The Pakistani Spectator

My name is Arun Philip. During my 24 years of existence, I’ve completed my schooling in Dubai, my engineering degree from Kerala, India and then worked for Tata Consultancy Services for two years.  I am currently pursuing my MBA in Sydney.

I blog at here. Feel free to drop by, comment or criticize, anytime.

Would you please tell us something about you and your site?

I like to live life a day at a time. As I become more mature (growing old sigh!) I’ve realised there’s a difference in staying alive and living life. I choose to live life.

My blog is all about life as I see it. My experiences, memories, people I’ve met etc. find themselves on my blog (in a totally non-scandalous way of course). There is no singular theme although I am inclined mostly to describe things ‘light-heartedly’.

Do you feel that you continue to grow in your writing the longer you write? Why is that important to you?

I’ve been writing for a while. Kid’s magazines (when I was one myself), school and college magazines and even a newspaper article on my college Tech-Fest. My writing mirrors myself. As I change, so does it as well.

I don’t delve much on my writing though. It’s a hobby, a form of expression, an exercise to utilize the right half of my brain in a world that requires me to excel with the left one.

I’m wondering what some of your memorable experiences are with blogging?

Only recently did I realise that my blog was read by a lot of people I didn’t know. Their comments, opinions and the Blog Awards I’ve received were a pleasant surprise.

One of my posts ‘Chronic Bachelor’ (http://dphatsez.blogspot.com/2009/04/chronic-bachelor.html) caught the fancy of a popular blogger Silverine. She was kind enough to leave a link to it on one of her own posts. I was honoured.

The most memorable part of blogging though is that I come across different types of people across the globe and their ideas. I’ve made some friends on the way as well.

What do you do in order to keep up your communication with other bloggers?

Communication is facilitated mostly by comments on posts. The friends I’ve made use chat programs and emails to talk to me. Recently, I put up a Shoutbox widget on my blog.

What do you think is the most exciting or most innovative use of technology in politics right now?

With such a powerful information medium like the Internet, never before has ‘Knowledge is Power’ been more true. Politics can reach across more people across varying age-groups now. Politicians realise this and have invested significantly to ensure that ‘virtually’ no stone is left unturned.

Do you think that these new technologies are effective in making people more responsive?

When you are better informed, you are better equipped to make wise choices. It is impractical however to choose without verifying for yourself whether what you know can be trusted or not. Human judgement is prone to bias. Discretion is always necessary.

What do you think sets Your site apart from others?

No effort on my part. Every blog is unique just as every person is different from the other.

If you could choose one characteristic you have that brought you success in life, what would it be?

When I reach that point in my life, I’d be sure to let you know. I take life as it comes. In this world there are those who care about me and those that don’t. I care for those that do and life just moves on.

What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life?

I cannot filter one particular moment. I’m thankful for my parents, friends and health. As long as I have these, I guess I’d be happy.

Gloomiest would have to be my recent heartbreak. I made it out successfully though.

If you could pick a travel destination, anywhere in the world, with no worries about how it’s paid for - what would your top 3 choices be?

Shaolin Temple in China.(the whole mystique of it)

A NBA game in USA.(I’m a die-hard basketball fan)

The Bahamas(beaches and Poker).

What is your favorite book and why?

Paulo Coelho’s ‘The Alchemist’.

It struck me deeply as I was also trying to find the meaning of life as the protagonist. His writing was steeped in fantasy but touched me as it left me a moral that dreams don’t die and if we work toward achieving them, we can.

What’s the first thing you notice about a person (whether you know them or not)?

I look into their eyes. It shows whether they are sincere in speaking and listening to you.

Is there anyone from your past that once told you you couldn’t write?

No, I have yet to come across such a person.

How bloggers can benefit from blogs financially?

There are many schemes available. For a few days I tried using Google Adsense on my blog. But I promptly removed it as it wasn’t me. My readers were drawn to the sincerity of my content, why spoil a good thing with crass commercialisation.

Is it true that who has a successful blog has an awful lot of time on their hands?

I’ve read blogs of career women who juggle kids, work and manage to post daily. Hence time is never the issue.

Successful blog? I see blogging as a hobby, not a career.

What role can bloggers of the world play to make this world more friendlier and less hostile?

The reach of blogs  is just like the media reaching  out to people. If bloggers utilize freedom of expression responsibly then we can all get along.

In this Information Age, Blogs are a powerful medium and if used responsibly, have the potential to unite people.
Who are your top five favourite bloggers?

I love the blogs I read, I do not wish to disrespect them by ranking them per se. Every blog is unique just as every person is.
Is there one observation or column or post that has gotten the most powerful reaction from people?

My post ‘Beat This’ (http://dphatsez.blogspot.com/2009/04/beat-this.html) is by far my most popular post. It was about my Physics teacher in School and it struck a chord with everyone as they were reminded of those nostalgic times.

My own classmates who heard from me after so many years were rollicking at our capers in class.

What is your perception about Pakistan and its people?

The reason why I know Hindi and Urdu is due to Pakistanis. As a kid, when cricket was the rage, the India-Pakistan rivalry was always carried out in the field. I improved my cricketing skills and picked up the language as they hurled both thunderbolt deliveries and expletives with ferocity.

My perception of Pakistan is that apart from being neighbours, we are similar in many ways. Why fight then?

As far as politics go, I am neutral.Also, I absolutely relish Pakistani cuisine. ‘Maghaz masala’ being my favourite.

Have you ever become stunned by the uniqueness of any blogger?

In my eyes, every blog is unique just as the blog’s author. It is this factor that allows me to cherish every blog that I read.
What is the most striking difference between a developed country and a developing country?

If Indians behaved the way they do in foreign countries, we would have been a developed country a long time ago. I grew up in Dubai, studied in India and am studying in Sydney. The major difference I find apart from infrastructure is that people are willing to do something constructive with their lives.

What is the future of blogging?

I am but a mere speck in this universe called Blogosphere. Blogs are now at par with popular social networking sites like Orkut and Facebook. The future? I can only wait and see.
You have also got a blogging life, how has it directly affected both your personal and professional life?

My Blog-self is a part of me. I don’t project another image of myself. Keen readers of my posts note that I blog from my heart and hence they’ve remarked that it’s like talking to me in person.

Blogging is one of the many hobbies I pursue. It doesn’t ‘affect’ me; it’s one of the many things that constitute my normal life.

What are your future plans?

For starters, to complete my MBA and be gainfully employed. Given the recession, I think that’s as far my planning goes. The rest, as the tide flows. That’s life.

Any Message you want to give to the readers of The Pakistani Spectator?

Thank you for your time and patience in reading this. I am no wise man but I can leave you with this ‘Be Yourself’. Education and work certainly polish you; but a winner is one who remains true to his heart.

I wish all of you the very best.

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