Lamhe - The Moments

Marriage Registration Procedure - Explained

2012-07-19T21:32:00.000+05:30

Finally on June 30th, I could get my marriage registration done in Bangalore and that too without involving any touts/agents and without paying any bribe.
I had thought of collecting all the required information and mandatory documents required, and then go to the registrar office one day and all done. And that's what I did.
Let me first write about documents required and what you might need to do to get those particular documents/proofs, and then will state information about what is to be done after you enter into registrar office.
(Note: This is particular about bangalore, KA, but most of the things must be applicable to other cities/states as well)

Documents required -
(1) 2 Registration form filled in BLOCK LETTERs (without any mistake or cut-marks) and an application form
(You can get this form outside registrar office, total 3 forms for Rs. 30)
(2) Address Proof for both bride and groom
(3) Age Proof for both bride and groom
(4) Invitation card - 1 original
(5) Marriage photo - 1
(6) 2B size recent joint photo - 5 copies

Before we go into details, you have to find out which registrar office you need to go to to get the registration done.
Many people on various social forums have suggested me that being in India, as an Indian Citizen, I can go to any registrar office and get this done anywhere in country. But when I went to Koramangala sub-registrar office (near to my current residence), I got to know that I can only go to registrar office which comes under the same jurisdiction as my address-proof document. So, you better visit the sub-registrar office and get this info confirmed.

Details:
(1) Registration form and Application form: Write in BLOCK LETTERS only. Don't do any mistake or cut-marks, otherwise form will not be accepted. Witnesses' signature is required only, not the witnesses in person, atleast in Koramangala BDA complex [Bommanhalli Sub-Registrar Office].

(2) Address Proof: Address proof is required for both bride and bridegroom. So, if one has the address proof of bangalore residence and other partner has address proof for some other city/state, that is fine.
Address proofs accepted are [As pre Koramangala sub-registrar office Notice] -
a) Driving License
b) Passport
c) Ration card
d) Voter-Id card
Any address proof other than above, like company letter, bank passbook, rental/lease agreement, gas connection bill, telephone bill will not be accepted. If you have anything like this, take along with you to get Residential (Domicile) Certificate from Revenue Authority, Tahsildar's Office, K. G. Road, Bangalore.

[Important Note: If you have any of the 4 documents having Jayanagar, Bangalore address, and you currently stay at some other place like Koramangala etc, best is to go to Jayanagar Sub-Registrar Office and get this done.]
Now, how to get this Domicile certificate done?
Let me tell how I have done - With all possible documents supporting my current residence proof, I have taken along with me and reached Revenue Authority, 2nd floor, Tahsildar's office on KG Road, Bangalore near Mysore Bank circle. I have taken -
airtel landline bill, vehicle registration card (RC book), Insurance copy, rental agreement, Company letter, self-swearing affidavit (residential address) by notary. Better take photograph of the Notice pasted in Sub-registar office about address proof and domicile certificate to make them understand why you came there. Because, when you reach there for domicile certificate they will again ask for same DL, Ration card, passport and voter id card, but had you possessed those documents, then why would you have gone there?
Go to 2nd floor, you will meet a lot of agents on the way in the building as well as in the office also, they will ask your purpose of visit, answer them, ask what all is required, and how much? Its not required, but just for fun. :-)
Ask where does the revenue officer or concerned officer in that office sit who can take your request. There is Madam Manjula, Revenue Inspector, she is a nice officer and would take the request. One more thing, all the documents you take along with you, take the original for verification, and xerox copy attested by the lawyer(public notary). The operator ideally should take the documents, file a request on his computer, and will tell you how long will take to get your certificate done. Ideally, if you have all the above documents in order and attested, you better not pay any money apart from application fee (which is Rs 20 something). Try to take some contact from there, whom you can call before you go there again to get that certificate.

(3) Age proof: Nothing much to say here, any govt document like DL, 10th marksheet or any govt id card would do this.

4, 5 and 6 are as simple as that.

Once you have all these documents, go to registrar office around 10 AM, and ask for the officer who will take the documents set and also verify them with the originals. Officer will then give to computer operator, who will type a few details, ask you to recheck them, scan your documents etc and also generate a reciept. Keep an eye on the operator whatever he is taking printouts, so that you know what is the amount written on the reciept generated for the marriage registration fees. Because what happens, at the end when your work is done, they handover your 2 copies of marriage certificate and will explain how to store it etc etc, and then will tell you to pay the fee to the peon at the table side. When you go there, the peon will ask for fees, when you ask how much, he will say, whatever you feel for office expense, scan documents etc etc. But the reality is that, scanning fees, and application fees etc are already included in total fees mentioned in the receipt. Ask him to handover the receipt to you (if you don't know the amount beforehand) and then pay only how much you are getting the recepit for. They had tried their best to hide the receipt till the end, but I had already seen the amount, and in my case, it was only Rs. 145, and I paid that much only. No BRIBE. :-)

In case of any more confustion or more clarifiation, leave a comment, and I will help you.

...... Aur pyaar ho gaya

2012-02-07T22:55:00.000+05:30

Tanha si thi yeh raahein, mila hai humsafar kuch yun.
Chalna hai tere sang, haatho main haath, gaate hue nayi dhun.

Socha na tha kuch aise din bhi aayenge,
raaton ko neend nahi, din main bus woh nazar aayenge.

