This is the title of a book I read long time back on the life and work of Swami Vivekananda. It also had some essays on the India he envisaged. I was in class 10 when I read that and was mightily inspired. A dozen years later, I am pissed off with the excuse for a nation called India!
I have refrained from talking politics on my blog, there are too many people who talk about it and not too many takers (not that many people read my blog anyway! :) ) but it was a deliberate choice. I felt that the caste/regional/communalist/communist political stands will not affect me ever, so always ignored the political mire. Never voted (not because I did not want to, but because I was never in my hometown at the time of elections), but have followed the happenings closely.
Today is a different day though. I feel angry, and I feel like I need to slap Raj Thackrey today. And the spineless Congress and toothless BJP. I feel like slapping every politician from every political party.
Firstly, over the last week there have been a huge debate over the singing of Vande Matram in madarssas. Honestly, I don't believe in nation, I have no patriotic sentiments. The only act of patriotism I have ever done was to donate blood for Kargill relief and that was 10 years ago I guess. It was the hangover of Swami Vivekananda's book. I am over it. I feel standing for national anthem is an exercises, but I do it. Because the sensible people of this country while giving me freedom of speech asked that as a price and I am cool with it. I get to pee where ever I want and for that if I have to stand for 52 seconds in a cinema hall, its not that bad, is it? So I cannot understand why there is such huge furore over singing Vande Matram. Either you make it compulsory or abolish. What the hell is voluntary patriotism?
Secondly, MNS beat up Abu Azmi for taking oath in Hindi, our "national" language. Well, my respect for nation is well explained above, so you can well understand what I feel about the whole incident. I love Hindi, am pretty good at it, but my love for language is not shared by MNS, too bad! They don't respect the constitution, well, neither would I if I had the choice. MNS is above law and I have already talked about my faith in the Judiciary.
What makes me angry is the cheapness of the show put up by our politicians. Look at Madhu Koda, what a brilliant con he pulled on Jharkhand. Brilliant. And here in Maharashtra we are fighting about whether or not an oath can be taken in Hindi.
I want to slap politicians not for their ineffectiveness, but for not entertaining us enough. In Karnataka the CM did a decent job by weeping in front of cameras, admitting that his priority was to save his government and not the flood relief. Good job sir, that's why they elected you, to save the government and not the flood victims. Who cares about the flood victims anyway, they don't have enough to bribe.
Madhu Koda taught us how to milk a bull. Did he robbed Jharkhand well!Loved it. (Jharkhand is my home state, and I think it is quite oxymoronic that I don't like the idea of nation, state is not that bad. The lesser of the two evils perhaps!)
I think we should be sending our ministers. MPs and MLAs to Europe. Learn for Sarkozy's and Berlusconi's of the world. Give us some value for the taxes that we pay!
Showing posts with label Social Commentary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Social Commentary. Show all posts
Monday, November 09, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Intellectual Property, and a farce that is Indian Judicial System
OKTATABYEBYE!
How many times in our lives have we used this phrase? But it seems that since 'Tata' is a brand name, one not can use it for any product or services. Bullshit.
Check Merriam Websters, the phrase Ta-ta originated in 1823, a full 16 years before Jamshedji Tata was born and 80 years before Tata Steel was founded. Can the Tata's rightfully claim ownership of the phrase?
Indian agriculture ministry argued the case for Basmati rice when it was to be patented by some American firm, saying that the usage of Basmati rice in India dates years ago and quoted ancient Indian poems in its support. So, by that logic, you cannot patent something that existed much earlier.
How come brand names are trademarked then? Well, it is the usage of a phrase in some context. You can start a hotel chain with the name Adidas, not another apparel range. That is to protect the consumer from counterfeits and helping the companies reap the benefit of creating a brand.
But it certainly doesn't mean that Mr.Jobs owns all the usage of the word "Apple". We should still be able to use the phrase, "an apple a day, keeps a doctor away".
Whats the issue with OKTATABYEBYE?
That MakeMyTrip wanted to name a portal OKTATABYEBYE and the Tatas found it infringement of their IP over the brand name. And guess what, the court ruled it in favour of the Tatas!
Ridiculous.
1) The context of the usage of the word TATA is not as a brand but as a word of English language.
2) TATAs are not in the travel business and MakeMyTrip's proposition is completely different.
3) The pharse used is self explanatory and in no way uses the word TATA as a brand.
Why did the court ruled it in favor of the TATAs?
Why do you think I call the Indian Judicial System a farce?
How many times in our lives have we used this phrase? But it seems that since 'Tata' is a brand name, one not can use it for any product or services. Bullshit.
Check Merriam Websters, the phrase Ta-ta originated in 1823, a full 16 years before Jamshedji Tata was born and 80 years before Tata Steel was founded. Can the Tata's rightfully claim ownership of the phrase?
Indian agriculture ministry argued the case for Basmati rice when it was to be patented by some American firm, saying that the usage of Basmati rice in India dates years ago and quoted ancient Indian poems in its support. So, by that logic, you cannot patent something that existed much earlier.
How come brand names are trademarked then? Well, it is the usage of a phrase in some context. You can start a hotel chain with the name Adidas, not another apparel range. That is to protect the consumer from counterfeits and helping the companies reap the benefit of creating a brand.
But it certainly doesn't mean that Mr.Jobs owns all the usage of the word "Apple". We should still be able to use the phrase, "an apple a day, keeps a doctor away".
Whats the issue with OKTATABYEBYE?
That MakeMyTrip wanted to name a portal OKTATABYEBYE and the Tatas found it infringement of their IP over the brand name. And guess what, the court ruled it in favour of the Tatas!
Ridiculous.
1) The context of the usage of the word TATA is not as a brand but as a word of English language.
2) TATAs are not in the travel business and MakeMyTrip's proposition is completely different.
3) The pharse used is self explanatory and in no way uses the word TATA as a brand.
