Reservation for localites?

Today in my office bus as I was going through The Mirror, I got into this discussion with one of my colleagues over an article. The article was about a recently created political organization which is trying to establish itself by using a very old trick in the book. Their motto is simple “Localites must be given preference and have an upper hand in all sectors of the state.”

Coming back to my discussion! The point of debate was that should localites be given preference over outsiders? He was for it and I was against. Here is an excerpt from our discussion:

Him: I am for this. Localites must be given preference over outsiders. They have to bear a lot because of the outsiders.

Me: Are you serious? What do they have to bear because of the outsiders?

Him: Many things. Think of any localite that is from the non IT sector. He is paying more due to inflation caused by outsiders (outsiders are people who are employed in the IT sector and happen to work in this city).

Me: Are the outsiders causing the inflation? I didn’t know that.

Him: All the rates of commodities go up in an area because of them. The poor localites have no option but to resort to violence. They have to pay more for things, which they cannot afford.

Me: Hmmm…Then should the outsiders leave this place? More than half the money that the government generates here is through IT. Let’s shut down and get out of here.

Him: That would be good. But it is not possible. A good solution would be to give preference to the localites for jobs etc.

Me: Why? Aren’t they capable of fighting for these jobs at a leveled ground? Why preference?

Him: They can fight at a leveled ground. But since the outsiders are causing the damage, these people should get some preference as compensation.

Me: I am still not sure about what damage is being caused by the outsiders. In fact the outsiders are making the place better and the city overall is generating a greater revenue.

Him: No. What is happening is that the companies are gaining by getting cheaper labor from outside and the poor localites who cannot afford to work for cheap get left out.

Me: So what is wrong in that? If someone decides to work at a cheaper rate, isn’t that a personal decision. All companies always aim at profits. If they get cheaper labor from outside why shouldn’t they use it?

Him: By doing so they destroy the localites chances of getting employed.

Me: Then the localite should try and be competitive. He should also try and work for less to eliminate the outsider.

Him: In the end the employer gains. Besides how will the localite be able to afford anything if he works for less? Inflation is at 12%.

Me: How does the outsider afford it? If he can so should the localite.

Him: No this is wrong. If they want to work for cheap they should work in their own states. Even in education, most of the students in the colleges here are outsiders.

Me: If the selection criterion is merit, then what difference does it make if it’s a localite or an outsider? The best candidate will be selected. Be it education or a job.

Him: No. The outsiders pay money and get the seats. Education is more of a business nowadays. Localites should be given reservations because they cannot afford it.

Me: Taking donations is wrong. I agree to that. But we should fight against this. Giving reservations to localites is not the solution. Every selection should be on the basis of merit.

Him: No. There has to be preference for localites.

Me: For any institute which holds entrance exams at nationwide level, how can you even think of reservations? If you want to get selected, fight for it.

Him: That is what the localites are doing.

Me: No no! Not that kind of fight. No point in burning buses or buildings.

Him: This will bring a positive change.

Me: No change is positive if it involves resorting to violence and causing losses especially to the common man.


By then the bus reached my office. Though we could not convince each other, for us it was yet another discussion. Nothing more than a discussion!!

After all it takes more than courage to set right RIGHT! (Courtesy Shaurya)

Music

I should have written this post earlier. Music is something really special to me.

Like most people I love music. Any kind of music which is good to the ears gets me going. I believe that music has the power to inspire, elevate, soothe, calm, pacify, seduce, encourage, discourage, please, upset, destroy, unite, divide, and much more. I have always enjoyed music in my good times and also resorted to music in my bad times as a fallback companion. There is always a song for every mood. Isn’t this strange? Imagine the vastness!!

I have always wanted to understand music and learn to play at least one musical instrument. I tried my hand at playing the guitar when I was in college. But I was too lazy and too naive. I tried to by heart the chords and didn’t devote enough time in practicing. Had I put an effort to understand music, I would have been a different person now.

This is because I feel that if one can understand music, he can enjoy it better. I want to enjoy music better. I really do!

Maybe if I get another chance to understand music, I won’t let it go so easily. No no no…. not so easy.

Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na..

