Sultan rocks
Sultan rocks. Coming from the South and basing himself in Bombay,his rise in the Mafia world is scripted by events during childhood. Essentially he takes to the underworld fraternity to deliver justice. THe conscience coating is enough for him to draw a line - and thwart all those opportunities that could build his establishment further only to be despised by the common man. Won't dare to do anything that would see his community suffer in silence; like him there are others who have never been on the radar of government machinery. The rail track that he restores against the approaching train is one among many illustrations of his zameer getting better of him.
This uniterrupted innings in the fast lane gets to slow down once he seeks compatibility with Rehana. The chemistry bt the two comes up beutifully. Torn bt love and empire, he seeks the former only to realise that this won't be a cakewalk unless the political coating comes along. Sultan almost gets to coast his way to the political establishment hadn't Shoaib, the mean freak (whom he rescued and trusted no end), played a spolier. Shoaib is out and out a mean commodity, again thrown by the establishment, fashioned by the undeniable thirst for power and lust. Would change beds and loyalties as he is drowned in the unimaginable pool of moohah and mayhem. The softer side of Sultan is in sharp contrast to the wild imagination of Shoaib. May have scored in the enterprise to map out his own kingdom, and bring down the one that Sultan built but couldn't carry on for long as had to flee.
The flick has has shades of Don and Kaalia. The Safari Suit is a close resemblance to some outings by Rajnikant. THe Sultan character essayed by Ajay is the most powerful connect to the entire effort and very rightly the climax is where Sultan departs. The Sultan felling to the bullets is hard one to take. Three cheers for Sultan and essentially Ajay. While in Rajniti as well he had an inglorious exit but only after kissing the political firmament.
As for Delhiwallah, there is a delhiconnect to the flick. Out and out a Mumbai enterprise, the flick would not have been complete with this Delhilink, the seat of power and route to redemption that Sultan seeks.
Is there a single screen theatre in your vicinity which you can reach on foot or by bus in just under one hour . Next to impossible in the times we live in.
Well, on the way you can be confronted with irrevential ads babbling about addiction, hallucination and what not that defines the landscape of a metro. Scouting for a single screen to relive the period captured in the celluloid would call for an extra dose of effort - and you never know which part of the city would bless you with a handful of options. Three things are mandatory before you have the tryst.
First try to hit on the search mode through landline, cells hadn't even made it to the West then.
Second seek a public transport that comes close to the one that plied then.
Finally experience the 130 minutes magic with a passion that is undiluted and untamed.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Misadventures in a'port and traffic commotion by Puneet Rajhans
Misadventures in Airport and traffic commotion
Hadn't we had enough traffic triggered misadventures in the past, there was another declaration coming from a traffic personnel on the voluminous growth that this sector is going to witness in the days to come.
The man could barely hide his glee when he prophesied that there would be 200 to 300 per cent growth in the traffic going towards a'port and adjoining areas once much-publicised and least effective Terminal 3 opens up in entirety. The terminal has been built by GMR Group, the one that has laid one of the best roads in the country, effectively from the outskirts of Hy'bad to the closest point near Kurnool. This stretch makes it possible to cover H'bad- TPT length in just under nine hrs.
The senseless declaration coming on a channel and that too when the flow of traffic towards G'gaon and International Terminal is no less. THere is an entire tribe which doesn't mind the traffic growth maintaining a robust movement (the toll collection centres doubling up as hafta vasool goons) ; something of this mindless trajectory that one can associate with Sensex alone. Here you have this wayward movement of 30 point share index soliciting new eyeballs every day as if all other activities don't hand out handsome returns. The rally in the market; how it is going to fare in the next week, next month and even next season (bordering between hope and despair); to rally being played out with untamed conviction if one particular week has been strong resembles a ritual that is repeated shamelessly year after year.
The sensex is best left to the greed generating community; but how is one to navigate a thought process on someone who takes pride in traffic reaching new heights. Probably the traffic champion has had a date with a soothsayer in his childhood prophesying that when he grows up there would be fleet of cars in his vicinity. That childhood element he can't shake off easily.
Much fault is traced to a series of reports carried out every month detailing the sale of vehicles of different make. Here again the rally sentiments take centrestage. The traffic dislocated tribe would surely like a moratorium on such reports.You know it well that won't happen.
The sarcastic campaign that shows India taking pride in overtaking China in population game by 2030 could well see an appropriate extension of India displacing China when it came to vehicles from two to four wheelers well after 2030. Is the traffic afficionado basing his thoughts towards that end? Try public transport as very few of us have traffic sense and traffic concerns on our mind.
Hadn't we had enough traffic triggered misadventures in the past, there was another declaration coming from a traffic personnel on the voluminous growth that this sector is going to witness in the days to come.
The man could barely hide his glee when he prophesied that there would be 200 to 300 per cent growth in the traffic going towards a'port and adjoining areas once much-publicised and least effective Terminal 3 opens up in entirety. The terminal has been built by GMR Group, the one that has laid one of the best roads in the country, effectively from the outskirts of Hy'bad to the closest point near Kurnool. This stretch makes it possible to cover H'bad- TPT length in just under nine hrs.
