I generally read The Times of India and swear by NDTV. I know all CAT aspirants would run for Hindu,, but who cares. So once again, this post is about a byte from last week's TOI.
Their front page ran an article about CM of Delhi, Smt Shila Dixit "praying" that the deadlines for the common wealth games be met.
Seven of the ten projects have been lagging behing schedule. Thousands of crores of rupees have been pumped in and now in Chetan Bhagat style, she wants God to intervene.
I have a lot of respect for Ms Dixit. We have a commmon Alma matar. I admire her zeal and passion for Delhi. But what I fail to understand is her team's lack of foresightedness.
Delhi's face has changed for better over the last decade. CNG, wide roads, fly overs, metro and a swanky new fleet of low floor buses. But ambition can be a virtue and a vice. Simply put, we cant have the common wealth games. The Yamuna is now drain, city has a severe water and power shortage, the BRT went wrong, and there is bit too much of construction activity everywhere.
This goes hand in hand with the increasing babu dome and crime rate in the city. Trees cut for construction add to polution. There is lack of proper infrastructure for the games. Too much in too little time. The logistics are horribly wrong. The last time, Delhi had the Asiad Games was when the polulation was one tenth of what it was today.
So now, when all fails, she wants God to help to save face in front of the international media. My sincere request to madam would be try other means to gain eyeballs. I laud you for your efforts but alas do not bite more than you can chew. You have done a good job, but alas its time to head for the temple now.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
School house rock
I just got over with a group meeting here. It was a nice feeling. Its amazing, how we humans learn. A few months back, I was scared to even enter the lab, but times and things change.
I have like five days of vacation now. This time reminds me of my school days. Sorry, for all of you who know me, are probably fed up of hearing about these stories. But schooling in Delhi and growing up was a different expereince all together.
Here are some nuggets of "growing up stories" from the 90s in the capital.
1. Food and refreshments at the interschool meets were more important than the debate or drama competition. Of course, it came second to meeeting cute people of the opposite sex.
2. Birthday parties would have the mandatory "passing the parcel" and musical chair games. Gifts would generally be scrabble, brainvita, geometry boxes and puzzles. With time, scrabbles would be passed on like chinese whispers as you had too many of your own.
3. Somepeople would be really mean to give you study books on your birthday. I was given "Das and Mukherjee, Calculus", I still at times hate the giver.
4. All vacationss would always be followed by exams. You had the unit tests after the summer, half yearlys after Diwali or Dusshera and the horrid pre boards after your christmas break.
5. Evenings would be playing (not tuitions like now) followed by watching "Small Wonder" and "Doogie Howser"
6. This one is exclusive for FAS: Manektala selling oily burgers and hotdogs for ten rupees at the canteen. You would still eat that because your home tiffin wwould be over before the first period ended.
7. Holiday homework would always be bizarre and you would generally finish it in the last night of the vacationss or even better on the morning of the first day of school.
8. Slam books filled every year after exams, where the crushes would change from Mr X to Mr X's best freind.
9. School picnics in middle school would be limited to Lodhi gardens and Childrens' park and Rail museum.
10. Your years in high school would revolve in planning what Sari to be worn on teacher's day and the farewell.
I have like five days of vacation now. This time reminds me of my school days. Sorry, for all of you who know me, are probably fed up of hearing about these stories. But schooling in Delhi and growing up was a different expereince all together.
Here are some nuggets of "growing up stories" from the 90s in the capital.
1. Food and refreshments at the interschool meets were more important than the debate or drama competition. Of course, it came second to meeeting cute people of the opposite sex.
2. Birthday parties would have the mandatory "passing the parcel" and musical chair games. Gifts would generally be scrabble, brainvita, geometry boxes and puzzles. With time, scrabbles would be passed on like chinese whispers as you had too many of your own.
3. Somepeople would be really mean to give you study books on your birthday. I was given "Das and Mukherjee, Calculus", I still at times hate the giver.
4. All vacationss would always be followed by exams. You had the unit tests after the summer, half yearlys after Diwali or Dusshera and the horrid pre boards after your christmas break.
5. Evenings would be playing (not tuitions like now) followed by watching "Small Wonder" and "Doogie Howser"
6. This one is exclusive for FAS: Manektala selling oily burgers and hotdogs for ten rupees at the canteen. You would still eat that because your home tiffin wwould be over before the first period ended.
7. Holiday homework would always be bizarre and you would generally finish it in the last night of the vacationss or even better on the morning of the first day of school.
