tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44992642252413757522024-02-19T00:48:05.270-08:00My Two Cents and A Lil More....A mish mash of thoughts, viewpoints, fiction and what not ...I Witnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01196895259176295757noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499264225241375752.post-84389783849363455042012-08-03T02:41:00.000-07:002012-08-03T04:39:20.436-07:00That Sinking Feeling .....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Haven’t blogged in a while … well actually haven’t
felt the need to … there were a hundred issues on which I wanted to express
myself but never in more than a status update on FB or a tweet on twitter … but
then <a href="http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/team-anna-to-contest-2014-referendum-launched-fast-ends-today-250551?recent_also_see" target="_blank">yesterday’s turn of events at Jantar Mantar</a> certainly evoked feelings that
couldn’t be expressed in 140 characters that twitter offers or the slightly
greater luxury that FB allows …. Hence this rant !</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I have never interacted with a person who is FOR
corruption. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So to even ponder if anti
corruption movement is a worthy one or not, is a no brainer! But then have I
met a person who has not been involved in an act of corruption? Hmmm that is an
interesting question and what would be even more interesting are the answers to
that question!</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">But hey! I am against corruption isn’t that
good enough? I might bribe a traffic cop, produce a fake medical certificate,
buy railway tickets on tatkal through agents, watch pirated movies or download
cracked software … is there a dichotomy? A conflict…? Well actually no, because
thanks to our leaders, in India that I live any fooling around which is less
than a few hundred crores is not a scam nor considered worthy of being called
corruption. In any case, I am corrupt because I have no choice, given a chance
I would not have been … after everyone else stops being corrupt around me, I
too shall follow suit.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">But that is not what this rant is about! I was
and am a staunch supporter of India Against Corruption, as corrupt as I may be.
I have great admiration for people like Anna Hazare, Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran
Bedi, Prashant Bhushan and the rest who are spearheading this movement. I admire
the fact that most of them could have been elsewhere, in the comforts of their
home and family instead of fighting it out for the rest of their countrymen and
playing with their own health, safety and security! But then, I have a feeling
that their latest decision is not a very sound one...</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There are people around me suggesting that this
is what it was all about from the time they started, that they had political
ambitions all through. And then there are people who suggest that this was
something they never wanted, but then they were left with no choice as the
government of the day turned blind and deaf to their agitation and time was
running out for those who were fasting. As a result, announcement of entering
politics was a graceful exit strategy! The truth in my opinion maybe somewhere
between these two hugely divergent theories… and I am not worried about this
aspect as well. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In a democracy anyone can have political
ambitions. So even if IAC was originally constituted to form a political party
somewhere down the line so be it. Also I would not want to see anyone, let
alone a prominent public figure like Kejriwal lose his health or god forbid his
life, in the quest of giving this country an idealistic anti corruption
establishment. So what am I worried about? Well a few things actually …</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Firstly electoral politics is different kind of
a beast. It is one thing to whip up frenzy across the so called urban middle class;
it is completely another game to be able to translate that to electoral
victories. A huge majority of this Urban Middle Class that I also belong to, believes
that patriotism means updating their facebook status on National Days, Sharing
and Liking images and poems that reinforce inanities like “Vande Mataram” is
the best National Song and most doctors in US are Indians …. Oh Yes! Our patriotism
also extends to eulogizing our sporting heroes as and when they excel in their
area of expertise and vilifying them when they don’t … nothing more nothing less!
</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Heard of Lok Paritran a party created by ex IIT’ans?
With lots of seemingly genuine claims about changing the Indian political scene?
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The party split soon after its first electoral
outing (where it won.... surprise! surprise!!! ZERO seats) and the rebels formed a new
outfit Bharat Punarnirman Dal … with nothing much to write home about? The once
celebrated <a href="http://www.lok-paritran.org/">http://www.lok-paritran.org/</a>
website is in itself today a hacked site offering information about some furniture …
what a shame … the fate is no different for Professionals Party Of India, with nothing much to write home about when it comes to
electoral wins … </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">What about the much publicized entry of Ms. Meera Sanyal
into South Mumbai’s electoral ring? Mumbai that was seething with its anger
against corrupt and ineffective ruling party (charged with failure to prevent
the Mumbai attacks amongst others), voted in the same party’s candidate with
couple of lakhs of vote as against Meera’ s ten thousand odd votes. So much for
the claims that we do not vote, because all are thieves and there is no good
candidate to vote for!!! </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In a country where the vast majority vote their
castes rather than cast their vote, a packet of biryani and quart of liquor
decides on which symbol I will stick my vote, I do not see much of electoral
victories for IAC. Winning elections needs huge amounts of money and
organizational capacity. IAC lacks that at this point in time. When money and
muscle power pushes them to electoral defeats the so called victors will get on
all the stages available to them and declare that the people of this country
have rejected the IAC and therefore they have no moral right to fight on behalf
of those people. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Secondly, it is impossible to get into
electoral politics with a single point agenda. So what is your party’s agenda? “Oh
we are against corruption and for a strong Jan Lok Pal” Ok what are your views
about FDI in Retail? On disinvestment? On Uniform Civil Code? On dealing with
Pakistan? On India’s foreign policy? On Affirmative Action, Communalism, Education,
Police Reforms, Power Sector Reforms, illegal migrants …. The list is long …
and the fact is there are as many views within IAC on these issues, as there are members who address the television
on behalf of the IAC. So how does this political entity stay united? </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Accepting they still manage to do so and
imagining that notwithstanding whatever has been said until now, this party
wins the next elections by a substantial margin and then enacts the Lokpal Bill,
what next? Will the party dissolve itself as its purpose of creation has been achieved?
Or say just before the 2014 elections all the current political parties realize
that IAC is a threat and enact the Lok Pal bill, will the party be disbanded? </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">But then those are rather unimaginable
scenarios right? In fact as unimaginable as a bunch of villagers from a remote
village of India, taking on the British in their own game (Cricket, which the
villagers have never ever played before) and defeating them as well, to ensure
that they get a favorable taxation laws… possible when it happens on the movie
screen and we have a Indian film crew producing it … for that to happen in real
life … hmmm there lies the problem! When I have a bad feeling that Indian team
will lose this match, it does not make me a India hater, nor does that suggest that
I want India to lose… it is just that when I see certain score lines and think
about the practicalities … I get that sinking feeling …. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">:(</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></div>
</div>I Witnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01196895259176295757noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499264225241375752.post-45888122970157367722010-02-17T06:27:00.000-08:002010-02-17T18:45:56.425-08:00Goodbye ... 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mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-NZ">Goodbyes are never really easy, especially if they come after a long term association ... so this was and is tough...<span style=""> </span>After a little more than 20 years I am saying good bye to a friend (?)... Yes; we have broken up a few times in the past and they did not last too long though, you always found a way to befriend me or rather let me know how incomplete I was without you... but then this time I know it’s for real ... So mate it was good while it lasted ... but now it’s time part ways... Will miss you ... as a matter of fact, am desperately missing you, as I am typing this ... but I will get over it ... I won’t reach out for you ... </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-NZ">We got close when I was in my first year at college ... <span style=""> </span>I had seen you around for a long time, but was never too sure if I should come forward and get acquainted ... I still remember how it was on the train journey to Ooty, that I first interacted with you and felt your irresistible charm, it was not a smooth association, we did have our adjustment problems, I even remember feeling, how could anyone ever be friends with someone as rough as you.... But then smothering your harshness or taming it, especially in the chilly environs of Ooty gave me a sense of being masculine.... it sort of established who was in control....soon, the warmth and cheer that you spread, the acceptability that you lent me, when I was with you, made me engage with you, again and again! </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-NZ">Back in Chennai, we had a short period where, I tried to ignore you ... but you are not the one to tolerate that, are you... you came back being your seductive best.... I had nothing else to do, but to let you back in to my life ... how could I not do that ... you were the thread that connected me to some of my other newly found friends... you were the one that livened up my dullest moments ... you were as effective when I was at a party having a good time or when I was all alone sulking and struggling or cope up with the demands of life.... You went with me, where ever I went, more than any other friend had ever gone.... I knew you could burn yourself to keep me comforted!!!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-NZ">I had always known this...<span style=""> </span>this was never meant to be a relationship of equality ... in fact I was always knew that I was manipulating you, for my needs ... that thought often made me feel guilty as well ... like I mentioned earlier, it was my sense of control over you that had laid the foundation for this relationship ... I felt powerful, I felt supreme ... I did wonder if I was abusing you... some even cautioned me about that ... but then you never complained did you? You were this meek, self depreciating, confidante who seemed to only care about what I wanted and never once grumbled!