Pondering on Freedom...

It was another late night commute in the bus.

I boarded many transit buses n finally I got a bus directly to my destination.

I quickly boarded it, thankfully, I got a seat as well. Feeling happy, I sat and started reading a book as usual.

There happened to be a daily-wager from UP in the bus. I couldn't get the full context but the local people around him were trying to push him to a separate league. They were questioning his Benglur quotient and he seems to have an above average score to his experience. They were branding him intelligent.

These local people were trying to question him in Hindi (yes... irony...) n were very good at it. At the end, one of them said 'ಪರವಾಗಿಲ್ಲಪ್ಪ! ಇವನಿಗೆ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಗೊತ್ತು. ಯಾವ್ ಯಾವ್ ಸ್ಟಾಪು ಎಲ್ಲೆಲ್ಲಿದೆ ಅಂತ ಗೊತ್ತು. ಎಲ್ಲಿ ಏನ್ ಸಿಗತ್ತೆ ಅಂತ ಗೊತ್ತು. ಆದ್ರೆ ಕನ್ನಡ ಮಾತ್ರ ಗೊತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ. '.

This actually triggered various topics among them. It started from outsiders, and then they started cribbing about the lethargy of the locals and it reached the inflation and finally about the country politics... One man started cribbing that the country would've been better had it still been under the British till today... All these wicked, corrupt politicians are selling this glorious country for selfish motives. Bleh bleh bleh...

I, as always was silent reading the book but the disturbance made me close it. I alighted at my stop and started contemplating on the thoughts they were discussing.

One should notice that for him to express that 'this country would've been better had it still been in British rule' the right to express the same is obtained by the freedom what our forefathers fought for. Had they remained silent, this guy wouldn't have got an opportunity to even say those words. He would've been in jail had he said anything against the government.

Our generation doesn't know the value of actual freedom as it was known for those who really fought during freedom struggle. You'll know the value only when you lose it.

Also, if you're so concerned about the country, you would've elected the right candidates (if only... well, that's another story...) and not crib about after voting out the wrong candidate term after term. Yeah! I'm talking of Utopia.

Before this post turns preachy, I just want you to ponder over the above questions and  think about the real value of freedom.

My Experiment with vote - 2013

Its election time. The only time when YOU are of prime importance to the filthy rich, utterly corrupt politicians.

No matter how much we curse the politicians, I feel it is our right to vote rather to be indifferent to the system.

Without much blabber about changing the system, bringing awareness n other crap which never happens (yes, I'm too cynical) let me put down my experience of voting today for the Karnataka Assembly elections 2013.

Thanks to the election committee for arranging polls on a Sunday lest our companies would've made us to work on another Saturday.

Comparing the campaigns that were carried out late 80's n 90's this time (what we witnessed as kids), I must say the campaigning has become very dull this time. I vote in the Byatarayanapura assembly of Bangalore Urban division and I couldn't even name 3 three candidates who are contesting.


I see many campaigning on social networking sites as well, many claiming to be anti-corruption, don't know to what extent. By the end of campaigning period, all data I could collate were from the pamphlets distributed across the constituency promising wonderland to the voter.

I've cast my vote three times in the past and bad luck prevailed twice. Still it hasn't put me into a condition which would trigger me not to cast my vote.

Last evening, all of a sudden I felt the urge to cast my vote. The standing MLA/Councillor had dug out our road one and a half year ago planning to repair the same but not doing so. One and a half year isn't enough for these people to repair it. Who knows what they would've done if they were a part of Japanese Govt (which repaired out a road in 6 days which was damaged due to a 6.8 Richter scale earthquake)

I started grepping ceokarnataka.kar.nic.in site to check out the candidates who are eligible. Nobody stood out. Decided not to vote.

Got up early in the morning. 4AM. Got ready very early as if it is a festival. Took a book to read and dozed off another 2 hours.


My grandpa had expired this February and my dad is not in a position to vote as he his bed ridden. I thought of informing the same to the election officials in the booth. Took the death certificate of my grandpa and a doctor certificate for my dad along with the documents I needed to vote.

