mGinger: Invitation

YouMint: Invitation

The BJP initially tried hard to nitpick on the details of the deal, but has recently focused on the right to test as the key issue, arguing that the deal would prevent India from conducting future tests. This is a false claim: nothing in the deal says that India cannot test.

There may be consequences if India tests, but even this has been minimized because under the conditions of the deal, the US will have to take into consideration whether India was forced to test because of circumstances such as nuclear tests by India’s neighbors. Moreover, if India conducts a test, it will have to face some international opposition irrespective of the signing the deal or not.

It should also be noted that the vast majority of the BJP’s constituency comes from the middle class, much of which supports the deal. The Left’s opposition to the deal may help it to solidify its base, but the BJP’s position is actually driving a wedge between the party and its core support base. Repeated statements from the BJP leaders that they have no objections to closer Indo-US ties only makes their position on the nuclear deal more confusing to their supporters.

Even Brajesh Mishra, the National Security Advisor of the Vajpayee government, and someone, who initially opposed the deal, has now endorsed it. But the BJP refuses to, arguing that while an individual could change positions on policy issues, a political party cannot.

This is stubbornness, not consistency. If it is truly a party with a difference, the BJP can start by proving it by changing their position on the nuclear deal.

India's Outsourcing Revenue
India has revenues of US$10.9 billion from offshore outsourcing and US$30 billion from IT and total outsourcing (expected in FY 2008). India thus has some 5-6% share of the total Outsourcing Industry, but a commanding 63% share of the offshore component.
Why India?
Productivity and growth can somewhat be called the teaser benefits of outsourcing and the country at the number one spot that provides these two is India. All over the United States and the United Kingdom, India is the preferred destination for outsourcing assignments. In recent researches, forty four percent of the world's offshore outsourcing back office and software services are in India. It has also been noted that as many as 400 of the Fortune 500 companies have their own branches in India or are outsourcing to India utilizing Indian technology companies.
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What makes India such a hot spot for outsourcing jobs?

1. Skilled Labor - India has a myriad of skilled people that are very available in the country. The highly skilled work force in India provides not only high quality service but also other added services that are very valuable. An added advantage, which puts India on top of the list, is the ability of the people to speak in English. It boasts of being the 2nd largest nation to have the most number of English speaking citizens thus companies based in the United States or the United Kingdom opt for outsourcing in India.

2. Huge Labor Force - Because of this vast number, India can afford to trim down the cost of services without having to cut down on quality. Just by looking at the list of companies that have back office operations in India one will truly understand and believe this. Airlines such as Lufthansa and British Airways outsource their ticket reservation in India. HSBC and GE outsource accounting in India. Dell and Microsoft outsource research work in India. Standard Chartered has its full back office operations for its global business in India.

3. Government Support - Another reason why India is an outsourcing hot spot is because of its government policies. Because of the support it gives to the outsourcing industry in the country, the government and its policies have ensured the growth of outsourcing in India. As of today, its value as an outsourcing destination has reached high status.

4. Stable Democracy - The stable democracy that India has been experiencing for the last six decades gives India an advantage in the outsourcing industry. The country's GDP rate of 9.2 percent, ever improving infrastructure and its status as a country that provides high quality of service, and rapidly developing technology makes it a hot spot destination for outsourcing.

5. Global Recognitions - Five Indian cities are among the top 10 global emerging outsourcing destinations with Chennai topping the list. Among the top 10 cities, Hyderabad is ranked at the second position followed by Pune (3rd), Kolkata (5th) and Chandigarh (9th).~~~~~

http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080054348

This IIM topper wants to go global with Brand Bihar vegetables. It is nice to see all these toppers working towards making a difference to the society they belong to.

Uttara Kannada, a green district located in Western coastal region of Karnataka has many power generating stations including one nuclear power plant. The major hydro electric power stations include Gerusoppa, Supa, Kadra, Kodasalli etc. The whole Supa taluk has been vanished under the Kali water. Thousands of hectares of forests have been lost during these projects. Thousands of acres of forest cut down to build Kaiga Nuclear Power Plant. Hundred of acres of green forests were vanished for high tension electric lines to supply power to nearby cities (See http://www.narmada.org/related.issues/kali/press.releases/20030605.html ). Recently they successfully opposed Tadri thermal power plant, which could be harmful to both flora and fauna of this region. Right now this district is lightning millions of houses.