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-NZ">Unequal as it was, it took me some more time to realise that I was not getting the full picture... It took me quite of bit thinking to realise that what I thought of this relationship was just that - my thoughts, the reality was far removed from it... Yes! This was a relationship about control ... but not my control over you but yours over me ... I was not the manipulator but actually I was the manipulated! Was I abusing you or was it me who was getting abused?? Who was the weaker partner in this arrangement ... like some of those intriguing deductions in the last few pages of the mystery novels, the masks were peeling off, the truth was emerging... statuses were being re-established... You were the one pulling the strings ... I was merely a puppet!!!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-NZ">I did not want to break away from you just because you are manipulative or I am being manipulated... that would make me a hypocrite wouldn’t it... I would not even blame you for it, for I enjoyed every bit of it.... Like I said, you made me feel much bigger than I am ... you gave me confidence at times when I felt low ... you helped me focus, when I was confused, you help me stay up, when I felt sleepy, you made me feel like an intellectual when I was really being foolish, you were a perfect icebreaker in parties where I did not know anyone, you helped appreciate food and liquor more than I had ever done before.... maybe these were merely my perceptions, my hallucinations... but the fact is, this exactly what I always felt ... I cannot blame you for my perceptions ... for you never ever claimed credit for any of these... I enjoyed your company ... no doubts about that ....I had happily conferred these magical qualities to you!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-NZ">But ever since I have realised that this is a perception and not reality, I have been trying to part ways with you... not merely because I feel manipulated, but because I want to feel strong ... not out of hatred for you but of love for some others who mean a lot more to me .... No; I am not making a sacrifice for the sake of people that I love ... I am just being nice to myself... I know it’s never worked in the past... I have tried several alternatives, but then you find a way to get back with me... the more I run away the more you haunt me ... the more I try and fail, the more you make me understand my frailty.... but not anymore ...<span style=""> </span>or at least that’s what I have decided ... while we had some of the best times together ... it’s time to say good bye.... I know we will meet soon, I am determined not to let you charm me back, like I have let you to do in the past... When we meet next time around, if I act as if I have never known you ... you know the reason; don’t you... Good Bye Nicotiana Tabacum a.k.a Nicotine ... it was indeed a fantastic ride together...!!!</span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigL3FEMedbFF6gGC8g2XRvW0LMZPzdwUBf0qCUJ62_PIbxQA7wFsHULLXp4oNc7OsE959nVDPTovWhyzHgv9wPzR9Vj3CvaajVwrXvwLrxBBvx7sPLKaCc0V5KidzvCY3yJHA-K28URf5z/s1600-h/cigarette_butt.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 285px; height: 380px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigL3FEMedbFF6gGC8g2XRvW0LMZPzdwUBf0qCUJ62_PIbxQA7wFsHULLXp4oNc7OsE959nVDPTovWhyzHgv9wPzR9Vj3CvaajVwrXvwLrxBBvx7sPLKaCc0V5KidzvCY3yJHA-K28URf5z/s400/cigarette_butt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439222666282209026" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-NZ">
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<br /></span></p> I Witnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01196895259176295757noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499264225241375752.post-27938007339293126172010-02-08T07:02:00.000-08:002010-02-17T18:47:31.915-08:00The Train Ride That Ran Over a Few Tigers<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNwTUefPl248KNFzXq2zZEw_QThp2V2vnY0hEG8WVKNbtkzCKICoH-s2ztJcizxRWgqIYAix7jrODp8OSVkXCq_ax9DA4iGIp0thYbMU14FxGezibtglSCzjb2gdIh_BRYvLKc6oXPgZkx/s1600-h/Tigertrain.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 340px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNwTUefPl248KNFzXq2zZEw_QThp2V2vnY0hEG8WVKNbtkzCKICoH-s2ztJcizxRWgqIYAix7jrODp8OSVkXCq_ax9DA4iGIp0thYbMU14FxGezibtglSCzjb2gdIh_BRYvLKc6oXPgZkx/s400/Tigertrain.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435935482722333714" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;">I have travelled by train more than a thousand times, including the Mumbai local, but it’s never been a front page news ... I would not want it be either as only chance for my train travel becoming a news is, if there was something untoward like an accident or bomb blast .... That said, the train ride that was making news or rather breaking news in India a couple of days ago was the one that Rahul Gandhi (RG) <a href="http://www.indianexpress.com/news/rahul-ignores-sena-threats-hops-on-local-train/576068/">made</a> ... you may call it a political statement, but I for one feel that it was a political gimmick that does not add up!<br /></span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">The implied purpose of the ride was to get a feel of the Mumbai local and connect with the average Mumbaiker and the undisclosed agenda seems to have been to send a message to one of the sole proprietary owners (yes there are two firms dealing with this, as on date) of Marathi Asmita! Again not sure if either of them worked. Travelling in a sanitised (security wise ... Yes some </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://news.rediff.com/report/2010/feb/06/rahul-impromptu-train-ride-has-sonia-in-jitters.htm">commentators</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> have described the move as security unwise though) first class coach of a Mumbai local with more SPG members than travelling public is not the best way to get the real feel of the Mumbai local or connect with the Mumbaiker, so the stated purpose is for sure defeated ... and this train ride in no way is going to change the way the Sena goes through with its brand of politics.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The interesting aside to this train ride was that the Maharashtra government had deployed 10000 policemen for RG’s protection during his </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.hindustantimes.com/rssfeed/mumbai/Police-turn-city-into-fortress/Article1-505821.aspx">visit</a><span style="font-family:verdana;">. Now, that’s pretty skewed ratio ... I mean in a country where the Home Minister at the central government is talking about the police department being understaffed, having 10000 men for the protection of 1 citizen (irrespective of the face value or place value of that citizen) is a huge commitment. What that also means is that if the Maharashtra government feels the need it, can muster up the numbers to ensure law and order. Can this meaning be further extended to mean that the vandalism, chaos and looting that is let loose by the so called MNS and SS workers is something that the state government chooses to ignore or (even more sinister) sponsors as a silent supporter?</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">You might have guessed by now that I am not the most avid congress supporter, but then I am at times in awe of RG and his efforts to rejuvenate the party. By the look of things he seems to wield the power to overrule not just the Congress party’s “democratically” arrived at decisions, but also his own security advisors at the SPG. But is he using these powers to the best possible end results? The last thing that one expects from the to-be Prime Minister of India and the harbinger of the next generation in Indian politics is to be scoring political brownie points... Let’s look at a couple issues that the country is grappling in the International arena as on date...</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Bringing the perpetrators of 26/11 to justice ... we have as in the past, blamed the Pakistani government’s inability to reign in the terror elements in its own soil. We accuse the Pakistani government to be unwilling, incapable, covertly supporting and so on and so forth when it comes to tackling elements that use Pakistani soil to spread terror in India. So much so, that we almost stopped short of waging a war against that country.... but more rationally cut of the dialogue process that existed between the two countries. So what does the central government have to say to the government of Maharashtra? What about the state government going soft on those spreading terror amongst fellow Indians? Is the tough posturing, warning of serious consequences etc applicable only to neighbouring countries and not to Indian States? Why do we doubt Pakistani government when it says it’s doing everything it can and accept the same as genuine statement from Maharashtra government when the results in both cases are identical? Why don’t we sympathise with Pakistani Government, when we know that little monsters that we grow in our backyard, can one day, loom so large that, we end up losing control over it, as that is exactly what the Government in Maharashtra is finding out!!!</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Another issue is of racial discrimination against Indians in Australia.... with what standing will the External Affairs Minister of India (who is a member of the same party as RG and the party that rules Maharashtra and Goa) ask the Australian authorities to act against those who attack Indians in their country, when there is not much action being taken against Indians who attack fellow Indians in Mumbai and the Russians who get raped in Goa? Or is it okay if Indians attack Indians or for that matter Indians rape Russians??</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Riding a Local Train in Mumbai is according to me not a solution for these issues. An influential leader whose diktat is the gospel truth for his party should rather come down heavily on these governments who are turning inaction into an art by itself. To me lawlessness is a commentary on poor governance than a function of powerful goons ... for proper governance ensures that goons will never have the power... As a leader whom a lot of the younger generation looks up to with expectations, I hope RG will take tougher decisions and more meaningful decisions than this train travel in the times to come ... or will I be wrong and will have read the news which goes ... “RG drives a Taxi in Melbourne and snubs some Kangaroos???”</span></span><br /></div>I Witnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01196895259176295757noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499264225241375752.post-29481164343835595572009-04-07T11:19:00.000-07:002009-04-07T11:27:03.239-07:00Shoe is mightier than the Pen??Of late there has been spate of shoe throwing incidents at political press conferences. The <a href="http://www.indianexpress.com/news/journalist-hurls-shoe-at-p-chidambaram/444151/">latest one being the one </a>involving the Indian Home Minster. Sooner rather than later I guess the following will be the scene at Press conferences ....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOaE_4TLcXDUSb93_T0dz8zjHVfKshOyxZLzU38rpvZqHJU4_0f-Vc22tK27kNgB0Eh-pGnMyUEAexpkMVOBSjHZfpuCEwpUgyX61iftnhdHOJjXsO8OehMZAbxEX4_1p8zDIl82a93QvU/s1600-h/footwear.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOaE_4TLcXDUSb93_T0dz8zjHVfKshOyxZLzU38rpvZqHJU4_0f-Vc22tK27kNgB0Eh-pGnMyUEAexpkMVOBSjHZfpuCEwpUgyX61iftnhdHOJjXsO8OehMZAbxEX4_1p8zDIl82a93QvU/s400/footwear.