Love you Mumbai!!




The horrific 60 hour drama, during which Mumbai city was held hostage is finally over and the people can heave a sigh of relief. But, at what Cost?

Having lived in Mumbai for the past 26 years, my heart bleeds to see the TAJ being destroyed so blatantly. The grenade launcher used at TAJ shows how critical the mission was.I was and am still proud of being a Mumbaikar not just because of its financial powress, but Mumbai is a place that offered its citizen a way to lead their own life, a place that is most secure for women, and a place where every individual irrespective of their nationality, religion was welcomed with open arms. Mumbai disappointed nobody. And to see such a City being brought down to its knees is really heart breaking. The indomitable spirit of Mumbai is broken. The city has always bounced back after every incident that has threatened it, may it be the 93 blast, the train blast in 2006, blast outside the Gateway or the flood situation. But today the scenario is different. Its so, unlike Mumbai.



The siege is over thanks to our brave officers in Uniform. We lost many of our finest personnel, who laid down their lives in the line of duty. I salute their spirit and their heroism. The reactions of the people can be gauged from the scenario, we saw in Nariman House, where the people hailed the NSG commandoes. The Officers in Uniform are our real Heroes, our saviours. The only thing that we can do, so that, their sacrifice doesn’t go in vain, is to take every effort to ensure that such incidents are not repeated.

But truly speaking, I fear that even this incident will soon fade away and people will go on their task as usual. Politicians will use this incident to their benefit. We have already seen it happening. I hope that better sense prevails upon them so that instead of dividing us, on the basis of religion or language, let them come together, at least for the sake of our country.
Since the attack on Mumbai this time has also affected the high profile sections of the country, hopefully some actions will be taken, I really pray that this doesn’t go as the 93 blast case , where the trial are still going on, and we still don’t have a definite result. At least for the sake of all the innocent people who lost their lives, let’s pray that we get to the root of it.


I know that Mumbai will bounce back again and it will be business as usual but this incident has left a permanent scar on the hearts of every mumbaikar.

(UN)Reality shows



Reality shows are currently the flavour of the television industry.
Let it be dance shows, singing or peeping into the personal life of a celebrity, the Indian television industry is ready for it. It started off with Indian idol part 1.
Even I was seriously hooked into the television set, rooting for Rahul Vaidya.. 
Then as the episode came to the end, the program lost its initial charm. It has started off as something that we common people can relate to but then it changed its format to adjust itself to the TRP business of the television industry and there I stopped watching it..
Nowadays all reality shows are mixed with unwanted emotions, dramas that it’s so clear that everything is made up. The celebrities cry for the stupidest and the silliest of the reasons. And with that, I feel it has lost its bonding with the common man.
Now there is nothing that the normal middle class people can relate to. We obviously watch the celebrity dancing on screen so what the heck in watching them in different shows. Also the dances in such shows, and the dresses worn are such that, you cannot enjoy them watching with your family around.
And the worst thing that I dislike about such shows is when they say that “pure Hindustan ke log, dil tame baithe hai “,.. Oh my God, that’s exactly how the anchors put it. The country’s name is dragged into, after each and every statement the anchors make before announcing the results.
This is something that I personally feel shouldn’t be used or said.
There is no need to say “Hindustan, the whole of India or something like that.
It’s just a TV show and not even 25 % of the population of India will be watching such program. Where does the poor people have time after a day’s work to watch TV, there is still a large chunk of Indian population where the TV sets haven’t found their way into their homes.
So putting it across as something that all Indians are hooked into, is absolutely wrong. I am not trying to be very patriotic or trying to be too rigid, but still when you take the name of the country , I feel it should be for more proper reason and a proper cause and it should do justice to it.
Taking country’s name alongside such dance shows, is really insulting..

HATS OFF TO U!!!- SWEETHEART!!!



This is the blog that I am writing for my sweet little angel, my younger brother.
He is going to scream out saying I M NOT A KID, on reading this.
Well, true enough, since you cannot call a 21 year old guy a kid anymore.
I m writing this because his B.E. results are out, and he has passed with flying colours. His certificate says B.E. with DISTINCTION!!!!
This is really a thing to be proud of. I know it by experience, getting a distinction in engineering and that too from Mumbai University is really a thing to be boasted about!!! Not everyone can do that!!! I agree that there would be quite a worthwhile people who must have secured distinction, but then still I will say, the thing that he has achieved is something to be counted as unique. Let me put it like this>

How many of the engineering students can boast of a distinction (Mumbai university – this is just for Mumbai university) along with a inter-collegiate first prize in Dance competition, prize in dramas, awards for cricket team adventure sports like Rappling, and finally have a huge fan following. I guess this narrows down the number a lot. This is whom you call an all-rounder I guess!!

Knowing him since the time he is born, even I don’t recollect much of my childhood days, but have just some sort of memories here and there. Well, no doubt there was a bit of jealousy in mind, when I used to see people pampering him instead of me.
But, when did my affection for him overrode my jealousy, I don’t recollect. All that I remember is that we had a great childhood.
We are more like buddies, we talk about every topic under the sun, and nothing is hidden amongst us. It can be either something funny about his college or more mature topics like relationships! He is the one, who is always there on my side and whom I can count on at all times to come by. A true scorpion, is he, has a good lot of memory about things when people have said something bad about him. A hard working person, determined, and very person. As he now begins a new phase in his life , leaving away from the safe cocoon of home and college, ready to face the harsh realities of life, I wish him all the best.

