As a common Indian

Don't they feel ashamed about this? It is really disgusting to see the reactions of these politicians. May be because -they live in another India. Where there are cars to travel, bodyguards to protect and money to be squandered - is obtained without any struggle.

These people know it very well that they are miles away from any train which might contain RDX explosives.
They are never going to enter a railway station or a Cafe or a city footpath where a bomb can explode anytime.
At any given moment - safety is not a concern for any of them.
Shameless leaders(?) like Vilasrao Deshmukh and R.R. Patil - who took the Mumbai terror attacks as a "regular incidents" prove the already proved fact again - India for politicians is different from the India we live in.

And ofcourse the bomb blasts - Mumbaikars are now used to them! Goevernment can in fact officially declare a bomb scare like "heavy rains" warning in any city of India....

We are destined to be common- acceptable.
We have no special status - acceptable.
We are supposed to do common things and live a common life - acceptable.
But it is simply unacceptable, as a citizen of India, that anyone can come here and kill my countrymen - Simply not ACCEPTABLE.

Sadly, It seems acceptable to our Govenrment and politicians as a lot.
Naseeruddin Shah speaks as a common man about Terrorism & Government in "A wednesday"

Dear PM !

Dear Dr. Manmohan Singh,
As you must be aware there was an incident in a city called Mumbai, where several people were killed. Nothing special, I agree. These days there are one or more bomb blasts happening around.
I also know that you are a very busy man and have numerous meetings everywhere.
But i really have a problem and I do not have an answer to that question, thought I would tell you !

At this moment- these terrorists have created havoc in Mumbai, my city. People died like mosquitos. Many brave policemen lost their lives. Amongst dead were elite, less and lesser elite, and ofcourse the beloved target of terrorists- the common masses!

I know, Government, police force etc. are unable to protect common people like me. Ofcourse there are many important ministers, actors, businessmen to be protected with Z+ security.
So there are generally not many left to protect people like me!

My question is - "How do I protect myself and my family?"
I cannot kill anyone nor have I taken any NCC traning. Say a terrorist approaches me- What am I supposed to do?
Logic tells me that this situation should have been prevented in first place. How can a terrorist enter my city and threaten me at a gun(that too a semi-autometic)point?
So I consider that as a life threatening situation.
I say this, because when I leave my home each day- a bomb can explode, terror can strike from all 360 degrees. Trains, officeplace, theatres, railway stations - everywhere I am alert these days.
Anyways, that's not very important- at max I might get killed.
Even if that happens, please answer my question in public. Someone else might be able take necessary measures.

tuely,
Not at all important who!


PS - Could you please tell me a good place where I can get an AK-47, preferably at discount rate?

The Idiot - By Dostoyevsky

Few man can portray human beings like Dostoevsky does. He's the master of masters.
Even the great Einstein had once said, "Dostoevsky gives me more than any scientist, more than Gauss".

"The Idiot", often considered as one of the greatest work of Dostoevsky, proves this-and how!
The master portrays truly amazing image of a man whom they all call an Idiot.

Dostoevsky's motives for writing The Idiot stem from his desire to depict the "positively good man"- Prince Myshkin.
By making Myshkin a paragon of kindness and humility, Dostoyevsky shows what can happen when such a man is confronted by society. Myshkin frequently confronts society's norms with his "idiocy", which is merely his apparently naive approach to life. However, it is merely a search for truth in human relationships, he is not naive about what others say to him and about him, he merely assumes they're true because human beings should have no need for falsehood. The prince frequently faces various social turmoils throughout the novel, petty arguments and ridiculous assumptions. Unfortunately, the "idiot" cannot save himself from society and fails in the end. [description from wikipedia]

Myshkin is indeed one of the most beloved and truest character in literature. A child at heart, naive and ever kind - closer to being a saint.

I wish we had a few Myshkins amongst us right now, amidst all the hatred littered all along.....

Bead & the Bea(r)d

I was going through my photo album when a particular photo attracted my attention.

<--This, I realized is indeed a special photo!

A tiny drop of an unknown source of liquid object sharply entangled into a thick and dense clot of beard. Beautiful as a bead !
well, Look closer and you might even find the image of photographer captured inside the "bead".


