19 fundamentals of life...

- Lose love, but never lose self respect

- Death is sudden, so whatever you have planned do it now

- Time of others is more valuable than yours

- Listen to music or read books, they both have to sell

- The effort going up is always more than coming down

- Value your subordinates, they can kill you at the wrong time!

- Cribbing doesn't get you anything. So shut the f**k up and get back to work!

- Give respect to get respect

- Beware of good/great/best friends. They know too much about you to screw you!

- If money would be greatest motivator, I would have looted a bank by now

- Forgiveness is the virtue of the strong. One should be weak!

- Smart people are few, cherish them...

- What goes around....comes around....

- Nobody has more time than the rest. Everyone has 24 of them :-P

- Every action doesn't have an equal and opposite reaction. Newton was wrong!

- Never talk bad about the one who cooks your food...

- Work hard. Party harder and then one day you will get married...

- Trust you decisions. If you won't no one will...

- When offered alcohol always help yourself. God helps those who help themselves.

The Road ahead...

There are times when you just think about your life till date. What went right and what went wrong. What you could have done differently and how things could have been better. I would love to do this sitting in a Barista reading a novel in mild rain... But unfortunately I am fortunate enough only to be a road... Yes I am called the Andheri Kurla Road.

I don't know my date of birth but I am pretty sure that some politician would have inaugrated me in early 90's. But I am well connected with my friends, Western Express Highway, Marol Road, MIDC and Chandivali. Although I am a bit more worked up than my friends always, I used to enjoy my life, the hustle and bustle around till some time ago. Mumbai was a good place to be in 10 years ago. There were fewer people, fewer offices around and a less congested airport around. I had a great life then. I used to get up at about 7am then and work till 10pm. I was like a person in HUL Sales role.The life was tough but there was great learning and value additions. I used to help 20000 vehicles to cross over me. I was a critical bridge between the west and east and possibly the only one then. Even influential people used to ride me day in and day out.

But then the time passed and times changed. Do you know Mumbai adds about 1000 new residents everyday. In old days there were 1300 auto rickshaws in Andheri. Today there are 7500...all this in a span of 10 years. My working hours are longer. These days I start at 5am and go on till 1am. I feel I have become an I-Banker, adding no significant value and spending way too many hours at work. Other think that there are benefits... I do get a makeover once a week, weekends I work only 8 hours :-P and people invest lot of time and money in my development. However I think I wont be able to take this pressure any longer. Some people even say that I am a pothole with roads in it...rather than a road with potholes... You know sometimes it hurts. It hurts when someone tries to plug every hole in your body with hot melting Tar over and over again...but I take that shit everytime as I don't want people to hate me.....
And over and above this the government decided that Mumbai needs a Metro. Every day there is a big drill who comes like a bad boss and screws me down right and centre.
And everybody holds me responsible if they get late, or they meet a bad pothole or they brush another car in the pathetic traffic. Why am I responsible?
And this is just the beginning... How will I feel when a train starts running over me... How would one feel?

I am bored and sick of my life! I know suicide is a criminal offense... but people of Mumbai are not leaving me with another choice!

I hope times change... I just hope!

What's social about it?

This is a very small post and is a reaction to the feelings that emanate when I open by social networking pages and see arbit friend requests. Some crack me up while some make me hate myself when I registered on one of these sites. I am writing about the 3 friend requests I got this morning, people who I do not know and never would want to know in my remaining human life.

- Person name : Prem Diwani
- Reason for sending the request: Not mentioned
- My reaction would be: I can understand the injustice that your parents have inflicted upon you by naming you in the first place. I sympathize with you but I am bad at sharing sadness. Also I dont think you define sadness. Its the sadness that was defined after you.

- Person name : Manu Patel
- Reason for sending the request: Hi, I want to do a CAT and need some tips
- My reaction would be: Hai raam, kya hogaya is duniya ko!! :-)

- Person name : Ramchandra Bhoye
- Reason for sending the request: Remember me?
- My reaction would be: If I would want to remeber you then you would already be in my friends list. If you are someone who I have met just once an you feel I deserve to be your friend, its Ok. I have magnetic effect on people. :-P

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Bala-G ... "G" maane "Goofy"

I would have posted this long time ago, but this post had been sitting in the Drafts section of my blog as I wanted to post it when the day is right. And today the day is right... :-)


The following is an excerpt from a non-fictional conquest of Z-balls to try and find a girl and part ways from the ossum club of the single called "Balls-Bhramchari"

The following excerpt involves a girl (in future referred as Balika-G) and Z-balls (in future referred as Bala-G)

Scene : Z-balls and the girl are sitting alone in a room and discussing if they can see a future for themselves.

