END OF THE SUNSHINE DAYS??

I had aspirations to study Physics as I was taken in awe by the vastness of the Universe as well as the smallest dimensions of atoms and its particles even though I knew well enough that the mathematical background needed to understand it was poor. Thanks to my Physics coaching master, the urge to study the queen of sciences was growing. Finally I landed up studying Engineering though not by choice specializing in Electronics and Communication after rounds of constant brain wash by parents and relatives. The reason given was the defined and immediate job opportunities it would provide given my ‘middle’ middle class background (this was in 2004 and IT was booming). With the same fervor which I would have put if I had done Physics I pursued the course and as expected I was recruited into an IT MNC with a handsome pay package early on in my pre-final year. It was a proud day for my father as I was the first Engineering graduate in the family and more proud and happy by the fact that my starting compensation was nearly the double of what he currently earns after more than three decades of working. A year has passed since the offer was made and more than four months have passed since my graduation and I am yet to receive my posting orders. Months of waiting has paved the way for frustration and dejection. Similar fate is shared by most of the freshers who have passed out in 2008 and were given offers in IT companies with the exception of a privileged few from premier educational institutes. Even after constant promises from companies that offers would be honored dark clouds looms large with the current global economic turmoil. Over dependence of both our economy and the rising work force on the IT industry has led to this poor state of affairs. Our failure to concentrate on other growth areas such as manufacturing, agriculture, production etc has added to the woes resulting in inflation that has led to drastic organizational measures and restructuring like cost cutting and employee layoffs. News of employee layoffs by IT concerns has become the order of the day sending shock waves across the population of new blood of expectant pass outs. Are these the hours of darkness in the sun-shine industry?

USELESS OR USEDLESS?

I am a person of belief that India's nation building models as idealised by visionaries like Sri.Pandit Nehru , Dr.A.P.J.Abdul kalam are the ones whose foundation rests on the shoulders of the country’s youth. Unlike other measurable metrics like GDP, GNP the pro-active role played by youth is an immeasurable quantity the effect of which is quite indirect and powerful. The question is have our young minds realized their part in the process of architecting the future of India?Daily news reports and the observations of my own has brought in me fears of the non-realization of a developed, a mightier and a stronger India.

One of the reasons I believe for this state of affair is the vacuum created due to the absence of towering and good role models who could be looked in awe and followed.

Rightly said Swami Chinmayananda “The youth are not useless but they are used less” and this has been another set back factor. The energies which could accelerate us to the summit are simply wasted in performing the unwanted and unwarranted.

This grave situation cannot be overcome even if the right external motivational push is offered because the tamarind nut will remain sour even when watered with sugar solution!! Only an inward will to contribute and a befitting response to the need of the hour could make the future secure and bright. As Bono puts it “This is a time for bold measures. This the country, you are the generation”

THE IGNORANT MINDS

When asked what anyone does on a Sunday, the answer expected is obvious. Late rise ups, entertainment shows, delicious meal to fill up the tummy and an afternoon siesta. Is it right on our part to call Sunday still the first day of the week when we cling to our beds, lock ourselves indoors and do nothing constructive?? The above question invokes the same answer from the questioner also!!

Last Sunday was different as it gave a chance to realize the lack of awareness among children and their parents alike who belonged to lower economic strata as I had been called to scrutinize applications for the uniform distribution to the deserving and needy by a social service organization in my locality. Columns in the application forms received printed in the regional language were all incomplete information. The applicants were unable to furnish even their personal details correctly. When kids of the same age could spell words never heard of here were a bunch of kids who spelled even their own names wrong. My heart sympathizes with these ignorant minds. Next time when somebody says “tomorrow’s India rests firmly on the hands of today’s children” you are supposed to be screwing your own ass. When a significant percentage of country’s young population are unaware of their own personal information, all these catchy liners are like hiding the nakedness with bare hands which serves no good purpose.

Action from the Governmental or philanthropists, NGOs should not stop just with provision of free education, nourished food or generous charities and funds. Opportunities to engage in the process of holistic development have to be created today to realize a stronger India tomorrow. As Albert Einstein puts it “All that is valuable in human society depends upon the opportunity for development accorded the individual”.

