Monday, August 29, 2011

Anna Hazare

With Anna Hazare breaking his fast, a sense of relief just sets in. Past 12-13 days zipped by and its unbelievable that all I watched all these days was NEWS. I wouldn’t have watched this much news in my entire life, the amount I watched in the last 13 days. Phew… Its tiresome watching 4-5 people speak so much simultaneously!

Even an ever engrossing bitchy saas-bahu serial would not have entertained me so much as Team Anna and govt. did.

It was almost like watching a racy thrilling movie with loads of twists and turns. With back-tracking to break-down, with no-talks to open-talks to accusing!

Just like a pendulum hanging from the sky with the wind blowing on either side.

What a ride!

I was almost obsessed over the theatrics of Team Anna and the members of the parliament. You can even say like a woman possessed!

And I tried hard to remember all that which was taught at the Social Studies class at school. That time I gave a rat’s ass to this subject!

But in the last few days, I honestly regretted for not being serious about learning the constitution of India, the supremacy of the parliament. I remembered the process of mugging up all the chapters and then vomiting it on the exam paper, without really understanding it. It’s like hearing from the left ear and taking it out from the right one, without touching any bloody neurons in the brain!

Anyway it’s never too late. And It’s good that Team Anna’s movement has brought all this up, especially with the Youth, which has the opportunity to not miss-out on learning about it. In fact, they must be intrigued about it.

Team Anna’s movement has definitely raised a lot of interest in me to watch the parliamentarians more closely. To watch the processions going inside the Lok Sabha. To learn the nuances of politics and politicians who are running my country.

This, I feel is the greatest victory for Team Anna. And I am thankful to them.

As far as the LokPal bill goes, we are yet to see how the implementation takes place.

We are rejoicing the victory for Team Anna. But out here, I am happy that a 74 yr old man broke his fast before his body lost the battle. And I am surprised to see myself and those (people of India) whom so far I thought of as a callous set, out for an individual and standing up with him despite sun and rain!

Too many judgments have been passed on this man’s methodology and credentials, even people have urged him to stand in election before he opens his mouth. A lot of intellectual people have disregarded the movement and referred it as un-democratic.

But some wars are not won by mere intellect, some wars are won by heart and trust and motivation.

“Anna is India, India is Anna” cannot be more wrong. India has a vast majority of people which doesn’t work by heart.

They just exist, for making a living, for making a comfort zone in their own cocooned life. Trying to provide for themselves, for their children a secured and comfortable life. All running to earn more money, more comforts, or just 2 meals a day. Me too.

And then there comes someone like Anna.

A man who left his 2 meals for something he positively believed in.

How can I not support him? Winning or losing was not on my mind. Not even on how far his belief will fight corruption.

I was just amazed at the conviction this man had. Just amazed that he was actually ready to sacrifice his life for something he will never be able to get benefited of!

Now can any of us do it? I cannot even think on those lines! Walking on it will happen in the next lifetime only!

Anyway, right now Corruption is brought center-stage. The perpetrators of bribery and corruption will have to think twice before the money changed their hands.

Anna has brought moral character in the people of India, which in itself is a great achievement.

If or not the Lokpal bill does something good technically, but morally this movement has transformed me and many like me.

Jai Hind.

Peace out.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara

I just had to pen it down. Just had to.
I and my friends planned to watch a movie last weekend.
So the first step is to book tickets.
Since last year, its only internet booking which works for us. I and my laptop savvy friends!
But for this movie, all the multiplexes were house full. Here goes all our savvy-ness!
So I decided to go to a local theater close to my office and book tickets in person.
This was my first time.
Usually its up to the father/brother/boys(who are friends)/husband, to do such menial jobs.
Anyway there I was all smug, standing at the ticket counter. Informed the lady at the counter - 3 tickets, noon show, for next day. She gave a look as if I had asked for her gold chain. May be she dint hear me (which is unheard of, with the kind of voice I am bestowed with). Never mind here I go again - 3 tickets, noon show, tomorrow!!
Finally she handed me over the tickets, still with the same expression!! Damn them! Chennai ladies! Dead as a crow shit!
I saw the tickets - 3 of them CHECK, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara CHECK, 3.15 pm CHECK.
All's well.
So the next day, I reached the theater at 3. My friends came along in 10 mins.
We go to our much coveted platinum rows doorway.

Usual procedure, we show our tickets to the guy with the torch.

D-18, D-19, D-20.

The torch guy walked towards the D row. We moved behind cautious of any unknown staircase.

As we moved close to D. Surprise Surprise!!!!

The whole row was filled with a bunch of college kids (hate to call them kids; they were my height, what the heck! Its about time I accept I am 30 and those were kids!!!!!!!!!)

So this torch guy asks for their ticket. D-18…..D-19….D-20.

Now he got confused. He looks at me and looks at the college kids. And I was furious.

