Happys Endings - to the year 2008

"itni shiddat se maine tumhe paane ki koshish ki hai ki har zarre ne mujhe tumse milane ki Saazish ki hai....kehte hai *pause* agar kisi cheez ko dil se chaaho toh poori kaynath tumhein usse milane ki koshish mein lag jaati hai...aaj aap sabne mujhe meri chahat se mila diya...thanks, thanks very much, kehte hai ki filmon ki tarah hamari zindagi mein bhi end tak sab theek hee ho jaata hai..happys endings...aur agar theek naa ho toh woh the end nahi, picture abhi baaki hai mere dost..."

"Bhish you aal a Bhery Happi and esmiling New Ear :)"

hi honey !

can't wait to see the sunshine again, from Ginkobiloba's Iceland :)

Take a Chill Pill!

Logan, UT , Winter 2008

A Wall again !!

I don't believe that even after witnessing the masacare on 26/11 media, politicians, and intellectual leaders are again cashing on the HINDU-MUSLIM divide! Why can't the govt accept Antulay's resignation and continue an investigation of an Indian life lost while fighting terror? This is ridiculous !!! Is this the time, to debate about Hindutva and Muslimism? Why can't the investigation be just dealt and treated beyond religion!

There are fanatics everywhere, Muslims, Hindu's, Christians, Jews!!!! Why are we giving importance to such fanatics? THIS IS ABSOLUTELY IRRESPONSIBLE !!

Celebrating...

Prof. Hijibijbij's some ** years of secluded existence on Marsh!

happy singh...

Todally Happii

mai to 'aunty' ban gai :) to the a sweet sunshine for all of us

Tigthen the Bolts ..

or change them or grease them. Choice is yours..make a wise choice in the coming election, else nobody but you, yourself will be responsible for future accidents you meet !

A candid interview given by SRK, click here incase anyone has missed it
Hope and Anger, must reside together for any positive change, be it personal, professional or social

Back to Business...

With each day we forget a bit of the past and we lead a normal unaffected life...
My reminder to : 26/11, A Wednessday, 21's July...and many similar incidents, which have become the 'fuel' of my life..............

Rebuild India Mission Online Survey : please do participate

Wipe Her Tears !!

If that might help!

** My photoblog was meant to always bring smile to whoever visits here but past week's event made it impossible to not make myself heard, leaving the reader and myself frustrated and angry. Before it becomes my site for venting anger I wanted to bring back my photolife in order and archive the sparks and memories of 26 Nov 2008. Hope someday our visions, thoughts, and voices are heard. Till then they will stay here, "THE POLITICAL right CORNER" of my photolife****

A Change Made : Ashutosh Didwania, 22, IT , Kolkata

I need to thank Ashutosh Didwani, a young professional for coming up with his idea to collate and sort out each and every thought made towards Mumbai Issue ... ...

If one has gone through the IBN Discussion it was booming with idea's and alternatives to resolve the present situation in India. I wonder if the media that initiated the discussion even has the time to follow it up!

If nothing, am sure the Rebuild India Mission will make our voices heard !

Good Luck Ashutosh, Keep the spirit up and keep your team going for the cause. Thanks for being the united voice...

WHAT CAN I DO ?

Do visit this link on IBN and pour out your heart! I poured mine too but its yet to be published! Who knows if they would publish it either! I was very straight and blunt! Unfortunately I did not save it. I will make an attempt to rewrite it here ! Anyway you guys give it a try. May be they will hear you! Here is the link before you move on to what I think I can do ! This is a real link, not just a blog and people are writing !! Do leave your thoughts there! Who knows we might be able to initiate a change!!

What Can you do to change the situation in India?



As I watch the 24 hr live update on CNN on the worst terrorist attack I wonder what can I do to change things from where it is today ?


As a normal helpless citizen I feel I can boycott the upcoming elections! LET all the citizens OF India take a stand OF NOT participating in this election at all as we don't believe the people running the election and we do not have the faith in their system (atleast I don't)!!

Can we the middle class, the high class, the educated, the one effected, the unaffected do something like this !!!

WE DO NOT SUPPORT YOUR PRESENT SYSTEM ANYMORE AND WE WANT A COMPLETE OVERHAULING OF OUR PARLIAMENT, OUR CONSTITUTION AND OUR SYSTEM (atleast I Want).

The OLDIES HAVE TO STEP DOWN !!

