Taking a Break !

Hi all,

I am packing my things and leaving from Bangalore to Hyderabad. I am not really worried about relocating, as I have been staying away from home last 7-8 years and have managed quite well. The only blessing I seek from God and everyone is that I do well wherever I go.
Anyways, I wont be blogging for may be next 7-10 days. I will miss it, but I will miss more reading the unconventional thoughts by Keshi, the interesting stuff posted on WOW by Archana, Uday and other good authors, the inspirational lines from Ekta (Once upon a time). I really like this line as my favorite author Paulo Coelho Starts his book from the line, Once upon a time. I would also miss staring at the delicious cuisines discovered by Anna. Well, talking of food and drinks I recently tasted Bru cappuccino coffee which I really liked. There was no tea, in my home and I had to manage with coffee, which I generally dont prefer. But, I really liked it especially the Mocha flavor, though I had tasted the Cinnamon flavor which somehow didnt suited my taste.
Bru cappuccino Mocha is very easy to prepare, as its more like a readymade coffee. You dont need to add sugar, milk anything. Just put it in hot water and it is prepared.
I really recommend Bru Cappuccino especially the Mocha flavor, and since it is available in single serve packet costing only Rs 6 which is well suited for bachelors.
Well, now I take a pause from blogging for few days sipping the last drop of my Bru Mocha.

Lots of love to everyone,
Amit

Is Mumbai the rudest city of the world?

I am watching news channels which are saying that Readers Digest has announced Mumbai as the rudest city of the world. Shocking, isn’t it.
One more shock, Delhi was not included; all those Indians who watch Indian news know about the safety of women in Delhi, the road rages. Anyways, I have no offense to Delhi, as it’s also one of the most active cities of India and I also like this place because of good friends. Well, the government is in maximum fault, which cant manage the law and order.
Lets , go back to the survey. The survey was done on three parameters:
I am picking the following lines directly from Readers Digest website:
We sent out undercover reporters—half of them men, half women—from Reader’s Digest editions in 35 countries to assess the citizens of their biggest cities. (In Canada, we tested the people of our two largest population centers, Toronto and Montreal.) In each location we conducted three tests:
• We walked into public buildings 20 times behind people to see if they would hold the door open for us.
• We bought small items from 20 stores and recorded whether the sales assistants said thank you.
• We dropped a folder full of papers in 20 busy locations to see if anyone would help pick them up.
To allow us to compare cities, we awarded one point for each positive outcome and nothing for a negative one, giving each city a maximum score of 60. We did not attempt a strict scientific survey; it was the world’s biggest real-life test of common courtesy, with more than 2,000 tests of actual behavior.
So, which city emerged as the most polite and which as the rudest? Here’s what we discovered:
The Top Three: New York, Zurich, Toronto
Their views about Mumbai:
Last in our rankings was Mumbai, where courtesy in stores was particularly lacking. When our female reporter bought a pair of plastic hair clips at a convenience store, sales assistant Shivlal Kumavat turned his back on her as soon as she had paid. Asked why, the 31-year-old was unapologetic. “Madam, I am not an educated guy. I hand goods over to the customers, and that’s it.”
In a government-run supermarket, a young female employee lied that she hadn’t seen what had happened when asked why she didn’t help our reporter pick up his papers. Another worker stepped on them. “That’s nothing,” said the store’s security guard. “In Mumbai, they’ll step over a person who has fallen in the street.”
Courtesy : readers digest
Now few suggestions to Readers Digest:
Before taking the survey, understand the cultural context.
Are these the most critical parameters for defining the rudest city?
Don’t they need to take the factors like crime etc. in context?
It takes time to understand a city; one cannot understand a city, until he/she lives in that city for some time. They should have considered participatory survey.I hope they know it.

