Mixed feelings......

Hot hot summer is here.  Still at least a month more.  Though I'm loaded with work, but still feel I'm having lots of free time.  I guess summer makes me lazy and all those things that I had planned to do in this summer months, when I don't have to travel for work, didn't happen.  Just because I got lazy. ;)  But this summer has been kind of mixed.  Full of mixed feelings.  

Few goodbye's, new people, better friendship with old contacts, meeting old friends after almost more than a decade, some of the sourness in friendship getting cleared, negativity making way for more positive thoughts, some old messy situations still stagnant and some exciting future plans in the making.  Wow when I go through each of this I feel how can my life be boring ?  

Many times I wonder, why not live life in the present ?  But somehow I kind of like to lie down lazy like a hippopotamus and get lost in my future dreams. ;)  Sounds funny. But yes I like.  Though I always try to cut down on day dreaming, but some thoughts are so good that I can't help getting lost in them... ;)  I've always many times felt that such dreams for me never lead to reality.  Reality comes always opposite to my such thoughts.  

Now I'm just waiting for this summer days to end.  Lots of new things may happen or may not.  But some are bound to happen and I'm very much looking forward to them. Lastly I must say it feels great to be honest.  Like Raju Rastogi says in 3 IDIOTS ;) .  It has certainly not been easy, but now that it is there I wanna keep it and enjoy.  

Women empowerment in India.....

Since last few days I am getting bumped into messages, newspaper articles and some other stuff all related to women empowerment in India.  Its been a big topic of discussion and action since decades in India.  Having missed the last Sunday show of Satyamev Jayate, I thought of seeing it on yahoo yesterday night.  And it too turned out to be on women empowerment, not totally but in a way yes.  The show was all about empowering women who had been victims of dowry and financial mess their family had been put into because of the heavy expenses they had borne in their daughter's marriage.

I've always been a believer that everything has its pro's and con's.  Like the 2 sides of a coin.  

Today I was reading a newspaper article, wherein the topic was about women accusing men of RAPE in a relationship gone sour and filing a police complaint against them.  Its true that many men lure women with false promises of marrying them and than getting into a relationship.  Its in a way a kind of cheating which is absolutely not tolerable.  During the course of their relationship they had consensual sex.  But once the woman comes to know that the man is making excuses to marry her and all this time he was making false promises, the woman goes to the police and files a complain of rape.  The newspaper article states a lawyer's argument that in such cases wherein both persons, the man and the woman are adults and since sex happened with the consent of both it cannot be termed as rape, but instead the case happens to be of cheating and fraud.  The article also states that the number of such cases in recent times have gone up drastically.  Many times a relationship gone sour, turns out to be like a nightmare for the man, for the woman in the relationship who doesn't want to leave the man, just files a rape complain with the police against the man, gets him arrested and he has to spend 15 days in judicial custody before being granted bail.

Over the years in India, many laws have been made to empower women in India.  The atrocities, humiliation and problems they have faced and are still facing definitely need to be taken care of by we the people of India and the govt.  The laws that have been formed after independence to empower women, and making women aware of them surely has helped a lot in making their lives better.  But, but many times the same laws are used in the wrong way and its very much possible that a genuine guy gets into trouble.  The laws are not to fight someone, they are there to protect people.  

Over the years it seems like the major part of our social structure is lacking maturity.  Seems like our age old conservative social structure is finally taking its toll on the young generation.  Marriages and relationships are such important part of any society, that if they are not handled with maturity the society is gonna come crashing down.  So many questions are coming up in my mind when it comes to understanding the social structure in our country right now.

