Friday 30 September 2011
Tuesday 12 April 2011
Lost a Friend
This is perhaps not one of the best reasons to write a blog but I can't stop myself. Through an online forum of JNUites, I got to know today that one of my best friends is no more. I am talking of Vimal Kaushik. It was July of 1996 when Vimal and I joined JNU - same school, same center but different courses. I chose to go with International Politics and he chose Disarmament.
How we got to know each other is a very weird incident. 24th November 1996, the room next to mine was playing loud music and bout of shouts, laughter, singing - the works. I was in #137 (first floor) Kaveri Hostel. Some guys who were preparing for their Civil Services mains got disturbed and then suddenly there was a mad fighting scene outside the room. Hearing the altercation, I also came out of my room. I saw a few students (some I knew, some I didn't) were arguing furiously. I, out of habit, tired to meddle. It was then when I got to know that Vimal Kaushik lived next door...imagine my reserve nature that since July till Nov 1996 I didn't even know who he was. I asked him what was the reason for loud celebrations while suggesting to tone it down. He told, "today is my birthday." I was a little surprised. 24th Nov happens to be my B'day too. "It's my Birthday too," I replied. Things settled down. Vimal invited me to his room and rest is history.
Soon I decided to move to one of the 'not-so-liked' hostels of JNU. It was Brahmaputra. It was far from the hustle-bustle of the main campus. It was known as a working men's hostel/hostel for aged guys. I shifted to there without much thinking because I was more in favour of a single room than the campus life. Vimal continued living in Kaveri for sometime. One day he came down to see me and told he is also shifting to Brahmaputra. I was very happy. He got room number 8 on the ground floor. I was in # 148 on the first floor - just above his. By then we were buddies. Vimal was an ambitious, extrovert guy but very social, adjusting, and quite easy going. He had that rustic flavour in his life-style. I also come from a very down-to-earth, lower middle-class background but was more urban in expressions.
We went well together...Most of the time we were spotted together - be it eating out, libraries, center, badminton courts.
I have tons of stories to share about him. We spent a great deal of time together not only on the campus but even after that. I got married in 1997 December. That's when I left the campus. But Vimal continued to live there. We remained in touch. He helped me in finding a house at Lawrence Road area of New Delhi. He kept visiting us. Until the time I left for Mumbai in 2001, we were in touch. Some differences cropped in between us. We again met in year 2003 in Manu's wedding (my old college friend) at Agra. We drove back to Delhi together. He dropped me at Nizamuddin Railway Station from where I had to catch a train to Mumbai. That was probably the last time I saw Vimal. We lost touch soon after.
Today when this news came to me, I wasn't able to relish it. He met with an accident. It wasn't the first time. I still have those memories fresh in my mind when he first met with a fatal accident in year 1996. He was driving back from Meerut at night. It was his 2nd of 3rd trip to and fro Delhi. Many a times I told him not to take such risks but he never paid any attention. I was in Jaipur when I got to know that he had rammed his Gypsy into a stationary truck and has sustained fatal injuries, I rushed back. I went to see him in Yashodha Hospital Ghaziabad. It was the day of Diwali. He was still smiling. He told me the horrifying tale and also admitted that he slept while driving. He had a miraculous escape that time.
This time when I heard he met with an accident...all those horrifying pictures resurfaced. I visualized the old incident.
I am yet not able to relish that a friend who stood by me, who always smiled, shared joy with everyone, helped people out of turn has gone away from us. I will take my own time to come out of the deep slumber. I only wish his family copes up with this tragedy and untimely death of a young man, a teacher and a friend.
How we got to know each other is a very weird incident. 24th November 1996, the room next to mine was playing loud music and bout of shouts, laughter, singing - the works. I was in #137 (first floor) Kaveri Hostel. Some guys who were preparing for their Civil Services mains got disturbed and then suddenly there was a mad fighting scene outside the room. Hearing the altercation, I also came out of my room. I saw a few students (some I knew, some I didn't) were arguing furiously. I, out of habit, tired to meddle. It was then when I got to know that Vimal Kaushik lived next door...imagine my reserve nature that since July till Nov 1996 I didn't even know who he was. I asked him what was the reason for loud celebrations while suggesting to tone it down. He told, "today is my birthday." I was a little surprised. 24th Nov happens to be my B'day too. "It's my Birthday too," I replied. Things settled down. Vimal invited me to his room and rest is history.
