FINGER TO THE DEMOGRACY..(in a legitimate way)

The first phase of assembly elections in Assam begins today for 62 out of 126 constituencies and I am proud to announce that today I had the opportunity to vote or put it in other words exercised my right to vote today for the first time. Now that i can see the mark on my finger, I can't help thinking of this incident as a significant rite of passage and a lesson in humility and a bit of megalomania. I know the combination of the two seems like opposite ends of the spectrum but thats just how it was. The time stipulated for casting our votes today was from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm. Being the lazy citizen that I am, i slept till 8:45 am. And I am the future of this great country, so god help us. Apart from that I reached the polling booth at about 9:00 am with my father. Our polling booth was the Jorhat Law college Campus, befitting of the occasion was the location in a sense. There I was standing at the voting Centre Number 27 waiting eagerly to get my shot at writing the destiny of our country, and forming a favoured government with all my fellow Jorhatians. I know it sounds a lot more grand than what it was. So I was basically waiting alone in the line to cast my vote underneath a surprisingly blazing sun (it had been pouring for a few days). I was alone because my father dropped me off at the polling booth and went back home to get my mother (two trips because he was using the bike). To me in those moments of absolutely awkward solitude the blazing sun shining down at us seemed like a sign from the high heavens that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Finally both my parents arrived and it turned out the I was supposed to cast my vote at the number 21 voting centre not 27. What else out from this line and into the other. Thankfully both were in the Law college premises. Finally I did see the light at the end of my tunnel(the line), in my case which was getting inside the voting centre, getting the ink on my finger, pressing that blue button of the EVM and hearing that long beep. The moment wasn't grandiose at all, I kept fumbling the whole time through my pocket to get my Identity proof out, the ink went in my nail crevices and it looks quite dirty now and i almost ran out after the beep as the beep happened to be really long one and I thought I broke the machine. Only outside did I realise what I had done, more correctly what I had participated in. I had just taken part in feeding the machinery of the World's largest democracy. Many people regard the condition of this country as an unlivable slum, but today I know that i am not alone in this mess, there are just so many with me... that the key to opening this "chicken coop" ( the term chicken coop is adopted from the novel The White Tiger authored by Arvind Adiga) lies within ourselves. And how lightly do we take this right to vote right now seems like a crime to me, we have the right we have the means, its about time the absolute power rests where it belongs, with us the people.

If any Indian citizen reads this blog then please don't throw your rights away. 67% votes were cast in the first phase of the assembly elections in Assam. So people with children, if you may or can, take them out with you to see what an election or voting is all about . As a child I remember accompanying my parents to the polling booths and after they had cast their votes it was almost ritualistically that I would hop on my father's bike and both of us would go around to see what all was happening at other centres, and till this day the ritual is intact. Let the future of the country understand what it takes to remain as the world's largest democracy. On a patriotic note this time, JAI HIND

http://www.indiainfoline.com/Markets/News/First-phase-of-assembly-polls-begins-in-Assam/3632885564
http://search.indiatimes.com/websearch.cms?type=0

for elections news check out the links.

Bleeding Blue And Loving It

After six weeks of cricket mania the whole carnival is comming to an end with the two sub-continental favourites India and Srilanka pitted against each other in the final. the two teams will be in an epic battle tomorrow in search of the ultimate cricketing glory, to win the holy grail- The World Cup. Please don't let my flair for dramatics scare you off. Its just that as we all know India hadn't had the strongest intial campaign comming into this world cup. The team defeated Bangladesh no doubt but only to pull up a draw against England,clawing their way out of trouble against Ireland and a loss against South Africa. Although the Men in Blue had to go through a period of serious blues they made and they made it to the final in style. They ousted Australia the team to have won the past three WC titles in 1999, 2003 and 2007. In the semis India took on arch rival Pakistan- a team to have suffered no loss till that point in the tournament only bring an end to their WC campaign.This match had had us fans screaming on top of our lugs and praying at the stretch of out faiths. But the God of Cricket blessed this team and here we are in the finals.