The senseless declaration coming on a channel and that too when the flow of traffic towards G'gaon and International Terminal is no less. THere is an entire tribe which doesn't mind the traffic growth maintaining a robust movement (the toll collection centres doubling up as hafta vasool goons) ; something of this mindless trajectory that one can associate with Sensex alone. Here you have this wayward movement of 30 point share index soliciting new eyeballs every day as if all other activities don't hand out handsome returns. The rally in the market; how it is going to fare in the next week, next month and even next season (bordering between hope and despair); to rally being played out with untamed conviction if one particular week has been strong resembles a ritual that is repeated shamelessly year after year.
The sensex is best left to the greed generating community; but how is one to navigate a thought process on someone who takes pride in traffic reaching new heights. Probably the traffic champion has had a date with a soothsayer in his childhood prophesying that when he grows up there would be fleet of cars in his vicinity. That childhood element he can't shake off easily.
Much fault is traced to a series of reports carried out every month detailing the sale of vehicles of different make. Here again the rally sentiments take centrestage. The traffic dislocated tribe would surely like a moratorium on such reports.You know it well that won't happen.
The sarcastic campaign that shows India taking pride in overtaking China in population game by 2030 could well see an appropriate extension of India displacing China when it came to vehicles from two to four wheelers well after 2030. Is the traffic afficionado basing his thoughts towards that end? Try public transport as very few of us have traffic sense and traffic concerns on our mind.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Of Gilani, Cameron and mast hai mast hai babu rao mast hai by Puneet Rajhans
Of Gilani, Cameron and mast hai mast mai babu rao mast hai
Having completed the formalities in New Delhi, Cameron made an unscheduled stopover in Islamabad as weather and airport glitches reports were too risky for him to proceed to his country. Mind you the date with the Bangalore project had been fully complied with as it involved significant defence orders from India. Faced with 11 per cent deficit how could he give a miss to that.
Once in Islamabad, Cameron and Gilani broke into a tete-a-tete that went beyond midnight hrs.
Gilani: "This SM Krishna didn't speak much. He didn't even speak to himself when he was all by himself in the room he occupied. The purported phone conversation to the elements yet to be identified so far were all the glimpse that we had of him babbling. Despite Qureshi, the provocateur, Krishna didn't mumble or fumble at the press meet." Were you able to get a word with him?
Cameron: "Well, SMK was in Hyderabad when i was in B'lore. When i was in N Delhi, he was in B'lore. So what you make of it?
"You have raised this issue and i would raise this with New Delhi as another defence deal is in the works to take care of my deficit. Read my lips "Budget deficit and not trust deficit."
"I understand Krishna's prolonged silence has led to Qureshi doing a disappearing act. "No sir," the Pak PM intervened, adding that Qureshi hasn't gone into hiding . "Here no one hides come what may. No piece of evidence has been discovered against anyone to date by our credible investigative agencies so where is the question of nailing anyone."
"He isn't seen speaking these days is to give his vocal chords the much-needed rest which had been under continuous strain during and after Krishna left. You saw the voluble statements he had to make in the morning only to retract later for days together."
Gilani: "They are making much fuss bout wikileaks."
Cameron: "Arrey yeh toh hona hi tha (he picked up on Hindi during campaign), these are not weekly leaks but leaks built over a period of time, appropriately dismissed as yearly leaks. In the renovated stadium every damn thing leaks, including the roof, water pipes and water coolers. So what they are talking about in the name of leaks when the entire system bleeds. The best is yet to come."
"Obama has dismissed these wikileaks as nothing more than an exercise carried out at regular intervals, leaking at the point of origination to the point of destination, thereby bringing a premature end to this debate. The brouhaha is over the 91,000 documents that it runs into and another 15,000 odd logs waiting to emerge from their hideout. The time is yet to be decided."
Cameron confided in Gilani that US Prez has a man on the job entrusted with the task of handing out leaks. Obama is keeping a tab on CBI investigations into the fake encounter case in India (his dates to visit India are out in the open and he wants to have access to every bit of information that emanates from there lest he himself begins to leak during his visit to India which leaking reports suggest has not been taken in good spirit by China ) and drawing heavily from the plants/leaks brought to the select media from day to day. The entire covert operation of leaks in Afghanistan is a direct lift from the drama being played out in the State of Gujarat and orders coming from New Delhi.
Gilani and Cameron were in entire agreement that the subcontinent is a place of leaks, sleaze and sleep. "The airport roof leaks, the water pipe bursting after a series of leaks -- and the much-desired leaks and plants that investigative agencies hand out to give a dramatic turn to the entire plot. These leaks are nothing but trash at the behest of Delhi sultanate."
Both nodded their head to the amazing regularity with which the people in action and out of action hit the bed. "The sleep syndrome is another breathtaking exercise undertaken at amazing heights when the pilot and co-pilot catch on the sleep they have lost over a period of time. So if air accidents haven't reached menacing proportion, they should thank their stars," the two leaders maintained.
