Bang Bang at the Beach

It has kind of become a tradition in IIT Madras. Every year during Holi-the Indian festival of colors, most of us go to the Beasant Nagar Beach, after having played with colors inside the campus for some time.

In my third year, I followed this tradition and reached the beach on a borrowed bicycle. A great friend of mine joined me in the trip. We parked our bicycles as we reached the beach. From previous experiences, it was known to us that the probabiliy of losing slippers and shirts and keys at the beach was very high in Holi. So we wrapped these things together and left them on the bicycle itself. And then we headed towards the shore, dressed only in shorts.

Oh boy, the sand was just too hot. Without slippers, we felt our soles burning, as we ran towards the sea. It's like half a kilometer stretch of sand out there that one needs to traverse before reaching the shoreline at the Beasant Nagar Beach. Only when the soles finally felt the cool sea water under them, that some relief came to the burning skin.

As I reached the shore, I could see three odd looking local youths challenging about two dozens IITians surrounding them. One of them had a big stick in his hands and he was shouting something in Tamil. A hostel senior told me about a fight that had broke between some IITians and these local guys over an issue as trivial as a volley ball. I moved towards the crowd to add to the head count of the IITians. In few minutes, the three local goons realized that they were too less in number to do anything to us, and so they went swimming into the sea. No one among us tried to follow them. They were from the fishermen families afterall and one couldn't chase them in the sea, at least anyone from amongst us.

Some of the enraged IITians decided that they would wait for the guys to come back to shore so that they could teach them a lesson. I learnt that one of those local men had actually hit some IITian with a wooden stick causing a minor cut. These enraged bunch of guys proceeded along the shore line in the direction were the three heroes were headed.

I did not follow them and instead decided to have some good time, swimming and floating and playing with the waves. While having fun, I also took few glances of the crowd that had now shifted to one end of the beach. The three locals were still in the sea, but coming closer to the shore gradually, now quite ahead along the shore. Soon they were out. And in few moments it was visibly obvious that a fight had started once more. The part of the beach were violence was erupting, was closer to the huts and dwellings of the fishermen. It appeared to me that the local guys were getting heavy on the IITians who had gone there, and so I rushed towards them. I had no clue as to what was really happening in that area. But something told me that I couldn't be watching the whole episode from far away like a helpless son of a bitch. And so here I was, running towards the scene, hoping to offer my help in case that was needed.

I had reached almost halfway, when something spectacular happened. All the fifty odd IITians who had gone there, were running for their lives in my direction. I stopped immediately and stepped aside. I saw them running with fright. Some were saying, 'Run, Run, they are coming to beat us with giant sticks'. I still do not know, why I did not run that day. I just kept standing, first watching my college mates pass, and then watching the chasers approach. I just did not try to run.

I could see those giant thick wooden sticks in their hands. And then, suddenly one of them came to me. 'I am not with them', I pleaded. It could have worked if they knew english or I knew Tamil. But then, that was not the case. The fact that I was colored all over was enough for him to guess that I was one of the IITians. So this guy, unable to understand what I was saying, threw me to the ground. I got up and realized that I was already surrouned by few more fishermen, most of them holding big sticks. In fact, the size of one particular stick in the hands of a middle aged man, who was standing right in front of me, was so huge that I doubted if he could actually use it for beating even a dog, leave alone a human. I was miserably wrong. The first shot, and a pretty powerful one landed straight on the head. Holy Chirst! It was like completely sensationless. Even before I could use my hands to cover my head, one more power-packed head shot had already been delivered. I was horrified. The shower of sticks continued for some time till I decided to fall on ground lest I would be killed by these cruel men. So with all the drama that I could exhibit I acted as if I were dead, and fell on the sand, with waves passing over me. A few more punches and stick shots rocked my body, but I just didn't move. This act of mine, saved me from furthur beating and those ruthless creatures, left for other preys.

I moved slightly. One of them was still there and he lifted me from the sea-water and blew some punches on my face or wherever. But I guess, he was not strong enough to offer me even a singe bruise by his punch. I begged him to leave and after few more punches he did. By this time, the friend with whom I had come to the beach, came to me and we moved out of water. I rested for some time on the wet sand, and made all kind of faces so that any passing by fisherman didn't plan to hit me any more.

Blood was coming from the head but then it soon stopped. The right hand appeared to have changed shape and I couldn't bend it easily. The thumb of the left hand had become dead. But the best thing was that my legs were pefectly alright.

Later the X-ray report confirmed that there was no fracture. I even did not need to have stitches on my head. A dressing and an ice-pack session were sufficient. I am sure, not many will have such a memoreable Holi to record in their lives. ;D

IIM, Life, Money and the Race

The IIMs are creating Big News these days. Headlines like these are catching everyone's attention: IIM-B creates record in campus recruitment.

