Tushar Mangl's Blog, page 33
April 17, 2016
Sunday Musings
I have been working on The Crumpled Innocence for a long time now. Its been in the cold storage for a while now. It was a spark of an idea but could never reach its true potential. But now I have restarted work on it and release date has been finalized as 15 July, 2016. Let's hope it goes well.
Writing has always been an integral part of my adult life. But will it always remain so? At some level I hope I will move away from writing as it takes up too many of my emotions.
Another thing that has always been with me is my reading. It still is my most favourite pass time and I wish and pray it remain so. But now I have added yet another hobby. At least am trying to build it up as a hobby. That is walking and exercising. I like walking. But always felt lazy to take it up. Also my health issues have always been a hindrance in taking up any sports. But look at the kind of lifestyle we lead. Too much unhealthy (yet tasty) food, sedentary lifestyle excessive pollution is all negating our health in a big way. Add to that a desire to indulge in an active hobby. So I trying to maintain a routine of long walks and lifting weights. Last month I borrowed a pair of dumb bells from bro and its working like a charm. Its a little tedious but more I work out, better I feel. Let's see how that turns out to be.
On the reading front I am almost done with the Perry Mason series and seriously feel Erle Stanley Gardner was one hell of a writer.
Writing has always been an integral part of my adult life. But will it always remain so? At some level I hope I will move away from writing as it takes up too many of my emotions.
Another thing that has always been with me is my reading. It still is my most favourite pass time and I wish and pray it remain so. But now I have added yet another hobby. At least am trying to build it up as a hobby. That is walking and exercising. I like walking. But always felt lazy to take it up. Also my health issues have always been a hindrance in taking up any sports. But look at the kind of lifestyle we lead. Too much unhealthy (yet tasty) food, sedentary lifestyle excessive pollution is all negating our health in a big way. Add to that a desire to indulge in an active hobby. So I trying to maintain a routine of long walks and lifting weights. Last month I borrowed a pair of dumb bells from bro and its working like a charm. Its a little tedious but more I work out, better I feel. Let's see how that turns out to be.
On the reading front I am almost done with the Perry Mason series and seriously feel Erle Stanley Gardner was one hell of a writer.
April 10, 2016
Sunday Musings
In her autobiography Agatha Christie wrote that she seldom went to one place twice for vacation. Her reasoning as I recall was that you have certain memories and you like the place. When you visit that place again and again it spoils those memories. I agree to that. There are so many places in the World. Why keep visiting one again and again. Keep the memories intact.
But is it always possible? There are so many places which we visit where memories are created, good and bad. Say an old fort in your city. You went with a loved one for a walk (just saying). Would you rather go their again and again or would you rather never go their again so that the memory of the place remains intact? But you can't avoid the town, can you? Like hill stations. You go to a hill station after few years, you will see less trees, more pollution, more people. The memory of the quaint little town with waterfalls is bound to be disrupted forever.
Nostalgia is a tricky thing. Can get you hung over any time, any where. Memories fool us more often we can agree upon. There is a thing about second chances. Wouldn't you want to give your once favourite restaurant where your break up happened?`Or that place where you had your first date?
Would you go on a date with someone else their?
We get attached to places, often not realizing we are getting attached to them. Think about it. So many places would be there in your life with special meanings. Would you like to revisit them or let them as it is. Would you like to invoke the nostalgia or let the memory preserve in the frames of time.
But is it always possible? There are so many places which we visit where memories are created, good and bad. Say an old fort in your city. You went with a loved one for a walk (just saying). Would you rather go their again and again or would you rather never go their again so that the memory of the place remains intact? But you can't avoid the town, can you? Like hill stations. You go to a hill station after few years, you will see less trees, more pollution, more people. The memory of the quaint little town with waterfalls is bound to be disrupted forever.
Nostalgia is a tricky thing. Can get you hung over any time, any where. Memories fool us more often we can agree upon. There is a thing about second chances. Wouldn't you want to give your once favourite restaurant where your break up happened?`Or that place where you had your first date?
Would you go on a date with someone else their?
We get attached to places, often not realizing we are getting attached to them. Think about it. So many places would be there in your life with special meanings. Would you like to revisit them or let them as it is. Would you like to invoke the nostalgia or let the memory preserve in the frames of time.