On the way, as every time, I was greeted by all people who would never even look at us on any other day screaming at me 'Sandesh, kaangress paksha, kai ge mata haakeepa', 'Sandesh, Kaangress avru enu maadilla, nimm beedi ella ekkutsbittiddare, ee sarti JDS ge mata haakbeku', 'Swamy, BJP ge mata haaki aayta??'. I just nodded at everyone affirmative just to get rid of them as usual.

Went to the polling booth, gave the docs and got the permission to vote. I also inquired about deleting the entry of my grandpa to which they said, it needs to be done at the BBMP office. I was like 'Come on, BBMP has issued a death certificate, shouldn't it be automatic to remove it from the electoral list? I didnt even ask about my dad's unavailability to vote.

Was very disappointed. Didnt inquire about not casting vote. Went to the EVM desk, selected the same candidate whom I voted last time, cast my vote and came back.

The politicians have brought our country to a state where making a difference is very difficult. Hoping things would be set right at least this time.

See you...

The #upcomingShivannaTitles story.

Well well well,

I'm not apologising for not writing anything for so long. Never in any of my blogs. Thats pointless.

I would just explain a short story that trended on twitter which un/fortunately started with me n buzz off.

On 27th of April, was again at office doing some pointless shit without a choice. Somehow I had tweeted about Maasti's version of Punyavantha (Being rich). It was just co-incidental to what I'm blurting out below.

I saw ppl tweet about a movie 'Punyavantha S/o Bhagyavantha'. Who else as  the hero? None other than our Shivanna aka Kannada da SRK i.e., Shiva Raj Kumar (Shivaputtuswamy to go by his birthname). If you are a Kannada film follower, you would know that Rajkumar acted in the movie 'Bhagyavantharu' with B Saroja Devi and also in 'Bhagyavantha' with Puneeth Rajkumar. I should say it the other way I guess. That was the inspiration(?) to it?


I am a big fan of his sensible movies. His earlier movies like Anand, Rathasaptami, Samyukta, OM, AK-47 etc but these days, he is coming up with some shitty movies on compulsion with some real-estate producers and some baseheaded directors of Gandhinagara. I guess its hightime he learns saying NO.

Looking at the title, I  just tweeted that in future he might come-up with something like 'Bangarada Manushyana maga Singaarada Manushya'.

Just tagged the above tweet with #upcomingShivannaTitles.

I got inspired myself with the above tweet and added another entry 'Devatha Manushyana maga Bhoogatha Manushya' after his prowess in all these underworld movies.

I got some feeble support from fellow tweeps (I prefer tweeters). They added a few more entries and I did the same.

It would have been the usual twitter trend story. Just that the trend I set was not followed.


I was tweeting titles modifying movies of Dr. Rajkumar accordingly to Shivanna. Till that evening there was a healthy trend of the same. There were a few who didnt get the trend but on knowing, they followed.

Now all the Shivanna haters started tweeting their hatred after sometime with more funnier/cocky titles which were in no relation to Rajkumar movie titles.

Many brought in Parwathamma, Bangarappa, Leelavathi, Vinodraj n all into the game.

It went on for a rage around Benglur or Karnataka for that matter. People started tweeting funny on this hashtag and I did enjoyed it. To be frank, I was a bit sorry for the tag to miss its trend.

This went on till two days and it was still trending. I feel happy for the tag coz I started it. (Naturally... Feel like boasting but no, not my nature)

I still respect Shivanna for his decent movies. May God give him a sane mind and the power to say NO to stupid producers.

I would end this post as a dedication to you know what '#upcomingShivannaTitles'

=)

An incident I don't wish to recollect

Had been to college today for the alumni meet today. Met many of my friends whom I interacted with. While having a chat with the close ones, they teased me on this incident. Thought of documenting the same. All my classmates know this.

It was the first semester.

We were in the chemistry cycle of which computer science, basic electronics, chemistry etc were the subjects. Everything was new. The college, the lecturers, the students. Everything. Ours was the first batch. We boast of the freedom we got for the same reason today.

Three months had passed. We were familiar with one and all. The zeal of new college was in each one of us. People can say that we were like one family. I could've described it better if I was a poet. Duh!! It was a startup college. (Ah! Thats me!)

There was this electronic class that day. I won't disclose the name of the lecturer. She was explaining some electronic component and its working.

