nvbalaji

2006-06-29T01:17:00.000-07:00

Jamming It

It was not so long ago when a high-beam light from a truck blinded me completly as I was driving back home in the night, I was telling my friend that it is just not the infra-structure that is going to help Indian road conditions. It was indeed heartening to see the Indian Prime minister touching upon the same subject. It would not be an exaggeration if I say, with the exception of Mahatma Gandhi no one in Indian politics had ever talked about uncleanliness, bad traffic and such problems. For one they themselves do not seem to have taken notice of these problems and obviously the other is such talks may never fetch any vote. Having said that Manmohan does not seem to be an exception among the Indian politics who comes only with half-baked solutions or suggestions - Dr.Singh talks only about courtesy !

Look at the numbers - 10 % of accident deaths in the world occur in India. Indian roads may be as dangerous as a terrorists-inflicted areas in the world ! we can drive only at an average speed of 30 Km per hour in city roads (when there is no traffic) and 65 Km per hour in highways. Compare these against the numbers in developed countries - America and Germany - they cross easily 60 Kms per hour in city roads (when there is no traffic) and 95 Kms in a highway. The second statistics may seem innocuous but has significant implications - one is that we lose precious time and more importantly people have to spend twice the time on their roads meaning cities cannot grow beyond a point !!

To me three things jams the Indian roads - Poor Infra-structure, poor law-enforcement and poor road sense of the drivers.

It looks like there is a misunderstanding that roads are the only infra-structure required !! In bangalore I find instructions to follow lane discipline at several junctions but I do not find any lane markings. With no buffer lane to turn right, I do not think enforcement of lane discipline would ever be possible in congested areas. Signal markings, traffic signals (of course with proper power supply ! In Bangalore, the electricity department switches-off the power to traffic signals due non-payment of outstanding bills), lane markings, buffer lanes, parking lots, zebra crosses, road dividers, anti-skidding roads at junctions, anti-glare arrangements, Proper exit and entries

from and into the highways all form a part of infra-structure. It would not be a bad idea if the Public Works Department engineers and traffic police are sent to developed countries to learn some basic skills.

The other day in Indira Nagar 12th Main junction, a police officer was just watching signal jumpers. I can see a ray of tranquility in his face. There is hardly any traffic enforecment in many parts of India and certainly not in Bangalore. In my home town Madurai the police pockets a simple 5 rupees for every traffic offence. Looks like police have given up hope on bangalore traffic. (I should say their one-way ideas are working good !). The idea of parking enforcement has never been there in India. Truly speaking the enforcement should start from issuing driving licenses. I believe the driving should be made a subject in schools and colleges (E.g. two wheeler in schools and four wheeler in colleges). This way Educational institutes can help judge driving skills of a person. Otherwise few RTO offices alone can not judge the driving skills of such a big population and ensure a safe roads in India. Other than issuing license there are several other areas the adminitration should concentrate. In my opinion improper parking, jay-walking, signal jumping, improper use of head-lights should also be controlled to improve the roads. I am sure these are being taken up traffic police in cities, but only during month ends - may be they have to show numbers to thier bosses ! A good amount of traffic fines can be given as a commission to policemen who collected it. And of course, a decent enforcement system would require a computerised and networked system that keeps the records of history of drivers !

Well, road sense is something that should be inculcated from young age. I could not think of a way other then parents and educational institutions owning up this responsibility. As a driver one should respect other drivers, the pedestrians and traffic rules (sounds like a sermon). As a pedestrian please do not the cross the road like you walk from your kitchen to bed room !

2006-03-02T03:41:00.000-08:00

Self Pity

"Arthur Ashe, the legendary Wimbledon player was dying of AIDS which he got due to infected blood he received during a heart surgery in 1983. From world over, he received letters from his fans, one of which conveyed: "Why does GOD have to select you for such a bad disease"? To this Arthur Ashe replied: The world over -- 5 crore children start playing tennis, 50 lakh learn to play tennis, 5 lakh learn professional tennis, 50,000 come to the circuit, 5000 reach the grand slam, 50 reach Wimbledon, 4 to semi final, 2 to the finals, When I was holding a cup, I never asked GOD "Why me?". And today in pain I should not be asking GOD "Why me?" Happiness keeps u Sweet, Trials keep u Strong, Sorrow keeps u Human."

