Aditya’s Blog

I Ran

I ran in the dark.

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Run Mumbai Run!

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Confused in translation

Everyone who lives in Mumbai is by now used to seeing thousands of hoardings all over the place. It is everywhere! The moment you raise your vision by 30 degrees vertically, you will spot atleast 2 hoardings no matter where you are. This, at the same time of course, is also true for any metropolis anywhere in the world.

No, I have nothing against these hoardings. Actually I do, but that is not what I am pointing at. If you have paid attention to most of these hoardings, the product they are trying to advertise are mass market products, given the reach that these hoardings can achieve. If these products are mass market, the obvious language that they need to communicate in, is Hindi. However, all of these hoardings are in english. Atleast they are written in english. What I mean is, even though they are written in the english language, they are actually Hindi words! Now, why would anybody do that?

I have been seeing this trend for a couple of years now and I am still confused about what the possible reason could be. For example, just two days back I saw a Castrol Activ hoarding. This one was a compliment to the new TV ad campaign with the two Sardars on the bike where the dad is teaching the son to ride a bike. The hoarding has the same picture of the father and son on the bike and next to them is written, 'Stop - Go Traffic Mein All-Round Protection'. 'Mein' here is a Hindi word which means 'in'. So, not only is there a Hindi word in the midst, the sentence itself is supposed to be in Hindi. Of course it makes sense to keep a Hindi sentence as all the TV ads are also in Hindi and this is a product for the masses. However, if a person cannot read english, how will he understand it in the first place? And this is true for hundreds of such ads for products, services and the ones that use this the most, Hindi General Entertainment Channels! I mean, ALL their shows are in Hindi! Most of their audiences are non english speaking women! How can you do this to them?

Now the answer to this conundrum might be in the following questions:

1. Do they mean that only if someone can read english can they buy their product?
2. Have they figured out that Indians living in Mumbai like believing that a hoarding in Hindi script is unattractive?
3. Do Mumbaiites believe that Hindi script is LS?
4. Do the television channels believe they have all the non english reading people wrapped up and all they need to attract are english reading folks who think in Hindi?

The answer might be, that even though people in Mumbai like reading stuff in english and find it more convenient, they still think in Hindi. All their thoughts are in Hindi. This is what makes it easier for them to relate to a hoarding or an ad and most of the people who are driving are anyways people who can read english faster than Hindi.

Ahaan! Maybe I should have blogged about this earlier, I would have found the answer faster!

You think this is the right answer?

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The Linker - Just a bridge?

It is absolutely poetic. An example of beauty. A symbol of progress. A massive achievement of engineering. A tribute to Indians.
 
Yes. I am still talking about The Linker aka Bandra Worli Sea Link. Didnt matter that it took me twenty five minutes to get on it. What mattered was that I got off it in the shortest fifteen minutes of my life.
 
For those fifteen minutes I felt I was not in the real world. There was something about this monstrosity that enchanted me and I couldnt take my eyes off her. The glistening black road helped by the light drizzle was a perfect contrast to the cables illuminated by brilliant white lights. It transcended me into the surreal.
 
It was anticipation that took me till I reached the portion enforced by the giant cables; and when I did reach them I could not stop looking up. The cables looked like they were suspended in mid air with the support of the bridge and not the other way round. I now can totally understand everyone who took a U turn to go back on it just to have another look.
 
It was midnight and this was already a local attraction. Dont know what tourists will do. This is much more than a bridge linking two destinations to reduce traffic. This is a symbol. A symbol that will mean so many different things to so many different people. To me, it reinforces what Dr. Manmohan Singh said (he was quoting Victor Hugo) before presenting the 1991 budget, "No power on earth can stop an idea whose time has come". Yes, I am in love with that idea.
 
That is what this bridge means to me.

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10 things the Bandra Worli Sea Link will be used for

Now that the pre-launch euphoria has ended and the post-launch
euphoria has begun, let us take stock of this behemoth of a structure.
Here are my 10 things for the BWSL or what I call - 'The Linker'.