April 3, 2016
Sunday Musings
Over the holi long weekend, I was in Ludhiana, my birth place. We were driving down a road, which I used to take while cycling to school. The road has now been widened, and is much better but the majestic eucalyptus trees, that shaded me in hot summer months, are now all gone. In the maddening rush for wide roads, huge number of trees are being chopped down, not just in Punjab, but in other states as well. It does not make me sad as that is what the countrymen want. Wide roads. Everyone wants that, and politicians too realize the need of their vote bank. Trees don't vote. Where once they grew from a sapling to a an adult tree, they are now just being seen as a road block, an eyesore.
And who will speak on their behalf? The moment you try to speak against this shameless atrocity you would be branded as an anti development, activist. As if speaking for a bunch of trees is such a huge sin. The felling of roadside trees also does not affect the NGO types as well, who have much larger jungles to protect. The governments do try, at least on paper to offset loss on environment, by claiming to plant new trees somewhere else. But does that really serve the purpose?
Here is to every tree that's being uprooted for the fancies of people demanding wider roads. R.I.P.
And who will speak on their behalf? The moment you try to speak against this shameless atrocity you would be branded as an anti development, activist. As if speaking for a bunch of trees is such a huge sin. The felling of roadside trees also does not affect the NGO types as well, who have much larger jungles to protect. The governments do try, at least on paper to offset loss on environment, by claiming to plant new trees somewhere else. But does that really serve the purpose?
Here is to every tree that's being uprooted for the fancies of people demanding wider roads. R.I.P.
March 11, 2016
Friday Musings
Life is Life. Its harder to live and easier to die. I had so many blog posts all planned up but somehow (read laziness) could not get to write them. Will do that in near term for sure. This is a tough time. I am used to them. Nothing I have not handled before. But each battle leaves you tired and the weariness dims you further. But somehow in recent months I have met and got acquainted with new people I really liked. It also got me to realize why I am stuck on some old friends, who never even loved me. Or just used me as their emotional cushions. They did not even look back to check whether I was okay or not. Now that I got in touch with these new acquaintances whom I will not even see or meet in near future, I realize what I am missing.
Still I miss those old friends. Long for the familiar shoulder for comfort. Somehow I think was I too much needy? Immersed in numerous problems of my own, I became too passive in my relationships. So much so that people thought could take advantage. A few thought of me as a doormat. It pinched but never much for those were the things that showed me true value of my relationships.
Change is beckoning. What to do with change? You got to face it and hope you come out a survivor. Whilst in your heart you want to curl in a corner and wish for death in sleep.
Still I miss those old friends. Long for the familiar shoulder for comfort. Somehow I think was I too much needy? Immersed in numerous problems of my own, I became too passive in my relationships. So much so that people thought could take advantage. A few thought of me as a doormat. It pinched but never much for those were the things that showed me true value of my relationships.
Change is beckoning. What to do with change? You got to face it and hope you come out a survivor. Whilst in your heart you want to curl in a corner and wish for death in sleep.
February 20, 2016
Of Media Obsession of Congress defined nationalism
Something something happens and media, social and electronic all go to grab maximum twitter tweets and FB likes. Most painful part about this is the role of social media. It is easy for the Congress obsessed media to hate the BJP and make every issue about RSS and BJP. Even nationalism for example.
But why does not a Rajdeep Sardesai I wonder, not pained when a Tanzanian girl is stripped in Bangalore and police decide to take things easy? Just because Bangalore is ruled by the Congress, it is okay with everyone. We are all okay with the inaction of the police on a mob that went around and beat up the girl and her friends. Well because they all love and preach Congress brand of nationalism. No Arnab gets angry no Ravish comes out with theatrical dialogues. This is the patriotism we all are made to like. Where we go around chasing young foreign women and beat them around. Its all okay as long you are not even distantly associated with RSS or BJP. You are also allowed to burn up the car in which the girl was travelling. Our focus should be to press like buttons when the media spews venom against the Modi or his government. Or better still on nationalism and intolerance matters that are happening of course in BJP ruled states only. States like Karnataka, not ruled by BJP are tolerant.They just took 3 days to decide to take action against such a small tiny incident.
So we should all carry the Indian media's torch of nationalism and tolerance and patriotism. Forget about Kerala, it is good state. No BJP there. So media happy. No one gives a damn about the parents of Sujith in Kannur district Kerala whose 27 year old son was hacked to death in front of their eyes in their very home, because he was RSS. So media says, don't give a damn. All civil rights, political rights, in eyes of media are for JNU type students, who should have all rights to support terrorists. RSS should be terminated by a shooting squad. So much is the hate of the media. No one wants to know why Congress led states are allowing such incidents. For they have stamp of approval from the big boys of media.
