The power to change is ours and ours ALONE!!

Citizens of upmarket locale Juhu, in the western suburbs of the city, are a happier lot today with slightly better living standards that the rest of us. Last year they chose one among them as a candidate for corporator's elections. He got elected. Being a citizen of the locality himself, he understands the difficulties of the people. He took up a lot of issues and did a good job. The people now feel that they are part of the democracy, that they have a say in the system.  

The reason is that they chose to take a diversion from the system, YET all along staying within the confines of the system. We have to vote. We cant hide behind the grouse saying each candidate is worse than the other. Choices are either we get a candidate of our own or we register a no vote.

Both have grave immediate disadvantages but could change things for the future. To get one of us to contest elections is per se not difficult, but, unless enough and a lot more is done to create awareness, our chosen candidate may face the consequences, a banker candidate from south bombay faced last year. On the other hand if we do our ground work well, i am certain we can pull off an easy victory. We can also have good governance. We can be a part of the system, our system.

In the no vote system, getting a 1/3rd no vote of the total population who actually went to ballot, could take l....o....n...g..... But in hope we shall live.

Issues are ours, problems are ours, lives are ours, the power to change is also ours and ours ALONE!!!! Lets make an attempt to make that change.

Ek saala pothole aadmi ko apahij bana deta hai!

I had suffered 2 slip discs a few years back. Went through hell. Hard core physio therapy, traction and heat treatments helped my spine regain its lost strength. Ever since i have been sacrificing my sleep, waking up at 5:30am every morning or every alternate morning to be able to practice yoga so my back can function well. And i did well. Began considering myself some kind of an expert on back issues and would dole out unsolicited advice that too for free, if i saw someone wince with pain.

Yesterday i had to go to Wadala for an errand. Was returning home in an auto at about 9pm. The rain Gods were very pleased with us and it was pouring down. The autowala had been warned to avoid potholes and unnecessary jerks. He was driving as carefully as one possibly could. Nevertheless there was a street where there were either no streetlights or not lit. The left tyre of the auto went into a pothole. I got off, the autowala yanked the auto out and we were on our way further.

Reached home and had tickets for a movie. Didnt feel upto it. My back had begun to hurt. But i went. By the next morning i was in such grief, that i couldnt get off the bed. With tears in my eyes, i managed to get myself up, i couldnt stand for more than a few minutes. I sat down, couldnt stand up again. But i had to come to work. So applied some pain relief, put a belt around my back and came to work. Have spent the whole day in pain.

Spoke with my doc. He says the pothole has in all probability triggered off the dormant ache and trouble. I have been advised ten days bed rest!!! I want to know:

Why is the government so callous about our well being?
Do not these politicians, bureaucrats ever face these issues?
Why is it that when i toil hard, honestly pay my taxes, i still do not get a decent road home?
Why is it that year after year, millions and billions of rupees spent, yet the condition of roads only deteriorates in this city?
Why are the Delhi roads in good shape?

Who will ask these questions? Or worse still, will anyone reply? please???

black & yellow - public convenience or public trauma??

Been out of the city for the last 5 days. Had a nice holiday. Was dreading to come back to my own city. Not looking forward to getting down to the grind again. Come Monday morning, i woke up feeling as if i'd been punched in the stomach. Put it down to Monday blues. As the morning progressed, it occurred to me i wasnt ready for the jostle the city puts me into.

And rightly so, got into an argument with an autowalla coz he refused to ply me to the station. Reason- too much traffic!!! Then when one did, he wanted 10 bucks more!!

Earlier the trip from home to the station cost me Rs.15/- The reason to not ply then was that they get no return passenger meaning not enuf profit. Gradually, the costing went up to about Rs.25/- but by then there was way too much population in the locality. They chose passengers by the distance. Now "too much traffic"!!!

They ply autos for God's sake!! What do they expect on feeder routes??? Even flights have air traffic issues these days!!! Its exasperating. And their uncouth behaviour and language is an additional irritant. All of this on the first morning of the week!! 

