An Inspirational Poem

I N V I C T U S

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate;
I am the captain of my soul.

- by William Ernest Henley.

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A sustained peaceful outrage

---------------- A Week After it all began ----------------

That last 7 days have been spent with an overdose of media coverage of the Mumbai terror events, however the fall out has been stupendous, there is a mass uprising sort happening here across the country. People are up against the Politicians and the bureaucratic system, where there has been no accountability - people are up against the same.

There are street meetings, public rallies, candle light vigils, slogans - on television, in print, online, blogs, articles, posts on sites, text messages, emails - there seems to be no end to the public response that is one of the most non violent, but at the same time angry, protests ever seen in recent times in India.

If there was any thing close to this, was the Anti ‘Mandal Commission’ revolt of 1990s, which was targeted at the then PM VP Singh's policies - Ironically V.P. Singh passed away, amidst all the suspense that the nation was witnessing in Mumbai, with next-to-nothing coverage in the media.

The politicians for their part, of both the ruling Congress led UPA and the Opposition - the BJP and its allies in the NDA and the Communists have tried with varied consequences to reap mileage of the Mumbai Terror events.

Even as the politicians were facing scathing attack, for their lackadaisical approach to safeguarding the lives of the citizens and the non-responsiveness to intelligence alerts (if there were actually any), comes their foot-in-mouth comments that added insult to injury.

The issue whether India may or may not attack Pakistani Terror camps may be debated across the television studios, political board-rooms, diplomatic meetings and summits, with obvious political overtones and ramifications before any conclusive decision is taken.

In a way the prospective “war” may not serve the purpose of the people who lost their lives in the Mumbai carnage, their grieving families and the millions who seethed in anger across the country.

The point that the people of India are trying to drive through the sustained peaceful outrage is – “We Want Permanent Peace”, the clichés are flying thick and fast – “Enough is enough”, “Quit India”, “Stop terrorism”, “Awakening India”, "We want actions not words" … the list is endless, but the sentiment is the same, we want :

A Peaceful India

A Nation struggling with lawlessness

The siege of Mumbai has ended finally. The nation heaves a sigh of relief, but the scars are indelible. That these are not the first scars and will not be the last either (hope I am proved wrong on this last count) is a fact that every one of us have started to live with.

60 hours later and after the loss of over 200 lives, many questions have cropped up after the sustained terror attack on Mumbai. Some unanswered questions need to be answered.

How many terrorists were there? Who was responsible? How long have they been planning - months, weeks and days before the attacks? How could they have carried so much ammunition with them? How did they have such an intimate knowledge of the terrain? Were there locals? The terrorists are said to have done extensive reconnaissance of the city. If they are Pakistanis, how did they get earlier entry to the city unnoticed? How did they come in by boat? Or did they use other routes to escape notice?
These are just a few questions, these and more will have to be answered and addressed by the Government!

But one question that rankles me to no end is: Were there locals involved?

The terrorists seem to have had extensive training and preparation, possibly on models of the places of attack and on enduring a long drawn battle with the military forces – this gets me to have an emphatic YES as an answer to the question – Were there locals? For they could not have succeeded in the suicide mission with out local ground support.

But then Why? Why would locals get involved in killing innocent countrymen? Hunger? Unemployment? Lack of opportunity? Jingoistic strife?

It could be anything – what drives these youth to get involved. I tried deliberating and found no particular answer.

We are a nation of lawlessness; I am not referring just to the governments and politicians in power, but to every single citizen who takes ample pride in breaking the law.

In NO way I am being cynical about the state of affairs when I say “the administrators of this country have for ages have been breeding corruption in all walks of life.” The corruption has percolated deeply into the very roots of society that was once known to be the most simplistic and god fearing about a century ago (we continue to be god fearing – more for the CURE than as prevention). The levels of corruption wary with need and the need grows with every opportunity. There ceases to be no reason for the want to lessen.

As the initial fear of doing wrong subsides, the pattern turns an avocation, a habit that slowly gains in momentum and turns into an addiction. An addiction that brings with it fruits of long lasting pleasures. Thus is born a way of life – that which has its foundation laid on unlawfulness.

The Society is NOW in a ROTTEN state. A state of NO return, we are witness to corruption, from simple road rules to the complex laws, the loopholes are first studied and exploited. Here laws are THE exception. Responsibility towards the nation is unheard of, towards the self is waning, and towards the society comes with a price. A price laid down by the corrupt law-makers.

Almost every individual gets into the blame game, blame the civic authorities, the government, the employers, the society at large and the recklessness of life – the basic fact is, each one of us are equally to be blamed – for we have contributed our might to the growth of the current filth.

Self introspection is the key – No amount of debates and discussions, blaming the media, the politicians, the law, the law enforcement agencies, the booming population can bring solution to this rut.

As the search for the answers continue – more seemingly gullible youth will fall prey to easy money unaware of the consequences, and even if aware – fall prey to the luster that brings with it presumptive prosperity - This malady needs a permenant cure.

A silent prayer for the innocent victims and a Salute to the scores of policemen, commandos and the unsung firemen.

Running out of patience and endurance

"... We will take the strongest possible measures to ensure that there is no repetition of such terrorist acts. We are determined to take whatever measures are necessary to ensure the safety and security of our citizens...."

- Hon'ble Prime Minister of India Mr. Manmohan Singh

Terrorists have again selected Mumbai as their base to spread terrorism.

