There is a saying that ‘Oil lamp will glow brighter when it is about to be extinguished’, which was true even in our case. We did glowed brighter in the final year without the knowledge that it is going to end shortly.
By now we did know about each other. We knew each person’s character, reactions, strengths, weakness and moods. We know who is true friend? Who is just a friend? Who needs to be avoided? Who needs our attention? We did not have any enemies. We did have few issues with everyone but no enemies. We were excited for being the seniors in the college as our college. Also we were happy that the college fest will be organized by us.
As I discussed earlier having a girl friend was considered to be a matter of pride during college days (we did not know the disadvantages of having one). We used to think that a girl can be impressed only by having a flashy bike or car or hefty bank balance of your parents. Me, neither Shashthri no Seena had any of them. Also we were too busy in having fun that we did not give much thought about that. Only Shashthri had few crushes but I and Seena just adored the beauties from distance.
It’s too hard to write the moment when you like someone at first sight. It’s too complicated. It’s unexplainable. It did happen to me. I can’t forget that day. We three of us were sitting at our usual spot at Navrang bus stop. It’s been only a week since the first year P.U.C classes were started. We were analyzing the people in bus stop at once my eyes singled out a person among the crowd. She was not very good looking nor was best in the lot. But I could not take my eyes off. She looked at me at twice wondering ‘why the hell he is staring at me?’, I dint care. I just wanted to see her. I crossed the average staring time at girls, which is usually 5- 10 seconds, also it went on way beyond minutes. Within minutes (for me it was seconds and for her hours) bus came and she rushed inside the bus and dint had courtesy to look back. Bus moved at fast pace. I was feeling like I lost something in bus and need to catch it. At last I turned to both of my friends and told ‘Maga, I think I saw someone special’.
Next day our hunt started for that girl. I needed to get much information on her before getting acquainted with her. We reached college at 9.30 and started waiting near women’s entrance gate (we had separate exits for boys and girls as boys used to unnecessarily rush through exit whenever girls used to pass from it). We scanned each and every female face passing through the gate. We dint even spared the female lecturers. Time was running out. It was 9:55, classes would start at 10:00. Shasthri told that she might have taken leave, Seena told she is not from this college may be from Basaveshwara College, Shasthri told she might no been studying at all, Seena told she might be from other college came to meet her friends, Shasthri told she might have came to drop or pick her sister. Finally to lock up their mouths I saw she rushing towards gate as time was up. I told ‘Maga, there she is’. At last we got a confirmation that she is from the same college. We rushed towards boy’s entrance gate as there was only 2 mins left for the class. Once we entered the building I saw her running towards stairs of ‘B’ block. Even our class was at ‘B’ block. We ran behind her. She was terrified seeing 3 goons chasing her. When we reached first floor she took right turn our class was at left. They both took left turn I took right and followed her. She entered her class. I stopped and noted that it was first P.U.C science class. I was not in mood to attend the class. I was kind of happy.
After class Shasthri and Seena came looking after me and asked ‘where the hell were you?’ I replied absent mindedly ‘Maga, I think I got my dove’.
‘Dove’ is a bird similar to pigeon, but here in Karnataka that word has lot of meanings. Dove is a person who is your lover or a person with whom you are just flirting or a person whom you think you will/can love or dove also means pretending/telling lie.
The right meaning can be asserted by the situation and context of the usage. What I actually meant was ‘A person whom I think will/can love’.
To proceed further I made to-do list:
1. What’s her name?
2. Where she stays?
3. Get to know whether she actually likes you
4. Make an female accomplice in your class
5. Make up a plan to speak to her
6. Get to know all the things she likes
7. Assert that she is single
8. Confirm she has interest in you
9. Once all is done ‘go for the kill’, propose to her.
10. If she agrees to your proposal don’t dance have some dignity in front of her
11. If she rejects don’t cry in front of her.
12. Mean while keep a eye on her surroundings as someone else would have got same feelings for her and you might have to warn them
Those were my 12 commandments which I need to adhere strictly so that I wont fail.
Step 1: What’s her name?
It was the easiest task. I thought of talking to her directly, but to have some curiosity I asked one of my friend Suma to help me out on this. I showed that girl to her and explained that she has to approach her friendly and ask her name. She did it and I came to know her name. Her name is ‘Ashwini’. At that time I felt that was the most beautiful sounding name I have ever heard.
Step 2: Where she stays?
This was also easy task. Me, Shasthri and Seena got in the same bus in which she was returning to home. She was seated in front and we at rear. Every minute she was looking back. As her stop was nearing she was getting worried. She got down at Malleshwaram 15th Cross. We also got down and followed her. She was running as if we are following her to kidnap. She took a turn in a gully we entered that gully exactly after 10 seconds. She was suddenly vanished. We searched for her. But we couldn’t find her. At last we concluded that she stays in the same gully.
Step 3: Get to know whether she actually likes you
This was bit difficult task. But I used my knowledge about Indian movies to assert the expressions and reactions of a girl whether she is actually interested in you. I used to just jump in front of her and surprise her and try to find out what her reaction would be. Whenever I did that she used to smile shyly. That was the first signal. Next I used to send only Shasthri and Seena to bus stop and ask them to observe her if she is looking for me. The response was ‘Yes’ from my friends. Once I was wearing black T-shirt and she was also wearing black dress when I passed in front of her one of her friend whispered something in Ashwini’s ears and she laughed. I assumed that it is for the common color dress.
Step 4: Make a female accomplice in your class.
I needed someone to introduce to Ashwini. I dint had enough courage to go and introduce myself to her. I thought it would be too rude of me. So again I approached Suma, I told her my plan, she has to speak to Ashwini and get acquainted and introduce me to her later. I will take things forward from there. But she dint listened to me, she refused. Till date I don’t know the reason why she dint agreed. May be she thought it’s a lousy idea but she could have informed me and I could have thought something better. So this step was skipped and entered directly to step 5.
Step 5: Make up a plan to speak to her
This was the hardest lesson I learnt in my life- It’s bloody too hard to speak to a girl. After step 4 was dropped I made up my mind that I will speak to her directly. That day I prepared myself and recited each and every sentence at least 10 times before going to her. We reached bus stop by 4 pm and waited for her. She came at 4.35 pm. My friends goaded me to go and speak to her. I was too nervous, but I steeled myself and went to her. She saw me, and raised her eyebrows asking ‘what’s the matter?’ I tried to open my mouth but it was not opening, I felt as if fevi quick or m-seal has been put in to my mouth. My voice was totally lost. I doubted whether I was a mute or what? I started shivering; the shivering originated from my bones and shattered my whole being. I don’t know how long I was standing dumb struck in front of her and all the people in bus stand were looking in wonder at me and my friends encouraging me to speak, but I dint hear their voices or the traffic sounds I was hearing my heart beat which was on fast pace and blood rushing towards my ears. At last she spoke and said ‘My bus came, I’m leaving’.
That was the last time I ever tried to speak to her. All the other steps of to-do list were dropped. My friends made fun of me. I don’t know the reason why I was not able to speak to her. May be I dint had guts.
Later in the same week Shasthri blasted me and taught me the tactics of approaching a girl. He gave me lecture for half an hour everyday. One day he told that he will help me out by talking to Ashwini first and will introduce me to her later. I was so happy that I hugged and kissed him on his cheeks. So the location was same ‘bus stop’ and time also same ‘evening around 4.30 pm’. The scene was revealed as below:
Open
Bus stop – enter Ashwini.
Shasthri approaches Ashwini.
After approaching her he will look toward us and smiles and his smile says to me ‘Main hoon naa!’
He will look toward her, she will look toward him
He smiles, she smiles
He smiles, she smiles
He smiles, she will not smile and ask ‘What?’
He is still smiling, she is looking at him seriously.
He is still smiling, she lost interest
He is still smiling, she will ask ‘What?’
He is still smiling and asks ‘Is Sandhya your class mate?’
I ask Seena ‘who the hell is Sandhya?’, Seena to me “don’t know maga, my be Shasthri’s new girl friend’, Me -‘Why is he asking about her?’, Seena –‘Don’t know’
He is still bloody smiling, Enter bus – she leaves.
He is still bloody hell smiling, approaches us
I ask ‘Maga, who is Sandhya?’, He replies ‘Who the hell knows? That name flashed to me’
I look at Seena, he is trying to control laugh, I laugh, He laughs.
All laughs.
The End
After that I stopped thinking and trying such goofy things. But by that time she was branded as ‘Mahesh’s dove’ in college. The branding of any girl was very important in college as many boys will be behind one girl. Before making any kind of progress they will enquire has anyone seriously claimed their target. They will decide on progressing based on the credentials of the claimer, if he is weak then they would try to progress. Her branding was strong as no one proposed to her till the time I was in college. Which I think she dint liked, may be she thought she was branded to a coward.
It was bit difficult and painful for me to come out the situation that I created for myself because I was somewhere in between the generation which believed in 'One Love', 'Eternal Love', 'First Love is last Love' and the 'Move on' generation. I convinced myself that 'May be she is not for you, that's why you couldn't speak to her'. I let her to live her life in her own way and I started leaving my own. Also I followed the famous quote of great Shakespeare 'Love sought is good, but given unsought, is better'. After college I have not seen her even for once. But whenever I pass through the Malleshwaram 15th Cross I do look toward that gully where once she vanished.
Mean while, Shasthri proposed to a girl whom we named as ‘Topi’ (cap, due to her hair cut). She told him that she will inform her reply next day. He came to us very happily and told her response. Me and Seena laughed our heart out. He was confused. We told ‘Maga from tomorrow for next 10 days college is closed for exams how the hell she will tell tomorrow, she just fooled you’.
Love was in air for many people during the final year. Many of my class mates proposed to girls. Few of them accepted, few of them were rejected.
For the college fest many of my friends were in organizers position as we were final year students. So this time getting a time slot for our play and other things was a cake walk. Even this time I prepared a script, which was also funny. But this time it dint happened as per plan as few of the members decided to quit 2 days before fest. They were not happy as many things were done by us. We were left with only 6 people. Everyone thought may be this year we will not be able to perform. I thought something else. I gave one of my friend list of songs and asked him to get them recorded continuously with the specified portion. He did that and we were ready with skit with only songs and the play was called ‘Aslam Bhai’.
It was story about Aslam Bhai (a bhai, played by Seena) who will fall in love with a girl (once again the beautiful and gracious shasthri). We, the Chamchas (me, Jaggu and Ravindra) take advantage of love blinded Aslam Bhai and get all his money. The girl finally runs away with Hero (Long Mahesh) leaving Aslam Bhai shattered. We danced to many song bits. We got it ready, practiced and performed in 46 hours. I just wanted to prove to the people who left the team that we can do it without them. After our performance they came and congratulated us. That was our reward.
Also this year all the boys together watched ‘Dil Chahata hai’ movie which is simply superb. That was the most fantastic movie we watched. We were able to relate to the characters. Shasthri was ever goofy Saif, Seena contempt Akshaye and Me impulsive aamir. We all had good time especially during the Goa episode of Saif. I’m proud to say that I’m from ‘Dil Chahatha Hai’ generation.
Exam was fast approaching. We prepared to the best possible extent and wrote. The day I received call that result are announced I was too nervous. I entered college and Narendra met me and told ‘Congrats Maga, you got first class’. I dint believe what he just told and asked him again, he told yes. I rushed to the result board and was happy to see my register number in first class section and I was the only boy who got first class. I thought that’s a great achievement for a person who got only 3 marks in Chemistry in first year. Seena scored second class, in aggregate he was higher than me as he was consistent in all 3 years. Shasthri the ‘Nidhanave Pradhana’ completed all the subjects bit late. But he is still happy about it and that’s what I like about him.
Thus the most beautiful and adventurous journey came to an end. Today when I look back I feel happy about everything and regret about nothing. All of my friends are in good position today.
The most notorious of all, ‘the trio’ is also in good position. Shasthri is Regional Manager in a company, Seena is also at Managerial position in a Pharmaceutical company and me still a struggling writer.
Ramakrishna and Puttaswamy are working as lecturers, Sharath is working in a Bio-tech company, Karthik is team leader in a BPO, Jaggu is working as HR, Long Mahesh has become business man and Ravindra is acting in serials and shortly to be seen in movies.
The inspiration for me to write this is Chetan Bhagat’s ‘Five Point someone’ novel. I was remembering all our adventures while reading that book. But I felt that in the novel there are many fictional incidences but our college life was so real and more interesting. However, I would like to mention that I have filtered out many things as they are too sensitive and vulgar and I can’t post such things in public forum. Whatever I have written is may be 30% of our college life. But I hope it was interesting to all.
Me, Shasthri and Seena have decided to watch ‘3 Idiots’ on 1st Jan, 2010. No one could enjoy the movie better than these ‘3 Idiots’. We will watch and laugh or cry and also its chance to laugh at ourselves one more time and for many more times to come.
THE END
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Sunday, November 29, 2009
When we were Kings- Part 2
The day of our first year BSc results was memorable for many reasons. First of all I flunked in Chemistry (expected) and Botany (non-expected). Secondly I flunked for first time in my life. Third reason was that I laughed a lot on that day despite of flunking. I and Shasthri watched together our disgraceful registration number not featuring on result sheet as we dint make it. We decided that we will mourn our failure by watching a movie. Seena was absconding that day. We went to a Tamil movie, Penin manadhai thottu (Touch a women’s heart) acted by Sharath Kumar, Prabhu Deva (Dance wonder of India) and the heroine I don’t know her name. It was basically a love story with all masalas. But the movie had an excellent comedy track by Vivek (I admire this guy). The comedy track was so good that both of us were laughing our heart out. After the movie when we came out of theater we discussed that usually people will not laugh when they fail in their exams but we are unique as we laughed in such a misery.
That was my golden days. Never bothered or cared a tiny rat’s ass about what’s happening.
