Monday, November 8, 2010

Just For Fun :)

After having come across various kinds of weird and humorous sign boards i finally managed to find this one and no this is not the funniest or craziest of them all. There are many more to leave this one far behind but this one has found its place here coz i managed to get the pic :P

Ok now can you please help me understand what exactly they are trying to say here? Plug the flower?? whats that?!!! I promise i wont 'Plug' the flower...really i wont...kasam se. Coz i don't know how to!!! Will anyone pls teach me?!! :)

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Reel To Real

Today I saw the real life version of the movie Slumdog Millionaire. Checking out the view made up of concrete buildings outside the window, an old familiar song from a Hindi movie resonated into my ears. The train accelerated its trust on the tracks as I turned around to see where the song is coming from. In a land where Hindi is scarcely spoken, every time I hear a single syllable of the language it brings me a familiar feel. Though meduva meduva this familiarity is lapping Tamil too into its boundaries.

The song was ‘pardesi jana nahi’ from the movie Raja Hindustani and it wasn’t the rhythm of the music but rather the quirky voice made my head turn. A boy aged around 13 or so with an old harmonium hanging around his neck was trying hard to give his best shot to match the high notes of this song. Accompanied by two more kids, a girl around 5 year old and a boy of almost 10 year with one leg missing walking with the crutches and collecting alms from the passengers. The three reminded me of the kids from Slumdog Millionaire, Jamal, Salim and Latika. I don’t know what their story is but I am sure the desperation and abjection is not far from the storyline of the reel one.

When the innocence gets lost in the dust of the empty streets, living a life on the edges makes you street smart and that was clearly visible on their faces. As I looked into their faces many questions were aroused in my mind. Not that I was feeling pity for them, my encounter with such faces everyday have left me indifferent towards them, but today I was feeling a sense of anger. Anger on all of us for being just a silent spectator. Anger for those who make use of innocence for their benefit. And anger towards everyone who helps them achieve this by giving them alms. Was lost in the thoughts when the next stop came and the kids got down getting into another train. And before I could take out my mobile camera to capture a glimpse of them, they vanished in the crowd, leaving behind many questions unanswered. What am I doing for them? How can we tackle this menace? What if tomorrow our children are kidnapped and forced to live a life like this? Why don’t we understand that the real solution doesn’t lie in giving them some share from our change? Many laws and acts have been formed but all in vain. So what can be an effective solution for protecting the innocence being murdered on the streets? Do you have an answer? Do let me know.

Monday, November 1, 2010

Work Is Work

Being women has its own pros and cons. Leaving the cons aside (as a lot has already been spoken about them), the small little privileges that come our way from the government like the reserved seats in buses and trains are few things that we girls just love to take advantage of.  And yes I know all you men out there are jealous about it. :P Well in one hand we talk about equality in status while on the other we demand such kinda reservations too. I know not fair naa?!!…but then life is not always fair you see! :P

But what if you are not a woman yet you are given a share in these advantages which are especially reserved for the women. Have you ever thought how the entire experience would be to travel in a ladies compartment with you being the only guy around? Sounds embarrassing? May be for some but for most of the men I believe it would be a mixed reaction placed somewhere in the middle of excitement and embarrassment. Yaar just imagine… you would be “THE MAN” amidst a compartment full of hot chicks….eh I mean girls!!! Ahem…ahem...stop imagining now! :P Ask this policeMAN (in the pic extreme left) who was on duty for ‘our protection’ in the ladies compartment where I was travelling and you would know the answer. I wonder what would have been going through his mind while he was performing his job with a ‘watchful eye’. A little embarrassed or excited or just being indifferent and taking it as any other place of duty? Well whatever be the environment around, work is work…right?!!!