Change. Change. Change. No Change is needed i would say. What do you say?
Daily in the BMTC buses i find lot of people struggle for change. The ticket cost is INR 13. Give the conductor 2 x 10 Rs note,the conductor gives you a ticket with 7 mentioned at its back. U forget it..its a little fortune for the conductor. I even remember one time a guy forgot to get a change for 83 rupees for the 100 rupee note he gave as he got down at his stop and realized that he lost the money a little later. For no fault of his , the conductor is too put through this unnecessary KARMA cycle,where in he gets indebted to lot of unknown faces.
This also causes bit of greed,bad blood,foul mouthing also!
Well we are in age of technology. We have become SMART in many ways. Why not have a SMART card for loading these transactions of coins/changes? Anyway all conductors have an automated machine which generates ticket. Swipe your SCC(Smart change card to the already list of acronyms and Shortcuts for these days) just like you swipe your normal ATM/Credit card/Debit card in this machine. The operator can load this balance into this card whenever it is to be given. The passenger can inturn use the SCC to buy tickets if the collected amount is more. Well here it will be inappropriate to discuss to much technical things and i do agree there are certain bottle necks that needs to be considered. Nevertheless, having such an integrated Smart card can help us over all to reduce the coin minting cost and the metal usage.
Gone are those days where we found 1RE and 2 Rs coins heavy. These days 50NPS, 1 Re,2 Rs are too light that these may be carried by a gentle breeze!
Tuesday, 27 December 2011
Friday, 16 December 2011
Lesson in train ticket booking
I made a foolish mistake two days before. I had booked a ticket for train journey to my home town. Here i really overlooked a small innocuous mistake.
I had planned for a journey on 16th -Dec( Precisely Yesterday) and i booked a train ticket for the same. My intended train started at 11.45 pm (16th Dec-2011) @ Bangalore Central. When it came to my station of boarding it was 12.15 am (*17th-Dec-2011).So you got that right?!
The ticket which had been actually booked was for the train that started on 15th 11.45 pm and arriving at 16th-Dec-2011(12.15am).Though i agree that there is a large part of mistake on myside , i think it would be great if the Indian railways e-booking website gives a pop up message, stating the
Date of start of train Journey trip,(long journey trains run for 3 days sometimes!)
Date of travel chosen by the passenger and
Actual Date of boarding @ the respective station when ever this cross over occurs.
Its quite complex here, and surely this is not a problem to Indian Railways booking site, but it could atleast draw attention of the passenger when ever such a situation occurs. I realised that my confirmed ticket was past its expiry date by 1 day, just 4 hours before the intended train's departure . I was really shocked and stressed at this foolish mistake. Well i would like to confess that i made fun against my good friend who did the same mistake couple of years before. You REAP what you sow! :(
Dear all. please be careful in this kind of scenario.
Ciao.
I had planned for a journey on 16th -Dec( Precisely Yesterday) and i booked a train ticket for the same. My intended train started at 11.45 pm (16th Dec-2011) @ Bangalore Central. When it came to my station of boarding it was 12.15 am (*17th-Dec-2011).So you got that right?!
The ticket which had been actually booked was for the train that started on 15th 11.45 pm and arriving at 16th-Dec-2011(12.15am).Though i agree that there is a large part of mistake on myside , i think it would be great if the Indian railways e-booking website gives a pop up message, stating the
Date of start of train Journey trip,(long journey trains run for 3 days sometimes!)
Date of travel chosen by the passenger and
Actual Date of boarding @ the respective station when ever this cross over occurs.
Its quite complex here, and surely this is not a problem to Indian Railways booking site, but it could atleast draw attention of the passenger when ever such a situation occurs. I realised that my confirmed ticket was past its expiry date by 1 day, just 4 hours before the intended train's departure . I was really shocked and stressed at this foolish mistake. Well i would like to confess that i made fun against my good friend who did the same mistake couple of years before. You REAP what you sow! :(
Dear all. please be careful in this kind of scenario.
Ciao.
Tuesday, 13 December 2011
Limited Freedom!
Well this is no serious preaching at all. This is all fun!
Ok. I daily travel in the metro buses. This scene occurs very frequently, and hence i thought i should share this with you.
All these days, i see most of the people having mobile phones travelling in the buses. And many seemed to be models that have good internal memory space and/or with good FM radio features.
Now one day, i saw an Assamese guy having one such big phone and was putting his favourite assamese song and hearing it loudly in the external speakers on that chill morning.
Now as the days grew, i saw more and more people using this mode of using external speakers.
One final day, i got the real gyan. I still remember the songs of that day...
all simultaneously played ...
Hindi:- Dhinkachika-Dhinkachika------
Bengali: Bhalobashi....
Kannada :Naaniruvude nimagagi naadiruvudu namagagi
Tamil : Kadhalin deepam ondru----
and also one Telugu song- Bangaru Koli Peta------.
To a silent traveller like me (excuse, i didnt have any such hi-tech model) it was a total confusion. I was neither able to learn Bengali, or listen to Hindi or Telugu or Tamil song or Superhit Rajkumar ,Chirangeevi song .. :(
The end result is Noise pollution.
After all everyone must realize how much his/her freedom is expandable and its limits. A law cannot curb or either we will circumvent the law.
After all these external speakers are no Bose Speaker. Hence the effect of all these are same,average . Its better people learn that with their headphones on, they can enjoy their own and be free from other song pollution :)
Ok. I daily travel in the metro buses. This scene occurs very frequently, and hence i thought i should share this with you.
All these days, i see most of the people having mobile phones travelling in the buses. And many seemed to be models that have good internal memory space and/or with good FM radio features.
Now one day, i saw an Assamese guy having one such big phone and was putting his favourite assamese song and hearing it loudly in the external speakers on that chill morning.
Now as the days grew, i saw more and more people using this mode of using external speakers.
One final day, i got the real gyan. I still remember the songs of that day...
all simultaneously played ...
Hindi:- Dhinkachika-Dhinkachika------
Bengali: Bhalobashi....
Kannada :Naaniruvude nimagagi naadiruvudu namagagi
Tamil : Kadhalin deepam ondru----
and also one Telugu song- Bangaru Koli Peta------.
To a silent traveller like me (excuse, i didnt have any such hi-tech model) it was a total confusion. I was neither able to learn Bengali, or listen to Hindi or Telugu or Tamil song or Superhit Rajkumar ,Chirangeevi song .. :(
The end result is Noise pollution.
After all everyone must realize how much his/her freedom is expandable and its limits. A law cannot curb or either we will circumvent the law.
After all these external speakers are no Bose Speaker. Hence the effect of all these are same,average . Its better people learn that with their headphones on, they can enjoy their own and be free from other song pollution :)
Saturday, 10 December 2011
The next gen thing!
Atlast Rajiv was able fullfil his promise to his kid. Both of them had been just back from visiting the Tajmahal.His kid was very happy. This was long due from Rajiv. When Rajiv himself was a kid, his father had taken him to Delhi for a visit around these historical places in 2010. Nearly 25 years backwards from now.
Rajiv was a picture of content today.It just took him a single day- a saturday only to do this. That too being here in Chennai.
What a wierd thing?! Did they move Tajmahal to Chennai?! You may be wondering.
Hey wait! This is not the case. You are in year 2035. You will find Tajmahal,Redfort,everything of historic,national,religious importance in each and every city of India.
Still its not clear right?!
