Stop China's Crackdown on Tibet Petition

What Edmund Burke has said is true - "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. "

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Udhagamandalam - Day 1

“I am going to Udhagamandalam” I announced to my friends. “You are going where?” they all asked with an exception of one who hazarded a guess “From the name I guess it’s somewhere in the South India, am I right?” Relishing their discomfort I volunteered a clue “DoesUtakmund ring a bell?” “Ooooo, you are going to Ooty” one of them piped up. “Bingo!” I said.

And my trip to Ooty began on that happy note. Fate however had something else in store for me. I had barely got down from the Air Deccan flight at Coimbatore when the travel desk person from the resortwhere I was going to stay called up. “Madam, it’s raining in Ooty. I am afraid you will not be able to visit the Siruvani falls on your way. The area is closed”. I sighed in exasperation at the clouds in Coimbatore sky. Already, my plans to visit Mudumalai Sanctuary had been washed out – whether due to rain or due to census going on there, I could never figure out from the long distance calls to the sanctuaryreception. And now this! “Ok then, Ooty it is!” I said as I got into the car.

I was rather doubtful about my driver’s spoken English skills. “Do you know where Annapurna is?” I asked about the restaurant which was heavily recommended by some of my friends. “Yes madam, do you want to stop over for lunch?” he asked to my great relief. And so our first halt was at Annapurna. I liked the décor there. The place was spacious and clean. They had pictures of many of our freedom fighters. Though the names below were written in Tamil I could recognize many of them from the long-forgotten history textbooks. That and observing people devouring a huge thali at the next table helped me occupy time fruitfully while I waited for my Uthappam. I made the mistake of ordering a plain one. It was milky white and quite a thick one but alright in the taste department. Along with the customary coconut chutney and sambhar, the uthappam came with sour chutney which was simply delicious.

From my past experience of the south – which is considerable since I have been to Trivandrum, Mysore-Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai – I have rarely ordered tea there because I think they make coffee much better. But Annapurna’s tea came heavily recommended as well. And I was glad I listened to my friends because the tea was tasty too, if one can say that for tea. I wondered if it was the milk there, the tea powder or simply a different way of brewing it.

An array of sweets greeted me as I was exiting from the place. Who can resist the temptation of what is called in Mumbai “Khaaja”? I bought it and would like to add that it will be a cardinal sin to visit Annapurna and not buy this sweet!

First few minutes into Coimbatore were uneventful, rather uncomfortable as the car made its way through mud soaked streets through sometimes heavy traffic as I looked at the umpteen number advertisements for saree shop and jewelers. I was busy checking messages on my phone when I suddenly looked up to see mountains looming ahead. The Nilgiris! The bluish tinge was unmistakable and light fluffy white mist that clung tothe tops made me bury my phone where I didn’t touch it for the rest of the journey.

The road to Ooty was full of twists and turns but I wasn’t one to complain about it. I just sat there mesmerized and was truly sorry when the journey ended and the car dropped me in the lobby of the resort that was going to be my home for the next 3 days.

The package that I had opted for came with a complimentary half-day sightseeing trip of Ooty. So as soon as I was settled in my room I enquired about the possibility of taking it that afternoon. It seemedthough that it would take about 3-4 hours and so wouldn’t be possible that day as it was already close to 4pm. “Oh well, I will just get freshened up and check out the market” I said to myself as I drew the heavy curtains away.

I wasn’t lucky to get a room with an uninterrupted view of the valley. But when the curtains moved the scene that greeted me took my breath away. I could see a portion of the valley. The light mist that hungaround the distant Nilgiris obscured the valley now and then. There was a small cottage in between the valley and the resort. From the looks of it, no one was staying there. But it had a cute little garden lined with a flower border facing the valley and right in the middle of that tiny garden there was a white swing – also facing the valley. I don’t know why but all throughout my stay in Ooty I was fascinated by that garden and that swing. If by some queer twist of fate you are reading this article and are the owner of that cottage I must tell you that you have a very good eye for beauty and probably a poetic mind!

