Indian Game of Thrones 2019

#GoT
What I'm writing today is about India's #GameOfThrones
Indian Elections 2019. I guess am really late in putting these views forward, but points, but then better late than being sorry.
Also, this might be a little long read, just thought should let you know.
I don't proactively share a lot of political posts, do only what I feel is necessary to. From those you may not know which political side I am pro to but will definitely know who I am against. And there are reasons for it, majority being the bigotry and fascist nature of the current government. But then, no government is 100% pure and pristine to begin with. However, it is wise to have a government that will cause minimal damage to the country, to its people. And it hurts me to see so many ‘educated’ lot who seem to be over-looking the fascist nature of BJP (RSS being the mothership) and continue to support, for the reasons beyond my reasoning.
Before I begin, I’m in no way saying that the current government hasn’t done a single good thing. (And I’m sure many from the educated lot will definitely be commenting below with the lists of those things). There exists lot of good things too, yes, however one really needs to understand the idea of “Opting for the ‘lesser’ evil”. Am stressing on the word ‘lesser’. Government is evil, there’s no grey area to this statement and is point blank words, but when you opt a government, choose the one that will cause minimum damage to the country. And by the country I mean the people, the land, culture, everything.
During last elections campaign, BJP had at least in the skin of sheep in the name of development, during this time’s campaign they’re outright being a wolf! ‘Hindutva’ / Hindu Rashtra has been their agenda forever and now they’re openly promoting it during the campaign. Campaigning on the grounds of religion, do you not see anything wrong in it? I don’t know what you really learned during your schooling and further education.
But wait, let me ask you this. If the current government has really done amazeballs with their schemes and governing (and I’m talking everything other than religion here), why do you not see them campaigning on those grounds? Ideally you want the current government to come back because they’ve worked progressively, correct? And even they want to come back to power because they’ve created such wonders.
But no, what are they campaigning about? Mandir Wahi... 60 / 70 saal se… Aatankwaad se muqti… Do you seriously do not see the problem here? Please, please, get some sense in to you and please make sane decisions from the education you have received during so many years!
Now let me rather talk about those limited sets of comments that most of the Pro-BJP people use and why those comments really fail miserably.
The supreme leader of all the questions that BJP followers ask and have no answer to and hence wants to vote for BJP.
“If not Modi, then who?” Dear educated lots, it shows lack of genuine understanding and appreciation of the heart and soul of a parliamentary democracy. How much did you really score in your civics exam? Please, I do want to know.
Civics 101, for those who have forgotten what they really wrote in their exam. We aren’t following US’s Presidential form of government wherein we, as citizen of India, get to elect the Prime Minister directly. We vote for contestant from our individual locality, and the winning candidate of every constituency then form a government and then select their leader as Prime Minister. Remember now?
If you vote for BJP’s candidate without even knowing about them but just thinking that if I vote to BJP then Modi will become Prime Minister again, again I ask you this question, how did you fair in your Civics exam?? If the track record of the BJP representative in your local constituency isn’t good and yet you vote for them, I don’t know what to say. Actually yes, I do. If you happen to do this, then let me enlighten you of one thing. Modi will not come to clean the gutter that is clogged in your area, but the candidate you voted for in the name of Modi, will. And if their track record isn’t good, chances are it will take ages before that clogged gutter will clean.
Rahul Gandhi / Pappu or what other names you call him, please understand it’s not a Modi vs Gandhi election. Let those elected representatives form a government and they will definitely have someone great to lead the government. That might not happen if because of your foolishness you vote for BJP thinking Modi will come to power without considering these base level candidates! And maybe you aren’t aware of this, there exists much intelligent and capable candidates who have valid credibility to lead the country to a really progressed state. You don’t like Rahul Gandhi, it’s absolutely fine. But that doesn’t mean that Modi should come. You understand, it’s not a black or white here, but there are lots and lots of grey matter here to consider! Yes! Maybe you weren’t aware, but this country has so many much deserving candidates who can lead the government! There’s no dearth of leaders in the country! Voila! * Magical realization finally happening! *
For those who are scared for the words like “Gathbandhans”, “Mahagathbandhans” and think that they do not perform well and hence need a ‘stable’ government and hence opt for BJP, these mixed groups is what is the diversity of this country! Varied ideas and representatives from varied sections of the society is what the country really is! But okay, I can give you for it that BJP really fooled you with the idea of ‘stability’ in the government and hence you’re following them. But then, again let me reveal something to you which maybe weren’t aware. The current government itself is a coalition! BJP had 51.54% of seats only. And remaining 48.46% were not from BJP! Isn’t that a Gathbandhan too? Awesome revelation no?
BJP government is anti-terrorism. Right. And yet fielding Pragya Thakur. You know exactly what kind of person she is, even if you may not know her personally. All the pro and against articles about her point at one direction, that she’s an extremist Hindu. Kattar hindu, see the message that it’s sending out. Now knowing that, and also knowing that she has been part of institutions (and meetings) that talks about destroying Muslims by killing them outright, think deep within and tell me if that isn’t an act of terrorism. Am not asking you to tell me about the court ruling (however she’s still a terror accused). Am asking you to think within yourself, think deep within. Am sure the education you have received has taught you well to think logically. And then tell me if she has been given a ticket solely on the idea of fielding for Hinduism. I ask again, do you not see a problem here? Politics in the name of religion? Why? Because Mandir wahi …. ? Seriously? That daft?
Pulwama Attack. All the news that you see is how the government returned fire with ‘muh tod jawaab’ with the air strike (we can talk about the authenticity of that attack later). But do you see the government talking about holding responsible to how that attack really happened? How such an intelligence error happened in the first place, considering the quantity of explosives was huge? The government isn’t talking about it at all.
And that makes me wonder about an article I read many months ago. I had read it long ago and don’t have the link to it and don’t recollect where exactly I had read. Would the current government wanted such a terrorist attack to happen so that it can show to the people how they can give ‘muh tod jawaab’? A possibility? I’m not saying it is true, but asking you to think about it.
Aware of the data on unemployment that the government is hiding? No? Exactly! That itself is the biggest scam! Hiding data’s from public portals so you don’t know the real de-growths! All you’ll see the performance report cards, but non-performance reports are way more!
Have you been feeling the heat, summers being hotter than they were in past couple of years?? Please tell me if at least once you said “It’s so hot now-a-days!!” Yes, have said it, right? BLAME IT ON THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT!! Maybe you really are that daft and haven’t really followed up on the government policies concerning the environments. The rate and unplanned infra projects the current government has started degrading the environment, it’s not even funny anymore. Let me just use 2 words which is an example. “Aarey Colony”. The only green cover that breathes for Mumbai city. Going by the policies regarding that area, in few years itself the city will cross mega high temperatures than what it has dealt. Oh, did you just say Global Warming to be blamed and not the government? Yes, it’s global warming and you like the ******** President Trump, are an ignorant fool and think the government policies has nothing to do with contributing to the Global Warming.
I termed the government Bigot at the beginning. Want to know the recent bigotry act by the Prime Minister himself? At one point he says “Raid my home too if anyone doubts him” and then when an Election on-duty official checks for his chopper, he’s suspended?
Another Civics 101 topic I forgot to mention earlier. The head of the State is ‘for the people, by the people’. Recollections happening to these words? What it means is the head of the state is accountable to the people. Probably that’s why the head of the state never really faced the people to answer. All those interviews that really happened, you know what kind of questions were asked. How does he eats his mangoes?! Kaat ke or choos ke?! Like seriously! That is what the citizens really want to know during elections?! Please tell me you aren’t that daft. I’ll start crying if you say you are and agree that the kind of interviews the PM has given till now is what it should be. If you can’t hold accountable the man in power for everything his government is doing, you’re the problem not him!
Let me come back to the communalism topic again. You may not be aware, but at any instance, at any given time “Corruption > Communalism”. The reverse cannot be, or rather shouldn’t be true at all! To say in limited words, corruption can be treated over time but when communalistic seeds when sown and grown, it will only lead to further divide the society and make a sorry state of our country. Our country is known for the unity in diversity. Don’t diversify it. That’s what British government did, divided us and you know what that lead to. Maybe you aren’t realizing what BJP is really doing to this country, but it is very much leading us to the same situation 200 years ago. It definitely will lead to genocide and civil wars.
In the end I would only like to quote this one line I read it someone else’s article (It was by someone called Arul, if I recollect it well). It has immense amount of truth, if you are able to perceive it well.
“You should think about the Constitution and Ambedkar's republic because you don't know which minority you could find yourself in tomorrow.”