But… do you know… there is no proper power supply to this district. There was minimum 6 hours official load shedding was there in this summer. There was no power for weeks even in major villages for weeks. There are number of villages where there is no power supply from the electric board.

I’m sure, if you save a little power in your daily life it is more than enough to light theses houses, because their electricity demand is very less. The power that can be saved by common person in Bangalore can light the whole district for weeks. Also we can check some more power plants which will spoil our environment. I’m following these measures to save power, I wish, I hope you will also join with me to save power, save environment.

Air conditioners: Check and clean the air conditioner's filter once a month; make sure the air conditioning unit is the proper size for the room it is cooling; locate the air conditioner on the north or east side of a house in a shady area; ventilate the house's attic to reduce heat build-up; install ceiling fans to improve air circulation.

Dishwashers: Wash only a full load; turn off drying cycle, open door to air dry dishes.

Washing machines and dryers: Use only with a full load; use warm or cold water, reserving hot water use only for heavily soiled clothes; use only full loads for the dryer and if a second load is necessary, dry that load immediately after the first to retain as much heat as possible; clean lint filter before each load.

Computers: Turn off computers when not in use or set the computer to energy-saving mode.

Lights: Replace incandescent bulbs with screw-in fluorescent bulbs, which use 75 per cent less electricity and last at least 8 times longer; turn lights off when not needed; install light dimmers or photoelectric switches that automatically turn off lights during daylight or install timers to control use of lights; for lights used for home security, install motion detectors so lights come on only when motion is detected.

New appliances: Replace aging appliances with new, more energy-efficient models when possible.

Ovens and hobs: Use microwave instead of oven where possible; food in glass dishes can be cooked at lower temperature; preheating oven is usually unnecessary; on the stove top cook with covered pans and match pan size to the size of the burner.

Refrigerators: Check door seals to make sure there are no air leaks; clean condenser coils on the back of the refrigerator; keep refrigerator away from oven or dishwasher and give the unit breathing room; turn thermostat down to 3°C (37°F); turn on energy saver switch.

Water heaters: Use thermostats and timer controls to regulate your central heating and hot water supply wherever possible; lower the hot water heating setting to 50 to 55°C (120 to 130°F); insulate the water heater and any exposed hot water pipes; use low-flow shower heads. (Tips from: Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2006. © 1993-2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved)

Social awareness: Don’t show your prosperity in family or social functions by lighting the whole street.

Thank you… start contributing your part!!

After reading whole book, if you get questions like follows don’t curse the author:
How could Chetan managed to stretch the story of 2 pages to 258 pages.
Is there any message in any of 21 chapters?
Why only 3 mistakes, the whole novel is full of the characters of mistakes?
Does the author belong to any of the left parties?

Writing on Indian religion system is far tougher than writing CAT exam to get entrance to IIMs. Author should have done some more homework before writing these issues. The cricket incidents go smoother and you’ll enjoy it. But you can enjoy the pages with politics and religion only if you have idea similar to left parties or self called seculars. This books some how tells the Hindu party workers are devils. We have sustainable political ideas in India with Hinduism thoughts by Arun Showri or Arun Jaitley, who has also written many books, also can influence anybody if he ever knew them. But this book looks like the author know only Prakash Carat, Brinda Carat and Family or some Secular(?) party ideas. I believe the author should balance the views on the religions and should leave the decision to reader. Again here he failed.
But the author is at safer side, because in India, if somebody writes against the community which the author is favour for, only then the issue echoes in parliament level.
I haven’t done fifth mistake by comparing this book with his earlier works.

This is an inspirational story for all of us. It's nice to know more about such people.

Here is an IIM-A graduate - E Sarathbabu - who rejected several high profile jobs from various MNCs whose mission was to help poor through job creation. So he started a catering business in 2006, inspired by his mother who once sold idlis on Chennai pavements. After struggling and making losses he turned it around in 2007.

Today he has six units and 200 employees with Rs.32 lakh turnover per month. He still lives in the same hut. He words "We can be a developed country but we should not leave the poor people behind. I am worried about them because I know what hunger is and I still remember the days I was hungry".

90% of his people are uneducated.

