Thursday, March 26, 2009

The Mega problem that is the Nano..


A list of head-aches that will probably be caused by the small Nano....



When Tata Motors displayed Nano publicly for the first time, Ratan Tata had said that he " saw middle-class families riding 4 at a time on a scooter (no doubt a Bajaj!) " and he thought that he should make a car that would be affordable to a common family. The 1 Lakh Car!

Commendable vision or just some Marketing Bullshit. We may never know!

But the stark reality is that the pint sized Nano comes with a Mega package of problems. Both for the infrastructure and the environment.

1. The problem of safety:

The Tata Nano lacks airbags and ABS (anti-lock braking system). Putting these two in Nano would have instantly doubled its price. Hence these essential safety measures have been omitted from Nano.
Tata has said that later versions of will have these features. But the price will definitely be doubled and who would want to buy a 2 Lakh Nano car when you have other better cars starting at 3 lakhs?
Also there is the question that when this variant will be coming out!
In India where almost 90000 people are killed/crippled in road accidents every year will it be advisable to flood the roads with a car that lacks airbags and ABS?

2. The problem of Traffic:

Major metros like Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi are already facing bad traffic problems everyday. Small cities and towns are not equipped to handle a sudden increase in traffic(By the way neither are the metros!)

In such situation is it advisable to dump a low-cost car on the middle class which looks at a car as a status symbol? The middle class will definitely jump at such an opportunity without thinking about the consequences.

The Tata's wont stop marketing it since it is their business, the middle class won't stop buying it for the sake of owning a car at low price and the government(!) even if it opens its mouth a wad of money will be put in it and the mouth will promptly close!

Although it is said that Tata has conceived a scheme for crowded metros like Mumbai to offer Nano only to those individuals who do not have a vehicle already, I doubt how much this scheme will succeed regarding the implementation of it and also how many people will try to bypass this scheme!

A counter argument doing the rounds is that, once Nano enters the market the sale of two-wheelers will go down. Honestly can you imagine a college-goer going to college in his Nano? What about the parking problems then? In the college as well as on the roads?

Is a boy likely to take his girlfriend for a ride in Nano?
And when Tata has released Nano will the bike companies sit back and let Tata eat their share of market?

3.The problem of pollution

Although Tata Nano is a low emission car, is it emission free?
No!

A simple logic I apply is ,
Normal emission from 1 car = Low emission from 10 cars

Now if people are going to buy Nano like anything wont the 'low emission' of many Nano's eventually be equal to the normal emission of some cars?

With global warming already showing its drastic effects ( you noticed the sudden rise in heat-levels, the untimely rains, the warm winters - all side-effects of global warming!) is it advisable to market the Nano?

When are we going to learn to keep our managerial and business sense aside and care for the earth rather than for ourselves?

Is it so difficult to understand that if the ecological balance stays, we stay, else we are dead?

Tata has promised an electric variant, a variant with compressed-air as fuel. I do hope these ventures succeed and that they be better than the current Nano. I just don't want them to end up as REVA the electric 2 seater car did! A total flop.

4. Enter the rivals:

Market rivals like Bajaj have already started with their attempts at their own 1 lakh car in collaboration with Nissan & Renault and is called Bajaj Auto-Renault-Nissan ULC.
Other giants like Fiat, General Motors have expressed interest at developing a cheap car like the Nano.

Imagine the amount of traffic and pollution when these cars too make their entry into the market!


A solution to this problem would be replacing the existing old taxis (Fiats in Mumbai, Ambassadors in Kolkata, don't know about the other cities!) with Tata Nanos. Of course the Taxi replacements should be offered at a discount.
But if the taxi is a CNG one then I do not see any point in replacing it.
The same thing goes for the autorickshaws.
Infact, a cheaper variant of Nano could be introduced by removing the doors of the Nano to make it look like an auto!

It is upto us people, the common people to think, not only for ourselves but also for the sake of our cities, our nation and our planet whether buying a Nano would be really advisable or not!