Why did the court ruled it in favor of the TATAs?
Why do you think I call the Indian Judicial System a farce?
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Living an image
I work as a Sales Manager in a Internet Media Company. I have loads of programmers, journalists, movie critics and other sales people around me. In the building that I have my office, on one of the floors is the office of one the popular English Dailys and thus, have more of journalists and movie critics, the so-called opinionated and creative crowd.
So when I go down for a cup of tea and smoke with my friends, I just cant help but notice the stereotypes.
Think of an Indian Journalist, and you will think of shabbily dressed, bearded, khaadi wearing, bespectacled, smoking individual. Well, with so much of TV happening around, the over grown beard has given way to trimmed beard, khadis have given way to torn denims, but the glasses and ciggarettes are still there. As if they were the hallmark of intellectualism.
Drop closer and the conversations will never be trivial, it always is a discussion about the seemingly most important issues, almost always about 'the system'. Not that I don't like such conversations. I love them, you can talk about so many things that are wrong with our system without even proposing a solution. I love when people who have never voted criticize the democracy. I adore people who wear brands and then moan about the consumerist attitude, but that's a different story.
Coming back to our journalist and creative friends, as if the whole 'look' is necessary to 'being'. Sometimes it makes me wonder what is more important, to look the part or to play it?
It is not that the sales guys are far behind. We( and I count myself in) dress as if we are about to attend a christian wedding.
The programmers dress in casuals as if each one of them owns a Google! My company's CEO dresses in Black T-shirts and Denims, just like Steve Jobs does.
So we all dress for our part. And we do that really well. I am not sure if play them that well.
May be the stereotypes of movies and media reinforces the image in us. May be, we reinforce the stereotype by behaving that way. But which so ever is true, I feel that we live the image more than living the role.
Enough said, I need to go and fix my tie.
So when I go down for a cup of tea and smoke with my friends, I just cant help but notice the stereotypes.
Think of an Indian Journalist, and you will think of shabbily dressed, bearded, khaadi wearing, bespectacled, smoking individual. Well, with so much of TV happening around, the over grown beard has given way to trimmed beard, khadis have given way to torn denims, but the glasses and ciggarettes are still there. As if they were the hallmark of intellectualism.
Drop closer and the conversations will never be trivial, it always is a discussion about the seemingly most important issues, almost always about 'the system'. Not that I don't like such conversations. I love them, you can talk about so many things that are wrong with our system without even proposing a solution. I love when people who have never voted criticize the democracy. I adore people who wear brands and then moan about the consumerist attitude, but that's a different story.
Coming back to our journalist and creative friends, as if the whole 'look' is necessary to 'being'. Sometimes it makes me wonder what is more important, to look the part or to play it?
It is not that the sales guys are far behind. We( and I count myself in) dress as if we are about to attend a christian wedding.
The programmers dress in casuals as if each one of them owns a Google! My company's CEO dresses in Black T-shirts and Denims, just like Steve Jobs does.
So we all dress for our part. And we do that really well. I am not sure if play them that well.
May be the stereotypes of movies and media reinforces the image in us. May be, we reinforce the stereotype by behaving that way. But which so ever is true, I feel that we live the image more than living the role.
Enough said, I need to go and fix my tie.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Rape, class and India
Shiney Ahuja is accused of raping his maid. Should have been a simple enough headline somewhere on the 4th page of a Mumbai newspaper. It is not. Shiney is a bollywood actor, famous and married.
Well, this is not the first instance of a rich and famous being accused of such an act but what is a first is the media and the public reaction to it.
Part of the reaction is, naturally, condemning the act. It is the other part that I am not so comfortable with.
The audience is baffled by the fact that the victim is the maid. Most of the comments that I see on the various news websites express disbelief and some even go to the extent of suggesting that the entire episode is a stunt by the maid to extract more moeny of her employer, which has gone horribly wrong. A section of people condemn the act not because it is rape, but it is a maid. How can someone rape his maid, someone who is not even good looking, is poor and as some readers say,"stinking"?
So the source of disgust is not the act, but the victim's social status. Is it OK to rape a high society girl? Or one should only try to rape people in their peer group? Why is it that the society thinks that the higher income people have more intergrity? Why is it that we all stood up for Priyardarshini Muttoo and Jessica Lal but cannot find enough courage to speak for the incident that happened in Khairlanji some two and a half years back?
Do we feel hurt more when we can relate to the victim in terms of lifetyle, and aspirations? And if yes, why?
Shouldn't the crime be judged on the act alone?
Amidst all this, Times of India published the findings of a the medical examination report, which will put to shame the porn magazine writers with the details and the decriptions. They did nothing of the sort with so many other such incidents.
The girl was perhaps raped within the closed walls of an apartment. The jury is still out on that one.
Times of India raped her publicly on the pages of a newspaper that is circulated widely.
Add to it the plethora of jokes doing rounds on Shiney Ahuja's episode. We have made a mockery of an incident that should have been unanimously condemned.
My India, what have you become?
Well, this is not the first instance of a rich and famous being accused of such an act but what is a first is the media and the public reaction to it.
Part of the reaction is, naturally, condemning the act. It is the other part that I am not so comfortable with.
The audience is baffled by the fact that the victim is the maid. Most of the comments that I see on the various news websites express disbelief and some even go to the extent of suggesting that the entire episode is a stunt by the maid to extract more moeny of her employer, which has gone horribly wrong. A section of people condemn the act not because it is rape, but it is a maid. How can someone rape his maid, someone who is not even good looking, is poor and as some readers say,"stinking"?
So the source of disgust is not the act, but the victim's social status. Is it OK to rape a high society girl? Or one should only try to rape people in their peer group? Why is it that the society thinks that the higher income people have more intergrity? Why is it that we all stood up for Priyardarshini Muttoo and Jessica Lal but cannot find enough courage to speak for the incident that happened in Khairlanji some two and a half years back?
