Bandra Blazeeeee+Homeless!!!!!!!!!!

Certain Unforseen circumstances can make you homeless, by this I mean not only losing your belongingness, basic amenities like food, clothing shelter but also your loved ones and the emotional bonding. By the very thought of these hapless incidences it causes consternation in our minds. Last week 2000 families faced the brunt of the huge conflagration which resulted in the collateral damage for the people living in the shanties of Garib nagar adjacent to Bandra East station. It took 34 fire engines and 16 jumbo water tankers over five hours to douse the fire.Fortunately there were no major casualties but my prima facie question is: Are we prepared to combat such calamities in future? Infrastructure in Mumbai does not support the strength to prevent such adversities in the present; this can be observed in the peak hours where traffic moves in the beeline manner which dawdles the cure for such scenario, in such a state even a pedestrian gets squeezed to move ahead from one end to another, it is a miracle if an ambulance or a fire brigade gets the chance to escalate and reach the affected areas. Our government needs to resolve the basic issue of infrastructure that can boost the prevention of such calamities rather than rest on its laurels by investing time and money in more unproductive areas. When the incident happened everyone murmuredin in one language that slums were illegal, there is a possiblity of conspiracy by the developer of the area to demolish the same; well it was the time to render relief to the ppoverty stricken families rather become a critique. It should be a scecondary debate over the illeagal encroachment, once the situation is brought under control and homeless families receive the basic amenitiesfor the survival. Government should address this problematic situation with diligence unlike amateurs by laying down stringent norms to own an establishment in this over populated city. Instead of shying away from their responsibilities, they should have been on the forefront to provide relief to the beleagured Garibwasis. It was the small chunk of NGO's that took charge of the situation and provide immediate aid to the poor which was the only ray of hope for the survival. Aftermath followed various political parties with relief camps to assist with the last bit. these camps were supposed to heal the emotional wounds but it turned out to be business for such scavengers for whom there was an opportunity to make moolah by selling the paraphernalia meant for relief. Such opportunistic people do not understand that by engaging in such activities they will not build castles for themselves and if they believe it so then one day it will be broken into pieces as one cannot build castles on the death bed of such ignorant people. We all should not sympathize but empathize with the situation as this stroke can occur to anyone of us be it in any form like earthquake, cyclone, storms,etc. Only the youth of this country can withstand such grave problems an dprovide standstill support to combat such calamities, may we all be united to contribute every bit of us in order to be come a saviour for such helpless clan?

Go India Go in the right direction!!!!!!!!!

खुद को इतना मजबूत बना हर मुश्किल आसानी से टटल जाये,
तिनका तिनका जोड़ कर भी एक घरोंदा बन जाये,
अपनी आवाज़ कोट इतना बुलंद कर जिससे हर फैसला तेरे पक्ष में बन जाये,
एक छोटीसी सोच हर एक मन में कुछ ऐसी उमंग जगाये,
जिससे पुरे देश का भविष्य उज्वल हो जाये।

~Illuminating Lives

Thoughts on Life's Moments!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

इतना भी स्वार्थी मत बंजाओ की अपने भी गैर हो जाए,
जिन्दगी कुछ पल की है मेरे दोस्त, इसे मुस्कुराकर यूंही बिताये।
वह पल ही क्या जो हम अपनों के साथ ना बिठाये,
जिन्दगी कुछ पल की है मेरे दोस्त, इसे यूंही जाया मत होने देना।
मुश्किल घड़ी हर एक के जीवन में आती है, यूंही मत मुह मोड़ रहना,
जिन्दगी कुछ पल की है मेरे दोस्त, इसे संजोये रखना।
कोशिश करते रहना की सांस तब तक रुके न तब तक यह दिल धड़कता रहे,
जिन्दगी कुछ पल की है मेरे दोस्त, इसे हर एक रूह में बस जाना है तुम्हे।
अपने लिए तो सभी जीते है, कभी गैरों के लिए भी जीकर देखना,
ज़िन्दगी कुछ पल की है मेरे दोस्त, असली मज़ा तभी है जब गैर भी अपने हो जाए।

Coal Versus Forest Tussssssssssle...Its Just the Beginning

Are We chalking out a means of livelihood to prosper or the intense search for prosperity has lead to annihilation of human being?

