No Seasonal Blooms, yet Falling Apart

Standing at the doorstep of any New Year, it is my habit to look back at the old one. This year also not an exception, I was not looking at my personal achievement or failures but to some very confusing statistics. Last year we had only three and half seasons instead of four. After eight months of scorching summer, there were a quick fire monsoon then a moderate autumn and finally winter is here. This year we hardly experienced any rainfall and not hoping any better for the future. Greeneries are vanishing thick and fast from Kolkata skyline, obviously the rain pattern going to remain same. Every city’s development preparation comes with a package that includes some plan for plantation, but in Kolkata everything works in reverse order. When I am talking about package for development, most of those come as a loan from different development banks, a little extra plan will cost extra buck, subsequently it will reduce the cut-money that is going to the pocket of various bureaucrats and ministers. Autumn reminds me of USA and its Fall, an unimaginable view with treetops completely changing its colour. Autumn is also very significant among other seasons in India; it is the season of festivals, even this season pinches your pocket very hard still it is outstanding. Winter is here, not big way as it is hurting everywhere in Europe, USA and even Himalayan states of our country. Temperature is still staying as per comfort level and simply winter meant for lazing around. Looking at my garden can see the scattered dry leaves all around. The process starts from end of autumn and continue until beginning of the spring. This routine is very strange, I wonder what the tree itself goes through when old one kept falling, just move on with the process or it too feels the pain as human does.

Looking back to the lanes and by lanes of my journey there were many who crossed my path, some left huge impact, some left quietly and there were some those who were just deserted by me. Today it is so easy, all in ones finger tips, just press a few button and you can give a new lifeline to the broken link, of-course if you are intended to. Our time it was not like that, some cute faces lost during my primary school and then the best time one had their lifetime was the high school, then college and so on. I was very adamant in my younger days, always wanted others to approach me than myself. This attitude often cost me dear concerning a few relations, but that was me and everyone has their own way.

During my initial years in Mumbai, I used give some tuition; enjoyed that stint because I always enjoyed the company of younger one. Today back again to teaching, still old students keep visiting me and we spend hours chatting on different topics, it is a signal that my simple sense of humour is not yet in coma.

There were four sister studying in a very reputed convent school, elder one was in class eight and younger one in class four. They were Christian but protestant, the mother was very fond of me more than my comfort and wanted that every year I should go back and teach her wards. Once found her standing in my bus stand for hours to meet me. Three years on the trot, I taught them then I left that place. After six or seven years, while I was waiting for a bus near Victoria Terminus I saw them back nearby bus stop, all them were grownup and looked like a bunch of young ladies. They were looking at me and obviously talking about me but hesitant to approach. It was all that required was a bit smile from me but I never allowed that and after sometime my bus came along. Today while writing, I just call myself a big fool.

She was my classmate while we were studying computer near Haji Ali, she was my group mate in my project works too. Almost after five years I saw her back, waiting for a train in Mulund station, she was for down train and I was for up train, she looked at me and I did the same thing but none of us tried something more than that. We were standing few meters apart and face to face and never acknowledge each other, funny, my train came along and I boarded.

While visiting my old place in Jamshedpur, if I want I can renew my old relation with my old pals, but my way of life diverted a very different way and I do not know how to communicate with them, so I never tried it.

To revive an old relation no matter what is the gravity of it; all one need is a little smile, one small acknowledgment and a little gesture. All this little things are free yet we never give away free items for free, and on the way we lost some priceless things.

!!!Spring is round the corner, every tree will experience a new bloom; it never happens to us, we do not have any periodical bloom, for us old and new equally matters!!! Hi! Happy New Year!!!

Challenge and Emulate!

Giving away unconditionally, considered to be a of great human quality, hard earned money given for a good cause, Kudos to the donor. I cannot do it, baring a small one that I do not want to disclose, I believe in this great one-liner ‘While right hand is giving, left hand should be unaware of it’. Frankly, I do not have much, worked hard and earned a bit, had a petty simple life and kept a bit for the rainy days. Tomorrow comes with a big question mark and zero answers, great uncertainty makes it beautiful. Therefore, I do not know if there will be at all any rainy days written in my account or not, if not then I will consider myself a most lucky one. It is dream, final call just striking me for the final time when I am sitting in this chair and in front of my computer, sounds delicious!

There are many noble citizens in this world those willing to give away for good cause, they too earned it in a hard way and happy to give away. I cannot hide my appreciation for these peoples. The list of big giver is growing, with Warren Buffet, Bill Gates and others. We got two new names and surprisingly very young, Mark Zuckerberg and Dustin Moskovitz the Facebook co-founders have pledged to give away at least half of their fortunes in a philanthropic campaign led by Warren Buffett and Bill Gates.

I already mentioned that Indian rich and famous does not know way of giving, damn selfish. A very ridiculous and horrible explanation came from a very colourful personality and a famed corporate honcho, rather call him liquor baron. Let me describe it by his way, he thinks that he is providing huge enjoyment to the peoples of this nation mainly those are drinking his fine liquors, therefore, the tax that generated is filling the government coffer, where is the need for him to donate for any philanthropist cause. Ha! Ha! Good joke Mr. Colourful, Ouch! It hearts, in winter it is very difficult to enjoy a good joke.