Ok. Let me explain you. Rajiv and his son Rahul are just back from Tajmahal- "The Virtual Tajmahal". The government of India has brought in this concept of bringing "VIRTUAL-REALITY". You can choose the Historic place of your choice.
Going into this theater you can see,touch,feel the sculptures,texture of the painting and what not. Everything can be done as if it is the original place. This virtual reality project consisted for painstakingly capturing of videos, real sounds, ambience, pictures of the places and enhancing them digitally to give you the best feel of the true monument and also giving you the so called "3D" effect. So you can visit all these places and record your happy moments also!!
Year 2011:
The Tajmahal is cracking slowly.
Oh pity what a disaster to the purest love symbol of the world!
Report states: This structure may be lost in next 5 years-10 years time. If proper care not taken.
The yamuna river is polluted upteen times.It also goes dry manytimes. The base of Tajmahal made from strong wooden structures was being corroded. There were lot of cracks appearing on the walls.The air is also polluted. Hence the white marbles with which tajmahal was built blackened. The complete structure has become weak and becoming unsuitable for human activity day by day. Any further earthquakes would further weaken it.
Year 2018: The front two pillars of Tajmahal crashed. Oh no.. excuse me there was no rioting group here. The reason was that the pillar cannot withstand the ravages of time anymore.
Year 2020: The central dome over the tomb of MUMTAZ cracked at the bottom.
Its time for TAJMAHAL to be on its own legs any more.
Year 2021:
Another aspect. You see a square feet of a land in the Tajmahal's place costs around 165K INR. Who on this Damn earth would not like to have a big palace in its place?
Further our bureaucrats and members of the government are too poor and they always find good means to build their finance stability. A big real estate major had moved in with the government with GOOD intention saying that , the structure becoming unsafe, it can take over the property and develop it for the next generation. Welcome to "The TAJMAHAL" India's biggest shopping mall, with exotic, premium villas around it.
Jai Hind . Jai ho!
Rajiv was a picture of content today.It just took him a single day- a saturday only to do this. That too being here in Chennai.
What a wierd thing?! Did they move Tajmahal to Chennai?! You may be wondering.
Hey wait! This is not the case. You are in year 2035. You will find Tajmahal,Redfort,everything of historic,national,religious importance in each and every city of India.
Still its not clear right?!
Ok. Let me explain you. Rajiv and his son Rahul are just back from Tajmahal- "The Virtual Tajmahal". The government of India has brought in this concept of bringing "VIRTUAL-REALITY". You can choose the Historic place of your choice.
Going into this theater you can see,touch,feel the sculptures,texture of the painting and what not. Everything can be done as if it is the original place. This virtual reality project consisted for painstakingly capturing of videos, real sounds, ambience, pictures of the places and enhancing them digitally to give you the best feel of the true monument and also giving you the so called "3D" effect. So you can visit all these places and record your happy moments also!!
Year 2011:
The Tajmahal is cracking slowly.
Oh pity what a disaster to the purest love symbol of the world!
Report states: This structure may be lost in next 5 years-10 years time. If proper care not taken.
The yamuna river is polluted upteen times.It also goes dry manytimes. The base of Tajmahal made from strong wooden structures was being corroded. There were lot of cracks appearing on the walls.The air is also polluted. Hence the white marbles with which tajmahal was built blackened. The complete structure has become weak and becoming unsuitable for human activity day by day. Any further earthquakes would further weaken it.
Year 2018: The front two pillars of Tajmahal crashed. Oh no.. excuse me there was no rioting group here. The reason was that the pillar cannot withstand the ravages of time anymore.
Year 2020: The central dome over the tomb of MUMTAZ cracked at the bottom.
Its time for TAJMAHAL to be on its own legs any more.
Year 2021:
Another aspect. You see a square feet of a land in the Tajmahal's place costs around 165K INR. Who on this Damn earth would not like to have a big palace in its place?
Further our bureaucrats and members of the government are too poor and they always find good means to build their finance stability. A big real estate major had moved in with the government with GOOD intention saying that , the structure becoming unsafe, it can take over the property and develop it for the next generation. Welcome to "The TAJMAHAL" India's biggest shopping mall, with exotic, premium villas around it.
Jai Hind . Jai ho!
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
The Blue Marble. Its one and only one.
The recent news on a new habitable planet discovery triggered some introspection within me. Earth like planet!! Kepler-22B and it is just 600 Light years away!
Wow.. we rejoice that man has got another home. Great , truely wonderful.
Infinite number of spheres floating in the space and many are mysterious.
Blackholes,stars,galaxies and this goes on.
Already there is a buzz of going to the new HOME. People speak about Stars three times bigger,heavier than Earth... and fully loaded with Diamonds. Wow its sparkling isint?! Well we may be able to find planets loaded with gold! petrol! LPG, Minerals, Uranium,Plutonium!! Yes its true and it is bound to happen one day.Its because anything that is being "thought to materialize" within the physical space,time is bound to materialize.I have ample evidences to stand by this point both spiritually and in material world.
But why do we need these at all?! We have the only known beautiful blue marble.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Blue_Marble
A lot has to be done here. We have plenty on our plates.Why all this distraction?!
Perhaps it may give solace to some unfulfilled souls a chance immigrate to a distant country in a distant planet.
Mirages are common to occur in deserts, which finally ends as death traps to travellers.
Last but not the least i would like to remind each one of us on Gandhiji's quote "There is everything in this world to satisfies everyone need but not a SINGLE man's greed.
This blue marble is one and only one.
Am i being Advaitic in some sense here?! :-)
Ciao.
Wow.. we rejoice that man has got another home. Great , truely wonderful.
Infinite number of spheres floating in the space and many are mysterious.
Blackholes,stars,galaxies and this goes on.
Already there is a buzz of going to the new HOME. People speak about Stars three times bigger,heavier than Earth... and fully loaded with Diamonds. Wow its sparkling isint?! Well we may be able to find planets loaded with gold! petrol! LPG, Minerals, Uranium,Plutonium!! Yes its true and it is bound to happen one day.Its because anything that is being "thought to materialize" within the physical space,time is bound to materialize.I have ample evidences to stand by this point both spiritually and in material world.
But why do we need these at all?! We have the only known beautiful blue marble.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Blue_Marble
A lot has to be done here. We have plenty on our plates.Why all this distraction?!
Perhaps it may give solace to some unfulfilled souls a chance immigrate to a distant country in a distant planet.
Mirages are common to occur in deserts, which finally ends as death traps to travellers.
Last but not the least i would like to remind each one of us on Gandhiji's quote "There is everything in this world to satisfies everyone need but not a SINGLE man's greed.
This blue marble is one and only one.
Am i being Advaitic in some sense here?! :-)
Ciao.
Tuesday, 22 November 2011
An ancient story
I used to wonder about certain names that some of our vegetables carry. This story is on one such vegetable. Believe me it dates back to Mahabharatham period. :)..:P
One day as kids....Kauravas and pandavas were playing in the fields of Kurukshetra.
As a close friend to Duruyodhanan, Karnan was also eager to play with all the 105 kids. (Gyan: 100 Kauravars + 5 Pandavars)
But dhronacharyar did not allow him, because he was not a prince :-). But Duruyodhanan was very kind to Karnan. So he let him play with the team.
