Despite coming from a household where one parent has a Doctorate in History and the second holds two Masters degrees (one in History), I'm not that smart, and my appreciation of History is rather limited. And while I might have studied English Literature, I don't quite get poetry - other than Latin American poetry. Always been more of a prose person. However, none of these flaws in me has ever stopped me from appreciating the beauty of Delhi.
Unlike any other major urban centre in India, Delhi has a history that rivals only Athens and Rome. Indraprastha dates back to the time of the Mahabharat, and yes if that lunatic Sahib Singh Verma (one of the BJP's follies when they ran the NCR of Delhi) had his way, he would have reverted the cities name back six millenia. I might have been born in Calcutta, but I have spent the greater part of my life in Delhi. I have studied here, grown up here as well as found (and lost) love over here. I am a Delhi-ite.
Some people are not very happy being from this city. They bitch and moan about its heartlessness. Yes, maybe the city is heartless. Maybe you do leave accident victims on the roads, waiting for the police. Maybe the shock of a second-rung politician cooking his wife in a tandoor doesn't shock us. Nor do the stories of rocket-scientists with a fetish for young boys.
I remember when we moved back to Delhi after my father joined the Times of India, I was nine years old. Right behind our house in Panchsheel Enclave was the wide open expanse of Siri Fort. I used to take my cycle there with some school friends, but always got back before six. As we grew older we heard stories of.. well, you know what people do in big parks. Yet it was weird, because here we were living in a city just surrounded by history and not realising it.
Anyway, after we grew a bit older there were the evenings spent watching the Sunset from the ramparts of the Old Fort, even going to Humayun's Tomb (and climbing those two-feet high stairs) and Red Fort or to Karim's at Jama Masjid. The idea of history in most other cities is just not there. For gods sake, the school picnics - like those we took with Mrs Venkatraman or Mr Alphonso (yes, that was his name) from St Columba's were to decrepit tombs around the Qutub Area. One of those tombs in a Western City - say in Europe and they would be charging ten Euro entry or something. Here we just walked in.
Sometimes, when I got a car, I used to take a girl out to some of these places for a romantic getaway in the middle of the day. Once I remember, we went to Tughlakabad Fort, another huge fort, thats just there because we had nothing else to do. Just went and spent one whole day inside the ramparts of a fort, three people, thats it. A huge empty fort inside a city. Only in Delhi.
I don't know why my last few posts have carried on about this city. Maybe because I'm angry that people spread baseless lies about a city or maybe that my anger is directed towards those who attack my city. Normal programming will resume from my next post. I have to write about ToI's front page edit today (written I assume by 'Big' brother himself).
delhi
Monday, October 31, 2005
Sunday, October 30, 2005
Dilli Haat
I wanted to buy something for Friendgirl and Mom, so I decided to go to Dilli Haat for a small shopping adventure. After yesterday, my mother asked me if I was crazy (forgetting the fact that she had spent half the morning at Malviya Nagar market) going shopping after yesterday's attacks.
I mumbled something about not letting 'them' impact my Diwali. So, determined to screw Mr Jihadi by showing that he couldn't hurt the citizenry of Delhi (of which I am a temporary member again) I dragged Friendgirl and Double-T (much to Friendgirl's chargin) along and went to Dilli Haat. The place was rather empty. Why? Because I got parking within two minutes. Getting parking (if any of you have been to Dilli Haat, you'll know what I'm getting at) at that complex is pretty difficult and on a Sunday evening it should be impossible. That said, there were quite a few people at Dilli Haat. What surprised me most were the large number of firangs who were there. However, everybody from the traders to the restuarant waiters (I had a BijoliGrill Fish Orly) said that the crowds were lower.
But, I had come on a mission. And an special exhibition called 'India Weaves' made it easier to find things for the ladies. I bought two Kashmiri Pashmina shawls, and while buying the shawls I had a long chat with the shopkeeper, who obviously was Kashmiri. He just said this much, "They should give up now, by doing this they achieve nothing."
After that I managed to weave my way to Lodhi Colony market because Friendgirl wanted to buy some lights to put on her balcony. I went t6here because itr was on our way, and it is a lot cheaper than buying lights at a major South Delhi market. A nice long string of lights for Rs 25 is a steal I'ld say.
