Mackenna's Gold- the Indian Version

My first reaction to the news of the excavation by ASI at the Unnao Fort - just because a so-called seer claims to have been informed about 1000 tons of buried gold in a dream by a king who ruled the area around 2 centuries ago - was of utter disbelief. Are these guys certifiably insane? That's one possibility and a more believable one, considering the government actions of the past few months.

But there is another possibility (a very very slim one!) - an attempt to preserve the law and order in the area. Apparently, the seer is very much trusted by the local people. Clearly, people believe every word that he says. None of us would want a riot like situation if people decide to pick up shovels and go prospecting for some royal gold. If ISI stumbles upon some gold, it's a Happy Day scenario for the government - provided all of it ends up in government coffers (a fat chance!). If they don't find anything, the seer is automatically discredited.

Of course, there is a downside in both cases. If gold is indeed recovered, the seer's power will grow manifold. And even if it is not, the government will be powerless to stop people who will descend on the place in droves to try their luck, thus destroying a centuries-old structure (not that the governments have done anything to protect such sites in the past!).

What beats me is how in the world does a long-dead king know about the state of the Indian economy? That's a question worth it's weight in gold, what say?

While reading an article 'The Conscientious Civil Servant', I came across references to the following 2 books:

Massacre by Robert Payne
The Blood Telegram by Gary Bass

I have finished reading the 3rd Adhyaya of 'Bhagwad Geeta As It Is'. But I could not stomach some of the contents of Adhyaya 2. Here they are:

Text 31

स्वधर्ममपि चावेक्ष्य न विकम्पितुमर्हसी|
धर्म्याद्धी युध्दाच्छ्रेयोsन्यत् क्षत्रियस्य न विद्यते|

Translation:
Considering your specific duty as a Kshatriya, you should know that there is no better engagement for you than fighting on religious principles; and so there is no need for hesitation.

When I read the words 'fighting on religious principles', I thought to myself 'well, this is a pretty subjective matter'. Who gets to decide what is a religious principle and what isn't? If tomorrow a band of people starts looting and killing saying such-and-such activities are against the tenets of Hinduism (aren't they already!), who gets to decide whether they are justified or not?After all, we cannot expect Lord Krishna to descend to earth and sanction or disapprove it, can we? So how does this apply to the present age?

The same Text gives following lines from a source that has been vaguely mentioned as 'religious law books':

यज्ञेषु पशवो ब्रह्मन हन्यते सततं द्विजैः
संस्क्रत: किला मंत्रेश्च तेsपि स्वर्गं अवाप्नुवन

The translation given is like this - 'The brahmans attain the heavenly planets by sacrificing animals in the sacrificial fire'. The purport further elaborates saying that 'The animal sacrified gets a human life immediately without undergoing the gradual evolutionary process from one form to another'.

I had to read this line twice before I could be sure that it means what I think it means. How can this 'religious law book' sanctify killing animals in sacrificial fire'? And that too by saying that we are doing them a favor? Yeah, yeah, I know I am a non-vegetarian and so have no right to take such a self-righteous tone. But I was brought up on a non-veg diet and I am sure that if I had been given a choice, I would not have opted for it. Because it is plain wrong to kill other animals for food - especially because we longer live in caves.

Text 62

ध्यायतो विषयान पुंस: संगस्तेषुपजायते|
संगात्सन्जायते काम: कामात्क्रोधोsभिजायते|

Translation:

While contemplating the objects of the senses, a person develops attachment for them, and from such attachment lust developes, and from lust anger arises.

The purport says that 'One who is not, therefore, in Krishna consciousness, however powerful he may be in controlling the senses by artificial repression, is sure ultimately to fail, for the slightest thought of sense pleasure will agitate him to gratify his desires'.

Now, elsewhere 'Krishna consciousness' is defined as 'doing everything for the enjoyment of Krishna'. But how do we know what will and what won't be enjoyed by Lord Krishna? Again, the text mentions that we need to be guided by a person who is Krishna conscious himself. How in the world is one supposed to find such a person? In this day and age, the probability of one stumbling across a religious crook is more than finding someone who is truly enlightened. So what do we do then?

