Citizen like us...

Travelling is something which would turn me on all the time and of course, a few exceptional things have ruined my mood also.  Here is an incident...

It was about 7.00 in the morning; I boarded my bus early that day keeping our city's traffic during peak hours so and could be on time for my meeting. It was a pleasant morning the bus which I took was not very crowded and happy with comfortable seating. I started my usual routine to observe the shops, people and what not! The bus stopped at a bus stand and commuters were busy getting in the bus. The seat beside me now was occupied by a lady of mid-forties. She was munching something and fished out into her bag for money to get her tickets. And finally, she got her tickets managing her munchies on one hand. I smirked and turned to the window.

Indulged in my own thoughts, suddenly the woman beside me called to take my hands off the windows and the next moment I got totally freaked out by what she did. She just threw her waste outside the road. Ridiculous! She was grinning and her eyes were beaming as if she had accomplished something big. It's her next turn, now this is a banana peel. She was so courteous and asked me to throw it away outside on the road (I still don't know why she asked me to do it). I flatly told her NO; and asked to keep it till she got down. Her face changed and here goes the weasel, she threw it outside all by herself just to make me angry. WOW. Of course, I was red and I wanted to slap her. All I did was stare and keep my mouth shut to control my outburst and not to spoil my mood the whole day.

This incident is always pricking me. I was outrageous and ashamed of me and also my fellow humans. I am coming across a similar situation almost every day. I have gone to this extreme once I asked this girl not to throw her empty cool drink bottle on the road, she was adamant saying it was her right and she could not keep it in her bag and so on. I tried a lot to convince her but she persisted. Finally, I took the bottle from her and I dropped it in my bag. The comical part is that she did not want me to have it in my bag also. All she wanted to throw away somewhere right down on the road. Finally, I managed a grim face and said no to her. I did not care about what she felt. I was partly happy about what I did. She is a young girl who should be in her school. But she is not ready to do a small thing which is of course her responsibility.

And THIS thing, not just restricted with eateries, even a small piece of chocolate covers, old tickets, chips packets, papers etc. We throw it anywhere, everywhere. Most annoying part is, I have observed few of our fellow citizens, pretend like you have thrown your stuff involuntarily on the roads, autos, buses any empty place under the sun but certainly not on the dustbins!! Whoa!

This is something which worries me all the time. I could observe this habit irrespective of age and education. I do not understand it at all!!  We do not just bother who is on the road and what is happening around us. All we want is, to dispose your waste then and there. And there are few good citizens here, who are not willing to use a dustbin, but ready to give us big lecture about what a government should do and all that.

To put it this way, this scene is something which every one of us go through every day. How many of us really care about it? We are ready to protest against many crimes and other sensitive issues. But why we just fail to do our own responsibility?  Yes, Government has to take actions and emanate few steps to curtail such behaviours to keep our city clean. But at the same time, it is our moral duty too.

Well, You'd ask me what a passengers could do all about it? A simple step could make a big difference. It costs nothing!

• Do not throw away your waste outside in public places.
• Please try to use the dustbins
• If you cannot spot any, try to carry it on your bag or separate cover and you can throw it away once you come to the dustbin.
• Please do not eat or drink inside the bus or train unless you have a necessity
• If you’re travelling long distances, try to have a trash bag, where u can collect all waste and keep it separately and when you get down, you can of course find a dustbin and trash it.

ALL YOU NEED IS BIT PATIENCE AND RESPONSIBILITY WITHIN.   

With this, I'd like to request all who are reading my post or anyone hearing by word of mouth. I request only one thing, please SPREAD THIS MESSAGE TO ALL. HELP YOURSELF TO KEEP OUR CITY CLEAN

P.S. My friend Deepak, suggested an idea - that a dustbin can be installed inside a bus or train. It is a very good idea indeed, but we should also keep in mind, that you still have "unused public dustbins" and few good citizens who are only willing to resort to our old method of "throwing out anywhere". Good to impart such facilities, but it is also in the hands of the public to change their attitude.

My Independence Day pledge this time, I will stick to all I have mentioned (as I am doing already) I'll spread the message and continue to do my service of collecting such items from noble citizens too! ;)

Jai Hind!! 

