I am travelling to Egypt on August 3, 2008, my first international trip as a Journalist, and the feeling hasn’t sunk in yet. I sometimes wonder whether God or the third force as I like to call has held my hands to help me tread the path less treaded or is it like the dialogue from the movie Kung Fu Panda, we often meet our destiny on the path we try to avoid it!
As we grow in life our priorities change as Nirmal pointed to me during one of our discussions that, “as we grow we realise that at times what we believed was wrong or may not be wrong, its all about experiencing everything in life but gradually.”
I always made others believe that the only thing that is constant in life is change but personally when I gauge my coming of youth I realise that I have not been able to change.
People around me believe that perceptions change with time but my inability to walk with the changing pace has cost me a lot but on other hand it has given me the power to achieve what I wanted.
When I was in sixth standard my teacher asked me what I wanted to become, I thought hard, real hard and realised that I don’t want to become a doctor or an engineer because Ambarnath is full of these. Thus I decided to go through the dictionary and find a career which I thought nobody will be able to come up with, so next day I went in my class and profoundly said I want to become a Journalist! My teacher was dumbstruck and she asked me whether I knew what I was saying, I said of course I do and I will become one, one day.
Thus the seed was sown and rest the nurturing was done by Barkha Dutt, Rajdeep Sardesai, Arnab Goswami and to top it all Sir Mark Tully (he received knighthood when I was in tenth standard).
The grooming was difficult but then what is success unless faced with hardships…like the swan rearing to fly but tangled in seaweeds, I started speaking in english, my English teacher Ms. Esther Philips, told me that I speak English like the loafers standing at railway station.
Her cunning words have been the key ingredient of my dreams to be served well cooked.
She always thought I was a blot on the English literati of my school. So I decided to prove her wrong and began my journey by reading magazines like Gokulam, tinkle, and wisdom since sixth standard and held the newspaper from eighth grade, which my friends couldn’t even dream in their wildest dreams.
I owe my vocabulary improvement award to Times of India, india’s leading daily, which has been a phenomenal knowledge bank for me and my dad for keeping 24/7 news channels playing loud in our house.
I also realised most of my knowledge came from television, radio, newspapers than school books. And the day I realised this I stopped doing my home works followed by class work also. During my ninth and tenth standard I never made any social studies notebook, neither did I have any hindi note book. I believed that writing those paras would neither help me nor my sir, so better I didn’t attempt.
After tenth board exams my parents forced me to take up sciences, which I knew I would never be able to fare and after two years of coaxing I some how passed junior college and sighed relief. My parents were disappointed and disgusted I actually thought my father is going to disown me keeping in mind the fact that he is considered as one of the most intelligent chap at his workplace.
Finally it was time to decide where to head, and I decided to go ahead with the dream that initiated as an attempt to differ from the crowd and thus I got myself admitted at Somaiya college. Then began the journey of trials and tribulations, happiness and bounty of sorrow but nothing could deprive me from the goals that I had set for myself as a kid.
The day I wrote my last board exam at college I landed with my first job and today on my second job I have surpassed my own imaginations.
My father who always believed that going America is the only way to prove my intelligence is finally proud of the fact that I am the one who writes, uses brain for the benefit of others and helping the mass to understand what I know and fulfil their aspirations.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
DNA Money Goes Water Rafting
13th July, 2008, Sunday, Kolad, water rafting, 14kms
Jhon Ruskin says, “remember that the most beautiful things in the world are the most useless; water, peacocks and lilies for instance.”
But I think Ruskin didn’t get the chance to live and work in Mumbai and realise how soothing it is to see these useless things amidst the crazy lives that we lead.
Last week during my evening coffee session when I prefer to hang around near Promit’s desk, Rabinda narrated his water rafting experience. I couldn’t exactly understand what he was trying to explain. Finally giving up his narration he googled (I guess it’s the only tool on earth which acts as Saviour for duhs like me ;)) and showed us a picture with 8 people wearing life jackets, helmets and chappu in their hands and standing on plastic boats I mean rafts..and water slashing all over them.
And here I was visualising the mountain dew ad, difficult is worth doing.
I had been a hydrophobic since childhood, infact my mom had kicked me out of the swimming pool when I was in sixth standard because I was drowning in knee deep water. So I never learnt swimming and I never went to water after that.
Thus I thought lets do it (actually the fear hadn’t sunk in when I saw the pics)
What more, I went to nirmal and then we all decided to go Water Rafting on Kundalika river at Kolad, 98 kms away from Mumbai, a three and a half hour journey only during the wee hours of morning.
