Friday, November 28, 2008

Bombay Meri Jaan...You inspire us to do better!!!

The Bombay Attack has really shook the whole of the country inside out.

But then I believe it would not be right to generally sit down and condemn such issues, which for the matter are too abundant to be discussed upon passively. Many of us are already helping out victims by participating in Blood Camps and other rehabilitation camps. But I was thinking of a more permanent solution. Since many of us agreed this events are a consequence of the apathy shown by our leaders, I am thinking - Who made them our leaders at the first place?

As we all know, the political parties of today garner a lot of votes by targeting vote banks, which are usually based on religion or caste. And majority of these vote banks constitute of people who are in the lower economic strata, whose main concern while voting are - which party has the better pre-election voter compensatory package. Point being made, the votes currently being polled are done on the basis of parameters which at best can be classified as frivolous on the larger context. But we cannot blame the current voters for this phenomena, as these parameters are important for them. I believe there are larger issues in hand which need to be scrutinized when voting, and in the current scenario it's not being done so.

So coming back to my point of doing something. All of us and our friends are eligible to exercise our franchise of voting. But I'm sure most of still don't actively participate in this activity. The main reason being either the belief that one vote doesn't count or general indifference to the whole process due to lethargy. Agreed that it is difficult to get voter cards and also asks for a lot of effort to go to a polling booth. But is the effort so much that we forego it and our chance to have a say in choosing our representatives? But when one vote might not matter much, the accumulation of numerous such dormant votes can really do no good. And in today's context, when MPs and MLAs are made by just a difference of a 10000 or lesser votes, all of our votes do count!

So, I guess and strongly believe that we - the educated and young middle class citizens - can do a lot of good to the country and its people, if we start voting and getting the right people at majority of decision making positions. And it really doesn't take much to do so. A day's effort at max. Maybe one can afford to sleep less one day.

So my request to all people is - Please vote whenever there are elections. Be it Municipality, Legislative Assembly or Lok Sabha, we need to mobilize and get out to vote. I hope we can make the difference, and also get our friends to make a difference.

If anyone knows a good way of getting registered on the voter list, please let all of us know. It will help immensely.

I could go on and on talking on this topic, but I guess the medium is not too conducive to such dialogue. If anyone is interested in talking/discussing about this, we can meet and do it over a cup of coffee.

Saturday, November 08, 2008

Numero Uno

On an august October evening at Bangalore

Pattering rain makes the heat get lean

As all the smokers remember days yore

Calm and quite paints a picture serene


This is an ephemeral lull before the storm

In 3 days the fights for supremacy commence

To strive, to surge, to transgress the norm

To compete, attain glory in a battle intense


Numero Uno – who is chosen as the best

Without the aid of any red-blue pill

No prophecies, all reputations put to rest

It’s time to prove one’s strength and will


Jacks of trades – prefer to stay away

The search is for the ultimate Master

The stress and pressure drive you astray

A three day ride on a wild roller coaster


Starting with the dreaded Board Room

Provide deliverables with resources scarce

Use fundaes acquired in the Class Room

Battles transcend to personal wars


Market your potential, strategize to excel

Operational hurdles? Use acumen to deliver

Complacency here won’t serve you well

Physical forte put to limits in this endeavor


Six will survive till the last remaining obstacle

The bounty in sight, knocks on the door

As the competition start to falter and wobble

Treasure and glory for the sole survivor

Written during Vista, as part of the blogging team