As Cameron decided to retire for the day, he had this query for Gilani. "Is my room bugged?" The Pak PM had this to say, "I haven't heard from ISI." As Gilani left, the thoughts of SMK keeping to himself in the room he occupied left him in a dilemma of sorts. After a while he took his bedsheet and pillow and pitched his tent in close proximity to the fencing wall, lest anything untoward happens he would have the first mover advantage.
After a while Gilani returned. Seeing him in this state of affairs and nothing to do, he handed him the DVD of Once Upon A Time in Mumbai. All night Cameron was hooked to the amazing performances belted out by stars from Hindi Film Industry (he has issues on calling it bollywood lest lollywood comes to define British Cinema).
Next day as Cameron was to leave for London, Gilani asked about his date with Hindi Cimema. He broke into Baburao number, "Baburao mast hai, mast hai, babu rao mast hai." Soon Gilani got a truckload of cartons for Cameron.
"What's all this? i don't take gifts." Gilani stressed, "these are gifts for your community. i have got DVDs of Time in Mumbai which your men can unload in the areas occupied by people from the subcontinent. This would do a roaring business and bring more donations to your party."
Cameron accepted it with a poser. "Are they genuine?"
"Come on Cameron, you have stayed in Islamabad for full one day and you want me to give you a genuine version of something that released in India two days ago. Point taken.
"What about the crowd back home? What i am going to tell them?"
Gilani told Cameron that he should declare at customs as well as to his people at home that these are gifts from Baburao Godbole of Satara who is quite impressed with his vision to reduce budget deficit.
Asked about his cut in this venture, Gilani too broke into Baburao number. " Mast hai, mast hai, baburao mast hai."
And as the plane flew there were no reports of airport glitches or Pakistan positioning as an international airport destination something the indian side had done on Wednesday courtesy TV crew.
Shouting from the rooftops the reporter thundered: "INdia is positioning as mofussil denied international arrived airport destination. This when the poor man on ground couldn't have access to coffee or loo. Perhaps he wasn't clear to spell out his priority. Coffee or loo.
And the Press Statement issued later went like this: "Ladies and Gentleman, Gilani and Cameron had great exchange of ideas that went beyond midnight hrs. The two have decided to keep it to themselves about what they discussed."
Having completed the formalities in New Delhi, Cameron made an unscheduled stopover in Islamabad as weather and airport glitches reports were too risky for him to proceed to his country. Mind you the date with the Bangalore project had been fully complied with as it involved significant defence orders from India. Faced with 11 per cent deficit how could he give a miss to that.
Once in Islamabad, Cameron and Gilani broke into a tete-a-tete that went beyond midnight hrs.
Gilani: "This SM Krishna didn't speak much. He didn't even speak to himself when he was all by himself in the room he occupied. The purported phone conversation to the elements yet to be identified so far were all the glimpse that we had of him babbling. Despite Qureshi, the provocateur, Krishna didn't mumble or fumble at the press meet." Were you able to get a word with him?
Cameron: "Well, SMK was in Hyderabad when i was in B'lore. When i was in N Delhi, he was in B'lore. So what you make of it?
"You have raised this issue and i would raise this with New Delhi as another defence deal is in the works to take care of my deficit. Read my lips "Budget deficit and not trust deficit."
"I understand Krishna's prolonged silence has led to Qureshi doing a disappearing act. "No sir," the Pak PM intervened, adding that Qureshi hasn't gone into hiding . "Here no one hides come what may. No piece of evidence has been discovered against anyone to date by our credible investigative agencies so where is the question of nailing anyone."
"He isn't seen speaking these days is to give his vocal chords the much-needed rest which had been under continuous strain during and after Krishna left. You saw the voluble statements he had to make in the morning only to retract later for days together."
Gilani: "They are making much fuss bout wikileaks."
Cameron: "Arrey yeh toh hona hi tha (he picked up on Hindi during campaign), these are not weekly leaks but leaks built over a period of time, appropriately dismissed as yearly leaks. In the renovated stadium every damn thing leaks, including the roof, water pipes and water coolers. So what they are talking about in the name of leaks when the entire system bleeds. The best is yet to come."
"Obama has dismissed these wikileaks as nothing more than an exercise carried out at regular intervals, leaking at the point of origination to the point of destination, thereby bringing a premature end to this debate. The brouhaha is over the 91,000 documents that it runs into and another 15,000 odd logs waiting to emerge from their hideout. The time is yet to be decided."
Cameron confided in Gilani that US Prez has a man on the job entrusted with the task of handing out leaks. Obama is keeping a tab on CBI investigations into the fake encounter case in India (his dates to visit India are out in the open and he wants to have access to every bit of information that emanates from there lest he himself begins to leak during his visit to India which leaking reports suggest has not been taken in good spirit by China ) and drawing heavily from the plants/leaks brought to the select media from day to day. The entire covert operation of leaks in Afghanistan is a direct lift from the drama being played out in the State of Gujarat and orders coming from New Delhi.