The days where you would have not bothered if you missed your lunch bag because you know a part of your friend's lunch is reserved for you.
The days when you would not care to know what’s happening in world. Whether the economy is booming or it’s in gutters.
The days when you dint care much about looking into news papers.
The days when a cigarette is shared by 10 people and the moment it would reach you it would be the last puff as people would deliberately inhale more than required.
The days when a party involving alcohol is organized you would take more than your limit as you would not know when the next party will be.
The days when you switched your shirt with your friend’s because your shirt is good than his and he has to meet his girl friend.
The days when you would enjoy reading stories, jokes and comments written by the most brilliant and creative people in rest rooms.
The days when you would stand by your friend when he is been targeted by his girl friend’s other admirers or brothers or father and you would not bother if you got hit by someone.
The days when playing cricket was more than passion and we skipped everything but did not missed a single match. If we saw a match going out of our hand we used to create a big issue out of nothing and made sure that match is abandoned. This many times leaded to fights.
The days when we considered first day first show of favorite movies were more important than attending practical classes.
The day when having a girl friend was a matter of pride. When you saw someone else is trying to impress your would-be girl friend your every friendly pat, hug and pinch will be more severe than usual on the competitor.
The most advantageous part of studying under Bangalore University was the option of having carry over, where if you fail in one or all subjects in first or second year you can still attend classes and try to clear these back logs. So we all entered our second year of BSc. Seena with no burden of back log, me with burden of 2 subjects and Shasthri with more burden than me.
Second year I would call it as most adventurous year. We did things which we not even imagined.
First incidence to share is that we had a professor who was known to be too strict and he dint bother to slap any student if he does any mistake. He had unique facial features. His face was black and his eyes circle was pitch black and only thing visible in that region was the white matter of his eyes. He was bald and his hairs (countable) arise from the lower extremity of sides and back of skull. Hairs were at least 10 cms long.
He used to handle the practical classes which were usually scheduled in afternoon. One day, he came to lab and arranged slides and asked us to look at them. May be he had a bad hair day. All of his hairs were in erected position.While checking slides Sharath told me ‘Maga (slang for friend), don’t you think Professor looks like a person who gets electrocuted in television Ads and his face will be blackened and hairs will be erected position’. His comparison was so accurate that I saw the Professor’s face and could not control my laugh. Professor noted me laughing and came to me and gave a hard punch on my back. As I saw him more closely and his features in anger were like charred after electrocuted, I started laughing more. He dismissed me from class. Shortly after my dismissal Sharath followed as he also could not control his laugh. After the class we were declared as heroes as we were dare to laugh on Professor's face.
Then came the supplementary exams in September, 2000, a chance to clear the back logs. This time I decided that I will clear both Chemistry and Botany which were pending from first year. I studied well, but for only 48 hours before exams. This time for chemistry I spent 3 hours in examination hall. Felt good about that. Also the advantage of writing supplementary exams is that the question papers will be easier than main exams as the question paper setters would know that whoever is going to attend will never pass the exams if they are tough. Surprisingly I cleared both the subjects but Shashthri did not. I would like to appreciate this person’s patience and logic for not clearing all the subjects. He would tell that his grand father has advised him that ‘Nidhanave Pradhana’ it’s similar to slow and steady wins the race and told us that he will clear subjects slowly.
I would like to mention about one of our lady Professor. She was short, stocky and had Indira Gandhi hairstyle and she was sworn enemy of men and boys. No body knew the reason, may be some white and black flash back. She used to observe closely the movements of boys and blast them even for silly reason.
I never saw her smiling. I used to think she directly born with an accusing face. Only time I saw her smiling was when Seena shaved his moustache. That day she told to him that he looks like Anant Nag (good actor in Kannada movies) in Bayalu Dhaari movie. Also I could see a hint of blush in her. That whole day we took life of Seena by saying that he has impressed the impossible. Once we all boys mass bunked one of her class. This infuriated her. The same day we attended Chemistry Lab class. The lab was too big and it had 2 exits. Lady Professor entered from front exit and started blasting who were there. We saw the attack and dodged by going out from rear exit. She noticed this but we did not. We concealed ourselves behind a wall. We saw her going back to department. Then we entered lab. I was standing near window and luckily saw that she was coming back with vengeance. I passed the information to Shasthri and Seena but Shasthri was busy talking with some girl. Me and Seena sneaked out. We saw that smart lady locking the front exit before entering from rear exit. Shasthri who was bit late to understand the situation was caught near the door and got maximum blasting.
In another incidence in Botany Lab Karthik did some mischievous thing that angered the Lady professor she grabbed a wooden scale on her table and rushed to hit him as if that would cause pain to him. He the athlete and agile jumped across the table and ran in circles around the table and she chasing him. It was like playing ‘Fire in the mountain, run, run, run…’ We all laughed like crazy people. At last she gave up and slumped in her chair and told ‘Karthik, I know u will be nothing in your life but you can be a good runner’. She was not able to get up from her chair till the class got over but she dint released the scale from her hand thinking that if Karthik comes in striking range she will hit him. He made sure that entire class he was out of striking range.
We all boys organized a trip. Girls were not interested in joining us because they thought we are most spoiled creatures of this world and being with us will contaminate them. We thought we are better off them because with girls around men will act like monkey many times. I decided the places we will visit. We planned to go to Mysore, Madikeri (Coorg), Mangalore, Hassan and back to Bangalore. People who agreed were Me, Shasthri, Seena, Sharath, Karthik, Ravindra, Narendra, Puttaswamy, Ramakrishna, Jaga, Long Mahesh and Girish (our junior). Date was fixed; it was for 3 days and in month of December 2000. Long Mahesh took responsibility of booking vehicle for the trip.
On the day of trip we all reached college at 6 am. But the vehicle came at 1 pm due to some issues. We all cursed Long Mahesh for that. We all reached Halebeedu by 4 pm. We were admiring the sculptures but Girish and someone else tried to write something on sculpture and were caught. Police were called and we all apologized. They told to write a apology letter. We wrote letter in some other college’s name and our name on letter was changed. Someone was Upendra, someone was Rajkumar, some one was Kumarswamy the best was someone was Deve Gowda. We reached Kadur at 7 pm we hit the bar straight. We 3 sat together with Narendra, Rama and Puttaswamy at one table and we ordered Beer. Shasthri acted as perfect Brahmin and settled with Pepsi (now he gulps down a 90 in a second). I and Seena had 5 beers together. During billing somehow we convinced Rama that we had only 4, which he still doubts today. After filling our belly we moved towards Kalasa for spending night. On the way few of the loose stomachs could not with hold the alcohol. It was started by Puttaswamy. He asked driver to stop and went out to puke. Ravindra who saw the puking process of Puttaswamy could not hold and involuntarily puked. This started the chain reaction and almost all puked except me and Sharath.
We reached Kalasa at around 11 pm. We were supposed to spend night in vehicle as we dint had enough money to stay in hotel. As it was winter it was too cold. Me and Sharath decided not to sleep and were roaming all around the town. We parked the vehicle near the police station. Initially we were silent as we were near police station and we were drunk also the door light outside the police station was on. As the night passed everyone’s bladder was too active due to alcohol but there was no any place where it could be released. We searched, but no place near by. We saw that police station’s backyard was empty and no lights but we were still skeptical as any police might see us catch us in action and can take action against us. But no one can control that. I made my mind and did a courageous thing. I moved into backyard cautiously and made sure no one is moving inside the police station and at last released. Everyone followed my example all through the night. We made sure that we left that place by 4 am and reached Horanaadu so that no one from police station is awake. We thought they will be having a surprise in morning. I wondered if they can so poorly defend their backyard how well they can defend people.
That day we reached Mangalore. I always liked seas and oceans. I get spell bind when I see these magnanimous thing. It contains trillion to the power of trillion barrels of water, million species ranging from single celled protozoan to biggest creature blue whale in its belly but on surface it appears so calm and humble. I love to see the beach and admire its humongousness. Me, Shasthri and Seena took a picture against the back drop of setting sun symbolizing that we will be friends till our life’s sun sets (This photo is with Shasthri will post it soon). And our trip came to an end with loads of memories.
At last the most unforgettable memory which was also a turning point in my life. Our Botany professor Siddesh Gowda had expressed concern that CBZ students has not participated in any cultural events performed during college's yearly fest. We just discussed internally that we will do something this year. Ravindra the upcoming movie star said that we will do dance. That day after reaching home I thought we can do a play. I took out paper and pen and started writing. I dint had any inspiration or idea just kept writing by midnight I was ready with a script for a skit. Next day I showed it to everyone. Everyone liked it. I was not sure whether it was good but everyone told it was good. I titled it as ‘Director from Hollywood’; basically it’s a story of director who wants to direct a movie in Kannada. He hires personal Assistant (PA) who will misuse the money given by the director to choose actors. When director comes down to finalize on cast PA will get people who are not so good and unique characters that who will make the director go crazy.
The characters of our skit we were as follows:
1. Director from Hollywood – Narendra
2. PA – Me (initially it was Rama who rejected the offer)
3. Uppi – (Seena) A mad person who is fan of Upendra movies and acts like him.
4. Hero – Long Mahesh (Salman Khan) He wears very less dress to show his body.
5. Heroine – Shasthri (Mandakini, a transvestite) my favorite dialogue of him was ‘I studied in Bishop Cotton’s Boys School and in Mount Carmel women’s college’. Initially he did not agreed to do this character as he thought that it would dampen his image in front of ladies. But I convinced him. I’m really thankful to him that he agreed. Also he was ready to get a clean shave for the performance. Also I’m thankful to Neela and Suma who done make-up to him before the performance.
6. Villain – Ravindra (Shake Abdullah) His specialty was that he will shake involuntarily and whoever touches him will also shake.
7. Dialogue writer – (Rama) He will have poor eye sight
I was surprised when everyone liked the story and script. Also they encouraged me to direct the skit. So I did. We had a great time rehearsing it. We did it for almost 2 months. Also we came to know whoever participates in cultural program will get 75% attendance, this made us to concentrate more on that. The college fest was organized in month of Feb 2001.
We had one more hurdle to cross before performing on stage. We were supposed to perform in front of so called ‘panel of experts’ who would choose the program that will be performed on the D-day. We were nervous thinking that if our program is not chosen what will happen to our attendance. Some how, we did and were able to get a slot in evening. On the D-day we were all prepared. But there was an issue. So many programs were chosen that they started deleting programs and ending the boring programs in the middle of performance. I was so worried that all our efforts would go in vain. I was seeing people practiced ready with costumes were being told that their act or dance cannot be staged due to time constraints. I’m in great debt to Long Mahesh who used his influence in seniors and got a slot for us.
Finally we were on stage. For the first time in my life I was on stage. Gastric juice in my stomach poured down when I saw nearly 1000 people seated and waiting for me to speak. We did, we performed. Everyone was so excited on stage that they did things for real. I’m sorry for Narendra who got real slaps and punches. There was one funny incidence which I would like to share. In a scene, Hero will punch Director and chases Villain, Villain escapes by moving in between Hero’s legs and I will be holding wrathful director to console him. On stage Hero punched Narendra so hard that he fell down and I dint know when villain started running I thought I need to hold someone so I got hold of Hero. Hero started telling me ‘Maga, leave my hand’. I asked ‘Why?’, he replied ‘Ravindra is squeezing in between my legs I can’t move’. Then I realized I was supposed to hold director and I searched for him poor fellow was moaning in pain holding his stomach on the floor of stage. But the saddest part was our play was stopped at 10 mins, actual time was 15 mins. We all felt bad but had a satisfaction that we performed on stage. Back stage we were so excited we all started showing our excitement on Shasthri and his dress.
We were informed that the programs performed will be aired in some local channel. All were looking forward to see themselves on television. I was worried thinking that they will edit our program we were not allowed to perform completely on stage. Also that local channel was not aired where I resided. We all decided that we will watch it in Long Mahesh’s home. But on the day I got some urgent personal work and could not go. I regret till date that I dint watched it. Everyone else watched it. Good news was that our program was not edited. All other flashy programs before ours were deleted. We thought even the channel people liked our program. After that relay many people in college started recognizing us. Especially Seena for his Uppi performance, Shasthri for his role and everyone else. Professor Siddesh Gowda was happy. Even other lecturers appreciated us. We all felt good.
The support provided by my friends made me to realize that I have something in me as a writer and director. Even they did encouraged me to take up that as career and I was ready for it. But life had some other plans for me. But I'm thankful to them if they would have not supported me that day I would not have written this.
Exams time again. This time relatively I did well and was able to get second class. Which surprised all thinking that when did I get time to study in between all this chaos. Even Seena cleared all subject. Shasthri was still slow and steady and kept few subjects pending. With this we ended our second year and were ready to face the final year, which was also filled with non-stop fun and excitement.
In the final year I saw someone special.
To be continued…….
That was my golden days. Never bothered or cared a tiny rat’s ass about what’s happening.
The days where you would have not bothered if you missed your lunch bag because you know a part of your friend's lunch is reserved for you.
The days when you would not care to know what’s happening in world. Whether the economy is booming or it’s in gutters.
The days when you dint care much about looking into news papers.
The days when a cigarette is shared by 10 people and the moment it would reach you it would be the last puff as people would deliberately inhale more than required.
The days when a party involving alcohol is organized you would take more than your limit as you would not know when the next party will be.
The days when you switched your shirt with your friend’s because your shirt is good than his and he has to meet his girl friend.
The days when you would enjoy reading stories, jokes and comments written by the most brilliant and creative people in rest rooms.
The days when you would stand by your friend when he is been targeted by his girl friend’s other admirers or brothers or father and you would not bother if you got hit by someone.
The days when playing cricket was more than passion and we skipped everything but did not missed a single match. If we saw a match going out of our hand we used to create a big issue out of nothing and made sure that match is abandoned. This many times leaded to fights.