• Why have we today reached a stage where both men and women are not able to understand the intricacies of relationships ?  
• Why are parents not bringing up their sons and daughters in such a way that when they grow up they are mature enough to respect the opposite sex ?  
• Why are daughters not brought up in such a way that when they grow up they are confident enough to take care of their financial and emotional needs ?
• Why is that in most families a woman is not allowed to work so that they can have their own money and if they do why they are still not given respect ?
• And if woman in a family works to earn money for the family, why can't the man in the house take care of the kids and the house and help the woman ?
• Why teenagers are stopped from dating and especially the girls are almost kind of banned from socializing with boys ?
• Why aren't boys taught at home to respect girls ?
• Why today, boys and girls if a relationship gone sour consider that the life gets finished if their relationship comes to an end ?

Laws to empower women is surely a way to protect them and they should be there.  But that's not the solution to the problem we are facing.  Laws that empower women in India are now a days always used in false ways by women to fight innocent or genuine men.  So I still feel that its more on to our society, parents and elders to change the mind set of the new generation.  But first for that our conservative society and parents will have to change their shallow mind set.  And then only I feel India will have a society where in laws to empower women will be there, but there won't be instances or cases to use them much.  :)

Gym, Swimming or both.... ;)

After almost 6 months of laziness and gaining back those few kilos out of those that I had lost, I started my workouts at Vala's.  But soon a friend gave me the info of a club where I can join and start swimming once again.  The fees were pretty OK.  And I would have my friend's company too.  But the only problem was the timing.  The only option I have is the evening batch.  So once I leave my office at around 19:15 hours I have to go home and rush straight to the pool.  Office to home takes 25 min. and from home to the pool would take like another 20 min.  And a margin of another 15 min. will take the time to 20:15.  Which will leave just 45 min. exactly.  

And then come back and cook and eat.  So once I leave office no breather for at least 2 hours.  And with a lazy bum that I have I'm still undecided whether to join or not.  Still working out at the gym. but wanna swim too.  My friend's being really pushing me to join it.  So lets see will I pretty soon will be able to kick my laziness away or not.... ;)

Is it easy to embrace change ?

CHANGE, a scary word for some ?  May be.  But also for some its exciting.  As they say nothing remains same forever.  People change and also things around us.  Change as they say is inevitable.  In the last few years I've been getting hammered with the thoughts of having to face some big time changes if not drastic. And everything around me might change.  When you are living a pretty constant, comfortable and easy life, suddenly if something tends to change that, is it easy to accept it ?

The comforts and ease in life over the years, when gets boring and unacceptable, is it that simple to leave it and embrace changes which may or may not work ?  Its good to have some changes in life after living through a period of monotonous life.  Things that you want to change if happen, its pretty exciting and gives you that little bit extra push to keep carrying on.  But what if while trying to make that few changes may result in lots of things getting changed.  And above all the uncertainty of when this change may happen and how they will happen can really drain you out.

Its pretty amazing how some people just keep wanting to have changes in order to live life to the fullest.  The thrill that they find attached to changes is what makes them going in life.  And its also with pretty ease they just embrace it and keep going.  And at the other side there are people who just can't get along with the changes that keep coming in their lives.  They so very much love the comfort of a constant life and feel relaxed with it that even the thought of some changes might scare them.

But still changes are going to happen.  Like it or not.  And we will have to adapt it and move on with life.  At some point of time things have to and will change for the better.  When and how we just have to keep waiting. 

Sunday television was about Female Foeticide

This Sunday some how I managed to wake up early than I usually do.  After having breakfast with my German CS guest, I dropped him to the BRTS bus stop and came back home.  As usual was feeling Sunday lazy, so switched on the idiot box and also logged into Facebook.  The idiot box starts with SONY channel and a very interesting series on crimes, 'Crime Patrol' was running.  And the first news feed that I got on Facebook was of Ranjana's status saying 'Aamir khan desperately trying to be Oprah Winfry on National Television...'

I was kind of eagerly waiting to watch the first episode of this new series as from the promotional trailers it was quite obvious that the series will be taking on some social causes.  Before I switched the channel to Star Plus to watch Aamir Khan's new series 'Satyamev Jayate', I was keenly watching Crime Patrol's episode on female foeticide. This episode was based on the some Dr. Shastri and the crimes that he committed by using ultra sound on determining the sex of the foetus and in turn abortion of female foetus which is totally against law.

