My friend Rohit

Take 1 - scene 1st day in the engg coll..

19th Oct 2000, my first day in my engineering college...
this is when I met Rohit for the very first time. Our meeting was a very small one though and we had simply exchanged pleasantaries .
we immediately had developed a liking for each other... we planned to get our rooms together.. somehow i managed to loose my fees payment receipt and got late to register for the hostel room... what happened was Rohit got rooom no 16 and i got room no 21 which was on the next floor... in retrospect i dont repent that incident though...considering the fact that if i had stayed put with him i wudn't have managed to pass a single exam :)
that day, however we dint stay back in the hostel and went back to bangalore in Nilu's car which his dad ( the same guy who had once said "Priyanka ke die elam" :D :D ) had brought. Both of us came back the next day, the 20th on which our college was formally opening.

Take 2 - Scene - Days from the 1st year in my college

Rohit's not staying on my floor hardly had made any difference...he was mostly found meandering on our floor only...and especially during exams when found creating more panic in us, the already panic stricken....he was the satan..always bringing bad news which ranged from how good the others were prepared and how much we had to do and how tuf the previous years Q paper was etc etc... Never mind we managed his non-sense unwillingly...
But yes we became the best of pals...
**a small incident from the 1st year that i recollect today is when we both used to go for graphics tuitions...we both were waiting outside the hostel gate waiting for the cab..but for some reason none was turning up...suddenly i found a lift on a bike and carried on...while he stayed back...no one would believe now but Rohit was so pissed off with me after the incident that i really had to pledge that day that such a thing wont be repeated...

Take 3 - Scene cigarette butts and my window

Come 2nd year, we shifted hostels...and once again we were not staying together...and I was once again thankful to my destiny that I dint have to tolerate this moron 24*7....but this time God was less forgiving...it was difficult to say whethere Rohit's full time address was room no 211(my room) or 201(originally allocated to him)... especially during the exams when my bed became a permanent fixture for him and while i managed to catch some sleep only on the "kursi-table".. and God-forbid my parents never planned to visit me during exams...else they would have surely thought I have become a chained smoker, considering the number of cigarette butts that he managed to collect and virtually making the small spance beneath the window into an ash tray.. and all this time what added to my pain was that I had to listen to his total non-sense... but i still stuck with him...he was turning out to be one of my best friends...

Take 4 - Ganesh Rao

finally during the 3rg year i managed to move out of the hostel, to improve my living standard... :D... and of course sans the pain-in-the ass named Rohit....i believed that i wont have to see this guy anymore...but who can change the destiny.... to fend off an enemy named 'DSP' i had taken refuge under the tuition of "Sir" Ganesh Rao... who would have known that Rohit would also join the tuition...and guess what... he planned to stay put with me...
in the long run in fact he would come to be known as our un-official room mate...un official since he dint pay the rent :) although occupying more space than me and my room mate put together...
meanwhile as we were growing senior in the college our intentions of attending the classes had reduced drastically.... add to that, this guy's devilish thoughts...he invariably managed to sleep for 18hrs a day and in the process motivating the highly motivated souls like mine and kanti(my official room mate) to not attend college...and even when we intended to he would make sure that by his emotional balckmailing we dint make it to the college...that was his aura...
but we were now great friends...going to bro...

Take 5- Final year of engineering

I shifted base and moved into a bigger abode...rohit however stuck like a leech...still maintaing his un-official status...we ended up taking tuitions from Ganesh Rao once again and he moved on to become my partner in crime when we stole burgers from Food world in Sanjay Nagar...
He created mess with my newly purchased computer ( i had found spoons from under my monitor and noodles from inside my keyboard, all thanks to him)....he disturbed full-on during exams by playing Quake 3 on full volume whole night... but now i was kinda habituated to his non sense....
we maintained our status quo...

Take 6 - The departed

As we passed out of our college and got bothered about our jobs we had hardly found time to bid goodbye to each other...i dont remember having hugged him for one last time...but now i had a feeling of something amiss... i dint find a messy creature around...it took a bit of time to settle but yes we were now operating out of 2 different worlds...but we kept contact with each other over the phone....oh here i need to mention one significant characteristic of his...he is a one big time lazy bum...i can give him a bonus here for owning one Big Bum literally and thus not being able to move it fast...but he had the unique quality of not being able to move it at all...now i had to mention this because he actually doesnt move his bum till date... i say this because he would never do the hounour of calling me...i would abuse him everytime i called him and he happily obliged...

