Pauper of money-chopper..??

The good deeds that you do sometimes prove fastidious and incredulous right at that moment…!!

It was last Sunday when I and my friends were roaming around MG Road, the hottest place to throng during weekends in Gurgaon. As we were crossing over to the other side of the road towards another mall, we were greeted with the gesticulations and cacophonic moans of a ragged street beggar who was trying her best to attract the pedestrians who would show pity on her and reward her with few pennies.

One of my friends, who’s always been a messiah to such community quickly took out some coins and discharged his philanthropic duty with a satisfactory, though, untraceable, grin on his face.

Fifteen minutes after, while we were making our way back to the other side of the road, what I noticed startled me for a moment. And after the feeling sank in, I felt somewhat peaceful and sinless at heart that I have never believed in entertaining the beggars and have mutedly cursed them. Coming back to what I witnessed, the same beggar, to whom my dear pal had whole-heartedly lent some precious bucks so that she could satiate her hunger, was taking puffs of bheedi while craning out her other hand at road-crossers unashamedly!! Was smoking more important than a piece of bread, was it more life-saving than few specks of grams, was it dearer to her than hunger-stricken and screaming kids back in her juggi (slum-houses)? Well, she might not have a bright IQ to answer these simple questions or may be the smoke has blocked her conscience and forget about her own goodwill, let alone that of her family; but what if the same could be asked to our ‘responsible’ and ‘intellect’ crossers-by who practice this activity quite generously without knowing what actually might be bought with the money, or even worse turning a blind eye when instances like the one that I mentioned above occur in front of them. If not equal, they are fractionally responsible for the wrongdoings which these paupers constantly indulge in.

I may sound raucous and irrational while advocating against the plight of one of the most helpless class of the society, but I couldn’t help bearing the fact that so much of hard earned money is being spent desultorily and incinerated into smoke, into ashes. What I want is for the folks to spend a moment and think about how such things can be prevented and if at all, one needs to help the needy, how he or she can contribute towards the same in a more organized manner and still achieve the same satisfaction, still feel peace at heart and move on while maintaining a satisfactory, though, untraceable, grin on his/her face.

Is increasing population really a curse?

Some days ago, I happened to read an article on internet which mentioned about the population situation of the country. Based on an analysis by a leading survey firm, it has been declared that in another 30 years, our country would surpass China in terms of number of people residing in each country. Presently, we are at 1.15 billion while China has reached 1.32 billion. However, over the past decade, the Chinese govt. has been following a stringent law which says about one-child norm for each couple. Talk about a law being stringent in India and the very word loses its relevance. As for the record, our govt. has also introduced two-child norm law but everyone, right from the bureaucrats to the common man, knows that this kind of practice is hardly adhered to anywhere in the country. Conscientiously speaking, a country as populous as ours is obviously going to face a lot many problems, the prominent ones being shortage of basic amenities, depriving of one’s rights and dwindling of stability on the whole.
Taking a brief tour of our present economic condition, we are booming at the moment with bullying rate. The GDP has already crossed 8% and the sensex has kissed an all-time high of 14,500 points. The forex reserves have crossed the $300 Billion mark. The corporate sector is enjoying the fruits like never before with everybody being in the expansion mode. The company owners are not stopping over patting their backs and at the same time, the investors are gushing over their good fortune. And, the good news is that this rate is not mere a momentary speculation and is only going to get better with time. But, while basking in this moment of glory, one just needs to take a reality check. Owing to increase in population and growing shortage of resources, the growth can face a steep decline and eventually burst down into fragments. This precisely has been the perspective from a common man as well as from majority of self-proclaimed experts’ point of view. People have been raving and ranting about this whole issue; politicians trying to politicize it as much as they can; NGOs belching and burping over it; panelists discussing the pseudo-pros and cons suitable to them and common man bawling over it in such a way that his life is going to cease the moment the population crosses the threshold.
With a country as vast as India (area-wise, ours is the seventh largest nation in the world), there are still huge acres of land left uninhibited. So, as far as dwelling problem of the ‘extra-population’ is concerned, it is inconsequential for atleast two centuries. That leaves survival of the common man as the lone aspect that needs to be addressed while considering this upcoming ‘curse’.
But, one just needs to hold on for sometime and think whether this problem is actually a curse or ‘a blessing in disguise’. Well, it may sound gibberish but this situation can be quantified in a different proposition, a proposition which, if thought sensibly, can prove fruitful and can actually come forward as the backbone for stupendous economic growth. Well, as a matter of fact, this factor is prevalent even in today’s times and needless to say, it is the basic ingredient for maintaining the present growth as well as ensuring the future ascent. What is being talked about is nothing but ‘Manpower’. Well, as far as skilled manpower in India is concerned, it is a well acknowledged fact that Indians are rated as one of the most skillful and brainy humans of the world. So, it is but natural that the younger folk presently waiting in the wings would take the center-stage and act as a catalyst to incrementing the already booming economy of the country. Now, the question arises where does this leave comparison with China? And, the reply is simply based on above made analysis. In another 30 years, India is going to surpass China in terms of manpower and, consequently, surge ahead in terms of development too. It seems unimaginable to think at this moment but every sensible and foresighted mind would agree to this fact that the situation currently being termed as a ‘danger’ is going to emerge as the most invaluable resource in the future.
Looking from a brighter perspective, all the blocks seem to fit in perfectly. But, a more minute observation shows that only the apex of the pyramid has been consolidated thus far and there is a lot of work left at the base lest the train of progress should slip off the rails. The basic foundations need to be stabilized in order to achieve what we have aspired for our nation. To put it practically, it is mandatory to serve and fulfill the basic needs of all the sections of the society. Then only, we can expect an enthusiastic and dying-to-excel youth brigade who shall take charge tomorrow to steer the whole country towards prosperity. The govt. needs to be more flexible in granting aids and providing facilities rather than maintaining obstinate nature and exploiting the whole population issue to suit themselves. The responsible authorities should consider this as their utmost priority to look at the brighter perspective with optimism and shun their vested interests. Such a responsible approach is the need of the hour if we really want to realize the dream of a “Developed India” and be Numero-Uno in every field we embark into.

