Sometimes I wonder

Sometimes I wonder why life does this to us. I mean who stops us from doing stuff that we like. We keep living in a figment of imagination that one day (God knows when it will come) we will be able to do what we like doing. But that day never comes. And we keep on living in the same hope. Life goes on like this and one day we realize (say during retirement) that we could never fulfill our dreams.

There are so many constraints that stop us from leading our dream life. More often than not, there are money constraints. For example, many of us want to go on a world tour but we cannot, because of money constraints. Sometime there are social constraints.

I have noticed that most people are not happy with their jobs. They want to do something else or they wanted to become something else but due to the fact that we have to earn money we continue doing the same job. Why the heck we are bourn with so many constraints. Can’t life be just simple?

And then I remember these lines (how true) !!!!!

Kabhi kisi ko mukammal jahaan nahin milataa

Kahin zamin to kahin aasamaan nahin milataa

The great Indian emperor must be crying now!!!

About a month ago or so I went on trek to Sinhagar fort near Pune. I was so excited about the trek (as usual) because I had heard so much about the place. But I couldn’t make it to the fort in last five years. Well in retrospect, I must say that it was good that I didn’t go visit the place. WHY? Okay. Let me be sure that you are asking me why I think so? Please have a look at the following pictures.

But at the same time I am ashamed to share these pictures with you all. Shivaji Maharaj – a name every Indian feels proud to be associated with, one of the most clever emperors in Indian history – had never thought of this kind of treatment to his picture that too in his own territory. Well, I don’t want to exaggerate it any further. Just have a look and let me know your opinion about it.

Shivaji's picture surrounded by pile of garbage!

They couldn't find a better place to showcase the litter!

Just Jockeying!!!

There are so many ads by Jockey now a days. I personally like all of them. So I thought of creating one spoof on it. So here we go!!!

The cool guy with hot blood!

I loved reading about Vijendra Singh - the boxer who became popular after winning an Olympic medal this year. Here is very good write up on his life done by INDRANI RAJKHOWA BANERJEE from Times of India. Here we go!

A rugged village boy who rubs shoulders with the swish set and flirts with Bipasha Basu, Olympiad boxer Vijender Singh is aware he is an outsider. He is proud of his rustic roots and fights prejudices with charming confidence and a quiet dignity.

First things first. What do you look forward to when you set out to interview a hot-blooded Jat boxer? You would expect him to look you over and size you up mentally or probably greet you with a few colourful expletives... especially when the guy is a 24-year-old basking in newfound glory. But this one is different. He throws a disarming smile as his eyes meet your eyes and stay right there! That’s Vijender Singh Beniwal for you, India’s lone boxer to have won an Olympic medal.

He cannot speak English, and makes no bones about it. Can we talk in Hindi?, he asks coolly as we settle down with meethi chai in an air-conditioned hostel room, which he shares with fellow boxers Vijay and Ram Singh at Patiala’s National Sports Institute. Why stay in a hostel, now? “As a child I shared a room with my brother and five cousins. We were seven in a tiny room, and now we are just three!” Uncluttered and uncomplicated. Maybe, that’s what makes him a darling of the press. Or is it his rakish, rugged charm? “don’t know. People say I am more popular than Abhinav Bindra. It’s destiny that I was born into a humble bus driver’s family. Had I been pampered with trainers and dieticians, I wouldn’t be what I am today. I am an athlete of the soil, fed on a solid diet of bajre ki roti and bhains ka doodh . “ Vijender’s roots are rock solid.

His father still works for Haryana Roadways as a bus driver. “I’ve told him to take it easy, now that we have the money. But he says the day he stops working he’ll stop living. I remember when my father used to farm a small piece of land. I helped him by watering the crops. Those were memorable days. Tilling the soil with bare hands is joy in its purest form. I think that’s why farmers have a quiet dignity about them. “ This boy from a nondescript UP village called Kaluwas, along the Meham-Bhiwani road, hadn’t seen much of life or money till destiny catapulted him to overnight stardom. Today, his days are full. He jet-sets to Delhi and Mumbai every week for photo ops, endorsement deals and P3 parties, where he rubs shoulders with Bollywood stars and society babes. This six-feet-tall charmer has also walked the ramp for Rohit Bal.