Pranjal Wagh

PS: 1. This article although is based on the Tata Nano and the problems that it may cause, we need to use public transport to the max. Maximising use of public transport will reduce the number of cars on the roads directly leading to reduction in traffic (and also pollution!) 2. Any counter argument is always welcome. If I, in any way have erred in the above article please do comment on that!


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This work by Pranjal A. Wagh is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License

Friday, March 20, 2009

New kid on the Blog

I must admit. I am not a 'blogger'. I'm almost a noob to the blogosphere. I am not as adept with words and penning down thoughts as you would expect contributors of this blog to be. But my buddy Pranjal feels I've got some elements that could make me a good contributor to this blog.
  1. I continuously check my Facebook notes and album for any comment.
  2. If people compliment me in person about a post on facebook, I tell them go and add a comment in my facebook profile.
  3. I am complete internet junkie (quite clear from point 1.).
  4. I need a vent for my pathetic sense of humour and poetry.
  5. I am totally free for 3 months (atleast).

So 3 days and a million "Ive got nothing to post"s later, here I am, posting actually nothing.
But indeed, its a pleasure contributing to a blog that just won 2nd place in the 'Best Mumbai Blog' competition!

Oh! Forgot to introduce myself! Hi! I am Amey Sakhadeo. A self confessed computer obsessed geek. Excuse me for the nuances between my kinda of writing and that of Pranjal's. But I solemnly pledge to keep my post as less nonsensical as possible.

As for the topics of my posts, I have no idea (or maybe I want to keep you guessing). But perhaps some technology updates, cool hacks, my thoughts about current happenings and some light hearted poetry, maybe!

I hope I wont (or haven't already) let the readers down.

Cheers,
AS

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

The Results are out !!!!

Hello All,

The results for "Best Mumbai Blog" are out!!
Your favourite blog "A Rational Mind"(ARM) has secured 2nd place!!!


Here are the results!


Although our blog has come in second place, it is a big thing for me as my team is just a baby in this huge blogger's world!
Thank you all for your votes and support!
Please keep reading the blog!

Regards,

Pranjal Wagh
Team ARM.

Friday, March 13, 2009

Remember The Titans!

The lessons to be learnt by Indians from an American flick.........

My sir, Capt. Vanjari says "No movie is bad, all movies have a lesson to teach us!"

I believe it. I do not hate any movie. There is always something that can be learnt from any movie. Be it any 'B' grade flick or a high-budget mega project, each and every movie has something or the other to teach. Maybe we already know that lesson, but it does remind us that that lesson has to be revised ;) Look carefully and you'll learn something from each movie!

Anyway, I'll go straight to the main topic now.



I saw 'Remember the Titans' about 2 years ago. I saw the relevance of that movie to the Indian scenario back then but thought of writing a blog-post about that relevance now.

Remember The Titans (RTT) is a movie based on a true story back in the 70's when a law indicating co-education for 'blacks' and 'whites' was passed. The story is set in Alexandria,Virginia where (American) football is a way of life! A new coach is appointed, who is black, Coach Boone (Denzel Washington) by removing the current white coach, Coach Yoast (Will Patton) for the T.C. Williams High School football team (a.k.a The Titans). His job is to integrate both blacks and whites into the Team and make it a force to reckon with, a united team. He has to do this against the wrath of the white townsfolk, the authorities who are against a black-white football team and the mixed education system.

The movie's ending lines are by Sheryl, daughter of Coach Yoast.

"People say that it can't work,
black and white;
well here we make it work, everyday.
We have our disagreements, of course,
but before we reach for hate,
always, always,
we remember the Titans. "


Such a simple statement but such deep meaning!

Indian society may look integrated on top. But remove the top layer and you will see the harsh reality in the division of the society.

Religion, Caste, Sub-caste, Region, Language, Appearance.
You name it, we got it!

Friends become enemies, unknown and known people are beaten-up,burnt,killed, women are raped. All in the name of caste, religion and other petty factors that differentiate between humans. Two good friends do not hesitate to slit each others throats just because of the difference in their religion.