My experiences with BRT

Well.. its been a pretty long time since i last posted something. hopefully, 'll be a bit more regular from now on...

a lot has changed all these years.. from being an UG student to a real-time employee..!! from a hosteleir to a virtual wanderer, from a sedate person who's now striving to be more towards being aggressive..!!

all in all, life's been in the metamorphological phase in the enduring times, and owing to the cut-throat competition in contemporary world, one doesn't find a scope to complain, or does he?

anyways, as it's been a fresh resumption as far as my blogging is concerned, so i would prefer leaving the past behind and starting afresh.

well, I am based in Delhi these days.. and for the past coupla days, its been raining cats and dogs..continually though, but whenever it starts, life becomes all the more sucking for the daily commuters like me. as for instance, the other day, the bus I was travelling by was left stranded in the middle of an asphyxiating jam for close to two hours with lashing rains that were not at all willing to come to hold. and then chilly winds started blowing across as soon as the driver pressed the accelerator. I couldn't understand the speed with which he was driving the bus as if he had to cover a distance of 100 miles in 1 min..!! i'm pretty sure that even he would hav admitted afterwards that it was purely because of cumulative luck of the passengers of the bus that saw everybody reach their destination with all 206 bones intact..!!

Today also, though for a shorter stretch from Khanpur terminal to Pushpa Bhawan, but this 1 mile stretch seemed to bring with it hordes of vagaries that the bus commuters face all over India.. the new low floor buses plying on BRT tracks look pretty world class from outside and for a moment, it seems as if you are travelling in Europe, but once you are able to 'seep' through the doors, all these day-dreams are put to rest and one begins to doubt whether he had a stroke of somnambulism the previous moment..!! as for my experience, once I got inside the bus, unfortunately or rather mistakenly through the front door, I felt as if I was being greeted by whole Indian populace riding one above the other in a volume of 10 cubic metres!! n what's worse is that the conductor of these buses places himself right next to the rear door. The target was clear and the route was identified and I just had to repeat the heroics of Mihir Sen and cross the "Indian" channel if at all I wanted a legal place in the vehicle. somehow I happened to tread along the narrowest lane possible and eventually reached my destination. MISSION IMPOSSIBLE-I ACHIEVED..!! and then something horrendous struck my mind. I actually had to trace my steps back to the initial point wherefrom this mission had incepted.. 'n the condition had worsened even more after another set of artillery (passengers on the next stop) had been loaded by our captain (driver) in his LFB (Low Floor Bus)..!! anyhow, I started my sojourn, drove off a few bullets easily, even saw few of them passing by me from a sniffing distance, hit a few on the way and was finally successful in wading through the battlefield and reaching the safer ground..