Pyaar ki hai yeh kahaani, ban gayi zindagi suhaani.
Ab to hogi dhoop bhi sunhari aur chaaon roomani.

Dil bhi gaane laga hai geet naya, dhadkanen sargam nayi,
Aur pyaar ho gaya, raho hamesha meri palako par saji saji.

...... और प्यार हो गया

तन्हा सी थी ये राहें, मिला है हमसफर कुछ यूँ,
चलना है तेरे संग, हाथो में हाथ, गाते हुए नयी धुन|

सोचा ना था कुछ ऐसे दिन भी आएँगे,
रातों को नींद नही, दिन में बस वो नज़र आएँगे|

प्यार की है ये कहानी, बन गयी ज़िंदगी सुहानी,
अब तो होगी धूप भी सुनहरी और छाँव रूमानी|

दिल भी गाने लगा है गीत नया, धड़कनें सरगम नयी,
और प्यार हो गया, रहो हमेशा मेरी पलको पर सजी सजी|

Abhivaadan

2011-11-30T17:40:00.001+05:30

Woh saare dukh bane sukh mere,
woh aasoon bhi bane hasi meri,

Yeh daaman tera, bane dharti meri,
aur yeh aanchal, aasmaan se bada.

Tu hi kamzori meri, aur tu hi shakti meri,

saath hum dono dekhkar, vipatti bhi dare.

Chalta chalu, nirantar chalta hi chalu,
banke hamsafar, jo tu hamesha baju chale.

Sooraj failaye hai apni yeh bahein,

yeh dhoop se hai sunhara vatavaran.
Pavan ka halka halka shor jaise ho swar,

aur yeh paani kal kal jaise nayi dhun.

Kuch is tarah ho ab do se ek hum,
aur tham jaye yeh pal yahin ekdum.
Ho is navjeevan ki shuruaat duaaon se,

aa thame haath, aur kare
abhivaadan, abhivaadan, abhivaadan …

I didn't have to pay a bribe - "No harm in trying by your own before giving it to touts"

2011-11-10T23:50:00.001+05:30

No harm in trying by your own before giving it to touts

I have posted this on the I PAID A BRIBE website.
My experience with Sub-registrar Office, Varthur, Bangalore.

No harm in trying by your own before giving it to touts

Reported : November 10, 2011 - 23:31 | City : Bangalore | Registration department

Department:	Registration department
Transaction:	Franking (e-stamping) of property
Bribe Type:	personal
Details:	I had this task of getting the property paper e-stamped (franking), and for that builder told me the exact amount of which the DD has to be made and then told me to handover him that much amount plus 400 Rs approx etc to get the franking done. I had asked him the reason for those extra 400 Rs, for which he mentioned to be given to officers there in Registrar Office as bribe. I told this is not registration, just a e-stamping, and for this also do we need to bribe them? For that he answered that "we are builders and just looking at us, he will ask for that extra money". I told him, better I will do it myself and he even supported my doing this. Now, the main task - to go to Varthur Sub-Registrar Office and get the e-stamping done. Firstly, I have got the DD from the bank. Then on fine day, I visited the Registrar office in the afternoon, asked there what is to be done to get franking. One of the officer has told me to write an application for the same as per the prescribed format pasted on all the walls of the Registrar Office. I copied from one of the walls, and along with the DD, handed over the application, the DD and the property papers. After a few minutes, he called my name and it was done. I didn't have to any extra Rupee, and the best part is nobody, really nobody asked for it. Moral of the Incident - Atleast give it a try doing it once by yourself, you never know, you can just get it done in couple of minutes, saving some money and more importantly a satisfaction that we have got this done without bribe, all ethically, it feels great. Try once.

Dhaga Prem Ka

2011-09-20T18:46:00.001+05:30

Rahiman dhaga prem ka, mat todo chatkaye,

Tute se phir na jude, jude gaanth pad jaye.

We have read it, by-hearted it when we were in school. And I think, this is very much relevant in everyone's life. Rahim Dasji had told very aptly about the relationship and its delicateness and reasons why should we take care of it without any mistake.

Relationship and the emotions running in it - these are the things which haven't changed over the generations, cultures, religions, regions or nations. There are some blood relations by birth and there are some built up in the course of living the beautiful life. Regardless of their type, some privileged ones [relationships] are flowers of our nurturing true love, faith, trust, care and delicacy, and the result is a single thread blended out of all these different threads with our one life-thread.

And that is what Rahim Dasji had talked about in his Doha. One should take proper care not to do any thing which can cause any breakage in this thread, because once its broken, either its "two threads" or its "one with a knot". We should always make sure that we don't take these flowers for granted, we don't let bad weather take away its charm and keep these flowers away and untouched from ill effects of neighboring flowers/buds irrespective how good or bad they may be.

Well, all said and done or not-done, but why this long post, do we already not know it? "Probably yes", actually "Mostly yes", but then why are we so careless to protect our flower which we nurtured for years, why???

Think .....

Anyways, I haven't written this post just to re-iterate what Rahim Dasji had said years back. I also want to give another optimistic perspective to it after the damage is being done and the flower has lost the charm.

To add to the Rahim's Doha-

Rahiman dhaga prem ka, mat todo chatkaye,

Tute se phir na jude, jude gaanth pad jaye.

