The best part of Mumbai city, apart from it's multicultural mix of people, is the excellent transport system without which this nagariya would go down the dagariya. The lifeline of the city as many call it, just got another shot in the arm. BEST, Bombay Electrical State Transport has re-introduced AC buses which ferry Mumbaikars across the length & breadth of the city. A much needed respite for Mumbaikars who hang for dear life till they reach their destination. All this while exchanging bodily odors that unify this populace into a noisome lot of working class irrespective of the background of the individuals.
I was thrilled with this new upgradation but what really got me hooked on to it was the Rs.1000/- pass. One had to make a monthly payment of Rs.1000/- and then Mumbai was waiting to be discovered. I could travel in this AC bus to the farther corners of Mumbai without paying a penny. To get this pass I had to go to a depot with a photo, Rs. 1000 plus some additional 10 or 20 rupees and register. Post that I got a GO Smart card, something which looked like a swipe card alongwith a photo identity card. My happiness knew no bounds, I went bus hopping changing my routes whenever I felt I had to beat the traffic. I never ever took a rickshaw even for the smallest of distances. This was unbelievable, totally world class. It made me feel proud as I had experienced something similar in London with an Oyestar card. I gave ample PR to BEST went about propagating this new card system to all and sundry. Until one day, my wallet got stolen and I lost my card.
I still had a ray of hope as the photo identity was still with me and it could've been matched to my cell phone number which was taken while registering. I was hopeful.Maybe just maybe they would issue me a new card. Of course, charging me for the card itself.But none of this happened. My trip to the depot close to my house was a major let down. I was asked to buy another pass all for Rs. 1000/- plus some 10 or 20 rupees additionally. They couldn't help it if I lost my pass, so what if that meant I would have to spend double that month for traveling. They issued me a pass and I should guard it with my life. So big deal if I have a photo identity card which proves I am the rightful owner of that card. So what if they have issued me an electronic bill which can easily track my payment as a verification. I should've been more responsible.
So for all those who've taken this Go smart card or are planning to take it. Please do take the benefit of this scheme, but make sure you guard it like you would your life because if you lose it ain't going to get it back...
Monday, November 30, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Reflections of the days after 26/11 ‘08 & before 26/11 ‘09
The alarm goes off at 7 a.m., morning ablutions completed, time for a quick breakfast, catch my bus at 8.55 a.m. This is a work week, struggle to get into an overcrowded bus, step on peoples toes, neck craned, hoping to get a seat to rest my derriere before I reach my destination. Newspaper in one hand, reading it while continuing to furiously glance over my shoulder for that one seat before I get off.
Suddenly I notice a black contraption at the top of the entrance of the bus. Oh it’s a camera. I relax a bit. Honk, Honk, Honk, Honk, Screech… bus comes to a sudden halt and I am propelled closer towards the exist. Phew! I survived the almost fatal halt even today… I get off at the next stop; I’ve finally reached office having stood throughout the 1 hour journey
At the office entrance there is a security check. Bags are screened, employee ID’s to be swiped & in you go. It’s 8 p.m. still inside the office. The only window to the outside world is ironically the worldwide web. Checking news portals for news. Everything seems normal Naxalites attack police camp; abduct four , kill three policemen, inflation touches 5.64 pc,no respite as prices rise, farmer suicides on the rise, Chat with Saif & Kareena on their love making scenes in Kurbaan.
Leave for home, need to run or I’ll miss the 8.20 train. Friend calls up. Lets catch a movie. Ajab Gazaab is my choice. We head to a nearby mall. At the entrance of the mall the car also has to undergo screening. They use a long metal rod which has a mirror at one end. They also check what’s in the back seat. There are two boxes, we aren’t questioned. Perplexed about what we were put through we asked the guard what he was doing with the stick with an attached mirror. He said “ Pata nahin, humko aisa karney ko bola hai” We smirk and move on. Car parked we get into the mall. There is a metal framed box that I cross to get inside. There is a beeping sound. I don’t know if that’s good or bad. I stand waiting for my bag to get checked. The lady yawns and opens the zip of my purse hands it back to me. I rush towards the screens; I don’t want to miss even the ads. Movie over I head back home ready to hit the bed.
Next day is another chapter in my life. The routine hasn’t changed and so also some other things.
