Top memories of past decade

1. Preparing rice field under June Sun, transplanting rice in muddy waters, breakfast on the field with soiled hands, cuts while weeding and then seeing the first grain emerge – Practical Crop Production course - 2000. Sunil, Surjit and gang for company. Ishwar - you proved that not size but the fight matters.

2. One semester extended by University for 1 credit worth of required policy deviation, even with precedents. Beaurecracy at its height - 2002

3.Landing up unawares in Ahmedabad, with Jassi and Himani, the morning after Godhra carnage and seeing the curfew at Anand with burning shops and tyres on road - 2004

4. First trimester, first paper in marketing at XIMB gave the belief.....and the next two years, passed like a dream NFS race with company of Prashant, Asad, Pradeep, Manju, Amita and Raju(My Fab 6) and of course 'Father' Sarit. Wearing the Gold medal at Convocation made for a perfect ending of this beautiful 2 year memory: 2003-05

5.Atop the water tank near Nageshwar temple, Gujarat - during a heavy thunderstorm - on one of the heaviest downpour day for this region of Gujarat-alongwith the amazing MTgang of Aditi Dahiya, Asad , Divya Shankaran, Reddy, Raman, Prashant Chandrana, Anand bhai, Kanan gupta, Samrat Mukherjee, Swapnil shirodkar and Tarun Dhamecha - 2005

6.Lifeline project at Babrala with Prashant Reddy and Mayur - spreading healthcare and cheers amongst UP villagers and earning lot of blessings. 18 hour work days, 2 hours of night cricket with doctors, nurses, cooks and other volunteers and lovely contributions from rustagi aunty (& her halwa), banaerjee aunty, mathur aunty amongst others– 2005-06

7. Landing with a coach full of relatives in Kerela, for engagement 2005 and then hosting my in laws at Pantnagar, for marriage in 2006 – the fun being, Manju was the only one who can understand Hindi, English and Malayalam to cross communicate. Thanks Asad and Anju, for standing thorugh it all.

8. Himalyan Trekking trip with a gang that comprised of old warhorses of Haldia, young blood of Mithapur and gutsy girls from Mumbai. Asad being there made the trip all the more wonderful - Scaling darwa pass was fun and reaching Darwa top was achievement.

8. TAS selection process, thank you Aditya Khera and Bharti Nagar – and the overwhelming love received from top to bottom of Tata chemicals - 2008. Without your support and cheer from Aditi, I would not have been here.

9. Taj Stays dring TAS induction / India tour along with KoYo talks – Thanks to Komal and Yogesh, Gagan and AP - without you, the trip would have been half the fun - 2008. You guys rock!!

10.Struggles of Mumbai local from Vashi to Fort and later Vidyavihar to Fort – The memorable Tata Power days with the best of friends to share the house and office with – Manasvi, Krati and Vineet - 2008

11. Trips in and around Johannesburg including the Kruget Safari along with Anurag and Archi, 2 amazing persons and lovely friends and every moment in South Africa before and after that trip - 2009

12. Birth of my daughter Aashi – landing out safe and sound. Thank you Fortis for the extremely wonderful care of the mother and child- 2009

At Crossroads - Lessons in Employee Engagement

There comes a stage in life.......so often in life of those who choose to not tread the entrepreneurial way (or atleast that's what I think).........when one finds himself at the crossroads of Life and Career.

• On one hand is Stable Job, Settled family and letting everything run as it is
• Second road lead to destablising the existing run-of -the -mill job to do something 'better'(will come back to this better aspect)
• Third one leads to 'greener pastures'
• and finally the fourth leads to 'Self Actualisation'

Let's take a closer look at these four options and try to identify which is the best route to take in such scenario. But before that we need to understand, why one reaches such a crossroad at all.

Its to do with disenchantment from the existing work and my observations over 5-6 organisations that I have seen closely says that the disenchantment bug can bite you if

a) you are 'too creative' for the job you are currently doing or

(b)you feel undervalued / unrewarded for the work you are doing or

(c) you don't have a friend at workplace or worst of all

(d) you don't feel you are contributing enough

These four are often overlooked scenarios of employee disenagegement and need to be duly addressed by HR. Since this is not a HR manual, I leave this discussion here itself and come back to original topic of 'Life's crossroads'. So these are the four reasons which pulls you / drives you towards that crossroad. Now, with this understanding let's look at the four roads available.

Route 1 : Leaving the leaf unturned: The easiest of the routes to take as it requires absolutely no efforts. But is it really that easy because the very fact that you reached the crossroads implies you need to act now - lest you'll not just erode your own value, go into depression slowly but also will slowly make the organisation think of getting rid of you, if the reasons are a or d . The only reason you should take this route is if you reached the crossroads because of c. If b was your reason, than you still can take this path but need to 'do things better' and need not yet look for 'doing better things' which brings us to Route 2.

Route 2: Rocking the Boat: This is the most effective path. Effectiveness coming from net of result and effort. So, this path in bring in maximum risk free benefit with least effort and hence most evvective path, once you have reached the crossroads for either of reasons a,b or d. However, taking this path require some inherent skills as well as a well thought out strategy. Steps to follow this path are 1) Write down various things that you want to really do; 2) Identify who is currently doing that and because of what reasons he is into that position; 3) Acquire those skills or go back to step 1 and cut this option and start afresh. 4) Know who is the power centre in the scheme of things 5a) Active mode - Make the right noise at the right platform in front of the power centre 5b) Passive mode - Having identified what you want, keep an eye on and wait for the opportunity to come for the desired profile. 6)Make the move.

Route 3: Greener Pastures: Looks like an easy route but quite risky as the saying goes - to everyone, grass looks greener on the other side. Route 3 Path to be adopted in scenario a, b, d after trying Steps 1 to 5 of Route 2. However, if the alternate pasture chosen is the right one, this could be the best thing to have happened to your life and career. So, take a deep breath, think and then take the plunge.......remember, this has life changing power.

Route 4: Self Actualisation: Most risky route, most difficult route but at the same time most rewarding route. Identify your passion and become an entrepreneur. If the 'passion' is real, nobody can stop you from succeeding and this cross road is a blessing in disguise for you - a tipping point. However, if you can't be true to yourself, if 'passion' is for out of anger+frustration+fashion..........then you are doomed for a failure - Stick to path 1 only.

To conclude, I myself at the crossroads right now........let's see, which path do I take.

How time flies

Its amazing.......isn't it !!

There are moments in your life when you feel, time just flies. It flows like the air blowing through your hair. It flows like the sand receding with water on a seashore. 2009 and 2010 has been quite like that for me.

And i realised this with a retrun to this blog and seeing that my last entry was almost 2 years back - way back in March 2009. sob!

But these two years the life has changed so much for me.

2009 April - My first Foreign stint at work. How much I love it and to top it - Anurag was there too. That made all the difference to the amount of exploration of South Africa I did. Made new friends and acquaintences in the 3 month period. Would capture the experiences in a seperate post.

