Illuminati

Mallya Does It Again!

2009-03-06T03:37:00.000-08:00

Today I read the Mr. Vijay Mallya has bought and brought home the Gandhi items for a whopping $1.8 million... The incident took me back a couple of years...

When in wide eyed amazement we Kannadiga's saw a spectacle of a rich and fascinating Vijay Mallya hold the Sword of Tipu Sultan and Parade the Bangalore streets telling everyone that it was his tribute to the pride of Kannadiga's. As a prelude to the entire drama was this event was a lot oh hype that a mysterious Indian gentleman has bought the sword for a then atrocious / mind boggling 2 crore worth from London...

Soon after the sword parade the sword went t his personal collection and I seldom recollect having read about it again. We'll pride is a one time affair I guess... Its like going to Tirupati and washing away a life time of sins with one hefty tribute....

This was about the time when Mallya had replaced Subramanya Swamy as the President of Janata Dal! And soon after this Mr. Mallya grandly launched his own party!!! In the elections however the party was a washout with not a single seat under its belt....

But now Mr. Mallya is MR. MALLYA... whatever he wants he gets... soon he gets nominated to The Rajya Sabha as a MP.... Now that was a tribute to the voting sensibility of the Kannada voters...

Well now that he has repeated the gimmick and considering the fact that general elections are around the corner... so....

Tiananmen Square : Tribute :)

2009-03-06T02:39:00.000-08:00

How They Created The Beijing Logo

This was forwarded by a friend and is posted as a tribute to fellow students who turned Martyrs in Tiananman square... This cartoon shows how the created the Beijing logo. A innocent man was made to stand against the wall and shot to the graphic imitated... This is strip is funny. But, the reason I am posting it is to keep alive the atrocities committed by China....

Auto Complaint

2009-03-04T20:25:00.000-08:00

One thing I have seen as a part of Take away from living in Delhi is you learn to haggle with the Autowalas to the Sabjiwalas.

Well the autowalas in Delhi might be the rudest and toughest lot you might have been pitted against compared to my home town Bangalore where there is a polite extortion. But the best part of Delhi is that the rates are negotiable...

When I was coming to believe that this yeh hai Dilli mere yaar.... But there were times when the auto guys asked plain three times the fare when u were stranded pushing me to tears.... On one of these frustrated rants sessions on how atrocious Dilli autowalas are, my friend shared the auto complaint cell's number...

Well to my pleasant surprise the person who took the call was courteous, helpful and understanding. They do share the complaint number. And I believe it works because I have seen way to many auto guys talk sense after this chat with the cell.

How does it work?

Well You call 011 23010101 and then you need to give in you name and contact details. You need to give the auto number and the exact complaint.... example xyz auto is asking double fare to come from CP to Malviya Nagar.

Then you need to take down the complaint chalan number. A chalan of Rs. 2000 will be door delivered to the auto's registered owner and your number will be shared with them.

Sketch Pad

2009-02-19T22:50:00.000-08:00

Well a last couple of days have been a li'l distracted.... I'm working on thia other blog where I am trying to upload all my random sketches.

Reason:

I have lost way to many sketches by misplacing and giving it around to people I half the times can't recall.... and Majorly because I do a lot of random spontaneuos sketchs which do not have a lot of artisstic value... so just digitaliing the entire thing for the sake of convinince ....

You can catch the updates on:

http://shivaniramaiah.wordpress.com/

Mommaaa!

2009-02-18T21:50:00.000-08:00

Mom's in different shape, size, colour and species too!!!

This is a nice forwardI received which was like aww... awwwww... AAAWWWWW... and Ouch moment!

Colours Of India - Photo Show

2009-02-17T02:35:00.001-08:00

Well...stumbled across this amazing stuff on Slideshare :

Colours Of India - Photo Show

Serendipity!!!!!!

Far From the Maddening Crowd

2009-02-16T00:52:00.000-08:00

Once Thomas Hardy wrote the novel Far From the Maddening Crowd. The famous title just popped in my mind as I received yet another forward probably the second forward this month, which very poetically says we are running around like headless chicken (this is soon becoming my favorite phrase!) in the race of life. Well I don’t know the author of this bit but well I know everyone who read this took a minute off to mull over the thought and very saintly agree with it... remember the dear ones make a resolution never to let this happen in my life and then take a deep breath and plunge back into the same mundane work routine! Well that’s what I did or do every time i receive a motivational or denominational wake up mails!

Well this is the bit I received today:

Har khushi Hai Logon Ke Daman Mein,

Par Ek Hansi Ke Liye Waqt Nahi.
Din Raat Daudti Duniya Mein,
Zindagi Ke Liye Hi Waqt Nahi.

Maa Ki Loree Ka Ehsaas To Hai,
Par Maa Ko Maa Kehne Ka Waqt Nahi.
Saare Rishton Ko To Hum Maar Chuke,
Ab Unhe Dafnane Ka Bhi Waqt Nahi.

Saare Naam Mobile Mein Hain,
Par Dosti Ke Lye Waqt Nahi.
Gairon Ki Kya Baat Karen,
Jab Apno Ke Liye Hi Waqt Nahi.

Aankhon Me Hai Neend Badee,
Par Sone Ka Waqt Nahi.
Dil Hai Ghamon Se Bhara Hua,
Par Rone Ka Bhi Waqt Nahi.

Paison ki Daud Me Aise Daude,
Ki Thakne ka Bhi Waqt Nahi.
Paraye Ehsason Ki Kya Kadr Karein,
Jab Apane Sapno Ke Liye Hi Waqt Nahi.

Tu Hi Bata E Zindagi,
Iss Zindagi Ka Kya Hoga,
Ki Har Pal Marne Walon Ko,
Jeene Ke Liye Bhi Waqt Nahi.......

Well this is my sagely Himalayan respite in a very materialistic life, those moments when I feel like quitting everything and settling in a hermitage, but well if everyone was living their Zindagi I’m not sure about how many of us would be Zinda...

Holy Cow!

2009-02-12T22:55:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine forwarded this link with such enthusiastic amusement, that I caught myself by surprise when i agreed with the content of the article in parts though the entire concept still sounds ridiculous to me.

Ok well the article in short is about The RSS next big plan after rampaging the peace in most civilised societies to launch gau mutra or the urine of cow as the next competition for the Colas of the world!!!!

Article excerpts:

The bovine brew is in the final stages of development by the Cow Protection Department of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), India's biggest and oldest Hindu nationalist group, according to the man who makes it.

Om Prakash, the head of the department, said the drink – called "gau jal", or "cow water" – in Sanskrit was undergoing laboratory tests and would be launched "very soon, maybe by the end of this year".

"Don't worry, it won't smell like urine and will be tasty too," he toldThe Times from his headquarters in Hardwar, one of four holy cities on the River Ganges. "Its USP will be that it's going to be very healthy. It won't be like carbonated drinks and would be devoid of any toxins."

The drink is the latest attempt by the RSS – which was founded in 1925 and now claims eight million members – to cleanse India of foreign influence and promote its ideology of Hindutva, or Hindu-ness..... read on in the link below

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/article5707554.ece

Well now if you are thinking I am either out of my mind or I am a right winger ( not there is much difference between the two :P ) I am bound to deny both....

Ok, let me explain its been known for ages that cow dung acts as a anti bacterial shield... think back to your grand parents house in the village, the ground before the house was always quoted with cow dung and mud slush.

Well, I'm not sure about the entire country but I'm pretty sure that down south every time there is a havan or any sacred ritual a tiny quantity of cow dung and urine is mixed in the prasadam which is distributed. Well the first time I realised I had the force the prasadam down for the fear of offending the Gods... but well when i actually researched about it.. the vedas and ayurvedas actually recommend it and infact I have seen a booklet of medicines based on gau mutra.

And probably the best uology to the cow dung was written by a very famous poet in kannada... well I cannot lay my hands on a copy of the original text ( I am ashamed for not remembering it on the tip of my tougue)

but it has the lines which roughly translate to say

When I'm burnt I am the Vibuthi....

When I 'm dried I am fuel....

When I 'm felt alone I am manure....

Well cow dung in any form is soo useful, well isn't it holier then we humans ? who just use up the resources on this earth....