Two young lovers are not allowed to marry just because inter-caste, inter-religion, inter-region marriages are considered taboo. A pure emotion like love is not allowed to flourish. The ambitions and dreams of the youth which are the life-blood of this nation are dashed to death. People even do not know why they oppose such marriages. It is just because it has been told by their parents to them. Why such blind beliefs? Where is the rational man?

A turning point in the movie, RTT, is this scene where Coach Boone takes the team on a midnight run to a ground where the historical battle of Gettysburg was fought in the American Civil War.




Have a look at this video:
The Gettysburg Speech




Coach Boone's Speech:

"This is where they fought the battle of Gettysburg. Fifty thousand men died right here on this field, fighting the same fight that we are still fighting among ourselves today.

This green field right here, painted red, bubblin' with the blood of young boys. Smoke and hot lead pouring right through their bodies.

Listen to their souls, men
.

I killed my brother with malice in my heart.

Hatred destroyed my family.

You listen, and you take a lesson from the dead.

If we don't come together right now on this hallowed ground, we too will be destroyed, just like they were.

I don't care if you like each other of not, but you will respect each other. And maybe... I don't know, maybe

we'll learn to play this game like men.
"

This statement is very much relevant to the Indian scenario. It may not look relevant, but go a little deeper, exercise your brain and you'll see the identical situation.
I can see the relation to India can be seen in each and every line!

"...fighting the same fight that we are still fighting among ourselves today
."

1947 Hindu Muslim riots
1984 Sikh riots
1993 Mumbai riots
2002 Godhra incident and Gujarat Riots
2008 Anti-Christian violence
and still more to come.....

"....I killed my brother with malice in my heart. "

Neighbour killed neighbour. Citizens of the same nation killed each other. Sons of same mother India killed their brothers and raped their sisters.

"Hatred destroyed my family....."

Countless families were uprooted and destroyed during these religious riots. Houses with entire families locked in them were burnt to ashes. Their screams still echo in the air.

" You listen, and you take a lesson from the dead.

If we don't come together right now on this hallowed ground, we too will be destroyed, just like they were. "

If we do not come together as Indians by keeping aside our castes and our religions we shall be destroyed.

History is witness to this!

All the Indian rulers were strong but they were not united. So when an invading force much stronger than them attacked no one helped each other until all of them perished.

If we continue to divide the society on the basis of caste, religion then outsiders and external enemies will destroy us one by one.

Politicians, anti-social elements, religious fanatics are exploiting the nation and its resources by dividing it on the basis of caste, religion, language to satisfy their interests. For their small interests they are destroying the dreams of millions, throwing away lives like a rich man throws pennies for beggars.

They are selling our country to salesmen of terrorism for money. The country is going to the goons, dacoits, thieves.

Fix this in your mind.

No politician today wants to work for the nation. They are only interested in progressing their bank balance, not the country. We are a nation with 54% youth, but it is this youth that is not allowed to grow, their wings are cut even before they can spread them and fly just on the filthy basis of religion, caste ,and language!

When politicians tell you to exercise your right of voting it is not because they want to make you aware of your right or that they care for the nation. It is because there is a possibility that you will vote for them because they have told you about right to vote.

Some great politicians have now started beating up people just because they do not belong to a particular region or do not speak a particular language. All this under the false reason of saving the local culture and such bullshit. Creating a rift among the citizens of the nation and winning favour from a certain section of the society and hence winning their votes is one of their new pass times. And the worse part is, the youth are being attracted to these parties!

A person from the North-East states is teased and is called Chinese just because of his looks resemble the Chinese. Is he not Indian? Does he not love India? Does adrenaline not flow in his veins when he sings "Jana Gana mana..."? Why?

It is high time that we begin to trust and love the soul of a man rather than the look, the religion,the language and the caste of him!

