This evening when I tried to help...

Am I waiting for some weird, different experiences to blog out? Not sure. Came across this one in the evening and am blogging out.

Just got down in Shivajinagar from 330C. Was waiting for Big 10, G9. 5 minutes passed to find no signs of it.

There were a series of buses coming from Meenakshi Coil street and I got myself into looking for buses heading Yelahanka while an elderly gentleman, in his mid 40s tried to cross the road, couldn't at that moment coz of traffic.

In the meantime, he saw me and a smile flashed on his face. I returned it back. He probably was waiting for that I guess. Started talking to me. Conversation goes like this.

Him: Bad day. You know how to go to Jayamahal?
Me: Yeah. You get a bus here at the terminus. Go there. you'll get lotsa buses.
H: Oh Thanks. Is bus the only way? Can I get an auto as well?
M: Yeah! Many go there. fetch one right here. There is one auto passing by. (He just flew giving us no chance to enquire).
H: So good of you. I've walked from Ulsoor to Shivajinagar and I'm very tired. I'll wait for some time to get an auto, lest I shall board a bus.
M: You have one auto here. Wait, lemme ask him. (To the auto driver). ಜಯಮಹಲ್ ಬರ್ತೀಯೇನಪ್ಪ?
Auto driver: ಜಯನಗರ ನ?
M: ಜಯನಗರ ಅಲ್ಲಪ್ಪ. ಜಯಮಹಲ್ ಹೋಟೆಲ್ಲು. ವಸಂತನಗರ ಸಿಗ್ನಲ್ ದಾಟಿ ಅಂಡರ್ ಬ್ರಿಡ್ಜು ದಾಟಿ. ಹೋಟೆಲ್ಲು. ಗೊತ್ತಾಯ್ತಾ?
A: ಸರಿ ಬನ್ನಿ.
M: (To him) I've told him the route. You can go with him.
H: Why don't you come along. Please join me.
M: No please. I'll go by bus. I've lot many waiting here. You carry on.
H: It would help me find the route quicker If you come along. Please don't hesitate. Get in. Get in. Get in...
M: Okay.
A: ಸಾರ್! ಐವತ್ತ್ ರುಪಾಯಿ ಆಗತ್ತೆ.
M: (Scratching head) He's saying it costs 50 bucks.
H: Come on. Ask him to put meter. Why is he charging extra?
A: ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಯೂ ಟರ್ನ್ ಮಾಡಕ್ಕಾಗಲ್ಲ. ಸುಮಾರ್ ದೂರ ಹೋಗಿ ಯೂ ಟರ್ನ್ ಮಾಡ್ಬೇಕು. ಜಾಸ್ತಿ ಆಗತ್ತೆ.
M: ಗುರೂ, ಇನ್ನೂ ಟೈಮ್ ೭ ಗಂಟೆ. ಆಗ್ಲೇ ಹಿಂಗಾ?
A: ನಮಗೂ ವರ್ಕ್ ಔಟ್ ಆಗ್ಬೇಕಲ್ಲಾ ಸಾರ್? ೫೦ ರುಪಾಯಿ ಕೊಡಿ. ಇಲ್ಲಾ ಇಳ್ಕೊಲ್ಲಿ.

I conveyed the same to him, to which he kinda denied. Later after some talk agreed. I asked him to go by bus which is more economical but he resisted. He was late for an appointment by 2 hours and he can't make them wait more is what he said.

H: I've walked from Ulsoor to here. Can't walk anymore. Also, I'm not sure of getting any seat in the buses. I'll go by this but ask him to leave me right at the footsteps of the hotel.
M: ನೋಡ್ರಿ... ಹೋಟೆಲ್ ಬಾಗಲ್ ತನಕ ಬಿಡ್ಬೇಕಂತೆ. ಐವತ್ತ್ ರುಪಾಯಿ ಕೊಡ್ತಾರಂತೆ. (I was like, why the hell did I get involve in this?)
A: ಹೋಟೆಲ್ ಗೇಟ್ ತನಕ ಬಿಡ್ತೀವಿ. ಅಷ್ಟೇ.
M: He says He'll leave you till the gate. Is that okay?
H: If he talks this way, I can also talk the same. What have they thought of himself? I won't give him money if he doesn't take me to the hotel. (He also conveyed the same in Hindi, thinking that the driver understands Hindi)

The driver continued driving.

Meanwhile, we spoke about him taking an auto, a taxi from Ulsoor to Jayamahal which he explains like nobody was willing to ply in that area. I asked for autos, buses, taxis Meru, Citycabs et al to find none willing to come there. One company says that it'll take 2 hours to reach Ulsoor.

All the way, he was cursing n curbing about his situation. He says he met another person at Ulsoor who explained him the scenario (dunno how true) that nobody will come to pick you up and the best way left to you is to walk your way. That person gave him company till Shivajinagar and had gone elsewhere.

Now, this person is from Mumbai, visited Bengaluru for a conference in ITC Windsor Hotel, but stayed in Jayamahal. He had another appointment with Sobha developers at Ulsoor when all this begun.

I asked him. didn't the Sobha guys arrange for transport? He said, they didn't and I didn't ask for one. There was a mean smile on his face.

All the while, there were clashes happening between the auto driver and this person. The former used to curse in Kannada while the latter used to ask me to translate it (which I didnt) and also was swearing at him in English which he probably didn't understand.