Anyways, I don’t belong to Mumbai, but stayed there, traveled in heavy rush in locals, fell on stations during my initial traveling in locals, it’s an expensive city.
But, then also I feel it’s the most accepting city in world. It’s a very fast city, so people generally don’t look back, but is it rude. I don’t think so.
Mumbaikars have come together during crisis, such as heavy rainfall last year, bomb blasts. Does Readers digest take all these into account?
I think they should have done their homework properly before doing the survey.

Hi all,

I am relocating myself to Hyderabad after spending some wonderful time in my home town Jamalpur, Benaras and Delhi. I made some great friends in my life though few in numbers. We all must have made such frens, or may be fallen in love and then loose them, though not exactly.
I have made an amateurish attempt to convey the feeling of making great frens and loosing touch with them through the words.

Naam Gum jayega ....???

Remember the day we first met,
I asked who you are,
And you said your name.
I dont see you any more,
but your name lives with me forever.
We met once, twice, thrice
Many times,
knowing each other more,
Chasing dreams together,
giving each other a helping hand
while walking together on the rough sand.
The journey changed, the names changed
but still, your name lives with me forever.
Today, I again saw you,
playing colors on the road,
drenched in red, green and black.
I also saw myself,
calling yourname, sitting along the side of the river,
walking hand in hand,
as your name lives with me forever.
The Night has fallen,
the sun has set forever for me
as the days are going to rise never for me.
I am on the journey to my final destination
and I can hear from far and slowly receding,
people recalling my name,
though trying to forget,
but I can never forget you,
as your name lives with me ...

Amit sinha

P.s: ignore grammer mistakes; I never scored high marks in languages. However, suggestions are most welcome, even if it is related to grammer mistakes.

Yeh hai Bombay meri Jaan (life@Mumbai)

If there is one thing which has got the biggest sex appeal in a place is the kind of picture it portrays of its daily life, its awakening and its sleep, or may be no sleep at all and Mumbai is one such place. I have been very fond of places and the life it showcases. Though constrained by some reasons, I have not been able to travel much. But Which ever places I visit, I make sure that I get a grasp of the life line of the city.
I was part of the city started during my summer training in Crisil, Mumbai last year. I have been to this fondly called Maya nagri quite a time before, but these three months helped me in feeling the pulse of the city.
Life in Mumbai starts at 7 am in the morning when people start going for work and the local trains are full of men and women fighting for a place to even stand in the trains. The people prefer local trains than road, as it takes less time than going by bus and also the network is very extensive. The same atmosphere can be observed during the evening when people start returning back to their home.
I remember my first day by local train while traveling from Vashi to Andheri for my summer training. I had taken a first class pass, but during peak hour there is absolutely no difference in the crowd between first class and second class. I had to get down at Vadala, and was almost pushed out of the train. Well, there is a simple trick while traveling in crowded Mumbai locals that you should let people board the train first and then get down at the station. Sounds, strange, but this is how it works and the seasoned travelers know it very well.
Well, apart from an extensive train network, which is literally the life line of Mumbai, the city offers host of places to visit. The place like Juhu Chaupati, marine drive, Gateway of India, Bandra is some of the evening hangouts of people and is vibrant till late in the night. This is what makes a Mumbai aamchee Mumbai and different from any other metro. Where else, you can enjoy such pleasures of safely hanging out in the night in India. My favorite hangouts are Bandra Band stand and Marine Drive. Bandra band stand is an area where most of the celluloid public stays such as Shahrukh Khan in Mannat (name of his house), then Rekha, Salman Khan and many other stars, not to forget the small screen actors who mostly stay in the apartments, as they cant afford a Bungalow in Bandra. One can frequently spot some of these actors jogging at Bandra band stand. I equally like Marine drive, and prefer taking a walk around the queen’s necklace .Queens necklace is the stretch of Marine drive along the sea shore which forms like a necklace full of lights and high rise buildings.
Mumbai, the most populated city of India and one of the expensive cities in India is full of riches and rags. The slums can be spotted just adjacent to the posh localities and multi storied complexes and apartments. But, the city is friendly and I would say, that an average earning person can adjust very easily to the city if he can get used to eating Vada Pav (Desi Burger) and traveling in the locals. I would like to quote a sentence I heard from one of the senior manager of a big FMCG company staying in Dubai and belonging to Mumbai “Dubai is like a clean Mumbai”. I haven’t been to Dubai, so I would leave it to people’s discretion, that whether it’s true or not. But one thing is true, that most of the Bhai logs prefer either Mumbai or Dubai, and you have to agree for it, for whatever reasons.
Well, once stricken by the Underworld and several bomb blasts, Mumbaikars are hardcore workaholic and alcoholic and rise very easily from disasters. Infact , this is the reason that it’s the commercial capital as well as hosts a number of nice pubs , discos , lounges, restaurants and once upon a time famous dance bars which are no longer dancing.
Well, we are discussing Mumbai and we can’t forget the apna Bollywood. Similar to Hollywood, Mumbai consists of many film studios such as most famous R.K studio, Filmcity etc. and almost all the film fraternity stays there. Infact, many young guys and gals who arrive the Maya Nagri (City of beautiful Illusion) everyday have dreams of joining the glittering and glamorous Bollywood.
Mumbai is also strong academically and boasts of IIT, and also some prestigious Business schools. Overall, the city is a great place to stay minus the crumbling infrastructure during the rainy season. Infact, I would say that Mumbai rain is not famous, but notorious. It rains and rains and rains!
A last and final word about Mumbai:
“Mumbai doesn’t treat people based on their lineage, the company they keep, the background they possess; it treats people on their capabilities.” This is why, it is known as the city of dreams.