He bought a car, but is in no rush to buy a house. He is happy where he is right now.

Yesterday results of 2008 Civil Services examinations have been announced. Adapa Karthik from Khammam, Andhra Pradesh has topped the list. Well, every year we have someone topping the list. What's so special about Karthik?

He opted for Civil Services "to contribute for development at the grassroots level". So he chose IPS and is currently undergoing training. Also, unlike most, he did not opt for his home cadre. According to his mentor, he is a "highly spirited service-oriented boy committed to serving the people". He looks at Civil Services less as a career option, more as a real service.

Did you know that he had won a scholarship to Harvard Medical School, but the "socially committed" youth decided to stay back in India and join the civil services.

This is one of the best I have heard so far. He is an inspiration to so many. His parents must be so proud of him.

"I am a Software Engineer, professional, Vice president, Manger".....etc..these are the introductions we hear normally and of course with pride.

60% of Indians are employed in Agriculture [wikipedia] . Yet, there is some uneasy feeling about being an employee of this largest, traditional company which produces something that every person needs 3 times a day. Certainly, this is an interesting sector. But, if one sees how much interest our Government is taking in this sector even after counting those farmers, who are commiting suicide due to losses.

As I am from Andhra Pradesh, I will take an example from that region. In early 2004,before elections Congress announced a free power scheme to all farmers. Everyone know that its not feasible and a cheap election stunt. No surprises, Congress won.

Six months later, Congress placed an upper limit on the amount of agricultural land, a farmer can have to avail the free power scheme.

Three months later, Govt restricts the power scheme only to those farms having new version of electronic meters.

Three months later, Govt further restricted the scheme for night time only. Day time usage will be billed.

As you can see, Govt lacks vision. In 2008, Govt has no choice but to cancel the bank loans taken by farmers.

Coming to a completely different sector --- Sony, IBM & Toshiba manufactured next gen processor,the Cell (microprocessor). Sony used this processor for its play station 3. They developed this for 4 years. why? --- Sony wants to capture the entertainment sector, if not its rival Microsoft Xbox 360 will grab the market share.

When we compare Agriculture sector with Entertainment sector,

Pros:

1) Agriculture has more customers than Entertainment sector

2) 60% of Indians are in Agriculture sector.

Cons:

1) Lack of Management and vision

2) Lack of competition to create enthusiasm and spirit.

I tried my best to assess the Agriculture sectors weaknesses.

Here is the solution which may look absurd, infeasible, and completely stupid. But this is my idea.

" Agricultural department of India, should take all the lands of those farmers who have land below a certain threshold under PARTIAL LEASE. One may get doubt, is this a land-grabbing scheme ?. No, definitely not. Thats why I said under partial Lease with terms of agreement as follows:

1) Only used for agriculture

2) Decision of which crop to cultivate should be decided by a third party (whom--- will tell u in a moment).

3) All labour related activities should be taken up by the farmer himself. All resources such as water and power should be provided by the Government body.

4) All Farmers will be termed as State govt emplyees and will avail all the benefits, a govt employee enjoys. So, Farmer can be termed as a public servant.

5) Farmer will get a monthly salary depending upon the land he has + bonus every year depending upon the profits...

6) The state governments who generated more points in a given year will be given subsidies and will have to be prioritised in every aspect in the next year.

7) Third party who decide the crops, should be a body of economists and agriculturalists in equal proportions. The vote to decide the crop -- 33% weightage to votes of economists, 33% agricultural researchers -- 16% to farmer , and 16% to govt. Apparently this body should not be funded by govt, and should contain professors, researchers from various universities.  This third party is a non-profit organisation, working for farmers. For them, this should be a project / Phd kind of course.

Well---not a perfect, accurate and sound idea. But thats an idea.

This will create some attraction for students and researchers. Also, ensuring the farmer's cash flow will provide more security to their lives. Govt will be forced to provide power and water, and that will make them prioritise their plans and visions.
No Idea is perfect and I know that my idea is not even closer to perfect, but thats what a 21 year old young Indian can offer.

Come to the issue now. Have you ever think that what will be the major bill that the next central government will pass in the year 2011? It is the bill to extend the current cast based reservation for next 10 years. That means, once again it will kill the vision of the great constitution expert Dr B R Ambedkar. Do we really want this cast based reservation system? If not why we are not raising our voice? Yes, we are Indians. We will start digging the well only when our house started burning!! We will raise our voice only on the day when this bill will be passed.

