To vote or not to vote...

Is the question every vela 20 something in the country faces. If you don't trust your local representative (I know ... how rare it would be to find such a scenario :P), you can choose to utilize the 49-O section of the election manual - Manual of Election Law, Conduct of Election Rules, framed in 1961. The link can be found here... (Page 86 of the document); for the lazy rats like me, here's a small REM on the same..

As per the rules, in section " 49-O" a person can go to the polling booth, confirm his/her identity, get his finger marked and convey the presiding election officer that he/she doesn't want to vote anyone! Yes such a feature is available, but obviously past + present leaders have never disclosed it.

Happy voting / unvoting ;)

Incase you don't have a voters' card yet, visit the website Jaagore to know how to cut all the bureaucratic crap and get one.

Cheerios

Pakistani Media

I've always been a strong promoter of empathy towards my fellowmen from the neighbouring country of Pakistan. It is however the Media reactions from across the border such as the one below which are making it increasingly difficult for me to maintain a level head.



On a lighter note, I am so proud of the Indian newsreaders after a look at the stammering plastic doll in the clip above. Equally envious about the presence of such a young female politician, something that I'd like to see in India soon.

An ad for India

Here's an ad dedicated to a billion of us fuming at the moment.




Feels good to know I'll be doing something like this which would reach out to all my countrymen at the same time at Nokia...

ISI Chief summoned by New Delhi

(Disclaimer: My opinions, my views... Please do not quote these as a source anywhere!)

Finally it's a move that speaks of some spine on the part of the Central Government, never before have I heard of such a bold move in the international political scenario. What good would a mano-a-mano in New Delhi do for the PM is something a rookie like me can't understand. There would be similar chants of "condemning terrorist attacks" by the Zardari colleague no matter where they are... Maybe the Pakistani administration has nothing at all to do with these attacks, but would they accept the allegations at face value just because they happen to be in Indian territory?

Waiting eagerly for the responses from across the border, and wondering just what a huge amount of our national resources would be spent ensuring security for probably the most unpopular guy in the country !!!

Peace.

India's 9/11

(All the opinions in the post below are strictly my ponderings - I do not wish to offend / provoke anyone, and I have been and always will be a Mumbaikar to the core)


"It's the day after - and the trains are still crowded - damn, the spirit of Mumbai is unbreakable"

Is a SMS I get from a friend stuck in his office all night thanks to the curfews in the city. I've been hearing about this "Spirit of Mumbai" ever since I was a kid - be it the Babri Masjid riots, the innumerable bomb explosions, the charred trains or the calamitous floods. Praises have been sung about this spirit in media across the world.

This factor which amused me at the start and gave me a certain sense of pride is now forcing me to rethink my perception of the "spirit". Conventionally, a spirit is something that is obtained after the death of a living creature, and that is precisely what Mumbai has long been - dead !

People move on back to work after such disheartening occurrences not out of bravado or the spirit of showing the miscreants that we are "invincible". On the contrary, people move on because they can't afford to stay and mourn... Life has to go on only because life depends on daily livelihood - quite literally in most cases. People feel bad about what is happening, badmouth the media, curse the administration, blame the Gods and damn the terrorists - and get back to their lives as if nothing has happened. How will anything be accomplished if the cycle of events is this predictable - when only those who have lost their near and dear ones shed tears and are hushed by the promises of monetary compensations. Will there ever be a collective uprising against injustice in Mumbai, or any Indian city for that matter?

They say the public memory is short - let's see how short it turns out to be this time !!!

For voices from fellow bloggers on the Mumbai terror scene, check out the list at Indiblogger

26 - the unlucky date

Another dark day in Mumbai's Book... Some how the date 26th has not worked out well for India. Be it earthquakes, floods or terrorist activities... It scares my heart to imagine that I've been to most of these places in the past 1 year -

Orchid Hotel
CST Station
Taj
Vile-parle
Metro Cinema area
J W Marriot
Nariman Point
Leopold cafe...

As I write this post I see news of firings in JJ School and Cama hospital. Sitting in the TV room, these are some of the comments I get to hear...

"Koi AK-47 leke kaise ghoom sakta hai !"

"Is level ki planning karne waale smart log aise kaam kyun kar rahe hai"

"Isse to accha subah jaake vidhaan sabha mein aisa kucch kar dete"

Don't have anything new to write, just sitting still with hopes that no-one i know has been unfortunate enough to get affected. To my fellow Mumbaikars who have been unfortunate, I pray you find some peace and courage.

Mumbai is getting too big for the government to manage. Tears my heart to say this but I believe it's time the island city gets its own governance, security and entry barriers. The people of Mumbai have run the Indian economy for decades now, it's time they get their due diligence...What a big mockery it is that 26th Nov - Law Day in India was chosen to break the law and order in such mammothly disturbing ways !

And this is plain sad google

The same joke two days in a row?? How 'un'googlish !

Today's fortune: The guy who reads your fortune disappeared and our boss is furious. We hope you have a lucky day