The model for above photo is undisclosed and protected by the same thick dense hair!
I am thinking of sending this for Pulitzer prize .....

हरवलेली माणसे - lost

हरवलेली माणसे
-------------------

फार पूर्वी TV वर एक प्रोग्राम लागायचा - " आपण यांना पाहिलात का ?"
त्यात कुठे कुठे हरवलेली माणसे दाखवायचे. आणि आता TV बंद करायची वेळ झाली ही सूचना नकळत मिलायाची.

असाच विचार करताना मला एकदम आठवण झाली की कुठे जात असतील हे हरवलेले लोक?

हरवलेली माणसे नक्की कुठे जातात?माणूस हरवतो म्हणजे नक्की काय होते?
काय करतात त्यांच्या घरातले? अचानक आपले माणूस असे नाहीसे झाले की कसे वाटत असेल?

आपण नाही का जाहिराती बघतो -"हरवला आहे. वय - १४ वर्षे. सावला रंग. कृपया संपर्क साधावा - " आणि एक फ़ोन नम्बर .
बाहेरच्या अफाट जगात आपले कुणीतरी फसलेले आहे, माणसांच्या जंगलात कुठे तरी अडकलेले आहे ही किती असहाय्य भावना असेल.

माणसे रोज येतात आणि जातात. रेलवे स्टेशन , बस स्टॉप, सिनेमा घर अशा असंख्य ठिकाणी अगणीत लोक आपल्याला रोज दिसतात. त्याम्ध्येच असतात का हे हरवलेले लोक ? असा विचार केला की रोजचेच बिन चेहेरयाचे चहरे अचानक ओळखीचे वाटायला लागतात.
शून्य नजरेने कुठे तरी टक लावून बघणारा तो कोपर्यावरचा वेडसर मनुष्य कुठून आला असावा हा विचार दिवसभर डोक्यात घुमत राहतो. आणि संध्याकाळी त्याचा वेडसर चेहरा तितकासा वेडसर वाटत नाही.

बाकड़यावर दिवसभर बसून राहणारे कुणी वृद्ध गृहस्थ कुठूनसे आले असावे? ते दुपरिसुद्धा तिथेच का बसून असतात?

भिरभिरत्या नजरेने आजुबाजुला बघणारी छोटी मुले - नेहेमीच कशी स्टेशन वर पडलेली असतात ? "हट" असे म्हणुन जेव्हा आपण त्यांना झिडकारून लावतो, तेव्हा त्यांना कसे वाटत असेल?
घरी जायचे असुनही ज्यांना घरी जाता येत नाही, अशी छोटी मुले काय करतात?

आपण असे सगळ्या जगात एकटे. कोण कुठले काहीच कल्पना नाही. केवळ "अन्तर" ही एकाच मिती उरते मग.
हे किती विचित्र आहे !

मला माहीती नाही. पण "हरवलेली माणसे" ही कल्पनाच फार भयानक आहे.

एक दुर्घटना - Accident

Now.. It doesn't take a nuclear reactor to create a mishap. Marvels of modern technology can do it within no time.

I mean it was all going perfectly. In fact a matter of few minutes and it would be over.
But the regular stuff went horribly wrong.
Poor creature was melted after keeping it inside a Grill at about 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
We tried rescue efforts but it was already too late.
The thing had taken 33rd degree burns and was deformed beyond recognition.

We had to believe our eyes somehow and console ourselves.
It was a fine blue plastic dish before going in !!!!

This is what happens when you keep a plastic dish in a grill.
The dangling tentacle looking thing is molten plastic.
I am really choked up to continue writing !

Image !!!!!

This was just another photo till i posted this on Orkut.
And as soon as I posted it - I got several replies from people saying that this snap is pretty "cute". I have always wondered what this word means exactly !!!
And now here I stand searching the cuteness in my own photo .....

A wednesday... YO !!!!

Well it's hard to believe!
Watched 'A Wednesday' - again a good movie!!

It's fast, grippng and very "smart" !
Tahaan is already there, Last Lear coming up next..
They are coming like Tendulkar's boundaries- all in a row :D

Ladies and Gentlemen - we present - Hindi Cinema!!!

