Hojoborolo

The Rallies, Corruption and Anna

2011-08-21T07:27:00.000-07:00

Well finally tasted the season's flavour Anna. I,along with two of my friends participated in a rally which was supporting the Anna Hazare's version of Lokpal Bill.

There must be something in that man that is attracting thousands. There must be something in this movement that has brought out the urban youth,who are generally indifferent to politics. Well I guess that thing is anger. Anger against the very much visible apathy of the government towards corruption. The very arrogance of its ministers. The now (in)famous one liner "Zero loss in 2G" was such a show of arrogance. Add to this the silence of the PM on every major issue and like an excellent topping came the "Osamaji" statement. And hence the veiled attacks of the sarcastic Twiteratti spilled on the streets.

Well many people have said that Team Anna is being headstrong,adamant. But, what other option is there when we have to deal with a bunch of buffoons.

Granted the protests have been confined to mostly the big cities. Granted the protesters are the brand conscious,apolitical urban youth.But they are the biggest victim of the organized loot propagated by our politicos. They pay taxes and are presented with pot holes.They are promised stars but instead are pic pocketed by Government sanctioned goons. Anna Hazare and his movement for a stronger (and somewhat radical) Lokpal Bill,just gave these youth a voice.

These frustration and anger has spilled on the streets now. And there have been no unruly scenes. No broken glasses,not burnt buses.

But where the so called opposition parties? These parties now are just like those eye candies that piggy rides the super stud hero in an action film. They have been invisible,save for the customary press meets.

Team Anna wants the Parliament to pass their version of the law. The Parliament that is controlled by the very politicos,who will be the greatest victims of this bill. So it is futile to expect that they will bow down before Anna Hazare. So from here,where do we go? Frankly speaking, I don't know. For sure there will be a compromise.

And how to stop this menace of corruption.Well in a country,which runs on the principle of jugaad(Quick fix solution) the only way is to by first reforming ourselves. Because the afterall the Government is just the reflection of the society that it rules.

And hence Tupu Babu got married.

2011-05-01T07:39:00.000-07:00

When the world was engrossed in Prince William and Kate's nuptial rites,I and a few of us were actually part of something which were even larger(at least in our very own realm) than the Royal wedding taking place in London. It was our very own Tupu Babu's(Aniruddha) marriage.

The earliest memory of this giant that I have is that of a bonsai Dilbert. He was a brilliant student but always susceptible to other's leg pulling! What surprised me and annoyed me too was that both of us were short a group of people who could play with us,because all the other blokes of our age were busy studying in the evenings too,so that they could catch up with Andy.

But as all great men does,we turned this handicap into our advantage. And hence we became the pioneers of "Chaad Cricket"(rooftop cricket).

Due to a variety of reasons Andy was always in the forefront in the popularity ratings among friends. I guess the reason was,it was very easy to pull his leg. On one such occasion he literally did try to pull off my whole set of hairs on my head.

Time passed and Andy joined college. There his popularity reached new heights. Heights that even the modern superstars can only dream of(among their fans). Andy was rechristened.And his legend grew.But as with all superstars,he yearned for privacy. And at times when he was denied this privacy,his frustrations manifested in violent outbursts.But these were mere aberrations. Andy was our star.The megastar. The cynosure of attraction among us.

And hence it was no surprise,that when he announced his imminent marriage,our friend's group went into a frenzy. It was a momentous occasion for us. The star among us was going to get married.People had hours long discussion about how to irritate this gentle giant.

Saikat and Suhel came with this "brilliant idea" of gifting me by wrapping me within a carton. And yes there would be pores to allow me to breathe. And the moment Andy unwrapped the box I would come out with a vuvuzela and play it right in front of his ears. But as luck would have it,we did not find a suitable carton. Instead I was just gift wrapped and presented.

And yes our star is now a much married man. I wish him luck. But I guess we all know,including him,that the leg pulling will go on. And he will be our star.

Best of luck mate.

Some of Andy's marriage snaps:

Jantar Mantar

2011-04-08T23:07:00.000-07:00

As a child when I read about this place in Delhi,I had a peculiar feeling. The picture of this structure was strange,and my young mind imagine in numerous mystery spot.Today I see a seventy year old man,named Anna Hazare holding a fast unto death dharna there,so that the Jan Lok Pal bill has more teeth and is passed in the Lok Sabha.

I am no Gandhian. But after so many years,I do believe that his dharna are a very effective way. Our unscrupulous netas have turned this dharna into a very effective weapon of mass destruction.And since I am from Bengal,I have been a victim of this weapon on more than one occasion. But today I was amazed to see that dharna has jolted that insensitive Government.

We are a country that runs on 'jugaad'. Hence it's very to easy to understand why corruption has become a part of everyday life. Life here is series of quick fixes. Vehicle caught by the police,pay some extra buck and get it back. Passport delivery will be delayed,pay some extra money and get it done. Taking and paying bribe are not seen as immoral here India,rather it's the unwritten rules.

Today we might rejoice that people have won the round 1 against the government. But what the scamsters did was the logical extension of what we do and follow every day in our lives. The police,the traffic police,the Government babu asks for bribe,because we pay. Can we stop paying them? The answer ain't simple.If I stop paying there shall be ten others who will are willing to pay that extra amount to get their work done.

Hence all these hoopla surrounding the bill will be short lived,if we do not follow it up. I wonder why we are called an young nation? We needed an eighty year old to make us realise that we as a nation and society are impotent. And then we needed a seventy year old person to make us realise that we as a society are not impotent.

So what's the solution. I guess we all know the solution,but are we ready to implement those? Where the urge to make a quick buck is so pressing,where thinking beyond oneself is almost impossible,where quick fix and 'jugaad' is a way of life,can we? After all as I said the scamsters are nothing but just a logical and bigger extension of what we do in our daily life.

Bharat Ratnas of 2010

2010-12-26T07:22:00.000-08:00

Technology:

A. Raja: He beats everyone hands down in the technology field. In many parts of the world 2G technologies have been replaced by 3G and 4G. But in India obsolete technologies can be milked to the tune of 176 lakh crores INR.(I excatly do not know how many zeroes will be there). He is BSc and a lawyer and yet he can challenge any Electronics Engineer of any institue and any repute to earn more than him. Thus he is my nomination for Bharat Ratna in the filed of Technology(or science!!)

Sports:

Who else? Move over Saina Nehwal,and Sachin Tendulkar. What have they done? Look at their investment and their return. Does it pay to make so much of 'investment'! Suresh Kalmadi has shown how to make the least investment to get the maximum return,and that too without kicking a ball. No wait or did he? But who cares. At the end he is the most successful sports person. Who cares about the sport he has played. Being the most successful in a sporting event is no mean achievement.

Entertainment:

Well here is a tough competition. There is Rakhi Sawant. There is the Giggling Queen.But my personal choice is Mr. Bawarchi cum Khansaba, Akshay Kumar.

Classics after classics after classics. Right from Chandni Chowk To China to the present day. His only die hard fans are the chemists as he has pushed up their sales of headache medicines.Our master actor(or should we call him something else?)is now playing,sorry essaying the role of an upcoming English fast bowler in the movie Patiala House. God save both the movie and English cricket.

Social Causes:

One person has single handily changed the face of Indian women. Who says she suffers in silence. Who says she has no say in the big bad men's world? She can hold them high in the air and then play ping pong with them. She is another name of perseverance.She is the eternal Didi of Bengal.Given a chance she can connect Washinton to Kolkata via Athens with trains,that will run every day.

Economy:

There is absolutely no competition in this category. Sharad Pawar. First you export onions and say "Oh!! see our trade balance! Marvelous" And then quietly ship in the same onions and say," I am the saviour" No more words. It amply describes his ingenious capabilities I guess.

The Uncategorized category:

She is the hope of insanity. She is the hope of anything that defies logic or wisdom.And she believes she is born for greater things like Nobel and not small things like Booker. She is Arundhati Roy.

You can go and shoot anyone and earth and say you did so because you feel oppressed by the Indian Government. And then you will see how unfathomable is her love for you. You will feel true ecstasy in the warmth of her love. She will show you unpublished articles and pictures and prove that Gandhi and Maoists are the same and one. She will prove you that Afzal and Geelani are India's last hope. Trust me she will.

Mumbai..

2010-11-25T11:24:00.000-08:00

It was a Wednesday. 26/11/2008. I was in Bangalore. It was a typical Bangalore evening for me. Back from office. Tired. Hungry. Irritated. I saw my PG mates glued to the idiot box. A high voltage Hollywood style adventure was unraveling in the land of Bollywood. The only difference,it was for real. The blood,the fire. The blasts. And more frighteningly the deaths!

The Fourth Estate was in full flow. Giving us every minute detail.A lady went a bit overboard. Well that helped the villains,but gave her channel a few more TRPs.

The City of Life,weathered that storm.Life became normal in this megapolis. The sea of humanity,that this city is,engulfed all her wounds all her sorrows within herself. The rest of the country,got off their TV sets. The exciting film has come to an end. A few good Samaritans have died! They shook their heads. Swore revenge against the enemy country and a particular religion. Under some fake monikers,almost destroyed Pakistan over the net. And that's that. Over and out.

Today is 26/11/2010. Today is Friday. Salvation day for us software professionals. But today is also 26/11. And today I am in that city. Someone has called this city,City of Life,someone Maximum City,someone has sung E dil jeena mushkil yahan,and someone countered with e dil jeena asaan yahan...

Like any outsider who visited the city after 26/11/2008,I was also curious to see all "those" places.Well I disembarked at CST.What I watched there,can happen only here in this country. Almost no policeman. The people are again left at the mercy of their fate. Cama Hospital is just beside the station. I once again looked back,and a cold chill ran through my spine.

I took a taxi from CST to Churchgate. On the way saw the lights of BSE.That same BSE,where it all began.Took a local train from Churchgate. The local trains! Another target to show off barbaric heroism.

