Its "Shivaji Jayanti" (birthday of Shivaji Maharaj, a Maratha king) today as per the Hindu calendar. Many celebrations were held in different parts of Mumbai including poojas and processions.
I have a great respect for Shivaji Maharaj. A lot of what Maharashtra is today, I feel, can be attributed to him. One comparison of Maharashtra's cultural state of affairs (barring Mumbai - which is a mix anyways) can tell you about the history.
Shivaji Maharaj actively sought help and advice from Swami Ramdas (one of the saints of Maharshtra) as well encouraged and patronised many other saints and temples. These saints were, in turn, part of starting a spiritual movement that soon gripped most of Maharashtra and the people became very God-fearing as well as spiritually devout.
Even today, most Maharashtrians (original residents of Maharashtra) start their day listening to songs (abhangs) composed by these saints. Of course, the credit for popularising the abhangs in the 70s and 80s should be given to Pt. Bhimsen Joshi (and the music composers) as well as to All India Radio for broadcasting these songs on radio.
Monday, March 28, 2005
Sunday, March 27, 2005
"Maida"-conscious
It seems that India is becoming "Maida-consicous". Maggi (Nestle India) has started a new Maggi variant with the noodles made from "whole wheat" instead of refined flour (maida).
I got a chance to taste it today. Tastewise its not too bad...in fact, its quite good (at least the Masala flavored-one). One look at the ingredients still reveal certain aspects: "Hydrogenated Oil", "Acid".
Some time in the recent past, I came to know of an incidence where a girl had to be operated for stomach ailments and the doctors found a "big ball" of "maida" collected. The girl (being what she thought was diet conscious), it seems, used to have only biscuits (that contain maida) for lunch.
With "whole wheat bread" also being now sold in quite a large number of stores, has the time to stop using maida come?
I got a chance to taste it today. Tastewise its not too bad...in fact, its quite good (at least the Masala flavored-one). One look at the ingredients still reveal certain aspects: "Hydrogenated Oil", "Acid".
Some time in the recent past, I came to know of an incidence where a girl had to be operated for stomach ailments and the doctors found a "big ball" of "maida" collected. The girl (being what she thought was diet conscious), it seems, used to have only biscuits (that contain maida) for lunch.
With "whole wheat bread" also being now sold in quite a large number of stores, has the time to stop using maida come?
Mee Mumbaikar and a "Senami"
There's a very fine interview over here with Balasaheb Thackeray. The one thing that I absolutely admire is Balasaheb's unflinching stand on key issues. Whatever he has pointed out is absolutely true.
The other politicians, even though they consider themselves "more secular", often change their stand and policies just to get votes. They do anything to please their vote banks.
The other politicians, even though they consider themselves "more secular", often change their stand and policies just to get votes. They do anything to please their vote banks.
Sri Sri to the rescue again...
At the same convention that Narendra Modi, Gujarat CM was supposed to speak and for which he was denied a US visa, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar was also a speaker. He was quizzed about his opinion on Modi and the response is typical saintly.
However, very surprisingly Sri Sri pointed out to the developments in Gujarat, where, as stated in the article he said that many dams have been constructed during his tenure in the government and that the people have enough water.
However, very surprisingly Sri Sri pointed out to the developments in Gujarat, where, as stated in the article he said that many dams have been constructed during his tenure in the government and that the people have enough water.
Friday, March 25, 2005
Time for a D70 ?
Over the past few months, I have been following up on the reports as well as on the prices of the Nikon D70. Its been 2 years since I got my Nikon Coolpix 4300. The falling price of the D70 and the quality definitely suggest that the time is ripe enough to upgrade to a D70.
Where will that leave my Canon EOS 30 and its lenses (all incompatible with the Nikon range)? We'll see. Only time will tell.
Where will that leave my Canon EOS 30 and its lenses (all incompatible with the Nikon range)? We'll see. Only time will tell.
Thursday, March 24, 2005
Why I love my religion
Some twelve years ago my classmate and co-worker was fond of getting me into a "debate" on religious issues. He was, of course, a very devout follower of another religion and would frequently ask me questions about my own religion. His intention, I thought, was always to "demean" the religion that I followed. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe he wanted to get me engaged in some intellectual and very healthy debate...