Even the first episode of Aamir Khan's show had focused on female foeticide.  I wasn't able to watch the entire episode, but saw the last few minutes of it and it was clear that the efforts made are really serious and its one more step in India, by the media to create social awareness towards hundred's of issues that are currently hindering India's social development.  

Soon there were few friends updating their FB status and it was mostly related to Aamir Khan's show.  And few internet sites too started putting up their reviews with lot of people expressing their views towards the show.  Since 1990 when the government started economic reforms to open up India's economy to the world this country has seen rapid economic development.  Though it is plagued by some bureaucratic bottlenecks and huge corruption scandals, but still one cannot deny the vast economic development that has happened in the last 2 decades.  But as one would expect that with better economy, the social scenario of a country should improve, that didn't happen in India.  The progress of social development didn't keep pace with the economic development.

The shallow and conservative mindset of we Indians has still not opened up.  People are still stuck up with age old stupid and shameful thoughts, belief's, rituals and acts. Its not that there haven't been any efforts made to change and better the social belief and social structure and mindset of people.  There have been laws enacted, NGO's working towards social betterment and media also doing their bit.  The progress is also there but not fast enough.  India's lethargic judicial system has been one of the major hurdles in bringing many social criminals to justice.  

With states like Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and even parts of Gujarat where people still want to have a male child first, abortion of female foetus is widely prevalent.  Forget the rural people, even well educated rich families in urban India too have this pathetic mindset where the daughter - in - law is forced to abort the female foetus against her wish.  Efforts have been made to make people educate and try to change their thoughts and laws are made to punish the doctors who resort to sex determination of foetus and abortion of female foetus.  But I suppose in a country where idiot box rules the night time in majority of families, this new effort by the media group and Aamir Khan is surely commendable.  

No matter how much money they'll make but their efforts will surely create social awareness across the country and I'm quite hopeful that it will bring results.  But than it hurts to see we Indians criticizing him for making money.  We compare the show to Oprah Winfrey's show and he trying to be the Oprah Winfrey of Indian television. Come on guys give me a break.  Why this fuss ?  Why we are always trying to pull down someone who goes on to do something good for the society ?  We the people of this country for decades have remained just spectators towards so many social issues. We keep on babbling about things but never did we stood up and did something for such social issues.  So why not for once stop criticizing and support not just Aamir Khan but all those who are standing up to fight the social issues of India.  Why not ignore the fact that this guys might earn some bucks and try to see that their efforts with our support might bring the much needed social development in the country and change people's mindset for once and for all.  

Update : After effects of this show.

*   Satyamev Jayate mums should have gone on a ‘sex strike’
http://www.firstpost.com/living/satyamev-jayate-mums-should-have-gone-on-a-sex-strike-302172.html

A new theory - Suggestion from a friend

This Saturday I had to attend the couchsurfing meeting for which I had posted an event when the week began.  But by Saturday, I was too low on enthusiasm to go for it.  Don't know why.  While at the office  that evening I was having a chat with my friend Weronika and we were kind of talking on how we are going to spend the weekend.  I told her about the CS meeting and how I was not willing to attend it.

So on this she told me about her recent experiences that she had and she had concluded that "if you are not feeling like going to some place or doing something, than you should go for it.  Mostly something might turn out or happen and you'll have a great time."

So I took her word and decided that I'll give it a try and see whether this new theory of her's really works or not.  Last few CS meetings were really fun and attended by quite a few CS'ers and old CS friends too.  But this time I was kind of knowing that not many would attend it.  But still I had to go.  I reached there like 20 min. late and in total we were five CS'ers, out of which one came late.  He some how always prefers to arrive at least 45 min. late. The meeting turned out to be just a short one.  While at the meeting I got a call from my friend that couple of friends have gathered to hangout for some drinks and I was invited.  

