YEAH (W)RITE!!...

Pensieve...

2011-11-07T23:09:00.001-06:00

I miss...
...having a simple cup of coffee
...having a simple conversation
...having a simple day at work
...having a simple life

Car Wash

2010-10-25T14:32:00.001-05:00

I am a frequent car wash visitor. Having a fetish for black cars and wanting to keep them gleaming means I need to make these trips quite often. And having nothing better to do while waiting in line, I watch the car in front of me at the wash. Some owners display a few quirks. I first thought they were isolated cases, but having seen it on numerous occasions its time to put it down in words. On a short note this is all at touch free car washes as I only go to those.
Firstly there are the people that have trouble getting their car in the right position. Either that or they enjoy the loud and harsh noise of the buzzer in their ears enough to listen to it multiple times as they rock back and forth trying to get the car on that sweet spot.
Then there are the extra helpful ones. Being active people they cannot of course sit idly in the car while the wash is on. They must do their bit for the cause. So they will dutifully run their wipers every time something is sprayed on the windscreen. First time when the soap is sprayed. They must be scared the wash will just leave them with soap suds on. So on go the wipers. Then the high pressure wash starts and again the wipers are hard at work. This can actually be potentially damaging to the wipers as the water pressure is high enough to rock the whole car. And if that spray doesn’t clean the windshield, the flimsy wipers will do squat. The last attempt is during the waxing. Again this is counterproductive as the wax does not settle on the windshield thus taking away what little protection it provides. But hey, whatever makes them happy.
Most people keep the car running even though it has to sit at the spot at least for a minute. I never get why the waste of fuel. And finally there was the one person who kept the wipers going into the air dryer. I will not comment on that one!

He and the Sea...

2010-08-17T16:52:00.001-05:00

It was that kind of day. Hot, humid and sticky as far as the weather went. The sky was a gloomy shade of gray. In many ways, this also represented the general mood that engulfed him. He had not slept much of late but still was not drowsy. His normal sarcasm was toned down to a few feeble attempts at humor. Thankfully, he managed to conceal this well enough behind a smiling façade to get by without raising concern. So when he was asked about going to the beach, he was not really jumping for joy. But he went along nevertheless.
It was late evening and the clouds in the sky meant dusk was rapidly approaching. The beach looked far from the portrayed ideal. Dull gray sand and the dull gray waters of the Atlantic. Again, he marveled at how the weather reflected his mood.
For a while he stood staring blankly into nothingness. Then he felt a stiff breeze blowing. Somehow it made the heat bearable. His attention drifted to the sea. It was angry. Wave after wave came crashing down trying to beat the sands into submission. As he watched them, it struck him how similar they were to the turmoil of thoughts in his head. Each one trying to outdo the other.
Slowly the rest of the world faded out and he stood there conversing with the sea. It was almost like he was looking for some kind of an answer. But the sea does not provide answers. Not in real life anyway. Strangely though, in that raucous cacophony and chaos of crashing waves, for a fleeting moment, he found peace.

To Heaven?

2010-06-23T17:01:00.002-05:00

The other day at work I got into a conversation with a very religious minded colleague. The discussion veered to the idea of heaven and what lies in wait for the fortunate who make it there. But during the course of that discussion there were a few points brought up that got me thinking. Before I present those points I must mention that I am not by any means a very religious person, so anyone who believes deeply in these concepts should probably skip the rest of the post.
My colleagues concept of heaven was the traditional one. One with good people and angels and golden streets and sweet music. So then I wondered who all these good people might be. From what the scriptures say is required of a person to reach heaven, I dont know of one person who would meet that criteria. Which means that all the people I know would be missing. Then I thought about food. (I always think about food) Most foods one likes are supposedly sinful.(Chocolate anyone?) So I asked him if there were cars in heaven. And he said mostly not. Now if I were to go to heaven, I would surely hope it had things that made me happy. And one such thing would be some stonking supercars. A heaven where I had to walk around after a lifetime of driving just doesnt cut it. similarly there are a lot of things we enjoy on earth that are apparently frowned upon. So what exactly is in store at this supposed utopia?
A bit of thinking gave me just one answer. Terrorists! Loads of them. Ask any fundamentalist about to go on a suicide mission and he/she will tell you that they will go straight to heaven after the big bang. There will of course be 72 virgins waiting for them. Now since these are supposedly some of the most fanatically devout people, I assume they will get there. So there, heaven is full of terrorists. As it is I don't think I stood a chance of making it there. But now maybe this cloud has a silver lining too!

Toyota ‘Brake’ing down?

2010-03-22T16:58:00.003-05:00

Nearly everyone who has any access to some form of news media has heard of Toyota’s woes in recent times. What started off as a big recall for defective floor mats has culminated in a massive media blitz amidst reports of cars running amok like they were possessed. The spirit from ‘Poltergiest’ would have been proud of these cars. This has polarized the population into two main groups. One group believes that it’s the company at fault for selling cars with electronic ghosts in them. The other believes a small issue has been blown out of proportion with more ulterior motives than just public safety. Being an automobile fanatic, I have been following these events quite closely.
Before I begin, let me clarify that I am no Toyota fan. I have never owned one of their products and do not intend to in the future. I have driven some of their cars and I feel they are quite boring to drive. They will get you from point A to B safely and reliably, but they offer little else. They are more like an appliance which you use daily. Which is of course fine for the average person. Actually make that millions of average people. And I do not mean this in a derogatory manner. It’s just that Toyotas are rarely driver’s cars. And as far as the Prius goes, I detest hybrids. Period.
That being said, I am a little skeptical when people are out on the street waving their arms about a Prius running wild. A 4.3 litre V8 Ferrari is terrifying, but a 1.8 litre Prius? Adding to this is the idea that the people driving them did not come across as drivers with decent amount of skill or for that matter, common sense. One of them actually sat in his runaway car for 23 miles without putting it in neutral or hitting the emergency brake or switching the engine off. He even claimed to have reached down and tried to pry the stuck pedal loose. Now this is quite impossible to do in any car, lesser so one travelling at 94 mph. So forgive me for thinking there is more to this than meets the eye.
Is it just stupid drivers? Is it a plot by Govt. Motors (GM)? I do not know. But the downside to this obsession is that road safety takes a backseat. Toyota sells more than 2 million vehicles a year in the US alone. And these are largely driven by people who also call, text, eat and do many unmentionable things while they drive. The percentage of cars affected is quite small. But the media frenzy has ensured that there are a lot of nervous drivers on the road. And nervous drivers make more mistakes. Also the fact that such a large number of cars are recalled means there is a greater problem. This will probably never be of concern. Toyota sales are already going up since they have been proving the claims wrong. And soon the media will move on to something juicier. The funny thing about regulations is, a few cars with stuck pedals are a major issue. But thousands of drivers’ texting while eating a burger at 75 mph is not.

Meanwhile, global warming seems to have hit Tata Motors badly. Brand new Tata Nanos are spontaneously combusting without any apparent reason. Hopefully it is a ‘Nano’ sized problem for the world’s cheapest car.

The New Breed...

2010-01-19T16:09:00.003-06:00

The recent attack on Srinagar has once again brought the Kashmir issue to the forefront. And this was one of the main objectives of the terrorists and their handlers across the borders. In a chilling encore reminiscent of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, two terrorists opened fire at Lal Chowk and then hid themselves in a three storied hotel. They were killed after a 22 hour operation. One policeman and nine civilians lost their lives. While the vast majority may be quick to dismiss this as another common incident in the troubled valley, they would be very wrong to do so.
This was not just a random attack by religious fanatics. This was a coordinated and well planned mission against India with specific objectives in mind. The objectives being:
A. To stir up the Kashmir pot again in order to take away focus from Pakistan’s internal problems and war on terror. This would also provoke India to take steps against Pakistan which can then be used as justification to move forces away from the Afghan border.
B. To cause increased discontent and distrust in the capabilities of the Indian security forces among the common public.
C. To inflict massive financial damage to the state and the country.
And by the looks of it, they have succeeded in their goals. For further proof, here are some excerpts of the conversations between the terrorists and their handlers.

Chief: Allah ka karam. Khair aap sunao..kaise soorte haal hai ? ( By God's grace, all is well. How are you?)

Terrorist: Ladh rahe hain dushman ke saath.(We are fighting the enemy)

Chief: Allah taala aapko istaqamat de. (May Allah give you strength)

Terrorist: Aameen, Aameen, Aameen.

Chief: Goya ji, aapne murde ghoron mein dobara jaan daal di. (You have revived an old and dead issue)

Terrorist: Insha-Allah, Insha-AllahChief: Inshallah aapki qurbaani se, is mehnat se, nayee tareekh-e-Kashmir par achcha asar padega. (Your efforts and sacrifice will help revive the fight for Kashmir. It would be good for the cause.)

Terrorist: Ameen.Chief: Kashmir ke tareekh, Insha-Allah dobara apne usi tarz par aayegi. Bada Achcha asar padh raha hai iska. (Your efforts are proving to be good for the Kashmir cause)Terrorist: Saare saathiyon se kehna hamaare liye dua karein. (Tell our brothers to pray for us.)Chief: Insha-Allah sab yehi dua kar rahe hain ki. (Everyone is praying)

Terrorist: Baaki koyi nayi taazi. (Anything new?)

Chief: Koi nahin. Allah ka kaam hai, saathiyon ko himmat de..jitne der chala sakte ho, utni der chalayein. (May Allah give you strength. Prolong it as long as you can.)

Terrorist: Insha-Allah. Jab tak hamare paas hai, ladenge inke saath. (Till they are with us, we will continue to fight)

Chief: Ehtiyaat ke saath..ek ek do do karke mashroof rakho. Inka zyaada se zyaada kharcha aayega. Dabav padega inpar. (Fire intermittently and carefully. It will cost them more and put pressure on them)

Terrorist: Lakhon ke hisaab se inka kharcha hua hai. Kal ek baje se shuru kui hhai fight..puri raat chalti rahi hai. (They have already spent lakhs. It started at 1:00 yesterday, and it continued overnight.

This is the new face of terrorism. Fanatic misguided youth used as precision weapons to achieve set goals by their controllers across the borders. And this is way more terrifying than the random bomb blast. This means there is a deliberate attempt to systematically erode the foundations of our society and economy. An attempt which is aided by the ineptitude of those that govern us. In the face of this we as citizens must do our best to help alleviate the situation.
I request all my fellow countrymen to be alert and on guard. Help the security apparatus keep you and your loved one safe. The next time you complain about a long wait at any security checkpoint always weigh the loss of those few moments of time against the loss of the rest of your life. Take pride in following laws and not breaking them. Let the police and other security forces concentrate on what their real job is. Keeping us safe from the enemy. So far all they manage to do is try and keep us safe from ourselves.

Source: Bharat-Rakshak

India - Security - Part I

2009-12-22T13:07:00.001-06:00

Nowadays, national security seems to be a buzzword people throw around arbitrarily. However in reality it is not at all a laughing matter. For a large and diverse country like ours, it is of paramount significance that we make our country secure for the welfare and growth of our people and our economy. Without that, all our aspirations towards superpower status will come up against an unassailable wall.
To begin with, let’s consider the unique situation faced by India. We have Pakistan and China as our primary neighbours. And even someone living under a rock in the desert would have heard by now that we don’t really make a happy family. We are constantly at war with both, mostly covert but at times overt too. Then there’s Bangladesh, who owes its creation to us, but seems to take pleasure in humiliating us at every foreseeable opportunity. We have an ambiguous relationship with Nepal, Bhutan and Burma whose details I do not quite understand. On the southern side we have the water and Sri Lanka where we have bloodied our nose once. So it is fair to conclude that we are not exactly living in the Sea of Tranquillity as far as the external factors go.
Now let’s look inwards. Things get even more interesting here. The North is highlighted by the disputed state of Jammu and Kashmir which is probably one thing about us the whole world has heard of. Then we travel to the North East where even Google maps recently had Indian Territory with names in Chinese script. Wonder why that might be. The word ‘disputed’ comes to mind again. And then we of course have a plethora of states with different languages, cultures, food habits and lifestyles. I have lost count of how many as we keep adding a few every so often. If that were not enough diversity, we have multiple religions and castes. In short we have segregated our people in as many ways as possible. And it is amidst this diversity that we seek our democracy and unity. One does not need an analyst to tell you that it is not a very simple problem to deal with.
So it is this complex situation that needs to be addressed when one talks about national security. To start, let’s break it up into slightly more manageable pieces.

