. and then i came across a page that said BIOGRAPHY.
i was wondering what to write in my 'biography'.
Scattered and random as it is - i just wrote what i thought - fragmented and semmingly incomplete - yet most complete to me :)

this is what i wrote:

Me. im just another miniscule subatomic particle on a grain of sand on an endless beach called the universe...
but damn! im still never gonna stop believing that i can change the world!
Yes - that stubbornly narcissistic, unbreakable, emotionally supercharged, dream driven eternal idealist - yes - thats ME.

-----

Growing up as a 'not so normal', dyslexic kid, i learnt one very important lesson - TO LEARN.No matter what i do, what task im assigned, which road i take - i make it a point to keep on learning. To keep an open mind and to soak in the experience. To open - experience - learn - adapt - and improvise.

----

I learnt all i could - every thing that was possible - beginning with learning to overcome my linguistic differences (i wouldnt call them disabilities). Over the years i learned and managed to excel in public speaking competitions, quizzes, science fests, basket ball compts, cold ceramics, carpentry, fashion show choreography, compeering, dance, oral percussion, script writing, acting, direction, poetry, painting, swimming and more. many more.

---

I started working as soon as i left school - marketing - working as a door to door salesman (coz my dad told me the best way to learn marketing is in the face of a door that slams on your face). I did a little dubbing. a little modelling. A few months of market research, taught martial arts... and was about to join the navy when ADVERTISING happened to me.
and it has been THE experience ever since.I worked for Alliance advt, Makhija advt, Better Comm and did a lot of freelancing jobs - enjoying each to the core.
And now im here.

At OGILVY.

and it feels like home.

- Pushkaraj Shirke

Being 'Decent'

D.E.C.E.N.C.Y ?

What is decency?
I was just talking to a nice creature that i encountered and this topic came up - so thought about it...

what is this 'decency'? more importantly, being percieved as highly indescent by a large proportion of people including teachers and society folk, what's DECENCY to ME??

I guess this would be it.

To me, decency is about having an attitude that gives 2 fucks to what the world thinks about you--- but at the same time honestly giving 2 fucks about causes that need your assistance-- it may be the welfare of a million refugees, attending to a sick dog by the road side-- or as you said-- helping and old man cross the road irrespective of who he is...

decency is about staying sober while all others are sloshed so that u can make sure nobody messes with your friends-- not even yourself.

decency is about not making out with drunk women.

decency is about not abusing relationships. decency is also about abusing the shit out of assholes who take advantage of your friends and family.

decency is about respecting your elders. decency is also about smashing the shit out of the lecherous old man who tries to grope your friend.

decency is about respecting people. It is also about having the balls to not give respect to those who DEMAND it.

decency to me is about hugging and kissing your girl like there's no one around in case you have'nt met her for a long time (which depending on the situation can also be 10 mins) ... but just toning it down a little if there are too many relatives/family/elder ppl around. (i repeat, just a little)

decency is about screaming out to call a long lost friend you see at a mall. it is also about keeping shut if it happens to be at a funeral.

decency to me is about not putting up pretences and being yourself- with the caution that you dont offend others too much in doin so... and walking away if that is the case.

decency to ME - is well, just about being myself. as far as can be.

-Pushkaraj Shirke

Thank You

In the middle of nowhere, in the midst of the night, at the beginning of the new year - I stand and I look at the mirror. It crosses my mind that this year, unlike every year, I did not give my new-year ‘drunk’ speech/lecture that I give to my people. I feel like writing it down. I think of it. It makes me smile.

It’s not my usual narcissistic smile that comes out of loving myself. It’s different, it’s a smile that comes from a way deeper part of me. It’s a smile of thanks.

A smile of gratitude.

Gratitude towards everyone and everything that has made my life complete.
Gratitude towards those people who have loved me for what I am.
Gratitude towards those, who have scorned me for what I am. Gratitude for those lessons that I learned between these two.

I feel grateful towards those who put their faith in me. I feel grateful even to those who never stopped doubting me. I’m grateful to life for having shown me the difference.

I’m glad I’ve found friends I can trust my life with. I’m glad I’ve found strangers who’ve trusted me like friends. I’m glad I’ve been worthy of all the trust they’ve placed in me.

I feel obliged to the people who tried to put me down. I feel obliged towards the people who let me stay down. I’m obliged I could learn to stand back up on my own.

Im grateful for the dreams that I’ve been able to dream. I’m grateful to life for giving me the wings to achieve them. I’m just a little much more grateful to those who mocked at my dreams - for they’ve driven me to soar far beyond.

I feel a sense of gratitude towards my parents and my friends for not having being judgmental towards me. I feel even more thankful to them for having taught the same to me.

I’m obliged towards those ‘friends’ who backed out on me. For it is them that showed me what real friends are meant to be.

I’m grateful to my teachers for having slowed down for me to learn. I’m even grateful to those who bled my hands because they couldn’t slow down. I’ve grown from what I’ve learnt in the difference.

I’m grateful for the people who taught me that money isn’t everything. I’m grateful for having learnt that it is something best said when you are rich enough in the first place.

I’m grateful to circumstances for having shown me both – the rich and the poor days. I’m grateful to life for having taught me that ‘money’, as often misconstrued, isn’t the same as ‘wealth’.

I’m thankful to the only woman I ever been in love with, for having been there by me. I’m thankful for the smiles, for the hurt, for the life I lived – I shared with her. I’m thankful to her for having helped me learn that some things, even if apart, do find a way to last forever.

I’m grateful to the only girl whose heart I ever broke. I’m even more grateful to her for having forgiven me and been my friend nonetheless. I’m grateful for the ways in which she’s made a better me.

I’m glad to have lived with people who’ve had the heart to trust me, more than their own prejudices.
I’m glad to have found people who opened their hearts to me. I’m grateful to them for having shown me the courage to live with an open heart.

I’m grateful to my colleagues and seniors for having shared their minds with me. I’m grateful for their honest views and for having been a ‘team’ with me. I’m grateful for the growth they endowed me with.

I’m grateful to all so many people and all so may things, that maybe if I had to name, I probably couldn’t even name them all. But I’m grateful. Grateful for it all. Grateful to them all.

I’m grateful to the gods, to the spirits, to the world and to every power above and around me, for having given me this life that I so love having lived.

I’m grateful to every bit that has made my life complete.

I FEEL grateful. I FEEL gratitude.

Thank you everyone. It makes me smile.

Thank you.

- Pushkaraj Shirke