Now, I'll try and figure out the cards scene, but I have to first work out if there is a siungle HDFC Bank ATM with cash left this side of town.
delhi
I mumbled something about not letting 'them' impact my Diwali. So, determined to screw Mr Jihadi by showing that he couldn't hurt the citizenry of Delhi (of which I am a temporary member again) I dragged Friendgirl and Double-T (much to Friendgirl's chargin) along and went to Dilli Haat. The place was rather empty. Why? Because I got parking within two minutes. Getting parking (if any of you have been to Dilli Haat, you'll know what I'm getting at) at that complex is pretty difficult and on a Sunday evening it should be impossible. That said, there were quite a few people at Dilli Haat. What surprised me most were the large number of firangs who were there. However, everybody from the traders to the restuarant waiters (I had a BijoliGrill Fish Orly) said that the crowds were lower.
But, I had come on a mission. And an special exhibition called 'India Weaves' made it easier to find things for the ladies. I bought two Kashmiri Pashmina shawls, and while buying the shawls I had a long chat with the shopkeeper, who obviously was Kashmiri. He just said this much, "They should give up now, by doing this they achieve nothing."
After that I managed to weave my way to Lodhi Colony market because Friendgirl wanted to buy some lights to put on her balcony. I went t6here because itr was on our way, and it is a lot cheaper than buying lights at a major South Delhi market. A nice long string of lights for Rs 25 is a steal I'ld say.
Now, I'll try and figure out the cards scene, but I have to first work out if there is a siungle HDFC Bank ATM with cash left this side of town.
delhi
Why I love Delhi
There is a blogger in the blogosphere who am I now convinced is not telling the truth. A recent post by this person went out and savaged the reputation of Delhi - calling it heartless - narrating the tale of an accident victim outside AIIMS. Well girl, damn you! If you don't like the city go to the West, because we can do without people like you. And this story has also made me extremely suspicious of another claim this blogger has made before - about an unrecognised management school targeting her. There are extreme discrepencies in the story - the Delhi police for good or for bad is an extremely fast police force - any accident victim becomes a medico-legal case - you say hit and run and go to hospital in this city and there will be cops swarming all over you.
Anyway, yesterday shows why this is a great city. It did not degenrate into riots - even though the attacks were clearly by a bunch of Islamic militants. Within minutes of the blasts the police and the fire brigade were all over the place. Yes, the Congress government at the Centre in its inimicable style was slow to react, but Shiela Dixit, as usual, proved why she is a great CM, appearing on the major channels telling people to calm down. Private citizens were rushing people to hospital within seconds of the blast because they knew they had to.
I will go shopping today, I want to go shopping today and I want to spend money today and I know many others who will take the same decision.
By the way, what is Lashkar and Jaish doing for the 'liberated' people of Kashmir? On the other hand the brilliant work of the Indian armed forces after the earthquake on this side of the border shows why we are are the more effective and better state. We don't give a rat's ass about 30 F-16's. Nope, they want to gain the spotlight by bombing the people of Delhi. India should rescind its offer of help to Pakistan. They never wanted it in the first place, and if all that country is interested in doing is attacking the civilians - mothers, children - of their neighboutring (albeit through proxy groups) why should we care about their citizens.
Quid Pro Quo.
delhi
Anyway, yesterday shows why this is a great city. It did not degenrate into riots - even though the attacks were clearly by a bunch of Islamic militants. Within minutes of the blasts the police and the fire brigade were all over the place. Yes, the Congress government at the Centre in its inimicable style was slow to react, but Shiela Dixit, as usual, proved why she is a great CM, appearing on the major channels telling people to calm down. Private citizens were rushing people to hospital within seconds of the blast because they knew they had to.
I will go shopping today, I want to go shopping today and I want to spend money today and I know many others who will take the same decision.
By the way, what is Lashkar and Jaish doing for the 'liberated' people of Kashmir? On the other hand the brilliant work of the Indian armed forces after the earthquake on this side of the border shows why we are are the more effective and better state. We don't give a rat's ass about 30 F-16's. Nope, they want to gain the spotlight by bombing the people of Delhi. India should rescind its offer of help to Pakistan. They never wanted it in the first place, and if all that country is interested in doing is attacking the civilians - mothers, children - of their neighboutring (albeit through proxy groups) why should we care about their citizens.
Quid Pro Quo.
delhi
Saturday, October 29, 2005
Blast!