This CS meeting was attended by a German CS'er who was working in Baroda and had come to Ahmedabad just to attend this CS meeting and explore some parts of Ahmedabad.  But his main purpose was the meeting.  While he was looking for a host, as he wanted to stay for one more day and had no one to host, I agreed to host him for one night.  And then he also joined me to my friend's place for some drinks and to hang out.  And than all the fun started...  

There were few old friends and some new people whom I met.  I spend some few hours there and had some fun jokes and nice conversations with friends.  In all Saturday night went great, much better than  I had expected.  And I text'd Weronika that her new theory worked, at least for this time..... ;)  I guess her belief in her new experience would grow strong with this.... ;)  For me I'm gonna still experiment with her theory more and see how good it works... ;) 

Till than Ciao..... ;)

ANGEL from up above.....

Starring into YOUR blue eyes, when we first met,

I knew then you were heaven sent. 

You had no idea that from the start,

Those tender feelings, I'd found in my heart.

One of a kind, 

Love that LASTS a lifetime 

Still, your smile, takes my breath away, 

Wanting, needing, to hold you, so much to say. 

Like the moon, stars and morning sunrise, 

so much beauty, so much grace. 

Together, forever, I long to be with you,

Can you see, YOU'RE very precious and sweet. 


The only one for me. 

Your gentle words, your tender touch, 
life meaning so much, 

Wrapped tightly in each others arms I wish to be. 

With you, I feel so free. 

A vow to you I take, forever, 

you'll have my love. 

All I ever dreamed of, an ANGEL from up above.

Today's BATHROOM thought.....

I always wondered that why I get confusing and wondering thoughts while I'm showering.... ;)  Anyways again today during those 10 min. of shower my mind went through the 2 complex human beings that has been created and are living on earth.  'Man' and 'Woman'.... ;)  And then their relationships.  How men are and how women are ?  And how they are together ?  

So different but yet many times the thoughts, habits, likes and dislikes and so very similar.  I've learned that 2 opposites always attracts.  So than why a man and a woman look out to for someone similar to themselves... ? And than on the other side there are men and women who thought don't have anything in common, yet together they are like a house on fire... :)  So does the law of attraction really work between a man and a woman or its just a myth... ?  Never understood this.  There is this book I have, called 'Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus'.  I have read I guess just 10 pages of it, but in general you tend to agree that majority of men and women are just like as it is mentioned in the book.  But then on the other side I feel how can we generalize the whole thing bout men and women that is mentioned in this book.  After all, all men and all women they are not the same.

If it was like that, than to all the problems between a man and a woman there would have been a common solution. Might have been that a book with common solutions must have been published and every couple would find the solution to their problem in that book.  And than, all problems solved.... ;)  I think with time the definition of relationships has been changing or say evolving ?  And may be in future too it'll keep on changing.  Blessed are those couples who have met the right partner in their life and I guess the way to be together remains with them only.  As every relationship is different than the other.  Still if we go from country to country, region to region still many times counselors come across common problems.  So why this is all like this...?  Ahhhhhh so confusing.... ;)  So I guess one has to dig in more...

A day with the LIONS.... ;)

First weekend of April 2012, first weekend of the new financial year and it was the first experience for me to see the King of the Jungle right in front of me.  It was an instantaneous decision to join my 2 friends along with 2 other friends to the trip of GIR the only home to the Asiatic Lions.  I so much wanted to go to the GIR with my orchid friends on the new year eve in 2010, but unfortunately had to fall out of it due to some social engagement that came up that year.... :(  I really wanted to be with them in that trip, but never mind.  I am happy I was on this trip this time.

