Interpreter of Maladies
Monday, November 28, 2005
ElectionsEver seen this movie titled Election-starring Reese Witherspoon. One good movie. If politics, opportunism, "wannabe"ism concerns you, this movie is a must watch. Picking up from a US university scenario with one of the professors (Matt Broderick)as a protagonist, who is audience to a college election. At the fierecely fought ballot, the opportunistic Tracy Matthew (Witherspoon), a perfectly lovely young girl who happens to be a Machiavellian power-hungry wench hiding behind a "milk-and-cookie" image, is angling for the trophy post of college president. She's chin-deep in every activity on campus, as long as she's the leader, and she wants the ultimate office. A great movie and one of the under appraised ones. I loved it because of the simple idea that it projects so vividly, hunger for power. The movie comes to mind as election sets off at IIMC. I have been flooded with manifestos, people cornering me aside to talk me into voting for them. I have seen genuine interest to work being shrouded by cheap popularist tricks. All this for mere posts in student council which would max give people a leap as a point in their CV and nothing more. But with the rising stakes, CV points become the centre of existence of an individual at an intensely competitive place like this. I personally love elections and politics as long as it is fought maturedly and voters are a sane population. As an audience of the soapbox,campaignings and also what people do once they assume the posts-I am reminded more of ELECTION-the movie, more than anything else. I wonder what would happen of people who really wish to make a difference as against the ones who would pursue their own selfish ends like Tracy. The fun part is even Tracy didn't figure out what she would do for herself with the post, all she had was this quirky hunger for power-just any form. Does power really become such a big magnet as one ages-is it something that becomes an enigma everyone chases. Those who cant get it by themselves, align to the ones who get it. It is one of the biggest mysteries of all time. This election is just a peek-a-boo into it.
Sunday, November 27, 2005
change of templateAfter zillion of months...changed my blog template and that too after 2 hours of searching. No...this girl is not me. I was looking for an image n this looked good to put on the blog page. It seems cool...reviews please...?
Saturday, November 26, 2005
City surfingIts been sometime since I unraveled the stories of Cal-the city. Infact, I never did have a chance to see so much of the city ever since I came here. Few days back, discovered a long lost friend who happens to be in Cal, the irony being, she lives at least 2.5 hours away from Joka-in the other end of the city-Salt Lake. So though she means the world to me and spending quality time with her is a great idea, I cant do much about it. Today though, she sprang a surprise on me by visiting the campus. With a campus that does not have "much" to offer, we decided to explore Cal. Not that we had a whale of time in hand but the weather was pretty and I was not sleepy (quite an exception) so to Cal it was. As I am living with slim margins these days (spent enormous amount of money for some plane tickets :D), was in no mood to sqaunder 100s on taxis. Took a bus to Taratalla but got down at Sakher Bazaar itself to catch an auto to Tollygunge. This happens to be the closest (misused in this context) metro station to Joka. After a short walk, reached the station. Waited in an endless queue to get two tickets to M.G. Road. The initial plan was to go to this market in the city which is supposed to be hub of exotic, out of print books and I realized that I was tempted to procure some nice ones for my collection. Now this book place happens to be in College street which is parallel to the metro station of M.G. Road, which again is the 11th station on the metro route from Tollygunge so we were sitting and sitting and waiting for what seemed eternity before the robotic female voice in the train said "The next station is M.G. Road. The gates open on the right hand side". Metros are good timepass in Cal (given u have the time to pass). People of all sorts travel in Metro. From a tired looking school girl coming back from her tuitions to the two lovebirds cuddled in a corner of the train...makes for some good observations :D. Then there was a Bong woman screaming non stop at her kids and the kids in turn, fighting