Experiments with using Public Transport

Being a IT industry Manager affording a CAR wasn't a big deal and I was quickly contributing to the Bangalore Traffic congestion and sound pollution. Being a truthful citizen I blamed the System and inefficient Bangalore Transport Systems. I used to travel around 34kms daily to work & back and Guzzle up 2.5 ltr of Diesel, most importantly spend 2 to 3 hours of my Day in the Traffic behind the wheel.

Few politicians made jolly trips to Singapore and realized Bangalore needed a Metro and this was a avenue to gobble up few Millions Rupee at Minimum. Several discussions and washing of Dirty Linen by Politicians in Public led to formation of a Metro Company 'BMRCL' to setup a Metro system aimed at improving the efficiency of Bangalore Transport. Years later the Phase 1 of Metro gets ready and operates from Byappanahalli to MG Road.

Fed up with the Road Chaos and the cries of my Knee & Ankle I chose to experiment with the Public Transport. Its been close to 90 days and I find this is heaven. The Public Transport system is Excellent and helps bring down the stress. It is a matter of just putting your EGO in a box and start using the Public Transport. On regular use I find it is a matter of getting used and the people not following the rule. It is indeed a good option to use the Public Transport and enjoy the benefits a) Reduce Traffic Congestion b) Reduce personal stress level c) Reduce Emission in the environment. and d) make up for the increasing inflation.

There is scope for improvement in terms of the Buses needing to be stream lined so that we do not have multiple instances of same route number buses plying in sets of four.

Calling all Professionals and Bangaloreans to use Public Transport more often..

What is the fuss about "Aarakashan"

Last few days am seeing too many headlines being occupied by the Movie "Aarakashan". I think we live in democracy and are free to express thoughts and so has the movie captured the directors expression. I am not sure what the fuss is about. Do politicians not have work like not letting another building come up near the airport or talk of how not to let the Lokpal bill pass or how to let another CWG Scam.. There are so many movies which would have hurt the sentiment of one or another, almost every other Tamil movie would have hurt the Brahim community in terms of some character belonging to Brahim community. Why the hell now for "Aarakashan" Can some not tell them shut the F*** up. Can't we tell them to do the work i.e ensure the roads are good, inflation is down, pass the lok pal bill..rather why waste time on fighiting over "Aarakashan"

Naughty Little Angels

They are my two eyes and the naughty twosome, they are my life line. Elder one Uthara about 5 yrs and younger one Uthpala aged about 3yrs wow why do we need to exercise when they keep me running and help burn the calories and keep me fit.

Uthara was once asked to recite a story of the "Thirst Crow" and she told 'once their lived a thirsty crow and she saw a jug with little water. The Crow sat on the Jug and tried to drink the water with the beak but the water was down ' Here comes the twist ' The Crow when realized the water was not reachable flew to the Hotel drank water and flew happily'. Thus was born the NEW STORY of ' THIRST CROW'.

The second one Uthpala she started going to play home and is so orderly in the play group that teachers appreciate. Clear in what she wants. Somehow has picked up the word IDIOT to yell at others..when I told her not to use the word she said yes I would not use. Minutes later when teased she said "ID." and turned to me telling to me PAPA I only told "ID" and not IDIOT.

They make me laugh; feel light and forget all my sorrows. GOD has give me two precious little Angels..

Human Dividers.. Think about it.

I took out my Scoprio MHawk at 9.15 to the office. As usual the traffic was chaotic. I hit the first signal to see a man comming and waiving a Car Charger for sale, He hits the glass and I tell him no. Just as I say a no and bring up the window a Woman comes across with a child asking for money. The signal clears and I drive through for a KM and stop at the next signal. After clearing around 4 signals I hit the final stretch to my Office.
On the small road to the office enough for 2 cars to travel, I am used to seeing the CARS from the other side on my way. I also see Autos comming from behind taking the Right Lane blocking Traffic. But to my joy and surprise, I see the other lane is clear and traffic is flowing smoothly like a song from Illayaraja or AR Rehman. Just I proceed a couple of feet and I see a Human Divider. I see a Traffic Volunteer standing in the middle and acting as a divider instructing vehicles to ply within the lane. First thing that stuck to me is does, this guy having enough insurance to cover up his medical expenses . There is a every possibility of this human divider being hit & injured.
What a cruel state of affairs?. Where are the Human Rights Activists? Where is the Media? Are the Media waiting for the Hype to be created before opposing or critising this? Where is the social and moral responsibililty? Why can't we setup dividers or disciple rather than look for Human Divider?.