Do you feel the pinch when a tree is chopped, I am sure it does not because your hands are not slit. We can only feel the pain when our so obsessed physical body bleeds. I am not drafting a thesis on deforestation but enunciating my deep pain on the recent tussle over 'No Go Zones' for coal mining. Every state or country needs development or rather have desire to scale up the GDP growth but does it has to be obtained at price of livelihood of millions and home to wild life. Last year environment and forest minister Jairam Ramesh marked certain dense forests as 'No Go Zones' for coal mining; the coal ministry wants access to all those areas to support huge steel, cement and power projects which seeks 0.54% of the toal land that provides 55% of the country's energy need and 70% of power generation. Today we require just 0.54% of the total land, tomorrow it will increase to 1% an so on, and soon ministry would require substantial proportion of the available land to sustain enhancement or growth. In our stride towards development we forget that a healthy tree stores about 2.6 tons per acre each year without this or rather dense forests, our country would be polluting hub which we will only boast about in years to come. We are proud to have educated & chauvinist ministers in our government but they lack the wisdom to devise alternative means of resources for the progression of our society. Whom should we bell the cat, the municipal commisioner, the mayor, the state or central government or the industrial fraternity who puts undue pressure on the authorities of the society to boost their heavy investment on billions of multi-national projects. We want to spend our money by globetrottingbeautiful scenic places but when it comes to our land we shy away fom our social responsibilities, we should instead devise some strategies to earn foreign exchange that will benefit our nation. can we all stand up together and pledge our support for India's forests by asking Minister Pranab Mukherjee to hold a public consultation before taking a decision.

~Puneet
Illuminating Lives!!!!!!!

Thoughts On Success!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

आज का dइन बड़ा सुनेहहरा है,
तुम्हारे लिए खुदा का एक तोफा है,
अब हर पल एक सवेरा है,
ज़िन्दगी में खुशियों का बिचौना है।

यह आवाज़ अब बुलंद है,
निश्चय, निडर और स्थिर है,
हर मुश्किल राह में आप अजय है
हर अंदाज़ में आप विजय है।

हम इश्वर से येही प्रार्थना करते है,
हर कोशिश में आपकी कामयाबी रहे,
और आनेवाला पल आपके लिए उज्जवल रहे।

तथास्त्हू!!!!!!

I-M+ Failure Online????????????

Indian Institute of Management, country’s leading Business school faced a dramatic fiasco when it’s recognized Common Admission Test went online and millions of hopes were shattered as it turned out to be a failure. It was yet again a lugubrious display of technological hindrances of our nation’s most powerful management institute. Everyone aspires to be a graduate from IIM’s and look upon them as a mentor who would nurture sharp minds and lay a bed of roses for the career goals to be achieved. Students spent days and hours studying vigorously to prove their pedantic knowledge to the India’s master piece in the field of management studies but felt the setback when they confronted that their dream B-school would take amiss by appointing Prometric, the American firm to conduct the Common Admission Test (CAT), online. The American firm has been accused of failing to conduct online tests earlier too. The question arises to each and every mind, why did IIM’s and Government rendered the services of an organization that was futile in such attempts in the past? Was there any other larger interest in the decision making? How could an organization that is so punctilious in its selection procedure make such a poor decision?I hope IIM's should not fall in any such trap that would hamper the chastity of such an organization of international repute. In India, any such debacle is always pardoned off. At one hand, we want to compete with other nations across globe with respect to educational and technological advancement and on the other hand, we adopt lackadaisical approach towards the functioning of our competitive exam. We need to learn from ETS and GMAC who conducts various online test preparations modules for exams like GMAT, GRE, TOEFL, etc. These foreign institutes run the online test faultlessly and leave no scope for error. Since it is ritual in our country to forgive and forget the blunders, here stands one more chance for our prestigious institute to select and garner right technological resources to make this effort unscathed. As usual our government will install an enquiry commission which will takes it own candied time to adjudicate the fault in decision making and by the time some punitive measures been laid down, numerous batches would graduate. A Pro-active measure has to be taken with immediate effect to make it a full proof system. This should re-instate the confidence in the millions of futuristic minds in the world’s most premiere management school. An initiative like this should not only make it as a nation’s online test but also other countries to become myrmidon and conduct test on similar lines.

