Sunday, December 27, 2009

Happy new year and decade

With 2009 almost gone, i am sure you all must have made great plans to welcome 2010 and incoming decade (i dont want to hear arguments that 2010 end marks that, as i firmly hold belief as an example that how can one consider 1990 as year in the decade of 80s).Its been eventful year which started on a challenging note. Challenges make our lives and all of us have accepted that. Lets hope you have a great year 2010 and a great decade ahead. May all your dreams come true and you have great happiness, prosperity and health.Its been an honor being associated with you, lets hope we continue remaining in touch in coming year/shappy new year 2010.

I had spent end of 1989, 1999(y2K) at some great locations. Plan to do encore. see you in next decade recharged and refreshed. Hope you have great holidays.... Eventful decade though, next one promises more so....

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Return To India

Last week saw two very contrasting pictures. Both at international airports. One outside india and the other inside india. Same set of people. When it came to boarding at International airport the crowd (either NRIs/PIOs or resident indian visitors) was so well behaved. They complied to every specified norm either at security, or immigration or just were waiting. I saw a family. They had got the packed lunches. They took care to eat the same properly without spilling. They threw the disposable plates in bins. They were using Tissues. Not making much noise. All was going well. Flight was delayed. Since it was an India bound flight, the airline did not bother to make any announcement or regrets for delay.Though we heard similar regrets/announcements for flights to european or US locations even for a 5-10 mins delay. The passengers to India-bound flight were mainly indians. We were seggregated after getting boarding passes in the waiting area. Amongst say 200-300 people there was single a rest room and atleast 100 seats short. Thus many were standing. Airline did not bother after repeated complaints. Crowd though was well behaved and quiet. Soon after hr and half of delay, flight was boarded. Systematically. The flight reached mumbai. The view as you enter Mumbai airport is disgusting. All huts, unclean alleys etc get zoomed as the plane lands. added to that there is chaos. First we could not get runway so plane was circling. Then upon landing we did not get terminal. we sat there for almost 20 mins. Ofcourse with the smell of disinfectant which airlines spray as we near mumbai. Finally we got the terminal and then you could not wonder if it was the same crowd earlier. People started rushing out.They never bothered if anyone was hit by overhead cabin luggage while they were taking it down. They rushed outside. First look of Mumbai airport has to be always dealt philosophically especially returning from world class terminals like Changi. Life is greatest leveler. We are reminded that one should get inspired by a great sight but one should not get disheartened by grotesque. Mumbai airport can be defined as one such sight. The white tiles render a toiler feel for people already suffering from constrained bowel movements arising out of disgusting food, varied time zones, disturbed body clocks, intoxicants..... The same crowd gets smells of Indiaand they start behaving differently. They say when you go to Rome behave like Romans.They try to cut queues. Fight over trolleys which are outnumbered by travellers. They argue with officers. Try to use tricks to fool customs.They fight over a best place over luggage trolley. The same crowd which was so behaved turns hostile.The same family i had witnessed, started munching some snacks. They literred around. They left over some food on seat. Spilled water. they never cared. Add to all this humid, hot and polluted mumbai weather. This really gives a room for analysis and introspection. Why do we behave differently abroad and in india. Why cannot we have better planning. Why cannot we learn.We are very proud of being indians but we really need to learn to be more civil, clean. We may be a poor country to afford airports like changi but still we can atleast keep things clean and disciplined. I am sure most of travelers feel same as they return to india. All this should start with self. And miles to go before we sleep.

Monday, December 14, 2009

fevicol ad

During the cricket series, an ad released by Fevicol made me very pensive. Theme of ad is that a small girl sticks moustache for a play assumingly using fevicol and that cannot be removed throughout her life and even after that. The creaters had expected humor as tone. For me it was much deeper than that. Glancing across various stages of life in 5 to 6 seconds is what makes one pensive and closer to realities of life. having celebrated another birthday, it made me feel further pensive. Time is running out. It stops for no one. someone had uploaded a very old photo of mine from kgp hostel days during a party. having taken a look at that snap, this ad made me look at yesterdays snaps at one party. 17 years have passed. so many things have changed for good and for bad. But later i realized that what matters is journey how well you have enjoyed it. and what have you acheived. Thats what make difference. and your time is not up....