Train journeys always fascinate me....the motion,the food,the view,the smell - almost everything about Samuel Homfray's invention attracts me...
I am back after a short holiday and travelled by train after almost an aeon!But I absolutely love the feeling - especially the middle berth, the "jhal muri"(for those whose taste buds have been deprived of this ethereal pleasure, this is THE snack for you),the moving scenery(alright I know my science right,but then this is poetic license),the curves it takes so that you can see the engine ---- its all in good taste!
There was experience of all kinds this time round....there was this one vendor who, perhaps is the biggest miser I've ever seen....fighting for every bit of peanut(literally!)...and there was this one railway guy who got us good food on request, simply because he agreed with our complaint on the food being tasteless...Yeah!this trip was a fulfilling one...the Big fat Indian wedding celebrations smeared with yours' truly turning a year older...a nice week I'd say!
But I'm upset today...after the attacks that rocked Mumbai, India's business capital - I fail to understand how anyone could derive pleasure out of killing innocent people who've neither caused them any harm nor done any wrong to deserve a death as painful as this...There have been attacks all over the country in the recent past - Jaipur, Guwahati, Ahmedabad, Bangalore....the list is frightening.........
I fear this is the beginning of dark times -- the dark times J K Rowling so vividly painted with Potter is finally haunting the Muggle world...But whatever it may be, it shakes my trust in mankind! I like to believe I'm a philanthropist....but incidents like these perturbs my morale, my very being...
We really need to do something...what?I'd perhaps never know...I do not know why, how and when innocent minds think the way it is...for that matter I never understand why we have wars....I've said that umpteen times in my blog and otherwise....But this kind of killing needs to be stopped!!
May God bless those who've lost anything or anyone over these absolutely baseless issue...May God rest the souls of all deceased for no fault of theirs...May good sense prevail among all who believe killing and terror can solve any issue! Amen!
Showing posts with label Social issues. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Social issues. Show all posts
Friday, November 28, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Utopia
A colleague of mine introduced me to these lines…thought I’d share it with my blog:
“Imagine there’s no country, it isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for and no religion too
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”
Imagine - JOHN LENNON
I felt these lines were lovely- utopian but beautiful! Only a dreamer could say this – someone who loves life and the world!
Wouldn’t this be great? – to be in a world that has no barriers – no military, no war , no politics and no killing…….Wouldn’t it be lovely to believe in one force that protects us and not in numerous religions?
Thankfully, I have been born in a family where I was taught to believe in goodness of a religion rather than the orthodoxy of it…but how do you blame those who weren’t? How do you blame people who think wars are a way of protesting for all the bad that ever happened to anyone? They were brought up that way….not their fault…but the world suffers for them….
We, humans, can’t fight destiny – we can’t resist natural disasters or poverty or death …..But there are some things we can …..we can dissolve class barriers , we can forgive people who mistakenly caused harm to us , we can trust people who live around us, , we can smile at the hungry child who lives by the road , we can spread love to people who need it the most….these are things in our hand…..things that will make this world a better place to live in…..a world which will be “One”……..someday………
“Imagine there’s no country, it isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for and no religion too
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”
Imagine - JOHN LENNON
I felt these lines were lovely- utopian but beautiful! Only a dreamer could say this – someone who loves life and the world!
Wouldn’t this be great? – to be in a world that has no barriers – no military, no war , no politics and no killing…….Wouldn’t it be lovely to believe in one force that protects us and not in numerous religions?
Thankfully, I have been born in a family where I was taught to believe in goodness of a religion rather than the orthodoxy of it…but how do you blame those who weren’t? How do you blame people who think wars are a way of protesting for all the bad that ever happened to anyone? They were brought up that way….not their fault…but the world suffers for them….
We, humans, can’t fight destiny – we can’t resist natural disasters or poverty or death …..But there are some things we can …..we can dissolve class barriers , we can forgive people who mistakenly caused harm to us , we can trust people who live around us, , we can smile at the hungry child who lives by the road , we can spread love to people who need it the most….these are things in our hand…..things that will make this world a better place to live in…..a world which will be “One”……..someday………
Monday, May 28, 2007
Education or ignorance?