Change i have been told, is imminent..... When will this change, i wonder!! Sigh.....

Value or price??

What is the value of a corpse??

To a medical student - a lot. He learns on a cadaver.
To an organ donee - priceless. He receives a new lease of life.
To a family member - invaluable. It provides him the much needed object of release of emotions!

How will u react if i say - Rs.35000/-

Yes that is the price a private undertaker tagged to a dead body of a victim of the blasts last Wednesday in Bombay. Whilst the relatives are still coming to terms with the sudden, unfortunate end of life, as if, to have to go through a million and one formalities for the release of a dead body from the morgue of a government hospital was not enough.... Having to pay Rs.35000/- to transport the dead body home after embalming (which is not privately permitted in the first place)! If this is not extortion what is? That too, when the government circulars provide free embalming and transport for bodies of victims of terror attacks.

Who do the relatives go to and when?? At that time, all that the old parents want is to be able to see their son/ daughter one last time. For the widow to be able to touch the face of her beloved before he's gone forever. For the children to hold and cry over their parent whom they'll never be able to hug again!!

Does one endeavour to bring the body home to them or get into the red tapism of the authorities to secure free transport. Isnt it easier and more prudent at that time of the hour to pay the price of what is invaluable????

i am numb!!!

I dont know if the numbness is the aftereffect of the blasts last Wednesday, or due to the apathy of the administration or the Oh so short memory of the public!! I just feel so lost and sad....

A friend was witness to the blast at Zaveri bazar. She described the bodies or should i say parts of bodies she saw strewn around, smoke all over and inside her lungs choking her. Her only thought at that time was that of 6 year old daughter.

I feel sympathetic towards the chief minister who makes a public statement that 'his officers could not gather intelligence because the best refuse to take up the intelligence department as its not lucrative enuf" and yet states intelligence hasn't failed!!

I feel scared when i think, that tomorrow God forbid i am the victim of the next blast, nobody absolutely nobody could be bothered to find out who was responsible and why it happened?

Has human life become so inexpensive? Are we really 'cattle class' now? Fed only to be slaughtered?

Where lies the problem?

As a student of marketing, I was taught to address an issue - find out the root of the problem.

Problem is - why this city??

There are about 26 states (the last count I remember). Each state has about 25 districts if not more. And each district, cities. 4 metros and many other progressive cities. Then y is my city a target? I wonder.....

What is it that about Bombay that makes them wanna destroy it?
Is it because the stock exchange is here, are they jealous that Bollywood is here?
Or is it plainly because the city embraces all kinds of people from all walks of life with equal warmth. Irrespective of your caste or creed and gives them a fair opportunity? Is that what they wanna do? Destroy the indomitable spirit? Break the spine? Paralyze the city forever and use it as a poster of their achievements?
Are we gonna allow it to happen..........? None of us want it to happen. We all are angry, we all want to do something about it. Lets begin with finding out 'why us'??

I was Bombay!

• • I was Bombay!
    The city of dreams, the city of miracles....
    I never slept, i gave opportunities......
    I let girls walked free and tall no matter dawn or dusk....
    I was Bombay!
    
    I was Bombay!
    a sunday on chowpatty or juhu.....
    a walk on marine drive.....
    dandiya, eid or ganpati, i have seen em all......
    I was Bombay!
    
    Now i am not Bombay.
    there's fear, despair, hatred and pain....
    I am being called the dying star, the city that was....
    I have been shot at and bombed,
    I am being ravaged and milked dry....
    Nobody walks free any more....
    uncertain whether ill be around the next day....
    I have become Mumbai, but i still want to remain Bombay!
    
    I want to be able to dream again,
    to live and let live......
    I want to be able to smile again,
    I am tired of being bled......
    I want to be Bombay again!
    I want to make miracles again,
    I want to be Bombay again!