Nostalgia!

All of us enter the college to make it big in life. That is to say, to have a degree, a label, and a job to make a career. We don't give much thought to finding new friends, except new boy/girlfriends for perhaps. It was with a similar feel that I entered my college. Although I had applied for a few colleges for graduation, but the one I ended up at was the one I knew from day one, it was going to be a habit.
I did make some very good friends in grads, but every year my core group seemed to change. For the first year it was just 4 guys. The second year it was 4 different guys and 4 girls. The final year saw yet another 3 guys and 2 girls. Today, I am in touch with just 2 people, one of them is my business partner, the other is a very good friend, who looked me up on a social networking sites(and to think I used to curse them) after 4 yrs. of college.
From grads. to PG, there was not a single common friend who joined me, though I did carry a relationship forward with one of my professors. She was a part-time lecturer at the time in my new college and we used to debate about the faculty in the new college. It was a precarious situation where I was gossiping about my teachers, with my teacher.
I still have friends that I made in my second college, and I hold them so close to my heart today. Some have withered into memories, some are still on my FB/Orkut friends list. But it is not the same. In college you'd know about the birthdays in the morning of the day. Today, Orkut alerts you 15days in advance. Thats technology for you. Even though you may not know what is happening in your collegues' life, you still wish send him a scrap wishing him happy birthday.
Those treats at the cafeteria have also vanished, or perhaps morphed into fancy luncheons in restaurants. The cake is ordered, not homemade. And so is life.
We so want to be back in college but we never would be the same person if it weren't for those very days. Personally, I am nostalgic about those moments, but I wouldn't give them up or go back and relive them. They are best left untouched, and unscathed for eternity.

Jaywalking

I have been wondering what to write about lately, with so many ideas coming to me in the past few days. Then I thought that maybe I should just start and discover where the chain of thoughts takes me. I often find myself just walking around the house, thinking. Not just anything specific, but just like that.
To me, most of my ideas come while I am walking. I often walk to the market with no reason, just looking at people, shopping, street vendors trying to peddle me stuff. But I hardly even hear a word, much less if someone were to call me from across the street. It is my way of mulling over things. I disconnect from my body and venture into a different plane, where I am alone, gliding on the ice of my thoughts, with bare feet. I slide and shift from one foot to another just like my thoughts. During my stint in Delhi, the walk from the office and to my room was as long too, but I never could be disconnected as I can in Lucknow. There, I had to be on my feet, being part of the crowd, and scared to be a target of some insusceptible pick-pocket. But back in Lucknow, I can be alone with my thoughts again. It has embraced me like its lover, welcoming me back.
Some people think over a cup of coffee, some over the newspaper. I have heard people thinking in the toilet as well, but I fail to understand the ideas that they must be getting in there.
Although I have been taking my walks for many years, it is not to say that I have not faced its perils as well. What perils, you may ask, can come from a walk. Well, I was hit by a biker and woke up in the hospital feeling a little woozy and a few teeth lighter. Since then, my sub conscious mind has undergone several rounds of training, not to mention stricter regulation as well. Today, I walk more on the terrace, or the courtyard, and I still fail to understand how the recommended 15 minutes of walk can be avoided by anyone during the day.
I still sometimes take the risks while crossing the street, and often so in life. Just one thing keeping me sane, the fact that I guess keeps all of us sane and going as well, at least in India. That we all live for someone else, and not just selfishly for just ourselves.
Just a thought!

Uniquely Lucknow

Every one loves the city they are born and brought up in, and it is more than true for me. It has inspired the title for the blog as well. One of the many things I love is Ganjing. For those of you who just got confused, Hazratganj is the main market in Lucknow. Situated in the heart of Lucknow offering buyers of all classes something to take away and flaunt it as "Ganj" buy. Yes, Ganj is the pet name for it, and even though I have heard the name ganjing since childhood, I never quite understood the phoenomenon.

I remember it was in my college days that we started to hang out at Barista, going through Love Lane. I didn't even realise that we were Ganjing until my mom asked me where I was going, and when I answered, she said, "Oh, Ganjing!" I could only manage a smile as I was going to meet a girl friend, and although it was nothing special, but still I had the guilty look on my face.