The ignorant idiot that I was in these matters, I would hardly be able to defend any questions against my religion. Well, that is now the past. After having studied very superficially (like "scratching the surface"), I think I would, if I get a chance, be able to defend better. In these few years, I have been studying or thinking about various issues, have read a couple of religious books (even those from other religions) and am now proud to be able to understand and follow my own religion better.
Since religious issues have always been the basis of large-scale violence in India in the recent past, I will not reveal my religion explicitly nor will I discuss it here, but most people would be able to guess it.
Again, the aim here is not to "demean" other religions, but then we expect the same in return...:). Like they say, "to each, his own". Do as you wish, nobody trying to force one religion or the other on anybody. But, if there are questions, I now have the answers.
This post was actually prompted by some guys who still made fun of what they could not understand. Maybe some day they actually would (just like me).
The ignorant idiot that I was in these matters, I would hardly be able to defend any questions against my religion. Well, that is now the past. After having studied very superficially (like "scratching the surface"), I think I would, if I get a chance, be able to defend better. In these few years, I have been studying or thinking about various issues, have read a couple of religious books (even those from other religions) and am now proud to be able to understand and follow my own religion better.
Since religious issues have always been the basis of large-scale violence in India in the recent past, I will not reveal my religion explicitly nor will I discuss it here, but most people would be able to guess it.
Again, the aim here is not to "demean" other religions, but then we expect the same in return...:). Like they say, "to each, his own". Do as you wish, nobody trying to force one religion or the other on anybody. But, if there are questions, I now have the answers.
This post was actually prompted by some guys who still made fun of what they could not understand. Maybe some day they actually would (just like me).
Russian Circus in Mumbai
I had thought I would get to see the Russian Circus (in Mumbai currently) and the only circus in Mumbai that has a ice rink. But that was not to be. Read on.
First, this circus was in trouble from animal activists. Some newspaper reports suggested that they found some legal loophole to get their circus started again. However, when I went to see it yesterday (luckily I had gone all alone), I found the gates of the circus to be not only closed, but heavily guarded by some private security guards from "TRIG Security". It seems that the guards were not allowing people to enter into the circus entrance since the circus organisers had not paid them their dues.
Many people were inconvenienced: Some people had come all the way in a taxi from Grant Road (to Andheri where the circus was being held). A few people even told me that they had called up the number provided in the advert and they had been asked to come for the 19:30 show. All had to return back dejected.
The costs of the tickets were Rs. 150, Rs. 300, Rs. 500, Rs. 700 and Rs. 900. Some guys assured us that the circus would begin in about 2 days, but who would now want to drive all the way again...
A couple of cops doing the rounds on their bike happened to drop by at the gate. They were heard telling the security guards not to create any "trouble". It seemed to me from their conversation that the security guys had engaged in a scuffle with the performers who had arrived earlier in the evening.
First, this circus was in trouble from animal activists. Some newspaper reports suggested that they found some legal loophole to get their circus started again. However, when I went to see it yesterday (luckily I had gone all alone), I found the gates of the circus to be not only closed, but heavily guarded by some private security guards from "TRIG Security". It seems that the guards were not allowing people to enter into the circus entrance since the circus organisers had not paid them their dues.
Many people were inconvenienced: Some people had come all the way in a taxi from Grant Road (to Andheri where the circus was being held). A few people even told me that they had called up the number provided in the advert and they had been asked to come for the 19:30 show. All had to return back dejected.
The costs of the tickets were Rs. 150, Rs. 300, Rs. 500, Rs. 700 and Rs. 900. Some guys assured us that the circus would begin in about 2 days, but who would now want to drive all the way again...
A couple of cops doing the rounds on their bike happened to drop by at the gate. They were heard telling the security guards not to create any "trouble". It seemed to me from their conversation that the security guys had engaged in a scuffle with the performers who had arrived earlier in the evening.
IRFCA...railway stuff
As a child, I always used to be fascinated not so much by planes or ships as by trains. A few years ago I discovered a treasure trove of information related to Indian Railways.. This was in the form of the "Indian Railways Fan Club Association (IRFCA)".
