Saturday, December 27, 2008

Alcohoroscopes

Based on your Sun Signs, Alcohoroscopes explains your expected behaviour after you get drunk.

ARIES Drinking style Impulsive Aries people like to party and sometime sdon't know when to call it a night. Their competitive streak makes them prone to closing-time shot contests. They're sloppy, fun drunks, and they get mighty flirty after a couple tipples. Getting Aries people drunk I sa good way to get what you want out of them, should other methods fail. Aries can become bellicose when blotto, but they will assume that whatever happened should be forgiven (if not forgotten) by sunrise. They can be counted on to do the same for you -- so long as you haven't gone and done anything really horrible to them last night, you sneaky Gemini.

TAURUS Drinking style Taurus prefers to drink at a leisurely pace, aiming for a mellow glow rather than a full-on zonk. Since a truly intoxicated Taurus is a one-person stampede, the kind of bull-in-a-china-shop inebriate who spills red wine on white carpets and tells fart jokes to employers, the preference for wining and dining (or Bud and buddies) to body shots and barfing is quite fortunate for the rest of us. This is not to say thatthe Bull is by any means a teetotaler -- god, no. A squiffy Taurus will get, er, gregarious (full of loud mouth soup, some would say) and is extremely amusing to drag to a karaoke bar when intoxicated.

GEMINI Drinking style Gemini's can drink without changing their behavior much-- they're so naturally chatty and short-attention-spanned that it's just hard to tell sometimes. They can amaze you by conversing with finesse and allusion, then doing something to belie an extremely advanced state of intoxication, like puking in your shoe. Gemini's possess the magic ability to flirt successfully (and uninfuriatingly, which is very tricky) with several people at once. They like to order different cocktails every round -- repetition is boring -- and may create a theme (like yellow drinks: beer, sauvignon blanc and limoncello) for their own amusement.

CANCER Drinking style Cancer is a comfort drinker -- and an extra wine with dinner or an after-work beer or six can be extra comforting, can't it, Cancer darling? Like fellow water signs Scorpio and Pisces, Crabs must guard against lushery. Cancers are brilliant at ferreting out secret parties and insinuating themselves on VIP lists -- and, in true Hollywood style, Cancers are never really drunk; instead, they get 'tired and emotional' (read: weepy when lubricated). But there's nothing better than swapping stories (and spit) over a few bottles of inky red wine with your favorite Cancer. Even your second-favorite Cancer will do. The sign also rules the flavor vanilla, and you'd be adored if you served up a vanilla vodka and soda.

LEO Drinking style Leo likes to drink and dance -- they're often fabulous dancers, and usually pretty good drinkers as well, losing their commanding dignity and turning kittenish. Of course, they're quite aware they're darling -Leos will be Leos, after all. They generally know their limit, probably because they loathe losing self-control. When they get over-refreshed, expect flirting to ensue -- and perhaps not with the one what rung them. But Leo's not the type to break rules even when drunk, so just try to ignore it (try harder, Cancer) and expects a sheepish (and hung over) Lion to make it up to you the next day.

VIRGO Drinking style Cerebral Virgos are compelled to impose order onto their bender. Their famously fussy quest for purity could lead to drinking less than other signs, sure --but it could also lead to drinking booze neat, to sucking down organic wine or just to brand loyalty. They rarely get fully shellacked -- but, oh, when they do! Virgo's controlled by the intellect, but there's an unbridled beast
lurking within, and they let it loose when walloped. It's dead sexy (and surprisingly unsloppy). As one Virgo friend used to declare, 'I'm going to drink myself into a low-level of intelligence tonight.' A
toast to the sub genius IQ!

LIBRA Drinking style 'I'm jusht a social drinker,' slurs Libra, 'it's jusht that I'm so damn social?' Libra loves nothing more than to party, mingle and relate to everyone. Whether dipped in favor of Good Libra (with Insta-Frienddevice set to 'on') or heavier on the Evil Libra side (they are little instigators when bored), the Scales can really work a room. Charming as they are, Libras are notoriously
lacking in self-control, however, which can get them into all sorts of trouble --including wearing their wobbly boots waaaay too early in the evening, flirting with every man/woman in the roomor even blacking out the night's events entirely. Oops!

SCORPIO Drinking style Don't ever tell Scorpios they've had enough, for they'll smirk at you and quietly but intentionally keep tippling till they're hog-whimpering drunk, out of 100-proof spite. Scorpios like to drink, and screw you if you have a problem with that. Most of them seethe sauce as something to savor in itself, and not as a personality-altering tool -- though if depressed, self-loathing Scorps seek total obliteration. But generally, they're fascinating drinking pals, brilliant conversationalists and dizzying flirts. They also remember everything -- especially what you did when you were blitzed. Only drink with a Scorpio who likes you.

SAGITTARIUS Drinking style In vino veritas -- and, for Sagittarius, in booze blurtiness: When buttered, they'll spill all your secrets and many of their own. Tactlessness aside, Sagittarius is just plain fun to drink with. This is a sign of serious partying (what else would you expect from the sign of Sinatra, Keith Richards, the Bush twins and Anna Nicole Smith?). They're the people who chat up everyone in the room, then persuade the entire crowd to travel somewhere else -- like a nightclub, or a playground, or Cancun. Good-natured hijinks are sure to ensue (including a high possibility of loopy groping; spontaneous Sag is a brilliant booty call).