2009 May- Got the news that my vave, is pregnant with our child. How much I wanted to Run up to her, hold her in my arms and shout aloud. Alas ! I was still in South Africa. 49 days to go back to India

2009 June - Recession year. Placements of batch in desired positions looking unsure. With Manju pregnant, I wanted to be in Delhi within a Mumbai Centric Group. Got interviewed for TTSL and confirmed the same. Back to India with a grin.

2009 July - Joined the new job. Happy to be back in Noida - city I was so familiar with. Happy that there was another colleague from the batch in same role, under same boss - someone to do work bitching with. Met Ramesh and Vinay - The life of the business unit, mentors and friends at workplace. Back to mumbai for a SAP training. Agriculturist turning technical

2009 August - What a change. Less than a month after joining, role changed without even without keeping me in loop. Liked the new boss and his workstyle. Some real work on hand.

2009 September - Another shocker. The new boss resigned but work keeps busy. Pregnancy progressing well. Got the annual increment and bonus.

2009 October - Discontentment increase with a 'negative vibes' senior colleague. Pregnancy progressing well. Vave's parents are here to take care.

2009 November - Back to mentors, Change of role - moved into President's office. 30th November - the big day - My darling daughter arrives - hale and hearty

2009 December - New Role - Both in office and Home. Life is good and I'm loving it.

2010 January - Delhi Chill is Set. Busy protecting vave and vava from the cold. Pravasi Bhartiya Divas project mishandled - Corporate workplace learning.

2010 February - Vava travels to Grandpa's place. Naamkaran function for child. Work. TBEM internal assessment preparation.

2010 March - Took wife and child to Kerela - 2 day train journey made comfortable by first boss. Nice climate. Went to Kerela and Karnataka for Internal assessment of TBEM

2010 April - ABP workshop at Madh Island, Mumbai. Love my job.

2010 May - Changes announced in Org structure. New President comes in - dilemma of where do I go ?

2010 June - A junior batch TASo joins in my role. Looking forward to move to operations, retained by old boss in his team for a new role.

2010 July - Handover process. New Friend at workplace.

2010 August - Annual Bonus and Increment time.

2010 September - Vave off to Brazil. Full blast preparation goes on for TBEM assessment

2010 October - Sr management approves and likes my new concept - Innovation Lab and make me its head.

2010 November - Vave off to South Africa, back in time for Aashi's first Birthday. Glad everyone liked the arrangements.

2010 December - Birthday made good by a surprise visit from sister. IITF with mom. Another organisation change announced in BU's structure and I continue to get more disillusioned. Innovation lab's work shaping up well. A colleague and friend moves onto a new role.

and finally a new year, a new decade and as promised to myself would look for a new work opportunity now. Wish me luck to get the best.

New year resolution ?!?!?...............well.........need to get back to my reading and writing and put finances in place. Delhi book fair happening just in time. and see - I am back.

Pawar as PM

Those who are in regular touch with me on political views and discussions, have known that I have been propounding this theory of Sharad Pawar as PM candidate this time. My reasons are simple and based on simplicity in the complexity of this tamasha called general elections 2009, India.
Both the UPA and NDA are disintegrated. On their alone, neither of the two biggest parties Congress or BJP has fielded candidates in 500+ seats. Only party to do so is BSP which is single handadly the biggest party this time around in terms of number of candidates, but is not expected to win even a fourth of those. So called third front, seems more like a herd of all disillusioned / undecisive parties most of which are hoping to break out and be with the winning coalition that comes to grab power.
In this scenario, Sharad Pawar, NCP seems to be a candidate who is getting the backup of Shiv Sena - a key NDA ally; on grounds of being a Maharastrian. He is, interestingly, also keeping an equal distance from (or equal closeness to ) Congress, NDA as well as third front.

Just imagine a post poll scenario now - where UPA(Congress+SP+RJD+LJP+DMK) is predicted to be getting around 230 seats, NDA (BJP+SS+others) around 180 seats and Third front(TDP+BSP+Left+AIADMK) around 90 seats. The scenario looks set for a third front PM supported by UPA. Amongst third front though, Mayawati would clearly be unacceptable to not just SP and LJP but also many senior leaders in Congress. Amongst others, Left and TDP are not even aiming at PMship. In this scenario, Sharad Pawar becomes the natural choice for UPA. He'll also get support from third front, as well as likes of Shiv sena and Raj Thakrey. That's the irony of Indian politics.....with 30 seats, NCP leader can actually look forward to become the country's PM in 540 member Lok Sabha

Let's wait and watch.....The Great Indian Tamasha is on !!

Vacations - To Rest or to Run Away

A smaller one here....just a thought.........

Are the vacations (say weekends) meant to relax and rest or,

are they meant to go out / drive / fly ...... do sight seeing ???

Why ?

We work for earning money for getting a good lifestyle for family and self and enjoy life,
and yet we spend 40% of day working; 10% travelling to work; 30% sleeping - tired from work
Why ?

Mumbai........as it was

I always used to wonder about some of the names given to Mumbai Locations until i decided to find the truth behind them, and look what i discovered.....

To begin with, the name "Mumbai" is derived from Mumba or Maha-Amba – the name of the goddess Mumbadevi. The city was formerly called Bombay and got its name from its portugese roots. who used to call it Bombaim meaning "good bay"., still common in current Portugese use. The Britishers gained possession in the 17th century, and the name was changed to Bombay. Various names with which portugese used to call it, initially are Benamajambu, Tena-Maiambu, Mombayn and Mombaim and find reference in Portugese literature as well.

The second name I was always inquisitve about was Churchgate. Churchgate is an area in South Mumbai (formerly Bombay). The station gets its name from Church Gate street (now Veer Nariman Road) which lines on the immediate south of the station. During the eighteenth and up to the mid 19th century, Bombay was a walled city. The city walls had three gates, and Church Gate, named after St. Thomas Cathedral, was one of the gates. The gate was once situated near the present day location of Flora Fountain. In the mid nineteenth century, the city walls were torn down to aid in the expansion program.

Kurla is another place, whose name i was intrigued because of the way its initials are maintianed in railways. The name of Kurla has originated from a name of a small fish "Kurli". This suburb is built on a seawater where earlier these small fishes were found. In actual terms, suburb Kurla is called to be as Coorla and that's why still if you board a local train from CST on the central line, the train to Kurla is represented by C and not K.

The term Santa Cruz comes from Portugese words meaning Holy Cross. The name given to a church that existed on a site on the western side of the railway station, at the site presently occupied by the Sacred Heart Boys School/Sacred Heart Church and which had been devastated by the Marathas during their conquest of the region from Portugal. This former parish church gave its name to the locality.