Balika-G :Hello, I am Anamika
Bala-G: I am Bala-G or Man-Duck (B.Arch, MBA from IIMA) .... eom

Balika-G: Wow! I have never met a graduate from IIMA... Is this the real one or something like IIPM?
Bala-G: Its Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad .... Grrrr.....Peace to all ...eom

Balika-G: I am feeling I am doing all the talking... hee haw... you should also say something.
Bala-G: Yes you are... eom

Bala-G: I do have some questions for you though. Do you know how to play Frisbee? ...eom
Balika-G: Yes. I used to play forward in my Home Science days.... you know I am good at Home Science .. ;-)
Bala-G: I have heard this home science dialogue somewhere...in some movie...So will you teach me then? I am sick of camouflaging that I know how to play frisbee. Some of friends knew that and I used to bribe them with Nimbu paani in CT ...eom
Balika-G: (gives a wierd look) ... oh ok...

Bala-G: Do you know how to cook food? I always wanted to be a cook, but my grades were low in Std XII and so could get only into Architecture ...eom
Balika-G: Yes. I am glad you are honest about your ignorance.
Bala-G: I have to be. Everyone figures out in some time anyways. So I give it away myself. They call it Freezo level in IIMA...eom
Balika-G: Why do you always say "eom" after every sentence?
Bala-G: It means "End of message" but some enemies of mine have coined it as "End of Manhood" ...eom
Balika-G: ewwww!

Bala-G: How far is your office from Airport? ...eom
Balika-G: Not very far. Why do you ask?
Bala-G: (thinks) ... (thinks again and slips the next question)

Bala-G: Will you be able to shift to "Saddi Dilli" after marriage? ...eom
Balika-G; I may. but whats so good about Dilli?
Bala-G: (thinks harder than ever this time..) ... Peace to all ...eom

Bala-G: Do you hate Mumbai? ...eom
Balika-G: No way! I am from Mumbai. You should have atleast have read my CV before shortlisting me.
Bala-G: Ohh I got just 1 CV that too after so many years...and even placecommers don't read the CVs before shortlisting people :-P ...eom
Balika-G: oh ok

Balika-G somehow realizes that now she has to dump Bala-G and suddenly her mood changes and she starts acting weirder than even Bala-G

Bala-G:Do you know how to sing? ...eom
Balika-G: Yes but only after 2-3 Vodka with Cranberry drinks.
Bala-G: So you drink too?? ...eom
Balika-G: Only on weekdays, weekends I am home so I manage with Hash and Grass...

Bala-G: Did you have a BF before? ...eom
Balika-G: Not many
Bala-G: (shocked and not knowing how to react... he slips a filler question)

Bala-G: Are you a BJP supporter or Congress or the 3rd front.. or the 4th front? ...eom
Balika-G: Last time I voted for Congress... this time it will be 3rd front. I like Mayawati's entrepreneurial spirit of converting election into Revenue generation scheme at the expense of election commission. I hate BJP and Hindu loyalists...
Bala-G: (About to pull his last remaining hair ... from his head)
Balika-G: Peace to all... and yaa ....eod ;-)
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Will not be continued... End of story... End of an Era :-)

Who is the boss?

Actually I make it a point to write something, atleast something once a month. However past 2-3 months have been really bad with long hours, some touring and lack of interest to write...

But some days weird thoughts cross your mind... Today I thought of comparing "A Boss" to "A Wife".

Disclaimers: I have minimal/negligible/absolutely No personal experience of the above. All views are attributed to the powers of observation bestowed upon me by God. All views are penned down as an unbiased external observer. :-P

SIMILARITIES BETWEEN A BOSS AND A WIFE:

- Both get angry when you are late
- Both have a wrong timing of entry
- Both set deadlines for you
- Both like to delegate work to you
- Both generally have no idea what is happening around them
- Both love more money in their hands than they get
- Both point out your mistakes
- Both convince you at the end of the day
- Both can give you at max 30 minutes in the day
- Both help in improving your listening skills
- Both ensure you look a dumb ass in front of them!

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN A BOSS AND A WIFE:

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This section is under construction. As soon as any updates are available they will be posted within 120 minutes on this page. :-P

They say...

They say so many things. The "They' will be a variable here but the "Say" will stay constant. People who are "They" will realize it automatically...

- They say inflation is negative when food has now become more costly than blood.

