The Great Indian Politics.

So much has been spoken about our dashing politicians. Indeed we never do tire criticizing them, or for that matter, taking them for granted. They have always been included in our jokes and this time is no different. Though how one can control the humor in such whimsical situations is a mystery.

Like we have our esteemed municipal commissioner Mr. Phatak trying to exercise restraint on journalists. Boy, did they have a field day writing about him later! Then the poor fellow thought of redeeming himself through his “ask the public” sms campaign, and here he is now, struggling against impeachment! Then there is our ex-chief minister Mr. Deshmukh, who was so unceremoniously sacked after the 7/11 debacle. Back he is again with a cabinet post! Wonder whatever happened to accountability.

The Prime Minister, inspite of all his qualifications and degrees, failed to decipher a few additional lines in a path breaking treaty, making Pakistan and the opposition so much happier. The great Mayawati goes about erecting her own statues even before her death (coz’ she’s so sure no one would do so when she’s really gone). If nothing else I sure admire her guts. And no one seems to be able to raise a voice against her! Then of course, everyone knows about the famous ‘Abdullah walk out’ from the Kashmir assembly. The fact that he didn’t resign in the end doesn’t matter. After all, its the “thought” that counts.

Mr. Advani is still standing firm; indeed he is the strongest 82 -year old I know. He’s still not let go off the chair everyone else has been trying to pull away from him. Modi still goes around suspecting every face on the road of being an LET member out to kill him. After all he’s bigger than the President! And the President herself! Apart from increasing her own salary by a whopping 200%, I don’t recall her having done anything else. And yeah! Where is our supposedly “educated” Chief Minister Mr. Chavan? Ab tak uski ‘fakal’ hi nahi dekhi.

The railways ki “mamata” is shining, but only on West Bengal, with us being left in the lurch. Choosing a backward class speaker in the Lok Sabha was considered to be a UPA masterstroke. Though isn’t a speaker actually supposed to speak?? That too loudly? And finally, the one having the last laugh must be Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, our Finance Minister. Comparing his budget prepared before and after the elections, every Indian must fell slapped in the face! I can just imagine him performing a jig singing, “April(sorry June) fool banaya!”

These instances are just the tip of the iceberg. After all this, I still wonder how our politicians complain about getting a raw deal. Or do they complain at all?? Oh no! They are a happy lot, content in their twisted game of politics. Just as we are content sitting back and enjoying the saas-bahu type dramas that our country’s leaders enact.

2008- The year of turbulences

Another year gone by.........another one takes its place. Was 2008 any different from the rest??

Oh yes!! Twas the year of joy and sorrow, of hope and despair and all that comes in between. Coz' it was the year I experienced every damn emotion that my brain could think of.

I turned 18 without much ado. I got my driver's license but lost interest too soon. So what if I turned 18. Theres no huge change in my life or anything.

2008 started with exams.....exams and more exams. I still remember that feverish studying, that crazed apprehension all due to the arrival of the day I had spent two years studying for. But CET came and went. Leaving me horrified at the blunders that followed. I lost out on the coveted government medical seat....and was more depressed than I could ever be. I must confess those days sitting at home were my darkest days....despair I had never known.

Somehow, through sheer luck, I got through a private medical college....and breathed again. Fears of a new college, new people soon evaporated when I got myself a set of dedicated friends at Terna. It helped with the travel too.

Then there was 26/11 the shocker, horribly etched on everyone's minds. That led to a lot more patriotism and me yelling "Jai Hind" at home a good 10 times for no apparent reason.

There was a flurry of 'growing up' stages with a crush gone wrong, dear friends letting you down and also acqaintances gradually turning into best of friends. The last 12 months taught me that nothing, absolutely nothing is what it seems.

In the end, I wont mark 2008 as a great year or a real horrible one either. I still believe everything happens for good. Im glad 2008 happened. Just as it did. Coz' twas the one year that taught me more than what anyone or anything ever has.

When my city changed.........

