Over the weekend I watched two movies, ‘Awakenings’ (Robert Di Nero and Robbin Williams) and ‘Bringing Out the Dead’ (Nicholas Cage). If you have been following my reviews in Satyam blogs then you’d be knowing that I am little biased towards Martin Scorsese’s movies, and this is the reason i’d review ‘Bringing Out the Dead’ first.

Martin Scorsese tried to create another ‘Taxi Driver’ with ‘Bringing Out the Dead’ but, honestly speaking, failed at it. The movie is not that awesome but it is not bad either, rather it is a rare misstep for Scorsese. 

Bringing Out The Dead

Unlike most Scorsese’s movies which have lot of bloodshed in them or are gangster movies this one is quite different although there are some scenes in movie which have blood in them. The movie revolves around Frank. Nicholas Cage plays paramedic Frank Pierce.

Frank is in the midst of a serious downtime in his life. He hasn’t been able to save anybody from dying in several months and it’s starting to get to him. In fact it’s driving him crazy. Frank isn’t able to sleep well and when he’s awake he’s haunted by the face of Rose, a young homeless girl who died in his arms. Frank is at the brink and he is starting to lose his mind.

Bringing Out The Dead does have it’s moments though and it isn’t a complete loss. The movie starts out really strong with a lot of dark humor and beautiful night time shots. Frank has a different partner each of the three nights in the movie and the differences between them are really interesting. John Goodman is the first partner and he has a really strong role here. Unfortunately he disappears and Ving Rhames (who is almost unrecognizable with his hair) steps in. I normally like Rhames but his character is so over the top in this movie that he just wasn’t very believable. Tom Sizemore, playing a psychotic paramedic, steps in to provide a little lift near the end of the film.

Bringing Out The Dead

‘Bringing Out The Dead’ really doesn’t try to be the same movie ‘Taxi Driver’ was and so comparisons between the two are probably unfair. Unfortunately for Scorsese, the comparisons will be made, mainly due to the similarities of the two film’s respective protagonists. I think this movie showed a lot of promise early on but ultimately falters in it’s delivery. Recommended if you are a Martin Scorsese or Nicholas Cage fan.

Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim together with Vice-Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso after gracing the wreath-laying ceremony of 146^th Birth Anniversary of Gat Andres Bonifacio filed their Certificate of Candidacy at the Commission on Election (COMELEC), local district of Manila Monday morning.

After the momentous program for the commemoration of Manila ’s great hero, Lim and Domagoso were accompanied by their supporters coming from the 6 political districts of Manila .  “Ngayon ay araw ng pagbabago at mapayapang himagsikan sa lungsod ng Maynila tungo sa reporma. Marami na ang nangyayaring hindi tama.  Parang binabalewala natin yung pagsasakripisyo at pag-aalay ng buhay ni Gat Andres Bonifacio,” Lim said.

He said that it is a revolt for peace, clean, and honest election and a cry for the election of the righteous candidate and good governance. “A government that is clean, honest and true to their oath of office”, Lim added.

Domagoso, born and raised in Tondo, felt honored that he is from Tondo like Andres Bonifacio.  “Isang malaking karangalan na maging taga-tondo.  Sapagkat doon isinilang ang isang dakilang bayani na tunay at nagsimula ng pagbibigay ng kalayaan sa ating bansa.  At natutuwa kami sa ating alkalde, na itong araw na ito ay ito rin ang araw ng paglulunsad ng laban sa mga masasama sa gobyerno at yung mga bolero ang nilalabanan ng samahan at kupunan na ito”, Domagoso said.

Domagoso emphasized Mayor Lim’s performance for providing the city with its basic needs and services such as health and education.  “In 2 years time, 2 ospital, eskwelahan, at health center, we are talking about basic services, health and education were provided during those years, during the term of Mayor Alfredo Lim.  So, sino ang nakapagbigay nyan?  Noong una nyang termino noong dati ganoon din, ngayon ganoon na naman, naibalik na naman, nakamtam na naman ng mga taga lungsod yung kanilang basic services or basic needs, na pinoprovide naman ng kasalukuyang administrasyon.  So doon kami magba-bond sa issue na yun, ” Domagoso elaborated.

 “Ang amin lang pinaglalaban, na kami ay naninindigan sa katotohanan para sa mamayan ng Lungsod ng Maynila na walang pagkukunwari, walang pagbabalat-kayo, kung hindi yung tapat sa kalooban namin ang magbigay ng panunungkulan sa Lungsod ng Maynila”, Lim added. 

 The mayor was accompanied by his legal counsels, Atty. Rafaelito Garayblas, Atty. Renato Dela Cruz, and Atty. David Corpin. Garayblas, “the little mayor” expressed his gratitude and happiness towards the unbeatable tandem.

 On one hand, Joey Silva, Deputy Mayor and now the political campaign manager for KKK party said that despite the positive strength of Lim’s party, they are holding tight their confidence as anything can happen in the campaign period and during the election proper.

 The KKK founded by the Mayor and actively coordinated by Silva, chose the following candidates to run under its wing: Nino dela Cruz, Nestor Lim, Peter Ong, Thelma Lim, Josie Siscar, Lou Veloso, and the majority incumbent councilors, and supports the liberal party senatorial bets.

Timbres commémoratifs de Postes Canada

Qui n’a pas entendu parler du 100^e anniversaire des Canadiens de Montréal?
Cette commémoration a été soulignée sous tous ses angles: des livres biographiques aux pièces de monnaies, à l’achat de l’équipe par la famille Molson.
Sous tous ses angles ou presque… il ne manquait que les timbres lenticulaires de Postes Canada!

Pas tout à fait des hologrammes, ces timbres sont des séquences vidéos tirées des archives et sont animées grâce à une technique d’imagerie que l’on nomme Motionstamp^MC. L’illusion est parfaite, on a l’ impression d’assister aux buts historiques de nos héros. Une première canadienne en philathélie.
Voilà une belle utilisation des archives qui rend ces dernières encore plus vivantes!

Émis le 17 octobre dernier, ces timbres rendent hommage aux grands joueurs de l’histoire du Tricolore.
La première série représente les 500^e buts marqués par Maurice Richard en 1957, Jean Béliveau en 1971 et Guy Lafleur en 1983.  On peut voir à quoi ressemble ces timbres animés à travers le reportage de La Presse canadienne. Le premier ministre Stephen Harper a participé au dévoilement de ces timbres en compagnie des joueurs étoiles comme Réjean Houle et Guy Lafleur.

Souhaitons que les Canadiens de Montréal puissent couronner leur anniversaire de fondation en remportant une 25^e coupe Stanley en carrière.

Go Habs Go!

Postes Canada
http://www.postescanada.ca/cpo/mc/aboutus/news/pr/2009/2009_oct_montreal_canadiens.jsf
http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/9960956e#/9960956e/8

Canadiens de Montréal
http://canadiens.nhl.com/club/l_fr/news.htm?id=502517

 long long long timeee .. i worte a blog !! didn’t knwo what to write !! so I thought to write reg what i was just thinking right now !!

Its nov 27th 2009 !! and the time is almost 11 p.M. !! just finished a call to my friend @ jaipur she scolded me to call her up @ such a time and to make her wake up from  the bed.. getting up from bed is not an issue.. as she will get awake @ 12 noon only irrespective of the time she sleeps.. !! .. but the major issue is to come out in Chilly winter !!  i.e.

ahaaa.. this reminded me that i have not wore a sweater/  since Last 4 years…!!!!!!!!..:-(….
Personnally i foind wearing a JACKET / gloves / Muffler etc to be very interesting and cool !! as it increases one’s style sstatus…and ialways made sure till  DEC 2005 that whatever was the temeperature.  i should be  wearing atleast one of the above things… !! morever i also like the GAJAR ka halwa whc my mom prepares.. spl due to availbility of CARROT in plenty in this days…. ,,, consumption of  GUD.. ( that is JAGGERY.. and NOTTT the other way round .. i tell you ..;-) ) is very much prone to it !!  man !! i really enjoy winter… and not only because of these jackets / JUICE / HALWA etc..etc..  also because few of the things are there ,,, like cracked lips….cracked cheeks.. blowing nose.. and EARS etc..these are the sweet swet  & harmless diseaes which we can get only in winter only… ..:-)… but to my fate.. i haven’t got a chance to have any of these since last 4 years… !!