He continued to explain things in Mumbai. About Meter Jam, people trying to man-handle rickshaw drivers and all. This went on for a few minutes and He also explained that things are the same in metros.

We spoke about lots of issues in the country. Thinking of no solutions but just to discuss problems. He also discussed about Belagavi issue and supported Karnataka in this regard. He had hatred towards the politicians starting this riot.

At Vasanthnagar junction, the auto driver asked.

A: ಏಯ್ ಐವಾನ್! ಎಲ್ಲ್ ಇಳ್ಕೊತೀಯೋ?
M: ಇನ್ನೂ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಮುಂದೆ ಹೋಗಪ್ಪ. ಅಲ್ಲೇ ಕಾನ್ಸತ್ತಲ್ಲ. ಅಲ್ಲಿ.
A: ಅವ್ರಿಗೆ ಕೇಳಿ ಸಾರ್. ರೋಡ್ ದಾಟ್ತಾರೋ? ಅಥವಾ? ಯೂ ಟರ್ನ್ ಮಾಡ್ಕೊಂಡ್ ಬರಬೇಕೋ?

He asked him to take him inside the hotel for which the driver cribbed and drove ahead.

H: I don't know one thing. These people want to increase fares according to petrol hikes. We people pay it. But still they crib? I dunno the reason. They always crib.

M: Thats human tendancy. Can't help it.

By the time, we were at the gate of Jayamahal hotel. I got down bidding him goodbye and walking away. He thanked me. and asked the driver to get inside.

A: ಅದೆಲ್ಲ ಆಗಲ್ಲ. ಗೇಟ್ ಹತ್ರ ಬಿಡ್ತೀವಿ ಅಂದಿದ್ದ್ವಿ. ಗೇಟ್ ಹತ್ರ ಬಿಟ್ಟಿದ್ದೀವಿ. ಒಳಗೆಲ್ಲ ಬರಲ್ಲ.
H: Now, again whats his problem? Boss... If you do nakhra, we also have to take the same route. I won't give you a penny.
A: ಏನ್ ಸಾರ್ ಇವ್ರು ಹೇಳೋದು? ಹಿಂಗೆಲ್ಲ ಆಡ್ತಾರೆ?

I was in between, concoling both of them. After 10 minutes of consoling, the driver agreed to get to the hotel entrance.

I heaved a huge sigh of relief. I just wanted to get outa this mess. I bid him final goodbye for which he formally said "Meet you some time" and bid adieu.

For the help I lended, I walked from Jayamahal hotel to Jayamahal bus stop.

Chaos called 'St. Mary's Feast'

If you're in ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು/Bangalore for the last week of August or the first week of September, and by your misfortune, you are bound to visit Shivajinagar/surrounding areas... I pity your condition.

Is St. Mary's feast celebrated the most in Bangalore?? I was baffled to find wikipedia's St. Mary's Bascilica, Bangalore link among the top three while I googled for St. Mary's feast. Confused, I searched in google.co.uk as well to make sure that location preferences are avoided. Still I find the same result.

What we call Bowring Church, actually St. Mary's Bascilica, the oldest church in Bangalore, located just opposite to Shivajinagar bus stand, is the source of chaos.

In short, this St. Mary's feast, is the celebration of virgin mother of Jesus, Mary (who got sainthood just because she gave birth to the messenger as a virgin??!). Did she take long to take birth (15 days of celebration)?? I don't see Christmas celebrated that long; atleast here in Bangalore.

According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, St. Mary's feast celebrations started almost more than 600 years after her birth. Why did it take so long for them to celebrate? Mary's birthday is still unknown but they celebrate it on September 8th of the Gregorian calendar. There is no solid proof that it falls on September 8th.

To my misfortune, I've been to Shivajinagar during this season almost every year since a minimum of 8 years. Its getting worse year by year. The worst I experienced was today, when buses from Balekundri Circle (Indian Express) to Shivajinagar on the Meenakshi Koil Street was blocked in the morning. So every bus from Indian Express were detoured to BRV ground and reached Shivajinagar via the Central street. I calmed myself saying 'Fuhget it! This is gonna get over this week' but while coming back from Domlur to Shivajinagar, no matter how many alternative routes taken by the bus, I had to wait 1.5 hours to reach Commerical Street. All buses denied to go to Shivajinagar. Let alone buses, no vehicles. After a 10 minute walk to Shivajinagar, I was shocked to see Shivajinagar Bus Stand completely occupied by these people. How can they use it?? Never have I seen such a thing before.

Not a single bus in the vicinity of Shivajinagar. I walked past the Meenakshi Koil Street towards Balekundri Circle passing by tens of beggars pleading alms on my way.

Not all agree walking from Commercial Street to Indian Express like me. Its irritating to most of them. Even the policemen couldnt control the situation. All I recollect such a thing happening was a year and half back when our infamous Devegowda called for a jana jaagruti samavesha at palace grounds affecting people commuting in the vicinity of Palace Grounds.

One more thing I need to mention here is that majority (more than 95%) of people attending this feast were Tamilians. I felt like I was in some busy town of Tamil Nadu while I walked past them. All black faces, in strikingly irritating orange uniforms (not to discriminate but to explain the fact). Was totally bugged up by their celebrations. Never have I seen Christians whom I know talk about St. Mary's feast; neither any other church celebrating it other than St. Mary's Bascilica.

