Terror Free

Our home minister has a coined a new term "Saffron Terror", referring to a political party who are retaliating to the bomb blasts by funding or rather orchestrating more bomb blasts. We all understand that the leaders of these terror groups (Saffron or Jihad) must be great public speakers giving convincing and violent interpretation of Quran and now Gita to the youth. But one question that most of us should ask is - Do we as individuals endorse such violent behavior? Probably yes, how else do you explain the super success of the movie like Rang De Basanti with a tag line, "A generation awakens". Is this how we want the gen-next to wake up ? With a gun in hand and determination to end whoever they thought was bad for the nation, society, etc? Agreed, towards the end of the movie the gen-next boys do say they DONOT endorse violence but violence was the only option for this situation and that is the reaction the terror group leaders cash on : "MURDER is the only option in this situation"

One needs patience, probably a lot of it but public interest litigation, a media campaign, online campaigns, pressuring political parties are various ways to get justice. We should abstain from the extreme and most foul method of handling a problem "murder". Media needs to bring out more positive stories of justice to calm down the frustration and anger. The current government might not be the best but as they say nobody likes their government but nobody really wants to be ungoverned. The thing that prevents freedom from going into chaos is governance. So in its current form, the congress is surely better in comparison to the saffron brigade. We should be happy not to be governed by the terror funding parties, we all know what happens to such countries even after 60+ years of freedom.

Talking about freedom, it reminds me of the exciting weekend ahead. My wife will be away from Bangalore, Amma is going off to attend some marriage and to catch up with her siblings, so the boys are alone (me and my son). It is always fun to be with naughty kids, and my son is like one of those kids you would take to the zoo but never bring back because zoo authorities decide to cage him. Today his friends (few monkeys) had barged into our complex, and my son was so bloody happy to see them, as if they are his long last brothers like in Manmohan Desai movies.

This is our first ever "freedom" weekend, 2 full days. We have taken a OATH that we will under no circumstances visit Shoppers Stop, Brigade road, and commercial street. Even if we get into a mall we will not get into any SHOP that is shouting "SALE" and we will not watch any Yash Raj or Karan Johar movies. We plan to cycle, jump into the pool, have our breakfast in MacDonalds (to hell with calories), watch Avatar which re-releases this weekend. Avatar is a visual delight, it is like eating ice-cream with your eyes, so we have decided to watch it again but this time in 3-d. After the movie will let him play with his friends while I ogle at anything that my eyes find attractive and also a visit to some theme park might be in our agenda or we might just decide to mess up our home....lot of things to do before the Terror Strikes again on Monday night , my wife will be back :-(

Fast Food

My wife is fasting yet again ! Today is Varalakshmi Puja, the Karwa Chauth of south but with a twist. While Karwa chauth fast is for the husband's long life, Varalakshmi fast is to seek health, wealth and prosperity for the family. This means when the wife does this fast thing, depending on what day it falls almighty decides what is to be given. Apparently, GOD maintains a database which has the details of all humans (only Hindu Indians I guess) and the relation between them. This database supposedly has the expiry date for each and every person which I believe is set by Brahma, who is the official manufacturer of humans as per Hindu mythology.

During karwa chauth the expiry date of the husband is pushed further. The increment might be in hours or days or months or years depending on how devoted the wife is. There is one story on how a lady broke the fast and her husband died, she then preserved his body for a year and he came to life when his wife fasted (with full devotion) the following year. What a ridiculous folk story ! This is like fasting at a gun point and the fasting rules are even more rigid, the wife does not even drink water on this day (till sunset in south and until the moon is visible in North). You question about this and you will have a standard answer - TRADITION and some folk story to go with it.

It is definitely a myth but my wife (like millions of others) is still inspired to follow them and I am sure the wife's undaunted love for her husband and family is the only reason behind this. Love in any form is beautiful, I take this as those small moments of happiness which makes a marriage very special. Its nice to see your wife in a gorgeous saree and jewelry, frequent SMS or calls during the day on how she is desperately waiting for the sun to set and then a disclosure by the husband when the wife breaks her fast - "I have also fasted for your darling" and those Kisses and hugs..choo cute. Behind the cuteness the fact is, the husband decided to fast because the scotch, kebabs and greasy curries from the last evening's party were creating havoc in the intestine, so fasting was more of a medical decision.

