Frustrations & Disappointments - Part 5

The Critics

The infamous incident of this flyer who urinated on a co-passenger during a flight, has been all over the news and social media.

What caught my attention was an interesting take from a bunch of people who obviously feel it's deplorable and unjustified....but it was a mistake in inebriated state, and he surely regrets now.

The law is now taking it's own course, he is in jail, he lost his job, he now has a social stigma, his reputation has gone to dogs, his family must be going through trauma and he must be surely be haunted with the constant media trial and everyone abusing him.

It's a bad incident, bad moment and he pays for it. Period. Why are we, media anchors judging and abusing, critisizing him?

How many politicians, actors are caught with similar or worse blunders they committed, yet now walk as if nothing has happened, nor do people even remember them now.

Why are we so critical on someone else's mistakes? Have we never made any mistakes or just not yet caught?

Taking this as an example, do you think we as mango people should mind our business and not as judges on any given incident?

Dragged in the road rage

Came across a very funny meme on FB: an old man telling himself "I can't wait to retire, drive slow in the middle of the road, making everyone late to work".

If someone is really thinking that way, beware of being dragged either on the bonnet or behind another vehicle for KMs, by an impatient, abusive, angry faced road user.

With rampant Road Rage incidents, Now the Govt is mulling introducing Mental fitness test to be a pre-requisite to get D.L.

The RTO staff and agents couldn't be more happier, as they can earn 500 bucks more to bypass this one extra document.

Movie proganda

Looks like the Movie makers haven't learnt their lessons yet.

Apart from the Superstar portrayal on the big screen, playing to the galleries and feeding to the fan base, the artistic creativity, engaging script seems to be forgotten.

Even the superstars, be it Tiger, Pathan or Kranti, can be more choosy and ambitious with the script selection.

Such film making style is so old-school, cliched.

With new breed of creators, content overhauling the feel of cinema, experience and messaging, it's high time the focus is on comprehensiveness rather than standard Masala. With Web Series on OTTs, there is no dearth of good content to keep us away from the Big screens.

And then comes the boycott trend, forcing even movies to follow the set agenda!

If Kashmir Files represents gospel truth, just because some media clippings are displayed and not a propoganda movie, why not the same yardstick for The Modi Question!

Instead of all the critics and judging, let the creative freedom be unconfined. Let people create Pathan, Kantara or a Modi Question, and let people watch as per their likings!

Pathan Review

Upon Preeti's insistence, for the huge SRK fan that she is, finally watched "Pathan" yesterday. Couldn't say No to the Birthday girl!

John seemed to be still in "Race 2" mode, carrying forward same look and role.

SRK with his toned and chiseled upper body, plays to the gallery.

Put "Race 2", "The Don 2", "Bond Movie", "Mission Impossible" in a mixer, add a pinch of Masala, that's "Pathan" for you.

Deepika is still so delicious, she looks stunning, nothing looks vulgar on her!

End of the day, if the movie makers have spent 200 Cr, and have already earned it back in 4 days, their formula is indeed working, no matter how much you and me harp about creativity, content or good stories.

What I liked the best in the movie is one of John's dialogue "Countries, patriotism, nationalism, religion, fanatism are all to keep the ordinary men and women busy and blind, while the real game is for power, money"!

Movie and impact on culture

Looks like Pathan is an important turning point of our culture and it is badly, negativity impacting/spoiling our Indian Culture.

This is my 5th write up on/about Pathan. As more bhakts keep sharing their frustrations, I just keep getting new content to write. How can one item number spoil a society's ethos? Or is it the first time an actress shed clothes? Or why only actress are portrayed vulgar when they look sexy on screen, does the same society not get spoilt when Heroes go around half naked? Should Gandhi, the labours, men in temples, digambars all be responsible as well? Why is that not vulgar?

Why do people think they carry social responsibility to "save" our culture?

Culture is not static, it evolves over time.

Child marriage, untouchability were part of our culture few decades ago. Menstruation hygiene, contraception, working women, old age homes, second marriage were not part of our culture until few decade ago.

The siren in the traffic

It's peak rush hour, traffic congestions, summer peaking, frustrated and sweating 2 wheeler riders and frowning men and women sitting in the Car.

All of a sudden, the scene gets chaotic, people madly honking. There is a loud siren from behind. The elderly drivers especially getting more restless trying to honk and clear the way for the vehicle behind with loud siren.

As I turn back, it's a pilot vehicle with another private car behind it. I shout at all the co-road users "It's not an ambulance, calm down".

Half of them stopped the mayhem, other half took the opportunity and jumped the signal in the pretext of making way, creating more havoc.

As I stood my ground, the cop abused and yelled at me and forced me out of the way, just for another Innova to pass, as I saw one man sitting in the Suit!

