ZOOM IN...FOCUS!!!

Trapped in Stench

2010-02-17T15:05:00.000-08:00

Just posting an article that I wrote in 2004 while studying at the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai

TRAPPED IN STENCH

A sprawling sea, amusement parks, art galleries, cultural centers, places of worship – this is the city of Chennai. It is the fourth largest city in India and recently celebrated 350 years of existence. But repeating the list over and over again has made no difference in a city that cares little for its poor. A quarter of Chennai’s 4.5 million population lives in the slums. The Census of India defines a slum as "a compact area of at least 300 in population or about 60-70 households of poorly built, congested tenements in an unhygienic environment usually with inadequate infrastructure and lacking proper sanitary and drinking water facilities". Dr. C. Chandramouli, I.A.S, involved in census operations, pointed out that the basic characteristics of a slum are: dilapidated and infirm housing structures; poor ventilation; acute overcrowding; ill-lit streets; faulty alignment of streets; scarcity of safe drinking water; lack of toilet facilities; and absence of basic physical and social services.

Oduma Nagar is a fishermen’s colony in the heart of one of Chennai’s posh, upper middle class areas: Besant Nagar and fulfills the characteristics of a slum. Facing the sea, it lies on the famous Elliot's Beach. The disenchanted citizens of this slum are all but forgotten by the Municipal Corporation. Matters of personal hygiene are more or less ignored by the government. Amongst a host of other problems, garbage disposal from the area is one of grave concern. Depending on the location of their houses, the slum dwellers essentially see three ways of disposing of their waste. Only the people living close to the main road enjoy the benefit of the services of the Municipal Corporation vans. Those living close to the famous Vailankanni church use the dustbins provided by ONYX (the solid waste disposal wing of the French multinational, Vivendi). Since March 2002, the company has been entrusted with the responsibility of cleaning some areas in Chennai, Oduma Nagar being one of them. All ONYX does for this slum is; place two dustbins near the church. There is no activity of garbage collection from within the slum. People living in the deep pockets of the slum find it a hassle to collect garbage and walk up to the dustbins. As a result, they choose to dump their waste into the sea. The ï¿½puccaï¿½ or concrete houses in the slum are one-room houses and eight such houses are clubbed together in a building. On an average, about four people live in each house. The space being limited, all the houses pile up the garbage behind the building and it continues to lie there for days. As a result, the prevalence of diseases relating to the gastro-intestinal tract and the skin is very high.

The residents of the slum claim that the chief reason for the absence of a garbage disposal system is the lack of an appropriate road system. The lanes within the slum are extremely narrow and hence do not allow the Municipal Corporation vans to drive in and collect the garbage. On being asked for comment, officials of the Municipal Corporation, Besant Nagar, said that the Oduma Nagar slum falls into ONYX’s area of services and that ONYX is performing its duties fully well. He simply refused to accept the fact that there is no activity whatsoever by ONYX in this slum. The sight that meets the naked eye on walking through the slum is quite contradictory to the Municipal Corporation’s claims. Garbage lies in the narrow spaces between houses and across the sands of the beach. Ironically, many of ONYX’s employees belong to this slum. On being asked why they don’t clean their own locality, they said that they would clean it, if only they got paid for it.

According to Dr. C. Chandramouli, I.A.S, 30 percent of the households in the slums of Chennai do not have drainage systems and are exposed to the grave risk of diseases like malaria. Oduma Nagar is no different. The drainage system is existent only for the houses along the main road. The ones on the beach just dig up tunnels in the sand and the sewerage from their houses flows into the sea. Some residents of the slum prefer to use public toilets as a result of the absence of a drainage system. But the condition of the public toilets is deplorable as well. Moreover, there are only two public toilets near the slum, which do not cater to the needs of the hundreds of people living here. Some of the residents thus prefer to defecate on the beach. This in turn is another source for the spread of diseases. It also creates a problem for women in particular, as they do not have privacy on the beach. They wake up at 4 am so they can defecate in privacy but with the spotlights coming up as part of the beach beautification project, they are left with nowhere to go.

A question that needs to be examined in depth is who is actually spreading the litter? On examining the garbage, one finds that it mostly consists of coke cans and tetra packs. These are almost never used by slum dwellers. Much of the garbage on the beach is actually created by the tourist who can very well read the “use me” sign on a dustbin lying fifty meters away. But the blame for littering the beach falls on the slum dweller. There is another major difference between the litter spread by the tourist and that by the slum dweller. The slum dwellers mostly spread around biodegradable waste (vegetable peels, fish bones and human excreta). The tourists on the other hand, spread litter that is non-biodegradable (coke cans, plastic bottles and polythene bags). In effect, the litter created by the tourists is a greater environmental hazard.

The spread of awareness is required in the area. The residents have almost no knowledge of the diseases that can be caused by the piling up of garbage in their locality. Spreading the word with the help of social service groups and involving schools and children could be a feasible option. In addition, the media reportage on situations like these has been miniscule. The Government in the meantime chooses to keep its eyes closed and simply denies the existence of the deplorable conditions that the Oduma Nagar slum dwellers live in.

Mridu Bhandari
November 14, 2004

Sources:
1. The residents of Oduma Nagar slum
2. An ONYX employee residing in the slum who wishes to remain anonymous
3. Mr. Bhoominathan, Assistant Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Besant Nagar
4. Slums in Chennai: A Profile by Dr. C. Chandramouli, I.A.S

This Day That Year - 29th July 2007

2008-07-29T02:24:00.000-07:00

Day 15

The drive from Katra to Delhi is on...I wake up after some 10 hours to see we're going to stop over at Ambala for lunch - at one of Sid's contacts' place. They're extremely warm and hospitable...we chat for an hour and they stuff us with poori, chhole, aaloo and what not! After the delicious meal we are all packed back into our innovas and are zooming away to Delhi again. Delhi arrives faster than we want it to. We sort out our luggage, shift cars according to residences in Delhi and are on the way to our respective homes. So we part with heavy hearts - it's the end of a trip we'll remember for life. Atleast I will. Memories are indeed the biggest treasure. Mom, dad are thrilled to have me back. I'm still getting accustomed to being back from a very different world. It can actually be disorienting. No one who hasn't been to Ladakh can understand what one feels there. So my advice: do go there atleast once in this lifetime. Otherwise you truly have missed something in life.

This Day That Year - 28th July 2007

2008-07-28T21:52:00.000-07:00

Day 14

So we're on our way up to Vaishno Devi Mata ka mandir. The walk is beautiful. It's misty and soon it's drizzling. D & I walk up all the way - chatting, looking at sights & he tells me stories of his previous visits here. We have no VIP passes and are wondering how many hours we'll have to wait in queue for the darshan. Ardhkunwari is the half way mark - the milestones seem to arrive really slow but I love the walk up into the clouds. At Himkoti we stop to eat dosas and garma garam rajma chawal. Kavitta catches up with us here and stomachs replenished, we continue to walk up! Soon we're at the mandir, we buy our prashad and are done with the darshan in a matter of 15-20 minutes. No long queues. We're thrilled and inspired to climb up further to Bhairon Mandir. The board says 1.5 kms and we think what the hell...why not? So we start walking. Sid & Runmee are way ahead on their mules! This particular stretch is really really steep and we're huffing and pufffing our way up. D & I stop to sit at various points. Sometimes we take the stairs but they're even more tiring! Many stops later, we're in the temple - darshan, parshad and out. Time to descend. We decide to take the stairs to save time even though we know we'll end up with wobbly knees! So we're rolling downhill - literally running along. A short stop at Cafe Coffee Day for a bite and back on the path. At the foot of the hill we indulge in threads, lockets etc. Then we pack ourselves into an auto back to Hotel New Ashok Palace. A hot water bath later, I'm knocked out on the bed for 4 hours. Then we're up and ready to drive back to Delhi. The biggest regret of the day: No camera on the climb :( We all thought we won't be permitted to take them inside the temple - discovered later that there were locker rooms! So anyways, soon we're dining at the 'Jewel', drinking chai by the roadside, clicking the very last snap of this trip @ Katra and are then on the road to Delhi. I am wishing we could extend the trip further. I am feeling sad about having to go back to the noise & chaos of the metropolis. I just want to freeze time here...in my most peaceful, dreamless 10 hour sleep on the drive back.

This Day That Year - 27th July 2007

2008-07-27T05:00:00.000-07:00

Day 13

It's day 13...I feel like I'm living a dream...years later I know I am going to recall this trip, read these blog entries and relive these moments. Anyways, this day is for shopping at Pahalgam! The sweet little town has quaint looking shops - out of a different world - we look at Kashmiri suits, silver and junk jewellery! I end up buying Kashmiri suits for mom, nani etc...and D the master bargainer helps me get them at good prices! I also indulge in silver and junk jewellery - earrings, pendants, bracelets and keychains for friends! Soon, we're driving to Jammu...I sleep most of the way. The innova is like home by now. We stop on the way for a tea break and out of the blue we decide to stop at Katra and go to Vaishno Devi!! It will delay us by half a day only because we decide to skip sleep and start off on the trek at the time we were to halt at Jammu! We don't tell the bosses of our plans yet. They're expecting us back in Delhi ASAP as some award work is to be done! We eat at Vaishno Dhaba@Katra and hunt for a hotel to leave our luggage. Many seedy hotels later, we're checking into Hotel New Ashok Palace, dumping luggage and by 5:30 am we're on our way up for Mata ke darshan at Vaishno Devi!! This time I've decided to go on foot all the way. Only Sidhartha & Runmee take mules. After the Amarnath Yatra, this seems like cakewalk - there are no dangerous curves, no narrow mud tracks & it isn't that steep - in fact there's a proper cemented route and a choice to go by stairs all the way up!!

This Day That Year - 26th July 2007

2008-07-26T00:42:00.000-07:00

Day 12

It's day 12 - we're off to sightsee Srinagar. First stop - Shankaracharya - no cameras allowed. Lots of stairs to climb - the Gods always like to sit on the top! Beautiful temple, more prasaad. I come back and see 8 missed calls on my phone. I call Indrajit & he tells me the magic has worked :) I'm thrilled! Next stop is Hazratbal mosque. We visit the mosque, not realising we're wearing huge orange teekas on our foreheads! We're feeling truly secular! The flight of the pigeons at Hazratbal is spectacular. Next we're lazing around in a shikara, doing cheesy photography at chaar chinaar. The weeds under water are mesmerizing! Lunch is Kashmiri food at Ahdoos - no words to describe it. You have to eat it to believe it! Alas, there's no time left for shopping! Then we're jet setting to Pahalgam. We love our innova by now - 4 of us huddling together on the backseat and Parul with her wisecracks on the front seat is a regular by now :) Pahalgam is a sweet, romantic little town - green and full of flowing water. Every inch of our luggage is scanned & x-rayed before we're allowed into the town - security check due to the Amarnath Yatra. There's a small scuffle with the BSF jawan and we're trying to control Sid & D and avoid a showdown! It's masala movie stuff :) Hotel Heevan (yes, the spellings are correct) is literally heaven - a cottage like thingie right by the flowing river. It's one of the most picturesque setups you could ask for. Soon we're ordering flasks and flasks of tea...and a sumptuous dinner follows. Tonight "sleeping" means lots of us huddling on a double bed! :)

This Day That Year - 25th July 2007

2008-07-25T13:31:00.000-07:00

Day 11

It's a lazy morning. After yesterday's yatra, we're all half dead. Bhaiya lets us sleep and relax till late. He burns CDs of the snaps we've taken so far - Parul & I are thrilled we have double the space in our cameras now! Next destination - Srinagar. Bhaiya has made arrangements for us to stay there. The drive is once again breathtaking. On the way we stop at Mata Kheerbhawani mandir & are given VIP darshan once again. The temple has a pond of water that's said to turn different colours - turns red or black in bad times like the tsunami or during earthquakes. We eat bowls of kheer and head to Srinagar. Hitting Srinagar at night is a bad idea. Even though the place is beautiful and the feeling out of the world, there's an uneasiness. You don't feel like trusting anyone here. We're stopped by the police more than once - looked at suspiciously & questioned why we are there but the PRESS sticker always helps. After being lost for about half an hour, we finally reach Badami Bagh cantonment and are comfortably settled for the night in Dagger Huts - royal treatment! The rooms are cosy and we're content. Today's raw deal - my travel agent wants me to come back sooner than planned because I have an interview with the Belgian embassy. We're considering my flights back to Delhi :( I'm depressed about it. I don't want to go back alone. I want to see Pahalgam with the rest of them! Let's see if Indrajit's magic works...!

