Tired, but not out

All-work-and-no-play-Jacks are bringing the grinding rut to a halt. They are TIRED – but definitely not out. This Sunday Indian Express article chronicles a different path taken by the Thirtysomething Independent Radical Educated Drop-outs, who have chosen to opt out of the rodent derby and chase their passion or just chill.

They are plugged into the world and if there is a compelling reason to re-turn to the city, they will. All work and no play has had its day. Chakravarti is part of a growing tribe of urban professionals in their 30s and 40s who are beating the burn-out syndrome just as it seeps in, and exploring alternatives seen as deviant or maverick be-haviour, say a decade ago. They are leaping out of the rat race, grabbing mid-life crisis by its horns and turning it into the life they have always wanted to live. And this new avatar of the classic drop-out is becoming as common as the yup-pie of the early 80s. If you’re educated, liberal, urban, upper middle-class in your late 30s, chances are at least one of your acquaintances is contemplating an alternative.

Need I say more?

Got this as a forward - visit the site before it gets overwhelmed and closed down. And pray that the babus don't close it down as it is...

Government of India has a online Grievance forum at http://darpg-grievance.nic.in/

The government wants people to use this tool to highlight the problems they faced while dealing with Government officials or departments like Passport Office, Electricity board, BSNL/MTNL, Railways etc etc.

I know many people will say that these things don't work in India, but this actually works as one of our colleague in a company found. The guy I'm talking about lives in Faridabad. Couple of months back, the Faridabad Municipal Corporation laid new roads in his area and the residents were very happy about it. But 2 weeks later, BSNL dugged up the newly laid roads to install new cables which annoyed all the residents including this guy. But it was only this guy who used the above listed grievance forum to highlight his concern. And to his surprise, BSNL and Municipal Corporation of faridabad was served a show cause notice and the guy received a copy of the notice in one week. Government has asked the MC and BSNL about the goof up as its clear that both the government departments were not in sync at all.

So use this grievance forum and educate others who don't know about this facility. This way we can at least raise our concerns instead of just talking about the ' System' in India.

Subliminal Advertising

Sometimes, the advertisement is done so smartly, it takes some effort to figure out what it is. Everyone knows music is not the strong point of McDowell’s or Bacardi. But a good way to get away with regulations.

One such ad, not of a product that can come under scanner, in my opinion is made in a very round-about way. What is it about – I remember thinking – even after seeing it for several times. Is it about sun-glasses? Wrist watch? Mobile? Boots? Bike? Guy without stubble? Wait, must be the boots – after all, the jingle in the background does mention something about walking. But um perhaps not…. Is it about the guy with the stubble? His girlfriend? Road? Dam? Water? Bike? Hmm, the jingle now mentions something about the boots…must be the boots.

As it turns out, it is about a bike. Go figure!

What is DD up to?

At one time, the only channel available to the entertainment starved TV watchers was Doordharshan. Now, with a choice of more than 80 odd channels ranging from religion to breaking news, Doordarshan becomes a rare choice. But when cable goes off, there is little else to do…

I called the cable-guy, but got a treatment like a hapless host calling the heater fixing agency when the heater conks off on a chilly Thanksgiving Day. The only channel that somehow managed to show was one DD News. And what fun! Now I am no master of TRP, but I am not so sure if Saturday evening 8 PM is such a good time to show Kisan Vikas Program. Well, but they did!

And what happened then?

There was a well dressed farmer, with a tractor in the opening jingle…Sunil Dutt or Dilip Kumar fame mere desh ki dharti playing in the background. Then Rajiv Gandhi flashed in the background. Then Sonia talking to several farmers and then – hold on for this – Rahul Gandhi with a background of lush green farm. Rahul? RAHUL? No other farmer qualified eh? No Shastri? No Baramatikar? Not even Amitabh, the farmer from UP? Well, good for you farmer Rahul.

Looks like the he is being groomed for the next step…incidentally not based on his deeds, but based on sycophancy. And DD – the faithful servant – is taking good care of it.