Do we feel hurt more when we can relate to the victim in terms of lifetyle, and aspirations? And if yes, why?
Shouldn't the crime be judged on the act alone?
Amidst all this, Times of India published the findings of a the medical examination report, which will put to shame the porn magazine writers with the details and the decriptions. They did nothing of the sort with so many other such incidents.
The girl was perhaps raped within the closed walls of an apartment. The jury is still out on that one.
Times of India raped her publicly on the pages of a newspaper that is circulated widely.
Add to it the plethora of jokes doing rounds on Shiney Ahuja's episode. We have made a mockery of an incident that should have been unanimously condemned.
My India, what have you become?
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Good to be back!
I am back to college. It felt a bit like the first day, new room, empty roads and no food to eat! :)
It has been a long time. 5 different places in last 2 and a half months have not yielded much in terms of experience to share but has been a good experience to live.
Mumbai is a peculiar city. Alive and dead at the same time! It epitomises the Indian growth story but also houses the backward looking political forces.
It is not about politics and hence I wont talk of it any further. Two things in Mumbai stand out for me.
The most private space for a couple is the most public of them all in Mumbai. Along the Marine Lines' shoreline, you can see couples doing, well, a lot of things! Wonder why has it not warranted some wrath of the activists?
Secondly, what the hell do the Mumbai girls eat? I mean, in Calcutta you would go weeks without looking at a girl worth giving a second glance, but in Mumbai, it would come down to minutes! The crowd out there is very much 'in'. I fell in love 8 times a day!
I miss travelling in the local! The joy in throwing yourself on the sea of people, great fun! I travelled second class and committed every punishable offence in the trains except travelling in the Ladies' compartment. Travelled without ticket, with improper ticket, with a second class ticket in the first class, I have done it all! I was never pulled up for ticket checking! Maybe, my formal dressing had something to do with it!
When I was travelling back, I saw a damn pretty chick at the airport and my hand went up to comb my hair. And I smiled at my own stupidity! I felt like a kid all over again!
The flight back witnessed some turbulent weather and I was the only one on-board who was having a good time! I was even reprimanded by my neighbour 'to wipe that smile off my face'.
I guess my sense of adventure is a bit misplaced!
Nonetheless, it was fun!
It has been a long time. 5 different places in last 2 and a half months have not yielded much in terms of experience to share but has been a good experience to live.
Mumbai is a peculiar city. Alive and dead at the same time! It epitomises the Indian growth story but also houses the backward looking political forces.
It is not about politics and hence I wont talk of it any further. Two things in Mumbai stand out for me.
The most private space for a couple is the most public of them all in Mumbai. Along the Marine Lines' shoreline, you can see couples doing, well, a lot of things! Wonder why has it not warranted some wrath of the activists?
Secondly, what the hell do the Mumbai girls eat? I mean, in Calcutta you would go weeks without looking at a girl worth giving a second glance, but in Mumbai, it would come down to minutes! The crowd out there is very much 'in'. I fell in love 8 times a day!
I miss travelling in the local! The joy in throwing yourself on the sea of people, great fun! I travelled second class and committed every punishable offence in the trains except travelling in the Ladies' compartment. Travelled without ticket, with improper ticket, with a second class ticket in the first class, I have done it all! I was never pulled up for ticket checking! Maybe, my formal dressing had something to do with it!
When I was travelling back, I saw a damn pretty chick at the airport and my hand went up to comb my hair. And I smiled at my own stupidity! I felt like a kid all over again!
The flight back witnessed some turbulent weather and I was the only one on-board who was having a good time! I was even reprimanded by my neighbour 'to wipe that smile off my face'.
I guess my sense of adventure is a bit misplaced!
Nonetheless, it was fun!
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Chaibasa Diaries contd...
I have nothing much to do these days so I watch a lot of TV and things that I see have, well, have opened my eyes to a world that I have not been in touch with at all, in the last year or so.
Roadies: I find it difficult to hate or love this show. I am amused that there is a crowd, which so desperately want to ‘be’ that everything is fair for them. I am a mere spectator of an event I just cannot classify. It is not a game as there is not a fair chance for people who are playing. It is not reality TV as there is too much of an impetus from an external source. I have lived in metros long enough to realize that this is not a representative sample. I have not met enough idiots, honestly. It is a bunch of characters who want a short cut to money and fame who believe that they are putting up a show not knowing that they are the show!
But it is cheap entertainment. Pure mockery of all what the old school believes as values.
PS: I am in love with Sambhavi!
Media: I love India TV. It makes me hate myself that I am an Indian. Seriously, the bad roads, the pathetic sanitation and drinking water problems, the lack of basic civic amenities after 60 years of independence, the corrupt bureaucracy, all pales to insignificance in what India TV presents as news. I feel bad for Vandana, the poor soul did not deserve to spend so much time in a pit but that was the effect, not the cause. Did you do enough as a news channel to make people accountable for the incident? No!
There was this news about a bicycle thief who was caught red handed by the crowd and he was beaten all black and blue by the mob. What I hate was the endorsement of the crowd behavior on the grounds that the courts and police are not competent enough. Somebody should tell them that two wrongs do not a right make!
There was more, an hour special on Tanushree Dutta! And also on the fact that a women was beaten up because she was considered a ‘Dayan’ (witch) by the villagers. You have the audacity to cover that live, bring the ‘experts’ in your studio to discuss whether someone can actually be a ‘Dayan’!
I think I read it somewhere that a society’s decay is reflected in the media. I am not quite sure of the fact that the reverse is not happening in India. For two minutes of fame, people might just want to try the extreme. An accused of murder calling media to surrender is an example of easy popularity. A few days back, a truck driver was burnt alive in Asansol (West Bengal) who had hit a school girl and she died on the spot. Well, will this change anything? More and more such incident will happen as long as the media does not condemn these acts of cowardice!