A night journey in a local train to Veraval and an Ambassador drive from Veraval took us to GIR.  With the help of some guides we got a home stay which after an argument with the owners turned out to be quiet a cheap one.  We got the permit for the evening slot.  All were excited to enter the wild.  The guide that was with us was a very experienced one and he really gave us some valuable info about this magnanimous animal.  GIR is a deciduous forest, almost dry for 9 months and green only during the raining months.  Lions always are found in dry forest as their skin color blends well in the dry forest and it helps them to hide while hunting.  Lions also are very lazy.  In the hot summer that we have here, they just keep lying in the shade of a tree and come out only when they are hungry and are on the hunt.  The guide also told us that once the lion fills its stomach he needs at least 48 to 72 hours to digest its prey.  Now that's pretty long.... ;)

Our safari into the GIR forest was of almost 3 hours and anyhow we had to see one of the most magnanimous animal.  The guide was constantly in touch with the forest rangers who keep tracking the lions for the whole day. One such tracker informed our guide that one male lion is resting right in front of them and immediately the driver turned our jeep towards that location and in just few minutes we were right in 10 m distance of the first lion that we saw.  It was resting and we were there to disturb him.... ;)  Soon our cameras were out and we were clicking it, but we wanted the lion to pose for us.... ;)  So we just pressured  the tracker and he went like super close to the lion to disturb its sleep.  And soon we were looking in the eyes of the Lion.  Wow that was one awesome sight.  Some nice clicks and we started to move in search of some more.... ;)  Almost when our safari was to end we spotted one more young male lion.  The guide told us his name was Raju and we had to believe him.  Again just lying around resting in the bushes and the tracker guided us extremely close to it.  Wow that moment of watching this magnanimous creature was awesome.  How it is like you are just relaxing in the bushes and you see some other creatures taking your pics... ;)  Quickly than we left him to rest and we were on our way back.

While on the safari we had some moments too where our vehicle's type got flat and where we are not suppose to get down from the vehicle, now we had to and got our chance to click some pics of ourselves right in the middle of the very dry forest.  Was fun... :)  In the evening we got a chance to see a documentary on this beautiful creature explaining how their conservation started and how things are now for the King of the Jungle.  Some of the facts about the conservation of Lion's were just unbelievable.  The huge are of approx. 1420 sq. kms is the home of about 410 asiatic lions.  And for them now this huge area has become small.

The Lions have till date managed to survive and grow in numbers along with the local villagers called the Maldhari's.  Its so surprising that humans and lions have co-existed since decades in this area with few conflicts here and there between them.  How human being has learned to co-exist with this fierce some creature makes one think on how we learn to adapt and survive, and not just survive but live for generations.

The Maldhari's

The visit to GIR still wasn't that satisfying as we just saw 2 lions.  Some say summer is not the best time as the lions remain deep in the forest to escape the high temperatures.  So might be worthwhile to visit this place again in winter and try my luck... :)  After all a Leo loves to see the creature that is the symbol of its sun sign.... ;)  

The Rebel........

Today while chatting with a friend it suddenly struck us that we both are kind of rebels. Rebels in the society we live in.... ;)  Well sounds confusing ?  Of course it is to those who don't understand me.  Human being, since ancient times have been living in a society.  Society that has constantly evolved over a period of decades of centuries.  And in different parts of the world the evolution has been different and the pace with which it has evolved has also been different.  And during this changes few extremely strong and powerful and people were made the head of this society.  I suppose the rules to how this particular society shall live were decided either knowingly or unknowingly and the subsequent generations started to live with the same set of rules and follow the same set of ways of living their life.  

But I suppose in every region, every era and every society there must have been always some people who denied to follow the set of rules formulated by the society.  And they found their happiness and satisfaction in doing their own things and living a life the way they wanted.  In today's world too the society that we live in, expects us to follow the ways that has been followed by since decades.  I don't say they are not perfect or they are stupid or not acceptable.  But why expect everyone to follow it.... ?  They might provide the comfort and peace and stability.  But what if someone just doesn't care.... ? Or what if someone finds his / her peace and happiness in doing something or living in some other way which is not as per the standard set of ways formulated by the society he / she lives in.