Gilani and Cameron were in entire agreement that the subcontinent is a place of leaks, sleaze and sleep. "The airport roof leaks, the water pipe bursting after a series of leaks -- and the much-desired leaks and plants that investigative agencies hand out to give a dramatic turn to the entire plot. These leaks are nothing but trash at the behest of Delhi sultanate."
Both nodded their head to the amazing regularity with which the people in action and out of action hit the bed. "The sleep syndrome is another breathtaking exercise undertaken at amazing heights when the pilot and co-pilot catch on the sleep they have lost over a period of time. So if air accidents haven't reached menacing proportion, they should thank their stars," the two leaders maintained.
As Cameron decided to retire for the day, he had this query for Gilani. "Is my room bugged?" The Pak PM had this to say, "I haven't heard from ISI." As Gilani left, the thoughts of SMK keeping to himself in the room he occupied left him in a dilemma of sorts. After a while he took his bedsheet and pillow and pitched his tent in close proximity to the fencing wall, lest anything untoward happens he would have the first mover advantage.
After a while Gilani returned. Seeing him in this state of affairs and nothing to do, he handed him the DVD of Once Upon A Time in Mumbai. All night Cameron was hooked to the amazing performances belted out by stars from Hindi Film Industry (he has issues on calling it bollywood lest lollywood comes to define British Cinema).
Next day as Cameron was to leave for London, Gilani asked about his date with Hindi Cimema. He broke into Baburao number, "Baburao mast hai, mast hai, babu rao mast hai." Soon Gilani got a truckload of cartons for Cameron.
"What's all this? i don't take gifts." Gilani stressed, "these are gifts for your community. i have got DVDs of Time in Mumbai which your men can unload in the areas occupied by people from the subcontinent. This would do a roaring business and bring more donations to your party."
Cameron accepted it with a poser. "Are they genuine?"
"Come on Cameron, you have stayed in Islamabad for full one day and you want me to give you a genuine version of something that released in India two days ago. Point taken.
"What about the crowd back home? What i am going to tell them?"
Gilani told Cameron that he should declare at customs as well as to his people at home that these are gifts from Baburao Godbole of Satara who is quite impressed with his vision to reduce budget deficit.
Asked about his cut in this venture, Gilani too broke into Baburao number. " Mast hai, mast hai, baburao mast hai."
And as the plane flew there were no reports of airport glitches or Pakistan positioning as an international airport destination something the indian side had done on Wednesday courtesy TV crew.
Shouting from the rooftops the reporter thundered: "INdia is positioning as mofussil denied international arrived airport destination. This when the poor man on ground couldn't have access to coffee or loo. Perhaps he wasn't clear to spell out his priority. Coffee or loo.
And the Press Statement issued later went like this: "Ladies and Gentleman, Gilani and Cameron had great exchange of ideas that went beyond midnight hrs. The two have decided to keep it to themselves about what they discussed."
Three idiots for the second time by Puneet Rajhans
Sony provided the opportunity to have a second go at Three IDiots.
Three Idiots provides interesting insights into the working of the Indian system. But the flick trips on occasions and could have been further edited.
The sight of three characters (Aamir, Joshi and Maddy) atop a water tank with Qutab Minar in the background brought forth the Aamir's recent releases having Delhi link.From Rang de basanti to Fanaa, the shots were in places like Humayun tomb, Lodhi Garden and India Gate. In 3id the taxi he boards at imperial college has a fictitious number plate DL 2T C 2347. Because majority of taxis in Delhi have DL Y number plates. Well, the SUV that maddy drives from Delhi to Shimla has a proportionate number DL 3C BA 0778. But the route shown in the first part where water is flowing alongside the road stretch comes on the way to Manali and not on the Delhi-Shimla route.
When Farhan is seen arguing with his father on the career he should take, there is a tinge of Bihari accent in it. Probably to do with his stay in Jamshedpur where he did his schooling. "Ignore kar yaar" is his riposte to every challenge that comes his way.
The character of Virus who goes by rule book and is the most inflexible specie on earth has a strong resemblance to the man from south who has been nominated to Upper House and his strong urge to see the games don't succeed as his nomination didn't happen earlier. Virus had the knack to kick off unnecessary ruckus, thus giving the three ids enough elbowroom to create nuisance. Punctuated with these situations, the film strays a bit in the second half but recovers fast when the action shifts to Shimla. Chatur character has been overplayed and his idiosyncracies on West triggered dreams and moolah is a bit unrealistic. The price tag character played by fiancé of Kareena brings the twist in the tale.
Finally the man with 400 patents and locked in the climes of Ladakh are something one needs to ponder over. All in all a good attempt with few glitches here and there.
Three Idiots provides interesting insights into the working of the Indian system. But the flick trips on occasions and could have been further edited.
The sight of three characters (Aamir, Joshi and Maddy) atop a water tank with Qutab Minar in the background brought forth the Aamir's recent releases having Delhi link.From Rang de basanti to Fanaa, the shots were in places like Humayun tomb, Lodhi Garden and India Gate. In 3id the taxi he boards at imperial college has a fictitious number plate DL 2T C 2347. Because majority of taxis in Delhi have DL Y number plates. Well, the SUV that maddy drives from Delhi to Shimla has a proportionate number DL 3C BA 0778. But the route shown in the first part where water is flowing alongside the road stretch comes on the way to Manali and not on the Delhi-Shimla route.
