O' Little Anna, I sing to you a song
Since you are so sleepy, it won't be too long
In the kingdom of Dredzarn, there lived once a queen
Fair face , deep eyes, a beauty, she was unseen
Her king was a noble, gentle, he was at heart
And this is how the song is finally gonna start
The young prince was the apple of all eyes
He loved a pretty damsel, she was his sweetie pie
Adored was the royal family by one and all
yet within the castle, lay one, plotting their downfall
The grand old vizier was the beloved of the king
Hymns & Songs to his glory, he would always sing
What was devotion in the day, became wickedness at night
At 3 in the early morning, he challenged the King's might
A duel did take place between the two men
The vizier was too fast, & our king was slain
Throw out, he did, the Queen from her abode
"I am the emperor", in a loud voice he croaked
Our young prince was not in the palace when
this bloodbath had devoured his kith & kin
Torment & agony was unleashed on the masses now
They longed for their prince to liberate them but how
The damsel who was the love of the prince's life
Reminded was she of her love, amidst all the strife
The hero of our plot had not lost all hope yet
Secretly he plotted and thus the stage was set
The great war began when the prince entered the city door
Masses went berserk, they wept themselves sore
On the shoulders of these yeomen, he rode himself to the palace
The vizier cowered behind the throne, with the crown & his chalice
One stroke of the sword, his severed head lay on the ground
That very moment, the beloved prince was crowned
And one of these yeomen, who had fought the guards at the door
Removed his armour, and the damsel came to the fore
One deep kiss, it seemed it would last a lifetime
Oh look at dear Anna, she sleeps before the clock has chimed
Oh L'il Anna has finaly fallen asleep
Oh how she is curled up in her slumber deep
Monday, May 26, 2008
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Munger Diaries IV- Hic! Hic!
Ever heard of a workers' party?....Well I hadn't!....Apparently there is this ritual in ITC Munger, where workers occasionally invite their managers to join them for a plate of chicken & several glasses of drinks....hmm...I didn't know that, so, when my Guide (or sub guide(s)) asked me to come along with them for a "workers' party", I readily agreed....According to them, it was going to be a great learning experience in developing an understanding of workers' mentality...Now that its past me...lemme just say that was only partly true...
So, What comes to your mind when you think of a party?....A restaurant?....A Banquet hall?.....Nopes!...Not at all!....This party was in the road side gumti type of a place....where "managers" generally don't go out to eat....The menu: Non Veg only...Booze Compulsory....Cigarettes to smoked whenever you aren't chewing anything!.....Such a misfit I was in this party....Add to it the fact that the workers got drunk in a couple of drinks...& the managers not wanting to be left behind, gladly joined the workers in a who drinks the most competition....the guys I had come with were now completely sloshed...& we were supposed to drive back!!!
Another twist in the tale...I had the room keys & my poor roomie was buzzing me minute after minute...Whenever the phone rang, these drunkards would start screaming & howling....and oh...the place was kinda in the outskirts & it was already 10:00!!....
Anyways, the kind people had paneer made for me & brought sprite for me ( I shall be eternally grateful for that) & to top it all, delicious raseelae rasgullas...anyways, the camaraderie between the workers & the managers was worth seeing....in spite of all the drinks...
The ride back home was as eventful as anything...drunk managers, driving at 60-80 kmph....village roads...blaring music....& screams & yells of "Hat jaa raaste se &^%$$"...
All in all an eventful day!...Very different experience!!!....
So, What comes to your mind when you think of a party?....A restaurant?....A Banquet hall?.....Nopes!...Not at all!....This party was in the road side gumti type of a place....where "managers" generally don't go out to eat....The menu: Non Veg only...Booze Compulsory....Cigarettes to smoked whenever you aren't chewing anything!.....Such a misfit I was in this party....Add to it the fact that the workers got drunk in a couple of drinks...& the managers not wanting to be left behind, gladly joined the workers in a who drinks the most competition....the guys I had come with were now completely sloshed...& we were supposed to drive back!!!
Another twist in the tale...I had the room keys & my poor roomie was buzzing me minute after minute...Whenever the phone rang, these drunkards would start screaming & howling....and oh...the place was kinda in the outskirts & it was already 10:00!!....