Is it that difficult for the society to accept it ?  Our society after all comprises of us.  Our family, friends, relatives, business associates and colleagues, friends of friends, neighbors and of course strangers.... ;)  With today's world giving you so many wide options to live and pursue a life so very different, why not accept it.  Why judge people on their different or unique way of living life ?  Since I am born and brought up in Amdavad, is it that I have to live a life the way Amdavadi's live.... ?  Till someone is not hurting anyone or indulging into any sort of criminal activities, I strongly feel he / she should be accepted happily and allowed to live his / her life the way he / she wants to. After all a happy, peaceful and satisfied society can be made if the people living in it are happy and satisfied.  Till how far shall we keep judging our near and dear ones.  Instead why can't we accept them as they are.... ?  Why is it that we all have to be just similar.... ?  

Just like how the 4 stages of life system in Hindu society are mentioned which I don't think any one in today's world follows it, why today's society creates a rebel out of someone who doesn't want to follow today's set of rules and ways of living life.  I am sure with the coming time its gonna change but the sooner our society realizes it, the sooner people are gonna be happy and at peace with themselves.   

'Vicky Donor' - The Sperm Donor.... ;)

Today after many weeks I went to see a new bollywood movie with Shaily, Kanan and Palak.  Might be after a long long time that I didn't had to book the tickets.  Thanks to Shaily.  The movie was 'VICKY DONOR'.  I had read about the movie and knew it was all about sperm bank and sperm donation.  But had no idea how the story would be.  And for the good it turned out to be one hilarious movie with a very noble social message and a modern concept.  

It was such a fun how the doctor sees every man as a sperm and keeps calling them as either a greedy sperm or a confused sperm or a complicated sperm.  Many times walks in his office with a sperm toy in his hand.... ;)  And of course how in the end the sperm donor comes to know that with his sperm 53 kids were conceived.  OMG....53 kids and some of them were twins.  Kids born to Indian and foreign couples too.  And in return Vicky the sperm donor earned millions.... ;)  

For once I had a thought wow, what a nice profession, isn't it ?  You are helping all those couples who cannot have babies as the husband's sperms are no longer fertile enough.  And you earn money for each donation and gifts too... ;)  And rest you are free the whole day.  WOW... ;)  Also loved how the couples were shown wanting for the sperms from a particular type of male.   It was too hilarious, especially might be because of the Punjabi family shown and the way of talking how it is in Delhi.  And yeah one particular line that the hero tells to an old relative of his - I'm going to donate sperms, you wanna join me ? ..... ;)

The dialogues and the screenplay and the comic timing was just too good.  After a long time I've seen a really nice bollywood movie which I think is not a copy of some hollywood flick.  Thinking I might go to the cinema and watch it one more time.... ;)  'Vicky Donor' - The Sperm Donor ... ;)  So any guy out there wanna try out ?

SATYENDRA DUBEY ....Killed for exposing corruption

Last Sunday while I woke up after a good afternoon nap in Hotel Arunoday, Navsari I was wondering what to do in this small town.  The only option available was to watch a movie in the cinema, but was too lazy to get out of the room.  So the only option was to watch the idiot box.... ;)  Ordered a chai to just get that kick and get fresh and then started to surf the television.  Since few weeks I've been following this very exciting series called 'Crime Patrol'.  Its about the criminal cases coming to record and in turn informs us to how to be aware in different situations one might come across.  This episodes are all based on true incidents that had happened somewhere in India.  And while surfing the TV  I just came across Crime Patrol and it had just started.  This time it was about the life of Satyendra Dubey.  

Thousands had sacrificed their lives for the freedom of India from the British Rule.  But after India became independent, slowly but steadily corruption spread its rule all over India and today we are ruled big time by corrupt politicians and bureaucrats.  This episode of Crime Patrol was about Satyendra Dubey's fight against corruption in India's first biggest road project - The Golden Quadrilateral.  In his fight against corruption he was assassinated.  The worst is that the conspirators of his killing are still free and our lethargic judicial system did nothing to bring them to justice.  

How many such honest government officers will be sacrificed in our so called free country ?  Those who really wanted to work for the country and for the people.  Here's the entire life of Satyendra Dubey in brief..... :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satyendra_Dubey

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/keyword/satyendra-dubey

Jai Hind....