for what seemed like a chocolate bar. Well, my observations didnt last long and we were at M.G. Road finally. Now Cal's M.G. Road isnt like M.G. Roads at other places (its even worse than the one at Kanpur..the city perceived to be low tech, non metro..what not !!). Its narrow, dimly lit and is strewn with potholes. There are some gawdy looking shops selling sarees etc. The place had a North Indian feel to it. Dont know why. It feels at home to see/feel/hear nething remotely North Indian in Cal. So we walked to college street but realized that it wasnt really as parallel as we thought (not like the F.C. Road/J.M. road parallelity in Pune) so took an auto to cover the distance. The auto ride scared me enough to drop the thrill of buying books. By the time we reached college street it was already 6ish. The market happened to be more of a place to procure cheap academic books rather than a book shopper's delite. After an hour spent in staring at ICSE, ISC, JEE, CAT books, we found out that the "our kind of books" market was located another 10 minutes walk from that street. I made the effort and was sadly disappointed. Not real good books but yeah I got one of the books that I was looking for. MY LIFE by Bill Clinton. That will keep me busy enough till the next month. Realized then that both of us were really hungry and College Street being the damp, dingy place as it looked like, we decided to finally surrender and take a taxi to Park Street-this still being the only address I know of in Cal which comes close to being the street of a Metro. Decided to eat at ONE STEP UP-a multicuisine and well lit place. I have this obsession with well lit streets/restaurants/rooms that is nowhere close to dying down-just hate low lights. The food was good-baked pasta with tomato sauce. Never had baked pasta and it seems like a quirky dish worth a try in the kitchen. Park Street is a great place for ancient restaurants. For those who have seen Parineeta-Trincas, Moulin Rouge and Flurys are all here and yeah, they are still pretty much untouched by the winds of time-amazing !! After the sumptuous meal, had pastry and coffee at Flurys. This is a small place with neatly dressed waiters carrying steel kettles. The small tables have pink candles-mebbe because Flurys has its logo in pink. The decor is old. A couple of elegant chandeliers lighting up the place and a neat stack of pastries you can drool upon. So after drooling and contemplating we narrowed down our choices to a mud pie and fudge with a black coffee. All set and full then, I bade my friend good night promising to visit Salt Lake someday. When, I dont know...
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Tracking friends-IIMore on friends. Though a blog seems too scarce a space to cover all. Here is talking about a small subset:
Sonal: Lunatic is a funny name to have on blogspot but Sonal has always had a real funny side to him. He has taught me to laugh and take things easy once in a while. Not that I always listen but its nice to see someone so much in love with life. I know him since the past 6 years and we have had our tiffs and lows quite often. Yet, the unwavering spirit with which he comes face to face with challenges imparts a lesson or two about resilience. Creativity is second nature to him. Art, poetry, humor-his skills at these need no mention. Right now, he is working his way off to glory before he sets off on an enlightening journey for an MBA.
Lalita: Lilu is in Delhi these days but then she was in Delhi even 2 years back. She is this smart consultant-has almost taught me consulting by rote. Still believe she saved my life on the nite before the summer interview. Lilu that sermon on currency fluctuations was ultimate :D. What I remember the most about our days together is the long walks in the "park" near the office and the hasty coffee and sandwitch at Barista. Gone are the days :( Lilu do come back for an MDP here. IIMC isnt a bad place after all !!!
Fauzia : Fauz is in Delhi too. We all were part of this real nice clique of friends at a "not so nice" office in Delhi. Fauz is great with numbers. Those studious specs do give a perception of a highly mathematical wizard nearby. Add to it her Chartered Acoountant qualifications and voila that is Fauz. She loves chocolates-Bounty-if i aint wrong :D and the simple joys of life. She is a great friend and amongst the nicest women that I have known. Keep smiling Fauz-worries in life are too short to be worth anything much.