As a part of playing , every kid was digging and playing in the mud. Karnan was very good at playing. So he also started digging , and making small hills of sand in the playground. Strangely he was getting lot of stout root tubers whereever he was digging. He was showing this to all the elders over there. Everyone felt that this strange root was good for eating. But it was new vegetable found. They had no names to it. Since Karnan had found this vegetable. They named it "Karna Kezhangu"!! :)
Since out of generosity of Duruyodhanan that he got very popular. Karnan renamed this vegetable discovered by him as "Karunai Kezhangu"( In english : Tuber out of generosity") :-)..
So till this date out of respect for Karnan and also out of respect for the friendship of Karnan to Duryodhanan.. we call it "karna kezhangu / Karunai Kezhangu".
So if you find one such in your kitchen.. it is an archaelogical thing. preserve it :-) Ciao!!
One day as kids....Kauravas and pandavas were playing in the fields of Kurukshetra.
As a close friend to Duruyodhanan, Karnan was also eager to play with all the 105 kids. (Gyan: 100 Kauravars + 5 Pandavars)
But dhronacharyar did not allow him, because he was not a prince :-). But Duruyodhanan was very kind to Karnan. So he let him play with the team.
As a part of playing , every kid was digging and playing in the mud. Karnan was very good at playing. So he also started digging , and making small hills of sand in the playground. Strangely he was getting lot of stout root tubers whereever he was digging. He was showing this to all the elders over there. Everyone felt that this strange root was good for eating. But it was new vegetable found. They had no names to it. Since Karnan had found this vegetable. They named it "Karna Kezhangu"!! :)
Since out of generosity of Duruyodhanan that he got very popular. Karnan renamed this vegetable discovered by him as "Karunai Kezhangu"( In english : Tuber out of generosity") :-)..
So till this date out of respect for Karnan and also out of respect for the friendship of Karnan to Duryodhanan.. we call it "karna kezhangu / Karunai Kezhangu".
So if you find one such in your kitchen.. it is an archaelogical thing. preserve it :-) Ciao!!
Monday, 7 November 2011
Future is back
Nose stud. That is really nice with a bright studded diamond.
Its a fashion statement i told myself. Its a hot cake to all the Metrosexuals. I consoled myself with all the wierd concepts to buy one nose stud for myself.
I should buy one for myself for my very life and survival. The government has brought new laws to curb inflation. This out of blue moon idea came just like many decades before a famous union railway minister (from Bahar!) made the Railway departments balance sheet very glossy and attractive through his innovative ways and ideas. This idea has been floating for more than two decades. Yet it was successfully passed last month in the parliment in the year of 2049 again under the aegis of one G-'ji. The holy spirit of G-ji is the guarding angel.God save G-ji.
What is this nose stud? all wonder?! Yes this nose stud is Oxygen monitor meter which every citizen of this country must carry.
Just an able MP asked this question in the question hour during the winter session. Now that the air,atmosphere is rationed by the countries in the world, we cannot continue our freebies where in our people can inhale air free of cost.
Also that we tax our people for water,land,and energy only .Still there are two bhoothams that are left free to roam within the country.
These two freebies boothams are dangerous to our economy. The cabinet , the oppositions, central left,middle center, Right extreme, pink, Yellow , Blue ,orange, red, saffron, seculars, peculiars all parties went through rounds and rounds of discussions with no effect.
Atlast there was a break through. They arrived at a conclusion.
10kg of oxygen/air is free breathing for a person in a month.
Above 10kg of oxygen/air- it is 0.5kg @ 39,00USDEURINRYENDINAR*. (Unified world market single currency)
Well it was getting a bit complex here.
ABC?! OC?! BC?! MBMC,CC,SC,TC,ST,MC,HMC,MBHC,!! Quota came into play. The ministers got crazy! 20% RESERVATION FOR THIS .. 27.7% RESERVATION FOR THAT , 30% RESERVATION FOR THOSE, 10% RESERVATION FOR THESE,15.45% RESERVATION FOR THEM!!..
The super court was shocked. The judge said" Guys! your entire reservation is exceeding 100, it is actually 103.15%".
Never bother. A rule is a rule!! So came in the BT. Breath tax!! My grandfather said.. "Son, in my younger days, there used to be a tax called PT, the Professional tax, where in i paid 200Rs for many infinite years!! this BT is very strange!!"
Every month along with your electricity,water and gas bills this oxygen bill will also to be borne by the individual. Welcome to year 2050!!
Its a fashion statement i told myself. Its a hot cake to all the Metrosexuals. I consoled myself with all the wierd concepts to buy one nose stud for myself.
I should buy one for myself for my very life and survival. The government has brought new laws to curb inflation. This out of blue moon idea came just like many decades before a famous union railway minister (from Bahar!) made the Railway departments balance sheet very glossy and attractive through his innovative ways and ideas. This idea has been floating for more than two decades. Yet it was successfully passed last month in the parliment in the year of 2049 again under the aegis of one G-'ji. The holy spirit of G-ji is the guarding angel.God save G-ji.
What is this nose stud? all wonder?! Yes this nose stud is Oxygen monitor meter which every citizen of this country must carry.
Just an able MP asked this question in the question hour during the winter session. Now that the air,atmosphere is rationed by the countries in the world, we cannot continue our freebies where in our people can inhale air free of cost.
Also that we tax our people for water,land,and energy only .Still there are two bhoothams that are left free to roam within the country.
These two freebies boothams are dangerous to our economy. The cabinet , the oppositions, central left,middle center, Right extreme, pink, Yellow , Blue ,orange, red, saffron, seculars, peculiars all parties went through rounds and rounds of discussions with no effect.
Atlast there was a break through. They arrived at a conclusion.
10kg of oxygen/air is free breathing for a person in a month.
Above 10kg of oxygen/air- it is 0.5kg @ 39,00USDEURINRYENDINAR*. (Unified world market single currency)
Well it was getting a bit complex here.
ABC?! OC?! BC?! MBMC,CC,SC,TC,ST,MC,HMC,MBHC,!! Quota came into play. The ministers got crazy! 20% RESERVATION FOR THIS .. 27.7% RESERVATION FOR THAT , 30% RESERVATION FOR THOSE, 10% RESERVATION FOR THESE,15.45% RESERVATION FOR THEM!!..
The super court was shocked. The judge said" Guys! your entire reservation is exceeding 100, it is actually 103.15%".
Never bother. A rule is a rule!! So came in the BT. Breath tax!! My grandfather said.. "Son, in my younger days, there used to be a tax called PT, the Professional tax, where in i paid 200Rs for many infinite years!! this BT is very strange!!"
Every month along with your electricity,water and gas bills this oxygen bill will also to be borne by the individual. Welcome to year 2050!!
Wednesday, 2 November 2011
Hex Decimal Equivalent 57005
August 15th,2011.Time 10.30 pm @ Koyembedu Bustand. I was awaiting my bus to board to Bangalore. The scheduled bus was delayed by more than half an hour. It was quarter past Eleven. There was big rush at the terminus owing to the festival and long weekends. I felt truely nostalgic. There was a sudden urge in me go back home instinctively. I Curbed it, soothing my nerves saying that I am too old for such a feeling.
A mofusil bus came to the parking bay. The driver and conductor just got down to refresh themselves. Being already late by more than a hour, our 10.30 pm bus passengers grew restless , boarding the bus on their own. They even advised the conductor to get this bus scheduled for the same. The conductor proceeded to the 'time keeper'. I boarded the bus. Seat Number 13, on the right side. Beside me was another Karthik Seat Number 14. I was amused at the strange coincidence. The bus was poorly lit with dim lamps and most of the people were sweating profusely because of hot weather outside. I opened the window shield to get some air.