APPEARANCES ARE DECEPTIVE

The sun was high in the sky when I reached the bus stop.  The sun's rage couldn't intimidate the people who were waiting for the bus. I joined the pool as well to spend my next 15 to 20 minutes there.  Here comes my bus -- a direct bus to where I stay; sorry, sorry only direct to my place!! With a sigh of relief, I boarded the bus though it was overcrowded as usual. I swam through the pool of people and finally located a place where I can stay comfortably for next 40-50 minutes of my travel. 

The time for fun had started for me. I always enjoy gazing the activities, the bus brawl, and chitty chat of the lovers (though I can't hear it) etc.  If you want to gain worldly knowledge on bad words, I'd suggest bus travel is the best option for you!! :P .  I killed sometime gazing these people; well, I dedicated my next part of travel for seat-hunting!! So, I started scrutinizing the nearby seat where I was standing.

I saw two women were sitting in the nearby seat and to talking to each other. I looked at them; they both looked thin, dark and their hair was not properly groomed with oil. They wore a dirty-colored sari, which wasn't draped properly around their body. That helped to see the patched works which has been done already. I detested the sight of seeing them for a minute. Then I felt sorry for what I thought.

 One of the two women was talking little loudly and attracted the attention. I tried to concentrate on her talk but I couldn't understand a word, though she was speaking a well-known language.  Plus, people of this kind never answer properly and kindly. So, I ignored my idea of asking them where they going to get down.

Again I hunted for the empty places, the next-stop getting down passengers, male sitting in the female seats etc. for a while. But my hunt was a failure!!

 I was totally exhausted. I was desperate to breathe in some good air through the small gaps but it was no use. I had gone pale without air. I, finally, hit the floor unconscious.

After sometime,

I heard a bleak and thin voice of woman talking to someone. She was asking something to someone. I was not the position to listen or to take a glimpse at the lady. All I, understood was that she was telling someone to sit and drink some water.

It was strange that almost every eye in the bus were staring at me. I was sort of felt discomfort. But, I was offered a seat to sit and relax; a lady was assisting me to drink water handing it over to me.  It all looked weird for a second.

She asked me, "How are you feeling now?"

I nodded. She offered me to sit near window. I accepted it gratefully without speaking a word to her.

It took me some time to come back to my steady state of memory. I saw, the crowd was considerably lessened and eyes watching me were no more looked at me. I breathed fresh air which plunged into my lungs. I was relieved.

I noticed the woman who offered her seat and water to me sitting next to me and smiling gracefully; I smiled back gratefully.  It was the same woman, whom I loathed at the sight.

She asked, "Where are you going to get down?" I answered her question.

WAIT A MINUTE!!

She talked to me. How come I suddenly understood her language? She was no more talking in the unrecognized slang.

Was she talking with me in English all the while?? Or was I dreaming??!

I realized whatever happened in the bus wasn't a dream because I could see her sitting beside me with her poise look and untidy clothes. What is an odd thing!! Yes, she is talking with me in English. I was totally appalled.  I couldn't believe the fact that someone whose looks are dirty and who couldn't speak a local language properly was talking to me in English fluently with no flaws. Above all, I disgusted her few minutes ago. But now I started wondering and giving respect to her!!!

 After that I didn't get much time to talk with her, she got down some four to five stopping before my destination.

That is, when I realized the saying, "You can't judge a book by its cover!!" How true it is!! 

WHO IS BLIND??!!

 

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      Since it was a long weekend, I was so lazy to get up and to get ready for my college. Apparently, I have no other go other than getting ready, because I had important classes and works to be done in the campus. As usual, I have finished my works and started up for my college very late.

     It is a well aware fact about Chennai, how punctual are our MTC buses and how good is our traffic. Since, I was late; I got an auto from my bus stop since I stay about 3 kms. away from the main bus stop where I will get my bus frequently.  So, I managed to get an auto between the huge crowd, cursing myself for being late and spending 10 rs. in the place of 3rs.  Once again, it is a herculean task to get my concern bus from the bus stop amidst of the huge crowd of people waiting for the same bus to arrive.  It wasn’t a new thing for me, to see such a big crowd standing in that stop and to wait for the bus. I’ve always find it’s fascinating to observe people around me. Day by day, we see new people coming in and taking the bus and also the old people like me who are accustomed to the bus stop.  Although, we don’t know each other well but a smiling at them as a note of recognition makes a big difference.

