On human nature

For long have I pondered on the nature of human beings. The self proclaimed civilized being on earth. The animal with a gift of a large brain and a pair of deft hands, that enabled us to rule over and destroy all life forms on earth and including our own kind. Yes, we can destroy the earth, too. With such great powers, we have great responsibilities of which we like to be oblivious. We could create and sustain but we also chose to destroy. This is the eternal truth of human nature. The contradiction and judgement. The continuous feud between the good and the evil inside that every human being has to fight, every living second. But what's the outcome?

The recent turn of events in Bengal, India and the world is grim. We are witnessing technological advancements and moral degradation at the same rate. We are witnessing the suffering and joy brought about by the actions of the entire human civilization that lived before us. And I see not much difference.

Is it really so true that the evil has increased four fold while the good has died? Or is it just that the technology has enabled us to hear more and see more of evil deeds than we could see or hear before? Or is it the population of 7 billion plus human is taking its toll on everything else around them? Are we at the brink of our extinction just like those great lizards that once roamed the vast marshes? Any of these questions would raise a typhoon in the tea cup of any intellectual Bengali. But would ever there be an answer?

When I started writing this blog years ago, I thought of filling the posts with small examples of human nature and their life. But soon things got diverted, as I could not alone gather so much of experience with my self centered life. Now once again after a couple of weeks break from my small world I'm interested in fulfilling my objective. So, let me go forth and collect experiences till I find an answer to all my questions. The final truth that we seek.

Bahon bhede

বাহন ভেদে 

১

উত্তম বাবু (নাম তা Generic) বাস এ চেপে অফিসে যাচ্ছেন। ভালো আয় সত্তেও তিনি বাস এ চেপে অফিসে যাওয়া পছন্দ করেন । এর প্রথম কারণ হলো বহুদিনের অভ্যেস; আর দ্বিতীয় কারণ হলো বহু মানুষের সাথে মেলামেশার সুযোগ (! এটা তিনি তার সহকর্মীদের বলে থাকেন)। আজ সকাল থেকেই ঝিরিঝিরি বৃষ্টি পড়ছে । রাস্তায় তাই বলে যান বাহনের সংখ্যা কম নয় । তবুও কোনো এক অজ্ঞাত কারণে আজ বাস এ প্রচন্ড ভিড় ।বৃষ্টির জন্যে সব জানালাই বন্ধ । কে আর সাধ করে বৃষ্টির ছাঁটে ভিজতে চায় ! কিন্তু এতে বাস এর মধ্যে দাড়িয়ে থাকা পেসেন্জারের অবস্থা শোচনীয় । লোকে বৃষ্টিতে না ভিজে ঘামে ভিজছে । উত্তম বাবু এসব সময়ে একটু নেতৃত্ব দিতে পছন্দ করেন ।
"ও দাদা জানলা একটু খুলুন না ।"
"আরে বৃষ্টি আসছে তো !"
"ও আর বৃষ্টি ! ভেতরে তো আমরা সেদ্ধ হয়ে গেলুম । আমাদের কথাও একটু ভাবুন ।"
বাস এ সমর্থক এর অভাব হলো না । 
"আরে দাদা একটু না হয় ভিজলেন এই বৃষ্টি তে ।"
"বৃষ্টির দিনে শুকনো থাকলে মানায় না দাদা ।"
কথায় কাজ হলো একটি একটি করে প্রায় সব কটি জানলাই খুলে গেল ।