What a shame, India is a leaping giant with growing economy and hardly any giver but then from out of blue someone came with a very generous contribution for rural education that too almost nine thousand crores (2 billions dollar). A huge face saving contribution for India and all common citizens like me. He is Azim Premji, the WIPRO boss. While my field is IT, my encounter with WIPRO way back to eighties, during that time they tried there hand on computer hardware. Slowly Mr. Azim Premji diverted to software and now it is one of the topmost IT companies.

Azim Premji

WIPRO is India's third largest software development companies. According to Forbes, Mr. Premji is currently the second richest Indian with a personal wealth of US$17 billion in 2010. His father M. H. Premji owned the Western India PROducts which later became Wipro Ltd. which made hydrogenated vegetable oils and fats. He completed his initial education at St. Mary's School, Mumbai, Premji was forced to leave his studies in electrical engineering from Stanford University, California, USA at the age of 21 to take over the family business when his father, M.H. Premji, suddenly died in 1966. He has since after a gap of over thirty years completed his degree in Electrical Engineering.

He is nowhere in a race to build a luxurious house that going to compete with a Taj Mahal or any other wonder monument and certainly detest to pose with a dozen of bikini clad girls those are posing for a year calendar. Therefore, my man of the season is Azim Premji. To write my conclusion I always come up with my own quotation but today I just wanted to say a big thanks to Mr. Premji for his generous contribution.

!!!This blog to and for Prem with lots of love and regards!!!

Inspired by the inspiration!!

In numerous occasions, it happens that when we failed to achieve a goal and subsequently decide against a further attempt. I am too no stranger to this situation and often did the same but most of the time I commanded myself loudly ‘well, get up and start all over again’. When failure is in your back, same finishing line will be a distant dream but it is not impossible. Getting motivated while the result is unknown is a thorny task. Why not take an example from King Robert Bruce and his motivation that he got from a spider. Time to look beyond the window for some extraordinary courage and comebacks and that certainly can help us to give a kick to our dying aspirations. From every fields and all walks of life there are a lots who can give you a lesson without charging a dime, just have to get the signal. Always looking for inspiration and getting it from different dimensions. Today I will write about some exceptional comebacks in sports arena, in sports to achieve a goal in highest order is more difficult because both physical or mental fitness are equally needed for the said achievement that once eluded. Do not look for a miracle, the miracle cannot pull you out, it is you and only you can do it. I always believe that no one in this world have enough power that can influence the course of my fate, it all lies with me and with my God.

Sir Alexander Matthew "Matt" Busby

On February the 6th 1958, Manchester United side; lost their 8 players in a plane crash. The manager Matt Busby was in coma and believe it or not after coming back from coma he returned back in 1959, started managing the Manchester United team all over. Within a few years Matt Busby built a best team with Charlton, Best and others, was know as “Busby Babes”. They won the FA Cup and league title and exactly ten years after the accident they were European Champion. Awed by awesome Sir Busby.

Gail Devers

She was a member of USA Olympic team. While training for the 1988 Olympics, she suffered a multiple health problem, among is migraine and vision loss. Devers came back strongly in 1991 and own silver medal at World Championships and since than she won 3 Olympic gold and five gold, three silver in World Championships and there were many others .

Lance Armstrong

When one think about cycle and cycling cannot miss a name that is Lance Armstrong. Career effected due to cancer, after a few surgeries Armstrong back on the top of his cycle and conquered every dream. The seven Tour de France wins, considered to be one of the toughest tours.

Kelly Holmes

Kelly Holmes suffered injuries after injuries, and depression, her performance was effected by the herbal medication. She came back in the year 2004, this time without any injury and at the age of 34, the stage was Athens Olympics. She got it what she wanted, not one two, 1500m and 800m gold.

Kerri Strug

Kerri Strug was a member U.S. women gymnast team. In the 1996 Olympics, USA was competing with the Russian, Romanian, and Ukrainian teams. Finally it was between Russian and USA. Strug while landing of her first attempt, fall and damage her ankle but she got a score over nine. She has to come back for her second vault and everything was depended on her for yellow metal. USA team coach Karolyi, told her before the final vault "Kerri, we need you to go one more time. We need you one more time for the gold”. Limping Strug, unbelievable, she achieved it!

Earvin "Magic" Johnson

Famous Basketball player Johnson retired in 1991 after announcing that he had HIV, returned in 1996 to played 32 games for the Lakers before retiring.

Marla Runyon

Marla Runyon, first ever blind sports person from USA earned a spot in the women 1500 meters, any one know the process and the qualifying standard of USA will definitely understand the achievement. Marla’s performance in the Olympics stands as a testimony to what can be achieved through determination and hard work.

Moral Boosting Quotes

Lance Armstrong (Cycling) : Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever.

Michael Jordan (Basket Ball) : I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.

Michael Phelps (Swimmer) : You can’t put a limit on anything. The more you dream, the farther you get.

Paavo Nurmi (Track & Field) : Mind is everything. Muscle - pieces of rubber. All that I am, I am because of my mind.

Nadia Comaneci (Gymnastic) : Hard work has made it easy. That is my secret. That is why I win.

Dean Karnazes (Marathon Runner) :Run when you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must; just never give up.

!!!What is a success that never gone past a few hurdles, a success that tested by a few failures worth a million!!!

Sex, Lies and Cable Tapes!