I have been living in this area for some time now and have always been trying to find that invisible thing called FORT. The British began construction of the fort soon after taking over the seven islands of Bombay in 1668. and the work on the fort continued until 1716. The fort had three gates, called the Apollo Gate, Church Gate and Bazaar Gate. The castle was surrounded by residences, shops and places of worship. A moat was also built in 1743. An esplanade, level open space along the western fringe of the fort, was maintained for defensive reasons, to provide a clear line of fire. The fort itself was demolished by Sir Bartle Frere, Governor of Bombay in the 1860s, as serving no purpose. The ramparts were removed, the moat filled in, and the area was significantly re-structured.

I never saw any black horse running around the Kala Ghoda area and always wondered whether the place got its name because of the painting of black horse done on a restaurent's wall in the Kala Ghoda Art district. Actually, the name means Black Horse, as a reference to a black stone statue of King Edward VII (as the then Prince of Wales) mounted on a horse. The statue was removed in 1965 to storehouses of a museseum in Byculla, but the name persisted. The statue is now in the Jijamata Udyan in Byculla.

And this is the best picture of all..........showing the seven islands of Mumbai, before they were reclaimed to give us this beautiful city.

The three mistakes .... Book Review

This article got published on Tata World Book Review Section in August 2008. Chetan Bhagat is one author, who I love for his writings which has made book reading popular among masses.

The three mistakes of my life
August 04, 2008
Aditya Singh of Tata Power admires Chetan Bhagat’s unique style of storytelling, showcasing the everyday life in India and says that his new book makes for an excellent read
Chetan Bhagat has once again come out with a not-put-downable-before finishing book – third in his series and as before he has picked up a topic, which itself sets path for success of the book and makes him India’s most read English language author. Over the three books, he has written, he is slowly expanding his target audience as well. While the first book, “Five Point Someone” talked about IITs and their world, the second book expanded (and moved down the societal pyramid) to a call centre executive’s life in “One Night at the Call Centre”. In his present offering, “The three mistakes of my life”, he goes one step further down the pyramid, to the XII pass, lower middle class category, and in the process combines the three biggest passion of India – politics, religion and cricket, intricately woven in a story, wherein real life incidents like the Gujarat earthquake, the Godhra incident etc, are mentioned and thereby help the readers connect with the book. The hardliners would always keep saying that his writings are not literature. Agreed, his is not a classic English writing, yet he knows how to connect with his readers.
The book begins as a flashback story of a man on hospital bed after trying to commit suicide, from the time that this man and his two friends passed out from XII and tried to explore their career and life path, amongst the myriad lanes and maidans of Old Ahmedabad. The book nicely captures the entrepreneurial spirit of the Gujarati community, reflected through the struggle of the trio in setting up a business of their own, while not missing out on their passion that unites them – cricket. The book also brings forth other interesting aspects of Indian middle class – maths tuitions, love angles, bickerings between father and son related to career, etc. The book also gives a detailed account of the famous India Australia test match at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, and refresh the memories of all cricket loving readers. The patriotism factor has also been added very subtly, through a young character in the story, called Ali. His refusal of a better lifestyle in favour of “being Indian” always brings the factor out.
The book captures the mentality and reasoning of rioting mobs, in Post-Godhra scenario in Gujarat. However, rather than focusing more on exploring this option, the author suddenly turns to and spends more pages writing about kiddish ways of our three heroes fighting an angry mob of 40 people, to protect a small boy of a different faith, believing that the kid is a national treasure. The contradictions of right wing politics and secularism is just touched upon and left. It could have been brought out in slightly more detail. Another low point of the book is that although in last one-two pages, the author has tried to convert it into a happy ending, still the sad feeling, that the readers gather from the last quarter of the book, does not waver off and the reader ends the book with a heavy heart.
About the author, Shashi Tharoor has correctly observed, “his observer’s eyes keenly focus on nuances”. It is this ability of the author, that has ensured success of his earlier novels and I believe this book will also see similar, if not better success.
Title: The Three Mistakes of my lifeAuthor: Chetan BhagatPublisher: Rupa & Co.Pages: 257Price: Rs95

Action, Boldness and Communication.....ABC for the new India

The following article got printed in MINT newspaper, Dec 01, 2008 edition......

In the aftermath of recent terror strikes in Mumbai, following would be my 10 point Agenda of Action as PM

COMMUNICATION: PRESENT STRONG POLITICAL WILL
Action 1: Convene an all party meet (involving national parties) and include security experts / advisors as part of the meet.

Action 2: Address the nation with a charging up speech - Sympathising with common man, Empathising with those who have lost family members and promising the nation concerete steps within stipulated timeframe

ACTION: STRENGTHEN / STREAMLINE INTERNAL SECURITY
Action 3: Set up a National Internal Security Board, comprising heads of IB, RAW, CBI, NSG, ATS, Army, Navy and Air Force and headed by Home Minister. This shall be the body which will take decisions, in case of any terrorist attack / naxalite war / insurgency

Action 4: Ask all armed forces'(Police / ATS / NSG) chiefs to send in their arms / ammunition / protective gear inventory status (to ensure sufficiency and efficiency of facilities at disposal) and order fresh, latest weaponry as asked for by the three chiefs.

Action 5: Introduce advanced training programs for Police forces. Special focus to be given at fitness levels.

COMMUNICATION : INDIA BRAND IMAGE
Action 6 :Call up a meeting of ambassadors of various countries to brief them about various measures being taken for Internal security (and assuring them complete safety of their nationals )

Action 7 :Call up a world media press conference at Delhi / Mumbai, to alley the psychosis of fear-struck people across the world. Present India as a strong nation. Include ambassadors of G-5 in the conference.

BOLDNESS : TAKE CONCRETE INTELLIGENCE BASED ACTIONS
Action 8 : Set up timelines for Intelligence agencies to solve the details of the terror strike. Provide direct access to PM for the head of the team handling the investigations and provide them full cooperation in terms of questioning anybody (irrespective of political backgrounds)

Action 9 : Discuss with Pak President (if the link is established) various links and ask him to deport the suspects for interrogation. Keeping interpol in loop

Action 10 :Take necessary actions against those found guilty of negligence/inaction over intelligence information.

Mumbai Terror Strikes - Intelligence Failure or Inaction on Intelligence ?

They came, they shot & they conquered.......


NO ! I am not talking about our NSG commandos who, in a 60 hour ordeal, with support from Navy commandos, RAF, Firemen, Army and Mumbai Police; gunned down the handful of millitants who took the country on siege.......


I am talking about the terrorists who came well planned / well armed and unmatched fearlessness. Such brazen confidence, could have come with one and only one thing ....... they knew that our intelligence services are not good enough..........they were also sure that even if from some source, the intelligence information does even reach the ears that matter...........those won't be taking any action on the information.......and eventually, tht's what seems to have happened.

They won the battle in all completeness of their mission even as we celebrate, how we gunned them down. They achieved all three of their goals :

1. Pinch India where it hurt them the most - Mumbai: Brought out in open, the false sense of security of Indians.
2. Push the peace process between India and Pakistan, back by 18-20 months again.
3. Killed as many as they could and got killed as Fidayeen.

