Corpus - The Rupee Tumble and Financial Stability

Photo by micheile henderson on Unsplash

"Beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship." - Benjamin Franklin 

 

      A year back, I was pondering a good bank balance - a good corpus to maintain in case one wants to retire early or be financially free to make major career changes. This was indeed a personal growth quest.

    A tweet/post by a New York City based girl helped me set initial compass or say benchmark. She had set a target of $200,000 before leaving her regular job and building her own venture. I found it a reasonable and ambitious goal, especially considering I am earning in Rupee and at that time one USD equalled about INR 87. And therefore, the $200,000 target translated into about  ₹17,400,000 at the time of beginning. If I started saving amount equivalent to my entire monthly salary at that time it would mean regular investment for well over a decade and a half (actually some bit longer).

Half-Baked Federalism

A ribbon produced in support of Federation of Australia in 1899.

 India is a federation of states. A federation heavily biased towards central government. The idea of an extremely strong centre might have been historically important, but with growing economic and social integration of states within the federation, the nation should think of granting more autonomy to states, primarily within the constitutional provision and sometime even amending those provisions.

The autonomy of Jammu & Kashmir has been a question of debate. In retrospect, it seems, many are against it because it is available to that state only. Given similar autonomy to Maharashtra or Bihar or Punjab, they will hurriedly leap at it.

About 70 years into independence, the nation should essentially look into concepts like dual citizenship (domicile requirements in colleges are doing it indirectly). The federation should be strengthened by transferring more rights to states. And inhibiting abrogation of elected state governments (aka The President rule) other than in extreme situations.

Per my perspective, dual citizenship can help deal issues of large scale in-migration (and thus infrastructure mismanagement), child labour, labour abuse, human trafficking etc. States should be given authority to admit or deny citizenship on the basis of parameters like education, skill and may be patronage(in cases like that of Teesta Seetalwad, where she feels at risk in Gujarat - I don't buy into her arguments though).  Right to live, work anywhere should be subject to conditions. Essentially, citizenships should be looked into as something to be earned (an incentive of good education can be citizenship of Karnataka or for that matter Bangalore and so on). This will also make local electorate to force their representatives to develop infrastructure in their places rather seeking asylum in other states in squatter settlements in sub-human conditions (read slums of Delhi and Mumbai).

The states should also be strengthened monetarily and pseudo-states like Delhi should be avoided. The monetary strengthening requirement can be seen in begging and sanctioning of grants like the package Bihar got in a recent poll rally, in what can be seen as one of the filthiest display expected of a prime minister (will never achieve unbeatable Rajiv Gandhi, "jab bade ped girte hain..."). Revision of revenue share of states from 32% to 42% is one such step and essentially needs to be incorporated into policy and should not be dependent on mercy of a central government. We can't be sure if our next prime minister will come with experience of being a state chief minister (probably that should be made into an eligibility criteria for the post of PM) and thus would be as understanding of such federalist policies or not.

With limited knowledge of mine, I am able to highlight some of the goods that some of state reforms can bring about. Essentially there are more goods that can be achieved and there must be some flaws in suggestions I have mentioned, these should be ironed out and a better federation should be evolved.

Unresolved!

A bridge and a frozen river!
Courtesy: Irmeli Aro on Flickr | License: CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Dear Diary (sorry for the typos, happens frequently at this hour, humane!)

Four yellow-green lights blink in front of him, the only sounds being very infrequent taps on computer keyboard and constant humming of the ceiling fan. Yet its noisy in his head, even a hectic and corrosive day is unable to put him to sleep. He aches and several parts of his body pant for mercy, but the thoughts won't go. Bloodshot eyes pool tears, blurring vision. Still he evades sleep, for he fears the thoughts, the feelings that dwell deep within. On the surface he portrays normalcy, camouflaging the turmoils and conquests beneath the colourful mask. He sometimes hates himself for harbouring emotions, at others he fuels himself by the same. Having lost already, he wishes not to accept the fate. Adamant he fights, aimless, unguided and unresolved. He wishes not to perish, but he knows few ways to pursue. No adventure helps him much, his appetite for martyrdom betrays him thousand times a day. He wishes for a refuge, a certain cave; away from the haphazard, hidden from all the disdain...

Birds...