It is very disgusting to see the terrorist striking the cities at will and at regular frequencies. Every time the leaders have some improbable explanation.. One thing that comes out loud and clear time and again is the exposure of the vulnerability of our intellgence system.

Hope the Prime Minister and the "Political" Administration keeps their promise to "take the strongest possible measures to ensure that there is no repetition of such terrorist acts" - For the people of this country are fast running out of patience and endurance.

24 hrs and the gun battle still rages on in Mumbai!

More on this sooon....! Until then - Pray! The Situation comes back to normalcy.

The fun of travelling in Second Class

Train travel has always been a very exhilarating experience.

However over the years, it’s become boring mainly due to being caged in the Air conditioned compartments that give very little view of the outside world, sans the fresh air and the noisy surroundings. Travel time is spent mostly with books or sleep in state-owned rugs or the odd chat with the co-passenger.

A last minute trip gave me an opportunity to relive the growing up days. Call it ill luck or providence I was left with no choice but travel by Sleeper Class or Second Class as we always knew it.

From the moment I boarded the train, I never regretted having this chance of going Second Class, I felt earthly sitting in the train amidst the cackle of the vendors and the chatter of co passengers.

My daughter was mighty pleased with the view from the window, the refreshing breeze that cut the rocking and the crackling of the train.

The trees seemed to be disciplined in their line formation and were passing at intermittent intervals. The greenery was all encompassing.

I reveled silently in the verdancy and felt at peace gazing out of the window continuously. It was the perfect way to unwind away from the hustle and bustle of living in a choked metropolis.

The tranquility was amazing and it was intermission time with nightfall.

I woke up to the first ray of sunlight cutting through the glass window and soon continued to relish the chill in the air.

Couple of hours after dawn we reached our destination and the world soon turned concrete.


I am yearning for more of this pleasure which had nothing “second class” stamped on it.


An experience that surely reflects my way of life – Down to earth Simple…!

Nostalgic trip down memory lane...!

June 1990: I joined as a Medical representative and was posted in Chennai. My office was on the beach road behind Santhome Church and the work area was Purasawakkam, Doveton, Vepery, Vyasarpadi, MKB Nagar, Moolakadai, Kodingyur, Red Hills and Uthukottai.
Well, new to Chennai, it took me some days to get to know these places, then the people and their whims and fancies. I took a room - a single room accommodation - in what was touted as Bachelor's Paradise - Triplicane.

At 20 years, I learnt to live alone, commute on buses to office and place of work, every day eating at a new joint - breakfast, Lunch & Dinner. Had quite a few friends - mostly Hindi speaking - common thread - Non Chennai Bachelors.

Apart from the weekend getaway to relatives' places in and around the far off Tambaram, my only other time pass was the beach, movies - mostly Tamil, the only Hindi movies I saw in Chennai then was Aashiqui & Naam, and the endless discovery of the lanes and by lanes of Chennai on foot.

Six months later I bid adieu to Chennai to be back permanently to Hyderabad - my home!

I carried many memories, the late night binges, the care free lifestyle, the solitary travels and travails, the road side eateries and the endless walking. I also found my caption for life during these days - An insurance company advertisement hoarding on Mount Road screamed "Life is Too Wonderful to be Spent Worrying"...! I captured that as my own for life...! Even today I believe in the borrowed adage.

18 years later: October 2008:
I am back in Chennai, for a holiday with my family. On a Sunday morning I take my cousin's bike on a drive through the lanes and by lanes of Triplicane, my room in Lal Begum street (incidentally I was one of the 1st residents of the then newly opened Mansion - see pic), the shop in Big street, the breakfast hotel on Pycrofts road, the lunch mess on Triplicane high road, the dinner joint (a small dhaba kind) on Bells road and of course to the home of a very old friend on Meeyan Sahib street. A really nostalgic trip down memory lane...!

Time flies, infrastructure develops, technology takes over, people grey...

What remain are the fond memories...!

The Chennai Diary

The Dasara Holidays for my daughter was the ideal vacation time for my family. Of all the exotic locations that I could think of, One name missing was Chennai. Well I ended up going to Chennai - more on a religious trip - rather.

Its been an exhilarating and enlightening trip, for I realised the Vaishnava in me.

Hectic - would be an understatement for the seven days passed off in a jiffy, criss crossing the city and its environs, catching up with relatives after almost a decade, and also a few friends after 18 years.

Fortunately I found the weather not too hot, sultry though. I liked the organised traffic in Chennai (surely something that's missing in Hyderabad). However the density of population leaves little to manouvre... Well I wasn't driving though.

I admired the Navaratri celebrations.. the Kolu, the fanfare, the shopping centres of Usman Road, T Nagar, Pondy Bazar... The unwavering autowallahs, the ever crowded city buses, the deft driving of the Taxis, the silent yet swift electric trains, the enchanting Marina beach, and the early to rise spirited Chennai-ites.

The highlight of the trip was the visit to Singa Perumal Koil near Chenglepet for the Samasrayanam. There is an excellent writeup and summary of Samasrayanam in this link: http://saranagathi.org/blogs/articles/samasrayanam/)

I found Chennai - A metro quite different from the other three big ones, one that is passionate about everything it does.

A salute to the Capital city... from a born tamilian who just spent six months here - almost two decades ago!

Back to Hyderabad - I feel the cooler weather - a home coming that's well - Home...! and that's where the heart is !!!