Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Gandhi's Talisman

"I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man [woman] whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him [her]. Will he [she] gain anything by it? Will it restore him [her] to a control over his [her] own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to Swaraj [freedom] for the hungry and spiritually starving millions?
Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away."

- One of the last notes left behind by Gandhi in 1948, expressing his deepest social thought.


Hello All,
Was away for long time with my sarcastic notes though I had lot many ideas but was too lazy to write it down. Few notes before I start with the post main body. First, I live in Bangalore since past 2 year and its my nature to get bored with anything any place where I stays for more than a year(or is it less). Second, I don't think I need to tell about who "Mahatma Gandhi" is/was in this post. Third, Above talisman was present in all the NCERT course book like a preface of any book. Never felt it carries some significance to me. But guess it had. And the talisman still carries the charm with it but in different perspective. ;-)

Last weekend was a happening one with me agreeing to come to Tirupati with my friends who happened to show the gratitude to GOD for making them successful in their endeavor(Read top rung Management college ranked between 1 to 8). And I joined them as this was going to be the last trip(first and last obviously) which I was making with them as they will be heading to northern part mostly and also to show gratitude to GOD for not making me successful in my endeavour(again read some management college).

There were 7 of us, 4 from Bangalore including me and 3 from Chennai (Heaven on the earth). This trip to Tirupati was TOTALLY unplanned we did not have tickets for the temple. Few souls who are not from India and visit my blog read about tirupati because this temple(place of worship) is one of its kind where there is a needs to have ticket/reservation to see the GOD. You will definitely find how great the GOD is because you need to take appointment to see him and that too for fraction of seconds. Govindaa Gooovindaaaa!!!

Due to my work commitment I was not free till 8PM Friday so asked friends to book the train which leaves last from Bangalore to Chennai. Boarded the train at 11:45 PM in night and from there our joy ride started. As its summer season so it was hot in Bangalore too which I thought was unbearable so didn't sleep till the train started running at full pace. Nearly at 12:30AM I slept and was woke up after hardly an hour. I was drenched with sweat as if I had some ghostly dreams. But truth was something else train had entered the lovely and cool weather of TN which was the main cause of my sweating heavily. Couldn't sleep whole night somehow reached Chennai early morning. Took local train and then an auto-rickshaw to finally reach my friends house. But the situation was If it was allowed in India/Chennai, I would have done striptease. Basically the word striptease doesn't fit hear but guess those who are dying in Chennai might understand my plight. Took a bath as soon as I reached his house had breakfast, another round of bath, had tasty food which friend cooked and then again a round of bath. Played cards (famous game of 29) for couple of hours and then we decided to leave for Tirupati in 2 hours. 2 hours time line because again everyone had to take the bath before leaving (after dinner obviously). Somehow I feel in Chennai, people(not all, only disgusting people like us) thinks food and bath are lovely pair which shouldn't be broken. Another friend of mine who was popular for saving water by not taking bath for weeks (or is it months) during engineering days was religiously following the 5 times bath a day schedule. ;-)

Trip from Chennai to Tirupati:-

However much I will say about the trip it will be less only. I guess one phrase what written for such moment only 'Few things in this world are unexplainable and the real feeling can be felt only if you are present at that moment'. Though we started from Chennai after having a nice bath, but the happy feeling was gone as soon as we stayed in the outside weather for say 20 minutes(or is it less, or am I exaggerating?). Somehow reached the bus stand and then we came to know that the bus which is about to leave is the last bus for Tirupati. We boarded it hurriedly and took the ticket. Lucky US!!! But the lucky feeling too was gone after taking the ticket because we got last seat, and you will never know what fun you get when you are traveling on bumpy and hilly road while seating on the last seat. And that too with all enthusiastic people who are excited about going to Tirupati, or is it travelling for first time? Whatever, they were making noise at the peak and at the same time hot weather was aiding to our plight. But guess it was not enough, the bus which we boarded and which was about to leave didnot leave and we were inside the bus for 20-30 minutes contemplating bus will leave now. Grrr.. But wait wait, this too was not enough because we saw another bus with no passenger at all coming to the same stand :'( And unfortunately we cant change the bus too, because we already took the ticket. Grrr.. And you know what, bus which came later left before us. :'( :'(

Thank GOD , after full 35 minutes our bus started finally and then something happened that they stopped after 2 KM hardly. And now we thought enough is enough, its almost 11:30 PM and now weather is cool outside. So lets get outside till the bus starts. After doing some goods loading the bus started at 12 AM. We thought at last we will be reaching tirupati on our planned time and with ample amount of sleep too. But our luck did not leave there too. Enthusiastic people never stopped talking and thanks to the co-passenger beside us and the heat due to whole commotion we were never able to sleep and whole night was gone awake.