Watched the movie yesterday.

It’s a feel good movie about two close friends (Imran Khan and Genelia Dsouza) who believe that they cannot fall in love with each other. Everyone else (friends and family), except themselves, believe that they are in love with each other. To prove their point, they try to fall in love with someone else, just to realize later that they love each other.
The movie has many feel good moments which make up for the few boring ones. Though the movie has nothing new to offer in terms of storyline, the fresh faces light up the screen and make the movie livelier. All actors have done a good job.
Finally coming to Aamir Khan. Hats off to him!
He has done for Imran Kan with "JTYJN" what Mansoor Khan did for him with "Qayamat se Qayamat tak".

Credit cards for sale

I am sure this has happened to you too.

It’s a lazy sunday morning. Time is around 9:00 a.m. The aroma of the delicious breakfast your mom is cooking wont let you sleep. You are trying to figure out how to make the best of the day and also fighting your conscience not to go to sleep again. In this struggle between your mind and body suddenly your cell phone rings. Beep beep.

You spring back to life and start the process of locating your cell phone. As per Murphy’s Law of the Workshop “Any tool, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner”. I know this is not the best example to quote, but all I wish to convey is that your usually accessible cell phone will be difficult to find at the moment of need. Finally after locating my cell phone in the least imaginable corner, I check who is calling me at this early hour. Whenever my phone rings at odd hours, my heart expects it to be my Ex. (Isn’t this true with everyone of us?) Well, as always, it is not my Ex. It is an unknown number that sends chills down my spine. I kind of know who this is. I know its not going to be easy but I get a determined look going on my face (as if the caller could actually see me) and answer the call. This is what follows:

Me: Hullo.

Her: (I can make out the fake accent and a put on seductive voice) Huhlo Sir. Am I speaking to Mr.x

Me: (fear in my eyes) Yes.

Her: Good morning Mr.X. This is P here. Is this is a good time to speak to you Sir.

Me: (Of course. Its just 9:00 a.m. on a Sunday. Imagine your guts lady. But I believe this is more of rhetoric than a thoughtful question from her side. So, I decide not to lose my calm) Yes. What is this about?

Her: Sir, I am speaking from ABCD Bank. We are pleased to inform you that you have been selected to receive a free Gold credit card from our bank.

Me: (Silence.)

Her: (She mistakes my silence as a cue to go on.) Sir, This card will be provided to you free of cost. It is a lifetime free offer. No additional charges or annual fees.

Me: (Silence.)

Her: (She is now confident that “bakra phas gaya”) All we need from you is a copy of your latest salary slip.

Me: (Silence)

Her: Sir, are you there?

Me: Yes.

Her: So, Sir when can I send an executive to collect your salary slip?

Me: (Imagine her guts) Sorry Madam, I am not interested.

Her: (Gone is the fake accent and the seductive voice. Her voice now is more like an angry girlfriend) But why sir? The card is absolutely free.

Me: (And I was almost falling for the voice) Madam, I repeat I am not interested.

Her: (getting more angry now) May I know the reason why you are not interested.

Me: (This is life. On a Sunday morning me explaining to a stranger why I don’t want the credit card) I already have a credit card madam.

Her: (The accent is back. She still feels that she can pull this off) let me tell you Sir what are the advantages of our card, which no other bank offers. We offer 5% cash back on every petrol pump, 2% cash back on telephone bills..

Me: Sorry Madam, I simply don’t want your card.

Her: (As if I don’t exist) ..1% cash back on every purchase at Y mall, 10 reward points with purchase of every 1000 rupees, etc etc.

Me: (I am angry now) Madam, don’t you understand that I don’t want this card.

Her: (Her voice softens. She tries to gain sympathy) But why Sir?

Me: (Almost tearing my hair) Because Indian is a free country and I am a free man. I can decide what I want and what I don’t want. And I have decided that I don’t want this card of yours. Please leave me alone.

Her: (Silence)

Me: Hullo…Hullo?

Her: (Her voice is that of a woman who has been turned down for a date) Ok Sir. You don’t have to shout.

Me: (I actually sympathize, not knowing that this is a trick) I am sorry. I don’t mean to be rude.