This Day That Year - 24th July 2007

2008-07-24T13:26:00.000-07:00

Day 10

Wake up at 6 am...time to get ready for the Amarnath Yatra, the walking shoes are on. The bosses will leave for Delhi in a few hours. By 7:00 am the whole jingbang is set to move - on foot, but with mules for backup. My horse is Soni and her owner - a cute, blue eyed Kashmiri boy - Riyaz. The trek begins...with stopovers at Army checkposts - we're greeted with warm water, tea & breakfast...then with warm water, tea & pakodas a few hours later and the saga continues till we reach the Amarnath caves. Army hospitality is just fabulous. The trek is tough & dangerous & it's drizzling as well. Sitting atop a horse you look down into the valley and can imagine lying there in a heap! D & Manmohan are the only ones who don't take mules even for a second. The rest of us just don't have the stamina. The distance is 13 kms one way. Soon we've reached the caves and we're given VIP darshan thanks to the Indian Army once more. We see the much talked about pair of pigeons - they say not everyone is fortunate enough to see them. We get our prasaad and soon are heading downhill. I walk back much of the way with D, Sid & Krrishh - that's what D calls Vidya - an Army jawaan because he saved D's life more than once. We're almost running downhill, it's raining now and we're looking out for landslides and flying stones. Deep bhaiya had warned us about them. About 10 people had died during the yatras because of stone hits. 12 hours, fatigue and a tub full of slush later, we're back at the base camp in Sonamarg. A hot water bath awaits me. Never felt better! Next we're off to eat bhandara food - tonight it's makki di roti te sarson da saag. Tonnes of shudh ghee and calories but who cares? And then it's back to bunk beds and I have the most blissful, dreamless sleep! :)

This Day That Year - 23rd July 2007

2008-07-23T03:46:00.000-07:00

Day 9

Wake upppp bellows the boss and the troops are marching to the Army mess for a sumptuous, high calorie breakfast of chana bhatura. We flout all defence norms by walking in wearing jeans/tracks/t-shirts and being a noisy bunch. Stomachs full, we're led to the viewpoint accompanied by Capt Munish who shows us Tiger Hill (of operation vijay fame) and tells us a bit about the Kargil war...comes across as a sweet but a slightly shy person. Soon we're on our way to Sonamarg, driving through Zojilla pass. Shortly before hitting Sonamarg, we're received by Col Deep Bhagat's men who escort us to the 5 JAK RIF camp at Sonamarg. Col Deep Bhagat - Nidhi's brother - is the Commanding Officer, more than a perfect host he's an absolutely remarkable person. He makes us feel at home instantly. After yummy food we're escorted to our tents - little do we know that we shall be staying here for more than the one night that we have planned! Col Bhagat is now convincing us to extend the trip and we are looking like little expectant children at Shashi...he's perhaps the kindest boss in the world because he encourages us to stay on. But one car will go back to Delhi tomorrow - with Shashi, Rohit, Saif, Ritwik and Divya and we get to stay on and visit more places! Needless to say we're elated! So basically all the bosses are off tomorrow! A little while later, we're off to do some river rafting...rain adds to the fun and chill! River rafting in Kashmir is an experience in itself...despite the chattering teeth, the soaked clothes you're left asking for more. Soon after, we're having cups of tea at the Army mess - flouting the rules of wearing formals yet again! This night we dine at the 'bhandaras' set up for the Amarnath yatris. The food is absolutely delicious and served punjabi style - with loads of ghee and warmth! And we have now decided to do the Amarnath Yatra tomorrow - all except Parul...she has asthma. She wants to go, says she'll go muleback, argues, is scolded and eventually agrees but is obviously upset. Time to sleep in those Army bunk beds! It's cold...brrrr...

This Day That Year - 22nd July 2007

2008-07-22T00:42:00.000-07:00

Day 8

Time to leave Leh...the drive to Drass begins - via Kargil. We stop over at a Buddha Temple. And don't stop at the famous Lamayuru monastery. Instead we click away from the car. Mountains look like kneaded clay now. Unfortunately, Kargil comes and goes in the darkness. Time for another punctured tyre and hence a not so needed break. Parul is down with asthma again and today it's worse. We finally reach Drass at 11:00 pm and there's Army hospitality waiting at the Vikram Batra Transit Camp. They're obviously not happy at our extremely late arrival but they play the perfect hosts. We're put up for the night. It's freezing cold!

This Day That Year - 21st July 2007

2008-07-21T08:30:00.000-07:00

Day 7

Leh Morning 3: Today we're headed to Pangong Lake - the lake that is in both India & China. It's an early morning again because the distance to be covered is long. One hour into the drive, we're stopped at the police checkpost. No permissions again. Tempers are now running high. Everyone is frantically trying their Army connections. Finally Mufti & Sid's call to the SP works & we have a green signal. We cross Chandla Baba Mandir on the way. Army hospitality once more. Tea & biscuits. Kavitta had spoken of breakfast but apparently it was supposed to be tea! But we're used to missing meals by now. I sleep some of the way. Divya tells us what she feels about each of us. She finds D self-obsessed, Sid a sweetheart, Parul intelligent yet temperamental, Runmee extremely sweet, Nidhi sweet & bubbly & me a genuine person who cares for her friends! I would agree about myself I think :) She tells us more personal stories. I'm intrigued! Then I sleep for a while, catching glimpses of the mountains in between. Finally open my eyes near Pangong. It's breathtakingly beautiful & blue. I am awed by the beauty. I can't stop staring. Rohit instructs Pathakji to take the car as close to the water as possible - a mistake because the cars get stuck in sand once more! But for the time being, we're running to the water like little, excited children. The water is brrrrr cold. We all dance for the handycam. Pictures are taken. Then we're rescuing the cars. Picking up stones, fitting them around the sand-stuck tyres, lifting & pushing the cars. Some people have joined us to help. Cars are out and we're in! Back on the road. We're hungry. Stop & buy imitations of Kurkure, Lays, nutcrackers & Marie biscuits. Slice tastes heavenly right now. Then we're rushing off again. Loo break at Chandla Baba. Soon we're back at Mansarovar. It's our last night here. Dinner is but of course at Monalisa. Dil & Vijay - who work at Monalisa are our friends by now. There's a bonfire at Monalisa. D & I disappear to collect our t-shirts. He ordered one for Joshu and I ordered two - for Abir & Arshita. Their t-shirts say: "My maasi (in Joshu's case Mamu) was in Ladakh & all I got was this bloody t-shirt" and the backs have their names. Despite telling them not to write "bloody" the word appears on Joshu's & Arshita's t-shirts. Singing happens around the bonfire. Parul is having asthma & is quiet. Dinner, the walk back & the prayer wheel ritual. Then sleep.

This Day That Year - 20th July 2007

2008-07-20T20:25:00.000-07:00

Day 6

Leh Morning 2: Wake up time: 5:00 am. Rush rush rush. A quick tea & departure to Nubra Valley - or so we think. First halt at South Pullu & discovery that we need the District Magistrate's permission to go any further. Decision to hold the offsite meeting - one on ones with the bosses here at South Pullu. Things said, meetings done, we now proceed to Khardung La. We don't have permission or the time to go to Nubra Valley anymore. Khardung La - 18,380 feet - the highest motorable road in the world. The drive up is full of dangerous curves. One hour, a talk with the Army soldiers, maggi, photos, playing with the snow and a horrendous headache later we are ready to head back. I sleep all the way back. People get off to lunch at Monalisa, I'm too sleepy. Hit the room, Parul & Runmee are already in bed. And we're off to zombie land. 3 hours later, we're summoned to the terrace to continue the group offsite meet. More talk, plans for the future followed by dinner at Monalisa - it's like our home kitchen by now. Nidhi & I go to make phonecalls. Hard luck. No calls getting through. Parents will wait another day. In the meantime, they've been calling at the hotel! Nidhi & I are heading back & D scares us from behind. We accompany him for shopping. We buy similar oxidised kadas & order t-shirts for kids in the family. A sumptuous dinner. The walk back & I go to the prayer wheel again today. It's become a ritual - just like Monalisa. Parul is unwell tonight. She skips UNO. We don't play either. Sid, Runmee, D & I just chat late into the night. Time again for the 3 hour nap!

This Day That Year - 19th July 2007

2008-07-19T16:55:00.000-07:00

Day 5

Leh morning 1: Breakfast on the house. A hot water bath. Day's plan is set. Some confusion and irritating moments later, we're off biking. Sid & Runmee have smartly taken excuse & gone shopping. D & I are on a thunderbird, Rohit & Neeti on a scooter and others in the car. We drive on to Kargil road. The scenery is breathtaking. We stop for photo-ops. Lie on the road, do all sorts of things! Then drive on, see a mountain and decide to climb it. More pics - click click click! D is the only one to reach the top. My floaters are troubling me. I am tempted to climb up further but my feet are slipping in the floaters. I regret not wearing shoes & decide not to go up any further. Soon we're back on the road. Next target: reaching Nimmu (a place, not a person!) for lunch. One or two sandy patches and the bike skids. Somehow, I trust D's driving and am not jolted out of my wits like I usually would be. Food at Nimmu is better than Gesmo ke momos! And then we're back on the road. Now D & I excuse ourselves and decide to check out dirt tracks and narrow roads. So we ride down towards the lake. A man is getting an open, red, adventure car reversed while talking on the phone. D halts. Looks at him, says "I think I know you". The man looks at him, screams "Abbe tu....(some fond abuses that I choose to censor)". Himanshu - D's close friend, Assistant Director with Yashraj Films is here shooting for Tashan and tells us Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor & Saif Ali Khan are out there shooting - where we were headed. So D & Himanshu exchange hotel numbers, addresses & we proceed to the lake. Alas entry to the lake is banned because of the shoot. We wait a while, I listen to D's stories about Bollywood. He thinks I'm bored, I'm actually intrigued and thoughtful. Soon we're heading back and now we decide to take the little road leading to the Army camp. The view there is out of this world. D & I keep stopping for snaps & have a whole portfolio each. That was perhaps the best patch I saw in Ladakh. I'm so glad we went there. Biking in Ladakh is an exhilarating feeling - no drive in a car can make you feel like that. All thanks to D for that day. I can't put what I felt on the bike into words. In Ladakh, nature makes you feel small & insignificant. Sigh! Soon, we're heading back. Stopover at Indus viewpoint. Yet another photo-op! :) Back on the bike, enter Fort Road. We spot our innova and I shift places. Parul & I are off shopping. I buy a t-shirt and lots of silver jewellery - dirt cheap in our opinion! Parul indulges in silver as well. Then we're off to Monalisa for dinner. A yummy dinner & a walk back to Hotel Mansarovar. There's a prayer wheel on the way. I've always been fascinated by them. I love the concept. Seeing a Tibetan praying, ask him how many times I should rotate the wheel & he says any number of times. I do that. I pray. The night is beautiful. Millions of stars. I miss that in the Delhi sky. It reminds me of the nights in Shillong. We're back at the hotel. UNO again & 2 hours of sleep!

