Sunday, November 30, 2003

Mee Mumbaikar.......Well lemme remind U that I'm an Indian first!

This disturbs me. The violence against biharis is shocking and totally uncalled for. For the uninitiated this is what happened. Shiv Sainiks of the political party Shiv Sena recently beat up the Biharis who had come to give the railway examinations. This is due to apparent frustration of the jobs in Mumbai being usurped by the so-called outsiders nee non-mumbai people. The violence first started in Assam. Again the biharis were the target. The assamese targeted them for appearing for some recruitment exam. The shiv sena followed suit then in mumbai. This is ridiculous. Their demand is something which I don't see being fulfilled. I agree Mumbai is bursting its seams. Its well tooooooooooooooooooooooooooo crowded. People from all parts of the country come here coz Mumbai provides with such kind of opportunities. U can't stop them from coming here. Goddammit this is India. Mumbai is not separate from India. One will find migration to all the metros coz metros offer job opportunities. Its just that comparatively more people come to Mumbai. Violence is just not the solution. People forget that migrants have contributed so much Mumbai's growth. Mumbai is a fabulous city, so cosmopolitan, so rich both culturally and economically. Events like this will spoil the whole party we having till now. Well......Ok, we have a problem here. But sit down and find out a solution. Discussions will definitely avail a solution. But this senseless violence is not a solution at all. Mumbai is the highest tax-paying city in India. (approximately 37% of the tax is paid by Mumbai ) Is it so difficult to exert pressure on the centre to have our demands met. It should be made clear that if Mumbai needs to grow, other cities in India also have to grow. Creation of cities is the need of the day. Ok.Ok......This can't be done in a day. It will sure take time. But these are long term solutions. But till that time, we have got to be patient. Such things cannot be done in a day.

According to me this is just an election gimmick. But don't forget that such gimmicks can create havoc in the country. Our country has just witnessed the tragedy at Gujarat. We don't want another one to happen again. Please think beyond politics, elections and power. People have been coming to mumbai since so many years. They have become an inherent part of Mumbai's social and cultural fabric. One can't just suddenly wake up one fine morning and start hating them, despising them. Is it so hard to regard everyone as Indians as against discriminating people on the basis of the language, like "U r a Maharashtrian, U r a tamilian" Bull shit! Everything has a good and bad thing attached to it. It comes like a package deal. If some migrants (not some, a large number) have contributed to the well-being of the city, there will exist a small miniscule portion of people who will cause harm too. One can't just forget the +ve work of all the people just because of certain stupid people. One cannot have the best of everything. In fact many of the so-called trouble makers are the sons of soil itself.

If one goes on to see, every major city in the world has seen migration. In fact USof A is a country of migrants. Look where it is today. Its the super power. Similarly Mumbai is numero uno as far its ranking amongst the metropolis in India is considered. A large portion of success should be attributed to the migrants who have enriched the city in every way.

Its high time certain problems are addressed in a proper, mature way to find solution and not in the stupid and insane acts like these.

Wednesday, November 26, 2003

The kiddie me!

I was quite a gullible kid. Anybody and everybody could tell me anything and I would believe them. Just like that, no questions, no doubts! I had my own fundas regarding certain things. Read them......

When I was a kid..........

.....I used to think that I cud sneak into the TV and go to the different places that were being shown on TV. I also believed that I cud go inside the TV and visit the actors and actresses who used to dance against the picturesque locales to the tune of the filmy numbers. But I didn't know how to do that and didn't have guts to try that out (thank god I didn't try it out, heheheheee)

.....I used to think when 2 people fell in love, they sang songs as in the movies. hheehehhe, filmy me!

.....I used to think the songs which came in from the radio was actually because few people were inside the radio busy belting out numbers for us. lol! I wonder what kind of technology would be needed to achieve such a thing. hehheheeee

.....I always used to accompany my dad to a park in my area. It almost used to be a daily affair. The park had pictures of animals and birds stuck against the walls and also painted on the iron grills. I never used to touch it or go near it coz I overheard someone that they wud come alive by my touch and bite me. So I was absolutely petrified. Heeeheheeee.....

.....I thought there existed different moons for different places. For instance a different moon for Mumbai, another one for B'lore etc. Sheesh.....How dumb!

...... This incident happened when I was in my second standard. My EVS (environmental science) teacher, Ms. Aravinder kaur once wrote on the blackboard something in Hindi or marathi. I was shocked cause according to me a teacher who teaches a particular subject had the knowledge only of that particular subject. It shocked me that my teacher knew marathi too. hhehehehehee!