All I can say to my Indian brothers and sisters,

"People say that it can't work,
Religions,Regions,Castes,Colour;
well here we should make it work, everyday.
We may have our disagreements, of course,
but before we reach for hate,
always, always,
we should remember the Titans. "


One thing we should remember,always.

As Coach Boone says to his players before their first game,

"Tonight we've got Hayfield. Like all the other schools in this conference, they're all white. They don't have to worry about race. We do. Let me tell you something: you don't let anyone come between us. Nothing tears us apart. In Greek mythology, the Titans were greater even than the gods. They ruled their universe with absolute power. Well that football field out there, that's our universe. Let's rule it like titans. "

India is a diverse land with equal diversity in regions, languages, religions. Keeping all these factors united is a difficult job. We have to do it as the educated youth of this country. Other nations may not have to worry about this diversity.

We do.

We should let nothing come between us.

In Greek Mythology, the Titans were even greater than the gods as they ruled their Universe with absolute power.

That country called India out there is our Universe. Lets rule it like the Titans.


Regards,
Pranjal Wagh

PS:
1. Although the movie Chak De India highlights some of the aspects I have mentioned in the post. Remember the Titans is much much closer to my heart and is a much better movie.

2. This is a true story. You can check out the details on the Internet.

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This work by Pranjal A. Wagh is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License

Saturday, March 7, 2009

The horrible head-on collision at midnight!

Witnessing a head-on collision between a bike and a bus at high speed at midnight.........

07 March 2009

Approx. 0000Hrs.
Siddhivinayak Temple Junction


(Map gives approx location of accident)

Me and my friend were standing near HDFC Bank, Prabhadevi (Opp. Siddhivinayak Temple), chatting, when we heard a loud crash. Turning around we find a huge cloud of dust and flying human bodies, a bus speeding away and a bike thrown away!

My instant reaction was to phone the emergency ambulance helpline and call for the ambulance. The helpline guy assured me that the ambulance would soon arrive.

By now the police near the Siddhivinayak Temple had got to the spot. The bus driver had fled. The two bikers were lying stone-still knocked completely senseless by the speeding bus.

The Police and the "extremely" helpful public first tried putting the two injured bikers into a Taxi. But when attempts failed they were put in a police wireless van and sent off to the hospital.

Luckily for the two injured guys that they were involved in an accident at a busy junction with good police presence that they got immediate and prompt help. Due credit must be given to our police for being ever so helpful! And we must not forget the ever awake Mumbaikar! We are the city that never sleeps...the city that is always ahead in offering a helping hand!

Kudos to the public and the police!

07 March 2009
Approx 0015 Hrs
Siddhivinayak Temple Junction

Our investigation begins....

When all the crowd cleared and normal traffic resumed, we moved towards the smashed bike that was parked on the roadside to do a little investigation of our own.

The entire bike was in good condition except the front part. The headlight of the bike was gone, so was the fancy 'face' of the bike. The handle was twisted and the key was still in the bike! From the looks of the bike, we drew the following conclusions about the nature of the collision:
  1. The Bus and the bike collided head-on! The bike was obviously no match for the monstrous bus.
  2. The bikers never wore any helmets. There weren't any helmets lying nearby nor did we see any on the biker's heads when the accident happened.
  3. The bikers nor the bus driver ever must've thought of slowing down. Even though they saw each other approaching. I wonder why?
  4. The impact was of such great magnitude that the chappals that one of the biker wore were found atleast 20 ft apart,the front portion of the bike was smashed beyond recognition and the human bodies were thrown with such violence that when they hit the ground they lay like the dead on the road.
The bikers never wore any helmets!! That was one thing that could have reduced their injuries! Its by sheer luck that they have survived a head-on collision with a speeding bus but what they should have done was worn helmets and slowed down when they did see the bus approaching at
high speed!!

The bus driver could have also slowed down. Why the bus drivers drive like their rear is on fire only they know!!

A little traffic discipline can go a long way in saving lives!

