This breeze around...

Since last week, its been way too hot. Its getting tougher to beat the heat day by day. The temperatures has 'already' crossed 40 degC. Since last couple of days its getting too dusty. Its not that this hasn't happened before, but now its getting unbearable. I've got hyper allergic to dust and this has been making me sneeze hundreds of times a day. No medicine is working out (as if I'm too regular with taking my doses...haha). People give a very weird look when I go out with a joker-like nose and drunker-like eyes. I wish, I could have a robot who works for me 24/7 cleaning up everything that I wear, touch and the breeze around....ah, I wish...!!! Its still April, May and June to go before rain starts...oh damn! I think, I should plan out a holiday. But, no Goa this time. I'm thinking of Ladakh for a long time now...hmmm.

Apart from this, or I should say, way too away from this complain(s), this breeze is full of romanticism. I'm finding lots of people around me busy in tying the knot :). I'm still not able to believe that one of my friends' too got engaged recently. may this breeze bring love, great fortune, riches and success to all the lovely couples out there...Amen. Lemme count how many weddings to attend...

aasmanoon mein udne ki aasha...

Since quite sometime, I havent marked my presence here just coz there haven’t been anything fancy happening around. And also, my blogging ‘junoon’ was dying up. But yesterday, it got rejuvenated hearing the news about Rehman Sa’ab’s ‘Jay Ho’ anthem becoming a milestone in the history of Indian music.
I believe, that there CANT be any Indian who doesn’t hae ATLEAST ONE track by A R Rehman on his most fav list. I too have some on mine , the music which has been a very inseperable part of my life; the songs with which I’ve been relating the different phases and various emotions of my life.
But here, I want to mention ONE SONG which is the MOST SPECIAL one for me. Whenever I listen to this one, my heart starts beating with its rhythm. It’s the song which taught me to dream and whenever I’m low, it pumps me up to get up and get going. It’s the song which I sang on stage for the FIRST TIME some 15 odd years ago with a HUGE audience. I still relieve each and every moment of that performance. Ya, I’m talking about the incredible ‘dil hai chhota sao, chhoti si aasha’ from the landmark movie ‘Roja’.
I have absolutely NO words to express my love for this song and the respect for Rehman Sa’ab. I just pray that he keeps on fascinating generations with his maestro spirit – Amen.
Oh, how can I forget mentioning Gulzar Sa’ab on this occasion??? My association with his words is as old as my age . He is just incomparable. No one can imagine his age when one comes across his flower-like fresh works. I’ll write more about him sometime, someday .

A frenzy region

The terrorist attacks in Mumbai had a number of aims, one of which was to set a fuse to the tense inter-communal standoff. The jihadis not only want to destroy Pakistan, they want to destroy India as well. India in their eyes is everything they hate: Hindu, vibrantly free and democratic, implicitly and increasingly pro-American and militarily cozy with Israel.
Just as the chaos in Iraq through early 2007 threatened the post-Ottoman state system from Lebanon to Iran, creeping anarchy in Pakistan undermines not only Afghanistan but also the whole Indian subcontinent. The existence of terrorist outfits like Lashkar-e- taliba that have links with the Pakistani security apparatus but are outside the control of Pakistan’s own civilian authorities is the very definition of chaos.
A collapsing Pakistan and with it the loss of any real border separating India from Afghanistan, is India’s worst nightmare. It brings us back towards the borders of the Mughal world, but not in a peaceful way. The jihadist attack on India’s financial centre not only damages Indo-Pak relations, but makes Pak’s new civilian government – which has genuinely tried to improve the ties with India – look utterly pathetic. Thus, the attack weakens both countries. Any understanding over Kashmir, is now further than every from materializing. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s military suspects that Washington will desert their nation the moment the leadership of al-Qaeda is by any chance, killed or captured.
Making matters worse, every time the US launches an air attack into Pakistan from Afghanistan, it further destabilizes the Pakistani state. That is why the Mumbai attacks bring true joy to the most dangerous elements of the Pakistani security establishment; the tragedy has caused the world to focus on India’s weaknesses that have been obscured by its economic success. Evert day that goes by without riots in India is a defeat for the Mumbai terrorists. Indeed, India’s own Muslims have demonstrated against the attacks.
But India, not just Pak, desperately needs help. Just as solving or atleast neutralizing the Israel-Palestinian dispute is a requirement for reducing radicalism and Iranian influence throughout the Levant, the same is true of the Indo-Pak dispute at the other end of the greater Middle East.
Our best strategy is, as difficult and trite as it sounds, to be at all places at once, not with troops, necessarily, but with every bit of energy and constant attention that our entire national security apparatus-and those of our allies-can bring to bear.