Is there a limit to how much money can corrupt people's mind... ?

So finally I'm back from my work trip.  I've always wondered that why I'm surrounded by so many people belonging to the Jain community ?  Not that its bad, but it keeps me annoying that the religion whose ideology I've never ever understood, I actually interact with people belonging to this religion only.  Many important people in my life actually belong to the Jain religion.  And particularly my most important client's of South Gujarat, they all follow Jainism.  And so naturally every time I visit religious talks become part of our initial discussions.  And more so as the colleague with whom I travel, he too is a Jain.  And more importantly he is a very knowledgeable person when it comes to knowing different rituals of Jainism, knowing many monks and there whereabouts and also the in and outs of various religious trusts of Jainism in Ahmedabad.  

We were in the town of Navsari on the first day of our trip.  It was the day's last visit to one very shroud and selfish kind of client.  A millionaire who doesn't have the heart to let go of even a single penny... ;)  Never bothers to see that he is wearing, a shirt which has only 4 buttons out of 5 ?  His shop has 3 rooms.  The first front room where he sits and meets his vendors and clients.  The second and middle one and the third and last one all in one line.  Interestingly and annoyingly every time we visit he takes my colleague to the last room and always does some private talks... ;)  It is very annoying ;) This time he took us both to the last room to finish the accounts fast without any disturbance.  Then we came out to receive the payment.  Out of nowhere started a religious discussion about the functioning of various trusts in Jainism in Ahmedabad and Navsari.  And to my horror what I heard was just too disgusting. 

They were actually discussing how so many trustee's in this so called trusts in have cheated and stolen public's money which they had donated for one cause or the other. How money donated to the temple or to the trust in the name of God for some holy purpose was all stolen and used by the trustee's for their personal expenses.  Though majority of the donors use their black money  for such donations... ;)  No wonder as they say money earned in the wrong way always is spend in the wrong purpose.  At least that is what I've learned and experienced in my life.  In a country that besides being among the top in population, is also among the top in corruption.  Somehow it is now rooted so deep in our culture that to escape from it is one herculean task now. And small forms of corruption is actually now considered as tips.  Pay some bribe and get your thing done.  Right from the bottom till the top, take any system in our day to day life its for sure corrupted.

And then we all blame the politicians for huge scams that are coming up one after the other.  After all this politicians were born from us only.  Since childhood we've been seeing our near and dear one's bribing the traffic cop on the roads, or even we are given bribe as a child to do well in our studies.  Right from getting admission in school till our body is burnt, we bribe in one way or the other.  So after all when we blame and curse this big politicians for eating up the tax payers money, why don't we look at ourselves.  Everyone resorts to bribing in their own capacities.  More powerful the person, the more corrupt he gets.  Sometimes I wonder how much money one needs to live a comfortable or even luxurious life... ?  After all the money one accumulates by corruption can never stop us from dying. ;)  And doesn't this men have even a little bit of humanity to think and do something for the really needy people of this country... ?

We have one minister in the current central govt. who had an attach of paralysis and now has problem while speaking. He was slapped in public by one guy for his alleged role in the rising food inflation in this country. Prices of milk, sugar, veggies, pulses which are the most important for the mostly vegetarian population of this country have more than doubled in the last one year but the govt. does nothing.  Thanks to the opening of commodity exchange.  A very close colleague always keeps saying that if corruption gets even halved in this country, the things that are priced at Re. 1.00 can be available at 0.50 paise.  This is just one small example.  It seems today that in this great country with not so great population, corruption has got into our  culture.

So what to do now ?  I feel unless we all decide on ourselves to be honest and for once say NO to bribing things might change.  Pay the fines instead of bribes.  Once the new generation gets habituated to not to bribe, the people getting into government might not resort to corruption.  Or is it that our politics is such that even the non-corrupt gets corrupted ?  Well lots of doubts... But I guess its high time we start to fight the rule of corruption.  Its not going to change overnight or in a year or two.  Something that has gone deep in our daily life, might need few years or a decade to bring it down to extremely low levels.  This country needs another freedom fight from the rule of corruption.  