My municipality elections: Things went well, the noise pollution is over, we had Holi and Diwali at the same time in the processions and the buzz is over. I did use my right to cast my vote and it had no bearing on the election results. The candidates I supported lost badly! As always, the worthy is not the winner!
Amidst all this, Shewag provided some excitement. Thank you for an eventful innings in an uneventful contest.
Roadies: I find it difficult to hate or love this show. I am amused that there is a crowd, which so desperately want to ‘be’ that everything is fair for them. I am a mere spectator of an event I just cannot classify. It is not a game as there is not a fair chance for people who are playing. It is not reality TV as there is too much of an impetus from an external source. I have lived in metros long enough to realize that this is not a representative sample. I have not met enough idiots, honestly. It is a bunch of characters who want a short cut to money and fame who believe that they are putting up a show not knowing that they are the show!
But it is cheap entertainment. Pure mockery of all what the old school believes as values.
PS: I am in love with Sambhavi!
Media: I love India TV. It makes me hate myself that I am an Indian. Seriously, the bad roads, the pathetic sanitation and drinking water problems, the lack of basic civic amenities after 60 years of independence, the corrupt bureaucracy, all pales to insignificance in what India TV presents as news. I feel bad for Vandana, the poor soul did not deserve to spend so much time in a pit but that was the effect, not the cause. Did you do enough as a news channel to make people accountable for the incident? No!
There was this news about a bicycle thief who was caught red handed by the crowd and he was beaten all black and blue by the mob. What I hate was the endorsement of the crowd behavior on the grounds that the courts and police are not competent enough. Somebody should tell them that two wrongs do not a right make!
There was more, an hour special on Tanushree Dutta! And also on the fact that a women was beaten up because she was considered a ‘Dayan’ (witch) by the villagers. You have the audacity to cover that live, bring the ‘experts’ in your studio to discuss whether someone can actually be a ‘Dayan’!
I think I read it somewhere that a society’s decay is reflected in the media. I am not quite sure of the fact that the reverse is not happening in India. For two minutes of fame, people might just want to try the extreme. An accused of murder calling media to surrender is an example of easy popularity. A few days back, a truck driver was burnt alive in Asansol (West Bengal) who had hit a school girl and she died on the spot. Well, will this change anything? More and more such incident will happen as long as the media does not condemn these acts of cowardice!
My municipality elections: Things went well, the noise pollution is over, we had Holi and Diwali at the same time in the processions and the buzz is over. I did use my right to cast my vote and it had no bearing on the election results. The candidates I supported lost badly! As always, the worthy is not the winner!
Amidst all this, Shewag provided some excitement. Thank you for an eventful innings in an uneventful contest.
Monday, April 14, 2008
The Chaibasa Diaries!
I was born and brought up in this town and it is here that I am spending my time now. It has been a while since I last spent so much of my time here and things are really different. I have spent last 8 years of my life away from this town, and I get more respect than love these days when I come back. I am seen as ‘worldly wise’ but the affection that this town has for my peers is not there for me. As if I lost my innocence by studying and working outside.
On the bright side we have this branch of ICICI bank coming up. Now that will put this small, almost forgotten town on the banking map atleast! So instead of people queuing up in front of tellers, they would line up in front of the ATM. Too bad for the small talks that happened in the long queues - the cribbing on the inefficiency of the teller, on the fact that female tellers never come on time, on the hot and humid bank interior, on the political system, will pave way to impatience with another customer. The system will no longer will be the focal point of verbal brickbats but another peer would have to tolerate the verbal assault for his inability to use the technology! And I must add, people here have mastered the art of assaulting verbally. No, it is not Delhi-type verbal rape nor Calcutta-type verbal indecency, but a light hearted banter that is embarrassing and tickling at the same time! One doesn't really know whether to laugh or blush!
Sample this post lunch conversation between a teller and a customer at the bank:
Customer: “Lagta hai bhabhi ne aaj khana bahut achcha banaya tha tiffin mein”.
Teller: “Aap ko kaise pata?”
Customer: “Daba ke khaane ke baad aapke haath dheere chal rahe hain isiliye poochha.”
So the social fabric will be distorted. Someday, sociologists will study the impact of ATM machines on society.
We have municipal elections coming up! And the verbiage has achieved new heights! I was told that I belong to “Chaibasa ki yuva, shikshit, pragatisheel aur vikashsheel peedhi jiska Chaibasa ke prati kartavya hai ke who usse ek achcha ummedvaar chun kar de.” (That I represent the young, educated, progressive generation whose duty it is to elect a suitable candidate for Chaibasa municipality). You won’t believe that it was my barber who said that to me. Nopes, he was not in the preaching mode but he is one of the 155 candidates contesting the elections for 10 wards.
I just wondered where would I go if I need a hair cut next time!
Visiting the barber has some added fun as well. It is not a sophisticated saloon, but a Malgudi Days type place where you sit on a wooden chair, people of my height have the misfortune of having their knees pressed against the front wall, no AC, no magazines to read. You have this one newspaper, of which you might be lucky to get one page if you are waiting. Eight people each will have one page and it would be your bad day if you are stuck with the business news page. There is not much joy in reading about the bullions! The Hindi dailies that we get in this part of the world, make sure that they publish some or the other hot photograph on the gossip page. It sells! If you are really lucky, you will get that page. If you are not, try to find out who has it, and make sure you make the eye contact the moment he is done with that. If you have the front page, you will get to read half the news, because inadvertently, all the news articles on the front page conclude on some other page.
In the time that my barber is busy with my hair, he tells me all that has happened in the town since my last visit. It is almost like doing a system restore. He asks me when I was last in the town and gives me an update after that ‘cut-off’ date. I learn about all the affairs going on, how many and which of the girls ran away from their homes with their boy friends, how many of them are planning to run away, all the family feuds and dowry cases. It is a boring place as there are no page 3 parties happening. Out here, a cow died of electric shock is a page 3 news. When the best selling newspaper in the region is called “Chamakta Aaena” (Shining Mirror) you don’t really have much choice.