To the stint of mine and my story for NOT GETTING an ENCOUNTER with all such stuff.. lemme take back to you my time travel area… andsshow you my stints iwth dec / jan and Feb regions of 2006 – 2009 .. i,e, tottal of 4 years !!

starting with 2006 : when i joined satyam.. @ the time of diwali .. i packed my luggage from home and took all the precautionary measures like vaseline lip gurad , jackets etc from home in order to encounter from the forth coming winter Series … …i was very desperate to wear it the first moment i feel the HEAT of winter season..
                                        But My fate… I was transferred to chennai …on 20th nov.. 2006 !! i don’t have any complaints in chennai as it gave me my most beautiful days to live with my friends.. but never gave me a chance to wear a sWEATER….pp; used to ask me on phone .. its cold.. always wear a sweater,, befire u go smwhere… !! and i always laughed in my mind.. wearinga a half sleeve shirt .. !! so YEAR ! passed …

than came the winter 2007 .. by that time we were thinking for the full year ki we will be out of chennai..but luckily..( or unluckily )  i didn’t go out of chennai .. but my friends zaroor went .. providng me the ” LAST WORKIGN DAY AT CHENNAI ” Mail…. antywas. my STINT continued with chennai winters.. wearing a half sleeve shirt on 25 th dec… and looking @ the photos of delhi fogg and and missing the DELHI KI SARDI !! …year came and went !!

year 2008 : a very life turning story happenend in my lyf.. i was aksed to move to Australia in Nov 2009 ..the first thing came to my mind was the orkut and facebook photos of my ONSITE friends. wearing JACKETS and showing their HANDS at the temperature controller with -1 , – 2 , -3 degreees.. came to my mind.. was very happy that i will finally get a chance towear some HOT STUFF between some HOTTIES !! ..in the filght i jkept thinking about my profile pic !! and the comments i will recieve in them… as soon as i landed there.. i felt  sweat coming in from my right temple..koi na koi na.. sanket..u are coming for the first time.. to an unknown land..may be ur bit nervous !! after 30 min i again felt the temple  sweat.. may be ur still nervous !! after  1 hour  .. standing at immigraton line .. i felt some wetty felling on my neck.. yaar i am not soo NERVUOS i said to my self !! meanwhile i got glimpse of the temperature clock at airport ..  temperature 32 degrree clesius.. !! i said.. whatt ! jsut asked my collegu prabhu .. don’t they have winter ever in australia.. 32 degree that too in NOVEMNBER !!! for whc my DEAREST friend replied.. ” BRO.. i think u didn’t study geography oin school !! if u would have read.. u must have knwon that ASUTRALIA is in SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE and THEY HAVE SUMMER @ THE TIME WHEN U HAVE WINTER IN INDIA !!!! .. Oops.. all My photos and jackets crashed !! and I said NAMASTE to my prabhu ( god ) and the to the prabhu ( my collegue )…finally we left the ocuntry after 3 months after all the SATYAM DRAMA !!

now its 27 th nov 2009  and i am waiting for the temeprature to fall for 10degree or less..!! but looking at the temeparture variance of the last days,.. i hardly find it to make up my day !!

EVERY day..i filp the news channel in order to listen to the temperature and clouds monitoring on hyderabad to make the weather a bit   cooler.. !! but these stupid satellites.. on whom we have paid so much taxes and inpite of being lace with crores of equipment don’t give me a hope !! …. lemme hope for year 2010 to get a hope for beong cool for this mr HOTTT !!  .. ..

regards

sanket
 

Montreal Daily Star, 3 November 1886, page 3

The Caledonian Concert

A most successful entertainment in the Queen’s Hall- A Select programme of music and speeches by Hon. Mr. Thompson and others.

The thirty-first annual concert of the Montreal Caledonian Society in celebration of the time honored season of Hallowe’en was held last night in the Queen’s Hall which was filled to the doors with an audience which applauded every number of the excellent programme which had been prepared.  As usual at these concerts an air of friendship seemed to pervade the entire assembly and make all present feel thoroughly at home.  Shortly after eight o’clock the Society’s piper, Mr William Greig, marched on to the platform, playing a lively air, and was followed by the President, Col Stevenson (in Highland costume), Mayor Beaugrand, the representatives of the sister societies and a large gathering of invited guests, among whom were noticed Messrs MH Gault, MP; JJ Curran, MP; Villeneuve, MPP; John S Hall, MPP; Mayor Fell of Victoria, BC; US Consul-General Anderson; Redlere of St. George’s Society; -Thomas, of the Irish Protestant Benevolent Society; Donald Macmaster, QC, MP; RD McGibbon; R Dagleish; James Wright; Andrew Robertson; Rev. Canon Ellegood; Rev. Robert Campbell; Rev. Mr Jordan and a number of ladies.  Several of the Caledonian Society’s officers occupied seats on the platform.  The President Col. Stevenson, opened the entertainment with a short speech in which he welcomed those present and assured them of the desire of the society to cater for their amusement in the best manner possible.  He referred to the deaths of several noted Scottish vocalists and in particular of Mr. Kennedy, the sweet singer who so often delighted Montrealers.  He also spoke with regret the absence of the Rev. Dr. Stevenson, who was attending a final meeting of the members of his congregation.  The Colonel remarked that he had personal reasons to regret the reverend gentleman’s departure from the city, owing to the fact of their being namesakes, but added that Rev Dr Stevenson would be a Stevenson wherever he was and would

Do Credit to his Name.

The first song given was “McGregor’s Gathering,” by Mr JL Johnston, who also sang “Mary of Argyle” and “Scotland Yet.”  Mr Johnston has a pure tenor voice, of full compass and much sweetness, which he keeps well under control.  His style is finished, and he was warmly-applauded.  Miss Florence Forbes followed with “O Whistle and I’ll Come tae ye, my lad,” and responded to a recall with “Bonnie Prince Charlie” with a ~~~ and sweetness of intonation and expression which fairly captivated her hearers.  She has a soprano voice of richness and power, which was heard to great advantage.  She also gave “Doun the Burn Davie lad” and “Caller Herrin”.  Mr JJ Dawson, tenor, of this city, sang “Maid o’ the mill,” “O Nannie, wit thou gang wi’ me” and “Kathleen Mavoureen.”  The first, however, was his best effort.  Mr Cathcart Wallace, the Scotch violinist, is a new arrival here, having come out from the Land o’ Cakes only a short time since.  His style is good and his execution faithful and correct.  He performed Mayseder’s German air in F with variations, and “Recollections of Scotland” in a masterly manner.  Mr. William MacLennan, the champion Scotch dancer, gave a Highland Fling (and on being recalled, a Chantrews), Bucalossi’s waltz “Mia Cara” and “Parazoti”, for which he attired himself in a peculiarly fancy dress, described in the programme as “French costume,” a sailor’s hornpipe and also selections on the hairpipes.  Mrs T Charles Watson, who is ever a favorite with Montreal audiences, gave the recitations, “Cuddie Doon,” “Story told by an Engineer,” and to a recall, a “Description of a steeplechase.”  It is needless to add any praise to this charming lady’s many enthusiastic tributes, as to do so would be like an attempt to paint the lily.  Miss Seymour, a Montreal contralto, sang “Bonnie Sweet Bessie” and “Land o’ the Lead,” in a very pleasant manner.  A feature of the evening was a Scotch Reel and Highland Fling, by the little ones, Jessie and Wm Milne and Frank and W Stewart.  Mr. Herbert Patton acted as accompanist.

The event of the evening was, of course, the address by the Hon Mr Thompson, Minister of Justice, who was introduced by the Chairman.