Soon I decided to move to one of the 'not-so-liked' hostels of JNU. It was Brahmaputra. It was far from the hustle-bustle of the main campus. It was known as a working men's hostel/hostel for aged guys. I shifted to there without much thinking because I was more in favour of a single room than the campus life. Vimal continued living in Kaveri for sometime. One day he came down to see me and told he is also shifting to Brahmaputra. I was very happy. He got room number 8 on the ground floor. I was in # 148 on the first floor - just above his. By then we were buddies. Vimal was an ambitious, extrovert guy but very social, adjusting, and quite easy going. He had that rustic flavour in his life-style. I also come from a very down-to-earth, lower middle-class background but was more urban in expressions.
We went well together...Most of the time we were spotted together - be it eating out, libraries, center, badminton courts.
I have tons of stories to share about him. We spent a great deal of time together not only on the campus but even after that. I got married in 1997 December. That's when I left the campus. But Vimal continued to live there. We remained in touch. He helped me in finding a house at Lawrence Road area of New Delhi. He kept visiting us. Until the time I left for Mumbai in 2001, we were in touch. Some differences cropped in between us. We again met in year 2003 in Manu's wedding (my old college friend) at Agra. We drove back to Delhi together. He dropped me at Nizamuddin Railway Station from where I had to catch a train to Mumbai. That was probably the last time I saw Vimal. We lost touch soon after.
Today when this news came to me, I wasn't able to relish it. He met with an accident. It wasn't the first time. I still have those memories fresh in my mind when he first met with a fatal accident in year 1996. He was driving back from Meerut at night. It was his 2nd of 3rd trip to and fro Delhi. Many a times I told him not to take such risks but he never paid any attention. I was in Jaipur when I got to know that he had rammed his Gypsy into a stationary truck and has sustained fatal injuries, I rushed back. I went to see him in Yashodha Hospital Ghaziabad. It was the day of Diwali. He was still smiling. He told me the horrifying tale and also admitted that he slept while driving. He had a miraculous escape that time.
This time when I heard he met with an accident...all those horrifying pictures resurfaced. I visualized the old incident.
I am yet not able to relish that a friend who stood by me, who always smiled, shared joy with everyone, helped people out of turn has gone away from us. I will take my own time to come out of the deep slumber. I only wish his family copes up with this tragedy and untimely death of a young man, a teacher and a friend.
Monday 23 August 2010
It Floods Sooner Than it Rains
Rains are playing havoc these days...specially in the northern parts of India. It is constantly pouring in Delhi and other parts of north India. Fifteen days ago there was a scare of a severe shortfall of rains in these parts. There were no signs of clouds, rain or anything. In the last few weeks, there has been a dramatic change. While driving from Noida to Jaipur via Delhi and Gurgaon it was pouring heavily. It floods before it rains in Delhi. Roads were water-logged. There were places with knee-deep water in the city. We are really heading towards becoming a Singapore...
It wasn't a pleasure to drive. Roads were completely eroded and full of huge potholes. But I was still quite cheerful as it was lush green all around. The aravalis, which I have always seen dry, got a green carpet.
It took unusually long to reach Jaipur this time. I was almost an off-roader without an SUV...So much missed it! Not that I have one yet crave to own one. It really agitates when you pay loads of money in Toll and get roads with holes :-)...I am sure the government is insensitive towards all these things. On one hand the authorities are busy widening the road into a 6-lane superfast highway and on the other the existing 4-lane road is in shambles.
Then the heavy trucks and trollers are the biggest nuisance on the Indian Highways. They can stop anywhere - in the middle of the road, on a busy intersection anywhere. You are left at the mercy of these rulers of our highways.
Upon reaching Jaipur, I thought it would have been a lot better to travel by train. And just believe me...I am yet to return to Noida....same route. Don't know what's in store for me.
It wasn't a pleasure to drive. Roads were completely eroded and full of huge potholes. But I was still quite cheerful as it was lush green all around. The aravalis, which I have always seen dry, got a green carpet.
It took unusually long to reach Jaipur this time. I was almost an off-roader without an SUV...So much missed it! Not that I have one yet crave to own one. It really agitates when you pay loads of money in Toll and get roads with holes :-)...I am sure the government is insensitive towards all these things. On one hand the authorities are busy widening the road into a 6-lane superfast highway and on the other the existing 4-lane road is in shambles.
Then the heavy trucks and trollers are the biggest nuisance on the Indian Highways. They can stop anywhere - in the middle of the road, on a busy intersection anywhere. You are left at the mercy of these rulers of our highways.
Upon reaching Jaipur, I thought it would have been a lot better to travel by train. And just believe me...I am yet to return to Noida....same route. Don't know what's in store for me.
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