- They say Delhi is better than Mumbai although they know its not.

- They say Ajmal Kasab wants Biryani after what he did to my beloved Mumbai.

- They say swine flu is medical companies' propoganda when people are dying everyday.

- They say such attack was unprecedented. Thats the way all of them are. Duh!

- They say its one year now. Start working now at least!

- They say don't buy Nokia, buy Samsung!!

- They say you can be a Roman or an Asterix...

- They say give treat for nothing...

- They say after Nano lets hunt down the Chemicals...

- They say markets are on a bull run

- They say its a bear market

- They say can you touch 150kmph on Eastern Express?

- They say, we are Bakhthawar I-Bankers in Nariman. They should respect us. Bah!

- They say a bit too much, when too less is needed.

- They say don't buy a bike, what about a car?

- They say we have voted for Congress since 1948... :-)

- They say lets play hide and seek.

- They say somedays you dont give a rats ass! :-D

- They say this is good! :-)

- They say everything without saying anyting.

- They say I need your help.

- They say, is it a hotel or a lodge? :-)
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Signing off

हम ऐसे ही हैं

यह लेख जान बुझकर हिंदी में लिख रहा हूँ, वरना लेख से वोह गहराई चली जायेगी...

लेख का शीर्षक है "हम ऐसे ही हैं"

- रात को १ बजे घर लौटे थे हम| चाबी हथेली में दबाए हुए आये थे| फिर भी घर की घंटी बजा दी, ताकि सिर्फ ये देख सकें की आज माँ कैसी है| उसकी एक हलकी सी डांट सुनके सोए जब, तब यह ख़ुशी मिली की कोई है जो घर देर से आने पे हमें फटकार लगाता है| सिर्फ कोई है जो गुस्से में भी प्यार जताता है....

- बचते बचाते गाडी चलाते हैं बम्बई की गलियों से हर बार| पर रफ़्तार १०० के आस पास ही होती है| किसी दिन लोग कहते हैं कुछ कर बैठेंगे हम| हम कहें उस दिन का इंतज़ार करने का क्या फायदा, जो शायद कभी आएगा जीवन में| उस दिन के इंतज़ार में आज को नहीं छोड़ सकते हम...

- बरसात यूँ हमें भाति नहीं, कभी कबार बिलकुल सही जाती नहीं| पर हरयाली जो देख लें अगर इस बार, मन कहता है यह बरसात ग्रीष्म में आती क्यूँ नहीं?

- कुल्फी फलूदा अगर मेज़ पर सजा हो तोह दुनिया भर की आइसक्रीम भी हमें भाति नहीं|

- मैरीन ड्राइव के समुद्री तट पे एक शांत तथा सुकुनदायक शाम अगर मिल जाए तोह उसपर हजारों कलाचित्र वारे जा सकते हैं|

- दोस्ती उन्ही से करते हैं हम जो हमपर और हम जिस पर एक अजीब छाप छोड़ देते हैं|

- ऐसा नहीं की हम इश्वर का ध्यान नहीं करते हर रोज़| सिर्फ मानना यह है की हर जीवित वस्तु में इश्वर है,और हर रोज़ मंदिर जाने से हम लाडले नहीं होजाएंगे|

- कर हर मनुष्य का कर्त्तव्य है| पर उससे ज्यादा जरूरी है की हम अपने साथ कर करने वालों के विकास में जान लगा दें| हम मानते हैं अच्छा नेता वोह नहीं जो हमेशा आगे चले, अच्छा नेता वोह है जो अगर कभी हार जाए तोह उसकी जगह लेने वाला उसने तैयार कर रखा हो|

और भी कई पहलु हैं इस तुच्छ जीवन के जो समय रहते इसी जगह अंकित करते रहेंगे हम| क्यूंकि हम ऐसे ही हैं|

Ek saal...

Well as everyone I somehow completed a year with TAS sometime in June and now I am on a long about 7 days vacation. Its raining in Mumbai and I decided to pen down the some sentences I happened to hear (only hear I repeat) in the last one year in the corporate set up which unfortunately I am a part of...for now at least :-P


* We need to go forward with a strategy... ah ok :-P

* So are you doing anything today?

* It may not be very ethical but we are doing nothing wrong by crossing the line and coming back :-D

* At the beginning of the day I look forward to the lunch

* Smoke?

* Do we have a HR department?

* I and my boss have same feelings for each other... we both hate each other...

* I banged today again... my car I mean... (everyone loffs :-) )

* How did you do that? ... Sir...umm ... SUM(A6:J6)...duh!

