Thank You Niku! (and people like him…)

I am worried.

A couple of days back, i was driving down the Eastern Express Highway, normal route. Know you all know how i react to a biker coming in sharply in front of my car, so when this uncle came in front of me near the Pestom Sagar flyover, i was about bark in the same manner – but for one thing, i didn't. The uncle was wearing a skull cap.

Secularism, classical definition be damned, has a interesting definition in India. Not wearing a skull cap gifted to you, for example, is a sign that i hate Muslims.

Propagated by secularists in the Indian political landscape, who claim to save India this way (no no, they have no personal ambitions). The majority Hindu population is supposed to bend over backwards to accommodate minorities, and one minority in particular, the others are not too important as vote banks. Even if they are wrong. And hence i did not bark at the guy.

So, i am secular now, you may note. I might attend an iftaar party or two, wear a skull cap if required. These are things, which will make me politically acceptable in my social circle and society at large. I may still tell my family members not to marry from this community or that, but thats fine, i have done all the token symbolism of being secular.

Its seems people are wiling to accept me based on my symbolic projections but not for i am actually being out there. And these people accepting me are not farmers, cobblers, drivers and others who are not too educated, these are business consultants. These are people expected to form judgments based on facts (and not on on other people’s judgements).

Lets just ignore policy, governance and issues like that. No one care about that, it is immaterial some states actually go out to provide for all irrespective of reigion, caste, creed etc. Look at Karnataka results. Secularism (and caste) are the most important things!

If this small sample is anything to go by, I think i have reasons to be worried about our country.

In the name of art....

hypothetical question, would you allow nude potraits of your parents, wife, gf, kids to be put up on show? In the name of art? I wouldn't, they mean something to me. So do the gods. Go ahead call me a right wing bigot or whatever.

to be updated....

A stupid theory on rape, and reactions….

I had planned to write a post regarding the recent rape case in Delhi, thought it better wait for the head to be calm before i do so. Then this outrageous post showed up on Facebook.

Below are some reactions from friends. They have that skill penning thoughts in a civil manner despite the boiling blood, which i dont.

Subu Narayanan

I don't agree with this Manoj Dhokle at all.. rape is not done by impulse to be a reaction to provocative clothes.. If you Rachit see a beautiful girl in short clothes, will you rape her? Knowing you, even suggesting this is preposterous... A decent man has several opportunities to stop himself..stopping the thought from becoming actionable, stopping the action before being executed, stopping the action when the girl protests, stopping when the girl struggles, stopping when you see the anguish - fight - struggle - resignation in the girls eyes... we should stop blaming the victim.. our society has degraded to such an extent, it's deplorable.. I don't know what is the way to fundamentally change our mindset..

Bharati Peri

aap jaise mard jab tak is samaj mein hain tab tak yeh jurm hothe rahenge.....you guys dont want to acknowledge that rape is crime- nothing can justify that act....you will understand it only when one of your women folks would get raped- irrespective of she is wearing a saree, salwar, pants or skirts- a rapist is a criminal- he doesn't care about anything- if he has an opportunity he will rape no matter what!!!! On one hand we are raising our sons and daughters to be equal and on the other- we make such sexist remarks!!!! Rape is a crime and is not justified under any circumstances.....it's like a robbers justifying their act of robbing you because you are rich!!! Looks like you guys would rather drape your mothers, sisters and daughters in a burkha to protect her instead of changing your attitudes!!!

Pehnao apni aurton ko burkha aur daalo unke pairon mein bediyaan- as if a woman is just an object that you can control any which way you please....what is the so called sanskruti you guys are talking about?? Since so many years men have forcibly defined and created a profile of "an ideal woman' who wears a saree (which btw is more revealing than salwar, shirt and pants), who gets up early in the morning, worships the tulsi, cooks for the entire family. never answers back, always is dependent on men and never does anything because SHE thinks is right. Looks like you men are scared of the educated independent woman who has just started to accomplish her life after so many years of struggle. Sanskruti should be voluntary not be forced upon the women folk, just because a woman refuses to fit your profile of a 'Traditional Woman' because she wnats to thing on her own and take her own decisions- you guys think you have the right to call her names, criticize her and even rape her!!!! Rape is the unfair and criminal act of a man against her will- under no circumstance it can be justified.....lets teach our sons to respect women no matter what- instead of raising them with such low grade mentality which makes them believe that if a woman is dressed different from their traditional outlook they have a right to rape her........each of you should be ashamed for supporting such low grade thoughts.....

Had to happen.....