In this era of Internet, it is impossible to follow Mohandas K. Gandhi’s “Hear no evil, speak no evil or see no evil”. You cannot ignore the evil, it is in you and with you. It is no secret that malicious stuff invites more attention. Therefore, obviously while logged to the virtual world, heavily spiced news is more magnetic than normal one. I am having a few dozen of virtual friends through social networking site and certainly do not hesitate a bit while accepting their invitation, whereas in real life I am not like that.

Since Monday I was trying hard but failed, I was trying to enter a website, no, it is not a pornographic site and honestly, I never tried for such stuff, the website I was looking for is Wikileaks.org, but failed to access it. Most probably the founder unable to keep it afloat due to the cash crunch with his frozen bank accounts.

The founder, Julian Assange was staying underground in UK but on Tuesday, he finally surrendered. By leaking those thousand of cables and to expose the world leaders, diplomats mainly from USA and the US Government’s policies that were under wrap but then he himself is no saint.

His life is also very controversial one. He launched this website way back 2006, until beginning of this year he was petty unknown. He is an Australian by birth and born in 1971. At the age of 16, he started hacking computers under the name “Mendax". Subsequently, he charged and arrested for same offence by the Australian Police in 1991. The websites he was stalking includes the website belongs to Australian University.

He fathered a son at the age of 19 with his then girlfriend. Afterward also involved in a custody battle. His sex life is now under scanner, including couple of cases for which he is now wanted by the Swedish Police. 

Now the question is how he got those cables, by stealing or by hacking the servers, the secret is rest with him and his accomplices, both are not justified. Hacking is not a moral thing, stalking someone’s privacy without ones permission or knowledge believed to be a sinful act. So, how we describe the man Julian Assange, multiple award wining journalist, an intellectual or a Hacker. A hacker no mater how big or how small will be always a hacker and it is a crime under any cyber law. Petty confused regarding his contribution, helping himself or helping the world, a case of intelligence per excellence or sensationalizing to get famous. Peoples who inclined to take lesson from Julian Assange expertise in the field of Information Technology and using it as their inspiration then hopefully world will never have another Bill Gates.

Move apart from his personal life to the leakage that now beyond repairable. It show that how the World leaders, meeting with an ear-to-ear smile and how their honeymoon ends behind the zooming lens. If believed, US referred ‘Putin as alpha dog’ and ‘Sarkozy emperor with no clothes’. Hillary Clinton, India’s best bait in Uncle Sam, called India a “self-appointed frontrunner” for permanent United Nations Security Council membership. In addition, various US government policies are now in public, that includes the war in Afghanistan and Iraq.

It is no secret and not new that United States always had their own observation and words for other world leaders. Former USA president Richard Nixon, an Irish and English descent, a product from a Public School and had many other distinguish degrees that includes a Law Degree. No, Mr. Nixon’s resume does not interest me, but giving some details of his good words. According to a transcript released from state department, he mentioned then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by ‘an old w****’ and ‘a b****’. Hold your breath, there is another distinguish person, a Harvard alumni and former state secretary Henri Kissinger gone further mentioning that all Indians are ‘B*******’.

The year 2010 is considered to be a year of leakage.Barkha Dutt, until yesterday most respected TV journalist with NDTV, tossing difficult questions to the politicians and other dignitaries, found herself in all mess. Whatever we got from the leaked Nira Radia tape, Barkha Dutt was acting as a middle person for the same lobbyists and a minister. Of-course she denied all those allegation in her blog but her image going to take the beating.  Wonder, how powerful are these journalists. Are they capable enough to change the portfolio of a central minister? Then there is Vir Sanghvi with his scripted interviews.

Let us go back to Julian Assange, think about his morality to expose other via hacking or stealing route. Should go with him and his Wikileaks? Gandhiji, please save me from this dilemma.

!!!The Virtue of this Virtual World,   good, bad and ugly, choice lies with you!!!

Goodness not Just Goodies, It is too Good.

Whenever an item slipped through my hand, instantly I tried my best to keep my precious pair of foot out of the firing line. While doing so, value of the article never bothered me. This is how my psychology works, not aftermaths but the self-defense will be my first priority. Under given circumstances definitely I will try to save myself without concerning about others trapped in the same situation, a candid assessment about my nature. More than once, sensed a final call that passed whispering by my ear but I survived and yet I never stopped doing things that may danger to my life, I often called a daredevil by friends (oops! too much). A daredevil indeed, if tested I will value my life before others, because I am not a saint. Talking about saints, have no idea, because I never encountered any, but there are some peoples exists, who place others before his or her own.

It is strange; piece of recent news brings back old memories and started disturbing me. It is not a personal but regarding the peoples whom I may know or may not, left a mark that unforgettable. Their dedication, gesture and do or die attitude is what all about.

This piece of news appeared in last Sunday, Mr. D. N. Moitra, the Motorman on duty to Pashkura bound local train and how he guided the train to the destination before he died. Due to the similarity, my memory took me back to an incident that occurred more than two decades ago.

I knew two beautiful sisters, soft-spoken and well mannered and both having an initial ‘A’. They are Roman Catholic either from Goa or from Managalore. Both were teaching to the senior students in a Convent school in Mumbai suburb. I was friendly with many other teachers from that school through my close friend and then my Christian neighbour who was also a teacher at same place. The school situated very close to one of the Mumbai’s very famous suburban station and beside the railway tracks. Some time in late-eighties both the sisters got married. Elder one married and left the school, younger sister married to a nice boy who was a Motorman with Mumbai suburban train services. There was a nice little gossip circulated among the teachers and as well as between the students too, while passing by the school, he used to blow the horn a few times to make a passing signal for his wife. During that time, I left for aboard and returned after two years. I was meeting one of my old friend, who informed me that the husband of younger sister died. I was shocked and it was more shocking that he died due to heart attack. He was young and well below thirty. More than that, my friend told me that he suffered while in duty; before he collapsed, he guided the train to the nearby station. After that incident, she left the school but I do not intend to invade her privacy any further. It was a painful piece of news and took many days to overcome it.

