A journey by train

The journey by train takes me a to a high,

Golden memories of the past and hopes for the future travel,

The train remains as it it is,

The world goes back to pay respect to this marvel.

Whether it rains, it is too hot or cold,

It is always a new experience in this mode so old.

The tunnels, the plains and the valleys prevail,

This wagon transforms them into an interesting tale.

There are the vendors, beggars and the omni present smell,

I wonder where they would be, if not for this moving angel.

Listening to the music, reading commics, adjusting with people sick,

For me it is a tragic, a magic, a gimmick, an amazing trick.

For it always gives a break, makes me creative to the core,

Helps me reinvent myself, provides me with wonderful thoughts when bore.

Its so inspirational, it is still making me write,

Even when i'm short of words to describe, what he or she means to me.

So I call it as unconditional love which remains forever,

In spite of the place time and style, and the paragon of mixed feelings from the heart,

The combination of the tear and the smile.

A journey by train,

I don't know when it will come again, ???

Discover Dharavi- A Picture Diary

Dharavi is the last of the places a person will like to discover when he comes to the glamour city of Mumbai. Although, in the recent times thanks to movies like Slumdog Millionaire, it has become an indigenous element of the travel plan of any firang visiting Mumbai, assuming to see what real India is. However, this extends beyond...

Social Service League of St.Xaviers College, Mumbai discovered this potential which Dharavi has. The aim was to involving well to do students in discovering for themselves what lies beyond Asia's largest slums. With visionaries like Tanvi Shah and Lizann Fernandez, there were tie-ups done with URBZ (urbz.net) and Sneha (www.snehamumbai.org) .

This picture is taken just outside the URBZ shelter. There were initial obstacles as to what type of program, college going youth can bring in. Will those used to a comfortable lifestyles and latest gizmos, be able to interact and in fact make a difference in the lives of small children. So, they decided to name the program 'Discover Dharavi'. The objective being discovering for oneself, how one with the passion to make a change can mould himself in a completely new environment and start with small steps.

This picture shows how Amitav Ghosh has extended beyond boundaries and language barriers following the SSL motto says "Leave the place better than it was." This should be an inspiration to Indians as should we wait for people from outside the country start transforming it?

Moving on with the story, posters were put up on the St.Xaviers and social media (Facebook) was used to appeal to the youth. Similarly, classroom announcements were made. So began the process of attracting youngsters to Discover Dharavi. The response were good, with many excited to visit Dharavi in the first place. But the question still remained, 'Can this be made sustainable?'

Thus, the journey began. From exploring the bylanes of Dharavi which are confusing, to exploring the underground flourishing industry which lies within, it was an eye-opening experience.

Finally, they made their way through and the work began. The door opened and now they had tasks to accomplish and challenges to face, quite different from the ones at college. They found this process interesting. More than a discovery of Dharavi it turned out to be a journey a self-discovery.

Another, task undertaken was to invite the slum kids and paint the Dharavi Shelter. As seen in the picture, you can see children engaged in creativity and happy to build something of their own.

Colours that define childhood. A child feeling happy at her very on Mickey Mouse.

This picture shows how a cute dog made a rather broken wall more beautiful.

Blue-the colour of hope. Children having fun at mixing colours.

Such, adventures thus became a routine. With students visiting the shelters, twice a week after college and when they got time. And this time, the 'time' they spent with the children mattered the most. With making them dance of boogie woogie, to teaching them nursery rhymes, narrating stories in English and asking them to introduce themselves in English, it boosted their confidence.

Shown in the picture, Xavierites finding transport back to home. But somethings brought them back to this place. Some emotional incidents being pulled by children to see their colony ganpati or just being asked by them ' Will you come next week again?'

The objective of writing this blog is to draw light on how this model can be prototype by other colleges. Rather than just doing social work to get media attention and acknowledgement, how can youth be involved in impacting the grassroots.

For more information, join our communities: https://www.facebook.com/groups/27194888589/10150346364613590/?notif_t=group_activity and https://www.facebook.com/groups/226333090752501/.

