govindaprajhans2095

Tuesday was historic for miles covered on foot and with no mouth shoot

2012-01-29T23:19:00.005-08:00

Tuesday was historic for the miles covered on foot and the destinations accessed with no mouth shoot

SEtting out on a tuesday, Jan 24th, it was an occasional reminder that miles unknown to mankind and probably those residing in tubes and with no shine had to be covered on foot. Started at 10 in the morning from Jhandu Singh Marg as those who set out during this hour have Jeene Ki Aaag. Coming underneath a flyover that went overhead, turned right to bring the circulation in the legs. Few minutes later i was face to face with a public convenience outlet, the ones which are dexterously engaged by moving and disappearing public to release pressure from their tools of succession.

Aware of the impending hazards i stepped down before approaching the ladder that led to such convenient utilities conveniently built for convalescing public. On the left lane which took me to government flats and fame i walked past them to reach INA den. FRom here taking left was the sole course letting me to go up and down the Safdarjung Flyover(here safdarjung is spelled with jung) with a renewed force. At the peak of the flyover was an ad hoarding commensurate with people loitering and in the process urinating. Perhaps the public convenience utility was the much desired object here as public desire to release liquid when they are at the peak of a flyover road that has undergone wear and tear.

Coming down the flyover i come across Hindi typing, writing hoarding next to a postal department office which has its own setting. Down from elevated to plain road, the elementary rules of the game suggested that i take pedestrian cake. Past Jor Bagh bus and metro stand and on to a path leading to SafdarJang's tomb, the time had come to shed the fun and bring more briskness to my walking ton.

Past Shiv Mandir and past first stretch of Tughlaq Road, the first halt was at Hanuman Home (10.45am) which remains open through the day as it engineers tuesday fray. Taking the road further the first semi circle cut i take brings a query from a man on a cycle wave. The Cong office query leads me to tell him to take the Akbar road which so far has no sizeable load.

Turning right from Krishna Menon Marg, it is Sunehari Bagh and the unbelievable quieteness that keeps it from capital clutter apart. The idea of going down the Rajpath, which would eventually lead me to ITO Art Gallery, gets defeated as the Rajpath has been closed to interventions due to republic day revelations. Equally revealing is the road i have to take and finally settle for Dr Rajendra Prasad Road which finally leads to Andhra Bhawan. Before AP Bhawan could be accessed i come across untamed release of water from a pipe of a government accommodation and this showed the insensitivity of denizens knowing well the scarcity of water and losing it is no fun.
Going past Ashoka Road and Hyderabad House few metres away is a signboard of Sarvochhaya Nyalaya. Turn left from there and i am close to apartments with their share of foyers. Red Chillies i wasn't supposed to get hamstrung and the idol of Lord Hanuman was my next halt located on the right turn. From there the rush is towards Delhi Gate and in between another Hanuman Home that has a left gate. It is probably 12 and here stepping past the Delhi Gate red light i can see some sections of Red Fort and its height. Before i could access the Red Fort i come across one roadside vendor near a library selling adult literature which leads to long line of adulterated happenings in society. Adult probably was his line of convenience and this reminds me of Kapoor Book Shop in Nathdwara Bus Stand, who is equally adept in making available to awaiting audience the adult nuances that they have never lent and sent. Not to be bogged down by such adulterated attempt i carry on with my journey. In another 20-odd minutes i am opposite Red Fort and here one gentleman has clinically observed my clinical pattern of speaking to myself. Here again, not to be clinically washed away by his observation i go past Digamber Jain Mandir and Ballimaran pointing races. Go straight and then turn left and in another 15 minutes i am in Yamuna Bazar and the congregation there suggests most have Khwaishein hazar.

The miles i took on foot with no mouth shoot clearly suggest that walking for hours together in Delhi's Shine has a plausible possibility given pedestrian stretches are no rarity. Still, the Kolkata Pedestrian Plus has its imaginative beat as you go past heat and a crowd that is not on retreat.

2012-01-29T23:19:00.003-08:00

Two languages, Bangla and Tamil, are essential to the point of succession

As the winter is about to abate

2012-01-28T02:09:00.000-08:00

As the winter is about to abate

As the winter is about to abate, with some weeks still for the spring to knock the gate, the months of December and January have been too harsh for those preferring to have Southern Cities on their itinerary. To keep the record straight these two months were equally appalling/troublesome for some territories in Southern States, with winter chill reaching a scale which had no previous tale. As for the North, the winter was biting and equally biting was the journey which some destined to take towards National Capital and their arrival shrouded in thickening fog and the atmospherics nothing to suggest of a carnival.

I, for one, reached the national capital on a day after two months away with a belief that times would be thick with an appetite for food and with no physical movement days and nights it would be on a entire different firmament. Because the days spent in the states of Odisha, West Bengal and Gujarat were different for the different meals tried on different days and the round the clock activity that ensured strong mental alacrity.
Disposed to the idea that national capital had to be tried given the indisposed nature of tummy that had failed to shine, OLd DElhi Station was accessed with no hopes that coming days would be a feast. It has been over three weeks when the stay has been punctuated with a belief that no matter what the war mongers may engage in the best course would be to not be reclusive and step out as and when the time has come for the idea to be flaunted as a clout.

Here in the national capital, registering alarming departures and arrivals, what has been registered with an alarming pace has been those sporting double chin and their woolen craze. Snuggled in quilts and stepping out wrapped around with innumerable woolen clue, the increasing woolen wrapper on the body suggests the inclement weather and increment lather they have to deploy to get a smooth shave and which could change their fate. Double chin growth showing up as one face and refusing to expand slow shows how disproportionate their range of activities has been to their range of body demands. UNbelievable has been the weather and unbelievable has been the entrapment in leather leading to no wise movement which could unleash top to toe shudder. With unbelievable meals and no unbelievable zeal to fight the flab, the all round personality is what they command and fewer having logistics to be in running band. Running is the least to expect from those who are on meal feast and with cold refusing to hold the intermittent shower of body expansion is the fashion. If cold refused to abate and movements on the roads and rail tracks had a slow gait, the refusal of those having stubble and refusing to shave even when their flames were wrapped with them in a towel showed the mental agility was a luxury and few having the grit to have clean shaven clarity.

Clean shave was the least to expect in the Capital and beyond as most were engaged in viewing the Australian hammering and Sensex dawn. Sensex upped and breathed fire followed with some suggesting some stocks in the 30-share index had to retire. So as sensex rose and tank with those not remotely associated with either sensex and their strings of ex, they too refused to take occasional bath or clear the stubble as they believed this would endear them to those who construct a fable. Constructive was by no means their decision of not taking bath and not shaving the stubble carat as this was their winter-and-yet-to-be-decimated habit. Fling with the sensex and fling with traffic beats was their daily grind,never realising that moisturiser driven and woolen draped appearance would be of no order if no attempt had been made to cut the double chin and double bum which had reached their prime.

In the National Capital and those areas yet to reach annihilation level, Winters would come and go, the surge in road traffic would refuse to slow and yet there would no surety that bodies stretched beyond outer limits and chin bursting to the seams and looking timid won't have a recurring pattern as there are no dearth of those who pass this bulging baton. Time is ripe to reassure the commodities existing in national capital and caught in existential dilemma that the best way to fight cold is to have jaggery and honey and take brisk walk even if it leads to trail shock.

Tuesday was historic for miles covered in a national capital gear

2012-01-28T02:04:00.000-08:00

Why traffic and tweets are more or less the same

2012-01-27T23:01:00.005-08:00

Why traffic and tweets are more or less the same

In the world riven by dissensions and fame, traffic and tweets have something to claim. It is only in the heat of the moment that people tweet and the surge in the transport traffic is too seen when people step out of place of work/stay after having failed to check opponents burst of flay. Course correction happens when both actions are tamed; traffic by enlightening the moving Janata that no purpose would be served by moving out as there are as many forces out to tame you as they were in the vicinity of the place you reside and the tweet public by suggesting that tweets are nothing but scaling down their number of followers given their grammatical howlers.

Tweets and traffic won't extinct but speed governors would surely govern their pace and feast. Temperamental illustration is the sum and substance of both acts and both would be up against a wall of resistance given the clamour of more to make it have a clutter glow. As moves are afoot to censor tweet; perhaps the best way to scale down the tweet thunder is to have it operational and readable during certain waking hours of the day.
If tweets could turn a turncoat to a steady boat and traffic would make the adherent less maverick then substandard won't be level of its functioning and actually a standard would have reached and rants would be fewer and fewer acts of breach.
As for the hour of the day when tweets and traffic is a shower of no end; it is perhaps when nobody is not interacting with no one and everyone wants to reach out to every clan.
As for now, Tweets are here to stay and traffic here to get grey.

Parties to hand out laptops to students of all ages,signs and submission

2012-01-27T23:01:00.003-08:00

Parties across political spectrum have decided to hand out laptops to students of all ages signs and depression

In the run up to elections spread in five states and waiting to spread in other where assembly is in jitter and the buildings housing them seeing no clutter, political parties have decided to be decisive and hand out laptops that nowadays look basic.
These laptops would be handed out in the last lap of the poll race and would be handed out to students who are able to prove their identity or are able to pose as students even though they have been working round the clock in kirana store.

Possession of an identity card is a must as it stores the possibility of possessing the possibly working laptops and other fringe lollipops. When the last lap of the poll race approaches, approaching would be political candidates agents possibly exploring the possibility of laptops to be handed to their friends and old flames and those who could be identified as students and yet to be tamed. Because students studying and those showing the ability to study in primary, secondary and abscondary levels need to be roped in for the ingenious ways they flip out and in. Be it examination centres or canteen serving as seduction frontier, the students of all possible ages know the way to freedom with no threat of cages. And this deft handling is what politicos aspire for given the EVMs (Electronic Voting Machine) and those losing their deposits despite their established record on CBMs (Confidence Building Measures).

Assurance on laptops come with other assurances like once these laptops are parted free of cost the political parties would be parting their workers so that students and foreseeable gems can sit on the laps of these workaholic workers to work round the clock. Laps of the workers too would be free of cost and all that the students would be required to do is instill a level of confidence in these workers that life is not all about votes and turncoats as laptops with internet coating can cruise them to a world where most agents apart from political and permissible are ready to bloat and boast of their innermost gems and fort. So traumatic and long lasting would be these workers submission to a world of bodily boast that they would round the year offer their laps to any sizeable section of students who can bring them tantalisingly close to a world of sizeable gems.

THe whole idea of lavishing laptops on leveraging students is born from this apart from the shortage of chairs in cities and countryside which has fewer cheers. It has been occasionally established that life in the countryside has seen migration of workers to their homeland and scarcity of hands to till their land. To arrest this decline of labourforce, handing out laptops is the sole available course. Because if one worker offers lap, there would be a beeline of others to go for lap lollipop given the string of benefits it secures. If a student seeks to work for unlimited hours on a laptop, unlimited would be the stream of workers waiting to offer their laps as post polls they don't have any sizeable act to do to showcase and maintain their much-cherished abs. Therapeutic would be the experience and sizeable would be the load of students sitting on their laps and working and thereby helping them to maintain the perfect abs.
Loads of benefits to be released is enough for the economy at large once laptops begun to barge. Hail the freedom of workers and students; political workers for not getting gainfully employed round the year and students not sizeably zeroing in on their target given the shortage of chairs from which they can catch on the bait. It is the scarcity of chairs and cheerleaders that has prevented the plausibly pliable students to bloom and once seating strength has been gained there would be no end to their clones.
Lapping it up with all laps and laptops is the synergy the political forces find themselves in given the need to not let opponents grin against the backdrop of their workers thrusting to their side of gym.

Obama's State of Union Address

2012-01-27T23:01:00.001-08:00

Obama's State of Union Address

In his State of Union Address, which happened to be on a Tuesday, President Obama spoke for a duration that should have pleased certain sections of audience; even pleasing the opponents as it gave the opportunity to speak on subjects on which Never-Oscillating Obama spoke. Fewer were the territories left for his foes to speak and fume as they were largely entangled in Primary Dune.Well they spoke on his economic blueprint and its failure to lift the mood and not effectively gauging to what their delegates were by and large clued.It was South Carolina Primary which threw up Newt Gingrich armoury and this leaving the field wide open between Newt and Mitt Romney who till the other day had confided to his confidantes and confidantes-turned-conference attending delegates that by no chance he could blew it. South Carolina results showed the Mitt the battle he had on his hands from Newt who could recall more than his share of association with Ronald Reagan who had an eight year Capitol Hill haul.

The South Carolina Surprise had set the stage for Florida Primary to be something that would set the stage for Republican Party Cavalry. Too close to call has been the slew of polls on who would get the Florida to roll; and whoever it may be Obama would still be sitting much pretty. With a logical attempt to turn the heat from his tamed opponents on political turf, Obama, the Prez and sturdy enough to carry beyond 2012 splurge, spoke on the autonomous nature of US Policy automatic enough to dance in the Pacific and in the process preserve the semantics.It had been the US Policy on Pacific which got the Chinese to dismiss it as maveric and show its disdain in whatever colour it deemed fit as it questioned its writ. Bringing on board in his address was the US Supremacy and the need to continue the fame with the same degree and never baulk at those who beg to disagree. With Iraq pull out in the past and the Afghan withdrawal that would happen in phases to last, the US was tantalising close to set new parallels by upgrading its bases. Iran, for one, was a more formidable challenge than economy which had begun to bum. Though limited was his observation on Iran with a veil warning that unfettered could not be its access to nuclear weapons and arms, China's unfair trade practices was something that could not keep his nation and residents calm.
Elaborate was his tone on handing compliments to US Companies that led to creation of jobs on the home turf and punishing those that shipped out with new gloves. Outsourcing was the least he could rally support for and taxing the hardly taxed outsourcing entities was the desire his administration stood for. As he winded his address, winding were the roads for his political foes who had whirr to buzz only when the layers of economy had begun to forward lurge. Economy may still not be a turnaround story but still enough to complement his foray coming against Navy Seals Successful Navigational Zeal(May 2011 and January 2012) .

Time it took to sew this story shows the unimaginative mind at work and least connected to Obama Turf. Primary and Pageantry may be the US obsession but in our land lavishing laptops against undecided political fate shows the urgency of politicos to make students and those posing to be one to reach out to a world that has made the public shun.

2012-01-21T00:29:00.005-08:00

Tweeting is in our genes and before attempting this we need to have the requisite beans.
Some tweet followed by weep and some weep and then tweet.

2012-01-21T00:29:00.003-08:00

Travelling through Triambakeshwar to Somnath via Dwarka got me dollops of goodies and that too at a reasonable price. If it was the search for Mysore Sandal Soap that saw me cover a distance, the search for sweets in Kolkata was quite handy.

It was the gold coloured Lord Venkateshawar idol from the vicinity of Lord Triambakeshwar temple which was a prized possession. And here i failed to acknowledge the role of a man coming with a family who prodded me to take it.
In the past kur kure for rs five and ganne ka ras for fairly less i could lay my hands on in Triambakeshwar. Looking for the fame Mysore Sandal soap, it was the search lasting for over one hour and this finally led me to a shop near the temple on the left side which had plenty of them.

This time round Dwarka had one gentleman carrying peanuts on a cycle and ever ready to hand change whenever i asked for. Somnath got me the honey and peanuts i desired.
Here the STD booths never failed to croon and despite minimal traffic the booths remained opened for long hours.
Apart from Somnath Trust kind enough to let me stay for some days the diligent exercise to maintain round the clock security could not be underestimated.

Ahmedabad saw me take the Hanuman Camp ride; the best day to visit is on A Saturday.

Ajmer has some of the best kachodis and further in Nathdwara the milk's thickness has few parallels.The prasadam procured from inside has a wholesome flavour.
Kolkata has the sweets and enough of soaps coming for as low as five. In Hati Bagan the Divine Cyber Cafe has the least rates and there are some around B B Ganguly Street that are equally good. Oranges come cheap and looking for veg rolls the road adjacent to goenka college has some handing out.
In Puri,the Khaja (five rs apiece)from a panda selling right opposite Lord Jagannath's idol should be tried. Not to be left is the aloo parwal kassa outside.

The lit festival and who all are irresistible

2012-01-21T00:29:00.001-08:00

The lit festival and who all are irresistible

Some would say that it is the balanced coverage of the literature festival that has balanced the organisers to balance their outlook and time and again look at their passbook. None of the organisers would like to go beyond the brief spelled by the administration and if they do so, the penalty would be no cheap. So before any transgression(seen by the administration)is attempted by any writer who hasn't written and yet attempts to write or who has neither written nor attempts to do the same but has enough probability to have fame courtesy ghost writers, the organisers would step in to debar them from a session of reading and rehearsing. Because if for undiluted hours they allow the book readers to read and rehearse it could lead to a typified law and order problem leading to emergence of bawdy emoluments. Nothing that could turn pricey and sap their passbook savvy could be allowed by anyone with any bent of mind. Mind which we all are proud to possess but are afraid to deploy.

With the scuffle between the organisers and writers not looming large, it was the turn of intellectuals to charge. In the literature festival the collection is of individuals who have reached prime as far as intellectual capacity is concerned; those who are established intellectuals and yet have not been notified by their writing-and-not-sulking world; those who attempt to be intellectuals and are yet to discover the way to this tag that is perpetual; and those who don't aspire and don't dream of the same and yet have been carrying this tag for long and with no gain. The collection spelled out in clinical details, the literature fest of reading and on occasions coughing, has tried over the years to discover, dissect and digress. Discovery is oneself and dissection is of the writings that others have attempted to do with clarity shoot.

THe TV Host from US and INterventions Near Mumbai Coast

2012-01-21T00:28:00.000-08:00

THe TV Host from US and INterventions Near Mumbai Coast

It was a bash meant to hail the TV Host from the US, Oprah Winfrey, the name by which she is known in other nation states apart from the US claiming to preside over 50 states. THe bash happened in a certain locality of Mumbai this week and it was meant to be fairly strong and not week. Hosted by a socialite who was not aware that a local politico too had powers to bite, the music began appropriately before 10 at night. Seeing the collection of volunteers who had volunteered to be present at the site, the politico made a submission to the local police station that music was too loud but not enough to go beyond Mumbai Border and Crowd. As a result the cops had their first hour of intervention some time after 10.

Dawar Ki Adalat was supposed to churn out a seven-minute performance. But seeing the intervention from intervening authorities the Dawar and his Troupe staged to stay for less than seven and disappeared to a place not known to anyone. Minutes later the music soared to its desirable decibel level knowing well the volunteers who had trooped in could not sink in the experience if music did not hit hard their ear drums. It was probably at 11 when a soul having got enlightened to enliven the cops on the much-needed opportunity to march inside and chop the music that had a pre intervention surprise. So the second intervention came at half past 11 and post intervention, which no volunteer saw as privacy of their invasion, the music was back on its renewed feat.

At half past one when the new day had dawned coming with 90 minutes thunder, the third and final intervention came and this led to closure of gates for any volunteer who wanted to step inside and all those volunteers who had already stepped inside to fritter away to the large pool side called the Mumbai sea site. Collection of volunteers from the place where the bash was held to their relocation to the sea where they were free to a fairly degree showed the appropriateness of seashore for the bash for which the volunteers never gatecrashed. All in all it was a resident locality housing residents who were vocal and had not seen for ages the not-muted-and-fairly-registered music activity that led to these series of interventions and much anticipated curtains.

When the intervention authorities were asked about the intervening nature of their interventions, the reply intermittent with some taking showers was they were not aware who Oprah Winfrey was as they were still to get out of Oh la la Oh la la gear.
Smitten by Oh la la fever, they could least afford to have Oprah Winfrey as the new song weaver. Disposed by the idea that interventions are normal by any standards in a nation state like India, the Oprah Winfrey entourage descended on Vrindavan fair. Here too there was a mild and yet reportable scuffle between those volunteering to join Oprah and those determined to click and report on her new intervention less savera. Seeing the scuffle which had all the ingredients of a bursting bubble the TV host entourage moved next to Taj Mahal Courtyard.

What was evident at Taj Mahal were evidences of people visiting Taj and recognising the SEventh Wonder and failing to recognise the TV Host Thunder. So there were Khaki men and mediamen surrounding her and few in the crowd eager to picture her in the Agra Sun.

As I left Howrah

2012-01-19T04:36:00.001-08:00

As i left Howrah

As i left Howrah by a train that was destined to get further late, the first point of interaction was with a gentleman who was destined to get down at mughalsarai and was eager to engage on National Capital issues of ascendance. Ascendancy we could rarely see as far as the National Capital was concerned and he broached on the Taxi fare in Delhi which leaves most with upset Belly. Upset belly was a talk i rarely could pull along given the spate of upsets in the past 60-odd zig-zag zest. Law and order too prominently figured and here we agreed the mindset of some of the residents of the national capital had to be freed. Freed from the clutches that money alone can't make them bypass the rules of the game and those who have been instrumental in ameliorating the lot of others so as to come heavy on law abiders can't have round the clock fame. Shame was the conduct of some residents of the city and here both the gentleman and i agreed that intrusive and abusive nature of some blacklisted entities would see an early end as the world is round and free.