Shadow that disappeared in the darkness

It must have been about 9 o’clock, and yet a busy road on the one I was on. I was on my bike with a friend as pillion. Stopped at the signal, and we were about 15th vehicle in the row. Both of us were casually chatting, about the cold. My friend was feeling exceptionally cold.

The signal was long.

The road on the other side was empty. And I was in the same direction as traffic. Suddenly, while chatting, I notice a young cat, slightly bigger in size than an infant but definitely not adult or sub-adult, in black fur at the end of pavement.

The signal was long.

The cat gets on the road and casually starts walking around. A car from the other end was fast approaching, and this cat was right at the edge of the road. The car reduced its speed, realizing the cats presence. While it passed by, the cat was near to the car.
Mine and my friends vision were on the cat, almost missing a beat until I saw the cat as soon as the car zoomed by.
Phew.

The signal was long.

The road on the other side, the cat’s side, was still empty. Now the cat starts to walk towards the road on which I was on. It doesn’t look on either side to be sure if any other vehicle was approaching. Yeah, the cat was that young. Could have been an infant as well, not sure. Though I was happy to realize that no other car came on that road while this little one crossed it.
This little shadow had reached the road divider now. Took a while to figure how to climb on it and cross. It did.
I grew a little impatient.

The signal was really really long.

The pillion seat my bike is slightly higher and hence whoever sits pillion does a little nakhra to sit on it. And definitely does while getting down. And so usually I avoid making the pillion sit after all the work off the bike are done and are ready to ride. Also avoid making them get off for few seconds if anything off the bike requires attention. Usually.

