Blunders of the Almighty

I have never been so content as much as I was today in my life. The reason for my content is a 2 letter word THANK YOU said by Murugeshwari. I am a NCC cadet and as part of our NCC activities we conduct lot of social service activities. We conduct events in a manner that truly benefits the society and the downtrodden. Today we conducted one such event which struck a chord in my heart. Writing examination for the visually impaired. I wanted to do this for a very long time but did not get the right opportunity. And today I got the opportunity. I was the writer for the girl named Murugeshwari. She had her maths paper today.

The girl for whom I was writing the exam Murugeshwari was partially impaired. The question paper was given and I started to read out the questions for her. As she began to tell me the steps I started to write the exam for her.

I was completely in awe with the way these people went about the exam very very systematic. It was Math exam so she was busy calculating so I had time to give a glance around the room. There were about 30 students who were taking up the exam. There were women from all age group who were there to write exam for the students. There was even a 60 year old lady who was intently listening to what the girl opposite to her was saying. When I saw these gals who were visually impaired there was a sudden feeling of emptiness in my heart. The almighty appeared as a total villain to me at that time. My thoughts were interrupted by Murugeshwari’s voice, “akka sum panalama?” So I proceeded doing the sum for her.

The duration of the exam was three hours and it ended at 1. And when it was over she insisted that I read out her answers so that she could verify it before giving the paper to the invigilator. And when I securely tied the paper with the thread she said “Thank you akka naan yarume varamatanga nanachen ana neenga vanthutinga thanks.”(I thought nobody will come to write exam for me but you came thanks a lot). I was choked words did not come out of my mouth and all I did was to give her my best smile to say I was honored to write her paper. It felt like eternity when she thanked me. For once, I was proud about myself for making a little difference in some one’s life.

There is so much to life that escapes our eyes. All we care for is our welfare, at the maximum welfare of near and dear ones. We are so busy in our life that we do not find a second to pause and think how life is for others who are not so blessed like that of a beggar, or a handicapped person. These person despite of their shortcomings are in so many ways better than us. They are the real HEROES. We crib about so many things in life. Those things when compared to the sufferings these people undergo seem very very trivial. Why has god been so unkind to them? Can some one give me the answer?

The Gandhiji’s Talissman is very apt to be remembered at this juncture. We all are so blessed in life and should thank almighty for giving us a good life. And start to make little difference in others life. The next time when you are worried for something think about the faces of these beautiful children your worries will melt away.

The Nisha Effect

“The best thing one can do when it's raining is to let it rain.” Said Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 

 Ironically if we let it rain then in the next few days or probably even hours the whole city of Chennai will be under water. I have been living in this city that’s home to 4 million people and never even once in 20 years of my life have I witnessed a downpour of this magnitude. Its water water everywhere. I braved all the weather and in true Journo spirit started to Jaya tv for my work, where couple of my friends and I are training at news production. 

There was traffic jam all over the city and my area was no different. There were hardly people on the roads. (Sigh!! how I wished I could have bunked and sat at home eating hot molaka bhajji nd enjoy the rains.) Commuting to the office was not a problem. The bus SWAM yes SWAM through the water and safely landed us at our destination. The real problem came only when we were returning back home.

After a 15 minute wait we got a bus and luckily got a seat too. The journey to what I call as the thrilling roller coaster ride began. The bus slowly started to move amidst the traffic oops sorry evading the water. The stretch I was travelling in was from Ekkaduthangal to Thirumangalam. I guess cyclone Nisha has started to like Chennai that it’s refusing to make a move. As I was listening to music to fight boredom I shifted my glance towards the window to see the water levels on the roads. It was a sight to watch. Seriously I wish people could come out of their houses just to see the levels of water and I am not exaggerating; there was a deluxe bus that was drowned in the water, scores of cars that were abandoned and ya there was a bike in the water or under the water should I say, which I later identified it to be a pulsar with the help of its peculiar pointed edge at the rear. Whilst everybody in the bus was worried of how to reach home safely my friend and I were enjoying this new experience, we were super thrilled. In fact the water entered the bus (I know none of u all gonna buy this but this is the truth!!) It was like going in a river the only difference was the mode of transport. I was giving live updates to my other friend via phone. It was super exciting never have I seen Chennai like this.

