Observant Records

Read in the news today that the Bandra-Worli sea link is named, : 'Rajiv Gandhi Setu.' Last year the opening of the new international airport at Hyderabad was again named after Rajiv Gandhi.

Whenever there is such an important structure being inaugurated in any part of the country, more often than not, it is named after a Late bigshot of the ruling political party. With this ruling Govt. you'd guess correctly who their favourite is.

Its oft amusing- this practice in the govt. Does every new initiate that happen in the country's progress have to be merited to a handful of leaders only? Doesn't our country have any other worthwhile heroes who can be remembered?

Such miserly mindset our leaders share, that they don't think of any other heroes than of their party.

One thing that really astounds is, the lack of any other national heroes other than THE Gandhi family. Even the other Gandhi - Mahatma Gandhi is secondary to deserve a place akin to 'THE' family.

Personally I would have loved to see names of our freedom fighters who have actually fought for the country & gallantly lain their life, knowing fully well they would.

By doing this, generations get to know the important people in the history of India's independence as well as they would live on forever in a more constant manner. They did deserve that.

But unfortunately our many leaders can only think of & suggest/approve names which can further their own personal causes in future. [Becoming a pet has its perks you know....]

Alas, inspite being such a huge country, biggest democracy... fighting an amazing freedom struggle, we yet cannot think of leaders above a numbered few.

My prayer today is for a little large heartedness in the leaders of my country.

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Let it Pour, Wet, Drench & Soak.

Keep hearing so many people crib about the Monsoons & how it gets the place dirty.

Its NOT the monsoons that gets the roads grimy... its the obnoxious infrastructure!!!

*Please don't confuse the two.*

Let the Rains arrive happily!

Horn NOT OK Please!!!

Everytime...just about EVERYTIME I'm on the roads driving, [& that's almost everyday..] I am seized with these thoughts: Why, Why...& till when!!! ...over & over again.

'Why' about what?

Everytime I'm driving on the roads of my city, I'm clouded by the thoughts of WHY does everybody have this insatiable, irrepressible, addictive, uncontrollable, irrevocable, untamed urge to HONK?

Everywhere, anywhere...where not!!??!!

Even if there is a need to honk, one gentle honk will not do...why are people hell bent on displaying their creative side by going easy on the horn as if it was a musical instrument?? Ofcourse little do they realise, that it is unmusical & its definitely not soothing to the ears! :O

As if by honking, the traffic in front of you is somehow going to get moving... or even, would get moving faster, for that matter. For what I understand, from what I learnt during driving these few  years.. is that we are supposed to honk, to make somebody aware...not Scare!!
-When at a turning, or to make pedestrians aware of the vehicle coming.. & also for moving any wayward animal away for that matter.

-There's a traffic jam, people honk, there's no traffic, STILL people honk....an elderly person walking...yet the honk goes, one sees some kids walking, off it goes again..a poor rickshawala is pulling his cart along...yet it goes.

The honk goes off at damned everything!!

I personally think, its the Indian mentality...we love to utilise each & everything that is available to us free..so we don't like to waste the horns provided in our vehicles & so off we let loose our fingers on that button. I fail to see how can people be so insensitive, ridiculous, dim witted & moronic when they get on the roads. & That was mildly put.

Its so difficult to believe that most of the people behind these various kinds of horns & wheels are educated... What is the meaning of education to them, I wonder? Is it only if one gets paid, it's worthy to apply basic education & manners? [Public transport drivers are not eligible for such... or any kind of evaluations!!]

One very interesting thing is that, by mistake if you happen to glare at someone who's been honking unnecessarily, [esp if you are a female], then the honk gets in double gear. It acts as a major jumbo boost to enjoy irritating some hapless being for these horn-o-maniacs!

Also, the astonishing urge for the guy behind your vehicle, to overtake, cut & zoom past you, [as if participating in a highway race!] literally shakes you off the seat.
Offlate, even an ambulance approaching does not much really move these blithely uncaring zombies to make much way.
Insensitivity is rapidly gaining upperhand.