I'm switching between NDTV 24x7, Star News and Aaj Tak right now trying to find out a bit more about the serial blasts that have happened in the city today. So far there are no concrete numbers for how many people have died - the number might be as big as 50. I have seen quite a few dead (and charred) bodies on a couple of the channels from the Sarojini Nagar blast. The scene is bad, the city will probably go into lock-down, there will be hundreds of cops swarming the streets. Everything is chaotic, mobile networks are down, of course, the media is totally chaotic, everone is falling over each other to be more gory than the other, that said Sidharth is doing a great job on ND. I've gotten calls from friends in Bombay - asking me if I'm fine. Which I am, I'm sitting in GK and don't plan to move for a bit.
At times like this, I hate Pakistan and I think that all terrorists should be hanged till they die. I support the death penalty at times like this. I really do.
2100IST UPDATE : According to NDTV there have been 37 bodies recovered already at Safdarjung. The Sarojini blast was quite obviously the worst - it seems to have been planted at a chaat shop, next to a milling crowd in one of the most crowded markets in the capital. The narrow lanes and loads of nylon clothing must have made it an inferno. And then there is that very Indian habit of crowding around an accident scene, making the job of the police a lot worse. The government has declared an 'Emergency' in Delhi and many of the streets have cleared out. The PM is rushing back to Delhi to assess the impact of the blasts.
All on a day that India was trying to offer help to Pakistan. Ungrateful buggers.
Late night UPDATE : I spoke to Sidharth of NDTV who is stuck at SN Market an he says that the scene is rather gruesome. Another friend Vikram who shoots for the Express sai that Safdarjung is full of dead bodies, the sight is rather depressing. The collective psyche of this city is down, three days before Diwali, there are almost no crackers being burst today. The lights outside peoples homes are out. Card parties (an event raised over and over and rather unnessescarily by Barkha Dutt) are being cancelled. But this city is resilient and it will survive. Say whatever you want to about Delhi, this is my city and I love this city and no fucking piece of terrorist scum is going to get away with this.
delhi blasts
At times like this, I hate Pakistan and I think that all terrorists should be hanged till they die. I support the death penalty at times like this. I really do.
2100IST UPDATE : According to NDTV there have been 37 bodies recovered already at Safdarjung. The Sarojini blast was quite obviously the worst - it seems to have been planted at a chaat shop, next to a milling crowd in one of the most crowded markets in the capital. The narrow lanes and loads of nylon clothing must have made it an inferno. And then there is that very Indian habit of crowding around an accident scene, making the job of the police a lot worse. The government has declared an 'Emergency' in Delhi and many of the streets have cleared out. The PM is rushing back to Delhi to assess the impact of the blasts.
All on a day that India was trying to offer help to Pakistan. Ungrateful buggers.
Late night UPDATE : I spoke to Sidharth of NDTV who is stuck at SN Market an he says that the scene is rather gruesome. Another friend Vikram who shoots for the Express sai that Safdarjung is full of dead bodies, the sight is rather depressing. The collective psyche of this city is down, three days before Diwali, there are almost no crackers being burst today. The lights outside peoples homes are out. Card parties (an event raised over and over and rather unnessescarily by Barkha Dutt) are being cancelled. But this city is resilient and it will survive. Say whatever you want to about Delhi, this is my city and I love this city and no fucking piece of terrorist scum is going to get away with this.
delhi blasts
White lies, black lies, grey lies.
'Sach bolte hain hum'
Yaar, but everybody lies - the media, the sources in the media, advertisers - just about everybody. Some people and organisations lie less, some like a particular unrecognised Business School lie a lot. I mean I lie all the time - here are typical examples
Friendgirl : "Where are you?"
Moi : "Just five minutes away" (When I haven't left office)
However the above example is a typical 'man' lie. A typical 'woman' lie is the often heard term, "Almost ready".
But both the above examples are situations forced upon us. Now if I was to tell my partner/spouse/friendgirl that I was actually at GK-1 when I am supposed to be on my way to Defence Colony to pick her up, all hell would break loose. You always have that secret hope that she might find a Cosmopolitan or something at the magazine stand and get engrossed in that while you try to break every single traffic law to try and get to Def Col Market is triple-quick time. But if you were honest, she would threaten to leave you for a better looking man (or something like that) and you would end up spending quite a lot of money wooing her back.
Ditto for when women say, 'almost ready'.
