Power of Unity! Thanks to Bangalore Mirror

A month ago Bangalore Mirror, local daily in Bangalore, launched a campaign for the citizen and the betterment of Bangalore. Bangalore known as the silicon valley of India, was struggling with potholes in different parts of the city. It has become a nuisance for the people to commute from one place to another.

Bangalore Mirror covered this story and requested people to participate in the campaign. Participation was simple, people had to take photo the pothole close to their locality and it to Bangalore Mirror. All photographs were send to an email id created exclusively for this purpose. The response was overwhelming, daily a page was contributed for this section, which contained photograph of pothole along with the locality. Sender name was kept confidential. 

Slowly authorities started reacting to it and potholes in key areas of Bangalore were filled with immediate effect with the assurance that other areas will be covered soon. My locality had close to 6 potholes and one among them was pretty big. With bike one can manage them but cars were a real terror. Due to potholes people stopped commuting by cars and resorted to bikes. But there were few people who used cars and paid for the potholes from their pocket. Bangalore Mirror covered such incident as well apart from images of potholes.

 Today morning was a pleasant delight for me, I saw all the potholes of my locality being filled and roads being tarred, making it convenient for commuters. We wouldn’t have seen this change if Bangalore Mirror had not taken this initiative and urged citizens to participate to betterment of the society and themselves.

Would like to applaud the initiative take by Bangalore Mirror, to make Bangalore roads pothole free. And their constant effort to keep the fire burning. Many times it has happened that people start up a thing but leave it midway when they don’t see any response from it, at the time stipulated by them. They forget the fact constant effort always yield result but one has to wait for it and should have faith in oneself. 

This win had reassured our belief in the power of unity, had citizens not participated in this campaign whole heartedly, results wouldn’t have been evident so soon. Together we can always make a difference but need a reason and constant support to stand for it.

Looking forward to see more examples of “Power of Unity”

Should we entertain calls offering Bank Loan?

Most of us keep getting calls from various banks for different kind of loans be it “car, house or personal loan”. When we ask about the formalities for getting the loan, they tell  PAN card, address proof, photos and letter from your current organization. But when we apply for loan, we realize that whatever was communicated to us through phone and what we are asked to produce are different things all together. Here is a small story about a leading pvt bank in India

I applied for a loan and within minutes received confirmation that loan has been approved. I was very happy, reason being my association with the bank is 6yrs old. Till date I never had any issues with the bank. But the real shock was about to come for me. Next day bank representative came to me for collecting the documents and get my signature in the loan form.  I was about to sign the form when he told me that rental agreement can’t be accepted and some other proof need to be submitted. 

I offered him Voter ID cars, Aadhar card and he said no as these are not from Bangalore so can’t accept it but they contained my permanent address. I was like “am I dealing with a bunch of idiots?” I can change my rental address anytime but not permanent address. I tried to justify my stand but he was not willing to listen to me. He didn’t even try to call his superiors back in bank to find a way out. Finally I showed him the way out.

His attitude was “if want to take the loan else move off” but when we go the branch of this said bank you are floored by their humbleness and supportive nature. Bank representative was not able to satisfy my queries about the loan term and conditions. His only motive was get the signature and keep moving.

My friend also faced the similar problem with the same bank, she applied for a loan for 3 yrs but she finished the loan amount in an year’s time, when she requested the bank to give her an NOC. She had a tough time with the bank to procure it. She was so frustrated with the bank that she closed the account with the bank and has decided not to have relation with the bank.

Few questions to the banks offering loan

•   If you have so many issues with rented residents then why do you target them? Provide loans only to permanent residents 
•  Aadhar card is accepted throughout India, which even has our finger print and permanent address, these banks are operating in India but they are not willing to abide Indian’s UIN 
•  Banks are not providing loans free of cost, they charge interest on it, that’s the way how they survive, then why this who cares attitude? 
•  Customers have number of option to take loan but do banks have so many customers and funds with them that they can afford to send off any customer
• Loans are a win- win situation for both bank and individuals then why this attitude?

Can suicides give you justice?

I was reading article in “Times of India” Bangalore edition other day, when came across a story which left me spell bound. Didn’t knew how to react to it? Only 2 things were in my mind 1. Is human life so cheap? 2. Do we need to consume poison to make ourselves heard? Here the story 

A family of 4 comprising of a couple and their kids enter police commissioner’s office and fainted at the reception one after another, foam was coming out their mouth. It didn’t take much time for the police personnel deployed there to understand that it was a case of poisoning. They rushed to action called for an ambulance, blocked the road to shift them to the hospital at the earliest.  Timely help saved their life.

Reason for their extreme step lead to a shocking revelation. The lady of the family was cheated of property worth Rs 20 crore by her brother and a high ranking government officer. She filed a case for justice in court but her brother convinced her to withdraw the case, promising her to pay the required compensation. Poor emotional fool with drew the case and was Rs 5 lakhs. Post this injustice she ran from post to pillar in different departments of police and court but nobody came to her rescue. 

She met high ranking police officer’s couple of time but apart from assurances didn’t get anything. With no  one to support and her dying faith in judicial system, she decided to end her life with family. After consuming poison, she went to police commissioner office to make an attempt for justice last time. 

Post the story police and judicial system have flung into action and are investigating the case afresh to seek justice. Just to make herself heard and seek justice this lady had to go to the extent of taking her life. This came to our notice, there could be many which go unnoticed. 