Mystery gets solved by one of the college kid (hick-hick).

Another big surprise!

My tickets are dated on the previous date!

Situation sank in. Actually I am quite quick in identifying blunders. Generally they are not mine!

“So that lady at the counter gave me tickets for that very day! Instead of the next day!”

I tried explaining it to the torch guy.

He gave a suspicious look and asked me to talk to the manager as “he cannot do anything”! I almost felt like a culprit trying to reuse the old tickets.

I cursed myself with those “how-can-I-be-so-bloody-stupid” lines. Then with lame excuses “this-was-my-first-time”! As if I was a 15 yr old virgin taking her first lesson! God damn it!!

Here again me and my arrogance, I told the manager about the blunder committed by one of his really stupid counter lady.

He heard me alright. But informed to me, that the seats are all booked. Only one option, Rs. 10 tickets are available. Take it or leave it.

Again, me on a quick assessment mode, asked my friends for their thumbs up. Poor souls, no other way. Gotta watch the movie!

So we got ourselves 10 rupee tickets.

We were expecting some really rowdy boys shouting obscenities at each scene!

Thankfully the crowd wasn’t very bad there.

We watched the whole movie sitting so close to the screen, we were almost nose to nose with the characters onscreen!

Though we dint mind it a bit. Who would mind being nose to nose with Hrithik!!!!

Loved the movie!

Just coz’ we loved the movie; we din’t crib much about the situation me and the lady at the ticket counter created.

Next time, I will make doubly sure about the bloody date on the tickets! If at all anyone will ever trust me to book tickets!!!!!

As usual, Shit happens!

Life happens!

One more experience. One more lesson learnt!






Wednesday, February 23, 2011

To all those Indians vacationing!!

How many of you have visited Khajurao? Orcha? Havelock? Leh? Gangotri?
These are some of the most exotic locations in the world.
And do you know where they are? INDIA.
But do you know where Indians go for a holiday?
Singapore, Malaysia, Mauritius, Dubai, Hongkong etc.....
Yeah! Fine! I know its none of my business to comment on where people go on vacations.
But i have a right to have my own opinion.
And as much as i love my country, i have a right to tell its people to travel more in their own country. To know about their own enriched and beautiful country.
And dont give me any shit that its dirty and unsafe and so on.
Come on! Its upto us to make it cleaner and safer and whatever is that you want it to be.
Now days its more of a status symbol... "Oooo i been to London... it was so awwwwwsome!!" and when you ask them to place Pune in India, they will tell you "Yeahhh...its somewhere near Delhi".....!!! Helloooo???? Anyone Listening!!
One who has travelled the length and breadth of INDIA, has a right to travel abroad.
I remember one of my friend mentioning, during her stay in the US of A, she was asked to talk about the cultural heritage of India. And she was clueless!! Infact, she found many Americans that knew a lot more about Indian Heritage!! Shouldn't we feel ashamed!!
Hey its never too late! Travel India! Learn!
Bring it on!! Lets make our country rich! Lets make our vacation plans here!!

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

My journey from an Atheist to a Sort-of Believer

Born and brought up in a broad minded, progressive Hindu family, religion and belief were never imposed on me. Taught to me, but left upon me to choose. So I chose being a firm non-believer. However I dutifully accompanied my family to temples and took part in family's religious rituals. But I was unable to feel the presence of an almighty, God or any of His avatars. I felt amazed when I see people behaving like fanatics in the name of God. I still remember my father doing his daily pooja before stepping out of the house. And the Tuesdays were the best days because he used to go to Hanuman temple and bring back sweet prasaad(boondi). In fact even I started going to temple on Tuesdays so I can eat boondi... :)
Hence you all can understand what kind of a believer I was!!
If anyone asks my opinion on God, I used to say out rightly that I believe God is in doing Good. Simple was my philosophy. Though I still abide by it, along with a few more aspects now.
Slowly and steadily as I met an accident, as I got married, as I had a baby, as I underwent health issues, I started to believe that there must be Someone out there looking after us. Surely, otherwise the way I drive, I would have driven my way to the heavenly abode by now!! Someone's surely taking care of me, no matter how carelessly I take myself!!
Isn’t it a miracle that I escaped unscratched, when I hit a road block at a speed of 90Km/hr and saw the block flying sideways!?
Isn’t it a miracle to give birth to a beautiful baby!?
Isn’t it a miracle when a heavy old-fashioned fan fell on my mom’s head and nothing awful happened?!
Isn’t it a miracle that I daily speed through the city and still no-bones-broken?!
Right, IT IS NOT!!
It is Someone making it his point to keep us far from harms way and that Someone also keep making beautiful things happen to us.
Hence I felt the need to say “Thanks” to Him.
And which better place to go and do that than a temple.

Even though, I know I am not fully there. Yet to go long and Live and learn my way through!!
Thank you- To Whom so ever it concerns.