Bhopal nagari tumhaari Jai ho

Its been 15 days since I am in Bhopal.
Few days back my colleague S came and told me that I need to go to Bhopal for a project for 5 or 6 days. Since I have been practically a Nomad for most of my professional life I took this to be one of many official trips that I have undertaken. By the way this trip was first of its kind for me. I came to know the real reason for my Visit after 4 days reaching there...what a quick revelation.
The work kept on extending since I came here.I am sure if any other engineer would have taken this project he would have finished it long back.But thanks to my shaatir,chalak dimag that I am still slogging with myriad issues.
So the visit of 5 days became visit of 8 days.I called my Mom on 5th day and told that I will come back home after 2 days.Then this 8 days became 12 days.Again I called Mom and on 10th day told same thing.
Then the 12 day visit became 15 days...I called home Mom again and told"Mom this time I am surely coming after 3 days"
Mom was like,"Dont come...hmph" and kept the phone.

Now I will tell you people something about Bhopal.Its very beautifull and small city. People normally go to sleep by 9PM,all shops are closed by 10 and after 10.30 its late night. Once I sat in office working late. At about 10.30 PM I went to my Hotel. The liftman was nicely snoring.On coming to reception of Hotel I noticed that Receptionist wasnt there.Again I heard Snoring.The guy was nicely sleeping on the Sofa in corridor, probably he was in wonderland with Madhuri Dixit or Mallika.Obviously he wasnt happy on being disturbed when he was on date(so what if it was in his dreams).I took my keys after waking him up.He told
"Sahab itni raat ko?"
"Haan,Bank ka locker toot nahi raha tha"
Well he didnt actually cared bout it and went again in his swapnalok.
Coming to my room I thought of ordering food.When I dialed Room service number... no one picked it.I tried again and was greeted by a sleepy voice.
"Kaun hai be.."
be?? this how one addresses guests?
Aneways I went ahead and told"Main room no. 202 se bol raha hoon""Sar...aapke room mein paani rakha hua hai....yawnnnnn...?
"Paani nahi khana chahiye mujhe.Suno 2 roti,1 Dal..."
"Sar sar...ruko....room service 10 baje band ho jaati hai"
"Dus baje? what the fcuk....mujhe bhook lagi hai.Mujhe khana chahiye."
"Bahar kha lo" and kept the phone.
I felt like catching this guy and peeing on his face.I didnt have energy to go out.But gathered whatever was there and went outside.The liftman got up from his slumber and watched me with questioning eyes.
Coming out of Hotel I was shocked...not even a single kutta was there on streets.There was a small market near by.Same thing....nothing!!!

I saw a rickshaw walah by the side of road and asked him if I can get anything to eat.
"Sahab beech raat mein aapko kuch nahi milega"
Beech raat...what the hell.For these people 11Pm is beech raat!!!
I begged him"Yaar kuch bhi chalega....khane ke liye yahan kuch toh milega"
"Hmmm...haan yahan se thoda aage ek beedi ki dukaan hai"
"Beedi ki dukaan?Main beedi nahi khata....I mean nahi peeta.Thanku"
"Arre sahab....suno.Us dukaan pe biskut milega...woh khalena"

Those words were like tunes of lata mangeshkar. I felt like kissing that persons forehead(dont think in 'other' manner you pervets).

So moral of the story is that at 11.15PM I was in my room Munching ParleG and Tiger biscuits and few eclair choclates watching Big Boss....yup on News channel :P.

This is New Market Chowk.View from my office


At Lake View


From terrace of our office Building.
Behind are the mountains near Great Lake.
Oh my god its 8.45...15 mins for hotels to close....Story will continue...bye

English

I came across this pic while reading report on protest by Pakistani people against American attack on civilians.:)
This banner would have more suited for 1st December(AIDS day).