Hon Mr Thompson

The Hon JSD Thompson, Minister of Justice, made a most eloquent speech which was warmly applauded by those present.  In referring to the old Hallowe’en legend of spirits roaming about under the influence of a spell, he said that the President had exercised a spell upon him and brought him from Nova Scotia to address them.  He said: “I will ~~~ my remarks to two points, first to deliver a message, and secondly to say a few words of humble advice.  I come to you with a message of kindness and Scotch fellowship from 150,000 brethren in Nova Scotia whose hearts are warmly beating for their countrymen here and all through our great Dominion.”  The Hon gentlemen then spoke of the enthusiasm that pervaded the Province with regard to Scottish character and traditions, the language, poetry and legends of “Auld Scotia” still being faithfully adhered to and venerated by the people.

He then spoke of the benefits derived from membership in the Caledonian and other kindred societies, the English and Irish societies of Canada.  “They have fostered among our people the love of home, the love of kindred, and the love of all that is bright and ~~~~ in the literature of the land of our fathers.  (Applause)  But they have done more than that.  They have developed brotherly love and brotherly charity wherever they have been organised.  I am sure it is with you in Montreal as is with us in Nova Scotia that these national societies enable the Englishman to help his brother Englishman, the Irishman to extend the helping hand to his fellow countryman in need, and the Scotchman to greet with warm heart and outstretched hand his brother Scotchman, aye, and that even the stranger who is not our countryman, is the brother of all.”

He quoted Burns’ remark “that the greatest of all the Divine attributes is to take away the tears from all ~~~” and warmly commended the societies for endeavouring to follow in the same steps.  This advice and suggestions which the learned gentleman gave to his audience were to the effect that as the societies grew in strength in the large cities they should extend their influence all over the country and establish branch organisations in every suitable locality.  He warmly advocated a federation of the kindred societies so that they would be united in the grand work of doing good and uniting the brethren in one bond of loving fellowship all over the Dominion.

Mayor Beaugrand, Mayor Fell and Consul-General Anderson expressed their pleasure at being present and cordially wished success to the Society.  “Auld Lang Syne” was then rendered in the way that only Scotchmen are capable of and the National Anthem brought to a conclusion one of the most successful gatherings the society had held.

Montreal Transcript

7 July 1842, page 2

St George’s Chapel

The corner stone of this edifice will be laid on Friday next, the 8^th inst. at eleven o’clock by the Lord Bishop of Montreal, assisted by a number of his clergy.  The building committee, the subscribers to the chapel and the parishioners of Christ’s Church generally, are invited to join in the procession, which will be formed at the house of NP Kurczyn, Esq., in the vicinity of the site of the Chapel, St. Joseph’s Street, Recollet Suburb.

Programme of the Procession and Ceremony

Parishioners- two abreast

Subscribers to the Chapel

Building Committee

The builders

Architect with the plans

The Clergy

The Bishop

On arriving at the foot of the ascent to the platform, the Procession will halt and form two lines, through which the Bishop will walk, followed by the Clergy, &c., inverting the first order of procession.

On arriving at the corner stone, the Rector of the Parish, in the name of the subscribers, will request his Lordship to lay the cornerstone; and, the Bishop, having signified his assent, the Rector will present him the deed of the lot, and the Architect will present the plans.  The sealed bottle, containing the inscription, &c., will then be presented by one of the committee to the Bishop, who will deposit it in the cavity of the stone.  The upper stone will then be laid- the hammer presented to the Bishop by the Builder- prayer.

Procession returns in the same order as before, to the place of departure, halting at the door, and forming two lines, &c.

November is American Indian Heritage Month, so a great way to learn more about these peoples is to visit the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington DC.

This is the 18^th of the Smithsonian’s famous museums and opened on the National Mall in 2004. It features the lifeways, history and art of Native Americans throughout the Western Hemisphere (North America, Canada, Mexico, and some from South America, such as Quechua), partly as a major exhibition space, and partly as a center for performances, films, events, and educational activities.

First, walk all around the outside of this museum to look at the interesting architecture—warm, honey-colored and cream sandstone blocks built to resemble a cliff, with gardens on three sides, demonstrating the types of plant environments many of the Indians had in their lives and what natural resources they had to work with, such as marshes, ponds, hardwood forests. There’s a small area of cultivated crops—corn, cotton, beans, and rows of bright green leaves that museum staff were picking.

They looked a little like kale, but the color was more emerald green than blue-green. I stopped to ask and it turns out that they are mustard greens, which have done very well this year, and the leaves are going to the café’s kitchen to be prepared as some dish tomorrow. What fun. The Mitsitam Café has foods from different regions, served at different stations, for example Great Plains and Meso-America. The food looked very good and interesting, but some were a little pricey for the serving size, I thought. I had a cup of wild fowl and rice soup, which was delicious.

The entrance to the museum is a huge, roughly-circular atrium bedecked with strings of flags from various Indian tribes. The displays are on three levels around the entrance level, and the exhibition and display spaces seem to continue largely with the circular theme: in the main exhibition, each Indian tribe that’s featured has a circular space that’s mostly self-contained, that then flows to another similar space. It’s nicely done and seems a good way of fitting a lot into a given area, probably much more efficient than the traditional square or rectangular open space.

On the 4^th level you find permanent exhibits, “Our Universe” and “Our Peoples”, which aim to tell about the lives, culture, and history of the different tribes and groups. Part of this history includes how these people were affected by the arrival of those from Europe and what these people brought with them, such as guns, diseases and horses. On the 3^rd level is “Our Lives”, which focuses on contemporary Indian life and how it’s affected by other cultures and ideas. The 2^nd level has a smaller permanent exhibit on the local Indians from the Chesapeake area.  

The museum also has changing exhibitions, the larger one on the 3^rd level. When I was there, it was the works of Brian Jungen, whose father was Swiss and his mother a Canadian Indian. He makes objects that look almost traditional Indian, but are made from modern items; for example, a totem pole made of backpacks and a mask made of sports mitts. Some are interesting, some a little strange but all have a story to tell.

The other, smaller, exhibition when I was there was called “Indivisible”, on those people of African-Indian mix. It consists mostly of informational boards, with lots of quotes and pictures, but was amazingly well-attended and was generating quite a buzz, especially among the largely dark-skinned visitors. It makes me wonder how many of these people of this mix there are, and just how isolated they have been and felt. Is this country finally starting to come to terms with some of its racial issues? At least an exhibit like this does bring the subject up for discussion, does open up new areas of thinking, which can only be good. I, for one, had never really thought about an Africa-Indian mix, but now I will. I can only imagine some of the isolation and discrimination they must have been through, and the feelings of “being different” they must have had, because this country hasn’t had a good track record on racial issues (still doesn’t in some ways—but let’s not go there!). Anyway, this exhibit was interesting and thought-provoking, so has achieved something.

All the displays show plenty of movies and videos, and have interactive features. Many school groups visit, so hopefully multi-cultural awareness will slowly grow. All in all, it’s a great museum and a wonderful addition to the already wonderful assortment of museums in the city. Situated between the National Botanic Garden and the Air and Space Museum, it is free and open daily (except December 25).

Montreal Daily Star, 11 June 1884, page 3

St Jean Baptiste

The King’s Costume- General News

The rich costume for the king of the cavalcade has just been completed by Mr Beulian.  It consists in an imitation coat of mail made of cloth of gold, with polished steel greaves and elbow pieces.  The surcoat is of white satin with fleur de lys, with the red cross of the crusaders in the centre; the whole being adorned with an embroidery of gold and precious stones.  The belt is of crimson velvet with golden fleur de lys, and supports the sword which is of steel with golden hilt and velvet scabbard.  The regal robe is of blue silk velvet with gold fleur de lys, and is lined with ermine, being fastened on the shoulder by a gold cord finished with a heavy gold tassel.  The king will also wear a splendid gold collar, ornamented with precious stones, and the crown already described will complete his costume.  A movement is on foot to have the fountain on Victoria Square illuminated by calcium lights during each evening of the St Jean Baptiste celebration.

It is proposed to give signals of the progress of the procession by rockets, to be fired at the start, on reaching the east end and west end of the city respectively, and also at the close of the procession.

