Procrastination.

Some days are lucky, and some days are like a ride over Atlantic with lot of turbulence in the air. Right when you are enjoying the picturesque blue water of ocean, you hear the announcement over PA about the presence of turbulence. The very moment of luxury becomes a frightening comfort. In the above case you can hardly find a solution to nullify the nature’s act. But there are some circumstances where we can definitely avoid some uneventful moments, but there lies our laziness which constantly backs us up in letting us down and throwing us into unwanted doldrums.

That day I was driving to DMV (dept of Motor Vehicle) to renew my driving license as its expiration was due in one more day. I knew when it would expire, but I waited till the penultimate day to move the things forward. The drive was fine and I parked the car in the lot and just when I was about to get out of the car, I saw a cop standing right at the back of my car with lights flashing on his car. I was perplexed, as I drove obeying the traffic rules. He came up to me and asked for driver’s license and registration, explaining the problem as the expiration of number plate. I was unaware of that. He asked me if I had received any notice from the DMV regarding the renewal of number plate. I said ‘NO’, but deep down I was yelling at myself on my ignorance at the mail from DMV, which I had been avoiding as an error from DMV. Then he glanced my driver’s license and reminded me the expiration date of it. I told him I was there to take care of renewal of license. In the meanwhile cop tried to get a peek on state inspection tag, and he couldn’t believe what he saw. Believe me I was embarrassed to the core. My inspection tag was also expired and expired long back, a year before, to be exact. I am sure that cop was surprised at my freedom with which I had been driving all this time, all over the places. He had no words of sympathy. I had no excuses, and even I stopped to thinking of excuses. I knew there was no escape out. I knew this day would come, but I was always carried by my sluggishness, negligence. The cop, who got tired of my listlessness, issued a citation and reiterated the deadline quite a few times. After that grueling session with cop, I rushed into DMV as it was at the verge of closing. I hurried to the counter and submitted the license and much to my disappointment, I was asked to pay the renewal fee in cash, which I was unaware of, again, and it was exasperating to hear SORRY from the person behind the counter. It was like rubbing salts on my wounds. I was confounded, distressed. Just then I felt I learned lesson of being lazy.

Today, I paid the fine, cleared the ticket. It needed a big check to flush the negligence. And again, I thought, I learned the lesson, but not really, coz I paid the ticket, as I had to pay it today, as it was the last day before I get summoned from court.

(I know, couple of my friends will be furious to learn this fact, but believe me, I am trying my best to get out of this trauma. It is not a habit, it is just a result of lack of motivation.)

Rich Povery

The recent survey by planning commission shows that, in 2004-2005, 27.5% of the population of India are living under the poverty line, which is which is significant development considering to the number of 36% in 1993-1994. According to the numbers, one out of every four persons is poor. How did they come to this conclusion? What exactly is Poverty line? What's the basis for the calculation? Let’s try digging into the details.

The Poverty threshold, or Poverty line, is the minimum level of income deemed necessary to achieve an adequate standard of living, which includes food, shelter, clothes, education, medical, vacation and savings. The definition of the poverty line by National Sample Survey organization (NSSO) is quiet different, in fact unbelievable (or should I say disbelievable). The official estimates of the poverty line are based on calorie norm of 2400 per capita per day for rural areas and 2100 per capita per day for urban areas. The poverty line is decided on the basis of the amount of food consumed by a person every day (per Capita per Diem), I mean just on the basis of food.

In the '70s, when our governments first began using this definition, the monthly cost of the "basket of food" required to supply the stated nutritional levels was calculated to be Rs 62 in rural areas, and Rs 71 in urban areas. With inflation, those numbers rose to Rs 328 and Rs 454 respectively, by the year 2000. Considering the inflation, in 2004, if you lived in an Indian city and you earned more than Rs 540 a month, you were considered above the poverty level. Remember again that, this figure is the estimated cost of that basket of food on which you spend all your money. We are not talking here about the money required to spend on shelter, clothing, transport and other amenities. So what we are saying is that if your total earnings amounted to more than Rs 540 a month, you were not considered poor. /*We are saying that if you earned, let's say, Rs 600 a month, out of which you paid Rs 540 for food, you were not considered poor. */ And it is by this calculation that we estimate that 26 per cent of India is below the poverty line; that we are pleased that that number has declined from 36 to 26.

