On Broccoli

 This vegetable happens to be the latest additions to our high scale veggi wallas. I first heard of it in the 1960's when Dennis the Menace refused to partake despite his Mom's diatribe that they were good for the health though they tasted like crap(my words not hers). A fact endorsed by Bush the Elder American Prez even though he shared Dennis's views regarding its taste.

And now it has landed on our shores. Probably as a result of the assimilation of all things Americans by our Green Card holders. Who, on their visits may have felt nostalgic about those things available "back Home". I mean it is disgraceful that after 5000 odd years of civilisation we couldn't come up with a veggi as marvellous as this? Disgraceful. 

Still, all was not lost. The word spread. To the doctors, the dietitians, fitness gurus and of course those of us who did not want to be left behind when it came to things currently trendy.

Well, their efforts have paid off. You see this veggi all over the place. In the food Bazaars of High end Malls, high brow Veggi wallas, Hell, even your friendly neighbourhood veggi walla for whom it is a statement that "I have arrived".

Well, I haven't. Nor ever will. Maybe cause I don't have a recipe. Or, more likely, my take that Dara Singh wasnt a broccoli man. Nor were Milkha Singh, sundry Mr. India's, G.R. Viswanath or even Anna Hazare. If they could do without it, I think I can.  

On Vampires

When it comes to Vampires, I belong to the old school. Christopher Lee as Dracula. Designed to scare the crap out of us teens. Them vampires not being able to handle sunlight was a masterstroke cause it meant all the action occurred at night, the realm of the creepy crawlies. Though it always puzzled me how these guys managed to shave, given that they left no reflections in mirrors!.

Now as I watch Edward and Bella of Twilight lore making out in a sun splashed vale, I cant help wondering how far vampires have evolved. I mean guys like me wonder wouldn't Edward the Vampire's overwhelming passion literally "Ignite" in the Sun's all pervasive rays?  Isn't that why Shree C.Lee lived the nocturnal life, rather unwillingly I must say and took his revenge by biting all those around him?

How times have changed. Take the protagonists of "The Vampire Diaries". Its all about hot and happening girls with their Super Stud Vampire Boyfriends. Virility at age 834? And here our Indians are bemoaning impotence at the age of 22! These are the Gen.X vampires, know everything about School Exams considering they would probably be taking it the 101's time. Are upper class snobs(after all who would be interested in the travails of a Short order cook, fanged or otherwise) and of course partake of non human edibles. Which probably explains the evolutionary absense of Fangs. At least that is what I noticed, every time Edward smiled. On rare occasions. Cause he is the "Broody" type of Vampire. Still, a vampire with retracting or No fangs! Sacrilege! I mean what use a Vampire who drinks out of a straw! Jesus, what is the world coming to. The next thing you know, they would be running for president! After all, according to law, Anyone could run for President. Even if their birth certificate reads AD1493.

I guess what upsets me is the implied racism. After all, if Vampires could evolve, why couldn't Werewolf's?  Did we not domesticate them? The wolves I mean. So how come we don't have Were Labs? Who of course would yowl at the full moon in hunger for food, of course anything that is non human. But then I guess they have limited appeal for Hollywood. Imagine Bella getting Slobbered and then having to clean up the poop. No. Definitely not romantic. Pity.

I don't know where all this is going. But I feel betrayed. Cause if I ever mentioned Vampires were pretty scary, I'd probably get laughed out of town. I mean, come on Edward and his Doctor father? There definitely exists a generational gap.

Rajesh Khanna - The Passing of an era

Viewing the TV channels announcing the demise of Rajesh Khanna, for the first time I experienced at a personal level the emotion linked to the realisation that an era has passed. He was a large part of our teens. And it all started on a non flattering note.

In those days, with our farther in the Defence Services, shifting town on short notice was de reguire. So here we were, smack dab in the centre of Kanpur, an experience I wouldn't wish on anyone, friend or enemy. Our sole source of entertainment was Amin Sayani of Radio Ceylon promoting the music releases of up and coming movies. One of which was Aradhana. Whose songs literally stormed the charts. To the extent me and my elder brother vowed to see the movie even though it featured some average looking jerk opposite the delectable Ms Tagore.

