When my article got published in 'The Hindu' (School days)

King Solomon's Mines is one of my all time favorites.It was one of the books responsible for starting in me a desire for travel.I wrote a brief review about it back in by Intermediate days.The actual article was largely edited and the result was considerably different from what I wrote.But nonetheless I was and still am happy that my article got published in 'The Hindu'

5 Changes I would like to see in Indian railways.

Here are Five changes that I would like to see in Indian railways.


1-There should be a complete overhaul of the classes that exist in our Railways.I think that there is a huge gap between a sleeper class and 3A.Indian Railways should introduce a new class between Sleeper and 3A.Something which is more comfortable and has bit more amenities.No need of AC just basics.

2-The maintenance of toilets of all classes should be improved dramatically.The trains already have a rocking motion ,add to that the unclean toilets and the lack of basic facilities like a proper jug,a faucet and hooks to hang stuff on,the task of going to an train toilet is the stuff of nightmares.

3-More number of Chair car and 2s bogies should be added in most of the trains.Personally I think Indian Railways underestimates the potential of Chair cars and 2s classes.

4-Food quality has to be improved.I have seen tea vendors selling tea in makeshift vessels.I have even seen one guy with a half cut bisleri bottle using it as a funnel.One look and you are no more hungry.

5-Start another system of booking tickets between the normal booking and tatkal.Maybe at double the price and at a weeks advance.

Bonus-Introduce a host for every train.Someone along the lines of a Airhostess.Someone who would help the people with any minor problems like getting their blankets,food, or any other needs.

There is never a perfect time for doing anything!

Just do it!

This has to be one of the best advice ever!

Before you read further let me just put this-Whatever I say here is my opinion and though I am a rookie part time traveller I have travelled quite a bit.

Quite a few people have asked me how I manage time between my work and travelling.I always say the same thing.I prioritize things and when I make a goal I try to execute it as soon as possible.I have consciously tried to remove the word 'dekhenge' from my word.If I want to visit a particular place I immediately make a tentative plan regarding it.I don't say to myself ' zindagi bakhi hai.dekhte hai'  

My advice to all those people who have a passion to do anything is - Just do it.Don't make excuses.You like sketching.Do it once in a while atleast. Don't blame 'time'.You like photography but don't have a good camera? No problem at least start with your camera phone.Just don't sit around and make poor excuses saying you would have surely been a good photographer if you had a good camera.

And remember in life something or the other comes up everytime.Do it regardless.There never will be a perfect time for doing the things you like.You have to make compromises and start doing.If you wait for the perfect time,you will never actually get to do the things you like.

In case of unavoidable circumstances may be you can back off for the time being.Step back and try later.Lose the battle but try to win the war.

One of my friends has been thinking of buying a bike for a long time now.Two years to be exact.And he gives the same standard replies if queried about this bike.''I am confused between two models''.''I am confused about the price''.''I am confused about this''.''I am in doubt about that''.''Something has come up''.It goes on.Two major things lacking in people, that I have observed, are 

1.Resolve

2.A plan 

If you wish to do something be determined to do it and make a plan about it.People underestimate the process of making a plan.I mentioned in a previous post about planning.You can read it here.

Personally I make plans for even the smallest of things.Like I made a plan last month about writing this post.And here I am.That goal is accomplished.

This post was inspired by two reasons

1-The number of questions people were asking me about my juggling of my hobbies and work

2-Two individuals in my friend circle who frustrate me the most.They have the talent and the mindset to do wonderful things and all they do is make excuses about why they don't DO the stuff that they only TALK about.This post is for them.

Maa,meri maa,mamma!

              My mom sat on the floor .I rested my head on her lap.The warm sunlight overhead was streaming in falling on us.My mother started telling me a story.The kind of stories that only mothers know.The comfortable place of my head on her lap,the soothing kind of way she was telling the story and the warm sunlight overhead combined to lull me into a sort of dreamy sleep. As I drifted into sleep I could half consciously hear her words slowly disappearing into oblivion.I slept,in that space and time,like I had no care in the world.

               That was in my childhood when my whole family lived at one place in one home.Those were the best days of my life.

              I now live some 1000 km away from home,away from mom.Sometimes I get dreams where I am back in home, back with mom.Awaking from such kind of dreams is the hardest.Though I go home to mom every 3 or 4 months I still find it difficult to adjust to a life without my family.

                My mom is the epitome of patience.I have seen no other person with the kind of patience that she has.I have never seen her lose her temper at housemaids even after their worst behavior.And sometimes when we have some some minor arguments,no matter how angry she is, she still comes back before sleeping and asks if we had enough food.

                 During our school days she used to walk all the way from our home to school to give us our lunch.She was always the one to buy us expensive toys.I remember my visits to our local shopping center to buy stuff.We always came back with lots of things to eat.And sometimes when she went alone I used to wait in home,along with my siblings, for the goodies.She never failed in bringing them. Even these days whenever I visit home she is the first one to go out to the nearby market to bring goodies for me.She doesn't wait for my brother or father to do so.Like my dad says she is an ocean of love.

                    In one Korean drama that I saw it was said that if you love someone one of the best things that you can do for them is cook something for them with love.A mother does this everyday.She cooks delicious dishes with love and care and we ungrateful kids whine and complain.In Islam we have this principle that one shouldn't say even an 'uf' in front of one's parents.

                    As an aside here is an interesting incident that happened with my uncle.One time my uncle ( my mom's brother) was at home in Hyderabad.He works in Saudi Arabia and sends money home to my grandma.One day some guy made a  snide remark at my uncle saying that his mother is wasting his money here in India while he works hard in Saudi. My uncle replied with the quote of the century.He said ''she is my mother.She can literally burn the notes if she wants to''

I have engraved these lines on the slate of my brain and I keep reminding myself about them from time to time.

No amount of words can ever be sufficient for the praise my mom rightly deserves.

Sometimes I wonder 'For such a good mom am I a good son?'