Talking of Tatas

During later parts of 20th century when India was toiling under abject poverty handful of richmen were often referred to as Tatas, and Birlas. As the years passed by we understood that Tatas were some thing more than being richmen to India. The name Jemshedpur sounded more than just a steel factory to most Indians. It ushered an industrial revolution to India. Many more "Temples of India" as dreamt by Jawahar Lal Nehru were rather inspired by Tata steel factory, paving way to many heavy industries in new born democracy . Many more industries of the group incubated by it's legendary mother made India proud. These industries always did much more than just commerce, generally followed with good town ships to it's employees providing every possible benefits imaginable. The large chunk of their gains went to philanthrophy made headway to many institutions which contributed much to science and technology.Persuing their new business ambitions in late eighties, their T.V. ads highligting their contribution to sports which spoke "We also make steel" was truely piece of brilliance, unforgettable.

Much revered JRD Tata a distinguished figure in the Tata's clan was an icon to the Indian industry. Being the first man with aviation certificate in the country, his passion for flying laid foundation to Air-India. JRD, a man with dignity and vision had many genuine, well thought over solutions to national issues which should have been followed by our leadership with ingenuity.

In a country which was literally entangled in it's own worst license raj and red tapism, almost rendering it impossible to run a business in fair lines, Tatas somehow sustained perseverently . Not withstanding their huge business size they always had a clean image, and committed to ethical business. They were the most respected business houses of India ,though they lost their numer uno place to many others, who emerged later very strong with occassional tainted records. But it had not sent any jim-jams to them, they never frenaticall ran with sudden felt greed. They kept on forging ahead with their cool.

Nomination of Ratan Tata, who was then heading a black sheep "Nelco" in Tata's group, as a sucessor to JRD came as surprise to many. Not so flamboyant, media shy , silent Ratan Tata did not remain so silent in his later parts of his tenure. Many companies floated later like Tata motors, Tcs, Tata Telecommunications did not fail to show his dynamism. He never believed in blabering and never boastful . For company of it's might, albeit it's a clear cutting edge, a sudden tryst with global aquisitions like Corus going little over board, I think is showing signs of strain. Newly aquired brands of Jaguar and Land Rover still have to go some way to make a dent into the market . A painful decision of pulling out of Singur to the stake of Rs.1500 crores not only costed dearly to him but also caused demoralisation as he pronounced" A promise is a promise" at the iaugural function of Nano. How many politicians do really believe in sticking to promises ?

The Taj Mahal Hotel built by Jemshtji Tata near Gateway of India, symbolic of self pride of an Indian, stood almost like monument for decades . The mayhem of Bombay terror reduced the heritage building to ashes in some parts, and is painful sight to many, and one can imagine what would have gone through Ratan Tata. Very sensible and dignified statement "Taj will be re built inch by inch " is kind of reassurance to the people of the nation about their abilty to with stand any kind of belligerence . I think many political leaders failed to give kind of assurance to the people and breath confidence into their tattered psyche.

They are more than just business men to India. It is in bad taste if they are treated and belittled as rich business men constantly engineered with profit ribbon cutting . They are the people who consciously participated in building of the nation from the forefront. We have to regard them as very important milestones in this nation's archive.

A Wakeup call

Many tales follow any dastardly killing. Fathers who lost their daughters, husbands who lost their wives, sons who lost their fathers, many who lost their near and dear. Heaps of dead bodies all over. Our principal secretary announcing the death toll with a smiling face evasively answering the questions. Are we lacking propriety and decorum?Even after years of 9/11 do we see any US official taking cheerfully about the issue? They salute their fire men with grief smitten expressions on every occassion.There should be national sense of grief. Watching Mallika Sherawat dancing really looks like sin at the moment. We see every body in the official circles with run-out-mill dialogue and facial expressions, barring few military officials who have not completely lost their sense of proportion.


We have not seen any body banging their chest with loud cry, not with ungroomed hairs let loose on face, essentially because it is an attack on elite. Many who come to Taj, and Oberoi are highly lettered, widely travelled, opulent Indians. Expressions were controlled, talking with sensibility, reacting pragmatically. We see the other side of India.


The sight of few muslim IT professionals holding white boards writing "Pliticians, Keep away from here" at funeral of Hemant Khakare's funeral, whom they barely know, is signalled like some kind of revolution India is heading for. We see many more muslim boys talking in impeccable English expressing their solidarity. At one moment we have to stop and think . Who is creating divide ? It is simply an elite war!! It is a wrath of the urban elite that is latent all the years below their calm composture, against the system, against their fifth grader politician who can not even chant Jana Gana Mana properly. Many elite reacting like never before, press ferociouly, fearlessly attacking like never before, politicians appear for the first time in their bracken years of rule looked muffled, and feared. It is a wake up call for the literate citizens who alienate them selves from the electoral system. It is a wake up call for the politician class who realized that they can no more fool public.


Why it took for the authorities to convey to the chief minister the need for commando operation? All looks so rediculous and it is a sin to write that it is funny.Even a lay person like me was able to sense the magnitude of the problem and its why can't it be figured out by an expert? Why it took 10 hours for N.S.G to arrive at a place of bood shed? It is simply because they had no aircraft to carry them. Their possible arrival in time by no uncertain words could have saved many more lives. With what kind of security infrastructure we are working? Why it takes morning 10 o'clock for every body to gain the momentum at the place of operation? I reatedly say it is not the mistake of the men in uniform who fought. It is the mistake of the system in which they are working. As I wrote before in my "How strong are we" we hardly realize the need to improve our infrasture with regard to our security system as well as public utility system.



It is not very strange to read that Lumbini Park, and Gokul Chat i nvestigations were dropped like hot potatoes by the state police machinery to non functional Octopus. Every body wants to clean their hands. Still I say people are too good. But they are badly managed and badly governed.

How Strong are we ?

I am pleased with what I have written in the wee hours at 4.30 with anguish before any newspaper struck my door on 27th. All the respected news channels like NDTV, Times Now concluded with deliberations with the same kind of note and line of thought as mine at the end of the day.

Yes, we succeeded combating the terrorist with great amount of precision and courage. Now, we encounter with a two big questions. How prepared are we to face this kind of attacks, and what are are over all defence capabilities ? We have to make a careful note that after all this, the destroyer achieved what he wanted to gain . He could kill many, capture many, trumatised us for number of hours, sent an crystal-clear message to the western world that he can srike them where ever they are. Is this not enough?

Our police inadequately armed and ill informed about combating strategies in this kind of situations went and lost their lives to an uncouth perpetrator, and in particular few of their meritorious kind. We were relentlessly punched and punished for the past few years. Still we don't learn our lessons? We are vexed with our leader's constant blame games, terror politics. We stop, startle when some thing happens, after few days every thing goes on smoothly till we get another blow. Is it not rediculous to see our police running with service revolvers and out dated rusted guns aginst an ultra modern terrorist with Ak 47 and other weaponry? Don't we ever envisage that our police force has to be modernised, imparted better training, and we have a need to set up special cells to face this kind of exigencies?. Are we able to petrol our long coast lines, and long borders effectively? The answer is catagorical"NO". We have to come interms with a harsh reality that terrorism is going to be there, and we are the unmistakable sure targets for nieghbouring terrorism and also international terrorism. When will we do that?