 1. Mumbai Darshan. This ones an obvious one with the making sure this
is a tourist attraction thanks to it being a national landmark. Look
out when your cousins next come to town and ask you to show them The
Linker.

 2. Political leverage. Well, we are already seeing parties having
issues with the name. Come on, get a life! But the Congress is lucky
to still be in term while The Linker was opened. No wonder with the
elections coming up they opened atleast half of it.

 3. Posters. It is that pretty isnt it? The gorgeous Linker.

 4. Drag races. Come on! This ones easy. Cant you see it? Its long,
straight, smooth, pretty and on the sea, what more does a racer need?
This one I would love to see.

 5. Income for cops. Inspite of all the speed cameras and speed guns,
how can you not floor it beyond 50 (limit will change to 75 later)?
Its all green for cops.

 6. Movies. This one you saw coming. Maybe a movie about drag races on
The Linker.

 7. Ads. This ones easier. Look out for the next few car and bike ads.
They dont need to go abroad anymore.

 8. Artists. Paintings of The Linker against a setting sun anyone?

 9. Suicides. This is the most common use that bridges the world over
have been put to. And dying on The Linker? B E A Utiful!

 10. Wedding. Lets wait and watch how long this one actually takes. You
two will probably be alone and behind bars by the time you are in holy
matrimony.

 So there you have it. 10 brilliant ideas if The Linker doesnt end up
easing traffic and as a result is refused to be used for its original
purpose.

 P.S. This is another blog post from Powai :)

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10 things to do when you are stuck in traffic at Powai

As I have mentioned in my earlier posts, I travel to work by road and this route goes through Powai. Now Powai, apart from the IIT, Powai lake and
Hiranandani, is also very well known for its infamous peak hour traffic. So, I have come up with 10 things that you can do when you are stuck in
Powai (which you will be).
 
1. Take a walk. As Abhishek Bachchan says in the idea ads, walk when you talk. Start walking by getting out of the car. If you are in the bus, walk in the bus. There is nothing better than a morning walk surrounded by carbon monoxide.
 
2. Interact with IITians. This is your chance to interact with the brightest minds in the world! Just walk across the road and talk to any guy you meet there. Strike up a conversation about the latest discovery in astro-physics or the launch of the iPhone 3Gs. You can even walk when you talk! Don't worry about your vehicle. It will still be there when you come back, and so will all the other vehicles around it.
 
3. Shop! Yes, shop! There are many shops in the vicinity and they are eager to sell. Finish your weekly shopping here so that you don't have to do it on a Sunday. Imagine the sleep you will get on Sundays.
 
4. Sell! Let us take the previous suggestion to the next step. Get anything that you think is clutter at your home and trade it for something else.
After all one man's garbage is another man's.....well, something. Now that I think of this again, it is a brilliant idea! If this takes off, Powai will
become the biggest flea market in the world! Imagine the gadgets the IIT guys would want to sell there! God I am brilliant!
 
5. Call the lost ones. Call all those people who you thought you never had time to call. Call them and yell at them for not calling you all this while.
Listen to Aby Baby and walk when you talk. Basically get your social quotient high.
 
6. Sleep. Catch up on your sleep. Nothing more needs to be said.
 
7. Boat ride. Go to the Powai lake and take a boat ride. This is excellent exercise and will strengthen your back muscles and arms like nothing else. Come on, so what if the water is dirty?
 
8. Read up. Buy 4 newspapers and read them cover to cover. Yes, it is possible. Very much so! Moreover, this is bound to help you in the interview you will soon be giving thanks to your late arrival at office everyday.
 
9. Talk to other drivers. So what if the car next to you is a cab? What is a cab today can be a cute girl tomorrow. Get into the habit. Talk to the
driver next to you about everything except the traffic.
 
10. Blog. Just like I am doing :P

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MMS CET 2009 final results out

Yes, they are out and the next batch of MMS students will now be working towards making their choices for the colleges.

Hope you make an informed choice and get what you deserve.

Here is a list of top ten colleges in MY opinion. This is my opinion only and it is meant only for guidance and not as any advice (not on my conscience will I take that).

