There is no telling what funny experiences you might have in Mumbai. A few days back I was returning home after an afternoon of shopping with a friend and his family. The cab was minutes away from my home when it stopped at a traffic signal.
There was a girl (who appeared to be from a well-to-do family) who was checking each of the halted cabs to see if any was empty. She looked at the cab driver first and then at me and named a place which was pretty close to my place. I thought that I was anyways going in that direction so might as well give her a lift. So I said yes.
Thereupon the girl said that her family of 4 was close by and would I be able to accommodate them all? I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. A cab can sit 3 slim people comfortably at the back - 4 at the most if one of them is a child - and one next to the cab driver. Only if the girl's family had 2 children and 3 slim grownups in all, we could have managed to accommodate 5 adults (including the cab driver and I) and 2 kids in that cab.
I consider myself pretty helpful by nature but I have my limits and sitting in a cramped position in my own hired cab to accommodate 5 members of a stranger's family (which may or may not contain children!) is definitely out of those limits. Fortunately for me, the signal turned green at this moment. I told the girl that I was sorry I couldn't help her because I had to pick up someone.
It was only when the cab sped away that I realized that I hadn't given much thought to the safety aspect of giving a lift to a total stranger, even if she was a girl :-(
Friday, November 26, 2010
Prayers for 26/11 victims
None of us can forget what happened on this day 2 years ago. It was one of those occasions when words become an insufficient medium to convey your thoughts and feelings. Even today,as I write this, I am pausing frequently at the keyboard, groping for words to capture the myriad thoughts that are racing through my mind.
Sifting through my emotions, I find that there is a sadness for human life lost before its time. There is sadness for those who were left behind. There is anger at the fundamentalism which doesn't value the principle of 'Live and Let Live'. And finally,there is bewilderment at the slow pace of justice.
Here's hoping that the souls of those who perished find peace and that kasab doesn't live to see this day next year!
Sifting through my emotions, I find that there is a sadness for human life lost before its time. There is sadness for those who were left behind. There is anger at the fundamentalism which doesn't value the principle of 'Live and Let Live'. And finally,there is bewilderment at the slow pace of justice.
Here's hoping that the souls of those who perished find peace and that kasab doesn't live to see this day next year!
विकेन्ड आलाय. काय खास करायचं ह्याचा विचार करत असाल तर मी काही सुचवू का?
लडाखच्या छायाचित्रांचे प्रदर्शन - ‘गोठलेलं लडाख’
कोटय़वधींपूर्वीचे जीवाश्म आणि खडक प्रथमच मुंबईत
लडाखच्या छायाचित्रांचे प्रदर्शन - ‘गोठलेलं लडाख’
कोटय़वधींपूर्वीचे जीवाश्म आणि खडक प्रथमच मुंबईत
Thursday, November 25, 2010
"Corruption" and "Scams" seem to be the flavors of this month. First it was CWG, then the 2G Spectrum scam, then the Karnataka CM's antics, later followed by arrests of top LIC officers by CBI. As if this wasn't enough, there is some side action related to the 2G spectrum which might uncover the dark side of Journalism.
I wonder, I very much wonder, if there are any honest people left in this country at all :-(
I wonder, I very much wonder, if there are any honest people left in this country at all :-(
2 years have passed since 26/11. For most of us, life has returned to its normal course. But it is far from so for those who lost their near and dear ones in the terrorist attack. The parents of one such gallant martyr, Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, have chosen a different route to keep his memory alive. Read on:
‘संदीप’ची इच्छाच पूर्ण करण्यासाठी आम्ही जिवंत!
‘इंडिया गेट’ ते ‘गेट वे ऑफ इंडिया’ पुस्तक लिहिण्याचा विचार!
I remember some lines:
जहा रहेगा वही रौशनी लुटायेगा
किसी चरागका अपना मकान नहीं होता
‘संदीप’ची इच्छाच पूर्ण करण्यासाठी आम्ही जिवंत!
‘इंडिया गेट’ ते ‘गेट वे ऑफ इंडिया’ पुस्तक लिहिण्याचा विचार!