Picture Courtesy:

Lizann Fernandez and Gisho Gajbhiye.

Diwali Reinvented

The Lights of the lamps, the sounds of the crackers, the taste of the sweets- reminds you of Diwali? Well, this Diwali is passé, NT explores the new way:

Diwali has traditionally been the most celebrated and grandest of Indian Festivals. Along, with the mythological significance the festival has, people have derived new implications by associating it as a platform for people to come together, cleanliness, preserving dhan (wealth), replacing old things and brother-sister relationship. The process of updating these symbolisms and making them more relevant to the society has made it a mirror of taking the old customs and traditions, to the way forward.

Taking a common example when asked to a teenager ‘When does he come to know when Diwali is approaching?’, Rahul Verma, a answers “,When the brands start playing the Diwali theme advertisements.” On the same question, his mother, Ranjani Verma, answers “When people start cleaning their houses.” Hence, although certain intrinsic rituals like the Lakshmi Pujan occupy a permanent place, the other facets still remain open to customization.

The innovation has been far and wide. The Diwali Mithai and Farsan have been replaced by the Celebrations and the Biscuit packs. The one to one way of greetings and wishing best wishes for the season have transformed from the Telephone calls, to the forward Smses and now Social Networking sites where people tag all those they want to wish on Facebook pictures and wall posts. In fact, even the ritual of playing cards at midnight (Teen pati) has surrendered itself to Poker. Speaking on the increased consumerism, Diwali is now incomplete without shopping some latest Branded stuff for your loved one or watching the latest Diwali release. The people have derived mixed opinion on crackers because of increased awareness about Child Labour and Environmental Pollution associated with it.

The Corporate have come up with lingua like Corporate gifting and Traditional Wear Competitions to motivate the employees to perform and not take an off in the peak season. The Malls have become the centre of all action instead of the local city markets. The most drastic change however, has been the Earthen Diyas (Lamps) being replaced by Electronic Lights. In fact, something amusing is beggars having their Diwali budgets which can be gauged from the experience of beggars at Nasik Road Station asking for an extra Diwali bonus.

In the light of Consumerism, Social Media, Environmentalism, Globalisation and faster Lifestyles, Nasikites have Reinvented our very own Diwali. What’s next? Let’s hope that this Diwali draws some light on it…

oF THE Mumbai Rains & Indian Railways.

Having stayed 3 years in Mumbai, which is popular for its Rains and Bollywood, this is the most interesting encounter with the former, I ever had. There is a simile drawn to Mumbai rains and Mumbai girls which no one can assure as to when they will come or go. Similar, is the case with Indian Railways which has been notorious for always reaching the destination on the ‘Indian Standard Time.’ If you combine them, you get a ‘timeless’ symbiosis of unreliability.

Moving on to the incident, I was coming back from my hometown Nasik by train. The train which I boarded was Kamayani Express. Although, this train was running really late I was optimistic in not expecting a further delay. As I entered the train I was happy to see lot of empty seats as I didn’t have a booked ticket. Today, the atmosphere had been festive as Anna Hazare had emerged victorious in his campaign of ‘India Against Corruption.’ I was feeling satisfied being a supporter and an agitator. I was anxious to see if the feeling of anti-corruption had dissolved to the grassroots and if the Ticket Checker will ask me for a bribe.

The journey commenced and I started enjoying home food. I was happy that the train was moving at a good speed although the monsoon started becoming fierce with the distance we covered. Finally, We reached Igatpuri and then 10 minutes, 20 minutes and 35 minutes but the train didn’t budge. I was unsure if I was going to make it to my friend’s Birthday surprise in Bandra before midnight. After 40 minutes the train started moving only to stop after 5 minutes and this ordeal continued. Infact, the amount of time the train stopped was more than it actually moved. My friends and family, became worried and I started getting calls and messages. Thanks to the Indian Media for showcasing the downpour as a ‘Breaking News’ as the entire Anna Hazare Episode was over.