To be continued…

India - The Middle Class

2009-11-08T08:43:00.001-06:00

It is one of the most ubiquitous words used in common parlance in many Indian conversations today. The Indian ‘middle class’. That widely spread out group of people in every Indian town and city. I came from a middle class family, as did most of my relatives and friends. And all through childhood we heard mention of this group of people. The news media, films and television also apparently pandered to the tastes of this group. But who are these people who make up this middle class?
About 2 decades back India was still not liberalised. The market had not opened up. Ambassadors and Premier Padminis dominated the street. The tiny Maruti 800 was just making its presence felt. ‘IT’ did not exist as anything but a pronoun. People saved rather than spent. The working class in a city were broadly divided into those working in ‘private firms’ and ‘government servants’. Students studied aspiring to become either doctors or engineers. Arranged marriages were the norm. Doordarshan on the idiot box was the one and only form of visual stimulation. In the interim years some changes happened that turned that world on its head.
The Indian middle class is today stuck in one of the most difficult times a generation has to face. It is the classic devil and deep sea conundrum. The Information Technology and outsourcing boom has meant the middle class suddenly has a lot of expendable income. It also means that the spending power on luxuries has multiplied. The fact that most of the children have grown up in an increasingly cosmopolitan environment has meant a greater influx of Western culture in the household. Attire, appliances, language and media has changed to reflect this influx.
This influx has been accepted in varied levels by our families. But what is creating the biggest conflict is the influence of the so called western culture into the middle class lifestyle. Western culture cannot simply be explained away by any one particular factor. It is more of a lifestyle choice. A choice that more people are adopting every day. And while its very easy to start going with the flow, along the way one starts realising how far it takes one from the basic lifestyle of the earlier middle class. Some examples are as follows. Students today have the option of getting ready money by working at a call centre. This also means that they don’t need to study beyond their high school levels. And commercialism has reached stupefying levels where its money and only money that seems to make the mare and all her relatives go.
But hold on, is this not the lifestyle that we associate with a capitalistic society like say, the US of A. And the main reason they are facing a shortage of skilled and educated workers today is because they chose to make quick money at the cost of their education. By spending money and shunning savings. And today the US firms are facing some very hard times as they cannot afford to employ their own people and have to rely on foreigners or outsourcing. There are not enough qualified Americans to take the place of all the Asians in the US. And that is why they have to wait for another generation to grow up and study in the more classical sense of the word, before they can reclaim what’s their own. As a country, India has not reached the level of prosperity that the US had before the recession hit. And yet in blindly aping them we have already imbibed a lot of the traits that led to their current situation. I am not predicting that the same fate awaits India. But the trend seems to be there.
This brings me back to the Middle Class. Since these are the people who make up most of the educated and qualified workforce of India, they will make or break us. This is a huge force we have which needs to be channelled in the right direction if India is to reach the superpower levels we claim. And these are the very people who need to start thinking of the consequences of their actions on the country as a whole.

My India...

2009-10-18T20:53:00.003-05:00

In my brief hiatus from blogging, I have been thinking a lot about India. No, I'm not homesick. More on the lines of the various factors that make up India. In the next few posts I will put forth these ideas into words.

Six Steps to Ecstacy...

2009-09-13T23:11:00.004-05:00

Rev the engine to optimum RPM. Shift higher. Rev match and let the clutch go. Rev higher and feel the power spool in smoothly. Then do it again and again. Six times. The sheer thrill of the perfectly executed gearshift. Six different notes played by the exhaust. Just that will make me buy a stick-shift over and over again.

Murder of the Car...

2009-08-20T23:24:00.004-05:00

It is nothing short of murder. The recent Cash for Clunkers program in the United States has seen the wanton destruction of thousands of automobiles. All in the name of saving the economy and the environment. But that means squat to the common man on the road. All that has happened is that the taxpayers money has gone into paying people upto $4500 for their used car. These people have bought new cars which means they have to make car payments and are under debt again.
The sad part is the rule about the used car engines having to be destroyed. This is achieved by draining the lubricating oil and replacing it with a liquid glass compound. The engine is then run and as it heats, the compound hardens and the engine runs itself to death. To watch a car cry and moan till its engine seizes is one of the worst things for any car lover. To put it simply, I hate the idea of killing a one of mans best achievements, the IC engine, so brutally. And you don’t even have to be a car lover. Anyone who appreciates the effort and technology that goes into making such a reliable and lasting piece of machinery like a car engine today would hate to see it choked to death like that.
It is claimed that it’s good for the environment as the big old polluting engines are destroyed. However, if Youtube videos and media reports are to be believed, most are standard family sedans and rarely old. Good cars which would have run for at least 5 more years have been junked. And this means the price for used cars will go up. Even worse for the people who lost their job and might need a car. And if one stops to consider the energy, manpower and materials used in building a new car, I don’t think it is as energy efficient after all. And then there is the impact of all that scrap generated.
So Mr. Government, the scheme may look like its stimulating the economy, but in the long run it might just come back and bite where it hurts most.

Peace At Last...

2009-08-18T22:49:00.003-05:00

I was looking for a peaceful place on this planet. And it suddenly dawned on me; Antarctica. No wars or disputes there. And no prizes for guessing why. The lack of a particular species on that continent is all it takes.

The Friends We Were...

2009-08-12T12:03:00.000-05:00

All we waited for was the lesson to get over. Since only some of us were attending it. And the rest were at the Boat Club. And that was the whole point of attending college wasn’t it. Studies could be put off till the PLs. But what we looked forward to was those long hours at BC. Chatting, laughing, arguing, discussing, quarrelling but still having a good time. Over cups of tea, samosas and uttapa-sandwiches.
All we waited for were the coffee and lunch breaks. To discuss the latest rumour. The latest whims of the bosses. And the plans for the evening. Be it a stroll on the beach or a sumptuous dinner, we had a good time. Chatting, laughing, arguing, discussing and even quarrelling.
All we wait for is those few days in the year when we meet. And some years even that is a luxury. We are busy with our individual lives. Some studying, some working. Thousands of miles separate us. Even when we do meet we are all not there. Some have other commitments that are more important. More often than not we get news via some ‘networking’ site on the internet. There is a lot more silence now.
Is this what befalls all friends? I sincerely hope not. But I have a feeling just hope is not enough.

Vijay Divas - The Arihant Arrives...

2009-07-26T08:38:00.003-05:00

It is a fitting tribute to the valiant soldiers who gave their lives for our country. Today the Indian Navy formally inducted its first indeginous nuclear submarine. Christened the INS Arihant, Sanskrit for 'Destroyer of enemies', it means India is now part of the elite 5 nations who have their own nuclear sub. These new submarines will complete the nuclear triad for India.

While we are quick to lament our countries failures, we rarely celebrate our successes. Lets salute the brave men of our armed forces today. And lets celebrate our scientific prowess that helps us build one of the most complex naval vessels known to man. Jai Hind!

10 years later...

2009-07-05T21:28:00.002-05:00

A decade ago at this time, our soldiers were bravely climbing treacherous heights in the face of deadly enemy fire from the enemy. That enemy exists today too. But that is another discussion.

July 26th is Kargil day. When the day comes, I request you to spend a quiet moment remembering these men and thanking them. Its not much, but its better than nothing.

The Second Day...

2009-04-28T16:41:00.003-05:00

Two Years Ago…
He was running fast. He had to make it onto that 6:10 fast local to Borivili. It was his daughter’s birthday and he did not want to disappoint her. As he tried to push his way through the mass of humanity that Dadar station is, he noticed the train start moving. He cursed and tried to run faster. But it was too late. By the time he reached the edge of the platform the train was moving too fast. Panting heavily, he looked on as it disappeared.
He was a poor man. His tiny net cafe was not doing too well. Most people had internet connections at home. He was worried. Mumbai was a city of dreams. But those dreams had to be fought for. And he was slowly getting tired of fighting.
He was shaken out of his reverie by his vibrating cell phone. It was his wife. He was in for a lecture. He cursed having missed the train. But when he spoke, she sounded hysterical. She was weeping. Suddenly he feared for his daughter. Was she ok? And then her words tumbled out. There had been blasts on 7 trains. The 6:10 fast to Borivali was one of them.

Today…
He was walking along Marine Drive. There was a pleasant breeze blowing. He looked at the setting sun and smiled. A few paces ahead his wife and daughter were buying balloons. Their cheerful faces warmed his heart. He was a happy man today. His tiny net café had grown to a full fledged Computer Shoppe. He now stocked all kinds of accessories, software and even games. It never failed to surprise him when people spent fortunes on video games. But he was not complaining. Thanks to them he had something special in store for his family today.
They walked until they reached the end of the drive. And then he told them. He was going to treat them to 5 star dining today! It would be expensive for sure, but he felt they deserved it for all the tough times they had shared. As they walked into the foyer he could see the look of awe on their faces. But amidst that awe there was pride and respect for him. They went into the restaurant and sat at the table. He could not stop marvelling at all the opulence surrounding them. They tried to decide what they would eat. It would be a tough choice with all those items on the menu.

The two young men walked up the stairs into the hotel. They greeted the receptionist and asked her the way to the restaurant. Walking in, one of them noticed the family of three sitting at the first table. He nudged his partner and pointed at them. They would start there. Whispering a quick prayer, the two pulled out their Kalashnikovs…

Epilogue:
This is a work of fiction. But it is based on some facts. The Mumbai attacks are just 6 months old. And we have moved on. All the clamour and anger has died down. We are back to our usual ways while the perpetrators plan their next move.

Just Another Civic...

2009-03-26T11:09:00.004-05:00

The Indian couple walked out of the grocery store. They loaded the bags into their new blue Honda Civic. Closing the boot they got in. Switching on the ignition, they immediately turned the air conditioner on full blast. It was a hot day after all. As the cool air started blowing they felt good about their new car. All their friends had praised it. And the relatives back home must be so proud and a little jealous. Being an automatic it was so easy to drive too.
They drove out of the parking lot and onto the road. As they waited at the lights at the next crossing, she suddenly exclaimed, ‘Hey, that’s just like our car’. He looked ahead at the black Civic in front of him. Must be another Indian. He wondered why someone would buy that inauspicious colour. And it had a spoiler too! What a waste of money. The owner must be one of those extroverts who think no end of themselves. She broke his train of thoughts again, ‘Why does it say ‘Si’ on the car? Ours does not say that’. He was getting impatient. ‘Big deal. It’s just another Civic’ he mumbled. ‘Must have found that sticker somewhere. It’s similar to ours. In fact we have a better colour’. He had a good mind to drive next to it once the lights turned green just to show her it was the same.
Just then the lights changed. He saw the brake lights of the black car go off. And then he heard the sound. It was a mild growl as the car moved ahead. He stepped on the gas and followed. The growl got louder and in seconds changed to a high pitched whine. He stared at the rapidly diminishing black dot. He muttered something to her about unsafe drivers. The drive home was a quiet one.

It was not just another Civic. It was an Si.

Passion...

2009-03-08T19:59:00.002-05:00

We all should have passion. About something. However minor or esoteric, every person should have something in their lives that makes them smile and gets their spirits up. Even in the worst of times. When times are good everyone does ok. But it’s when times are bad that people need a distraction. And that does not mean drinking oneself senseless or going into morbid depression. It means doing something that makes you feel the day is worth it.
I game, I read, I write and I drive. I tremendously enjoy each of these activities. And yet there are times when I am bored out of my mind. Hence I dread being the person who does not ‘feel’ for anything. For whom everything is passé or lame. For such people just exist. They don’t live. And that’s a real waste of the wonderful gift called life.

They Shall Live On...

2009-01-28T12:52:00.002-06:00

It has been almost a decade since we fought the Kargil war. As is the norm, we have moved on with our lives and forgotten the 600 men who laid down their lives for our country. But I recently came across an article about those men. And every time I read it, I end up with a fair sized lump in my throat. Please take some time off your schedules and spend a few quiet minutes with them. I think every Indian owes them that much.

Link: The Glorious Dead

Winds of Change?

2009-01-20T11:56:00.002-06:00

Sand sculpture in Puri, India
Photo courtesy: Associated Press

Why We Cannot...