I grew a little impatient when the cat crossed the footpath couple of vehicles ahead of me. Apparently, the signal was still red. And my vision right ahead was blocked by an Autorickshaw. Asked my friend to get off the bike, so that I could as well. My friend knew exactly why am asking to do that, even though doing it is a task, and the signal might turn green any second now. I put my vehicle on side stand, and rushed ahead.

I saw this little cuteness sitting under one of the vehicle, without any worries. I looked at the signal, and it was still red. For once I was happy that it was still red. Got down on my knees and tried to get her out. My hands couldn’t reach this dark fur-ball. And it kept meowing defensive sounds. Also my helmet was on, the reason I couldn’t go under the vehicle completely. Removed it, but still couldn’t reach the feline.

By that time, onlookers were confused what was I upto. The driver of the vehicle was confused why someone went below his car and everyone around looking right in that direction. Tried couple of times more to get her out. Stood up and looked at the signal. I didn’t want it to turn green until this itzy-tiny-bit was safe off the road, but it had. Got down on my knees frantically in my last hope to take her out. She had disappeared.

Somewhere.

Looked around for some hope, expecting it to be on either side of the road. Didn’t find her. Asked the rickshaw wala, who was right behind the vehicle, if he spotted the cat. He denied. And by now, the vehicles ahead had started clearing. Gave a last look, my vision sweeping through the road, in the hope to confirm she was safe. Couldn’t spot her.

Returned back to my bike and started before the honks from behind could fill my ear. Surprisingly, not a single honk. Did they know why I had gotten off my bike in the first place? Don’t think they did.

And as I passed by the place where I saw the whiskered one last, scanned with me eyes in yet another hope to confirm she was safe. I did not.

And for next few minutes both, me and my friend, were quiet. Wondering just one thing.

Did that shadow disappeared in to the darkness?

Conscience of Small Joys

I have always believed that life's real moment are cherished in small joys. Those little smile you get to see the kindness in the worlds eye.

My conscience said have gone mad. I said, let me just try.

Started cycling. On my way encountered the evening traffic. Somehow got stuck up in the middle of vehicles. The moment signal turned green and every vehicle started to move, and I wanted to get on the extreme left side of the road before someone started to honk for obstructing the traffic. Found a space between the back of an Ertiga and a cab right behind it. The Ertiga moved swiftly, and I thought the cab will honk any moment. It didn't, and stayed behind until I was on the left side completely, and then the cab drove past, and I saw the cab driver giving a thumbs up along with a smile.
All I could do was smile back. :-) 

A steep uphill ahead at the Pedder Road. I was almost out of breath, cycling uphill and speed of a snail. I didn't want to stop even for a second even if the speed was close to negligible.
There comes a signal with traffic on my left side moving, and the moment I reached the signal, the traffic cop actually stopped 2 vehicles to let me pass. Didn't expect it, nor wanted the traffic to halt because of me. I quickly passed by, waving a Thumbs up to the cop, a smile on my face and said thanking him in my mind.

Finally after struggling tirelessly, reached the top end of the road and two men at the bus stop almost cheering me. 

I didn't know what was happening, or why are people are acting that way. But honestly, felt really good seeing these gestures from strangers on the road. 

Reached Marine Drive, and suddenly I see a XUV500 driving alongside, and the lady on the front seat rolled down the window and was interested in my cycling helmet, specially the inbuilt flashing red LED on its back to use in the night, asking where she could buy it. A small conversation about it went for cycling about 200 mts before the car zoomed off. 

A smile on my face again to know more people are excited to use a helmet while cycling. 

Finally reached the Badminton court. Was back again after 3+ years. The sense of my past moments flashed right in front of my eyes. That feeling of coming back! Had missed it real bad. 

I had decided that it's my first day after so long, and will not play more than a game, after all had to cycle back.
Ended up playing 2 singles and 2 doubles. Was dead tired. Stamina lost somewhere in space.
Before leaving, came out of the court, kept the bag on one side and lied on the ground, staring at the open sky.
A little rest later, started to cycle back. I had to get home quickly.
Pedder Road uphill cycle was terrible. My legs had no strength left, could feel it going numb. Yet I kept paddling. Mind said stop, body said stop but this time my conscience said keep paddling, and I did.
An hour later, without stopping even a bit, reached home. Finally 22 kms cycling journey had ended.

I could never believe myself carrying out everything I just described. I know for most it might not be an exciting story, but it indeed is a feat for me, specially knowing that my health is in bad shape.

Now am just lying on my bed, typing this out only in one hope that my body doesn't start paining badly for doing this all out of the blue.

And that brings an end to a tale of small joys.

Stay SuPeR, Stay SiMPLe :-)

Why Them?

They say "Grass is always green on the other side". But what am going to talk about in this blog, the quote may or may not hold true.

Before I begin, want to say that all these are my thoughts alone. Am not putting in your mouth, so whether you desire to read further is completely on your choice and not mine. Also, I am responsible for what I say, not for what you understand.
Oh, and I am a little agitated too, so ignore the anger and foul words, if any.

