~ Reflections ~

The whole world seems to be preparing for the G20 summit. From US to China, they are all harping about what Modi is planning to do, or atleast that's what our media wants us to believe.. Anyway, the best by product of hosting the G20 is the sprucing up of the city that is being done. Suddenly the MCD cleaners are sweeping all the visible scraps of plastic on the road (something they should've always done but never did), all dividers and flyovers are being painted, all signages are up and erect, all street lights are functioning... the list is endless... and it is amazing how perfect we wish to be when we have visitors, yet how shabby the original condition still is..  But the biggest realization is how nice and functional every civic amenity would be, if they all did their job properly !  So the next time you clean up your house when you have visitors, don't feel bad... that's what even countries do :) :D

While I can't claim to be a connoisseur of paintings and art in general, I can safely say good art has always piqued my interest. Since schooling was in an era devoid of what we now call Internet, a lot of it was what had been described in the books one read. The only other way to get the experience was to visit museums and be enthralled by this totally different take on the world around, often not in a very direct or real way, but could lead one into realms of imagination which was normally difficult to find. Having said that, I safely steer clear from conversation of Cubism - Renaissance etc simply because I've never 'studied' these subjects.  Growing up in Delhi provided the advantage of being able to frequent places like The National Gallery for Modern Art , National Museum and Mandi House area, exposing me to an amazing collection (often underrated), becoming a regular go-to place during college. The likes of Raja Ravi Varma , S H Raza , Biren De have alway...

Thanks to the fantastic weather outside, I decided to go on a drive - windows rolled down, with cool breeze playing with my hair... I was beginning to travel into a different world..... till a blaring horn brought me back to the noisy roads of Delhi. I concluded that it was no longer possible to enjoy the weather by driving through the city, as there would always be some moron ready to honk you back to reality ! Please use the horn only when it is absolutely necessary or is a matter of life and death. No point being so noisy anyway !!

I understand a person's urge to do certain things.. to scratch and itch.. to click fingers.... to crack their knuckles... I get all that..  But I somehow can't seem to get over this urge hoards of people seem to have to grab a drink on Friday night to unwind....  Don't get me wrong, I am not against the idea of relaxing with friends over food and drinks.. but the primary objective always remains catching up... catching up isn't the excuse ! But now, Friday nights have been presenting a new nightmare... it is the jam close to our place thanks to a new 'state owned' liquor shop.... Every Friday, the place crowds up like there is no tomorrow... needless to say the joy in parking their vehicles inorder to successfully block all traffic.... I wonder what is the basis of these licenses the government doles out licenses for such liquor stores. There are already 3 such stores in a 2 km radius, and this is not including the 'sophisticated' wine selling ...

Travelling in public transport makes you realize lots of things... Our faith hangs in balance of thin threads, tempting you to tug at them and then face the repercussion.... We seem observe everything around us, but accept only what suits us... We make a big deal about our privacy, but seem to be okay with attending our personal phone calls loudly in public... Even hard core feminists and so called we-are-all-equal type ladies are the first ones to jump at empty seats, despite lots of people (aged and young) having waited for the same for ages... There seems to be another side as well... like DTC bus drivers applying brakes to wait for a pregnant lady to cross a crowded road... of DMRC employees properly assisting foreigners on which places they shouldn't miss... It appears to be a shallow two faced world, which likes to be taunted and teased... bullied and berated...

Recently watched Pink . I could go on and on about how everyone must must watch this movie, especially the current generation. Not to understand what are the do's and don'ts for nightlife for a women in Delhi. But to understand what is perceived, not just by strangers but even our peers. It left one with a numbing feeling that anyone could be trapped in the same way. And ironically one doesn't need to be naive either. Even a all knowing street smart person can get caught.  So what is the solution. Not just to avoid such "accidents" but also how to break the prejudices in peoples minds.  Education, clearly, isn't the answer, since I myself know well educated and groom post graduates suffering the same prejudices. The crux however remains, that each and every human being (not just males but females as well) needs to listen to and understand the meaning of these lines. "ना " सिर्फ़ एक  शब्द  नहीं अपने आप में  एक पूरा वाक्य हैं  ...

Ok... So the Delhi air still looks quite smoky and polluted. But the one thing no one who has travelled the Delhi roads in the last week will deny... is that irrespective of what impact this odd-even formula has had on the pollution levels, it has definitely made driving on Delhi roads a pleasure again. So for all the critics, presenting to you, the clean.. oops, empty Delhi roads.. Kudos to all the people travelling on the Delhi roads these days... for putting up with the buses, metros, autos, cabs.. whatever it takes.. to make it work !