The days when we considered first day first show of favorite movies were more important than attending practical classes.
The day when having a girl friend was a matter of pride. When you saw someone else is trying to impress your would-be girl friend your every friendly pat, hug and pinch will be more severe than usual on the competitor.
The most advantageous part of studying under Bangalore University was the option of having carry over, where if you fail in one or all subjects in first or second year you can still attend classes and try to clear these back logs. So we all entered our second year of BSc. Seena with no burden of back log, me with burden of 2 subjects and Shasthri with more burden than me.
Second year I would call it as most adventurous year. We did things which we not even imagined.
First incidence to share is that we had a professor who was known to be too strict and he dint bother to slap any student if he does any mistake. He had unique facial features. His face was black and his eyes circle was pitch black and only thing visible in that region was the white matter of his eyes. He was bald and his hairs (countable) arise from the lower extremity of sides and back of skull. Hairs were at least 10 cms long.
He used to handle the practical classes which were usually scheduled in afternoon. One day, he came to lab and arranged slides and asked us to look at them. May be he had a bad hair day. All of his hairs were in erected position.While checking slides Sharath told me ‘Maga (slang for friend), don’t you think Professor looks like a person who gets electrocuted in television Ads and his face will be blackened and hairs will be erected position’. His comparison was so accurate that I saw the Professor’s face and could not control my laugh. Professor noted me laughing and came to me and gave a hard punch on my back. As I saw him more closely and his features in anger were like charred after electrocuted, I started laughing more. He dismissed me from class. Shortly after my dismissal Sharath followed as he also could not control his laugh. After the class we were declared as heroes as we were dare to laugh on Professor's face.
Then came the supplementary exams in September, 2000, a chance to clear the back logs. This time I decided that I will clear both Chemistry and Botany which were pending from first year. I studied well, but for only 48 hours before exams. This time for chemistry I spent 3 hours in examination hall. Felt good about that. Also the advantage of writing supplementary exams is that the question papers will be easier than main exams as the question paper setters would know that whoever is going to attend will never pass the exams if they are tough. Surprisingly I cleared both the subjects but Shashthri did not. I would like to appreciate this person’s patience and logic for not clearing all the subjects. He would tell that his grand father has advised him that ‘Nidhanave Pradhana’ it’s similar to slow and steady wins the race and told us that he will clear subjects slowly.
I would like to mention about one of our lady Professor. She was short, stocky and had Indira Gandhi hairstyle and she was sworn enemy of men and boys. No body knew the reason, may be some white and black flash back. She used to observe closely the movements of boys and blast them even for silly reason.
I never saw her smiling. I used to think she directly born with an accusing face. Only time I saw her smiling was when Seena shaved his moustache. That day she told to him that he looks like Anant Nag (good actor in Kannada movies) in Bayalu Dhaari movie. Also I could see a hint of blush in her. That whole day we took life of Seena by saying that he has impressed the impossible. Once we all boys mass bunked one of her class. This infuriated her. The same day we attended Chemistry Lab class. The lab was too big and it had 2 exits. Lady Professor entered from front exit and started blasting who were there. We saw the attack and dodged by going out from rear exit. She noticed this but we did not. We concealed ourselves behind a wall. We saw her going back to department. Then we entered lab. I was standing near window and luckily saw that she was coming back with vengeance. I passed the information to Shasthri and Seena but Shasthri was busy talking with some girl. Me and Seena sneaked out. We saw that smart lady locking the front exit before entering from rear exit. Shasthri who was bit late to understand the situation was caught near the door and got maximum blasting.
In another incidence in Botany Lab Karthik did some mischievous thing that angered the Lady professor she grabbed a wooden scale on her table and rushed to hit him as if that would cause pain to him. He the athlete and agile jumped across the table and ran in circles around the table and she chasing him. It was like playing ‘Fire in the mountain, run, run, run…’ We all laughed like crazy people. At last she gave up and slumped in her chair and told ‘Karthik, I know u will be nothing in your life but you can be a good runner’. She was not able to get up from her chair till the class got over but she dint released the scale from her hand thinking that if Karthik comes in striking range she will hit him. He made sure that entire class he was out of striking range.
We all boys organized a trip. Girls were not interested in joining us because they thought we are most spoiled creatures of this world and being with us will contaminate them. We thought we are better off them because with girls around men will act like monkey many times. I decided the places we will visit. We planned to go to Mysore, Madikeri (Coorg), Mangalore, Hassan and back to Bangalore. People who agreed were Me, Shasthri, Seena, Sharath, Karthik, Ravindra, Narendra, Puttaswamy, Ramakrishna, Jaga, Long Mahesh and Girish (our junior). Date was fixed; it was for 3 days and in month of December 2000. Long Mahesh took responsibility of booking vehicle for the trip.
On the day of trip we all reached college at 6 am. But the vehicle came at 1 pm due to some issues. We all cursed Long Mahesh for that. We all reached Halebeedu by 4 pm. We were admiring the sculptures but Girish and someone else tried to write something on sculpture and were caught. Police were called and we all apologized. They told to write a apology letter. We wrote letter in some other college’s name and our name on letter was changed. Someone was Upendra, someone was Rajkumar, some one was Kumarswamy the best was someone was Deve Gowda. We reached Kadur at 7 pm we hit the bar straight. We 3 sat together with Narendra, Rama and Puttaswamy at one table and we ordered Beer. Shasthri acted as perfect Brahmin and settled with Pepsi (now he gulps down a 90 in a second). I and Seena had 5 beers together. During billing somehow we convinced Rama that we had only 4, which he still doubts today. After filling our belly we moved towards Kalasa for spending night. On the way few of the loose stomachs could not with hold the alcohol. It was started by Puttaswamy. He asked driver to stop and went out to puke. Ravindra who saw the puking process of Puttaswamy could not hold and involuntarily puked. This started the chain reaction and almost all puked except me and Sharath.
We reached Kalasa at around 11 pm. We were supposed to spend night in vehicle as we dint had enough money to stay in hotel. As it was winter it was too cold. Me and Sharath decided not to sleep and were roaming all around the town. We parked the vehicle near the police station. Initially we were silent as we were near police station and we were drunk also the door light outside the police station was on. As the night passed everyone’s bladder was too active due to alcohol but there was no any place where it could be released. We searched, but no place near by. We saw that police station’s backyard was empty and no lights but we were still skeptical as any police might see us catch us in action and can take action against us. But no one can control that. I made my mind and did a courageous thing. I moved into backyard cautiously and made sure no one is moving inside the police station and at last released. Everyone followed my example all through the night. We made sure that we left that place by 4 am and reached Horanaadu so that no one from police station is awake. We thought they will be having a surprise in morning. I wondered if they can so poorly defend their backyard how well they can defend people.
That day we reached Mangalore. I always liked seas and oceans. I get spell bind when I see these magnanimous thing. It contains trillion to the power of trillion barrels of water, million species ranging from single celled protozoan to biggest creature blue whale in its belly but on surface it appears so calm and humble. I love to see the beach and admire its humongousness. Me, Shasthri and Seena took a picture against the back drop of setting sun symbolizing that we will be friends till our life’s sun sets (This photo is with Shasthri will post it soon). And our trip came to an end with loads of memories.
At last the most unforgettable memory which was also a turning point in my life. Our Botany professor Siddesh Gowda had expressed concern that CBZ students has not participated in any cultural events performed during college's yearly fest. We just discussed internally that we will do something this year. Ravindra the upcoming movie star said that we will do dance. That day after reaching home I thought we can do a play. I took out paper and pen and started writing. I dint had any inspiration or idea just kept writing by midnight I was ready with a script for a skit. Next day I showed it to everyone. Everyone liked it. I was not sure whether it was good but everyone told it was good. I titled it as ‘Director from Hollywood’; basically it’s a story of director who wants to direct a movie in Kannada. He hires personal Assistant (PA) who will misuse the money given by the director to choose actors. When director comes down to finalize on cast PA will get people who are not so good and unique characters that who will make the director go crazy.
The characters of our skit we were as follows:
1. Director from Hollywood – Narendra
2. PA – Me (initially it was Rama who rejected the offer)
3. Uppi – (Seena) A mad person who is fan of Upendra movies and acts like him.
4. Hero – Long Mahesh (Salman Khan) He wears very less dress to show his body.
5. Heroine – Shasthri (Mandakini, a transvestite) my favorite dialogue of him was ‘I studied in Bishop Cotton’s Boys School and in Mount Carmel women’s college’. Initially he did not agreed to do this character as he thought that it would dampen his image in front of ladies. But I convinced him. I’m really thankful to him that he agreed. Also he was ready to get a clean shave for the performance. Also I’m thankful to Neela and Suma who done make-up to him before the performance.
6. Villain – Ravindra (Shake Abdullah) His specialty was that he will shake involuntarily and whoever touches him will also shake.
7. Dialogue writer – (Rama) He will have poor eye sight
I was surprised when everyone liked the story and script. Also they encouraged me to direct the skit. So I did. We had a great time rehearsing it. We did it for almost 2 months. Also we came to know whoever participates in cultural program will get 75% attendance, this made us to concentrate more on that. The college fest was organized in month of Feb 2001.
We had one more hurdle to cross before performing on stage. We were supposed to perform in front of so called ‘panel of experts’ who would choose the program that will be performed on the D-day. We were nervous thinking that if our program is not chosen what will happen to our attendance. Some how, we did and were able to get a slot in evening. On the D-day we were all prepared. But there was an issue. So many programs were chosen that they started deleting programs and ending the boring programs in the middle of performance. I was so worried that all our efforts would go in vain. I was seeing people practiced ready with costumes were being told that their act or dance cannot be staged due to time constraints. I’m in great debt to Long Mahesh who used his influence in seniors and got a slot for us.
Finally we were on stage. For the first time in my life I was on stage. Gastric juice in my stomach poured down when I saw nearly 1000 people seated and waiting for me to speak. We did, we performed. Everyone was so excited on stage that they did things for real. I’m sorry for Narendra who got real slaps and punches. There was one funny incidence which I would like to share. In a scene, Hero will punch Director and chases Villain, Villain escapes by moving in between Hero’s legs and I will be holding wrathful director to console him. On stage Hero punched Narendra so hard that he fell down and I dint know when villain started running I thought I need to hold someone so I got hold of Hero. Hero started telling me ‘Maga, leave my hand’. I asked ‘Why?’, he replied ‘Ravindra is squeezing in between my legs I can’t move’. Then I realized I was supposed to hold director and I searched for him poor fellow was moaning in pain holding his stomach on the floor of stage. But the saddest part was our play was stopped at 10 mins, actual time was 15 mins. We all felt bad but had a satisfaction that we performed on stage. Back stage we were so excited we all started showing our excitement on Shasthri and his dress.
We were informed that the programs performed will be aired in some local channel. All were looking forward to see themselves on television. I was worried thinking that they will edit our program we were not allowed to perform completely on stage. Also that local channel was not aired where I resided. We all decided that we will watch it in Long Mahesh’s home. But on the day I got some urgent personal work and could not go. I regret till date that I dint watched it. Everyone else watched it. Good news was that our program was not edited. All other flashy programs before ours were deleted. We thought even the channel people liked our program. After that relay many people in college started recognizing us. Especially Seena for his Uppi performance, Shasthri for his role and everyone else. Professor Siddesh Gowda was happy. Even other lecturers appreciated us. We all felt good.
The support provided by my friends made me to realize that I have something in me as a writer and director. Even they did encouraged me to take up that as career and I was ready for it. But life had some other plans for me. But I'm thankful to them if they would have not supported me that day I would not have written this.
Exams time again. This time relatively I did well and was able to get second class. Which surprised all thinking that when did I get time to study in between all this chaos. Even Seena cleared all subject. Shasthri was still slow and steady and kept few subjects pending. With this we ended our second year and were ready to face the final year, which was also filled with non-stop fun and excitement.
In the final year I saw someone special.
To be continued…….
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
When we were Kings - Part 1
Recently it so happened that I was passing from my college K.L.E’s, S. Nijalingappa College, Rajajinagar. As I was passing through I watched few guys occupying the key places (hadda) outside the college, which were property of our's earlier (I was jealous). I felt those guys were looking awful, they were not as cool as we were, the tactics they used to woo (conquer) the girls were outdated, the topic they were speaking is out of fashion (rather dumb) and their dressing sense was foolish, there was guy whose pants were clinging for it’s life and pride from middle way of his bottom (I felt sorry for the pants).
At that instant I realized that I was speaking like my father or uncles when I was in college. Yes, I was speaking like them. But I’m god damn sure that even the older generation would be masters of this game when they were in college. I think for older generation people newer generation will always be irritating. As the time passes away once super cool generation will start hating the upcoming generation and they would act as they were the most decent fellows ever laid foot on the earth. May be the fact is that gradually we become jealous. We dedicate 70% of our time in work and other 23% to family and rest 1% for ourselves. When we see those college boys and girls who dedicate at least 80% of theri time for themselves, ‘YES’ we would be jealous. Moreover they would not be committed to anyone as much as married people. Free stallions roaming around. We are not gods or saints to smile and tell to ourselves that it’s bad to be jealous or envious or resentful about them. Also one good thing about the taunting of older generation is that it will keep the activities of new generation under check.
I think I was able to explain the behavior of our uncles when I was in college at least partially if not completely. But all this thinking had inevitably reminded me of my college days. The days when I spent more time near the college and less time inside the college. The 3 years of my life in K.L.E’s, S. Nijalingappa College, Rajajinagar. Those were my days, my unforgettable days. The days when we were uncrowned Kings.
Yes, we were King of ourselves and we had our own imaginary dynasty and ruled the college. Why not? When we have imaginary Longitudes and Latitudes line drawn across our earth why we can’t have our own imaginary dynasties? Although we were supported and nourished financially by our parents once we stepped in college campus we would get an unseen crown upon our head.