Rajdeep Sardesai: The current face of Indian Journalism

I am very tired and it’s around 12.43 am, and my eyes are fixed on the CNN-IBN channel watching Rajdeep commenting on the Income tax deptt troubling Amitabh Bacchan. My eyes are burning because of lack of sleep due to soccer, India tour of West Indies and of course blogging. I am tired, but I am helpless. I am helpless because I just can’t stop myself writing about the fiery and the most talented of the lot of Indian journalists, Rajdeep Sardesai. I am sure all those who have watched Rajdeep, must be highly impressed with him. And, for all those who are missing this action, stay away from home land, Rajdeep is the chief editor of CNN-IBN channel and presently the best Indian TV journalist. Before joining CNN-IBN which is a joint venture between CNN and TV 18, he was hosting one of the most popular programmes of NDTV, “The Big Fight” and was equally impressive in that.
I hail from an economically backward but politically motivated state of India, and I remember watching Rajdeep during the Mandal and Kamandal (Ram Janmbhoomi) era. He was first seen on T.V, covering the Advani Rath Yatra and then the subsequent elections together with Pranoy Roy. I remember him as an average journalist at that point of time, and was more impressed with other journalists such as Pranoy Roy and Vinod Dua. But with the passage of time and wisdom of grey hair, he has become an ace journalist who has got a dynamic screen presence on the T.V medium. His choice of frequent phrases like; somewhere down the line, fair enough etc. keeps the viewers under a tight control and makes them guessing , that he is going to come up with some real exciting and valid argument. His choice of words, catching the politicians and the guilty on the wrong foot, passing witty remarks, believing in journalism with valid arguments rather than creating noises and scandals makes him the current face of emphatic and matured Indian journalism.
He is witty, has got a band of young vibrant team who seems like are following Rajdeep footsteps and all this makes a pleasure to watch the CNN-IBN news which is significantly different from other Indian news channels such as Star News, Zee News, NDTV etc.
Looking in his past, Rajdeep is the son of the former Indian Test cricketer Dilip Sardesai and Nandini Sardesai, an activist in Mumbai and head of the Dept of Sociology, St Xavier's College; He attended the Cathedral and John Connon School, Mumbai, St. Xavier's College, Mumbai and Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar. He also worked for the Times of India in various positions before joining television.
All those people , who want to read Rajdeep’s column , can visit the CNN-IBN blog on:

CNN-IBN blog

My First interview to a website

I have always fancied about giving interviews to magazines, Tv , websites and so on. Don't know when these dreams will be transformed into reality. Anyways, I got a mail from a website called HumTum , saying they want to publish my interview. And honestly, I felt really happy about it as I don't have any such significant achievements so far in my life.
well, this is the link to my interview , hope I get many more chance by God's grace.
http://www.humtum4ever.com/portal/showthread.php?t=1022
Thanks HT for giving me a chance!

eleven minutes…….