Tu Rahi, dil haar na, kitni moti gaanth re,

Le prem ka auzaar, ghisiyo, patli hui jaye.

After all, its life, how much we think, how much we plan, things happen and sometimes the most unfavorable. But that can't be the end of it, or its not that we can't do anything, after all the Human is the most supreme species in this world, lets make good use of ourselves.

In short, as I stated in above 2 lines added to Doha, if there is anything which can undo the damage, which can bring back the old charm to the flower, then its is LOVE, the selfless love, the unconditional love, and nothing but only LOVE.

It has all the strength which can make that "gaanth" (knot) so thin, that the thread of life becomes the same old one.

Life is changing, people are running after their dreams, everyone is ambitious, we want every luxury in our life, we want to achieve huge, we want satisfaction in our life, we want happiness, but do you think all that will be worth if we have lost a few flowers while running. One can achieve all what one wants, we can be individually happy, we can alone achieve success but at the end of if, we need someone whom can we share our happiness with, our success with.

I just want to close this post by saying that, take a pause, read it over again, think and think, you will realize. I know I can face a lot of counter thoughts which may be philosophically right. We can come up with lot of reasons in defending ourselves for knowingly or unknowingly not protecting flowers, but dear, this is life and we should anyhow protect our flowers, and there are no exceptions, period. Life is precious and so are the flowers.

[Dedicating this post to all the flowers in my life]

Yeh Kaisi Ladai !!!

2011-09-04T01:50:00.000+05:30

Mere dost, yeh aisi bhi kya ladai hai,
kabhi tu aur kabhi teri parchai hai.
Zindagi chalti ja rahi hai yunhi aage,
keval haar hi hai ya jeet bhi payi hai.

Uth zara dekh, sooraj to aata hai rozaana,
Bahut mushkil hai yun to kinaron ko mil jana.
Tu hai agar sachcha, aur tera marg acha,
Kadam choomengi tere manzilein yeh pakka.

Rakh apne par tu yeh vishwaas,
Aur zindagi main kuch paane ki aas.
Kehne de logo ko jo kuch kehna hai,
Ek din samajh hi lenge tere yeh khaas.

Kyun tune bus ladne ki hi thaani hai,
lehro se ulte hi jana yeh manmaani hai,
kab jiyega apni zindagi tu hokar beparwah,
yeh duniya to aise hi, aise hi aani-jaani hai.

Na ho tu udaas aur na ho to yun pareshaan,
Raasta chuna hai jo tune, yeh nahi aasaan.
Par woh din dur nahi, lehre hogi teri humsafar,
aur mit jayenge mushkilon ne naamo-nishaan.

Jalta Ja Re - Chalta Ja Re

2011-02-09T18:16:00.000+05:30

Khona na tu hai yeh jo iraade,
kya hua jo poore nahi woh vaade.
Yun to zarre se paani hai behta,
tu chaahe to usme khuda basa de.

Seencha hai tune jo isko itna,
kya hua jo tune chaanv payi na re.
Deepak hai tu jalta ja re, chalta ja re,
chaanv se naata kaisa tera,
bus aage raah dikhata ja re.

Kya hua jo zindagi teri na maane,
baaki duniya hai tere sirhaane.
Mat khona yeh roop tu apna,
sabse alag hai tu O' Deewane.

Kya falak aur kya kshitiz hai,
jo tujhko khud pe yakeen hai,
Paayega tu jo kuch bhi chaahe,
kuch bhi nahi jo na-mumkeen hai.

Bhar ke saare rang fiza main,
zindagi ko ek nagma bana le,
Indradhanush bane daaman tera,

aur baadalon ko aangan bana le.

Deepak hai tu jalta ja re, chalta ja re,
chaanv se naata kaisa, bus raah dikhata ja re.

Zara Zara Sa

2011-01-17T23:41:00.001+05:30

Suraj abhi kuch der pehle dooba tha,
Thoda andhiyara sa bhi lagta tha,
Sar jo humne uthaya aur,
yeh aankhein bhi thodi ghumai.

To yeh taaron ka gulistaan tha,
aur ek ujala sa chandrama tha,
dur dur tak khula aasmaan tha,
kshitiz bhi aaj to ruka tha.

woh aankhein bhi apni thi,
aur woh samaa bhi apna sa,
phir bhi kuch adhoora sa tha,
haathon main uska haath na tha.

aankhein thi num, aur gala bhara sa,
yaadon main tha woh thoda ghula sa.
palkon to humne kiya thoda jhuka sa,
aur deedar hua uska zara zara sa.

Jaadon ki sardi aur kunkuna sa paani

2010-11-15T11:29:00.001+05:30

Woh Jaadon ki sardi aur kunkuna sa paani,
Teri meri, meri teri, phir woh kahaani.

Woh aag ke kinare raat main chai ki chuskiyaan,
Meri teri, teri meri, dooriyon main woh siskiyan.

Woh baadalon ki chaadar aur ye palakon ki zameen,
Meri teri, Teri meri, hamari yeh duniya hui rangeen.

Woh garmi ki loo, aur suraj ki tapish,
Teri meri, meri teri, apni yeh kashish.

Woh baraf ka pighalna, woh kohra aur dhuan,
Tera mera, mera tera, yeh pyaar hai phir hua.

Woh neele aasmaan main chaand ki athkheliyan,
Teri meri, meri teri chup chup kyun rangraliyaan.