In this blog I would concentrate more on the ebullient aspects of our college days rather than academics. I know everyone who would read this would have had their own wonderful college days and might have done more or less mischievous things than what I have done. Few of them might think whatever I done was not right. But this is what happened which I can’t undo and also if I would have given chance to undo I will never.
Before starting off I would like to give some background information how did I ended up taking Bachelor in science. It so happened that I wanted to be an Engineer since I was a kid. In 1998 when I completed my P.U.C (12th ) exams I also attended Common Entrance Test (CET) exams to get an seat either in Medical or Engineering. However, I was not topper in exams which was obvious, but I managed to get decent ranks both in Engineering and Medical. I never knew even in my wildest dreams that I would not take Engineering. But I did that. Don’t know what provoked me or what persuaded me in taking Bsc over BE, which was the most coolest thing that any person would have done academically in those days similarly as there is craze of MBA nowadays. The decision was made on impulse. I forgot to note down the date, hour, minute, second and milli second of that decision taking moment. If I would have done that may be I would have remembered it all my life, because I have no clue where I would have been now if the decision was other way. May be I would have not written this also.
The only thing I can remember now is that I thought I would do everything in my life differently. The streak of rebel attitude in me encouraged to do so. I thought let me not be the sheep and follow the herd. Let me be the Lion of my destiny. I forgot the fact that even Lion can be captured and tortured in circus.
If anyone of you is born and brought up in Bangalore then you would definitely know about a Television serial called ‘Danda Pindagalu’ which was aired on Udaya TV at 7 pm Monday to Friday in 1999. “Danda Pindagalu” means worthless creatures. It was story of 3 unemployed youth who had completed their Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) and Bachelor of Arts (BA) respectively. Also it projected that people whoever completed or completing their degree courses apart from Engineering and Medical are worthless creatures. Unfortunately to me that serial was a super hit. Every Tom, Dick and Harry loved the goof ups the 3 protagonists make in the serial and decided for themselves that doing degree courses is waste of time, money and energy. When someone comes to know that I have taken BSc not BE they would make there face as if I have refused to marry their beautiful daughter. And they would pronounce BSc as if that word is forbidden to utter. If mistakenly uttered you would rot in hell. To my great help they did communicated there views to my mother so clearly that even a person who is expert in communication skills could not have done so efficiently. My mother who is bit edgy especially in education matters tried to influence me to take up Engineering and ditch BSc. I’m the perfect synonym to dog’s tail was adamant in changing the decision.
So my journey in BSc started in the month of July 1999. I thought of taking Physics, Mathematics and Chemistry as my main subjects. But one of the college official saw my score in Mathematics and recommended to take Chemistry, Botany and Zoology (CBZ) as it does not contain Mathematics (I really hated and will hate till my last breath trignometry and calculus). I did not had any other choice and agreed for that course.
I don’t remember what exactly happened on first day of my college. I was hoping that I would get ragged but no one even dint bother to look at me. Seniors, whom I would like to address as respectful cowardly chickens were only targeting students from other states. So that there would be no back lash of ragging local students. One thing I can remember clearly that I decided for next 3 years I will not be a good boy. I will shed out my calm and nice boy image that was attached to me since many years. Then the roller coaster ride started.
First few days were boring. There were only 22 students in CBZ class, 9 girls and 12 boys. It was so boring that I started bunking classes from first week. Initially I got acquainted with Karthik and Sharath. But I was about to meet 2 best friends of my life.
The friends I was referring to was Sathyanarayanan AKA Satish (which he used only when he introduced himself to ladies) AKA Sathya (which he used for business purpose) AKA Shasthri (unanimously selected by all boys in class in remembrance of Shivraj Kumar in OM movie) and Srinivas AKA Seena (pet name) AKA Seena makaloola (christened by Sharath, reason unknown. It's been rumored that he gave that name out of love on Seena).
Initially we were only hi and bye friends. After a month Shasthri became close to me followed by Seena. We used to bunk classes together and spend most of our time in Dodda Park (Big park) which is behind Mariyappana Palya bus stand. Our favorite spot was kitthogiro bench (demolished bench).
Now coming to ladies of our class. We never used to call them by their name but by their roll numbers. 13, 20, 1…. Our favorite numbers were 13 as my friend Shastri had a crush on her and even on 20 and also on 01. There was lady called Sundara Kala who was a good friend to us. Also some other.. god I forgot their name.
In boys. We had another Mahesh AKA Long Mahesh due to his height, We had Jagadish AKA Jaga (even he had big time crush on 13) AKA Jaggu (named after a chimpanzee that came in pepsi ad with Preity Zinta), we had Ravindra AKA Jet raja (I think guys must have understood), we had Narendra AKA Nari, we had Ramkrishna, Karthik, Sharath, Manjunath AKA Scope Raja (he thought thaty he was cooler than north and south poles), pravin (this guy ditched college after one year) and we 3 musketeers. We had other friends from PCM section.
In first year of college there are few incidences which I would like to mention.
As we used to bunk classes one or other person would be giving us proxy attendance. Once I was not in mood to attend the class so I asked Shashtri to attend my Kannada language class. Shasthri is from Tamil Nadu and he doesn’t know single word of Kannada to read or write. I told to attend nothing will be wrong. To his luck that day lecturer asked everyone to read one paragraph from the book. Shasthri started sweating. As his turn was coming close he started cursing me in all the languages he knows. May be god was on his side and bell rang just before his turn. He promised that he will not attend any Kannada classes. I gave him a solution if such situation occurs then to inform lecture that he is more interested in learning Kannada so attended the class.
I remember there was uncle who had an STD/ISD booth near our college. Unfortunately (only for him) he had 2 young good looking daughters. For obvious reasons his shop used to make good business. We named one of his daughter as Hrithik Roshni as she resembled Hrithik Roshan who was new heart throb of nation in Jan 2000.
The other memorable incidence was that before exams college will issue hall tickets for exams before checking 75% attendance. Don’t know how and by some mistake me and Seena got 77% and 80% attendance respectively and Shasthri got only 70% attendance. Head of Department (HOD) asked him to get his parents. He can get only his uncle as his parents are in Krishnagiri and his uncle will kill him if he comes to know about this. I gave it a serious thought and cameup with an brilliant idea. I had another friend called Soma AKA Bandli or bald. He is 2 years elder than me but appears 7-8 years older due to his moustache and open ground on his head (now we cant make out as he got done hair transplant or whatever it is). I asked him to come to our college and act as Shasthri’s uncle. He agreed but at expense of free lunch. We sent both of them to HOD’s chamber and waited outside. We could only hear few dailogues the excerpts of the converstion is as follows:
HOD to Soma: Hello Sir! (He is PUC fail and was addressed as ‘Sir’, priveleges of having bald head)
Soma to HOD: Hello Sir
HOD to Soma: Sir, your nephew is useless fellow. I have not seen him single day in my class.
Soma to Shashthri: Why Mahesh? (he totally confused between me and Shasthri, luckily even HOD dint know his name, advantage of not attending classes)
We could not hear few conversations as we were controlling our laugh.
HOD to Soma: As it is first year I will give hall ticket.
Soma to HOD: Thank you sir! Shasthri will be regular from next year (comedy of name error continued)
Shashthri to Soma: Uncle, I will promise that I will be regular to college.
Soma to Shasthri: I don’t believe you. Swear on this book which is goddess Saraswathi and tell that you will be regular (that’s over acting)
HOD to Soma: No need Sir! (As he knew that he wont be regular)
Shasthri to Soma: Uncle lets go!
Atlast Shasthri got hall ticket and Soma got his free lunch.
Our first year went off at lightning speed. Many things happened. Even some people in our class who were jealous of our friendship told to Shashthri that I’m an foul mouthed no good person and he is going to suffer. But still he dint leave us. I respect him for that. We were discussing so many things daily (excluding studies) that they used to drop me half the way and go back to their home.
As expected we did not study and our exams preparation was pathetic. We missed too many classes that year. Lot of fun could also be harmful. I still remember we had Zoology and Chemistry exams on 2 consecutive days and the gap from them and the previous subject was only 3 days. My logical decision was that if I dedicate 1.5 days for each subject the chances of clearing both the subject was too less. In Chemistry I was in too bad condition. So I decided that I will study only Zoology and keep Chemistry pending for next year supplementary exams.
For Chemistry exam I was present in exam hall for only 30 mins. I felt really bad. My answer sheet was empty. I was in such a hopeless situation that for first time in my life I was waiting for 30 mins to be completed soon. That was the longest 30 mins of my life. I was not able to see people hurriedly completing pages and pages in answer sheet. I was struggling to keep my tears in eyes. Atlast 30 mins completed. First bell rang. I stood up to hand over the answer sheet. Everyone who was writing stopped and looked at me in disgust as if I took away their precious 10 seconds. There was a twitch in my eyes and I dint looked back just rushed towards door.
First year came to an end. I failed in Chemistry (I was praying to god to somehow get me passed) and surprisingly in Botany also. Shasthri failed in English, Chemistry and Zoology. But Seena passed all the subjects….
To be continued.
At that instant I realized that I was speaking like my father or uncles when I was in college. Yes, I was speaking like them. But I’m god damn sure that even the older generation would be masters of this game when they were in college. I think for older generation people newer generation will always be irritating. As the time passes away once super cool generation will start hating the upcoming generation and they would act as they were the most decent fellows ever laid foot on the earth. May be the fact is that gradually we become jealous. We dedicate 70% of our time in work and other 23% to family and rest 1% for ourselves. When we see those college boys and girls who dedicate at least 80% of theri time for themselves, ‘YES’ we would be jealous. Moreover they would not be committed to anyone as much as married people. Free stallions roaming around. We are not gods or saints to smile and tell to ourselves that it’s bad to be jealous or envious or resentful about them. Also one good thing about the taunting of older generation is that it will keep the activities of new generation under check.
I think I was able to explain the behavior of our uncles when I was in college at least partially if not completely. But all this thinking had inevitably reminded me of my college days. The days when I spent more time near the college and less time inside the college. The 3 years of my life in K.L.E’s, S. Nijalingappa College, Rajajinagar. Those were my days, my unforgettable days. The days when we were uncrowned Kings.
Yes, we were King of ourselves and we had our own imaginary dynasty and ruled the college. Why not? When we have imaginary Longitudes and Latitudes line drawn across our earth why we can’t have our own imaginary dynasties? Although we were supported and nourished financially by our parents once we stepped in college campus we would get an unseen crown upon our head.
In this blog I would concentrate more on the ebullient aspects of our college days rather than academics. I know everyone who would read this would have had their own wonderful college days and might have done more or less mischievous things than what I have done. Few of them might think whatever I done was not right. But this is what happened which I can’t undo and also if I would have given chance to undo I will never.
Before starting off I would like to give some background information how did I ended up taking Bachelor in science. It so happened that I wanted to be an Engineer since I was a kid. In 1998 when I completed my P.U.C (12th ) exams I also attended Common Entrance Test (CET) exams to get an seat either in Medical or Engineering. However, I was not topper in exams which was obvious, but I managed to get decent ranks both in Engineering and Medical. I never knew even in my wildest dreams that I would not take Engineering. But I did that. Don’t know what provoked me or what persuaded me in taking Bsc over BE, which was the most coolest thing that any person would have done academically in those days similarly as there is craze of MBA nowadays. The decision was made on impulse. I forgot to note down the date, hour, minute, second and milli second of that decision taking moment. If I would have done that may be I would have remembered it all my life, because I have no clue where I would have been now if the decision was other way. May be I would have not written this also.
The only thing I can remember now is that I thought I would do everything in my life differently. The streak of rebel attitude in me encouraged to do so. I thought let me not be the sheep and follow the herd. Let me be the Lion of my destiny. I forgot the fact that even Lion can be captured and tortured in circus.
If anyone of you is born and brought up in Bangalore then you would definitely know about a Television serial called ‘Danda Pindagalu’ which was aired on Udaya TV at 7 pm Monday to Friday in 1999. “Danda Pindagalu” means worthless creatures. It was story of 3 unemployed youth who had completed their Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) and Bachelor of Arts (BA) respectively. Also it projected that people whoever completed or completing their degree courses apart from Engineering and Medical are worthless creatures. Unfortunately to me that serial was a super hit. Every Tom, Dick and Harry loved the goof ups the 3 protagonists make in the serial and decided for themselves that doing degree courses is waste of time, money and energy. When someone comes to know that I have taken BSc not BE they would make there face as if I have refused to marry their beautiful daughter. And they would pronounce BSc as if that word is forbidden to utter. If mistakenly uttered you would rot in hell. To my great help they did communicated there views to my mother so clearly that even a person who is expert in communication skills could not have done so efficiently. My mother who is bit edgy especially in education matters tried to influence me to take up Engineering and ditch BSc. I’m the perfect synonym to dog’s tail was adamant in changing the decision.
So my journey in BSc started in the month of July 1999. I thought of taking Physics, Mathematics and Chemistry as my main subjects. But one of the college official saw my score in Mathematics and recommended to take Chemistry, Botany and Zoology (CBZ) as it does not contain Mathematics (I really hated and will hate till my last breath trignometry and calculus). I did not had any other choice and agreed for that course.
I don’t remember what exactly happened on first day of my college. I was hoping that I would get ragged but no one even dint bother to look at me. Seniors, whom I would like to address as respectful cowardly chickens were only targeting students from other states. So that there would be no back lash of ragging local students. One thing I can remember clearly that I decided for next 3 years I will not be a good boy. I will shed out my calm and nice boy image that was attached to me since many years. Then the roller coaster ride started.
First few days were boring. There were only 22 students in CBZ class, 9 girls and 12 boys. It was so boring that I started bunking classes from first week. Initially I got acquainted with Karthik and Sharath. But I was about to meet 2 best friends of my life.
