Annual Report

I am cynical and most years end on a crappy note for me. The year always feels like it went too fast and nothing much was done. But evaluation is required nonetheless. One has to see how the year was and maybe chalk out a plan for the future. And so it must be with blogs.

Overview

2012 was the year of experiments. A new interface, a different name and newer ways of publicity kept the blog alive and buzzing. However, the year recorded the least number of posts since its conception and that too without any majestic surge in the quality of writing. While there is no correlation/causation to say that the experiments caused the decline, readers have been rumoured to suggest otherwise. Another theory doing the rounds is that the author has become a corporate monkey and has lesser and lesser time for his other half of the brain. What is instead surprising is that the readership saw an increase. From 2 regular readers and 1 forced reader, the blog now has 3 regular readers, 1 forced reader and 1 accidental reader. The newer ways of publicity (facebook, twitter, word of mouth etc.) have also brought in casual readers and some of them have managed to leave a mark. All in all, 2012 just managed to pass the benchmark. The increased readership seems to have motivated the author to write more, and those are our expectations for 2013 - an increased readership leading to increased writing. 

Causes for Decline 

The most prominent aspect of 2012 has been the sheer dearth of blog posts by the author. 10 in Thesaurus and 3 in Jibber Jabber is an abysmal number, best suited to fashionable bloggers. This makes us curiouser and curiouser as to what caused the declined. While it is tempting to believe that the occupation of the blogger diverted his attention, the blog actually has seen regular posts since the employment (July to December constitutes 60% of total posts in Thesaurus and 67% for Jibber Jabber). Therefore, the lack seems to be in the first quarter of the year. See the following chart to understand better (both blogs included) :

A close source to the author described the first quarter as extremely busy and confusing for the author. Faced with life-changing decisions and an impossible schedule, the author really had no time to breathe. In a particular week the author was seen juggling college interviews, organising debate competitions and debate training in a different city. June which marked the end of final year exams saw the maximum posts, thanks to the availability of time and joblessness. Therefore, the key reason seems to be the lack of time or rather a free mind to think out blog posts.

Regardless of that, there were somethings the author missed and must not be forgiven for. In Jibber Jabber, the readers were waiting for posts on FDI, Palestine, Delhi Gangrape, Gujrat Elections etc. but were left completely disappointed. Instead, they got a summary of tweets in a particular post in October. Thesaurus was filled with sermons and guides to living a beautiful life. There was a complete lack of fiction and storytelling. The last piece of poetry we read was in August 2011.  If the readership is to be maintained, there has to be a resurrection of poetry and fiction. That is our key takeaway for 2013.

The New Stuff

While the new interface seems extremely appealing at first glance, especially the hidden message in the backdrop, it hasn't delivered the magic that was expected. In a world of mobile internet and email alerts, the author expected that the readers would take out time to change the views of the blog from the dynamic view option. Someone should tell him that he isn't the only one facing a lack of time. The mobile website was fixed only in the latter half of the year, before which the dynamic view would take decades to load. On the other hand, Jibber Jabber being an issue based blog has the right theme to it. Plain and to the point.

We like the new name and our pleased with the change, but are still inquisitive about its origins. Till then, we would recommend a dictionary/thesaurus widget to go with the new name.

Undoubtedly, the sliver lining of the year was the rise in readers. We got in touch with a recent reader and they surprisingly remembered a particular post from 2011 and were able to relate it to the real life events of the author. That alone shows the effect the writing has on people (or the author's complete lack of inspiration). Another recent reader is rumoured to discuss every post with the author after it has been published. This report would be incomplete without mentioning the two loyal readers of this blog, who have stuck around because of the sheer brilliance of the writing (or their love for the author). We must congratulate the author of that.

The Other Stuff

Our analytics team tells us that yet again, the most popular post (in terms of page hits) was A Tide In The Affairs Of Men. The connection between the post and OTH has quenched the thirst of many Googlers and OTH fans.

In terms of qualitative liking, "Information value" was the best post of 2012 because of its innovative nature. Followed closely by it is "Godspeed" - we understood 'nothing' but it seems like intelligent stuff.

The song dedications in 2012 are beautiful and we are very impressed with the kind of music the author has been listening to. Each track has its own flow and flavour. If there is one thing that the author should never let go, no matter how many changes the blog goes through, is the song dedications.

In all this, one should not forget the half hearted attempt of the author to reply to comments. When this went to press, there was still a comment in a December post that had not been replied to. This has to change in 2013.

Speaking of comments, the highlight of 2012 was a comment war on a post on Jibber Jabber. Reports suggest that just right now there was a reply by Anonymous on that post. Though its sad that the war was not about the content, we are happy that it's getting some attention.

What next?

Just write, Rohan. Don't be scared. Be patient with the annoying people. Anything you write has a flip side to it. And you will always reach dead-ends. And you will mostly be disappointed. But just keep writing. Sad stuff. Sermon Stuff. Fiction Stuff. Anything. Just write. Because that is a huge part of you. Not the whole of you. But a lot of you. There are so many parts of us - the part we think we are, the part we show to other people, the part we want to be and many others. But this maybe the real you. Just write.

