Amazing things are happening in my country.
The Mumbai Indians – the newest oxymoron
On one side is the war between the Shiv Sena and ______ (fill out a name here). More like a territorial battle to decide which pack keeps the prey. Whether it should be Bombay or Mumbai is a matter of much concern and debate. And only the indigenous people get to stay. Really gels with my other post on The Fairness Fixation. Wow. Silly us. First we make the right to move around and find occupation in any part of India one of several fundamental rights. Then we decide to have a turnstile system which only allows people with a limited number of surnames to pass through the gates of India’s commercial capital. No one even cares about how this influx of people was, at one point in time, the reason behind this state’s economic fate. The Tatas, Ambanis, and so many others should have been also been denied entry long ago by this logic. At least Gujarat (which is already such a developed state) would have been so much better, and Bihar/Jharkhand would have been the places to work in and bring up a family. No, now Maharashtra is only for the Marathi manoos. Sorry rich guys, dreamers, singers, actors, industry fore-runners, businessmen, businesswomen. Run along now.
Just so you know – there’s a huge inflation in food prices. But I am making my blog a reflection of what gets media attention in India (you know – the more important things…. who cares about food prices?) . So I will not talk about this either.
While this charade goes on and the politicians slam each other in rhetoric mockery, lets see what else is happening.
The Raper struck with the Rapier
A high profile policeman and other high fliers in trouble for raping a girl a decade back. The girl also committed suicide a while after this heinous incident. The media pulls up the story, re-opens the file. This is national news. Some people don’t like the media’s attitude in this, but in my opinion, they are making an example out of the SPS. Sometimes, things do turn ugly, but hopefully for the betterment of society. And who could forget the SPS shamelessly smiling for the cameras when all this started. He thought that being a decorated civil servant was some kind of an armour and a license to act out his whims.
And now the SPS was slashed thrice with a knife by a design student. Fresh off the press. As my friend Bhavya says, “Why so serious now Mr. Rathore a’ la Joker?”
Let’s play some ball. What? Guns? Hey – that’s not the shooting we do around here!
Fantastic way to kill sportsmanship. Whip out guns and force teams to forfeit the match so that your own team wins the Basketball tournament – the All India Basketball tournament. Smooth.
Nothing has been proven so far, but even if this had happened, I wouldn’t be too surprised. It is tragic that mixing two perfectly sane sports – shooting and basketball – has to happen in such a context. Besides, apparently, in Varanasi, these things are counted as “chalta hai”. How pathetic. Actually, how apathetic. Oh I made a joke! Very punny!
Quoting from the Times of India:
“It was total goondaraaj at BHU and it was being organized and encouraged by BHU officials themselves. There were two local teams from Varanasi and the officials wanted both to advance to the final. They threatened and manipulated every team that they played against,” alleged Delhi University team manager and SAI coach Ajay Kumar Singh.
For a more expert opinion, read my friend, Karan Madhok’s blog.
Oh this has been a fun few minutes.
It’s Worth More Than You Think
No, this is not one of the posts about how we have a new decade coming upon us. Nor do I have any intention to participate in the crazy posting that happens at the turn of every decade. Or every century, or the last millennium. But then all that dies out in a while when people are done at looking at articles like “The Year That Was”, “Top Hits & Misses of 2009″, “What to look out for in the new year”, “Feng Shui for the New Decade”, etc. Then the phase of new year resolutions passes over. And then we all realise, it really isn’t much different now is it.
But, this decade is different. Before you think this paragraph is diving into the undesirable depths of cliches, let me declare that I will not talk about who will rule the world, how the oil market will fare, whether the Carbon emission targets be met, will more was/epidemic break out, who will be the newest talents on the sports fields and in the movies, and definitely not about what one should / shouldn’t do in the coming space of time.
Yet this decade IS different. For all the people in my peer circle – my friends, my batch of colleagues, some juniors, some seniors, my batch-mates from high-school – a lot of people. And in the most non-trite kind of ways. We are in the decade which takes us from our 20’s to our 30’s – the decade that I’m sure each and overyone of us will remember the most in our lives, for reasons that make life worthwhile. Some of the best stories that we pass on to our next generation will take seed in this decade. Some of the greatest people we will meet in our lives will be somewhere down this decade. This is the first decade we get to live as adults, with responsibilities – the ones that keep growing. And our shoulders will keep getting stronger as we cross rites of passage for various floodgates that are thrown open to us.
