Good Morning!!!!

What else can be the starting of a good morning?

You just get in the bus and before you settle yourself in the seat, the FM station starts playing 'Ae Ajnabi'!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No doubt, my day is made :-)

no ARR song tilll now :(

I have entered office at 9 in the morning today. When I was getting in I just cathched some last few lines of Sathiyaa title song in the Jhankar station of World Sapce radio. Since then till now not a single ARR song has been played :(

I wish every day in Kolkata were a strike day!!!

Today is also a strike in Kolkata. Today’s strike is more effective than the yesterday’s. The roads are freer and buses are almost empty. No private buses on the road. I was a bit doubtful about getting an auto till the bus depot. But honestly speaking, my today’s journey to office was more comfortable than other days. The roads are jam-free. And I reached office so early! I wish every day in Kolkata were a strike day!!!

Most interestingly, the driver and conductor in the government bus were in casuals. When the man clad in jeans trouser and nice T-shirt came to us for ticket, I and my friend were in laughs. As a precautionary measure, the driver was wearing a helmet, yes inside the bus. It was funny. I hope my journey back home also becomes smooth.

Yet another strike!

Yet another strike! This time called upon by SUCI. This is the second strike I’m facing since I came to Kolkata and it’s been only three months I’m here! Well, tomorrow is already booked for another strike, by Trinamul Congress. That’s right, the Mamta party. It’s a well-known fact how much Kolkata is prone to strikes but I’m really surprised to find that the scene hasn’t changed a bit in last three-four years.

When there’s a strike, there must be an issue. Well, the Trinamul and SUCI also have that. It’s the Nandigram, yet again. The convoy of Mamata Banerjee was reportedly attacked by bullets on her Nandigram visit on October 28, 2007 and hence the decision to bring the Bangla standstill for 12 hours was taken. In her own words – “Parishkar Banglaye, oidin baro ghantar jonyo Bangla ke achal kore dewa hobe (in plain Bengali, the state will be brought to a standstill for 12 hours that day)” This is quite a ‘justified’ reason to call a strike! What say?

Much has been written and said on the ‘strike culture’ of Kolkata. But on my brief interaction with this culture, I can only say that people of the city do support strikes. When the government is rigid to run buses, there are actually no people inside the buses! Then why blame the political party?

From 19th Oct, 2007 to 28th Oct, 2007

I will be in Silchar :-)


So, there'll be no blog, group, orkut, mail, chat or mobile phone activity!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, it’s Puja again...

So, it’s Puja again. Durga Puja, the greatest celebration of the year. Every year when I get the new-year-calendar, I first check the Durga Puja date. Finally the day has arrived. Today is Shashthi and the mirth is in the air. All my colleagues have come to office wearing new clothes. It’s so wonderful to be a part of this enjoyment. And yes I’m also in new clothes!!!

For the first time I’m in Kolkata during Durga Puja. No wonder, the experience is special. The city is bedecked with colorful banners, festoons, royal entrance gates to Puja pandals, extraordinary decorated pandals and wonderful lighting. But more than anything, it’s the overwhelming enthusiasm of people that is magically infectious. Before you know anything, you are part of the grand celebration!

As par the market study, a whooping amount of 44 thousand crores of product was sold last year during Durga Puja! And you blame me for my shopping!!!

A sudden sneeze and....

I really don’t understand from where theses sneezes come when I just cannot attend them! Otherwise I spend a lot of time in front of computer working, reading or listening to music – well prepared to handle even a dozen sneezes. But when am I attacked? When I’m cooking, right hand dipped in the beasn paste, left hand holding a piece of brinjal and the oil in the pan is steaming. A hachchooo……….and everything is haywire! My besan coated hand on my nose causing more sneezes; the gas button is already covered with beasn, the brinjal piece on the floor…….and I’m sneezing – one after another!!! Why does it happen to me all the times???

Some quick Monday morning updates -

1. This header is designed, planned, conceived and delivered to me by my dear friend Arvind A M from Yahoo Group Fan Club. On my special request! Isn’t it nice? Thanks Arvind :)

2. My another friend Prabhu, yet again from Yahoo Group Fan Club, met A R Rahman! That also in his house and had lunch with him on the Eid! Oh..I can't think more, I would have certainly fainted! I’m so happy for him. Congratulations and many more congratulations to him!!!! :) Click here for the billion dollar image!!!!

