Accident

Happened two days ago. Trying to avoid a "bump" on the road, I moved towards the left end of the road. Bumps and craters on the roads mean we are not too far away from the moon. Atleast, we Indians can claim to have put a billion people on the moon! Anyways, back to the accident. A poor chap - riding a cycle - happened to be driving near the left edge too. Cycle-riders tend to turn suddenly and sharply, especially because they ride at low speeds, and cycles are light things. So, this guy suddenly moved right. The cycle's brake-handle and my raincoat decided to say hello to each other with a tight hand-shake. The poor chap, and his cycle, just lost balance and fell! I stopped some 10 feet ahead, parked my bike, and rushed to this guy, who had already recovered and was getting ready to ride again. I said "I'm very sorry ...," but he didn't even care to look at me! His face has some sort of angry expression, but with a large amount of sadness and helplessness. How could he let go!!? I am still haunted by his face ...

2005 Maharashtra floods - Wikipedia

The floods! They have an entry on Wikipedia!
2005 Maharashtra floods
Boy! Read it and re-kindle your anger, if you happen to be a Mumbai-ite, or from one of the flood affected areas of Maharashtra. If you aren't from any of those places, read it to understand how an aspiring superpower's government works (er, doesn't)!
Poor Indians. Literally caught between the devilish politicians and the deep sea!

Rs. 7000 as monthly pocket money!?

Read an article today in the Sunday Times of India and it was really an eye-opener. We are moving somewhere. I mean, India.

So many people are still unsure about their next meal, or about how they will save themselves from the next flood/drought, and here we have people who would only go for branded items, especially perishables! Rs. 100 per ticket (and a lot more for the food) at multiplexes (which, BTW, charge exorbitant rates even when given tax rebates by the government)!

No, I don't have much against these people. But please, do consider donating at least something from your pleasure-fund. That, too, is a lot satisfying.

Your money will have no worth in a highly unequal society. Social unrest is bound to rise if the divide rises. Don't look elsewhere to understand what this means. Our history books are valuable teachers!

Road to Hell ...

Does that phrase apply to roads in most cities in India? Cities? Ha! :) Petrol cess. Vehicle tax. Municipal taxes. And still we have bad roads! Of course, the taxes are not enough, according to one Mr. Kareer. Yes, we all know. They are *just* enough to fuel the cars of these officials, their large bunch of jokers killing flies in their "offices," perks that go with govt. jobs, and to grease their own palms (dry weather?). So, as they rightly point out, there's no money for the road-building equipments. Oh, maybe, for the equipments, but not for the tar, cement, steel. "Chalta hai."