But World Bank's definition of poverty line, for underdeveloped countries like India, is US$ 1 per day, per person in other words, $365/year/person, which is more than double the poverty line defined by Government of India.

My concern is not about the amount or the numbers. The disheartening thing is the fact that the Govt of India is hiding the numbers to fit the country in the developing curve. Unfortunately, the truth is far behind the projection or presentation. We are jumbling the numbers to hide our poverty, our scarcity, our deficiency. What are we going to fetch with this false impression of development? Why is the government forcing the people to live in delusional growth? I believe the very definition of poverty line by Govt of India should be changed to a meaningful one. The definition should take into account, all the expenses of adequate living requirements rather than just a basket of food which can sustain mere survival but not a decent livelihood. The rich future of India can be achieved only when we acknowledge and understand our poverty level and strive to get out of the cobweb of dearth.

(For more info, http://www.indiatogether.org/2006/mar/ddz-povline.htm)

నిరీక్షణ..

చీకటి ముసిరిన నా కళ్ళకు నిన్ను చూడాలని

మూగబోయిన నా గొంతుకు నీ పేరు పలకాలని

చచ్చుబడ్డ నా కాళ్ళకు నీ నీడ వైపు నడవాలని

స్థంభించిన నా ఎదలయలో నీ రూపం కొలువవ్వాలని

అలలవంటి నా కలలకు నీ కన్నులు తీరం అవ్వాలని

నిస్తేజమైన నాకు నీ ఊపిరి ఉషస్సు నింపాలని

నిరాశ నిండిన నాకు నిశాంత సమయములో

నవ్వుల నీరజనాలు పలికే నీ కొసమే

నా నిరీక్షణ...

Katha

Last weekend I watched the movie called Katha, made in early 80s, directed by Sai Paranjpe. The star cast was slim but astounding, Naseeruddin Shah, Farooq Shekh and Deepti Naval. The main plot of the movie is so simple and is narrated in the simplest way possible.

Rajaram (Nasseruddin Shah) is middle class clerk living in Chawl, Bombay (Chawl is a housing complex like today’s apartments, where 10-15 different families live at one place.). He is secretly in love with the girl next door Sandhya (Deepti Naval). Rajaram is a real honest guy who is always ready to be helpful to others at any given situation. One day his old friend Bashudev (Farooq Sheikh), who gave up the schooling abruptly and ran away to Delhi, visits him. Bashudev is pretentious and cunning. He is a smooth talker and a con man, who doesn’t have any qualms even stealing from his own friend. With his mastery, conceited skills he impresses one and everyone at chawl. Sandhya and her parents get dazzled with the ostentatious Bashu and which leaves Rajaram heart broken. Bashu escapes the premises right on the morning of the wedding day deserting Sandhya as he has no more moves left to play with. Devastated at the situation, Rajaram offers his concern and asks Sandhya to marry him. Sandhya even though delighted at his offer, she reveals that she had been very intimate with Bashu. Will Rajaram accepts the Sandhya or not, remains to be seen on the screen.

This movie is inspired from the classical story of Hair (Farooq) and Tortoise (Nasseruddin). The presentation is simple and effortless. Protagonists played their roles perfectly. Amazing thing is, the actual chawl residents played their same roles in the movie. The movie doesn’t have any gimmicks or any adulterated jokes. It is just a plain uncomplicated, straight forward movie.

Silsila..

Yeh Kaha aagaye hum, one of the best romantic songs ever. Truly it creates vibes of exberance in me. Added silver lining is the voice of Amitabh bachcan. The voice sets the mood of the song. One can sense the emotion and passion for love in that voice. This was from the movie Silsila, One of the hit films in 1980’s, which had lot of resemblance to real life of Amitabh Bachchan.

Tanhayee(solitude) is not always the best feeling one can ever experience but it definitley helps in realizing many realities and the importance of things in life. You have space to think, space to dream, space to learn and of course lot of space to write. Here the poet writes how it would have been if she (his lover) had been with him.. Well, that’s a quite an imagination. He elucidates the picturesque of tryst eloquently.
Sometimes expectations can be really high, larger than life itself.

