Sunday, October 15, 2006
Friday, October 13, 2006
Zen: Endurance Test!
Ok, so I am back trying to write another blog but am just not sober enough to think clearly what to write! Fine, let me complain again this time and talk about Bangalore a bit! It's one of the most cosmopolitan cities in India. You can find lots of young gals and guys from all over the country, just out of college or maybe an year and some, working their ass off from like nine to seven-eight. Also, you will see a sizable chunk of expats. Now, after all this hard work what do they need? Some place they can get relaxed, maybe have a few drinks, shake their bootys and forget about what's in store for them coming Monday.
As always, who thinks logically, who cares about what the majority wants, or at least, the majority who really cares and contributes think. So, one fine day, someone think, hey, these guys in Bangalore are having just too much fun meeting friends, getting drunk and creating (the so called) lawlessness later. So, let me be the one who decides what is good for them. Close down all the dance places, order all the clubs and restaurants etc. to be shut down by 11:30pm. And that is the sad story in Bangalore these days.
Well, we are quite used to it now. But not to be outdone, people have a lot more house parties these days. So, get kicked out (very politely unlike the clubs in the US as my dear firang friend pointed out today!) from these places by 11:30 and get together at a friends place. Now, you drink, play music, dance, no one bothers you (unless you live in a really annoying neighborhood with all these really fussy neighbors who keep complaining about all the noise you are making). Fortunately for our neighbors, we were quite considerate and keep the music just at the level that no one bothered.
Anyway, my point being, this is one good thing that has come out with the whole 11:30 bandh thing. You can really talk now. Without all that loud music and total strangers, a bunch of friends gathered together, you really get comfortable. You talk like you would never had in some club. Even for someone who meets others for the first time, it is better than the club atmosphere, you really talk and make more than just acquaintances.
This still doesn't do away with the fact that we are mature enough to know what is right for us and don't need some stupid cop telling us when to go home. That apart, I think Bangalore is a great place to be in. Over the past couple of years or so, I have driven and traveled so much around the city which I never did in my whole life. Leave for Goa at two in the morning or have a lifetime rafting experience after twelve hours of continuous driving, go on a trek at some abandoned railway track or be in the midst of all the wildlife, you can do all that here. No wonder then that I have been pestering this friend of mine to come to Bangalore for a long time now, only if she relented.
That is it for now. Time to sleep, will be back with something more interesting or more stupid soon. Till then, borrowing from The Truman Show, good morning, good afternoon, good evening and good night.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Roger Federer
But I am not here to give you any statistics on
While in
Who wants to miss the
Talking about Roger again, this friend visited us in
Well, that is all I have the energy for today. Can't promise I will be back tomorrow with something but will definitely try to come up with something this weekend. Ciao.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Catching Up!
Where do I begin, let me start with the issue of quota in government aided professional colleges. It made big news and interests me personally, since I come from one of these institutes. So, with the allotment of quota seats to the OBCs, just about 50% of all seats are now reserved. Well, these numbers doesn't look that bad considering that about the same number of our population falls in different reserved categories. So, where's the issue?
- From what facts and figures show, even the current quota remains unfulfilled;
- A large number of these students are not able to cope up with the competition inside and drop out which I must say is not their fault, it's just the way it is;
- Not much is being done at the primary school level which lays the foundation;
- Will cost the treasury millions;
- Talking about IITs at least, they are short staffed even now and the current infrastructure is maybe, if at all, just enough to support current numbers
So, politicians come and go, but the system doesn't change, it's like one passing the baton of corruption to the other. Brings me to a couple of movies this year, Rang De Basanti and Lage Raho Munnabhai. Both were quite different in the approach but touched upon a common theme, corruption, the system, politics, things we loathe but love to talk about. Both made good money and did give us something to think about.