That is what tolerance means to them. Nation to them is just one party and to tow line of that one party. It is not only shameful for our motherland but totally sad as well.
But why does not a Rajdeep Sardesai I wonder, not pained when a Tanzanian girl is stripped in Bangalore and police decide to take things easy? Just because Bangalore is ruled by the Congress, it is okay with everyone. We are all okay with the inaction of the police on a mob that went around and beat up the girl and her friends. Well because they all love and preach Congress brand of nationalism. No Arnab gets angry no Ravish comes out with theatrical dialogues. This is the patriotism we all are made to like. Where we go around chasing young foreign women and beat them around. Its all okay as long you are not even distantly associated with RSS or BJP. You are also allowed to burn up the car in which the girl was travelling. Our focus should be to press like buttons when the media spews venom against the Modi or his government. Or better still on nationalism and intolerance matters that are happening of course in BJP ruled states only. States like Karnataka, not ruled by BJP are tolerant.They just took 3 days to decide to take action against such a small tiny incident.
So we should all carry the Indian media's torch of nationalism and tolerance and patriotism. Forget about Kerala, it is good state. No BJP there. So media happy. No one gives a damn about the parents of Sujith in Kannur district Kerala whose 27 year old son was hacked to death in front of their eyes in their very home, because he was RSS. So media says, don't give a damn. All civil rights, political rights, in eyes of media are for JNU type students, who should have all rights to support terrorists. RSS should be terminated by a shooting squad. So much is the hate of the media. No one wants to know why Congress led states are allowing such incidents. For they have stamp of approval from the big boys of media.
That is what tolerance means to them. Nation to them is just one party and to tow line of that one party. It is not only shameful for our motherland but totally sad as well.
February 6, 2016
It hurts to let go - Sunday musings
Letting go, is such a common catch phrase these days. Let go of this, that and everything.It's a cool Sunday morning and as I am reading blogs, going through the facebook posts and all, I get thinking of letting go. In terms of relationships. You know how it is, you ask (or don't ask) any person advise of relationship they all jump in with this age old formula of letting go. Be it cranky friends, annoying relatives, the stupid bosses at work or nosy neighbours. Each relationship it seems is based on letting go. That's how we live as a society. Ignore, avoid and let go. You fight, argue, borrow money, return money whatever, if you want to maintain good relations, just let go.
But in the end it hurts. You know that the friend you are sipping coffee with, had once betrayed you way back. The relative for whose marriage you are super excited still owes you money. The ex who is a friend (supposedly) once broke your heart (and ego) very bad. Parents for whom you want to do so much are still partial to the other child. It's all okay we say, let it go.
After all what choice do we have? If we start chaffing out people out of our lives for various reasons, we would be so isolated today. It hurts when you have been wronged but loneliness will hurt you more. I might sound a bit cynical here, but think about all the people in your lives and all the times you had to forget and let go. Now think of all the relationships ruined as we could never let go. It's like this mental sieve we got. Which relation suits our emotional needs at the moment, we keep, others we don't let go, we build up the walls, erect a fence.
One day we will rip open the bandaged and peep into the old scars. I know it will hurt a lot. I just hope we never have to answer the question, was all the letting go, really worth it?
But in the end it hurts. You know that the friend you are sipping coffee with, had once betrayed you way back. The relative for whose marriage you are super excited still owes you money. The ex who is a friend (supposedly) once broke your heart (and ego) very bad. Parents for whom you want to do so much are still partial to the other child. It's all okay we say, let it go.
After all what choice do we have? If we start chaffing out people out of our lives for various reasons, we would be so isolated today. It hurts when you have been wronged but loneliness will hurt you more. I might sound a bit cynical here, but think about all the people in your lives and all the times you had to forget and let go. Now think of all the relationships ruined as we could never let go. It's like this mental sieve we got. Which relation suits our emotional needs at the moment, we keep, others we don't let go, we build up the walls, erect a fence.
One day we will rip open the bandaged and peep into the old scars. I know it will hurt a lot. I just hope we never have to answer the question, was all the letting go, really worth it?
