House Arrest!

That I can climb up our staircase is no more a news to anyone; but what I am going to share with you now will certainly be so; at least it was to my family members.......... My mom was the first one to break that news out, after she saw me walk down our stairs; much to her horror and disbelief.

A shrewd mom; that she is, managed to hide her anger and frustration behind her smiles........but only after pouring cold water on my hopes of getting some pat on my back for my achievement........ Who cares, after all she is ........ mom.

So, she would instantly issue some instructions/orders to Santoshi didi- to keep a close watch on my movements and not allow me to go anyway near those stairs! So, stairs are completely out of bounds for me now and my actions and movements are being closely monitored.......... Santoshi didi doesn't seem to me as my caretaker; rather she resembles more with those secret service agents....... or those bloodhounds!

All this has left me with a strange feeling.......feeling of being under some sort of house arrest.........I hope I am wrong!

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Price Of One Life......

Tragedy struck one capital school yesterday when five girls died in a stampede on school stairs. Apparently, those girls were trying to avoid molestation at the hands of boys who were writing exams in that school. How cruel!!!

It would definitely sadden me when I will read this news, after I grow up.....One need not be a fore teller to guess my possible reaction- It will be that of anger, hurt, frustration and anguish on the sad turn of events; coming in as it did on a day when I was enjoying the rains .

Government's reaction has been on the expected lines- to order an enquiry, announce an ex-Gratia and wait for next incident in another school or institution......Oh! they hae been kind enough to fix a price of Rs 100,000 ($ 2,000) for one life......... Wonder, if we ordinary citizens should also fix a price on the life of these bast***s (politicians and bureaucrats); as incidents like these are nothing but telling-tale signs of bad governance.....

All I can do now is- to hope that the guilty will be brought to book by the time I am old enough to read this post...... and also to pray for those young departed souls......

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Why Fight When You Can Laugh!

While The Mad Momma and D are busy slugging it out in the open over their respective posts and follow-on comments by their readers, I was laughing; obviusly not on them or their fight.

I was laughing because I chose to laugh, they were figting because they chose to fight.......Afterall, choice between anger and laughter rests with us- God has given us both.........

Way to go -"Why Fight When You Can Laugh"......so watch this video and laugh with me.......

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Scolding-Sign of Growing Up???

Love comes in many forms; one not so good one comes in the form of scolding you get from your loved ones.....I got my first today for putting the laptop battery wire in my mouth. Completely taken aback by the tone and tenor of my father’s words; I dropped the wire off my hands. My stunned and visibly shaken look melted him instantly and look of anger gave way to an embracing one......That helped stop the flow of tears off my eyes but the damage was already done and I would not touch the laptop for next one hour or so..........but was back at it again as I could not shun the temptation of playing with the laptop anymore.....I was careful not to touch the wire this time! This would help my papa take the burden off his chest......and he was relieved at the happy ending to my first scolding.......I, on my part know that this won’t be the last one either- sign of growing up!

Awareness always helps!

So my lesson from today’s incident- don’t carry the baggage and learn from your mistakes!

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Life In A Millennium City

Swanky office buildings, glitzy shopping malls, gated communities, expensive cars and pockets of affluence- Gurgaon have it all. What it doesn’t have is regular supply of electricity and drinking water- two modern era amenities required for sustaining human life........they are in such a mess that it would not be wrong to rename Gurgaon as “Hell of Concrete” instead of “Millennium city”.

Incidents of yesterday night have left a very bad taste in my mouth for the authorities within the Electricity Department and DLF. I don’t think that they have any right to continue in their jobs if they can’t deliver.

It all began with the erratic electric supply in our block since Tuesday morning. And, this would mean that our UPS battery conked off by 11.30 pm. With temperature hovering in excess of 40 degrees, rooms had turned into a heat chamber; my papa’s patience ran out around 2 pm. He picked up his car and drove straight to Electricity Office followed by DLF’s. Upon being told that the supply has been restored, he came back home to found me sitting on my mom’s lap outside our house with my dadee giving us company. Sight of his 6 month old sweating heavily blew my papa’s top; but anger was not his priority. It was then he came up with the idea of using his car air-conditioner to comfort me. It worked and I went to sleep in no time.

He, then drove to DLF office again with me sleeping comfortably in my mom’s lap. At their office, he told my mom to lock the car from inside and went upstairs to meet the officials on duty. Before he could start his conversation, a man came running shouting for help; his house in the adjacent F-block was on fire. Nobody in that office had any clue about the next course of action. My papa told them to first disconnect the power supply of that particular block and then he called the fire tenders.