* So what is this? ...err Sir...they call it Gtalk ;-)

* I want you to work from home this weekend... sure Sir I am incapable of having a social life outside office... I will oblige :-PPP

* Nice work :-)

* Our country managers are all b@$%#^@s... and we are the fools who placed them there... I agree with you Sir ... :-O

* Hmm so you are listening music in office... Yessar it reduces my efficiency if I don't ... :-D

* See the MD is coming today...if you want to ask too many questions...better make yourself scarce :-)

* I spent 23 years in this firm ... me thinks "what a waste!!" :-)

* We will give you 2 way tickets...choice is yours...u may return from Salt Lake City or Vegas...I don't care :-D

* How can you get caught by cops thrice in 2 months for speeding? Don't you have any self control... :-D

* I am going to China for 2 weeks so you can work from Delhi office ... me thinks "work?"

* This tender we will price it at -3% PBT... we can't afford to lose more... :-O

* So you are from IIMA...I heard you guys are very arrogant and rude... Yessar but people generally don't say that to our face :-)

* So what rating do you want in your appraisal? :-D

* There are still 4 more days to the weekend...bah! :-)

* What food would you like to have? ...Err palatable?

* Would you like to join us permanently? ... :-)))

* You are a aspiring and good manager...I am sure this role is not that challenging but you would surely be interested in it.... Hell NO!

* You went beyond my expectations and completed the project in time.... Saar what exactly do you mean? :-X

* Lets do some cost cutting!

* to be continued...

Signing off
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Kuch khayal...

Some lines I penned down after a long time...

इक पल के लिए रुकेंगे
इक पल के लिए सहम जायेंगे
याद तोह बहुत सताएगी हमें
पर यादों के साथ जीना सीख जायेंगे

हम हमेशा से नहीं सोचते थे इस कदर
कुछ हमारा कुछ इसमें तुम्हारा है असर
ना मानो तुम इस बात को अब से
पर सच तोह सच है ना जाने कबसे

एक वादा कर बैठे हैं हम अपने आप से
याद में तुम्हारी ना बहाएंगे एक भी अश्रु
दिलाएँगे यह एहसास तुम्हें हर दम में
क्या खोया है तुमने अपने जीवन में

भारत में हैं मतदान दान|

भारत में हैं मतदान दान
कहीं शर्म शर्म कहीं शान शान
हर तरफ हैं नेता खड़े खड़े
आपस में ऐसे भिडे भिडे

इक लोकसभा का खेल खेल
कोई पास हुआ कोई फेल फेल
जो जीतेगा वोह चतुर चतुर
बाकी सब होंगे तित्तर बित्तर

पैसे की है सब मोह माया
जो बदलेगी भारत काया
बिकता है यह इन्सान अभी
और कहते हैं उसको lobby

रैली में आने की कीमत
एक बिरयानी of चिक्केन है अब
मैं क्यूँ दून अपना कीमती मत
जब की शुरुआत ही गलत से अब?

अब पांच साल ना दिखेगा कोई
देश सेवा में जो सब अब होई
विश्वास उठा है मेरा अब
इस सिस्टम और ड्रामे से अब

कभी दिल कहता है नेता हो जो
या हिटलर हो या स्टालिन वो
मेरे देश को जो कर सके revive
But the grass is greener on the other side

ऐसा नहीं की मैं सिर्फ़ करता सवाल
मस्तिष्क में काफी हैं ख़्याल
पर हर चीज़ का होता है समय समय
जो तय करता है विजय-पराजय

भारत में है मतदान दान
कहीं शर्म शर्म कहीं शान शान...

Some people...

Some people are emotionally weak
They think from their hearts
And rest their brain...
In spite of warnings again and again
I tell them always up and down
To use that 4 pounds in their crown
But the chances they follow are less than bleak
Because some people are emotionally weak

Some people are emotionally weak
They think they always have a license to speak
And when they are denied this chance sometimes
They explode,they sulk and they cry inside
I tell them to change this attitude
So problems they face lack multitude
But the chances they follow are less than bleak
Because some people are emotionally weak

Some people are emotionally weak
They have views which they generally tweak
To gather support of all sorts
From people around, friends or not
I tell them their views are extreme and coarse
And they don't deserve to be enforced
But the chances they follow are less than bleak
Because some people are emotionally weak

Some people are emotionally weak
Their style of living is nothing but meek
They can't take mischief, they can't take fun
Its high time they realize that life is a pun
I tell them to open up so fast
So they make friends that are there to last
But the chances they follow are less than bleak
Because some people are emotionally weak

Some people are emotionally weak
And one day they will lose all their friends...
Because some people are emotionally weak

Signing out.