But when is a lie, a damaging one - a harmful lie - a 'black' lie? When it impacts the careers and lives of people. Say, I claim to be educated or have worked or taught somewhere, you know I can. I can claim to to be an Oxbridge graduate, no-one will check for some time right. Or pretend to be a Doctor. Or even a Lawyer. Who checks degrees nowadays.
These lies can damage lives, but because we treat lies so lightly, its no big deal, is iot. Whats the difference between a white lie and a black one. Little, if anything. A white lie for someone is someone else's black lie.
There are people who impart news nowadays who claim to have graduated from certain colleges when you know they haven't - or in certain cases you know that they are lying about their marks or degrees. But it is a white lie people will say, because it doesn't impact people's lives does it? True. I mean, what are my qualifications to write news, nothing in particular. Maybe the ability to store a huge amount of trivia and being a glib talker. God knows.
Now what about people who lie/make up stories on their blogs? Hey, it is not as bad as say the Times of India making up stories, or the pinkest paper lifting stories (or certain magazines run by people who work for a certain unrecognised business school which lift entire stories and data). They're white lies people will say. So bloggers often make up these fanciful stories of drama, trauma, sex and tragedy. Some of these stories we can see through (I'm a better liar than most, I can usually pick up bullshit faster) some we can't.
But I disagree. There is no white lie, or no black lie. Every lie is a grey lie. Some lies are greyer than others, but every lie is a shade of grey, because just like Black&White TV was always grey, life is the same. A multitude of greys. Lies are the same.
Yaar, but everybody lies - the media, the sources in the media, advertisers - just about everybody. Some people and organisations lie less, some like a particular unrecognised Business School lie a lot. I mean I lie all the time - here are typical examples
Friendgirl : "Where are you?"
Moi : "Just five minutes away" (When I haven't left office)
However the above example is a typical 'man' lie. A typical 'woman' lie is the often heard term, "Almost ready".
But both the above examples are situations forced upon us. Now if I was to tell my partner/spouse/friendgirl that I was actually at GK-1 when I am supposed to be on my way to Defence Colony to pick her up, all hell would break loose. You always have that secret hope that she might find a Cosmopolitan or something at the magazine stand and get engrossed in that while you try to break every single traffic law to try and get to Def Col Market is triple-quick time. But if you were honest, she would threaten to leave you for a better looking man (or something like that) and you would end up spending quite a lot of money wooing her back.
Ditto for when women say, 'almost ready'.
But when is a lie, a damaging one - a harmful lie - a 'black' lie? When it impacts the careers and lives of people. Say, I claim to be educated or have worked or taught somewhere, you know I can. I can claim to to be an Oxbridge graduate, no-one will check for some time right. Or pretend to be a Doctor. Or even a Lawyer. Who checks degrees nowadays.
These lies can damage lives, but because we treat lies so lightly, its no big deal, is iot. Whats the difference between a white lie and a black one. Little, if anything. A white lie for someone is someone else's black lie.
There are people who impart news nowadays who claim to have graduated from certain colleges when you know they haven't - or in certain cases you know that they are lying about their marks or degrees. But it is a white lie people will say, because it doesn't impact people's lives does it? True. I mean, what are my qualifications to write news, nothing in particular. Maybe the ability to store a huge amount of trivia and being a glib talker. God knows.
Now what about people who lie/make up stories on their blogs? Hey, it is not as bad as say the Times of India making up stories, or the pinkest paper lifting stories (or certain magazines run by people who work for a certain unrecognised business school which lift entire stories and data). They're white lies people will say. So bloggers often make up these fanciful stories of drama, trauma, sex and tragedy. Some of these stories we can see through (I'm a better liar than most, I can usually pick up bullshit faster) some we can't.
But I disagree. There is no white lie, or no black lie. Every lie is a grey lie. Some lies are greyer than others, but every lie is a shade of grey, because just like Black&White TV was always grey, life is the same. A multitude of greys. Lies are the same.
Thursday, October 27, 2005
Breaking News
Rajdeep's channel is going to be called CNN-IBN. They will be the face of CNN in India. Make of that what you will.
PS : Maxim magazine (India edition) launches in January.
PS : Maxim magazine (India edition) launches in January.
