Hi guys!!! All these days I was very busy with work. In software industry, every day we may get to learn a new lesson. I did recently and will like to share with you all. The secret of success here is not how much hard you work, rather knowing who to blame for your failures. Anyway, I am out of those blame games for the time being and taking a sigh of relief, and thought will put down something which happened in between these days. I can’t jot down everything as I am neither as great as Ved Vyasa to write a new Mahabharata, nor I have got someone to write on my behalf, like how Ganesha did for him. So, in short, I AM BACK.
Everything was going on smooth till one call came. Now don’t think like Chetan Bhagat’s novel, call came from God. The call was from my uncle, my cousin bro’s marriage had got fixed, and he had invited us to attend. My bro is 2 yrs elder to me. Suddenly, my parents, who were seeing me as a kid till the call had come; could see me as a grown up boy and a potential bride-groom. They started telling since they are law-abiding citizen. They have got a daughter, and now they need one daughter –in-law. Oh my god!!! How can a call change your life, I realized it today. I did a lot of retaliations, but all in vain. They had answers for all the questions I had, and they never asked me those questions for which I had genuine answers. Experience matters. Finally, I had to hang my boots, and I asked them to carry on, thinking this enthusiasm will fade away soon. But that was not to happen. It started to burn like the Olympic torch, and they were determined to get a medal; if not gold, at least silver or bronze.
It’s not true I had never tried to fulfill this dream of my parents during my early years. But my dumbness (literal meaning not disability) came as a road block quite a few times. I never had an inferiority complex, but used to think that I cannot be counted as smart or ‘cool dude’ type. Later only did I come to know I am viewed as handsome as Abhishek Bacchan and Spiderman (without mask obviously) by few people (don’t read as my parents). I still remember in my school days, when I was in class VII or so, I had liked a girl. Even the girl used to like me. I had come back from hostel, and after gathering a lot of courage I wrote a letter for her and kept. I thought of giving it to her on the last day, so that even if she gets angry, I will be too far to get scolding’s, and I will be back again after around 5 months, so things would be cool. But there is always a twist in the story. Before the movie could release, it shattered as the biggest flop on the box-office. Yes, my mom caught the letter and showed it to my dad. I don’t want to insult myself by telling you all that I got 2 slaps, along with stack of scoldings. If Mirza Ghalib would had faced the same situation in his life, he could had written a sher on this something like this –
“Likhe jo khat tujhe, wo teri yaad me,
Saare ke saare PAPA ne padh liye!
Sawera jab hua to JUTE pad gaye,
Wo FASHION wale baal hawa me ud gaye!!”
This incident was enough to keep me decent for another 3-4 years. I concentrated more on sports and studies than girls. But every day is not a rainy day. When I went to my +2 school, the sleeping ghost woke up again. Not my mistake, my school mates (girls only, errrr) were too beautiful (poetic depiction). I thought enough is enough, searched for a girl (single), gathered more courage than the last time (after the slap gate incident) and proposed her. My god! What a shocker. I used to think as I am a dumb guy, but she came out be a deaf girl. Now I can’t put her in front of my parents even when she is deaf, just because she was beautiful.
Me : Ria, I love you.
Ria : Today only I bought new sandals.
Second time my heart was broken, but I was feeling more pity for her. She was such a young and beautiful girl, but deaf. I was little angry on her parents also, thinking why they are not taking care of her. Gradually that story also faded away. Only positive here was this chit-chat between a dumb boy and deaf girl never became public, and so there were no degrading incidents. Negative effect was; I was not sure if I will be able to gather that much courage again in future.
In between that last day and today, what all I did, let it be hidden in the bag. Lets come back to the present. Few weeks post that call, suddenly I heard on a Saturday evening, tomorrow, on Sunday, we are going to see a girl. It was something as good as SQA before a release from both sides. I protested, but it was of no use. What an irony!!! Few years back, who had scolded me for writing a letter to a girl, they only were forcing me to come and see a girl. This human life is so strange. I was more worried about the F1 race which was scheduled on the same day, and had told them whatever it is, we should be back before it starts.
We were supposed to meet at Lalbagh gardens. Last time I had gone there was around 3-4 years back, as a part of trip Bangalore Darshan. I was again heading there, almost with same aim, or to be little more specific, ladki darshan. My parents were more excited than me. Whether to wear this sari or not, or which shirt to put on was their main topic. I was wondering if they were going to see a girl for me or something else. We reached there around 11 AM. It was so mush rush there, being on Sunday. I could feel little bit of excitement with a blend of fear. What if they ask me to sing, dance or do something there, and if I am not able to, then ‘Pappu can’t dance sala’. We reached there before those guys and obviously the gal did. I and my parents, and the girl with two of their relatives (sister and brother-in-law) were gathering. They came after around 20 minutes, giving excuse that girls always take time to get ready and Bangalore traffic is so bad, bla..bla. Then started the inspection procedure through eyes, like some silent movie of old age. My parents’ eyes were fixed on her, their relatives’ on mine, mine on her and hers’ on ground. She surely could have counted the number of insects roaming around her high heels by then. Then we divided into 2 groups of the Gentlemen and the Ladies. This continued for another 20 minutes. Then we came out of the Lalbagh.
Story is not over yet guys!!! Then we went little ahead till Vision theatre and found a nice coffee outlet there. We six went there to have tea/coffee. Bollywood influence or what I don’t know, those four sat on a table and asked us both to sit on a table and talk. My god!!! Finally I realized what the pressure is. This is surely more crunch than an interview, or when you are batting when your team needs you. Anyway, I ordered for a coffee, and she preferred to have a tea. We sat there for around 5minutes without a word to share. I looked at my parents, and they were not at all bothered about me. As if we were complete strangers. I looked at her and saw the smile on her face. We both were sensing that same estrangement. My old habits were haunting me. Every time I was trying to start, the first words were coming as “Abe kamini! Oye moti!”. Finally I opened my mouth, and asked her name. Let’s call her Miss V. Initially, she was very reluctant to speak. Whatever I was asking, she was replying and that was all. Later when we started to speak about our work, it came out little better. She works in HP, and also in banking domain. Hufffff. These banks are not gonna leave me or what? She is a big fan of daily soaps, doesn’t like cricket or politics, early to bed and early to rise, likes to fight with auto drivers and many other things. At the end when I counted, our taste was matching only in 2 cases: both working in banking domain, and both like to fight with auto drivers. I was not at all sure if this was sufficient for a proper match. ;-) . We chatted for around 20-25 minutes when fortunately/ unfortunately our coffee got over.
We came to a conclusion that if we would had met somewhere else, not in this situation at least, we could had spoken little more, but the current scenario was forcing both of us to be decent and exhibit the best qualities, and it was not at all natural. I asked for her number, and she gave me. I never gave her mine. ;-) (Value-adding technique). Then we came out and parted our ways. I wished her happy Diwali and she got my number then, and she wished me back. The story ends here.
One satisfying thing was I didn’t miss the F1 race and reached back home around 1 hour before schedule. Somehow this process doesn’t look good once we come out of it. What if we don’t like each other, or either of us, then this whole thing looks like some drama. Feeling sad for the girl. Once we came back, believe me, not even once my parents asked me if I liked the girl or not. I was feeling little shy to tell anything about her from myself. But they had hidden the cat in their bag. And even I was silent. When I couldn’t control anymore, I started searching for people with whom I can share this experience. Then I remembered of you guys. Hufffff. Just forgot to ask her one thing – ‘What’s your Raashee?’ :)
Monday, November 30, 2009
Ticket to Hollywood
10 July, 2006. This was the date when I joined my company. I was feeling very lucky that particular day. From the college I belonged, our beloved EPCET, getting a campus placement was like plucking stars from the sky. But 7-8 of us were plucked for the same. The very first day HR’s told that we all should have our passports ready, as there are lots of travel needs in this company. It brought a smile on everyone’s face. :)
We were around 30 people in the Induction training program from different colleges. After rigorous work-outs of 3 months in training (Mainly those Unreal Tournament games in Almaz Software, with such unusual login names), we were allocated to different location based teams. 8 of us came into the kitty of Middle East Development team. Most of us had passports ready, and were ready to fly, but I was one among the ineligible people (Not incapable, just lack of passport). Within 3 days we were assigned work and it all started. There were few people, lucky ones who got opportunity to fly early, and they took it with both hands (Two of them were ready 2 go to Pakistan also. Thank god, a timely blast in Karachi deprived them from early departure – from India to up above the sky).
I finished my one year, and I still didn’t have a passport to travel. I saw everyone around trying hard to get an onsite. I am telling you, I was not willing to travel earlier, but like swine flu (oops… H1N1), it’s a contagious virus, and sooner or latter I was going to get affected by it. Then came a day when I was called by my PM, and he questioned me that why I have given my choice as no travel. Then he told me that joining I-flex means you are committed that if required you will be ready to travel. Finally, I had to come up with the truth that I don’t have the passport. He was out of his wits suddenly. He told- "How could you do this? More than one year in this institution and you don’t hold the basic identification document required here. Is there any problem in me, or some problem in you, or some problem in third party, that you don’t have passport?" I thought, if I don’t stop him now, it would not take him 5 minutes to proclaim me as a criminal or some refugee. I stopped him in between and told that it was my laziness and non-willingness that derailed me from getting a passport. He told me not to exhibit my laziness in such things. Then to add he said – "I am all aware of the kind of good work you are doing, and its time when some added responsibilities should be given on your shoulder. You might have to travel somewhere." This was told in September, 2007. I don’t remember the exact date.
There are only few differences between friends and stabbers. Singular I can tell is that of the timing of the pain felt. Stabbers will force an immediate realization, while friends will never allow you to do so, and even if you are able to, it might be too late for anything. I am not the only one telling this. A large survey has confirmed this. As soon as I told them all about the meeting which I had, they all congratulated me for the opportunity which I had got, and asked for an immediate party. I will take this opportunity to remind you all and tell that I am intelligent, as I convinced them all that I will give the same after getting my passport and final plans. I will thank my 6th sense for the same. Anyway, I collected all necessary documents, applied for an appointment, and landed in the passport office with DM. Due to unavailability of one document, or maybe availability of DM, my application was rejected, and had to come back.
From that day, for next five-six months, continuously I was being poked by my PM about the passport. Actually I had left one of my certificates in my 10th school itself, because of which the processing was not done. I told him the same, and told that I will need a week’s leave to go and get the same. I was shell-shocked, when he agreed for the same, as generally, for a day’s leave also; he bends his face like Beckham. Anyway, I started my journey to the school, and got a very warm welcome there, extended my stay by one more day, and enjoyed like hell. Played with kids, and how much ever they tried, they were not able to bowl me out in cricket. For a day, I felt like Sachin Tendulkar. :) Watched the movie Race with one of my old school friends who stays there, and it was like great week off.
I took the certificate from the school and came back and again applied for an appointment in the passport office. This time I dropped DM as my companion, who was my last time’s bad luck (probable), and rather accompanied myself with Miss W. Reached there in time, and within 15 minutes, the application was processed, and I got a receipt of the same. After around 15 days, I checked the status online and found that it had gone for the police verification. Became alert and decent, and told all my neighbors whose address I had given, to sing the tunes of my decency only. 5 days went and nothing happened. I was tired, and I decided to go myself to the Police station. I had to wait there for almost 45 minutes to meet with the officer related to passport transactions. Meanwhile, I checked all the photos put up on the notice board, that of culprits, and was happy to feel that I don’t know any one of them. So what, if I was little notorious, at least I was a good citizen. ;-)
That officer came and when I asked him about the passport status, in reply he scolded me instead. "You people will apply for passport, and never keep track of the same. Your passport verification form is lying with me for more than a week. You should take a notice of the same and report accordingly." I told that I thought you will come to my house for the verification process, so I didn’t come. "What do you think? I didn’t come to your house. Three times I came to your house, and every time you were away to your office. You work in I-flex right." I was shocked, impressed and angry. Shocked on the agility of the officer, impressed that he went three times in my search, and knows where I work and angry that mummy never told that verification officer had come. I told him a gentle sorry, and he was happy. He finished the verification process and asked me, "How fast you want the passport to be delivered to you?" I told it would be good if I get within a week, as I have to travel shortly. He told yeah it will be done; give something for chai-pani. I asked how much, for that he told whatever I wish. I gave him a 100rs note. He replied, how could you wish so less. I added another same denomination note, and he was happy. Stapled my file, and kept in some bag. Yeah, I had to bribe him for nothing!!! According to IPC…………. Rigorous imprisonment. ;-)
Meanwhile I informed my PM about all the proceedings, and told that it will hardly take time before I get my passport. He told that you will have to travel to Dubai shortly. I was little shocked. This was around in August, 2008. And few days back I had filled the CAT form. So I told him that I want to appear for CAT, after that I can go for the same. That was a grave mistake. He gave me a big lecture and told that you should decide your priorities. If you are working here, then first you should devote yourself here. Remember those ‘Chak De!!!’ dialogues. "First you have to play for your country, then for your own people, and then if still you have something left in you, for yourself". On same track,he told that you should be first for your company, then for your family members, and then still if you get time, then for your alternate career. I was dumb. I told him to look for any alternatives, if no one was found, I was ready to go. He told that’s fine enough. Later I heard from my TL that he is hell bound to send me only and not looking for a replacement also.
Exactly seven days, and postman came to deliver the same to my house. As I was in office, he didn’t deliver, as that should go only to the concerned person. I had to go to post office, and collect the same. It was like an achievement. I was waiting for the next day to come, so that I can go and tell my PM, that I have got the identity and I am no criminal. I reached office, told him that I have got it, and I am ready for travel now. He told that I have good news for you. That travel plan is cancelled, and now you can freely concentrate on your alternate career. Even I was happy. Did I study for CAT? Forget it.
November, another 2 weeks for CAT exam, and my PM called me again. Gaurav, there is urgent requirement in Dubai, and you might have to travel by this weekend. I told about my CAT thing. He was initially not ready to listen also. When I told many times, he agreed that rest people of group will travel immediately and I will travel on the very night of the CAT. I was feeling myself to be so lucky. :). I took a leave for 3 days before CAT, and I was informed that once I am back from leave, my travel plans were finalized.
November 16, was the test, and I joined on the 17th. Without having any idea of what awaited me? When I reached here, and checked my mails, I had been moved from my PM’s team, and was reporting to someone else. When I enquired my PM about the same, he told that team needed few resources, so released you. About travel, since you are in different team, so that travel plan is dropped. I was speechless again. Nothing to say more; came back and started new work. :
December last week, I was called again and this time it was another travel plan for me. I was supposed to travel to Yemen this time. That too, Steve Jobs (fattu) as my TL, PL or PM or whatever. I was supposed to travel in January. This was kind of up gradation and implementation job. I told yes for the same and came back. Time came and went off, but that time never came. That travel was also cancelled and god knows where it went through. From my batch, everyone went and came back at least once, but I was never chosen. I was feeling myself as wingless bird, who does not know to fly. Is there any problem in me? When I raised the same question to fattu, he replied – "No, we need you here more. And you are not a kind of resource which should be sent for support job. We are preserving you for better opportunity. Anyway, nothing is kept in site, if you take my suggestion, it’s just like hell." I told in my heart, the pace I am going on, I am sure can never see the Heaven. Let me see the Hell at least.
My current supervisor, however, has given me lots of hopes. He told me that whoever has worked with him, more than 80% of them have travelled. So the first opportunity it comes, he will put my name forward. I am waiting again for that day, which never came in last 3 years. But I am not depressed, as there are many other with me, best example DM, who might be deserving candidates, but still sitting and grazing here. Interestingly, he also had got 2-3 chances to travel, but wherever he told yes, that site project itself was cancelled. That’s when I realized, what a grave mistake I did, by taking him along to passport office on the first day. :)
"Lauta de mera Ticket to Hollywood"
Note: Recently I got one more opportunity to travel. Generally they provide an expense of 40$ per day. But for me, it was special. Along with 40$, free accommodation and food in a 5-star hotel, Z-grade security, bomb-proof car to travel, and CEO of bank to accompany me, during daily travel to and from bank. But still I rejected it, as it was to Pakistan. ;-)
We were around 30 people in the Induction training program from different colleges. After rigorous work-outs of 3 months in training (Mainly those Unreal Tournament games in Almaz Software, with such unusual login names), we were allocated to different location based teams. 8 of us came into the kitty of Middle East Development team. Most of us had passports ready, and were ready to fly, but I was one among the ineligible people (Not incapable, just lack of passport). Within 3 days we were assigned work and it all started. There were few people, lucky ones who got opportunity to fly early, and they took it with both hands (Two of them were ready 2 go to Pakistan also. Thank god, a timely blast in Karachi deprived them from early departure – from India to up above the sky).
I finished my one year, and I still didn’t have a passport to travel. I saw everyone around trying hard to get an onsite. I am telling you, I was not willing to travel earlier, but like swine flu (oops… H1N1), it’s a contagious virus, and sooner or latter I was going to get affected by it. Then came a day when I was called by my PM, and he questioned me that why I have given my choice as no travel. Then he told me that joining I-flex means you are committed that if required you will be ready to travel. Finally, I had to come up with the truth that I don’t have the passport. He was out of his wits suddenly. He told- "How could you do this? More than one year in this institution and you don’t hold the basic identification document required here. Is there any problem in me, or some problem in you, or some problem in third party, that you don’t have passport?" I thought, if I don’t stop him now, it would not take him 5 minutes to proclaim me as a criminal or some refugee. I stopped him in between and told that it was my laziness and non-willingness that derailed me from getting a passport. He told me not to exhibit my laziness in such things. Then to add he said – "I am all aware of the kind of good work you are doing, and its time when some added responsibilities should be given on your shoulder. You might have to travel somewhere." This was told in September, 2007. I don’t remember the exact date.
There are only few differences between friends and stabbers. Singular I can tell is that of the timing of the pain felt. Stabbers will force an immediate realization, while friends will never allow you to do so, and even if you are able to, it might be too late for anything. I am not the only one telling this. A large survey has confirmed this. As soon as I told them all about the meeting which I had, they all congratulated me for the opportunity which I had got, and asked for an immediate party. I will take this opportunity to remind you all and tell that I am intelligent, as I convinced them all that I will give the same after getting my passport and final plans. I will thank my 6th sense for the same. Anyway, I collected all necessary documents, applied for an appointment, and landed in the passport office with DM. Due to unavailability of one document, or maybe availability of DM, my application was rejected, and had to come back.