--MALE--
Main aur meri tanhaai aksar yeh baatein karte hain
Tum hoti to kaisa hota, tum yeh kehti, tum voh kehti
Tum is baat pe hairaan hoti, tum us baat pe kitni hansti
Tum hoti to aisa hota, tum hoti to vaisa hota
Main aur meri tanhaai aksar yeh baatein karte hain

--FEMALE--
Yeh kahan aa gaye hum
Yunhi saath saath chalte
Teri baahon mein hai jaanam
Mere jism-o-jaan pighalte
Yeh kahan aa gaye hum
Yunhi saath saath chalte

--MALE--
Yeh raat hai, yeh tumhaari zulfein khuli hui hai
Hai chaandni ya tumhaari nazrein se meri raatein dhuli hui hai
Yeh chaand hai ya tumhaara kangan
Sitaarein hai ya tumhaara aanchal
Hawa ka jhonka hai ya tumhaare badan ki khushboo
Yeh pattiyon ki hai sarsaraahat ke tumne chupke se kuch kaha hai
Yeh sochta hoon main kab se gumsum
Ke jab ki mujhko bhi yeh khabar hai
Ke tum nahin ho, kahin nahin ho
Magar yeh dil hai ke keh raha hai
Ke tum yahin ho, yahin kahin ho

--FEMALE--
O, tu badan hai main hoon chhaaya
Tu na ho to main kahan hoon
Mujhe pyaar karne waale
Tu jahan hai main vahan hoon
Hamein milna hi tha hamdam
Issi raah pe nikalte
Yeh kahan aa gaye hum
Yunhi saath saath chalte
Mm, meri saans saans maheke
Koi bheena bheena chandan
Tera pyaar chaandni hai
Mera dil hai jaise aangan
Koi aur bhi mulaayam
Meri shaam dhalte dhalte
Yeh kahan aa gaye hum
Yunhi saath saath chalte

--MALE--
Majboor yeh haalaat, idhar bhi hai udhar bhi
Tanhaai ki ek raat, idhar bhi hai udhar bhi
Kehne ko bahut kuch hai, magar kisse kahe hum
Kab tak yunhi khaamosh rahe aur sahe hum
Dil kehta hai duniya ki har ek rasm utha de
Deevaar jo hum dono mein hai, aaj gira de
Kyoon dil mein sulagte rahe, logon ko bata de
Haan humko mohabbat hai, mohabbat hai, mohabbat
Ab dil mein yehi baat, idhar bhi hai udhar bhi

--FEMALE--
Yeh kahan aa gaye hum
Yunhi saath saath chalte
Yeh kahan aa gaye hum

Accurate Stereotype.

Mumbai, commercial capital of India. Personally I have never been there, but I heard it as the city that never sleeps. Largest city in India with population over 13million, and longitudinally stretches over 75KM. Over 6 million people commute everyday on Mumbai railway system, amazing figures. But what more amazing is the journey of Mumbai dabbawala to reach 200,000 hungry recepients without fail, everyday.

Dabbawalas, deliver the lunch box everyday to different people working at different locations of widespread Mumbai. Mumbai trains are too crowded to carry a lunchbox. One needs two hands to keep himself standing straight. It would be a herculean task to carry a bag or lunch box in the midst of humongous group. Dabbawalas deliver the lunchbox everyday before lunch without fail. They start collecting the boxes early in the morning from the recepient's house and begin their journey from one station, and during the journey they sort out the boxes according to the destiny and travel almost 40-50 kms to deliver the boxes at the office without jumbling them. They even collect the boxes at the office after lunch and then deliver back at the respective houses. Even though it looks simple on paper, but when it comes to the figures, its no less work than swimming a sea. They deliver to almost 200,000 customers everyday, and amazing fact is there is only one failure in every 6 million deliveries, incredible. This delivery work dates back more than century now. Most of the crew are third generation workers. They all wear Gandhi Topi, which allows them to be easily recognised in the crowd. For this dyzantine labor they charge mere Rs.300 per lunch box, very less if you compare to the expenses of eating out everyday. Every member of the crew is responsible for 40 boxes everyday. They share the total amount equally among themselves. The committee has four Dharmasatras at different Pilgrim locations of Maharashtra, to provide shelter to visitors. One more thing, they eat only after delivering the boxes to the customers, customer comes first.