I read all these news about Gandhigiri being employed by some institute or group of people, makes me wonder how long this will continue. Has the movie really woken up the sleeping Gandhi within us (I am sure there is one!!) or are we just riding the Gandhian tide to get into news, impress friends and neighbors or as they say, making hay while the sun is shining? I don't know. But I would really love to see people getting their own act together, behave like they expect others to behave and we won't need a Gandhi and I can leave home in the morning and get to office without the frustrating 30 mins of agonizing drive on Bangalore roads and frankly, that's all I care about right now.
What else, the rise and fall of Sania Mirza? She is the best woman player we ever had and deserves all the applauds and recognition coming her way. But has she side tracked a bit? Again, I don't know. There are so many news channels being aired these days, each looking for something sensational to sell to gain visibility and what do they do when they can't find something? Simple, create one!! Fill the airtime with news about what a prodigy Sania is when she wins and the moment she loses, get the so called experts to dissect her game, and pass the verdict. So, I really don't know. Maybe there is some truth, she's barely played for an year, but requesting the chief minister for land to start a tennis academy, I really think she needs proper guidance from people who really care about her.
And talking about all the news channels, just switch to one of them and watch the bottom half of your idiot box for the stupidest of breaking news you could ever think of. Sometimes when I really get bored, I just read one of these "Breaking News", really helps. Try that out sometime yourself.
Just read what I wrote and got a feeling I have started complaining a lot. Well, sometimes when you write and read what you write, it reflects on the kind of person you have become or are becoming. So, I rather stop at this point. Maybe, next time, I will try not to complain too much, if only, the Gandhi in people wakes up. So long.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Back!!
Past one year has been very mixed, had good times and my share of bad times (which always seem to out do the good times!), have certain regrets, been optimistic, broke and been broken, still optimistic about few things! But life moves on and so do I and so does the world.
Of the few things I would remember about the past months was my visit to Lahore in Feb '06. Some official work, but ended up spending most of the time sight seeing and shopping (DVDs, clothes), eating (still miss those delicious Kababs I had at Food Street and my visit to Coco's Cafe overlooking Badshahi Mosque). And the biggest moment, watching India and Pakistan cricket teams play live at the Gadaffi Stadium (courtesy my client) and see India WIN!!!
The whole experience was so humbling, the love, the care they showed us made me feel so small, so stupid and so angry; what are the governments fighting for, some false pride?? Standing at the Lahore side of Wagah border, I could see people moving in and out with their suitcases in their hands, like they just crossed the road, just moved into a friends place! It was beautiful, just beautiful! And that was the memory I wanted to take back home and share with my friends!
I was also away in London for a few months this year, made a few new friends, met some old ones. Don't really feel like writing much about that trip or I would be late again for office tomorrow like always! Maybe, if I have the time and energy, I will pen that down too! Lots of pictures too, will try to upload a few soon.
This is where I stop today. Will be back soon with something interesting, or not so interesting, it is really a funny world out there, just keep looking for those lighter moments!!
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Bingo!! Ghazal in "Main Meri Patni and Woh"
Finally after days of extensive search on the net, I managed to get a source. You can listen to the song here (preferably use IE and you should have real player installed). The name of the song is Guncha (meaning: blossom or flower bud). It’s a beautiful song, pay special attention to the lyrics. The voice is so different; anyone knows who the singer is?
Here’s the lyric, enjoy!!
guncha koi, mere naam kar diya -2
saki ne phir se mera, zaam bhar diya -2
guncha koi……
tum jaise koi nahi, is jahan main -2
subeh ko teri zulf ne, shaam kar diya -2
saki ne phir se mera, zaam bhar diya
guncha koi……
mehfil main baar baar idhar, dekha kiye -2
aankhon ke zazeeron ko mere, naam kar diya -2
saki ne phir se mera, zaam bhar diya
guncha koi……
hoosh Bekhabar se hue, un ke bager
hoosh Bekhabar se hue, un ke bager -2
wo jo humse keh na sake, dil ne keh diya -2
saki ne phir se mera, zaam bhar diya
guncha koi……
guncha koi, mere naam kar diya
saki ne phir se mera, zaam bhar diya -2
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
The Fun That was Goa!!
We went on a office offsite to