2009-01-19T11:51:00.000-06:00

The recent offensive launched by Israel against Hamas has again started raising questions in people’s minds. The Israelis launched an all out war to retaliate against the rocket attacks that appear to have been more of a nuisance than a serious threat and certainly have caused much less damage and loss of life than the Mumbai attacks in November. Then why haven’t we taken any action so far on the well known and established terrorist camps in POK and Pakistan even after losing so much? I have given it some thought and come up with a few reasons as to why the situation is not exactly the same. This is based purely on my reasoning and conclusions I have drawn.
Israel has the staunch support of the United States, the last and only superpower. The US was quick to side with Israel in blaming Hamas for the recent spate of violence. However, in spite of the current attacks on Mumbai, the US continues to tell India to show restraint. Which is an indication that when it comes to Pakistan, they are not really ready to play ball. And like it or not. We do need their support. Since the world tags along with what the US believes in. The global media reporting of the India attacks v/s the Gaza conflict clearly demonstrates this. Most of the world has just recently woken up to terrorism in India. So they have a very faint idea of how serious this is for us. We need to rally a much bigger global support base before we can think of such operations.
Our politicians need to display collective will in order to go ahead with the option of military action. Israel has been firm in continuing its operation in spite of the growing voices against it. However we have a large number of detractors within our own government who would be the first ones to cry out against us. And then the human rights groups would join in on how the people of POK suffer due to India. And how they should be let into Pakistan, like that’s the best option someone could choose. But to cut a long story short, we need to have the political will to go ahead with something like this, which I seriously doubt we have.
The Gaza strip is the part of Palestine controlled by the Hamas. The Hamas is a powerful group backed by Iran and has been declared as a terrorist group by Israel. However it does not have the infrastructure to wage an all out conventional war against Israel. This scenario is considerably different from the situation faced by India today. Any offensive India launches against Pakistan/POK can easily escalate into an all out war. And that would prove to be expensive for us. While our armed forces are modernising, we are not yet there. We are in the process of changing, upgrading and acquiring a number of weapons and systems which would make us a force to be reckoned with in the coming years. However if we went to war today, we would not be able to inflict disproportionate damage like the Israelis have. (For a loss of less than 20 lives they have inflicted close to 1000 casualties.) Hence, a limited two week conflict will cause us as much damage as it would cause Pakistan, financially as well as in terms of lives lost. In the current economic times nothing could be worse for a growing economy like ours.
Pakistan is a nuclear power. However, whose hands that power is in today is a big uncertainty. And that is the biggest reason to not risk a misadventure. The last time we launched Operation Parakram and mobilised all our troops, they did the same. However it brought them on the verge of bankruptcy. Today their economy is even worse than it was in those days. And hence they have nothing to lose. So far, they have based their existence on the anti-India rhetoric. And even if they lose everything, they will consider it a victory if they can cause us to bleed. And that is precisely what a nuclear strike on an Indian city will do. Ten terrorists brought the country to a standstill. Can you imagine what a nuke on Mumbai would do? There are a lot of people in Pakistan who share the belief that all is lost for Pakistan as far as being a prosperous developing nation goes. They know their country is on the brink of disaster from external as well as internal factors. And if they do go down, they would love to take us down with them.
And if Pakistan dissolves in chaos, their nukes could easily end up in the hands of those who promise Islamic supremacy. The so called ‘Islamic bomb’ in the hands of a few fanatics is not that far away from reality. And if that happens, we are among the top few in the hit-list. And hence we will have to continuously look over our shoulders in case someone slips a ‘dirty bomb, into our metros. With the current security apparatus, that is not a very difficult task to accomplish. So while they have nothing to lose, we have everything to lose unless we tread very carefully.

Be Very Scared...

2009-01-11T11:01:00.003-06:00

Long article. But very worrying. It focusses on the US, but the danger to India is apparent.

Misguided Loyalties?

2009-01-06T09:52:00.003-06:00

People in New Delhi are out protesting against Israel’s attacks on Palestine. Initially I thought it was just an anti war protest. However on viewing the pictures, I see they are just protesting the attacks on Hamas. What about the attacks by Hamas? Don’t those need to be protested against? And if you have such an anti-war spirit in you, what about protesting against Pakistan for the terrorism in India? The country whose capital city you live in. For that matter, what about doing something so that the Mumbai attacks are not forgotten. Or is fighting for ones own country not in vogue anymore? We are ready to embrace the problems of other people; what about resolving our own first?

Middle East Again!

2009-01-04T11:19:00.001-06:00

Israel’s Gaza incursion continues as the ground offensive intensifies. While I hope for a minimal loss of life in the course of this operation, I do believe that it is necessary at times. Sometimes mere words are not sufficient to thwart the perpetrators of terror. And the Palestinians and the Hamas have amply demonstrated that. While they a quick to condemn the Israeli military action there is never a word spoken about the continuing rocket attacks. Some may feel that a couple of rockets that killed just four Israelis is no reason to start a war. Consider this. You always leave home after checking the weather in case it rains right? What if the rain came in the form of a rocket that would shatter you and your family to bits? How safe would you feel then?
And there are already some discussions comparing this action by Israel to the lack of action on India’s part. However I do not think the situation is exactly similar. I will describe my thoughts on this in a later post.

The Ones We missed...

2008-12-07T23:17:00.004-06:00

Everyone is aware of the role played by the NSG, Marcos and the ATS in fighting the terrorists who attacked Mumbai. However the role of the Mumbai Police seems to have escaped the public eye. It was baton weilding policemen who led to the capture of the lone live terrorist. And please find time to watch this CCTV footage captured during the initial stages of the terrorists occupying the Taj. The police on the second floor were told to hold the terrorists at bay on the fifth floor. Though armed with handguns and World War I vintage 0.303 rifles against AK 47 assault rifles and and grenades, they put up a brave front. To point out the enormity of their task, consider the fact that the .303 is a bolt action rifle which has to be manually loaded after firing each round. Compare this to the 600 rounds per minute rate of fire of the Kalashnikov, which is widely rated among the top two assault rifles in the world. And then the terrorists lobbed a few grenades to add to the horror.

In the face of such insurmountable odds, listen to the calm conversation between the policemen. I quote, "We will not allow them to come down, though we die. That we will do sir. Over sir"

This is courage. These are real life heroes. I am speechless.

Messages...

2008-12-02T12:33:00.003-06:00

To the ATS, NSG and MARCOS:
Our heartfelt thanks to you once again. Once again you have proved your bravery and your patriotism for this ungrateful nation. Once again you have overcome all hurdles and won. Once again you have smiled and just done “your duty” knowing fully well that you will be forgotten as soon as the newspaper headlines change. Once again you have displayed that real heroes are humble and not brash like our politicians. Once again you have shown that you are one of the rare institutions in this country that one can still look up to with pride.

To Mr. Unnikrishnan (Father of martyred NSG Major Sandeep):
I hope more fathers are like you. I hope more fathers are ready to dedicate their offspring’s sacrifice to the country and not to the scum that runs it. And I hope more of us have the courage in us to kick these scum out of our houses, our lives and our parliaments.

To the Defence Planners:
The NSG, our highly trained special forces, had to travel to the scene in BEST buses and that too after waiting for a while. In comparison a city police SWAT team in the USA has their own armoured vehicle for insertions. The NSG lacked night vision devices and could not see the terrorists in the dark. And they actually had to carry walkie-talkies around? Occupying one hand out of 2 is not such a great advantage now is it? If they are risking their lives for us, isn’t it time we gave them the best equipment they require.

To my fellow Indians:
How much is enough? And how much more will we tolerate? When will we stop just being resilient and absorbing these crimes? And when will we start respecting our real heroes? We worship movie stars. We worship our cricketing heroes each time they play a tough game and win. And yet we will forget these heroes who fought for days without food so that we could sleep in peace. Just because our cricketers play many matches all year round and are always in the news. But our soldiers get just one match. And if they lose there is no second chance. But is that reason enough to forget the few who made the ultimate sacrifice?

To the US Media:
This is not just about the Americans who died. So do not go about crying for them and treating them like heroes. There were hundreds of other people who suffered and lost their lives. They were not Americans. They were brown skinned third world people. But they had lives too. They had families too. And they did not deserve this either. So a little respect for these people please. When 9/11 happened the Indian media didn’t just report on the Indians who lost their lives. And you know why? Because we have been living with this for years. And we know much better than you how it feels. Where were you when the earlier blasts happened? It did not matter then right? Since no American died there. You had just one attack on your soil and you act like a bunch of paranoid sheep. And do not criticize our defence forces. You had the largest Air Force in the world and you could not stop 5 planes from wreaking havoc in your country. And your terrorist actually comes with a face that is completely unlike your countrymen. So try finding a terrorist in a billion people who look alike. Try living with terror. And till you do that, don’t comment on the people of a country that you know next to nothing about. Till you understand what India faces everyday, just shut up.

To the Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan:
Thank you for vindicating our stand when we say our politicians are a bunch of inhuman scum. Thank you for being honest and showing your true colours. For letting us know that the last thing you care about is the lives and the respect of the people you represent.

To Raj Thakre and his cohorts:
Did you guys ensure that all the Special Forces operating there were Maharashtrians? Guess not. How did this NSG Major from Kerala manage to sacrifice his life for Maharashtra? Or for that matter the other NSG commando from Bihar? Will you not burn a few shops to ensure only Marathi people are allowed to fight terrorists in Mumbai? And this was a direct attack on your beloved Mumbai. I’m sure your brave workers were out there at the forefront supporting the armed forces and saving the pride of your Marathi Capital? Maj. Sandeep’s father dedicated his life to India. Not to Kerala or Bangalore or to the Malyali speaking people. But to the country. That’s what true Indians do. But you would not understand. You must be feeling great considering how insignificant your asinine agenda seems in front of the real issues the country faces.

To Mr. Terrorist:
I will never tire of saying that you and all your friends and supporters are the most cowardly bunch of bastards the world has seen. The skewed version of faith you claim to defend must have one squeamish little powerless god. Since he only directs you to attack unarmed civilians and then cry like a baby for your own life when captured. Beyond that all I hope for is that you die in the worst and the most humiliating manner possible and never attain the promises of heaven you were given.

Been There Done That... Grand Canyon

2008-11-14T15:25:00.003-06:00

Grand Canyon, AZ (Aug 30 – Sep2, 2008)

The Place: One of the world’s most breathtaking natural wonders.

The Path Travelled: A 3 hour flight to Phoenix. Then a 3 hour drive along winding roads in the hills to Williams. Then a nostalgic train ride in 100 year old coaches to the Grand Canyon.

The Lodging: The Maswik Lodge. Walking distance from the rim of the canyon. As close as one can hope to get to nature.

The Sights to See: The Canyon rules over everything you see there. It is nature in one of its angriest forms. And not in a destructive way. It is nature’s way of humbling us and making us feel really tiny. Be it the immense magnitude of the canyon stretching all around you or the thought that a river made it all happen. And at night the canyon is black. Blacker than any black you would find in a city. You just hear the wind and feel the emptiness dropping hundreds of feet below. And as a consequence you see the stars in all their splendour. The number of stars you see in a sky bereft of light pollution is just sensational.

The Experience: Surreal! The views from various points are fantastic. The sunset is breathtaking if you can find a deserted spot away from the cacophony of the human race. Hiking down into the canyon is one of the best forms of exercise one can get. And if you catch the sun rising into the canyon, it’s a truly spiritual experience. Go off the beaten path and you might catch a glimpse of some wildlife. We did! And yes, the drive to and from Phoenix is awesome too. You can actually see the landscape change as you climb to higher altitudes.

The Damp Squibs: One has to stay longer and hike down to the river and camp! We did not.

Lose the Cell...

2008-09-29T08:59:00.001-05:00

People here seem to have some kind of obsession with talking on the cell phone while they drive. I have seen people at work and on the road. The moment they step into their vehicle they are on the phone. And no, it’s not to inform people that they have left work. It is to indulge in long drawn, often animated conversations on life and the meaning of everything. I am not kidding! The other day there was this middle aged lady in the car behind me who had her phone in one hand and was using the other to gesticulate wildly to the person at the other end, all while riding my bumper.
I am driving for 7 years now and yet I do not take calls when I drive. People assume it’s because I drive a stick shift. But it is not so. I usually stop by the side if I have to make a call. Or at least use a hands-free. In this technologically advanced country why on earth can’t people use a $5 hands free device? It might just save their car and their lives too. But more importantly it might save the life of an innocent person. A person who had no clue the car ahead was turning since the person in it had a phone in his/her hand and could not be bothered to indicate. Or because he/she was so engrossed in discussing world politics that he or she just lost all awareness of their responsibilities on the road.

