Did he die in vain?

Do you remember?

When was this taken?

Who was the one burning?

Do the words ‘Rajeev Goswamy‘ ring a bell? This B.Com student was all of 20 years of age, when he set himself on fire against the Mandal Commission. And look what lurks around the corner!
Mandal-II the sequel. We live in a namesake democracy, with namesake justice and namesake equality. All are equal but some are more equal! As long as ur SC,ST or OBC, you can rule the roost in this country, which btw is supposed to be the biggest democracy in the world.

In the pre-independance era, the British introduced us to the divine policy of ‘Divide and rule’. They plundered our nation and left us with bits and pieces. And look who’s at it again. The all pervading goverment of India. They are here to make us kill each other and stuff their accounts with the leftovers from the british era, I guess.

In Tamil Nadu, we have 69% reservation. See the figures correctly -> 69%. So being brahmin and hailing from Tamil Nadu, I am no stranger to the evil that is reservation. Our own president has great faith in us. We are the future of this mighty country. But what is the point if the silent pleas of the students and medicos and the others across the country are going into deaf ears?
Would Arjun Singh or our respected PM be this silent if their children were on hunger strike for 10 days? A peaceful protest is going on. But is it making any impact? At all?

What is needed is an education policy in which every child in a Dalit/ OBC family as also children of the urban poor, regardless of caste, get free hostel facility and receive quality primary/secondary education at par with the 5-10 per cent elite in urban India.The basic idea behind such a policy is to prepare these children to face competition for higher education right from the start of their academic careers. The government must provide them facilities, so that they are selected on merit. Since there are no inherent differences in talent, a competitive environment backed by equal opportunities is likely to produce the desired results. In other words, providing a level playing field must be the chief concern of a democratic India.

To make this policy more effective, children of creamy layer among Dalits and OBCs should be debarred from availing free facilities. Instead, children of poor upper caste households could be included in the list of those who profit from them.Reservation in the present form may give a feeling that something earth-shattering is being done for Dalits and OBCs. But going by the protests that have erupted all over the country, it’s clear it can serve no real purpose other than creating dangerous acrimony among sections of our youth.

So what will make the government hear the youth? Extremism? Speaking of extremism, I guess you people must’ve heard about the bunch of IIT students who have proclaimed that they will commit suicide if the reservation policy is implemented. Moderatism doesnt seem to be working at all. So where are our Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev? Do we have to get suicidal to be heard?

What is to be made of someone as sensible as our respected PM, [who I am sure has a fair idea of the damage this policy can do], who is keeping mum on this issue. Everyone knows that this is nothing but votebank politics? And greedy politicians at work. But at what cost?

At what cost?

No Such Thing …

Welcome to the real world, she said to meCondescendinglyTake a seat, take your lifePlot it out in black and whiteWell I never lived the dreams of the prom kingsAnd the drama queensI'd like to think the best of meIs still hiding up my sleeve

They love to tell youStay inside the linesBut something's betterOn the other side

I wanna run through the halls of my high schoolI wanna scream at theTop of my lungsI just found out there's no such thing as the real worldJust a lie you've got to rise above

So the good boys and girls take the so called right trackFaded white hatsGrabbing credits and maybe transfersThey read all the books but they can't find the answersAnd all of our parentsThey're getting olderI wonder if they've wished for anything betterWhile in their memoriesTiny tragedies

They love to tell youStay inside the linesBut something's betterOn the other sideI wanna run through the halls of my high schoolI wanna scream at the top of my lungsI just found out there's no such thing as the real worldJust a lie you got to rise above

I am invincibleI am invincibleI am invincibleAs long as I'm alive

I wanna run through the halls of my high schoolI wanna scream at theTop of my lungsI just found out there's no such thing as the real worldJust a lie you've got to rise aboveI just can't wait til my 10 year reunionI'm gonna bust down the double doorsAnd when I stand on these tables before youYou will know what all this time was for ...

Teal’s note: Any details about the location of the above mentioned person will be appreciated and duly rewarded. These lyrics are from the track ‘No Such Thing’ from ‘Room for Squares’. For those of you who dont know who this cutie is, well he is John Mayer.
Congrats you can hang yourselves now.

Coming Soon ….

Baby … mama’s coming to getcha sooooooooooon!

Tag v N.(n-1) : where n = … ???

Okie-Dokie, I have been tagged by blogbud and best friend Hell’s Angel for god only know how manyth time! Phbbt… without any further dues, I give u Tagpost v N.(n-1) : where n = … ???

