Watching the Lead India video (If the link does not work, try this URL, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAe_bZGqU1g), the overwhelming feeling that i had was that it takes a Young Heart to stand up, coz A young heart knows no Fear. Collectively, we can solve all our problems, but we lack that quality of Leadership, or need a prod from behind to get things moving. We are supremely protective of our territory and we react only when the happening around us affect us and threaten to displace us from the position of comfort. We care too much about getting our feet dirty, even when we know that without doing so, we cannot clean up the mess that is our home. Reminds me of the speech where Manivannan gives a piece of his mind to Arjun in the tamil movie 'Mudhalvan', to convince him to take up active politics.
Why are we so timid, and lack natural leadership? Is it the Fear of failure (Atychiphobia) under the gaze of a million eyes, or is it because we don't want any compromise or sacrifices on the part of an individual for the collective good of the community? We are a country that has grown up listening to tales of valour, bravery and sacrifice but none of the qualities of the protagonists of the numerous stories that we have heard seems to have rubbed off on us. Will we change? Will we ever stand up for our rights and not let be exploited at the hands of the ruffians called Politicians? Stumped...
You would also want to check these out...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JM4qLExp1I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9jUAtsNQdo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CgCPCkvi1o
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Walk down the OMR...
Wednesday, 19th Dec 2007. A low pressure depression off the Chenai coast, brought plenty of rain to chennai on this day and over the previous 2 days. And my friend, Pradeep, with whom i travel to office most of the days was down with fever too. Leaving office at 7 pm, i was met with a heavy downpour and waterlogged streets near office (Thankfully i had my umbrella for company). Reaching the tidel park junction, I had multiple options that day, as always, to get back home - A M7 bus ride via Taramani-Velachery to T.Nagar, A share auto ride to Madhya kailash and then a bus to T.Nagar, A MRTS train ride from Tiruvanmiyur to Fort and the EMU service from Fort to Mambalam. I chose the last of the 3 options only because buses would be more crowded during peak hours. I entered the Tiruvanmiyur station, only to be greeted by a deserted looking station and a sleepy looking clerk at the reservation counter telling me that the MRTS services were suspended due to an over head wire snap, and that he did not recieve any further instructions from the H.O. Damn, one option down. And then i realised i had walked quite a bit to choose the first option now. One more down, leaving me with only one option now...Waiting for the elusive share auto, a couple of heavily crowded and jam packed buses went by.
I wanted to have a walk down this newly constructed OMR for quite some time, its wide footpaths inviting. I decided to give it a shot today and started walking, the first steps of the about 2.5 km walk till Madhya kailash, on the left side of the road. And to say the least, i was quite impressed by what i saw. And i noticed a few things, which i otherwise would have missed, had there been someone for company. The road is a wide 6-lane road with a tall, wide median, free moving traffic, and no break in the dividers between signals making it all the more easier for drivers. They do not have to be wary that some one would dart from the sides any given moment, sending them scurrying for the brakes. The best thing is that there are very few walkers due to which the place has a unique feel. It seems to be a part of a different world after being to places like Usman road, a motorist's and a walker's worst nightmare.
The road is neatly done, with very few bumps, and has a separate lane for cycles apart from the usual 3 lanes for motor vehicles. Both the sides of the road sport a wide footpath. The MRTS line follows parallel to the road from Madhya kailash to Tiruvanmiyur after which it crosses over and heads towards Velachery. Overbridges have been constructed for enabling the people coming out of the couple of MRTS stations enroute to cross over, ensuring no jaywalking. The road is lined on one side by huge trees, an eye-pleasing sight. Saplings have been planted on the other side of the road, and on the median, which adds to the beauty. The Barriers on the left side of the road sport gaudily painted advertisements at regular intervals, one specifically catching the eye - P.James, Magic show: 9841072571. If only he could magically advertise it!!! Barriers and walls on the right side, sport 'Join SFI' slogans, couldn't guess what SFI stands for, though. In-between the barriers and walls on the right have been spruced up by architecture students, and various events and social messages have been beautifully recreated, a la Rock garden, Chandigarh. Conspicuosly absent though were the posters of political parties or films, which are omni-present in chennai. The billboards too are absent from the scene, thankfully. Also absent are the stray dogs and cattle which take up a bulk of the roadspace on most roads.
Easily one of the best roads in Chennai, A fast thrilling ride down this road is met with a traffic jam near the overbridge near IIT that extends back till the madhya kailash junction. My quaint walk down the OMR on a rainy evening ended with a bus ride on the ever crowded 5B to T.Nagar.
I wanted to have a walk down this newly constructed OMR for quite some time, its wide footpaths inviting. I decided to give it a shot today and started walking, the first steps of the about 2.5 km walk till Madhya kailash, on the left side of the road. And to say the least, i was quite impressed by what i saw. And i noticed a few things, which i otherwise would have missed, had there been someone for company. The road is a wide 6-lane road with a tall, wide median, free moving traffic, and no break in the dividers between signals making it all the more easier for drivers. They do not have to be wary that some one would dart from the sides any given moment, sending them scurrying for the brakes. The best thing is that there are very few walkers due to which the place has a unique feel. It seems to be a part of a different world after being to places like Usman road, a motorist's and a walker's worst nightmare.
The road is neatly done, with very few bumps, and has a separate lane for cycles apart from the usual 3 lanes for motor vehicles. Both the sides of the road sport a wide footpath. The MRTS line follows parallel to the road from Madhya kailash to Tiruvanmiyur after which it crosses over and heads towards Velachery. Overbridges have been constructed for enabling the people coming out of the couple of MRTS stations enroute to cross over, ensuring no jaywalking. The road is lined on one side by huge trees, an eye-pleasing sight. Saplings have been planted on the other side of the road, and on the median, which adds to the beauty. The Barriers on the left side of the road sport gaudily painted advertisements at regular intervals, one specifically catching the eye - P.James, Magic show: 9841072571. If only he could magically advertise it!!! Barriers and walls on the right side, sport 'Join SFI' slogans, couldn't guess what SFI stands for, though. In-between the barriers and walls on the right have been spruced up by architecture students, and various events and social messages have been beautifully recreated, a la Rock garden, Chandigarh. Conspicuosly absent though were the posters of political parties or films, which are omni-present in chennai. The billboards too are absent from the scene, thankfully. Also absent are the stray dogs and cattle which take up a bulk of the roadspace on most roads.
Easily one of the best roads in Chennai, A fast thrilling ride down this road is met with a traffic jam near the overbridge near IIT that extends back till the madhya kailash junction. My quaint walk down the OMR on a rainy evening ended with a bus ride on the ever crowded 5B to T.Nagar.
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