Pure Power

2008-08-19T16:40:00.003-05:00

Su-30 MKI of the Indian Air Force on full afterburner.

Photo courtesy: Mountain Home AFB, USAF

Review: The Dark Knight

2008-08-07T16:40:00.004-05:00

A starless night in Gotham city. The camera swoops in on the skyscrapers. It then zooms in on a lonely caped figure standing atop a building. It’s an eerie sight, a little despondent maybe. But there’s a sense of power there. And that captures the essence of The Dark Knight. It is possibly one of the best movies based on a comic book character that I have seen. Ever.
The movie is a powerful crime thriller and one that keeps the viewer wanting for more throughout. Each aspect of the movie has its strong points. The personal angst of Batman. The fear on the streets of Gotham City. The choices each character has to make. And of course the Joker.
A lot has already been said about the magnificent part played by Heath Ledger and the tragedy that followed. While all of that is true, I would like to add a little to it. I have sat through horror movies without batting an eyelid. But it’s been a long time since a bad-guy has radiated so much evil. The Joker redefines the word menacing and almost every scene does send a shiver down ones spine.
Before watching this movie I would recommend watching ‘Batman Begins’ to appreciate the movie in its entirety. The Dark Knight is not a children‘s superhero movie. It is not a corny romance like the Spiderman series has become. It is a very well thought out movie which begs to be taken seriously. And makes one ponder over all the facets of the plot. It is truly a dark movie. But watch carefully and you might spot the silver lining.

Compare, Contrast and Shame...

2008-07-17T11:46:00.001-05:00

I recently read this article and I was touched. Not just by the pathos of the situation but also by the reaction of the nation towards its fallen warriors. This is a nation that fought tooth and nail for the bodies of two soldiers captured 2 years back. This is a nation which is still fighting for the third soldier who was captured about two years ago. This is a nation that respects and loves the people who fight for the country. This is a nation that spares no effort to ensure its soldiers and their families feel every bit like the heroes they are. This is a nation that does not trade precious lives for petty political gain. This is a nation that we have a lot to learn from and emulate. Especially considering this is how we treat those who lay down their lives for us.

Evolution...

2008-07-01T14:15:00.004-05:00

It is said that the purpose of evolution is to move towards being the best that a species can get. We are supposed to have evolved from apes. Then why are apes still around? Once the next form of evolution is reached then should'nt the earlier form stop being around?

On the same lines we should all be evolving towards one superior being which would have the best qualities of all species. While I dont see that happening, if it ever does, I sure hope it is as far away from the 'Homo sapiens sapiens' species as possible.

Rays of the Indian Sun…

2008-06-12T10:37:00.004-05:00

Last week I was at an air show here featuring the USAF Thunderbirds demonstration team. A couple of years back I had also seen their naval team, the Blue Angels in action. And I loved the precision aerobatics of both teams. But each time I was reminded of the show I witnessed at NDA in Pune about 8 years back. By the Indian Air Force’s own demonstration team, the Suryakirans. They are probably not as publicised as the US teams but they are just as good. And not many are aware that they are one of just three 9 aircraft formations in the world, the others being the RAF Red Arrows and the Canadian Snowbirds.
But the reason why I am so proud of our team is not just because they are from India. It’s because they have achieved similar levels of perfection with a much older and far less capable aircraft. They fly the HAL built HJT-16 'Kiran' trainer aircraft which first flew in 1964. It has side by side seating which means the pilots on the right of the formation and those on the left have to sit in different seats. This makes judgement all the more tough when flying wingtip to wingtip. The aircraft controls are all analogue, and being a trainer, very simplistic. Compare this to the F-16 and the F-18 flown by the Thunderbirds and the Blue Angels respectively. Both are current generation fly-by-wire combat aircraft with the latest in avionics, navigation and automation. While I greatly respect the men and women who fly these jets, I feel their job is a wee bit easier than what our pilots have to cope with.
So if any of you ever get a chance, get a dose of the Suryakirans. These are men who are risking their lives to entertain us when they are not risking it defending us. I promise you an experience you will always cherish. And just as a teaser, check them out on YouTube for an idea of how good they are.

Been There, Done That…Atlanta

2008-05-29T08:50:00.003-05:00

Atlanta, GA (May 23 – 26, 2008)

The Place: The peach state and the headquarters of Coca-Cola.

The Path Travelled: A long drive to Bloomington and then a short flight to one of the busiest airports in the world.

The Lodging: RK’s place. Great food, drink and awesome company of course!

The Sights to See: When seven people who have spent more than four years of their lives together meet up in a distant land, everything that occurs is a sight to see! But apart from the time spent eating, drinking and rolling on the floor laughing we did see a few places. Stone Mountain is worth a visit for the cable car ride and the ‘Duck’. The CNN centre is quite good. And so is the GA Tech campus. Also a visit to the Sundial is worth it just for the view.

The Experience: Fantastic! Driving around in an SUV with Hindi music blasting away. Chatting away into the wee hours of the morning and playing Uno. Watching ridiculous videos. Laughter and banter. Food, drink and some more food and drink. Add to that a drive in a Mustang at 80mph. It was a true influx of Boat Club mannerisms into the cosmopolitan bustle of downtown Atlanta.

The Damp Squibs: We didn’t see all the places we set out to see. But honestly, when you have this much fun at home, who cares!!

I Refuse...

2008-05-02T15:50:00.001-05:00

...To be discriminated as an immigrant in a country run by immigrants.
...To be criticised for working in jobs that most ‘non immigrants’ here are not qualified for anyways and do not realise how it helps their own economy.
...To be hated and shot at by truant teenagers who find drugs and guns to be more enticing than a decent education that would qualify them for the above mentioned jobs.
...To be run over by a drunk driver speeding after a binge at the local pub.

The Sky is no Limit!

2008-04-28T08:41:00.003-05:00

Kudos to ISRO as PSLV-C9 places a record 10 satellites with a total payload of 824Kg perfectly into orbit. This is even greater than what the Russians managed. (who happen to be pioneers in space) It instills a sense of pride when a country beleagured with problems and perceived as a 'Third World' nation competes on equal terms with the so called 'First World'. Slowly but surely we are proving our point. Way to go!

Been There Done That... Seattle

2008-04-14T13:27:00.003-05:00

Seattle/Bellevue, Washington (March 2008)

The Place: The north-western tip of the United States and the home of Boeing and Microsoft, to name a few.
The Path Travelled: A four hour flight from Chicago.
The Lodging: Cousins place in Bellevue. Great food and ambience!
The Sights to See: The city is ensconced between ice-capped mountains on one side (in winter at least) and the blue waters of the Pacific on the other. A bunch of beautiful islands with monster 200 car carrying ferries that take you there. The Boeing tour at Everett to see the way they make those huge planes you travel in (I saw one scheduled to be delivered to Air India!). The Museum of Flight. The Space Needle. The drive on I-90 into the Cascades. The breathtaking views along the mountain passes.
The Experience: The combination of mountains and the Pacific lends to some amazing natural beauty. The fresh seafood at Pike Place, a visit to the first Starbucks for all coffee aficionados and some famous fish and chips should keep you satiated as you go about the various points of interest. The place has a lot of history all around. The University of Washington has a great campus. You can even get a peek at Bill Gates house. And of course if you have a home to come back to at the end of the day, it doesn’t get any better does it?
The Damp Squibs: Prices are on the higher side. And the weather is a major factor. Coz it can rain and rain and then when you are tired of it, rain some more. But if you don’t like the weather, just wait a couple of hours and I guarantee you it will change!

We Submit...

2008-03-30T19:59:00.001-05:00

Staying awake all night at the eleventh hour copying stuff out of journals that make absolutely no sense. Realising at the last minute that we had copied from the wrong journal and on the wrong kind of paper. Drawing all the vertical lines and then all the horizontal lines to complete the circuit. Drawing the actual graph before plotting the points and then figuring out the readings from them.
We have done this and more. And yet we haven’t done all too bad after all…

Sale Ka Mela

2008-02-09T20:36:00.002-06:00

It’s the time to file taxes and also receive some refunds on ones hard earned money from the IRS. And there are stores here which have begun advertising an ‘Income Tax Refund Sale’! It is a sad state of affairs where a country reeling under the threat of recession and excessive credit has its commercial organisations out to suck each penny of the consumer’s money.

And in case you miss the ‘Income Tax Refund Sale’ there is a ‘Presidents Day Sale’ coming up soon!

Update: A store has started a 'Winter Storm Watch Sale' for its cars. I am rendered speechless.

360 Comes to Life...

2008-02-01T14:59:00.000-06:00

I have long been an avid gamer. Starting from the days of playing Tetris on a local made ‘video game’; to spending innumerable summer vacations and late nights glued to my PC; to console gaming on the XBOX 360 today. When I first got the 360, it was because I was tired of staring at amazing game titles in stores, only to find out my 2 year old laptop had absolutely no chance of supporting them. And since I don’t use the laptop for much it did not justify spending a couple grand or more on a gaming machine.
So the 360 it was. And I was real glad to be able to play all the latest games on my 20” CRT television. I did have a little difficulty reading some of the font but the overall experience was great. Till now.
What changed was I gifted myself a 32” Sony Hi-Definition LCD television. After getting it home and fiddling around with the wiring and setup, I switched it on and just sat staring at how good it looked. And then I connected the 360, changed the settings to HDMI, adjusted the screen size and such other technicalities and finally inserted the NFS Most Wanted disc. And it started with a display that said, ‘EA HD’. And suddenly I felt like I had stumbled upon a portal that leads to this parallel universe. That only select people have had the privilege to access. All of a sudden there were sharper textures, crisp graphics and an unreal sense of reality! Everything looked so different that I began to wonder whether it was the same game I had already played. For the first time, I actually paused the race to admire the scenery! And about 5 minutes into my first race I had goose pimples all over. It may sound overtly exaggerated but I was actually staring open mouthed at the screen. The transition from a SD tube TV to a HD LCD TV is almost equivalent to a person used to the silent movie era getting a glimpse of the Matrix. Yes, it is that good!

I’m not promoting products here, but for all gamers out there, the 360-HD combination is something that I would recommend you save up for and spoil yourself with. I’m sure there will be a point when you will sigh and sit back with a silly grin on your face that just won’t go away. And just that one moment makes it all worth it!

Their's not to question...

2008-01-23T15:54:00.000-06:00

We often find criticisms of how the Indian government mistreats its soldiers. While the criticisms are often justified, at least our soldiers are fighting for India in India. A recent study reveals that the ongoing war in Iraq was started by the Bush administration by propagating false information in the form of more than 900 false or misleading statements in a variety of forums. [Link] What started out in March 2003 as a jingoistic show of power has today become a bitter civil war which has ruined the country completely. What kind of a government sends out its soldiers to fight someone else’s war in a foreign land and get killed in the process? And that too on false pretences. I think it’s a matter of great shame for a country that prides itself on the power of its armed forces and whose movies spare no effort to glorify these men and their decision makers. While I have immense respect for the soldiers who fight these wars, I am not sure the US president and administration is really as sharp and morally upright as their movies and shows portray. And what I don’t get is; the same people who were clamouring for Iraq’s ‘weapons of mass destruction’ to be eliminated, are quiet today as the conflict drags on and takes more lives each day. (American lives of course! as they don’t really care about the lives of people from a ‘lesser’ country)[Link]

Way of Life...

2008-01-15T13:09:00.000-06:00

An American colleague at work today commented that the American way of life is to 'sacrifice everything one has in order to get something one does not need'!. Interesting...

Choice...

2008-01-11T14:04:00.000-06:00

I am not a person with a religious bent of mind. And hence I do not believe in the governance of our lives by destiny. I think that choices govern every aspect of our lives.

Mostly they are choices we make, but at times they may be due to others too. What we are and why we are is directly the result of choices we/others have made till this point in our lives. And while everyone is not born in equal circumstances, it just makes those choices easier or harder, but they still are choices.
People may choose to disagree with me but I choose to believe myself!