TeeCee
I had barely been back in the capital for 24 hours when Rodu suggested the following - lets go to TeeCee. My impassioned screams of "Nahin!" were ignored by the group of three, despite the fact that I was doing the driving (Note to self: Must never crib about Delhi roads/Drivers again). So we went to TeeCee - and because it was 'Media Night' the place was jam-packed. It seems Gaurav Sorel has been an expected benificiary of the media boom. I met him downstairs as he was trying to run back home (there was a distinct lack of oxygen in the place) and he was just smiling away about the business boost that media night had provided him. However, there weren't too many media sods around (unless you count adsales and PR guys as media) - even though I did end up meeting at least 15 people I hadn't met in a year, and many others I didn't want to meet.
Now despite what some people think of TeeCee (the only place that plays rock music in Delhi - now that The Mezz has finally sold out - damn the fact that the guy plays the same music day in and day out - the last new music I heard there was two years ago), and I must admit I also like the place - yesterday was a very bad idea. One beer in, I managed to persuade Rodu to leave, the other two didn't need much convincing. So went to this new joint at Saket called Bennigans - its a multinational chain a la TGIF or Ruby Tuesday, but the decor reminded me of a cheap lodge in Manali, too woody and it felt too old. But they did have good draught beer and the food - other than the glorified bread pakora that Rodu had wasn't terribly bad. In fact it was rather good. If only the place was a tad brighter.
Later Bobs joined us and after going through a round about conversation about the differences between Hentai, Anime, Manga et al (we still don't know the differences) and coming to the conclusion that the Japaanese have to be the single weirdest culture on the face of this planet (even though sometimes I think that us Indians - if we can be classified as a single culture that is - give them a run for their Yen).
Anyweay, I've done my TeeCee darshan, now to have some more fun. Bobs is jamming tonight, so I guess I'm headed back to Saket.
Now back to everyones fave topic - IIPM. Vivek Law on CNBC TV18/Awaaz is slowly 'uncovering' IIPM's worst kept secrets, and thanks to the work done by the army of bloggers, some of the better kept secrets are also coming out of the closet. I wonder if people at IIPM have begun to lose their jobs for pathetic fire-fighting abilities. I mean, these guys make the Bush administration's fire-fighting and PR abilities look good.
Now despite what some people think of TeeCee (the only place that plays rock music in Delhi - now that The Mezz has finally sold out - damn the fact that the guy plays the same music day in and day out - the last new music I heard there was two years ago), and I must admit I also like the place - yesterday was a very bad idea. One beer in, I managed to persuade Rodu to leave, the other two didn't need much convincing. So went to this new joint at Saket called Bennigans - its a multinational chain a la TGIF or Ruby Tuesday, but the decor reminded me of a cheap lodge in Manali, too woody and it felt too old. But they did have good draught beer and the food - other than the glorified bread pakora that Rodu had wasn't terribly bad. In fact it was rather good. If only the place was a tad brighter.
Later Bobs joined us and after going through a round about conversation about the differences between Hentai, Anime, Manga et al (we still don't know the differences) and coming to the conclusion that the Japaanese have to be the single weirdest culture on the face of this planet (even though sometimes I think that us Indians - if we can be classified as a single culture that is - give them a run for their Yen).
Anyweay, I've done my TeeCee darshan, now to have some more fun. Bobs is jamming tonight, so I guess I'm headed back to Saket.
Now back to everyones fave topic - IIPM. Vivek Law on CNBC TV18/Awaaz is slowly 'uncovering' IIPM's worst kept secrets, and thanks to the work done by the army of bloggers, some of the better kept secrets are also coming out of the closet. I wonder if people at IIPM have begun to lose their jobs for pathetic fire-fighting abilities. I mean, these guys make the Bush administration's fire-fighting and PR abilities look good.
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Ford or Honda!
My posts take off so often on comments.... This time on cars.
Now that I'm back in Delhi, I am going to persuade DD to get a new car since the Accent we have is getting very worse for the wear after 85000 k's and six years on the road. And since it is all about upgrading, the choice is rather clear - either the new Honda Civic which will be launched in January or February 2006 in India or the Ford Fiesta which was launched today and should hit the roads by early November.
We don't need a car right now and while Diesel is still the cheaper fuel, just look at the two cars - the Fiesta on top and the Civic below. The Civic looks like something out of Star Trek, it will have an extremely frugal engine (the new Honda City my mom drives gives ridiculously high milage) and it will be brilliantly engineered. That said, I'm sure the Ford will be an amazing car to drive - the 1.6 Ikon, Fusion and Mondeo are really good drivers cars - let me clarify that these are great cars by Indian standards - the only bum cars by Ford was the early Escort, the old 1.3 Ikon (the new 1.3 Ikon is a good car, not fun) and the Endeavour is slower than an elephant at full speed, though it is as cavernous as an elephant.