But I was not about to stay in my room till the sun set. I had seen a tourist market on my way up and was dying to get there. The guy at the reception gave me a look that plainly conveyed that I should have stayed indoors rather than venture out. I marched on, undeterred. The evening air was fresh, though slightly chilly. I passed by a church that wore an eerie look in the gathering mist. Then I passed by a deserted structure that looked like a warehouse, had a name that tarted with Spencer and looked as if it hasn’t changed much since the last Brit left! Every now and then I saw a local or a car but no tourists on this road. I turned a corner and surprise! There was a CCD – Café Coffee Day for the uninitiated – there. In a short while I reached the market which had a couple of tourists roaming about determinedly. I had read on the net that there are a couple of good bakeries in Ooty so I checked out one. It looked like there was not much left on the shelves at this time of the day. Then there were shops selling shawls, sweaters and other warm clothing. What caught my eyes were shops selling homemade chocolates. I bought a few.

Then I noticed an eatery called “Woody’s” – seemed like a perfect place for a cuppa hot tea. As I proceeded towards it I saw a board that announced a book exhibition. Couldn’t resist that one! I felt likegetting into Alibaba’s cave because the books were selling at bargain basement price! Imagine Clive Cussler’s books at 95 Rs each. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Then a suspicion crept in. Maybe they have a couple of pages missing. I chose one book at random and thumbed through it. On a cursory glance, it didn’t look like it had any page missing. But I really didn’t have enough room in my luggage and home is just about to overflow with books. However, I couldn’t resist buying a volume that has 4 of Jules Verne’s books together – and that too just for Rs 175! Armed with the book I went to Woody’s. The tea was yum – cardamom flavored and with the right touch of sweetness. I promised myself I will come here again for breakfast – maybe on my way back from Ooty.

It was getting close to sunset so I hurried back. The mist had started gathering again and the tree-tops looked lovely – sort of full of mystery. I shot photo after photo before turning back. I don’t remember much of the dinner at the resort’s restaurant simply because I was too sleepy. I hit the sack hoping that the weather will be better tomorrow.

2 beautiful quotes:

1. The Main Thing is to keep the Main Thing The Main Thing

2. One who knows the price of everything doesn't know the cost of anything.

SAVE RANI BAGH BOTANICAL GARDEN

Mumbaikars......please visit http://www.saveranibagh.org/and sign the online petition

Perspective is what matters!!!

I found this in my mailbox in the morning and it made my day!

The train has started moving. It is packed with people of all ages, mostly with the working men and women and young college guys and gals. Near the window, seated a old man with his 30 year old son. As the train moves by, the son is overwhelmed with joy as he was thrilled with the scenery outside.. " See dad, the scenery of green trees moving away is very beautiful"

This behavior from a thirty year old son made the other people feel strange about him. Every one started murmuring something or other about this son." This guy seems to be a krack.." newly married Anup whispered to his wife.

Suddenly it started raining... Rain drops fell on the travelers through the opened window. The Thirty year old son , filled with joy " see dad, how beautiful the rain is .."

Anup's wife got irritated with the rain drops spoiling her new suit. Anup ," cant you see its raining, you old man, if ur son is not feeling well get him soon to a mental asylum..and don't disturb public henceforth"

The old man hesitated first and then in a low tone replied " we are on the way back from hospital, my son got discharged today morning , he was a blind by birth, last week only he got his vision, these rain and nature are new to his eyes.. Please forgive us for the inconvenience caused..."

The things we see may be right from our perspective until we know the truth. But when we know the truth our reaction to that will hurt even us. So try to understand the problem better before taking a harsh action.

Most of us have a list of our favorite movies - the ones which we can watch anytime, no matter what our mood. For some, some movies even act as perfect "mood-lifters".

One of my all-time favorite movies is "Chalati ka naam gaadi". I don't remember when I watched this one first and I have certainly lost count of how many times I have watched it since in full or in part. There is nothing path-breaking about the story. The real-life siblings Ashok Kumar, Anoop Kumar and Kishor Kumar play brothers in the reel-life as well in this movie. The eldest brother Ashok Kumar who has been a boxer in his early life now runs a garage with his younger brothers. A girl he had loved when he was young had turned him down and that makes him a sort of misogynist. To top that, she was from a rich family so he believes that all rich people have the tendency to treat the have-nots in a shabby manner. To spare his younger brothers the same pain, he doesn't want his brothers to get involved with any woman.

