Monday, February 19, 2007

Hype created by our ALERT media...

Today we are seeing what media wants to show us, we are speaking what media wants to hear out of our mouths and believing what media wanted us to believe . Very simple three examples..

1. Hype about the cars presented by Amitabh to Abhishek on his birthday and the car presented to him by Vidu Vinod Chopra. (Only to find later that Abhishek's is in the name of some politician and Amitabh's in the name of Chopra himself ). Why should we waste our time in deciding what is being gifted to whom and who are these channels to waste our air time by making us watch this news hundred times a day!!

2. In yesterday's match between SriLanka and India, media declared that Yuvraj and Shehwag are back in form. I am unable to understand how just by playing or performing in a single match gives an impression that the player is back in form, if it is so, then non performance in a single match should also count towards out of form for any given player...I insist for any given player..which is not really true, at least in Indian cricket.

3. One pharmacy company chose to start their business in Aandhra Pradesh, that is considered by media as Banglaore losing to Andhara. When in past times so many companies opted for Banglalore, it was never taken as Delhi losing to Karnataka or Andhra losing to Karnataka.

4. On Aishwarya going to Amitabh's home town for some school's foundation laying function. But no one bothered to screen reports about all the presidential bravery award winners for even 12 Hrs

5. All the discussions made on so called forum are on some very cosmopolitan topics with all the participants from so called upper middle class. No one tried to raise and issue for someone really suffering from the real below poverty line (not so called non creamy layer poor people )

Instead why don't they focus on bringing up the real issues like water scarcity, rocketing prices of real estate and despite all so called ample job opportunities , unemployment. The media should keep a balance between commercialisation and truth reporting.

I agree that the media also needs some commercialisation but they should not divert from the basics of journalism in a race to be the FIRST and the BEST...

Just advertising on being POISED will never going to makes us POISED..

Now.....Bangalore from the eyes of a common man...

This common man can be anyone.......

1. autowaala
2. anyone like me and you

Let me start with something on this .....

I prefer to choose the first one in my list "An Auto-waala"

Species Type: Very common, matching the current movie trends in clothing and hair style
Species Traits: Mostly rude, reluctant to negotiate and always on move
Species Strengths: Unity between all the members of a Auto Stand
Species Weakness: Poor flow of incoming money

So the very unique species known as an Auto-waala. I met with an incidence just a week back. One of my friend came over here at Bangalore from my hometown, he stayed here for a couple of days and was going back. I along with one of my room partner went to drop him at railway station. After spending two hours with him at railway station we started our long journey back to our room. Went to bus stand only to know that Volvo (Air conditioned bus service of Karnataka State ) doesn't operates on Sunday evenings beyond 8.00 pm. So dejected end exhausted we came out and started out eternal search for an auto so that we can reach in time at a party back at room being organised by one of our friend.
After just a try of ten minutes we got one, who happily agreed to give us a ride back home on the term of getting paid 1.5 times of the meter reading (this is the minimum amount you end up paying in Bangalore, other wise its just double the meter fare or simply the nearest round figure).

As soon as we started our trip back home we were stopped by a policeman. The autowaala stopped and went to meet him. After waiting for him to come back for fifteen minutes, I stepped down and went to them only to be greeted by that policeman in a very rude manner and an arrogant gesture. But still I preferred to wait and watch the whole proceedings. After negotiating for another ten minutes we started again. The autowaala told he refused to pay bribe as he had just paid fifty bucks five minutes back to one of his colleague.

All this was happening in the heart of city, bang opposite to Bangalore city railway station and bus station. It shows clearly that the policeman do not fear anyone.

I noted down the bike registration number of policeman, (it was ending in 1770) so that just in case if I come across that guy again, I know what exactly need to be done to escape.

If so called guardians of law and order behave like this, whatever the Govt. claims, the common man is not going to be benefited. Wishing for a better and clearer future and keeping my finger crossed.