Our government thinks of 6 th pay commission to it's desk employees in it's numerous non functional departments by counting it's sheer number of votes, unmindful of it's jawans who come to their recue in every single baffling dirty situation fighting their goondas on the streets, controlling their unruly mobs, communal violences, seperatist elements apart from laying their lives for the noble cause of protecting borders , high seas, and skies. Are we rewarding them properly? Or we are ignoring them just because they dont go on strikes? or stage dharnas? Thankfully our armed force chiefs have been traditionally very loyal to the governments posing no threat to it's soverignity. But we have to bear in mind that it is unwise and unsafe to displease them to the extent of their outright rejection of pay commission recommendations. Is it a silent message that we have to deal with them with due consideration ? How are rulers taking this message?

It is better the lesser we talk about our defence euipment. We suffered for years with every other day crashing MIG 20s in the past due to our horrirific balace of payments situation. We had to compromise with MIRAGE 2000s which are no match to our neghbouring American supplied F16s. Much tainted Bofors was utter trash. All our DRDLs, HALs, and so many other enterprises do not produce any thing worth the name even after decades of their inception. Any foreign arm's dealer can dump his obsolete trash in our back yard just by pleasing our corrupt bosses with coppers. It takes decades for us to think of Long range ballistic missiles possed by our giant neighbour China who can pleasingly strike any of our cities by sipping a cup of tea sitting in his coutch. We always intent to buy a sinking warship paying exhorbitant price, due to improper approach in strategic affairs. We dont lack in experts , but we dont' listen to them for various reasons. We do not entrust a technical matter to an expert without our unskilled political intervention. We compromise our defence needs for the sake of our personal gains. With what kind of pride we can live in this world among countries who prioritise their defence, health, education above all other considerations . Our iniability to sufficiently allocate budgets to defence , stemming from our prority to our useless populistic programmes to stick to our power , results in improper supply of equipment to our jawans including their socks and boots impairing their effective functioning on the fronts. What a shame !! Inspite of our shamful situations if our jawans are performing with mettle it is simply because of their exemplary decipline and commitment and bove all indelible patriotism.

When we will learn our lessons? It is high time for introspection, and correction. No country without invincible defence system and strong economics is ever respected in this world of pragmatists who weigh one's presence visa-vis one's strength and capability.

Hats off my dear "Fouji" !

It is not like dropping a bomb in garbage bin and flying away. It is not like planting bombs in cinema halls, shopping complex, or in a train. It is blatant hurling them, and indescriminate firing at the people with latest power guns! It happend like never before in India. Strikers executed it with and motivation, plan and precision. Terrorist sneaked into heritage Taj, Oberoi,Trident hotels with perfect scheme. We lost many lives, many badly injured. Police lost their top notch cops. N.S.G Commandos, army, other security agencies swng into action quardened , stormed ,the hotels, combed the places, rescued many, still going on with iron grit .Politicians were not allowed to talk, neither paid attention by the conscious media. Swift security men with olives, helmets, and guns were cheered and clapped by the few spectators with admiration, confidence, and rare national spirit. People were behind them. They reposed their absolute confidence on these men with uniforms. They were allowed to do their job. The war is still going on. People who broke into the country know that they will die, they have not come here to negotiate, they have not come here to barter, they have come with a purpose. They want to show to the world that India is not a safe place. It can be overpowered, it can be incised, it can be muffled with craftiness, consiracy.It is far from over. It is an intended message to the west by inflicting a blow to vulnerable India.

My tributes to the brave police men who lost their lives, my salutes to my jawans who are fighting with mettle. They are our real heroes!

Born To Lead - part1

The winter is onset but the climate is really heating up. New billboards hoisted in all the corners and junctions are poised to capture the attention of the passers by with some photographs symbolically displaying lotus flowers, hands, cycles, lions, including elephants . I always wanted to know how the electoral symbols are alloted to the political parties. These symbols are generally not very artistic and designer stuff. Very simple things like tools, transportation vehicles, animals which can be easily be identified even by an illeterate villager are chosen with caution. Writing on walls was very much in practice few decades ago. It was my pleasure to read all the election writings on the walls on my way to school. I vividly remember the names even to day. Some miscreant naughtily added "Bho" before "JanaSangh". But we never get to see their photographs, as they cannot be painted on walls. Now with the latest technology flex boards made their way with digital prints and photos. All small time commercial artists arefading out of sight with no job work on hand . Every alternative day we see banners with imprinted photographs of some unknown committee members , wishing us happy festivals. No festival is left uncheered including shivrathri, Karthika Pournami which are rarely considered as festival, but practiced as holy days.Banners are embossed with Countless photos supposingly belonging to some Ganesh Nimajjan Committee, or one Navarathri Festival committee, all these religious minded people with long term ambition of making a fine transition into political leaders.They believe in recall effect. Some party worker who looks like a life convict, makes a sudden appearence in a big cut out wishing his leader a thumping sucess in his road show, or on his birth day, or atleast on his Delhi visit.

People are mobilized in lories, bussess, bullock carts,trains, lured with a biryani packet, and another liqid packet in the night. A promised buck will reach them in paltry sums at the end of the day after passing through so many middle men with hefty cuts. It is high time for "Dhanda" for many who wish there could have been elections every year. Party's strength and muscle power is generally adjudged by the numbers they gather for every meeting, disregard to the public inconvenience, and hardships for the participants. India is full of people, few fracures, few suffocations, few stampades, few deaths make no difference.

Some body speaks about the development that has taken place during his regime, some big projects, some houses, some hospitals, some ambulances , some small favours, some rice schemes. It so pathetic that they pose as givers and people as takers. The value of ruppes 2 which has many times depreciated during the past twenty five years, placing it's current value to approximate zero, still perceived as a scheme to be persued, making it tentamount to free distribution. We have to hang our heads in shame that even after 60 years of independence we still fall back to the basic free food distribution methodology like we do in in rescue camps on a tentative basis. Health care which has to be at the top prority in any government planning, is utterly neglected and thereby necissisated special schems. No body talks about education. The longer the people remain uninformed the longer will be their survival. Location of any project is never need based. It is always with some regional consideration. If "A" region gets 2, some" B" region should get 3. Corporate hospitals are in fierce compitition to be listed by the government to pocket a huge chunk of business. No body ever questions why the government hospitals are in such deplorable conditions and not considered worthy enough by the government it self for good treatment. Why they could not be improved during decades of their rule? We do not question them. Development looks more concentrated in small place like "Pulicherla" not because it is centrally located, but because it happens to be the home town for some big wig, bagging every possible good thing under the sun, attracting triple ITs, Central Universities, some IITs , including newclear power plant !!(Thanks you nuclear deal , you gave me an opportunity to place my hamlet on the world map) ) Why not some airport and a beach?. Success of a good warrior is not limited to defeating the enemy but also lies in exterminating the opposition. Any old case can be revived and persued, any alligation could be levied, any type of death blow can be perpetrated in persuit of political vendetta.

Some other player after tirelessly crusading for five years with petty issues, ultimately couldn't manage any big issue to challenge the existing rule, questions them on non specific universal issues like intigrity, corruption at every possible occassion , seems to have come in terms with reality, and goes one step ahead in promising free power, free loans, free rice, every thing free. I doubt whether any body's life in any country could be so free of encumbarences. Once acclaimed as a visionary, now seems to have lost his confidence and in all welcomes to glamour quotient in his party. I wonder whose money they are spending on charity any way?