Take 7 - Climax

I stopped callng him sometime back...and he dint call me back either...Probably we were getting too busy with our lives...
This idiot in fact dint bother to inform about his whereabouts until one day when i came to know that he was getting married... and finally the day came...21st Nov,08...i got a call..."us raat ek phone aya"...."wo rohit ka tha"...
Our conversation ensued, with me abusing him as usual...and then came to normal human to human talks...and then he asked me "bhai tune ticket kara liya hai na"...
yes i had done it i said....
We were now bros...

Rohit....my best wishes with you dear....
But at the same time I think it becomes my moral responsibility to warn Moneesha :D of this person of so many un-human like qualities....
May GOD bless you both !! Amen !!

*******************************the writing above is purely a work of non-ficttion...any similarity with a person named Rohit would be purely intentional****************************

War on Terror - and my views on Pakistan

There seems to be something that people are not able to digest about the bit in my previous post where I have mentioned "Pakistan" or rather abused them...I wonder what wrong have I stated there...
1) When I refer Pakistan, of course I dont mean each and every household..my point is would anyone ever refer to India's policies as Indian govt's policies...??? it would still be written as Indian policy only...so my stating pakistan is a generalised comment about the govt of Pakistan and not each and every human being there.
2) Secondly, even if one considers the fact that I blame each and every human being of Pakistan, I dont see anythign wrong there as well...considering both of us share the same history..(almost)..still in the last 50yrs - they havent managed a single stable govt..their economy is running on the will and mercy of IMF...and their head of the state is all but respected.
3) The funniest thing about pakistan that i came across recently..and this is something that some of their "intellectuals" seem to believe -> "if we take away animosity against India, then Pakistan's founding itself becomes questionable." - Hahaha...what an Idea sir jee...

4) Many Pakistanis themselves are starting to question the relevance of a country where more people are killed in intra-religious warfare between Shias and Sunnis than in Hindu-Muslim communal riots in India.

I hope I have made my points clear here...

A Wednesday - Terror in Mumbai (26/11/08) - The 9/11 of India

A Wednesday (26/11/08) - That is when it all started.
Today (28/11/08) yet again as I surf through the news channels and websites, my heart goes through another trauma. My heart pains to hear that terrorist once again came, took control, killed many and then themselves get killed.
The only Question that I as is why, why? Why did you kill people? What did you get by killing them? What point did you try to make?
Today, I feel no less than frustrated at the Political Smartness of our great “Mr. Prime Minister” who for once even couldn’t come together with the leader of the opposition. He preferred to take permission from our beloved (err….rather his beloved) “Sonia Ji” to come to Mumbai. God damn Prime minister.
How long can we bear the brunt and at what cost? Do we need another attack on the US of A – since that’s the only thing I see now that can bring the perpetrators of such heinous crimes to task. And when I say perpetrators let me be very clear here, I mean those bloddy ass****s – Pakistanis.
While I grieve today at the death of my fellow countrymen, I also feel proud for the Defence forces – The police (yes we may blame them for their corruption but they were the first to lose their captains), the Raf, the Army, the NSG, the Marcos and the Firemen. I would be rather apologetic in case I missed some names here. My heart goes out for them when I think of these martyrs who sacrificed their lives to save the hundreds.
Never had anything looked sexier than a “Balck Cat” commando jumping from the helicopter holding his sophisticated gun. And never did any bollywood hero look as cool as the Marcos in their “All Blacks”, forget the Will Smiths and hail the "Bearded Army"(Marcos are also called as - Dadiwali Fauj, Magarmacch - Crocodiles and Jal Murgi for their fearsome reputation). It really filled my heart with pride when I heard the “Vande Mataram” and other patriotic songs chanted by the people as a mark of respect for these “Bravehearts” and as a “Guard of Honour” for the “Sacrificial”.
Today I want to personally strangulate those bastards - who take my country to ransom, no matter who they are. I don’t know what I can or will do if I come face to face with these nincompoops, good for nothing “Jihadis” and their masters. But I do ‘Weave a Dream’ of doing something significant. When, how & where would be very trivial today. But I am sure I want to do something and will do something. After-all till when can we sit on our couches feeling handcuffed and frustrated by the rhetoric of the politicians and by their incompetency?
As I write this yet another post of mine, my friends and well wishers were already writhing about my Gtalk Status message. While no one in particular bought my opinion on what I wrote there, my humble suggestion to them would be to “Think Radically” at least once in our lives, that’s what the insurgents are doing isn’t it?
I know no one’s going to second what I write as a GTalk message or what I feel, I know they are kind of an extremist’s ranting, but at least let the aggression come out of you. I say let there be a “Common Uprising”.
A Wednesday (chk out the link)- That is when it will end.