‘Debt’termined to spend…

2007-10-12T14:51:00.000-05:00

I never got a chance to watch American television when I was working on my Masters. Neither did I have a credit card for most of the time I was at school. Not that I regret either. The first is utter crap and the second I couldn’t afford! But it meant that I had no inkling about how much of this country ran on debt. Now I have both and hence I know…
Buying things you can’t afford, don’t need and will never use seems to be the mantra. So much so that people sell things in their original packaging in garage sales. Half the commercials on TV are about making you to buy anything from ‘doggie steps’ to fancy spas with music systems built in while the other half are about getting out of or dealing with debt and bankruptcy. But I sometimes wonder how these people get into so much debt in the first place. I have heard of and experienced the supermarket syndrome, but there is a limit right?! Why would I go spend another 1000 dollars when I know I haven’t paid back the earlier 10,000?!
But maybe I am not thinking like an American. Coz they would, and do spend. A current commercial for furniture goes, ‘Have you been rejected at other furniture stores due to bankruptcy? Come to us and we’ll say yes!’
Maybe… just maybe, if you are filing for bankruptcy, your primary concern isn’t really filling up that blank spot in your living room or buying a new bed! Maybe you should try and get the larder stocked so your kids won’t starve!

What a car!

2007-10-01T14:50:00.000-05:00

Recently a friend of mine was planning to buy a used car. I was helping out in the search. This involved looking up sites of various dealers and calling them up to find out if they had any suitable vehicles. One such call transpired as follows:
Me: Hello! I'm calling regarding a 1997 Toyota Corolla. Is the car still available?

Auto Woman: 1997 Corolla? Is it a used car?
Me: What!!!!!!!(In mind: No, it's been hanging around your showroom for the past 10 years!)
We later visited the showroom. It might interest some people to know that she was a blonde!

To the Chinese School

2007-08-23T08:48:00.000-05:00

Karnataka state legislators have developed a sense of wanderlust. This week, 180 of them are leaving for a 14 day ‘study tour’ to China. Yes, 180!
The number would have been larger except for the fact that some morally upright ministers opted out citing the excuse of having already visited the country. (Now if it was Switzerland it would probably be a different story…) A lot of the ministers do not even have passports and have left that to the state to procure for them.
The trip will cost the state exchequer about Rs.1.64 lakh per head. That’s approximately 3 crores! This is fine because apparently they are allotted about 2 lakh per year for such expenses and also claim to have saved a lot of money for the state. However the state faces severe droughts and floods (yes, at the same time!) and apparently funds have been requested from the central Government. I wonder whether the few crores could have brought some relief to the affected. But I am making a mistake here. It’s a study tour and we Indians know that education is the cure for the countries maladies.
Of course, China being such a large country with such a huge population, we surely need to send a large contingent there to represent our teeming billions and to let them know that in that one race, we have them beat. While they can boast of manufacturing everything sold all over the world, we can surely beat them with the number of babies we produce and then export abroad. After all babies are the true face of God, but then what would those atheists know. Besides 10 people can’t be expected to learn everything, right? These are ministers and we must be fair in considering their diminished intelligence quotients.

And while the ‘common man’ would gladly set half the country ablaze if someone threw a slipper at a dusty, neglected, bird dropping covered statue, they are fine with their ministers romping around using their money while they go hungry. At least the Chinese will be diverted from their plans of global conquest into thinking how they would pronounce the names of these folks! So, to our elected representatives… bon voyage!

Been There, Done That…Vegas

2007-07-26T15:06:00.001-05:00

Las Vegas, NV (April 6 – 9, 2007)

The Place: The nerve centre of gambling in the USA and everything that says money with a capital M. The trip was part of our annual COEP Electrical foursome reunion.

The Path Travelled: A four hour flight from Chicago I think. All the time zones make it a bit confusing. Towards the end of the journey one is greeted with a breathtaking aerial view of the Grand Canyon.

The Lodging: Sahara Hotel, a couple of miles away from downtown Vegas, Las Vegas Blvd. or ‘The Strip’, as it is known there. Reasonable prices and a great location. Nothing is complimentary.

The Sights to See: The Strip and all the Hotels there. Make sure you visit each one. They are worth it. And visit the Bellagio after 9 p.m. in order to catch the light and water show.
Make sure you catch at least one ride on the Stratosphere. However, being thrown about 85 stories above the ground amidst gusty winds is surely not for the faint hearted.
Madame Tussauds if you haven’t visited one before.
Strip clubs if you’re the types.
The Grand Canyon if you have a day or two to spare (We didn’t).
The Hoover Dam.

The Experience: Yes, it is just as glitzy, glamorous and bright as you saw in all those commercials and movies. It’s Vegas! What else could you expect? Money is everything. The more you have, the more you fit in there and the more you enjoy. (Sadly we hardly fit any of the criteria, but enjoyed nevertheless). You get a quick course in how much further you have to go in life to be at that level. But it is fantastic. The amount of electricity used there everyday would light up 50 towns in India. And all that opulence does leave you with a heady feeling.
The Hoover Dam is also worth a visit if only to see the sheer magnificence of a combined natural and man-made marvel.

The Damp Squibs: Everything is about money and people with lighter pockets won’t feel too good at the end of the trip. If you go in summer it might be a tad too hot. But well, unless you really hate having a good time, just go!

Not Our Cup of Tea

2007-07-10T10:42:00.000-05:00

So we have done it. We have proved to the world that we are second to none in sending SMSs and our Orkut skills are legendary. And while doing that, we have managed to get the Taj into being one of the newly elected wonders of the world. Rejoice India! We have done it!
But have we? Does this mean the approach road to the Taj will be cleared out of the mass of humanity trying to lighten your pockets? Will the river bed be cleaned to somewhere close to its pristine form? Will the chemical factories causing the beautiful white marble to turn black be told to mend their ways? Will today’s youth, (the ‘I can’t build a Taj so let me use the one that’s there’ types) stop defacing the monument with their mushy tripe? Will we be able to retain the magnificent yet tragic purity of this 'tear drop on the cheek of time'?
The answer is a resounding ‘No!’ We will continue to neglect it and take it for granted as we have done before. And soon it will be relegated to being an advertisement for a brand of tea.
But till then… Arey huzoor, Wah Taj Boliye!

The Crossing

2007-06-21T21:49:00.000-05:00

The leaves on the solitary tree rustled. He woke up with a slight start. For a while he had forgotten where he was. Then he remembered. He stood up and looked across the road. There she was on the other side, waiting as always. Till date she had never mustered the courage to cross the road. He hoped today would be the day. He longed for her, and even looking at her standing there made him yearn for her touch.
And then he heard it. Coming round the bend on the street. The unmistakable drone of a Corvette V8 engine. How could he ever forget that sound? And then he knew. She would cross the road today. He would hold her again. He walked ahead.

She heard it too. And it sent a shiver down her spine. How she longed to cross that stretch of tarmac and walk across to him. She saw the pain in his eyes each time he looked at her. But she had tried to cross, and failed. And when she heard that sound again, she took a step backwards. Her brown eyes clouded with fear.

Alan’s fingers drummed the tune on the steering wheel. He cranked the radio up a notch. They were playing his favourite song again. He smiled to himself. The judge had ruled in his favour. It wasn’t his fault. Who would have expected it?
His mind went back a week. The second day in his shiny new Corvette. And it had been such a long day at work. He was getting home as quick as he could. Sheila would be mad at him for being so late again. He stepped on the gas pedal ever so slightly and the car jumped ahead. She was such a beauty. He was now doing 70 in a 45mph zone. But it was 11 at night and the cops didn’t frequent this stretch of road.
He came to the turn near the little hillock. One tree hill, it was aptly named. He usually slowed down for this sharp turn. But heck, he had a Corvette. This car was meant to eat up roads. He went around the bend at 60. And there she was, about to cross the road. For a moment his headlights had illuminated her face. Eyes open wide in sheer terror. He had braked hard, but it was too late. And then he had heard the sickening thud and felt his wheels run over her delicate frame. He somehow stopped the car after about 20 feet. Getting out he walked back. He grimaced when he saw her lifeless body at the side of the road. He had turned around to go back and it was then that he had seen him. On the other side of the road. He was standing very still. And then he had seen the eyes. They were fixed on Alan. They were following his every step. And even in their silence they were accusing him. That’s when he had panicked and run to his car, started it and zoomed off.
He shook his head as he approached the same turn again. He was only doing 40 today. He turned round the bend and for a moment felt a sense of déjà vu. There she was again! How was it possible? But then he saw the huge antlers. It wasn’t her. It was him. He would never forget those eyes. So mesmerized was he that he didn’t even brake. Neither did he hear the thud or feel the wheels run over the body. He didn’t flinch as his car crossed the shoulder and hit the boulder straight ahead. All he saw was the eyes. And then the darkness.

Alan opened his eyes. It was bright outside. He felt strangely relaxed. How had he fallen asleep in the car? He looked at the boulder in front of his car. It seemed to be a part of the car now. And then he saw her. She was looking at him with a hint of sadness in her eyes. As he watched, she crossed the road and walked across to him. He was still standing on the other side. They both seemed to be hale and hearty! Something wasn’t right here. And then he knew. He screamed. But there was only silence.
There was a soft breeze blowing. The leaves on the solitary tree rustled.

This is inspired by the innumerable gory roadkills that I have come across during my travels in the US of A. No one spares a second thought for these unfortunate victims of human encroachment.
Putting it in the form of a story was inspired by this blog.

Been There, Done That…Niagara

2007-06-11T21:27:00.000-05:00

Niagara Falls, NY (May 27 – 29, 2007)

The Place: The supposed lesser glamorous view of the river gushing down 200 feet with all its might. The Canadian side is supposed to have a better view but I don’t know about that.

The Path Travelled: A ten hour drive from downtown Chicago with two stops on the way. Picturesque surroundings greet one as the I-90 winds through Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania and then on to New York.

The Lodging: Super 8 Motel, about 3 miles away from the falls. Reasonable prices, free Wi-Fi and great location. However breakfast leaves a lot to be desired.

The Sights to See: The falls (of course!), Maid of the Mist, Cave of the Winds, Whirlpool Jet Boat, Goat Island and all it has to offer. Night lighting in summer and fireworks on Fridays and Sundays.

The Experience: The falls are the experience. The sheer volume and intensity of the river as it falls onto the rocks below can only be felt in person. And when one is surrounded by the noise and the mist, one suddenly feels very small and vulnerable. Just that makes the whole trip worth it.

The Damp Squibs: An advice to most is to not go there during any national holidays. The place is packed with Indians and we create our own little world of chaos and disorder. You might miss the rides due to huge lines and it’s really not worth ruining the experience.
The so called tour guides are mostly rip-offs. It is much more economical and saves time if you see everything yourself.

I Have Learnt...

2007-06-01T15:56:00.000-05:00

After a long hiatus I am back to blogging. In the interim I have managed to get myself a Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering. The journey has been quite tough, as all such journeys are. However this one has been characterized by a wide array of obstacles, educational, professional and even personal. And today I am at a stage where I can look back at those days of strife and smile. It is not that I have made it in life or something. Far from it in fact. Right now I am just content to say that I have learnt valuable lessons over these 20 odd months in the US of A; regarding my abilities, my shortcomings, the people around me, my interactions with them and myself.
The details of all that would not interest most readers and hence I will omit them. However I would give out some unsolicited advice. I have learnt that the best of people are fallible. That ignoring our troubles does not drive them out of our lives. I have learnt that we most often give up when we are one step away from success. And it is the people who persist and take that last step that are the ones who obtain the success they have strived for. I have learnt that life owes us nothing, and it pretty much treats some of us that way at times. However it is the indomitable human spirit that takes us through such times. And even if life shatters all of our dreams, it is the power to dream again that makes us look forward to a new day. Each and every time.

Book of Life...

2007-04-23T20:35:00.000-05:00

My life, like that of many others, is an open book. It's just that the writing in it happens to be in invisible ink.

Bozos in Enzos

2007-04-01T10:06:00.000-05:00

The Ferrari F60; an ode to the creator of some of the most refined and desirable automobiles man has driven. They called it the Enzo. And what a car! It’s an F1 car built for the road. Its 640bhp V12 engine powers it to a top speed of over 215mph. Each part of the car is built for a purpose. And when they all come together, the effect is simply magnificent. All $1.5 million of it. But wait, even if you had that kind of greenbacks you could not buy it. You had to be chosen by Ferrari to get this baby in your driveway. And only 400 people were fortunate enough to be the chosen ones.