Long time ago when yours truly was in school (I love acting old. Don’t I??) , there existed one concept. It was mainly cultivated by those cynics who claimed that it’s difficult to score good marks in state board. Hence ICSE or CBSE (both being national level boards for secondary / higher secondary education) was “simpler” compared to the prevalent state board. I vehemently opposed to the concept that time, perhaps because I was in ICSE board myself.
But the fact remains that our education system needs to be revised. My humble opinion is that all boards should be merged into one. Probably that would be the only answer to this inconsistency existing in the nation. Marks are disbursed among students like crazy!! How does this system recognize true merit if almost 60% students from a school get +90% marks in their boards?
Another concern remains the introduction of English as a language in fifth standard in Government schools. I am not aware of the current implementation of this rule in the country. But I feel it’s absolutely horrendous to imagine a kid would waste first few years of his academic life learning sweet-nothings. However he would always expected to be as competent in the language as others who live by English since they step in schools. Generally the morale of the former is lower when he faces the world after a decade…a world where English is the lingua franca!
But I prefer being an optimist. I loved one particular line from a popular movie I watched in recent past. They say that no country is perfect; the citizens have to strive to make it so. True…..
It’s very easy to criticize and to leave the country for our own growth ….What is difficult is to stay here…to implement all the progressive ideas that breed in an educated mind. I hope someday we all realize that…Say Amen!
But the fact remains that our education system needs to be revised. My humble opinion is that all boards should be merged into one. Probably that would be the only answer to this inconsistency existing in the nation. Marks are disbursed among students like crazy!! How does this system recognize true merit if almost 60% students from a school get +90% marks in their boards?
Another concern remains the introduction of English as a language in fifth standard in Government schools. I am not aware of the current implementation of this rule in the country. But I feel it’s absolutely horrendous to imagine a kid would waste first few years of his academic life learning sweet-nothings. However he would always expected to be as competent in the language as others who live by English since they step in schools. Generally the morale of the former is lower when he faces the world after a decade…a world where English is the lingua franca!
But I prefer being an optimist. I loved one particular line from a popular movie I watched in recent past. They say that no country is perfect; the citizens have to strive to make it so. True…..
It’s very easy to criticize and to leave the country for our own growth ….What is difficult is to stay here…to implement all the progressive ideas that breed in an educated mind. I hope someday we all realize that…Say Amen!
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Who are they????????
This thought has been bothering me from quite sometime now…….What is being a celebrity all about???
It’s sometimes so funny the way these people (I hope calling them “people” doesn’t offend them) behave. Please do not get me wrong here. I have nothing against “them”. It’s just that their “holier than thou” attitude totally irks me.
I’m sure their work demands a lot of hard work and arouses hell lot of curiosity among us lesser mortals. I’m sure they often sacrifice basic joys of life as a price for fame. I’m sure they hate (actually here I’m not that sure!! :)) being hounded by paparazzi at each moment of their lives……
But what my otherwise logical mind cannot justify is their severe attitude problem. I mean, being a celeb does not entitle them to consider themselves super-natural (oh u bet they do!!!)…..Being able to get front-seat passes at award functions when other commoners are sweating it out at the back to get a glimpse of these “stars” is no license for them to behave as if they own the world.
I do not know if this attitude prevails only among the glamour world citizens or among all famous people in general…..But this definitely needs attention. As I read in a magazine the other day, these actors are becoming more of “people” than “stars”…Probably if we compare an “Audrey Hepburn” with an “Angelina Jolie” or a “Sridevi” with a “Preity Zinta”…yes they are…..But I am certain there’s still a long way to go.
After all, the toil that a daily-wage earner invests is as much as a film actor would put in…if not more!!! So what if both eat meager meals (one out of compulsion and other out of fancy!!)……Well, inequality is all life’s all about, I guess……..
It’s sometimes so funny the way these people (I hope calling them “people” doesn’t offend them) behave. Please do not get me wrong here. I have nothing against “them”. It’s just that their “holier than thou” attitude totally irks me.
I’m sure their work demands a lot of hard work and arouses hell lot of curiosity among us lesser mortals. I’m sure they often sacrifice basic joys of life as a price for fame. I’m sure they hate (actually here I’m not that sure!! :)) being hounded by paparazzi at each moment of their lives……
But what my otherwise logical mind cannot justify is their severe attitude problem. I mean, being a celeb does not entitle them to consider themselves super-natural (oh u bet they do!!!)…..Being able to get front-seat passes at award functions when other commoners are sweating it out at the back to get a glimpse of these “stars” is no license for them to behave as if they own the world.