I still remember hogging paani batashas in a dozen flavours at Love lane. The name Love Lane also has an interesting story behind it. Apparantely, it was the hot spot for a generation gone by as well. There was this norm that girls would walk on one side of the lane and the guys on the other. No comments were passed or any misbehaviour, just a quite glance. If you wanted to meet someone, you waited for her to come around and maybe talked to her. I can't imagine a better social setup even today. But it won't work anymore today. Even though I am still skeptical of the reality behind it, it is still a wonderful idea.

Then there is Janpath, the vibrant part of Ganj. A walk alone gives you an idea of the latest fashion trends and accessories in town. Although it is one of the most expensive places to shop, it does have some of the cheap places as well. You can get used novels and books at a discounted price. The eatery on top of the basement is a good place to hangout as well but I can't say the same about its food. For the food, you need to head to Royal Cafe Moti Mahal. Royal cafe chaat corner is quite famous and I have had friends and relatives asking for its famous basket chaat. We used to go to Modern Book Stall to fetch ET for dad. It is still the place I head for cards and magazines.

Universal book sellers has something to offer everyone. I remember how we used to get all excited about our new school books just so we could go there and shop for them. Didi used to bring us along to get her novels at Janpath and the addition ice cream treat at Chedilal.

At the other end of the strip is Halwasia. We'd shop for uniforms there at Malik uncles' shop. Even today you get some great T-shirts at the shops there.

Today, I go to Ganj to shop only, to Janpath for a gift, and to Halwasia for a visit to the bank. We still do hang out at Barista though. The coffee is still the same but the faces that make it have changed. While walking down Love lane today, I saw the same old faces, trying to sell the same "New" stuff. The shoppers have changed. It was like the people were not from Lucknow. I remember not a single visit to Ganj went by when we didn't see someone we knew. Even my friend from school who runs a shop in Janpath was not at the shop. I felt so scared, change always is, but it is also necessary.

It was ineviteable I guess; Lucknow is moving towards the mall culture. But I know this as well, for anyone who has grown up in Lucknow, ganjing is something uniquely Lucknow and will remain so for the time to come.

Indian Idealism

I have been writing about varied topics but mostly it has been about what I see around town, the weather and the places. But I thought I should also write about what I observe among the people all around me. I have been posting pictures that I clicked myself with all my posts, but I have no picture for this idea as a behaviour can be only observed.
In India, wherever you go, you hear a common voice. Something must be done, this must be done, that must be done. No one ever seems to know what and how to do it. This is why we place great emphasis on our archaic system. The system would take care of fixing things. We fail to realise that the system if the system would have worked then we wouldn't be complaining. The idealism is ingrained in each one of us since childhood. You should learn to 'adjust.' We don't know most of our laws, which are mostly sufficient if implemented properly, and still want to get ahead in the line just by greasing up the system. It is something that I simply fail to understand. People don't want women to go to pubs and drink but want equality for them. Why you may ask; because it is not the ideal thing to do. We shout culture when we find something changing in our lives and yet fail to keep in mind that Khajurao and Kamasutra is as much our legacy as Aryabhatt and Raman. I guess we are all patients of convenient amnesia. We are ready to watch beauty contests and pay for porn, but we would not send our daughter to join a beauty contest; "She needs to learn cooking." I mean come on, wake up and smell the pasta.
We are living in an era where it doesn't matter who you are, you can have what you aspire to be. But no one wants to come into politics and clean it up. It is still hard to make people do things, take responsibility. I remember long ques at polling stations when I would go with my as a kid. Last election I voted there hardly 20 odd people in all the booths at the station. People used to love exercising their franchise of freedom. But today, we have accepted our condition and are happy with the status-quo. I don't understand why and how can people curse the government and our leaders when we allow incompetent people who can't even write their own names to lead us. I am not saying that all our leaders are pathetic, or education is necessary. But I don't believe that an educated man is inconsiderate.
Contrary to this, people in other countries don't adjust. But Idealism I am talking about is much smaller and thus more; the sum of parts makes it larger. We say the right things just because it is the right thing, the I-Deal thing to say. Not because we believe in it, it is what suits us, what allows us to spend our small lives insignificantly. "घर छोटे हैं इसलिए दिल बड़े होने का दावा करते हैं." The line is from a recent movie. Although the storytelling was not up to the mark, but the idea was right. We easily shift sides as per convenience. We may not get ahead but we are jealous of our friends who do. We would not say it, but we are, because it is not the right thing to do। At least our foreign counterparts accept their emotions and express them too. But you shouldn't say things that your friends don't want to hear, it is not right.
I think we need one more reality show to find out who is the most IDEAL person i.e. Indian Ideal! Mind you it might end up looking for the perfect person instead of the Idealism I am talking about here. Mainly because it is not the Ideal thing to do.
(Overheard at the corner tea stall)

Weather Games!