There are a lot of things so special about the next 10 years that the possibilities send a chill of thrill down my spine (risking a very old cliche here).
Education
This is one sure thing – all of my peers will do their Masters/ MBA’s/ Ph.D’s sometime during this decade. Who will specialize in what still remains uncertain as so many new fields come up, and so many hit and trial attempts to chance upon something that one likes don’t allow anyone to totally make up their mind yet. The bankers might take up the political sciences, the marketers might wanna choose finance… anything is possible.
Careers
All our careers have already begun. For some of our juniors, they will begin midway through this year. But the shape it will take in the next ten years? Who knows? Many will start their own ventures, many will become high ranking officers in Governments and big/small companies. Some of the smart/lucky ones will make their first million (USD). Some will have ups sand downs, but more or less everyone is going to settle down into something that he/she loves or is quite comfortable with. My best wishes to those who don’t.
Relationships
Aha! This will be a fun-filled decade for more than 95% of us. Some flings, some relationships (both sweet and sour, or hot and sour, or any such flavours of Indian-Chinese soups). In fact, half way into this decade, many people will even discuss cliches like who will be the first one to get married, therefore labelling him with another cliche: “Dead Man Walking!”. But then, it seems that many will find the right guy/girl they wanna settle down with. While that may be the beginning of the end of their lives, the wedding celebrations, I’m sure will be legendary, when people come from all over the world to see their friend(s) getting married, to take part in bachelor(ette) parties, cocktails, and various other paraphernalia. And no matter who gets married first, there will ALWAYS be someone who comments – “I always knew he/she would be the first of us to get married and destroyed.” Some other free-ranging horses out there might even hit on people of the opposite sex at the weddings (full on Heyy Babyy style). But I’m sure there will very few of those. The parties will be insane with countless tales being recounted, mostly to embarrass the friend and remind him/her of their hopeless past. Mostly the girls will got to the husbands-to-be and tell them how lucky they are to be married to their friends, and the guys will go to the wives-to-be to… I don’t know, see how cool she is -will she grab a beer, does she like Govinda, (put your own coolness-test question here) and such.
I daresay some people will even have kids. And all the uncles and aunties would be expected to get chocolates and gifts for them. Some uncles and aunties will become the favourites, and some will be disliked for their loud guffaws or scary mustaches. Well…. while many people are actually looking forward to those days, I think many more (myself included) are not.
I sincerely hope nobody gets divorced during this while though. It would be funny in a very sick way if the cause of the divorce was adultery with someone whom everybody else also knows.
Parties
The nights of drunken debauchery, which is currently at its peak, and will remain so till we are through with grad school. But then, I am given to think that this will start phasing out as people become more responsible and , I hate to say, older. I do hope however, that when old friends meet (Khoob jamega rang jab milkar baithenge aap main aur Bagpiper style), they will in no time resort to the shamelessness shown circa 10 years ago. Ah, I can just imagine the looks of shocked belief (and sometimes severe disapproval) on the faces of their spouses or significant others.
My 2 Paise’s Worth:
Well, its these and many other reasons that make 2010-2019 some of the most precious and memorable years in all our lives – which we will remember for the fun and mirth, the idea of being in our 20’s, increasing responsibilities, and many new people in our lives – not just those whom we marry or the kids, but newer people from all walks of life, who are, like us, walking towards the unknown somewhere else on Earth, or maybe somewhere very close to you. You will have your own car(s), bought from your money, and your own house. A lot of things of your own, and a lot of stories to share.
What will change things is how we will react and change when we meet these people at the new places, under new circumstances. Some people will change towards the better, and some won’t. But then, they would be living the version of “better” that they are more comfortable with. The story of the past has already been printed. The future is still in the press.
And having said that, let me just wish everyone the very best in everything thats gonna come at them at a speed they never imagined. May the wind always be at your back and the sun upon your face. And may the wings of destiny carry you aloft to dance with the stars. Live and stay healthy, wealthy and wise. May the party never end.
Cheers!
Here’s wishing everyone a very Happy and Prosperous New Year. May the wind always be at your back and the sun upon your face. And may the wings of destiny carry you aloft to dance with the stars.Keep your lungs and livers healthy, and may the party never end. Cheers!