The bus got ready for its schedule departure. The last two seats remained unfilled and two passengers got in. "Keep 307 rs ready" Said the conductor to each of them .
The air slowly started to flow in . and out we got on the Bangalore -Highway.
It was fine with few tea stops during the journey that conductor and driver got down to refresh themselves.
At half past five , there was strange rumblings,crash and shouts which woke me up. I was fine. I looked around. I found lot of sand strewn across my face and all over my seat. Slowly the shouts and shocks gave into yelling and howlings. It was all dark inside the bus. I realized for the first time in my life, that the bus i had travelled met with a serious accident. The 16th August dawn has a lasting impact in my life. The early morning rays at place outside Kolar gave me the clear picture. The left half of bus was crushed ,only mangled metal pieces and debris remained. I am very lucky to write this experience, for no one else should ever come across such a scene. Mangled luggage, severed limbs, broken legs, it was truely devastating.
It was around 6.15am, the ambulance started rescuing people.
Casualities?! Yes i saw atleast couple , Conductor one among them . I still ask this question Why this experience for me and the rest of the passengers. This incident is quite strong for me and for anyone i suppose. Well i understand that Hex equivalent of "57005" is there always for all. But its my humble prayer it should not be gruesome to anyone.
Later as i shared my unfortunate incident with my friends, they were shocked.
For they had also seen the same , through the Film "Engeyum Epodhum". True as shown in the climax of the movie, my experience was equally shocking and gruesome.
Divine intervention and some guarding angels saved our lives.
OM Shaanthi Shaanthi Shaanthihi.
A mofusil bus came to the parking bay. The driver and conductor just got down to refresh themselves. Being already late by more than a hour, our 10.30 pm bus passengers grew restless , boarding the bus on their own. They even advised the conductor to get this bus scheduled for the same. The conductor proceeded to the 'time keeper'. I boarded the bus. Seat Number 13, on the right side. Beside me was another Karthik Seat Number 14. I was amused at the strange coincidence. The bus was poorly lit with dim lamps and most of the people were sweating profusely because of hot weather outside. I opened the window shield to get some air.
The bus got ready for its schedule departure. The last two seats remained unfilled and two passengers got in. "Keep 307 rs ready" Said the conductor to each of them .
The air slowly started to flow in . and out we got on the Bangalore -Highway.
It was fine with few tea stops during the journey that conductor and driver got down to refresh themselves.
At half past five , there was strange rumblings,crash and shouts which woke me up. I was fine. I looked around. I found lot of sand strewn across my face and all over my seat. Slowly the shouts and shocks gave into yelling and howlings. It was all dark inside the bus. I realized for the first time in my life, that the bus i had travelled met with a serious accident. The 16th August dawn has a lasting impact in my life. The early morning rays at place outside Kolar gave me the clear picture. The left half of bus was crushed ,only mangled metal pieces and debris remained. I am very lucky to write this experience, for no one else should ever come across such a scene. Mangled luggage, severed limbs, broken legs, it was truely devastating.
It was around 6.15am, the ambulance started rescuing people.
Casualities?! Yes i saw atleast couple , Conductor one among them . I still ask this question Why this experience for me and the rest of the passengers. This incident is quite strong for me and for anyone i suppose. Well i understand that Hex equivalent of "57005" is there always for all. But its my humble prayer it should not be gruesome to anyone.
Later as i shared my unfortunate incident with my friends, they were shocked.
For they had also seen the same , through the Film "Engeyum Epodhum". True as shown in the climax of the movie, my experience was equally shocking and gruesome.
Divine intervention and some guarding angels saved our lives.
OM Shaanthi Shaanthi Shaanthihi.
Saturday, 22 October 2011
Those day's TV programs.Nostalgic!!
Moving on from my love towards coffee, my home climate was very conducive with the in coming of new television. Prime slot programs needed by everyone was satisfied by two tv's.
Yet, even now i wonder why would we need two televisions? and secondly why so many channels cluttering the co-axial cables(/setup box and also adding lot of satellite debris!!)??
I think this is actually becoming a norm in many places these days!.
A casual look at the newspapers these days for the day's television schedule brings in lot of worrying thoughts to me .
A simple representation of this can be :" Are these very much needed? "
I still cherish those days of TV programs from the good old "DOORDARSHAN".
I get a feeling that the balance between the entertainment, and learning was very good then.
Being in Pondicherry, we got feeder DD1-Madras from "Madras -Doordarshan" from 5 pm onwards to night 9pm. Then it was over to Delhi-Doordarshan till 10pm .
I vaguely remember some programs (being nostalgic) and take you all through the winding path to our past!
1.Kurinchi Malar.(Ex Deputy CM Stalin was the hero in this serial). Between 7.30-8pm ,Mondays!!-- in 1991?!?
2.Tuesday One hour drama . 7.30-8.30 pm. Usually not that great.
3. Mariyadai Raman
4. Idhu oru Manithanin kadhai- (Raghuvaran was acting a dunkard in this! Great acting! )
5. En Iniya Eiyendira.. (Sujatha's Sci-fi!.. "Naan Sibi .. Nee Nilla".. remember this dialog?)
5. Thupariyum Sambhu.(YG Mahendran)
6.Oliyum-Olliyum, Chitrahaar.
7. ulla -varum Olikathir.
8. Rail-Snegam( i think this special for many people, lovely title song in Sahana ragam).
9. Turning point.
10. Bhomkesh Bakshi.
11.Vikram and Bethal.
12. Ramayanam
13.Mahabharath.
14.Kanmani Poonga.
15. Duck Tales, Jungle book,Tales spin, He Man and the master of universe, Spider man( on Saturday evenings),Laurel and Hardy.
16.Ek se Badkar Ek.( I think this came in DD-2!!)
17. Sword of Tippu Sultan.
18. Malgudi days.
19. Madhu Cheenu, Vanna Kolangal, Naam KudumbaM
20. Iravil Oru Pagal (Revathi and Suresh Menon, Revathi is a blind girl!!).
21. Washington ill Thirumanam
22. Maapilai Muruku (DD-2)
23. Surabhi -- (Amul Surabhi)!!
24. Discovery of India- (Sunday evening 3-4pm?!!)
( Please note observations given here within brackets are purely from the sight of a 9 or 10 year old kid !!) and then Saturday evening's Hindi movies and Sunday evening's Tamil movies.
I may be used to seeing lot of Sivaji ,MGR during this time in TV, that made me a fan for these guys and movies from these periods. Add on top of this DD-2Metro came in later and i would say it was all fine even then. The above list mostly made up for the entire week. Tlist is not that tightly compiled, even then the entire package was not taxing. I would like to add that though the list may be entertainment oriented, i still stick to that it also helped us in our learning ( because a half-an-hour program ) after school is an "OK daily - dosage" to the kid. Add that many of these were not derived from Films, or film subjects!!
In today's scenario , a single channel's program list for the day has more than 200% than the list
that we were used to for the entire week. Multiply it by 8 or 10 channels in foray, my God, it is 2000%. And most of these contents are made from films!
I don't bring in Discovery,Animal-Planet ,Nat-Geo,Cartoon network,Pogo - channels here.
Person be it anyone - from baby to school going kids , people from College,employed ones, and the retired ones , we get into this pressure zone and it becomes very hard to crack this nut.
One thing that needs a special mention here, is most of these day's programs have quality and people's professionalism has increased leaps and bounds. But that does not mean that we must see them. Yet because of our day-to-day attachment with these programs , we start feeling that this as our own part!