২

আজও বৃষ্টি পড়ছে । তবে আগের দিনের চেয়ে অনেক কম । কিন্তু বাস এর ভিড় যথারীতি । তবে আজ উত্তম বাবু জানলার ধরে সিট পেয়ে গেছেন । বসা মাত্রই তিনি ঝটপট জানলা বন্ধ করে দিলেন । কি দরকার বৃষ্টি তে ভেজার? সর্দি লেগে গেলে, ব্যাস হয়ে গেল । পাসে বসা ছেলেটি ঘেমে স্নান হয়ে যাচ্ছিল । ঘামছে প্রায় সবাই । ছেলেটি দুবার উত্তম বাবুর দিকে তাকালো । তারপর বলে উঠলো,
"কাকু, জানলা তো একটু খুলুন না । এমন কিছু বৃষ্টি তো পড়ছে না ।"
"হুঃ! বৃষ্টিতে ভিজে আমার সর্দি লাগলে কি তুমি ওষুধ কিনে দেবে হে ছোকরা ?"
"তাহলে আপনি এধারে এসে বসুন আমি জানলার ধরে বসে বৃষ্টিতে ভিজি ।"
বাস এ ছোট্ট  একটা হাসির কলরোল শোনা গেল ।
"আজ কাল কার ছেলে ছোকরারা বড় অসভ্য হয়ে গেছে । জানলার সিট কেউ ছাড়ে নাকি ! মামা বাড়ির আবদার !"
ছেলেটি অসভ্য হলেও হয়ত কলহপ্রিয় নয় । তাই ঘটনার এখানেই পরিসমাপ্তি হলো।

 ৩

 বৃষ্টি থেমেছে । উত্তম বাবু জানলা খুলেছেন । ছেলেটি বুক ভরে নিশ্বাস নিছে । কিন্তু সুখ যে বেশিক্ষণের নয় । গাড়ি সিগনাল এ দাঁড়িয়ে । এর ফাঁকে একটি মোটর সাইকেল বাস আর পাশে দাঁড়িয়ে থাকা টাটা সুমোর মাঝে এসে দাঁড়ালো । সিগনাল খোলার সঙ্গে সঙ্গে বাস আর এগুতে পারল না । মোটর সাইকেল আরোহী কে জায়গা দিতে হলো । নয়তো বেচারা চাপা পরে যেত । বাস এর ড্রাইভার একটা অশ্র্যব্য গালাগাল দিয়ে আবার বাস চালাতে শুরু করলো । উত্তম বাবু থাকতে পারলেন না ।
"এদের কি কোনো কান্ডজ্ঞান নেই । বাপের পয়সায় একটা বাইক কিনেছে । এবার গাড়ির মাঝখানে ঢুকিয়ে দে । এত তাড়া কিসের বাপু? এক্সিডেন্ট হলে তো বাস ড্রাইভার এর দোষ!"

৪

আজ উত্তম বাবুর একটু তাড়া আছে । ছেলের বাইকের পিছনে চেপে যাচ্ছেন । যথারীতি ট্রাফিক জ্যাম । ছেলে বাইকের উপকারিতা বোঝানোর জন্যে বাস ট্রাক এর ফাঁক দিয়ে মটর সাইকেলটা একদম সামনে নিয়ে এলো। দাঁড়ালো একটা বাস আর একটা সুমোর মাঝখানে । সিগনাল হওয়ার পর হুশ করে সামনে এগিয়ে গেল । বাসটা এগোতে গিয়ে প্রচন্ড জোরে ব্রেক করে এক্সিডেন্ট হওয়াটা আটকালো । মুখে ছুটে এলো গালির তোড় । উত্তম বাবু ও ছাড়লেন না ।
"এই ভদ্র ভাষায় কথা বল । ঠিকঠাক দেখে বাস চালাতে পারো না । যত্ত সব মাতাল !"

Death of Civilization

I don't know any more what is right, or what is wrong. I don't know if the society and its so called rules are right. I don't know what culture means, any more. I'm shocked.

A few days back, an incident happened in Assam. A case of public molestation of a minor girl. The rows over it only creates a question, who is to blame?

My questions are here:
1. Where were the police when this incident continued for half an hour? Why didn't they act as soon as they could?

2. What were the media thinking? Is it so good and graceful to record a molestation or murder instead of trying to act out? One brave man can easily take on a hundred. It shows the morality of the Indian media at large. In regard to this I remember a photograph by Kevin Carter, of a dying child in Sudan, which own a Pulitzer. I thought Kevin should have been ashamed of what he did. And yes, ashamed he was! He committed suicide for what he did!