Makes one believe that people actually must be starting on their vehicles each morning mentally preparing belligerently..for assaulting whoever or whatever coming in their way.
WHY - Why does this happen?
- I have failed to get an answer to that, how many ever times I have tried to solve this not so bright fact.

Apart from the incessant honking, there are numerous other things also which makes me shudder everytime I have to get on the roads. That I'll elaborate at some other time in some other blog...
Seems like how much ever resurging or Shining India is; some things will never change.

-I'd so much love to be proved wrong in this point for once.
High hopes to that!


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Aav Re Varsaad...

Atlast they arrived!!


After a slight delay of a week or so, as predicted, the rains finally descended on the city's parched lands, firstly bringing out moments of heat... ~ & then whiffs of cool freshness with the exhilarating first rains.
It announced it's arrival by the atmosphere getting a little more humid, temperature going down by a couple of degrees then gradually sounds of pitter-patter against the windows...on the fibre sheets...against the ground.


After a long wait, it is a much awaited & magical sight to behold to see the Earth beginning to get its yearly fill of waters.
The heady views of the nature wash with the addictive smells of wet earth combined with the cool breezes accompanying the rains makes the whole spirit gladden with blissfulness.

It was time to soak in the moment as the burnt spirits are soothed by the water balm, especially if you happen to stay in a hot place like Hyderabad.

It seems so beautiful... makes one believe that God has his plans so much in order. The way he planned the monsoons after the period of the torrential summers... harsh sun, which dries up the earth, the scorching heat.... is something which is so much in harmony with working of nature.

I lost count of time as I sat letting the heaven sent water trickle down my face and watching all the brick buildings, terracotta roofs, vehicles being washed....the sights of mist & of drops hanging from the glass panes, looking gorgeous than ever...& everything else. Nothing looks as clear than during rains.

I personally believe, its time for new beginnings...as the old is burnt & exhausted, the rains apply as a roborant..., a refresher, adding seeds of dreams so that they are watered & well nourished.

Raintly drenched, just one wish I wished for then, to let rain. ...Rain well, all over, on the lands, in the soul... & wherever needed.

Happy Monsoons to all.

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The Old Guardians

Heartbreaks can come in more than unexpected ways, this I learnt when the Ashoka trees at my place went down the axe today.

Almost for 27 years now, these 'Old guardians' as I call them have sheltered my home from excessive sunlight, harsh rains coming in & provided fresh air to breathe in. It also added as a cover up for the house, as nothing much could be seen inside; with these acting as filters.

Every monsoons we used to get them cut down.. [trim down] upto low level & by the next monsoons, they used to grow up again upto 30-33 ft. in height.

Greenery has always been a part of my growing up. Earlier as a child, I remember having eaten Guavas, Custard apples & Grapes too, from the trees planted at home. One by one they had to be rooted out due to termite infests & decaying.

Now as those trees aren't existent, I still feel happy nostalgia remembering those days. But today, as the last of the old lot, the Ashoka trees went down, a deep pain is there within as if I lost a very evident witness of my growing up years.

As I bade goodbye to the synonymous memory of my home, [The house with the Ashoka Trees, I used to call it.] , all I felt at that moment was, "I'm sorry to let u go.. & it hurts to see you go. If there was anything I'll be looking forward to, its to see you come back again, back in place again! ...& that's a promise I make to you & to myself, that I will plant double the trees back, as soon as it would take. "

Travel Travel Travel...

Being in love with travelling... & exploring the unending world, I come with phases of wanting to break away from the routine & go explore! The mood has been such from a while now. For reasons best known to me, I haven't been able to fly away from here like a bird without a care.

Mountains..Water shores.. Deserts...Wildlife... History... Forts.. Temples... Architecture & everything else, all this makes my imagination drool. Ofcourse a few bustling cities too...I wish to see all!!!