Shuffling among topics like water, power and transport, the mughalsarai destined traveller - he was supposed to go all the way to Varanasi- agreed that a huge levy needs to be placed on big personal vehicles which are nothing but acts of running out of patience. THe New DElhi Capital Roads may not boast of a cluttered existence but seeing one individual in the entire car and along side a bus full of public shower was the least sign of civility and herein authorities need to come on fuel guzzlers heavy.

AS we spoke with some interventions from a North Eastern folk the point of agreements were the focus and the need to scale down the New Delhi prime, beginning with major events having a tier ii sunshine. AS there was no need for dinner, i had mine from Jan Aahar outlet in Howrah station where a lady from the North East holding a cell with a picture of her manning the cash desk. She was powerful enough to power in the requisite changes in coins and rupees and in between looking at her cell and the picture she had stored for ages and working in a structure that solely had pictures of rail.
In the coach i was, there were two other gentlemen, one working in Farakka division of NTPC and another in computer to plate print machine; one getting down at Allahabad and another at Kanpur. Both hailed from Burdwan and this revelation came when Kanpur man was about to deboard. Both Burdwan guys dropped enough hints that Kolkata is one city where the least visible to a biggie can easily reside as the city among metros has the smoothest ride.

Next morning when the M'sarai resident got down clad in a suit boot in came another gentleman who preferred the upper berth route. Comfortable for me as i desired lower berth and all along the day and i had my way. The new arrival slept and in between had meals and when the time came for interaction i was quite amazed. Points of discord emerged from his talk as he tried to run down the system by suggesting that any number of loopholes can be dissected howsoever strong the resolve of the govt. may be. THis gentleman was going to Dubai for the final settlement of his bills and he declared with no hesitation that Dubai, a strong centre of tourism, was heading towards turbulent submission. For Abu Dhabi as well, the story he put on board was no inspiring. And post Dubai visit he was headed towards Varanasi hoping to initiate the business dealing with rudraksha kit.

Later refusing to enter into any form of interaction as his logic that money could show you the way to bend the rules could hardly inspire anyone, i was waiting for the train and its destination. Probably around 4 in the evening it entered the Kanpur territory and alongside Seemanchal also pulled inside which too was headed towards National Capital destination. From Kanpur the speed of the train i was in was determined by the fog it engulfed and the trains that were ahead of us.It was at 2 the next morning the train reached the Old DElhi destination and for the next four hours i bided my time in Waiting room with some taking to sleep with blankets and quilts. The waiting room was comparatively clean and the train premises too with a presentable face. The infusion of coffee from a food joint on a platform near the entrance was a botheration of sorts as it led to a struggle in belly lasting for few hours.

It was a journey from Howrah almost lasting two nights and i was in a coach that was just two months old. Manufactured at Kapurthala Coach Factory, i was lucky to be in and equally concerned for how long it would have the shine. Perhaps the shine would last and we would have our date with trains round the year and with no fear.

Why do people tweet? Is their aversion to sleep that leads them to tweet

2012-01-19T01:29:00.002-08:00

Why do people tweet? Is their aversion to sleep that leads them to tweet

Why do people tweet? Is their aversion to sleep that leads them to tweet. Well, there is no research to suggest that people took to tweeting when the country they resided in had a downgrade rating ; and perhaps to beat that downgrade depression they had their daily dose of tweeting sensation. Well, the research if and ever it comes before the tweet becomes no fun would correspond to the fact that tweets and their numbers are more or less the same from developed, developing or of the states whose status is yet to be known given no unfolding of envelope.

In the times of tweets and twists no one seems to be averse to this form of risk. Risk is least expected since the awakening message to awaken the Janata has to be 140-strong character adjusted. In the 140-strong-cum-supervising character, the object is to reach out to an audience which wants every update of tweeter shenanigans. Some tweet every hour of the rising and converting day; some tweet every day of the month and some tweet every month of the seasonal run. Amidst this there are few and disappearing tribe who tweet once in a while; necessarily translating to once in a year. Provocation is simple and solid: It is not just the solid waste that they flushed out in haste in one successful attempt from their toilet den; even the nagging constipation leading to thinking cap submission on the seat they fixed themselves to fight the tummy creation. In effect, from solid waste to constipation distaste has led them to imagine and become tweet race.

In the world driven by dissensions and fame, tweets are by some individuals who want their supremacy to reign. Supremacy they can least afford to let go and competitors they would like them to slow. In the competitive supremacy the number of followers tailing them is their show of strength and any figure less than one won't be seen as a trend. Followers in their bid to follow and fume follow those tweeters who tweet about the temperature in their city/state and the number of hours they stayed at home to free themselves from job gate. Job and career least interest them as tweeting gives them the weapon to advertise that this act of tweet followed randomly by fists has given them followers which no career on earth would have given them even when they would have turned their blowers. Forget followers any career they would have been disposed to would have not lend them evaders/ foes-turned-agitators as tweets have handed them. DEtails breaking to the number of hours slept and the number of hours wept are put in clinical fashion collaborating with the number of hours they intend to spend on getting their daily ration.

Well there are no golden rule to suggest that tweets have to be universally at this hour of the day as people tweet when they seem to have reached a feat. Feat would be how they assume their move they made at a particular hour leading them to a spate of followers barking at every waking hour.
The seasonal rush for tweets and seasonal abating is normally associated with the performance on different fronts. THe seasonal tweet from a sportsperson, largely defined as a cricket sensation, could well be his thrill at not participating in the forthcoming contests as that would make him more eligible from a long deserved rest. The tweet from a politico could well be at the prospect of not contesting polls as he could well be hauled up by his foes-turned-seniors that he could poll this much votes when they poured their heart and soul to defeat him with money fort.

The tweet from a middleman in the middle of nowhere could be on the meddlesome nature the system has been, meddling at his every move to milk it at the milking hours and depriving him of his daily cash shower.

Tweets that are to follow would be from the stable of ATMs; Instead of 24 hour ATMs, it could well read as 12 hour ATMs/12 hour CBMs (confidence building measures). Because to enter the atm one has to have the requisite confidence that once having withdrawn his pie he s/he won't be asked to part with the same once s/he steps out leaving them to a long spell of cry. Entering an ATM too calls for a degree of confidence as the ATM card holders have to assume that someone with an assumed name would have deposited the cash they wish to withdraw failing which they would tweet the turn of events as a system flaw.

As for the tweet from a laundrywallah could well be deposit 12 clothes in one go, take six and consequentially pay for six. Because most of the clothes sent for laundry have innumerable ruptures given the body that is seized within and struggling to cling and once freed the clothes have all to bleed. Torn and coloured apart is the fabric and the laundrywallah who attends to all clothes deposited would be a maverick.
Tweet from a trafficwallah could well be on the slow pace of vehicle movement and how s/he desires it to be enduring slow so that s/he does not have to step out on the road to give their tongue blow. If slow is the traffic fewer would be skirmishes and fewer would be the occasions to spot those vehiclewallah sporting rashes. Tweet from a buswallah would be on the bus carrying more than its desirable capacity and here the fuel tank has to be filled keeping in mind all adversity.

Tweets from a common man would generally ponder on the temerity clan; the clan who could hold his/her nerves against every bite and yet refuse to be drawn in for a fight. Tweets could be simple and on occasions not looking stale and yet not disposed to the idea of having a long trail.

So tweets in all are about the rules they tweaked and guidelines they shrieked. The weather they freaked and the return they desired to their fief. Tweets would come and go as long as people would sport a glow; tweets would be under threat if plateaued growth is the story that is fed. Because in the past 20 years the projections for growth change every day from decimal to a point given the quantum of agitators in the fray.
Hailing the tweet culture is the fad and enormity of the traffic and the content would be decided by those who day in day out have a job to act.

2012-01-19T01:29:00.001-08:00

WEst Bengal, Odisha and Gujarat are three states which hope to do well despite some trying to pull them down. Let's hail the achievements and let's hail the attempts towards a turnaround. Cynics would try to derail them. But they have the wishes of the masses which won't fail them. Even those staying outside the state would wish them well.They have to hope for the best and hope their work would speak for them and endure them in the long test. Hope they endure and get the states secure.

2012-01-15T00:27:00.001-08:00

A day in Somnath would be quite handy

Having reached Howrah and taking the train ticket

2012-01-10T23:50:00.001-08:00

Having reached Howrah and taking the train ticket

It was the first Wednesday of the year and i was in Howrah Gear. Took the accommodation next to Esplanade and hoping to spend the next two to three days in the city that had much to offer as a cake. Perhaps the last night journey from Puri and the broken sleep for the past two-three days gave me the urgency to head towards National Capital even if there were risks waiting to unravel.

From Dharmatollah Railway Counter i took the ticket and from there i headed towards Ras Behari Avenue to search for an accommodation that i may not have to vacate in submission. The stroll through Ras Behari Avenue reminded me of the previous foray to this area when in 2008 i had come visiting Kolkata via Asansol Adda. Went past Venkateshwar, Ma Tara and Metro lodges. All seem to be highly inhabitale; inhibiting was the tariff of some and not bearable. The search wasn't futile in the sense this area lay in vicinity of Kalighat. On the way back took tea leaves from Druba Tea Centre (perhaps that is the name i can recall) as they had put the hoarding of Original Tea CEntre and were ready to roll. It was the bus i decide to take to Esplanade and soon had to replace it with the metro as the traffic on the road was too strong to disappear in one go.

Having retired for the night, it was the battle for the next day when i had to vacate room early and train was well past seven from Howrah Gallery. Went to Kalighat and on return handed the key of the lodge after having taken the belongings from room cot. Hoping to catch on College Square fervour took the bus towards that end and in the middle of the journey realised the bus was headed towards Dakshineshwar fence.
Struggling with a sprained and yet manageable neck i managed to take this ride and within 75 minutes i was in my destination. It was after three i had my turn and it was a cherished moment which would be hard to forget. The wait for doors to open was worthy by all sense as i had my kachodi bhaji from shops along the fence coming along with jhugni from a territory having makeshift vendors. This one i visited for the first time and i relished to no end. The vendor selling Ma pictures was kind enough to hand over the pictures i desired and this Dakshineshwar Day was the one i aspired. Before leaving Ma K Dwar i collected the Calendar from a room adjacent to the library. If possible one should collect them as they have major festivals etched on them.

The commute back began with a bus going towards Dunlop and further by a bus going towards Ras Behari Avenue. One Bong family having boarded the bus remarked "Govt ke bus" given the broad seats it had and the body illustrating that it had been on roads more than the desired hours. It was in Rabindra Sadan roundabout i mistook the bus heading in the opposite direction and i deboarded and took a taxi as time was my consideration. Paying 30 i reached near R B Avenue and from there walked to Druba Tea Centre for tea leaves which i wanted in my tea pot to appear. It was a struggle for a while as on return the metro i took had developed some glitches and refused to shoot. I boarded a taxi where already one person was on the back seat. i paid 50 and somehow managed to reach Esplanade by which the clock had 6.40 shine and perhaps looking to the looming train fine . Just one hour to collect the luggage and reach Howrah, it was a rush i could barely manage.

It was already seven and from Maidan bus station the taxiwallahs were asking for my hiked rate submission. Somehow took the bus for Howrah and there were gentlemen cooped inside who were suggesting i should have tried the Taxi ride. By half past seven i was in Howrah and the enquiry centre revealed the train had been reset for 10:40 cure. Took the meals from Jan Aahar and waited for the 10:40 shine.
The Howrah station was fairly clean and with no filth/fluids around this remarkable progression was amazing given the unmanageable crowd that round the clock abound. Locals from Bolpur, Digha, Burdwan and other places were trooping in and trooping out and the size of the crowd quite sizeable and not leading to any bout.
Kolkata and Puri were great and the glow on the face showed they are not bound by any chase.
Hope Odisha and WEst Bengal have their moments of pride and have as much investments as they try. Administrators in both the states need not get bogged down by what critics say and need not respond to all provocations and the best part is they are on a chair from where they can take decisions with no fear. Decisions they have to take even if less populist some may look as the economy has to be brought on track and job schemes have to be back. Let's Look at The Big Picture and the challenges we have to meet and not get derailed by critics claim.

2012-01-10T23:47:00.003-08:00

Grand Road is really grand in many ways

Going Past Bali Sahi in Puri

2012-01-10T23:47:00.001-08:00

Going past Bali Sahi and on to the beach road in Puri you come across hotels and handloom centres. Beginning with Hotel trimurti, hotel Ambar, hotel Om, Sambalpur handloom, Orissa State Tantuja, Orissa Tantushree. Further down the road is Hotel Seagull, Handloom Market Complex, UTkalika Orissa State Handloom Emporium, Sri Kanchi Kamkoti Sankaracharya Math, Dr Babaji Mohapatra M.H M.S Govt. recognised, Shree Sankar Taxi Centre, Lily Cottage (Shipping Corporation Co-op Credit Society Limited Holiday Home. This is followed by Hotel Palinpuri, Hotel Park, Sargam South Indian restaurant (packet food for train here is the signboard).
Hotel Ocean View, Balaram Travels (from here the first lane goes inside), Kaluram tours and travels, Ma Mandir, Sea View Hotel, Vithal Kamats restaurant, Hotel Swapnapuri, Victoria Club Hotel, Puri Hotel, IDBI ATM, Amber Restaurant, Deep Resorts, United Bank Of India, Sri Sri Balananda Tirthashram, Central Excise and Customs Holiday Home. This is followed by hoarding of Mani Tirumala Nandan Road( 80 per cent apartments sold out).
Next i come across is Jay Maa Kali Mistaana Bhandar from where i used to have curd in 2009.It was the search for the curd in 2009 that made one gentleman take me to dahi ka karkhana and this was none other than Jay Maa Kali Mistaana Bhandar. Next to Pramod babu kia dukan from where i have the tea is hotel trupti.

The ride from Puri to Howrah

2012-01-02T05:16:00.002-08:00

The ride from Puri to Howrah

Supposed to vacate the room by 10 in the morning i had over 12 hours to spend before the return journey to Howrah could commence. Stay beginning from the last Tuesday of December, it had been comfortable to the point that miles could be clocked on foot and hours could be sent on writing. Just before quarter past 10 the room was vacated with the luggage stored in an adjoining room for the next 10 hours. This gave me the opportunity to go past Bali Sahi Road and take the stretch from Hotel Trimurti to right up to Jay Maa Kaali Mistaana Bhandaar.

It was the desire for Khaja that led me to the Lord Jagannath's temple before noon and the best way to reach was through rear gate. Against this the January One rush was huge and still one could afford to be out of temple premises within one-and-a-half hour given the structured movement of the crowd. Long was the moustache of the man perched on a platform giving instructions on how one should move in and get out engaging in no sessions of bout. ON Jan one he could be spotted in the morning and late in the evening. AS for Jan two, the rush was palpably less and in and out movements involving no brush. Post Khaja - inside the temple right opposite Lord Jagannath's idol Khaja is 5 rs a piece and if one steps out few metes away it comes for rs 10 - the concern shifted to the time that had to be spent before taking the return train. It was walk past Dolamandap Sahi and roundabout that helped in getting the requisite circulation in the legs and later engage in writing fest. As the evening approached the ride to the station via Grand Road showcased its grandeur and how over the years it has been able to maintain the momentum. Once inside the station the monumental rush was evident given the spate of trains that were supposed to leave in the late evening. Proportion of the crowd comprised of those hailing from North India and heading towards their destination via Howrah.

Came across one gentleman manning a shop between platform 4 and 5 and he could hardly be spotted given his low height and surfeit of articles his shop showcased. Limited interaction revealed that he had been manning the shop for the past 42 years and i wished him well.
It was already half past 10 and still the entire coaches hadn't pulled inside the platform. Probably the hosepipe between the two coaches had developed some snag and it took some efforts from personnel underneath the coach to repair the same. When i entered the 3AC coach after a while commotion broke out as two gentlemen from the State of West Bengal were having issues on luggage and how it had to be accommodated. One gentleman came to my side and narrated his tale in Bangla. Could make out much of his narration but had to limit my conversation given my Bangla limitations. Having Taken the seat in B1 or B2 i shifted to another coach (seat number 16) as some had their long list of RACs and wanted to be through. THe side upper was ok and attempted sleep amidst majority who hailed from Bangla Fief.

Morning was spent amidst some hailing from Hati Bagan(Kolkata). Discussions revealed that they had been visiting Puri for the past 16 years and making a point to stay in Hotel Puri, the one i had sighted quite often when i went for beach ride to a greater degree. This Hati Bagan Group comprised close to 30 members and probably they had taken five rooms in Puri. The tariff was a meagre 100-150 rs in the earlier period and now it stood at 900 rs (100 rs discount as they had been keeping their date on an annual basis). They even managed to get a Oriya cook who prepared the food in lumpsum and get them the required pump. Stay starting from Dec 28 and winding to Jan 2. THen and there i realised how freely i could interact with them. Exchange of ideas were on Jagannath Temple and the place where the meals are prepared before being offered to the Lord and how one can hope to get a view of the same. UNanimous were our views that Jan One saw a big rush and thanks to the arrangements the movement was without any hassles and brush. This reminded me of the College Street Pandal in Kolkata when in the month of October, not less than a million visit the pandal during the entire duration and yet there is no shoving and pushing. Structured is the movement and splendid is the mind of those who visit them.
The Hati Bagan residents seem to be the most cherished group and best wishes to the old lady who conversed with me in Bangla and i wished her she would be visiting Lord Jagannath's Abode for the next 10 years.

AS we inched towards Howrah Station, we were told that the train is more an hour late and by the time we reached most of us had the taxi parked at the gate. THe taxi i took to reach Esplanade and from there i reached Chandni International on foot. Akram was the manager whom i handed keys when i finally left and the oranges was from Mushtaq who seem to be in no zest.

Best wishes to Surya Sen lodgewallah for letting me stay for 10 days; best wishes to orangewallah on Surya Sen Street who was kind enough to hand me the best oranges; best wishes to favourite cabin (S S Street) for giving me the desired tea; best wishes to newspaper vendor on S S Street; best wishes to a tea vendor on Dolamandap Sahi, Puri (next to the ramashree lodge); and best wishes to the vendor between platform 4 and five on Puri Station functioning for the past 42 years.

During the stay in Odisha and Kolkata, elaborate and appropriate was the conduct of people i came across and rooted to the ground was their round the clock toss.

2012-01-02T01:33:00.003-08:00

yes

2012-01-02T01:33:00.001-08:00

Yes

2012-01-02T00:53:00.001-08:00

It is the weather that would turn you to Puri. With exceedingly difficult and unmanageable cold in the North followed by a fighting and somewhat tolerable cold in Kolkata, the harsh winters are least to be seen in Puri. It is warm and rising during the day and sweaters are to be out when nights are in and days are out.
The temperatures one would relish happening in other parts of the country, especially the ones dogged by 24X7 winter and wilting commentary. Commentary is on the excessive cold that is in the air and leading to discomfort from top to bottom society layer.
Hope the winter abates in the North and it begins to resemble the very admirable heat of Puri and the cold becomes all-forgotten and displaced fury.
Summers are the best in any part of the country for the simple fact that immunity gets boosted from all round activity that has by and large people's sanctity. Surroundings are more visible in the Summers and haze is something that nobody has to bear. Hope spring is not far and summers would be something that would appeal to people wide and far.
Unbelievable has been the weather in this part of the country and the one that can set you to set long term goals.

2012-01-02T00:50:00.001-08:00

Yes

In Lord Jagannath's Abode in Odisha

2012-01-02T00:11:00.001-08:00

In Lord Jagannath's Abode in Odisha

As i go past Bali Sahi in Lord Jagannath's Abode, the past few days spent here have been complimented with a query on what prevented me from coming to this place for the past two years. It was September 2009 when i visited Lord Jagannath's home for the first time with a seven-day stay split between two adjoining hotels, chandrama and anjaana, on Gopal Ballav Road. Over a dozen times i would have gone past Gopal Ballav Road, turning right to Gopabandhu Chowk, turning left towards Mochi Sahi Square which finally takes you to Dolamandap Sahi (Temple Road). The walk from Gopal Ballav Road to Lord Jagannath's temple would be under 2kms but enough to turn you down for a while before you started again. September was sultry strong and enough thoughts went into before you tried to step out in late afternoon. Howsoever strong the rush may be inside the temple the happiness quotient visible here has fewer comparables across country.