Beautiful Red Cherries
Courtesy: Colin on Flicker | License: CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

...as a 4 or 5 something she stands out! A sunflower yellow frock falls down her waist creating a bizarre contrast against her pale and freckled skin. Face glows crowned with black hair that vanish around her slender neck, which seems to jab out of floral shirt concealing her rather lanky figure. He goes on his knees to be level with her, trying to look into her big black eyes. It's enchanting when her pink lips part to utter a frank hello and he cherishes the divine. A strip of glass panels lets sunshine in, wind ferrying the curtains on its wings. He stands up, carrying her in his arms - a peck on her cherry cheeks. Walks across the room to plop on the large couch that's the only piece of furniture in the large room overlooking the large garden that sprawls just a bit short of the infinity. Noon fades into a gloomy red and grey, but electric evening. His eyes transfixed to the Brownian motion that this darling exhibits as he continues to recline in the synthetic satin, (suddenly) to his amazement a pearl rolls down his bony cheek, (at once) to lose its shiny existence to the cushion underneath...

Punjabi Baroque

While browsing Wikipedia for things like 'Framed Structure', 'Green Architecture', 'Avante Garde' , 'Fiscal Deficits' etc I drift into (give into the habit of) searching a bit more, ignoring the grasshopper's advice, "Ideas are dangerous!", in the animation movie 'A Bug's Life' and learn about a person called Gautam Bhatia.

He happens to be an architect who authored a book called 'Punjabi Baroque and Other Memories of Architecture'. Having heard words like Punjabi, Architecture, Baroque together I had (was, once again, tempted) to search a bit more putting my curiousity about 'Cyberpunk' (though it will not take long before I am talking 0s and 1s once I kill some 150 Nazis, am not particularly opposed to them lest they put a bounty on me, in my computer game) at the back burner for some time.

Here is what I found -

What I learn is that this person thinks a bit like me (Proof am not unique! :)). He doesn't like the way cities lose their identity, even though it happens in compliance with 'Organic Evolution' (one theory that fits all, 'Natural Selection').

Going particularly about Delhi, I feel it is now 'New Delhi' (going by current trends it will certainly shrink or fall prey to a different kind of global warming having been converted into an island enshrining the sheer architectural marvel Delhi was designed to be, surrounded by greedy, excessively high-profile and flambouyant but particularly apt to popular taste; style of glass and steel 'mirage' architecture of the 'metropolitan Delhi and it's exceptionally mismanaged millennium sub cities'), 'remaining Delhi' (slums, socialist, we-fulfill-needs-of-society, architecture by DDA and better-than-you-neighbour designs by private minds at work, can we call the later 'Capitalism'?) and 'suburbs of Delhi'.

Certainly we need to cater to rising population pressures, but the stakes are needed to be considered sensitively. For example, I wonder how it helps to rename certain boulevards. Be it Willingdon Crescent (now Mother Teresa Crescent), Ring Road (Mahatma Gandhi Marg), Connaught Place (Rajiv Chowk).

Moreover does it serve the purpose by building haphazardly, being blatantly disdainful of the legacy that has been bestowed upon thee? The reasons can be many including it being magnet to masses who do not associate with the city, vote bank politics (let them encroach, let them vote), oops we are a free country everything British is slavery (who cares Commonwealth itself proclaims bondage or put correctly reminiscence of associativity to British legacy)!

1/3 Punjabi, 2/3 Cosmopolitan the city lacks an identity and especially it lacks people who can relate to its history. Facing an identity crisis post-partition, everyone in the city - either is an immigrant, a tourist or a wage-earner or in a worse situation a refugee. It certainly has metamorphed well into a consumers’ paradise keeping tandem with global trends for it has to live up to the reputation of being the capital of world's largest yet somewhat immature democracy, still somehow trying to safeguard what it originally is.

I and many more people happen to be in love with this city for it gives form to the ideas of acceptance, it doesn't contradict, it simply never dictates, remains unbiased, doesn't wish you to be ideal yet it itself is perfectly idealist. In true sense it smells and breaths freedom and thereby we must preserve it, can you see something you love dying without complaining?