.......I used to think all Gods and Goddesses of all religions lived in the sky and they wore dresses exactly like the actors and actresses in famous epic mythological serials. I used to think a parallel world existed up there of the gods and goddesses. I always used to wonder what would lord Ganesh say when he would meet Jesus..............Hahahahahhahaa!

........I never thought aeroplane would be so huge as it normally is. I was totally under the impression that aeroplane is just the size as it is seen from our rooftops in the sky. I never thought how human beings could actually squeeze into such a teeny weeny vehicle. Everything was accepted as it was. No questions. I lived in a beautiful world governed by my fantasy. In a way it was cute to be dumb.

Obviously growing up has changed everything. innocence is at its paraplegic stage now. It can't show its existence anymore but deep deep down inside I somehow acknowledge its frail existence. How I long to be a kid again, to led a carefree life! I sometimes wonder while reading the story of Pandora's box of troubles where the whole world was inhabited by children who never grew up at all. No adults at all! and how nature provided for everything needed for existence. But curiosity kills the cat, pandora opened the forbidden box which just spread problems everywhere throughout the world. How wish the world was still inhabited by children! Don't you think it would be wonderful, I definitely do think so.......


When I see kids today, I am sometimes shocked, they know everything. They are so intelligent. I wonder if there is anything called innocence left. I feel sad in a way coz they are missing out on something so beautiful.


Wednesday, November 19, 2003

Aisa bhi Hota hain!


I meet so many interesting people in the train. Today i couldn't help but overhear a conversation taking place between 2 gals. One was wearing a black kurti with trouser. Another one was in a salwar Kameez. Apparently they were just chit chatting since some 10-15 minutes before i started eavesdropping. (Watever, cudnt help it!) Then the conversation went like this:

Gal in black trouser (GBK): U gujju? (Gujrati)
Gal in Salwar Kameez (GSK): Yea, I am. How about u?
Gbk: (Flabbergasted)Hey, how come u working? Did they allow?
GSK: So wat, I am actually married and still continue to work.
GBK: Arrey, me also married (Got a shock of my life. She barely looked in the first yr of her college). See my sindoor (pointing to her forehead.) (Me:Very faint sindoor indded)
GSK: even i am married. (another shock, Gosh will have an heart attack now, i think i look older than her.)
GBK: U r very lucky, my Inlaws are very orthodox. They wont allow me to work. i am now working. But my inlaws dont know that. they think I am doing my MA. I did not work in the first yr. of my marriage. Sat at home and cooked, did nothing else. I got mad, u know! Doing absolutely nothing at all. Then i decided. I can't sit at home like this. I was working when i was unmarried. So why stop now!....................................................... and then my station came and i Couldn't eavesdrop furthur.
The very point of not allowing a woman to work disgust me to hell. Arrey who are the others to decide for her life. Huh! somethings just don't change. But i like the girl's spirit, rebellion spirit. Cool! One can find countless instances like this. Mumbai women rule...............

Also many a times the role of the homemaker is undermined by the family. People take her for granted. But its one of the toughest jobs in the world, managing home. That's why so many women feel stifled to be just a homemaker. Its a thankless job. Not always, But in many cases. I feel sad because of this.

Bombay is strange


Bombay is strange because....
Bombay has no bombs and is a harbour and not a bay.

Churchgate has neither church nor gate but a railway station.

There is no darkness in Andheri.
Lalbaug is neither red nor a garden.
No king ever stayed at Kings Circle.
Nor did Queen Victoria stay at Victoria Terminus.
Nor is there any princess at Princess Street.
Lower Parel is at the same level as Parel.
There are no marines or sailors at Marine Lines.
The Mahalaxmi temple is at Haji Ali not at Mahalaxmi.
There are no pigs traded at Dukar bazaar.
Teen bati is a junction of three roads and not three
lamps.
Trams terminated at Kings circle not Dadar Tram
Terminus.
Breach Candy is not a sweetmeat market.
Safed Phool has the dirtiest blackish water.
You cannot buy coal at Kolsa Street.
There are no Ironsmiths at Lohar Chawl.
There are no pot makers at Kumbhar wada.
Lokhandwala complex is not an Iron and Steel market.
Null bazaar does not sell taps.
Nor does Bheendi Bazaar sell ladies fingers.
Kalachowki does not have a black police station.
The hanging gardens are not suspended.
Mirchi Gulli does not sell chillies.
Figs do not grow in Anjir Wadi.
Sitafals do not grow in Sitafal Wadi.
Jackfruits do not grow in Fanaswadi.
......It is however true that you may get fleeced at
Chira Bazaar and robbed at Chor Bazaar.
HAVE A NICE DAY!

Sorry guys if u dont understand the lingo, I can't help it. A true-blue Mumbaiite wud always identify with such cute idiosyncrasies. Those who can understand, have fun!