I've seen Karaga/Ganesha festival being celebrated all over Bangalore but never is it this troublesome. Its distributed all over and not concentrated in one location. Blocking one of the major business zones completely for days together for some festival is irritating to many. And this St. Mary's feast started some 10 years ago I feel. Nowhere I saw it getting celebrated in my childhood.

I'd like to recall when the first person who tried to evangelize me, telling that 'truly speaking, there is no festival in Christianity; its a sin for a christian to celebrate any festival; hard core christians don't even celebrate Christmas you know... blah blah blah.' Now what is this feast considered to be??

I personally feel this is another method towards their evangelism strategy. To hell with them.

I like to give one message to those who celebrate this feast. If you want to celebrate, celebrate it in a distributed fashion and not concentrating near Shivajinagar. Its annoying to many who live in the city. First of all, get to know whether this can be celebrated after all (as your bishops, clergymen whosoever is concerned...)

Please do not try to play with the sanity of the city.

OVER N OUT.

Eye-opener...

Two/three weeks ago,

Was heading towards Malleshwara to meet Hemanth, Yogesh n Susheem @ Beagles. I boarded a BMTC from Byats.

Come Hebbal, three dumb fellas board the bus. They were busy communicating among themselves through sign language (which differed from our sign language... I felt it much more complex. Couldn't make much outa it) By their outfits they looked like Malayalis. How stupid am I to associate dumb with a language?

They incessantly communicated while I was busy playing dominoes on my mobile watching them at random intervals.

Two were seated at my back, One was facing me. You know, it was that kinda bus where four people can face each other on one compartment.

The expression on their face appears atleast over-acting; atleast to me. Ex: Laughing forcibly... Thats how they communicate. I might be a bit harsh here but thats the case with most of the handicapped.

While they communicated I never noticed the person in front of me using mobile. I was of the notion that mobiles are with everyone these days even with sweepers (not to condemn them, but addressing by their job)

I had overlooked the dumb chap using mobile. It all suddenly flashed to me when we were at Mekhri grade seperator. Of all of them, why a dumb guy has a mobile phone? What would he do with that if he cannot speak to it?

It was not a smartphone or a phone that can have any applications like games, video, audio... It was a plain Vodafone ZTE 125. You can't even listen to radio on it.

I now noticed him. Thanks to SMS. They communicate via SMS. Glad they teach them English along with their sign language.

I observed the guy till I got down at Central, and was smiling to accustom another simple but eye-opening experience.

On Independence Day...

Independence Day:

1. For Politicians, its another day to move around places, praising Gandhi, Nehru (dunno what he did to get Independence), Bose, et al making people know what they think is actually Independence day.

2. For Corporate employees, its a welcome holiday (though not quite this year, they missed it)

3. For the workoholics, its doesn't make a difference; they head to the vacant office.

4. For Students, though a holiday, they're forced to go to school to celebrate the I-day toiling in ground performing mechanical exercises (trained for months) to entertain the chief guests presiding the function, getting a (peppermint | laddoo | boondi) as compensation.

5. For the flag sellers, the only time of business. They don't mind plastic flags lying down on streets on I-Day itself. They just want to sell the flags.
6. For the RJs, its the time they recollect old/retro desha bhakti music for a day or two and air it.

7. For the visual media people, its again time to showcast of old movies which will just be skipped by the current generation. Some do telecast some stupid movies like Rang De Basanti grandeuring Bhagat Singh, Azad et al. Some do it for Gandhi n co.

8. For the messagoholics, crib about against some operators who suspend free messages for today; for the rest of some single day independence enthusiasts, it finishes their free messages while dawn forwarding messages of patriotism.

9. For the extremist enthusiasts, as mentioned before like Rang De Basanti provoked, they feel the urge to glorify the extremists and scold the likes of Gandhi...

10. For fake patriots, its just a time to play some tunes of famous musicians like Jai Ho, Vande Mataram... blah blah blah...

For someone with my mindset, the day has lost its prominence, not only prominence but meaning. One can see many people cribbing about the pathetic state the nation is in (including me), but none are willing to take it forward. Everybody is of the mindset, what can one mortal like me do?

The scenario before and after Independence in 1947 is no different. The only difference is that instead of the foreigners, the in house dacoits are looting the nation. Not one single party but all in a group are pushing the nation to a state of no return. There is this corruption cacophony, mining mafia, globalization ghost, corporate culture, exploitation of the poor (poor are mere votebanks), Reservation regime problems to name a few major issues haunting the nation today. The people in power do not hesitate to sell their nation for their wellbeing.

These things are easy said than faced. There are some honest people in politics who try to build a nation they dreamed. There is no one solution for this problem the country is facing. Some feel the politicians must be shooted in face, corruption must be rooted out blah blah blah... How can this be done? None has an answer. Everyone can give such hypothetical answers which aren't practical. Again, there are these foreign returned bureaucrats who compare our nation to the one they visited and say, "In that country its like this... but here... shit..." and compare each and everything. They do least to improve their country. They don't know in their remote corner of their brains that India (Bharata) was more dignified a nation than it is today. And the reason why it is in the current state is due to the people of the same countries these bureaucrats. Aint it?

