The second leg of the journey saw us going to Darjeeling (popularly referred to as 'Queen of Hill stations'). Well my heart had been booked by Sikkim but still I expected to find something equally good if not better. What I was confronted with only left me aghast and astounded.
I guess my dislike for Bengalis grew from this place only. Though am a Bengali and I am proud of my mother tongue but there is one thing which always puts me off - Dirt or a lack of basic cleanliness which I have found most Bengalis resorting to.
No doubt Darjeeling is really beautiful but its the people or rather we who have spoilt it to beyond repair. The Darjeeling Mall (a famous place) lied destroyed resembling pre human civilization eras. Bengali tourists relieving themselves everywhere, eating eating and gorging even more and then throwing the food right there. Rotting food, stink from the pees and the constant overload of all sorts of dirt has indeed destroyed this beautiful place.
That was my first impression of Darjeeling and real Bengali tourists and trust me they are same everywhere in India. Few other places of notable mention because of their natural beauty would be the Batashia Loop and Goong station. But again dirt and stink prevailed everywhere.
Is it too much to ask for decent cleanliness? We as Bengalis love to travel and eat but can't we keep our surroundings clean? Even when ample dustbins are around. Only last week I had gone to the Koramangala (Bangalore) Durga Puja. Its heavily commercialized now than 6 years back when I had come to Bangalore. The deity was well made but that was it. Starting from near the deity lay everywhere on the ground uneaten food, food plates, non-veg curries, spits from bettle nut eaters etc etc. And when I counted I found there were atleast 10 dustbins kept in the Puja mandap which was on an area of about 200 sq metres. Yet the dustbins were neat and empty but everrywhere else dirt.
I have failed to understand this weird habit of Bengalis. Personally I have never gone that way. I would rather carry a plate on my hand than throw it everywhere instead of a dustbin. Especially when dustbins have been provided, I am clueless.
Whatever may be the reason I think it is disgusting to do so and Bengalis by themselves should change this habit. I had a particular Bengali friend whom i deserted after not being able to cure his habit of dirtying places wherever he went. But none of my present Bengali friends (I have lots) are like this.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
RETROSPECTION...SIKKIM - My First LOVE...Part 1
Sometimes things that start on a slow or sudden note turns out to be the most valuable in your life...Atleast it happened to me more than once...
The event dates back to Autumn of 1998. My family and few relatives had all of a sudden just got this urge to go to Sikkim and Darjeeling. I for one was not very excited and just wanted to lazy around at home. So tickets were booked for 13 of us, railway contacts used to get them as it was decided just 10 days in advance and that also Diwali time. Bengalis usually travel in big groups, don't know why and I am not exactly in favour of that. So tickets done, we boarded the Darjeeling Mail and reached NJP. From there Gangtok via cab.
I have always like the mountains more than the sea and I have seen quite a many but never anything like what encounted me. Steep mountains on one side and the flowing rivers (or streams) on the other. Winding roads travelling up these beautiful mountains covered with lush green Pine and Eucalyptus trees, the cool moist breeze sweeping across your face sometimes mixed with clouds giving you the feeling of romance and eternal love, pristine suuroundings with neat wooden houses hanging periliously from mountain sides. As we trooped into our beautiful guest house at 7 pm, the city stood eeriely silent with only a few lights twinkling far and wide, mostly from alcohol shops. Our guest house was a private one, fully wooden with a fire place in the drawing room and a huge bear skin carpet at the centre.
That night I had my first taste of alcohol. I was 13 years old and I started with Brandy (popularly known as Doctor's tonic). Felt good and warm and was flat. After a good nights sleep, I got up at 6 am and as i pushed myself towards the balcony with a toothbrush in my mouth and looked up, I was confronted by a scene that got etched in my memory forever and one which probably as much as I may write may never be enough to describe its true beauty. There ahead of me (it looked so near) lay the mighty snow clad peaks of Kanchenjunga (known in Sikkim as Kanchendzonga named after a Demon) with the sun's rays playing on the snow as pearls in the ocean. A view which makes you feel alive, an energy and such a soothing effect which is a harbringer of life in itself.