As for the reports available, there was enough intelligence information available to have concluded about the possible attacks........and still our famed and glorified security agencies couldn't protect it from happening.

Like everybody, I too am angry.....I too am anguished........not at the politicians (who everybody just loves to hate)..........I am feeling bemused.......Assam has been burning for so long, our brothers and sisters in Jammu and Kashmir, face this kind of ordeal every day.........., naxal affected areas of AP, Orissa, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal.......goes through all the bombings and hostage situations every second day.........but nobody cares. Life goes on......as anything. Nobody gives a call for " Change" , "Spirit " etc. And now when a part of a city was affected, when symbols of Indian luxury were attacked, when the politically most uncaring section of society is shot at; the media and all are talking of "Change"


Where have been this media and all these celebrities, when other parts of the country had been burning. Are those parts any less Indian than Mumbai - a city, for whose leaders, in recent times the only mantra of success was being seen as a more pro-marathi (regionalist fundamentalists) leaders.


I am pissed off.........not on those terrorists or their group, but on the Indian government / media / intelligence agencies, who after every single terrorist incident have one and the same answer - Its Pakistan and ISI who did it, with or without proof(same thing also happens across the border, where India and Raw are blamed for all and every bombings in Pakistan's territory). In the current situation, even if we have proof and place it either before Pakistan / world media, the question is whether the Pakistani government be able to do anything except accept it.....does that failed state even has control over its own territory......its doubtful !! Even if the current pakistani government tries to take any action, hardliners, ISI and millitary along with anti state elements might topple the government itself. That would be a situation, which even India won't like.


Another disgusting situation is about the lone captured terrorist. Our police seems to be totally being led (or misled) by a person about whose mental state (being on drugs / torture by police), is itself under doubt.

God Save this country !!

Artistic Day

What an interesting weekend it was......Refreshing, Rejuvenating, Inspiring.

Although I have been residing in Fort Area for over 20 days now, but this was effectively my first weekend when I was here.

Having spent a beautiful Saturday morning, playing a wonderful game of cricket at Oval ground, the day was spent watching Movies - the most advanced form of art, humans have developed.

Sunday saw me growing up as a person when I decided to have a dekko at Art Gallaries of Bombay. It all began with a visit to Jehangir Art Gallery(JAG) and opening the long lost world (from my frame of mind) of paintings and sculptures. Hall number 1 was displaying paintings by a Prof. at Sir JJ School of Art. His paintings, with geometrical figures and an abstract pattern in the non abstract paintings, demanded a lot of time to grasp the possible meanings. Among other halls, were Sculptors in wood and marble, Cone art and paintings from UP . The most interesting and unheard thing came in form of Garbography exhibition at Hirji Gallery (at First floor of JAG) by Sanjay Yamgar, aptly titled, " Faces from the unknown world." For the uninitiated, garbography is the art of arranging garbage to give it the form of art.....you may also call it Garbage Photography. Sanjay, a product of E’cole Supérieure des Beaux , France has become a known name now in the field of Garbography.

Moving out of JMG, my next stop was Pavement Art Gallery at Kalaghoda Art District. Pavement art galleries have been a popular across the world - a mode to promote talented but poor artists.

My third spot for the day should have been Chhatrapati Shivaji Vaastu Sangrahalya (Prince of Wales Mueseum) but I gave it a pass and instead walked towards the National Gallery of Modern Art, on the MG Road, Kalaghoda, next to the age old Elphinston College. There was no specific reason for skipping the prince of wales mueseum, and I have kept it on my list of places to visit next weekend. NGMA was much better organised as compared to Jehangir art gallery and there was proper description against each piece of art. Also, there were rare art books - chinese, french, italian, available for sale. Atul Dodiya's painting, Tomb's Day (2001) makes parodic references to one of India's stereotypical icons, the Taj Mahal. Executed in the visual style of billboard painting, the work is an ironic commentary on the media furor that surrounded President Clinton and Putin's visit to the monumnet.

I hurried out from NGMA after seeing my watch...it was 5.30pm and I had planned to catch up a play by Mahesh Manjrekar at NCPA, called "Double Deal" , at 6.30pm. Since walking is my favourite pastime, I walked down from NGMA (near Gateway of India) to NCPA (near Nariman Point) and reached in half an hour. Fortunately, last few tickets were still available. This 2 hour play directed by Mahesh Dattani and enacted by Mahesh Manjrekar and Achint Kaur, is an adaptation of "Killing time" by Richard Stockwell.

With this my day came to an end, with memories of my own paintings and drama acting while in school and college. Those were the days.....

Mysterious Women....part 2

.....carrying forward from part 1.

She moved towards, the third floor stairs and I followed behind.....after reaching the third floor...........she turned towards..........the stairs leading to terrace. I had ruled out that possibility already given her fear of darkness......and she was going towards the terrace. It was a half moon night and light cool sea breeze was adding to the darkness of the terrace. I followed behind her with hushed footsteps. I was sure, there would be someone else too......... She moved to the farther end of terrace and was looked towards the back side, from the terrace boundary. Behind our building was a hostel of an Indian IT major. My imagination was running overtime...and again and again telling me there would be some boyfriend coming to meet her - if not from within our building, then maybe from the IT company's hostel. I knew my chance was slipping but i stood there, in the darkness, behind a pillar......to find out, who is the one for whom, she had overcome her fear of darkness and come upto the terrace. 10 mins passed by.......and nobody came...she was still standing facing the other side, looking over to the horizon.........20 mins and still nobody came. Now I was getting restless. When you are waiting in dark, and mosquitoes are tasting your sweet blood, without any disturbance......as you can't make any noise.....its tough.

After around 30 minutes of wait, i heard some sound............i knew...........this was the moment........somebody appears to be coming. wait........this is a different sound..........somebody is crying........but who?........what a dumb question ! it was two of us on the terrace and i wasn't crying, so it has to be her.........the mysterious lady. It was a silent sob only.........but I could not stop myself and approached her. She was startled to see me at first and then her tactful self took over - she said, " Isn't this evening sea breeze so nice. I love coming to here" but even in that darkness, for the first time, i could see that her words were not giving support to her voice. Next, she was talking about some prof. / assignments..........what i could hear though was the pain and turbulence in her voice. In this moment of revelation, i was able to see beyond her tact and words. " Why were you crying?" , I asked in a very demanding voice. I never understood, how i asked that question to her.

She tried to laugh it away, negating my observation. Had it been any other day, I would have believed her but today, I was believing myself and i again demanded, " why were you crying". She reminded me of time and said,"Move to dinner, or else you'll miss the hot chapatis". Cold Chapatis was my sore area of concern in the mess, but chapatis was not what was on my mind right now. I told her, either to come with me or I too am not going. The verbal tussle, continued till some time and ended in a eerie silence. We both were standing bend over the terrace boundary wall, looking over to horizon and no word was spoken for 15 minutes.......