When Farhan is seen arguing with his father on the career he should take, there is a tinge of Bihari accent in it. Probably to do with his stay in Jamshedpur where he did his schooling. "Ignore kar yaar" is his riposte to every challenge that comes his way.
The character of Virus who goes by rule book and is the most inflexible specie on earth has a strong resemblance to the man from south who has been nominated to Upper House and his strong urge to see the games don't succeed as his nomination didn't happen earlier. Virus had the knack to kick off unnecessary ruckus, thus giving the three ids enough elbowroom to create nuisance. Punctuated with these situations, the film strays a bit in the second half but recovers fast when the action shifts to Shimla. Chatur character has been overplayed and his idiosyncracies on West triggered dreams and moolah is a bit unrealistic. The price tag character played by fiancé of Kareena brings the twist in the tale.
Finally the man with 400 patents and locked in the climes of Ladakh are something one needs to ponder over. All in all a good attempt with few glitches here and there.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
From footnote to forward notes by Puneet Rajhans
Footnotes have been drawing more eyeballs than the pic/name of the author and even the commentary per se.
As the story/opinion/commentary concludes the footnote in the present format appears to be the most despised attachment to the piece. It dwells on the status of the author with none to suggest on the grind and grill he/she has been through.
The footnote needs a complete overhaul. First it needs to occupy more space than what it commands at present. Why can't we have a footnote suggesting like the writer is a prospective bidder for PM's chair. Or for that matter the author is a strong prospective material for PM's office.We need to search for such contributors and there would be plenty to fill the void. Even an appearance like the contributor has held such and such positions in the past and has strong prospects of making it to the right league once the coalition government enters office. As these elaborate findings won't be appropriately put in the footnote there is a crying need to change its positioning and thus label it as forward note. Placed just after the title of the piece it should occupy the space it deserves. It should detail the potential of the fence sitter the author is and his chances to create turbulence of unknown order once he begins the ascent to the top.
Something like this would be welcome. The writer's views are personal, drawn heavily from the personal attacks he has been subjected to over a period of time which he aims to counter by writing a series of columns on this page which would have enough ammunition to keep detractors at bay.
Some others could go like this. The author, mired in a series of scandals, aims to turn the tables against his political-cum-business opponents by putting things in black and white. This would give a new trajectory to the commentary that newspapers carry and save us from endless tv debates at night that consumes power and deprives you of sleep.
As the story/opinion/commentary concludes the footnote in the present format appears to be the most despised attachment to the piece. It dwells on the status of the author with none to suggest on the grind and grill he/she has been through.
The footnote needs a complete overhaul. First it needs to occupy more space than what it commands at present. Why can't we have a footnote suggesting like the writer is a prospective bidder for PM's chair. Or for that matter the author is a strong prospective material for PM's office.We need to search for such contributors and there would be plenty to fill the void. Even an appearance like the contributor has held such and such positions in the past and has strong prospects of making it to the right league once the coalition government enters office. As these elaborate findings won't be appropriately put in the footnote there is a crying need to change its positioning and thus label it as forward note. Placed just after the title of the piece it should occupy the space it deserves. It should detail the potential of the fence sitter the author is and his chances to create turbulence of unknown order once he begins the ascent to the top.
Something like this would be welcome. The writer's views are personal, drawn heavily from the personal attacks he has been subjected to over a period of time which he aims to counter by writing a series of columns on this page which would have enough ammunition to keep detractors at bay.
Some others could go like this. The author, mired in a series of scandals, aims to turn the tables against his political-cum-business opponents by putting things in black and white. This would give a new trajectory to the commentary that newspapers carry and save us from endless tv debates at night that consumes power and deprives you of sleep.
Rewinding in Delhi by Puneet Rajhans
You got to give to the city the choices it offers. Choices the political establishment throws up; choices the working class seeks and the ones that we are confronted as we step out. You are spoilt for choices and all these situations look good as long as the evening doesn't set in. A late evening outing could be as painful as hitting the jungle terrain with no safety kits. Looking back the city's transformation isn't all that a sweet deal as the beast is on the prowl. A tinker with possibilities could be promising or a drain on your thoughts depending on how compatible you are with the surroundings. Time to do a rewind.
Once upon a time in Delhi
- the much-revered JRD Tata sweating it out at Jt Secy's office when licence raj was the norm.
- when Dhiru bhai came to the city and all the big politicos in attendance to have a word.
- the much-respected Ratan Tata pitching tent in Delhi to secure an alliance with S'pore airlines only to be thwarted by sinister elements.
- the traffic was nearly proportionate to the number of people residing in the city.
- the city was witness to Ambys and Fiats sharing space with the much-desired DTC buses. The DTC buses of that make are visible on the Delhi-Ajmer route alone these days.