The next match is has a lot lying on the line for both the teams. For one India is playing on home ground and has the pleasure as well as the pressure to perform in front of us citizen. And Srilanka too as they are playing in a cricket crazy country which has its own team playing in the final. Sachin Tendulkar would be looking towards his 100th ODI 100 and the only piece of silverware missing from this repertoire- The WORLD CUP. And from the visitors bench we have Muttiah Muralidharan the bowler supremo. He has come overlooking an injury to play this match. He would end his International career after the world cup final. The gist is out the best bowler in all history to take on the Little Master tomorrow at the Wankhade Stadium Mumbai.All I have to say is that better be worth the popcorn. And speaking of worth, the ICC has had a heavy tax exemption of 43 cr rupees while making huge amounts of profit. However the ban on media placed by the ICC has been called off. Now since the tax payer has had to shell out 43 cr rupees for this world cup, TEAM INDIA had better bring us the WORLD CUP. Let the game begin.

GLUTTON FOR PUNISHMENT

There are about 11 days left for our major papers and as always we had planned rather matter-of-factly an over night study session. But has such a plan ever stood the test of time? Maybe in some part of universe but not in the lives and times of the residents room no. 17 Tympang Girls' Hostel Laitumkhrah. We had our books decked out on the table and there we were all ready to pledge our legions to the goddess of knowlegde- Ma Saraswati, that we were suddenly hit mercilessly by an almost epidemic hunger pang. This phenomenon of binging wasn't new to us but its intensity was all fresh and raw. Comming to think of it was not really hunger but a necessity rather to fill the void in our guts. It started out with Romantic Capsica Maggie. Ironic in the sense that the maggie was shared by roomies. After we devoured that bowl, the void growled again. Next we decked out some chana mayonaise sandwiches. Gross as it may sound but the combination works at a yin and yang front. The creamy tang of the mayo is like a comforting blanket around the spicy sharp edges of the chana. But were far from done yet. Next up were peanut butter banana and jam sandwiches. But these were very sweet so to counter it we uploaded them with a layer of chana. Thus we made a revealation that day that chana goes a lot well with bread. That was an eureka monent. Finally there we were, after a large bowl of maggie and rounnds of sandwiches, it feels like a food monster is tearing wolfishly at our entrails. As we lay on our beds that night our minds seemed to be going over all the biochemical reactions going on in our stomachs and our hearts feverently wish, praying to wake up on clean sheets the next morning. So for us friends it is now an established truth that GLUTTONY is really a SIN

HAPPY SARASWATI PUJA

Today is when over on this side of the universe we mix religion with education and create a day called Saraswati puja, the day of the goddess of knowledge and her minions- us students. Its one day when going to school feels like whole new experience of its kind i.e., if the institution celebrates this. Well if not there are other ways to enjoy the day which I will talk about in while. Basically over here this day is when all the girls around play dress up on a massive scale. Don't let my use of words fool you I mean it in a very positive sense. It is the day when the jeans, tees, sneakers, skirts and every thing alike makes way for the regale sari or the mekhela chadar. On a serious note its a day when we take full pride in our individualistic identities merging with our cultural identity. But on less loftier note, when else do we get the chance to look our best and march around the city conquering one Puja pandal at a time. And with the famous Lady Boys from Thailand making rounds in around Guwahati Puja pandals there certainly an International feel this year. I celebrated my puja at the P.O.W.I.E.T. this year at Jorhat and had the best time in a while. The event was celebrated on a large scale with a beautiful flower arch way welcoming the public into the institute. There at the venue of Puja we all bowed our head down to the goddess and prayed ( I prayed to pass in the chemistry exam i have). After we payed our legions to the goddess we were given some prasad. Even though the event was meant for all the employees and all the students, they managed to keep a down home ambiance. With the puja mandap erected up on an open field dotted with trees, it was a treat to the sense and the soul. But the ones who had the most fun were the little kids. The spotlight was shared by a little three year old girl who tured out to be and endearing little dare devil. She pranced up and down a dried out drain and climbed up a bars while her mother and the rest of her family were worried witless if she slips. And her partner sharing the spotlight was a little puppy, by the looks of it the animal had probably been abandoned. The pup seemed to greet every one and escort them to the puja mandap. The warm welcome of the organizers continued further as they fed all the visitors. It was sustenance in the form of khidchi, two vegetable preparations, pickle and rasgulla to go with it. It was really surprising and quite heat warming that these students often known to be trouble makers took it upon themselves to organize the event. Not to forget they achieved it all under the tutelage of their teachers who guided them through. They fed up in the classrooms and they did feed a lot of us. So here goes to P.O.W.E.I.T. for opening their doors to all and bestowing upon us the honor of the blessings of Ma Saraswati. No doubt I believe that the school I passes out from was the best, but today I have to confess if only we had celebrated Saraswati Puja even there. Our school being the Army School Jorhat takes an atheist stand at this event hoping the best that they don't encourage communalism. Which is infact important today because we all need to be politically correct at all times, but the question is would it not be better if we look above the religious content of the day and focus on the holistic part of it. In a sense it is a day for the students. At the end of the day we all remember our backgrounds, our religions and our cultures and take them home with us. But wouldn't it be a bit better if we did take home with a bit of diversity too? Well I don't really have nothing to complain about it because I have grown up around people who are accepting of diversity. And it is here at my home town of Jorhat that we identify ourselves with humanity, not just name, community or religion alone. This thought gives me the the peace of mind that we are all going to be alright after all. HAPPY SARASWATI PUJA TO ALL..I HOPE WE ALL PASS