Ok, just summing it up... well I still love my Cola's better and I would make no attempt to purify my soul, caste or religion! But yes, I would give the veda and ayurveda their due and respect the healing powers of cow dung. ...

Stop Grinning Start Thinking !

2009-02-12T03:36:00.001-08:00

I always envied my Advertising counterparts for the simple reason that they seemed sooo content with their work. They always seemed to be standing on a high pedestal of morality as we mere mortals seemed to dog through the drudgery work we didn't seem to like....

Then today I came across this article in the Indian Express.... I really don't envy Grey Worldwide for this one!

The Report reads :

Maya gets ad films made on self, spends Rs 5 cr

Lucknow: Ostensibly cleared by the UP Chief Minister this time, the long-awaited four-minute ad film on the "overall development of Uttar Pradesh" under the Mayawati Government was telecast on various TV channels on Wednesday.

The film is one of the 13 that the state Government has got made in view of the next elections, by Grey Worldwide, an advertising agency. The films were to be released on January 15, Mayawati'sbirthday. But during a special screening on January 14, she had raised many objections on the content, and the project was shelved.

"Her basic objection was that the film was focusing more on heritage and culture of the state, whereas she wanted the film to revolve around her," said a Governmentofficial.

She had reportedly asked the filmmakers to go through the films the Information Department had made in the past, including documentaries made by professionals. A committee was also formed to screen the content of the films.

So, the haste to make up for the delay was palpable as the four-minute ad film was distributed to prominent television channels on Wednesday, and the airing began immediately.

The visuals – Mayawati in the backdrop of her project blueprints and layout – said it all. Although these are termed the UP Government's advertisement films, the budget of Rs 5 crore, according to sources, and the cast are good enough for a feature film.

There is Kailash Kher who has lent his voice to spread Mayawati's message. "Kyunki mere pas aawazhai, mere pas unka saath hai (I've got the voice and her company)," he says.

Names like Kiran Deohans, director of photography for Hrithik-Aishwarya starrer 'Jodhaa Akbar', and his filmmaker wife Abaan Deohans are associated with the film. The lyrics are composed by SandeshShandilya of the "mauja hi mauja" fame.

Of the films, the longest is of 11 minutes, say government officials, which showcases the overall development of the state. Four films of four minute each show projects in different sectors. Eight others, varying from 45 seconds to one minute, are on topics ranging from education, health and infrastructure.

The film on infrastructure, to be aired on business news channels, is yet to be released.

Later, the films will be released in cinema halls and sent to other states, for which the party will soon formulate a strategy.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/maya-gets-ad-films-made-on-self-spends-rs-5-cr/422593/

The Postmortem

Well.... they seem to have laughed their way to the banks, but the entire procedure of writing a script, to getting it shot for a narcissist CM and with the Sarkari Babus breathing down your neck is not exactly my dream job.

Apart from my sympathy for the Grey guys, I cant help but wonder... We laugh as we read this article, but somehow, the self indulgent act of the CM becomes acceptable after being lampooned, as though we silently say ' Yeh paise nahi udaenge tho kaun udayega? ' Well hope we soon realize that the 5 crore which Grey is happily pocketing is the tax payers money ... SO, stop grinning and start thinking !

How It Changed

2009-02-12T02:06:00.000-08:00

Just received A forward from a friend ... and by the end of it all that was left in my mind was a big " TRUE".

Just yesterday I was telling someone, that in class 12 I received a pocket money of Rs. 20 and never really had wanted anything more... now the day I have Rs. 20 in my pocket and a day ahead I will hit the panic button! I always blamed it on the cost of living but deep down I know the costs were half the story the wants were the other half... Well a nice forward...Reading it was like humming the tune of Country Roads Take me Home to the Place where I belong ....

Here i am sitting in my office @ night…
Thinking hard about life
How it changed from a maverick collage life to strict professional life…...

How tiny pocket money changed to huge monthly paychecks
but then why it gives lesss happiness….

How a few local denim jeans changed to new branded wardrobe
but then why there are less people to use them

How a single plate of samosa changed to a full Pizza or burger
But then why there is less hunger…..

Here i am sitting in my office @ night…
Thinking hard about life
How it changed…..

How a bike always in reserve changed to bike always on
but then why there are less places to go on……

How a small coffee shop changed to cafe coffee day
but then why its feels like shop is far away…..

How a limited prepaid card changed to postpaid package
but then why there are less calls & more messages……

Here i am sitting in my office @ night…
Thinking hard about life
How it changed…..

How a general class journey changed to Flight journey
But then why there are less vacations for enjoyment….

How a old assembled desktop changed to new branded laptop
but then why there is less time to put it on……….

How a small bunch of friends changed to office mate
But then why we always feel lonely n miss those college frnz.….

Here i am sitting in my office @ night…
Thinking hard about life
How it changed….. How it changed……..

Lizard Tales

2009-02-09T01:59:00.000-08:00

Lizards...

I feel the creeps even as I write this! I feel a yuck! eeews ! A kind of feeling in my head and my toes already feel something creepy... Well, this is how half the world views the lizards. My moms voice pops up in my head " That small lizard would not be able to kill you! Considering it has never bitten anyone in my knowledge". She chides as I refuse to get into the bathroom, which has a petrified me in one corner and a equally petrified lizard on the opposite corner!

Well yesterday, the same small lizard almost killed my roomie with a partial heart and partial panic attack. This made me wonder what is it about lizards that petrifies us so much?

First, I remembered the good old house lizards which colonize our house and terrorize our souls. Well there are two reasons I can think of why I don't like them :

Lore says that these tiny things are poisonous and it they fall into your food well that could well be the ' The end ' of the people who consume it! When i checked the net now no such fact was confirmed... but I still trust the gyan given by my ancestors and chose to believe the lizards are poisonous
The lizards pee is acidic! well I have to accept I have never seen a lizard pee in gallons from the top of the ceiling but well I could give my ancestors some credit and chose to believe them
The lizards and squishy squashy ( the feeling I get... nothing to do with their constitution... they are vertebrates for those who are susceptible to get misled) and give me goose bumps
They run over the ceiling , so they petrify me with the threat of falling on my dear head... OK they are not cows that can kill by dropping dead on you.... but nevertheless not a very nice idea.
Though I deem them far less dangerous than a rat or a cockroach which stray into the house, I still am biased to hate the lizards the most. Ya, for one you cant kill them....

That reminds me though I have seen some firang friends throw a shoe and squash a lizard or two . I have not seen any such act by Indians.... Back home I'm pretty sure it is a sin! If you even accidentally crush a lizard to death it is a unwritten law to visit the temple of Kanchi and pay penance to the golden lizard statue there or at least wash the feet of some one who has touched the golden statue.

spring you the picture of orginal lizards.... this is the holy golden statue in Kanchi

By the way That reminds me when the lizards make a kick kich kind of odd noise, people read omen into it... I have heard good and bad omens of it... so no clue which one to follow... Or, u might simply be in North India where the lizards are visibly larger in size compared to their south Indian counterparts but are noticeably more silent . A few of my north Indian friends refuse to believe lizards make noise at all. But ya on a personal level I see the north Indian lizards are visibly larger but very slow and silent almost lazy .... in winters they vanish ( hibernate) and in summers they simply dangle it corners like dd coloured paint melting off the walls.... So I perceive them less dangerous then their south Indian counterparts which dart around the house like hyper active children!

Check D India

2009-02-08T23:28:00.000-08:00

I was quite surprised when I read that women’s cricket world cup started well 2 years before the men’s event started! But it’s kind of weird to see the stark contrast in the popularity of the men’s and women’s cricket in India.

Now the 9^th ICC Women's Cricket World is starting from 7^th of March in Australia. You are thinking ‘So what?’… Well... the India women’s team reached the finals last year, this year they are marked to be one among the favorites!

Now the remarkable team is captained by a captain equally remarkable: Jhulan Goswami: She was the ICC woman cricketer of the year in 2007and is the fastest woman bowler in the world averaging 120kph! Man oh Man!

Now India being India, and cricket being cricket her appointment as captain got reported on 3^rd Feb while the actual appointment happened on 1^st February . Well Ashley Cole’s girlfriend’s dress or the lack of it finds the print but well women’s cricket can of course wait! But, of course we are an empowered nation we have a women president who rubber stamps out decision!