She finally brike the silence, asking me again to leave her alone there and before I could speak anything.......she broke down into tears. I wanted to console her and lend her my shoulders. She cried and cried till I could feel my shirt becoming wet at shoulders. She was holding my hands tightly......and then she spoke.

******** the conversation that happened than between us lasted for almost 3 hours. The content of that discussion is personal, so not to be written / discussed ***********

That day and both our lives changed. That day i realised the power of love - which can make people see and do, what in normal circumstances is unthinkable. 20 months after that day...........we two got engaged and 6 more months down, we got married. Today that mysterious women is my wife - my best friend.

A day in the life of TASO

Day 2, Project 2 and I am sitting with 2 other colleagues from TAS.......The journey that begins with Bharat Darshan and token gifts (refer: Pens of Toyo, Caps of Power etc.) thereon continues throughout the year. Each TAS manager gets to work with four different group companies.......a possible chance for companies to woo...the best talents in the country. Each company offers them best available assignments (Refer : Company's entry strategy for China; Indonesia.......Acquisition of Wind farms / Coal Mines etc. ) and facilities. Meetings are fixed up by admin with top leadership(Refer: Mr. Muthuraman at Jamshedpur) of respective companies and TAS managers are offered best available guest houses from company's side (Refer: Tata Caps....worli sea face guest house with plasma TV; AIG's linking road guest house etc.) .............well well.............life is not bad at all, and I am enjoying it.



On confirmation of a TAS manager, (s)he is loaded with gifts from various group companies. This is a strategic move from Group HR to ensure that the trained TAS managers don't leave the system. The assortment inculdes :

a) One time supply: A Nano from Tata Motors; Blackberry from Tata Tele; Broadband from Tata Comm.; Inverter battery from Tata Green; Xylus from Titan; Gold coins from Tanishq; AC from Voltas

b) One year free subscription/ supply of ........Tata Sky conncetion, Tata Salt / Fertilizer / Tea / Power

c) Lifetime discounts upto 50% on: Stay at Taj / Landmark / croma / Westside

d).......GETUP................

..........GETUP..............YOU are dozing off in office time ................

and my colleague wakes me up..............what ???? where !!!! ..........I am.

Oh No !!............its still the second project stint.........and I am dozing off along with other colleagues of mine at office, as we have nothing better to do.........

Its Day 2 of project 2.....

Well.....maybe it was just a dream...........or who knows.........just a premonition of things to come.........

Train to Masjid

Three months............in a few days time, it will be three months of my project stay at Mumbai......and the most memorable (or should i say, forgettable) memory would be of the local train travel. For first one month period, I was putting up at Vashi, Navi Mumbai and thereafter at Kurla, a central suburb. Both places asked me to travel via local train to office, situated in South Mumbai, at Masjid. Travelling in local trains is a fun for the visitor, a convenience for a 'sometime' traveller but largely a pain for the regular or daily traveller.

The life of daily travellers in local seems to have become so narrow in view - with entire focus on reaching on time to station, running from auto drop point to platform no. xx to catch that punctual serpentine; fighting it out to board the already overflowing concoction, even before the deboarders can get off; making their way through the dead pack swarm to their most coveted prize of the day - a seat. It doesn't matter, whether you get the fourth seat, on that hard bench of second class, with people falling all over your body, from all possible angles - you have won the battle of the day, the prize of the lucky few, a seat in the local train.

Having got the taste of this travel. Well, not just the taste, but the experience - afterall three months is not a small period. Its 90 days of struggle, and if we include the two way journey - its almost 180 journeys. Enough experience for me to pen (...oops, type) my thoughts. I have made a few theories regarding this train travel.

The Beaker Theory : This theory relates to all lines of the journey. However, I would take the example of my first month experience on the Harbour line from Vashi to Masjid. This journey is very similar to a Beaker. A small opening with a wider space inside. At Vashi, lot of people clobber together to get in, as soon as the train comes and within a minute, when the things settle down all seats are packed and a few people standing…comfortably. Then comes Maankhurd….politically, the first stop in Mumbai, after the creek. Maankhurd is like, a box of pebbles is poured onto a beaker fill with balls. The pebbles, fill up every inch of space available.
Just when you were thinking, that now the beaker is full…….comes Kurla, which is like a pack of sand being emtied into that already filled beaker. People just keep coming in..and you wonder about the physical properties of the wonderful element created by god, called human being, which can squeeze and squeeze and squeeze till all those who want to board the train have boarded. Now definitely no more possible, else somebody would definitely fall out........from the doors, if not from the windows. Then comes a place called Vadala.......and the sand packed beaker is filled with water.......yes , the possibilities are endless......just when we think, its over...........its all over............just then only, a new opportunity emerges, in which more and more can be absorbed in a sysem. Isn't that how our minds function......adds more with each experience.

Compressed Gas Theory: This theory is very specific to Central line and relates to the compressed air filled inside a balloon and the way this air gets released from the balloon and all action reaction physics involved with it. Now, this model become applicable at two stations called Dadar and Parel.........during the peak hour of morning 8 - 9 am. Its not as if this model can't be allowed to other lines or other times.........its just that I have observed this on the particular line and time I have mentioned above. Two stations before Dadar, people start getting up from their seats, if they have to get down at either of these continuous stations. Almost 500 meters before the station comes, shouts of "utara, utara, kudhe chala" and as soon as platform comes, people start jumping - out as well as in. The real fun comes when the train stops.......people move out, as compressed air is moving out of a balloon (50 sec) and after that people move in, with equally acoustic sound (50 sec). The outflowing mass and inflowing mass somehow align themselves so well, even amongst so many heads, that these two streams of air, doesn't cross each other's way. The train moves ahead and the exact same exercise is repeated at Parel too.

Health Index theory: " I got my first project in Mumbai and i became lean and fit...........how?............simple, i travelled low..cal", a friend told me this as a joke, a few months back. We laughed it away and forgot it. Three months down the line, I somehow agree that one of the reasons of average poor built of mumbaikars is travelling in these local trains. Not just you remain short of oxygen and space to grow, with avg. 30 days in a year spent in travelling in these locals, but also take into account the mental tension and agony while travelling in such crowded trains. Average Health Index of Mumbai is going down, and Local train are partly responsible.

Its not that these trains are not providing any benefits. Infact , i completely agree to these trains being "Lifeline of Mumbai", for without these, life and business would cripple in mumbai. Life is a journey, and our responsibility is to keep moving on. Train jouneys in locals of mumbai have given me important lessons in life, which I would never forget. May these train keep running...after all चलना ही ज़िन्दगी है

Singur : Who's lost the most?

Would the festive spirit of Durga Pooja, be able to change the gloomy atmosphere in Singur - a small village, on the outskirts of Kolkata, brought to limelight two years ago, when Ratan Tata annonced the rollout of India's Dream Car - Rs. 1 lakh worth NANO from a new plant of Tata Motors to come up at Singur in West Bengal.