Saundhi si khooshboo, Baarish ki pehli boond,
Tene maine, maine tene, apni aankhen moond.

Woh baarish ka mausam, bheegi si raatein,
Teri meri, meri teri, pyaari si hain baatein.

Woh baadal ki garaj aur paani ki tap tap,
Teri meri, meri teri roomani si gup shup.

Woh koyal ki kuhu, woh tota aur woh maina,
Tere mere, mere tere, batiyaye apne naina.

Unleashing my creativity after almost a decade, feel so good

2010-11-11T12:40:00.002+05:30

Yup, after almost a decade, this diwali, decided to spend sometime creating something I used to do 9-10 years back, sitting in my aangan and make rangoli :-). And I feel so good :-)

Ek Din

2010-10-27T15:30:00.000+05:30

Ek din sapnon main kuch aisi baarish hogi,
Pahaadon ko cheerati ek chanchal nadi hogi,
Hawaon main soundhi-soundhi si mehek hogi,
Kisi shaam kuch aise unse mulakaat hogi.

Yeh nazarein ek baar phir se betaab hogi,
Saanse roomani, dhadkanon main dhun hogi.
Yeh dil gayega, geet main unki hi baat hogi,
Dhoop to hai hi, narm chaon bhi sunhari hogi.

Woh saral hogi, mann main komalta hogi,
Julfein jo lehrayengi to bus raat hogi.
woh muskura jaye to kaliyan phool hogi,
Hase to baadal garaje, aur varsha hogi.

Jab milegi nazarein unse, to yun to khamoshi hogi,
Hoth chup, aankhon hi aankhon main baatein hogi.
Hum kuch kahein na kahein, aawaz hamari un tak hogi,
Hum unke dil aur woh hamare nazar-o-dil main hogi.

Rahoon main phir se phool honge, kaliyaan hogi,
Patjhad ke baad phir se suhaani vasant ritu hogi.
Sang khelenge holi, phir se zindagi rangeen hogi,
Deepak main phir jyoti, aakash main aatishbaazi hogi.

Jeene Ki Arzoo

2010-10-08T16:18:00.000+05:30

After "Har Lamhe Bus Pal Do Pal Ke", phir se kuch mann hua
us pari ke baarein thodi baatein aur kar li jaayein, to bus yun hi -

Har raat sapno main aati hai, kuch aisi baatein kar jati hai,
So jata hoon mithason main, lekin subah to phir ho jati hai.
Mar to gaye hi the hum, usne phir se nayi jaan dal di hai,
kuch aisa amrit diya hai, jeene ke sahi arzoo ab pa lee hai.

Mayne badal gaye hai zindagi ke, kuch sahi hai, baaki sahi ho jayenge,
socha na tha, zindagi ke mod kabhi kahaan kabhi kahaan le jayenge.
Hum khush rehne ka vada karte hain, khushi khushi sab seh jayenge,
Aap bus yunhi gungunate rehna, dhun to saath main hum dete jayenge.

Woh kehti hai kyun nahi bulaya sapno main mujhe pehle,
Main kehta hoon neend kahan thi inn aakhon main akele.
Kabhi dard ka ehsaas tha to kabhi kisi ko khone ka darr,
Ab aa gaye ho to rehna inn aakhon main yunhi ujale ujale.

Nahi jaanta hoon main ki yeh duniya mil payegi tumse kabhi,
Ek pyaari dost jiski aakhon main hai chupi baatein badi badi.
O Pari, Sach to yahi tumhare kaaran mili yeh zindagi nayi,
Iss dosti ko nazar na lage, khuda se maangte yahi dua abhi.

Har Lamhe Bus Pal Do Pal Ke

2010-10-07T17:11:00.000+05:30

Jab us pari ne "Ruhaani si mehek" padha,
aur usne apni khushi ki jaahir,
Maine likh di phir kuch aur panktiyan,
kuch is tarah ban gayi woh meri prerna.

Pari hai ya hai woh ek sadharan insaan,
Dost to thi woh meri kabse, ab dost-e-khaas.
Yeh saara padhkar ho gayi woh bhi hairan,
Sochi, itne keemati hai uske yeh sab nishaan.

Lagi woh jhoomne, gaane, chikhne aur chillane,
Zameen kya falak tak bhi nahi the uske thikane.
Paro pe kaboo na raha, udd gayi door gagan main,
Fitoor tha yeh uska, le aayi bahaar chaman main.

Usne sikhaya kaise udte hain aasmaan main bin paro ke,
Aur ye bhi sikha maine ki kaise haste hai bin adharo ke.
Ashqon main bhi swaad hota hai jab girte hain gaalon pe,
Hamesha muskurate rehna, har lamhe bus pal do pal ke.

Tasavvur main hai woh, mere khwabon-khayalon main,
Khumari hai ab ya kuch iss tarah hi zindagi ki dagar hai.
Uth bhi jaye parda uski asliyat se to kuch khabar hai,
Uski woh baatein mere dil main ab shaam-o-seher hai.

Log puchte hain mujhse ki batao hai kaun yeh haseen pari,
Main kehta hoon sabse ki jaan jaoge aane do woh ghadi.
Rehne do parde main abhi, achi lag rahi hai woh chupi chupi,
Kya kaafi nahi hai itna, mere dil-e-nazar main hai woh basi.

