Calcutta's traffic - a serious joke

"Bus passengers' arms ripped off" read today's headline of 'Times of India'

Aug 26: The morning was like any other, except the news of reckless driving made headlines this time. Two buses rammed into each other resulting in one of the gruesome accidents in Kolkatas's reckless traffic history. (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/city/kolkata-/Bus-passengers-arms-ripped-off/articleshow/4934927.cms)

This is the latest in a series of serious road mishaps that have blood stained the roads of kolkata. Just to jog your memory, here are few recent ones:

Aug 25: Racing buses kill women at Howrah and Esplanade http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070826/asp/bengal/story_8238884.asp

July 5: Bus veers off Howrah rail bridge, 12 killed
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Bus-falls-on-rail-tracks-in-Kolkata-6-killed/articleshow/4737966.cms

The link below talks about a few other such accidents.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/city/kolkata-/Rage-recklessness-lead-to-spate-of-accidents/articleshow/4934826.cms

These are the ones that made the tabloids, but there are countless others that barely reached notice in side columns or don't even make it. Despite repeated events of speeding buses and reckless drivers causing accidents, the state government has not accepted responsibility to curb such events. Every time such event occurs, the state government intitiates some or the other action, although no serious results have taken effect.

I am often a witness to such reckless driving by state buses/whiteliners that ply the E.M. Bypass on my way to office. While government machinery is to blame for state run buses, private vehicles are no better as they happily chose to ignore the traffic lights in pedestrian-heavy stops like Lake Town and Bangur Avenue.

I blame lack of policy measures and planning for the grim situation that our city is currently in. One such example is phasing out of old vehicles without replenishing the streets with new ones, causing a havoc during office hours as passengers rush to board already packed buses and autos plying on roads. Other such policy lapses include inability of govt. to replace commission based incentive structure with fixed-pay structure for bus employees etc.

I also feel it is important that traffic rules are imposed strictly across the city, even if that means making an example out of cases that involve serious traffic violations. I believe, only by setting a high standard in following traffic regulations can instances of violation be reduced.

I only hope that Kolkata's administration wake up and take control of the situation before it is too late to salvage an already deteriorating condition.

You are on my mind

I have been thinking a lot these days
but that's not what is really new
what's getting to me is that, baby
all this time I am thinking of you

I remember the first time i saw you
I could not help myself but stare
you were a dawn in a beautiful night
like a faery so beautiful and rare

I remember how many times i wanted
to just walk up to you and say "Hello"
but could not, no matter how hard I tried
this had never happened to me before

But then you left, and left an impression
to your grace I did happily succumb
kept talking to you in my dreams, all the while
waiting to see you in months to come

the day finally came after a year
you were more beautiful than I ever dreamed
as you came up to me and said "hello"
I fell for you all over again, it seemed

that day I celebrated all night long
not knowing what lied ahead of me
I hoped and prayed the night never ends
for later, you I might never see

but the moment came nevertheless
and you said goodbye despite the pain
I also unwillingly resigned to my fate
went back to being alone all over again

I know I might never see you ever
but I had this last thought to share
You are on my mind, baby
and I am glad you will always be there

awesome end to great day

Today was one of those rare days i will never forget. After a sleepless night yesterday, I woke up to a sunny but pleasant morning, a rather uncommon event given the recent humid weather. I failed to see the first indication as i rushed to office after being late as usual.

As I reached office and started my desktop, I was greeted by a clock counting down to the CFA results, thanks to a dear friend who managed to find the perfect way to bug me on the r-day. Deciding not to give her the pleasure of my agony, I opened a host of folders acting as though I was the busiest person in the office. Of course, among one of the windows were tabs that read 'National Stock Exchange' and 'ICICI Direct'.

After over 4% decline in Nifty, i was hopeful that markets will recover some of the losses as i went long on NIFTY and brought a call on NTPC the day before, albeit things weren't looking good as global markets looked week. Luckily, i was right :-) After a negative opening, markets bounced back quickly and I happily booked gains on both positions, thinking what a great day for trade. Let's call this indication 2!! Although I was still in jitters on what will happen in the evening, trying my best to cover it up with all the files that lied around me unattended.

Finally as evening approached, I decided it was no point acting since my colleagues could see right through my desperation. I closed all the windows and stared blankly at the countdown until it was time. As i desperately tried to log on the CFA website, i cursed the broadband provider not to mention the website for not allowing me to check out my results. Luckily, a friend came to the rescue with his super powered computer as he logged in and broke the news. "49% of the candidates made it through this year", he said.

"Thanks bro, just what i wanted to hear", said I with utmost sarcasm. He thought it will be fun to delay but took the hint from my tone and immediately proceeded to see the results. The next few words he uttered really made my day, "congrats, you made it". After the usual reactions like "you serious" etc., I gladly and composedly accepted the outcome. Now the signs were staring at my face, and i said to myself "what a great day"

I happily sent sms to my Friends, changed gtalk & facebook status, although the best I could think of was to "That's it...no more exams ever!! yipeee". Also went to temple and thanked the Gods. As I was flooded with SMSs, one of my best friends called up to personally convey his happiness. Just when I thought it couldn't get better, he announced the launch of his social venture the coming weekend, a venture that he's been really passionate about. My happiness was now overflowing as i returned the congratulations and wished him the best for his venture. Now this was the awesome end to my great day!!

what makes us free

On this eve of 63rd independence day
I wanted to thank all who fight for peace
and to offer them homage in my way
I sat down to think what really makes us free

fighting for us all these years back
you are the ones who saved us a strife
we are no longer slave to other's will
thanks to you we live a free life

you gave us the constitution
you gave us our rights
gave us means for survival and good living
you have taken our nation to great heights

because of you we have a choice today
because of you we are not afraid
thanks to you we live a free life
a life, for which so long we prayed

does all this really make us free
yes it does, i believe it does
it gives us the freedom to choose
to choose what is right, and if we so please

the choice is ours, for us to exercise
we should try and make most of it
fight for freedom for self and others
to this cause we should all commit

I thank you all who gave us this power
I thank you all for others and me
I also praise you all who chose to use this power
for this choice is what really makes us free

Happy Independence Day!!

Best days of our lives

A feeling of nostalgia took over
when this picture caught my eye
don't even remember who clicked it
well..it dosen't really matter why

Looking at the skies and smiling stood
a group of six on our graduation day
with dreams and hopes to make it big
ready to go our separate way

Time was ripe and we had plans
CAs, MBAs and entrepreneurs to be
didn't really care what we left behind
...that was summer of 2003

Gosh!! can't believe it's been six years
feels just like yesterday to me
when we said goodbye to adolescence
stepping out of canteen, prepared completely :)

Little did I know, what lied outside
and even little did I care
little did I realize what I was leaving behind
the moments of happiness, invaluable and rare

Today I look back and smile
even laugh, at all we did
but do I want to relive those moments
naah!! those memories for now is all I need

For I still have those friends
to see me through lows, and celebrate the highs
college...sure we will never forget
but these are still the best days of our lives