- you could possibly reach DU (North Campus) from your place of residence in just under 10Rs; nowadays it sets you back by at least 40Rs. JNU could also be reached in just under 5Rs.
- the DTC tickets priced at 25, 40 and possibly 60 paise with 12.50 Rs bus pass the most cherished possession.
- you could enter Parliament from C Sec side and exit towards Vijay Chowk with seamless ease.
- you could possibly see Indira Gandhi's convoy of three to four Ambys coming from Sunehari Bagh Road side and proceeding towards 1 Saf Road. The windows had just curtains and there was no such thing as tinted glasses or taint tailing a leader. The last time you saw the leader of that calibre was Narashima Rao as his convoy passed through Krishna Menon Marg with pedestrian movement not restricted to the scale that is visible now.
- your access to the picture of Super Star of '70s and '80s peeing off in the bushes of Willingdon Crescent Road.
- the Illustrated Weekly of India having a cover story "Finished?" following a series of misses from AB. The star had his comeback opportunity with "Hum".
- AB marking his presence in J N Stadium in '82 Asian Games and the crowd going berserk when he left.
- AIR in the evening news bullettin confirming AB's resignation from Parliament in the summer of '87 as the cesspool of politics was too much for him.
- a boy (barely in his teens) going to Ajmer (his maiden visit)with a prayer to Khwaja (as he put the 50 Rs note in the big vessel placed on the right side in the Dargah) that he could make it to the film industry only to be rudely told that vacancies weren't there for the next 10 years.
- India Post and Business and Political Observer newspapers hitting the stands in '87 only to fold up later.
- the Jat leader from Haryana giving his piece of mind to A Shourie on a landline and the entire conversation (all expletives included) carried in toto the next day and this setting in place an entire new tribe which couldn't do away with abuse.
- the Human Rights concert taking place in J N Stadium in '88; the tickets for which could be procured from Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg (TOI).
- the Vijay Chowk wasn't the den for Journos to spell out the rights of every child to free education in India, Pak And B'desh.
- Salma Sultan and Raman taking to news bulletin reading on Doordarshan, with none leaving the chair until the exercise was complete. Nowadays the likes of Ka Se do a disappearing act (for a while) while sharing space with another anchor in the 8 pm news slot. Still the Sena tigress/airport gatecrasher takes the cake on thoughts tears and prayers (day in and day out). Govinda Willing would root, pray for Ka Se for entire life (Aug.to Dec. to be carried in 2011 as well)
- enamoured by the success of India in '83 World Cup, Indira Gandhi and a host of others visited Feroshah Kotla Stadium only to witness the mayhem that Malcom Marshall had unleashed as he ripped apart Indian batting lineup in the India-Windies Test match.
- the flicks like Chashme Buddor (Farooq Sheikh waiting for a bus right opposite Embassy of Nepal) and Burning Train (Dharmendra speeding with his machine in the city) showed the breathing space that city roads were blessed with.
- the Delhi Cantonment Station having metre gauge trains going right up to A'bad'; and there were no such trains with which you could return from Ajmer the same day.
- the Delhi Mumbai sector having not more than four flights a day with Indian Airlines having the first and last mover advantage.
- the landline being the sole mode to connect, we were years and years away from the cell soaked conversations that is as pathetic as the innumerable TV debates. The scene from “Jane Bhi Do Yaaro” where Naseeruddin Shah is all hooked up to a landline conversation with his opponents sums up the invincibility of this machine.
- the city theatres like Kamal and Archna playing host to flicks like “Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyo Aata hai”and “Return of Bruce Lee” have metamorphosed themselves to commercial enterprise of a different order.
- the city's airport/station/bus terminals were more of an isolated spots. Nowadays you are assailed by bunch of thugs as you step out from theses places of never-ending commotion. You haven't been through with one battle; the second is staring you right at your face.
-the rude contests were few and far. Now there aren't good tidings that you can emotionally connect to.
- the seat of power Parliament didn't face as much disruptions as it sees today. The Finance Minister is on a short fuse and this is his third foray (this year)in that direction.
Once upon a time in Delhi
- the much-revered JRD Tata sweating it out at Jt Secy's office when licence raj was the norm.
- when Dhiru bhai came to the city and all the big politicos in attendance to have a word.
- the much-respected Ratan Tata pitching tent in Delhi to secure an alliance with S'pore airlines only to be thwarted by sinister elements.
- the traffic was nearly proportionate to the number of people residing in the city.
- the city was witness to Ambys and Fiats sharing space with the much-desired DTC buses. The DTC buses of that make are visible on the Delhi-Ajmer route alone these days.
- you could possibly reach DU (North Campus) from your place of residence in just under 10Rs; nowadays it sets you back by at least 40Rs. JNU could also be reached in just under 5Rs.
- the DTC tickets priced at 25, 40 and possibly 60 paise with 12.50 Rs bus pass the most cherished possession.
- you could enter Parliament from C Sec side and exit towards Vijay Chowk with seamless ease.