I remember some lines:
जहा रहेगा वही रौशनी लुटायेगा
किसी चरागका अपना मकान नहीं होता
Oh, how the mighty fall - 2G scam sideshow: Netizens lambast high-profile journalists. Not a matter of good taste, Mr. Sanghavi!
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
बीजेपी हाय हाय!!
So Yeddyurrapa will remain the CM of Karnataka! I wonder what moral right do BJP's Swaraj and Advani now have to stall the parliament proceedings. I am not a fan of Congress, or of any political party for that matter, but clearly the BJP people haven't heard that saying about people living in glass homes, have they now?
The proof of a real politician is in his/her shamelessness. Look at this:
Javedekar said there can be no comparison between the allegations of land scam in Karnataka with 2G spectrum scam and CWG scams.
And why is that Mr. Javadekar? A scam is a scam - no matter what the amount. Or does the Constitution of India make some special allowances for scams under x crores of Rupees?
How I wish Kasab and his cronies had bombed these shameless people we call "Leaders" in this country instead of gunning down the innocents. At least we could have brought in fresh faces and started all over again.
Shame on you BJP! Shame on you!
The proof of a real politician is in his/her shamelessness. Look at this:
Javedekar said there can be no comparison between the allegations of land scam in Karnataka with 2G spectrum scam and CWG scams.
And why is that Mr. Javadekar? A scam is a scam - no matter what the amount. Or does the Constitution of India make some special allowances for scams under x crores of Rupees?
How I wish Kasab and his cronies had bombed these shameless people we call "Leaders" in this country instead of gunning down the innocents. At least we could have brought in fresh faces and started all over again.
Shame on you BJP! Shame on you!
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
A Date with Vikrant - the INS kind
This is my 500th post of this year and I had reserved it for a special someone. I visited with this special someone last Saturday for 3+ hours and enjoyed every moment of it. I am sad that I will be able to visit again only after a year. :-( Meet my special someone - INS Vikrant.
This is Indian Navy''s Majestic class light aircraft carrier which might be turned into a museum - a first ever WW2-era British-built aircraft carrier to be preserved this way if Wiki is to be believed. Like every year, it was docked at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai for a 10-day period (13-22 November) so common people can visit it. This year, I finally managed to go and was glad I did.
If you are wondering what's there to see in a carrier that's old enough to have participated in the 1971 war with Pakistan, let me tell you that there's enough to keep you occupied for the entire allowed period of 10am-5pm. There is information about the ship's role in the Liberation of Goa in 1962 as well as the 1971 war. There is loads of information on the history of India's maritime progress. There are guns and ammunition on display. You can get a glimpse into the life of the Navymen as you walk into areas like the mess and the sick bay. There is a short 15-minute film on how the aircrafts take off and land on the carrier. You can walk across the ship's vast top deck. And finally, you can visit the souvenir shop where you can buy key-chains, T-shirts and watches with Vikrant logo on it.
Needless to say, there was quite a crowd - young people, kids, even senior citizens had turned up in full force. I was in for a surprise when I strolled into the souvenir shop expecting to find it deserted. It was jam-packed with people and I had to wait for 10 minutes before I could walk away with keychains and mementos. A few suggestions, if I may:
1. A few counters can be opened on the top deck. The present souvenir shop is too small for comfortable shopping. I wanted to buy a mug (I had read on a web site that the shop stocks them) but there was so much crowd that I was unable to check out whether there were any available.
2. There can be separate counters for selling different kinds of merchandise. That will help both - the people buying and the people at the counters.
3. There should be arrangement to screen the 15-minute film at more locations. Though the film is only of 15 minutes and the screenings are every 15 minutes, the crowds are too huge for this to be adequate.
4. There are little projections at many places on the floor (part of the ship's design) that people were stumbling across. These need to be fenced off to avoid any injuries.
I read on the net that none of the bidders turned up at the April, 2010 bidding process to convert this into a permanent maritime museum. I wish the representatives from these industrial players had spent a day or two near the Tiger Gate during this period. They would have seen how the crowds turned up in droves to visit. They would have noticed how kids and grown-ups alike loved walking on the very decks that were once frequented by our brave Navymen. And they would have heard how many people kept asking why this is not open throughout the year!
Here's to INS Vikrant and her brave crewmen. I hope I live to see you being converted into a first-ever museum!
