Personal

These are just some random rants about what I have been thinking about. Watching this podcast episode by Sangtar kind of pushed me to scribble it down here. So should the culture not change ? How do we decide that what all bits should stay as they are and what all bits should change ? Also, who decides that ? We have seen that black and white photograph showing a traditional Punjabi kitchen. Such kitchens had arrangement for letting the smoke out but of course wood and all the stuff that was used wasn’t a clean fuel like modern day things including gas and electric stoves. Since mostly women worked in the kitchen, they were the ones most impacted by this. That photograph looks nice and nostalgic but should it not have gone anyway ensuring better health for all who work in the kitchen ? ...

It is a difficult topic to write about so I am just going to jot down some thoughts that come to mind when I think about this whole movement. Our generation hasn’t really seen anything like this in their lives. The scale, the way it was organised and sustained is an example in itself. Now when their demands have been met and they are going back, it is also a lesson on how to organise a protest and put your point of view across without resorting to any unconstitutional ways or means. Lakhs of people came together to protest with a single agenda; asking for rollback of laws and a law on MSP. It went on for an year and it is not easy to sustain a protest for that long. Imagine lakhs of people living on the roads and to arrange for all their daily needs. It takes some spirit to be able to sustain it. Few things that i think have been unique with this protest: ...

This is from the Facebook memories of 2014. 2-3 days ago I was listening to AIR FM Gold channel and there was a letter from someone from some remote place in Kashmir. The gentleman insisted in the letter that DO read the name of the place from where I am writing. I couldn’t stop myself from noticing the difference. On one side we in the metros are living this always-on-run life and on the other side there was someone who wanted his place’s name to be read loudly so that people know about it ! How simple life must be at that place ! ...

This is from Facebook memories of this day in 2013 when i was stuck in Bombay rains! Oh boy…Bombay’s first rain and i am part of it ! Rather stuck in it ! Keeping in mind that my flight is at 2 am, i booked a cab for 10 pm. 4 hours are good enough. Right ? Then it started raining at 7 in the evening and still raining till 10. The taxi guy didnt turn up. Called all taxi walas and as expected nothing is avlvl. ...

Few things we learned on our recent trip to Goa: Lets get started with the first one i.e. finding a taxi once you land at Goa airport. The queue at the official counter is too long. You probably will have to wait for 30 mins or more to get a taxi. It would be a better idea to either arrange a taxi before you reach there or go out from the airport and talk to the some drivers roaming around. They have their cars parked on the roadside and you can easily strike a deal with one of them. Will save you a lot of time though you may need a walk few hundred meters. No there is no Ola or Uber in Goa. If you are staying near Calangute the best place to rent a bike, car or a jeep is guy called Dolphin. Very genuine rates and a good number of vehicles he owns. Here is the location of this shop. Titos is a shithole. Avoid it. There must be tens of better pubs out there. But AVOID Titos. They really have nothing to offer. Folks plying taxis in the city hardly bargain. They are going to charge the amount they quote. At times it might be a better idea to rent a bike or car. That is all for now. ...