Mr. Baillarge, of Quebec, who has in his possession the flag of Carillon, has kindly consented to lend it for the day of the procession, the only condition being that while here it shall be deposited in some church or convent.  The old flag will be carried by Judge Chauveau.

The bakers have decided to attend the procession in a body if their employers will allow them to stay away from work on the night of the 25^th.

Hon Mr JC Blanchet, Provincial Secretary, has accepted the invitation to take part in the procession.

Mr. Vincent Lacombe has just completed the design of a splendid arch to be built at the corner of St Catherine and Visitation streets by the citizens of that locality.  This arch, which will cost about $600, will be 60 feet high by 60 feet wide and will form a square facing on both sides of each street.  The structure will be gothic, with four turrets and a large dome in the centre, on the top of which will be placed a large statue of St Jean Baptiste.

Montreal Transcript

12 February 1842

On Monday, 31^st January, the Germans and their connexion, celebrated the birth of the Duke of Cornwall, in their own well know sociable manner, at Jacob Stellar’s Hotel. 

Many good and loyal toasts were given and heartily responded to.

Vocal music charmed away a few hours, and before parting, as was their original intention, a charitable subscription was got up for the Orphan Asylum of this city.

The blood which flows in the veins of the infant Prince is part Scotch, and part German- although more of the latter, by the bye, than of the former- although he is the son of the Queen of England.  The Germans in this city have ever been pre-eminently distinguished for their attachment to the house of Brunswick.

Return to Innocence!

I know not what to say….I never knew or ever dreamt of seeing certain people again in my life.

There are so many people we meet everyday and in every path of our life…we start of with the outside world at the age of five and from then on it is the outside world that teaches you and you learn from it….you make a lot of connections and you seem to roll of adorning a number of roles, daughter, sister, friend, best friend, acquaintances, known people, known acquaintances, known neighbors, neighbors and every possible relation that human qualifies for…

But in the whole race, you are actually making a small part of your brain that accumulates things that you cherish and also dread…you are actually enriching your memory and making it remember most of the things that are alien to them at that point of time….

There are few faces you remember, there are few names you remember, there are few things you remember, there are few things that you don’t want to remember, there are several of these little few things that keep coming and on your way as you grow and age with mellowness by body and soul…

These certain things form to be larger part of  you and you sometimes wonder, what it is and what that is person is up to now…or what is happening to them all…!

There are certain people who leave an stamp on your life that at almost the every corner of your life you wonder who or what that person is up to….

I remember such a person and had wondered what is he doing now?

I spoke to my XII class teacher after some years, now and the first questions I had asked her after the excitement of meeting her was about this person coz, this person can’t be met again but yes, I can listen to some of his achievements or his whereabouts.

This person…and I were poles apart and we used to fight like cats and dogs at the sight of each other…

I aspired to do medicine and took up pure science in my XII standard to focus on being a medic…but could not.

This classmate of mine also did the same and we were so much in the same class and my above mentioned teacher of Botany and Zoology subjects, the very basics of Human and Plant Life was almost endearing to both of us.

Apart from explaining procedures and theories to me…she used also had to handle this guy and me coz we used to fight almost all the time.

If he had something to say, I had exactly the reverse to say…I used to speak a lot in a English in my school days and blame it on my upbringing…this used to irk a lot of guys down south.

They thought of me as ‘Maya Memsaab’ and the series of events to follow…we used to fight at every instance and then it was a saga every now and then…

He was fond of sports though and I remember thus one day, when I spoke to the Physical Trainer (PT) teacher of the school with pointing my index finger to him….this person got so wild that he went and straight away complained to our botany teacher and asked her to convey me the message that, ‘I had to ask for an apology to the PT sir…’

I remember fighting with my botany teacher for hours together and making her convince that I was all fair and does not need an apology….thus was I.

She tried to patch us up but then we did not budge and he walked out of the class room saying, “as long as she is there in the class I would not attend…”

My teacher had a tough time pacifying both and from that day we were arch rivals…though we tried to know the best of each other from a common source, who else my same teacher…….!!

I was surprised when I got a call from this person and wanting to arrange for an alumina of lost students….I was surprised at how the change in the way we address each other, the way we recollected the memories of yester year…the way we stood and fought for silly things and how we used to refer to a lot of things….

I was surprised when he referred to my way of talking and the way I used to go on in English and he is still fighting to get the best of the language…etc.

He asked, “So did you become a Doctor…” I said…“No chance…”

He said, “You were one of the elite school students, and if you could not I am sure nobody could have…but we hoped that you would have certainly become a doctor…”

This brought pride to my soul…I am again becoming myself ‘returning to innocence’!

It was nice knowing this person and again getting to know him…he is married and has two kids, Aditya and Ashwariya…Lovely kids!!!

I wish him all the luck he could gather and make a beautiful come back!!!

It is nice to meet such beautiful people, lost in sands of time…and it is these ‘kind of people’ make a meaning to the path that you have traveled in spite of your short comings!!

The Montreal Transcript

28 April 1840

THE GERMAN SOCIETY

We noticed a short time since the general nonobservance of Her Majesty’s marriage, by the citizens of this commercial city.  We are glad to have it in our power to quote an exception to this general rule, in the shape of a ball and supper, given by the German Society at the Masonic Hall.  The German inhabitants of this province have always been remarkable for their loyalty, of which they never made a more natural, a fitter, or a more liberal display than on the evening of Friday last, in honour of Her Majesty’s marriage with Prince Albert.  The company was numerous, the arrangements and the supper capital, the health of the Queen Victoria was drank with the most lively enthusiasm, after which that of her noble consort, in the same spirit of loyalty; and the company did not separate until the daylight of Saturday began to dispute for the mastery with the candles.

I was wondering when would I get time to write this as if I didn’t have time, but was postponing it for the sake of postponing.

Somehow I mustered the courage to write this as I didn’t have anything creative to write, but had this urge to write something…

Today I had a dream where I had become a celebrity and a pretty looking lady(am being specific u never know with article 377) Journalist is interviewing me…

This is the snippet of the dream cum interview…..

Lady: What is your passion?

Me : Writing poems, Reading and above all Sleeping.

The lady chuckles and asks me to recite a poem, which she readily ignores once I recite.

Lady: Your views on Cinema and Politics?

Cinema: I like watching them and only drive home of point if it makes sense. Love reviews of Shafs and also his reviews are a cause for me to watch few movies…

The lady interrupts, to know about Shafs, I ignore her as Shafs is a charmer and I wanted this lady for me…

Politics: I vote, yes I have voted and all the times I have voted the person has won. Politics is not my piece of cake but yes I keep a close following of it.

Lady: One good thing you want to happen in India, for people – Long term:

India should be at a place where politicians agenda should not contain food for all, electricity for all, employment for all, house for all etc. Their agenda should be to move India to a brighter world.

Lady: One good thing you want to happen for yourself – Short term

Short term: People read my interview

Lady: One good thing you want to happen for your community of bloggers – Long term

All the bloggers always be in touch let it be through electronic media and always go home happy when they leave this space at the end of the day.

Lady: A frank thing you want to say about one of the bloggers at your community.

I would like to talk about all of them, if I can but would like to name a few

Shafat : U rock Man

KK : Gyan ka bhandar

Nafs : Simply Superb

Vatsal : Jovial

Savita : True and Simple

All Others : I enjoy reading Ur blogs

Lady:  Flirted?

Wow what a question, You didn’t even know I was trying to Flirt with you, this itself says how big a looser I am….

Lady : Loved?

Yes I do love……(Read between the lines )

Lady : A country you want to visit?

The True India(The India I have read and heard about)

Lady : Belief in God?

I adore him.

Lady : One thing you would surely do to uplift this poor country.

Yes I have a plan where when I turn 45, I am retiring to teach children who are unable to make it to this universe of literacy.

The lady is getting attracted to me…(I am excited )

Lady : One secret about you.

I don’t have any such secrets which someone does not know, but yes for a secret “I had flunked in a Paper in 8th and pleaded the teacher to pass me, which he eventually did”. No body knew I flunked.