Rang - "Lamhe - The moment of Colours"

2010-10-06T13:53:00.000+05:30

Rang main ada, rang main hai Khuda,
Rango ki baatein hai sabse judaa.
Rang de mujhko tu, sang main apne ko tu.
Rang de duniya ko, iss pure jahan ko tu.

Rang se hai zindagi, rang se hi bandagi.
Rangeen yeh mausam hai, rangeen yeh dillagi.
Dukh main bhi hai rang, sukh main bhi rang rang,
Chala chal tu jeevan main, chale rang tere sang sang.

Rang se hai Rangoli, mast rangeen yeh Diwali,
Rang se hai rishte-naatein, rang se hi kheli Holi.
Rang se dil milte hai, dil main phool khilte hai,
Phoolo se bani mala, phoolo se hai ban-maali.

Rang ka na koi dharam, na jaati, aur na hi koi bhasha hai,
Bhar de zindagi main khushi, rang ki yeh paribhasha hai.
Sab rang mil jaye to indra-dhanush ban jata hai,
Rang main mil khil kar manush poora ho jata hai.

Rang main ada, rang main hai Khuda,
Rango ki baatein hai sabse judaa.
Rang de mujhko tu, sang main apne ko tu.
Rang de duniya ko, iss pure jahan ko tu.

Ruhaani si Mehek

2010-10-05T17:07:00.000+05:30

Pari ek mere sapno main aayi,

Aakar ek nayi raah usne dikhayi.

Kuch ruhaani si mehek thi usme,

Jeene ki kuch alag si chaahat thi usme.

- Woh shabdo ke roop main jo barse phool, kuch yun kehna tha uska -

Nadi hoon main, pari hoon main, pahad hai, pathar bhi hai rahon main,

Ek din to saagar main mil jana hai, magar aade-tedhe kinaro ka maza to uthana hai.

Din hai to raat to hogi hi, andhera jaayaz hai,

Raat to guzar jana hai, dard-e-ehsaas reh jana hai.

Aur naye din, sooraj ki pehli kiran ka intezar hai,

Magar is raat ki chubhan main bhi kuch mithaas hai.

- Woh phool jab lage mann ko mere, aaya samajh main kuch yun mujhe -

Har ek din ek nayi shuruaat hai, yeh andhera to chand palon ki baat hai.

Ek pari aur kuch farishte hi nahi, yeh khoobsoorat duniya mere saath hai.

- Usne phir farmaya kuch is tarah -

Kisi din jab ek sunhari dhoop main baithe sochoge tum,

Yeh raatein, yeh andhere, aur yeh ehsaas, karoge yaad tum.

Inhi raaton ne nikhara hai, aur dinon ne khilaya hai tumhe,

Bus bhool na jana unko, mushkilon main sambhala hai tumhe.

Hum bhi hai, safar bhi hai, dariya hai, paani bhi hai, aage to jana hai.

Leharo ko kaatate chalo, kinare tak yunhi koi humsufar bhi mil jana hai.

Pyaar to bus dene ka naam hai, pyaar ki aas rakhna khud se bemani hai,

Pa lo tum jo chaho to mauj hai, nahi to rab ne kuch aur thaani hai.

- Aur phir main samjha kuch yun -

Tere swar bane saans meri, aur shabd bane muskurahat meri,

Mere dard ko usne apne andaaz se banaya khilkhilahat meri.

Khoobsoorat duniya ko de naye rang tu, kuch is tarah zindagi jee teri,

O pari, mor-pankhon si hai shobha, koyal si hai chah-chahat teri.

Billi raasta kat gayi, and then ???

2010-10-05T10:36:00.006+05:30

From a real incident in my life ...

Morning as early as 05:30 AM.
Standing outside a guest-house, me with a friend,
Kolkata and taxi strike the same morning,
And, have a flight to bangalore to catch in sometime.
Started walking towards the main road,
In hope of getting taxi or some conveyence to reach airport.

And....
Kaali Billi raasta kaat gayi?

Whatz next?

Comments please...

To Be Continued ...
...

Can we reason ourselves and follow our heart?

2010-07-06T21:11:00.018+05:30

Recently read 2 blogs and result - I am also on this Lamhe - The Moments page again.
Kiran's - Break Free, Un-shackle, Disrobe

Rashmi Bansal's - The Naked Truth

Kiran, very well written, all of these points are something which has been in my mind from a long time, and you know what, I keep telling or suggesting my younger brothers, sisters, cousins etc that "its not how the world is, what matters is how you are. Its you who is going to decide what path you have to take, good or bad."
Same like you, even I had pre-concieved notions and they all only broken when I get into Engg Hostel and get to meet/live to all kinds of people.
One more thing to keep in mind is "Nobody is BAD for all, he is obviously good for some or the other". We cannot be just against one and supporting other. Life is about walking all together.
"Smoking" and "Drinking" (Read over-alcohalic) is always bad, but not necessarily the person doing it. yes, we have been told in our childhood so that we doesn't get attracted to the bad habbits. The point is that this is not the right method, but this is the only way we Indian have been doing it and keep doing it still.
The correct way out here is to explain in the childhood about the goods and evils of relavant things and let them give an option to choose.
Writing this I remember "My Name is Khan" scene where the SRK's mother in childhood time, explains him by drawing the 2 similar pictures and ask SRK to choose ond of them, and in real life too, this is gonna work surely.
Coming to second point of "vegeterian:non-vegeterian" debates, I have to say only one thing - its not about good or bad, its about ecological balance, employment, way-of-living, bread-&-butter, sustainence etc etc.
Kiran's last point about "Shame" deserves special applaud. And it again goes back to the same point-1 thing, that we have been following the wrong methods to correct children.