That’s why; it is the right time to choose our leaders who will lead our country as a democratic sovereign instead of just a secular sovereign. Any how the preamble of our constitution didn’t have the world secular when it was written, it was added later. And it is also very important to mention that the cast based reservations will never support the nation’s secularism.

Till 1991 it was Congress party kept extending the reservation just to hold the votes of some people. But it was BJP’s term to extend again for 10 more years. What a shameless politics! If the government of India is agreeing that it couldn’t uplift the backward or scheduled cast/tribe people in the last half century, can every body hope that it will happen in next 10 years. The people willing to get reservations everywhere they go, colleges, jobs, promotions and so on, should know that this Indian politics never wants them to be uplifted.

I’m not opposing reservations. But it should not be just based on the cast or religion. The true backward person should be given the chance. We should give a helping hand to an orphan, handicapped person, a poor fellow who couldn’t even buy a book, the person who is staying in the remote village where even a bus won’t go; irrespective of the community. Everything will be decided on your vote.  Please vote. And please vote for those who have a mission, a vision of the future India.

It will be major contribution to build our nation.

Obviously it was by Christians. This made me to bring about this small village in front of you.

The people here talk Kannada mixed Marathi. They are so poor; their economy is based on agriculture and some forest products. They have their own music band as a part-time job, which makes local people to call them for marriage like functions. I can tell that they were living with harmony with all. The Satan entered into their life!!

One strange person came to know about this small music band. He came to teach them good music. These people, never exposed to the present culprit world, treated him as a sacred teacher as a Hindu treats his teacher himself is a god. But he was a Satan, funded by Christian missionaries for religious conversion. He knew that it was easy to brainwash innocent people and succeeded in converting them as Christians. Holy black threads from Dharmasthal disappeared from their neck, instead the cross appeared. The photos of Hindu gods were thrown out from their house, Jesus Christ and mother Mary replaced these Hindu gods. They were given money flown from foreign missionaries for doing this work

The news came out only after about 6 months. They were no more Hindus now, but not even Christians completely. The surrounding people stood up and turned them back to Hinduism, even though they are not funded by any foreign bodies for this work. Another thing I should tell you is local RSS or VHP people were blind about whole situation as they are not at all important for them in any sense.

Tell me now; I’m wrong in calling it as Christian terrorism? Just look keen around you, you will find at least one such terrorised existence of Hinduism.

Golf being one of the elite games of the society that hardly everyone gets to enjoy. I had the good good fortune and absolutely unbelievable pleading skills that got me the opportunity to play golf this weekend.

I had been anticipating it for months!! The greens the holding of the club, the teeing off and of course the admiring glances of the cute hunks :D (Am I that predictable???!! and delusional ?? lol )

So well when dad finally let me come along for a golf trip … I was excited!! Exuberant!!! And totally pumped up… And ofcourse my joy knew no bounds (are we writing a school essay here?)

Well we went there on a nice sunday morning, the place, the prestigious Delhi Golf Club was already teeming with golfers. There were the oldies, the young kids and of course the cute ones!!! The place was quite flooded at 11:30 on a Sunday morning… And ofcourse the ladies … the moms, the girlfriends and the wives .. were looking ravishing (no surprise)

It was my first time at golfing and like every firsts I made an absolute complete fool of myself ....

Ofcourse I couldn’t hold the club well .. didn’t bend my leg the right way … my butt wasn’t out enough …. my swing was too swingy … my aim was too lanky .... I had no patience with the ball and my constant checking out of the cuteys was totally not acceptable ! ( ghosh!)

I teed about 50 odd balls in all direction and obviously none in the one intended … My shirt flew when I swung too hard and by gods grace the club didn’t slip from my sweating hand and give some one a tight wrap on the skull

To be completely honest if it wasn’t for the eye candies that were walking around …and my bosses obsession for the game I would probably skip it cause you not only require a lot of patience but also sweat glands that don’t sweat all that much 

A thought did strike me while teeing my 16 or 17 ball (about golf ofcourse! not cuteys) that this game is really like the hunting of old times ... that the royals used to do. Hunting basically where the Maharajas with their plethora of soldiers and royal people used to mount on elephants and go on excursions for days together ... sometimes coming back with no kill at all and at times a tiger or two.