Slum Dog Millionaire!. Why the Hype! Apartheid in the Entertainment World.

I am movie Buff and view Movies on a regular Basis. I did happen to watch the Movie Slum Dog Millionaire on the day of release, of course after paying a premium. The Media Hype about the Movie and the n number of Oscar Nomination received for the Movie made me decide on paying the Premium. I do acknowledge it was a well made movie, directed very well, right actors for the right character and good music score. What a shame we talk of equality in the World? But I thought if this movie received so much of hype & attention than I thing the World has been very very unfair to Directors & Movie Makers of INDIA. There has been N movies which have been of the same class or even even better which hasn't received so much of Hype and Attention.

Is this because the director and producer are White collared People, Is Apartheid Surfacing in the entertainment world. Some movies which come to my memory off hand "Tare Zameen Par", "Lagaan", "Mozhi" , "Aarth", "Nayagan" the many Movies of Raj Kapoor, Shivaji Ganesan. Isn't this Apartheid in the Entertainment Industry!!

Wake Up call.

26/11 to INDIA was what 9/11 was to US, the difference US was able to go after the organization responsible and bomb. Isreael is able to go behind Hamas time and again and take the offensive at will.

It is a shame that India faces the brunt of so much of bloodshed from banned organizations outside INDIA be it in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore or in the North East or from the Naxals but unable to act except see Statements from Politicians . We are facing this situation due to lack of any Political Will from our leaders. We don't have a single point policy from our leaders. Our leaders lack focus and the sincerity. Each time a blast happens the Leaders issue meaningless statements which is of NO VALUE and after 2 weeks of headlines in the TV News, the blast disappears from the Main stream & is forgotten.

It is time our leaders wake up and be sincere else their own Near & Dears would bear the brunt of politicisation of a terrorism. We as people need to wake up and act, and ensure there is a Appropriate Law setup to Handle 26/11 or Gauwhati Blasts like Situation.(needs participation and ownership from SMEs rather than politicians). This need to be done on a War Footing and with no interference from Politician at any point present or in the future, given that 100% of Indian have given up HOPE on the Political Class.

The Politician are to be blamed for the situation today and I think a revolution is required to Happen in INDIA. Else God can only Save US. The 26/11 & Gauhwati is a Wake up Call. Wake Call Indians..

In the time of Economic Recession the youngsters can look at moving into Serving the Nation by joining the ARMED FORCES, POLICE, Administrative Services or even enter Politics to do to INDIA what greats like Kennedy did to US.

Cost of a Lapse.

Most people forget to follow up on many things we need to do, be it personal or official. The reasons you forget to follow up is purely due to either lazyness, not feeling the importance of the activity, process is cumbersome. Being the kind of person I am; I put sufficient thought, put reminder's in my cell phone, email or in the white board at home or work to ensure I don't miss out on any Follow up or activity.

On Feb 22nd 2008, we got a Baby girl and we were very happy. We were blessed with a second Baby. Our family was now big and we were in total siz of us, includes my parents. Working for a MNC; I on my part tried to include my Baby girl in the insurance within fourty five days but I missed either due to the slow response of the website or lapse on my part. I did not know that I missed following up on including her name in the Insurance till when she was 3months old and needed an surgery. Pity it was a major surgery for the Baby and I was worried how the Baby is going to cope up. On the other hand the worry that I had not included her name in the Insurance. I realized this lapse could be costly.

To my Luck I checked with my company HR team and there was a process for a Mid Term inclusion but needed permission from Senior Management. On follow ups and pleads I got their approval and could get her Included in the Insurance. It was that that which thought me two lessons in life a) No matter what type of person you are You would still Miss out on something critical b) Never to miss out on something Critical

To my Luck this particular Lapse was not costly. I am waiting for my baby to recover and be back to Normal; thank God and all the well wishers.