I do not know if this attitude prevails only among the glamour world citizens or among all famous people in general…..But this definitely needs attention. As I read in a magazine the other day, these actors are becoming more of “people” than “stars”…Probably if we compare an “Audrey Hepburn” with an “Angelina Jolie” or a “Sridevi” with a “Preity Zinta”…yes they are…..But I am certain there’s still a long way to go.
After all, the toil that a daily-wage earner invests is as much as a film actor would put in…if not more!!! So what if both eat meager meals (one out of compulsion and other out of fancy!!)……Well, inequality is all life’s all about, I guess……..
Thursday, April 26, 2007
The Catcher in the Rye
I just finished reading “The Catcher in the Rye” this morning. “A cult book” as one of my friends calls it…
An absolute marvel…I am so glad I read it…..So I just had to write about it in my web space!!!
There’s hardly any point writing about the story as I assume I’m one of those unfortunate few to have read this book so late in my life (Boy! !!Do I sound old??!!).But the subtlety in the book’s fascinating…if you happen to get them…. that is….
Frankly speaking, I’ve never been intrigued by the “inner meanings” of many books. But this one was an exception. How a 17 year old’s interpretation of the world and its people could actually reveal the futility of the conventional norms of society is amazing!!
The protagonist, Holden Caulfield, hardly ever misses calling people “phony” (I suppose that’s the most frequently used term in the novel).His world almost collapses as he realizes his solitude and seclusion from most people in the world (except maybe his sister Phoebe).Apparently its just a teenager talking about few days of “freaking out” .The subtle meaning however, is indicative of how our world’s so pretentious and weird.
I thought the title was absolutely apt. It’s from a Thomas Burns’ poem containing these words whereby a catcher stands all day at the cliff “catching” any child who’d fall off the gorge. It explains Holden’s state of mind where he wants to protect a child’s mind from the atrocities of adulthood….or maybe his own self.
I strongly recommend this book to anyone who loves to read (and hasn’t already read it!!).I enjoyed the book and hope you do so too….
An absolute marvel…I am so glad I read it…..So I just had to write about it in my web space!!!
There’s hardly any point writing about the story as I assume I’m one of those unfortunate few to have read this book so late in my life (Boy! !!Do I sound old??!!).But the subtlety in the book’s fascinating…if you happen to get them…. that is….
Frankly speaking, I’ve never been intrigued by the “inner meanings” of many books. But this one was an exception. How a 17 year old’s interpretation of the world and its people could actually reveal the futility of the conventional norms of society is amazing!!
The protagonist, Holden Caulfield, hardly ever misses calling people “phony” (I suppose that’s the most frequently used term in the novel).His world almost collapses as he realizes his solitude and seclusion from most people in the world (except maybe his sister Phoebe).Apparently its just a teenager talking about few days of “freaking out” .The subtle meaning however, is indicative of how our world’s so pretentious and weird.
I thought the title was absolutely apt. It’s from a Thomas Burns’ poem containing these words whereby a catcher stands all day at the cliff “catching” any child who’d fall off the gorge. It explains Holden’s state of mind where he wants to protect a child’s mind from the atrocities of adulthood….or maybe his own self.
I strongly recommend this book to anyone who loves to read (and hasn’t already read it!!).I enjoyed the book and hope you do so too….
Monday, April 16, 2007
For a better world.......
Ignorant as one would call me, I have no qualms in admitting that I was unaware of the monstrous predominance of “Domestic violence”. I mean I did know it exists and that several women are subjected to it on a daily basis……But I had absolutely no clue as to how common it could be.
“Provoked” is like any other well-made movie with good performances (I confess I liked Ms Rai for the first time ever) and commendable direction. But what’s more striking is that it compels you to carry the issue along.What makes it even more touching is the fact that its based on the real-life story of the landmark case called "Regina Vs. Ahluwalia" - a case which re-defined the term "Provocation"!!!
Probably as a twenty-something I have a lot of apprehensions about life…And issues like domestic violence only adds to what I would call more of “dread” than apprehension!!!We are educated alright…..but can we really claim to be emancipated??