Would the hundreds of young dreams, of earning a decent livlihood for their families, be shattered. During these two years, hoardes of diploma holders were given free training and they built a dream of working either in the Motors' plant or one of the 100s of ancilliary units coming up alongwith the plant or set up their own mechanic business and feed their families.

Whould the farmers who'll get their land back, if they do get it, be able to reap prosperity out of it - a land over which construction work has already been done.

What would happen to all the small local businessman and transporters, planning to become suppliers of material like stone / sand etc. and transportation to the Nano plant and the ancialliary units.

What would happen to the costing of Dream car, Nano - with the addition of relocation cost. would it now still be available at the magical price of Rs. 1 lakh

What would happen to the CM buddha's dream of changing the image of west bengal to a industry friendly state

What would happen to Mamta banerjee's image in terms of state development. Had she hit on her own foot, by loosing votes from rest of the state (for defaming the state image)

What would this incident's impact be on the India's image as a investment destination

Let's see the incidents related to the buildup of today's status. Government wanted to create a land bank to entice industry in the state. They purchased lands on the outskirts of Kolkata, some farmers didnt' wanted to sell - they were enticed with either higher than market price or using force (police). The land was offered to Tata and the project of Nano came to Singur as a big political mileage to modernist CM Buddhadeb bhattacharya. Mamta Banerjee, a political opponent, couldn't have allowed the CMs popularity to increase. She put fuel into the fire, simmering among the farmers who lost land by force and staged a series of dharna protests. Meanwhile, the plant was getting constructed on the land. At one stage things went beyond her control and goons ran amok. Fearing the safety of employees, Tata decided to pull out and with that everyone is now sitting sad.

Apparently it seems, everyone has lost in this game of political one upmanship. The place has been setback by not just two years, but also the 5-6years before, that acted as a buildup of the area as a potential destination to industry. It would thus not be an exaggeration in saying the place has been pushed back into the 20th century.

Its not just moving out of Tata's from West Bengal, its moving out of NANO economy from the region.

आज तो मनडे है !!!

" AAj to Monday hai".............the babu said. "Abhi to 12 baje hain, sahab aate hi honge, vaise bhi aaj to monday hai". yes that's what I got as reply in one of the government's beaureaucratic corridors, when asked for absence of a particular officer even at 12 noon today ie. Monday morning....and that too, in a state

which boasts of one of the most well oiled government machinery in the country. The statement came and hit me with the thought.............how far ahead this state would have moved, had these babus would have been working twice as sincerely. Other states should actually thank the babus in government offices of Gujarat, for wothout their help, the chasm between Gujarat and other states would have been much wider.

Gujarat......is a remarkable state, and it has got a great administrator in form of Narendra Modi. That man had single handedly taken the state machinery several notches up. You talk to a IAS officer in Ahmedabad, with a clear business proposal. That person would not just lend you ears, but would also, bring along his area specialists to understand the power in the powerpoint one is making before him. And once he is convinced, its difficult, he'll let you go to any other state. One level below, there is a competition among various district collectors to invite investments in their respective districts. Two levels below, Tehsil Development officers, pitch in with their offers of facilities as a competition of having the schemes run in their area. Three level below, Sarpanch of gram panchayats, offer their all possible support to a investor, to lure him to their particular gram panchayat. This is the kind of professionalism built in the system, by this one man.......Narendra Modi.

Today only, I was reading in the newspaper......an interview, where a muslim businessman settled in mumbai post gujarat riots of 2002, was commenting, " Leaving aside Gujarat riots as a single blotch, Gujarat is such a wonderful place to do business, that i want to forget the incident and go back to Gujarat." This statement might have been made by one man, but reflects the sentiments of many of such people.

Talking about infrastructure, Jyotigram yojna has transformed the rural electrification scenario in the state. Each household in the rural areas recieves more than 20 hours of electricity. This coupled with the excellent road network (including the likes of Ahmedabad - Vadodra Expressway) has today paved the way of industries moving to rural areas in gujarat. This has not just helped in decongestion of cities but also bringing all amenities of good life, to rural areas.

While making this transformation, he also worked on the IT front. In which other place in India , wuld you find, villages having their own websites. www.vasad.in is just one such example as I visited this particular village. In land record offices at district level, there is a CD version of all land records, villages maps etc. existing. People at various levels in the governemnt system, as below as Gram Panchayat have been armed with Computers and educated people are being elected as Sarpanchs. All this is the reason, why Gujarat is running on a horseback, while other states are walking on foot.

While coming back, on the way from Hotel to Airport, my driver commented about Modi, " He doesn't sleep, neither does he allow anybody to sleep...............he doesn't eat, and neither does let anybody eat" I took some time to understand the underlying message...........but got to the depth of it.

He with his administraitve skills has transformed the chain, but Mr. modi, if you are listening, you missed out on ........... the babus, the public face.............who still function in their own style.....and their PAs tell the common man...........on a monday morning at 12 noon........sahab aayenge, abhi to sirf 12 baje hain, aur waise bhi "aaj to monday hai"

A fresh beginning

How often we wish for another chance to make a fresh beginning.

A chance to blot out our mistakesAnd change failure into winning.

It does not take a new day to make a brand new start,

It only takes a deep desire to try with all our heart.

To live a little better and to always be forgiving

And to add a little sunshine to the world in which we're living.

So never give up in despair and think that you are through,

For there's always a tomorrow and the hope of starting new.

Wood, Mud and all that Natural

Standing over my workstation, the Chief Manager asked in disbelief, "Matheran? Now? Its rainy season dear........there might be landslides. You would not be able to enjoy anything if it rains, which it will. I won't advise." While we were just about digesting his comment, another colleague exclaimed......." The second phase of journey .......just go and see.......the taxi man drives at such a pace on narrow and turning, hill roads........at times, two tyres are in air. " I don't know, he was motivating us or trying to dissuade us from going to Matheran on this weekend - a plan which we made last week .........postponed..........and now finally, were all set to go. "Beware of the leaches..........take some salt with you. And ya, by the time you'll return..........I'm sure you'll be all Red and Wet (No.......he wasn't referring to Red and White bravery awards..........just referring to rainy season ........leaving our clothes.....red with the laterite soils of Matheran and wet with rain)" , chipped in another friend from behind.

But the combined power of all these, couldn't deter our plans of seeing Matheran .........Mumbai's nearest Hill station, we've heard so much about.........(except may be, for one of the five dropping from the gang, at last minute). The plan was all set.........journey charted out. Friday night, we went to the bed, knowing that tomorrow morning there is a long day ahead of us. Dreams of a beautiful weekend, soon took over.