      Amidst the tension, I didn’t fail to observe the people around me.  Looking at the familiar faces and nodding and inspecting the new faces, I stood there like a person who seeks some mystical truth of life. People were too busy with their handy –the innovation of the 21^st Century!! A visible pavement to the “torture”!!  I was wondering, how these people could talk for hours in the mobile. I was standing there for more than 20 minutes, a woman standing beside was there talking in her mobile since I have come, wondering to whom she is talking so seriously and so curious when she would put down her phone. Because, as far, all I could see was the strangest expressions on her face. I was utterly irritated and lost patience.  And almost I spent my 30minutes standing there, observing the ridiculous and weird expressions and faces of the people around me.

At the verge of my frustration, finally, my bus was arrived. But this time, I was wondering about different thing, yes!  How am I going to get inside the bus??!! Thinking, I wish I’d be a Jumper, and I managed to get in to the bus. Among the pool of men, I swimmed and reach so-called “ladies side” in the bus.  The conductor was yelling at the people to get inside and to get the tickets in his very famous “Madras Language”. I passed on my money and bought the mangled, crumbled ticket for my destination. The bus was very crammy to stand; I was cursing myself for being late once again and miffing me for skipping a class and swearing that I’d never be late from tomorrow. (Though, I know that is never going to happen: P) at the same time, I was elated that somehow I reach my college in another 20 minutes time. The bus stopped at the next stop, where 1/3^rd of people gushed out of the bus, I was happy to see the picture but next moment more than 1/3^rd of people got in and filled the bus in a moment.  Woof!!

       As I was standing, noticing the people getting in and out, I saw a man helped a visually-challenged guy to get in to my bus.  I couldn’t control my smile at the man who helped the guy, thinking there are few good people lives in the country middle of this corrupted, fake politicians and people.  The guy was so young, pitying for his disability and thanking god for creating me as a full human, I saw the guy struggling to get to the middle of the bus. The bus was too crowded, no space to move an inch too. The guy was very much struggling to reach the inside, the moment I saw this scene, the honour I had for the guy who helped him to board the bus has vaporized. I started to curse the man who helped him to land up in this worst situation.  Between, the crowded pushed him inside in the name of helping. The guy managed himself and got a position to stand amongst the crowd. Yet another awful hour was waiting for me to spend—the peak hour traffic!!  The drivers must undergo special training to drive in the Chennai traffic!!  The bus was literally crawling between the pools of other vehicles. Inside the bus everyone was growing restless, passengers started to hush, curse, and scold the authorities and the traffic. Some of the brilliant minds started giving suggestion for the conductor and the Transportation Authority to run more buses and how to control the traffic and so on.  Looking at the funny talks and weird ideas I smiled myself, thinking, “this why India is still a developing country”!!

