कुछ समय पहले की बात है......

कुछ समय पहले की बात है, जब माँ को कोएले पर रोटी बनाते देखा है

अब तो पापड़ भी खाना हो तो बीवी की उंगलियों को माइक्रो वेव का बटन दबाते देखा हैं

कुछ समय पहले की बात है, जब खुद को डाकघर से पोस्टकार्ड लाते हुए देखा है

अब तो खुद को आइफ़ोन की टचस्क्रीन से फ्री में एस एम एस करते भी देखा है

कुछ समय पहले की बात है, जब मेरे खर्चो के लिए पापा को बैंक की लम्बी लाइन में देखा है

और अब पापा को पैसे भेजने के लिए खुद को बस इक 'enter' का बटन दबाते देखा है

कुछ समय पहले की बात है जब खुद को धूल मिट्टी में खेलते हुए देखा है

और अब दो साल की बच्ची को आइ फ़ोन पर गेम्स खेलते हुए भी देखा है

कुछ समय पहले की बात है जब केवल हनुमान जी को ही बॉडी दिखाते देखा है

और अब हर गली नुक्कड़ में डम्बल उठाते नौजवानों को भी देखा है

कुछ समय पहले की बात है जब खुद को घर की छत पर तारे गिनते हुए देखा है

और अब 'ए सी के बिना नींद नहीं आती', खुद को यह कहते हुए भी देखा है

कुछ समय पहले की बात है जब रामलीला के मेले में खुद को १ रूपए में झूला झूलते देखा है

और अब युनिवरसल इस्टूदीओस के एक झूले के लिए खुद को डॉलर्स में खर्च करते हुए देखा है

कुछ समय कुछ समय करके यह वक़्त जाने कहाँ गया.........

बस कुछ यादें रह गयी, वो बचपन मेरा कहाँ गया......

Being NRI....

Yes, as the title discloses.... I am a NRI now (6 months continuously out of the country). But I don’t know why... I feeal nothing great, unusual or different in being an NRI. Its been more than 6 months in Singapore..... since Feb 27^th, 2010... the day I first landed on the Changi International Airport (world’s 7^th busiest international airport). Time flew so quickly.... Just from the inner side of my heart.. want to go back to India as soon as possible.

Earlier I was contributing to GDP of my nation.... yes, now I find solace that at least I am contributing to GNP (if not to GDP) J

Before arriving Singapore I always use to think how can a country so small, with no natural resources of its own has developed at such a fast pace (projected to grow 15-18% this year) and why is that a country like ours which is loaded with resources (including much needed human capital) is still called a developing nation (even after 6 decades of independence).... don’t know whether I am right or wrong... but I feel the only answer is best governance and regulation practices. Singapore has taken advantage of the situation which we have not been able to. Both India and Singapore were British colonies, and Singapore has rapidly taken advantage of this fact after gaining independence and turned itself into a trading and finance hub, enjoying advantage of its location for developing itself into one of world’s leading port.

I think another differentiating factor is the willingness of its people to align with rules and regulation, which automatically turned into a habit flowing through generations. Singapore is known as ‘country of fines’, which to a certain extent has been a boon for this nation. You spit, and you pay $1000 fine, you carry some prohibited items into public transport and you pay $5000 fine, and to the last resort you bring some prohibited items into the country (including drug trafficking) and you end up paying with your life. The key point is that all these are strictly followed and the government makes sure that all key projects (infrastructure, public health, education etc) are well implemented on time. The problem with India and we Indians is that we want everything but never follows any policies, regulation. The problem starts with our childhood when we see that world surrounding us involved in malpractices to survive and we make it a key point that if you have to survive, you have to follow these as well. E.g. signal toda to traffic police ko paise dedo (bachpan mein bike se 20 rupay se shuru kiya jo baad mein car se signal todne par 100-200 par aa gaya); passport banwana hai to police wale ko 500 dedo; train mein sleeper ka ticket leke AC dabbe mein betho aur TTE ko 200 rupay dedo..... it start with this and end up in strong corruption (jiska example hamare saamne hai ---- commonwealth games). If this ends up with us, its for sure our kids will never follow the same, because they learn from us and our surroundings.

If the corruption is stopped and we get good and strong governance, it is for sure that we will be able to get key infra projects on time and our growth rate will be well above 15-20%. With the improved system, we can definitely see actual increase in educated, healthy and well employed India. And then, people like won’t have to look at some bloody Singapore or New York or London as dream job-destination because every opportunity will be here right back at home.

I know this will take time but let’s try and start this..... Insha-allah someday an American or Singaporean will be writing like this – How to learn from India and its people J

Yeh Dilli hai mere yaaarrrr.....

