I was just tempted...

to copy this link from Shobha's interesting blog http://differentstrokes.blogspot.com/2006/03/buhaha.html

Hope you do have a great laugh too:) Courtesy MTV

Sometimes cluelessness is so exciting

For a couple of days things have had been quite hectic. Hitting the sack past midnight after a hard day's slog, yet finding something missing in life or rather in whather I do. That has had been going on for sometime. Taking quite a toll out of me. Cluelessness abut too much of activity sans much productivity is so much of a burden to think about.

Time for serious introspection. And what an introspection it has been. Without any clue whatsoever, booked ticket back home and would be flying off for the next 10 days. Sans mundane activities of office, sans phone calls, sans deadlines, sans bosses, sans the same expectorant people..all by myself..

Lots of work still to be completed piled up at my desk but cannot even give enough justice to it by just making half hearted attempts as my soul desperately cries for something different.

So would be visiting the forests, would spend my time at the lush paddy fields, meeting people whom i have not met since ages, eat food cooked by mom, spend some worthwhile time with pop, my sis and her kids and several such things which we tend to forget as we get so much involved in our daily lives.

Friends have been asking me about the reason for a surprise decision. Is anything wrong back home they have ben inquiring? I just smile back. Think they do not realize how exciting sometimes clueless endeavour is:)

Next 10 days, starting tuesday, i just would switch my mobile, no internet, no official talks, no deadlines and no hurry to finish things.

Completely realize the value of these things but we sometimes long for simple things which give us a much needed relief in these days of cut throat competition..
Escapist? whatever...;)

The mass' revolution

When Satyendra Dubey became the victim of a system intolerable to honesty and fair play, the first signs of a resolute mass revolution showed its seeds.
Then came Manjunatha, a very inspired individual who became yet another casualty of the system that so much loathes people geared up to do some public good. Being an alumni of a premier institute, the man’s martyr collected huge public support and great media attention, with bloggers leading the way. The mass revolution started budding, indicating a greater revolution in the coming times.

The time was not yet ripe!

Rang De Basanti followed. The youth of the polis, inspired by the message of the tele-fiction just wanted a chance to showcase the rebel inside them. The movie proved a match stick in a haystack.

As of coincidence or by sheer bad luck of some rich brags attempting to escape from the crime committed, Jessica Lal murder trial chapter opened and err… closed.

Right time for a mass revolution!

And what a show of mass outburst it has been since then. The judiciary has been shaken by public outcry for justice, the young brigades leading the way, lamenting injustice on the Jessica Lal case, TV channels making it exclusives in as many angles as possible and blogs… well once again leading the way in this growing movement.

The case has twisted and turned once again for good and it seems likely that justice would be anywhere round the corner. Wish and hope the mass revolution works and she does get a posthumous fair trial! Atleast for the sake of the bereaved family!

The mass revolution seems to have picked up. I am convinced! How?
Remember the model who was allegedly raped in a parking lot a few months ago? Well, she’s chosen to fight back. CNN-IBN (once again these guys do itJ ) carried an exclusive sound bite of the lady who clearly indicated that she’s going to fight no matter what be. Though she’s confessed that there’s the fear of threat but whatsoever she’s going to come down to India and seek for justice.

So how does one get convinced that a mass revolution has picked up in this country? Simply relate the above incidents and the jig-saw puzzle of a revolution who’s time has come stares straight on your face.

The outburst of the public and ably supported by the media during the Jessica Lal trial clearly indicates that mass revolution in our country is moving in a clued direction. Had Jessica’s case shut down into the confines of anonymity, I feel that the model would have never seen a feather of a chance to open up her mouth and challenged herself to give it a shot fighting these richly pervert souls.


Great that there is mammoth public participation against injustice done by the system. This is a great turn-coat for a country which so much prided itself for keeping its mouth shut, either due to ignorance or fear.

Hopefully, the culprits of these lamentable acts do get their share of justice; for if the mass of India does not see the results coming, they might once again pull themselves into the cocoons of non - assurance and fear.

Of which we are so very famous of.

Till then, mass revolution…way to go!!!

NDTV or CNN-IBN..Who's eating the bigger pie?

Interestingly, browsing through the websites of both these media mammoths (one a dinosaur, another a humming bird, looking at the speed it is fluttering itself in the TV screens nowadays) I felt that the dinosaur is just loosing the sheen it carries along with it. Once upon a time there was the 8 o' clock news in Doordarshan which all of us swore to. News given by the national television was taken by all and sundry as the bible of information with no questions asked whatsoever.

Then a non descript half an hour news section and another programme which entertained us on a weekend by giving us an overview of the world in this national channel kissed goodbye the fuddy duddy Bheesma Pitamah and moved to create history.

The history being NDTV or New Delhi Television. The meteoric rise of the channel was unprecedented. The cable revolution in India picked up pace. Along with it ran NDTV 24x7. And what a marathon it ran. It kept all the small fry satallites revolving around while it cushioned itself in the minds of India as the most authentic source of tele journalism.