The next few days we tarvelled across the length and breadth of Sikkim and whereever I went I came across something new, something energizing and something so beautuful that even the word beauty feels small in front of it. The changu lake near to freezing with its pristine clean waters, the yak ride, the serene and pure Roomtek Monastery with tiny cute monks runnign around and oh yeahhhh the LOVELY AWESOME MOMOS...Hmmmm simply awesome. Not to forget the beautiful fair Nepali girls and me at the age 0f 13 going ga ga over their beauty. Also one must note that I personally have found the Sikkimese people to be the most polite, warm, helpful and trustworthy people you can ever come across.
That was the start of my first love which has only got stronger over the years. Somehow I never felt like coming back from there and it feels like that is the place where my heart and soul lies. Since then I have actually had more Nepali friends and each one of them has only added to my love for that place...
It's been 10 years now...and the heart longs to run back to my first love - the place which redefines beauty and also love (my gal)... Now just waiting for a few days leave from my work so that I can go to the place where my heart and soul lies...
The event dates back to Autumn of 1998. My family and few relatives had all of a sudden just got this urge to go to Sikkim and Darjeeling. I for one was not very excited and just wanted to lazy around at home. So tickets were booked for 13 of us, railway contacts used to get them as it was decided just 10 days in advance and that also Diwali time. Bengalis usually travel in big groups, don't know why and I am not exactly in favour of that. So tickets done, we boarded the Darjeeling Mail and reached NJP. From there Gangtok via cab.
I have always like the mountains more than the sea and I have seen quite a many but never anything like what encounted me. Steep mountains on one side and the flowing rivers (or streams) on the other. Winding roads travelling up these beautiful mountains covered with lush green Pine and Eucalyptus trees, the cool moist breeze sweeping across your face sometimes mixed with clouds giving you the feeling of romance and eternal love, pristine suuroundings with neat wooden houses hanging periliously from mountain sides. As we trooped into our beautiful guest house at 7 pm, the city stood eeriely silent with only a few lights twinkling far and wide, mostly from alcohol shops. Our guest house was a private one, fully wooden with a fire place in the drawing room and a huge bear skin carpet at the centre.
That night I had my first taste of alcohol. I was 13 years old and I started with Brandy (popularly known as Doctor's tonic). Felt good and warm and was flat. After a good nights sleep, I got up at 6 am and as i pushed myself towards the balcony with a toothbrush in my mouth and looked up, I was confronted by a scene that got etched in my memory forever and one which probably as much as I may write may never be enough to describe its true beauty. There ahead of me (it looked so near) lay the mighty snow clad peaks of Kanchenjunga (known in Sikkim as Kanchendzonga named after a Demon) with the sun's rays playing on the snow as pearls in the ocean. A view which makes you feel alive, an energy and such a soothing effect which is a harbringer of life in itself.
The next few days we tarvelled across the length and breadth of Sikkim and whereever I went I came across something new, something energizing and something so beautuful that even the word beauty feels small in front of it. The changu lake near to freezing with its pristine clean waters, the yak ride, the serene and pure Roomtek Monastery with tiny cute monks runnign around and oh yeahhhh the LOVELY AWESOME MOMOS...Hmmmm simply awesome. Not to forget the beautiful fair Nepali girls and me at the age 0f 13 going ga ga over their beauty. Also one must note that I personally have found the Sikkimese people to be the most polite, warm, helpful and trustworthy people you can ever come across.
That was the start of my first love which has only got stronger over the years. Somehow I never felt like coming back from there and it feels like that is the place where my heart and soul lies. Since then I have actually had more Nepali friends and each one of them has only added to my love for that place...
It's been 10 years now...and the heart longs to run back to my first love - the place which redefines beauty and also love (my gal)... Now just waiting for a few days leave from my work so that I can go to the place where my heart and soul lies...
