Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Trafsickgnal !
What do you think will happen to Cochin, once the city acquires the Smart City status ? I believe the city will have to work hard to try not to make the name look like a paradox.
OK, people who live or have been to Kerala, and here I really do mean people who have actually seen Kerala in the real sense, will know that its not a cake walk to TRAVEL in Kerala , as often the way it is shown in the media. And it became a strong conviction, when couple of days ago, I was driving my Mom to her office in the morning. Usually she goes by bus, but it was a bus strike on that day. Ha !
Now, when you hear about a bus strike in Kerala, early that morning, you really don't know whether its elation of driving around safely in the city or the fear of getting stuck in a traffic jam, thats gonna grapple you more. Well, when I reached few meters away from the Station Kavala Bypass Junction, I couldn't see anything other than a huge traffic block. My first reaction, though not aloud, was to dismiss it as a usual block that would clear away in sometime.
After around 10 minutes of patient waiting, I realized, the thing was more sinister than it looked few meters away from the signal. There at the signal, a school bus and two buses of the Kerala State Transport had blocked vehicles going in all four directions from the junction. Naturally, I cursed the bus drivers who are usually rash around this part of the state. Well, the chaos began to ensue for another 20 minutes. I could see how helpless all the other drivers were.
It was then, reality struck me. Few truck drivers had got out of their vehicles and taken the role of the traffic cop; the whole episode was due to the negligence of the traffic police as they hadn't even bothered to turn up on a rainy Friday morning at the peak hour of traffic !!
I've been to other cities and have even driven around, but one thing different about the traffic jams I've noted there is that, most often it is just because of the sheer number of the vehicles there and the number of unnecessary traffic signals, at each kilometer stop. The negligence from the side of the cops is something more serious and poses a graver threat on the city's capabilities in handling traffic.
You wouldn't want things as these to be clubbed with the Smart City tag in news paper headlines and ruin the whole image of the city. People would start asking, "OK if this is what happens in a "Smart City", what can we expect of the other smaller cities ?"
The shift of focus of the IT industries and BPOs aren't quite enough for a city to be called Smart. I think, we have a long way to go ahead, in maintaining good roads, traffic rules and equipping the city with more facilities, before we say the city is actually Smart. The short future looks bleak; but I don't deny the fact that, if more educated minds can think of a solution to all these minor blemishes, in years to come, the prospect of Cochin becoming an actual Smart City is quite promising.
Peace,
$ur
OK, people who live or have been to Kerala, and here I really do mean people who have actually seen Kerala in the real sense, will know that its not a cake walk to TRAVEL in Kerala , as often the way it is shown in the media. And it became a strong conviction, when couple of days ago, I was driving my Mom to her office in the morning. Usually she goes by bus, but it was a bus strike on that day. Ha !
Now, when you hear about a bus strike in Kerala, early that morning, you really don't know whether its elation of driving around safely in the city or the fear of getting stuck in a traffic jam, thats gonna grapple you more. Well, when I reached few meters away from the Station Kavala Bypass Junction, I couldn't see anything other than a huge traffic block. My first reaction, though not aloud, was to dismiss it as a usual block that would clear away in sometime.
After around 10 minutes of patient waiting, I realized, the thing was more sinister than it looked few meters away from the signal. There at the signal, a school bus and two buses of the Kerala State Transport had blocked vehicles going in all four directions from the junction. Naturally, I cursed the bus drivers who are usually rash around this part of the state. Well, the chaos began to ensue for another 20 minutes. I could see how helpless all the other drivers were.
It was then, reality struck me. Few truck drivers had got out of their vehicles and taken the role of the traffic cop; the whole episode was due to the negligence of the traffic police as they hadn't even bothered to turn up on a rainy Friday morning at the peak hour of traffic !!
I've been to other cities and have even driven around, but one thing different about the traffic jams I've noted there is that, most often it is just because of the sheer number of the vehicles there and the number of unnecessary traffic signals, at each kilometer stop. The negligence from the side of the cops is something more serious and poses a graver threat on the city's capabilities in handling traffic.
You wouldn't want things as these to be clubbed with the Smart City tag in news paper headlines and ruin the whole image of the city. People would start asking, "OK if this is what happens in a "Smart City", what can we expect of the other smaller cities ?"
The shift of focus of the IT industries and BPOs aren't quite enough for a city to be called Smart. I think, we have a long way to go ahead, in maintaining good roads, traffic rules and equipping the city with more facilities, before we say the city is actually Smart. The short future looks bleak; but I don't deny the fact that, if more educated minds can think of a solution to all these minor blemishes, in years to come, the prospect of Cochin becoming an actual Smart City is quite promising.
Peace,
$ur
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Err...True Devotion !?
Today morning, while I was praying in the temple; a guy stepped in front of me, rendering me unable to see the deity. I thought of moving a little aside hoping to get a glimpse of my favourite lord...but in vain. I was just thinking of asking the guy who was responsible for this state of my despair, to move a little, when he started to chant loudly some of the longest prayers ever written.
I had, but no choice, than to wait for the person to move after his religious chanting.
On coming back, I pondered on this particular issue. I had seen this happen quite often in my country, at different places, from time to time. I asked myself, was it really devotion to god, by being selfish, not by allowing fellow devotees to chant in peace ? Did chanting long verses of prayers after getting to the front of a long queue, stepping on the toes of people behind, really earn you any godly bliss at all ?