1.Grab the book nearest to you, turn on a random page and find random line.
“Nostradamus’ method of divination, which will be discussed in detail later in the book, might be described as a self-induced state of trance in which he experiences visions” – The further prophecies of Nostradamus 1985 and beyond by Erika Cheetham.

2.Stretch your left arm out as far as you can.
Done. Nexxttt….

3. What is the last thing you watched on TV?
A feature called “Confessions of a dangerous mind” on Times Now about Abu Salem.

4.Without looking, guess what time it is?
4:15 am

5. Now look at the clock, what is the actual time?
4:11 am

6. With the exception of the computer, what can you hear?
The sound of my ceiling fan.

7. When did you last step outside? What were you doing?
Day before yesterday evening. Out at the beach.

8. Before you started this survey, what did you look at?
My orkut account.

9. What are you wearing?
White T-Shirt and tracks.

10. Did you dream last night?
YESH!

11. When did you last laugh?
Cant remember …

12. What is on the walls of the room you are in?
We have a no-pasting-stuff-on-walls policy at home. [Since it was repainted only a few months back.] On my cupboard door is a ‘Think Positive’ poster brought by Mom.

13. Seen anything weird lately?
Nope, but would love to!

14. What do u think of this quiz?
Suxxx biiig time….

15. What is the Last film u saw?
V for Vendetta – Staring Hugo Weaving[good] and Natalie Portman[pathetic]

16. If you became a multimillionaire overnight, what would you buy?
A mansion with pool, gym, courts[b-ball and tennis], Ducati’s and Harley’s, convertibles[porsche and dodge vipers .... ] , probably make a recording studio in my basement where I play and record music. [of course, I will make it soundproof.]

17. Tell me something about you that I dunno.
I am actually an ambivert.

18. If you could change one thing about the world, regardless of guilt or politics, what would you do?
Put to death all the barbarian who commit henious acts in the name of religion. [And wipe out terrorism], stop deforestation and do good things for bottlenose dolphins!

19. Do you like to dance?
Rarely, mostly in
a) Privacy of room.
b) With friends, if I am happy enough.. [Hell I aint no Christopher Walken.]

20. George Bush
Chimpanzee….

21. Imagine your first child is a girl, what do you call her?
Siddhipriya.

22. Imagine your first child is a boy, what do you call him?
Somnath.

23. Would you ever consider living abroad?
I love my country, but considering the darkness that our ‘leaders’ are thinking of plunging her into, me thinking of it … provided it is beneficial to everyone in my family as well.

24.What do you want GOD to say to you when you reach the pearly gates?
Welcome Home!!! >:D

25. People who may do this memo in their journal.
Gokul [Atleast complete this tag!]
Vivekanand [saaptadhu podhum, get bloggin mann!!!, a tag on behalf of Hell's Angel and me.]
Nikhil
Archie
Rainbow

What is topping my playlist now ….

My dearest Blogjunta,

As of now, I have a storm of ideas for posts, but due to eggjam tenshun [who am I kiddin?? ], I couldnt put up any gud ones so far, soo….

I am posting the lyrics of Baz Luhrmann’s “Sunscreen”. This song has given me the gyaan that 4 years of college failed to give. So read on people…

Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of ‘99: Wear sunscreen.

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience.

I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; oh never mind; you will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they’ve faded. But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked.

You are not as fat as you imagine.

Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4:00 pm on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing everyday that scares you.

Sing.

Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts; don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss.

Don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead; sometimes you’re behind; the race is long, and in the end it’s only with yourself.

Remember compliments you receive; forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters; throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch.

Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you wanna do with your life; the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives; some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don’t.

Get plenty of calcium.

Be kind to your knees; you’ll miss them when they’re gone.

Maybe you’ll marry — maybe you won’t. Maybe you’ll have children — maybe you won’t. Maybe you’ll divorce at 40 — maybe you’ll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don’t congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either — your choices are half chance; so are everybody else’s.

Enjoy your body; use it every way you can. Don’t be afraid of it, or what other people think of it. It’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever own.

Dance –

even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room.

Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them.

Do not read beauty magazines; they will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents; you never know when they’ll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings; they’re your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go, but for the precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography, in lifestyle, because the older you get the more you need the people you knew when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard.

Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.

Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths: prices will rise; politicians will philander; you too will get old, and when you do you’ll fantasize that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were noble, and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don’t expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund; maybe you’ll have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one might run out.