From that day, for next five-six months, continuously I was being poked by my PM about the passport. Actually I had left one of my certificates in my 10th school itself, because of which the processing was not done. I told him the same, and told that I will need a week’s leave to go and get the same. I was shell-shocked, when he agreed for the same, as generally, for a day’s leave also; he bends his face like Beckham. Anyway, I started my journey to the school, and got a very warm welcome there, extended my stay by one more day, and enjoyed like hell. Played with kids, and how much ever they tried, they were not able to bowl me out in cricket. For a day, I felt like Sachin Tendulkar. :) Watched the movie Race with one of my old school friends who stays there, and it was like great week off.
I took the certificate from the school and came back and again applied for an appointment in the passport office. This time I dropped DM as my companion, who was my last time’s bad luck (probable), and rather accompanied myself with Miss W. Reached there in time, and within 15 minutes, the application was processed, and I got a receipt of the same. After around 15 days, I checked the status online and found that it had gone for the police verification. Became alert and decent, and told all my neighbors whose address I had given, to sing the tunes of my decency only. 5 days went and nothing happened. I was tired, and I decided to go myself to the Police station. I had to wait there for almost 45 minutes to meet with the officer related to passport transactions. Meanwhile, I checked all the photos put up on the notice board, that of culprits, and was happy to feel that I don’t know any one of them. So what, if I was little notorious, at least I was a good citizen. ;-)
That officer came and when I asked him about the passport status, in reply he scolded me instead. "You people will apply for passport, and never keep track of the same. Your passport verification form is lying with me for more than a week. You should take a notice of the same and report accordingly." I told that I thought you will come to my house for the verification process, so I didn’t come. "What do you think? I didn’t come to your house. Three times I came to your house, and every time you were away to your office. You work in I-flex right." I was shocked, impressed and angry. Shocked on the agility of the officer, impressed that he went three times in my search, and knows where I work and angry that mummy never told that verification officer had come. I told him a gentle sorry, and he was happy. He finished the verification process and asked me, "How fast you want the passport to be delivered to you?" I told it would be good if I get within a week, as I have to travel shortly. He told yeah it will be done; give something for chai-pani. I asked how much, for that he told whatever I wish. I gave him a 100rs note. He replied, how could you wish so less. I added another same denomination note, and he was happy. Stapled my file, and kept in some bag. Yeah, I had to bribe him for nothing!!! According to IPC…………. Rigorous imprisonment. ;-)
Meanwhile I informed my PM about all the proceedings, and told that it will hardly take time before I get my passport. He told that you will have to travel to Dubai shortly. I was little shocked. This was around in August, 2008. And few days back I had filled the CAT form. So I told him that I want to appear for CAT, after that I can go for the same. That was a grave mistake. He gave me a big lecture and told that you should decide your priorities. If you are working here, then first you should devote yourself here. Remember those ‘Chak De!!!’ dialogues. "First you have to play for your country, then for your own people, and then if still you have something left in you, for yourself". On same track,he told that you should be first for your company, then for your family members, and then still if you get time, then for your alternate career. I was dumb. I told him to look for any alternatives, if no one was found, I was ready to go. He told that’s fine enough. Later I heard from my TL that he is hell bound to send me only and not looking for a replacement also.
Exactly seven days, and postman came to deliver the same to my house. As I was in office, he didn’t deliver, as that should go only to the concerned person. I had to go to post office, and collect the same. It was like an achievement. I was waiting for the next day to come, so that I can go and tell my PM, that I have got the identity and I am no criminal. I reached office, told him that I have got it, and I am ready for travel now. He told that I have good news for you. That travel plan is cancelled, and now you can freely concentrate on your alternate career. Even I was happy. Did I study for CAT? Forget it.
November, another 2 weeks for CAT exam, and my PM called me again. Gaurav, there is urgent requirement in Dubai, and you might have to travel by this weekend. I told about my CAT thing. He was initially not ready to listen also. When I told many times, he agreed that rest people of group will travel immediately and I will travel on the very night of the CAT. I was feeling myself to be so lucky. :). I took a leave for 3 days before CAT, and I was informed that once I am back from leave, my travel plans were finalized.
November 16, was the test, and I joined on the 17th. Without having any idea of what awaited me? When I reached here, and checked my mails, I had been moved from my PM’s team, and was reporting to someone else. When I enquired my PM about the same, he told that team needed few resources, so released you. About travel, since you are in different team, so that travel plan is dropped. I was speechless again. Nothing to say more; came back and started new work. :
December last week, I was called again and this time it was another travel plan for me. I was supposed to travel to Yemen this time. That too, Steve Jobs (fattu) as my TL, PL or PM or whatever. I was supposed to travel in January. This was kind of up gradation and implementation job. I told yes for the same and came back. Time came and went off, but that time never came. That travel was also cancelled and god knows where it went through. From my batch, everyone went and came back at least once, but I was never chosen. I was feeling myself as wingless bird, who does not know to fly. Is there any problem in me? When I raised the same question to fattu, he replied – "No, we need you here more. And you are not a kind of resource which should be sent for support job. We are preserving you for better opportunity. Anyway, nothing is kept in site, if you take my suggestion, it’s just like hell." I told in my heart, the pace I am going on, I am sure can never see the Heaven. Let me see the Hell at least.
My current supervisor, however, has given me lots of hopes. He told me that whoever has worked with him, more than 80% of them have travelled. So the first opportunity it comes, he will put my name forward. I am waiting again for that day, which never came in last 3 years. But I am not depressed, as there are many other with me, best example DM, who might be deserving candidates, but still sitting and grazing here. Interestingly, he also had got 2-3 chances to travel, but wherever he told yes, that site project itself was cancelled. That’s when I realized, what a grave mistake I did, by taking him along to passport office on the first day. :)
"Lauta de mera Ticket to Hollywood"
Note: Recently I got one more opportunity to travel. Generally they provide an expense of 40$ per day. But for me, it was special. Along with 40$, free accommodation and food in a 5-star hotel, Z-grade security, bomb-proof car to travel, and CEO of bank to accompany me, during daily travel to and from bank. But still I rejected it, as it was to Pakistan. ;-)
When Harry met Sally!!!
Hope you guys still remember where I had left you all previously. My last post was on my hostel life mainly, and this one I will try to stick to my class life. It was a peculiar class which I had got, and all elements were unique here in nature. If I start explaining them all, it will be more than Homer’s the Iliad and the Odyssey. So I will confine myself to stories revolving around me. I offer serious apologies to all of them, whose incidents are not being included here. Missing those can be due to memory loss also, Ghajini style, so if you remind me of the same, I will surely add them up in the next piece, I promise.
In my last post, I had told you how I had met those twin Sally(s). Miss X was anyway part of my batch, and we used to meet frequently, and chit chats during our practical classes. She used to speak to me in Hindi, and her Hindi was very soft and soothing to ears. At first I was shocked to hear Hindi come out from her mouth, and then accepted it as a part of Bollywood globalization. Only thing while speaking Hindi, she used to become as slow as Kolkata trams. ‘Tum – kaise – ho’ (Here each hyphen represents a time delay of around 2-3 seconds between words). So if she had to tell something long, she used to gasp for breath at end, and I used to wait for eternity to let her finish. So our communication was based on me opening my mouth lots, and she on responding through nodding and ‘Haan’ or ‘Nahin’ mainly.
Then in came Miss W, as I had told, and I swear it was no way her entry was matching with any of the bollywood flicks of Karan Johar, or Rajshree productions, where in first sight people become friends. Here the story was ulta, seeming as if RGV was trying some new experiment again, something as bad as ‘RGV ki aag’. I don’t remember in my so called short life, if I had hated any girl, just by seeing her face for the first time. Hate at first sight. J She was like some vamp of Ekta Kapoor’s family soaps (everlasting), whose arrival meant division of views in house. Very soon it started to show, and our class was divided in boy’s group and girl’s group. She was bossing around in girl’s group. She had a complete different group of friend circle, as she was from Information Science earlier, even after changing to Computers, she was still in her old group, and never seemed loyal to our class. I used to hate her, as well as her entire group. Was waiting for an opportunity for those people to come in our way, and we will give them a good lesson. But they came out to be very decent. I think the rivalry between Computer and Information science is based on similar tracks of supporting Manchester United or Chelsea, Shahrukh khan or Salmaan Khan, Mohun Bagan or East Bengal. But these people didn’t know it was Computer science, which gave birth to Information science, by little alterations. So finally, Information Science was a derived format of Computer Science, just like Pakistan from India. But like stated example these people also were never obliged to us, and in everything be it sports, studies or any other activity we had a competition with them from day 1. Day 0 I had bunked so don’t know. ;-)
So her old loyalty to IS (information Science), used to raise eyebrows from me. I was a known Gunda in the class, and for me she was the Gundi of the class. I had thought that the first opportunity I will get, and I will teach her a good lesson, and make her normal. ;-). This had affected my relations with Miss X too. I never used to speak to her properly when she was around with Gundi. He he he. Otherwise, we were good friends, sans her presence. I don’t remember exactly, but some day I had told her something even on her face. Not abuse, just something like ‘Thu Maga’ maybe. I had newly learnt that word na and didn’t find any better sample for testing my knowledge. ;-)
In between, once we were in chemistry lab, doing practical. In my batch, we were three. Myself, Miss X and one more girl. The other girl had brought a scale, which she had got as a gift, brought from Singapore. Somehow, I touched the scale, unknowingly, and it fell down from table and broke into pieces. Oh my god, I don’t know if the scale was made of some precious stone, but she started crying. I was not getting how to tell sorry to her. I think, I told her somehow and gathered all broken pieces and gave her. I will be so thankful to Miss X for her support that day. It was the first and last encounter for me, where a girl was crying in public place, for what I did [Generally I am decent with girls]. I was just dumb, and she somehow controlled the situation. Somehow things were managed and this story was over. Later, I came to know, Gundi tried her best to persuade the victim girl to fight for this and ask her scale back the very next day. Even ask me to go to Singapore and get the same scale. Thank god, the other girl was very decent and she never put her ears on her provocation, and I was saved. (I came to know about this much later, or else I swear I would have killed Gundi that day only). ;-)
We both used to always take different paths, and never come in way of each other. For any discussions with girl’s group, ARD was designated as the boy’s spokesperson, and he used to communicate with them. So there was no direct communication with them. I could have named the subject title as ‘Boa Vs Python’, the war was so fierce. But this time there was a twist here. The annual fest had come, and we had participated in all events. We boys took part in football, cricket and volley ball, and girls in throw ball events. Each and every event had assigned points, and finally champion class was to be chosen. We never thought we will have a chance. Initial phases had started and one day we hostlers were sitting in pizza hut (it was only a hut, without any pizza, and smoking zone for us) and smoking, when a senior of 3rd year came there. He called me in side, and told me that I am spoiling guy’s name everywhere. He told, they all go for cultural event’s practice, and there Miss W (Gundi) is spreading that all guys in her class have wore bangles and they don’t have courage to do anything. (In the fest day celebrations, these two were supposed to sing a song, but never got a chance because of delay). Also many other things they are telling about you all, and especially you, what is this. I forgot to tell you, in between we had decided to go and support girls in their throw ball match. This information had changed the wavelengths in my brain.
I returned back to hostel, called everyone from our class for urgent meeting. Within 10 minutes, we came to a conclusion of not going to support anything where our class girls are associated and we will choose to support their opposition. We told ARD, to convey the same message to girls next day, so they should not feel, we are stabbing from behind. Next day, we hostel guys were celebrating the ‘Kurta day’. I had taken a kurta from my friend, which was almost 1.5 times bigger than what it should be. Anyway, we reached class. In the break, ARD told them, and big uproar. Gundi came to me, and told me that it was all lie, and someone is misleading me. I told her, I don’t trust her, and I have full faith on her telling all those. Then she asked (requested ;-)) me to call the culprit (in her eyes) senior guy. Everyone suggested me to clear this episode for all. I called him, and then Gundi went to him and asked when she told all those. He was like why you people are discussing such cheap topics in college. Even I got angry, and told him, listen you tell her all the events as you told me, and we will decide which topic is cheap or not. Suddenly, he changed the record he was playing all these days, and told it was all lie, and he was doing all these to break the unity of our class. They feared, we juniors can beat them and grab the championship. So it was all planned, and we both were chosen as the puppets for the show. I was very angry at him, and even forgot he was my senior and had almost hit him, when a small pull and tuck saved me and him too from further drama. Miss W was pulling the sleeve of my kurta, and she asked to leave him and this topic, and clear the misunderstanding between us.
I was little sad I had misunderstood her, and trusted someone else. I told her sorry. She told it was ok, and anyone could have reacted in same way. She had put forward her hand towards me for friendship, and I was not so cheap to reject it. I shook hands with her, and we all were happy. I think first time we entered in class together and addressed our class, and asked their all help to win the championship. That day was history and from then we had been good friends till today, err… best friends.
Coming back to our fest events, I was the captain of the cricket team. Three main players in our team were day scholars. Once schedule of match were announced, our first match was on Wednesday morning. Once Tuesday college was over, the day scholars went back, the cricket organizers came and informed we have match now, and if we don’t play, walkover will be given to opposite team. I requested them telling our players have already left, but they didn’t hear anything. Somehow I arranged a team, and was almost dejected; we could lose even before starting it. Four players were there in our team, who had never played cricket in long time, five regulars and two average players. Anyway, even our opponent was not so good, so we thought of fighting it. God was so happy with me then, and his blessings were showering on me. Within no time, with a caught and bowled, one bowled and one caught at short, and I had got a hat trick in the very first match of the tournament. The oppositions were bundled out for mere 37 runs. After few hiccups, we achieved the target, and moved to knock out stage. Then we came across our batch Mechanical people. This match we played with our full strength, and even when they had better team on paper, we defeated them easily, and entered the semifinals. Here we were supposed to meet 3rd year Mechanical team, the best team of the college, and their playing 11 had 7 college team players. We had no hopes. But something else was destined, our full class had come to support us, and I was again magical, taking 4 wickets, almost getting a hat trick again. Later our hero batsman TT, and finishing touch from me, we had done the biggest upset of the tournament, and had reached the finals.
The finals were on a day before the fest day. All the classes were released, for the match, and first day I saw so many people surrounding us and cheering us. The final was with the 3rd year EC team. Most of them were cheering for seniors, but our class was rocking it. To start with, lost the toss, and they chose to bat. I took 2 wickets, still they had gathered 70 odd runs. We started the chase, and till 7-8 overs we were in full command. TT was like a whirlwind, and he was taking everyone apart. Suddenly a blinder on boundary and we lost 3 wickets in quick succession. I was seeing all these from non striker without helping. We were supposed to get 19 off last 2 overs. Brilliant running between me and Bis, where we were jumping, as if jumping for life. On such gravel field, we both had dived and taken 3 runs off a ball, where only 1 was possible. We both had ruptured elbows, which we had never felt. Blood was all over our t-shirts and then came the huge blow, last ball of penultimate over Bis was out, we still needing 9 off 6 balls. Next over, 1st ball I was on strike, and I hoisted it over the square leg for a big one, to take all honors, but failed to connect it well, and was caught. I knew it was all over, as there were no batsmen left. I was not willing to leave the crease, but I was forced to. In front of more than 500 people, I was so helpless, and tears started to roll over my eyes and cheeks. Everyone was silent. We got another 4 runs and finally lost by 4 runs. I told sorry to my classmates for I couldn’t make it, and came off. That night we felt the pain of loss, all seven of us, from hostel were sitting and all of us were crying together. Everyone had given their best, still luck had eluded. There were few cheatings done, but we were responsible to blame, as even when we were cruising towards victory. Anyway, we got back from cricket and started preparing for next events.
Next we participated in Volleyball and there we had a thumping win over all the teams. We two people and two more supports, we four were enough to handle all the teams. Our anticipation, smashes, placing, everything was unanswered. By the time, we could realize ourselves, we were the champions. Then soccer, we were never used to football so much. We were playing just for fun. Our first match was with 1st year IS, and I had requested all guys that we should win this match at least, and then if required, we will give walk over for next match without playing. Vicious brain had arisen again. ;-). My goal was disallowed courtesy offside, and we had to go for penalty shoot out. I replaced myself as goalkeeper, and saved 2 shots from them. Both were Gundi’s friends. ;-). We won 4-3. In the night, it was a huge celebration in hostel. Although, we lost the very next knock out match by 0-1, we relished our win against IS. Then started girls throw ball. We all supported our team on top of our voice and in very peculiar ways by making peculiar sounds, and we reached the finals, against same senior team which had tried to break our unity. Few gaddha activities by Miss X, and super play by our seniors, we were on the losing side, but still the brave face put by our class girls was worth appreciating. Gundi (Let me call her Miss W from now on) had got a cut in her toe, still was playing with full enthusiasm. At the end of the events, we had emerged champions by around 15 points. I had won Hindi antakshari event too along with TT and my lorry friend. ;-)
The unity in our class continued for another 6 months, and then again it started breaking. This time, with no solution. Girl friend – boy friend story had started and there was no space left for our unity. With every passing moment we were getting lesser in number, but those less numbers used to depict true friends. Enough, hands paining again. Next post on our 1st year teachers and our studies. Hold your breath till then please. And by the way this was the time when Miss W had confessed of trying her best to persuade the victim girl, my lab batch mate, to fight with me, to get her broken scale of Singapore back. Gurrrrrr…….
In my last post, I had told you how I had met those twin Sally(s). Miss X was anyway part of my batch, and we used to meet frequently, and chit chats during our practical classes. She used to speak to me in Hindi, and her Hindi was very soft and soothing to ears. At first I was shocked to hear Hindi come out from her mouth, and then accepted it as a part of Bollywood globalization. Only thing while speaking Hindi, she used to become as slow as Kolkata trams. ‘Tum – kaise – ho’ (Here each hyphen represents a time delay of around 2-3 seconds between words). So if she had to tell something long, she used to gasp for breath at end, and I used to wait for eternity to let her finish. So our communication was based on me opening my mouth lots, and she on responding through nodding and ‘Haan’ or ‘Nahin’ mainly.
