An Odyssey

It was almost the wee hour of the morning. I was still banging my head to resolve the issue in the COBOL code-just another common day in software engineer’s life. Suddenly, I got message from my manager who was coordinating with me from US ‘it’s okay Manash, you can leave for the day’. What a respite after the whole day of slogging! I quickly booked a cab to rush to home. It was 4 am of a December morning. Then I had a glance of my mobile – 32 missed call. Oh No! My wife was trying to reach me since 10 pm. I thought of calling her but I thought she might have collapsed in bed after work. Sometimes, the humdrum of life ennui me to the extremity of leaving everything and go to my village and start something of my own. Is this the kind of corporate life I was hoping for? Is this what I wanted or my well wishers wanted? This is not what I anticipated from the corporate life. Yeah! I do wanted money but not at the cost of my family life. These feelings often bewilder me a lot. Suddenly I heard the cab driver waving his hand at me to guide me to the cab. I lit up a fag and it was like the inner serenity I was searching for. In this mental state, I generally use to be keen observer and it never precludes me from being myself. I could see an old impoverished sleeping on the footpath and was in recurrent fight with the cold breeze of December morning with only the non-capacious blanket he was having at that time with him. A cadaverous boy, on the other side of the road, was washing the furniture of a restaurant to make it ready for the will-be visiting lavish people. Our cab took a U-turn and suddenly a serpentine throng of people caught sight of me. They were waiting for the daily municipal water which was available might be for a specific time slot of the day. The daily wage workers were all waiting for the potential clients to earn bread and butter of the day. The kind of apprehension they were in, was palpable from their faces. The miserable life for which I was lamenting a few minutes ago was simply nugatory and unwarranted in front of their hapless lives and the harrowing experience they had to undergo in every instance of their lives. The mere dream of sustenance always haunts them. I thanked God for the kind of life He has offered me and awe to him for the same, for not having to lead such a life. I am the luckiest person on Earth! The sudden brake of the cab brought me to the reality. I reached home by that time.’ Whatever happens, happen for good and try to get the best out of the rotten mango’. May be this was the only source of solace in that muddled state!

A beautiful dream

My shadow and I looked in to the azure sky. What a pleasant weather it is!! ‘A perfect weather for the weekend’, I murmured. I was impressed by the august surroundings of the Kovalam beach. It reminds me of my training days some 30 years back in my first job. The slight difference is at that time I was with my friends and now I am with my better half. I always had arcane desire to spend a weekend with my love and here it is. My love was looking at me with an inquisitive mind, but she kept silent and, it was apropos as sometimes eyes say more than the words. We walked for half a kilometer along the beach. The eddy currents of the water touched our feet as if it was trying to rejuvenate us. The tides sometimes ebb and again picked up their temper to the acme. The whole environment was really captivating. We suddenly realized that we came really far and we should get some rest. We sat down by the side of the beach. The sun was about to leave from the daily job, while at the same time the moon took the charge from it. A distant ship was sailing in the vast sea and it seemed to us as if it was trying to find its existence in the sheer vastness. The whole day passed as if like few minutes and we didn’t even realize how it passed. I penned down a few lines on the whole environment. My wife added colour to it. An anecdote of our best anniversary ever in last 30 yrs!

The regional Railway Budget!!

India's political system has long been mired in ugly regionalism.The regional politics has gone to such a height that it tends to belittle the national interests.Will our politicians ever be true to the whole of the nation as a whole? Will they ever atleast try to keep their promises for which they are mandated by common people to hold the incumbent offices-they are enjoying currently? Let's take the case of our current govt , UPA ( part 2 edition). From the time of campaign before Lok Sabha election and till date, their main agenda has been the 'inclusive growth', but till date what we have seen is just a lukewarm response.Yesterday's railway budget presented by Miss Mamata Banerjee is just another chagrin of their own loudly claimed agenda. The budget though claims to be catered to all sections, all regions of the country, yet I think the successive governments fail to identify the importance of including North East region in their 'inclusive' definition.The result, with every reform Miss Banerjee has mentioned, Howrah, Sealdah, Kolkata have been pronounced several times. Why North East region has always been neglected like this? Why are they bereft of something which is their fundamental rights as a citizen of India? In my previous posts also, I have always been claiming the negligence of central government towards North East region. Growth in infrastructure and connectivity are the only ways through which we can placate the 'deep feeling of negligence' among insurgents in the North East region.It has become an exigent issue. If we are going to procastinate the development issues in North East, we are going to create problems to our country itself. The rail budget should have got the importance of connecting few states in North East, rather than connecting unnnecessary stations like Singur with Nandigram and quixotic plan of converting stations like Sealdah to world class standard.