Don’t mess too much with your hair, or by the time you’re 40, it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia: dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts, and recycling it for more than it’s worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen.

Happy 51st birthday mom!

May 11th, 1955 …
God decided to bring down to earth the most giving, benevolent, patient and selfless person. He created my mother. My guardian angel, my best friend, my philosopher, my guide , my cheerleader, my beacon of hope, my pillar of strength, my everything.

I thank god every single day since the moment i set my first step and spoke my first word that I am urs. That I am a part of you. I look up to you for everything and anything ma. I love you more than words can ever express. I guess you already know that!
May you live a happy long life and enrich the lives of your grandchildren and great grandchildren like you’ve blessed us, by being an inseparable part of our lives.
LOVE U MOM!

Teal’s College Chronicles – II

Well well, I had promised earlier that I would complete my college chronicles earlier, didnt I? Now you guys must be wondering why I ended up all nostalgic and stuff, let me safely tell you dat at this point ~
1) I am not at all sentimental about winding up college.
2) I didnt find anything else to blog about!
3) I am a woman of word, so when I say something, I wil go by it… B-) .. ya ya i know i am tooo kool ..

This one will be about all the other activities I was a part of. It was Feb ‘05, we were in the third year. The moment had finally arrived. We were in control of the symposium work. We were the event co-ordinators, et al. So well, what did I do? I walked right up to the staff co-ordinators and became event co-ordinator for quiz. F.Y.I the quiz was not entirely technical, because if I made it that way, it’d been pathetic! So I made it semi-technical. My other friends became event co-ordinators of other events like Web Designing, Paper Presentation [eek], Network Gaming and stuff. The faculty always looked upon our batch as a bunch of indifferent, lethargic people. But man did we slog for the symposium or what? You could spot a sea of change in their attitude about us after the symposium work. Well you see the faculty will always pretend like they are capable of doing everything and ultimately dump all the work on us in the last minute! [wats new, I hear you fellow engineering students say.]

My event’s work was completed real soon. So me and my team helped out with the other events, we worked for 12 hours on weekends [ :O ... shocking .. ya I know], stayed after classes to wind up with stuff. IT was real hard work, but man, it was real fun. Until then I was totally not in touch with my juniors, but I got to know the select few in the core commitee real well. They were a bunch of nice, hard working kids. Posters were ready real late … so we went to most of the colleges in person and distributed them in person!

Everything was up and running. All set and ready to go. And so the day finally dawned upon us. We were totally tingly with excitement and adrenaline was flowing through our veins … As the saying goes, hard work never goes in vain. We got a record turnout. My event was a biiig hitt B-) Many came to me and said the questions were damn tough!! >:)

At the end of the day, our HOD was elated with the response we got for the symposium, which was just in it’s 3rd version. The icing on the cake was that – all core committee members were given the next day off for rest … and man, we never realised how exhausted we were until we got home after the symposium. Those one and half months were easily one of the most unforgettable times in my life. Will miss college and the good times, not much of the people though …

The secret dreamworld of a shopaholic :-)

Rainbow had recommended this book to me a few weeks back. She was all like “You must read this book if you liked Bridget Jones, it is very funny!”. She has probably read every book around and is very much aware of what I like! And to be frank, I did like the book a lot.
What can be said about this story? If you check out the style of this book, you’ll find it eerily similar [in fact in some cases almost identical] to “Bridget Jones Diary” by Helen S.Fielding]
Yes, this is a typical example of chick-lit litreature, which is something I read often. This book is a part of the super famous “shopaholic” series which was released sometime in 2004. And off late has got some publicity in India, thanks to Kavya Vishwanathan’s “Opal” Series..
But let me warn you serious readers out there, their is no profound philosophy in this book or complex plots. And you have to be a member of the fairer sex to appreciate this book.
The protagonist, Rebecca Bloomwood is a financial journalist, who is well a shopaholic [Duh..] and hates her job, coz she thinks it is tooo boring… and despite being in the finance scene is neck deep in debt. The book is about how she clears out all her debts and problems and emerges in total grandeur like a phoenix!
Statutory Warning: This is not for you serious readers out there .. lest you come back and mock me in my blog … .. all you gals out there, must read this book.
What i loved most about it is the simple way it is dealt with. Every girl will surely identify with Rebecca at some point of the story or the other.
Now I gtg and hunt for the rest of the books ..catchya later!