Turkish Airlines rocks!!! My flight from Izmir to Istanbul is today. Istanbul to Mumbai is tommorow. Its seems they are connected and I'll get my checkin baggage in mumbai now! Theyd did say 'Have a nice flight tommorow!'

its a bloody strategy to make sure i buy the 'I love Istanbul' tshirts!

This had to happen, this tour and study had been completed very smoothly.

I take some solace in the fact that i am not the only one with whom stuff like this happens! There was a Chinese dude too, he will get his luggage in Shanghai....

Hereos do fall.....

By himself, Sachin has all the rights in the world to become what he wants to, if and when he retires from active cricket. Even if he wants to join, as the Big B once called it, the cesspool of politics.

But he should not accept the Rajya Sabha nomination offered to him by the Congress party. If it has been offered in the first place that is. Because i am dead sure he is just a pawn to distract attention. To attract his followers for votes to Congress. And i am somehow not convinced that this decision coming up on a day when Congress was getting screwed all over is a mere co-incidence.

In an ideal world, Tendulkar will come out tomorrow in a blazing press conference and make it clear he is not in the fray, its all a frame -up , speculation and so on.

A long time back, i had told a friend 'heroes do fall' when she suspected a particular person she idolised was acting a bit different.

I hope my hero doesnt fall.

It's not an ideal world.

Copy pasting draft posts.....

(All these are draft posts that i have collected over the last 3 - 4 weeks. Some started and stalled, some stalled at the heading stage and some stalled at the thought stage. I hate keeping drafts. So clearing those out)

A 5 year relation,or rather, this 5 year relation is gonna be very special for me. I think i can go ahead and have any number of sweethearts in my life, but time spent in this one, the comfort level, the joy, the fun, the milestones, the breaks, the 'others', the the kms clocked, all special, very special. Dear Tata Indigo LS (a.k.a Pappu!), its been a great 5 years!

The Indian team is in trouble in Aus and in Eng. No shame in losing, but being arrogant about its sucks. You will be back soon, i am sure.

I would be very surprised if the muslims in UP vote for Congress. Its the same bloody con act again and again. And they fall for it everytime. So, either they are too dumb or their votes are sold for some cash or other short term incentives. There doesnt seem to be any long term benefits for these guys.

Porngate - stupid people to be caught. It seems 40 other ppl were watching the same clips. But i would love to see how the moral high ground people would have reacted had the ministers been watching, say, a cricket match or TV soap. Because the issue isnt them watching porn, its them not paying attention to proceedings. And the manner in which our media went ballistic (the main stream media are anti BJP, pro Congress anyway,need an excuse), you would think thats a worse crime than murdering nurses or multi crore scams.

Rahul Gandhi for PM? Bullshit. There are many guesses about his intellingence, but i am sure he is smart enough (and well advised ) not to go down that path. Momma has shown the right way - head the NAC, let someone else be PM. You take credit, they take blame. And i'll reiterate - Priyanka Gandhi is going to be leading it for a long long time.... She is the real power....

Was a bit surprised to know other day that a newly married friend's wife has access to his FB account and cellphone. Was about to take that as a norm for married people, but second opinion from Silky stopped me. I think i have another pre-condition....., 'Thou shall not touch....'

Man, went shopping for kids stuff with Silky. Fatherhood's expensive in more ways than one! 7-10k for cradles! Baby seats for cars, 6-7k! Baby clothes, pregnant women clothes,this pump, that pump, what not! Phew! ( Silky is right, the rest of us will gain from his experience. The rate at which he is moving, he will have ample experience!)

5k tales is now 6k tales already.

(Thats all. Look like mini posts.)

i think with age, my attention spans are getting shorter.

I am not against Team Anna....

I am not saying the agitation is wrong, only the means are. Ppl are getting carried away by the romance of it all. And tell me are we not being corrupt if we ask yhe government to subvert a system just bcos A Raja did it? Worse are we not being terrorists here?

And, are Team Anna so naive? Even if their bill bypasses the standing comitee and goes straight to parliament, it will be shot down cos none of the parties agree to the utopian demands. Instead, a more reasonable bill with inputs from Team Anna, NAC, and Aruna Roy, anyone else, debated by law experts goes into the parliament, doesnt that have a better chance? Lets forget abt its implementation or the effect it will have.

Fwd: New comment on Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, big deal...!.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Anonymous <noreply-comment@blogger.com>
Date: Mon, Jul 25, 2011 at 7:11 PM
Subject: [Nowhere to go, nowhere to hide....] New comment on Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, big deal...!.
To: rachitst@gmail.com


Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, big deal...!":

really?