3. What was that girl thinking? What her parents and teacher were teaching her? Is this what we are so proud of? An utterly demoralized culture?

4. Finally what were those men thinking? I don't want to call them men at all, but rather Hijras. But what blame can I put on such cowardly beasts? They know that it's okay to molest a girl in open street and there is no law in India. The Legislation has become a joke now. So is the executive system. Why wouldn't people commit crime, when the society applauds it?

And talking about my last sentence "society applauds crime", some people might come to argue. But look hither and thither and tell me when a man cheats, frauds or indulges in corruption for financial gain to support or provide luxury for his family, it is not taken as a crime in India. This is what should be changed in the first place, the mental set up of Indians. Then we would progress into a better society. The media will not rush to just watch and record crimes for financial gains, but go and try their best to prevent crime.

I'm eagerly waiting for such a day when the youth will rise like tigers.

Local bus cummuter

সকালে কোনরকমে নাকেমুখে কিছু গুজে দিয়েই বেরিয়ে পড়া রোজকার রোজগারের অভিযানে । গ্রীষ্মের দারুন রোদ্দুরে ছারখার হয়ে যাওয়া জীবনে বাস স্ট্যান্ডএ একটু ছোট  শেড । You know it feels like heaven। চারপাশে চাপা টেনসন ।বাস এলেই হালকা গুতোগুতি করে চটুল পায়ে বাস এর দরজার সামনে এসে দাড়ানো । তারপর নামতে থাকা যাত্রীদের উপেক্ষা করে উঠে যাওয়া বাসএ । এক ঝলকে মেপে নেওয়া সব যাত্রীদের । কে নামতে পারে আগে ? ছোট্ট হিসাব কষা মনে মনে । তারপর কোনো এক সিট এর সামনে দাড়িয়ে পরা ।
"দাদা, কোথায় যাবেন ?"
"ব্যাগ তা একটু ধরুন না । ধন্যবাদ ।"
অবশ্য সবাই আজকাল thanks বলে । ইংরেজি বলাটাই এখনকার দস্তুর । বাঙালি ধীরে ধীরে বাংলা ভুলছে । অর্ধেক হয়ে গেছে হিন্দী আর অর্ধেক ইংরেজি । ভাবতে খুব অবাক লাগে একসময় এই জাতিটাই নিজের ভাষার জন্যে লড়াই করেছিল ! 

গরমটাও পড়েছে বেশ এবার । পাশের লোকের ঘামের সঙ্গে নিজের ঘাম মাখামাখি হয়ে একাকার । কারো আবার একটু বেশি ঘাম । টপ টপ করে জলের ফোটার মত পড়ছে বসে থাকা লোকেদের উপরে । যারা জানালার ধরে তারা সবার হিংসের বস্তু । বেশ ফুরফুরে হাওয়া, বুকটা জুড়িয়ে দেয় । কন্ডাক্টর এর ক্রমাগত "পিছনে যান " উপেক্ষা করে দাড়িয়ে থাকি ঠায় । হাত দুটো জাম করে দিই হ্যান্ডেলে । কাধ দুটো রেগুলার ধাক্কার চোটে শক্ত হয় । পা দুটো থামের মত গেঁথে যায় বাসের ফ্লোরে । জানলার হাওয়ার একটা ছোট অংশ পাই আমিও । পিঠটা যদিও ঘেমে ভিজে যায় । 


এবার শুধু অপেক্ষার পালা । কখন সামনের বসে থাকা লোকগুলো উঠবে আর তুমি ন্যাচারাল প্রগ্রেসনে গিয়ে বসবে জানলার ধারে । আমার মত দূরের যাত্রীদের এই ন্যাচারাল প্রগ্রেসনের প্রচুর সুযোগ থাকে । আবার কখনো ভুল সিটের সামনে দাড়িয়ে পরে কেলেঙ্কারী । আসে পাসে সব সিট খালি হয়ে যায় । আমার সামনে দুটি লোক স্থানুর মত বসে আছে । এদের ও গন্তব্য আমার মত দুরে । বিরক্তিকর ।


