HUM HONGE KAAMYAAB... EK DIN...

“ Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us, and the world will be as one”.

                                                                                                                                           - John Lennon

                    Hmm...What do I start with? From where should I start with? Let me go the Indian way- Flash back style, since patriotic fervor is on the high. There two reasons one Olympic Performance & of course the Independence day celebrations.

                      Before you all get bored let me get started with the story. This is a true story.

                     We were heading to a small village far away from my beloved Hyderabad for a wedding of one of our colleagues. Like many Indians, marriage was his dream. Before you ask why? He is(was) very old enough to get married & of course Dowry. How can I not talk about it because when we are talking about marriage. Before you say we have heard(many times) about this before, I will stop. Let me apologize first as I haven’t began story as I promised. But, I heard (I know) He had got a very good deal.

                      Never ever in my life have I woke up early in the morning at 5 (after my schooling), that too on a weekend. Me along with my colleagues reached the station on time & The train did start on time( their arrivals are that we always complain about). As a law abiding citizen of this country, we had booked the ticket well in advance. When we entered our Compartment, it was already full and ourseats occupied by other law biding citizens. They let us sit in our reserved seats. I was relieved after we sat in our seats because of 2 reasons. One being, It was just a 2.5 hour journey and second I was not in some god forsaken other state of India where my other law biding citizens wouldn't even let me have my reserved seat.

                       I reached the town. It was a small sober station far away from the hustle and bustle of my home. The wedding venue was more than 35 kms from the stations. So, we had reach the nearest bus station to reach nearest place of wedding. We had to board two buses to reach our colleague's home. We boarded the bus that had cut our destination by half. We reached a 'Y' junction from where our destination was just 12 to13 kms.

                      It was hot. The blistering heat was making me sweat like a pig. There was just a single auto waiting at those cross roads that would go to our destination. He had promised us that he would start in another 5 minutes as every auto generally takes 15 people per trip. I sat at the back(like my old college days)of auto happily as it had been long since I had travelled like this. I had to snap back from my nostalgia when he asked me to stand on the Auto as 3 more people& a Cylinder(literally) had to board that big auto. I snapped. How on earth will I(we) be standing behind the Auto juggling with our luggage on the road that lead to the village.

                     I didn't take the risk. I got down from the auto after a heated argument with that (crazy)Auto guy. We saw a Lorry and Boarded it. It was a weird feeling sitting beside the lorry driver who was driving us to that Village. We told him the address and he asked if there was any landmark.We gave him a landmark of a school in that village( as told to us by colleague’s uncle). When we reached the Village after the lorry dropped us at our destination( it was a very cheap affair I should agree) We did track the house. The school which is a landmark apparently in that village is a residential school whose size is as big as almost one-thirds of the first floor of any Big Bazaar outlet. To be more precise it was exactly the size of two cafe coffee day shops put together. I am sorry again, I am deviating from my story.

                     We reached the place around lunch time. The distance of 35 kms took us exactly 2.5 hours almost equal to the time our train journey. After the courtesy hi and hello they had asked us to sit for lunch in a Church ground beside the house. I was pleasantly surprised to see people using a Christ play ground for a Hindu wedding. I thought that's Secularism & broad-mindedness for you. And Since I am a vegetarian (OK... eggetarian) Please lets not talk about how food was?

                      Our accommodation was arranged at one of the relative's homes which was very comfortable. It was all green fields at the backyard and sun had also cooled down a bit by that time.Since there was no electricity(almost throughout the day) we decided to head back to the nearest town where we could watch a movie to kill the time. The only thing (necessity) accessible in tat village at any point of time was Alcohol, which generates highest revenue in my beloved state.

                      Later, We got a bike so that we could Drive to cinema Hall. I had my other 2 companions (both drunk), Driving on the main road (with potholes) with 2 people in the pillion(not law biding anymore) we reached the theatre that screened new movies. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the movie complex had online booking.(technology did have its reach). As we were entering the hall, couple of guys were fighting with the movie usher as he didn't accept their tickets shown on their mobile phone saying I need a printout (Actual common man).

                      On our way back after the movie (movie was a disaster) and dinner, we drove back to our village. As soon we covered half a distance, it started to rain... HEAVILY. There was no place where I could park the vehicle on the narrow road and no tree was big enough to keep us dry so we continued driving. With no street lights, no people on that god forsaken road ( It was 10 PM & people sleep early in the villages) I was driving like a crazy man aided by those occasional lightnings which showed me how the road bent. Yes, I did reach the home and was pleasantly surprised to see electricity was being supplied even when it was raining heavily (villages are better equipped than cities). The old man managing that house told us that power cuts are only in the day not in the nights.(Genius Govt.)

