The Day Some Fools Held My Beloved Mumbai Under Seige

I am Mumbaikar or Bomabyite through and through. It's the city where I was born grew up, learnt so many things and lost my heart. Even though for over a year I've been living and working in Pune, my heart belongs to Mumbai. That is why the events of the past couple of hours has shaken me and sadden me.

I don't know who these so called terrorist are or what are their demands are or what are their ideals. But I do wonder what are their motives behind holding the city at ransom. I wonder do they ever pray to God and scared of the eternal damnation that I hope they face when they meet their maker. I ask them who them who gives them the right to take away something that was not theirs to take. That would make them thieves and robbers of the gravest of kind. Who gave them the right to cause this bloodbath, this death, this gloom. I wonder which God do they pray to (if they even pray) and does their God condone violence and taking of life?

It pains me when I see pictures of place that I've been to, that I've gone to throughout my life, as a child with my grandad and my family, as a student, as an adult. They are battered, shattered and bloodied, though they do not appear unrecognizable.

Even as I write this blog I know the bloodbath continues and people continue to loose their lives. Wonder why is this happening because I am helpless, useless spectator of this whole nightmare. I know I can only pray that innocents who have lost their lives are granted eternal rest and the bastards responsible for this is damned in hell, to rot there forever.

That Bitter Sweet Feeling

It's been over a week since I first set foot on American soil with my colleague Ganesh. And now it is almost time to get back home. It is time to get back to friends and family, to your sweet heart. To the people you love and care dearly. But somehow there is this feeling in you that makes you miss this place you called home for over the last week. the room, the television set, the bath tub, the place you called office, the people interacted with and called colleague. Even though it is only a two week trip there is this heavy feeling in your heart. You know you going to miss this place and the people. You never thought you would, but now that the moment is coming upon you.

But then all good things come to end...though not end, but become a memory that you cherish and keep with you always forever. So I guess it time to get back to the life I've been used to and the people that I know and love and care.

Life: As I Experience It

There are times when you feel nothing going your way. You know there are opportunities knocking at your door and all you do is goofyly not open the door, or think you're ears are ringing. You kind of mess up the opportunity. This is something you should have done. You trying not let your ego come in between and learn from it, cause this is an humbling, sick feeling. You try to reach out to someone, but all you do is get irritated and pull away from the only one that can help you get out of it. But all you can do is brood about it and write about it. Who knows maybe writing about can help you get some peace of mind.

Who knows tomorrow is another day, a day that holds promises and new opportunities. And who knows this time around you may get it right.

The Day US made History

As we all must be pretty much aware by now, yesterday the 4th of November , 2008, Barrack Obama defeated John McCain. And in doing he became the 44th president of the United States of America and the first African American President in the history of the country. It was an historical night at around 10 pm. Eastern time, when Senator McCain conceded the presidential election, after Obama crossed the required 270 electoral votes.

Being a person viewing the election from the outside it was kind of fascinating. In way it was entertaining too, thanks to Sarah Palin and the guys at Saturday Night Live, especially Tina Fey. Actually Gov. Palin provided fodder for all comedian. The campaign got a bit irritating with Joe the plumber and all the negative campaigning going on.

but one thing I did admire was the speech made by both Senator McCain and president elect Obama. Especially admired McCain's speech because it showed humility of the person and person acknowledging the fact that he lost and now he would get behind his opponent to get the country back on track. There was something in his speech that showed that though this person lost and appeared like maverick, but in the end he one respect by speech. By congratulating his competitor/victor, and silencing the boos he showed great character. His praises of his victor seemed earnest and not empty.

I wished elections and politicians in India could be the same, could be humble, could articulate, so full of character. I wish I live to see such a day in my great nations.