'I have catered to every state, to every part of the country and in that I have done it for bengal too.There is no reason why I should ignore Bengal' – Mamata Banerjee

The above populist statements made by Banerjee are just attempts to shed her image as anti-industry and to ensure easy win for the next lok sabha election. Can Miss Banerjee justify the bold parts above in the statement? Does she not consider the North East region as a part of India? Madam, we are not telling you to ignore Bengal state. If you and your government really consider 'inclusive growth' as the base for India's growth, where is the mention of any state of North-East region in your rail budget? Do your much acclaimed slogan 'ma,mati,manush' not consider North-East region? You don't have any answer for these questions for sure.Mr.Manmohan Singh ji ,instead of complimenting Banerjee for her Bengal- pro rail budget, you should have acted more responsibly, as you are holding the responsibility of running the whole nation and please don't forget,the North-East is also a part of India.

Reform (UPA- Part 2): Class X exam

United Progressive Alliance (UPA) seems to be on the track of many liberal changes in its part-2 edition. Soon after the election 2009 verdict, the newly appointed ministers were asked to act, rather than to talk.Now we can see the results in the form of a few historical change proposals.HRD Minister Mr. Kapil Sibal is in the favour of doing away with Class X board exam to reduce the stress on students and to nullify the number of suicide cases among non-performing students. This is a welcome change as part of the Indian Education System is concerned.But to enforce it in a more effective way so that it doesn't prove infructuous is more important.In TOI dated 2nd July 09, columnist Nandita Sengupta has given some minute details in the article 'exams are not problems', where she opposes the view of Mr.Sibal that exams are the only traumatic drawback that is coming in the way of children's higher studies.In support of this,she unveils the fact of sheer paucity of opportunities thereafter.A poor performing student of lower middle class can't afford to take an educational loan and go abroad for studies of his preference, which the higher class can.In that case, even the percentages are replaced with percentiles will still not make sense. The poor performing student is still left with no options.So, the doing away with one exam will not suffice at all. We need to create more institutions with quality standard with an adequate number of seats there, more job oriented vocational studies and more job opportunities for every stream of study. Then only every section of society will have access to higher education and this in turn,will add value to knowledge base of the country as a whole.Mr. Sibal will have to look from this angle too.

After 17

It took 17 years to probe the most controversial communal injustice act, the Babri Masjid Demolition in December 6, 1992-the Liberhan Committee report appeared yesterday. When asked about the massive delay, Mr. Liberhan imputed the witnesses for their non-cooperation. The whole fuss over this issue which has long been debated over and in the due course of time which seems to be petered out, again has got a new life.This report accused not only the saffron family of the ruthless act, but also the then PM of India Mr. P.V. Rao and the CM of UP, Mr.Kalyan Singh for their incompetence to act rationally and with effect.It is very shameful for the democratic country, when the leaders of the country playing the ball game in the name of secularism. The People of Ayodhya, specially the Muslim community, might have forgotten the whole episode of melodrama in due course of time, but the vengeance will still remain in their blood forever.The penalty will be paid by the generations to follow.The accused will never expiate for the sins they had committed 17 years ago, but time has come to ostracize such moral lepers.The people of Ayodhya, the whole nation in general, should learn from this sinful act and the side effects. This is a wake up call to all Indians.

OK TATA!!

A time when the whole state is in a festival mood of Durga Pujo, the state of WB on Oct 3rd has got the biggest blow in its industrial face when the TATAs finally decided to say ‘OK TATA’.

The agitations, the negotiations,the bandhs led by Ms Mamata Bannerjee party Trinamool Congress in Singur has won the battle against the corporate big house TATA’s Nano Plant. Congratulations Ms Bannerjee!!