ROAD LESS TRAVELLED

The common site for a road user nowadays would be of buses and cars trying to squeeze through what people jovially say as “the bicycle gap”. With increase in the number of automobiles, the main roads particularly those in busy and commercial areas have become the place to park the vehicles virtually allowing only a crawling space for the moving machines. Added to this woe the pavements and foot paths are literally encroached by pavement dwellers and road side shop keepers letting an additional inflow of human traffic onto the roads. The chaotic picture is left to the imagination of the reader.

The state of this scenario projects a no good image on the traffic cops who have ignored their role to curtail this activity. A few roads where I myself have observed this menace happening are the Bells road in Chepauk where a number of second hand vehicles put up for sale occupy almost half of the motorway. Next in line falls Dr.Natesan road where the road side vendors have put up shops which extend till the middle of the road. And this is the case in every arterial road of Chennai.

Rules and regulations which are promugalated to avoid these menaces do only a little good when there is a little participation from the public as well as the police. Only a responsible act from the citizen’s side and a conscious part from the cops would only put an end to this driver’s nightmare

TRAFFIC JAM

As a regular user of the Poonamallee high road, I am quite aware of the traffic snarls. It is a common sight. That can be termed as ‘normal traffic jam’. Two days ago it was not the case. It was more than what it used to be, abnormally high.

The roads have been opened up for repairs for expansion purposes and the two lane system is now temporarily one lane system accommodating the heavy flow from both the sides. Thanks to the Metro Water board who on their part have made the one lane just a narrow path. Adding to the woes was the breakdown of three MTC buses. In order to reach their destinations quickly I was witnessing motorists and car drivers taking the wrong route. Arguments filled the air as to who should back and leave way was debated along side blaring horns having no good effects. The end result was that the vehicles from both the sides were locking horns with each other and I could sense immobility would prevail for at least an hour. Observing things going around sitting in the window seat of the bus seemed to be the best way to beat the state of absolute motionlessness and scorching heat. I was petrified by what I saw. Let not the imagination fly away to someone dying to be reached to the hospital in an ambulance. Thank God, I could see no ‘saviour on wheels’ as far as my vision could penetrate but it was a school van with a caption on its wind screen as below “URGENT, CARRYING STUDENTS FOR THE CBSE EXAMS” in the opposite direction. Making a head room I peeped out of the window and if my eyes hadn’t deceived me I could see anxious faces with beads of perspiration holding their economics text books unable to do anything but remain calm and pray. Since I passed out of the same board system I knew the timing of the exam and my instantaneous reflex was to glance at my watch. My heart leapt. There was only thirty minutes left for the examination to begin. Only we remained where we were but the time was whiling away. Every clock tick was proving to be precious.

Their prayers were answered. The road ahead opened up slowly in both the directions. I turned my head back and amidst the trail of smoke left behind by the vehicles I could see the school van moving ahead.

WHAT DO I CALL THIS PHOBIA?

Travelling by Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) buses, the carrier of Chennai’s masses is no longer enjoyable to me due to the harassment I suffered at the hands of its ticket checking officials. I fear neither the rickety buses with their rusted handles that may cause injuries or brakes that fail to work, neither the conductors or drivers who scorn and yell but the very presence of the MTC ticket checking officials at the bus stops would bring shivers down my spine, even with a valid ticket!!

I have diagnosed myself with this strange phobia right from the moment a group of ticket checking inspectors pounced on me asking me for the travel ticket two years back. I had bought a ticket as soon as I had gotten into the bus but only when it was verified I realized that the conductor had issued the wrong one leaving me in doldrums. What else I could have done other than cut a sorry figure for the mistake which I had not committed? My points of defense failed to convince the authorities and as a result I was forced to board the official jeep where I found myself in the august company of college students who were really ticketless. On way to the nearest depot, I was threatened with serious consequences if I failed I pay the spot fine of five hundred rupees. These men were asking me to pay an amount ten times more than what I usually carry in my wallet. Forcibly I was made to mortgage my gold ring (I had worn it only that morning) at a pawn broker's shop which I believe was hand in glove with the authorities for such activities. This harrowing experience has brought in me a weird habit of checking my pocket often for the travel ticket bringing stares from other passengers.

What do I call this phobia???

Entries are welcome to name it.