Finding Mr Right Education and career kept me so busy all these years that I forgot that I was almost nearing 30. Before it's too late, I logged into one of the matrimony sites. The reason is as obvious as you know — to pin down the Mr Right for me. Let me tell you here, I have never been lucky in love. After n-number of crushes and a friendship which I misunderstood as love, I realised arranged marriage is "the" option for me. Sounds funny right? No, it isn't, but a reality, which I am getting used to every day. A friend of mine used to say, negotiation marriage is the option for those who are left with no choice. May be she was true or may be not. I am confused! So my parents began the search. Believe you me, this matrimony sites are very interesting. Though I am a member of one, I happened to browse many others with the hope that I will bump into someone from the virtual world. But the web dunia is no less complicated. It's like visiting the Levis showroom and ...
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Marriage ceremonies hardly evoked interest in me a few years ago. Rather, I missed many of them since childhood. The reasons being one too many. But now things are different. Whether it's the wedding of my friend or my father's colleague's daughter's, I am keen to attend them. The incentive in these parties is the opportunity to meet old friends and acquaintances. A few days ago, I was at one of those ceremonies. My father's friend's daughter got married. Coincidentally or luckily, it was a Friday, my weekly day off. Though it was not closeby, but we drove down to South Kolkata from the North, where we stay. All these to meet the known ones whom I had lost touch in five years while I was away from the city. It was a pleasant surprise to meet my childhood bumchum, mashis, auncles, jethus, kakus, didis and dadas. In fact, it was difficult to recognise some of them. Some greeted us with warmth while a few others with a light grin. But it was fun to be with the k...
Time matters, dear doctor Indians are a typical breed wellknown for the poor sense of punctuality. It's often said that if you're late, it shows you are important. Earlier, film stars came under this category but it seems now doctors too have joined the gang. Today, I happened to visit one of the leading hospitals in Kolkata. Not that I was keen to visit but rather forced to. Thanks to the wisdom tooth that has been disturbing me for long. As advised by my neighbour, I had called up the doctor's personal secretary on Monday. He gave me a time. 12.30 pm sharp on Wednesday. I thought I was lucky because I won't have to waste a casual leave. I was at the hospital right on time. The doctor, much to my dismay, was missing. His assistant greeted us with a smile. He asked us to fill up the registration form and complete the formalities before the doc arrives. I followed what he said. Shelled out Rs 150 for registration. All these took me another 15 minutes. I was back to the c...
DOWNPOUR DISTRESS Wish I had a camera! I blurted out when I tiptoed from of my uncle's house. Wondering if it was a Kodak moment. No. It was water, water and only water that had engulfed my locality, Dum Dum Park. I had read a lot about Kolkata floods but, this time, I had a real encounter with a similar crisis. Sept 23 (the night before): It had started raining from 6 pm or so. Or rather it was pouring, literally. But, being in a posh media office it was impossible to fathom the severity within closed doors. My parents, by 8 pm, had already alerted that it was getting worse outside. I did not bother much. Work got over at 9 pm when I came out for dinner. Yes, it was raining heavy. I was worried, but little. At 10 pm, I took my office vehicle, a Tata Indica, and headed straight towards my home. I was alone and warned my driver that he can't take the usual route — via Ultadanga— to the destination. But, he claimed to know better. So I abided. As it had had to happen, we ...
statutory warning: All characters in the story are fictitious. There are days when, in spite of all around, I can feel a void. Yes, I miss you. As always. You keep coming in my thoughts. But, I hate to call them memories. I fear you will become my past. Wish the fear never turns into a reality... W ondering what these lines mean? Sounds like some love-sick moron’s narration. But it is not. It's difficult to shrugg off things easily. Dont' know when did the feeling sank into my system. February 16, 2005. The Valentine's Day fever had just got over. But, the hangover was still in the air. Not that I am one ardent believer of these special days. But, at times, it's really difficult to overlook the importance of these days. Anyway, that particular day I got a mail in one of the social networking sites. Hesitatingly yet curiously, I clicked on the mail and opened it to read what the stranger had to say. I had ignored many others like this. But, this one was of special inter...