You like someone, but that someone likes someone else.... ;)

Ever wondered how it feels if you like / love someone and that someone likes / loves someone else.... ?  Its just something many many of us might have gone through in our teens or may be after that and still now too... ;)  How many times has it happened to you ?  What did you feel when you came to know about this ?  Ever wondered if you are not the only person with whom such thing has happened ?  But surprisingly just like it takes two to tango, it takes two people who went through such an experience to pour their heart out on this.  

Few days back I was talking to a new found friend and out came this topic.  And she was like, 'oh its always like that'.  Well for some it surely is always like that.  To know that the person you like / love actually likes / loves someone else.  And the more you want tend to fight that feeling and get away from that person, the more difficult it becomes.  Yes but ultimately one has to or else it might lead to some messy problems.  So what if this leads to frustrated feelings and depressed mind ?  Can anyone possibly go through this horrible phase because the person you like / love actually likes / loves someone else  ?  

From last weekend to this one.... Just a wonderful week... :)

It was 30th March 2012, friday.  Few days before I had received a couch request from Tanja Stompf from Germany.  She was traveling in India and had send me a couch request for 30th and 31st of March and I had accepted it.  She arrived in the noon at my place and I met her after I came back from office.  After few initial introductory talks, I took her to Vishala restaurant to let her know how good and delicious Gujarati food is... ;) That's actually one place where I always try to take my guests to.  And as everyone else she too loved the ambiance and the food at Vishala and loved the mint tea too.  Yes mint tea is just fantastic at Vishala.  And for me I simply enjoyed talking to her.  The variety of conversations and the spontaneous exchange of thoughts were awesome.  I was loving every bit of it and I guess she too loved it.  It was one instantaneous friendly connection.  A wonderful friday night and Saturday evening too in her company was just wonderful.  As she seemed to be a kind of foodie I took her to some famous road side eating places like Law Garden and I was glad she liked the food and place.  We kept on talking about each other and our likes and dislikes till mid night and we decided to cook on Sunday afternoon.  

Sunday afternoon I had to cook and she was going to help me.  So Rice and Dal it was which I find pretty easy and that's what I can cook best.... ;)  Tanja helped me and soon we were on the dining table and I hope she liked my food.  Though she told me she loved it but she might have been just too nice with me .... ;)  But it was fun.  A bollywood movie than and soon a wonderful Sunday came to an end with Tanja leaving for Udaipur.  A wonderful weekend with an awesome couch surfer.

The start of the week also was a perfect one.  From January to June, this 6 months are the most busiest for me and hence proper planning is so important to finish work on time.  It was great to seal off few important and big deals right at the start of the week and some how the co - ordination with vendors and customers all went perfectly right. Its so nice when things fall in place as you have desired and the same happened on Tuesday too.  As planned every bit of work planned for Tuesday got finished and that too before time.  But the heat, omg 42 deg. got on to me.... :(  Anyways it was good to know that the rest of the days I can just sit in my office and finish the paper work.

And then out of a sudden Wednesday evening once again at Vishala with some old and new friends.  Some great discussions and travels to GIR wild life sanctuary were finalized for the coming weekend.  Also Wednesday happened to me a very emotional kind of day.  There were so many apprehensions that were laid to rest.  Since last few months so much negativity had crept in which had made me restless and I was kind of getting suspicious for something which I shouldn't have.  But I'm so glad that finally I know that come what may my this negative thoughts will never come true.  :)  Felt so wonderful and relieved.  Its like I can have a clear view in front of me.  People whom I want to be close to my heart I can now be sure that they were and will remain close to me no matter what.  Its this positive feeling that made my week just too good.... :)  And I guess on this positive development hope the coming months and the year might just happen to be a great one.... :)