Might sound a bit too philosophical but I like it. When you are hit by strange things self-pity is something that drowns you completly. One of my freinds used to quote the same thing from the writings of Mother (Pondicherry Aurobindo Ashram), which I should say in the past kept me away from getting self-pity.

2006-02-17T01:04:00.000-08:00

The Graduates

The other day, the Infosys chief Narayana Murthy talked about dearth of quality output from engineering colleges when he was addressing a convocation gathering. In his speech he quoted a Mckinsey report that claims that 75% of the engineering graduates are not good. I was not surprised.

In my personal experience, in the last few years, I have interviewed about 100 fresh graduates for recruitment and was able to make offers for not more than 7 people! Just the other day a computer engineering graduate, who has spent 3 years in learning just computer science and engineering aspects of the same was telling me the assignments that he was asked to do in the college – he spent 6 months in learning Macromedia flash player and another six months in how to create dialogue boxes Visual Basic.

A graduate specializing in computer science learning about how to use Macromedia flash player is really demeaning the purpose of the course. I feel that the people that design computer science courses do not have the fundamental understanding of the subject. Otherwise why every college in Tamilnadu include Java, Visual basic, oracle and such stuffs in the basic curriculum?

There do not seem to be any immediate threat as the Indian software services companies, those that absorb the major portion of college graduates, are focusing only on the cost proposition to their customers. They would feel the pinch when cost of operation in Bangalore starts matching with that of cities in United States, which it would very soon. That would be the time they would be forced to address the value proposition to their customers. You cannot offer value to your customers with out having quality professionals in your organization.

Quality Software professional at a lower cost is an important ingredient for the success of Indian software industry. There do not seem to be any coordinated effort from AICTE to address this problem. It would not be a bad idea for the vice-chancellors of the universities to focus on designing the courses they are offering in the right way than to designing and suggesting the wardrobes for the students!

2006-01-09T08:09:00.000-08:00

December Diary

Looks like so many things have occurred since I posted last in my blog !

The event of the month was that Amitabh Bachan’s discharge from the hospital. The mainstream newspapers and news channels were feeding the public with hourly updates on his health from the day he was hospitalized till the day he was discharged. My friend who is a doctor in Bombay told me that even doctors attending Bachan came to know about his condition only through media! This was just a small service rendered by the media to the “grieving” nation.

I was in Sabarimala when politicians of Tamil nadu were fighting over who hosted Bill Gates better. I am sure the real people of this land have no faith in any of their “leaders”. They have faith in God for which they do not mind doing anything – they can climb-up the hill for several miles in scorching sun or severe rain, they can hurt themselves by piercing iron rods in their tongues. Is this the faith that makes people of India live in peace even when their leaders are hopelessly useless; even when the system is grossly misused; even when their genuine needs are overlooked; even when their sweat and blood are sucked by the political class? (Do I sound a bit too anti-establishment?)

It was indeed interesting to notice that $7.5Bn invest has been committed by various multi-national companies in India ! Hope Deve Gowda continues his eternal nap and does not play any spoilsport. We will soon be a developed country – but probably we need to hide deaths due to caste differences and deaths in relief camps.

The speaker of the parliament, otherwise a strict man not allowing any irrelevant issues being discussed(by the way, why Somnath gets angry only with younger members but not with the seasoned oldies in the house?), was open to discussing Ganguly's omission from Indian Cricket team! I was just wondering who would answer the questions of those agitated MPs and ministers from Bengal! Never mind, Kiran more had the answer why Ganguly was included for Pakistan series just few days later - "Selection committee can be futuristic only when it decides to dump someone". Well, that was not his answer but everyone's interpretation. Being ridiculed by the public, this perennial jumping primate took revenge by forcing Ganguly to play Ranji trophy matches!

