It's eerie where a man can find resemblances. I was altogether not aghast to find the prison cell of Charles Shobraj in a recent TV series looking quite similar to the room that I have been calling my home, my refuge for some time. Damp walls cried out asking for a refurbishment, untidy personal items, apparently disorganised and scattered work files though inconspicuously highly catalogued in my agitated mind. The uneasiness is not about the scarcity or shortfalls, it's about the entrapment that you are made aware of, the real prison that in fact we are all living in. Maybe the correct approach was never to let yourself out and in fact was to get even more entrapped. The journey is long, questions endless and the existence abhorring. Finding meaning in the little chit chats, small tasks, a bit here and a bit there is the only thing that a common person can do. Achieving great things, conquering great heights and other lofty ambitions can be left for some other times when the writer is sober and all together drunk with the delusion of becoming immortal. Full stop!

Late night thoughts

I have been a learner always, though realised it after a while,

 I learned from my father while fighting with him how one can argue logically leaving behind all the emotions, 

From my elder sister how to love unconditionally, 

The younger sister taught me why punishment is mandatory so that mistakes ought not to be repeated, 

My cousin brother gave me an experience that no fun or happy times exist without accompanying

 And indeed my whole life dedicated to the philosophy that no single step forward can be taken without immersing yourself in the agony and wrath of abject failure. 

#Late night thoughts.

It's Good to be on the Moon!

The proclamation by ISRO chief S Somnath on one fine evening of August declaring that India is on the moon is a distinctive landmark in the last fifty four years journey of ISRO. Indeed it feels good to be on the moon. It's not that ISRO didn't have more impressive feats under its belt including Mangalyaan reaching the orbit of Mars for a cost of just seven rupees per kilometre. But yes the Moon was elusive for a while, quite understandably and inevitably given our enchantment with its poetic beauty forever. 

The successful Soft Landing of Vikram will pave way for greater feats to come.

But in the jubilation of epoch making events we often overlook the process of unwavering dedication of nameless people and their persistence admist countless failures. The journey is not just about rockets, payloads and rovers rather it's a story of overwhelming emotions which could be seen in the tears of the former director K Sivan on the crash landing of Chandrayan 2. The humble begining of this exalted organisation is often circulated on social media platforms in form of pictures of scientists carrying parts of rockets on their bycycle and bullock carts. ISRO is truly a perfect 'Made In India' story working on a shoestring budget amid international bans and embargos over technology and material sharing.

It's quite unbelievable, On a bycycle to moon🌝 

Though it is the sweat and labour of many committed and dedicated individuals to bring ISRO to its soaring heights, but to name a few and share their professional and personal stories is pertinent to unravel its glorious history. First among equals was Vikram Sarabhai who is the founding father of Indian Space programme. Once Abdul Kalam said that when we were continuously failing with our research rockets for almost three years, it was only the staunch belief of Sarabhai that kept our efforts alive. Even his last conversation before death with Abdul Kalam was regarding the design review of satellite launch vehicles, India was never going to find such a charismatic scientist and leader again.

Indeed a Team Work

 Second to none was the pair of Abdul Kalam and Dan Avaramudam who nurtured ISRO like their baby and are synonymous with the  growth story of ISRO. Being close friends apart from associates, they have many interesting anecdotes to share. Once while visiting USA for a training, these staunch vegetarian friends while searching for vegetarian food joint came across a cafe run by an old lady who though didn't have vegetarian food particularly but allowed them to use her kitchen to make the same. Longing for a hearty vegetarian meal now for some time, they put all the vegetarian ingredients in a pot they could find in the kitchen including rice, baking beans, onion, garlic and enormous amount of cheese on the top. What came out of the oven was something surprisingly so delicious that the cafe lady would later sell this as the "the thing", a huge hit among the locals. Abdul Kalam would later become the President of Republic of India and Dan was the chief architect of Mangalyan, the first of its kind to achieve success in the maiden attempt by any country in the world.

 

Dan and Abdul Kalam working together.

Later USSR a friend and strong believer in the space story of India, helped ISRO in many ways including providing it's the first computer. Our maiden satellite named after Ancient Mathematician Aryabhatta was also launched later by USSR. From launching its first satellite through a foreign launch vehicle, polar satelite launch vehicle (PSLV) the 'Chetak'  of ISRO today stands as the most economical and successful launch machine, never failing even in a single mission since the dawn of the new millennium. It has achieved rather amusing feats such as launching 100 satellites in a single mission showcasing impressive dexterity. 