So, doesn’t such a car deserve some special treatment worthy of its stature? Comedian Eddie Griffin does not seem to think so. Recently he crashed an Enzo into a concrete barrier while he was practicing for a charity racing event at Irwindale Speedway in Irwindale, California. The car was reportedly damaged beyond repair. And it wasn’t even his car! It belonged to Daniel Sadek, the producer of his latest film.Later he joked about it and even had a picture taken with one foot on the broken car. And there are rumors afloat that it was a publicity stunt for his film featuring the car. Which is why I am not putting up any links. I think it was disgraceful to destroy such a magnificent machine for some crappy publicity stunt. And then joke about it in such a brash manner.

Mr. Griffin may think its funny, but auto enthusiasts everywhere will be quick to point out that no ones really laughing.

Don't Stop...

2007-03-18T10:17:00.000-05:00

Don't Stop Dancing

At times life is wicked and I just can't see the light

A silver lining sometimes isn't enough

To make some wrongs seem right

Whatever life brings

I've been through everything

And now I'm on my knees again

But I know I must go on

Although I hurt I must be strong

Because inside I know that many feel this way

[Chorus:]Children don't stop dancing

Believe you can fly

Away...away

At times life's unfair and you know it's plain to see

Hey God I know I'm just a dot in this world

Have you forgot about me?

Whatever life brings

I've been through everything

And now I'm on my knees again

But I know I must go on

Although I hurt I must be strong

Because inside I know that many feel this way

[Chorus:]

Creed - Human Clay

Even a broken clock shows the right time twice a day. So hang in there folks!

India Shining?

2007-02-27T10:03:00.000-06:00

I was going to write a long post about my five weeks in India, specifically Pune. However when I sat down to write, an incident came to mind. And it is something that I still see as clearly as a picture because I remember missing my camera at that moment.
I was heading home along one of Pune’s main roads. I noticed this man standing by the roadside next to his gleaming new car. He was animatedly chatting away on a flashy cell-phone and at the same time emptying his bladder on the wall bordering the road. At that moment I felt that there couldn’t have been a more apt depiction of ‘modern’ India. We have moved towards the future and incorporated a lot of good, as well as bad ‘western’ influences into our daily lives. However there are some things about our ‘rustic’ past that we refuse to let go of. We just want it all, the convenience of the future while we stick to the idiosyncrasies of the past.
Just like a Bollywood flick released a while ago put it, "Ek per past mein… ek per future mein… isiliye to present pe muth rahe hain!" (One foot in the past… the other in the future… that’s why we are peeing on our present!)… Touche!

Caution: Contents...

2007-02-05T11:16:00.000-06:00

CAUTION: The contents of this post may cause irreparable damage if read while sitting on the computer monitor and trying to smash ones face into it.
No! I have not lost it; Yet! The other day I happened to grab my morning container (paper cup with lid and a sleeve) of coffee. And suddenly happened to notice this warning ‘Caution: The beverage you are about to enjoy may be extremely hot’. And not just on one, but on 3 different locations! Now if I were to buy a cup of coffee on a freezing morning, I would be quite offended if it was anything but hot. And since they have totally different containers for hot and cold beverages, what’s the point? Is it that the average American citizen is afflicted with sudden attacks of amnesia when he forgets what he bought about a minute ago? Or are they so dumb that they need to be reminded that hot coffee is, well hot! Its almost like writing ‘Caution: Contents may catch fire if rubbed against side of box’ on a matchbox! Wait a minute, have they done it already? Maybe they will now!
And it’s not just coffee. Every product one buys seems to have scores of warnings attached, often in places where one would never look (I’m assuming one does not usually scrutinize ones coffee cup before drinking it). My university ID card came with warnings to not use it as a screwdriver (okay…maybe) and not bite it! (Huh??) Bite??!!! I know we often live hand to mouth but we have never reached that stage of desperation. I hope no one else has either! And I hear that they now have kettles with the warning ‘Do not pour contents on self’
I wonder how they come up with these warnings. Maybe they hand over the new product to a bunch of toddlers all aged less than 3 and watch them use it. Based on their actions, they write warnings against each of them. A three-year-old might bite into a Graduate Student ID card. But then I doubt putting in the warning in writing would deter him/her from doing it again.
I have a hunch that the reason for this may be the equally ridiculous lawsuits that prevail in the US of A. But that is the topic of another post.
P.S. Read another one yesterday. Contact lenses with the warning to not put them in ones mouth!!!… I rest my case.

First World Mendicants

2007-01-31T15:02:00.000-06:00

They are usually found to frequent the various bus shelters of Chicago and its suburbs. At first sight they would appear to be just another passenger. But then, sighting a ‘third world’ resident, they casually walk up to you. And ask you for money to ride on the bus. And any bus mind you! Doesn’t matter where it’s going! And if you refuse, some give you a blood-chilling glare while others shower you with the latest version of expletives.
We foreign students happen to be among the lower economic strata of society here. But still we seem to be the target of these ‘requests’ for financial assistance. And why on earth should I hand over my hard earned money to some guy who is living off social security, and wearing a $100 suit at that!

Back With A...

2007-01-28T10:05:00.000-06:00

Well heres ending a self imposed hiatus from blogging. It was mostly the result of a month long India trip. And theres a lot that needs to be penned down about that. Shall do that when I am not feeling wretched about coming back to an ice cold welcome (literally)!

So I am back... but the bang is yet to come!

The American Way

2006-12-03T09:43:00.000-06:00

The other day I was feeling all thankful and I decided to express my gratitude by doing my bit for the American economy. So I went out thanksgiving shopping for some things that I did not need and probably would not need till I actually knew they existed. And then in one of the creatively named shops called 'Office something or the other' I found the source of that incomplete feeling in my life. It was a small pen like device with an eraser at the end. And it was motorized!!! An automatic eraser!! I felt so deprived at having had to expose my poor fingers to the misery of actually manually erasing the few wrong words I wrote with a pencil. Pencil huh? Now when was that again??
P.S. I have not bought it, yet!

Change for the Verse

2006-11-13T15:34:00.000-06:00

I made a big decision a little while ago.
I don't remember what it was, which prob'ly goes to show
That many times a simple choice can prove to be essential
Even though it often might appear inconsequential.

I must have been distracted when I left my home because
Left or right I'm sure I went. (I wonder which it was!)
Anyway, I never veered: I walked in that direction
Utterly absorbed, it seems, in quiet introspection.

For no reason I can think of, I've wandered far astray.
And that is how I got to where I find myself today.

~ The Indispensable Calvin and Hobbes

Carpe Diem

2006-11-06T16:28:00.000-06:00

Recently, a friend sent me an article about living the moment. As I went through it, every paragraph hit home with amazing accuracy. And soon I was left wondering where all those moments went. They say time flies, but here its going supersonic. When I was younger I looked forward to a life which I would call my own, where I would rule. It’s been quite a few years since then, and I don’t exactly seem to be ruling anything yet.
Life now is no longer made up of moments, but chunks of time, which are devoted to some special activity toward building a secure ‘future’. And those chunks seem to get used up at an alarming rate. So we forfeit the present for the future, and it happens to be an infinite loop. Often I wonder about an incident that seems like it happened a few days back, but it suddenly occurs that its something that happened more than a few years back. Now many might say a year or two is not a long time. Well it is, and I want it to be. I don’t want my life to rush by so fast that I’m left wondering whether I am even a part of it any more! If a period of three years can vanish in no time, we will soon have lived up our life. And I am certain I don’t want to do that.
Most of us spend each day in the pursuit of that promising land, that idyllic existence for which we work our youth away in a jiffy. There is a school of thought that says youth is the time to work so that one can have a good old age. Well I beg to differ. I’d rather enjoy each moment of today to the fullest than spend it hoping that sometime in the future I might have a relaxed life. If I live to be that old, I don’t think I’d really care then about things that matter to me today. And with the increasing problems in the world, I’m not sure I even look forward to where we are heading. So I’m gonna get myself something that is rapidly diminishing from my daily existence. I’m gonna get my life back. And enjoy each moment. I might be a poor man when I’m old, but I’d like to be rich when it really matters!!
Nothing is as far away as a moment ago…Carpe Diem folks…

Turn Back Time

2006-10-30T09:15:00.000-06:00

For no plausible rhyme or reason, we have turned the clock back an hour. Apart from confusing my body-clock and giving me a false sense of having an extra hour, it does not seem to have affected my life in any manner whatsoever. So heres to daylight saving... yeah right! whatever....

A Loose Noose...

2006-10-19T12:47:00.000-05:00

Mohammed Afzal Guru was a mastermind of the Dec 13, 2001 attacks on Parliament in which nine innocent people lost their lives. His role in the dastardly act was established and his trial went through various lower courts finally culminating at the Supreme Court with him being awarded the death penalty. At this point one would say justice was done.
But hold on. All of a sudden there are rising demands for clemency. By human rights groups as well as Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. Clemency?! For a hardcore terrorist? I fail to understand what is wrong with these people. Here we have a chance to put our foot down against terrorism and all these people can see are political gains. Wasnt the IC814 fiasco an eye opener to the consequences of setting such men free? Did the lives of the security personnel killed that day go in vain? Or is the life of a terrorist more valuable than theirs? Would these people clamor for clemency if their family members were among the deceased? Or do we want to keep him alive so that he can plot and kill hundreds more?
Answers… anyone?

Dementia

2006-10-18T16:33:00.000-05:00

The Location: Aboard the Metra (Metropolitan Rail) in Chicago
The Protagonists: I, Me, Myself (Henceforth referred to as IMM), Demented, Stoned, Drunk Woman (Henceforth referred to as DSDW)
The Spectators: Other Passengers (Henceforth referred to as OP)
It is a weekday evening. The train is quite full with people travelling towards Chicago. I am engrossed in a novel. There is a vacant seat in front of me. DSDW enters and occupies the seat in front of me. And then its showtime.

DSDW: (Looking around) I need some cocaine. Got to have some cocaine now.
OP & IMM: What the…!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Seeing that we were all unable to fulfill her request DSDW quietly mutters obscenities to herself for a while. Then she spots me. She starts pointing at me and making weird gestures. She tries her best to attract the attention of OP and whenever any of them looks towards her she points at me and makes funny gestures. By this time I am staring into my novel trying to stop myself from bursting out with laughter.

This goes on for about 30 minutes. Finally its time to get off the train. DSDW then says to me.

DSDW: You people are ruining our countries
DSDW: You think you can, but you cant. They will come for you one day.
IMM: Playing a superlative act of being deaf
OP: All sniggering to themselves
DSDW: What about all the doctors and the nurses. Oh God, all the doctors.
IMM: Huh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DSDW: Not very long now.
DSDW: Go back to Africa where you came from!
At this point I notice that DSDW happens to be of African-American origin.
IMM: (In my mind. Else I would have been dead by now) You are the one from Africa, not me!!

Serves me right for ridiculing all those Fair and Lovely ads back home.

The Weatherman...

2006-10-12T11:22:00.000-05:00

...is usually right when he predicts bad weather. So here I am, ten days into October amidst sub zero temperatures and snow... yes snow!!

The Difference...

2006-09-29T11:43:00.000-05:00

At the risk of sounding cliched like another one of the countless Indians in the US of A, I wonder aloud. Why are their cities so clean? Where do all the plastic bags, papers et all go? The answer to this doesn’t require genius. They go where they should, in the waste-bins. And who puts them there? Not the civic authorities. The very people who use them.
The other morning I noticed a well-attired man in a public restroom cleaning his shoes with a tissue. After he was done he tossed the tissue towards the waste basket. It however landed outside. Now if this same situation had occurred in India, 99% of the time the paper would be lying there alongside many others. However the guy took the trouble to pick it up and put it into the bin. Took him a just a few seconds. But he did his part.
When we ape the west, when we go to any lengths to get ‘westernized’, why don’t these things ever get imbibed in us? Why do we ape only what is wrong?

