Independence Day.

Independence Day.

Hmmm. That’s a real fancy term to use. How independent are we in reality ? This question has been hounding me since yesterday when I realized that today was the 15^th of August. Well for starters what has freedom achieved for our nation ? I could actually go mentioning points that I actually read in the newspapers today morning.

Most of them mentioned how our freedom fighters toiled day and night to ensure that we achieved freedom. Some of them (rather most) even sacrificed their lives in the battle for independence. But has their martyrdom been realized for a broken cause ?

I would certainly think so. I have never been anti-India ( though I always support Pakistan in sports ) but the bureaucracy and the political system here has surely left me exasperated. Things have degraded to such an extent that a return to normalcy seems like eternity.

Two months ago when I went to collect my Voter ID, I was asked by the election officer at the polling booth about my choice of vote in the elections. I was frankly taken aback by the question. I replied that my vote would depend on the circumstances and the performance of the individual parties. He turned down my answer and replied that I would have to collect my ID the next time, because this time, the IDs were being issued only to voters of a particular party. He refused to give me my ID though my name was clearly endorsed on his list. That was disgusting. My mom who was with me then, told me to forget it ( She hasn’t been allowed to vote for the last 2 elections though she has a valid voter ID ). She asked me to come again next time and if I don’t get it even then, maybe I could think of pursuing the matter further.

But I am still reeling from the shock of being denied my fundamental right to vote because I may not vote for a particular party.

This shucks. There have been many other incidents that completely rid me of any feelings I might have towards the political system in this country.

Today, I was watching the news on TV when a few MPs were quizzed about the Indian country as a whole. It was shocking to know how ignorant our so called “leaders” could be. One of them didn’t know what the colors of the national tricolor are. Another thought that the national song (Vande Matram ) was written by Rabindranath Tagore. Another said that the chakra in the flag is white in color; another said the topmost color in the Flag is Green. Not even one of about 4 Congress MPs didn’t know what Gandhi’s actual name was. Some guy even had the audacity to mention that he frankly didn’t care about someone who is long dead. That’s how high our leaders’ IQ actually is.

People do not know about the so called stalwarts of their own parties. Man this country is really going to the dogs.

Such incidents and the knowledge that we are actually governed by a bunch of clowns, with no sort of resemblance to sanity actually makes me wonder if it really was worth sacrificing so many lives and ridding ourselves of the British.

I have always been anti Gandhi and I think this is my best time to criticize his policies.

I really think, he wasted his time roaming around the country half naked and preaching non violence for nothing. He rid us of the most efficient disciplinarians in the history of the sub continent only to set us up to be ruled by a herd of inefficient and incompetent morons.

But maybe my generalization of politicians as a whole is wrong, and I know I do respect a few of them but once a politician, always a politician.

Today as we enter the 60^th year of independence, I am really overwhelmed by the thoughts that the British were actually good for us.

Hey I too love my freedom, which we may not have had under the British but I rather prefer the British than a group of jokers framing policies for me.

“God save the queen , nay, God save India”

Big SIR

Well I had been thinking of this post for a long time and even now, I can't decide what to write.
I always thought I must write some sort of a post on Big sir (a.k.a Mr. T.V.R. Murthy). I don't know what I want to write but I know that the man had a profound in my life.

I spent 13 years at his school and my memories of him r still very fresh. He is unforgettable.
But the reason I wanted to write this post was because, on the Harvard community on Orkut, there were pretty derogatory remarks about him which made fun of him. I would be lying if I said that I didn't laugh on reading them. But my conscience will not allow me to rest without me portraying my true feelings about him.

I vividly remember the first time I actually encountered him. It was in my Lower kindergarten, when some older guys (volunteers) asked me to step out for the morning assembly. I remember telling them that I won't and also cried, when one of them went and fetched Big sir. He asked me to get out and I was terrified to see him. He was so huge, and big I was scared (I still am). I remember his angry face, and I told him I wanted to pee and he said ok. I really had to pee cos he frightened me so much that day.
That day is etched in my memory and served as the foundation for the fear that has been instilled in me about him.

The next meeting that I remember, is when I was in class 1. That day I wrote my exam and was coming back to class, when I saw him standing there near the office. I wished him and to my surprise, he actually caught hold of my ears and took me to the library and told me to behave properly especially at home. Later that day, at home I realized that my mom actually complained to him about me being very naughty and disobeying her at home.

There have been many incidents when I was actually reprimanded and also sometimes caned for not behaving or for some misdoing of mine. There have also been incidents where he scolded me for no fault of mine.
Then, maybe I hated him. Maybe till class 9 I totally despised him.
I remember my school excursion to Goa where he treated me like a nobody most of the time.
Some times he was very good, explaining all about the customs and traditions of the Goans while for most times he was in that unforgiving mood of his.