Story idea : courtesy Abhipedia

Bell Bajao! Rings a Bell :)

2009-02-02T01:52:00.000-08:00

After a long time I came across a campaign, which is pitched so well, that you can connectwith it. The break through initiative connects right at the begining with the tag line Building human rights culture.... seems to have got it right :)

What's best about the campaign is that it does not cringe and plead for your attention. Most of the social campaigns I have see give rise to a sense of helplessness, like watching a tragic horrifying movie which you would rather forget or flip channels . The Bell bajao campaign instead tells us what we can do. The suggestion is simple and their portal http://www.bellbajao.org/ is interactive, lively and definitely not depressing.

Diamonds are for Life! De Beers Story

2009-01-30T03:51:00.000-08:00

De Beers

Whenever you think of a diamond you think of this company. It’s maybe like a xerox in photocopy world, absolutely peerless, anyways interestingly both uses carbon in one or the other form.

Most of us think that there must be some CXO type of post which was and is being held by some Mr. De Beers. The fact of the matter is that there in no Mr. De Beers (whom I can marry off to get all the diamonds) De Beers brothers owned a kimberlite field which was later bought by Cecil Rhodes( yes the guy who went snooping around Africa discovered have of it and owned a quarter ( that’s my perception and may be highly exaggerated but its not inaccurate… you would recognize if you were half awake in your history class)

But this hunky dory tale of diamonds dint last long with the setting in of the second world war their markets slumped drastically as no one saw the need to make a lavish buy with the world burning. But two things change the scene:

One, the war ended and there was a surge in the marriage market as people looked for reasons to celebrate in an otherwise devastated world or men out on war for long wanted to seal their wedding after seeing in death in close quarters.

Two, DeBeers came up with brilliant marketing campaign of ‘A diamond Is Forever’ (yes that line which makes every guy and girls in the world go red – of course the former as he sees a hole in his pocket and the later with the blushing joy of a bride ).

With the booming wedding bells everyone wanted to have or give a diamond ring on their left ring finger. The market went from good to great in the famous post was baby boom era.

By the way for those still wondering who the hell was Cecil Rhodes! He was the founder of the state of Rhodesia, which was later bifurcated into two African nations Zambia and Zimbabwe.

*Almost forgot the story idea: courtesy Abhishake Diarhea

When the Fence ate the Field

2009-01-29T04:01:00.000-08:00

Beli edu hola meydante ( kanada) means when the fence meant to protect eats the feild whom do we run for protection? Thats the first thought that came into my head when I was reading Karnataka Chief Minister's reaction to the entire Managlore pub incident. Some of the classic perspectives given by the CM:

The decision that though the incidents are condemnable the need is to stop the pub culture from seeping in to Karnataka.
Banning Shri Ram Sene is not the solution for the problem
The Leader Promod Mutalik need not be arrested! ( When he was initially arrested it was on charges of distributing inflammatory pamphlets - which actually called for volunteers for a Hindu suicide squad! - and not instigating mindless violence in the city)

Just in retrospection what culture is the CM trying to protect? A culture where women can be molested by goons in the middle of the street, the media watches the tamasha , records it and sell their TRP and the CM is worried about the pub culture when women are being battered in broad daylight! heavens that was some culture! He would probably arrest the famous vachana sahiti 'Akka Mahadevi' for obscenity in public!!! Today pubbing might be wrong tomorrow working, dayafter steping out of the house. The list goes on till they replace women with slaves in the society.

Secondly, if any other religious group had gone on a rampage would this be the reaction? If Pak Taliban was not banned in Afghanistan we call it uncivilised!

Finally if we don't arrest the unapologetic leader of a psychotic group of vandals what message are we sending out to the public?

That's how it feels when the protectors turn attackers, there is a saying in kannada which means when the fence eating the feild situation

This just reminded me that in colleges there were these rules prohibiting girls from wearing jeans as it was provocative!!!! If a goons eve teased a girl at worst times even raped the girls the reason given "the girl dressed provocatively!" well what a defense! Maybe that was the reason for the molesting the women in the pub...

For how long will we be the victims to this social perversion?

Things are to be used and people are to be loved. But in today's world people are used and things are loved...

2009-01-29T02:24:00.001-08:00

Dutch, India aur Sensex

2009-01-29T01:15:00.001-08:00

I always thought America the great Juggernaut of modern day capitalism was the first one to have a stock exchange or may be the great Britain, But when I got to know that it was Amsterdam which has the credit for the first stock exchange I was surprised.

A little of jogging my head reminded me the Dutch were the super power before the Anglo Saxon domination over threw them.

Yes, coming back to the Stock Exchange it was formed in 1602 by the Dutch East India Company for dealing in printed bonds and stocks. It also has another first : It was the first to begin trading in securities.

The oldest Building were not available but the picture is of the building which hosted the Stock Exchange before it merger in 2000

The stock exchange has changed names several times from Bourse to the Brussels Stock Exchange when it merged in 2000. Then it became the Paris Stock Exchange and it is currently merged with the Euronext.

Birthday Celebration

2009-01-28T00:23:00.000-08:00

For the First 15 years of my life Birthday was such a red letter day in my calender. It meant all friends would be home and I would blow a candle and cut the cake, get a new dress, plus gifts and we would play endlessly. It was the planning and anticipation which was sooo much fun!

But as we grew older Birthday parties started seeing a change... it meant friends would gate crash at 12, there would he those painful birthday bums ! It would be one treat for which you would save money for like months together.... and of course if you are lucky to co incidentally have a friend with birthday around the corner it would mean pool in. But it would mean hours of logistic about where to we go out and eat and have fun.... but parties were more of a friends and family celebration held separately....

The B'day gal in her new dress

Then I grew up further ( Wow! that's news ) and started working, birthdays became a formal social calender event with some cake cutting, formal cake smashing and nice dinners..... now with family friends and colleagues. With a visit to the temple thrown in!

But, last Sunday we decided to bring the good old Birthday Party back home on my Roomie's Birthday. Well after months of planing which had her parents come in from Kolkata... we had all the classic bits like a B'day cap, Balloon filled with glitter which were suppose to be burst at the stroke of 12 ( but due to a malfunction kept blowing up as weird timings...) and a huge " Happy Birthday" wall hanging, cake with candles on it, Friends standing all around with gifts in hand (well it was a gifts must bring event).....

After ages it felt great to be blowing balloons and putting up decoration in the house, deciding the menu took more time then the finance minister takes to draw up a budget.....

If you are wondering whats special in all this ? No no it was not a surprise party, but still the joy of celebrating just like when we were kids was fun. After a long time we had something to look forward for with childish enthusiasm , unabashedly looking forward for gifts and goodies.... It was nice to be a child again.

It doesn't take a lot to be Happy :) And... Happy Birthday Arpita Mukherjee...

Jai Ho! Long Live Our Dreams...

2009-01-27T01:16:00.000-08:00

We were on a Delhi Yatra this Sunday. As kids who work away from home we were proud and eager to show out visiting parents the grandeur of Delhi.... And what better time then the Grand Republic Day celebrated at the very heart of Delhi?

Well one Day before the Republic Day( 25th Duh!!! also a Sunday) when the patriotic fervour we decided to visit the Red Fort, when we went there we realised it was closed for visitors with disappointment oozing out of our faces we decided to stroll down the lazy streets of Chandini Chowk. Then with a never say die spirit we decided to move on to the India Gate.... But, well here we saw stretches of deserted streets.... so we moved on to what I loving call the museum of Gods or Akshardham which was of course open with a few instructions like :

In the list of things you cant take inside with things like bullets, blades and alcohol was a another item drunkards!!! Well I like the spirit of not recognising the human status of drunkards :P

Then after braving at least a dozen frisks and checks... by the time we reached the entrance we had the done with the teertha yatra feel. And, on why I call it the museum of Gods? Well It has these magnificent looking statues of Excessively hunkish six packed Gods... no nicely displayed I forget prayers and end up gaping at the beautiful architecture.