It’s been pretty frequent that I visited the theatre…but I’m glad I watched some real good cinema. I hope the future of the world’s as good as in the movie(I would call the ending positive if not happy)….Amen!!
“Provoked” is like any other well-made movie with good performances (I confess I liked Ms Rai for the first time ever) and commendable direction. But what’s more striking is that it compels you to carry the issue along.What makes it even more touching is the fact that its based on the real-life story of the landmark case called "Regina Vs. Ahluwalia" - a case which re-defined the term "Provocation"!!!
Probably as a twenty-something I have a lot of apprehensions about life…And issues like domestic violence only adds to what I would call more of “dread” than apprehension!!!We are educated alright…..but can we really claim to be emancipated??
It’s been pretty frequent that I visited the theatre…but I’m glad I watched some real good cinema. I hope the future of the world’s as good as in the movie(I would call the ending positive if not happy)….Amen!!
Monday, April 02, 2007
Mouthshut.....NO WAY!!!
Sometimes it fascinates me – the fact that humans are so opinionated.
Now, don’t mistake me…I’m not much into criticizing people around...I am very much a
part of the brigade I am going to comment on.
I was reading a couple of articles on a news portal ….and each article has a tagging list of comments attached...The inquisitive “thing” in me wonders if the author’s ever going to peruse those comments in his/her lifetime!!!!...and yet people keep commenting…..and opining…..and talking…… :)
Well, I guess it comes as a package with the meager education we receive…We are endowed with a free license to opine on every matter that affects us and every one that doesn’t!!!!
There is this particular fashion journalist who writes for a news portal…I like the humour in his posts ….and therefore have visited his blog quite often…I understand if people comment on the content of the posts….But no…we humble mortals are just not cut for that….They comment on his command over the Queen’s language and about thousands of other details which are absolutely besides the point….Hell, if that piece of article bothers your night’s sleep….DO NOT read it…Now, isn’t that simple???
But “social” creatures as we are….we would still keep brewing our coffee with the political state of our nation…we would still watch those loads of Bollywood flicks (only to term them as “trash” even as we are watching them)…we would still take an active interest about numerous inconspicuous matters which neither require nor deserve our attention….and would still secretively get a sense of satisfaction when we get some positive “comments” on our latest blogpost!!!That’s the way we are. …I guess!!! :)
Now, don’t mistake me…I’m not much into criticizing people around...I am very much a
part of the brigade I am going to comment on.
I was reading a couple of articles on a news portal ….and each article has a tagging list of comments attached...The inquisitive “thing” in me wonders if the author’s ever going to peruse those comments in his/her lifetime!!!!...and yet people keep commenting…..and opining…..and talking…… :)
Well, I guess it comes as a package with the meager education we receive…We are endowed with a free license to opine on every matter that affects us and every one that doesn’t!!!!
There is this particular fashion journalist who writes for a news portal…I like the humour in his posts ….and therefore have visited his blog quite often…I understand if people comment on the content of the posts….But no…we humble mortals are just not cut for that….They comment on his command over the Queen’s language and about thousands of other details which are absolutely besides the point….Hell, if that piece of article bothers your night’s sleep….DO NOT read it…Now, isn’t that simple???
But “social” creatures as we are….we would still keep brewing our coffee with the political state of our nation…we would still watch those loads of Bollywood flicks (only to term them as “trash” even as we are watching them)…we would still take an active interest about numerous inconspicuous matters which neither require nor deserve our attention….and would still secretively get a sense of satisfaction when we get some positive “comments” on our latest blogpost!!!That’s the way we are. …I guess!!! :)
Monday, March 12, 2007
A beautiful Sunday......
Yesterday was just another warm Sunday in Bangalore for me until I went there…
After a heavy lunch at a dear friend’s place, some 3 of us headed for our much planned trip to Sneha Nilaya. For those who do not know, that’s an absolutely wonderful place that about 65 kids call home…
On my way back from the place, as I walked down the lane, I thought of something that I feel I must share on my blog.
As my roommate puts it – life’s so very unfair….unfair to those kids who do not even know what they are missing….to those senior citizens of the world who have done nothing to be stacked in old-age homes….And yet under the given circumstances, life’s been so kind to them as well….
