KUMBH @ ALLAHABAD

I read a blog recently which had something to say about KUMBH MELA at Allahabad. I've seen the ways of the world change over some 2 decades around the KUMBH site and I've seen the MELA change in certain ways as well. But, the thing which never changes is the fact that it still draws in huge crowds who are tied together by their common fath in whatever that land stands for them. A rough estimation says that this year more than 3,00,00,000 people took their ablutions in the holy waters over the period of a month.

I've seen huge heards of people come to KUMBH each year. Heads laiden with heavy luggage (for the whole month). Babies, women, children, elderly ... all move around in one inseparable block. The stories that the bollywood has about lost brothers in the Kumbh are infact true!!! Just one sight at the organized chaos and you would be pulled towards it, being afraid at the same time.

INDIA ???

Well, this is ironical! My friend was filling out a from for his pasport in the Thanjavur office (through an 'agent') and under the country section he was made to write ... 'NORTH INDIA'!!!

HUNGER !

This was surprisingly a good new for me. There's a child helpline which works in a very special way, it collects left over food from parties and gives it to more deserving people. The number is 1098 - child helpline. Hope you are able to help a child the next time you throw a big party.

SASTRA CS CULTURE ...

!!!

I wish to bring an observation to the notice of all. It is neither an opinion nor does it necessarily wishes to mould your opinions in any way.

I was sitting in the waiting room of Chennai's Egmore railway station having nothing else to do and too tired to do anything, this last weakend. I had had a long day and had walked a lot of Chennai trying to find out more about the city; my body had started complaining and my neck demanded a certain motion out of 'Baba Ramdev's lessons' to find its place. The moment I raised my wricking neck I found the most bedated person's picture in front of me in that big hall. Clad in blue and conspicuously decorated with fresh looking fake flowers, he did look like a man commanding the respect that everyone gives him and his ideas for the Indian society.

I panned the whole of the hall smoothly as my newly found doctor-cum-spirutual teacher, Mr.Ramdev, had instructed me to do. Something struck me after completing one full circle! I went again counter-clockwise and was amazed to find out one thing, the picture of the gentleman in blue was the only picture in the whole room! No other national leader (or shall I say, nation builder) found a place on those walls!

What this means is beyond my explainations, would love to get some opinions on that !!!

THE MISSING RIDE !!!

I landed in Chennai in the morning and looked around for my usual rickshaw ride from Chennai Central to Egmore; heavy bags on my shoulders and a long journey's fatigue in my head and body. I gave up my search after 15 minutes, found no trace of any rickshaw. I prefer the slow moving transport over the faster ones because of certain reasons. First, its a welcome escape from the monotonously irritating drone of the auto-rickshaw and its dangerous speed in heavy traffic. Secondly, its one of the best ways to explore the alien city; you can just roll over the whole place at an observatory pace. Then, there's the social aspect of the ride. Keeping alive the rickshaw helps in reducing the pollution and gives employment for the low-skilled people. I agree that this slow pace is not recommended for the local citizes and busy commuters, this one's for the tourists. All people visiting the city must opt for it over any other transport; after all this is what you are there for, 'seeing places' not running past them.

It was sad for me this time in Chennai; I had to miss my rickshaw ride and board an auto-rickshaw!!!

NEWS BREAKDOWN

There is need for a committee which would monitor the various news channels that have bloated the TV screens across the nation. The local news channels have made the powerful tool of jounalism another mechanism of advertisement for the people in power. The people behind such news channels have full control over the content of the news that goes out to the people making the whole set-up a mere mockery of the game of power. The news 'items' are properly salted and roasted to suit the local taste which is mostly in search of 'masala' even when it comes to news. In such a senario keeping a proper check on the various local channels is very essential. If there exist monitoring bodies for movies which evaluate the contents of the cinema then having a similar body for news channels is mandatory, since news by its nature is considered to be made up of facts alone and a misreported news report can have disastrous repercussions.

Even more sorry is the state of the national news channels like 'sahara samay'. It has a national reach with reasonable number of viewers across the nation. This particular news channel is bare mouthpiece of the Sahara India Pariwar and all the people associated with it which includes prominent personalities like Mr.Amitabh Bachan. If there was a need for a medium to showcase the special relationship that is shared between the people associated with Sahara, an entertainment channel should have been the appropriate choice. Camouflaging the real incentives under the banner of 'news' is highly irresponsible and is more likely to be an effort to misguide the people.

This environment could lead to unnerving circumstances. Media is a power and all powers must have their restraints.

Students' Politics !!!