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322017310238285634" border="0" /></a>I Witnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01196895259176295757noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499264225241375752.post-59784329942169036402008-12-02T03:04:00.000-08:002008-12-02T03:17:08.989-08:00How I Helped Blow Up Mumbai...<div style="text-align: justify;">The carnage at Mumbai was unprecedented… the response ever so predictable … rhetorical, knee-jerk, one of anguish and of helplessness… the usual suspects emerged out the clouds of smoke that emanated from the Taj as it burned… did we in the interim, ignore the scores that were massacred at the CST station (they were not Page 3 Celebrities in any case, who deserved prolong attention on National Media electronic or otherwise) …anyone who had access to a mouthpiece jumped in with a comment (me included) … blaming our politicians, with them blaming Pakistan and Pakistan claiming innocence … so now that we have gone through the routine set of manoeuvres, what next …<br /><br /><br />The Central Minister handling Home portfolio, set the tone by resigning on “Moral grounds” (Thank God for English dictionaries, the word “Moral” still clings on to its meaning as originally intended by those who devised the language)… As a follow up the Deputy CM of Maharashtra too has put in his papers succumbing to his inner voice (which had not spoken as late as 48 hours ago when he said that there was no question of his resigning over such small matters that occur in big cities) I believe many more policy makers will succumb to their “Moral” side in the coming days (at least if media reports are to be believed).<br /><br />The Media, on its part outdid itself … live coverage that laid bare every aspect of the commando operation (as much as was possible from the distance, that they were allowed to operate) for the whole world (and the terror groups who probably were masterminding the attacks) to see …A live telecast with a blow by blow account of which floor the commandos were and what they will be doing next … with expert opinions by ex army honchos who give their predictions on how the operations will pan out, I wish our good old DD took a few lessons from this and covered our cricket matches as effectively …<br /><br />The media called out for unity amongst political leadership and coming together for a common cause; all while trying to establish their channel as the best and indulging in one-up- man-ship by getting out “Exclusives” and “Breaking News” at periodic intervals … there were also these immensely popular reality shows with the people who have just lost their close ones put on the camera and asked “How do you feel??” … move aside Big Boss ... this is by far more emotional and gut wrenching!!!<br /><br />The last blog entry that I put out which is there right below and can also be categorised as a knee jerk reaction to what was happening to my country … an attempt to express my anguish, helplessness and maybe point fingers at the obvious suspects … to find scapegoats and entrench my patriotism to a country that has given me so much to be proud of … but then, since the time that I have posted it, until now I have indulged in a little bit of soul searching … a peek into my own cupboard which I have kept locked for obvious reason … the skeletons inside it have a different tale to tell …<br /><br />This is the story of how I (stands for Indians, I guess almost all, if not all) have held my country to ransom … how I have been hand in glove with the conspirators and have contributed to the massacre in Mumbai …<br /><br />I drive around in Bangalore and I am sure anyone else who drives in an Indian city will agree with me as to how chaotic we can be on our roads. I would rather gain a couple of inches in traffic than the let the other person cross at an intersection… I would squeeze my vehicle across the signal even after it has turned red or for that matter, set into motion even before it turns green … I would overtake from the wrong side, drive through no entries, park below no parking signage and all this without a second thought … why because I know that the chances of me being caught are minimal and even if I am, I can always get away with anything between Rs. 10 to Rs. 100 depending on my bargaining skills …. Almost a rule I break queues, resist frisking, grumble to participate in security checks… You might wonder what this has to do with what happened in Mumbai … well it has, I am responsible in playing my role in building a chaotic and corrupt society, which in turn is definitely a soft target for terrorists.<br /><br />I get my driving license, passport and pan card through “authorised agents”, paying much more than I should be, getting these documents in double quick time … I get almost everything, without the necessary documentations, mobile sims included… I do not need to really go through a driving test (even when I do, it’s a mere formality, as I have already completed the “more essential formalities”) to get my driving license or the mandatory police verification (or take part in it in absentia) for my passport… these documents hence are available for the taking, for who ever wants it, as long as one is ready to grease the right palms… so for a terrorist getting hold of a driving license or a fake address proof or a new mobile connection does not even involve breaking a sweat<br /><br />Remember the iPod I bought from the grey market? Or the Digital camera for that matter? What about the pirated DVDs ad VCDs?? For sure they cost less than half of what they cost in the real stores and yes they are available much before the official launch in India… but then they are the building blocks for a parallel economy that funds these terror groups… the money I shell out in these pursuits are also my humble contribution towards making our coastline porous… a portion of the money that I spend in acquiring these inexpensive alternatives, is what is used to keep our coast guards and coastal police away from boats and trawlers that bring in smuggled goods … It is quite possible that the dinghies in which the terrorists arrived for their Mumbai rendezvous was mistaken for another regular consignment of smuggled goods arriving at city…<br /><br /><br />I feed the corruption in the system; I eat into the entails of my country’s administration to satisfy my hunger… I punch gaping holes in my country’s security set up (for what ever it maybe worth) and when all these loopholes are exploited by some brainwashed I-will-blow-up-myself-for-the-virgins-in-the-heaven morons I still have enough fall guys to point at!!!<br /></div>I Witnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01196895259176295757noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499264225241375752.post-87957797507240182252008-11-28T01:17:00.000-08:002008-11-28T02:19:42.529-08:00Don't Cry For Me...<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CSIESTA%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place" downloadurl="http://www.5iantlavalamp.com/"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:595.3pt 841.9pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:35.4pt; mso-footer-margin:35.4pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">More than a 100 human beings who started their day on the 26<sup>th</sup> November 2008, like you and I have today, did not live to see the dawn of 27<sup>th</sup> November 2008…</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghnfvGg36HXqrT-KMZ7krNq9t7mOhXo801ERc1xZo5hqKmFbYANm_PlO-F_j_pojARaCSpamFYnSK6DZ9qOS9aYTN7PHAwIj8p1f125ejJpF5m_ersih5twV5RCAGg7g2uirSmrFO8qkST/s1600-h/26india3-600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 183px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghnfvGg36HXqrT-KMZ7krNq9t7mOhXo801ERc1xZo5hqKmFbYANm_PlO-F_j_pojARaCSpamFYnSK6DZ9qOS9aYTN7PHAwIj8p1f125ejJpF5m_ersih5twV5RCAGg7g2uirSmrFO8qkST/s320/26india3-600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273639229977338658" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:78%;">(Image Courtesy: http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/11/26/world/1127-MUMBAI_index.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink )</span>
<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Nameless, faceless away from the glare of the media these are mere statistics that keeps popping on the TV screens and front pages of the newspapers for most of the world; but to the families and friends for whom these were men women and children made of flesh and blood, my heart goes out to them …</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
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<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">This will be forgotten, these people will go down the history sheets as also lived most probably without ever being mentioned in the end credits but then these people amongst whom you and I are not included as of today (not because of us being any special, but because we were not at the wrong place at the right time) are screaming examples of our ineptitude … our callousness and complete lack of self respect </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
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<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">It’s not just the nameless and faceless; we are a nation that does not keep even our heroes in our memory for long …. Several hundreds who lived and breathed last for us no longer in our thoughts or prayers …. We have sporting heroes dying poverty or ending their lives in the most gruesome manner for the want of dignity, military heroes’ families languishing in obscurity … All this while politicians who loot us in daylight passing on their legacy to their kith and kin!</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
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<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">They will be out sooner rather than later extolling the undying “Spirit of Mumbai” and eulogizing the “Resilience of Mumbaiker”<span style=""> </span>… exploiting our own uncanny ability to see ourselves as a Nation or a Culture that is unbreakable …<span style=""> </span>we are a Nation that so blindly believes that we are larger than life … that we are above judgement and as a Culture that has contributed so much to the World, we are superior to everyone else … the sad fact is that Mumbai wakes up after every tragedy and limps back to normalcy, not out of any super human quality but out of sheer necessity …<span style=""> </span>Majority of Mumbai is made up of migrant people who cannot afford to miss one day’s wages or the average middle class worker who dreads a leave on “loss of pay”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
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<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">To use this desperation to as a façade for inefficiency and an empty rhetoric to cover up the lack of preparedness has to be stopped … those in power both at the state and the center, presently and in the past have to own up… the people who have systemically eroded the functioning of our police force and military units have to be made accountable … people who shamelessly surface every time after the damage has been done and point fingers at each other have to be banished to forced political retirement </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
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<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">It is easy and very fashionable to accuse <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Pakistan</st1:country-region></st1:place> and claim that the people behind this attack were originally from there, but I personally have been hearing these accusations from the time that I have been able to understand news… has anything changed? Have we been able to protect our countrymen because we have identified the so called source of terror? If not what are these statements intended for?