Ok! Back to the point... Every Republic Day and Independence Day we celebrate about out country being free, in fact on the Republic Day when we many years ago so daringly declared Independence and a day when the best of our armed forces salute to their chief in command two things hit me harder then anything else the President who was taking the salute with all due respect to her seat did not in anyway inspire any confidence in me... I did not see a commander of armed forces I saw the face of an old women wrapped as much in a saree as by the influential political powers in the back ground!

Secondly, I saw that ironically on the days preceding our display of strength people preferred staying indoors out of fear more then anything else I heard out at least a paranoid friends and relatives who advised me to stay in so sure that I would be blown up to pieces by a terror bomb otherwise. It felt weird that we had more confidence in their capacity to blow us then our capacity to hold them off.... That left me wondering if we would have ever won over the great ( sarcasm for those to didn't notice) British Empire if our Freedom fighters were to be cowed down and preferred staying in?

In short this Republic Day I wished for an India where people stop waiting for the messiah to walk in from the skies and find independence on the streets, but that does not mean we can make do with a compromise Presidential Rubber stamp. I pray for the Wings of Fire ( with tribute to its author) that will soon provide us with the strength to fly our country high.

When will Ram get a human Sena?

2009-01-26T22:58:00.001-08:00

Well a couple of Yuga's ago there was The Prince Ram who defeated Ravan with his army of vanars of monkeys well but I can bet my last breath on the fact that the vanar or the army of monkeys were more human then their name sakes who beat up women for ruining the Indian culture in Mangalore. In short the monkey's then seem more civilised the the humans today.... or would i rather the humans today seem more beastly then the brave vanars then... (I guess Darwin would have redone his evolution theory if he saw these incidents ). *

On a more serious note...

Every time there is an attack by the fundamentalists or so called the religious brigade it is on women be it the bar dancers or the burqa draping. I don't know if I sound like a feminist venting out a frustrated rant but the fact that women are at the receiving end of these barbarous whims is wrong.

But a lot of times I wonder if I see a closet satisfaction in the masses when an incident like this happens... Just a couple of days ago there was an incident where kids celebrating a birthday party got beaten and abused for spoiling the culture of the locality by none other then the hooligans in the area.

Just think back every time there is a call for protection of the culture the barbarians who quite literally hold the cudgels are the guys who would sit on street corners whistling at girls making cat calls and lewd comments.

In all probability the maniacs who attacked the girls in Mangalore were frustrated souls who were denied entry, and hence made a vengeful attack! I refuse to take a stance on does our society need dance bars... but if a set of hooligans were to attack women in them name of Ram I wonder how Ram would react.... maybe not too strongly for the man himself banished his wife heeding to words of a washerman.... Being a women I guess I would best love the Ram Rajya in a TV soap.

* But due to the immense respect and reverence I hold for the brave warrior race of vanars I extend my due apology to them for even making the comparison....

Bamboo, Rats and Famine

2009-01-26T21:42:00.000-08:00

Long back in a family dinner I remember my parents telling me the when the bamboo flowers emerge it brings along destruction. The red flowers which is said to erupt together all over India at the same time brings looking more like forest set ablaze.

The flowers are known to attract rodents which feast on these flowers and multiply at startling rates. The increased rodent population means the next to fall is the food stock bring with it wide spread famine. Its not just the famine they are suppose to bring along immense bad luck which is said to have destroyed kingdoms and countries.

I remembered all this while reading a forwarded mail a friend sent across in which a similar belief was echoed in Mizoram.....

The mautam of Mizoram is a cyclical event that occurs once in 48 years when the Melocanna baccifera, a species of bamboo, blossoms. This attracts a particular species of rats, whose numbers increase rapidly. Last time this happened in 1959, and after having the feast, the rodents turned their attention toward the crops and granaries. This created a famine situation. This was also one of the reasons why India had to look towards west for food grains. One of the US dailies reported that Indian PM comes begging.

Though this famine actually strengthened India and then came the revolution in food grains, known as the Green Revolution.

While the situation in Mizoram turned other way round and saw the formation of Mizo National Famine Front which later took up arms as the separatist Mizo National Front. This resulted in separate statehood.

Though last year was the year of mautam, the Mizo National Front suffer defeat in the recent Nov-Dec 2008 elections. This time rats were also defeated thanks to better planning, tribal support and the Indian army.

Proud To Be Indian

2009-01-20T22:55:00.000-08:00

There might be a million things wrong with my country but I know there are a two million things right.

Just got this song humming in my head....

Hum logon ko samajh sako to
Hum logon ko samajh sako to samjho dilbar jaani
Jitna bhi tum samjhoge utni hogi hairaani
Hum logon ko samajh sako to samjho dilbar jaani
Jitna bhi tum samjhoge utni hogi hairaani

Apni chhatri tumko dedein kabhi jo barse paani
Kabhi naye packet mein bechein tumko cheez puraani
Phir bhi dil hai hindusatni
Phir bhi dil hai hindustani
Phir bhi dil hai hindusatni
Phir bhi dil hai hindustani

Thode anari hain thode khiladi
Ruk rukke chalti hai apni gaadi
Thode anari hain thode khiladi
Ruk rukke chalti hai apni gaadi
Humein pyaar chahiye
Aur paise bhi
Hum aise bhi hain
Hum hain vaise bhi

Hum logon ko samajh sako to samjho dilbar jaani
Ulti seedhi jaisi bhi hai apni yehi kahaani
Thodi hummein khushiyaan bhi hain
Thodi hai nadaani
Thodi hum mein sachchaai hai
Thodi beimaani
Phir bhi dil hai hindusatni
Phir bhi dil hai hindustani
Phir bhi dil hai hindusatni
Phir bhi dil hai hindustani

Aankhon mein kuchh aansoo hain kuchh sapne hain
Aansoo aur sapne donon hi apne hain
Aankhon mein kuchh aansoo hain kuchh sapne hain
Aansoo aur sapne donon hi apne hain
Dil dukha hai lekin toota to nahin hai
Umeed ka daaman chooka to nahin hai

Hum logon ko samajh sako to samjho dilbar jaani
Thodi majboori hai lekin thodi hai manmaani
Thodi tu tu main main hai aur thodi kheecha taani
Hum mein kaafi baatein hain jo lagti hain deewani
Phir bhi dil hai hindusatni
Phir bhi dil hai hindustani
Phir bhi dil hai hindusatni
Phir bhi dil hai hindustani

Dil hai hindusatni
Phir bhi dil hai hindustani
Phir bhi dil hai hindusatni
Phir bhi dil hai hindustani.....

Wipro and World Bank

2009-01-13T00:01:00.000-08:00

Yesterday when the news broke that Wipro had been barred from bidding to World Bank projects for 4 years... My first instinct was the great India IT dream melting down like the Wall Street.

May be the fear psychosis so accentuated by the Satyam fraud.

As the dust settles you realise World Bank directive would do little to affect the company as less than US$1m cumulative revenue in last eight years was accrued from World Bank. However, the stock price declined by a good 10%.

The corporate is charged of bribery but considering the track record of the company hope the worries will soon be layed to rest. For though the Satyam fraud was a shocker, it was more of a close you eyes and wish it dint happen kind of an accident as Satyam has been creating bad vibes from a long time ( Few can forget Mr.E. Shridharan's allegations on the Hyderabad Metro project allocation to Maytas).

So time will tell if World Bank move against Wipro is as disastrous as it seemed yesterday...

From the Drain Pipe: Forwarded Message

2009-01-12T23:05:00.000-08:00

Of the scores of forwards I receive why did this catch my fancy? Well because when you are in the beginning of your career and a living in a magnified rat hole well... you cant help but identify with this li'l rat loony .

And well if 5 years down the line I still stick to the opinion well we might well be the lab rats in God's glorious scheme of thing [ :P ]

And of course you don't need to send this across to anyone !

Over a Month

2009-01-07T01:17:00.000-08:00

Its been over a month since I have written anything ..... a writers block ( in that case this was aBarrier ).... Hope to be back soon.... very soon...

Under The Skin of a Gold Fish

2008-12-02T01:50:00.000-08:00

Suddenly as I was sitting in the office I was overpowered by fatigue, I thought I was overworked but alas! in spite of that moment of fancying myself as stressed .... I realized the air condition was switched off and there was no window...so fatigues meant in short that I was feeling stuffy....