My Home !! No more :'( :'(

Finally we ( my family) called it quits today - 19th Nov,08.
Probably we had never faced a more painful experience (barring the few deaths in the household) in our entire lives than leaving Renukoot, the place which will remain my hometown forever.
At least for me this was the most heart wrenching experience, I have ever had. Renukoot, a small town in UP is where I had grown up and I would gladly say it as my "Janm Bhoomi". Renukoot is mostly inhabited by all the employees of Hindalco, and as it happens with all such small towns there is a great bonding between all. I grew up in Renukoot where I had all the elements of what I can say as made my upbringing a "Near Perfect" one. There were times in my life when I would accuse Renukoot for not having provided me with enough oppurtunities to build my career. At the age of 16.5 after finishing my school I had leave the place.
Probably that is when I realised the attraction of Mother Land. Down south where I was growing up and trying to get over my enginnering days, I realised the strong craving that I had for my home town. Visiting Renukoot would mean a new lease of life everytime.
Over time as I was exposed to the comforts of life going back to Renukoot was no more exciting. Going back to Renukoot not only taking a train which with coaches from the Pre-indepence era but then taking a bus which traversed through dilapidated roads.
Today however nothing remains. I will not have to travel again throug those roads. I wont have to take the same old ruined train anymore. Today, we finally bade-adieu to Renukoot. Today, when my dad and mom finally took the car for the station for the last time, probably a 100 people were there see them off. The department where my dad worked was there in entirity. All the neighbours were there. And all were emotional.
I couldnt gather enough courage to face this situation. I dint go to have the last look at my home town. But, I called up my neighnours immediately after my mom and dad left. They were all in tears. Everyone said what will happen to us now. How can we live here watching closed doors and dark rooms in the our flat. Tears rolled down my eyes while I sat in the confines of my room here, miles away from Renukoot.
I dont have any more accusations to make. What I have today are fond memories - of my school days when I would play cricket on the road with my friends, of those long hours of journey that I would take from Bangalore to reach home, of the neighbouring Aunty's roti and dal, of my School, of the local Durga Puja, the Holi that I played with my friends and finally of the farewell that my parents received from all the people that they had known over a period of 40yrs.
Today forever I would recall as the day when I migrate to another world of Non- recognizance.

The Fun is Lost !! The Flavour is gone !!