Is this possible? Can we make this happen? How would the economy get effected with this? Am sure it would be BUT its not doing better anyway !!!

ATLEAST this would ensure we have a reliable and capable team to take the nation forward! Seal all the borders be it west coast, east coast or north east !! With all the available technologies and advanced satellite monitoring system I cannot believe and get convinced that the borders cannot be monitored 24- 7, manned or unmanned!

May be am talking irrational, may be am talking bullshit BUT I do not see a hope other than NOT taking this bullshit anymore !! May be its dramatic BUT WE NEED something more active than being passive followers of such atrocities..

Indian life is cheap, that's why any body and come and do whatever they want !! I DO NOT WANT TO LOOSE ANY MORE SECURITY OFFICIALS (senior or juniors)! No doubt that that army, NSG and the paramilitary forces have done and are still doing a great job inspite of the lack of clear maps and instruction (as the media mentioned) BUT I DO NOT WANT the present to repeat again in two months TIME !!! My brain is bombarding with ideas on how I could use science and technology to have a better monitoring system, incase they haven't thought about it already!. We have the best brains, best Technology yet we have fail ed repeatedly ONLY due to our system! We are too passive. We are scared to take a stand, We are willing to forget things easily. We just blame and do nothing! WHY? WHY CAN'T WE TAKE PRIDE IN OURSELEVES and STRIKE BACK HARD? Why?

Tomorrow people will forget what happend in Mumbai and the TAJ will become a tourist spot to witness the marks left by the terrorist!!! I do not want to be an exhibition to the world anymore !!

I wish we/I can get hold of the media to get people to their senses and do something about this ! The media is the most powerful tool to bring change in a society! I think we the citizens of India, in India or abroad should take a call on this !!

I don't know may be am just taking my frustration out !! But I really wish and want 'us' not to forget what is happening in India!

I don't even know if I have anyone buying this idea, or doing something about it !!!

I WANT TO BOYCOTT OUR SECURITY AND UPCOMING ELECTION SYSTEM AS I DO NOT BELIEVE THEM !!! WHAT'S THE ALTERNATIVE ?

I DON'T KNOW!! AM SURE IT WILL COME UP, IN TIME IF PEOPLE WANT A CHANGE !!! I just do not want to be a helpless cheap citizen of India where we have no role to play in the democracy or in changing things! BUT I THINK I WANT TO CONVEY MESSAGE TO THE GOVT THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE BULLSHIT ANYMORE!!

WE are not going to be fucked by our leaders (atleast I don't want to be!) because of their pointless irrational differences and their political agenda of winning majority by harvesting the votes of the poor and deprived!! THIS IS NOT DONE !!!

I REALLY REALLY WISH THE NORMAL CITIZENS AND MEDIA TO TAKE A RESPONSIBLE STAND !! I DON'T KNOW WHERE MY THOUGHTS WOULD LAND, BUT THIS WHAT I WANT TO DO !!

I DO NOT WANT TO FORGET WHAT HAPPENED AND JUST GET REMINDED OF IT IN SOME HOLLYWOOD OR BOLLYWOOD THRILLER !!

I am sure and confident that we are capable of coming up with alternatives. Here is already one alternative: Anjuli , Sunrays, Indrani

Do visit this link on IBN and pour out your heart! What Can you do to change the situation in India?

The Suggestions I left on IBN Discussion board

This is exactly what I was looking for where I can my reaction to this horrendous act more audible !

It's not a surprise to notice that NOT a single post or comment has faith on our politicians! And we have elections to elect them! I do not want to go to much details, but here are my thoughts -

1. The citizens of India have to take a stand and show the government that we are not going to take their nonsense anymore.

2. To be able to do that I WOULD boycott the coming election and all the present political parties. We should just stop the election and election campaign that anyone tries to do. The media should and initiate something like this to give common people the strength and courage to fight corruption. The media should market or focus on an idea of 'UNITED INDIA' and see how many people are willing to give their idea, time and faith to it! The UNITED INDIA should have the best people and professional from different field with new ideas to make a change!! The present system just cannot be trusted anymore! THE UNITED INDIA DOES NOT BELIEVE IN RELIGION, REGION OR STATE. ITS A UNITED INDIA FIGHTING FOR JUST ONE CAUSE. GET RID OF THE GARBAGE ACCUMULATED IN OUR OWN BACKYARD!