A few lines for you bro,

Wishing that success be your constant companion everywhere
Let love and happiness always be on your side
Fill your mind always with thoughts pure and clear
And may your fame spread far and wide.

It is important to work hard
But necessary to work smart
Learn to give, listen and understand
But at the same time be firm and fair.

Life will treat u with many twists and turn
It would be too harsh and you might get your fingers burn
Learn from your mistakes and stick to your goal.
A failure sometimes will only strengthen you.

The last lines doesn’t seem to go well, nyways , ALL THE BEST FOR YOUR FUTURE!!

SPIRIT OF MUMBAIKARS!!!!!!!!--BUT WE 2 ARE HUMANS!!


The spirit of Mumbaikars, this is the constant term that has been said time and again whenever the city of Mumbai has faced any tragedy!!! The newspaper and media have always reported that how after a tragedy Mumbaikars always seem to go about their routine. They praise the strength and the resilience of the people. But frankly speaking, it’s just the survival instinct of ours that make us go about our work as if nothing has happened. We are not as strong as we are made to be. We are as fragile and weak in our hearts as our foreign counterparts. When we leave home, we very well know that anything can happen to us. The city that we live in is always ready to burst. We live on a day to day basis, with no idea about what will happen tomorrow. The reason that we are back the next day, is not, because of our never-say die spirit but because we are forced to do that. People come out from the safe shelter of their homes to earn their daily bread. There are scores of thousands of people in Mumbai who are daily wage earner; One day of absence will result in more than one empty stomach. Who will want to do this to his/her family? That is why, people are out on streets. Each and every minute is important to survive here. If you aren’t present then, there are thousands behind you to snatch your opportunity. Situations like this have taught mumbaikars to take any things in their stride as if it is destined on them. Never will this question be asked: WHY ONLY MUMBAI!!!

It is this understanding that makes Mumbaikars come forward to help others, because they very well know that tomorrow it will be they themselves who will be at the receiving end. This feeling of empathy makes mumbaikars help complete strangers.
The last year flood, the bomblast that has happening around since 2003, the recent downpour and yesterday’s blast are just some evidences.

Here in Mumbai, we have learnt not to have any expectations from anyone. After any incident, blames are just passed around with nobody willing to rectify the situation. An enquiry committee will be setup, some reports written and the thing is forgotten unless another tragedy strikes. A bitter proof of this is, that no verdict has been given and no persons punished for the gruesome blast of March 1992. The case is still on with the criminals at large. This just indicates how Mumbai is taken for a ride by the anti-social elements. The victims are easily forgotten by everyone finally it’s just the fight for survival. One who has the will and the strength to endure this emerges the winner.

As everyone, even we wants to lead a peaceful life, a life that is devoid of such tensions, but since the people in Mumbai are torn between the politicians and the mafia, such things remains a Dream!!!

FOR the people TO AGAINST the People.

In our school days, the Civics teacher used to teach us that Republic mean for the people, by the people and to the people. Looking at the action of the present government, I m doubting this.
The way the Government passed the bill on Wednesday evening for 27 % OBC reservation when the common people are out in the streets protesting the action- is really an action that can be termed only as back-stabbing. Without meeting any of the students, or the protest groups or giving any assurance, how can the government do this? Is this Democracy??? I

On the comments expressed by the Vatican , I just have this to say, that we have got one more power house on top of our Supreme Court i.e POPE.

OPEN MINDS BUT RESERVED POLITICIANS




For a long time, I suppressed myself not to write on this topic, because this is something which is a never ending debate. But the recent actions of the government have forced me to write on it.
The atrocities that happened in Mumbai, why was it necessary? Those were students who were just protesting and they were not at all violent. But the way the police hit them, was cruel. Is this the way the government treats the future? What’s the difference then, between the treatment meted out to a criminal and a student? If the Government thinks that protesting is against the law, then they should remember that strikes, protests were one of the main reasons for India’s Independence.
Coming back to the main issue i.e. reservation. I really wonder what prompted the government to take up this issue right now. There are so many other important things that the country is facing currently, instead of focusing on it, the government is simply trying to mislead the people. Presently there is 50 % reservation. The government wants to increase it further. I don’t understand why it is biased to Open Category students?
I really feel bad differentiating between Open and Reserved category. As kids we are taught to treat everyone equal. But, later on as we grow up, we realise that’s not the truth. This is not what we expect from a democratic country like India. Why don’t we look at Nepal- our neighbour? Nepal is the only Hindu country in the whole world. They follow Hindu religion, but there is no caste system. The caste system that existed was abolished in 1960. In the eyes of law, everyone is equal; there is no reservation for education. Then why even after 59 years of Independence we are still hanging onto reservations.

It’s high time that we really look into the main issue. The main issue is not of how much percentage of seats should be reserved for the backward category, but the issue is do we really need Reservation? Why don’t we treat everyone equal? If we want India to progress, then the caste system needs to be abolished. Let there by financial reservations. Let the Government, Society help people who are financially backward to come up by providing them help, but let us not distinguish people based on their birth.

I am not against Reserved Category. In today’s society, everyone thinks the same way then why we should distinguish among ourselves. We don’t distinguish between caste/religion when we make friends nor we do when we fall in love, then why we need Reservation.
More than 70% of people will be against reservations, but whom do we go to. Where do we voice our opinions? Even if we think likewise, who has the time to work on it? Well, then why don’t I make a start? But I have very limited power. / When it comes to challenging the entire political system, I know where I stand. What we require today is a leader who is ready to take up this issue, but ALAS, politics doesn’t have any good leader left! Well this further strengthens my resolve to give my IAS exams.