School Days - One of the Best Phases of My Life

School Days I feel is the best phase in most of our lives. I still cherish those memories and feel nostalgic about it.Woh Bhi Kya Din the Yaar Kasam Se!!!



Life was so carefree with no responsibilities and so much fun. Every small achievement of us at that age meant so much to us.Getting a Very Good card or getting a gold medal in any sports activities would make us overjoyed. So many subjects to learn but learning was also fun as there were no career choices associated with it. That had to wait till we reached 10th standard and we appeared for the board exams.



In school you are given so many opportunities to explore your talent and given a  chance to showcase it.
For the brainy guys we used to have quiz competitions every year. I had the distinction of winning the quiz competition for Blue House(my house) for 3 consecutive years :):)
For people who are good in drawing our school used to send students to Intermediate exams. For students who are good in elocution we used to represent our schools at various inter-school events. Plus for students good in dance and drama there used to be many cultural events and occasions for them to excel.



I was lucky to have so many good teachers under whose tutelage I could study well and excel in all the subjects. I still remember the day when I had to give a Hindi speech in front of a packed audience and although I had prepared well, I was feeling nervous. My Hindi professor Mr M.B.Singh came forward and told me to be calm. He asked my friend to help me in practicing. Then when I went on stage I was very confident and upbeat. The thunderous applause that I got after delivering that speech is something I still remember. I immediately went and thanked my Hindi professor.



I feel in our times the competition for marks was not as cutthroat as it is nowadays. I see children studying in 2nd-3rd standard going for tuitions these days. I mean that is something hard to comprehend. For us the things taught in school and self-study was more than enough to sail through the exams. I think parents are also pressuring their children too much in this mad rush for marks. The movie 'Taare Zameen Par' showed this very beautifully.



School is also a place where you forge some friendships that last for a lifetime. It was all about sharing and caring and even the small fights that you had were solved with a simple sorry. There was no place for grudges. Another best thing about school days were the long vacations that we had after the annual exams.
Man 2 months of vacations to enjoy :):)...Those were the days when you will play all day in the sun and not complain...



I feel school is also a place that is still considered as a temple of learning and unlike colleges where we bunk and attend lectures just for timepass or to make fun of the professors. Another occasion that I fondly remember was the day when we used to celebrate Raksha Bandhan in school...Ladkon ko bhav khane ke liye ek special din...hehehehehe....Most of the boys would run away during the breaks and come back only once the class started...Phir thoda manane ke baad hum maan jaate the....aur ladkiyan hamari kalayon me rakhi bandthi thi...We in return would give chocolates or pensets to the girls....



Penfight was another favourite game aur free period me sab benchon par yeh game khela jaata tha...Book cricket,playing TT on the class teacher's table,X and Zeros etc the list of games was endless...


Teacher की नज़रों से बचके गेम खेलने का मज़ा ही कुच्छ और था....




देखते देखते दिन गुजरते गए और स्कूल से विदा लेने का वक़्त आ गया!!!
I still remember the send-off party for our batch...We were all dressed in our best ,blazers for the boys and girls in sarees...After some photo ops with our teachers and batchmates we had some cultural event and a fashion show. Mr Mahindra Academy 99 and Miss Mahindra Academy 99 were selected (Mahindra Academy was the name of my school). Then some of us were told to recount their experiences of studying in this school. When it was my turn to speak I spoke for some time and then broke down in tears...I couldnt believe after that day I will not be coming to school,not seeing my teachers...Each of us would go away and pursue our different paths..
 Even today I feel nostalgic whenever I think about school and the various memories attached to it. I hope through my post I was able to send atleast some of you to recollect those golden memories in your school days.
I would like to end my post with a Hindi sher...Yeh sher mere bachpan ke pyaare doston ke liye

Dosti achchi ho toh rang laati hai,



Dosti gehri ho toh sabko bhaati hai,
Dosti naadaan ho toh toot jaati hai,
Par agar dosti apne jaisi ho….
…. Toh itihaas banaati hai !

MJ- The Greatest Performer Ever

Michael Jackson to some was an enigma, for some he was a weirdo but to me like his millions of fans worldwide, he was a musical genius. I remember watching the Thriller Video as a child and being amazed by this phenomenon...The early days of MTV had MJ hits playing over and over again. Ya those were the days when MTV was not so Bollywoodised as it is today :):)

Thriller was and still is the best selling album of all time. He went on to win eight Grammy Awards for Thriller the most Grammy's won by any artist in a single year. His moonwalk step was a craze and spiralled people into utter frenzy. He inspired so many people to dance like him.

