Eyes full of dreams

Lolly had recently posted a nostalgic piece on the changing face of Bangalore. This change, not just in Bangalore, but in the whole of India has been a much talked about subject with the Tiger (and Dragon) stories firing the imaginations of everyone from poets to economists to the paani-poori wallas. It is a great ego boosting tea-time story about my able brown-skinned brethren (some like Machee are excluded) and their exploits.

During one such tea session a fellow teh-tarik fan quipped “Is this change good for everyone?” I really don’t know. I am just happy knowing my garden city which turned into a pub city is now India’s IT city. People on the roads of Bangalore are all happy and smiling. They sport branded clothes and accessories. All sorts of faces have appeared. All sorts of tongues fly and fill the evening sky with murmurs. The street corners were once the exclusive haunts of Kannada Kanmanis. Then came along the idli selling friendly thambis, followed by diamond seeking Goltis and not to be left behind thrifty Mallus who brought the omnipresent smell of coconut oil and Gulf money. But that was in the beginning. The cohort now extendes to the Punjabis, the Bongs, the Marwaris, the Jats, the Banias and even the mongoloid brothers from Assam, Sikkim and Tibet.

That’s the interesting thing about Bangalore – it is like an India in itself. Like India it invites everyone and somehow makes them proud Bangaloreans rather than dividing itself into ghettos. But this post is not about the greatness of Bangalore. Let’s get back to the original thread – the wave of change and growth Indian cities are undergoing – and whether it is really good for everyone.

With such a festive atmosphere it can only be said that all are happy and change is good. Just see the smile on these little kids. They are 260 kilometers away from Bangalore and their eyes are already full of dreams of the great life ahead. The following picture was taken during one of my treks in Coorg when my brother and I lost our way and ended up in a village. We were in search of certain “leaves”, but that’s another story I’ll keep for later.

Of these 5 cheerful monkeys I remember 3 names – that’s Harish with the raised tyre, the tall Pratap in the middle and Darshan with his arm over Pratap’s shoulders.

“Kelaginda photo baruttha? (Does the photo come out from below?)” Harish turns around to ask me. Bugger has seen too much TV or he has met tourists with Polaroid cameras before. I try and explain that I need to print them later.

“Namge photo kalustheera? (Will you send us the photo?)” He grins with anticipation. Of course I will I say and I look around to see where I can send it. The village comprises of less than a dozen huts of varying sizes. Who do I address it to and where do I send it? I can’t see any street names or house numbers.

“Neevu worry maadbedi Uncle! (Don’t worry about that Uncle!)” Darshan assures me his dad works as a security guard at the resort downhill (where we were staying) and he would pick it up from them. Well that was simple enough, I could do that, but only if they stopped calling me uncle. After a few trials they managed to incorporate “Anna (brother)” in the sentence and they even lead us back to our trekking trail.

Those happy fellows and their angelic smiles! I am yet to fulfill my promise.

A surge in wealth in Bangalore has resulted in a lot more weekend tourists visiting Coorg. These little kids and their village see a little more action and hopefully some more money from the resorts that are springing up all over. So growth in the city spills over with farm produce getting better prices, better roads being built to ease the city travelers, increased mobile connectivity and all the other goodies!

But is this phenomenon a minority? Why do we still hear cases of farmers in Andhra Pradesh committing suicide when monsoons fail to arrive on time? Why is there resurgence in the Naxal movement? Is Deve Gowda right after all? With “India Shining” do we expect the farmers to have eyes full of dreams as they go to bed on an empty stomach?

Iyer

Rang De Basanti

Great things inspire, like a great movie, well even a good one for that matter, like Rang De Basanti.

With shame though I recall a Hindi poem we learnt in school where the poet derides the “Living room warriors” who get charged up reading novels of revolutions – brandishing the heirloom sword they run amok in their warm rooms, only to shed a few drops of sweat before they crash into plush sofas for a nap. The poet compares them to pans made of tin – which get hot in an instant and lose it all the moment it is removed from the fire. I am ashamed to feel such patriotism, after a movie, a patriotism which didn’t show a few days ago when India celebrated its Republic Day.

Well, guess there are two kinds of Indians – one who make and move India, and the other – like me – who sit and watch and bathe in borrowed glory. May be there is a third kind.

Watch the movie.