There are instances wherein, people who've seen the freedom struggle, compare the earlier days and feel they're better. They feel there wasn't much corruption as it is today. Imitation has become the prime activity of the nation. When do we stop it? Aint this pub culture, corporate culture an imitation of the west? Why did we need independence if we mere imitate?

Have we atleast achieved political independence as of today? The whole country dances to the tunes of the Italian lady and her children. How many conversions are happening all over the country? The corporates are waiting for the decisions made the American presidents for their existence... Crap!!

Take farmers. Its said that more than 80 lakhs of farmers have commited suicide since 1990s. What do we eat, if none works out in the field? I can't imagine a scenario where everybody has money but they don't have food.
See again... I've started cribbing about it incessently... I can go on n on n on... not only me... everyone in the nation. There is no point in cribbing. Do something. Do your bit everyday n get satisfied that I did this for the betterment of the country. That would give you some satisfaction than doin nothing.

Independence is no praising of the freedom fighters, no cribbing about the state of nation, no patriotic movies/songs...

DO YOUR BIT TO SERVE THE NATION.

A Blunder I must say

First of all, You might think, this blog is inactive for long... The author must have lost interest in it. Yeah... Kinda... I don't wanna blame anybody for being lazy than myself.

From the time I joined a new company, thanks for my routine... couldnt make some time to blog. To add on to it, I was a bit low from the day my today's links blog was deleted by Google for spam. It was an attempt to store links I found were interesting.. 'nuff said...

Back to blogging.

Two months ago i guess. Both of my cousins were here at Bangalore after a long time. (Probably 1.5 years later). They had brought their family along. IT was a get together for them after a long long time.

One Saturday, I set myself to meet them. One whom I had dropped home from the airport. I hadn't met the other for long.

Before I describe the incident, Lemme tell you that I'd like to complete a sentence in one language as a whole. This would lead to blunders sometimes as it happened on that day.

Now, this other cousin was becoming another father. He already had one. This blunder what I said, happened when I tried wishing him.

The moment I met him, I wished him congrats. He didnt knew why exactly I wished him and asked my why?

By the slip of the tongue, instead of wishing him, 'as you're about to become yet another father', i said 'you're yet to become another father'

Damn!!! The whole family was in a pool of laughter while I was feelin so shameful. such incidents, everytime you recollect, will give you some amount of joy n pain.

Similar incident happened yesterday by my mom (which I wouldn't be discussing here) which made me blog this. I recollect the incident of my engineering college farewell, where I had scolded people to bring me on stage without respecting the dias. Feeling so guilty for that now. But nothing can be done. Its all past. Its over.

There are many such things that happen by the slip of the tongue. the person feels so guilty and may be teased for long (which didnt happened to me in any case)

To a person like me, It will not have any impact other than some moments of shame. But I've seen people taking things seriously of such incidents. I don't want to take names.

People feeling uncomfortable to speak English, may stop speaking in public if they accustom such incidents frequently. All I can say is that its not your language. You are bound to make mistakes, sometimes in your mothertongue itself... Why worry about a foreign language? Take it easy.

Some take it in positive manner and become kinda masters in the respective field. Its all how you take it. I'm kinda 'Do I look like I give a Shit?' person. I don't bother at all.

Now that I've blogged the incident, it'll be lighter in my mind, than it already was as always.

Another encounter with a female...

Couple of weeks ago,

I was walking my way to office getting down at the bus stand. A monday morning.
Just a couple of yards behind the gates of the office.

Suddenly a bottle-green Maruti Suzuki Ritz, overtakes me and a female gets down off it. Waves bye to her hubby (boyfriend??) giving a flying kiss later.

She suddenly turns back to see me, watchin this whole episode. She felt shy n clumsy. Rushed herself towards office (kinda escaping from me).

Whenever she encounters me at the office, a hapless smile/grin appears on her face outa shame. Duh!

Need more explaination?

New Nirma Ad: Review.

First of all watch this jaw dropping ad.



First of all, when I saw this ad, i was like...Baw! What on earth?? Sucha crappy ad. There cant be no serious review on this but still... I'd call it a fail ad.

Though after a second look, in some corner of the mind feel like appreciating the creativity of the ad maker to some extent.

To describe, I think the female here has taken her training with Matrix's Neo. She seem to have magical powers in her hand with 'Nirma' the codeword.

Here are the positive n negative aspects I felt.

Positives:

1. Creativity. Though taken (inspired) from matrix, smart usage of the technique.

Sorry, can't think of any more positives.

Negatives:

1. The expression on the female's face is disgusting.

2. People lookin baffled in the ad itself is irritating. The kid asking his mom to look at the wonder?? come on...

3. Bossing over the dirt like a school teacher daunting her stud.

4. Fail: After successfully stopping the dirt from spilling onto her clothes and passing away, she could have waited till there was no person around while she settled the dirt. She deliberately puts it down when one among the crowd is keenly watching it.

Post your views. I can't write anymore of this junk. Just wanted to share it among you.

All for the airport.

It might be old news for you all. Still, I have to tell about it.

The Airport Road (to Devanahalli, originating from High Grounds) is again getting widened. Right from the Hebbal flyover, till the airport entrance. The last plan I heard was an eight-lane road below with three lane service roads on either side. On top of it we have a six lane express highway from Hebbal flyover to Airport entrance. There are plans of metro coming on one side of the road. Which side of the road has to be decided yet.