So the plan was set, we were ten people, the rafting agencies said we need to do two weeks advance booking but we didn’t give up and finally Nirmal got our bookings done (He is DNA MONEY’s program manager).
The only constraint being we had to reach the destination before 8 am. Some of us decided to stay awake at office on Saturday night so that we can leave on time. Though Subhashish scared us when he said, “I am just going to leave” at 3.50 from Andheri, although I know I woke him up when he had picked the call at 3.45am. At 4 our hunk says his bike has ditched him (wow!He wanted to ride THAT bike till Kolad! it couldn’t even reach Kalina…correct?).
We picked him up from Mahim station, then khyati and her husband joined us at Sanpada..while we were waiting for them by the roadside, Subhashish and Nirmal started playing catch-catch with a cricket ball on the highway roadside (Dude, cant you stop showing off even at this hour?)
Finally we left with pappu cant dance sala as the background score (Rahman, PS: I Love You)
Ohh I forgot to introduce my “we”, it includes-Me, Promit (Big B), Nirmal, Tanvi, Khyati and her husta hua band (husband) Puneet, Kishore, Shubhashish, Joel and tan.d.journo’s friend Tanya (Tani, I actually thought Joel might initiate his attempt of impressing(AoI) by singing Dhani..oops tani, rey taaani..).
Anyways…our Qualis surpassed the polluted air and dirty black clouds of Mumbai and we entered the blissful world of lush green beauty. Cold breeze kissing our faces, welcoming us for an enchanting experience.
Elongated grasses covering the woods, fogs dancing over mountains and stream gushing through the rocks saying honey if there is a will there is a way! Man..i was amazed…nature not only gives me inspiration but also wakes up the sleeping mind, freshens those power packed ambitions to whom I say goodbye when in Mumbai.
I think I should get back to the main point..we reached the starting point, Shajey Village at 7.30 am and we spotted rafts..yeppyy..but the chinky guy wearing skin tight swim suit asked us to come back by 8.30 after breakfast.
Great we thought, but then in our search to trace a hotel for breakfast and dress changing, we surged kilometres ahead and finally stopped at a place where we saw an Omni parked and some guys sitting around.
After we parked our car we realised that these guys resembled the rowdy police guys who can keep going on raping women even during war! With desi rum in their hand at 7.30 and dancing on shamur’s “let the music play” I was actually waiting when the brawl would start. Thank god it didn’t, we had poha and these guys wore there rafting clothes and we again started for Shajey village.
We were the first to reach the destination so we fatafat wore our life jacket, helmet, took the chappu I mean rafting blades and there we were clicking photographs (missed u arcopol..actually missed ur camera!)
Then we heard a siren and my eyes started popping out…water started gushing, within a minute’s time the barren-rocky land was over flowing with water and horror struck me. I was shit scared.
Pawan, the head instructor stood on the raft and started explaining the nuances of rafting which we should remember when we are out there (I couldn’t understand anything as I was still reeling under my fear and how can he expect me to remember so many things at one go!)
Finally we took our raft on our shoulder and ran towards the stream and I was wondering do I want to do this? Then I thought yes! If I wouldn’t go for this today, I will never be able to do water sports which I cherish the most.
Here I was sitting in the front holding the ropes and nirmal and Puneet being the leading paddlers. Wow..we all were scared-what if we fall..the instructor said the lifejackets will save us and he would be there to take care! Assuring words, but nothing was helping me…
Pawan putra Jay Hanuman please come flying and save us when we drown… and there, the water putra Pawan shouted…Go Forward! These guys started paddling and I was tightly holding the rope and sitting in the front.
My work- only to watch the waves and be happy….
After some five minutes a huge rapid came and splashed on us ..hmm..but we didn’t fall off. Finally my fears were wading off and by the time it did, next big wave came and Nirmal was out of boat and he held my hand (duniya mey koi aur nahi mila?) and pulled me…but he didn’t realise that even though I look fat I am very easy to pull or push, so even I was going out of the raft. Finally I held the rope tight and shouted for promit..and then my darling bigB who was sitting just behind Nirmal realised that he needs to help us! Then Nirmal was again on board..how? water putra Pawan pulled him in.