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<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Indians and Pakistanis have for decades lived in unity in many foreign territories like the Middle East and the UK … I can not for nuts understand why we cannot live like that in our own countries …. The political clan once again uses the so called historical hate factor created amongst these two Nations carved out so cruelly to again camouflage their failings, the Brits introduced us to the concept of divide and rule, we have perfected it … As an Indian I grew up with such prejudiced views about my neighbouring countrymen and that I was shocked to learn that they were so much like us in most aspects and not as barbaric as I was led to believe…</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Moreover, let us set our priorities right, put our house in order and set the right infrastructure in place to counter terrorism than keep adopting a finger pointing technique every time something goes wrong … All that happens after a tragedy like this is condolences, empty rhetoric about “zero tolerance” and declaration of ex-gratia payments to the dead and the injured from whomsoever’s relief funds </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
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<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The 5 lacs that has been announced as the relief that will be given to kin of the each of the dead is welcome but then this huge sum of over five crores could have been better spent on improving the plight of our police force or maybe even our intelligence system… we would not do that for that does not account for a populist measure … in fact though we will keep using the choicest of words to praise our forces we will cringe and whine to hike their salaries or provide them with sophisticated equipments. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I wish we have a leader with vision and the will to lead us during these troubled times. I do not mid going through a period of emergency if that promises a safer society for the future generations… I wish we have the strength to accept our failings and take help from who ever is capable to help us deal with this situation rather than talk about Indian Pride and keep letting Indians die</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
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<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">What use is pride when it cannot save your fellow countrymen? What is use is the economic growth in percentages when people end up being mere statistics? What is the use of controlling inflation and bringing down the value of essential products when human life has no value? A state that cannot protect its people is no state at all, no matter what its lineage is … </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
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<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">What saddens me the most is that my own helplessness in dealing with what is happening around me… for all that I have written I am no different when it comes to my forgetfulness, in my lack of gratitude and resolve … I will forget this, I will forget Mr. Karkare, Mr. Salaskar and Mr. Kamte, like I have forgotten Mr. M.C. Sharma… I will forget the final “score” that the terrorists notched up, I will be soothed by the high decibel debates that will rage on live television for the next few days, until another juicy news “story” slowly takes control of Prime Time TRPs … and next time there is elections I will either treat it as a wasteful exercise that’s below my dignity to be a part of or instead of casting my vote go ahead and vote my caste </p> I Witnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01196895259176295757noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499264225241375752.post-50139135491750561682008-10-20T08:19:00.000-07:002008-10-20T09:25:34.535-07:00A Tale Of Two Erections !!!<span style="font-weight: bold;">Statutory Warning:</span> This blog may contain references that may not be suitable for all age groups/ audiences
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</w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:1; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 0 0 0 0 0;} @font-face {font-family:Tahoma; panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-520082689 -1073717157 41 0 66047 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:EN-IN; mso-fareast-language:EN-IN;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-size:10.0pt; mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;} @page Section1 {size:595.3pt 841.9pt; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:35.4pt; mso-footer-margin:35.4pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >He:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > Sir, I have just got a new erection!!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >Me:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > (<i style="">to myself</i>) what the hell? Why would anyone want to come to me with a situation like this, is he looking for a half day leave or more worryingly an interim loan to deal with the situation... is there a limit to the excuses one can think of for these (In a slightly more audible tone) New Erection?? What did you do with the old one???<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >He:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > (<i style="">with a smug smile</i>) offloaded it on to the head of our new receptionist …<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >Me:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > (<i style="">to myself</i>) OMG!! (<i style="">To him</i>) and how did you manage??<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >He:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > Simple… I walked up to her … took it out and showed it to her …I asked her if she wanted it with the rubber sheath that I had put on it … or if I should take it off …<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >Me:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > and???<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >He:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > She said though the thing would look more desirable without the rubber on it, for safety purposes she preferred it with the rubber …<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >Me:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > Sensible Girl … and then? <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >He:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > well what is there to ask in that? She took it in her hands … played around a bit and then slid into her purse…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >Me:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > Purse? Is that what they call it these days …?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >He:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > Why? What else would they call it … she has a nice and compact pink coloured one I must add …<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >Me:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > Nice! Compact!! Pink!!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >He:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > Exactly … Seen a few women with huge, black, elastic ones you know what I mean … no matter what you stuff into them, it is never full…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >Me:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > not too sure … and then..??<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >He:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > …what then … oh the receptionist story …<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >Me:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > Uh…. Umm… yes<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >He:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > She deftly moved the flaps of her purse, slid it in and out and could not stop screaming for joy, telling what a perfect fit it was ….<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >Me:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > Stop that now… or else I might end up having an erection myself…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >He:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > Not a bad idea Sir, I can help you get one …<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >Me:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > Thanks but No Thanks … I am not that type… I am surprised you managed all this during office hours … even more shocked that she was okay with it…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >He:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > Not just okay Sir, She was so thrilled, that she even paid me, though I insisted that it was my pleasure <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >Me:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > She paid you for that!!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >He:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > Yes Of course … but forget that, I came to talk about my new erection… you want to have a look?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >Me:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > (<i style="">to myself</i>) How Gross! What the hell do I look like to him? (<i style="">To him)</i> I am sorry, I think, I told you, am not the type….<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p>
<br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >He:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > But sir … why so serious … just look at my trousers can you make it out??<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >Me:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > I am not looking anywhere in that direction, I told you I am not the type …<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >He:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > Well sir, you might as well look … this one is smaller in size and cannot be seen over as easily as the one earlier, which was rather huge ….<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >Me:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > The one you gave the receptionist …<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >He:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > yeah the same one …<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >Me:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > No wonder she thought it fit to pay you …<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >He:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > Anyone would have paid for that one sir… but why don’t we come back to my new one <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >Me:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > Why don’t you go back to her with it …?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >He:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > I showed her already …<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >Me:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > (<i style="">Is this guy for Real??)</i> and what did she think of it …<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >He:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > She said she would have taken this one gladly if not for the earlier one…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >Me:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > despite the smaller size? <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >He:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > Believe me sir, size is not what really matters to most women, or even men for that matter … it is what is packed into the size that matters <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >Me:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > Are you sure? I recently read in a Woman’s Mag that “size does not matter” is a myth being propagated by men who don’t make the cut …<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >He:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > Well at least the women I knew always told me so …<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >Me:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > Maybe it’s a case of … A small erection in your hand is worth more than a large one in someone else’s bush <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >He:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > Bush... What bush??