Latin America insights

Miamista has given some very good insights about political scenario of Latin American countries as a reply to my comment.For his post go on the below link
http://miamista.blogspot.com/2006/11/venezuela-congratulates-correas-win-to.html#links

And his reply is
The most "radical" leftist to date has been the Nestor Kirchner, who actually refused to pay international "debt", finally forcing creditors into a pennies on the dollar pay off. For all the bluster Chavez has not and would not venture to do the same. Brazil's Lula has been accused, perhaps unfairly, of splitting or selling out the left. Brazil has internal mechanisms (as oppose to a US imposed pressure) that makes his position more tenuous. Brazil has a notoriously corrupt system that will not let their congress or state governments (especially those in the South) fall into the hands of reformers. Brazil is a nation where the Odebrecht family engineering conglomerate (Bush political donors-family friends) actually paid off the majority of Brazil's congress regardless of party, had the massive fraud uncovered and no one was punished. (If you are a Miamian the Odebrecht name may be familiar to you- MIA, Miami Arena, Metromover, Metrorail, Carnival/Miami Performing Arts Center, American Airlines Arena, Port of Miami...)

Most of Latin America has always had an owner/independent minded technocrat class that resents US interference in its political and economic affairs, especially as it relates to that class's space for economic growth. South American governments have tapped into this re the ALBA and Mercosur.

A country by country analysis of Lat Am would yield interesting results. However, I think the most interesting dynamic is why the US has been so reticent to intervene as it has in the past. True, the US intervened in classical fashion in Mexico (see the IRI, NED activity in this election and the coordination through the right wing bloc of the EU for cover). Mexico however is a special case, for nat resource/economic reasons and for immigration and national security concerns.

The US hasn't decamped or put away its big stick altogether. It has become somewhat a paper tiger as long as its resources are spread thin. It is also not clear that the current US administration is interested in supporting some of the international financial interests in the region. All things being equal it seems that the Bush administration would not mind leftist governments that sold products and resources at fair market values. The other significant factor is China as a more agressive player in the region. China has made it clear that it will not concede the region economically, especially as the US has invited itself into the Caspian, been agressive in India and entirely pushed it aside in Pakistan.

Riots

Yesterday there were riots in many places in Mumbai,Pune and other parts of Maharashtra.Reason.Some one vandalised the statue of Baba Saheb Ambedkar in Kanpur.Property worth crores was destroyed within a day.A local train and few bogies of Deccan Express train were burned.



This is how a society misuses independence.
If anyone wants to protest against the act in Kanpur why doesnt he destroy his property,burn his home and stop his work.Why do these people want to disturb peace of masses who have nothing to do with this issue?

My Mom and Dad had planned to go to Trambakeshwar at Nasik but had to cancel the trip because in Nasik too few morons were celebrating Diwali(by burning shops and vehicles).My Mom was definetly not happy at this.In afternoon I got call from Mummy who told me about all the crap which was been shown on News channels.Actually she is regular viewer of Saas,bahu and Saazishon Star Tv(ya this is what they show on news channels).But instead of Sari clad Saas,Bahu and simmering dialogues between them she saw Deccan Express being burned(celebrating Holi?).News host told that Train was being burnt in Mumbai.On hearing this my Mom(who knows very well that I work in office in Parle)called me without losing a moment and told me,"Sun bahar dange ho rahe hain aur bhool kar bhi deccan express mein chadhna".I fail to understand why the hell will I go in Pune bound train(that too which is burning).

As the news spread in my office there was moment of terror,"Oh Train is burnt",
"Riots all over Mumbai...aiyaaaa",
"Sachchi",
"Wahan bhi hua",
"Churchgate band",
"Goregaon mein bhi lafda chalu hai"
To be honest I myself got worried hearing all these stuff and expected my women dominated office will be given leave.But no....all ladies got back to work.This gender turned out to be brave than the other(ghor kaliyug).So men also got back to work(they cant do anything else).
After office I went to Andheri Station to go home.I was amazed to find train empty....above all I got a seat to sit.Usually in Borivali bound local you feel lucky if you get enough place to keep your feet and getting seat in local train was like getting a lottery.

Update
I have heard unconfirmed news yesterday night that in retaliation few people have vandalised statue of Shivaji in Pune.