Some actor turned politician who attracts huge crouds, leaving some to doubt whether it is the curiosity or alligiance which pulls so many crowds to him. Intially called as Mr. Dilly_Dally , surrounded by many amateurs, coterie,, and some loosers in their previous political adventures, appearently lacks in clear agenda and experience. The very vague filmy assumption of social maladies , lack of sure sightedness to hit the bull's eye, and his proclaimed opposition to Machiavellian leadership in general, his eagerness to appease every section of the society, need to be seen how will get translated into votes. While trying hard to get into the shoes of a politician he holds back lashing at any body, which sounds too gentlemanly. If people could make many celluloid heroes as their real time heroes bestowing votes in the past why can't he be the one ? Even Bush who ruled America for eight years did not know that many countries do exist on this globe. Some times it is the charisma that makes some leaders, some times it is their popularity, and seldom it is their sincerity.

Some come up with regional cards, whose political career is uncertain, and insignificant in bigger state , at least can aspire to become something in a small state and continue with their onslaught, and kick the bottle at every occassion.

Some come with saffrons struggling hard to make a dent in south, started initially with infusing survival intent in majority, later blown out of proportion with religious outrage, and opportunism, with national interest clearly in the closet, talks about terrorism taking every single opportunity with clear cut ambition of encashing it than fighting it, promises any thing even to the minimum of district sized separate states. What do they loose even if India is split into hundred pieces? They can have hundred chief chief minister ships , and hundred into sixty, six thousand cabinet ministeries.

Then come our comrades, with deciplined cadres, unbending thumbs with their anti Americanism, believe in leading 'peoples struggles' with notional fear of exploitation, rarely succeeding in ruling, with their own ruled states making no difference to people's lives, seemingly softening their stands on few issues believing in sharing some seats even with arch rivals, showing how ideology can be traded.

And many more small parties in fray, some north Indian parties who want to make their presence in South India to gain national stature, with many faces unknown to this new found land , wondering how rest of India is surviving without knowing a bit of Hindi.

Certainly these elections are going to be interesting, with many more theories to be rewritten, with many more equations to be derived at, with many more leaders emerging. But one thing is certain, people's lives are going to change very little. This fact is known pragmatically even to the farthest rural illeterate Indian.

Love thy fellowman

I Would not love to pen this if given a choice. But I have to do it, at least to ventilate my views which could posibly dispel some notions in few minds. With 'Dostana' hitting the Indian screen, many flocking around making it instanious success. Any time you can sell sex on screen with minimum guarantee.. This time with a difference, certainly for it's own commercial reasons, I am sure many more will follow. But for multitudes who choose cinema the sole source of affordable entertainment how it will ensure their psychological health, there lies the question.



As the talks, writings and movies on homo flings are on the rise, the healthy friendship and affinity with a pal has taken a hard hitting. Need to think twice before laying your hand around him or her, or sharing the bed, or couch is really unfortunate.. There is a fair chance the vibes can wrongly be coded as homosexual instincts within ourselves with constant beating and trumpeting about it from the media. Why it is so much hyped? The attempts are being made to normalise it, and to some extent glorify it. But let us think a while before doing these kind of things. Are we sending wrong signals to youngsters who can generally be ticked with any kind of romantic fantasies. They tend to take fancyful erotic adventures, since they are in their prime productive years and are strongly driven by desire. The natural urge for a mate has a pupose in nature that is procreation. Any urge without a purpose of procreation is unnatural. That is how homosexuality has been branded as unnatural. Any hormonal imbalances in few may lead to dominating antithetical drives. But we can not identify 20 out of hundred to have harmonal imbalances. Animal world is not sighted with homosexual drive , occasional playful attmpts during growing period is attributed to their wrong identification. Long deprivations, non-availability of the opposite gender, fear of being caught, safety factor, abuse, and any one attempt due to the above factors repeated and continued with certain amount fear in mind about their ability to consummate with the opposite sex in future, are all the factors which drive many innocent minds to aberrations. Aberrations often trailed with social ostracism ( which can supposedly be dealt with legislation with so many doubts lurking around), severed family ties drive many youth to distress and silent trauma.But life need not be confined there, perpectuating a mistake. There is always a door open some where for a trapped person. He can be helped to get out of it, than cursed or glorified. Affluent societies always had ample time to mull over some fanciful adventures, perversions, and over indulgence. Unabated sexual explorations gave birth to incurable disease called "AIDs" and passed on to the world , to day making it necessary to pour of millions into into's cure and rehabilitation, and expose many to death either deliberately or innocently. Drug abuse, devouring their societies is thankfully limited to few segments in our society. Let us not be in haste to catchup with the west, with all its merits, had numerous pitfalls. "Brokeback Mountain" Kate Perre" I kissed a girl" are miles away from us. Talking about it's unsuitability in Indian context is not hypocracy. May be the homo is not so alien to any society, but every one need not run with playcards "I am in sync with it". It is not talking about culture, not talking of ethics, it is not talking about morals, it is talking about man and his existence. It is talking about his mental condition. It is talking about his future on this planet. It is talking about an young lad who is so much confused about his sexuality and pushed to the point of belief that he is "Bi" or "Heterosexual". It is about one being excessively obsessed of being at very high end fashion, very contemporary, and his preference to bohemien life style. There is always a thin line that differentiates healthy thinking and unhealthy thinking. An admiration towards a curvy feminine beauty or muscular masculinity of our own kind need not be decoded as arousal and sensuality.There is always a scope for appreciation and envy too. I advise reading of "Death in Venice " by Thomas Mann to have an idea of how a fanciful affliction can lead to self destruction.

One India

When we hear Kailash Kher, or Sukhvinder Singh, Sunidhi Chowhan, old timers like Chanchal, Ila Arun, Subha Mudgal, Bhupen Hazarika some thing sqeezes your heart, the rustic chords, notes, an ability to creep into your subliminal of your nature, the very Indianness, sweet smell of a mud, the twirly wind of a desert, the wavering yearning of mind dangling between possession and desertion, the strange relation between being and fading, turbulance and silent deep under current, the awareness of dusky twilight, the innate cognizance of of the beginning and termination grips our soul. The wisdom passed through generations awakens with a jolt. The exotic learning look so shallow and empty.

