Straight from the Heart

It’s the time for India bashing in the west. At least that’s what seems to be the feeling one gets when one sees Danny Boyle’s film Slumdog Millionaire receive so many Oscar awards and when one hears about “The White Tiger” bagging the Man Booker prize! India had become the toast of the world during the last 3-4 years and the entire world had been watching with growing interest the rise of the nation named India. In 2007, London School of economics inaugurated the India Observatory, which was a sort of acknowledgement to the fact that the world wanted to know more about India. I had the priviledge of being present at the launch and I am sure that, like me, most of the Indians who were present on that day at the Peacock theatre, would have felt proud. So the world has started to research more about India and bring India out in front of the global population. And what is better than using cinema as the medium to spread the message! Am sure Danny Boyle had this in mind when he read the no...

“Seven days ago, I had been ecstatic, over the moon at getting my first job after qualifying for the engineering degree. Now, nobody will remember me. I will be lost into oblivion,” remarked Gaurav gloomily to Jena. “ I had promised to call up my fiancee to let them have a first hand information about my first place of posting. Trying to connect to the world outside this place seems to be an exercise in futility.” They were sitting on the front steps of the graduate trainee hostel, home to the twelve bright engineers for the past one-week. “You are right. This place gives me creeps. Ever since I set foot in this place I have been fearing about coming face to face with a man-eating tribal, who will drive his spear through my heart and then eat my raw flesh”, remarked Rakesh displaying visible concern on his face. The graduate trainee hostel, where the twelve bright engineers from different parts of the country had converged, was located in one of the remote corner of eastern India. The ...

The economic depression that has gripped the whole world now, continues to worsen with each passing day. The stock markets are down, the economic indicator graphs like GDP, IIP, etc are all on their way south. Each day we come across numerous headlines of job cuts in the companies, companies freezing the pay hikes of their employees, withholding spending on projects and embarking on massive cost cutting exercises. In short, the companies that were so bullish till yesterday are on the back-foot now and trying to devise survival strategies to keep themselves afloat. One has heard of a reputed steel company in India, barring all “common-folks” of the company from travelling by air during any official work. Restriction on mobile bills of the employees is another option being used to beat cost increases. Then I heard one of my friends and head of a new business venture of a company making a passionate plea in front of the promoters of his business group that the only way of saving the compa...

The air-conditioner in the office is back to work again! The windows have been closed, secured fast and every morning one has this extra bit of work-switch on the air-conditioner the moment one enters the room! It is with a bit of a heavy heart that a Calcuttan bids adieu to the winter. Having stayed for eight years in this place has made me develop a sort of nostalgia for the winter months in Calcutta. Winter is associated with picnics, parties and a time to remain outdoors. The Bengali has always been known as a bit of a traveller and come winter, it is time for him to connect with friends and family members and head for the lakes, villages, resorts, or some other scenic place outside the city. If its not picnic, there’s a lot many fairs and carnivals that take roots in the open spaces and parks of the city. The people seem happy to be able to soak up some sun for a brief period without fear of getting bathed in sweat. Summer in Calcutta is associated with sweat and humidity that pla...

My eyes fill with tears As I type out my resignation. Its like a daughter leaving home, Married and ready to seek her fortunes elsewhere. I feel like the baby, Which cries out in anguish and fear When the cruel world severs the umbilical chord. A life lived, a chapter ends. Somewhere at the back of the mind A cassette begins to rewind- The thrill of the first job, The first salary, A youth’s dreams taking shape, A lazy summer afternoon spent in our first home. The past flashes upon my inward eye. More tears—A dam bursting. But I have promises to keep. And miles of journey left to cover. There’s still a dream to chase. To seek fulfillment in other different ways. And live in the hope that There’s a pot of gold, At the end of the rainbow!! My resignation from Tata Steel July 2009

Under the canopy of a starry sky, The silence was frequently broken by collective sighs. They held centre-stage for a good three hours. Proved that they were the evening’s real stars. Amazed to see the children sing and dance, so well. The big ones and the toddlers too, cast their theatrical spell. Not often is something like this seen. In the end, we all agreed that it had been such a pleasant evening. Such a school was something that Beawar didn’t have. So Sweta decided this was the dream she had to carve. Born with a name that links it to a famous scientist. The school stands proud after its journey through turns and twists. The children seemed happy, friendly and well disciplined. The elder ones greeted us frequently with Good Mornings and evening. The toddlers too seemed to be having great fun. Displaying their knowledge proudly, in presence of everyone. Sweta led us through the school building, proudly displaying all. We were introduced to the class-rooms, courtyard and the dini...

दिल में लिए फिरता हूँ मैं, छोटे छोटे ख्वाब. मन चाहे की हर दिन जीवन में, आये खुशियों का सैलाब. छोटा सा परिवार हमारा, हंसते रहे हर दम. पहरेदार की भाँती भगाते, हम कोसो दूर हर गम. दाल, रोटी, चावल या फिर सब्जी, इसकी कभी न परे लाले. हिम्मत हार कर कभी बैठ न जाऊं, इतनी ख्याल करना ओ रखवाले. जीवन के हर मोर पर हमारा, इन्सान के ऊपर रहे भरोसा. पहार, फूल, नदिया, आकाश से मांग लूं, खुशी हर पल थोडा-थोडा. चीनी से भी मीठी लगे, सुबह में चिरियों की बोली. दिन के शुरुआत में देखू तुम्हे, लिए हांथो में चाय की प्याली. कर्म खेत्र में दिन खाभी भी, न लगे पहार से भी ज्यादा भरी. हर मुश्किल का करून सामना, और तारीफ़ करे लोग हिम्मत हमारी. बेटी बसाये अपनी खुशियों का संसार, और हम न जीए किसी के सहारे. हमारे छोटे से घर में हर रात छत पर लेट के गिने सितारे.