It was another perfect 'Spring Summer' day as I got up this morning. I was reluctant to get the A.C. fixed in my car as I drove around town, sweating like a pig, in traffic. Even until evening the sun god was unrelenting. But around 5 it suddenly turned dark. The dust, the wind and the clouds, all seemed to have been hiding behind the trees as pounced on the city like a predator. Within minutes it was dark as the night. According to reports, winds upto 50kmph were reported. Then it started to rain, and some hail as well.

A welcome break from the hot weather, but still catching people unaware. Those who thought they would rush off to an early weekend were lashed first with the dust then the rain. Anyone waiting at home would have wondered what happenedt to them as in another few minutes, it cleared up and the clouds parted and the sun, which was almost setting, was back. At night there was a clear sky as well. And now, even as it is almost morning that I am writing this post, the clouds are thundering again, setting a tone for the good weather for the weekend. So, those of you wanted to start the early rush to the water parks this year, please check your itinerary again and go for Aloo Chat, it is a great comic relief, just like the weather.

Spring Summer 2009

Now, before all of you this is not a post about the couture or the lack of it that everyone in town is talking about. I am talking about the weather and how it has morphed into something unpredictable lately. The afternoons are hot; so much so that we are left sweating like pigs and reaching for the AC remote. The evenings are pleasant and the mornings are cool. In fact, mornings are so cool that even when I get out of bed at 8:30am, I am sneezing non stop.

Anyway, I believe, it is the next best weather to Autumn that you can have. And its not just me who is saying this. It is a resonating opinion within my small circle of friends. Even mother nature seems to be prolonging the spring. With the spring flowers still blooming in the parks, and people sitting under trees as the Loo (not to be mistaken for the modern refernce to the toilet) has still not picked up as much. It is like the good old days when after final exams, and before the onset of the new session, we would go for morning walks play badminton in the park (without the net of course). The skates, Frisbee, the works. And their were no mobiles, so even if we were late, no worries as short of someone coming to yank us back home, there was not a care in the world. And yes, most of the people in the parks were either from our neighbourhood or friends of the family. So even if we were being naughty, it didn't go unnoticed or unreported.

I am sorry if I got a little carried away, but suddenly I feel a sudden rush of nostalgia. So, lets see, where were we? Ah yes, the weather! What got me thinking about the weather was this beautifully done park in the middle of the colony, in front of my friend and partners' house. It seemed like a hidden away place surrounded by row houses and bungalows. The gardeners won't allow anyone to come inside, lest they pick flowers. I think they are afraid that someone might disturb the peace, or scare the nesting young birds who have hatched from the egg recently.

Simply put, it is still spring, but summer is just around the corner. In other words, spring summer 2009. I must say here, that geographically speaking as well, Lucknow is well placed to have the best weather too, With no extremes of temprature as other parts of the country experience. Another reason why, I love Lucknow.

Chandler Bing

I recently took this quiz on Facebook called Which F.R.I.E.N.D.S. character are you? Now I don't normally think too much into such quizes but the answer was not only reciprocative of what I had known, and expressed to a few of my friends but when I delved into it, it revealed a great insight into me as well (click here to learn all about Chandler Bings' character). I am Bing, Chandler Bing. The confused witty guy who is always always trying to make people laugh. But can he 'BE' more scared of the obvious. He makes jokes. He is a great friend. He doesn't know how to deal with awkward social situations and yet, he is the most social creature. At work he is the best, as he is in his own element.
The accompanying pic I created towards the end of college where you might be asking where is Monica. I am still asking the same question!
Confession: I have watched friends ever since I can remember. At first, I was scolded for all the adult humour in the sitcom as I used to watch it at home. The at work, I would try to make the 7pm deadline home just to watch an episode that I have seen a million times. Although it represents a generation before our own, in a country not so much so, but everyone I know still watches it. People have come to appreciate it more today as the times have changed. What seemed like a metro phoenomenon a decade ago is happening in small towns as well. People hang out at the end of the day, just to be with friends rather than girlfriends/boyfriends. This brings me back to myself and Chandler Bing. Chandler ends up marrying his best friends' sister. Now I don't mean to scare any of my friends, but I guess that is my deliverance. I am not going the marriage way, not now, not for the forseeable future. Guess I am more Like Chandler bing than I thought...

