11/26- Twenty Four hours on- India's 9/11

This has left me lose little hope that I had in everything than only disenchanted with the surroundings. The events of the last twenty four hours have been to say the least, shattering and devastating.

To realize how near the event of the latest attacks and to the event I was yesterday is something that is chilling to think off, and cannot be expressed in words. Had been lucky to leave office at CST just an hour or so earlier- thus avoiding an ordeal for myself and hence the family. But was it really? Actually not, there are still scores of people trapped, a few of my colleagues and friends amongst them too.

These are the most difficult times that India is facing. This is 24 hours of terror by a group of people who are highly motivated and fear nothing. But here we are, proud to be a city which is resilient and walks up every time it is hit by one calamity after another. Be it blasts of 2003, floods of 2005 followed by train blasts of 2006 killing hundreds of precious lives just unlucky to be victims of fate. However they do not seem too precious, at least for the establishment which today seems to be incompetent, rotten at times filled with filth. I have a political view but irrespective of that, feel the entire class has become impotent. The rheoteric of all is so divisive and rheoterical that it stinks.

The idea of a state is to have compassion towards its fellow people but the fact that we are to brave such things on the chin- is I am afraid not any resilience but this is because we have no other way to go. One can neither do anything to question the establishment and make them take steps to secure its citizens and stop the politicization that has gone on innocent bodies by the entire political spectrum nor can we have take them basic steps that are non controversial and is necessary to combat and prevent such incidents. I have been on the television to get a feel of when at the earliest we can resume work which is located at Fort, which is at the heart of the action over the last 24 hours. I just marvel at the real thought of resuming amidst a situation which is historic and grave. This is what I mean, we have no options which is falsely referred as resilience.

The resilience should not be in accepting such ghastly attacks as a matter of fate but to face them with preparedness from the citizens and the state together. The responsible debates have highlighted time and again on the need of police reforms which should lead to better working conditions for the security men, stop blame game on the terror attacks linking to the religion which actually perpetrate these crimes for petty politics and most importantly, lack of sensitivity towards a value of life of its citizen. How can one fathom that the brave soldiers are entering to take on motivated suicide squads without a bullet proof jackets and guarding another five star hotel under threat with a stick. We are inept in preparing and equally inept in reacting to these tragedies.

Is there anything as a citizen that we can do? Well, there are a couple of options. One to move on and be resilient and the other is to question as to why? We better do the latter and let the political class know that they better pull up their socks and we get their act together.

Then there are so called human rights activists to the likes of arundhati roy who come on dharnas when there is an encounter and a police inspector gives his life facing billet on the chest but the dharna is not for him but for the alleged terrorists. Where are they today when hundreds of innocent people are killed and holed up for the last 24 hours? These are hypocrites who represent another end of political class who are as bad as the political class in general. Please get your act together and stop selective picking to highlight cases.

I do hope this doesnot leads to movies being made on the fateful day, enquiries and commisions doing a academic studies and just remains a shameful public expenditure and no action is taken.

The only positive impact seems to be that it is hitting the places which are iconic places of importance and limelight, which attracts and is attracting international attention and we will take concrete steps such that this never happens anywhere, leave alone India.

Coming from the world of the finance, which is engulfed in an unprecedented crisis this will have an even more grave impact on India in the sentiment and on the economy. What we are lacking is confidence and what has happened is devastating and the actual impact cannot be ascertained today. We still live in hope..

A rafting weekend

It was a off the cough plan by a friend of ours, a rare plan which actually saw the light of day. Eventually five of us (Shitij (Mr organizer), Rohit, RRP, Karan and myself) decided to take this up for a weekend fun. When we started early Saturday morning for the planned Kondalika trip, we were not sure what awaited us. Not many people are aware that there is rafting which happens near Mumbai For one, am always have been wary of adventure sports but was attracted to be a part of this, and it proved to be a excellent outing for us,

We left our homes at 3am in the morning on Nov 22, 2008, assembled at Dadar and from where the we all started. It is about a three hour ride. Luckily, all of us including me reached on time and we started at the scheduled time. The journey in a Qualis proved to be a bit of a challenge as it was very cramped for us all. So everyone, while trying to take a nap as it was still quiet dark, one could not take a good break for their dreams. I did managed some time off though...