A show for the best singer -filters from over 20000 participants and then at the end there is one winner! Though there can be one winner logically by self imposed rules, it creates ample stress and heart burns for the talented lot of participants and audiences. Is this needed?
Similarly the same case with soap operas,reality shows and even the News that mostly giving raise to stress and also pain. (though the audience may claim otherwise! it is not the case)
Another serious problem is the content these programs carry. I found that many times, these programs cross the content border and becomes irrelevant,unsuitable for the audience. With the case of Doordarshan it was always Safe, i would say. But with private channels we put our self into lot of this exposure risk from the form of contents,and even in advertisements!
.. To continue!
Yet, even now i wonder why would we need two televisions? and secondly why so many channels cluttering the co-axial cables(/setup box and also adding lot of satellite debris!!)??
I think this is actually becoming a norm in many places these days!.
A casual look at the newspapers these days for the day's television schedule brings in lot of worrying thoughts to me .
A simple representation of this can be :" Are these very much needed? "
I still cherish those days of TV programs from the good old "DOORDARSHAN".
I get a feeling that the balance between the entertainment, and learning was very good then.
Being in Pondicherry, we got feeder DD1-Madras from "Madras -Doordarshan" from 5 pm onwards to night 9pm. Then it was over to Delhi-Doordarshan till 10pm .
I vaguely remember some programs (being nostalgic) and take you all through the winding path to our past!
1.Kurinchi Malar.(Ex Deputy CM Stalin was the hero in this serial). Between 7.30-8pm ,Mondays!!-- in 1991?!?
2.Tuesday One hour drama . 7.30-8.30 pm. Usually not that great.
3. Mariyadai Raman
4. Idhu oru Manithanin kadhai- (Raghuvaran was acting a dunkard in this! Great acting! )
5. En Iniya Eiyendira.. (Sujatha's Sci-fi!.. "Naan Sibi .. Nee Nilla".. remember this dialog?)
5. Thupariyum Sambhu.(YG Mahendran)
6.Oliyum-Olliyum, Chitrahaar.
7. ulla -varum Olikathir.
8. Rail-Snegam( i think this special for many people, lovely title song in Sahana ragam).
9. Turning point.
10. Bhomkesh Bakshi.
11.Vikram and Bethal.
12. Ramayanam
13.Mahabharath.
14.Kanmani Poonga.
15. Duck Tales, Jungle book,Tales spin, He Man and the master of universe, Spider man( on Saturday evenings),Laurel and Hardy.
16.Ek se Badkar Ek.( I think this came in DD-2!!)
17. Sword of Tippu Sultan.
18. Malgudi days.
19. Madhu Cheenu, Vanna Kolangal, Naam KudumbaM
20. Iravil Oru Pagal (Revathi and Suresh Menon, Revathi is a blind girl!!).
21. Washington ill Thirumanam
22. Maapilai Muruku (DD-2)
23. Surabhi -- (Amul Surabhi)!!
24. Discovery of India- (Sunday evening 3-4pm?!!)
( Please note observations given here within brackets are purely from the sight of a 9 or 10 year old kid !!) and then Saturday evening's Hindi movies and Sunday evening's Tamil movies.
I may be used to seeing lot of Sivaji ,MGR during this time in TV, that made me a fan for these guys and movies from these periods. Add on top of this DD-2Metro came in later and i would say it was all fine even then. The above list mostly made up for the entire week. Tlist is not that tightly compiled, even then the entire package was not taxing. I would like to add that though the list may be entertainment oriented, i still stick to that it also helped us in our learning ( because a half-an-hour program ) after school is an "OK daily - dosage" to the kid. Add that many of these were not derived from Films, or film subjects!!
In today's scenario , a single channel's program list for the day has more than 200% than the list
that we were used to for the entire week. Multiply it by 8 or 10 channels in foray, my God, it is 2000%. And most of these contents are made from films!
I don't bring in Discovery,Animal-Planet ,Nat-Geo,Cartoon network,Pogo - channels here.
Person be it anyone - from baby to school going kids , people from College,employed ones, and the retired ones , we get into this pressure zone and it becomes very hard to crack this nut.
One thing that needs a special mention here, is most of these day's programs have quality and people's professionalism has increased leaps and bounds. But that does not mean that we must see them. Yet because of our day-to-day attachment with these programs , we start feeling that this as our own part!
A show for the best singer -filters from over 20000 participants and then at the end there is one winner! Though there can be one winner logically by self imposed rules, it creates ample stress and heart burns for the talented lot of participants and audiences. Is this needed?
Similarly the same case with soap operas,reality shows and even the News that mostly giving raise to stress and also pain. (though the audience may claim otherwise! it is not the case)
Another serious problem is the content these programs carry. I found that many times, these programs cross the content border and becomes irrelevant,unsuitable for the audience. With the case of Doordarshan it was always Safe, i would say. But with private channels we put our self into lot of this exposure risk from the form of contents,and even in advertisements!
.. To continue!
Saturday, 8 October 2011
The truth serum
"Lets keep it short now.I will meet Divakar in the evening". The voice in the other end agreed.
"Ok, thats nice. Bye.Bye". Renjith disconnected the call. Thangavel came into the room.
"Doctor,Mr.Alphonse is waiting to meet you". Renjith moved towards the visitor's room.
"Good afternoon, Mr.Alphonse" greeted Renjith entering the room.
"Doctor, good afternoon". "we need your help in this double murder case".
"Sure.The double murder case? i see... .What is the support you look for?"
"The Truth serum!"
"Truth serum?" "Yes, my chief has asked for your support on this!".
"Well ok..., but its out of way ,its against court of law".
"Well this is for spirit of law."
Renjith was lost in momentary thoughtfulness. "Ok, Mr. Alphonse, i agree. When do you need it?"
"We need it this evening , doctor"
"Collect it at 5pm" was Renjith terse reply.
Alphonse left the "Center for Higher Psychiatry studies".Renjith Karunakaran was its chief.
The sun had settled down. Renjith was on his way to the Grand Canyon. As expected Divakar was awaiting Renjith. Divakar wore a jaded look. Renjith was prepared to resolve this today. He moved in. Divakar was at the reserved table. Renjith glanced at Divakar's sober look .
Silence prevailed for sometime. Renjith took initiative.The bartender was signalled to bring in Black dot and Cognac. Renjith slowly sipped his cognac, enticing Divakar. Divakar relented.
The clear liquid vanished little by little. The black dot bottle was empty now.
Divakar started to pour out.
"Vasco is .....". Renjith withstood the storm. Divakar was a relaxed man.
Renjith looked at the clock. It was quarter past eleven . He checked his Mobile, which was in 'silence' mode. There was a SMS message awaiting. "Truth serum worked, thanks"
He spoke to himself "Yes truth-serum, you worked.. but who are you?!"
He smiled to himself, looking at the empty bottle lying.
"Ok, thats nice. Bye.Bye". Renjith disconnected the call. Thangavel came into the room.
"Doctor,Mr.Alphonse is waiting to meet you". Renjith moved towards the visitor's room.
"Good afternoon, Mr.Alphonse" greeted Renjith entering the room.
"Doctor, good afternoon". "we need your help in this double murder case".
"Sure.The double murder case? i see... .What is the support you look for?"
"The Truth serum!"
"Truth serum?" "Yes, my chief has asked for your support on this!".
"Well ok..., but its out of way ,its against court of law".
"Well this is for spirit of law."