This time December has been pleasantly cool; and all of a sudden on the last Saturday of the year the humid conditions began to make their way. Post prasadam meals from the temple - for the days stationed here at least once is a must - as i stepped out to go for my routine coffee from a makeshift camp run by a tea/coffee vendor opposite Sea View Hotel i come across sweets and medical centres like Rathi Sweets, Bhai Bhai Sweets and Jagannath Homoeo Sadan on Bali Sahi Road. Further down the road there is Tri Shakti Club, Sri Sri Batalokanath Temple and Radha Ramana Bastralaya. It is just few metres before the road is to merge with the one facing the sea, Swargadwar, there is a tall red structure , Pranavananda Seva Niketan Bharat Sevashram Sangha. It houses accommodation facility. In proximity is the cultural centre and a free reading room. Well no one could be sighted manning the desk either at Accommodation Centre or Free Reading Room as the one supposed to answer queries was expected in the evening.

Prior to visiting the Pranavananda Seva Niketan, i visited the makeshift camp and the vendor was kind enough to hand me a strong coffee. On most of the occasions you come across vendors who outright reject the request for a special tea/coffee. The coffee i took was opposite Sea View hotel Sea Beach, established 1931. Establishment of this Sea View Hotel in 1931 suggests the foresight of the gentleman to raise a structure when India's very freedom story was far from reaching a stage of complete success. 1931 was the year and establishment done under the cloud of colonial fear. The Sea View would have lost count of the number of tourists it would have accommodated and got separated over the years. The other day while i was standing opposite this structure i saw uncountable number of empty beer bottles being loaded by a scrap dealer on his van; and this suggested despite the weather being temperamentally cool the visitors tend to have their share to keep their temperament under check. THe solitary Abode of Lord Jagannath has a Solitary Sea to its credit and solitary may be the numbers here and there who would be taking beer to be in fighting gear.

There are other hotels as well facing the sea and i did not venture out to update myself with the tariff turnaround they have witnessed. It would be nonsensical to get the tariff update when one does not intend to stay on this side of the city. One thing was for sure : Most of the crowd (comprising family) thronging to this place was cultured and not economical with truth. As for the seashore the surge of humanity was to be seen to be believed and as i stood there i was reminded of Marina beach in Chennai and the sole visit i undertook on a Sunday morning when the rush was palpably low.

On the return journey to Grand Road via Bali Sahi i come across Panda Communication, coming with the facilities of Rail, Air reservation, internet , xerox. Inside the doors are locked. Further away is Jagatguru Ramanuja Acharya Ki Digbijaya Peetha (Ramanuja Kota). What one can see are bushes inside and i don't venture further on this one. A few metres away is Students Point- education-cum-fashion, with the underlining message that all recharge coupons are available here.

2012-01-02T00:02:00.001-08:00

As i go on Gopal ballabh Road, there is hotel greenway, appayana restaurant (alu parwal kassa for rs 40 and tandoori roti a piece rs 15. hotel parichay, savera restaurant, slew of saloons, regional research institute for homoepathy, hotel chandrama, hotel anjaana and baby lodge.
As you leave mochi sahi square and on temple road is basiram lodge, baikuntha dham lodge, town lodge, baba lodge. On vip road is vip guest house and laxmi narayan guest house.

Tea opposite Lily Cottage

2012-01-01T23:37:00.002-08:00

Tea opposite Lily Cottage

It was the tea opposite Lily cottage that gave me the confidence that i could cover some distance on foot. Distances that i have been trying to cover on foot and Krupasandhu Communication opposite the beach i tried on two occasions for cyber bite. The man manning the desk and also serving as priest told me the nagging pain of net being slow and this would dislodge me from seamless flow. Probably the day on Sunday had begun with a visit to the Puri station to get the ticket for the next destination. Shutters were down when i reached there and in evidence was pushing and shoving as shutters were lifted in full glare.

The reservation personnel on counter two was taking his own sweet time to get functional. And the man ahead of me hailing from Odisha and claiming to have settled in Kerala too diagnosed the problem in the same sentiment. Probably the first ticket would have taken some time to be issued but the amount of time it took surely suggested that reservation personnel had some other issues to handle before he could issue the first printout clue. By the time my turn came courtesy a gentleman from the State of West Bengal who offered me his standing position thereby lending me to jump 10 places in ticket queue pump the ticket personnel had some issues with my pan card xerox. I handed him the original to satisfy his query and when the xerox was handed with signature appended he again had issues on how signature had been cemented. I signed again and gave him the requisite change and here on three different occasions he said : " aaj kal sab log governor samajte hai" The signature and its lessening clarity made him issue this statement three times perhaps suggesting that the issue of ticket was never on his mind. This has been the experience of most passengers that whenever they go to a reservation counter to get a ticket issued the reservation personnel is a person occupied with other thoughts and no care.
The ticket was issued for a State beyond Odisha and it came at Eight O One fare. The fare was steep and here i should count my blessings that confirmed ticket was the biggest reap.
The reservation personnel is in a world of his own and given the masses the railways carry you can't fault them for their shinning foam. The return from station to Temple Road was on foot and it was an experience that one should book. Because there are some green cover you pass through and some roads which has traffic few.Going past Station Road, VIP Road it does not take long for one to experience the green cover and the shinning hour.

2012-01-01T23:37:00.001-08:00

2011-12-31T03:09:00.001-08:00

Where cycles truly mean movement

Cyber cafes across Kolkata, Kanchipuram

2011-12-31T00:54:00.003-08:00

Cyber cafes across Kolkata, Kanchipuram

Cyber cafes across country have different emissions for their customers who troop in at their will. Charges range between 5 and 40 depending on the location and the minutes committed to cyber station. In a place like Kanchipuram, the rate was as low as Rs 5. With a starting rate of Rs 5, translating to at least 15-minute usage in Kanchipuram, the rates hovered between 20 and 40 for an hourly update from a cyber cafegate in Udhagamandalam in Tamil Nadu.
In Kolkata, in areas around Central, College Street, Maouli Junction, S N Bannerjee Road, BB Ganguly Street and Bidhan Sarani, the rates start from 5,8 and 10.

As for the services provided by them, it includes scanning, printing, email, cd writing, dvd writing, mobile downloading and scanning, e-ticketing in rail and flight and fax.

In and Around Temple Road

2011-12-31T00:54:00.001-08:00

In and Around Temple Road

Going past Mochi Sahi Square, the aim was to reach the station in time to secure the return ticket. The rush was manageable and yet some passengers desired to be in argumentative mood. Those in the queue and those having fallen out of the same and consequentially fallen out with whom they were sharing space were caught in argumentative spell. I preferred to stand in a queue where howsoever big the rush may be there were few chances of skirmishes breaking out till i was there. Skirmishes did not break out but out were my chances as the lady at the reservation counter showed 30 the waiting for Dhauli Express and for tatkal the next day the query was met with a response that all tickets had been sold and you better get early morning bold.

Before submitting myself to the suggestion that i would come in time the next day to get my tatkal shine, i saw a message on the glass panel that showed who all were eligible for tatkal table. Posessing the identity card was a must and it trickled down to passport, voter card, pan card, identity card issued by central/state govt, student of college/school identity card, passbook bearing the picture of the holder, driving licence and credit card with the laminated picture. Laminated was the stress given the all round credit card fraud in zest.

This lamination brought me to the lingering animation i was subjected to when the laminated pan card was not able to get the perfect xerox in the city of Kolkata. Clarity was missing and on occasions more than once the xerox failed to get the job done. So across Bentinck Street, British Street and Central in Kolkata i moved around to get a new lamination on last Monday as the previous one had come apart. Shop-hopping i was faced with given some opening their store well after 10:30 am and some suggesting that new lamination can't be tried as it would break the fragile card into two. Two wasn't the idea that i was comfortable with as that would keep me shapeless for identity fit. Finally after much search i got one enlightened guy across bentinck street on first floor who did the laminated job not lending the pan card the apprehensive tearing-into-two blow. That was Monday and today being Saturday and here i was face to face with laminated stress on credit card for seeking the tatkal award.

As the way to secure the ticket could not be found, i was thrilled at the prospect as it gave one more day to stay here. The return from Station to Temple Road was on foot given the intransigence of one mode of transport to charge no less than 40 when the same journey was completed in 30. On the way i came across Delicacies serving snacks, soft drinks, confectionaries and bakery products. A little further is Padma hotel, probably from where i had veg pulao/kashmiri pulao in September 2009. Another hoarding sighted was of a hotel Janaki Residency; 3 to 4 hrs stay at Rs 300 and a day stay starting at rs 590.

Returning to my fief, i was of the belief that if no extension could be granted in the place of stay i should have my alternate options on tray. Basiram lodge in particular had the flaunting agenda so decided to stay put with the existing option.
On the way came across Arun medical Store, Allahabad Bank (the bank courteous enough to give me change) and Indane. As for United Bank of India on Bali Sahi, after securing the change with some resistance by one staff member , the message on the door read: " opening mobile banking for this branch soon".

As i am writing this from Darshan Dot Net cyber cafe which has Sathya Sai's picture, the charges here are more than reasonable. Reasonable are not the names etched on the wall opposite me. It has names like Sridevi and some other names not etched properly. Probably who occupied this seat at some point of time had a fascination for the names etched when he had too much of home stretch..

Lodges i stayed: From incommunicative to communicative

2011-12-29T23:22:00.003-08:00

Lodges i stayed

Why lodges across country get thrilled to have tourists/customers who can dole out a sum. As far as the experience with lodges across country is concerned, the first query is how many members the entourage comprise of. Seeing the lone figure standing and wilting under pressure, the lodgewallah sees to it that the customer can be fleeced to the maximum. This year itself i have stayed on 54 different occasions in 40 different lodges. And lodgewallahs of different repute i have come across.

If the customer is careful enough to waste no water, power or run tvs, geyser, it makes no difference to a lodge owner as long as moolah is changing hands. THe lodge i stayed for the second time in Kolkata was not bad. Inspiring was the conduct of the manager. Some cheerful character could be sighted when i used to hand over the tariff in advance. For the rest of the period he was at his incommunicative best and if by chance the rent promised to be paid by morning got postponed till evening, the reminders were not few. Incommunicative ideology he banked on and all communication barriers were lifted the day he came to know i was leaving.

To be frank he never misbehaved but one could make out his discomfort when i was told to change the room neither extra blanket was given nor towel. Made earnest request to his personnel and they handed out a thick bed sheet with frontal ruptures. THe security personnel were very cooperative but other personnel less cooperative. At the time of leaving he made a suggestion that i should try his lodge again as geyser, tv and attached bath came at a reasonable sum. I could not disagree because half of the time i had spent in Kolkata in search of lodges and they were asking for huge sums. THe lodge stay was comfortable to the point that no major commotion happenned and people all around were accommodating in their outlook.

Still the lodge-search is a herculean task and if by chance the budget is limited the options are few and there are no clues.

As i took Duronto from Howrah

2011-12-29T23:22:00.001-08:00

As i took Duronto from Howrah

When i boarded Duronto from Howrah, the concern went back to the accommodation prospect if ever i return to Kolkata. Prior to boarding at Howrah the lady manning the enquiry counter wrote the seat i had been allotted and the platform from which Duronto was supposed to depart. Moved to platform no. 19 and there came a jan shatabdi heading to the same direction i intended to reach.

The adjoining platform saw the arrival of a train from Digha and wishing to depart to the same place after a while. This arrival of Digha train led to a surge of humanity on the platform and only after half an hour the place resonated with a trickle few. By this time the Jan Shatabdi had left and it was quarter to 2 and still no signs of Duronto which was supposed to leave at 2.25. Made some frenetic queries and it only led to the same-old revelation that Duronto is destined to come on platform 19. Seeing the surge on platforms 17 and 18, after a while i left to view the board showing arrivals and departures and here the new revelation was the train would come at 2.50 and its arrival/departure platform had still not been displayed. Two queries to different porters coming on the heels of congregation that had collected on platforms 17 and 18, the haze was lifted and the train finally arrived and left from platform 17. Before it left i did not lose the opportunity to look at the chart to make it amply sure that i had been allotted seat no 39 in C10.

Seat number 39 in C10 was a sandwiched proposition where on either side one could sit and i had to attend to all the urgency of being sandwiched fit and handle with care the tea and food kit. THere were two gentlemen on either side; one father and another son. The father asked me to take the aisle seat; i forwarded the request that i would change to a window seat if ever the father-son want to have communication with no third person in between. THe window seat he was not wiling to dispense with thereby resulting in the same sandwiched submission that i discovered soon after the train admission. For the entire duration of journey lasting over seven hours, the father used to communicate, prod and subjugate his son on how the snacks, tea and non veg meals had to be taken. In between he made not more than seven to eight calls - during the entire journey he did not receive even one - informing his associates and relations who don't issue fiats that the train had departed more than half an hour late and thus would be reaching the destination when fewer would be awake. At 3:02pm, the train had left Howrah and soon after its departure he began to inform his peers about the late running of train and how he hoped to bide time with a Bangla paper he was carrying as his aim.

His suggestions more than suggestive to his son seated next to a window and to his wife and daughter seated ahead of us were quite unparallel. Unparallel was his intervention on how the samosa and sandwich could be tried and for a better result it could be peppered with ketchup. When the tea came, he was disposed to the idea of how milk and sugar could be used to the hilt to get the mishto touch and he even physically demonstrated the art of getting the sweetest tea on earth. Since most in the adjoining seats were locked in their litmus test to reach the destination of their fest, few had the temerity to get into argumentative bit with him. Post snacks when i asked for extra sandwich, nothing to do with my sandwich stake, point blank refusal was all i had to stare. So at Kharagpur i got down and took the veg paneer puff for Rs 20 from a food joint. There i met one personnel working in a private food joint - this joint runs chains across stations of the country with some personnel in Nizamuddin at their abrasive best - who not long time ago was in Bangalore station. Been told about his past Bangalore positioning and now Kharagpur awakening, i could place him but he could not.

Seen the rebuttal on sandwich request i was upset but later realised that they carry limited stock and at one stage had refused to entertain a request from a family man on one extra rice. Little before 5 the train left Kharagpur. Amidst the father-son conversations which rarely touched on weather and weekly anticipation, the father on occasions used to flash his camera and take some pictures and up was his movement whenever he had to escort someone to bathroom to roll out their anger vent. When the night meals were brought in, the son had to wait for a while before he could lay hands to his non veg share. It was well after i had finished my meal round, his meals came. The father was irritated at this point that the son had not cared to open the non veg preparation and still fumbling with veg creations. He prodded protested and was about to be on his feet when the son finally opened the chicken and for the period he continued having it i can say with 100 per cent surety that it would be next to impossible for him to turn a vegetarian even by a bit. For railways or for any food joints on stations, premium on vegetarian meals is a tall order and it is up to an individual to make a choice. From the beginning one needs to cultivate the outlook where one can live with veg intake with a bang.

AS the train inched towards Odisha destination, when nights had seen the clock strike well past 10, i was more concerned about the lodge i would get for an affordable sum. THe lodge was secured after scouting for close to an hour and the tariff - they zero in on the seasonal rush to acclimatise themselves and the tourists that rates are up and there are no dearth of people bound to splurge - determined by extraneous rabbits.

The ride to Hati Bagan and return from Park Circus in Tram Clan

2011-12-26T06:13:00.001-08:00

The ride to Hati Bagan and return from Park Circus in Tram Clan

As i took the bus for Hati Bagan with a view to get the cyber cafe i had spotted the other day, i was ruminating over how the day had started. Hadn't even stepped out of the lodge in the morning in came a priest whispering the Lord's name and dropping hints that the new territory could be tried. Unexpected was his entry and unexpected was my imagination that the 500-km away territory could be on the itinerary. By the time i was in Dharmatala Reservation Centre and the effortless ease with which the ticket for the said destination was procured, it amply showed the time was not ripe for National Capital foray.It was for the umpteen time that plans had been shelved for National Capital bell and here another railway ticket not requiring the identity proof gell was procured against a thought process that hardly remained static and constantly hectic.

As against the ease with which the ticket had been procured this morning the attempt to procure the same the previous day was met with a repeated wall. First the query to a lady in the enquiry counter suggested the waiting list to be 31 and howsoever hard i may have tried the battle against the waiting list would not have been won. Not convinced at the conviction at which she spoke that no single seat could be pledged for the next day journey to a Capital beginning with letter D ( as N denotes Nervous and not New), i tried to do a double check at a different reservation centre about 1 km away.

The reservation centre on the ground floor had all the resources on the nuances of reservation and patience not bordering on emotions. The query here suggested that waiting list could well be 3 and there were fair chances that a confirmed ticket could be handed with glee. THe reservation personnel was swift to press that no tatkal ticket could be dispensed with unless the xerox of identity proof was parted with. Perhaps with no xerox machine in functioning mode in and around the GPO reservation centre led me to postpone my departure by a day and post reservation meeting with babas and good-looking gems i parked myself at BBD Bag for a tram fun.

Tram was not easy to be found as number 2 and 6 going to the destinations were not sighted from which perhaps i could have boarded and alighted. THere were fewer and disappearing flock that came to BBD Bag during the time i was committed to the tram bang. Some came, had a long conversation with those aligned to tram fame and took time to decide on the destination they wanted to gain. With no hope in sight, someone getting down from one tram suggested i better try the bus or any vehicle that doesn't lead to rancour and fuss. Readily accepted his suggestion but here in entire readiness were not the buses and one could understand being a Sunday with trickling business. Buses to Kalighat, Behala and other distant places came and disappeared but not one could be sighted that would take me to College Street where some sport back-of-the-mind thriving wear. Perhaps the walk, which should have been tried in the first place, could have reduced the trouble and handed me daily dispensed hug and care .

Disoriented i was post no ticket infusion and tram transition, i took the meals from Lakhan Lal on S N Banerjee Street and this gave me the confidence to undertake the renewed walking feat. Walks have been unparallel not accompanied with shrieks and there is something magical in the air that no matter how much has been covered on foot, you may look disoriented for an hour or so and get the magical spring in your steps as the city is earthy and repeated visit worthy.

If Saturday saw me try to secure a setting for a Bangla Cinema in and around Hati Bagan, the success wasn't coming my way as i was well past show timings and most seats taken by those who had prospective planning. On the spur of the moment, the cinema decision was made and it was not like i could repeat the 'Mone Pore Ajo Seidin' feat(where i entered the theatre with the ticket and prime positioning in hand and post viewing had tea amidst a College band).

The return from Hati Bagan to Esplanade was by tram and it was a treat given the spectacular commotion the streets were in and not ready to retreat. Time spent in the tram was considerable given the stoppages it shines after every two-minute interval. Slow and yet steady are the arsenal at its command; hopping and getting down comprises the majority of its flocking band. If Saturday saw me relish the tram wonder, Sunday came with no thunder. But Monday was again different. Post rail ticket and meals, i hopped on to another one going towards Park Circus intersped with searches on lodges across KIdwai Road. Tram was the priority for the return towards Esplanade too as it gives overwhelming answers to life bordering on clue. With no pushing and shoving trams are the best when time is plenty and the knowledge that is ushered in is more than elementary.

THe old man on Bidhan Sarani Street

2011-12-26T03:59:00.005-08:00

THe old man on Bidhan Sarani Street

The query the other day on oranges emergence in the city and the windfall it is witnessing was set to rest by a vendor stress that it was all from Nagpur Nest. Nagpur was all he had to say to sway the debate on Oranges and those which were on Kolkata Way. If Oranges abound, Guava is nothing less Kolkata bound. Apart from these two fruits for which residents have a tacit understanding to take and fly, there are bananas but fewer having the desired appetite and give a daily try.

Sri Gopala Mistan Bhandar on S N Bannerjee Road has city's best curd and so do Ghose on Co on same road. Close to Divine Cyber Cafe is Ghosh Mistaan Bhandar. Near this Mistaan is one roll centre as one turns right and next to the roll centre is a shop manned by an old man. The old man sells biscuits. If possible people should help this old man. He has no sales round the day and if his sales pick up it would bring cheer in his life and life of those who help him.

The ride to Hati Bagan and return from Park Circus in Tram Clan

2011-12-26T03:59:00.001-08:00

2011-12-25T05:14:00.000-08:00

The wait for tram from BBD Bag

As i took the bus for Science City from Lenin Sarani

2011-12-25T04:12:00.001-08:00

As i took the bus for Science City from Lenin Sarani

As i decided to take the bus for Science City the other day, it was the search lasting for over half an hour that finally led me to Lenin Sarani. The need to visit Lenin Sarani was accentuated by the fact that a Cyber Cafe in Dum Dum had refused point blank entry to me; perhaps not even bothered by the fact that close to two hours had been spent the previous day. The logical explanation proferred by them was none of the seats were vacant; it is true that all seats had computers open but few men/women could be seen visibly trying their hands. With terminals open and seats vacant, it was hard to digest how could they refuse point blank. Still acceptable.