Today's 14th April. Happy Ambedkar Jayanti to whoever wishes to accept it gracefully or with little confidence. Remaining ones, ignore. Yup, I belong to 'that' community, and today is our festival, san as is called in Marathi. Just like it's Diwali (if that makes you understand) for many of you. Ah yes, hence so many crackers around, if you are wondering what people are celebrating.

 So I was walking on the road this evening and overheard a conversation of a passerby. "Today and on 6th December, it's difficult to move around Dadar area. Half of Dadar is blocked because they come, everything is so dirty. Unnecessarily."
And then, "Dude! You shouldn't have spoken the last word." I said to myself. Wanted to talk to the passerby, but then I couldn't as had to tend to some work. Since then it's running in my head and now thought of putting these thoughts on this blog.

Do you too agree with what the passerby was talking about? Then I feel this post is for you to read, only if you are ready to understand with an empty cup, and not full of predefined concepts running in your head.

Don't judge too soon.

Do you celebrate Ganesh Chatturthi, Navratri, Eid, etc. either directly or indirectly? Ever questioned the same thing then? On 14th April and 6th December it's just a portion of Dadar that is cordoned off. That too for a day or two. What happens during Ganesh Chatturthi and Navratri to almost most part of the city or during Eid around Mohd Ali Road? The roads are pretty much empty, right?
Talking about cleanliness.
'They' dirty the road around. 
Ah but this dirt gets cleaned up the next morning. What about the dirt that happens in the sea when the idols are immersed during Ganesh Visarjan and Navratri, apart from the ones on the road? Who cleans the sea?

Errr, some thoughts started withering? Don't worry, I won't be telling anything new here. Will be just showing you what you have been ignoring all this while.

'They' get reservation.
I want to filter my audience at this stage. How many of you are female, and have made use of reservation in various fields for females at some or other point of life? For the males, how many of you have mother, sisters, aunt, female friends who made use of this 'reservation act for females' and you did not question them at all then?
I guess my target audience size has reduced considerably with so many hypocrites out.

I understand your opposition to the idea of reservation the government started, which is valid. But you need to understand the other side of the truth too, in such a scenario it is required. It is an act to uplift the downtrodden that they will at least get a chance, when all this while they did not. When they see the government is trying to boost it, few get confidence, a platform to showcase their talent, which in the earlier times was never allowed to come out.
I see around in my community. The condition has not improved much. Will take some time for it to happen. It took these couple of decades just for the idea to appear, imagine how long will it take to come in practice.

This reservation is creating more space instead of bridging. 
At this point the dialogue in the movie 'Sarkar' comes to my mind when the villains  were plotting how to kill Amitabh Bachhan's character and the swami speaks, "Sarkar ek soch hai. Hame us soch ko marna hai." The dialogue may not be exact word, but something similar.
The point being, the idea of barrier getting created should come from the source and not from the victim. Have an open mind, accept everyone equally and then you won't require the reservation in the first place. But this 'acceptance' itself is missing from a major part of the source. The source being people from so called 'upper caste'.
What? Did I hear you say it was in the past and not in the present age? Darling, it's high time you open your eyes. Even today the upper caste people look at Dalits as if they're doing a favour by talking or dealing with them. Have seen that a lot since years, have been seeing that. Oh, I have been on the receiving end too, so all I speak is from first hand experience. So if this has been happening in the metropolitan city like Mumbai, you can just imagine the situation in other part of the country, if have to go by the clichés.
Honestly tell me, how many of your parents have 'warned' you to fall in love with any community people, but not 'them'? Ask around you. In my experience, have come across 7 of 10 people who have been told this and even believe in themselves too. And I have been a victim of this belief, first hand.

Am not sure if you are ready to hear more examples.

Many of them are just there to take the advantage of reservation or many flout the law.
To answer this, I want to take an analogy. Do you drive or ride? How many times have you bribed the cops to get away? Or let me come to even simpler example in the analogy. How many of you most of the times stop your vehicle after you cross the stop line at a red signal? Are you aware of the fact that you need to stop your vehicle before the Stop Line and not after? How many of honk unnecessarily while on the road? How many of you jump a red signal?
Maybe you're not aware, but you're very much doing things that is against the law and 'are taking advantage of the law'?
I do not wish to speak anything further on this. The analogy speaks for the topic itself.

On a promotional mode, to read in detail about the analogy, do find it on this link horn-not-ok-please

So let's just start treating everyone equally, reduce the discrimination from the source and then see, there won't be a need of reservation at all.

All in good 'faith'.




The author of this post:
- Calls up police after 10 o'clock if they play music on loud speaker whether it is Ganesh Chatturthi, Navratri or Ambedkar Jayanti. Yes, he had complained the previous night.
- Stops behind the stop line, rarely honks and does not jump traffic signal. Whoever has been a co-passenger would want to disagree?
- Likes to live on logic many a times. And doesn't approve of an idea if it doesn't fit the logic.
- Has friends from various faith and doesn't discriminate them on the basis of caste.
-Is sometimes a hypocrite, himself. Afterall, he's human.

Horn NOT OK Please

The title says it all. Horn (or Honk) NOT OK Please.
Since childhood we've been grown up reading 'Horn OK Please' behind the lorry's and trucks. Am unaware how it began though, but I assume everyone knows it is to alert the truck driver to that one wishes to overtake.