January 31, 2016
Skill Development Initiatives of the government
One of the biggest achievements of the present day Narendra Modi government would be the way it has dealt with Skill Development. In India, our biggest strength today is our human resource. But we have a a garbage of education system that just can best generate certificates and degrees. For obvious reasons that does not prepare you for a job. It saddens me to see so many young people looking for a job and so many corporations looking for people and things just don't work out because the youth is not up to that challenge of job. Here is where a robust skill development mission is required. And the government by setting up the skill development ministry has shown its good intentions to boost up the sector. People today need to be updated on skills especially as we are staring into a recession. The guy with the right skills will make a better impression on the companies who need quality manpower. Instead of hiring more and more they are now hiring less. So quality here will trump quantity. And more skills we develop in people better it is them. Business cycles move fast these days. Skill you learned 7 years ago might not be relevant today. So you got to keep yourself updated. I think it is a great that the government has stepped in to close the gap between potential employees and employers.
January 24, 2016
Fantastico College Fest Story
I met Priya during Fantastico, a college festival organized every year by Sri Gulab Chand Memorial College. Or GCM as we call it. She had come all the way from Karnal where she was studying Ayurveda at a local college. I was at Chandigarh studying IT and dreaming about heading to United States after studies. However that was not our first meeting.
We had met before many years ago at my friend's brother's wedding. She was known to a sister in the family and though we had seen each other, hardly any words were exchanged. Introductions were made but we never got a chance to interact. Although I remember clearly, that I had found her really attractive and our eyes had met more than often.
Now, it was a shock and a surprise to see her after all this time at Fantastico. The fest itself was open to students of varied disciplines and studies. It was more of a youth festival to bond and chill than any of the pointer representations it made on its charter. There was way lot of drinking and smoking, the weed being the most in demand. Add music into this and the fest was magic. It was the ultimate high.
She was dressed in a black salwar kameez with golden color border on it. She stood out of the crowd of jeans and top girls. All of them were wearing a varied color of blue denims pants and black tops. I recognized her at the same time she recognized me. There was the curious look and then surprise on her face, I was still in shock to offer a reaction, but when she smiled, I smiled as well. A couple of awkward moments passed and as we reintroduced ourselves, things eased out. We broke away from our individual groups and headed towards an isolated bench under a clump of trees. I still remember the day vividly. The sun was glowing down in subtle tones. The weather was autumn perfect. We just sat there and said nothing for few minutes. Then a student came by, he was walking and rolling a joint at the same time. Just as it happens, the guy fell down stood up and moved on. She laughed, just an easy light laugh that broke the ice. We talked and talked and talked till the sun went down. Then we went down the amphitheatre where a band was playing old English songs. It was amazing to see her so happy, upbeat on the music, the yellow bulbs, casting a glow the golden on her suit.
We had dinner together with our group of friends and then went alone for a walk around the campus. Fantastico was one experience of my life I would always remember. It gave me such joy and love.
We had met before many years ago at my friend's brother's wedding. She was known to a sister in the family and though we had seen each other, hardly any words were exchanged. Introductions were made but we never got a chance to interact. Although I remember clearly, that I had found her really attractive and our eyes had met more than often.
Now, it was a shock and a surprise to see her after all this time at Fantastico. The fest itself was open to students of varied disciplines and studies. It was more of a youth festival to bond and chill than any of the pointer representations it made on its charter. There was way lot of drinking and smoking, the weed being the most in demand. Add music into this and the fest was magic. It was the ultimate high.
She was dressed in a black salwar kameez with golden color border on it. She stood out of the crowd of jeans and top girls. All of them were wearing a varied color of blue denims pants and black tops. I recognized her at the same time she recognized me. There was the curious look and then surprise on her face, I was still in shock to offer a reaction, but when she smiled, I smiled as well. A couple of awkward moments passed and as we reintroduced ourselves, things eased out. We broke away from our individual groups and headed towards an isolated bench under a clump of trees. I still remember the day vividly. The sun was glowing down in subtle tones. The weather was autumn perfect. We just sat there and said nothing for few minutes. Then a student came by, he was walking and rolling a joint at the same time. Just as it happens, the guy fell down stood up and moved on. She laughed, just an easy light laugh that broke the ice. We talked and talked and talked till the sun went down. Then we went down the amphitheatre where a band was playing old English songs. It was amazing to see her so happy, upbeat on the music, the yellow bulbs, casting a glow the golden on her suit.
We had dinner together with our group of friends and then went alone for a walk around the campus. Fantastico was one experience of my life I would always remember. It gave me such joy and love.
This blog post is inspired by the blogging marathon hosted on IndiBlogger for the launch of the #Fantastico Zica from Tata Motors. You can apply for a test drive of the hatchback Zica today.