3. Rewrite the constitution and overhaul the parliament with new educated well equipped people rather than the present OLD antisocial and corrupt politicians. This would be possible only by forming a new team and dissolving the old ones. If a old car stops working we have to just dismantle it and start fresh! Else we would be pouring and wasting unwanted resources in trying to repair the OLD fellow with no positive outcome. And that's exactly what's happening to us!

4. Unless the political party has each and every member in that group is educated and has gained some creditability in his chosen profession or field should be just dissolved and canceled. THEY DO NOT HOLD A IDENTITY or HAVE A SAY IN ANYTHING.

5. The media should start a anti-corruption mission. Through Community Video program make every citizen a watch guard of corruption by enabling them to take videos of people who ask and seek corruption, irrespective of who they are!

6. Every state should come up with their own team of people trained in Finance, Accountancy, Planning, Management, R&D, Entrepreneurship for each sector for e.g MEDICAL, HEALTH, BUSINESS, EDUCATION, AGRICULTURE, ENVIRONMENT etc. Follow a corporate structure with all the above sector starting from the block and Taluka levels to the state and center!! These are professionals chosen from each and every fields assigned responsibility of a section of the pie NOT just bureaucrats and politicians.

7. Complete Transparency, open monitoring and evaluation of the entire system

8. As a remote sensing scientist I can see a strong potential of science and technology in fixing our security issues right away! Specially with the available satellite and Computer technologies!! Having more number of lab, out sourcing to such data to private companies, or privatization of national labs by accelerating the rate of data processing and making them available in real time to public and assigned departments for their immediate action. Am surprised why haven't we done so yet! Why are we wasting time in bureaucracy! To make any of this happen and make a difference we would FIRST need to dismantle the OLD SYSTEM.

9. All the borders around the country have to be sealed. If you do not have an INDIAN passport YOU HAVE TO LEAVE. THAT' S IT. WE HAVE TAKEN ENOUGH REFUGEES! WE HAVE TO Stop now. THE PRESENT GOVT CAN NEVER TAKE SUCH A STAND. HENCE WE NEED NEW PEOPLE NEW TEAM. The older team has too much of vested interest of their own and they do not care about the country!!

10. There has to be a drastic change in the attitude of how and what we think of ourselves as Indian's and where we want to see ourselves. Unless there is a sense of pride in us we cannot inculcate the sense of nationality and responsibility in anybody! AND WE NEED TO DO THAT REAL SOON, IF WE HAVE TO SAVE OURSELVES.

11. To reduce the potential of fellow Indians becoming a victim of bribe we have to focus and rebuild our own economic system which means creating jobs and getting every one at par!! WE HAVE NOT DONE THIS Till now, because we do not have a system that really cares!! hence the CITIZENS OF India, in India or abroad should just come up with an alternative solution.

12. Every citizen should be interviewed by the media to find what they think they can do for the country or they would d if they are given the power. Am sure lot of brilliant ideas are going to pop up, and we should just go from there!!

13. I DO NOT SEE A HOPE and FUTURE for INDIA until we the citizen challenge the present GOVT. and come up with our 'UNITED CITIZENS OF INDIA'

am frustrated and am very angry, but if ever I get a chance an opportunity to do something this is what I would want to do!!

.........

I REPEAT, THIS IS NOT ABOUT RELIGION OR JUST INDIA OR WHITE, BLACK OR BROWN ANYMORE!! ITS ABOUT SPREADING SHEER TERROR !!!

AND I AM NOT SCARED , I CAN'T WAIT TO BE BACK IN INDIA (or anywhere where such fear is marketed!!) AND LIVE THROUGH SUCH TERROR AND NOT BE SCARED !!

It was disappointing to hear comments of CNN and BBC correspondents about the security of Brits and American's (whites) outside their country or in INDIA (in this particular case) . Did they forget WTC or London Blasts?? Yes, we have more holes in our system than they do, that's why we end up being F()*$#()$# by our own leaders BUT that does not give them the authority/liberty to talk about the safety of their citizens outside their COUNTRY !!

I just wish and pray that our GOVT has no hands in it !!

sorry this is NOT a photo-post ...and I won't look for a snap also to express how angry I AM !!

BUT I AM !!

Are you game?

I am, are you? Let's play with honesty and integrity for the team, we are BOUND to win..