We all were on the way and since it was dark, we were trying to look for some sleep than to find out where we were headed. However, the location was unknown to all of us, but the place is located around 150km on the Mumbai- Goa route (3 hours by road) and there is a diversion at around 35 km from Panvel towards Kolad.

While the Ghats has many short and swift flowing rivers. Due to uneven terrain, there are not many rivers rafting locations in Maharashtra. Kundalika River is a place though. The river is fed by waters released from Mulshi Dam and Bhira dam and provides 10 km rafting location with class 3 and class 4 rapids- there are approximately 12 rapids on the way.

Having reached around 7am in the morning, we had time to relax so we did some wandering alongwith morning tea at a local tea stall there. The earliest start time was around 0830am. Also the rafting there was dependent on the water being released from the dam. Hence, even after we had reached, we were not sure of the event as to whether it would happen or not, and if yes, how good that would be.

Whilst we were wandering at the site office- which did not gave too much confidence as it was a small time shop with a shutter which was not surprisingly closed when we arrived. It did open soon and we were told that the release of water will be around 0930am and hence we had some more time at our disposal. We wandered towards the river to have some some fun, had our photos clicked.

After this, we assembled some time later, and we were briefed by the people there and having split into the teams, heard the siren of the release of water which was pleasant to hear to. After the briefing, all of us got equipped with the safety gear and headed towards the raft for a brief onsite training before we ventured in the water. Hence both the doubts was taken well care of, and we were happy about that.

The water level was rising steadily and so was excitement with a sense of unexpected. It was my first experience on a raft. When the first rapids was nearing, we were not sure how would that turn out to be but all worked out well and it was good fun to be hit by the the rising white water rapid.

The key to the entire exercise was the fact that we had to listen to our instructor Prakash, who was quiet a character. He hailed from Nepal, and it was sometimes hard to pick his amazing English. We all were enjoying our way through and through various rapids; which were assigned some really funny names like johny walker, which also happened to be the strongest. Half way through, at the behest of Prakash, we all were to stand on the raft, while all of us did one of us slipped and as a result, I found myself in the water within no time and in the middle of the river. It was almost scary thought to begin with but then after a moment, it was okay and was brought on the raft back with the help of everyone. This is something I dreaded but when it actually happened, it was not as bad since we had our safety equipments on and also the water was quiet calm at that place.

We also went into the water and floated and swam for some distance, which was really great. Some of us knew swimming and some of us did not, I did not so was first weary but once in the water, it was an experience to remember.

The picturesque and open views added to the charm, and so did the pleasant climate. The river all the way through was about 30-40 ft wide, with bushes on the banks. The water levels was also not too deep but understand, at places it was in excess of 20 ft.

We ended on the other side after almost 2 hours in the water, which we all thought was just about right but not before a small race between the rafts which we won, and on the way also did spilt some water on the other teams who were trying to compete. They did not complaint though it was all fun and they had done the same upon us previously.

All said and done, we all ended our journey- came back had lunch and started our return journey with a pleasant thought of the day and a realization that the pains will still live for some time, but was that worth it!!!!

It was.

Hope we do something similar soon..

October chutti, shimla getaway & diwali

Even with taking a tea break- we hit shimla well within 4 hours and reached Woodwille palace, where we were to stay.. all were too tired to venture out but we had to be at the Mall as so we did after dinner.. a tiring day but which ended on a good note.. we got 2 cottage rooms were nice and cozy. The next morning we left for Chail and Kufri and we expected to sight some snow and so were we told. It was n't to be but the travel up to the Chail Palace was quiet something. It was steep and challenging. We were lucky not to encounter any land slides and hence no traffic snarls on the way. We reached the palace at noon and we had good lunch and relaxed for some time at the garden. The chail palace is now a hotel but we had no such plans to stay there. We waled around and then left the place for kufri.. we wanted to hit shimla before dark. Kufri was quiet a downer since after visiting white flower hall, there was nothing much left to see since the other points were on the way to shimla and truly not very exciting..