I have now visited The Taj and Oberoi quite a few times by now. The seductive Marine Drive,the claustrophobic local trains.. saw it all. They came in hordes. Fired zillions of round,and were not able to break even the tiniest bit of a Mambaikkar's will. Their will to live and survive.

Thanks to Hindi movies,Mumbai for the rest of India,is their City of Dreams. Their City of Hope. I was no different. For me Mumbai was the city of Amitabh,the city of Sachin Tendulkar. But the moment I reached this city,I had the same feelings as Naipaul had. I will be engulfed in a sea of humanity.

When you travel in a local train.that dream of Big B or Sachin evaporates into thin air. I was lucky,I did not have to travel much.But what of those who travel in those trains. I have not seen the trains that used to ferry Jews to Auschwitz,but were they worse than these?

The roads are another challenge. The traffic never moves. Anyways in all the other major cities of the country,traffic anyways does not move,so no big surprise here. The roads are broken. And again no big surprise. So what on earth makes even dilapidated flats' prices astronomical. I was given to understand there is something called Rent Act. Like all other laws given to us by our former colonial masters,this was also given to us by them. And we never bothered to change it.

I come from a city of street food! Street food's place in Calcutta is just next to God. Nothing earthly compares to it. From phuchka to Egg roll. Though the foods are vastly different,Street food here also has the same reverence. Vadapav,pavbhaji,missal pav,ussal pav and chats rules.

Well coming back again to 26/11. Nothing has stopped this city. Then what those bullets did? Except for abruptly ending some lives,nothing.Those bullets were impotent. The trains are filled,Leopold cafe is filled,and Gateway of India and Marine Drive are teeming with life. Chowpatty is still equally filthy with the left overs from the chats and vadapav,that famous street food I was talking about.

On a night while walking towadrs Marine Drive from the Chruchgate station,I saw a beggar. When I reached my destination I was standing by the side of Brabourne Stadium. In front of me was the sea. And the Queen's Necklace,beautiful and seductive. And the Nariman Point;Aamchi Canary Wharf!! Within a few minute I saw poverty,I saw India's obsession, cricket and I saw money. Everything is here. Standing on the concrete I saw people,people watching the Nariman Point and the Marine Drive.

And then I realized,no matter how many bullets are fired,how many bombs are blasted,this city wont stop dreaming. They will always have a hope.This unflinching,mercilessly calculating city;this city which moves like a clock,tick tock tick tick tock,has heart. The heart is tucked away somewhere,that we do not see. That heart,which forces it's people to pull in the people hanging precariously in the trains,put an umbrella on someone's head in the pouring rain,that heart! This city marches on. Someone's City of Life,someone's City of Hope...

Another Interview..

2010-10-01T12:56:00.000-07:00

It seems I have become quite adept at taking interviews. Here is another one.

I was asleep,when I saw a huge ball of light. It was so so bright,and yet it was soothing. Then came a deep voice ."Son".

Me: Who???
Light(L): It's Me son. God.
M: Look buddy,have a life,stop this illusion and letme sleep.
L: Son. Listen.Come with me..
Me: What?? Wh..wh..where?
L: To the interview room. I have the triumvirate of secularism of your country..
Me: You want me too interview them...again...no no..Father/Mother..whatever You are..no no.
L: Son. Just sit beside me. I will interview them?
M: some kind of job.
L: Just watch. A part of Me will sit beside you,in whatever form you want. And as My formless Self i will go to them. Which form you want?
M: Whh..whatt..well anything..Shiva,Krishna..Jesus,Moses..
L: And Ram?
I smiled.

Well the main Interview:
Triumvirate(T) looked quite familiar. A bearded face. A clean shave confused face. Another clean shave,white haired face. The whole thing was in Hindi. Translated in English.

L: Welcome
T: Ok. What are You? God,Allah,Ishwar,Elohim..etc etc?
L; Whatever you people call Me.
T: We are secular people,we cannot call you anything. Be specific.
L: God
After a brief discussion among themselves;
T: Well,see I guess then You are a Christian.Presently You are not required in our Vote Bank.
L: Well then Ishwar
Another round of quite deliberations
T: Well look. We can..call You that. But the You have to be half Allah and Half Ishwar?
L: well they both are My names. How can I be half of each?
T: To hell..look light. If you are only Ishwar,we become communal. If You are only Allah,we can claim we are Secular..but someone else will call us communal..so see..
L: Sons you can call me anything. Ok call me El.
T: What?
L: Well I guess Jews call me that.
T: Jews..You mean yehudi..ha ha(laughs and laughs),You are not in our bank than. But if our Banks' managers hear that,our Bank will collapse.
L: Sons,you are getting this wrong. Call Me whatever you like. You can still be secular.
T:Joking?
L: Do something for your people.
T: No no no. There is a formula. MY,MD.
L: What are those?
T: Muslim Yadav. Muslim dalit.
L: Great.
L: sigh!!!!!!!!
T: What happened?
L: Thinking of the time when and why did I create you..
T: What? Anyways..
L: Just use this formula..Humanity..
T: What is that. Will we be still be Secular...no one will feel cheated?
L: Why will they?
T: Well Humanity will be Hindu,Muslim,Dalit,OBC what?
L: Sigh...
T: Answer..answer. You are nothing but a conspiracy of the communal force.
L: What do you want?
T: A burning,emotional problem. Then we show we are "SECULAR". And then use our Bank.
L: Go back..to your houses son.
T: we knoew you are communal,we are secular. We are going.
L: Listen. I will soon come. You might not see Me. But I will bring you back.
T: We are "SECULAR"
The Light has taken the form of Shiva and was sittting beside me. He looked at me. And smiled.

I am very very poor.

2010-08-20T11:00:00.000-07:00

I recently got a bit of a hike.I was very very happy. Then I heard someone else also has got a hike. I invited them to my place for a tit-a-tit.After the tit-a-tit,I was left a bit dazed. Below is my humdble try to jot down those golden words pf these two great souls of our country!!

Me:Welcome welcome sirs!!

Mullu: Peeleze. Hindi mein baataon.(Please speak in Hindi).

Lallu: Arre naaaihhiin naahin...mullu you eespeak in eengleesh also. Saauresh Dada,u eespeak in Eegleesh..no proublem!!

Mullu: Bhaiyya..(But implied)

Me: Okk. Sirs yoou got a hike..
both stopping me abruptly

Lallu: you call it aaaaa hike!! Pagglaai gayore11(You have gone mad!). tin guna hi to baaddhe haain.(only 3 times,hike).

Me: That's ****** 300% hike!!

Lallu: Aur humhaar...22 haaton kaun khilaayeeb??(who will feed my 22 hands??)
Upaar se jamaai,sala..do you..aaaa...hebb anee idea??

Mullu: Humhara..to ek hi kaafi haain!(Mine one is enough).

Me:Sir,the perks you get..

Both in unison: Arrey aarey dada...hum Perk khaantain hi naahin.(We do not eat Perk)

Me: Sir,I mean Perks..the facilities..

Agitated. Arrey bole na kauno Perk werk humkhaate nahin.(We told you,we do not eat perk).

Me: Jo subidha..(the facilities)..

Lallu: Arrey.we are consstentlly tellinh you,there is no facilities. Chara ke liyen paaisa kaun dega. (Who will give money for the cattle fodder..?)

Mullu: And I hebb to build scools and estatues. Competition dekhen hon..(Have you seen the competition?)

Lallu:See. Your boss get how salary?

Me:Cheques.

Lallu:Arrey...uu kaa huhe paata naahin??(Like,I do not know that?)

Me realising..aah..eer...dunno,sir.Huge might be. Per Annum.

Mullu: So..hum to saabse upar hai.(We are on the top).

Lallu: Sarkari Mulazimo se...to baas..so just one ruppee more.

Me: Sir you people were talking about price rise. This money comes from the pocket
of those same people your were fighting for (or rather pretending!)

Lallu amd Mullu: Kaa?(What?)

Me: Nothing..

Mullu: Dekho Bhaiyyaa..mera desh..mera gaon..mera pariwar( My Country is my village,my family)
Aab phamily ki dekh bhaal kaaise kaarenge..(How will I look after my family?)

Me: Sir the perks you get adds uoto lakhs per month..

Mullu: Aab ek jhapar maarengey..( I will slap you)..aaur ekbaar bhi Perk bola na(If you once more say Perk!!)..

Me:Ok. My fault. (To Myself): Our fault.

Me(Aloud): Sir the media..

Lallu: Dich media is a complete dounkey!! Aare bekaar mein hi bakaar baakr kaartein hain..(This media person,,just uselessly chatter away!)

Me: Exactly sir. But you need them,,right?

Mullu: Even they need us..

Me: Ah!! Yes.
Sir,just imagine if you would have taken a bit less,and given that extra amount to your atate,there would have been so much development.

Both: Ka? develophmenth? Aarey dada,jisko idhaar rehena hai raahenge..baakiyon Mumbai,Dellhi naahin to Kalkatta bhej denge..(The person who does not wish to remain in our states,can go to Mumbai.Delhi and Kolkata).
Samjhe..(understood?)

Me. Yes. No.

Lallu: Aarey ka yes no yes no?(Arrey what yes no,yes no?)Zyada paaisa aayega..tabhi to desh ki sewaa kaareinge naa..(if only more money comes,then only we can do good for the country!)

Me: Really?

Mullu:Arrey yess..realliih!!Vote Bank kikasam..(Swear on my vote Bank!!)

Me: True true. The most amazing bank of our country.Always ready to give loans.And never send goons to recover them!!

Both: Ka?(what?)

Me: Nothing.

Both: Haan,nothing.

Lallu: Our basic,ij onli 60,000. Aaur,idhar udhaar milake..baas 2 laakh hi to hua..(The basic is just 60000,and with all perks it is 2 lakhs.)

Mullu: Ka hua re ..itna chup kaahein?(Why are you so quite?)

Me:Nothing.

Both: Aaur batao.(Tell something more).