Text 64

रागद्वेषविमुक्तैस्तु विशायानिंद्रियैश्चरन|
आत्मवश्यैर्विधेयात्मा प्रसादमधिगच्छति|

Translation:

But a person free from all attachment and aversion and able to control his senses through regulative principles of freedom can obtain the complete mercy of the Lord.

A part of the purport goes something like this - If Krishna wants, the devotee can do anything which is ordinarily undesirable; and if Krishna does not want, he shall not do that which he would have ordinarily done for his own satisfaction.

Now, let's say I am craving for a piece of pastry that is so full of calories that I can practically see them dripping off it. I know that it won't do me any good and hence should be avoided. But I can argue that I will offer it as Prasadam to Krishna first and then eat it. So actually I am doing this for my own satisfaction but can argue that I am doing it for the Lord's enjoyment. And this clearly is not the way to go. So what is?

पवित्र रिश्ता नावाची कापूसकोंड्याची गोष्ट

एक होती अर्चना. ती, तिचे आईबाबा, तिचा भाऊ विनोद, वहिनी आणि दोन धाकटया बहिणी - वर्षा आणि वैशाली. अर्चना आईला तिच्या आजारपणात मदत करायला घरीच असल्याने फारसी शिकली नाही. म्हणून नोकरीही मिळत नाही आणि लग्नासाठी चांगली स्थळं येत नाहीत. पुढे तिला भेटला मानव - एक कार मेकेनिक. मग ही गोष्ट पुढे सरकली ती त्यांचं लग्न होतं की नाही ह्या मुद्द्यावर. जोडीला वर्षा, वैशाली आणि मानवाचा भाऊ सचिन ह्यांची आयुष्यं तोंडी लावायला होतीच. मानवला भेटली उद्योगपती डीकेची बायको. मानवचा उत्कर्ष सुरु झाला. वर्षाला मूल होणार नाही हे निदान झालं. अर्चनाने आपला मुलगा सोहम तिला वाढवायला काही दिवस दिला. वर्षाला त्याचा लळा लागला. आणि अर्चनाच्या जुळ्या मुलींच्या बारश्याच्या दिवशी त्याला घेऊन ती गायब झाली. मानव भडकला आणि दोन्ही मुलींना घेऊन त्याने तडक केनडा गाठलं. अर्चनाने अनाथ पुर्विला वाढवायला सुरुवात केली.

इथे सिरीयलने पहिली टाईमलीप घेतली. मग मानव केनडाहून येणं, जुळ्या मुलींचा आईवरचा राग, वर्षाचा बिहारी नवरा बालन आणि सोहम प्रकरण, पूर्वी आणि ओवी एकाच माणसाच्या, अर्जुनच्या, प्रेमात पडणं, आधी पूर्वीचं लग्न अर्जुनशी ठरणं, मग तिने ओविचं लग्न त्याच्याशी लावून देणं, पूर्वीचं प्रेग्नंट असणं, ओनीर आणि कोलकाता, मग पूर्वीचं अर्जुनशी लग्न लागणं, अर्चनाचा स्मृतिभ्रंश, तिचं बरं होणं, तेजू आणि शेजारचं गुजराती कुटुंब, सोहमचं डॉक्टर गौरीच्या प्रेमात पडणं, मधूनमधून अर्चनाच्या भावाची मुलगी पुन्नी आणि तिच्या नवर्याच्या कारवाया, अर्चनाने सचिनचं डॉक्टर गौरीशी लग्न ठरवणं, सोहमने तिला पळवून नेणं वगैरे यथासांग पार पडलं.

