All over the place

There are things in life which often come to us very late but when they come; an unknown happiness comes along which cannot be expressed in words. I was always so called busy all these years to take a vacation; a real holiday but this time around there was a strong commitment.

The restless waves of ocean are hypnotizing and take away the restlessness of mind & soul.

My short but delightful visit to Konkan in Maharashra is more than what I can express in words. So I think these pics will do the needful.

The other track of Indian Grand Prix

It is surely a great historic day today when this country hosted a world class event i.e. Indian Grand prix at Greater Noida. Built with Rupees 10 billion cost, this is a world class facility which brings glory and prestige for India at global stage. After the mockery in organizing Commonwealth Games 2010, successful hosting of F1 proves that India is also capable enough of hosting any world class event with same global standards and facilities.

No doubt it’s a great achievement but when I look at other side of scene, it all becomes unexciting. On one hand the media & farmers are howling over land acquisition in Noida Extension and on other hand acres of agricultural land is been acquired for F1 event; against several protests. It’s in the same country where government reduces subsidy on diesel for agricultural use and cites international price hike as the reason and on other hand thousands of liter fuel became smoke in just one event.

The country where official sources claim Rs 32 is what more than half of population can’t spend per day, and in same country millions and billions have been spent by elite citizens of the country just to see cars zooming at 300 km per hour. Just few days back an official report mentioned Uttar Pradesh as state which tops criminal activities and today more than 30,000 force was deployed for F1 event, ignoring their actual objectives.

It’s the same country where a low cost airline operator recently shuts down operation because of the increasing air fuel prices and cut throat competition in low cost airline segment (which caters to the middle class population specifically) and same person spends billions in promoting events such as IPL & F1.

It is not that the views are against organizing F1 in country but we need to maintain balance and indulge in activities which have higher productive outputs. Things need to be prioritize and balanced and even from sports point of view we need to make sure that it should not become a sport which caters to only higher class of society and kills the other sports.

India- In search of Independence

65 years of independence and the search is still on. Yes, this country is still searching for the true independence which was dreamt off; independence from corruption, independence from poverty and independence from many more social evils.

Today in the midst of “second battle of freedom” which is going on in political arena, I as a common youth sometimes find myself in doubt. All I see around me is scams, corruption and oppression. From BOFORCE to CHARA, BLACK MONEY to CWG and then AADARSH to 2G. Every year, every month; a new scam, bigger than the previous one comes to dent this freedom.

Now when a 74 year old man raised his voice against the corruption, everyone started talking about fight against corruption. But question arises are we really ready to fight? Do we have the willingness to eradicate this bug? Are we ready to stop skipping traffic signals, are we ready to say no ‘donation seats’, are we ready to oppose for any demand for bribe?

There are hundreds of question like this that deals with our day to day life corruption, which we our self impose on us. If the answer to all these questions is ‘No’, then this fight is senseless. Only supporting Anna will not help, there is need to help ourselves. Jan Lokpal is only an instrument in this fight against corruption; the real weapon is our will and efforts. I know it’s easier saying than doing but at least we can make an effort by not initiating corruption from our end.

Life in last 2 years

Someone has rightly said that one enjoys the best part of life in college.
College days are the most important and memorable part in anyone’s life. It shapes a person from a youngster to a mature human; it is the place where long lasting friendships are grown. Whatever we become, wherever we go in life, the sweet memories and precious experience during college days remains always close.

Unlike many others I came back to college to discover myself- to explore something new, something interesting in a new city far away from my place. All this is more important to me as this was my first step to come out of my comfort zone and face different culture, and unfamiliar surroundings and do something new.

The delightful time started from the initial days with friendship, fresher’s party, fest, seminars, superb faculty and friendly seniors. It becomes even more delightful when you get to know lots of new stuff, friendship with new people and do other un-related things that are not related with studies. The tea at Cheta & Naik, kanti’s Chat and sandwich, Facebook and orkut life and the fun experience of living on campus with thousands of other people our age truly can't be described.

As an individual if I look back two years back, I find huge value addition to my knowledge, personality and experience. Above all these things, I found the roadmap toward my destination.

But there are hard times too in college – like the semester exams and then the night before result, and finally when friends are not around after year’s long companionship. I hope this fun & learning continues in life ahead.

The real HERO

80 years ago on 23rd march, 1931 a young 23 year old guy sacrificed himself willingly for the freedom struggle of India. Today is the 80th death anniversary of Sardar Bhagat Singh (along with Rajguru & sukhdev), who undoubtedly is one of the most influential revolutionaries of the Independence movement of India.

Bhagat Singh joined the freedom movement at young age of 14 years and became attracted to anarchism and Marxist ideologies. Bhagat Singh was one of the most prominent faces of Indian freedom struggle. He was a revolutionary ahead of his times. By Revolution he meant that the present order of things, which is based on manifest injustice must change. Bhagat Singh studied the European revolutionary movement and was greatly attracted towards socialism. He realised that the overthrow of British rule should be accompanied by the socialist reconstruction of Indian society and for this political power must be seized by the workers.

In 1929 Bhagat singh planned to explode a bomb in the Central Legislative Assembly, against an act which give more power to the police and suppress common man. He later along with Batukeshwar dutt threw a light non-lethal bomb onto the vacant corridors of the assembly; the bomb neither killed nor injured anyone. Refusing to run away from the scene, Bhagat Singh gave himself up deliberately for arrest after the bombing stating “it takes a loud voice to make the deaf hear”

Bhagat Singh was charged with the murder. Bhagat Singh decided to use the court as a tool to publicise his cause for the independence of India. While in jail, Bhagat Singh and other prisoners launched a 63 days hunger strike advocating for the rights of prisoners and those facing trial. The reason for the strike was that British murderers and thieves were treated better than Indian political prisoners, who, by law, were meant to be given better rights. The aims in their strike were to ensure a decent standard of food for political prisoners, the availability of books and a daily newspaper, as well as better clothing and the supply of toiletry necessities and other hygienic necessities. He also demanded that political prisoners should not be forced to do any labour or undignified work.

Despite great popular pressure and numerous appeals by political leaders of India, Bhagat Singh and his associates were hanged in the early hours of March 23, 1931.