And thus came the terminal where I had to get down.. As I boarded off the bus, I felt a sense of relief and the mellifluous trickling of rain drops from the heaven-top just proved as the icing on the cake.. the rain was no longer a bane, the winds were no longer spine-chilling, the petrichor was no longer stinky..!! and that's what mattered at last.. the feeling of having faced it, toiled hard and seen it through till the end..!!

My Reminisces

The past week seemed to have passed off like a whirlwind with each day appearing like an entirely new and distinct life for me. Be it the gargantuan feeling of watching Sachin Tendulkar and Co. in action or realizing the ever-aspiring dream of seeing SRK in front of my eyes; to hitting the dance floor and shaking the legs in synchronization with the exhilarating music numbers; and finally mellowing down in the family environs to celebrate the auspicious day of Deepawali; life had become all “too fast too furious” for me during the past quarter of the month. Even before I could avail the liberty to swallow the first-hand experience of watching a live day-night one day match between India and England at Sawai Man Singh (SMS) stadium, Jaipur; I had landed in the realm which I can proudly associate myself to as being its inhabitant, a place which has become my second home for the last 3 years and where I longed to go even more desperately than my home. Yes, I was back in the BITS campus after being away from it for 5 long months. It was the time for fun, it was the time to shun all the vagaries and tensions that come along with the academics, it was the time for—OASIS 2K6, which marked the second significant chapter in the course of my trip. On entering the institute premises, I started gazing as if I had been years away from this place, still all it was offering was a warm welcome with the surroundings greeting in whichever way they could. A deep sense of warmth, affection and respect began arousing deep inside my core and I wished I could thank each one of the constituents, which constituted the premises. To say the least, it was a sort of homecoming for me personally. Every moment that passed from then on increased the excitement and uncertainties that were to be the guests for the next four days. The reunion with the pals was a special occasion, the usual prank stuff and some serious talks formed the core of the gossips whenever time permitted to do so. The DJ floor, few audi events and the prof shows (disappointing though L) enjoyed the privilege of being the top-priority events to be watched. The confusion and hara-kiri visible in the lawns hadn’t lost its intensity either with some “big-eyed” gentlemen thronging the place and constantly looking out for the eye-soothing picture perfect views. Thence, I made a quick decision to move over to my maternal uncle’s place in Delhi to celebrate Diwali. On the last day of oasis, I bade adieu to my campus for another 2 months and set out for the 3rd and last part of my trip with two of my friends. Enter Delhi and one comes to know what a real traffic mess is really like. Anyhow, the bus entered the ISBT at 7:30 PM and, thus, after a long and unnecessarily gruelling journey of six and a half hours, we were boarding off the bus..!! Thereafter, it was the time for another first-hand experience for me as I travelled by the metro railway lonely. Finally, I reached my destination and settled a bit after having been traveling all along the length and breadth of Rajasthan for the last 4 days. The next days were spent decorating and cleaning the house in which I played an appreciable part and enjoyed every bit of it. Then came the Diwali night and the whole world looked as if there had been no concept of darkness during the night also. Such was the brightness in the sky. And the glittering bulbs decorated in sparkling sequence along the house roofs and walls made it all the more arresting. The feeling was transcendental and awe-inspiring for me as here I was, celebrating the festival among the family members after a good three year long gap. Finally, the trip had entered its conclusive phase and the last few hours were spent shopping and looking around the city, as I had to gather reminisces good enough to last for the remaining time in Chittorgarh.
At 7 PM, as the train accompanied me in my sojourn from Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station back to my training place, I felt in my heart of hearts as if I was going to miss this fun that I had had all through these seven days, but soon my pragmatic self took over the emotional side of me and I felt a lot better thinking that the fun and the other activities engulfing it are all parts of a life-circle along which one has to traverse round and round. These seven roller-coaster days had just given a glimpse of the part of the circle, which offered relief and enjoyment, and now that this portion of the circumference had got over, I had to be back in business. Though, looking at the other side, this busy period shall also have to get over and the train of life will soon be approaching the stress-free world of enjoyment and accompaniment with near and dear ones and who knows, things could be even bigger and better the next time around.