<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >Me:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > Maybe not everyone has one… but the proverb still holds… if need be change the Bush into Purse … <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >He:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > Whatever … Sir I insist you have a look at mine…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >Me:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > I insist, I don’t think I am the type … <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >He:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > I don’t care what type you are, you still have to have to look… don’t take it in your hand if you don’t like but you sure need to see it … I am sure the moment you see it, you will want it in your hand though …<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >Me:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > What arrogance … this is office and you are my junior… if anyone shows anyone anything that will be me showing you …. And not vice versa <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >He:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > But I have already seen yours …<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >Me:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > What? When?? Where????<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >He:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > On several occasions … even as recently as late last evening… while you were showing it off to Radhika Madam…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >Me:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > OMG … what the hell were you doing in the office at that time… I thought there was no one else here other than her and me …<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >He:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > Well, Sir you can never be sure can you …<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >Me:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > I hope you will not go around talking about that though ….<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >He:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > Not if you agree to see mine …<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >Me:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > (<i style="">You deserve this for been so careless</i>) Uh… Umm ... Okay … just the one time … you will be across the table and two feet away from it … and will stay there till you put it back in…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >He:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > It’s not explosive …<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >Me:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > Why am I not too sure about that …?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >He:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > Whatever … I am sure you will want to take it once you see it <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >Me:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > I am not too sure about that too … why we don’t get this done with … I have other things to do …<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >He slowly slides his hands into his trousers and pulls out a brand new phone …<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >Me:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > Hey...That’s the new Ericsson ….<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >He:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" > That’s exactly what I said … a new Erection!!! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Not too sure how many times the needles of the clock on the wall met each other and parted ways since I began staring into roof of my bedroom… actually into infinity … I want to reason but logic defy me … I want to make sense of it all, but can a mind so fickle, so feeble comprehend the truth??? This is ‘Maya’ … what Krishna refers to in his sermon to Arjuna … its gotten more complicated, than it was during their times though …we have developed … humanity has … developed into a large complicated swamp… quicksand… <i style="">a web so intricately woven around me that I am not too sure if I can ever be free</i>….</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I am a function of my desires… the most primal one being, the desire to reach the next level, the level that will give me satisfaction… that will help reduce my pains, my sorrows and make me happier and contended about myself … <i style="">it is just that one level away and it has been so, from the time I remember</i> … as a kid, I always wondered when I will get out of the misery called school … the fellows in college seemed to have a fascinating time …. At college it was the desire to start working … start earning … being a master of my own life … not having to justify to anyone else in the world how and why I spent my pocket money…. When I started to work it was the earnings … <i style="">a little more than what I earn today is what I need for a comfortable life …
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<br /><i style=""><o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">How I yearned for an upgrade from my second hand Hercules cycle (passed on by my dad to me) to a bike …. Fantasized about riding something more ‘manly’ than the four stroke 100 cc bike… lost interest in my two stroke Kawasaki Bajaj no sooner than a year of riding it … starting to realize that… Owning a four wheeler was the best thing that could happen to a man…. <span style=""> </span>But small car is never as comfortable as a sedan… the sedan I drive is trifle below the demands of my current job portfolio… if you can understand what I am saying here …. <i style="">Isn’t what you arrive in, almost as important as what you arrive for, if not more???</i> I need a vehicle that I don’t mind being seeing in … that carries a badge that does not have its origins from the South East of Asia … Japan would do, Europe would be preferred!!!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">And then suddenly, here I am looking at my past rather remorsefully … trying to come terms with the fact that maybe I had past that was far more contended than the present that I live in or maybe even the future that I will be in… the lyrics of Jagjit Singh’s soulful rendering of the Ghazal that starts with “Yeh Daulat Bhi Le Lo, Yeh Shohrat Bhi Le Lo” rings loud in the mind… it was the childhood that I wanted clearly wanted to escape … it was the adolescence that I strongly abhorred… that I now desperately yearn for “…<i style="">Magar Mujhko Lauta Do Bachchpan Ka Saawan… Woh Kagaz Ki Kasthi, Woh Baarish Ka Paani</i>…”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I grew up watching TV at a house in our neighborhood, which can be best described as within walking distance from my home …. <span style=""> </span>Since there was only one channel there was no fight for the remote, even though, there were more than 40 of us gathered in front of the TV set that looked like a decent sized bookshelf, complete with shutters and locks … oh yes … there was no remote either!!! <span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>I eagerly watched '<span style="font-style: italic;">Krishi Darshan</span>' that was telecast from the Delhi Studio of Doordarshan, not that I was the least bit interested in growing cash crops for the coming <span style="font-style: italic;">Kharif</span> season, no not even the <span style="font-style: italic;">Rabi</span> season, but then there was nothing else to watch, there was optimism…. the excitement of anticipation though … once this gets done with and the two news bulletins (English followed by Hindi or was it the other way round, that literally carried the same news and for most part was dedicated to what the Prime Minister did during the day) were over, there would be the top 20 countdown of film songs in '<span style="font-style: italic;">Superhit Muqabala</span>' …
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<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Sometimes I did not want the program to start… ask me why? Because once started it would come to an end in an hour’s time and then one had to wait for it until the next week … <span style=""> </span><i style="">( let me digress a little here, I still get a similar feeling on Saturday afternoons … I am wary of Sunday mornings .. for it invariably leads to Sunday afternoons, then Sunday evenings, nights and then to Monday mornings… not too sure if anyone else feels that way</i>) … How I wished there were more film music programs on TV … How I wish there were more quiz shows, more cartoons/ comedy shows, more movies, more serials…
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<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Today, I have access to two television sets at my home, each with 100 plus channels … several with programming dedicated to the above mentioned genre, airing them 24/7, 365 days a year … but why am I not happy as I used to be with the sloppy DD and the “Rukhawat Ke Liye Khed Hai” / “Sorry for the Interruption” slides… the cardboard backdrops of Hum Log and Buniyad have been replaced by towering mansions of “K” serials … but why is it that they don’t hold my attention? The advancements in technology and digital mastering have created new avenues for musicians but why is it that I can’t fall in love with songs of today like I did with those of yesteryear..?</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I grew up without internet or mobile phones… but I was more connected with people then, than I am today … the journeys took a longer time, but I was never rushed … My monthly earnings today, is twice as much as my annual earnings when I started out to work… yet there are much more commitments to honor… the month ends are ever so similar… the apartment complex in which my home is, has a 24 hour generator back up, so when there is a power failure, unlike during my childhood days, I can still have light around me … <i style="">but what about the darkness within me</i>???
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<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">No, don’t get me wrong, I am not blaming the mobile phones or internet here, nor am I suggesting that the coal gobbling, smoke spewing black engines of trains should not have been replaced with electrically operated ones…. I know they are not the basis for my discontent… my emotion has only to do with me …. Somewhere deep within me... not too sure where exactly … <i style="">when technology develops further will there be a Google application to search yourself… will I be able to type “soul” and find the relevant link that will lead me to it</i>?? <i style="">Or will I have to shun technology and go back to the good old days of Krishna and Arjuna to find my soul</i>???</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Am I romanticizing? <span style=""> </span>Do I think it is fashionable to be in love with the good old days?? Isn’t the right approach to think that the <i style="">past is past and future is uncertain, so live in the present</i>??? Easier said than done… will I ever be able to disconnect from my past or for that matter not think of the future … what am I without my past or future…. <i style="">Will I be me if not for what I was…? Will I be me if I do not have aspirations about what I want to be…?</i> <i style="">I do not envy those who say that they live for the moment;</i> <i style="">I do not envy hollow proclamations or is it a classic case of grapes gone sour…</i>?
