A Good Year

Yes, that was one swell movie-Good Year. Now wouldn't it be nice if one could inherit chateaus and have the stunning Fanny Chenal waiting in the porch . Too good to be true, sigh. Well actually its been a year, a little over a year since I started blogging, so thought would do a post er commemorating the grand occasion :). Incidentally its also been a year since I started 'working'.

While somethings haven't changed, quite a few have.For one, we do have a new Wimbledon champion in Rafael Nadal dethroning the five time champion , Roger Federer in an epic final . For another, finally the government has rid itself of the leftward tilt, risking its survival nevertheless. Never mind the Left's frivolous stance on the nuclear deal, which has the potential to solve our nation's energy crisis to a large extent , our dear left comrades still hold the view that the 1962 Indo-China war was not an act of aggression on the part of China!Worse still, Chinese claims on Arunachal Pradesh have never been repudiated by these gentlemen. The question has to be asked -How are the Communists no different from the terrorists, when their allegiance is clearly towards China and not India ? Courtesy the Left, the reform process, which could have equipped us to handle the rising inflation and food crisis better, had been under the back-burner. Air India is one such one example, which badly needs a complete overhaul. It took one flight for our Aviation minister to register this fact. Everyone knows that the services of our national carrier,still grappling under the babus culture, are pathetic. With the Left no longer around to throw a spanner in the works, lets see if any corrective measures are going to be taken. Privatization with due emphasis on accountability, is one way out to save the floundering carrier.

Too much space for politics i guess. On a personal front, the last year has been nothing short of a roller coaster ride as the earlier posts would have told you. From dragging myself to office on weekends to doing longish group rides to making the semifinals of a corporate tennis tournament and then losing it , its been quite a year.

Cheers!

A Few Good Men

In Wellington , for us Fauji kids having just learnt to ride the bicycle , words like 'Manekshaw Marg' , meant another lane, another 'little world' to be explored on our little bicycles(I say little because I have a 'not-so-little' set of wheels now ;)). Vaguely, but nevertheless fondly remember the pentagon shaped, white washed landmark reading in red the 'Manekshaw Marg'.We would merrily ride down down the undulating slope and then puff uphill till we could go no further. That was sometime back.

With the news of passing of Field Marshall Sam Manekshaw trickling in, couldnt help feeling a little somber. If at all you didnt know, a quick glance at the Times paper would tell you that he was the chief architect of our glorious '71 victory over Pakistan. For a man who was the first ever Field Marshall, you would have thought this should have been the frontline news in the television media. Instead, just a mention was made . More' important' was ofcourse the match between India and Bangladesh, or what did a certain actress wear at a certain function. Even though a state funeral was arranged, our Defence Minster found reasons to not attend the great man's funeral. We are talking about a man here who orchestrated the nation's finest hour-1971 war. Why, he took 18 bullets from an LMG in the stomach and told the doctor -' i was kicked by a mule'. That was in the Second world war. His unparalleled skill in strategm in synergizing the army, the airforce and the navy was the decisive factor in our routing the Pakistanis inside two weeks. Just before retiring in '73, he was given the rank of Field Marshall. Post retirement he settled down in Wellington.
The general was truly the nation's soldier. This is saluting him and all the martyrs of this nation.

Restive in Bangalore

" Move you , ******. The signal has turned green", the motorist bellows at the car in front, amidst a lot of honking. The poor old man at the wheel can't get his car started. Happens all the time dont you think. Too often actually.There is a feeling gaining ground that we as a society have got less and less considerate of others. What with the tight schedules that everyone seems to be on , such incidents are not suprising. You and I would have probably done no different from what the motorist did, maybe would have got in a few more colourful expletives :)

Things are no different elsewhere -be it the microcosm of a train, or at the workplace. How many of us actually engage in a conversation with the person sitting adjacent? You would think as neighbours things would be different, but no. Infact there are people,who have never spoken to those in staying in the same apartment!

Just when you mutter to yourself- it's a cold, indifferent world, you would be surprised how quickly you can be proven wrong. Just the other day I had a blown fuse on my Bullet, courtesy some 'great' work done by the mechanic(turned out that a wire was getting grounded). Luckily I did have a replacement and started to change the fuse when a guy stopped by to help -had to be another Bulleter ofcourse :). I politely declined his help as I had a spare. But such gestures do tell you that all is not wrong with this society. Anyway went back to work feeling surprisingly lighter and I hardly honked that day!

Hmm...