Anyways, the kind people had paneer made for me & brought sprite for me ( I shall be eternally grateful for that) & to top it all, delicious raseelae rasgullas...anyways, the camaraderie between the workers & the managers was worth seeing....in spite of all the drinks...
The ride back home was as eventful as anything...drunk managers, driving at 60-80 kmph....village roads...blaring music....& screams & yells of "Hat jaa raaste se &^%$$"...
All in all an eventful day!...Very different experience!!!....
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Munger Diaries III : The Battle of Munger: Napoleon Vs Alexander
I have always felt a little too attached to history. It was & still is one of my favorite subjects. Its fascinating to know how the events if the past still have an impact on the way we feel, act & behave today. Anyways, my current roomie happens to be an IITian, and you know how intimidating they can be. My cousin was an IITian & the sheer amount of knowledge he has.....on anything & everything is so damn amazing.
Anyways, thats not the case here....I was (as usual) playing the Rise of Nations- the Napoleon Campaign, when this bugger starts asking me how the game is played and stuff...So I very patiently (Impossible, you say?) try and explain him the rules & stuff, when suddenly he asks me why is there no India in the map (As in there is a map which shows all the territories that are available for conquest...Since India was never in Napoleon's cross hairs, India was not shown in the map)...I tell him that Napoleon never attacked India...."No way", is the reply....."Napoleon Bonaparte & Alexander the great fought a battle somewhere in North India & Napoleon had lost"....hmm...Interesting thought...Re-writing History??.....Anyways, I very poitely yell at him & inform him that there was a difference of at least 2000 years between the two men & hence the twain never did fight in the plains of north India....& thats not it, the bugger has also been trying to convince me that the jews worship Christ ( a very dear friend of mine suggested they worship Zeus!!!) . he has also tried to confirm a couple of times that Hitler did indeed fight in the second world war....So Sundays in Munger do occasionally bring fun & mirth....
Anyways, we went exploring Munger city today (In an official Ambassador of course...ahem! ahem!)....& I spent 300 bucks (It felt awesome to be able to spend in hundreds again!!), the boat ride on the ganga, the gandhi bazaar & finally the chandika mandir...
Now, the chandika mandir is supposed to contain the eyeball of a goddess sati, worshipped by Karna. Its a small but famous temple, yet the pujari is nothing short of a thief...."Beta 51 rupaiye maa ke naam dijiye aapki sab manokaamnaayein poori hongi"...This after I had already chadhaofied the daan....The same thing had happened in Kolkata also....Its like, you go to a temple to find peace, and come back even more disturbed. These pujaaris are something like small time entrepreneurs, fleecing bhakts to make money in god's name....really, its depressing!!
Anyways, thats my sunday!....Ciao!!!
Anyways, thats not the case here....I was (as usual) playing the Rise of Nations- the Napoleon Campaign, when this bugger starts asking me how the game is played and stuff...So I very patiently (Impossible, you say?) try and explain him the rules & stuff, when suddenly he asks me why is there no India in the map (As in there is a map which shows all the territories that are available for conquest...Since India was never in Napoleon's cross hairs, India was not shown in the map)...I tell him that Napoleon never attacked India...."No way", is the reply....."Napoleon Bonaparte & Alexander the great fought a battle somewhere in North India & Napoleon had lost"....hmm...Interesting thought...Re-writing History??.....Anyways, I very poitely yell at him & inform him that there was a difference of at least 2000 years between the two men & hence the twain never did fight in the plains of north India....& thats not it, the bugger has also been trying to convince me that the jews worship Christ ( a very dear friend of mine suggested they worship Zeus!!!) . he has also tried to confirm a couple of times that Hitler did indeed fight in the second world war....So Sundays in Munger do occasionally bring fun & mirth....
Anyways, we went exploring Munger city today (In an official Ambassador of course...ahem! ahem!)....& I spent 300 bucks (It felt awesome to be able to spend in hundreds again!!), the boat ride on the ganga, the gandhi bazaar & finally the chandika mandir...
Now, the chandika mandir is supposed to contain the eyeball of a goddess sati, worshipped by Karna. Its a small but famous temple, yet the pujari is nothing short of a thief...."Beta 51 rupaiye maa ke naam dijiye aapki sab manokaamnaayein poori hongi"...This after I had already chadhaofied the daan....The same thing had happened in Kolkata also....Its like, you go to a temple to find peace, and come back even more disturbed. These pujaaris are something like small time entrepreneurs, fleecing bhakts to make money in god's name....really, its depressing!!