Lady : Unforgettable memories…

My engineering college days…

The lady starts leaving, I try to catch hold of her and then suddenly tring.. tring…

My Alarm rang and I woke up from my dream.

Irish Vindicator

13 March 1835

St Patrick’s Dinner- Every one has heard of the Frenchman who had learned from Johnson’s Dictionary, that oats were in Scotland the food of men, and in England the food for horses, and who consequently felt a great curiousity to attend a meeting called for the consumers of oats, in order that he might witness with what decorum a meeting between Scotch men and English horses would be conducted. Now we do not have believe such a meeting would be one half as ludicrous as the assemblage of Tories and Orangemen who intend to dine in honor of St Patrick on Tuesday, at the Theatre. Oh! These Tories are good at a trick. An Irishman dining at that table will have to wash himself many times before he becomes a true Irishman. The ladies they say are to look down from the boxes. We hope the women will decline the invitation. A drunken debauch is not a scene for ladies’ eyes.

The Ethiopian Jewish community, called Beta-Israel, lived in seclusion for over 1,000 years, only reconnecting to the Jewish world in the late 20th century. According to Ethiopian tradition, their roots go back 3,000 years to the era of King Solomon. Like their brethren in many parts of the world, Ethiopian Jews suffered persecution for their beliefs and refusal to adopt Christianity. In the Middle Ages their lands were confiscated, villages plundered and many murdered. They were nicknamed Falash – intruders, homeless and without property. Despite the hardships, this community preserved their traditions with great devotion and generations were educated on the value of yearning for a return to Jerusalem, The Holy City, home of The Temple, pure and holy. The Sigd celebrations, Sigd meaning “to bow or prostate oneself”, convey their love and yearning for Jerusalem.

Traditionally the celebrations took place on a hilltop looking toward Jerusalem,signifying a renewal of the bond with God. Now, with a community of over 150,000 in Israel the main event takes place annually at the Sherover Promenade in Jerusalem, overlooking The Temple Mount.Thousands followed the Kessim, the religious leaders, and gathered in the late morning hours in colorful traditional garments or in whites signifying purity, to pray and give thanks. Guests of honor included Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat.

The yearning for Jerusalem has become a reality. Israeli-born offspring to Ethiopian Jews are finding it more and more difficult to identify with the aspirations of their forefathers. First signs are evident that this ancient ethnic celebration of hope and faith might one day be forgotten.

The 35mm f/2 was a pleasure to work with! Light and extremely mobile hanging on my neck – I could easily raise it quickly to get the shot I wanted without scaring off the subject. Some shots were even framed from the chest. I love the shallow depth of field! Most of the work was done at f2.5 ISO100 with very high shutter speeds.  Close and intimate!

nir

I apologize for being very late in posting this, and i mean it:

1. What is your passion?

Listening music, singing, dancing!

Loving beautiful nature..!!

2. Cinema and Politics?

Cinema: I am not a movie buff… But it is must watch when I hv good leisure time. I love comedy – Home alone, romantic comedies like first fifty dates… romantic movies like: Geetanjali (telugu movie) MPK, Message oriented movies like one to mention YUVA… I love pirates of carribean( all parts)

Politics:

— im too low in knwing my current affairs but I try to my best to keep in track wid it

 3. One good thing you want to happen in India, for people – Long term:

India improves – On poor and needy people get shelter, food and education

 4. One good thing you want to happen for yourself – Short term

Short term:  I get a New job

5. One good thing you want to happen for this community of bloggers – Long term

We reach out to society with our say…  (hahah….too mch ..Isn’t it)

6. A frank thing you want to say about one of the bloggers here.

I feel Nafees has a lot of attitude .. (nthng personal jst  a comment)

7. Flirted?

I don’t remmbr if I hv flirted with any1,… bt I wl try to hmmmm: I rmmber in my engg college days I had a huge crush on my classmate in first year( he lukd very similar to Ganguly n (was the topper which I knew later) ). I used to make sure that I am sitting in the same row that he is sitting in. So that I can look at him now and then J  He used to dress up very simple, was a introvert… and one day he was wearing new sports shoe… I slowly commented (ofcourse audible) : “New shoes” … and he simply left unheard…

8. Loved?

Yes I did.

9. A country you want to visit?

 UK – London

10. Belief in God?

My whole world exist b’coz of  him

11. One thing you would surely do to uplift this poor country.

Impart the education I have freely. Which I did but partially… I taught SSC failed candidates to pursue their 10+2 (though gt paid for it… )

12. One secret about you.

One to mention ..: I feel I am very mean sometimes.

13. Unforgettable memories…

My childhood days with my sisters

I pass this ?naire to my other Mota-ite: “Sanket”…

Montreal Transcript

9 March 1847

 St David’s Ball

St David, who, though the patron of Britons the most ancient, has been quite overlooked by Montrealers in the brotherhood of the saints, was honored on his anniversary (Monday eve) by a ball and supper given at Mayo & Flagg’s Exchange, in a style equal to any, and superior to most things of the kind got up this season.  The assemblage of ladies, mostly young, and all looking so, appeared to have been studiously selected from the most beautiful of the city, and in point of tasteful dress they were all perfection.  In the matter for which they were met- dancing- we could only wonder where so many were found so accomplished in the art.  Maffre’s band appeared really inspired by the graces their music brought into action, and, with little intermission, kept the whole in motion till many hours “ayount the twal.”  Not could anything exceed the excellent order maintained by the managers, throughout, in all things.  The ball-room, tastefully decorated with festoons of evergreens, mirrors, flags, and banners of national societies, was brilliant in itself.  And then the supper- the sight alone was a feast- such delicacies, and such profusion- more like the displays we read of in fairy tales, than any thing usually given to mortals, either to witness or enjoy.  Truly, the Old Exchange Coffee House is in good hands, for Messrs Mayo and Flagg proved themselves masters of their profession, and all beneath their roof on the eve of St. David’s day will long remember it as one of the most brilliant and agreeable in their lives.

Ste Catherine is the patron saint of single women, and her day was celebrated often in Montreal by French Canadians.  This ball was an event that invited both French and English among the elite.

Montreal Transcript

26 November 1846

The ball in honour of St. Catherine, which took place in Donegani’s on Tuesday evening, went off, as it was to be expected it would do, with great éclat.  The numbers of persons present reached within a few of three hundred, amongst whom were most of the principal resident families of both races, and the officers of the garrison.  The ladies patronesses exerted themselves with the greatest success to render the visitors happy, and the supper which followed, and which was one of Donegani’s chef d’oeuvres, gave general satisfaction.  On all hands we hear the affair spoken of with delight, and we trust, now that a commencement has been made, that frequent opportunities will be afforded to the English and French populations to mingle together, as on this occasion, on a pleasant social footing.

We should observe that amongst the company were Lady Elizabeth and Major Douglas, and Col Bruce, the latter the brother of Lord Elgin, and who only arrived in Montreal the same day.

La fébrilité commémorative qui embrasait médias, politiques et intellectuels pour la célébration, vingt ans après, de la chute du mur de Berlin me laisse décidément perplexe. Voilà quinze jours que chacun préparait l’évènement à grand renfort de chroniques matinales, d’interviews de protagonistes, d’articles historiographiques, pour communier dans cette apothéose finale que constitua lundi dernier la chute des dominos berlinois. Cela, au nom d’une même exigence : le devoir de mémoire. Et il y a dans cette formule consacrée quelque chose qui ne lasse pas d’intriguer. Qu’est ce qu’est ce devoir de mémoire ? A fortiori, qu’est-ce qui justifie un tel impératif vis-à-vis d’un évènement qui s’est produit dans un pays qui n’est pas le notre ? Enfin, qu’est-ce qui fonde notre sélection des faits passés que nous nous faisons un devoir de célébrer ?