Let us vow this time that we would not excuse ourselves and be responsible towards our actions that bring wellness to the society and belongingness towards the nation’s pride!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hope it will change to “I-M+Success online”

~Puneet
Illuminating Lives

My Thoughts on 26/11 Attacks

Mumbai City has always been effervescent and astir, it is known for its never-dying spirit that keeps the city alive and it is this spirit that gave lot of courage to fight its battles in the past. Again during those days, Mumbai was hit by regionalism and casteism, dividing the populace into Mumbaikars and Non-Mumbaikars. Despite this Mumbai was operating at its agile pace. 26th November 2009 was a lovely Wednesday morning and yet another quotidian day for Mumbaikars who started their daily chores with full vigour and vivacious mood. Local trains were flooded with people, dragging them to their final destination; streets were busy with regular traffic, offices working till late hours and an exciting India-England Cricket match to cheer about. Suddenly at about 9.00 pm, news spread across that 10 young Terrorists had besieged Mumbai at CST Station, Hotel Taj Mahal, Oberoi and Nariman House which shocked the entire country and Mumbai came to a standstill. There was complete chaos around the besieged area with heavy gun-firing, grenade shelling and pool of blood all over the place. Over viewing the situation, curfew was declared by the government of Maharashtra within no span of time. Not only Mumbai city but whole of the country was under consternation. Terrorists clandestinely entered our city with fully equipped weapons and were mentally prepared to destroy the city for days to come. They had the delineation of the whole city especially the places where they attacked. Police officials were clueless as they had come across this kind of massive brutal attack for the first time in the history of our nation. Terrorists were omnipotent and had complete control over the situation which made them unassailable to the police officials. It was difficult to estimate the number of persons who were on the barbarous mission to annihilate the whole city. Everyone was scuttling helter-skelter with panic all over.

I was working in the office till late hours along with few other colleagues who were busy watching Cricket match. I had to rush home and settle at peace. I was struggling to get a cab as it was complete dark and all the offices were shut. I was fortunate enough to get hold of cab driver who was unaware about the untimely attack as he too was busy hearing cricket commentary. He took me to churchgate station which was my usual halt where I had always boarded train for my home. The time when I reached station, a phone call came from my home describing the whereabouts. Fortuitously, I managed to reach home without any hassles. Phone calls, sms’ were getting exchanged all over the country as everyone was distraught about their loved ones. All the eyeballs were glued to television channels hearing about distress spread all over the city. Our police officials trying to battle out the situation with lot of courage and stress but were futile. Many innocent citizens were killed mercilessly; several others were captured inside the hotel and at Nariman house. Situation was getting worse as news broke that top officials were hit and lost their lives while encountering the terrorists.

24 hours were over and still the war was on with terrorists becoming stronger and more ferocious. NSG commandos were brought to clasp the entire situation. Soon our soldiers took their position and cordoned off the surroundings of the hotels, CST station and Nariman house. Our soldiers were grappling with the situation with robust, stout and vim. Each move was drawn with lot of cautious approach and life was imbibed at every footstep. Special emphasis was laid to attack the terrorists aggressively, at the same time be defensive and save human lives. The whole city was in mayhem, there was fear all over the place. News channels brought every possible bit about the terror activity. Our dauntless commandos were marching ahead and posting victory at each hour. One such brave commando was Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, who was valiant, unflinching and heroic who under his leadership saved lives of not only civilians who were trapped inside the hotel but fellow colleagues too. It was hapless that he lost his life while encountering the terrorists for a long span of time. He was an inspiration and a martyr, for him nation’s interests were more important than anything else even larger than his own life. More than 48 hours were over and finally strike victory over the enemy with lot hustle-bustle.