Most often, we ourselves don't realize that by doing such acts of indifference, knowingly or otherwise, we are overstepping that code of conduct, much demanded of us. I don't see how our gods and goddesses will be happy about such people, who even after having sung innumerable number of prayers, pushes and shoves others all the time.
Often, we see people going on pilgrimages, to cleanse themselves of the sins that they quite shamelessly did, in the bygone year. Here, while referring to devotees who go on pilgrimages, I don't mean to offend them in any manner; there are always people who do it with a good heart and also people, who fake devotion, actually fooling none other than themselves. I was referring to those people, who never even near the temple, let alone praying on usual days, even when they can; but speak of going for pilgrimages once every year to compensate for not going daily or weekly.I have always felt that, being a devotee doesn't necessarily mean, going on pilgrimages and often to temples far and famous. Again, you may debate on this saying, its a personal habit; maybe, but all in the good sense is always fine.
True devotion therefore isn't therefore, the number of verses of mantras you have sung or the number of temples, churches, mosques or gurudwaras you have visited; It is being true to oneself and to god, that matters. If you pray with conviction, and be responsible for your actions, and won't try and repeat them again after confessing to your lord, then thats all that will make yourself and the god you pray, happy.
If you find this writeup a thought provoking one, please drop in a comment !
Peace,
$ur
I had, but no choice, than to wait for the person to move after his religious chanting.
On coming back, I pondered on this particular issue. I had seen this happen quite often in my country, at different places, from time to time. I asked myself, was it really devotion to god, by being selfish, not by allowing fellow devotees to chant in peace ? Did chanting long verses of prayers after getting to the front of a long queue, stepping on the toes of people behind, really earn you any godly bliss at all ?
Most often, we ourselves don't realize that by doing such acts of indifference, knowingly or otherwise, we are overstepping that code of conduct, much demanded of us. I don't see how our gods and goddesses will be happy about such people, who even after having sung innumerable number of prayers, pushes and shoves others all the time.
Often, we see people going on pilgrimages, to cleanse themselves of the sins that they quite shamelessly did, in the bygone year. Here, while referring to devotees who go on pilgrimages, I don't mean to offend them in any manner; there are always people who do it with a good heart and also people, who fake devotion, actually fooling none other than themselves. I was referring to those people, who never even near the temple, let alone praying on usual days, even when they can; but speak of going for pilgrimages once every year to compensate for not going daily or weekly.I have always felt that, being a devotee doesn't necessarily mean, going on pilgrimages and often to temples far and famous. Again, you may debate on this saying, its a personal habit; maybe, but all in the good sense is always fine.
True devotion therefore isn't therefore, the number of verses of mantras you have sung or the number of temples, churches, mosques or gurudwaras you have visited; It is being true to oneself and to god, that matters. If you pray with conviction, and be responsible for your actions, and won't try and repeat them again after confessing to your lord, then thats all that will make yourself and the god you pray, happy.
If you find this writeup a thought provoking one, please drop in a comment !
Peace,
$ur
Saturday, July 12, 2008
The Retro Touch
:) .. If you have read my post on Change, you wouldn't be surprised by the new choice of colours for my blog !!
Its been a while, that the colour seemed a little dull on my blog...I thought a little play of colours would be refreshing for my readers and for me, of course !!
The colours remind me of a certain Retro touch, a period during which I was never born, but a period which had a distinguishing style by itself, which intrigues people like me even to this day.
Ponder on this bit here...
At this point, I would also like to strike a note on the subject of change. Change as I put it, is a great feeling when you grow tired of the old style in things. If it doesn't hurt to let go, its good to give it a try. But, in life sometimes, a change, when it cannot be helped, is often a change that cannot be resisted; try to see the positive side of it, for life doesn't stop there and you don't want to be held back.
More from the author soon..
Peace,
$ur
Its been a while, that the colour seemed a little dull on my blog...I thought a little play of colours would be refreshing for my readers and for me, of course !!
The colours remind me of a certain Retro touch, a period during which I was never born, but a period which had a distinguishing style by itself, which intrigues people like me even to this day.
Ponder on this bit here...
At this point, I would also like to strike a note on the subject of change. Change as I put it, is a great feeling when you grow tired of the old style in things. If it doesn't hurt to let go, its good to give it a try. But, in life sometimes, a change, when it cannot be helped, is often a change that cannot be resisted; try to see the positive side of it, for life doesn't stop there and you don't want to be held back.
More from the author soon..
Peace,
$ur
Friday, July 04, 2008
Death Cab For Cutie – Narrow Stairs
Genre - Pop, Rock
Synopsis - I am calling this latest album of Death Cab For Cutie, both a musical and a literary masterpiece at the same time. Most of the songs are all pretty slow moving; gives you ample time to take in the lyrics and get you to think deep, beyond what is sung. The album eases you into a very relaxing mood. There is a good variety of songs here, which again helps you sit back and forget the hassle of changing the genre with some other albums. Moreover, I think this is an album for everyone, so don t go by it by the genre alone, try hearing to them, I am sure you ll like it !!
Ambience - Listen to these songs when you are totally stressed out and need some peace !
Favourite Tracks - The Ice Is Getting Thinner, Pity and Fear, Bixby Canyon Bridge, Grapevine Fires, Your New Twin Sized Bed.
Rating - 8.0/10
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