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<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Not sure how many times the needles of the clock on the wall met each other and parted ways since I began staring into roof of my bedroom… actually into infinity…</p> I Witnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01196895259176295757noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499264225241375752.post-57023543720139335372008-10-11T07:30:00.000-07:002008-10-11T07:38:54.145-07:00Woman, you’ll never cease to surprise me…<span style="font-style: italic;">The following is something that I wrote a few years back published on another site… It’s the first in the series of few blogs I plan to relocate to this space…</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Ever since Adam and Eve chose to take a bite of the “proverbial” Apple and lose the “proverbial” (is it?) Cherry, man has been searching for that one thing, which when found will unlock the mysteries of the female thought process. His search is still at the place where it began a few hundred thousand years ago. So if you are looking up this blog to try to get a few concrete ideas for a gift, with which you can floor your wife, well, you may be a trifle disappointed. I too am a mere man you see. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The characters in this blog would love to be seen as fictional and resemblance to any person living or dead is purely because it was inevitable. </span><br /><br /><br />Many a times, I have been told that it is not the “gift” that matters it is the “thought” behind the gift that does. Like hell it does. Try explaining this funda to your wife who is chasing you down with the brand new fluorescent green high heeled shoes ( <span style="font-style: italic;">How could you have believed that doe-eyed sales girl at the shoe shop when she said that this was the ‘in thing”…</span> ), that you bought it for her with a lot of nice thoughts. Try explaining it to your wife that She should not judge the value of your gift by the thickness of the “zari” (three and a half inches) on the “Kanjivaram” silk sari that you just gifted her (which incidentally is quarter an inch lesser than the one your neighbor’s wife’s sari). Instead, she should be judging it by the fact that your love for her is at twice as much as it is for the neighbors wife (<span style="font-style: italic;">I mean the love your neighbor has for his wife</span>).<br /><br />So one fine morning I looked at the date and <span style="font-style: italic;">quite accidentally</span> remembered that it was my wife’s birthday, I got that familiar feeling in my stomach. “Oh my God another nerve wracking day of deciding a gift….”<br /><br /><br />I decided I would ask my friends for some advice. Isn’t that what friends are for… advising.<br /><br />First one was my closest pal at work. He was a bachelor (<span style="font-style: italic;">lucky dog</span>). He immediately said why don’t you cook her some good dinner. I was stumped. How do I tell him that, that is what most husbands do every evening irrespective of whether there is an occasion or not? He is after all someone who has high hopes from life. Then I did, I told him. He took it rather philosophically, I must admit. <span style="font-style: italic;">Why don't you make this one special; Candle lights, soft music et al… </span>I could not help laughing at this one…due to the constant power trouble in my locality, most dinners we have are candle lit; more out of compulsion than out of choice. Without power there is no soft music, except for a possibility that I sing…and I can’t eat and sing at the same time (to be honest I can’t sing even while not eating). So that option is also out. He nodded and started “Then how about ” I was already on my way out thinking that this guy is of no use a very good friend might be but he is a bachelor let me try some married ones. As I was walking, something struck me, how about bribing the local authorities at the electricity office and ensuring that there will be power and maybe we could have one of those rare “<span style="font-style: italic;">CFL”</span> dinners. It suddenly occurred that, for the money I spend bribing, I could probably buy her some diamonds , after all they say diamonds are a woman’s best friend (<span style="font-style: italic;">what are men then...?</span>). I went in search of my next counselor.<br /><br />This one was a married fellow. He looked harassed (<span style="font-style: italic;">sorry that I repeated the sentence</span>). We looked at each other, the way two goats at the butchers would. There was empathy in his… I do not know what he found in mine. At best, it would have been confusion. I assessed his mood; he looked worried (<span style="font-style: italic;">the best a married man could look</span>). Therefore, I decided that I would ask him before his mood changes.<br /><br /><br />I had not finished the question and he was up on his feet, yelling at me asking me to leave his office. I was taken aback, but I persisted, trying to calm him down. He refused to listen to me and started getting abusive. I had to count upon all my years of experience as a husband to stay calm. I was not going to leave him there, without knowing what was in his mind (<span style="font-style: italic;">after all, he is not my wife</span>, is he??). My persistence paid off… he calmed down and came back to the “best that a married man can be” mood. Somewhere in the last month was his wedding anniversary. He shopped in the most expensive of malls and came home with a bag full of expensive and fashionable stuff. His wife who initially went gaga over him, slowly started getting annoyed, <span style="font-style: italic;">the sari was of the same shade as that of a churidar, she already had, the perfume – she found it too subtle, the lip stick was a shade too dark, why even the kajal was blacker than what black she used</span>. For every gift she unwrapped, what started off as mild jibes grew in force and by the time she was getting to the last few, our man had already been hit by a couple of ‘make shift’ missiles (<span style="font-style: italic;">consisting of a few of the newly purchased gifts</span>). There ended their anniversary celebrations. He has not talked to her since (<span style="font-style: italic;">now hey that is not a bad idea, said the mean mind in me</span>). As I offered my condolences (<span style="font-style: italic;">what else can a married man do</span>) and got up to move, he said in a prophetic voice “whatever you decide upon just see that you don’t buy anything even remotely related to clothes or fashion”.<br /><br /><br />My last counselor was a man who was married for more than 20 years. He looked peaceful. They say marriage troubles you only in the first few years after that you get used to it. I asked my question. What he said shocked me. He said he never bought gifts for his wife on her birthdays nor did she buy for his, instead they went out and bought themselves a gift on the other person’s birthday. Must have been the expression on my face, he asked son why would you buy a gift. After a couple of guesses, I got the answer, “<span style="font-style: italic;">joy</span>”. Then he asked what would make you extremely happy, now this I answered at the first attempt; seeing my wife happy. To this, he said that is exactly what I was saying. On my birthday she goes and buys herself what she wants, she is happy and when I see her happy I am also happy and vice versa. Logical as it sounded, it also sounded a bit scary to try. Therefore, I just thanked him and went my way.<br /><br />On my way home, I thought I should at least pick her a card. At the card shop, I found an inexpensive stuffed toy and remembered the day I had come there with my wife and her looking at this toy with some interest. I took a chance. I picked up the toy, a card and couple of red roses. I offered a small prayer in the Ganesh Temple at the street corner. My wife opened the door, with a foolish grin I said “Happy Birthday Darling” handing over the toy, the card and the roses (<span style="font-style: italic;">I do not remember the order</span>). She seemed thrilled. She hugged me and said something like what a wonderful husband I was. I kissed her on her forehead and said “I LOVE YOU” and she whispered into my ears “<span style="font-style: italic;">that’s the most cherished gift you can ever give me</span>”.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Woman, you’ll never cease to surprise me… </span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ps: The author likes to believe that no wives have been hurt during the writing of this blog.</span><br /></div>I Witnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01196895259176295757noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499264225241375752.post-2311304663648195492008-10-03T12:41:00.000-07:002008-10-03T14:23:42.280-07:00An Ode to the Faceless Soldier<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CSree%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" 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<br />What is common to?
<br />
<br />
<br />Seetharamiah – a small scale farmer in Ongole
<br />
<br />Muniraju Reddy – a wholesaler at Rajahmundry
<br />
<br />Alex Mathew – a Sales and Marketing Professional covering Southern India
<br />
<br />Gopal Rao – a successful dealer having is network across Karnataka
<br />
<br />Shaikat Ahmed – a Pan Shop vendor at Bangalore
<br />
<br />And Me …
<br />
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: justify;">If you say Nothing at all … well think again... not just these six odd people, but in fact several lakhs of people around the country are connected through an intrinsic network… the tobacco that Seetharamiah grows reaches ITC factory in Kolkata and Bengalooru through Muniraju’s trading company. Alex Mathew the enthusiastic head of sales chasing his monthly targets at ITC, channels the finished cigarettes into pan shops like the one that Shaikat operates, through dealerships like the ones run by Gopal… and that’s where I get my daily dose of nicotine from.
<br /></div>
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The chain is very feebly represented here... it consists of several other players in its fold... the logistics that helps the tobacco from its place of origin to the gentle grip amidst my fingers, the middlemen who negotiate rates and cuts, the factory workers who give the ciggies its perfect blend and its finest finish, the entire corporate structure at the tobacco company… the list is quite extensive … but I guess you get the drift ….
<br /></div>
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Every time a smoker lights up, he is contributing to the livelihood of many of his countrymen … literally lighting up the lives of many fellow countrymen and women too (I am reliably informed that the beedi industry in India is driven by rural women folk, who have made crafting beedis their livelihood and yes a thriving cottage industry, data given below) … not just directly by what he pays for the cigarettes but also through the taxes and duties …that's used in "National Interest" as detailed below
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />I know most of you are averse to chewing tobacco, so here are some figures I would like you to chew on...
