Reservation - the deewar within

MNCs - we simply hang them down

cast and creed

How far do you think we can take this cast mantra and win the score for us? Is it really too dificult to see and feel the world we live in shed our baseless beliefs and think for the common good? Or is there a perception problem here? Or do we still believe in divide-and-rule policy mastered by the English? I sincerely believe that we haven't learnt anything in last 59 yrs, and still dance to the tunes of politicians who have mastered this art.

Politicians like Arjun Singh know from deep inside that it is easy to stand OBCs and SCs against theso called forward-class and blind their beliefs with glossy future offers. And tha is true to a very large extent. I know that a pecentage of the called backward-class is against this quota philosophy because they understand that it is not in the right spirit. And is not in favor of a growing nation. In all, why do see so much protest against this proposition? Can't the government read the silence, or they want to see an RDB happening?

Emotions apart, in a real world, who would like to go to a doctor or an engineer who you know had got the degree not on the merit basis? Who would like to take a chance, no matter whether there is any such cause? Leave the forward-class aside, who, from the backward-class would put anything to fate or chance when it comes to save something material? I don't see a backward-class person favoring someone from her same class when the question of life or her family comes.

I firmly believe that if this proposition materializes a good part of Indian generation will divide into two sects. Don't you see this happening in the institutes? Will the not-so-merited individuals feel comfortable competing against the best in class? Hey, you see, now the competition has removed some more from the forward-class who were not so classy. And finally, when the private companies are taking stand against this policy, would the not-priveleged get a fine living? Or would it hasten the life of despair for them?

I am not against the uplifting of a certain class, but that can only be done by, what NRN recently said, providing the primary education to the needy. And they will find their way out of the shoddy politics.

and then she lost her virginity

ah! my car, btw.

Have you ever got a feeling that something is going to happen and there is little you can do about it? Did some cues ever try to warn you and make you presage about what's coming next? Did you ever try to read into those premonitions and act for it? In this case, I didn't.

Yesterday, for some reason, it struck my mind how would it be to hit heads-on with a speeding vehicle. I gave no care whatsoever that could have meant. And this is the first time that this happened with me. Weird, huh! And then you realize that some things are meant to happen and any effort to avert those wouldn't lead you anywhere. I can't say whether this attitude is right, but yes, I would have paid dearly beacuse of this.

It happened this morning, I got up a little late, had a light break-fast, read a little from the Economic Times, and then thought of going to the anti-reservation rally at the University Square. On normal days, I wouldn't have gathered enough strength to leave a cozy bed, newspaper and music for something that I am not even sure of the schedule. But this happened, for one reason, or the other. Then I took the normal route to the University Square, but the road was blocked for some construction work and I had to turn back; still, which I could have avoided, I took the longer route to the square.

And the destiny spoke for herself, I noticed a blue M800 taking the turn the way I did. I followed that car, in my rear view, for quite some time. A Santro Zing showed up in my rear-view and zing'ed away. And again that M800 in my rear-view. It was at some distance as I was rushing towards the square. Then I had to brake at a small turn on the road; usually, I check in the rear-view to gather whether an oldie, a lady is driving the vehicle, or whether it is burnt-down car, which won't stop, however much efforts you put in. But this time, I didn't even notice. Then I heared tyres screeching behind my car, and I realized, fuck, that shouldn't be it.

And BANG!

To my surprise, it was same fuckin' car which was following me from last 4 KMs and banged me where I was least alert. It hit my lady at the bumper and the petrol tank, not very cruely though; my car's Tow-Hook kinda screwed his car's radiator. The other guy's car had taken the majority of the blow. I thought of calling-in the cops, but, then, I didn't have my car papers. Oops! and I moved-on.

So, if I gather the chain of events, this is what happend: I got a pre-warning, I didn't follow it, something led me to drive in the morning, I had to turn back, but still followed my way, noticed beforehand what's going to hit me, didn't follow my own drining instructions, and BANG! And this is how my car lost her virginity after being out for more than 9 months in the market. Good, or Bad, I still love her.

What does this tell me? Should I read, look deep into what I think, or wish for? Does this happen with each one of us? Is there something that's beyond our power of comprehension? Or, should I just take it the way it is and believe that whatever has to happen, will happen? Can I control the events?

you too...

while I write this, I am listening to 'running to stand still' - the joshua tree by U2. if you look back you would see that not much has changed with U2, but their popularity and bono's efforts to change the world. I was reading bono on bono by micha ass-a-yas :o) this morning; I was looking for this book from quite some time and last week I got my hands on it.

I have just read the first chapter, but it has already started to make me think about U2 as a band, a legend, and a religion. Not so because of their inclination towards humanity, but because of the eon for which they have been around. And, yes, making the difference. I liked bono saying that the beauty of weakness is it forces you to look for friendship. You try to make yourself complete by supplementing your weakness with your friends' strengths. You call it selfish, I call it life.

It's a different story that after coming back to India (to chennai and to pune), I found it difficult to make friends with others; it's more on the professional side now. More so because all my friends are either in different states or countries, and I am stuck here, burning my ass-off at work. Things have been changing for sure; no parties, no schmoozing with friends, no late night beer parties, no late night long drives, and above all, no movies. But I can't blame anyone, but myself for what it is like.

So until it comes back the way it is, I will stay close to led zep and my books. peace.

the ripple effect

in India, movies go beyond the movie halls and find a place in our daily chores, and the attitude we carry. they surely pronounce the thoughts more aggressively and vividly. one might argue that the recent protest against the reservation proposition is a direct effect of Rang De Basanti. it might be so. but is it true that doctors and students are making a cause of a benign intention?

if you compare, you might notice that RDB and the recent fiasco have a same plot, but with a small exception. a politician agitates a group with his baseless theories, sticks to his stand, tries to shy away from the movement, orders action against the protest, and finally gets killed. the last part has yet to happen. but do we realize that how many more lives are at stake, and how this is affecting youth's faith in the government?

but who's getting infamous here? is it the politician, or the doctors, or the movie? i can't answer that, but can tell it for sure that if it comes to voting to arjun singh, he won't get young generation's votes. atleast, not of the general-class population. but if we go deep into it, we will realize that it is not just affecting weeks services in the hospitals, a generation's perception, but educated class' ability to think good for the country. what you see today is that atleast 30 days a year goes in protesting against government's shitty policies.

what i feel is that it is not a backdrop of RDB, and not a protest against some sensless proposition, but a protest against Indian's dogmatic beliefs and against the-hell-i-care attitude. it is not against any government personnel or a sect, but against every Indian who dont' see beyond oneself and the ones who can go to any length without even realizing how many got affected in a wake.

btw, tomorrow there is a silent rally in Pune to support the doctors who are protesting against this reservations act.