Well the movie delivered, the picturisation of the songs certainly lived up to our expectations, Ms Tagore did very delivered in the Roop Tera Mastana song sequence (my emotions are overruling my grammar), the story line was plausible, which in those days was a complement given that we would swallow anything as long as the songs were sensational and the heroine was cute, and despite our apprehensions, our hero did his bit. With panache. So much so we labelled him affectionately "Ole Gurkha Eyes" based on his Head gear and twinkle in "Mere Sapno ki Rani".

Well, I suppose as South Indian lads living in the Hindi Heartland, in his subsequent movies our primary focus was on the Music Genius RD, Ms Tagore and that girl with divinely upturned pert nose, Mumu in short. Infact I once bunked school to see her rendering of "Duniya Mein" in Apna Desh. A worthwile exercise despite ensuing punishment. And Mr Khanna held his part in the ongoing dramas with effortless ease. In fact his "Mush" in Daag way outshone  Dev Anand's attempt in "Gambler". And his stylish duet with the gorgeous Tanuja in his "O Mere Dil ke Chain" will remain forever in my memories of the man.

I would call him more than a meteor than a Superstar cause he entered our firmament sweeping away everyone else, glowed for a brief period, and then vanished. Never to be seen again in that persona that electrified the nation. I would like to remember him like that.

Traffic Cops

A common sight on our streets are those of a bunch of Traffic Cops pulling over vehicles, usually 2 wheelers ostensibly to check whether their documents are in order. As stipulated by the MV Act, a document I have never seen nor do I wish to do so in the future. Cause it is just legalese to extort, an exercise our Rulers are adept in.

Take Registration. An exercise started when cars first hit the streets just to figure out which car belonged to who. Obviously a fee was charged for the clerical work. A one time fee.

And then there are us. An exorbitant  life time fee for a set of plates? Which work only in the State that has issued them. Cross a state line and  you need to reregister. Further proof that we are not a Single Country. After all, interlinking of State RTO records with high speed data access to the relevant police departments would do the job. A task that could be funded by ALL the fines collected by these very same traffic cops across the country. Which would be a substantial amount if the cops divulge the details of collection and what they are doing with all that moolah.

Instead, all you get is a demand for the RC. Failing which out comes the challan book. Tell me something. Are not those plates at both ends of your vehicle proof of the fact that you have in fact registered. OK the RC would identify you as a user. So if it isn't you at the wheel, then does it vindicate the cops action? I think not. Anybody could drive your vehicle so long as they have a valid DL. How does it concern the cops. Unless he is a thief. But for that there is a standard protocol. You lodge a complaint, giving all the relevant details to the Cops who, hopefully put out an alert  which, if spotted would be the ONLY justification for stopping a vehicle. Period.

  

The proposed visit of the Pakistan Cricket Team

Is it me or are there others who feel that the invite to the Pakistani Cricket team is kinda wrong? Like in disastrously wrong. Considering that the previous visit by the Pakistani Turkey shooting team to Mumbai had serious collateral damage. Something which even now makes our Blood boil in Rage. Especially since their so called "Trial" of "Non State Actors" is doing its damnedest to ensure that  the so called perps get the benefit of All doubts to help them establish their innocence. Like calling Abu Jundal an Indian and Headly an American and as such of no relevance even though they both had travelled with valid Pakistani passports.

The reality is that the ISI under the benevolence of their Army dictate events that decide policy of the country. Like their pull out from Siachin simply because they ran out of funds. After all today their country exists solely from remittances from expats and funds from benevolent nation in the "War against Terror". Which have dried up since the world now recognises Pakistan for what it is. A state that uses Terror to achieve what it perceives as "National Interest". Like the creation of the Taliban, LeT and the affiliation with the Al Quida. All of which are now virtually out of control. And are literally imploding the state. 

So the ISI/Army decides. Since it is a moment of financial crisis, scale down operations that arnt worth the money being spent. Like Kashmir. And Siachen. Only cloak it as a response to the "Aman ki Asha" kind of overtures that we have regretfully started. So, go the distance in diplomacy. Like Cricket. Hockey. Assorted fruit and nuts. Anything that would make us Indians misty eyed. And our Politico's puff in pride."See! we have achieved Peace." Which in reality is only a ruse by the ISI/Army to buy time to sort out their domestic issues that have reached critical levels. After which it will be business as usual. Jihad.

So, in my humble opinion, we should welcome a visit by the Pakistani team, with only  one condition. That they disband the ISI.  I think it is a fair deal.

Confirming

Just to confirm I have got it right

Intro

A few lines to check out how this process of Blogging works