CAPRICORN Drinking style Capricorn is usually described as practical, steadfast, money-hungry and status-thirsty -- no wonder they get left off the astrological cocktail-party list. But this is the sign of
David Bowie and Annie Lennox, not to mention Elvis. Capricorn is the true rock star: independent, powerful and seriously charismatic, not too eager to please. And if they make money being themselves, who're you to quibble? But just like most rock stars, they're either totally
on or totally off, and they generally need a little social lubricant to loosen up and enjoy the after party, especially if they can hookup with a cute groupie.

AQUARIUS Drinking style Aquarius and drinking don't go together that well(except for water, that is). They have an innate tendency toward know-it-allism, and if they get an idea while sizzled, they're more stubborn than a stain or a stone. If they're throwing a party or organizing an outing, however, they're too preoccupied with their duties to get combative -- and they make perfectly charming drunks in that case. Fortunately, they're usually capital drink-nursers.. They also make the best designated drivers (if you can get them before they start raising their wrist):Aquarius is fascinated by drunk people and capable of holding interesting conversations with soused strangers while sober.

PISCES Drinking style If you're a Pisces, you've probably already heard that you share a sign and an addictive personality --with Liz Taylor, Lisa Minnelli and Kurt Cobain. Not only do Pisces like to lose
themselves in the dreamy, out-there feeling that only hooch can give, but they build up a mighty tolerance fast. Who needs an expensive date like that? On the other hand, they're fabulously enchanting partners, whether in conversation or in crime. With the right Pisces, you can start out sharing a pitcher of margaritas and windup in bed together for days. The phrase 'addictive personality' can be read two ways, you know.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Critical Mass Ride - Bangalore

Critical Mass - Bangalore

All you people out there with any kind of cycle...doodhwala cycles,
newspaperwalla cycles, mtb's, road bikes,
with and without gearwallas (and walis), with and without helmets...
here's calling all of you to bring along your cycles and join in the
first ever Critical Mass ride in Bangalore
spread the word and join the bandwagon....
Let's make it happen guys!!!!

The intention is to ride in a single line (i.e one cyclist behind the other)
and draw attention to the fact there there are people who cycle on the roads
and that other people using the road should know about us and provide us
equal opportunity to use the roads.
Just a simple peaceful ride!
Be there and lets have fun and make a statement!

Those who are interested to participate please turn up at the start point by 6.30pm.

Start : Lalbagh West Gate
End: To be decided
Time : 6:30 pm.
Date : 28.11.08 (last Friday of the month)

We cycle in a single file
No breaking red lights
No cussing
No arguing with motorists
Just a quiet ride. And it'll be fun.

A little background about Critical Mass.

All over the world, The Critical Mass (CM)
is done on the last friday of the month
..
Even though its a working day, the idea is to spread the message in
a live form to a large commuter base. If it were to be on a weekend
it would simply be a weekend leisure ride. CM helps in recognizing
the importance of respect that cyclists who commute daily deserve.

The first Critical Mass event was organised on September 25,
1992 in San Francisco, USA.
Over the years, citizens of 300-odd cities across the world have
embraced the concept. It is known by different names, such as
bike-lifting, corking and mass-up, in various cities.
Some Critical Mass events across the world have participants
not only on cycles, but also on skateboards and wheelchairs.
India is still not convinced about promoting cycling as a means of
transport but Amsterdam (Netherlands), New York, San Francisco,
Chicago, Portland (in USA), London (UK) and Paris (France)
boast of a flourishing bicycle culture

Btw, Even Delhi is having a CM on the same day
http://www.cyclists.in/events/delhi-critical-mass-on-28th

http://www.delhicriticalmass.in/how_to_start_Index.htm

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Dooms-(the)-day

Let me see. I've had my breakfast. My daily 1 hour dose of watching music video on YouTube. Have read the morning paper. Now the only thing left to do, doomsday be doomed, is hit the bed and go to sleep; for those who don't know, I work in the night shift for BPO in Bangalore so don't be surprised about me hitting the sack at 9 in the morning. Like all Doomsday predictions and prophecies, this too shall pass. I'd rather not (literally) lose my sleep over it, even in the unlikely event that the LHC or Large Hadron Collider does cause a black hole. For those who want to pray, this video is for them. Juggy D's Akheer, a devotional song in Punjabi




If all goes well, and it will, I'll make my next post once I wake up, unless as usual I'm too lazy for it.

Sunday, August 03, 2008

Yahoo Steals Photo From Flickr (?)