Sneha Nilaya is one such platform where life’s kindness personifies into a beautiful “home”. Run by Society of Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate, it reminds one of those residential schools you would read in Susan Coolidge novels .That’s how nicely they seem to live. They have absolutely nothing to demand, absolutely nothing to complain of, absolutely nothing to disturb one’s busy schedule. And that’s perhaps what I thought was most peculiar to the place.
On my request they gave me their card and contact details which I thought of putting up on my blog.Thats probably my bit into improving the lives of those lovely kids at Sneha Nilaya. I look forward to visiting there sometime soon.
P.S.: Please find the details here
Sneha Nilaya
No 11, Langford Gardens
Bangalore – 560025
Ph. : 080-22210432
Email: fsibgl@vsnl.net
After a heavy lunch at a dear friend’s place, some 3 of us headed for our much planned trip to Sneha Nilaya. For those who do not know, that’s an absolutely wonderful place that about 65 kids call home…
On my way back from the place, as I walked down the lane, I thought of something that I feel I must share on my blog.
As my roommate puts it – life’s so very unfair….unfair to those kids who do not even know what they are missing….to those senior citizens of the world who have done nothing to be stacked in old-age homes….And yet under the given circumstances, life’s been so kind to them as well….
Sneha Nilaya is one such platform where life’s kindness personifies into a beautiful “home”. Run by Society of Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate, it reminds one of those residential schools you would read in Susan Coolidge novels .That’s how nicely they seem to live. They have absolutely nothing to demand, absolutely nothing to complain of, absolutely nothing to disturb one’s busy schedule. And that’s perhaps what I thought was most peculiar to the place.
On my request they gave me their card and contact details which I thought of putting up on my blog.Thats probably my bit into improving the lives of those lovely kids at Sneha Nilaya. I look forward to visiting there sometime soon.
P.S.: Please find the details here
Sneha Nilaya
No 11, Langford Gardens
Bangalore – 560025
Ph. : 080-22210432
Email: fsibgl@vsnl.net
Friday, March 02, 2007
India really Poised??
21st Century has indeed re-defined a lot of things in the world…..
Certain incidents compel me to say things which make me sound as what we, the youth, would rather brand as “senile”. I couldn’t stop myself from thinking “where are we heading to??”
There was this “breaking news” being covered on a certain channel. It was about this couple on whom “sting operation” was in progress. The husband (married for 10 years) was forcing his better-half to visit a party where people “swap” partners.
How ridiculous is that? When people talk of commitment phobia or the futility of arranged marriages….I understand. Everyone’s entitled to hold an opinion. I also understand extra-marital affairs (though my present state of mind never testifies it). But this is horrendous!!!
If one’s bored of one’s spouse, law allows them to separate. But how can such outrageous act of promiscuity be justified? Indulgence in such acts of consensual adultery is nothing but a manifestation of one’s diseased mentality. It is nothing but a changing face of society and our thinking...
No wonder number of divorces is only rising exponentially. No wonder movies based on a hexagenarian falling in “love” (oh yeah!!!) with his daughter’s friend is being critically acclaimed. No wonder newspapers are sprawling with “news” that only reflect the degradation of morale of the society.
This isn’t the 21st Century that I’d like to live in….We really need to start working on this…Do let me know what you think about it..…
Certain incidents compel me to say things which make me sound as what we, the youth, would rather brand as “senile”. I couldn’t stop myself from thinking “where are we heading to??”
There was this “breaking news” being covered on a certain channel. It was about this couple on whom “sting operation” was in progress. The husband (married for 10 years) was forcing his better-half to visit a party where people “swap” partners.
How ridiculous is that? When people talk of commitment phobia or the futility of arranged marriages….I understand. Everyone’s entitled to hold an opinion. I also understand extra-marital affairs (though my present state of mind never testifies it). But this is horrendous!!!
If one’s bored of one’s spouse, law allows them to separate. But how can such outrageous act of promiscuity be justified? Indulgence in such acts of consensual adultery is nothing but a manifestation of one’s diseased mentality. It is nothing but a changing face of society and our thinking...
No wonder number of divorces is only rising exponentially. No wonder movies based on a hexagenarian falling in “love” (oh yeah!!!) with his daughter’s friend is being critically acclaimed. No wonder newspapers are sprawling with “news” that only reflect the degradation of morale of the society.
