Bandh!
For those not in the know, or people not of Indian origin - loosely translated this translates to a general strike! and how!! In the Indian context this translates to a complete shut down of all except essential services - which for some unfathomable reason does not include education or groceries - the strikers could really do with a healthy dose of the former... these things tend to be reasonably disruptive - forced holiday, relax at home with friend(s), family or dog (or anything else that you many fancy); catch up on your favourite idiot box junk; organise your bills (are you listening K); or catch up on movies (Casino Royal isn't really a bond movie - the Peter Sellers version was better - and Jude Law has done a terrific job in All the Kings Men, must read the book - Karma Cola {Gita Mehta} and Over to you {Roald Dhal} are recommended) which you may have missed in the theater, sports (see pic on right)... why, you would ask, cant one do all this on a regular holiday? because, my dear, then you can actually step out of the house AND have a life!
However, we are being unnecessarily harsh - this protest was about water and a river (Orwellian scenario to the boot) and it gave people of the former garden city, an opportunity to use the said water for the joyous cleansing of their hydrocarbon guzzlers, patches of green, and assorted pots and pans - lest it be misused by the neighbouring states for... well...the joyous cleansing of their hydrocarb...........
But lets not belittle the bandh's - not only do they provide a calm and peaceful environment to relax (in a bustling city), they contribute to the environment as well! Firstly there is no traffic - that itself should give the city (and Citizens) of Blr a few million carbon credits! Then there are no trains running (which is a few million more credits!) and then the icing on the cake - no air traffic (the carbon footprint of that must have shrunk to the size of my footprint!!!!). Then there are no tree choppers (really would you like to bee seen in public, with an axe (or a chain saw), facing a rampaging mob!?!?) - the strikers torch the most inflammable things, cars, buses and bikes - are strikes a possible solution to the traffic woes? All in all the cities save money (no dirt on streets), the cops get disciplined (no bribes on strike days), roads are used for what they are built for.....cricket!
So all in all a great deal for more sublime objectives ... why you would want to shut down your own businesses because someone else usurped your water is another story...
Footnote: All you girls out there (particularly SC, KV, SB(x 2) and NL) - Blood Diamond is highly recommended! And you blokes - take the little lady to the flick before valentines (On valentines pls. see at your own mortal peril). Good story line, excellent acting, brilliant cinematography and the locales are great - leonardo, Djimon Hounsou (of Lara Croft, Galdiator and Stargate fame) and Jennifer Connelly (of Hulk, Beautiful Mind and Dark City/Water fame) were all excellent. The movie prompted the Diamond Industry (or rather De Beers) to launch a $15 million PR exercise (or more like damage control)..
For those not in the know, or people not of Indian origin - loosely translated this translates to a general strike! and how!! In the Indian context this translates to a complete shut down of all except essential services - which for some unfathomable reason does not include education or groceries - the strikers could really do with a healthy dose of the former... these things tend to be reasonably disruptive - forced holiday, relax at home with friend(s), family or dog (or anything else that you many fancy); catch up on your favourite idiot box junk; organise your bills (are you listening K); or catch up on movies (Casino Royal isn't really a bond movie - the Peter Sellers version was better - and Jude Law has done a terrific job in All the Kings Men, must read the book - Karma Cola {Gita Mehta} and Over to you {Roald Dhal} are recommended) which you may have missed in the theater, sports (see pic on right)... why, you would ask, cant one do all this on a regular holiday? because, my dear, then you can actually step out of the house AND have a life!
However, we are being unnecessarily harsh - this protest was about water and a river (Orwellian scenario to the boot) and it gave people of the former garden city, an opportunity to use the said water for the joyous cleansing of their hydrocarbon guzzlers, patches of green, and assorted pots and pans - lest it be misused by the neighbouring states for... well...the joyous cleansing of their hydrocarb...........
But lets not belittle the bandh's - not only do they provide a calm and peaceful environment to relax (in a bustling city), they contribute to the environment as well! Firstly there is no traffic - that itself should give the city (and Citizens) of Blr a few million carbon credits! Then there are no trains running (which is a few million more credits!) and then the icing on the cake - no air traffic (the carbon footprint of that must have shrunk to the size of my footprint!!!!). Then there are no tree choppers (really would you like to bee seen in public, with an axe (or a chain saw), facing a rampaging mob!?!?) - the strikers torch the most inflammable things, cars, buses and bikes - are strikes a possible solution to the traffic woes? All in all the cities save money (no dirt on streets), the cops get disciplined (no bribes on strike days), roads are used for what they are built for.....cricket!
So all in all a great deal for more sublime objectives ... why you would want to shut down your own businesses because someone else usurped your water is another story...
Footnote: All you girls out there (particularly SC, KV, SB(x 2) and NL) - Blood Diamond is highly recommended! And you blokes - take the little lady to the flick before valentines (On valentines pls. see at your own mortal peril). Good story line, excellent acting, brilliant cinematography and the locales are great - leonardo, Djimon Hounsou (of Lara Croft, Galdiator and Stargate fame) and Jennifer Connelly (of Hulk, Beautiful Mind and Dark City/Water fame) were all excellent. The movie prompted the Diamond Industry (or rather De Beers) to launch a $15 million PR exercise (or more like damage control)..
Damn that rock music..
ReplyDeleteHuh? What rock music or all in general??
ReplyDelete