Basically it used to be a thoroughly useless exercise which was done just to show off and spend resources on absolutely non productive exercise .... Golfing fits the bill to the tee ... I mean there is a stick, a ball and a hole. All day you need to try and put the ball in a hole and basically walk around in the greens .... atleast of what I saw nobody cared about the game. There were people networking more than teeing off ... they were busy saying HI and smiling than sweating it out ...

And the whole concept that while a cabby trudges around carrying your load you stand there and tee off and then get zoomed off to the other location in a golf cart! Is crazy cause what do u do really? Burn probably some .000001 ounce of calorie in a year!! Ghosh the hypocrisy!! :) Can we run? Jog? Shout out and pump our fist in the air? Can we be a little less refined??

But with all my criticism  ... I am all pumped up to go there again ... and play it like a pro ... bend my knee the right way ... butt out a certain way ... swing like a champ and flash that pearly white when the ball goes in an absolutely insane direction and ..... oh yeah .... Concentrate on the game a bit more than the dandy candy !

Tee hehe to that! :D

I have grown up here, fell in love here, grown fat here, jogged here, lied here, lived here and wasted time here.

To be honest I havent given back to the city that has moulded me into who i am now.

And now as summers approach ... i feel a tad bit sad ... that the cousy winters have gone away a bit too quickly ... and now the sticky, sweaty, lazy, sunny days are here (Not that lazy changes .... come winter... summer ...spring .... :)

How do Delhites cope with the summer heat?

When the sweat becomes unbearable, we drive around in our AC cars ... the fan does not cool us enough ... so we switch on our split AC's
... we drink Rooh Afza with ice cubes ... lemonade with crushed ice ... we suck on Chuski available by the roadside in different flavours of Khas, Masala, Rose ....

We try to find a shady tree while out in the city ... shield our eyes from the sun and pull our very expensive goggles on

... we talk and we talk ... sipping our ice teas... we disscuss ideas or we simply vile away our time

Delhi is harsh in summers
Its harsher in winters

Delhi blows hot .. blows cold ...

Delhi is like an unpredictable girl friend ... she will keep u on your toes ... you will never know what she will do next

Delhi O Delhi ~

Rules and regulations of an economy, how environmentally friendly the economy is, the safety and security an economy provides to its travelers, air transport, tourism infrastructure, natural resources, cultural resources and few others. In total there are about 14 criterion where in an economy is measured.

India ranks a lousy 65. Switzerland comes in 1 and Lesotho is a 130.

India at 65 is something that makes me sad. The recent rapes, murders, thefts have propelled India in the list of countries that are not safe for tourists. UK, US, Canada and Australia have issued warnings to its citizens about visiting India. We are the dreaded country for tourists. Tourists should be extremely careful while visiting India. At every corner in India there is a supposed thief, rapist and murderer, lurking to pounce on well-meaning tourists.

Forget the cultural delight that India has to offer, its historical monuments, different communities living as one, the ever welcoming people, the easy weather and abundance to explore in terms of food, places, clothes and oh-my-god what not!

Please overlook all that.                                                   

All this and more gets ignored as tourists high on drugs and booze, walking aimless on the beach unescorted fall prey to Indian lechers.

Am I being harsh? ... hell yes! Cause when i visit a foreign country I read up on the place and take as much precaution as possible and not willingly walk into danger.

India can't provide a safe haven for drug and alcohol abusers. Period.

Am I disappointed about the ranking? Absolutely not!

All I am saying is there is more to India .... which will probably be overlooked as there is too much of dirt that is floating around about my country.

My trip to Leh, happened a year back. I am still hung over that trip and all i can do is sit in Delhi and dream about an almost heaven on earth - Leh.

I would love to go back and experience the serenity that surrounds those beautiful rocky mountains. The landscape decked with absolutely flawless blue sky. The happy peaceful faces that greet you in the market place. And in some places the landscape that is absolutely devoid of any human existence for miles and miles.

There are places in Leh that don't have even a single person... you can look in every direction (and i am serious here) and you will not find a single soul. Stand there... do a 360 degree turn around and wait .... wait for hours and you will not see anyone !!!