Our encyclopaedia instructor then came up with some great one liners..like
Teeree meeree teere meeere dhum dhadakka, Hoo Haa Hoo Haaa..(Tanvi’s fav)
Yo Baby-Yo baby-Yo baby-Yo!(Nirmal’s fav)
Jai devi-Kundalika… (Joel kinds)
And throwing water on others rafts by head-faking… Crocodile.. sometimes..Blackcat..seasnake..he was a brilliant instructor.
Then came some heavy rapids..it was 3.5 he said…and for once he said inside, and everyone was inside the raft falling on each other.
Then we saw some people standing inside the raft we said even we want to do…being the best instructor he said we will do it.
When again huge rapids said hi! Pawan shouted stand on the raft and we were like..what? dude we cant stand normally and you want us to stand on the edges of the raft!
But being the crazy ones, we attempted!
First attempt promit and nirmal held each others hand and put another on my head..as I was still waiting to stand up and from other side Puneet and tani were holding my shoulder and I was like…u shrewd ones! Even I wana stand..atleast on the middle if not edges of the raft!
Then in the second attempt I don’t know but some how we all stood over the edges and held our hands together..it was so symbolic..it lasted just for a moment.. but that was a Kodak moment..
We did it together and that’s what we should learn, to hold each other through the toughest ride and we will pass with flying colours.
After that the waves were normal and this time Kishoreji saw someone diving from another raft and then I heard a splash..seconds later I see promit in the water swimming away to glory..Follwed by joel, subhashish, tanvi, puneet, khyati..and just 30 seconds later I am all alone on the raft waving them good byes..i was sure that I will never swim…and the next moment pawan threw me in the river….
And I just flapped my way back and started howling..Mammmmmaaaa….i mean that might be the only time in life I have shouted for mom so desperately!i actually visualised the swimming pool incident when I was a kid and my mom suddenly jumped in the pool when she saw me under water, my legs hanging up and head no where to be seen…
I shouted so badly that khyati and shubhahish came to rescue me and then Pawan took me up on board.
I saw Khyatii going again in the water and I followed her. After hanging to the raft rope I left it gradually and by the time I left the rope I was again scared. This time Promit came and shubhashish was behined me.
Take this: promit is swimming ahead and I am holding his shoe laces and trying to come up and subhashish holding my hand to come further…hilarious!just imagine and u will start laughing till u can..
Then we finally boarded the raft and started paddling and singing songs..we sang hindi, Punjabi, malyali, tamil, Bengali, marathi and English songs and reached the shore..ohh we even crossed a small tunnel…
One of my life’s most incredible and precious moment..i overcame fear…I simply proved to myself..Difficult is worth doing! Infact we all did something different..we realised we were the best, even though we started last we finished fourth.
We were the most innovative group and we were excellent together and that’s what rafting is all about.
Being a TeaM.
Rest in next blog!
Jhon Ruskin says, “remember that the most beautiful things in the world are the most useless; water, peacocks and lilies for instance.”
But I think Ruskin didn’t get the chance to live and work in Mumbai and realise how soothing it is to see these useless things amidst the crazy lives that we lead.
Last week during my evening coffee session when I prefer to hang around near Promit’s desk, Rabinda narrated his water rafting experience. I couldn’t exactly understand what he was trying to explain. Finally giving up his narration he googled (I guess it’s the only tool on earth which acts as Saviour for duhs like me ;)) and showed us a picture with 8 people wearing life jackets, helmets and chappu in their hands and standing on plastic boats I mean rafts..and water slashing all over them.
And here I was visualising the mountain dew ad, difficult is worth doing.
I had been a hydrophobic since childhood, infact my mom had kicked me out of the swimming pool when I was in sixth standard because I was drowning in knee deep water. So I never learnt swimming and I never went to water after that.
Thus I thought lets do it (actually the fear hadn’t sunk in when I saw the pics)
What more, I went to nirmal and then we all decided to go Water Rafting on Kundalika river at Kolad, 98 kms away from Mumbai, a three and a half hour journey only during the wee hours of morning.
So the plan was set, we were ten people, the rafting agencies said we need to do two weeks advance booking but we didn’t give up and finally Nirmal got our bookings done (He is DNA MONEY’s program manager).
The only constraint being we had to reach the destination before 8 am. Some of us decided to stay awake at office on Saturday night so that we can leave on time. Though Subhashish scared us when he said, “I am just going to leave” at 3.50 from Andheri, although I know I woke him up when he had picked the call at 3.45am. At 4 our hunk says his bike has ditched him (wow!He wanted to ride THAT bike till Kolad! it couldn’t even reach Kalina…correct?).
