Rationality & Probability

SP & DJ decided to travel to B from M. DJ took charge of arranging the trip - tickets, travel, stay and all. SP was to visit GJ the first time. DJ had asked the travel agent to book tickets. The usual travel agent. DJ had been travelling on this route for years now. SP had not been keeping well. Same old upper respiratory tract problems. SP was not even aware of the D Day. It was Friday already and he had reached office in formal dressing. Aha, bt this was nothing comaperd to what was about to come.

During the day, SP's clients schedule a meeting on a day that was planned to be used personally in B. Things go further wrong in project. Travel agent tells DJ that he forgot to send the tickets. Sends a copy of the same and asks DJ to collect the duplicate at the station, certainly after paying requisite fees.

SP leaves office early, packs and sstarts fo Rly Stn in time. Traffic is bad, just manages to reach at the agreed time. Both DJ and SP reach MC in time. Enquire with the authorities. They corroborate the words of travel agent. They needed to pay 50% as fees for a duplicate ticket.

As they were about to go for dinner, enters Munna bhai. DJ is game to explore other opportunities. Munna bhai promises cheaper tickets. SP raises a doubt but is convinced with DJ's explanation. Halo effect. Although Munna bhai is stinking of alcohol, SP and DJ pay him advance and go for dinner. They wanted to cut losses. They wanted to teach the travel agent a lesson.

Having satisfied the taste buds, they come looking for Munna. He appears after some time. Asks for more money. SP and DJ are taken aback. Munna had asked Circuit to do the needful. Circuit booked the tickets under VIP quota. Now the cost for DJ and SP had doubled. Moreover DJ had given his PAN card to Munna.

After much negotiation, and feww more hundreds, PAN card was back. No tickets though. DJ and SP decided to do the right thing. But times had changed. And so had people. The person now at the counter wanted a FIR. FIR at 2300hrs. Not willing to give up, DJ and SP went to the Station Manager. After a call by him, the official at the counter agreed to give duplicate tickets.

Both DJ and SP travelled safe.

DJ= Dr Javed

SP = Sidharth Patro

B = Baroda

GJ = Gujrat

MC = Mumbai Central

Dussehra Satsang at Art of Living

Few days back J was sporting a status message regarding Bangalore. I was intrigued & asked her the reason. She said she was going to come to the Art of Living (AoL) ashram here. That's the ashram of gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (SSRS). I had heard a lot about this AoL. Seemed different from other babas. Had travelled on the road to ashram many times but had never ventured in. When J told that they would be celebrating the Navaratri/Dussehra there and its awesome I decided to go visit the place. And I could meet J too.

Nothing could have prepared me for what I experienced there. The place was full of people, easily more than 5000. That too on a Sunday evening. The satsang was to begin at 1630. I had reached there at 1615. Informed J of my arrival and took a walk around the campus. Beautiful, peaceful, majestic. But again, going by how my mind works, I checked out the car parking. Lo and behold, so many big machines. The meditation hall was huge. It was closed, could not see from inside. I still had time when I saw a store selling books and CDs. I wanted to buy some book, to read what SSRS had to say. But I was not allowed in. They had closed the entry. Would reopen at 1830, i.e. after the satsang. Hmmm, am sure the shop keepers too wanted to join that satsang. Can there be any other reason?

Any way on the way back to the yagyanshala, found a makeshift book stall. Fortunately it was still open. Went in, browsed through and a picked up the book "Wisdom for the New Millennium". Will share the contents once I read it. At first I made my self comfortable at the rear. But then J said there was enough space in front, so ventured there.

The music was good. Lyrics were in praise of the Gods. Right after the the first song, there was a product launch. Some ayurvedic beauty products were launched by Pitaji. The whole launch looked like a commercial break, between the songs. It was so incongruous. But the people there enjoyed that too. And hey forgot to mention that the place was full of young people. Most were in the age group of 25-35. I was surprised by this. I also did find many young couples, having a good time in the park there.

Coming back to the satsang, the songs followed after the product launch. The genre changed from Indian classical to pop and folk. Even a foreigner sang in Hindi, in the praise of Shiva. He played the guitar too. The tempo picked, it reached a crescendo and people started dancing. Dancing with joy. The dances looked more from the floor of a discotheque and Garba groups. Whatever may be the purpose of the music, it was absolutely enjoyable.