Posted by Anonymous to Nowhere to go, nowhere to hide.... at July 25, 2011 7:11 PM

Well Anon, WTF is this comment?? ( I am seriously considering blocking Anon commenter, for the simple reason that i am left guessing, yeh kaun tha????) 

And tell me, what was that "really?" in response too???? Some possibilities, and then appropriate responses.

(And since i am pissed off generally, what with a sad job, Thailand trip in khatai again and India lose first test.... i am going to reply to all)

So you think it isnt REALLY big deal??? That life will change forever? Well, it isn't. Life changes, each change brings its own joys and challenges and honestly, you cannot do shit about it.

Or do you find it difficult  to believe we are REALLY going to Thailand???? Well, let me reiterate, I am. Alone, if need be. 2 people are booked, but this being a TA trip and we all know about TA luck. So the trip is on.

Or do you REALLY .......oh, WTF. If you do read this again, just let us know what you meant !!!

End of the world....

As i know it.

Since morning, i have not been able to send any SMS from my phone. Just stuck in the outbox, never moves to sent messages folder. Everything else working fine. Maybe the phone's fault, maybe Vodafone. Last few days, it sent out the same message repeatedly. Its like a colleague's illness last week - loose motions one day, constipation next day.

If this doesn't rectify by tomorrow, i am going to smash my phone. My friend Smirnoff agrees this is the right thing to do.

Rachit
Sent from Rachit's phone

Hold this thought…….

Kabhi kisi ko mukammal jahan nahin milta
Kahin zameen to kahin aasman nahin milta
- Nida Fazli

(The preaching continues…..)

Panditai....

Not that I am getting my car tomorrow, but still even if I do, i cannot take delivery cos of some inauspiciousness in these 2 days - amavasya or whatever, my car has headlights to provide for light not provided by the moon. But still....

But as per learned men, i need to wait till 5th, auspicious. Ok, fine. Jahan itna ruke hain....

The colour of the car ideally would have been black. But some learned man insisted dark colours don't suit me and its just good luck that the premium colour is available, else we would have had 3 silver colour vehicles. (i am quite a showoff na?)the same logic was applied in bike purchase. The seat covers are also not completely black, black and grey.
Ok.

A friend of mine believes in numbers affecting us. So if the total of all digits in your registration number equals 8, its not considered good. If its 7, awesome. 1 is also considered good - by pure chance, the reg numbers of my bike (8740) and dad's car (3889) both add up to 1.He told that to the dealer as well. When she was about to send the file to RTO she calls me and asks if I want her to instruct RTO to make sure the number dsnt add up to 8. It will cost 3k. I say no. Then she asks if u want your lucky number 1. I said 'madam, if i spend money to get a certain number, its already causing me a loss, to kidhar ka lucky, will you please let the number come up as per sequence?" (though if it comes up 1 once again, i'l pay next time onwards just to keep the trend going). Felt quite happy about it, that finally decided something about the car, when in fact all i decided was that i'll do nothing about the number! No pandit, numerologist or palmist or parrotist for that matter will decide tha..... So lets see what comes up....

So after all this the car may come home in a day or 2. Parking is still a dicey issue but worst case i'll go and sleep in the car!

But 3 more days...... I hate pandits (irrespective of the fact that, on paper at least, i am one)

Another question worth asking........

The need is not defined. Infact, there is no need as such.
Then there are the influencers.
More important, affordability. Credit is good, but rest is a f*#@$d case.
Though thats in relative terms. Revise expectations, all is well. Expectations, along with desires,infatuations, they say, are the root cause of unhappiness. They are right.
Lets see which way happiness is achieved - revising expectations or fullfilling the need that doesnt exist! In a way, a revision has already happened, but then the expectation was too high!

Dilbert's co-worker once typed out a 3 page note on her Carpal Tunnel problem. Dilbert asked her, 'are all your troubles self inflicted?' I think that same question can be asked to me.
C'est la vie........

A question worth asking.....

तेरा चेहरा ही आईने जैसा
क्यो ना देखु, है देखने जैसा

तेरा चेहरा ही आईने जैसा

तुम कहो तो मै पुछ लूँ तुमसे
है सवाल एक, पुछने जैसा
दोस्त मिल जायेंग़े कई लेकिन
ना मिलेगा कोई मेरे जैसा

हम अचानक मिले थे जब पहले
पल नही है वो भुलने जैसा

तेरा चेहरा है आईने जैसा

Likhne waale ne kya likha hain..... Jagjit Singh ne kya gaaya hain!!!!

Stupid, if you ask me.....

