Wednesday 24 February 2010

Lets make a difference!!!!

I am upgrading my system, so was going through all the files and pictures and copying them to upload in my new system, thats when i came across this message, which i mailed to many on my contact list. Thought its worth to post it here......so here it goes.....

Unfortunately it is sad state of affair in our country that our patriotism rises when any Indian sports team defeats Pakistani team or we feel patriotic watching our glitterati performing as Jawans saving us from enemies in our movies.....We felt patriotic when we won Kargil war with so many lives lost......but what we did after that????do we feel patriotic in peace time and think about those People in our defense who put their life at risk defending our lives......am doubtful......and am know that I am 90% right......i feel embarrassed, that am not among the exceptional 10% who feels patriotism in their everyday life....Neither our government or the Private sector think about them or help them financially, as all they do is go after Popularity!!!!Our economy is flourishing with the current IT boom, which wouldn’t have been possible if stability of peace is not maintained by our defense forces. So i think we all are directly/indirectly liable to these people in our defense forces.
When India won T20 World cup recently, so many of our state governments announced cash prizes, gifted houses to the players....all these for a win in sport, just because, it is so popular and it spins lot of money in media.......but we think about our fellow citizens only something like kargil happens and people die....not when they are alive and still defending the safety and stability of all our lives.....
What are we going to do, to change this.........No, am not asking you to part with a % of your income/savings and donate it to any trust or organisation which supports defense personnel....its upto you, if you want to, Please go ahead and do it!!!
All i ask of you is to " make a difference" by a small gesture......A small gesture - when you see a person from our defense force, SHAKE HIS HAND & THANK HIM/HER, for defending our lives. This will not solve his financial problems, but will definitely motivate him and make him feel proud of what he is doing......
At least one in ten people reading this mail, start making this gesture, we all would be part of a great movement in "Making a difference" in these peoples lives, who put their life at risk defending ours.....
Its all upto us now........to make d difference!

Cheers

Tuesday 23 February 2010

Rogue Cyclist!!!!!

Most of my posts in this blog are kind of on social issues and its always me spitting out my frustrations and thoughts on various things happening in the world....But this one is different, as its about me.....Yes Iam a rogue cyclist......
Its been more than 2 years since i started cycling to n fro work, here in London. Though i have years of cycling experience back home in Ranipet, where i used to cycle 8 kms one way from home to school, everyday for almost 7 years, driving in London was difficult....When i first started, i was bit scared, as everyone obeys all traffic rules and theres road discipline and that scared the hell out of me. So like everyone else, i did followed all the rules and was a good cyclist.SLOWLY IT ALL CHANGED..... when am waiting in thebsignal with other motorist, other cyclists just jump d signal and go on, it first irritated me and on days when i was late for work, it was frustrating and i used to fight within whether to jump d signal like other cyclists or be d disciplined cyclist that iam.......slowly the frustration took over and i think since i am so used to the place, the signals in d daily route and lack of fear, made me become a rogue cyclist, that i started jumping signals.....
People say its dangerous....especially in a disciplined traffic environment, motorists are so used to everyone obeying rules, just follow the rules and watch the signals, so when its green they just speed ( though within d limit).....But, dont u all worry, i dont jump signals that are on road intersections....am not all that crazy, its just d pedestrian crossing signals that i jump, that too when there r no pedestrians waiting to cross d road ( still a good citizen u see....). Its not just the jumping of signals that make me a rogue cyclist....u see sometimes when theres a traffic jam, everyone wait one behind the other, following the lane discipline, but here comes me, i just go thru any gap, so that i could be the first to start after the signal or obstruction gets cleared.....sometimes, it reminds me of Chennai traffic, when i used to drive my TVS 50 during college days( my freinds used to call it CBZ.....lol)...
But am still good, as i believe that Pedestrians are the kings of the roads, so always give them their well deserved right when i cycle.....
I love cycling, as its a greener means of transport, it saves me money (almost 100 pound/month), it keeps me fit and healthy. Since, i am an experienced cyclist now, started taking part in charity biking events.....took part in London bikeathon for d past 2 years (26 miles - first year, 52 miles- last year) and looking forward to my participation in London to Paris in 24 hours on bike ( its a team event and just found a partner whos interested in doing it, so hopefully i register before my trip to India later this week).......looking forward to more cycling in India and hope i dont meet with an accident there.....