But in class 9, when I was writing my annual exams, he actually gifted me a pen. I kept hold of that pen till my class 10 and when I lost it, believe me I cried.
In class 9, when he was taking us for a Harry Potter movie on occasion of his birthday, I didn't want to go so he came and shouted at me for not reciprocating his feelings towards students. In the evening, he told me that I had no option but to go the movie. Next day I went and apologized to him and he shrugged it off by saying that I acted like a typical moron and he knew that I would surely go to the movie with him. I was very happy that day.

Also another thing is that I went to quizzes only at his behest.
He was the one who really encouraged me to participate in quizzes. Whenever I lost, he was disappointed, but he always gave me one very valuable piece of advice which was to never give up. He always used to tell me, try and try again till u succeed. Those words I think have always held me in good stead.
To me that also revealed how valuable his lessons were.

One incident that could never be erased from my mind is when he hugged me when I won the Group Quiz at Harvard. He wanted me to win, but after the first round, when we were trailing, he left to his room. And to his surprise when, we won he just hugged me and that meant a whole lot to me. That was the most memorable moment of my 13 yrs. in school
Also when I wanted to participate in the TCS quiz, he actually convinced my Principal, to allow us to take part in it. I was really happy to repay his faith by coming in 4th out of 600 odd teams.

All these incidents surely make me feel nostalgic, but I can't bear to see his face since I haven't met him in 3 yrs. now. I don't know what he would say. He might actually shout at me. Well I'm ready to face that. But will he feel hurt that I haven't visited him even once in 3 yrs.
well I really want to go but my brain says no. I always thought I would only follow my heart and not my brain. But my feelings r really mixed. Maybe I will go but I'm scared that it is now too late to actually repair the broken relationship but am I distancing myself even further, I can't decide.

Whatever, I may meet him in the future or not, but I will always have a special place for him. He was the one and only person, who could change my day with one lecture of his.
Many people have told me that he actually misbehaved with them, but I want to tell them "horse shit". I know what sort of a person he was or at least I knew him much better than them. I know that he was special and the best teacher I ever had.
I don't think I would be wrong in saying that, I wouldn't be the person I am today, if it wasn't for him.

Sir, you were special and hope that u will continue to mold lives as you molded mine.
And lastly I would like to say a big Thank You for all that you have done for me.

introspection

Today, in college someone told me that i actually changed since my first year. i was taken aback. Me changed ? huh that sounds really interesting. The first thought that struck my head was to ask the guy to go jump.But then on further thought, i realised maybe that guy did make some sense.
Maybe what the guy was telling me was true. maybe i had changed. So i decided to do some introspection.

Well for starters, in my first year in Prod. i stood out like a sore thumb ( my height was also a reason ) ' cos i never bunked classes. Everyone went out to either play or return back home while i played the spoilsport and religiously attended classes. I even remember a day when i actually went to my Chem prof, when nobody was there and requested her to take a class. She said no,'cos i was the only one. That did upset me a bit but what cheered me up was the fact that i had actually earned some brownie points with her [;)]. Since that day she a mighty good impression on me and actually gave me my lab marks though i did nothing.

Then on another occasion (this is my fav.), the day of my fresher party, i actually attended college [>:)]. I went to my engg. drawing prof and told him, no one's actually attending 'cos they planned a mass bunk. The prof was so impressed with me that he immediately gave me attendance and made sure my attendance touched 96%. Great huh. later that day i was off to meet friends and party.
People might find my behavior disgusting, and they have every right to feel that that way (especially my prod. classmates) but what i did was selfish,no doubt, but then i didn't give a damn.

Also never in my first year did i ever step into the parking lot ( 'cos i was raggingphobic ). People thought of me as a serious misfit in the college. I actually escaped the ritual of ragging, by confronting some of those seniors and telling them to go to hell.
They didn't go to hell but they were surely pissed off to hell. But i don't give a damn now, ' cos i'm now in a different branch and the seniors here are different.

But coming back to that guy today, he noticed that now my attendance is actually only 56% (a drop of 42% from last year, whoa, i need to buck up ) and i'm actually spending more time in the BBC (basketball court) than in my classes.
He also thought the rest of the time ( when i'm not in the BBC) ,i'm found in the Parking lot. Then how come my attendance is 56% ??
Well whatever he says, i think its true that i've changed. I actually tease him in the bus (which i wldn't have dared to do in my 1st year ), and he didn't like that. Maybe i was wrong i teasing him but he did tell me some crucial info. that does make me realise that i've got to mend my ways.
I wldn't be as extremist as i was in my 1st yr. but now i've got to balance the good and the bad and also ensure that in the process i also have fun and enjoy myself.

Dude, i seriously owe u one.
btw the guy's name is Sandeep from C-1 2nd year.