Relevance

I could see it was coming. But didn't mean it to come this late.

Just saw my previous post dated 20 January 2012. More than 20 months!!!!! 

But then I wonder in today's world of Social newtworking sites, is a blog relevant.

Neither do I know nor do I intend to introspect. Just love writing and am thinking of continue doing so.

OJT & ADR

It arrived and before I could wink, it is going to be gone. Only a few hours left for my OJT. The experience was vital in the sense that I have learnt that we cannot learn anything regarding rules / laws and their applications in five days. Learning curve, nevertheless, in these five days has been of a unique nature. Realising how the things work in ministries and how much respect does an ADR gets is so very fascinating. No matter what some people may say, the fact is that a person who works does earn respect. And it is usually the people who want achievement of success to be easier than eating a lollipop. For those who are willing to put their brains in the papers, the place is so very good. I do recommend the job of an ADR as an optimum one.

For the rest, lots more to come.

Delhi winter

Dressed in a black corduroy suit with a pale lemon shirt, indigo tie and a white Adidas muffler, I walked through the alleys of Central Secretariat while heading off to North Block - the place of my OJT. The wind was riding its fog chariot, making the scene more 'pleasant' as I felt being so corporate type dressed up that we see in Hollywood movies. The R-Day parade rehearsals going on at Raj Path made everything look so royale, so cliched. The feeling was obvious.
But now, while fiddling with this keyboard, I feel the pain of those numerous shelter less people who are forced NOT to see the rosy side of this 'beautiful' winter of Delhi. We can do our bit by donating our old, not-in-use-anymore woolens. Or better, by buying some blankets / jacket/ sweaters/ etc from places like Jan Path, Sarojini Nagar, Yusuf Sarai and then channelizing them to the needy. But can we do anything else? I am flummoxed. Can we do better? Without waiting for the administration to do anything? Without 'feeling the pinch' on our pockets?

Kindly Suggest.

OJT first review

The experience of OJT at DoPT, North Block, so far is good. While everyone treats me as a "child" and expects me to behave accordingly (not being very serious to the work,having a lot of strolls down the Raisina Hills), I want to get my hands on the files asap. This is inviting good 'reviews' from the seniors.

Hope things are good till Friday, the twentieth.

PERTH test and aftermath

Now that our team is all set to use the last (and probably second last) day of Perth Test doing anything but cricket BCCI can advocate providing Test status to Bermuda, Papua New Guinea, Canada, UAE, Namibia and last but not the least China. Mind it, this list may not be exhaustive.

Guess what? We shall have :-

1) Dhoni as the most succesful captain in the world.

2) Eleven centuries in an innings.

3) Century of 5 wicket hauls by Ashwin (Zaheer shall be unfit even then).

4) Special permission to Virat and Ishant to play with only 'ONE" finger.

5) Sachin making his Century of Centuries ... at last.

6) Anything else?? Please suggest.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year :)
Just wish 2012 brings Prosperity, Joy and Happiness to all of us.

A new beginning

"People wanted to reach for the moon
They are amazed how I reached there relatively soon
Not satisfied,I know I have to go a bit far
After all, I have aimed for a star."

It has happened. I have finally, joined the Union Executive. As Assistant.
The Almighty and my mom, both have been showering their blessings from the heavens.
The support of my family has been tremendous. Dad and deepu, you both are the best.
My friends - thanks yyaro.
I, the one who has put the hard work.
We all have put in some substance to make it possible.

The moment when I signed on the two Oath papers - Oath to the Constitution of India and Oath of Secrecy - made me feel that I have reached at SOME place.

Although the people who are close to me know very well that I have to reach somewhere else - at least one honest shot is due. Hence the so-called poetry at the top.

Wish me luck,

Donate Eyes

India is home to maximum number of those unfortunate who are unable to see this beautiful world. Yes, Loss of sight is a serious problem and no country has got more blinds than our very own.

One more for the info. Most of these cases are CURABLE. But we lack donors. And for this very reason, The YP Mahindru Nirmaya Eye Bank, a Gurgaon based trust, organises events like "Run-for-Vision", Cycling, etc. It was a "Walk-a-thon" on 27-02-2011. A 3.5 km walk, in which more than a thousand people participated. Main attraction was the presence of jawans from BSF and CRPF. ( Mr S.S. Deshwal, Commisioner of Police, Gurgaon honoured the occassion by participating. (He had pledged his eyes when a 'blind-folded' walk was organised last year for the same cause.) Youth band AZADI performed when the walk was completed. The event ended up with some jaw dropping stunts by some biker daredevils, alond with two young cyclists.