3. The most important update! I’m going home on Puja. At last I have succeeded to have a flight ticket on 19th October 2007, which is the Ashtami. If everything goes right, no weather trouble or plane engine trouble occurs then I will be reaching home by 11 in the morning. And obviously, from that very moment I and my sister will start exploring all Puja pandals of Silchar. Oh…I’m so happy!!!! :) :) :)

World Vision India

Today, after quite a long time, I was surfing through my favourite news portal ibnlive.com. I usually avoid the 'stories' and prefer to read the 'news'. But suddenly, I was stuck with this link of World Vision India, a society to bring help to underprivileged children. Here people can sponsor a child by making a contribution of 600/- every month to him/her. This way people can help a child have education, food and clean drinking water. No wonder, a couple of our mouse clicks and a firm decision can change the life of a child completely!

While going for shopping, movie, picnic or just outing, do we really count how many 'hundreds' we spend? Then can't we sponsor a child for a better future? probably we can. I am thinking of supporting the cause by sponsoring a child. And I'm sure there are a lot like me who would also like to stand by such a noble cause.

Some Irritating People, Some Bitter Experiences

For some people, there is never limit of anything. And now, I’m on the verge of my patience. The reason is a vexing boy in my office.

He sits just near the entrance of my floor and never skips to see me, when I’m entering or leaving. God knows, how he works! As far as I know, he’s a content write.

If, unfortunately, I ever caught with him in the café, I really don’t understand what happens to him! He starts humming instantly; he starts tapping the small coffee glasses and starts behaving so hyper!

My seat happens to be near to balcony entrance. So he comes to the balcony door, not walking, not running; but skidding! What the hell!

And of course, keeps ogling!

These are the things he does when I’m around. I don’t know what he does with others. I am sure there is much to do on his part. I just feel like trashing him sometime.

And I don't know his name yet.

Advantages of a Crowded Kolkata Bus

While going for office or going home, we all invariably prefer a vacant bus to travel. On a wishful Saturday, I got out of my office and caught a bus, which to my surprise, was vacant! On my 20 minutes ride, I realized some facts that became the name of this topic. Here are some of the advantages of a crowded Kolkata bus or rather disadvantages of a vacant bus-

1. The Kolkata state buses are famous to be very rash. The crowded buses always give you ‘buffer’ so that you don’t fall due to rash driving. Why? Because, you are always sandwiched and stuffed by your co-passengers. Otherwise, you have to be expert gymnast to avoid falling.

2. In a vacant bus, as there are very little people in, no one to ogle. (Who said girls don’t ogle?)

3. There is no one to make fun of, make story of or make laugh of.

4. If you are regular in the route, you are very likely to bump on some old friend, colleague or relative. This may help you in two ways.

(i) If the person is some-one like uncle/aunty stature, you may be sure that he/she will get the ticket for you.

(ii) A free social meet.

5. There is no chance to escape the ticket in a vacant bus. Conductor is very sure who is having the ticket and who is not. (if you are running short of money, make sure to get in a crowded bus!)

6. No drama. This is the biggest disappointment in a vacant bus. The dramas play a vital part in the Kolkata bus journeys. Like-

(i) Suddenly an uncle screams that the driver delayed and signal fell. Then there
starts discussions, debate, arguments and at last howling that may lead even to the recent nuclear deal of India with America! And the verdict? Buddha babu must resign!

(ii) Suddenly a scream of an aunty comes as she is very angry that the bus fare is 50
paisa higher than her last ride!

(iii) Yet another scream of an aunty! Asking the nearest male passenger ‘ektu sare daran to!’(‘please move aside!’) And there starts another round of discussions, debate……etc.etc.


With so much spice, entertainment, comedy and errors, who would like to avoid the crowded bus? At least not me!

Gandhi Jayanti Message

On the days of New Year, Valentine's Day, Friendship Day, Christmas Day and even on Halloween's Days our mobile phone gets flooded with sms-es. But what about the Independence Day, Republic Day, Janmashtami, Gandhi Jayanti? We never get any sms-es on those days! Why? Is that because these days are not very 'important' in our lives with respect to our globalized (or rather, Americanized) mentality?

Well, probably I'm a little lucky that there is one friend of mine who never forgets to wish me on those 'not-so-important' days.

On Gandhi Jayanti she sent me this message:

'Satisfaction lies in effort, not (in) attainment. Full effort is full victory' - M K Gandhi

Thanks Vidhi.