Maybe writing about it would make me feel better - the hope & wish to see these places intensifies... gives an urge to almost jump on the next available way out from here. Atleast it almost takes you there mentally!! :)
So, here's my very own list of places which are like 'must visits' places to see before I die. [God, are you listening?? I am being very reasonable by wishing to see just a few places... from this huge world you created. Ain't I? :-)]

The very top on my list are,

• Mount Everest & Mansarover: This is undoubtedly one of the most stupendously designed marvels of God. I also wish to call into this place as its a pilgrimage site too. This is known to be the abode of Lord Shiv. Dearly wishing to visit this...
• Venice: Fascinated & wary of water, this place has always attracted me & allured me with the gondolas, the amazing structures...& whatever pictures & videos I have watched of it. It ranks HIGH on my list of 'to see' places.
• New Zealand: The sights of snow capped untraveled, unclimbed mountains has magnetised the appeal to visit this beautiful place. More so, the nature , the hot springs, the adventure sports & the SCARCITY of people, has made me fall in love with this place.
• Austria [Europe]: The colour shadecard of nature that is available here, is something which can make the heart swell in awe. If its like that in the pictures, I wonder what'll it actually be like to see it in real.
• The great barrier reef [Australia]: The largest coral-reef in the world. The astounding colourful life underwater... making it a world of colourful dazzle, I'm sure my eyes will glint for a long time when I ever visit this. :)
• Texas: Since the time I was a child, I have always been fascinated with farms, horses & the cowboys. :D I'd love to watch the real ranch life for once. :P
• The Grand Canyon [USA]: The pictures have always managed to overwhelm me. The huge & undefined landscape surely would make any human spirit humble.
• Scotland - History beckons me, I'd love to see the fantastic castles & know about the great stories of this place.
• Alaska: A cruise on this place would be the ideal cut off from the world......[...am I still here...? :D]
• Spain: Somehow, though I don't know much of the place...Spain is one place I wish to see. So fascinated am I that I get one word per day of Spanish in my inbox!!! Lol ~ No idea of what I'll expect & discover there. - & that is exciting enough too!
• Wildlife in South Africa- The adventurer in me got easily coaxed to add this place in my list for the sheer raw wildlife appeal. [or is it, tamed raw wildlife!! :D]
• Petra [Jordan]: Apart from being a UNESCO world heritage site, I wish to see its rock cut architecture.
• Disneyland: The only man made marvel to make it to my list. :) A world in its own.

& yea...India doesn't even need to be mentioned! It goes without saying that I would like to explore my mesmerizing country to the fullest. From the unexplored mountains in Kashmir..[ I don't care if I stand to risk meeting the unwelcome neighbours there! ...I have every damned right to see any place in my country! :O] ...to the small villages of Kerala....to the hamlets of my ever beautiful home state of Gujarat upto the virgin beauty of Sikkim... & so much in between. This bit of Earth is bestowed with everything.

I'd love to see the tiniest of villages, go on untraveled roads, splash on unexplored streams....just about see & feel everything about this diversely - culturally rich country. - How I Wish!!!

As typicality bores me...hence this stress on the uncharted. [The 'un'travelled, 'un'explored', 'un'seen. ] Though I have seen a fair bit of usual India, [Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata...etc..so usual!] I still am not satisfied with those trips as it just covered going to the habitual sight seeing & rush off to the next place.

My idea of visiting a place varies from the book version. To blend in the place, feel it within & soak the soul in the time spent there is the true experience. & yes, to take loads of pics!! :) ...Abstract, natural, typical...anything, which captures the eye. So that so, the place forms infinite memories in the mind & unending delectation in the heart..& most importantly, imprints cherished experiences of a lifetime...

~ Though it seems a tall list, maybe 20 years down the line, I'll look back to this list & tick off all the places mentioned here...or atleast most of the places..... Touchwood to that.

.....Am I into dreaming already..?

....Buh Bye people!! :)

Go Green!

Its World Environment day today & though we hear about it everywhere...possibly read up numerous articles on it - there are very few of us who actually practice Environment conservation in our daily lives.