Flashback 2006. Let's take a look at the beauty framed by the photographers . Credit: Reuters, AP-PTI, AFP and TOI In this file picture taken on November 09, 2006, a keeper plays with a finless porpoise, a cousin of the baiji dolphin and one of five in Wuhan Baji Aquarium. The baiji dolphin, as it has been known in China since the mammal was first mentioned in mainland records more than 2,000 years ago, is on the verge of extinction, crowded out by cargo shipping on the river, heavy pollution and illegal fishing. (left) File picture dated 11 April 2001 shows bear Ursa with her cubs at Skansen zoo in Stockholm. Due to an unusual warm autumn, bears in Sweden went on hibernation a month later than usual. (down) Jawans have always made India proud. A moment where they are seen before a parade. (Down) A woman pushes a baby cart as she strolls under arched yellow leaves of ginkgo trees in Tokyo, December 03, 2006. AFP Winter has set in Delhi. A train enters station cutting across fog tha...
The missing link 2006, right now am in Bangalore. Elbowing through the huge crowd in the Forum Mall on a Sunday evening . Many who throng here have more than one credit card in their wallets to buy a coffee mocha in Java City, shop in Westside and Mochi. The scene is no different in many such departmental stores in the city. But something is missing in these poshe stores __ a bond. A bond which can neither develop with the big businessman nor the buyers. Flashback to 2002. I still remember Bishnu of Bishnu Stores, Laxman of Laxman Accessories and Monu of Priyadarshini Jewelleries. Those shopkeepers of a small township of Batanagar. A huge locality of small shops was the heart of the town. The joint where youngsters to oldies used to meet for different reasons. There was not much of a polished touch to these small stores, yet there was a friendly relation that existed between the buyers and the sellers. The locality people could pick up any thing from a shop and pay it later. It was wri...
Who am I? Being the only child have been quite a privilege for me since I was small. I had always got the attention that I wanted. Not that I got whatever I demanded __ not a barbie doll or a pink ballerina __ but it was great being the precious one of my parents always. Trust me, I used to love when I had fever. The care and attention was something which I used to crave for. Buy yes at times the concern was suffocating too. I have grown up the way they wanted me to be. Exactly like them with the values instilled in me. Good or bad I don't know but I stand here at this jucture with whatever lessons they have given to me. It never came to my mind if they were right or wrong. Because I never felt it necesary to ask them back. After years being with them, now I am working alone in this city, miles away from my parents. I studied in a hostel. Experieced a different life. Away from them. Had to decide by myself what was right and wrong for me. Yes, at times I was baffled. But I did not ...
Reema, 24, had an arrange marriage this year and came to Bangalore from Kolkata. She is a homemaker and her husband is a IT engineer. She spends a lonely day at her place as her husband leaves at 8 am and comes back late at night. Shruti, 25, came to the city with her husband. She too remains busy throughout the day with her household chores. Her husband works with Wipro and spends almost the whole day at his work. There are so many like Reema and Shrutis in Bangalore who come from other cities and settle here to start a new life here. To begin a new relation with their better half. I really wonder how much women are made to sacrifice for a relation. Ok, one might wonder why these gals don't take up a job and engage themselves. They can't escape from the ordeal even if they are working. There are many who are bound to take a break or change the profession because her job schedule is not matching with their husbands'. Such cases are also plenty. Trishna, 28, from Tripura got...