The Co(i)nman

2006-09-17T19:52:00.000-05:00

Early morning at the Chicago Union Station. I wait along-with about a dozen other equally drowsy passengers. Conversation is non existent, most people just staring at the tracks willing the train to arrive. Enter a decent American man dressed formally for work. He carries a briefcase. Having nothing better to do I stare at his actions. All the benches are occupied and I wonder where he plans to sit. However his objectives differ. Without the slightest glance at the other passengers he heads towards the bank of payphones. I chuckle at the thought of the expletives with which he might be greeted if he were to call a fast asleep Indian. However he does not call. With the skill of a seasoned veteran he glides across all the phones, checking the coin-return slot of each with his index finger. In a jiffy he is done and apparently unsuccessful, he heads to earn his living in other conventional ways!

Musings on Rails - 3

2006-09-12T14:42:00.000-05:00

I woke up quite early. For a few moments I tried to fathom which direction I was going in. I am not among the directionally challenged but still at times I get the feeling that the train is going in the opposite direction when I do not have the reference of an open window. In a short while the attendant came around with tea and breakfast. Around the same time the train pulled into a station. I looked out curiously. The railway station in the morning displays a different facet altogether. There were quite a few families sleeping on newspapers next to their luggage. The waiting room was overcrowded and woefully inadequate. Predictably, there was a huge line of people outside the loo. While some chose to endure the agonizing wait, others with more urgent needs sought out greener pastures! (literally!) Food stalls were already crowded with patrons. The station was waking up.
Soon the train departed and gradually neared my destination. As we neared the city the track-sides began to get filthier. I have observed this plagues that even the most developed of cities. The approach to the city is always through filth, garbage and tiny children playing dangerously close to the trains. I often wonder why this is the case. Maybe due to the undeveloped railway land around the tracks. But whatever the reason, it is not a pleasant welcome to the city. More like putting ones worst foot forward.
After the mandatory stop at the outer signal, I reached my destination. As I walked away, a part of me was sad at leaving this world behind. But soon others would experience this world from the place I vacated. And I promised myself to get back again as soon as I could. It’s a promise I haven’t fulfilled to date…

Musings on Rails - 2

2006-08-28T15:59:00.000-05:00

Long distance trains in India usually comprise second (sleeper) class, first class and AC coaches. The second class coaches are usually packed beyond capacity with people without reservations and often leave no room for even a trip to the washroom. While the air-conditioned coaches are a boon in the scorching Indian summer, the flip side is that they do cut one off from the surroundings and thus take away most of the romanticism of the journey. Since I was travelling in winter I had chosen a first class cabin. Hence I enjoyed the relative privacy of a closed cabin while retaining the ability to interact with the world outside. I shared my cabin with an elderly couple. They apparently had ‘been there, seen that’ and held no fascinations for the views outside.
As the train sped through the darkness I stole a glance at my watch. It indicated that it was almost time for dinner. I have always had a weakness for the meals served by the Indian Railways. While most Indians would nod disapprovingly at this, I seem to sustain the liking each time I travel by train. Soon the attendant arrived with the trays loaded with packed meals wrapped in aluminum foil. He handed mine and moved on. Placing the food on a spread out newspaper I sat down to enjoy a hot meal consisting of rice, dal, puris, egg-curry and some pickle. The elderly couple had spent most of their journey dozing. They woke up once in a while to eat a few morsels of curd-rice from a huge steel bin (for want of a better word) that seemed to have an unending supply of it. After staring disapprovingly at my plate for a while they got their bin out again. After eating a few spoonfuls of the by-now-evil-smelling paste of white they were back in dreamland. And all this before I finished my meal!
The lights in the cabin were switched off. I had my face next to the window and felt the cool breeze blowing on my face. The whole train was silent, as most of the people were asleep. It was a strange solitude, with a thousand other people in close proximity. It was the type of solitude that I did not want to break by thinking even. The train sped past a station without stopping. For no particular reason this brought a smile on my face. I have often stood at a station and watched a train zoom past. Hence the feeling of being in the train itself while others watched was a source of joy, again a residue of some childhood thrill.
After a while I shut the window, leaving a tiny crack open. Placing my pillow below the window I curled up under my blanket. The first-class and AC coaches have these reading lights. They have a flip open metal lid that doubles as a switch and also gets real hot in no time. It was by this light that I started reading the novel I had brought along. I cannot explain why but it feels just great to read by this light. Soon I was finding it hard to keep my eyelids open. I have often thought that the motion of the train is like a giant cradle and that probably explains why I usually sleep like a baby when on one. Thus, while the protagonist of the novel was out saving the world, I drifted into a peaceful slumber, rocked rhythmically by the speeding train.

Musings on Rails - 1

2006-08-22T16:24:00.000-05:00

‘Chai… chai!!…’ I jerked back into consciousness from a drowsy trance-like state that I was in. Only the gentle rocking and the rhythmic beat of the train can put one in this state. It was a few moments before I had my bearings right. I gave an annoyed glance at the perpetrator of the noise. However he was probably used to getting such looks and nonchalantly carried on announcing his presence. Stifling a yawn, I looked out of the window.
The train had just pulled into the station of one of those nondescript small towns that dot the Indian landscape. It was late evening and the station was busy with hawkers peddling their wares, from sliced cucumber with a dash of rock salt to boiled eggs. As I looked on I wondered how many trains came to this station in a day. And how much did these people make. Presently the vendor selling tea made a second pass and this time he elicited a favorable response from me. I curled up with my cup as a slight chill had set in. Served in small earthen mugs, it had a very unique taste. And I got this childish thrill out of tossing the cup out of the window when the train ran at high speed, knowing I wasn’t polluting the environment. Then I noticed a sudden increase in the tempo of activity. Craning my neck I caught a glimpse of the reason for this. The stationmaster was waving a green flag at the train. As people completed their last minute purchases the train started moving.
The train pulled out of the station and gradually picked up speed. Soon the town receded. I made a mental note to remember this place, knowing too well that I would never recognize it again. Soon the houses gave way to vast, seemingly endless fields stretching out into the horizon. Sometimes in the distance there would be a lone farmer walking back with his cattle. There was not a house in sight. It made me wonder where he stayed and how long it would take him to reach there. Questions I would never know the answer to. At times I spotted a light-pole with a single light burning on it and a pump providing the much-needed water. Occasionally the train went over small bridges that just had wasteland below them; scattered patches of grass and shrubs and at times a seldom used dirt track. Made me wonder why a bridge was needed there in the first place.
Soon the sun melted away below the horizon and the evening blended into dusk. There is a curious mix of light and shadows at this time that plays with ones perception of the surroundings. It’s quite difficult to visualize anything clearly and the motion of the train does not help. Soon figments of imagination manifest themselves into the weirdest of forms. And suddenly the place was engulfed by darkness. Except for a few distant spots of light, the train seemed to be going through some void in space. It was like a small world of its own, with a thousand odd people travelling through infinite black space.
And there outside was another world. A world I was permitted to get just a fleeting glimpse of. A world that I would never be a part of.

Home is Where....

2006-08-18T13:16:00.000-05:00

June 2004 to Aug 2005
There is something special about working in the city where your home is. Having stayed away from home for the first year of my professional career I decided to touch base again. Base happens to be Pune. Maybe it’s the aura of the city that draws me to it. Or just the fact that every memory in the past twenty odd years has an association with this city. Whatever it may be, the city has something magical about it. For me, it is home. And I am glad to have grown up there. I have seen the city with the eyes of a school going kid, a high school teenager and an engineering undergraduate. And now I was seeing it as an employed professional. But then maybe it was an illusion. The city did not change. I did. The people did. After all, a city is nothing but a reflection of the people who reside there.
And so there I was. On my bike, in my city. It instilled a sense of freedom, a sense of exhilaration and a quiet comfort in the fact that I was always on home turf. And even then at the end of the day I had a home to go to.
But then the human spirit is not easily appeased. Soon the feeling gave way to something more intense. The need to do something more. To get out of that comfort zone. After all there was more to life. There is always more to life for those who dare to dream. I had always been a dreamer. Now it was time to give those dreams a tangible manifestation.

Jaya He!

2006-08-15T08:21:00.000-05:00

They died in war so we live in peace.

On the 20th of October 1962, the Chinese Army launched an attack on Riznag La pass in NEFA (NorthEast Frontier Area), wiping out the Indian battalion posted there. The brave soldiers fought to the last man and the last round. Today, at Rizang La, a small white memorial marking their valor reads:

For how can men die better,

Than facing fearful odds,

For the ashes of their forefathers

And the temples of their gods...

May we always respect and value the greatest gift bestowed upon us, Freedom. Let’s make INDIA proud of us.

Ban Humans

2006-08-10T15:10:00.000-05:00

August 10, 2006 LONDON -

British authorities said Thursday they thwarted a terrorist plot to simultaneously blow up 10 aircraft heading to the U.S. using explosives smuggled in hand luggage, averting what police described as "mass murder on an unimaginable scale."

Everytime something like this happens I get the feeling that the human race ought to be ostracized from this planet. Not only do we destroy every other life form, we also try our best to destroy ourselves. Maybe we should leave this planet to the animals. It would be a very peaceful place then. We call them wild; the epithet applies more to the human race than to the animals. Animals kill only to feed themselves. However we fight wars where we kill millions. And even in ‘peace’ we try to kill as many innocents as possible. Wanton destruction of human life seems to have become the norm.
Yes, the human race needs to be banned from living (or rather killing and dying) on this planet.

City of Dreams - Episode Vier!

2006-08-08T15:16:00.000-05:00

The Exodus...
It began with one of us leaving shortly after the training. And soon others were to follow suit. While some went on to pursue higher degrees in education others went in search of more lucrative offers. Whatever the reason the outflow had started and it would only increase as time passed. And so it came as no surprise when within one year more than half of our initial batch had severed their association with the firm. While this is not a reflection of the quality of the firm, it certainly provides a peek into the mindset of today’s youth. There was a time when graduates fresh out of college would stick to their first job for a decade or more. Not so now. We are no more satisfied with a decent living. We want more in every aspect of life. The pros and cons of this are the topic of another post. However this is primarily what caused the exodus.
And so we bid each person farewell. We had had such a great time and within a year it was time for change again. And the Siebel group felt it even more as more than half of the team left within a short span of time. As we bid farewell to each member office seemed more uninviting with each passing day. And soon it was my turn too. I was going back home! However as I set off on my last day I felt a tiny pang somewhere deep within. All these people had influenced my life in some way. And I hoped I had managed to reciprocate that influence in some way at least.
And I knew I would miss Bombay. It might come as a surprise to most that before this one-year stint I had been to Bombay just once. And that was a whirlwind one-day trip that left me with the impression of it being an overcrowded, dirty and hot city. However I know now that I couldn’t have been more mistaken. The city has a soul to it that I have not felt in any other city that I have been to. Each one of the teeming masses seems to have an identity, and more importantly a purpose. There are a lot of maladies that plague it. However sheer human spirit wins over these. The packed local trains and stations. The huge traffic jams. The unbelievable variety of food available. The efficient BEST buses. The bookstalls of Churchgate. The beauty of Marine Drive and the beaches. The torrential and awe inspiring rainfall. Yes, I would miss it all. But most of all I would miss the people and their spirit. I shall always have a soft spot for this great city! Truly, ‘Yeh hai Bombay meri jaan!’
It was with these mixed feelings that I parted ways with I-Flex and thus Bombay exactly a year and two days after I had joined. But that span of time had changed me. I now was, and always would be a part of the real world.

City of Dreams - Episode Drei!

2006-07-24T16:12:00.000-05:00

Sheer Melody...

I could go on and on about the wonderful time we spent during the training sessions at I-flex. However the way it culminated was something I regard as very special. It was the penultimate day of the non-technical training sessions. About 4 in the evening and everyone was looking restive, almost willing the clock to reach the magical 5 p.m. mark signaling freedom from the closed confines of the room. Just then one of my friends requested him to sing the special song. He agreed. He sang ‘Annie’s Song’. I was not acquainted with this talent of his and just looked on with awe. The person who had made the request was already making gestures of obeisance with his hands.
I consider myself to be a person who has a taste for (what I consider to be) good music. So I was dumbfounded when I realized I failed to have an iota of knowledge about this song. I have always rued the fact that I cannot sing and hence respect people who are blessed with the gift of melody in their voices. And here he was, just another fresh trainee like the rest of us. And yet at that moment he was at a plane that few among the rest of us could hope to reach.
To readers who were not present there this narration may seem a tad hyperbolized. However I have since heard the original version of the song and to this date I maintain that I have never been as captivated as I was on that day.

Watered Down!

