Raj's faux pas

This agitation by MNS chief will certainly hurt North Indians in the short term. However this will cause grave damage to Maharashtra in the long term. Firstly, new investments might be affected. In today's India when invetsments by Indian and foreign companies are coveted by all States, Maharashtra cannot afford to sully its image with regards to law and order. And these incidents are targeted directly towards the working class, the ones who make industries 'low cost', thus enhancing their profits and boosting their market value. If there is a sense that cheap labour is being driven out of Maharashtra and government can't stop it, it could be dangerous for industrial growth. Look at what happened to West Bengal. Mamta Banerjee's agitation not only led to a loss for farmers there but also has given a bad name to the State. Indian industrial houses are thinking twice before investing in ruarl areas of WB now. Gujarat ofcourse was quick to capitalize on Mamta's faux pas and rightly so. If they wouldn't, someone else would have done it.
This agitation has also hurt the image of Marathi Manoos. No matter how much you might cry foul against the Hindi news channels, the fact remains that people across the country are sympathizing with the poor taxi driver whose cab is being smashed and the poor guy is being mercilessly beaten up. And finally the worst nightmare of the Thackreys. Eventually, maybe not now but within a decade, demands will be raised to make Mumbai a union territory. Probably a FCR, Financial Capital Region, which has its own state government and law and order is responsibility of the Centre. If these things actually happen (the second one is already happening), the biggest loser will ironically be the Marathi Manoos.

To the moon and back

Sitting on earth we fascinate about the beauty of the moon, its brightness, its attractive colour and its appearance of purity. Strange when in reality the moon has no light of its own, its a deserted land mass filled with huge pot holes. On my recent trip to India, I met many who fantasize about the life outside India. An imagination of perfection, green lands, lovely climate and lots of money. I don't blame them, in India we somehow tend to love the things we don't have. I did it too. Now, I miss the things I had.

The Casting City

Its strange to be back in Pune. It brings back so many memories, so many experiences. When I first cam to Pune I was like wet clay. I was moulded, remoulded and decorated with passage of time. Some moulders tried their best to make a hollow but beautiful exterior. However, there is some substance still left in it. The clay has got harder with time. Nails can't leave their scratches on the surface that easily anymore. However the mould has become brittle while becoming harder. Its becoming harder to change the shape. Imperfections are harder to remove. Maybe its the imperfections that make it that much more beautiful.

I wonder what life would have been if I had not moved to this city at 15. Maybe discovering myself would have taken another route. Maybe I would have got moulded a bit differently.

Life in Trance

I am going to India next week and I will be back after a month. However I am not quite sure for how long. In our MBA class we knew last Fall that the U.S. is heading into a recession. By spring 2008, we knew they are in recession, no matter what Wall Street or Capitol Hill said. The writing was on the Wall (pun intended). However, the magnitude of the problem was not apparent. We knew its a recession and there will be job losses but the worst crisis since the Great Depression was not anticipated.
I had planned this October 2008 trip to India as long back as September 2007. However, I never imagined these would be the conditions in which I will be making the trip. I had a scenario in mind that I might not have a job and I will make this trip but the situation is much more complicated now. The temptation to go back to India was always strong since the Indian economy was booming. Hence finding good jobs in India was always an alternative. Now the boom isn't that apparent. Ironically, the temptation has only become stronger. Why? Wall Street fiasco, uncertain future of North America, new contacts in Mumbai - family and friends who were not on the scene till late 2007 and no fascination to stay back here...all have worked as a team.
So this trip might be the most important trip I ever took. Somehow I feel my life is in a trance, I am in between sleep and consciousness, the controls are not really in my hands, no matter what I do, outcome might be decided by someone else.

Dream Crasher

When I had first joined the MBA program, I was aksed by our career management services to take a career test. The career test had a section where I had to fill my top five dream companies. I filled:

1. Lehman Brothers
2. Merrill Lynch
3. Goldman Sachs
4. Morgan Stanley
5. I dont even remember now, it was just to fill up the last spot

All my dream companies have either crashed, been acquired or will never be the same again. The last week has crashed the main reasons for which I joined the MBA program - to be an investment banker with one of these investment banks. Till a couple weeks back, a million guys would kill to have that job. Now, a million guys are being fired from their jobs. What tricks time plays! Some people don't believe in destiny, perhaps last week's crash might make them rethink. Change is inevitable, my dreams have to turn a new leaf, better late than never.