Monday, October 13, 2008
SINGUR-NANO SAGA - Let the truth never prevail
Nano came...tried to conquer Singur...and left as an 'orphan' seeking a refuge in Gujarat. Well thats old boring news. What makes me wonder is if the people outside Singur will ever know what really happened.
The powers to be have efficiently controlled any untoward information coming out from Singur in a mass scale and daily. Look at media reports both tv and print. Hardly any details of the violence that CPM cadres carried out, how many villagers died and why did Mamata suddenly restart her agitation after a pasive period of 3 or so months? No answers forthcoming. Most importantly was it farm land really that was given to the Tatas. Yes seems the case then for how much and the specifics...No answers yet again.
Lastly but not the least ... what happens to the farmers now? When and if at all will they get their land back? Even if they do get it won't be in a good condition as lot of construction work had been undertaken by Tatas.
I am confused and frankly I don't have a clue as to what the truth is? We have heard many views but they all seem some way politically inclined. Now as Tatas have moved out, so has the media and also Mamata Banerjee. So what will the farmers do now?
This is the condition of world's largest democracy. We are all kept happily mis informed and totally ill informed as well.
The powers to be have efficiently controlled any untoward information coming out from Singur in a mass scale and daily. Look at media reports both tv and print. Hardly any details of the violence that CPM cadres carried out, how many villagers died and why did Mamata suddenly restart her agitation after a pasive period of 3 or so months? No answers forthcoming. Most importantly was it farm land really that was given to the Tatas. Yes seems the case then for how much and the specifics...No answers yet again.
Lastly but not the least ... what happens to the farmers now? When and if at all will they get their land back? Even if they do get it won't be in a good condition as lot of construction work had been undertaken by Tatas.
I am confused and frankly I don't have a clue as to what the truth is? We have heard many views but they all seem some way politically inclined. Now as Tatas have moved out, so has the media and also Mamata Banerjee. So what will the farmers do now?
This is the condition of world's largest democracy. We are all kept happily mis informed and totally ill informed as well.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Archaic rules that ban individual freedom
World's largest democracy and its tentacles (state governments) loves to push rules down its citizen's throats. Archaic rules meant to disorient people and ensure everyone is kept under a tight wrap. Such rules are just increasing by the day.
WORD 'CONDOM': Recent news suggests that the word 'Condom' was deleted from the movie 'HELLO' by Censor board maniacs as they found the word to be used in a perverted context. The context was that the female lead asks her partner if he has a condom before they hit the bed. Seems a perfectly fine context to me. Not just that, the censor board wanted the movie wallahs to get an U/A certificate just to allow the word. I wonder whats so dreaded about this word. Will these 50 plus oldies sitting at the Board never be practical? In a nation where over burgeoning population and mis-information on AIDS rules, this act only strenghthens that the mis-informed are always kept un-informed. Thats RIDICULOUS to say the least. You cant stop people from having sex, thats a biological need, but its better to educate on safe sex.
NO SMOKING: I sympathize with passive smokers and non-smokers. But at the same time I disregard the fact that non-smokers are idiots if they intentionally go to places like clubs, discs and bars where people smoke. They go there because they want to be there and know they will inhale some smoke. So why ban places where smoking has to be there. Are smokers not humans? People have to be educated. I am a smoker and I dont smoke in front of non-smoking people or at their faces. But I dont care when I am in a disc. Its a necessity to smoke with drinks and also 90 out of 100 people at a disc smoke. So one more archaic rule and the Government just loves to keep its citizens under a leash with dos and dont's.
Strictly No Dancing: This law is villifying to say the least. In other words sc*** it. I mean people dont go to clubs to hatch eggs or just stare at chicks and chickens. They do stare no doubt but its a place where people go to unwind and make new partners or friends. Its a necessity for todays hectic lives that most of us pursue. Well the authorities banned it. Reason: Indecent behaviour by men. No doubt some men may do indecent behaviour but such men dont usually go to clubs. They lurk at street corners. Even if they do, curb on such people with strict punishment. But No! The police does not want to do policing at night so curb the freedom of people instead. Crap logic I say!