Water had entered all the shops and the shopkeepers were doing their best to keep it at bay, while the traffic policemen were signaling the buses and controlling the chaos. Panic prevailed all over the city. When my friend and I were discussing in which angle to take video of the floods we heard a strange voice *creek* *shessh*the bus came to a halt. The driver relentlessly pursued to start the bus but his efforts went in vain. I just realized that we were right in the middle of the river and if we had to get down then it would take us a lot of time and energy to reach the shore. As this thought was passing through my mind the bus started, everybody in the bus heaved a sigh of relief.

My stop arrived and I had to switch buses to reach my house. I was standing in the middle of the road cuz that was the place where the water level was considerably less, till my knee level. I couldn’t differentiate the pavements and the roads as everything were at unison. I was lucky the second time to get a share auto. And that’s how I reached home after what seemed to be a roller coaster ride that lasted nearly for two and half hours.

P.S: On a more serious note, I wonder whether there is no Provision of what is called as Drainage system in the city. This is the worst that the city has ever seen and I hope this will be the last one too. The Chennai city doesn’t need Nisha it has so many sha’s to deal with.

Of beliefs and Customs

It was a long day at work, had so much of work to do that I actually skipped my lunch too!!. After work my friends and I went to our regular chat shop to have the delicious chat. We are their loyal customers and the fact that we prefer that shop is cuz it’s kind of very light on our wallets. All of us were hungry and called the waiter to place our orders and to our disappointment fond that the chat section of the hotel was closed. Dejected we came out and thought we will try out the next shop and to our surprise found even that one was closed. Cursing the shops nearby I bid goodbye to my friends and started to ride back home.

My stomach started to grumble so I started to drive as fast I could to reach home soon. But to my luck I got caught in a traffic that was caused due to a death procession. I was caught in Aminjikarai and the road there was narrow and due to the death procession the vehicles were standing in a queue for the traffic to clear. As I was waiting for the traffic to clear something caught my attention.

Yes the death procession. I was very bewildered by that whole custom. Death is something that is horrid and unpleasant. It’s a scar that stays in our life for a very long time. I somehow fail to understand this whole custom of death procession. There is a family grief struck due to the death and the way this whole procession is carried out seems to be very illogical to me. Firstly you take the corpse seated in a chair and have a whole bunch of dancers dancing the traditional “Dapankuthu” leading the procession. Is this an event that has to be celebrated dancing? And to top it all you have flowers and mostly the fresh red roses strewn all around the road. Flowers are something that are used for a happy occasion. I feel sad to see these flowers being crushed under the wheels. The icing to this whole is the bursting of crackers scaring the passer byes too. 

I was lost in these thoughts and for a moment I could hear the auto man behind me horning to move ahead as the traffic cleared cuz thankfully the death procession took a right turn. Finally I reached home and the first thing I did was to eat no no hogged. Then I asked my mum the reason for the Dapankuthu and the throwing of flowers and likes of that. The answer my mum gave was so quirky that it left me toying with the question how on earth they find such social beliefs and customs!!!

Apparently when someone dies the send off needs to be grand to that person in a way that it brings happiness to him. And that’s the reason for the Dapankuthu and the others. It seemed totally illogical to me. Many of the Hindu families still follow this tradition and may be will continue to do so. I personally feel that people need to change with the times. 

This is a plea to all the people who indulge in this custom

 5 concrete reasons as in why this system should be scrapped off

1. Chennai is becoming traffic prone and this one is jus adding to the list.

2.  The amount of money that is being spent in all this if available to the family will be a lot helpfull.  

3. Cleanliness of the environment is something that all of us are least bothered about. Strewing flowers and making the roads dirty and not driver friendly is not appreciated. 

4. It just annoys someone to see a death procession when a person is on the way to work

5. For god sake we are in a civilized society and acts like these seems really funny and stupid.

Sons of the Soil??? or so they claim!!!

Disclaimer : This might not be a great post, you might even want to curse yourself for devoting time to it, its no Political analysis, i just wrote it cuz i felt frustrated about the whole issue 

In the 1960s, their target was Dakshin Bharatiyas (South Indians). Now, resentment is sought to be whipped up against Uttar Bharatiyas (North Indians). Anti Valentine day protests, Criticizing  the policies implemented by the Vilasarao Deshmuk’s Government, Demanding an apology from Jaya Bachan for her Anti Marathi remarks, threatening to shut down the Jet airways operations in Maharashtra if they did not rehire probationary employees are some of the examples of Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirmaan Sena’s efforts in championing the cause they believe in - "Maharashtra for the Marathis"

Their fight however took an extreme step on Sunday when MNS workers attacked railway board examination centers to protest against the "inadequate representation" of locals, triggering attack on North Indians. 

