India of my dreams!

Growing up I always used to wonder what it will be like to have a nation without any regional, religious and political biases. Would it be difficult for us as Indian's to ever make a society minus all these? Can we ever live in a society which is not hypocritical in nature and more discriminate of its people than the US? Then, I used to think to myself, yes it is possible and it is doable, and, I, as an individual will make a difference.

 

15 years hence, my views stand corrected! The reasons for this change are the recent terror attacks that 'my' country has faced. These attacks have questioned the very essence that our country stands for "freedom"; our freedom to live & to fight back. These attacks have proved one thing to me – "we are not safe in our own homes".

 

I have had the privilege of spending some time out of India and upon my return a number of my friends and colleagues questioned my decision of returning to my country and suggested that I had made a mistake by coming back. According to them, countries apart fromIndia are better, as they offer a better "way of life", of course with "monetary benefits". However, what they do not realize is that if you are working abroad, you are earning your living in their currency, so how are things any better? Moreover, the cost of living in almost all developed nations is far higher than that of India. Anyways, my argument to them at that time was that, "there is no better place in the world than your own home". Quite philosophical, but true, yet I stand corrected again!

 

Off late, there has been enough and more debate on the state of our STATE, it's internal and external security and a lot of questions have erupted out of this debate; one of them being that the state of our politicians couldn't get sadder. As much as I agree with the sentiments of my fellow citizens, I am compelled to ask a question to all of them, including myself – Do we have an option but to elect the illiterate, criminal and old filth that has plagued our political system? Will I want to enter politics myself to clean up the mess and provide a fresh perspective to this line of profession? In my various discussions with a number of people coming from different walks of life, of late, the answer to the 2^nd question has been a long drawn silence of thought and to the former one, has been a prompt, non thought of response basically stating that these guys should be put in front of a firing squad and shot dead or that this country should be cleaned of these parasites. Well quite interesting thoughts, however quite unpractical and illogical, if exercised, would force me to come back to the 2^nd question or better still raise a new one – Are we ready for Marshal Law?

 

It is quite understandable that we are angry and agitated postNovember 26, 2008 with the way our politicians have behaved and their actions or should I say the lack of any! What I do not understand is that, are they the only ones to blame? Truly, what have you or I done in the past 60 odd years of our Independence to make it otherwise? Are we not to be blamed as citizens of this great nation or is it just for the politicians to face our wrath? Will we ever stop this blame game and look at solving a deep routed problem of religious bias and territorial enmity that we have within the state? Will we ever look at, if we have done our bit? It pains me to say that "I am an Indian" and frankly I am ashamed to say that as an Indian, I really cannot think of one thing that I could proudly say I would have done for this great nation. I do not have any answers to any of the questions that I would have raised above or the many billion that the million other citizens would have raised till date and I am ashamed of myself.

 

We are talking about concrete action to be taken against Pakistanand I couldn't agree more on this, but something like 'carpet bombing' a neighboring state and killing innocent lives is not the answer to our problems! Post 26-11, people said that when 9-11 happened in the US, the US waged a war against Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Al-Queda. A fact, but then the resultant affect was seen by the Bush administration. In fact, I was watching We the Peopleon NDTV post 26-11 and someone said that when 9-11 happened in theUS, they responded back with an attack on Iraq & Afghanistan and Barkha (Dutt) said yes they did, but it backfired for the Bush admin. The point that should have been made on this should have been that, it backfired 'cause Bush used 9-11 as a reason to attack Iraq (a must longed dream of his father!) and the terrorists were in Afghanistan & Pakistan, so why did innocent people (both US & Iraq) lose their lives over Iraq? But then that's another debate for another time! Right now what we should learn from the US is that they suffered in 9-11, and so did a number of other nationalities and they decided on sending a clear cut message to the world. A message of – Do not mess around with 'US'! What is stopping us from sending a similar message? Why are we getting so scared? Who are we scared off? Why are we so dependent on the US to bail us out or help us in this time? Are we so weak that we need someone else to speak on our behalf? – "Not the India I had dreamt off"

The Plastic Debate

What I find extremely constipating about this country is that we as Indian’s just cannot deal with certain rules and regulations; and especially not those which are meant for our own benefit. Take the ‘ban on use of plastic bags’ for instance. It is a known fact (although I have been aware of it from my school days!) that our environment is in a complete mess and thanks to the screw up of some developed nations (read USA), the whole world has to get together and rattle their (almost non-existent) brains in trying to sort out this mess.

As a step towards this initiative, members of our great (Democratically elected?) government and of course their hugely supportive members from our bureaucracy, early this month, announced the ban on the use of plastic bags in retail stores. As much as this topic was in discussion for the past few years and I do remember reading about it, the government finally managed to issue a law banning the use of plastic bags in Delhi this year. What I fail to understand is that what is the big deal with this law? Is it not passed by the government with the right intentions, although it might have been done in too much of a hurry not considering the repercussions of it? Is it not going to help in the conservation of our environment? Using a bit of commonsense, the answers to the above questions are quite clear to me, then why such a ruckus around this law?