Iyer

Calcutta Calling

A story of 3 American girls adopted from Calcutta and the journey back to to explore their roots.

http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/rough/2006/01/india_calcutta.html

Iyer

Wannabe Salesman

An entertaining email received by my company from a NUS undergrad looking for a sales position.
Love his enthusiasm, and that’s all there is. There was no resume attached.

Iyer



Dear Sir/MS,

This is Xxx Zzz from NUS, Singapore.I am currently a year one student of chemical engineering, but I am very very keen in sales and business.I believe in that a man who can do sales well can surely get a lot of money and achieve his goal of the life.For me, my main goal in life is to become a great salesman(which also allows me to have my own business), and earn 1 million dollars(the lowest amount) by 26(currently I am 20).

Since you are a start-up company as I know, I am wondering if I can join your team and we together make a better future for tomorrow.

My advantage is that I have very very strong desire to be successful and is a strongly self-motivated people, which I believe is needed greatly in any field of business.Besides, I am crazy with learning and love the feeling of making myself knowing more and more.I make goals for my daily life, school life as well as my business life.So I believe I can soonly adapt to your company culture and attribute to your company business as soon as possilbe once I joined in your big family.

Looking forward to your answering,
Thanks,
Xxx Zzz

Tum Itna Jo...

I generally don't get senti, at least not in Hindi, but I was listening to some songs from Reggie's music folder and "Tum Itna Jo Muskura Rahe Ho" from the Hindi movie Arth started playing. And i got senti, so i am posting the lyrics.

Iyer

PS: If anyone requires translations then let me know!


Hindi Song Title: Tum Itna Jo Muskura Rahe Ho
Hindi Movie/Album Name: ARTH
Singer(s): JAGJIT SINGH
Listen This Song on Gayaki

Hindi Lyrics:

Tum Itna Jo Muskura Rahe Ho
Kya Gham Hai Jisko Chhupa Rahe Ho

Aankhon Mein Nami, Hansi Labon Par
Kya Haal Hai Kya Dikha Rahe Ho

Ban Jayenge Zehar Peete Peete
Yeh Ashq Jo Piye Ja Rahe Ho

Jin Zakhmon Ko Waqt Bhar Chala Hai
Tum Kyon Unhe Chhedhe Ja Rahe Ho

Rekhaon Ka Khel Hai Muqaddar
Rekhaon Se Maat Kha Rahe Ho

Tum Itna Jo...

Big B-ullshit

Big B may revisit Tirupati to offer ornaments worth Rs. 100 million for having recovered from a recent surgery. TOI Link.

Why not donate the money to CRY or similar organization which really needs the cash? Might even get some tax benefit out of doing that!

Your thoughts welcome.

Iyer

On "The Birth"

A very good friend of mine who is too shy (i think) to post a comment on the blog sent me this email:

Hey Dude,

Almost didn't say anything because I couldn't put my finger on why I didn't quite think that it was brilliant. Imagery was great and the thing pans out slowly and nicely. Something kept bugging me though. True that I could not relate to the emotions but I knew that wasn't it. I gave up and started looking around your blog when I came across this:

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Her face rose as angelic as it had set,
unblemished by star-light.
A view so divine,
even the moon lingered a while longer

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And for some reason I popped up the comments and saw "A let down after The Birth! :) " and then it hit me (I don't know why the comment triggered the thought). "The Birth" was missing on impact unlike the one above where the last line gives me something I wasn't expecting and I go back to read it. "The Birth" takes me through the whole process and I glide along but I don't remember it when I'm done.

Well, if you think I analysed the thing to death then do not read the post script.

Reggie

P.S.

The first time I read it I realized the rhyming was forced, I mean here:

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Wide-eyed and cold lying in the rust,
The babe divine, swaddled in blood.
“Breathe my dear, breathe my child,”
“May the night with your cries be flood
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and here
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It was almost as though all was lost
When this strange glow did spread.
The infant shone like the naked sun,
And the beasts trembled with dread

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Anyway I've always thought: Why rhyme :)

Plus, there isn't an emotion I could relate to so wouldn't be an all time favourite of mine :)

Reggie Falange


...

And I agree with him. First, guess I shouldn't try to force myself to complete a poem. Complete it in the same sitting or just post the half-done verses. Second, don't water down the climax!

Thanks for your comments Reggie!

Iyer

Happy New Year!

Wishes from the vice men.