1. JBIMS (No question about it)
2. K J Somaiya Institute of Management Studies & Research (SIMSR) (NOT because it is my college)
3. WE School (Welingkar)
4. Sydenham (Has lost its old charm)
5. N L Dalmia (One of the best for finance)
6. SIES (Was better than Dalmia a couple of years back)
7. MET (Trying to get there)
8. PUMBA (Strong alumni but no alumni network)
9. St. Xavier's Institute of Management Studies (Will climb this table soon)
10. IES/ Chetana (It becomes difficult to choose at this point)

All the best to everyone who is going to fill out their option forms soon.

P.S. I am an MMS student at SIMSR and this is my opinion and I don't expect anyone to agree with me.

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The View?

What were they thinking?

Why would anyone name a building 'The View'?

I saw this building at Powai, facing the Powai Lake. They could have so easily named it 'Lake View'. But I guess just as they were about to agree with that name, some guy said, "Wait a minute, there are many buildings facing the lake, so how can we name it Lake View? That is not an exclusive view for us! And it is also unfair to all those other buildings!"

Seriously! In my opinion, anything with the word 'view' on it sounds like a cliched name for a hotel in one of those touristy places. Would you live in a building like this?

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Analysing the voter turnout

 A lot has been said about the sad voter turnout throughout the country. But has anybody analysed the reason?

Here is one of the analysis I read in The Economic Times yesterday :-)

Ten reasons why South Mumbai did not vote

10. Clashed with Salsa class

9. Election whites not drycleaned

8. No candidate a hottie

7. Tony Jethmalani contesting from suburbs. Sigh

6. No valet parking at booth

5. Spotted servant in queue ahead of us

4. Driver not come

3. Elections over dude, Obama won!

2. No party tackling real issues, eg, reduce Gold Gym rates

1. No home delivery!

Why Delhi turned up to vote

1. They loved the Tata Tea ad

2. They saw the Chopras go out, and thought they must overtake the Lancer from left

3. Bunty’s girlfriend wanted to when they were going out for some Chinese

4. Diwan Saheb on second floor persuaded them. He is jaaaint saactry in DPCC

5. Without stable government, real estate will not revive

6. Election Commission directly asked Pappu. So nice of them

7. Grandfather started talking on Partition, and they had to run

8. Auntyji hoped some TV crew will come and take a soundbite

9.Baba Ramdev said it is good for health

And finally, 10. They had to beat the Bambaiyaas. Izzat ka sawaal hai, hainji?

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Mumbaites making Mumbai Shanghai

In an unprecedented initiative, the citizens of Mumbai have taken upon themselves to make sure that Mumbai becomes Shanghai.

Over the past few years, the promise that every administrator made was to convert Mumbai into Shanghai. All this while, these have just remained promises. But now, the citizens of the Maximum City have resolved that they will not let the ineptitude and inefficiency of the administrators discourage them. The people have now taken matters into their own hands.

The citizens know that Rome was not built in a day and this applies to Shanghai too. The masses have realised that one of the major things that differentiates both the countries is the Government by itself. More importantly, the way in which the Government is formed. The people of Shanghai have absolutely no say in who governs them. This seems to work for them. The citizens of Mumbai are trying to do that as well. Atleast 57% of Mumbai is trying their best.

If one looks at the trend in detail, one can see that this has been an attempt since more than a decade now. The voter turnout dipped to a low of 41.43 percent in 1991, but climbed to 45.90 percent in 1996 and 50.26 percent in 1998. The figure again nosedived to 44.86 percent in 1999 and then touched 47.15 percent in 2004 showing that people who do not want the progress of the city and this country still vote. But this year more have adopted the progressive mindset and decided to not vote, bringing the voter turnout to a whopping 41.24%!

This strategy was noticed by various NGOs, the media and various celebrities. They realised that they will be strangled and have no freedom at all if Mumbai becomes Shanghai and selfishly released campaigns encouraging people to vote. But finally, we, the people prevailed. The day is now not far when we can proudly say we are similar to Shanghai atleast in one aspect!

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