PSLV has proven to be most effecient workhorse for ISRO

Today we are part of the elite world space club that can dream the impossible. With the successful soft landing of Vikram the lander and 'Pragyan' the rover taking joyful stroll across the south pole of moon, it will be soon  "Gaganyan" joining the party, the first manned mission of India to Moon. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that ISRO is the true flag bearer of Indian technological prowess and a hope for developing countries about what they can achieve even with less resources. 

A totally Farzi review of 'Farzi' in these contemporary times!

   An inspiration to print your own currency 

Recently I started watching a TV series named Farzi getting popular on Amazon Prime. Nowadays it takes a lot of guts and immense determination to initiate watching something which has a footage period of more than 30 seconds (regards: Tiktok and Instagram). Interestingly YouTube too succumbed to the pear pressure and started the 'Shorts' format, letting me to imagine who are we in comparison to these multinationals to sustain the pressure of competition heralded mostly by our dear relatives. 

Shared only for Illustrative purpose with no motivation or philosophy at all.

Now at this stage i would like to admit that the first thing which propelled me to watch this series was itself the YouTube/Instagram shorts( just to be clear that i don't hold any grudge against the changing nature of addictions with the latest entry being 'Reels' of all sort of non useful mundane but captivating activities, though I daily take a determination pledge to avoid them at any cost). I don't find anything more addictive than these shorts/reels which are deflecting you from yours goals, which anyhow you have no idea about. Further these are more contagious than any disease or virus that you may have heard about, leaving Covid-19 apart, just because of its celebratory status and no consequential control on it despite the government restrictions as usual, just in a similar manner like my daily resolutions. These shorts and Instagram reels are shared in such quantities on a daily manner to their gullible audience putting the mother's love to shame all around the world. Though these days the love for dogs has already been established as a category to challenge the same.

Now without disgressing anymore from the topic of Farzi, the TV series, I find it quite likable in many senses. First their strategy to share mostly the shorts of 'Michael', virtually the antagonist of storyline though a law enforcement agent viewed with awe and pity at the same time.It has been a common theme these days in TV series to portray their law enforcement agents entangled more in their daily life problems than they could ever have been for the cause of the country. Plus it has always been pretty convenient to leave the main villain alone of the daily life problems as if he has never been married in all these TV series. This concept of non married Villain has been imprinted so firmly in our minds since childhood, in the form of 'Mogambos', Shakaals, and 'Gabbars', almost coercing us the current generation to spend our lives single, given the exuberance of these great people.

Mogambo always happy!

Now coming to Michael, he with his crude hindi accent and the subtle art of not giving a fuck has proved to be a champion for this series. It has proved to be wise for these series makers to rope in the best talent from across the India as has been seen in last many series, and they are literally doing the service to the acting community. Shahid Kapoor is also doing good in the acting department as he has mastered the art of portraying a disheveled and desperate person which may not be very far from his acting status. The girl with the round face Rashi khanna seen earlier also in some good works and not ready to marry under family pressure has also acted naturally for whatsoever reasons.

'Megha Vyaas'

For now that is all i have to say about it as I have not watched the series completely, but had the urge to pen down these inconsequential thoughts. I may have disappointed you in some sense but given the quality of content that you go through on a daily basis, you wouldn't have much to complain apart from the time in excess to 30 seconds that you wasted here.

The Making of a Road!

If there is no other option left and you really need to make a road through that pristine landscape baring it of its lustrous meadows and pouring the molten lava over its naked derma, even then i request you to atleast dig deep trenches along it. Let the rainwater accumulate in it feeding and nurturing the small plants and letting them grow into groves cohabiting with the unbeholden creatures living their own lives oblivious to the death pacing on the metallic track next to them. If this soothing impression doesn't appeal to your barabric heart then maybe a future opportunity to butcher those woodlands to further expand your brutality at the behest of inconsiderate development might be reassuring.

A forgettable Train journey on a cold winter evening!

Generally as soon as the train leaves a big station, the city quickly fades away into oblivion. But then there are some train routes which pass like an artery through the heart of the city. The train moves parallel to the bustling street though in constant apprehension of separation soon. In your own imagination you compete with the vehicles moving on the street while they scram away unmindful to your presence. The shops may not be the biggest ones of the city but are lively enough. The small Tobacco shops littered along the way feeding off on your addiction. The ostentatious display of sweets alluring in their own way. The vibrant crowd gathered around small tea shops for maybe one last sip of Chai to call the day off. No matter what time of the year it is, the city looks like a joyous celebration going on, a decorated bride when looked from the safety of trellised window panes of the train compartment. People often use trains on these routes for local commute in the city, entering and leaving intermittently without making any mark of their existence on your experience of journey. As soon as your train reaches the outer limits of the city gathering speed the brightly lit boards of the shops are left behind forming a beautiful trail of colors. Now only a few houses are left in your view standing alone in their own solitude waiting to be engulfed by the ever expanding urbanism which is unaware or rather unmindful of the feelings and emotions of remoteness. With the moist fileds enveloped with fog appearing on the both sides, now what you are left with is a unending wait for a sleepy town ahead nestled somewhere in your imagination.

