Sorry we are not the land of Mahatma Gandhi Alone.

Its been a year.One bloody year after the terrorist attack at Mumbai left over 170 killed and hundreds injured.The nation salutes our heroes Vijay Salaskar,Hemant Karkare,Ashok Kamte,Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan and all the others who laid down their lives for our nation.Your sacrifice wont go in vain.The Spirit of India will live on

As we mourn the dead and salute our valiant soldiers who fought for the sovereignity of our nation,its time to look ahead and declare to the world that such acts of cowardice wont dent our confidence.So went on the TV Commentary.Anchors tried hard to give a different tone to their voice.

All this looked like a mockery to me.Kasab still alive.Already ate up 31 crores of hard earned tax payers money.He gets a different lawyer every few months.Honourable Home Minister keeps issuing last and final warnings to our beloved neighbour asking them to stop attacking us and to take action against terrorists.Our distinguished politicians are worried that our beloved American Uncle Mr Obama didnt publicly ask our neighbour to stop acts of violence.Counterfeit notes gets circulated at will.
Defence minister says 2000 militants are waiting to sneak into India.If he knows the details,why not take action to eliminate them?The police commissioner allegedly doesnt know where his colleagues where on that night.Another top police official says his own men let him down.

Shame on us.We,who aim to be a superpower in 2025 cant take action now to protect our nation?While America goes and attacks every country,even if someone raises a finger against their citizen,we after suffering huge human casualty,run to America..Bush Mama,Obama mama,please help us..this pakistan is blasting bombs in our country.When will we grow up? When will we stop suffering in silence?

With due respect to Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi,who fought the path of non violence to get our nation freedom from the British,I have to say that we are not the land of Mahatma Gandhi alone.Gandhiji might have said,if someone slaps you on one cheek,show the other.But dont we forget that we are the land who produced Subhash Chandra Bose,Bhagat Singh,Sardar Vallabhai Patel ,Jhansi Rani ..just to name a few.Its time we stop tolerating this nonsense of our politicians.Its time we stop pushing problems below the carpet.Its high time we deal with problems with an Iron Fist.

Salutes to the Martyrs.And for the dead,may their souls Rest in Peace.Long Live your memories.Salutes to my country.
Jai Hind

Now Reading and Coming Soon

Now Reading
1.Of Course I Love You
2.Dont loose your mind.Loose your weight
3.A Thousand Splendid Suns

Waiting to Read
1.Brida
2.Eleven Minutes

Coming Soon ( Blogs)
1.Sorry,we are not just from the land of Gandiji
2.How much money is required to quench a man's greed.

Nostalgic Doordarshan

Doordarshan Music



Hamara Bajaj


National Integrity



Mile Sur Mera Tumhara


Garden Sarees


Surabhi



Ultimate Dream machine- street hawk


Malgudi Days


Other Ads


Tipu Sultan


He Man and the Master of the Universe

Time Machine

The weather was chilly..too cold for this part of the year.
In fact newspapers reported that it was the coldest day of November in the last 5 years.Too lazy to get up..perfect weather for being under the blanket.And still sleep was eluding me.

A lazy humming..and what tune did i hum..ek titli anek titliyaan..and it swept me to another era.I am sure you would all remember..the maroon coloured ( or whatever color) symbol of doordarshan.
With that humming.Bala Murali krishna singing mile sur mera tumhara toooo sur bane hamara.Srikanth and Gavaskar and PT Usha running with the lamp..One of the most famous ads..Hamara Bajaj Hamara Bajaj..
The soaps of those times..Nukaad...Mungeri lal ki haseen swapnein.oshin.
Later came Shekhar Suman with the hilarious Dekh Bhai Dekh and Swabhimaan.The mother of Soaps Shanti which brought Mandira Bedi into the limelight.

But what is still fresh in my mind is Ek Titli..Ane k Titliyaan.


Wonder how time flies by.The big fields i used to play as a kid is no more..its a concrete jungle.The pond where i used to try fishing has been buried.The mango trees where I used to build my hut during vacations has been cut down.I am more pre occupied with my work and profession.and spending time with loved ones.Less in touch with my native.Somehow things are not the same anymore.The place has changed..the people..the weather..the landscape..But the attachment remains.

Like the famous malayalam poem..Oru vattom koodi aa pazhaya vidyalaya muttathethuvan moham
(once more i feel like visiting my school courtyard).
.Olden times.Golden times..I MISS YOU !!!!