Then in came Miss W, as I had told, and I swear it was no way her entry was matching with any of the bollywood flicks of Karan Johar, or Rajshree productions, where in first sight people become friends. Here the story was ulta, seeming as if RGV was trying some new experiment again, something as bad as ‘RGV ki aag’. I don’t remember in my so called short life, if I had hated any girl, just by seeing her face for the first time. Hate at first sight. J She was like some vamp of Ekta Kapoor’s family soaps (everlasting), whose arrival meant division of views in house. Very soon it started to show, and our class was divided in boy’s group and girl’s group. She was bossing around in girl’s group. She had a complete different group of friend circle, as she was from Information Science earlier, even after changing to Computers, she was still in her old group, and never seemed loyal to our class. I used to hate her, as well as her entire group. Was waiting for an opportunity for those people to come in our way, and we will give them a good lesson. But they came out to be very decent. I think the rivalry between Computer and Information science is based on similar tracks of supporting Manchester United or Chelsea, Shahrukh khan or Salmaan Khan, Mohun Bagan or East Bengal. But these people didn’t know it was Computer science, which gave birth to Information science, by little alterations. So finally, Information Science was a derived format of Computer Science, just like Pakistan from India. But like stated example these people also were never obliged to us, and in everything be it sports, studies or any other activity we had a competition with them from day 1. Day 0 I had bunked so don’t know. ;-)
So her old loyalty to IS (information Science), used to raise eyebrows from me. I was a known Gunda in the class, and for me she was the Gundi of the class. I had thought that the first opportunity I will get, and I will teach her a good lesson, and make her normal. ;-). This had affected my relations with Miss X too. I never used to speak to her properly when she was around with Gundi. He he he. Otherwise, we were good friends, sans her presence. I don’t remember exactly, but some day I had told her something even on her face. Not abuse, just something like ‘Thu Maga’ maybe. I had newly learnt that word na and didn’t find any better sample for testing my knowledge. ;-)
In between, once we were in chemistry lab, doing practical. In my batch, we were three. Myself, Miss X and one more girl. The other girl had brought a scale, which she had got as a gift, brought from Singapore. Somehow, I touched the scale, unknowingly, and it fell down from table and broke into pieces. Oh my god, I don’t know if the scale was made of some precious stone, but she started crying. I was not getting how to tell sorry to her. I think, I told her somehow and gathered all broken pieces and gave her. I will be so thankful to Miss X for her support that day. It was the first and last encounter for me, where a girl was crying in public place, for what I did [Generally I am decent with girls]. I was just dumb, and she somehow controlled the situation. Somehow things were managed and this story was over. Later, I came to know, Gundi tried her best to persuade the victim girl to fight for this and ask her scale back the very next day. Even ask me to go to Singapore and get the same scale. Thank god, the other girl was very decent and she never put her ears on her provocation, and I was saved. (I came to know about this much later, or else I swear I would have killed Gundi that day only). ;-)
We both used to always take different paths, and never come in way of each other. For any discussions with girl’s group, ARD was designated as the boy’s spokesperson, and he used to communicate with them. So there was no direct communication with them. I could have named the subject title as ‘Boa Vs Python’, the war was so fierce. But this time there was a twist here. The annual fest had come, and we had participated in all events. We boys took part in football, cricket and volley ball, and girls in throw ball events. Each and every event had assigned points, and finally champion class was to be chosen. We never thought we will have a chance. Initial phases had started and one day we hostlers were sitting in pizza hut (it was only a hut, without any pizza, and smoking zone for us) and smoking, when a senior of 3rd year came there. He called me in side, and told me that I am spoiling guy’s name everywhere. He told, they all go for cultural event’s practice, and there Miss W (Gundi) is spreading that all guys in her class have wore bangles and they don’t have courage to do anything. (In the fest day celebrations, these two were supposed to sing a song, but never got a chance because of delay). Also many other things they are telling about you all, and especially you, what is this. I forgot to tell you, in between we had decided to go and support girls in their throw ball match. This information had changed the wavelengths in my brain.
I returned back to hostel, called everyone from our class for urgent meeting. Within 10 minutes, we came to a conclusion of not going to support anything where our class girls are associated and we will choose to support their opposition. We told ARD, to convey the same message to girls next day, so they should not feel, we are stabbing from behind. Next day, we hostel guys were celebrating the ‘Kurta day’. I had taken a kurta from my friend, which was almost 1.5 times bigger than what it should be. Anyway, we reached class. In the break, ARD told them, and big uproar. Gundi came to me, and told me that it was all lie, and someone is misleading me. I told her, I don’t trust her, and I have full faith on her telling all those. Then she asked (requested ;-)) me to call the culprit (in her eyes) senior guy. Everyone suggested me to clear this episode for all. I called him, and then Gundi went to him and asked when she told all those. He was like why you people are discussing such cheap topics in college. Even I got angry, and told him, listen you tell her all the events as you told me, and we will decide which topic is cheap or not. Suddenly, he changed the record he was playing all these days, and told it was all lie, and he was doing all these to break the unity of our class. They feared, we juniors can beat them and grab the championship. So it was all planned, and we both were chosen as the puppets for the show. I was very angry at him, and even forgot he was my senior and had almost hit him, when a small pull and tuck saved me and him too from further drama. Miss W was pulling the sleeve of my kurta, and she asked to leave him and this topic, and clear the misunderstanding between us.
I was little sad I had misunderstood her, and trusted someone else. I told her sorry. She told it was ok, and anyone could have reacted in same way. She had put forward her hand towards me for friendship, and I was not so cheap to reject it. I shook hands with her, and we all were happy. I think first time we entered in class together and addressed our class, and asked their all help to win the championship. That day was history and from then we had been good friends till today, err… best friends.
Coming back to our fest events, I was the captain of the cricket team. Three main players in our team were day scholars. Once schedule of match were announced, our first match was on Wednesday morning. Once Tuesday college was over, the day scholars went back, the cricket organizers came and informed we have match now, and if we don’t play, walkover will be given to opposite team. I requested them telling our players have already left, but they didn’t hear anything. Somehow I arranged a team, and was almost dejected; we could lose even before starting it. Four players were there in our team, who had never played cricket in long time, five regulars and two average players. Anyway, even our opponent was not so good, so we thought of fighting it. God was so happy with me then, and his blessings were showering on me. Within no time, with a caught and bowled, one bowled and one caught at short, and I had got a hat trick in the very first match of the tournament. The oppositions were bundled out for mere 37 runs. After few hiccups, we achieved the target, and moved to knock out stage. Then we came across our batch Mechanical people. This match we played with our full strength, and even when they had better team on paper, we defeated them easily, and entered the semifinals. Here we were supposed to meet 3rd year Mechanical team, the best team of the college, and their playing 11 had 7 college team players. We had no hopes. But something else was destined, our full class had come to support us, and I was again magical, taking 4 wickets, almost getting a hat trick again. Later our hero batsman TT, and finishing touch from me, we had done the biggest upset of the tournament, and had reached the finals.
The finals were on a day before the fest day. All the classes were released, for the match, and first day I saw so many people surrounding us and cheering us. The final was with the 3rd year EC team. Most of them were cheering for seniors, but our class was rocking it. To start with, lost the toss, and they chose to bat. I took 2 wickets, still they had gathered 70 odd runs. We started the chase, and till 7-8 overs we were in full command. TT was like a whirlwind, and he was taking everyone apart. Suddenly a blinder on boundary and we lost 3 wickets in quick succession. I was seeing all these from non striker without helping. We were supposed to get 19 off last 2 overs. Brilliant running between me and Bis, where we were jumping, as if jumping for life. On such gravel field, we both had dived and taken 3 runs off a ball, where only 1 was possible. We both had ruptured elbows, which we had never felt. Blood was all over our t-shirts and then came the huge blow, last ball of penultimate over Bis was out, we still needing 9 off 6 balls. Next over, 1st ball I was on strike, and I hoisted it over the square leg for a big one, to take all honors, but failed to connect it well, and was caught. I knew it was all over, as there were no batsmen left. I was not willing to leave the crease, but I was forced to. In front of more than 500 people, I was so helpless, and tears started to roll over my eyes and cheeks. Everyone was silent. We got another 4 runs and finally lost by 4 runs. I told sorry to my classmates for I couldn’t make it, and came off. That night we felt the pain of loss, all seven of us, from hostel were sitting and all of us were crying together. Everyone had given their best, still luck had eluded. There were few cheatings done, but we were responsible to blame, as even when we were cruising towards victory. Anyway, we got back from cricket and started preparing for next events.
Next we participated in Volleyball and there we had a thumping win over all the teams. We two people and two more supports, we four were enough to handle all the teams. Our anticipation, smashes, placing, everything was unanswered. By the time, we could realize ourselves, we were the champions. Then soccer, we were never used to football so much. We were playing just for fun. Our first match was with 1st year IS, and I had requested all guys that we should win this match at least, and then if required, we will give walk over for next match without playing. Vicious brain had arisen again. ;-). My goal was disallowed courtesy offside, and we had to go for penalty shoot out. I replaced myself as goalkeeper, and saved 2 shots from them. Both were Gundi’s friends. ;-). We won 4-3. In the night, it was a huge celebration in hostel. Although, we lost the very next knock out match by 0-1, we relished our win against IS. Then started girls throw ball. We all supported our team on top of our voice and in very peculiar ways by making peculiar sounds, and we reached the finals, against same senior team which had tried to break our unity. Few gaddha activities by Miss X, and super play by our seniors, we were on the losing side, but still the brave face put by our class girls was worth appreciating. Gundi (Let me call her Miss W from now on) had got a cut in her toe, still was playing with full enthusiasm. At the end of the events, we had emerged champions by around 15 points. I had won Hindi antakshari event too along with TT and my lorry friend. ;-)
The unity in our class continued for another 6 months, and then again it started breaking. This time, with no solution. Girl friend – boy friend story had started and there was no space left for our unity. With every passing moment we were getting lesser in number, but those less numbers used to depict true friends. Enough, hands paining again. Next post on our 1st year teachers and our studies. Hold your breath till then please. And by the way this was the time when Miss W had confessed of trying her best to persuade the victim girl, my lab batch mate, to fight with me, to get her broken scale of Singapore back. Gurrrrrr…….
Namma Bengaluru!!!
Welcome to the ‘Silicon Valley of India’, my workplace, and our Bangalore. Namma Bengaluru is what we tell in the NATIONAL language of this state, Kannada.
It’s not a mystery that how the political bodies changed the royal name of Bangalore to a local name Bengaluru! But still that name Bangalore only gives a majestic feeling. It also went through the same knife how, mumbai, kolkata, and chennai went.
It is one of the cosmopolitan cities I have ever witnessed. Language is never a problem here. Slogan used here is ‘Salpha Adjust Madi’ (Please adjust little). Everyone will understand what you are speaking here, be it Hindi, Guajarati, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, English or anything, till you are not asking anything from them for free.
I still remember the first day when I landed here in 2002, at K R Puram railway station. When I asked the auto person about the charges to my college, I asked him in Hindi. I didn’t know the qualities of this place then. He was so happy hearing my Hindi, as if he had met God accidently. Back in 2002, in good enough Hindi, he informed us that it’s very inside and it will cost us 400INR. We bargained and made it as 350 and were happy with our achievement. Then our ride started. He made us roam at the same place for around 30 minutes. That time the hanging bridge there was under final construction. We crossed that minimum four times. My friend claimed that we have come before in this route, but I asked him to shut his mouth, telling that Bangalore is a big place. They can afford to make such flyovers at four different places. How fool I was!!! Finally that auto person also understood that we are watching things closely, so he made us reach the college. Later we came to know that it hardly costs Rs 75 till that place then.
If I have started about these auto persons, let me finish their classifications also. There are two types of auto drivers available in Bangalore; Decent ones and Dacoits. Decent ones are like dinosaurs, slowly vanishing from planet Bangalore. Dacoits carry the passengers in double fare in day time and do loot them also during the night (few of them). Dangerous ride!
Local people here are very good till you keep telling them “Good morning Uncle”, “Good evening Uncle”. Once you quit doing so, they become very rude and sometimes obnoxious too. They will follow the Kannadiga style then, which is a kind of thumb rule. Here u fold all your fingers, and make your thumb open and point skywards. The first dialogue should be ‘Yen Maga’, followed by ‘Thu Maga, T******’ etc. good thing is that they only deliver those dialogues, and will provoke the other person to take the first step. If no response, then they will keep speaking for some time and leave. So it’s like a thriller movie and not a horror one. :)
If you have to talk about something good in Bangalore, first thing that comes into mind is climate. When I came first here, I was so much impressed with that; such a beautiful climate! It was never too hot, never too cold. Always mild weather. And if it was little hotter in daytime, evening shower was a must, which used to take care of all. But slowly even that is deteriorating. They are chopping off the trees from this green city and climate has started to take its toll. From February itself, it has become so hot this year.
Geographically, it is very well located city. There are so many visiting places near to Bangalore just at a stone’s distance. We can easily plan for an outing on any weekend and go and have fun. To list few among them is Coorg, Ooty, Tirupati, Mysore, Nagarhole, Kodaikanal, etc. [etc means I hav ran out of my options here, but believe me there are lots more].
Another beautiful aspect(entity) here is girls and their dressing senses. Girl readers, take this as a generalization, and don’t over react. ;-). But the way they dress, and the amount of make up they put, each and every single piece seems to be acclaiming the spot once Priyanka, Katrina, Bipasha etc hang their boots. Everyone seems to drive you by your charm. It’s time to be careful dudes. Three M’s you have to be careful of when you land in Bangalore (courtesy my seniors), Mamu (police), Mausam (Weather) and M*** (Girls). When these three will strike, no one knows. But when effect is over, u will find yourself ruined. Still one of my friends has vouched for girls with gajra too. (maybe he is environmental friendly and believes in more plants and flowers. Salaam-e-ishq meri jaan jara……)
Vijay Malaya welcomes you all to the Pub Capital of India. I can bet that there are more pubs and bars in Bangalore than medical shops. Everywhere beer and wine flows like water. It’s easily accessible. For getting water, you have to fight with Tamil Nadu and other neighboring states, or wait for new Cauvery verdict, but nothing for beer. People here are so much ready to come for protests, not against the bad roads, or bad administrations, but against ban on bar dancers, shorter night life, drink and drive and all. It’s like people here don’t drink, because they don’t have enough money to afford that. In short, only beggars don’t drink.
After wine, next thing is dine. Food here is really tasty and all the cuisines across the globe are available. At the end they all will taste little sour (like sambhar); that’s the different issue. But food is very delicious here. If you stay here for a month only, weight gain is a must. Look at me. ;-). Another point to mention, any kind of treat means, chicken should be in the menu; veggies please excuse. [Caution: Weight gain is all contribution by the global restaurants avaialble here and not the local ones. Rice, sambar and rasam will do no good for your weight gain].
The main reason for Bangalore being treated as a metro like city is its IT industry. Almost 35% of Indian S/W professionals reside here. And this is thus called as Silicon Valley of India. These are termed as the main reason for the increasing inflation in the city. Accommodation is very costly here, just because of these IT people. They agree for paying any hefty price, if they find a suitable location for their stay. And later that budget is not affordable by other people. The cost of living is so high that you will have many aches to reach that.
Another thing to be mentioned when we talk about IT industry is Infosys. This institute is like a mini district here. They hire people like how they breathe in a day. It hardly matters for them whether they are using them on work or not. God knows if they are doing some scam like Satyam in this too. ;-). Another places to get their names here is IISc and ISRO. These are two big bodies situated here about which all bangaloreans can be proud of. :)
Another woe that they have added to the system is the traffic situation. Roads in Bangalore are generally not broader; and the number of vehicles on road is increasing inversely proportional to clothing’s of girls. This finally makes a jam packed situation, mostly on roads which link to IT places in morning and evening, during office on/off timings.
Communication facilities are made up mainly of BMTC buses, which ply on all the routes through out Bangalore. The few issues here are stinking armpits of your fellow travelers, and no guarantee that you will get down with your wallet and mobile in tact. The more you travel towards the outskirts, these stinking armpits develop more, and drunkards also accompany you (I still remember my college rides). :)
Namma metro is coming too, to the city. But at the cost of deforestations and many traffic bottle necks caused due to this construction work for metro rail. But once when it’s through with it, it will surely minimize the traffic on road.
Airport, the international one, has been built here last year. And it’s so far from the town that you will feel as if you are abroad by the time you reach there. But it’s good and well planned too.
Places of significance, being a cricket fan, I will mention first Chinnaswamy stadium. Remember 1996 world cup quarterfinals, India and Pakistan. Aamir Sohail had just hit Venkatesh Prasad for a boundary and pointed his bat and asked him to fetch that. This doesn’t happen often, but happened on Karnataka soil. The very next ball he charged again, but alas, found his middle stump uprooted. Venky then pointed him the pavilion and asked him to go there (with a Thu Maga statement also). The entire stadium was thankful to Venky and as if the sins done by Chetan Sharma, when he was hit six off his last ball by Miandad, was half forgiven. J
Next are a list of shopping malls, multiplexes and theatres. Here you will find numerous guys with gals, gals with gals, guys with guys, guys and gals with animals, moving together. After all it’s metro sexual city. Another one is then Lalbagh Park. Very beautiful and very calm place to hang around. Brigade road is a famous shopping location where you will find all latest fashions available at a cheap ( I m joking) price. One of my friends likes Kemp fort too. I had never been to that place, but I have faith in her, and I term that as a good place too (Do shopping on your own risk but).
One last thing which needs a mention is crime. When I had first stepped in the Bangalore, the crime incidents were not as frequent as these are these days. Even we witnessed pseudo serial blasts. Slowly, this place also is losing its stature of being one of the safest places in India. Earlier roaming till 11-12 pm in night was a very general thing, and during our college days, we had so many night outs in Brigade road and all. But nowadays it takes a hell lot of courage to do so. I am not promoting the night life angle here, but what I meant was this place is no more a safe land how it used to be. One thing I have noticed that when you are going to write about a person (except myself) or a place, mostly the bad critics come to the picture. But even after having so many problems, I just love being at this place. Namma Bengaluru!!!