Bad Timing

For a batsman (cricketer), timing is very important. If you can hit the ball at the right moment then you don't need all your power to hit the ball out of the park. This rule works for tennis too. This rule also works for careers. Now, take my case for instance. Graduating from MBA (in Finance)at a time when the biggest banks on Wall Street are falling like a pack of cards. America and possibly the world is facing its worst economic crisis in decades. If I had graduated in a boom period (like I did after my engineering), I wouldn't have to use even half of my power or energy to search for an elusive job.

So what can we do to prevent bad timing. Nothing much, its not hard to predict when the market will plunge into recession. Well, I say that because if you note recession and boom periods in last two decades we can observe that they come after every 5 to 6 year periods. However, what is harder to predict is which sector will be the worst affected. Late last century it was the IT industry and now it is the financial sector.

Now let me become an astrologer and predict when will the boom period be back. I say, it will be 2011-2012 and that would last till 2016. Which sector will be next to crash? I think the media industry. Ask me the reason and I will tell you I don't know why!

Of struggle and more

Its been over two weeks now that I am living in Toronto. But Canada's biggest city doesn't even have the smallest of jobs for me. Its just amazing that how I apply to so many places and just get no replies back. Its almost as if those emails go into a black hole. A black hole of HR or a recruitment firm. Now, I have a friend who works for one such recruitment firm and he offers me advice almost in sympathy, I feel sometimes. He would tell me, dude you can get a job within a month, max! Now after two weeks its changed to, its time that you start making those cold calls or go to the office and meet the recruiter. Almost sounds as if he says, Ghar pe baithe baithe job nahi milta. Oooof. My frustration is dripping through this blog.

But you tell me, is it that easy to pick the phone and call any office and say, I need a job. I mean, many people tell me thats the way to go but I just can't get myself to do it. It just seems absurd. Almost like telemarketing, except that I will be selling myself here. Going and just dropping into an office is even worse. Its like the height of desperation. And the worst part is that I made a promise to myself to go to India in October. Now, I stare at a prospect of returning to India without a job and I can't even start saying how messed up that will make my vaccation. A vaccation across seven seas when the credit is just pilling up, two years back I would have never guessed that this would be me. So on this Friday night of frustration and despair, I hope I somehow find the courage to pick up the phone and start taking that next step which may, just may help me find that elusive job. Or else the struggler will have to go back home, not for good though.

Yeh hai Mumbai meri Jaan

I have had an unbelievable couple of weeks. I still don't have a job and am paying a crazy amount to rent out a den in Toronto. However, that was expected and is quite believable. Whats unbelievable are the movies I have been watching. Hindi movies have never been so good, so consistently. Is it me whos missing Mumbai or are the movies really good?

I loved Bachna Ae Haseeno, then came Rock On which truly ROCKED! Then I watched A Wednesday. Coincidentally it was on a Wednesady midnight(not planned at all), amazing, just too good! I don't remember the last time I saw a good movie about a issue which I feel so strongly about. Today I watched Mumbai Meri Jaan and once again it did not dissapoint me. Once again, it touched a few issues I feel very strongly about. Here I have to mention, other than the terrorism and communal tension issues, the aspect which this movie potrayed very well was the issue of media tamasha in India today. I still remember how I would always taunt my sister and mom for watching those dramatic news programs on Star News. It was about time someone told these so called journalist that something has gone terribly wrong!
This year I have seen some real high quality work from Bollywood. Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na was excellent and so were the ones I mentioned above. Let me say here that I still haven't seen Aamir which is again supposed to be top class. Mumbai film industry seems to be having a good year. On the other hand the city is having a tense year. What with Raj T, poisoning minds of people at every opportunity he gets. I hope all this politics dies down very soon and we can once again see the true spirit of brotherhood in Mumbai. I was born twenty seven years ago in that city. I have learnt to live and let live in that city. The city has taught me how to love and how hate creates only hate. The city has taught me why we should enjoy life and why we should live every moment, without wasting time. The city has taught me to be ambitious and be professional every moment and then get personal with a complete stranger.