Anyways, thats my sunday!....Ciao!!!
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Outrageous!
Myanmar has been devastated by Nargis....Over 100000 dead/missing....Townships & villages erased altogether....What do you think an impoverished nation that is incapable of handling a catastrophe of this scale should do?....Appeal for international assistance & aid.....Normally, under these circumstances the allegations that would be aired would be of the nature that Not enough is being done, that urgent help is needed....that a few more bags of rations could make the difference between life & death....so on & so forth....
Yet, what do you hear when you turn the television on?....Myanmar has categorically refused to allow airplanes carrying aid from landing in its territory...that the UN has been told not to help....100000 people dead or missing....lakhs rendered homeless....huge threat of epidemics...And Myanmar, of all the nations of the world, is REFUSING aid...Even India accepted foreign aid at the time of Gujarat Earthquake, although it could've dealt with the tragedy on its own...
And thats not it....the junta has ordered a referendum on proposed cobstitutional reforms that would lead to democracy by 2010....One can understand the fear of the Americans overthrowing the regime & hence the refusal to accept aid, but the referendum???
Thousands more would still die & the UN& the Myanmarese government would only be excahnging allegations....Innumerable wars in the name of territory, resources, Perceived threat....But no action on humanitarian grounds??....
What is the whole point of having international co-operation bodies like the UN, the ASEAN, for that matter even the SAARC....Are they more forums to discuss politics and make deals??....
The burmese people deserve a change...God-willing, this catastrophe will be the harbinger of a better future.....
Yet, what do you hear when you turn the television on?....Myanmar has categorically refused to allow airplanes carrying aid from landing in its territory...that the UN has been told not to help....100000 people dead or missing....lakhs rendered homeless....huge threat of epidemics...And Myanmar, of all the nations of the world, is REFUSING aid...Even India accepted foreign aid at the time of Gujarat Earthquake, although it could've dealt with the tragedy on its own...
And thats not it....the junta has ordered a referendum on proposed cobstitutional reforms that would lead to democracy by 2010....One can understand the fear of the Americans overthrowing the regime & hence the refusal to accept aid, but the referendum???
Thousands more would still die & the UN& the Myanmarese government would only be excahnging allegations....Innumerable wars in the name of territory, resources, Perceived threat....But no action on humanitarian grounds??....
What is the whole point of having international co-operation bodies like the UN, the ASEAN, for that matter even the SAARC....Are they more forums to discuss politics and make deals??....
The burmese people deserve a change...God-willing, this catastrophe will be the harbinger of a better future.....
Munger Diaries II-Bharat Uday!
You know how this "India Rising" thing is right?...How the economy growingat 8% ,a booming middle class, rising incomes, so on & so forth.....Yet, all this is so unbelievable.....What is the whole concept of India rising if you still don't have enough food to feed the poor, if more than half your villages don't get water, if even 60 years after independance people are killed in the name of caste, creed, religion?.....
I always thought that "India Rising" is more of a feel good factor, something that brings a political party into power....More of a western concept....coz' in actual terms India probably isn't shining...may be these are good times....but not good enough!....
Anyways, my internship involves talking (a lot!) to contractors and their labourers....something that is not always enjoyable....More often than not, I am forced to say" kya? fir bataiye!" because its difficult to get their dialect...
Yesterday, I was chatting with this contractor, must be around 50-55, he's been in the factory for almost 2 decades now....he's basically a "Kaarigar" as in a repair-man...so he oiles/greases machines etc. generally, you'd expect all members of his family to be involved in the same trade, coz' thats how things happen... the son carries on the business of his father....Anyways...he asks me " Aap bhi MBA kar rahein hai kya?"...I said yes, from Pune....& he tells me that even his son is doing an MBA from some college in Delhi....& that he knows how summer interns are treated and stuff...his son is in his final year...and that he has gotten placed in some big "Prachaar" company.....
May be I am exaggerating a bit here, but for me the whole concept of India shinig made more sense than it had ever before.....This gentleman who has spent all his life shuttling between phases of abject poverty and just enough, will probably have a relaxed & wonderful old age....