In general these are ideas about and situations every major Indian city is facing. Mumbai's (Bombay's) deteriorating infrastructure and culling of mill lands while Maratha maniacs become chauvinists calls for immediate attention lest the city comes to a halt. In Kolkata (dear Calcutta), a newly elected chief minister elicits cheers from masses fed on communist subsidies (which actually left whole West Bengal bankrupt) for over 25 years vying to transform 'City Of Joy' into 'East London'. I certainly think it as a cause of shame when our greatly patronizing leaders take pride in announcing their grandeur plans of transformation whether it is Bombay into Shanghai or Hongkong, Delhi into Paris or Calcutta into London. Bengaluru (Bangalore) transforms into a megacity and all it does is feeding silicon chips to job-seekers from all over the country. These are some names that tell in all glory the tale of urban decay that arises out of un-intelluctual planning which in general is disregardful of bequest it needs to preserve.

A Sunday Morning Rain

A Shikara in a lake in Kashmir.
Courtesy: BOMBMAN on Flickr | License: CC BY 2.0

He suddenly wakes up at 3:45 AM after a 'once in a while' timely sleep, following a dream sequence probably echoing some scene from the early mornings of hostel life. Soon he is enjoying a not much anticipated rainfall, while reading, browsing, munching; waiting for hands of clock to spread apart vertically.

At 6 he takes to the street to go for his morning walk. Sky is perfect azure, winds blow mild, figs cover the drenched asphalt, yellow and green alike. Sun efforts hard to break through the rebelling wet cotton puffs scattered through the sky. Pink-purple Bougainvilleas shudder to the breeze, while water drips down the asbestos roofs across the yellow walls of a secluded primary school and Moneyplant clings to the shoots of an overgrown shurb. A gunny bag flies down the 4th floor house. In the garden, green carpet entices the eyes as a young ladette wiggles hips; circling the track, pacing ahead of a large crowd of wailing elderlies and lame fat con mans carrying their own weights!

All the while he is eyeing beauties, trying their hands on steerings of some hatchbacks with a red-tape 'L' pasted across pretty sizeable portion of the windsheild, he is still not able to get off his mind some lines he came across in a Facebook note, about Kashmir encounters, earlier. Here goes a part of it -

"...Kids carry death in their school bags

Evening brings news, always

A white shroud, blood smeared

Like the blood of a slaughtered lamb

On the virgin snow

And a school bag

Inside, a report card

Teacher’s remarks:

This kid has a bright future

....

....

....

Kam gul-badan, metzchi andar ...

What tulips! One with earth, six feet under ...

Desolate mothers sipping heart attacks

In their pink tea

Fathers breathing cancer in their tobacco

Trying in vain

To accelerate the time..."

You may be able to access the complete text, by Mehran Qureshi, at the following link - Kashmir Is Taken!

Back home the guy tries to form an opinion and have an insight into things of higher order. What makes Maoists rise against the state? Why do people rebel at a G20 meet in Toronto? Why does China faces conflicts despite spectacular growth rates? What makes Thailand come to street?...

Anyways he is normal soon, digging Earth of a potted plant and asking it if it needs cold water, even after rain it is contnuing summer in New Delhi. Would a mud-pack heal its cuts or beautify it? Looking at Facebook responses, he is happy to have got 6 likes for his status and is looking for a mild afternoon nap post a Star Wars clip, since fantasy can be fascinating...

Some of you may like this - "Audioslave - Be Yourself".

Check Mate

A rather distinct and beautiful Chess set.
Courtesy: Martin Lopatka on Flickr | License: CC BY-SA 2.0

The most imaginative people are the most credulous, for them everything is possible.       - Alexander Chase

Eight by eight board of blacks and whites. Sixteen pawns, twelve face members, two queens, two kings and two players contemplating moves to win the game - necessarily making brilliant moves as well as excellent mistakes.

Some questions though. Why shall not pawns try to become king? Why can't they define their own destinies? Why player acts God, isn't it monopoly of a sort? Further if the game has to be so uncertain, why can't there be a third influential force, which can be manipulated by two main players through treachery, bribery, emotions, affection and all those add-on tactics? It might be the case that this third party overtakes and blows the lid off both the major parties! This way a plain game be more interesting or probably more straining and intriguing.

Fundamentally the element of uncertainity drives fun, more essentially it focusses you and gets you freedom from thoughts and that is 'entertainment'. Right?

But I feel eight by eight is a small field, if the game has to be strategy, and third party influences will surely add to the taste. Just suggestions for may be a newer 'Chess extended'!

As I complete this post I realise that their exist strategy games like 'Age Of Empires' which give some of these options, but a board game can also be devised. Sad I never played 'Monopoly' like that.

The Economic Times

Money is powerful.
Courtesy: poolie on Flickr | License: CC BY 2.0

If we don't find anything pleasant, atleast we should find something new.