The approach to the Cyber Cafe in Dum Dum had tell tale signs of something fishy. Because before i reached there on the second consecutive day, there were fair number of men and women milling around. The congregation i could not understand and the chorus for which band. It all looked strange and this was something reminiscent of Triambakeshwar in the month of November where the information that filtered out was the cyber cafe had downed its shutters for the time being as the manager had gone for the meal break. When the manager returned, he showed his helplessness to up the shutters that were down as it looked appropriate for him to get it opened the next day count. So Dum Dum experience was nothing new; only one could make out the irrational logic by which they open and shut the terminals for some at their convenience. Given the inconvenient nature the cyberwallahs displayed, it was more than convenient for me to scout for another cyber cafe and the odds seem to be stacked against me. (That does not discount my visiting the Dum Dum Cyber Cafe in future as it houses some who are devotees of Lord Venkateshwara; it was the picture of the Lord hanging on the wall that drew me to this cafe).

Returned to Esplanade and made enquiries about going to Science City (Mega Trade Fair). String of enquiries saw me head towards Maidan Stand; return back and finally settle at Lenin Sarani bus stand. It was bus number 24A/1 coming from Mukandapur and heading towards EM bypass that i took. Unimaginable was the rush in the bus and unimaginable was the scenario that no sooner i boarded the bus i secured the seat. The seat that at least gave me the comfort that i won't end up travelling standing till my destination. There was still a fair amount of pushing and shoving and the man seated next to me was fair enough to guide me that the commute would last over half an hour. Before some of us were to deboard came this piece of news that one set of mobile had disappeared and this led to the adjacent man to remove his wallet from back and place it in the bag. I could sense the apprehensions he was swelling with. As Science City came, perhaps not in the heart of the city is its plus point, some of us deboarded including the tail which follows everywhere.

Once inside the Science City, the entry fees was Rs 10 and i could sense there won't be maddening number of stalls. The limited number of stalls at least gave the breathing space which one desires following visits to such mega empire. Unimaginable was the entry given the unimaginable rush inside. The entry ticket came with the coupon to be filled and post filling and felling in the box, the lady opposite the collection box seem to be the one relishing the job and belonged to an inspiring lot. The way she spoke and handled the crowd showed the cheerful cheerleader she could be. As i went inside to come out that very evening, the one to be cheerfully cheered was the West Bengal pavilion. The rush in other pavilions was unimaginable and the unimaginable way the crowd was filing past. Buy one get one free saw me take one soft drink and finish the round in under 30 minutes. Outside the pavilion and next to the gates the first sighting was of Georgia coffee. With a price tag of Rs 15, the poster behind said it all.
Post coffee intake, tail of vehicles different from tail of men women and babies could be spotted; more to do with some metro construction/road upgradation. Buses could be spotted to a point where it was better to leave them and walk. Finally it was the connectivity by bus for Rabindra Sadan i could get hold of and in no time i was in Central by metro.
Unimaginable was the day for the unimaginable surging crowd i came across and in no time the unimaginable rush was cleared. Unimaginable was the day for the umpteen time i came across men women and babies with same degree/application of mind.

Walk past Rabindra Sadan and Mone Pore Ajo Seidin

2011-12-21T01:01:00.001-08:00

Walk past Rabindra Sadan and Mone Pore Ajo Seidin

It was the search for a lodge that led me to Rabindra Sadan and from Elgin Road i was on foot to scout for a temporary residence of easily manageable proportion. Walking past chai break, the food joint, and a poster of a job in 99 days, Chowringhee Mega CEntre, it all sounded great. The walk down the road and it did not take long for me to be in Lala Lajpat Rai Sarani and its developing clout. Here few girls were seen giggling and a stand alone man in a corner trying to retrieve a cell conversation that actually had seen him some moments ago fumbling.

From Elgin Road i turned right and the Sarat Bose Road Encounter looked to be pleasantly bright. Could have easily imagined that S B Road could well have residences of high notch value turning to a tariff well beyond a tourist's parting cash avenue. Still went to one or two lodges in the hope i would be able to ascertain their reasonable charges. All were in the muddle of a steep rent and given the road and its roundabout appearing to be distinctively clean, with some pathways tiled and green, there were fewer chances to take part of that sheen.
From Choco wonder the coffee fill came for Rs 15, and the man at the counter was hearty enough to pour one extra pouch of powder in my cup to make the required fudge. Further down the road with a turn to right of course came across cafe chokolade which had thick shakes and ice cream as its serving beam.
After 6A Madhab Chatterjee street i turn to left on Ashton Road and it reminds me of some places in Kanniyakumari before one hits the seashore beat. Sighting of Ma Pratima on Chakraberi Road and moving further opposite 10 Justice Dwarka Nath road was another Durga Pratima with an enlightened glow.

Walking past shops and with no skirmishes around in the Bhowanipore roundabout, i am told the Maharashtra Bhawan would be appropriate and kind. Stepping inside, the idol of Lord Venkateshwara is a delight to watch and whatever may be the rent one could try for some days that would glow and be bright. Another query to a man coming from stationery clan leads me to a home past lanes turning to bylanes and here i was meeting a person who had a port trust assignment to his fame. The room/rent both looked skyrocketing and i could least afford to be in a position of pressure wilting. Bidding him goodbye and having turned off any more try, in the vicinity of netaji bhawan at Sanguvalley i take my veg fried rice. Moving further i come across Bijoli theatre and there is a scooter in the most uncherished state of affairs bearing number WBY 8229. Been in stationary vault for ages perhaps waiting to be lifted by sages. Indefinite has been its existence, quite different from indefinite tasks some have been battling with.
Then there is Sen Pharmacy, with a tag line "we are at your service for the past 60 years (1943-2003). Here in this row are xerox centres coming for as low as 0.35 paise and moving further is the Ashutosh College which has some demonstrative aces. Next to Jatin Dask Park Metro Station there is a demonstration-cum-speech underway, probably organised by a youth federation who have to up the ante because of some provocation.
The Bijoli theatre continues to play 'Mone Pore Ajo Seidin' given the strong performances belted by characters. Adjacent to the theatre on occasions the game of carom is played as some have skills to flaunt and can't resist this bait.

Water flow in Bentinck Street is in plenty

2011-12-19T22:21:00.000-08:00

Lodges i stayed and lodges i sailed in states of Maharashtra, Gujarat and West Bengal have been distinctive to a point where i humbly put my request and hope to latch on to if departure is not in a zest.

Laborious has been the stay in different cities across India coming close to the possibility of thinking of running away when the days spent and the nights gone by have been laboriously difficult to kill. It was on a Sunday when i took a taxi to Kalighat and in a space of 15 minutes the destination was reached that was 5.6 kms apart. Told to shell out Rs 60, the highly reasonable fare was an inducement that such taxi travels could be tried as it gave the opportunity to be witty and give the thoughts to fly. Because some travels in different modes of transport stale you to the point of derailing you.

It is adjacent to 61 Bentinck Street, M M Ghose & Co that water discharge is in plenty and most dismiss this to be water from ganga ka kal. Quite in vicinity of this place is the tram station and buses going to different destinations. The other day i took the tram for Park Circus. The message on the tram read: " kindly tender the exact fare, 100/50 rs cannot be changed by the conductor." Quite logical indeed as fare begins from Rs 3.50 paise.
Going past lenin sarani, hotel paradise, thacker's shoppe (dry fruits and nuts), maulana azad college, rafi ahmed kidwai road, elliot road and ajc bose road, Park Circus was reached in a record 25-minutes flow. A stroll past Park Circus brought the Park Circus Maidan in focus and how gigantic it looked from which ever angle you took the shot. Inside the maidan some were playing cards and some mingling with their teenage guards. Hardly a collection of men women and babies could be seen around; perhaps more to follow when the evening setting would be sound.

The return journey was completed on foot from AJC Bose road to M G Road. And post Singhara infusion, at Swapanlok sweets (most singharas and sweets are rs5 a piece)
i set for my lodge submission.

The lokpal drill and the campaign looking shrill

2011-12-19T21:36:00.001-08:00

The lokpal drill and the campaign looking shrill

Opportune has been the time to get prepared with lokpal drill lest the new year bashes won't have the required thrill. Howsoever hard one may try to gauge the import of this lokpal drafting, redrafting, exacerbating followed by ameliorating, ameliorated looks to be the status/profile of those who have given standing instructions to go beyond standing committee recommendations. Equally ameliorated look to be the politicos who time and again waggle their tongue given the leverage that is given by their tv chums.

POliticos digging their feet not realising the slide the political class is under seige. It is not high time but beginning of the seasonal shine when civil reps look to broaden their base given the tv commitments they have as their ace. Rally across cities and towns they went for, hoping to build the momentum they welled for. It was in the month of April followed by month of August that campaign managers of civil reps decided National Capital beginning with the letter D would play host to an agitation of no aspirational hesitation. It was not for political office or jockeying for power that caught them in the agitational whirr; it was showcased to get the desired lokpal in the ambit of administrative tier.

Agitations in April and August saw them witness a record turnout thereby leading them to thrust this agenda that a law on this lokpal would be a civil reps inclusive funda. Not scaling down a bit on their range of demands was their momentum turnaround, equally strong was their logic that a fair number were turning with able bodied pound. Calls and convulsions were set in motion when they begin to encircle those attending House session. August was not the month when House was disrupted to a scale seen in November/DEcember. A SEnse of the House was all it took for civil reps to retreat coming with a looming threat that come Winter Session if the all-pervasive all-aggressive LOkpal does not take the form of a law, there would be in abundance the protests and some at their fast best.

In between August and DEcember, hardly a day has passed when someone from either side hasn't had a microphone blast. Umpteen are the sympathisers of civil reps and umpteen are their spokespersons; equally umpteen occasions they flirt with loose talks/threats and voluble fest. Threats range from bringing down the government to placing themselves a notch above Parliament. Caution is the least they exercise when they open their mouth; quite swayed by the fact that a turnout they have seen in some centres of the country would be instrumental in getting the numbers for jail bharo entry. A lokpal-less life is the least they can reckon with and against this background uprising is what they can't fathom a bit. Irreconciable may look the differences between the establishment and Civil Reps firmament and herein the catch may lie for the two to get a pedestal to fly. Never in the history of post independent INdia has seen the civil reps and the government at loggerheads and street protests descending to uprising should be something on which no bets should be hedged.
Against this climate of cynicism, most have carried on with their life; and they seem untouched with lokpal rhythm-turning-to-a-prize. It is looking increasingly agitative to keep thoughts alone on Lokpal as there are some whom we need to prod and push like the character popularly known as ammoniumpal.
Ammoniumpal as a character hasn't made his presence felt; lights would be thrown on ammoniumpal only and only if the heat has diluted on a loner-turned-blower lokpal.

Wall or no wall the best antidote to graft is to get your work done with a labour and by any short-circuiting you are setting a wrong precedent which few would find it necessary to waiver. Short cut to freedom does not entail you bypass the process; the best route is to stick and follow the rules to a degree.

Typewriters on Lenin Street

2011-12-19T02:59:00.000-08:00

Typewriters on Lenin Street

As i come across typewriters, some in the glare of the sun and some warming up to the expected rush, the first hint of its survival and brush was on Lenin Street. The Lenin Street man was sitting idle with the typewriter, summoning the courage to brood on the days gone by and the days that were to come with his attempted typewriter try. Adjacent to College square is the Surya Sen Street and the walk past classic tailors, globe optics, all india educational consultancy and coaching centre, all doctor consultation and ranu surgical mart leads you to the sighting of a shop which has typewriter etched on top. And a close look inside reveals three functioning typewriters in one row. A man is working on a typewriter, hoping to complete the assignment with no rancour. Rancour and rage defining the disappearance of a typewriter is primarily to do with the simple tasks this machine could do and how it came to be abhorred by the computer clamour.

PCs followed by laptop lollipops descending to tablet crop made its very sighting unthinkable. Unthinkable was its sighting in a metro given the fast pace the liberal faces desired to get into the race. Candour were the suggestions by some that in the heat of lollipops and tablet, typewriter could still be assumed to be a machine of ascending habit. Because the draft prepared in enlightened glare was all about serious business. here the grammatical tidiness was by and large maintained and need for abbreviation and abuse ammunition never rained. Those deft with typewriting skills were handsomely confident about the language they drafted; and this confidence was not misplaced. Misplaced were not the enormous drafts that were typed day in and day out, showcasing the labour that worked through their heart and that itself was their clout.

The emerging clout of PCs and laplops shows the distance traversed and the man's assimilation with typewriters as an eyewash. Fewer are spotted here and there. In a bigger metro it could well be a no cakewalk to sight them unless one has gone past lanes and by lanes and right into an adda where most still swear by 60s and 70s funda. Lenin Sarani, College square could just be a tip of the iceberg. Tollygunge, Jatin Das Park, Bentinck Street, Bipin Behari Ganguly Street Raja Ram Mohan Roy Sarani could seamlessly have the typewriter beat. Hope this beat sails and the fascination for this blemish free, where once you start typing, the incorrigible optimist never reneges and grows to a fair degree.

2011-12-18T22:24:00.003-08:00

yes

2011-12-18T06:17:00.001-08:00

AS i went to have tea from favourite cabin adjacent to College street, the sweets from new college sweets reminded me of October Sojourn.

Raw perfume and incense sticks

2011-12-18T06:14:00.001-08:00

AS i wait for raw perfume from perfume and zarda store,the incense sticks i come across are sai flora, bajrang, chameli, champa, holy prayer, yatra, woods, sandal forest fire, balaji and rose pure.
Amidst the tea from favourite cabin, the congregation comprised of those who were old and yet fit to place a bet. The bet they were placing on the upcoming series down under and those who could be free from blunder. If the tea from favourite cabin could get you the momentum you seek, it was all to do with the tea-preparation of your liking that you reap. Move few kms further and you are face to face with Singhara from Swapanlok Sweets which can put you on a refreshing beat. There are some who have done away with Kashmiri Singhara coming for 20 and special chaat coming for 25, and this one is from a food joint opposite broadway and not haughty.

As on other occasion, the old ambys spotted were WRA 0914; WMC 6349 and a standard probably bearing number WBA 2847.

2011-12-18T04:37:00.001-08:00

THose hopping to a cyber cafe for no work and getting fakish printouts

From Shyambazar to B T Road

2011-12-18T04:36:00.001-08:00

From Shyambazar to B T Road

As i was approaching B T Road, the hoarding said it all : "we fly high,competition sinks low...again." Competition that you and me face from quarters not in progress. While taking a commute in a metro city is itself a competition given the chances you would get the mode of transport and seat you desire are not abundantly clear. Equally not clear are the destinations you wish to reach on time and with no extra fine. Taking the much-hailed Shyambazar followed by B T Road for the immense traffic load they take each day, some hoardings/shops i sighted were Dolphin group of hotels, Avenue dental clinic, Moustache - mini max dress maker (jeans and trousers), Up To Date dry cleaners, Bengal jewellery, Attitude ladies beauty salon. Intersped were Universal signature advertising, Dazzle family salon and Spoken English Corporate English (Tobin Road , Shyambazar). Rounding this heat of advertising,shop sighting was we fly high competition sinks low...again.

As for the Spoken English vis-a-vis Corporate English, the two appear to be distinctively different as the poster seems to suggest. It is in Tobin Road and Shyambazar where expertise on the same can be gained. While Spoken descending to Corporate English is what the trend looks like, the emphasis on English suggest no matter what the expertise the law makers may have on the language, when the question hour gets disrupted repeatedly on repeated days the English that is heard down the corridors is neither Corporate nor Spoken and definitely not Audible.

In Corporate English one tries to define the corporate chorus through bottomlines, take home, deceive one, fame none and courtesy pay cheque have loan lump. In spoken English the words bandied around are English is the mother of all languages and here India has an impressive average. Mornings begin with Good to all and sundry and evenings descend with those taking our laundry. English is better belted out when spoken on a cell as it gives the temerity to influence those seated near you and those attempting to sit in the next couple of hours if the duration of English spoken is to last for that period. It has been observed that english spoken on a cell is much better than a verbal bell often turning to a duel.
Still English is a language we all resist to learn; yet learning is mandatory given the impression quotient it turns. How much English words are belted out in Hindi Films are yet to figure out; time is not far when the entire Hindi picture won't have one single sentence in the language which involves labour and the movie would be a perfect pitch to have corporate/spoken english waiver.

As for the language spoken during Question Hour, it is not questionable by any means; it is in fact a test case of halting-cum-parting language where words exchanged and blows never coming to cane is a passing phase because by the time the halting heat has evaporated and halting language has been belted the time is over for the Question Hour and answers remaining unquestionably afar.

Taking a train journey

2011-12-18T04:25:00.000-08:00

Taking a train journey

It is not quite often that one takes a train journey. If calculations have materialised in a way that a train journey has to be undertaken, there are ways to avoid whipping up a fury if the situation is discomforting. There have been occasions when you are about to board a train, the sight of the passengers in the vicinity and those distant trying to read the chart as many times as possible. Perhaps their association with chart-reading continues for the period the train has not departed.

The pasting of the chart on the train is itself an indicator that the train would proceed towards the final destination no matter how torn and twisted the chart comes to appear even before the journey has started. Chances are once in a million that the chart from the point of origination to point of destination remains unshackled from the plausible forces comprising passengers and those destined to be passengers but could not board. Chart details out the name of passengers, gender, age and the destination they would have to deboard failing which there would be enough ammunition to shovel them out. Here all forces real and imaginary come into play to shovel you around if the co-commuters reprimand and tte's command has not been followed and you continue with your rant.

As the train pulls inside the station to enable commuters and foreseeable commodities to board, some trains come with chart pasted and some postponing it seeing this act for which hands are not free to be wasted. Once chart has been pasted and the passengers determined to take their journey forward as their name and name of their successors are crystal clear, there are some roaming around to see if any of their followers and followers-turned-foes are in the same coach sporting different wear.The point of origination is the one where some passengers make rounds and rounds of the chart to read the fine print. Perhaps memorising the entire chart including the names, their gender, age and the proof through which their identity would be established is on top of their mind even though they desist to be topless for the entire duration of the journey. It is only when their companions prod them, they go shirtless and the fabric rounding them are underpants.

With the attempt to memorise the entire chart these illuminated passengers get down at every conceivable stops of the train and read the chart for umpteen times. Perhaps the failure of the chart to sketch out details like the status they are in; monthly income they dispense to get a new fling and the occupational hazards of holding to a turf that has rotating fears. Some read the chart to precisely find out the versatility of those who are far away in the coach or in other coach and who could be reached at appropriate moment. Perhaps the best bet is to try the option in the coach you have been sedated given the competition you would be facing in other coaches as your arrival is not awaited.

2011-12-16T04:53:00.001-08:00

Trying singhara led me to Swapanlok sweets, 10/c Mahatma Gandhi Road. Served hot and with a distinctive flavour it won't be possible to settle for one.
Before that the message on tram read: "kindly tender the exact fare 100/50 rs cannot be changed by the conductor."

To be disclosed by time vault

2011-12-16T00:36:00.002-08:00

To be disclosed by time vault

Mission Cafe was all i intended to reach to get the coffee i had sensed would free me of body ache and turn me to experimental best. Walking itself is an experiment of sorts given the passage you have to discover to escape the ignominy of a passing lot. Walk past streets and gullies have been instrumental for it brings on board the common man's most relished wonder.

As i took the coffee and disapproved tea, it was a decision not made in haste. Tea could have been tried but coffee appeared to be better option when the price difference between the two was just light.Two cuppas opposite broadway adda were enough to broaden my walking sprinkled with a little effusive writing agenda. As coffee was being taken, there was a sight where a woman was washing clothes and another man taking bath, popularly known as morning blast which normally is performed provided enough water are in the taps. Water scarcity here may not have reached a stage of concern truly circulating round the year but for tourists visiting the city of determination the lodge-scouting is something that at times tests your patience. Wait is not that enduring and equally the formalities are not complaining. What the people need to do at stations having record footfalls is a helpline number that would detail the lodges and the budget it would come across. Locality-mentioning is a must.

This time round, the lodge-scouting in the city of Howrah began with a note to not approach those quarters where bedbugs performed appreciably or where the lights were kept on for long and the commotion drowning you down. Because in one particular outing in October the bet to take parking in avenue was a miserable move given for all tea and toast i had to get down time and again and even once the suggestion for tea was met with muted glee. That was October and the stay quite elaborate.

This time round as the stay began in a city where food options galore closely followed by oranges and apple that can have you floored, the first foray on the second day was to Metia Burz followed on another days to Jatin Das Park and beyond. After the search for lodge was complete and equally complete was the food i fete, the search began for cyber cafes where on occasions some were in the thick of jungle and some in Koyle market which had the broadband speed of a fumble.