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Gagan Gupta

APinion about AP ...

Some random thoughts again...


There is a guy who feels the need to defend
Without ever having a need to offend
While protecting his existence of origin
By replying to each and every comment

The mails he shoots come from a floor called Fourth
In a building full of people of proven worth
But this doesn't affect the TASos who drowse
That the building is called Bombay House

He feels that the joke has been sucked upon too much
And there is a need for these TASos to grow up
Little that he knows that this joke won't flop
Coz' an empty mind is a devil's workshop

And if he feels that defending will cause it to stop
He is nothing but wrong in his assumption of sorts
AP ma' boy the more you defend the more we mock
And IIM Ahmedabad will always rock!!! :-)


TAS 2008 will exactly know why I posted this... others don't matter...

There is someone called...

Just some random thoughts...over a short poem composed in 15 minutes...

THERE IS SOMEONE CALLED

There is someone called a Mother
Who pampers you so much that you wouldn't have to bother
She gives you everything and expects none
And if you were to trust, she is the one

There is someone called a Dad
Who teaches you how to respect and how to avoid the bad
Toils hard so that you live life king size
In a world where everyday is a fight

There is someone called a Teacher
Who makes you realize you are unique only at home
And tries to mold you into something worthwhile
So at some point later it gives your parents that ultimate smile :-)

There is someone called a Friend
Who you choose at your liberty from end to end
The thoughts that you find difficult to share
Somehow in his/her company become so clear...

There is someone called an enemy
Who you cant see eye to eye
But as they say always in the corporate ends
Know your enemies better than your friends...

There is someone called a Boss
Who gives you the work so gross
He takes away your right of refusal
Helps you learn, you are at his disposal! :-P

There is someone called a colleague
Who lies in the same boat that you are in
You vent out your frustration over mugs of beer
And let him know that nobody here is Boss's dear


And then there was someone really special... :-((


Signing off
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The Great Indian Laughter Challenge

Its another 5 years and India who people call a biggest democracy is going again for elections. Our leaders are awake again and we are hearing from them every day if not more about various issues that concern them. Everybody wants to take India to a new level in their own way.
But it is a common phenomena that when you are quiet for a very long time you speak more when you get your voice back. Here is the list of few gems that our leaders have spurted over last few weeks in the media. To me these are nothing more than jokes and with progressive channels like India TV the fun is all the more this summer.

Varun Gandhi wants to cut hands of anyone who raises hands against Hindus in India. Like they care!!

Sanjay Dutt wants to liberally and maybe publicly give jhappis and pappis to Mayawati!!.... aarghhhhhhh!

Advani thinks Manmohan is a weak Prime Minister...and he is rooting to become one at the age of 81...

Mamta di thinks she will lose the ground in West Bengal because of Nano launch during elections... how many did she win last time?? ... I think 1...is there much to lose?

Lalu Yadav wants to crush Varun Gandhi under the roller...hehe... he was our Railway Minister...wonder why he didn't think of an engine...

Pranab Mukherjee thinks Manmohan doesn't have to be a wrestler to be strong... I wonder what was his line of thought when he blabbered this!

The Home Minister cant even ensure his security with a shoe flinging right across him!... he just couldn't shoo away the shoe :-)

Vaiko says if SL Tamils are killed then there will be blood bath in TN. What did he mean by that? Will he kill more people in TN... I mean Indian Tamils?

Advani thinks Jayalalitha will join NDA after election and Amma says Nay...

Raj Thackeray wants 80% reservation for Sons of Soil... what does he want to turn Maharashtra into?? West Bengal?? :-P

After shoe flinging incidents all around ...Modi has started carrying his own metal net... someone thinks this time it wont miss :-D

Amar Singh is sure that everybody has got the Samajwadi Party manifesto wrong... yaa we are all dumb asses here :-P

Priyanka Gandhi said I will never contest elections...but Rahul has what it takes to become a PM...LOL!

Rahul Gandhi is fighting from Amethi a Congress stronghold...kya daring hai bhai bande ki :-D

The third front is unique this time...with almost 6 probable PM candidates...Everyone says if given a chance they will not say no to becoming a PM ... In a scattered 3rd front who is gonna give this chance? :-O... I also want one :-)

Is any of these buggers talking about making more roads, metros, flyovers, irrigation systems, electricity grid linking or for that matter controlling inflation drops? Either they don't understand these issues or they are knowingly ignorant...its a double edged sword you know...