Fraction of a second

All it takes is a fraction of a second to turn life upside down.

That split second decision that could prove fatal.

As one travels more by road, one can only realize that the discipline, civilized driving, lack of respect to rules/lives has nothing to do with education, social status or financial status. You see a powerful SUV, an ordinary hatchback & Cabs - everyone drives as if they are in some kind of Race.

Everyone wants to be ahead of this race, feeling their purpose of travel is most important than others.

I understand that agitated, frustrating feeling to come back to the City, come back to the routine on a Sunday night, back from a good time one had with friends/family.

All one can think of when we see the impatient, indiscipline driving is - "Has he lost his mind!!"

And when this audacity, indiscipline turns fatal, all one thinks is - "He asked for it!"

It especially hurts to see these Cab drivers driving with no care in the world, ignoring the fact completely that one fatality can halt their livelihood, which they cannot afford.

Deriving Inspiration - 4

Dr. Kumar, IAS

An inspiring story to brighten up and energize our Monday.

A couple in a small village were blessed with a boy. The father named him Kumar.

Kumar, after completing his primary schooling, shifted to a nearby town for secondary schooling. Through out his schooling, Kumar was ragged for not having any first or second name or any initials. He was also mocked as "Khaali Kumar".

Kumar then went to a City for his PUC and Degree...as part of a standard Paper Submission exercise, all students were asked to research and write on a specific subject. The Professor was particularly impressed with the content of what Kumar had written, and called him to his office. "You have written a good paper, but fill in your full name, I will show it to other staff"

"Sir, my name is only Kumar. My parents are from a small village and are uneducated. They didn't give any initials"

"Don't blame your parents, infact they have done a great job. It's an opportunity for you decide what you want to be, how you want to be identified. You work hard and decide what's your suffix and prefix should be".

This stuck in Kumar's mind, and changed his life perspective.

10 years later, the name plate outside his home and office read "Dr. Kumar, IAS"!

Stranger Love

This is a real story of a couple somewhere in Delhi, that I heard recently.

Extremely interesting, sensitive, explicit and mature content, yet I had to represent the story, but with limited audience.

A happily married couple for 10 years, yet wife seems sad all the time. The husband loves his wife very much, he takes care of her very well.

But he feels he doesn't find her attractive anymore, and he cannot get intimate with her. The husband is loyal and doesn't want to have affair with any other women. So, he forces his wife to enact as if they are strangers once in a while. He comes home as a Salesman, a friend and pretends to having an affair with his own wife. And they everytime end up having a very sensual and steamy encounter.

Wife eventually gets tired of this artificiality and that she has to make love to her own husband, enacting as a stranger, and divorces him. He after few years commits suicide out of depression.

Many of you might find this character a psychopath and a weirdo.

Whether society openly accepts or not, men dare to concur or not, if not all, most men find other women attractive, than their own wives. Probably the monotony, routine and sameness fades the intimacy between a married couple over the years.

I feel it's one of the healthy way to keep the fire burning, without harming anyone. That guy end of the day loved his wife was very loyal!

Take me to your Church

Take me to your Church...

Take me with you to the Church.

Take me to the Church where you find peace, tranquility, love.

Let me stand next to you and feel the divinity.

Take me to your Church and let me see your peaceful face, closed eyes as you immerse yourself with your prayers.

Take me to your Church to feel the love, affection that I think only I deserve, that you share with 100 others.

I am not sure if I will be in your prayers, if you ever think of me when you are in the trance...but I want to see you, feel you and hold your hands when you are in the trance.

Take me to your Church where you feel light by crying and pour out your sadness and life struggles.

Travel Randomness

With all the detailed planning, hour to hour scheduling, exploring 100s of reviews, Googling about the places, reading Blogs about places we go, stay and eat, it's indeed meticulous planning.

Once upon a time, during our college days, me and 4 of my buddies set off with a back pack, with absolutely no idea where we were even going.

We just landed at Majestic bus stand and decided to board a Bus, which happened to be going to Mangalore.

We landed and randomly picked a Hotel to stay.

And that trip was as enjoyable and fun filled as any other planned trips.

Even today when we guys meet, there will surely be a mention of that adventurous trip.

The same group now, married, with family, spend months of planning for a 2 day trip!

I would still want that randomness, that keeps me guessing what the place has to offer and the adventure of the unknowns.

I hope soon I execute my Randomness 2.0 "To go on an unending trip, on a never ending road".

That Smell!

Some smells are so magnetic. A memory of something we liked when it becomes nostalgic, everything associated with it becomes a memory including its smell.

Throughout our lifetime we acquire the emotional meaning of odors through experience.