<br />
<br />
<br /> * The cultivation of Tobacco is restricted to 0.3% of the total cultivated area
<br />
<br /> * Tobacco cultivation and processing provides employment to more than 60 lakhs people
<br />
<br /> * The beedi industry provides employment to around 44.00 lakhs essentially unskilled rural folks mostly women
<br />
<br /> * The export figures for 2007 -2008, shows that for tobacco both processed and unprocessed the value is 2022.78 Crore (502.67 M US$) and for the period from April to July 2008 for tobacco totals up to Rs. 982.87 Crore (233.8 M US $)in terms for foreign exchange earnings
<br />
<br /> * 55 per cent of the price of cigarettes in India represents excise. On the whole cigarette is taxed at around 132% of the value of the product (ex-factory price net of taxes)
<br />
<br /> * Cigarettes contribute nearly 10 per cent of total excise to the exchequer
<br />
<br /> * The branded cigarette industry in India is valued at Rs. 15000 Crore (Year 2007)
<br />
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: justify;">And a small portion of this huge tax collected and foreign exchange earned does percolate to Nation building ...I say a small portion because quite of lot of it goes into important matters of governance ... like for example:
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<br /> * paying up the expenses for the high powered committee to Bahamas to study the plight of Indian fishermen
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<br /> * cost of running 18 ambassadors and 6 contessas in the name of Z category security for a single VIP, while the rest city gets jammed (with the car and bike engines kept purring, if I may add) waiting for the cavalcade to pass
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<br /> * the print and media campaigns that proclaim the existence of a government and its so called successes ... remember “UP mein dum hain... kyonki Crime yehan kum hain" (Whoa! Would I love to meet up with the marketing team that coined that one ...) or for that matter the “India Shining (While Indians are whining)” campaign
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<br /> * the lakhs that are spent on the chief ministers’ aerial survey of flood hit areas (forget the fact that the same lakhs could have been used to procure relief to the victims on ground or is it neck deep in water)
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<br /><div style="text-align: justify;">... I am not even beginning to talk about the share that gets looted along the way... which goes into building the personal assets of those in power and their cronies in bureaucracy...
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<br /><div style="text-align: justify;">You must be wondering did I come here to read all this gyaan.... I was expecting something else based on the title ... An Ode to the Faceless Soldier ... err Smoker ... well in my opinion a smoker is a soldier in his own right ... what else do you call a person who puts his/her life on the line to help sustain a nation ... its people.. its economy ... a person who readily sacrifices himself / herself for the sake of the Seetharamiahs , Muniraju Reddys, Alex Thomases and the Shaikat Ahmeds of the world ... a person who is prepared to die for his/her fellow citizens ... a soldier right? A person directly contributing to the aforementioned Rs.150000 Crore economy by p(l)aying with his/her life and indirectly to an economic process that cannot even be realistically valued ...But is he/ she ever given his/her due? In a country where its real soldiers are seldom remembered , I understand fully well that it’s too naive to expect its smokers to be valued....
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<br />The nation has always looked down on smokers, smokers have been always given a raw deal, but the latest ban is sort of the last straw... What the government is effectively telling the smoker is that, we will allow people to grow tobacco and it’s perfectly legal to process it, manufacture it and sell it. If you as a manufacturer are smart enough, we will also allow you to advertise it (so what if you make a rather a poor attempt to camouflage it as a lifestyle clothing range or try and hide behind a bravery award campaign). Whether or not March follows February, each year we will religiously hike the taxes and duties on tobacco, as a consumer you can even buy it wherever or whenever you want it ... but hey! you can’t smoke respectfully ... you can do so, in hiding or bribing the law enforcement authority (as if, they did not have enough avenues to make a buck or two on the side)
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<br />I can hear the Ministry Of Health argue, you enjoy your smoke why would you call it a sacrifice or expect to be rewarded for that ... well that is akin to asking a professional you enjoy your job why do you want to be paid for that or why would you seek a promotion ... in any case I am not advocating sops for smokers ... I am not fighting for reservations for smokers’ kids in engineering colleges, nor am I asking for discounted railway tickets or a vishisht seva medal (though I would think the smokers deserve a AVSM, at least posthumously if not during their lifetime)... I am just wondering why you can’t let smokers be... Oh we care about your health is the next line of defence...
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<br />Well if you are so concerned about my health, why don’t you ban the cultivation of tobacco, the manufacture of cigarettes and beedis and their sale? Why would you treat the symptom, rather than removing the cause? Aww well you need the money... you need to make your bi-yearly foreign trip and once in 5 years TV campaign to list out your achievements, if there is a distinct lack of achievement during your tenure, you at least need it, to fund a bailout package in the election year for the farmers succumbing to the threat of loans....
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<br />Well, the smokers of this country will magnanimously bear this assualt too, like we have been silently suffering for decades now ... for your sake Minister of Health, we will not smoke in public places and yes! for you Minister of Finance, we will still strive to keep your coffers chiming, So what? if we have to get on to the road in that pursuit.... that reminds me, a well wisher during college days had once told me, quit smioking or you will end up on the roads... how very prophetic!!!
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Overheard:</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">The Health Minister to the poor smoker “Come on child; let me help you, kick your BUTT”</span>
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">PS:</span> This write up is purely a work of satire; the author respects the Indian Soldier or for that matter any soldier, who puts his life on line, so that the rest of the country can go about their normal day to day life in peace...</div>I Witnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01196895259176295757noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499264225241375752.post-65631468814973375292008-04-05T23:55:00.000-07:002008-04-06T00:02:24.269-07:00Whatever it takes<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">This is about something that’s not in the news anymore; it’s not in the news because it does not make commercial sense to keep it in the news… It is about Indian Hockey’s inability to qualify for the upcoming Olympics… Or rather <st1:country-region st="on">India</st1:country-region>’s ability to nurture what is popularly termed <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">India</st1:country-region></st1:place>’s National Game...</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">What worries me more than <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region>’s loss of status in the international hockey arena is the apathy shown towards this sport in our country …. On the same day as the loss a major news channel in this country did a show where in a reporter got on the streets and went about asking the passersby to name 5 players in the current Indian hockey team and no surprises there almost none got it right; simultaneously they ran another show (like most other news channels did that day) asking for the removal of the person heading the Hockey Federation in the country… what bothers me again is this fault finding attitude of Indian Media and very specifically this channel in question… is only the Indian Hockey Federation and the average man on the street to blame for India failing in hockey? What is the Media role here???</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">When it is cricket, a tour match in Australia attracts so much attention, there programs running for not let than 30 minutes on each channel in the country (on the previous day, on the day(s) of the game and the next few days after the game is over) with so called experts from all across the country over phone, video link, satellite hook ups and what not … discussing threadbare the strategies, the pitches, what the players did in their spare time…where the players went shopping dining clubbing… the entire Olympic hockey qualifier that India took part in did not in opinion get that much footage on our news channels …. Yes the experts and others were called in after the tournament was over to help nail the culprits …</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The channel in question here, CNN IBN (which happened to be one of my favorite news channels) did not even post my comments in their website - maybe I violated their code for comments but I never received any message on my email suggesting to that effect or maybe I made a mistake in the way I submitted the comment, but then I guess I got a response which said that my comment is being reviewed and will be available on the website in sometime - in retrospect its more likely because I was direct and to the point to the extent that I mentioned (to quote, not verbatim though) “for a channel that says “whatever it takes” I do not think that CNN IBN has done “whatever it takes” to promote hockey in the country.. while I also accept that it is no way CNN IBN’s responsibility to be promoting hockey … that is the responsibility of the Indian Hockey Federation, the Sports loving Indian Public, the Coaches and hockey players…” </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=""> </span>The media’s responsibility is to exploit the commercial aspects of news or what they think is news or what they want the public to believe is news… keep sensationalizing issues as long as it makes business sense and then drop it without any botheration… ultimately it’s a business venture … and lets make it profitable by doing “whatever it takes” <span style=""> </span></p>I Witnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01196895259176295757noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499264225241375752.post-89386341306385299702008-01-28T10:43:00.000-08:002008-01-30T05:16:27.922-08:00Stop This Monkey Business...<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I am penning down my thoughts on the eve of the Harbhajan Hearing...</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p>The Indian board has categorically stated two things – firstly that its <a href="http://content-ind.cricinfo.com/ausvind/content/current/story/333913.html">not too happy</a> with using the additional evidence from the stump cam and mic, in this hearing, secondly it would be <a href="http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtvcricket/cricketstory.aspx?id=SPOEN20080039709&site=ndtv">calling off the tour</a> (read the one off Twenty20 match and the Tri-Nation One day International series) if Bhajji is charged with racial abuse.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p>I am not too sure if either of these two issues is in the interest of the game…. Before anyone raises the issue let me clarify that I am an Indian and a proud one at that.