We never think whether this particular singer is from Punjab or Rajasthan,TamilNadu or Assam. It is the Indian music that captivates you, whether it is "Rubba, Rubba" or "Lal Mere", "Bandhure" or "Ammadi" that enthralls you equally. Whether it is banks of Brahmaputra, or Ganga, Narmada or Kaveri you feel you are wandering on the heart of India. The grandeaur of Chola temple at Thanjavur or Mount Abu, Konarak or Khajuraho you are collecting the memories of past Indian architectural splendour. Whether it is Himalaya or Aravali, Nilgiris or Eastern Ghats you are scaling the great Indian mountain range . Whether it is sweating Jaisalmir desert or snowy Kashmir, deep Bay of Bengal or Arabian sea you experiencing the great Indian diverse ecology. Whether it is Archids of Kalimpong or Kurinji malar of UdagaMandalam we are wondering at the great biodiversity of this land. Whether it is Tirumala temple or Golden temple or St. Francis at Goa we bow our head to the thier holy presence. Whether it is Surat diamond or Hyderabad pearl, ruby of Rajasthan or corals of Lakshadweep we adorn them with same penchant. Whether it is paanipuri of Rajasthan or Rasgolla of Bengal, Idli vada of Tamil Nadu or banana chips of Kerala, Paneer butter masala of Punjab or Dhokla Gujarat we relish with great taste

Be it Tagore, or Arundhati Roy, Vinod Dham or Sachin Tendulkar, Amartya Sen or Visvesvarayya, C.V. Raman or Sameer Bhatia, Vishwanathan Anand or Lakshmi Nivas Mittal, all were applauded who made India proud. We adore all great musicians like M.S.Subba Lakshmi, Balamurali, BhimSen Joshi, Ravi Shanker, Amjad Ali Khan, Bismillah Khan irrespective of their school of music.We never attempt to see which state they belong to, or which language they speak, which religion they belong to. They made us proud. The hetrogenous mix that makes our life colourful . The Indianness which we all enjoy.One great admission of divergent faculties. One thing which we can call ours.One great liking we all share.One Indian application, the great familiarity, the great cosy feeling, the unique oneness, the chemistry, the great comfort in dealing, that keep us binding.

The photo of Christ which was presented to my mother by her Ceylone Christian friend always hung to our wall, and I grew up with it's everlasting presence. The copy of Koran always laid in father's trunk who had a jeal to study all the religious books in depth. My child hood trips to Christian Prayer Halls with my Christian friend were filled with thrills and wonder for the array of candles lightened up , the whole of town conglomerated to "Urs" celebrations by muslims of the town to watch their walk on the fire. I felt bad and devasted for loosing my friend Muneer who departed on account of a transfer. No body ever felt threatened. We never felt triumphed. We never prayed their Gods, but never condemned them. We just took them as natural parts of our existence. We never practised Pseudo secularism with persisting consciousness about the other man's religion. No body ever tried to talk about their seperate identity , they were just absorbed in the system.

Now we are too concerned about our caste, creed. We are grouping , regrouping and excessively polarised. There is great divide between the states. We are caught up with raging regionalism, fanatism. The entire social fabric is perforated, mutilated and stained with blood. The differences are fanned, fuelled and encouraged by the self seeking politics. There is great amount of alienation, hatred, intolerence. What happened to that great democratic setup of India? What is happening to us? Any patriotic soul is stiffled with pain with the developments . The heart of this great mother land is parched, burrowed, quarried, and sharpenelled to the point of explosion.

I gather the mud, sand, pebbles, rubbles in my both the hands and ask my self "Who can save this land?" Certainly not us ,who ungreatfully thought at one time that taking birth in India was a curse. Not even these old sharks who are in perennial hunt for their pound of flesh.. Slowly I am able to figure out the saviour faces. The hazy pictures are taking into shape. The innumerable numbers, the crazy lot, the electrified sea of humanity, who are jumping, screaming, excited. It is the youth of India!! Surveys show that 93% of them are proud to be born in India, their young fresh minds still believe that there is no other country like India. The gen Y who can dare to dream big and show to the world that it is force to be reconed with. A faithful league which is proud to be labelled as Indians!!

Chidiya Ghar

Leaking taps, burnt chokes, failing ballbearings, lost switches, unending spending followed by inability to get reimbursement from the land lord, Oh no more, I have to buy a house. Any idea conceived, is often rushed with haste, is probably my weakness. The regularly ignored real estate columns were scrutinized with a magnifying glass, any half constucted building generally perceived as a nuisance is watched with admiration, that is how I began my great exploration of a house. It took me no time to come to the ground reality that I cannot afford an independent house in the close vicinity, leaving the other option to go for a flat. It is also not such a bad idea. With least maintainance nuisance and supposedly more secured place than a remote house in the suburbs with drainages, municipal water long pending.

It was very evident that I have to pay some commission to broker if I want to go through him, which is quite a few chips, I had a brilliant idea of searching it on my own. I was very choosy and and started enquiring only in prime localities and where flats are already in shape giving me an idea of how they look like when they are completed . I thought I would be welcomed with great enthusiasm, but to my utter dismay they refused even to divulge the name of the builder and with quite stern faces told me that they were all sold. I began to undestand that the flats in prime localities in finishing stages would have been already sold out and no use of trying them. With disappontment creeping into my heart I started looking side ways, and was lucky enough to find few flats even in bylanes , built with equal good taste, and found that they were also sold out . Then came the realisation that any flat even in bylane in the finishing stages will not be available if I am not first in the que. I was suggested by my friend that we have to look for a flat when it is in the foundation stage. So whenever I found persons digging a hole on earth I started enquiring them, some said it was for commercial pupose, some coolies engaged were not aware for whom they were working, some said some supervisor will come at a particular time and all the details can be taken from him, at least there is hope of getting some thing. But my spirits were getting dampened as I always found some "nala" besides it, or some tinkering shop opposite to it , or at least government primary school behind it, in addition to the long wait, and unpredictability about their shape and look. Many builders will not provide you with their building plan and specification list, as it is not viable for them to print them for the sake of few flats, an easy way to escape from the commitment , which can be deviated at a later date. At last I was lucy to figure out one flat for sale which was actually booked by one and is being sold by him for his own reasons. I went to see it with lot of hope . It had two bed rooms neither sqaure nor rectangular in shape , a litteral attempt to make space out of nothing, and two windows facing the corridor which we can not afford to open in our life time , with too many curious onlookers passing through. The price was exhorbitantly 65 lakhs. Another flat was offered but rejected because it's being located just beside a place of worship which will ensure twenty four seven noisy prayers. It was really a difficult decission for me . Finally I said no. My husband said "It seems it is very difficult to get like this. Let us go through a broker" The huge sum which is to be paid to him looked like a pittance now.

My broker made his presence with thick gold chain and a bracelet, riding a motor cycle asking "What is your budget?". He took us to a flat, which very close to my dreams, and where I was already been rejected once. I said "They said no flats for sale" He laughed showing all his bright teeth "They dont show you madam" "Why?" My husband pinched my hand, it is a signal to keep my mouth shut. I thought it is the first door.Oh.. what is more beautiful than that?.. No, he did not take us there, at least the next one?.. no..no.. you have to pass through it too,.. may be it is the last one?.. Sorry, not exactly that, uum.. take a right turn, you will find a door in the most unsuspecting corner. Some thing in me is toppling with disappontment. He opened the door. With all the PVC pipes , strewn all around the floor, "This is the drawing, cum dining, two bedrooms with one balcony, kitchen. Look at the floor. How nice!" . Really floor looked so smooth that any senior citizen can break his back effortlesly, bed rooms big enough to accommodate one double cot. "Where is the balcony?" I asked him exitingly. Even if the bedroom is small I can sit in the balcony and muse. "There it is" he showed, I almost fainted. "Is it the balcony?'" "Yes . What is wrong with it?"he asked. "What am I supposed to do with this balcony? Exactly opposite to my balcony my neighbour's living room is positioned, either I have to keep watching their T.V. to keep my power bill low, or have a free peep into their bedroom and take a data of their daily routine.Where are my birds,blue sky, etc..etc...". He looked assuringly "You want sky madam ? Just look there . Just rise you neck" Sky was not deprived to me. But I have to prop my neck upwards until I get spondylitis to get a gimpse of it amidst long parallel cement walls, shining like a ray of hope at the end of the tunnel. " Madam one thing I have to tell you. There is no place to dry cloths, a kitchen is an end in itself" he told me with honest tone. "Any way how much would it cost us ?" my husband asked. " Just 75 lacks. I can bring him down him for a lack or two" Both of us looked at each other, a thing which we rarely do, after all it is a joint venture. I could not hep but asking him "Sir, why are you showing such flats to us?" "What to do madam? All flats will be sold while under constuction, this too has got a long line of propective buyers. Take a quick decission." I have to shell down 75 lakhs!! that too compromisingly. "No" I said firmly. I know this will not be available even under constuction, some body will book it paying a meagre amount, wait till rate goes up, later keep it for sale after 6 months or so for double the price. What an easy way of earning?. As more and more we are inclined to do smart work than hard work, they are also getting smarter and inventing thousand ways of snipping more from you . There is no dearth of smart people on the planet. "It is too expensive . Show another one" my husband told him. "Tomorrow" he promised.