The priority had shifted by then! So, he drove the car in the direction of the house under fire. Upon reaching there, we found that side entrance of the house was under fire. Apparently the fire had started from the power board and a short circuit induced by high voltage power supply was the reason. Thankfully, fire was soon brought under control before it could do any serious damage.

In the meantime, DLF people had rectified the problem in our block and electricity supply was restored by 4.40 am. My dadee called up my papa and confirmed this to him. And with that my papa’s 3 hour ordeal came to an end......

But I am really hurt at the level of apathy shown by the administration and DLF towards the plight of people in this city. I am sure those guys have a heart of stone to be able to inflict such problems on common people.

In the end, I have a humble request to every one- can anyone bring that person before me who first called Gurgaon a Millennium city! I would only ask him/her- If this is what makes a city- A Millennium city?

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School Dreams- Is There Any Hope?

Six months into life; I along with my family have already started to dream. Dreams, that are about my future- growing up as a kid and later as an adult. With every passing day that list continues to expand-few things gets added up while some are dropped. An essential constituent of that list is about the kind of schooling/education my parents would like me to give.

But, horrific incidents of past few days are beginning to affect me. Within a span of few days, two young girls (Shanno and Akkriti) have lost their lives. I have already mentioned about Shanno in one of my posts here. While, Akkriti, a 17 year old from Delhi’s Modern School lost her life following an asthma attack on Monday; apparently due to school’s negligence in administering her the required medical care. In their death, have gone all their dreams and that of their respective families. Their fault-they followed their respective school dream. Worse is that the incidents of Shanno and Akkriti are not stray incidents anymore; they are getting repeated at an alarming rate in different parts of the country. The lackadaisical approach of the administration in dealing with cases like that of Akkriti, Shanno and many other unfortunate kids is not helping either. If this is the way to deal with kids-incidentally the largest block of kids on the face of this planet; then I think something is terribly wrong with the school/education system of this country and the people who run it.

Here, I am left wondering- If a school is really worth it? Though my answer would still be an emphatic YES; but with a plea; that for God sake-
~ Please ban all these corporal punishments.
~ Set up fast track courts to deal with the cases of kids like Shanno, Akkriti, Aman and many others.
~ Make schools and its management accountable for the safety and security of the kids.
~ Make it mandatory for schools to maintain emergency medical care at school premises itself.

I don’t have any hopes left with our stupid politicians and heartless bureaucrats; but I hope that our Supreme Court is listening!

Edited to add: I request all the readers of this post to take up this issue in whatever manner they feel appropriate. Also, please write and urge your other blogger friends and colleagues to write posts on their blogs for creating an opinion on this issue so that no other Shanno, Akkriti or Aman lose his/her life while pursuing their school/college dreams. You can also use the comment tab of this post to write your views on this matter. Let us use the power of this medium to shake the administration so hard that it is left with no choice but to come out of its state of comatose. We don't need any more Shannos, Akkritis and Amans to happen to any other kid anymore. Enough is enough!

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Where Is Our World Heading To?

Off-late I have developed some taste for the newspapers and very first sight of it makes me reach out for it. However, unlike my Rudra bhai I don’t tear it off and always let my papa read it. But today when I was trying to reach out to the newspaper; my papa said-“Reveda, please don’t touch as there is nothing in it to make you happy”. You need not be a smart person to make out that he didn’t like what he read. And it was indeed a piece of sad news of a 12 year girl Shanno slipping into a coma after being beaten by her teacher for not doing her homework. Shanno has since lost her battle for life -unarguably the heaviest price that one can pay for not doing the homework. In Shanno’s death, her parents have lost all their hopes and aspirations from their little daughter. The words “school” and “teacher” are going to haunt them forever.

The other news on the front page of the newspaper was about the violence by outlawed leftists in their bid to disrupt the ongoing general elections in the country. The violence left 18 people dead in the line of their duty; almost all of them were either the security personnel or the poll duty officers.

All this makes me wonder- if human life comes so cheap! Till when will people continue to lose their lives while pursuing their hope, aspirations and dreams? Why?

I have no answers, really I don't.......

Edited to add: News channels have just shown a news-clip of execution of a middle aged couple in NWFP area of Pakistan for their alleged illicit relationship at the behest of taliban under Sharia......

Horrific and Disgusting!

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Delayed Post

My busy papa couldn't log this post on yesterday as he arrived late from work. He told me that it is that time of the year when he is most busy......end of financial year.....I don't know much about all these things as of now but I will be an informed person in next couple of years...... By the time he turned up at around 11pm, I was already fast asleep. But he would wake me up from my sleep as he is kind of used to seeing me first the moment he enters inside the house.....surprisingly so I didn't make any hue and cry of his act of waking me up early.