My cell phone battery was low now and I decided to switch it off. I thought the best way will be to take some rest and get up at the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus the last station. To my dismay, this time it was the Ticket Checker who woke me up. He asked me for the ticket. I was so sleepy, I just gave him the ticket which I bought to come from Mumbai and he asked me what it was. Then, I showed him the correct one and he asked me for Rs. 40. I gave him the amount and asked for a ticket. I didn’t want to bribe him by any means. He told me if I wanted the ticket I will have to pay Rs.260 as fine. I then asked me to show the rule and he was didn’t reply. Ultimately, I gave him Rs.80 and got a Sleeper ticket.

This dialogue helped to me to divert my attention from the speed of the train. We had reached Kasara and it was 10.30 pm, exceeding by 1 and an half hour already. And now I started with some contingency planning. I wouldn’t be able to reach for the Birthday on time and also the Mumbai Local will stop. So, I decided that I was going to take a rickshaw from the station to Bandra. After, 3 hours of being slow and sometimes not even moving, the train reached LTT at 1.30 am. This had turned out to be the longest journey from my hometown. The song playing on my Ipod was ‘Mumbai Nagariya’ and I was simply agreeing with the lyrics. I was happy to be back to the city of dreams with God showering blessings in the form of rain.

Now, there was a new task of finding a rickshaw. I got one but I wasn’t ready to go by the fixed price. I then decided on a teenager wearing the khakhi taxi driver uniform pleading to go with him . Interestingly, I was wearing my new Reebok Reezig shoes and the were completely drenched with the first puddle. So was I, although I was wearing a jacket. It was raining cats and dogs anymore. It would be the dinosaur and the blue whale. The taxi finally started and I hoped that this was the last task at hand.

The rain was harsh still and the sky dark black. This young guy was sitting in the front seat and an old man was driving it. We left the station which was quite deserted without street lights. It resembled a scene from an old Hindi Movie. I was confident though, having stayed in this metro for enough time to be able to tackle them. And now they started interacting especially this young guy started asking me question about college and at the same time relating his touching story of becoming a taxi driver out of no choice. In India, you can smell something fishy when people try to have such long conversations with you and try to be over-friendly. I decided to go with the flow and sympathized with him as in a way it was passing my time. I argued with them on the first long cut they took. However, they justified with the road being blocked because of rains.

I switched on my phone as I had to get directions for the place. It was 2.30 am already and I entered Bandra finally. I needed to find MMK College, Bandra. Strangely, not even the Rickshaw fellows were aware. Somehow I got through my friend and we proceeded to SV Road. So late at night, with heavy rains in a shady cab driving through knee deep water, carrying valuables, I had to find a place to wish a friend on his birthday for which I was 3 hours late. And the unforeseen happened; the taxi broke down. The brighter side being the place was 10 metres away from it and I saw my friend waving.

I was giving a big smile until the taxi driver told me that the fare was Rs.550. I was baffled and I checked the meter which read 7.90 which translated to Rs.210 with night charge but the taxi driver was adamant on it being 17.90. So, the intuition I had, gave in. I checked the internet on my phone and showed it to the cab driver in vain. As then, he was concentrating his efforts to start the cab. Ultimately, both of them got down and toed the cab to a safe distance.

I started arguing with them to go to the nearest police station and they were arguing on vague points. They weren’t ready to move and finally, I called my friend over. The argument now was not how much the fare is but the way we were talking and both of them threatened to be violent. Ultimately, we sweet- talked to settle it at Rs.250 and left the scene only to see Akhil’s smile when he was shocked to see me and I just realised that his smile was worth it.

So, I would like to wish all of you a ‘Happy Journey’ to the road not taken as at the end of it you will have a tale to tell and an experience to share with the Mumbai Rains and the Indian Railways.

Lokpal Bill: Where Ignorance is a bliss…

17^th August, 2 days after India celebrates Independence Day and there is something special. World’s largest democracy is facing a threat to its own roots. The reason: The ruling party is unable to allow the freedom of speech and that too a respectable person who represents India’s common man to the core. Is this just another lapse on the part of the government or is the democracy awaiting its boom?