He no longer has as much time to visit his folks as he would like, but he’s built them a house with all the modern trappings, including a generator that runs the desert coolers. He has set up a small-time property business for his brother, who was a havaldar in the Army. “It’s a solace that at least one of us is with my parents, “he says. There was a time when Vijender would pedal a few miles on a bicycle to watch his favourite heroines’ on TV. Today, he’s on TV with them! Other than conquering the boxing ring (he’s won another bronze in the Asian Championship in China), he’s making headlines for other conquests.

How does it feel to be linked with Bipasha Basu or to be on a show with Mallika Sherawat? “They are nice girls. People find them ‘hot’ because that’s what they are supposed to be. Their dedication to the body can only be matched by a sportsperson. I found Mallika a sensible, no-nonsense Jat girl. “ Would he like to take either of them home to mum? "I’m shy when it comes to girls. I get hot under the collar when women at parties comment on my toned body. There are times when I can sense them eyeing me lustfully, but my body is my temple. I worship it.

“ He schmoozes around with the swish cocktail set and with the same ease sits on the ground for a dal-roti dinner... is he the proverbial chameleon? “Life’s too shallow in the glam world. The pretences, the air-kissing, the back-stabbing... it’s surreal. But, I find it enticing at the same time.

“ He surely likes the attention? “A part of me wants all the fame but I’m myself in my own surroundings. Honestly, I’m doing what is required of me. If cricketers can glamorise their sport, earn millions from endorsement deals, cozy up with Bollywood stars, why can’t I? Boxers and athletes have been underdogs for long! “ His most memorable moment? “When I saw myself on TV. It was unbelievable. “This son of the soil still can’t get over the fact that his village watched the Olympic bouts on a single TV set in a specially rigged tent for the event! Is he scared of being swept off his feet by fame and success? And does he somewhere feel ashamed of his background? “How can I forget the taujis smoking their hookahs or those lanes through which Sonu Chail (childhood best-friend, who died a few years ago) and I ran after stealing mangoes? I wouldn’t exchange them for anything in the world. There’s no question of a chasm between me and my family. They don’t embarrass me. I’ve seen so much of city life in such a short time that their simplicity is my solace. “ In a world where fame has sucked many achievers into the quicksand of self-destruction and oblivion, Vijender’s steadfast ways and clarity of thought are refreshing.

A village boy at heart and a sleek social schmoozer, he straddles both boats with equal ease. Maybe, it’s his quiet dignity and zen-like calm, traits of a real boxer, which draw a Salman Khan to ask him for fitness tips. But, does he feel a misfit in hi-society, will he ever truly belong there? “don’t regret my background, my upbringing. I am what I am because of my circumstances. Where would the anger have come from if I had a sheltered upbringing? Without that fire in the belly, there would be no Vijender the boxer, right? “Right!

I bet you liked it...didn't you?

A memorable trek to Peb-Fort

I know this post is coming after a long time which is not a very good thing if one wants to survive in the blog-world. I learned my lesson and will try to update it more regularly.

Well, I am very happy to share this post with you all. We (my colleagues Deepika, Sumeet, Anagha and our boss Dr. Ranade - the famous five) went for a trek to Peb-fort last Sunday and had a whale of a time. First we were planning to go to Rajmachi, but finally we decided on Peb-fort. Since we were working on Saturday, we had only iklota Sunday for the trek. But we decided to sacrifice our cozy beds and set off for the trek. I got up at 4 am on Sunday morning (yeah you read it right!) and sent an SMS to the other four trekkers who were supposed to join me. We all boarded 5:41 a.m. Mumbai local from Dadar station. I was under the impression that the train will be empty on a Sunday morning and we can easily get on the train and the entire train will be ours. But here comes the Bombay-life-reality. When we reached Dadar station, it was completely packed. I was taken aback to see thousands of people at the station so early in the morning and that too on a Sunday morning. Anyway, when the Karjat train arrived, somehow we managed to barge in; but we all ended up in separate compartments. Later on all five of us could manage to be in the same compartment and got seats as well (so lucky!).