Mumbai meri jaan ... Yo !

I must have really liked it like anything ...
otherwise why would I restart my machine at 4.30 AM in the morning and write few lines about it?
This is just about the perfect movie of this genre - and it's just too good !
well, please don't read this if you still haven't seen "Mumbai meri jaan"
What's so special about this ...

-> There is no central theme, and yet a very powerfull , gripping storyline revolving around few lives
-> Kay Kay , the guy gives such an amazing performance!
-> Paresh Rawal, he's given the policemen a new look, realistic as well. Few his scenes just stand out
-> Irfan khan and the angle his character brings into the story

Screenplay and script as well, they are again top notch
And Last but not the least - Song at the end, well that's just - ______________ !!!!!!!!!

Ladies and Gentlemen we present to you, "Mumbai meri jaan"

immunizations or inhumanization ?

This one has a circular pattern.

Hey , don't worry, just read on. Its not about some geometric function or a linked list. But just a label!

It so happened that the (N+1) vaccinations my family doctor had done - were insufficient. So I was told by a NCSU medical record assistant. Now before I could complain anything, they handed me a piece of paper - " there you go. Meet so and so on so and so date." and in a realllly nice tone - " I'm afraid I can't explain why".

So I took and appointment( yes, even if you want to say hi- you need an appointment). On the given day I presented myself to the mentioned person.

"well .... ummmmm", ZZZZZZzZZZzzzzzzzz she goes thru the pages and suggests that I would need 3 Vaccinations and a PPD test for Tuberculosis.

"But I do have a chest X ray.. and that's perfectly normal....." I protested rightly becasue my doctor had done the X ray thing in Mumbai.

"yesss, I understand, but we need the PPD test.. So please come on ___ day."

OKKK. And right there without any kind of hint- she stings me twice on right arm with a sharp needle. Ladies and gentle men - I'm proud owner of few Measles and Diphtheria vaccinations!!!

So finally i reach the clinic with the PPD test done.

the nurse checks the PPD. " Ohh, I'm afraid you would need a Chest X-ray."

I couldn't believe my ears. Did she say the chest X RAY? that's what I had given them!!!

This tooo much. Or did I say I have "a toung X ray" last time?

Or did she think that it was some one else's - may be the doctor's chest X ray?

Or do they think that we paint X rays by ourselves back there in India- for 5 Rs??

Or may be, X ray's gonna reveal that I'm a mutant exposed to Galactic radiatyion pattern???
Or does an Indian X ray has expiry date of some kind????

I really don't understand the rules here.
But the funniest part is - neither do Americans!

*PS - this was confirmed as the lady called me after 10days and told me - Nothing's wrong with my chest X ray!!

Kissa @ Burger King

Why on earth would you think beaf is veg? I just have no clue at all. All we did was - to order a cheese sandwich at a Burger King. And the follwowing conversation took place.

ME:" Do you have cheese burger?", Now i am no blind and it was written that they have such dish on menu. I was just making things sure.
Guy at Counter: Owwe we Do 'ave 'em.
ME: "Could you get me a veg cheese burger?"
Guy: "It is veg cheese burg'.
ME: Okay, how much?
He started punching the machine - Wrrrrrrrrrrp, Burrrrrrppp- khatackhkk etc.
ME: "Ohh, is it pure veg?"
Guy: "wass that? Pu... wat?"
ME: "Puuuure VEGETERIAN... No meat, chicken, beaf-"
Guy:"Ahha, 't 'as beaf- itis cheese burger."
I mean what is this? If you think beaf is veg, you might as well think Vivek Mushran is Bollywood superstar !!!
Certainly not fair Uncle Sam, I'll have my revange soon - I bet i shall.
Dare you come to Mumbai and order a Vada Pav !!

A photo of another kind..

This picture summarises a day;s work. The blocks represent our university buildings in a map. Looking closer you would see a few of them "Crossed" and circled. These represent the building visited by me and my friend nadu. Others are yet to be examined by the above mentioned duo.