As we are moving into a more & more busy world, we tend to overlook some of the very basic things that we can follow in our daily lives at home & contribute our little share in making the planet a little less overloaded.
I am sharing a few of the simplest things that I do follow...& trust me, it does make me feel a responsible citizen of Planet Earth. :)

To begin with my favourite - Plant greenery/preserve greenery; wherever possible! - No greater service than this to mother Earth.

• The most simplest of things are often the most overlooked. ~Most of us are ignorant to the wastage of water in running taps while brushing, shaving, washing utensils, face etc. Just paying a little attention to these by using mugs instead of running taps DOES make a difference.
• When it comes time to buy new appliances, look for those that are energy savers with the star ratings.... they help the environment as well your wallet in the long run. :)
• If you are thinking about upgrading your computer between a desktop or a laptop, choose laptop. Not only do laptop computers draw just 15 to 25 watts during regular use, compared to the 150 watts used by conventional computers...desktop/ monitors ...laptops also draws just a fraction of a watt when in sleep mode.
• Using Blackle.com instead of the regular google search page would open up a black search page. Black screens eat up a lot less energy compared to the white ones. [Any surprise why this page is black? :)]
• Compact fluorescent light [CFL's] bulbs use 25% of the energy of standard incandescent bulbs and they last much longer. Use them.
• Don't use a hose to clean the car or the bike. Vehicles can be efficiently cleaned with a bucket & a mug too... it sure saves lots of Water!
• A single dripping tap can waste far more water in a single day than one person needs for drinking in an entire week. Don't wait to fix a drip. Do it now!
• Turn things off when you leave the house. Lights/wall unit appliances etc. Don’t leave your TV/computer on sleep mode, as well as unplug chargers/tape recorders...as they continue to consume even if they are not in use; ...& placing lamps or TV sets near air-conditioners only causes the air-conditioner to run longer than necessary due to the heat emitted, thus eating into more energy than required.

While stepping out of home, a few easy things which if followed, go a long way are:

• Don’t go anywhere without your cloth bag so you can just say no to plastic whenever you shop. Plastics are the bane to the Environment. Say NO to plastics. I Know it isn't easier to start this one...but small steps do become big steps eventually! :)
• Consider turning your engine if waiting in big traffic snarls or prefer using nuetral control. Also, keep your tyres inflated to the correct pressure when driving. These will decrease the amount of fuel used as well as your carbon footprint.

A few things that can be followed inside the office are:

• Using a washable mug is an environmentally-friendly alternative to non-biodegradable styrofoam or plastic cups. Leaving one of your own cup or bottle at the workplace can eliminate use of those cups.
• Use handkerchiefs or hand towels for drying your face and hands instead of tissues that are used and thrown away. [Just because they're for free - FOR YOU- doesn't mean they don't cost the environment.]
• Re-use papers efficiently. Turn over an old document or unwanted print-outs and write on the plain backsides for small notes, messages etc.
• When you must have a paper copy, make sure you default your printer option to use both sides.
• The most important according to me: Many of us spend so much time on our computers, that we never turn the things off. Even if it takes a few extra moments, switch them off when you wind off for the day. It goes without saying how much energy could be saved if even a small group practises this daily. It will also reduce wear and tear on hardware, extending its life. Also, turn off lights, fans wherever unnecessary.
• Shut off your monitor if you aren't going to use it for more than 20 minutes, and the whole system if you're not going to use it for more than two hours. (Though don't overdo it. Very frequent cycling of power switch does result in added wear.)

Finally, I'll also list my another favourite before I end this small preach about nature conservation. :D - & those are the 3 R's ~ Reduce, Reuse & Recycle. Reduce, Reuse & Re-cycle whatever you can...whatever you are aware of. The more we conserve now - means the more we save...& more resources we leave for our children. & not forgetting- a more better world to live in. Saving energy but also helps in reducing air pollution.

To end with, I'll leave with a few lines of Michael Jackson's, 'Heal the world', words which are quite applicable here:

"Heal the world...make it a better place...a better place for you & for me..." :)