Was reading a book and got this idea of economics in modern times. I am studying in a college and will certainly get a job - a nice paying one, 40 months from now, given I complete all my assignments and pass all my exams with good grades. But what is more fascinating to me, currently, is the idea of cutting the wait short and getting to earn a bit earlier, oh yes the path here also is no easy, but it gives you quick bucks quickly. This tells me to jump into a home grown business scheme, while continuing the degree as an option (double-minded, multiple choices always!).

I am interested in this idea more because it assures me a busy and packed schedule and therefore, little time to think (drone living). Some suggest me to sleep in free time, but it never happens. Sleep is an option only after a hectic day. Back to the topic, some bucks in pocket would mean a boost to spendings and savings and yup figures, rising balance sheets are always nice to look at (...try making excel spreadsheets and graphs of your bank balances!). Looking at examples all around I find this idea quite appealing. We would not be having Bill Gates, Hillary Duff, Asin and likes, if they were busy mugging those boring lectures in extremely boring lecture halls with teachers nagging and students hurling abuses behind their backs (...say it in face, it is more fun and entertaining)!

Got another point of view. A stable job would certainly be boring (though it would definitely be soothing and comforting, close your eyes. What you see? Well, you are a black coat-pant wearing guy with a red tie around his neck and yeah that lovely chick, oops she is no longer a chick - 24-25 something but still got that oomph, in floral skirt waving at you, why doesn't she joins you? [Nothing a bit of chauvanist taste, she might in some feminists writings! LOL]), no uncertainity! How can a person live a life where he knows what he has to do in next hour! Hey, am not talking about schedules (those are good, discipline has its worth!), here am talking about being a recruit, who just has no fear! He is certain of a fixed income (a large part of which will be eaten away in taxes and craps), he stops aspiring for more and doesn't like taking risks! I don't find writing this amusing at all, my parents have lived like this only and many of ours' parents are such hard-working people only! But what I think is (...its boring when Manik talks big things!) that this generation has opportunities and means, our dads and moms are supporting us! Why not take advantage of the situation and make a jump to become enterpreneurs (...talking big things, do it asshole!). Why shall we rely on big brothers to get us a job and then spend a life which is marriage, babies and attending those pomp-and-show social gatherings, with aunties and uncles weighing your purses!

Well, I live in dreams. I know how to formalise my dreams. I am aware that my dreams cause hurt to many. But am cheap, am shallow and I got one life and I don't want to compromise on it (...talking crap! Are you really like this?). My Mom and Dad will never ask me to do anything as per their will (...they never ask me to!) And I know only few ways of proving myself to them. One way is making it big, bigger. Sorry got a bit personal, the thing lies in being adamant and strong-willed. Money certainly is important. I don't want to be that black-coat pant guy. I want to be a guy, who wears a blue denim (rugged one, better washed!), a loose V-Neck with sleeves rolled, showing that nice tattoo I want to have! And my girl shall wear smart googles, black thick frame, white shirt, brown skirt or jeans and shall stand beside me!

Don't you think a guy in black-coat pant is extremely smart? Probably too good to exist! Answer it to yourself and have fun. Was nice fun commenting using my impulsive and almost zero-effort (anything, other than love, without effort is vain) thoughts after reading first 20 pages of the book - 'Rich Dad, Poor Dad!'.

A New Delhi...

Image courtesy : laszlo-photo on Flickr, check usage terms before using the image.

Born in Delhi I am a proud pro-Delhi turk. And it automatically translates into the fact that the person in question loves urban enthusiasm. This is essentially the reason why I hear so many say, "...I wouldn't mind appreciating the beauty and exclusivity of many small towns, but when it comes to live in metropolis like Delhi or Mumbai, it is a lifestyle, an addiction to be precise". It is not me but people who say that a person used to living in Delhi or Mumbai has little chance of getting anchored elsewhere, they are not an adaptive breed then.

As of Delhi, I find it to be a total delight, an excellent one. Have always been here, though travelling is something I kind of love. This city is something I breathe, I tease, I wish to hold in my embrace and I wonder, whenever on rare occasions I get serious about a girl (...which is something that once started never ends, I just never give up...), this is the city to romance her. Some things that differentiate Delhi from others are - its horizontal expanse, a cosmopolitan cauldron which is co-operative yet rowdy, this city symbolises contradictions and thus it manages to appeal to almost everyone.

