Browsing through one of my friend's blog, I got reminded of an incident which happened a couple of days back, about which I wanted to write but was really caught up. So here it goes. This post is dedicated to the little boy who made me stop and think about the people of the country.
The day was the end of midterm exam. Finishing the paper a couple of minutes in advance and to "break-free" from all the chains, I planned to spend the evening at Brigade road with a friend who had dropped down. At Brigade Road, we stopped to have some chaat from a shop over there (I really miss the North Indian chaat). We were having chaat when I find this little boy staring at me. He is shabbily dressed, dark, little torn clothes, which gave me the impression that he belonged to a very poor family. He could probably be a beggar. I give him a look and ignore him, I do not like beggars and I don't encourage beggary either. "Can't these people do something, and protect their ego? Why do they have to ask for money? They are not disabled, they can work. And I can't encourage more of this in the country by handing over some money to them." But this little kid did not beg for anything.
When I finish my chaat and move forward to throw the plate into the dustbin, this boy advances. He looks at me and asks me to stop. He takes the plate from my hand, and starts eating the little remains of dahi (curd), chutney and a piece or two of chhole (gram) from the plate. Complete oblivion and bliss for him, and a state of shock for me. On one hand, I felt good that this boy didn't beg, on the other hand I felt miserable for his condition. Walking off, wondering about the state of destitution in the country, thinking that we despise beggary but people might actually need money, I turn back. I reach the boy, who is still licking my plate and trying to extract the last drops of dahi from the plate. I take out a ten-rupee note from my pocket, take his hand and put it there, telling him, "Beta, kuch khaa lena".
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Sunday, August 03, 2008
The Examonov-Divertski Effect!
Coming back to college after a span of 2 years of working has made me realize that certain characteristics, good or bad, don't change, even though you might come with a hard determination on it! During the so-called break before joining IIMB, I had thought that I'd been an ass at IIT Bombay and I should have done better and made the most of the academic intellect there, but nevermind, I have an opportunity again at IIMB, and I would crack it this time! Yessss, I would be a muggoo!
Well, come IIMB, and I see all diversions... the swanky music room... the good city... people to hang out with... hazaar clubs to be a part of... ok, some involvement doesn't do you harm, afterall, life's more than just being a muggoo. So, lets see, Aarambh (the fresher cultural event)... Cultural committee.... Gurukul.... and I keep getting sucked! Only to realise that my priorities still follow the order of sleep>extra-currics>lukkha>acads. And, 2 days before midsems (just like IIT), I decide to go to my books. Two minutes, and two paras down, I feel like playing NFS. This very moment reminded me of my cravings to do the diversions as I approach exams: the phenomena which I hereby name The Examonov-Divertski Effect.
(Yes, I draw inspiration from one of the innumerable Russian pairs contributing to sciences, economics, law, etc. and making lives miserable for us as students)
The first signs of the ED Effect seemed to appear in 7th Standard, when during my final exams, I desperately wanted to go to a picnic where my parents were going in one of Dad's social circles. Yeah, I did go, and got a 97 on 100 in the Science exam next day. I told myself: "So all this time, parents and relatives asking me to study during the exam else I'd fail were just finding ways of inflicting torture! See, I don't fail!". And this happens in 10th Boards again, when the painter in me woke up before English exam, and decided to paint a Mumbai skyline on a full-size drawing sheet. For the records, I suck with painting, and never in my life before that had I painted even outside the margins of the drawing sheet that was given to us in school.
Come JEE, in 12th, and a day before JEE mains, I decide to go for the show of Aankhein, the night show. Wow, loved the movie! And JEE next morning wasn't bad either! I reach IIT Bombay, and this becomes a habit before and during a midsem/endsem: watch a movie, fix my computer, go on a date, play NFS, learn a new guitar solo, collect movies to take-home - all during those last few hours when the batch is slogging their asses off to keep adding deltas to their wisdom and prospective scores.
The moment I write this, I am less than 29 hours away from my 1st midterm exam. I had a great week beginning with L^2 on sunday, three days of cultural events which I was responsible for, other club activities on the next two days, music room visits and Batman on Friday... and I still don't get it... why doesn't the tension build up? Why do I wash clothes, clean the room, go for a stroll, still sleep over 8 hours, and why do I feel like writing this blog at 4 in the morning when I should be either studying or sleeping!!!!
The Examonov-Diverstki effect: Do you feel it too?
Disclaimer: The blog is not to prove some sort of excellence :P, or an attention-seeking tactic as Giddu would like to believe :P, or to undermine the hardwork or sincerity that some people have towards studies (I truly worship them!). This is a frustration penned down :D
Well, come IIMB, and I see all diversions... the swanky music room... the good city... people to hang out with... hazaar clubs to be a part of... ok, some involvement doesn't do you harm, afterall, life's more than just being a muggoo. So, lets see, Aarambh (the fresher cultural event)... Cultural committee.... Gurukul.... and I keep getting sucked! Only to realise that my priorities still follow the order of sleep>extra-currics>lukkha>acads. And, 2 days before midsems (just like IIT), I decide to go to my books. Two minutes, and two paras down, I feel like playing NFS. This very moment reminded me of my cravings to do the diversions as I approach exams: the phenomena which I hereby name The Examonov-Divertski Effect.
(Yes, I draw inspiration from one of the innumerable Russian pairs contributing to sciences, economics, law, etc. and making lives miserable for us as students)
The first signs of the ED Effect seemed to appear in 7th Standard, when during my final exams, I desperately wanted to go to a picnic where my parents were going in one of Dad's social circles. Yeah, I did go, and got a 97 on 100 in the Science exam next day. I told myself: "So all this time, parents and relatives asking me to study during the exam else I'd fail were just finding ways of inflicting torture! See, I don't fail!". And this happens in 10th Boards again, when the painter in me woke up before English exam, and decided to paint a Mumbai skyline on a full-size drawing sheet. For the records, I suck with painting, and never in my life before that had I painted even outside the margins of the drawing sheet that was given to us in school.
Come JEE, in 12th, and a day before JEE mains, I decide to go for the show of Aankhein, the night show. Wow, loved the movie! And JEE next morning wasn't bad either! I reach IIT Bombay, and this becomes a habit before and during a midsem/endsem: watch a movie, fix my computer, go on a date, play NFS, learn a new guitar solo, collect movies to take-home - all during those last few hours when the batch is slogging their asses off to keep adding deltas to their wisdom and prospective scores.
The moment I write this, I am less than 29 hours away from my 1st midterm exam. I had a great week beginning with L^2 on sunday, three days of cultural events which I was responsible for, other club activities on the next two days, music room visits and Batman on Friday... and I still don't get it... why doesn't the tension build up? Why do I wash clothes, clean the room, go for a stroll, still sleep over 8 hours, and why do I feel like writing this blog at 4 in the morning when I should be either studying or sleeping!!!!
The Examonov-Diverstki effect: Do you feel it too?
Disclaimer: The blog is not to prove some sort of excellence :P, or an attention-seeking tactic as Giddu would like to believe :P, or to undermine the hardwork or sincerity that some people have towards studies (I truly worship them!). This is a frustration penned down :D