So we reached Neral station at around 8 a.m. and parked some sandwiches in our stomachs with cutting chai. After we were done with the eating, we started our journey straight to Peb fort. But here comes the best part of the trek; none of us were familiar with the way to the fort. So we had to explore our way.

All set to go!

These kids helped us find the right way!!

The Famous Five (...and a half)!!

It's just a beginning baby!!

Let's take some rest!!

We started climbing up. First we came across a small Jungle where some weird fat mosquitoes attacked on us as if they were having their Sunday brunch.We finally crossed that jungle and saw this beautiful Jharana (waterfall) and had some water from it. I bet it tasted thousand times better than the Bisleri water we drink everyday. (Aaaa...not exactly but it was quite okay, I mean I didn't fall sick after having it).We kept moving up and reached the top in about 2-1/2 hours.

Have some water please!!

Let me pose for the camera!!

Wow! What a scenic place!!

On Cloud 9!!

The view from the top was mind-blowing. We couldn’t believe our eyes. We had a quick lunch there, a photo session and then started our journey back to the Neral. But we couldn’t take the same way back because it was horribly difficult and scary to climb down. We then discovered a different and easier way to go down. (We took Matheran way to go back to Neral.

Wow! It's so beautiful!!

!!

!!

It's time to go back!!

After reaching the station we had cutting tea at the same shop. We boarded 3:51 fast local from Neral station and came back to Mumbai. After reaching home I had a bath in lukewarm water as suggested by my mom and went off to sleep only to get up next day morning. I had a very sound sleep that night. My maid woke me up next morning and I looked at the watch; it was 9:30 am. Shit! I hurled myself out of the bed as I had to reach office at 10 am. I quickly freshened up and slipped into formals and managed to reach office just on time. Thank God! Sitting in front of the computer I realized that each and every part of my body was aching badly. But I had a smile on my face. And I was thrilled to have such an amazing experience that left an indelible impression on my mind. And I know one thing that I can’t forget this trek ever.

Mumbai: Maya Ki Nagari

Getting charged by my previous post my friend Amit writes...

People live their lives in a dazzling way in the ‘Maya Nagri’ (Mumbai). Really ‘Maya Nagri’ is full of maya (money) under which influence people commit many kind of crimes to satiate their emotional and physical desires. Not only ordinary people but also the people from so called elite class such as Shiney Ahuja, an emerging star, do such heinous act of raping somebody.

Actually this incident indicates that man is social animal and 9 people out of ten behave like an animal when they get a chance and Shini Ahuja represents the majority of the men of India. It is the misfortune of this person that this case has come into limelight otherwise such type of numerable cases happen in every nock & corner of India. I think it may be a conspiracy to frame him but future will give the answer of every question.

As you have condemned the roll of media in your blog in this case I agree with you. Actually not only in this case but also in majority of the cases the media is giving undue hype and coverage with vulgarity and promiscuity to such types of incidents to achieve more T.R.P. I think media must understand its role and there be some rule and regulations to control media in order to make it more responsible and conducive towards society.

I hope you will continue to write your views about different incident on your blogspot I hope in your further posts you will also recommend some suggestions to amend the Indian society.

The Gangster behind the bar!

Headlines from the Tinsel town keep surprising people in this country. But the latest headline about Shiney Ahuja raping a 19-year old girl has shaken the entire country. People are finding it difficult to digest the fact that Shiney Ahuja, one of the most promising film actors who won ‘Filmfare Best Debut Award’ for Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi in 2006, will do such heinous act.

There are so many versions of the same story. Some say he is being framed. Others say he is a victim of blackmail by his maid and her boyfriend. According to Mumbai Police, Shiney Ahuja has accepted that he had consensual sex with his domestic help.

We don’t know whom to believe. We have no evidence of any sort. Still, the media has already declared him guilty and some funny animated tapes are being telecast by some news channel. And the language they have used is very cheap. I was shocked to see such a stupid act by that news channel. One can't see that with a family.

I am not defending Shiney at all. If he is found guilty by the court he should be given horrifying punishment to send a message to others that if you are a celebrity that doesn't mean that you can get away with anything. But the way these news channels are depicting the whole story, I personally don't admire that. If you have got some more thoughts on that please share.