All this for one message - DONATE EYES.

Yes, it was to make people aware that we can take someone's darkness away by donating something that we won't be taking with us in afterlife.

Yes friends, let us all pledge eyes. It's such a noble thing!!!!

P.S. To know more about the trust that organises such noble events , please go to :

http://www.runforvision.org/

Happy New Year

Dear All, I wish you a very happy, and Prosperous 2011 in 9 different lanugages of India.

Courtesy - Swati

Happy New Year ( English) :)

Mook ho gaya hu

Khayalon ka samandar udelna chahta hu
Par kambakht lafz nahi mil rahe

Friendship and the Day

It's been a while since I wrote something here. More on the reasons later.
Today, I pen down something on Friendship . Yeah, I am late. But still the friendship bands can be seen on wrists. So, I guess some words can be put here.

Friendship- the relation that we develop on our own, unlike the relations that are 'forced' on us, whether we like certain aunt being over enthusiastic regarding our nuptial knots, or NOT. Whether the uncle's bragging of his son's degree from the States is music to our ears or not. We have to show all 32.

But friends do develop.

We have friends in different phases of lives- school, college, office. We gain some, and lose some ( rather contacts with them). But we have friends: fast friends, best friends, just friends, good friends, bad friends, only friends, friends of friends, etc etc etc.
Important is that we all have friends.

And hence, to celebrate this eternal relation, we have this day, the Friendship Day, arguably popularised by KKHH. There are people who may ask question - Why celebrate just one day?
The answer is, we live, but we do celebrate . Similarly, we have so many days, which can be celebrated, without hurting any one's national pride or religious affinities. Friendship Day is one.

Of late, I have been receiving text messages that ask us to shun love and maintain friendship.
My reply is that the two are distinct emotions/relations with both having indispensable places in a person'slife.
And, to add to it, if some one's love interest is also his/her best friend, then it is an icing on the cake.

And I very pleasingly declare myself as fortunate to have one. Yes friends, She is my best friend, and She is My Love.

Last, but not the least, I must say that friends are real treasure . Therefore, buddies leave all the tensions aside for some minutes, and celebrate Friendship.
You can call/message/ email or pay a visit to the person(s) who are your friends, and who for sure shall bring smiles on your lips.
I am just messaging her.

Wishing all of you a Belated Happy Friendship Day.


(I Dedicate this post to all my friends.)

The Martyrs and contemporary issues

Shaheedo ki chitaon pe lagenge har baras mele
Watan par mitne walo ka baaki yahi nishaan hoga

(A few years back, probably when I was in school, these lines seem so true.
Today, not even that. We send zillions of text messages on Valentine's Day, Friendship Day, Best Friends Day, Boy's Day, Girl's Day, Doggy day, Hippo Day, Parrot day, Ostrich Day, this day, that day. But few greetings are exchanged on even Independence Day or Republic Day, let alone the Martyrdom Day of the 3 great sons of our Mother Nation. It is not that days like Valentine's should not be observed. I also celebrate it. But forgetting or ignoring days of National Importance is a cardinal sin.)

Oh Great Martyrs of India! I bow before your heavenly souls, for you sacrificed yourselves so that I can write this post in the airconditioned comfort of my house. I bow before you, and before all those who fought to get our Mother unshackled.
Bhagat Singh (1907-1931), Rajguru (1908-1931) and Sukhdev (1907-1931). The trinity that so gracefully represent patriotism, bravery, fearlessness, determination and vision, is still around us. We need to realise their presence.

They were the real people, who did not believe in killing innocents. How many times did any of them attack people sleeping outside their houses? I am bringing this question because there are people, even universities that draw equations between Bhagat Singh and the so called Maoists. ( I think the terms Maoists, Naxalists should NOT be used anymore. They are plain terrorists.) The trio gave up their lives for an independent India, where every person is free, be it a peasant, or a landlord. But this freedom can NOT be attained by unfurling Red Flag at the Lal Quila. Yes, oppressed do attack when oppression becomes unbearable. But their pain should not be used as a shield to draw selfish interests by the top brass of Red Terrorists.
And PLEASE, terrorists in J&K are terrorists. PERIOD. Sorry Ms Glam Doll of those who won't shave because they think they can think better like that. You were wrong Mam. Crime against women is prevalent in Delhi too. And I condemn it, supporting capital punishment for those who assault the dignity of a woman. But then should we say that Delhi needs freedom from India?
We must realise that our freedom fighters fought because our Nation was enslaved by foreigners. J&K, Jharkhand, Bengal, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, AP, Maharashtra, Nagaland, Manipur. They all are India. Again, PERIOD.