                     Yes, My colleague did get married and might be celebrating his honeymoon right now. But, The Bottom line of experience(suffering) of that one day is that here I am happily (very) comfortable in the luxury of my job and I found it really difficult to adjust to the real problems faced by the common man because I don't have to deal with them. I can afford to ignore them or choose not to believe that these exist. My luxury keeps me away from such misery and I ignorantly start to believe that my country is moving forward whenever I see a missile being successfully launched or my country wins Olympic medals or a world cup or when someone stages a dharna against corruption. Here The farmer doesn't have electricity to irrigate his fields while the SEZ I work in is given freebies.

                    Like Madhavan in RDB says “Koi bhi desh perfect nahi hota, use perfect banana padta hai”. (We Indians are very filmy) This independence day i(like many others) hope for a better future for the future of this country.

“Hum honge kaamyaab... Ek din”

Jai Hind.

Gateway to Heaven

                  I was late. I was in a cab on the way to the station to catch the train to a nice place in South side of Karnataka for my friend's wedding. The road was blocked. Not because of heavy traffic on the road but due to a deity procession of a nearby temple. I was asking my driver to take a by lane to avoid the procession. As he was turning the car, I was cursing at the every bystander of that procession including the deity.

                  I thought to myself “Why in the god's name do we have temples on the middle of road? Why can't we just demolish them to ease the traffic”.These thoughts were obstructed when the two wheeler behind me bumped in the rear end of my car. After all these commotion when I finally reached the station, I had missed the train as always.

                 I rushed to the nearby bus stand to catch a local bus to my destination. When I finally sat in the bus, I was wishing(praying) I complete my journey with no more hiccups. The Bus started and I was enjoying the Lush greenery of countryside, when the seat beside was occupied by an Elderly Gentleman. He was dressed like a regular villager but his hairdo and the Vermillion mark on his forehead gave an impression of his Profession – A PRIEST. As I was observing him, I falied to notice that he was looking at me.

Priest: Hello! All the way till Coorg?

Me: Yes Sir, you? (Hesitantly)

Priest: At a small Village after Coorg. Your Native?

Me: No its My friend's Marriage. You work with some temple (Not able to stop myself) A priest?

Priest: Yes, Its Obvious Isn't it? (pointing at his hairdo) As a Priest.

Me: Oh!! (Wishing he would end the Conversation I turned to face the window)

Priest: Where Do you Work? (with a Queer Look)

Me: At a Software Company ( Feeling uneasy that He is going to probe now)

Priest: So You might be Earning Quite Well eh?? Married?

Me: (Smiling) Still Happily Single sir...

Priest: Oh!! Will Tell you if I come across any good match... Give me Your Details.

            I just smiled not knowing what to say when we heard a loud burst outside. It was a Tyre burst. The elderly priest and me started walking towards a nearby tea stall as the Tyre was being changed.


While we were walking.

Me: Would you mind if I smoke?

Priest: (Nodding it sideways) Smoke a lot is it?

Me: No Sir. I hope this doesn't lessen my chances of finding a nice girl (winking at him)

Priest: (Laughing) It wouldn't.

As I Ordered 2 Tea's

Me: So Sir, You work here at some temple this side?

Priest: (Smiles) Not Anymore.

Me: (Confused) Sir??

Priest: The Temple I used to work for was taken over by a big Corporate Trust and in their new model of working I had to resign my job.


Me: (Still baffled) you trying to tell me that the You resigned your job due to changes in running style?


Priest: Yes, I can't work under restrictions.

Me: (Sipping the Tea) Sir, But The corporate working style instills continuous revenue to the temple. It helps to sustain Livelihood of people associated to it.


Priest: (With a wryly smile) yea, My job in a shrine is to serve people through the Almighty, Not be a salesman for some self proclaiming God(s).

I Just Smiled at him and Asked “What are you going to do now?”


Priest: Back to my village at the same temple where my father taught me how to live and Also I have a son who can take care of me. I don't know how others who don't have an alternate supporting system are going to survive your corporate system that has percolated even into the temples.


Meanwhile the bus was ready to depart. “ I hope, you find Peace soon, sir” I replied to the gentleman wondering about my thoughts on a temple few hours back and reached my destination.