We picked him up from Mahim station, then khyati and her husband joined us at Sanpada..while we were waiting for them by the roadside, Subhashish and Nirmal started playing catch-catch with a cricket ball on the highway roadside (Dude, cant you stop showing off even at this hour?)
Finally we left with pappu cant dance sala as the background score (Rahman, PS: I Love You)
Ohh I forgot to introduce my “we”, it includes-Me, Promit (Big B), Nirmal, Tanvi, Khyati and her husta hua band (husband) Puneet, Kishore, Shubhashish, Joel and tan.d.journo’s friend Tanya (Tani, I actually thought Joel might initiate his attempt of impressing(AoI) by singing Dhani..oops tani, rey taaani..).
Anyways…our Qualis surpassed the polluted air and dirty black clouds of Mumbai and we entered the blissful world of lush green beauty. Cold breeze kissing our faces, welcoming us for an enchanting experience.
Elongated grasses covering the woods, fogs dancing over mountains and stream gushing through the rocks saying honey if there is a will there is a way! Man..i was amazed…nature not only gives me inspiration but also wakes up the sleeping mind, freshens those power packed ambitions to whom I say goodbye when in Mumbai.
I think I should get back to the main point..we reached the starting point, Shajey Village at 7.30 am and we spotted rafts..yeppyy..but the chinky guy wearing skin tight swim suit asked us to come back by 8.30 after breakfast.
Great we thought, but then in our search to trace a hotel for breakfast and dress changing, we surged kilometres ahead and finally stopped at a place where we saw an Omni parked and some guys sitting around.
After we parked our car we realised that these guys resembled the rowdy police guys who can keep going on raping women even during war! With desi rum in their hand at 7.30 and dancing on shamur’s “let the music play” I was actually waiting when the brawl would start. Thank god it didn’t, we had poha and these guys wore there rafting clothes and we again started for Shajey village.
We were the first to reach the destination so we fatafat wore our life jacket, helmet, took the chappu I mean rafting blades and there we were clicking photographs (missed u arcopol..actually missed ur camera!)
Then we heard a siren and my eyes started popping out…water started gushing, within a minute’s time the barren-rocky land was over flowing with water and horror struck me. I was shit scared.
Pawan, the head instructor stood on the raft and started explaining the nuances of rafting which we should remember when we are out there (I couldn’t understand anything as I was still reeling under my fear and how can he expect me to remember so many things at one go!)
Finally we took our raft on our shoulder and ran towards the stream and I was wondering do I want to do this? Then I thought yes! If I wouldn’t go for this today, I will never be able to do water sports which I cherish the most.
Here I was sitting in the front holding the ropes and nirmal and Puneet being the leading paddlers. Wow..we all were scared-what if we fall..the instructor said the lifejackets will save us and he would be there to take care! Assuring words, but nothing was helping me…
Pawan putra Jay Hanuman please come flying and save us when we drown… and there, the water putra Pawan shouted…Go Forward! These guys started paddling and I was tightly holding the rope and sitting in the front.
My work- only to watch the waves and be happy….
After some five minutes a huge rapid came and splashed on us ..hmm..but we didn’t fall off. Finally my fears were wading off and by the time it did, next big wave came and Nirmal was out of boat and he held my hand (duniya mey koi aur nahi mila?) and pulled me…but he didn’t realise that even though I look fat I am very easy to pull or push, so even I was going out of the raft. Finally I held the rope tight and shouted for promit..and then my darling bigB who was sitting just behind Nirmal realised that he needs to help us! Then Nirmal was again on board..how? water putra Pawan pulled him in.
Our encyclopaedia instructor then came up with some great one liners..like
Teeree meeree teere meeere dhum dhadakka, Hoo Haa Hoo Haaa..(Tanvi’s fav)
Yo Baby-Yo baby-Yo baby-Yo!(Nirmal’s fav)
Jai devi-Kundalika… (Joel kinds)
And throwing water on others rafts by head-faking… Crocodile.. sometimes..Blackcat..seasnake..he was a brilliant instructor.
Then came some heavy rapids..it was 3.5 he said…and for once he said inside, and everyone was inside the raft falling on each other.
Then we saw some people standing inside the raft we said even we want to do…being the best instructor he said we will do it.
When again huge rapids said hi! Pawan shouted stand on the raft and we were like..what? dude we cant stand normally and you want us to stand on the edges of the raft!
But being the crazy ones, we attempted!