This Day That Year - 18th July 2007

2008-07-18T07:32:00.000-07:00

Day 4

Sleep eludes me again at 4:30 am. Head throbs. I try to sleep. At 6:00 am boss bellows into the tent "Get up, we have to reach Leh. Who asked you to pop pills?". So their car is repaired and they've caught us at Pang. Loo is out in the open. We have to find our spots. So Parul, Nidhi & I go behind a mountain & scout around for our spots. Soon we're back on the road...eating chocolates and junk to keep hunger at bay. My headache is still on. Neeti rubs Chinese oil on my forehead. Soon we're driving through a desert-like patch and then we're stuck in sand! Car trouble never ends! My head is spinning & I am off to rest in the other car. Help arrives & the car is dug out. We're behind the wheel again. We stop at a stream, get wet, drink the fresh water and Sid, D & I lie on the grass, leaning on rocks. It's a beautiful day, a beautiful place and the headache is beginning to lift! The scenery is just to be captured in the memory. No camera can do justice. The drive to Leh is beautiful, the weather warm. We enter Leh. On to Fort Road. Hotel Mansarovar, here we come! Rohit arrived in the morning - with SIT's Ramnath Goenka Award. A hot water bath and fresh clothes. Calls home - we're alive & kicking! Then we're off to eat. It's been 27 hours since our last meal at Sarchu. We reach 'Gesmo'. Order Tibetan food....momos, soup et al and they take FOREVER to arrive. Evening snacks become dinner. Meanwhile we've told the hotel, we'll dine there. Parul, Runmee & I then start exploring the market & Sid & D are off to hire bikes! It's D's dream to come to Ladakh on a bike. He's about to fulfill it partially by biking in Ladakh. Tonight we only explore the market. Tomorrow we shall buy! Parul & I still end up buying red coral pedants that we are yet to discover are not real coral but imitation coral - nevertheless they look good!

Then its a late night session of UNO in our room. Runmee, Parul, Sid, D & I. Divya & Nidhi join us briefly. We're creating a ruckus and our next door firang neighbours come to give us a piece of their minds! Time to catch 3 hrs of sleep!

This Day That Year - 17th July 2007

2008-07-17T15:49:00.000-07:00

Day 3

Sleep eludes me at 5:00 am. D & I chat for a while, wake up people. Hospitality at the circuit house - aaloo paranthas! The drive to Leh begins. We cross Jispa & the fuel tank leaks again. This time 2 cars move ahead - us included and 1 car goes back for repair. We carry on. Manoj - a driver who dozes off at the wheel bangs us into a rock, tyre bursts! Thanks to the rock, we're alive and not down the gorge. Manoj is barred from driving. Sid takes over. Drives us through carefully. Beauty here is at its best. First a hilly drive, blind curves and then vast plains...sometimes green, sometimes brown and desert-like. I am the navigator. Reaching Sarchu is the immediate mission. Stopover at Sarchu for lunch. Discover there are no phones for the next 200 kms - till Upshi - so parents will have to wait another day for news. Stomachs full, we set off once more. D is now the driver. I remain navigator. 16 kms later, D feels ill - mountain sickness has begun! Sid takes over as driver and Runmee as navigator. Shortly Parul feels the mountain sickness as well and I am the doctor for the sick children. Sid continues driving despite a headache and Runmee and I navigate. The trail is treacherous, its dark and danger lurks. A scrape with an Army jeep, scary curves, car in water, stopovers for puking and finally the safety of tents at Pang. I attend to all the sick children, rubbing balms on their heads and making them drink lemon and honey in warm water that the tent owners say will help. I am later addressed as Florence Nightingale :) Soon we're all back in sleeping bags, lying in the tent. It's a cold night, I shiver all the while and my head continues to spin even as I try to sleep!

This Day That Year - 16th July 2007

2008-07-16T17:17:00.000-07:00

Day 2

Morning in Manali - wake up call at 7 am. Queue to the loo. Departure from Kanchani Koot back to Johnson's Cafe for breakfast. Shopping for woollens, then darts at Johnson's and reminsces of last year - August 2006. Finally departure to Keylong. Rohtang is en route and we're back again. Same rock, same picture, different faces! First of many car breakdowns - fuel tank leaks. 1 car goes ahead, we stay back. I chew gum and hand it to the driver. He chews gum as well. Works to seal the fuel tank for a while. Flag down a truck, get M-seal and the tank is sealed. Adventure begins - we trek down to the stream & then climb into the water pulley. Regrets: no camera! We want to go see the glacier but are prohibited for lack of time. Back to the car & drive to Keylong. Day 2 ends with a slight headache, a cup of tea, biscuits and eventually blissful sleep at the circuit house. Today it's 4 of us + D.

This Day That Year - 14th July 2007 (turns into 15th July 2007)

2008-07-15T18:43:00.000-07:00

Day 1

I reach home at 1 pm after spending about 30 hours at work. Crash. Sid calls at 3:30 pm & says its 5 pm & time to wake up & arrange stuff for the trip. I get up befuzzled, jump out of bed and after mild abuses to him for lying to me about the time, am on the job. My work is to arrange for medicines and emergency food kits...that done, I'm off to the market to buy some other essentials. Cousins are in town, they come along. Back by 9 pm, I get down to packing my favourite black haversack...all set and in control by 10:30 pm. 11:30 pm cab arrives with Pathakji - one of our 3 drivers and sources of frustration & entertainment. Soon we've all collected at the office...all but Saifu & an hour and a half and many fibs later, he lands up & off we go! Vroom! 3 innovas, 13 people...the holiday has begun! Our car has Runmee, Sid, Parul & me...aiming to reach Chandigarh for breakfast, we eventually just manage milkshakes / cold coffee somewhere along the way and then stop for lunch. Check out seedy joints (one Hotel Neelam), exorbitant room rents (just for freshening up) and shady people. Eventually manage to find Hotel Sagar View - clean loos and good food - luxury! Stomachs full, journey resumes...reach Manali at 9 pm - check into Hotel Kanchani Koot - decent hotel...dinner at our favourite Johnson's Cafe, yummy food - the same as last year and back at the hotel - inauguration of our sleeping bags! It's 4 of us together.

Answer

2007-05-21T11:09:00.000-07:00

I read this somewhere...almost as if in answer to my last post...

"Look at life through the windshield and not the rearview mirror!"

Love,
M.

Sometimes...

2007-04-25T19:45:00.000-07:00

If life were a highway and the soul just a car…and objects in the rearview mirror were closer than they are!!

Most would consider having a good memory a boon…but sometimes I wish I didn’t remember things so vividly…sometimes I wish I could forget…sometimes I wish everything wasn’t as clear as if it were just yesterday…sometimes I wish it would all be a blur.

Autos and I

2007-02-27T15:41:00.000-08:00

Autodrivers – what is it with them ALWAYS making us haggle? Delhi/Noida autos will simply not move according to meters. They’ll quote some ridiculously high price…don’t know what they think when they say that – perhaps they assume we don’t live here and are fools…and will expect you to jump in! Then you rebuke him and what follows is a battle of wits and the question of who gives in first…who’s quoted price wins the race…

I guess the permit issue between Delhi and Noida makes them wary but sometimes works to their advantage as well – since people like me who’re not too fond of buses or taxis (two opposite ends as far as I’m concerned) always resort to autos and eventually have to give in to their demands at some point. Auto-wallahs are also extremely unionized…so if you don’t agree to the price quoted by one, none of the others will go either! That really cheeses me off!

The other day, I was to go for a wedding and this auto-man simply refused to go to Delhi (from Noida) unless I paid him Rs 250 (the usual rate on the route would be not more than Rs 150)…I obviously refused and the man was so adamant, I wanted to report him to the police or something. There should be some kind of rule against asking for ridiculous amounts of money and some redressal measures. Anyway, I refused to go with the man, so all his fellowmen refused to take me anywhere. Don’t know what struck me at that moment and I called a colleague to find out what time he’s leaving from office…luckily he was leaving soon enough for me and I hopped into his car – cursing the auto-wallahs!

Then there are those auto-wallahs who will for some reason make it a point to stop at the CNG station only when I’m in a terrible rush! It’s happened with me way too many times. Once I was on my way to office from Lajpat Nagar (was already running very late) and the man insisted he has to get CNG…and God save you from the queues at CNG stations…took a full 15 minutes and a lot of grumbling at my end to get it over with.

I’ve had a few good experiences with them as well. Once I was traveling from Nizamuddin station to my Jhandewalan office. At a red light, a man in orange robes, with a snake wrapped around his neck came asking for money. Now I’m petrified of snakes…tried refusing twice but the man insisted (that’s his job) and just kept getting the slimy creature closer…so I started digging into my purse for coins…the auto-driver then screamed at the snake man and at that moment the light turned green and zoom went my auto-man…. my coins still in my hand. He then severely reprimanded me for encouraging the snake-man. I tried to explain that I don’t pity the man or approve of his begging…I know it’s all a farce…but I just didn’t want the snake anywhere close to me. Of course the auto-man didn’t listen to one word of mine and went on scolding me…he was a kind, old man…said – “aap toh padhe likhe log hain…aapko toh kam se kam aisa nahin karna chahiye”…finally, all I could offer was a nod and a sheepish grin in return! And on reaching Jhandewalan I said ‘thank you’ (not just for driving sanely)…I always thank them – especially the ones who quote reasonable prices, don’t make me haggle, drive sanely and don’t talk incessantly!

Red

2007-02-14T15:31:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day :)
The colour of the day is of course red... People say it's stupid to celebrate Valentine's Day...but I like it...just the way I like say Friendship Day, Mothers' Day or Fathers' Day! I used to do special things for mom dad on those days..I think it was nice...and I'll revive it this year. Haven't done anything for the last 2-3 years I think. Anyways, I like the works in everything...so I'm all for red and balloons and roses and chocolates - not only on Valentine's but on any day for that matter :) Now since both Neha and I don't have Valentines, we gifted each other red hearts that we can put in our penstands...I even thought we'll order flowers for each other but seemed like a waste considering the prices of flowers touch the sky on this day...Rs 50 for one stem of rose...no, thank you! We'd rather watch a movie, treat ourselves to a good dinner or shop!

I decided I want to wear something red to office...rummaged through my cupboard and decided - this summer my colour will be red - I need red clothes! Finally found a red and black Jaipuri dupatta (it's my favourite) and wore that with my jeans and white sweater...not a bad combo at all :)

Walked into office then and found bunches of red balloons everywhere...lots of people hated it but I didn't mind...sweet of HR to try and do something...and I loooooooooooooooove balloons anyway so I really can't complain ;)

The channel of course is playing love stories - some of them are quite amazing actually...people celebrating their golden anniversaries...wow...wonder what it's like to spend 50 years with someone! Hats off!
Somehow I don't think half of our generation can live with the same person for 50 years...don't think most people have the patience or willingness to compromise...our parents and grandparents were much more accommodating. I'd like to believe that in this case, I'm from their generation :)

Love,
M.

New Year in Kasauli

2007-02-13T23:43:00.000-08:00

Hellos to all and sundry…
Been a while…as usual huh?
Well, where to begin? This is my first post in 2007…
Spent New Year at Kasauli with Neha and Shriya at Shriya’s house.
Shriya left one day before us since she had an extra holiday. The journey began with Neha and me traveling to the station in a taxi that took aeons to reach…at one point, we thought we’d miss the train…got stuck just outside the station in a traffic jam so jumped out of the taxi with bag and baggage and barely managed to catch the train in time. It was a shatabdi from Delhi to Kalka. Like schoolgirls, Neha and I bought mushy books to read on the way…food on the train was usual nonsense. When we reached Chandigarh, everyone from our bogie disembarked and only the 2 of us were left in that chair car…with some 4 policemen…I think their presence scared us more than their absence would have! We were wondering how Shriya travels alone in this train. We even called her up to check if we haven’t missed getting off at the right station!

Anyhow, an hour and some goosebumps later, we reached Kalka…were picked up and were driven to Kasauli…it was the WORST hill drive of my life. For one, I hate sitting on the backseats of gypsies…and second, the driver was a maniac! By the time we reached home, Neha and I were giddy and sick…didn’t want to eat for a long time but eventually gave in to aunty pampering us with mushroom pie, fruitcake and what not :)

Next morning, we got dressed and sat in the ‘havan’ that aunty had kept for ‘grihashanti’ (home peace)…who was to know it’s only the beginning of a very religious day :) Then we went to the AFWWA shop and bought some woollen caps and pickles for home. I always buy pickles/jams/juices/oils from hill stations….(read Nainital, Manali)…Neha and I bought similar caps, Shriya already had one…so throughout the trip we looked like a set of triplets!