About Rashmi's blog, I am not pointing all the things here, but one thing I have to say there is that every paragraph of her blog poses a question in front of us and forces us to think.
India is really a diverse country, I feel more bad things then any good about it, for exampple the latest includes -
(1) Khap panchayat & Honor killings
(2) Different opinions of religions on smoking and drinking as well as dressing
(3) Various cultures and their customary beliefs

If we count like above, we will just doing whole day and it will still not be over.

I have also been in the US for a short time and it was a good experience, being there living their life. It was a life-time experience. My US collague told me once - "All people come here and capture the scenaries in cameras, and YOU have lived the Life here, captured the American culture which you will take with you".

What I am trying to say here is - Rashmi's blog is very true in all sense, but first of all we need to find the root of why its happening, why we have these beliefs and lets come forward to break it. Loosen ourself.

Many places outside India like US, the best thing is less diversity. One fact - "There are as many similarities in European Countries as we have dis-similarities in Indian states itself". We need to come out of these cultural beliefs and reason ourselves intelligently and logically without hurting the existing "right" facts. And finally we need to follow our heart.
The day you leave any worries aside about what others are thinking, you are gonna live the world fully, that's for sure. But never cross a thin line in whatever you do while following your heart.

Not everything in the world is debatable, any 2 people may express in different ways which may seem like opposite but the same 2 people may be trying to say the same views. I always advocate vegeterianism, but I don't oppose non-vegeterian. If we don't drink, doesn't mean we have to be against it. Also, I feel there is a thin line between nudity and intimacy.

Lastly, we should also respect the opposite opinions, listen to them and find answers to those, if not to the opposite person but may be to ourselves.

All this for you "Namma Bengalooru"

2010-04-02T13:37:00.000+05:30

For the people who have been living in Bangalore for more than 4-5 years and didn't even put any effort to get their names registered in voter-list and vote, I have no words for them. They are shameless bunch of people, who have no rights to blame anyone if they dont' get good roads, electricity or any other civic amenities. They just want to think whole of India is theirs but when it comes to responsibility, they happily choose to back-out. I agree that you might not believe in this current Voting system, but understand that most of the youth educated people still don't vote. If you can't vote for somebody, atleast vote against. This will bring some fear in those politicians minds. Still hoping to see some changes in those so-called educated youth's acts and responsiblities towards India.
I wanted to end the post with the above lines, but I chose to write it at the top.

Last few weekends gone busy working with SmartVote and I appreciate hardwark and great effort put in by all the volunteers of SmartVote including me. :-)
All this for you "Namma Bengalooru". When you have some good cause associated with what you do, you like everything what you would have not liked in day-to-day routine, as door-to-door ringing the bell, talking the samething to all of them, tele-calling people etc.
BBMP elections are over, and there are discussions going on the same "Lower Voter Turnout". From last few weeks (weekends), I have been working with SmartVote in their drive to increase the voter-turnout, and encourage citizens to come out and vote, actually not only vote but vote for the right candidate. I as a part of SmartVote team, enjoyed every other work we did to make the whole of koramangala aware of elections, candidates and last but not the least is "To Vote".
This time SmartVote has concentrated on Koramangala (ward# 151) and did every effort to give comfort of Voting. Starting from the data-collection drive by the SmartVote volunteers from last 3-4 months, they did a awesome job of registering around 6k residents of koramangala in database. People have been informed, encouraged to search for their names and if not then get it added. Then a week before the elections, they have organized a candidates-debate in partnership with a independent and honest magazine "Citizen Matters". SmartVote volunteers have called people, texted them about the debates so that citizens can come and listen to their potential candidates. Also, candidates profiled being published and distributed in whole of koramangala. Finally before the Election-day, they setup a call-center to assist voters to find their names in the voter list all around the bangalore. Volunteers have called up all the people in the database in koramangala to remind of the election date and to vote. On the D-Day, Vote-Marshalling being done in koramangala door-to-door to say thanks if they have voted and if not then they are requested to go out and Vote.
In the whole of the process, I really enjoyed doing everything like door-to-door data collection, distributing candidates profile and inviting for debates going door-to-door in koramangala, then tele-calling koramangala citizens to remind them about election-day and requested them to vote. Vote-marshalling was also a good experience with Red FM covering a few bytes out of it.
Overall, people's responses were turned out be very good. Initially whenever we went to a door, they were reluctant to talk to us thinking salesman, and when they heard us fully, some complained us about the faults in voter-list, some said thanks and many others appreciated our effort and a larger percentage assured us that they will vote.
This time, I think its not citizens fault this time, probably the faulty voter list caused lower turnout, due to stale names present and valid names being deleted.