Delhi... The city where I am living for close to 2 years now.... Lemme take you to the city's tour, its different areas.. and introduce you to the vibrant, multi-colored and different shades of Delhi.

Wahe Guruji ka Khalsa, Wahe guru ji ki fatah..... Only in front of Gurudwara Seesganj, Chandni Chowk, Delhi

"Attention pls, pickpocketers have been identified in the train and station's area. Pls vacate seats for the ladies, physically challenged and the senior citizens. Next Stn is Rajiv Chowk.. The doors will open on the left. Pls mind the gap. Keep at centre while boarding or deboarding the train at the station. "

If you hear something like this, you are definitely in Delhi's pride --- Delhi Metro..




Oopppps, bike kharaab ho gayi hai.... Yahan Metro stn hai lekin mechanic nahin :) Yups... you are at Asia's largest residential colony --- Dwarka !!

Hum Valentine's Day mana ke hi rahenge !!! ... In appr 360 out of 365 days, Jantar Mantar is the victim of dharnas like these, and poor fellows like me whose offices are nearby have to suffer..

"Abe Rickshaw hata, abe tu hata..... abe mein kehta hun side mein le"... Well, you have just reached Paharganj (near New Delhi Rly Stn)

Aaahhh, maza aa gaya... khule mein karne ka maza hi alag hai.... What??? U dont know... he he, then better ask common junta here about the experience :)

Welcome to Janpath Market ji.... Buy any damn cloth you want... Ekdum Sasta aur tikao... and meet the monk who just bought a new phone :)

Oh ji meet our Happy Family of Tilak Nagar, Delhi :)

Thank God Its Friday !!!!! Famous Bar in Connaught Place, Delhi... You dont need to work on weekdays, but you have to visit bars like these on weekends .....

The Gals of South-Extension !!!! Oooohhh lala

The Gay Delhi :) somewhere @ Connaught Place

Hard Life!!!!! Sex Workers @ GB Road

Computer ... Whats That??? We only use typewriter... He he, You have just reached Tees Hazari Court !!

Delhi's famous Khan Market... Its like Drona's Chakraviewh...You can only Enter... Exit ka pata nahin :)

A common sight when-ever you find a subway in delhi :) (A DTC bus in the background)...

Palika Parking... Heart of Delhi's Heart (Connaught Place)... Pls park your vehicle over the tree .. lolzzz

Jai ho English mata ki......

We are a country with 2nd largest number of English speaking population in the world, only after the US. Close to 10% of Indian population speaks English or at least try to :)

No offense to India, but just couldn’t resist myself from sharing some great examples of English in our land.

See this:

1) This shop owner is selling “CHILD BEAR” instead of “CHILLED BEER” lolzzzz… wow, bears are everywhere… Isn’t it?? Right from Stock Market to Bewda Market !!

2) Now see this instruction written somewhere in a mosque…. “Not allowed inside open head” … he he, This means keep your dirty brain inside your body, you dare open your head and take your brain out… only Allah knows what will happen to you…

3) Now, I didn’t expect stuff like this from a government body like New Delhi Municipal Corporation… See the text encircled in black.

4) Wooohoooo… another cool stuff, and this time from Indian Railways…. Check it out :)



5) Poor fellow…. trying to sell English books only for Rs 20. Check out how he spells “ENGLISH”

Am sure most of us must have come across something of this sort.... Nevermind... nothing to make fun of... but still, we Indians are extremely brilliant in turning everything in our favor, be it bad bad english speaking / writing potential (not all, but yeah... a good number)....

Disclaimer: The pics are collected from various sources. Inka vastvik jeevan ya vyakti se hi naata hai.

Olympics for India – Sky is the limit….

One gold medal and two silver medals out of a country of 1.14 billion people… Well !! those moments were really something to feel proud about, but to me that was just like a silver lining in the dark clouds. With time, most of us have forgotten Rajyavardhan Rathore, and I am sure that slowly, already fainted memories of the Beijing-2008 moments will disappear just like a morning dew drop vanishes as soon as it kisses sunlight…

But somehow, if we try to look among ourselves…. We will see that Indians have the caliber that just needs to be polished and sharpened… Here are few tareekas by which we can increase our medal count (in the sports where we stand nowhere)…Have a look:

Basketball: ohk.. let me start with the sport which is not so popular in India.. It requires agility, stamina, height and most importantly…. ACCURACY (ha ha, remember KOI MIL GAYA….). Have you ever noticed accuracy /efficiency of Newspaper hawker by which he throws the newspaper from road straight to a little balcony on the sixth floor in one go.. I think if they are properly trained, we will have……. (no need to mention what !!)