Well, the way I see it, the problem lies with both the law maker as well as the public. Law maker’s because they have decided to implement a law without clearly planning for it. They plan on exterminating the use of plastic bags from across all retail outlets, lay a heavy penalty on the people flouting the law, but no provision of providing an alternative to these hazardous bags. The shoppers in the city go shopping, mostly do not carry their own bags to bring back the merchandise purchased, for various reasons, too cumbersome, or just plain not Cool, could be two that come to mind! The shops stop keeping plastic bags, so how do shoppers carry their purchase up to their cars or back home? Simple problem, no solution!

Alternatively, the public is to be blamed because we refuse to carry something as simple as jute or any other form of bag when we go shopping and then loose our heads at the shopkeepers for not being able to cater to something as simple as a carry bag. Well, if it was something as simple then I would love to ask the citizens of this city as to what is stopping them from carrying it with them when they leave their homes in the first place?

And just so that we are clear, I am as much a part of this junta as anyone else as even I have been stranded at various instances without a carry bag – I’m no saint!

The other day I was at Shopper’s Stop located in a plush South Delhi mall and there I saw the employees at the cash register packing the purchase of the shoppers in branded plastic bags. At an instance one of my acquaintances asked me, deliberately in front of the employee, “how come these guys are still giving plastic bags; do they not come under purview of the new law?” Well, before I could react to this question, one of the other shoppers turned around and said, “kya bhai saahab (read What Man!), these outlets belong to big and powerful people, you really think any law would be able to stop them from doing business, in our country?” At the same time I noticed the expression at the employee at the cash register and he had a sly smirk on his face. Could mean anything, but I’m not sure if benefit of doubt is something that would be appropriately applicable for him! 

I noticed a similar case at another popular outlet in Delhi, 24*7, where immediately after this law was put in place, they started charging a measly Re. 1 on the bill to give you your purchase in a plastic bag. On my enquiry the employee said, “We are not giving it to all customers, we ask our customers if they need a bag and if they say yes, we charge them Re. 1 for it.” Wow, what a brilliant idea of making money and a mockery of the law, all at once! Which moron would actually refuse paying Re. 1 and getting a plastic bag in return to carry his / her groceries?

Why, I ask? The last I heard about the laws of the land, they were supposed to be the same for everyone. Then why is it that this law is applicable to the round-the-corner kirana stores and not to the large scale shopping centers? Would love to get an answer to this, if anyone has any!

Now we hear that our great leaders are planning on introducing a new kind of plastic bag, which will be woven using old, ragged plastic. Let’s see what this new initiative and urban planning of our government gets with it!

Up Your's!

I just couldn’t stop laughing this morning after I saw the headlines in most of the English dailies of the country. As much as the news on the first page surrounded the subject of the 15^th Lok Sabha elections of this “great” democracy of ours, the pictorial representation in most of the publications was that of the celebrities casting their votes in Mumbai yesterday. Now isn’t that something that India really wants to read about; but then that calls for another entry on the working style of our media industry.

Well coming back to the topic of the 15^th Lok Sabha elections and the headlines. I was quite impressed with the graphic representation of the finger which symbolizes someone actually casting his / her vote. Interestingly, over the years it has always remained the index finger; however this year the Election Commission seems to have thought to make voting a bit of fun and have chosen the middle 

finger over the other four to symbolize this! And guess what, their response to this choice is – Mr. Shekhar Channe, joint electoral officer, said that the index finger was marked during the recent bypolls, Zila Parishad and council elections. To avoid complications, they decided on the middle finger. (Source: DNA, May 1, 2009/ Picture Courtesy: Mr. BL Soni.DNA)

How dumb do these guys think the citizens of this country are? No really, that is the lamest excuse I have heard in ages. I’m sure that’s not the real reason. Instead, someone senior in the Election Commission would have thought of sharing his views on the state of the Indian politicians but really did not have the balls (read guts!) to go up to even one of them and say it. And thought what better a way to convey this but through a large percentage of the billion population – lead by our ever willing list of celebrities - through just a symbol! Now this is just a theory, you really do not need to take it seriously.

But whoever came up with this idea, Sir / Ma’am you have my deepest regard and I applaud you for coming up with this brilliant idea. What better a way to get the Indian public into the polling booth and in a united tone say Up Yours Mr. Minister (s)!

Where am I???

Holy Shit!!! (apologies for cursing).........but truly where the fuck have I been.

I just realized that I got into this whole mode of setting up my own Blog and date I have managed to get only one entry in this "self expressing domain".........in almost 2 fucking years!!! What the hell was I doing, WHERE THE HELL HAVE I BEEN all this time????

The answer to that, even I don't know!!!!! Ain't that funny?