In due course SSRS arrived, he spoke in Kannada, Hindi and English. Oh that reminds of another incident. While I went to take a seat in front, I noticed an area that was relatively empty. I was going there when a lady came from behind and asked for my ID. She politely told me that that particular area was for the international devotees. I was asked to sit in the Indian section. Dear Mr T was castigated for "cattle class" comment, by that standards, the managementn of AoL may be jailed perhaps. Any way, i could only get a seat very near to the international class. But I was surprised to see Indians there. And one of the girls was gorgeous.

SSRS spoke about the importance of "ayudha" (instruments) in our life. He asked to respect all in the world. He also asked to respect and protect nature. Unlike Gandhi ji, SSRS was not averse to the use of "dand" (violence), but only when other modes fail. There was a frenzy in the people to touch him. People ran along his car. Fortunately no one was overrun.

It was a good visit. I learnt about the people who visit AoL. My doubts the whole institution still persist. Am difficult to convince. Thank you J, but for you I would not have visited the ashram so soon.

Of Holy Cows & Cattle Class

This is a topic I have been avoiding commenting. But what the heck, here I go ...

Mr T was asked by a journo if he would travel to K by "cattle class". To which Mr T replied that he would indeed, to show solidarity with the "holy cows". After this dialog the media is abuzz with comments and counter comments on the phrase "cattle class", used by Mr T. I think the debates should have been on the use of the phrase "holy cows". Here is the rationale.

Calling the general public "cattle" is a folly that no journo or minister would commit. More so in the biggest democracy. It will simple be a harakiri. The reference, as explained by Mr T, was to the crampy economy class not the economy class traveler. There seems no other plausible reason for the use if such phrase.

But the icing on the cake was Mr T's use of "holy cows". Obviously, this referred to the traveler of the economy class. To be precise he referred to the newly inspired MPs (may be of a particular party) who are on a austerity drive. Apparently to show that "aam aadmi" that their representatives too are "aam". Mr T must have sensed a hypocrisy in all this and took the political class by the jugular. Unfortunately the whole comment has been made to look like an insult of the "aam aadmi", which it is not.

Mr T, I did read your tweet clarifying the joke (sic). But perhaps you should have clarified on "holy cows" not "cattle class". So many Bookers not withstanding, we still need to go a long way in our linguistic abilities.

Mr T, I salute you.

Dinner at goVeg

Those of you who have been following me on Facebook know that I was alone yesterday. The friend with whom I share the apartment has gone home and the friend who lives upstairs is also out with his relatives. So, there I was all with myself.

Since the above prospect was not very bright so got up late in the morning. Although I have a marathon coming up, am not very regular at running. The reasons are many, but we can discuss them later.

Coming back to yesterday I spent the whole day inside the house, yes that was a first for me. Not to have ventured out all day when I was not sick. Most of the day was spent watching TV, having little food and chatting. Man U vs Man C was fantastic. The moment it was over my tummy complained. It needed food. If not for the tummy, I would have watched more TV and dozed off on the bean bags. Good sense prevailed and I finally went out for dinner. Decided to go to goVeg the new eatery.

The place was almost full. Did find a place for myself though. Ordered a full combo, the biggest combo available. I was really hungry. Had I been carrying the Blackberry, I would not have noticed what I noticed next. Just a row ahead of my table, on the column to my left were these two girls. They were having some kachoris. Am bad at guessing ages of girls, so no comment on that. These two well heeled. Did not look starved but were sure of the generation Y. While I waited for my dinner they got a big plate of kebabs. They seemed to be excited. I was worried. I had never seen GenY girls ordering so much food. Any way while I waited, they finished kachoris and started with kebabs. The waiters were eager to help the ladies, we in India respect the feminine. Anyway I had no choice but to wait. And finally my plate came, big and nice. I lost no time in devouring it. I had just started eating and the girls had not finished the kebabs even half, when they received another round of food. This time it was the same jumbo combo. I thought it was some mistake. But no, they sure had ordered for it. Now I was amused. Would they really eat that? Slowed down my eating to know what they were going to do. The girls could somehow finish the kebabs, big achievement, and then asked the jumbo combo to be packed. Yes they got the whole thing packed. Perhaps it was a simple case of wrong estimation of food and appetite. Meanwhile, I finished my dinner and drove back home.

Resolution: Will not carry my phone when I go out to dine next.

Am back ...

Hello friends, am back. Sorry for the long hiatus. It was partly forced and partly voluntary. Mostly forced, was not having anything to write about. And then things happened, I had stopped writing. There is a long gap in my diary too. Anyway, I think am back to the old ways ...