Well, this is the plan. All is good for the globalization enthusiasts. Wide roads attract the investors and gives an impression of a better infrastructure. Smooth traffic flow blah blah blah.

FYI, road widening for the airport had been done just five years ago. Now, again based on the complaints of minor VIPs, the central government plans to widen the road for their pleasure.

You may refer to this post of mine on VIP movements on the Airport road.

Lets analyse the situation. Here are some points that come to my mind.

1. Whats the traffic to the airport everyday on an average?

2. How many vehicles commute on that road?

3. Is widening required at this stage? Is the traffic that worse?

4. How many people/enterprises lose their land for widening?

5. Whats the compensation given to them? Whats the market value?

6. What is the ratio between them?

If you answer these questions, you'll easily find the need for this road widening is not that important. In case if they insist in doing so, they should provide the real compensation (unlike what they did in 2005) or provide land for the current market price somewhere else (Which I hardly see getting done).

They construct a dedicated 6 lane express highway for free movement of these VIPs in and outa the city. Now, whats the ratio of people taking the express highway paying the costly toll? You can take examples from the NICE road and the Hosur road flyover projects. Common man wishes the other way.

Roads in other parts of Karnataka are getting worse. Some examples include The road to Nagarahole, the roads that lead us to the western ghats (take any road, its getting worse n worse day by day) Why can't they improve such roads than investing 700 crores on an express highway to the airport? Again whats the ratio of people travelling to Airport to people travelling in the afore mentioned roads to rural parts of Karnataka? You just can't compare.

More balding of Bengalooru takes place (of the leftover greenery), more people will get homeless/jobless.

Its not that, I blog it out and they look into it. I just have pointed out my viewpoint which does no good to the situation. It simply doesnt change the scenario. The Govt takes it in the left ear n leaves it out on the right.

Just thought of bloggin out this helpless scene of Airport road. Cough up your opinion.

Telco companies & Green drives.

Before saying anything, let me ask you to watch the videos embedded below. If you've already watched it on TV, its optional.



and this...


What do you feel about it?

These are actually promotions for a cause by the telco companies in making us aware of our environment.

One may initially feel sorry for the environment, may feel the urge to go green n eco etc.

Lets look into it in a more indifferent manner. Lets take them one by one.

1. Idea's urge to save paper, use mobile.

Go through the video once again if you want to, it gives you many ways to save paper. One can see browsing newspaper through mobile, giving autographs on a touchscreen, taking notes on a mobile(in a court), boarding passes in airports, university certificates, menus and orders in a hotel and what not?

The ad goes bang into the market and is a big hit. Though there are many filmy elements. One major flaw I felt was nobody uses a mobile to type in a court when one can have a desktop/laptop. Storage and transmitting could also be more spacious/faster in the latter case.

Agreed, as they are promoting their product, that is their gimmick. I'm not against the entertaining aspect of it.

Coming to more serious matter, who would implement such ideas? May be a few enthusiasts who got interested would make it a point in following the steps guided by the ad. Aged people would hardly feel the urge to type. They prefer hard copy paper than its counterpart. I don't see any long term implementations of it. On the other hand, these could be the advertisements of the mobile manufacturers and not of the service providers strictly speaking.

Lets hold it for a moment and discuss it after the second ad.

2. Aircel's urge to save the tigers of India.

Its a bit more serious than the previous ad. They ask us to involve in saving tigers. Specially Indian tigers. (Well, how can we save tigers that aren't in our country?) Wanna know more about it? Check it out here.

It has got three brand ambassadors. Cricketing star, M.S. Dhoni, Football captain, Bhaichung Bhutia and Tamil hero Suriya (Aircel is basically from TN).

Again, lemme list the positives here.

1. Effectively depicts the condition of our tigers.
2. Makes us think about Tigers as endangered species.
3. No filmy things in the ad. Thanks for that.

Now lemme tell you my opinion on this ad. Ultimately whatever a common man does, he cannot literally help in saving tigers. Blogging about it, speaking on it in meetings, sharing your thoughts with your friends... nothing is practically gonna help saving tigers. If I'm wrong, please enlighten me in this matter.

Forget everything, we cannot see a tiger except for zoos. Lively tigers are hard to search in jungles. Many of my treks n hiking have gone unfruitful to watch the predator in an open forest. (Not that normal person wishes to see tigers)

Whatever this ad is meant for, should reach the actual hunters of tigers. Not only the hunters of tiger alone, but all wild animals in general.

No 'Save wildlife campaign' helped to any extent in hunting down Veerappan, the elephant poacher. All we could wait for is to turn the minds of these poachers n hunters as well as their supporters on the good side.

Now to summarize everything discussed, its just a market gimmick for these telco providers to gain more publicity boasting themselves as eco-friendly. I'm not saying that they're always wrong. We do have truth on their side, but still I feel its just their marketing strategy. All I want to say is that because of these mobile operators, we have lost our sparrows from the urban areas. Not only sparrows but almost all birds. All we could see is a few crows here n there sparingly.

How many will turn in my side, if I say 'Stop using mobiles, save the sparrow. Lets do our bit'. Who will turn my side?