But every time I step out on the street, have to go through the procedure of giving a stern look, and many times a verbal communication with people to control their honk. I feel people have gone way too far with their habit to honk, the reason am compelled to put this in writing. 
Probably your driving instructor failed to inform you about these, or you thought they were too small to even bother about, or any third possibility. Whatever it might have been, it's time to rethink about letting it go.

Honk.
What is the need to excessively honk, I fail to understand. Or even honk, for that matter. 
At a signal, red light, everyone are eagerly waiting for it turn green. And the moment it turns green, people start honking. It's as if the cars get a green signal to have a conversation with each other. What is the need to honk in the first place? You ain't a King/Queen of the world and expect a situation depicted in the following picture from the movie Bruce Almighty.

It's like the driver thinks that the moment the signal turns green, every car in front should step aside as shown in the above picture and make way for him/her to go. As the signal turns green, give a time of few seconds and trust me, even if you don't honk the cars in front of you will start moving. Yeah, the magic happens even if you don't honk! Voila!

Trust me, I love my country more than any other, but would love that people here learn from other nations about traffic sense. Will share an incidence from one of my trips abroad. Was traveling in a car, and stopped at a red light. We were third in line at the signal. The signal turned green (and it was a short one), and the moment the first car was about to accelerate, a group of pedestrians started crossing the road. The guy waited for them to cross, neither him, nor the car behind him nor my car's driver or anyone behind honked even "once". Even before all the pedestrians could join the other side of the rode, the green signal turned red for vehicles. But none of the vehicles honked even once, to express their anger why the cars in the front didn't move an inch in spite of the signal being green. Few days later, in this same country got stuck up in a traffic snarl. But noticed this one amazing thing. All the cars were right behind each other, not an inch to left or right. So even in the traffic, a two wheeler could zip through between any lane even with their eyes closed because the cars were in single file!

From the above incidence, I wondered if people in other countries can do it, that means it's very much a possibility and it can happen everywhere, including India. And am not talking about some hypothetical situation.

-When you see someone in the car ahead of you is trying to get in/get out of the car, you honk unnecessarily. 
-You see a pedestrian some 100 miles away and will continuously honk to make them aware that the F1 racing driver is soon approaching and that if they won't clear the road, they may decide to leave this world, all expressed in the excessive honk.
- The red signal just turned green and you'll start honking. As if that's a habit, to thank the traffic commissioner for turning the signal green and I'll appreciate it with a honk.

The very first thing one needs to have is patience. Have patience, and everything will go smoothly, including the traffic. You don't really need to honk. Give a few seconds time, and every car in front of you will start moving. No one is going to park their cars right in the middle of the road. Even they have to go to their respective destination, and even they will move.

I drive from Colaba to Borivali frequently, and 99% of the times have not honked even once. There are times I don't remember how my vehicle's horn sound like. Till date, neither I have dashed into any other car or have collided anywhere or have created an accidental scene. And I challenge anyone to drive along the stretch, if they want to question the time and will reach with time difference of +/- 5 minutes. And if that 5 minutes is the reason you want to honk unnecessarily, $#&%*@  leave 10 minutes before time!!!!

Alternatives to honk.
Headlight. If you see another car approaching from the other end, or pedestrians coming your way, you the upper-dipper flasher (am not sure what you call it exactly, but hope you understand it). Yes, even in broad daylight. It is very much visible even when it's 2 o'clock in the afternoon the sun glaring right over the head. And in the evening toh perfect to grab attention of someone coming your way.
For bikers, look at your left handle index finger place (for most of the bikes), you'll see a lever written 'Pull'. Yes, that's your headlight flasher. It's for situations like this.
Don't you think this quiet alternative is great?

Just to add one more point, off the topic. When using headlights, make sure it's in dipper instead of upper while driving/riding in the city. For you the upper might not make a difference, but it sure blinds the person in the opposite vehicle. A quick trick to know whether your headlight is in upper or dipper. When you switch on the light, if the blue coloured indicator glows, then it's in upper. And hence you need to switch it to dipper, when the blue indicator goes. And this is valid to every 2-3-4 wheelers out there!!


Ok, so you don't drive.
Well, you must be sitting in the cars when someone else drive, it can be your driver, parents, sibling, relatives, anyone. You can ask them to control their honking.

We all love our own time. And we all hate distractions. These honks, to major part, add to our distractions, whether you're on road or no.
Let us start having more patience on the road and make this world a better (& quieter) place.
 
To conclude, had read this sometime back, somewhere which I forgot, hence am unable to give the source.
"To those who complain about the traffic jams remember, you are the traffic."

*********************

Small Talks

So am not gonna go with 'writing after long' stuff again. I write when feel like.

 

Once upon a time,

Our time in college, so many around us to join in for some good time with limitless goals. 

And then we graduate.

New world and new beginnings, crafted with curiosities, excitements and sorrows.

Life becomes a narrow tunnel and all that appears in front of us are limited goals, towards the end of a tunnel.

Sometimes the sorrow of having not many trusted people around rise up.