In this weird weather where a chilling breeze from outside whizzed through the ever swinging front door ( opposite to which I sit rather squat on my seat) to mix with the stiffing heat inside I realized to my horror that I could not recall exactly what I was doing ( I know most of us perpetually wonder 'What Am I doin????' in office but this was more on the implementation side..... I was in short blank as my preps exam paper!)

Suddenly I felt like a gold fish ! And at this point of time I spoke to a Sanwli my colleague who so casually remarked she worked on a Mac as a part of her advertising course! So I'm feeling like a antiquated dead gold fish floating upside down with the world staring at me with that unnerving Awww..... look!!!) Why gold fish? Well gold fish I read some where has a memory of 3 seconds ( So you can spend a life time looking within, and wake up to a new day literally .... well well and can officially forget birthdays! )

Well I feel like a gold fish for more then the memory, Living in a city like a fancy fish pot , nice to look but stifling to live in, with the dirt and shit which I exude coming back and falling flat on me and still i doggedly swim around trying to ignore.

Once in a while a mysterious hand from outside comes in and with all ease topples my world and walks away in glee as I sit helpless and cribbing....

I feel like I swim all day because the minute I stop swimming I must be dead!, I swim for the heck of it with no purpose or destination in my little aquarium under the illusion that this is the world, for I have seen no other!

My Mind Goes Numb

2008-12-01T21:32:00.000-08:00

Every person I know had just on word on their lips 'Terror' . It was all there... anger, tears, thoughts, contemplation, depression, disgust but all this was over powered by a sense of frustrated helplessness!

My mind feels like the tension in the currents of troubled water , a constant swish swoosh leading to a churning but producing nothing

What happened in Mumbai saw its slice of postmortem and gyan from every brain worth its grey cell ..... but still the road ahead is as hazy as its gets....maybe there is no way ahead ! Maybe we need to make our path instead of looking for the hidden route to the promised land.

For the first time I felt what Picasso's illustrious brush created in ' Scream'

Maybe instead of ripping every politician in our mind we could do something to constructively participate in the electoral process.... I never cribbed in a queue up to the McD counter but the queue up to the electoral both never comes to my mind as a default .... After all India has over a billion population ! And if we are still propping up a few slimy spineless worms as leaders then the fault is not in the governance but the governed (us!!)

My Definition of Superstition :)

2008-11-21T00:26:00.000-08:00

Well this write up is completely inspired by a comment on my previous blog by my friend! She said I do follow the superstitions I put under learnt from home slot ... well I DO! Maybe not fanatically but I Do!

Every time we sneeze a dozen bless you's are thrown at you :) Have you considered it superstition?
Every time we cross our fingers with a wish :) Have you considered it superstition?
Every time two people say a word together and scream jinx :) Have you considered superstition?
Every time you though Santa over Christmas or tooth fairy as u buried you teeth under you pillow or rock ( it was rock in our custom and it was an old lady replacing your teeth with teeth seeds and not fairy with goodies back home) :) Have you considered that superstition ?
Every time we see a falling star or a eye lash on the cheek which we reverently blow of asking for a wish :) Have you considered that superstitious?

Well a lot of things we read in our westernized books, movies, soaps and cinema becomes lifestyle...Then why should my list be superstition?

That was precisely the reason I wrote it the fairies and devils I said waiting to pop in our lives may be a myth but the innocuous faith with which we believe it will happen that if tradition custom... to me

Any custom which is not imposed or which does not hurt or harm another person to me is not superstition but a custom deeply secured to out tradition our folklore :)

The India I know: Treading Between Jinxes

2008-11-20T22:24:00.001-08:00

Superstitions! one word and we dismiss a whole lot of things which do not fit into our psyche as a bunch of couch potatoes who've grown up watching repeat telecast of American soaps!

No! No! NO! I don't have to believe let alone follow any of the.... but I know deep down I will never forget them ( Its just ingrained in my psyche like a shy kid dangling around its mothers neck refusing to look up at anyone! ). Neither am I embarrassed of them.... may be a little amused.....

Because there lies a small part of my India in them. A part so far flung that we almost forget it exists, a part where we still run to the village demi God with every petty problem... to jinx or unjinx our lives :) Where Devils and Gods loiter around waiting eagerly to hop into our lives :) That's the India I know

Somethings I learnt back home

It is believed that one should not clip finger nails inside the house because , if anybody steps on the chunk accidentally a nasty fight will ensue between the two.

Never step out of the house in the evening after washing your hair and without eating anything, because in this pure state the devil is suppose to be tempted to step into your body.

When you step out of the house if a lizard clucks best advise step back! ( Weirdly lizards in the north in spite of their humongous size are silent to the level that I believe they are dumb)

If you cross a path where three roads meet watch out and scan with careful gaze if you see any weird material like eggs, onion, chili, rock salt, coconut ( I truly believe everything put in omelet heeheehee) spit on it ! Its one of those numerous black magic jinxes )

When you set out of a journey ( immaterial of how far or close) immediately realize you have to go back for any god damn reason there are two options

Wake up on your right side ! ( I still do, in fact I repeat this line like a prayer before opening my eyes everyday) Left can jinx your day! This faith is soooo strong that I know characters who as much as refuse to turn on their left ever instead turn around the longer way ( Like rotate).... that's a scene ( This in no fictitious character)

Either don't go back
Or sit back in the house and leave in some time pretending its a new journey

Of course the ever evil black cat ! if it crosses your way...

Stop! Duh!!! But wait for some body else to cross the way and carry the jinx away so that your coast is clear...
Look for a coconut tree, seeing coconuts on the tree immediately will break the jinx!

Somethings I learnt in Delhi

People shouldn't sit on their shit pots with cloths on ( courtesy Bong friends ) ! Definitely not practicable in Delhi winters

Carry pieces on onion with you if you travel out in the night with Mehendi on ... else of course the devil on the perpetual wait with haunt the hell out of you! In this case every other conceivable evil like witches to souls will follow you !

Well Hanuman Chalisa wholly and solely is capable of protecting you from any evil immaterial of its shape, form, and in some cases religion!

Don't break curry leaves in the night, or of course the devil blah blah

Well if some more things pop up I will note it down on a part two :)

Battle of a Life Time

2008-11-18T03:29:00.001-08:00

This is the story of a Fugitive King....
Of a King who spent his life without a kingdom.....

I have just come to a conclusion that in history a lot of people turn into numbers for most like for example Humayun everyone has heard of him and years for schooling has made him ( with meticulous mugging up) 1508 - 1556 AD.

A lot happened between these dates which are out shined by two men ( Babur and Akbar) who were directly related by blood line to him ( For the clueless Humayun was the son of Babur and father of Akbar).

Miniature painting of Babur with his Son Humayun

Ok, why did I suddenly remember Humayun? His death for some reason popped into my head during a gtalk chat.

Humayun for one of the riches to rags to riches story with a very filmi life! He started of as the son( eldest one too) of the most powerful king and helped Babur conquer major parts of India. After Babur's death in 1530 he inherited the kingdom at the age 0f 23! ( Well young dashing king what could go wrong )

This kingdom was won in a battle but Humayun could not establish a vague semblance to government with the Afghans ( from whom they conquered Delhi) and the Rajputs ( with whom as I said in the previous posts their relation was everything but cordial) at biting at their heels. To add on.... he was cursed with a set of three conspiring brothers ! ( Jinx working like wild fire) With all this kichdi cooking he lost the kingdom very soon to Sher Shah Suri ( Yep! the Grand Trunk Road Guy ) !!!

So here went the handsome daring prince who was a fugitive without a kingdom! He then in a long course of events he marries the princess from Persia ( married in Sindh, his bride followed him and conceived his first son Akbar in Sindh, making him pretty much eligible to be an Indian citizen by birth I guesss and and and...... I just read a legend that this guy was soooo broke at this point of time that he did not have anything to give his men.... he just had a li'l musk which was broken and given to all..... and at this point he said let his sons fame spread like the smell of musk! Phew! quite prophetic! ) and ropes in the Persian Kings support to conquer back his kingdom.