To be frank, analog electronics never entered my brain. Still I'm not sure why a transistor behaves exactly opposite if you increase the voltage? (I'm just blabbering gibberish! I don't recollect even the doubt I had those days, though I can google n get it back. I'm lazy)

That was another typical electronics class wherein I tried to get the sense out of it but in vain. So I guess I started thinking on my own lines of things that interested me.

I don't know what I did after that but I guess, I smiled as the output of my thought process or someone around would've cracked a joke or I was indifferent to expressions.

The lecturer took it in the wrong sense and screamed in the class.

Lecturer: "Now Sandesh, mind yourself! Behave! Don't do that again or I shall take severe action on you"

Sandesh: "Me??? eh??"

Lecturer: "Don't act smart! I would throw you outa the class if you do that again!"

Sandesh: "Ma'am, but what did I do?"

Lecturer: "Shut up and STOP staring at me. If you do that again, mind you, things will not be right!!"

And she continued.

Till date, I still am not able to figure out what was her intent in acting that way! Me checking her out vulgarly? eh! come on! I wouldn't do that to any girl on this planet to the best of my knowledge.

I could draw up these reasons:

1. She could've really felt I was checking her out!

2. She saw someone doing that in the class and couldn't directly convey the same to them and I was the scapegoat she found. (Similar such incident happened with a different lecturer though)

Nothing happened after that. She continued with the class, I was startled for a moment and continued thinking on foolish things. She didn't complain to any one as any other lunatic did.

Thankfully, things were fine after that. Good thing is that even she forgot the incident and started to act as if nothing had happened that day, till the day she got married and said "Good Bye" to the college (must be in our fourth semester)

Thanks for reading my grief! Keep looking for the next post.

A post on the account of Independence Day.

Thanks for the cursing. I'm back with this post. I think I always begin my posts this way. Should change them from the next post. (Grrrrr! Its never ending)

Okay. Here is another post on Independence day. Here is another nostalgic incident I wrote on the account of Independence Day four years ago.

People who are loathsome the whole year, become alert in the second week of August just like Kannadigas get alerted on the first week of November. Independence strikes their mind like how a mouse gets alerted seeing a cat. Patriotism rises from all the molecules of their blood.

Politicians talk of the trio Gandhi, Nehru(?), Subhash Chandra Bose. How we gained Independence picking rare incidents from their history texts. Some of these Rang De Basanti patriots take the name of Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad & all the British branded extremists; Taking a void oath of re-iterating the drama to abolish today's political condition in India.

Poor kids (so called future citizens) are made to toil in schools with weird aerobics exercises to entertain the politicians and the chief guests. They're also made to hear the bi-anual patriotic speech of how Gandhi led the freedom struggle. How Subhash Chandra Bose formed the INA, etc of which many of the kids are in no mood to listen under the scorching sun.

Check out the parody, we snatch the independence of the kid and force them to attend the school (first half). I still see many preferring to be at home if not attracted by the sweet/confectionary distributed at the school.

For many of us, who passed through all this and are now working, we enjoy the holiday and never bother to think anything about the independence struggle. We'd rather bother discussing our office chores/ share market trends/ real estate ratings rather than discuss independence. Thats the liberty we get gaining the independence.

Again for some fraction of us who work for IT/MNCs we do not have a holiday and are forced to work. Some of the benovelent, do declare a holiday with a catch of getting paid in double if somebody supported the clients abroad during the holiday. People do get attracted for the extra money. (I'm not saying you should forcefully take a holiday on I-day, its your wish)

Some of us plan to go for an outing, getting embarassed by the beauty of nature not forgetting to describe the same to the collegues with a pinch of ego. Some of the married couple take this chance of a long weekend and head to their natives.

Some of the poor chaps who do not have an option, toil at their workplace. Many of them do not know about I-day, even if they know, they hardly care for it. Its not that their insulting it, they simply do not have an opinion about it.

Some of us who believe in Karma, are indifferent be it, I-day, any festival, their own B'days, anniversaries & what not? They just live their life as it is.

Sometimes I feel its a shame to have an independence day for the country but at times I'm glad we finally had one after all that happened through these years.

Even the freedom fighters would laugh at us celebrating this day if they know the reason.

Many of us post on social networking sites that we celebrate Valentines Day, Friendship day etc etc but why not Independence day? Well thats the state of the country today. Its with the generation. Can't really help it.