Whenever my mind goes on a Delhi walk (a slow stroll in cityscape, it generally happens twice a month or more...), it most of the time overlooks the old Delhi by-lanes and disciplined DDA squatters and straight away flies to Lutyens' Bungalow Zone, Delhi Cantonment, many beautiful and institutionalised places which generally do not feature on tourist maps.

The city, as we all know, has gone drastic and excellent changes in the last decade and this brings this historic city to its latest incarnation, which boasts of a robust infrastructure (still improving), a demanding populace which is ready to fight for almost everything, a jolly diaspora and lot more.

The city once held by creative Urdu elite was taken over by hardworking and somewhat crude on outlook Punjabi tribe after 1947 partition. Though Punjabis still tend to be biggest stakeholders in the city, but time ticks, change takes control and now Delhi comes into a new play becoming a kaleidoscope of what can be called an exuberant bunch of ideologies, mindsets.

Six universities within city limits make it a students' heaven and we all know what 'young' is about, hot-blooded move forth ambition, we-leave-our-mark thoughts, and youth create revolutions. Being political centre has made it a power centre, the satellite cities and the centre live in symbiotic association. It feels like organic evolution in play. 15 years back it would have been outrageous to be out on streets after 10, but now the city never sleeps. The race to become "First City", a "World City", live upto the reputation of being capital of world's largest democracy has done tremendous good to city and we see a New Delhi shaping up...

I wonder if the ancient ideas of city states do good to growth of the cosmopolitan cities, we still remember Athens, Sparta, Babylon, Cairo, Alexandria, Harappa and Mohan-jo-Daro, don't we? Across the world, cities independent of state jurisdictions (at least having privileged statuses) have done excellently well -
> Tokyo,
> Hong Kong (the city probably should never be retrospective about being in foreign control for 100 years),
> Singapore (a city state in true sense),
> New York (probably one of best users of public transport and everyone knows it is one of major main-stay of world economy to date.),
> Washington D.C.,
> Los Angeles (must say money comes into play),
> Dubai (an excellent display of quick wealth, sustainability is questionable after the debt fiasco)
> London (capital of the island nation, in whose empire sun never set barely 100 years ago. This city terms itself cultural and economic centre of world)

How about going for a competitive growth spurt within India. It has always been a question of tussle, which is better? Why not let these megapolis in India with funds and ambitious targets to meet their aspirations and compete for being the best (nothing less does today) on one front or the other.

Fear

Image courtesy : outcast104 on Flickr, check usage terms before using the image.

Ever thought what fear is? I learn, it is something that makes one respect. If someone is not afraid of something, the person has extreme likeability of disobeying and causing hurt, and then justify it as 'freedom'. Sometime it occurs that love makes one respect things and people, but don't you think it actually is fear of loosing that makes one behave?

Or probably love, in itself, is a kind of fear, simply because we choose to bear for someone else's sake and then we like it and we suddenly don't want to loose it (afraid)! We are just obsessed to be with people, no matter what. Or probably it is that we have jeopardised definition of respect and simply mean that not disobeying someone (even in case they are wrong) is respect. This again brood out from the habit of being afraid of annoying someone.

Now I am left with no choice but to believe that an involuntary sense of fear (not that something wrong will happen to us, but something wrong should not happen to anyone around and anonymous thought, 'none should be lost') grips us most of the time and, if we let it, it for sure does us good by calming us down, killing our impulsive side and providing us near peace-effects. At least in my case I turn more open to my creative side, more forgiving,more unassuming, more open, more determined, more fulfilled...

Objective Approach

Image courtesy : Asja on Flickr, check usage terms before using the image.

As a child I used to be successful. Because of reasons not sophisticated but primitive. I had things in mind and I had too accomplish. Be it the podium position on prize distribution ceremony, being the first one in the line to sports ground, grabbing that window seat on a picnic; I always knew what was my need! I knew what was I desired (it was a wrist watch from Dad on scoring exceptionally well, or sometime that jealous look on a friend's face when I admired my glory having failed him in a competitive endeavour)...

But then I grew and I grew indifferent. No objectives now seemed worthy, because I mindlessly searched for something exotic. Sleeping in jeans was now a hobby, not being punctual was only punctuality, scores appeared like symbols from a dead script; 0 being no different from 8.5 (my self-suggested best), breakfasts can be skipped, dressing is to prevent others from the shame, who cares for bathing?...