It’s not a mystery that how the political bodies changed the royal name of Bangalore to a local name Bengaluru! But still that name Bangalore only gives a majestic feeling. It also went through the same knife how, mumbai, kolkata, and chennai went.
It is one of the cosmopolitan cities I have ever witnessed. Language is never a problem here. Slogan used here is ‘Salpha Adjust Madi’ (Please adjust little). Everyone will understand what you are speaking here, be it Hindi, Guajarati, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, English or anything, till you are not asking anything from them for free.
I still remember the first day when I landed here in 2002, at K R Puram railway station. When I asked the auto person about the charges to my college, I asked him in Hindi. I didn’t know the qualities of this place then. He was so happy hearing my Hindi, as if he had met God accidently. Back in 2002, in good enough Hindi, he informed us that it’s very inside and it will cost us 400INR. We bargained and made it as 350 and were happy with our achievement. Then our ride started. He made us roam at the same place for around 30 minutes. That time the hanging bridge there was under final construction. We crossed that minimum four times. My friend claimed that we have come before in this route, but I asked him to shut his mouth, telling that Bangalore is a big place. They can afford to make such flyovers at four different places. How fool I was!!! Finally that auto person also understood that we are watching things closely, so he made us reach the college. Later we came to know that it hardly costs Rs 75 till that place then.
If I have started about these auto persons, let me finish their classifications also. There are two types of auto drivers available in Bangalore; Decent ones and Dacoits. Decent ones are like dinosaurs, slowly vanishing from planet Bangalore. Dacoits carry the passengers in double fare in day time and do loot them also during the night (few of them). Dangerous ride!
Local people here are very good till you keep telling them “Good morning Uncle”, “Good evening Uncle”. Once you quit doing so, they become very rude and sometimes obnoxious too. They will follow the Kannadiga style then, which is a kind of thumb rule. Here u fold all your fingers, and make your thumb open and point skywards. The first dialogue should be ‘Yen Maga’, followed by ‘Thu Maga, T******’ etc. good thing is that they only deliver those dialogues, and will provoke the other person to take the first step. If no response, then they will keep speaking for some time and leave. So it’s like a thriller movie and not a horror one. :)
If you have to talk about something good in Bangalore, first thing that comes into mind is climate. When I came first here, I was so much impressed with that; such a beautiful climate! It was never too hot, never too cold. Always mild weather. And if it was little hotter in daytime, evening shower was a must, which used to take care of all. But slowly even that is deteriorating. They are chopping off the trees from this green city and climate has started to take its toll. From February itself, it has become so hot this year.
Geographically, it is very well located city. There are so many visiting places near to Bangalore just at a stone’s distance. We can easily plan for an outing on any weekend and go and have fun. To list few among them is Coorg, Ooty, Tirupati, Mysore, Nagarhole, Kodaikanal, etc. [etc means I hav ran out of my options here, but believe me there are lots more].
Another beautiful aspect(entity) here is girls and their dressing senses. Girl readers, take this as a generalization, and don’t over react. ;-). But the way they dress, and the amount of make up they put, each and every single piece seems to be acclaiming the spot once Priyanka, Katrina, Bipasha etc hang their boots. Everyone seems to drive you by your charm. It’s time to be careful dudes. Three M’s you have to be careful of when you land in Bangalore (courtesy my seniors), Mamu (police), Mausam (Weather) and M*** (Girls). When these three will strike, no one knows. But when effect is over, u will find yourself ruined. Still one of my friends has vouched for girls with gajra too. (maybe he is environmental friendly and believes in more plants and flowers. Salaam-e-ishq meri jaan jara……)
Vijay Malaya welcomes you all to the Pub Capital of India. I can bet that there are more pubs and bars in Bangalore than medical shops. Everywhere beer and wine flows like water. It’s easily accessible. For getting water, you have to fight with Tamil Nadu and other neighboring states, or wait for new Cauvery verdict, but nothing for beer. People here are so much ready to come for protests, not against the bad roads, or bad administrations, but against ban on bar dancers, shorter night life, drink and drive and all. It’s like people here don’t drink, because they don’t have enough money to afford that. In short, only beggars don’t drink.
After wine, next thing is dine. Food here is really tasty and all the cuisines across the globe are available. At the end they all will taste little sour (like sambhar); that’s the different issue. But food is very delicious here. If you stay here for a month only, weight gain is a must. Look at me. ;-). Another point to mention, any kind of treat means, chicken should be in the menu; veggies please excuse. [Caution: Weight gain is all contribution by the global restaurants avaialble here and not the local ones. Rice, sambar and rasam will do no good for your weight gain].
The main reason for Bangalore being treated as a metro like city is its IT industry. Almost 35% of Indian S/W professionals reside here. And this is thus called as Silicon Valley of India. These are termed as the main reason for the increasing inflation in the city. Accommodation is very costly here, just because of these IT people. They agree for paying any hefty price, if they find a suitable location for their stay. And later that budget is not affordable by other people. The cost of living is so high that you will have many aches to reach that.
Another thing to be mentioned when we talk about IT industry is Infosys. This institute is like a mini district here. They hire people like how they breathe in a day. It hardly matters for them whether they are using them on work or not. God knows if they are doing some scam like Satyam in this too. ;-). Another places to get their names here is IISc and ISRO. These are two big bodies situated here about which all bangaloreans can be proud of. :)
Another woe that they have added to the system is the traffic situation. Roads in Bangalore are generally not broader; and the number of vehicles on road is increasing inversely proportional to clothing’s of girls. This finally makes a jam packed situation, mostly on roads which link to IT places in morning and evening, during office on/off timings.
Communication facilities are made up mainly of BMTC buses, which ply on all the routes through out Bangalore. The few issues here are stinking armpits of your fellow travelers, and no guarantee that you will get down with your wallet and mobile in tact. The more you travel towards the outskirts, these stinking armpits develop more, and drunkards also accompany you (I still remember my college rides). :)
Namma metro is coming too, to the city. But at the cost of deforestations and many traffic bottle necks caused due to this construction work for metro rail. But once when it’s through with it, it will surely minimize the traffic on road.
Airport, the international one, has been built here last year. And it’s so far from the town that you will feel as if you are abroad by the time you reach there. But it’s good and well planned too.
Places of significance, being a cricket fan, I will mention first Chinnaswamy stadium. Remember 1996 world cup quarterfinals, India and Pakistan. Aamir Sohail had just hit Venkatesh Prasad for a boundary and pointed his bat and asked him to fetch that. This doesn’t happen often, but happened on Karnataka soil. The very next ball he charged again, but alas, found his middle stump uprooted. Venky then pointed him the pavilion and asked him to go there (with a Thu Maga statement also). The entire stadium was thankful to Venky and as if the sins done by Chetan Sharma, when he was hit six off his last ball by Miandad, was half forgiven. J
Next are a list of shopping malls, multiplexes and theatres. Here you will find numerous guys with gals, gals with gals, guys with guys, guys and gals with animals, moving together. After all it’s metro sexual city. Another one is then Lalbagh Park. Very beautiful and very calm place to hang around. Brigade road is a famous shopping location where you will find all latest fashions available at a cheap ( I m joking) price. One of my friends likes Kemp fort too. I had never been to that place, but I have faith in her, and I term that as a good place too (Do shopping on your own risk but).
One last thing which needs a mention is crime. When I had first stepped in the Bangalore, the crime incidents were not as frequent as these are these days. Even we witnessed pseudo serial blasts. Slowly, this place also is losing its stature of being one of the safest places in India. Earlier roaming till 11-12 pm in night was a very general thing, and during our college days, we had so many night outs in Brigade road and all. But nowadays it takes a hell lot of courage to do so. I am not promoting the night life angle here, but what I meant was this place is no more a safe land how it used to be. One thing I have noticed that when you are going to write about a person (except myself) or a place, mostly the bad critics come to the picture. But even after having so many problems, I just love being at this place. Namma Bengaluru!!!
Monday, June 8, 2009
George of the EPCET (Jungle)
Hi guys. I am still not back from the last post’s flashback mode. I would like to take you all into little more past of mine. It was the time when I had joined engineering. I was a very good and bright student till my school (10th). Then it was the time for turnaround in my career. In my high school days, lack of discipline, love for cricket, and of course love itself made me go deep and deeper in dirt. For my love and love for cricket I started bunking schools, and started becoming famous (intelligent readers, read notorious) very fast. Everyone was always on a lookout for me. Then few more incidents and accidents, I had reached till the extent of receiving suspension orders for a month from the school. (This was due to fighting in the school premises, nothing non sense ok). Anyway, this one month was a blessing for me, as I enjoyed my time most and was almost completely cut off from the school. I will neither tell my school’s name, nor my marks which I got in my high school, because I am still trying my best to wash off those ugly spots and dents off my image. But even surf excel was a failure in this case. In a way I had depressed my parents, and they were almost shattered. In a big joint family, it always takes the same baby step to be crowned as ‘Fit for nothing’. I knew only my good work can change my image and nothing else. Got great support from my parents, even after not qualifying for my state engineering exams, and my dreams IIT, I sat for CET, Karnataka exams.
Little bit of plot spoiler here. Those who are thinking that at the end, I will be transformed into a new person, hero like, and great achiever; their only half guess will hit the bull’s eye. Yeah I will be the hero of course (after all I am the writer, I can’t always put myself as laughing stock), but great achiever, huh I don’t think that notorious tag will be off me so fast. And after all, this is not a bollywood story, and I am no way inspired by Abbas- Mastan duo, so no much surprises lying below. Pray continue.
Sad story over, and a new sunshine came. I came for my CET exams with my friend in a special train. That train was specially provided for this CET exam and it was supposed to reach 24 hours before the exam time. It was full with students and hell down under for the guardians accompanying the girls. The bouncers hurled by the guys reminded those guardians of the bodyline series. I will not go into those details. This train was only driven by the driver, but the control was there in the hands of students. Whenever they used to feel that train journey was getting too hectic, they used to pull chain, get down off train, go and pluck fruits from the adjoining trees, be it coconut also, we had experts! They crossed limits when seeing a pond; they stopped the train and went out to take bath too. Ha ha ha. The driver and the guard of the train had already surrendered everything except the controls. This was a fun journey, and finally we reached our destination 12 hrs late, very late night. Thankfully I met with one of my acquaintances (my old school teacher, and currently lecturer in Acharya College) there and he took me to the hostel of Acharya College. Let me tell you one thing before I forget. If I know something of mathematics today, I owe him 80% of that. The way he had worked behind me in my school days was so precious. And yes, he had told me that if I am taking a seat here, join any college but not Acharya, as the management is not at all good here (Acharya college students, now you know how you people missed a hero among your ranks). Ok back, morning, they provided the college bus and dropped me to the centre for the CET. I had reached there in time, but without any pen. Took the pen from my bench-mate and he was shocked seeing me in exam hall without a pen. Exam went ok, went outside, had lunch, and bought a pen for the second half. This exam was for 2 days. Somehow I liked Bangalore lots. Or maybe I had no other option except going to UP or Karnataka, I thought of choosing this. Results came and I had qualified, as each and every student who applies here, does. My rank was 17070. I came for counseling, and my luck, I got JSS college seat. I took that and in evening went for a college visit. Found the college in the centre of town and again lots of distraction which had spoilt my near past career. I had to take a decision, before it was too late and I was off hook again. One of my friend, had taken a seat in EPCET (yeah you got it correct, this is that garbage box where even I jumped), and he told college is far from town but with a good environment. And without even visiting the college I had decided that this is the one. :)
30th September, 2002 we landed in Bangalore with our baggage. We four people, four Bihar’s gems in fact, came together, as we had met with each other during counseling period. I have already told you our first auto travel experience before, will not repeat that. College chairman greeted us all with open hands, but couldn’t provide us rooms, as the construction process was yet not over. We had to share rooms with other people for around 3-4 days. During those days, those people had mentality that they have given us shelter, and they used to try to boss on us. We never used to say anything, first because we didn’t know if they were seniors or what, and second we were still not accustomed to the new place and pitch. We went through ragging process, also and that too by the so called senior group which was consisting of 90% our batch-mates. I will not get into those details, as this is a family blog, and no vulgar things here. ;-). In a nutshell, the hostel was filled by freshers only, as no senior can fall in the same trap for two consecutive years. Even we had left the hostel gracefully in second year. :)
One small incident and a person who came into light was ARD here. After settling in the hostel, we four planned to roam about in evening. Let me describe my college location to you. It’s around 4 kms down from Old Madras road. And out of those 4, 3kms will be kind of jungle. Very few transportation services were available, one bus every hour, that’s all. Anyways we went to a nearby tea shop for tea (and smoking also). We were there for around 1 hour and it was pretty dark by then. The entire place seemed to be fit for exorcist shooting. But still we had no other option than to counter it. God is there, and they come in disguise, and sometimes they carry torch also. :) One guy came ahead, with a big torch in hand and he told he will accompany us till hostel. He was ARD. From school time onwards, I have mostly stayed with Bengali people, but I don’t remember if I had anyone as my close friend. But this guy was different. He was not sounding Bengali at all, yeah he was looking little bit because of the torch he was carrying. He he he. That was the day, and he became one of the integral parts of my college life. Thanks ARD, for all those moments, which we shared together, including dhik chik dhik chik of chin lung. :)
The very first day of our college, and you will not believe, we four bunked it and went to city and watched a movie there. Next day was anyways, 2nd October, Gandhi Jayanti, so holiday. 3rd October, I stepped into my classroom. Jeans, shirt flying outside, slippers, I don’t know if I had combed also properly. One of my friends had told there is a bomb (a hot girl, not linked to terrorist activities ok) in our class. But I never found any; my class was a gifted one, where everyone was a diffused piece. Within few days I had got reputation in class for being a rude, insensitive and indecent guy. Nobody had courage to tell me all this anyways. I was happy, my first target was achieved. I never wanted to be centre of attraction here. We were 60 in total in class. Around 25 girls, and 35 guys and out of them around 20 guys were from hostel, or even more than that. There was a big concern for rivalry between north Indian and south Indian students, so almost naturally we all hostel dwellers were always united. That sense of unity had flown between us from day 1, and even when we were not happy with each other at times, we had a common wavelength for our unity. We 50 people in hostel used to sit; stand, sleep and errr… do everything together. Everyone was afraid of us.
I have written about the unity among us. Let me give you an example of that. One fine evening, someone found an insect in the hostel snacks. I don’t know if that was true or just a rumor. But anyways, we decided to boycott hostel food. The same night during dinner, we went and altogether 47 people took food, and without eating any grass of that, emptied our plates in the dustbin, made lots of noise, and went off. We all caught a truck passing by, went to main road dhaba, had food there and came back. When we came back, we came to know that we all were suspended from hostel after complain from the canteen person, and were not allowed to enter our rooms, and we will have to pay a fine 1000rs each to get entry back into the hostel. We had few friends residing in neighborhood, and we all distributed there, and then due to our unity, chairman melted and called us back to hostel. Later we came to know that some one among us was a traitor, and he had gone and told chairman, about everything, and whose plan was this and all, and that’s why he had called us back. If you are reading this Mr. Traitor, let me tell you, I still hate you. Rules became stricter from that day on in hostel. No more smoking in rooms, fine 100rs. No more late night outing, after 11 pm return 100rs fine. At the end for every rule there was a penalty amount, and there hanged the greedy face of our chairman.
Anyway, I was never caught smoking in room, as for putting fine, smoke was not enough, cigarette butt was necessary to be located, which they were never able to find. I was always smarter and one step ahead of them. ARD was caught once and had to pay fine, ha ha. I was caught for some other offence. Annual fest had come; I will give a detailed report of it in the next blog, and this fest had woken up the sleeping Gaurav. I was coming back into groove. I had newly tried climbing on pipes and ascend to first floor the previous night. Some activity was going on, so all college guys and girls were there. I thought of showing off to all girls present there and impress them. Yeah I never became Bhigi Billi, succeeded in that act, and managed to impress girls. Only problem was my warden had seen me doing this stunt. In the evening I got bill of 100rs, and after a lot of negotiations, I managed the issue in 50rs.
One small and stinking incident in between, I will like to mention. I have told before that transportation facility was very poor in those areas. So for any work in town, generally we used to take lift and go. We accepted all vehicles, be it lorry, tractor, bikes, mopeds everything except the bullock carts. One fine Sunday, we thought of going to town for movie, good food and little shopping. We were two, will not name other, why simply to put him under shame. We came to bus stand, waited for bus, didn’t get and meanwhile one lorry crossed. We stopped that and asked for lift. He told that there is no space as already three people are sitting inside. We told that no problem, we will jump in backside. He tried to tell us something, but unfortunately that was in Kannada and we know only ‘Thu Maga’ till then. Anyway, we jumped inside and our journey started. It was a peculiar lorry, and its walls were made of iron wires in square shape, not like general wooden planks one. It was stinking lots and also it was very sticky below our feet. Somehow we covered that 4 kms distance and when got down at Old Madras Road, people started laughing seeing us. We assumed that they are just being racist, by laughing on north Indian people. We continued our trip and came back and it was evening around 6.30 when we reached same place in Old Madras road, waiting for another bus or lift, to reach till hostel. We both had lit cigarettes and we were enjoying it, when a big and nice car came around. We knew that it will not stop for us, still we asked for lift. Amazing, it went around 10 m ahead and stopped, and one hand went out and called us. We felt so proud on ourselves and thought of telling the story to hostel people that we got a lift from super car. As soon as we reached the car, lightning struck on us. Our chairman was sitting inside with one of his friend. He called us inside, and took us on a dreadful ride for next 4 kms. He had caught us red handed smoking and full way he was scolding us and threatening us of dire consequences. Finally when we neared hostel, he told both of us to meet him next day at 6pm, otherwise he will inform our parents about this. We were very scared for the entire one day, and somehow we reached his office at 6pm that day. We were told by his peon to wait outside as someone was already inside. After sometime, one of my classmate and hostel-mate came out of his cabin with sad face. He told us that he got scolding for smoking and had been asked to pay a fine of 100rs. He tried his level best to convince him that he never went out of hostel yesterday, nor he smoked, nor he took lift in his car, but he is not moving. We took a huge sigh of relief, consoled him and came back with him without meeting the chairman. We waited for next two days, and those two days avoided coming in front of the chairman fully. Then we could sense that we are safe, and the lightning which had struck us had been transferred to that poor chap. :) [Later we came to know that the lorry in which we were escorted in the morning was the garbage truck. Somehow we saved this incident to be public till today].
