Mumbai Blasts @ 26/11/08

Most of this weekend I was sitting in front of my TV, browsing thru various news channels. I was sad and annoyed with the happenings in Mumbai. I'm not an expert… but I figured that terrorists hit Mumbai because it's India's analog to New York City or New York City is America's Mumbai. It depends on how you look at it...

I could see the emotions of a common man on the TV… He was angry with our government and politicians. I just want to ask everybody one question… Think about this - Why has there not been any major terrorist attack in US after 9/11? The reason is very simple… After 9/11, US has made certain that it would now be very-very difficult to attack her. The government out there has upgraded their laws and intelligence methods. It is time the people of this country take OVER the country. It is a shame when a ministers says that the coastal security is inadequate, when he himself along with other ministers travels in a convoy of security cars surrounding him. It is a shame when he says look at the positive side; the toll did not reach 5,000 as planned by the terrorists. The thing to notice is that we are not criticizing ourselves enough. In our country, the tendency is to cover deficiencies in the system, and be pompous of ourselves and move on. It is time we give the police similar sophisticated training and arms as possessed by NSG and the marine commandos. It is time to increase their number and reform them like their defense counterparts. It's time for a crisis management infrastructure to be in place in metro cities. Look at Newyork's 9/11 and the london blasts, the local media criticised the government, the intelligence and the security, to such an extent that a report was sought and many of the above officials had to resign due to the relentless pressure. Astonishingly, as a result, the crisis management infrastructure and security was upgraded in no time. It is time we learn from them sooner than later. It is time for the people of this country to take over the country.

But I know... kuch nahi hoga... This is what happenns... EVERYTIME…

Indian media will write about how India has always been a tolerant and a forgiving nation…
Politicians will offer excuses citing international pressure and not take action against Pakistan once again…
Bollywood will release Khan movies to some 1000 prints…
People will bet on who will be winning the T-20 cup…
Widows of men who lost their men fighting these terrorists will be ridiculed and condemned to live life of the damned for the rest of the years…
Opinion makers will assemble at Taj and Oberoi and eat their heart out with joy, that they were not present on the fateful Thursday at Taj or Oberoi…
Some party will win in Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhatisgarh…
Two Air India planes will be high jacked seeking release of Afsal Guru (the terrorist who attacked Parliament) and the lone surviving terrorist of Mumbai attack…
Our media and the families of the onboard passengers will conduct dharna urging government to release the terrorists…
Our defense minister will release them and secure planes with some left over passengers…
Media will hail government's deft of managing tough situation…
World will laugh at India…
More Indians will watch khan and T-20 tournaments...

Life goes on.. and we live each day as it comes.

Rubbish Indian media never take any role in nation's building

Lately I've not been bothered to watch any Indian channels. It's all a mockery. As an NRI, observing the Indian media both print and electronic, I detected a strange phenomenon… they crave for fame; praise; prizes and awards and that too very badly. Reality Shows and Saas–Bahu Serials have completely messed up our state of affairs. Lust for money; power and viewer ship have overpowered the basic fundamentals of today's Media.

It reminds me of my college days when the Evening News and Bulletin were hawked by news vendors because of their sensational headlines… "Maar Daala; Maar Daala… Mumbai Mein Char Ko Maar Daala"… I stretched out the newspaper… and found it was four stray animals that had been killed by a speeding tempo!!!

Karma

In talking with Vishal the other night; I was dejected to know about some not-so-good incidents in one of my friend’s life. The recurrent question arose regarding Karma… Why did that thing happen to him… what did he do to deserve that… why is he been suffering… why it keeps on happening one after another…

Our karma is determined by how we react… how we deal with the events and the actions of others. If we return love and kindness for hatred and spite; we will surely smooth the path of our own consciousness. Perhaps the events around us; the events outside of our control may flame into greater fury… but the only thing we have any real control over… is our own state of mind. Events outside of our control are always affecting us; in a neutral and non-specific manner… That is fate or the god is testing us… or throwing things into our paths. However; we must inevitably deal with adverse events… whether physical; emotional or psychological. Our immediate reaction to these events is the seed upon which our future instantly begins to crystallize.

We have all sinned and deserve God's judgment. What goes around… comes around. As a man sows… so shall he also reap... That's the LAW OF GOD and we shouldn’t mess with it.

Seems to me that we all are able to walk up to the edge of a moral precipice… look over… think how cool it would be to just fly off the edge but then decide that it's something we simply cannot do. If we want to believe in karma in the sense of a burden carried between incarnations, perhaps then we can look into our present life and evaluate ourselves. Did we learn something about our self and about life from the experience…Maybe we have definite thoughts about whether we will ever again knowingly get involved into something which have caused us for serious regret and guilt.

Lies; Fights; Cheats; Jealousy; Ego; Immoral Acts… we are all guilty in our lives. But what lightens my remorse is the phrase from Holy Bible… Jesus says – “Forgive them; they don’t know what they are doing”

Kuch Purani Yaadein...

I was surfing the Dish-TV website to subscribe / pay for the till-now-free-to-air channel - Colors... mainly to watch the reality show 'Bigg Boss 2'. Ek aur paid channel... Scrolling down the webpage; I came across the segment - 'Channels available as part of the Free-to-Air DD DTH Service'... I was happy to see that... apun ka Doordarshan is still free :)

Today's generation will find it very difficult to believe that once upon a time people used to watch only Doordarshan. As a child growing up in the pre-satellite age... I can still recollect how Betty n me waited for the new DD-Metro channel to be launched and the jubilation that followed the launch of DD Metro - DD's glamorous sister.