Successful always used to have a physical form unlike now that I want to turn every success of mine into a publicity gimmick. The object has been lost and its overtly boring being subjective.

Euthanasia - Suicide Crippled?

Image courtesy : Lord Jim on Flickr, check usage terms before using the image.

Disclaimer and Content Advisory : The content below deals with a subject of controversial nature and represents author's take on it. Further it is advised that you avoid reading beyond this line if you are not OK with content heavily descriptive and heavy on intensity, specially the questions part of the post.

Suicide - (noun) the action of killing oneself intentionally.

Euthanasia - (noun) the painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable disease, this generally is done to prevent the person in question the suffering he is going through and is by his/her consent only.

In republic of India Euthanasia is not a legal act. People suffering several unimaginable, painful, extensively shaking, horrendous and disturbing situations (words are not enough to explain these) are now raising voice in favour of something loosely termed as 'Right To Death'. They, and me too, are of the opinion that ultimately when one has to die, why not choose it now and save oneself from a life which lacks dignity and is extremely painful. The 'destiny' has made it a rather exaggerated form of punishment for them to live.

I in my personal opinion consider it as a suicide, difference being person him/herself is not able to execute it and therefore needs external help. The empowered class at top brass of the country should come out of their euphoric idealism of 'Chance To Life' and take an approach which is practical and empathic towards the suffering soul and so provide for a legal framework to do the inevitable, because many a time one has to overlook emotions to express extreme degree of compassion, and feel what the victim is going through. It is irony that the person in this case has to suffer and go through a slow and decaying process of elimination, just because an idealist order and nature itself has gone against him/her to the extent of crippling him/her from making a choice between life and death, which would have been just a matter of suffering a fall from floor 10 or popping few extra pills given he/she was able to act. Horrible must be chaining a brain and heart, unable to anything.

Would like to close this post with few questions -
1) Abortion, why not 'Chance To Life' in this case?
2) Why not there be 'Right To Die'?
3) Would you consider it just to make someone live a life - tied to bed, gasping for breath, unable to eat and drink by self, help him/herself of cleaning (I don't know those technical and medical terms in this case and I know you get what I mean to convey...), feeling hapless seeing those dreams and ambitions die within themselves, still not loosing faith in that 'almighty' despite him breaking them in every possible way, treating them like flesh and not humanity. In the process breaking a hundred around, seeing the pain of unimaginable degree and still denying it the relief.

Having written the last para I have nothing but a head hanging loose in the silence with a glowing laptop screen, gathering voices of the taps of fingers on the keyboard moments before. Hope this 100th post of mine helps India come out of a state of denial and brave the challenge of doing something painful yet epitome of love, legalise mercy killing. Pardon me, I might have deviated a lot because of my inexperienced age and shallow and extremely emotional nature.

Season Break

Image courtesy : Foxtongue on Flickr, check usage terms before using the image.

It's not vacations neither their duration, it is the season that makes the things sick. Prolonged winters, that's it. A sudden numbness spreads over the whole terrain, despite the sun shining bright, sky being blue and the grass being green it seems as if everything has come to a standstill. Life seems stale and everyone wishes to create ripples by doing some activity. But as soon as get hold of the things, once again a dam of troubles comes in between. None gives up and mounts an attack and doesn't try to flee. Soon things will open up, mist will clear and spring flowers will be there to cheer masses, the every bit of it. For the time being we can get cosy, wear that blanket and extend our sleeps and treat us unconscious yet deliberate dreams from our vivid memories.

Hope

Image Courtesy : mindfullness , on Flickr. Check usage terms here!

A bright and focussed shaft of light tears smog and dust filled air, while a whole orchestra blocks major part of it. An exceptional contrast is visualised. A whole spectrum of dark lies in front of an explosive brightness. Providing us a crude sense of depth, the third dimension and thereby completing the visual experience. Small dust particles continue to float and vibrate through the air.

Suddenly the instruments start playing, in perfect sync but without any external help. A stick would beat drums while 3 guitars are strum. Keys dance on the keyboard and mike would rotate around the stage as synthesizers explode their best.

You close your eyes, everything fades, silence prevails and a shock-wave follows sweeping everything clean and clear and virtually refreshed for new experiences, beatings, strums and expressions. Sharpness moderates and eyes are able to stare normal and decipher the visible spectrum, the same orchestra is seen once again...