There is more to come! The broadband has not yet arrived here and the dial up connection isn’t very exciting here! I am off to have a cup of tea. The time of the day doesn’t really matter! You can have a cup of tea any time here! After all, it is Chai-basa!
On the bright side we have this branch of ICICI bank coming up. Now that will put this small, almost forgotten town on the banking map atleast! So instead of people queuing up in front of tellers, they would line up in front of the ATM. Too bad for the small talks that happened in the long queues - the cribbing on the inefficiency of the teller, on the fact that female tellers never come on time, on the hot and humid bank interior, on the political system, will pave way to impatience with another customer. The system will no longer will be the focal point of verbal brickbats but another peer would have to tolerate the verbal assault for his inability to use the technology! And I must add, people here have mastered the art of assaulting verbally. No, it is not Delhi-type verbal rape nor Calcutta-type verbal indecency, but a light hearted banter that is embarrassing and tickling at the same time! One doesn't really know whether to laugh or blush!
Sample this post lunch conversation between a teller and a customer at the bank:
Customer: “Lagta hai bhabhi ne aaj khana bahut achcha banaya tha tiffin mein”.
Teller: “Aap ko kaise pata?”
Customer: “Daba ke khaane ke baad aapke haath dheere chal rahe hain isiliye poochha.”
So the social fabric will be distorted. Someday, sociologists will study the impact of ATM machines on society.
We have municipal elections coming up! And the verbiage has achieved new heights! I was told that I belong to “Chaibasa ki yuva, shikshit, pragatisheel aur vikashsheel peedhi jiska Chaibasa ke prati kartavya hai ke who usse ek achcha ummedvaar chun kar de.” (That I represent the young, educated, progressive generation whose duty it is to elect a suitable candidate for Chaibasa municipality). You won’t believe that it was my barber who said that to me. Nopes, he was not in the preaching mode but he is one of the 155 candidates contesting the elections for 10 wards.
I just wondered where would I go if I need a hair cut next time!
Visiting the barber has some added fun as well. It is not a sophisticated saloon, but a Malgudi Days type place where you sit on a wooden chair, people of my height have the misfortune of having their knees pressed against the front wall, no AC, no magazines to read. You have this one newspaper, of which you might be lucky to get one page if you are waiting. Eight people each will have one page and it would be your bad day if you are stuck with the business news page. There is not much joy in reading about the bullions! The Hindi dailies that we get in this part of the world, make sure that they publish some or the other hot photograph on the gossip page. It sells! If you are really lucky, you will get that page. If you are not, try to find out who has it, and make sure you make the eye contact the moment he is done with that. If you have the front page, you will get to read half the news, because inadvertently, all the news articles on the front page conclude on some other page.
In the time that my barber is busy with my hair, he tells me all that has happened in the town since my last visit. It is almost like doing a system restore. He asks me when I was last in the town and gives me an update after that ‘cut-off’ date. I learn about all the affairs going on, how many and which of the girls ran away from their homes with their boy friends, how many of them are planning to run away, all the family feuds and dowry cases. It is a boring place as there are no page 3 parties happening. Out here, a cow died of electric shock is a page 3 news. When the best selling newspaper in the region is called “Chamakta Aaena” (Shining Mirror) you don’t really have much choice.
There is more to come! The broadband has not yet arrived here and the dial up connection isn’t very exciting here! I am off to have a cup of tea. The time of the day doesn’t really matter! You can have a cup of tea any time here! After all, it is Chai-basa!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Valentine's Day collage!
So it is 14th February. Just another day but not for a lot of people. I went out with a friend to get away from the hostel and this is what I am back with:
1) An aunty in early thirties with an uncle in mid thirties eating "Paani Puri" at a joint:
Uncle made it clear that he wants no chillies in his "paani puri". Plain and simple instruction.
Round 1: Aunty: Bhaiya, please add some chillies.
Round 2: Aunty: Bhaiya, add some "khataayi".
Round 3: Aunty: Bhaiya, put some green chillies.
Round 4: Aunty: Bhaiya, add some masala.
Poor Bhaiya!
Do women actually know what they want?
2) City Center, the famous mall in salt lake, had hosted a free dj show and there was this crowd of 300 odd, struggling to find an inch of space to put their foot and still managing to dance.
Interestingly, there was this couple of 40 year olds onlooking. I am not sure what they were wondering about. My guess is that it could be either of:
It was so simple in our times. A pigeon, a kite and a letter! OR
Wish we had this in our times!
I think it is the former. What's your take?
3)I heard of this 10th class student in a school neraby kissing a letter, which I suppose was from his girlfriend.
I wonder, is it what they show in movies that has become love now?
4) I saw this couple who would be easily past their 50s. Uncle helping Aunt have her "chaat" and instructing the vendor how she wants her dish done!
Old school of romance, zindabaad!
5) A lot of pretty gals with dumb guys, and a lot of sighs!
What price being pseudo intelligent?
1) An aunty in early thirties with an uncle in mid thirties eating "Paani Puri" at a joint:
Uncle made it clear that he wants no chillies in his "paani puri". Plain and simple instruction.
Round 1: Aunty: Bhaiya, please add some chillies.
Round 2: Aunty: Bhaiya, add some "khataayi".
Round 3: Aunty: Bhaiya, put some green chillies.
Round 4: Aunty: Bhaiya, add some masala.
Poor Bhaiya!
Do women actually know what they want?
2) City Center, the famous mall in salt lake, had hosted a free dj show and there was this crowd of 300 odd, struggling to find an inch of space to put their foot and still managing to dance.
Interestingly, there was this couple of 40 year olds onlooking. I am not sure what they were wondering about. My guess is that it could be either of:
It was so simple in our times. A pigeon, a kite and a letter! OR
Wish we had this in our times!