आता म्हणे सिरीयलने पुन्हा एक टाईमलीप घेतली आहे. मानवचे आईवडील, अर्चनाची आई सगळे जिवंत आहेत. दोन दोन लग्नं होऊन बिचारा अर्जुन भारतात एकटाच राहतोय. पूर्वी त्याला सोडून आईवडिलांबरोबर केनडात आहे. सचिनला ३ मुलं आहेत. इथे भारतात सोहमला ४ मुलं आहेत. मोठी मुलगी अर्चनाची कार्बनकॉपी आहे. पूर्वीच्या दुसर्या बाळाचं काय झालं माहीत नाही. सध्या तरी परी एकटीच दिसतेय. ओवी कुठे आहे माहीत नाही. तेजूचं लग्न झालेलं नाही तेच बरंय नाहीतर पुढल्या आयपीएल सिझनमध्ये ह्यांनी आपली टीम उतरवली असती. अर्चनाबाई मध्येमध्ये पिकलेले केस घेऊन भारतातल्या समुद्राकडे पहात 'केनडामे सुबह हो गयी' असे मजेशीर संवाद म्हणताहेत. आता सोहमची मुलगी अर्चनासारखेच कष्ट उपसणार हे सांगायला ज्योतिषाची गरज नाही.

एकुणात काय तर पहिले पाढे पंचावन्न अशी ह्या सिरियलची गत आहे. आणखी काही महिन्यांनी अजून एक टाईमलीप आली तरी अर्चनाबाई फार म्हाताऱ्या दिसणार नाहीत. त्यांची पणती कष्ट उपसायला तयार होणार आणि कापूसकोंड्याची गोष्ट चालूच रहाणार हे नक्की.

A Grade 5 cyclone,  a topographically vulnerable state like Odisha and India's record of always being caught unprepared seemed like a sure recipe for disaster. But surprisingly, the loss of lives was limited to 21. With all due respect to those who lost their lives, it seems like the state administration managed to pull off what can only be called a Herculean task - considering the fact that upwards of half a million people (if the figures published in newspapers are to be believed) were safely evacuated. Timely warning by IMD - made possible by sophisticated weather information and analysis sources, the timely delivery of critical information, a proactive administration - that perhaps took a cue from the disaster in Uttarakhand - all had a role to play.

Of course, there is a lot of damage - disrupted road and train services, loss of electricity, people stranded in far-flung villages, loss of crops, looming threat of flood and water-borne diseases like diarrhea. The administration and voluntary organizations need to pull up their socks to manage all this efficiently. Plus they should compare notes with other states in an effort to share the lessons learnt on ground.

In the meantime, we all can take comfort in the fact that finally this country is waking up to the realization that every life is worth saving. I hope there won't be any Grade 5 cyclones in future. But if there are, I would pray that the loss of life would be nil.

Cable Trouble

I hope my last call to my cable service provider was 'recorded for quality assurance purposes' and that someone listens to it. When the customer service representative asked me my card number as soon as she came on line instead of wasting precious seconds saying 'Good morning, this is so and so. How may I help you?' I was pleasantly surprised. Then, of course, she had to verify my account information, address, contact number etc. I said 'That's right!' to all 3 questions patiently but was stumped when she asked me my email ID. I said I don't think I have provided them with one. She seemed surprised making me wonder why she couldn't see that the email ID was missing from the account information in front of her. I could have let it go but then she asked me if I wanted to give her the ID. I sensed my patience wearing thin and before it totally disappeared like a sheet of ice in blazing noon sun, I told her that I would appreciate it if she could solve my current issue which happened to be quite a pressing one. Email ID can wait.

She graciously agreed to hear me out. I told her that I wasn't getting any transmission and wanted to know if the locality was experiencing any cable issues or I was being punished for my sins. She said that the locality was fine and dandy. Guess all my neighbors are saints - though they don't look (or behave!) like one. Then she asked me to switch the TV and power off and give it a try once again. The cable equivalent of Reboot. That failed to work.