Our lawmakers have found a gadget that scares them the most – the camera. The inventor of the camera would not have dreamed that his gadget would threaten lawmakers of the most populous and biggest democracies and leave them sleepless. BJP has found a knack of misbehaving when the camera lenses are open. There are not even many actors in that party; it leaves me wondering how do they achieve this fete?

It Looks like Narayana Murthy is training his guns against the “humble farmer” after the later was humbled in the local elections. In every opportunity he gets, Narayana Murthy has been taking dig at Deve Gowda.

Sad story of the month was the killing of Dr.Puri, Mathematics professor at IIT Delhi. Poor professor was killed by pakistani terrorists! But for people such as Kuldip Nayyar "such events" should not affect the "peace process" with Pakistan. Indian Prime minister was shocked - obviously he can only get shocked and cannot do anything more than that. Who knows, probably he was planning for seeking public pardon for this killing ten or fifteen years down lane. I am sure we all will watch Cricket match with Pakistan unashamed in next few weeks. We have thicker skin!

The next day after the attack, it seems newspapers were in a dilemma whether to cover Amir Khan’s second wedding or the terrorist attack. After all Amir khan is marrying only for the second time in last 14 years and I believe they had a genuine dilemma.

The last I heard (or read) was that the government (read, the finance minister) was contemplating stopping the pension for people aged above 75! Wow! This finance minister is indeed innovative - he hits where it really hurts most!!

I want to add a lot more, as the last month was really a happening one – resignation of disgraced Indian external minister, politics over stampede deaths, India winning the Cricket series against Sri Lanka, Uma Bharati’s expulsion from BJP, Super-floods in Tamil Nadu, Bomb threat in Parliament. But I am trying to curtail my habit of writing too big articles.

With all these happenings around, the New Year was born amidst a wonderful music of silence for me! I really enjoyed those moments!! Happy New Year to all!!!

2005-12-02T02:05:00.000-08:00

Rain, Media and the Government

It has been raining heavily in Tamilnadu for over 6 weeks. The Nature’s fury for the second time in less than a year in the same part of the world, which just recovered from a deadly Tsunami, does not seem to attract any attention of the media or that of the government at the center.

I am amused to see the lack of coverage in the national media, both print and TV. There was no coverage when Srirangam was besieged with water a month back. The 24 hours news channels that hovered around an astrologer’s home to witness and telecast live his “predicted” death just a few weeks ago were not found when the southern city of Trichy was inundated. The news of flooding appeared 24 to 36 hours after it actually took place. It seems, the print media was so busy tailoring stories about Chapel’s middle finger and how “pawar” game got introduced into BCCI.

The response of the government in the center was even more frustrating. Only after five-dozen people died when a bus got flooded they understood enormity of the situation, it seems. Till then there was no relief package was announced though the state government was requesting for it from third week of October. No national leader including those from BJP or congress visited the people that are stranded. However, the home minister did visit the flooded area in helicopter.

Contrasting what is going on now with the response when parts of Maharashtra and Bombay experienced unusual rainfall by middle of this year, I feel that government’s double standard is getting exposed. In fact only after people raising such points, Manmohan Singh woke up and announced the initial relief package (Incidentally it is Rs 500 crores, the exact amount that was announced when Dr.Singh visited Bombay after its worst ever rains).

At this time I am not able to conclude anything just from these sequences of occurrences, however I feel, it is not helping in boosting the much-needed confidence of people, so that they can recover from yet another natural calamity as soon as possible.

2005-11-18T22:39:00.000-08:00

An Interesting Quote:

Can a leech do maths? ... instinct tells you that this bloodsucker can no more "do maths" than it can play the trombone. This is a superficial view born of the bogus assumption that maths requires a mind (Editorial, New Scientist, 20 June 1998).

Found in the Net.