I think it is the former. What's your take?
3)I heard of this 10th class student in a school neraby kissing a letter, which I suppose was from his girlfriend.
I wonder, is it what they show in movies that has become love now?
4) I saw this couple who would be easily past their 50s. Uncle helping Aunt have her "chaat" and instructing the vendor how she wants her dish done!
Old school of romance, zindabaad!
5) A lot of pretty gals with dumb guys, and a lot of sighs!
What price being pseudo intelligent?
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Lessons from Kaju Singh
One look at Kaju Singh will bring the memories of an anonymous Bihari villain from any Hindi movie. About 5ft 10, dark, overweight, with a ‘tilak’ on his forehead that makes him look all the more villainous, dressed in a Red T-shirt and a jacket that was white once upon a time and selling tea outside Dhanbaad railway station, one look at him and you would say, a very uninspiring individual!
That’s what I thought when I walked into his shop one chilly January night, a few days back. It was about 1 in the morning and I was waiting for another train which, not surprisingly, was late! (I can never understand why the trains get delayed when you are all alone, making the wait seem even longer!)
I walked out of the station, hoping to eat something and stumbled upon this tea shop. A VCD player and a TV set blaring out the songs from the forgotten movie “Aashiqi” and a bunch of people spending time watching that, the cheap Chinese miniature lights doing what they do best- irritate, I stepped near the stove to heat up and asked for a cup of tea.
While I waited for my cup of tea, my gaze shifted from the TV set to the signboard at the top of the shop’s door. It was not the name of the tea stall, to my surprise, it read in Hindi: “Stay away from AIDS. Only awareness can stop the epidemic. For free condoms, contact Kaju Singh” I couldn’t help a smile, the idea of vending condoms at a tea shop was a novel one!
Then I looked at the back wall, and it was full of framed certificates which sang praises for the community service that Kaju Singh had done. They spoke of his contribution in spreading AIDS awareness and I saw that he had worked in all day long camps! And I looked at him going about his business! The kid who works in his shop fumbled and broke two glasses. He just bent down, picked up the pieces and threw them away.
I just stood there, watching him go about his job as if nothing had happened!
Many of us who have donated blood make sure that it appears in our CVs and forms that we fill, and here is this guy, letting go of a day’s income many a times to work in spreading awareness!
We argue with the taxiwalas to save 10 bucks, and this guy lost Rs10 because of someone else’s fault and was still unruffled!
And I am the ‘educated’ one! I wondered, how much have I lost to education and greed?
That night, when I paid for my tea, I said ‘thank you’. I walked back, humbled, and with a lump in my throat.
May be, we all can learn from Kaju Singh.
And yes, he is a Bihari, one of the many whom Raj Thackrey hates!
That’s what I thought when I walked into his shop one chilly January night, a few days back. It was about 1 in the morning and I was waiting for another train which, not surprisingly, was late! (I can never understand why the trains get delayed when you are all alone, making the wait seem even longer!)
I walked out of the station, hoping to eat something and stumbled upon this tea shop. A VCD player and a TV set blaring out the songs from the forgotten movie “Aashiqi” and a bunch of people spending time watching that, the cheap Chinese miniature lights doing what they do best- irritate, I stepped near the stove to heat up and asked for a cup of tea.
While I waited for my cup of tea, my gaze shifted from the TV set to the signboard at the top of the shop’s door. It was not the name of the tea stall, to my surprise, it read in Hindi: “Stay away from AIDS. Only awareness can stop the epidemic. For free condoms, contact Kaju Singh” I couldn’t help a smile, the idea of vending condoms at a tea shop was a novel one!
Then I looked at the back wall, and it was full of framed certificates which sang praises for the community service that Kaju Singh had done. They spoke of his contribution in spreading AIDS awareness and I saw that he had worked in all day long camps! And I looked at him going about his business! The kid who works in his shop fumbled and broke two glasses. He just bent down, picked up the pieces and threw them away.
I just stood there, watching him go about his job as if nothing had happened!
Many of us who have donated blood make sure that it appears in our CVs and forms that we fill, and here is this guy, letting go of a day’s income many a times to work in spreading awareness!
We argue with the taxiwalas to save 10 bucks, and this guy lost Rs10 because of someone else’s fault and was still unruffled!
And I am the ‘educated’ one! I wondered, how much have I lost to education and greed?
That night, when I paid for my tea, I said ‘thank you’. I walked back, humbled, and with a lump in my throat.
May be, we all can learn from Kaju Singh.
And yes, he is a Bihari, one of the many whom Raj Thackrey hates!
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Democracy!
To put it simply, it is the form of government where every one has equal rights.
To put it in practice: At a party, a bunch of jokers play what they think is music, another bunch of losers do what they think is dance, I drink what we all know is alcohol, and we all have what we think is fun!
I love democracy! I can write what I think! And you still have a choice of not reading it!
To put it in practice: At a party, a bunch of jokers play what they think is music, another bunch of losers do what they think is dance, I drink what we all know is alcohol, and we all have what we think is fun!
I love democracy! I can write what I think! And you still have a choice of not reading it!
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
PowerScrap - cut the crap!
This new year, I received 100s of new year wishes. How much I wish at least one was for me!
The fact that you can send same scrap to all the people in your friendlist at one go, and you do, makes me think that you are some really lazy bugger, who is caught between scared of being neglected by people and hence wants to make his/her prsence felt, and simultaneously not caring enough to be personal and direct.
I know you are busy, and you dont really have the time for me but why do you have to tell me that on my face? You are putting a long esteemed relationship, an acquaintance, someone you have not even met and someone who just happens to be in your friendlist, all on the same page. I might be anyone of these to you, but then, someone or the other might have been the one with whom you had a long relationship!