Next we climbed up a hill to reach a Hanuman temple…don’t know what it is with all temples being located on hill tops in hill stations for some reason…anyhow, the treks are always good…enjoyed it…everyone went barring uncle and aunty…Agrim and Priya had also come over for new year’s…
So we reached the top…I always enjoy making wishes so I did…and well, when you’re trekking up all the way, you might as well wish just to make it more worthwhile…no offence meant dear God!! :)
We had maggi and coffee at this little cafetaria near the temple…funny how maggi lands up in all corners of the country…tasted heavenly on that freezing morning…

Don’t know why but just didn’t like the Kasauli cold…see, as it is I feel extra cold…but Kasauli had that ‘biting’cold, unlike Delhi…gets freezing in Delhi as well but somehow I don’t mind it so much…not so painful! By the end of it, I was of the opinion that 2 days were more than enough in this weather…I couldn’t have survived another one!
So anyway, later that evening after delicious ‘chhola bhaturas’, we walked down to Mall Road…encountered some hooting and cat-calling on the way…followed by a couple who’d lost their way. We first went to this 205-year-old church…(religious day, remember?)…it was simply beauuuuuuuuu-ti-fulllll!!! I love churches…they give me a sense of calm and serenity…we lit candles, wished for some things yet again – third time in the day and then asked Father if we could indulge in photography…he allowed us to and even told us that the church features in ‘Golu ki Goggles’ – a weekly show on Star Plus!!! Click click click we went…

Next we walked down mall road, inspecting shops…Shriya bought a gift for Agrim…then we continued and went gaga over some hand-knit shawls…and the shopping freaks that Neha and I are…we bought 2 each (that after Shriya refused to let me buy more than 2!). One was for Ruchi anyway, so in essence I bought only one :)

Now we proceeded to a coffee shop – loud music, bonfire et al. The coffee and french-fries next to the bonfire were simply awesome! Then we walked back uphill, clicked a snap outside Rahul Bose’s dad’s house…just for kicks…and then huffed and puffed our way up…thankfully, uncle came half way to pick us up…it was just getting way toooooooo cold! Reached home, snuggled up in bed for 2 hours, sent new year messages to friends and then got ready to go for the new year party.

We all first went to Kasauli resort…danced there for a while and had some snacks…Uncle aunty were invited elsewhere as well so they took us along. Now this place was someone’s house…mansion, rather! We reached and commandos were all over the place – their security apparently…these people are the manufacturers of some jams, pickles, juices etc…stinking rich! But the party was such a boreeeeeeeeeeeee…the music was awful – some ghazal guy who couldn’t sing to save his life and sang sad songs to top it all! Neha, Shriya and I were wondering why we didn’t stay back at the Kasauli resort and continue having fun? We were so so bored…even the people were boring…we’d have had more fun just being at home together! Anyways, the house was beautiful and the food was delicious…everywhere there were snaps of the man with Rajiv Gandhi & Sonia Gandhi!
There was cake and champagne at midnight...no I don't drink...
Made phone calls at midnight...wished ma, pa, bhai....bhai was celebrating New Year in Venice...awesome fun!

Anyhow, we left around 2:00 am and went home and cut Agrim’s birthday cake…I was too full to eat more cake…had eaten so much all day!
The next day, we went back to the AFWWA shop as Neha wanted to shop…came back, lunched and sat on the garden swing…these guys were going back to climb the mountain upto the temple but this time I didn’t accompany them. Had a terrible headache, was shivering and feeling feverish. So I stayed at home, lay in bed and watched tv. Had missed news for the last 2 days so caught up with it…learnt there was stone pelting and mob rage happening in Nithari over the skeletons found at D-5, learnt Chandralekha died…felt bad…I’ve been to her house and met her once while we were studying at ACJ. We had our Art and Culture get together there…
Anyways, so these guys got back and we walked over to the mess – nothing unusual about it – another regular Air Force mess! Later in the night we packed and went off to sleep, got up at 3:30 am to drive down to Kalka and catch the train back to Delhi. The journey back was gone in the slumber…reached home, all rushed for baths one by one and hit office by noon…back to square one – in the new year with some new beginnings :)

Practical jokes...

2006-11-08T08:36:00.000-08:00

Just had to say that playing practical jokes is the best! After a looooooooooooooooooooooong time, I'm having a good good laugh (yes the joke is continuing)...it's just too much fun! Cannot reveal it yet - will do once the veil is lifted! But I'm loving it :)
Life isn't much without laughter and it's been missing in my life for a while. No no, not that I'm depressed or anything...just that I haven't played pranks in a while and I actually didn't realize that I'm missing it! Was so caught up with work, home, responsibilities, some other tangles...and lost out on the FUN!!! But now it's back - atleast for the time being!
Ciao,
M.

What to do?

2006-10-11T21:37:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, no matter WHAT you do, it isn't enough...
What do you do then????
-M.

Happy Feet :)

2006-10-11T21:33:00.000-07:00

My feet are feeling good after a nice pedicure...finally managed to take out time for it :)
-M.

Travel time...

2006-10-11T17:25:00.000-07:00

Hello blog,
I know I know I've been away for a looooooooooong time...so here I am with an update! It's been a busy few months...and will be till november (as of now). Been travelling a little and it's fun. Saw some smallish towns and villages....got a feel of the real rural India...and some real people - their problems, their dreams, their joys, sorrows, aspirations. Most people that I came across were so down to earth, pleasant and helpful. It's funny how people in metros will have everything but humanity and how in villages it's the other way round. It's amazing how these people have never been to school and yet have more knowledge than 'educated' people! Their innovations are spellbinding! Was a wonderful learning experience...looking forward to more stuff but after a short break please!!!!! I'm just a wee bit tired of the jet-setting life I've had over the last 2 weeks :)

Met two talkative people in the train last night who insisted on drawing my cameraperson and me into their conversation. They overheard our talk of investments, PPF etc and then began a discussion ranging from investments to marketing to journalism to education to malls to infrastructure development in gurgaon, faridabad, noida etc to law and TTs fleecing people and more - all in the span of less than 2 hours!!! Turned out to be fun in the end :)

On another note, I'm not excited about Diwali this year for some reason. Just seems futile to dress up and sit around considering I don't burn crackers!

By the way, I have revived my Jazz classes that I'd left some 3 years ago....this time with Ashley Lobo and not Shiamak Davar. It's a good 2-hour sunday morning workout. Missed it last sunday due to travel :( Flatmates also missed it for different reasons so the 3 of us will look like morons this sunday - gaping while others dance! Those instructors have such amazingly flexi bodies...needless to say I'm envious. Everything looks simple when you look at them doing it - turns out to be a different ballgame altogether once you try doing it!!!!

Anyhow, more later...I have a few things to take care of right now...
Ciao,
M.

Through the hammock - Nature Notes, Manali

2006-09-21T18:01:00.000-07:00

Heaven on earth...rohtang pass...:)

2006-09-21T17:55:00.000-07:00

Bodies, gore and journalism...

2006-07-17T22:59:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I wonder, will seeing bodies and gore make me immune to it? I've come across journalists who see these and feel nothing because they're so used to it. After all, in India every other day there are deaths in Kashmir due to grenade attacks, in Maharashtra due to farmers' suicides, then there are the bomb blasts, the fires, the terror attacks, the natural disasters and the list goes on.
I only hope I won't lose the compassion I have and I hope never get 'used to' seeing things like this. I'd like it to remain like this - where these things affect me, even upset me incredibly like they do at the moment....for it means I'm still human and have not been devoured by my profession.

Ankahee

2006-05-27T12:11:00.000-07:00

Just got tempted to post one more thing...
Please do NOT ever think of watching Ankahee under ANY circumstances! Every character in the movie is fighting for the award of "most irritating character" including the kid! Other than that, the less said, the better!
Yes, you're probably saying 'who in the world asked you to go for it?' Just that we live a stone's throw away from a multiplex so the other night we wanted to go and watch a late night show and Ankahee was the only show at that time...so we just went for it! Anyhow, I strongly recommend you avoid the movie.
Ciao,
M.

I'm alive and kicking...

2006-05-27T12:04:00.000-07:00

Yes people I'm alive even though the blog has been dead for a while...
Just discovered that blogger.com is no longer blocked in my office:)
That's not to say that I couldn't post from elsewhere...had just lost the inclination to write for a while and I'm not sure if it's totally back yet!
It was a nice feeling to see that people want me to update and that I guess is partly why I'm writing this particular post...just to say that no the blog isn't dead - not yet! But it makes me wonder what people find so interesting in this blog...I mean why would anyone be interested in my dull, drab life? And complete strangers too? But yes, it's a humbling feeling and I'm not complaining one bit :)
Been extremely busy with work but getting more satisfaction out of it now that my profile has changed...more fun and more meaning.
Apart from that, phew...there's so much that I haven't written on the blog! But I'll save that for another time...hope to write in more regularly now.
Ciao.
-M.

On the spur of the moment

2006-03-17T23:08:00.000-08:00

I like being adventurous and doing things on the spur of the moment. So when my office told me that I could take the day off for holi, I was quite excited. I wasn't supposed to have an off - never did on Eid or Makar Sankranti or Republic Day or whatever. Apparently, there's a new rule now, according to which everyone gets offs in rotation. So, some people were off on Holi and others will be off on the next holiday.

Anyhow, coming to the point... mom dad had gone to Agra for holi so I decided I want to go too! I found out a travel agent in my sector, booked a ticket, booked a taxi to take me to the station at 5 a.m. and there I was sitting in the shatabdi to Agra. It was so much fun. I didn't do much more than making a few calls and collecting my ticket from an Uncle's place but the whole thing somehow gave me a sense of independence. The drive to the station gave me a feeling of exhilaration. Any city is so different in the wee hours of the morning. I remember driving back from ACJ in Chennai at 4 a.m. I just loved driving on the road by the Marina and driving at those unearthly hours (a 2-wheeler at that) used to make me feel so free for some reason. Sigh...I'm missing ACJ now:( I also loved observing the sounds of the night time and I love to look at the night sky. I must say the night sky is the best in the north-east - so bright and clear. In Shillong, I'd be on the terrace for an hour every night - just looking at the stars, finding constellations or making up my own!

Anyway, my trip to Agra was good. Didn't play holi, just met up relatives, cousins, niece and nephew! The little angels are as cute as ever. I think these sudden spurts of vacation can sometimes be more refreshing than the well-planned holidays. Ok I think it's time to log off. Ciao.
-M.

?????

2006-03-12T06:42:00.000-08:00

Yo-yo/Ping pong ball - those are things I can identify myself with these days. Why are people so inconsistent in their thoughts/actions? Can't they make up their minds and stay that way forever? Or atleast for a reasonably long period of time?
Why am I expected to understand and adjust my thoughts/actions/feelings according to what people around me think/act/feel?
Can I have some stability in my life? Is that too much to ask for?
And can I stop adjusting and give up? Why is that never an option for me? Why is it something I find hard to consider, let alone try?
Why is nothing ever ENOUGH?
Is it ever going to be? Is there any point in trying yet another time?

Gibberish

2006-03-12T06:32:00.000-08:00

Raindrops, wind, sunshine, twilight
Success, failure, day and night
Happiness, sorrow, joy, pain
Shadow, light, power, fame
Body, soul, life, death
Love, hatred and loneliness
-M

Existential Crisis

2006-02-17T21:56:00.000-08:00

What do I really want from my life?
What do I want to be doing say 5 or 10 years down the line?
Where am I heading?
Am I heading in the right direction?
Or am I static here?
What do I do to be where I want to be?
And how do I know where I want to be?
I've always maintained that contentment is the key to happiness...
How do I find it?

Narnia & Rang De...

