Round 2 About To Begin !!!

It was 17th August 2005 when I joined Microsoft group at Persistent Systems. Today, after 3 years, on 17th August 2008, I am going back to join the same group, after a gap of around 9 months, on the same day. I am in flight right now and may take up some time to post this one, but I am feeling great to be back with the same team...

That day was special, this day is also special - at least for me...its my birthday after all ;) History is about to repeat itself. 3 years back I joined with an aim, to learn as much as possible...down the line, today, aim has changed but not the energy! I am hoping for another successful tenure with this great team.

Though I have not been with team for around 9 months, but I have been in constant touch with all guys! So, I am not having any alien feeling going back there. Celebration for the third anniversary with the team will be on shortly :)

Round 2 is about to begin now...Way to Go Masters!

Celebration Style...Delhi Way!!!

This is the only time when people fly kites in Delhi, 15th August. Its no longer a special Independence Day celebration, its a part of life here! Come 15th August and everyone climbs up to terrace at least once today. Whether there is breeze or not, whether one knows to fly a kite or not, whether the humidity is 0% or 100%, you will meet everyone if you are there on the terrace for the whole day!

There was not much breeze today, I am not a good "Patangbaaz" and humidity was on the higher side as well...BUT WHO CARES? I enjoyed a lot today with kites...I celebrated my relieving from my current company (which happened yesterday...more on this later), shouted "I Booooooo Kaaaaaaatttaaaee" few times and felt great !!! The kites in the photograph were the only ones left after the day :)

And mind it...its not Independence Day celebration! I celebrate being a part of India everyday :) And efforts to make it better will continue life long :)

Have We Betrayed Their Sacrifice?

Its INDEPENDENCE DAY...yet another! Its celebration time...yet again! Its a holiday...yet again! And it is one of those 2 days when people remember their nation (most of them, if not all...I am sorry to say that). Channels run a patriotic movie each, FM stations play few songs, there is a PM speech, tight security and all...that's it! A holiday for everyone to enjoy! Tell me, if 15th August is anything more than this!!

Every country's independence day is a proud moment for its citizens! And I am also a proud Indian today and for all the 365 days of an year, just like others are! But people who gave this chance to us, people like Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and hundreds others, will they feel proud when they will see us the way we are today and what they expected during their struggle? I am, by no means, saying that India hasn't progressed. It has, definitely! But what they dreamt of India to be and what we should make it, it is far away from that. In fact, we have never won the race to freedom...

This morning I opened the newspaper and didn't looked for tri-coloured ads and articles. I went straight to National news to see about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. I don't think I need to say anything else on this...probably you can read my mind by now!

India still struggles from problems that should not have taken 62 years to get resolved. Religion, region, caste, child gender...list is endless! I am, by no means, a pessimistic guy - but a pigeon can not get away from a cat by closing its eyes! And we all know, that we have never opened our eyes to this at all!

India is suffering at the hands of its political system. And because India is now a "Senior Citizen" today, even its own people are neglecting it! Both parties are looking to make a twist in its tale for their own benefit.

What are we doing? I know I am putting up these questions again and again in my last few posts but I can not help it. I am trying and will continue to do so, should not everyone come and contribute, and help India get rid of its problems...

The dreams of our national independence heroes are already shattered. Ok...we remember their sacrifice every 26th January and 15th August...but have we justified their sacrifice? Or have we simply betrayed it?

A friend of my mine wrote this as his status message...

"For those, who only remember their nation twice a year...Happy Independence Day !!!"