This Sunday was spent in a very different manner as I had a small meeting with my ex-school friends which was after a long time because all of them had their exams and dissertations etc. Before meeting them, I spend some time completing the e-book “Angels and Demons” by Dan Brown and then for the first time saw a movie of Comedy King Mehamood called “Sadhu Aur Shaitan”.
Then as we wrapped up the meeting early, my friend told me about an article that was in the local newspaper about a restaurant called Seva Café. So we made our minds to visit there and get some insight into what the fuss was really all about.
Surprises were awaiting us when we went there, though the first sighting was that the café was closed, still we made up our mind to just check out the place. Situated on the Fourth Floor of Shopper’s Plaza, just opposite to the famous Municipal Market (MM), a wonderful setup! The inside was such creatively decorated that it looked stunning, yet very simple in appearance. We were awe-struck at the sight and the ambience that this open terrace café provided. It was as if we have been transported to a totally different era or caught up in a time warp! Here the whole of the café is run by volunteers and provide food for 50 people, their timing being 7-10 pm (Monday closed).
The patrons who come to have their taste-buds tingled, are treated with the best gourmand and the café don’t have a bill payment system; you just foot the amount you wish! Seva Café also puts up its total gains and losses so that patrons can have the feel of a real transparently run enterprise. Really different from the world outside, where it’s all about deceit and corruption. The idea was started just four months back and is helped in by some of the local NGO’s like Manav Sadhna, Gram Shree, Utthan and many others. They also donate the money received to the needy and the poverty stricken fellow brethrens.
The also have a large collection of the traditional organics that are in rage currently. The is a whole range of oils, shampoos, face packs and other items like bags and other artistic items for sale which also goes into providing a better living/education to the deserving people.
Those interested in volunteering to work or be the guest cook to prepare one dish can just contact the receptionist and just be there once a week to help out the people towards a better cause. It was an awesome experience of being in such a place, a reward in itself. This place shows us that in a materialistic and cut-throat competitive world there are still people who believe in Living is all about Giving!!!
My salutations to such an endeavor and sincere wishes that this café can further motivate others too, such that the goodness spreads across and all of us can make the life of others much better!
Monday, April 24, 2006
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Nalsarovar - Road Trip
This Sunday friends (4 Bloggers Cyclops, Caleb and Lonelywaves), made a road-trip to Nalsarovar, a Bird Sanctuary spread over 120kms of wet land which regularly gets feathered species from far off lands on migration! We usually had a company of three people with avid interest in visiting places and enjoying the exotic village atmosphere, and give our city-polluted lungs a booster dose of fresh oxygen. This time around we had a guest accompanying us, a fellow blogger (named ME) who also happens to be a journalist too.
Pic: Entering the boat (not A Titanic!)
The Sarovar With birds soaring.
We started off at around 0415, a time when the rest of the city is still in deep slumber enjoying a Sunday in bed! We went to pick up our guest and then sped off on a very smooth and empty highway doing the speeds of 60-80 kph. It was a late start as its summer and the sun rises earlier and before we could get closer to Nalsarovar the fantasy of watching the day break was shattered.
Pic: of Lonelywaves with The Lotus Garland, meant for ME in pic behind Lonelywaves.
Pic: Lotus Flower in full blossom...
We had made just one scheduled break for early morning cuppa tea and our favourite pass-time of smoking. After that we speed off towards the destination, but when it was only some 22kms left to reach the spot we were shocked to see our fellow driver making a large turn around a tight corner and getting off road into a wayside bush, that literally saved him and his bike from further harm. Our guest of the day was the pillion driver and got away with some bruises and scratches, both were safe and sound but a bit dazzled at the sudden incident. After resting for some time we then slowly started off but then everyone’s thought was looming over that minor accident and it played a real spoil-sport as Caleb was off mood and didn’t really felt like enjoying.
Pic: of the Temple put in the middle by A King called "NAL" about 600-700years old!
Pic: of Lonelywaves trying the local tobacco pipe, tastes a bit salty no high ;)
Well anyways we reached Nalsarovar by 0745, got the entry passes and got ourselves admitted inside. Reaching the parking lot we were rounded up by the boat operators with their sky-rocketing prices, we haggled over the prices brought it into suit our pockets and went for the ride.
Pic: trying to use woman power! Sorry for being a bit MCP... Can't really help that...hehehe, At last Lonelywaves gives a helping hand...
The boat-ride was a real fest to the eyes that were accustomed to seeing concrete jungles, and here there was water all around and lots of birds and negligible other humans to disturb the serenity. We could see the Siberian Cranes, the Coots, the Pigtails, the Flamingoes and other various birds. Afterwards we went to an island in the middle of the lake and then returned back. Meanwhile the oarsman managed to present our guest a garland made of Lotus, which was quite interesting! Our guest had prepared delicious sandwiches for the trip, must say a good cook of junk food! ;)
The return journey was quite uneventful, but the hot afternoon sun did take a toll on our body fluids and the heat was quite unbearable though it’s still April beginning! The total journey was approx 160kms from A’bad, and reached here by 1300 hrs. A fantastic journey to remember and write about.