Had not clicked or worked on any snap for long.. until today. felt good. and am glad that I could keep up with my own rules :)

Away until the next time..

To World History, To the President of US

I can't Help BUT be really happy for America, for the first non-white President of America, A common Man, To a True Democracy..as I hear Obama Speak...after his victory tonight. A victory worth appreciating and acknowledging though I have nothing to gain out of it directly. But am really happy. I am hopeful and optimistic to see the new president taking this baby country to a different plane that the world has ever witnessed, specially under the current global crisis. It IS a ray of hope, a pride for the Americans, the citizens (not just the whites) of this country. God Bless.

And with this I can't help but hope, wish and dream to see such passion, a miraculous victory of the most unlikely, unexpected turn about in Indian politics some day as well....

(Back to my away for good)

A window to my world...

We are printed and sent to India...Glimpses of last few months..

And these are framed and kept...I demanded the B&W shot from Kshitiz. It is my gift of the year for the magical moments for myself. Check the original shot 'here'. Thanks Kshitiz. The other I had just printed and was wondering if I should send it to India when My friend took it for a good purpose..

I Wish her all the best and hope it brings the colors that it is intended to in her life :). All the best Shikorina and Thanks for being there. Along with her I want to thank Life for all the people who choose to stay in my life and make it wonderful. Thanks to those who choose to leave as well. Life would not have been so beautiful without those moments. I thank God for everything that I have lost and gained in my small litte life :). Thanks to life for everything.

I will be away for Good for a while.. till then ..bye and all the best to everything in your lives

happy si diwali

to everybody...let there be a little more light than ever everywhere...
bye bye to the previous year and welcome to the new year..

Amen..

When U R around......

I feel safe, I feel at home, I feel loved, I feel warm, I feel blessed...
I feel silence is enough..to friends...to Mical...for all the good, bad and best times together...

I have been very lucky with friends, and she is One of them..
All the best for your defense girl...and you will NOT be missed :) :) :P, ;)

A Different Kinda Post

Please pass the word around.... fellow blogger's, Thanks

Colored Toes : 12345 and 12345

Winter is here.....!!!!!!!!!
We had the first snowfall of the year, and I presented myself with these :)

C H I C A G O - the unseen celebration

"या देवी सर्वभूतेषु सृष्टीरूपेण संस्थिता । नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नम: ॥ "

Subha Bijaya Dashami to everybody... I had the most memorable Durga Puja in the US, and I have one more to go to 'tomorrow' :) It's like "DOUBLE Cheese (Puja) Burger (Crasher)"

Ticket Please - The CTA in Chicago where the red, blue, green, orange and pink lines meet


Flower Basket - Getting ready for Pushpanjali


The Famous Five - 5 different fruits, vegetables, flowers, rice are supposed to be offered to her during the puja


Puja Essentials - The Famous Hindu (or Lakshmi) Kalash


Danpatra - "No puja or offering is complete without giving Bills be it India or US!"


ॐ : The most famous Hindu symbol "ॐ" caught in a different form...


Celebration : "happy bongs" "festive moments"


"Darpan Bisharjan on Camera", This is my favourite shot of the event for the 1st half of the 1st day on my 1st visit to Chicago !

More of the trip as I catch up with time and work... Thanks for your comment Kshitiz it pushed me to get to the hard disk and share the Bong Connection part of Chicago !

Happy Dushera and Happy Bijaya Dashami to everybody once again till I come back again. All shots are straight from the SD card.

"E n j o y M a a d i " :)

Vrooooooooooooommm!!

off to Chicago...

Sleeping Beauty!

Montu, my oldest field assistant.... always waiting to catch sleep in the middle of data collection or the moment he escapes my eyes !!

Lazy bong!!!, and that is true for most Bongs, including.. we love to sleeeeeep :)
I think Kolkata is the only place where most stores (local markets) are closed in the afternoon for an afternoon nap, that's how it is at Saltlake atleast !!

Spotted Love!!

'Company, Relax, Road, Traffic, Stop' the wheel continues....till you spot it (love) again...


"from the streets of Kolkata. Did not have much time to play with the frame, bass Gaiii humree fokus mein thiii :) "

"Gaii humarri maata hai aur humko sab kucch ataa hai" :), :D

A Fat Free Couple !!

Enough of cribbing...lets have some fun...
Yupp, am into Strawberry these days, ...and lots of whipped cream, Ice cream :)

yummmy !!!