Thats how India shines.....For every person whose life is transformed...who is rescued from the clutches of an impoverished exsitence....whose future will be brighter than his past ever was!....
Cheers to a resurgent India
Jai Hind!
I always thought that "India Rising" is more of a feel good factor, something that brings a political party into power....More of a western concept....coz' in actual terms India probably isn't shining...may be these are good times....but not good enough!....
Anyways, my internship involves talking (a lot!) to contractors and their labourers....something that is not always enjoyable....More often than not, I am forced to say" kya? fir bataiye!" because its difficult to get their dialect...
Yesterday, I was chatting with this contractor, must be around 50-55, he's been in the factory for almost 2 decades now....he's basically a "Kaarigar" as in a repair-man...so he oiles/greases machines etc. generally, you'd expect all members of his family to be involved in the same trade, coz' thats how things happen... the son carries on the business of his father....Anyways...he asks me " Aap bhi MBA kar rahein hai kya?"...I said yes, from Pune....& he tells me that even his son is doing an MBA from some college in Delhi....& that he knows how summer interns are treated and stuff...his son is in his final year...and that he has gotten placed in some big "Prachaar" company.....
May be I am exaggerating a bit here, but for me the whole concept of India shinig made more sense than it had ever before.....This gentleman who has spent all his life shuttling between phases of abject poverty and just enough, will probably have a relaxed & wonderful old age....
Thats how India shines.....For every person whose life is transformed...who is rescued from the clutches of an impoverished exsitence....whose future will be brighter than his past ever was!....
Cheers to a resurgent India
Jai Hind!
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Munger Diaries!
Okay...Herezz a very interesting piece on cnvrstn dat I had with a new summer trainee in ITC Munger....so...I'll try and recount the dialogue as accuartely as I can...
Ugly Woman: Hellho.....Tum bhi trainee ho kya?
Me: Yes
Ugly Woman: MBhA kar rahe ho kya?
Me: yes
Ugly Woman: Kahan se?
Me: Symbiosis
Ugly Woman: Ye kya koi nayi university khuli hai Bihar me?
Me: Yes, Arrah me center hai (I just took a chance...as it turned out..Arrah is actually a place!)
Ugly Woman: Accha....Hum toh Bhagalpur Unibhersity se MBhA kar rahein hain (I never asked for information)
Me: Kaunsa Department?HR?
Ugly Woman: Nahi Nahi...Shram Kalyan...(Lolz!)
Me: Accha Achha
Ugly Woman: Jhu Knoes Engliss?
Me: Nahi nahi...
Ugly Woman: Hindi Medium jhu does?
Me: Haan Haan
Ugly Woman: Bhere jhu does school for?
Me: Patna
Ugly Woman: In Patna no engliss?....bhery shtrange
Me: Aapka Topic kya hai?
Ugly woman: Greevaans Prokkedoor
Me: umm...
Ugly Woman: Arrey ye choti choti factory me bhurkers ko bahut greevaans hote hain...Uska prokeedur pata karna hai (Oh!....Now I get it...Grievance Procedure!!!)..Tumhara kya vishay hai?
Me: Thekedaari pratha (basically Contract labour....m decent with hindi)
Ugly Woman: Accha Accha..Apne net pe humare liye dhoond ke do greevaans prokeedoor...
Me: Nahi chalta net...ye toh battery charger hai (Dat was the data card)
Ugly Woman: accha accha...
Datz it...I left immediately thereaftr!..... :-)
Ugly Woman: Hellho.....Tum bhi trainee ho kya?
Me: Yes
Ugly Woman: MBhA kar rahe ho kya?
Me: yes
Ugly Woman: Kahan se?
Me: Symbiosis
Ugly Woman: Ye kya koi nayi university khuli hai Bihar me?
Me: Yes, Arrah me center hai (I just took a chance...as it turned out..Arrah is actually a place!)
Ugly Woman: Accha....Hum toh Bhagalpur Unibhersity se MBhA kar rahein hain (I never asked for information)
Me: Kaunsa Department?HR?
Ugly Woman: Nahi Nahi...Shram Kalyan...(Lolz!)
Me: Accha Achha
Ugly Woman: Jhu Knoes Engliss?
Me: Nahi nahi...
Ugly Woman: Hindi Medium jhu does?
Me: Haan Haan
Ugly Woman: Bhere jhu does school for?