8. Slam books filled every year after exams, where the crushes would change from Mr X to Mr X's best freind.
9. School picnics in middle school would be limited to Lodhi gardens and Childrens' park and Rail museum.
10. Your years in high school would revolve in planning what Sari to be worn on teacher's day and the farewell.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Probashi bengali
Well, once I begin, I cant stop. Blame Grad school ( see post below) to get me addicted to writing again.
It was just three weeks here in Columbus, and I had the opportunity to go to a Durga Puja. When you are miles away from home, ocassions like this help you a lot. So enthusiastically, I tagged along. Sincere thanks to all seniors who oragnised the rides and all.
I decked up and then the series of shocks began for both parties. That is me (now referred as SD), and all the other bengalis, namely people from Calcutta (I am old fashioned, I like Calcutta as compared to Kolkata), from here on referred as CB.
With due respect to all people, CBs dont yet know probashis.
The first thing that a nice warm lady asked me was how could my Bangla diction be so correct.
Other questions through the course of the day and through the course of the next quarter ranged from "You actually eat fish?, Have you heard of Tagore or Ray?, Do you know streets of Kolkata?, Do you the rituals of poojas?" etc etc.
Well, I am flattered and and shocked at the same time. Thank you people for your compliments on my Bangla. But here are some things you should know about Probashi Bengalis. I shall vouch for the Delhi brigade, but also have high hopes from my Mumbai and Bengaluru counterparts.
So lets begin
1. All probashis can speak bangla, probably read and write as well (I am working on the latter). Thier diction is good too.
2. We are equally good at having a debate on "ghotis vs bangal"
3. Our Pujas rock. The dhaak, the bhog, the taal, the arati, the cultural programs, the sindoor khela are all there.
4. Our girls (and boys) can sing Rabindra Sangeet, sometimes better than Kolkata's generation Y, I am up for a dual anytime.
5. We do get some great fish here, and we can cook fish too. All the parts of the fish are eaten, the tail, the head and the bones
6. We too like gossip and adda, over phuchka and rolls which again are available over here.
7. We too live to eat sweets and everything (yes, everything) is available in this part of the country as well
8. We too love cricket and strikes. But sadly , Delhi doesnt have strikes. In Rome, do as the Romans do.
9. Weddings here are indeed a big affair, and the single most important thing in a wedding is the food, which at times is a bigger crowd puller than the bride and the groom.
10. Finally, most of us go to Calcutta atleast once a year, to shop for the best taangail saris, jute bags and meet near and dear ones. So we do know those streets.
It was just three weeks here in Columbus, and I had the opportunity to go to a Durga Puja. When you are miles away from home, ocassions like this help you a lot. So enthusiastically, I tagged along. Sincere thanks to all seniors who oragnised the rides and all.
I decked up and then the series of shocks began for both parties. That is me (now referred as SD), and all the other bengalis, namely people from Calcutta (I am old fashioned, I like Calcutta as compared to Kolkata), from here on referred as CB.
With due respect to all people, CBs dont yet know probashis.
The first thing that a nice warm lady asked me was how could my Bangla diction be so correct.
Other questions through the course of the day and through the course of the next quarter ranged from "You actually eat fish?, Have you heard of Tagore or Ray?, Do you know streets of Kolkata?, Do you the rituals of poojas?" etc etc.
Well, I am flattered and and shocked at the same time. Thank you people for your compliments on my Bangla. But here are some things you should know about Probashi Bengalis. I shall vouch for the Delhi brigade, but also have high hopes from my Mumbai and Bengaluru counterparts.
So lets begin
1. All probashis can speak bangla, probably read and write as well (I am working on the latter). Thier diction is good too.
2. We are equally good at having a debate on "ghotis vs bangal"
3. Our Pujas rock. The dhaak, the bhog, the taal, the arati, the cultural programs, the sindoor khela are all there.
4. Our girls (and boys) can sing Rabindra Sangeet, sometimes better than Kolkata's generation Y, I am up for a dual anytime.
5. We do get some great fish here, and we can cook fish too. All the parts of the fish are eaten, the tail, the head and the bones
6. We too like gossip and adda, over phuchka and rolls which again are available over here.
7. We too live to eat sweets and everything (yes, everything) is available in this part of the country as well
8. We too love cricket and strikes. But sadly , Delhi doesnt have strikes. In Rome, do as the Romans do.
9. Weddings here are indeed a big affair, and the single most important thing in a wedding is the food, which at times is a bigger crowd puller than the bride and the groom.
10. Finally, most of us go to Calcutta atleast once a year, to shop for the best taangail saris, jute bags and meet near and dear ones. So we do know those streets.
Right to life?
