A few whys~

Why is the number of comment on the blog post are inversely proportional to the number of lines?

Why is it that the weekends waves a buzzing goodbye and weekdays are never out of sigh?

Why do I have more to talk when I know you gotta catch a flight?

Why do I wanna stay when its the time to say goodbye?

Why do I wanna run and leave everyone behind?

Why do I wish I had wings to fly?

Author's Note: Many such 'whys' exists for all of us. Please add on your version of the 'whys'~~

Buzz Around Valentine's

My commiserations to the lover fraternity who couldn't celebrate the Valentine's day on the 14th, given a Sunday and parent questioning post all the hype created by news channels about the eve. So on the 13th decided to take a stroll in the market to study the revelry a day before. To my anticipation, most of the couples were together, celebrating the day in advance. 

As I had plans to go out on the day i.e. Sunday, no VHP / BJP / RSS or allied body demonstrated their anger, over celebrations of Valentine's day. Though their protests hardly bother me, I have faith in my self proclaimed punching/slapping and hitting capabilities that I decide to move out of house. Moreover when I introspect I believe  that I am capable of fighting with five people at a time - so a typical example of the fact that looks can be deceptive.. 

Too much of blabbering about something thats beyond the point, getting back to the D day celebrations! Many of my friends questioned on facebook, whether we need a day to express love? I don't have any opinion about it! All I feel that if we don't need a day for out Valentine, than do we have to celebrate a day to acknowledge the onset of a new year/mother's day and the likes? At last I feel that the day provides an opportunity to convey to significant people that you care, it could be your best friend or a boy friend. 

Author's Note: I use to dread moving out of home on V - Day, as young turks start acting foolish. This time I did go out and stood corrected about that years old misconception. 

Pleasing the Goddess

Hindu College is all set to worship Damdami Mata. For all the priests out there, who don't know about the legendary goddess should brush their knowledge. Delhi University North Campus students who don't know about this Valentine's day ritual should work a bit as a campus scribe.

The boys in the college worship Damdama/Damdami mata to bless them so that they can find love of their life. No body knows who started this ritual, but it has been followed with dedication for years. Last year Katrina Kaif played as the goddess, and this year under all possibilities its going to be Priyanka Chopra. 

The rite starts with a puja of Virgin tree, decorated with balloons, where all the guys of college collect and pujari is Mr. Fresher. As the Valentines day this year falls on sunday, when colleges are closed, the rite will take place on 13th February 2010's evening.


Going back to some 8-10 years I recall an incident where a friend told be that they would rather propose a girl with a cauliflower on valentine's day than to splurge on a rose petal. The cost of rose jumps to astronomical figures during the festive time. 


Author's Note: Now that the Valentine's day is approaching, I have gotta shortlist the most prospective valentine I am gonna head out with ;P

Call for peace!

I don't hate Pakistan, neither do I love her!

I don't hate probably because I happen to have refuge ancestory, who came to Delhi during partition. Since childhood I have been narrated stories of how my grand-parents braved crossing border, how many lost their lives during partition, how some witnessed rape, were helpless, they could not blame anyone! Some of my relative still live in Pakistan as during the time of partition they could not come to India. I might sound similar to many fellows. I don't love because I have never been to my ancestral land, don't know how it smells early in the morning. I am not familiar with the narrow lanes of its cities. But I guess that once I will go there I will feel familiarity with the country courtesy the tales that have been naratted down generations. 

The ongoing IPL controversy has made me to publish this post on how much I hate my own country men. People like Parveen Togoria, Bal Thackeray, Raj Thackeray, Narendra Modi; organisations like RSS, VHP, BJP, MNS! The domocile politics shaping into communal big ticket vote banks, which time after time issues fatwas on Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan to go to UP and Pakistan respectively. The mob mentality of localities who spread violence across Mumbai. Are they feeding Indian populace on what to speak? I wonder how can they have a strong political base in Maharashtra? I am very angry.. and wish could do something about it. I hope that Judicial Activism come of age in India in interpreting the constitutional rights, fundamental right where a Shah Rukh Khan calls for peace amongst India and Pakistan by inviting Pakistani cricketers to play at IPLs. Isn't it a cute friendly gesture, a call for peace? 

Author's Note: Big cities need people with big hearts. I am a delhiete and extend an invitation to all Indians to come to Delhi. So next time when some tom dick harry like Bal / Raj  Tharkey (its no typo error, I mean it :p) suggests someone in a shabby tone to exit Maharashtra, Delhi welcomes them with an open arms!

Beating Retreat!

Marking the end of republic day revelry is the Beating Retreat Ceremony held today at Vijay Chowk. The the ceremony that dates back to the time when sounding retreat pulled to a halt the day’s fighting during the time of war. The idea for the parade goes like this:

In olden times, when the hours of darkness meant a cessation of hostilities until the following day, the object of the call was to collect and post the necessary guards for the camp, garrison, etc., for the night. It was also a warning for those outside the camp or garrison to retire or they would be kept outside the night. We thus find that there is some confusion arising between "Retreat" and "Tattoo". This confusion may, in part, have been caused owing to the French using the word "Retraite" for the familiar call to our "Tattoo". From the following extracts from old orders, it would appear conclusive that Retreat was meant to be separate from Tattoo and to be beaten at sunset.