Having sighted Bus no43, going from Bonhooghly to Esplanade, probably that would be tried to get the new writing skills in sight. As for some cyber visitors who visit to open the facebook to update their faces and the races seldom they check their laces being in order and post facebook are in more disorder. Disorder that originated from cell soak and it has descended to a profile cloak. Which one is more hard to control; probably it would be disclosed by time vault.

Post visits to Somnath, Ahmedabad, Jharsuguda on radar.

2011-12-15T00:49:00.000-08:00

Post visits to Somnath, Ahmedabad, Jharsuguda on radar

Nearing Jharsuguda by train to be followed by Bamra and other stations, the thoughts were on the probability of success in finding the requisite accommodation in a new place. It had been over three weeks since i left the national capital, with the overwhelming need to be in the requisite momentum. This has become repetitive over the years to shift base from the Capital and return to soon leave again. This time round, the journey to Maharashtra and beyond had been made possible by different train journeys across country.

It was 7.10 in the morning that the train inched towards Jharsuguda and somewhere around 7.45 Bamra was accessed. The bridge past Jharsuguda and the sight it offered was no less enriching. Somewhere during this time i sight two locomotives; 14921 number etched on one of them. Here the train is at its spontaneous best; speed is the barometer of its sucess and equally spontaneous is the teawallah who having sighted me courtesy the chain of command in operation offers tea that has no life to it as far as its quality goes. The second round is followed by tea bags sprinkled offering; and that one is a delight. That was the third day of Ahmedabad-Howrah ride coming against the backdrop of a ticket procured from Nathdwara in the tatkal category.

Just more than a week ago on a Friday, the Ahmedabad halt began after my return from Somnath via Rajkot. Rajkot was accessed on Thursday, Dec.1, late in the evening. Post Overnight stay not procceeding beyond 4 in the morning, i left for the station and took the Jamnagar-Bandra Intercity train. With a general ticket, the ride was more than an expected turnaround. Turnaround for the fact that a seat was procured and the rush was manageable to a point where people could move in the aisle despite some occupying it. Stoppages along the way included Surendranagar, Wankaner and Viramgram. Not moving an inch on either side, the seat-occupation was all on my mind and parting was once and for all when i reached Ahmedabad. Concern was over the state of disrepair the luggage had been reduced to and the shop near relief road from where the bag had been procured, the man was helpful enough to repair the same. At a charge of Rs 100, it was not an exorbitant one given the state the luggage was in, with its stand, chain and handle tearing apart beyond redemption.

With the stay in Ahmedabad for three days, the tummy got the time to be in shape, which too had been showing signs of eruption for over a week. On Sunday i left Ahmedabad for Ajmer and this train ride was a bit unsettling given the winter spell and the general coaches coming with no quilts. The coach appeared to be overused one, quite understandable given the load the railways carry. In Ajmer, i was entirely to be blamed for taking an accommodation that was far away from Khawaja's dargah. Possibly seeing the possible help coming from a rickshawallah, the possibility of taking accommodation on a second floor in Kohinoor Inn was a foolhardy decision. Neither it came dirt cheap nor the commute to Dargah from there was blemish free. THe staff was cooperative in the lodge and there was nothing else to boast. Having been to Ajmer for over 15 years i should have realised from where i can get lodges and yet on occasions don't exercise the power to be distinctive. Best lodges can be tried in the vicinity of Delhi gate and on the either side of the road leading to Khawaja's Dargah enough accommodation options are there.

After the visit to the Dargah, the next place on itinerary was Pushkar. And here both the bus ride and the stay was something to forget. The bus conductor had problems on my seating ; he himself had kept the machine from where tickets are issued on the seat i was occupying and all along was pestering me to sit straight or sit other way. Once i alighted, the two places i went to were Brahma temple and Shri Rama Vaikunth Temple. Here too, the tummy revolted and i used a room coming with a bathroom paying rs 150 for occupation not lasting minutes amounting to 30.

2011-12-14T23:29:00.003-08:00

Having left Nathdwara

Having left Nathdwara (Lord Shreenathji's abode) , Ahmedabad was the place i was supposed to reach to catch a train for Howrah. Probably under the impression that 1pm ST bus departing from Nathdwara would be handy enough to get me the meals and the newspaper in time, i took the transport with a fair degree of commitment given my share of viable experiences with ST buses hailing from Gujarat. Appropriate wasn't the conduct of the staff and despite fierce resistance from some quarters i took the bus and took the standing instructions from them on where to place the luggage and where to make it look disappear.

Minutes before 9 in the evening i was in Ahmedabad , made possible by the change of man at the wheels as soon as the bus entered the Gujarat territory. With nothing to boast of expressive range of options, the driver's commendable job in ensuring a seamless transition before and beyond Himmatnagar could not be lost. Co-passengers were equally cooperative and those seated on 1 and 4 for the journey lasting till Bawalwada and the Rajasthan-Gujarat border drew my plausible level of appreciation. For the peanuts and chips they sailed with and nodded their head on the plausible possibility of ST buses reforming at some stage. For the one deboarding as soon as Gujarat territory began i could read the signs but could do the least as the seat had been secured with much effort and the luggage had been parked against appearance of unappreciable jest.

It was well past two in the afternoon and certain sections in Udaipur reminded me of Udhagamandalam for the clogged streets and the winding beats. Jodhpur Mishtan Bhandar and such other centres seemed to be the one with fewer aversions. A sum total of 125 kms including 50 for Udaipur was covered in over three hours and the ride post Himmatnagar showed the alertness with which the challenge had been conquered. No joke, it's a challenge driving on national highways no matter how smooth the surface may be given the insurmountable odds you may come across at any stage. LIke always, the approach to different toll plazas was greeted by single and multiple entry visit board and earlier to that by a declaration on exempted dignitary and how they stand to gain from this long cherished inventory. If that declaration meant going overboard there was another earthy in nature. The entry to the gates of a bus stand was marked by labourline number for rescuing labours in distress. Distress call was what the labourers had been advised to make and no hesistation whatsoever was asked to be shed.

With 159 kms still to be covered the signboard showed the turn that one had to take to the left for proceeding towards Dungarpur. With all such turns and twists and armed with a new driver quite clear about his responsibility the 300km-long ride was against the backdrop of sighting of kirana stores, food joints and a record number of girl students returning to their fiefdom after a record day out in school and sun. Probably all would be employable and get gainful employment in due course. Sighting of jeeps was no mean task given the number of commuters cruising; some being fixed on roofs and others latched to every enviable and not readily made available space.

Few minutes before nine the commuters were in Kalopur in Ahmedabad and those headed for station deboarded and those headed beyond continued the bus loaded.Post meals from the first floor of Ahmedabad station, the wait continued and this ended on a note where the Choksi entourage boarded the train and made their presence felt with someone having more than a pony tail. Choksis were seen as a boisterous group making up for the hours they hadn't spoken and days they hadn't slept. It was a boisterous reunion as i could sense with thoughts on the one with a pony tail and how effective would be her future sail. Tataland was where the entourage deboarded and from hereon the repetitive misery of cruise refusing to come to a screeching halt got reloaded. As the journey beyond Tataland continued i was of the view that such occasions create a rupture of sorts from where getting out surmounts to a battle lonely fought.

THere was one with the beard who did not belong to the group but was expressively handing out instructions on when to get the tea and other feast. That beardy soul disappeared after having handled his brief with utmost care. As for performances by other compatriots, listless would be an aberration as some were down with injury and thus needed to be sedated. Seating became troublesome but one has to live with that and thus no case of a repetitive rant. The journey was fruitful and for one soul who had plaints on the services i reminded him the load the indian railways carry and it is a record of sorts as far as those whom the railways ferry. I, too, have my share of grievances against TTEs and TCs; like the point blank refusal of a ticket for Kolkata from Ajmer by a TC. But hadn't been that one i would have failed to keep my tryst with Shreenathji whom we all adore for the blessings bestowed on us. Shreenathji was charming and enriching.

2011-12-14T23:29:00.001-08:00

Having reached Howrah the next challenge was to spot the requisite accommodation. Been to Broadway hotel where i was told that for Rs 580 the room would come with no attached bathing beauty. That price or close to that i was quoted in the month of Oct. when the season was strong and the room came with an attached bath form. Hopped to the next Club Inn and the enquiries revealed that my budget was too feeble and with no feel. Finally settled for one in BBG Street adjacent to College Street that has its long fleet and this was the initiation of the day-long beats.

Train Number 12833 to Train Number 12834: Amidst the Cheerful Lot

2011-12-14T23:14:00.000-08:00

Train Number 12833 to Train Number 12834: Amidst the Cheerful Lot

Train number 12833 was the one boarded to move from Ahmedabad to a destination 2087 kms away. It took two nights and two days to reach the same. Considering the seat number 22 was allotted to me, i could barely offend someone by taking the lower berth. From 23 onwards the seats on occupation were by a group from Gujarat, probably comprising 26 in one slot. Some seats had been reserved in A1 coach as well for the Choksi Group. It was at Tataland, popularly known as Tatanagar,the affable Choksis took time to deboard and disappear and i headed towards WB Fare. Parting being painful as the one with more than a pony tail being most cheerful. SM College product was ahead of the Pony subject on the Tataland station and yet time was not ripe for my all round submission.

In the midst of bongs and antakshari songs they bided their time and had their lavish meals prime. Not for once i was a party to their lavish spread leading to littering outside the coach deck. Not amounting to offence these acts of littering and leveraging and yet it showed them to be morally strong gems believing in strong family fence. Post meal infusion from station food joint and 15 cups of masala tea grind, they were back to their boisterous boast as they very well knew their Tataland host. Probably on Dec. 16th 12834 would be the train ride they would be taking back home where in the aisle and beyond the entire group would have the first mover advantage to roam. I won't be in the midst of this Group given the long ride i would have to take from Kol to Rourkela and back. Probably the 12834 train ride would have given the opportunity to get the round the clock familiarity with them.

On purpose i have decided to give a miss to 12834 train ride as it amounts to taking the train at odd hours at 11.55 pm followed by their appearance at 3.50 am in Tataland and i left with precisely three and a half hours to give my presentation to the Choksi band. Because at Rourkela i would have to deboard to catch another train to Bong Fort. All this would have been arduous and with no certainty on train reservations the up and down 16 hours journey would have been labourious. Nights and days have gone to brood on this subject and only this morning i decided to give 12834 train ride reject. No certainty was on my successful presentation but the Monday morning eye contact gave me enough room to get on board to act. Though i lost this time, if and ever i try to be in Satellite i would try to get a Choksi sight.

Best wishes to Choksis and especially to Pony Tail Perfectionist for the future ahead and morally strong is their standing i can bet.

2011-12-14T02:21:00.000-08:00

Tiresome has been search for cyber cafe; equally tiresome has been the effort to scout for a lodge. In a world bordering on lunacy made plausibly possible by cell lunatics, the cell conversation has been the most regrettable act of the mankind. For the sake of instrument they explode and float.

Having left Nathdwara

2011-12-12T23:29:00.002-08:00

2011-12-12T23:29:00.001-08:00

Cell talks bordering on lunacy.

Having stayed in Dwarka the next stop was in Somnath

2011-12-12T23:28:00.005-08:00

Having stayed in Dwarka the next stop was in Somnath

Having stayed in Dwarka for close to six days, the next destination happened to be Somnath for which a readily available bus i could get access to on a Monday. Prabably i was at fault at not keeping the excitement quotient in check when i sighted the GSRTC bus heading towardsPorbandar on Nov. 28th morning right after my exit from the third gate (Rabari gate) ofDwarka. THe consolation this time round was that the departure was not shadowed by looming arguments or someone going expansive on argumentative perch. Peace was running thick and the dwarka departure showing me the stage of a bliss.

Once inside the bus, it was teeming with numbers; still the realisation pretty strong that seat would come in due course if not a case of being readily pampered. But that was not the case to be as one co-passenger having raised his voice in alarming proportion for not getting the seat of his choice; this dislocating him to a place next to my luggage and the fury and anger drowning me was enough to shed this piece of journey and as i deboarded the bus at Harshad, the wait for the next transport began. Used this time to scale steps to Harsiddhi Mata temple. THe view from the top was amazing and if possible one should scale the steps to not only pay obeisance to thereigning deity but have the breathtaking view of the sea.

It were the two glasses of lassi in a space of half an hour and acts like this that occasionally set the raging debate on tummy's proclivity to go in a stage of disrepair (this followed late in the evening when i reached Rajkot) and how i fail to read the warning signals and yet let the eruption take its due proportion. Post lassi intake, the bus i sighted and boarded was the one headed forPorbandar; intersped with takes from others on how foolish i was in keeping the wallet in the front packet not realising the gravity of losing it all in one flat act. One had nothing good to talk about Porbandar, the region he hailed from; more upfront in his desire to paint it as a place where losing is rampant thereby letting others to go full throttle on their anger vent.

Once in POrbandar, decided to give a miss to a bus about to depart for Somnath and waited for the next one. Half an hour later got the desirable seat in the bus and was on the way to Somnath. Came across one Alli staying in Patan; he told me Alli is spelled with double l. At Patandeboarded the bus as it intended to go towards Diu. From the sample of interaction one could make out Alli to be a man of peace; describing in detail some city ride incidents that took place on roads. Further he went on to sketch details of his life, having been raised in Pattan and his daughter who is a lawyer.

In Patan took another transport to reach Somnath. Well it was late in the night and as against two in the morning i reached last time round, this time i was there well before nine had set in. Got into Somnath Trust Residential Quarters and stayed there for four days. Inducements were far and thick to take private lodges but i refused them point blank since a simple accommodation with an attached bath was all i desired . Perhaps with no tv around - watching tv on days can give you all sorts of ache - i had to have something up my sleeves to kill time. After SomnathDarshan, it was the search for tea and paper that took care of the idle time. On occasions the day ride to Veraval in search for a newspaper saw vendors like Girish probe further into my paper fascination (kya aapko paper ka shauk hai?). Interaction with Girish and others revealed that prior to their dislocation near the bus stand they were right across the road for years together and it was a decision thrust by the Trust. Hope the Trust would look into their grievances and do some justice as the likes of Girish had been selling their wares right across the road for ages before being dislocated to another place.

Somnath was great for the simplicity it brings on table and whatever view one could get during day or night of the sea was no less fantastic. Next to the Shiv shakti Restaurant & Parota House (Breakfast, South Indian, Pav Bhaji, Punjabi and Gujarati) is Dil Khush Chai, doodh coffee centre. Adjacent to that is one shop from where i used to take my water; sometimes it had the staff to attend to customers and sometimes none. Used to have the meals at Somnath Trust runbhojanalaya and the quality looked to be better than last time. Still advisable to be loyal toSomnath TRust rooms for their simplicity. Except for the tea which is prepared inside and on occasions the noise that filters in late at night there are no dearth of moments to cheer in Shiva's abode . It has been over three years since i tried chhas from Amul parlour; hope to catch on the next time .

On the final day i made a beeline to a village in Patan. Adjacent to the temple is the VIP Guest House. Few metres away is Annaporna Bhojanalaya Shiv Bhojanalaya. THen there is MahilaMandal Sanchalit food joint offering breakfast, aloo paratha, methi paratha, jeera paratha &pooha. Adjacent to that is a shop (run by mother-daughter duo) from where one can collect honey, soaps & peanuts for their durability. Moved deep inside the village in search of mysoresandal soap and could not collect this time round; perhaps the daughter doing BBA was correct that mysore soaps are hard to get. As i left Somnath and was on the way to Veraval, the shared auto service came cheap and has enough momentum to carry a sizeable load.

Yes

2011-12-12T23:28:00.001-08:00

Are we suffering from fatigue fury?

2011-12-09T02:29:00.001-08:00

THe one with a pony tail and hope has a smooth sail.

2011-12-09T02:28:00.003-08:00

Days in Nathdwara were spent in the vicinity of Lord Shreenathji. The opportunity came after two and a half years. The last visit was when it was exceedingly hot leading to repetitive ruptures in tummy. THis time round i reached the Abode Of Shreenathji well before the night had set in and i stayed in Shree Palace for the next four and a half days.

Started from Ajmer. Places the bus went through were Beawar, Bhim, DEogarh, Gomti and Raj Nagar before reaching Nathdwara.

The rush inside was as thick as it is at any given time ; and the doors are flung open at 5.15 am, 7am, 9:15 am, 11: 30 am (this lasts the longest) followed by openings probably twice in the evening.

Gujarati/Rajasthani thali rates have been hiked against 30 to 45 five years ago, they come for no less than in the 80-90 range.

Having stayed in Dwarka the next stop was in Somnath

2011-12-05T20:50:00.001-08:00

Having stayed in Dwarka the next stop was in Somnath

Having stayed in Dwarka for close to six days, the next destination happened to be Somnath for which a readily available bus i could get access to on a Monday. Prabably i was at fault at not keeping the excitement quotient in check when i sighted the GSRTC bus heading towards Porbandar on Nov. 28th morning right after my exit from the third gate (Rabari gate) of Dwarka. THe consolation this time round was that the departure was not shadowed by looming arguments or someone going expansive on argumentative perch. Peace was running thick and the dwarka departure showing me the stage of a bliss.

Once inside the bus, it was teeming with numbers; still the realisation pretty strong that seat would come in due course if not a case of being readily pampered. But that was not the case to be as one co-passenger having raised his voice in alarming proportion for not getting the seat of his choice; this dislocating him to a place next to my luggage and the fury and anger drowning me was enough to shed this piece of journey and as i deboarded the bus at Harshad, the wait for the next transport began. Used this time to scale steps to Harsiddhi Mata temple. THe view from the top was amazing and if possible one should scale the steps to not only pay obeisance to the reigning deity but have the breathtaking view of the sea.

It were the two glasses of lassi in a space of half an hour and acts like this that occasionally set the raging debate on tummy's proclivity to go in a stage of disrepair (this followed late in the evening when i reached Rajkot) and how i fail to read the warning signals and yet let the eruption take its due proportion. Post lassi intake, the bus i sighted and boarded was the one headed for Porbandar; intersped with takes from others on how foolish i was in keeping the wallet in the front packet not realising the gravity of losing it all in one flat act. One had nothing good to talk about Porbandar, the region he hailed from; more upfront in his desire to paint it as a place where losing is rampant thereby letting others to go full throttle on their anger vent.

Once in POrbandar, decided to give a miss to a bus about to depart for Somnath and waited for the next one. Half an hour later got the desirable seat in the bus and was on the way to Somnath. Came across one Alli staying in Patan; he told me Alli is spelled with double l. At Patan deboarded the bus as it intended to go towards Diu. From the sample of interaction one could make out Alli to be a man of peace; describing in detail some city ride incidents that took place on roads. Further he went on to sketch details of his life, having been raised in Pattan and his daughter who is a lawyer.

In Patan took another transport to reach Somnath. Well it was late in the night and as against two in the morning i reached last time round, this time i was there well before nine had set in. Got into Somnath Trust Residential Quarters and stayed there for four days. Inducements were far and thick to take private lodges but i refused them point blank since a simple accommodation with an attached bath was all i desired . Perhaps with no tv around - watching tv on days can give you all sorts of ache - i had to have something up my sleeves to kill time. After Somnath Darshan, it was the search for tea and paper that took care of the idle time. On occasions the day ride to Veraval in search for a newspaper saw vendors like Girish probe further into my paper fascination (kya aapko paper ka shauk hai?). Interaction with Girish and others revealed that prior to their dislocation near the bus stand they were right across the road for years together and it was a decision thrust by the Trust. Hope the Trust would look into their grievances and do some justice as the likes of Girish had been selling their wares right across the road for ages before being dislocated to another place.

Somnath was great for the simplicity it brings on table and whatever view one could get during day or night of the sea was no less fantastic. Next to the Shiv shakti Restaurant & Parota House (Breakfast, South Indian, Pav Bhaji, Punjabi and Gujarati) is Dil Khush Chai, doodh coffee centre. Adjacent to that is one shop from where i used to take my water; sometimes it had the staff to attend to customers and sometimes none. Used to have the meals at Somnath Trust run bhojanalaya and the quality looked to be better than last time. Still advisable to be loyal to Somnath TRust rooms for their simplicity. Except for the tea which is prepared inside and on occasions the noise that filters in late at night there are no dearth of moments to cheer in Shiva's abode . It has been over three years since i tried chhas from Amul parlour; hope to catch on the next time .

On the final day i made a beeline to a village in Patan. Adjacent to the temple is the VIP Guest House. Few metres away is Annaporna Bhojanalaya Shiv Bhojanalaya. THen there is Mahila Mandal Sanchalit food joint offering breakfast, aloo paratha, methi paratha, jeera paratha & pooha. Adjacent to that is a shop (run by mother-daughter duo) from where one can collect honey, soaps & peanuts for their durability. Moved deep inside the village in search of mysore sandal soap and could not collect this time round; perhaps the daughter doing BBA was correct that mysore soaps are hard to get. As i left Somnath and was on the way to Veraval, the shared auto service came cheap and has enough momentum to carry a sizeable load.