 

Then comes one fine day you have few charges on you. Time. Friend. An open World.

Breeze.

Calmness.

Greenery.

Strangers.

Small talks.

Mute conversations.

Then towards the end, you feel Happy. Content. Joyous.

A murmur to self...

...I had a nice time. :-)

Belated wala... Thank You! :D

I really don't know where to begin.
First of all, THANK YOU for remembering me on my birthday!

Secondly, I apologize for doing a disappearing act.
Yup, had kept my phone unreachable on purpose, was off the scene from Whatsapp too...
Got your wishes when I switched on my phone. Along with all kind of abuses with that, like a dowry. Trust me, the abuses have been one of a kind. Guess every gaali that exist was given to me by everyone.

I respect you for remembering me on my day, and really appreciate the fact that you tried to get in touch with me. Whole day, I suppose. And still I was unreachable.

And the only one who actually reached me, were the strangers on the road. The strangers, who either were running late to catch their train, and the remaining few who had all the possible time to witness a life other than running around the buses and trains and what not.

There were numerous plans I had in my mind to carry out on my day. Most of them couldn't take place for some or other reason. Though did manage to do a lot of other stuffs.

For a change, had decided to spend the whole day with myself. Tried to roam about. Without my camera. And I did.
Found an open space. Walked around that open space. Sat for a while at one corner. Walked more. Went to the center of that open space. Lied down on the ground on my back and stared straight at the sky. City sound was shut off. Couldn't hear any traffic noise. Shut my eyes and fell asleep. About an hour of time which passed by silently and the tiny raindrops, finally decided to wake me up. Though I lay there for quite sometime, motionless.
And the rain became furious. I still lay the same way. Feeling of the raindrops on one's face is truly a refreshing moment! Umbrella was beside, but getting wet made more sense. And I walked back home after a while.

That's precisely what I did on my birthday.
Guess Kit-Kat's Squirrel wala ad will explain you the feeling!

In the end, SORRY again.
And more than that, Thank You once again for all your wishes on my Birthday!

50-50 ho jaye?

Oomidon wali Dhoop, Sunshine wali Aasha. Rone ke bahane kum hai, Hasne ke bahane Jyada...

Satyamev Jayate, as many say is the desi version of The Oprah Winfrey Show, now reached it's 3^rd episode, my first to watch! :P And this 3^rd episode took the case of Dowry, indeed one of big topics to think about.

I have heard here and there, not much though, about all these practices. As in, a guy's family taking a toll on the girl's family in the name of keeping her happy. Most of which had seen on TV in some or other serials, and then also in the newspapers. But hearing the fact on the show was really shocking, and hearing the stories of girl's going through the ordeal of the after effect of dowry.

Though it was just me and mummy watching the show, it did instigate a conversation between us, many a times I exclaiming, “How can people do something like this??”

Maybe I haven't seen much of the world outside, the reason my reactions were such. Then there were few on the show 'coz of whom the show had a positive effect too. And the small conversation we had is the reason why am writing this blog.

I asked mummy if anything of such happened in our family. Her reaction was what made me understand 'No wedding is perfect, no relationship is awesome. It is done by the people in it.'

Very true.

Every time a wedding happened or even the discussion happened in my vicinity regarding a wedding, being young and small, I wasn't 'officially' allowed to be present in the discussion but overheard many a times. Obviously am not aware of everything, but it is agreed that the whole wedding's expense is shared 50-50 between both bride and groom's family.

Isn't it is that all wedding has to be like that? If both families are equally being part of it, then both should share the expenses equally too. It's one of the thing am very much proud of my family and my community, for that matter.

In the end, for those who missed the show, there was this gentleman from Assam, North East who brought in a point that Dowry is something they've unheard of. And also shared this hypothetical situation he thought shouldn't arrive. Which goes like this:

“Suppose there comes a time when I have to watch a match on TV and my wife has to watch a serial at the same time, there shouldn't come a time when she says this TV was given by my family and she has first right to watch the TV. Then toh my match gone and so is GPL on my izzat!”

That's all had to share.

Comments well appreciated.

Family that stays together, votes together

Lazy morning after long, woke up little late than every other day. It’s a half day today at work, starting post lunch. All coz it’s an election day!

In my family it’s an unsaid and understood rule that we need to vote. No discussions on the politicos, maybe coz everyone have their own opinions and no one wants to bind theirs on any other. Or rather, this time around, none of us had any clue who’ll are standing for the election and which party they belong to. But even in this situation, there was no discussion on the parties as such.

So we all set a time and step down, on our way to the voting centre. Together. It pretty much was empty when we reached the centre, few senior citizens right in front of us, struggling to climb up those few stairs. Any help, was declined in manner that they are still capable of climbing up on their own.

That’s when a thought runs in my sister’s mind ‘their kids, who’re comfortably sitting in the air conditioned homes and driving expensive cars are nowhere to be seen, but their parents are here to cast their vote so that they continue to live their life in royalty.’ I would say what she thought isn’t wrong at all.
In fact that is all has become. People complain about the politicos not doing their job. Here by ‘people’ am referring to the ones who’re literate and have sufficient monetary income. Few days ago I saw this image shared by a friend on my news feed, which said “If you don’t vote, you don’t have a right to complain”. 