Flickr has been heaven for copyright violaters and photography thieves for quite some time now.. There are numerous stories on how someone's pic got stolen and was used by all the way from I-cant-shoot-good-but-I-cant-steal-and-show-off-online type of guys, to ad agencies and newspapers of national and international repute.. But who would have guessed something like this happening, or did someone? Yesterday, when I into the Yahoo mail ID, I saw a pic of a pug in one of the advertisement links.. After seeing the loads of dog pics day in and day out from the CUPA dog show that Bangalore Weekend Shoots/BWS (online Flickr group) attended recently, I thought I must be mistaken but that photo looked too familiar.. So thought would check it out starting with the BWS group pool itself then if I dont find it maybe check out individual pools of the photogs who attended the shoot that day. Anyway, I didnt have to search far.. A couple of pages down in the group pool, and I found the photo here http://www.flickr.com/photos/muttly/2663009361/

Click here to see the screenshot of the Yahoo page that I uploaded to Zooomr. The ad link directed to Yahoo Music site.

Can you believe Yahoo stealing directly from its own website (Flickr)? Do note that the photograph is copyrighted and tagged All Rights Reserved so Yahoo has no right of using the photograph anywhere. Even if Flickr is a Yahoo Co., the Copyright still belongs to the photographer. Yahoo does use Flickr images on its Flickr sign-in page but those are under Creative Commons licence. And yes, I did check with the photographer, Prabhu, who happens to be my friend, and he denied having given usage rights of this photo to anyone.. So, there you have it.. Wonder what explanation Yahoo can give for this one..

-------------------------------------------------

I wrote the above entry in my blog yesterday..
I did login to my mail again today and though I F5'd a couple of times, I couldn't see the ad again today.. Today, as an afterthought, what baffles me is the quality of the pic in the ad was such low quality but the Flickr photo is of high quality.. Plus no mention of Yahoo Music anywhere on the photo despite the fact that the link pointed to that site. What sort of ad has a totally unrelated picture with no mention of the site its pointing to? Freak technical accident? Perhaps and quite possible but how?

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Human Chain Protest 22nd June 2008, 11.00 am, Agara Lake, Kormangala, Bangalore

Join the Human Chain on Sunday, 22nd June 2008, 11.00 am at Agara Lake (Kormangala).

This is to protect and save our lakes from privatization, which will ruin our water bodies and exploit them for commercial interests.


Most people think "There'll be thousands of people there, it does not matter if I don't go". Unfortunately, most people's protest does not extend beyond their armchair, and you'll find that your presence does make a huge difference.

So please do take part yourself, and forward this to as many people as you can.

Every person counts.

For details on why we are doing this, see the petition below.

www.ipetitions.com/petition/blorelakes/


16th June 08

To:

Dr. Dilip Kumar, IFS
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests
Karnataka State Forest Department
Aranya Bhavan
Bangalore – 560003

Dear Sir,

We are aware that the Honorable High Court of Karnataka has directed you to file a status report with regard to status of lakes in Bangalore that are being privatised.

The undersigned wish to express their deepest concern over the ongoing efforts of the Government of Karnataka through the agency of the Lake Development Authority (LDA) to privatise lakes in Bangalore, and hand them over to private profit making bodies. Already four prime water bodies - Agara Lake, Hebbal Lake, Vengaiah Kere and Nagawara Lakes have been already been leased out by LDA. As per the lease agreements signed between the LDA and the private entities, these lakes have been handed over on lease of 15 years, subsequently extendable, ostensibly for development of the lakes.

Such development involves introduction of restaurants, kiosks, boating, water sports, jetty etc, as it has already been seen in the case of the Nagawara Lake by Lumbini Gardens Pvt Ltd, and by M/s Par – C Systems in the case of Vengaih Kere. We are deeply distressed by this development as we find this unethical and counter to the objective of environment conservation and maintenance of lakes as our public commons. The kind of activities that have been allowed distance visitors from nature, and feed into a consumerist culture that we could well do without.

Incidentally, these lakes were comprehensively de-silted, restored and rehabilitated by grants from the Norwegian Government under the Indo-Norwegian Project and the National Lake Conservation Programme of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests. As a result these lakes are fantastic water bodies and excellent habitats for birds - both migrating and local. In addition they support a wide diversity of flora and fauna, and support the livelihoods of tens of fishing families.

Over time, these lakes have been intensively used by all local residents and the general public for various purposes. While Agara is being used for walking, jogging and recreational purposes, Hebbal Lake has been used for customary and traditional occupations like fishing, grazing and irrigation. In addition, birdwatchers have been visiting these wetland habitats regularly documenting the excellent diversity of migratroy waterfowl. All these lakes, and Hebbal in particular, have been the subject of numerous scholars and researchers studying wetlands, birds, aquatic life and so on. Hebbal Lake has infact been repeatedly proposed for conservation as a bird refuge, and its watershed as a Regional Park (per the Lakshman Rau Committee Report – 1988).

These water bodies are also critical open spaces for children of surrounding neighbourhoods whose sensibilities towards nature and its dynamics are also awakened by the easy access to such open spaces.

We sincerely believe that it is an unnecessary and damaging investment to now lease out these very lakes for advancing commercial interests. Besides being illegal this will take away our public commons and our natural heritage and will only benefit a few commercial entities. This loss will be dear and felt by present and future generations.

Keeping all this in view, we urge you to recommend to the Honorable High Court of Karnataka that the programme of lake privatisation must be abandoned. We strongly feel that lakes must be maintained as our common heritage, their maintenance undertaken with the cooperation of local communities and no activity inconsistent with the traditional and specific use of the water bodies should be allowed now or in the future.