Renjith was lost in momentary thoughtfulness. "Ok, Mr. Alphonse, i agree. When do you need it?"
"We need it this evening , doctor"
"Collect it at 5pm" was Renjith terse reply.
Alphonse left the "Center for Higher Psychiatry studies".Renjith Karunakaran was its chief.
The sun had settled down. Renjith was on his way to the Grand Canyon. As expected Divakar was awaiting Renjith. Divakar wore a jaded look. Renjith was prepared to resolve this today. He moved in. Divakar was at the reserved table. Renjith glanced at Divakar's sober look .
Silence prevailed for sometime. Renjith took initiative.The bartender was signalled to bring in Black dot and Cognac. Renjith slowly sipped his cognac, enticing Divakar. Divakar relented.
The clear liquid vanished little by little. The black dot bottle was empty now.
Divakar started to pour out.
"Vasco is .....". Renjith withstood the storm. Divakar was a relaxed man.
Renjith looked at the clock. It was quarter past eleven . He checked his Mobile, which was in 'silence' mode. There was a SMS message awaiting. "Truth serum worked, thanks"
He spoke to himself "Yes truth-serum, you worked.. but who are you?!"
He smiled to himself, looking at the empty bottle lying.
Tuesday, 4 October 2011
Big indian movies..Hit movies .. but serious flaws!!
Today is an auspicious day. Its my date of joining my first job. Seek all your blessings, wellwishes for it!
Coming to the topic.I have selected three movies here for a short discusssion.
All three are big budget ones, super duper hits and Big heros.
Chronologically:
1. Ramana: The story was good. Vijaykanth as a professor was good in acting(no question on that). But Murugadoss flawed at one place minimum. He showed close up shots of Professor. Ramana, typing in his laptop, with Windows media player running on its screen. I checked with Microsoft. No such media player software available till date!! :(
2. 3 Idiots: AmirKhan frantically gets things Done in the climax.... "AAALLL IZZZZ WELLL" but yes and no partially. Too many times the director has used USB-data card in Rancho's laptop. The timeline of the movie and the availablity of AIRTEL USB data card ( which is clearly shown for business reasons) dont really match!
3. Endiran: Well myself an ardent Rajini fan. Excuse me ! Why would Chitti instruct his "soldiers" in human audible frequencies? or a language that is language of humans. As such some machine instructions, crypt codes, would have done the job better. With Chitti "using zigbee" earlier, the suggested approach would have made the movie more bland..
Neverthless "Black sheep" "Black sheep" was verymuch enjoyable!!!
Bye bye
Coming to the topic.I have selected three movies here for a short discusssion.
All three are big budget ones, super duper hits and Big heros.
Chronologically:
1. Ramana: The story was good. Vijaykanth as a professor was good in acting(no question on that). But Murugadoss flawed at one place minimum. He showed close up shots of Professor. Ramana, typing in his laptop, with Windows media player running on its screen. I checked with Microsoft. No such media player software available till date!! :(
2. 3 Idiots: AmirKhan frantically gets things Done in the climax.... "AAALLL IZZZZ WELLL" but yes and no partially. Too many times the director has used USB-data card in Rancho's laptop. The timeline of the movie and the availablity of AIRTEL USB data card ( which is clearly shown for business reasons) dont really match!
3. Endiran: Well myself an ardent Rajini fan. Excuse me ! Why would Chitti instruct his "soldiers" in human audible frequencies? or a language that is language of humans. As such some machine instructions, crypt codes, would have done the job better. With Chitti "using zigbee" earlier, the suggested approach would have made the movie more bland..
Neverthless "Black sheep" "Black sheep" was verymuch enjoyable!!!
Bye bye
Sunday, 2 October 2011
A lot can happen over coffee!
It was three in the evening. I was there at my work desk. Fighting hard I was, the recently
occurring daily 3pm headaches. This was a self created problem. The reason was that I swore
sometime back not to touch the coffee @ office.
Nishanth, my manager comes hard at me. Especially, very hard after my 3pm coffee.
I took to no taking coffee @ work place after observing the sequence of my coffee-intake and run-ins with Nishanth. Atleast i wanted to stop this recurrence and there-by reduce my budding inert bad-blood and silent swearing against Nishanth. To certain extent Nishanth's behavior mellowed a bit in past two weeks , thanks to my coffee "sacrifice". Over all I was happy.
It was strange decision, looking back now. Why should Nishanth's whippings and my coffee drinks connect ? Two distinct and separate dots frankly. Yet these two dots theory connected. Through an invisible sequence connecting them in either straight or curves or circle!!, for which even now i dont have an answer! I now realize that there is an undercurrent third dot, which seems to connect these as well!! Simply blame it on Chaos theory!
The free running speaker inner voice was asking me "Pattu, tell me why this all of a sudden? For past twenty five years, you are used to this drink. The system is adapted to it. Why No to it now? I was Silent. This was the polite reply from me to the free running speaker inner voice.
The headache was un-bearable. It lasted for at least half an hour. I realized it and knew it for sometime .I had become an addict. A coffee addict, to be very specific. For i did not only avoid the 3pm coffee, but abstained from coffee completely now. I renounced coffee for the sake of my job. It was NO Coffee surrender and penance to the Almighty. My body was starving for its daily drug dose. It has been slowly abused un-knowingly. I was struggling. It was becoming hard as the days progressed, and I was angry at my own foolish decision.
It was that week's Saturday, I chanced to go to a social gathering nearby. A passer-by onlooker, who was an elderly person came to me. We never knew each other. Few minutes passed by in silence. He made a casual but straight specific remark looking at me "Don’t avoid the coffee. May be add some more sugar to it"! I was there smiling at him and at his remarks. A mind reader?! Well i dont know. I moved away from that place.
Back home, i asked my mom to get me a strong cup of caffeine. It was new day after all and also a Sunday. I am supported by that noble soul as well. I now have got a strong excuse to hook to my coffee habit once again. Casually i looked at the newspaper. The Page III was full of TV channels and the programs listed for the day. I was looking into each of them gingerly.
My wife came to me taking the empty coffee tumbler away. "We need new TV". The statement was short but seemed decisive and final! I was amused, "Well has this one gone bad? Its only 4 months old? I blurted out.
There was exchange of glances between us. My inner voice also smiled sheepishly. It knew the reason, and i knew that too. The new TV in the living room was hale and healthy. There was resource constraint not at office but :-) @ home ! There was one TV and this thing was brewing for some time now.
The scope of this one resource among three equally powerful mangers was the problem. This curious “tripartite” case was evenly contested by my parents on one side, my wife & kid on side two, the third side from my brother, sister. The cabinet met over again and again and the "resolution" was finally passed. This resolution was for one more TV! and hence the RFQ was raised for purchase by home minister.
Already with enough on plates, the poor finance minister who was not even part of that cabinet meeting , i was wondering how to make the ends meet for this new purchase! Nishanth will throw me out to sea , if i ask for a pay rise for a tv!! A TV became a villan!! Iam happy that God has been very kind to me so far. I hope HE is also kind to Nishanth as well giving him lot of energy to deal with his dull sub-ordinate. Getting a new job now is the last straw that i would pray for. After being in the same project for years, iam out of touch with the outside world!
But, every-one in home feigned deaf. "Poor guy you cannot be good to all! My free running speaker spoke up.
A Divine intervention!! There was knock at the door. I opened , and in came a person who is
popular in our locality . He is the familiar face of locally favored political Party. "Sir please take this coupon and come to the Public Distribution Unit at our locality this Wednesday. This government has kept its promise, you see."