First attempt promit and nirmal held each others hand and put another on my head..as I was still waiting to stand up and from other side Puneet and tani were holding my shoulder and I was like…u shrewd ones! Even I wana stand..atleast on the middle if not edges of the raft!
Then in the second attempt I don’t know but some how we all stood over the edges and held our hands together..it was so symbolic..it lasted just for a moment.. but that was a Kodak moment..
We did it together and that’s what we should learn, to hold each other through the toughest ride and we will pass with flying colours.
After that the waves were normal and this time Kishoreji saw someone diving from another raft and then I heard a splash..seconds later I see promit in the water swimming away to glory..Follwed by joel, subhashish, tanvi, puneet, khyati..and just 30 seconds later I am all alone on the raft waving them good byes..i was sure that I will never swim…and the next moment pawan threw me in the river….
And I just flapped my way back and started howling..Mammmmmaaaa….i mean that might be the only time in life I have shouted for mom so desperately!i actually visualised the swimming pool incident when I was a kid and my mom suddenly jumped in the pool when she saw me under water, my legs hanging up and head no where to be seen…
I shouted so badly that khyati and shubhahish came to rescue me and then Pawan took me up on board.
I saw Khyatii going again in the water and I followed her. After hanging to the raft rope I left it gradually and by the time I left the rope I was again scared. This time Promit came and shubhashish was behined me.
Take this: promit is swimming ahead and I am holding his shoe laces and trying to come up and subhashish holding my hand to come further…hilarious!just imagine and u will start laughing till u can..
Then we finally boarded the raft and started paddling and singing songs..we sang hindi, Punjabi, malyali, tamil, Bengali, marathi and English songs and reached the shore..ohh we even crossed a small tunnel…
One of my life’s most incredible and precious moment..i overcame fear…I simply proved to myself..Difficult is worth doing! Infact we all did something different..we realised we were the best, even though we started last we finished fourth.
We were the most innovative group and we were excellent together and that’s what rafting is all about.
Being a TeaM.
Rest in next blog!
Friday, July 11, 2008
Eki aamar shei kolkata
jekhaney bhor balay kori pronam shurjo key,
ganga bohey jaye nijer srotey
kheya paar lagaye majhi jey
aaj dekhi parkstreet thekey chandni
loker dhara bohey jaye aapon money
ganga bahey nijer taley
ami bhabi hoyran money
Eki amar shei kolkata?
Metro's elevator ae chodtey na parley
lokey baley shorey daran mashima
manusher kafilar eti nai
ami dadiye dekhi ei drishyo ta
aar bhabi, Eki aamar shei kolkata?
achey shei hawker aer daak
bechtey aakul badam bhaja aar alu chop
tai dekhey mon kadey
ejey shei amar kolkata
Bhanga rastay cycle-rickshaar daak
goli-goli mayer mondirer shankh
gach agochal protideek
bdir gaye trinamul are CPM aer cheekh
ei dekhey hridoy chatfat karey aar baley
ei toh amar shei kolkata
Hori kirton bajey loud speaker ae
pashey gaa-gaa karey dil liya rey
pather dharey fuchkar gadi
shei khujey pelam amar badi
shei shondha-shondha gandho
chok chalchal karey aar baley
Ei toh amar shei kolkata!
jekhaney bhor balay kori pronam shurjo key,
ganga bohey jaye nijer srotey
kheya paar lagaye majhi jey
aaj dekhi parkstreet thekey chandni
loker dhara bohey jaye aapon money
ganga bahey nijer taley
ami bhabi hoyran money
Eki amar shei kolkata?
Metro's elevator ae chodtey na parley
lokey baley shorey daran mashima
manusher kafilar eti nai
ami dadiye dekhi ei drishyo ta
aar bhabi, Eki aamar shei kolkata?
achey shei hawker aer daak
bechtey aakul badam bhaja aar alu chop
tai dekhey mon kadey
ejey shei amar kolkata
Bhanga rastay cycle-rickshaar daak
goli-goli mayer mondirer shankh
gach agochal protideek
bdir gaye trinamul are CPM aer cheekh
ei dekhey hridoy chatfat karey aar baley
ei toh amar shei kolkata
Hori kirton bajey loud speaker ae
pashey gaa-gaa karey dil liya rey
pather dharey fuchkar gadi
shei khujey pelam amar badi
shei shondha-shondha gandho
chok chalchal karey aar baley
Ei toh amar shei kolkata!