The friends I was referring to was Sathyanarayanan AKA Satish (which he used only when he introduced himself to ladies) AKA Sathya (which he used for business purpose) AKA Shasthri (unanimously selected by all boys in class in remembrance of Shivraj Kumar in OM movie) and Srinivas AKA Seena (pet name) AKA Seena makaloola (christened by Sharath, reason unknown. It's been rumored that he gave that name out of love on Seena).
Initially we were only hi and bye friends. After a month Shasthri became close to me followed by Seena. We used to bunk classes together and spend most of our time in Dodda Park (Big park) which is behind Mariyappana Palya bus stand. Our favorite spot was kitthogiro bench (demolished bench).
Now coming to ladies of our class. We never used to call them by their name but by their roll numbers. 13, 20, 1…. Our favorite numbers were 13 as my friend Shastri had a crush on her and even on 20 and also on 01. There was lady called Sundara Kala who was a good friend to us. Also some other.. god I forgot their name.
In boys. We had another Mahesh AKA Long Mahesh due to his height, We had Jagadish AKA Jaga (even he had big time crush on 13) AKA Jaggu (named after a chimpanzee that came in pepsi ad with Preity Zinta), we had Ravindra AKA Jet raja (I think guys must have understood), we had Narendra AKA Nari, we had Ramkrishna, Karthik, Sharath, Manjunath AKA Scope Raja (he thought thaty he was cooler than north and south poles), pravin (this guy ditched college after one year) and we 3 musketeers. We had other friends from PCM section.
In first year of college there are few incidences which I would like to mention.
As we used to bunk classes one or other person would be giving us proxy attendance. Once I was not in mood to attend the class so I asked Shashtri to attend my Kannada language class. Shasthri is from Tamil Nadu and he doesn’t know single word of Kannada to read or write. I told to attend nothing will be wrong. To his luck that day lecturer asked everyone to read one paragraph from the book. Shasthri started sweating. As his turn was coming close he started cursing me in all the languages he knows. May be god was on his side and bell rang just before his turn. He promised that he will not attend any Kannada classes. I gave him a solution if such situation occurs then to inform lecture that he is more interested in learning Kannada so attended the class.
I remember there was uncle who had an STD/ISD booth near our college. Unfortunately (only for him) he had 2 young good looking daughters. For obvious reasons his shop used to make good business. We named one of his daughter as Hrithik Roshni as she resembled Hrithik Roshan who was new heart throb of nation in Jan 2000.
The other memorable incidence was that before exams college will issue hall tickets for exams before checking 75% attendance. Don’t know how and by some mistake me and Seena got 77% and 80% attendance respectively and Shasthri got only 70% attendance. Head of Department (HOD) asked him to get his parents. He can get only his uncle as his parents are in Krishnagiri and his uncle will kill him if he comes to know about this. I gave it a serious thought and cameup with an brilliant idea. I had another friend called Soma AKA Bandli or bald. He is 2 years elder than me but appears 7-8 years older due to his moustache and open ground on his head (now we cant make out as he got done hair transplant or whatever it is). I asked him to come to our college and act as Shasthri’s uncle. He agreed but at expense of free lunch. We sent both of them to HOD’s chamber and waited outside. We could only hear few dailogues the excerpts of the converstion is as follows:
HOD to Soma: Hello Sir! (He is PUC fail and was addressed as ‘Sir’, priveleges of having bald head)
Soma to HOD: Hello Sir
HOD to Soma: Sir, your nephew is useless fellow. I have not seen him single day in my class.
Soma to Shashthri: Why Mahesh? (he totally confused between me and Shasthri, luckily even HOD dint know his name, advantage of not attending classes)
We could not hear few conversations as we were controlling our laugh.
HOD to Soma: As it is first year I will give hall ticket.
Soma to HOD: Thank you sir! Shasthri will be regular from next year (comedy of name error continued)
Shashthri to Soma: Uncle, I will promise that I will be regular to college.
Soma to Shasthri: I don’t believe you. Swear on this book which is goddess Saraswathi and tell that you will be regular (that’s over acting)
HOD to Soma: No need Sir! (As he knew that he wont be regular)
Shasthri to Soma: Uncle lets go!
Atlast Shasthri got hall ticket and Soma got his free lunch.
Our first year went off at lightning speed. Many things happened. Even some people in our class who were jealous of our friendship told to Shashthri that I’m an foul mouthed no good person and he is going to suffer. But still he dint leave us. I respect him for that. We were discussing so many things daily (excluding studies) that they used to drop me half the way and go back to their home.
As expected we did not study and our exams preparation was pathetic. We missed too many classes that year. Lot of fun could also be harmful. I still remember we had Zoology and Chemistry exams on 2 consecutive days and the gap from them and the previous subject was only 3 days. My logical decision was that if I dedicate 1.5 days for each subject the chances of clearing both the subject was too less. In Chemistry I was in too bad condition. So I decided that I will study only Zoology and keep Chemistry pending for next year supplementary exams.
For Chemistry exam I was present in exam hall for only 30 mins. I felt really bad. My answer sheet was empty. I was in such a hopeless situation that for first time in my life I was waiting for 30 mins to be completed soon. That was the longest 30 mins of my life. I was not able to see people hurriedly completing pages and pages in answer sheet. I was struggling to keep my tears in eyes. Atlast 30 mins completed. First bell rang. I stood up to hand over the answer sheet. Everyone who was writing stopped and looked at me in disgust as if I took away their precious 10 seconds. There was a twitch in my eyes and I dint looked back just rushed towards door.
First year came to an end. I failed in Chemistry (I was praying to god to somehow get me passed) and surprisingly in Botany also. Shasthri failed in English, Chemistry and Zoology. But Seena passed all the subjects….
To be continued.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Gentlemen's Agreement
It’s been very long since I wrote my previous blog. I was waiting for an interesting topic. Finally I got the topic from a movie called ‘Gentlemen’s Agreement’. This wonderful movie was made in 1947. Movie was based on Laura Z. Hobson’s post world war II novel and was released by 20th Century Fox. Movie was directed by Elia Kazan and screen play by Moss Hart. The cast includes charming Gregory Peck in the lead and Dorothy Maguire as his co-star. Also this movie had won Oscar award also. I think it deserves more than that.
I will come to my actual topic later. First I would like to mention about the plot and story line of the movie.
The movie is about a writer Mr. Green, played by Gregory Peck who moves to New York from California looking for fresh job. He would get job in Smith’s weekly. He will be a widower with a child of 10 year old. His wife would have died in an accident when their son was 4 years old. He would be living with his son and mother.
Mr. Green’s first assignment would be to write about anti-Semitism (anti-Semitism is an expression and reaction of people who hates Jews). Initially he would not be much interested in the topic. He will ask his boss to provide him the facts and figures present in the office’s research department. His boss out rightly reject his request and asks him to write something innovative and that’s the reason why he has hired him. Mr. Green will discuss his first assignment with his mother and son. His son will ask him what is anti-Semitism and Mr. Green will find it difficult to explain his son about religion and anti-Semitism. His difficulty in explaining the topic to his son will inspires him to write about the topic.
Initially Mr. Green would find difficult to write anything on the topic. He plans to call up his best friend Dave, who is a Jew and ask him to explain his feelings for being a Jew. But later abandons that idea as he thinks that it is not decent enough to ask such things over the phone. One fine day he would be discussing his difficulty about initiating the topic with his mother. Suddenly he remembers that his previous article which was written about the Coal mine workers, for which he would have disguised as a Coal mine worker and worked in a Coal mine for 2 months. Adapting this idea he decides to become a Jew for six months and to get his story based on the interactions and reactions of other people. He thinks he can easily disguise himself as a Jew as he is new to New York and no one knows him there. Also his name Mr. Green can be considered as Christian name or a Jewish name. His actual identity is known to only to his boss. He asks his son and mother also to pretend to be Jews. He will name his article as ‘I was a Jew for six months’.
Mean while he meets Ms. Cathy his boss’s niece, who is a divorcee and looking for right partner. Both of them fall in love immediately. He will discuss with her about his assignment and explains her plan of him to get into the root of the story. She also will agree to conceal his true identity with others.
On his first day in office as a Jew his secretary will be astonished to know that the company has hired a Jew. When he asks the reason for her astonishment she will tell when she initially he applied to the company in her actual name ‘Kawinski’ and her application was rejected and later she applied in false name of ‘Ms. Swan’ and got selected. Mr. Green suspects that there is discrimination going on in hiring department. He will asks her to give an advertisement for a job opening with a statement that ‘People from any community and religion can apply. Later he would discover that all the applications with Jewish names and other minor community names have not at all been considered. Mr. Green will complain this to his boss. His boss will apologize to Mr. Green that he is ashamed of this act by the hiring department and considers this as a most disgraceful act of a liberal news paper company. Later the head of the hiring department would be warned and will be asked to not to repeat such disgraceful act.
His friend Dave, who is a war veteran comes to New York in search of job and stays with Mr. Green family. When Dave, who is Jew hears about Mr. Green’s idea he will call him crazy fool and tells him that it’s not so easy to be a Jew. One day Dave and Mr. Green will go to a bar to have a drink and a person calls Dave a ‘Yed’ (slang for a Jew). Dave will not get offensive by such provocative comment when asked by Mr. Green why did he tolerated such comment Dave tells that if he gets in fight then he has to fight with at least 80% of America. Also he tells to Mr. Green that this is not first time that he is hearing such comment.
Cathy will invite Mr. Green to attend a party hosted by her sister and she also she tells him that in that party that she wants to introduce him to her family. Mr. Green requests her to not to reveal his real identity to her family but by then she would have told everything to her family. He will get angry and leaves her home at that instant. Later they will patch up.
Few days later Mr. Green’s marriage will be planned and he does reservations at a big hotel for their honeymoon. But his reservation will be rejected later. When he approaches the hotel the manager, hotel manager asks him whether he follows Hebrew (Jewish) religion. Mr. Green answers that he is a Jew and he demands his reservation to be done as he is human. But the manager out rightly refuses and tells him that no rooms are available. The entire crowd at the hotel will be watching this and no one raises question. Humiliated Mr. Green returns home.
One day his son returns home filthily when asked he tells that he had a fight with some boys who called him a dirty Jew and a Kike (slang for Jew). His son will ask him why are they doing this to me what has he done to deserve such a treatment from others. Cathy who will be there consoles the boy telling that he is not a Jew but a Christian. Mr. Green yells at her. Later he will fight with her saying that she is reacting like a typical Christian mother who puts the superiority seed in a child’s mind that they are Christian and they are not Jew. He also tells her that anti-Semitism is considered to be followed at some not so well educated families but the fact is that sub-consciously it is followed more by the well educated families more. But they consider not be an anti-Semitist but they are and they are making their kids to react in the same way as they think about others. Cathy accuses him of being stubborn and making everyone in the family to endure the pain and also she tells that she hates whatever he is doing. This incidence will sour their relation and they will not see each other for sometime.
Frustrated Mr. Green will decide to stop the experiment. He will write the article under the name ‘I was Jew for 8 weeks’ which was earlier planned for 6 months. Everyone in his office will be surprised to know that Mr. Green was actually a Jew but for the article he pretended to be a Jew. His secretary will be more astonished he will tell her what’s so difference in him today? He is still a same person with same eyes, skin and flesh only thing different is his religion.
Mr. Green returns back home his mother would be reading his article and tells him that she liked it and his father would be proud of him if he would have read the article. She tells that particularly she liked a section which she reads out ‘….. I know what every man and woman would go through when they said the job is filled when it wasn’t and when every youngster who would have been turned down from college. I know what the rage you would go through when you see your own child shaken and dazed. From that moment I saw an un-ending attack from an adult and kids of 7, 8, 9 and 10. I knew they would have known some how to inure these. Those patient men who fought, argued and came up with Constitution and Bill of rights, they knew that a tree is known by its fruit and injustice corrupts that tree and its fruits shrivel and falls at last on the dark ground of history where other hopes have rotted and died. Quality and Freedom remains only choice for Wholeness and Soundness in a man or nation’. His mother tells him that she would like to live some more years as she is seeing changes in the people’s behavior and attitude and tells that this century is going to everybody’s century. She wants to see it at least the beginning of it.
Mean while Mr. Green’s friend, Dave meets Cathy and tries to find out the reason for their break-up. She tells that she couldn’t understand Mr. Green’s actual intentions and why he is so stubborn on the article and his experiment and what exactly he expects from her? While talking she tells that some person from a dinner party had made some vulgar joke about Jews. Dave asks her what she did after listening to that joke. She answers that she did nothing and she hated that person but not only she but everyone present in the dinner couldn’t do anything. Dave tells that Mr. Green is expecting her to stand-up and argues whenever she finds such things happening. He will also tell that a man expects his wife not be only a good homemaker but also he wants them to be his friend, buddy, side kick etc.
At the end Mr. Green and Ms. Cathy gets married and both will live in peace and harmony.
Now coming to actual topic of this post. I don’t know what you might have perceived or understood or interpreted about the movie story line I have written above (you can watch the movie on a dvd to get the complete story of the movie). According to my knowledge the movie is well written. I think Laura Z. Hobson who has written the novel on which this movie is based has thought futuristically. Also to note down one more point the movie has shown that in the mind of US citizens who fought for Jews against Nazis during World War II still there is existence of an underlying discrimination against Jews.
Also I think the story is more relevant to the present situation of the world. Don’t you that that the racial discrimination, religious discrimination, caste discrimination and hate for each other is more now than ever?
I think ‘YES’, it’s more than ever. Let me not discuss about discrimination of people from other developed countries have against us. I would like to tell about the discrimination and racism present in our country and between us.