Travails of travelling

2011-12-04T01:32:00.001-08:00

Travails of travelling

As i left National Capital by Goa express, hope was all i could float with given the fast-changing permutations and combinations of travelling in a state where some had reached a stage of expression beyond comprehension and some were miffed to the point of bearing no emotions Apart from the bro-sis duo hoping to catch a manufactured wedding in Agra, there was one another manufactured entity who could not prevent from disclosing the location he was headed for umpteen time. Not less than 40 in all , he thundered on his cell that he was headed for a place near Ahmednagar.
Conversations he had with not so near ones through cell and direct verbal bell to those adjacent to his seat any boundary he refused to accept and more prone to narrate the misfortune he suffered at the hands of a videshi lady given the losses the garment business had suffered. i was made familiar by his conduct when he suggested that beyond a certain station in Madhya Pradesh he has his wait listed ticket for Kopargaon in sleeper and for the two tickets he had to ferret out more than the sum mentioned in the ticket in Nizamuddin station counter. That was hard to believe since i had collected the Gwalior ticket from the same counter and if his version was true then he is to be blamed for getting access to services by paying more. And here i was apprehensive that if similar outlook is maintained i would stand the least chance of extending the journey beyond Gwalior. And that actually happenned. That is just one of the many tales as far as travails of travelling is concerned.

Lost count of the number of times one has had to leave the national capital and different modes of transport that has been tried including trains, buses (ST is preferable given the haughty airs that private volvowallahs are swimming with) where on occasions either the man at the wheels or the conductor begins to feel the pulse of the state the commuters are in by getting abrasive, shared autos( any day better for the commute they deliver and the checked tariff they work under), chakdas (both covered and uncovered variants) and other such modes.

First sign of hostility emerge from the mode of transport you engage in and if it happens to be a train the source of trouble is the wait listed status. One has lost count of the number of occasions when one is at the mercy of TTE/TTI; some could be accommodating and some could be haughty. Though the railways has come to the rescue of passengers by getting the new methodology at work on tatkal tickets, there are still some gaps in it and in the coming period the media would be able to highlight that. Still, the new version is comfortable. Once the confirmed ticket comes to your rescue for which you have to shell out hefty fare if upgraded category is sought as other classes show the waitlisted status, this reality one has to live with since a confirmed ticket would be a better bet than a waitlisted one.

Best wishes to Somnath

2011-12-04T00:46:00.001-08:00

Best wishes to residents of Somnath and how the crowd has surged in the years gone by.

2011-12-04T00:45:00.000-08:00

As i begin the search for Fire 'N' Ice Cyber Cafe, located near Navrangpura, i come across the sight of shutters down in Ratnam Complex. That was enough to rue over the time lost in reaching the cyber cafe and the search turning to be in vain. It has been a ride for the past three weeks where there are no dearth of forces out with their horses. Frustration is writ large on their faces and their conduct is in collaborative efforts to win the big time races. The other day when i reached Rajkot i was in the most dishevelled stage given the dishevelled alignments i was grappling with. The luggage had torn apart beyond redemption and strutting with this luggage was giving me all signs of demotion. Demoted i was not in the eyes of watchful janata but the way i had to keep with the struggle to deboard the bus which i boarded just 10 minutes before to board another bus in Junagardh bus depot, i knew my phase of struggle was far from complete and i had to compete.

The rajkot stay in a lodge could have given nightmares to any soul and before five set the next day i was in the thick of train gin. The train ride was better. I am attempting to write further but can't do so as the fabricated smell from my shoes is giving the cyberwallahs new blues. He has admonished me repeatedly by sending his men and asking me to disappear in no time and this admonishment is no different from the Lucky restaurant manager wearing glasses in the morning and how he lost cool for no fault from mine.
These are travails of a tourist who steps out and faces heat from cyber to food jointwallah. The cyber cafe is too slow and sluggish. They are exceptions in society.

2011-12-03T00:53:00.002-08:00

Exempted Dignitary and those giving round the clock commentary

The December One bandh and those who fear ton

2011-12-02T22:59:00.001-08:00

The December One bandh

Bharat bandh against FDI retail was observed on December One, the numerical figure the government stresses on the need for the newly weds to commit less it becomes a ton. Ton is what the govt and govt resembling departments fear as this would tantamount to more pressure on its machinery gear starting from school enrollment to upscaling the job sentiment. Coming back to the DEcember 1 bandh which was observed against clinical observation by the parties concerned that it had been ages since Bharat Bandh as a numerical descending to a surgical weapon was bandied around and once this clinically prepared bandh was observed, there would be dearth of those arguing for FDI Retail ground.

The bandh on December One, which happened to post November discovered ton, i was in Veraval in search of a cyber den and i was told point blank that bharat bandh had taken the form where shopwallahs who dared to open were on a run. Clinically glued to my task i cruised to a cyber cafe which was open and daring the customers to open their heart and have their anger vent. i was no game for pouring out my heart on the travails of travelling and tailing as this had become 24X7 wailing. Weep and scream was the least i could afford given the long distance i had to traverse to come on board. So post meal infusion at Prakash Dinning Hall in Veraval i was up and ready for another game of survival.
Tea fill and with no will to take the Ahmedabad ride in one stretch, i took the first bus to Keshod, which i was able to reach well before three on my watch. At platform no 1 there was a signboard indicating the buses headed in the direction of Ahmedabad, Wapi, Vadodara, Junagarh, Gondal and Rajkot section.
The tea at Keshod i had from Om Shakti Travels & Tea Xerox Centre, which had other shops aligned on the way: Vishal Hair Art and Ghanshyam Paan (for gaane ka raas). Tea this time was no magic and in fact the ganne ka raas from Ghanshyam Paan was enough to forget the ride with a broken luggage that had begun to bite. Well the soft toy, popularly known as Magic, i took from Keshod for my journey to Junagadh, and this move i regretted for the discordant note it gave to my luggage which more or less was disjointed and sedated. By the time the soft toy reached Junagadh and the driver handed me the luggage from the roof in the most inhospitable manner , the luggage's handle had torn apart leaving the bag in the most forgetful stage where its stand had broken, the zip had been ripped apart and it was just matter of minutes before anyone gave it a bloody thrust and the luggage would have in all directions burst.

From Junagadh i took the bus post tea fill from Mamta hotel, which is adjacent to Jai Ambe cold drinks. The Jai Ambe guy after handing me soft drinks gave me suggestions on how to repair the bag and for which i won't have to brag. Time was a scarcity and i took the bus in all sensitivity. The ride was for over two-and- a- half hours before i reach the Rajkot Dwar.

2011-12-02T22:58:00.000-08:00

Days Spent in Somnath amidst some people with a big heart

As i headed towards Somnath, the starting point happened to be Dwarka with twin stops coming in HARshad and Porbandar . THe ride in a bus may not have been soothing enough given the senseless movements by some co-passengers but all reflex and rescue plans followed in quick intervals.

CAN the Exempted List Ever be Expandable: Round the clock commentary on all those whose performance has been exemplary

2011-11-30T22:45:00.002-08:00

CAN the Exempted List Ever be Expandable

As i stretch and fumble to take buses that would take me to different destinations where the space would be ample, the approach to a toll plaza is greeted with big signboards of NATional Highway Authority of INdia Exempted List. On the approach road is not only a list of exempted but there is a man who has been giving round the clock commentary on all those who have shown their performance to be no less exemplary. Exemption has been granted to these individuals for the exemplary valour shown by them and the exemption they seek now and then. THe round the clock commentary by a man for those being exemplary and thus seeking exemption has been meant to broaden the list and thereby include those who give commentary and don't boast.
This exempted list has been no short of a feast and the round the clock commentary is primarily targeted to include those who repeatedly take public transport and withdraw this exemption to those who come in red beacon boat. To make the toll plaza a truly toll experience, double hike in toll rates is the need for those coming in personal car of all shapes, sizes and sense. As exempted list has stayed for long the exempted list dignitaries have truly been seeking the much-required exemption at places of their work and stay. Exemption they seek from volcanic eruption from their near ones whom they fear and the rhymes they hum. Because once their near and nativeland occupants come to know that their dignitary kin has traversed the distance courtesy exemption, they seek similar exemption for the college they are rolled in or the duty hours in place of work they are soaked in.

As for the round the clock commentary that is being heard in the corridors of toll plazas, round is the shape of the exempted dignitaries and this is making the officials go round who decided to give exemption to this round about entities. Entities shaped round abound and this has led to all masters vested with powers to make others look thin and trim fall apart as expandable exempted list is bound to bloat. Exemption would be sought at every stage and this toll plaza has set the craze. This exempted list is expandable is the refrain ; after all this is very much possible after application of little brain.

2011-11-30T22:45:00.001-08:00

Three hoardings i come across in the city.
First clothing for students going abroad. What it intends to arouse is clothing is a necessity if going to another country which is not receptive to a change of your residential status. Second is on discover the country in a city with 2 bhk from 31 lakh onwards and 3bhk from 50.5 lakh onwards. Third is on discover the genius within. Amply it states that we all are genius except the temperamental generosity that we are battling with.

2011-11-30T21:48:00.003-08:00

Why STD booths don't croon?

The ride to Okha and beyond

2011-11-30T21:48:00.001-08:00

The ride to OKha and beyond

Having been to Bet Dwarka on the second day of a six-day stay in Dwarka and its suburbs, the third day began on the note of taking a bus from Dwarka bus depot for Okha at 10.38 in the morning. Having seized a seat with no resistance whatsoever from near and distant co-passengers, the one seated adjacent to me was carrying agreement paper for hiring of a locker facility in a public sector bank. The locker facility paper was an alibi for taking the trip as the actual terms of movement had been fashioned by reasons best known to him.

Just two minutes ride and you are face to face with a board showing Okha 28 and mithapur 18, with Rukmini Mandir 1 km away. Just one and a half kms later a poster of Lord Govinda is sighted on the national highway. Sighting of not that equitable proportion in Mithapur is LIC Premium Collection Centre and Bharat stores .
As i inch towards the Okha beach (some prefer to call it Mithapur beach) the signboard of Okha Nagar Palika welcomes you is the sign of times we live in and a sureshot indication that visits by outsiders are welcome. Perhaps the fear of coming across dogged refusal by unsurpassable entities won't come true is the consolation.
Post Jetty transition, i come across Gujarat Maritime Board Okha Port Office. Head straight, turn left and from Dwarkadish Centre shop turn right and 200 metres away is the Okha beach, with the glow of the sea as enticing as ever. There is a Khodiyara Mata Mandir; some tracing its 25-year-old roots and adjacent to that is a SHiva idol in proximity to an idol of a saint. Two light houses can be spotted; one amidst the sea and other near the seashore. For a crystal clear view of the one near the seashore one has to trek a bit before getting the commanding view. Some make enquiries about why i intend to see the light house when one is there in DWARKA. That is truly and a testing case of getting inquisitive details.

With no commands whatsoever i take the view and head towards the railway station. Adjacent to the station is MAHadev Mandir; something that gets me inside and stay there for a while. Being the first visit to Mahadev CEntre, i relish the stay and head towards STation. Opposite to that is Western Railway Health Unit Okha and Officer Rest House; inaugurated in 2008.

Inside the station there are declarations holding true round the clock and round the year. All type of ticket and platform ticket available round the clock; there is a current reservation and enquiry centre; Working hrs Mon to Sat (8 to 2 and 2.15 to 8 pm) and on Sunday (8 to 2pm).
WHen i step out of the railway station, not having stepped inside the platforms of any durability and demeanour, the tea stall from where i took the tea is probably manned by others. During my turn there is an old tall guy taking care and handed the tea cup after bringing it close to his glasses. A bit strange but i don't find it offensive or intimidating as he is a man with a heart. This tea shop also serves as STD/ISD centre. There is a Vaishali Pan and cold drinks shop . Here atop the machine is written Jai Shri Krishna. It serves jeera soda, masala soda, orange, cola, lemon, fruit beer, kachi keri. One fill all for five, i settle for no less than four. Adjacent to this Aashapura restaurant and a SBI ATM centre. The wait for the bus makes me see a declaration by a declared entity who has discovered that the train to Rajkot is at 2.30 in the afternoon. But i declare in no uncertain terms the readiness to take the bus.

The return journey takes the bus through Welcome to Gujarat Maritime Board, Main Gate Okha Port. From GMB, the bus turns right and 500 metres away is jetty on the left. Then it turns right and heads straight. There on a wall is etched "Thanks for visit, Okha Gram Panchayat". Few minutes later on a house on the right side is etched "Hare Krishna Hare Rama Hare Hare" message and this is followed by spotting the Poster of Maha Param Dham Shri Tirupati Balaji Mandir, Highway Road , Barwala Dwarka ( 9825485235) .

THat was the third day followed by other three days during which i chanced upon the Dwarka station and the trains bound for Mumbai and Howrah. The interesting bit being they had fewer coaches from five to eight as they were supposed to get the big load from Rajkot. THe Dwarka station has had an entire makeover incurring an expenditure of Rs 312 lakh. The visit to Platform 1 after taking the platform ticket was interspersed with the sighting of a crowd sitting and standing waiting for their respective trains. If possible one should avoid the tea served on PF No 1 as it leaves you with enough thoughts of what all you could have done to avoid it.

As for other possible sighting made plausible once i stepped out of lodge in Dwarka were Mashak selection, vashtralaya selection, saray dharamsala, hotel shreejee (they are all near the Jawahar Road). On the same road is Adhunik hair art, hotel radha madhav and two different carts selling bombay masala puri, shreenath icecream.

Rest of the sighting on this road includes shreeram xerox, chetan selection and a board showing videocon, airtel, reliance. The Kismat Vinay hotel board shows chai, doodh coffee bournvita garam garam yahan se milega. Adjacent to mangalam shop is rudraksh gifts. Near mangalam shop is a tea cart from where i had tea in August is what all i can recall.

Having left Jamnagar: Dwarka and Bet Dwarka

2011-11-26T22:06:00.002-08:00

Dwarka and Bet Dwarka

Having left Jamnagar and inching towards Dwarka, apprehension was over the duration of stay in the temple town as the issue of accommodation coupled with seamless transition from one point to another confronted me. Not discounting the fact that the commute from Ahmedabad to Jamnagar via Rajkot was a picture of comfort given the unhindered passages the different vehicles got and the apprehensive thoughts that had yet to float.

Had to vacate the seat in the initial part of the journey as the bus left the Jamnagar depot and headed towards Khambaliya. The woman was carrying and seeing no surge of interest from any side it was appropriate to vacate the seat i occupied. Having secured the seat later the apprehension had scaled down by a notch or two as the seat i occupied was instrumental in keeping at bay the probable frightening sights. And by the time i was in Dwarka, the tendency to strut with the luggage was a natural act followed by queries on lodges which could be durable to ensure the long-lasting durability. After frenetic search i could reach to a lodge next to ISKCON Temple and the stay proved uninterrupted for the next six days.

The next day after Dwarkadish Darshan, the next halt happened to be Nageshwar for which a covered Chakda commute i had no quantum of aversion. Amidst 10 people who occupied the Chakda hoping to reach their respective destinations, i was on the side where most occupants happened to be one comfortable with mobile and giving updates as and when they had been through their session of rile. Post Advent passage (i could not sight the movie they were running) it was the railway crossing that saw the gates closed and here there was a sample of vehicles that seem to be inching towards the destination and nearby. Most on this end and the opposite side comprised of Chakdas and other mini buses, content with the number of passengers they were ferrying and hoping similar numbers would time and again keep on appearing.

Having kept my tryst with Nageshwar intact, the hard part began from here when no Chakdas going towards Mithapur could be sighted. Sighting of Chakdas was possible plausibly made possible by the surging crowd but none appeared to be heading towards Mithapur bout. After much persuasion i latched on to a one that dropped me at Gopi Talab, perhaps illustrating the two- km stretch all i had to content with as agonishing wait was all i had to trend with. THere was a collection of young girls barely in their teens and all gung ho about going to Mithapur. The query pointed at me was the place i hail from and my poser on classes they were enrolled in saw them read out different numbers; some not even three and yet moved by outspoken nature of their compatriots and revealing they were in classes beyond breach. The crowd was not intimidated by chakdas which refused to take them on board and their no-hurry agenda showed they had enough time to float. Wished them best for their simplicity and i hopped on to a one that actually intended to go to Mithapur.

The stretch from Gopi Talab to Mithapur has been in a state of disrepair for long and perhaps by the time i try this again in future hope the road would be tall and sturdy enough to withstand the rupture the different modes of vehicles unleash. It was half past one and i was in Mithapur to take another shared auto towards Jetty. In Jetty by two in the afternoon, the amount of dirt that had settled on the face and head had to be emptied before i could make the next outing and declare free of fatigue. The stretch between Mithapur and Jetty has trucks and diesel emitting vehicles taking a repeated shot and if one is not appropriately covered the head to toe rupture one can find it difficult to subvert .
THE GMB canteen came handy and equally handy was the tap located in a corner which had ample water in reserve. The wait was another one and a half hours before the vessel made its intention to move. Intent to carry on board as many passengers it could load the ride was not patchy and by half past six i was back from Bet Dwarka rendezvous. That was the second day of my six-day halt at Dwarka and the passage to Okha and beyond the other days was not that patchy and still something that travellers like us would keep in their memory blast.

Having left Jamnagar: Dwarka and Bet Dwarka

2011-11-26T21:35:00.001-08:00

Dwarka and Bet Dwarka

Having left Jamnagar and inching towards Dwarka, apprehension was over the duration of stay in the temple town as the issue of accommodation coupled with seamless transition from one point to another confronted me. Not discounting the fact that the commute from Ahmedabad to Jamnagar via Rajkot was a picture of comfort given the unhindered passages the different vehicles got and the apprehensive thoughts that had yet to float.

Had to vacate the seat in the initial part of the journey as the bus left the Jamnagar depot and headed towards Khambaliya. The woman was carrying and seeing no surge of interest from any side it was appropriate to vacate the seat i occupied. Having secured the seat later the apprehension had scaled down by a notch or two as the seat i occupied was instrumental in keeping at bay the probable frightening sights. And by the time i was in Dwarka, the tendency to strut with the luggage was a natural act followed by queries on lodges which could be durable to ensure the long-lasting durability. After frenetic search i could reach to a lodge next to ISKCON Temple and the stay proved uninterrupted for the next six days.

The next day after Dwarkadish Darshan, the next halt happened to be Nageshwar for which a covered Chakda commute i had no quantum of aversion. Amidst 10 people who occupied the Chakda hoping to reach their respective destinations, i was on the side where most occupants happened to be one comfortable with mobile and giving updates as and when they had been through their session of rile. Post Advent passage (i could not sight the movie they were running) it was the railway crossing that saw the gates closed and here there was a sample of vehicles that seem to be inching towards the destination and nearby. Most on this end and the opposite side comprised of Chakdas and other mini buses, content with the number of passengers they were ferrying and hoping similar numbers would time and again keep on appearing.

Having kept my tryst with Nageshwar intact, the hard part began from here when no Chakdas going towards Mithapur could be sighted. Sighting of Chakdas was possible plausibly made possible by the surging crowd but none appeared to be heading towards Mithapur bout. After much persuasion i latched on to a one that dropped me at Gopi Talab, perhaps illustrating the two- km stretch all i had to content with as agonishing wait was all i had to trend with. THere was a collection of young girls barely in their teens and all gung ho about going to Mithapur. The query pointed at me was the place i hail from and my poser on classes they were enrolled in saw them read out different numbers; some not even three and yet moved by outspoken nature of their compatriots and revealing they were in classes beyond breach. The crowd was not intimidated by chakdas which refused to take them on board and their no-hurry agenda showed they had enough time to float. Wished them best for their simplicity and i hopped on to a one that actually intended to go to Mithapur.

The stretch from Gopi Talab to Mithapur has been in a state of disrepair for long and perhaps by the time i try this again in future hope the road would be tall and sturdy enough to withstand the rupture the different modes of vehicles unleash. It was half past one and i was in Mithapur to take another shared auto towards Jetty. In Jetty by two in the afternoon, the amount of dirt that had settled on the face and head had to be emptied before i could make the next outing and declare free of fatigue. The stretch between Mithapur and Jetty has trucks and diesel emitting vehicles taking a repeated shot and if one is not appropriately covered the head to toe rupture one can find it difficult to subvert .

THE GMB canteen came handy and equally handy was the tap located in a corner which had ample water in reserve. The wait was another one and a half hours before the vessel made its intention to move. Intent to carry on board as many passengers it could load the ride was not patchy and by half past six i was back from Bet Dwarka rendezvous. That was the second day of my six-day halt at Dwarka and the passage to Okha and beyond the other days was not that patchy and still something that travellers like us would keep in their memory blast.