রুমাল দিয়ে ঘাম মুছি আর রোজকার এই একঘেয়ে স্ট্রাগল এ সামিল হয়ে যাই । জানলার বাইরে খোলা হাওয়া, বিস্তীর্ণ আকাশ, মুক্ত জীবন । জানলার ভিতরে ইঁদুর দৌড় । মনে মনে হাসি । কোন পাগলে ভেবেছিল যে সব মানুষ একদিন ইঁদুর হয়ে যাবে ! মাথার ভিতর একের পর এক গভীর চিন্তা জাগে । নিজেকে হঠাত বিশাল দার্শনিক মনে হয় । মনে হয় চাকরি ছেড়ে দিয়ে চলে যাই বহুদূরে । মুক্ত জীবনের খোঁজে । পকেটের কাছে হাতের খোঁচা লাগে । মুহুর্তে সজাগ হয়ে যায় সব কত ইন্দ্রিয় ।
এই লাইন এ পকেটমারের অভাব নেই । পকেটে মোবাইল ফোন, মানিব্যাগ । সাবধান । তারপর দেখি আমারি মত নিরীহ, গোবেচারা আর এক ইঁদুর । মুচকি হেসে আবার চিন্তা চালু হয়ে যায় দার্শনিকের ।


সামনের সিট খালি হয় । ন্যাচারাল প্রগ্রেসনে আমি চলে যাই কাঙ্খিত জানলার ধারে । মুহুর্তে সংসার সুখের হয়ে যায় । অফিস মনে হয় ভালই তো । বাড়ি ফিরে কি করব সন্ধ্যা তা তার ফিরিস্তি দিই মনে মনে । জানলার বাইরে মুক্ত জীবনের খুব কাছে আমি তখন । তাই ভিতরের টানটাও প্রবলতর । ভিতরের টানে হারিয়ে যাই আমি । জানলার বাইরে তখন নীল আকাশ, প্রচন্ড রোদ্দুর । জানলার বাইরে তখন তারুণ্য আর মুক্ত জীবন । আমার চোখ তখনও জানলার বাইরে ।কিন্তু এখন তো আমি ইঁদুর  দৌড়ে জয়ী ।

Please don't lough !!!

All the Bengali around the world knows a peculiar animal (or being) called "Ramgarurer Chhana", literally translated as, kids of Ramgarur. Well now don't ask me who or what is this Ramgarur. Just remember not to lough when you see one. Because they are not gonna be really pleased to see your may be white teeth.

The poem by Sukumar Ray went somewhat like this -

রামগরুরের ছানা
হাসতে তাদের মানা |
হাসির কথা শুনলে বলে
হাসব না না না না |

(Ramgarur's kids

Are not allowed to lough

Crack a joke at them

No, still they wont lough)

Well Mr. Ray certainly described the nature of some complex people in a rather simple manner and excelled in it. Also I think the society by and large, allowed for humour for the sake of humour, at that time. That was a great thing even in the middle of so much socioeconomic troubles prevailing during his time. 

Since quite some time, the society is loosing its sense of wit and humour, may be due to the busy, fast paced living style. Or may be because they read less and watch more, killing their imaginations. Whatever be the cause the loss of humour of the society has come to the forefront in the recent cartoon rows in India, particularly West Bengal.

Although many will say that it is a select few who doesn't have it, but I believe that the select few reflects the society at large, since they were selected by the society to represent them. Otherwise I'll have to say that we have a major problem with our democracy. 

Bound by money

About a year back I wrote about library.nu. A great repository of knowledge for those who seek it. It didn't ask for money but for more knowledge in return. In spite of all the obstacles that this commercial world might pose the library grew and helped millions of people across the world.

It has been shut down a few weeks ago. The publishers didn't like losing money and of-course the businessmen around the business of knowledge. So, now we know that knowledge is bound by money. So are many other things. In fact the whole world is bound by money. Even the great people (???) of this era are bound by money. It's money that we seek. It's money that we worship. It's money that we die for.

Where is true love? Where is true patriotism? Where is true wisdom? Where is true art?