This has some very interesting stuff including videos and photographs of various railway locomotives and other railway stuff. They even have a section that includes the various technical documents. Some of my favorite links from this site are:
This has some very interesting stuff including videos and photographs of various railway locomotives and other railway stuff. They even have a section that includes the various technical documents. Some of my favorite links from this site are:
- Railway Jargon
- "How-to"s for starting some locomotives (WDM-2, WDP-2, WAM-4)
- The "dead zone" at Virar (that indicates how the WCAM dual-power (AC/DC) locomotive shifts from the AC mode to the DC mode on reaching Virar) - quite cool, although it may be only for a few more years
- A beauty of a steam locomotive
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
GATE 2005 results declared
Yesterday (15th March 2005), the results for the GATE 2005 exam were declared. I had appeared for the exam and I could score 99.59 percentile with an All India Rank of 32.
I do not know how good this score is. It would seem that it is a good score at this point, but we shall know only when I am able to secure admission to the MTech course at IIT Bombay, Mumbai.
One of the funny things that happened was that after I had seen the result, I called up home to inform my father and told him the result. Instead of congratulating me, he wished me good luck. I was confused and then my father clarified that there may be only a limited number of seats for the MTech course and whatever the score only after securing an admission to the MTech course can we consider it to be a successful attempt.
Made sense to me...
I do not know how good this score is. It would seem that it is a good score at this point, but we shall know only when I am able to secure admission to the MTech course at IIT Bombay, Mumbai.
One of the funny things that happened was that after I had seen the result, I called up home to inform my father and told him the result. Instead of congratulating me, he wished me good luck. I was confused and then my father clarified that there may be only a limited number of seats for the MTech course and whatever the score only after securing an admission to the MTech course can we consider it to be a successful attempt.
Made sense to me...
Monday, March 14, 2005
Sri Sri's views on "Halo or Hoax" conclave...
Came across this wonderful "response" by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to a discussion at the "Halo or Hoax" conclave organised by India Today to debate if today's spiritual gurus are hoaxes. In his own trademark "calm and collected" style, he says that "An intelligent man would look into all the avenues before he makes a comment or accusation."
and how some speakers at the conclave branded all present-day spiritual leaders as hoaxes or godmen.
Quite an interesting read and how he finally "chose silence over conflict".
and how some speakers at the conclave branded all present-day spiritual leaders as hoaxes or godmen.
Quite an interesting read and how he finally "chose silence over conflict".
Saturday, March 12, 2005
A revelation...
One of the things that has impressed me the most is the following gem from Swami Chinmayananda's well-compiled proverbs:
Comfort comes as a guest,
Lingers on to become host
And stays forever to enslave us.
Lingers on to become host
And stays forever to enslave us.
Can't believe how true it is, but it is really a classic. Think about it and you will realize that it is a fact that most of us "mere mortals" experience.
Lets take an example:
We have a very hot and humid climate here in Mumbai. Nowadays it is easy for the working class to afford to have air condintioners in their houses. So, many get an air conditioner installed. However, they become so used to it that if it doesn't work (say because there is no electric power), they almost always get agitated and seemingly can't live without it.
An article in a newspaper once stated how during a power outage some residents in Mulund came out of their flats and "slept" in their cars just because their cars had air conditioners.
The "comfort" of the air conditioner soon "enslaved" them.
What do you think?
Lets take an example:
We have a very hot and humid climate here in Mumbai. Nowadays it is easy for the working class to afford to have air condintioners in their houses. So, many get an air conditioner installed. However, they become so used to it that if it doesn't work (say because there is no electric power), they almost always get agitated and seemingly can't live without it.
An article in a newspaper once stated how during a power outage some residents in Mulund came out of their flats and "slept" in their cars just because their cars had air conditioners.
The "comfort" of the air conditioner soon "enslaved" them.
What do you think?
Friday, March 11, 2005
Hi...first post...
This is my first Internet blog. While I've mostly dabbled with blogs on the intranets, this is my first step to the "big bad world of Internet".
Hopefully, I will have a lot of things to say here that others may find interesting...stay tuned.
Hopefully, I will have a lot of things to say here that others may find interesting...stay tuned.
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