Almost forgotten incident came back to my mind last Sunday while reading the newspaper. It is rerun of above incident but this time it was in West Bengal. Time span between two incidents is more than two decades and if younger fellow survived until now, he would have been still younger than Mr. Moitra and most probably still running those packed Mumbai suburban trains and whistling past his wife’s working place to acknowledge his presence. I am not saying that the age is a factor to evaluate a person’s need in the society.

The current situation, technology is far more advance, therefore, if Mr. Moitra decided to stop the train midway, train would never met with an accident but he decided to carry on. In other situation, with overcrowded train equally crammed tracks, no, completely unaware about the old technology so do not want to comment further.

Over the years, earth lost its all charm, blame it on inhabitant. Drastic changes taken place for worst regarding everything, environment, climate, peoples and people’s attitude. We look around to find scams and scamsters, devils and devilish acts, everyone working for personal gain. Irritated and forced to forget the nice aspects but there are a few peoples who often come out from the blue to remind us about the beautiful quality of human that still breathing.

I always enjoy the goodness, there are nice things still happening then why to explore the dark. Celebrating the rare integrity and feeling good, even without achieving anything only by my sheer luck I am in the same package.

!!!A drop of light in darkness look brighter, a few good fellas among score of evils still make the earth a good place to live on. Positive? Of-course!!!

In Soup with Superstition

One day while going to my office, there was my friend from Goa, who is a Christian and having a Master degree from University of Mumbai, advised me not to step on a lemon that was lying on the road. She cautioned me that the lemon was left by someone and something to do with the black magic. If I go by the numerous advises then I should confined myself in the four walls of mine.

The Superstition, why it is called so? It should be other way round because there is no greatness surrounded it. World is bonding well over this, no conflict, east and west walks with arm in arm. If you go by definition of superstition then it is something like this - A belief in something not justified by reason or evidence and an irrational fear of the unknown or mysterious.

This small incident is a piece from my own past. One bright morning when I was going to my office, a black cat crossed my way, left to right across the road. It was disturbing, blame on my orthodox upbringing and others beliefs. Still I carried on and boarded the train, forgot the incident immediately when I met all known smiling faces in the train. Thereafter a long hard day in office also denied my memory to recover but once I returned my home and then there I remembered the cat. I tried and tried hard to find a thing that would gave me a chance to raise my finger towards the cat but found none. After lots of thinking, I concluded ‘poor cat, most probably had a very miserable day’.

In Kolkata, when people find themselves in same situation that one is similar to mine, stop instantly and wait for someone else to cross the road before them, the process often cause great inconvenience to the traffic. Therefore, many times car stopped abruptly on the middle of the road without giving any signal and obviously result is, an accident, blame it on your foolish acts but not on the cat.

Most of the time it is the fantasists, who dreams to reach at the top without a sweat or having an immoral intention to harm someone else to settle a thing, so, these sort of peoples start believing all sort weird things. It is all about the mind-scape of a person who is definitely mentally very weak or depended. These natures of human being easily exploited by the peoples those are in the business for making fool and make money. Recently one of my students duped in same manner, I do not know should laugh at him or feel pity. You can  find them at every corner of the world, flaunting ten rings with various kinds of precious stones around their fingers along with many other accessories that match their foolish belief.

The stories behind superstitions always are not a funny one, on the contrary most of the time it is very gory. Animal slaughtered for same cause and why animal human life too sacrificed for some assumption related a shear personal gain.

The picture in USA, Europe and Africa is no better. Witch-hunt, black magic is regular process in the countries of those continents too.

!!!Life is beautiful, enjoy it, but only if you possess a fearless mind!!!

Power Slavers and Freedom Grabber!!

One very hot afternoon I returned to my home and then while sitting in cool comfort on my bed I just closed my eyes and said to myself ‘OH! Home sweet Home’. My idea about ‘Home Sweet Home’ was very small than the wider picture that it actually project A home that brings along a lots of package in our life, gives us protection, security, privacy, happiness, a bed to laze around and the peoples with whom we can share our joy and agony. Sadly, that the world is having a fair share of citizens who may be deserted from this comfort. Even the lucky one those are the proud owner of a house, only a few of them actually having a home.

Strange but true that the very home of yours may not always sound sweeter, when all freedoms are taken away and one forced to stay in. Therefore, this posting belongs to the woman who at present is finding a place in all headlines of this week’s newspapers. This blog is a tribute to the woman known as Aung San Suu Kyi.

Born 19 June 1945 to Aung San and Khin Kyi. She was having two brothers, Aung San Lin and Aung San Oo, among the two the elder brother died at age eight. Her father Aung San was founder of Modern Burmese Army, who was behind Burma’s Independence in 1947. In that same year itself, Aung San Suu Kyi’s father was assassinated.