Everything about MJ's performance was so special; the sequined gloves. the diamond studded jackets, the characteristic white socks ohhh the list is endless. However stardom comes at a price and he was constantly hounded by the media. Imagine the pressure and stress under which he had to live as he was constantly in the media glare right from the age of 5 when he debuted as part of the band 'Jackson 5'

One of his best videos according to me is 'Black or White' which shows Jackson dancing with some African tribals , an Indian dancer, Chinese etc. He also brought about a social message through his music. His compositions like Heal the World, We are the World and Earth Song are poignant examples of his concern for the children and Mother Nature. He was a multitalented guy.A dancer,singer,choreographer,composer,lyricist and to top it all an excellent stage performer. I regret missing the chance of catching him live when he had come to Mumbai in 1996, but those who saw it for them it was a dream come true.

Just a few days back I watched the movie 'This is It' which contains footage of the rehearsals and soundbytes of artistes performing with MJ. 'This is It' was supposed to be Michael's final curtain call and was to feature 50 concerts all over UK and whose tickets were sold out in a matter of 4 hours. But alas Fate had other plans and less than 3 weeks before the show MJ died of a cardiac arrest. Coming back to the movie experience, I was enthralled to see the preparation and effort put by MJ for each of the songs. He was working with seasoned music directors, drummers and vocal artistes but even they were amazed by the knowledge and talent of this man. The thing that struck me when I was watching the movie was that MJ was such a perfectionist and he looked into every aspect be it the music, the lighting, the vocals, the backup dancers, the stage. I would like to narrate an incident in the movie.There is this song that MJ is rehearsing. It is a song that he dedicates to the Jackson 5. Suddenly he stops midway saying that volume is very high and it feels someone is driving a 'fist through his ears' The director asks him does he want to reduce the volume. And MJ says that Yes and I am saying this With Love, L-O-V-E. This shows the humility that he possessed inspite of being so famous. If he wanted he could play tantrums like some of the other stars but Humility is one of the many factors that separates him from the rest.

To me MJ was a person who brought joy with his music, enthralled people with his dance steps and will be the 'Greatest Performer Ever'. Lets remember him for the wonderful music legacy that he has left behind and not for the charges and scandals and allegations on his life.

I would like to end my post with these words: " Michael wherever you are May You Find Peace and Rest"

From A Die Hard MJ Fan

The Pleasures of Biking

Right from my teenage years bikes have fascinated me. It was always my dream to own a bike one day. There are people who prefer cars and argue that they are much safer and fun to ride. But for me biking is an adrenalin rush. Feeling the wind hit your face, hearing the engine getting revved up is something that every biker enjoys. The sound of the engine is like music to my ears. Before I bought my own bike I used to ride bikes of my friends. You know how it is boys and bikes go hand in hand. :):)

I have had some falls while riding a bike in my initial years. But that is normal coz unless you fall you will never learn. I remember once at my native place in Kerala I was riding my neighbour's bike. It was pitch dark and there were no streetlights. Phir bhi dil ne chaha ki chalo bike chalani hai... I sat on the bike with my friend behind and I rode for about 200-300 metres. It was a nice tar road and I was enjoying my ride. But in the thrill of riding I didnt see a big speedbreaker and the bike skidded and we both fell. Luckily we had only minor scratches. Aise bahut saare kisse hue hai..lol...

When I got a job the first thing that I wanted was my own bike. But as with most of all, my parents were very skeptical and told me that it is risky and blah blah...So I settled for a Honda Activa at that time...Dil ko samjhaya ki chalo two wheeler to aa gayi...bike baadme le lenge.... I must tell you that the Honda Activa is one of the best automated scooters in our country and I thoroughly enjoyed riding it...But phir bhi dil ke ek kone me woh khwahish abhi bhi thi ki bike lena hi hai...And so last December on my birthday I decided to gift myself a bike..hehehe...

After some deliberations I freezed on buying the TVS Apache RTR FI 160. I chose an orange colour because it looked strikingly different and appealing to me. Within 10 days the bike got delivered at my doorstep and I was thrilled.

With the help of one of my best friends I soon got the hang of my bike and soon I was zipping it around all over. Its been 9 months since she has come to my life and I have truly enjoyed every moment of the time spent with her. She will my first love always...Hey I am talking abt my bike...Dont get other ideas...hehehehe.... I use my bike for my daily commuting to office..and trust me guys having a two wheeler in Mumbai is a blessing what with all the traffic.. You can squueze in a bike at every available space and get ahead of the traffic.