I am no expert in commenting on their ideology, they are even right in voicing the demands of the locals i am not touching that aspect at all, all that i wish to express is that the way they go about it is unconstitutional. 

The notion that any city or part of India belongs only to its ‘natives’ is unconstitutional, repugnant and injurious to the ideal of national unity and integration. From time immemorial, our people have freely moved from one part of the country to another, believing all of India to be their own. As far as Mumbai is concerned, although it is the capital of Maharashtra, people from every corner of the country have migrated to this city of dreams and opportunities since its inception.

So much for these lunatics’ Pro Maharashtra stand that they have only caused enough damage to men and material in the name of protecting Marathias not even once have they come up with concrete steps in implementing what they preach!!. Rather they have only left a sour taste about Maharashtra and Marathis in people’s mind. 

One need to critically look at the brand image of Mumbai, the financial Capital of India has severely taken a beating due to these activities. Mumbai is what it is today because of the contribution of diverse communities inhabiting it. In particular, the two sources of its national and international profile — Business and Bollywood — would be unthinkable without a grateful recognition of the role of non-Marathi speaking communities. It would be a great misfortune if Mumbai degenerated into a provincial capital.

When the Prime Minister can come up and give assurance to the people about the safety of India’s banking system I am surprised how he has not yet come out with a statement condemning the act of MNS. 

We are concerned about the security of our nation and blame the home ministry for not being tough on terrorists but who needs terrorists and anti terrorist laws when we have people in our vicinity who can create a ruckus and get away with it easily in the name of protecting the locals??Why can we not have a shoot at sight order when public and private properties are damaged by these hooligans?

If they are so passionate about their cause then why do they not demand say Mukesh Ambani or all rich Gujaraties/ Punjabis/ South Indians etc. to go back? Or stage protest asking all non Marathi banks, BPO’S, M.N.C’s to shift out of Mumbai??. All their attacks are on the poor and deprived lot of the society.

Where is the famous spirit of Mumbai gone???? A city that once stood strong post the Mumbai train blasts is now staying off the streets. Its just sad to note that this great city has been brought to its knees by one person who thinks he is championing the cause of locals, but is only helping himself to free publicity.

I jus wonder how the Country scene will be if everyone started to take cues from the MNS nd the Shiv Sena and start to rebel.  The very thought of it sends shivers down my spine.  If that time arrives then the citizens of India will be Captives in their own Motherland albeit in their State.

P.S :I am not an ANTI MARATHI jus a normal citizen of this nation.

Musings of a First time Blogger

Forever i have been intrigued by the ideas of blogs. I love reading other's blog and wondered whether if i could ever write one. Somehow or the other i was jus not able to come up with sometin concrete or readable. An ironical quality thats directly related to my gonna be proffesion "JOURNALISM".  

One day when i was speaking to my friend Nandhini about this she insisted that i start a blog immediately. Thanks to her, that day i did start. And how by naming the blog and that's how A "mazed" mind speaks was born six months ago!!!. It would be better if i said dat my blog was jinxed.Due credits to Nandhini for helping me out again with the name of the blog. My motivation levels were in the peak and i thought its time for me to rant my mind off. The motivation was short lived it died the very day. 

Then i was very busy with College doing stupid assignments for my HOD and the dept and not to forget my NCC activities. Occasionally when i read others blog the writer in me would surface and i would remember the promise that i made to myself to start blogging. The promise nd the urge would be forgottenthe minute i go offline.

Its quite interesting to note that i would sit hours together thinking about what to write. My topics would range from experiences of my life to the recent UPA Power Crisis. Well it was all only in the mind nothing was in black and white. I am still wondering what the exact reason is for me not wanting to do something that I wanted to do. Is it the fear of criticism? Naah definetely not cuz i am not new to it or is it the fear that ppl will not read it? or is it whether i would be consistent if i started one? I am still in search of the answers.

Something triggered deep down my mind and i finally thought i would make an attempt today nd here i am in the fag end of my first post. What did i jus write FIRST POST??? YAAY YAAY i finally did it. Just to scroll up and c what i have written gives me so much of happiness.