Her mother, Khin Kyi, was appointed Burmese ambassador to India and Nepal in 1960, Aung San Suu Kyi completed her graduation from Lady Shri Ram College in New Delhi in 1964.Thereafter she continued her education at Oxford. Thereafter she moved to New York and worked with United Nations. Aung San Suu Kyi married Dr. Michael Aris, a scholar and gave birth to two sons, Alexander and Kim. She later has done her Ph.D. from London.

In the year 1990, she won the general election in Myanmar and was all set to form a new government but she denied the right by military junta. Since then she spent more than 15 years under house arrest and for a brief period in prison too. During this period, Dr. Michael Aris died from cancer and before that, he denied a visa to meet Aung San Suu Kyi.

She was recipient of Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 and received many other awards from all over the world. Finally, Suu Kyi was released from house arrest on November 13, 2010.

Pray that she continue enjoy the freedom that everyone deserves and hope the military junta in Myanmar learned the lesson and never repeat their previous mistakes.

!!!Freedom is the most precious thing that whole animal kingdom should enjoy, often denied by the power but it is true that those never lost it, may never realise its charm.!!!

Golden Eggs? Zilch? Hence, Opt to Slay!

Festival of lights is over and with this finally getting over our yearly quota of endless festivals. Diwali or Deepavali is one of my favourite festivals because it has all, light, action and bang-bang. 

However, today’s topic is nothing to do with Deepavali or any other festival but it has a link with my one night stay at Pipalkoti and that happened during the last stages of my Valley of Flowers tour. That particular night while some of tour members were busy with a gossip session on various topics, Mr. Ahuja, a retired professor and a wonderful gentleman, inquired about my blog and the type of stuff that I am writing. I told him that started with my memoir but my life is a very ordinary one so have to divert to other things that includes some from the current affairs and specially the one disturb me very much. He asked if I have anything about dowry death, I was surprised and ashamed that I never thought about it.

Therefore, decided to express my views on this burning issue that exposes a greedy and an ugly face of human beings. Just imagine, may be at this very moment there is somebody in somewhere living with a burning desire to burn someone and that too for a little financial gain. I do not blame whole in one side, why in the first place the parents of the bride have to shower needless and abundant gifts. In our country, rich always try to find some occasions to flaunt their wealth. Wedding ceremonies for them are just an event where they tried their best to outsmart each other’s. Nevertheless, after these big fat weddings ceremonies can anyone guaranty that rich and famous will be totally unaffected from this thing.

Sorry to say that the middle class are the one who are most involved and at the same time worst effected. Here, the middle class failed and failed miserably. You can call it middle class mentality, as they opted to walk through the middle path, cannot give more and always wanted more. Parents start maintaining a data sheet from the day a male child is born, so they can track down all expenses occurred for the boy until the day he get married. Giving birth to a male child is a trade and naturally, no one like to carry with an unsuccessful trade. What a pity the groom who goes under the hammer and sold like an animal but the bride who are slaughtered. Most disturbing part of this heinous crime is that the roles of women, from planning, plotting and execution, women are equal acquaintance.

Not all dowry related incident ends up with homicides. Often things are more worse, women had to suffer everyday and sometime she forced to go back to the in-laws if she decided to knock the door of her parents. A suicide is no less than a murder and in such case husband, in-laws and parents all are in same boat.

!!!Burn the evil within, the greed within and of-course burn the desire to burn!!!

My Restless and Cramped Drop of Sweat

Last eight postings were all about my Valley of Flowers travel experiences, once again diverting to something else. During this period, some extra-ordinary thing happened, yes sorry to say that after a million of hitches, we were finally able to conduct the Commonwealth games. A country of one billion plus and believed to be a super power in the making, this kind of things should have been a cakewalk, but no, for our so called netas and babus we have to face so many hurdles and glitches. 

Indian athletes have done exceptionally well, but one has to consider the quality of the teams and countries that participated in this international sports meet. Apart from a few among the medal winners, others never looked like being able to keep their form at any other world class meet, forget the Olympics, not even in Asian Games where they have to compete with the Asian giants like China and Japan.

Saina Nehwal, Sushil Kumar, Deepika Kumari and some of the shooters including Gagan Narang and Abhinav Bindra, most probably will make India proud at other tournaments too and hope that they will leave their mark at those big arena.

We cannot blame the sportsperson for the conditions; in our country, the problem is that we do not have a proper infrastructure. Most sports bodies are headed by so-called over aged politicians or bureaucrats. Many types of activities are played behind the door while selecting the proper and deserving candidates.

Where our organizers failed us, our sports person made up for it. Opening and closing program was at par world class. Response from local audiences that were present at the different venues was excellent. Off-course about crowd behaviour there was single complain from a participating country and that was none other than Pakistan. Foreign media and few from our country too may be disheartened by the success but as a common person, I am very much relieved by the success, because it was India  whose pride was at stake. 

But this success story also having a few glitch, to look things better for the world, Government of Delhi certainly taken all possible measures, while unable to control the high inflation rate and poverty, at least prevented the poor from coming to the line of camera. Then, there is Mr. Mani Shankar Iyer, who ranked his personal enmity with Mr. Suresh Kalamadi above the country. Australian contingent, always arrogant and at its best, they believe in gamesmanship rather than sportsman sprit, vented their anger on some accessories at game village for Australian cricket team's defeat in the hand of Indian Cricket Team.

Now that the game is over, it is high time for some agencies like Enforcement Directorate, Income-Tax, CAG, CBI and CVC, all are working overtime to nail the real culprits. Do not know whether something will come up or not, even after all big promises sometimes it take years and in our country public obviously has very short memory.