2006-01-28T16:17:00.000-08:00

Ok, I've seen both the movies. Liked both. Over to Narnia first (in order of watching) - it's a brilliantly made film and kids will love it (that is not to say I'm a kid). If you like magical lands, witches and a war between the good and the evil then this is for you. The locales are beautiful, the kids very good at their parts. The witch's role is played brilliantly by Tilda Swinton and the lion 'Aslan' is oh! so lovable!!!
Now about Rang De Basanti...it's brilliant. A very fresh concept and simply awesome cinematography, screenplay and direction. Must hand it to Rakeysh Mehra for the idea itself. Aamir perfectionist Khan is his usual flawless self and Alice Patten has done a great job. Soha Ali Khan is extremely good as well. I'm a fan of Sharman Joshi and Kunal Kapoor now! In fact, all of them acted really well. The first half of the film was truly amazing, the humour not cheesy but simply fun. The second half, I thought was just a wee bit over the top but all in all it's a film not worth missing.
So, I've watched two films on 2 consecutive days...correction - 2 consecutive working days! Feels great especially because the movie hall is right behind my house and no other PVR offers 50 buck tickets (only for shows before 1:00 pm). At this rate, I can watch just about any movie in the hall!
Other than that, mom is out of town so tomorrow it's my day out with Daddy. Let's see what we'll do...maybe we'll go out shopping and stuff. Have to make a plan.
Ciao later then,
-M.

R-Day and more

2006-01-26T16:30:00.000-08:00

Happy Republic Day:)
So, India completes 57 years as a republic. 57 years...wow, that's a long time. No, this post is not meant to write on what we've achieved and what we've not. I was just wondering if republic day or even Independence day can ever bond Indians together half as well as an Indo-Pak cricket match can!
Anyhow, the channel looks great today:) We had some fab stories and programmes. I'm quite hooked on to it. The naitonal anthem sung by the top voices of the country was particularly touching. I stood up in my drawing room...somehow, I just cannot remain seated while the anthem is on and I'm glad I have my patriotism in place. The office is full of flags today...couple of them on each desk. I quite like it:)
On a completely different note, Ruch came over to my place last night. We had a nice dinner at Pizza Hut. While we were having dinner, Ankur called and said - "Hi, where are you?" I said, "Having dinner at Pizza Hut. Where are you?" And he says, "I'm at your place...came to say hi to Ruchi!!" Poor thing! Whenever he tries to give me a surprise, something like this happens...this is the second time he's come home without telling me and not found me there!!! Some timing we have, huh?
Anyhow, Ruch & I went home & called him & then all three of us went out for ice-cream - in our sector only. It was fun - walking in the chilly night with my two best friends, eating an ice-cream & chatting & laughing. One of the times that I'm going to cherish. It was like what Boman Irani said in Bluffmaster about remembering 30 happy days of your life - this is definitely one of them:)
Today morning, Ruch & I went to the Spice Mall & while walking back, we bumped into an old hostel friend. It was wonderful to meet her after such a long time. We just stood by the roadside, catching up on each other's lives. It was such a nice feeling. She's just the same...same funny, warm, talkative girl. We exchanged numbers & it turns out she lives in my sector only. We'll hopefully be in touch now.
Then Ruch and I had brunch at Mc D (so much for my gymming) & I dropped her off to an auto and both of us proceeded to our respective work places.
Other than that, I'm going for the Chronicles of Narnia with Ankur tomorrow morning. Will update you on the movie tomorrow.
Ciao,
-M.

A happy morning

2006-01-18T14:49:00.000-08:00

I got up feeling warm this morning…Delhi winter is not its usual self this year. Anyhow, my first thought was – I want to ride my bike to office today. So I called up office and told them I don’t want their car. (It was also because I could snatch a few extra minutes of sleep)
It felt great – driving on a winter morning, slightly foggy, empty roads, no red-lights, cold air in my face…I loooooooooooooved it. Looking forward to more such mornings and looking less forward to the summers!
-M.

Flood Control

2006-01-18T10:52:00.000-08:00

Tuesday was the day I decided – this is it! Today I’m definitely getting back to gymming, I want all this extra flab out before I have to shed these winter clothes. So I was high on motivation. Came back home from work, got into my gym gear and waited for the maid to finish cooking our dinner. Then drove to the gym, happily singing and humming. I had a good workout but I missed my last gym…I definitely liked that better. Anyhow, did my exercise and drove back home. I opened the house, was looking for the light switch and wondered what did I just step into? I switched on the light and discovered our home is flooded!!! Right from the kitchen to the drawing room, it was water water everywhere. The maid had left the fresh water tap on in the kitchen! Then began my second exercise regime of the day. Me in rolled up pyjamas, broom in hand, sweeping the water back from the drawing room to the kitchen. But before that, I had to lift the wet carpet and put it out in the balcony. Do you have any idea how heavy a wet carpet can be? I didn’t either – until yesterday. By the end of it, I was a tired soul (and body). The good part – I slept like a log on water!
-M.

Relaxed Weekend

2006-01-16T13:11:00.000-08:00

I had a nice fun weekend.
Mom & dad are in Pune so I didn’t go home this weekend. Met up with 2 of my 3 best friends instead and spent good time with them. Ruch and I can never fall short of things to talk about…we laugh on the silliest little things. And laugh like mad.
It’s only with her that I can agree to go have a Mc D burger for breakfast (of course that Mc D wasn’t open and so we had to skip it is a different story).
So this saturday, we met up after quite a while and talked endlessly. We had a nice dinner at Sagar and then dessert at Flavors (chocolate pudding & blueberry cheesecake…sinful…sighhhh!!!)
After that I was way tooooooo sleepy…

Sunday morning, Ruch dropped me to Noida…the drive was good fun with virtually no traffic. I just love to drive on the toll road (no it was Ruch driving but am just saying it generally). Actually, it’s been a few weeks since I drove. The last I think was the drive to Gurgaon when Bhai was in town.

Anyhow, back to my weekend…so Ruch dropped me back and then I went to Ankur’s place for lunch. Aunty made yum khana…(mummy come back soon from Pune). Then we just chilled out…watched ‘Hitch’. It was so funny. I loved it. Just couldn’t stop laughing. It has some very nice lines too. So that was that.

I thank God for the wonderful family and friends that I have. And I thank each one of them for being there for me. I really don't know what I'd do without any of them. Mom, Dad & Bhai for being the perfect family - forever guiding me and protecting me (and if I say anymore then I won't EVER end this post). Ruchi for understanding me so perfectly, always advising me and listening to me patiently about the same things over and over and over again. Ankur for bringing the endless humour and fun in my life and attending my countless phone-calls about random things in life. Dhanya for being there for me since class 6 despite the fact that we haven't stayed in the same city for the last 8 years. (Ok, did I sound like I was giving a thank you speech at an awards function?) They are all people I can't function without and I can write about them forever but I guess this will be it for this particular post.

Anyhow, here's the end of my weekend story - I went home and somehow landed up in a strange mood. It was not the perfect end to a beautiful weekend but nevertheless it didn’t damper the good time I had.

On a completely different note: suddenly, I feel like getting away from Delhi…I feel like taking a few days off and travelling by myself to some small little town – just discover some place by myself. Wishful thinking I know…sigh!!!
Ok, that’s all for now. More later. Ciao.
-M.

Another new year...

2006-01-05T02:17:00.000-08:00

So it's the end of another year.
And what's new?
The balloons on the channel logo and the year-ender programmes and the Happy News Year Sting...etc etc..the list goes on. That's what life's about now. Can u imagine - the high for us on new year's eve is - the 2005 balloons on the logo are gonna burst at midnight and the 2006 balloons are gonna be up!
On New Year's day - we sit glued to the channel...calling up office, ruining the ticker person's life by pointing out mistakes early in the morning. The same ticker person who didn't get to come to office 2 hours late on the night shift (yes the others got that much time to party and reach office)& had to sit all alone waiting for breaking news to happen (or rather not happen).
On my 4 day vacation, half of each day is spent cribbing why I'm not getting the channel here, the other half wondering if we have what other channels do...I land up at my favourite niece & nephew's place, play with them for a while and discover they're getting the channel at their place so there I am glued to the idiot box, with my niece nudging me to play with her.
And here I am, back at work after 4 days and the systems crash for 5 hours and I realise, I could have had that holiday for just a bit longer!
Ciao,
M.

A Stranger with a Smile

2005-12-09T22:08:00.000-08:00

I sat behind the wheel
Driving on, looking at the road but not really seeing...
Thinking of the hurt, feeling the pain, tears rolling down my cheeks
And then he came
Overtook me with great speed
Looked into his rearview with a smirk on his face
and then he saw my tears...
His expression changed
In a fraction of a second he apologised and that did it...
It made me smile!
-M.

Brilliant News

2005-10-27T15:06:00.000-07:00

Here's some great news...our organisation now has an alliance with a certain well-reputed American organisation. Yes, I know you want to know the name but I don't think I should indulge in that! Anyhow, the good thing is that we get to share their resources and training systems and technology. We also get access to world-class footage of places where we normally can't keep correspondents. The best part about the deal is that they have no hand in our editorial or managerial policies! Rumours are that competitors were vying for the same deal. Apparently, the Americans are quite astounded by our facilities and the progress we've made over the last few weeks.
So, we were all pretty elated in office and had awesome black forest cake for celebration:)
The sad part is that we still don't get paid in dollars:( {Asking for too much, eh?}
Look forward to updating you more on this...after all, the journey has just begun.
Ciao,
M.

Of Love and Hate

2005-10-26T14:55:00.000-07:00

"Love and hate don't cancel out each other. It's possible for them to co-exist and drive you mad."
-Erich Segal (Man, Woman and Child)
I really like the line....meaning, you can love and hate the same person for different reasons...both extremely strong emotions and I guess it would be maddening to love and hate someone. Strange situation, don't you think?

A long weekend!

2005-10-03T15:03:00.000-07:00

I had a 3-day weekend...good fun:)
On thursday afternoon we were told we could have the next 3 days off. So I just called up mom dad and asked them to take me home...seriously, there's no place like home. I went back after a week and felt so good:)
On friday, I just lazed around, watched tv, surfed the net and talked on the phone.
Then on saturday, I met up Toni and Ruchi for lunch and it was good fun. We met up in Subroto Park and Ruch and I took a walk before Toni reached and it felt like hostel days. Then we proceeded to Priya's for lunch...had chinese at YO CHINA...my dish was fine but Ruch wasn't too happy with hers...Toni was thrilled about the babycorn and the mushrooms! After that, we went to Lajpat thinking we'll shop at Sabhyata and it turned out that a sale was on there but sadly, none of us liked anything! We then proceeded to Westside and no, I did not buy anything this week! For the last 3 consecutive weeks, I have been shopping from Westside...don't you think they should give me a discount?? Anyhow, Ruchi bought a cute purple top and then Toni had to leave. That night we also had a party at Akash Mess - Jaggi uncle had invited us...the food was yummmmmmmmmm...Ruch was also invited so basically both of us chatted more! Shalu was also supposed to come but she wasn't feeling too well.
Then on sunday, we went for satsang and I just lazed around for the rest of the day. Today morning dad dropped me back and I'm in NOIDA for the rest of the week.
More later...
Ciao,
M.

Work updates

2005-09-02T22:50:00.000-07:00

So, I've completed a month at work. Got my first paycheck:)
It's been very good so far. Over the past 3 weeks, we were trained in camera shooting, editing and writing & reporting. The next 2 weeks will be production and news gathering. Well, it isn't really new to me but yes, I haven't handled the Sony PD 170 before, so it was new in that sense. But the basic functions are the same in all cameras.
The faculty is great -all very experienced and the best part is that they all have an amazing sense of humour.Working at IBN is a pleasure. We saw a promo of the channel yesterday...looked very cool. I genuinely liked it. I'd also seen the channel logo and heard the music a few days back. The logo looked fine but I didn't find the music very catchy. I hope they get it redone.
During camera training we went out shooting to India Gate and to Old Delhi (Jama Masjid & Chandini Chowk)...it was great fun:) At the risk of sounding immodest, let me just say that I shot some good stuff that got universal appreciation:) It was awesome to get my hands back on the camera. I just loooooooooooooove to shoot!!!
My gym sessions got done a while ago and now I'm back to aerobics with Finesse. So, basically I just run from office to aerobics class and reach back home by 8:00p.m. I have to look for PGs in NOIDA as well...guess office should be shifting by this month end or first week of october!!!Ok, ciao for now...will write more later!
Love,
M.

