Monday, February 23, 2009

Shambho!!

Shambho!!

Thats how lord Shiva transforms the world, and tonight is Shivaratri.


The thought of transforming my blog was also there in my mind for quite some time. And the day could not get better than today, being Shivaratri.

Continuos transformation is required in every creation, to keep everything new, fresh and alive. Nature takes care of this aspect so beautifully, every leaf blossoms, ripens and then falls off to join the earth, and again it becomes a part of the plant.

So, we, as humans, should transform ourself to getting better. Good thought? :-)

Love
Gopu

Sunday, February 22, 2009

BMTC Diaries: Vroom…..


BMTC (Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation), for those who are wondering what it is, is the government owned city & suburban bus service. Find more about BMTC in BMTC website, and in Wikipedia.

I am using the service of BMTC to commute to work. I have company transport, but since the timings are not convenient to me, I use BMTC to go to office and to return I use office transport. I’ve been using BMTC’s service for the past 3-4 years, except for about an year.

In this series I share my experiences in the daily BMTC travel that I do to office. The morning Bangalore, people, BMTC experiences, that I get during my 1 hour journey to office. The sequence of my travel is of 3 types; Bus-Bus-Bus-Walk (90% of times), Bus-Bus-Walk (8% of times), Bus-Walk (2%); which means, in the first case I have to change 3 buses and walk about a kilometer to my office, as my office is at the end of a business park, and so are the other types.

I set out at around 6 AM in the morning, or at times 6.30, or 7 to the nearby bus stop. I stay in Jayanagar 4-T Block (South Bangalore), and my office is in a place called Nagawara (North Bangalore), so has to cut-across the city.

The route: In the Bus-Bus-Bus-Walk scheme, I take my first bus to Jayanagar 4th Blcok, and from 4th Block another bus which pass through Jayanagar 3rd Block, Lalbagh gardens, Shanthi Nagar BMTC Bus Stand, Residency Road, M.G Road and reach Shivaji Nagar. From Shivaji Nagar I take another bus which goes to Yelahanka, which pass through Cunningham road, Bangalore Cantonment Railway Station, Tannery Road, and finally Nagawara. The entire trip takes about 1 hour in the morning hours before 8.

During the first few days of my travel, I used to go to the bus stop, carrying my bag, somewhat neatly dressed. There used to be very few people at the bus-stop, like some flower or vegetable sellers, a few students who are going for their early morning tuitions and very few early office goers like me. Initial days, I used to get these who-is-this-guy kind of looks from the vendors, and a few other people since they used to see office goers only little late.

More any my daily experiences are on the way. Do let me know what you feel on this article.

Love
Gopu

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Ransom

A man was walking hurriedly along the road with a bag when his friend saw him. His friend asked him, "Hello, you look to be in a hurry. Where are you going?".

He replied, "Yes, I am in a hurry. My wife is kidnapped. This bag is full of money to pay to the kidnappers as ransom."

His friend said sadly, "Oh! Thats too bad. You go fast and get your wife back."

The man said, walking away, "No, that's not the case. The kidnappers have threatened that if I don't pay the ransom they will release mywife."

Monday, February 16, 2009

Ram Sena, Shiv Sena and finally Vanara Sena


"Yada Yada Hi Dharmasya
Glanirva Bhavathi Bharatha,
Abhyuthanam Adharmaysya
Tadatmanam Srijami Aham'.
- Bhagavad Gita (Chapter IV-7)

"Whenever there is decay
of righteousness O! Bharatha
And a rise of unrighteousness
then I manifest Myself!"

These are the days when many senas are formed for restoring the dharma in the world (India, to be precise as per the Sena’s jurisdiction). They decide who should do what. They will tell who all should go to pubs, restaurants, what people should wear, who all should celebrate which all festivals and the list goes on.

They have proved their mettle in Mumbai, and especially their presence during the Mumbai attacks their presence was greatly felt as they were in the forefront in rescue operations. They, who were against people who were not Maharashtrians, did not oppose or make noise when non- Maharashtrians were trying to rescue the Maharashtrians caught in the hotels. Those things are okay for them.

Another set of Sena is trying to gain popularity by attacking women in South India and thereby creating a replica of the North India Sena here. Claiming that the women were breaking or violating the Indian Culture laws laid down by the Sena, they beat the women. Yes, beating up women was not there in the Indian Culture laws given to them by their leaders. Poor guys, they don’t know what they are doing.

They are a bunch of people who are totally confused. They do not know what they want and where they are heading. They think by forcing people do a few things which they think are right, they can restore the Indian culture. Poor them! I feel pity.

They think they preserve Indian culture and traditions by stopping people from celebrating a few occasions like Valentine’s Day. These small, petty issues clearly shows how small-minded and narrow is their vision.

India has a tradition of honoring and valuing all other cultures and traditions. If at all those Sainiks feel Indian culture, traditions and heritage is collapsing, they should have come up with some valid reasons. Even I feel the same, but it cannot be and should not be restored by the means the Sainiks adopt. There are several other reasons and ways in which it can be done.

Among the leaders of these, so called, Sainiks, I am sure many of them would be using technology gadgets, dress and many other things made in western countries. I also doubt how much they themselves are following Indian traditions and values. I am sure most of them will not be, whether it is family values, religious traditions or societal commitments. It’s just the political and personal interests that they do all these halla-bulla.

I feel a few of the questions they should ask themselves are:
Are they, their family and relatives following the Indian family & traditional values, in terms of festivals, dress etc.
Are they promoting Indian products and brands rather than foreign products? I am sure they will be using many of the foreign brands and products right from the toothpaste that they use to the cars they use.
One major Indian value is non-violence. Are they practicing it? One single man, with this single principle has given freedom to an entire country. And that principle is still valid today. Arguments like ‘non-violence is not relevant today’ are baseless.

If they are able to justify all these then there is some sense in those Sena’s existing. Or they are a waste, to the society, nation and for themselves.

By the way, an amusing point to note:
Shiv Sena: Lord Shiva’s Sena, or army, consisted of bhuta-ganas (demons) who were headed by Lord Ganapati.
Ram Sena: Lord Rama’s Sena was full of Vanaras or Monkeys.

True, these senas are now trying to live up to their name.

Saturday, February 07, 2009

From 1990 to 2010


I found this very amusing picture in the net. Very truly reflects what has changed over the past two decades.

I have not been posting for sometime, don't know why. Lack of topics, events, ?? Naaaah! But somehow I get this love-hate syndrome with the internet. Sometimes I fall deeply in love with the internet, other times I may not even come online for weeks. Anyways I have something in my mind that will come up in this space, and hopefully continously.

Love
Gopu