Me: Tired. Sir.

Both: To hum chalein.( so we can leave?)

Me: Yes.

Both: Jai Hind.

Me: Jai..what?

The tryst continues.

2010-08-14T13:51:00.000-07:00

A Happy Independence day to all my fellow Indians. To all who believe in India,to the Arundhuti Roys,who hates everything that is remotely Indian..and to all politicians,who are the keepers(rakhwalas) of our beloved mother.

When I was a kid,Independence was an anual holiday. A day you go the ECL office to sing Jana Gana Mana and collect laddoos.When I grew up a bit,Independence day ws enjoying our military strength on the TV.

The reading of those mundane History books was made about interesting by the likes of Netaji and Bhagat Singh. The stories that I heard about Ashutosh,Khudiram. The demand of Swaraj,by Lokmanya Tilak. The belief that Unity in Diversity does exist took strong root in my impressionable mind. The belief that this a free country,where I can speak out my mind. There is Government,which is solely decided by it's people.

Though I still believe in the oneness of India,I shudder at the thoughts of our Motherland is going through.Everytime India bleeds,not only our neighbours,a section of our citizens rejoice. They call themselves Intellectuals. They are basically a bunch of lunatics,dying to get that 15 minutes of fame. They support Naxalites(another bunch of lunatics,oh poor lunatics)saying that they are Gandhians with Guns.There is Question,if these intellectuals can answer,from where does this warriors of the poor tribals get state of art rifles? 76 CRPF jawans killed,200 people dies in an single accident,no human rights violated.One Naxal dies..the whole human rights bandwagon will come down on the Government. Hold on. Whats wrong in shooting down a person,who is shooting at me? 'Samaj ka Paarivartan'?,my foot.

Then there is super specimen of the political class. Kalmadi. I guess he can easily be tried for matricide.When I see the pictures of the CWG venues,I am more amused than angry. More ashamed than angry. but he still continues in his seat of power. Delhi is waterlogged. The Games might be a disaster. Does anybody care? It's your and mine's hard earned money. They got seven years to prepare. if this people have an iota of self respect left they must hang themselves.

India's tryst with destiny continues. After 63 years where are we. Somewhere I read in 1947 India had 53K KMs of Railways. The present length is 64K Kms. Hats off to our political class. Other throwing brickbats at each other,and hurling abuses what does they do?Yet look at their perks!!Phew!! I have lived in Kolkata,Bangalore and Mumbai,and one thing I have realised;each and every region have some or the complain against others. At every step,there is something called lobby. If you are a part of that lobby you are saved,else God help you.

In what lies our destiny. In our hands I guess. In today's youths' hand. But today we youtha re more interested in adjusting,with the system(read corruption). Arrey pay that Policeman 500,you r work will be done. Pay the official 100..pay him,pay her... And what can we do? We also need to survive. As in the movies 'Wednesday' rthe protagonist says :"We are resilient by force not by choice!" Actually we do not have a choice.

Today I am confused. Does "Unity in Diversity" really exist? Or is it just a myth? I believe this Independence is true,and not a 'jootha'9false) independence. But this independence from the British. What about the political class,corruptions and the lunatics like Arundhuti Roy and Patkar. I do not believe in rabble rousing patriotism,but it is just like how I love my Mother. Just like that.

Chotur Dokan(Chotu's Dokan)

2010-07-21T10:51:00.000-07:00

When I think of my childhood,in that little colony called ECL Colony,Borachak House,quite a few pictures conjures up on my mind. A few being the chaad cricket with Tupai,waiting for the bus with Sunny(His family too left the colony) and of course Chotur Dokan.

Well this is the year 2010. Now I am in Mumbai,last two and a half years I had been in Bangalore. On every corner you will find a departmental store,which will claim they have everything under the sun in their stores. But do they at all have all the things? Chotur Dokan had. And it was 20 years ago. As Rico Da would have said from Mercedes Wheels to Maps of India.

I actually hated this person Chotu. A bald mustachioed heavily built Bihari. He was no way Chotu (Small). Anyways I hated him because his shop's goods were always over priced by our standards.
But alas!! We could not ignore him. His shop was the only place where I could chocolates.My stationaries,maps and what not. And yes..aah off course Swad and later Hajmolas.

His shop used to open at 8AM and would be open till 9PM in winters,10PM in the summers. Although in the afternoon it used to be closed. Everyday life in that small colony of ours would be unimaginable without chotur dokan. I still remember,once he went on a vacation for few days,the colony went into a collective mourning.

His shop was the hub of then neuve adult,our dadas(Big B's) who were experiencing their first puff. Hub of us ,who were just kids to these dadas,for our stationaries. For our India and World maps.Maps for our pencil,ink pens and erasers and sharpners,and what not.

His shops had all kinds of rice and potatoes. Which were always over priced. People wanted to avoid those,but during emergencies still they had to buy. During Diwali and Kali Pujo Chotur Dokan was our 'Ad Hoc' destination to buy crackers. Though they were twice the price of the crackers available in the open market,but who cared. Who would travel to the Asansol Market..Chotur dokan hai na!!

As days changed,Chotu also caught up with the changing times. The shop,the very old shop now had CDs. Bhojpuri CDs ruled the roost. Chotu,undoubtedly knew the pulse of his customers.
Well after sometime he started keeping cold drinks,and bought a fridge,

It was 2002. Suddenly I was jolted out my daily life. I left my colony. A new journey started,that took me to Durgapur,to Kolkata to Bangalore and finally Mumbai.

But whenever I go back home,I used to still see the same old Chotur Dokan,being the nerve centre of my small colony. Still the heart of the colony,pumping the blood into her arteries and veins.

Day before yesterday,I got the news Chotu has died a sudden death. I was numb. Memories came back. Memories of my carefree days. memories of my buying the India/World maps,to escape the next day's scolding from my geography teacher. Memories of me and Tupai going to buy a high quality plastic ball;our budget being a princely sum of Rs.8. days I will never get back. Days that will always sooth my nerves.

@asansol

2010-04-20T23:44:00.000-07:00

@asansol,when I first saw this Twitter addres I was dazed for a few seconds. Yup!! My hometown is now a part of the e World. Only a few cities in the country has been this progressive.

Then came back a flood of memories of my finest days.
I used to go to school first in a van,then in a mini bus and then in a bus. We had to call that a bus because it was big and four wheels. Some of the everlasting friendships were made in those vehicles.

The day that I will never forget was a rainy day. It was raining cats and dogs that morning. When I borded the bus,I saw Dodo and Utsav under an umbrelaa inside the bus because the rear part of the bus's roof has given away. Oh!! dear that was a scene to be behold. Their expression was marvellous!!!

Thanks to those buses,we were always late. The etrnal latties,who always attended Assembly standing apart from the rest of the students. 10 years passed like a breeze. Suddenly ICSE was there. Then came Class 12.

We used to go for our tutions to a place called Riverside. Where proving to the Bus Conductor that we were students,so that he takes half rent was a real ' harassment' we had to face every day. And Thanks to our dear friend Suhel,who was always willing to pay the full amount,we also grudgingly had to pay the full amount!! Darn!!

The 'Choper Dokan' near the court more. The Vegetable chops..wow..yummy..they were our evening snacks. In just Rs 2/- we used to get one big big chop.

Oh.. I missed a few more things. Rather the best parts. The Book Fair. When I was a kid. Two days,generally the weekends were reserved for visiting the Bookfair. As a kid i went to the fair with my father. I absolutely loved Handa bhonda,Bantul,Nonte Fonte and Tintin.

When I became an adolescent another day was added to this yearly ritual. That day was reserved for my friends. Still remeber those intense discussions with Andy,about which books to buy. Generally the favourite in that list was Satyajit Ray.

And the last memory was our chaad cricket,or the Roof top cricket. Bring on Sachin Or Lara..me and Andy would challenge their supremacy in this version of the game and I am sure we would have defeated them,hands down!!

Sitting in front of a dead monitor,when I saw @asansol,I smiled absent mindedly. I return home at 8 at night and not at 2 in the afternoon.

The clowns and the King.

2010-03-31T06:26:00.000-07:00

The King is sitting in his palace.His clowns have been doing their antics perfectly. Making people laugh at their every gestures. They have made the whole world laugh and their head clown has been the best.

But now the King wanted his clowns to do a serious act. But his cajoling and chiding did not work. So to mitigate his pain he called his darling KJ to his palace.

King(K): Oh! my dear,,it has been ages since I have seen you.

KJ: Yes my Kuchi ku..your cheeks have become more redder..just feeling like touching them!

K:No my darling,it's the colour of anger and frustration!

KJ embraces the Kings warmly and says : I know it's your clowns!

K: Honey,well actually yes. People have started to call me also a clown.

KJ: Darling,becoming the master of the clowns,you will also become a clown!

K(to himself): I have that trait..I knew!!!

K(Aloud): Yes

KJ: Why did you buy them?

K: Money and Lallu bhai told me he will 'Modi'fy the whole game and I can make lots of money!

KJ: So why that Eastern India city and why that captain. Darling ain't he past his prime?

K: Well sweetu,you know what? The people of that state are very allergic to change.They did not let go anything that they have even if that have had become redundant. Only after 32 years they think of any change, So I have to choose that captain! Once upon a time he was good. Not anymore,but they does not care!! They simply want him!

KJ: Oh dear dear strange tribe!!

K: Ah !! yes. Even one of their minister asked me to garland some old persons photo in their field,because it's was his birthday!!

KJ: Whose pic?

K: Dunno!! Who cares! I care only about myself,I am the King.

KJ: Oh! Darling..you are so sweet!

K: Hmmm hmmm.. I am very very cutie...

KJ: Love you honey! By the way why are you not selling these bunch of clowns?

K: Why! I do not want to sell them. If I have been cursed with the best clowns,I have also been blessed with best fools..who call themselves these clowns' fans. And look the moolah I am raking..