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Traffic Signal
Life takes various turns without giving any prior notice. its comes as a whirlwind and keeps you in its wind till you accustom yourself to that situation and the moment you plan to say "ok !i fit this place!" you are thrown away in a different sea to face another facet of life.
Noone knows what tomorrow behold but yes one thing is for sure there is no control of one self on Destiny's Traffic Signal.
just clogged up to write anything, ciao...
Noone knows what tomorrow behold but yes one thing is for sure there is no control of one self on Destiny's Traffic Signal.
just clogged up to write anything, ciao...
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Treasured Memory- DeeptI aka ChippU
When I left Mumbai my friends gathered in numbers to bid me farewell. My college friends gave me what I love the most a diary and a card filled by everyone to wish me a prosperous life ahead. Gifts poured from office colleagues, family friends, school friends everywhere. But of all the soft toys, gifts, chocolates and wishes were expected, I knew Ashwin and Rocky did always give me softtoys, my classmates something to write with, close friends would come up with my favourite dress or book but of all one that I treasure the most was a surprise which came from Deepti, I call her Chippu because most of the time she is busy oiling her hair and roaming around the house in her oil tanked hair and giving instructions to me, how I should keep the house clean, how disastrous I’d be as a housewife!!(Her utmost concern), talking about her tension filled life, talking about things that we dislike and discussing about work, future, life and its philosophies.
She suddenly gave me a card out of no where and a yellow rose and hugged me tightly and tears filled our eyes but the truth is I rarely cry infront of Chippu, because I am her spirit of strength who did never fall, give up or backed out of any decision once affirmed and nonetheless always washed others tears than spilled her own. So how could I cry in her presence!!!
Finally when I read that letter sitting on my seat in the train tears couldn’t stop flowing from my eyes, it said,
“to the beautiful friend PooH J,
Dear pooja,
You have been the source of power and courage in times of sadness and disguise and source of happiness and cheerfulness in times of quietness always. Your stupid jokes and unstoppable lectures, I will miss them all.
Frankly and honestly in last three years you changed my thinking and perspective towards friendship.
Will miss your hand every time tears will come in my eyes, love you will miss you a lot. Keep in touch!
From, deepu (chippu)”
I cherish these words and will always do it(these words aint those which change with time), we both have seen life’s ups and downs together, days and nights spent discussing life and its various anecdotes, and my most adorable girl, I miss you a lot. I did never tell you what you mean to me or bid you goodbye because if I ever say bye to you then with whom will I share my feelings, my sorrows my happiness which I hide from the world.
My elder sister, my loveliest friend with whom life has been a Love-Hate relationship, fought, hugged, bitched, shared secrets done it all………..
Miss you , long for those humorous chats and crazy mimics and days when you would beat me during fights coz I could never reason prolifically …
With love,
PooH!!
puujdi-mojdi,
moti,
pooji!!!
SARKAR…..
Once again when I am reading this before hitting the save button, tears fill my eyes, but of course they wont fall as this is for U.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Uniqueness Of KoLkAtA~~~~
All my friends are filled with anxiety and inquisitivity about how I am able to adjust at Kolkata to add that I have lived in Mumbai city for last three years that is inclusive of the fact that I stayed where I’d dine three nights at McDonalds, rest two at Mafco Chinese corner and Sunday’s at my aunt’s place.
While my college friends were in kolkata they despised the city more than Mika as a singer but today in the evening while I was coming back from my uncle’s place I fell from the cycle rickshaw on which I was sitting as it was hit by another rickshaw and I realised there are some things which are so typical of Kolkata and you would never find them in Mumbai.
Cyclerickshaw- A carriage on which only two people can sit although with much discomfort and a lanky man or a boy would ride the cycle. A three tires rickshaw which doesn’t pollute air, the cheapest mode of travelling (you always have the chance of bargaining) and during rainy season they put a plastic sheet on top of the roof which has to be held by the traveller with his foot on it, the roof of the rickshaw during day times acts as sun protection and also the holder for the passenger. People who haven’t seen this kind of rickshaw can relate to the scene in Main Hoon Na where Shah Rukh Khan is riding a rickshaw to catch the mobs getting away in a Qualis!!