Among those thirty-thousand odd crores that was spent on this total project, quite a few thousand crores may be lying cold in some Swiss bank. My main concern is that may be a drop of my sweat also found place over there and like others my drop of sweat is getting suffocated.

!!!My tiny drop of sweat a product of hard work and honesty, is dejected and helpless in the hand off fugitive!!!

Cloud Nine Ecstasy – Mission accomplished - Back to the Square - Part [VIII]

Home alone, yes after spending over ten days all by myself, yesterday my family came back from the tour. During this period I also enjoyed a day with my students and of-course there was Laxmi Puja, which remembered for the prasads  that I have to consume on behalf of my family.
Now let me come to the last and concluding part of my tour. August 31, left Pipalkoti as our daily scheduled time, exactly 7am. Things were not as smooth as expected; we were stuck over one hour due to Landslide near Rudraprayg. We took that opportunity to have our breakfast. We also stopped by the Rudraprayag confluence for half hour. Four of our group members left us at this point. Suhash Kasande and  Suhash Kulkarni planned to visit Kedarnath so they decided to depart from here and Soumitra Biswas and Sutapa Biswas decided to stay back in Rudraprayg for the day.
On way to Hrishikesh ->
Rudraprayag named after Lord Shiva (Rudra), is situated at the holy confluence of Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers and at an altitude of 1000 m. The meeting of the Mandakini and Alaknanda  rivers has a unique beauty of its own and it seems as if two sisters were embracing each other. The entire region is blessed with immense natural beauty, places of religious importance, lakes and glaciers.
Rudraprayag ->>
This time too, we stopped at Srinagar for our lunch. This journey was not very pleasing one, sun was blazing and obviously it was very hot. Late afternoon we stopped by a small village for tea but I decided against it. Finally, we reached at GMVN Yatra office in Hrishikesh by six evening. From here onwards, all departed their own way. Madhusudhan Bhaiji and myself decided to lodge for the night at Gujarathi Bhavan, a mutt in Hrishikesh. Got nice hot meal served by the mutt, I was tired so gone to sleep immediately.
Village life hard way		Landslides		God is the painter
Hrishikesh or Rishikesh : is a city and in Dehradun district in the state of Uttarakhand. It is at an altitude of 372 metres (1,220 ft). It is located in the foothills of the Himalaya in northern India. It is also known as the gateway to the Himalayas and is located around 25 kilometres away from another holy city, Haridwar.
All from Mahabharata		Here comes Ganges		Born Free
Next morning, September 1, my return ticket booked for Upasana Express from Haridwar and scheduled time was night 11.55pm. Morning decided to go for little sight-seeing around Hrishikesh, Laxman Jhula and near by places only. Hopping around the temples is not a pleasure for me but visiting the bank of Ganges was a good one. After coming back to Gujarathi Bhavan had our lunch and packed our luggage. It was raining heavily, got an auto-Rickshaw and went to Hrishikesh station to catch the 2pm. Harishikesh-Haridwar train. Madhusudhan Bhaiji decided to get himself lodged in Gujarathi Bhavan but this time it was in Haridwar. For me it was just process of killing the remaining time. After a light dinner around 8pm. decided to go to the Haridwar station and waited there for the train.
River Bank		Laxman Jhula		Nature at its Best
There were no hitches, train was on time and boarded without any difficulties, but I reached in Kolkata well over 9 hour late. Indian Railways seems very rich; imagine the cost occurred to keep the coaches cool. Disembarked at 1pm on 3rd September, end of a memorable yet very successful trip. Hot and humid Kolkata climate welcomed me back with a big smile like ‘eureka! Got you ’. By 4pm., I was back to my worktable even I was tired.
I must thank a few people, Mr. Rathi, the bus driver, driving on those routes is very dangerous. The conductor of the bus, do not know him by his name, Mr. Narendra Rana the tour guide and last but not least to all my group members, their co-operation which mattered the most. While moving around Garhwal, two persons was always there in my mind, one is my late friend KS and other was a 18 years old and  innocent boy named Bharat, who worked in my office 30 years back as a peon and one day gone back home to join the Indian Army. I always treated him like my kid brother; both of these fellows were originally belongs to this district. Bharat wrote me a few letters but unfortunately, I was in aboard, by the time I received those he was not traceable. Hope he is living happily in one of those beautiful valleys.
Unbelievable, planning for next destination, this time with a few students and most probably heading same way. If it is going to happen it have to be next year itself. Because, I do not have another twenty-three years  in my hand to chase this one.
!!!Isolated? Just look within you, someone is always there to share all your emotions, your pains, gains, joys and sorrows, identify, you will always be in good company.!!! [Journey Concluded....]