Mumbai, I miss you tonight.

Love, Sex & Guilt

In the last fortnight I have seen Bachna Ae Haseeno atleast six times. When I first saw this movie in the theatre I didn't think I would end up watching it so many times, over and over again. Ofcourse, the redundant viewings were online.

I am still trying to figure out what I love about this movie. Probably the fact the character grows up in a similar time era that I have, probably the fact that it is a light romantic comedy after a long time, probably I just love seeing movies filled with 'khunas'(As Bips put it) and guilt. I often wonder why do I feel the guilt after perfectly sane sex, while other times, feel no guilt after doing the most blasphemous of sex. Beats me! I go back and think I might have hurt people through this journey of life but who hasn't? I have been hurt so many times. Life is too short to have regrets, guilt and retain Khunas. But its hard to let go sometimes, forgiveness is much harder than hating someone!

Toronto Woes

After a sunny few days in California,I imagined that moving in to Toronto will be easy. Whom was I kidding? Rents are sky rocketing. Even with these rents, theres nothing decent to take out there. Job applications seem to always have a standard rejection reply. To be honest its just been a day and I need to show more patience here. However I dont have time! I have 4 days(including today) to get an apartment for myself. One where I could happily stay for the next 8 months. And I have 36 days to get a job, before I fly off to India for Durga Puja.
Whatever little life I have seen, I know that patience pays off. So I am trying to be very selective in the place I rent out and I am gonna hold out till the end. I think I am gonna let this one go down to the wire. I got a good apartment in Montreal last spring, maybe that was just luck. I want a good one here too!

Golden Day for India

Its a proud day for India as Abhinav Bindra won the first ever individual gold for India. I am so proud and sooo thrilled!!!

Ae mere huzoor e ala

Is dil ne phir wohi duaa ki...phir wohi khushi ki tamanaaa ki.
Saat samundaron ke faasley chote lagne lage...dilon ke kaafi lambe....
Aaj ka din tere liye khusiyaan laayen, tujhe meri duaaeen,
Zubaan ne dagaa de diya, lekin yh dil kaise dagaan de?

My Diary

Its the season of moving out of Montreal. I commence it with my move t Toronto on the 18th of this month. Considering that I am not sparing much time between finishing off my courses and moving(as usual), next week will be one hell of a week.
I plan to move in a more organised manner than I did last time!

So heres my diary for next week, till now!

Monday, 11th August

12.30pm: Meet Fay and sort out ISA printing issue with CSU
1.30pm: Meet SB for creating the quixtar website
2.15pm: Meet Uma for giving her the notes
3.00pm: Submit application for change of convocation date
6.30pm: Broffman Building, McGill, final presentation practice for Global Brands
9.40pm: Singh is Kinng, AMC

Tuesday, 12th August

12.30pm: Final print out of project & presentation
1.30pm: Dispose books
2.30pm: Backhome to prepare for the last presentation
5.00pm: ISA Meeting
6.00pm-9.30pm: Global Brands final presentation
9.45pm: Final Drinks with teammates


Wednesday, 13th August

10.00am: Call Mona
10.30am:PACKING STARTS
1.00pm: SB comes home,lunch
2.00pm: Furniture disposal starts
4.30pm: Hopefully we are done by then!
6.00pm: NRN picks up rest of the furniture
7.00pm: Dinner with NRN

Thursday, 14th August

10.00am:Packing continues
11.30am: Meet TH for lunch(making him feel guilty for missin ma farewell...
yes i m the devil:p)
2.00pm: Lunches with TH are never tht short but have to make it quick this time,
have to redirect mail and othr clerical stuff
4.00pm: Packing completes, clean up starts:kitchen day
6.00pm-10:00pm: Invigilation
10.30pm:Along with SM(the Yankee roomie, throw away livin room stuff


Friday, 15th August
7.00am:Clean up continues, my fav, the washroom!!!
8.30am: Be at ISA stall for I-Day celebrations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D
2.00pm: Back on hme front, clean up my room and cook for my ''Torontian Friends''
6.00pm-10:00pm: Invigilation
10.30pm: Receive my ''Torontian Friends''

Le weekend, I would like to keep for my last memories of Montreal...Toronto will be a new life in many ways, in many dimensions,lemme enjoy the last of Montreal! Maybe the last of student life too...