Coming to my experience of the ceremony, well we were late for the ceremony and the place we were supposed to be seated was full, so we had to rush to the arcade towards the left of where some of the seats were supposedly vacant. Reaching there was a task too, as we managed to enter the arcade, we had a hard time locating somewhere to sit. Where-ever we stood, people seated behind us started shouting, and it was quite an experience... Clearly you should not block some one's view, and as a friend said to me be the change you want to see, we decided to stand somewhere we would not block view of others.

It was then that the smartness of an engineer came to play. Well my sister located two un-taken chairs and rushed to ask the security personnel, sir can I take the chair. He promptly agreed and here were we both trying to position the chair towards a metal chamber so that we can stand up on the chair and get a frontal view of the ceremony. It was like two people standing on one chair.

Now we all could pay attention to what was going on at Vijay Chowk. The President Pratibha Patil, was sitting conveniently inside a glass chamber along with the also the Supreme Commander of the three Forces, the Army, the Navy and the Air Force, the audience also sat through a ceremony that elicits a feeling of nationhood and pride! The Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was also sitting amongst the audience with wife and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.





Thirty-five bands from the Army, the Navy and the Air Force took part in the ceremony that began with the arrival of the President marked by fanfare by trumpeter. Well synchronized parade playing bands were performing and adding poise to the retreat were men on camels standing inside Rashtriyapati Bhawan! The pillars also stationed some buglers who kept playing their musical instruments at frequent intervals, in tune with the band marching performance. The tempo set the feel and audience did not miss applauding several times through the ceremony.

A brief research took me to the sequence of the ceremony, which goes as:

The first march of the massed band was the popular Sam Bahadur, named on a popular Indian army officer. This was followed by the performance of pipes and drums which had the audiences tapping the feet with their Surya, Sky Boat Song, Pipers Cave, Highland Laddie and The Marquis of Huntly, among others. The Naval and Air Force Bands, striking in their appearance and confident in their bearing, charged the atmosphere with their repertoire that included the beats of Ocean’s Splendour, Bharatiya Navsena, Sky Hawks, Nocturnal Cry, Swatantra Bharat ki Shan and Subroto. The military bands with their Hanste Lushai, Gangotri, Abhinandan, Dhola-Re-Dhola were as spectacular to the eye as they were an aural treat. Next it was the massed bands again enthralling the audiences. Their quick march to the tunes of Saare Jahan Se Acha brought the curtains down on the ceremony!

The president's house and the parliament was lit and it looked like a marvelous palace, wow came out of everyone the moment the place was embedded with golden yellow lights! Now the horses started marching towards the parliament, as it was getting dark, the spark generated due to friction between horses' shoe and concrete road was added zing to the festivities. Following it was the indicators of bikes and jeep signaling that its the time to go. By this time the audience started moving out of the arcade, but we stood there for some more time as we did not want to miss anything and also we had to locate a friend, who had to park the car. India gate was also decorated with an imprint of tricolour.

We could see him, kept waving at him as he was waiting at the other side of the arcade, where we were suppose to be technically seated. As no mobile phones were allowed and I succeeded in shouting his name, I went home happy that I am not a complete cell phone dependent :D

It is an art, science and a theatrical display of courage, spirit of nationhood, patriotism, and a call for global peace!

Author's Note: The Beating Retreat ceremony is worth witnessing.. I wish I have done justice to the ceremony through this blog post!

Happy Republic Day 2010

The 61st Republic Day Parade of the Year 2010 had the honour of me sitting amongst the audience. Yes, let me rephrase it, this year I happen to witness the parade live at Rajpath, while me sitting with my friends at the neatly organised chairs in India Gate Lawns.

To begin with the Republic Day of India commemorates the date on which the constitution of India came into force replacing the Government of India act 1935 as the governing document of India on January 26, 1950. The date January 26 was chosen to honour the memory of the declaration of independence to India in 1930. 

The day is one of the three national holidays, while the Republic Day Parade takes place at the Rajpath, New Delhi this year in presence of the President Smt Pratibha Patil, Chief Guest Korean President Lee Myung-bak and the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. The invitation to Korean ministers reflects upon strengthening bilateral relations. State capitals also have their state celebrations on the day, where the governor of the states unfurls the National Flag. 

The revelry of republic day for me started a day before. Due to security reasons buildings at Barakhamba Road where I happen to work and Kasturba Gandhi Road had to be vacated by afternoon of January 25. So me and my friend had a strolling time on the streets of Connaught Place. Which of course came after a long time, and I have decided to make such strolls a regular part of my life. This was also an auspicious day when I got my VIP passes for the parade. 

Coming back to the R-day, we expected the day to be bright and sunny but to our surprise, we got on a foggy morning, we stepped out of house at 8 am, while we could barely see clearly at the distance of 20 meters. As we were not suppose to carry mobile phone, cameras, bags, such day came to me after a long long time. We finally made up to the venue on time, and were seated at a better location, something that was practically (not actually) opposite India's first woman's arcade. 