Or yet another agenda, 'Use less plastic, save the environment'?? How many will turn up? How many street cows have fallen sick/died just because of consuming plastic?

You might think I'm always cynic towards such things. Thats how I am.

As always, If I've left out some points or you feel that I'm wrong on some statements, please do let me know.

Two Tales, Two Thathas.

Well, the title should have been long. I was planning for 'Two tales on Two elderly gentlemen, one @ dusk and one @ dawn'. Very very long... =(

Two of my experiences on consecutive days. Here they go.

Tale 1:

Had been to one telco's office to get a connection for my mother yesterday. While I was discussing plans with a representative, an elderly gentleman entered the office with a grim face.

The moment he came, he started scolding another rep black n blue; reason being excess amount on his broadband bill. The sales rep/installation crew who had installed broadband in his house and had promised the old guy that the bill wont cross Rs 500/-

Probably this thatha is tech savvy or atleast internet savvy. To his bad luck, I think his plan wasnt an unlimited connection. He has crossed the limits and had got a lumpsome bill of Rs 1.7k and change. Poor fellow is now baffled and has travelled 4km from his house to the telco office to enquire. Guess he doesnt know about customer care (not that they're any better, but alteast that would've avoided his travel)

He was not satisfied by the justification given by the helpless rep. Now, the rep called the installer, his higher officials n whosoever are concerned but in vain of help to thatha.

He continued his swearings... in fact, increased them two folds... All the stupids, rascals etc came outa his mouth. Irritated employee asked him to stay quiet but it was of no use.

Meanwhile thatha made some calls scolding the person on the other side. He must be the installer. Rep was insisting him to speak him in Kannadaif he could coz the other party isnt well versed in any other lingo, he would start a sentence in Kannada and switch over to English. No comments...

I got my connection while thatha continued swearing.

Tale 2:

Wakey wakey... This morning I had to visit supermarket as my father was busy with some other work. Gotta get some milk, vegitables etc. Now, this supermarket, is say 200 steps from my house, fresh stocks come everyday @ 08:15 am. I went there by 8:10, to make sure that the precious commodity, milk doesnt get over. There are instances wherein I have returned back going by 9 o' clock. I dont wanna take chances.

I saw some familiar faces of which one of them is another thatha. Never have I spoken with them but they are familiar.

Okay! 8:15, no news about the delivery truck. Welcome sign for my othla sense. I roamed around the mart, checkin things out. The same old beans, carrots, oats etc. Meanwhile I saw this thatha speaking to the wardboys n stewardesses sometimes cuddling them. Normal thatha behavior. 8:25 and still the truck hasnt arrived. I continued.

8:30 it passed by. Its a narrow road, it went ahead to park in the opposite direction so that it can just go once the delivery is complete. It came but there was a Santro in the usual place of its parking. The driver was waiting...

It happened to be a customer's santro who was billing. His mom was also by his side billing. He had a long list. Took a lot of time to complete. It was already 8:45 and thatha lost his temper. He started scolding. Asked him to move the vehicle. Hesitant customer (lets call him Mr. X for short) never cared and continued with the billing. Even the wardboys requested to move, he said, he is almost done with the billing and would take the car once its done.

Thatha started swearing bastards n bullshits on this person. Mr. X in his late thirtys or early fortys got enraged and counter sweared thatha though he was done with the billing. His mother intervened for no use. This went on for another 15 minutes. Rest were silent including me.

One of the stewardess came in between now, talking to Mr. X in Telugu to calm down and take his car. He never budged and asked support on his side rather moving his vehicle. Seems this thatha is also a teluguite. Now the conversation shifted to telugu from English (Sadly no Kannada)

9:15, still the truck was waiting for its parking place with these two quarelling with all swearings. Even the mother joined with Mr. X swearing 'Gudd mooskond pora' to thatha. Havoc...

Enough was enough. I was bored of watchin stuffs n wastin time watchin these stupids fight, I intervened, and asked X to move the vehicle instead of quarrelling. Though I was indifferent, (probably partially on behalf of thatha, as I was waiting for milk).

Now this thatha come over me, swearing that 'nobody has the guts to fight injustice! blah blah blah!!!' I ignored them while Mr. X pleaded me to explain the same to thatha. Thatha now turned his complete attention to me and started to blame my escapism. Again I ignored and came inside while X moved to move his vehicle.

As he was moving, this short tempered, lunatic thatha continued the swearings on X. Thank god, I was saved. Things didnt get over. X parked the vehicle some meters ahead, made way for the truck, came back and started quarrelling with thatha.

Bah!! 3-4 stewardesses came to the rescue of their supermarket, many people from streets barged in and somehow consoled them both. One of them scolded thatha and asked him to leave the premises after his purchase. He continued swearings ad infinitum and was gone in 5 minutes after getting milk.

Thats it of the tales.

At the end, what I wanted to say was that some of these elderly gentlemen are very very short tempered. I meet such creatures atleast once in a week. They just want everything their way and any small mistake enrages them to the peak. They dont care about the etiquettes, dignity and just want the opposite side to be tamed. What I suggest in such scenarios is to justify your stand once, if it is not welcomed, you better walk out or else, the whole day you'll be irritated by the fight...

Your comments please...

Another funny (ironic) tale from College.