It's so rare to find thee in this troubled times.The world will not end in 2012, but money will win over humanity. And another great civilization will fall. The so feared age of machines is not so far now. Since it's only the feeling that kept man apart from the animated for all these years. Every civilization saw her end just at the pinnacle of her advancement. Look at the wondrous architecture of the past. The mighty pyramids, the great walls, the magnificent castles, the powerful forts -  All fading away in time, and only the mortal man stands and sings the glory of immortal humanity to start a new world.

Democracy in India

Is India a democratic country? This question runs through my mind more often now a days. Specially when I'm watching news, or reading a newspaper. Most of the time the news reflect the darkness of the age that we are living in. Although I consider myself a very lucky guy with a window to escape in the other world! (yeah, it's the Internet). Then I feel afraid if some day some one comes and blocks all my access to the window or sensors it with a limited and distorted view of the world.

The present decisions that are being taken by the various governments to filter or block knowledge and thus create a multitude of idiots, whom they can rule easier. Yes,  they are afraid of people who have knowledge, wisdom or intelligence. Because then they may not fool you and rule you. Then Independence is just a term in the dictionary. And the Republic Day that we celebrate tomorrow will no more be a republic day but a farce that the idiots will enjoy.

The preamble of our constitution that gives us the rights of -

JUSTICE, social, economic and political;
LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship;
EQUALITY of status and of opportunity;
and to promote among them all
FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation;

have been and is being dishonored by the ruling party, so often that it feels like there is no government that we elect to enact the constitution of India. But it feels like a war zone, and lust for throne that has driven the Kings and lords of the past into vicious battles. The election is no more but a battle for the throne to rule the strongest nation of the world, who have been shackled and raped so many times over that she almost lost her hope to freedom.

No, all is not lost. Her children do wake up now and often, throwing the new toy or chocolate that the ruling party gives away to distract them from the present situation. But then with each rise, the child is killed instantly. Ages have past and her children are now stronger and wiser. Let not any Party rule us or deprive us from our long lost freedom. Let us bring back the glory of the past.

Let this Republic Day of 26th November, 2012 see a new dawn and a bloody red sun, if needed.

On winter rains

For us who are not accustomed to the wet winters it can be very annoying when it rains for days in winters. For us winters are supposed to be dry, windy and cold. Also foggy in the morning and evening and sunny in the day. But never an overcast sky for days and drizzling rain or heavy showers. Though sometime we learn to accept it, but for a continuous of 5 days is really hard to absorb.

It's been so hard to absorb for me that I've gone half mad already. I am out of focus. I can't concentrate. I can't remember. At times I think of Kalidas and his Meghdutam, but then remember it is a not so cold, moist winter and back out. Then I think of winter as it comes in Bengal with all festivities and food, but the mood is spoiled by the rains. Oh what am I to do? Lament like a weeping philosopher, snugging under my warm blanket and cursing the weather and Gods?

On second thoughts, no I'm not. I'm going to pack my bags and go to office. Spend my day without looking out the window (btw, where I sit now, there is no window by a mile ), instead staring at my Thinkpad.
Oh! What a life!

It's better to go to China then. Isn't it?

Eternal time

Does time have a death? Only an eternal being could answer that. And yet an eternal being would mean time to be eternal and have no death at all. The famous question in this terms is this -

Before all creations there was nothing. Then God came and created everything. But to create God needed space ('nothing' is nothing but a lot of space, isn't it?) and energy. And before God came and created everything there must have been time flowing as it is flowing today. Thus God cannot create everything. Time, Space and Energy must have existed before God. Or is God time, space and energy combined together? Then who created all these? Who created God?

While you ponder on a deep philosophical understanding over this unnecessary questions, I'd tell a tale. A tale of nothing that is very important. And a tale that tells itself. Some says that this year has ended in a melancholy tune. At least in India or rather West Bengal. The year saw a large number of accidents and deaths in result. So the most important personality of the year that we are just about to leave behind was the Shadowy Death himself. Well Death takes on everyone and everything that is either living or non-living all withers away in time. Just as I said in my previous article that even time is lost in time. And then one can say that being eternal, just like time means to escape Death forever. Does this mean that Moksha, that is spoken of in the Geeta is to flow eternally with time? Or become time itself?