Regards,

Pranjal Wagh


PS: And all this time the "Emergency" Ambulance hadn't even arrived!!It was approx 0022 Hrs when we left the accident spot and the ambulance was not even there! Emergency ambulance, my foot!

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This work by Pranjal A. Wagh is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License

Friday, March 6, 2009

Vasota...a stairway to heaven!


A trek to nature's wonderland and back!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
**DISCLAIMER**
This is no travelogue and does not provide accurate directions to visit Vasota. It is just a web weaved with words by a lover of nature and history. It is the ranting and raving of a mad poetic heart. Technically, it is the output of a machine whose input is the haunting Vasota. This is what I feel it is. For pro-accuracy people, this is my interpretation, go take a hike (literally and that too, to Vasota!).
Even after this, you consider this a travelogue, its your loss or gain, as you see fit!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

" If any task is difficult then it is worthy of being done.Anyone can do a simple task"

This legend left on a metal sign by Giribhraman Sanstha tells you the importance of trekking to the lofty heights on Vasota. Although not a difficult trek, it is one of the most thrilling and enchanting treks in all of Maharashtra.

Vasota Fort


Vasota....


The first glimpse you catch of Vasota is when you are approaching Bamnoli by S.T. Bus. Its spell binds you. As the bus twists and turns on the road down to Bamnoli, Vasota makes you twist and turn in your seat just to continue getting that one glimpse of it.

Vasota stands tall amidst the evergreen forests of Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary and mesmerizes you with its beauty. Each contour and fold of the Vasota mountain enhances its beauty many times over. It looks like it has broken free of the shackles of the earth and it is intent on kissing the blue sky.

Beside Vasota you can see the grand old fort of Old Vasota. Now rendered inaccessible by dense forests and vegetation and also due to presence of carnivores Old Vasota is much taller than New Vasota fort and is even more mysterious to a curious cat like me. The standing fortifications can be clearly seen from Vasota and they call out to you to come and explore them. Old Vasota is like an old man who is never visited by relatives and friends and never taken care of! Well, all forts in Maharashtra are like that, courtesty our great leaders who love Shivaji Maharaj so much that they have no time to look after his forts! Anyways...

The boat ride to Vasota is engaging and bewitching.

Shivsagar Reservoir of the Koyna backwaters

The blue-green expanse of the Koyna backwaters makes me want to jump off the boat to swim and splash in its cool depths. But I know that if I jump in the others will want to jump in and then I have to keep my appointment with Ms.Time too!The water is covered in ripples at times while at other moments it is glass-smooth and makes you marvel at the wonder called wind.

At times the water is glass smooth and again it has ripples the next instance!



You are greeted by scores of butterflies when you reach the banks of Met Indavali. I have never seen so many butterflies at one place before. All sizes and all colours in one place!

Walking up a small path you come to a camp set up by the Forest Dept. It is complete with tents for tourists and trekkers like us. Some of the tents do resemble those that were shown in the movie Border and have taken on the red colour of the earth but we got a huge Shamiana at our disposal which reminded me of a military camp right out of any periodic TV serial.

One of the attractions at Vasota is the Shiv Mandir in a cave inside the Nageshwar Pinnacle. Water drips on to the Shivlinga here from a crack in the ceiling throughout the year. No source of water at the top of the pinnacle but its just the rain water which is rationed by nature to drip all year long!


We opted to visit Nageshwar before Vasota contrary to others who normally proceed to Vasota first. On the way we first came across a Hanuman & Ganesh temple which is recognizable only because of the two carved idols and the plinth on which they stand.


Hanuman & Ganesh Idols together. The only other place I have seen this phenomenon is Kalavantin Pinnacle near Panvel.

No walls and no roof remain. Once you enter this area it is like you have come into an air-conditioned room! It becomes cold and shields you from the searing heat of the Sahyadri sun!

To the right of the idols is a dried-up stream. Although it is dried up now the stream must be a roaring-monster during the monsoons. All the greenery in and around the stream makes this evident!

There are some pools in this stream which offer you naturally refrigerated water.