I think we are the biggest racists in the world and it’s useless when we create hue and cry when some Indian is attacked in some other country. Why don’t we look inside ourselves? I don’t want to ask about anyone’s nationality or religion or caste or sub-caste. I want to ask few questions to everyone who is reading this.
I will come to my actual topic later. First I would like to mention about the plot and story line of the movie.
The movie is about a writer Mr. Green, played by Gregory Peck who moves to New York from California looking for fresh job. He would get job in Smith’s weekly. He will be a widower with a child of 10 year old. His wife would have died in an accident when their son was 4 years old. He would be living with his son and mother.
Mr. Green’s first assignment would be to write about anti-Semitism (anti-Semitism is an expression and reaction of people who hates Jews). Initially he would not be much interested in the topic. He will ask his boss to provide him the facts and figures present in the office’s research department. His boss out rightly reject his request and asks him to write something innovative and that’s the reason why he has hired him. Mr. Green will discuss his first assignment with his mother and son. His son will ask him what is anti-Semitism and Mr. Green will find it difficult to explain his son about religion and anti-Semitism. His difficulty in explaining the topic to his son will inspires him to write about the topic.
Initially Mr. Green would find difficult to write anything on the topic. He plans to call up his best friend Dave, who is a Jew and ask him to explain his feelings for being a Jew. But later abandons that idea as he thinks that it is not decent enough to ask such things over the phone. One fine day he would be discussing his difficulty about initiating the topic with his mother. Suddenly he remembers that his previous article which was written about the Coal mine workers, for which he would have disguised as a Coal mine worker and worked in a Coal mine for 2 months. Adapting this idea he decides to become a Jew for six months and to get his story based on the interactions and reactions of other people. He thinks he can easily disguise himself as a Jew as he is new to New York and no one knows him there. Also his name Mr. Green can be considered as Christian name or a Jewish name. His actual identity is known to only to his boss. He asks his son and mother also to pretend to be Jews. He will name his article as ‘I was a Jew for six months’.
Mean while he meets Ms. Cathy his boss’s niece, who is a divorcee and looking for right partner. Both of them fall in love immediately. He will discuss with her about his assignment and explains her plan of him to get into the root of the story. She also will agree to conceal his true identity with others.
On his first day in office as a Jew his secretary will be astonished to know that the company has hired a Jew. When he asks the reason for her astonishment she will tell when she initially he applied to the company in her actual name ‘Kawinski’ and her application was rejected and later she applied in false name of ‘Ms. Swan’ and got selected. Mr. Green suspects that there is discrimination going on in hiring department. He will asks her to give an advertisement for a job opening with a statement that ‘People from any community and religion can apply. Later he would discover that all the applications with Jewish names and other minor community names have not at all been considered. Mr. Green will complain this to his boss. His boss will apologize to Mr. Green that he is ashamed of this act by the hiring department and considers this as a most disgraceful act of a liberal news paper company. Later the head of the hiring department would be warned and will be asked to not to repeat such disgraceful act.
His friend Dave, who is a war veteran comes to New York in search of job and stays with Mr. Green family. When Dave, who is Jew hears about Mr. Green’s idea he will call him crazy fool and tells him that it’s not so easy to be a Jew. One day Dave and Mr. Green will go to a bar to have a drink and a person calls Dave a ‘Yed’ (slang for a Jew). Dave will not get offensive by such provocative comment when asked by Mr. Green why did he tolerated such comment Dave tells that if he gets in fight then he has to fight with at least 80% of America. Also he tells to Mr. Green that this is not first time that he is hearing such comment.
Cathy will invite Mr. Green to attend a party hosted by her sister and she also she tells him that in that party that she wants to introduce him to her family. Mr. Green requests her to not to reveal his real identity to her family but by then she would have told everything to her family. He will get angry and leaves her home at that instant. Later they will patch up.
Few days later Mr. Green’s marriage will be planned and he does reservations at a big hotel for their honeymoon. But his reservation will be rejected later. When he approaches the hotel the manager, hotel manager asks him whether he follows Hebrew (Jewish) religion. Mr. Green answers that he is a Jew and he demands his reservation to be done as he is human. But the manager out rightly refuses and tells him that no rooms are available. The entire crowd at the hotel will be watching this and no one raises question. Humiliated Mr. Green returns home.
One day his son returns home filthily when asked he tells that he had a fight with some boys who called him a dirty Jew and a Kike (slang for Jew). His son will ask him why are they doing this to me what has he done to deserve such a treatment from others. Cathy who will be there consoles the boy telling that he is not a Jew but a Christian. Mr. Green yells at her. Later he will fight with her saying that she is reacting like a typical Christian mother who puts the superiority seed in a child’s mind that they are Christian and they are not Jew. He also tells her that anti-Semitism is considered to be followed at some not so well educated families but the fact is that sub-consciously it is followed more by the well educated families more. But they consider not be an anti-Semitist but they are and they are making their kids to react in the same way as they think about others. Cathy accuses him of being stubborn and making everyone in the family to endure the pain and also she tells that she hates whatever he is doing. This incidence will sour their relation and they will not see each other for sometime.
Frustrated Mr. Green will decide to stop the experiment. He will write the article under the name ‘I was Jew for 8 weeks’ which was earlier planned for 6 months. Everyone in his office will be surprised to know that Mr. Green was actually a Jew but for the article he pretended to be a Jew. His secretary will be more astonished he will tell her what’s so difference in him today? He is still a same person with same eyes, skin and flesh only thing different is his religion.
Mr. Green returns back home his mother would be reading his article and tells him that she liked it and his father would be proud of him if he would have read the article. She tells that particularly she liked a section which she reads out ‘….. I know what every man and woman would go through when they said the job is filled when it wasn’t and when every youngster who would have been turned down from college. I know what the rage you would go through when you see your own child shaken and dazed. From that moment I saw an un-ending attack from an adult and kids of 7, 8, 9 and 10. I knew they would have known some how to inure these. Those patient men who fought, argued and came up with Constitution and Bill of rights, they knew that a tree is known by its fruit and injustice corrupts that tree and its fruits shrivel and falls at last on the dark ground of history where other hopes have rotted and died. Quality and Freedom remains only choice for Wholeness and Soundness in a man or nation’. His mother tells him that she would like to live some more years as she is seeing changes in the people’s behavior and attitude and tells that this century is going to everybody’s century. She wants to see it at least the beginning of it.
Mean while Mr. Green’s friend, Dave meets Cathy and tries to find out the reason for their break-up. She tells that she couldn’t understand Mr. Green’s actual intentions and why he is so stubborn on the article and his experiment and what exactly he expects from her? While talking she tells that some person from a dinner party had made some vulgar joke about Jews. Dave asks her what she did after listening to that joke. She answers that she did nothing and she hated that person but not only she but everyone present in the dinner couldn’t do anything. Dave tells that Mr. Green is expecting her to stand-up and argues whenever she finds such things happening. He will also tell that a man expects his wife not be only a good homemaker but also he wants them to be his friend, buddy, side kick etc.
At the end Mr. Green and Ms. Cathy gets married and both will live in peace and harmony.
Now coming to actual topic of this post. I don’t know what you might have perceived or understood or interpreted about the movie story line I have written above (you can watch the movie on a dvd to get the complete story of the movie). According to my knowledge the movie is well written. I think Laura Z. Hobson who has written the novel on which this movie is based has thought futuristically. Also to note down one more point the movie has shown that in the mind of US citizens who fought for Jews against Nazis during World War II still there is existence of an underlying discrimination against Jews.
Also I think the story is more relevant to the present situation of the world. Don’t you that that the racial discrimination, religious discrimination, caste discrimination and hate for each other is more now than ever?
I think ‘YES’, it’s more than ever. Let me not discuss about discrimination of people from other developed countries have against us. I would like to tell about the discrimination and racism present in our country and between us.
I think we are the biggest racists in the world and it’s useless when we create hue and cry when some Indian is attacked in some other country. Why don’t we look inside ourselves? I don’t want to ask about anyone’s nationality or religion or caste or sub-caste. I want to ask few questions to everyone who is reading this.
If you are from higher caste, how many friends you have from backward communities? Or have you ever invited them to have lunch or dinner in your home with your family?
If you are a Hindu, how many friends do you have from other religion? Or have you ever invited them to have lunch or dinner in your home with your family? And vice versa.
Have you smirked upon a person when you came to some inferior family?
Have you ever thought that the city that you live in is contaminated by the people coming from other states or cities?- Have you ever judged person by his caste or religion but not based on content of that person’s character?
If your answer is ‘No’ to any of the question, believe me or not you are sub-consciously discriminating against humankind and you are a most probable racist. Because it’s not a possibility that you would have never came across a person who is from backward community or from other religion. When you have came across you just avoided them. Well, I’m not setting a thumb rule for discrimination but if you would have avoided a person who is of reasonable character only then it would apply to you.
I want to confess something. I’m from a backward community. This fact is known only by my closest friends. Other people also know this but they successfully avoided me. I know the discrimination that’s been done with people of my community. I want to make clear that I’m not only defending me or my community but for all the people who were been ever discriminated based on one or other reason.
Luckily I’m in Bangalore. The most happening and cosmopolitan city in India, here the discrimination is less compared to other rural part of the country. I would like to tell that it’s less not completely eradicated. Even today house will be rented to you based on your caste or religion, if people came to know about real identity they will completely avoid you as if they are entering a tiger den. I have seen this happening. Even my dad lied about this to get a house on rent. We were living on false identity for many years. But since I have grown up I started not doing that rather I started being proud of what god has created me and god created all men equal. If anyone wants to judge me purely on basis of this then be hell with him. I’m in no more loss.
Please don’t think I’m a revolutionist or a politician who is trying to say all these for my own gain. No. I’m just trying to say this as a human and it’s left to you whether you would understand or accept it as a human or else, it’s your wish.
I would like tell about an instance where recently I underwent a humiliating experience. I visited a temple near my village. It is been believed that everyone who visits that temple there problems will be solved. Who doesn’t need that? Being myself a strong believer in god I visited that temple. Entrance to that temple is restricted to people from other backward community. I was made to stand outside the temple for an hour in cold wind (thank god that it dint rained that day as there was no shelter anywhere else. I’m happy that god understood that and it did not rain). At last the pooja is finished and we were given aarthi (camphor fire). I was told not to put my offering money directly in the plate in which aarthi was done because our money is tainted and we were also not supposed to give money to priests directly. They would accept it after sprinkling it with cow’s urine, because it’s sin to accept anything from us. Do you think it’s fair? I wanted to protest this but was not allowed by my mother. I was judged by my caste but not on based on my character. This is one to explain. There are many others.
My father used to tell about his experiences how they were been treated. Imagine people not offering to cut your hairs, if you want to drink tea you need to get your own cup if you forget to get you will be given scooped empty coconut shell, you are not allowed to drink water from any wells or from anyone’s home, for festivals if you want to visit the temple a time slot will be allotted for you and your community, in schools you were always made to sit in the last bench even if the entire class is empty. Well, things have been improved but I would like to tell that it’s not completely eradicated.
Recently the hate towards our community has been increased as there were reservations mad in PG and other courses. I would like to tell that it’s been made only for pure political purpose but for nothing else.
Also I would like to mention that I have minimally used the reservations and other benefits that Government of India has offered to us. To be frank all the benefits are made for the people from our community who cannot afford good quality education. Thankfully many people in 60’s, 70’s and 80’s have become gazette, IAS, KAS, IPS and IFS officers but regretfully children of those officers (who are well off) still today will compete with the people of their own community from rural background and obviously they will get all the benefits and it is not reaching to the people to whom it is supposed to.
Personally till date I have taken only Rs. 950/- scholarship when I was studying PUC. There are no other benefits I have accepted except that. I did not apply for scholarship when I was studying Bsc or Msc, because that money can be used for some student who cannot afford study. Also if I just quit my work for 3 months and prepare for any IAS or IPS exams I would easily get into Government job. But that will be purely on basis of my caste and reservation. I do not want that to happen. I want to grow purely on my ability, I want people to recognize me for my efforts not as some under achiever who got through by reservation. That is why I have decided not to join in any Government Service. Whatever I’m today it is purely on the basis on my sincere and hard work.
While watching that Gentlemen’s Agreement movie I felt that I’m leading a life of person who is from higher caste as I have not taken much benefit that is offered to our people. Even I’m slogging at work, even I forgot about Government job etc. To be frank I know how much it’s not so easy task to do.
The reason why I quoted Gentlemen’s Agreement is that it offers a wonderful solution for us. All of us have to try once to be someone else. We have to try it once in our life time. We have to pretend like an Muslim and enter the Hindu dominated area, dress like an Hindu and enter Muslim dominated area, appear like a poor and talk to a rich person, identify yourself as an backward community person and approach higher community people. That is when we will come to know the pain and humiliation other people undergoes and also see how our own friends and community people would smirk and see at you hatefully just for a reason that you are not from their community. That is what other people are undergoing. Once we come to know that we will never behave so and we will teach our children to respect all as one and one as all.
That is what I’m doing, will do and that is what I’m going to teach to my son.
Now, its your choice.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
My first flight experience
I still remember the 80s and early 90s, the time when we were kids and India was becoming more liberal in terms of international trades (please don't ask me specifics, I'm too poor in economics also i cant read more than a paragraph printed on financial new papers).
I still remember the imagination we (all middle class children) had about aeroplane. 'The aeroplane i as big as 3 buses', 'Aeroplane needs 2 big cricket stadium to land', 'The interiors of aeroplane is as big as our room where we can sleep and play'............... and many more. Also there was a very famous joke 'How you would paint aeroplane economically?', 'Well, you can paint it when its flying because it appears so small when it flies'.
We had one word that could relate anything and everything with the aeroplane (flight) 'BIG'. Big in all terms. Even in price. My dad once told that he needs to spend his entire salary to buy a air ticket to New Delhi from Bangalore. We really cant afford travel by flight unless or until you are an millionaire.