- you could possibly see Indira Gandhi's convoy of three to four Ambys coming from Sunehari Bagh Road side and proceeding towards 1 Saf Road. The windows had just curtains and there was no such thing as tinted glasses or taint tailing a leader. The last time you saw the leader of that calibre was Narashima Rao as his convoy passed through Krishna Menon Marg with pedestrian movement not restricted to the scale that is visible now.
- your access to the picture of Super Star of '70s and '80s peeing off in the bushes of Willingdon Crescent Road.
- the Illustrated Weekly of India having a cover story "Finished?" following a series of misses from AB. The star had his comeback opportunity with "Hum".
- AB marking his presence in J N Stadium in '82 Asian Games and the crowd going berserk when he left.
- AIR in the evening news bullettin confirming AB's resignation from Parliament in the summer of '87 as the cesspool of politics was too much for him.
- a boy (barely in his teens) going to Ajmer (his maiden visit)with a prayer to Khwaja (as he put the 50 Rs note in the big vessel placed on the right side in the Dargah) that he could make it to the film industry only to be rudely told that vacancies weren't there for the next 10 years.
- India Post and Business and Political Observer newspapers hitting the stands in '87 only to fold up later.
- the Jat leader from Haryana giving his piece of mind to A Shourie on a landline and the entire conversation (all expletives included) carried in toto the next day and this setting in place an entire new tribe which couldn't do away with abuse.
- the Human Rights concert taking place in J N Stadium in '88; the tickets for which could be procured from Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg (TOI).
- the Vijay Chowk wasn't the den for Journos to spell out the rights of every child to free education in India, Pak And B'desh.
- Salma Sultan and Raman taking to news bulletin reading on Doordarshan, with none leaving the chair until the exercise was complete. Nowadays the likes of Ka Se do a disappearing act (for a while) while sharing space with another anchor in the 8 pm news slot. Still the Sena tigress/airport gatecrasher takes the cake on thoughts tears and prayers (day in and day out). Govinda Willing would root, pray for Ka Se for entire life (Aug.to Dec. to be carried in 2011 as well)
- enamoured by the success of India in '83 World Cup, Indira Gandhi and a host of others visited Feroshah Kotla Stadium only to witness the mayhem that Malcom Marshall had unleashed as he ripped apart Indian batting lineup in the India-Windies Test match.
- the flicks like Chashme Buddor (Farooq Sheikh waiting for a bus right opposite Embassy of Nepal) and Burning Train (Dharmendra speeding with his machine in the city) showed the breathing space that city roads were blessed with.
- the Delhi Cantonment Station having metre gauge trains going right up to A'bad'; and there were no such trains with which you could return from Ajmer the same day.
- the Delhi Mumbai sector having not more than four flights a day with Indian Airlines having the first and last mover advantage.
- the landline being the sole mode to connect, we were years and years away from the cell soaked conversations that is as pathetic as the innumerable TV debates. The scene from “Jane Bhi Do Yaaro” where Naseeruddin Shah is all hooked up to a landline conversation with his opponents sums up the invincibility of this machine.
- the city theatres like Kamal and Archna playing host to flicks like “Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyo Aata hai”and “Return of Bruce Lee” have metamorphosed themselves to commercial enterprise of a different order.
- the city's airport/station/bus terminals were more of an isolated spots. Nowadays you are assailed by bunch of thugs as you step out from theses places of never-ending commotion. You haven't been through with one battle; the second is staring you right at your face.
-the rude contests were few and far. Now there aren't good tidings that you can emotionally connect to.
- the seat of power Parliament didn't face as much disruptions as it sees today. The Finance Minister is on a short fuse and this is his third foray (this year)in that direction.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Tirumala landscape and city commute by Puneet Rajhans
Puneet Rajhans
We are all rooting for Tirumala and the Lord that resides there.
As i left Tirumala in the month of June to proceed towards Maharashtra (Shirdi and Siddhivinayak ), the memories associated with taking three walks from Alipiri Gate to Tirumala (during my stay) keep coming back again and again. The 4000 odd steps involving steep climb and plateaued pathways nevertheless gives an opportunity to come face to face with the long imposing Lord Hanuman's statue right after the Gopuram and another Hanuman temple placed next to the walking path. Once you complete those 4000 odd steps, the first thing you try to do is to drown yourself in five to six glasses of strong tea. Post tea session you proceed with an advantage as you are in possession of a biometric token that simply takes care of your waiting worries and you join the queue right from the point where the movement doesn't stop. Cheers to that fraternity that takes to Tirumala frequently and even for those who make it occasionally.
As Tirumala in the months of May and June was fairly hot in the afternoon, still it was better than the humid driven temperatures in the North. The North was desperate for rains and it showered much later. In contrast Tirumala had long sessions of cool breeze accompanied with thundershowers. The weather and for that matter the meals in Tirumala are any day better than what a metro can provide.
As i write this i am reminded of a story done by Shreya Roy Chaudhry on Qutab Gurgaon link. Though descriptive elements of the story were strong enough to goad you to take this ride, the experience was a different one. Somewhere in the story it mentioned about the tall orange statue of Lord Hanuman. It seemed that this statue is somewhere in the vicinity of G'gaon and has come up in the recent past. Well you can have a glimpse right after the train pulls out of Qutab Station. THe statue is quite an imposing one and it has been there for over 15 years.
