Sita Sings the Blues

Part 1

Full Playlist on YouTube.

Come Fast Krishna

I was traveling in Bangalore recently, when, from somewhere, the song “Krishna nee begane baaro...” crossed my mind. I began contemplating and saw how “begane” our lives were moving.  Going at this pace, we might be extinct by the time Krishna arrives. Twenty two years it has been my journey, and God knows how many more to come. I do not remember the day I was born, but my childhood feels like it was only yesterday that i used to play with my baby sitting friends and then school, college and now even post-grad studies! Looking back at my own life, I want to attempt to answer the question "What am I?" a little different from what is generally asked by most teenagers. Yes, I know I am human, but I do not intend to settle with answers like that. Have i done anything significant in these years? And what can be considered significant? If I go on like this, then there will be way too many things that require explanations. Apart from being stuck in the race to be the best, learning that tomato is a fruit and Freud is a maniac, have these 22 years been helpful to understand or answer the question I have been waiting to answer? I heard Bob Marley's words, “The plant takes you to yourself”. No, I am not advertising illegal substances, but can just something as simple as grass (the plant) show you what you are? I am waiting... to try, to investigate, to discover.

As I type. it is a year since I left home to catch my flight to Vancouver. Been a journey since then.

Starter

I am just another software company employee who is so busy that i hardly get time for anything. This has been talked about too many times. Even my girlfriend keeps hanging up cos i do not spend time with her, “I am sorry my dear compaq with core 2 duo..I still love you” ya thats the way I get my laptop working. Anyway I recently suffered from lots of problems like backache and common cold that never saw its culmination. Thanks to all of that my doctor prohibited me from touching my second girlfriend “Bajaj Wind 125”. I had also heard about so many efforts to save energy and use public transport etc so I thought it might be a good move not only to increase my environment credentials and also try and set right my health. I waited at a shelter-less bus stop near my house and boarded a bus that was quite empty so I even got a seat. I was getting used to the bumpy ride when this guy in khakhi clothes stood next to me. I looked at him and said “boss full tank”. He was just staring at me and it was only after that I realized I was not in a petrol bunk. It was my first bus ride and I am sure to remember it.

Nostalgia... 1996

Over the last couple of weeks, there have been news articles about the arrest of an African-American scholar by some white police officer in the USA. This led to a row over racial profiling forcing US President Obama to intervene.

The entire event however reminded me of a Sam Jackson-Nicholas Cage movie titled Amos and Andrew. I had to force myself to watch this movie on the evening of 21st Oct, 1996. How do I remember the exact date? Was the movie so bad that it left an indelible mark on me? No.

21st Oct 1996 was also the day that India faced Australia in Bangalore in the 3rd match of the Titan Cup. After restricting Aus to 215, India lost wickets early and were on the verge of losing. But Tendulkar and batting heroics by Srinath and Kumble ensured India won - last ball of last over, 2 wickets to spare.

I had to watch the match, but also couldn't - India was losing, can't bear that! So was switching channels between Star Movies and Star Sports. Nice match, nice memories, I like. :)