Moral - Fast to detox, it will surely delay your encounter with Yama (the Hindu God of death) but don't forget to enjoy these festivals as they bring in some lovely moments in married life.

Munni Badnaam Huee

Mother India, whose feet is being washed by the ocean waves and whose crown is the snowy Himalayas was once a woman, delightful in beauty and radiant as twenty million dazzling suns, but today she is suffering and is wrapped in darkness. Our beautiful mother has been reduced to a emotionally drained out lady, weeping on her wounds (Jammu Kashmir tragedies, Maoist menace, target of terrorist attacks, etc).

We have been fortunuate to be blessed by competent leaders like Subhash Chandra Bose, Bhagat Singh, Nehru, etc during the struggle for freedom but who are the new age leaders ? People like Mr. Kalamadi ? Thanks to the CWG mess, Bharat Mata who was once seen in expensive clothing, stylishly tailored, gorgeously worn, adorned with the best jewelry, always maintaining her dignity and values even in the face of hardships and devastating tragedies, is now seen outrageously dressed as Munni who is singing, "Munni Badnaam Huee, because of you Mr. Kalamadi" ! CWG organizers have sacrificed their honor to their weakness for wealth. This independence day, hope better sense prevails and we put up a great show during the Common Wealth Games.

Happy Independence Day (15th Aug) in advance..

Five times Paanch

I had taken a half day leave today but thanks to the Bangalore traffic, I spent the other half traveling to office. Not an exaggeration, honestly just try visiting my home on your next vacation, I can bet that before you reach my home on bg.road your vacation would be over !

Frustrated in traffic, I tuned into 94.3 Radio one and RJ Prithvi announces - Dekho, Dekho woh aagayee ...no no not Monica, ooooo my darling but Aisha, nah nah not my darling. Aisha, the Sonam Kapoor starrer produced by Papa (Oscar?) Kapoor has released today and I hope I don't have to watch this movie under any family pressure. May be I am jealous of Sonam for not being to able to shed off my extra fat like her (Sonam was 90kgs 4 years back) but to me the Aisha Star looks like a punctured fatso !

Shayad "Bhagwan Hota hai", one wrong thought about Aisha and an Auto just forced its way onto my lane. Small "mistake" so i was a given only a small "sazaa". Well Bangalore car drivers who are stuck in traffic need the patience plus precision of a hunter; an alert mind that is in full control of the clutch, gear, brakes and horn; concentrating very hard to not miss that one chance to move 2 inches forward. I am yet to be a master but after many 2 inch long marches, I reached my office and now I have to drive back in some time ..talk about productivity !

Waise, dekhte hi dekhthe or rather likhthe hi likhthe, I have reached the Silver Jubilee. this is my 25th Post !

Head(ache?)lines Today

200 Condom Vending Machines to be set up at Common Wealth Games Village. Now, I am really curious to know the games, that will be played as part of this event !

A team at Northwestern university has developed a new device which they claim can read terrorist's mind and predict attacks. Please please please get it out for the common man, all the married MEN need such a device ! Do I need to mention why ?

Tomorrow (04-Aug-2010) is BUS Day in Bangalore, Go Green is the mantra these days and please do your bit. Anyway, hope my employer also follows "go green" mantra, I desperately need some green and not silver for my wallet :-)

Who says Mosquitoes cause Malaria ? at least in Mumbai it is not the mosquitoes but the Migrants (North Indians in specific) spread Malaria, that is what MNS Chief says. If someone does get close to the MNS chief, please do knock his skull and ask anybody inside? Don't be surprised with a possible reply ..Mental Inside ( and not Intel inside)

Rajnikant Starrer, the Robot (in Hindi) and Enthiran (in Tamil) is slated for release this September ! Am I waiting ? definitely ! what else does a tamilian need - Idli-Dosa, Sambar and Rajni Movies. By the way, I heard that all the Cinema theatres in Chennai will accept Cash, Credit Cards, Debit Cards, Lungs, Kidney, Eyes, or even blood can be donated in exchange for the movie ticket! Believe me, the crazy fans can do anything to watch a Rajni Sir movie