That tomorrow he came. He took me to a building in semi finished condition. We spiralled, exactly I do not remember, he lead us into a den admitting very small light, "Why so dark?" " Because there is plastic around and after a white wash it will look bright." May be. We entered into bed room which was pitch dark "Where are the windows?" "Can't you see ma'm up there" he showed some ventilators. "Do you call them windows?"I asked "Now a days people always use lights know, ma'm" "How about air?" "Every body is installing A.C. you know, madam" "If there is no power?" "Generator is there you know, ma'm" "If diesel is not available in the market?" He gave me broad smile, I could make it out only when his teeth flashed in that darkness. "We can not get a better house ma'm for a cheap price." "How much?" "Fifty lacks". Fiftylacks. So cheap ! One has to break his back all along his life to earn 50 lakhs. But now it is not worth buying roof on your head! A feeling that I have to choke, languish and perish in that pitch dark dungeon all my life made me very sick. I longed to get out the place sooner. "What do you say ma'm, take it or leave it, another party is waiting with a cash bag" " To hell with his cash bag . I am leaving it." I told him. I came out and looked back.People are pushed, squeezed and crushed into to the small four walled infernos , called a flat, with no breathing space, no elbow room, no leg space, no open sky, nothing to call it human. The doves already found their way to it to make it home , but at least they can fly when they feel strangled. I am human. I refuse to be a device in this ruthless money swindling circuit. "Leave it for ever" I told myself. I walked away with peace.

The art of Self Defence

With our cinema controlling so much our psyche, remember, villains do not present themselves in a typical bollywood style or tollywood style wearing a costume and a moustache . It is very necessary to be good and noble, at the same time it should not hamper you from detecting a bad guy. It is imperative that we protect ourselves from the bad elements. Intending molesters, black mailers, exploiters, robbers, are around you in some way , in some form. We make repeated mistake of consoling ourselves that he is not a predator. Or we may make a blunder of identifying him very late. I strongly advice a peper spray or a punch or two for women in case of physical offence.

Offences need not include a gruesome murder or a rape, even small unwanted advances, a tricky play to intrigue you, a lousy intention of shopping without unloading one's own valet , a temptation to enjoy a most suptuous meal without having to spend a penny, trying to take credit for a work which was not executed by himself, making other a victim in the blame game, washing off hands from the responsibility, intimidating and refraining one from doing a good job, an attempt to make one feel guilty for a thing which one feels not guilty, dumping the work load on a vulnerable creature repititively, arm twisting, lack of financial integrity, lying beyond self defence, an attempted emotional black mailing, mean ways, dishonesty, lack of personal value system which can offend others, waywardliness, an attemt to hide personal inadequacy by finding fault with other , excessive sympathy mongering with an intent to coerce at a later date, these are few things which can put you off. Some are laugh it off offences, some hurt you intensely.

Unfortunately some of the above abominable traits are been eulogised in recent times and defined as sure ways to success. My personal feeling is that nothing is more gratifying than fairness in dealings. One should possess some brand equity which one should feel proud of. Unscrupulous success leave a person in emotional rubbbles. Trading with a large hole in our heart is not worthwhile. All praises, smiles, wishes, admirations are ephimeral in nature . The moment you have been surpassed your bouquet will get transferred to a new achiever . But our bleeding heart knows how much it lost in the transaction. Every evil will have a seed of self destruction within it self.

It is always necesary for us to defend ourselves from these aggressions. Resist the predator on the prowl with all your might, converge your stregth to strike back if inivitable.. There is no universal solution for whole gamut of problems. Application of sound common sense comes in handy . Never ignore your hunches telling some thing is going wrong. Refraining from sending the wrong signals forms an essential part of our self defence. Remaining tough with an offender is not easy but very essential.

Why should boys have all the fun?

So says Priyanka Chopra .May be it is the scooter that makes all the difference. I started my bicycle lessons only when I was continuously pestered by my friend.Our attire was the biggest problem.It was never comfortable to ride a bicycle with a long skirt, rather it was embarassing. Only late in the evenings I was given a training, my friend running along with me gasping, holding my shaky handle with her strong hands. With all my training extending upto four weeks I could never learn how to stop my bicycle once it is set free.. Three people should stand in my way like barricades , frantically waving their hands , running helter skelter when I bump on them heavily, I was then rescued by my determined friend, who had her knees more bruised than this rider herself. I cursed all residents in the town for not locking themselves behind their doors when I was riding my bicycle. Bycle riding for girls was not so usual in small places. Not even swimming, where the boys were encouraged to learn swimming in an irrigation canal or a tank, girls were strict no, no. Only in summers when the canal was locked up, with the water shirinking to ponds, girls have to flutter their hands and legs like small fish in a pond, with floating pots beneath their chest , that too without the knowledge of their parents. Boys can always find a "goda" or "vyayamasal" for their physical fitness in case they want , girls have to conceal their extra pounds in their long "lehangas" or sarees with no option to shed them. You can never find a girl in a theatre when an English movie was on, as they get to watch liberal dose of lip locking and huggings. Hanging to the mirror for a long time was often rediculed and condoned. Full sized mirror was a rare phenomena, and girls will not have an idea of how they look like until they put up enormous weight, with no figure corrections and lipo suctions around. Girls when teased by boys are not supposed to give them back, it is advisable to bow their heads or at the most a stern look will do. Rarely a brave heart will ask "Dont' you have mother and sisters?' only to get a reply "we have every body except a wife. Will you become one?". During "Atlataddi" day when all the children get up as early as 3.P.M. in the morning to eat their bowl of rice with "Gongura" chutney and play till dawn, most times their peace is disturbed by boy thugs who will somehow slip into the girl crowd at a flash and pull somebody's plait or chunni. At times parents were scared to send girls for play suspecting some foul play by the boys. Only upto 5th standard schools will have coeducation, there after girls are sent to girls high schools. Very rarely few girls are found in boys school, but never a boy in girls school. Teachers have been given an additional duty of protecting the girls from the boys and shield them from lewd remarks when on the outings. Whenver a group of girls are found alone some thing wrong was sure to happen.