Bhai from Belgium

2005-08-29T23:13:00.000-07:00

Bhai is back after his 45-day trip to Belgium. He was here for a day - on his way back to Pune. Yes yes, I got lotsa stuff. He got me a Sony Digicam, a swatch watch, key chains, junk jewellery, cell phone accessories, a top, a scarf and chocolates of course! So cute na?
Then he got mom her favourite perfume (Nina Ricci) & a swarovski pendant...and shirts and a jacket for dad, a watch for naani and an i-pod for himself....and yes tons of chocolates for tons of people!!! Cool, huh?
Naani, mamu etc. came to meet him yesterday and so did Bhalla uncle & family. We all just chilled out and had a good time:) Now bhai is back in Pune.
Ciao,
M.

Surprise surprise

2005-08-12T22:04:00.000-07:00

I had a great day today:)
It's Ankur's birthday and I gave him a surprise. I landed up at his place at 9:00 in the morning! He of course had no idea that I would turn up! What fun na? He opened the door and was like-"You're mad! Totally mad!!!!" Hehehehe:)
We just chilled out at his place then went & bought his cake (yummy chocolate truffle)...I of course insisted on buying candles and did manage to get my way (after arguing with him for a while). Then we waited for Medha and cut the cake as soon as she came. Then I ran to office. Had a staff meeting at 2:00p.m. This is my last 3-day weekend for a long time to come. Full fledged training begins on monday. I'm looking forward to it!
Ciao,M.

Working woman

2005-08-02T22:06:00.000-07:00

I had the orientation of my first job at Hotel Intercontinental yesterday. It was nice...heard all about the channel and got to listen to very inspiring stuff....followed by a five star lunch;) and then the filling up of the gazillion forms. Isn't it weird that on your first day of work you're sitting and deciding who gets the money you earned in case you die...a bit of a damper!
Then we had our first day of the familiarisation process today. We had lectures by a reputed American media person. He's very good and fun too. It just turned out that during our BBC training, Amanda has already taught us every single thing that he spoke of. Felt good to already know stuff!!! Even the software they'll be using is a high end version of the one we had at college. So, I'm quite elated about it. Today was all in all simply deja vu', ACJ revisited! Just mailed Amanda thanking her for all that she taught us and updating her on the day's events.
Ok, that's about it. Working tires you out man...but so far, I love it:)
Ciao,
M.

Employed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2005-05-27T22:36:00.000-07:00

Helllllllllllllllllllloooooooooooooooooooo Bloggie:):):):):)
It's a happy happy day:):):):):):):):):):):):):)

Ok, let me tell you all about my day. I went for the workout in the morning. It was good as usual. Then I was supposed to meet Ankur at Satyam Janakplace for 'Bunty aur Babli' at 11a.m. But when I was driving back from my aerobics class, he called to say that the first show begins at 11, which meant I had to reach earlier and so I rushed home, got ready, had breakfast and drove to district centre. Lost my way and reached half an hour late. Poor thing had to wait!!! Anyway, I did manage to reach before the movie. Then there was massive security checking at Satyam 'coz of the recent bomb blasts. Anyhow, we saw the movie and it was AWESOME...I loved it..died laughing!

Throughout the movie, my phone had been on 'discreet' and for some reason the vibrator didn't work so I didnt know I was getting calls. After the movie, I looked at the phone and saw 13 missed calls. At that moment, mom called and said that Broadcast News people were looking for me...they'd called up home also. So I called them up and they asked me to come and collect my offer letter. They also asked me to get a copy of my CV. So Ankur and I found a cyber cafe in district centre and took a printout of my CV. Then we drove to my to-be office and I got my offer letter. So, I'm employed w.e.f. August 1, 2005 at the output desk of a reputed channel. Cool huh?:) The package is the same as my CNBC Mumbai friends! So, basically I was quite excited about the whole thing. Told Ruchi and she did her networking and within 5 minutes, I got calls from Bhau and Toni!! Posted a message on the college yahoogroup and got calls, mails, messages!

Went for dinner to DSOI 'coz it was mom's buaji's 80th birthday. Had a good time talking to Saloni and Anuj bhaiya (and yummy cake). So, this is it for now. I have an extended vacation till 1st August but no more tension. Plan to workout and do stuff like painting and things that I might not be able to do once work begins! That's all for now bloggie. More later....ciao:)
-M:)

Convo updates...

2005-05-24T23:46:00.000-07:00

Well, long time no posts. Ummm...where do I begin? Ok, I managed to go to Chennai for the convocation. HT gave me two days off. I was there for less than a day....flew down on 3rd morning..reached around afternoon, attended the convocation in the evening and flew back early next morning. Emminent Pakistani journalist and editor-in-chief of The Friday Times & Daily Times, Najam Sethi was the chief guest. He delivered the convocation address on 'The Role of the News Media in Indo-Pak Conflict and Detente.'Got a copy of the address as well as the Convocation issue of 'THE WORD'.

Ram was of course student of the year (no surprise there)...also got the award for the best dissertation and stuff...too cool. I got the 'Dean's Prize for Outstanding Performance in Photojournalism'. There was a tie between Meenakshi and me.It was really good to meet everyone again and finally said goodbyes this time. Many people are in Delhi so it's good. Ram and I were on the same flight to Delhi and Piyu was on another flight but at the same time...met her on the Delhi and Chennai airports. Then, met Sam on the Delhi airport as he'd come to receive her.

Other than that, internship with Headlines Today carried on till 14th May. After that, I gave their written test. Papers are yet to be corrected and then they might call for an interview. Let's see...!!!
-M.

Random stuff...

2005-04-30T22:02:00.000-07:00

Hello Bloggie..
Yeah yeah, I know I've been away...just got caught up with work and stuff. Ok, I don't feel like talking about work right now 'coz I've been posting all that stuff regularly on the college yahoogroup and I'm too lazy to repeat all of it again. The latest is that my name was announced on National television for the first time today! I've done the same stuff earlier as well but didn't credit for it - too long a story to tell...anyhow, did a story on the 30th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam war and the voice over girl (yes they have strange things here) signed off as "With Mridu Bhandari......blah blah...Headlines Today".
Other than that, I'm off to the convocation on 3rd...can't wait to attend it...good that I get another chance to say goodbye to people 'coz I couldn't meet all of them before leaving. I'll be back on the 4th. Might be working the night shift after that. Let's see! Okie, cya then - pray I meet Ruchi and Toni tomorrow. Our plans seem to be jinxed! Ciao.
-M:)

Do I?

2005-04-14T00:54:00.000-07:00

Do I tell you that I need you?
Or do I wait till you realise?
Do I ask you if you need me?
Or do I simply say Goodbye?
Am I crazy that I love you?
Am I mad I even try?
Do I hold back my tears or just let go and cry?
Can I find all the answers?
Is there any way at all?
Will you be by my side or am I left alone to fall?
-M.

The joys and blues of being home

2005-04-14T00:31:00.000-07:00

It's simply great to be back home and in Delhi. I loooove the city. Well, I landed up on the 11th. Came with Shivi by Rajdhani..man do those people make you eat or what? We board the train at 6 a.m. and soon we get toffees followed by tea/coffee. Then comes breakfast accompanied by another cup of tea/coffee. Three hours later, we get soup with soup-sticks. Then lunch followed by ice-cream. Then a break of 2 hours and then snacks with juice. Another break of 3 hours and then 'Rassam' followed by dinner and then ice-cream again!Man, they kill you with food. The worst part is that they don't let you sleep. I mean, they shake you and wake you and make you eat! So, it's a paradise for those who like eating more than sleeping but for us sleep-deprived souls, it was a bit of a pain - except that it covers the distance in a much shorter span of time than Tamil Nadu Express or GT.
Anyhow, mom came to the station and Ruchi too. Sadly, Ruchi landed up on the New Delhi station while I got off at Nizamuddin...felt really bad for the child...poor thing...anyways, we met up at Khan market then and went home. Spent the day chatting away to glory.
I divide my day between the television, the telephone, the internet and meeting up with friends. Met up with Ankur today...he came home. Was good fun. We had a lot to catch up on.
I'm looking forward to starting off with internship day after tomorrow. There's too much time at my disposal - not used to this!
I'm loving being home but am missing college as well. I miss working late in the studio, the mdf, playing pacman in lab 2 (it's not so much fun to play it at home), working like mad, the idli-anna, vadas at Grand, our dog: Floppy, all the people...friends, teachers - especially Nishat sir...college was great. I can happily say that it was one of the best years of my life:)
Well, the college yahoo group has suddenly come alive....i open my mailbox and find 48 new mails!!!! Everyone seems to have a lot to say now that we've left - it's good to hear from all! Ok, that's all for now. Ciao.
-M:)

An all-nighter

2005-04-08T12:40:00.000-07:00

I was very upbeat and in the mood to work yesterday (I'm always in a mood to work but more so yesterday). So we spent all day (and night) doing our Investigative Project. Went home at 4:00 a.m. today. I actually wanted to put in another 2 hours and finish it off but Meenakshi wanted to go home. We'll just work a bit on the music in the evening and that's it. I think the film is looking pretty good. I've been running around getting my No Dues certificate done. Just have to return the locker keys now. Will do that in the evening so I don't have to carry the stuff around till then. I'll miss college. It's been great fun. I loved my course and college and everything about it - friends, teachers, non-teaching staff - just everyone. It's really been a great year. Hmmm...feeling a bit bad about leaving now...but very excited to return to Delhi as well. Guess I should work on my business assignment now. Catch you later bloggie. Ciao.
-M.

Road block

2005-04-07T09:18:00.000-07:00

The Santhome High road has been blocked for 2 days now. It ain't fair. Apparently, some building had fallen somewhere in Santhome (that's what I heard)...as a result, we're not allowed to drive there. Well, it's been 2 days now and the rubble ought to have been removed. The diversion is a pain 'coz one has to drive through the Srinivaspuram slum that has a strong smell of fish all the time. Women of the fishing community sit on the pavement, selling their husbands' catch. Besides, the road is not too broad and everything from ONYX trucks to buses to cars and two-wheelers have to drive there.
The only plus point is that I get to drive close to the sea. I absolutely looooooooooove the sea. This is the only road so close to the sea. So, the view is great. But then, it's also a distraction 'coz I'm tempted to look at the waves while driving and it's not really safe to do that considering the breadth of the road and the number of vehicles on it. I only wish the stench of fish were missing! Anyhow, I hope the Santhome High road is cleared by today evening and I don't have to take the detour anymore. Ciao.
-M.

Railway officials: a PAIN!