Ban the Software Industry

I read somewhere that the Total IT BPO Industry is worth USD 72Billion.
India's software exports are at USD60 Billion and is showing a CAGR of 16-17%.It contributes a whopping 5.8% to the GDP and directly employs 2.23 million people.But I strongly advocate that software industry should be banned.Yes totally banned.And here is the reason why.

I have a laptop.Which I use essentially for browsing and downloading.Then came the Orkut revolution.Spend hours adding friends,writing testimonials,writin (s)crap.I was getting bored of it,here comes Linkedin and then Facebook.Then once I was done with these three..there started the Facebook quizzes.Wat crap quiz one must say..but u were more stupid to attempt most of them.And once u again became wise enough to chuck these,there comes the games.Mafia Wars,Mob Wars and then Farm ville.

And one fine day,I have lost precious time that I was previously using for READING.READING,which I am so passionate about..Reading which makes me feel that I am in line with the world..Reading which gives me topic to keep my mouth never shut...Reading that gives me the false confidence that I am a intellectual..and I spend time doing these crap on these social networking sites?

Fine..they say time is precious..many people cost time ( manhours..hourly rate etc).but lost time is just a notional money loss.Let me tell u how Software ( and Hardware) adds to GDP contribution by trapping gullible people like us.

1.The trillions of articles that warn you about malware,virus and stuff,that gives you nightmare.Your data might be leaked.And lo,you scurry for the latest Anti Virus or Trojan remover.

2.You want to download a movie or a song.Look at those hundreds of site.If you are a free user,then restricted amount of downloads per day or per month.restricted download speed.only one download at a time.If you are a premium user,then Unlimited options.

3.If you want to view a movie online,if you are a free user,then watch half the movie first.Wait for atleast 45 minutes before you watch the rest.If you are a paid user,keep going uninterrupted.

4.Download a big file.You will get it in .rar format.And then before your happiness ( of getting your most wanted file in a matter of few seconds)..you will find yourself hunting for a .rar software to open this file.Not to worry,you will find it online.But the program is a trial version.Which will extract only 50% of your file.Or if you are luckier,you will get a trial version that lasts for 15 days.

5.Get to your daily activities.YOu dont want to stand in a queue to get your movie tickets?Go online to simplify..And lo..PVR will charge you a "convenient fee".Wasnt the internet a medium to reduce costs and improve efficiency?

6.Transaction failed while making a payment? Endless followups..phone calls..and if you do get your money back..its takes 45 days.

Pay Pay and Pay..thats all you can do

And the worst of all..that money can probably cannot get you back.
I think my Laptop crashed.With Windows XP...Symantec Anti virus..Microsoft Office 2007..Internet Explorer 8...Adobe Reader..and the endless other software loaded onto my laptop..the load was far too much for my lappy.All these baggage and I hardly use a few of them..and am sure.i use only one s/w at a time ( excluding the OS and the Anti virus)..If my laptop doesnt recover from this Coma that it is in now..then i lose a treasure of photos..that I havent backedup anywhere else..

Softwares should be banned ( but am i not using a piece of software to post this blog?) Silly me

Thought from the Skies

I have completd my 8th flight journey for the year.And I have another 4 more planned for the yearThat makes it an average of 1 flight a month.Every flight brings with it a different type of emotion
1.Happiness: Everytime I go home,i am elated.the happiness of going home to your loved ones ( especially my mom),the yummy home made food ( served with love and affection),the greenery that makes Kerala the "Gods own country",the greenery...the backwaters...ah I cant wait to get back home
2.Despair: Everytime I return back,this is what i feel.The sorrow of leaving home..back to the routine grind...the lonely existence.. How I wish everytime that i could spend a few days more at home.
3.Hope : My first and so far the only trip abroad..Hope of a new beginning...to meet my new boss...to understand my responsibilities.. to experience a new culture...a new beginning
4.Excitement: My break journey while returning from abroad..purely a holiday ( yeah it was just one day)...the beautiful beach in Zurich,mesmerizing music by Pachuly on the streets.
5.Power: A feeling of power..cos you are flying above ordinary mortals..you cant even see them..big vehicles being seen the size of ants..( did i sound arrogant?)
6.Fantasy: White clouds...of all shapes...but the most breathtaking sight was the Alps..covered in snow...takes you to another world completely..i really did dream of having a farm home somewhere near there
7.Fear: I should admit that everytime the aircraft shakes and the captain announces that we are going through turbulent weather..please fasten your seatbelts..I do get frightened.And latest Air France disaster has just added to my fear
8.Irritation: Everytime the flight attendant tries to sell bags and other stuff through bidding/scratch cards..when you need to pay and buy a bottle of water..whenver you are told that you have a non reclining seat
Every journey through the skies has made me go through some emotion or the other..but the best thing has been the time that I get for myself ( without a ringing cell phone) the time to think,the time to ponder..the time to DREAM

Nipped in the "Bud" what did you "get"?