Gee...Its been long. Too long i know. Its getting ten in the night and its raining outside-more of a steady drizzle now and here I am in office sitting at my desk waiting for the rain to abate. Reason enough to do something useful at work ;).

So what I do write about. Things are so different these days since I moved from Hyd.Its been close to six months and time has just slipped by. Life here in Bangalore is ..whats the word ...frenetic! Mornings start at six in the morning with the tennis and by the time I am back from work its almost time to hit the bed. Miss the laid back city of Hyd, but Bangalore has a charm of its own. The maddening traffic notwithstanding. Whether its the juicewalas beside the footpath(get plenty of them here and they are good trust me) . A walk down the streets at Cunningham Road with the wind in your face takes you back to the Queen's, literally(actually there is a Queen's road nearby) . The old yellowish British lamps illuminating the driveways of the scattered houses does have a distinct aura of its own. Somehow get the feeling, most of the cities are losing out on their identity with the mall culture permeating through.

Speaking of identity, must confess( for the umpteenth time, I know) am absolutely in love with the thump of my RE. Went out on a longish ride with the RTMC-that is the Bangalore bullet club better known as Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Club. Went to this place called Anthargange close to Kolar Town,about 70 kms from city. It was one swell experience, 40 bulls roaring on the highway. The countryside was a pleasant change from the chaos that reigns in Bangalore. Will try and upload some snaps.

(Now, I can barely hear the rain pattering on the window) Time to sign out :)

Cheers!!

Living a dream

First of all, a very happy new year folks! Gee, its been close to a couple of months since the last post. A lot can happen in two months, right. Um well yes and no. Yes because it is the turn of the year :). No, because I am still clinging on to my job, thankfully.

For someone who is not egregiously gregarious or for that matter, never even having sampled a beer, this sprawling city can be quite a bore if you are all by yourself. In that aspect I am lucky to have some company with me. When I say company, I mean my Bullet ofcourse!(nothing on you, my dear roomies). Must say, riding a Bullet is a dream come true. Even, office is not such a dreaded destination anymore.

Weekends is usually the time to catch up on tennis,weather permitting. And oh yes, time to work on my culinary skills. My roomates(both can cook) are desperately trying to get me to cook. Well all I can say is a new year does bring hope :).

Of pebbles and stones

So a post finally after a two month long hiatus. Needless to say, a lot has happened. A month has already passed since I touched ground at Bangalore. Before I go any further must say Bangalore rocks. Lots of exploring to be done. If all goes well should be getting an Enfield soon. Guess I should be on the lookout for a pillion. Err did I mention, Bangalore rocks :P. More about Bangalore some other time.

I am on leave right now. Got a week off for Diwali. And here I am at my parents' place(Dad is posted here in Rajasthan place called Ganganagar) As it turns out, was here when I was one. That was more than twenty years back :). Cant remember a thing now. By the way this place is quite close to Pak border,26 kms. You get typical desert climate here - freezing winters and simmering summers. Right now its chilly.

My mornings usually start at ten here(am on leave remember:)). The peace and quiet that you associate with a cantonment is very much there. For someone to come from the maddening rush of a metro , it is a heavenly feeling to just grab a chair and bask in the winter sun hours on end.. Wonder why I am going on and on about this place. Guess its nostalgia. Blue sky, green grass and boss miles away, life couldnt be any better :).

Moving on...

No, its not about Dravid, relinquishing the captaincy,nor is it about the Left-UPA differences(like they are going to end ever). And its certainly not about Ram Gopal Verma's Aag. No, its actually about yours truly getting transferred to Bangalore on a business assignment read project. I leave Hyderabad tomorrow. It happened rather quickly for my liking, getting just a three-day notice and all. Would have liked to have had the opportunity to catch up with friends before leaving. After the initial high fives with colleagues on getting the call, there are mixed feelings- on the one hand there is the excitement of venturing out into the unknown and living on my own in a new city (was with parents till now) . On the other, there is some trepidation, about my assignment;this being my first. Oh and I guess my culinary skills will have to extend beyond getting a toast from the toaster :) Please tell me that counts.

I am told there are a couple of things one can expect from Bangalore- traffic jams and rains. Heard a friend there took four hours to reach office. Phew.Like Hyderabad isnt bad enough. Looks like my dream of getting a Bullet will remain grounded for a while , given the traffic there. Hope to continue playing tennis there, without burning a hole in my pocket. Heard the city is expensive.

Am almost packed.In less than 24 hours, I will be off and I dont know how often I will be able to blog, if it all, given that I wont be having a system.

Cheers!!