Even Gujju Bhai and Whiskey Barron's teams are making loss. Ha ha ha..am I not the best...

KJ: Yes yes yes...you are you are..

K: tell it once again,,darling..tell those words once again...best best...I am the Best...

KJ: Yes yes yes..

K: Better than that idiot...I I I and only I....

KJ: Yes yes yes..my love...

K: I have got an idea.

KJ: What?

K: To make a film. I will combine the adjective that describes my self and my clowns and I will steal that Idiot's heroine...what say?

KJ: Oh My God...you are so intelligent!!! Mmmmmm...darling darling...my kuchi kuuu...by the way what will be the name of your film?

K: I am ridiculous and my clowns are really amazing. And in these two field we are No.1. so I shall call this film Ra One!!

After this,the King got the warmest hug from his darling,and after that I really do not know what happened.

Kaleidoscope

2010-03-05T00:49:00.000-08:00

I am thinking of writing what can be called phrasal doodle. Here are some:

Doodle 1: All Izz Well

The now iconic phrase All Izz Well fro tne movie 3 Idiots just struck my mind. But trust me it is very difficult to even utter this phrase if you know very well that all izz not so well. You are in shit,you smell shit and ypur favourite phrase becomnes Oh!! Shit! That is where you almost feel obliged to scream out All Izz Not Well yaara...we need to make All Izz Well. And then starts another race to make All Izz Well true.

Well exactly the point I was trying to make is that nothing is well,if you do not trust that everything is well.

Doodle 2: Mumbai Nagaria

Was thinking of writing about my trip to the financial capital of India. I went there Christmas eve,to visit my uncle, whom I had not seen since 1996. A long time. I was a bit apprehensive whether we could recognize each other, but they say no blood is thicker than water..oh!! how true.

Went visiting all the places famous in Mumbai. When reached the connecting street to the The Taj hotel, I noticed a small restaurant named Ajmal!!!!! Ah!!! Irony....I

Went to the Juhu beach. The so called nursery of Indian cricket. There I saw polio inflicted boy,hardly of 15-16 years of age. supporting both his dysfunctional legs with a strecher.and playing some delightful shots.

What I was saying..previously All Izz Well,is true only when you believe in it.

Doodle 3 Chill Buddy:

What is the most important day of your life? Do you even know it when it will come. Probably no. You might think this day is going to be the most important day of my life. That day might when your first day of interview, your marriage, the day your child is born. Might be anything. So why get tensed? Just relax!!! Chill...All Izz Well All Izz Well...
(Dedicated to one of my childhood friend).

Doodle 4 Need My childhood back:

One weekend afternoon, sitting alone in my small balcony, I was watching some children play cricket. One wanted to bat, the other also wanted to bat. And a fight ensued. After sometime they were again friends.

I never fight with that guy in workplace. And we are not friends.

I guess point is taken.

I want those simple days to be back. I know it is not possible...oh!! wait..if I want I can have those days back!! But will I try? I guess I will just croon.

Doodle 5 Mirage:

I guess that is what my aim is,mirage. Darn!!!

2 decades of Magic and Inspiration!

2009-11-12T20:38:00.000-08:00

I exactly don't know when I became this Little Man's Fan. A follower. A fanatic. It was 1991,I guess. India was playing in Sharjah. My Uncle was literally shouting his lungs out,taking a name called Sachin. I turned and saw a little fellow,hardly 15-16 of age.

Later on,I just watched cricket for this boy. His gritty determination,his ability to pull his team out single handedly,made a lasting impression on my young mind.

I was a short fellow,a mediocre student,never in the cynosure of things. A stammering,shy guy who was happy in his own corner. Wanted to break free,but was hesitant. Felt safe in my own cocoon. But this boy taught me what is self belief. What is determination. Never ever dreamt of reaching his dizzying heights,but in my own way I did change my introvert self. Got over that nagging stammering habit. With a few aberrations I held my forte.

I still remember those days when I used to hold my Lord Shiva's locket,whenever he went out to bat. I saw those teeming millions who cheered at his every run. Those teeming millions who went absolutely numb when he was dismissed. It seemed they seek ed salvation in his triumphs and could not accept his failure,because for them their God could not fail. I for one,was in that crowd.

Slowly age begin to catch up with this Super human. He lost some his sharpness,but with his super human abilities he on more than one occasions turned back the clock. Those knocks against the Aussies in Australia,that gaveIndia her only ODI series victory is just an example.

True he had his own follies. Self styled cricket pundits or people who had never touched a bat (I say this because I have not seen any Test cricketer,save for the Chapels,questioning his ability)will always point at the fact that he has felled India on more than one occasion. He is a choker in the finals. He cannot finish a match. They will never think India never had a genuine fast bowler. One most of the occasions which he is accused of felling his team,he never had the support which any other batsman,of any other team would have got.

This man who single handedly brought down the mighty Australians to their feet;20 years of non stop cricket,obliged to carry the burden of one billion dreams and aspirations, not even getting a space for personal bereavement..what can we more expect from this man.

Here I quote my dear friend Souvik basu's line:'I have not seen Buddha,Nanak,Mohammed,Jesus,Krishna,but I have seen Sachin!'

Just one word for all the inspirations that you have given me: 'THANK YOU!'

Face The Reality

2009-10-11T23:18:00.000-07:00

Welcome Ladies and Gentlemen to our new reality show... Tandoori Chaddi's How to be a perfect mother,father,brother, sister,sati savitri Patni...welcome to the first episode.

Our Judges are:India's Greatest Comediam Shekhar ko koi nahin sunne wala(S),Amrita Vivah nahi hogi meri(A) and Tandoori Chaddi's brand ambassador Chaddi-Baniyan Khan(C).

They will advice us how to be a good parent,husband,wife and all else....
And today's special guest is none other than the greatest make and break a relationship specialist Ek Tha Kapoor(E).

Our contestants are from different parts of the country. Our contestants have come with their whole family as they everyone is confused with the dynamics with their relations.

C (to himself):"So,Am I!!"

..Well here is our contestants and their families.(F1,F2..and so on.....)

After Two weeks of intense mingling under the watchful eyes of the judges and very watchful eyes of C.

The boy of from F1:

Bhaiyyas and Madams (Wow!!never knew this phrase): he he..I mean I like the girl from F3. But I don't in what way...

C: When she is in front of you how do you feel?
F1:Nice
C:Does your heart skip a beat?
F1:I don't know....once her hand touched mine..and oh!!
C:Which hand?
F1:Right.
C:Then she is your sister. Girl from F3 come and sit beside me...you are really cute...and...ah! well sit beside me..cutie..ha ha ha.

A boy from F5 stands up and says S ji...how to say this..I err..actually like the boy of F1.

S:Then say it to him.Go take flowers and say it to him. If you want expert advice please contact KJo.

Boy from F1 is not traceable from that day.

After another two weeks.

Chief guest Tulsi mata(T).

Girl from F2..Tulsi mata ji..jai ho....how to be a perfect wife...

T:Well first wake up before him. Touch his feet. Then touch his Mom's and Pa's. Serve them tea. Forgo your job for your pati parmeshwar. Then cook food for them,dress your husband properly. Place tikka on his forehead. Always be on the look out for that vicious women who is out to destroy your happy family.

She in all probability will be your husband's Secretary and she will use your husband's bholapan(innocence) to get into his head.

F5:If after that also nothing work?
E:Marry again,and continue marrying till you find your peace.

After a long pause...
A: That will be an 'aitihasik'(Historical) moment of this show....(to herself)"when I will have my own Vivah..Suraj sir.please come"

Well Tandoori Chaddi's show is still running. It is the highest ever grossing show on TV.

Numerous Tulsi Mata temples have come up,where young girls are taught how to become an ideal wife.

Ek Tha Kapoor last heard is searching for Kjo for some inspiration.

Chaddi-Baniyan Khan has started wearing something .
Amrita is still waiting for Vivah2 and Shekhar Suman's whereabouts are unknown.

The opposition have taken credit for reinstalling the role of traditional Bharatiya Nari ans asked for the resignation of the government.

Answers

2009-07-27T04:35:00.000-07:00

This was sent by an Kindergarten friend of mine:

Well what we (the common MUSLIMS) as a community would like to know is, what extra responsibility do you expect from us??
1.Write…. The Muslim news reporters are already writing and reporting in media (as to what is right n what is wrong). Leave aside Jawed Akhtars n Shabana Azmis…………

2.What… u expect us to talk directly face-to-face with Al-Qaidas, LeTs, etc?You think its rational to talk to these guys??I feel from your write-up that the RSS, Bajrang Dal, Thackreys are lot better than these Qaidas (to some extent yes)…….Why not convince them first not to invoke any hatred and favouritism among the so-called brothers n sisters of our nations……………lets do that first……who should take responsibility of that……….I think for this then your community should take the responsibility………by what u say MUSLIMS are the terrorists and they are doing all the terrorist attacks all over mother Earth (I feel outraged and feel the most utter pain in the world in thinking that these terrorist use the name MUSLIM………For which we the common people suffer) OK…….Lets keep these aside…………….lets think of your country first…….try fixing the internal politics n corruption (which in turn gives way to terrorism)………….if it was not for the greedy politicians and police officers, I think a lot of what we see today might have been different (take for example the Taj scenario) those bullshit guys were staying in our country with full armoury n none of our politicians knew about it…….take a break)……………….