Auto rickshaw- Now my friends would ask me what is so surprising about an auto rickshaw, of course you won’t realise the fun unless you experience it. The auto rickshaw is the normal one but the abnormal part is 7 people sit on the rickshaw. Yes seven and the numbers can increase to 13 if kids are sitting. The driver seats two people beside him on the left hand side and one on the rear end that is the right hand side corner. As rickshaws don’t run by meter system fares sometimes vary according to the driver’s wish and if you don’t hop the rickshaw without coins (big notes like 50,100 can never be entertained) you would be thrown out.
3. Trees on Platforms: to save the trees from being cut down, platforms are designed in such a manner that the tree provides shade to the people and aligning to the tree trunk plastered cement seats are made where people sit with much relief. And you might not be shocked if you see boys riding there cycles on the platform. That is one of the most common scene here and you keep asking the question, “isn’t there any railway official?” no, ofcourse not half the times the RPF’s cycle are stationed aligning to a tree…see how helpful is that tree on a platform!!!
4. No firstclass compartment in Train- However rich or poor you might be, you have to compromise with the fact that Kolkata is a place ruled by the socialist thus there could be no differentiate between. No First class compartments for those who are willing to pay and only 2 ladies compartment which are filled with wild cats who just need to smell where the fight can begin.Man O man!!!the gate rule is the most important factor, the rule of standing on the gate is, there are selected people who come everyday and u cannot question them and incase you do you will be kicked( dignified version of what they actually do!!) out.
5. Buses- these blue coloured state run buses with yellow line imprinted as a scar on its body design, is the suicide machine!! Two conductors ride on a single bus, and deliver a ticket which 0.5 cm in width and 5 cm long, unique ticket as if it was a paper piece taken out from rough notebook although I could not dissect where they get it from!! The drivers rush so fast that one I was going to thwart off the bus..as it collided with another bus. These people are reckless driver who have a pressure to pick up more passengers and end up throwing those who are already inside the bus!!!
These five things I have noticed in proximity because I have been a victim of all these and if I introspect four unique things are about transport medium!!!
PS: Swarup, this one is specially for u!!!
While my college friends were in kolkata they despised the city more than Mika as a singer but today in the evening while I was coming back from my uncle’s place I fell from the cycle rickshaw on which I was sitting as it was hit by another rickshaw and I realised there are some things which are so typical of Kolkata and you would never find them in Mumbai.
Cyclerickshaw- A carriage on which only two people can sit although with much discomfort and a lanky man or a boy would ride the cycle. A three tires rickshaw which doesn’t pollute air, the cheapest mode of travelling (you always have the chance of bargaining) and during rainy season they put a plastic sheet on top of the roof which has to be held by the traveller with his foot on it, the roof of the rickshaw during day times acts as sun protection and also the holder for the passenger. People who haven’t seen this kind of rickshaw can relate to the scene in Main Hoon Na where Shah Rukh Khan is riding a rickshaw to catch the mobs getting away in a Qualis!!
Auto rickshaw- Now my friends would ask me what is so surprising about an auto rickshaw, of course you won’t realise the fun unless you experience it. The auto rickshaw is the normal one but the abnormal part is 7 people sit on the rickshaw. Yes seven and the numbers can increase to 13 if kids are sitting. The driver seats two people beside him on the left hand side and one on the rear end that is the right hand side corner. As rickshaws don’t run by meter system fares sometimes vary according to the driver’s wish and if you don’t hop the rickshaw without coins (big notes like 50,100 can never be entertained) you would be thrown out.
3. Trees on Platforms: to save the trees from being cut down, platforms are designed in such a manner that the tree provides shade to the people and aligning to the tree trunk plastered cement seats are made where people sit with much relief. And you might not be shocked if you see boys riding there cycles on the platform. That is one of the most common scene here and you keep asking the question, “isn’t there any railway official?” no, ofcourse not half the times the RPF’s cycle are stationed aligning to a tree…see how helpful is that tree on a platform!!!
4. No firstclass compartment in Train- However rich or poor you might be, you have to compromise with the fact that Kolkata is a place ruled by the socialist thus there could be no differentiate between. No First class compartments for those who are willing to pay and only 2 ladies compartment which are filled with wild cats who just need to smell where the fight can begin.Man O man!!!the gate rule is the most important factor, the rule of standing on the gate is, there are selected people who come everyday and u cannot question them and incase you do you will be kicked( dignified version of what they actually do!!) out.
5. Buses- these blue coloured state run buses with yellow line imprinted as a scar on its body design, is the suicide machine!! Two conductors ride on a single bus, and deliver a ticket which 0.5 cm in width and 5 cm long, unique ticket as if it was a paper piece taken out from rough notebook although I could not dissect where they get it from!! The drivers rush so fast that one I was going to thwart off the bus..as it collided with another bus. These people are reckless driver who have a pressure to pick up more passengers and end up throwing those who are already inside the bus!!!