And after 15 years Humayun conquered back his kingdom... If nothing else we should simply remember his king for his perseverance, optimism and grit ( We loose moral with one job loss! 15 years without the kingdom for a king is ..... )

But we also tend to ignore that in an era of barbarian rulers Humayun was an intellectual ( he was very religious, but haven't heard any fanatic stories). He forgave his conspiring siblings, and did work in art and science blah bah .... In short the kingdom was going all goodie goodie , hunky dory....

But in 1556 Humyun was at this library and at the time of the evening prayer call he tripped over his second floor library ledge ( Keep the ledges high!) and fractured his skull to meet his death ( Well a filmi ending for a filmi life! and ya he did manage to say some more goodie things before dying )

Humayun's Tomb in Delhi built in the Persian style by his queen , Hamida Banu Begum Well for a lady to follow him through his wilderness, and then dedicate this tomb this was a remarkable but forgotten love story

But for a character much shadowed out in comparison to his bloodline, we conveniently forget this remarkable individual... Well I still wonder do I brand him lucky or unlucky? Or a king whose biggest battle was his destiny....

Some Impressions Like This... and Some Expression Like That....

2008-11-16T23:51:00.000-08:00

I was in Udaipur this weekend, and Boy oh Boy! that place is filled with forts at places which defy convention( and my imagination)!. The city is like this comfortable nest nestled comfortably between mountains.... And at the center are two huge lakes! I couldn't help but wonder who the place must have looked to its initial settlers : STUNNING!

The Sajjangarh Fort

Ever time I squinted my eye to look at the top of a mountain I saw a faint structure!!!So I have come to a conclusion that every mountain tip has a crown of its own... a fort, temple, a guard post which look more air dropped to me then build by humans!

So just decided to go on one of these forts called Sajjangarh! so called for an auto ( which I swear must have been at least a 100 years old and was propelled by the sound!!!) went to a fort perched right on top of the hill like an ancient eagle... There was something alive about the fort it did not feel like a building, it seemed a part of the mountain range, a part of the spirit of the land!

We went to the fort at a noon so the crowd was almost negligible, on the 3 storey where we saw a stunning window cum veranda so excited we raced for a panoramic view of the entire range it was breath taking to tell the least ! But just as we were stepping in we ran into a group of giggling girls who shyly ran out of the place ( I knew we had interupted , i thought it was ome cllege gossip) it took me a minute to realize they were actually inscribing a love note on the huge walls . My smile vanished as I saw the ghastly messages on the wall ( not one many one too many!! And one look at the walls ( which though beautiful were not the hallmark of maintainance ) was enough to move me to tears! ( it took saintly meditation t stop my selh from pushiing those girls 500 meters down the cliff bordering the fort)

If you look away from the view and scrutinize the walls u'll see it for your self !

The walls were literal collage of messages - no they had neither the creativity, content or style, they were just ghastly cuts and scratches engraved on the wall left behind but a pathetic demented mind in a hope of immortality!

It still fails me why someone would leave a ' I love u more then u tell me why" message on a wall for public display ( Even if I spared this guy for disfiguring wall I would have strangled him with my bare hands for the copy!!!)

That's when I though back why would someone be consumed by desire of this public display of emotion ? where in the grab any sharp object (like cave men) they can lay their hands on: stones, twigs, hairpins, screws( yep considering the holder is nuts :P ) what not to make one last ditch attempt to leave behind a mark! the messages I have seen are generally xyz loves abc ! The more remote the place , the more agreviated this instinct I concluded else a stinking stair filled with names simply dosn't make sense!

Ok then pondering on the question of why ??? ( and for me it was WHY???) would someone leave such a cheesy message ? Its been drummed into most of our heads since childhood not to write on walls !!! (Ya even I as a child had taken fancy for wall writing and display of intellect at the age of 3 ! but it was my wall at my home for the private viewing and horror of my parents and but mind you even then I had a much more sensible scribblings and definately more variety the dumbwit I loves you . This is for all those wall writers who think they are the torch bearers for the ajanta ellora clan!!!!) I concluded that most of the times it is done for the clandestine pleasure of blase human emotions ! A sense of making your love immortal ( people rewrite ! even add on to previous messages making funny love triangles ) . A lot more times its just the urge to be heard by the masses, at times its just a faceless voiceless human making a last ditch effort to express something!

I saw that happiness, a sense of achievement in the girls who ran out of that verandah...Its not just one fort ar the tale of one city its a tell tale act of avndalism affecting every nook and corner of the coutry which is worth its salt in fame.... Its like the habbit of spitting pan plain disgusting and considering most people are able to write ( however patheticaly) hail our education!

Udaipur Here I Come !

2008-11-12T21:28:00.000-08:00

Ok! this weekend I'm off to Udaipur, so as a matter of habit googled it ( after all a senior once drummed it into our heads that google mein dodnd ne se bagwaan bhi miltha hai, since then its been my Geeta and Bible :) )

But I recall some legends about that place ( ya Rajasthan has more legends that the people in the state I guess, horses have legend there heavens!)

I can recall :

Udiapur was built from scratch by Maharana Udai Singh, this was after the Mughals attacked and captured Chitoor ( This was when the third dreadful Jauhar was held. Jauhar is a custom where the women of the fort kill themselves by jumping to a fire - something like mass sati rather then be captured by the enemy. And the men fight to the end something like Hira kiri it is called saka . These people took pride in laying down their lives !!!!Man!)

The History of Udaipur is more colorful for the resistance to Mughal who were then the foreign invaders then the British ( that is in my mind.... cant recall such legends with Brits... lucky them!)

Then I remember the stories of Maharanpratap who made Udaipur his base till he recaptured the famed fort of Chitor ( Yes the famed fort where 3 jauhars were held - in different eras of course! on was before Udaipur was built, one was of rani Padmini - remember how the kamena Allaudin Khili wanted to see this beautiful queen, so it was arranged for her to be seen through a mirror, the kameena villain falls for her and wages a war for her possession but the beautiful queen kills herself before the fort is captured. Well not sure if I have to feel proud or sad...)

Ya back to Maharana Pratap : He vowed to stay in the jungle and sleep on the hard floor till the fort of Chittor was re captured from Akbar! ( He complied with both! Grit and guts the guy had!)

The Maharana managed to wage several wars the most famous one ( or at least the one I remember from my textbooks ) was the one in which in a failing battle his leader convince him to flee ( so that the battle can be carried on later...) His Loyal commander donned his dress ( and was killed duh!) the king escaped on his horse Chetak ( Chetak was grievously injured in the battle by the elephant - it was said Chetak placed his front legs on the elephants tusk so that his master could harpoon the enemy commander on the elephant! ). But, Chetak takes his master to safety till his last breath!( there is a memorial for the horse at the spot)

At this very spot there is another folklore, when the Maharan a was fleeing two Arab mercenaries saw him and decided to follow, on seeing this Maharana's brother (who till the was with the enemy due to some family dispute had a change of heart) followed them (that's filmi) and single handedly killed the two mercenaries ( the brothers made up after that)

About Rana Sanga I have not heard as much . But He was Maharan Pratap's grand dad and fought Babur ( Akbar's father). He was as brave as brave could get and was suppose to be the epitome in chivalry, valor and the true follower of Hindu fighting laws ( like don't attack unarmed enemy...)

Legends, wars, heros on horses, nobel steads, sarcifice, secrets, pride, valour, heros , beautiful damsels, wicked enemies the place has seen it all

Well that seems to be one famous town, with some illustrious people. Reading about theses stories gives me goosebumps...To be there will be well.....

My Sketch Book - The face that set a thousand ships....

2008-11-12T20:57:00.000-08:00

I just decided to upload some random sketches I have made on to the blog.

About this drawing:

I choose to call her the face that set a thousand ships .... For I saw in her equal measures of beauty and elegance, a power of self control a silent message that says I count , I have an opinion and I will stand by that. Who says you need words to send across a message ?

( Of course I will try to post a better scanned image this was taken on a camera in the cell...)

World Through My Brother's Eyes : The Birds Eye View

2008-11-10T03:39:00.003-08:00

It was not so Long ago that I gaped with my eyes and mouth wide open the spectacle of a man jumping of a plane in a skiing kind of costume on Discovery ! And I thought Freak what on earth are they???!!!