A FADING

My days here at Jorhat are numbered now because I have to go back to attend college . So today my whole day consisted of shopping for hostel supplies, for me its a survival kit. This blog is not about what is in my shopping or any great tips about what one might need to take to the hostel. But instead it is about an old Jorhat landmark standing the test of time or maybe not. Standing tall amidst the dust is the Doss & Co. It is general store that was once the answer to all need general, in-general or even medical. The medial part has subsided now but they still house the dry cleaners- Rupshree and the printing press. When You take a step inside the store it is actually like walking back a bit in time. The interiors are large and spacious with great big floor to ceiling widows on the walls, shelves stacked with goods and old wooden counters. When you put your first step in you are greeted by a mirror reaching up to the top. One feature that made me a fan of theirs is that they have a round table surrounded by shelves and shelves stalked with comics and the best part is that the shopkeepers don't really forbid you from reading them. One more plus about this lad mark is that they never pack goods in plastic bags..ever. but the greatest test is indeed the one of time. It has been revealed that of that land has been already sold off. Rumour has it that there has been a dispute between the owner brothers and only time will tell if the landmark lasts or reduces to rubble and dust that surrounds it now. We all know that if we don't change with the demands of time, time may find a way to break us. But the question here is how much of change breeds innovation, and how much threatens to destroys our history and legacy. The balance is generally the hardest to find.

A LITTLE MORE AND A LITTLE LESS

Well I was planning for a happy and cheery blog about how i went to my old school today, the great memories and everything around..but something happened between now and then and now I am panic stricken, because a few moments ago I split my cousin's card reader into two. So right now my prospects appear grim. Called him a few minutes ago and I am bummed. Just when You think the day could not go any better, an accident or an action changes our mind set. So that is one reason to wrap out hearts around every small source of joy through out the day because we never really are in control of all the elements are we? Somehow today's incident somehow takes me back to Paulo Coelho's novel "The Winner Stands Alone". i will not go into the details of the book but it merely emphasised the interconnection of different things forming a complicated maze in which we live in, disturbing one element causes alterations in the maze and catastrophe happens. In his story its about the murders committed by the character Igor Malev. He travels to the Cannes International film Festival to get back with his estranged ex-wife. There amid the glit, glamour and the excess of the new superclass he launches a 24 hour campaign of extraordinary violence. In the end he manages to kill an innocent young woman selling homemade jewelery, an important distributor, a talented director, a fashion designer and finally his ex wife Ewa. With all the murders he commits he also wrought hell on the lives associated with the people he murders. Thus in the end leaving distress. I don't mean to relate breaking a card reader to committing a heinous crime like murder, but just the interconnection of all life's elements and a good day turning into a bad nightmare are not left to astronomical odds but ourselves. I managed to convert my cousin's trust to distrust and it was my fault. Hopefully the guilt will subside but maybe its just better if it remains, I think that way I will handle things properly in future. I never meant to come off on the philosophical from or straying near the rotating wheel of karma but here I am bummed, unforgiven and wiser(questionably). All I would like to say now is that not all endings are meant to be happy because if they were, happiness will no longer have its meaning.

The Road That Was Taken..

See how clean those roads are...??

This is how the city looks from the top of my hostel. It was taken when we (hostellers) were all too new at a new place. With our 2 mega pixel cameras we all decided to capture the moments.
We were all blown away by the clouds and the hills so close to us, growing up in the plains that is one thing that hits you beautifully._