Influence

There are two sides to an influence. One, getting influenced and the other being influential. I very much fall into the former category. I'm someone who gets influenced in one tenth of a second ( That's an exaggeration okay, but just that you get the idea).

 When I talk to someone in my class with a strange/different accent or slang, I find myself going home talking the same way he/she did. Well, that's my story and I'm pretty much sure there are a lot of you with a similar one.

Now, Let me talk about some one who's been extremely influential on me and that will be no one other than my dad. I say he has a very big impact on me simply because I'm interested in everything he is interested in and I like every single thing he does.Its not just me, I find each one of his students from different parts of the world having exactly his opinions on various issues. Its just that he can get anyone with absolutely no interest on a topic to be completely drawn towards it just after an hour's conversation with him.

My dad's PhD dissertation was on Comparative Literature in which he basically did a comparison of the English poet Shelly and our own Bharathi. And no wonder why I'm so much into comparative literature and madly in love with the works of both the poets.

Many things make our hearts skip a beat. For me its Bombay Jayshri singing the amazing verses of Bharathi. I' don't know I find it so fascinating. I'm not sure if it is that sweet melancholic voice of hers that we hear on high volume in the car's stereo system or if it is the powerful lyrics of the poet or if its the live commentaries from my dad with so much of emotion. 

And back to the topic, I've always wondered how it feels to be influential, to inspire people and to make them aspire. I take a lot of things after my dad and I'm hoping I'll take the'influencing' part too. 

I know this is a very short post. But I just felt the need to write and I have no idea why. Like most of my posts,these are just random thoughts huddled in one corner of my brain along with another thousand thoughts.

Keep watching this space! and here's to more frequent posting!

P.S- On a totally unrelated note ,with yesterday we finished one awesome year in college. Its just been a year but I feel like I've been going to college like for a very long time. We went on one amazing Industrial Visit to Infosys at Mahindra City and so much fun! And here's to hoping for more fun IV's and three more years of fantastic fun!

Am Proud!

And yes I am. Its not that I did something extra-special. But I am proud. Its not anything about me, not even close to that.Its my DAD.

Its just not that every kid considers his/her dad the super-hero and is proud. But I really am.I proudly call Dr.G.John Samuel, my dad the best in the whole world! And so, why don't I dedicate this post to this Great person?! Not only this post, but anything which I can. I haven't talked much about him. So let me get this post talking.I've gathered these info on account of sneaking and picking! Who cares? Its my own

Born in Nagercoil, near Kanyakumari,the southern most tip of Indian peninsula, he spent the whole of his childhood there. ( After which I am left with a blur, and fill it ASAP).
He did his Masters in Tamil Literature and later on in English Literature.
He was a professor at the American College, Madurai and later moved to the International Institute for Tamil Studies ( IITS) in Chennai the reason being, he wanted to focus more on research.
He then did his PhD , the title being "Comparative Studies on the Harp and the Veena" ( Harp refers to P.B Shelly, the English poet and Veena refers to Bharathi, the great Tamil poet and I've been greatly fascinated toward both of them, probably owing to the fact that my dad often speaks about them).
Moving out of the nutshell, he started the Institute of Asian Studies, Chennai which now exists as the heart of research in Tamil language and its propagation World wide.The Institute started as a small mission in rented buildings at thiruvanmiyur later moved moved into the sprawling present-day campus of 10 acres. The departments include Kannada, Telugu, Japanese , Folklore etc. The Institute boasts of 200+ publications with International Recognition.The Journal of the Institute of Asian Studies (JIAS) itself is an example. It also has a huge library of 40,000+ books and journals and also rare palm leaf manuscripts.

He represented India at the UNESCO conferences. He was the one who prepared the draft for recognition of Tamil as a "classical language". His report was recently translated into Tamil by the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu himself, and was flashed in almost all the papers.

I wonder, he being such a great man doesn't show anything even close to all this. In fact it took me 15 years to realize this myself. His Simplicity is what I admire.

Turning back, I realize what a wonderful personality he is. He represented our Country to The UNESCO only at the age of 30.Thinking of all these things he has achieved, I have millions of miles to travel forth. He has determination, the strong will, the grit and the ability. Building up an institute single handedly,the troubles he faced and how successful he is now, pave my way to get inspired.

And everything I am comes from him. I am very good at Languages ( both English and Tamil). And that really comes from him. I share so much interests in common with him . I remember the times he's inspired me.When I was down, he was my backup .More than everything else, he is a Fantastic and Loving dad. I LOVE YOU DADDY!

Am proud of you and I will make you proud too :)