This is Indian Navy''s Majestic class light aircraft carrier which might be turned into a museum - a first ever WW2-era British-built aircraft carrier to be preserved this way if Wiki is to be believed. Like every year, it was docked at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai for a 10-day period (13-22 November) so common people can visit it. This year, I finally managed to go and was glad I did.
If you are wondering what's there to see in a carrier that's old enough to have participated in the 1971 war with Pakistan, let me tell you that there's enough to keep you occupied for the entire allowed period of 10am-5pm. There is information about the ship's role in the Liberation of Goa in 1962 as well as the 1971 war. There is loads of information on the history of India's maritime progress. There are guns and ammunition on display. You can get a glimpse into the life of the Navymen as you walk into areas like the mess and the sick bay. There is a short 15-minute film on how the aircrafts take off and land on the carrier. You can walk across the ship's vast top deck. And finally, you can visit the souvenir shop where you can buy key-chains, T-shirts and watches with Vikrant logo on it.
Needless to say, there was quite a crowd - young people, kids, even senior citizens had turned up in full force. I was in for a surprise when I strolled into the souvenir shop expecting to find it deserted. It was jam-packed with people and I had to wait for 10 minutes before I could walk away with keychains and mementos. A few suggestions, if I may:
1. A few counters can be opened on the top deck. The present souvenir shop is too small for comfortable shopping. I wanted to buy a mug (I had read on a web site that the shop stocks them) but there was so much crowd that I was unable to check out whether there were any available.
2. There can be separate counters for selling different kinds of merchandise. That will help both - the people buying and the people at the counters.
3. There should be arrangement to screen the 15-minute film at more locations. Though the film is only of 15 minutes and the screenings are every 15 minutes, the crowds are too huge for this to be adequate.
4. There are little projections at many places on the floor (part of the ship's design) that people were stumbling across. These need to be fenced off to avoid any injuries.
I read on the net that none of the bidders turned up at the April, 2010 bidding process to convert this into a permanent maritime museum. I wish the representatives from these industrial players had spent a day or two near the Tiger Gate during this period. They would have seen how the crowds turned up in droves to visit. They would have noticed how kids and grown-ups alike loved walking on the very decks that were once frequented by our brave Navymen. And they would have heard how many people kept asking why this is not open throughout the year!
Here's to INS Vikrant and her brave crewmen. I hope I live to see you being converted into a first-ever museum!
Everyone has been talking about punishing the corrupt politicians (now that's an oxymoron!) but why isn't anyone asking why were things allowed to get so out of control? Aren't there any checks and balances in the system to stop such corrupt people in their tracks? If there weren't any, then our laws, and perhaps constitution too, need to be amended. If there were any, then those who were responsible for implementing them but failed to do so should be punished too.
I am getting rather sick and tired of watching politicians calling each other 'corrupt' when everyone knows that they all are sailing in the same boat. Remember that scene in "Mars Attacks" when the Martians blow up the whole senate and an old lady watching it on TV in an asylum breaks out laughing? Well, I don't blame her.
I am getting rather sick and tired of watching politicians calling each other 'corrupt' when everyone knows that they all are sailing in the same boat. Remember that scene in "Mars Attacks" when the Martians blow up the whole senate and an old lady watching it on TV in an asylum breaks out laughing? Well, I don't blame her.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
The other day I was browsing through Agatha Christie's novels at a Landmark outlet. I usually go for an Omnibus but pick up a single novel too if I get it at a good price. I found one Omnibus but I suspected that I might already be having 2 of the novels it contained. Just to be sure, I fished out the Catalogue that I have made of all the books that I have (yep, there are so many of them!).
Just then, the woman standing next to me laughed and asked "Oh, you also have one of those?". She pointed to the Catalogue in my hand and said that she also has made one recently because she cannot remember which books she already has. We both laughed again. It felt so good to find a fellow book-lover because we are increasingly becoming a species on a rapid path to extinction :-(
Just then, the woman standing next to me laughed and asked "Oh, you also have one of those?". She pointed to the Catalogue in my hand and said that she also has made one recently because she cannot remember which books she already has. We both laughed again. It felt so good to find a fellow book-lover because we are increasingly becoming a species on a rapid path to extinction :-(
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