India needs a CEO...definitely it does... its time for managers to enter this gutter and organize it. There is too much mess out here!!
With average of 40% voting which is not even a full representative of the Indian voters its high time we start online voting and negative votes in the Indian context. For candidates who have disappointed their voters there has to be a downside risk of not caring. But even this bill will have to pass through the Lok Sabha and will never go through. Because everyone knows that disaster will strike if they allow such things!!

But till then all this and more coming up in the Great Indian Laughter Challenge...for whole of April and whole of May...

Managing Innovation

Recently ... to be very specific in this week I noted some innovations and counter innovations in the work styles of a certain section of people. I am talking of two sections of people where one supposedly breaks the law and the other supposedly tries to control him.
No points for guessing, but I am talking of "Taxi Drivers" and "Traffic Policemen" in Mumbai. Lets call the first as "Champa" and the second one as "Chameli". Also lets call the BEST buses as "Genda"

Champa knows that in a crowded city like Mumbai there is no exclusivity for them. So to increase the revenue they either have to work long hours or try to reduce their idle time in the regular hours. Champa then found out that people in Mumbai have got a lot of spare money and would not mind in hiring Champa for their services. But for that to happen they will have to win market share from Genda. Champa also noted that unless its Genda Full nobody likes to substitute towards Champa.
However since last many years, inspite of getting more Genda into the service... Genda has always been full. Seeing this opportunity Champa decided its better to wait at the Genda Stand for better chances of getting customers.

However as per rules Chameli has full authority to stop Champa for getting customers from the Genda stand. Chameli believes since its called Genda stand, it can be used only by Genda. But as everyone knows Champa never listens. They continued to render services from Genda Stand. Chameli tried hard to stop Champa from doing so by issuing tickets or taking bribes, but to no avail. After some time Chameli realized this as an excellent business opportunity and instead of stopping Champa, they started to catch them red handed. This served as additional income for Chameli to get new Sarees, jewelery and consumer durables for home.

But Chameli realized that whenever Champa thought that they were around, Champa used to run away. Therefore Chameli thought of an excellent innovation. Since Champa used to wait at the Genda Stand, Chameli thought its better to get into a Genda and then get to Chameli. This idea really worked and everyday Champa used to face lots of fines. It became difficult for Champa to do business.

However every excellent innovation is cut by a counter innovation. All Champas got together and thought. Chameli could get into a Genda only on a Genda stand. If one Champa noticed a Chameli on a Genda stand, it would rush ahead and warn all Champas of the inherent danger. This would alert all Champas and they would run away. In this way Chameli found that its income was reducing drastically by the day.

This may not be a best example of Innovation and Counter Innovation. But if you have read it till here... it proves that you too have no work on this Friday.

Also I am too bored to write more about Champa, Chameli and Genda and so I cut this story short abruptly... :-)

Go and enjoy your weekend and please do not leave any random, arbit, hurtful, sarcastic and critical comments on my blog behind me... U know sometimes it hurts :-P

Devils Den - 6th March - 3rd Birthday

Today is 6th March... another year ...another birthday of Devils Den a.k.a Dorm 23, IIM Ahmedabad. When I started here, I did not have any experience of staying alone and believe me it was tough. But after 2 years I think that Devils Den was the best home I could get away from home.
This post has reference to many people who made D23 the way it is today. Many people who are not from IIMA may not be able to relate to it... but D23 does deserve a post today... It has been 3 years since our dorm came into existence.

Crazy people...Crazy Ideas...and loads of fun!!

Below are listed some of the things that me and many of our dorm mates will never forget for a life time.

1) The happening TV room where cricket used to be a religion. Somehow when I saw the game India lost ...so I was kinda not very welcome during any match :-D

2) Chasing BoKhaC at 4am in the night for playing saxophone and finally locking him in his own room

3) Sunday lunch from Metro with Zinga, Ghalib and BD

4) Disturbing Thoku Uncle while he was sleeping using my ossum speakers!!

5) 5am TT games with Bhonpu and BD

6) Dunking BoKhaC, his GOH and the entire Section C ...guhahaha! It went on and on and on!

7) Nominating "The Dorm Day Zero for Life" ... Obviously she is our Tuchchi... No points for guessing!!

8) Never talking to Gayab Uncle other than "Hi" :-D

9) Chussu and his curtain covered Gods....hahahahaha

10) Bursting crackers on D11 people when they landed up shouting at Devils after their Corpo D... ;-)

11) Sant's decorated room and his Balance sheet...simply amazing!!