I couldn't believe myself when I first learn about them. Even the modern manufacturing methods have more failures than Dabbawalas. They are unique. They don't have preplanned methods to follow, they dont have defined theories to implement. It is all man made plot and even runs on mere man power. This simply proves that any given day, man power can beat any modern computer technology. This Dabbawals mission should be an inspiration to any organisation in the world of entrepreneurship.

Dreaming a Nightmare

I always had this dream. I wanted to see the name of my village in the front page of newspaper. My village is a rudiment area. Its one of those villages which is running against time or nature, without any changes over the past 25 years(as far as I know). My dream has come true today, of course not the way I intended to, but as a worst nightmare of my life.

As always, I opened EENADU website and to my surprise(it shouldnt be a surprise though) first news was brutal one. I clicked the link and read through the news. The news was about an infant(2days old) who was buried alive. The most disgraceful, shameful and disreputable act I ever heard of. The reason was simple, infant is a baby girl. And this brutal incident happened in my village 'Utkur'. Maharoon Begum, is the mother of infant. She is the second one among seven sisters. Unfortunately, she became pregnant premaritally. The parents hid the truth and got her married to an young Abdul. But after realising the truth he just left her at her mother's place and fled from her. Couple of days back Maharoon gave birth to this pre-matured baby. The addition of new baby girl pinched maharoon's family and their insanity compelled them to act as barbarians(I think even a barbarian would feel insulted with this comparison). They wrapped the baby in a cloth and buried her alive in a two feet deep hole. But she was found in couple of hours by a stranger wandering through that way. The baby survived in the burial for more than three hours, a miracle.

This time a miracle saved a life. But we all know miracles are seldom. Its an unimaginable pain to learn these brutal acts. The nation where the modern supreme court has suggested that judicial hanging should be given only in the rarest of rare cases, where as in the incident above an infant was punished for nothing, absolutely nothing. Surprisingly the mistake was committed by the mother and the punishment was given to the infant, how imbecilic??? The greatest of great cultures also have failed to recognise the women as fellow human-beings.

I am very much disappointed with myself. My long term dream turned into a nightmare. I feel remorseful and sickened to take the name of my village on my lips which, once, I was proud of.

(http://eenadu.net/panelhtml.asp?qrystr=htm/panel1.htm)

Farewell Reception..

That day July 3rd 2003, I was tired as I had been at work since 6AM in the morning. Everybody was in festive mood. People were buying liquor and getting ready for the long weekend. I was so hungry and I went straight to Chinese buffet after I got off from work and ate up to the brim of my throat. At the end, I cracked open cookie to see the fortune note. It said “something nice coming in your mail”. Even though, I don’t believe in this stuff, but on that day my alter ego compelled me to rush home to check my mail. I went straight to home and checked my mails, nothing was there. Then I went to see in another source. I had one new email in my inbox. I was all excited and but not anymore after looking at the subject, and the subject was ‘Sorry’ from my cousin. I opened the email and learned that my grand mother passed away that morning.

That mail was disturbing and disruptive. My eyes got wet; I cried out, I screamed, I shedded tears in pain, an unfathomable pain. I called home and broke down in tears for a long time. At that time all I needed was a shoulder to cry on, and I couldn’t even get that. My grand mother was very dear to me. I grew up under her supervision. I was her dearest grandson. She would come to my rescue any time of the day. I believe without her, those shoes would remain unoccupied. It has been four years since she left us; I miss my grand mother very much. I wish I was there during her last breath. During my recent trip to India, I found her picture hanging on the wall. It was perturbing to see her that way. I consider this incident as the most unfortunate one in my life.

I believe she couldn’t stay away from us for longer times, so she came back to us as my niece. Yes, my niece, SIRI, came into this world on the very same day my grand mother left us (of course different years). Siri is a gifted child. She was born with silver spoon in her mouth and always gets that special attention where she goes. Today, we are celebrating her 1st birthday. I wish I could make it home but this distance always prevents me from doing so, but this distance is also helping me grow infectiously affectionate.

Happy birthday SIRI.