Living in time

This is how blogs get lost. You get busy suddenly on something and your blog gets no new updates. Slowly the readers fade and slowly the blog is lost in time. Everything is lost in time. Even time is lost in time. So before getting lost completely till I've no more to lose in time I want to live. Live life like I've never lived before.

I want to find the boy who had a whole universe created within his mind that was larger than any universe man can perceive. The stories that were framed in his mind were bigger and better than anything that kids see on TV or Movie today. Well those were trying times. You saw little and read much more. So your imagination made the movie instead of any movie director. You became the hero/heroin, you fought the battles, you won the trophies. You lived in the book and lived the book in your life.

But we are living in time. A time that was not imagined a few years back. A time that is hard to imagine even now. A time that is flowing like it always flowed. Only we got busier and we don't have any time any more. Only a few years back when you were away from home it would take days to communicate or in an emergency a rare phone or telegram. But now you can talk every minute you wish to. Nobody writes a letter now a days. The last time I wrote one (I'm talking about personal letters here), was to my girlfriend, a love letter which I never posted and after a few day read to her while talking in cell phone! Sounds funny? Huh ??

That's what is called modern age. That's what is called living in time, a time that's different.

Memories

That's all we have with us. That's all remains in our heart. "Feelings change, but memories remain" - that's what was written in our hostel t-shirt back in 2007. Life is nothing but a collection of tangled memories of tears and smiles, of joy and sorrow, woven in the thread of times gone by.

And when we are lonely they come back making us dreamy and drawing a smileys of various emotion on our face, that could only be noticed when you look closely with affection and love into someone's face. You might discover the toughest of the lot living for a moment in the tender days of his life. A tiny smile and a spark in his eyes. Or the happiest amongst you suddenly concealing a tear and drying it up in her eyes faster then the camera shutters for which she is posing. You may suddenly find out the tranquility in the eyes of a wise man gone for a moment when he remembers his days gone by. Or find a notion of innocence in a corrupt politician's face when he is lost in his childhood.

We store all the memories in our brain, in the tangle of neurons. But sometimes if you sit back and relax you would know that it is the happier one's that we like keep and remember often than the sorrowful ones. When we think of someone gone, we never think of how he was gone but of how he was when we were together and happy.

Now it's time. Time for me to go back 20 years in the past. In the house that's now no longer the same and you have no right to enter. A house that I hated because it was not beautiful and well planned like the houses of the rich. A house that I love now, because it's the most beautiful house ever, because it's home.

joie de vivre

At last I've finished reading the book about Van Gogh. Although I've gone through 200 of his paintings and drawings while reading the book, I still believe to understand Van Gogh fully I'd need to go through all 2000 in chronological order. That's about understanding him like a art critic. But I'm no art critic. I'd like to be a painter one day. For now I'm just amazed at passion of a great artist. In fact what he put in 10 years of his life (I say rather the last 2-3 years), none have done that in their entire life time. Even if he lived short, but he lived justified. And also it shook my firm belief that painting cannot be learned. Either you have it or don't. But now I believe that you have it always, it only needs to be nurtured and brought out. A man who barely gets the perspective right slogs for 7 years to bring out some of the greatest paintings in the history of modern men. No it's a tale that every aspiring artist should read. Not only painting but all forms of art - spun out of passion and woven with emotion. How I'm losing my words to describe what I feel right now.

May be I'll stop here and continue my daily life as it is. Meanwhile I'll gather my wits.

Lust for Life

I was going through Q&A sections in Yahoo, when I noticed a question on Van Gogh's sunflowers. Somebody had answered they were famous because they are full of life. I suddenly had an urge to go through Van Gogh's paintings. I was trying to suck in the work of a Genius. They are beautiful and he must have so much within him to produce such vibrant works.