We Delhites are born critiques...  you place in front of them even Michelangelo's David, and you'll find them commenting about the tall height and hair too curly.... Scepticism seems to be inborne... like second nature to all of us... Which is why I have decided to make an earnest request.. to a all those residing in the capital... to keep their extraordinary pessimistic thought process aside, and try and abide by the new rules being set to improve traffic, and effectively reduce pollution... We might talk about insufficient public transport, overcrowded metros, unsafe roads... the list is endless... but for once, keep all the thoughts aside, and try, just try, to make it work... Use odd for odd and even for even.. carpool... use public transport... cycle... walk.... But just try.... not because some Kejriwal has the courage to do something radical... but simply because we need to... 

The run up to the Delhi Elections is on...  For the first time, we have 2 highly qualified individuals running for the post of Chief Minister... both with their set of deeds and misdeeds... No matter who wins, I hope they use their intelligence and administrative experience to good use, for the benefit of the capital. And finally, ( in continuation to the previous post ) someone raises their voice , and the court acts :)

Suddenly Delhi Municipal Corporation and Police are abuzz with activity. After all THE President of United States of America is coming to town... w hich is why, all of a sudden, all pavements are being painted, all roads are being cleaned, bushes are being trimmed and garbage removed. I guess what meets the eye, is what one remembers in these visits. But what is their explanation for the State to suddenly find funds to rent around 15000 CCTV cameras (some with face recognition as well), which have already been posted in various locations around the city. Clearly, it was a security issue for Mr Obama... However, all the requests from citizens who have been asking the authorities to ramp up security in Delhi seemed to have fallen on deaf ears. It took the Asiad Games for improved roads, the Commonwealth Games for improved sports infrastructure... and looks like we needed a US President's visit to improve security. I hope his visit to Agra will give the local authorities a reaso...

AAP has taken the Delhi political scene by storm. Its an affirmation, not just that everyone is fed up of the corrupt ways of the stereotypical political leaders.. its also proof that when someone suggests a change, the common man (literally) has the courage to extend support and stand by the change... No one thought Aam Aadmi Party would come so close to getting majority in the state elections , within one year of their formation... I was recently watching an interview by Barkha Dutt, where she was questioning Kejriwal about the way forward.  There is no doubting the motive or honesty of Arvind Kejriwal , or the genuine intent in representing the issues faced by the common man. Now that they have achieved a milestone, they need to put in some serious thought into how they plan to achieve what they have so successfully started.... a movement by the people, for the people... Its time to convert their idealism into more tangible, practical solutions... else what has risen...

In the middle of hustling bustling traffic, my car broke down. Not only did the cop not create a scene, he pushed it to a bylane, with the help of few strangers.. The surprises the day threw up didn't end there... 4 - 5 drivers waiting around helped restart the car when I  opened the bonnet to look for the possible fault... and finally an inquisitive student just came by, and literally plugged the problem... Don't have enough words to thank them all... Didn't know any of them, but am sure to remember how they helped me yesterday !  So the next time I am on the road, and I find someone in need of some help, I'll stop for sure... Because I am a firm believer.... What goes around, comes around..

If you are living in Delhi (or maybe any part of this country) and drive yourself to work... what do you to think is the single most persistent sound that you can hear (ofcourse, besides the non stop blabbering of your head !)... the Horn !! The ever so irritating sound, that just doesn't go as long as you are on the road... though the purpose of a horn is to alert people on the road if they are on the way (yes, yes.. that thing has a purpose)... it seems to be an indicator of our impatience, a bike howling its way on the road, or just mindless show off... After much thought, I feel that the best way to curb the unnecessary usage is by linking the horn with the usage of fuel... so everytime you go for your horn, you will also be loosing a drop of petrol.... Once the damn thing is not free to blow away, we will all be more thoughtful and mindful as to when to use it... And hopefully, in the future, we'll have a more peaceful drive to work and back home... sigh !!!! Pho...

Witnessed something on a Delhi road today... and somehow it gave me a high... Though I was neither the subject nor the object... Driving down a crowded road in Okhla, a group of local village 3 kids came along, with school bags... and began asking for a lift.. In today's world of sceptics, I was pleasantly surprised to spot a guy in a Corolla stop by to give these kids a lift to their desired destination...