2005-11-18T21:27:00.000-08:00

Bhagawat Gita

If you can read Tamil and understand, do read an article by Jayamohan:

http://www.thinnai.com/ar10070414.html
http://www.thinnai.com/ar1014041.html

This article appeared in www.thinnai.com last year in response to DMK leader Karunanidhi's attack on Gita. It is a long one take time to read. Do post your comments.

Note: if you have problems in opening the page please copy & paste the link in your browser's address box

2005-11-03T21:28:00.000-08:00

Shalu

The rain had just stopped. we had just finished our dinner. It was already ten in the night. I stepped out of my home. It was a drizzling night. Hardly anybody was on the road except occasional passing by cars.

"Let us walk. A long walk would take us to the beach", my friend insisted.

I agreed.

"That was the summer I first met Shalu", I opened up.

Probably the name should have pumped up her curiosity. She glanced at me and I knew she wanted me to continue.

"I was seven by then"

"Yet another childhood story? How many more you have got?, she quipped

"Myself and my friends were enjoying the school vacation", I continued.

"Summer in your home town is very harsh right?", she asked.

"Indeed, It was a scorching sunny day. We were playing some game on the shade"

"It was just about two'o clock in the afternoon Shalu with her mother walked nearby our home. Her appearance attracted me a lot. By then I did not know that we were going to name her Shalu"

I could see that my friend was getting more curious.

"Shalu was hardly a feet tall from the ground"

"She was a nice little lamb born just a week back", I answered her unspoken curiosity.

The road to beach was turning to its right. We approached that big tree. The place was dark and the moon was attempting to come out of the cloud covering.

"The mother was initially a little scared about me when I tried to lift her kid. But she eased out soon"

"I lifted shalu. Shalu sat comfortably on my folded hands. She was looking extremely bright!"

Light from a speeding car got reflected on my friend's dark shiny hair.

"Shalu's furry hair had not developed any curl on it yet and she had a bright white hair with no trail of any other color in it".

I continued, "Her eyes were bright and dark"

"I touched the tip of her ear lobes. She had a tender ear lobes. She must have felt tickled. She moved her ears around"

"Is it your favorite pastime activity”, my friend asked me in a teasing tone wiping out the rain droplets from her face

I smiled at her and continued.

"I spent nearly 3 hours with her on that day. She went back home. After she left we named her Shalu"

"Did YOU name her?"

"Yes, it was my choice. I don't know why I chose"

"Shalu stopped by our home everyday in the evening. I used to take her to our garden. She liked the tender leaves of the mango tree. Shalu's owner didn't worry too much about she coming our home as we fed her everyday!"

"Am I boring you", I asked my friend

A gentle breeze fluttered the tree. The tree showered the rain droplets. We got wet and we had to move from that place.

"Days passed, Shalu was becoming like her mother - lots of dirt accumulated on her body. I decided to give her a bath. I took her to the well in our garden"

"Let us walk fast. Drizzling is getting stronger", told my friend and started taking quick steps.

"She could not understand what I was about to do. I could see some fear in her eyes. Shalu probably had the first bath of her life - with the long garden hose I sprinkled water on her. She started enjoying”, I continued my story.

I had to pace myself up to match with my friend.

"Months passed, Shalu started eating a lot. She was growing. She was still visiting our home"

"Shalu did not show up for few days. Diwali was just a week away. I was very busy preparing the crackers list and was planning how to celebrate it."

"On the day before Diwali I realized that I had not met Shalu for more than 10 days! Myself and my dad was going for last minute shopping."

"A strange scene startled me. I saw someone dragging Shalu"

"Dragging? why?", my friend asked in a probing manner.

"A rope was tied to her neck. Few meters away was an open butchery "

It started raining heavily. We started jogging back home. We both got completely wet.

It was raining heavily and we could not hear each other much. "Did you do something for her?", I could hear my friend asking me.

I did not answer. In about two minutes we reached my home.

"We need to cross the butchery to reach the shop. As I was approaching close to the butchery, Shalu saw me. She tried to reach me. Her voice was with full of fear”

We just reached back my home.

