Weird encounters with strangers

Memory Loss:
This happened when I was in college. From the place we stayed the nearest town was an hour's ride, there was a gap of 3 km to the state highway from where I could get regular bus.
When a Lorry passed near by I waved my hands,hopped on happily as that gave me the extra pocket money savings.
As we drove on to state highways, the roads had these huge sections of gravel and rocks dumped alongside for road repair.
The cleaner ,driver were having small talks ,from their discussion I could make out the cleaner was bit challenged on his mental faculties,not dementia but something amiss.The talk was in Tamil, at one point as we drove the Sky was getting beautiful, I was admiring that through the large windows from the Lorry cabin. And suddenly cleaner expressed his admiration aloud with 'Wow Beautiful', his pronounciation was top notch,a complete contrasting vocabulary skills from a Man who was just talking aloof with his colleague a minute ago.
And after admiring for few minutes he went back to the mode that I was familiar with.

Later at one point the gravel had got messy and instead of being in a group it had spread over few metres onto the main road. The driver asked this cleaner to get it squared up as the Lorry was loaded up and he wasn't too comfy to ride over sharp rocks that might puncture his tyres.

As we saw the cleaner square up the rocks; the driver told me briefly that that man was once a well educated son of a wealthy family; his current condition is a well repeated story in history of squandering his wealth with people who called themselves friends just for his money and left him in the street after his use was over.

This was my first introduction to a character that we usually are introduced in stories to bring up our moral values.I would always remember that Man and that knocks my head down whenever something gets over me say stupid gadgets for which  I have a week knee for.

Drunk on books:
Many years ago I was on a train ride, think it was on Chennai -Mangalore mail. I had taken a short
open ticket and was returning home to Kozhikode after few days stay at my Sister's place.

It was a Sleeper ticket, so found a family which was pretty much awake and had a free slot in their section.After few minutes opened up a book, immediately the man who was beside me in a grabbing action took a look at my cover page. It was a non fiction , he then himself talked about his interesting books he read ;Showed me bunch of books and discussed on them with no input from me, he was literally drunk on the need to read. Out of few books he showed I could see some were from a Library.

And after he had finished his long, fast talk on his books and on his discover I don't share his same interest in the category of books he just discussed he abruptly became quiet.

Strange Lady:
This happened 2 months back, me and my colleague were on a walk in Singapore Orchard street.We were savouring our walk as in the present industry we are in; there is no such thing as shore leave granted for us during our 1 month's stay on the Drill Ship.
This off time that we got only happened because some one screwed up in handling an operational issue in Logistics and we had broken AC in our Ship. And with no AC even QueenMary 2 will be Oven box in a day.
First few minutes were spent drooling over Leica camera when Leica was having an Open platform outside a Mall. I was a bit hungry and was taking my colleague to a eating outlet to have some Vegie or  Seafood for Dinner.
As we walked suddenly a Lady literally thrusted herself between us with a question/ Rapport style that a person would have in a long standing friends.
In next 10minutes she had discussed valid points of Belgium flag with my Belgium colleague after she guess his origin from his accent. With me, it turned to CASTE ! issues of India, her hatred towards
higher castes etc.,
and when we came close to a bus stop she just left off saying a bye i got to go.
She was well dressed ,aged in 30s.

Well these are the ones that I remember now..

New age bankers

About three years back a new branch of HDFC opened in my town. I already had an account with HDFC at a Branch further away from my home. So I shifted my bank account to the near by one.Last 4 years or so I have come in touch with many personal bankers that I can conclude relationship that forms at these locations ( Read private is purely selfish). Only one soul out of many really seemed to have meant when she smiled and discussed issues with me. Others ( Both men and women) usually talked nice to me to meet their last minute target deadlines.It is a private bank so I don't codone it blindly,however what upset me with many such men and women was for them it was only that i.e a investment catch. Over many Hi's and short chit chats spread across months I had hoped there would be some sort of friendship that would come into play.It is true I was looking out for friends at a new town . I can describe two events with two genders. Lets start with a lady :)On two occasions I had helped this lady and her fiance to meet up their target deadlines with two different products. When Mr.X told me about their wedding I had initially thought it was 'telling a friend' part only later it transpired on me he did that to inform me that the lady staff who I was talking to for about 15mins til a minute ago ( As I waited for a forex DD) is his girl.It was more of a 'Don't talk to her too much' There was this another Gentleman who despite me repeating many times I would like to meet him at branch rather at home;drops by my home with another colleague ( who is from insurance section of his parent company) for heavy canvassing of a product and the eagerness this man showed vapourised when I had a problem with credit card. Just when I had almost convinced all new age banking staff are wearing a dirty smile a lady showed that there are people like her who do look out for customers. This female despite leaving in few days for another Private bank worked hard to get a issue solved for me; thought she didn't succeed I was impressed at her efforts . I hope she keeps her positive attitude at work and succeed in todays private banking environment which fosters manipulation.

