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.

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.

First Time in the Europe

My tryst with the Europe was jinxed until I visited Dublin this week. Last two times when I was invited to visit Germany, I couldn't go - once, I didn't procure the visa in time and second time when I was just about to fly, I was detected with a severe ear infection and the doctor advised me to stay away from long-haul flights. This time, it wasn't Germany though, but I travelled to Europe (Abhi tak sirf films mein dekha tha). The flight from Delhi was via Amsterdam (just a hop at the airport) to the ultimate destination Ireland - Dublin to be precise. Almost 15 hours of flying it was. I remember when I first boarded an aircraft - that too a window seat - I was super excited. Time and distance didn't matter at all. In fact the more the merrier. Similarly, on my first international flight to Singapore (a pretty beaten-to-death destination), I was awake the whole night looking out of the window all the time....But now it is no more exciting or enticing. I dread to board a plane with the fear of a long haul journey in my mind. May be the places which I have never visited create some kind of sensation to tickle my bones but that's about it. There is another hidden reason why I hate going out of India and that is Ananya - my darling. I can't think of staying away her for such a long time.

Anyway, this is all work. I am yet to travel outside India on a leisure trip with family. I am sure I will get a chance soon.

So the flight finally reached Dublin. It was bright and sunny outside. A slight nip in the air with cool breeze. Had I been a tourist, I would have straight hit the city. But I was at work. And when I am work I don't even eat properly - forget about enjoying the city. And when I am at work for my own company, any of these things become secondary. It was our Independence Day - the 64th. Being on a foreign land on the independence day... bit of an odd sequence of events but since we had plans for the day, I was okay. The Hotel was decent...not one of those very lavish 5 Stars but good. Room didn't have an air conditioner and I thanked god for it. The hotel didn't even have a swimming pool. Not that I am a regular swimmer yet it is something that I often see in the hotels. Anyway, the reason for going to Dublin was our own CTO Forum Annual Conference. I had a huge responsibility of not only putting together a compelling conference programme but also to take 100 + delegates with me. These are really big obligations. Sponsors turn a blind eye or close doors on you if you can't show them the might of attendees. Attendees, in this context, is the biggest determining factor.

So, 2 days of packed agenda and 110 odd delegates was the deal. It looks easy but until you have delivered on the conference, you are just on a very shaky ground. Anything can slip and cause a catastrophe. Pramath, Anuradha and a few colleagues were there to make it all possible - flawlessly. Thankfully this time the atmosphere was quite different from the last time (in China) where the whole conference happened in a sombre mood. Here, there was cheer all around. Things, except the allocation of rooms to the delegates (which got massively derailed) went pretty much according to the plan.

Last time, I got an indirect warning from Pramath. I still remember those words exactly. I was really very careful to avoid any such unpleasantness.

I am sure you wouldn't like to know what happened during the conference. All I can say is it went of well.

In those few hours that I went around the city of Dublin, I made some very interesting observations:

1. There is life beyond work, shopping and sleeping, which I saw there. People are social, hospitable and nice. They have a lot of passion to live beyond shopping and that's the reason why shops close at 6 PM. Why should a shopkeeper be deprived of pleasure beyond work. In India, what we see is opposite. The poor guy will open at 9 in the morning and close at 10 at night. Awful! isn't it?

2. People find time for them and live life at a certain pace. There is no mad rush to accomplish things. People walk slowly unlike some of the far eastern countries where I see people almost running while they are simply walking. It looks as if they are racing against time, against death!

3. The city has beautifully preserved its rich heritage and hold proud in saying they hate Brits (I can't generalise it and am seeking apologies in advance for making such a bold statement). But this is what I felt. As opposed to the rest of the world (here the world is what I have seen so far) everything has a prefix...It is Irish Tea, Irish Coffee, Irish Beer, Irish Whisky and so on...I am sure this serves a dual purpose - one, it gives identity of a different sort and two, it makes a country look so very chauvinist...In India, we are quite proud of living an imported life. If you use something which is not home grown or home produced, you are an elite else, you are backward.

4. The city is a perfect blend of Old and New (more retro than modern). And it looks heavenly. Wherever you go, you'll find the glimpses of old residential and commercial buildings - all very well maintained and kept clean. Even the narrowest of streets were sparkling clean. I felt ashamed of my own country where people contribute a lot to keep the streets dirty and filthy.

5. People don't peep into others' lives. The city is full of life and thus they don't hesitate in getting cosy wherever there is an urge. We Indians were looking silly to stare at them like we have never seen a couple kissing before. But they do indulge quite freely without any hesitation.

This was Dublin for me.