This time green tendrils creep up the stabilizing bars while red and pink flowers blossom listening to mild melancholic and sedative music that originates from the very same devices. Bright blue sky completes the backdrop where the horizon meets the sky in beautiful embrace. Kissing each other in a passion that ceases to emancipate.

This is how hope continues to thrive, for both the aspects - the heads and the tails! Technically and mystically sugar-coated as - "a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen."

Time To School

Image courtesy : mckaysavage on Flickr, check usage terms before using the image.

Admissions? Not for me. I have completed my schooling and currently pursuing graduation degree, so not a case with me, lest I make mind for a master's degree which going by my current thinking patterns and requirements is highly unlikely. Coming to the actual story, when your cousins are married and have nice families (I mean kids), it is inevitable for you to visit them - for society's sake and sometime you too like to communicate with kids 17 years younger. And when you visit them you learn that these days admissions are no cake walk, parents got to pass interviews, try to live as near as possible to the school they wish their kid to study in, a girl child is always preferred in schools!

In case you thought you had tough time getting admitted to your college a year or two ago consider this -
to get admission in a school in Delhi for 2010 session procedure begins from Dec 15' 2009 and continues till March 31 next year. Parents can fill in forms till Jan 15 and schools will scrutinize them till Jan 30. First list of successful candidates will be put up on Feb 01 and they are then free to party, which is defined as getting prepared for the session which begins 2 months later on April 01 - babies ageing between 2 and 3/4 years and 4 need to dress up proper; white shirts, grey tunics, properly worn socks and black-polished bellies! Accessories can be anything like red-yellow tiffins, sip-from-the-tube water bottles. Assorted collection of glossy magazines, books, glittery pencil boxes and flashy notebooks are all indicators of level of accomplishment of child's family! All right! Schools too are not spared from the gruesome schedules and are pushed hard to limits with 2nd, 3rd and 4th lists following latest by March 15.

As I see the kid in front of me. I wonder how they so easily get accustomed to the routines of waking up early to catch that 6:30 am bus to a school 1 hour drive from their home and then mingle with all the small heads their. There would be regular morning swarms of properly uniformed kids, gathering for an assembly. And at the home same 3-something would quite innocently yell that she desires to grow her hair long! Its nice to revise those Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck days with this new breed, I tell you it is refreshing even for me! And the naming exercise for the kid continues even after 3 years of the birth, providing the parents with activities that keep them from being bored, at least so it seems on the outside.

Innately, unknowingly and somewhat in agreement to our happiness the environments, facilities, situations and several such things beyond our control and many a time object of our curse have been successful in carving us into citizens who are positive, good and think responsibly for the future that lies ahead...

Avial Is The Daddy!

Image courtesy : code poet on Flickr, check usage terms before using the image.

Hmm, I found the daddy! In my last post, I missed some points that I wished to write about Avial, this Kerala born rock band, and so I continue today! The whole day with nothing much to do I was listening to rock music and downloading the stuff, probably this is my way of acknowledging that they do good work!

Well what I missed yesterday? I missed what I can term as spontaneous visual imagery (even I am yet to figure out what that actually is, but it sounds pretty cool and hip to many tech maniacs out there)! So here I go, I see a Tarzan like athletic personality jumping across the stage grinding its hips to tunes of rock music. A lungi clad bald entertainer enthrals the crowds as the chaotic stage fade into serene backwaters of Kerala. He makes mic subject of his attention while he performs some sort of pole dance and my mind suggests me alternatives ranging from metro handles to trees in lagoons in the state of Kerala. In more wilder fantasies I visualise him circling traffic signals at mind-boggling speeds. Soon a Chinese add-on joins him and the imagery now features a dragon to complete the scene, with background music having slight tones of land of Chowmein!

Oh the guy seems to be putting a lot of energy in keeping the whole band going and he definitely succeeds! This was the first year of the event and if it continues to happen on more occasions I promise myself more delightful treats of this kind and wonder if they would be jumping into the crowd itself in their coming performances...

Challenge!

Image courtesy : 1Happysnapper(is trying to catch up ) on Flickr, check usage terms before using the image.

Well Today is Dec 13' 2009! Anniversary of attack on Parliament, that is all that comes to my mind right now. Am not a great patriot but like any other person I too love my country and wish it to have a peaceful course. Am not writing this post to show my anger against terrorism or my love for my country but simply to complete a challenge thrown to me, by my friend.