Sunday, November 20, 2005
Tracking friends-IWhile on a hiatus for the last week, I began to wonder what is going on around me. Since the last three years, I have lost track of life and have never really analysed what is everyone upto...so here is the rundown on two of my friends...the rest will follow in due time
Akshaya: Braveheart is a popular person on blogspot. He also happens to be an old friend. Not really old in a literal sense but the unique love-hate relationship that we share makes him oddly distinct amongst my friends. I know him since the last 6 years technically and for the last 3 years actually. He is passionate and dedicated to his mottos in life and thats what he is doing right now,pursuing his passion. All Puneites, please to catch his wonderful plays (he is a scriptwriter and a great actor); I am at a loss of not being able to do so being in Kolkata. He is a voracious reader and though he could do with some better speed at reading, he goes more for depth unlike ahem-ahem...YOU KNOW WHO...:D
Gauraw: Gauraw is a very different person. From the shy, almost reticent person five years back, he has almost turned inside out. He is very technical unlike me and Akshaya. Lives by facts, does not have much time for the lucid details. Right now, Gauraw is making waves at a multinational company in Noida. For him, the salient facts are, he can go anywhere he wants, he will always be the newsmaker if he wants to be.
Sunday, November 13, 2005
Paradigm shift, must sayAfter a mad day, there has been little progress made. I know where I will do my summers and what I will do, which is a great improvement from where I was some days back. About the interviews, it was fun talking to loads of people, making them understand what drives me, what motivates me and why I would work if I would work at all. Some great moments...like this one company calling me and telling me that we either want you or no one on campus. It just seemed special and in a way important. At this stage in my career, being important was a feeling to relish. It was finally a choice between a New York Investment bank offer who were ready to offer anything on the table vis-a-vis a Private equity company in Bombay where I would be part of a select few working for the biggest PE of the world. Chose New York partly because I wanted to be risk proof. Did not want the cringing feeling that one gets when you do not get a PPO. Did not want to reject a chance to see Wall Street close by. Though I have to accept Private Equity was a dream come true. Yesterday at least once I did tell myself that you aint that bad and you could be better if you stopped thinking you are bad. Great day and a very hectic one. Now flying to Delhi in the evening. After some professional histrionics, its time to get personal priorities straight.
Monday, November 07, 2005
Aas, Aasha, Asthakhwaab hoon tumhari aankhon ka..
jab palkon ko jhukate ho tum
tab kahin gahan andhakar se
nikal kar, tumhein choo jaati hoon main
fir bhar deti hoon sapnon mein
rangon ke anek dhaage,
jinhein bun kar tum apni kalpanayein banate ho
main anant hoon, anashwar,
tumhara srujan hone se pehle bhi main wahin thi
tumhare us nanhe se adrishya hriday mein dhadakti hui...
tumhari vishwa ko jaanane ki jigyasa mein liptee hui
tumhare har mantavya ko samajhti hui
main nayi kritiyon se parichay karati thi tumhara
phoolon ki pankhuriyon ki narmee
aur suraj ki taptee garmi ka nazaara
main tumahri soch mein hoon
nishpaksh se santosh mein hoon
main tumhari kalpana ke har naye abhishek mein hoon
mujhko dhoondho, mujhko khojo
main jeevan strot hoon tumhara
mujhpar hi to hai aadharit
har ek parishram tumhara
taap jitna hai hriday mein
utna mujhko chahte ho
aasha hoon main, astha main,
main bharosa hoon tumhara
Sunday, November 06, 2005
sad sundayThe weather has actually perked up these days. Its cool and if it gets a little colder it would be good for me. Things sadly are not perking up. I am still low and not in a great mood. Suddenly, I feel like introspecting and questioning everything in my life. I have started doubting all my achievements, if there were any. Being scared of my own confidence, if it ever existed. All my fears are coming out of the closet and the tensions of my personal life are looming large over me. Stepping out into the open scares me off. Facing people makes me lose my words and stutter. Is it all a personal agony of a wrong choice that is weighing on my shoulders? Or is it because I have lost myself somewhere. Did you know a confident, maybe intelligent me ever.
Life knocked on the backdoor yesterday
But the icy cold me, never let him inside
I thought I was doing okay
Why should I bother about welcoming life
But then life knocked the breath out of my lungs
now I am lifeless and pale
and I am wondering
what really did went wrong....