The sole purpose of the building hunt was job seeking! We were unable to get any temporary job straight away, so we did this 'Brute force' Job seeking by visiting each building in campus- and believe me, its pain. First we struggled to find the entrance and then we struggled to find the department. As soon as we found one, we got immediate replies- No; we're sorry;no place;we're full ....

Now the soothing part - everyone was really attentive. They listened to us ( one of them was a professor and another was a head of some department!). So we felt slightly better.

The photograph was captured during day-1 of the job hunt.

in US of A

So finally i'm here in USA and getting time to scribble a few words online.
There are a few things which i really wanna share, and few more things which are worth telling.
But the circumstances and the future tells me that i better keep'em for future!

Blogging takes a break and slogging begines... shortly.
till then there are many things to do.

Kau, wake up and start dreaming !!!!

I think now I understand what love is... at least partially!

That's it... there's nothing more in the post.
For me, after looking for the definition, it stops here.
The way I understand love, satisfies all of my socio-mathematical equations.
And I am thankful to someone for helping me in finding the meaning :D

A typical Goan conversation....

Now here's something i love about Goa, my native place.
Have a look at this conversation.

A: Kaso aaasa ? baro maare? (How you doing? doing good?)

B:hay. hau baro aasa ... sushegaat... ( yeah, i 'm fine. relaxed....)

blah blah blah about everything else and they come to main topic.

A: Niste kite haadle ? maka aaj kaiichh miluna mare.. :(
( any fish u've got? I've got absolutely nothing, in a sad tone)
B:hay. Makaibi maatshi sungta milli. saamki baarik. ( I've got just little prawns and nothing else)

Now the best part - this conversation took place between a Pujari ( Hindu priest) and my uncle while we were doing abhishek to Bhagwaan Shiv in a temple.

You might think this is blasphemy or hypocrisy. But it's not... It's just how we Goans live....
Eating fish - drinking fish and living with fish.....

Expenses!!

A single day of trekking -> 114/- Rs. including everything
A single day outing in Mumbai (anywhere) -> 300-400/- Rs. including everything except shopping.

A single cup cold coffe at Durga and ultimate usal pav + unlimited timepass -> 30 Rs. including extra pav.
A single cold coffee and sandwichish looking object + almost unlimited time at CCD --> 100/- Rs including rush.

A moment of madness and gushing wind blowing on top with raindrops falling everywhere --> comes free along with smile on first time trekker's happy face.
A moment of madness resulting a bag in your hand , that contains 3 jeans and 2 T shirts -->
2000 /- Rs and still counting......

Eshhhhh........

It's been many days, and further zeroing makes it months.
We've been bitten by a new bug!I'm yet to describe it, but its got to do something with names.
better start with an example.
Listen to this conversation
/**************************/
A: Hiiiiiiiii
B: hiiiiii
..... blah blah and more blah
A: so me feeling Boresh Borkar these days
B: yeah me too Boresh Bhansali !
..... some more serious blah blah and blah
A: c ya ! bayesh bacchan now !
B: me too kaltesh kapoor !
/****************************/
This is what a general NaamKaraan would look like. These are the golden rules- like Robotics.

1. Each verb shall have "esh" suffix with it. No matter what, this is a must have.
2. Following the 1st rule, you need to add a surname to verb. And unless exceptional case, it should start with the same alphabet! like Boresh should have a surname with B.. and so on
3. Following above two rules, you can play with them however you want !!
4. Ususally bolltwood stars feature in surnames. Khannas and Kapoors are regulars.

Now comes the real best part ... - regionalising them
look at these -
kamesh kumarswami
chalesh chelappa
lookesh ( slightly unpopular) luktuke
Goesh Goyel
"Coolesh Kulkarni "
The 'Esh' part has a seperate history, and we'll need another past for that !
So go on ... tryesh Striker!! ( remember the provision for an exceptional case !! )
PS --> Well - this is a creation by a punaite gal, and i sallute her for this !!!
bole toh ...Salutesh Salunkhe!

these days - a different mathamatics

Many have left, still many more to go. The days are numbered. Wish I could divide them by infinite activities and reduce them to zero!
But on the contrary, the activities and interests' count is tending to zero here,and thus days are tending to infinity for sure.

