Travel port launches 'gift a toy' for underprivileged children

Check out http://www.indiareport.com/India-usa-uk-news/latest-news/933909/National/1/20/1

The Sanskriti Express is here

There is another place worth checking out over this weekend in Mumbai. On 12th, 13th and 14th, the Sanskriti Express is going to dock at the CST station. Commemorating Rabindranath Tagore's 150th birth anniversary, this train is a treasure trove for anyone who is a fan of or is interested in knowing more about Tagore's work - be it his poems, his songs or his paintings. All this plus some photographs are housed in the first 4 carriages of this train while the 5th one has crafts made by artisans of Shantiniketan for display and sale.

This train can be visited from 10am-8pm.

I am not much of an emotional person nor am I overly religious. But 3 episodes of the Ramayana (Telecast daily on FM 104.0, Mon-Fri, Daily 7am, 1pm, 9pm) brought tears to my eyes. One was, of course, where King Janak of Mithila finds Sita while tilling the soil. The second episode was where Prince Rama brings Devi Ahilya back to life and the last one was that of Sita Swayamwara.

I can understand my reaction to the first and third episodes. But I am surprised at myself for being emotional about the second one. I have always thought that it was mighty unjust of Ahilya's husband, Sage Gautama, to curse her for no fault of hers. And I strongly smell 'male chauvinism' in the whole idea of a male bringing a lady out of her misery. Yet, there I was, with tears in my eyes and without any explanation for them.

Perhaps each of us is made of centuries of beliefs and thoughts that we are ourselves unaware of. :-(

Those of you who absolutely love Sherlock Holmes have a treat in store this weekend as well at 11pm sharp. Check this schedule of the History Channel.

I rather like the new Mahindra 2 wheeler ads. They are different from the usual "Vroom" kind of bike ads. They tell people to drive responsibly. We need more of such ads. Way to go people!

Yesterday's episode of "Anthony Bourdain - No Reservations" was on New York. I envied the guy as he went around the neighborhood sampling dishes from Indian, Sri Lankan, Mexican and Chinese cuisine. The only time I couldn't watch it was when he gobbled up some Korean food - it seemed very alive :-(

With all due respect to those who lost their lives in yesterday's blasts in Pakistan, I find it rather suspicious that these blasts occurred after the US President reiterated his belief that Pakistan was more of a victim than the exporter of terrorism. :-(

हम भी कुछ खुश नहीं वफ़ा करके
तुमने अच्छा किया बेवफाई की

Have a great day ahead, folks!

Have a date with INS Vikrant

The Navy Week is here again and has brought with it yet another chance for the Mumbaikars to visit INS Vikrant. This light aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy has played an important role in the 1971 war. After being decommissioned in 1997, she has been converted into a museum.

INS Vikrant can be visited between 13-22 November, 10am-5pm at Tiger Gate, Naval Dockyard, Balard Estate.

Have a date with INS Vikrant! Have a date with a piece of India's history! :-)

Okay, so the state of Maharashtra has got a brand new CM now. If the newspapers are to be believed, then he is cleaner than any newly bathed baby. Well, well, well......I believe that politicians should be assumed corrupt until proven clean :-) As they say, Only Time Will Tell.

जाओ शीशेका बदन लेके किधर जाओगे
लोग पत्थरके है, छू लेंगे, बिखर जाओगे

Have a good evening, Folks!

I did a double-take when I heard that Harbhajan scored a century in the 1st Test against New Zealand. What is going on? Is the Global Warming responsible for this in any way? ;-)

Wanna know what you can and cannot do under RTI? Check out RTI Online Certification course.

I am a bit confused about why Tata Motors is saying that the safety device to be added to the Nano is optional. I guess the only people who wouldn't want to rush to get these devices installed will be the ones who want to commit suicide or the terrorists who are always interested in blowing themselves and others up in smoke. :-(

लोग हर धड़कते पत्थरको दिल समझते है
उम्र बीत जाती है,दिलको दिल बनाने के लिए

I am not sure why everyone is disappointed because Mr. Obama didn't say much against Pakistan during his recent India visit. Those who did expect something on these lines are either incredibly naive or were born in 2010. They should all wake up and smell coffee, as the Americans would say. India and US might have been termed as natural allies but given America's fondness for Paranoidistan, we will never become allies, naturally.

So what do I remember from the US president's visit? The dance that he participated in with his wife. There is really nothing else worth remembering!

It would have been downright funny if it had not been so insulting. I am talking about the incident where the US consulate asked for identification documents from Maharashtra CM and Deputy CM. Hello? You guys are in our country and you are asking for proof of our identity? How about giving us your social security numbers instead? How can we be sure that you are not one of the terrorists who are as of now unknown to the security forces?

I can understand their need to protect their leader but if he has to travel abroad they have to make some concessions. They cannot treat the whole planet as if it is part of the US of A, can they now? Otherwise Mr. Obama is better off staying within the four walls of the White House.

How does it feel to get back to office after Diwali is over? Well, I don't know. I was working from home intermittently over the long weekend. So today I am not even suffering from what is normally called "Monday-morning blues" :-) The office is very quiet today as many people have gone MIA. Sometimes I like it that way. I can get a lot of work done. I guess most of them will be back by tomorrow and then it will be the usual busy scene of phones ringing and people talking. For now, I am enjoying this solitude. After all, being alone doesn't always mean you are lonely ;-)