Was just reading my previous blog entry, was almost like discovering myself all ova again. Well to tell you the truth, although I had mentioned earlier that I will be sticking around in the hospitality sector, but the fact remains that I moved out of it 2 years back. Even though I have changed my field and specialization in my career, I really do not feel it was a wrong step to take. (Just to clear any doubts, I have always loved working in hotels, even though there were times that we had to deal with jerks, but there was a different kind of satisfaction in that, and in all probability would one day love to get back to that field.) I still feel there is so much that this industry is capable of and there is a lot of scope for improvement for this industry in India. For instance, the salary structures, a lot of people still feel has improved, but for me I'm still of the opinion that it is nowhere close to that offered internationally. But then that is a completely different topic for a different forum. If you step out of the closed environs of the hospitality sector, there is a whole new world to explore.

When I quit my last job with Taj, a lot of my colleagues had said that do not do it unless you have another job in hand. Well it was a very logical suggestion and meant for my own good, but my problem is that I have always heard what my heart has said, not intending to hurt the feelings of my well wishers, but then thats the way I have always been. When I came back, I wanted to take a sabbatical for about 2-3 months, least realizing or should I say not calculating the fact that I will need a month or so to look for another job. Just could not figure out where the time went, hell haven't been able to figure that out even today. Looked for options in Delhi with hotels and was shocked with the kinda pay packages these guys were offering. Man I would have felt ashamed to even open my mouth for such pay scales if I were in their shoes. So, I decided to kinda try another field. Was lucky enough had a very close friend, then, to guide me and I started applying for jobs in communications, as I had some experience in that during my hospitality days. Was lucky, and got a break and that was the end of my sabbatical!!!

Have been two years since and no regrets, none at all!

Although, have been given to understand that I have ended up becoming a Workaholic by a lot of people. A lot of my colleagues, friends and some acquaintances have also turned around to say that I really eat, breath and sleep work......but really, is that true? Have I really lost myself to the world or am I lost in this huge world, even I don't know.

Its been two years of hard work, but have enjoyed every bit of it. Have made some great friends, some good contacts and lost some people really close to me on the way.........but then as they say, that is Life!

No one remains a Virgin, Life screws us all!!!

How these two years passed, have not even realized. When did I lose touch with my family, I did not notice. Where did friends go, I have no clue. What happened to the real me, I'm lost. Where am I headed to, I don't know. What have been my achievements, can't really say (nothing incredible, I'm sure of that!)....................So, after much strain on my non-existent grey cells, I come to the ultimate question - - Where am I???

Still searching for the true me!!!

Path of becoming a Hotelier

THE BELOW IS BASED ON PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AND MAY DIFFER FROM PERSON TO PERSON.

My journey to become a hotelier started on a very wrong foot, but I guess when you are 16 or 17 years the only thing on your mind is how to piss off your folks. So I was no different. My father was in the Indian Armed forces and mother a primary school teacher, in short, a small and happy family. The problem, my father being an army officer wanted me to continue the tradition and join the Army, however in those days the salary structure in the defence was not that great and I came from a generation who wanted to rise very high in life with good money, who cared about the lifestyle and the respect one got by being in the defence or doing something great for the nation for a change was definitely not on the Career list. (Kids can be such novices!!!)

Anyhow, after my 12th boards, my father put forth the dreaded question that all of us at that age don't want to face at all: "SO SON, WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS?" Needless to say the reply was very absurd, "PLANS, WHAT PLANS? BOARDS ARE JUST OVER, I'M GOING TO HANG AROUND WITH FRIENDS AND FREAK OUT." I'm sure, a lot of us have had replies on similar lines and faced the consequences. Quick was the reply, forget freaking out and prepare yourself for the Defence, you are joining the army. "Army, noways! Me and Army almost like poles apart." This was the stage I decided what wanted to do, join Hotels, why? you may ask. Before I answer that this is something you should like to know:

There is a very famous statement made by a number of aspiring hoteliers today when asked why was it that you opted for this field, when you could have easily become a Lawyer, Doctor or an Engineer. "It is a very glamorous industry and more over there is more money here than in any of the other fields." Now that is original!!! So did I.

Why not, life is good, money is great and you get to see the world. At least, this is what I believed when I decided on taking up this career opportunity.

Not that I regret becoming a hotelier at all. I have seen more in my short career than most guys of my age. But, glamour, as we say, is existing if you are loaded with money. If that would have been the case then why would we have been working in the first place!!!

However, all the myths that I and I believe a lot of my colleagues in the industry had, got shattered when we actually started our lives. This is when I realised that you mite slog your ass off (pardon the language) but if you do not have the guts to suck up to your boss, then you will go no where. I have learnt more of life by working in this industry, than probably I would have, if I had joined the Army. Not to say that this situation does not exist else where, but it is more here than anywhere else. Moreover, we come from the land of the host's who believe in the concept of "attithi devo bhava" (i.e. Guest is God). Now if we happen to believe that, then we have met more gods in this short span of life than probably all the God's of the world added up together.

Like other careers, the path of a hotelier is also rugged and walking or driving through it is like driving on the wonderfully maintained Indian Roads where you have to listen to fools and morons who have no idea what hoteliering is all about (now there are definitely exceptions, like my first bosses).

However, all said and done, I have had a wonderful time in this industry and would be continuing rather than just skip jobs and have a complete change in careers. Moreover what is the gurantee that similar situations would not arise in my next job???