Firstly, I will like to clarify that I’m neutral. Neither Pro-Anna Hazare nor pro- Central Government. The motive of writing this article is acknowledging the ignorance of Indians to the cause of Lokpal. Lack of awareness is the worse that can happen to democracy as I came across a lot of people who are simply ignorant about the issue. And there are others who just forward the chain of messages, upload it as their status or even tweet to get followers without verifying if the information is true. So, the first point I will like to make is knowing:

What is Lokpal Bill? ;

What part of it do Anna Hazare and his supporters want?

What part of it government disapproves and why?

Next, I will like to showcase those people who think that Anna is anti-government and so they don’t want to attend his rallies and support him in any way. For them, I think the first step can be to know the reasons what motivated Anna to take up such a cause and why does he enjoy such a popularity amongst the common man. So, they can start by attending one of his supporter’s sessions.

Also, there is another set of people who just support for the sake of it. Without knowing the agenda and the larger picture, they are the first ones to shout out foul slogans to our politicians. Also, they’re simply agitated because of lack of belief in the corrupt system.

Besides, the reason I write about this cause is that it is one of the biggest and most influential apolitical movement which India could have. Also, the use of Gandhiji’s philosophy and satyagraha has made it unparallel. So, by the time you guys find out what’s more to it, let me just make an effort to make more Indians aware of this 2^nd Freedom Struggle: Freedom of Knowledge! Jai Hind!

Heart-ly wishes! Just follow your heart and Magic will happen...

When was the last time you just followed your heart said? Well on a personal note, it was just getting up late today when I borrowed some extra minutes of sleep before starting my daily schedule. How about you? Have you been able to enjoy such guilty pleasures or you have been disciplined enough to feel guilty about them?

Well, the heart-ly wishes are simple thing things which can revolutionize our monotonous lives. With the monsoon season going the emphasis is on not to get wet and avoid street food. However, was any of your monsoon complete without getting wet when you least expected it? Also, isn’t tea and pakodas the closest food if taken as a word association with rain.

So, coming to the point, some of our actions defy logic and set routines. If you try and be too rigid, they just remain wishes. They keep on ruling our subconscious minds, are visible in our dreams and become vivid while day-dreaming. Consequently, they become the biggest distractions in performing a task perfectly. So, why not do them first?

Another argument is that they are really simple things giving happiness. This will enable space for creativity and concentration for the task to be undertaken leading to higher productivity. And even if doesn’t lead to that.. Nothing can go wrong when you follow your heart. Even, though you do what you are not supposed to, there will be a strange satisfaction of doing what your conscience fell like.

Just the way I’m writing this blog and will keep on writing more….

Hasta Luego Amigos!

Social Media V/s Long Phone Calls.

As soon as I landed at Mumbai, I checked my blackberry it was full of messages and also I got my Facebook Notifications. I was happy to see so many people writing to me. What made me more happy was a call from home. However, what made me more happy was a call from home asking if I have reached safely.

Coming back from a foreign trip after 2 months where I was not using a cell phone, I realised that there is something missing in my daily schedule. It took a month for me to realize that the thing was ‘Phone calls’. It might be a thing of the ‘passe’ with the encroachment of the messenger on the phone. You have Blackberry, Whats app, E buddy, Message Packs and now even facebook chat on phone.

So what’s missing in this age of high tech communication? Well firstly a phone call establishes one to one connection. As you are involved with the person you are talking to and you guess their expression through their tone. While the chat system, enables multiple communication so there is no guarantee that your message has the desired effect on the listener. Besides, smileys are not equipped enough to covey emotions. Take the example of your birthday. What will you like more? Someone singing Happy Birthday to you.. or someone writing on a chat’ Hey, Happy Birthday! Cheers J‘.

Also, the chats have a standard format wherein you start with something like ‘Hey! Wass up?’ and then you speak a few lines. After that there is a kind of an awkward moment and you stop texting. Besides, once a phone call is made one topic leads to other and you end up sharing so much information and emotions that there is a sense of satisfaction. The chats seldom provide you that.