The Big B...the mother of all budgets..that was what it was expected to be.
Alas!..B was not for Blockbuster..it was for the big Bear..that pulled down the stock market by more than 800 points..
For all those who says that the Budget was bad and not forward looking,I beg to disagree.
Doesnt it have so much for the Mango ( Aam) aadmi?
Ok fine..agreed the budget speech was not music for your ears ( MP3 and MP4 players would be expensive),but cant you watch our MP's quarelling or Udyan Mukherjee blabbering about what to buy and what to sell on your LCD ( after all LCD is cheaper now).
Why should you complain that the aam aadmi is dreaming if he earned more than Rs 10 lac?Cant he have a party with that Rs1030 he saved as the exemption limit has been increased for 1.5 lac to 1.6 lac??
Ok I do agree that your wife/gf will kill you if you dont gift her jewellery now ( branded jewellery is cheaper)..but why worry when the FM has reduced the price of Life saving drugs? isnt ur life safe?
Who would now buy petrol trucks ( duties have been reduced) that Mr Deora increased price of petrol well before the budget?
Why worry about food when the FM is putting thrust to grow Indian agriculture by a whopping 4%?
FM knew that the stock market would crash..isnt that why he decided that the market is not good enough to sell his Navratnas or whatever ratnas it is...he decided to raise just over 1100 crores from disinvestment.
Who cares about Fiscal deficit..i dont even know what that means.but like every newspaper or every analyst let me scream..Mr FM what are you doing to reduce the deficit that is currently 6.8% of GDP...what about the FBRM?

Why ponder over these terms..prepare yourself to enjoy the Commonwealth Games on your LCD TV while you roam the city in the above 2000cc car on the NHAI ( highways gonna get a boost)that you bought with the savings of Rs1030 in income tax exemption and your wife/gf flaunts her newly acquired branded jewellery?

Aam aadmi..he can go around with Izzat in the new toofan ( i guess i got the name right) non stop trains that our Didi has announced...Didi and Dada. Jai Ho

Gi(rl)llogical

Now that FM has become a integral part of my life (listening to it 30 mins in morning and 45 mins in evening while commutting to office and back),the song that plays often these days is Om Mangalam from Kambakht Ishq ( I swear am not offered commission for publicity,its absolutely free).In that the Girl keeps asking the guy "Will you marry me?"..I would call her Stupid Girl.
( Now now now..dont argue that I am jealous cos no girl ever asked me if I would marry her).
And for the feminists,please read Stupid as Simply The Ultimate Person I Desire ( what a stupid PJ)..for all others and for the good humoured females,Stupid has the regular meaning of daily usage.And wondering why stupid girl? cos at the end of the song when the guy asks the girl " Will you marry me?" the girl says uhhh I dont think so...

I have seen many girls sitting on the park looking at Guys in the foodcourt next to my office.Ok Ok agreed,they were just looking ahead and guys crossed the path of their vision and if Guys think the girls were looking at them,they are thoroughly mistaken.
Now assume that the girl was really looking at a guy.She would want the guy to make the first move.Hmm,historically it has been the guy who makes the first move.If the guy understands it and makes a move,then he is a super Stupid.Cos then the girls reaction would be " How many girls have you approached like this".

Thats girls for you guys..Girls would be girls..always Gi(rl)llogical...

