I happened to meet mother of this one, Mr Khade, on Sunday… as the construction work is still not complete and I was not able to shift into this apartment. I went there to see the progress myself and called the estate broker to take care of the matter. She got the this old lady happened to be his mom.
While talking to me, she also asked me my name and then she told me that she (and possibly her son too) had mistaken me by the caste which they belong to. They themselves are Namdeo Shimpi by caste, and they thought my surname resembles to their caste so she asked. That made me think about the whole incident in different way. And all my anger and depression also about the incident reported in the blog below seemed pretty much mis-placed.
After getting known this, I guess, I need to give some benefit of doubt to the Khade family and forget whole incident.
But as many of friends had already read and called or mailed or scrapped me their comments and shown surprise about this incident, I guess, writing this side of the story also carries same, if not more, importance…
Monday, November 5, 2007
Friday, November 2, 2007
Shocking experience…
After lot of contemplation, I decided to write about this incident… After lot of bad experiences people tell me about the people of Pune, I used to be un-perturbed about being in this city and staying here. But finally it hit me too… and sadly, I felt really really bad about it…
I was searching for the apartment to shift into as my current place is not very suitable for married couple and simply coz the land-lords wants the place to be rented to single working bachelors for the least problems, so be it. Finally I found OK kinda place, which is pretty costly per say, but very well located, close from all the well known land-marks. Bang on the Karve Road. I couldn’t be happier, but then this bad experience was written in my destiny to happen, to open my eyes may be…
The apartment is under repair, due to leakage of sewage into the flat below mine. So the keys were lying over with one Mr Khade, who owns the flat on the downstairs. When the estate agent told me to get the keys from him to visit my place, I decided to go there directly. Of course being thorough un-professional, agent have not informed this guy and he was not expecting me.
When I reached his place, it was past 9pm in the evening. I rang the bell and the door opened. I introduced myself and told that I am supposed to collect the key for the flat upstairs. He said, he didn’t knew that I will come, but still he will give the keys as it doesn’t matter to him anyways.
While someone in the house went inside to collect the keys, this person asked me my name, if u know Pune style of asking name, they ask you your surname. As that’s what they are more interested in, to know your caste, and possibly judge you based on that. When I told my full name to him, he was blunt enough to ask me, if I am shimpi (Taylor) by caste since he could not make out my caste from my surname. I said NO, trying to avoid the direct attack, even though I am not shy of what I am. He was adamant enough on knowing my caste, so without batting an eyelid, he asked me, “then?”. After seeing his persistence, I gave up and told him that I am Patil (Kshatriya for those who don’t know exactly marathi castes). After satisfying his curiousity only, he handed over the keys to me, only to remind me that I had to return them as work is still remaining.
This may be really small incident, but had left pretty bad scar on my psyche. On one side, we are all the way drumming trumpets about India and its proposed super-power status and all… and at the ground level, even in the big, good(?), great(sic), so called cosmopolitan cities we are still thinking about the caste of the person.
This is the eye-opening incident for me, and I felt so sorry that I didn’t paid attention to the cautionary tales of many of my friends about this city. Also this seems to have hardened my resolve to DO SOMETHING about my life and many other things… I just hope that someone special in my life, who loves this country so much will change her approach about it, and give a thought to what I had always maintained with her…
p.s. Names and incident in this post had been kept un-changed to keep the identity of people un-hidden...
I was searching for the apartment to shift into as my current place is not very suitable for married couple and simply coz the land-lords wants the place to be rented to single working bachelors for the least problems, so be it. Finally I found OK kinda place, which is pretty costly per say, but very well located, close from all the well known land-marks. Bang on the Karve Road. I couldn’t be happier, but then this bad experience was written in my destiny to happen, to open my eyes may be…
The apartment is under repair, due to leakage of sewage into the flat below mine. So the keys were lying over with one Mr Khade, who owns the flat on the downstairs. When the estate agent told me to get the keys from him to visit my place, I decided to go there directly. Of course being thorough un-professional, agent have not informed this guy and he was not expecting me.
When I reached his place, it was past 9pm in the evening. I rang the bell and the door opened. I introduced myself and told that I am supposed to collect the key for the flat upstairs. He said, he didn’t knew that I will come, but still he will give the keys as it doesn’t matter to him anyways.
While someone in the house went inside to collect the keys, this person asked me my name, if u know Pune style of asking name, they ask you your surname. As that’s what they are more interested in, to know your caste, and possibly judge you based on that. When I told my full name to him, he was blunt enough to ask me, if I am shimpi (Taylor) by caste since he could not make out my caste from my surname. I said NO, trying to avoid the direct attack, even though I am not shy of what I am. He was adamant enough on knowing my caste, so without batting an eyelid, he asked me, “then?”. After seeing his persistence, I gave up and told him that I am Patil (Kshatriya for those who don’t know exactly marathi castes). After satisfying his curiousity only, he handed over the keys to me, only to remind me that I had to return them as work is still remaining.