Pool for Cool water

When you fill your bottle you get condensed water droplets on the bottle! Buy any of the most modern refrigerators you won't get this chill and thirst-quenching property in that water.Such clean and pure water that your filters at home are useless here. They are better-off at your house cleaning contaminated city water!This water is like the ad-slogan, just modified "No one can drink just once!"

Follow this rocky stream and you feel like you are walking through nature's own wildlife exhibiton!

Just one of the thousands you will see on the trail

I even saw an Asian Paradise Flycatcher, which ofcourse disappeared before I could shoot it (through my camera, ofcourse! :P). I did catch a fleeting glimpse of its flowing tail thought and it still is fresh in my mind's camera! We also found a skull of a Barking deer (Bhekar)
and lots of other funnily shaped rocks and boulders! (Ofcourse they were eroded by the water in the rainy season!)

As we proceeded through the path of the dry stream we came to one point where (you are not going to believe this!) we found butterflies in thousands and lakhs! They were like 100 butterflies per 1 cubic metre (to be technical). I found a dried up branch on which so many butterflies were sitting that I mistook them for leaves of the tree! And beyond the stream, in the jungle the air was thick with even more butterflies! That is a vision to be treasured and I have treasured it in my mind! No matter how many words I write I will not be able to describe the beauty that I saw that day!! That vision, I guess, will die with me! (Unless, ofcourse any of you also has seen it!)

After much walking we reached the base of Nageshwar pinnacle and from there we get a breathtaking view of Vasota and Old Vasota.


Vasota from Nageshwar base

The folds and contours on the mountain of Vasota coupled with its sheer cliffs give it the look of a muscular warrior!!


Vasota from Nageshwar, Nageshwar Pinnacle ,The Konkan region seen from Nageshwar

The view of Konkan from the point was also awesome! After climbing a few steps we reached the Nageshwar Cave temple. Cool breeze greeted us as we reached the temple. It is a hot favourite spot for pilgrims during MahaShivratri and one can clearly see the incessant drop by drop dripping of water over the Shivlinga.


Vasota from Nageshwar,Moving towards Vasota

The path from Nageshwar to Vasota is a flat path and one can enjoy the sight of the straight drop to the right into the Konkan region. This is real fun, walking on a narrow path where one wrong step spells instant death! I particularly love such paths more than any climb in the world! They have the ability to thrill the walker without making him use any of his energy and all the while he can just enjoy the relaxing cool breeze!! :)


It was getting dark and we had to use torches for the last kilometer or so but the more thrilling part of that last mile (or kilometer i must say!) was when we switched off our torches and stumbled and found our way out of the jungle!!

Our night-time was pretty much occupied by the regular food-making operations and other such things.

Enjoying by the fire , Ambience of our tent

But the highlight of the night was the camp fire where we had our dinner, told dirty jokes aloud, laughed raucously like wild, bearded stone-age men and then dozed off to snoring equally fast!

Next day we had scheduled a lightning fast climb to Vasota and an equally rapid descent from the fort, the reason being time again! The climb was once again awesome and never ever tired us because the entire path has forest cover over it! There are some patches where the vegetation over-head is so thick that the sun-rays refuse to touch the forest floor!!


The dense vegetation in Vasota forests

Once we reach the top of Vasota we come across a Bhagwa Flag fluttering in the wind.It fills you with energy!! It makes you even more enthusiastic to climb the remainder of the fort and explore it!

The Bhagwa Flag
As you climb the steps of Vasota's main entrance you cannot help but feel sad for the bad condition of the fort neglected by people and the government in general. The bastions and gates destroyed by the Britishers when they captured the fort still take you back to those days.

The Hanuman Temple on Vasota with no roof left

We come across a roof-less Hanuman Temple as soon as we enter the fort where one finds this legend:

" If any task is difficult then it is worthy of being done.Anyone can do a simple task"

It spurs you on! Makes you feel you are the King of the world! Makes you proud of yourself and gives you the satisfaction of having achieved something!