Caution:

1. Intended to be taken in a lighter sense.

2. Those who know the characters here are asked to keep their mouth shut.

3. My intention is not to make fun of the people but to show you all the lighter part of it.

4. This post is the result of my blogging mood which was outa topics to write on.

Okay... Lemme describe it in short.

First semester of Engineering. As you all might know, mine was the first batch. We had no seniors. Guess it was the second month of the semester. I got down from the bus and was walking towards the college to find two of my batchmates (none from my stream) quarelling with each other. Both of them were from the same locality. We could see them quarrelling with their drafters... (as knives??)

Swearing was superfluous. All the ninn **** na k*** (you can substitute anything for those asterisks) I was wondering for their creative scoldings. Few of my batchmates went ahead, grabbed both of them and seperated them while they were angrily kickin each other.

On investigation, we found the reason why. Both of them were in love (aaaaah!!) with the same girl. To add onto the complexity, even she was from the same locality and was the classmate of one of the quareller. I'm not here to describe that girl but the general notion built on that girl was that she is a devil when it comes to looks though she was good academically.

Both of them didnt speak to each other for months. Things went cooler later on and they began talking to each other. May be they were still secretly admiring the girl??!! I dont know. I dunno whether the girl knew all this quarelling stuff. I was least bothered to know. Nothing serious happened after this till we finished college.

If it was just this, I wouldnt have blogged it. After all, why would I?

Gotto know some facts after my college and hence this post.

I had a collegue in my office who came from the same school as the girl in this story came from. I need not mention that he was also from the same locality. He claimed to be notorious in the class sometimes and had teased this girl for bossing over the classmates for no reason. He and his gang wanted to teach her a lesson and teased her to hell. They made her cry several times. Well again the notion about the girl's look was almost the same as we had in our college.

Someday we had discussed about his school and his classmates. We had a lot of friends in common who came out from that school. While we were talking about our friends, the topic of this girl came and he described the way they teased that girl. I mentioned about the way two of my batchmates quarreled to love the same girl. He was laughing for a long while listening to this. He was wondering who would want to love that devil(??).

Though he was kinda mischievious, he used to get news of all his classmates. One day he said that the girl is getting married. He was wondering who was that bakra? Though I guess he went to the marriage. I dunno whether these quarrellers knew about the marriage.

Things moved forward. My collegue joined another company. One of the quarrelers who was also the girl's classmate joined the same company. They used to commute from the same cab and got to know each other. After the initial phase of friendship, my ex-collegue got to know that latter was my batchmate. He started discussing about me, our college, the discussed incidents I had told him.

One day, this conversation took place:

Collegue: Hey maga! do you know that girl?

Batchmate: Yes. She was my classmate.

C: Maga! we used to tease her a lot in school. She was full of attitude. Full scope ತೊಗೊತಿದ್ದ್ಲು maga!

B: Oh! is it? hu maga! She had that attitude.

C: Matte lo, Sandesh was telling that two of your batchmates quarrelled just to love her. I dont know maga? ಆ ಮೂತಿನೂ ಲವ್ ಮಾಡ್ಬೇಕು ಅನ್ನ್ಸತ್ತೇನೋ? ನಂಗಂತೂ ನಗು ತಡಿಯಕ್ಕಾಗ್ಲಿಲ್ಲ ಅವನ್ ಹೇಳಿದ್ದ ಕೇಳಿ. (Does anyone feel live loving that creature? I couldnt stop laughing once he said that.)

B: (baffled) ಹು ಮಗ! ಅಂಥವರು ಇದ್ದರು ನಮ್ಮ ಕಾಲೇಜ್ ಅಲ್ಲಿ. (Yeah buddy! we had such studs in our college.)

After this conversation, both of them had called me. First was my ex-collegue.

C: ಮಗಾ! B ಸಿಕ್ಕಿದ್ದ. ಅವ್ನು ಈಗ ನಮ್ಮ ಕಂಪನಿ ಸೇರ್ಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದಾನೆ. (Dude! I had met B, he works for our company now)
Sandesh: ಹೌದಾ ಮಗ? ಒಳ್ಳೇದು. (Oh Is it? good.)
C: ನಿನ್ನ್ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಕಾಲೇಜ್ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಎಲ್ಲ ಮಾತಾಡ್ತಾ ಇದ್ದ್ವಿ. (we talked about you, your college n stuff)
Sandesh: ಲೋ, ಅಂದಹಾಗೆ ಅವ್ನೆ ಕಣೋ ಆ ಹುಡುಗಿ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಜಗಳ ಮಾಡ್ಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದು. (btw, he was the quarreler on that girl's issue)
C: ಹೌದಾ ಮಗ?ಲೋ, ಅವಳ್ ವಿಷಯ ಎಲ್ಲ ಮಾತಾಡಿ ಆ ಜಗಳ ಮಾಡಿದೊವ್ರ್ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಸರಿಯಾಗಿ ನಗಾಡಿದ್ವಲ್ಲೋ? (Shit man! Is it? I laughed like hell on that issue buddy!!)
.........

After another 15 minutes, B had called me pretending casual. He just told me that he was working with my ex-collegue. ranted for a while (I could sense, kinda self pity, guilty conciousness in his voice) He never spoke a word on that girl's issue episode.

I was laughing once he cut the call.