“She entered the butchery. She was getting dragged even more forcefully"

"I was walking right opposite to the butchery. A guy inside poured a bucket full of water on Shalu. Shalu was just shivering. She did not know what was going to happen. Shalu's eyes were filled with fear which was not unfamiliar to me."

"Shalu started crying loudly. Her voice was very desperate. We just crossed the butchery by then.”

“I didn't want to look back. Shalu's voice was mellowing down. Few yards later I could not hear her voice".

My friend looked at me into my eyes. I could not quite understand the expression.

2005-10-09T22:32:00.000-07:00

It All happens in India !

Mobile phones are banned within the university campus
Female college students are banned from wearing dress of their choice
Dance Bars closed in Mumbai
An actress was forced to retract her views on social issues. The main stream media are engaged in propaganda war against her
A director was forced to retract his views on work ethics. The main stream media and actors union were engaged in propaganda war against him.
Supreme Court bans Dandiya after 10:00PM
Madras high court bans late night parties in hotels
Late night parties in hotel are banned in bangalore
Mullahs threaten a tennis player for wearing dress of her comfort and choice
Bajrang Dal threatens non-hindus not to participate in Dandiya and Navarathri celebrations
Every year Shiv Sena vandalizes the Valentine's day celebrations
Government of India proposes to ban Smoking and boozing scenes in movies!

It is indeed interesting to observe that the institutions across the spectrum (constitution, political, religious and social) are trying to force the society to behave to their whims and fancies! It all happened in last 3 or 4 months!!

2005-10-04T04:48:00.000-07:00

Past Perfect, Future Not so Perfect?

It was a typical day of a peak summer in Bangalore. "Are you going to shift from your current job", Krish asked me as he entered my home. I was a bit surprised - "I have not told anyone yet". It was long since I met him. We exchanged pleasantries. It was already lunchtime. We decided to go to a restaurant. One of my friends also accompanied us for the lunch. "Why didn't you have breakfast today", Krish asked me as I turned my car and merged into the main road. I replied casually "Yeah...I got late and hence skipped". But then I was getting curious - "How did you know", I asked him. Krish prefered not to answer but just smiled at me. In the back of my mind I asked, "Did I tell this by any chance when we were talking"? I was feeling a bit uneasy - A slight sense of disbelief crept me. He was at perfect ease. I could see my friend grasped what was going on. We had the lunch. We got into my car parked in the shades of a tree.

"Could you predict my future", my freind who could not resist the temptation asked Krish. Krish started telling my friend, "you studied for 18.5 Yrs", "Your home where you stay is facing east", "Your grandmother expired last year same time", "The current company that you are working is second in your career", "You have got a sister and she is working".... As he continued telling more about my friend’s past, my rational mind was protesting to accept what he was saying. But I could not help myself much as they were all correct. I had to live the conflict for that time.

My friend was absolutely spell bound and wanted to know more. I had a fair idea where my friend was heading. "Tell me, when can I start this Kitchen business. I have been holding it for long" My freind asked. "Yes it is possible...you would start probably in....", Krish started again but he stopped just after that and started thinking. For the first time, Krish looked a little uncomfortable. "Something blocks my view", he said. I felt he was a bit wobbling. We drove back home and he left on the same evening.

The conflict was persisting in my mind. The other day when I asked another friend of mine that is a doctor by profession, he gave me an instant answer "It must be some kind of mind reading". Well, I knew by then that I was trying to get into a problem related to little researched areas about human brain.

2005-09-29T02:31:00.000-07:00

A journey in the dark

It was a calm night in the streets of Bangalore. Only few dogs were in the streets chasing the bikers - may be they found warm shelters in that winter night.

He was walking back to his hotel room. He has been staying there for past couple of days since he came from his hometown. The whole day of fun and frolic with his friends left him a bit tired. He was wondering how was he able to mimic few people so well on that day. He wanted to say someone that day was one of the best days he had seen.