Me: Patna
Ugly Woman: In Patna no engliss?....bhery shtrange
Me: Aapka Topic kya hai?
Ugly woman: Greevaans Prokkedoor
Me: umm...
Ugly Woman: Arrey ye choti choti factory me bhurkers ko bahut greevaans hote hain...Uska prokeedur pata karna hai (Oh!....Now I get it...Grievance Procedure!!!)..Tumhara kya vishay hai?
Me: Thekedaari pratha (basically Contract labour....m decent with hindi)
Ugly Woman: Accha Accha..Apne net pe humare liye dhoond ke do greevaans prokeedoor...
Me: Nahi chalta net...ye toh battery charger hai (Dat was the data card)
Ugly Woman: accha accha...
Datz it...I left immediately thereaftr!..... :-)
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Journey through the times!
In the great lands of the west, turbulence did arise
And all could see a battle upon themselves, virtue against vice
And then there happened one day a great great war
And misery was wrought upon its lands very very far
The victors did impose on it a justice of their own
Drowned was this nation thus, millions did mourn
And then in these very lands now, arose an evil new
Barbarity & crimes of which are matched by very few
Thundered it from its palace,the powers of its race
Millions thus lost their lives, mere names without a face
Shot, poisoned, gassed were they, even buried alive
The cruel man saw it all, for he was a monster vile
As mankind lost all its hope, a new sun did dawn
New rays of freedom rose and the curtain of darkness was torn
Red rays from the east did meet the blue in west
The evil empire was beaten but what did happen next?
Those who were friends once ,became thus foes
From that sad day,Mainfold grew the world's woes
Beacon red of liberty, became a bloodthirsty devil
Blue rays of freedom, now, became imperialists evil
A divided world replaced thus the empire of vice
Evil lives on till this day bringing tears to many eyes
And all could see a battle upon themselves, virtue against vice
And then there happened one day a great great war
And misery was wrought upon its lands very very far
The victors did impose on it a justice of their own
Drowned was this nation thus, millions did mourn
And then in these very lands now, arose an evil new
Barbarity & crimes of which are matched by very few
Thundered it from its palace,the powers of its race
Millions thus lost their lives, mere names without a face
Shot, poisoned, gassed were they, even buried alive
The cruel man saw it all, for he was a monster vile
As mankind lost all its hope, a new sun did dawn
New rays of freedom rose and the curtain of darkness was torn
Red rays from the east did meet the blue in west
The evil empire was beaten but what did happen next?
Those who were friends once ,became thus foes
From that sad day,Mainfold grew the world's woes
Beacon red of liberty, became a bloodthirsty devil
Blue rays of freedom, now, became imperialists evil
A divided world replaced thus the empire of vice
Evil lives on till this day bringing tears to many eyes
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Tale of Myths!
And once again, I hold my pen & breathe into it life
Recount it will, a great tale, now the time is ripe
Years ago, some say millennia, there lived on earth a race
brave hearts, pure souls, marked by fairness of their face
The words of their language were like music to the ears
Masters were they of destiny, knew they not any fear
As time did pass, realise they did, power of their own
Arrogance, pride, treachery & vice, were into their souls thus sown
In the far highlands of the East, arose a species new
Human, it called itself, to their faith they were true
The twain did meet on the field of war, an order new against the old
A great battle thus came to be fought, or so we are told
seven years of fighting hence, the elves were let down
Quarrels, conflicts within themselves, their empire did drown
And thus was born the great epoch, whence humans did rule
Consigned were elves to myth & legend, to story books of schools.....
Recount it will, a great tale, now the time is ripe
Years ago, some say millennia, there lived on earth a race
brave hearts, pure souls, marked by fairness of their face
The words of their language were like music to the ears
Masters were they of destiny, knew they not any fear
As time did pass, realise they did, power of their own
Arrogance, pride, treachery & vice, were into their souls thus sown
In the far highlands of the East, arose a species new
Human, it called itself, to their faith they were true
The twain did meet on the field of war, an order new against the old
A great battle thus came to be fought, or so we are told
seven years of fighting hence, the elves were let down
Quarrels, conflicts within themselves, their empire did drown
And thus was born the great epoch, whence humans did rule
Consigned were elves to myth & legend, to story books of schools.....
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