2006-07-21T13:23:00.000-05:00

The skies were attempting to crush the earth! Yes, that is precisely how the atmosphere was as I stepped out of home this morning. The envelope of clouds was so dark that there was no semblance of morning. An ominous reddish tinge all over the sky added to the effect. And the air was still, hot, humid and oppressive. And then suddenly it all came apart. And cascades of water poured down. I managed to keep myself slightly protected using an umbrella. However the elements had a counter to that. A vicious wind got into the foray and nearly blew the umbrella off. Riding on this wind, the rain changed direction to an almost incredible semi horizontal angle such that I had to hold the umbrella in front of me in order to avoid getting wet! The arrival of the bus saved me from a thorough drenching though I was already uncomfortably damp. And the air conditioner was working overtime, adding to my miseries.
Such were the circumstances in which my mind drifted back to my other encounters with the rain. Back in Pune the rains had a sadistic streak and tended to second-guess me. So the skies usually opened up when I departed from home and ensured I had my second ablution for the day. And just as I arrived close to my destination, voila! Blue skies and a bright sun mocking me. No wonder people speculated about whether I had driven my bike into the river or something!
Mumbai rains are, well Mumbai rains! They need to be experienced. One might be in possession of the latest in umbrellas and other rain gear, but these stand an ice cubes chance in hell against the fury of the rain. It literally pours down with savage vigor, as if trying to clean up the physique and the mind of the city and its people. And it keeps pouring for days on end with tenacious zeal. Soon roads resemble rivers and there is absolutely no way one can avoid stepping into the swirling copious mass. And let there be no illusion about whether the rain cools the climate. Simply because it doesn’t. So it usually means one is always in a ‘wet’ state of existence, either due to the rain or ones own perspiration in the extreme heat and humidity.
So am I at the mercy of the elements? It certainly seems like it for now. However as Guns n Roses crooned… ‘Nothing lasts forever…Even cold November (July?) Rain’

Will We Ever...?

2006-07-12T15:56:00.000-05:00

SCENARIO 1: ISRAEL – JUNE 25, 2006
The Provocation: 19-year-old Israeli soldier Cpl. Gilad Shalit captured by Palestinian militants.

The Politician Spoke Thus: "The simplest thing really is to release the soldier, stop the rocket fire and then things will return to normal. The goal of the operation is simply to stop the terrorism" - Justice Minister Haim Ramon.

The Response: Israel launched an attack on the Gaza strip on the 28th. The attack was a determined effort using heavy artillery and even airstrikes. And while they were at it the mission was expanded to retaliate against the rocket attacks from Gaza. The support for the offensive in the ministry is admirable. Read the detailed report here.

SCENARIO 2: MUMBAI – JULY 11, 2006
The Provocation: Eight synchronized blasts rock packed suburban trains. About 150 killed and scores injured.

The Politician Spoke Thus: "Terrorism has increased under the UPA" - BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad
"Life and security of citizens cannot be held to ransom by a few fanatics, whoever they be. I hope that people would maintain calm, vigil and see that peace was not disturbed in any manner." - CPI general secretary A.B. Bardhan.

The Response: We know who the ‘few fanatics’ were, in fact they proudly claim it already. But we dont seem to be doing anything about it. And the people did not disturb the peace in the first place!! So why are people told to maintain calm as if they were the guilty ones? It is the man on the street who helped the people affected while the politicians spent endless fruitless hours in meetings. And things have already boiled down to petty political squabbles. So we sit twiddling our thumbs.

What is the use of millions of dollars worth of sophisticated military equipment if they don’t protect the taxpayer who pays for them? Or are the lives of hundreds of Indians not worth that of a single Israeli?

Human(e) No More…

2006-07-11T14:24:00.000-05:00

MUMBAI, 11th of July 2006

History repeats itself with unfailing regularity. And we humans just watch helplessly. Or are we the cause of this? We certainly are. The most intelligent species on this planet is slowly but surely taking itself and all others toward a quick nemesis. We spare no efforts in making our planet inhospitable beyond repair. Perhaps in the near future there won’t be a part of the earth left worth fighting for. Maybe that’s when the mayhem will end.
May the almighty be with the citizens of Mumbai today. And for the perpetrators of this mindless violence. ‘Beware of the anger of a patient man’ Nothing can defeat the collective will of a billion people. Small wonder then that a few hours after the previous blasts, a hoarding at the site read. ‘They Suck, We Rock!!’

She Drove a Bus...

2006-07-05T13:15:00.001-05:00

She was qualified to be a nurse. She had the degree. Most of her family members were either nurses or doctors, in some way related to the medical profession. And of course it would have paid better. And yet she drove a bus. For two simple reasons. She loved to drive and meet people! What could be better than to get paid to indulge in ones passions? Hats off to her. Many ‘exalted’ individuals don’t manage to get anywhere close to this.

Doing what one likes is Freedom,
Liking what one does is Happiness…

City of Dreams - Episode Zwei!

2006-06-29T14:26:00.000-05:00

The realms of software...
I stole a glance at the guy sitting next to me. At first, he appeared to be writing something on his notepad. I wondered what he could be noting down. We already had handouts of all the ‘information’. A closer look appeased my doubting mind. He was in another world. A peaceful look spread across his countenance as he shifted to a more comfortable position. After all it isn’t easy to sleep sitting on a straight-backed chair! His pen was etching aimless tracks on the paper. Occasionally his eyes opened, and he tried to focus on the man droning away up front. Seeing the instructor look his way he nodded to indicate that he had grasped what was being taught in its entirety. He hoped there wouldn’t be a test on this. The façade didn’t last very long. Soon his head drooped and his eyelids lost the battle to stay open. He was back in his world. I envied him! Looking around the whole room seemed to be in a state of suspended animation. This state of existence only changed when the session was over or when the break was announced.
That was one of the typical scenes at the training sessions we underwent. They lasted for more than two months. The non-technical training was quite entertaining and resulted in the group bonding very well and having some memorable times, be it dumbcharades in the training room or a trip to the beach. However the technical trainings were almost always as described above, with a few exceptions. And those were usually the moments when someone muttered something funny and we had to somehow maintain a straight face. It surprises me as to how in such situations, even little things make you want to burst out laughing.
The first paycheck evokes a plethora of different emotions. It brings about a feeling of financial independence and the realization of the fact that for the first time in life one doesn’t have to look homewards the moment the pockets are empty. No wonder we checked our online accounts each time they logged on to the net to see whether the deposit had been made. In their minds many were already indulging in their long suppressed passions.
Even though we had been together for just a short span of two months we had shared a lot of firsts with each other; first job, first pay… the list goes on. Each person’s birthday was celebrated in style and it felt like family. The fact that not one person in the group was from Mumbai probably helped things towards this end. However, all good things come to an end. This was no exception. Towards the end of the training session, the group was split unevenly into 10 and 6. The larger part would go into Java at SEEPZ. The rest of us would end up at ‘Haria Center’ to work on Siebel. I can safely vouch for the rest of the group in saying that we didn’t have the least idea about either!
All in all, it was a very happening time. We were getting accustomed to a new city and a new lifestyle. Terrorists added to the happenings with a few bomb blasts on buses. On the 19th day of September 2003 we shifted from the modern Vile Parle building to Haria Center (very few know of its existence!). And thus began our tryst with software.

City of Dreams - Episode Eins!

2006-06-21T07:57:00.000-05:00

June 23rd 2003 - I-Flex Solutions Ltd.
It took me some time to find the place. Actually I almost entered another building along the way which looked like the perfect setup for a software firm. Another victim of preconceived notions… Interestingly, I still do not know what that building houses! As I waited, people began to turn up in groups of two or three. Soon there were about eight guys murmuring away. It was apparent they knew each other. I turned to see my friend and prospective roommate from college arrive. A familiar face at last. Finally, we decided to go inside. While the regulars just flashed their cards to enter, we had to wait till we were let in by the security guards. We waited at the reception on the comfortable sofa sets, looking at the new faces and wondering if the others felt the tinge of apprehension too.
Soon we were led up to what would be our camping grounds for the next three months; the training rooms. The first thing we noticed was that the temperature in these rooms was significantly lower than the rest of the building. Never figured out the reason for that, though it led to a lot of humorous discussions.
Once we were settled down our instructors organized an introductory session. It turned out that there were sixteen of us; four from COEP, four from IT-BHU and eight from IIT-KGP. It was a diverse mix of 16 engineers just out of college. We were made to sign an endless number of forms that made us unwittingly accept a lot of things that I fail to recall now.
Looking around I wondered whether I would get along with the lot. And I am pretty certain that similar thoughts were traversing the minds of some, if not all the others too. Over the next year I would be spending some of my greatest days with this group, or at least a part of it. But, being unable to foretell the future, I did not know that then.
The evening was spent in search of accommodation. After a few visits to ramshackle apartments being leased at exorbitant rates, I wondered whether the starting of this new life was to be in a dingy, odious apartment. A long bus journey back to the defense guest house followed by a hot meal was the culmination of day one.

Into The 'Real' World...

2006-06-13T22:20:00.000-05:00

(6th month of the year 2003)

The BE final semester exams were over a few days ago. COEP had a deserted look compared to the bustle during the exams. However the final year students still came at times in order to finish pending work related to their projects or at times for their final project presentation. The 500 odd students of the 2003 batch were suddenly out of college. During the four years they spent there few thought about how they would feel once this life was over, and now that it was, few knew what to think, or even feel. It was again one of those transitional phases in life. When one is forced to move out of ones comfort zone and re-learn to live.
These were some of the myriad thoughts that went through my mind as I waited for my project partners to arrive. It was the day of our final presentation. A few days earlier we had given a demonstration of the project, and that had almost been a major fiasco due to no fault of ours. It worked out at the last minute as was often the case in engineering and we got through. Were we lucky that we scraped through or were we unlucky to get into the stupid situation in the first place? One of those questions whose answer always will elude me. Anyway, that is a discussion left for another day.
The project presentation went quite well. At the end of it the external examiner was peacefully snoring, our guide looked mystified while we were just relieved that it was finally over. We packed our stuff and left. Once I reached home it hit. I was out of college. I was an engineer. And I was to leave home for my first job in two days. Two days, that’s all I got to get ready and step into another world. Little was I to know that this was a precursor of things to come. Ironically the day I was to leave was my birthday. So once again it heralded the beginning of a new life. And as our group assembled at my house I looked on, and wondered. Would we ever sit the same way again? Would we ever chat away without a care in the world? Would we see this whole group together ever again? To this day the answer remains in the negative. But we dint know that then. All we knew was that each one of us was heading out to new lands, across the length and breadth of the country. With promises to keep in touch we parted. That was the last birthday I celebrated. And that was the first day of my new life.
I made my final preparations and set off that afternoon with my parents. As the train slowly pulled out of the platform I quietly looked out of the window, soaking in the sight of the city which had been my home for nearly 22 years. Each message on my cell phone made me painfully aware that there was no looking back. The train, immune to such emotions, went nonchalantly over the tracks it knew so well. The monsoons had arrived and the Western Ghats were adorned with lush green foliage. I dint know green had such a wide variety of shades. As I looked into the misty valleys it brought back childhood memories of the times when I wondered what lay in those uninhabited valleys. And then imagination took over and conjured up a plethora of possibilities, each more ingenious and exciting than the previous. "Beep beep"… I was brought out of my reverie by the all so familiar message tone of my Nokia. Another of my friends was wishing me good luck. Yeah, I needed that.
It was late evening when the train pulled into one of the busiest stations of the commercial capital of India, Dadar Junction, Mumbai. As I looked at the teeming masses rushing past me I realized I was there, in India’s city of dreams; into the real world.

Orkutting...

2006-06-12T21:02:00.000-05:00

The Orkut world, where some are discovering new ways to keep in touch while others are learning of new ways to make a nuisance of themselves. It’s almost a race to add as many people as possible to ones list of friends, as if it were a popularity contest. And most of these wannabe ‘friends’ make complete fools of themselves and seldom realize that its there for the world to see. An entry in one of my friends scrapbooks read, I quote, “hi i m also maharashtra. can we make fnds”…!!!! Well, the poor guy was named after a state; Talk about creativity. And imagine asking a totally unknown person whether either of them possess the ability to make friends!! I rest my argument.

A Fresh Start

2006-06-11T02:25:00.000-05:00

And so it shall begin...