It happens ONLY in India

Its been 38 hrs since, not just Mumbai, but the entire nation is going through the trauma. And, as usual, it has been blamed on our dearmost neighbour-Pakistan. This time, I too agree that they might be involved looking at the nature of the developments. Our neighbours has attacked us as they are 'jealous' of our progress as they've always been. Its sheer cowardness of doing such a deed, not looking around themselves and getting things straight at their homes, but troubling others.
Now, coming to ensuring things to be strainght at our ends, its a BIG shame for India. We know, that we've one of the most.....no no....THE most fierce neighbours and we ARE also very much aware that they can cross ANY limit in hurting us. But still, we've THE laziest security system. Terrorists attacked via the sea and landed just besides Navy Nagar, and the Navy was sleeping. How the hell can someone DARE to enter our waters and damage our heritage??? Its way too frustrating that we are just not safe. Our lives are not valued anymore. Our dearmost politicians are BUSY gunning for power and adding their bank balances.Its HIGH time for us that we take some very SERIOUS action towards this.
Our country has 60% youth and our armed forces are struggling for new recruitments. Everyone JUST want to go to UK, US and support their economy and be their slaves. Its so stupid of us.
Also, we've a great great memory that we would forget this incident very soon and would welcome our very dear guests - terrorists, with open hands to damage us.
Haha, on one end, we are talking about 'India shining' and on the other end, we've become a 'free' zone for terrorism. We talk about being the next 'superpower' but we even suck than the third world countries. The whole world is LAUGHING at us.
Incredible India - bullshit.
Its so so frustrating!!!

My BIGGEST achievement till date!

Yes, shedding all my inhibitions,I've FINALLY managed to wake up early and go for morning walks...yippeee!!!
Its been exactly a fortnight today (I too got caught up with the 'typical' muslim phobia of doing/starting good things on fridays), for this wonderful thing to happen. I myself am surprised that I've been shedding off myself from bed at 05:30 and set off by 6 when the sun is still brimming from its realm...oh I missed this facet of nature for so many years now....post my schooldays. Also, winters are setting in so the cool breeze does wonders when music is playing on a whooping volume right into the ears. I come back by 7:30 and start my 'actual' day. A secret - I tried to start this up for a few times earlier, but everytime my laziness and my eternal love for sleep ruled me.
I feel very fit of myself. My muscles seems to get stronger and even my immune system is gearing up...
I remember, my Dad used to get very very annoyed with me for not agreeing to him when he used to make me understand the benefits of morning walks.
I take it as THE BIGGEST achievement coz I've started taking care of myself...sigh!

Sahir...

Yesterday it was the death aniversary of my most favourite poet - Sahir Ludhianvi. I've grown up listening to his heartwarming lyrics woven in one of the most melodious tunes. I was astonished to know that it was Sahir who has composed all those songs which are one of my all time favourites and relate to them in one or the other way. If I list down my top 50 most favourites (I'll do that one day :)), I'm sure, dead sure, atleast 75% of them would be from the pen of Sahir.
I've been reading about his personal life and also following his non-bollywood works. Really, God sends very few geniuses of this calibre and He also calls them back very early.
Let me list down 5 of my top favourite Sahir works:
1. Kiska rasta dekhe, ae dil ae saudayee (Joshila) - it motivates me whenever I feel down.
2. Jo waada kiya woh nibhana padega (Taj Mahal) - I've always dedicated this song to my parents.
3. Abhi na jao chhodkar ke dil abhi bhara nahin (Hum Dono) - One of the most romantic songs I've ever come across
4. Neele gagan ke tale dharti ka pya pale (Gumraah) - Great poetry
5. Yeh duniya agar mil bhi jaaye to kya hai (Pyaasa) - Noone else could've written such a marvelous poetry

After 'Nano' its time for 'Air fuelled' cars

Its been a great feeling of pride that 'finally' TATA's dream car - NANO would be rolled out from Gujarat.
But, now TATAs would be manufacturing 'Air fuelled' cars for Indian roads.
Its really exciting that compressed air fuel would be used and a tank full of compressed air would take the car for 200 miles. The concept is closely tied to that of electric hybrid vehicles, which are becoming an increasingly well-known alternative to traditional automobiles and have already proven capable of reusing braking energy. While still fueled by gasoline, the electric hybrid vehicle's engine and transmission combination is augmented by an energy conversion and storage system housed in a black box under the car's hood. This collection of sophisticated electronic components captures brake energy, stores it as electricity and then releases it when it is needed.
The concept looks very tempting but the compressed air can be explosive and also, the components used would weigh more.
Lets see how TATAs sort this out and maintains the security of their favourite Indians.
Such a noble cause!!!