That said, the old Honda City was a ants-in-your-pants kind of car. It was the first production car that gave 100hp in India, and while it did not handle as well as its direct competition the Mitsubishhi Lancer - SD had an SFXi which was amazing around corners - it went like a freaking rocket. Even though one should not show off about law-breakingly stupid antics - it was in a City VTEC that I had for a test-drive that I once did Uni to Saket in just over 15 minutes.
The new City lost that driving exhilaration element - but with the excitement also went the old City's tendency to scuttle about losing its tail, because the new car didn't have the power. Until now. The City ZX I hear is a killer car, I'll get my hands on one next week, and being in the capital with oodles of road to play with, it'll be fun.
But, I'm supposed to be writing about the Civic. I know that Honda will put a derated engine in the car to deqal with the adultrated fuel that we get, but I'm sure that the engine will still have 120-130 horses, sufficient power and will be frugal to a fault. And heck, the car looks - well - looks amazing. I mean people who said that the new City looked too radical and won't sell in India - all of them being Auto magazine editors in India - well, the City is the highest selling car in its class - while not being the cheapest (Messrs. Ikon, Esteem and Indica) or the most fun (maybe the Fusion, and well, by SIAM classifications also the Optra 1.8 also falls in that segment). But I think the Civic will take the rug from under the Corrolla and kill the Octavia -0 of course thats because I feel that the General (despite flying magazine editors all over the world) has screwed up royally in India - but that is typical for General management.
The Ford Fiesta I guess will do damn well - particularly the Diesel version. But, if I had to buy a Diesel in that class I would rather buy an Octavia, and if I wanted a slightly smaller diesel - I'ld either wait till Maruti builds its new Diesel plant (and Hyundai plans to build one too by 2007) or Skoda launches the Fabia in mid to late 2006.
I don't know why, but I would never buy an American car - even though it might be just wearing an American brand (The Optra is Korean, the Fiesta was designed in Europe) - I don't know why, but somehow, naah. Stick to the Japanese brands out here - Maruti-Suzuki, Toyota and Honda (and while I won't buy a Hyundai - they do make decent cars).
OK, lets see the two cars - the Fiesta on top and the new Civic is below. Draw your own conclusions.
Achha, I see IIPM have been issuing the adverts all over the place for themselves, any response from the companies that they have mentioned?
Now that I'm back in Delhi, I am going to persuade DD to get a new car since the Accent we have is getting very worse for the wear after 85000 k's and six years on the road. And since it is all about upgrading, the choice is rather clear - either the new Honda Civic which will be launched in January or February 2006 in India or the Ford Fiesta which was launched today and should hit the roads by early November.
We don't need a car right now and while Diesel is still the cheaper fuel, just look at the two cars - the Fiesta on top and the Civic below. The Civic looks like something out of Star Trek, it will have an extremely frugal engine (the new Honda City my mom drives gives ridiculously high milage) and it will be brilliantly engineered. That said, I'm sure the Ford will be an amazing car to drive - the 1.6 Ikon, Fusion and Mondeo are really good drivers cars - let me clarify that these are great cars by Indian standards - the only bum cars by Ford was the early Escort, the old 1.3 Ikon (the new 1.3 Ikon is a good car, not fun) and the Endeavour is slower than an elephant at full speed, though it is as cavernous as an elephant.
That said, the old Honda City was a ants-in-your-pants kind of car. It was the first production car that gave 100hp in India, and while it did not handle as well as its direct competition the Mitsubishhi Lancer - SD had an SFXi which was amazing around corners - it went like a freaking rocket. Even though one should not show off about law-breakingly stupid antics - it was in a City VTEC that I had for a test-drive that I once did Uni to Saket in just over 15 minutes.
The new City lost that driving exhilaration element - but with the excitement also went the old City's tendency to scuttle about losing its tail, because the new car didn't have the power. Until now. The City ZX I hear is a killer car, I'll get my hands on one next week, and being in the capital with oodles of road to play with, it'll be fun.