What days were those for NDTV. The deadly combo of journalists, each one a king or a queen in their respective genres....The salt and pepper bearded boss lavished in the curtains of NDTV, only to be seen occasionally...somewhat like a guest appearance on this extra popular news channel.

Period.

2005. One of the most recognized face of NDTV quits and with the pied piper follow many of the journos (small fry though then) to hibernate for about a year to come up with yet another minty fresh channel CNN-IBN. The outcast of NDTV start churning stories after stories, hugely popular shows and messages the common man could empathize with. The channel becomes a hit. From a no advertisements in the first few weeks to a humungous flurry of ads every 2 minutes shows how popular this channel is be - coming .

Now.

NDTV has great competition. One can see the pepper bearded man very regularly on almost every exclusive shows nowadays. Day might just be around that the man would be moving around street to interview the aam junta on some issue of public interest. Hope the time does not come.

CNN-IBN also has to tread a long way. To start is easy, to sustain; that's what will bring out the mickey in them. Nevertheless, they look promising.

Though who's eating the bigger pie is still a thing to be debated on.

Or thinking aloud, is it Headlines Today, Star, Times Now or rather Sahara that share the bigger pie?
Well....the day they do, i'll stop watching TV;)

Period!!!!

The excitement of blogging and reading blogs

Have been coming home really early these days..been two days to be precise..reason? have taken an internet connection at home, so am real excited to enter this fascinating world of blogs as soon as i get the chance..finishing my chores (washing, cooking dinner, washing the utensils et al) subconsciously the hand types the seven letters which starts from B and ends with R. com

This is so spooky addictive.

As I write this its already 12.12 a.m. Day had been quite hectic as ever but the tiredness just vanished as I read and read and read one view after another after another on varied issues..truely there never was enough a medium which could become so much of an information reservoir. Cheers to all the bloggers across the world who make sure that the world is not dictated by a few forced ideologies and opinions are not pushed down people's throat by a few loud mouths.
This medium has given each one to express their views on things that interest, instigate or excite them.
Justice for the Jessica Lal murder case which seems so close is a fine example of blogger power.

Keep the torch of expression burning fellas..the world belongs to those who communicate:)

On women's day, I thought....

As my auto traveled towards office, the chirpy RJ at Radio city FM 91 called upon women around the city to join the Radio City gang for coffee.

9 to 9 blazed the RJ in her chirpy best. Meaning : morning 9 to evening 9; any angel could drop by the Radio City office at Residency Road, sip coffee with the gang and celebrate the day.

All fair, all good. Great going! Hopefully by the end of the day, Radio city would have
humungous number of women visiting the office and celebrating the spirit of womanhood.

Fair enough. I smiled.

The auto took a left turn from Jayanagar 7th Block towards Jayanagar 4th T Block.
Fresh morning, fresh air and equally clean roads! Couldn’t have asked for more to start off a day!

Nearing office, as I was exploring the street outside, my eyes fell upon a lady clad in green shirt, pushing the garbage cart in one hand and picking up wastes from the road on the other.

For the uninitiated, here in Bangalore, we have the concept of Pourakarmikas (this is the name the government has given to these people), who make sure that they meticulously collect the wastes from our houses each morning and also make sure that they keep the city streets clean.

My head started spinning. Suddenly Radio City seemed so dull to me. (No complaints thought to the RJ who was making the show as exciting as it could be).

Does this lady know that today is Women’s day? Even if she does, so what? Does it mean anything to her. The same work, starting 4.30 a.m., the same dirt, the same hassles of people littering places across the city; the responsibility of cleaning it lying in her small but sturdy shoulders.

Why did there no invitations for people like her by the Radio city gang, to have a cup of coffee with the team? Why should only people who SMS get the privilege of celebrating? Why could women’s day not encompass these professionals too, who have been working hard to make ends meet, thereby proving their worth in the society they live in.

Who knows they might be the sole bread winner for the house with husband either a drunkard or a spoilt brat. (This gives them much more reason to celebrate womanhood) Why is the spirit of being a woman not being shared with them?

Likewise construction workers, daily wage owners, bus conductors, the lady who sells lunch in the interiors of Electronic city, the Dhobi walli who makes sure that our clothes are washed and ironed spick and span, the juice seller, the lady who sells tea-coffee in her small angdi…the list goes on and on and on….

Do they not belong to the celebration called womanhood? I am sure they do.

Some of them more belonging than our Page 3 celebs who splurge in these celebrations in their better half’s wealth!

I think we should give it a thought, what say?

In the meanwhile, happy women’s day to the better part of men’s existence:)

Timepassing in a coffee shop

Hard day’s work, cold coffee, Saturday evening. Nice place. Lots of people. Music playing on the background but completely overpowered by the noise of the teens enjoying their weekend evening.

Single guy sitting in the next table.

What must he be thinking looking at almost all the doubles who have filled the coffee house? At least I am doing something;) and not ogling at the couples having a good time at the place!

Talking about couples, I screen around the place. A pair coochicooing in the corner ( there’s no corner btw, only if they knew that they were so very visible to the whole public).

The guys sitting behind me are at their merry best. Yes, I can hear the nursery rhyme which sounds something like – Happy Birthday….Great!