It is a troubled times for the people of Uttar Pradesh. The centre would not want to inturrupt in the dilapidating state of affairs in the state because the deteriorating conditions would mean a disgust created for the state government across the state's electorate which could be liquidated to massive vote support in the elections which are round the corner.

For the ruling state government, Samajvadi Party and its allies, its highly difficult to handle the situation without violent protests to which it is extending its full support. The burning of effigies of Lucknow University VC are a clear indication that the state government is going to use muscle power to overcome the crisis situation. Any person with a sane mind and a reasonable insight into the university politics would encourage the decision of the VC to with hold the elections considering the fact that the state government has been continually providing succour to the so-called (and self-proclaimed) student leaders. The ideological and moral assistance has now since some time advanced to making arms available to the students in a bid to silence their opponents. This disturbing fact has infact been justified by the self-styled students benefactors on the pretect that its a necessary measure towards their safety. The pictures of these 'student' leaders quite vocally convey their agendas. While most of them are in their late 30s, none seem to be fit enough to be called a student by any means.

There was a breath of fresh air provided by the Allahabad High Court on the issue of University elections some time back which incorporated some simple measures to ensure free and fair elections in the varsities. The ruling could also be interpreted as guidlines for a near-perfect student organization. The salient features of the ruling included important key points like, contesting students must be under 25 years of age, they must not have criminal records, the total expenditure on the election must be minimal, only hand made posters were allowed, etc.

The student fraternity has never been divided on the issue of elections, all are in support of it. The point of debate has always been the inclusion of goons and hard-core criminals and seasoned politicians in the student election arena under the candid disguise of a 'student leader'. The situation can improve only by the interception of the students themselves but, the big question remains, Who would bell the cat? With more and more of the current generation having a repulsive attitude towards the potent field of politics, it seems fit to question if the situation would ever improve.

AMMI JAAN

hmmm ... this is the sort of post which is begging to be posted and i'm sure after puttin it up on the server i'm gonna regret it ... i have an announcement to make ... i'm soon starting a story of my own (a humble effort) ... its called "AMMI JAAN" ... stay tuned ... the link would appear soon at this place ... i know story stuff would be a lot of commitment but i cant stop myself now, i've written down a few pages n i want people to read it !!!

JAIL CREATIVITY

Nagpur jail has envisioned an extraordinatry event. They have decided to call it an essay competition; I dare say that it is much more than that! It is a sign of trust towards the jail inmates; trust on the fact that the people living on the fringes of society doing things that the society disapproves of may still have some plans for the betterment of the world.

If u ever read it ...

The more that I try, I fail miserably. Whatever I do I'm not able to understand you. One day I think that I know you through and through and the very next moment you seem to be a total mystery. I've cherished it when you said "I'm like you!", but I'm sure that I'm not such a complex personality. Yes, I love you. Sometimes, I feel like you know that, it shows in your smile and in the way you look at me when you are surrounded by your friends. But, at times it seems like you never knew me, or that I never knew you!

A number of times I try to talk to you, try to make little, harmless conversations, stupid conversations. But, I'm not good at conversations, its you who's king of words that hurt, words that smite, words that seem to become part of my personality, words that I want to listen to again and again ... but, you never speak now! I mean your eyes are so silent these days. The words that you say to me are so hollow, the feeling so empty.

I can't think of a reason why you are so dear to me, 'coz I do not know what is between us. I miss you when we don't meet, and I get irritated when we do. This is wierd, I know. But, those times that we fight are impinged in my memory as moments which mean to me the most. Maybe, we are just two totally differently people who are somehow together. I'm a social disaster while you are admired in all places, I'm an indoor stupid guy while you are an outgoing brilliance. But, one thing is common, both of us are headstrong, both of us think that we are clever and both of us hate to make the first move. Yet, when I'm looking for a passionate heart and a patient ear for my feelings I always think of you! I love it when you talk and love it when you listen. And best of all is when we just sit together, say nothing, just sit and do nothing. At those times there are no expectations, no arguments, no doubts just honest warmth of your touch and the assurance that you'll never leave me. But, now I'm lonely and sad.

Of luck and its ways ...

well, i've never had that feeling that luck was not on my side!!! all i did got its proper rewards and i never complained. but, lately (from last night to be specific) i've lost all my charms, all i'm planning to do is turning out to be a disaster!
I tried booking the tickets for my journey and the train(which is the most important one on its route) got cancelled. I ordered my fav stuff in the food joint and it got over right then... loads of other examples tell me that i've lost all my luck now ... God is the only saviour now ... I've watched just my luck almost 25 times now; could this all be its effect ??? I'm confused and defeated...

Diwali "gifts"

Happy Diwali to all my wellwishers!