Terror terror terror.
A word frequently heard in trains, on roads n most casually on news channels nowadays. The world has suddenly changed. Everyone looks on with suspicion at anyone with a larger-than-usual bag or with a suspicious walk. Fear and apprehension everywhere inspite of people going along with their daily lives.
I dont need to emphasise more on the reason for all this. Everyone I know was glued to the news channels for 3 days straight during the siege on the Taj, Oberoi and Nariman house. I remember looking at the tv as though transfixed. I recall losing my temper on everyone at home for no good reason. I even remember feeling a lump in my throat seeing the funerals of our great martyrs. I recall smses from my muslim friends asking if me and my family were all right. I even remember those real bad swearwords they used for the terrorists. I then see the sms sent by another friend that said it was all a plan by the "minority community" to take over our country and remember the usual feeling of anger and disbelief.
I have no idea who gains what by killing people they never knew. I have no idea why Pakistan would prosper if there is a blast in my city. All I know is that anger and never before seen agression has taken hold of my fellow citizens. Why dont they realise that a war on Pakistan would maim our country as well? Its a nuclear country we are talking about. And I am in no mood to give my life away for a country that doesnt deserve it. And if we had a strong enough administration, which stupid country with all their armies and intelligence would ever be able to attack us?
I agree we cant keep quite any longer. But we need to make sure we dont fall victims to known people trying to sow seeds of communalism. The politicians must have heard enough. I dont need to waste words on them. But I must say. My mumbai never stopped living. And no terrorist organisation in the world can make it stop. Coz we have people from all stratas of society and communities living together in peace and harmony. And as long as we are united, lets see what a couple of good for nothing brave terrorists, a horde of cowardly politicians and a ridiculously crackpot country can do!
I am not usually dramatic, but this incident has had its impact as it has on all of us.
JAI HIND!!

Life....as they call it

As they say..........life goes on.................
All of a sudden I am 18.........A woman they say....
How can that be?? When I still feel like playing football......still make dumb pj's that make people look at me in disbelief......still jump in joy(literally) when something good happens.
I still feel contented knowing that I had a burger with a friend.....who cares what happens in the stock market.
Very kiddish they say......grow up says mom.....why cant you act like an adult says Miki?
But I cant change overnight.....Iv always been a kid......n I love being one.....
But situations do arise.....that can turn a kid into an adult immediately.

I have got into medical......the profession I always dreamt about....and now I know....its not just a walk in the park. The trouble my parents went through, the tensions flying high.....all for the coveted seat which I have finally got. Still, more than happiness...its determination n resolve that has to work now. My turn now to return the generosity showered on me. My turn to not take things as lightly as I have always been taking them.

Then there are my friends. I have always maintained that I have the best friends in the world. I still stand by what I say...but I would never have even dreamt of the challenges each one would have to face......the smiling cheerful faces have weathered. All of a sudden...studies, careers and girlfriends gain a lot of importance. Members of the opposite sex are not just for tp anymore....there are serious relationships....which when end, cause huge heartbreaks revealing a side I have never seen. Experimenting goes grave when people realise everything is not as hunky dory as it seems. Emotions suddenly dominate rational thinking......and friendships are put to test like never before. Now its suddenly like those days never existed when the sole problems in life were 'whats there for lunch' and 'why India lost out on the series'.

So much to say and so little time......this is all a part and parcel of growing up.....and I know that stuff like these will strengthen bonds and make us adults....with proud scars.

So I will grow up......maybe the process has already started.

An adventure of a lifetime

Everyone is aware of the troubles faced by Kashmir. A place so beautiful deserves a lot better. After hearing and reading all that there is about the tension in the city I would really like to share a first hand experience about my trip to the place. Although it was seven years back, it is still a memory fresh in my mind notorious for being a one in a lifetime experience.

At that time I was about 10 or 11 years old and me, my parents n my sis were on a trip to the famous Vaishnodevi temple. Everything went without a hitch but suddenly my dad was overcome by a fetish for adventure. On the spot we decided to visit Kashmir, the paradise of India. We were apprehensive because of the tension and the bombings there, but decided to take a chance. Next minute without telling our family back home we were on our way to the city.