Just when I was about to ask her when they would be sending the friendly-neighborhood cable guy to get the thing working again, she told me that they are getting reports of a cable outage in my locality. The timing sounded so suspicious that I had to ask 'Are you sure?'. She said that she will check with her seniors and let me know if I would agree to be put on hold. As if I had any choice! A few seconds later she confirmed the outage and said that they are trying their best to sort it out as soon as possible. I pretended not to have heard the 'as soon as possible' part and asked her if she could tell me approximately how long will it take. Predictably, she said that she cannot or at least I think she said that she cannot. Her usage of tenses would have driven my English teacher to her early grave for sure.

And this is for whosoever has it in his/her destiny to listen to the recording - for God's sake, stop these people from saying 'I am very sorry for the inconvenience' after every 2nd sentence or so. It makes us callers sorry that we called at all.

'Who is the killer' screamed the headlines on every news channel as they covered the stampede in Madhya Pradesh that claimed the lives of 115 people. While it is true that the administration fell short of providing adequate crowd control measures, it would be wrong to lay the entire blame squarely at their doors. We Indians simply don't seem to have discipline in our DNA.

The idea of forming a queue never occurs to even the educated among us. I went to my favorite shop to buy Jalebi and Fafada on Dassera morning. I had mentally prepared myself to get jostled in a sea of bodies but was pleasantly surprised to see people waiting in a queue. Happily I joined it. The queue was moving ahead at a fair pace because the shop attendants were efficiently handling the orders. Just then a group of 2-3 people came along clutching money. They looked at the queue, went ahead and asked for some items while proffering the money. No one in the queue said anything so I said in a raised voice 'how can these people barge in like this?'. Taking a cue, two gentlemen ahead of me told those people politely that there was a queue and they would have to wait their turn. Those people seemed surprised that they were asked to join the queue and pretended to walk away. But I could notice them moving to the head of the queue trying to get attention of the attendants. So I complained to the attendant standing next to me and he assured me that they will not be serviced.

I would have believed him except for the fact that I noticed the lady who was standing behind me calmly collect her purchase and walk away while I placed my order. I opened my mouth to complain yet again but then dropped the idea. Why spoil my mood on an auspicious day? It wasn't worth it simply because people who follow rules are exception in this country. You see the chaos on the streets as people take illegal turns right under the nose of the traffic cops, near the elevators as people try to barge in without giving the occupants a chance to get out, in the parks as people stand chatting in groups right in the middle of the walkway. We want to be the first one to race ahead when the signal turns green, the first one to get in the bus/train/elevator and the first one to get out. Why? No one knows.

This same lack of discipline has led to these deaths. And we will keep seeing such deaths unless we realize this and choose to act on it.

Gravity (Spoiler Alert!)

Sometimes I feel that in Hollywood it must be illegal to make any movie about space without the customary dialogue "Houston, we have a problem". Well, this movie ain't any exception except that Houston behaves like the proverbial cops in the Hindi movies - they arrive on the scene just before the credits start rolling. At least, a voice from mission control does. So if you plan to look out for Ed Harris in this movie, just don't bother.

What's the plot then? We have Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock), a doctor + engineer, on her first shuttle mission. And then we have Matt Kowalsky (George Clooney) (looking every bit American, not even an ounce of Russian! Maybe he is a Russian American) who, we are told, is not only an astronaut but also a very experienced one. This is his last voyage before he hangs his boots - and space helmet, Oxygen tank etc. There is one more astronaut who I believe is depicted as an Indian because he sings 'Mera Joota Hai Japani' while flying in circles as Ryan and Matt attempt some repair or other in space.

Of course, the 'big bad' Russians are at it again. This time they manage to blow some satellite or something like that (I can't be sure what because I was too busy gawking at the aqua blue globe of earth and munching on Caramel popcorn to pay attention to the dialogues). The point is that this sets off a chain reaction in which debris start flying through the space and Houston warns the astronauts that they better be indoors. Of course, Ryan being the pig-headed woman that she is (ain't this a stereotype?), refuses to immediately abandon whatever she is doing. By the time she does, it is already too late. The debris arrive on the scene and in the ensuing confusion, Ryan is set adrift in space. Matt manages to reel her back in but the singing Indian is already dead (did they really have to blow part of his face off?). Since the communication is knocked out of order, Houston is blissfully unaware of this space drama. Lucky them!