Guess, these words are enough to show what am hinting at. There are times when you cast a vote to a particular candidate, doesn’t win. And the one who won, isn’t worthy of the title. That means there is no wrong in your right, but other’s like you have their right in the wrong compartment. At that point, yes, you have full right to complain. My point is, first carry out the necessary steps of exercising your right, and then jump on the bandwagon of pointing the (inked) fingers. And if the right candidate wins, you can feel happy about it for supporting such a candidate.

Also, looking broadly, the people from lower economic section and illiterate ones are easy to mislead by the politicians as they follow mob mentality.  So if in this case the literate and the rich will refrain from having doing something that will make lives of everyone around better, why can't they do?

Once inside the voting booth, we noticed some confusion going on with few people ahead of us. After few minutes, it became clear that few ladies who were ahead of us wanted to go for 49-O, the protest vote. However, the authority over there said that rule is not applicable or there were no forms available for the protest vote. And hence, these ladies left without casting their vote. Did you guys had the same issue in your wards?

Well, going through the procedures (I liked the ink marker, as opposed to the ink used earlier), finally came the moment to press the ballot button. During the procedures found out the candidates standing in my ward, made a mental note, and then went to the secluded cubicle and BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP.

All of us returned home, with a happiness to fulfill the certain responsibility of being a citizen. Feeling happy about having done my bit.

As one of my friend has rightly said,  
                             “Feels good for being responsible for everything that is around.”
True True.

Mum Bai.

Guess what? I walked on the streets of Nariman Point. I enjoyed the breeze sitting on the sea-front at Marine Drive. I caught a glimpse of BSE. Sounds very normal, isn’t it? Doesn’t, for a non-Mumbaikar, who rarely visited Mumbai.

Last evening I was listening to this song, looping repeatedly, by JayZ ft. Alicia Keys called Empire State of Mind. The chorus goes like this:

New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There's nothin' you can't do
Now you're in New York
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you
Let's hear it for New York, New York,
New York

And then remembered few days ago a friend visited New York and his status update was something like “WALKED ON THE STREETS OF TIMES SQUARE!!!”

Join the dots with this status update and blog initiated statement.

While looping the song again and again, kept wondering, what Alicia Keys sang for New York in the chorus completely synchs with Mumbai, for many. In fact even if you replace the word New York with Mumbai (Mum Bai, to be precise)and sing the song, it makes complete sense.

Try it.

Oh I forgot to mention this co-incidence. During one of those innumerous loops, I passed Wankhede Stadium right when Alicia’s word “big lights will inspire you” passed my ear. Apparently the flood lights at the stadium were on at that time.

Join the dots. Again.

All my point for this blog is, this city indeed has some mystery in it. Rest the song's lyrics fills you in. You just have to look it from a non-residing, rarely visited Mumbai person’s perspective.

Mum Bai, concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There's nothin' you can't do
Now you're in Mum Bai
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you
Let's hear it for Mum Bai, Mum Bai,
Mum Bai.

Dawn of the T-Point

26th Feb. My BMM batch farewell party. All of us wearing the graduation robes, clicking photos, singing, dancing and being merry. We didn’t realize when the time came to bid farewell to the course. Final examinations happened. For the first time ever, the joy one feels on the last day of the exams, wasn’t quite there. In everyone’s mind all it was going was now no more exams. It was a feeling of have-to-let-go-even-if-you-don’t-want-to. 

Post that moment, everyone got busy with their own stuff. Some started their professional life right from the next day, some covered up with their 3 years of lost sleep, some enrolled in another course, some travelled and some, like me, just didn’t do anything. Days were just passing by. And one fine morning we come to know the results are out. The morning just goes haywire. So does the afternoon. And then a week later mark-sheets arrive in college, so everyone’s on board to collect it. A goodbye then, no one knew what beckons ahead. These moments just didn’t come again. Days turned to weeks and then months.

And then came these two meets. Mini reunion meets. Sunday afternoon. Had not slept the night before, but still managed to wake up and go all the way to adjoining city (well some say it’s still part of the city, some say it isn’t, so…) only for a game of laser tag. Not really. There was something much more to it than just a game. To meet the ones haven’t met for months. Along came game of bowling, few stuff here and there, with lots of cheers and hurrahs, and then while returning had to exclaim just one line, “A day well spent!”

Again a week full of ‘back to the reality mode’, and then an invitation to meet and dance, as a part of one missed Birthday celebration. Am sure, the cry of happiness to meet each other, would’ve made no sense to the surrounding junta.
Doesn’t matter.
Again came the moment of gorging for the food as soon as the waiter keeps it on the table, the jokes and fun, the dash’s and dash’s, set to dance through the night. The minutes turn to hours and it’s way past midnight and to realize that again comes the time to say the bye’s. Everyone, but two more jugheads along with me, decide to crash at a one of us’s place. The remaining 3 souls, find our way to station for an hour or so at the airport. Some funny and then some serious talks about each one of our lives starts blooming out. And then, this time too, the time did some tampering with itself to pass soon. The time to bid farewell to each one comes close. A little more laughs and the professional life is waiting to greet. It’s a feeling as if one just woke up and it was one pleasant dream.
It wasn’t.