But, I'm supposed to be writing about the Civic. I know that Honda will put a derated engine in the car to deqal with the adultrated fuel that we get, but I'm sure that the engine will still have 120-130 horses, sufficient power and will be frugal to a fault. And heck, the car looks - well - looks amazing. I mean people who said that the new City looked too radical and won't sell in India - all of them being Auto magazine editors in India - well, the City is the highest selling car in its class - while not being the cheapest (Messrs. Ikon, Esteem and Indica) or the most fun (maybe the Fusion, and well, by SIAM classifications also the Optra 1.8 also falls in that segment). But I think the Civic will take the rug from under the Corrolla and kill the Octavia -0 of course thats because I feel that the General (despite flying magazine editors all over the world) has screwed up royally in India - but that is typical for General management.
The Ford Fiesta I guess will do damn well - particularly the Diesel version. But, if I had to buy a Diesel in that class I would rather buy an Octavia, and if I wanted a slightly smaller diesel - I'ld either wait till Maruti builds its new Diesel plant (and Hyundai plans to build one too by 2007) or Skoda launches the Fabia in mid to late 2006.
I don't know why, but I would never buy an American car - even though it might be just wearing an American brand (The Optra is Korean, the Fiesta was designed in Europe) - I don't know why, but somehow, naah. Stick to the Japanese brands out here - Maruti-Suzuki, Toyota and Honda (and while I won't buy a Hyundai - they do make decent cars).
OK, lets see the two cars - the Fiesta on top and the new Civic is below. Draw your own conclusions.
Achha, I see IIPM have been issuing the adverts all over the place for themselves, any response from the companies that they have mentioned?
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
A last post from the Big Guava/Mango/Banana etc...
I bid adieu to this city for a couple of weeks, and I will not rant about the fact that not only are the stations and most of the rakes used by the suburban train system three decades old, the rails seem to have been made when India was still under the Imperial yoke. Please notice if you happen to be at Lower Parel/Mahalaxmi stations that the rails are marked 'British Steel'. To the best of my (albeit rather limited) knowledge SAIL has been making rail tracks for over four decades. Sigh! And all the Delhi papers/magazines talk about how much profit the railways will make this year thanks to Laloo's excellent stewardship (or lack of thereof). Sigh!
Why do I always end up ranting on the dilapidated state of the Mumbai suburban rail network. It is worse than the IIPM deal.
Someone asked me why I disabled anonymous comments on my blog since I am 'anonymous' myself. Well, my anonymity is just naam ke vaste, most people who read this blog know who I am. So lets keep it at this vague non-committal level. No, the reason I disabled anon comments is because certain people leave rather bitchy comments all over the blogosphere - the latest ones I'm getting are from our friendly neighbourhood unrecognised management institute at other people's blogs. Sigh! And they even claim to love me.
The obvious question here is 'Why me?', and I think I even know the answer to this question. I wonder if friendly neighbourhood unrecognised management institute that is soon to be in UGC soup will go crying to my father - 'Dakho tomar chele ki lekhe?'
I will soon shift this blog onto Wordpress, change its look and feel while on vacation, but of course tell myself that my life isn't all about this blog. But also boost the level of IP searchability of my visitors. Heck, I don't know why I started blogging, maybe because I like hearing the noise that the keyboard makes (and I am a loud typist) as I move my fingers over it. Maybe, I thought having a blog (back in September 2004) was 'cool'. Maybe, it gave me a kick to gossip online and remain 'anonymous'.
Or maybe, I could even change my life, become something I am not. Instead of being the overweight, clumsy guy that I am, I could become this smart, suave lady-killer, bedding a different PYT every night. Some bloggers have more convincing online personas than their boring offline selves, so why not me? And I could make it sound convincing as well. I'm a rather good liar when it comes down to the nitty-gritty, even though I have been caught up in my stories once in a while - I don't need to be though because I really do have enough wild-escapades to write about.
Anyway, before I forget - I was taken to this rather intriguing place in Khar 'Sheetal' I believe its called and its just off SV Road, late last night by MS and SV and their pal - they served us something called 'Chicken in Crab Sauce'. Sounds awfully bastardised, but it tasted damn bloody good. Or maybe it was the five beers inside me controlling my taste buds.
Never thought I say this, but I'll miss Bombay!
Why do I always end up ranting on the dilapidated state of the Mumbai suburban rail network. It is worse than the IIPM deal.