Having reached Ahmedabad city

2011-11-25T23:02:00.001-08:00

Having reached Ahmedabad city

Having reached Ahmedabad city, the one known for its simplicity, illustrating the desires of many to root themselves in a state that is known for its pragmatic take. The stay in Ahmedabad was for four days, starting from Sunday and coming to an end on the morning of Wednesday.
Perhaps the lodge near relief road where travellers like us hold their court, was meant to give the elaborate stay the meaningful stay, coming on board three movies from Hollywood tray. Peacemaker, The Hulk and Mission Impossible 3 were made plausibly possible to watch as the room had tv and others who were keeping a close watch. The strides were to Food Joints in the vicinity and the food being elaborate and showing us the way to being all-weather witty.

Public transport was tried for going beyond DElhi Darwaza and the Camp visited on a Tuesday was enough to relay thoughts on the same one that happened to be a six-year-old fray. By wednesday, the time was appropriate to head towards Rajkot and beyond and here the ST bus was most immaculate in its design to make us reach Rajkot in a record time. Beyond Rajkot the commute was shared between a maxi cab carrying 10 or more persons and a ST bus that seemed to be a fresh roll out from the factory perhaps never been out of the state and to a new territory. By late evening i had reached my destination and Bangad Bhawan showed the least inclination. Perhaps other lodges were not tied by the concept of single and they entertained whoever stayed within limits to mingle. The visit to Okha and beyond were considerably exhaustive and bringing on board the residents desire to be not repetitive. Most on the morning of Okha visit could be seen handling household chores and there the Chorus for Lord Govinda Grew when i spottted the Lord's poster on the highway glue. Perhaps the return trip to ST bus depot saw me deboard the bus near the poster and i collected all plausible information on the area where Lord had a new territory to give voluble direction. Perhaps the visit to the place would be tried some time later.

2011-11-25T22:19:00.001-08:00

Why are there no locker facility at Siddhivinayaka? Or is it a case of not knowing it.

2011-11-25T21:17:00.001-08:00

Triambek and beyond

When i reached Gwalior there was something to fear. Though i was in battle gear, the dogged refusal to extend my train journey to Manmad saw me enter a territory that i was least expected to share. Going beyond platform, the first foray was towards the current reservation where those expected to hand out ticket were cracking jokes and expecting those in the queue to be no less than blokes. Having made queries on the seat availability front, it was met with a response that saw me and others grunt. No clear picture could be provided as the staff on the other side declared that all train charts had been prepared till 11 the next morning even though it was 9 the previous night. Tried to console that head TC office (platform 1) where i was directed to make further queries could break the logjam but here it was a picture of more discomfort and most in their cash registering form.

Wait was all that i could do and this period saw me go to Sooraj Medical store for headache relief and Jain Misthana Bhandar (opposite Sai Bhoj) for tea belief. At both places the personnel were good and handed me combiflam and tea that could inspire the agenda of brood.
Finally after much persuasion to myself i boarded the Karnataka Express and reached Manmad the next day with a journey spent across people who were good at heart. Except for two army jawans, the other jawans were equally wonderful for the compassion architect they were glued. Had it not been for this sleeper class ride, i would have failed to come across these men, women and babies who rose to the occasion and were wonderfully bright. They were supposed to get down at Kurduvadi, supposed to come at 10.08 at night and i got down at my station at some minutes past four when the SUN was equally bright.

At Manmad station i reached for Mohat kirana store for jaggery and post jaggery infusion i was back to my train commute to Nashik Junction. The commute onwards was to Triambek where when i reached most residents were awake. A little over 17 hours i had my luggage in the hotel room, for which i had to go beyond 400 plus cash zoom. The stay was wonderful in the town and this time Brahmagiri was not in the itinerary round.

When i left Triambek, there was one lady who was shouting in the bus and she was made known the displeasure the commuters were having. When Nashik was touched, Sharanpur Road was the target the scooterwallah fetched. Not a routine road by any standards (buses don't ply on this stretch), i am of the belief that in two years' time it would see buses plying and more commuters not escaping and trying. Post ticket purchase which read the status of waiting list 13, the next day i somehow managed to get in the train with a waiting list three and saw the Gujarat Mail reach the destination with no extra fee.
Gujarat saw me share wonderful stories about resilience and a new gear.

2011-11-22T02:49:00.001-08:00

THe best three days in Ahmedabad

The vehicle that has disdain for traffic rules

2011-11-22T02:31:00.000-08:00

THe search for meal to be followed by cyber cafe deal took me to a place, known in local parlance as Bhavani Mandir, intersped with a scooterwallah who was as notorious as he could afford to be and i being told to get down at Bhawani Mandir. Trying to board another scooter for the unreliability quotient the previous one had flaunted, there was this white coloured vehicle with a Haryana number plate, the digits read 8880 or 8888, and the menacing way in which it came surging towards us showed the utter disregard for traffic rules these big movers of machines have who have their mental adapatability touching their feet.
If that was not enough the bus ride back to Roopalee saw the conductor flaunt his temperamental skills and a query to him on his conduct was met with a response: "Yeh public sar pe charti hai aur aisa karna jaroori hai."

Peanuts from Dadar and the bus ride

2011-11-20T23:21:00.001-08:00

Peanuts from Dadar and the bus ride

Having procured peanuts from Dadar station the other day, it reminded me of the long journey i had undertaken since morning. It was the bus heading towards Nashik that gave me the comfort that i could break my journey and proceed towards Mumbai later. The Nashik bus ride wasn't bad except for the driver oldish in shape but driving at a breakneck speed. It was quarter to 11 in the morning when i boarded the bus and there was something amiss as conductor had a huge problem with my luggage reminding me of how weighty the bus had become thanks to my weighty shape and the luggage weight.

Post ticket delivery i shifted to the front seat with a request to the driver that the overbearing luggage can be accommodated in the vicinity of the front seat. He was ok with this but what was not ok was the way he was driving. At full force and with nothing to fear. On occasions he went past people on road and small vehicles that were plying withing their limits. His bus almost had a near miss with most of them. I just kept my eyes on the road and hoped nothing untoward happened.
It did not take long for him to have more than the desired brush and that too with a dog. The bus was speeding and there was a dog sitting not in the middle of the road but on a stretch close to the road. There was ample space for the driver to do manoeuvring. But as the bus neared the dog, he kept the movement straight and did not care to occupy more road space and bring it in the middle. And the rear portion of the bus hit the dog and there was a huge thud and what followed was inexplicable. The driver looked at the mirror and kept driving. i had known by then that the dog had been hit by the force of the bus and the rear hit would have made him succumb.

The bus kept moving and there was nothing one could do about. But that oldish driver could have easily spared the dog had he been a bit careful. At Sinnar bus station, the driver was replaced but the damage had been done. The best course would be to put this driver and others who engage in reckless driving on time duty and take them away from driving schedule. But who would look into these issues? Hope better sense prevails

Having reached Nashik, the bus ride showed the urgency to go for a strong cuppa which post persuasive efforts i was able to manage. The bus ride from Nashik to Mumbai was not that bad and there were fewer halts. At the Kurla CST Flyover the bus driver thundered "Sampooran Jam". But the Jam disappeared sooner than expected and later i reached PrabhaDevi Road on time. The taxi ride from Dadar to Prabha Devi Road gave me the opportunity to get into a new fabric and the one pyjama which i was sporting for two days - this pyjama, procured from Esplanade, Kolkata, served as a pant with effortless ease - was left inadvertently in the taxi. This folly was realised when i was 500kms away from Mumbai.

The taxi ride from Prabha Devi Road to Mumbai Central took time given the long traffic trail. Still it was comfortable but not comfortable to the point when i was told to shell out Rs 90 for a ride from Prabha DEvi Road to Mumbai Central. The charge steep and by then i had realised the folly of not taking the bus. It was in Mumbai Central that the man manning the counter posting updates on ticket status brought forth the misery of travelling on a waiting ticket and thundered" Phek Dega TTE train ke bahar. Ticket Cancel kar lo"
I went to main reservation counter to cancel the same but was told to not do so by other passengers. One said: "Yeh train TTE ke baap ki nahi hain. Yeh Govt of India ki Train Hai". They advised me to try my luck as there could be cancellations at the last moment. Further there was at least this consolation that i can travel in Sleeper Class as the ticket was for AC Coach. When the train began to move there was a big group on board. And here TTE told me that it is up to me to make adjustments with the group. Though rescue was not possible and even my pleading to a nearby passenger who had RAC status to let me sit on the side of the seat he had positioned for sleep fell on deaf years. Later well past 12 the TTE gave me the upper berth on another coach and i was saved from the inevitability of hopping from one coach to another the entire night.
And the train ride was still the best option as the buswallahs outside the Mumbai Central were frank enough to set a 12-hour schedule. Post Mumbai Central the first halt was in Dadar where packets of peanuts were tried with the comfort that i would reach my destination without being made to deboard.

Triambek and beyond

2011-11-20T23:20:00.001-08:00

The Goa Express i took by Puneet Rajhans

2011-11-20T23:18:00.001-08:00

The Goa Express i took and the expressive intent that others showed

As i took Goa express with no expressive intent of reaching Goa, the B1 ticket was till Gwalior , with the TTE (TTE hota hai ki TTI? Kaun Jane?) expressing the persuasive skills i need to employ to make his expressionless face undergo a transition from head to toe. Perhaps the intro from my side of being a journo attempting to be a writer did not cut much ice with him and he took offence to my tone. Having being ticked off for my tone i apologised (apology dena tha nahi toh train ka safar kar deta kharab) , he said he would communicate to me about my onward journey from Gwalior and he promised to do his best.

At Nizamuddin Station, the chart clearly showed at least two seats Seat Number 2 and 39 to be filled from Ahmednagar and beyond. When i approached him at Gwalior, the TTE was in a different mood and told me point blank that no extension of journey can be provided and i deboarded the train at Gwalior. The transaction that this TTE had engaged a little after a man boarded the train from Agra with no exchange of receipt made me suspect that i stood little chance of extension as receipt the TTE won't be complying with and i won't be taking the other route which some passengers do as they give a damn to rules. The Gwalior stay was for over five hours as which ever train came, the TTE refused point blank to give a seat. Here in Gwalior i made innumerable rounds to TC Head office and made innumerable requests. But these guys were in their own world obliging those from whom they could gain. First i took the Karnataka Express General Ticket replaced it with a GT General Ticket and when GT came the first TTE of the first ac coach was furious and took no time to show his temperamental nature. The second TTE was better and simply expressed his inability.

Having taken the Karnataka General ticket again, this was followed by Karnataka Express turmoil (Thursday morning well after 1 a.m.) where the batch the AC TTE was wearing showed him to be Head TTE. And he was bang on brutality: "Kahein se laon seat.? Thali me parosh do.? Apne pocket se nikaloo.? And a lot of other stuff. The other TTE (another AC Coach) ahead of that AC Coach wasn't brutal but he could not provide a rescue plan. THese two TTEs, one of GT Express and another of Karnataka Express, were brutal to the core and if ever the department does a honest check, the truth would come out. Perhaps the passengers are to be blamed for taking these TTEs to such heights where they use their imaginary skills - not to be used at their place of stay- to make the immaculate passenger bow to their real and not imaginary command.

As some sleeper coaches were locked from inside, i somehow managed to get in Karnataka Express S2 coach and there was a big rush that followed me. There were two lathi wielding security guys too got inside by landing slaps on standing passengers in the coach and were at their expletive best. Later they did rounds of the coach and looked to be normal and tamed ones. Perhaps they would have realised that by raining blows on hapless passengers, the same can happen to the members in their family as the WORLD IS ROUND.

THe coach like any other coach was brimming to its capacity, each flowing with no less than 400 passengers given the spiritual meet that they had gone to attend in the National Capital and most hailing from Maharashtra and some places bordering Karnataka.
Here there was a Army Jawan (Seat Number 65) with his family who boarded the train from Jhansi and made those occupying his seats vacate them - at least 15 persons had to make way for his comfortable ride - and they kept standing or getting a space to stand in the passage or next to a bathroom till late afternoon. There was another Jawan (seat number 58) having boarded the train prior to him and he flew in rage and kept repeating that this coach is meant for defence personnel and was at his best in abusing civilians. What grouse these two Jawans had was that no one could even share an inch of their seat and these hapless passengers had to settle with standing instructions. What a mockery of rules these Jawans make and how inhuman they can be .
THe Jhansi Jawan on Thursday afternoon (Nov. 17) had more sinister plans up his sleeves. He wanted an equal comfortable place for his luggage and started removing the pieces of others and even those seated in the passage, he asked them to move. i was sharing space with three persons on upper berth and the old man who was seated next to me was asked by this Jhansi Jawan to get down and remove his luggage. THe old man obliged and the rest of the members of his group too obliged and this was discomforting to a large extent.

Though i was having the general ticket but there were scores like me who were travelling on a general ticket; most seated next to the bathroom or in the passage and i knew the TTE was well aware of that and he did not raise any objection. Perhaps this TTE understood the ground reality well and was as helpful as one could get as a coach carrying 400 passengers with a seating capacity of 72 had to show the human side of existence. I got down at a station near Ahmednagar, perhaps a bit scared for the folly of travelling on a general ticket in sleeper but most of the time was spent in passage or near the entrance. At least this consolation was there that i was not made to chip in for the largesee the TTE would have demanded with no receipt whatsoever.

This train ride like the large number of ones in the past showed that there are TTEs who are understanding and there are the those who are brutal. Perhaps the aam admi needs to curb the practice of obliging TTEs and need to seek receipt. More of this is encouraged, more would be the possibility of getting the requisite seat in places like Gwalior as there are vacant seats at every station and it is up to TTEs to choose between brutality and humanity.

As for the ride from National Capital, the best course would have been to take the ticket in advance. But there have been occasions when the ticket has been procured in advance and yet the confirmation is next to impossible. Still the ticket procured in advance at least gives you the leeway to travel in the coach though the seat-procurement may be a tall order.

Suggested Veg menu

2011-11-20T21:18:00.001-08:00

The suggested Veg menu Plan I come for Rs 170 holding true for at least 15 persons. There are suggested Plan II and Plan III. And they too have pricing structure with nothing coming for free.

Steep are the rates for Veg lunch and veg lunch which one wants to have at home and don't want to enjoy the restaurant fun. The rates for fixed veg pack too has been revised upwards given the upward revision the nation is in for a long session.
It was in Triambek and the New Samadhan food joint i had set my sights on given the 13 items they serve and with no frown. THe night spent in Triambek was great as it was one sleep with no break. There have been fewer such nights of others when they sleep and getting in the morning and with no signs of shriek. If the sleep is sound and with no accretion of pound then you are in a world of paradise with fewer habits of taking others bite.

Peanuts from Dadar and the bus ride

2011-11-20T20:58:00.000-08:00

2011-11-15T23:36:00.000-08:00

For the second time running the access is becoming bothersome.

2011-11-15T23:23:00.002-08:00

It has taken over two hours to access the account. And this is something i am quite apprehensive about.

What leads to this tale of interruption is not known. But if some are trying to imitate, they won't besuccessful.

2011-11-15T23:21:00.001-08:00

THe power of yes in the world of no. That is how one headline went as i went past a phase of dissonance amidst the need to keep my innocence. The lung power and lusty cheers had shown the foes-turned-dacoits having a field day despite knowing well the time was not something that could keep them in all round sway.

The power to keep yourself rooted to the ground is what keeps you going and this would probably prevent commoners from discordant seeds sowing.

When George Bush was in Mumbai

2011-11-09T01:19:00.001-08:00

Visit to Undisclosed locations by a Disclosed Former US President

As Former Prez George W Bush, son of George H Bush reached Mumbai, with a view to visit scores of undisclosed destinations and what lay undiscovered there, the itinerary took him to one destination which was disclosed to those handed out invites and debarred from the media which had to rely on his previous bytes. From what the gathering assumed from the address of this George was that he preferred to omit pearls of Hollywood as it never truly and completely reflected the true and vibrant strengths of those stuck in American wood. Out of woods was not he had come to harp upon as it was something that would eventually come along. Time was the factor that truly omitted America from showcasing its strengths and given its reducing reliance on oil from the Gulf, stage wasn't that far when the residents of the United and Booming State would afford to have more than their share of veg and non veg puff. Well details haven't emerged on what this George spoke to other Georges who were in the audience and perhaps details would never come out given the 2004 reelection to the office was all that he could recall when he went past revolving chairs to take the podium and some in the audience which had to bear. Coming for two days, beginning from Tuesday and wrapping up on Wednesday, with visit to undisclosed destinations being the high point of his South Asian Sway. THe destinations were undisclosed to the point where this George could not disclose to himself as well the destinations he was supposed to visit given his true nature to visit Afghanistan and its periphery when the nation state bordering Pakistan was truly and completely in rupture and no gear. Well residents of India have still not figured out the destinations in Mumbai he has peaked but one is certain that those destinations covered by this George would have a upsurge of footfalls and a new feat. Coming to his address to a gathering of Georges and Gems in mumbai which is a centre of gravity for subtractions and sums, the invite truly and completely made it clear that that the invitees would have to maintain a fair distance from this George who had secured twice US Poll Won and Wart. Perhaps a literature accompanied the invites which truly reflected the desire of Former Prez that Familiarity Breeds Contempt so let us have a literature on when the audience can turn and bend. For the entire duration of his address, the audience sticked to the literature guidelines on when to bend and move because any irrational act could have led to emptying their missiles and leading to make the other George get the shoe apprise. Arrival to the hall was strictly for those who rarely had a shoe fall and once the address was over the George was the first to empty the hall with those in the audience having their face to the wall. Well his departure led to wail and long vehicle trail but everything went smoothly given his arrival and departure was strictly to schedule and without any fail. When the former Prez was apprised that he was supposed to visit a slew of undisclosed locations in Mumbai, he made a query about the minutes he would spend and the minutes turning to hour that traffic would be no fun. Having finished the destinations' visit, the final query from this George (in keeping with the undisclosed destinations vow) was to the US Seals - amendments have already been made that those demitting office with a vow to not occupy them again would be protected by Seals- that could he afford to visit unvisited quarters of Afghanistan thereby surprising Karzai Host and his Khandan. Perhaps the US securitymen were baffled by this request given their belief that once this George DEmits Office his appetite for Iraq and Afghanistan would suffice. But not having reached that stage, those bound and pilloried to secure him were looking for a ring of security to not get blown by life blaze. Still, the men meant to secure the former US Prez were confident that post India visit, his temerity to surprise and arrive would ebb as he had visited a nation state which is a churning hub. A Churning that meant polls on schedule in states where legislators had gone past pinnacle stage/wage. A churning that sees a fuming rage between civil and political reps. A churning that could transcend boundaries if political class does not read the ground beneath the sky that could slip from gripping try. A churning that could spell doom for those who bask under the weight of fame and cash dune. So as All- Friendly George Departed from Mumbai, the nation State was back to Yatra and Yeddy's Convoy. The turnout to some would have been to a scale thereby illustrating that civil reps can't tar with the same brush the entire political class in a hush hush way. So Geoge was no less than a Yatri who had some papers demoting him to a footnote given his inability to furnish out centre article sword. Perhaps the book written by him may not dispell the hysteria that encircled him and in a tacit understanding with his followers he need to pen thoughts on centre page which would invite no rage.

Visit to undisclosed locations by a Disclosed Former US President

2011-11-08T23:22:00.000-08:00

Visit to Undisclosed locations by a Disclosed Former US President

As Former Prez George W Bush, son of George H Bush reached Mumbai, with a view to visit scores of undisclosed destinations and what lay undiscovered there, the itinerary took him to one destination which was disclosed to those handed out invites and debarred from the media which had to rely on his previous bytes. From what the gathering assumed from the address of this George was that he preferred to omit pearls of Hollywood as it never truly and completely reflected the true and vibrant strengths of those stuck in American wood. Out of woods was not he had come to harp upon as it was something that would eventually come along. Time was the factor that truly omitted America from showcasing its strengths and given its reducing reliance on oil from the Gulf, stage wasn't that far when the residents of the United and Booming State would afford to have more than their share of veg and non veg puff.

Well details haven't emerged on what this George spoke to other Georges who were in the audience and perhaps details would never come out given the 2004 reelection to the office was all that he could recall when he went past revolving chairs to take the podium and some in the audience which had to bear. Coming for two days, beginning from Tuesday and wrapping up on Wednesday, with visit to undisclosed destinations being the high point of his South Asian Sway. THe destinations were undisclosed to the point where this George could not disclose to himself as well the destinations he was supposed to visit given his true nature to visit Afghanistan and its periphery when the nation state bordering Pakistan was truly and completely in rupture and no gear. Well residents of India have still not figured out the destinations in Mumbai he has peaked but one is certain that those destinations covered by this George would have a upsurge of footfalls and a new feat.