Sleep early to become healthy, wealthy and wise: We don't want to be too wise. Who wants to sleep by 11:30 PM. But thats what the Karnataka government wants and so does the police so that they dont have to stay awake and sleep in peace. We earn and pay taxes to the government. The money is hardly used for any infrastructure building in Bangalore (roads are very good evidence) and instead goes to the pockets of higher authorities. Still we are not complaining. So in view of this grateful service by us, atleast late us enjoy and the authorities can put in some extra time as their pockets also become fatter during night times.
Stupit and ridiculous rules. When will the Government stop infringing our personal spheres? No answer. People are busy with no time to protest against such rules. And the saga continues...
WORD 'CONDOM': Recent news suggests that the word 'Condom' was deleted from the movie 'HELLO' by Censor board maniacs as they found the word to be used in a perverted context. The context was that the female lead asks her partner if he has a condom before they hit the bed. Seems a perfectly fine context to me. Not just that, the censor board wanted the movie wallahs to get an U/A certificate just to allow the word. I wonder whats so dreaded about this word. Will these 50 plus oldies sitting at the Board never be practical? In a nation where over burgeoning population and mis-information on AIDS rules, this act only strenghthens that the mis-informed are always kept un-informed. Thats RIDICULOUS to say the least. You cant stop people from having sex, thats a biological need, but its better to educate on safe sex.
NO SMOKING: I sympathize with passive smokers and non-smokers. But at the same time I disregard the fact that non-smokers are idiots if they intentionally go to places like clubs, discs and bars where people smoke. They go there because they want to be there and know they will inhale some smoke. So why ban places where smoking has to be there. Are smokers not humans? People have to be educated. I am a smoker and I dont smoke in front of non-smoking people or at their faces. But I dont care when I am in a disc. Its a necessity to smoke with drinks and also 90 out of 100 people at a disc smoke. So one more archaic rule and the Government just loves to keep its citizens under a leash with dos and dont's.
Strictly No Dancing: This law is villifying to say the least. In other words sc*** it. I mean people dont go to clubs to hatch eggs or just stare at chicks and chickens. They do stare no doubt but its a place where people go to unwind and make new partners or friends. Its a necessity for todays hectic lives that most of us pursue. Well the authorities banned it. Reason: Indecent behaviour by men. No doubt some men may do indecent behaviour but such men dont usually go to clubs. They lurk at street corners. Even if they do, curb on such people with strict punishment. But No! The police does not want to do policing at night so curb the freedom of people instead. Crap logic I say!
Sleep early to become healthy, wealthy and wise: We don't want to be too wise. Who wants to sleep by 11:30 PM. But thats what the Karnataka government wants and so does the police so that they dont have to stay awake and sleep in peace. We earn and pay taxes to the government. The money is hardly used for any infrastructure building in Bangalore (roads are very good evidence) and instead goes to the pockets of higher authorities. Still we are not complaining. So in view of this grateful service by us, atleast late us enjoy and the authorities can put in some extra time as their pockets also become fatter during night times.
Stupit and ridiculous rules. When will the Government stop infringing our personal spheres? No answer. People are busy with no time to protest against such rules. And the saga continues...
Kangaroo kicks Tiger
The fab 4 and here they flop again in the first innings of the Bangalore test. Well its understandable that players do have their bad days but certainly not all together. Also at least show some application and drive towards making things happen. Certainly our fab four are better than the Hussey's and can match the Punter. So where is applicability and common sense going to? Is making a 40 enough? The pitch is tough but one needs to hang on and make things count. But alas in recent times its becoming much more common to see the fab 4 putting down India when the team needed them the most.
It's a matter of shame that Harbhajan Singh is the highest scorer of the innings.
It's a matter of shame that Harbhajan Singh is the highest scorer of the innings.
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