This is the progress women has achieved even after 10000 years of our civilization. The change which is evidenced in a short span of 15 years in retrospect, is really astonishing, and more than compensating. All around we see girls sporting around even in late nights. Word "dating" which was alien for decades or even for centuries is spreading it's tentacles into every strata, and every nuke and corner. Girls are bold enough to fight against "dowry". It is cool to part ways when you feel aukward with a tricky marital knot and more so for a silly reason. Odd jobs like drivers, bartenders, are handled by them with ease . Women body gauards are not a rare phenomenon. Girls hardly hesitate to wear a plus, plus sized jeans than to wear a saree, which is to be preserved only for special occassions. Gold chains are replaced with synthetic wires hanging from head,ear, mouth or neck with emerging need to chat round the clock. It is a matter of pride to be labelled as "sexy", the four scornful letters ,which were treated unholy few years ago. Beauty can be negotiated with plenty of nose jobs, implants, chemical peelings, botax on avail . Looks are given the utmost importance than the ritual itself even on a wedding day. Ramps being conducted at every single occassion. Going in gaga with a booze in a pub, a tizziy hip hop , a cigarette, a liberal cleavage show up, nothing is a bane . Cooking which was once presumed like a genetical predisposition of a women is now fraught with doubt with too many to play novice. Child rearing is shared with demand . No more service requests, no more condemnation, no more bad mouthing, no more moral science lessons. Nothing can be demanded from them. One should feel happy if something is bestowed upon by them with benevolence. What a cool place for women to live in !

Paradox

My servent maid knocked my door little late than ever. I opened the door gleefully welcoming her, thanking my stars. Her flash appearence drove away my fears of anticipatory drudgery from my psyche. " Why are you late?" " Amma don't you know? police have come to question 305 people (people are identified here with numbers. What an idea sirji !!)" "What for?" "For engaging a little boy for house work" . I know that boy. I always spotted that boy of 12, very active and loud , playing with their kids in the evenings, helping them with manja to fly their kites, sometimes flying them, or pushing their cycles , at times riding them, many times I confronted with a doubt about his identity as he was often dressed with good pair of jeans. But later I probed with subtle questions to clear my doubt. Certain, he came to work there. . "Amma can you move a little?" I was reminded of my temporal existence with her request. "Police have really done a yeomen's job. Isn't it?." She nodded her head in a way which could be diciphered as yes or no.

After a month I found the same boy on a street loitering, kicking an empty plastic tin frenziedly while I was proceeding to the park to take my evening stroll. "Hey! What are you doing here?" He recognised me. "No. I am just wailing my time". "Didn't you go to school?" "No ..I did not like it " . "By going to school you can become an engineer" I said. " What is an Engineer?". It is a very difficult question. There lies a building under construction to my rescue. "You can build a house like that" He did not seem to be too enthusiastic about it. "My father too works there.I don't want to be an engineer. They have to carry bricks"". Even before I decided to explain him the conceptual mistake he is making , he hesitantly began to ask" Madam can you give me 2 rupees" I really did not know what to do. I opened my vallet and taken 2 rupee coin to give him. "Hope you are not asking every body like this?" "Nay" He slipped from there. I had my walk and talk in the park with so many others who are so job less as I am.

I was retuning home sneaking into in the shadows of the trees planted alongways . Some familiar tone struck my ear " Sir can you give me One rupee ?. I am hungry". I found the same boy from a distance. The man hurriedly escaped him. The boy spotted me, and about to flee. I caught hold of the boy. " You said you were not begging" "Now only I begged" I know it is not true. I paused and shot him question " Will you come back to their house?" "No. Sir will not take me. He is angry for complaining to the police" Who did it?" "May be.. it is my uncle. He is jealous of us" "Any way why do you want money?" Long silence followed by an honest answer " I want to buy a pizza" "Whhaaat?" "Yeah..We used eat every weekend when i was in 305." I have taken a deep breath and asked " Why only pizza ?" There is some kind of blush in his face. "I like it" That is all. I cannot question why he likes it. I like pastries, I like chacholates, he likes pizzas. He has every right to like some thing.I can not force him to like inexpensive things. I murmured "But it is very expensive" I could find some sparkle in his eye. " It costs Rs. 40. I have Rs.25 with me"

I opened my vallet to find whether I have ruppees 15 . "Take it. But do not beg from here on". He was exhilarated with my generosity. "Yes, madam I will not do" He grabbed the currency and ran away. I stood there fixing my gaze into his melting shadow. Something in side me telling that he will continue to beg tomarrow to buy his burger or to have his puff of a cigerette or possibly for a meal . The little worker who walks tall with his head high had been reduced to a begger. The pride of restoring his childhood from the cluches of drudgery is proving to be worth less with no childhood sighted in surroundings. The truth is too bitter to swallow. He was displaced from his comfort zone without providing adequate support system. His world of play, exitement, taste of luxury, doze in a warm cousy house , every day bath with plenty of water, though followed by arduous labour, were stripped from him. His every day meal was denied to him, with parents hardly capable of feeding their own bellies. We are trying to apply a calamine without administering a medicine to his wounds. There is great feeling of distaste in my mouth. I hated to cry. What worth is my tear to him ?

Thank you for not Banking with Us

I distinctly remember the time I was exited about assuming an adult role with few prospective chips on my hands. All the steps towards my destination looked like a journey to a heavenly abode. When entered into a massive hall, I was so much confused not knowing where to go. This was the saga of my first banking experience, with a piece of paper on my hand called cheque. I dared to contact the the person who just sat in front of the door, who was curiously looking , but later I found reluctant to answer. When he made some gestures with his hands I got a vague idea that this was not the person whom I have to see. I moved to the third person, looking back at the first person to take an assurance whether I reached the right place. But he did not bother to look at me. I had no choice but to ask the person whom Iam facing. He said he was not the person concerned and directed me to the person sitting on the end of the row.I got some relief and ran to him as I should not miss the opportunity of being first in the que. The person was busy with writing something and after few alerts he raised his head and looked at me. Immediately handed over my cheque to him. He scrutinised it, turning it upside down, and again on the back leaving me wonder why a cheque has to be scrutinised from the back. Then coolly the cheque was handed over to me back stating this was some other cheque, which he was not designated to handle, and if it were some other cheque with some other prefix he would have been happy to deal with. I was disappointed and asked him exactly where I have to go.. He has pointed his fingers to the second person again whom already I have met. Desperately I went back. The person looked at me questioning why I have not given the cheque there itself, sounding some anger in his tone.I felt guilty, thinking I have committed some mistake. I murmured " Sir told me to give this here". He warned me sternly that I should not come away just like that. He turned his head and shouted at the other person asking why I was directed there. I really did not understand what the person was trying to tell. After constant bickering at each other, this person turned and ordered me with the thundering voice to see the same last person only. I was little jittery at the verbal exchanges that took place between them. I left this person with engulfed fear whether I would be accepted there again. I dragged my feet to the same person seated last who was persistently rejecting me. This time I was immediately noticed and told to meet the bald headed middleaged 'officer' person sitting behind. I encircled the all the wooden partitions ( latter I came to know that they are called counters) to meet the bald headed person. When I stretched my hand to give the chque he was careful enough to examine at without touching it. He stood up heavily from the seat and went to another lady sitting next to him showing me , both of them appeared to be scolding the man 'sitting inside' , whom I could not manage to see. I was releived as I have to go to a lady who is supposed to be milder than men who played ping pong with me. She took the cheque from me and searched frenetically many bulky binders before her, only to find out that my concerned binder was missing. She called one neatly clad person who was roaming around in the banking hall with all jokes and smiles. He alone seems to be the happiest person in there. She shouted at him asking why binder was taken away from there. So far I was under the impression that the person was definitely some big official and there fore dressed so tidely . I was shocked to understood that he was something like a peon. My admiration towards him waned. He came there craking a joke and went on expedition to search for my precious binder. Even after 20 minutes he did not turn up. As I was repeatedly reminding my lady luck about my binder she hurled a frowning look at me and told that I have to understand their difficulties and try to cooperate. I felt ashamed of myself for not being so coperative and decided to be tight lipped. By passing of time I got familiarised with the place and faces. The last person I met was not all that bad. He was similing and talking to the person who was leaning across his counter. I later I found that the leaning person was nobody other than the brother -in-law of the person in the counter. At last my binder has arrived. It was thrown with a bang on the table not with such a disrespect, but due to it's heaveyness. I was elated at it's sight. The peon courteously demanded thanks from me for searching my binder and I felt oblized to thank him, little wondering whether it was really my binder. The lady took my cheque, turned pages and spotted the correct page and then screamed wildly.The baldy man stood up with quickness never displayed before and went to see what is there inside. I also felt little curious to know, but I could not find any thing interesting there except few scribblings. The baldy man told me with a firm voice that the account is over drwan. As I was a novice about the banking terminology I asked him what is meant by the term "overdrawn". He explained to me that the person who has given a cheque to me has taken all her money from the bank, but also in addition to that has taken bank's money. I was amused and asked him"Is it? Is it possible to take like that?" Suddenly he passed a suspicious look at me and said firmly "NO" and after a while probably he was convinced of my innocent looks, said " some times it happens ... by mistake.....". " Oh!" for a while I was filled with sympathy for the baldy, for the lady, for all the men on the counters but certainly not for the peon who looked so merry despite the fact of bank being cheated with it's money. "SO..?" I posed a question , only to get an answer that there is no money for my cheque. I hardly realised that all these happenings are ultimately pointed towards my not getting my money . I was disappointed as I planned so many things with the money. I returned home but careful enough to preserve my cheque, whether money or no money cheque is a cheque.