We reached the tiruapti/tirumala somehow and started looking for ticket. And then yuppie!!! That thing happened which we were expecting may happen to us. We didnot get the ticket as ticket are sold in tirupati not in tirumala for same day darshanam. And we were thinking what to do now, because if we go back to tirupati and take the ticket it wouldn't have been possible to do the darshanam same day, as informed by few people there. Suddenly, we were approached by our well wishers who want to give us opportunity for darshan today itself. And he asked for 5000 Rs for the well wishing off course. We were taken aback and told thank you and we wont be taking the offer for two reason's. One it was too much and other we didnot carry that much cash combining all 7 of us. And there is reason for that too, software engineer do all the thing either online or through card for him there is little existence of material thing called hard cash!!! We finalized to go for free darshanam and we started for it. And take my experience, never ever try for free darshnam!!! you will be crushed in the queue until and unless you are body builder.

Free dharshanam!!! Was it free? you will get to know it soon. It was nearly 6'0 clock in morning when we got into the queue for free dharshnam. And then reached the cell, yeah its called cell only like one you have in jail, with only difference motif's and out come are different for going into the cell and coming out too. And we were welcomed by big board outside the cell, which said 9'0 clock dharshanam. Wait wait, it was not for 9 AM even though we reached the cell at 6:30 AM. It was for 9 PM, a whooping 15 hour wait for getting into the main queue for dharshanam. And we were like, WTF!!! What shall we do now, shall we go back, shall we stay or what shall we do now. And that indecision moment helped us greatly. Gate keeper started shouting to get into the cell and we told we have to stay inside that cell for 15 hours. Guessing our urgency and feeling we might go away without the dharshanam he asked us to stay outside the cell for a while. After 5 minute, he closed that cell too and then called us, and told 200Rs each person, for putting into main queue and also told we will be done with the dharshanam by 10 AM today itself. Exciting offer!!! but we were little suspicious because we never heard anything like bribery in Tirumala atleast taking into account how auspicious place it was and how people fear about doing anything wrong there. And one thing I want to clear people go to Tirumala because they want to thank the almighty and also sure that the mere dharshanam will clear all the wrong doers they did in their entire life. So it was fine by our part giving the bribe by us. ;-)

The guy was true marketing professional, and he told put away your suspicion, he wont be taking any money until the moment he puts us in main queue, from where it will be mere 2 hours wait for dharshanam. And that's what he did. Now everything in fast forward and boring way(or was it boring earlier), we paid the money, we had the dharshnam and we left as quickly as we can, reached tirupati from tirumala, got into AC restaurant, had good food (though it was not good), and did not leave until we got an AC bus, reached Chennai, had something good (this time is was good), boarded the bus to reach Chennai station to catch the train, got into the train and reached Bangalore. Oops, missed one thing again between reaching Chennai and having good food, and you know what was that. Nice Bath!!!

And reason for writing everything in fast forward, it was too long for a post and second I don't think I will be able to review it before publishing this post and also don't think readers will be having enough patience to read through our plight!!! Though I sincerely believe in on psychological statement, one's plight is others reason for enjoyment.

This is the end!!! Thank you if you were able to last till this point.

P.S.:- It was half written a months back but never felt like completing it. But finally completed it. And also I am sorry for spelling mistake, grammatical mistake wherever it happened. Dharshanam means seeing the God's temple, Temple is at hill called Tirumala, and Tirupati is the starting point of the hill. I guess this will be enough. :-)

P.P.S.:- Why Gandhi's Talisman??? Well I was kinda feeling that Bangalore is getting hotter and it is loosing its charm. But guess it was not the case, it is still better comparitively (on weather front).