Pic: Entering the boat (not A Titanic!)
The Sarovar With birds soaring.
We started off at around 0415, a time when the rest of the city is still in deep slumber enjoying a Sunday in bed! We went to pick up our guest and then sped off on a very smooth and empty highway doing the speeds of 60-80 kph. It was a late start as its summer and the sun rises earlier and before we could get closer to Nalsarovar the fantasy of watching the day break was shattered.
Pic: of Lonelywaves with The Lotus Garland, meant for ME in pic behind Lonelywaves.
Pic: Lotus Flower in full blossom...
We had made just one scheduled break for early morning cuppa tea and our favourite pass-time of smoking. After that we speed off towards the destination, but when it was only some 22kms left to reach the spot we were shocked to see our fellow driver making a large turn around a tight corner and getting off road into a wayside bush, that literally saved him and his bike from further harm. Our guest of the day was the pillion driver and got away with some bruises and scratches, both were safe and sound but a bit dazzled at the sudden incident. After resting for some time we then slowly started off but then everyone’s thought was looming over that minor accident and it played a real spoil-sport as Caleb was off mood and didn’t really felt like enjoying.
Pic: of the Temple put in the middle by A King called "NAL" about 600-700years old!
Pic: of Lonelywaves trying the local tobacco pipe, tastes a bit salty no high ;)
Well anyways we reached Nalsarovar by 0745, got the entry passes and got ourselves admitted inside. Reaching the parking lot we were rounded up by the boat operators with their sky-rocketing prices, we haggled over the prices brought it into suit our pockets and went for the ride.
Pic: trying to use woman power! Sorry for being a bit MCP... Can't really help that...hehehe, At last Lonelywaves gives a helping hand...
The boat-ride was a real fest to the eyes that were accustomed to seeing concrete jungles, and here there was water all around and lots of birds and negligible other humans to disturb the serenity. We could see the Siberian Cranes, the Coots, the Pigtails, the Flamingoes and other various birds. Afterwards we went to an island in the middle of the lake and then returned back. Meanwhile the oarsman managed to present our guest a garland made of Lotus, which was quite interesting! Our guest had prepared delicious sandwiches for the trip, must say a good cook of junk food! ;)
The return journey was quite uneventful, but the hot afternoon sun did take a toll on our body fluids and the heat was quite unbearable though it’s still April beginning! The total journey was approx 160kms from A’bad, and reached here by 1300 hrs. A fantastic journey to remember and write about.
Sunday, April 09, 2006
Death Of A System: Reservation Quota & Academics: Political Mockery
Sorry folks I was busy so had to take an unscheduled break! Lot changed in India, of which the one that concerns the current generation hit me hard and knocked out my senses, which was the reservation quota into all schools and colleges across the country for the Backward Classes.
Due the political mockery and vested interests, in converting the innocent public into a safe vote bank and creating a class divide (reminiscence of the British Rule’s Divide & Rule Policy), these so called politicians are making the other so called backward classes to yet go deep down into unfathomable misery and making them not work hard and deserve the seats in the elite schools due to their hard work and diligence but rather giving freebies!
This activities will cause the great Indian divide right into the classrooms and lecture-halls, put unhealthy atmosphere between the students. I happen to talk to few of my friends and colleagues who also hated this decision done by Arjun Singh. What was more surprising that our PM also gave it the green signal and the parliament passed the bill! This now increases the over all reserved seats to a whooping 50% in colleges.
So friends and readers, on a lighter mood “To enter into the Elite and Premier Schools & Colleges you don’t have to have an outstanding merit or be a genius, Just happen to be born in the so-called Backward Community or get a fake certificate made out by the tarnished and corrupted government officials.”
Due the political mockery and vested interests, in converting the innocent public into a safe vote bank and creating a class divide (reminiscence of the British Rule’s Divide & Rule Policy), these so called politicians are making the other so called backward classes to yet go deep down into unfathomable misery and making them not work hard and deserve the seats in the elite schools due to their hard work and diligence but rather giving freebies!
This activities will cause the great Indian divide right into the classrooms and lecture-halls, put unhealthy atmosphere between the students. I happen to talk to few of my friends and colleagues who also hated this decision done by Arjun Singh. What was more surprising that our PM also gave it the green signal and the parliament passed the bill! This now increases the over all reserved seats to a whooping 50% in colleges.
So friends and readers, on a lighter mood “To enter into the Elite and Premier Schools & Colleges you don’t have to have an outstanding merit or be a genius, Just happen to be born in the so-called Backward Community or get a fake certificate made out by the tarnished and corrupted government officials.”
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