On the way, he took dinner at his favorite restaurant. Everything looked pleasant on that day. In the very back of the mind, a peculiar thought occurred, "have I ever been so elated". The phone started ringing. He heard a subdued voice. It took a while for him to recognize that it was his sister. In a low tone she said, "Come back home as soon as possible". He was surprised and asked "anything urgent?". She replied, "Appa is not well".

He vacated the hotel. Since it was already late night he could not find any bus or train to go back home. He managed a taxi. The taxi driver enthusiastically started the drive - a long drive of about 450 Kms to his home.

It was already 11:30 in the night. The roadside trees were dancing to the tunes of night wind. He was able to recollect that moment with his mom and dad. "I must be four by then", he thought. He was walking on the road. The rains have just stopped. His dad to his right and mom to his left. In a surprising moment they both lifted him from either side. He started swinging holding them. He could enjoy those moments even now; He could even feel the wet smell of the soil. For a moment a faint thought occurred to him "will I see that man again”? Memories were pouring in. He could not exactly say whether it occured in dream or he was semi awake. The school uniform that his dad presented, The first bicycle that he got, traveling with his father, enjoying seeing his father mimicking others -the memories some of them faint some of them bright flashed in his eyes and vanished. Sitting in the car, he could see those dim street lights from those distant residential areas. They were fast passing by as the driver was zipping through highways. "Sir, are you not sleeping" the driver asked. He just smiled at the driver. He checked the time. "It's already 4 hours since I started. If I sleep for another 3 hours I would be fresh tomorrow morning", he told himself. "Will I see that man again", the question was more persistent to him by then.

He did not know when he slept. A fiery honking by the driver and gentle warmth of the sun woke him up in the morning. "Just 5 more kilo meters, sir", the driver said. "Will I see that man again" - The thought that was faint once was gaining momentum or was it just an illusion, he could not conclude.

The taxi crossed the last part of the road to his home. In few moments he would reach his home. The anxiety has already built up to phenomenal levels. He could no longer think anything else. "Will I see that man again"? The taxi turned left into the street. In few
meters he should be able to see the front door of his home. He saw the door. He observed curiously. He could see people gathering in front of his home.

2005-09-27T02:07:00.000-07:00

Indian Social Machine

Output:
1. Kinder gartens at 2.5 Yrs
2. Computers at 3.5 Yrs
3. Home work all the evening
4. School bus at 7:00AM
5. Competitions on Saturdays
6. Preparations on Sundays
7. School topper at 15 Yrs
8. In Top 10 in Graduation entarnce
9. Well reputed and accepted course at 17 Yrs
10. Nice paying Job at 22 Yrs
11. Booze and enjoy.
12. marry to keep everyone happy
13. Plan for the kid to keep everyone happy
14. Start counting the dough
15. Keep checking reputation index
16. Keep doing these as long as possible
16. Die an ignominious death

Algorithm:
It is simple. "draw me a line I will follow"

Input:
Anyone out here

God is wasting his creativity making a beautiful creature called man here. He can
leave it to Turings and Von Neumanns.

2005-09-26T21:01:00.000-07:00

Ganguly has been the most successful captain of Indian cricket team since it gained its test status in 1932. A fighting win against Australia in 2001, Drawing the series with Australia in 2003 in Australia and winning the Nat-west final in 2002 speak volumes about his Capability as a captain. He was one of the rare Indian captains that showed tenacity to match the arrogance of Aussies and the English.

A captain should not be sacked based on public opinions (Rahul Dravid suffered this humiliation just few months ago) but based purely on his cricketing performance. Probably a captain should also be given a long rope.

Having said that Gangly is well past his prime. He is no longer hitting the ball clean. His fitness is certainly a point of concern. Above all, he initiated the current opera that is getting weaved in media for the past two Weeks. Looks like he is instigating players to talk in his favor - unfortunately he has Chosen Harbhajan for that job that loves to lose-talk with the media. Harbhajan, instead of doing anything good for his captain has created more problems by talking about his alleged under-performance.