This may be really small incident, but had left pretty bad scar on my psyche. On one side, we are all the way drumming trumpets about India and its proposed super-power status and all… and at the ground level, even in the big, good(?), great(sic), so called cosmopolitan cities we are still thinking about the caste of the person.
This is the eye-opening incident for me, and I felt so sorry that I didn’t paid attention to the cautionary tales of many of my friends about this city. Also this seems to have hardened my resolve to DO SOMETHING about my life and many other things… I just hope that someone special in my life, who loves this country so much will change her approach about it, and give a thought to what I had always maintained with her…
p.s. Names and incident in this post had been kept un-changed to keep the identity of people un-hidden...
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
StarCare and Hero Project...
Recently, I had been watching these couple of ads about the HIV/AIDS awareness program.
Scene I:
Some trial is going on in the Court, and the judge asks the prosecutor to speak loudly, then he went on to asking questions to the guy in the kathghara, about where he was on the fateful night? Number of cars in parking lot? Their numbers? And finally were the cars petrol or diesel?
The guy retort back, “yeh to bahut specific ho gaya na?”
And the catchline comes, "sawal kitna bhi specific kyon n’ ho, agar HIV/AIDS ke bare mein hai to call karein ya likhe…”
Scene II:
Mantri-ji sitting in a studio, answering the questions asked by aam junta, live on TV… one guy ask about the quantitative analysis of the progressive work done, number of kms roads had been constructed, and then another fellow after telling the exact number of water taps in the neighbourhood, tells that so and so taps gets water and when the others will get it too?? Then Neta-ji while soaking in the sweat (sweating in AC is big deal) says, “yeh to bahut specific ho gaya na?”
And the catchline comes, "sawal kitna bhi specific kyon n’ ho, agar HIV/AIDS ke bare mein hai to call karein ya likhe…”
After watching this advts, it really gives a feeling that people now a days think really well before they make and air the ad… It’s a really good campaign according to me, someone putting so much effort for the social cause is very encouraging site.
Scene I:
Some trial is going on in the Court, and the judge asks the prosecutor to speak loudly, then he went on to asking questions to the guy in the kathghara, about where he was on the fateful night? Number of cars in parking lot? Their numbers? And finally were the cars petrol or diesel?
The guy retort back, “yeh to bahut specific ho gaya na?”
And the catchline comes, "sawal kitna bhi specific kyon n’ ho, agar HIV/AIDS ke bare mein hai to call karein ya likhe…”
Scene II:
Mantri-ji sitting in a studio, answering the questions asked by aam junta, live on TV… one guy ask about the quantitative analysis of the progressive work done, number of kms roads had been constructed, and then another fellow after telling the exact number of water taps in the neighbourhood, tells that so and so taps gets water and when the others will get it too?? Then Neta-ji while soaking in the sweat (sweating in AC is big deal) says, “yeh to bahut specific ho gaya na?”
And the catchline comes, "sawal kitna bhi specific kyon n’ ho, agar HIV/AIDS ke bare mein hai to call karein ya likhe…”
After watching this advts, it really gives a feeling that people now a days think really well before they make and air the ad… It’s a really good campaign according to me, someone putting so much effort for the social cause is very encouraging site.
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Skoda 'Quality obsession' ad...
One of my most fav print advt is Skoda… may be coz I m smitten by that machine…
This is almost 4 years old campaign, when they were new in the market and being taunted by competition as failure marketing strategy and all, as they entered in the market with big car and not some small, 2 box, power-starved, economical, middle class oriented (sic), tin ka dibba…
Ok, so the ad… it was quarter-page ad, showing a picture taken of the front wheel of the car with some side panel and front bumpers and headlights. I was wondering what’s the thing they want to highlight? On reading it I came to know that it’s was about the tire nut. So what’s the big deal, every car has them. I read on…
The ad read as follows:
This tire nut is obviously not the most critical component of the car assembly.
So it has gone through only 84 different tests.
Think of quality obsession, think of Skoda.
Think of quality obsession, think of Skoda.
Think of quality obsession, think of Skoda.
Think of quality obsession, think of Skoda.
Mind you, they have that unique way of emphasizing on ‘quality obsession’ by just writing the same line 4 times, in normal font and format.
Awesome ad, it made place in my mind forever it seems.
This is almost 4 years old campaign, when they were new in the market and being taunted by competition as failure marketing strategy and all, as they entered in the market with big car and not some small, 2 box, power-starved, economical, middle class oriented (sic), tin ka dibba…
Ok, so the ad… it was quarter-page ad, showing a picture taken of the front wheel of the car with some side panel and front bumpers and headlights. I was wondering what’s the thing they want to highlight? On reading it I came to know that it’s was about the tire nut. So what’s the big deal, every car has them. I read on…
The ad read as follows:
This tire nut is obviously not the most critical component of the car assembly.