As concerned individuals, we are keen to assist the Government of Karnataka and its agencies in any intervention that will ensure the protection and sustenance of our lakes systems.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

FireFox v3.0

So the much awaited update for FireFox is out. Mozilla is trying to achieve a Guiness Record for the maximum number of downloads for a software in 24 hours. So take my word and go ahead download it first from here http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/. You can get fully localised browser versions also from http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/all-rc.html. I have hardly used it for 15 minutes now and it already rocks. For starters, its faster than the previous version. Honestly, I didnt like the previous one much. I have had some issues but my loyality doesnt permit me to speak out against FF. Anyway, thats history now I guess. The only temporary downside I have noticed until now is that about half of my add-ons are yet to release v3 compatible updates but that will not be long.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Twitter

I just created an account in Twitter -(username: Shreelesh). I have no much idea how it works and even lesser idea about how its going to help. Though I do know some people who are twitters.

Friday, April 11, 2008

When Virus Attacks - Virtumonde

A while back I had this bad infection by, what I found out later to be an AdWare called, Virtumonde. There were 2 infected .dll files in my system32 folder what I believe 2 different strains of Virtumonde. ZoneAlarm successfully detected both the infected files but it could neither rename, delete, quarantine or do anything with it despite repeated attempts over many days. I tried scanning the system with AVG and Avast antivirus but neither detected the virus. Now, since it was an AdWare as it proclaimed itself as, I tried using AdWare and SpyBot to no avail. Then somewhere in the www I found its a Trojan! And I started downloading Trojan/Malware removers. Tried a lot of them but none seemed to even detect it. I tried to unhook the .dll from its process using Unlocker but the moment I unhook it the system used to restart. After some a dozen odd softwares failed to fix it, something just struck and I scheduled a boot-time scan on my Avast antivirus and THAT finally got rid of the virus and I haven't had any problems with it after that.

Now, there is a lot of stuff on many forums on how to remove it but none of those methods worked either for me nor for the people who had posted for help. It is such a damned persistent virus that it keeps coming back and infecting the system sometimes by even residing and hiding in memory. Besides, all those process were too long. It is an old virus so I am surprised why I couldn't find any credible cures on the net. Anyway, thats one lesson learnt for me.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Gtalk and Winamp 5.5 Incompatibility

Now this is one stuff I never expected. Two of the most loved (and free) apps incompatible with each other. I have not been using Winamp for a while now - ever since I lost all my songs in a HD crash. Anyway, just downloaded Winamp 5.5 yesterday, started playing Shanghai Breezes by John Denver and clicked on "Show current music track" in Gtalk and forgot about it. A while later, I noticed Gtalk has frozen. Initially, I thought it has something to do with Azureus. I mean who would think Winamp would cause a problem! (?) Finally figured that out. I knew the old versions worked like a breeze so the first option was to install an older one but why give up so easy. Googled for it came across Winamp Forum. I'll leave out the technical stuff and come to the point. To fix the problem you can either use the old version or if you want to use v5.5, open notepad and save it with the name "winamp.m3u" in the winamp directory.

Of course, there's a roundabout way of installing an old version and then just upgrading to v5.5 but what that does is still the same I guess - retain the .m3u file in the directory.

Friday, December 21, 2007

~ The Temple of Our Purest Thoughts is Silence ~



Ek aur saal jee liya humne,
Ek aur gham seh liya humne
Khuda tu aata to nahi kabhi mere rooh-ba-rooh
Ek khamosh fariyaad tere dar pe kar liya humne
©Shreelesh Kumar - All Rights Reserved.


©Shreelesh Kumar - All Rights Reserved. This image and/or words should not be reproduced, published, transmitted via e-mails or otherwise, printed or shared in any physical or electronic form either in part or in whole without the explicit written consent of the Copyright owner. Legal Action will be initiated against any individual, organisation, institution, agency, publishing house, etc. who violate the Copyright laws including but not limited to those mentioned here and use the image and/or words for any commercial/non-commercial purposes.

Turned 28 today.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

सौ दर्द हैं | Sau Dard Hain



सौ दर्द हैं, सौ राहातें
सब मिला दिलनशीं, एक तू ही नहीं।

रूखी रूखी सी ये हवा
और सूखे पत्ते की तरहा
शहर की सड़कों पे मैं
लावारिस उड़ता हुआ
सौ रास्ते, पर तेरी राह नही।

बहता है पानी बहने दे,
वक़्त को यूँही रहने दे।
दरिया ने कर्वट ली है तो
सहिलों को सहने दे।।
सौ हसरतें
पर तेरा ग़म नहीं

----------------------------------------

Sau dard hai, sau rahatein
Sab mila dilnasheen, ek tu hi naheen.

Rookhi rookhi si ye hawa
Aur sookhe pattay ki tarha
Shaher ki sadkon pe main
Lawaris udta hua
Sau raastey, par teri raah nahi

Behta hai paani behne de
Waqt ko yunhi rehne de
Dariya ne karwat li hai to
Sahilon ko sehne de
Sau hasratein
Par tera gham nahi


Jaan-E-Man.
A movie with nothing much to remember about except Akshay's goofy laugh, Preity Zinta (as always), few melodious numbers, and some lovely song picturisations and lightings, not necessarily in that order. Oh and did I mention they were slightly 'inspired' by Meg Ryan and Mathew Broderick starrer Addicted to Love?