My tips to boost Indian Economy

Someone once said " Statistics are like a Bikini..What they reveal is suggestive...What they conceal is vital".If thats the case,then what do we call Economics?
I am a regular reader of Swaminathan S Anklesaria Aiyar who writes in the Times of India on Sunday.But this week after reading his post,I felt that I too have a economist in me.
First a brief about Mr Aiyar's post.According to him,there are 1 trillion beedis smoked in India and the comparitive figure is just 106 billion cigarettes.So taxes on cigarettes leave out 90% of Indian smokers.Equalising the tax on beedi with that of non filter micro filter cigarettes can give the government Rs.15,000 crores a year.And if it is equated with that of standard filter cigarettes,the potential revenue through tax is a whopping Rs80,000 crores.Isnt that wonderful?
So I also found wonderful ways to increase the tax revenues.
1.According to the FAO,more than 1 billion people go hungry in the world.i.e 1 in 6 people.
( Definition of Hungry is receiving less than 1800 calories a day).
So the Government must levy a "Gym tax.ie a special tax on those people who exercise and join the gym to lose calories.How can they just escape eating more calories and burn them off unproductively when there are thousands starving outside?
2.As per records,Indian population is around 104 crores.And this is increasing at 1.578% per annum.The exploding population is putting great pressure on resources like water,health,education etc.So the government should introduce a "Birth Licence Tax".ie for every couple ( or lady as single parents are quite common) decides to have a baby,they should obtain a baby licence.Assuming Rs 100 per baby and the population growth of 1.578%,this leads to a revenue of Rs164 crores.Isnt that amount significant? But not to forget,they should reward those who use condoms ( those deshbakth who care for the nations growing population menace).
3.Tax on cell phones: while the telecom companies proudly announce the millions that they have added to the cellular base,the government should impose a "Health Tax" on each cell phone sold.
Like Cyrus and Kunal in "99" idhar ( ears) rakhega to brain khatam,udhar ( shirt pocket) rakhega tho heart khatam and ( trouser pocket) rakhega tho generation khatam.The government who is concerned about its citizens and aam aadmi should introduce this tax for the wellbeing of its precious ASSet and of course swell its coffers.
4.In the same vein,the government should reduce tax on liquor.Increasing taxes will force people to move to hooch and bad quality liquor and die quickly.The government should ensure that their citizens live happily and merrily oblivious to the global recession,misery and poverty that surrounds them.So isnt it the governments responsibility to provide good quality liquor to its citizens.I strongly argue that government should ensure good quality but reasonably priced liquor through the Public Distribution System ( PDS).
P.S: Those arguing for prudent measures in times of recession might argue that Men should stop wearing Underwear.After all ,no one notices if a guy is wearing one and their branded designer denims or blackberry or koutons is enough to give the required protection.(I read this on a famous blogsite)
Dont worry,I dont subscribe to this argument and I have my inventory of Chaddis ( dont mistake me..I am pro valentines day..so i didnt get any pink chaddi from anyone).

Yeh hey India meri jaan!!!

NHAI starts fencing of the Delhi Gurgaon Expressway..read the Hindusthan Times news article on Monday the 23rd February 2009.
The move was to discourage pedestrians from crossing the busy expressway.As many as 45 pedestrians have been killed and more than 50 injured on the 27.7 km expressway which has just two subways at the distance of 18 km.

Now the question is "Do we Indians really need such measures to make us follow basic rules and regulations?" Or are we Indians just a fun loving people who throw caution to the wind?
Are we careless people who care a hoot for what can happen to our lives and the life of others?

My personal opinion is that our roads can be decongested by 10-15% if we Indians decide to follow the basic traffic rules and have a better traffic sense.Our roads can be decongested a further 20% if instead of adding new roads,we make our existing roads "drive worthy".

But the basic question still lingers in my mind? why are we not law abiding citizens?Why do we jump red lights when the traffic police turns the other way?why do we not stand in queues while boarding or deboarding the metro ( my favorite topic).Why do we seek the easy way out in anything and everything we do ( My alien friend..do you have any answers?).
Is it a lack of a strong enforcing agency ( like in Saudi Arabia where the punishment for offenders are severe?).Or are our enforcing mechanism bad ( refer the lawyers and cops clash in Chennai).
Or our courts where cases have been pending for decades altogether that 1) if a accused is really guilty,he would have undergone his imprisonment by the time the verdict comes 2) if the accused is not guilty,he would have lost a good part of his life behind bars or suffering the stigma of being an accused.
No ..the basic root cause is our attitude.We know that we can do things and get away without being caught.And if in a bluemoon we got caught,we can escape with a 100 rupee not,if not even lesser.

Parting Shot:
Indians, countrymen, be patient till the last. We will go on and on but will not change.Our system is bad and we have no role in making this worse.We are just mute spectators to this.We as individuals can do nothing apart from swimming with the tide.Isnt this thought consoling?