Cloud Nine Ecstasy – Culmination [Part - VII]

Life clocked back to normal after Durga Puja and believe it or not people in Kolkata is looking forward to October 3, 2011, the schedule for next year Durga Puja. I am all alone as folks are gone to North India and enjoying my space. Laxmi Puja will be the next celebration and that falls on October 22. Morning August 30, after bath had a very light breakfast, packed my luggage and boarded the bus. This time we were going back to Joshimath and then to Auli, famous for skiing and other winter sport. Auli : Altitude 3000 mts, is an important ski destination.Auli is surrounded by high peaks like Mana, Kamet and tallest of all Nanda Devi. Auli also boasts the Asia's longest - 4 km - cable car. The world's highest man-made lake is at Auli, right next to the private hotel, Clifftop Club. The government has developed this in view of creating artificial snow on the new ski slopes in the event of low snowfall.
Ropeway		Nanda Devi Peak?		Village House in Auli
Auli, sounds very poetic, One can reach there by the rope-way maintained by the GMVN. We altogether twenty-five person boarded in a single cable car. Induji and Kailashji decided to visit Sankaracharya Mutt instead and most probably Mr. Ahuja too skipped it but reason was unknown. Therefore, there were other reason for us to visit Auli, from here, one can view Nanda Devi peak, but weather was playing spoilsport, the day was very cloudy. On our way to Auli, we got Nanda Devi for a couple of minutes but it was difficult to click from inside a cable car where all twenty-five people standing very near to each other, so I missed that blink and miss opportunity.
World's highest man-made Lake		Ski slopes waiting for winter		A Lazy Gossip Session
After reaching Auli, we waited there for around two hours but clouds never had pity on us. Of-course during those two hours we enjoyed every bit of time with chitchat and gossip session over a hot cup of tea and pakodas that served by the makeshift restaurant over there. Once, we got back Induji, KailashJi and Mr. Ahuja joined us too. After about half hour bus ride we reached at Joshimath. Madhuri and Madhusudhan Gilda departed to join their relatives for another trip. Madhuji and myself decided against the lunch and just had a bottle milk and lassi, of-course Induji served us with some bananas while other group members had there respective lunch at the different restaurant. We started once more and after another two hours we reached at a small town/village known as PipalKoti, the place where we due to stop for the last night.
Nice place to Relax		Houses on the Slopes		The Peaks from Auli
Pipalkoti, a scenic town, is situated ten km from Birahi in Chamoli District. It is located at an elevation of about 1,219 m. Pipalkoti, is a busy town cradled in the lap of lush green mountain and terraced fields. GMVN was having a small hotel over there, it was modarate one for one night stop-over. Weather was better than other places so decided to dry up some wet clothes that I was carrying from Ghangaria. Once again night I had dinner with Induji and Madhuji. That was the last night for us, so after dinner we sat together in the hotel reception and had a nice little gossip session. Mr. Seth, Mr. Ahuja, Mr. Goyel, Mr. Mohan, Dr. Kahndelwal, Mr. Rajesh, Induji, Madhuji and myself all were there and finally retired for the day. Next day we supposed to back to Hrishikesh and there after our own destination. While lying down thinking about the tour where we were moving between 1000mt. to 4000mt., Sometime up and some time down.
Pipalkoti Village		GMVN TRH		Pipalkoti Step Farming
!!!Up’s or Down’s is just a normal process of our life, no carrier is available to take you up and  there is no break available that can be appliy to prevent you from going down.!!!

[Journey Cont..]

Cloud Nine Ecstasy – From the edge and to the God [ Part - VI ]

It is Durga Puja time in Kolkata, this year decided to stay back at home during this break. My folks will leave for Uttarakahand on October 16, so I will be all alone for this ten days but work will start from coming Monday. Today, October 14, it is Maha-Saptami and believe me or not, Kolkata is rocking. Let me get back to my OXY-Tour, August 29, it was time to bid adieu from the heaven. Once again it was raining and we had to start early, we took two horses from a boy named Raju. Once again I was in company of Madhuji. Same route through which we had gone up to Ghangaria looked very dangerous due to rain. It was very scary while sitting on a horseback and on the mercy of it. Madhuji was very worried about Goyelji, who was behind, but finally she was relieved when she got the news from Suhash about Goyelji’s safety. We stopped by a tea stall and had a very light breakfast. Reached Govindghat around 11.30, it was very hot, the fifteen minutes walks from the bridge to Badrinath road where GMVN bus was waiting for us was a tiring one. It was nice to see Madhusdhan Bhaiji back with the group. We left for Mana Village. Mana Village : It is the last village on the Indo-Tibet border. Many places famous in Hindu mythology lie close to Mana Village such as Vyas Gufa, Ganesh Gufa, Bhimpul and Vasudhara falls. Mana Village10248 ft above sea level and with a population of around 3000 to 5000. is
First sight of  Mana Village		A typical  Village House		Waterfall
I was feeling bit down and tired, so decided to stay back. While moving around met Mr. Ahuja, who was there in a village tea shop. We talked about different topic for sometime until all other members returned. Once all were back, immediately we moved towards Badrinath. Many of our group members were already been there but it was first time for me. I am not a religious person and failed to believe about God existence in temple. My idea about god is one who is always within me as my friend and guardian and tells me what’s right and what’s wrong, often I may not listen to him but most of the time I consider myself to be an obedient one, at the same time I cannot overlook my roots and my orthodox upbringing. Badrinath : It has an average elevation of 11,204 feet. Located on the right bank of river Alaknanda, is one of the four Dhams that a devout Hindu has to visit in his lifetime to attain salvation. Known as 'Tapobhoomi' (land of meditation and penance) and 'Bhubaikunth' (heaven on earth). It is surrounded on either side, by two mountain ranges of Nar and Narayan, with the Neelkanth peak, providing a spectacular backdrop. Badrinath was re-established as a major pilgrimage site by Adi Shankara in the ninth century. In the Mahabharata, Krishna, addressing Arjuna, says, "Thou wast Nara in a former body, and, with Narayana for thy companion, didst perform dreadful austerity at Badari for many myriads of years." The mountains around Badrinath are mentioned in the Mahabharata, when the Pandavas are said to have ended their life by ascending the slopes of a peak  called Swargarohini
Badrinath Temple		Badrinath Temple at night		Hot spring
We reached Badrinath by 3pm and lodged in GMVN hotel named DEVLOK, the place was at a stone throwing away from the famous temple. I am not very comfortable bathing with full view so instead of taking a bath in hot spring the one was at temple, decided to bath at the hotel bathroom and then visited the temple immediately. Surprised to see that a temple at stature of Badrinath look deserted, while performing puja there were couple of people present apart from myself. After puja I stayed back for an hour and stroll around the temple, clicked a few photos, one of my best photo came from this spot. A peeping  mountain peak with all glory and blessed with sun shine, while other neighbouring mountains were covered by thick cloud. At Night had food with Madhuji and Induji at the hotel restaurant and finally retired for the day. I was more relaxed because all major destinations of our tours were almost over.
Incoming Devotees		Sun’s step Motherly behavior		At the dusk