Few days later...

On a usual boring Sunday I was on my verandah reading the Newspaper, when I realized someone was at the Gate. It was a elderly priest. He was begging Alms.

Me: Yes, sir?


Old Priest: Sir, I am a Poor Brahmin. I have to get may daughter married. Kindly help in whatever way you can. Without hesitation, I gave him some money and I returned back to the Newspaper.

As I was thinking of the priest, When I came across a news where some religious shrine was being demolished as a part of Road Widening process and below was a half page advertisement of some new ashram being opened by certain Swami Ananda in the city and they have arranged for a free lunch in their premises as part of helping(serving) society.

'THE COWARD'

“The revolution is not an apple that falls when it is ripe. You have to make it fall.”

                                                                                                                            - Che Guevara

            This article is not about how great Che was or about Leftist policies and theory or Right wing politics. It's about Capitalism.
          
             I was introduced to this mammoth term, Capitalism at school. I always thought it was a great concept that had improved lives of many but, like many of my other beliefs, this one needs a rehash. Capitalism indeed has spared nothing. I’ll go on to say that Capitalists spare nothing and no one, they can rake a living out of anything.

             I am not shrewd enough to be a Rightist or rebellious enough to be a Leftist. I would like to think of myself as an Opportunist – like many of those who are coward enough to just tread the middle path and this outburst on this page is just a moment where I am being truly honest about it.

                But why this outburst, you may ask. Why now? I can only offer an answer for the first part.

             I don't know how many of you would agree to this? But, I feel like what I am being offered is what capitalists want, rather I can get nothing for free.

            I’d like to use packaged drinking water as an example. This was something, no one heard of 10 to 15 years back. I could just walk into any store or home and ask for a glass of water. But, now a Cool drink is cheaper than drinking water. Any hotel you get into, what is the first question the Waiter asks. Sir, Mineral Water or Ordinary water? Isn't Drinking water a basic Need?

           I am an average middle-class guy with a regular job. My basic needs are taken care of and in fact I can even indulge in a few luxuries with the salary that I earn. However in retrospect, I feel like a few of my basic needs have become luxuries and Vice-Versa. I wouldn't say that I am finding it hard to fulfill them, but my life is now more tuned to an order that I don’t quite appreciate/like. Capitalism has crept into my life, much more deeply than I wanted.

           Its no big secret that All the big branded merchandising stores make big profit by employing a cheaper workforce. Few days back I met this gentleman at an airport who works in the Fabric industry. He was generous enough to educate me about how the industry works. The facts aroused the Leftist inside me. The Weaver who makes the cloth can barely feed himself twice a day. The controlled pay rates and how capitalists economically dominate the cloth industry reminds you of two facts. One, that you are taken for a ride every time you buy a new dress under the impression on discount sale and the second, You end up paying the wrong person every time.

             Is this why the nature calls it The Survival of the Fittest?

            And The biggest irony of all is the way capitalists made money out of Che too. Yes, They made money out of the guy who had rebelled against capitalism. Every time I see someone don a T-Shirt with Che’s face on it, it reminds me that Che’s crusade has indeed been proven futile. It reminds me of the fact that no one can escape Capitalism.

           I have come to understand that I had underestimated Capitalism. I am like any other person – helpless against the capitalist and Capitalism as a whole, probably because I or we need it to survive. Inequality begot Capitalism, or Capitalism begot inequality, we’ll never know.

          While the Leftist in me argues about the ills of capitalism and necessity of equality and socialism, the capitalist in me retorts back saying “No one can exert their right on my money.”

               These arguments won’t cease and I’ll retreat back under the shade of cowardice.

NICE GUYS FINISH FIRST... SOMETIMES...

          There is a Common Aphorism “Nice Guys Finish Last”.You have Proved it Wrong.

                         Its Not the first time you have done it. Its not A new Achievement of yours. For the past 16 years, With your impeccable (&Contagious)Temperament and with that Charming Smile on the face you had proving your detractors/Critics wrong.


                          For many people including me who grew up watching you fight on the field, you had shown Hard work coupled with Perseverance can reap rewards. Many had called you(including my Dad) had termed you as Non Aggressive Cricketer all these 16 years. But those were same people who secretly wished for you to be on field to save the match. But At no point of time, did you lose the temperament and you had always replied with that Solid Willow under that steady Helmet of yours. I still remember how calmly you had responded to the abuse of Alan Donald after you had hit him for Six. No one expects dravid to be that Brutal!!!(sic)

                        I am not worthy enough to talk/Judge about your cricketing skills, But The Hook shots (which you have stopped playing) you had played while scoring you First ton against South Africa in Johannesburg are still fresh in my mind. That was when you had finally arrived on the Big Stage and also into our Hearts.