Who will win Uttar Pradesh Elections 2022?

Uttar Pradesh Elections 2022 in a nutshell! 

 We eagerly wait for the opinion polls and exit polls to peak into the future and get a glimpse of who will form the government. But we all know that even if the opinion polls are not biased to favour a particular party, their methodology and accuracy is questionable. In the past either they have been proven to be totally wrong (different party than the prediction forming government) or way off the mark in prediction of number of seats for the winning or losing party. Whether this happens due to statistical margin of error or a deliberate attempt to influence voters is food for thought for all of us. But instead of predicting any win for a particular party here we will discuss circumstances which are in favor of the two main contesting parties viz Samajwadi Party and Bhartiya Janta Party.

Circumstances and conditions which favour return of the current BJP government:

1. Almost all major Opinion Polls are predicting the return of the BJP government though with a reduced majority. Even though Opinion Polls in past have proven wrong like in West Bengal elections, they can't be completely ignored.

2. Yogi Adityanath has a very high approval rating amongst all other CM post contestants and especially amongst the core BJP voters. He is also viewed as a future Prime Minister by most of the supporters. Additionally the effect of Modi factor has also to be taken into account, given that he is still the single most popular leader at country level.

3. BJP has very robust election fighting machinery both online and offline viz Digital and having on ground presence. No other party has such a communication network to reach out to people and convey its propaganda. The concept of 'Panna Pramukh' i.e. basically dividing the whole constituency into booths or even lower level has been touted as a revolutionary theory in election management.

4. The National Electronic Media is highly favourable towards BJP, and a great critic of opposition parties. All day along the main motto of electronic media is to question the opposition and tag them as anti national and specifically anti Hindu.

5.  BJP has created it's image as of a Law and order enforcing government as opposed to the loose track record of Samajwadi Party in this regard. Despite of big ticket events of law and order failure in cases of Hathras or Lakhimpur, they are popular among Forward castes and polarised population in this regard. 

6. Many Social welfare schemes like Kisan Samman Nidhi, Pradhanmantri Awas yojna, Free ration etc. have made available direct cash in the accounts of farmers and other underprivileged people. Cash component has a very high influence on the thinking, pursuation and voting inclination of people at large.

Circumstances warranting Change of Government: 

 1. General Anti Incumbency which is faced by almost all the governments. In the case of BJP , the poor condition of state highways and city roads along with highly inadequate provisions for drainage and water clogging is causing a major dent on the image of the Government. Along with Akhilesh Yadav emerging as a lone challenger to the current government making it a two way contest has made the scenario even more interesting.

 2. Unemployment will prove to be a major election issue, BJP has not been able to project a counterclaim in this regard. Beating of Students in Prayagraj has rubbed salt on the wounds of youth and also shown high handedness of police, the ugly side of the law and order.

 3. Akhilesh Yadav has been successful in pitching himself as a CM candidate against Yogi Adityanath, providing an alternative for the people. It should be kept in mind that Indian elections despite being parliamentary type are fought in a presidential style, with high dependence on the charisma of the contesting leaders. The continuing success of BJP at centre in a major way can be attributed to the fact that no single leader has been able to challenge Narendra Modi at the national level.

 4. This time the Samajwadi party has been successful in setting the narrative of election in favor of caste politics as against the religious narrative being set by BJP in 2017 elections. Many Non Yadav OBC leaders have joined Samajwadi fold such as Om Prakash Rajbhar, Swami Prasad Maurya,, Jayant Chowdhary etc. who can tilt the balance in its favour.

5. The Samajwadi leadership has been successful in convincing it's cadre of the impending victory, which has committed them for election with full vigour and enthusiasm. The result of any election is the function of the hard work and contribution of the foot soldiers of the party. 

6. The ticket distribution strategy of Samajwadi party by opting for Non Muslims and Non Yadav OBC candidates has helped them in improving their image with regard of being a family based Yadav and Muslim centric party. This may also in the long run help them erase their image of being a "Goonda" party.

7. Inflation will prove to be a major rallying point with prices of essential items skyrocketing. Cost of LPG gas cylinder, Mustard oil etc. have almost doubled in last two-three years.

 

7. The Non mainstream media especially YouTube channels with high subscriber base have been providing a counter narrative against BJP propaganda machinery which may be able to influence people at large.

The results are going to be declared on the 10th of March and the next forty days are going to take you for a roller coaster ride with many candidates jumping from one side to the another depicting the uncertainty of the results.