Matt and Ryan set the course for the International Space Station (ISS). To add more excitement to this space journey, Ryan is running out of Oxygen and running on fumes (perhaps more literally than figuratively!). When they reach the ISS, she fails to grab on to anything and Matt has to be the knight in the shining white armor again. It's just that it doesn't end too well for him because to make sure that she sees the inside of ISS, he has to cut himself loose.

And that's precisely how Ryan, who at one point says that she chose to be in space because of the absolute silence there, ends up all alone up there in the stratosphere. It's true what they say about being careful what you wish for. The rest of the movie is about how she makes it back to Mother Earth.

Frankly, I am surprised that Clooney agreed to be part of this project and that Bullock is the main character of the movie. I devoured a sizable portion of my caramel popcorn trying to figure this mystery out. But if you leave that part out, the rest of the movie is fairly enjoyable. At least you don't have to worry about aliens out to colonize earth, macho man armed to the teeth fighting them till the very bitter end and earth's population dying of some mysterious flesh-eating disease of extra-terrestrial origin. Though at times you have to concentrate to be in sync with what Ryan is doing like e.g. to move from the ISS to the Chinese station, there is something fundamentally soothing about a movie that contains characters that can be counted using fingers of one hand only. No complex relationships, no ranks, no duets of emotions. Just a person's conversation with her own self - something that is increasingly becoming rare in this age. The irony of human life is that we all want to be left alone but we all want to be part of the crowd as well. The scene where Ryan tries to communicate with someone on earth whose transmission she is able to listen to just because of some technical glitch and whose language she cannot understand was for me the highlight of this movie. If I ever chance upon this movie on some TV channel in future, that's the scene I would like to watch again. That said, it's no surprise that the special effects are awesome in this 3D movie. You really feel as if you are in space.

Last but not the least, it is difficult to tear your eyes away from the planet that we call our Home. Earth is devastatingly beautiful - more so when seen from the infinite expanse of the space. Not many of us will be able to go where no one has gone before but this movie sure lets us take a peek at it while at the same time telling a story of someone who almost loses her will to live, only to regain it and fight back.

Indigo Delicatessen, High Street Phoenix, Lower Parel

I don't know why but I had always assumed Indigo to be a soup-salad-sandwich kind of a place. That was the reason I hadn't tried it yet. But as I have said it before on this blog, I am getting tired of eating at the same places in High Street Phoenix. The only other options were Veda - this being an Indian restaurant, I doubt if it will have anything different to offer other than the run-of-the-mill Dal Makhani, Butter Chicken, Chhole, Rajma, Mutter Paneer, Palak Paneer and Methi Mutter Malai - and Rajdhani - a strict no-no because it only serves Thalis. So Indigo it was.

Here's the menu http://www.zomato.com/mumbai/indigo-deli-lower-parel/menu#tabtop. We chose BBQ chicken wafer thin pizza and Fusilli with fried leek, almonds, roasted garlic and pesto cream.

While we waited we were served bread and butter - as is the norm in such eateries. The difference was that the bread was positively tasty. I would gladly have it for breakfast every day.

The Fusilli did full justice to the words 'pesto cream' in its description. I was expecting little pieces of roasted garlic adding crunch to the soft pasta shells but couldn't taste any. Probably the garlic was mixed in with the pesto cream. Instead, the crunch was provided by chunks of almonds - a little too many for my taste. Despite that, the overall flavors of the dish had come together beautifully. I simply couldn't get enough of it.

Fusilli

They weren't kidding when the menu mentioned that the pizza would be 'wafer thin'. It really was. So much so that the chunks of BBQ sauce flavored chicken made it break into a million pieces. And the sauce was a bit too tangy in my opinion. A little spicy note was sorely (!) needed.

BBQ sauce Chicken wafer-thin pizza

I am sure I will keep going back for the Fusilli. It's just that my choice of the 2nd dish would be different.