Next morning we decided to have a easy day and went to the mall to have breakfast.. we had good samosas and by the time we came back, the laziness struck and we decided to go to the market in the afternoon.. to walk again for 20 mins was not which any one was looking forward to but then that was the last day and once we left our rooms, it was quiet enjoyable.. we shopped and roamed till about 8pm when the shopes were actually beginning to shut. We had dinner and came back to our rooms. Next morning, we had to leave hence all of us were just too tired to do anything and we crashed in our rooms. After having parathas in breakfast we left shimla around 11am and that marked an end to a very short and enjoyable trip..


Diwali, almost every year we endear to meet at one place and this time it was to be at my sister's place; since they had moved house to a new bigger and spacious flat we had something else to look forward to as well.. every one was coming in from all directions and there were so many disturbances due to the trouble in protest of the overtones against north indians made in maharashtra.. Chandan was in Delhi, Papa & ma in Lucknow and Shinu was travelling to nBhubaneshwar on a India tour from Mumbai and myself to come via Kolkatta. Chandan and I reached, thanks to no cancellation and troubles but papa could not take the train on Oct 25 as the train was cancelled. He finally came on the evening, the next day. Shinu also reached in time after being on the road for 3 days but as soon as she came, there was as no signs of tiredness..


Left for Shimla on morning of Oct 2, 08.. met with my friends at the chandigarh airport on landing around noon.. had lunch and we took the car on our way to shimla.. had no idea how the next 3 days would go since it was really my first place to the former summer capital of india.. we ended up leaving around 3pm from Chandigarh, and the first thing of negative news that came to us was from the driver who told us that the roads are in pathetic state and would take 5 hours to reach the place.. the attitude of the driver was almost as negative and was through out the trip.. but that was all as far as any negativity related to the trip was concerned.


I had 5 days to relax without worrying about what is happening in office, also thanks to the blackberry there not functioning (apparently there is no service as yet). The Diwali day was nice, after pooja there was some crackers to be enjoyed.. all participated and by 0930, we all ended and had dinner.


Chandan is preparing for his engineering and hence had to leave on Oct 30, the same day I left for Mumbai. There was a second thought of staying back on friday and hence would have then stayed back for 3 extra days as the weekend followed. I decided against since the office was less on people and I was to report on Friday. All in all a very enjoyable and happy diwali in a town where I stayed for two years almost 12 years ago but it seems nothing had changed in more than a decade since I left. The people were still the same, no aspirational change on the ground.. slow and lazy life was the order of the day and at times, I was forced to feel as though the pace that I am used to is way to fast and need to slow down once day, when and how, don't have a clue as yet..

What’s happening in life, dude?

When one is leading an independent life where some where there is deep down, a thought of some achievement- and a confidence emanates which leads to a belief that I need to do more, work harder, earn fatter paychecks….

This would be a story of a typical middle class boy or girl living in a large metro on his own… some of the common characteristics would be routine start of the day, bogged down as soon as one wakes up, getting out of home to beat the traffic to reach office, not to take any calls in the day time “office hour” due to either being busy or making other construe them to be “busy”, calling on friends and folks in the evening, on the way or in a break, struggle for conversation and that starts and ends with pretty much how are you? Kya chal raha hai, lets catch up..

I am one of them, not all but there are very common traits is shared by yours truly. Then what is the reason for me to express. What’s wrong in this lifestyle. Isn’t it cool that one earns more than one want but still want more, time is at a premium, leaves are few and far between- you cancel them thrice before u get one. Work for 70 hours a week as if there is no tomorrow but then also remain unsatisfied with the work. When I look back at life over the past few years, it seems to me so uniform that I wonder if so much time has passed, and actually have no answers as to how I want to lead it going forward. Would love to change a few aspect but not sure that I have the courage to do them.

One day was surfing through one of the professional networking channels and one of the entries was “what are you working on?”. I thought some thing to enter and I could think for a highly complicated project that I was involved in at that point in time. I saw a similar request on a social networking site and had no answers. The irony of the situation brought me to think about the current state of affairs.

When I was in college, saw Dil Chahta Hai- the story of three friends and could relate to them like anything as many of us would do. The one thing that I did realize that I would not be one of the Akash (Aamir Khan in the movie) when and I grow out of college. Would rather be one Siddharth who ends up doing something he loves and he is master of his own destiny.