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Started Writing Again

Of late getting back to writing crappy 4-liners that I once started during school days. For nearly the initial 3-4 years, even my best friend didn't know about this. I'd decided I'd never share them with anyone, much less publishing them on net, thats pretty much what I just ended up doing just a while back. I dont know whether I am going to continue this online foray or not but lets see.

Mere Lafz - 1

गर तू बेवफा होती तो भुलाना आसान होता
वक़्त का ये जाम--ज़हर हलक पर आसान होता
कुछ तो रह-रहकर चुभता है पलकों पे
कहता तुझसे मैं गर वो दर्द, मुम्किन हाल-ए-बयान होता

----------------

Gar tu bewafa hoti to bhulana asaan hota
Waqt ka ye jaam-e-zahar halak par asaan hota
Kuch to reh-rehkar chubhta hai palko pe
Kehta tujhse main gar vo dard, mumkin haal-e-bayaan hota

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

A BRIDGE TOO FAR ........

A BRIDGE TOO FAR ........

The Lord surveyed the Ram Setu and said "Hanuman, how diligently and strenuously you and your vanara sena had built this bridge several centuries back. It is remarkable that it has withstood the ravages of the climatic and geographical changes over centuries. It is indeed an amazing feat especially considering the fact that a bridge at Hyderabad built by Gammon using latest technology collapsed the other day even before they could stick the posters on its pillars."

Hanuman with all humility spoke "Jai Sri Ram, it is all because of your grace. We just scribbled your name on the bricks and threw them in the sea and they held. No steel from TISCON or cement from Ambuja or ACC was ever used. But Lord, why rake up the old issue now."

Ram spoke "Well, Hanuman some people down there want to demolish the bridge and construct a canal. The contract involves lot of money and lot of money will be made. They will make money on demolition and make more money on construction. "

Hanuman humbly bowed down and said "Why not we go down and present our case" Ram said "Times have changed since we were down there. They will ask us to submit age proof and we don't have either a birth certificate or school leaving certificate. We traveled mainly on foot and some times in bullock carts and so we don't have a driving license either. As far as the address proof is concerned the fact that I was born at Ayodhya is itself under litigation for over half a century, If I go in a traditional attire with bow and arrow, the ordinary folks may recognize me but Arjun Singh may take me to be some tribal and, at the most, offer a seat at IIT under the reserved category. Also, a God cannot walk in dressed in a three-piece suit and
announce his arrival. It would make even the devotees suspicious. So it is dilemma so to say."

"I can vouch for you by saying that I personally built the bridge."

"My dear, Anjani putra, it will not work. They will ask you to produce the lay-out plan, the project details, including financial outlay and how the project cost was met and the completion certificate. Nothing is accepted without documentary evidence in India. You may cough but unless a doctor certifies it, you have no cough. A pensioner may present himself personally but the authorities do not take it as proof. He has to produce a life-certificate to prove that he is alive. It is that complicated."

"Lord can't understand these historians. Over the years you have given darshan once every hundred years to saints like Surdas, Tulsidas, Saint Thyagaraja, Jayadeva, Bhadrachala Ramdas and even Sant Tukaram and still they disbelieve your existence and say Ramayana is a myth. The only option, I see, is to re-enact Ramayana on earth and set the government records straight once for all."

Lord smiled "It isn't that easy today. Ravan is apprehensive that he may look like a saint in front of Karunanidhi. I also spoke to his mama Mareecha, who appeared as a golden deer to tempt Sita maiyya when I was in the forest and he said that he won't take a chance of stepping on earth as long as Salman Khan is around."


This is another forwarded e-mail that I felt I must share..

Tuesday, August 07, 2007

Ban The Bulb - 1

I switched to CFL long back.. The only bulb in my house is the spare one which I bought long back and is still surviving due to non-use.

So don't be a "tubelight." Ban the damn bulb. One of the least things you can do your bit to Change Climate Change.

Saturday, June 16, 2007

Andaman Trunk Road & Jarawas



Date:10/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mag/2007/06/10/stories/2007061050090100.htm


Magazine



Trouble down this road Trouble down this road

MEENA GUPTA

The Andaman Trunk Road, a boon for settlers on the island, could be the death-knell for the Jarawas. But little is being done to protect the Stone Age tribe from contact with the 21st century.


THE deprivation of a name, the loss of a homeland, the extinction of a tribe — this seems to be the ominous progression of one of the oldest extant hunter-gatherer tribes in India, indeed, possibly, in the whole world. ‘Ang’ is what they call themselves, but the world knows them as the Jarawa, the Palaeolithic tribe that lives deep in the jungles of the Andaman Islands.