It used to be our jeep and the rocky terrain... and that's all. The silence and the vastness of the place is what i am amazed with .... cause i have lived in a metro for so long that the vizzing past of traffic is a very natural sound and the honks and the screeching of tyres are as obvious as the existence of oxygen.

In Leh, we visited a few monasteries and it baffled me .... the coldness of the place...  the air seeped in histroy .... you can almost feel the prayers of the buddhist monks on your skin. The quite ...  the stillness ...  the rocky mountains ... the monastries ... the dusty roads ...

Leh is calling me back ... I need to pack my bags ......

Already the terrorism has reached every part of the country. Imagine, how strong the terrorism is spreading if the student from a very small town Honnali, near Davangere has turned to a terrorist. Few people tell Bangalore is now found to be active place for terrorism. The Muslim areas like K. R. Market and Shivajinagar in Bangalore, Bhatkal, Hubli are already suspected to be accommodating the terrorists. The Indian Muslim terrorist got arrested in Hubli recently!!

The terrorists have found the new highway for the smuggling of the weapon via Bangladesh. They knew the situation of the West Bengal, the communist government in the state never found succeeded in controlling the smuggling and infiltration via the border. Leave these apart, what happened to Karnataka Police? Their story terrors the country differently. Many police officers have already made 10 times more asset that they can earn in their lifetime. Now their only aim is to survive against the Lokayukta through the politics. They are in search of the right political party where they can improve their asset some more. I bet you no one can clear the police verification of the passport without offering the bribe! They are selling the country, obviously terrorist to buy!!

I apologies if any Muslim feel bad by my view. I know all the Muslims are not terrorists. We have seen the best people in them. But all the terrorists we terror about are Muslims. Until last few years we were so happy that no Indian Muslim is a terrorist, though India is one of the world’s highest Muslim populations. But recent incidents disprove the belief. They have got more privileges than Hindus under minority politics. Now some of them are found to be against the nation. It proved Islamic terrorism doesn’t have boundary of nation. But the Indian politicians are not ready to open their boundary of thinking.

You may have seen the street ad which reads "Love  Bangalore?", “Vote for RK, Make Bangalorean lead India”. Is the ToI fool to advertise on behalf of RK or any other participants? You have to send SMS or call to specified number which costs 3Rs per SMS and up to 7Rs per min of call chagre. It is not requesting for your votes through these ads, instead for your money. If it is such a project to reveal a new leader or a dream for the future of India, why shouldn’t this number be toll free?

Lead India’s finalists also for the convenience of this SMS business. All these people are from Bangalore, Ahmedabad, New Delhi, Laknow like metro cities, where there are millions of mobile users. Why there in no person from a small town which is never heard and where the ToI circulation is quite less? No leader in India till now has emerged from a metro city. ToI is also well experienced in touching directly the heart of the people. Bangaloreans are so proud of Bangalore, even when Deepika Padukone tells to King Khan that she has came from Bangalore in the film Om Shanti Om, they express their excitement without minding they are sitting in a mulipflex. How can such person deny reacting to such ads of ToI?

Will the person who wins Lead India become a leader? Gandhi, Ambedkar, Sardar Patel, not even Modi became leader because of such SMS votes; they were the leaders, so they became leaders. Soon after the contest ends you will forget all about it, and the ToI starts another drama. Not only Lead India, there are countless number of such SMS business are there by many TV shows, news papers, FM radios. Government of India and Telephone Regulatory Authority of India-TRAI should think on banning these kinds of activities which steals the money of common people.

This is called Alladi or Habsi festival. There is also a story behind this festival which my granny narrates like follows. There was a Hindu lady called Habsi was there once upon a time. She fell in love with a Muslim man and both married with the opposition of both sides and Habsi became Fatima. She was happy in her own world of two children and her husband. One day, on the call the king, her husband went to battlefield. She waited for a long time for his return. The frightened lady sent her children in search of her husband. She got the message that her children had found their father. She started to battlefield with complete joy. But the scene there was completely different. She saw the dead bodies of her children and husband. This festival is to convey salute to the lady who sacrificed her lovely husband and children.

There is a small temple for Habsi. People donate silver hands to this goddess. During Moharam they also walk on the fire. They believe it has power to solve their problem. Whatever these may be, but it has power in building communal friendship.