But fate has something else in store for the brothers because one stormy rainy night brings Madhubala to the garage with her broken-down car. The melodious song "Ek ladki bheegi-bhaagi si" has been picturized very beautifully and Madhubala looks simply divine. No wonder, then that the youngest brother Mannu - played by Kishor Kumar - falls for her. The song 'ham the woh thi aur samaa rangeen samaz gaye na" though humorous has such a catchy tune that you can't help hum it to yourself. As a child, I used to love the line "Jaate the Japaan pahoch gaye Chin' so much that I remember looking through the world map to check out if it really was possible. It always used to remind me of Columbus who in his quest to discover India had discovered America instead! :-) Also the line that Anoop Kumar sings periodically "Mannu, tera hua ab mera kya hoga" in this song lifts up its "humor quotient" by leaps and bounds. Both songs make clever use of common tools used in garage in the background music of the song.

So now there is an element of conflict in the brothers' relationship. But there is no melodrama. The utter chaos and puzzlement that is created when Madhubala's presence is discovered in their house once and the boxing fight between Ashok Kumar and Kishor Kumar punctuated periodically by Anoop Kumar's "Bade Bhaiyya" is absolutely hilarious. Just when things start looking rosy the villains make their appearance in the form of K. N. Singh and Sajjan. Sajjan - under the able tutelage of K. N. Singh - is about to forcefully marry Madhubala for her money by holding her father hostage. But the three brothers foil his perfect plan. And in keeping with the "and they lived happily together thereafter" Ashok Kumar is reunited with his long-lost love as well.

As far as the cast goes, it comes as no surprise that Kishor Kumar steals the show as the adorable simple Mannu. I never did like Ashok Kumar much though he looked adorable as Dadaji in the 80s' TV show "Dada-dadi ki kahaniya". He always looked far too much serious for my taste but in this movie I liked him in the role of the eldest brother who loves his siblings and nurses the bitterness from his broken heart. Anoop Kumar doesn't have much scope as the middle sibling. He rather gets overshadowed by his two brothers - as much in reel life as in real life I suppose. But he does play the part of the middle brother - caught between fear for his elder's brother's rage and love for the mischievous younger one - perfectly.

Madhubala looks lovely as ever. What more can I say? It's tragic that she died so young. But that has kept her image young forever in the minds of her fans - sort of frozen in time. On the other side of the fight, K. N. Singh makes you want to murder him with his act of arching just one eye-brow to express surprise, anger and cunning. Some of us will remember Sajjan as the Vetal who harassed King Vikram - played by Arun Govil - in the popular children's program "Vikram aur Vetal" - again of the 80s, if I mistake not.

For some inexplicable reason, when I heard of Tata's Nano, I thought of the song "Babu, samazo ishaare horn pukare, pam pam pam, Yaha chalati ko gaadi kehte hai pyaare, pam pam pam". Maybe it was the picture of three simple ordinary brothers riding a car that formed the association with the "People's car". Not a bad idea for Nano to make this song its catchline, what say Mr. Ratan Tata?

I finished reading Benazir Bhutto’s “Daughter of the East” – the last few chapters detailing her brother Shah’s mysterious death, her return to Pakistan in 1986 and her marriage in 1987.

It was amusing to read how she kept her ever-chattering little niece next to her for what she calls as a “Protection” when she had dinner with her would-be husband and family. :-) Anyone who has gone through the process of an arranged marriage will identify with her situation. It is interesting though that the same Asif Zardari who at a time didn’t care much for politics saying that “one politician in the family is enough” is now the prime candidate for Pakistan’s Premiership!

In one of the last pages she mentions Pakistan being at the crossroads of democracy and continuing dictatorship in 1988. It’s ironic that the country found itself at the same crossroads 20 years down the line!

I couldn’t help draw parallel between her return to Pakistan in 1986 and in 2007. She has said in the book that she didn’t know what awaited her in Pakistan – life or death. But that she didn’t care and that she knew that whatever fate had in store for her wouldn’t change no matter where she went or what she did. Did she think the same in 2007? At one place she does mention that as the tear gas was fired someone pulled her through the sun-roof to protect her. Did the history fail to repeat itself in 2007?

And the larger question that will always remain unanswered for me. No, I am not talking about the mystery over who killed her. I am wondering about what prompted this lady to go through so much – lonely detentions, failing health, unsanitary prison conditions, death of the loved ones and a life filled with anxiety and uncertainties?

Let’s say it was her determination to bring democracy to Pakistan and also a desire to better the lot of her people. Then what about the corruption charges that she later faced?

Let’s say it was just the irresistible combination of money plus absolute power. But then did she willingly suffer so much for money? Can anyone?

Let’s say she started with a noble motive but then it was a case of “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely”.
Then the most important question for democracy is – how to prevent this from happening?