Over a span of 4 days, Mumbai city was brought to complete silence with disheartened citizens screeching and screaming for support. Scores of human lives were rampaged with remaining ones to mourn for their dear and loved ones. Our Country’s intelligence system faced a drastic failure with government to accept the defeat against the poor representation of the political bureaucracy. 26/11 was declared as black day in the history of our nation which could have been prevented if effective measures were taken before hand. After math, government took pre-eminent measures to strengthen the security of not only Mumbai city but India. Congress sacked Home Minister- Shivraj Patil and Chief Minister- Vilasrao Deshmukh, just to draw away the attention of public from the inefficacies of their leaders as it was election time which would have put them on the back foot. One year down the line, it turned out to be political gimmick with both of them reigning position in the cabinet ministry. After attacks, Life has been a smooth transition for those who were not affected directly or indirectly but life has come to a grinding halt for those who have lost their loved ones. Someone or the other lost his or her father, mother, brother, sister, husband, wife or entire family. Many of them lost bread-earners of their family. For them government and others have not brought any valuable change to live upon.

Are we prepared to combat yet another 26/11 or such external calamities? I personally see a lot of loopholes in our country’s security system. To strengthen the security we must remain united politically, judicially and free from all casteism and regionalism. Why British were successful in penetrating India? They adopted divide and rule policy and made us poor both in financial and economic terms. Terror attacks not only strew the nation’s unity but also weaken her financial strength. We must not let any neighboring nation to transport back DAR Policy. Enemy will always devise strategies to break through the country’s security and especially when technology to produce modern weapon has become readily available in today’s internet age. Gone are the days when people were illiterate, unemployed and impecunious which impressed them to become terrorists on account of religious preaching. Today’s terrorists are ingenious, quick-witted, educated; belong to affluent families and mentally more robust. To challenge them, we must build our technological infrastructure so sound that our soil becomes inaccessible. This can happen when our intelligence system would be van guarded by a martinet who has fostered his life under such exigencies and not by lackadaisical politicians. The question arises in each one of us mind is how to generate funds to build such a large force that would be technically equipped with more advanced weapons and ammunitions to confront the tussle. I feel that if nation exists, its populace exists, if populace exists, its welfare exists. I strongly recommend that significant portion of the tax that we all pay should be contributed towards the security of India. If our country remains safe, every other priority such as improved education & infrastructure, eradication of poverty and illness will follow. Also we must make our judicial system so expeditious that justice could be provided to the victims and punitive action against the cruel accused within quick span of time. At the same time, government should establish training camp for schools, colleges, corporate, institutions, and hospitals to tackle such terror situations. Police personnel should be provided more empowerment to take impromptu decisions inorder to wrestle with such situation. Externally, each nation should crop the root cause of terrorism by attacking the terrorist base camps in their respective territories. Para-military forces should be deployed where majority of the camps are installed and accordingly extirpate them.