Let me throw some light on our class stories also apart from only hostel life. We had finished almost 1 month, and I was chosen as unanimous leader for all the wrong activities. Be it declaring mass bunks, or troubling teachers or doing something in hostel (1st floor); all were always on my shoulders. Innocent people from Bihar are common victims for such activities, and later they are blamed for their bad behavior. ;-). There was huge reshuffling going on across the branches, and people were moving from one branch to other, and daily we could see some new faces and some missing faces too. This was happening generally with management students. Computer science (forgot this was my trade) was in a big demand anyways. One fine morning, a new entry came to our class, but that face was no way new. It seemed as if I had seen same face many times before. The new face was very happy entering into this unit and joined and sat with girls. Yeah she was a girl, so sat with girls. Then I realized she was the twin sister of one of my batch mate. Oh my god, what a brilliant job done by god. Now it’s confirmed, Xerox machines are available there on top also. This was my first live experience of any twin entities. In the very first look, I can bet no one can find a single difference between both of them (except for the weight factor, one was Moti from beginning). We will call them Miss W and Miss X from now on. W is a fat character too, so you will know who I am talking about. Before her arrival, this X was a silent piece in class, but as soon as big sis came in, she showed her true colors. Both of them were undeclared leaders among the girls. Miss X was in my batch for practical and labs and I had spoken to her, but never to W. But whenever I used to see them together, I used to admire them so much for their similarities. Somehow I had thought of finding a difference among them, without talking to them of course.
The best comment they had got which I remember was in 2nd year. A new Math’s lecturer had come to our class, and as usual, even he was shell shocked seeing them. He told – “This is such a big coincidence. Both of you are twins, that too same face, that too sisters, that too from same house and place, and also in same class.” We didn’t know whether to laugh on this comment or explain him, being a twin most other cases had to satisfy.
Enough, my hands are paining now. Stories will never end, so will continue with in the next edition. :)
Cont….
Little bit of plot spoiler here. Those who are thinking that at the end, I will be transformed into a new person, hero like, and great achiever; their only half guess will hit the bull’s eye. Yeah I will be the hero of course (after all I am the writer, I can’t always put myself as laughing stock), but great achiever, huh I don’t think that notorious tag will be off me so fast. And after all, this is not a bollywood story, and I am no way inspired by Abbas- Mastan duo, so no much surprises lying below. Pray continue.
Sad story over, and a new sunshine came. I came for my CET exams with my friend in a special train. That train was specially provided for this CET exam and it was supposed to reach 24 hours before the exam time. It was full with students and hell down under for the guardians accompanying the girls. The bouncers hurled by the guys reminded those guardians of the bodyline series. I will not go into those details. This train was only driven by the driver, but the control was there in the hands of students. Whenever they used to feel that train journey was getting too hectic, they used to pull chain, get down off train, go and pluck fruits from the adjoining trees, be it coconut also, we had experts! They crossed limits when seeing a pond; they stopped the train and went out to take bath too. Ha ha ha. The driver and the guard of the train had already surrendered everything except the controls. This was a fun journey, and finally we reached our destination 12 hrs late, very late night. Thankfully I met with one of my acquaintances (my old school teacher, and currently lecturer in Acharya College) there and he took me to the hostel of Acharya College. Let me tell you one thing before I forget. If I know something of mathematics today, I owe him 80% of that. The way he had worked behind me in my school days was so precious. And yes, he had told me that if I am taking a seat here, join any college but not Acharya, as the management is not at all good here (Acharya college students, now you know how you people missed a hero among your ranks). Ok back, morning, they provided the college bus and dropped me to the centre for the CET. I had reached there in time, but without any pen. Took the pen from my bench-mate and he was shocked seeing me in exam hall without a pen. Exam went ok, went outside, had lunch, and bought a pen for the second half. This exam was for 2 days. Somehow I liked Bangalore lots. Or maybe I had no other option except going to UP or Karnataka, I thought of choosing this. Results came and I had qualified, as each and every student who applies here, does. My rank was 17070. I came for counseling, and my luck, I got JSS college seat. I took that and in evening went for a college visit. Found the college in the centre of town and again lots of distraction which had spoilt my near past career. I had to take a decision, before it was too late and I was off hook again. One of my friend, had taken a seat in EPCET (yeah you got it correct, this is that garbage box where even I jumped), and he told college is far from town but with a good environment. And without even visiting the college I had decided that this is the one. :)
30th September, 2002 we landed in Bangalore with our baggage. We four people, four Bihar’s gems in fact, came together, as we had met with each other during counseling period. I have already told you our first auto travel experience before, will not repeat that. College chairman greeted us all with open hands, but couldn’t provide us rooms, as the construction process was yet not over. We had to share rooms with other people for around 3-4 days. During those days, those people had mentality that they have given us shelter, and they used to try to boss on us. We never used to say anything, first because we didn’t know if they were seniors or what, and second we were still not accustomed to the new place and pitch. We went through ragging process, also and that too by the so called senior group which was consisting of 90% our batch-mates. I will not get into those details, as this is a family blog, and no vulgar things here. ;-). In a nutshell, the hostel was filled by freshers only, as no senior can fall in the same trap for two consecutive years. Even we had left the hostel gracefully in second year. :)
One small incident and a person who came into light was ARD here. After settling in the hostel, we four planned to roam about in evening. Let me describe my college location to you. It’s around 4 kms down from Old Madras road. And out of those 4, 3kms will be kind of jungle. Very few transportation services were available, one bus every hour, that’s all. Anyways we went to a nearby tea shop for tea (and smoking also). We were there for around 1 hour and it was pretty dark by then. The entire place seemed to be fit for exorcist shooting. But still we had no other option than to counter it. God is there, and they come in disguise, and sometimes they carry torch also. :) One guy came ahead, with a big torch in hand and he told he will accompany us till hostel. He was ARD. From school time onwards, I have mostly stayed with Bengali people, but I don’t remember if I had anyone as my close friend. But this guy was different. He was not sounding Bengali at all, yeah he was looking little bit because of the torch he was carrying. He he he. That was the day, and he became one of the integral parts of my college life. Thanks ARD, for all those moments, which we shared together, including dhik chik dhik chik of chin lung. :)
The very first day of our college, and you will not believe, we four bunked it and went to city and watched a movie there. Next day was anyways, 2nd October, Gandhi Jayanti, so holiday. 3rd October, I stepped into my classroom. Jeans, shirt flying outside, slippers, I don’t know if I had combed also properly. One of my friends had told there is a bomb (a hot girl, not linked to terrorist activities ok) in our class. But I never found any; my class was a gifted one, where everyone was a diffused piece. Within few days I had got reputation in class for being a rude, insensitive and indecent guy. Nobody had courage to tell me all this anyways. I was happy, my first target was achieved. I never wanted to be centre of attraction here. We were 60 in total in class. Around 25 girls, and 35 guys and out of them around 20 guys were from hostel, or even more than that. There was a big concern for rivalry between north Indian and south Indian students, so almost naturally we all hostel dwellers were always united. That sense of unity had flown between us from day 1, and even when we were not happy with each other at times, we had a common wavelength for our unity. We 50 people in hostel used to sit; stand, sleep and errr… do everything together. Everyone was afraid of us.
I have written about the unity among us. Let me give you an example of that. One fine evening, someone found an insect in the hostel snacks. I don’t know if that was true or just a rumor. But anyways, we decided to boycott hostel food. The same night during dinner, we went and altogether 47 people took food, and without eating any grass of that, emptied our plates in the dustbin, made lots of noise, and went off. We all caught a truck passing by, went to main road dhaba, had food there and came back. When we came back, we came to know that we all were suspended from hostel after complain from the canteen person, and were not allowed to enter our rooms, and we will have to pay a fine 1000rs each to get entry back into the hostel. We had few friends residing in neighborhood, and we all distributed there, and then due to our unity, chairman melted and called us back to hostel. Later we came to know that some one among us was a traitor, and he had gone and told chairman, about everything, and whose plan was this and all, and that’s why he had called us back. If you are reading this Mr. Traitor, let me tell you, I still hate you. Rules became stricter from that day on in hostel. No more smoking in rooms, fine 100rs. No more late night outing, after 11 pm return 100rs fine. At the end for every rule there was a penalty amount, and there hanged the greedy face of our chairman.
Anyway, I was never caught smoking in room, as for putting fine, smoke was not enough, cigarette butt was necessary to be located, which they were never able to find. I was always smarter and one step ahead of them. ARD was caught once and had to pay fine, ha ha. I was caught for some other offence. Annual fest had come; I will give a detailed report of it in the next blog, and this fest had woken up the sleeping Gaurav. I was coming back into groove. I had newly tried climbing on pipes and ascend to first floor the previous night. Some activity was going on, so all college guys and girls were there. I thought of showing off to all girls present there and impress them. Yeah I never became Bhigi Billi, succeeded in that act, and managed to impress girls. Only problem was my warden had seen me doing this stunt. In the evening I got bill of 100rs, and after a lot of negotiations, I managed the issue in 50rs.
One small and stinking incident in between, I will like to mention. I have told before that transportation facility was very poor in those areas. So for any work in town, generally we used to take lift and go. We accepted all vehicles, be it lorry, tractor, bikes, mopeds everything except the bullock carts. One fine Sunday, we thought of going to town for movie, good food and little shopping. We were two, will not name other, why simply to put him under shame. We came to bus stand, waited for bus, didn’t get and meanwhile one lorry crossed. We stopped that and asked for lift. He told that there is no space as already three people are sitting inside. We told that no problem, we will jump in backside. He tried to tell us something, but unfortunately that was in Kannada and we know only ‘Thu Maga’ till then. Anyway, we jumped inside and our journey started. It was a peculiar lorry, and its walls were made of iron wires in square shape, not like general wooden planks one. It was stinking lots and also it was very sticky below our feet. Somehow we covered that 4 kms distance and when got down at Old Madras Road, people started laughing seeing us. We assumed that they are just being racist, by laughing on north Indian people. We continued our trip and came back and it was evening around 6.30 when we reached same place in Old Madras road, waiting for another bus or lift, to reach till hostel. We both had lit cigarettes and we were enjoying it, when a big and nice car came around. We knew that it will not stop for us, still we asked for lift. Amazing, it went around 10 m ahead and stopped, and one hand went out and called us. We felt so proud on ourselves and thought of telling the story to hostel people that we got a lift from super car. As soon as we reached the car, lightning struck on us. Our chairman was sitting inside with one of his friend. He called us inside, and took us on a dreadful ride for next 4 kms. He had caught us red handed smoking and full way he was scolding us and threatening us of dire consequences. Finally when we neared hostel, he told both of us to meet him next day at 6pm, otherwise he will inform our parents about this. We were very scared for the entire one day, and somehow we reached his office at 6pm that day. We were told by his peon to wait outside as someone was already inside. After sometime, one of my classmate and hostel-mate came out of his cabin with sad face. He told us that he got scolding for smoking and had been asked to pay a fine of 100rs. He tried his level best to convince him that he never went out of hostel yesterday, nor he smoked, nor he took lift in his car, but he is not moving. We took a huge sigh of relief, consoled him and came back with him without meeting the chairman. We waited for next two days, and those two days avoided coming in front of the chairman fully. Then we could sense that we are safe, and the lightning which had struck us had been transferred to that poor chap. :) [Later we came to know that the lorry in which we were escorted in the morning was the garbage truck. Somehow we saved this incident to be public till today].
Let me throw some light on our class stories also apart from only hostel life. We had finished almost 1 month, and I was chosen as unanimous leader for all the wrong activities. Be it declaring mass bunks, or troubling teachers or doing something in hostel (1st floor); all were always on my shoulders. Innocent people from Bihar are common victims for such activities, and later they are blamed for their bad behavior. ;-). There was huge reshuffling going on across the branches, and people were moving from one branch to other, and daily we could see some new faces and some missing faces too. This was happening generally with management students. Computer science (forgot this was my trade) was in a big demand anyways. One fine morning, a new entry came to our class, but that face was no way new. It seemed as if I had seen same face many times before. The new face was very happy entering into this unit and joined and sat with girls. Yeah she was a girl, so sat with girls. Then I realized she was the twin sister of one of my batch mate. Oh my god, what a brilliant job done by god. Now it’s confirmed, Xerox machines are available there on top also. This was my first live experience of any twin entities. In the very first look, I can bet no one can find a single difference between both of them (except for the weight factor, one was Moti from beginning). We will call them Miss W and Miss X from now on. W is a fat character too, so you will know who I am talking about. Before her arrival, this X was a silent piece in class, but as soon as big sis came in, she showed her true colors. Both of them were undeclared leaders among the girls. Miss X was in my batch for practical and labs and I had spoken to her, but never to W. But whenever I used to see them together, I used to admire them so much for their similarities. Somehow I had thought of finding a difference among them, without talking to them of course.
The best comment they had got which I remember was in 2nd year. A new Math’s lecturer had come to our class, and as usual, even he was shell shocked seeing them. He told – “This is such a big coincidence. Both of you are twins, that too same face, that too sisters, that too from same house and place, and also in same class.” We didn’t know whether to laugh on this comment or explain him, being a twin most other cases had to satisfy.
Enough, my hands are paining now. Stories will never end, so will continue with in the next edition. :)
Cont….
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
The Constitution of India
Hi guys. I am finally back, after a long break. Not that I was free all this while; even I work once in a while. :). Kind of a successful last week for me. Now my friends are giving a detailed report of things in their daily life, like a blog, filled with humor, and even when they hesitate to give that credit to me and my initial step, I am here to accept all that. A baby step turns into a giant leap of confidence. :) But still a few are there, for whom work is more important, and no time for friends. Gotta get them out of their usual skins too. (Miss X, don’t sulk, I am referring to you only).
Ok seeing the heading; now don’t confuse yourself that I am going to give some description about the Constitution of India. Something else is destined to be there below. When I was in school, I used to think that Constitution consists of the daily pledge which we read out in school assembly. “I am an Indian. India is my country. All Indian are my brothers and (their) sisters…………” That keyword ‘their’ was added later, when our brains opened and thought that its very illogical and our marriage will be at stake, and no one will be there to call us as papa or whatsoever later. We are so adjusting in nature. We adjusted the pledge, and daily continued with that, with that keyword in lowered voice, to avoid being caught.
Further down the line, understood that this Constitution is something else, and something much bigger. As I have no short memory loss aka Aamir khan of Ghajini fame, things which I remember most and clearly now are from my college life. It’s time to take you people in little flashback mode. Final semester of our engineering, one side there was little pain that after few months, we all will be separated and will choose different ways; other side we were happy that we are going to finish this cruel and gruesome period of four years. I am not discouraging the aspiring engineers, but I do want to enlighten them that completing four years of engineering, is no child’s play. It’s tougher than climbing Mount Everest, and here also you slip off so many times, like that in prior case. But somehow we had reached the final ascent, and we had less number of subjects in the final semester, mostly the projects and there was a gem in the crown, The Indian Constitution, as one of the subject. :)
Few initial days, this hour was a boon to us in disguise, as there were no assigned lecturer for this and we used to have complete free time. One month, out of four assigned months, went off like this. Then came the day, and it brought new light, new person, and new Constitution of India. No, he never changed the constitution, but he did change the energy levels of each and every individual in our class. First time when he stepped into our class, he was in a white shirt, black trousers, shirt not tucked in, wearing a slipper, looking like a typical mallu, and had a register in hand. We all guessed that he is some newly appointed office boy (man) and he has come to tell about list of people having dues. This due declaration was almost a daily affair now, as we were going to leave this greedy college very soon. But our guess was short-lived as he told that he is the new constitution teacher. Believe me guys, you all would had read lots of mails where they mock the mallu pronunciations. I am not telling that all do same, but this human piece would have inspired that someone to write that mail for sure. No zhatting (chatting) in my class was his first statement. Then he took attendance. Next 5-10 minutes were like some comedy show. The way he was taking our names, we were like rolling on the floor. He was watching it all with no reaction but. To add up to his own introduction, he was a HOD for some department in the newly opened MBA section.
Then came our introduction time. He asked all of us, to tell our names and something about us. We engineers are the biggest copy cats on earth. The format of introduction presented by the first person was happily copied by rest all, and we continued the process. There were few roars of laugh, as the baton kept on passing and reached me also. I told about myself, and also that I am from Bihar. He gave a nice laugh and added that Lalu’s place. I never took it as offence, but thought of making it fun topic. I didn’t tell anything that time. The day went off, and yes, I didn’t have to wait for long. Within a week, somehow again Bihar got a mention, and again that grin on his face and mention of Lalu. I just stood up and told that it was not at all fair. He just can’t make fun of my birthplace like that. He will have to tender an apology in front of us, before continuing the class. There are many good things to mention about that place, than showing this attitude. As planned almost the entire class supported me. And his face was worth seeing. So sad of him. He was seeming to be famine-stricken, and as if not able to breathe and all. He didn’t tell anything, and went off from the class. Next day he came, and before we could demand anything, he himself told sorry, and took an oath that he will not mention any state, cast, creed, religion, race or anything else’s name in his further classes, and will avoid controversy. And from that day, he started keeping good eye on me. His only problem was, I was the only person who used to answer his questions in class, so he was somehow not able to scold me, even when he tried his best.