All the interesting variables are going either static these days or they are not part of this equation...

I'm living with no non linier behaviour, every term has got a simple nature.
Forget imaginary number, I do not even have a irrational looking being here.

And I dread this so much. Because the result is sure, dull and boring.
My equation these days sums up in a single quantity – Zero.

एक पुणेरी अनुभव

मला तशी पुण्यात राहून चांगली दोन वर्षे होत आली.पण अजुनही अस्सल म्हणवेत असे खास पुणेरी अनुभव आलेले नाहीत. ह्याचा अर्थ पुणेकर माझ्याशी ’तिळगुळ’ घेतल्यासारखं बोलतात असा मुळीच होत नाही. आता, ह्यात चूक माझीही आहे- नाही असं नाही.मी तसा गावापासून लांबच रहातो. त्यामुळे ’नमुने’ भेट्ण्याची शक्यता तेवढीच कमी होते. पौड रोड, चांदणी चौक, औंध अशा मागासवर्गीय भागात हे नरपुंगव कधी भट्कत नाहीत

पण अलिकडेच एका व्याख्यानाला जायचा योग जुळून आला. विषयही अस्सल पुणेरी - "भांडारकर रस्त्यावरील वाहतूक खोळंब्यामागे परकीय शक्तीचा हात आहे काय?"
पुढे " प्रचंड गर्दीचा दुसरा आठवडा" असंही लिहिलेलं दिसलं.
"कमाल आहे हो! दोन आठवडे चालू आहे हे व्याख्यान...मानलं पाहिजे", मी बाजूच्या एका वॄद्ध गॄहस्थांना म्हटलं.
"अहो कसला दुसरा आठवडा?.. ’चावट कुठला’ नाटकाचा बोर्ड आहे तो. त्यावरच चिकटवलंय हे व्याख्यानाचं",तो गॄहस्थ म्हणाला.

"काय सांगता! भलतंच!"
- हे दोन शब्द उच्चारल्यावर मला जाणवलं, की मी चुकून एका अद्रूश्य टेप रेकॉर्डरचं PLAY बटण दाबलंय.

"मग! काय अर्थ आहे ह्याला सांग बरं तू मला. एवढा ज्वलंत विषय, आणि त्या पुढे हे असलं वेडंवाकडं शोभतं का!", तो मनुष्य आता उभा पेटला होता. "रक्ताचं पाणी आणि हाडाची काडं करून आम्ही स्वातंत्र्य मिळवलं, ते ह्यासाठी?..... काय?"
"स्वतःच्या जीवाची पर्वा न करता हजारो लोकांनी बलिदान दिलं ते, ते फ़ुकट!.... काय?"
" अरे आज तुमच्या एवढ्या पोरांना शिकता येतं, कुठेही बिनधास्त ( त्याने ’त’ पूर्ण उच्चारला) फिरता येतं, ते विसरलास का तू?"

"नाही, म्हणजे काय आहे आजोबा...." मी त्या मनुष्य रूपी टेप रेकॉर्डरचं 'PAUSE' बटण शोधता शोधता म्हणालो.

"आ जो बा?", तो मनुष्य एकेका शब्दावर जोर देत ओरडला.
आता स्वतंत्र्य लढ्यात भाग घेतलेल्या माणसाला २००८ साली ’काका’ म्हणता येतं, ह्यावर एखादा जीवाणुसुद्धा विश्वास ठेवील असं मला वाटत नाही.आणि देव आनंदची गोष्टच वेगळी आहे.

"तू मला आजोबा म्हणतोस?"
"मग तुम्ही काय स्व्तःला शाहीद अफ्रीदी समजता काय?", मी हा डायलॉग मारायचा मोह टाळला. मला ’१९४०-५०-६०’ मधील क्रिकेट, ह्या विषयावर चर्चा नको होती.

"रोज पंचवीस दंड आणि वीस उठाबशा काढतो. न चुकता, काय?", आजोबारूपी काका म्हणाले.

"ह्यं ह्यं ह्यं..... ", मी ठेवणीतलं हसू बाहेर काढलं.