3.I cant think of any other options what a common MUSLIM like me needs to do to put forward the point that we also mean no harm to anybody…………If any one has a suggestion on these kindly publish in the newspapers………….i think that is what is left for us MUSLIMS to see in our very own country…………if we pledge in school that “WE ALL ARE BROTHERS N SISTERS”, we should mean that in reality…………Its no longer brothers n sisters in here now…………..everybody is being asked to take responsibilities based on community………..u know what, sometimes I feel this is how a Muslim might have been brainwashed or tortured……………..u know what it feels to stand in India’s crude being a Muslim……………..i tell u it takes a lot of courage…………….i remember a very dear friend of mine giving me a MATAS LOCKET so that I could show it some local terrorists searching for every MUSLIM in and around, when terror had broken in Bangalore…………..is this how u live in your country?? I feel ashamed to admit that I don’t feel safe anymore in my country (that too for some bullshit outsiders who just use the name of community to which I belong) I m no longer an INDIAN…….i am a MUSLIM INDIAN.……….. I cant visit all the tourist spot……….the feeling of being killed comes into me…………..when u go to any dargah, do u feel the same, my friend?? U know what I even feel scared to say all what I have written here in public………….who knows police coming to my doorstep n carrying me for allegedly sending terrorist mails……………….believe me friend a Muslim is no longer given the privilege to talk his mind out anymore…………….U mentioned NEW YORK right…….why was a Muslim (Nitin mukesh) being targeted to do the job what any other Hindu could also have done???

I cant think of these Mujaheddin to be a MUSLIM…….they belong to nobody…………..i guess that again is something that many wont understand…….

PS: He specifically asked me not to mention his name.

What is the Point in growing up?

2009-07-22T08:31:00.000-07:00

I still don't understand why I am called grown up? I am still a child at my heart but none would buy that. As far as I remember after 16 I didn't want to grow up.

I didn't want to take the responsibilities that comes with this growing up. But none would listen to me.

They made me something called 'Grown Up'. And they made me learn things and lessons I never wanted to learn. They said Life now will be tough,because you are now a grown up person.

At first did I ask for it?

The person within me still wants to roam about ideally. Play cricket on the rooftop. Play with Hot Wheels. Break them and again buy them.

Read those thrilling story books. Steal a look from that 'forbidden' magazine. Want to tuck a detective novel under my study book.

But they didn't allow me to do that.

Today I have enough money to buy the original books,that I craved for. But I don't have time. So I still couldn't figure out what was the use.

I used to laugh uncontrollably when I was a child. Nowadays I laugh less frown more.

I used to dream once. Nowadays I have nightmares.

I wanted to travel. Now I have money. But where to go. Where is the time? Weekends are salvation days. Those are 'Sleeping Days' and 'Washing Clothes Days'.

Wanted to write stories and Novels. I had little diary,where I used to write.

Today even writing with a pen for 5 minutes becomes a pain. Hence I write blogs.

Still I am trying to figure out why I grew up,when I actually hadn't grown up.

Hope someone tells me that one day.

1.5 years,a few books and Films

2009-07-14T21:27:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I checked my PSP and found out that I have completed 1.5 years in Wipro. I sat down for a while and looked back.

The initial tumultuous days. And then I reflected how some films and a few books have kept me going.

When you survive your worst days,you need your near and dear ones' support. You need a bit of luck and last but not the least self belief...you need to push yourself all the time. And I believe that was the most difficult part.

Today I will say how some films and books acted as my support system.

When everything seemed to be against me I remembered Pursuit of Happyness(This the way the movie is spelled). I remembered how Will Smith's character struggled against all odds.

I got my first project on 24Th April,2008(sic!). I had to start my CAT prep,and hence needed to come back by 8PM. And I saved time by not taking water and hence no bathroom breaks(Again Pursuit of Happyness).

There were ...err..unpleaseant incidents. And I fell back on The Heart is a Lonely Hunter.

Missed my school days terribly...and guess what I read : To Sir With Love! Not exactly the school story I was looking for...but at least I got to revisit my school classrooms.

Time was running.....and I never noticed.The clocks followed their own rule silently..and I never noticed.

It was time for a new project,. And absolutely nothing prepared me about what I was going to face. What followed was 5 most difficult months of my professional life till date. Coming home at 11 at night became a norm.

I always felt as if a pistol was placed on my temple,ready to be off loaded into my skull. Sub consciously I used to blurt out..:No No don't shoot(Hugh Jackman.The Prestige) and sometimes just a poignant 'No'(Keanu Reeves,The Matrix Revolution).

Time over time I used to say "believe"(Lawrence Fishburne.The Matrix Series).

Sometimes I wanted to shout to "Protect them,don't destroy them..and you will be proud...(Al Pacino,Scent of a Woman).

Sometimes I wanted to be Bourne and hit the shit out of them.....

Sometimes just wanted to run like Forest Gump...

And then again a new project.....

And finally I cleared my assessment....and I shouted in my mind Whoo Haa(Al Pacino,The Scent of a Woman).

Presently I am reading J.D.Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye.

PS:Just some incoherent thoughts.Just wanted to write some thing.

The King/Queen makers' fate

2009-05-17T05:34:00.000-07:00

So,finally defying all odds,Singh is the King. What a decisive mandate has Man got,to run India for the next five years.

Well before it's too late,lets see some of the could have been King/Queen makers.

Laloo:Well Mr.Yadav,your MY formula has long has outlived its longevity. Get real Laloo,do some development work,for the state that you have ruined with such methodical precision.
While you were in power,you were synonymous with corruption and bad governance,your rival Nitish Kumar seems to be the toast of the season.

SP:The self appointed messiah of the Muslims,Mulayam and his cahoots got a resounding slap on their face. Thought themselves to be the kingmaker,they are now paupers. And now they want to join the Government,after all beggars shouldn't be chosers.

Mayawati:

Well "pari likkhi Dalit ki Beti" R.I.P. With a mere 23 seats the only thing you can do is R.I.P.

And finally the great Left of India: Well Mr.Karat with your medieval brand of politics,what else did you expect? Whenever we heard about the Left at the Center,they were either blocking a development project or are agitating. Your Chinese masters and your Bangal Government are effortlessly wearing a Capitalist hat,but it seems you always have a problem of the same at the Center. Don't waste time to analyse your defeat at Bengal. The reason is you,and your armtwisting tactics.

One final word for UPA:India has won it for you,now please win it for India.

PS:Mr.Advani,well better luck next time.

Manifesto?

2009-04-12T04:23:00.000-07:00

So there is a manifesto that promises to take us two decades back.

And why not? Isn't old gold?

And I suggest you read this blog,before Queen's language is banned from India,and I have to translate this page to our national language or any other language.

After all our edge in English has only helped to us to go forward. And with all my due respect to Hindi(Which I love to write and read),English still remains the language that binds North and South India.

And if this party has it's way,blogs will be a thing of past and I wouldn't have any job.

After all computers have eaten away our jobs,so they will be banished.

So use your computers as much as you can.

And all my friends who are dreaming to become CEOs,let go away the dream.

This party will cut down your salaries,though the party itself has some of the richest persons of the earth as their bosom friends.

And if you are planning a carrer in agriculture,well first have a toned body!! After all mechanized farming is going to be banned!!!

Behold by dear Indians...we do have bright future!!!

Go out and vote,and vote for the person(s) who will take our nation forward and not backward.

Gulal - My Take

2009-03-15T02:02:00.000-07:00

Anurag Kashyap comes up with a film,where politics,love,hate,betrayal all seems to blend seamlessly. Well the story is in Rajasthan,where a Dukey Bana(Kay Kay) is planning to start a rebellion against the Indian Union and carve out a separate Rajputana state. Well we have heard about such stories for long,only this time the story is set in Rajasthan and not in Kashmir.

This story is about student politics,betrayal,love. About the metamorphism of a simple boy to a killer. About a brother-sister pair for whom nothing is greater than their lust for power.

Anurag Kashyap is known to get the best out of his actors. Well the acting is intense,and at times it so intense that it leaves you dizzy. Ayesha Mohan as Kiran and Raj Chaudhury as Dilip are awe inspiring. Jesse Randhwa also pitches in with a silent powerful role. Kay Kay as usual delivers a fiery performance. Then there is Piyush Mishra playing Prithvi Bana.With use of simple poetry he simply numbs your senses,and takes you to a whole new world.

But if you have to choose the best among them,it has to be Deepak Dobriyal (as Bhati, the loyal assistant to Dukkey Bana). He is reserved,and yet so powerful.

The best part of this film is Piyush Mishra's poetry/lyrics. Lyrics that forces you to think,forces you out of your slumber. Sample this:Kauravon ki bheed ho/ Ya paandavon ka neer(d) ho/ Jo lad sakaa hai wohi to mahaan hai” or “Ghalib ke Momin ke khwaabon ki duniya..yeh duniya agar mil bhi jaaye to kya hai?"

There are lines which will give you a smile :"Jaise duur desh ke tower me ghush gaayo re aeroplane."

Only if Anurag Kashyap had a truly powerful story to back up these, the film would have been truly a masterpiece.

I will give this film 6.5/10.

PS:Hope nothing like this happens in real life. Separatism is plaguing India,we don't want more of it.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

2009-03-01T18:57:00.000-08:00

Would it be nice to age backwards?

Well that's exactly TCCBB.

Starring Bradd Pitt and Cate Blanchett,this movie takes us through the life of Benjamin Button;who starts his journey as an eighty year old man.There is a bit of World War 2, and doses of lost and found love.

What really holds this movie together,is acting poweress of the female cast.

Whether it is Cate Blanchett or TarajiP Henson(as Benjamin's adoptive mother) or Tilda Swinton(as a middle aged woman,who has an affair with Benjamin).

The film has its moment. When finally Tilda Swinton's character successfully crosses the English Channel at the age of 60.When Taraji P Henson says to Benjamin :"My Baby" and finally when Cate Blanchett looks at the baby Benjamin closing his eyes.

With such performance from the female cast,you can be forgiven to think that Bradd Pitt is the weak link in the film. At times he is more superstar than an actor,but only at times.

Another high point of this film is its technical side. The director has taken too much pain to make the sets and surroundings perfect. And at times Mr.Fincher has devoted so much of his attention to technicalities that acting has taken a back seat. At times you just simply cant sympathize with Benjamin Button predicament.

Overall it's a good movie to watch and I would give a 7.5/10 rating to this film.