We all met at Kurla Railway station at 7 am to catch the 7.11am fast local to Karzat. I had already booked the tickets. The train was on time and while i was contemplating of whether or not to get a sip of tea, the train was on the platform no. 5. As we boarded the not-so-empty, not-so-full train, we could see that there are few other groups who seemed to have taken the train for the same destination as we. Some stations & some jokes later, we were at Neral.....a small village on the Central line. Out and we took a shared taxi @Rs.50/head.....to Dasturi naka, the entry point of Matheran. We had planned to take the Matheran toy train, but we came to know that during rainy season, they have reduced the frequency to once a day and for going, the train had already left. While on the way from Neral to Dasturi Naka, some of the most amazing sights can be seen. At one particular point.....there were around 20 waterfalls at one place, bang next to the road.

The road had a pretty good width, considering a hilly terrain and it was well maintained. Dasturi naka, is the point where we need to pay Rs.25/head to enter the Matheran trek. At this point, as we moved inside........we were greeted by a beautiful MTDC guest house on one side and a fleet of horsewallas available to ferry those who would not prefer to take the 2.5Km trek ahead. As any city in India, the main road (the road to Matheran centre/ Bazaar Peth) here is called MG Road.

The first thing that I did, was to read the old government installed boards, talking about the place and its importence - a dilapidated yet a reliable source of correct information about any place. and the board said three things that anybody visiting this place must know

1. It is the world's tiniest hill station
2. It is Asia's only hill station where vehicles are not allowed inside the town
3. It is India's cleanest hill station.

The first thing that you notice, once inside the naka, is the laterite road.......there's no pucca raods in Matheran. We decided to take a trek on foot.........as all were fresh and ready for a walk. Cracking jokes and immersing the sudden shift from metalled roads to the kutcha road and to the greenery and clean surroundings, we soon reached to a point, where people walking few meters ahead of us............left the main road and took a narrow lane besides the railway track (made for the Matheran toy train). We checked with some local ladies passing by and got to know that the track along the tracks, was a shorter and cleaner way to main bazaar.......fewer horses , you see!!

Soon, we were in the main market.....called the Bazaar Peth. We were pretty hungry by then and were looking for the first possible place to eat. Some of the shops, just outside station were closed, and others which were just opening, were not yet ready to serve and asked for a half an hour time to serve. Half and hour............too much!!! and we moved ahead. Walking 50 meters more, we finally settled at a decent looking restaurent, ready to serve us Coffee and Omelatte - toast. The food was just ok types and costly (as against expectations). The place was just opposite, Nariman chikki point, the most famous chikki shop in the town.........a place , where you can get 10s of varietites of chikki, fudge and stuff like anardana, gulkand and gilori. We took enough to last us the day. While tasting, some 5-6 varieties before selection, we asked the person at counter about all the info we needed to walk through Matheran. He also presented us a map of the place.

Matheran sight seeing is about taking different circles / circuits. Each circuit have 5-9 points(places, from where sight seeing is best possible) and is typically a 2-3 km walk in total. We started on our first walk on the most popular circle - having 7 points including Echo Point, Cherlotte Lake point, One tree point, Khandala point etc. The trek all the way was on the clean surroundings, pebbles laden on red laterite soil. The foggy situation (it was actually the cloud mist) was making the whole trek much more enjoyable. A good part was that all along the trek, at some distance, cleanly maintained washrooms have been constructed. the morning's misty air was washing through our faces and reminding us of the nature's purity. All kind of fear about leaches, clothes getting coloured, rains, poor road from Neral to matheran - raised by our colleagues, were found to be just a fear. Not just we came through a nice braod road, in a safe taxi journey, the pebbles on the trek were ensuring that the mud don't catch our clothes. Even though it was intermittantly drizzling, the rain was never beating on us, due to the thick canopy of greenery providing a roof over the track. We meandered our way thorugh the jungle trail......guided by signboards maintained at each junction on the trek. Old world bunglows, some of which have now been converted into resorts, were present not just on the main road, near station........but also deep inside the jungles also.

Khandala point was the first one, we went to and it was nothing but a farce. The most beautiful point came up in form of Echo point - the view was mesmerising.....it

was a tip of a hill and on three sides, we could view the valley deep below. The rain has added to the beauty of the grounds - which were filled with flowers. Clouds from below were being blown upwards with the cool wind. The sudden cut on the ridge that we were standing on, was adding to the beauty of the place. The best thing about Matheran is that, there are no hawkers to disturb the peace or sound of nature. The only sound we were hearing at Echo point was us talking in the backdrop of wind blowing and water falling somewhere far.

Our next major stop was cherlotte lake. The lake is basically the stopped water over a dam - a dam small enough that people were actually taking bath underneath it. We sat beside the lake, with legs in the cool waters....to balm them against the gravel walk that we did. While we were just thanking the weather of the day and the place, the rain came........and it came hard and fast....giving us just enough time to run to a tea hut nearby, just outside a small temple. The joy of having a hot cup of tea, beside a lake, in natural surroundings, and with rain pettering over the lake water...........is something one cannot explain in words. This can only be felt.Well, after a good half an hour rest there, we moved on and through a jungle trail, came back to the main bazaar area.

A beautiful park near the station, is a good place to sit and relax, after completing one circuit. We had our sumptuous lunch, followed by good amount of choclate fudge at Nariman Chikki Mart.

Second trek that we followed was Alexander Point, rambag point one. The trek till alexander point was a long and lonely one....it seemed as if we were the only ones taking that trek........but that only added to our motivation levels. Alexander point was a beautiful hill corner with an amazing view of the valley below. The place had some couples enjoying the nature in solitude, in each others arms. We thought it wise.......not to disturb them and left the place early.

The last phase of our trip belonged to shopping......the place we knew, was famous for leather footwear and chikki. We did some amount of bargaining, enjoyed the shopping, eat out more chikkis and packed even more for home. For return to Dasturi naka, we decided to have a slow walk - this time along the gravel road, meandering through the jungle , rather than following the tracks. However, soon after, one of the girls from the group decided to take a horse back ride, to the end point. All others walked along with her.

The journey back was pretty uneventful as all of us were still lost in the thoughts of the fairyland we were returning from. Fairyland, yes it was, for , what other place you can find, nature undisturbed........jungle trails amongst mist and cloud, sound of waterfalls, and birds singing - all that within an hour or so's distance from Mumbai.

We have returned from Matheran - but with the determination that we'll come back and back again, many times over. And yes, next time a colleague of yours comment - "Matheran? Now? Its rainy season dear........there might be landslides. You would not be able to enjoy anything if it rains, which it will. I won't advise." Tell him, Matheran is a place to go in all seasons..........and monsoon is the best of them."

मुंबई - मायानगरी की माया

Mumbai - City of dreams, a dream which many Indians have, giving it a name of Mumbai Mayangri. Somehow, I never felt so.

First time I came to Mumbai was three years back. I remember the day - It was Sunday - 5th June 2005. I had come to Mumbai with a friend, who has spent good years of his life in Mumbai , when it was Bombay(Wish, our politicians find a better work to do !!)

