आज मेरी नज़र दरवाज़े पर लगे २००९ के कैलेंडर पर पड़ी, जिस पर माननीय मंत्री महोदय अजय माकन जी कि तस्वीर बनी हुई थी, और साथ में छपा हुआ था:
"कोई रास्ता खोज लेंगे, या नया बनायेंगे" - अजय माकन
पर आजकल दिल्ली की सड़कों की हालत देखकर तो लगता है कि यह कहना ज्यादा उपयुक्त होता:
हरेक रास्ता पहले खोद देंगे, फिर नया बनायेंगे
Monday, August 16, 2010
Sunday, February 14, 2010
It was the morning before the Valentine's and I was walking towards Rose Garden, for peace of mind, and a place to study (& not for any other purpose that you may otherwise imply).
After taking a detour from the IIT campus, I reached the subway, and as I ventured into it, and saw three young lads, school-kids, of class 7th or 8th as one would suppose, collecting donations for some Sanstha in Haridwar, which worked towards the betterment of orphans in Uttaranchal. (Mind you, the name is Uttarakhand now!)
They had a laminated card of the organization, which although colored, looked as if it were taken out on a simple computer paper, instead of the regular, thick ones.
They were giving out small receipt-card/chits which had a rose printed on it, together with a 'Welcome' note. (sans any no. or contact whatsoever) and were noting down the names of the donors, along with the donation amount, on a simple notepad.)
On seeing this, I enquired about the receipts for this purpose, to which they simply said: their school had set them a target of Rs. 1000/- to collect for this very organization, which is in close contact with their school, and that they didn't have it with them. When I asked about their school, they said 'Khalsa' but when I specifically asked them which Khalsa, they dodged the question without saying anything.
One of them was very outgoing, and started putting down a donation-slip in my name, stating since I were enquiring a lot about them, they expected a big-donation from me in return.
And when I asked them in turn for a cash-receipt, one of them offered me a 'jhapphi' instead!
After drilling the importance of a cash receipt into their heads (so that nobody should misunderstand them as frauds!) I went ahead, and somehow, a thought appeared in my mind that I should let the local policemen know about the whole thing.
Fortunately, a policeman was standing right near the barricades next to the florist, outside the SDA market, and I told them about the incident, and asked him to check in those 'kids', just in case, it was a case similar to the 'Kashmiri refugee kids' collecting money, for food and housing, in the camps setup for them after the earthquake! (It's another long story)
I told them that one of them could go from one side, and the rest from the other, along with pleading for tackling them tactfully, rather than physically, but, they said they'll handle this on their own and moved on towards the subway, all from one side.
Worried about the kids, I decided to stay on for a few moments to see what happens to them; and lo. before I could think of anything, they climbed back, rather hurriedly, and went straight to the paanwallah.
I went near them, and with a bit concern, I asked them: They escaped, didn't they?
In reply they asked me: "How old were they?"
I realized then, that I had forgotten to tell them the age of the kids; and they must have mistaken them for the small Kashmiri Kids aged about 5 to 10 or so; instead of a good ol' 15 to 17 years..
The major siappointment from this whole incident was not that the police couldn't catch them, but that they escaped pretty easily from the police, and that must have raised their confidence-levels even more, that they can get way so easily, after duping a dozen or so unsuspecting statues of generosity...
About time we started looking for better means to demonstrate our charitable spirit.
After taking a detour from the IIT campus, I reached the subway, and as I ventured into it, and saw three young lads, school-kids, of class 7th or 8th as one would suppose, collecting donations for some Sanstha in Haridwar, which worked towards the betterment of orphans in Uttaranchal. (Mind you, the name is Uttarakhand now!)
They had a laminated card of the organization, which although colored, looked as if it were taken out on a simple computer paper, instead of the regular, thick ones.
They were giving out small receipt-card/chits which had a rose printed on it, together with a 'Welcome' note. (sans any no. or contact whatsoever) and were noting down the names of the donors, along with the donation amount, on a simple notepad.)
On seeing this, I enquired about the receipts for this purpose, to which they simply said: their school had set them a target of Rs. 1000/- to collect for this very organization, which is in close contact with their school, and that they didn't have it with them. When I asked about their school, they said 'Khalsa' but when I specifically asked them which Khalsa, they dodged the question without saying anything.
One of them was very outgoing, and started putting down a donation-slip in my name, stating since I were enquiring a lot about them, they expected a big-donation from me in return.
And when I asked them in turn for a cash-receipt, one of them offered me a 'jhapphi' instead!
After drilling the importance of a cash receipt into their heads (so that nobody should misunderstand them as frauds!) I went ahead, and somehow, a thought appeared in my mind that I should let the local policemen know about the whole thing.