It was something like the spectacles you seen on AXN or Discovery where they show people sitting around with Lions and Crocs ( In short absolutely out of my definition of things normal people do!)

Then I met this girl in a youth hostel in Delhi who had pretty much taken it as a sport. That's when I realised that such people do exist. But, in my defence she was an Arjuna Awardee.... SO the aero sport segment was placed well literally quite high and out of reach from my mere mortal point of view...

Then one fine morning my mother told me my brother ( the ever adventurous one ) was going sky diving... I very comfortably assumed that he was going to watch one such spectacle till I watched the pictures below!!!

My brother actually took a sky dive jump!!!! He came out pretty much unscathed but sooo many of my myths were shattered by this one jump...

Aero sport can be taken up by anybody ( without any major ailment that is..)
The sport is considerable safe even for untrained ones, so it is a ' my first time' for most people!
And nothing can stop you from dreaming and fulfilling your dream ( My brother as a kid was prone to asthma attack, and If I were in his place would have conveniently bailed out using it as an alibi. But, my brother is try something new type of species very different from earth bound Taureans like me)

The pictures gave me a dream to fly, but will it help me get over my Taurean fear of parting with this ground only time can tell... Till Then Dream Hope .... Swoosh I go.......................

Breathtaking Perhaps !!

Man Nope SuperMan

The Rope is from the Parachute( I thought It was a Rajnikant Movie Rope Stunt)

Swwooosh....

My New Year Resolution

Jack Fell Down, Came Rolling Down! Jill Came Rolling After!

The Flying Machine and The Group

Then Here they Land...

After the skies my next stop could well be under water......

World through My Brother's Eyes - Croatia

2008-11-07T02:03:00.000-08:00

My brother was bitten by a travel bug a couple of years ago and ever since he has been an irredeemable traveler.

It’s not just about visiting a place on the tourist map, its not about threading the unexplored territories its the simple joy of being in a new place and observing a new culture. Its travel for travel sake!!!!

He has another habit … He religiously mails me a holiday report (which he mails to all friends in the name of weekend paparazzi) to his friends and on some coaxing to me …. These are excessively funny personalized mail… (Which I am forbidden from publishing :( )

In any case these pictures he clicks there are my window to the world ….

So let me begin with.... Well.... Croatia! (Dont ask me why!)

Croatia

If i were to describe its geographical location it would be: Where on earth is this place??? OK! If you would ever be able to locate a country bordering Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia , Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro and yes Adriatic Sea!!!!! If anyone had gussed that one please let me know you just won... well my Respect (that’s big ok)

Well I remembered Croatia for some strange reason for some tennis player I cannot recall! ( Wow ! how precise!)

On its political scene the Wiki described it in short as … Since the adoption of the 1990 Constitution; Croatia has been a democratic republic. Between 1990 and 2000 it had a semi-presidential system, and since 2000 it has a parliamentary system.
(Heavens they don’t symbolise stability do they?)

Slobodan Milošević Yes now it rings a bell... they were a part of the worst ethnic strife with the Serbs. With thousands of Croats dead in the strife the country is slowly limping to stability....

But the best thing I liked was my brothers ingenious observation! ( from weekend Paparazzi of course) .... he said … Amazing fact was…at more than few locations…the Croatians were surprised to see Indians… :O …. It was quoted that these were the first Indian visitors around… wow.. that’s some news..

Whatever be the rest of the facts....The place is stunning if nothing else :)...

That's edible .... yummy? Not sure..

Well had heard of a candle lit dinner....table lit dinner....interesting!

Beach Beautiful!( Adriatic Sea is beautiful in spite of the name ....)

Splash!!!

Serenity....Nice evening to settle down and gaze at the sun...

Hey even they are over crowded... heeheeheee

Now I wouldn't mind that crowd! Its beautiful

That's a Bright Idea? What say?

The sunset is beautiful sans borders ...

Well The stairs look antique ( reminder: Ask him where it leads???)

A European Architectural Piece

That's where it leads....But where is it???

I have no clue....

Going to another country... Byeeeeee

P.S.: No clue how some picture titles got the link.....so ignore it( it will lead u to the pictures : for curious cats)

Hail The King - Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck !

2008-11-05T23:54:00.000-08:00

cursor:hand;width: 215px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ljDoZlc6xqM/SRKmZq_ZdfI/AAAAAAAAASI/ER-29qXDx08/s320/250px-King_Jigme_Khesar_Namgyel_Wangchuck.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265453874316670450" />

As the world was looking west at the American President Barack Obama, a small kingdom in the East was making silent history...

In Bhutan being coronated was the youngest head of the state Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck aka Prince Charming(Just 28!and by the way a bachelor too!!!). The retiring king has three wives ( sisters whow!) Khesar is the eldest son of the third queen. ( of 5 brothers and 5 sisters in all )

The coverage to the power change in the two countries was perhaps symbolic and reflective of the world politics... ON one side was the super power across the globe whose electoral candidates were more familiar to us then our Prime Minster! There were people so glued to the results and sending congratulatory or consolatory messages like it were a Cricket world cup! On the other hand was another country right across our border on whose head of state we hand to Google the information half of the interest seemed to be about his age looks and duh! bachelorhood !

No I'm not drawing any conclusion of whether it is right or wrong. NO! Just seeing a picture and wondering.NO not taking any glory or limelight from the young king whose country is the highest happiness index if not the economic index....wishing his highness all the good luck...

How this oxford educated young king will manage the mantel of this kingdom peacefully nestled far away from the world's glare in the tranquil folds of the Himalayas will be interesting!

Psycho let loose?

2008-11-04T02:45:00.000-08:00

Yesterday after reading about a acid throwing psycho lurking at large in Delhi my first reaction was skepticism. How can I explain it to panicking friends and family back home that when 3 people get attacked its not catastrophe let loose.

Hey wait before you question my sensitivity or rather the lack of it let me explain :

For a single working girl who travels to office day in and day out the biggest threat would be the streets of Delhi.

What chances are of me meeting the acid throwing psycho ? But , I know the everyday I step out I will meet men gaping and passing lewd comments. I have heard of gory stories from friends being bullied and traumatized by the passers by ( mind you not psychos but in the right mind!)

Every time I walk on the roads in the evening I look back in fear for a speeding car of a rich brat to run over me

Mind you as far as I as a common working girl in Delhi is concerned the threat is not from the psychos but the sane minded jerks on the street...they do not have a face they could well be anyone...Now that is scary!

Its not Math! Then why is it so difficult?

2008-10-23T01:06:00.000-07:00

Then I realized the problem is I am told what to think, I told what to see. I see a Pakistan and I’m taught to hate it without ever wondering why. For one simple reason: I see with my eyes open but my minds closed.

John Lennon hummed:

Imagine there's no Heaven

It's easy if you try

No hell below us

Above us only sky

Imagine all the people

Living for today

Imagine there's no countries

It isn't hard to do

Nothing to kill or die for

And no religion too

Imagine all the people

Living life in peace

You may say that I'm a dreamer

But I'm not the only one

I hope someday you'll join us

And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions

I wonder if you can

No need for greed or hunger

A brotherhood of man

Imagine all the people

Sharing all the world

You may say that I'm a dreamer

But I'm not the only one

I hope someday you'll join us

And the world will live as one

Everything here sounds so simple; still we call it a dream. But, we so willing believe that a civilian on the other side of the border is an enemy? We believe it when Modi blames Muslims for all social ills. We believe our caste, race, religion is superior then the others!

Maybe be human brain is tuned to complexity :)

A Story to Remember

2008-10-20T23:33:00.000-07:00

Once upon a Time

Fairytales – smirk or smile you know they are a dream, a wistful tale of how thing would be if everything went perfect!

I’m not much of fan of mushy romance and in a library picked a Here is a story Not so long ago but which was certainly a happily ever after…..

There was this small girl born into a family of brick makers. No not poor! They were a rich family into construction. The lil girl grew up looking like a stick thin tom boy.

Know this is a fairy tale! The duckling had to turn into a breathtaking swan and she did as she grew up… (yeh tho hona hi tha)

The she moved on to pursue a career in modeling. Then movies followed and soon she was a star in her sphere – The America.