Busy Weekend with SmartVote and Loksatta

2010-03-15T23:14:00.006+05:30

After a long time, I was so much busy on a weekend, that too in Bangalore :-)
Attended Dr. Meenakshi's Election Campaign Meeting at Sumir's house. Dr. Meenakshi is contesting at the Loksatta Ticket from ward# 35 Aramane Nagar.
I request all the readers of my blog to spread about Dr. Meenakshi and Loksatta whomever they know in Aramane Nagara.
Got to talk to her for quite a long time, and yes it is sure that if she gets it, she is gonna give the best of services to the ward.

Then, met there SmartVote's Sumir, and he asked me to campaign for SmartVote on Sunday Morning door-to-door and I agreed.
Sunday, 8:30 AM, behind Sukhsagar, and I was there. And then started door-to-door campaign. We went in pairs and covered one cross (a street) and spread the "To Vote" word door-to-door.
SmartVote has done a great job in making a database of Voters of Bangalore and created a very good search interface, where you can search your name based on your Name, a substring from the name, door-num or any field. We all know that there are lot of names mis-spelt, making it difficult to even search. SMART VOTE made it easy, just give it a try once. Choose your ward and search name, if not found, try with a part of your name.
SmartVote has gone a step further in this "To Vote" campaign. There is a debate organized on this Sunday, March 21st, 4:00 PM @ NGV Club, where all the contestants from the Koramangala ward# 151 will be coming and citizens can listen to them and ask questions. This would help them make a better choice among all the candidates.

It was quite a good experience, talking to people and spreading the importance of Vote.

Again, would like to request all of you to please VOTE, that's the only chance to intiate some change, the change you wish to see, yes stand-up, make a choice and VOTE. Your vote counts. A corporator choosen will be the one who is going to listen to your day-to-day issues and we all Bangaloreans will make sure that its well taken care. Yes, together we can, we will make a difference.

Don't Forget, March 28th, BBMP Elections, go and VOTE, and Make a difference.

Learn to queue up to become UK citizen, But what about an Indian becoming a good Indian Citizen?

2010-02-19T11:30:00.006+05:30

Monday TOI - "Learn to queue up to become UK citizen".

Good initiative by London authorities, I wish Indian Government could also do something on the same lines to make our own people learn how to make a queue and be part of it.

From the news-article -
Paul Woolas, the immigration minister, said “The simple act of taking one’s turn is one of the things that holds our country together. It is very important that new comers take their place in queues whether it is for a bus or a cup of tea,” Woolas said.

If we Indians learn to form a queue or atleast if we learn to not to break a queue, many of our basic and fundamental problems will be solved easily.

If you didn't get this yet, think again.

Mare hue Ravan ko kya marte ho, Grow up !!!

2009-09-29T22:00:00.010+05:30

Ghor Kalyug !!!
I feel very sad seeing burning effigy of Ravana, how glad we are after Ravan-Dahan, as if we ourselves have killed our own Ravana's and become the purest of the soul. In today's world, if I observe relatively, I cannot agree Ravana being a bad-man, I repeat, I am speaking "relatively". He was the most scholar of his times, there was noone who can beat his knowledge, he has done such a hard tapasya, neither you nor any good-man can even think of doing it, let alone doing it. That was "Treta-Yug", that was "Ram-Rajya", everything there was ideal, and hence Ravana was the only bad-man (again relatively). I hope its now cleared what the great significance the word "relative" has.
There are many more tangible and non-tangible bad-men present in today's world (The Great Kal-Yug).
If you want to fight, you want to kill, yes come forward, lets kill religious-descrimination, caste-descrimination, illiteracy, quota, corruption, poverty and what not.
Today we have many worst-men (Ravan being only bad-man, again relative, isn't it !!!) - to name a few - Kulayam Singh, Aayagati, Aloo Fasad, Aede-Ghoda, Akaal Fakre, Aaj-Fakre, Shok Ingle, .... And the list goes on.

Time has come, Jaago, Jaago, Grow up, fight against these tangible and non-tangible bad-men, don't let them play with your sentiments, we have a long way to success in this world.

Traffic police - "To police traffic" or "To make money from innocent citizens"?

2009-09-21T20:38:00.005+05:30

I always follow traffic rules and also make sure that if I am pillion riding or sitting in car, the driver should also follow traffic rules. Yesterday something happened to us which was not good -

We were in Jayanagar sunday evening, trying to look for a parking space, and we reached canara bank circle. We stopped there for the signal as it was RED, and then it turned GREEN, we started moving, with that slowly moving traffic we crossed the white line, it was still GREEN, we were turning left but due to other vehicles we got a little bit delayed(Noone follows lane discipline in bangalore, its a known fact), but it was still GREEN till we can see the signal. It must have happened that we turned left and signal must have turned RED and there were 2 police inspector standing with their motorcyle with blackberries, one came in front of our car, we stopped and they alleged that we have jumped signal, we should pay fine. We were shocked, as we knew that we haven't, it was GREEN, but there was no way to prove our innocence. I agree that it might be possible that the moment we would have turned left and singal were turned RED, but we were already ahead of line and almost turned left by then. How can you drive as well as look back to see what is the condition of signal now, not possible right?

We requested a lot that we didn't jump, we were already in the middle of road but they said "No arguments", pay fine for Rs. 100 and started typing in their blackberries.

Now the questions props up -

(1) What is the first responsibility of Traffic police ( that too 2 cops), To make sure that traffic is running smoothly, to check people stick to their lanes and do not obstruct other's ways and not cause any jam at the intersection or JUST SLAP FINES AT INNOCENT CITIZENS?