But yes, we must develop a sense of understanding, a sense of compassion. We must realise that we are getting CUISINES, while our brothers and sisters in drought hit areas are getting malnourishment every passing day. We must realise that we are spending big money on trendy clothes, but some of our own people ONLY wish they had something to cover their bodies in winter. Here, WE means all of us, who are priviliged. Be it I, who is writing something on a blog (in his New Delhi house) concerning extremely underprivilged people. Be it the World Renowned Economists, who decide what Poveryt Line is, in our 'Esteemed' universities. Be it YOU. Be it anyone.
I am NOT asking anyone to stop enjoying what we can. Even I won't. But we must know that the Real India is still enslaved.

Jai Hind!!!!!!

Greetings on Makar Sankrant

Wish Everyone a Happy Makar Sankrant.

On this second festival of the New year, here in Maharashtra we fly kites, give til gul to each other, saying Til gul ghya god god bola. I am keen to knw the way it is celebrated in North.

Kunal, will u please tell? :)

A warm-cold Sunday

I could never imagine that reading a book under the blanket could be so fun. And that too, on a Sunday. Yes friends, I spent almost the whole day in my room. And with the heating blower on and JEFFEREY ARCHER'S short stories in my hand, I coverd myself in blanket the whole day.
We had planned to head off for The Hot water Well in Sohna, a night before. The time was fixed at around 6 a.m. Mom told us that she would prepare rice, daal, pooris and salad for the trip, as I had convinced everyone for a picnic. After Sohna, it would have been Damdama Lake.
But getting up at quarter past seven, I knew that the fog will not allow us. Upset, I lazed around, reading the book, having a shower, then breakfast. I spent some minutes in the park, hoping to see the Sun God. But the weather forced me in.

It was around noon that I discovered the joy in lazing around on a cold winter holiday.
Those who know me know that I do not like laying in bed for long. But I must admit that the warmth of my room and quality of the stories kept me engaged for good.

Greetings for 2010

Dear Reader
As we take final steps into the new year
I wish A very Happy, Prosperous, Healthy and Wealthy 2010
To YOU and Everyone, who is to you,Near and Dear

HAPPY NEW YEAR
:)

Introduction

Hi Everyone,
I am Swati Bansod. I came to know about this blog by Kunal.
I work in IDBI BANK.
I like this blog because of the good and different articles. I like people who do something different from normal routine. This is something creative and i like creative people.
Even I wanted to do something creative. Hope to contribute.
:)

Tanhai to mehfil

Kya likhu raat ki is tanhai mein?
Kya sochu raat ki is tanhai mein?
Kyun kuchh karne ka dil nahi karta ,
Raat ki is tanhai mein?
Kyun mehfilo mein jane ki jageh,
Kho jata hu raat ki is tanhai mein?

Okay, before any of you start penning pep-talk, I must make it clear that the lines above came out my of lone-alone-depressed mind way back in September. (I feel fortunate to have so many friends, apart from my family, who care so much for me). No need to repeat that those were, perhaps, the toughest days of life.
The time is, for sure, a great healer.
Now, I am again doing what I do best. Being my own self. Not tanha anymore, Loving the mehfils, again.

Thanks to all those who supported me.

The new age Maratha Wars

For the past week, as the whole world celebrated Sachin’s magnificent two decades of cricket, there were whispers of disappointment from some who felt that despite his stature and credibility, Sachin never really took a stand on social issues. This was felt particularly at times like ‘Godhra’. One knew that even a few words on peace and harmony, coming from the Master, would have gone a long way in spreading the message of stopping mindless killings at the behest of selfish political hoodlums. So last week, Sachin gave us another reason to cheer, when he unequivocally clarified his allegiance to the nation. At a time when even the so called stalwarts from the Bollywood allowed themselves to be held at ransom by the Sena, Sachin’s fearless reply at the press conference came as a breather. The Master lived up to our expectations and showed “Raj the boundary” in his simple yet inimitable style. There was no drama or rhetoric patriotic jingoism but he cut right across to the point. And the barb did get through, giving the senior Mr. Thakeray another ray of hope of drawing further political mileage by getting back at Sachin. But the Master is hardly going to allow himself to be dictated by the arbitrary mandates of the Sena.