January 6, 2016
Ramayana - The Game of Life - Stolen Hope - Book 3 - Review
The much anticipated, 3rd book from the Ramayana - The Game of Life series by Shubha Vilas
titled Stolen Hope is now out.
You would have read the review of the first book at
http://tusharmangl.blogspot.in/2014/0...
and almost a year ago I penned down the review for the second instalment of the series
http://tusharmangl.blogspot.in/2015/0...
Now I am fortunate enough to receive the third book in the series which continues the story of Ramayana.
titled Stolen Hope is now out.
You would have read the review of the first book at
http://tusharmangl.blogspot.in/2014/0...
and almost a year ago I penned down the review for the second instalment of the series
http://tusharmangl.blogspot.in/2015/0...
Now I am fortunate enough to receive the third book in the series which continues the story of Ramayana.
Another Rich Stupid Delhi Idea
Odd Even number plate? Seriously?
How many people even remember their vehicle's number plates?
But Delhi does. Its people have that zest for dramatic and superfluous. After all it has the highest per capita income in India. So much money can fog minds really.
A few years ago media friends of AAP showed us that their dearest Mr Kejriwal has 500 plus pages proof of then CM Sheila Dikshit's involvement in CWG scam. Now the same media wallahs are creating this buzz about odd even rule to hide the fallacies of Mr Kejriwal's government. Its not about clean air. How many cities in India do really have clean air? Its about camouflaging facts like Delhi government's inability to do anything about corruption past or present. The party's own members questioned the diluted lokpal law passed by Mr Kejriwal but were clearly gagged up.
I was on Sunday driving through the busy Aurobindo Marg in Delhi, where I stopped over at an intersection where a lone traffic policeman was frantically trying to regulate traffic. My heart went out to that guy for ultimately he will also now have to stare at number plates of all those vehicles.
Of course its all in greater good. Like hiking salaries of all MLAs of Delhi was for greater good. After all they are the heroes of the public of Delhi. Rich people need Rich MLAs.
So now so that no one talks a thing about the misdeeds of government of Delhi, they have thrusted this clean air thing. I mean, air is polluted by burning fields in neighbouring areas, construction etc. So now will people of Delhi shut down all illegal construction activities being carried by encouragement of Delhi government? Or will they stop using farmers for suicides and publicity and help them not to burn fields after harvest? No they won't do any thing about that. Delhi people just need to hog media for media can only see two things. One the darling CM of their state and of course the poor air quality.
Odd Even vehicle formula might have been a hit in some other developed cities of the world. But those cities have a culture, a character of infrastructure, a soul of strength that binds them together. All Delhi has money and this looks like more of a fad of rich than any serious attempt by people to act for the environment.
How many people even remember their vehicle's number plates?
But Delhi does. Its people have that zest for dramatic and superfluous. After all it has the highest per capita income in India. So much money can fog minds really.
A few years ago media friends of AAP showed us that their dearest Mr Kejriwal has 500 plus pages proof of then CM Sheila Dikshit's involvement in CWG scam. Now the same media wallahs are creating this buzz about odd even rule to hide the fallacies of Mr Kejriwal's government. Its not about clean air. How many cities in India do really have clean air? Its about camouflaging facts like Delhi government's inability to do anything about corruption past or present. The party's own members questioned the diluted lokpal law passed by Mr Kejriwal but were clearly gagged up.
I was on Sunday driving through the busy Aurobindo Marg in Delhi, where I stopped over at an intersection where a lone traffic policeman was frantically trying to regulate traffic. My heart went out to that guy for ultimately he will also now have to stare at number plates of all those vehicles.
Of course its all in greater good. Like hiking salaries of all MLAs of Delhi was for greater good. After all they are the heroes of the public of Delhi. Rich people need Rich MLAs.
So now so that no one talks a thing about the misdeeds of government of Delhi, they have thrusted this clean air thing. I mean, air is polluted by burning fields in neighbouring areas, construction etc. So now will people of Delhi shut down all illegal construction activities being carried by encouragement of Delhi government? Or will they stop using farmers for suicides and publicity and help them not to burn fields after harvest? No they won't do any thing about that. Delhi people just need to hog media for media can only see two things. One the darling CM of their state and of course the poor air quality.
Odd Even vehicle formula might have been a hit in some other developed cities of the world. But those cities have a culture, a character of infrastructure, a soul of strength that binds them together. All Delhi has money and this looks like more of a fad of rich than any serious attempt by people to act for the environment.