Smell of the Bakery

Smell of Masala Dosa

Smell of Filter Coffee

Smell of the Pencil, Rubber, Ink

Smell of the Petrol

Smell of the Temple

Smell of Mother, grand parents

Smell of the Currency Notes

Smell of the Rain

Smell of the Train

Smell of the Pillow

Smell of the Tennis Ball

Smell of the Godrej Almirah

Smell of Dettol

As some experts say, the smell and emotion are stored as one memory.

What's your favourite smell?

Rituals & Science

Our ancestors were really smart. They already knew the next generations would act weird, rebellious and oversmart, questioning everything.

Most of the practice always had science behind it. They just didn't realise it then, and we now create a theory around the same principle and call it science.

Stories are a way to convey our traditions, rituals for next generations. Irrespective of the religion, there is a story attached to each practice.

It would have not been interesting enough to practice something, that did not have a convincing story around it.

Many cosmic events, astronomical changes were very smartly named as Festivals, so that we practice many scientific rituals by way of celebrating festival!

Unfortunately, many of us don't want to believe something to be true, that we do not understand.

Philanthropic Millionaires

It's easy to talk about things that we don't have. For ex: life of a Millionaire/Crorepati.

Imagine all the struggle they might have gone through to reach there.

The trend off late that we see, especially in Western countries, that these Millionaires have started turning philanthropists. Not just tokenism, but literally donating 90%+ of their money, by the end of their lives.

Imagine the same trend catches up in India, even if an average worth of Rs. 500 Cr is donated, atleast 1,000 people's lives can change!

Now the most important question, what should their children do?

Imagine your father is a Crorepati, and decides to donate all his money, property to the needy.

What would you do??

Politicians and Diapers should be changed frequently - Part 3

Cast & Reservations

As the elections are closing in, more appeasement is on the cards. Caste/religion based reservations on the rise.

As daily new "demand" crop up for caste based reservations, Politicians play the dirty games in the name of "providing opportunities" and now Karnataka has crossed 50% reservation! Not sure if this is seen as an achievement!

If the intent is to really give opportunities, let the education be made more accessible, free, compulsory and of good quality upto 12th standard. What individuals do with this good foundation is upto them and their ability!

What has caste got to do with this?

I wouldn't be worried if Govt raise Govt Job reservations to even 100%, anyway they are not paying from their pockets, as it's Tax payers money being used to pay for even a mediocre and inefficient worker.

But these politicians are also mulling the idea of introducing reservations in Private Sectors!

Singapore's Formula

I was always mesmerized with Singapore's modernity, discipline, cleanliness, yet very much connected to their roots and culture.

I was reading an article yesterday by an Economist who has deciphered how a Third world country was transformed to a First world country.

As per him, the formula adapted was MPH - Meritocracy | Pragmatism | Honesty.

Meritocracy - Only eligible, educated, qualified were allowed to be made ministers and no politician's relatives could walk in and get posts.

Pragmatism - They created rules, laws that were the pick of best of socialism, best of capitalism that's not bound by any ideology.

Honesty - Any mistakes in projects, the ministers had to pay the price, and not some small time Engineers, thereby putting an end to Corruption.

What probably worked for them is the small nation that they are, and they do not have political fanatism, religious fanatism, cast based politics, power hungry leaders, the craze for ideology based politics.

Client & Voter

If I don't visit the client through out the contract period, don't serve them well, but visit them at the time of renewal with a smile, with new features and offers, the client will not mince words in blasting our service levels and ask where we were missing all these years.

Wish we voters also do the same when Politicians appear on your door step with folded hands. The roads in our area which were horrible for years, suddenly has become motorable!

Unfortunately nothing matters, opinion doesn't matter, questions doesn't matter. All it matters is love for one man, as voters are seduced by taking one name. And when this mass hypnotism is done in the name of errotism towards Religion, Nationalism & History, why waste money in elections and make a mockery of democracy.

One can't even question this joke, because you become anti-national!

Defaming Politicians

Now that there is a precedence set, will we not be left with any politicians? As each and everyone of them "defame" someone the moment they open their mouth.

Will this open the Pandora's box? Will every single politician across the board be convicted and evicted?

Ofcourse not, no sane person would believe that would happen. Afterall it's Ruling of the "one man", by the "one man", for the "one man".

Try questioning him, you will be attacked by all the "independent" agencies of the country.

One good takeaway however, is atleast now the "gang" is forced to look beyond the "only man".

Defining Democracy

Definition of democracy by the present day politicians:

~Off~ "Half" the people = Divide the people into two halfs, using religion, cast, language.

~By~ "Buy" the people = Buy people's votes either by freebies, money, appeasement or tools ("independent" agencies).

~For~ "Far" the people = stay far away from those who you can't divide or buy.