During April-Jun period, I was in Mumbai. Many would say that its the worst time to be in that city, but I still liked it. Its a huge city. Bangalore can at best be called a township when compared to Mumbai. But Mumbai is a city of contrasts.

The things I liked about Mumbai ...

1. Food - Leopold, Theobroma, Baghdadi, Anand Juice Centre

2. People - Auto wallahs, professional, truthful

3. Places - Colaba, Marind drive

4. Theatres - Prithvi

5. Transport - Local trains

The things I did not like about Mumbai ...

1. Poverty

2. Slums

3. Beggars

4. Filth

5. Pace of life - too fast

Would I go there again? Yes, definitely.

Traffic Incident

Oh yes, one more. Please bear with me. I dont know if the traffic rules in Bangalore are funny or am bad at driving. I keep finding myself interacting with the cops so regularly.

Only last night I was telling my friend that I was having a good incident free run with traffic, and today that good run was broken.

Ok ok,I did not see the "No Free Left Turn" sign. Hmmm, as luck would have it a senior (by age) cop stopped me and promptly took my keys away. He was experienced.

Sid: What hapened sir?

Cop: You jumped the red light.

Sid: But sir that was a free left.

Cop: No, you did not see the sign.

Sid: Oh is it. It is my mistake then.

Cop: Give Rs300

(Unlike last time, remember the other night, when my wallet was almost empty, I was carrying enough cash today)

Sid: Here sir, your rs300.

Cop looks at the the money, looks at me. Gives a Rs100 bill back and asks me to leave.

Sid: The chalan sir?

Cop: You want chalan?

Sid: Sure sir, how else will i learn.

Now, you should have seen the expression on his face, confused smile.

He makes a challan for Rs100, gets my signature on it, gives anoher bill of Rs100 back.

Cop: You are a good man, so am leaving you.

Sid: Thank you sir. It is your duty to catch the offenders.

I must have done something good for the cops some time. I will sure become (in)famous with the traffic police here, soon.

Ragging

Himachal Pradesh, India

8 March 2009

Aman, a medical student dies. Reason? Ragging.

No I did not get the date wrong. Neither did I get the place wrong. A student in a medical college has been ragged to death. Oh sorry, the case is still sub-judice. It may turn out that he died due to some accident or just a natural death.

Saw his father on the TV yesterday. He blamed the college authorities.

What kind of society are we? Are we any better than the barbarians?

It just reminded me of my college days ...

Engineering college

The day before the college began, I went to the college office in city to find about the transport facility. There was a notice on the board. This is how it read ...

1. White shirt with full sleeves

2. Navy blue pants without pleats

3. Black belt with simple buckle

4. Red handkerchief with no border

5. Black formal shoes

I do not remember the uniform for girls. (It was equally exotic though)

The next day brother came with me to drop me at the bus stop. The scene there made me flee. Some students, in uniform, standing in a queue. All looking down. There were some guys in plain clothes (read respected seniors). It reminded me of the famous scene of Sholay, with Gabbar and his 3 men. Yes, I could not gather the courage to go to college, first day of college.

I could not have continued it for long. Went ahead and waited for the bus on the second day. And this time I too was in the queue. Just before Gabbar could start deliver his lines, zap came a white car. Veeru (read college principal) grabbed Gabbar by his collar, dragged him to his car and took him away. We freshmen (fresh boys) were relieved. This was not the end of it, many other incidents followed. Traveling to and from college was no less than a nightmare. The sneers, slaps, what not. Even the class rooms were not safe, seniors would barge in and start slapping. Any way, all this lead to a fight. We decided to teach them a lesson. Violence followed. People were arrested too. We never had good terms with our seniors. Did we do anything wrong?

Management college

I was so excited, to be part of one of the best B-schools of the country. To study with some of the sharpest minds. What I was not prepared for was the fact that the same sharp minds were twisted too. This was a post graduate class, so ragging was given a new name - Interaction Sessions (sic). Midnight assemblies, dunking, crude comments, dehumanising talks, cat calls, the list is endless. And this was supposed to bring me closer to my seniors (sic). That never happened anyway.

Am glad my seniors were better than the seniors of Aman. Am glad that am alive.

Am I being paranoid? May be ...

Seniors, batchmates, with hindsight, do u still think that whatever happened was right? Oh no, am not the judge, absolutely not.