Social networking

I believe everything is good as long as its moderate. One of the things thats getting me on the nerve these days
is the importance the social networking is claiming.
Southpark is an adult content cartoon which has many vulgar dialogues,scripts around 50 to 70% ,however its funny its own way
to adults and at same time it sarcastically hints at various "current topics" around the world especially USA.

Here is a link of an up coming episode.
Click here

why India does not and should not have A national language

When the constitution was drafted, Hindi and English were chosen to be Central Government's official language.It was hoped that in due time State's will ratify Hindi into their main stream and one day
Hindi will be made the only official language of India thus removing English.
Meanwhile State's were to use their State official regional language plus in English if and where
required for communication with Central Government.

It is a common misconception that India has a National language. It does not. And for the people who claim that official language is National Language.. .Well then we have two of them :)

The very reason the unique idea of India ,- the kaleidoscope, a theoretical oneness became a reality is because we were under a foreign invasion for more than two centuries. And thats how we came to imbibe their language.
This has been a land which always accepted various languages, religions, culture from outside its borders.
The Census report of India ,1961 reported a total of 1652 mother tongues.
A colleague from neighbouring country known for its beautiful chain of Islands, once observed me speak in English to a person who came from another part of India. Later he asked why we are not conversing in our national language,Hindi. Then I gave him the brief which forms the top part of this post.
He further asked why have we not chosen a language which is not foreign, I was told how nicely
his country decided on a language of their own(a language not from the then Capital) and declared it as national language and eradicated the foreign language from their psyche thus removing any trace of been under a foreign influence.
It is a achievement truly.
Then I told him how It will not happen as last few decades each regional language has grown deeply
into our minds and political greed would not allow that to happen and I told him it should not happen.
He looked surprised at my stand.

I am not against Hindi per se. I am against the very notion to tie this great kaleidoscope that we call India to one language.Diversity is so immense and stratified a person from a state wouldn't know much about his own state's tradition at the other end when it comes to customs.
We became physically united India because of one language which has propelled us to many spheres in terms of wealth creation in IT world and other places of gloablised job market.So let it bridge where we are handicapped by not knowing the state's regional language. We have fundamentalists in all sector,be it religion or language. But we are here aren't we as India still. The idea of India is in minds of people. Going to hinterlands of Andhra is same for me as going to Yantian port in china to buy things. But I don't feel alien when am in Andhra. Its this concept of India that makes it possible.What we need is institutions run by State's where one could go and learn regional language like people learn Spanish, French etc., Wouldn't it be great when we can speak as many regional languages as possible.

I learn simple 'thank you's' in regional languages and I use it while I converse with people in States I visit .Am not linguistically talented, but am trying. It was hard suddenly to say Dhanyavadha / nandri/ nanni instead of thanks.. but am trying and slowly achieving it.

I am truly happy for such a unity possible in my colleague's country and am truly happy such a unity is not necessary to be united at this great cradle we call India.

We have long way to go when we can say all our citizen enjoy the benefits of independent united India, else we would not have more than 13 states affected by naxalism today.

But if there is one thing that we do not need is a National language.

Video of new born visitors

Here is the video I had mentioned in last article. Just figured that new POST editor in blogger doen't allow video posting, had to revert to the old one. Next video is the garbage trail made by Indian Railways.

Unexpected visitors

This happened few weeks back probably around 20th of Feb. I had been travelling up and down , along small coastline of Northern Kerala. Mangalore then to Kozhikode then to a place near by Palghat.

At home renovation has been grinding on for almost a year now all for two rooms. Father was alone at home
taking care of renovation. Being a small renovation the Contractor hasn't been commiting good bunch of construction workers at our home. So being at home was important to ensure work is to be done asap.
Mom was at sister's place.
On that day I had taken an Auto to reach home. I keep changing my mode of public transport, no heavy luggages,less rush I always go for bus. Since I had a tiring journey I took a Auto.
As I entered the room where my parents sleep, Dad hissed, "Be quiet we got some guests".
First thought was "Rats!! where did they come from" and the horrible sequence of chasing them , getting them off the room flashed in a second.
But then I had already walked in few feet from the entrace, living in the house and doing renovation means your house is a mess, things are scatterd over everywhere. There was the TV on bed with few items along with it..
Just beside the TV then I saw them..4 kittens , too tiny , all were busy getting the nutrition from the Mother.
Eyes closed and were gulping away to glory.
Call me senti or whatever kids in any form are a beauty. Philosophically and on a relgious stand point
the soul is very innocent and that gives out a beauty to watch them. Any form, that we humans can see its innocence throught their expression is wonderful sight right from a baby elephant.