Recently, saw Rock-on and then reality dawned. A likable movie with very distinct characters and again in the DCH mould but with a different theme. There is so much of Aditya (Farhan Akhtar in the movie) to which one can relate to. Aditya rediscovers his own self in the movie and also his true friends, it remains to be seen how many of us can do the same.

This weekend, saw Bond's new flick Quantum of Solace, and very much liked the movie for its slick screenplay and direction. Not like the typical bond movie but one which kept audiences engaged..

Another weekend gone..

A deserved win!!

Am still thinking about pen down my thoughts over the weekend where I saw the new Bond flick, Quatum of Solace and so I did Fashion, both a watchable movie for different reasons but what made the week was the Monday that followed, that is yesterday

The week started with India winning the final test match and that too convincingly on the last afternoon by 172 runs. India was lucky, in that it won crucial tosses but then it was much the better team for better part of the series and the margins of victory were so convincing that there was no doubt there is a shift in the balance of power in the cricketing world, which actually started almost 6 years back when India toured England and from then on, India has been on its way up. It includes offshore test victories in England, West Indies, Pakistan and brilliant performances in South Aftrica and Australia.

Australia’s series was summed up on Day 4 after tea when they chose to bowl with part timer instead of bowling with its key wicket takers when they actually had got a sniff. I do believe that still Australia would have had to fight to secure a victory but atleast they did had a chance.

The series was unique in many respects. On the back of Sydney so called defeat, this was a perfect reply and a response to a side which was desperate to win at all cost at the SCG and left a lasting scar on all cricket fans. Hence, to question tactics on the Indian side as being somewhat negative tactics in the final test match- but who cares. Italy won the world cup in 2006 not by playing the most attractive football, but they were the champions.

So many fantastic kodak moments

• Sachin Tendulkar becoming the highest run getter in test at Bangalore. Well, can’t say enough for the man who is probably the most adored person in India. With the way he has gone about over 2 decades on and off the field, awesome!!
• India’s victory at Mohali in perhaps what was almost a perfect testmatch for India
• Sehwag’s blitzkrieg over the series which dented Aussie confidence over and over
• Gambhir’s performance through the series including the double century at Delhi except his nudge to Shane Watson, leading to a match ban
• Laxman’s double century at Delhi
• Ishant's performance through out the series
• Without being biased, a fantastic debut by offie Jason Kretza. I wonder why hw was kept out of the first three tests when they did not had a single specialist spinner that played the test.
• Kumble’s retirement at the end of the III test at Delhi, a venue which was Kumble;s own. No body can forget the 10 wicket feat at the same Kotla ground. In my opinion, it will be Kumble who will be missed the most simply because of the burden he has carried over the past 18 years and has orchestrated most victories for India.
• Finally, a series win and a good bye to Dada, Sourav Ganguly.. the most pleasant and classy left hander from India. Apart from being part of fab four, the single biggest contribution of the man is the steely nerve that he helped inculcated when he took over the captaincy in 2000 and over his tenor. He was elegant, in your face and one who backed his players.

We shall surely miss Kumble and Sourav but wishing them best of luck for a wonderful life ahead

FINALLY, England is here and the Indian team needs to refocus and get consistent over the next couple of years to be the best team in the world which they are very near, but not there yet.. It would be a challenge sincer there are other seniors who also will be saying a good bye sooner rather than later.. hence to achieve the feat would be a interesting race. My hunch is that they will..

Nov 4, 08- Yes we can!!

Yesterday, an incredible event dawned upon us.. it was almost unbelievable to see what had swept the most powerful economy in the world- a country where everywhere you could feel the pessimism, gloom and a sense of loss. It was almost like the ordinary Americans were looking towards a man as their only hope. It was quiet extraordinary.. The gracious way in which Barack Obama accepted the victory was almost a magical moment The speech was flawless, balanced, moving and almost historic in the real sense of the word.

While many people do not like the country, the manner in which the democracy came out on top, was a testament to the country and its people- led by its leaders after it all ended.

Whatever said and done, the conduct of both the victor and one who fell short- was exemplary, more so after such an acrimonious campaign that just preceded. A call for unity, cooperation and graciousness with which the Republican former war hero John McCain came out- was a lesson for all of us here including our own people at the helm.