The word ‘Jarawa’, in the language of the Great Andamanese (another Stone Age tribe of the Andamans) means ‘the stranger’ or ‘the outsider’. To the Andamanese, the Jarawa were outsiders; a different people, albeit of the same Negrito stock and inhabiting the same islands. It is unfortunate that this name — rather than Ang meaning ‘humans’, which the Jarawa use for themselves — should become the name by which we know them.

Total isolation

The Jarawa are one of the five Stone Age tribes of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which have lived in almost total isolation in the dense tropical forests of the islands, and have survived virtually unchanged up to modern times. They are hunter-gatherers, who do not practise even rudimentary agriculture, wear no clothes, shun contact with outsiders, and are fiercely independent. Their physical appearance — dark, almost ebony skin, closely curled woolly hair, and negrito features — are quite distinct from the population that originates from the Indian mainland and mark them as a race apart.

Because of their small numbers (240 persons as per the 2001 census, 317 persons as reported by the Andaman administration in 2007) and their being nomadic deep forest dwellers, they are virtually unknown as a community to the rest of India and are only a name even to the inhabitants of the islands.

The plight of the Jarawa has, in recent years, generated a lot of interest because of an almost sudden change in their behaviour in the late 1990s — from avoiding all contact with the outsider to actively seeking such contact. This change, which began in 1997, has heightened their vulnerability and threatened their way of life.

The single activity that has had the most significant, and adverse, impact on the lives of the Jarawa is the construction of the Andaman Trunk Road. Running in a south-north direction from Port Blair, the administrative headquarters in South Andaman to Maya Bunder in the north, the ATR was started in 1958 with the very laudable intention of linking Port Blair with the several settlements scattered in the middle and north of the Andaman Islands.

These settlements, which consisted entirely of people who migrated from the mainland (refugees from erstwhile East Pakistan, other people who had migrated in search of better opportunities, descendants of convicts and jailors brought by the British) were either consciously established by the administration or, more rarely, had sprung up on their own.


Established at great human and financial cost, they are now flourishing habitations, with the people conscious and vociferous about their rights. Before the construction of the Andaman Trunk Road, these habitations were connected to Port Blair (and to the mainland) only by sea routes. With the completion of the ATR (an endeavour that took approximately 40 years), a direct and unimaginably convenient land link was established between the settlements and Port Blair.

The trouble was that the ATR sliced right through territory that was, until then, the exclusive and undisturbed preserve of the Stone Age, hunter-gatherer Jarawa tribe. In fact it was because this territory was, by and large, undisturbed that the Jarawa had been able to survive with their way of life almost unchanged over centuries. The incursion into their territory, through the means of the ATR, exposed them to modern civilisation and its baneful influences like tobacco, alcohol, unfamiliar foods and diseases against which they had no immunity, which could together take them to the brink of extinction. What was a boon for the settlers, therefore, could very easily sound the death knell for the Jarawa.

Alarm bells about the impact of the ATR on the Jarawa should have started ringing long ago. When the road first started, sensibilities about the environment and human rights and the different rights of tribals were low. Therefore creating a road through someone else’s homeland, destroying virgin forests was not a matter of great concern.

Opposition

But over the 40 years or so it took to construct the ATR, consciousness of environmental issues and human rights has grown by leaps and bounds. However when the rights of a tiny group of people clashes with those of a much larger one, it is usually the more clamorous and stronger voice that is heard. And that is what has happened in the case of the ATR.

There was certainly no dearth of opposition from the Jarawa. Starting with the killing of the labourers building the road, to shooting with bow and arrows at buses and other vehicles when they started to ply on the road, the Jarawa made their objection to the violation of their homeland and space quite clear. That the administration continued with their efforts could be seen as an act of valour and determination in the face of odds or callousness and insensitivity towards the rights of weaker people depending on the point of view.

The Jarawa became the subject of a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Calcutta High Court in the 1990s with the High Court issuing an order to frame a policy for the Jarawa. The Jarawa Policy was prepared as a consequence, in consultation with a number of experts, and was adopted on December 21, 2004.

The Jarawa Policy dwells not inconsiderably on the ATR and its impact on the Jarawa. It recommends, among other things, that the traffic on the road be restricted to essential purposes (which have been specified) and allowed to move only during restricted hours and in convoys. It repeatedly stresses that all manner of interaction between the Jarawa and the travellers, particularly tourists, be prevented. Very importantly, the policy talks of encouraging and strengthening facilities for travel by boat and ship. The policy also talks of removing encroachments in the Jarawa territory on priority basis, and ensuring that no such encroachment of non-tribals take place.

No implementation

In the two and a half years since the Jarawa policy has come into being, little has been done to implement its recommendations, particularly the more difficult ones. In defence of the administration, it must be pointed out that the inaction was not, perhaps, deliberate. The Jarawa policy was adopted on December 21, 2004. Just five days later, on December 26, the devastating tsunami struck the islands. The Jarawa were not affected by the tsunami, so the administration, whose entire attention got diverted to the affected areas, had little time to think of the Jarawa, apart from verifying that they had not suffered any loss.

The Jarawa policy has thus remained, by and large unimplemented. No attempt has been made to explore alternate sea routes to link the places that the ATR goes to. Little effort has been made to curtail the number of vehicles plying on the road. The average number of vehicles plying on the ATR annually shows a steep increase from 17,179 in 2001 to 35,798 in 2006. The number is poised to exceed 40,000 in 2007.