A new genre

2009-02-27T23:57:00.000-08:00

The Love story genres:

Poor guy Rich Girl

This was the 70's staple diet of Bollywood. There would be a poor guy with a golden heart and he would fall in love with a rich and beautiful girl. He would then fight the girl's villainous daddy and get the girl.

Fighting Families

Well the old story of Romeo and Juliet has been old n Bollywood for ages. The young lovers )would fight,sing and eventually win or die(as in QSQT). Love would prevail till the end,foes will become friends and there will be happiness

When God has a different Name

In this stories the boy and the girl will be from different religions. There will be lot of blood sheds,tears. Prayers at different places of worships and then at last Almighty will make everything ok,and the love birds will get married and with 'Prem Shakti',they would defeat the religious zealots.

.....And now the new genre:

With recession creeping in and the once prosperous IT sector looking increasingly vunerable the new genre will be about them. Already ads saying software engineers(sofus) won't be entertained as prospective grooms are out in the papers.

So a software engineer falls in love with a non sofu girl...and all the hell breaks down upon him. There will e his boss,clients' dead line and above all a monstorous (prospective) father in law.

And if a sofu girl falls in love with a non sofu boy. She will ebe called various sorts of name. Who spaks more to some different 'marad',(read colleagues,boss,clients) and not to her 'pati paramaeshwar'(husband).

What if both are sofus. They will be shunned. They wont be welcome tenants,because they might not be able tp pay their rents the next month.

Well the love birds will fight an epic battle with the big bad world. They will fight till their last breathe amd sing 'Ji ke dekha denge hum'.

They will eventually emerge winner and defeat all their opponents(that's what happens at the end ofa Hindi film).

And the film makers would laugh their way to the bank.

NB: What will sofus say when they decide to have a child:'A new project s in the pipe line'

Some one decided to give credits...some incoherent thoughts..

2009-02-14T05:59:00.000-08:00

A few days ago I received mail with the same title as this blog's. It's about a disillusioned soul sitting in his cubicle at the dead of night and reminiscing about his fun filled past and comparing it to his dull and stressful present!

Well I had to spent such a night at office,without sleep.

The past weeks were not business as usual.

I haven't seen the face of the guy who stays next to my room for a week now. My only companion had been my office desktop.
On the road when I forgot something,I tried to do Googling somewhere!! On a Bank form I had to write two same lines at two different places..I tried to copy paste!

Well these were not lines from any fun mails,but actual incidents that happened to me.

Well I tried to think hard about why was I here?

Well some greedy bankers gave credits in far west..then something happened..heard a lot of jingo.Recession,pink slips. Understood some,didn't understood some and misunderstood some.

What I understood was that some unseen hands and an omnipresent pressure is going to turn me into a robot,albeit of poor quality.
Well it seems the only thing that I should do is write some mambo jumbo(I mean codes) and then write even more of those lines..relentlessly,unceasingly.
And what happens if I do not do that,I would have to see pink..err pink slip.
Interestingly I an given to understand that these are some hard decision being taken to stay afloat.
Some words like rightsizing and trimming are being used quite freely. So out of five persons,there are four jobless people and one robot..and all because someone decided to give some credits and the most feared colour became pink!!!

Australia-My View

2009-01-02T23:47:00.000-08:00

Well this is a Baz Luhrman film and Nicole Kidman is there. Remember Moulin Rouge!!
The director has captivated the beautiful landscape of his homeland to the fullest.
There is Nicole Kidman and and well she has proved her mettle before,so no scrutinizing her performance,which without doubt is the best in the film. Then there is Hugh Jackman. Well he is the oomph factor in the film(don't be surprised,males are nowadays are well adept to this role). He rides horses with aplomb,kisses his lady,bathes bare bodied.
But the director should realize that a pretty skirt and and a pretty blouse doesn't necessarily make a person beautiful.
That's the case with the film Australia. Beautiful landscape. Doses of romanticism,motherhood,fatherhood, a bit of World War2 and bit of aboriginal history. And that what's make this film a tad too long by Hollywood standards.(180 minutes).
This is the story of Lady Ashley(Kidman)who comes from Britain to take over the ranch of her deceased husband. And with the help of Drover(Jackman) she defeats the evil designs of Fletcher(David Wenham). In the process her motherhood quality blossoms for a an Aborigine boy Nullah(Brandon Walters). Then there is Japanese attack!
Well Luhrman wanted his film to be best of both Gone With The Wind and Saving Private Ryan but gets no where near to either of the classics.
At the end the film just pulls off and is worth a watch only because of the breath taking landscapes and Nicole Kidman's acting.
I will give 6/10 to this film.

PS:After watching this film I will be a bit sympathetic towards Andrew Symonds.

On a Different Note

2008-12-03T22:58:00.000-08:00

A week has passed. Hundreds have lost their lives. TV channels have beamed those footage 24*7. And I am already hearing people crooning,well show something different,nothing is going to happen .

Yes,we need to move on. Pick up the pieces and move on in life.

Yes there is Rab De... and Gajini coming up. And people including me will throng the theatres,to watch the big Khans in full flow.

And after few days,the reel heroes will be in the front page. It's just a matter of time now.

Then there are the bits and pieces of our daily life. Going out shopping,buying for our daily needs. Then there is our school,colleges and offices. Exams are knocking at the door,deadlines are nearing...and yes we do have to catch up with the latest gossip doing the rounds.

The burden of daily life will be back in a flash.

The fear,anger,frustration will ebb with time. Some cosmetic changes,and life would be back to normal.

There is the economic meltdown. We,have to think about our jobs.

There are other things to do also. Christmas is coming holidays has to be planned,gifts has to be bought,if the terror merchants come,so be it.
As days will go we will relapse into the same old daily life of ours. Our daily lives' problems,and the 'I' factor will make us forget everything. The politicians will be back,so will the babus,and so will the attacks.

Foot Note:There will be blasts,there will sloganeering and then we will forget. And then wait for the next blast. For a change let's put up our hand say "No,I will not forget."

Anguish and Frustation

2008-11-29T03:31:00.000-08:00

For two days I have been in front of the TV set,following each and every detail of the Mumbai carnage. The brave men who laid down their lives to make us feel safe.
I saw Sandeep Unnikrishnan's mother mumbling something into her dead son's ears. Caressing him and trying to feel his breathe. The scene could have brought tears to the most hard hearted person on earth,but then our politicians are from a different world.

First there was LK Advani,who due to some mysterious reason,could not come to Mumbai along with the Prime Minister,to visit the victims.Instead he came a day later.Then came the Hindu messiah Narendra Modi,and offered an amount of Rs.One crore to the ATS chief's family,which was promptly refused,and rightly so. After all Modi and his party didn't have very nice words to say about the martyred ATS chief when he was alive.
And above all there was our home minister,who didn't have a clue,about what was happening. I guess he was busy changing clothes.

When the brave men fought,our politician's were busy squabbling. They were busy blaming each other.
These politician's after all they have done everything,to divide the country,in the name of religion,caste and creed. I wouldn't be surprised if after some days,Amar Singh makes a statement saying that the whole affair was staged,and the persons who the police killed,were innocent victims,belonging to a certain community.(After all he did make a similar statement after the Delhi encounter,a few months ago). And then all the Human Rights activists,led by the redoubtable Arundhuti Roy,would call the killings by the NSG inhuman. After all India should have a civilized force,who should give these terror merchants brotherly love.

All along this mayhem,I wonder where was Raj "Marathi Manoos " Thackray. If he is reading this article,I would like to say him something: Sandeep Unnikrishnan was from South India and belonged to the BIHAR regiment. Gajendra Singh was from Delhi,NORTH India. They laid down their lives,so that Mumbai could be safe. And you live today and shout Mi Mumbaikar on some other day.

Today if the brave heart's have died it's because of these politicians. Who are so indulged in themselves,that anything else is not visible to them.
Today when I see around myself,I see people,angry,frustrated but impotent.
The only thing that our politician's understand today is "Satta"(power).
At the time I am writing this article the official death count is 195,and will surely rise.
Who is responsible? Any answers? I,sorry we all Indians are waiting.

A small letter

2008-11-27T06:50:00.000-08:00

Dear God,

This is an open letter to you.I,like billions across the world have unflinching faith in You.But you know my country has been attacked today.It's nothing new,but the sheer magnamity of this attck has shook me.We pray to you,for peace,for prosperity.I pray to you so that I can love others.
But today I see, round the globe people take your name to kill other people and not to love,or to heal why Almighty?
If in one strike if You can destroy the unverse,why are you just a mute spectator today?Where are you?
They take your name and slaughter people in most inhuman way possible?Where is your healing power God?
I have heard by taking your name we get purified,but I don't see it.
In whatever name You are known,You have never taught us to kill or harm,but today why is Your name the safest weapon to kill others?
I knew,and still believe Your name will turn everyone into humans.But why Your name is turning people inhuman?
Waiting for your answer,God.

-A son of Yours'

Why?Anger and Fear

2008-11-27T06:28:00.000-08:00

Why? The first question that came to my mind when I heard about the terror attacks on Mumbai!!

Then there was fear. Fear of a great personal loss. Somehow I got through my uncle,and heard he was safe(He was present at the VT).

The images flashed across the channels numbed me.Those were the bodies of innocent people,lying writhing in pain. I felt helpless,and then there was anger.

My country has been attacked,by a bunch of lunatics. I don't care whether they are Muslims, Jews or Hindus.They are the killers of my countrymen.Brazen,ruthless,inhuman.I just wanted to pump a dozen bullets into their skull.

I looked for the reaction of our great leaders. There was none,other than the customary condemnation from the PM and the Home Minister.Even the great Raj "Marathi"Thackraey wasn't there.I wondered where was he?After all he has left no stone unturned to divide the most cosmopolitan city of India!!!

Where was the secular brigade???Where was saffron brigade?? And where was Arundhuti Roy and her ilk,who so religiously are fighting for Afzal Guru!!! I guess they were too afraid.They knew the army,the NSG are there.Yes the army,and the NSG,who were these people's favourite target to further their own agendas.I guess even these terror merchants should take alesson from our netas about how to divide a country!!!