It is a very miserable condition that I'm in right

now. I'm sure that all of you have at some point of time in your life, been in the miserable condition

that I'm in these days. I'm surrrounded by people who forget to return things and I have a very bad

memory! It's not that those people take away things with immoral intentions; all are angels in the

true sense, but it's me who needs a better memory.

Recently, I have discovered that there are

infact a lot of stuff that has gone missing from my possession; stuff that I gave away myself to

people in need and now when I'm in need both partys involved in the transaction have forgotten

it.

The things that I do remember, I list down here, in chronological order of them being taken

away from me-

• CD R/W (taken along with a movie; neither have come back)


• LAN wire (5m in length; I borrowed it from a friend myself)


• Permanent marker (blue ink)


• BOOKS




1. The city of falling angels


2. Illusions


3. Blink


4. Animal Farm


5. The life of Pie




• Umbrella (of a rather offensive color)

HANDICAP !!!

I got ready for a function. Put on a very decent attire, which usually is missing in my outlook. Sat down to eat in the mess. A gentleman was seated beside me. I was absorbed in the mental preparation of my speech when he suddenly decided to get up. I normally don't eat much before I go on to the stage. This gentleman realised this fact that I was not being fair with my appetite and decided to help me out with it. In his hurry, he sprinkled my neat self with the leftovers on his plate. I tried to dodge this shower of kindness in matrix style but could not save myself. Now, this polite and concerned man took time out of his busy schedule and acctually said sorry. What more could I say ? While I was still bemused as to how this angel had said sorry for such a petty thing, like some heavenly wonder that he was, he disappeared.

This is not an isolated event. I have many such angels around me ! People who like to empty the whole can of milk for themselves, those who fight over a couple of bananas or a cup of ice-cream. How can I ever tell them that what they are doing may be divine for their souls but is a snob on the face of the entire society and is as inhuman as farting can be when they are waiting in a movie theatre for their favorite star.

Such people are handicaps! Much like a blind must not be called a blind, such people should not be called handicaps. Moreover, if it is a physical handicap we may aid the person by prosthetic means but such mental handicaps should not even be insulted lest they become desolate and sink down finding out how miserable a being they are!!!

Of banans and dying men ...

I'm stuffing myself up with bananas that Nikhil refuses to have. I just want to get over with them because its adding to my overloaded self (shopping can be a very hectic job). The dead man on the footpath is just a passing thought. He died of hunger we argued. How foolish, he could beg, borrow or do just about anything to save his life! But, he preferred to die!

The bananas are still tasting sweet and filling, as they always do. I'm not GAUTAMA. I'm not selfish but i'm not a saint !!! When I do find time to look at the situation, I'm baffled at my own sardonic stance at the dead-man-on-the-street. I watched eagerly when the policeman jabbed his 'danda' at the face of the fly ridden face of the man who dared to die in his area of patrol. Had he an iota of life clinging on to his tattered body, it was clearly driven out by this 'polite action of this caring policeman'. Now, one would never expect a policeman to touch the nerves of this carcass with a tender touch of a nurse. No, I dont want the policemen to be such tender in their actions, I just want them to be HUMANE. Is it such a big ask? Perhaps the whole system needs an overhaul. How about having a Fisrt-Aid training program for the policemen to start with ???

KALAM visiting SASTRA

On Sunday, 24th September '06, Honourable President of India is visiting the SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur campus. HE will interact with the students and flag off a number of new courses in the University.

The American Me !

I was having my favorite chocolate ice-cream when an insect crawled onto the back of my neck and in an amusingly curious way took a bite of my tanned cervix as I digged into the frozen ice-cream.

Then and there my long held belief regarding those 'harmless' creatures underwent a metamorphosis and the truth that came out of it was startling! What happened to the insect is stuff that must be discussed in horror shows and biology classes, but what happened to me should be discussed here. I deliberately started rubbing the bite spot and caused it to become so sore that I could write about it and give my hands and minds occupation and people a reason to hate all insects!

I commit no crime rather I have created what is know to the world as "acquaintance with the issues of importance". I have made people like you realize that tiny insects can be associated with such big phenomenon that can make talk of an informed society!

I LOVE YOU Mr.BUSH !

SASTRA WINS !

The SASTRA, Deemed University raised the standards in FESTEMBER 2006 and won the event with a huge margin over other participating colleges. The spirit of victory was celebrated with the better team winning from among a host of teams, giving stiff competition in all events. Kumar Varun, SOURAV BHATTACHARYA and POURUSH CHOWDHARY from SASTRA were the star of the event, scoring maximum points for their college.