Fortunately, a policeman was standing right near the barricades next to the florist, outside the SDA market, and I told them about the incident, and asked him to check in those 'kids', just in case, it was a case similar to the 'Kashmiri refugee kids' collecting money, for food and housing, in the camps setup for them after the earthquake! (It's another long story)
I told them that one of them could go from one side, and the rest from the other, along with pleading for tackling them tactfully, rather than physically, but, they said they'll handle this on their own and moved on towards the subway, all from one side.
Worried about the kids, I decided to stay on for a few moments to see what happens to them; and lo. before I could think of anything, they climbed back, rather hurriedly, and went straight to the paanwallah.
I went near them, and with a bit concern, I asked them: They escaped, didn't they?
In reply they asked me: "How old were they?"
I realized then, that I had forgotten to tell them the age of the kids; and they must have mistaken them for the small Kashmiri Kids aged about 5 to 10 or so; instead of a good ol' 15 to 17 years..
The major siappointment from this whole incident was not that the police couldn't catch them, but that they escaped pretty easily from the police, and that must have raised their confidence-levels even more, that they can get way so easily, after duping a dozen or so unsuspecting statues of generosity...
About time we started looking for better means to demonstrate our charitable spirit.
Hippo says: don't go hungry!
"Hippo think hungry people less happy. Hungry people more fight.
Hippo believe world will be better place if nobody hungry.
So hippo try."
Help hippo fight hunger at www.hippofighthunger.com
Inviting, isn't it?
In case you're thinking I succumbed to the temptation, then think again..for, I didn't.
I merely picked up this empty packet from the roadside! (Now that's bein' a real smartass!)
I was thinking, after reading the flipside of the pack manufactured by Parle Agro Pvt. Ltd. that here's a surefire way to bring peace to the world.
Be it Israeli-Palestinian conflicts, Taliban in Afghanistan, WMD search and its after effects in Iraq, Nuclear confusion in Korea and Iran or Indo-Pak kaha-suni, one sureshot way to achieve tranquility amidst all that chaos and confusion is to hand over a pack of Hippo to ever aggrieved, separate or desolate citizens, along with all the amy personals, including their chiefstains (oops!) and head of states.
Then probably instead of bomb-blasts, all you'd be hearing would be burps n belches. and instead of war-casualties, you'd be handling obese personalities.
However, I'd like to take this one step further.
All of us say, there's so many people starving to death; not just in distant Africa, but in India (and, occasionally in the capital!) as well. So why not supply them all a packet each.. to cure them of their hunger. The public distribution system of the govt. can do it very efficiently (If it can make Delhiites eat Yellow Peas, then distributing lip smackin' toasted Hippo bread snacks would be a piece of cake..well almost!)
Also,it would solve the food-crisis, as it just takes up 38 gms/packet.. How many grams can you eat in a single sitting?
We'll talk about issues like poverty and malnutrition some other time,
Till then,
Enjoy your Hippo break.
Hippo believe world will be better place if nobody hungry.
So hippo try."
Help hippo fight hunger at www.hippofighthunger.com
Inviting, isn't it?
In case you're thinking I succumbed to the temptation, then think again..for, I didn't.
I merely picked up this empty packet from the roadside! (Now that's bein' a real smartass!)
I was thinking, after reading the flipside of the pack manufactured by Parle Agro Pvt. Ltd. that here's a surefire way to bring peace to the world.
Be it Israeli-Palestinian conflicts, Taliban in Afghanistan, WMD search and its after effects in Iraq, Nuclear confusion in Korea and Iran or Indo-Pak kaha-suni, one sureshot way to achieve tranquility amidst all that chaos and confusion is to hand over a pack of Hippo to ever aggrieved, separate or desolate citizens, along with all the amy personals, including their chiefstains (oops!) and head of states.
Then probably instead of bomb-blasts, all you'd be hearing would be burps n belches. and instead of war-casualties, you'd be handling obese personalities.
However, I'd like to take this one step further.
All of us say, there's so many people starving to death; not just in distant Africa, but in India (and, occasionally in the capital!) as well. So why not supply them all a packet each.. to cure them of their hunger. The public distribution system of the govt. can do it very efficiently (If it can make Delhiites eat Yellow Peas, then distributing lip smackin' toasted Hippo bread snacks would be a piece of cake..well almost!)
Also,it would solve the food-crisis, as it just takes up 38 gms/packet.. How many grams can you eat in a single sitting?
We'll talk about issues like poverty and malnutrition some other time,
Till then,
Enjoy your Hippo break.
