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!

Anyone listening?

Ya, so is anyone listening or are long lost in the music and dance to bid adieu to the elephant god?

It was 11:30 last night. I was just about to go off to bed. Suddenly right out of nowhere I hear super duper extra loud music startling me. My mom was sleeping and...and imagine her case. She woke up instantly.
We look at the time again. It was 11:31 PM.

I suppose you understood what am gonna talk about now. Ya, I always crib. When people just to show, do things, I crib.

Let me ask you something. Who'll have felt like supporting to the cause of Anna Hazare? I have no problem with him, but with the one's who support him. Check my previous blog on the issue and you'll know what am talking about. Here's the link
http://supraket.blogspot.com/2011/04/corrup-tion-or-corrupt-kaun.html

After you read through that, I suppose you know what am referring to.
Supreme Court in 2005 banned use of loud-speakers and orchestra or use of any musical instrument above certain decibel level (couldn't find the exact details to post here though) between 10 PM - 6 AM anywhere in the country.

The noise (ya I'd like to call it a noise) went on till 12-12:30 something, post which I couldn't hear at least around the vicinity of my earshot. No idea if at other places they were still on.
So, isn't corruption taking place here? Why, in the name of religion, it is not?
I do not have problems if people celebrate festival, but at least be considerate that you do not do it at other's expense, or sleep for that matter.

Again I'll say, fight corruption at grass-root level and it will create an impact at higher level too. Stop pointing fingers and creating events and calling it a revolution. The revolution happens if you believe in it yourself, with that others will adapt.

Guess have said enough. Those who understand, hope will help this world to be a better place to live. Others, I can only hope for the day they will.

A better place to live. That reminds me, few days ago a friend wrote something on the Visarjan. Am glad to share it here, whoever is interested to read about it.
http://miilee.wordpress.com/2010/09/22/visarjan-is-not-religion/

Well, that's about it. Hope you'll are doing fine.
Cheers! :)
...and I hope will have a peaceful night post 10 tonight....

Corrup-tion or Corrupt-kaun?

Disclaimer : The writer has not read much about the Lokpal Bill, for which the whole ‘revolution’ is on. These are just views about what the writer has been wondering past few days, looking at number of invitations he got from different people, either through sms or on facebook.

So yes. It’s been what, some 3-4 days since Anna Hazare has been on every newspaper’s headlines, every news channel’s Breaking News, many’s facebook profile wall and updates, not to forget about sms asking to give a miss call on a particular number to support the cause.

I have no issues with the man who has started his fast, and I suppose it’s still on (am not keeping me updated on this news). The only issue I have is with the kind of people who’re supporting it. I think of going anywhere around VT and then people say it’ll be all jammed ‘coz of the rallies happening, supporting the cause. Last night while cycling at Marine Drive I noticed these youth, bunch of some 50-70 in all, donning the Nehru-topi on their heads with placards in their hands and screaming something, which I failed to understand.

From what little I’ve read in the newspaper, this ‘revolution’ is for the Lokpal Bill, to fight against corruption in the government. Fair enough. Awesome, rather. Someone is fighting for it at least. But the way people have been taking it up, portraying it, giving support to it, this blog is for all them.

You’re supporting the cause to remove corruption in the government. And you’re joining the cause only ‘coz it’s on someone else, the government in this case. I totally agree, we need to do that. But before all this, I want to know who’ll have not been corrupt themselves? My only point is, before you point the finger to someone else; at least make sure you yourself are clean.

I’ll take this example. How many of you have driving licences? Ok, I assume around 80-90% of the people reading this have it. So, how many of you have acquired the licence by giving a driving test? Ah! I see hardly peanuts who said yes to my second question. Why is that so? You got your licence without appearing for driving test? Got it done through an agent? I’ve heard of friends who’ve got done with their licence without being physically present.
Ok, I’ll take another example. You jumped a signal and a traffic cop catches you. How many of you have paid him Rs 50 to put in his pocket, so that he doesn’t register your licence with the offence? I see quite many of you agreeing to have done this. How many of you have given donations to get admission in a college? Quite a few, again.

The point I want to make is, yes, corruption exist in the government. But it does outside as well. That corruption happens between you and me, or between each one of us. Why don’t you fight against this? First have a conscience of not being a corrupt yourself, then try to put the blame on the government, ‘coz if the government has been corrupt it’s because there’ve been people like you and me who’ve always fulfilled their wishes by proving with little favours of money.

Well, that’s the little I wanted to say. Again I’ll say, have not read about the crusade happening around, which I will soon, and also that I have absolutely no issues with what is going on. The critic in me has only come out looking at people who’re supporting it.

That’s all.

When the cheers are loud, the whole world will take note.

...and a lot about it has been written, clicked, said and discussed about. Few small things I too had in my mind and wanted to share with the world. It’s what have noticed around, on two accounts. Something that has been in front of our eyes in the recent past, but without any connections for many.