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p>Coming to the usage of fresh evidence, firstly the fulcrum of this case (appeal) is the fact that Bhajji is innocent. The BCCI seems to accept that unquestionably, even Tendulkar vouches to that effect. If that is the case and we are a hundred percent sure that Bhajji did not utter the "M" word, why should we back off from any additional evidence? We should in fact unearth as much evidence as possible and make them available to the person hearing the appeal… and in case we are objecting to these fresh evidences being used, then we are by our own act, accepting that there is a possibility that Bhajji might have in fact used a word construed as racial against Symmo. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p>Another line of argument seems to suggest that we Indians do not consider the usage of the word Monkey as a racial abuse. Well that argument does not hold water in any case as, we cannot go around spitting in public places, say in Singapore and ask for not being penalized as spitting in public places in most parts of India is not considered a punishable offense. Whether Harbhajan used the word is a different question altogether, but to argue that he did not know that it is a word that has racial connotations is a feeble line of defense. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p>Coming to the issue of pulling out of the tour in case Bhajji is indicted, well the less said the better. It is like saying we will attend the trial and we sincerely hope it’s a fair one; however we will not accept a verdict if it goes against us. Then why go to the trial in the first place? Isn’t this intimidation? Isn’t this a very deplorable case of using one’s financial clout in the game? Isn’t this exactly what many Indians resent, say in case of how <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region> imposes itself on rest of the World, politically and militarily? A better alternative is to skip the trial and the tour…. Or else what is the message we are sending out? This for all reasons will be a case based mostly on circumstantial evidence and to me it appears that if Bhajji is cleared for lack of evidence we will happily accept it and probably celebrate the fact that ICC has been fair (may be even press charges against <a href="http://content-ind.cricinfo.com/ausvind/content/story/333381.html">Mike Procter</a>) and in case Bhajji is proven guilty, we will get on to the streets deploring how ICC is biased against non-whites!!!</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p>Well let me reiterate that this is not a case of Indian pride, nor is it a case of the sub continental teams versus the rest of the cricket world, or by any stretch of imagination a case of colored people versus the whites as many experts would like us to believe. Just because an Indian ran a car with explosives into an airport in London, all Indians do not become terrorists… in case there is conclusive evidence against Bhajji in this case, just because an Indian racially abused a black man on the sports field, all Indians do not become racists… On one hand we are the same people who stone the family of our cricketers, burn their effigies, damage their personal property when the team loses a tournament or series for cricketing reasons and on the other we are ready to go to any lengths to support a player of the team, even if he is proven guilty on sportsmanship issues… </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p>Of course as an ardent Indian fan, I do wish and hope that Bhajji has not used the word and that he gets cleared in the hearing held tomorrow … however if he has, I would not want him to go Scot-free just because he happens to play for the richest and most influential board in the world of cricket… if that happens we as a nation will be bringing in greater disrespect to the gentleman’s game than anything else in the recent past has…. <b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></p>I Witnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01196895259176295757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499264225241375752.post-9168304044691573552008-01-21T23:56:00.000-08:002008-01-24T21:25:26.239-08:00"Select"ive Amnesia<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Several years ago I started typing out my views on an opinion portal; the first of them was about Cricket. So I guess it would be a natural that I start with a post on Cricket, while I start off typing out my blog which has been on my to-do list for lot longer than the time span between <st1:country-region st="on">India</st1:country-region>’s last win at <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Australia</st1:place></st1:country-region> and the current one….<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The latest in the series of issues that seems to be rocking the Indian team is that of the <a href="http://content-ind.cricinfo.com/cbs/content/story/332389.html">team selection</a> for the Tri- Nation One Day Tournament. Every one in this country has an opinion about it and not to be left behind I myself have several …. More than anything these views are about the views expressed about Indian Cricket in the last couple of weeks …</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">It might sound so strange, but I would rather be Sourav Ganguly, than the ordinary mortal who is typing this blog (which I am not sure how many, will even read). I say this because even though the past couple of years have not been great for him from the selection point of view, he is in my opinion a lucky guy… at least he has several people and organizations protesting on his behalf that he should be reinstated… I guess for a sportsman that’s a good place to be in rather than a situation where people and organizations start protesting asking for his sacking…..</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">But someone, I would rather not be is Dilip Vengsarkar…. Selecting an Indian Cricket Team (or for that matter selection of any thing or anyone in this country, including the Prestigious Bharat Ratna) is as much a thankless job as it is controversial. More so with the advent of many so called (self titled) “your very own television channels”…<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>I remember Sidhu and Jadeja (two people whose opinions I eagerly look forward to hearing, especially the latter) on a popular television show thrashing the selection committee for having taken a “backward step” by appointing a “stop gap” captain Anil Kumble for the Australia Series instead of handing over the responsibility to the “fearless brigade who represent the future of Indian Cricket” - read M.S. Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh!!!</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">While they never questioned Kumble’s qualifications for the job (I guess no one who understands Indian Cricket can ever do that) and even went on to suggest that it has come too late in his career… they were firmly of the opinion that BCCI and its panel has got it completely wrong.<span style=""> </span>But after the <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Perth</st1:place></st1:city> result, I watched in disbelief as Sidhu sat on the very same channel, glorifying Kumble, his qualities and his captaincy. In hindsight, of course I dread to imagine how some one as raw as Dhoni would have handled the <a href="http://content-ind.cricinfo.com/ausvind/content/story/329409.html">Sydney Storm</a>… Maybe he would have done better than what Kumble did but that’s a big “maybe” and as is the essence of one of the Siddhuisms, there is no place for probabilities and conjectures in life (read cricket)</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Coming to Sydney test, immediately after the Bhajji Ban, the same Sidhu was on air thumping the Indian Pride this time asking the team to cancel the tour and return … this is not just a game it’s a question of every Indians dignity or something like that he said… On an other channel Sanjay Manjrekar was making a point that cancelling the tour might not be the best solution and staying on and beating the Aussies might be the best way to get even (I must admit, I did say to myself dream on Mr. Manjrekar….) </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I am not against people being opinionated, I myself am. I am also not against people making an error in judgment and later having to change the same. Even I have done that several times. (The last line in the above paragraph is a good enough example). But what I am against is selective loss of memory. How on earth, can one thump is hands on the table and say “I told you so…” on some occasions and conveniently forget what one said on the other … We all makes mistakes, but I guess what helps us rise above others, is not about being spot on at all times, but the ability to accept that we weren’t right on some occasions…</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">One of the biggest curses (It comes with numerous blessings though) of being an Indian Cricketer is the blind adoration of the Indian Public… what happens with this kind of an emotional following, is that it can be counter productive in several cases. But to some extent, I can forgive the ordinary fan on the road, for being passionate than practical or prudent, but what is unfathomable is how can an ex-cricketer be like that? I am not suggesting that Sidhu changes his style, but being out spoken, witty and intelligent (qualities I admire in this man) is not the same as being utterly reckless in ones opinion and changing them as and when one pleases, without the slightest of remorse!</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Am I a great fan of Vengsarkar, well I guess not even in his playing days did he hold a significant place in the list of my favourites. He was a stylish batsman, nothing more nothing less. In his avatar as the selector though, I guess he has far fewer admirers. But then as much as we hate him, don’t you think we need to admire the fact that it is this man, who with his team has prepared ground for the teams that reaped success in the away series in England, The Twenty20 Cup and the home series against Pakistan (All creditable achievements) and more importantly a team that could have entertained the thoughts of winning a series in Australia (if not for poor umpiring and poorer fourth innings batting skills at Sydney)…. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">So why is it that every time a team is announced, we all get on to roof tops and scream hoarse..? When the team does badly go back on to the roof top and say “I told you so…” and in those rare moments when the team triumphs, we forget the selectors..? What role does media and sports journalists have to do in this? </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Talking about media I must mention here that journalism in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region> has significantly changed… though they keep harping about trying to bring you news rather than stories, they are just about doing the opposite. As long as there was not much competition amongst the news channels, they (the two or three that operated a couple of years ago) were pretty much doing a decent job. But of late they have been nothing more than reality based entertainment channels. How else could one justify the news ticker “Saif tattoos Kareeena on his ….” that kept rolling across the screen with amazing regularity on day when so much more was happening in the country…</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Yes, one can easily justify this “Breaking News” and the tamasha that the nation witnessed when the Bachan and the Rai families united in wedlock as news that the masses crave for… the news channel owners can turn back and say you get what you deserve… but hey if that’s your philosophy of running a media channel then do not point fingers at Politicians for being populists (its their profession remember) or at movies that cross our self imposed morality codes… lets not take a moral high ground and point fingers at others who are doing a bad job, while we ourselves are chasing better TRPs under the garb of doing the public favours by broadcasting news that affects them…. <span style=""> </span></p>I Witnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01196895259176295757noreply@blogger.com1