I had a couple of favorite serials on good old DD. Every Friday eve... I would run back home right after my tuition classes with my heart pounding with excitement and I would press the push-button of my Bush TV. For the subsequent thirty minutes or so, I would gape in awe at the brave antics of the Giant Robot. There were many other favorites like Stone Boy, Street Hawk, Circus, Sigma etc…

At 9.30 on a Sunday morning, deserted streets, un-answered phone calls and impeccably tuned chorus of the television sets as the Ramayan title track boomed from every household in the neighborhood were a common sight. My sister and I used to be ready with garama-garam breakfast in front of us. I can recall the BR Chopra Logo and the title track of Mahabharat "Yada Yada Hi Dharmasy, Glanirva Bhavathi Bharatha, Abhyuthanam Adharmaysya, Tadatmanam Srijami Aham"... n then... "Mahaaaaabhaaaarat!!!!"

Then there were those TV advertisements and their jingles... let me put down some which were on our lips all the time as kids...

Here it goes…

School se aate dhoom machate...
Ek hi baat ye dohrate...
Maggie Maggie Maggie...
Do Minute...
Pal Bhar mein tyaar; Khaaney mein mazzedar... Maggie Noodles...

Being in Dubai... I'm lucky to have Al Adeel Supermarket where I can buy desi Maggi. I've tried a lot of instant noodles brands but woh baat nahi hai :)

Then there was this one...

Jab ghar ki raunak badhani ho...
Deewaron ko jab sajanao ho...
Nerolac Nerolac...

I guess this one was everyone's fav...

Jab mein chotta bachha tha..
Badi sharat karta tha...
Meri chori pakdi jaati...
Jab roshan hota bajaj
Ab mein bilkul boodha hun...
Goli kha key jeeta hun...
Phir bhi chori padki jaati...
Jab roshan hota bajaj!!

Yaad Aaya :)

Then this one... which most of us still hum…

Washing powder nirma...
Washing powder nirma...
Thodha sa powder aur jhaag dher sara...
Seema...Asha...Jaya aur Sushma...
Sabki pasand nirma...

fir yeh wala...

aao chale hum le ke apni tobu cyclein... apni tobu cyclein...

Mera Favourite...

Tandoorusti ki raksha karta hai Lifebouy
Lifebouy hai jahan, tandoorusti hain wahan... Lifebouy...

Arrey ek aur yaad aaya...

Oye Oye, Oye oye...
Khujhli karene waale
B-tex lagaale
B-tex lagake tu apni,
Daad khaaj khujli mitaade...
Oye oye..

Then there were funny one...

Kurram Kurram... Mazedaar Mazedaar... ha ha ha - ha ha ha... swad mein Lijjat Pappad...

Woah that was a huge list jingles to remember and there must be many many more which I seem to have missed... But what do you say, getting nostalgic??

To issi baat par ek aur...

Jhandu balm, Jhandu balm peeda hari baam...
Sardi sar dard peedha ko pal mein dur kare...


CHEERS!!!

hAppY b'Day 2 "ME"

I still have those memories with me… When I was a kid; standing in front of the class, in my new birthday dress gleaming and the whole class singing the birthday song and I'm smiling and Thanking everybody while they pick their toffees from the box that I especially used to load the previous night with my favorite toffees…

Years passed on… The toffee distribution stopped and transformed into treats and birthday cards, signed by the entire class. Sanchi Point, which was located just opposite to my school was our favorite treat spot – Baked Samosas, Cream Rolls, Pastries, Sandwiches sent into the stomach… plate after plate with non-stop masti and mazaak.

Further years passed on… Birthday celebrations in college hostels are of a different league. I was introduced to "birthday bumps" and several such tortures… When the clock struck 12… the ceremony used to begin! The ritual of holding the birthday boy in the air and then kicking his ass… I miss those lovely days now…

Years rolled on and birthdays are more formal and corporate'ish. At work – Standard birthday mails, cake cutting and treats.

Friends moved away choosing different geographical regions and different career paths and hence "Happy Birthday" calls and emails where the only things that kept the celebration on.

This year at the stroke of midnight, I was rushing towards HSBC – EDM to deposit my credit card bills. Once I was back I was all available on gtalk and yahoo. With my phone on loud tone I was awaiting for birthday wishes to pour in – but none came… (I'm pathetic in remembering birthdays anyways, so its better not to expect either… Fair right???) The first birthday wish (SMS) I received was from Debenhams and it read – "Lots of people are thinking of you on your birthday and we just wanted you to know that we're one of them: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Mr. Baiju Samuel". The message brought a smile on my face. I know indeed there are a lot of people thinking about me but I guess they probably missed my birthday…

Sitting in my balcony… I even wanted to call some of my close friends in the middle of the night and ask them to wish me. I wanted to say…"Today is my birthday, I want you to wish me" I lost my sleep for the night and was left wondering why no one is calling me?

I went to bed around 2am when my mobile started ringing… "Mummy calling…" I was delighted to get my phone wish so early and that too from mummy and inspite of the disturbed sleep I was excited… With best wishes and blessing she gave the phone to Betty, who in her deep sleep said… "Happy B'day" and she hung up as she had completed her task for the day.

Morning I woke up with the mobile beeping sound. Messages showered me with blessings and best wishes and happiness always… Since it was Saturday and also my birthday I didn't have to go to work. It was time for me to take rest…. A RESTFUL n SLEEPY Birthday :)