Honesty is Only a Personal Feeling!

If you are honest it's only by exception, because corruption is now the overpowering rule! That you are honest is only a personal feeling, that you are proud of the fact at your heart, 'Oh! I'm honest! I'll always be honest! I may suffer all my life, but I'll live with my head held high!' Yes, that's the only thing you'll achieve being honest apart from undergoing all the stresses, dismay, tension, shame and anger involved in the honesty paradigm!

If you are offered a bribe in your own office the honest you will definitely and indignantly decline it. But the fact is bound to remain forever with you only. Because, you won't be able to share it with anyone in your office for the simple fact that you are never sure who is how much in it! You are only likely to antagonize the system and the system will retaliate by making you a scapegoat. You cannot even take it to the top, because at the top level corruption combines with power making it lethal and ominously harmful.

Of course, a movement against corruption must be hailed as most welcome praying pitifully that it becomes a revolution. But ultimately power mongering may emerge within the committee fighting corruption. Power equations start building up between committee members and the most powerful ones get things done their way even if it means conniving with the vested interests of corruption. So you cannot help but doubting the final outcome which is bound to make you suffer more.

Therefore, the best policy is to enjoy your honesty in your innermost soul and be immensely proud of it. For the honest you self-respect is a prized possession without which you cease to exist. Why not then be honest and enjoy! Anybody dares rob you of this! Only you can decide.

Nostalgia: Indian Railway Canteens and Meals!

Today I just happened to read a news item regarding a Mumbai railway canteen which is serving only biscuits and samosas due to policy decisions. And, suddenly all the nostalgia came surging back to me!

Call it fate or coincidence, in the late eighties and early nineties I used to miss the connecting trains on my journeys from Mumbai to Guwahati almost always getting stranded at Howrah. But during my nights at the second class waiting room floors I used to have sound sleep, Because, I always had the sumptuous thali (rice plate) at the Howrah railway cafeteria. All the varieties were there--vegetarian, fish curry plate, egg curry plate or the chicken thali. The food was homely, innocent and always tasty. To make matters ecstatic, I was ravenously hungry on all the occasions!

Not only at Howrah, all of the railway canteens anywhere in India appealed to my gastronomic mind hugely. They looked so welcoming and appetizing. It was a comfort zone, almost a home where you can barge in with all your luggage, relax and have a wholesome homely tasty meal. The service was good too. Even now I long for them. Get nostalgic about them. I have been missing them for a long long time and hope the delights are there still.

Maybe the nostalgia has a lot to do with my basic characteristics. While on long train journey I used to be very healthy and hungry. So I always enjoyed the food offered in the trains--particularly the rice plates for lunch and supper. I used to wait impatiently for them to arrive at my seat and had them immediately. When Ragini was around with me things were little tricky! She was my opposite, almost loathing the thalis. She used to just peck on it and so normally only one thali had to be ordered for the two of us. And so, with the warm attractive thali in front of me, I had to wait for her to make up her mind to finally have it or even I had to woo her telling how exciting the items looked and that it was always justice to eat while the food was still warm! You see, though my urge was overpowering, I was not so selfish to start devouring before my wife joined me!

Are you getting ready for the Indian Railway Thali or are you just plain bored?

The Fish Doctor!

Well, are you intrigued seeing the fish? Fish is almost a staple diet in Assam, but don't worry, I am not going to promote eating fish! This comes in a hilarious context only. And the context is anyway Assam!

We finally arrived in Guwahati on 6th May afternoon thanks to Air India! For my ten days the trip had been really hectic. Just everything was done and accomplished. Attended from funerals to weddings involving travel, Ragini had two one-hour interview programs on different news channels-the second one being on the day I left, Ragini also had hugely appreciated concert of devotional music at the beautiful premises of Balaji Mandir (Temple) and I managed to meet my best friends and also spent valuable time with an eminent poet-writer of Assam. So, then, I thought of celebrating Assam with a good joke about 'fish'!

In certain areas of Assam fishermen are very smart and sharp. They believe that they are giving a most wanted service and they want to be respected and trusted for their quality 'fish'! Once in a famous market a discerning customer walks in looking for the freshest fish. He approached a seller taking a look at his varied presentation and focused on a rohu fish. He asked, 'Hi, is this fresh?' 'No worry, a fresh catch!' But still, the discerning customer wanted to be sure and fingered the fish pressing it feeling the 'freshness'! He was a little doubtful.

'It seems to be a little soft. Are you sure it's okay?'

The seller turned around and announced loudly, 'Hey friends! Please welcome the fish doctor! Bring all your fish over here for a free examination and expert diagnosis!'

The customer wished he could vanish at that very instant!