“eleven minutes” is the latest book, I read of my favorite author PAULO COELHO. I am not writing the book review, because I am not qualified enough to assess his books.
All those who haven’t read the book, I would like to give a brief that the story revolves around a Brazilian prostitute and her journey to real love in this not so beautiful or the most fascinating world.
However, I was not able to relate myself to the outward subject line of book which revolves around the pleasure of sex and real love (the name eleven minutes is adopted from the pleasure of sex which takes around roughly eleven minutes, as per the author, neways this is not the soul of the book).
But, the thing which I want to relate myself is the adventures the central character takes, her faith in the fate, her quest for worldly knowledge, and her struggles in life, rising from the constraints and achieving what she deserved. This is what makes it quite similar to “The Alchemist” and makes it worth reading.
I have always loved philosophy in my life, though never studied in its pure form; but these are the books which helps one understand the cycle of life. And, I don’t mind learning from a shepherd or a prostitute.
I am not able to write much on this, but would like to share a quote from the prostitute diary in the book which caught my attention and has a great meaning.
“I am the Soul and Body is my visible part”.

The tag's Tag game :8 Things I would look in my partner

Thanks a lot Anna and Uday both for tagging me with different set of questions.
This is the tagging I need to complete given to me by Anna.
Well, here are the rules of the tag:
-The tagged victim have to come up with 8 different points about his/her perfect lover.
-Have to mention the gender of his/her perfect lover.
-Tag eight other victims to join this game and leave a comment on their blog.
-If you are tagged the second time.There is NO need to do this again.
-Lastly, most importantly, HAVE FUN DOING IT.
Gender of my perfect lover: Female
The 8 different points (I would like to call it qualities):
1. Attractive but not neccesarily beautiful
2. Mature Thinking
3. Great sense of humor
4. Love travelling
5. Should Trust me
5. Slightly dominating
6. Loving and caring
7. Get along well with family and frens
8. Education
I now tag these 8 person. Have fun...
1.

Keshi

2.

Yomi

3.

Megha

4.

KK

5.

Caroline Fong

6.

Shai

7.

Anthony

8.

Rohini

Hutch TVC on slashing of STD/ISD rates: A simple and beautiful advertisement

I am sure that all those who like watching TV commercial must have remembered the Pug which follows the kid with the sweet song “in this beautiful world” being played in the background. This TVC for Hutch created a big impact in marketing of Hutch mobile cards. Sadly, the advertising genius V. Mahesh who was crucial in making of this Ad is no more in this world.
The Hutch though have kept its legacy of good , simple and to the point advertising with its latest TVC on slashing of STD/ISD rates. The ad shows relatives and friends staying in different parts of the world such as “Canada walle Chacha jee,amrica walli mausi, benaras walle mausa jee and so on.. . It clearly satisfies the marketing objective that how the reductions in STD/ISD rates have reduced the distance and the users can connect with their dear ones more often at a much lesser rate. The last line says, “ab rishton ko millon mein napna chod do”. It’s a simple advertisement with no glamour and glitz but yet to the point and effective.
I rate it as one of the best Indian advertisements seen in recent time, and yes if one has seen the recent advertisement of Trump regarding the slashing of STD/ISD rates, can easily identify that it follows the same Hutch pattern but the way the message is conveyed in Hutch ad is simple and beautifully communicated .
The link for watching the Hutch ad is: http://www.hutch.in/bottom/tv_commercials.asp
Open the Hutch TVC titled “STD/ISD rates dropped”.