Today someone, either the coach or the captain, should be spared for the betterment of Indian cricket. I have not played cricket at high-levels - but I believe the role of a captain in cricket is a bit exaggerated one. In fact the same can be said about the coach as well. I am not worried who gets dropped. In fact, Ganguly might be safe till the Dalmiya combo holds the office of BCCI. But should someone be dropped due to the current controversy it should be Ganguly.

2005-09-26T01:07:00.000-07:00

Way back in mid 80's when we were in elementary schools, one of those never ending topic of discussions was how to participate in "strike" when we move to the higher secondary school. This topic caught the imagination of everyone of us. "We get vacation When we strike", my classmate revealed. Very thought of getting indefinite vacation was joyful; the guy who knew more about strikes through his elder brother studying higher secondary school was getting lot of prominence. Almost everyday we listened to him telling something about the "strike". On one fine morning we heard that the students of the school that we would be joining a year later were in strike. We went to see what were they doing. When we saw an announcement of Indefinite close of the institution in front of the gate, we were thrilled.

We entered the higher secondary school and we were in 6th standard. We were not deprived.

The seniors in the school “concluded” that the vacation for Diwali was insufficient and were planning for an impressive “strike”! As per the tradition of the school the 11th standard students were the “harbingers” of the strike. A detailed plan was getting ready by them. The back-benchers (the “big” guys) were working out the nitty-gritty - where to print the wall-posters; what to print in those wall-posters; who should paste the poster in headmaster’s home; An important question that were going rounds was where and when the school-bus should be stopped because once the school-bus arrives the school bell rings and the classes start. My classmates and myself were very anxious as well – “how many days of vacation would we get immediately due to the strike and how many would we get for Diwali”. We stealthily entered their classrooms and watched what were they doing. We watched them with awe hoping we would also do something similar in a few years.

The “big” day arrived; the “big” guys were all out on the roadside in front of our school. Wall-Posters protesting “insufficient vacation for Diwali” were found the walls of the main streets. Students gathered in front of the school gate. The teachers were threatening the students to get in but the “leaders” of the strike were asking them to stand firm in front of the gate. Many of my friends were hiding by the nearby walls.

The first shock of the day was that the school bus was not stopped in the planned place as the guy who was supposed to lead that activity was found missing. The very sight of the school bus near the school gate set the panic among the students. The school bell started ringing. Many one of us went in. Still many students were firmly standing on the gate. The headmaster came out and said there would be an additional day of vacation for Diwali. The “Big” guys were elated and celebrated it with crackers. We all were celebrating quitely inside our classrooms. I was elated to be part of a "big" strike eventhough it was just a half success story. Later after few days I was wondering whether Ramzan (for which a national holiday is declared) that was celebrated just after Diwali was just a coincidence or that point was missed when the plans for strike were chalked out!

2005-09-23T01:44:00.000-07:00

It is about two years back I got to watch a playback theatre (PB) performance for the first time. It was the late summer time in Bangalore. A group of people came to the podium and started doing something interesting - they started asking the audiance to share a story. To my surprise, they enacted the subtle emotions of the story in a wonderful manner.

I got attracted by the Improvisational form of the PB and joined the training offered by the same theatre group. In one of the training sessions with my team members I wanted to share a story - a story that was haunting me for a long; keep coming back to me when I was feeling low; due to which I got lot of negative feelings about the society in and around me. I started sharing the story....

In my school days, way back in late 80's in a sub-urban area of down south of India, I had a nice freind. He was a typical back-bencher - strong, taller than most us in the class and having a dont-care attitude. I found him in the class, probably crying, on one morning just after the prayers. Went to him to see why was he crying. He looked at me and said "There was a guy that called me a Bastard" and paused. "you should have given him enough in back that he wouldn't dare using it again with you", I shot back. "I could have. I know You would have. But I can not....I can not", he paused. "I can neither accept the fact nor live with it", he said.

It was emotionally shaking when the last two lines were spoken when the team enacted it. My memories took me back to my school back-benches where I saw my friend still sitting and crying.