The forests on top of Vasota are thick and have grown over the ruins of the fort rendering access to the interiors of the fort almost impossible. But one can still see the foundations of many mansions on the fort.


The only entirely standing structure on Vasota & Nageshwar pinnacle from the Temple

The only completely standing structure on the fort is a Mahadev Temple. It has a photo of my god, Shivaji Maharaj, inside it. From here a splendid panoramic view of the Konkan region can be seen along with the Nageshwar pinnacle!!


The other end of the fort joins Vasota to Old Vasota via a narrow ridge and of course, the famous Babu Kadaa! Babu Kadaa( unlike its baby-ish name!) is a steep and tall cliff which reminds you of a very strong stone wall, only that it is natural! Babu Kadaa is the second steepest cliff in the Sahyadris, the first being Konkan Kadaa! The view from Babu Kadaa makes you speechless!! Just speechless!!


Old Vasota fort on top of Babu Kadaa, The view from Babu Kadaa point

Old Vasota sits like a king on top of Babu Kadaa. It has been stated as being out of bounds by the Forest Dept. We are like grown-up children. Denying anything makes us want it even more!

Old Vasota laughs at you. It taunts you! In your face pathetic human!! You cannot conquer me! The way to me is lost! You cannot walk on my sacred ground and defame me with your pathetic name writing and plastic garbage!!

I stare at its old fortifications covered in vegetation. I feel helpless, frustrated. I'll be back old man! With more time and more people! And I will find the way through to you because I know it exists! And whats more I will bring you to your knees by walking on your sacred grounds! I will unveil your mysteries!! You cannot deny me entry, I am born of these great old mountains. I will come to you!

We finally descend Vasota and return to base camp.

As we bid adieu to this grand old fort duo we find it difficult to move our eyes away from them until the boat turns and the forts disappear behind a hill.

The last time you see Old and New Vasota

They do make a re-appeareance when you are travelling to Satara but that is for only a brief period of time, just to say a final good-bye! Until next time my old friends! We shall meet again, I say!


-Pranjal Wagh

PS: Please click on the photographs for an enlarged view. Trust me, its worth clicking on them!

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This work by Pranjal A. Wagh is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License

Thursday, March 5, 2009

THANK YOU VOTERS!!

Hey my dear friends,


A BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGGGG THANK YOU TO YOU ALL!!

I must thank you all very much for your rock-steady support throughout the voting phase of the Best Blog in Mumbai Competition organised courtesy Mumbai Bloggers.
As a result of your tremendous support and love, Our Blog has stood second in the polling phase!!!

Here is the voting tally of the top 5 blogs:
  • http://umennet.wordpress.com (19.0%, 57 Votes)
  • http://thoughts-of-a-rationalmind.blogspot.com/ (17.0%, 49 Votes)
  • http://geekonnet.com (11.0%, 32 Votes)
  • http://www.bombaylives.com (10.0%, 30 Votes)
  • http://blog.sonaljhuj.com (8.0%, 25 Votes)

Moreover, the good news is, being part of the top 5 blogs in the voting tally, Our blog has been sent to the Experts Panel for review after which the final results for the competition will be announced!

Regardless of whether my blog wins or loses I will keep on posting good stuff!!
So,do keep reading my blog!!!
(And keep supporting me!)
Regards,

Pranjal Wagh
Admin

PS: The results are on 15 March 2009 so watch for that date on the calendar!!

Monday, March 2, 2009

Poll Conclusion: Are You Going to Vote This Year?

The results are out!


Hi Friends,

The 'Janta' has spoken! The results for the "Are you going yo vote this year poll?" are out!

See for yourself!


Out of a total of 22 voters, a whopping 81% voted for voting in the Loksabha elections this year!
Only a mere 4 guys were against voting for the elections!
That's really nice guys!

By conducting this poll, I have once again confirmed to myself that the people of the country are keen on exercising their fundamental rights and want to select good leaders who will make India advance on the path of progress!

Let us hope that the elected representatives do the same thing!