A scrap is an impersonal thing, so far detached. Just like an SMS! You have not wished me well, not even thought about me. I get a scrap because I happen to be in your friendlist. Because I exist, not because I matter!
It is not me that I am talking about. It very well could have been anyone of those who read this, and those who don't.
And just to make the matters worse:
I had a very good friend who passed away in a road accident. I do visit his profile once in a while. The last time I was there, I saw this: 'Wishing you and your family a very happy new year - Poweescrap".
Yes, he needs this wish, in heaven. His family will also have a great year ahead without him! Thank you! I am very sorry that he cannot reply your (s)crap so I am saying thank you on his behalf. Thanks for remembering him!
Next time you use the mass scrapping thing, just remember that you could have hurt someone by wishing him/her well!
The fact that you can send same scrap to all the people in your friendlist at one go, and you do, makes me think that you are some really lazy bugger, who is caught between scared of being neglected by people and hence wants to make his/her prsence felt, and simultaneously not caring enough to be personal and direct.
I know you are busy, and you dont really have the time for me but why do you have to tell me that on my face? You are putting a long esteemed relationship, an acquaintance, someone you have not even met and someone who just happens to be in your friendlist, all on the same page. I might be anyone of these to you, but then, someone or the other might have been the one with whom you had a long relationship!
A scrap is an impersonal thing, so far detached. Just like an SMS! You have not wished me well, not even thought about me. I get a scrap because I happen to be in your friendlist. Because I exist, not because I matter!
It is not me that I am talking about. It very well could have been anyone of those who read this, and those who don't.
And just to make the matters worse:
I had a very good friend who passed away in a road accident. I do visit his profile once in a while. The last time I was there, I saw this: 'Wishing you and your family a very happy new year - Poweescrap".
Yes, he needs this wish, in heaven. His family will also have a great year ahead without him! Thank you! I am very sorry that he cannot reply your (s)crap so I am saying thank you on his behalf. Thanks for remembering him!
Next time you use the mass scrapping thing, just remember that you could have hurt someone by wishing him/her well!
Friday, December 14, 2007
Wedding Invitations!
"Hey Abhishek,
The time for the invite has dawned upon us - so here goes : It gives me great pleasure to invite you to my wedding reception on the XXth of December, 2007 in ABC.
It would be great if you could make it. Please consider this a personal invitation and I do look forward to seeing you at the wedding.
Regards,"
When you approach the top of the normal curve of your life ( I mean 25 years for the statistically illiterate), every now or then, you will get these mails! I have mixed emotions when the sender is a male(lucky guy, poor chap, gaya saala!), and confused emotions when the sender is a female.
Mixed and confused might sound same, they are not! With a guy, it depends on : love or arranged, lass or no-class, by chance or by choice. So it gives to a decision tree with varying probabilities( I had my Risk Management paper today and you have not so I will simplify it further). It is like the magician's hat, you don't know what he is going to pull out, you see and react! I am a nice guy, nicer to married couples with pretty ladies and nicest to couples with arm-candy girlfriends.(Now that it is my only chance to be seen in company of any pretty gal is a different story altogether). And hence, mixed bag emotions!
Confused: You cant help feeling happy for people when they are getting married! That is the natural reaction but then, it adds to my confusion! Along with the mail there is also this attached pdf with the details of the wedding and I wish it had my name and not the other guy's!
So here comes the sadness part! You look back on all the coffee cups that you left behind along the last few years, of the last desks of the class and those arbit conversations, of the moments when you tried to catch attention, and of those when you seeked none!
The coffee cups in savvy cafes will be replaced by tea in the drawing room, those "If I was not in a relationship, I would have asked you out"- fling will give way to "XYZ is a lucky guy to have you", "You are looking gorgeous/hot tonight" to " you are looking pretty" a casual wink to a polite hello, things will never be the same again!
No matter what people say, life is never the same after marriage and everyone around you will have to make adjustments if you are getting married. Friends wont make sly remarks in front of you and you will wonder what happened to their sense of humor!
Now I understand why they call it an institution and not a relationship!
And you would think I would learn when this has happened to me once! Ha! This is some 7th such mail and there I go again!
My life has the Markovian property! (Click on the link only if you have nothing, ABSOLUTELY nothing else to do. Don't blame me!)
The time for the invite has dawned upon us - so here goes : It gives me great pleasure to invite you to my wedding reception on the XXth of December, 2007 in ABC.
It would be great if you could make it. Please consider this a personal invitation and I do look forward to seeing you at the wedding.
Regards,"
When you approach the top of the normal curve of your life ( I mean 25 years for the statistically illiterate), every now or then, you will get these mails! I have mixed emotions when the sender is a male(lucky guy, poor chap, gaya saala!), and confused emotions when the sender is a female.
Mixed and confused might sound same, they are not! With a guy, it depends on : love or arranged, lass or no-class, by chance or by choice. So it gives to a decision tree with varying probabilities( I had my Risk Management paper today and you have not so I will simplify it further). It is like the magician's hat, you don't know what he is going to pull out, you see and react! I am a nice guy, nicer to married couples with pretty ladies and nicest to couples with arm-candy girlfriends.(Now that it is my only chance to be seen in company of any pretty gal is a different story altogether). And hence, mixed bag emotions!
Confused: You cant help feeling happy for people when they are getting married! That is the natural reaction but then, it adds to my confusion! Along with the mail there is also this attached pdf with the details of the wedding and I wish it had my name and not the other guy's!
So here comes the sadness part! You look back on all the coffee cups that you left behind along the last few years, of the last desks of the class and those arbit conversations, of the moments when you tried to catch attention, and of those when you seeked none!
The coffee cups in savvy cafes will be replaced by tea in the drawing room, those "If I was not in a relationship, I would have asked you out"- fling will give way to "XYZ is a lucky guy to have you", "You are looking gorgeous/hot tonight" to " you are looking pretty" a casual wink to a polite hello, things will never be the same again!