Few days went off, and he was not able to retaliate, then he found one way out. I hadn’t bought the constitution book. He made a new rule, that everyone in the class should have their own book, and then only he will give attendance to them, otherwise not. No sharing of books will be allowed. Each and everyone should have their own copy. I understood that this was for me. First day, simply I avoided the class, as I didn’t have the book. Meanwhile I spoke to Electronics people (they had same subject a year back), asking for any spare book. By the end of the day I was able to arrange Xerox copy of the book. Next day, when he saw me in the class, he remembered of his defined rule, and as he can’t apply the same only on me, he started checking everyone’s books. Finally when he reached me, and asked, I showed him the Xerox copy, he wasn’t happy. He told, I had told about the book, and not Xerox copy. Even I was firm, that if you want, u can compare the book and Xerox copy, the contents will be same word by word, and even the punctuation marks. ;-) (It was the Xerox of same book). Then he had another issue. He told that Xerox copy was bearing some other name, and this was not my book. I took the pen, cut the existing name, and put my name there, and asked if he had any other problem. He found himself at the receiving end. He turned back and went, and new assignment for us, the preamble of constitution should be on finger-tips of everyone by tomorrow.
Next day, we all were ready, few who had guts had by-hearted it, and few intelligent people like us had either written on desk, or had done new innovations to tackle. He came and started asking each and everyone and even a word’s mistake was enough for him to catch. Like school kids we were not allowed to sit. Even my innovation didn’t pay off, and even I was standing at the end. I could see the satisfaction on his face. Another thing happened that day. One girl, Miss Nuts started drinking water from her bottle while she was standing. She got scolding’s nicely from him, and he asked her not to exhibit “Aaya culture” (nurse-like behavior) again in the class. We never got a justification why he termed this like that, but we surely had a great laugh for next few days.
Then came the D-Day. We had our annual fest. I and few of my classmates were in the co-coordinator’s list, and we were enjoying our time nicely. We used to come to college and never attend classes. We had got special permission for that. Once when we were done with our fest, we came back and showed him the letter and asked him to give attendance to all of us. He didn’t agree. He told he will not do that. He was like we never did anything and just to avoid classes, we are using this. He gave example of his MBA guys, that they never bunked classes, and still attended the fest. Miss Don, was first to retaliate, telling that MBA people never arranged for anything. They just came to eat on that day and watch the events and go, for that skipping lecture was never required. Everyone else was silent and then I came up for her support. I told, anyways, doing MBA from this college, means they were fit for nothing. Even when we are doing engineering from here, we can tell that we are fitter and useful from them, and we do constructive work, so participated in that. He was like, I never asked you to speak anything. I told this is how we engineers are, we always support our friends and colleagues, not like MBA people. This was enough to hurt is ego. He told that no one had spoken to him like that before. Thanks to Munnabhai I told - “Life me bahut kuch pehli baar hota hai re.” I had spoken very softly, but still everyone heard, and a big laugh across the class. He couldn’t understand but. That was the last time he spoke to me, till next internals. After the results came, I was again the topper in his subject, so he opened his mouth and we were friendly again till end.
After this day, he was very careful while speaking and even after doing lot of research; we were not able to take out something to fight. Like this more than a month went, and then came the plot for my last incident. I don’t remember exactly what had happened, but he was upset with our attitude, maybe we didn’t do our assignment or something. He gave one biblical dialogue – “If you throw pearls to the swine, it’s of no use.” Hurray, we got an opportunity. Me myself, Yeda Anna and Fearless, we three went to our HOD and complained that he is calling us swine, and requested him not to reveal our names, or else it can affect us. We asked him to confirm the same from anyone from our class, as well as from him also. Then we 3 went to his chamber to check our internal marks, and then only he got a call from our HOD, and got nicely scolding’s not to use such language. He was so dejected and after he kept phone, he told us that someone has gone and complained against him. We were laughing so much inside, and we consoled him, and promised him that we will find that person. We came out and laughed so much. That was the end of the story, as our exams came and all was over. We all may forget the entire Constitution, but we will neither forget him, nor the few words of the Preamble of the constitution. ;-)
Ok seeing the heading; now don’t confuse yourself that I am going to give some description about the Constitution of India. Something else is destined to be there below. When I was in school, I used to think that Constitution consists of the daily pledge which we read out in school assembly. “I am an Indian. India is my country. All Indian are my brothers and (their) sisters…………” That keyword ‘their’ was added later, when our brains opened and thought that its very illogical and our marriage will be at stake, and no one will be there to call us as papa or whatsoever later. We are so adjusting in nature. We adjusted the pledge, and daily continued with that, with that keyword in lowered voice, to avoid being caught.
Further down the line, understood that this Constitution is something else, and something much bigger. As I have no short memory loss aka Aamir khan of Ghajini fame, things which I remember most and clearly now are from my college life. It’s time to take you people in little flashback mode. Final semester of our engineering, one side there was little pain that after few months, we all will be separated and will choose different ways; other side we were happy that we are going to finish this cruel and gruesome period of four years. I am not discouraging the aspiring engineers, but I do want to enlighten them that completing four years of engineering, is no child’s play. It’s tougher than climbing Mount Everest, and here also you slip off so many times, like that in prior case. But somehow we had reached the final ascent, and we had less number of subjects in the final semester, mostly the projects and there was a gem in the crown, The Indian Constitution, as one of the subject. :)
Few initial days, this hour was a boon to us in disguise, as there were no assigned lecturer for this and we used to have complete free time. One month, out of four assigned months, went off like this. Then came the day, and it brought new light, new person, and new Constitution of India. No, he never changed the constitution, but he did change the energy levels of each and every individual in our class. First time when he stepped into our class, he was in a white shirt, black trousers, shirt not tucked in, wearing a slipper, looking like a typical mallu, and had a register in hand. We all guessed that he is some newly appointed office boy (man) and he has come to tell about list of people having dues. This due declaration was almost a daily affair now, as we were going to leave this greedy college very soon. But our guess was short-lived as he told that he is the new constitution teacher. Believe me guys, you all would had read lots of mails where they mock the mallu pronunciations. I am not telling that all do same, but this human piece would have inspired that someone to write that mail for sure. No zhatting (chatting) in my class was his first statement. Then he took attendance. Next 5-10 minutes were like some comedy show. The way he was taking our names, we were like rolling on the floor. He was watching it all with no reaction but. To add up to his own introduction, he was a HOD for some department in the newly opened MBA section.
Then came our introduction time. He asked all of us, to tell our names and something about us. We engineers are the biggest copy cats on earth. The format of introduction presented by the first person was happily copied by rest all, and we continued the process. There were few roars of laugh, as the baton kept on passing and reached me also. I told about myself, and also that I am from Bihar. He gave a nice laugh and added that Lalu’s place. I never took it as offence, but thought of making it fun topic. I didn’t tell anything that time. The day went off, and yes, I didn’t have to wait for long. Within a week, somehow again Bihar got a mention, and again that grin on his face and mention of Lalu. I just stood up and told that it was not at all fair. He just can’t make fun of my birthplace like that. He will have to tender an apology in front of us, before continuing the class. There are many good things to mention about that place, than showing this attitude. As planned almost the entire class supported me. And his face was worth seeing. So sad of him. He was seeming to be famine-stricken, and as if not able to breathe and all. He didn’t tell anything, and went off from the class. Next day he came, and before we could demand anything, he himself told sorry, and took an oath that he will not mention any state, cast, creed, religion, race or anything else’s name in his further classes, and will avoid controversy. And from that day, he started keeping good eye on me. His only problem was, I was the only person who used to answer his questions in class, so he was somehow not able to scold me, even when he tried his best.
Few days went off, and he was not able to retaliate, then he found one way out. I hadn’t bought the constitution book. He made a new rule, that everyone in the class should have their own book, and then only he will give attendance to them, otherwise not. No sharing of books will be allowed. Each and everyone should have their own copy. I understood that this was for me. First day, simply I avoided the class, as I didn’t have the book. Meanwhile I spoke to Electronics people (they had same subject a year back), asking for any spare book. By the end of the day I was able to arrange Xerox copy of the book. Next day, when he saw me in the class, he remembered of his defined rule, and as he can’t apply the same only on me, he started checking everyone’s books. Finally when he reached me, and asked, I showed him the Xerox copy, he wasn’t happy. He told, I had told about the book, and not Xerox copy. Even I was firm, that if you want, u can compare the book and Xerox copy, the contents will be same word by word, and even the punctuation marks. ;-) (It was the Xerox of same book). Then he had another issue. He told that Xerox copy was bearing some other name, and this was not my book. I took the pen, cut the existing name, and put my name there, and asked if he had any other problem. He found himself at the receiving end. He turned back and went, and new assignment for us, the preamble of constitution should be on finger-tips of everyone by tomorrow.
Next day, we all were ready, few who had guts had by-hearted it, and few intelligent people like us had either written on desk, or had done new innovations to tackle. He came and started asking each and everyone and even a word’s mistake was enough for him to catch. Like school kids we were not allowed to sit. Even my innovation didn’t pay off, and even I was standing at the end. I could see the satisfaction on his face. Another thing happened that day. One girl, Miss Nuts started drinking water from her bottle while she was standing. She got scolding’s nicely from him, and he asked her not to exhibit “Aaya culture” (nurse-like behavior) again in the class. We never got a justification why he termed this like that, but we surely had a great laugh for next few days.
Then came the D-Day. We had our annual fest. I and few of my classmates were in the co-coordinator’s list, and we were enjoying our time nicely. We used to come to college and never attend classes. We had got special permission for that. Once when we were done with our fest, we came back and showed him the letter and asked him to give attendance to all of us. He didn’t agree. He told he will not do that. He was like we never did anything and just to avoid classes, we are using this. He gave example of his MBA guys, that they never bunked classes, and still attended the fest. Miss Don, was first to retaliate, telling that MBA people never arranged for anything. They just came to eat on that day and watch the events and go, for that skipping lecture was never required. Everyone else was silent and then I came up for her support. I told, anyways, doing MBA from this college, means they were fit for nothing. Even when we are doing engineering from here, we can tell that we are fitter and useful from them, and we do constructive work, so participated in that. He was like, I never asked you to speak anything. I told this is how we engineers are, we always support our friends and colleagues, not like MBA people. This was enough to hurt is ego. He told that no one had spoken to him like that before. Thanks to Munnabhai I told - “Life me bahut kuch pehli baar hota hai re.” I had spoken very softly, but still everyone heard, and a big laugh across the class. He couldn’t understand but. That was the last time he spoke to me, till next internals. After the results came, I was again the topper in his subject, so he opened his mouth and we were friendly again till end.
After this day, he was very careful while speaking and even after doing lot of research; we were not able to take out something to fight. Like this more than a month went, and then came the plot for my last incident. I don’t remember exactly what had happened, but he was upset with our attitude, maybe we didn’t do our assignment or something. He gave one biblical dialogue – “If you throw pearls to the swine, it’s of no use.” Hurray, we got an opportunity. Me myself, Yeda Anna and Fearless, we three went to our HOD and complained that he is calling us swine, and requested him not to reveal our names, or else it can affect us. We asked him to confirm the same from anyone from our class, as well as from him also. Then we 3 went to his chamber to check our internal marks, and then only he got a call from our HOD, and got nicely scolding’s not to use such language. He was so dejected and after he kept phone, he told us that someone has gone and complained against him. We were laughing so much inside, and we consoled him, and promised him that we will find that person. We came out and laughed so much. That was the end of the story, as our exams came and all was over. We all may forget the entire Constitution, but we will neither forget him, nor the few words of the Preamble of the constitution. ;-)
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Boss kaun hai, malum hai kya?
Hello friends. I am back again. This time I am here with a controversial topic for sure. Its almost end of April. If you are in an IT company, it’s end of a financial appraisal, and it’s time of your appraisal. Anyway, due to recession, they have told before itself in most of the companies (except a few lucky ones) that there will not be any hike this time. But they still want to carry on this appraisal process to assess our personal development and growth. There are lots of stories and incidents linked with this, and I am hell bound to share those with you people. Recently there is a blog being circulated, full of cricket gossips, by some Fake IPL Player. That’s a super duper hit. One of the awesome characteristics there is the use of pseudo names for players whom we know well. I want to take that feature, hope it’s not under his copyright. Those who can configure the real faces behind the pseudo names enjoy it; rest all please try to take the fun part of it.
First I will start with my own first appraisal. Around July, 2007 we were going to complete 1 year in the organization, and with that a confirmation process too. We had joined as a trainee in BT band, and we were supposed to be confirmed to B band. ‘We’ means here, a big chunk of around 20-30 people who had joined together. We all were scattered in different teams. In our team we were 8 people together, working on different projects but. Very first year, I was never a brilliant performer, but I was a decent performer for sure. I had never done this buttering process ever in college also (there lecturers and my classmates all used to call me rowdy) and was fully unaware of that in corporate world. My few colleagues did use this path (sorry I am not trying to blame anyone, maybe they had better luck), and few were very lucky to achieve it by default. But I was lacking in it. My close friends still approve that in me. :)
Anyway, this appraisal was a method in which a person was assessed by immediate supervisor; he will give the scores out of total of 57 in seven different criteria’s, and then it was in hands of the big guns to give us final ratings, which will decide our level and thus the hike. L1 means, u are the best and L5 means that you need to quit. Similarly L2 as above average, L3 as average, and L4 needed training and at the end of it if still found not eligible, quit it. I was very much charged up for this. I had handled 2 big items in the project release, on completely a new technology; don’t know when last I had used that in engineering. After all I was a fresher, and I had done more than expectation. My two items had yielded just three bugs, during testing, which were fixed too, while average for each team member was minimum 9. So I was happy that I have done a brilliant job, and might get a good appraisal. When I was in college, our seniors, used to visit our college in between, and used to tell that if you work well in private companies, you will get acknowledged very fast, not like in a processed way in government jobs. Hard known that it was all illusion, and it’s going to break off soon. Coming back to that D-day, the day when I had my first appraisal. I filled the self appraisal form in the given format and had sent across my TL. My TL was no other than Bhanu Chacha. My friends in my team had already been appraised and they had all got in the range of 41-44. But still I had not lost hope. I was sure that I can see the face of half century and maybe will be able to raise my bat. :)
45 minutes after I had sent that doc, I got a call from him that we can go ahead for a discussion regarding my appraisal. I went in the meeting room, and there he showed me the print out of my appraisal he had taken. I directly turned to the page where they will put score. And I got the shock of my life. I had got 39. Ha ha ha. Over that I heard a dialogue, “Are you happy with what you have got?” I really didn’t know what I should answer. I just looked at his expressionless face, and then noticed for first time, the hair popping out from his ears. It was looking so odd in that small meeting room’s bulb light. I felt like laughing aloud, but controlled myself with just a smile. He took that smile in a positive sense, and asked me to read out his comments nicely, before putting my signature. I read them out; everywhere he had praised my work, except my documentation skills (lazy boy). But I never understood why the comments were not reflecting in the marks given. I feel the only hint I got then, was because I didn’t know the language, which was his mother tongue. Believe me, this is one of the necessity in corporate world. You and your head should be on speaking terms, and in same language and best if mother tongue. Anyways, I was fully pissed off by then. He again asked if I was satisfied with my marks. My reply – “It’s more than enough in fact, I had wished for only 35 only.” I think my reply was followed by a sarcastic smile, or maybe someone inside him forced him and he told that, no it’s very less for you, and I should increase little bit. He took the form, increased 1 point, made it 40, and gave a big grin to me. I was lost in some other world, still watching the flying hairs from his ear, and came back to reality, when he asked if we can wind up. He told he will take another print out after modification, and then I should come and put signatures. While leaving he added that don’t be disappointed, as this is for freshers, and we will get a flat hike. From next time I will get even better. The story was over before it could start. I was declared run out, while trying a cheeky single.
I came back and was almost shattered. Another story gave me confidence to stand back. One of my closest friends had also completed her appraisal discussions. She had got 41 or 42 I think. She had worked hard too. And the hint which she got for getting fewer score was even more interesting. Never in writing, but by attitude she was told, that she got less because had she converted to Christianity from a Hindu family, and that too she and her lead were from the same place. Till this was not known to him, he was very good, and the day he came to know, he became the biggest demon available. This guy was our Royal Tiger.
As usual with that score I didn’t expect much rating, and was happy to get L2. But then understood first that how we were fooled. They had not given appraisal, telling its flat hike, and appraisal had no effect, but ratings were based on this appraisal. And those who had got more achieved L1 and few more bucks too. Their heart was empty and so was our pocket. :(
Completed another year, and the second appraisal came. This time had controlled my josh and emotions a lot. The same doc which I had sent last year, modified and sent. This time my lead was different. Vastav ka Naujwaan was my TL. He also gave me ratings and called me for discussion. He showed the print out to me, and again it was the same expression for me. After a complete year, I was shocked again. I went to check hair from ears, it was missing. He had given me 51. Huffff. I never dreamt of that after what I got last time. He gave me a small lecture filled with tips. At the end one sentence which he typed in communicator and sent was so precious for me. First time I felt that I was appreciated. He told – “You have done brilliant work, and it is not in my limits to give more, or else I would have given more. Thanks.” This was enough for me, and I started dreaming again for the best rating, the L1.
The entire process takes around 1-11/2 months for this. And finally when we got our action letters, there was a new drama; mine was missing from the lot. After a search of another week, I got mine. Hey, what the **** (hell). I got L2 again. He he he. They told I got this because of normalization process. Something they explained I never heard. As if I was some abnormal, so I was not picked for normalization. It takes just a statement for your dreams to be shattered. :(
That appraisal time is back. And I don't know this time who is doing mine. Ha ha ha. I am not expecting anything. Anyways there will be no hike this time, so drop it down the hell. How supervisors will come to know what one has worked for whole year, if they don't get involved. It’s so disgusting. The supervisors are assigned to check only through appraisal, what we do for the entire year? I have sent a long 1, copy-paste again to my TL. But this time I have raised my voice too, telling I am not happy with how things are going around me. Let’s see what is the verdict. :) Last word is, it hardly matters how you work for good appraisal. What matters is, if you have a godfather in organization, or if you know your boss personally. Boss kaun hai? Malum hai kya? Ha ha ha.