But still there is a point I want to show through this post and that I don't want to coat or mask under any cover. And the message simply says, "Terrorism probably roots out of identity crisis. People tend to think of political ways for carving niche for themselves and tend to take offensive paths and thus end up being terrorists and the important thing is that people like me are not affected by this thing and most of the time use it for some small tasks like completing challenges, meeting deadlines and things...."

Chained Liberty

Image courtesy : Morning Magician on Flickr, check usage terms before using the image.

It simply seems horrendous, with so many resources and liberty at my disposal I can act a fool and not succeed! I simply continue to consume and abuse the powers that lie with me. I continue to be shameless and not leave the greed. The mask continues to separate me from the truth, it stops me from attaining what should be procured. I continue to chain myself, poison my own purity and further dilute it, to fall and be one amongst the common! I punish myself for the unknown, meanwhile corrupting what was destined to be nonpareil.

Simply the basic idea of many and most superheroes before they realise what they are made of and what defines them! The thoughts occur to me after watching Batman Begins and Batman : The Dark Knight, salute Joker!

The guy who loves to put smiles across the faces and wears a purple coat while making us believe that he is a psycho, truly captivates the imagination and deserves lauds a thousand times.

The Street Party

Just ventured out a bit astray from my regular territory after some time and was confronted with traffic! You can not spare yourself for too long from this thing when in Delhi and have two choices - bear it while sulking it or bear it while not sulking it! This time I chose later!

Then what I did? Simply started staring into eyes of those small and big creatures crowding the streets! They have a language of their own, which mostly appears noisy. Eyes gleam nice and generally come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Bodies and skin tones can be heavily masculine or subtly feminine! What generally annoys on Indian turfs, is the rear, craftsmen are not good at producing sexy ones.

In a friend's words Suzuki Swift seems baby hippo! I found new Honda City i-VTEC quite buffalo like looking from front! And you all can easily guess that a Tata Safari is like an emasculated bull while Scorpio and some other SUVs are heavily masculine and appear to push their claim on the road! New Ritz is a hatchback with beaten bum! Old Zen seems to be a damsel and most of us definitely miss it! Since its launch I prefer calling Innova an ant-eater for it feels a tongue would come out of its bumper and lick away every creature from the road! WagonR, Santro and some other hatchbacks look aggressive and very boyish! And if you spot the oldest version of Maruti 800 you definitely love its simplicity and distinct personality! Mitsubishi bred Lancer and Mercedes S-Class seem to be tigresses or panthers waiting for a classy act on the wild streets.

There are other outcasts like Qualis and Taveras, which act asses transporting goods and peoples! Buses are like nannies taking care of hapless masses! And cycles seem to be an endangered species...

A bullet or in some case an occasional BMW would rob all of these of their glory, the husky loud voice throwing the crowd out of the gear or in case of the luxurious an uncanny elegance would hypnotize eyes to admire and dance to its tunes! Making it clear and loud to the general that king of the party has arrived!

The High Rise Cult

Image courtesy : Manik

Well I have started to like glass, steel and concrete! Simply because a person into construction and building should love these materials, without which modern day skyscrapers are impossible.

Anyways I come from a city which has always been devoted to the low rise phenomenon and is still trying to keep its low rise profile intact, but residents of this city - those who associate with this lovely land realise it will see the face of defeat soon, simply falling prey to worldwide trends and needs of the hour.

I myself am against high rises, with few exceptions for a hotel block here and a mall there. In general I like small dwelling units with open green gardens double the size of built structure and a two-lane black asphalt texture laid before it. It lets you breathe, soothe and get pampered by the morning sun. I like those shanky shopping arcades which would have shopkeepers exhibiting their goods; likes of vegetables, edibles and stuff, on roadsides.

A high rise on the other hand would go to hang you twenty floor high from the ground, making you think of jumping straight down fifty times a day! Placed close to another structure both would fight for their share of light and air and would simply appear concrete devils screaming out of the Earth unless given a glass mask to hide their ugliness!

And yup am not against the glass but truth is that it hurts our environment, adding to cooling and lighting expenditures, making us burn a lot of fuel to sustain the structure and thereby give our leaders opportunities to enjoy free buffets at annual meetings in Kyotos and Copenhegans...

All settled we still need pumps to feed waters to drones living in those condos. And let me not imagine of gas-cylinder blast at floor 15!