Reverie

People are not always logical. A good samaritan in you is some times looked with suspicion. A lavish sqandering on others at times is counter productive leaving many to feel that you are a snob. Inexplicable acts of good deeds show no signs of desired results. None of these deductions donot really work out, not in the manipulative sense. Many times people do not react the way you think. There always some thing that tickles people. We need some thing more to apprehend the complexity of human being. He is a mystery which can be unravelled with spontaneity.He is a puzzle which can be solved with an emotion. Enigma which can be explored with a feeling.

A fierce big fight between neighbourhood boys and my spouse left me terrified and gave me a feeling that it was my last day in that leased apartment. I feared to get into the details. The next day the boy came running asking for a ball with naughty smile signalling familiarity on his face when he fixed his gaze at my man. I understood that they both are friends now. All the boys cheered him passing. I am not cheered despite my occassional pep talk with them . I am not hailed, not even greeted. Still it doesn't affect me. I get amused by being a distant watcher.

A broad smile which ejects from the innerself spontaneously connects you with a human being facing you. World looks so merry, more worthy place to live in . An air of positivity brimming around makes you delightful. The soul inside you shimmers with divine sparkles. You become too skeptical about prepondered theories of co-existence. Why do I love these living beings so ardently? May be it is the all pervasive generic law. I need to be among the herd. I must see them. It makes me joyful. I feel I am intensely connected with them. Desdain is long forgotten word for me. I love them as I love breeze around me. I can feel them as I feel the tender foliage next to me. They are so far. Yet they are so near to me. My body quivers when I touch the blooming soft petaled flower.There is a life in it. It speaks the language which only heart can hear. I am one amongst the innumerable creations on earth bubbling with life, radiance, speech, thought, reflection,vibration. I don't need to stand out. I am absorbed in the mainstay.The big aging tree waves gently to the wind shedding leaves.The fallen leaves on the path are not dying, they are unifying in the large cosmic cycle. Enormous serinity tranquillises my disquiet .The befalling of tumultous external world calms down inside my core sending ripples of silent missive to the whole of my being to transcend and experience. As I am trying to understand more and more about it, I am growing frailer and frailer before the mighty force. I am proud that I am part of this exquisite creation on earth. I am elated with the fact of my being here. I am grateful that I have been given a chance to be a tiny element in this great living world. I am mystified with it's silent rhythem and cadence.

Fighting a loosing Battle

When I saw Ganguly giving a brief interview with a television channel, I thought of writing few lines about this good cricketer. He is retiring. In fact he was made to retire. Not going too much into detail what is happening back doors, for a person who wishes to give his or her comments simply basing on the television reports and news papers, this looks little pathetic. With Democle's sword swinging on his head for the past two years with every time being first person to be dispensed with, it has been really a difficult journey for him ever since his removal as a captain. Often faced with humiliation of being spotted as a lone black sheep in the entire team, it has been an unbecoming struggle for a most successful captain India has ever produced. His despensation from the team, way back in the first instance looked unceremonious. People consistingly talking , writing, bad about him looked near frenetic effort to make mountain out of a mole. Not withstanding the fact that India bagged many victories under his captaincy he has been targetted, humbled, and at last muted. Afterall every body needs a decent farewell. Specially for a person who has dedicated nearly two decades of his valuable years for the sake of the country bringing glories, this is certainly not the way of bidding a farewell. His consisting performance after his re-entry some how was not looked with great respect. He has pulled himself, perhaps for too long. But there are many who are doing that. May be in a situation where many talented young players are waiting on the bench for an opportunity, selectors are seemingly getting bold and are in a hurry to get rid off the oldies. Certainly this man doesn't deserve this exit. He needs to be respected, applauded, and his momories preserved and cherished.

Spirituality Back at Home

Spirituality has assumed magnitude of an industry in India. A simple Ashram once visited 15 years back never remains to be the same . Every nuke and corner, each ashram is upgraded with all the modern aminities. It's cadres are revamped. Food turned continental, which can suit every one's taste. Huge Meditation halls adorned with cushions and soft mats and chairs for the arthritis afflicted devotees entice you with spick and span cleanliness. Fusion music is played from all the four corners of the meditation hall all set to send devotees into trance. Then comes Swamiji, with silk robes tastefully designed, with hefty gold chain studded with big "rudrakshas" and massive wrist bands embellished with jewels.. Even at the age of 70 or 80 he never seems to be graying. Band of fair skinned foreign devotees sitting in the front rows reassure our faith about the greatness of Swamiji . No doubt, Swamiji delivers a captivating speech.We all take a deep heavy breath thinking how mundane world is ruinous to our salvation. Many of us take a holiday to visit our ashram along with our family at least once in a year.

Simplicity and renunciation which were the bench marks of our old age sadhus and sanyasis are no more in vogue. It is difficult to find any sadhu with ungroomed hair and torn clothing, except few begging class. Huge spiritual congregations are arranged spending whooping millions of rupees in every part of the country. Every spiritual house is a mighty power house with Presidents, prime ministers, celebreties frequenting. All the distinguished swamijis are beyond the reach of a common man. A small man is not cared or respected even in an ashram. There stays an illustrious swamiji, often backed by a caucus, always eyeing a famed visitor who can help him spread his name and fame and contribute substantially in terms of money. More blessings are showered on potential devotee, more attention is given to them, more rituals are granted . A question lingers in my mind . In what way it is different from a mercantile house?