Coming to his address to a gathering of Georges and Gems in mumbai which is a centre of gravity for subtractions and sums, the invite truly and completely made it clear that that the invitees would have to maintain a fair distance from this George who had secured twice US Poll Won and Wart. Perhaps a literature accompanied the invites which truly reflected the desire of Former Prez that Familiarity Breeds Contempt so let us have a literature on when the audience can turn and bend.
For the entire duration of his address, the audience sticked to the literature guidelines on when to bend and move because any irrational act could have led to emptying their missiles and leading to make the other George get the shoe apprise. Arrival to the hall was strictly for those who rarely had a shoe fall and once the address was over the George was the first to empty the hall with those in the audience having their face to the wall. Well his departure led to wail and long vehicle trail but everything went smoothly given his arrival and departure was strictly to schedule and without any fail.

When the former Prez was apprised that he was supposed to visit a slew of undisclosed locations in Mumbai, he made a query about the minutes he would spend and the minutes turning to hour that traffic would be no fun. Having finished the destinations' visit, the final query from this George (in keeping with the undisclosed destinations vow) was to the US Seals - amendments have already been made that those demitting office with a vow to not occupy them again would be protected by Seals- that could he afford to visit unvisited quarters of Afghanistan thereby surprising Karzai Host and his Khandan. Perhaps the US securitymen were baffled by this request given their belief that once this George DEmits Office his appetite for Iraq and Afghanistan would suffice. But not having reached that stage, those bound and pilloried to secure him were looking for a ring of security to not get blown by life blaze.
Still, the men meant to secure the former US Prez were confident that post India visit, his temerity to surprise and arrive would ebb as he had visited a nation state which is a churning hub. A Churning that meant polls on schedule in states where legislators had gone past pinnacle stage/wage. A churning that sees a fuming rage between civil and political reps. A churning that could transcend boundaries if political class does not read the ground beneath the sky that could slip from gripping try. A churning that could spell doom for those who bask under the weight of fame and cash dune.
So as All- Friendly George Departed from Mumbai, the nation State was back to Yatra and Yeddy's Convoy. The turnout to some would have been to a scale thereby illustrating that civil reps can't tar with the same brush the entire political class in a hush hush way. So Geoge was no less than a Yatri who had some papers demoting him to a footnote given his inability to furnish out centre article sword. Perhaps the book written by him may not dispell the hysteria that encircled him and in a tacit understanding with his followers he need to pen thoughts on centre page which would invite no rage.

Given the inflationary times we live in

2011-11-03T02:40:00.003-07:00

Given the times we live in and the inflation surge that chips in

Some have raised their hands on fighting inflation. Given the times we live in and rhymes we brim with, those in the corridors of power seem reconciled to the fact that a deregulated market for petrol is the best way to reach their target. Perhaps the balance sheet of oil companies they are relying too much on and not relying on the large scale anger that is boiling along. Bonding with the masses should have been the attempt of those in power by sapping by a fair degree their discretionary tower. Discretionary powers need to be done away with and all unnecessary expenditure that needs to be curbed with a government fiat kit.

Inflation is something that would rupture the society by a big margin and if the govt. fails to act there is nothing that could keep it away from public heat and rant . MNERGA is the scheme they are flaunting to pinpoint the disconnect between the measures the govt has taken to rein in inflation and the results that have fallen stray. Actually the mass scale massacre that govt subjects its citizens to has its roots in the sixth pay commission and its successful implementation. This was in the backdrop of highly infectious pay salaries being doled out by the private sector not realising that they are hurting the fabric of the society by giving benefits to a few who believe in splurge blue. UNless those getting carpet bombed by huge pay packets give a rethink to their desire and take, the society would continue to drift towards unrreconciable bridge and rage. What the govt needs to do is to get on a act fast mode and get all outstanding dues. Be it IPL, Hindi Film Industry and its Fear, BCCI or Coal Cake, there is is enough the govt can do to raise its stake.
As for the government functionaries travelling inbound and abroad, they need to rethink on the necessity of a travel that is a drain on exchequer and greeted with a renewed taunt.

As for Page 3 and its roundabouts, the pictures and stories flashed and which some of us face, the urgency to such a positioning should be accompanied with the inflation in the market and the prices of essential products that are beyond our basket. Once the entry to the venues of Page three - where post departure most weep and shriek- is marked with the current numbers on
inflation and the unlikelihood of it pinching them - they would be the grandest people with grandest appetite and grandest bite. Days are not far when bite on aeroplanes would become customary given the times we live in and are in a hurry. About 10 days ago, a man having lost job and yet attempting to fly and flow made queries on board about who all had lost job and were on verge of losing them. Failing to see that none on board had lost the job and this followed by lusty cheers saw him recline to airhostess bite which was followed by a doctor tranquiliser right.

Tranqulisers admission has become a necessity given the free currency that is being floated with a new urgency. Tranqulisers need to be administered and a fresh list is being prepared. THe list would include those who with there fake richness show the temerity to create upheaval and smokescreen awareness. Perhaps the list may swing from one side to another given the new occupants who splurge and resort to airhostess bite and similar business.

Bytes and bites are the richness of the times we live in and more are in the offing given the balanced and yet remaining unbalanced thoughts that sink in. So as the demon of inflation would be hard to fight and all that we would be left with are inherent strengths that are no less than our birthright.

Who all have gained expertise

2011-11-03T02:40:00.001-07:00

Who all have gained expertise to speak to themselves in a show of solidarity

Well the numbers are growing with fewer interruptions.

What is a footnote and how different it is from those holding court

2011-11-02T05:18:00.001-07:00

What is a footnote and how different it is from those holding court

From what has been appearing in newspapers and the longish footnotes that have not been disappearing, there is a sense that footnotes may ultimately take the cakewalk and leave the penned thoughts in the centre in a dock and the readers who aspire to read and memorise them in a state of shock.

From footnotes like the author is an expanding journo expected to expand beyond your and mine known proportion to the author is a likely beneficiary of a movie/literary fest, the footnotes are meant to flaunt the weight of the writer howsoever less weighty may be the centre sword.

THese footnotes are also meant to convey the monthly remunerations they are entitled to given the periodicity of pieces and the monthly urgency - some take it to weekly format- that is brought on them. Still, most of the weekly /monthly appearances of thoughts are not misplaced as it aims to define the undercurrents of a society being cut into two halves. Have and have nots gulf highlight is the aspirational attempt of writers right from the nation state to right down to individuals.

From this footnote comes the urgency to look at those holding court in different parts of the country; with visible and not that visible booty. THese are battlefield friendly courts that are being organised with each attempting to undercut others writ.

When the invites got lost midway and we were left with nothing on tray

2011-11-02T05:17:00.001-07:00

When the invites got lost midway and we were left with nothing on tray

Well the times we live in and foes-turned-dacoits we bear with, there is nothing to suggest that different invites that we are getting to different functions/parties turning to long due bites are nothing but an inducement to keep mum failing which they would mark their attendance in tv theatres and with a glass of rum. Invites to different functions, specialised for anarchy and those coming with rotating bum, is precisely meant to keep these hoarders from joining the print dispelled and electronic theatre hailed debates where post admission and departure the recovery is not swift and the one which could be availed.

Seeing the record attendance at F1 bay where most had feet of clay, the F1 feast was meant to ensure that more such feasts are round the corner and one can get a cover from electronic dishevelled debates. In these debates, which rarely has an upsurge in the morning when some have the appetite to turn in, they take place when the night has set in and people are accustomed to take the long due rest and cave in. High pitched battles are fought with those in the fray looking all but lost and no hope of getting in acts that teenagers and beyond play.

Post participation and post arrival at home the participants are heckled by their family members and those having become peers just hours ago. They are heckled for not putting their point of view with alarming fists and fury and subjugating themselves to other debaters glory.
The ruckus post participation sweeps across territories and to keep tempers in check, invites to different functions have become mandatory and in top gear. Because such invites invites them to come across foes and fears and also aligns them to the thought that participation here is better as food and drinks are served on a platter. Further these invites lead them strewn with a range of other invites; some of them being on : "the inflationary times and yet having the meals on time", "the petrol loot and yet going to place of work with no shovel and none to shoot".

As these and more such would ring round the year the purpose would be to see a peaceful environ around us. Because the record attendance at record F1 was meant to ensure that some territories do look for breathing space and fun. As for those not getting invites, the 90,000 plus people going to different cinemas of the national capital is itself an invitation to visit these theatres even if the experience is raw and surreal.

As i reach the National Capital

2011-11-02T05:10:00.001-07:00

As i reach the National Capital

As i reach the National Capital, with nothing much to babble except the tale of tormentors who are out there with renewed gear and with nothing to fear . THe past 21 days have been a mixed bag with those with money and car machine power still retaining the novelty fad.

The stay in Kolkata and Bhusaval was great given the railway lines i took to reach them had fewer locomotives pulling the freight. The weather was good; the people were no rude and the search for food was all that i was thoroughly glued.

As the National Capital was accessed three weeks ago, perhaps the reminder kept coming that time has come to explore Siliguri and beyond and there was no point in going for sessions of brood. Raising a toast to National Capital's success won't be futile as there are majority who are positive and shine.

THe days have seen me take metro and in effect come across hoardings like blow your trumpet here and have the independence declare. Blow your trumpet here and in effect get blown is an art that most cherish as it gives them the freedom to flaunt the clinically prepared pamphlet.

Anand Vihar was the destination i deboarded the train and its timely arrival gave me another reason to blow the railways fame. Perhaps the interlocutors cooped inside the train had made the journey somewhat uncomfortable but still it was miles better from some places that record some form of upheaval. AS i reached Anand Vihar coming from another Bihar, the first halt was at Baba Khark Singh Marg followed by home that wasn't too far. THe stay in the National Capital has been fortright as fearsome have been my allies and yet still i have come across fewer surprise.

The visit to RBI the other day to get a note exchanged wasn't a halting process as the staff was courteous to act in a new zest. Except at the security frontier where people take time to prepare entry pass as some disappear for a cell geared task. Cells have abounded in and around National Capital landmarks and this shows the proclivity of those to talk and give others a long lasting shock.

Late afternoon cuppa have reminded me of Jatin Das Park where lassi can be gulped for Rs 12 and there is one Tirumala Textile Centre near Esplanade which has its strong textile take. THere were other centres of resurgence in the Citadel of East Kolkata and more are bound to come given its no nonsense attitude to frivolous adda.

As for the National Capital the F1 fury has abated and in effect the weekly round has begun for getting people/institutions feted. Strengths of the National Capital are growing and more and this makes the population galore.

The visits to the bank in the National Capital have been fewer but no fewer have been the noticeboards pasted there. Some talk at length at the facilities they offer: Complaint register available here; visitor book available here, no smoking, smoking is an offence and to top it the premises under cctv surveillance. As for the complaint register and visitor book, it is an art of persuasion where those availing banking facilities are armed with the advantage to spend as much time as possible in the bank and still draw their monthly salary and retain their rank. After all the cctv footage was meant to record their visible presence in the bank where they were visibly thrilled with the visible workforce and visible quantum of load being handled by the same force that works during the day and still are successful to keep their tormentors at bay. Visibly thrilled, the visible visiting clients record their visible thoughts in the visitor book and forward a visible request to let them carry this visitor book to the visible world outside.

The visit was to three visibly vibrant banks on a visibly clear day and all three of them got my support for clinically visualising the risks and advantages and therefore sticking to the visible guidelines. As for signature mismatch, the stress of potentially visible years has taken the toll to append a signature that has been etched after keeping myself away from provocative brawls.

Apart from the banks, i have visited newspapers stories and the one on "Occupying Dalal Street"(ODS) has got the largest crown. Here in the ODS which is to begin soon and later take the form of Govt's PDS, the occupational hazards of occupying the street has not been spelt and thereby no time limit has been dealt. Perhaps the prospective collection and congregation has its roots in Ramlila Ground Convocation where collection to the venue was huge and equally huge was the cash collection queue. So from the silence vow that is to be broken in a day or two the fast-declared act is something that hasn't lost its novelty fad and is Winter Due. Equally fast were cars that ran on F1 circuit near national capital that gave thumps up verdict and this show of acceleration was meant to showcase that fast and fury can't be the sole preserve of civil society some of which leave no opportunity to show their fury. Perhaps the dividing line between the two sides of India Coin is huge and this got better illustrated by those joining the F1 racing hues.

From the visibly declared ramparts of tv studios what is visible is that visibility is no haze as far as truckloads of debaters are holding court. And this makes logical for the plight of plateaued employees to change track and come under arclight and get new moisturiser to bat.

Blow your trumpet here there and everywhere as blowing is all one can do given the times we spend in sessions of brood.

2011-11-02T05:06:00.001-07:00

Yes

Citadel of East and Pujo

2011-10-21T23:15:00.001-07:00

Citadel of East and Pujo

Citadel of East has a lot going in its favour and the flavour of Pujo embraces those who are its adherents and even those showing a faint inclination to fall in line howsoever long it may take. The stay in the Citadel of East may have mirrored the limited aspirations of city folks but it equally mirrored the aspirational quotient of those who get lost in the haze of the city round the year and get an equal chance to join the bandwagon at this point of time. The turnout in College Square and M.Ali Park and the structured movement of the swelling crowd illustrated the strong undercurrents of adaptability. Visits on more than one occasion to these centres showed the rich fabric the city is endowed with and the rich heritage it basks under.

Recalling the immersion procession and the chants it reverberates with, there is a strong longing to have this association year after year.

The long nights spent in the middle of the city amidst chants of Goddess followed with immersion of the idol was a truly moving experience in the Citadel of East. Had been waiting for loading of the idol in the vehicle that was supposed to depart at 5 in the evening from Ram Krishna Raj Krishna Kali Temple in Central. Since ten past four in the afternoon the wait started and when the idol procession finally hit the city roads it was well past seven and it took a little over three hours to reach the Prasanna Kumar Ghat. It was 11.30 and the search was for a public transport that could take me back to Central.

With no meals outlet open, the walk from Metro Station in Esplanade to Central was taxing and the number of hours walked on Thursday (Dussehra) could be a record one. From where i got the thrust to engage in activities round the day could be traced to the positioning next to the lorry carrying idol since half past 7. Thoughts did cross my mind at Burra Bazar that i should call it quits but something kept me glued to the last step. And by grace of the Goddess i was there till the last moment. What a day it was and how beautifully it wrapped up with thoughts on similar festivity slated for next year.

Again thoughts on those whom i came across and intend to come in the coming period.
Best wishes to Shree Krishna Mistaan Bhandar for the kachori and tea served; best wishes to Lakhanlal (on occasions the meal may have led to a minor upset); best wishes to all those tea vendors for serving the tea i desired; best wishes to all residents of the city for the sweat they undergo given the river that flows.

It is a city that flaunts its happiness index by sweating by a proportion that has few parallels in the country; and it is a city that has record footfalls in the face of adversities.

2011-10-21T23:12:00.001-07:00

Kolkata Coasting wasn't that difficult except for bed bugs and scarcity of hugs. From the different residents and other lesser known towers whom i came across day and every hour, the Kolkata Stay provided me warmth and a new hope to sway.
Coming across a stay of a considerable period the stint provided me a glue of unwavering future.

Ranting from a taxi

2011-10-21T22:25:00.001-07:00

Ranting from a Taxi

AS i spot a man speaking to himself at Lothian Road in the National Capital, this expertise developed over the years can't be the preserve of a few. Competition has been coming thick and fast for those who speak and soak in that experience. The man on Lothian Road was speaking about his ills and the ills plaguing the nation. Illogical wasn't his act and illfounded were not his apprehensions that game changers can't alone be moolah bringers.

The man on Lothian Road spoke and this reminded me of "Zindabad" Rant from a taxi that went past Chittaranjan Avenue Court the other day. The Indian Oil employees appeared puzzled and so were others and we were in entire agreement that his freedom from a long distance train journey confronted by interlocutors of unbelievable scale made him rant and relish. It was the freedom he was relishing and sitting next to the window seat in the taxi made him less amenable to interlocutors pressure.

When Kolkata was my home and the residents gave me hope and foam

2011-10-21T22:24:00.000-07:00

When Kolkata was my home and the residents gave me hope and foam

Kolkata

THe ride from Somnath to Ahmedabad

2011-10-20T02:00:00.001-07:00

The ride from Somnath to Ahmedabad

Perhaps this piece should have been written earlier but given the F1 gloss - which ultimately led to spectators glued to the seats and failing to flee- and the successful Kolkata toss, the story could not not be penned and the the smooth ride from Somnath to Ahmedabad could not be showcased as a unifying trend. The stay in Somnath may not have stretched to one week or more but whatever little time i spent there it reminded me of places like Dilsukh centre - for the tea i took quite often- and the man on the first floor of the shopping arena who was kind enough to hand me the newspaper coming from the House of Femina. The tea inside the shopping arena was equally strong; the aberration being the shop remaining closed for some hours during which i failed to display my frown. THe bhelpuris - known in Kolkata circle as Jhalmuris- were tried quite often from shops on ground floor; one run by brother-sister duo and the other run by a middle aged man looking for a durable duo.

The close-to-a-week placement in Somnath i have tried in the past and probably that gives me the strength to withstand the horrifying national capital blast. AS i bid goodbye to Somnath, with the hope to come here again for another spiritual shot, the stay was grand and only thing missing was net band. The honey to keep cold at bay i tried and the mosquito-fighting apparatus i put on a functioning mode showed the longing i had for this place with all-pervasive peace tone.

As i left Somnath and later Veraval, the sighting of hoardings and havelis was my dose of survival. The number of educational institutions and lodges that one comes across length and breadth of the country are phenomenal and there are no dearth of hoardings advertising them. When i left Veraval to head towards Junagadh on the way to Ahmedabad some weeks ago, the first sighting was of Noble Group of Institutions- Making your dreams come true is our responsibility. Swamped with an integrated technical educational campus, the hoarding next to the Veraval bus stand has nothing novel about it except the attempt to catch as many eyeballs as possible. Possibly the wait at the bus stop made me engineer efforts to get a glimpse of such and other hoardings and as i inched towards Junagadh i had a sizeable sighting of the same.

In Keshod is the Shakti Centre offering tea at prices within your range and it has a refreshing flavour that easily recharges you after a bout of long distance travel. Similarly in Junagadh opposite the bus stand is Shri Ram Guest House (AC and Non AC rooms) and therein is another tea centre serving the cuppa with a mandate that keeps you glued to action in and outside the bus for a fairly good time. It was in Junagadh that the staff of the bus was replaced by a young fleet and it was a ride towards the State Capital with fewer interruptions. It was in Junagadh and places further away that one could sight hoardings of Saputara Monsoon Festival , held between July and August. It is almost two months since that fest ended and it evolved with themes on fun, romance, adventure and discovery. Saputara being part of the annual calendar, the themes would have a new trajectory year after year would be the belief of those who sighted with alacrity. Almost on the outer limit of Junagadh is Sakharbaug Zoological Park and so is the Mahanagar Seva Sadan. At Jetpur the bus stops adjacent to a pic of Sai in blue outfit. And that turns the thought on Ahmednagar in and out visit.

The bus having left Jetpur, the signboard ahead showed Porbandar 112 kms away and one which most of the residents of the State have tried once in their lifetime sway.

The next halt is Gondal, with a hoarding of Gondal Sunflower Preschool . THe tag line of this school reads" We build those who build the nation." Perhaps the tag line is ok except for the fact that there are too many claimants to claim that they are builders to the nation.

The route followed from Veraval included Keshod, Junagadh, Jetpur, Virpur, Gondal , Rajkot before reaching Ahmedabad. On the way sighting is possible of GSRTC buses going towards Modhera, Vishwamitri, Gir, Saurashtra, Dwarka, Somnath, Kutch, Junagadh, Una and Shentuche. It was close to 5 in the evening and the stoppage time at Rajkot bus stand was more than required to keep a long lasting grin .

As the bus moved out of Rajkot bus stand, there are different shops with signboards like World Class Plumbing done here , Himalayan Refrigeration System. Further ahead is Business Centre- House of electronics and appliances. There are a large number of passengers boarding the bus at Rajkot. But are there enough seats to get them aboard?. As i try to figure out there is one gentleman who gets in and out of the bus at every little or big halt the bus goes in for to make it a ride to be sought . Probably he has learnt the art of detachment to be followed by attachment given the thinking he is encircled with that there are surplus time with all those on board and most prefer to stay from home beat.

Except for his transgressions, the bus ride from Veraval to Ahmedabad was a uniting one as it unified my belief that no matter how big the distance may be, it is preferable to take roadways bus for the common touch it showers us and the commonality that binds all of us.

2011-10-20T01:59:00.001-07:00

The car chalaks who are haughty and come heavy on you courtesy the new class