They are the news like these that add to the glamour of the IIMs. And therefore it is so obvious that most of them who desire to get into IIMs, want to do so, for Big Money. When you come to know that 34% of the entire batch in an IIM gets placed on day zero itself, and gets placed not just anywhere but in the sexiest of companies, you have to be attracted.

Money is important in life because it let's you buy things that you had always dreamt of. But then, the fact is that money is not everything.

Why do we need money? Money in itself is nothing. It is merely a means to acquire real physical things. The real physical things are those that matter to us. I am talking about the big luxurious houses, posh four-wheelers, fancy designer attires, toothsome food, and things like these. These are the things that money lets us possess. And this is the only reason money is important. But then, this is also the reason, why money is not everything.

Life is not all about possessing few or even many physical stuffs. Life is much more than that. Life is about doing those things that you like doing, talking with friends, helping those who need your help, and caring for things around you. Yes, these things sound so far-fetched and bookish, but without them the journey of life is incomplete.

I pity those who get into IIMs, just because they got inspired by news like the one that I mentioned in the beginning. Sometimes they are not the student themselves who get inspired, but their parents. They are the parents, often from the middle class Indian Family. They know the value of money just too well. And in the process they simply exagerrate things. Money rises from its stature and blurrs one's vision to see the bigger picture that life has to offer. Where there is money, prestige takes birth. So, when a child of a middle class parent is able to get into an IIM, the parents feel so proud of him. It never matters, what the real interests of the child are. No one cares. A rat race begins, all because of money. Soon everyone becomes a rat, and a hollow meaning of success is defined.

The problem with rat race is that, even if you win, you are still a rat. And this is just too sad. I wish, some of us are able to define our own definitions of success which isn't based only upon money. I wish some of us are able to live the REAL life, like lions and not like rats.

Beating around the Bush

He came to India and put seal to a 'new clear' picture of India. Hope his caricature is as new and as clear!
George Bush President of USA India Vist Nuclear deal Manmohan Singh

Laka Laka Laka Laka Laka Laka...

There are somethings which I could never have known, had I not been in Chennai. The power that Rajni commands among his fans, is one of them.

It was during the last semester, that his latest Tamil block-buster Chandramukhi was shown in the OAT(open air theater in IIT Madras). I do not understand Tamil but I did go to watch the movie.

Rajni had the grandest of the grand, entry in the movie; one of those typical filmi entries where the hero is shown more powerful than Superman, smarter than James Bond and more unbelievable than Neo. It was the first time that I saw people screaming with passion and hysteria for Rajni. I had always known that he was worshiped like God in South, but to actually see the God getting such a passionate ovation from his admirers was a rare experience.

Looking forward to Rajni's latest flick Sivaji, though it will take some time before this movie is finished.

Hope you liked his caricature that I made.

Who's got the POWER?

S: What's that? What happened to your left eye?
I: Was bitten by some insect last night. I guess it was one of those bees who have made quite a hive just outside this wind0ow of your room. By the way, are you coming to CLT today evening for the lecture?
S: I will better read about it in the Economic Times. They are just showing it through video cameras anyways. What's the point?
I:Dude, he is actually coming to IIT. Since the CLT has limited space, they are putting projectors in two other halls. That's it.
S: Oh is it? When's the lecture?
I: 4:30
S: I have a class. Anyways, my Prof will have better things to tell than Yashwant Sinha. All BJP leaders are the same, they speak the same bullshit things. The central budget has just been announced. I tell you, this Yashwant Sinha will do nothing but attack Chidambram's budget.
I: I'll go and listen to him. Then, may be I can have some opinion on him. By the way, Yashwant Sinha was a Prof in Patna University for some time before he cracked the Civil Services. And then this guy, left his job of an IAS officer to join politics. And think of this, he ended up becoming the Finance Minister of India finally. One can't quit a job like IAS just like that.
S: He must have realized that he couldn't do much as an IAS officer. I mean, what power does an IAS officer has? Nothing.
I: It all depends with whom you are comparing you powers to. Think of the powers of an IAS officer relative to that of a poor farmer. You will see the difference. Talking in the same line, even the Prime Minister of India has such minimal powers on a global basis when compared with the US President. You know what, we need to have our own estimates of ourselves. If we think, there's a particular height that we want to climb in this life, and then we go ahead and actually reach that height, then that is all that matters for us. For some, the height ends at becoming IAS officers. For Yashwant Sinha, it was much more than that.

Down Gun

Look what I found. Isn't this an awesome design for a polybag? There's so much of creativity out there in this world.

Make a guess: who is HE?

How about this? The first five correct entries will get a return ticket to Patna, and free two days three nights stay in the heart of Bihar! Cummon, you have such a fundoo incentive now.


 

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