Holi Hai...

It is the Holi week. This means that colours are on every one's mind. It did not hit me that it was Holi until Tuesday evening. I had planned to buy colours in the evening. That is when I went to Aminabad to get them. For those who are not from Lucknow, Aminabad is Lucknow's answer to all things jolly. You name it and you can buy it in Aminabad.

Aminabad is also famous for its celebration of all the festivals; from Deepawali to Holi, from Eid to Good Friday. So, as I was in Aminabad, it was beautifully lit up. In fact it was a double celebration time. It was Barawafat on Tuesday as well. So while shopkeepers made moolah, even the roadside vendors were making a kill. There wasn't enough room to even walk.

Then there was the usual competition for the best मंडप. The theme being Holi, there were kids sitting inside dressed as Radha Krishna. I could only imagine kids sitting there all day like a statue. Even the politicians had chipped in by sponsoring one of the blaring "deejai" on the road side.

There was complete anarchy at the paint shops to buy colour, as we Indians, more so Lucknowites, believe in leaving the best for last. So, after a dual for 20 minutes, and a few shirt buttons later, I emerged from the crowd, a little red and pink (from all the colour), but successful nevertheless.

C2C, another flop?

I recently went to the new restaurant in town, C2C. My friend and I were just driving back to Lucknow after some work near Barabanki, and we were hungry, just then we saw this place near Politechnic crossoing on Faizabad road. It is on the road, but also blink and you miss kind of place. But when as we entered, we were surpised to find a place which was at par with its metro counterparts.
Although, we had visited the place for a late lunch, but the ambience was still good. It was like one of those hot May afternoons. It is getting so hot these days, and its still March. The decor was done wonderfully in white leather chairs and sofas. Another thing that you notice immediately when you enter the place is that there is glass everywhere. Almost all the walls and have mirrors, and I mean in a good way.
The menu is a mix of Thai, Oriental (Chinease), and Italian. Of course there is Indian and continental too for those who don't want to experiment. The service is good, and some of my inquries about the dishes were answered with patience and in detail. By the time our order arrived, we were really starving because it took about 25min. for our order of fried rice and deluxe vegetable manchurian to arrive. The food was at only as good, but you expect a lot more, with the prices you are paying.
Overall, I'd give it 6 on 10 for the ambience and variety on the menu. But this place does drive home the point that Lucknow is ready for such uber class restaurants. It started out with Barbecue Nation, the their was Yoko Sizzlers, now C2C. But my favourite remains Barbeque.

Lucknow, my first love.

Hi,

I have been reading blogs for many years now, and I have been writing ever since I laid my hands on a computer. But I never thought I'd have the time to write my own blog and voice my opinion in such a manner. That is to say that I always made an excuse, not to go public. But then, someone I met online, who also blogs, got me thinking. If she can do it, with her job, theatre and so many things, I can't make excuses anymore. So, here I am writing my first blog.

I wanted to start out by writing something about Lucknow. Now Lucknow is unlike any other city that I have lived in or visited even. It is a metro in the making (soon will have its own Metro rail too), while their are still some areas which haven't changed. And if they were to change, we wouldn't know then to be Lucknow anymore. Its a city bursting on the edges and quite literally so. I remember going to relatives place in Aliganj(for those familiar with the geography) used to be a whole day affair. Today I travel from Chinhut to chowk, and twice over, without batting an eyelid. It is also a city where everyone is ready to welcome you with a hearty smile, even if you are a stranger, and the old adage "Pehle Aap" is still there. While I was working away from home, I used to miss it, and on my visits back home, I would often try and listen to it in the streets while Ganjing.

Although both, Pehle Aap and Ganjing can take up plenty of space here, but I'd like to move on for now. In my experience, Lucknow is also a city that people fall in love with. I have had friends who lived in the hostel, and used to be all praise about their home towns, but today, they call it there favourite city. Even people from metros like Delhi can't do without it. Some people found their love, their better halfs even, in this city. And a few had their hearts broken here as well and yet they keep coming back here. This city is like that, that people fall in love with it. I knew, even before Orkut or Facebook, (where people would change their mood every few hours), I love Lucknow, I used to say, proudly. I remember this girl in collge once asking me if I have ever loved anyone and I said without a thought, I love this city, I love Lucknow.

Although, I might have been naive in my answer, for the matter at hand, I meant it that day, as I do today. I love Lucknow.