So it has gone through only 84 different tests.
Think of quality obsession, think of Skoda.
Think of quality obsession, think of Skoda.
Think of quality obsession, think of Skoda.
Think of quality obsession, think of Skoda.
Mind you, they have that unique way of emphasizing on ‘quality obsession’ by just writing the same line 4 times, in normal font and format.
Awesome ad, it made place in my mind forever it seems.
Monday, May 7, 2007
about series of new posts...
I was thinking about this for long... that I shall write some series of blogs based on Advertisements, may be TV or Print...
So i guess, from here onwards few of my blogs will be dedicated to my take on various ads we see all around....
hope u will also like reading about them, as i will enjoy writing them...
So i guess, from here onwards few of my blogs will be dedicated to my take on various ads we see all around....
hope u will also like reading about them, as i will enjoy writing them...
Thats why I love this guy…
Just now in the morning I read in the newspapers that Pete Sampras, my all time fav tennis player, owner of 14 Grand Slam titles, completed a winning return to competitive tennis on Sunday with a victory in the Champions Cup of Boston, part of the Champions Series for former ATP stars.
Sampras rallied to beat Todd Martin 6-3, 5-7, 11-9 in the final.
Sampras, 35, dropped his first set of the tournament and trailed 9-6 in the first-to-10 tiebreaker before rallying. He closed the match on his serve when Martin hit a return shot long.
The kind of consistency and concentration this guy had shown on court was always superb, being while he was on the top of the ATP ranking and reigning Champ, or even now after he is retired for over 4 years.
Hats off to u 'pistol' Pete… u rock!!!
Sampras rallied to beat Todd Martin 6-3, 5-7, 11-9 in the final.
Sampras, 35, dropped his first set of the tournament and trailed 9-6 in the first-to-10 tiebreaker before rallying. He closed the match on his serve when Martin hit a return shot long.
The kind of consistency and concentration this guy had shown on court was always superb, being while he was on the top of the ATP ranking and reigning Champ, or even now after he is retired for over 4 years.
Hats off to u 'pistol' Pete… u rock!!!
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Time has come to think about it…
I was following closely the developments happening in the directions of scrapping ULCRA. For the uninitiated ones, it’s Urban Land Ceiling and Regulation Act. Now what’s this? It’s the act/law which stops people who have excessive quantity of land to sale it for development.
As over last one and half year, the rates of real estate have crossed all the limits in Pune, the middle class is bearing the brunt of the situation. The so called growth is so obscene that every piece of $hit apartment had started costing at least twice that its worth.
Then came the news that Chief Minister of Maharashtra is going to put the resolution in current assembly session to scrap this act. Now don’t think that its b’coz that he cares for the people or something, but that’s the directive/condition by Central Govt. to release some kinda aid for the state. But whatever may be the reason, it might had provided some respite to the so-called aam aadmi.
But then came the news that some political party had urged the CM on the behest of, u know who, to postpone the scrapping. Also they told him that lets talk about this in next session of assembly and not now. The reason was, many builders and developers (not poor us, but the other kindred) has invested lot of money in land and the real estate. If this law is scrapped now, then they will suffer heavy losses. This was really astonishing to mere mortal like me and I was just loss of words to explain my anger about such a move. Also this makes it very clear that where the loyalties of those, whoever is talking about public welfare, actually lie.
Now the people of urban Maharashtra have to wait for 3 more months to get this happen, and hopefully at least then it shall happen.
As over last one and half year, the rates of real estate have crossed all the limits in Pune, the middle class is bearing the brunt of the situation. The so called growth is so obscene that every piece of $hit apartment had started costing at least twice that its worth.
Then came the news that Chief Minister of Maharashtra is going to put the resolution in current assembly session to scrap this act. Now don’t think that its b’coz that he cares for the people or something, but that’s the directive/condition by Central Govt. to release some kinda aid for the state. But whatever may be the reason, it might had provided some respite to the so-called aam aadmi.
But then came the news that some political party had urged the CM on the behest of, u know who, to postpone the scrapping. Also they told him that lets talk about this in next session of assembly and not now. The reason was, many builders and developers (not poor us, but the other kindred) has invested lot of money in land and the real estate. If this law is scrapped now, then they will suffer heavy losses. This was really astonishing to mere mortal like me and I was just loss of words to explain my anger about such a move. Also this makes it very clear that where the loyalties of those, whoever is talking about public welfare, actually lie.
Now the people of urban Maharashtra have to wait for 3 more months to get this happen, and hopefully at least then it shall happen.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Is it coming back to normal…
I spent last weekend in Delhi for a wedding of my very close IITD pal. The wedding was lovely, beautiful and great fun.