We both took the left turn leading into the Rabale village at the same time. The Thane Belapur road is seeing a lot of container traffic of late and hence this narrow road is preffered by a lot of small vehicles. Now i just acclerated and went ahead - straight,there was ample space. Did not cross his path, was still on the left side as i went uphill. But for some reason - made a lot of noise as he came next to me, started moving left, made sure i slowed down and stopped, glared at me and showed the middle finger and raced away. Was a young chap, looked educated. But i dont know what i should call him - honestly, you never have anything to prove to a biker when you are driving a Skoda Octavia!

Maybe stupid, because in 30 secs he was stuck in the Rabale village market and i caught up with him, tapped on the window, waved and smiled. And then zoomed straight, left turn and into the maze of lanes in sector 6. Even if he followed me (which was impossible, he was badly stuck due to oncoming traffic), he would never make out where i went.

But, i dont get one thing - why do i meet so many people of this type??

Some time back i met a guy in the bank. Rock star t-shirt and all that. 2 mins back he was on the phone telling someone he has got the job, sal 16k, and explaining ' package kam hain par oppurtunity acchi hain'. Then, for some reason, he asks me, 'why you using this cheap phone?' or something like that. I had to very politely tell him, 'the phone costs more than the salary you havent earned yet.' but he did not get the point. ' but you should use a blackberry if you want a business phone'. I thought ignoring him would be a better idea.

And i am not even thinking about the guy i had gone with for my MP trip - he evidently thinks the world is as he has seen it, and i have learnt the hard way that it may not be so. I guess even he will learn.

Blog name justified……

Great. I just reached office - by bike,cos there is some auto/cab strike. The sun was so harsh, i never figured it wd rain. Ayways bothe jackets were missing. Till ghatkopar, it was like a day in may! After that, wen there is no whre to hide, nowhere to run, it poured, for precisely 6 minutes. Drenched, looked back and the sun light reflected on the mirror from the flight landing over ghatkopar, going ahead, no rains near office.
Story of my life, hence the blog name....

Comment on my state of mind.....

S : Chalo, i am leaving. You are staying till late
Me : yeah, about 8.
S starts packing her stuff.
Me : even I am leaving. (Suiting action to word - start, turn off computer, turn off)
S: whatt??you said you were staying just now.
Me : yeah, now my mood changed and am not staying.
S : you have womanly mood swings, in fact, worse than women have.....

Dont read.....some mindless things....

Last few weeks have been amazing, personally as well as professionally...... sharing some words/ phrases/things that i came across and my thoughts on the same....

1. Bullshit - lost all faith in feelings, decency , professionalism (whatever that is!!). Increased tendency to act on reason rather than emotion / belief / gut feel/ own conclusions
2. Tantrums - will never expect reasonable , responsible behaviour from anyone now, in fact not expect anything at all.....possible? not sure.
3. Nalla - at loss of words!!! this was with regards my language/ expression of facts - maybe someone is right, but still......
4. Service industry - get f*^#ed, do not complain, i think i better re look the way i talk to all tele marketers, waiters, drivers and others who classify as "service industry"
5. Deliverable - do as asked to do, a function of position in hierarchy - also maybe linked to service industry
6. Message - a verbal diarrhoea with a takeaway
7. Commitment - you cant take a leave and go to Leh Ladakh (It's a different story that i am not going anyways because of exams).
8. Overcommitment - do not get me started on this :)
9. Bike - nothing like it when you are mindf*^%$d. Maybe its the power, the pickup , pure physics , the balancing of forces or the speed, the pure smooth straight line acceleration with the amazing stability..... heady, very heady. The best 10 secs of these last few days : Today, first signal at Godrej, first in line, signal green ........vrooom!!! . Had to stop at the next signal, but the world was a better place by then!!! :) ( Psst,Clint...Silky may also go in for bike soon, you also come here, we will have a biker gang!!!)
10. Bike in the rains - :). Particularly , late night / early morning. Its fun to just chug along
11. Faces - Old , new, known, unknown, on Facebook, or in the traffic, in a meeting or in a hotel - tell a lot....
12. This is good, but - and bang goes the night........
13. Planning / discussion - New development ; last 3 weeks me Akash, Deepak, Bhargav have been seriously contemplating our future - insightful discussions; surprising at times that we do think the way we do - should i be surprised, is it lack of self belief??

Tell me this.....

How do bonafide terrorists, armed with all the ammumnition in the world, can easily enter any area & why am i subjected to inane "car boot" & "switch on the laptop" checks??

20-30 guys just walk into a city, with AK-47 , no less, & the ATS & police or informers have no clue??? Ofcourse not, they are too busy labelling terror.....

What crap!