There are many instances that have cemented my opinion about public transport in India, but there is one that stands out. It’s a glaring example that refuses to fade away in the dust of memory. It has become an encounter that I and my friends laugh about.

It happened when, I (unsuspecting soul, as usual) was traveling in a bus on a nice sunny Saturday morning. It was around 11:30 – 12 and for some reason I was actually enjoying this particular ride. 

But as is with good moments, they last a precious few seconds. My pleasant ride also lasted about 1-2 minutes. The bus had stopped at a particularly crowded stop and people had piled in, anxious to get to their destination. They were like peas in a pod, though a tad bit haphazard. People were standing neck to neck and I thanked god at that point, that I had grabbed a seat before it was too late. 

Just as I had said my “thank you bhagu” (bhagu being short for bhawagan/ God) there came a pleasant looking lady, dressed in a saree and stood right next to me. I say pleasant because, she had a very rural look about her, all smiles, all motherly, all loving and all encompassing and straight out of some Haryanvi village.

She was a little on the hefty side and had a huge huge (!!) tummy … I was reminded of Sethanis/ Halwai’s helwain, the type of women whose lives revolve around the kitchen, their husband and what the neighbors are up to. Her saree was hardly covering her. (It happens to people, who have become really comfortable with their saree and are a bit old and really don’t care if their assets are being ogled at).

So her huge tummy which was also quite bare was at my shoulder level. (Bare for the simple reason that saree does not cover the midriff).

As the rickety bus maneuvered on busy Delhi roads, picking up passengers, the ladies tummy came closer to my shoulder.

After few stops it was comfortably resting on my shoulder. An inch or more of it had nestled there and was quite comfortable with that arrangement. It had found its comfort zone and a support system, to uplift it… as gravity was doing its job well.

So there I was stuck in a crowded bus, a tummy on my shoulder; my stop a good 30 minutes away and a lady who refused to acknowledge the fact that my shoulder space was being violated. (Hello!! It was on me!)

As the tummy stayed comfortably nestled on my shoulder I vowed never to travel in busses and not grab the aisle seat the next time. I also vowed that I will pay ten times more and take an Auto Rikshaw and I prayed (oh god I prayed!) that the bus doesn’t get more crowded lest the tummy reaches my cheek.

Ewwwwww!!! Ewwwwww!!! Ewwwwww!!! Ewwwwww!!! Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!

Bhagu !! Where were you when I needed you?

I am sure you were too busy chuckling away to shoulder this problem!!

One of THE most interesting book stores that i have come across. It does not boast of the wooden floor (Full Circle in Khan Market), the Chai Bar (Oxford in Connaught Place), the easy in and out of the Bahari Sons (In khan Market) or comforts like air conditioning, benches, sofas, nice wall paintings or even the tinkling of a wind chime when you enter the shop.

This bookstore does not try to make you comfortable nor does it want to. Its just business here, name your book and if they have it - they tell you the price, or you keep moving and do not loiter around too much cause you might just get hit by a car.

Yes hit by a car :) . This book store my friend is on the corner of a street and its no uncommon street its a very common street with heavy traffic flow. You have to dodge traffic to figure while looking for your book. Dont get too enamored by the stock of books, dont get too in awe.

All this book store has is arrays and arrays of books stacked from the floor to the ceiling, with three people manning it.

Why i like this bookstore?

Its different! Its on the street! and all the books that i have asked for are available!! From fiction to non fiction to long forgotten books. I like the openness that this bookstore has. The all are invited feel. The absolutely crazy location it has.

Have a look your self and if you are in Delhi then drop by! Its right next to PVR Plaza, CP, Delhi.

 Few pictures below.....

Cars zoom by as you look at the pile of books. Cross the road and you can have a better look !!

 Indian man (touching himself) next to the book store. No i had no intentions of clicking that particualr pose, but this man just at that moment had to check if all was okay down there....

Ghosh Indian Men! ... anyway thats another post !!

It scares me though, the hypocricy attached to it.
First you breed me like a "good girl"... with the following things engrained in my brain -

1. Don't talk to boys.

2. You cant have friends that are boys; this kind of thing does not happen in our family. (Hamare ghar ke ladkiyan aesa nahin karte hain)

3. No late nights, no sleepovers, no "unappropriate dressing" (WTF! its not like i waltz around in a bikini in the market place)

and blah de da da da ....