     In this due moment, I heard a hiss and strange noise. I turned up and looked at the direction of the sound; it was a girl of my same age who was standing behind—almost in a jagged manner where I can see her easily. I noticed her face, which showed multiple reactions and expression in single moment, next instant I found out the reason for her craziest expression. Yes, it was the “blind guy”, because of frequent brakes, the guy happened to hit the girl many times.  That’s the reason for the twist on her face.  I got irritated with the girl’s reactions, standing helpless to react for her reactions. If that guy knows, if he is standing close to a girl he wouldn’t have hit her or if he had eyes, he wouldn’t have subjected to this unwanted and awkward hisses and hushes. As a moment’s solution, I told the girl to stand in my place so that I can tolerate with the guy.  I was totally annoyed and felt very bad for the guy, at the same time I was in the peak of anger with everyone on the bus including myself.  Almost all in the bus who saw him while getting in knew that he is blind, but none cared to offer him seat to sit; none cared even to treat him well though they are good with all features.  I was angry on me, because of my disability that I couldn’t help the guy who is standing beside me innocently without knowing what is happening around him.  He had a constant smile on his face, the people around him treats and thinks him as an annoying object. But the guy, who cannot see the expression of the people who hates him and shows face on him, whatever they do; in return he is giving a smile as a gift.  That moment I started adoring his disability and it gave me strength, zest and a confidence. If I was sitting, I would have offered him to sit; neither I can ask anyone to offer seat for him.  I was very sad and scolding my incapability, suddenly a voice told him to sit in the chair. Finally, there is a good heart alive, I was happy that he got the seat but I couldn’t see the person who offered the seat to him.  Then this person emerged from the crowd majestically, a man about 80 years old!!  When I saw him it was like someone slapped me on my face. An old man, irrespective of his fragility he offered seat, but we??  Who are we??? Humans?? Yes, Humans with Heartless, Merciless, Pitiless and Disgraceful souls!! I was ashamed of myself that I couldn’t help the guy. But I could thank the elderly person for his greatness. I said thanks to him, he just said, “idhula enna ma irrukku? (A way of modest reply in Tamil) and he gave me a graceful smile. I was regretting for my incapability but his graceful smile and modest reply melted my repentance and gave me a peace for saying him thanks. 

       Oh my God! I totally forgot my tension in this mess. Finally, the traffic was cleared up and I reached my college.  I was late again for the next class as well. I missed my second hour class and lost my attendance. But, this didn’t bother me much for the rest of my day, since my mind was pondering over the incident which happened few hours ago!!

P.S. This incident happened some one month ago. But, I just got right moment to share this with u all!! J

What to say . . .

JAI HIND!!

Well, I think of some topic to write on my blog, but for past few weeks I have not succeeded in my efforts.  But, today, being the India’s Independence Day, I determine to write this post and like to dedicate this post on this occasion.

It is a routine basis in Tamil Nadu (I guess throughout India), all mobile networks use to charge for Short Message Service (SMS) Re.1/- on special occasions like F-Day, V-Day, etc. Being an intense ‘message-user’ (:-P), I was very much worried about not messaging for a day!  But surprisingly, my network people didn’t cut charge for message. Though I was happy for my cost free SMS, was wondering why they aren’t charging for the Independence Day.  I, seriously have no clue, why these guys are taking up money for silly V-day or F-day (in my view) or some damn so-called-so-many days. But, why not for Independence Day?? Is that because people wouldn’t wish each other on Independence Day or just because the Independence Day is just considered as “Yet another day” in the year or because they are letting us “independent” on this day??!!  Incredible and undecipherable!! :-P

As I reminiscent my school days, I remember going to school during Independence Day and Republic Day. That was a wonderful day, wearing White and White uniform, walking in parade and hoisting flag and saluting the flag as we sang the National Anthem and the Flag Anthem. I am, still able to recall those moments, though we did all for that 50 paisa chocolate, they used to give us after the Celebration.  But, I swear we didn’t lack in our patriotism. Sweet Memories!! J As a matter of fact, now-a-days, even schools and colleges are not much interested in celebrating a national day. After all; they gain a day more holidays among their busy schedules. :-D

I am no exception; I’m also a part of a famous social networking website. I’m accustomed to check my notification every day.  Just to spread my word of Independence Day wishes, I logged in today but I was taken aback of the “statuses and uploaded photos” on my wall.  Out of 50, only 20 people (Arbitrary numbers) have updated status of the day, wishing our day of Independence. Rest of them; seem not bothered about it at all. I just left note spreading my wishes. But, I started to mull over about this weirdness.  I have seen so many photos and tags updated for friendship day and other stuffs, sharing their happiness and gay. But why not even a word about our independence? Is that because, they find it is futile to wish each other on this day or just they have considered it as “yet another day”? Or sharing their personal happiness and showing off before is more important? Whatever!! :-O

Another thing, which was constantly pricking my mind, was today’s TV programs.  Interestingly, all channels are ready to give some entertainment programs for people on Independence Day but why not something or anything informative about our India at least in between those programs. To be frank, I have watched those entertainments too. :-P At the same time, I regret for these growing up addictive mechanism in our State. L Shameless we are!!