We used to bid farewell to all the flights whenever it used to fly over out neighbourhood. All kids used to join and sing in chorus 'Aeroplane TaTa'. Even airports (even known to us as aerodrome) was an tourist destination for the people who could not afford flying. Especially for all middle class and rural people. People used to see with wide opened eyes and mouth and think 'how does this metallic beast will take off and land?'. Even many of my relatives who used visit Bangalore would have 'visit to the airport' mandatorily in their long list of places to be seen in Bangalore. All of them would invite me also to visit he airport but I don't know why I denied. All of them kidded saying that I'm scared to look at the metallic beast.
After few years we grew up, even our country. Many reforms were happening and cavalcade of new businesses were arriving which our fathers never heard. I don't know if it's a boon or curse but many of my generation people would be glad that we are not unemployed. We are earning no matter whats the work is. Many of them are skeptical of the kind of work people do at call centre, BPO, service oriented business, ITES and etc.......
Due to this so called "boom" the standard of people living started going up. New companies, new jobs demanded and offered many new aspects of working. The entire world was becoming small and globalization was new mantra to all the entrepreneurs. Geeks were earning high and became most sought out for weddings at least by the hot girl's parents and they got a new tag for themselves "Software Engineers". Going abroad was fast and easily accessible with multinational companies wanting their employees to get best training.
In between all these the air travel was accessible to common man and thanks to Captain Gopinath who started Deccan airways which revolutionized the geography of air travel.
Luckily I joined an MNC in October 2005. In that company travel was major part of the job and the best thing was that you have to travel by flight. To be frank that was one of the alluring factor for me to take up that job.
I was eagerly looking forward for my first travel by the flight. At last god smiled upon me (which he does very rarely, especially on me) and my first chance of travelling by flight was announced. The occasion of travel was INDIA connect, a program organized by company to meet and get acquainted with our colleagues in other locations. Venue was Mumbai, Park Plaza Hotel, date - 14-15 Dec 2005 (I hope i got the hotel name and date correct).
The anticipation was very exciting. Ice on the cake factor was that we were booked in Kingfisher airlines for both to and fro tickets. Kingfisher airlines was then newly kicked off and there were lot of talking was going on about flight's in flight entertainment, service and obviously the air hostesses. One of my good friend forwarded few snaps of air hostesses working in Kingfisher airlines. I don't know how many time we friends looked at it and discussed about it. Also we would feel more happy when other colleagues who were booked in other airlines were cursing their fate.
Tickets were received. The departure date was inching closer. Family was happy that someone from our family is travelling by flight for first time. one day before of travelling instructions were given by our Bangalore Operations Head Mr. Gaurav Bhatnagar. We were supposed to reach airport well before departure time, no late comers will be entertained, we need to wear semi formal dress, behave well, check the name on the ticket, need to carry some ID proof etc. All the instructions are etched on my mind because i was concentrating on each and every word which i rarely did in my college ;) When i checked my ticket my name was written as KUMAR/MAHESH instead of MAHESH/KUMAR. I was so worried. I was thinking what if they dont allow me to board? That would be a disaster. I asked few of my friends who were also flying first time and they scared me more. Finally I went to Gaurav's chamber. He told its fine. I was relieved.
The flight time was 6.30 am if I'm not wrong and we were supposed to reach by 5.30 am to airport. I calculated that it will take at least 1 hour to reach airport so I have to leave home by 4.30 am. So I need to wake up at 3.30 am to get ready. Conveyance from my home to airport was a problem as i would not get any auto so early. Finally i got number of one of my friend who is an auto driver. I informed him that i need to go to airport the next day and he has to drop me there by 5.30 am. Initially he thought I'm trying to fool him and it took 5 mins for me to convince that actually I'm travelling by flight.
You can guess how many hours I slept that night 3 hours or 4 hours, not more than that. I checked time 4 times before the alarm goes off. i dint get sleep after 3 am. So got ready by 4 am. Packing was done 3 days prior of travel. My auto driver friend who was skeptical about my trip came at 4.40 am. I shouted on him. In turn he told me that i'm an good actor. He was expecting April Fool word from my mouth any moment and he doesnt wanted to be embarrassed when the truth comes out. We started towards the airport. Once reached my friend asked me again are you really going. I got so irritated that i have not yet paid him till date the fare amount to him.
After reaching I called up my good friend Rajiv De. He reached 10 mins before. I was anxious which is common for every first time traveller, we would think where to go? where to show ticket? how would boarding pass look? where to get luggage scanned? We don't want to create an embarrassing situation in front of frequent fliers who would smirk upon us. Luckily it was more than 40 of us travelling which included frequent fliers who would guide us on the formalities.
Our Pushpesh took the initiative of coordinating the with the check-in procedures. Check-in was smooth. Me and my friend Rajiv got adjacent seats. I took window seat for obvious reasons. We boarded the bus that would take us to the flight as the airport is "Big". On the way to flight i saw my first flight of my life which was just meters away from me. It was an perfect dramatic scene the sun was rising, the sky getting brighter with dark blue and orange shades in background and the metallic beast was in front of me. It was "Big". It was beautiful. Bird like with bigger wings and tail. At that moment I felt that maybe I always wanted to see flight so closely. May be the fact that I would not satiated with seeing the flight landing and taking off from very far distance I refused in my childhood when my relatives invited me to visit airport. May be I wanted my first flight experience to be special so that even after so many days I can remember and write down about it.
Finally we boarded. got into our seats. staring at good looking air hostesses (I don't know how do they put up with such stupid glances like we did on that day). I felt flight's interior was big as i imagined. We were provided with small kit bag with a head phone, pen and menu card (I really miss that kit bag now). I still have the head phone that i got that day. I have kept it as a souvenir. The in-flight entertainment started off and Dr. Vijay Mallya started 'Welcome on-board............". We laughed naughtily when he said or still says that he personally selects all the flight cabin crew. Followed by safety instructions by beautiful Yana Gupta.
Flight was moving at great speed on run-way I felt it might crash somewhere. A sudden light feeling of tyres leaving the ground and going up. Change in cabin pressure and it took off. It was so exciting to see the buildings, vehicles, people and city to get so small that they would appear insignificant at one point. We started surfing through in-flight entertainment. Majority of them including me were watching 'Great Indian Laughter Challenge' which was craze at that time. After 1.5 hours we reached Mumbai. But our flight was not given permission to land due to air traffic congestion. So our flight was hovering on arabian sea. I was very much happy to watch sea from such an elevation. It was mere spectacle.
Finally we landed. Thus my first flight journey came to an end.
Well, till date I don't know how many flights I took. May be more than 250 or 300 I'm not sure but the first flight experience was always and will be cherishing.
I still remember the imagination we (all middle class children) had about aeroplane. 'The aeroplane i as big as 3 buses', 'Aeroplane needs 2 big cricket stadium to land', 'The interiors of aeroplane is as big as our room where we can sleep and play'............... and many more. Also there was a very famous joke 'How you would paint aeroplane economically?', 'Well, you can paint it when its flying because it appears so small when it flies'.
We had one word that could relate anything and everything with the aeroplane (flight) 'BIG'. Big in all terms. Even in price. My dad once told that he needs to spend his entire salary to buy a air ticket to New Delhi from Bangalore. We really cant afford travel by flight unless or until you are an millionaire.
We used to bid farewell to all the flights whenever it used to fly over out neighbourhood. All kids used to join and sing in chorus 'Aeroplane TaTa'. Even airports (even known to us as aerodrome) was an tourist destination for the people who could not afford flying. Especially for all middle class and rural people. People used to see with wide opened eyes and mouth and think 'how does this metallic beast will take off and land?'. Even many of my relatives who used visit Bangalore would have 'visit to the airport' mandatorily in their long list of places to be seen in Bangalore. All of them would invite me also to visit he airport but I don't know why I denied. All of them kidded saying that I'm scared to look at the metallic beast.
After few years we grew up, even our country. Many reforms were happening and cavalcade of new businesses were arriving which our fathers never heard. I don't know if it's a boon or curse but many of my generation people would be glad that we are not unemployed. We are earning no matter whats the work is. Many of them are skeptical of the kind of work people do at call centre, BPO, service oriented business, ITES and etc.......
Due to this so called "boom" the standard of people living started going up. New companies, new jobs demanded and offered many new aspects of working. The entire world was becoming small and globalization was new mantra to all the entrepreneurs. Geeks were earning high and became most sought out for weddings at least by the hot girl's parents and they got a new tag for themselves "Software Engineers". Going abroad was fast and easily accessible with multinational companies wanting their employees to get best training.
In between all these the air travel was accessible to common man and thanks to Captain Gopinath who started Deccan airways which revolutionized the geography of air travel.
Luckily I joined an MNC in October 2005. In that company travel was major part of the job and the best thing was that you have to travel by flight. To be frank that was one of the alluring factor for me to take up that job.
I was eagerly looking forward for my first travel by the flight. At last god smiled upon me (which he does very rarely, especially on me) and my first chance of travelling by flight was announced. The occasion of travel was INDIA connect, a program organized by company to meet and get acquainted with our colleagues in other locations. Venue was Mumbai, Park Plaza Hotel, date - 14-15 Dec 2005 (I hope i got the hotel name and date correct).
The anticipation was very exciting. Ice on the cake factor was that we were booked in Kingfisher airlines for both to and fro tickets. Kingfisher airlines was then newly kicked off and there were lot of talking was going on about flight's in flight entertainment, service and obviously the air hostesses. One of my good friend forwarded few snaps of air hostesses working in Kingfisher airlines. I don't know how many time we friends looked at it and discussed about it. Also we would feel more happy when other colleagues who were booked in other airlines were cursing their fate.
Tickets were received. The departure date was inching closer. Family was happy that someone from our family is travelling by flight for first time. one day before of travelling instructions were given by our Bangalore Operations Head Mr. Gaurav Bhatnagar. We were supposed to reach airport well before departure time, no late comers will be entertained, we need to wear semi formal dress, behave well, check the name on the ticket, need to carry some ID proof etc. All the instructions are etched on my mind because i was concentrating on each and every word which i rarely did in my college ;) When i checked my ticket my name was written as KUMAR/MAHESH instead of MAHESH/KUMAR. I was so worried. I was thinking what if they dont allow me to board? That would be a disaster. I asked few of my friends who were also flying first time and they scared me more. Finally I went to Gaurav's chamber. He told its fine. I was relieved.
The flight time was 6.30 am if I'm not wrong and we were supposed to reach by 5.30 am to airport. I calculated that it will take at least 1 hour to reach airport so I have to leave home by 4.30 am. So I need to wake up at 3.30 am to get ready. Conveyance from my home to airport was a problem as i would not get any auto so early. Finally i got number of one of my friend who is an auto driver. I informed him that i need to go to airport the next day and he has to drop me there by 5.30 am. Initially he thought I'm trying to fool him and it took 5 mins for me to convince that actually I'm travelling by flight.
You can guess how many hours I slept that night 3 hours or 4 hours, not more than that. I checked time 4 times before the alarm goes off. i dint get sleep after 3 am. So got ready by 4 am. Packing was done 3 days prior of travel. My auto driver friend who was skeptical about my trip came at 4.40 am. I shouted on him. In turn he told me that i'm an good actor. He was expecting April Fool word from my mouth any moment and he doesnt wanted to be embarrassed when the truth comes out. We started towards the airport. Once reached my friend asked me again are you really going. I got so irritated that i have not yet paid him till date the fare amount to him.
After reaching I called up my good friend Rajiv De. He reached 10 mins before. I was anxious which is common for every first time traveller, we would think where to go? where to show ticket? how would boarding pass look? where to get luggage scanned? We don't want to create an embarrassing situation in front of frequent fliers who would smirk upon us. Luckily it was more than 40 of us travelling which included frequent fliers who would guide us on the formalities.
Our Pushpesh took the initiative of coordinating the with the check-in procedures. Check-in was smooth. Me and my friend Rajiv got adjacent seats. I took window seat for obvious reasons. We boarded the bus that would take us to the flight as the airport is "Big". On the way to flight i saw my first flight of my life which was just meters away from me. It was an perfect dramatic scene the sun was rising, the sky getting brighter with dark blue and orange shades in background and the metallic beast was in front of me. It was "Big". It was beautiful. Bird like with bigger wings and tail. At that moment I felt that maybe I always wanted to see flight so closely. May be the fact that I would not satiated with seeing the flight landing and taking off from very far distance I refused in my childhood when my relatives invited me to visit airport. May be I wanted my first flight experience to be special so that even after so many days I can remember and write down about it.
Finally we boarded. got into our seats. staring at good looking air hostesses (I don't know how do they put up with such stupid glances like we did on that day). I felt flight's interior was big as i imagined. We were provided with small kit bag with a head phone, pen and menu card (I really miss that kit bag now). I still have the head phone that i got that day. I have kept it as a souvenir. The in-flight entertainment started off and Dr. Vijay Mallya started 'Welcome on-board............". We laughed naughtily when he said or still says that he personally selects all the flight cabin crew. Followed by safety instructions by beautiful Yana Gupta.
Flight was moving at great speed on run-way I felt it might crash somewhere. A sudden light feeling of tyres leaving the ground and going up. Change in cabin pressure and it took off. It was so exciting to see the buildings, vehicles, people and city to get so small that they would appear insignificant at one point. We started surfing through in-flight entertainment. Majority of them including me were watching 'Great Indian Laughter Challenge' which was craze at that time. After 1.5 hours we reached Mumbai. But our flight was not given permission to land due to air traffic congestion. So our flight was hovering on arabian sea. I was very much happy to watch sea from such an elevation. It was mere spectacle.
Finally we landed. Thus my first flight journey came to an end.