So, I thought I should call up my good friend and hold a conversation with her. However, we were sans topic in the 2^nd minute. This was the impact social media had created. As, I write this blog through a medium which is nothing else but social media, I make a genuine effort to start using the telephone. As it makes me nostalgic and the long night conversations which I had which took me to the height of self-discovery begin again.

Can you hear my appeal? Hello!

Learning the Musical Way

Intro: All of you must have enjoyed listening to a particular song or a piece of music. After all, music is a mode of expression and a peaceful treat! But have you ever tried learning the musical way?

Music is not only a stress-buster but it also teaches many things. Learning a musical instrument not only develops a talent but it also teaches many qualities which one may not learn through any other activity. There are a lot of musical instruments to choose from.One can choose any instrument according to his interests. And if you think it is boring and useless thing to learn a musical instrument. Just go through the following benefits of music, your decision will surely change!

The biggest advantage of learning music is that the person playing it gets involved with it. There is a passion related to music and one cannot get away from it. The passion is contagious. Playing music builds up concentration as to play something good, you have to listen it well and play it with full attention. You have timing, counting, dynamics, mood, speed involved in perfect playing of a musical instrument.You also need co-ordination between the mind and the body for this. When one develops both of these skills, confidence and show-manship are next to follow as one has to finally present what he has learnt.

Playing music also has other added advantages. Over all, the process to learn to play music is relatively slow. But, like many things, there are times you may advance quickly, and times when you may struggle. Thus, it teaches patience and perseverance. If you really start to enjoy your music, you tend to start meeting likeminded people. Thus, the social network increases. It also encourages discipline and team-work. Playing music is something that can be done in just about any mood. So, the sorrow when one has in a bad mood can be greatly lessened. And most important, it encourages creativity! It is clean,good and healthy fun. On the positive aspects of playing music, John Thapa , a music teacher feels “ Music is a good teacher as it not only deveops talents but also the learning process is very enjoyable and challenging. Nashikites have understood this concept to some extent. As, every month I’ve twenty new admissions for learning some musical instrument!”

Come on, friends…whether old or small, music is for you all! Start learning a musical instrument from now on for even though you don’t excel in it, you will surely excel in other spheres of your personality!

Devotion through filmy songs?

Film songs pep up the fun quotient and make the event enjoyable.

Ganeshotsav is one of the most celebrated festivals as it has it all; devotion, social gathering, beautiful pandals and even gives social messages. But there are certain unjustified actions on the part of the mandals like expressing devotion by playing bollywood numbers at loud volume. This loud noise not only disturbs concentration,

But causes a lot of health problems.

When asked is this way of expressing devotion justified, Rakesh, who is a member of a Ganpati mandal answers, “I personally think that Ganesh festival is an occasion for people to get together and entertain themselves. Film songs pep up the fun quotient and make the event enjoyable. There is no harm in playing film songs at the mandals. But care should be taken that vulgar songs should not be played.”

There are some whose exams are going on and can’t study because of the ‘music’. Saurabh, a student preparing for SSC tells, “There are 3 mandals in our locality and each wants to display its popularity by competing with sound systems. They play latest songs at high decibels. Due to this, the sound is mixed and no song is properly heard. Though they follow the ten pm limit, the sound is enough to dilute the holy atmosphere at the mandals. I feel that people should refrain from playing them.”

While some people like Ronit Sarkar have a neutral view, “Ganeshotsav like every aspect of our life is being commercialized. Film songs can be played as they add to the entertainment but more importance should be given to the rituals and the volume should be up to the level that people in 10 meters radius can hear.”

Some amount of entertainment is always necessary to add colour to our rich tradition and customs but this should not be at the cost of other citizens’ inconvenience. As to behave as responsible citizens is our greatest tradition!

Happy New Year!

The new Year is going too fast. I hope everyday of the year is considered as the birth of a new life so that we get engrossed in celebration and don’t realize how the time passes. So the biggest advantage of new year is that it makes you the best thing about yourself i.e. ‘life’.