No matter what people say, life is never the same after marriage and everyone around you will have to make adjustments if you are getting married. Friends wont make sly remarks in front of you and you will wonder what happened to their sense of humor!
Now I understand why they call it an institution and not a relationship!
And you would think I would learn when this has happened to me once! Ha! This is some 7th such mail and there I go again!
My life has the Markovian property! (Click on the link only if you have nothing, ABSOLUTELY nothing else to do. Don't blame me!)
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Education and Reservation
I am not throwing brickbats on Arjun Singh or nor against the reservation. I am just trying to see things my way and sharing it! ( In case you do not want to read, you have the choice, so that makes me better that Arjun Singh, doesn't it?)
Education is not just a means of livelihood, it is about creating better citizenry, a more informed, active and aware population which participates in democracy constructively. (Am I asking for too much? I do not think so.)
The idea behind reservations must have been providing opportunity in a legal set up, one to which the society and the social structures has to abide by. ( Again, this is what I think, and I may be wrong.) The social conditions at the time the idea of reservation was coined need not be elaborated here, anybody who has read about the UP and the BIHAR society or has lived in them would know all about it.
Society, left on its own, would not have allowed the equality the architects of the constitution envisaged and hence, they made it the norm. And here comes the sorry tale of brilliant ideas executed badly!
The issue for me not whether the OBC's should be given reservation or not, but are we doing it the correct way?
Issue 1: Reservation in higher education to bridge the gap:
The gap is created from the day a kid goes to a primary school in remote village. He is told so many times that he belongs to this caste. Will him getting a seat in the IIM would help to erase the deep rooted caste structure? No!
But it would help his next generation. Yes, he would have better opportunity and thus, would be able ensure that the school his kids go to, they do not suffer the way he did.
Issue 2: Creamy layer should not be excluded:
Now, this is a bone of contention. The kids of the guy who went to the IIM, study in the best schools because their father can afford that. They get the opportunity to be equal. Now, should they get the benefit again? What about another kid in the remote village, who has suffered enough? Aren't his own caste people who have risen to the top blocking his progress, denying him of the opportunity to be equal? Yes.
Now the problem is defined, the solution?
Making it mandatory to quote the PAN CARD of the parents when requesting reservation. The income for a period can be checked, and hence, it can be decided whom should the seat go to. Neat, and efficient. There is a way of excluding the creamy layer, but is there a will?
Now, some more to add.
Lets make the reservation mandatory at the primary level, even in private school for say 30 years.
Now a kid from backward class gets admission to a good private school if his parents cannot afford a seat in the general quota. The kid gets his share of opportunities, he passes out from a good school, at par with the general category candidates, and then competes fairly in for the IITs and IIMs, with no reservation. That ensures that we get the best of doctors and engineers and managers. The society benefits as a whole. In 30 years, two generations can get the benefit and the society would move to a more equal platform. The rich will not block the way for the poor and we would have a fair and just system in place.
After 30 years, re-asses the situation and remove the reservation if the need be. We would be able to achieve what we have hoped for but have not achieved in last 55 years of reservation.
To do so, we need more primary schools, more teachers, more books and more scholarships, not the reservation in IIMs and IITs.
Mr Arjun Singh, are you reading?
( The views belong to the writer and are not intended to offend any caste or creed.)
Education is not just a means of livelihood, it is about creating better citizenry, a more informed, active and aware population which participates in democracy constructively. (Am I asking for too much? I do not think so.)
The idea behind reservations must have been providing opportunity in a legal set up, one to which the society and the social structures has to abide by. ( Again, this is what I think, and I may be wrong.) The social conditions at the time the idea of reservation was coined need not be elaborated here, anybody who has read about the UP and the BIHAR society or has lived in them would know all about it.
Society, left on its own, would not have allowed the equality the architects of the constitution envisaged and hence, they made it the norm. And here comes the sorry tale of brilliant ideas executed badly!
The issue for me not whether the OBC's should be given reservation or not, but are we doing it the correct way?
Issue 1: Reservation in higher education to bridge the gap:
The gap is created from the day a kid goes to a primary school in remote village. He is told so many times that he belongs to this caste. Will him getting a seat in the IIM would help to erase the deep rooted caste structure? No!
But it would help his next generation. Yes, he would have better opportunity and thus, would be able ensure that the school his kids go to, they do not suffer the way he did.
Issue 2: Creamy layer should not be excluded:
Now, this is a bone of contention. The kids of the guy who went to the IIM, study in the best schools because their father can afford that. They get the opportunity to be equal. Now, should they get the benefit again? What about another kid in the remote village, who has suffered enough? Aren't his own caste people who have risen to the top blocking his progress, denying him of the opportunity to be equal? Yes.
Now the problem is defined, the solution?
Making it mandatory to quote the PAN CARD of the parents when requesting reservation. The income for a period can be checked, and hence, it can be decided whom should the seat go to. Neat, and efficient. There is a way of excluding the creamy layer, but is there a will?
Now, some more to add.
Lets make the reservation mandatory at the primary level, even in private school for say 30 years.
Now a kid from backward class gets admission to a good private school if his parents cannot afford a seat in the general quota. The kid gets his share of opportunities, he passes out from a good school, at par with the general category candidates, and then competes fairly in for the IITs and IIMs, with no reservation. That ensures that we get the best of doctors and engineers and managers. The society benefits as a whole. In 30 years, two generations can get the benefit and the society would move to a more equal platform. The rich will not block the way for the poor and we would have a fair and just system in place.
After 30 years, re-asses the situation and remove the reservation if the need be. We would be able to achieve what we have hoped for but have not achieved in last 55 years of reservation.
To do so, we need more primary schools, more teachers, more books and more scholarships, not the reservation in IIMs and IITs.
Mr Arjun Singh, are you reading?
( The views belong to the writer and are not intended to offend any caste or creed.)
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