Though i don’t align with any party at all, i found that "this promise" was too much!
Nevertheless, i silently received it, signed an acknowledgement slip and gave him back. I scanned the receipt. "Color TV Distribution Scheme" The message was loud and clear. I took it and kept it on the shelf of the living room.
Still mulling on how to purchase a tv, i was staring at the tv buy options in my internet browser.
There was a discussion and cheerful giggles around. How did the gloomy day go bright? I looked into the corner from which the noise came. It was my mom, wife and sister together.
"Oh what a tight corner?!" I thought.
My wife came to me smiling. "Well did you keep that coupon on shelf ? I nodded.
My mother joined, "You see just yesterday we were discussing on to get a new tv. Today we have got one coupon". With my sister joining the group , all three echoed "God has answered our prayers"
I got wild with that last statement!"God answered our prayer"? I told them straight "Look, we may need to buy one , but i am not going to use that coupon". God agreed with me. It was not his answer at all to my tv problem. It was a cross talk and outside noise that came home in the form of a coupon!
It was like one ball bowled and three wickets! Yes all three were hurt and out!
Then the bold one among them started "Look, we need one more tv, thats all i can say. We need it"
Back to square one, Monday morning , It was coffee time. I told my wife "Padma, We should not use that coupon". It was Quizzical session.
"Why"?
"It was not meant for us actually. This scheme was started for people below poverty"
"So"?
"So it is not morally right to make use of that." She turned a parrot, nose as red as chillies.
Quiz ended with two short questions? No. No.
Enter my father. Round two.
"Ennda Narendra when is that TV coupon due date?"
"Wednesday pa, but he says he is not going to get it". Replied Padma embolden with new support from father.
I started "Illa appa, you see this coupon is not for us, it was started for BPL".
"BPL or Onida or Philips why bother about the brand just get it da?" My unassuming father retorted.
"Haiooo, BPL I mean its Below Poverty Line pa" I gave him gyan!
"Oh hoo.. ennada nee" my father broke into smile. "When Government itself has announced it you should make use of it. That’s all i can say"
Round Three. Krish, my brother entered.
"Why are you saying no?" My brother started briskly Sehwag style, sipping his coffee.
"Krishna , what are you saying? The government is meant for providing the basics at least. The basics are yet to be covered. How do you people the so called literates and responsible ones accept this?
"Basics?! What basics? you mean" Replied Krishna.
"Food, job, infrastructure, health care, education, administration" I gave a burst reply.
"My bike got punctured for fourth time yesterday in one month" A startling statement from my bro, made me laugh.
"Do you expect government to correct your puncture?" With my laugh controlled i asked him. I was happy in assuming that i am winning this round.
In came a reply as a straight drive from Krish, as straight as master blaster’s trade mark!
"This government or any government is not doing anything, what i mean is the so called road outside our apartment was naturally formed because of our own transport movement , wear and tear"
"Over hundred representations for laying road have gone to dustbins". My tax money and your tax money has got into scams. You cannot stop that. Can you? No bus, no transport infrastructure, no 24Hr electricity, water, nothing. So just agree to the good what we get. If you dont get this, Some other "Narendra" will sign for and get it in your name "
My mother , came in. "Paaru da kanna, Now going for a new tv purchase is not needed. Its
waste of money isnt? Dont think too much". I was happy that i found one able soul to support my case that morning. She continued. "You see even Dr.Natesan and advocate Dass have applied. Their wives told me. This is correct. What we do is our right only!"Wednesday is good day also. "Pon Kadaichalum Budhan Kadaikadhu..so lets get it" She ended.
My last hope found was a mirage!! I fumbled even more! "Duty! Right! Citizen right?! My God”.
This is truely new age definition of freedom and rights of citizen!
The end was fast coming. I sensed it. My mom, bro, sis, wife and father on one side of the table. Other side it was a solo performance.Truth as it may be, the jury asked me "Tell us one thing. Do you say that you shall wait for the good things to happen your way? or accept the the single good thing that comes our way? The about to be made judgment was very legibly written. I resigned and accepted to taste success gracefully.
After all, Iam utilizing the right given to the citizen. After all, I am helping the government to
fulfill its promise. After all, the size of hole in my pay-packet stayed the same. After all, Nishanth will be happy if no pay rise question is triggered now. After all, the resource constraint @ home was resolved amicably and everyone is happy.
The TV was innocently showing the movie channel. Times's rating "All time best hundred
movies of the century" was the show's name. "Naalu peru Nalla irukanum'na edhuvume thappu illa" The famous immortalized character’s dialog was broadcast there by giving me clarity. I realized this decision was doing good to more than four people! I got a head start to my week's office work. The new tv was sanctified to enter home.
To continue.
occurring daily 3pm headaches. This was a self created problem. The reason was that I swore
sometime back not to touch the coffee @ office.
Nishanth, my manager comes hard at me. Especially, very hard after my 3pm coffee.
I took to no taking coffee @ work place after observing the sequence of my coffee-intake and run-ins with Nishanth. Atleast i wanted to stop this recurrence and there-by reduce my budding inert bad-blood and silent swearing against Nishanth. To certain extent Nishanth's behavior mellowed a bit in past two weeks , thanks to my coffee "sacrifice". Over all I was happy.
It was strange decision, looking back now. Why should Nishanth's whippings and my coffee drinks connect ? Two distinct and separate dots frankly. Yet these two dots theory connected. Through an invisible sequence connecting them in either straight or curves or circle!!, for which even now i dont have an answer! I now realize that there is an undercurrent third dot, which seems to connect these as well!! Simply blame it on Chaos theory!
The free running speaker inner voice was asking me "Pattu, tell me why this all of a sudden? For past twenty five years, you are used to this drink. The system is adapted to it. Why No to it now? I was Silent. This was the polite reply from me to the free running speaker inner voice.
The headache was un-bearable. It lasted for at least half an hour. I realized it and knew it for sometime .I had become an addict. A coffee addict, to be very specific. For i did not only avoid the 3pm coffee, but abstained from coffee completely now. I renounced coffee for the sake of my job. It was NO Coffee surrender and penance to the Almighty. My body was starving for its daily drug dose. It has been slowly abused un-knowingly. I was struggling. It was becoming hard as the days progressed, and I was angry at my own foolish decision.
It was that week's Saturday, I chanced to go to a social gathering nearby. A passer-by onlooker, who was an elderly person came to me. We never knew each other. Few minutes passed by in silence. He made a casual but straight specific remark looking at me "Don’t avoid the coffee. May be add some more sugar to it"! I was there smiling at him and at his remarks. A mind reader?! Well i dont know. I moved away from that place.
Back home, i asked my mom to get me a strong cup of caffeine. It was new day after all and also a Sunday. I am supported by that noble soul as well. I now have got a strong excuse to hook to my coffee habit once again. Casually i looked at the newspaper. The Page III was full of TV channels and the programs listed for the day. I was looking into each of them gingerly.
My wife came to me taking the empty coffee tumbler away. "We need new TV". The statement was short but seemed decisive and final! I was amused, "Well has this one gone bad? Its only 4 months old? I blurted out.
There was exchange of glances between us. My inner voice also smiled sheepishly. It knew the reason, and i knew that too. The new TV in the living room was hale and healthy. There was resource constraint not at office but :-) @ home ! There was one TV and this thing was brewing for some time now.