We got in contact with a driver Chain Singh who was an ex-army officer. He agreed to take us to Srinagar. In the end he turned out to be a blessing in disguise for us. He filled us in on our dangerous journey and warned us that if we heard any sound of mayhem or gunshots we had to put our heads under our car seats immediately. That was enough to make us pack our bags and leave but we still decided to continue. On the way we saw that the road was eerily empty. Not a single vehicle was on the road. A few scattered jawans at every metre kept staring at our car as we whizzed by. Chain Singh then explained that these were "sensitive" areas. He already told us of the possible questions that could be asked by the jawans and the replies that should be given. All this was enough to silence us. Thus came the check points. Chain Singh had already told us of it but my parents were definitely scared to death when they had to leave their two small daughters in the car alone and walk away from the car for some distance. Me and my sister were still kids, oblivious to the harsh surroundings. Fortunately it went smoothly.

We soon got hungry as it was past our lunchtime. Chain Singh stopped the car near an unusual dhaba at the corner of the road. A rather pink Kashmiri welcomed us and told us to be seated. A stiffening silence enveloped us. Me and my sis strolled around outside where there were a few ducks and hens around pecking grains. My sis began chasing them. Soon the dhaba owner and a few men struck a conversation with my parents. Their kind and friendly tone surely provided some solace to my parents. Chain Singh sat in a corner making some signs but my father did not think much about it and continued talking. The men even played with the birds along with us and we ended up calling them 'chacha'. Later when we finished our meals and were washing our hands, Chain Singh came behind us and whispered to my father that those men were militants and we should be careful about what we tell them. My father was too shocked for words. Then he saw the same man talking kindly to my sister some time back now cleaning the barrel of a gun. After whispering in my mom's ears, my parents almost dragged us to the car as we were not ready to go willingly. Once we continued our trip, my parents were really confused as to how the same militants known for bombing and killing innocent people could be such masters of hospitality and kindness, a confusion that even I share today.

Our next stop was the houseboat on Dal lake where we had to stay for three days. The houseboat we got was owned by a Mr.Basheera and was named Golden Lily. Basheera was very kind and told us to be comfortable. As we made our way around the houseboat we noticed the rooms were very spacious and beautiful. Basheera had three kids, a wife in a burkha and old parents. Their living depended on the income generated by tourists which was meagre due to the trying times. As evening settled we realised there was no electricity. Basheera told us that the electric powerhouse had been bombed a few days back and we should remain indoors as no one should know about tourists staying there. Later at night we dozed away fitfully clutching the hot water bags given to us with the temperature dropping to -5 degrees.
The next morning Chain Singh and Basheera had an argument about going to Gulmarg, the next trip in our itinery. Basheera said it was a very sensitive place with the recent firing and killing of many Sikh men. Such inflamed words had become almost a habit to our ears and we decided to go along with the plan. On the way there were the usual jawans on guard. Indeed I will always salute their spirit for standing there in the most severe of winters without a fear in their souls. Gulmarg turned out to be a place straight out of a picture postcard!! It was a most enchanting and beautiful place. The guides took us to a store where we found warm clothes on hire. At the same time a bus with some Bangladeshi tourists arrived and then left just as unexpectedly. No one knew the reason. As we sledged through the vast snow, we were introduced to Raj Kapoor's bungalow along with a few others belonging to Kashmiri pandits who had fled long ago in fear of their lives after a massacre. The guides were very kind and were pleased to play with us. They even made us a snowman and took us to a warm cabin with a furnace when we developed frostbite. Exhausted after four hours we left quite pink in the face. The jawan in a chowkie outside asked us if we had faced any problem or if we liked the place and would wish to come again. The next two days we frequented Shikara to shop for some Kashmiri goods and the Shiva temple.
The next place we had to go was Amritsar. To reach there we had to stop at Jammu. But news arrived that due to elections Jammu would be closed for six days!! However we had to reach Amritsar in two days or we would miss the train that would take us back home. The curfew would leave us stranded in a hostile place for God knows how long!! Then Chain Singh said he would take us to Amritsar in a day by car and we would leave early in the morning. Quickly agreeing, we set out at dawn. Chain Singh was surely sent to us by the heavens above as he drove throughout the day like a mad man and finally brought us to Amritsar. Once there we could not thank him enough for all his help and support and tipped him heavily. He responded humbly and fulfilling his duty waved goodbye. Thus we returned to Mumbai safe and sound.
Although I have had many journeys all these years all have faded from memory except this one. Thanks to the fact that we returned home unscathed from a place filled with beauty and terror. Hence I thought of sharing the experience with all my friends. Kashmir, the paradise of India, the most beautiful place in the world with all its kind and friendly people surely deserves much better!!