This isn’t the 21st Century that I’d like to live in….We really need to start working on this…Do let me know what you think about it..…
Monday, December 11, 2006
Wo(e)men---did they say???
One point of time my friends used to call me a feminist….and I would oblige them with yet more reasons to say so…..
True, I am absolutely proud to belong to the “fairer sex”...True I advocate equal rights for women…True , I believe those discriminating on the basis of sexism are worse than those practicing apartheid. And yet its also true that I feel sometime we tend to overdo it!!!
I have never supported the 33% reservation policy. I know there would be quite a few eyebrows raised when I say this…But I genuinely believe one either has the potential to make a place for oneself….or doesn’t. There’s no midway to success!!You would definitely make it big if you have the caliber-no matter what your caste, colour, creed or gender is!!So why “reserve” place for women….It, according to me, does not advocate equality for women…it attempts at elevating their social status (and ultimately lands up degrading us!!!)as compared to men. Why can’t we be just equals??
Today this feeling got further flared as I read the following link:
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1061211/asp/calcutta/story_7114587.asp
Why should we have an all-women book fair? Why segregate events / talent on the basis of gender? There never has been an all-men book fair…has it???Then why is the society so proud of hosting an all-women event??
When would we start living in the 21st century??...not only per se chronology but also in our maturity level???
True, I am absolutely proud to belong to the “fairer sex”...True I advocate equal rights for women…True , I believe those discriminating on the basis of sexism are worse than those practicing apartheid. And yet its also true that I feel sometime we tend to overdo it!!!
I have never supported the 33% reservation policy. I know there would be quite a few eyebrows raised when I say this…But I genuinely believe one either has the potential to make a place for oneself….or doesn’t. There’s no midway to success!!You would definitely make it big if you have the caliber-no matter what your caste, colour, creed or gender is!!So why “reserve” place for women….It, according to me, does not advocate equality for women…it attempts at elevating their social status (and ultimately lands up degrading us!!!)as compared to men. Why can’t we be just equals??
Today this feeling got further flared as I read the following link:
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1061211/asp/calcutta/story_7114587.asp
Why should we have an all-women book fair? Why segregate events / talent on the basis of gender? There never has been an all-men book fair…has it???Then why is the society so proud of hosting an all-women event??
When would we start living in the 21st century??...not only per se chronology but also in our maturity level???
Monday, October 16, 2006
Time...what's that???
Now I just have to blog about this..Its about an incident that happened with a friend of mine ….just last Saturday…..
He was to go Kolkata by our esteemed Jet airways….one of the few flight services which guarantee on-time flights…Now taken by his absolute indifference to Mr Peter Henlien’s invention( this is a bit of trivia…for all who arrived late….this guy invented a watch:))…I was kinda sure he would probably miss his flight…
But I guess God had different intentions… strangely enough he managed to start for the airport well on time... and then comes the highlight of the day…..thanks to the traffic jam of “namma bengalooroo” (read: our Bangalore) he reaches the airport at 6.15pm for a 6.20 pm flight….Obviously to face rejection by the guards at the airport who stand tall, oblivious to the traffic some 100 yards away…
My concern here is not about him missing the flight(which by the way he managed to catch)….I’d like to rather contemplate on the disastrous state of traffic in Bangalore…in fact hailing from a city like Kolkata I should know better… But it really is high time we give it a thought…..
I don't want my blog to have sermonizing overtones...All I mean is that it’s a basic thing one can do….stick to the traffic rules…so that amateur drivers like me can at least hope to sit at the steering sometime….Else it might just become a norm to be late at every occasion…. Do give it a thought people:)
He was to go Kolkata by our esteemed Jet airways….one of the few flight services which guarantee on-time flights…Now taken by his absolute indifference to Mr Peter Henlien’s invention( this is a bit of trivia…for all who arrived late….this guy invented a watch:))…I was kinda sure he would probably miss his flight…
But I guess God had different intentions… strangely enough he managed to start for the airport well on time... and then comes the highlight of the day…..thanks to the traffic jam of “namma bengalooroo” (read: our Bangalore) he reaches the airport at 6.15pm for a 6.20 pm flight….Obviously to face rejection by the guards at the airport who stand tall, oblivious to the traffic some 100 yards away…
My concern here is not about him missing the flight(which by the way he managed to catch)….I’d like to rather contemplate on the disastrous state of traffic in Bangalore…in fact hailing from a city like Kolkata I should know better… But it really is high time we give it a thought…..