Later one day I somehow reached and wikipedia article having a list of the most expensive paintings ever. The majority of the list comprised of Picaso and Van Gogh. There was a comment in it - "Vincent van Gogh and Pablo Picasso are by far the best represented artists in the list. Whereas Picasso became a wealthy man, Van Gogh (supposedly) sold only one painting in his lifetime, The Red Vineyard, for 400 Francs (about $1600) to the impressionist painter and heiress Anna Boch." I thought why?

One of paintings from Sunflowers series by Van Gogh

I got the question the very next day. I was in office and discussing greater philosophies of life with one of my senior colleague. He suddenly said, "Read a book called 'Lust for Life'". He spelled out the name for me. I instantly did a Google search and found out this book was a biographical novel on the life of Vincent Van Gogh. What a coincidence! There was a movie too. But somehow I thought of reading the book first. I downloaded the pdf from a site. But before I read it I started reading his short biography from wikipedia. It was touching how an artist becomes what he is and dies because he could not become more of him. Think of genius dying in despair that his vision exceeds his ability to execute!

I'm just 10 pages into the book and will return to blog only after I finish reading.

A bus full of Engineers

I told you before that my daily journey to and from office is an adventure. Today I had a new one worth mentioning. The buses get very crowded during my journey back home. So it's a tough job boarding one and then keeping to one's feet for the entire journey. If you are lucky and powerful enough you might get a sit, though. Mostly I'm a lucky guy in this matter :D.

As usual I boarded a CTC (Calcutta Transport Corp) bus today. They are my choice because even they don't look nice and sound even terrible, they are faster and cheaper. But the evening had a surprise in store for me. After a couple miles there is a vast empty space where no vehicle stops. And our bus suddenly got stuck there. When people started shouting at the conductor, it was revealed that the accelerator of the bus was disconnected. So some people started getting down and trying stop something or anything that moves. Some, specially those who had cut the tickets already, were siting/standing with a confused look on their faces.

Meanwhile, there were quite a few IT engineers in the bus (I think almost 50% of the crowd). They started cooperating with the driver to fix the engine. And a very raw fix came up with a piece of rope, a cardboard and a few newspaper scraps. The accelerator pedal was attached to the engine. And to everyone's surprise the bus started moving! Of-course there was a price to pay. The engine was lying open and heating up the already hot environment. We traveled a bit slow but reached the destination safe.

Well, this happens only in India!

World's Financial Crisis

All the people in the world are suddenly becoming wealthier. Every country is getting developed and there is huge GDP growth everywhere. That's what the media tells us. That's what our politicians tell us. That's what everyone says to another! But we all know the basic truth, that, wealth is relative in nature. That's to say like you got a ton of gold and you are marooned on island; your gold doesn't even worth a cent. But with one glass of water in the middle of Sahara, surrounded by some thirsty people, you have a mighty chance of becoming a millionaire! I'm telling the truth guys, there was someone who sold a glass of water for one million dollar (in present money) worth gold bars. Sadly he didn't live to enjoy his wealth, but his wife and children did.

So keeping that in mind and looking into economics we also may deduce that if someone is getting richer by making a profit, then someone will get poorer by making loses. And if everyone is making a profit, then the economy is no more sustainable. It's in fact a time bomb, set to go off anytime someone in the circle drops off.

Here is a video I found that I'd share with you explaining how it happens. This has actually happened in the
USA, and since they influence much of world's economy, so many other economy has also become a time bomb!

 

Why God's Debris ?

Back in 2008 I read a novella by Scott Adams, the creator of famous Dilbert. Well I love Dilbert, though I never read Dilbert before 2009. And the first thing I read about Dilbert was the "Dilbert and the way of weasel". It was a fantastic read and helped me a lot progressing through my work environment. I don't recommend that book to anyone who doesn't have a very subtle sense of humor, though. Anyway let's get back to the question I began with, "Why God's Debris?"