These five things I have noticed in proximity because I have been a victim of all these and if I introspect four unique things are about transport medium!!!
PS: Swarup, this one is specially for u!!!
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Happy Birthday To Me!!
It was my birthday and I anticipated that my mother wanted to celebrate it with zest, although I lost my grandfather early this year I wasn’t sure of celebrating it, even my family members (my so called relatives) aren’t so happy with me turning mature and older day by day as that means I would understand there tricks which they are manoeuvring for years for gaining a small piece of property which my dad and grandpa built. Thus I decided to celebrate it away with a few close family friends, thus the venue was fixed at my dad’s best friends house where he and his nuclear family was present and my mama-jomma arrived later and me and my parents consisted the entire guest list.
Total Guest(including me): 8
Then I was asked to cut the cake with 20 candles alighting atop my cake which frightened me because I am growing older. Voila..i cut the beautiful chocolate cake and then ate the biggest piece myself… then we sat for the dinner. Chicken biryani (PETA supportives don’t read this!!), fish cutlet follwed by sweet and ice cream. Then my uncle and dad asked whether the birthday celebration they did put up at the short interval was good, was I happy?
MY INTROSPECTION: I was happy for the reason that I was celebrating with my parents’ close knit family friends. These two friends of my dad my uncle and mamu, they are friends for more than 24 years which is commendable in every manner. In the contemporary society it is very rare that we can maintain friendships for such a long time. It’s rare but still this three friends share such a wonderful equation with each other. They scold each other, laugh together and also in need stand by each other. And more than that these friends had been able to make there wives close friends of each other and to add the children also follow this same norm. but there is a distance between us me and my sis(mama’s daughter) we love each other a lot but surely a distance of eight years is inevitable in our relationship. Amit (uncle’s son) he feels proud of the fact he doesn’t mingle with girls!! So this is the present generation …standing far from each other. It really disappoints me when I introspect the present generation which is so time bound and mean, we don’t befriend someone for happiness we befriend to get our work done. Today there is dearth of friends but ofcourse hundreds of acquaintances are present who surround our daily life and sometimes we fool us by thinking that’s what life is all about today. But if I insist ourselves to think about the school days we would gladly say we had such great friends, then college days where we gain friends of lifetime and office where with every passing job the numerousness increases with less profoundness.
Life for some is short for some its long but we should try and look at the beautiful things, maintain relationships and be happy about it because only when we lose someone who was close to us then we realise the proximity. So be happy and grow older wisely!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!
Total Guest(including me): 8
Then I was asked to cut the cake with 20 candles alighting atop my cake which frightened me because I am growing older. Voila..i cut the beautiful chocolate cake and then ate the biggest piece myself… then we sat for the dinner. Chicken biryani (PETA supportives don’t read this!!), fish cutlet follwed by sweet and ice cream. Then my uncle and dad asked whether the birthday celebration they did put up at the short interval was good, was I happy?
MY INTROSPECTION: I was happy for the reason that I was celebrating with my parents’ close knit family friends. These two friends of my dad my uncle and mamu, they are friends for more than 24 years which is commendable in every manner. In the contemporary society it is very rare that we can maintain friendships for such a long time. It’s rare but still this three friends share such a wonderful equation with each other. They scold each other, laugh together and also in need stand by each other. And more than that these friends had been able to make there wives close friends of each other and to add the children also follow this same norm. but there is a distance between us me and my sis(mama’s daughter) we love each other a lot but surely a distance of eight years is inevitable in our relationship. Amit (uncle’s son) he feels proud of the fact he doesn’t mingle with girls!! So this is the present generation …standing far from each other. It really disappoints me when I introspect the present generation which is so time bound and mean, we don’t befriend someone for happiness we befriend to get our work done. Today there is dearth of friends but ofcourse hundreds of acquaintances are present who surround our daily life and sometimes we fool us by thinking that’s what life is all about today. But if I insist ourselves to think about the school days we would gladly say we had such great friends, then college days where we gain friends of lifetime and office where with every passing job the numerousness increases with less profoundness.
Life for some is short for some its long but we should try and look at the beautiful things, maintain relationships and be happy about it because only when we lose someone who was close to us then we realise the proximity. So be happy and grow older wisely!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!
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