Etymologiquement, le devoir fait toujours référence à une dette. Qui dit dette dit engagement d’un débiteur envers son créditeur. Or je vois mal ce qui justifierait, dans la notion de commémoration, une quelconque dette à l’égard du passé. Et pour commencer envers qui devrions-nous nous sentir débiteur ? La jeunesse berlinoise ? Les dirigeants soviétiques ? Ces policiers qui n’ont pas tiré ? En portant l’assaut au mur de Berlin, la jeunesse enthousiaste avait-elle d’autres préoccupations que sa propre liberté ? Les acteurs politiques, de Mitterrand à Gorbatchev avait-il d’autres objectifs que la satisfaction de leurs intérêts stratégiques respectifs ? Les policiers avait-ils le choix devant l’ordre reçu de laisser faire ? Si dette il y a, elle ne résulte que d’un fantasme, d’une reconstruction a posteriori de l’événement en postulant que chaque acteurs était pleinement conscient des enjeux multiples qui se jouaient là. Ce serait faire fi de la multitude qui caractérise chaque fait historique : multitude d’intérêts contradictoires, multitudes d’acteurs, multitudes de points de vue divergents.

Ce serait également prendre le fait célébré pour ce qu’il n’est pas : une rupture alors que l’Histoire n’est qu’une continuité. La commémoration célèbre le fait historique, non pas comme un fait parmi d’autres, mais comme un tout. Un tout qui nie le passé qui l’a précédé et préparé, mais qui dénie également au futur tout ce qu’il aurait pu être de différent. On commémore ce qui va dans le sens de l’Histoire. Dans ce sentimentalisme exacerbé pointe l’idée que le présent serait l’héritage direct et le prolongement du seul événement commémoré. Or, la chute du mur n’aurait pas été possible sans 1956, 1968, Prague, Budapest, le XXè congrès du PCUS, etc. La fin de la division berlinoise aurait également pu ressusciter une Allemagne aux prétentions hégémoniques et autoritaires. Dans ce grand mélange des genres, des situations et des ambigüités historique, la mémoire collective mobilise le registre de l’affectif dans le sens, soit du ressentiment, soit de l’Amour dans un mode de traitement qui est toujours un peu binaire, manichéen et insensibles à l’immensité des subtilités qui sillonnent l’Histoire. On passe du noir au blanc, du totalitarisme à la liberté retrouvée, de la division à l’union, du mal au bien.

Quant à cette mémoire collective qui sous-tend le devoir de commémorer, elle me semble également infondée. Le tableau de René Magritte représentant un buste de marbre, la tempe ensanglantée après qu’une pierre l’eut heurté, illustre ce qu’est le souvenir, en tant que quelque chose qui heurte, qui balafre, qui traumatise la conscience humaine(1). Emanation de la sensibilité individuelle de celui qui a vu, entendu ou senti, le souvenir crée une rupture dans le processus d’oubli libérateur et force l’individu à un retour au passé, malgré lui, pour se remémorer une souffrance enfouie. Si le souvenir et la mémoire sont propres à l’individu, étendre cette capacité à un « nous » collectif reste extrêmement précaire. Car la collectivité n’a pas vécu le passé. Elle n’a ni vu, ni entendu, mis à part certains de ces membres qui témoignent, avec tout ce que le témoignage a de subjectif. Mais la majorité de ce groupe ne peut dire « j’y étais ». Il n’y a donc pas de mémoire collective possible stricto sensu.

« Les peuples heureux n’ont pas d’Histoire » -Paul Valéry-

On veut souvent nous persuader que l’Histoire, et a fortiori ce que nous tenons pour mémorable, mènent à une forme de sagesse qui nous permettrait de bannir le retour des malheurs passés. Cependant L’Histoire est réservoir dans lequel la conscience peut puiser ce qu’elle veut pour fabriquer du mythe, comme le démontrait brillamment Serge Carfantan en 2004 (2). La commémoration, faire mémoire ensemble de quelque chose, n’est donc en rien le règlement d’une dette que nous devrions payer aux générations passées, ce n’est pas non plus la résurrection d’un souvenir, puisque la plupart des gens n’ont pas vécu le fait historique. C’est la construction d’un symbole. Et je m’interroge sur la validité, le bien fondé d’un tel symbole : édifier un mythe sur la base de la mémoire, par le biais de témoins qui révèlent le stigmate d’une souffrance passée, d’un traumatisme subi, n’est-ce pas nous condamner à un perpétuel état de névrose ? En un mot : nous glorifions « un passé qui ne passe pas », selon les mots d’Eric Conan et Henry Rousso.

Lorsque nous commémorons la chute du mur, nous célébrons la liberté retrouvée des berlinois. Dont acte. Or pour qu’il y ait liberté retrouvée, il faut qu’il y ait eu dictature et totalitarisme. Dès lors, la vérité de la commémoration nous apparaît, non plus comme une joie, mais comme la régénération du douloureux souvenir de cinquante ans de communisme. Pour avancer, la vie a besoin de l’oubli comme condition de son renouveau. Paul Valéry écrivait : « Quand la vie ne sait plus regarder vers l’avenir, elle y entre à reculons, quand elle ne sais plus que regarder vers le passé et le macérer sans fin, elle perd toute sa capacité à créer. La vie avance à mesure que l’oubli cicatrice les plaies du passé » (3). L’oubli serait donc une libération que veut altérer l’Histoire par les stigmates qu’elle laisse sur la conscience collective.

Il me semble que ce mouvement de commémoration appartient au champ de la névrose et de l’irrationnel. Connaître l’Histoire est une chose. Reproduire et rejouer littéralement un moment historique m’apparaît comme une maladie de l’âme de nos sociétés. Tout se passe comme si l’on voulait refaire tomber un mur que l’Histoire n’a point fait tomber assez, ou  dans un sens autre que celui que l’on aurait souhaité. Car au delà de la célébration, il y a cette conscience que la chute du mur a sans doute marqué l’avènement d’une époque plus dangereuse encore que la précédente. La fin des années quatre-vingt a vu de nouveaux dangers et de nouveaux conflits surgir. Comble de l’ironie pour un Occident qui se réjouissait de la fin de l’Histoire. Par la célébration mimétique de la chute du mur, nous tentons, en vain, de faire revivre des valeurs qui sont justement passées, autant que de conjurer les menaces qui sont nées de cette situation nouvelle.

Symptôme de cette névrose, le devoir de mémoire est devenu, par son organisation, la nouvelle religion postmoderne après que les grands monothéismes aient été chassés de la sphère publique. Les livres d’Histoire deviennent Bibles, Torah et Coran. Les tribunes de discours ont remplacé les autels, les tribuns les prêtes, les citoyens les croyants, les commémorations les messes. Alain Finkielkraut écrivait dans son dernier livre que « l’Histoire est l’avatar moderne de la théodicée » (4). Nous en sommes là, je le crois. Preuve sans doute que l’Homme ne peut se passer d’un rapport au spirituel ? L’Histoire remplace Dieu. Elle sait tout, elle justifie tout, elle explique tout. Et ce besoin du mémorable ne se limite plus à la France, il s’internationalise. Dans le grand ensemble mondialisé, la mémoire collective ne se satisfait plus des histoires nationales. Elle voit plus grand, comme en témoigne la présence de Nicolas Sarkozy à Berlin pour l’anniversaire de la chute du mur et celle d’Angela Merkel pour la célébrations du 11 novembre à Paris. Un peuple qui ne connaît pas son passé s’expose à le revivre disait Eli Wiesel. Certes. Mais nous gagnerions parfois à laisser l’oubli recouvrir le passé de son voile doux et léger. Un voile qui ne cache pas, mais qui attenue. Non pas pour renier ce que nous fûmes, mais pour cicatriser des plaies que nous réouvrons sans cesse en nous complaisant dans cette fièvre commémorative.