12) RGs late night fundaes...which some days used to scare the hell out of me

13) Zingaaaaaaaa my sutta partner ... bakarr partner .... and cricket partner....

14) Mugging with Pari, Haila and Suroor...absolutely clueless!!

15) Getting dunked by Bambu, Gocho and God :-X

16) Frequent fights with Suroor over why does he have more cosmetics than the rest of the dorm put together...

17) Well Akhtar ke paas toh sirf ek hi kaam ke liye jaate the ;-)

18) The first dorm Tshirt... Nice work Pari...

19) Maalish who generally was in group meets but after 3 always used to help :-P

20) Baapu, Ghalib outside Gocho's room...shouting and embarrassing a kind soul ..hehehe

21) Gibbup fachchas :-D

22) Gaehun aur uski kahaniyan!!!

23) Latak who tried to graduate with a degree in 3P... but was defeated hands down!!

24) Fanta's room from where he looked at D20 with a different kind of interest :-))

25) Satack the phenomenon who just said "Tera problem kya hai?" ...hehe

26) Linga who never told me how he could manage to give rems to so many girls in WIMWI at the same time...

27) Cricket games in TV room...damn it took 2 pairs of spectacles of mine... One goes to Fanta and other to Mundu :-X

28) Mundu saying " Mein toh shaadi shuda gareeb aadmi hoon"

29) BD and Pari the buggers putting juices from people's dbabs... both were oo creative ...

30) Thoku chasing dogs after midnight in the dorm...hahaha!!

Everything was so ossum... but everything comes to an end... the traditions continue!!

Happy birthday D23...U rock!!


THE MOTTO OF OUR LIVES...credits Dede

"MAY SIN BE YOUR RELIGION AND DEVIL BE YOUR GOD"

Signing off

Atku

Mee Mumbaikar - Part II

I would like to express this post in the form of a short poem about the life of a Mumbaikar who lives in a city that pays 58% of the taxes to the government. Don't we deserve better than what we are managing in?

EVERYDAY A PART OF ME DIES

Everyday a part of me dies
When I hear the cries
Of beggars,homeless and people who are alone
In a city of dreams called Mumbai

Everyday a part of me dies
When I see the mad rush in trains
Where the life is no more than flowing drains
In a city of dreams called Mumbai

Everyday a part of me dies
When I see the traffic jams around me
Reminding me that something went wrong
In a city of dreams called Mumbai

Everyday a part of me dies
When I see hawkers at Gateway of India
Which was once the prestigious way to enter
In a city of dreams called Mumbai

Everyday a part of me dies
When I see the plastic bags on the beaches
Where did all the sense of people get lost?
In a city of dreams called Mumbai

Everyday a part of me dies
When I see the politician hoardings on my way
Reminding me of all the work they never did
In a city of dreams called Mumbai

Everyday a part of me dies
When I see people still differentiating
A Maharashtrian from none
In a city of dreams called Mumbai

Everyday a part of me has died
Some days the heart just cried
When I let my senses sense what's going around
In a city of dreams called Mumbai

Never did I fall in love with any other city
That's because this was the only city of opportunity
But now its time to act true, act fast
So this city of dreams stays to last!!

Gagan Gupta

What happened in those 24 hours....

I generally don't write about my experiences during the day. But this day was special. I was subjected to the pressures of smile, anger, sadness, thrill, confusion and respite all in 24 hours. Bole toh total Emosanal Atyachaar hogaya!!!
It was 2nd January. I had entered into the second day of the last weekend that might be in US. I had not been only to one city worth a visit on East Coast. It was Boston. This city has typical English style architecture. Friends had suggested not to miss Boston for its beauty and culture. And of course there was Harvard.
These factors made me decide at 7pm on 2nd January that I will visit Boston in a day trip. It would be a 900+ km drive in a single day. So I had to leave early. The time decided was 4:30am the next day. I decided to take Non- Toll routes to Boston all throughout.
Now comes the expressions that stretched me during the day :-P

Anger:

I started well on Route 287. I had to take an exit after 55miles towards Route 95. But in some radio channel change operation, I missed this exit and drove another 20 miles into Upstate New York. Obviously I had missed an exit. But it was worse when I came to know that it was a no turn highway and next bloody turn was at 32 miles. Then I stopped at a Rest Area. Thought what to do next...and thought means ;-)
I decided to continue and then turn to Boston Massachusetts Turnpike, which was unfortunately a full toll road of 150 miles ...grrrrrrrrrrrrr and $14 !!!!!