- La Vickeypedia

Bend it like Politician

I bend before you now with smile and promise,

I will later bend your mind,

I will not give you time to bend your will,

I have my chamchas who bend before me all the time,

I will bend rules to keep me and chamchas happy all the time.

Let's Celebrate - Part 2

Christmas & New Year Season - 22-23

As the joyous old man goes around the town spreading smiles and gifts, it's time to end the Year on a high, marked by parties, vacations and celebrations.

2022 was an year of hope, and it indeed lived up to the expectations...after a terrible 2020 and grim 2021, 2022 indeed got our lives back to normalcy, economies back on track.

An year that saw South Indian films donned the Indian cinemas, Fifa world cup ending with an energetic finale.

As we thought Covid is behind us and it's time to move on and compensate for time and progress lost, the paranoia has fully set in. People, media are already assuming and preparing for another wave, when there is no visible impression on ground. The orgasm people get being fearful, overshadows the artifacts.

As per many experts including Dr. Gagandeep Kang, a top virologist "Another wave is unlikely in India", let's keep our fingers crossed and hope 2023 to be same as 2022, if not better!

If 2022 was an year of tiger, 2023 will be an year of rabbit! Let's hope we hop on to Better times and fortunes, than being bogged down by the fear mongering.

Christmas Santa

It's Christmas Eve and New Year revelry, the celebrations has begun!

Met with few friends to celebrate Christmas Eve yesterday. I have stopped taking my Car out on Saturdays for a long time now, fearing the notorious and insane traffic on weekends.

So, I took a Cab.... the Driver got couple of calls where someone was abusing him for non payment of some hand loans. I also overheard him talking to his friend on his inability to pay EMIs for last 4 months.

As he drove in the heavy traffic, another Cab came from behind and banged his Cab. Both cars stopped and our driver stepped out, as I also went to check the damage and found the bumper fully damaged, and had fallen off.

Our driver was trying to fix it back to be able to drive further. Meanwhile, the other Car drove ahead and was lost in the traffic.

I could feel the pain of this Driver. As it is, it looked like he is in deep financial distress, this additional expense, and that Guy who banged escaped the scene.

Once the trip ended I paid him 1,000 extra, and he was astonished and asked me why have I paid so much extra. I told him it's my small help for him to get his car repaired. He thanked me with a smile.

Not that I have surplus money to donate, nor am I into philanthropy, it was just a spontaneous act.

Some said it was unnecessary, some said I was his secret Santa!

Fan or No Fan

You can find almost every other married couple fight over Fan or no Fan.

If one wants Fan to be on overnight, the other doesn't. It's an eternal fight with no possible solution. The couple fight over it tirelessly every single night.

We married couple are warriors, we fight for every silly reason, shouting at each other. Yet, next day morning you can find us holding hands, smiling and going for our morning walks.

As we celebrate this day of Love, a toast to all the married couple. We fight, we argue, we yell at each other, we disagree, yet we compromise and care for each other.

When you get back home to your wife, you can leave the mask outside, and just be your true self.

The love between a husband and wife is candid, raw and honest. It doesn't come with sugar coating, exaggerated emotions, expectations or needless passion, gracefully acknowledging the fading intimacy.

Women's Day

Women's day - a day marked to celebrate women. An initiative to remind the world and raise awareness on Gender disparity and discrimination.

Unfortunately, the day starts and ends by wishing and praising all women, and they feeling important on this day.

Bound by the societal expectations/restrictions, biological and physical limitations, her real struggles are probably known only to her and probably gender equality is the last thing she wants.

With many mean and narrow-minded men in her lives, her struggles are all about proving her worth to her own.

So, instead of wishing all women in the world and showering random, generic praises on them, let us men develop the basic courtesy of acknowledging the importance of women in our lives, empower them with respect and space, and appreciate the selfless workaholic they are!

Birthday gift

You know the best gift one can get? the realization of so many people around you, with you, standing by you.

Just when you start worrying, look up the skies for help, nature and people magically arrive to help, support and care.

It is one thing to know that there are people to hold you when you fall, it is another thing to realise people never let you fall.

This gives you courage to be ready for the fight, yet another day.

Love, respect must be earned. One won't get it just by existing.

Feeling blessed, lucky, proud.

Happy Friendship day - 2023

Through thick and thin,

Through tears and smiles,

Through lows and highs,

Through cries and laughs,

I am proud and lucky to have the most amazing, lovely friends for decades.

We don't need an occasion to meet, we don't need a reason to celebrate, we don't leave any occasion to celebrate.

We don't have inhibitions to openly share our inner most feelings.

We criticize, we praise, we support, we make fun of each other, we don't get offended, we run to each other to share, care and ask help.

Happy Friendship Day Friends!