Convoys of vehicles leave eight times a day from Jirkatang and Middle Strait — the two opposite ends of the portion of the ATR that runs through the Jarawa reserve — with an average of 120 vehicles per day. And despite explicit stipulations of no contact with the Jarawa, vehicles conveniently break down or stop on one pretext or the other on the portion of the road inside the Jarawa reserve to allow tourists to see and sometimes interact with the Jarawa.

The subject of the Jarawa was again studied by a sub-group of experts and officials, set up in January, 2006 by the National Advisory Council, to examine inter alia institutional arrangements for protecting the Jarawa and to suggest various measures to ensure greater protection. By January 2006, the Jarawa policy adopted in December 2004 had not had a fair chance at implementation. Just a year had passed, and the tsunami and its aftermath had grabbed all attention and resources. The sub-group studied various aspects including the notified Jarawa policy and its implementation and made several recommendations.

Regarding the ATR, it has suggested that the portion that runs through the Jarawa reserve eventually be closed, after alternate arrangements for transportation by sea or air were put in place. This means a further delay since very little action has been taken to explore other arrangements. Unless a firm decision to close the ATR (i.e. the portion inside the Jarawa reserve) is taken, the administration will continue to drag its feet on alternate routes.

Other alternatives

Despite the Supreme Court having taken such a decision in 2002, the administration has filed a review petition, which is yet to be finalised. It is easily forgotten that before the completion of the ATR (which is fairly recent), sea routes were the only alternative.

Even today, for all other islands, e.g. Car Nicobar, Havelock, Great Nicobar, other islands of the Nicobar group, Little Andaman and many others, transportation is only by boat or ship and, very occasionally, by helicopter. Therefore the people living in North and Middle Andaman can hardly claim that they will be specially inconvenienced.

Almost all the officials who work or have worked closely with the Jarawa, whether of the Andaman administration or the Andaman Adim Janjati Vikas Samiti, a registered society set up to look after matters relating to primitive tribes, privately aver that closure of the ATR is essential to reduce contact with the Jarawa and protect them from abrupt induction into the 21st century.

However, other officials strongly claim that closure of the ATR, even a portion of it, is impossible since it is a lifeline for the northern settlements. The attitude of these latter officials is understandable, but unsupportable, if one keeps the future of the Jarawa in mind.

It is apparent they are thinking not of the Jarawa but of the other inhabitants. For these inhabitants, other alternatives are, or can be, made available. For the Jarawa, who virtually have their backs against the wall, there is no alternative, and time is fast running out.

© Copyright 2000 - 2006 The Hindu

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

है लौ जिन्दगी - गुल्ज़ार | Hai Lau Zindagi - Gulzar

है लौ जिन्दगी

है लौ जिन्दगी, जिन्दगी नूर है
मगर इसमें जलने का दस्तूर है।

रवायत ये है के जिन्दगी गहना है,
ये हीरा है और इसे चाटते रहना है।
के लम्हों में मरने का दस्तूर है॥

अधूरे से रिश्तों में पलते रहो,
अधूरी सी साँसों से चलते रहो।
यूँही जीने जाने का दस्तूर है॥

है लौ ज़िन्दगी, ज़िन्दगी नूर है..

ये ग़ज़ल नलिनी सिंह की "हैल्लो ज़िन्दगी" नामक सीरियल का शीर्ष गीत था जो आज से शायद १०-११ साल पहले दूरदर्शन पर प्रसारित हुआ करता था

कल की बात है जब मैंने जग्जीत सिंह/गुल्ज़ार साहब की नयी पेशकश "कोई बात चले" खरीदीइस ऐल्बम में इसी नाम कि ग़ज़ल है मगर उसके बोल काफी अलघ हैपुरानी यादें लॉट आयी तो मैंने पुरानी वाली ग़ज़ल और उसके बोल ढूढंने की सोचीकिसी तरह से बोल मिले हैंहो सकता है के अधूरे होअभी भी याद है, मेरे प्रिय मित्र शुभान्कर सिन्हा को ये ग़ज़ल बहुत पसंद था, खास करके ये पंक्तियाँ "रवायत ये है के जिन्दगी गहना है, ये हीरा है और इसे चाटते रहना है. के लम्हों में मरने का दस्तूर है"

-----------------------------------------

Hai Lau Zindagi

Hai lau zindagi, zindagi noor hai
Magar ismein jalne ka dastur hai

Ravayat ye hai ke zindagi gehna hai
Ye heera hai aur, ise chaat-te rehna hai
Ke lamhon mein marne ka dastur hai

Adhoore se rishton mein palte raho
Adhoore se saanson se chalte raho
Yuhin jeenay jaaney ka dastur hai

Hai lau zindagi, zindagi noor hai

This ghazal was the soundtrack for an old serial "Hello Zindagi" by Nalini Singh which used to air on Doordarshan about 10-11 years back.

I just bought Jagjit Singh/Gulzar latest album "Koi Baat Chale" which had a ghazal with the same title different lyrics, and I set out to find the old version as well as the complete lyrics. I still remember, my best friend's Subhankar Sinha used to love this song, especially the lines "Ravayat ye hai ke zindagi gehna hai। Ye heera hai aur, ise chaat-te rehna hai."