 I’ve mentioned only a small scale regrets and repentance here up to my level and knowledge. But, I’ve just let my thoughts to pour down spontaneously today as Independence Day special!!! :D J

Finally, before signing off, let me wish my Independence Day Wishes to all! J

SAMACHEER KALVI – A BREAKING DAWN ?

               “When your competitor is specially welcomed by everyone, at the same time you’re not!”  Or “Your friend gets extra marks in a subject, just because he/she is teacher’s pet”. Well, How many of us can tolerate such situation. I believe most of us CAN'T.

In such case, how can we possibly bear the biased education stuffed on us??

                Samacheer kalvi is a breaking dawn to the society. I felt a ray of hope surges throughout me, when it was introduced. A Dream for Equality!

                Having known, the syllabus drafted, this is the only thought that came to my mind, “what about the quality of the education?”  If the Samacheer Kalvi is set up to give the uniform education to students, then it should have considered the syllabus from student’s point of view.   As I go through further, I am able to see only the cons of the system.

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                 Excellence decides the quality of education.   If the system is brought in here to favor the students, then shouldn't the system be upgraded to standard level on par with other boards nation-wide? Certainly, the system helps a student in scoring marks, which happens by mere reciting and vomiting the syllabus in the exams.  When I think about our students’ holistic future in nation-wide it’s a big question mark.

                I don’t see a platform where they can learn new languages at school level.  It prioritizes the language at school level.  It is no harm in learning mother tongue, but equal priority should be given to other languages.

                Implementing the Samacheer Kalvi in all schools at earlier stage is very thoughtful decision by Government. Will this education system serve its purpose without a proper training among teachers?

                If this system is brought in just to merge all six boards of TN or as a political funda, apparently it will serve its job.

WONDERFUL DAYS…

           When I joined the college, I believed that it is going to be yet another page in my life book.  But, it is true, life is beautiful, because it always surprises us by making impossible things possible.  I’m always skeptical about being in good relationship, whatever it is. However, this experience was different. I can’t believe that I really enjoyed my college days, though, I had series of bitter experiences. Now, I’m happy that I have gained some good people around me.

            I know, those days are never going to come back.  But when I think about the days we spent together, it gives me mixed feelings.  How can I forget the first day of my college, sitting in the laboratory as a complete stranger, when those guys (now, my friends) gave me a reluctant smile and then came to me, asked for my introduction… The moments we shared our happiness and sorrows together, the silly fights… misunderstandings… bitter incidents… (oops‼ Lost in thoughts, sorry‼) However, I wish, I’d have a “pensive” to treasure those memories‼

            Now, we are here, bidding farewell and marching towards our future in different directions, to the join a new journey waiting for us, beyond this friendship.  I wish our friendship should survive long through the ages.  I really have to thank you people, being a part of my wonderful life book‼!

“I wish you good luck, on your brand-new-journey,

                                           Waiting for your august arrival;

                                         And A whole new world lies ahead,                                           

                                             To be just discovered by you‼ “

STRIKE THE IRON…

Finally, this is the time to give rest to our text books and our weary minds after long tiresome academics. Yes, the summer has come and it is the time for our holidays‼ However, the entire holidays would end up just like a movie‼ When we retrospect, after two months, all we could see _ the days we slept till noon or the time we spent with TV just switching channel over channel or just freaking around with some friends‼
We will start regret about it, once, our colleges or schools reopen again. The entire holidays are not just to move around aimlessly. It’s time for us, to mend ourselves from mere curriculum of studies. We could spend our holidays worthwhile. Holidays are not just for enjoying, but also for learning with sense of pleasure. There are number of ways to spend our holidays valuable. There are huge number of clubs, colleges, schools etc., are organizing events like workshops, camps, crash courses, arts and handicrafts, internships etc. We could join those events, such that we can learn something new and interesting. It will help us in numerous ways.
Every minute brings us pleasure. It moulds us every good way to face this world and future, which lies ahead of us. It is not just a time pass; rather it gives us exposure and experience. It helps to boast up our confidence. Therefore, “Strike the iron, while it’s hot”‼