!!!If presence of God in ones life gives peace and harmony then why so much destruction in the name of religion?!!!

[Journey Cont...]

Cloud Nine Ecstasy – Over the Clouds, at Guru’s Doorstep [Part – V]

Today, October 7, a very auspicious day for Hindus, it is Mahalaya. This day, when an invocation and invitation given to the mother goddess to rise, awake and descend on earth to wipe out the evils. In addition, start of Devi Paksha, people offer Tarpan in the memory of their deceased ancestors. After many years got up in the morning and was listening the age-old recital of Chandi sholaka from none other than Lt. Birendra Krishna Bhadra and company. In this era of satellite television nothing can compare to that piece, it is just incomparable. Therefore, Navaratri will start from tomorrow and seven days countdown just started for Durga Puja. Now, let me continue with my tour diary. Hemkund Sahib: The place is famous for the Gurudwara that known as Sri Hemkund Sahib, it is devoted to Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru and it is a Sikh worship-place. Hemkund with a glacial lake surrounded by seven mountain peaks. Situated at an altitude of 15,000 ft., only accessible by foot from Ghangaria but now this day’s one can hire a horse to reach there.
Handshake with Cloud		Cloud Covered Lake		Flowers
Next morning, August 28, all mountain peaks fully covered by dark clouds, the sight was not encouraging. After bath and tea when we were all set, it started drizzling. Mr. Rana, tour guide asked us to put on our raincoats, it was very cold too. Hemkund sahib, six-kilometer stiff trekking from 10000ft. to 15000ft. and equally difficult for any horse rider. Started early but the route was narrow and it was raining. It was dangerous but at the same time it given a rare experience, climbing a mountain and rain was pouring down. Clouds and clouds hardly could see anything below. I was with Madhuji, her husband Goyelji decided to dropout from this trip from the midway and gone back to the hotel. Some of my group members too decided to skip this tour, among others Induji and Kailashji decided to visit Valley of Flowers once more and Madhusudhan Bhaiji surprised everyone with his decision to return back to Govindghat a day earlier. Stopped for fifteen minutes at a tea stall but never had anything over there. On the way could not take any snap as it was raining but just before entering Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara, for the first time got the view of the flower which we heard all along, “Brahma Kamal’, a rare lotus, in Hindu mythology it is believed that this flower use for worshiping Lord Brahma, the god of creations.
Brahma Kamal		The Glacial Lake		Holy Dip by Pilgrimages
When we reached at Hemkund Sahib, all seven peaks were cover by cloud and water in the lake was very cold but slowly sun shows up. After washing our hand in the lake, we visited the Gurudwara and then to langar, where they served us hot tea and khichdi, had both, it was marvelous feeling while eating a bowl of hot food at that time and that altitude, it tasted like nectar. Langars in all Gurudwars always fascinate me a lot, only place where rich and poor eating same food without any fuss. That make the Sikh community apart from other Indian and whole world too, no mater where they are and how difficult it is they will always ready to feed the hungry one. I visited many famous Gurudwars, includes Golden temple, Anandpur Sahib, Manikaran and one in Singapore too. Singapore Gurudwara, which I visited many times during my stay over there. stayed over there for one and half-hour and then returned to Ghangaria, this trip was more dangerous than one which when we gone up. By mid afternoon we were back and instantly dropped to my bed. That particular evening tried to explore Ghangaria a bit, Bought two Kada (bangles made out of steel) from near by shop, then visited the Ghangaria Gurudwara, the biggest concrete structure can be seen in Ghangaria, remembered that there was one just near the bridge of Govindghat. The Sikh pilgrimages those comes from different parts of India get their first halt at Govindghat Gurudwara, then trek to Ghangaria, where they rest for the day in this Gurudwara and next morning they proceed to Hemkund Sahib. Therefore, all their woes taken care off, but still it is very tough journey. One thing that I missed out the forest that situated just behind the GMVN TRH, because by the time it was discover it was very dark to visit the place. Hope will come back again, sometime. Night decided to skip the dinner and instead took a hot glass of milk and gone to sleep. Looking forward to the next day, have to go back to Govindghat, down the hill and the same fourteen-kilometer route.
The Langar		The Gurudwara		Coming Back

!!!Blind folded steps, fifty-fifty chances, just forget the equation, it is worth taking.!!!

[Journey Cont….]