Dad, had opened a window just for the Mother to come in and go . As Kittens were just on Milk only diet there wasn't any fear of the cat bringing in stuff from outside. I asked Dad if Mom knew about it and we both laughed.. When she heared Mom was afraid of the Cat bringing stuff to eat on. But nothing sorts happened,
we decided to leave them there atleast till they open the eyes. As leaving them out would be dangerous.

Last week when Dad left he had shifted them in a shoe box near the front sitout. It must have gone on its way by now.
It was an interesting event, for the days I was there would check in often, they never were bothered about the noise that comes from near by work of staircase.
Will try to post the pict and video I shot of those kittens.

Indian railway littering the Country

Garbage management is on a snail's pace in India . The growth is at the severe cost to nature,
sad part is, the western countries did the same mistakes. however their mechanism has been
quite good to take control of pollution in various aspects.
Not many in Indian public know about the dangers of Asbestos. Same goes for enhanced or improvised
garbage collection. Apart from other issues related to garbage one of the main cause for worry is plastics.
All of us know it, atleast the people who can read and write would hace come across information
spread through many mediums and of course we do hear often about the new control measures
put in place for controlling the type of plastic in use across the country.

This blog is about the lackadaisical attitude of government agencies, personnel running it. Am a strong believer that if something is wrong look at the SYSTEM :) . If there is possibilites to tweak the system, the wrong doings or errors will slowly minimise.
Take the case of garbage in our trains. Many coaches do not have garbage bins. When we have,
do you think following questions or points were considered.

•  Design was thought of for its purpose .
•  Does the size sufficient to properly contain the wastes ( am not even talking about segregation)
• If its of minimal size, there is possibility of the bin becoming full in short time given our human traffic. So is there a mechanism to empty them at certain number of stations.
• Campaign: Has there been a good campaign to create awareness about disposal of wastes while travelling on trains(You have  advertisements for managing waste in the stations limits)

The answer for most of the above is NO.

The result if you see as you travel is horrible, the scourge of development PLASTICS is everywhere.
Indian railways is littering the entire stretch of our country. If Railways says no, they are wrong, when
no mechanism is given for such disposal people will end up doing what they do in general i.,e
THROW where ever you want.

It irritates me when even people who look like they are educated, well behaved when it comes to disposing wastes on moving train just dispose it off !! Why can' they keep it with them untill a station comes so they can throw it off.

I travel frequently on trains. Today I had a travel of about 4.5hours of travel started at 1340hrs and arrived at my destination around 1720hrs. It is a travel of about 100 kms.
 As I did, i took out my phone and thought to video it,
with the objective of
I will run the video until one of below happens

• Phone battery runs out 
• I do not see a plastic of any kind for about 5 minutes

GUESS WHAT , NOTHING OF ABOVE HAPPEND FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR or TWO.

I had to stop taking the video because after few minutes of standing on opposite side of trains travel to get better view near the open door I had to stop as it wasn't feeling good to have a dizzy head in a moving train near a open door with one hand:)
Also after a while I realised the viewer of the video might get bored and it was indeed difficult to follow the video such as that.

They are everywhere , mostly as water bottles, plastic covers,  and then you have the cups well they are paper.
So i am gonna scream that Railways is India's number 1polluting entity.

After few minutes I sat, train reached a station where the station is just beside a govt. high school.Time being end of day, lot of students and teachers ran across the field length to get onto the train.
Couple of teachers got onto the compartment where I was sitting, it was a sleeper class compartment.So in few minutes they were to move to normal compartment else they could be fined. Just before they got up, the teacher read something she carried , crumbled it and threw it on the station platform :)

WE NEED A LOT MORE CAMPAIGNING...

Let me see if can get the video onto the blog, I can see the You tube links i pasted isn't the correct way as it hasn't got embedded as a link.

Well my request to people who are here is: If you see people throwing plastics ( lets start with plastics) ask them to refrain.I used to mind my own business, till now, but I think its wrong to keep quiet.