Once I rode my bike from Mumbai to Lonavala and it was such a pleasure driving on the Old Mumbai-Pune Highway...No traffic and I could utilize the full power of my bike away from the maddening crowd. I plan to go on for bike treks soon with my friends. For people who dont know a bike trek means you cover large distances on your bike over a span of many days with stopovers only for food and rest. An added adrenalin rush for true bikers is if the terrain is rough coz that tests you like nothing else. One of my dreams is to go on a bike trek to Leh Ladakh.... That will be one hell of an adventure to ride bikes on heights of 17000 -18000 feet.....with icy mountains and beautiful scenery for company.

My love for biking has increased over the years and I hope one day I can ride the Harleys, Ducatis and the Hayabusas.... As I end my post my advice to all budding bikers is along with the speed rush please drive safely also. And most important always wear a helmet.

Reservations : The Bane Of Indian Society

For my second post I thought of writing about something that we all have an opinion about and that is reservations in educational institutions. Before writing about what I feel about this topic I will give you a brief overview on why reservations were introduced. As you all know our Indian caste system was divided into four groups the Brahmins( priests, scholars), Kshatriyas(warriors & kings), Vaishyas( agriculturists & traders) and the Shudras(service providers & artisans). These divisions were made at that time so as to clearly demarcate the roles of each person living in society and for the proper functioning.

But gradually this caste system started to erode the people. The Brahmins kept the knowledge to themselves and denied others the right to study the scriptures. The lower sections of the society were outcast and denied the right of proper living. But you know the beauty of our Indian culture is such that it adapts itself according to the changing times and adopts the good and throws away the bad practices which were followed in the past. We have many such examples. Practices like sati, untouchability, child marriage have been abolished.

So with the prevalent caste system many reformers like Mahatma Phule, Raja Ram Mohan Roy took upon themselves to bring about a change.

When India won Independence in 1947 Dr Ambedkar was given the charge of drafting the constitution. He was of the firm belief that since the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes were oppressed for long they should be given reservations in educational institutions and jobs so they also get a chance to uplift themselves. He allocated 15% and 7.5% reservations for SC and ST respectively. But the important thing here is he also mentioned in the constitution that this was for a temporary period and it needs to be reviewed after a period of 10 years.

I feel Dr Ambedkar was right at that time to include reservations for the SC's and ST's as they should also get a right to education. This set of reservation rules was followed till 1978. Then in 1979 a new commision called the Mandal commision was set up to review the situation of the backward classes. They decided to include the Other Backward Classes(OBC's) also under the reservation umbrella and give them 27% which increased the reservation quota to 49.5%. These recommendations were implemented by VP Singh in 1990 which led to widespread revolts all over the country by student bodies.

With the passage of time reservation has been used as a tactic by the Cong govt for votebank politics. I cant believe even after 60 years of our Independence reservations still exist and is continuing to thrive. The purpose of introducing reservations was to uplift the lower sections of society and then gradually it should have been phased out as more and more people used it.

But no the Govt saw this as an opportunity to generate vote banks by giving more and more reservations. Even the IIT's and IIM's have not been spared. These are the premier educational institutions in our country and the effects of such reservations are for all of us o see. Do you know the cutoff for getting into IIT for a student from SC caste is nearly half of a student from Open Category!!! Can you believe that?? I also came to know of an astonishing fact that many students who enter the IIT's with low cutoffs after a peroid of 1-2 years drop out as they cannot cope up with the studies. Now due to these dropouts those seats are wasted and deserving students are denied the chance.

I feel that reservations should be based on the economic conditions of a person and not on his caste. I have seen so many instances where people who flaunt their caste certificates are very rich so where does the question of upliftment come here. The creamy layer states that any person whose annual family income is above 2.5 lacs should be excluded from the reservation status. Also children of doctors, engineers, media professionals, etc are also excluded. But in our country there is a way of getting around anything. People produce fake creamy layer certificates inorder to avail the reservation facility. Now instead of basing it on caste if the reservations are based on economic conditions then it is more logical.

For example there is a student who is brilliant in studies but cannot continue his higher studies as he doesnt have the money then in such cases he should be provided all the help to fulfil his dreams. If we want the best IAS officers, best policemen, best engineers and best doctors then merit only should be the sole criteria. Otherwise we are letting mediocrity to set in and things to worsen.