Leave the God! A strong belief that draws lakhs of devotees to the Amarnath lingam every year is shaken. Why? Controversy has already started brewing if the deformed lingam is natural or man-made. To avoid any misunderstanding, the Jammu and Kashmir government ordered a judicial probe. First, fingers were pointed at outsiders. Then it was a twist to the whole story. Now evidence (TOI reporter) says that the governor S K Sinha had ordered for dry ice from Delhi since the lingam did not take take its usual shape. Shocked? Please, don't. There are letters which prove that the governor has given such order. What next? Even if it's proved that who is the culprit, will the devotees accept it. Let's leave it on time
The Army in soup First the pinch. "The comfort level to work with lady Army officers is low compared to their male counterparts and the Army can do without lady officers". Then the balm. The Army Vice Chief Lt Gen. Pattabhiraman apologises saying that the Army is proud of the performance of the lady officers. But the saga doesn't end here. With the recent death of Lt Sushmita Chakravarty in Udhampur raises doubts about the unequal treatment that the lady officers are subjected to. Sushmita, as quoted from the letters by the National Women's Commission, was disgusted with the arrangemnets she had to make for the late night parties. Happy she was except that she was disappointed with the work culture in this male-dominated field. Flashback to Flying officer Anjali Gupta's case. She had alleged cases of sexual harassment against three officers. The Chief, Air Marshal S P Tyagi started the probe. But things haven't changed much. And then Anjali was court-marshalle...
Musical note Music and India seem to be like two words that are analogous. History stands testimony to this. Even now we pick up Tansen's instance to compare one's versatality and the prowess in music. Zoom in on Bollywood music history, names of S D Burman, Mohammad Rafi, Naushad, Majruh Sultanpuri, Kishore, Geeta Dutt, Asha and R D Burman still make India pride, whether it is in composing music or lending a lilting voice to soothe the huge audience. Fast forward to 21st century. Things haven't changed much, except that new talents are finding place on the dais. The flurry of singers flourishing across the country shows that music is a talent that is aplenty. Thanks to the talent hunt shows. Yes, they might be interested in business, but it is undeniable that youngsters from corners of India get the opportunity to stage their talent. And, also can shoot to fame in few days, with a huge fan following. Their lives too change for a few days __ from designer clothes to prying ...
Quota cauldron The neverending quota stir is going too far. It will be wrong to say that OBCs and the SC/STs will be able to enjoy the fruits of the bill, if it is passed. And it's unjustified to assume that merit will be sacrificed because of this vote bank politics, as the AIIMS student are claiming. The reality is a little different. The 25 pc reservation for the AIIMS students in P-G admission and the 33 pc quota for them is unconstitutional, according to the Supreme Court of India (2001 judgment). The Delhi High Court has found out in a survey that the 33 pc quota for these students has been statistically made so that they can occupy all the 40 seats reserved for them. The Delhi High Court has come up with new statistics after the five-year-long survey, which shows that the AIIMS in-house students are rather the privileged ones. In the 1996 P-G admission, it has been seen that an AIIMS students scoring 46. 167 pc (which is the lowest according to AIIMS standard) got admission ...
My hostel Three years. That's the time I have spent in my hostel. It's time to wind up from here. The hostel owner is all set to hike the rent, which is a bit too much for me right now. It was the terrace room first. Had fun out there. Perfectly owner's pride and neighbour's envy. As if we not only owned the room but also the terrace. The schorching days of summer were never so bad, as the pleasant nights used to compensate. It was nice bathing in the sun, when winter came. The crushing sound of the fighter planes used to wake me up at nights. But, I enjoyed. But, our good time ended after a theft. We left the room and occupied one of the not-so-good rooms in ground floor. But, my classmates were around. I never realised the change. After few months my room mate and I were the only ones in our batch left in the hostel. Others left. New batch came and then the next. Fresh new faces reminded of my old friends. Now, probably I am too old here. Time to say bye to my good ol...
Pramod Mahajan dies. After being pumped with bullets, he had been hospitalised in Hinduja since April 22. His family was shocked, so was the BJP. But, death does not end the affair there. Now the TV channels and newspapers will start flashing the breaking news and TRP ratings will shoot like anything. Everyone in the office is glued to the TV. Each and everyone is throwing opinions about how good a politician he was. But, there are so many people dying everyday, does anybody report or care? But Mahajan makes news. So his death is important.