« Il n’y a pas d’Histoire de la paix, la paix ne participe pas au temps »    -Nietzsche-

—————————————————————————————————————————————————

(1) : Paul Valéry – Regards sur le Monde Actuel

(2) : http://sergecar.perso.neuf.fr/cours/histoire4.htm

(3) : René Magritte – La Mémoire

(4) : Alain Finkielkraut – Un cœur intelligent

]]> http://mota-blogs.com/2009/11/11/as-we-go-down-life%e2%80%99s-lonesome-highways/ Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:44:52 +0000 NS VAITHEESWARAN http://mota-blogs.com/2009/11/11/as-we-go-down-life%e2%80%99s-lonesome-highways/

AS WE GO DOWN LIFE’S LONESOME HIGHWAYS

IT’S ALWAYS HARDEST THING TO DO

TO FIND A FRIEND OR TWO

THAT HELPING HAND

SOMEONE WHO FEELS

IF YOU FEEL YOU HAVE LOST YOUR WAY

YOU GOT SOMEONE THERE TO SAY I WILL SHOW YOU

THAT’S THE WAY…

Childhood friends till one’s lifetime are treasures which no one want to lose it. I m the same who just want to have nostalgia of the life we went through till date and particularly when we travel in difficult phase of a relationship. ’Langotiya Yaar’  meaning childhood friend is a word which I relate always to this person for me this fellow is what the world of friendship means. When I was available for all these years to wish him for his birthday falling the immediate day after birth of Chacha Nehru , this year I won’t be available to smell the sweet of love and affection which I received for all these years. Why? The answer is simple and obvious : quarrel. Leave apart all these, I will never shed negative thoughts in my mind of him and I want to share my divine friendship with a fellow whom I know from the day when India knows Sachin Tendulkar and I want to remember him until the world sheds its last breathe and even after that.

College days , official friends acquaintances fell short of what a real Childhood friend can give you and hope there won’t be any disparity on this. Life is sweet for those who have such and I personally know the real depth of friendship lies there. For say, there are days when we both have lived a life sans everything in life and enjoyed the life more than anyone. The day when I first saw this personality , in fact from the day when we walked hand in hand to our first day of schooling and till date when we live a corporate life working for multinationals, this fellow means a lot to me. Life is a game where we travel in different phases and we shall know when the same actor plays of all these roles and when we can really visualize the changes in phase, emotions and living style and the life teaches you that no matter what you be , no matter what the life’s intolerable phase you are passing , there is one who can be depended upon just to show the way you ought to travel. (Go through the lines above and continue reading) It’s always special to remember those funny days we lived , travelling the length and breadth of the country and living what the life is called a life and enjoying every moment one can presumably live with smile laugh and sanity. This is a life in life for me.

Defence quarters where I lived my livelihood till being here in Satyam is a place where one can see the real bunch of characters spanning regions languages and most important the bunch of friends one gets are next to real. I was lucky that he was with me for all these years while seeing the possibility of transfers is huge when being children of officers of this profession. Huge playgrounds, state of art indoor stadiums, amalgamation of twenty odd families and with nice friends I got this fellow a gem of all gems. Living in these atmosphere is altogether a different story and it speaks volumes of nativity we get though being miles apart the native we live in.

P.S: Memoirs of my life best relation: My life in a life

The Last Day in Goa

So we woke up early and got ready before the bus comes for the South Goa tour. We decided to take some pics in and outside the hotel, not because we loved the place soooo much, but because we wanted to keep the memory of one of our best struggles alive in our minds and hearts. As the bus came, we were all surprised because it was almost a semi Volvo and we were all in doubt that just for Rs 150 per head, how can they give us such a nice bus to us for South Goa Darshan. We went inside without making any inquiries because certainly we didn’t want to give them any ideas . After reaching a certain place, they asked us to climb down and wait for another bus, and our suspicions started increasing about the credibility of the Travels. One person from them was waiting along with us so we were a bit assured that at least they wont leave us here only. But just after 20 mins, a mini bus came (like the Setwin bus of Hyderabad) and he asked us to get in it. This was it now! We started fighting like anything with that guy. We argued that initially they bring such nice bus and then they take us in this Khatara. Since we were 6 guys, the driver decided against fighting with us and assured us that we will go in the very bus we came in and he will drop us till that bus. Happily we got inside and this time there was no problem. We landed safely in the bus we came in. 

The rest of the South Goa tour was quite smooth and we didn’t face much problem apart from scattered showers at some places. In the evening, we also enjoyed the cruise. The cruise, by the way, didn’t seem that attractive to me as the hype about is. They dance and they have a disco but it was not worth spending a whole evening over there I felt. Anyhow, today we didn’t screw up at all and we went to bed with peace and satisfaction in our mind and believing that.. “Dukh bhare din beete re bhaiya… ab such aayo re!!” (Sad days have gone and happy days are here again!!). Tomorrow we will catch the train and we will be back to home with splendind stories to tell our friends and burn their as*es. But as Mr Murphy’s curse was not ready to leave us, we were going to have the biggest shock of our whole journey. 

(Those who have read Part 1 & 2 must be thinking what bigger a shock.. keep reading ahead.. there is plenty of entertainment for you!) 

We had arranged for a cab in the early morning for 600 Rs to take us till Vasco station and don’t think that the cab ditched us, it was dot on time. We reached station 45 mins before departure time and we were happy to see the train waiting for us on Platform No 1. You’ll be thinking, ‘what can go wrong now’ right? Listen now. Due to the smartness one of us possessed, he suggested to check our names in the chart. We all started making fun of him that even after we have a confirmed ticket, whats the need to check name? He was still not satisfied so we went ahead since there was nothing else for us to pass our time with. As we went their and started looking for S11, our coach number. But the list ended at S9 only. We thought these guys must have gone out of paper (in a government organization, we make such assumptions also!!!) or out of mind; so we decided to check our bogie. We kept walking… S5… S6..S7..S8..S9.. General and that’s it!! Our hearts started thumping rapidly. We thought S10 and rest might be ahead, so lets go and check. As we were walking, the wise guy asked one of the cleaners on the train where S10 & S11 were and he told these coaches were cancelled!! 

Can you imagine?? Not the whole train, but only 2 coaches were cancelled!! Now you got how you can get screwed in the least expected scenarios???? Let me explain you why this happened. The train which goes from Hyderabad to Vasco is not a whole train but only a bunch of bogies. A train which goes to Yashwantpur from Hyderabad, carries these bogies with itself upto some station. These bogies are there released, and another train, which comes from Yashwantpur carries these bogies towards Vasco. The same happens in the reverse journey as well. And due to the floods in Andhra Pradesh, the train which was supposed to come from Yashwantpur didn’t come yesterday and so our bogies also didn’t come with it. So naturally, there were no bogies for us and moreover, all the trains going to Andhra Pradesh from Goa were cancelled!! Now we were stuck in a grand screwing program where we couldn’t even leave the station because we had to reach Hyderabad tomorrow at any cost and we also couldn’t go to Hyderabad since there was no conveyance. 

We decided to follow Kareena’s foot-steps. Didn’t get?? Arey we went to the station master’s cabin just the way she goes in Jab We Met . He suggested that we can go till Guntakal in the same train and catch the Yashwantpur train from there till Hyderabad. This sounded like a cool idea. We asked, ‘so in which coach we can get in, Sir?’. He told that these tickets were no more valid, so we can only travel in General coach. Now those who have traveled in General coach can only guess our agony. To make the matter worse, let me tell you that this train was going till Hawda, so all the passengers in General coach were long term ones’ and none of them was going to get down before. Still, without any real options, we decided to take the path our angel had suggested to us and bought 5 General tickets till Guntakal.

 Now let me tell you some facts about General coaches in India. The first and foremost thing is that if you are traveling through General coach, forget your natural pressures like going to Toilet and all. Because once you are fixed at a place, you cant move, even if you want to! And if you are lucky to get a seat, then you are even unluckier than those who are standing. Because first of all, you wont be able to move your legs for a bit. Secondly, every now and then, someone will ask you to move ‘little bit’ to make place for them. And you end up moving in virtually no place at all. And if you are standing, you are constantly worried about your pockets. Every now and then someone asks you to make passage for them since they want to go to bathroom. There are sooooo many problems that one whole post will be required for them to be listed. In short, we faced all this problems. I got a place in the above shelf which was too near to the ceiling of the coach and I had to hold the ‘pressure’ for almost 3 hours. 2 more of us were sitting downwards and with the ‘same’ expressions on their faces. The rest of 2 had already surrendered and decided to sit in the Sleeper Coach and they said they will pay the penalty but wont sit there. We also decided the same after 3 hours of agony! But the problem was that we had the whole luggage of 5 people with us and there was no way we would be able to transfer it all to the nearest sleeper coach at any station owing to the really packed General coach.

