"Please welcome the newest member of our urban community. You have no choice but to accept his presence. Guess what.. there are many of them ruling you!"
I sit here at my office which is within a kilometer radius, and right in between two places where there are commando operations happening for the last 36 hours.
Fortunately for me, there is a safe route between these two flash-points which leads to my office. Over the last couple of month's this is the second time, mumbai has been brought to a halt by activities which make the word violence seem musically calm. Everytime the newschannels have misinterpreted the hungry daily wager going to work, as the "spirit of mumbai" with amazing resilience... Welcome to reality..
A reality where 26 people less than 26 years of age can rise from the sea and hold the entire city to ransom. They can easily bypass the numerous metal detectors which do nothing more than... Beep... and of course give kickbacks to its procurers.
They can stock arms and ammunition at any location, including the spare refrigerator space in five-star locations. They are all around us.. Someday they may enter with battle tanks.
If you are beginning to think, i am practicing writing the next sequel of " War of the Worlds"... look around yourself. The outlaws who make our laws. And the helpless machinery that tries to implement it. The net result: We have Terrorists with easy entry and exists. If they die, they are martyrs of their men.. If they get caught, until proven guilty(read infinity), a privilege of our proud lawkeepers, they are given great tax-funded facilities. They may eventually be released and may be elected as our leaders (Ref: Abu Salem and Md. Afzal Guru)
The only way to be prepared for this is accept..that we have a terrorist like a milkman.. who is protected either deliberately or through our systemic lacunae. Either ways.. he exists. He has nothing personal against you, your religion, your family life. Perhaps he likes the colour of your blood.
When you leave your home for work, Pray hard. When you spend time with your family and friends, shower your love, as though the very next moment.. you would be gone!
Friday, November 28, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
The Joy of learning - by teaching
A rewarding third term as a budding B-school visiting faculty is nearing its completion. Through my participation in this noble profession, I breathe my passion of sharing whatever little i know, in its complete or incomplete state without any inhibition of being dubbed stupid :)
The students of our generation and that too in BSchools are much smarter, their curiosity and sincere inquiry does keep even the best faculty member on his/her toes.
When my passion got extended to the classroom, i discovered the fact in the statement - "Learning begins when you make an attempt to teach". Yes you sure do, since you cannot teach anything unless you go through a revision and reflection of what you know at that point in time. When you get conscious of what you know, you compare your knowledge with whats actually happening around you. In that process, you dig deeper, you learn further, you clear your misconceptions, you plead ignorance at times, and in the process .... you truly learn.
My heart today is once again filled with deep gratitude to the batch of my friendly students at VIT Management institute, an upcoming B-school in mumbai with a brilliant first batch of students waiting to graduate. They made me feel at home and sailed me smooth through my teaching curriculum. Their response has instilled deep confidence in me giving me immense energy which will power me in all spheres of my life.
Thank You students... And Thanks to the Classroom of life which enrols you in the womb and graduates you in the tomb :-)
PS: thanks to Harekrishnaji for reminding me to update my blog!
The students of our generation and that too in BSchools are much smarter, their curiosity and sincere inquiry does keep even the best faculty member on his/her toes.
When my passion got extended to the classroom, i discovered the fact in the statement - "Learning begins when you make an attempt to teach". Yes you sure do, since you cannot teach anything unless you go through a revision and reflection of what you know at that point in time. When you get conscious of what you know, you compare your knowledge with whats actually happening around you. In that process, you dig deeper, you learn further, you clear your misconceptions, you plead ignorance at times, and in the process .... you truly learn.
My heart today is once again filled with deep gratitude to the batch of my friendly students at VIT Management institute, an upcoming B-school in mumbai with a brilliant first batch of students waiting to graduate. They made me feel at home and sailed me smooth through my teaching curriculum. Their response has instilled deep confidence in me giving me immense energy which will power me in all spheres of my life.
Thank You students... And Thanks to the Classroom of life which enrols you in the womb and graduates you in the tomb :-)
PS: thanks to Harekrishnaji for reminding me to update my blog!
Thursday, August 14, 2008
King Long - BRTS1- Independence day celebrations
An informal group of commuters fondly named - "Yaatri Group" celebrated Independence Day on their favorite 7.15 AM BRTS 1 route BEST AC bus. On the same day, the group of which i am a member too celebrated my second most memorable birthday ever (first one was hosted by my wife :-) Varsha, last year and this year's coming up.) The celebration included the whole bus decked up for the occassion and me singing a Patriotic and a light hindi song. The plan for the decoration and the actual work was carefully organized with the actual operation of decoration happening today early morning at the Thane Cadbury depot.
The recently introduced luxurious King Long buses by the BEST has come as a boon to travellers between Thane, Dahisar and the Mumbai City. The speciality of the 7.15 bus is however the beautiful way in which commuters have bonded with each other and making that one hour plus morning commute worth waking up early to. The group besides bonding amongst themselves have actively partnered with the improvement efforts of the BEST.
They have been in regular touch with BEST officials giving constructive feedback (not disappointing rants) to them, while praising them for the new efforts. The staff that mans the bus in the morning is a part of the group too.
With long stressful work hours, better service like that offered by the BEST, powered by active and loving informal groups makes life in mumbai exciting as ever!
Happy Independence from travel woes... its getting better!
Jai Hind.
The recently introduced luxurious King Long buses by the BEST has come as a boon to travellers between Thane, Dahisar and the Mumbai City. The speciality of the 7.15 bus is however the beautiful way in which commuters have bonded with each other and making that one hour plus morning commute worth waking up early to. The group besides bonding amongst themselves have actively partnered with the improvement efforts of the BEST.
They have been in regular touch with BEST officials giving constructive feedback (not disappointing rants) to them, while praising them for the new efforts. The staff that mans the bus in the morning is a part of the group too.
With long stressful work hours, better service like that offered by the BEST, powered by active and loving informal groups makes life in mumbai exciting as ever!
Happy Independence from travel woes... its getting better!
Jai Hind.
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