I don't want my blog to have sermonizing overtones...All I mean is that it’s a basic thing one can do….stick to the traffic rules…so that amateur drivers like me can at least hope to sit at the steering sometime….Else it might just become a norm to be late at every occasion…. Do give it a thought people:)
Saturday, July 29, 2006
A glint of thought!
I really do not know what has struck me of late....I have actually been thinking on things around me more deeply than I ever have....Please excuse me if you find this post too vociferous as it might just be...
It is related to a class of people which we usually call "under-privileged".My mother,who resides in the City of Joy(wonder if the city's worth that name!!), mentioned the other day about this strange profession she noticed .It was a man who had immersed himself till the neck in a filthy gutter to retrieve all the polythene wastes that might be clogging it...And more so,as mom found out, it turned out to be his full - time profession. I mean , how outrageous is this....a gutter which we refuse to even pass by as they threaten our olfactory cells, is actually a person's workplace...
I had read in the papers sometime back about the Government being pro-active in making India a better place by eliminating traces of poverty....Ah!!I thought ,another tall claim....But today when I think about it...It compels me to wonder....How exactly does the Govt. intend to implement this claim?Whose life would be at stake if such a thing is actually put to force?
It is indeed a great idea to eliminate poverty,to make the people around aware (I keep wondering how...though!!) and be more environment conscious. If one doesn't pollute the environment with polythene bags then this man down there in the gutter is spared from his filthy job.....but does one think he' s thrown out of his job...??!!What does he do for a living then?
The state Govt. of West Bengal is pondering on abolishing pull-on rickshaws that have been so far been a trademark of Bengal.True, they are nothing but subjecting a poor person to utter misery as he sweats through the streets as a rather well-fed Babu/Bibi enjoys the "ride".I confess of having "enjoyed" the same as a kid .....But then what does he do when the rickshaws are shoo-ed off the streets??Does he not earn the label of "Bekaar" in the process,thereby adding to his woes???
Intentions may be noble , but as long as they do not unite with practicality,have no meaning what-so-ever.So if we actually have to release these people from the highly in-human job they do.....we have to arrange for an alternative profession.Else we shall never achieve what we intend to....
Here's to the noble intentions!!!!
It is related to a class of people which we usually call "under-privileged".My mother,who resides in the City of Joy(wonder if the city's worth that name!!), mentioned the other day about this strange profession she noticed .It was a man who had immersed himself till the neck in a filthy gutter to retrieve all the polythene wastes that might be clogging it...And more so,as mom found out, it turned out to be his full - time profession. I mean , how outrageous is this....a gutter which we refuse to even pass by as they threaten our olfactory cells, is actually a person's workplace...
I had read in the papers sometime back about the Government being pro-active in making India a better place by eliminating traces of poverty....Ah!!I thought ,another tall claim....But today when I think about it...It compels me to wonder....How exactly does the Govt. intend to implement this claim?Whose life would be at stake if such a thing is actually put to force?
It is indeed a great idea to eliminate poverty,to make the people around aware (I keep wondering how...though!!) and be more environment conscious. If one doesn't pollute the environment with polythene bags then this man down there in the gutter is spared from his filthy job.....but does one think he' s thrown out of his job...??!!What does he do for a living then?
The state Govt. of West Bengal is pondering on abolishing pull-on rickshaws that have been so far been a trademark of Bengal.True, they are nothing but subjecting a poor person to utter misery as he sweats through the streets as a rather well-fed Babu/Bibi enjoys the "ride".I confess of having "enjoyed" the same as a kid .....But then what does he do when the rickshaws are shoo-ed off the streets??Does he not earn the label of "Bekaar" in the process,thereby adding to his woes???
Intentions may be noble , but as long as they do not unite with practicality,have no meaning what-so-ever.So if we actually have to release these people from the highly in-human job they do.....we have to arrange for an alternative profession.Else we shall never achieve what we intend to....
Here's to the noble intentions!!!!
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