One of the guys has such a loud voice. Forgiven!

They are celebrating. The coffee is being brewed. Can hear the noise of the machine.

Some guys are hanging around the book store. Looking at the segment they are fiddling with, no second thoughts that they are software guys. Bangalore. Software. That goes without saying eh..

Err.. forgot to point out that this is a coffee shop which has a book store attached to it.
Sounds great but this comes with a rider. You cannot take any book to the table until you have bought it.

Forgiven again!

Music has stopped. The RJ is interviewing some guy. My mobile gets a message.

I stop writing and respond to the msg.

I’ve heard the song before. This is the Punjabi MC guy.

Music gets louder. Maybe the guys behind the counter want to keep the tempo of the music with the noise of the place. This is too loud now… I hint the counter guy to lower the music. He smiles and does not oblige. Well the smile defeats me.

The guy sitting next to me gets up and moves towards the counter. Leaves the shop after paying the bill. I look towards the wall.

Ravi Verma’s reprints. 10,000 plus rupees. So pricey even after death.
Cool!

Move my eyes elsewhere. The Mitrokhin Archive II, Chiefs, Andy Menab..

The guy sitting behind me walks out. The next one follows. I can hear the coffee machine.

The table next to mine is cleared…

Vikram Seth - Two lives, Jack Welch – Winning, Digital Photography…

Music still running..place is much more silent now..Can hear the music clearly now..
Talatum is what the singer croons…100 times repetation of the same word!!! ( anyone can solve the mystery meaning of the same?)

Can see a hip looking guy at the book store! Gut feeling that he will not buy any…
......................................

I see my friend arrive. Wrap up my pad, focus my attention towards my friend, smile and start enjoying my time to glory:)

First shower of the season

Ecstasy has its own ways of expressing itself. Yesterday night it happened to me. Exhausted after a hard day’s work, as sleep lullabied me closer towards it, I saw a flash outside. The rumblings followed. I gave a damn.

After all, when you are exhausted to the hilt and there's no current to keep you busy with the television, the only thing which you can do is hitting the sack. After sometime, another spark of light hit on my window pane. Rumble followed after. The mind was so exhausted to conclude what was happening outside.
Or rather, I was bloody less interested. After all, sleep is also an ecstasy, right;)

Distractions followed. Maybe it was the rumblings outside or within myself for not been able to get a restful sleep, I woke up. As subconsciousness would have had it, I headed straight to my veranda. And behold what do I experience?

The first smell of the season!

The smell of earth, as rain hits the hot boiling gravel was indeed an experience to be experienced. 12.30 a.m., I felt so happy for nothing. I had experienced the first pour of the season in Bangalore.

Water flew like bullets on the skin of the gravel. The smell felt so relieving. Maybe the thought that Mother Nature was generous enough to give the earth some cooling effect was indeed relaxing for me. The hard day’s strain precipitated from me as I stood in my balcony watching the pour increase its force. I too shared the blessings of existence along with the tired earth. Both of us were more or less in the same situation.

This went on for almost half an hour as I stepped inside not to play alongside Nature too much to start with.
By the time I went to bed, it was almost 1.30 a.m. Had to come to office at 7.30 a.m., so had to hit off the sack by 6.00 a.m. The day started fresh. Without any tiresome whatsoever. Its 6.00 p.m. now and the enthusiasm of work is still on a high.

Whatever be the reason, some part of me knows that the first showers of the season is doing the trick for me….

Veterinarians: Serving in silence

One of my pals is into software. A computer engineer to be precise, working with an Indian multinational, he shuttles between the metros, now and then, on project works and stuffs which is pretty difficult for me to fathom.

Whenever we catch up, we make sure that we discuss issues and debate around it past midnight. That’s one of the beauties of catching up with pals after lengthy gaps. You have the entire world to talk about and all the people to be laughed about, save yourself:)

In one of our late night chats, we hit upon a very interesting topic revolving around veterinarians of our country. These are the guys who have been directly or indirectly contributing to the national exchequer by their service to the rural populace.

Well, not exactly though, but definitely in terms of giving respite to their livestock which means the world for the denizens in rural India.

I have great respect and empathy for veterinarians. The feeling of having contributed so much to the growth of the nation but still existing in an under privileged state (in terms of income, respect and recognition) is one thing I cannot understand.

My friend related his idea of what he thought a vet was. He illustrated his understanding by giving the real time example of a vet.

Moi dude is a funny chap; so the way he expressed it was quite amusing.

To quote him : “The only way I can relate to a veterinarian is through this quote “ Yaha Kutto Billio ka ilaj hota hein” (Here dogs and cats are treated) .

Glorious laughter followed. I too joined in the show. After all, friends right!
Amused he further quipped, “And you know what - all this is written in a black board, hung outside a dilapidated house, just waiting for a push to crumble”.

We went on and on. He spoke and yours truly listened. My NRI (Newly rich Indian) friend had so much to comment about a poor veterinarian (both in terms of income and recognition).

But somewhere I felt that we had missed the point. These professionals who have given so much to the society definitely deserve better than this.

Thought sharing with you guys....