I am now going to mention something that will embarass my father- his short temper. He tends to loose his cool on petty issue these days...even an unwanted phone-call by a telecaller is enough to make him loose his cool. Apparently he is feeling the heat of pressures at work or he is stressed ....or it is just weather; but something is bothering him. I know he is bit concerned about me as my mom has to join her office full time in a week's time. His disenchantment and disapproval of the backroom maneuverings in the corporate world too has something to do with it. Actually few days back his one time mentor and ex-boss left the company he started 4 years back as a result of dirty corporate feud. It is about time my father do something which makes him happy; perhaps work on his dream project- A Play School. I am gonna be his customer, mentor and a model too... So, relax papa and take it easy....

Last but not the least, I have completed 5 months today. Time just flies.........and it is flying every other moment. More about my 5th monthly birthday in few hours from now....

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Another Twitter Update

My papa is still down with fever and he didn't go to work today. But his leave was of no advantage to me as he is keeping me at a distance to ensure that I don't catch the virus flu. He was on self medication until this evening but then had to go to doctor. Now since he has been to the doctor, I am sure he will be fine.

My father thinks that I am angry with him......and I think he is right...I am angry as he is not taking me in his lap/arms. Actually I don't understand this flu thing that well.

My mummy wanted to buy a Holi cap for me for tomorrow. She just managed to get one courtesy my chachee. And now, she is happy....My dadaji has prepared some gujia and muthree for holi festivities, which will be my first.

I am feeling sleepy as well as hungry; drooling with my four fingers inside my mouth and roving eyes looking everywhere.....

More to follow later....

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My Nation Is Under Attack

How ironical it is to write a post about Mumbai terrorist attacks exactly a day after I had written one titled-" Peaceful Day". My regular post meant to chronicle my life will follow this post as I cannot help but first write about yesterday night's attacks on general public in Mumbai. It has deeply saddened me.

I am sure my readers might feel as to how a terrorist attack can affect a newly born kid of 24 days. But let me tell you that we, small kids only lack speech- albeit I have one in the form of this blog; otherwise we live all the human expressions same way as you do. Our Godly connection with our loved ones makes us understand and feel exactly similar to what our loved ones are feeling. We and our feelings are nothing but expression of our loved ones and today I am expression of what everyone in my house is after Mumbai attacks- it is one of anguish, anger & shock.

I am anguished at this mindless act of terror; I am angry because helpless humans were made to suffer by handful of people; I am shocked at the growing impotency of this country's administration and its politicians. This nation needs to stand up on its spine and fight this menace out as I and millions of my fellow kids wants to live in a world free of terrorism perpetuated in the name of religion. I want to grow in a world that is persuasive, progressive and peaceful- first one is most important as we need to persuade people to believe in the power of love and peace; we do that and none can stop us from progressing ahead…..

Last but not the least, as we kids can easily connect with God so I pray to Him to bring back peace and prosperity to my nation. Those were thoughts from my perspective and here come's that of my father who wants to write his....

My conscience egged me on to write few words on this blog after today’s attacks. Not that these attacks scare me in any way; but they do cause worry to me seeing the apparent lackadaisical attitude of establishment towards rooting out terrorism from this country. Terrorists are attacking this country at will; challenging the administration every now and then. It would give me sleepless nights if I were to extrapolate ever increasing frequency of terrorist’s acts into the future. I shudder at the prospect of this country becoming a hot-bed of terrorism in the name of religion. It worries me more to see that the resolve to fight terrorism is completely missing in this country. So many questions engulf my mind- what do we do, where do we go to, should we stop giving birth to kids as we cant promise them a peaceful future, should we stop taking our kids out to markets, and perhaps many more other questions too. When I look for answers; all I find is no one but me to give those answers to myself. And my answer is- I refuse to let these attacks broke my resolve to continue working towards ensuring better life for my parents, wife, kids, brothers, sisters and many more. Sadly but rightly so, I did not look at all at this nation’s government and it’s administration for those answers as it is nothing but a spineless impotent government- no matter which party it belongs to. Yes, I do have complete faith in God and His powers. May He gives the much needed strength and resolve to the people of India to fight this menace of terrorism as it is their battle and not that of its governments.

In the end, my heart goes out to all those brave policemen and hapless common human beings who were mercilessly butchered by those blots on humanity. May God rest their souls in peace and give their respective families strength to overcome this irreparable loss.

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