We both were in Mumbai to join our first job, at Tata Chemicals Limited. And his first day lesson to me was - " मुंबई में जीना है, तो लोकल में ट्रेवल चाहिए "। Fortunately for me, my first day was a Sunday, so I got a good lesson in local travel. Also, my organisation gave me accomodation near my office, so i didn't really felt the need of my first lesson's practical. I was happy, life was settled............but I was feeling uneasy. I was restless to know ....... where was the Mumbai.......which everyone talked of, which every second person wants to go to.......this mumbai which i was watching was like any other crowded indian city... same potholed roads, same bumper to bumper traffic, same endless number of heads seen everywhere, same dirty beaches and same hustle bustle........

Was there something I was not able to see, or was the whole hoopla about Mumbai - the city of dreams, a farce? I was trying to find my answers and before i could, i was posted in Delhi and it was the end of my quest. Although, I kept coming to mumbai after that, but it was always for a spell of 2-3 days......never left time for me to think. I was a visitor to the city.

But, as the fate decided, 3 years later, my second job brought me back to mumbai......and this time i was about to get the lesson, the harder way.......i was put up in Navi Mumbai and to reach office, I have to daily travel one way, 1 hour by train, plus, the time to reach station seperate. The destiny wanted me to learn that lesson, and reopen my quest.....and so I did.

And the experiences I had in that train journey over past two months........had been a reveletion of sorts.

First of all, let's talk about the local train itself - the so called life line of Mumbai. Simply inhuman.....people travel in local trains in conditions worse than anybody in Europe, would even dream of putting even their stray animals. (...and we hope of India becoming a developed nation!! Or politicians speak of making Mumbai as good as Shanghai.....I am sure, the person who spoke that have either not travelled in Mumbai or have not travelled in Shanghai.) At peak office hours, a person who enters and fixes himself in a particular position, can not even bend or twist, till atleast two to three next stations. So what, if the person standing (...oops..stuck) next to you is smelling of fish / rotten vegetable. Some local cheepo politicians call this as equaliser in society. Mr. Leader..........its easy saying so, without ever travelling to office that way. What happens to your polished (your life old lesson of .........gentlemen wear polished shoes to workplace) Bata shoes, can only be termed as rape (or rather gangrape). No doubt, that these local trains have been the cheapest and fastest mode of transport in Mumbai and have served the society for long but they certainly can't be called the lifeline............as lifeline must have oxygen to breath properly, which they don't offer.

Coming next to Mumbai's cosmopolitan nature. Let's begin with understanding the definition of Cospmopolitan. It is a name given to a place where people of many ethnicities, religions and cultures meet and live in close proximity . Bombay was such a place, as we hear from elders, read in books or watch in old movies. Mumbai is not - here there are ghettos of Muslim areas, Sikh areas, Parsee areas and so on.....residential colonies are divided based on what state you belong to / language you speak. Recently, novice street politicians with no agenda have made regionalism their new matra.........and the kind of support they are deriving from bottom of society.........is a reflective of Mumbai's non cosmopolitan heart.

The kind of attack on North Indian taxi drivers........was more of a reflective of frustration breeding amongst local populce from nearby towns and villages, who have not been able to put in enough labour themselves and neither can they tolerate anyone else, earning their labour. The way local political parties create havoc about a person wishing to speak in national language is sick. Worse are the responsible national political parties who rather than bringing a close to such regionalism are mum about the subject - thinking about next year's elections more than the long term interest of the country. Commercial properties are being forced to rampage by local goondas on the pretext of not writing names in the local language - so much for a city which dreams of being called a global city. I can clearly see that a day is not far when Mumbai will be Singur..........and all sane businessman would prefer staying away from Mumbai. Definitely, Mumbai is not cosmopolitan.

Third reason, why I thought people treated Bombay as the city of dreams was the film industry. Films were more of a reflective of dreams - all things good and beautiful. People see themselves in the protagonists. they dreamt of coming to this city and seeing their heroes in real and that was why this city was called city of dreams. Since then, has anything changed. Yes, people now understand that cinema is nothing but a mass media for entertainment. People don't come to Mumbai for seeing their heroes / heroines. TV sets and print media have taken all things about them in every household's drawing rooms and made everbody realise that they are ordinary humans only and no dreams.

All this apart, Mumbai is a beautiful city - Be it the architectural pleasure of british era buildings in Fort, or the new age flyovers, bridges, sea links or high rises like Hiranandani. Its true, that Mumbai is the financial capital of India with BSE, RBI and HQs of all major companies in Mumbai. The Taj at gateway still reminds us of the rich legacy. A walk at Nariman point is still a pleasure.

But, one thing for sure, Mumbai may be anything - But it is not the city of dreams , that Bombay was.

People say, what's in a name change ?

I say, everything. See, Bombay - a city of Dreams have become Mumbai - the intolerant collection of ghettos which mingle not becuase they want to , but because the space crunch forces them to.

The mysterious women.

I once met a lady...... beautiful smiles, traditional, homely and bold (not the flashy types.........but the gutsy types). I just kept looking at her for days together, as we used to go the same place daily for our professional life. I was not sure how should I approach her. But determined, as I was......tracked down her friends, and entered her friends circle, through a mututal friend.

This gave me a opportunity, to be able to talk to her....as and when I wanted.......but most of the times, it was related to professional life or some common friends. I wanted to know about her...... to understand the story about the aura she carried behind her head, over a frail body. A passer by could have very easily walked past her, without even noticing her...... no great looks, not even fair (the skin tone, which Indian men and women have fascination about.......the slave mentality, still associate it with the ruling community...........fairer is your skin tone, the Indian society considers you to be learned, upper class, sophisticated, rich ......and all those good adjectives)

Well coming back to the mysterious lady (well, mysterious because I was trying to understand the aura........which was keeping me puzzled). .....her roommate told me one day, that for last few days, she has been missing in the evening.....7-8pm roughly,before dinner time. Now this was the time, when most of the people are busy in themselves..........after a hard day's work.........reaching your home and unwinding........this is the time, normaly nobody goes looking out for someone else............but this was exactly the time, I went looking for her. I searched every possible place......she was not in her room...........and she has not left the building as the guard confirmed....then where did she went. Terrace........no can't be........too dark for her.....she feared cockroaches / lizards a lot....Somebody's room............well, might be...........but whose.......i thought of a few possible names.............but found them either alone / with other friends /out of building.

The mystery was deepening.............I could not find her.....that day.........and she didn't told anything when we asked her about where she was..........skipping the question with her tactical skills, as she alwys used to. I was now getting impatient and I decided to keep an eye on her room, from the time she comes back in the evening and decided to follow her..........

Next evening, I reached home earlier.......sat on the stairs leading to her room........once she was inside her room and waited there, with abaited breath. It was 7 pm already and almost 1 hour since she walked in.........she walked out at 7.10pm and i hid myself behind the pillar, lest she sees me and changes her plan. I was successful...........she was at the second floor and our three story building was not having any lift........she moved towards, the third floor stairs and I followed behind.....after reaching the third floor...........she turned towards..........

Rest story in the next blog.