Two days back, The Times of India ran an article about a rape victim in a vegetative state be allowed to die. The esteemed courts gave the order after much dilemna and with persistant appeals from lawyers.
Sceptics would cry that the courts have no right to play god. I beg to differ. The lady in question has been in this stage for the past three decades. She was disowned by her family, has no freinds or visitors. She is being force fed enough to keep her alive. Is she feeling the pain? Who knows? Bacause she just cannot speak up.
For a change, I cry for death, for the victim. Human beings can endure suffering to no end if they abondon dignity, but to what extent?
My appeal to all who donot support euthanasia would be to look at the victim for a second. Would they be able to live a life like that?
Sceptics would cry that the courts have no right to play god. I beg to differ. The lady in question has been in this stage for the past three decades. She was disowned by her family, has no freinds or visitors. She is being force fed enough to keep her alive. Is she feeling the pain? Who knows? Bacause she just cannot speak up.
For a change, I cry for death, for the victim. Human beings can endure suffering to no end if they abondon dignity, but to what extent?
My appeal to all who donot support euthanasia would be to look at the victim for a second. Would they be able to live a life like that?
Grad school
Well, people have read my work everywhere, magazines in school, college but never here.....but now with ample time to kill, blogging has got to me as well.
I always thought of writing something profound (blah!) but alas when you are sleepy, your brain will not work. These days, (well almost all the time actually), I am perenially sleepy.
I joined OSU a while ago, it was like a dream. Something that I had worked for many years....you know, like being a hot shot researcher (laugh laugh).
Graduate school...the very word on colourful university brochures, GRE guides and countless other spaces worth mentioning (some Not worth mentioning for the sake of pure sanity).. evokes different emotions for different people.
Here is my list of ten things that make up graduate school.
1. Your parties will have discussions on "what course are you teaching, who is the cutest undergrad, my adviser asked me, I have graded 50 answersheets etc"
2. There will be four things in your life a. Apartment b. Department c. Adviser d. Budweiser
I am onto the first three now.
3. The big award in grad school is not world cup, or any cup for that matter, its Candidacy. Having said that, I congratulate all people around me who passed thiers in recent times ( this was the first thing that I had heard, when I was here, coz I was in a household, which had not one but two folks preparing for thiers, be rest assured, they have passed, even with my presence in thier lives).
4. PHD comics is the best literature available
5. Wherever you see a line, a crowd of students, join in, cent percent, there is free food.
6. I am not sure, if you will graduate, but your cullinary skills shall greatly improve. First it will be out of compulsion , coz you shall be fed up of eating out, then it shall be to spare your taste buds of eating nonsense that you have made. With time you will learn and yes in my case, enjoy it as well.
7. You will be addicted to the internet. No matter what. Your laptop will become the sole source of entertainment.
8. You will watch bollywood movies, no matter how crappy they are.
9. Trips to grocery store will serve as additional entertainment.
10. You will be angry and jealous of people who get to go home every year.
I always thought of writing something profound (blah!) but alas when you are sleepy, your brain will not work. These days, (well almost all the time actually), I am perenially sleepy.
I joined OSU a while ago, it was like a dream. Something that I had worked for many years....you know, like being a hot shot researcher (laugh laugh).
Graduate school...the very word on colourful university brochures, GRE guides and countless other spaces worth mentioning (some Not worth mentioning for the sake of pure sanity).. evokes different emotions for different people.
Here is my list of ten things that make up graduate school.
1. Your parties will have discussions on "what course are you teaching, who is the cutest undergrad, my adviser asked me, I have graded 50 answersheets etc"
2. There will be four things in your life a. Apartment b. Department c. Adviser d. Budweiser
I am onto the first three now.
3. The big award in grad school is not world cup, or any cup for that matter, its Candidacy. Having said that, I congratulate all people around me who passed thiers in recent times ( this was the first thing that I had heard, when I was here, coz I was in a household, which had not one but two folks preparing for thiers, be rest assured, they have passed, even with my presence in thier lives).
4. PHD comics is the best literature available
5. Wherever you see a line, a crowd of students, join in, cent percent, there is free food.
6. I am not sure, if you will graduate, but your cullinary skills shall greatly improve. First it will be out of compulsion , coz you shall be fed up of eating out, then it shall be to spare your taste buds of eating nonsense that you have made. With time you will learn and yes in my case, enjoy it as well.
7. You will be addicted to the internet. No matter what. Your laptop will become the sole source of entertainment.
8. You will watch bollywood movies, no matter how crappy they are.
9. Trips to grocery store will serve as additional entertainment.
10. You will be angry and jealous of people who get to go home every year.
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