Jaidutt's Blog

Cute lil thing

Got this from the TOI, Sunday Edition.

Isnt he/she looking cute ?

posted by jaidutt @ 7:54 PM 2 comments

Heartless in Mumbai

Well I was casually reading the paper today and saw this article.

Well what can I say....Its pretty strong, but some occasions require one to take a strong line.

HEARTLESS IN MUMBAI

Along with the just past Raksha Bandhan day, it’s time to institute a Raksha Bandhan week. To many women out there, the charming tradition of honouring their brothers and — gulp — seeking their protection has become somewhat meaningless today.

The message is loud and clear — women need to learn how to protect themselves in this city of eunuchs (Mumbai), where a 19- year-old was butchered in broad daylight, and not one of the many men around had the guts to intervene. Had even a single man raised an alarm and got the others to overpower the murderer (a slightly-built fellow, wielding a kitchen knife), Leisha Choan from Manipur would have been alive today, and her friend, Ngakuim Raony, unscarred and untouched.

The tragic fact is only two people in a crowd of over 500 at the Gateway of India responded — one (Ngakuim) became a victim herself and is recovering on a hospital bed. The other was a visitor to the historic site, who bravely saved Ngakuim’s life. But what about the ones who stood around and watched an innocent girl’s throat being slit? Worse, the devilish persons who reached for their cellphones and took video clips of this ghastly incident? Or, for that matter, the press photographers who rushed to freeze the stomach-churning images of the victim lying in a pool of her own blood? What prevented those fellows from instinctively rushing forward and saving Leisha? The key word here is ‘‘instinct’’. Alas, we have lost it. What ought to have happened instinctively, did not. The reflexes were simply not there.

This apathy speaks volumes about people’s growing hard-heartedness. Nobody wants to get ‘‘involved’’. Nobody wants a lafda. But everybody participates in cheap thrills. And nobody thinks it obscene to make money out of a tragedy. Without our realising it, we have allowed phone cameras to rape our conscience. The ‘‘instinct’’ today is to first whip out a cellphone and record anything that has commercial value — never mind how gory.

The brutality of the act was matched by the indifference of onlookers and the insensitivity of the media. Close-ups of Leisha’s mangled body were telecast for two straight days. I kept wondering what her parents must have gone through, in case they were anywhere near a television screen. Are we in media truly doing our jobs, or are we pandering to some sort of a perverted, sick need in society to devour such visuals? And beg for more?

The last time the Gateway of India’s cobbled stones were covered with the blood of innocents was when a bomb blast took place and a taxi loaded with explosives shattered the psyche of a city that was still coming to terms with the earlier serial blasts. But that was an act of terrorism planned and executed by motivated forces.

The Gateway Butcher (Junaid Patel) was a lone attacker. And to all appearances, it was an unplanned act by a deranged individual. And to think, he could’ve strolled away after committing it, perhaps slashing randomly at any and every one in his path, had a few cops not been around, is a terrifying prospect for a city still unaccustomed to these sort of ‘‘New York style’’ crimes. We in Mumbai used to boast at one time, ‘‘Whatever else this place may be, it’s safe for women.’’ I’d like to believe it still is. But, I still can’t find it within myself to forgive the namarads who stood around and watched a 19-year-old girl die. Some of them must have sisters. What sort of raksha can those women count on from such men?

A time has come to reverse the ritual. Or better still, leave the charm intact by tying raakhis, womanto-woman. We can do a better job protecting ourselves. And yes we don’t mind extending the service to men in need either!

------- Shobba De in the SUNDAY TIMES dated 21/08/2005

posted by jaidutt @ 7:47 PM 1 comments

My peace of mind : The Chronicles Begin

Long time since I have posted. And almost everyone I know is calling me a sluggard as I have not yet got down to posting my so called chronicles. Me thinks it’s high time too that I actually posted some happenings from my new life.

Well for the uninitiated, I have joined India's largest construction company and was asked to join at company HQ which is in Chennai on 1st July 2005.

I returned from my whirlwind across the India tour on 27 June (more about it sometime later). One day to pack and I was off on the 29th by the evening train to Chennai. One day prior to leaving for the India Tour, I received a letter from my company saying that I was to report on the 30th by 3 pm. But by this time I already booked my ticket and was scheduled to reach by 9 pm. I talked to the helpful P & OD officials who assured me that it would ok if I reported directly to the hotel on the 30th but that would mean that I would miss the informal introduction session.

So by the time I reached Chennai at 9 pm on the 30th I was both anxious and nervous as to what sort of people I would find when I reach the hotel. The train journey was largely uneventful except for the fact that grandfather of the family with whom I was traveling spilled coffee on me twice and the little kid just wouldn’t sleep without howling for at least an hour. To add to this they put on the overhead fan in the AC compartment, giving me a nice cold (The baby cannot sleep without cool air, they told me)

From the railway station in Chennai to the Hotel, it was an half hour journey in a pre-paid taxi, where I actually paid the fare after I reached the hotel (that too 10 Rs more than bargained for :{)
When I reached the Hotel I was ushered into the lobby and then taken to my room (No. 425). My roomie that already checked in and was probably dining. So I too dumped my baggage and barged into the dining room to indulge in my favorite hobby. Me thinks that they had actually named the dining room with a rummy name, which I didn’t care to remember.

After what was a sumptuous meal (It would always be) I left to go back to my room. The door was opened by my roomie. After the initial introductions were over, he asked me matter-of-factly.

"Smoking or Non smoking?”

After the initial shock somewhat subsided, I responded with a courteous smile and a "NO"

"Hmmm" he said...”Then do you mind if I...”

With a more enthusiastic smile, a half brained creature that I am, replied "Ohh... No problem what so ever".

And in here lies the reason why from that day onwards to date I cough for almost one-sixteenth time of the day. OK OK that was a slight exaggeration. But yours truly is not accustomed to being a passive smoker so I was quite uncomfortable sometimes especially when the "fragrance" used to pervade the room. I distinctly remember spraying half my deodorant bottle all over the room once while he was out. Me thinks he figured this out and started to smoke in my absence. Sensible fellow.

Two things of note in my room were the little refrigerator and the shower cubicle (Well actually everyone had them). Now this little refrigerator was in possession of my chocolates and other foodstuff that had been dumped in my bag by my grandmother. It had two soft drink bottles which were changed every day. Thus my morning pre-breakfast eating would consist of a soft drink and some homemade snacks.(Point to note: pre-breakfast eating :) )

And my daily rituals of bathing were performed in the shower cubicle. Now those who know me are well aware of the fact how an indulgent a bather (does such a word exist?) I am. I refuse to walk out of the bath unless the clock shows an occupancy time of at least half an hour. I believe in the aboriginal belief that bathing cleanses the soul with the body (Do they? I don’t know :D ). Well none the less this particular bath had a shower cubicle, a novelty I am not accustomed to. I have nothing against shower cubicles, its just the fact that their vertical alignment cannot be altered and they eventually end up showering you at err.. inappropriate places. I wasted no time in switching over to a conventional shower and immediately regained my peace of mind.

And thus start the chronicles .....

posted by jaidutt @ 7:30 PM 4 comments