Well, till date I don't know how many flights I took. May be more than 250 or 300 I'm not sure but the first flight experience was always and will be cherishing.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Kaminey the movie - The saga of brotherhood
Atlast i watched Kaminey movie yesterday. I'm a regular follower of Vishal Bharadwaj's movie. I love his movies. He is one of the most talented movie director and musician. He has dared to abridge the commercial and art movies, which is not an easy task. All his movies Makdee, Maqbool, Omkara, Blue Umbrella and Kaminey have a good story, very tight script, superb plot, complimenting music and powerful performances. Also he has dared to adapt Shakespeare's plays like Mcbeth (Maqbool) and Othello (Omkara) to movies. Beleive me adapting a play or an novel into a movie is a tough task and very risky, either these can be greatest hits like Forrest Gump or Mystic River... or disasters like DaVinci Code ( I have not yet watched Angels and Demons). Moreover adapting Shakesperean plays which were written in 17th Century to contemporary Indian scenario is still more difficult. I have no idea if any of the British or Hollywood movies adapting these plays.
Coming to Kaminey movie I personally felt that it is a saga of brotherhood. Because if you watch it carefully you can see there is more of brothery love, hate and emotional interaction in the movie. We all know that protagonist twins Charlie and Guddu (played by Shahid kapur) are brothers. But also there are three Bengali brothers, fraudulent police officers or the smugglers from Africa. Also if we consider brotherly bond even Bhau (Amol Gupte) and Sweety (Priyanka Chopra) can be also be included in the list. There is hate relation between Charlie and Guddu (which will settle down as expected in the end), close bond of 3 Bengali brothers (sorry, i dont know there name) and oppurtunistic relation between the police officer brothers, African smugglers and Bahau and Sweety. Excluding these blood relations the brotherly relation shared by Guddu and Mikhail (youngest of bengali brothers) is stronger.
I have read in few reviews that Vishal Bhardwaj is India's Tarantino. Which I completly disagree with, because I cannot imagine Tarantino making movies for children like Makdee or Blue Umbrella which explores innocence. I think Vishal can make any kind of movie with same impact.
The movie revolves around old ideology involving pursuit of bad money and many of pursuers loosing life during the process. Charlie, the maverick chasing blind foldedly the dream of becoming a bookie looses his hard earned money in betting which is fixed by some other person. From there the twists and turns starts. The most surprising and positive point of movie is that twists in movie are beleivable. Charlie who beleives in shortcut ends up in lot of trouble.
Guddu, the innocent (only compared to his brother) working I guess in an NGO for AIDS awareness ends up getting his girl friend pregnant. He will get persuaded by his "Home Science" topper girl friend. What I liked is the atmosphere that has been shown where usually NGO people work, Government office or schools or rest house. I personally worked for an NGO for sometime and i can corelate the situations. Even with the comment written on one of the lavatory room {you know what i mean ;) }. Sweety the outspoken Marathi girl who manipualtes Guddu with chosen lies. Guddu is kind of forced to marry Sweety which is preplanned. He is devastated when he comes to know that her brother is Bhope Bahau, the gangster and upcoming politician (which is so true nowadays).
The ongoing regionalism (between marathis and North Indians) has been shown very well in this movie. Bhau the aspiring politician thinks that if his sister marries a non-marathi his political future will be doomed and does all possible things to avert this as Guddu is North Indian. There is a dialogue which i read in one of Jhumpa Lahiri's book "immigrants are like sugar in the milk. If you push them out you will get milk but the bland one". I dont want to discuss regionalism. As a Indian you can stay anywhere in India. These people are mindless who sparks tensions only for their personal gains. Its cheap!
Another story in the movie is about Coccaine smuggling by 2 antinarcotic cops. These guys have done wonderful job. They use the Government provisions efficiently to track down their lost stuff. Guddu, who had stolen the stuff worth 10 crores dreams of high life and shares the secret with Mikhail. Bhau also get involved in the buck and kills Mikhail. Later its usual cat and mouse game with many people loosing life.
The face-off scene between the two twin brothers is good. The secret for their hatred is revealed. Guddu with Coccaine goes to police and Guddu to Tashi. Everything leads to final action scene which is amazingly choreographed. The scene in which Guddu comes back to find his brother is touching.
Movie is amazing. Must watch for eveyone who is 18 or >18 years as it is A certified. Its dark and voilent and Mumbai's monsoon adds to the gloomy atmosphere.
Music is great. Gulzar saab had written some witty lyrics. Gulzar Saab and Vishal is like made for each other. They churn out some great songs whenever they come together. Other advantage of Vishal is that he is a good musican. He does know clerly how the songs and music should sound for his movies and executes it perfectly. Songs of all his movies are amazing.
Last but not the least. When Sweety delivers twins and Guddu informs Charlie over the phone. Charlie tells you lost bet as I told that it will twins. OK. Dont we come to know if there are twins during normal USG scanning? Or Sweety dint get done one?
Coming to Kaminey movie I personally felt that it is a saga of brotherhood. Because if you watch it carefully you can see there is more of brothery love, hate and emotional interaction in the movie. We all know that protagonist twins Charlie and Guddu (played by Shahid kapur) are brothers. But also there are three Bengali brothers, fraudulent police officers or the smugglers from Africa. Also if we consider brotherly bond even Bhau (Amol Gupte) and Sweety (Priyanka Chopra) can be also be included in the list. There is hate relation between Charlie and Guddu (which will settle down as expected in the end), close bond of 3 Bengali brothers (sorry, i dont know there name) and oppurtunistic relation between the police officer brothers, African smugglers and Bahau and Sweety. Excluding these blood relations the brotherly relation shared by Guddu and Mikhail (youngest of bengali brothers) is stronger.
I have read in few reviews that Vishal Bhardwaj is India's Tarantino. Which I completly disagree with, because I cannot imagine Tarantino making movies for children like Makdee or Blue Umbrella which explores innocence. I think Vishal can make any kind of movie with same impact.
The movie revolves around old ideology involving pursuit of bad money and many of pursuers loosing life during the process. Charlie, the maverick chasing blind foldedly the dream of becoming a bookie looses his hard earned money in betting which is fixed by some other person. From there the twists and turns starts. The most surprising and positive point of movie is that twists in movie are beleivable. Charlie who beleives in shortcut ends up in lot of trouble.
Guddu, the innocent (only compared to his brother) working I guess in an NGO for AIDS awareness ends up getting his girl friend pregnant. He will get persuaded by his "Home Science" topper girl friend. What I liked is the atmosphere that has been shown where usually NGO people work, Government office or schools or rest house. I personally worked for an NGO for sometime and i can corelate the situations. Even with the comment written on one of the lavatory room {you know what i mean ;) }. Sweety the outspoken Marathi girl who manipualtes Guddu with chosen lies. Guddu is kind of forced to marry Sweety which is preplanned. He is devastated when he comes to know that her brother is Bhope Bahau, the gangster and upcoming politician (which is so true nowadays).
The ongoing regionalism (between marathis and North Indians) has been shown very well in this movie. Bhau the aspiring politician thinks that if his sister marries a non-marathi his political future will be doomed and does all possible things to avert this as Guddu is North Indian. There is a dialogue which i read in one of Jhumpa Lahiri's book "immigrants are like sugar in the milk. If you push them out you will get milk but the bland one". I dont want to discuss regionalism. As a Indian you can stay anywhere in India. These people are mindless who sparks tensions only for their personal gains. Its cheap!
Another story in the movie is about Coccaine smuggling by 2 antinarcotic cops. These guys have done wonderful job. They use the Government provisions efficiently to track down their lost stuff. Guddu, who had stolen the stuff worth 10 crores dreams of high life and shares the secret with Mikhail. Bhau also get involved in the buck and kills Mikhail. Later its usual cat and mouse game with many people loosing life.
The face-off scene between the two twin brothers is good. The secret for their hatred is revealed. Guddu with Coccaine goes to police and Guddu to Tashi. Everything leads to final action scene which is amazingly choreographed. The scene in which Guddu comes back to find his brother is touching.
Movie is amazing. Must watch for eveyone who is 18 or >18 years as it is A certified. Its dark and voilent and Mumbai's monsoon adds to the gloomy atmosphere.
Music is great. Gulzar saab had written some witty lyrics. Gulzar Saab and Vishal is like made for each other. They churn out some great songs whenever they come together. Other advantage of Vishal is that he is a good musican. He does know clerly how the songs and music should sound for his movies and executes it perfectly. Songs of all his movies are amazing.
Last but not the least. When Sweety delivers twins and Guddu informs Charlie over the phone. Charlie tells you lost bet as I told that it will twins. OK. Dont we come to know if there are twins during normal USG scanning? Or Sweety dint get done one?
Friday, August 28, 2009
Have we lost our Humanity?
On the way to my office everyday I would have a glimpse of a mentally imbalanced woman (I would never call someone mad, we need to respect everyone) from the auto or bus i usually travel. She might be around 60 years (may be the illness would have added few years) untidy, unkempt and would be in her own world, unconcerned about whatever is happening around her. I have never given much thought about her. But the incidence that happened today made me to think about her and us, the so called "normal and mentally balanced people".
Today when my auto was passing through narrow lanes of Shanthi Nagar traffic was stalled for few minutes as some stupid person had parked his car in middle of the road. She was at her usual place, next to a small tea stall. Today i saw that she had a companion, a dog. She had given a morsel of bun to the dog and was scribbling something on an old soiled calender. Three boys not more than 10 years were passing by and one of them pulled the scarf on her head and tried to bully her. At once her companion barked and tried to pounce on those bullies. They scattered and ran away like scared dogs. By that time traffic was cleared and my auto went ahead.
Thats about the incidence. But that incidence made me to think. I felt we are not as compassionate as compared to that dog. The dog tried to defend that lady who had just given a piece of bread an we human tried to bully her. Its like the strong mockering the weak. If we dig our history we do see billions of incidence where the strong and civilized had tried to suppress the voice of weak. For example Eygptians used the slaves to build pyramids, Romans tried to suppress Christianity, British tried to keep many countries under their control including India with force and deciet, Hitler and Nazis planning and executing the Holocaust.... and list is endless (im not an expert on history so listed the events i know). Does we feel happy when the weak is suffering? Does we enjoy when the helpless is in pain? What have we become? Are we living upto our animal instincts? Why do we forget our humane qualities like compassion, tolerance, helping, sympathy, empathy, mercy, pardon etc? If we find it difficult to follow the humane qualities why don't we let the other people and creatures to live as they are? Is it is difficult for us or its the itch that we have to cause the pain to someone?
I know many of them may feel that i have asked too many questions and its philosophical. No, its not. Its too simple. We need to do what is right not just to us but to our heart and soul. Its not big deal. I'm not telling to shelve out all your hard earned money to beggars, homeless, charities or orpahnage (you can do that once you are at par with Mr. Warren Buffet or Mr. Bill Gates). But we have to learn respect all humans, irrespective of their mental condition, physical condition, financial condition or color, caste, ethnicity, religion. The people who have not done any kind of harm to us or our family or country should be respected.
I can write still more but I have a guilt feeling that I dint shouted at those dogs who bullied that lady. I was just seeing the entire event as a silent spectator.........
I would like to tell something which just flashed in my mind. Romans (who were strong) crucified Jesus Christ. But see today whole Roman country is immersed in Christianity. Now tell me who has won and who has lost?
China defeated India in 1963 war (who still dream that they can, which is a joke) but they have surrendered to Gautama Buddha many long years back. Who has actually won?
We may think we are strong but actaully we are not. Thats the truth
Today when my auto was passing through narrow lanes of Shanthi Nagar traffic was stalled for few minutes as some stupid person had parked his car in middle of the road. She was at her usual place, next to a small tea stall. Today i saw that she had a companion, a dog. She had given a morsel of bun to the dog and was scribbling something on an old soiled calender. Three boys not more than 10 years were passing by and one of them pulled the scarf on her head and tried to bully her. At once her companion barked and tried to pounce on those bullies. They scattered and ran away like scared dogs. By that time traffic was cleared and my auto went ahead.
Thats about the incidence. But that incidence made me to think. I felt we are not as compassionate as compared to that dog. The dog tried to defend that lady who had just given a piece of bread an we human tried to bully her. Its like the strong mockering the weak. If we dig our history we do see billions of incidence where the strong and civilized had tried to suppress the voice of weak. For example Eygptians used the slaves to build pyramids, Romans tried to suppress Christianity, British tried to keep many countries under their control including India with force and deciet, Hitler and Nazis planning and executing the Holocaust.... and list is endless (im not an expert on history so listed the events i know). Does we feel happy when the weak is suffering? Does we enjoy when the helpless is in pain? What have we become? Are we living upto our animal instincts? Why do we forget our humane qualities like compassion, tolerance, helping, sympathy, empathy, mercy, pardon etc? If we find it difficult to follow the humane qualities why don't we let the other people and creatures to live as they are? Is it is difficult for us or its the itch that we have to cause the pain to someone?
I know many of them may feel that i have asked too many questions and its philosophical. No, its not. Its too simple. We need to do what is right not just to us but to our heart and soul. Its not big deal. I'm not telling to shelve out all your hard earned money to beggars, homeless, charities or orpahnage (you can do that once you are at par with Mr. Warren Buffet or Mr. Bill Gates). But we have to learn respect all humans, irrespective of their mental condition, physical condition, financial condition or color, caste, ethnicity, religion. The people who have not done any kind of harm to us or our family or country should be respected.
I can write still more but I have a guilt feeling that I dint shouted at those dogs who bullied that lady. I was just seeing the entire event as a silent spectator.........
I would like to tell something which just flashed in my mind. Romans (who were strong) crucified Jesus Christ. But see today whole Roman country is immersed in Christianity. Now tell me who has won and who has lost?
China defeated India in 1963 war (who still dream that they can, which is a joke) but they have surrendered to Gautama Buddha many long years back. Who has actually won?
We may think we are strong but actaully we are not. Thats the truth
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