On one side there’s the happy past. On the other lies the dreadful work-life. And then there’s a third side, that of a wonderful future.

It’s a new time,
it’s a new era,
it’s a new phase,
rather, it’s Dawn of the T-point.

Tie Tie Phisss!

As in the necktie! That long cloth which hangs from your neck or shoulders, knotted at the throat and then part of which is rested under the shirt’s collar. Ever wondered how it came into being? It’s a descendent of Cravat, a neckband Croatians used in the 17^th century. And now it has become an integral part of the formal wear, at least for men, and in many cases, part of school uniforms for boys and girls alike.

One would wonder if there is only one way to tie a tie. If you’re one of those to think so, it’s time to put some light on that thought! There are in numerous ways to tie a tie and there exist tens of variations of shapes and sizes. An interesting fact, but many are not aware of.
The most commonly used knot is called Four-in-hand, then there are Windsors and half-Windsors, Pratt, diagonal or simple double, Kelvin and the customized ones like Prince Albert and Atlantic.

These different forms of knots are basically country specific knots. Like Four-in-hand is most preferred by the Englishmen, Pratt’s used by the Americans and the Windsor being the Europeans alike, which are usually thicker than rest of the knot types.

Did you know that with a conventional tie, eighty-five knots are possible! A mathematical modelling was conceived by Thomas Fink and Yong Mao of Cambridge in the late 1990’s to come to the discovery.

Many have had issue of safety hazard to wear a traditional tie, but they still have to considering their profession is formal, for example, the pilots. Clip-on ties are specially made to use in such conditions. These are, unlike traditional ties, permanently knotted bow tie or four-in-hand style affixed with a metal clip to the front of the shirt collar. So when they’re in the cockpit and need to be confined inside for the flight duration, they take it off and just before to step out they put it on. I possibly didn’t know this, before my recent trip to Kerala. The co-pilot was a friend’s friend had agreed on to show me the cockpit. So I had waited till the flight was completely empty and then he stepped out, dressing up. And that’s when I realized what the pilots do!

And the other day I happened to see an app on one of the smartphones, on detailed ways to how to tie a tie, the different knots and what each knot is called. Apparently there exists hundreds of website itself to provide people with this information!

Am not a big fan of football but many of my friends are. And I happen to see a lot of football matches all thanks to them. One thing I quite noticed, apart from the match, is that although it’s only the players who are in uniforms, their club managers isn’t far behind to carry the fan image. In their formal attire, they tend to wear their club’s ties. Or even if they do not have their club names printed, they follow it with its colours, like red or blue. So much of a diehard fan for their club!

It sure is impressive! This journey of ties from how it originated to what it is now is surely a fascinating thing to know. Never knew it would really be a vast topic to know, than what it is perceived as. Am out of that illusion, hope you are too, now!

Gadgets and more

A lot has been written about it since the inception of technology and it has caught the chauvinistic attitude that it's a synonym to the male sex, not that the fairer sex .
The time changed, and the products changed. Computers were and still are the core gadget and everything else revolves around it. The initial ones were as big as one big room and since then the size of it has reduced as if they were ramp models. 

I remember, the time when my family got a new computer. It was way back in 1996, which partially worked in Command Prompt mode. And it was around the same time when the multimedia computers have started coming in the market. Am sure people who currently are in their 20’s and above will remember the games like Prince, Lionking, Alladin, Sky, etc. and the default games like Solitaire and Heart. Who knew times will change so drastically that you’ll need high end configured machines to play the games you see in the market!

And to top it all, times have changed to make way for customized gadgets, one for different use! I mean, it’s tough to even come to a conclusion whether one wants an all-in-one gadget or separate one for each work, to increase productivity? That’s the question one in the urban area fears to answer to, how much am I capable to carry around.

Unless you’re one person who’s completely into specialized forms like music or photography, going for something in general is better way to invest your money, plus save on energy. By that, all I meant was, have seen people carrying one gadget to listen to music, one for clicking photo’s, one for using the apps and another one to communicate with the world. My point is, why carry so many of them when you can make-do with one or two max? And the more gadget you carry, have to keep track of charging each of them every time!  

Talking about the cell phones, an interesting observation has noticed in cell phones. The earlier known models, like any other gadget, were big and bulky. Then came the era of having the smallest one, one could get. And now it's the time of big screens and qwerty keypads. That reminds me of this satirical joke. When questioned by a shopkeeper what cell phone he is looking for, prompt comes an answer "I want one which is the smallest and lightest but it should possess big screen as big as I can watch a film with my family." How innovative! Guess, it’s a perfect feedback a cell-phone maker can look for!

Moving to the tablets. Less said the better. All i can say is it’s for those who got extra cash and don’t know where to invest, so bought it. It does the same amount of work that your laptop or a cell phone does. So if you’re bored of it, that’s the new gadget to invest in!

So get a gadget, explore it’s trends and do the donkey work, in digital way!