In 2008 one of my friends gave me an e-book named "God's Debris". I didn't know the author then, or what the book was all about. I printed the book (utilizing the free unlimited print service given by my office) and started reading it. As I started it, I found it boring and stopped after 2 pages. Then again the training sessions were far more boring so started reading that book once more. This I somehow crossed 10 pages and WOW! It suddenly got interesting. And when I finished it, I suddenly had a feeling rooted deep in me. This feeling might never go from me.

I had read many religious texts and scriptures, books on various philosophies; of which only one left a lasting impression in me - The Geeta. And reading God's Debris supplemented it in a different way, like a modern interpretation by a village old man, of the age old thoughts in men, that, God is Universe and Universe is God.

Thus a journey began. I started to rummage through this debris, the universe, beginning with the Earth. In order to find something, something that we all seek through our lives.

Haldiram under water !

It's been five days and yet Haldiram is under water. In fact for those who don't understand, Haldiram is a name of a place (a junction of two highways in North-East Kolkata, near the Airport). The water is mostly knee deep and in some places waist deep. Here is a video report for the same.

Surprisingly the main cause of water logging here seems to be lack of any drains (!?!)

A poem

নিঝুম শান্ত রাত নয়;

এমনি এক সাধারণ ব্যস্ততার সন্ধ্যায়

নীরব আকুতি জেগে ওঠে দু'টি প্রাণে |

এমনি এক অস্থির মাতাল সময়

দু'টি প্রাণ এক হয়ে মিশে যেতে চায় |

এমনি শীতের কোন ভোরে

একটু উষ্ণতার জন্য

হতে হাত রাখে |

অথবা কুয়াশাচ্ছন্ন ঝড়ো হাওয়া বওয়া

কোন স্বচ্ছ পূর্নিমার রাতে -

থরে থরে জোছনা যখন

আলোকিত করে রাত জাগা পাখিদের ডানা,

আশায় আশায় বসে থাকে দু'টি প্রেমিক হৃদয়,

"কখন তোমার আসবে টেলিফোন?"

wrote this poem when I was posted in Bangalore. I used to wait for a call every night :P

Flooded Kolkata Streets

It rained and rained from yesterday. It rained again in the morning. It rained through afternoon and finally stopped in the evening. I thought it would be nice to go out and have a pleasant evening walk since the rain has cooled down the late summer heat of Kolkata. But it was a mistake!

Those who live in this city or know it's news, they are well aware that the City of Joy, turns into Venice of the East during the heavy showers of the monsoon.Well here is a video that I captured in my cellphone when I went out in the evening. I managed it since the water level was quite low at these places! In the deeper level, I could hardly manage myself!



It's pouring down still as I upload this video. Unfortunately I live in the ground floor :( That's a big worry for me if it rains and rains, water will flood my rooms !! :p
Only God can save me now. Amen.

The Cinnamon tree

দারুচিনি কথাটার মধ্যে যে কত রহস্য আর সৌন্দর্য লুকিয়ে আছে সেটা প্রথম বুঝতে পেরেছিলাম ১১ বছর বয়েসে |
দারুচিনি দ্বীপ, দারুচিনি দ্বীপের মেয়ে, তার গায়ে দারুচিনি গন্ধ !

(The word 'Cinnamon' hides a lot of mystery and beauty in it, which I first found out at 11. Cinnamon island, a girl from cinnamon island, her body smelt like cinnamon )

When I was a kid I often would go to our ancestral home in a village around 6 miles from our small town. There in the yard of one of our neighbors' house, was a tree. A cinnamon tree to be precise. A tree vastly different from others, in which we took a deep interest was the fact that we could just scalp her barks to eat, literally. It was fun back then.

When life got busy, I forgot all about that tree. Then one dreamy afternoon, after a decade, I visited that house only to find an empty yard. The tree was at the center, with she gone, The mystic beauty of that house was also gone. And I realized that my childhood was also gone, long long ago.


Still in my dreams, in a dreamy late autumn afternoon, when the sun rays are pale and golden, I see that tree - standing lonely in the middle of a big yard. Her leaves are fluttering in the mild evening breeze. Children playing around her.Shouting, laughing, jumping with joy abound. A little boy suddenly stops and touches the tree, only to find she is gone!