The scope of this one resource among three equally powerful mangers was the problem. This curious “tripartite” case was evenly contested by my parents on one side, my wife & kid on side two, the third side from my brother, sister. The cabinet met over again and again and the "resolution" was finally passed. This resolution was for one more TV! and hence the RFQ was raised for purchase by home minister.
Already with enough on plates, the poor finance minister who was not even part of that cabinet meeting , i was wondering how to make the ends meet for this new purchase! Nishanth will throw me out to sea , if i ask for a pay rise for a tv!! A TV became a villan!! Iam happy that God has been very kind to me so far. I hope HE is also kind to Nishanth as well giving him lot of energy to deal with his dull sub-ordinate. Getting a new job now is the last straw that i would pray for. After being in the same project for years, iam out of touch with the outside world!
But, every-one in home feigned deaf. "Poor guy you cannot be good to all! My free running speaker spoke up.
A Divine intervention!! There was knock at the door. I opened , and in came a person who is
popular in our locality . He is the familiar face of locally favored political Party. "Sir please take this coupon and come to the Public Distribution Unit at our locality this Wednesday. This government has kept its promise, you see."
Though i don’t align with any party at all, i found that "this promise" was too much!
Nevertheless, i silently received it, signed an acknowledgement slip and gave him back. I scanned the receipt. "Color TV Distribution Scheme" The message was loud and clear. I took it and kept it on the shelf of the living room.
Still mulling on how to purchase a tv, i was staring at the tv buy options in my internet browser.
There was a discussion and cheerful giggles around. How did the gloomy day go bright? I looked into the corner from which the noise came. It was my mom, wife and sister together.
"Oh what a tight corner?!" I thought.
My wife came to me smiling. "Well did you keep that coupon on shelf ? I nodded.
My mother joined, "You see just yesterday we were discussing on to get a new tv. Today we have got one coupon". With my sister joining the group , all three echoed "God has answered our prayers"
I got wild with that last statement!"God answered our prayer"? I told them straight "Look, we may need to buy one , but i am not going to use that coupon". God agreed with me. It was not his answer at all to my tv problem. It was a cross talk and outside noise that came home in the form of a coupon!
It was like one ball bowled and three wickets! Yes all three were hurt and out!
Then the bold one among them started "Look, we need one more tv, thats all i can say. We need it"
Back to square one, Monday morning , It was coffee time. I told my wife "Padma, We should not use that coupon". It was Quizzical session.
"Why"?
"It was not meant for us actually. This scheme was started for people below poverty"
"So"?
"So it is not morally right to make use of that." She turned a parrot, nose as red as chillies.
Quiz ended with two short questions? No. No.
Enter my father. Round two.
"Ennda Narendra when is that TV coupon due date?"
"Wednesday pa, but he says he is not going to get it". Replied Padma embolden with new support from father.
I started "Illa appa, you see this coupon is not for us, it was started for BPL".
"BPL or Onida or Philips why bother about the brand just get it da?" My unassuming father retorted.
"Haiooo, BPL I mean its Below Poverty Line pa" I gave him gyan!
"Oh hoo.. ennada nee" my father broke into smile. "When Government itself has announced it you should make use of it. That’s all i can say"
Round Three. Krish, my brother entered.
"Why are you saying no?" My brother started briskly Sehwag style, sipping his coffee.
"Krishna , what are you saying? The government is meant for providing the basics at least. The basics are yet to be covered. How do you people the so called literates and responsible ones accept this?
"Basics?! What basics? you mean" Replied Krishna.
"Food, job, infrastructure, health care, education, administration" I gave a burst reply.
"My bike got punctured for fourth time yesterday in one month" A startling statement from my bro, made me laugh.
"Do you expect government to correct your puncture?" With my laugh controlled i asked him. I was happy in assuming that i am winning this round.
In came a reply as a straight drive from Krish, as straight as master blaster’s trade mark!
"This government or any government is not doing anything, what i mean is the so called road outside our apartment was naturally formed because of our own transport movement , wear and tear"
"Over hundred representations for laying road have gone to dustbins". My tax money and your tax money has got into scams. You cannot stop that. Can you? No bus, no transport infrastructure, no 24Hr electricity, water, nothing. So just agree to the good what we get. If you dont get this, Some other "Narendra" will sign for and get it in your name "
My mother , came in. "Paaru da kanna, Now going for a new tv purchase is not needed. Its
waste of money isnt? Dont think too much". I was happy that i found one able soul to support my case that morning. She continued. "You see even Dr.Natesan and advocate Dass have applied. Their wives told me. This is correct. What we do is our right only!"Wednesday is good day also. "Pon Kadaichalum Budhan Kadaikadhu..so lets get it" She ended.
My last hope found was a mirage!! I fumbled even more! "Duty! Right! Citizen right?! My God”.
This is truely new age definition of freedom and rights of citizen!
The end was fast coming. I sensed it. My mom, bro, sis, wife and father on one side of the table. Other side it was a solo performance.Truth as it may be, the jury asked me "Tell us one thing. Do you say that you shall wait for the good things to happen your way? or accept the the single good thing that comes our way? The about to be made judgment was very legibly written. I resigned and accepted to taste success gracefully.
After all, Iam utilizing the right given to the citizen. After all, I am helping the government to
fulfill its promise. After all, the size of hole in my pay-packet stayed the same. After all, Nishanth will be happy if no pay rise question is triggered now. After all, the resource constraint @ home was resolved amicably and everyone is happy.
The TV was innocently showing the movie channel. Times's rating "All time best hundred
movies of the century" was the show's name. "Naalu peru Nalla irukanum'na edhuvume thappu illa" The famous immortalized character’s dialog was broadcast there by giving me clarity. I realized this decision was doing good to more than four people! I got a head start to my week's office work. The new tv was sanctified to enter home.
To continue.
Friday, 30 September 2011
The other half!
Hi,
Just quarter past 12 on 30th September, I created an alter-ego , its identity in the form of a blog address in the VW.
Yep , after seeing lot of my friends active participation in the VW, i too finally decided to board the boat.
As the name indicates, SNR?! what is this?!
SNR-implies Signal-to-Noise ratio.. Yappa saami.. Ivaru romba Techi yamma ?
No i dont really want to be a Honcho . Yet at the sametime i would like to clearly state that my views, scribblings, thoughts, writings has signals and also has lot of noises.
Signal and Noise are perceptions to individuals . Everyone's internal reflections are unique and so are their outward expressions and reactions. So is the Signals and Noise.
I consider that the balance between the external SNR and the internal SNR is very crucial for all.
With your kind attention to this SNR funda.. let me open up!
Let your filter filter the noise and amplify the signal or ground the signal!
Just quarter past 12 on 30th September, I created an alter-ego , its identity in the form of a blog address in the VW.
Yep , after seeing lot of my friends active participation in the VW, i too finally decided to board the boat.
As the name indicates, SNR?! what is this?!
SNR-implies Signal-to-Noise ratio.. Yappa saami.. Ivaru romba Techi yamma ?
No i dont really want to be a Honcho . Yet at the sametime i would like to clearly state that my views, scribblings, thoughts, writings has signals and also has lot of noises.
Signal and Noise are perceptions to individuals . Everyone's internal reflections are unique and so are their outward expressions and reactions. So is the Signals and Noise.
I consider that the balance between the external SNR and the internal SNR is very crucial for all.
With your kind attention to this SNR funda.. let me open up!
Let your filter filter the noise and amplify the signal or ground the signal!
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