 But still like the Ocean’s 11… oops… Ocean’s 5, we all demonstrated great coordination and shifted all of the bags to the next sleeper coach and sat there expecting a TT to come any moment and rip us apart. And guess what! The worst of your fears always become true and the best of your desires always unfulfilled!! Just after 20 mins, the TC showed up!! He asked for the ticket and we showed the one which was already cancelled. And he told us the same. When such situation comes, my loyal friends always decide to stay mum, leaving the whole dealing stuff on my poor shoulders. Now I had to satisfy this person who was not interested in taking any bribes. I didn’t ask him for any, but normally in such situations, they only tell the ‘way out’. But this guy brought his penalty book and started putting the carbon papers in it. I was impressed with his honesty and ashamed of our dishonesty, but what could we do!! We had the ticket but the rains screwed us!!

 I looked at him surprised when he told that our ticket was invalid. I lied that the previous TT allowed us to sit here with these tickets and also told us to get down at Guntakal to catch the same train! He believed me and told that yes, that previous guy (who didn’t exist!) was right that we should catch the train from Guntakal but this ticket will not do and we’ll have to pay the fine. I showed him the general tickets till Guntakal which I told him that we bought just ‘in case’ required. He praised us for buying the ticket but still pressed for paying the difference between general and sleeper. We all had already empty wallets (luckily!!) and I had only 400 Rs. I said, ‘see sir, we are not traveling without ticket and also we are not doing this too fool Indian Railways. Our coaches got cancelled and we cannot do anything about it. At the same time, we also cannot leave this train due to our official commitments. If your duty requires us to pay the penalty then all I can offer at this time is only 400 Rs which is only penalty for 1 person. The rest I can give you at Guntakal if there is an ATM (which I was sure wont be there by hearing the name!!) and more than this I cannot do. Now you decide what the best way is.’

 That guy became really sentimental and took the 400 Rs and gave us the receipt. And also gave us firm instructions on which train to catch from Guntakal and what time it will come and all. I was relieved after getting rid of another problem and we all reached Guntakal while sitting on the stairs of the sleeper coach!

 Against my belief, Guntakal was a really good, neat and comparatively Hitech station. All the displays were digital and the enquiry counter also had a microphone with him so that people don’t have to peek in to listen to him. We were really hungry so enquired about good hotels and decided to take an auto till there. Now for us, who stay in metro cities, auto walas of railway stations are a big headache. Because they wont settle for less than 2 times the actual fare. We went and asked a auto wala ow much it will cost for 5 people with luggage till that hotel. He said 30 Rs. We asked 30 rs per head??? He said No, total 30 Rs. We were awestruck. We thought all the Hyderabad auto walas should be brought here and taught about honesty from these noble people. We had the same experience at the hotel also. The food was really delicious and on a roof top garden hotel, where we ate like we never ate before, our per head bill was not more than 70 Rs. Happily we left the place and went to station to wait for our train.

 Here also the same problem was going to repeat. We were strategizing about our struggle in the night since here also we don’t have any ticket and we’ll have to stay in front of the toilet for the whole night. As the arrival time was approaching, there were many like us on the station because 3 out of 4 trains were cancelled till Hyderabad and this was the only train so every one wanted to catch this one. People started encircling the Station Master to get a possible birth in the train. We heard the news that the train was pretty empty and possibly we might get a birth. But we decided not to get over-excited, owing to the events which had already played a huge part in the fiasco of the grand Goa program. As soon as the train came, we got into it. And the coach we got in was quite filled. We were standing in front of one of the toilets where one of the ‘over-smart’ passengers asked why we were standing there. We told about our problem but he asked us to leave that place at once or else he’ll call the TT. Cursing him, we went to the next bogie and guess what!! Almost the entire coach was empty. We all took one birth each for ourselves and went to sleep. Let the TT come, we’ll take care of him. And luckily enough, this night, the TT never showed up!

 We reached Hyderabad safe and sound. The whole Goa program went 180 degree from what was decided. There were no chicks, no paragliding, no speed-boating and no fun on the beaches. But to be frank, this was one of the best tours I ever had! But this doesn’t mean I want it to be repeated!!

Journey on the steps of Sleeper Coach

ज़िन्दगी में काफी सारे मौके आते है जहाँ उल्ज़ने आप को घेर लेती है ,तब एक मित्र ही आपको हँसाने की कोशिश करता है..आपको समझता है..समझाता है..आपके “mood” को पहचानने वाले उन मित्रो के लिए कुछ पंक्तियाँ..जिसे आप कह सकते हो “परिभाषा मैत्री की “

सरगम से एक सुर कम सा लगता है,

जब दोस्त के मन में  गम सा रहता है,

सप्तरंगी मेघधनुष में एक रंग की कमी है,

जब देखते दोस्त के आँखों में नमी है,

मित्र की उल्ज़नो को सुलजाने का करते हो आप प्रयास,

ले के कई आस,

पर जब फर्क नहीं पड़ता ख़ुशी में ख़ास,

तब आप भी होने लगते हो उदास,

पर, फिर भी कायम रखते हो उम्मीद,

अपने अजीज़ मित्र को खुश करने की जिद,

अचानाकसे जब कोई उपाय कर जाता है काम,

तब जा के लगता है कोशिशों को एक अल्पविराम,

बस गम की छाया होती है दूर,

मिल जाता है मेघधनुष को अपना रंग और सरगम को अपना सुर,

दोस्ती बस इसका नाम है ,

ये शब्द ही करता अपने आप को बयाँ है.

अच्छे दोस्त पाना एक नसीब की बात है,

अपने आप से लगती कोई मुलाकात है,

याद रखो दोस्ती को ,चाहे कितनी भी हो व्यस्तता,

क्या पता आपकी हलकी सी कोशिश कर सकती है दूर मित्र की व्यथितता!

Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim led the celebration of the 81^st birth anniversary of the late Vice-President of the Republic Salvador “Doy” Laurel in the wreath-laying ceremony held at the Roxas Boulevard corner Pedro Gil Street .  The celebration was also attended by Laurel ’s wife, Mrs. Celia Diaz-Laurel and family and close friends.

Others who offered wreaths were, National Historical Institute Executive Director Ludovico Badoy, Manila Historical and Heritage Commission Vice-Chairperson Gemma Cruz-Araneta, City School Superintendent Dr. Ponciano Menguito, Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino Chairman Joe Lad Santos.

Lim told the students present of an interesting background of Laurel being the fifth son of the late President Jose P. Laurel and served as Vice-President of teh Republic together with then President, the late Corazon Aquino. 

He also commended Laurel ’s action in giving way for his presidential bid for President Aquino in the snap election. He was the founder and standard bearer of the United Nationalists Democratic Organizations (UNIDO).

The mayor admired Laurel ’s stand and fought against the Martial Rule during the Marcos Regime.  “Bihira lang ang mga taong tumayo at lumaban sa diktaturya na kagaya ni Doy Laurel ”, Lim added.

Lim challenged everyone present that the key is in their hands towards change.  “Kayo ang hahatol kung sino ang dapat na iluklok sa pwesto at iyan ang hamon sa atin ni Doy at President Jose P. Laurel”, Lim stated.

Doy Laurel ’s wife, Celia, cited one of the most notable deeds when Doy Laurel authored five “Justice for the Poor” laws, also known as “LaurelLaws.

Mrs. Laurel said, “Doy Laurel never failed to think about the country though he was in abroad and sick”.  She shared the words of Doy saying, “You don’t have to be in the government to serve people.  Your neighbors are already enough.  Serving them means serving the country because they are citizens of this country.”

“Love for country is something that no one can take away from you”, the words from Celia Laurel which she asked the future generations to remember.  Through this, the dream of President Laurel and her husband, Doy, will come true, she added.

Lim commended the students from Jose P. Laurel High School who rendered a song number that touched and impressed the people present and said that they must be given a scholarship in music in order to develop more of their singing talent.