Are they really won the battle? If yes, then someone has to lose according to rule of a battle. I don’t think TATA has lost the battle. Then, who has lost the battle? This is a very practical question. It’s not the farmers of Singur who have already lost their land as according to Govt rules; once a land is acquired it can’t be returned to the original owners. Even the economic prospect of Singur which would have got a major push towards rapid development due to TATAs Nano plant , has shattered in to pieces after ‘move out’ decision by Mr. Ratan Tata waiting long for a positive outcome.

Clearly, it shows the losers are the people of WB and the fate of WB as a viable and resurgent state for industrialisation. When the whole world is watching this melodrama, our country might have to pay bigger price in future in case of foreign investment.

It’s just a political, illogical win for the agitating party-nothing more than that if we see the whole picture through the mirror of upcoming elections. A more realistic solution might have been reached if the opponents of the plant would have wanted the best for the farmers.

Today I was watching a TV program ‘War of words’ of Mr. Karan Thapar in CNBC 18 channel where the spokespersons of the ruling party CPIM and the opposition party Trinamool Congress, and some other business leaders were present in the show. Every one was trying to defend their positions against the practical questions put forward by Karan but totally failed in their effort. The diplomatic answers were absolutely unconvincing. Even they had gone to such a low level that the spokesperson from the opposition party made a statement comparing TATA to ‘East India Company’ whose only motive is to do business and to make profit.

I was totally startled by the ignorance of the spokesperson and such a ridiculous statement in Media. “Com’n my dear, the whole country and the whole world is watching you”. He might be thinking he is giving some strong point to validate his answer. But in real terms, he was making a mockery of himself and the party as a whole. Every well informed citizen of India knows what TATA has done to the country as a whole through various industrial work and social activities. It has always made the country proud of it. I think Tatanagar is the best example in this case.

I think the politicians should be scrupulous while making such derogatory statement. Because the wrong words in wrong time may send a wrong signal outside. As responsible citizens, the caretakers of ‘Aam Aadmi’ have to be logical enough maintaining the dignity of themselves, the state which they represent and the country as a whole which has always been proud of its culture, civilizations and democracy.

My request to Mr. Ratan Tata- ‘Sir, the whole country respects you and your determination. Please try to avoid such melodrama in future. It hurts your dignity. Umpteen opportunities are there in other parts of Country, please do find out those. Everyone will welcome you because everyone has faith in you’. Good luck for a wonderful car like NANO.

"The White Lady Of Bangalore Airport"

Got this article in PG ..


Teaser advertisements on Radio Indigo in Bangalore have been asking people why they want to leave Bangalore and even have a site where people can give their reasons. No one can stop anyone from leaving a city to find greener pastures but they stand warned not to travel by air. Bangalore's spanking new airport is apparently haunted by no less than a white witch.

The witch, I mean, lady supposedly walked on the tarmac and was noticed by a pilot, the plane got delayed and obviously there was nothing, further on she hitched a ride with the airport officers and then disappeared. No official report had been made about the incident but Bangalore is rife with all sorts of rumors about this mysterious lady. Newspapers like Mid-day and even Radio Jockey Rohit Barker made fun of the ghost.

It doesn't take long for rumors to become urban legends. And legends then are treated are facts. Delhi had its flying monkey man, there was the 'nale ba' witch in Bangalore, and now the city has its own airport ghost.

Maybe before giving strange women rides in the middle of the night, the airport officials should check the womens' feet. Witches supposedly have feet turned backward.

Jokes apart what the deal with the haunting of places by white women in the middle of night? I've heard similar tales of white witches from people belonging to different countries.

It seems open dark spaces, woods and unlived homes are tagged as areas rife with hauntings.

We have all had that nasty feeling of someone watching us when we are all alone, of not wanting to go into a deserted house or even seeing something move from the corner of our eyes that we brushed off as the working of an overactive imagination.

But those who supposedly have undergone 'hauntings' say the experiences left them cold and some even terrorized. I laughed at the spoof played on Radio Indigo about the Malayalee lady who had seen a headless ghost on the turmac but would I laugh if a perfectly sane person swore that they experienced a haunting at the Bangalore airport?

A lot happens between heaven and earth which we know nothing of.