Author: Akshay

I am Akshay Varma, a Project Manager who likes writing, taking pictures, and listening to music. I am mainly work with projects in transition and onboarding of new client projects and business transformation. I like writing about current affairs and how they effect me, my personal life and anything and everything which comes to my mind. I like landscape and bird photography. Humans as photographic subject don't attract me :). This is a personal blog and thoughts written here are my own and do not reflect/ represent those of the organization(s) that I am with in professional or personal capacity.

A hard place

~ Akshay ~ 2 Comments

Mumbai, as I have observed over the last 6 months, is a very difficult place for someone who is new to the city. The sheer pace of life, the number of people on the streets, the traffic etc.. can take a toll on anyone who is not used to such frenetic life. I encountered one such person today in the train. This boy was sitting on the 4th seat and was feeling uncomfortable, so he was moving his arms, head around and constantly irking his fellow passengers. He finally got up at Bandra to get down at Dadar. Once the station arrived, the crowd got empty and this fellow went to the other side of the door. After a few seconds, I heard a girl cry out a name. On hearing the name, the boy responded but it was too late for him to get down. By that time, the people had already started boarding the train. He tried to move against the crowd and get down.. but it was an impossible task. The train started moving… the shouts of the girl for that boy kept on increasing.. until the train moved out of the station. The boy, even though new in the city, kept his composure and asked where the next station would come. Unfortunately for him, he was in the fast train and thus he would have only got down at Mumbai Central. I didnt see him get down at that station. I hope he is ok and reunites with the people he left behind at Dadar station. In some ways this city is very cruel. May be in some other city, people might have made way for him to get down.. but not today, not in Mumbai where everyone is running to get somewhere.

Good lyrics

~ Akshay ~ 1 Comment

I have been listening to this song, since yesterday. It is called Maahi, from the movie Raaz II.

Tujhe milke laga hai
Yeh tujhe dhundh raha tha main

Tujhe milke laga hai
Yeh tujhe dhundh raha tha main

Tujh mein hai kuch aise subah sa
Jiski khaatir main tha jaga sa
Aa tu mere Khwab sajaa ja re

maahi aaja re maahi aaja re

Tujh mein hai kuch aisi subah sa
Jiski Khaatir main tha jaga sa
Aa tu mere khwab sajaa ja re

Dil roye ya ilahi Tu aaja mere maahi
Dil roye ya ilahi Tu aaja mere maahi
Dil roye ya ilahi Tu aaja mere maahi
LyricsMasti.com
Mere maahi Mere maahi
Tu aaja mere maahi

Tujhe milke laga hai
Yeh tujhe dhundh raha tha main

Tujhe milke laga hai
Yeh tujhe dhundh raha tha main

Tujh mein hai kuch aise subah sa
Jisko khaatir main tha jaga sa
Aa tu mere Khwab sajaa ja re

Dil roye ya ilahi,Tu aaja mere maahi
Dil roye ya ilahi,tu aaja mere maahi
Mere maahi mere maahi Tu aaja mere maahi
Dil roye ya ilahi tu aja mere maahi

Maahi maahi maahi
Maahi maahi maahi

Dhadkano mein maahi saaanson mein hai maahi

Tu hi hai mere dil ki tamanna
Teri hi yaadein har lamha
De Mujhe de apna aanchal
Dhoop mein jalta main harpal
LyricsMasti.com
Tujh mein hai kuch aisi ghata sa
Jiske Liye Hoon mein pyaasa sa
Aa Tu Meri Pyaar bujha ja re

Dil Roye ya ilahi tu aaja mere maahi
Dil ROya ya ilahi tu aaja mere maahi

Mere maahi Mere maahi
ho Aaja mere maahi Dil Roye ya ilahi
Tu Aaja mere maahi Dil Roye ya ilahi

maahi maahi maahi maahi maahi maahi

Bas Mera tu maahi saaanso mein hai maahi
Hain mujhe hai tera armaan hai tuhe hai mera banna
Har ghadi teri dil mein aahat ttu mile mil jaaye raahat

Jud Ke bhi tu mujhse juda sa
Mulke bhi tu kya hai khafaa sa
Aaaja meri baahon mein saja re

Jud Ke bhi tu mujhse juda sa
Milke bhi tu kya hai khafaa sa
Aaaja meri baaho mein saja re

Dil roye ya ilahi,tu aaja mere maahi
Dil roye ya ilahi,tu aaja mere maahi
Dil roye ya ilahi,tu aaja mere maahi
Dil roye ya ilahi,tu aaja mere maahi

A City of Discrimination

~ Akshay ~ 3 Comments

This thought stuck to me while I was traveling in the train. The people in the city are the most cosmopolitan as well as most discriminating. Right from the train travel where we have 2 types of compartments, 1st and 2nd class. In 1st class people are dressed well, sharp, look sophisticated and generally have an attitude of superiority. While in 2nd class, you will see people of all types. I wonder why do we have such classes? Why cant all citizens be treated as equals? I have used public transport in quite a few cities around North America and there I didn’t see any divide between suit wearing hippie and a construction guy. They all travel in the same manner. I guess even after dividing people based on their religions, caste, sub-castes etc. we are still not satisfied. We want more division. We just want to live with “our” type of people. Nowadays even housing societies in this city are dictating which “type” of people should stay, what kind of food they are allowed to have? This is just plain ridiculous. There are pure-veg societies. Some only allow people from one particular religion, caste, sub-caste to stay/ buy the property etc. If this was not enough, there is now discrimination between outsider and natives. This is just so backward. No wonder the Britishers were able to rule us for such a long time. I dont think we have learned anything in the last 60 years of our independence. This is the state in India’s most cosmopolitan city, I fear how things might be in other cities or small towns across the country.