Monday, January 25, 2010
The republic and the comrade
So, the Republic of India celebrates yet another year, passing away in the midst of chaos, and confusion, more by the inflation, rather than terrorism. The recent surge in the prices of the daily commodities has indeed struck terror in the minds of the unsuspecting common man, and the fear is likely to prevail in the coming financial year as well.
That aside, there were some notable happenings that took place in the past few days; the demise of Comrade Basu being one of the most highlighted. As much has already been discussed about, in various newspapers, bulletins and forums; I wouldn't say much, except for the acknowledgement of one thing he really did right. (although he remained on the left, for most of his life!) And that was donating his body for dissection to a medical research institute (IPGMER, if I'm not wrong)
Now, that inspired me to do the same as well, along with hundreds or more!) of other comrades, in Bengal and elsewhere. A noble deed such as this needs to be publicized as much as possible, so that more and more people come out and donate their organs/bodies, so that they could be put to better use, their death, rather than just taking up valuable land, scarce firewood.
That would even reduce the land/wood/emissions problems along with addressing the more important issues like scarcity of cadaver/organs for medical purposes.
Can't help but thinking that Jyoti da might have triggered off a new awakening already, albeit this time, from the heavens above.
Adios... amigo.
That aside, there were some notable happenings that took place in the past few days; the demise of Comrade Basu being one of the most highlighted. As much has already been discussed about, in various newspapers, bulletins and forums; I wouldn't say much, except for the acknowledgement of one thing he really did right. (although he remained on the left, for most of his life!) And that was donating his body for dissection to a medical research institute (IPGMER, if I'm not wrong)
Now, that inspired me to do the same as well, along with hundreds or more!) of other comrades, in Bengal and elsewhere. A noble deed such as this needs to be publicized as much as possible, so that more and more people come out and donate their organs/bodies, so that they could be put to better use, their death, rather than just taking up valuable land, scarce firewood.
That would even reduce the land/wood/emissions problems along with addressing the more important issues like scarcity of cadaver/organs for medical purposes.
Can't help but thinking that Jyoti da might have triggered off a new awakening already, albeit this time, from the heavens above.
Adios... amigo.
Friday, January 1, 2010
A new beginning..
Finally we are there..
The first decade of the millennium is almost over now.(except for a few days of course!)
And I thought I might not be able to make it, in one-piece!
With so many strange things happening with me yesterday (It is nothing new for me, as the the ol' cronies would agree..) I decided I'd be better off sending this mail well after the new year has turned stale (i.e. after the first 24 hrs have passed already!)
It has been a unique year indeed. (as if that is an exception!) memorable at times, and at times, plainly forgettable. It had given me joy, along with a few tears.. (I'll be using Johnson & Johnsons' from the next year! ;-)
Tragic at times, and at certain places, humorous (Now that is something different from the para above!)
I've learned from this year, the following lessons:
1. You can end up in the worst of situations with the best of intentions.
2. Time, tide and trains wait for none..
3. When you realize that you're going through a 'bad-day at the office', just take an half-day, instead of trying to convert it into a 'good-day'
And the following are the gems that I picked up during these 12 months:
1. Context is as important as the text itself.
2. The only person you can always bank upon is yourself.
3. The only stupid question is the one you fail to ask. (and get yourself in trouble later on!;-)
It is always better to finish things off before they become an albatross in your neck, that's why I'm ending this off right away, rather than mulling over it for another day..
Till then,
The first decade of the millennium is almost over now.(except for a few days of course!)
And I thought I might not be able to make it, in one-piece!
With so many strange things happening with me yesterday (It is nothing new for me, as the the ol' cronies would agree..) I decided I'd be better off sending this mail well after the new year has turned stale (i.e. after the first 24 hrs have passed already!)
It has been a unique year indeed. (as if that is an exception!) memorable at times, and at times, plainly forgettable. It had given me joy, along with a few tears.. (I'll be using Johnson & Johnsons' from the next year! ;-)
Tragic at times, and at certain places, humorous (Now that is something different from the para above!)
I've learned from this year, the following lessons:
1. You can end up in the worst of situations with the best of intentions.
2. Time, tide and trains wait for none..
3. When you realize that you're going through a 'bad-day at the office', just take an half-day, instead of trying to convert it into a 'good-day'
And the following are the gems that I picked up during these 12 months:
1. Context is as important as the text itself.
2. The only person you can always bank upon is yourself.
3. The only stupid question is the one you fail to ask. (and get yourself in trouble later on!;-)
It is always better to finish things off before they become an albatross in your neck, that's why I'm ending this off right away, rather than mulling over it for another day..
Till then,
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