To conclude, let each one of us be more vigilant, work towards the safety of our country and make a better place to live in. Empowerment comes with unity; it comes with holistic approach towards common goal. United we stand and divided we fall. Let us vow that we solidify ourselves to withstand any kind of terror attacks in the years to come. JAI HIND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

जहाँ भी जाता हूँ वीरान नज़र आता है,
हर जगह खून का मैदान नज़र आता है,
यह क्या है कैसा है,
न उजाले में भी न इंसान को इंसान नज़र आता है

Illuminating Lives!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Childrens Day at an Orphanage

CHILDRENS DAY VISIT:
14th November reminds to each and every one of us, to renew our commitment to the welfare of children and teach them to live by their Chacha Nehru’s quality and dream. He always wanted children all over the world to grow, prosper, get education and prosper in life. It was yet another attempt by our group of friends to fulfill dreams of Chacha Nehru when we visited ‘Abundant Life Ministries children’s home’ on 15th Nov’09, Sunday afternoon.
Last time when we visited children’s den, we had promised them that we will be back on ‘Children’s day’ with Eureka, fun and frolic. We have visited those couple of times and kids had become congenial with us. It was the only reason they were agog about our next visit. This time we all cohesively thought to provide them matchless happiness, love and affection. To bestow upon the noble cause, came forward Deep, Binisha, Jahnvi, Swati, Hasnain, Alok, Achal, Aditya, Siddarth, Salil and me with vigour to fulfill that mission.
When we entered the den at about 2.30 in the afternoon, they were chanting their prayers. Once the prayers got finished, all were so jubilant to see each one of us, they galloped towards us in joy. At the same time they were dismayed that we broke our promise to visit them on 14th November’09 and they were seeking our presence at the outset of their den. Children were esurient and we recompense their grievance with Hot-Sizzling Treat (Pav Bhaji). As it is our ritual to narrate the significance of the special occasion-as it was children’s day, a short story was narrated by Binisha and me in the absence of our raconteur Rashi who was really enchanted by kids on last two occasions. This time they were all sitting in a bee-line on the upper floor of den with their supper plates, eagerly waiting to be served. (Like in the Movie-Mr. India, ‘Calender Khana do’….) Alok and me took the initial steps, with him holding the hot utensil and me serving the same and slowly we all got into the act of serving those sweet little kids, one by one. We were really flummoxed to see that those tiny-tots were so cultured and well mannered that before starting their meal they chanted their prayers which evoked our feelings to recite the prayers before meal. They really enjoyed their treat which was a surprise to all of them and were insatiate.
After supper, DJ-Hasnain took the charge; we brought all the kids to the dance floor and started rollicking on one’s feet. When we made them dance on individual tunes, to our surprise, we saw some of them danced on their own poems taught to them at school. Those poems were filled with fun, joy and had meaning to it. Children started inviting each one of us to join the convivial, seeing their chirpy faces; it provoked us to the dance floor and enjoyed every bit of the moment. The whole ambience was in the rock-n-roll mood and relive our childhood days.
After dance & music, it was gaming time and what better than ‘Passing the Parcel’. Children were so thrilled to play that they took their position immediately with the little ones in the group accompanied by each one of us. The ball started rolling and their faces blossomed with happiness. Even the Adults got so enthralled in the game that their eyes started rolling with the ball and all were cheering the kids. It was really close quarters between two of the kids and the best won a Cadbury chocolate from all of us.
We also celebrated one of the child’s birthday and gave her a special gift. It was treat time again for all of us and guess what? Yummy, mouth-watering Delicious Cake prepared by Binisha was distributed all the children and they loved it so much that they were licking all over the mouth. It was time for ‘Group photograph’ with kids screeching, screaming and smiling.
Finally, it was time to bid ‘Goodbye’ to them and promised to visit them back with their favourite chinese food and celebrate never like before. All the kids gathered at their balcony, pouring their hearts out. It was a touching moment for all of us that will clamor in our minds for years to come.
खुशियाँ सिर्फ चीज़ों को हासिल करने से नहीं मिलती,
खुशियाँ दूसरों के साथ बटने से मिलती है.
नन्हे बच्चों के साथ कदम से कदम बढाकर चलने से
उनका कवच और सोच बन्ने से,
उनकी हिम्मत एक जुट करने से मिलती है,
आओ हम सब मिलकर उनके लिए प्रेरणा-श्रोत बने
और जीवन में उन्हें महान व्यक्ति बन्ने का हौसला दे!!!!!!!!!!