Viva Portugal

I was reading the blog of my long lost classmate, when I realised how true his wish of Portuguese rule in Goa was ( Refer Viva Portugal ). Our once beautiful state is being marred by a change in infrastructure, a change in demographics, corruption and shoddy politics. What with the likes of the Monserrates, Ranes and Pachecos who are filling their already overflowing coffers with the bounty destined for the people of the state.

A complete wipe off of the Portuguese culture seems to be on the rise with an influx of migrants. I understand being an undivided nation, an Indian has the freedom of moving from one state to another and I am probably contradicting my earlier posts on the great North Indian - Marathi divide. However, I do believe that Goa is in a league of its own and should be given special status considering its rich and unique culture. A Portuguese rule would not only have brought in development but also maintained the once hyped about beauty of out homeland. The vandalism of idols and churches would not have occurred so closer to home and we'd probably be living in a mini paradise of our own. But what else can we do now. It's just wishful thinking!!!

Say No to Mumbai attacks!

What's the point I say of murder and killing?
What's the point I say of bloodshed
Innocent lives you hurt
Your own young lives you ruin
In the name of religion, caste and creed.

Mumbai is burning today
Not just of the Mujahideen attacks
It still feels the pain
Of the MNS' personal vain
Why use guns when the mighty pen works

Feel free to add more in your comments! We need to weed out terrorism and crime in any form, for any motive.

Idiot Box! Where art thou?

"Ekta Kapoor ka Kkkkkasam Se, KKKyunki..., ya KKahani..
Saloni ke Saath Phere, ya Sanjeevani ke doctors saare
Kabhi din the ki hum kosthe the unhein
Ab do hafton se kahan gaye pyaare"

There were days that were never complete without a touch of the rona dhona and husna husana of the saas bahu soaps and glamour and controversies of reality shows. The nearly two week long strike has imposed a compulsory saabatical on the daily dose of millions of Indians around the world. Not that there is a dearth of quality work on the idiot box. In fact, the idiot box should be renamed 'coz the no show of serials had definitely helped it lose the adjective as people are shifting to news, sports and foreign documentaries.

I would have never have known who invented television in its crude form if not for this strike. Coz' it coerced me to research on the history of the medium and I strongly believe that Paul Gottlieb Nipkow would not have had the faintest idea of the craze he created decades ago. Not that I am against the so called dulhans and bahuranis of television. I'd definitely like to see a change in perspective to a more real and closer look at the society and its depiction on television. The closest to it is Ballika Vadhu on Colors, while the reality shows are complete showdown. Their unwarranted tears and drama do make for a delightful sight, however none of it ever makes an impact to stay.

The recent ratings surges of news, sports and foreign channels is definitely a short span indicator. The strike end may be just a few days away and we'll be back to the rona dhona as if none of it ever happened!

I was Born Intelligent, Education Ruined Me.

I am in a room with twenty seven faces scribbling on a sheet of paper. A moment that could define their future while for me yet another boring day as a lecturer. Having done an MBA from an international school had had no meaning and in fact barrelled me down in a professional heap.

But for these 20 year olds, it is the beinning. They could evolve to become CEOs and Presidents. The world is their footstool but for what they write in those sheets of paper. Our educational system has been reduced to just these sheets of paper. All we do is give exams and grade and consequently be graded. Our lives are just now numbers - 90%, 40% and so on. It does not matter whether you are intelligent or brain dead, as long as you can gobble up texts and vomit them on paper, you are deemed a star,

We forget to learn from history. Geniuses are not born through examinations. Albert Einstein, Bill Gates, Thomas Edison and the like were not products of universities. They were common men who who worked hard through their own calibre and determination and whose names nations will remember. My paper degree would only go to dust. But you 20year olds scribbling on paper still have a chance, wake up!

From my Diary!

A road less trodden
Paths unsung
Are life's ways
As I can see
Though millions have walked
Ahead or gone past me

On life's journey
I am but alone
People come and go
Though crowded I may be
Yet at the end of it all
I will be judged
For the ways that I called

An Indian Obama?

As the Obama craze sweeps the nation, a keen look at our own backyard is the call of the day. With a country as large as ours and demographically diverse, there may be countless mini Obamas brimming with inspiration looking to wiggle their tails to the top. However, there needs to be a reality check of the Indian answer to a replay of the American dream in our country.

As America went through hundreds of years of slavery and racist oppression, there were leaders like Martin Luther King, Marcus Garvey and others who stood for the minority creating a dream for the future. These leaders kick started a revolution that was to years later create the first Afro-American President.

Now let's zoom down closer to home. After sixty one years of independence, India is considered to be the largest democracy in the world with freedom of speech and movement being the fundamental rights of our Constitution. But a closer look at the newspapers today delves into rise of ME ME and DOWN WITH THE DOWN TRODDEN politics reigning our country.

Instead of being an inspiration to the minority and oppressed communities, as well as millions of little children, through advancement of science and technology and peace process of the Father of Our Nation, we have mass killing of Christians and branding of ALL Muslims as terrorists. Is that what we call democracy? In fact, it is the so called political leaders who are endorsing the view and jumping on the bandwagon of crime to increase their vote bank. That does not mean there is a dearth of strong leaders! But we have those that harness their energy in divisive politics. The latest attacks on North Indians in Maharashtra and vice versa are proof of the regionalism that is corrupting the minds in our country.

I used to be proud of being an Indian.But a few years abroad showed me that I get much more respect in a foreign land while I am treated like garbage in my own homeland. Coming back to my original bone of contention of an Indian Obama, looks like I would probably have to turn in my grave for many more years before I can chance to see that blessed face.

Marriages are made in heaven or is it?

I've come a long way from being a bottle swinging toddler, a tantrum throwing teen to a mature individual looking for that heavenly mate. Not that I have been offered a swayamwara opportunity, but pressure from the external environment has somehow got to me. Potraits of friends with smiling lovers in picturesque locales of the world seem to add to my agony of being a single electron in search of that all eluding proton.

'Opposities attract',' Marriages are made in heaven' and innumerous of such quotes depict a positive future, though the ground realities are much harsh. Being a little picky and finicky about my choices and options has compounded the issue to a highly hilarious level. In fact, the other day I met a guy in the famous affair friendly Cafe Coffee Day ( CCD or shoud i say Couple Collaboration Dairy). After the usual odd hellos and introduction, we settled to a monotonous silence that got disturbed by the drone of a cell phone to the tune of 'Pappu can't dance sala'. As a lady at a neighbouring table answered the call, I asked the pappu in front of me if he could dance. Listening to his answer I realised that my wait was not yet over for this pappu could really not dance.

If I go on about my rendezvous with the innumerous pappus I've come across, I'll probably run out of memory on the server. Anyways, I am still waiting for the 'heavenly proton pappu' who does not have two left legs and also fulfils my never ending list of 'must' and 'must nots'. Luckily, the list is in my head 'coz I would not be able to save it in a computer.