Prior to the commencement of the parade, the Prime Minister lays a floral wreath at Amar Jawan Jyoti a memorial of martyred unknown soldiers at India Gate. Then he reaches his dias and hoists Indian flag as the National Anthem is played. A 21 gun salute is also paid to the spirit of nation-hood, this was amazing and enough to scare off a two year old child sitting in the front row. 

What followed was commemoration of significant awards Ashok Chakra, Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra given by the president. Ashok Chakra was awarded to Halvindar Rajesh Kumar of 11 Rajputana Rifles, Manoj Mohit Sahrma (posthumous) and Major D. Sreeram Kumar. Sub inspector Bhopal Singh of the Sashastra Seema Bal and Constable Rel Deo Sangam of Meghalaya police were conferred Kirti Chakra. Two officials of the Border Roads Organisation were amongst Shaurya Chakra awardese. Due to fog, I could not see the award commemoration ceremony, but could hear the update clearly of a loud speaker. 

By then we started to realise that a similar seating arrangement is been made opposite us, and towards the left of it was a decorated arcade, for the delegates and top officials. The parade started with men riding horse, which was amazingly synchronised. Each battalion had strikingly balanced marching skills, made us clap while they pass in front of us, on Rajpath. Clapping was also meant to keep ourselves warm on that foggy day. One of the battalion had three army personnel walking in the front, they held a long equipment with a spherical top while marching. Its worth mentioning their precision and synchronisation of throwing the equipment in the air, at certain height the equipment rolled and came back to the marcher's hand. It left us all amazed and applauding!

Following marches by the military personnel was beautiful display of decorated boogies from a military, missiles, few states, ministries. The ones that left visionary mark on me were Bunkers, Multiple Missile Delivery Equipment, Agni Missile, Shaurya Missile, ICT System, Radar Communication System of Indian Army. The boogies of Jaipur, International Film Festival of India, Commonwealth Games Delhi 2010 where legendary sports persons like PT Usha and Milkha Singh were standing up at the boggy and waving at us, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, were strikingly done. Dance performance by school children was not visible to us, but the music got me foot tapping enough to give a feel of it. Tricolour balloons and flags were released in the sky from each direction, which exclaimed India celebrates its republic status. 

The aircraft show finally offered a hooting zeal leaving the viewers all the more mesmerised. By the end, we walked up towards the grill to get the booklets which were being distributed, but could not find any of the distributors.At last the President, Korean Head, PM waved bye to the by standers. While walking towards the exit, my cousin wanted to hold the rifle and requested the guard to let him hold it, but the guard politely refused, and had a chat with with him for sometime. While he was chatting up with the army guard, I happen to get the booklet from a child, who happily gave me the booklet. 

All in all, the parade is worth witnessing. I feel proud that I happen to go to Rajpath on the R-day, and glorify myself with being able to associate with the display world's third largest military power's credentials. It instigated the feeling of being Indian in me :)

Author's Note: Thanks to everyone who was involved in the course of getting passes and getting up on time, reaching at the venue on time, and being able to stick to it in a foggy serpentine day! My sister had fever, she did not disclose as she did not want to miss the parade, the display of art and science of synchonised theme. The efforts were unquestioningly worth it! Happy Republic Day 2010 to all Indians~~

PS: For those who don't know that India holds the National parade only for the Republic Day on January 26. And on the Independence Day (August 15) we have the PM delivering speech at Red Fort, and innumerable kites flying on Indian skies, symbolising India's independence!

Vintage Cars

As I am one of the potential owners of Vintage car in future, and I herewith start with a brief account on it. Its just once that I got to see a vintage car, at hotel Le Meridian. It is said that the owner of the hotel takes it out on the road once a month. But I was an ardent lover of vintage long back. I remember hooking to the Television when a vintage car rally took up from Delhi to Jaipur. The look, fancy colour and flamboyant style is a reminder of the era gone by and the era which I would like to live. 

Vintage cars are defined as the car build long back during the transition era of the automobile industry, till the end of World War I. Passionate followers collect these cars and show it in museums like pro Bono Publico, a private vintage car museum with more than 70 vintage cars, is located in Mehraulli, NCR Delhi, an hours drive from Delhi. The cars showcased here include series of vintage Buicks, Cadillacs, Chevrolets, Austins, Mercedes, Pacards, Jaguar, an ancient dodge, an Alpha Romeo, a vintage Studebaker, a Pierce Arrow, and rare Belgian Minerva. Ahmedabad and Udaypur also house renowned vintage car museums in India. 

The affluent section of the society has the craze to own one or more! Understanding that vintage section is a crowd puller, this year the AutoExpo 2010 had a separate segment for vintage beauties. Unfortunately I could not pay a visit to the expo, but had been excited about the fact that vintage segment is being displayed. 

My affection for vintage cars can also be attributed to the fact that when I was born, my dad took me home on his delighted possession cetroen, way back some 25 years! He kept it for a good number of years and then I don't know wheres that car. It looked something like the pic above here!

Author's Note: Now that one of my best friend has questioned my liking vintage cars, I happen to dedicate a post to the topic. Yes dude the feeling of vintage is as beautiful as the word.