Murphys Law in a Metro

Murphys law of Seats:
1.The metro that you saw passing by will have empty seats in plenty.
2.There would not be any unoccupied seat in the metro you get into.
3.If there are any unoccupied seats,they would be reserved for ladies and old/physically challenged people.
4.If you manage to beat points 1 to 3 and get a seat,you will surely be obliged to give that seat to any senior citizen or lady with a child.

Murphys law of Time:
1.The metro train that you travel in will have maximum crowd so that the door will open and close three times in every station.
2.Thou shall always miss the empty metro by the whisker of a second.

Murphys law of Pretty Lass
1.The coach you enter would not have any pretty girls.
2.If there are any pretty girls ( if you are lucky to beat point 1),she shall be escorted by her boyfriend ( who will scare you to death ,though you are lactually trying to look out of the window just behind the girl).

Indian connection to Oscars 2009

I am not going ga ga over the 8 Oscars won by the “Slumdog Millionaire”,the movie shot in India and which has apparently taken the Indian supremacy to the realm of entertainment.This article is a take on something entirely different.

Let me try to introduce the subject by giving a brief background.
If you are a regular reader of my posts ( which I know is just a handful),I had written a post on my friend.Yeah,the friend whom you might misunderstand to be an “Alien”.
While discussing the reputation of a B School that the person enquired with me,I replied that I have heard that the project reports and question papers for exams are available if you can shell out the money.The person replied that given a chance that person would lap it up as that person does not believe that honest people exists thesedays.If everyone can do that,why not me.As I mentioned earlier ,my friend is a epitome of innocence and I found that quote ridiculous,if not frustrating.
Flash back to 2003.I had given CAT 2003 ( the first attempt) and came out with a glowing confidence that I have done well.I had put into practice everything my coaching centre had taught me and I was confident of cracking the most difficult exam in the world.Only to know that my happiness was short lived.On reaching home,my roommate enquired how the test went.And I said perfectly fine.And he uttered what I didn’t want to hear.He said,no my dear friend,you wont get a call.Cos the papers were leaked and CAT has been cancelled.The frustration is still within me.

The above mentioned “Phenomena” is nothing new in India.Here exam papers are leaked .Probe results are leaked even before they are submitted to the relevant authorities.Movie prints are leaked before they are released in theatres.Important cabinet decisions are leaked to the press even before the cabinet meetings are over.

The author is convinced that the Western world has started copying everything from India blindly.( The author was thinking it was limited to copying things like Yoga and Ayurveda and trying to patent Basmati Rice).How else can you explain the leakage of the list of Oscar winners ( The media is now saying it was a hoax but the leaked list has got 33% right).Way to go India.The world is looking forward to you for guidance.

( Category,Winner as per leaked list,Actual winner)
Actor in a leading role: Mickey Rourke. Sean Penn
Actor in a supporting role: Heath Ledger ,Heath Ledger
Actress in a leading role: Kate Winslet, Kate Winslet
Actress in a supporting role: Amy Adams , Penelope Cruz
Animated Feature Film: Wall-E, Wall-E
Art Direction: The Dark Knight ,Benjamin Button
Cinematography: Slumdog Millionaire, Slumdog Millionaire
Costume Design: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button ,Duchess
Directing: Slumdog Millionaire, Slumdog Millionaire
Documentary feature: Man on Wire, The Betrayal
Documentary short: The Conscience of Nhem En ,Smile Pinki
Film editing: Milk, Slumdog Millionaire
Foreign language film: Departures, Departures
Makeup: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button ,Benjamin Button
Music (Score): Defiance ,Slumdog Millionaire
Music (Song): Down to Earth (Wall-E) ,Jai Ho ( Slumdog Millionaire)
Best Picture: Slumdog Millionaire, Slumdog Millionaire
Short film (animated): Presto ,La Maison en
Short film (live action): Auf Der Strecke (On The Line) ,Spielzeuglant ( Toyland)
Sound editing: Wall-E, Dark Knight
Sound mixing: The Dark Knight, Slumdog Millionaire
Visual effects: Iron Man, Benjamin Button
Writing (Adapted screenplay): The Reader, Slumdog Millionaire
Writing (Original screenplay): In Bruges, Milk

It happens only in India...