Sunday, February 11, 2007

A day in life of an average working Bangalorian

I will try to describe a normal day in life for my fellow residents of Bangalore who are fortunately or unfortunately working here. The day typically starts early in the morning (not because they go for some exercise or jogging) because they have to get ready and have to go to very far off locations for their job. I wonder how one of my colleague commutes every day from a far off place situated just 40 KMs from my office. I get fed up only in traveling 5 KMs.



Although Bangalore was known earlier for the gardens in past times , now the first thing that comes to anyone's mind while thinking about Bangalore is heavy traffic jam, pathetic infrastructure and a bigger fraction of life wasted while commuting to office everyday. The city was planned keeping in mind a normal load but the load is growing up in a exponential way. Lots and lots of vehicles being added everyday. On top of that I can see many of the guys coming to office by there own means of transportation. One guy in one car, what a mess. These so called status symbol addict guys add up to the problem of traffic. On top of all this narrow bridges, one ways and furious bikers. The day starts with a fight for more or less every resident. You try using public transport service and you end up being stuffed in some tin boxes. Its very difficult even to stand inside the buses. The Govt. is trying its best (as per Govt.) to fight with all this but practically I am unable to see any improvements (I may be wrong in saying this)


On top of all this if..I repeat if by any chance you are forced to take a auto rickshaws you are screwed. They ask mostly twice the fare and never agree to go by meter (at least I never found any autowaala who agreed for a metered ride ). Their argument "they have to return back empty". Even one autowaala told me that he had to return empty from Bangalore railway station (what a joke!!)


Somehow we reach office..exhausted and left with no energy in morning itself (imagine how much we are able to concentrate on our daily work after this much of fight). After working for half a day the next frontier for us "Food". The kind of food I eat every day at the cafeteria is one of the worst I had in life. Even while traveling across India I find much much better option to eat even by roadside. Only god knows what all they serve. I just follow the "Tank filling " strategy to survive. Then back to work..Ufff...Somehow the day comes to an end somewhere around early night and the fight to come back begins..Same stuffed buses..same crawling traffic and same exhausted people. After reaching back home you don't even feel like a living being. Have something to eat and hit the bed as we have to get next day again for "Office"


Undoubtedly the city is really silicon valley "Full of Silicon (Sand )"


I Salute the Traffic police for doing a wonderful job 24 X 7 and wonder how they are able to withstand the traffic everyday

Saturday, February 10, 2007

Andamans.....

ANDAMANS....MY..OWN...COUNTRY....


After a long phase of planning....lot more negative than positive...I along with 2 frnds from office Afsal and Pranav..finally started my trip to LIFE....on 25th night from Namma Bangaloroo.

Started in a hurry from office..rushing pushing to get out of office in time I managed to sneak out a bit late but yet in time...went on to pick up both frnds, had a dinner en route and somehow reached Bangaloroo station just in time..settled in the coach..and started my journey...happily.....




After a long sleep for whole night we reached Chennai...took the flight for Port Blair...met seven more frnds (batch mates of Pranav and Afsal)...


Also visible in pic above is Prat the Brat....The start of the journey indicated clearly that we are going to have fun :) I met a group full of energy..vigour..vitality. I feel a bit lucky to meet u guys..


Reached Port Blair in a time of two and half hour time span. All arrangements were already made for our visit (courtesy Pranav). Vehicles were waiting for us, we went to our hotel...had our Brunch..and started to explore Port Blair and neighbouring islands..we visited Ross island, Viper Island, Cellular Jail..I felt as if time was passing @ speed of light. The day came to an end very soon with some very eye catching memories and I went to sleep just to get up next day early at five am to start my journey to Havlock island



On reaching there after lunch we went to see the "Sea". The beach was marvelous..simply unmatchable types. I was astonished to see that, that was the time I felt as if I was in heaven




I enjoyed the trip a lot...I am summerising my trip in very few lines...there are lots and lots to be said...lots to be shared..but for that you need to spend some time with me...That was again a walk of life..




I am attaching two images below to denote the start and completion of my journey...


Start denoted by morning.....The SUN...






Completion by night...The MOON....



I wish I could travel more and add more nature to me..my life...