It was great fun to catch up with the old pals… but saying this was just a metaphor as we never missed the touch with each other… we are very densely connected to each other… but still meeting in person still has its charm.
Delhi/Gurgaon were simmering at 40 degrees those two days and I was literally getting dehydrated. But I know that’s temporary as I will be headed back to ‘comparatively’ cooler Pune, which I call my home now…
As my flight was preparing to land in Pune…the pilot announced that the day is bright and sunny in Pune with temperature 40 degrees. I was taken aback, its 4pm in afternoon and I was expecting some relief from heat, especially if I am coming back from NCR…
Got down, got Auto-Rickshaw for myself and I headed back to home, and then it happened… I got caught in the thunderstorm, not that I m complaining, it was great fun and whole atmosphere was dark, cloudy, moist, wet, and chilled…
I instantly remembered my old days in Pune which I spent as undergrad student. Then also, Pune used to sizzle in summers, but only till certain extent and then the un-timely thunderstorm with heavy rain will come and make the whole city drenched and chilled at least for next few weeks…and then again the temperatures will start rising to reach some level and again the thunderstorm… this used to continue almost whole summer…
But this has stopped for last few years, when the growth of the city started, number of vehicles increased on the road, increasing the heat generated, tree cut down to widen the road and build the concrete jungle where so-called working professionals (like us) can live, etc etc. Due to all this Pune started getting hotter and hotter.
So now I was wondering, if the olden phenomenon of thunderstorms has returned to Pune for good, or it’s just another effect of widely acclaimed adversary ‘Global Warming’…
It was great fun to catch up with the old pals… but saying this was just a metaphor as we never missed the touch with each other… we are very densely connected to each other… but still meeting in person still has its charm.
Delhi/Gurgaon were simmering at 40 degrees those two days and I was literally getting dehydrated. But I know that’s temporary as I will be headed back to ‘comparatively’ cooler Pune, which I call my home now…
As my flight was preparing to land in Pune…the pilot announced that the day is bright and sunny in Pune with temperature 40 degrees. I was taken aback, its 4pm in afternoon and I was expecting some relief from heat, especially if I am coming back from NCR…
Got down, got Auto-Rickshaw for myself and I headed back to home, and then it happened… I got caught in the thunderstorm, not that I m complaining, it was great fun and whole atmosphere was dark, cloudy, moist, wet, and chilled…
I instantly remembered my old days in Pune which I spent as undergrad student. Then also, Pune used to sizzle in summers, but only till certain extent and then the un-timely thunderstorm with heavy rain will come and make the whole city drenched and chilled at least for next few weeks…and then again the temperatures will start rising to reach some level and again the thunderstorm… this used to continue almost whole summer…
But this has stopped for last few years, when the growth of the city started, number of vehicles increased on the road, increasing the heat generated, tree cut down to widen the road and build the concrete jungle where so-called working professionals (like us) can live, etc etc. Due to all this Pune started getting hotter and hotter.
So now I was wondering, if the olden phenomenon of thunderstorms has returned to Pune for good, or it’s just another effect of widely acclaimed adversary ‘Global Warming’…
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Tough life…
Just today I was reading in newspaper about PPF and ELSS related investments also coming under the tax (EET way)… but felt so sorry for myself and all other so called middle class salaried people in this country for their un-fortunate life…
For salaried people are the people who almost run this country as they pay (or have to pay) taxes…even they toil all the way to make the ends meet… Most of the businessmen successfully evade taxes and end up paying almost peanuts to Govt…
Everyone is ready to fleece us, just take a look around… simplest case can be housing you can say…
Other day, I was watching program called Hot Properties on NDTV and found out the luxurious apartment in DLF, Gurgaon available at the rate of 2550Rs per sq feet… and ask the teen pot builder in second grade localities in Pune, and he will offer his apartments for not less than 3000Rs per sq feet… shocking isn’t it?
And what the so called Govt did to curb this? Almost nothing… just few reverse measures like increasing the stamp duty and registration fee to rub salt on the buyers’ wounds… and increasing the home loan interest rates by few points…
For salaried people are the people who almost run this country as they pay (or have to pay) taxes…even they toil all the way to make the ends meet… Most of the businessmen successfully evade taxes and end up paying almost peanuts to Govt…
Everyone is ready to fleece us, just take a look around… simplest case can be housing you can say…
Other day, I was watching program called Hot Properties on NDTV and found out the luxurious apartment in DLF, Gurgaon available at the rate of 2550Rs per sq feet… and ask the teen pot builder in second grade localities in Pune, and he will offer his apartments for not less than 3000Rs per sq feet… shocking isn’t it?
And what the so called Govt did to curb this? Almost nothing… just few reverse measures like increasing the stamp duty and registration fee to rub salt on the buyers’ wounds… and increasing the home loan interest rates by few points…
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