Disclaimer - ******All the facts stated above are fictious[paradox]. Any match with anyone will be purely coincidence and their bad luck. Please ignore circulating this. Circulating will be hazardous, and circulators will be prosecuted under IPC.*****
First I will start with my own first appraisal. Around July, 2007 we were going to complete 1 year in the organization, and with that a confirmation process too. We had joined as a trainee in BT band, and we were supposed to be confirmed to B band. ‘We’ means here, a big chunk of around 20-30 people who had joined together. We all were scattered in different teams. In our team we were 8 people together, working on different projects but. Very first year, I was never a brilliant performer, but I was a decent performer for sure. I had never done this buttering process ever in college also (there lecturers and my classmates all used to call me rowdy) and was fully unaware of that in corporate world. My few colleagues did use this path (sorry I am not trying to blame anyone, maybe they had better luck), and few were very lucky to achieve it by default. But I was lacking in it. My close friends still approve that in me. :)
Anyway, this appraisal was a method in which a person was assessed by immediate supervisor; he will give the scores out of total of 57 in seven different criteria’s, and then it was in hands of the big guns to give us final ratings, which will decide our level and thus the hike. L1 means, u are the best and L5 means that you need to quit. Similarly L2 as above average, L3 as average, and L4 needed training and at the end of it if still found not eligible, quit it. I was very much charged up for this. I had handled 2 big items in the project release, on completely a new technology; don’t know when last I had used that in engineering. After all I was a fresher, and I had done more than expectation. My two items had yielded just three bugs, during testing, which were fixed too, while average for each team member was minimum 9. So I was happy that I have done a brilliant job, and might get a good appraisal. When I was in college, our seniors, used to visit our college in between, and used to tell that if you work well in private companies, you will get acknowledged very fast, not like in a processed way in government jobs. Hard known that it was all illusion, and it’s going to break off soon. Coming back to that D-day, the day when I had my first appraisal. I filled the self appraisal form in the given format and had sent across my TL. My TL was no other than Bhanu Chacha. My friends in my team had already been appraised and they had all got in the range of 41-44. But still I had not lost hope. I was sure that I can see the face of half century and maybe will be able to raise my bat. :)
45 minutes after I had sent that doc, I got a call from him that we can go ahead for a discussion regarding my appraisal. I went in the meeting room, and there he showed me the print out of my appraisal he had taken. I directly turned to the page where they will put score. And I got the shock of my life. I had got 39. Ha ha ha. Over that I heard a dialogue, “Are you happy with what you have got?” I really didn’t know what I should answer. I just looked at his expressionless face, and then noticed for first time, the hair popping out from his ears. It was looking so odd in that small meeting room’s bulb light. I felt like laughing aloud, but controlled myself with just a smile. He took that smile in a positive sense, and asked me to read out his comments nicely, before putting my signature. I read them out; everywhere he had praised my work, except my documentation skills (lazy boy). But I never understood why the comments were not reflecting in the marks given. I feel the only hint I got then, was because I didn’t know the language, which was his mother tongue. Believe me, this is one of the necessity in corporate world. You and your head should be on speaking terms, and in same language and best if mother tongue. Anyways, I was fully pissed off by then. He again asked if I was satisfied with my marks. My reply – “It’s more than enough in fact, I had wished for only 35 only.” I think my reply was followed by a sarcastic smile, or maybe someone inside him forced him and he told that, no it’s very less for you, and I should increase little bit. He took the form, increased 1 point, made it 40, and gave a big grin to me. I was lost in some other world, still watching the flying hairs from his ear, and came back to reality, when he asked if we can wind up. He told he will take another print out after modification, and then I should come and put signatures. While leaving he added that don’t be disappointed, as this is for freshers, and we will get a flat hike. From next time I will get even better. The story was over before it could start. I was declared run out, while trying a cheeky single.
I came back and was almost shattered. Another story gave me confidence to stand back. One of my closest friends had also completed her appraisal discussions. She had got 41 or 42 I think. She had worked hard too. And the hint which she got for getting fewer score was even more interesting. Never in writing, but by attitude she was told, that she got less because had she converted to Christianity from a Hindu family, and that too she and her lead were from the same place. Till this was not known to him, he was very good, and the day he came to know, he became the biggest demon available. This guy was our Royal Tiger.
As usual with that score I didn’t expect much rating, and was happy to get L2. But then understood first that how we were fooled. They had not given appraisal, telling its flat hike, and appraisal had no effect, but ratings were based on this appraisal. And those who had got more achieved L1 and few more bucks too. Their heart was empty and so was our pocket. :(
Completed another year, and the second appraisal came. This time had controlled my josh and emotions a lot. The same doc which I had sent last year, modified and sent. This time my lead was different. Vastav ka Naujwaan was my TL. He also gave me ratings and called me for discussion. He showed the print out to me, and again it was the same expression for me. After a complete year, I was shocked again. I went to check hair from ears, it was missing. He had given me 51. Huffff. I never dreamt of that after what I got last time. He gave me a small lecture filled with tips. At the end one sentence which he typed in communicator and sent was so precious for me. First time I felt that I was appreciated. He told – “You have done brilliant work, and it is not in my limits to give more, or else I would have given more. Thanks.” This was enough for me, and I started dreaming again for the best rating, the L1.
The entire process takes around 1-11/2 months for this. And finally when we got our action letters, there was a new drama; mine was missing from the lot. After a search of another week, I got mine. Hey, what the **** (hell). I got L2 again. He he he. They told I got this because of normalization process. Something they explained I never heard. As if I was some abnormal, so I was not picked for normalization. It takes just a statement for your dreams to be shattered. :(
That appraisal time is back. And I don't know this time who is doing mine. Ha ha ha. I am not expecting anything. Anyways there will be no hike this time, so drop it down the hell. How supervisors will come to know what one has worked for whole year, if they don't get involved. It’s so disgusting. The supervisors are assigned to check only through appraisal, what we do for the entire year? I have sent a long 1, copy-paste again to my TL. But this time I have raised my voice too, telling I am not happy with how things are going around me. Let’s see what is the verdict. :) Last word is, it hardly matters how you work for good appraisal. What matters is, if you have a godfather in organization, or if you know your boss personally. Boss kaun hai? Malum hai kya? Ha ha ha.
Disclaimer - ******All the facts stated above are fictious[paradox]. Any match with anyone will be purely coincidence and their bad luck. Please ignore circulating this. Circulating will be hazardous, and circulators will be prosecuted under IPC.*****
Desh ko chalane ka Job
The most populous democracy of the world, is going under the tantrum of the ministers, who come and show their face only once in five years. Yeah people, election time has come, and the Dance of Democracy (courtesy TOI) is on. 543 seats, 2 big parties with a number of regional and small parties, with innumerable independents, all trying their luck, singing the tune of what good job they can do, if elected to power. They try to create a vibe across the voters by taking up the sensuous issues among them. Secularism, a word which was later added in the Indian constitution, has become a drop of nectar for these politicians. Every potter is praising its own pot, telling that it’s the best buy, so please buy.
Let’s discuss about two big parties here. I am trying my best not to be inclined to either of them in my discussion. Congress, our rulers for more than 40 years, out of 60 odd years are the front runners. They are currently in power and that’s the only concern for them. People remember well what they have done in last five years. For older governments, its older stories, and people here forget things fast. So the short comings they incurred in this tenure are more highlighted by their oppositions. While their step towards development, employment, rural growth, nuclear deal was appreciating, but their approach towards internal and external security, playing with CBI to an extent, rising prices, and inflation turning to deflation, which is equally harmful have poured water on their hard work. Their ignorance towards the black money in tax havens and avoiding this topic, as well as no mention of health issues like global warming and others all in their manifesto is a strategic weak link. Manmohan Singh is even termed as a weak leader, which he accepted also in a conference, and also jeered as a puppet in hands of Sonia Gandhi.
BJP, the party in opposition, had already gained the default battleground. As I told before, being in opposition is always a positive for forthcoming elections. But they somehow received an initial jolt, because of hate speech given by Mr Varun Gandhi. The only good thing the leaders of the party did, that they sidelined themselves from this controversy, and never supported Varun’s comments, even though went ahead with Varun. Another good thing they did was to declare L K Advani as the PM candidate for NDA. At least people know whom they are voting for. Not like, UPA where they still don’t have a consensus, on who is the person to sit on the most valuable chair. Godhra incident, attacks on parliament, kandhar hijack (this issue was never discussed in 2004 elections) were few to put a dent on BJP’s image. Advani can be booed too because of his statements made in Pakistan and his hands in demolition of Babri Mosque.
In short what I meant was both the parties are going through almost the same phase. Little good work followed by lots of responsibilities. But neither of them will be able to reach the magic figure of 272 alone, that’s the prediction in the house. They will have to take support of the smaller and regional parties to come into the power, and they will be the biggest beneficiaries. Generally, these regional parties are limited to 1 or 2 states and they claim vote on the basis of caste, creed, race or religion. Rural people somehow seem to be ignorant of these people’s games. They think that their own people can protect and help them well than anyone else. Instead if they keep account of what people have done in past and vote, then I am sure most of these regional parties will be down the drain, and the independents will have a higher value. But their emotional atyachaar always brings them a rich dividend.
Anyways my piece is not for discussing the politics. That’s a very dirty game, and I don’t want dirt on my blogs. So stay away wise people. Elections are happening in four phases this time, and Bangalore was scheduled to go under the knife on 23rd April. Continuous ads from jaagore and a firm push from my mother forced me to register myself for this election. 25th march was the last day for submitting the form, and that very day I was standing in the queue to submit the Form 6, form for enrolling your name in the voter list. For those, who are new, and still waiting for elections, Voter ID card is not mandatory for voting, but you must have your name on the electoral rolls. This form 6 is related to that itself. Then finally one fine morning around 3-4 days before the scheduled election, I got a mail telling that my name has been included in the rolls. Unfortunately the rolls were written in Kannada, and it was looking as if they have spread ink on the blotting paper. Then I took help of one of my colleague, and got her read out that it was Gaurav Kumar written there. :) Here I am coming on the D-day, to make my 1 vote count.
This was my first legal voting. Before this I have voted once in 1999 elections. I was in my +2 then in Ranchi. I was staying in a PG, and a polling booth was there just next to it in a school. We had leave on that day and we were enjoying it. In the late afternoon, around 4 pm, our PG owner came and asked us If we want to vote or not. Then he gave us an offer. If we all go out and vote for BJP nicely, we will get a great treat in evening. Ramtahal Chaudhary was the famous candidate. We were 7 people then in the PG. We all went there, entered and started putting vote. There was no EVM then, you have to put a stamp on your choice of candidate, fold it and keep inside the box. It seemed as if all the polling officers were bribed as they were not objecting at all. Till 4 pm there was around 20% turnout on the booth. Within 30 minutes, we seven had put around 600 votes together. One of my friend and me were leaders with 150 each. Till last time I was in touch with him, he used to claim that he had voted 4 more than me, but truth is 150 each. The turnout was marked as 72%, record for the entire Ranchi then. We were willing to do more, but we were restricted to, as then it would had got cancelled. That evening there was a big party in our PG, chicken was the common dish as usual, but we enjoyed it lot. Next day when we saw in paper that this booth has witnessed the highest turnout, we had a hidden satisfaction. But still that was an illegal act, and I can still be put behind bars. He he he.
But this time it was all legal. I was authorized to pick up a candidate. I got up early that day, and since election process had started as early as 7 am, I didn’t waste much time and was out for it at 8.30. As soon as I reached near my polling booth, I saw many tents put up by different parties. They were calling me, so that I can furnish my details, and they can give me the token to get inside the booth. I had seen this setup in my previous voting experience. It was like a déjà-vu. I went to one stall, belonging to JD(S). I told my name, and I knew my name was in last page, so like some Kannada expert I told him to go to that page, and pointed where my name was. He would have surely thought that I am some Kannada expert. Anyway, he saw my name, since photo was not there in the rolls; he asked if I have identity proof with me. After my positive nod, he wrote the details on the token, and I headed towards the booth, another 50 meters from there.
Fatima English School was my center, which was a booth for three different wards. Mine was ward 201. I asked one police person there, and he showed me the way. In the queue, there were jus 4 people standing there. I stood behind them. One person on duty confirmed with my token, and they were allowing 1 person at a time. Outside, they had displayed the structure and positioning of candidates on EVM. I glanced that nicely. I would have waited for around 3-4 minutes, when he asked me to go inside. One lady asked my serial number, checked that and asked for my identity proof. This was the first time my passport came into any use. If not for travel, let it be for voting. She verified it and asked me to go ahead. Next came, a person with a book, where I had to put signature that I am exercising my voting rights. Then next was a person who was supposed to put ink on my left index finger. I was so excited that I could feel little shiver inside me. After all I was going to be the part of electing a person for next 5 years. He had put that ink nicely on my finger, that even after 4 days, its still in tact. Then I was headed to a corner, where EVM was kept, covered by cartoons from all 3 sides. The person who had put the ink was too much desired to see what I do, and he was peeping. But my stare drove him back straight in his seat. I pressed the desired button, and it flashed a red color, stating that it was successful, followed by a small beep. It was all over. The fun ended. He asked me to leave the room from the other door.
At times, we are very blatant while complaining about the system and the law. But we forget that we are the people who initiate the process of formation of the entire system. Without complaining about them, if we spend little time on enquiring about the right and eligible candidate and go out and vote for him, we can secure our next 5 years. There is no guarantee that a party is good, or the party person will do the development work only. But we need to find the better person among the bad people and encourage him to do well. Staying back at home, enjoying a day’s leave and later complaining against the system is a cowards’ practice. So it’s time to wake up. Let’s go out and vote. If at all we have missed this time, let’s pledge that next time we will go out, and encourage our friends and neighbors too, to select our own government.
Let’s discuss about two big parties here. I am trying my best not to be inclined to either of them in my discussion. Congress, our rulers for more than 40 years, out of 60 odd years are the front runners. They are currently in power and that’s the only concern for them. People remember well what they have done in last five years. For older governments, its older stories, and people here forget things fast. So the short comings they incurred in this tenure are more highlighted by their oppositions. While their step towards development, employment, rural growth, nuclear deal was appreciating, but their approach towards internal and external security, playing with CBI to an extent, rising prices, and inflation turning to deflation, which is equally harmful have poured water on their hard work. Their ignorance towards the black money in tax havens and avoiding this topic, as well as no mention of health issues like global warming and others all in their manifesto is a strategic weak link. Manmohan Singh is even termed as a weak leader, which he accepted also in a conference, and also jeered as a puppet in hands of Sonia Gandhi.
BJP, the party in opposition, had already gained the default battleground. As I told before, being in opposition is always a positive for forthcoming elections. But they somehow received an initial jolt, because of hate speech given by Mr Varun Gandhi. The only good thing the leaders of the party did, that they sidelined themselves from this controversy, and never supported Varun’s comments, even though went ahead with Varun. Another good thing they did was to declare L K Advani as the PM candidate for NDA. At least people know whom they are voting for. Not like, UPA where they still don’t have a consensus, on who is the person to sit on the most valuable chair. Godhra incident, attacks on parliament, kandhar hijack (this issue was never discussed in 2004 elections) were few to put a dent on BJP’s image. Advani can be booed too because of his statements made in Pakistan and his hands in demolition of Babri Mosque.
In short what I meant was both the parties are going through almost the same phase. Little good work followed by lots of responsibilities. But neither of them will be able to reach the magic figure of 272 alone, that’s the prediction in the house. They will have to take support of the smaller and regional parties to come into the power, and they will be the biggest beneficiaries. Generally, these regional parties are limited to 1 or 2 states and they claim vote on the basis of caste, creed, race or religion. Rural people somehow seem to be ignorant of these people’s games. They think that their own people can protect and help them well than anyone else. Instead if they keep account of what people have done in past and vote, then I am sure most of these regional parties will be down the drain, and the independents will have a higher value. But their emotional atyachaar always brings them a rich dividend.
Anyways my piece is not for discussing the politics. That’s a very dirty game, and I don’t want dirt on my blogs. So stay away wise people. Elections are happening in four phases this time, and Bangalore was scheduled to go under the knife on 23rd April. Continuous ads from jaagore and a firm push from my mother forced me to register myself for this election. 25th march was the last day for submitting the form, and that very day I was standing in the queue to submit the Form 6, form for enrolling your name in the voter list. For those, who are new, and still waiting for elections, Voter ID card is not mandatory for voting, but you must have your name on the electoral rolls. This form 6 is related to that itself. Then finally one fine morning around 3-4 days before the scheduled election, I got a mail telling that my name has been included in the rolls. Unfortunately the rolls were written in Kannada, and it was looking as if they have spread ink on the blotting paper. Then I took help of one of my colleague, and got her read out that it was Gaurav Kumar written there. :) Here I am coming on the D-day, to make my 1 vote count.
This was my first legal voting. Before this I have voted once in 1999 elections. I was in my +2 then in Ranchi. I was staying in a PG, and a polling booth was there just next to it in a school. We had leave on that day and we were enjoying it. In the late afternoon, around 4 pm, our PG owner came and asked us If we want to vote or not. Then he gave us an offer. If we all go out and vote for BJP nicely, we will get a great treat in evening. Ramtahal Chaudhary was the famous candidate. We were 7 people then in the PG. We all went there, entered and started putting vote. There was no EVM then, you have to put a stamp on your choice of candidate, fold it and keep inside the box. It seemed as if all the polling officers were bribed as they were not objecting at all. Till 4 pm there was around 20% turnout on the booth. Within 30 minutes, we seven had put around 600 votes together. One of my friend and me were leaders with 150 each. Till last time I was in touch with him, he used to claim that he had voted 4 more than me, but truth is 150 each. The turnout was marked as 72%, record for the entire Ranchi then. We were willing to do more, but we were restricted to, as then it would had got cancelled. That evening there was a big party in our PG, chicken was the common dish as usual, but we enjoyed it lot. Next day when we saw in paper that this booth has witnessed the highest turnout, we had a hidden satisfaction. But still that was an illegal act, and I can still be put behind bars. He he he.
But this time it was all legal. I was authorized to pick up a candidate. I got up early that day, and since election process had started as early as 7 am, I didn’t waste much time and was out for it at 8.30. As soon as I reached near my polling booth, I saw many tents put up by different parties. They were calling me, so that I can furnish my details, and they can give me the token to get inside the booth. I had seen this setup in my previous voting experience. It was like a déjà-vu. I went to one stall, belonging to JD(S). I told my name, and I knew my name was in last page, so like some Kannada expert I told him to go to that page, and pointed where my name was. He would have surely thought that I am some Kannada expert. Anyway, he saw my name, since photo was not there in the rolls; he asked if I have identity proof with me. After my positive nod, he wrote the details on the token, and I headed towards the booth, another 50 meters from there.