Till this time Mumbai is burning. I can't forget the face of the GM whose family was killed in front of his eyes.I can't forget the faces of the family members of the dead chef of the Oberoi.

But the rest of us will be just amused. Watch it on television and then forget.Happy because we are safe.Lost in our petty needs,and wishes.Never knowing someday we might be in their place.Maimed,wailing or just silently watching the numbed body of our beloved ones being carried away.!!

Chalta Hai...

2008-11-17T22:11:00.000-08:00

This I write as the sequel to my previous post,Kuch Toh Log Kahenge...

Well another bane on the Indian society is this "Chalta Hai" syndrome.
Nothing absolutely nothing seems to shake out the people out of their cocoon(ie unless they themselves are directly affected)

Bomblasts..Chalta hai.
Inflation..Chalta hai,what can we do..it's the Government.
Unclean roads..Chalta Hai..Bhai this is India.

From North to South. From West to East,across every language you will find this phrase "Chalta Hai(This Happens!)

During the recent past,when series of bomb blast rocked the country,still people would say,"Chalta Hai,this is India!!!"
Bizarre,baffling ,well yes!
Though there was a sense of fear,an atmosphere of mistrust,still this Chalta Hai syndrome stayed!

Prices are hitting the roof,Chalta hai!!
Wow,really I marvel at my countrymen's unfathomable patience!

The roads are broken,you have been pick pocketed,chalta hai sir!!!
Trains are late,some political person holding a rally,and in turn holding an entire city to ransom...chalta hai sir!!!

Till we are safe,we will take refuge behing this "Chalta Hai"syndrome,never even pausing to think that we might be the victims someday!! As long as it is happening to others,it's fine...chalta hai sir!!

Kuch to log Kahenge...

2008-11-16T23:16:00.001-08:00

"Log kaya kahenge?? What will people say?"
This is an wonderful or rather an irritating phenomenon in the Indian society. Irrespective of cast, creed,economic background we are bred like that:To live according to others' wishes.

Well who are these others'. Just people like me and you who also reside in the same society as us. These 'others' also want to break free from these unwritten norms of society,but can't do so and would sneer right away at someone trying to do so!

From childhood we are made aware about some unwritten norms,and if dare to question those norms or deviate from these norms we straight away have to face the question :"What will people say?"

There are quite a few taboos in our society. One of them is inter caste and religion marriage. I two persons from two different communities are madly in love;it doesn't matter!What will people say if you marry someone not belonging to your own community?

There was a guy,whom I personally know,whose business dreams were nipped in the buds,because his father declared:"What will people say if you start business and you don't have a salaried job!!" Bizarre though it might sound,but it is true.

Well there is the dress barrier,and then there is the food barrier.
"Goodness gracious you ate beef and drank whiskey!!". It doesn't matter though that the 'questionee' himself/herself has been guilty of the said 'crimes'.

You don't send your ward to an English Medium school?? What will people say?
You are an engineer and you don't listen to rock,what will people say?
You are a Hindu,and marrying a Muslim?? What will people say?

What will people say?What will people say...

Every aspect of our life,it seems,that we have to live according to others' diktat. It's not our life that we live,it's someone else's life we live!

It's high time we realise,it's individuals who make a society and not the other way round.

Children's Day-A small thought.

2008-11-12T21:49:00.000-08:00

Teacher:"Children,on whose birthday do we celebrate Children's Day?"
Children(in a chorus):"Chacha Nehru"
Well we celebrate this person's birthday as Children's Day because he loved children very much. So why not my birthday is celebrated as Children's Day? I also love children very much!!!
Well let me ponder over this fact. What has Chacha done,for children that I haven't done.
Well many things,you know many things. Lets see one by one:

Well for the starter,I haven't yet been able to build my own home,and he has built three homelands for the children. One on west of India,and one on east of India. And the children of those two countires plays rather plays some fatal games with children of India. Well I am not even near him. So it's his birthday we celebrate.

Well he gave the children sone unwanted "Chini Bhais"

Well he started 5 years of planning for the bright future of the children(And every year we religiously ONLY paln),I can't even plan for the next 5secs. So why should my birthday be celebrated.

Well let me think,what else has he done for the children. Well wrote Discovery Of India,and so ICSE2000 batches children could garner unimaginable amount of knowledge about their motherland.

He also flew pigeons..and what,well I can't remember. But still it is his birthday which celebrated as Children's Day,and not mine,or rather for that matter not anybody elses.

Barrack and George(in White house)

2008-11-12T03:01:00.000-08:00

Barrack(B) : Hi,George
George(G) : O hi,Denzel.How is Los Angeles???
B:Denzel?? Who Denzel. I am Barrack Obama,the new President elect.
G:Ha..oh...ok..ok..that means
B:...that means you have to leave this office.
G:Well how is your wife Sarah???
B:What?? Her name is Michelle.
G:So what plan,Mr.Osama?
B:(Angry):Obama! It's Obama idiot!!!!
G:Ok Mr.Idiot Obama,what's your plan for Korea,Afganistan and Iraq???
B:(Gaining his composure)..Well I will hold talks with Korea and Iraqi government. And try to flush out millitants from Afganistan.
G:Talks,what is that???
B:It's..
G:(Cutting him short)Well Obama what's your complete name?
B:Barrack Hussein Obama.
G:Hussein,Hussein,Hussein...you just said so....how can that be Osama Hussein...your are realated to both Osama and Saddam...God God...
B:Sit down !!!
G:Don't kill me please.
B:Well I am Barrack Hussein Obama. My father was from Kenya...
G:(cutting him short)..Kenya.where is that? Australia?
B:Well it seems you have pretty less knowledge on Geography.
G:Who says? I know where is Texas and I know where is Houston. And the capital of India is Beijing. And you still say I am bad at Geography???!!!
B:Impossible!
G:Yep!! I am impossible to beat.
B:Well,George can you give some details on the Indo US Nuclear deal?
G:Eh!Were there a deal between USA and India,and who singed it?
B:Ok..What on Russia?
G:Vodka is great!!! Though I don't drink anymore though!!! But it's great!!
B:On Europe?
G:Nice holiday destinations are there,I have heard? Wanna go there?
B:On the financial meltdown??
G:Decrease the temperature,anything that has melt will,solidify.
B:(trying to keep his composure):Well what on Africa?
G:Africa? I love lions? I will try drop some food for them!!! Isn't it a noble idea?
B:What about poverty?
G:What does that mean?

Well after that a loud thud was heard
Barrack Obama became the President.
George Bush,is in some mental asylum,where he shouts day in and day out:"Attack,attack,Osama Hussein has tried to kill me!"

Sourav,his fans and the Bengali News Papers

2008-11-10T21:24:00.000-08:00

Well Sourav.. what is he??
A fighter,a legend,more appropriately he is a smile,a passion in the Bengali heart. He is an answer to all their problems.
No I am not a Sourav fan,and this is not another post praising him. But what I write is an obvious truth. No other celebrity,since the legendary Uttam Kumar have evoked such strong emotions in the Bengali heart.
Well bengal is star starved. Either all their stars have gone to Mumbai or are from the academic field,you can't jump and cry forthem on the streets.
And so there was Dada. Every bengali wanted a piece of him. There was he,their answer to the allegation that bengalis can't excel in sports.
When Greg Chappel,and Kiran More dropped Sourav from Team India,whole of Team India had to face the collective wrath of Bengal.
And what come back did he make. Now that has entered the Bengal folklore,and for generations to come Bengalis round the globe will continue talking.

Now coming to his fans.
They are the most ...I actually don't have word to describe them.
For them dada is everything. He is the best. At one point of their lives every one of them seem to have spoken to him.
Sample this:
I was getting a hair cut done in a Shyambazar salon,and a midde aged person was speaking in an 'I know it all' tone :"Arre Sourav to Behalar rocke bosa chele,sob parbe" Great,really this guy seems to have mentored Ganguly during his childhood.

Tell them about other players achievements,and they will answer back:"Arre Dada would also have achieved that if given a chance". They have this uncanny habit of demeaning others' achievements,and blabbering about what others haven't done. A strange phenomenon.

Well now the News Papers:
Well now that dada is gone ,what will the likes of Raju Mukherjee write??? I guess just because of Sourav these columnists and news papers have taken the bengali language to a new high.
These papers semms to know every aspect of his life. When he wakes up,exactly at what time he goes our for pactice and other minute details.
I really used to enjoy these keen observations of these papers.
Once a Bengali Daily published the minute by minute details about what he did during a net practice after his comeback. How he smiled at Sachin,and how he looked the other side when Dravid talked to him. Wow!! It was simply a master piece.
Really I will miss every bit of those writings.
Once Ananda Bazar Patrika compared Sourav to the Peacock Throne and Sachin to the Kohinoor Diamond. Well the Kohinoor has been cut in several places,but still it is the most expensive diamond,but some evil Nadir Shahs have destroyed the Peacock Throne.
But no one will remember the Nadir Shahs!!!
Long Live Dada,Long Live Dada Giri.

The Little Giant

2008-11-06T21:38:00.000-08:00

I was thinking about a one liner to describe this person. And this is what I came up with:

"One billion prayers,one billion dreams,one man:Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar"

For a decade and a half he has carried team India's fortune on his robust shoulders. Without complaining,he has carried one billion dreams,taken criticism even when it was uncalled for. Occasionally,even this superhuman stopped,but only to start again with a renewed vigour. Determined to crush the best.

Waqar,Wasim,McGrath,Lee,Akhthar,Donald,Murali,Warne... and India had a ready made answer to these fearsome bowlers :Sachin.

Every action of him was scrutinized by the media,people who hardly played cricket,critics who didn't knew what was it to stand in front of a few thousand critics. So much so that he couldn't mourn the death of his father alone.