There are more amusing behaviors which I haven't listed too.

Again to quote myself ironically, all of this is the liberty we get with the independence we gained 64 years ago. This is the only reason why I can write such a post. Its again the bhikshe of the freedom fighters.

Sometimes I feel like

If you want to celebrate something, celebrate it every day, every hour, every minute, second, milli, micro, nano, femto.... any goddamn unit of time.

If you want to change this, you need to change it from the grassroot. Rather than preaching kids about independence, create interest in them regarding the same. Share stories of small incidents which would act as seeds of patriotism in them. Explain them what the real India is. They would be surely keen on listening to all of them. After you've sown the seed, you just need to provide them with the manure of more resources to learn like library/movies. They surely would cultivate patriotism within.

It would rapidly change the condition of the country. It might again reverse the brain drain and hola, we might again go back to the Golden era.

Do this and every kid would be eager to participate in the I-day celebrations. The future generations would also be eager.

You may feel I'm exaggerating (even I feel partially) but I feel atleast some part of it is true. It is worth a try.

Say what?

What all can you attach to a country?

Here goes an SMS I receive very frequently from many of my friends.

Wat s India?

"A nation wr pizza reaches faster den ambulance & police"

"wr u get car loan @ 8% but education loan @ 12%"

"wr rice is rs. 30 but sim card s free"

"wr people worship Goddess Durga but kill their girl child"

"wr olympic shooter wins gold, govt gives 3crore, another shooter dies der fighting wit terrorist govt pays 50000"

"rumors r spread faster dan wind".

Really, INCREDIBLE INDIA.

Hmm. Go through it once again if you want to.

I have many friends who religiously forward such messages as if it is the greatest truth on earth. Is it really the truth? Probably you've received an elaborated version of the same message.

Now lets discuss. Is India the only place where pizza is delivered faster than ambulance/police? Its the same case with any country. Take any metropolitan city. There are traffic problems and you tend to get late sometimes. You gotta plan if you seriously have to stick to a schedule. This rule will not hold good in rural areas where you can find ambulances but not pizza corners.

People do not know of the rules/clauses provided by government. The govt, atleast theoritically provides so many provisions for basic amenities and education. Though many say (even I partially agree with) thats only on paper & not on action, I recollect one of my friend working in a leading hospital, explaining me the clauses provided by government where common man can utilise in resolving his health anomalies. Many do not know such clauses exist. People need to be made aware of such things. I'm sure we have such clauses for almost all fields including education, administration etc.

Instead of taking example of some bank lending loans for cars n education, one simply can't invalidate these clauses.

Rice is costlier than sim card? Come on... Compare things which are comparable. Its again the same outside as well. SIM cards are one-time commodity (atleast not as frequent as rice) and has less significance than food which is recurring commodity. Note that through SIM card, they loot money by tariffs you pay frequently. I'm sure, many pay more than the rice you eat.

Worshipping Durga and killing girl child. This has some sense, but female infanticide also exists in gulf countries as well. One such incident happens outa 1000 and thanks to media in glorifying it. Not all people who worship Durga kill a girl. Stop attaching the country for this.

Olympic medallist getting more than a soldier? Compare the cricketers who are looting money when compared to the medallist. He'll look pale. All these are just food for media. Don't you know the benefits you get being a soldier? Allowances in almost everything under government. Dignity of serving the nation better. The discipline one gets being trained in armed forces. Don't forget the things you get in the so called Military Canteen? Just don't compare the lifetime benefits you get to one time award for a medallist.

Rumors spread faster than wind in almost all nations. It would be even faster in any country with huge population.

If you are a person who think 'The concept of countries, states, regions is bullshit. Its all in the people', I sometimes agree with you; The post ends here for you.

Taken for granted that you're not that kinda person mentioned above, Bharata (India) is one such country everyone should be proud of. Of course, every person of every country should be proud in that sense.

We've given the world so many things. Its not fair to degrade our country this way. It is also not fair to boast on the past and not doing anything which would take it forward. Think in those steps n contribute your bit in serving the nation.

PS: This is just another random post with no order. Its pure rant. Do not try linking any of the paragraphs. Might not make sense.

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.