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Love

Moral of the story: Don't fall in love

"Hey wait.. Now where's the story?" you'll ask. Everyone has a story of their own. That's the right of passage into adulthood. You never really grow up until you've had one of your own..



Shaam Se Aankh Mein Nami Si Hai

Shaam se aankh mein nami si hai
Aaj phir aap ki kami si hai

Dafn kar do humein ke saans miley
Navz kuch der se thami si hai
Aaj phir aap ki kami si hai

Waqt rehta nahin kahi tik karr
Iski aadat bhi aadami si hai
Aaj phir aap ki kammi si hai

Koi rishta nahin raha phir bhi, ek tasleem lazmi si hai
Shaam se aankh mein nammi si hai
Aaj phir aap ki kammi si hai

Lyrics: Gulzar
Singer: Jagjit Singh
Album: Marasim

Sunday, May 27, 2007

The Last Will and Testament of the Tiger - Amit Dahiyabadshah

The Poet Laureate and the resident poet for ICONGO, Amit
Dahiyabadshah stirs some emotions in the hearts of the Human beings
that have been so callous towards this beautiful wild cat with his poem- The
LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT of the TIGER while he pays a tribute to this royal
cat.

The Last Will and Testament of the Tiger


When you have stolen my skin from my entity
and removed the roar from my life
O hunter wield that thunder stick
with some grace some skill
I too have hunted and killed many many times

but every kill
was a prayer in praise of the Creator
My movements were always clear clean and merciful
Such is the way of true believers

Do you now slice slash and pare clean O Skinner
I pray only that you leave no part of me behind
to be eaten by the Jackal and the Hyena
I have ruled this forest on behalf of the creator himself
and there is no honour in a king becoming carrion

So send the sacred colour from my coat
back to the maker of sunsets
Return the darkness of my stripe
back to the shadows and the undergrowth
Send the white from my fur back to the frost of a new ice age
that it return to avenge me
Send my roar back to my maker
that he fill the universe with my rage
at this shabby end for a true king

Send my claws to the young of the high born
to save them from their own nightmares

Send my teeth to Tibet that their aspirations find new Teeth

Send my bones to China that they find a cure
for the fear that builds such great walls

Send my fat to Singapore so they learn to make a balm for pain
that is mine not only in name

Send my Shit to the Alchemists
for that is the only substance they have not yet tried

Give my entrails to whoever shall take them
But hang on to my eyes you puny murderer
That your tribe might know that you did not kill a creature beneath you
that I looked you in the eye and did not flinch when you shot me

Instead I have turned away
Released
from the cancer of your footprint

--Amit Dahiyabadshah

Monday, April 23, 2007

वक़्त नहीं Waqt Nahin

हर ख़ुशी है लोगों के दामन में,
पर एक हंसी के लिए वक़्त नहीं।
दिन रात दौड़ती दुनिया में,
जिन्दगी के लिए ही वक़्त नहीं।।

माँ कि लोरी का एहसास तो है ,
पर माँ को माँ कहने का वक़्त नहीं।
सारे रिश्तों को तो हम मार चुके
अब उन्हें दफनाने का भी वक़्त नहीं ।।

सारे नाम मोबाइल में हैं,
पर दोस्ती के लिए वक़्त नहीं।
गैरों कि क्या बात करें ,
जब अपनों के लिए ही वक़्त नही ।।

आंखों में है नींद बड़ी ,
पर सोने का वक़्त नही ।
दिल है ग़मों से भरा हुआ ,
पर रोने का भी वक़्त नहीं ।।

पैसों कि दौड़ में ऐसे दौडे,
कि थकने का भी वक़्त नहीं ।
पराये एहसासों की क्या कद्र करें ,
जब अपने सपनो के लिए ही वक़्त नहीं ।।

तू ही बता ऐ जिन्दगी ,
इस जिन्दगी का क्या होगा ,
कि हर पल मरने वालों को ,
जीने के लिए भी वक़्त नहीं ।।
---------------------------------------------------
Har khushi hai logoon ke daaman mein
Par ek hansi ke liye waqt nahin
Din-raat daudthi duniya mein
Zindagi ke liye waqt nahi

Maa ki lori ka ehsaas to hai
Par maa ko maa kehne ka waqt nahin
Saare rishton ko to hum maar chuke
Ab unhe dafnane ka bhi waqt nahin

Saare naam mobile mein hai
Par dosti ke liye waqt nahin
Gairon ki kya baat karein
Jab apnon ke liye bhi waqt nahin

Ankhon mein hai neend badi
Par sone ka waqt nahin
Dil hai gamon se bhara hua
Par rone ka bhi waqt nahin

Paise ki daud mein aise dauday
Ki thakne ka bhi waqt nahin
Paraye ehsason ki kya kadr karein
Jab apne sapnon ke liye bhi waqt nahin.

Tu hi bata aye zindagi
Is zindagi ka kya hoga
Ki har pal marne valoon ko
Jeenay ke liye bhi waqt nahin