2005-04-02T18:37:00.000-08:00

Government officials...ok railway officials in particular - they get on my nerves!We're doing our investigative project on the beggar syndicate in Chennai. People from rehab centres told us to take a train ride from Beach station to Tambaram. So we went over to the Assistant PRO of railways..the guy is first of all pissed that our college comes every other week to do some or the other story(well...if railways are in the news, aren't we gonna cover it? Duh!). Anyhow, then he says that his boss is outta town so he cannot permit us. Now come on, the Chief PRO isn't required for these little things. This guy has signed letters for us before. After a lot of pleading (and abusing in the mind), he still doesn't relent and tells us to come the following day.
So Meenakshi lands up the next morning and some other arbit guy screams at her again 'coz ACJ is foever doing railway stories. The thing is that since there are three streams so i guess a number of people must be coming. The man yells his lungs out and asks her to call at 3p.m. and make some college authority talk to him. So, that's day 2 wasted! Anyways, we asked Nishat sir to call and obviously he had to give us permission after that 'coz Sir smartly took N.Ram and Shashikumar's names;) The PRO wouldn't wanna spoil relations now, would he?
So we land up yet again at the PRO's office and this time straight to the Chief PRO. He gives us permission - only for non peak hours and then asks us yet again, why so many people do railway stories...and we explain that each time the issue is different. Obviously, we didn't tell him that we want beggars on the train. Are u mad? He'd have thrown us outta his office. So he asks his PA to type out a letter and asks us to wait outside. I tell Meenakshi-"This guy was sweet, unlike his junior staff".
The painfully slow PA takes half an hour to just change the names and timings on a standard letter for this purpose. In doing so, he doesn't fail to tell us that the last time we came was on 7th March and that that time also Meenakshi had come (with Sam). Anyhow, he finishes the letter and goes inside the CPRO's office to get it signed. Comes out a minute later, minus the letter! We wonder - "why the hell could he not stand there and just get the letter back?"
We wait..and wait...and wait more. I take back the compliment about him being a sweet guy! He just had to sign the damn letter after all. After another half an hour, the CPRO calls him inside and sends the letter with him! Finally, we have permission! Quite a painful affair (to say the least). Guess the college should invite him over for the convocation or something so he's helpful with the next batch!
Anyhow,that's that.
I have dumped all my BBC stories on to a VHS to take home. Yet to dump the Kudremukh documentary. We got the highest marks in that. There were 8 films in all.
There's a debate on Global Warming in Monday's science class followed by a Pizza party as we're all leaving next week. I'll have to write a report on the debate. Then theres the Enron assignment that I have to do for the business elective. Other than that, I'm done with almost everything barring the IP of course. Just have to stick on the snaps of the last photojournalism assignment. It's on Ritchie Street. Am done with the other two on Mahabalipuram and the Trade Fair.
Spoke to Ankur last night and got April fooled. Then spoke to Bhau and apparently Toni April fooled her! So, I'm not the only one:)
Monday night there's a party at the Cricket Club. It's a farewell from the chairman. I hope I'm able to come back for the convocation. Highly unlikely though!:(
Guess that's about all for now. Will keep you posted bloggie.Ciao.
-M.

2005-03-27T00:09:00.000-08:00

In the studio, after the last show of NEWSBEAT!!!

2005-03-27T00:00:00.000-08:00

Amanda's Party!

End of BBC...

2005-03-26T15:25:00.000-08:00

The BBC course got over day before yesterday. Got our certificates or 'bits of paper' as Amanda calls them. She also wrote personal notes to all of us. Sweet of her to do that. I secured a 75% which is good (not great - just good). Piyu got the highest - 78%. We had a photo session in the studio after the last show.
Then last night, we had a party at Amanda's place. Had a nice time. After that we went to 'Sparks' thinking we'll dance but the place was quite dead. They were to have 'Hip hop Nite' from 11:30p.m. but that would mean waiting for an hour and in addition, there were cover charges for men. So then we decided to go to 'Bikes n barrels'. It was nice and lively there (unlike sparks)...so danced a lot...mostly good music too...danced till 12:15-12:30am...then it was shut down time...all pubs and discs in Chennai shut by then ever since the Stephanie case. All in all it was a fun evening.
Don't feel like it's holi today...probably only the second time when I'm not playing...otherwise I just looooooooove the festival. Let's hope next year is better. Ok, I should be finishing my article on supernovae now. Ciao.
-M:)

Dissertation Done!!!!

2005-03-21T16:39:00.000-08:00

:) :) :) :) :)
My dissertation is done! Wow! It's a wonderful feeling. I remember reading the college prospectus before joining ACJ and wondering -"If I get into this college, how the hell will I write a dissertation?"
But I enjoyed doing my dissertation...it's called -"The Bulletin Boom: The growth of television news channels in India". I had fun researching it and believe it or not I managed to write more than 6000 words on it (that seemed slightly impossible to me at the beginning!)
Anyhow, right now I'm overwhelmed by a sense of joblessness...so I'm chatting and blogging and doing all the forbidden things. This week we'll finish off with the BBC course and then we'll just have to work on the Investigative Project. Then there'll be that test in the Business elective and the global warming debate in the science elective and there's also that photojournalism assignment that's to be done...bah..so much for feeling jobless! Got a call from Ruby last night - a junior from hostel..asking me for tips to get into ACJ..HAHA! For some reason it really amused me:) The new prospectus is out and I like it better (not just for the fact that it has a lot of my snaps!) because the colour scheme is more appealing in my opinion. Ok, I wanna eat now..haven't eaten all morning 'coz of the dissertation. Ciao!
-M:)

2005-03-21T03:37:00.000-08:00

In the studio...handling the camera!

Work, work and more work...

2005-03-13T10:55:00.000-08:00

Just about a month left for the course to end and needless to say that we are overburdened with work (not that we weren't throughout the year!). The dissertation deadline is approaching at the speed of light...21st March, which also happens to be the deadline for the special report. After that we'll have the investigative documentary to do. We have one week to film and edit the special report. We're doing ours on the money spinning activity of private tutors and the over-stressed kids! Went to shoot outside Vidya Mandir yesterday. It was so damn hot man. Interviewed a few parents, teachers etc. Am feeling overwhelmed by work at the moment. Have just completed about 2,500 words of my dissertation (the minimum is 5,000) so that leaves me about halfway...and a week's time is too less in my opinion..I think the labs should be open 24*7 now and I should be banned from playing Pacman and Jardinians! Ok, I think I should also be banned from blogging. Let's begin sunday morning - with the dissertation of course! Ciao.
-M.

Is there a 31st of Feb?

2005-03-07T12:09:00.000-08:00

Hehe..good one this...
It all started when I was chatting with a school friend and wished him for his birthday..he was surprised that I remembered his birthday after all these years.So anyways, he asked me about mine (said that he'll definitely remember to wish me)...so I said "It's on 31st Feb". It was my usual poor joke (well, not so poor anymore!) and I expected him to say -"Come on, stop kidding..tell me when is it?". Instead, what he said was - "Ok, I'll definitely wish you!" I thought, ok let's see when he realises that there's no 31st in February. No no, that's not the end of the story.
I met him online yesterday and he says - "I'm so sorry, I forgot to wish you on your birthday. It was on 31st na? I've been remembering it every morning since the 31st but just couldn't wish you!" This was unbelieveable. I thought he's pulling my leg or something. So I just played along and said - "That's ok, not a problem!" I was kinda surprised that he still didn't realise that February had only 28 days. Anyhow, I couldn't stop laughing and finally said - "Congratulations! You are the only person on the face of this earth who's experienced a 31st in February!" Poor boy - needless to say how embarrassed he is about the whole issue and I feel bad that he'll have to suffer this for the rest of my lifetime! Hehehe! I haven't laughed this much at anything in a long, long time!
Ciao,
M:)

Contemplation....

2005-03-01T16:43:00.000-08:00

I've just been wondering...should one be in touch with things that have long been a part of life just because they've been there that long? I agree that it's tough to move on and give up stuff. But does that mean that you still carry on with stuff that's rapidly deteriorating and has few chances of survival? Do you wait for it to die or do you just give it an instant death? Or do you (yet again) give it that one last chance - hoping that it'll make it this time? Can you ever give up on trying to make things work? Can't make up my mind...
-M.

Trying to host a photo...

2005-02-20T16:34:00.000-08:00

Lunch at Queens, Bangalore.

Radio Docu creating waves!

2005-02-16T20:24:00.000-08:00

Well well...our radio documentary seems to have made it into The Chicago Sun-Times..pretty cool I'd say. Check it out at http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-radio15.html
-M.

Reiteration..

2005-02-15T08:22:00.000-08:00

Just want to reiterate what I said in my last post..it's definitely true that NOTHING is permanent...I sort of reconsidered my previous post over the last two weeks but I definitely believe what I wrote is 100% true. That's all I have to say. Ciao!
-M.

Nothing is permanent...

2005-02-01T07:52:00.000-08:00

Yes, it's true. Nothing, absolutely NOTHING is permanent in life. Don't want to say anything more. Ciao.
-M.

Third term begins...

2005-01-17T19:49:00.000-08:00

Wow! It's unbelievable. Only 3 more months for the course to finish. Time really does fly - even when you're away from home and longing to go back. Third term began today. We started the day with the science elective. The woman - Vijaya Swaminath is awesome. She's a scientist as well as a science writer. She's wonderfully organised and is simply brilliant. She expects a lot of work from us. We'll be giving in weekly assignments. Thankfully, she does not believe in exams. Am I glad or what? Ok, following the science class, we had the covering deprivation test which went off ok....nothing too good or bad about it. After that, we began our BBC training with Amanda Harper (or 'Harps' as she's called in BBC). I quite liked her actually. She's a perfectionist and I really like that 'coz I don't believe that there's any other way to do it! She has a decent sense of humour too. We were handed over our BBC goodies-a folder, keychain, bookmark, a pen and her visiting card. Today being the first class, it was more or less an introduction and 'getting to know one another' session. By the way, I have finally managed to hand in my Art and Culture assignment (applause)! I'm not really happy with what I wrote 'coz it was done under the pressure of juggling too many things. Next on agenda is - viewing the covering deprivation documentary footage and logging in shots. Apart from that, the next few weeks are going to be pretty relaxed because Harps doesn't usually teach beyond 5p.m. Believe me, that's a relief! I sent a long mail to Ruchi. She's moved out of the hostel 'coz of her internship in Gurgaon. Oh, the good news - Bhau has got a call from MDI-Gurgaon and Toni has got a call from IIFT-Delhi. Isn't that too cool? I hope both of them get through and then Ruch and I also work in Delhi! It'll be awesome to be back together again! It's my favourite dream at the moment!
Okie dokie..ciao then!
-M:)

Phew!

2005-01-15T21:07:00.000-08:00

Well, so we managed the radio documentary. We managed to show them one finished product-the media coverage angle-the one for which I did the script and narration...and Rob loved my script!!! I was on cloud#9. He appreciated loads of stuff on it and know what the high point was? He didn't take out a single mistake! That's very very unlike Rob. He's very fair and straightforward about our work-says the positive and negative things on the face. So we were basically thrilled and me more so, 'coz I wrote the script and did the narration! I had an attachment with the feature. Will get it burnt on to a cd on monday. Rob has left for Chicago. We'll all miss him. It was a blast working for him. Nishat Sir got a 5kg cake for us after the radio programme. We had a small party. Rob and his wife- Lori, cut the cake. Oh ya, forgot to mention that I got an A+ - that's first class with distinction for my radio journalism course. I was thrilled till I discovered that most people had got that and it's really not that big a deal! Well, there's a covering deprivation test on monday and I am just about to go to Meenakshi's to do combined studies. We also start BBC training with Amanda Harper from monday which means that third term begins. I also have to submit that stupid art and culture assignment on monday-there's no escaping it. Another thing happening on monday is the start of my science elective followed by business and photojournalism through the week! Then there's work to be done on the dissertation...is this life or what? Anyhow, that's about it for now...I shall make a move to Meenakshi's place now. Goodnight. Ciao!
-M:)

Grrrrrrrr...

2005-01-13T09:33:00.000-08:00

I am soooooooooooooooooooo irritated! We have to have to have to finish the radio documentary..there are too many hurdles...we have only 2 machines with the software and 5 teams working...and a deadline of one day. It's crazy. How do they expect us to give in a polished product at the end of it? We just need time to edit man. We've been working days as well as nights...but it's just not possible for 3 teams to work on one machine! The time slots are too short. I am doing the media coverage of the tsunami disaster - basically the sensitivity (or the lack of it) of the media towards tsunami victims. Another angle also being covered by our group is the early warning system. They are excellent topics but we need the damn time to edit. Most of it is done. But there's still work left and it's unlikely that the other teams will give us machines now. God help! Just need like an hour on the machine. The presentation is at 2:00p.m. I am irritated especially since Rob has very high expectations of us and I know that we can meet them if onle we get some time on the machine. Grrrrrrr.....
-M:(

Can I gloat a bit?