One wonders as to what and who the two Senas really stand for. Intolerance at its worst is only what they really seem to represent. And now, after the split, it has also become a rat race of outdoing each other at the game of misplaced regionalism. Essentially all are annoying rebels without a cause. Infact, are any of these Senas really qualified to represent the Maratha pride? Are they more Maharashtrian than those like Tendulkar, who makes the entire nation proud even as he remains unfalteringly loyal to his Maharashtrian roots? These are some of the questions that the people of Maharashtra should start asking themselves as well as the two Senas.

Now that the Master has stood up for his belief, it remains to be seen whether the Bombaywallaas…oops….the ‘Mumbaikars’ take a stand, come in support of their very own ‘Marathi Manoos’ and finally show all the Sena Thakerays (senior, junior, who ever ) ‘the boundary’. Infact reactions from the cricket fraternity itself left a lot to be desired. One expected a better show of solidarity at this point.

Sanjay Manjrekar in an interview with CNN IBN said that “Mumbai is about free spirited confident people”. It is time to come out in the open with all such spirit and confidence, as the nation watches.

HAPPY CHILDREN'S DAY

Through this blog, I greet all the children on the day chosen to be theirs. 

I wish food and education reach to a higher number of kids. 

I wish fewer children are forced in begging, prostitution, hazardous works, drugs, etc.

I wish The World in general and India in particular become a better (or less worse) place for those who are metaphors of the God Himself.

The girl-child in the picture (courtesy Swati) above says what must be conveyed - WE MUST OPPOSE, CONDEMN AND STOP FEMALE FOETICIDE.

Thanks Buddy

Last week I landed into the unfamiliar territory-literally. On the job training was new to me, and  I was more than excited to attend this first-of-my-life. Learning basics of banking and more options in finacle (software used in my bank) than are used in routine work was a good experience. Overall, it was more of fun than anything else. 

But the first day proved to be adventurous to us-at least to four of us - Ranvijay, Nikhil, Archana, and yours truly.

We had boarded route no. 492 from Gol chakkar in NOIDA. A 15 -16 year young boy, with just a hint of hair where mustaches he shall have in some years, boarded the bus and stood adjacent to me. The bus being a blueline, was 'crawling' at the speed that is associated with private ones at peak hours. In the mean time, Ranvijay got involved in a polite argument with a gentleman who was stupidly adamant on NOT shifting his bag a few inches. God knows what the man wanted. It was natural for me to keep an eye on the whole drama. 

People have some peculiar habits. I have one, of checking my pant pockets every now and then in a crowded place. Thank Heavens that I possess this one. The bus stopped at a traffic signal. I checked my pocket. God!!  My mobile was gone. The mobile that I is so precious to me. The mobile that I have NOT changed, even after repeated insistence by my dad to have a new one. The mobile that I flaunt, in spite of it being a Nokia 2300, that too in the age of N and E series.

That very mobile was gone. It took some nanoseconds to figure out my Modus operandi in such a scene. I got off the bus, shouting OYE RUK. I wasn't sure initially who the culprit was. But I followed my gut. I shouted at the guy who was going near the front door, who turned out to be the conductor. On advancing further, the BOY was there. Again I shouted OYE RUK. The Boy's walk turned into brisk walk and then into running. I started running too, but was no match for the thief. I knew I would not be able to nab him. He was smart. He may have done many 'assignments' successfully before. But this time, Ranvijay spoiled his party. My friend ran for about half a kilometer, and chased him. Not to say, the boy was poor and unlucky to have been caught by him. When I reached the scene, Ranvijay had given him enough beating. The boy begged. I took my mobile back. Then wanted to leave the scene. But the crowd had other ideas. Everyone started beating him. Even those who themselves would have picked my pocket on getting a chance, gave the boy all that they had.

Everyone wanted me to beat him. And look at the irony. I was the ONLY one who was saving him from the fury. 

Even in the bus, where the boy was dragged, I could NOT hit him.

Ranvijay kept on beating him. I kept on holding myself back. But both of us had one thing in common - ANGER, which was on the system and not on the boy. You know what, every possible human soul was a companion to the snatcher. I had followed the boy, shouting chor-chor, when he ran past a Police man. And that spineless, greedy cop showed as if he did not understand what was going on.

At the UP-Delhi border, the boy was handed over to a 'policeman' who was in plain dress. We showed some dissent, but then sensed the situation and let him go. 

I was happy to have me cell back. 

But the, for the first time, I had experienced the lawlessness that is associated with UP. It is not that Delhi is crime free. But the manner in which criminals roam around freely, it is a matter of shame.

In all this excursion, I have become  indebted to Ranvijay. He got my special mobile back. Thanks buddy.