This Monday to Friday

This is my first attempt at writing a little something on the various things that happened during Monday to Friday. Being a student, and a higher education aspirant, people have always advised me to keep abreast with the latest events across the globe. Admittedly, I may have missed many events that took place this past week. But with a keenness, which I hope would only increase by the day, I write about this week as I see it. Suggestions and corrections are most welcome. 

What the Amul ads say
January 13:

The popular milk brand Amul draws attention to the plight of roads of Mumbai- the Business and Bollywood capital. A play on lyrics of famous Hindi song "Yeh Hai Bombay Meri Jaan" very accurately depicts the sad state of affairs. This situation is also prevalent in many other parts of the country, leading to many unfortunate accidents and disruption in transportation of goods, among many other problems. "Kachchi sadak" is not just an issue in the rural areas.

January 14:

India experiences cold weather and Amul captures the chill with its famous ad campaign.

With regard to cold and the poor, one of the commendable actions of New Delhi's new government is use of un-usable buses as "Raen-Basera" or night shelters for those on the streets. This seems to be an excellent use of vandalised property and goes on to show the emphatic side of the newest political party in the country. This also encourages all of us to find solutions by thinking out-of-box. Hopefully many such innovative ideas will be brought forth to tackle various issues of the aam admi. 

January 15: 

This Uttarayan saw the bonding of Gujarat's CM Mr. Modi and Bollywood star Mr. Salman Khan. Alongwith the nation celebrating the fun-filled festival in various forms: Lohri/Sankranti/Pongal/Bihu to name a few, these two also flew kites and enjoyed the Uttarayan delicacy Undhiyu. The actor called Modi a "good man" and said that every one should vote for the man they think is best. This, I think, is what the focus of this story should be on- the right to vote-it's importance and implications. 

Indian Politics

1.  "No file moves without Jayanthi Tax in Environment Ministry"

"Jayanthi Tax"- a bribery allegation by Mr. Modi against the former Union Minister of MoEF. Responding to this, Jayanthi Natarajan said that it was a canard and a personal attack on her as she had opposed to some major projects in Gujarat. These projects, she states, were in major green violations. A lot of talks are going on about her resignation, which some see as a fig leaf.

Meanwhile, an interesting article on her stint as the Union Minister of MoEF by Economic Times. 

 2. "Modi Can't be a PM, We Can set up a tea stall for him"

Mr. Mani Shanker Aiyar made this statement, attacking the opposition BJP's PM candidate Mr. Narendra Modi. Modi's opponents have many a times made similar jibes against him, while he and his proponents have used this fact to project him as a simple man rising from a humble background. In an attempt to touch the common man's pulse, this projection seems to have worked favorably. My personal opinion is that there is no good for Modi's opponents to make remarks against this fact because this does seem a creditable feat-a true and inspiring rags-to-riches story. There can be other issues that might help these opponents in their campaign. 

Here's what Omar Abdullah has to say on this-Outlook India

Obituary

January 17:  Suchitra Sen- the legendary Bengali actress.

Sports:

India Beat Olympic Champ Germany 5-4 in World Hockey League- Outlook India

The National Sport records another happy and a rather sensational win in the Hero World League Round 2- Men. Congratulations to the team and best wishes. Such feats must always be celebrated and not just in movies. Also,there is no wrong in practising "cricket as a religion", because every sport must be played like a war, with any achievement in any tournament adding to the nation's pride. Only important thing is to nurture each sport in spirit and support.

Tech News

1. Google's smart contact lens prototype that tracks glucose for diabetics-story by Washington Post.

My take: It is exciting to see the internet giant foraying into such fields. With the big brand name and a trust well established, Google can very easily derive capital for such experiments and innovations. Also, it attracts many intelligent minds, who come together and put the combined expertise and efforts that could result into many inventions making the world a happier and healthier place. Also, it is clearly a good business venture as with the success of such projects, the company too stands to increase its clout outside the search engines' and apps' markets. 

2. "MTV Twister- a speaker for those who like it loud". Review by the Indian Express

To me, MTV means non-stop hits, the Coke Studio, uber-cool veejays and the fun animations. Roadies for some. "Bakra" for many. Here comes an interesting Bluetooth speaker by MTV and Soundlogic, that promises to cater to those who host "wild" parties. A fun new gadget for the youth, a potential industry to bank upon for the music channel.

The Gift of Time

The Gift of Time

What do you do when you are suddenly given the gift of time? You can lose your mind. But hey, being a graduate student, you have plenty of opportunities to lose it. So I say, you use your time.

This is how...

Call all your relatives who don’t expect you to call. Catch them off guard. Try to avoid the ones who’ll talk about studies and your ambitions and life, because you don’t need this crap. There are many HR rounds of prospective jobs/higher education to give you this pain. Talk to your favourite aunts/uncles/cousins who are like-minded and would talk about fun stuff. J J J

Take a long walk. Really long. It ought to be brisk, but a normal pace is fine too. Because you have the gift of time. If people ask you, you could say that you really need it for quiet introspection (and can evade unwanted company). Inside, you know that you really need to get rid of those kilograms. So keep walking till you quit, because let’s face it, you are going to quit sooner or later. So make hay while the sun shines. :P

Do laundry. That way, you’ll use up a significant amount of time and finally the laundry basket would get some respite. Since you have lots of dirty clothes, it’s the most productive use of time and this way you get a chance to return to the civilised way of life.