Confusion:

However I reached Boston earlier than I expected as the road was empty and I was on 80 miles average speed. But the city looked deserted. Woh kehte haina "Naa banda naa bande ki zaat". However after sometime, I reached Massachusetts avenue the busiest road on Boston where life came back to normal.

Smile:

I haven't been lucky with parking till now. Have collected 95$ parking tickets in totality till date (4th January, 11pm ET). But Boston has very good parking areas and pretty cheap too. I found a parking spot in one of the Park sites at meager 8$ for the day. (In New York I have paid 37$ for 3 hours too!!!). To top this I had a subway right in front of me which directly took me to the downtown. Most places are located around the downtown in Boston. After reaching downtown, I was thinking what to do next. Then I found a discounted bus tour for 20$. The smile reinforced :-)

Thrill:

The first bus I got was going to an adjacent town called Harvard/Cambridge. I was about to visit Harvard Business School!! The bus dropped me at Harvard square. After just seeing he buildings around, its not very difficult to figure out why IIM Ahmedabad is made of Red Bricks :-PPP
From Harvard Square, HBS is about 1 mile across the river. The river was completely frozen, temperature at that time being -8degrees. HBS is a set of 30 buildings and one of the 8 Ivy league colleges in North America. Mind you but they have written nowhere "Harvard Business School" except the Library. May be the whole idea is to attract as less visitors as possible. But a very silent campus, full of snow at this time of the year. Ivy on all the red bricked buildings. Halls named after Bloomberg, Morgan, Chase etc. The Harvard University has a biggest Library in the world. But it is located near the Harvard Square, 1 mile from HBS. There was a blood rush through my brain just thinking that "I am currently at Harvard Business School" :-)))

Emotionless:

After the wonderful trip to Harvard, I took back the bus that would show me Boston after that. But I cared least about it. Driving for 4 hours continuous in the morning had taken a hell lot of energy from me. Also with the wind picking up it was getting more cold. I just saw rest of the monuments, fashion street, prudential, symphony hall etc from the bus and got down at Quincy market. Spent some time in the cold that was by now passing through my bones. Decided to chuck the financial district and head back to the car at about 5pm. I thought 7 hours in Boston was worth every penny of it!!

Confusion:

Boston has these set of tunnels that take you in and out of the city. I decided not to take the toll road for sure this time and then got confused and somehow landed in East Boston instead of south. There a gentleman gave me the exact directions to reach to Route 93 South. However took a wrong turn yet again and now I was heading for Chelsea. Fortunately they had many U turns on the way. I took one of them and returned to some gas station. Another gentleman helped. This time it worked as he was heading to the same route as I. So after ending confusion...I entered a stage of frustration!

Frustration:

Left Boston...entered 6 mile of traffic... that's it!! And I was still not sure if I was going right!! A U-turn here would spell hell!!

Smile again:

After driving for about 17 miles, I saw Route 95 South signboard. I was so happy :-)
I had to continue on this for 209 miles and enter New York City...

Sadness:

Generally the Route 95 is very crowded as it a toll free route. So more the vehicles, more the Americans, more the confusion and more the accidents. I saw 2 accidents on the way that completely stalled me for like 6 miles each. The accidents were so bad that out of 3 lanes 2 had to be closed. I had thought not to stop anywhere but home this time. But the sight of these accidents and the delay just saddened me more. I was thinking of completing the journey in 4.5 hrs. But now it would be 5.5-6 hours of non stop driving. Cramps had already started to set in!!

Laughter:

To cut on the delay caused by the accidents, I started driving fast, real fast. I was almost 30 miles over in certain speed zones. They say, if you are 10 miles up you are on the line. I crossed it by a huge margin and thus had a Police officer behind me within 30 minutes of the surge!! I was caught driving at 96mph in a 65mph zone ;-)
First I thought "Ab gayi bhains paani mein". I tried to come out of the car, and was immediately warned to get inside. By then I had my insurance and International License ready. The officer took it with him. Yahan Indianness kaam. With a rental car not booked on my credit card, an Indian license , he could have done nothing more than giving me a warning :-DDD and warning was "Since you are here for short term, I will just give you a warning. Now drive carefully!!"
After that I didn't break the speed limits for next 60 miles till I left Connecticut through and through!!

Bliss:

Another 100 miles and I saw the sign, George Washington Bridge to New Jersey!! I was just 30 minutes from home....With a severe head ache, tired legs, an eventful day and life long memories :-)

Signing out...