India is truly a land of wonders..And though I have been in this country for a little less than 3 decades, I have got to see many places only in the last 6 years (the rest of the time being spent in exploring half of my home state).But like every foreign person now harping about the country, let me too repeat. This country never ceases to surprise you. And to embarrass you and at times frustrate you.

Let me share a few of my recent experiences.

Note: Most of you might ask, what’s new in this; it has always been happening. But for me it’s new and fresh and that’s why I am excited to write about this.
Every management guru and books will talk about stretching our resources and trying to achieve more than what we think we can. A quick look at how we Indians do it.

My first train journey in North India. Slightly nervous, but nevertheless excited, I took my rickshaw to New Delhi Railway Station to board the ShivGanga Express to Banaras.
The railway budget was presented in the Parliament that day morning. The honorable Railway Minister had presented the report card, how Railways made huge profits and grew from Elephant to Cheetah and blah blah.
The Railway Station did present a different picture though. Shabby, Unkempt, Dirty.I don’t know what metaphors to use.I boarded the compartment along with my friend. And when we went to our reserved berth, there were already 6 people sitting there. And another 4 on the side berth. But they didn’t mind giving us some space to sit. Oh My God, how courteous of them right?After taking our seat and making us comfortable, we asked one of them, which is your berth? And he pointed to the upper one. Ok.we asked the next one, which is your berth?And he with an unpleasant look on his face says, I am with this guy! I wonder if this is what we read in newspapers about Seat Sharing arrangement?

The foreigner from Austria was surprised.12 people sitting in seats reserved for 8?Yes my dear friend, It happens only in India. Yes we utilize our resources the best we can.

Banaras Railway Station:
We thought of taking a retiring room at the station to freshen ourself. After all it’s the sacred city of Kashi and we should be clean. When we reached the counter, we were told that there are no rooms and we could use the common dormitory. We pressed for an individual A/C room. With sarcasm writ large on his face, he said no rooms available.

Up comes an Rs 100 note from my friend’s pocket and prompt comes the question.you want the room for just to freshen up right? We nodded our head and lo, the unavailable room opens up. There was even a boy send with us to clean up the room before we occupied it.
God, in Thy holy land, everything is available if you have the power to buy it.

It was noon. I was hungry. I hadn’t had my breakfast (not that I regularly have my breakfast though)…but for a day my friend (who is familiar with Banaras) has been telling me stories about the famous Kachori of Banaras available at the ghat along the holy river Ganga.I didn’t want to spoil my appetite and wanted to fully savour the delicious Kachori. And then I was also eager to have a dip in the Ganga and cleanse myself of all mortal sins. Isnt that every Hindu worth his name wishes to do?
Let me remind you, I don’t carry too much sins with me. Don’t think that am too pious or so. It is just that I had cleansed myself (again in this holy river) at Haridwar 2 years back.
But I was mistaken. Who told that you need to take a dip in the river to cleanse yourself of your sins? Even a look into the river is enough to do that. I should admit that being anywhere near that river is a strong test for your nasal senses. If you cant smell it a kilometer away, be assured, you need to meet your ENT.

Yes, it happens only in India. The river Ganga, which in Mahabharata is referred to as Ganga Maa or Mai, a part of our rich tradition, considered sacred and purifying, can be treated so badly only in India.The entire banks is full of shit ( literally and metamorphically).A cow ( a holy cow?) was standing on this muddle and throwing this yuck at itself.( was it because the Ganga had less water and more yuck that the animal mistook it for a holy river of yuck and took bath in dirt?)

Till I explore new places in this vast country and share my experiences with you, I can only make one remark.
And yeah, the famous Kachori shop was not open that day. I do not know if he had an appointment with his ENT.

Mera Bharat Mahaan.!!!

Life In a Metro

Now come on,am not reviewing a movie that was released long time back and faded into oblivion.
This is just a small peep into the lifeline of millions of delhites..My Metro,the Delhi Metro.
I have seen many writers harping on the fact that they can come across inspiration to write from anywhere.And though I been travelling in the metro for around 2 months,it had to be this combination of events that made me seriously give it a thought.

