Largest Democracy or Banana Republic?

Few days back some bafoon from the "political circles"(?) called us a Banana Republic. Which is an understatement, if I may. It is a no-brainer. The current state of affairs is much worst... but still people went "how dare he..." nobody has the gut,s to accept the problem and then move towards the solution .. they are instead more interested in playing the "naive ostrich" ..

The first step of solving a problem is acknowledging it and admitting that, yes, there is indeed a problem .. and then looking for solutions.

If people don't allow someone to speak truth, isn't it a banana republic anyways?

Social Media!

Once upon a time, every newcomer in the corporate IT world used to have fun with the most widely used communication tool - Email. And the fun was 'forwards'. Remember hitting 'Crtl+F' and 'Alt+Enter' impulsively and shooting a mail with 'FWD' in subject line, perhaps coupled with some other keywords to ensure 'safety'! ;) And then, there were blokes who used to religiously send Thought-For-The-Day or Good-Morning mails as a daily ritual! There were forwards of good-luck or bad-luck striking if one forwarded the mail to x number of recipients, or fund-raising for some sick child - for every forward 1$ will be credited, or blonde-jokes, or about some social-cause, or some product promotions.. variety of subjects.. I vividly remember same images being recirculated with different stories! While few others just plain, out-rightly fake news, stories or urban-legends! And of course, there was also the spamming on personal mail-ids. Over a period of time people could sensibly judge and decide what is true and what is not!

My Tryst with Pune

         tryst /trist/ n. meeting, esp. a secret one of lovers.
Don't go by the literal meaning of 'tryst'. However, I could not find anything that would be an apt description of how I feel. My apologies. The following passages are just an attempt to describe my personal feelings, views and experiences with this Charming Town... Pune.

Like most of the juinor college students in a small town, I too cherished a dream of getting into an esteemed Pune Engineering college. To cut the story short, I couldn't make it. But throughout my graduation I cam down to Pune every now and then - sometimes to get reference books from Appa Balwant Chowk aka ABC, sometimes to have a wild time with my friends (who were so lucky). It was one of those joy rides to the Land of Fantasy! No 9pm deadlines. Bikes. Guys n' gals. Carefree attitude. Young guns at the threshold of adulthood.

Nadaan Parindey...

Trips to my native place, sometimes, remind me of what I’ve lost by moving to a bigger city for earning a ‘so called’ decent living and a better future.

Indeed there was no other option left for me. With an engineering degree in my hand, I felt at that point of time, I have to go to either Bombay or Pune to get a good job and get on with life… face the world full-on… seek challenging avenues… fulfillment through work and career… utilize the acquired ‘skill’ and education for the betterment of all…

Love all.. Part 2..

How would the world be if we all were similar. Copies of each other! If it was monochrome - no colors, just black and white - ohh does that make it bi-chrome or is it still monochrome? Nevertheless, if it was not as colorful as it is. Isn't this colorful world beautiful - with all the shades and varieties?

Why then don't we understand that having differences or being different is a good thing?

It is a fundamental thing which adds flavor to life. It's the pinch of salt which makes us appreciate the beauty err should it be taste :)

Migration

Migration is a phenomenon that’s as old as the human existence, perhaps even older. Almost all of the living beings migrate either for sustenance, shelter, better environment to flourish or simply to avoid unfavorable conditions. Human beings are no different. Since prehistoric times we can find many instances wherein people in huge numbers have migrated for atleast one of these reasons, quite often for a combination.

Modern times are no different. The underlying reasons essentially remain same. However we play around with fancy words and label them as brain drain, big American dream, refugee-camps, displacements, etc, etc. We have been witnessing this in many forms and have at times realized that such population redistribution brings along with them many changes, both good and bad.

Thoda hai... Thode ki... Zaroorat hai...

It’s a dog’s-life and everyone’s competing in this rat-race to leave others behind to rot and find that cutting edge over them. Avoiding the mouse-traps and fighting the odds till the very end. Look what have we reduced ourselves to?

Whatever happened to the philosophy of “Thoda hai… thode ki… zaroorat hai…”? these days no one seems to be content with little. Everyone wants it big, no matter what! Seems like “big is beautiful” mantra, for whatever reasons applies to everything in life. Right from the obvious ‘thing’ to homes, incomes, TVs, holidays, luxuries, necessities, people, support (mental, physical, financial or otherwise), kid’s report cards, chocolates, and the list goes on… you name it… and we want it to be as big as possible.

Where are we heading with all these biggies? Perhaps to bigger problems? ‘Perhaps’ or ‘For sure’?? You the mature reader decide.