"हसतोस काय तरसासारखा? रोज व्यायाम करीत जा. अरे शरीर म्हणजे कसं, तजेलदार हवं. ’मारुती भुते’ हे नाव ऐकलंच असशील....."
’मारुती भुते’ ... नाही. database पूर्ण शोधूनही मला अशा नावाचा एकही रेकोर्ड सापडला नाही. पण नाही म्हटलं, तर मारूती भुतेपुराण चालू झालं असतं.

"वा! मारुती भुते महिती नाही,असं कसं होईल? आमच्या घराच्या खालीच त्यांचं साडीचं दुकान आहे! अप्रतीम माल मिळतो तिथं...." मी हल्ला चढवला.
"साडी????", काकारूपी आजोबांच्या तोंडातून फ़ेस यायचा बाकी होता. वरणावर पिळलेल्या लिंबासारखा त्यांचा चेहरा झाला.

पण ते पुढे काही बोलणार एवढ्यात मी गडप झालो.

Wish

"I want to marry a blind girl..."
कॄपया कारण विचारु नये, ते सांगितले जाणार नाही ह्याची नोंद घ्यावी.

माझा पहिला मराठी ब्लॉग

आज तरी एवढंच पुरे!....
थकायला होतय ऱाव

good(!) morning!

You have come to 5*, may be because some the residents there are your friends, may be because the supply of H2O has ran out of pipes.
Anyways you are in. And after a much guaranteed entertaining night session of Yahooing, you sleep peacefully in one of the horizontal looking bedlike object.

The morning signifies its presence when people start moving around you like vivacious zombies.
After waking up early you find- the alarm has ditched you, you are already late.
Toothpaste in the house (the only thing that makes some people grin) has finished its avatar on earth and it has given up the ghost.
Your irritation quotient increases.

Now the geyser has its sweet revenge – the chap simply doesn’t "feel" like heating up the water.
Don’t ask for reasons please, every geyser has its own day and night.

Your irritation quotient again increases, now like a non linier curve with positive slope…

Meanwhile a gentleman in formal dress takes your leave and goes out of the house – when a fully clad object is still horizontal and snoring.
You can hear a semi- human shape is leaning on bed, in a semi NAMAAZ pose. Like practicing a satanic cult
Umm… at last the water is warm; you enter the bathroom like a shivering tropical animal on a cold day.
Damn – the soap is playing hide n seek. Everything is just AGAINST you.
As you can hear some sounds "8?"... "11…"
You hasten up the pace. On any other day water playfully embraces your body and you can enjoy the warm sensation with pleasure.
Not today- today you are part of fire brigade squad. Within seconds the "Snan" is over and you are out.
You have planned out the tasks ahead-
Wearing clothes- 10seconds
Combing the random hair or two – 4 seconds including the time deciding which part of hair to comb
Collecting stuff and shoes – 30 seconds excluding tying shoe laces
COOL!!!
Apparently not so cool-
The penultimate nail on your not so furnished coffin – You realize that everyone else in 5* is just hovering around- with no hurry.

The old Hindu saying comes into your lukewarm brain ..."Time is infinite and Atman is immortal".

The other entities in 5* are just following there forefathers’ advise at 7.53 AM in morning, clad in semi garments.
No one is in hurry, things going on with a pace which is hardly any pace.
You begin to wonder, pinning you not so lukewarm brain with questions like-
"How on earth they are going to make it?"
"The gentleman in that corner who takes eternal time in brushing teeth, can he comb his hair in timely fashion and get out?"
"Can the semi human form get ready in this impossible looking nuance of time?"
Petty you…..
The irritation curve is rising exponentially now, probably out of the graph paper.
At last the golden word are uttered- "Abey kutte, late ho raha hai".
Finally a hoard of gentlemen and a not-so-gentleman looking object moves out of the house.
A piece of bed sheets and quilt is quilt sleeping in a corner with fan roaring at top- you feel the cold by merely watching the fellow sleep.
The watch is showing almost 8, and you have left the house with very little hope of catching the last bus.
Well, it may be an abnormal morning in your house…. In 5* that’s the benchmark way of doing things….

-Kau

GLOSSARY:
5*: our house