(2) Now, when a traffic cops alleges that one jumped signal, now what's the proof, what is the way we can prove our innocence?

(3) There has to some answer to this, otherwise its a joke on World's largest democracy. I would say Traffic Management should put cameras and cops should only fine when they can prove that one broke the signal.

The reason I am posting this blog is that I need suggestion in how should I do something about it so that it shouldn't happen with other innocent citizens. I am attaching here the receipt photo also so that if we can make this complaint reach upto the higher management, the culprit cops can be tracked by the place, time, number on the reciept, and others should stop catching innocent peoples.
(I blurred the Driver's name and Vehicle number in the photo to protect the identity of the person driving the car publicly.)

New TTMC@Jayanagar and Metro Reach-4

2009-09-17T19:02:00.007+05:30

Last saturday, we PRAJA folks had a monthly meet, and this time we have decided to meet at the new TTMC@Jayanagar, so that we could critically examine and provide feedback on the PRAJA and BMTC can use it for the betterment in the future projects. There are many more TTMCs coming up in the Bangalore city under the JnNurm Fund.
Here is the link which describes all the pros and cons, good and ugly part of the newly built TTMC@Jayanagar.
Jayanagar TTMC Report

After the TTMC meet, we took a MetroWalk on the reach-4 portion on RV road constructed by NCC. We spent a hour so at the metro site discussing and taking pictures.
Namma Metro Reach-4 pictures

Will we ever become developed nation in right perspective?

2009-09-08T22:42:00.010+05:30

Was reading Today' TOI and eyes stuck at the page about Panchayat making people to die/suicide/kill/murder, I was shocked, I said to myself "Ghor Kalyug".
TOI dated 8th Sep 2009, page-11, "Medieval Justice, 50km From Delhi"
(Boycotts. Killings. Lynchings. All in the name of honour and kinship. That’s justice, khap style — and it flourishes in vast stretches of India’s hinterland. An hour’s drive from the capital is all it takes to go back a few centuries).
Other articles on the same TOI page-
'Only whores choose their partners'
Pesticide pills for 'wayward' girls
Khap panchayats seek legal claws

One can easily see that people are doing hell lot of injustice to human life in the back of so called Maryada. If this is Maryada, I wish it doesn't exist on earth, we are better without Maryada(so called Honor).
I question how come decision-makers of Panchayat are within so-called-maryada by killing innocent people, raping women in innocent families, punishing which is purely against the human rights.
Why Human Rights people can't see it?
Why Nation Commision of Women can't take any action against it?
Why Mayawati (so called Dalit's support) is not doing anything about it?
Why Police fears acting against Village Panchayat?

Everyone starting from the people facing the trauma to the police, state government, Central government, Human Rights Commision, NCW, everyone is questionable.
People Jaago, raise your voice against this? Those who are good at protesting, make non-voilent protests?

All these raises another question, will be ever developed from all perspective, this way, never, never !!!

Reforms needed, its high time

2009-09-05T02:24:00.012+05:30

(Update at the last)
Last 3-4 days, helicopter, chopper, commandoes, satellite were the frequently used words as well as equipments.
All the effort by our officials and commandoes and police force is really appreciable while finding AP's CM YSR.
But somewhere I am not feeling very good at heart, even logically also to see a big gap in treatment to a VVIP and a lot of people caught in a natural calamity. I feel our system really needs a lot of reforms where a common-man should also get the same treatment. I have never seen or heard choppers, helicopters, commandoes going to flood affected areas and relocating people to safer areas, never, never seen that except politicians doing rounds and media reporters taking raw material for breaking-news. India a very good example of democracy, then why such a flaw in system? How RAJA become more important the whole PRAJA? And at the end whose money is this? Taxpayer's money, my money, your money, our money.
(I should mention specifically that I am not at all against whatever done as a part of search operation, I just suggested where else also we can do the same effort)

On a humorous note; I keep thinking after this incident, UP CMs should also roam in BELL helicopters, it will be beneficial for the whole country. Its good to be serious about it.

Update:
I am not alone, others are also echoing the similar sentiments. Read the Sobha De's column in Sunday Times of India:
Searching for clues: It happens only in India

Excerpt from her article -
Apart from anything else, four other lives were lost along with YSR's. Nobody has paid the slightest attention to the sorry plight of their families. Whose decision was it to take the doomed flight into hostile terrain in miserable weather? Do the loved ones of the pilots, group captain S K Bhatia, captain M S Reddy and the relatives of YSR's principal secretary S Subramanayam, plus his chief security officer A S C Wesley, have no right to question authorities, demand explanations? Or are their lives less valuable, somehow?

Watching the coverage across TV channels, it was distressing to note that the disaster was covered in such an insensitive and lop-sided manner. Granted, a VIP was killed and deserved extensive coverage - but to the exclusion of the others?

But going by the sms-es doing the rounds, here's one that needs to be addressed in the spirit of fair and free enquiry - "Billed as 'India's biggest ever search' 5,000 jawans, an ISRO remote-sensing aircraft, a Sukhoi, 14 search and rescue choppers, the forest department police, paramilitary forces, Chenchu tribal guides.... all mobilized within three short hours for a missing CM. Was the Central government sleeping during the 60 hours of Mumbai terror attacks on 26/11?"

Saach ka Saamna, anyone?