I absolutely and positively hate, abhor, dislike - tragedies. That's the reason I stopped listening to Ramayana (FM Channel Fever, 9pm) the moment King Dasharatha announced that he will step down to make way for the new king.

A few days later, I tentatively tuned in. King Dasharatha had passed away, Ram had gone into exile and his younger brother had come down to persuade him to return to Ayodhya.

A few more days later, Shurpanakha made an appearance.In my opinion, Ashwini Kalsekar has failed to do justice to this character. Shurpanakha sounded very much like a female character out of Ekta Kapoor's Daily Soap factory. I stopped listening again.

Just 2 days back, I asked one of my friends if she has any idea what part of Ramayana is being played out. She said that Sita has been kidnapped and Ram has decided to get his team ready. That's when I decided to tune in again. And I was glad that I did. The episode in which Ram and Laxman meet the tribal saint Shabaree was beautifully rendered. Hats off to the team! I am determined to keep listening though there is a very good program running at the same time on another channel (Purani Jeans by RJ Anmol on Radio Mirchi)

Must say though that it sounded very funny when I asked my friend "अरे रामायण मे क्या चल रहा है?" and she replied saying "सीताका अपहरण हो गया है और राम अपनी सेना जुटा रहे है"। It almost sounded as if we were discussing the plot of some Daily Soap going on TV. :-)

Now that I am done with fretting and fuming over the weather, here's a gem that was sent by an SMS:

Life is 10% how you make it and 90% how you take it

Have a Good Evening!

I have started wondering if I ever will be able to visit the religious places in the North. It is cold in Mumbai - by usual Mumbai standards that is. I am sure people in the Northern part of the country will laugh at this. But for someone like me who was born and brought up in the city and who cannot remember the last time it was so cold here, the season is a disaster. I have a cough that seems to have inherited my stubbornness and is refusing to go away, I cannot walk barefoot at home and I am waking up with a sore throat. If this weather persists for more than 2 weeks, I am sure it will drive me to my early grave, or funeral pyre. :-(

I was never a big fan of the humid weather of this city but I am eagerly waiting for the same to make an appearance. Enough of this winter!

अर्ज़ किया है:

रहा ना दिलमे वो बेदर्द, और दर्द रहा
मुकीम कौन हुआ है, मुकाम किसका था

मुकीम - the occupant of the house

(Forwarded)

There is no telling what kind of SMS will land up in your Inbox these days. Last week, I received this gem as I was about to step out of the office in the evening:

Scientific Spiritualist Pandita Srirama Sharma Acharya confirmed 21st century bright Future though many say Destruction in 2012. Join us

This was followed by 2 mobile numbers. BTW, the "F" in "Future" and "D" in "Destruction" were capital in the original SMS. I am not sure why. But then I have a few more questions:

1. What is meant by a Scientific Spiritualist? Was this adjective tacked on so the rest of us non-Spiritualists would think twice before dismissing what he is saying as mere "mumbo-jumbo"?

2. How exactly can one confirm the destruction or safety of the universe?

3. While I am happy to find that at least some of us will survive (along with taxes and politicians!) in 2012, I am still in the dark as to why I should be joining someone at the said numbers.

Do you think I should save this SMS so I will have someone to call and yell at if it starts looking like the world will actually come to an end in 2012? ;-)

What better way to start the new year than posting a couple of links of sites that, I hope, will do their bit in strengthening Indian democracy (I found them in a column - in the Marathi Daily Loksatta - that promises to write about such gems this year):

http://indiankanoon.org/ - Check out Indian laws and Judgements

http://govcheck.net/ - Check if the dudes and dudettes you elected are doing any substantial work or not

http://www.askneta.com/ - A similar site as above. When I tried to check it out, it asked for my email address. I didn't give mine so I cannot say much.

http://www.yestopolitics.com/ - for those of us who still have some hopes from the world of politics, this site should be useful.

http://rtination.com/ - Need help in submitting RTI application? This is the place to visit.

Should one feel any different working in the new decade? I don't know. I am not noticing much of a difference unless I glance at the calendar on my desk that boasts of the year 2011. That reminds me, I need to be extra careful while putting a date on any cheques that I write in January. What about the cheques to be written in February, you say? Well, I am assuming, or rather hoping, that I would be used to the year 2011 by then :-)

So here's to the baby-faced new year, 2011 - hope you bring us all a much-needed cheer!