But amidst all this there are something’s that have changed & changed for the better. To begin with people power toppled the top government officials who were seen as lackadaisical and inefficient. Though there hasn’t been an overhaul in the security systems one cannot ignore the increase in the number of surveillance cameras set-up in stations, buses etc. The most important change and a noticeable one is that people have become more vigilant. Today’s Mumbaikar doesn’t point fingers at the police but has joined hands with them.
जय हिंद
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Thol Sanctuary is located 40 kms northwest of Ahmedabad, in Mehsana District. Thol lake, created in 1912, covers 7 sq. kms of mostly open water. There are small marshes at the edges and some scrub forest on the sides of the high embankments.
Birds: Thol is well known for wintering Great White Pelicans, Flamingos, a variety of waterfowl including Mallards and good numbers of Greylag Geese, Sarus Cranes, the odd Spotted Flycatcher and waders which include Eurasian Curlews. Highly recommended if you are traveling through the area.
Tips to enjoy the trip better:
1. Go armed with a good SLR
2. Leave before Sun rise. Watching it is worth getting up at an earthly hour. Besides it's far more pleasant
3. A pair of Binoculars
4. Carry Food & water for noisy tummies. If you feel hungry you will have to go all the way out.
5. Wear three fourths/ shorts - Marshy land and tiny islands can be reached only you need to wade through water
6. Natures call literally! We couldn't find a bathroom. The security guard at the gate said that there was one inside but insisted we steer clear of it as theres nobody to clean it
7. Go through a book on birds if your as unapprised about these feathered friends as we all were. The only ones we could recognise were crows.
The Sun Temple, Modhera (Gujarat) was built in 1026 AD by King Bhimdev of the Solanki dynasty and is dedicated to Lord Surya, the Sun God of Hinduism. It is akin to the Konark Temple of Orissa. One more sun temple is at Martand in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Modhera sun temple is situated on the bank of the river Pushpavati, 25 km from Mehsana and 102 km from Ahmedabad.
According to the Skanda Purana and Brahma Purana, the areas near Modhera were known during ancient days as Dharmaranya (literally meaning the forest of righteousness). According to these Puranas, Lord Rama ,after defeating Ravana, asked sage Vasistha to show him a place of pilgrimage where he could go and purify himself from the sin of Brahma-hatya (the sin of killing a Brahmin, because ravan was a Brahmin by birth). Sage Vasistha showed him Dharmaranya, which was near the modern town of Modhera. In the Dharmaranya, he settled at a village Modherak and performed a yagna there. Thereafter he established a village and named it Sitapur. This village is about 8 km from Becharaji Modherak village and it subsequently came to be known as Modhera.
The Sun Temple was built by Raja Bhimdev I of Solanki Dynasty in AD 1026. This was the time when Somnath and the adjoining area was plundered by Mahmud Ghazni and reeled under the effects of his invasion. The Solankis, however, regained much of their lost power and splendour. Anahilvad Patan, the Solanki capital, was restored to glory. Royalty and traders jointly contributed to build grand temples.
Solankis were considered to be Suryavanshis, or descendants of Sun god. The temple was so designed that the first rays of the sun fell on the image of Surya, the Sun God, at the time equinoxes.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Don't you dare ask me for your vote
Dear fellow maharastrians,
Pls. scan through this blog and checkout for yourselves what these so called vanguards of 'marathi manoos' are doing under the name of our beloved community. Do we subscribe to this ideology?? I definitely don't. I am confident that most you'll will be with me on this.
Our community has always gifted India with immensly talented artists and intellectuals. Our literature is very much what classics are made of. Our humaneness is reflected in the movies we produce e.g. Swash etc. We have contributed to the idea of India by spreading the fragrance of our lovely culture. We have earned respect for ourselves because as a community we've always respected every other community.
So now, how can we allow some twisted politicians to walk all over us and demand things for us or fight for issues which are absolutely not related to us? Who are they to divide us from the rest of Indians and put us into a sect called Marathi Manoos?? We are all Indians and our cultures amalgamated is what makes India.
JAI HIND
MNS workers on the rampage in a Nashik school
http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20090081498
MNS,Sena attack north Indian Rly exam candidates
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/mns-sena-attack-north-indian-rly-exam-candidates/375525/
MNS targets Pakistani comedian
Raj Thakre''s MNS now targets Pak signboard
MNS workers bash PeTA activists
Sena warns of ‘bigger movement’ than MNS
Hindu deities pictures on slippers: MNS agitate
MNS halts The Last Lear premire
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