Zilch..Zero..Nothing

I don't know why I am writing today since I don't have anything in mind to write about. I post this on the 4th day of a mini vacation. A vacation that I spent right here in my hostel doing absolutely nothing. I didn't go out anywhere. I didn't meet any people. I didn't watch movies. I didn't even gym or play football or read the newspaper. I promised myself I will get some nice books and return to the age old good habit of reading. But I didn't even come close to the library.

Every time I feel there is so much to do, I end up doing nothing. This time there is more than ever to do. The situation is dire, the times are bad. If I don't wake up now and do something, I never would do anything. Forza!

Incumbents

Sunday morning, here I am. One of the few days when reading the newspaper is a delight. Even though it may be the most hyped and irresponsible one. Its an eventful one today with after-reports and comments about the terror attacks et all.

But refreshing as always is the column of one of the most respected columnists. He has spoken about anti-incumbency wherein a party is generally not elected by the public for a successive time due to their failure to fulfill promises. I say why can't we bar them from electing in the 3rd term in case they are in power in term 1 and fail to get elected in term 2?

Maybe difficult to implement but something on these lines can be done...

Mumbai meri jaan

Another terrorist attack is over. Again we lost a lot of lives. Again the media comes out blaring at everyone. Again sympathies pour out from all corners. Again the Indian PM and US Prez condemn the attack. Again Pakistan pledges support in the fight against terror.

So whats new?
A lot of things. Never before has the city been held hostage for over 48 hours. Never before has the entire nation been watching news channels like a live cricket match. Some top cops have lost lives. Some of the most prestigious symbols of this "progressing" country have been tainted. Some top honchos like CEOs and other elite have lost lives. Some foreigners have lost lives. Many of them were held hostages.

So what difference does it make?
Well knowing there had to be another attack, I would have chosen one of this magnitude. Not one of those small blasts that claim a pitiable 3-4 lives. But one that would keep all of the nation's armed forces at work for days together. One that doesn't give the Mumbaikars the chance to get back to work in a few hours and celebrate their spirit.

Only this could really shake up the people and the governments. Only this would ensure some extreme steps against terrorism. Some extreme steps to ensure responsible governance. Of course I am being optimistic. What are the odds that this will be forgotten in a few days? But in a country like India, one cannot do away with hope.

What I would like to see is Taj always carrying the bruises from this attach to serve as a stark reminder. What I would like to see is Raj Thackerey keeping his mouth shut for a while since nothing better can be expected from him. I would like to see Mumbai become more capable of dealing with these issues. I want to see a Mumbai that can compete with Shanghai or Hong Kong. I would like an India that competes with Japan for technology, one that competes with New Zealand for natural beauty.

In the midst of every difficulty, lies an opportunity. We need to find the one that is present here.

Salaam Mumbai!
Jai Hind!

Depressed again

I am giving the feeling that I write only sad stuff or only when I am depressed. Not true...well maybe. When happy, I have better things on my plate. Anyways I have been depressed a bit too often nowadays. So I feel its better if I make a note here every time just to see why and what is affecting me.
My exams are going on. Of course they are not going well. So yes I was in a not great mood after the paper. But my mood was bad even before the paper. Yesterday I was kind of aloof and alone like I do when not in the mood. The reason for that...mmmm....I guess everyone expects to be treated well. And I am the kind who can do without it. On FIRO-B, my WA and WI scores are zero!!! Yes Zilch! I am inert to these things. But even if you are the kind not to be affected by such things, everyone has a threshold. The string can only be stretch so far. It will snap some time or the other.
Just that the snapping is taking place too often nowadays.

I wanna read!

I used to read. I have always been a sporadic reader. At times I kept reading book after book, other times I didn't touch book for months together. To think of it, I have read 1 book in the last year. And that too for academic purposes. It was great book "Biography of AD Shroff by Sucheta Dalal". But its too little. I really should be doing more of it. And I will...from next month....

I am motivated by this book that has won the Prize. "The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga". I am sure it will be a great read and very similar to what I think of the current Indian scenario. I don't want to rant here before I read the book. Will save it for when I am done with the book.

Till then I will get back to my schedule of sleep, striving to study, striving to maintain a balance between football, gym and of course booze.

Sad Times

Sad times indeed.
At this moment of time, I can't see anything going good for me anywhere. Be it personal, professional, global..its mayhem everywhere. Its during times like these that a person starts going into his shell. He tries to avoid company, stay away from those that he should actually be closer to. Its friends after all that always want to be with you in your tough times. Its just what friends take pride in.
And a person does exactly the opposite. He stays alone. If he spends time with someone, its people who he is not very close to. Why does a person does so?
He is mature enough to know that his friends will make him feel better. Its them who he can speak to, he can open his heart out to.

Maybe that's the problem. The friend will expect you to open up. And it may just be the thing you don't want to do. Whatever the reason may be...

Is there any merit in doing do? Will crying your heart out be better or just withdrawing into a shell? That would be up for discussion another day. Or maybe we can give the universal solution to that "It depends..". Yes of course, it depends. How can the same solution be applicable all the time?

For now, I am withdrawing into my shell. And it looks like it will be a long long hibernation for me.