Selfish,can't play in the finals,and what not insults have he been subjected to. Cynics please check the stats before even opening your mouth.

He has been the nucleus of this team India.When chips were down in WC2003,it was his inspirational innings which led to the resurgence of Team India. Even the face of Youngistan Mahendra Singh Dhoni exclaimed :"Sachin is God to me"

People speak about the Ferrari fiasco,why don't do they speak about Apanalaya?

Too much has been written on him,on his achievements and non achievements. One false move,and people are baying for his blood. Stop it.

Let me finish this article by quoting the RBS advertise :"Kabhi kabhi koi aisa aata hai,jo khel ko nai,khel ke andaaz koi badal deta hai"

Chain mails

2008-11-06T19:35:00.000-08:00

Well for some these chain mails are a bane,a waste of time. Silly time pass of the jobless. But the people who think that it's just a time pass,doesn't really know what is it. I have been of these chain mails for quite a time now,and would say their is nothing like this in the world now.

Friendships and,and friends are to be cherished. But lack of time,hectic work hours,leaves us with no time to interact with our friends. How long can you chat over the phone,daily? Not much,I guess,until and unless somebody is sponsoring your bills!
Enter the chain mails.
Waste of time,nah!!!! After all it keeps you rejuvenated.

Day in,day out you slog,slog and slog more. Your mind tends to divert. Go back to those tension free days with your dear friends,walking,chatting,dreaming. Well you can't have those days back. And hence these mails.
You write whatever you want(you know friends don't find..),a welcome break from the monotonous mail you write everyday to your seniors,your clients!

When I answer back to these mails,pull the legs of my friends.or myself am in the firing line,it is as if we friends are sitting together over cup of tea and samosas. While writing this,I can almost hear that hindi song...yaroon,dosti...

Well so many news(not those breaking news of the TV channels) are broken over these mails. You chat,you argue,you fight,and again become friends. You cannot hold on those golden moments of yester years,but atleast you can cling on to those memories.

All said and done...always be in touch with your friends,coz,when the chips will be down,and the world against you..they will be there to bring you out of the filth!!!

A Block in The Mind

2008-11-04T02:58:00.001-08:00

Dumbledore..Dumbledore...Watson,Watson...Topse..edike aai. Trees,birds,flowers...life,art....God damn everything..what to write...Well welcome to writers' block. Well I am facing one!!! I don't know what to write about?Thus I decided to write about this block itself.Well why this actually happens I also don't know. But suddenly you don't have any original ideas,or just have it no ideas at all. They vanish into thin air. You rack your head and yet nothing happens.I tried everything,deep breathing,meditation and yet nothing hit me. Frustrated,I tried to copy ideas,and event that failed miserably.When there are ideas everything seems to have a life of their own,but when this strange disease creeps in everuthing suddenly becomes limp,numb.
Hours after hours I sat in front of the screen,trying to come up with some topic,but my mind seems to have had mastered the art of saying no.
What,what,what,what...I cried. Nothing nothing nothing..screamed back my brain.
It had been hours,I couldn't find.
And then I knew ,yes I knew what to write..well of course the block itself.

Fashion -My View

2008-11-02T19:32:00.000-08:00

I was really waiting for this one!! After Page 3 and Traffic Signal,I had high expectations from this film. Well Madhur Bhandarkar really didn't dissappoint,but really this film didn't reach the standards of Page 3 and Traffic Signal.
Well it is a story of Meghna Mathur(Priyanka Chopra). Her rise to the top of Indian fashion world,her tryst with powerful men. Her downfall and her subsequent rise. This film has all Bhandarkar trade marks:gay designers,powerful men sleeping with struggling models,drugs and a bit of emotion.
The music is good,the fashion shows are an absolute treat to the eyes;but the greatest turn off of this film is its length:3 and half hours. Well Bhandarkar could have pruned some the fashion shows.
Well Priyanka Chopra seems to have gone from strength to strength,she is no more just a pretty face in the tinsel town,rather she is an actor now. Madhu Ghodse and Arbaaz Khan are quite convincing in their roles. And well Kangana,give us break!!! Your "psycopathic act" is now repititive. Do some different roles.
Music is good.
On the whole this movie just pulls off!!
Waiting for your next one,Madhur.

Different

2008-10-30T20:07:00.000-07:00

"They laughed at me because I was different,and then I laughed at them because they were all the same"-Anonymous.

I don't know who penned this,but surely know a few who follow this to the T. People want to be different just for the sake of it. Well this trait of some people will sometimes annoy you,irritate you,bring a chuckle to your lips and sometimes amuse you.

There was a guy in our class. He was 6 feet tall and thin as a reed. A pretty non descriptive features.
So fine day he decided he should be different. He started wearing Hawaiiaan T Shirts(or so he claimed),low waist jeans,a bandana and the best part...he coloured his hairs in gold and red...
The reaction of the whole class..well it is better not said.

We all spoke our very own English,with no accent. But some boys and girls wanted to be different in this sphere also. So they started speaking or rather tried to speak with an American accent(not to mention their attrocious Bengali accent).

Then there was an urge to make an ultra new fashion statement. Shirts and blouse of all different colours...make up as loud as the famous "Dulaler Chocolate Bomb".

Then came "I have different taste.." bandwagon. It didn't matter whether they understood or not...thaey took great pride in themselves because.."they watch off beat movies..". They would blabber about Forrest Gump without even nowing that Forrest was actually the name of a person.

And they try and try to be diffrent....
...instead why don't they do the same old things in a diffrent way????

Oh!Calcutta...

2008-10-29T19:59:00.000-07:00

Kolkata ache Kolkatatei,amar sohor..-Chandrabindoo

This is the city where I spent my college days. First I hated her,then I liked her..and then I fell in love with her..Oh!Calcutta.

After a long and eventful 10 months I came back to Calcutta.

...and behold...absolutely..absolutely nothing has changed in this city in the last 10 months..

Neither the bus fare,nor the taxi fare..not even the hoardings.

When I placed my first step outside the Howrah Station,it was as if I haven't left this city at all..

The same buses were plying on the roads,that same collective chattering of vehicles and human..

I stayed in Calcutta for 2 and a half days.

My first stop was hedua. Wll as I said nothind has changed..absolutely nothing has changed.

Swami Vivekananda's ancestral home standing tall,Thonthoniya Kali Bari..Scottish Church(O Madhabilata...)and atlast I reached the citadel of Bengali Intellectualism:College Street.

Well the market has been broken..Borno Porichoy Book Mall will come up.

All the book stalls have removed to the Marcus Square.

300 years of history had been razed to the ground in no time. I continued my walk...I reached Bankim Chaterjee Street. The coffee house stood there...that unwavering spirit of bengali romanticism and intellectuallism!!!

One by one I visited Park Street,Tollygunge..and finally Panchpota(Garia).

Everything has remained exactly static in these 10 months.

Mamata

2008-10-29T02:37:00.000-07:00

Mamata Banerjee,the self proclaimed "Agni Kanya" of Bengal has done a great job. In her fight against the left she has become ultra left. Yes you are the winner in this tug of war Ms Banerjee. It doesn't matter though that the Bengali youth wouldn't dare to dream any more,because the moment they start dreaming they will have nightmares of you.
And what was Drek 'O' Brien doing with her...
He has already taken quizzing to great lows,so I guess he was in search of a new profession. Well S/O Neil 'O' Brien,you can prepare a shamiana on the fields of Singur and do one your sub standar quizzing.

Well last week saw some hard bargaining by the DMK for the Tamils in Sri Lanka. They threatened to withdraw to support from the ruling coalition. In the end they got something and withdrew that threat.
Now imagine Mamata in Tamil Nadu,having 39 MPs. She would have forced the government to go to war against the island country,and expectedly when the central government would have refused,she would have pulled out.
She would come out of the parliament flashing the victory sign and Derek would be proclaiming in Calcutta :"Didi,messiah of the downtrodden."

An Out Of Work Media

2008-10-28T22:27:00.000-07:00

They report some incidents...and by the time they finish their analysis of that news item,the contours of that has changed completely.
Suppose they report Sachin Tendulkar becoming the highest run getter in Test Cricket..and by the time they finish their analysis...they would conclude that Sourav Ganguly is bad runner between the wickets.
They would search for the lost dog of the Police Commisioner,disappearing cattles inside an UFO or a cat stuck on a roof!!!!
Times seems to be price -less for these guys..
An unsespecting guy eating a chocolate might become the next breaking news;topic:"how the youth is getting addicted to junk food"
If you have seen the film Mumbai Meri Jaan,you will know what I am speaking of.
24*7 you cannot get news,but you have to run the show for 24 hours. So you will find a cleavage revealing Mandira Bedi analyzing Kumble's bowling.
During the Rizwanur case,in Calcutta,you could see scores of bengali channels solving the case,event before the investigation was actually started by the authorities.
Bytes and news..we are flooded with these..give us a break

The Great Indian Middle Class

2008-10-28T03:53:00.000-07:00

To be middle class is a pain and bane...classics are written and re written about them.
They want to be a Bill Gates or a Warren Buffet...but also want to be called Socialist...The great Indian Midlle Class.
They would drool on Pam An,but would frown on any women wearing jeans...
The fallacies continue...
Some body might wonder why I have chosen the middle class???
Well the answer is in the first line..classics...I am not writing one though...
But the choice of subject was too obvious..without being too judgemental...or any thing...they are the only species of human..on earth..on whom you can go on writing...they wont mind ..as long as they are getting mentioned..in the books' pages..or on a website...
They would send their wards to english medium school..and co-ed school...but no opposite gender friends...what they want their children to be...flag bearers of the homosexual community?
Don't know...have to ask them..America is country of great dreams...but the people..there you know...are not good,ther are selfish..they jump o the bed at the drop of head...the arguments and counter arguments will always go on!!!
The Great Indian Midlle Class...they are happy because they think they run the country...they are angry and sad because they think the state does not care about them...the Great Indian Middle Class.