Her: (The accent is back again) its ok Sir. I can understand. So you have any requirement for a personal loan? We offer personal loans at attractive interest rates..

Me: (I want to cry) Nooooooooooo…

Her: Ok Sir. At least do you have references? Anyone amongst your friends or colleagues who needs loans or cards?

Me: (grinning) Yes I do..please take down the following numbers of my friends…

Didn’t I say, this has happened to you too!

My Brother Nikhil

Saw "My Brother Nikhil" today. For those who don’t know about this movie, it’s about how a state swimming champion Nikhil’s (Sanjay Suri) life changes after he is diagnosed HIV+. The movie is also about how society (including his parents) changes its behavior towards him once the news of his illness becomes public. During these adverse times of his life his sister (Juhi Chawla) and his gay partner cum friend (Purab) stand by him, fight for him and support him.

The movie is beautiful because of the message it delivers.

The song “Le Chale” manages to touch ones heart even if one has not watched the movie.

I highly recommend this movie to all.

Mark Twain

I consider Mark Twain as one of the best writer of all times. I am presently enjoying a compilation of his works called "The complete short stories of Mark Twain". His style of writing is unparallel and the characters he creates are out of this world. I have read Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn "n" number of times and enjoyed it every time. His style of humor, satire and creativity leaves me spellbound every time I am going through his works.

The following MarkTwain short stories are my favorites:

The notorious Jumping frog of Calaveras county
The Canvasser's tale
Science vs. Luck
What stumped the Bluejays
The McWilliamses and the Burglar alarm
The Stolen White elephant (this is the best of the lot)
The professor's Yarn
The Diary of Adam and Eve
The Invalid's Story

Home

I am very excited on Fridays. Not all Fridays!! Only the Fridays when I am going to go home. My real home!!
I have been born and brought up in Bombay. Mumbai as they call it now. I have spent the golden years of my life in this city of dreams. Twenty four glorious years!! And I miss my city a lot while I am here in Pune. Pune has a lot to offer too, its not a bad place but Mumbai is MUMBAI!!

There are many things about Mumbai which only guys who have spent a lot of time in Mumbai…say more than 10-15 yrs can understand. For me as soon as I step of the Volvo bus in Mumbai, the familiar humidity in air captivates me. I have heard people complain that “Bombay is sooo humid”, but we enjoy the humidity here. Ask anyone about it.

After the weather, the second thing that hits me is the fast pace of the city. No where else have I seen people leading their lives with such urgency. The traffic, the honking, the people moving about, the hawkers, the neons, etc .. etc. I feel that time takes a new dimension in Mumbai. Nobody wants to waste a single minute of their life. For some it’s the 10:28 local train, for others it’s the 5:15 bus. No body is laid back. Every one is running continuously in a race for existence, competing with millions of others mumbaiites. One cannot stop, if one does he is left behind. The best part is that no one complains about this race. Its healthy competition! No wonder people from Mumbai find time move slowly everywhere else.

Another thing I miss about Mumbai is the nightlife here. It is in the true sense a city that never sleeps. I have been privileged to enjoy some glorious night outs here. The nightlife here exists for the rich as well as for the poor. Taxis and autos run, nightclubs are rocking, chaiwallas are on, bhurjiwalas are awake, there are people everywhere. One good place to have a great night is the Airport.

I also miss the food culture of Mumbai. The roadside food vendors, the sleazy restaurants, the smoky bars, the posh clubs!! There are thousands of eateries here, where one can enjoy great food (udipi, gujrati, maharashtian, north Indian, world cuisine, etc) at unusual hours. The service offered is grade one everywhere. So is the food!! Everything here tastes different. Maybe Mumbai adds its own flavors to the food.

I miss my friends, the chai n sutta on a raining evening, the crazy traffic days, the overcrowded buses, the wadapavs, the bonding of people irrespective of religious and cultural differences, the glimmering skyline. I miss everything about Mumbai. Mumbai, the city which doesn’t mind who you are, from where you are! It accepts you with open arms. I love Mumbai for this too.

I am what I am due to this city! I owe it to you, Mumbai!!