What motorcycling means to me

I love to travel. But, I’m not an avid biker. I’m definitely not one among those who don’t dare going thousands of miles just to regurgitate their zeal. But it doesn’t mean that bike is just a means of transport for me. Of course I have some memories with my bike which is etched in my mind. 

The "Choke" Splendor

I can never forget those days. Wandering on my choke splendor (Yes! That’s what it was named by my Sameer’s friends. He always used to run on choke coz the fuel tank was empty) in all the streets of Bangalore like a nomad. It reminds me of my school and college days. That fun, that laughter, those triple rides and evading cops, jumping signals, those days were simply ecstatic. Those are the “motorcycle” days of my life. Pure nostalgia! 

Not just good things. I’ve experienced the other side of life also on bike. A road trip to Maddur CCD which turned out to be worst night out of my life, where Harish, on his birthday met with an accident in the 2AM, had his lips torn and how much we struggled find a hospital on mysore highway to give him first aid. We finally managed to find a nurse assistant (a.k.a compounder) of a government health center who stitched his lip with rusted scissors and clamps. Now I’ve quit night outs on bike for good. But that day, motorcycling taught me the value of life.

The Old "congestion free" Bangalore road

One more important thing for me about the motorcycling is that it reminds me of the heartiness of old Bangalore. During my school/college days, roaming in Bangalore streets on a two wheeler was a sheer pleasure. Unlike today, we never felt the real heat while riding in the afternoons. Many of the then two ways, (now one way) had big trees on either side, with not much of traffic, congestion free roads. Nowadays,, I rarely take my motorcycle out. And thus today, riding bike on these roads helps me recall the vigor of old Bangalore. Only those who’ve known Bangalore from a couple of decades know how much we miss the old Bangalore. 

This post owes a special thanks to Indiblogger “What motorcycling means to the Indian motorcyclist” contest, which made me recall the good old days. As I finish writing, I’m just realising how much I am mising the old Bangalore, how much Iam missing all the fun, how much Iam missing riding my bike!

Why Sachin should not be awarded Bharata Ratna

My hatred for UPA has reached the threshold. How could they even think of tweaking the eligibility criteria for the nation’s highest civilian award, just so that some influential people could get it? By the time I publish this, all Sachin’s fans must be ready with rotten tomatoes, but I have to say it. Sachin Tendulkar getting Bharata Ratna just on the basis of appreciating his aptitude in cricket is not justified in anyway. 

UPA’s new eligibility for Bharata Ratna “any human being who has excelled in just any field of human endeavour” is absolutely flawed. If this is the measure, then Rajnikanth, N.R Narayana Murthy and Rajdeep Sardesai are also eligible to be awarded Bharata Ratna because they have excelled in some field of human endeavor. With this new eligibility, Bharata Ratna’s caliber has been brought down to a sms voting contest on a television reality show. With this, UPA has added one more feather to its hall of shame.

In India, it doesn’t come as a surprise that celebrities like Sachin and SRK get superfluous recognition than people like CNR Rao and Sam Pitroda because of the unwanted importance given to entertainment sector. It’s true that when Sachin plays with full command, the whole world is watching. But, Sachin, other than entertaining a billion Indians a million times, hasn’t done anything humanitarian. He’s more of a mass entertainer than a real hero. They call him the god of cricket. But how many times his leadership skills are questioned? It’s a fact that everyone has to agree that Sachin (alone) did not bring back the world cup to India. 

 I feel Sachin don’t deserve Bharata Ratna on the simple grounds that most of the past (I don’t say all) Bharata Ratna Awardees have dedicated their lives to the service of mankind, for the goodwill and betterment of India. Sachin’s sportsmanship and mass entertainment should not be compared to the humanitarian works of Nelson Mandela and Mother Theresa or the pioneers of science like Abdul Kalam and C.V Raman or the statesmanship of Vishveshvaraya. It makes no sense at all for someone to be awarded the highest civilian award of a nation for his individual sporting talent.

Personally, I don’t have anything against Sachin. In fact, I’ve always loved his cricketing skills. But Bharata Ratna is deserved to be awarded to people who have displayed remarkable level of integrity, punctuality, quality, reliability and purity in their field of endeavors. Bharata Ratna– “The Jewel of India” if awarded to individual talents ; no more remains the highest honorary award of India.

 
Let Sachin remain the “Jewel of Indian cricket” and Bharata Ratna, continue to be awarded to the real “Jewels of India”

Image source: reuters.com and wikipedia

The mid summer contemplation

It’s been pretty long time since I wanted to write something. But the chores kept me busy, very busy. Back to back meetings, calls that lasts till late night, eat-work-sleep has been the agenda for quite some time now. And of late, like two lovers on a first date, I’m suffering from ROT(Running Out of Topic) syndrome. So there’s nothing exclusive about this post as well. Just my thought process activated.

Thanks for all the overwhelming birthday wishes. I’ve always felt really good to have sooo many good friends. Waking up to superb Champagne, a bunch of beautiful roses (I know that’s too girlish) and a yummy butterscotch cake @ 6.30am on a Sunday morning is really fantastic start to your birthday. Lunch @ bobby dhaba followed by bowling and homemade pani puri sums up to an awesome day. I wish I could mention the wacky and whimsical birthday gifts I got by Anil, Navya, JJ and Neha, but never mind. And Meera, thanks for the courier. You did manage to get it delivered right on April first..!!

Now that I’ve crossed 25, I consider myself of being out of quarter life crisis. Life is taking diversions on steep curves. On a serious note, with 8 of my closest friends getting into nuptials, (I can’t believe it), sometimes I think is it the peer pressure that seemingly building up slowly? Naah.. I’m too busy thinking about managing my finances more than fantasizing about Katy Perry and Kareena Kapoor. So I believe I’m on a safer side. I can sense that my revolutionary and radical thinking is slowly substituted by Patience and perseverance. Uncleness is slowly plunging in. But I’m resisting hard. I’ve also realized that using too many F words won’t make the reactionary, a rebellion. Responsibilities are forcing me to come out of the happy go lucky state. In all, the prime of life is really boring.

I’m hoping that IPL will ensure that April and May isn’t really that dreary. My new phone is helping me watch movies and series whilst the 2.5 hrs of travelling every day. My HD movie collection is a real savior @ home. After more than 100 bad experiences with the Bangalore auto driver, I chucked them for good and now Rag’s Victor is running a supreme 55 kmpl (I silently show my mid finger while overtaking autos). With All India Bakchod and Dr. Sheldon Cooper, I’ve got back my weirdo laughter (For all those who know how I laugh)! 

Alas, The prime of life may be boring, nevertheless, the secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age.!!