The Day Amitabh Bachchan responded to me :D

http://blogs.bigadda.com/ab/2008/07/26/day-94/


he metions about a blogger who commented on him, calling Alimighty HE,

thats me :)....check his day 93 coments, u'll find my comment there :D


Check no. 288

http://blogs.bigadda.com/ab/2008/07/25/day-93/?cp=all

Why is India not at War!

There have been two serial bomb blast in India in the last two days. Ahmedabad and Bangalore attacked, Surat was just saved in time, Jaipur,Mumbai,Malegaon,Hyderabad, the list keps growing. From malls to hospitals, its clear that the common Indian has been targeted. I have no doubt left in my mind that India has been attacked, unlike 1962 or 1971, this time its from inside.

The question remains, will India go on war or stay quiet and keep losing the war on teror. Till now, we are losing it, what will turn the tide?

Its time for India to go on war. Fight terror inside, with an iron hand. Fight terror outside where we can. How come when my countrymen cant get sleep, terror outfits in Bangladesh and Pakistan rest in peace. Attacking Pakistan is perhaps not strategically possible at this point of time. However Bangladesh cannot be spared. How can we not strike out the root cause of terror from our backyard?

Its time to lose our patience.

Is there anyone better out there?

Mil Gaya, Mamma Mia

You know when you go to the theatre and watch a movie and feel as if you are living it. You feel like singing and dancing along with the characters. Oh Boy, it had been sooooo long since I experienced that! It had been so many years since a Bollywood movie was made that well. This weekend my friends dragged me along for Kismet Konnection and I swear to God I had that weird feeling that this gonna be a special night. After watching the movie, I was so damn disappointed that I did not know whom to criticize. A middle aged trying to be babe Vidya Balan, a stereotypical love story made by director who is probably from the stone age or the hideous depiction of desi Toronto businessmen?
O Canada!
Now, whenever we watch a movie at this Montreal multiplex, theres always a second chance. Yes, no one actually checks whether you are popping off to the neighbouring screen for a second movie. So me and a couple of friends decided to take our chances with Mamma Mia. Kismet Konnection seemed to have had some direct connection with headaches, rest of my friends were down with that and decided that one try had been enough to ruin their Friday night. I probably had the courage of going for this movie coz I had been an ardent admirer of Meryl Streep and couldn’t wait to see her for the first time on the big screen. We went for Mamma Mia.
The movie started with a young girl mailing out invitations of her marriage, to her three possible fathers. The setting was picture perfect and I mean it, it was this heavenly island in Greece where the houses were old but ever so beautiful. And then came Meryl Streep and she brought the house down with her charm, frill and beauty. The Abba songs, those 70s dances and that spirit of having a blast, was just so perfect. It was like Hollywood was paying a tribute to Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, just that the jokes were closer to Sex and the City. However the fun had just started. The twists and turns in the story were so fascinating. There were so many funny and ticklish moments. Some sad and emotional too but just about the right amount. Just like you need the right amount of chilly and salt to make that perfect curry.
Truly, Meryl Streep is the original Dancing Queen………………………

Bollywood @ Jazz Festival

Reality Bites

Sometimes I am in that mood when I am lost. I am lost in my thoughts and wonder why I live. What do I wait to achieve? When I realize I will probably never get what I truly want, I dream. Dreams can sometime save a life. Dreams can bring that smile to your face which was never supposed to be there. We all are born for a purpose. I wish I knew what is my purpose in life. Why is it so difficult to be content. If I look through someone else's eye, I have so much in my life. If I look through my own, I have so little.
Today I realized the hardest job in my life could be to face reality. To stop living in denial and just be honest. The truth is so bitter that I may not even be able to confess it to my own self.