Things move further, B got married last year. But whenever I meet my ex-collegue and talk abt this incident, we would be laughing like hell.

That ends the irony.

Colored Pants and the Foreign Streets...

Had logged into blogger 2 hours back... Was feeling like blogging but no topic came to mind. Two or three random things turned up but none became concrete.

Just posted the day's links on my link blog, and logged off. Still my mind was revolving around a topic to blog out. Was listening to some trance later on, thought of blogging on it while it was time for our weekly Pooje. got downstairs to attend it. Once it was over, mother asked me to have dinner.

While I was having it, others were randomly browsing thru the channels on TV. On U2, our infamous 'Hey! Hey Paaro' was getting played. Though this song isnt directly connected to the topic, I thanked TV to lend me this interesting topic.



Before I start, I should tell you about the colored pants. It dates back to the dawn of eastman colored movies, especially the tamil ones (Some do include them till date). Thank god for Black n White movies, we couldnt notice the color.

Scenarios like deep orange pant and dark blue shirt, yellow shirt and pale green pant or be it pink shirt with blood red pant were pretty common. To add onto this, they had these bell bottomed pants as the trend. Be it a song sequence or a fighting scene, you could see the hero (sometimes the heroine as well) wearing them with their hands resting on their hips with their mouth wide open. It was total comedy.

Not that you couldnt find such combinations in Kannada movies, it was rare. may be 1 in 50 movies of the 70s.I've seen Rajkumar wearing some in some of his early movies, also Vishnu, Ambareesh and Srinath. May be 2-3 films in their career.

I saw these combinations on TV when there was no cable network. In those days where DD1 was the only channel, everyday of the week was reserved for 1 regional language songs to be telecasted. It was Thursday for Kannada, dont remember for other languages. But sometimes when we were playing in the hall, we used to see some songs of other languages... the NTRs, Chiranjeevi, MGRs, Rajanikanth, Vijayakanth who else, all could be seen wearing Blue shirt and Red pant with a green scarf... sometimes with a black hat. Goodness... Almost all the songs.

More of tamil songs I saw were in one of my Uncle's house. He was fond of Tamil movies (I still dunno why) and during my summer holidays, we used to stay in his house playing with my cousins. I was wondering who was the costume designer for such songs. Havent watched much of Hindi movies/songs. Can't comment on them.

After the 80's one hardly could see such color combos in Kannada movies. It was the time when the Nags, Kashinath ruled the KFI. Movies were sensible n entertaining too. Also, all movies of the big heads Rajkumar, Vishnuvardhan and Ambareesh had good script as always. 90s were again with Ravichandran, Shivarajkumar, Shashikumar... No traces of colored pants.

Since the 00's there started a bad trend of remaking Telugu/Tamil movies. Some were inspired (as per the directors/producers). Or atleast some movies based on rowdism had what they now call an ITEM song. A catchy number. In such scenarios, they were dressed in all possible combinations (again inspired by the T & T movies).

Initially all such songs were picturised within the country. Thanks to our 'American' Director Nagathihalli Chandrashekhar to set up the trend to shoot most of the movie scenes as well as songs abroad. Later a trend came up where songs were shot abroad. That was a marketing strategy where the posters had the tag, 'capturizing the scenic beauty of so and so country...'

Initially, the trend was to shoot some songs in a decent manner. Then came the worse. This went onto a level where all songs in a movie should be shooted abroad. Some heroes were/still are refusing to sign the deal if this scenario isnt met.

Thanks to TnT movies, we saw some tappangucchi numbers being shot abroad. The herd wearing lungies/petas with fishnet vests smoking beedis (watch Yuvaraja remake of a telugu movie Tammudu) I was dumbstruck watching that song. Worse was when they used the foreign artists in our local attire. It was SO funny.

Want something more worse? They performing in the busy foreign streets with tappangucchi and the public watchin them with their jaws wide open. You can see some of the foreigners laughin the the song itself. Tell me, what impression do they get of our country n culture?

They've visited almost all major countries. America, Australia, New Zealand, Most of Europe which includes Austria, Switzerland, UK, France, Venice, Italy what not?

I sometime see them dancing to the tunes with these colored pants. Damn it! Whose the choreographer? Doesnt he possess the least sense?

All current heroes are culprits here. Puneeth was afar from this but recently watched his 'Raam'. Look at this song, 'Hosa Gaana Bajaana', as a proof. Major culprits being Darshan, Upendra, Sudeep, Shivarajkumar, Auditya...

Let them perform the way they want in lonely streets/locations... Why on the busy roads?

We have a new face to the list, thanks that he hasnt performed in foreign streets but he has one or the other song with such color combination. He is Yogesh a.k.a Loose Maada. Atleast one song will be having weird costumes with songs modulated to machine like voice. Watch Jinke Marina, Maja Maja En Majano of Nanda <3 Nanditha, Chakkli Nippat thinnkandu of Ravana or Sarasooo of Ambaari to get a glimpse of it.

Who is supposed to be blamed for this shit? Collectively all. Most of the times, it is the producers who force the director to add atleast one such song to the movie. Sometimes its the directors fault and sometimes its the hero's fault.

Again, the final question I want to ask them is dont they get ashamed to act lunatically in the unknown crowd? Is it good for them to impart a false image onto the foreigner's brain?

Hope they think in this direction.