Someone asked me why I disabled anonymous comments on my blog since I am 'anonymous' myself. Well, my anonymity is just naam ke vaste, most people who read this blog know who I am. So lets keep it at this vague non-committal level. No, the reason I disabled anon comments is because certain people leave rather bitchy comments all over the blogosphere - the latest ones I'm getting are from our friendly neighbourhood unrecognised management institute at other people's blogs. Sigh! And they even claim to love me.
The obvious question here is 'Why me?', and I think I even know the answer to this question. I wonder if friendly neighbourhood unrecognised management institute that is soon to be in UGC soup will go crying to my father - 'Dakho tomar chele ki lekhe?'
I will soon shift this blog onto Wordpress, change its look and feel while on vacation, but of course tell myself that my life isn't all about this blog. But also boost the level of IP searchability of my visitors. Heck, I don't know why I started blogging, maybe because I like hearing the noise that the keyboard makes (and I am a loud typist) as I move my fingers over it. Maybe, I thought having a blog (back in September 2004) was 'cool'. Maybe, it gave me a kick to gossip online and remain 'anonymous'.
Or maybe, I could even change my life, become something I am not. Instead of being the overweight, clumsy guy that I am, I could become this smart, suave lady-killer, bedding a different PYT every night. Some bloggers have more convincing online personas than their boring offline selves, so why not me? And I could make it sound convincing as well. I'm a rather good liar when it comes down to the nitty-gritty, even though I have been caught up in my stories once in a while - I don't need to be though because I really do have enough wild-escapades to write about.
Anyway, before I forget - I was taken to this rather intriguing place in Khar 'Sheetal' I believe its called and its just off SV Road, late last night by MS and SV and their pal - they served us something called 'Chicken in Crab Sauce'. Sounds awfully bastardised, but it tasted damn bloody good. Or maybe it was the five beers inside me controlling my taste buds.
Never thought I say this, but I'll miss Bombay!
Monday, October 24, 2005
Another week, another life....
I watched The Motorcycle Diaries last night. There wasn't too much motorcycling in the movie as the Noton 500 goes kaput about a fourth of the way in. While the conematography is brilliant, the story feels rather 'curt' at times - subjecting any piece of literature to Hollywood's 100-minute movie ideal does make things rather difficult for the ditor, but I have always felt that DVD's could at least have the 'Longer Version' as an option and not the cursory 'Deleted Scenes' special feature. Even though, that said, there is this huge rumour that my arty-farty dostlog keep telling me about how Coppola will one day bring out a six-hour uncut version of Apocalypse Now because even Redux couldn't fit everything in. And I'm still trying to understand the entire French colony thing.The second movie I watched last night was Pedro Almadovar's 'What have I done to deserve this'. This is one of the Spanish filmakers earlier films and it did seem a little half-baked. But it have the typical Almadovar criss-crossing of everything with everything. But unlike Live Flesh, you didn't get completely mind-fucked at the end and then had to spend two hours deconstructing the entire movie just to understand what happened. Hollywood makes it slightly easy for you - Kaiser Soze in the Usual Suspects y'know. Not as easy as Bollywood though.
Anyway, I head back to Delhi, which now in my opinion is the only city in India worthy of the title of 'Metropolis' because Bombay is increasingly seeming like one big slum.
I am still amazed at the contrast between the 'haves' and the 'have-nots' in Bombay, because there is shitloads of money in the city, but it seems rather strange that the city itself barely manages to limp along. There is no doubt that the suburban train system in Mumbai is possibly one of the world's greatest, but it would help if it didn't look like the world's shabbiest. You might think that I'm just a spoiled Delhi boy bitching because I miss the big roads and open areas, and talk to a Mumbai-kar about Delhi and they'll say Hamara Paisa se bana hai Dilli. While I don't exactly agree or disagree with that argument, the ignorance of the government (both local and national) towards this city is mind-boggling.
Sigh!
Anyway, Jeh Wadia's little pink airline starts flying on the 30th. If you're lucky you can catch a free ticket - they plan to give away 10,000 a month - if they colour them pink (did Preity have anything to do with the colour?). But, as I have asked before, how on earth do these guys make moolah? And with fares going to be 'cheaper' than Air Deccan, how on earth do the Wadia's plan to make money off this venture?
Please to note IIPM and Planman issues an ad to itself about the statements in a particular magazine.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