We find mushrooming of shops who sell all types of stones to improve your well being or quality of life. Each day hundreds of stones are being sold with a red tinge, yellow tinge or some other tinge either to bring you fortunes or to forestall a misfortune . Each day numerous advertisements are flashed on T.V. to maneuver your inkling for buying them if you have not bought one.

Paradoxically I remember a story of RamaKrishna Parama Hamsa who weighs two coins of clay and gold in both the hands and throws away both into a pond of water.Both are equal to him. Rags or riches, both are eschewed with the same countenance. It instills a great feeling of eqanimity in you.

I attended a huge gathering of a spiritual discourse organised in my proximity.I was aghasted at the sight of huge commercial hordings hung in the backdrop. Even his podium is not spared. The distinguised spiritual leader started delivering the speech on how to refrain from lust, greed, and worldly pleasures unmindful of the hording on his back reading "How to double your money ? Invest with us and get fabulously rich".

Voting for the change

With multitudes of news papers and channels writing and talking about it, Do I need to write about it? I paused a while and said ' yes in my small way'. America voted for the change. The amount of adulation Obama got, close to frenzy, brought him proximate only to John F. Kennedy in the recent memory. The flash of Kennedy's picture on the news reel always evoked spontaneous applaus from the Indian audience in theatres during my childhood. At the time of filing the nomination Obama would not have imagined that he is going to inherit a legacy which no other president could have inherited during the past 70 years, a shambled economy . US positioning as world leader went undisputed, with the global melt down, following US finacial crisis, left no economy in the globe insulated. Apparently iron gritted, down to earth in approach, he appears to be the right man at the job. I wish him all the best.

Even General Dayyar was not hailed back in his English home land with nationalistic fervour, for the crimes he perpetrated on India.The amount of fairness and dignity displayed by the West in public life is miles away from our polity which is turning from good, bad, worse to filthy. It appears as though we are set to break the rules of the fair play in all the spheres of life. Hounded by the boundless greed, besieged by manipulative tendencies, engulfed in power hankering, decency is long forgotten word in our milieu. We do not think twice to to cut the branch on we perch (typically Kalidasian) if we are told that it can be used as a fire wood in our kitchen. We borrow the concepts from the west. We leave their spirit behind. We can always see there, a right man doing the right job. We see lots of professionalism, issues handled with conscience, good crisis management, compliance to the law ,straight talk, certain amount of integrity, grace in accepting the failure ! Uncle Sam cannot be underplayed. What is happening to United States of America is very important to the rest of the world. Whether sweet or bitter you got to swallow the pill.

But I have no problem, Karat is there to hold me tight if I want to take a punge to the the right. As our Chandrayan is there in the orbit, I declare that all our future "SEZ"s should be located on moon, as we can not dislodge any body from any where even for a good cause . In case of dharnas or protests we can drive away Tatas or Betas to Mars.There is other side of the coin too. We have Nandigrams or Khandamals where law of the jungle rules the roost. All in the name of people!!

Blissful gluttony

Never before India has become so health freak. At the dawn parks and roads are beaming with morning walkers. It seems the country has been caught up with new 'macho' figure mania, with each male dreaming to have six packs or ten packs whatever. Many college going boys are found roaming on the roads with chests pressed forward and byceps showcased in a tight Tshirts. There nothing wrong in yearning to be spotted .After all, it is the months' labour .Yoga has been rediscovered, with Baba Ramadev on T.V. with special focus on obesity, which many of us often fall flat to fight. Now we can find some one alternatively in every house doing kapala Bhastri. Not to mention about small time mushrooming yoga teachers. Every one belongs to a different school of teaching. Parks are roaring with laughing clubs. God alone knows whether these simulated smiles adding up to their well being. Each girl wanting to be "zero" sized( look at Kareen Kapoor for inspiration) some times literally surviving on "char pani puri",veggie burger or a slice of pizza with a bottle of aerated drink. No takers for traditional Idlis or Dosas among the horde of teenagers. During my long quest I came to know that with each grain of starch we are building an arsenal in our body ready to explode at any time, and with each drop of oil consumed we are drawing closer inch by inch to a hospital.

The day I wanted to join the crowd of health watchers, I went to a super market to buy a pack of sprouts. Next day helping with a cup of sprouts towards breakfast looked like heaven. With new found zeal I intended to buy bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, bracoli , lettuce to make my salad with a spoon of olive oil. The next door super market had only bell peppers, missing in tomatoes. With undaunted spirit I travelled upto a farwaway retail chain to fetch my braccoli. Retail chain unfortunately exhausted the stocks of these imported stuff , forced me to search for some other retail outlet only to find parched braccoli. No thing can stop me. As I paid handsomely to get few streaks of dehydrated bracoli my olive oil remained a distant dream.I was helpless. Though all the vegetables are rotting in my fridge I could not make my salad. Next day when I went to small kirana shop to buy my bread, to my surprise I found a bottle of olive oil. I was frightened at the very label. Mahalakshmi olive oil . I always imagined that olive oil is produced by some Spaniyards or Greek. Shop keeper assured me that it is of good quality. I decided to to buy it as it seemed I have to travel another 8 kilometers to find another.

I prepared my salad exactly how it has been explained in a televison programme. When I started eating it I noticed that it had a very pungent smell . I gulped it only to get a nauseating feeling . I decided that I should never add braccoli (a person no less than President of United States hated it too) I finished my dinner with a salad. At the end of the day when I calculated I found that my bowl of salad costed me Rs.150 (transportation charges included). Too expensive dinner to eat at home . By 9 O' clock in the night I felt very hungry . I forced my self to sleep to escape my hunger pangs.

Next day morning I woke up with lot of belching and bloated stomach. Still nothing can mar my determination. I continued with my breakfast consisting of sprouts, which left me hungry within half an hour. I drank 2 litre of water as I was told I can drink as much as I can. I found difficult to attend to my house hold chores, as I was increasingly feeling weak and tired. In addition my heavy stomach gave me strange feeling that I had a sort chemical factory in my belly.. Though I prepared something for the rest of my family, my food has been assuming great importance and taking away lot of time from me. For lunch I ate lots of parboiled vegetables sprinkling some rice over them. My evening snack of toast with a cup of diet milk tasted like a piece of tastelessbone. My dinner with a salad though minus braccoli did not go down very well. I skipped my night dose of sas bahu serial to sleep early. Alas! I never imagined that life could be so miserable.

I was advised all my family members to see a doctor with my loud belching and gastric irritation. He prescribed umpteen number 'before food' 'after food' tablets which only added up to my perils. My stomach started churning soon after I poped my tablets, as it followed the routine lunch of half boiled vegetabled with few rice flakes.By evening my situation deteriorated. My husband brought fresh vegetables into my house as I was not too well to shop. By the fall of night I prepared hot rice with a brinjal curry and dal only meant to be served to my family members. I wanted to check whether all the ingrients were added in right proportions. My first morsel tasted delicious with heavenly aroma. I continued few more servings and finally decided to cook additional quantum of rice. Oh! my stomach started singing merrily with it's regular dose of carbohydrates.

There ends my story of adventure with food. End of days' old deprivation. End of starvation.End of healthy eating. Hi ! By any chance is there any 'world food day' in the list of 365 days of some ascribed ' days' ? I want to celebrate it.