                        What makes you endearing to ordinary people like me is that there was nothing Pompous about you. Be it your arrival on the International stage at sacred grounds(Toughest pitches) or your Goodbye after contributing to the Sport that has given so much joy to every Indian or even when you were chosen as the first Non Australian Cricketer to deliver a speech at Sir Bradman's ceremony. You were always this Person who respected the game and Played for the nation in the Truest Spirits of the game.

                         You had made Our Early Mornings More fresh and Afternoons Less Lazy. Thank you for all those Moments you had given us to enjoy the cricket. Thank you for Maintaining the Order in team by Keeping things within the Dressing room during the tumultuous times. Hope The present team learns some of that. Sir, We Love You!!

As Navojit Singh Sidhu Once truly Said “ Rahul Dravid is a player who would walk on broken glass if his team asks him to".

Oh God! I'm the One

I'm the Toy that never got sold,
Oh God!! I'm the one you had cold stoned.

I'm the Bike stranded at the signal,
Oh God! I'm the one figuring out how to be rhetorical


I'm Still riding on an empty pillion,
Oh God! Why am I the one u chose to screw in the billion?

All I ask from you,
Is some Luck and Cue
As Oh God! I'm the (only) one who forgave you :)


I promise I won't blame you
Again for my blues;
Because My dear God! I'm the one who needs you.


I'm the land that has been for long barren,
Oh God! Do remember even I'm one of your Children

SCAVENGERS

                       As a kid we were all taught about the Ecosystem,Food chain,and How it is(has to be) balanced. We were taught about Hunters, Predators, Preys and Scavengers. Its funny that today while discussing something with my friend, Those lessons flashed in my mind. For a moment, I wondered why. Then it made sense. I connected it to Our Great Indian Triads of IT/ITES Industry.

                      We Indians brag about How Successful are these Triads and How Much they Contribute to Indian GDP. I agree they are one of the Major Contributors to our economy and Needless to say Successful too. But What are they by nature? Hunters/Predators/Preys/Scavengers.

                      I would call them “SCAVENGERS”. I have my Own reasons for that statement my Brickbats, I work for the Scavengers.
Definition: Scavengers are the animals that feed on dead Carcasses and hunt Smaller animals.
                      These Triads generally bag projects which are Majorly Focused on the Support Front. The Hunters (IBM,Oracle, SAP,Cap Gemini) bag all the Big projects On Product/ Software Development front and Leave the Carcass(Support System) to the Scavengers like Vultures/Hyenas to feed on.

                                       Would you Disagree with me?

                      To maintain e-balance in the system, We need Scavengers, I agree. We have been successful in maintaining that balance so far and finding Our Own Space in the scavenging front. But, We should not forget that scavengers can survive only as long as The Hunters hunt and leave the remains i.e Hunters can Hunt in Abundance.

                     Imagine a situation where it Becomes Difficult for the Hunter to even find a prey and When he does kills one(smaller prey would also suffice),Would he leave the carcass around. I am afraid he wouldn't. What would then Scavengers feed on? They would start getting extinct (Like Vultures) and that would Affect The Whole ecosystem. I guess we in such a situation now. I can see that Hunters Like IBM who have started competing with the triads and not letting scavengers hunt even the smaller Preys.

                     What should the scavenger do then? Either continue its course and Last till it gets extinct or pray for the good times so that the Hunters let scavengers feed on the Carcasses. Both would lead to Imbalance in ecosystem. To balance it, an evolution of species has to take place. The So called scavengers should meta-morph themselves into Predators/Hunters.

                      Its no longer the case of Survival of the fittest now in the System. One who can adapt to the dynamic change and Evolve themselves will survive or else Nature will take its Own Course to maintain the E-balance and the Species that can't adapt will be extinct. These are Difficult times and Triads Should start Focusing on Hunting the Big preys rather than feeding on its Dead Balls.

                     We all Optimistically Expect Triads wouldn't get Extinct considering their Huge Size. But, The Pessimist in me says, “When a Meteorite could wipe out the Largest Predator on the earth Millions of years ago, Will these Scavengers stand any Chance At all”.



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