P.S. Beg to differ about Bombay not having bombs. We sure have had our share this year. :(

Sunday, November 16, 2003

Lost childhood :(

I was watching Say na something to anupam uncle today on sab tv. I like tht show. Anupam Kher conducts that show well and its interesting to know that the toddlers almost have an opinion for everything in this earth. Man, they sure know their mind well. I like being with kids. They have a very different way of looking at things, interesting perspectives which sometimes makes u change ur opinion about certain things. But i dont always feel happy when i see the street kids in mumbai.

Mumbai is a city of opportunities, city of dreams they say. But life in this city is not all hunky-dory. Some make it and some don't. Poverty, homelessness is like an epidemic, its there everywhere. Mumbai is a city of extremes. Extremely rich people and the poorest of the poor co-exist peacefully. Highrises and slums are present side-by-side. I see shabby, poor kids everywhere, everyday. I see poor people living in filthiest of conditions everyday. I see kids in trains begging for money, stealing and indluging in all nonsensical activities. I see kids taking drugs in an alarming regularity. That i day i saw in a news channel about how drugs are so easily available in Dharavi. A kid was actually talking about what happens after drugs are taken, how one gets a high and all. I was zapped. Nothing's done about such things. They are all over the railway staions begging and they just dont leave u and its very irritating. I feel bad also coz they are pressurized to do the same. Its very disturbing when one sees kids taking drugs, lying in one corner of the road totally dazed. i have tried to switch off myself but its not worked. I wonder how other people cope up with this. It emotionally hits u very much. Also since i love kids it saddens me more. This is not their age to do things like this. Their whole childhood is lost. No studies, No schools, No playing, nothing. Poor things.

I admire the work some NGOs are doin in mumbai. CRY, Akanksha etc. I wanna work with some NGO so that i can do my own small bit to improve things. But at the moment I have my hands full, but i would make sure that i would join a creditable NGO. I end my post with this beautiful song my Micheal Jackson, heal the world. [Very predictable haan, but who cares! ;) ]

There's A Place In
Your Heart
And I Know That It Is Love
And This Place Could
Be Much
Brighter Than Tomorrow
And If You Really Try
You'll Find There's No Need
To Cry
In This Place You'll Feel
There's No Hurt Or Sorrow

There Are Ways
To Get There
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Little Space
Make A Better Place...

Heal The World
Make It A Better Place
For You And For Me
And The Entire Human Race
There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Better Place
For You And For Me

If You Want To Know Why
There's A Love That
Cannot Lie
Love Is Strong
It Only Cares For
Joyful Giving
If We Try
We Shall See
In This Bliss
We Cannot Feel
Fear Or Dread
We Stop Existing And
Start Living

Then It Feels That Always
Love's Enough For
Us Growing
So Make A Better World
Make A Better World...

Heal The World
Make It A Better Place
For You And For Me
And The Entire Human Race
There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Better Place
For You And For Me

And The Dream We Were
Conceived In
Will Reveal A Joyful Face
And The World We
Once Believed In
Will Shine Again In Grace
Then Why Do We Keep
Strangling Life
Wound This Earth
Crucify Its Soul
Though It's Plain To See
This World Is Heavenly
Be God's Glow

We Could Fly So High
Let Our Spirits Never Die
In My Heart
I Feel You Are All
My Brothers
Create A World With
No Fear
Together We'll Cry
Happy Tears
See The Nations Turn
Their Swords
Into Plowshares

We Could Really Get There
If You Cared Enough
For The Living
Make A Little Space
To Make A Better Place...

Heal The World
Make It A Better Place
For You And For Me
And The Entire Human Race
There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Better Place
For You And For Me

Heal The World
Make It A Better Place
For You And For Me
And The Entire Human Race
There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Better Place
For You And For Me

Heal The World
Make It A Better Place
For You And For Me
And The Entire Human Race
There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Better Place
For You And For Me

There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Better Place
For You And For Me

There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Better Place
For You And For Me

You And For Me
You And For Me
You And For Me
You And For Me
You And For Me
You And For Me
You And For Me
You And For Me
You And For Me
You And For Me
You And For Me

Thursday, November 13, 2003

So true!

I cudnt resist myself from posting this. In an era of rampant consumerism, fierce competitivness real things in life just are forgotten coz people are so busy with so many other things in life. Well read the fwd i got and u will get my point.

Charles Schultz Philosophy

You don't actually have to take the quiz.

Just read the following straight through, and you'll get the point.

It is trying to make an nice point.

Here's the quiz:

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.

2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.

3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest.

4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer prize.