Fatima English School was my center, which was a booth for three different wards. Mine was ward 201. I asked one police person there, and he showed me the way. In the queue, there were jus 4 people standing there. I stood behind them. One person on duty confirmed with my token, and they were allowing 1 person at a time. Outside, they had displayed the structure and positioning of candidates on EVM. I glanced that nicely. I would have waited for around 3-4 minutes, when he asked me to go inside. One lady asked my serial number, checked that and asked for my identity proof. This was the first time my passport came into any use. If not for travel, let it be for voting. She verified it and asked me to go ahead. Next came, a person with a book, where I had to put signature that I am exercising my voting rights. Then next was a person who was supposed to put ink on my left index finger. I was so excited that I could feel little shiver inside me. After all I was going to be the part of electing a person for next 5 years. He had put that ink nicely on my finger, that even after 4 days, its still in tact. Then I was headed to a corner, where EVM was kept, covered by cartoons from all 3 sides. The person who had put the ink was too much desired to see what I do, and he was peeping. But my stare drove him back straight in his seat. I pressed the desired button, and it flashed a red color, stating that it was successful, followed by a small beep. It was all over. The fun ended. He asked me to leave the room from the other door.
At times, we are very blatant while complaining about the system and the law. But we forget that we are the people who initiate the process of formation of the entire system. Without complaining about them, if we spend little time on enquiring about the right and eligible candidate and go out and vote for him, we can secure our next 5 years. There is no guarantee that a party is good, or the party person will do the development work only. But we need to find the better person among the bad people and encourage him to do well. Staying back at home, enjoying a day’s leave and later complaining against the system is a cowards’ practice. So it’s time to wake up. Let’s go out and vote. If at all we have missed this time, let’s pledge that next time we will go out, and encourage our friends and neighbors too, to select our own government.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Celebrating away from home
Hello guys. I am back again. One of my readers told me that if I continue writing like this, that too about girls, I am sure I am not gaining anything, but going to lose a lot. I will lose all my male readers it seems. A study tells that males are very jealous of other males’ success. That too importantly if it is in the field of having girls around them. So even if girls are ditching you, their proximity to you is killing them. So better now, stop the stories of girls in your life. And really I gave it a thought, and found that the responses have decreased like hell. Even when my editors confirm that the writing style and content has become so much polished now. So may be it’s time to listen to this well wisher, and stop my stories on girls. Neither that this is some publicity stunt, nor have the stories of girls dried up, but still I will just take a break from that. And this piece will be dedicated to all my male friends. J
First scene, it’s your birthday today. You are away from your home. Friends have lined up to wish you. They are all forcing you to give a big treat. You all together enjoy it. You have tremendous fun. Second scene, it’s your birthday today and you are at your home. From morning the affection and blessings showered on you by your family members are immeasurable. Mummy will be all set to prepare all those special dishes, which you like, even when dad has a bad tongue for them. Their eyes always pouring love on you, may not be as fun-filled as scene one, but surely lot more comfortable and satisfying to our heart. The protection and support which we get back at home will be always missing elsewhere. I am sure you guys know it; IPL is in South Africa this time, and not back home. L
This year I had made up my mind that however it is, I will go to watch at least three matches in stadium. Last year, we, a group of ten people had gone to see the match between Bangalore and Hyderabad. Those people had reached before us, and never kept seats for us. * Finally, we three were isolated in a place, but the fun was immense. Last over, and Kumble was bowling it. Hyderabad still needed twenty runs to win. Two huge sixes had turned the way the match was poised. Six needed of two balls. Another big hit and it would have been all over. I could hear the advices given by so many people around, in Kannada, English, and Hindi. Single off next ball, and Bangar was off strike. Kumble saved further blushes and we won finally by 3 runs. Even when we were not able to see the players so clearly, the environment there was so much electrifying. All of us had a feeling that it was because of our cheering up and encouragement that we won the match, and we should be given man of the match, instead of Praveen Kumar. I could feel those goose bumps when that situation has arrived. I was just thrilled. But this year, those all plans were washed into the gutter. Some political drama, and some hustle and bustle, and IPL moved to South Africa. I can not even dream of attending IPL2 now. Onsite opportunity can be the only way, but I am too distant from that also. They are not willing to send me to Nepal also; South Africa is a dream in the day.
Like all other big events, IPL2 also was full of different controversies. Shuffling and reshuffling of schedules didn’t help. Loss of Modi in RCA elections, and indifference between the BJP ruled and Congress ruled states made sure that the IPL2 and Lok sabha polls are not feasible together, due to security reasons, mind it. But there was no other better window available to hold this, so was shifted to South Africa. Next headlines were the old love story between Saurav Ganguly and Australian coaches. John Buchanan, Kolkata Knight Riders coach, came with a new idea of having multiple captains. This was just a stunt to remove Dada from the captaincy, and they couldn’t have done it at Eden Gardens. So it was a great opportunity from them, and they did it. Brendon McCullum is the new captain. Similar thing happened in Bangalore too, but Mallya was frank with Dravid, and that seemed to be genuine. Then king Khan, the owner attacked the criticism of Sunil Gavaskar, the legend, and even advised him to own a franchise, and give his inputs there. Clearly, money was speaking here, and he understood it very soon and apologized for the same.
A great dinner party on the eve of IPL kick-off, great carnival planned, and scantily dressed Mandira Bedi, who assured that she will get her woolen clothes from suitcase, because it was very cold there, marked the opening of IPL2. Two matches on the first day, followed by a formal opening ceremony were held. In first match, Sachin Tendulkar held up his nerves and guided his team Mumbai Indians to a win against last year runners up, Chennai. In second match under lights, there was a bigger upset, when Royal Bangalore thrashed champions Rajasthan Royals in a royal encounter. Bangalore started on a sad note, and somehow posted a respectful total thanks to Dravid alone. As if he was playing to prove a point. And after he got to his half century, the way he rejoiced, and his gesture was enough to tell that he was pointing his bat to no other than Vijay Mallya. Later in bowling department, also we were looking charged up. Kumble who has best bowling figures for India in test (against Pakistan) and ODI’s ( 6-12 against WI) continued the trend, and achieved the hat trick of best figure in all three formats. He took 5/5 and the lower order perished under him. Even when Jesse could not do much with his bat, chances are bright after having an all rounder like him in ranks. So, the Rajasthan was down on the mats and we won by whopping seventy-five runs. Hurray. Great chances to book a top four birth this time. J
There is always a big discussion that if T20 is good in the interest of game or not. Test matches can never lose its class. But life has become so fast, and competitive that it’s tough for people to catch it on all five days. Still there is a craze, for ashes tour, or down under tour, or even all other tours where Indians go overseas. ODI’s also never lost its stature. What they are losing is just fan following, that too from stadium. But T20 is like a boon in disguise in current day scenario. Just around four hours, and you can get every worth of your penny. Entertainment factor is also taken care of. Great music between the over’s, and hot cheerleaders jumping in almost nothing, makes this a fun event. There are a few people who discuss about these cheerleaders more, next day on breakfast table, than the game. Hmmm. He is reading it. He he he.
But it’s really bad when we are doing the prostitution of this fun-filled game too. They have introduced a 7-1/2 min break after every ten over’s of match, calling it as strategy break. In fact this break is used to have a bigger business, by attracting the multimedia people and offering those time slots, so that they can air the project. They told that a part of this amount will be given under charity, that was also a different business altogether. That break can change the tempo of team as well as the spectators. We have already seen this in the match of Punjab and Delhi. The moods of teams were different after the break. I am not sure if it’s good for game, but I think it’s ruining the fun.
Teams are looking good this IPL, with new faces in. Australia seems to play like a nanny’s role. They have advised most of the players to avoid IPL, named others in their squad, even when they are injured, and people like Shaun Tait, have been told to move out in last minute. Maybe they want to save their exposure before T20 World Cup. Good strategy, all the best. Top four teams should be Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai. Korbo, lorbo, haarbo re should come at last. Deccan at fifth position, Mohall at sixth and Rajasthan at seventh, is my prediction. One good thing that these organizers have done is to retain the telecast timings of the matches. We can still come out of office and watch the fun, on TV (L) at least. The oldies like Sachin, Dravid and Kumble doing well has given a hint that this IPL, experience will matter. Pitches are going to help bowlers too, not like previous IPL where bowlers were treated like Slum dog Millionaires (Slum dog because of their treatment on field, and millionaires because what they had earned).J
The only other difference I can see from IPL version 1.0 is, that this time, they are forced to attract spectator and lure them to see the match. In India, they never had to do that at least. People were themselves so much crazy about this. They were requesting for more tickets in fact. This is a country where cricket is a religion, and Sachin is god (national) and Dada is god (local) too. Here you don’t have to remind people about cricket, yeah you may have to stop them from doing so. Hope IPL3 is back to India, and I can fulfill my dreams of 3 matches in stadium.
By the time I finished this blog, Delhi beat Punjab in rain-affected match, and Hyderabad whitewashed Kolkata. Bangalore waiting for return leg with Chennai like last year. J And yeah, MAN U lost in FA cup semifinal. Their dreams of quintuple gone, but never mind it. Even when Chelsea fans can be happy for a moment, let me tell you, there were 8 non regular players in the team. J. And still they dragged it till penalty shoot out. And because of two regular players, they eventually lost it. Huh. Non regulars were better for FA platform. Sir Alex, better luck next time. This time, lets be happy with quadruple. J
*The story’s different and exaggerated version by one who was among those seven who never kept a seat for us:
"Last year, we, a group of ten people had gone to see the match between Bangalore and Hyderabad. Three of them reached 2 hours prior to the game and tried to hold some seats for rest all. But after seeing a group of local guys almost tearing into 2 other guys for trying to hold one seat, they came to a conclusion that this wasn't a great idea. They had to hold seats for 7 of the remaining guys!! And cramping a single girl in between that space with those local guys around didn't sound cool either. The other 4 reached a good half hour before the match and got hold of some remaining good seats. And then the 3 of them (including me). Yap. As usual they came Royally late. Just in time for the match. And expected others to have kept some good seats for them! But luckily they got some because of one big hearted guy (what a joke), who at least held off a few people to get them 3 seats. Finally, we three were isolated in a place. The other 4 in a better place. And the remaining 3 in the best place possible. Right above the cheerleaders!! Can you believe that! And yap. The fun was immense. For us too. :( "
First scene, it’s your birthday today. You are away from your home. Friends have lined up to wish you. They are all forcing you to give a big treat. You all together enjoy it. You have tremendous fun. Second scene, it’s your birthday today and you are at your home. From morning the affection and blessings showered on you by your family members are immeasurable. Mummy will be all set to prepare all those special dishes, which you like, even when dad has a bad tongue for them. Their eyes always pouring love on you, may not be as fun-filled as scene one, but surely lot more comfortable and satisfying to our heart. The protection and support which we get back at home will be always missing elsewhere. I am sure you guys know it; IPL is in South Africa this time, and not back home. L
This year I had made up my mind that however it is, I will go to watch at least three matches in stadium. Last year, we, a group of ten people had gone to see the match between Bangalore and Hyderabad. Those people had reached before us, and never kept seats for us. * Finally, we three were isolated in a place, but the fun was immense. Last over, and Kumble was bowling it. Hyderabad still needed twenty runs to win. Two huge sixes had turned the way the match was poised. Six needed of two balls. Another big hit and it would have been all over. I could hear the advices given by so many people around, in Kannada, English, and Hindi. Single off next ball, and Bangar was off strike. Kumble saved further blushes and we won finally by 3 runs. Even when we were not able to see the players so clearly, the environment there was so much electrifying. All of us had a feeling that it was because of our cheering up and encouragement that we won the match, and we should be given man of the match, instead of Praveen Kumar. I could feel those goose bumps when that situation has arrived. I was just thrilled. But this year, those all plans were washed into the gutter. Some political drama, and some hustle and bustle, and IPL moved to South Africa. I can not even dream of attending IPL2 now. Onsite opportunity can be the only way, but I am too distant from that also. They are not willing to send me to Nepal also; South Africa is a dream in the day.
Like all other big events, IPL2 also was full of different controversies. Shuffling and reshuffling of schedules didn’t help. Loss of Modi in RCA elections, and indifference between the BJP ruled and Congress ruled states made sure that the IPL2 and Lok sabha polls are not feasible together, due to security reasons, mind it. But there was no other better window available to hold this, so was shifted to South Africa. Next headlines were the old love story between Saurav Ganguly and Australian coaches. John Buchanan, Kolkata Knight Riders coach, came with a new idea of having multiple captains. This was just a stunt to remove Dada from the captaincy, and they couldn’t have done it at Eden Gardens. So it was a great opportunity from them, and they did it. Brendon McCullum is the new captain. Similar thing happened in Bangalore too, but Mallya was frank with Dravid, and that seemed to be genuine. Then king Khan, the owner attacked the criticism of Sunil Gavaskar, the legend, and even advised him to own a franchise, and give his inputs there. Clearly, money was speaking here, and he understood it very soon and apologized for the same.
A great dinner party on the eve of IPL kick-off, great carnival planned, and scantily dressed Mandira Bedi, who assured that she will get her woolen clothes from suitcase, because it was very cold there, marked the opening of IPL2. Two matches on the first day, followed by a formal opening ceremony were held. In first match, Sachin Tendulkar held up his nerves and guided his team Mumbai Indians to a win against last year runners up, Chennai. In second match under lights, there was a bigger upset, when Royal Bangalore thrashed champions Rajasthan Royals in a royal encounter. Bangalore started on a sad note, and somehow posted a respectful total thanks to Dravid alone. As if he was playing to prove a point. And after he got to his half century, the way he rejoiced, and his gesture was enough to tell that he was pointing his bat to no other than Vijay Mallya. Later in bowling department, also we were looking charged up. Kumble who has best bowling figures for India in test (against Pakistan) and ODI’s ( 6-12 against WI) continued the trend, and achieved the hat trick of best figure in all three formats. He took 5/5 and the lower order perished under him. Even when Jesse could not do much with his bat, chances are bright after having an all rounder like him in ranks. So, the Rajasthan was down on the mats and we won by whopping seventy-five runs. Hurray. Great chances to book a top four birth this time. J
There is always a big discussion that if T20 is good in the interest of game or not. Test matches can never lose its class. But life has become so fast, and competitive that it’s tough for people to catch it on all five days. Still there is a craze, for ashes tour, or down under tour, or even all other tours where Indians go overseas. ODI’s also never lost its stature. What they are losing is just fan following, that too from stadium. But T20 is like a boon in disguise in current day scenario. Just around four hours, and you can get every worth of your penny. Entertainment factor is also taken care of. Great music between the over’s, and hot cheerleaders jumping in almost nothing, makes this a fun event. There are a few people who discuss about these cheerleaders more, next day on breakfast table, than the game. Hmmm. He is reading it. He he he.
But it’s really bad when we are doing the prostitution of this fun-filled game too. They have introduced a 7-1/2 min break after every ten over’s of match, calling it as strategy break. In fact this break is used to have a bigger business, by attracting the multimedia people and offering those time slots, so that they can air the project. They told that a part of this amount will be given under charity, that was also a different business altogether. That break can change the tempo of team as well as the spectators. We have already seen this in the match of Punjab and Delhi. The moods of teams were different after the break. I am not sure if it’s good for game, but I think it’s ruining the fun.
Teams are looking good this IPL, with new faces in. Australia seems to play like a nanny’s role. They have advised most of the players to avoid IPL, named others in their squad, even when they are injured, and people like Shaun Tait, have been told to move out in last minute. Maybe they want to save their exposure before T20 World Cup. Good strategy, all the best. Top four teams should be Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai. Korbo, lorbo, haarbo re should come at last. Deccan at fifth position, Mohall at sixth and Rajasthan at seventh, is my prediction. One good thing that these organizers have done is to retain the telecast timings of the matches. We can still come out of office and watch the fun, on TV (L) at least. The oldies like Sachin, Dravid and Kumble doing well has given a hint that this IPL, experience will matter. Pitches are going to help bowlers too, not like previous IPL where bowlers were treated like Slum dog Millionaires (Slum dog because of their treatment on field, and millionaires because what they had earned).J
The only other difference I can see from IPL version 1.0 is, that this time, they are forced to attract spectator and lure them to see the match. In India, they never had to do that at least. People were themselves so much crazy about this. They were requesting for more tickets in fact. This is a country where cricket is a religion, and Sachin is god (national) and Dada is god (local) too. Here you don’t have to remind people about cricket, yeah you may have to stop them from doing so. Hope IPL3 is back to India, and I can fulfill my dreams of 3 matches in stadium.
By the time I finished this blog, Delhi beat Punjab in rain-affected match, and Hyderabad whitewashed Kolkata. Bangalore waiting for return leg with Chennai like last year. J And yeah, MAN U lost in FA cup semifinal. Their dreams of quintuple gone, but never mind it. Even when Chelsea fans can be happy for a moment, let me tell you, there were 8 non regular players in the team. J. And still they dragged it till penalty shoot out. And because of two regular players, they eventually lost it. Huh. Non regulars were better for FA platform. Sir Alex, better luck next time. This time, lets be happy with quadruple. J
*The story’s different and exaggerated version by one who was among those seven who never kept a seat for us:
"Last year, we, a group of ten people had gone to see the match between Bangalore and Hyderabad. Three of them reached 2 hours prior to the game and tried to hold some seats for rest all. But after seeing a group of local guys almost tearing into 2 other guys for trying to hold one seat, they came to a conclusion that this wasn't a great idea. They had to hold seats for 7 of the remaining guys!! And cramping a single girl in between that space with those local guys around didn't sound cool either. The other 4 reached a good half hour before the match and got hold of some remaining good seats. And then the 3 of them (including me). Yap. As usual they came Royally late. Just in time for the match. And expected others to have kept some good seats for them! But luckily they got some because of one big hearted guy (what a joke), who at least held off a few people to get them 3 seats. Finally, we three were isolated in a place. The other 4 in a better place. And the remaining 3 in the best place possible. Right above the cheerleaders!! Can you believe that! And yap. The fun was immense. For us too. :( "
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)