Next morning had my board exam, but still something crazy caught my head and I was at Marine Drive at 11:30-12. Most of the 3 km stretch had people, from young to old, holding the tricolour in their hand or painted on their face, having the country’s name on their tongue (...and in some cases, the neighbouring country’s name too, for obvious reasons.) It took me around 45 mins to cover the distance which usually happens in 10 mins.

Then it was yesterday again. A chronicle moment. Cheers, jumps, hugs, dance. Ah, and the claps with whistles. Did I forget the fire-crackers? Then yes, that too. Unaware of what to do after the big screen + projector went off, six of us decided to do a dandi-march to Marine Drive, again. And with the quarter of mumbai’s population to be expected there, we were better prepared. Didn’t take any kind of vehicle and walking was the best mode of transport.

The scene wasn’t any different than what had seen few days ago. People from all sorts of background were there. None of them knew the other, or in many cases, everyone was a stranger. But every single soul had one single emotional feeling common with every single stranger over there. And if one known face among the throng of unknown people, then the happiness moment was cherry on top!

We had just about to reach the Air-India building and noticed these few bikers honking. Man! The tune of the honking was the very same thing that was in everyone’s mind. It was like they were providing the background music to our cheers. * people taking part in Polaris’s Junkapella, please make a note! :P * The bikers got a compliment right away from all six of us, and must’ve been by many on the road at that moment.

Once at the Marine Drive, we got busy in observing different people’s creative expressions to make a distinct mark on the happiness among others. A biker carrying huge replica of the cup to people having mad face paints, a sardar uncle in tricolour turban to around ten people sitting on a car’s roof while it’s in motion. It sure was a party with the theme of Light Blue, if the tricolour was not an option. And it was on the road. For the first time vehicles were planning to opt the footpath instead of the roads. They couldn’t help missing all the empty space on the roads. And strangers were talking to each other. Laughing, hugging, cheering, shouting, screaming all in unison. One of those few moments where the internal clashes were the least priority on their mind. The only priority they had was the other person was from the same nation. It is this moment which all the patriotic songs wishes to witness. And also, looking at all this, a close friend KaMa said, “Looking at the atmosphere, I wonder if the amount of tricolour and togetherness among the country people that we’re witnessing now comes to reality on any of other patriotic days!!!”

People were trying to break all possible records. Of the civic sense. A two-wheeler carrying 3 people, and in some cases, 5 or 6, a four-wheeler carrying double their capacity, stuffed in like it’s a pick-up truck. Stopped their vehicle wherever they felt like. Played music at the top of the speakers and all the strangers joined in to dance. Oh, don’t worry, the police were right over there. Right from normal police to traffic police, rapid action force to the commando’s. No one seemed to mind the act, unless it created a huge ruckus. For the first time all the illegal civic sense made some sense to me at that moment. The moment was historic, and temporary too. So as long as it didn’t cause any serious harm to anyone, it wasn’t taken as an illegal act. You had to be there to understand why. Just a passing thought, I shared with my troupe, “If a foreigner lands up here who has no clue of the sport, will wonder if the situation like Libya and Iran has come down to the sub-continent.”

From one who’s who to other who’s who, it really didn’t matter. Everyone over there were waiting for this one bus carrying those 16 fortunate a game’s soldiers, who bled Light Blue on the battle-field, and helped the nation bleed too. Everyone else’s bus passed by. The soldiers on the opposing side’s too. Looking at the situation outside the perimeter of their bus, they didn’t know what emotion to be in, whether to feel the joy around or distress for not able to live upto their countrymen’s expectation. But many of them had smiles on their face, appreciating the host’s efforts. A sportsman spirit. Well appreciated.

Time passed by, and everyone wondered where are the most awaited people’s bus. And none of us was bothered about anything else. That’s when, an interaction with one of the security personnel, we come to know that that one bus which we’ve been wanting to see had taken another route and reached their destination long ago, to avoid the large crowd gathering for a smooth ride. And as soon as we heard this, we realized that it’s way too late in the night (it was 2 o’clock), realized that each one of us had terrible pain in legs, realized haven’t had dinner (or anything else for that matter) the whole night till then and that every situation from now on will be tough. No vehicle to carry us back home, so had to walk with the pain. Everyone had informed to their folks that will have dinner at home once back. So all of us were wondering, the food will be on the dining table, all cold and it’s a terrible point to reheat it and consume it. Thought this case was with me only, but my troupe were in similar situations too!

Somehow crossed all the hurdles and silently welcomed the dream world with only one thing in mind, tomorrow’s morning will definitely be skipped without experiencing it. And once awake, this one word was still replaying in my head...

INDIAAAAA....INDIA!!!

PS: For those who are still in a fix wondering to what context this blog is about, here’s a little update. The chronicle moment was that India won the cricket world cup 2011 tournament against Sri-Lanka at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. The second one, after 1983. Now read the whole blog again to understand emotionally!

Cheers!