Other benefit of the new year being it makes you think. Well to think is important as in our normal routine we are doing things according to others thinking. We are mere puppets in the stage of the world. New Year empowers us with the power of being the director of the next year. It helps you to decide your own story yourself.

Another joy of new year is that it brings you close to your loved ones. As in forming your plans for the new year you start forming a mental list of people who you want to spend the new year with. Although you may end up spending new year with someone else completely, the feeling of wishing those people in the mental list is priceless.

The best thing you can gift yourself on the new year is the time for yourself as no one else in the world has the power to gift you such a gift. It may in the form of spending on something you don’t usually do.

If you recollect the new years so far and the resolutions you made, you can’t actually remember them. That doesn’t stop us from taking a resolution every year. The whole point of taking a resolution is not achieving it, it is realizing the importance of a particular aspect of your life which you think you are missing. Sometimes even acknowledgement is important.

If all the resolutions you made would have made shall have come true would you have enjoyed life so much like you are doing now. Its really fun at not being perfect.

If you are still not convinced that there is something new about this new year let narrate an anecdote to you.

I was travelling by train from my hometown Nasik to Mumbai, the city where I’m pursuing my graduation on 31^st. I really didn’t have any plan of the new year. The journey was not that comfortable as I didn’t have a reserved seat. Finally when Kalyan arrived a group of passengers got down and I got some place to sit comfortably.

I tried to grab some sleep so that I could be awake to spend the new year. My sleep was broken by a beggar with most parts of her body burnt. I was terrified as it was not the most pleasant sights to be woken up with. I usually don’t encourage beggars but she was determined. I asked her to move ahead but she argued that she needed money to celebrate the new year like me celebrating.

I was taken aback by thought of celebrating a year of hope even by a beggar with his body burnt. So if you are depressed just find yourself in the beggars shoes and you will realize that you don’t need a ‘burning desire’ to be happy about the coming year.

Lastly, if your celebration was simple and self-satisfactory be happy about it. As with time you will realize that people who will ask you how did you celebrate your new year are actually the ones who want to show off about their celebrations. They are actually not happy about the fresh annum ahead and are trying to compensate it with materialistic pleasure.

The old year is over,

The new year has arrived,

Celebrate the joy of life,

As a year is always a date which will come and go

How you make this date into a fulfilling day

Is the real talent you have to show!

Speed Dating.

Gone are the days when girls would wait for their ‘Prince Charming’ or guys would go through all the filmy ordeals to get their ‘Miss Perfect!’ After all, it’s the age of ‘fast food’, and if its influence was not enough, the intrusion of western culture has affected our social bonding also. Formerly, being seen with a person of the opposite sex was met with suspiciously raised eye-brows and countered with infinite questions. Not to forget the wagging tongues of the rumour mongers. But now, it has become a routine and everyday affair. No wonder, one finds teenagers boasting of their latest crush, albeit a little nonchalantly..

When asked about the transition, Vishal, a 2^nd year commerce student says, “I remember getting embarrassed in class 10^th when I was paired up with a classmate. Then, I would even find it strange to talk with girls. But, times have changed and how! I have more friends in girls than guys.” On being asked about his love life he adds smilingly, “Well, I had three girlfriends till now and my list of crushes is unending. Nowadays, guys are good at multi-tasking when it come to having girlfriends!”

Girls, who were considered to be emotional and sensitive, are now bold and frank about relationships. Dhvani supports this point and tells, “The girls no longer wait for the guy to approach them. They are open enough to tell about their guy friends and even introduce them at home. Though girls are comparatively slower than guys to enter into relationships, now they are willing to experiment. Even parents are becoming more open minded and accommodating. They just need to be kept informed.”

Coming to the point, what it requires to make a date, Siddharth, replies, “Actually, it doesn’t require looks or intelligence. You just need to be well-groomed and well-spoken. Guys also need have some money to spend. You also don’t need to be emotional and possessive about such relationships.”

All said and done, what are you waiting for? After all it is very difficult to wait for the right person especially if the wrong ones are so cute and exciting. So, Happy Experimenting!