The view from the train is enough to turn you a skeptic as far as the landscape of G'gaon is concerned. It's a concrete jungle out there waiting to inhale more green space. Further the commuters aren't happy with the point to point connectivity that metro provides in G'gaon leaving enough stretch to be completed by other modes of transport which are hard to get.
What most people would suggest is that once the entire stretch opens (from J'puri-C. Sec to Qutab), the cosy comfort that this ride provides would be in limited edition. As the metro pulls out, there are scores of seats lying vacant. Further there are none to board the train at Sultanpur, Ghitroni, Arjan Garh, Guru Dronacharya, Sikandarpur, MG Road and Iffco Chowk stations. None to board? That's true.
In The G'gaon City Centre there are no CCTVs. When you board the train at Qutab and later at the City centre, frisking doesn't figure in their scheme of things. At least 30 to 40 odd people take the metro on either side. Apart from providing connectivity to a limited extent, this route doesn't serve much purpose. You are left stranded at odd places. Once you are out of Huda city centre, you can at the most hire a rickshaw. For how long can the poor man peddle and for what distance. At the Qutab side things are much worse. Thinking to cross over to the other side of the road. Wait for an hour at least unless the vehicles are magnanimous enough to slow down to let you pass. This stretch is a sheer waste. And when the entire stretch gets going, securing a seat would be a thing of the past. The comforting thought would be you would board it at C Sec and you would be in G'gaon in nearly one hour. Away from the heat and dust of City Traffic and also lucky enough to escape the menacing bluelines and autowallahs. But what would be the scale to which this mode would be tried. If it is big enough and still the personal vehicles maintain their momentum then no one can rescue this city.
We are all rooting for Tirumala and the Lord that resides there.
As i left Tirumala in the month of June to proceed towards Maharashtra (Shirdi and Siddhivinayak ), the memories associated with taking three walks from Alipiri Gate to Tirumala (during my stay) keep coming back again and again. The 4000 odd steps involving steep climb and plateaued pathways nevertheless gives an opportunity to come face to face with the long imposing Lord Hanuman's statue right after the Gopuram and another Hanuman temple placed next to the walking path. Once you complete those 4000 odd steps, the first thing you try to do is to drown yourself in five to six glasses of strong tea. Post tea session you proceed with an advantage as you are in possession of a biometric token that simply takes care of your waiting worries and you join the queue right from the point where the movement doesn't stop. Cheers to that fraternity that takes to Tirumala frequently and even for those who make it occasionally.
As Tirumala in the months of May and June was fairly hot in the afternoon, still it was better than the humid driven temperatures in the North. The North was desperate for rains and it showered much later. In contrast Tirumala had long sessions of cool breeze accompanied with thundershowers. The weather and for that matter the meals in Tirumala are any day better than what a metro can provide.
As i write this i am reminded of a story done by Shreya Roy Chaudhry on Qutab Gurgaon link. Though descriptive elements of the story were strong enough to goad you to take this ride, the experience was a different one. Somewhere in the story it mentioned about the tall orange statue of Lord Hanuman. It seemed that this statue is somewhere in the vicinity of G'gaon and has come up in the recent past. Well you can have a glimpse right after the train pulls out of Qutab Station. THe statue is quite an imposing one and it has been there for over 15 years.
The view from the train is enough to turn you a skeptic as far as the landscape of G'gaon is concerned. It's a concrete jungle out there waiting to inhale more green space. Further the commuters aren't happy with the point to point connectivity that metro provides in G'gaon leaving enough stretch to be completed by other modes of transport which are hard to get.
What most people would suggest is that once the entire stretch opens (from J'puri-C. Sec to Qutab), the cosy comfort that this ride provides would be in limited edition. As the metro pulls out, there are scores of seats lying vacant. Further there are none to board the train at Sultanpur, Ghitroni, Arjan Garh, Guru Dronacharya, Sikandarpur, MG Road and Iffco Chowk stations. None to board? That's true.
In The G'gaon City Centre there are no CCTVs. When you board the train at Qutab and later at the City centre, frisking doesn't figure in their scheme of things. At least 30 to 40 odd people take the metro on either side. Apart from providing connectivity to a limited extent, this route doesn't serve much purpose. You are left stranded at odd places. Once you are out of Huda city centre, you can at the most hire a rickshaw. For how long can the poor man peddle and for what distance. At the Qutab side things are much worse. Thinking to cross over to the other side of the road. Wait for an hour at least unless the vehicles are magnanimous enough to slow down to let you pass. This stretch is a sheer waste. And when the entire stretch gets going, securing a seat would be a thing of the past. The comforting thought would be you would board it at C Sec and you would be in G'gaon in nearly one hour. Away from the heat and dust of City Traffic and also lucky enough to escape the menacing bluelines and autowallahs. But what would be the scale to which this mode would be tried. If it is big enough and still the personal vehicles maintain their momentum then no one can rescue this city.
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