We were able to get a comment from the author when we told him we were running this report. He doesn't know the contents yet, but this is what he had to say :

"Thank you so much for doing this. It feels great that you are helping the blog out. Be kind in what you write.  I just have one thing to say. It's something I heard through a TV show. There was once a man who was building a beautiful home for his wife and kids. A home in which they were always happy and would never have to leave. But it wasn't actually a home, it was a cage. I hope neither the blog nor me, are in a cage that we have built for each other."

We totally agree with that comment. Whatever it means, we understand.

And that's it from our side. We hope that you find this report very useful. Do share your comments and feedback.

To Rohan Chawla, Chotashakespeare, Thesaurus, Corporate Monkey, Chawla, Roaaan and other names that you have for the author.

Song : 
23 by Jimmy Eat World
A Satisfied Mind by Jeff Buckley
Come Talk to Me by Bon Iver

Warm and Fuzzy

The other day I bought a copy of "A Thousand Splendid Suns" from Daryaganj and since then one particular thought has been stuck in my head. What if our sky was filled with ten thousand suns. I know we'd die, but it would be incredibly beautiful.

I remember Jayaji saying that the scriptures describe Brahman as that - the light of ten thousand suns. And when I did a quick Google search, I found out that there is also a book called that!

Sometimes I intentionally stare into the sun, even though I know I shouldn't because it'll hurt my eyes. But I do it anyway. It feels like you're fighting something powerful, something strong. Maybe even majestic. Of course, the sun always wins.

I also remember hearing a song called "The Boy who trapped the Sun" . While the song is just about okay, it makes me think of a beautiful picture. A small boy with a little brown sack/bag who tricks the sun and captures it in his bag. Makes for a good fairy-tale, y'know.

If the Sun was a person, what would it be like? Something tells me it'll be like a grandfather - old and tired but still young at heart. I am also repulsed by the idea that they call the sun a star. Stars are meant for making wishes, for being temporary homes for people who have left the earth and stuff that makes wonderful rhymes. Fluffy stuff. The sun on the other hand, is well the sun.

That might make the sun unhappy. What if he (or she?) wants to be the temporary home for dead people, the locker of our hopes and dreams and wants to well - twinkle. It's unfair for us to hold him to these standards, won't you agree?

Imagine. Ten thousand suns in the sky. It would be beautiful.

To Jonathan Safran Foer, for giving wings to my imagination.

Song : Hard Sun by Eddie Vedder

Information Value

Song : Married Life from the movie Up!

(From here on "want" and "will" have been used interchangeably. Also, answers can be given in a logically inconsistent manner ie: you can get divorced w/o getting married, you can think about corporal punishment even if you don't have kids etc.)

Ask Yourself :

1. About Progeny

• Do you want to have kids?
• Would you be okay with any gender / any disability / whatever God gives you?
• Have you ever thought of what you'll call 'em?
•  Do you expect them to take care of you when you are old and aging?
• Will you use corporal punishment?
• Will you do their homework and clean their diapers?
• Do you think children are overrated?

2. About Love

• Do you think you know what Love means?
• Have you ever been in Love?
• Do you think Love happens only once? Have you fallen in love multiple times?
• Do you think you will ever fall in Love?
• Will you marry?
• Will you get divorced?
• Do you think Love is overrated?

3. About Life 

• Do you think Life has a purpose?
• Do you know that purpose?
• Will you commit suicide?
• If in deep pain, will you agree to voluntary euthanasia?
• If in deep pain, will you agree to euthanise your parents/grandparents? (Assume that you have never had a conversation with them regarding this and that you don't have their consent)
• Will you take care of your parents when they are old and aging? Will you clean their diapers?
• Do you think "to have never been born is the greatest boon of all" ?

4. About Sex

• Do you think you'll cheat on your partner?
• Are you okay with Friends with Benefits?
• Are you okay if your friends with benefit is friends with benefit with someone else? (assume if you are and aren't friends with benefit with someone other than him/her)
• Are you more likely to be okay if a man had more friends with benefits than a woman?
• Will you ever pay for sex?
• Will you ever provide sexual services for a fee?
• Do you think Sex is overrated?

5. About God

• Do you believe in God / Powerful entity / Soul?
• Do you think God is fair?
• Do you think God is rational?
• Do you think God is not angry at atheists?
• Do you believe in Karma?
• Do you believe in Afterlife?
• Do you think Religion is important?
• Do you think God is overrated?

6. About Yourself

• Do you think you'll ever kill someone?
• Will you lie (not white lie) in a court of law if you had to save a family member / very very close friend?
• If terribly hungry and malnourished, will you steal food?
• Do you think you're a good person?
• Are you scared of death?
• Are you afraid that no one will remember you after you're long gone?
• Do you think you give yourself less credit than you deserve?
• Do you think you give yourself more credit than you deserve?

Does all this matter?

I was trying to find a way if one can create a time capsule with the answers to these questions. And maybe years later you can answer these questions again and see how you've changed. Would be an interesting thing, I think. Well I've created mine and you can see it here : Time Capsule

Do answer them. You don't have to share. Just answer them and hide it in your email/drawer/docs/blog. And years later revisit it.

To Russell. So young and full of promise.