Far Far Away

On one fateful trip to Europe she was to meet the prince of a small kingdom called Monaco. A kingdom seldom heard of by the rest of the world… a rich kingdom snugly sitting in the stunning locales of the Mediterranean.

On the eve of the meeting the Murphy’s Law was in action… The electricity goes off! Our princess was forced to dress in crumpled clothes looking as miserable as ever. She meets the prince and then!

The prince soon arrives in America on a official tour meet the starlets family and with in three days… Tish *@*

And what ensued is the a visual that the world would remember for ever a grand fairy tale wedding where the charming prince swept the beautiful bride into the sunset in a kingdom Far Far Away (the entire population of the kingdom was on the streets to welcome the bride as the couple went across the kingdom in an open car)

The story generally ends here but what is happily ever after …. Ever wondered?

Happily ever after

So here is the story of happily ever after:

The princes became a proud mother of three beautiful kids and were among the most gracious royal families.

When she turned 53 she died in a fatal car crash. The prince they say never really recovered from the loss. He spent the rest of his days promoting welfare and charity in her name till he passed into the hands of death in 2003 to re unite with his beautiful wife.

Who said fairytales don’t exist….. This is the memorable love story of Grace Kelly and Prince Rainer of Monaco.

How the Wall Street Fell : Bed Time Story

2008-10-15T02:59:00.000-07:00

I received a very interesting forward. It was the story of American sub prime crisis simplified like folklore. Maybe if I ever had to tell my grand children how the great Wall Street Fell apart I woud use this:

A cold winter!

It was autumn, and the Red Indians asked their New Chief if the winter was going to be cold or mild. Since he was a Red Indian chief in a
modern society, he couldn't tell what the weather was going to be.

Nevertheless, to be on the safe side, he replied to his Tribe that the winter was indeed going to be cold and that the members of the village
should collect wood to be prepared.

But also being a practical leader, after several days he got an idea. He went to the phone booth, called the National Weather Service and asked
'Is the coming winter going to be cold?' 'It looks like this winter is Going to be quite cold indeed,' the weather man Responded.

So the Chief went back to his people and told them to collect even more Wood. A week later, he called the National Weather Service again. 'Is it
going to be a very cold winter?' 'Yes,' the man at National Weather Service again replied, 'It's definitely going to be a very cold winter.'

The Chief again went back to his people and ordered them to collect every scrap of wood they could find. Two weeks later, he called the
National Weather Service again. 'Are you absolutely sure that the winter is going to be very cold?' 'Absolutely,' The Man replied. 'It's going to be one of the coldest winters ever.'

'How can you be so sure?' the Chief asked. The weatherman replied, 'The Red Indians are collecting wood like Crazy.'

This is how stock markets work!!!

This reminds me of a old kannada saying which dad often tells " Kellidu Sulaaga bohudu, Nodiddu sullaga bohudu, Nidaanisi yochisidaaga... nijavu tilvudu " It means you : what you have heard can be wrong, what you have heard can be wrong, when you reason out in patience you see the truth.

Eulogy to a Door Knob

2008-10-15T02:24:00.000-07:00

Knock! Knock !

Not so long back I was in a middle of a heated debate with a friend on "Door Knob" (of all things is the house). No no! It was not a maintenance row....

I wanted to name my dog door knob, and she thought it held n hope. This made me write this Eulogy of sorts for the dear old Door knob.

Practical Benefits

Imagine our lives without door knobs:

· Horror/ thriller movies where a mysterious hand does not turn the door knob.

· Imagine the clothing clutter in the room without this convertible hanger

· How would you slam the door after a furious row! ( Just as I did after this conversation)

Derived Benefits

It’s more than the showpiece unlike the ear on a human faces we so adore. It is no less than a piece of art in itself. If seeing is believing have a look:

They are a li’l mechanic marvel too imagine those tiny knobs being fully equipped security checks safeguarding your room thanklessly

Knobs are the line which demarcate your personal space

Symbolic Benefits

Its more symbolic standing on your door like and angel guarding the heavens gate , like the controllers at the doors of knowledge ( may be like our good ol’ media)

If nothing at all .It simply makes life easy silently!

Bless You

2008-10-14T01:27:00.000-07:00

Hey you know why some one mumbles bless you when you sneeze there are two explanations that I have heard of :

1. Then u sneeze your soul jumps out of your body, an this point of time in a jiffy a wicked devil can get into your empty body. SO the bless you is a protection, a charm to prevent your body from being hijacked by the devil! ( Heavens!)

2. The other boring one is that the heart actually skips a beat every time you sneeze. So technically it oi possible to sneeze yourself to death! So every time you survive a sneeze you are blessed!

Acheeew! Excuse Me...

Iraq: From Glory to Gory!

2008-10-13T22:48:00.000-07:00

Mesopotamia

This is a story, story of a proud civilization fighting a losing battle to hold their head high. Iraq, we shudder at the name! Every time we mention Iraq in the same breath we speak of war, of destruction, of chaos or uncivilized barbarians running loose!

Tigris and Euphrates the rivers whose banks have been the genesis of the ancient world often termed the cradle of civilization. It has been the seat of power for several empires like Akkadian, Assyrian, Babylonian and Abbasid empires (I hope to write about each of these empires in future – in case you are wondering)

Now the glory of past and the gory of the present are something which we are familiar with. But there is a question we conveniently forget. A culprit we let free. So, let’s trace the modern Iraqi history.

Villains: Dictators and Monarchs

Iraq was under the Turkish rule till Britain took over the state by the time of 1st world war that is 1920 the state of Iraq was recognized as a kingdom. In 1939 at the age of 3 King Faisal II succeeded his father after an accident. The Faisal II on the other hand was assassinated and overthrown in a revolutionary coup by the military headed by Abdul Kassem he tried reversing the kings pro western policies which communist leanings.

In 1963 Kassim had a déjà vu like coup experience with the socialist Baath party overthrowing him.The Batth party was headed by Gen. Abdel Rahman Arif and unleashed a bloody authoritarian regime till 1968 when Maj. Gen. Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr ousted him and Bakr subordinate was the know infamous Saddam .

Blood on our hands

The lost page I was speaking of was the fact that through out all these regimes, authoritarian, barbaric, reformist or revolutionary the state has always been remarkably secular, unfamiliar with the sectarian strife so openly abused after the west interfered to bring in civility to the state.

Now if you are thinking that the Sunni dominant minority oppressed and Shia majority and cleansed the ethnic minority Kurds, I agree that the abuse was ghastly! But every society deals with its own problems. If solution was to make the problem ubiquitous then I wonder!

The UN sanctions and the US intervention to help together destroyed the country and killed far more people then these dictators put together. The civilized world intervened to cleanse the barbarians from Iraq to let loose the demons of religion, sect, terror, poverty, fear. This has been the tragedy of Iraq. The organized civil society has clinically destroyed a proud civilization much more than all the rulers put together ever hoped to do.

And at last if you are thinking the UN and US did it damn them, but why do we have blood on our hands? The stains are of silence, abetting the crime by not raising a feeble voice. Lastly, what happened to them may happen to us… Today India is marred by sectarian violence. Do we need US to come and clean it up for us?

Paul Krugman win Nobel in Economics 2008

2008-10-13T21:42:00.000-07:00

I have been following Paul Krugman for ages on Hindu oped page where this write ups from the New York times are published. Today he won the Nobel in Economics and it was a pleasant news to wake up to.

Krugman has predominantly written about US politics and Economy but that doesn't make it any less interesting for an Indian reader. His writing on the Financial crisis and the third world economy and International Trade are a treat to read.

Not everyone may agree with this hard core liberal but i confess to be a adherent supporter.

Attached is the link to his web page http://web.mit.edu/krugman/www/ where he has documented all this work from the time he began in Slate to New York Times .

Let There Be Light

2008-10-13T21:35:00.000-07:00

I have been searching in the dark about where my heart lies. I thought I should pen down the hundred thoughts that run across my mind ( some are worth sharing others are rant). I was in the dark about what to write : write to impress or simply express. That's when Illuminati lit an flicker in my mind, setting me on the path treading the fine line between the two.

I see the light in the end of the tunnel.