You go to bed early because if you are free, better invest it in some good night sleep. Very soon the examinations would be here making sure you have to choose cram over couch. So sleep well! Unless, you find a great book which keeps you hooked till 4.26 am. J

You miss your breakfast because you had to finish that book. This is bad for health but good for appetite for reading. Choose wisely :P

 

Of course, many a times you’ll end up hating yourself. Self-abnegation et al. It won’t be fun but it’ll use up some of the time. The important thing is you must have a project, any project that helps you kill time.

Make a diet chart. Plan an exercise regime. Let’s do it.

Forget all this and opt for the easiest and laziest option. Watch reruns of F.R.I.E.N.D.S. 

If someone asks you what’s going on, you tell them “I am ...

My 4 walls in many homes

Jayalalithaa's one-rupee idlis now in Delhi

The food stall has been opened at the Tamil Nadu Bhavan as part of Pongal celebrations 

and will serve South Indian food - idlis at Re one and lemon-rice and sambhar-rice at Rs. 5 

- till January 14.

For a person, who has lived in many different cities and has attended many different schools has had many different homes. For me, the number is two and a half.

Growing up In Delhi, With all the relatives- my first home. The most loved home. With fun-filled weekends at India Gate.The school where I had so many friends in teachers and class-mates and non class-mates and the choir group (yeah, I used to sing!) and the dramatics club (I was either the lead or the narrator) and the picnics- the last one at the Appu Ghar and the Garden of Five Senses. Movies at the Liberty. The Auto-Expo: little me in little leather jackets and leather skirts (LOL but true), with my cousins checking out the chic new cars, where I saw the first-ever human being with green eyes and wearing braces! 

Any news where Delhi comes up, I read/watch the whole of it. January 13 always means Lohri and popcorns and winter sweets (gud and moongfali ki patti, my favorite) around bonfire with LOUD music (LOUD is a must).

Middle school onwards, I have to call Ahmedabad my home. After years of being popular in school, it was crazy to be the new gal in school. Well, fortunately for me, there were four more new gals and we all naturally became best buddies. Still, the politics and hate-games were hard to endure. For instance,no one would name me for the upcoming Creative Writing contest because the school already had a Miss Her Pen Is Magic. But, mom-dad always know how to cheer their little Bollywood buff: Drive-In Cinema. Plus, this city has lakes! Plural. The food is sweet, but I have grown to like it. Although I have been into books since always, it is here that I first stumbled across the Crosswords . And till now shopping meant Karol Bagh, but Ahmedabad has so many malls. All around my house. 

No, this is the most loved home. Teenage and consumerism have kicked in! January 14 is when everyone, all the neighbours and the neighbouring societies are up on the terrace, flying kites and eating chikki (which, by the way, is gud and moongfali ki patti).

My half home is my college. My hostel. Where I have seen 3 batches of seniors. 3 batches of juniors. Plus 1 killer batch- mine. Here, we have a Lake-view and a bridge-over-the-river view and the quintessential Galla view-where I drink tea and munch on Vada Pav or an occasional locho. People smoke. I don't care, only try to avoid inhaling it. We have a Narmad Library- for the likes of me. The place has malls and McDonalds' and Subway and KFC and the latest, the Barbeque Nation. I don't care, we eat in our Hostel Mess- it's really good. No sarcasm. 

January 13 means bunking the classes and heading home. January 14 means kite fights. January 15 means boarding trains back to college.

That's all. Happy Lohri. Happy Uttarayan. To my Andhra friends, Happy Sakranti. To the scientists, Happy Solar Transition. Spring is coming (which means nothing here, but in Delhi, the pretty flowers bloom. I suddenly want to visit the Mughal Gardens.)

Winter Woes World Wodehouse

‘Life-Threatening Wind Chill’ 

'America hasn't been this cold in 20 years. Record breaking 'polar vortex' sweeps the nation with temps that can freeze skin in just 10 minutes.'

A glumness had set in, an air of chilly despondence would slap hard, now and then, and the more I held onto my seat belt of assuring delusions, the colder and darker the road of reality got. Sometimes, you drive into a one-way lane with no exits visible. The best way is to change the gears and keep listening to the radio.

As the season of dormancy has arrived, I have decided to apply the reverse gear and put my hibernation drive to the neutral.

For every winter brings in, along with the numbing chill, the lights and merry and a hope of Happy New somethings. (strictly in reference to the Northern Hemisphere).  

      Aam janata joins Aam Aadmi Party. 

Arvind Kejriwal-  the Man Du Jour
picture courtesy: Amul on Facebook

As the hearth of Indian politics fires up, I find a change in thermodynamics: The mercury takes a dip outdoors, while the drawing room discussions heat up. After I finish understanding Swaraj -as Delhi's incumbent CM sees it , I would like to read Wodehouse, my new something for Two O One Four.

All-in-all, the West goes skiing and many-fold layers, our East wants a new timeline : Assam's New Year Wish and we, with snow-less, "sweaters-on, ceiling fans-off" winters, contend ourselves with kites and oondhiyo-jalebi.