Its not like the results were not on predicted lines, and by the time we were in office, it was official. US will have its first African- American president in January. This was almost unthinkable hence until it was a fact, it wasn’t sinking in that it can be true despite such predictions being made for quiet a few weeks.

After the euphoria settles down, there are hard issues to deal with ahead for the next president- economy under a deep and extraordinary stress, banking system which has almost broken down, two wars, simmering tensions with Russia, foreign policy issues related to N Korea, Iran, Middle East. The expectations are so high and times are so tough that it will all test the new president. Being a optimist, I do feel that Barack Obama will pass the stern test as well- so many people will not go wrong.

We also go in for the elections in 6 months time, and we are also facing similar challenges. I do hope that we take a cue for once with what has just occurred in the west.. its time we come together and press on for a positive change at the centre.

YES, WE CAN!!

photograph source: http://www.barackobama.com/index.php

Weekend after Diwali, for sports freaks

There is something about holidays that when they go by. one realises that how good were the days which just went by. The business has slowed down so much that every where one turns up, one hears the stories of capital lost, business dried up, expenses curtailed...... there is a gloom which has spread over the past month. Met a close friend recently, who was telling her the tales of their family- seems to them that its all lost atleast for a foreseeable future.

Diwali this year wasn't the same. I travelled a few places as normally most people do as they go home for a break and there was something different about the Diwali of 2008. Markets were quieter, no much rush in the markets for sweets, crackers. That was all pervasive. After a long time, we all assembled at one place and all seem to reach well in time despite so much of uncertainty just before Diwali. The trains services were disrupted in protest of recent violence in Mumbai against North Indians.

Again resuming office, there is little new things happening, and we realise that its November again and in a few weeks, the year will be over with and very grim picture in the short term.

Besides the gloom, the weekend of sports was quiet something. Saturday night saw Liverpool going down to bottom placed Spurs team in the last dying minutes after dominating much of the game, but luck was not their side this time round. They are my favorite team in the premiership but I feel that they are best placed to challenge for the championship this time. They do miss a lot of chances and that proves their undoing on occasions. There is still a lot to play for for them..

Sunday marked a end of an era in Indian Cricket when suddenly the news of Indian Captain, Anil Kumble's retirement flashed on TV in the dying moment of test match which was ending in a draw. The cricketer who tireless went about his work, never the one to be in the limelight but in my opinion, the greatest match winner India ever produced. Being a self confessed Tendulkar fan for the sheer joy he has given to the people of this country, I place Anil Kumble in higher esteem as far as moulding the fortunes of the Indian team from a average team to one of the world's best test team. It all started when we became a team to reckon with at home and with fab four coming into their own towards the last few years, we have achieved tremendous success overseas as well in all forms of the game. Some may argue that it was the batting and emergence of some quality fast bowlers which helped us win test matches abroad but one just needs to check the records to see what impact the leg spinner had. Also, the confidence of a team which starts to be consistent only helps perform in adverse conditions. he was a whole hearted cricketer epitomised by his performance in Antigua when India were pressing for a victory wherein he bowled with a broken jaw and got the great Lara out. Even in his last test match, he ran to take his last wicket with a badly injured left had as if it was his first wicket and India would be losing out on winning the test match should he drop. On his day, he was dangerous than any bowler but what made it more brilliant was the way he went about his work. His one line after the Sydney test still rankles the Aussies till today and that just epitomised the way the opposition behaved on the day in SCG when cricked was defeated by Aussies. Just would like to say heartfelt thanks to the sheer joy and the determination of the man, we fondly come to know as Jumbo..

Finally, possibly the most electrifying minute in the Formula One history was witnessed yesterday when Lewis Hamilton won his maiden world championship in only his second season and thus becoming the youngest ever champion. This was as if it was destiny as the same was denied to the Brit a year back when he lost out by a point after being almost assured of the championship going into the last two races. Being a Ferrari fan, I wanted Felipe Massa to win more so after running a perfect race but one cannot deny the fact that Lewis Hamilton deserved the titles given what happened last year. Many Congratulations!! but this promises to be leading to a great 2009 season with many cars now competing for the podium as evident from the performance of BMW, Williams and Torro Rosso..

Will be back soon with thoughts on whats the scene on the streets of Mumbai post rough October.