2005-01-11T19:33:00.000-08:00

Hellllllllllooooooo....:)
Guess what? Our radio feature on the INPUT film screening has been adjudged the best! There were 5 teams and each had to create a five-minute radio feature on the film screening that took place in our college from 7th to 9th January.I was the narrator for our feature. Our story came out superb! Rob Quicke said that if he had to broadcast it, there isn't a thing that he'll change about it.He said my voice is crisp and clear!:) Please allow me to gloat a bit..can't help it right now! He also said,"I wouldn't be too happy right now if I were in your team"..when we asked, "Why?" he said- "'Coz my teacher would have very high expectations from me then!" Wow...that's flattering but scary too. I hope we live up to his expectations. He's gonna take our features to Chicago and broadcast them from his radio station. It's so cool. The radio workshop is awesome. I love it and I really respect Rob. He's an amazing teacher. Right now we're working on the tsunami feature. We are making a thirty minute radio documentary on the tsunami and it's aftermath. It's going to be submitted to a competition in the State of Illinois and we'll be competing against all American Universities. This will also be the first ever student produced Indian radio documentary! So, we're basically creating radio history here! Ok, I gotta go and work on the tsunami feature. Ciao.
-M:)

Chennai Blues...

2005-01-05T10:54:00.000-08:00

Well well well...I don't believe it..the holiday is already over and I am back in Chennai. What a pain. I had such a ball of a time in Delhi. I didn't want to come back at all. The weather was so cool-not all that cold! I like the new house at Najafgarh. It's great except that I wish I could get a crane to move it to some place in south Delhi. I shopped lots and met up with Ruchi, Toni and Ankur. Couldn't meet Rish though:( New year's was ok...a little low key as compared to other years and understandably so. We spent the night at Kash aunty's place. I really hope 2005 will be a better year and a nightmare of this magnitude would never repeat itself. I visited the Marina beach yesterday. You can still see the signs of devastation. It's been 8 days and the sand is still damp. All the barricades are broken. The coastline has come closer and sand has been scooped out in many places. Marina, which is usually abuzz with activity-hawkers, friends, families...was quite the opposite yesterday. All you could hear were the sounds of the sea. I went there to record the sounds of the beach for a radio journalism assignment and returned with the sounds of the winds and the waves...nothing else. It was quite a depressing sight because I have seen Marina at other happier times and it's not at all like this. Anyhow, gotta get to my art and culture assignment now. Ciao!
-M.

Disaster

2004-12-31T18:22:00.000-08:00

Unbelieveable...it's absolutely unbelieveable. Who would have thought that a disaster of such magnitude could take place? I think it's the first time that half the world has heard the word 'tsunami'. Imagine going out for a morning walk or a sunday morning beach ritual and never coming back or worse still, coming back without your loved ones. I can only imagine myself sitting there-enjoying the waves and marvelling at the size of a big, huge wave approaching and the next moment being taken away with it. It sends shivers down my spine. The magnitude of the loss of lives (estimated at 1,50,000 world over) seems to be out of a fiction novel. The Indian Air Force base at Car Nicobar has been completely wiped out. First it was the base at Bhuj during the Gujarat earthquake and now Nicobar. I know that in time life will be back to normal in terms of infrastructure and loss of property but what about all the lives lost and the people who are left behind to cry? God help them deal with it.
-M.

Well, what to say?

2004-12-08T09:28:00.000-08:00

Well, what to say early morning?
Had a looooong chat with Ruch last evening. It was real good fun. I was missing her a lot. She has forgotten her password and also the answer to her secret question and I found that REALLY funny. I laughed my head off! By the way, only 12 more days to go home!Yippppeeeeeee!
Well, we had our dissertation discussion yesterday-so I can't enjoy my holidays in peace(as I had suspected). I'll have to work out my topic and start my research over the vacation. What a pain man! Then there's that stupid Art and Culture assignment to do. Grrrrrr...I hate all this man.
Chatting with Milind at the moment-he's busy with his year end reports and is enjoying the Christmas decorations in New Zealand. Spoke to Ankur last evening-he has his practical exams going on. Then, what else?
I think I basically don't have much to say. I'm just passing time. I think I should go and do something more constructive! So, ciao for now!:)
-M.

My new column...

2004-12-06T13:32:00.000-08:00

I happened to send in an article to www.sawf.org and as it turns out, I have a regular column there now. It's called "In Focus". The direct link is http://sawf.org/newedit/edit12062004/infocus.asp
Right now the website has not been updated and there is only one article on it. I have sent in a few others too. Let's see when they get published. I really wanted to write a short story for this competition that's on....but am just not able to find the time. It has to begin with-"It was impossible to take a walk that evening." I can think of things I'd like to write to make it into an interesting story but I just can't find the time to do it. The last date is 10th Dec which also happens to be the last date for our documentary submission...so, that's the scene.
The irritating thing is that Yahoo Messenger has disappeared from our college computers. Ok, we're not supposed to chat in college but obviously we all had downloaded messengers and almost all the machines had it. Suddenly, they've all disappeared. I think the faculty has been at work!
Now I'll have to download it all over again (sigh)!
I just remembered, I have given a camera roll for developing. I need to go and collect it. So ciao then.:)
-M.

Documentary Updates...

2004-12-06T09:28:00.000-08:00

It's Monday morning and I am experiencing the blues! It's like there was no weekend at all. We were out shooting all of saturday for the documentary film. Well, we decided to interview members of this very extended family-totally Kahani Ghar Ghar Kii types...the reason why we chose them was that there are people of all ages at their place right from a 6 year old to 80 year olds and characters of our film have to be related in some manner, so we decided to do only one family. So we spent the whole day shooting there. They were very very nice and cooperative people. Moreover, they had a very tastefully decorated house..so we had a blast shooting there. But it took us the whole damn day-12 hours to be precise and I was dead by the end of it.
Then, yesterday we went to shoot this Tarot card reader and I thought she's some arbit small-time reader. Turned out that she writes the column for The Economic Times and also came on NDTV, Zoom channel etc. She is also a wonderful person. Had a good time talking to her. I wish to do a story on her alone someday. Ok, I have to mail Ruchi now so ciao:)
-M.

Documentary Workshop

2004-12-03T22:11:00.000-08:00

So, the documentary workshop has begun. The people teaching us are from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS). They teach at various places and are independent documentary film makers. We are supposed to make a five to seven minute documentary by 10th December. It's crazy-the amount of work that goes into it. We are starting shooting tomorrow. Well, our team is making the film on the "ambiguity of the future"...we have some ideas in mind...the important thing is to treat them well. We will be shooting over the weekend and post production begins on Monday.I hope this comes out well. I have all my apprehensions about it.
I can't believe it, next saturday we have to leave for Kudremukh-for our covering deprivation trip and I have done no research on the place yet. Need to do a lot of homework before we set out to make a documentary on it. I am all excited about the trip and more so about my trip home...will return from Kudremukh on 19th and push off to Delhi on the 20th. Can't wait to get home. But before that there is also the dissertation discussion coming up. As if there isn't enough work in life already!!! Don't they love to ruin our holidays? I'll have to work out my topic over the vacation. In addition, there will also be that Art and Culture assignment to finish.Grrrrrrr....can't we holiday in peace or what? But I still wanna be homeeeeeeee....
Talking of home, it's mom dad's 25th Wedding Anniversary today. Wow! It's so wonderful to share a lifetime with the person you love. Well, I still don't understand the funda of arranged marriages-(I mean how can you marry someone you don't love?)-and what makes them click???? And ironically, why are they usually more successful than love marriages? Well well...I know the whole lot of scientific explanations given for it but I still wonder...how CAN you marry someone you don't love? Beyond my understanding....and at times I have an intuition that fate might make me understand it by landing me up in the same situation(that's how it operates most of the time)-scary thought!
Ok, I need to go out for an early morning shoot for the documentary. Might as well catch some sleep. Ciao. Goodnight:)
-M.

Up next....

2004-11-26T14:28:00.000-08:00

Today was the last show of 'Good Morning Chennai'. I can't believe it's already over. I have mixed feelings about it. Although, it means that now we can sleep for more than 4 hours a night and can have more time at our disposal, I am really going to miss working on the show. It was an absolutely wonderful experience and a big test to our creativity, talent and team efforts. Up next, we have the documentary workshop from monday. This should be exciting. We all really require it as we'll be going for our covering deprivation trips on 11th Dec. We'll have to make documentary films in some remote forest areas of Mangalore. I am looking forward to that. Apart from that, Romila Thapar is in town so I am planning to attend a couple of her lectures. That's all for the moment. Ciao!

Of Draggy movies and camera angles....

2004-11-21T20:04:00.000-08:00

Well, I saw Veer-Zaara today...man, what a drag. Too melodramatic. I understand that it takes a lot of effort to be melodramatic but it takes an equal amount of effort to bear it! Grrrrrr...
But the best part is that I can now enjoy any kind of movie...ANY kind at all..coz I can now figure out the technicalities-headroom, looking-room, camera angles etc. etc. So, it was not all that bad for me. It was like a three and a half hour class-only it was learning from observation! I can now make out where they cut a particular shot and where they dissolved it into another one. It's good fun.
Went to shoot at a Go-Karting place called "Kart Beat" yesterday. It's Chennai's first indoor Go-Karting track. It was great fun. I had a wonderful time behind the camera coz I could shoot at all sorts of camera angles.
Did I mention that I covered day two of the Kanchi Shankaracharya arrest? I was camping outside the Madras High Court all day. Got footage of members of the BJP and RSS protesting and subsequently getting arrested. My teacher was happy with the footage and believe me he's almost impossible to please. He can manage to find flaws with the story that fills you with pride and almost never compliments your work. I think he does that so success doesn't get to our heads. His purpose might be to keep us grounded but at times it becomes demoralising. But I have immense respect for the man and I think he's simply the best. The man has an unbelievable amount of energy. I wonder if he ever gets any sleep. He's always on his toes.
Anyways, I have to get going now. Will keep you posted.Ciao:)
-M.

Injured!!!

2004-11-19T04:12:00.000-08:00

Well, there I was- running down the college stairs to give in a copy of my news bulletin to my teacher...reading an sms at the same time..the message said "...it'll save you a trip..." and that moment, I tripped! As of now, my right ankle is wrapped up in a bandage...seems to be a sprain...and an extremely painful one at that! Ouch!

A trip down Bangalore Lanes...

2004-11-16T14:12:00.000-08:00

I'd been waiting for this for years...ever since I left Bangalore in 1998, I wanted to go back. Finally got the chance to do so. I went there over diwali holidays. It was a totally fun trip. Met Dhanya after all these years. It felt wonderful to catch up on old times. Apart from her, I met Abhishek, Arunav, Vandana and Ruchi of course(coz I was staying with her!). The 2 days just flew past...didn't realise when I reached there and when I got back. Visiting Vishwa Vihar was also quite a nostalgic affair. Lots of memories attached to the place and the city as a whole. It was wonderful stepping into Army School again. I only wish it had been a working day 'coz I really wanted to meet my teachers. Maybe that's a sign that I'll go back someday-I'd like to think of it like that!! That's it for now. Ciao:)
-M.

My New Blog

2004-11-03T16:22:00.000-08:00

Hello! So I have a blog now. Let me talk about my work(that's all that there is in life these days...and besides, I love it!).
Broadcast Journalism is a fun thing to do even though there's a lot of work involved in it. These days we produce a one and a half hour morning show called "GOOD MORNING CHENNAI". It's really exciting. We change roles everyday. I was the anchor yesterday and today. Good fun. I am the Production Assistant for tomorrow's show. So basically, my work starts when everyone else's finishes. I have to write down all the details of the programme-which story is recorded on which tape etc. It's quite a painful job and the Production Assistant is the last one to go home-somewhere close to midnight! On the positive side,I had all afternoon to myself...hence, the blog! Other than that, I have been playing games on the net:tetris,pac man and snake-all those games that I used to play in school:) It was fun.
Ok, better get to work now. Will update you on more at some point of time. Ciao:)