Life moves on or does it?

~ Akshay ~ Leave a comment

So finally after 60 hours the siege over Mumbai ended. There was celebration in some streets, people mourning in some, for some it was relief, for some were overcome by grief, but for a lot of them it was rage, anger that their city, country had to go through this.I wait and hope that this anger is constructive and something positive comes out of it. As I sit here and write this, I know that we may move on, the city might come back to normal, but we will not forget what happened on 26/11/2008.

Terrorist Strike Mumbai Again

~ Akshay ~ 1 Comment

Update Almost 31 hours and the crisis are still not over. This is just frustrating.

I am very sad and angered after following the events on the TV for more than last 12 hours. Ever since the first sms I saw at 6:30am, until the time of writing this post.. the favorite part of my city has become a virtual war zone. The Taj hotel, The Trident, Leopold Cafe, CST are some of the places which are very close to me since I spent most of my college life in these areas. Just a couple of weeks back, I was sitting bang opposite Hilton towers and discussing life with a friend of mine.

I am really angered by the apathy shown by the government. Just a few months ago, when blasts were going off in every city, the government should have done something. Mumbai is a sitting duck for any dick, tom and harry to attack. Once again we will have the politicians come and go, give speeches, etc. But after a couple of days/ weeks nothing will have changed. People will be back to their normal lives and “Mumbai” spirit will be saluted. A friend had her away status “Mumbai is living a nightmare”, I would say “Mumbai is a living nightmare”.

My condolences to families who lost their loved ones today, My prayers are with the people who are still holed up as hostages.I hope you are rescued soon.

Economy and Markets

~ Akshay ~ Leave a comment

The last few weeks have been very tumultuous for everyone. The global market melt down has affected almost everyone in same way or the other. The collapse of major financial institutions has caused a worry in the market as to who is safe? It seems like all industries have been effected by this. Two days ago, Europe officially admitted that st it is under recession and so did Japan. US, we already know is under recession but they wont accept it. The global oil prices, have also fallen down. In India, we see the sensex has crashed, the rupee is struggling, construction industry is bust, and credit is not easily available in the market.

I think for long term investors this is the perfect time to invest. For people who have savings, this is the best time since there is a lot of panic and fear in the market. Also the prices for the housing market will come back to earth in the next few months and it will be a very good time to get a house. The basic principle of the market economy is supply and demand. Currently there is abundant supply and the demand is very few and this is going to bring down the prices, since the inventory has to be cleared. If this does not happen, there wont be new products launched.

I dont know what I am trying to say here and why I am dishing out all this “gyaan”. I guess in someways I am myself affected by this market crash. Some of my investments have lost 40% of their value and I am not sure if I will ever regain the lost value. Only time will tell. But I truly wish I had some money on hand because now is the best time to invest and reap profits for the future.

Phone: Lost and Found

~ Akshay ~ 6 Comments

Yeah. I know I know. I am posting after quite a long time (15 days since last post). To be honest, too many things have happened in my life since I last posted. I will write about them soon. I promise.

A couple of days ago, I was waiting at the Mumbai Central station waiting to catch the train back home. A Virar train had just entered into the station and after the mad scramble to get in the train got over, the train started moving. As the ladies compartment neared, a girl standing on the footboard lost her grip on her cell phone and it dropped on the station, sliding and landing right near my feet. A few onlookers were looking as I picked up the phone and I didn’t know what I should do with it. The phone was Samsung and must have cost around 5-7K. A couple of fellow passengers suggested I give the phone to local police men who are nowadays found on every platform. I decided to hand it over to the cops.

While walking with the phone one part of me really didnt want to return the phone, since I had lost a couple of phones and they had never been returned. I was like it is payback time. While thinking about this, I also realized how sad I had felt when I lost my phones and how this person might be feeling. What she must be going through, the nervousness, the fear and the hope that someone might return the phone back to her. I decided to do the right thing and decided to hand over the phone to her. I called a couple of people from her contact list and gave them my details, so they could get in touch with her and she could retrieve her phone.

After waiting for her to call on her cell for about 15 mins, I decided to board the train and head home. So when I had just boarded, her brother called and in a very accusatory tone asked me “This phone is with you”. At that very moment I felt like throwing the phone from the window. Bugger, here I am trying to return your sisters lost phone and you are accusing me of stealing the phone. I asked him to collect the phone from Borivali since I have already boarded the train and have no intentions to get down and make my journey more uncomfortable. After speaking with her brother, the owner of the cell phone called and said she was at Bandra and would appreciate it if I can get down and hand it over to her there. I agreed after much deliberation.

I got down at Bandra and located her and gave her the phone. It turns out she was working for Lufthansa Airlines ground crew. The relief and joy on her face was quite watchable. She thanked me and I moved on. The funny part was even after losing her phone once, she decided to travel on the footboard of the train, the way she lost it initially. I just looked up.. sighed and boarded a very crowded train to home.

Moral of the story: Nice guys always get crushed.