5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor/ress.

6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.

How did you do?

The facts are, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday.

These are no second-rate achievers.

They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards

tarnish.Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried

with their owners.


Here's another quiz.


See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.

2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.

3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.

4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.

5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

6. Name half a dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you


Easier?

The lesson:

The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with

the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards.

They are the ones that care, that love and that effect you in their

own subtle way.


----- Charles Schulz-----

Tuesday, November 11, 2003

Happy Budday!

Well i turn 19 today! (Nov 11)

Sunday, November 09, 2003

Masoom

I saw Masoom today for the umpteenth time. Yet the movie did not fail to move me. Throughout the movie I had tears strimming from my eyes. One of the best movies ever made. Kudos to Shekhar Kapur for making such a touching movie. Actually if u see in India amidst all the glitz and glamour and the commercial potboilers children's cinema seems to be lost, totally. A movie with so much sensitivity is very rarely made in India today. Some of the other Indian movies with kids which i absolutely love is Anjali and Parichay. (There might be more, but I havent seen any.) What i loved about this movie was there was no melodrama. Everything just seemed so natural. The family setting, lovely kids, nuances of a middle class family.......everything seemed so natural........none of the actors went over the top while acting. Subtle, beautiful acting.
I dunno if everyone reading this have seen the movie but for the uninitiated the movie deals with adultery. Naseeruddin Shah is a happy family man with his wife Shabana Azmi and his 2 kids. One day he recieves a mail wherein he comes to know that he has a son from a one-night stand he has had years ago. What follows next forms the crux of the story. The performance of Jugal Hansraj, the illegitimate child is so heart rwnehcing, ur heart goes out for him. Such a beautiful performance....u almost feel like hugging him tight and consoling him when he's in distress. The major highlight of the movie is that children are finally shown to have a mind of his own. That 3 magic words , "I Love U" can make whole of a difference to a child is so evident from the movie. The subject of adultery is dealt with a lot of sensitivity. (Gosh, how many times i have used that word, sensitivity!) After a point of time the child played by jugal hansraj takes precendence over adultery and u want everything right to happen to the child. The songs are another beauty altogether. Tujhse naraaz nahi zindagi..............wowow! I love it. People who have not watched the movie yet plzzz go and watch. trust me u wont regret it.

Wednesday, November 05, 2003

I have a pimple on my face

Gosh! I have got a pimple on my face and a big huge one at that. It hurts, it pains. Most importantly it looks horrible. When i wake up in the mornings i look like a zombie from some outer-planet. All bcoz of one stupid pimple. Huh! Talk of teen angst!!!!
Also whnever i go out and i meet people, their reaction would be like'
" Oh god, shobha, wats wrong with ur face?" Now, hey none of my frens are blind, they can perfectly see wat's on my face. But no!!!!! they have to hear from my mouth that it is a pimple. Its so irritating. Stupid questions. it always happens whnever I have had a haircut. People will be like, " hey had a haircut or wat?" prompting me to reply' "No its winter and i'm shedding." Duhhhhhhhhhhh!
Anyways the sad part is, its looking gross and am just hoping it will go away soon. till then i guess i will have to bear with such inanities.

Tuesday, November 04, 2003

Help

I wanna upload a picture. How do i do that? Ppl help me......
Me back!!!!!!!

Hieeeeeeee ppl! Me back.ya its ben long have posted nething but my net conn was givin me some problem. Also was damn bored to go to a cafe and blog. This is a joke which one of my frens mailed me. Very funy. have a good laugh! hehehheehe
This is about serious communication and its result.

Okhil Chandra Sen wrote this letter to the SahibganjDivisional Railway Office in 1909. It is on display at the Railway Museum in New Delhi. It was also reproduced under the caption "Travellers' Tales" in the Far Eastern Economic Review.


THE LETTER IS AS FOLLOWS.

I am arrive by passenger train Ahmedpur station and my belly is too much swelling with jackfruit. I am therefore went to privy. Just I doing the nuisance that guard making whistle blow for train to go off and I am running with 'lotah' in one hand
and 'dhoti' in the next when I am fall over and expose all my shocking to man and female women on plateform. I am got leaved at Ahmedpur station. This too much
bad, if passenger go to make dung that dam guard not wait train five minutes for him.
I am therefore pray your honour to make big fine on that guard for public sake. Otherwise I am making big report to papers."

Any guesses why this letter was of historic value?

?....
?.... ?.......
?........
?...........
.........
............

It led to the introduction of toilets on trains!!

Hahahahahahahahahaha! Hope u had a good laugh as i did.
On the hindsight i wonder wat wud have hapened if this mahashay had not written the letter. Well watever......