Cycling: Now the most important thing which cycling requires apart from proper training is STAMINA and THIGH MUSCLE POWER…. Any idea, where to look for the potential Olympian in our country for this game…Guys… nowhere to go when we you can find them on every railway stations, bus stops, metro stations, and gali-nukkads… Yessss, our own rickshaw-wallahs… I am not joking.. These people may look skiny, tired and mal-nourished… but they have tremendous stamina and power in their legs… I am sure, we need some government support to train them in proper conditions and equipments… and bingo, we will have an army of Olympians :)

Rowing: Onam festival in Kerala starts with rowing contest… these men are superb in rowing and just need international level training to stand at par with other nations…

Archery: The land of Arjuna, Karna and Eklavya stands nowhere as far as Archery is considered (with few instances like runner-up in World Archery Championship). North-Eastern tribes of Khasi and Garo are very good archers and in fact Archery is very popular game in Meghalaya and Manipur.. but the bad part is that the game is mostly localized and there is no talent recognition at the international level. This is the nerve we need to twist to bring it forward.

Swimming: Ever seen the speed and agility of local kids at the Ghats of river Ganges in plains of Uttar Pradesh… The essence and need of the hour is to catch them young, nourish them and train them……

There could be many more examples / sports where we can actually excel over other countries… At this point of time, I can only think few as enumerated above….

I know Olympic Game is not a joke, and it demand proper combination of training, nutrition, determination, government support and more importantly killer instinct…. But still, if we really have to focus, why not start with something which exhibits more potential or chances as compared to others…..

Mr Manmohan?? Are you there??… Is anybody listening?? … Knock Knock…..

Every dog has its day... Feb 22nd was Slumdog's !!!

Finally, Rahman got what he deserves…. Sweeping 2 Oscars in one go.. a kind of achievement in entertainment industry which every artist could just dream of…..

But frankly speaking I don’t understand what was so great about Slumdog Millionaire…except a brilliant concept and story (the credit for which goes to Q&A author Vikas Swaroop)… I didn’t found anything great either in direction or performance by actors…

Ever wondered why the movies which somehow exhibit India’s poverty to its extreme become such an instant hit?? Hmm.. May be these gorahs have never seen a crazy Indian kid jumping in a pool of shit only to meet his favorite actor Amitabh Bachhan, or maybe they were forced to open their mouth in extreme astonishment when they saw how the multi-million dollars begging industry works in India (when some SoB trains the kids to sing only to put acid in their eyes)….The same story holds true for movies like Salaam Bombay. They fetch instant sympathy of the gorahs towards the so called poor India (in their words). And we feel so proud of it…. Isn’t it??

Ok, never mind… coming back to Rahman… Even I am sure he must be wondering, GOD!!! What was so great about this musical score… Even a moron can compare and say that Rahman’s earlier composition were 10,000 times better than this after listening to Roja, Chaiya-Chaiya, Dil Se, Maa Tujhe Salaam etc etc…So why is that it was never praised to this extent earlier??
The answer is simple… The Oscar Jury must listen to the composition and they didn’t earlier simply because the movies were not nominated.. hmm poor chap.. Is it because of some Brit connection or something?? I mean, when the movie is directed by a Brit/American.. then it will be considered, otherwise not (all other things were Indian.. be it music, actors, story, sound, etc). Why did Lagaan failed even after such a brilliant concept of struggle and victory?? I guess because of similar reasons…

No matter what… hats off to the all members of the movie who enabled India to mark its presence in the Oscars, Golden Globe and BAFTA esp. I must say that the performance by junior Jamaal and Latika (Slumdogs in reel as well as real life) was far ahead than the grown ups (Slumdogs in reel life but NRIs in real) :)

An Ode to Love....

She is standing on the ground, as he climbed over me…
With her watery eyes, she is praying God to prevent him falling free…
He finally plucked it for her, but fell straight on the Earth...
With bloodied knees and muddy face, presented his token of ‘love’ to her..

The kids are in their teens now, with all the charm on their face…
She is most beautiful girl around, with all the grace..
Embracing her Prince Charming, standing under my shade…
I wish O mighty Lord, their love just never fade…

I now see them as the cutest couple of “Husband-Wife”…
Though they are looking at the Sun, at the dusk of their life…
With toothless jaws and shivering body, their soul is still full of bliss..
He touched her wrinkled forehead, and planted a gentle kiss..

It is rainy, windy and chilly….
Even I am frozen, as the land is hilly….
Their bodies are lying motionless, calm and subtle..
She is still beautiful, and he is still gentle…

Love is selfless, caring and pure…
As they hug each other, buried deep near my roots…
Even this “Mango Tree” now understands and say…
To all the humans out there, a Happy Valentine’s Day…