I myself have many times felt frustrated by this reservation system during my college days when I see people with lower marks than me getting better colleges than me.I have nothing against the people who make use of their caste certificates to get admissions to colleges. They are just using the system to suit their ways.The change need to be brought about in the system. The time has come to review and adapt the reservation system according to the need of the times. If we want to become a progressive and developed country we have to promote merit and merit only.

Before I end my post I ask you this one question

How can we force the govt to review and reform the reservation policies?
Although I am not much familiar about it with the introduction of RTI we have an opportunity to voice our concerns and demand an explanation from the authorities.

Wishing you all a Happy Independence Day in advance I end my post.Please write in your comments and feedback.

My First Post

So here I am writing my first post on my blog. You know people we all have studied history in our school days, but have u ever thought that what we have studied in the books are they a true representation of the facts? For example we all have studied about Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. To me Bose was a gr8 leader and a patriot in the true sense. He was one of the few leaders who fought for the freedom cause by awakening the Indians who lived abroad. The formation of the INA, his umpteen disguises to escape the British all these are widely known facts. But his death is still a mystery even after more than 60 years. The publicised fact is that he died in a plane crash in Taiwan while he was on his way to Japan. But I am sure you might have heard or read about sightings of Bose even after his death. So as I was searching on the Internet to find out more about this I came to know of many startling facts. Firstly as per reports the air crash was used as a decoy so that Subhashji could escape to USSR. What adds more credibility to this is that the British India refused to confirm the death of Bose even in Oct 1946 ie more than a year after his death.

At the time of the Second World War the Allied forces were fighing the three pronged forces of Japan, Italy and Germany. Bose took advantage of this opportunity as he knew that this is the right time to press for India's freedom more as Britain will be concentrating more on the War. He began talks with Nazi Germany and Japanese forces and shook hands with them. Now some people may argue on him supporting the Germans but as Bose once famously said that he is ready to shake hands with the Devil for the cause of India's freedom. So in 1945 when Germany was defeated Bose turned to Japan but the two nuclear blasts in Hiroshima and Nagasaki really weakened Japan. Bose knew that so he decided to take help from USSR. The Allied forces were closely following him so he had to one step ahead of them. There are confirmed reports of him escaping to USSR and his trusted aide Colonel Habibur Rehman Khan had also said to the govt appointed committee that he is sworn to secrecy.

However after reading so much the one thing I dont understand is why the Govt of India don't make the facts surrounding his death to the public. The first appointed commision to probe Bose's death was the Shah Nawaz committee. They didnt seek assistance from the Taiwenese govt citing reasons that India doesnt have diplomatic relations with Taiwan. The second commitee appointed was the Khosla committee which also confirmed the publicised fact of his death in Taiwan. In 1999 the Mukherjee commission was formed. This commission went through all the documents and even visited Japan, Russia and Taiwan. This commissions findings overturned the previous two committee's findings and came to the conclusion that Bose's death in Taiwan was a cover-up for his escape to USSR. The commission submitted their report to the Home minister which was then put forth in Parliament but the Indian govt rejected the findings of the commission. All these clearly point that the Govt is trying to cover up but in doing so it is keeping the public in dark. Even classified documents after a period of time become declassified. In a recent RTI act filed by a non profit organisation called Mission Netaji to clear all the documents that it is holding related to Netaji's death the Govt of India rejected their application citing that if they make these documents public then it would spoil the diplomaic ties with foreign countries.

I know that my post is getting longer but before I end it I ask you few questions

1.> Dont we the citizens of this country have the right to know the actual facts?

2.> In 1954 Dr S RadhaKrishnan the then President of India had told his trusted aide S.M Goswami that he had met Bose in Moscow in 1948 at a conference and Bose had expressed his desire of returning back to India. This was told by Mr Goswami to the Inquiry Commission set up by the Govt. Why did the Govt then take no action in researching on this piece of info especially when it was voiced by one of our formed Presidents.

Another interesting piece of info that I came up with was about a sage living in Faizabad in UP who was known by his followers as Gumnaami Baba. This sage died in 1985. According to many people this Baba was Subhash Chandra Bose. The interesting thing here is this saint Gumnaami Baba or Bhagwanji as he was called looked like Bose, sounded like him was of the same height and also had similar reading habits and common friends like Bose. After his death a team conducted its investigation and searched the place where the Baba used to live. They found rare documents and photographs of Bose. The followers of this sage celebrated his birthday on Jan 23rd the same day as Bose.

So was Gumnaami Baba actually Bose in exile??? I leave this question for you to ponder upon.:):)

I would love to hear your suggestions and comments on my post.