I don’t exactly remember when I had actually visited my blog the last time..but I surely know that its been a long time since I had posted something.. and it kind of feels really great to be back to blogging..something I really enjoyed doing not long ago but had to forego because of the busy schedule..
This post is more about reminiscing memories of Durga Puja celebrations , most of which are sweet ones, associated with my soon to be erstwhile hometown, a nondescript place for most, known as Renukoot in the state of U.P. I visited Renukoot probably for one last time this Durga Puja. We would be shifting to Kolkata very soon, the place that I had visited for the first time some 15 yrs back and had definitely developed a liking for it. Well there’s no big reason behind my family shifting to Kolkata except the fact that my dad retired last month and we have to shift to someplace else to find a dwelling and Kolkata suited all of us.
Now coming back to my memories. Durga Puja has been and will remain the biggest festival for Bengalis for times to come. And I being a proud Bengali have always associated with the Durga Puja celebrations in Renukoot no less than someone who has been at the epicenter of the festivity i.e Kolkata/West Bengal. In my entire life I can proudly claim that I had missed the Puja in Renukoot only once, that also thanks to my ex-employer. I can fondly remember my days of engineering down south, when I had missed an entire Internal exam series just to celebrate Durga Puja back home. That has been the kind of lethal attraction that the Puja in Renukoot developed. The anticipation of the Pujas would start from the time when the first bamboo sticks would be laid before they grew into a gorgeous structure fondly known as the Pandal to most of us. The anticipation in my case has been so great that I virtually would visit the half made pandal almost on a daily basis whenever I was in Renukoot. However, all these love affairs kind of took a beating when I went to Bangalore to pursue higher studies and almost the anticipation almost suffered a slow death once I took up my job.
However this year was supposed to be a bit different. I could see a few pandals in the making in Jamshedpur, primarily because it is a predominantly Bengali town, where I am currently studying and I could once again find myself fanning the excitement of those yesteryears. There have been many reasons over the years why Durga Puja has been a special occasion for me.
While at school it was always a moment to rejoice since I didn’t have to go to school for 4 full days and also since for once I didn’t have to give explanations to my parents for giving the school a miss. Secondly, the opportunity to get new dresses had always been a category killer to all other reasons. Once out of school mainly during my graduation days the Puja was special since it provided me with an opportunity to get back to all those friends with whom I had grown up in Renukoot and whom I would miss dearly in my college. Since the Puja presented such an unique opportunity of a get together, none of the friends in my group ever gave it a miss.
Before I move ahead with my experiences I must say that I had a rocking group of Bengali friends who I would incidentally be able to meet only during the Puja celebrations or other prominently Bengali functions and otherwise remained out of touch for the rest of the year. Strange as it may sound it was true, the reason being our houses were quite far off from each other so Puja or such other functions were the only opportunities when we could think of meeting.
Meanwhile during my graduation days down south what kept me bringing back to Renukoot during Durga Puja was ineffable sense of joy of being able to meet those long lost friends, and a sense of reunion with my parents.
However, over the past few years the aforementioned motley group of friends hasn’t been able to meet together even during the Pujas. Blame it on the changing preferences (of being able to find more enjoyment in the metro cities that they had been living in) or the schedules getting busier by each day, not all of us could come together somehow. And the death nail was hit some 4 years back when I could find none from the Bengali group during the Puja. In the past few years I had somehow started accepting all that as a part of my life and moved ahead. Going back to Renukoot still made sense simply because my parents were there and again the sense of joy that the festival would bring with it as also it meant going back to my Bengali roots at least once a year, year after year.
This year however that sense of pride was somehow missing even though I had all the reasons of having to relive those days because of the excitement that had already been built before the puja back in Jamshedpur. The sense of belonging to Renukoot somehow seemed to have been lost. The Puja this year didn’t seem the same way. Probably because of the slow but sure corruption of the Bengali culture that has taken place. Corruption as in more of the non-Bengali culture that has crept in to the otherwise purely Bengali way of celebrating the festivity. The Pushpanjali on Asthami didn’t give me the same kick as it used to. The fight to get into the queue meant for the daily Bhog was missing. There was no excitement in staying late nights at the Pandals.
As I said before that “The Fun is Lost !! The Flavour is gone !!”
While I am yet to figure out any specific reason for having had a much sober Puja this year, what I have definitely figured out is that probably its time for me as well to move on with life. While my parents are moving ahead with dad having already retired, I also think it’s time for me to accept the fact that things cant remain sweet in life for eternity.
I hope next year Durga Puja celebrations in Kolkata (after all that where I expect to celebrate next year) can bring back to me the same excitement, the same kick that I have grown up with.

Advantage Women !!!!! (Mood - Pensive)

Before I am termed one, let me clarify that I am no MCP. For those of you who know what the acronym stands for, would have already understood my point here (after all even I have an ass to save) and those of you who don't know the expansion of MCP, thank God !! that you dont.
Yesterday, it was the umpteenth time that the women's reservation bill was supposed to be passed, and as we all know now, it was indeed passed - into the trash though !! The news flash read Women's Bill - made a Joke.
The 1st two words caught my imagination " WOMEN'S BILL". Heyy when did the bill go to the woman, I wondered. Wasn't that always the birth right of the men, and of course you were being indecent if you thought of going Dutch.
And then I thought how advantageous it is being a Woman.

• A woman needn't stand in a queue. You are legally/illegally (depends on whether you like calling the glass half filled or half empty) allowed to break it and get the job done before the men did it !! Huh ! So efficient. And when someone interrupts while you barge in, you have as well got the audacity to shout at him. After all women need a lot of exercise, what if its the vocal chord.
• The office is such a cool place. Its strictly 8 hrs of complete entertainment. You can get the job done faster (find a few male friends, they are always there to help you). Uhh !! efficiency at its best and you have a point to prove that you are arguably the smarter race. And yes the 8hrs in the office still holds true. It gets really risky to go home after 6p.m until you have to go out with your B.F. Actually you needn't come to the office at all. Some one did a great job by inventing "WORK FROM HOME".
• Ahhhh !! Its so cool to travel during the summers. Ya, Why not. There are always seats in the bus and entire compartments in the trains especially booked/reserved for you. BTW you don't forfeit the right to the other seats.
• The husband dreads the wife. Well that is in the husband's gene, which is not in his control of course, and the gene acts best when married. And now you have so many ways. The husband in any case is a lone fighter because the "Right to Equality" doesn't hold here.

But yes we still need a Woman's Reservation Bill, because they(women) represent just 7% of the parliamentarians. Men, in the mean time, are staring from a distance wondering when would the right to equality truly come into existence and they can cheerfully say " Hail !! Men's reservation bill"

"All looks yellow to the jaundiced eye" - I am not currently affected by jaundice BTW.