A series of incidents...

Not sure if this is some sort of a nature's rule, but from what I have observed in past few days, the frequency of certain incidents happening around, suddenly increases. Sadly though, most of these incidents are negative.

These days almost daily we read about Indians being attacked in Australia and students commiting suicides across Maharashtra. Is it that such incidents didn't happen as much in the past? Or is the media more active in covering such reports these days??
Few days back we would also read reports of suicide bomb blasts in various Pakistani cities, almost everyday. Another negative incident on the fire.

The only positive series that I've observed is the series of good marathi movie being released these days :-) I sincerely envisage to see more such positive incidents happening in series, like:

• A series where more govt babus are being punished against corruption
• A series of more terrorists executed by Indian law
• Sensex constantly on the rise (easier dreamt though :-))
• A series of new scientific inventions

I believe one incident encourages the next one, next one further to a third one, and that begins a series.But in the brighter sense, if one negative incident fosters the next one, same should also be true with positive incidents.

Its a major responsibility with our media in such cases to cover and highlight more positive stories and spread more positiveness around.

Typical civic / traffic habits of Indians

Indian civic habits may very well suffice for a lengthy paperback. Although a small blog like this one will not cover the topic in its entirety, this is an attempt to highlight the major concerns faced by Indians, and most importantly- BECAUSE OF INDIANS.

These habits may more or less be similar in all major relatively uncivilized populace of undeveloped countries like India. My comments here come purely out of my experience in India and the US (and with contributions from television documentaries) and may not be a good read for pseudo-patriots.

Some strikingly noticeable civic rules formed by Indians (as these cannot officially form a part of any government rule book) at a high level:

• Lack of civic sense
• No responsibility towards the society one lives in
• Self favour, no concerns for fellow beings

Now for the things better explained:

• Unnecessary use of horns

• Use of polluting / honking horns- no control over its frequency, decibels, etc.

• Minimal / no use of indicators- I wonder why they use less necessary accessories more than the necessary ones, and vice-versa.

• Parking 2 wheelers on side stand- this way 1 vehicle consumes the space equivalent to two, and utmost care is taken that the next one who tries to park his 2 wheeler faces trouble in doing so.

• A horn when red signal turns green- assuming that all others are blind, or colour blind at least.

• Vehicles over Zebra crossing- an attempt to save the smallest moment lost when signal turns green.

• Spitting on roads- India is my country and I have every right to f**k it.

• Stopping vehicle wherever one feels like- what is the road tax paid for??

• No concern if it causes problem to others- who cares? We are in India…

• No concern over clearing roads for ambulance, fire brigade, etc.- Again, who cares??

• Cross a busy road wherever one likes to- we follow the "pedestrian first" rule anywhere and anytime.

• Night driving on high beam (dipper)- Everyone curses the opposite driver, no one cares to switch to dimmer himself.
  
  Can’t blame the politicians for anything and everything that goes wrong in society, but who does the introspection? It’s really hard for Indians to grow up to the likes of their laterals in developed nations, in civic / traffic sense, coz that would call for a compromise, and more importantly- a CHANGE IN SELF, which is not something “Indian”.

2009, the year it was…

It’s been 10 whole days that 2010 has commenced, another year becoming a yesteryear. Each 31st December we realize- we put behind an entire year, a bunch of moments that affected us somehow, some made us happy, and some penetrated deeper to change our lives entirely.

2009 was a very fruitful year for me. It began with me working on the year-end eve in office till 11 pm, and spending a half day alone in office on Jan 1, cursing my company (Cybage) as much as I could :-). Cybage HR policies were at its worst, market conditions were far from the hope of a quick revival, and to follow suit were my project deadlines. I was desperate to quit Cybage and it was in March, when I received a hard earned offer from Zensar Technologies; I didn’t think twice to switch my job.

My 5 month stint with Zensar began in April 2009, not knowing it was a sprint track that I was put on, and only thing expected from me was- to RUN, and keep running without getting tired. I had overcome the financial loss I would have otherwise encountered in Cybage, but that came with a price- I was to sacrifice my personal life to Zensar- NG ODC in particular. There was hardly a weekend I didn’t attend office, and not a day I reached home before 9 pm, things would SUCK.

Finally, just as vCustomer, Zensar proved to be a stepping stone, and finally I got into a company that I admired not only for its posh office and impressive growth, also for its typical “Marathi” culture- Persistent Systems Ltd. I didn’t think twice before accepting the offer. Life so far, is very good here and I have no regrets for the nights spent working hard in Zensar.

2009 was a year to make hay in the stocks as the sun was shining bright. One couldn’t expect a better time when succulent stocks were available in mouth watering prices. I was “investment literate” at the right time, and had great opportunities to put my theory into practice. Sometimes I feel- global recession started at the right time- it all began with Lehman Brothers getting bankrupt, and that happened just 4 days after I returned from 4 months’ stay in the US :-). I wasn’t short of my savings from US trip, thankfully, that made me an aggressive investor in stock markets.

This year also came with a lot of ups and downs in my personal life, from a few strained family matters to some of the most joyous moments. Many good friends got added, some of my best friends got married, some relations got stronger, some got weaker, a bit of “Emotional Atyachaar” towards the end of 2009, but all in all- more credit than debit :-) And, just like every year, I grew a year older in December, and this year I stepped into my late 20s (that means I came a year closer to 30 :-(.)

But finally, as it is said that all’s well that ends well, nothing better could happen than our family being blessed with a baby girl, my niece, on 6th December. After all these great gains and teachings, I have nothing but to thank God and 2009 for making my life better :-).