And now sirca 2007... when the girl child turns 23 ...guess what

1. Why dont you get some of your male friends home

2. Introduce us to some of your male friends

3. Why dont you have any marriagable male friends ?

and blah de da da

Wah ! I totally marvel the way there is a change in perception towards "boys" lol "men"

Was having this conversation with mom, she was in one of her frustated moments (can totally understand that with 3 spoilt daughters, one highly demanding job and one very traditional husband to deal with day in and day out)

So she starts of with first i had to deal with my dad and his tantrums and his drama and his expectations and his ...... da da da and now its this man (obviously my daddy dearest) and his tantrums and his ideas and his blah blah !
She ends it with one of her sweet smiles. But what is really ironic is that, she is willing to let that happen to her own daughters, what she detests in her own life.

She has now become a mute spectator to my dad and his mission to get me (and my elder sista) married off. Unfortunately i have been the obedient daughter all through out and going against the only people i have looked up to is going to be some task.

I wonder should i have hung on the few "boys" that i knew, would it have been easier to have that support system and then evetually think about a serious relationship with them (??) ... than marry total strangers?
Should i have tried a bit harder in a relationship? Hung on longer? Damn it! i was too young... i am too young !

Dont clutter my brain with marriage, coupling, relationships etc etc. Let me be i am sure i will find someone and like the good daughter i have been (track record of 23 damn years) ... he will be up to your expectations maa and dad, dont worry your ideal daughter shall not dissapoint you (once again ... oh well) ... just give her time .... dont rush her into it...

So like the unsuspecting soul that i am, i was sitting in front of the TV and nonchalantly flipping channels by the second. Disgusted by the sheer waste of useless options available on TV. I mean there was absolutely nothing to watch. Zilch ! Nada ... all crap !

So i come across this channel called India TV (should we take names ?? ) and they have this breaking news ! and its huge ! Oh my god !! the TV reporter is gushing about how this is the news of the moment and how its unbelievable ! This astounding discovery and blah blah blah

The great breaking news is that Ganesh ji the great Indian God (no offence intended to anyone here) is taking calls now. All you need to do is call up the almighty Lord Ganesha, obviously (!!) on his mobile phone and talk your prayers away.

Now you must be saying Oh come on !! that can't be ! And questions like so i now need not really take a bath before visiting a temple cause i can be in bed and all i need to do is just call up Lord Ganeshji and say my prayers and be off to another snooze... would be racing through your minds

Also all the incompetent nincompoops, who were earlier dragged to the temple to say their prayers can now just call up and get the task done and over with. And ofcourse more ...

So how does this absolutely revolutionary concept work?

The temple, that boasts of this cutting edge idea is in Indore (Madhya Pradesh, India) where you can avail of this prayer-call-in service where you can just call Lord Ganeshji and get talking ! The the pundit of the temple has about 5-6 mobile phones, that were ringing away constantly. As the devotees call, punditji takes the call and dutifully puts it on the ear of the idol of our almighty Lord Ganesha.

People then rattle off their prayers while our lord almighty listens and listens with that sombre expression that he is famous for. One lady called up and rattled away how her husband is having an affair and blah blah and Lord almighty should do something about it. Another one wanted a better job.

That is exactly when i switched off the TV and went back to my snoozing.

But i did take some pictures as proof !! hehahaha ha

Mind-boggling?

Its India babeyh!!!

I salute you oh great country !!!

I simply love Delhi in early October. I feel it’s the time when Delhi is romancing winter, it’s flirty and very naughty. It slightly ups the chill content and dims the sunlight a bit. An ideal state of affairs for lovers.

It plays around with the breeze and fills everyone with a slight reminiscing about their loved ones. Flirty flirty Delhi!

The rains have made sure that its green all around, freckled with an array of beautiful flowers. The roses are in full bloom and the chirpy birds can’t stop making love at my window sill.

This is the season of stolen kisses, long mushy hugs, frosted car windows and care free laughter. Of souls meeting, falling in love. It’s that time again when our spirits are up and we mingle and we laugh and rejoice.

Ahhh ...  this dilli ki sardi is a killer !

                                  Sweet lovin on my window sill