The Comeback

The moment of truth has come knocking today. India won the World Cup and deservedly so. Team India has never been so consistent ever before. The fielding was brilliant in some of the games and much better than previous World Cups in all the matches. The batting has been established as the best in the world without dispute. And, therefore, I thought today would be the best day to make a come back. It truely is a crazily fabulous moment. So here I am. Congratulations all.

How to Revive BJP?

After reading much on this widely discussed topic in media, I am finally writing on it, triggered by this article on ANTIDOTE.

Congress has messed up so much in this country and at so many levels and for so long that it should actually be an advantage for BJP. It can leverage on all these pseudo socialistic policies and inefficient governance in the name of rural development and now "social inclusion". But it's not so easy. It needs a certain level of awareness at the lowest level of society. It requires people to understand how economy works and what opportunities exist if the markets are opened up and the governance is made more efficient. Again, it's not so easy. Each community needs to understand what is there for them in it and what are they missing now and why. BJP will have to sell this dream. In fact, it will have to not only sell it but make them realize how the current systems and policies are doing just the opposite. E.g. how NREGA is counter-productive and is doing more harm to economy than good. Instead building of roads, land reforms, and better irrigation, storage and transportation facilities will facilitate more earning and develop villages into towns and eventually cities. The party will have to develop a road map to implement these initiatives. Big work. How will it accomplish this? Where are the resources? I can't answer that. But if BJP has to survive, it will not only have to survive but also kill the competition.

Second issue is Hindutva. We all know BJP is in process of defining its Hindutva ideology and its taking forever. The trick is to also define the Congress' version of secularism up against Hindutva. Again, not only define but draw a picture of what's in it for everyone. It may have to go one step ahead and articulate how Hindutva is not a religious concept but more than that. It will have to clearly define what Hindutva includes and what it does not include. Needless to say, religious fanatism will have no place here. BJP will have to redefine the principle of Hindutva to mean libertarianism, progress and an Indian Society that works towards a goal; to make India what it should be, strong and prosperous India. The timing for BJP is most opportune to accomplish this. It has lost two elections back to back. There is need to revive the party in a new way. It can easily do away with ideologies that didn't work for it.

You might argue that the party can't just do away with its core principles. Here I want BJP to learn from the Congress. No matter what Congress does, it plays excellent politics. That's what BJP will have to do. And it will all be for a good reason.

Inspiration

Marine Drive is my favorite place in Mumbai. And that's my favourite view above. It inspires me a little. The little blue dot is my Bank's logo shining on top of its building. :)

I also went for a drive down the much talked about Worli Bandra Sea Link today. I was expecting a smooth drive at least at 11.30 at night but no, there was crazy traffic. Probably it would ease out once toll is charged. But today it left me unimpressed. Moreover it wont really solve Mumbai's problem until it completes the construction of all its lanes. Until then there will be temporory dividers and people taking U turns and halting traffic etc. Here's one picture that I took of the engineering feat sealink (dont know why I did that! May be beacuse the side bars didnt shine enough for a brand new bridge and I got a feeling that the Rs.1600 crs were not completely used for the poor bridge and lot of it went into people's pockets!)

Sibal’s Super Solution

Congress is just too good at this. Can't solve the solution of providing quality education to everyone? Because that requires allowing private investment in education; that requires more institutes; more courses; more teachers; more infrastructure. So what is the solution? Let's just scrap the damn exam! That ought to reduce the stress!!

What his foolish supporters do not understand is that it's not the exam that's causing the stress. It's the lack of opportunities available after the exam that's causing it. Seats in good colleges are only sufficient for the students with 95%+. It's a do or die situation. Anything less than 95% and u can say good bye to your dream colleges which in most likelihood would be handful of colleges across the country.

I am not really opposing the grading system. But I just think there are bigger issues at hand that need immediate attention rather than this populist measure.

My Theatrical Debut

A few months ago I got an sms which read “Audition for an English play – Dreamsellers. if you are interested please drop in at so-and-so place on so-and-so date”. I was intrigued to no end. Was it fraud? Where have we reached with mobile technology? It was one of those days where in was in mood for the not-so-ordinary (actually I always am!). So I called up to find out what exactly the deal was. A gentleman picked up who was himself a banker (there’s 1 point) and was directing the play and putting up a show with non actors. It was a comedy play. Me playing funny? I liked that (1 more point). Well then I googled this dude. Seems like he did have a few shows to his credit and been into this thing for quite sometime now (1 more point).

But I thought nah… Play? Theatre? Me? But on the day of audition I decided in the evening to just go and have some fun at the audition. Will I ever get a chance to do something so crazy? Can the comedienne in me do it? Can I be Rachel (me - a Friends Maniac)? may be.. lets just see… Well the audition went extraordinarily well. I was too thrilled. And I was in. I was in for Dreamsellers!!

My role? I am this young consultant who has a secret crush (which I make public and not subtly either) on her supposedly married boss who is also sleeping with his secretary. And my client has a crush on me. So there are big misunderstandings, hiding in boss’ closet and getting caught and suchlike events. My director told me I was playing the smart lady in the play. But my character turns down a job with a package of Rs.5crs per annum (FIVE CRORES!!!). So I am thinking, not so smart!

Play was on 31^st May. And the days leading up to it have been an experience in itself. Met some really nice people. Mostly different people! Different from people I am used to. I am getting regular sms for “auditions” now. I guess I am out there in the “theatre circle” now!! :P

Below are some picture from the play. Don’t I look like Rachel? Oh I knew you would say yes. Thank you thank you!