Education-a business??

Getting oneself educated has become quite a challenge in the present days. Admission.....the highly feared and respected word is more of a business venture now. Firstly all such admissions take place only on the basis of one exam. Thus the whole course of one's life is decided only by the result that follows. If something happens during the exam or a student falls sick, he or she loses out on a whole year in a highly competitive world. Even this time there were many cases of time mismanagement during the CET exam due to the carelessness of certain supervisors, me being one such victim. However there is no way out. All anyone can do is curse their own bad luck as nobody, neither the college centre nor the DMER is prepared to take any action against the guilty. However another way out is if one has a rich father. No good marks?? Its ok!! Just pay a few lacs and d coveted seat is yours!! The system is almost foolproof what with agents and touts and college authorities all hand in glove in the money minting business.
Forgetting my own woes, I could also mention the harrowing times faced by the students running helter skelter for the junior college admissions. It was so easy for the state government to introduce the percentile system without giving much thought. But its long term implications were seen when even students scoring 89% are struggling to get into a decent enough college. Is it fair to increase the percentages of the SSC students just so that they are on par with the other boards?? Doesnt this make it unjust to students from other boards who have to score about 2% more than the SSC students to be on par with them? Instead of bringing on such childish solutions to a simple problem, the state government would have done better to completely revamp the current education system. When one begins a particular profession......it is not based on how well he answers questions but how well he practically manages his work. For this reason practicals should be given as much weightage as theory. Students should be urged to think......not jus learn by rote everything present in the textbook. There should be assignments assigned throughout the year giving one a chance to actually learn what is taught. The students thus emerging would not just be nervous wrecks but would know how to react in situations that demand their expertise.
Concluding.........I know all that I say is not really going to come to the notice of the authorities who really can make a difference........however I pray that one day the same people who rule every students' education........in short their life and career......would have the courage and the brains to make the necessary reforms urgently required to curb the increasingly degrading system of education in our country.

The cliched reality

Whats with all the reality shows on TV these days?? Every channel seems to have caught up. Everytime I change a channel, I am welcomed by wannabe singers screeching away,
famous judges sitting royally and passing largely critical comments, contestants facing the camera and pleading for smses to save them. Most of the time, there is the usual rona dhona by the singers citing an ailing relative or hurt due to poor marks. In no way do I try to be insensitive, but tears and melodramas have become so common on TV, I just cannot stifle a yawn at these times.
Speaking of melodrama, how can we forget the favourite saas-bahu soaps, the master of tears and sorrow. The fiction is even more than a Tom and Jerry Show which appears quite sane when compared. I have never seen such active eyed, scheming women in real life. And women actually find them interesting enough to shed more tears(sob) and watch them loyally everyday.
To top it all, we have our news channels who never seem to run out of ghosts, spirits, miracles and accidents. And the sensation they try to create!! The screen blackens, letters appear in slow motion military style, a burly male's voice announces the breaking news. In the end it turns out the so called "village ghost" was actually a squirrel that used to shake the leaves a bit too harshly. In the absence of news there is always some input by comedy shows which have ceased to be comical.
Not to forget the celebrity couple dance shows....the couples just cant seem to romance enough on screen with love so pure and eternal, complete with mushy lines and dreamy eyed looks! That they break up or divorce a few months later is a different matter(or so it seems).
Truly now the only realistic shows remaining have turned out to be the evergreen cartoons!! Sigh...Indeed I would much rather have Bugs Bunny slam Daffy Duck with a board than watch Tulsi's son reemerge with plastic surgery!!