The noise created around the valentine day celebration was very much fresh.And I was travelling in the metro at peak time from Barakhamba to Dwarka.The train reached Rajiv Chowk,the busiest stop of the metro.By then the train was full and not much space to step in.
And lo,I could see a guy ( whom I assume was a Ram Sena activist) protecting Indian culture.He not only managed to find space for himself just by the door,he protected his girlfriend ( a indian nari) in the coziness of his arms.Now frequent kisses on the girls cheeks is not a huge price to pay for protecting you in a crowded train is it?Now dont talk about love in public places and stuff ok..why cant people consider that he was doing his duty by protecting a lady in the maddening crowd where there was hardly any space to stand?How could anyone disagree the (pretty) girl right in front of me ,who commented,this is how the wise people spend their time in a metro?

The metro is a sample of the vast universe i.e Delhi.You find people of all types,professions and gender in the metro.From school going kids ( not sure if everyone goes to school,i seen school couples bunking school and going to roam around , the crowded metro setting a perfect vehicle to vanish without being noticed)..to teenagers going for outing,to office going people,workers,street circus people and even beggars board the metro.

The Delhi Metro is also a source of learning and knowledge.I know a lil bit about knitting that i learned by observing the aunty next to me do it.I do get to read certain articles in the morning newspaper without having to buy one ( by the numerous people who stand in front of me and read the paper).I learned about vehicle insurance from one guy who was referring the manual.I learned about the latest in ladies fashion observing the beautiful girls who board the metro daily.

I remember the first time I boarded the metro during non peak time.I remarked to Alok how boring it was to spend the 45 minutes in the train.Now I vouch for the metro.45 minutes just whizzes past me given the vast options that I have to keep myself occupied. I have rediscovered my old lost hobby and habit of Reading.Now i religiously carry my books along and get more than a hours reading in my daily routine.
Did anyone wonder why every mobile worth the name has a FM radio in it?Check the Delhi Metro.Everyone who carries a mobile in the metro would have had his headphones firmly in their ears.Marconi must be happy in his grave seeing his modest invention entertaining lakhs of Delhites in the metro through the 11 odd FM stations.

Delhi Metro...my Metro..tujhe salaam

Well begun is half done...or is it Not Done?

My mother calls me 'Arambashunakan'...I dont know the meaning of the term..but she told me that it means someone who starts of things in right earnest and then leaves it midway..Might be she is true..or should i say she is right?Pondering over it..The ABAP course I did while working in Hyderabad..the gym in bangalore where in lost 4 kgs in a month ( and put on 6 kgs during the 3 months that I rested after te 1st month)..the unfilled ICWAI form lying in my cupboard..just a few instances worth mentioning..

Anyways what prompted me to write this is the incidents the media was showcasing over the past few months..

Mumbai 26/11:The spirit of Mumbai..We wont take this lying down.We wont let this die..blah blah..All that is happening now is the occasional war of words between a few top government officials..

Obama Mania..Obama,the most important person in the world at the moment..the man who is going to save America and eventually the rest of the world..Hope he just does not fade into oblivion..

Nearer to you and me,the numerous New Year resolutions..It is just the 2nd month of the year and I am sure most of the resolutions would have gone down the drain..

I am not saying I am immune to this..The beer in my refridgerator is my testimony that I am party to what i preached above..

Might be its time to rephrase the saying..after all well begun might be half done..but who cares when it is the other half that matters more?

Welcome to Delhi

"Welcome to Indira Gandhi International Airport Delhi.The outside temperature is 23 deg C....."
Why did the flight have to land so soon? I missed the climax of Singh is King..which I was watching on the inflight television.To be frank,the nervousness of a new city,a new job was just catching up on me.

How wrong could pre conceived notions be?Though I have travelled through Delhi many times on my way to Gurgaon,its just once or twice I've been to Delhi.And lo,there was no traffic.Might be because it is a Sunday.Or might be it is the coldest day of the year thats keeping people away I guessed.
My exploration of Delhi started the very evening with a visit to the best residential place in the world-Rashtrapati Bhavan.And a walk to India Gate.The weather was chilly out there,but with bhelpuri in hand and the company of Alok was more than enough to offset the weather.
Familiar face greeted me into my new office.Leaving job on friday and taking a new role on Monday it was just like "back to office" after a weekend.
Morning 9 am.Hardly a ray of sunlight.Hardly anybody on the streets.I wonder if the city awakes late everyday or is it just the climate.Only the future can tell.
Anyways,first impression about the city has been good.Not missing Bangalore at the moment.Might be the summers wil make me thirsty for the Garden City.

For those who know what I mean.I have no regrets leaving somethings behind.For those who dont know,it was just another attempt to add suspense to my blog.