Few questions in mind

Had that family died, the real cause for suicide would have never been revealed?

To what extend a person should go to seek justice and be heard?

Will she get justice now?
When timely action can avert such situations, then why to encourage such incidents?
Will judiciary take action against the culprits for abatement to suicide?

Conversation with a school friend

School days were the most memorable days of my life. Still miss them a lot. All my best buddies are from school. Even though we are miles apart but we don’t have any inhibitions while connecting with each other at any given point of time.  We are ready to lend our support to each other at any time. 

Facebook has played a vital role is getting us stay connected with each, most of my friends are on FB. Today Sharique pinged on FB after a long time. Things started with normal conversation but then it progressed to our school days and the mischief's we used to do in school. A chat which started with just a “hi” went on to our professional challenges then to our personal life’s. How this transition happened is still a mystery for us? Even in school also we never spoke so much than we did today.

We chatted for close to an hour on FB then I requested for his contact number to give him a call. We signed off our chat on FB as longtime buddies willing to get connected soon depending upon our availability. I called him a little late and we spoke for 30 mins, it was better than the chat conversation. Constrains of chat were overcome through call and we spoke to our heart, which took us back to our school days one more time. We covered topics which we usually discuss with very close buddies or whom we know very well. 

Initially conversation was full of courtesy but once we got started courtesy took back seat and we got on to our school ways where we hardly called people by their names and called them by nick names. Both of us could identify the change in our personalities that have taken place over a period of time. It was for our betterment only. 

I didn't feel am talking to a stranger to whom I have not spoken since I left school, occasionally we used to ping each other on FB.  We can get connected with our school friends at given point of time, reason could be the innocence of the age and purity of soul.  

Thanks Sharique for making my day 

Finally was able to watch Mumbai Police

My wife wanted to watch “Mumbai Police”, she told me about it on Friday. I tried booking the tickets online but tickets were available only for the last shows. I was fine with it but my wife was reluctant to go for night show which would get over by 12 am. I called up a friend of mine who told me about a multiplex close to my house. I tried booking the ticket online but was not successful. Hence decided to reach their in person and take the ticket for the show.

This multiplex was about 6 km from my house but it was pretty difficult for me to locate the place as some construction work was going on near the place. With much struggle I was able to locate the multiplex. But our happiness was short lived when we came to know that tickets are available only for night show as evening show had begun an hour ago.  We checked the timings of the show for the next day and left the place. Show timings were for evening and night show.  We decided to go for evening show on Sunday.

Sunday we reached there for evening show to discover that show timings were changed and tickets are available only for night show.  We had lost our patience by now and wanted to watch the movie at any cost. Hence decided to watch the movie for night show. We came back home again reached the  multiplex at 8.45 pm. Before leaving home me and my wife we decided that looking at the audience presence we would decide whether to watch the movie or not. We wanted the participation of female audience for the show, otherwise it would have been pretty difficult for us.

Luckily good number of people turned out for the movie and we proceed towards the ticket counter. Got the ticket and went inside. Occupancy was less as it was the 4th week since the movie was released. Before the show could begin, a couple occupied seat in the row ahead of us with a small kid. We looked at each and said that’s it, even after struggling so much we may not be able to watch the movie if the child screams in between, which was unavoidable.  Show started and ended on time.  The movie was good, I liked it and the child didn’t cry during the show. Seems like has been trained for it.

The movie got over by 12am and we out of the theatre. I took my bike out of the parking lot. There was hardly anybody on the streets except the audience from the movie which just got over. The drive back home was awesome, the road was clear with no vehicles and signals stopping us unusual thing seen in Bangalore. It was bit cold as well and we reached home in just 10 mins while going for the movie it took us 25 mins. But we enjoyed the drive and the movie, wanted to prolong the drive a bit but decided to do next time.

I know I took a hard decision to go for a night show on a Sunday, with Monday being a hectic day at work. But I feel it was worth it and am planning to watch more movies during night shows. 

An act of generosity or foolishness

Being kind / generous is good but other shouldn't take our act for granted and make mockery of it. Hers’s an incident I would like to share with you.

Last week me and my wife decided to use bus to go for shopping. We walked down to the bus stop and boarded a bus to our destination. My wife and me were lucky to get a place to sit immediately after boarding the bus. Usually it doesn't happen, one has to stand for quite sometime before he/she could get a place to sit. In some cases you get chance to sit a stop before your’s and its quite frustrating.

I saw couple of people standing around me. A  guy from next stop came and stood close to my seat. This is an indication for others that he will occupy the seat if anyone vacates the place, so hunt any other seat. Mine was the last stop so no worries. I was feeling pity for the boy but he can occupy the other seat next to me in case  he gets down before the last stop.

After 2 stops the person sitting next to me got down and the guy standing close my seat occupied the vacant place. This guy had just settled himself, when another guy came to this guy and said “ I am not feeling well, I want to sit down”. The guy sitting next to me got up and gave his seat to this guy, who was not well as per his statement. I didn’t feel he was not well by looking at him.

Post occupying the seat, this guy put his head on his bag to showcase he is not well. 2 mins after this he got an sms, he raised his head and was fine. Back to normal with no issues, sms chat, calling friends. From his conversation it appeared to me as if he was going for some party with friends. 5 mins before a person who was not able to stand was now talking to his friends as if nothing has happened. 

Once he had done with his call, he started talking to me and was enquiring about an address, which I helped him. Felt like asking him that “ aren't you ill now?”. Other guy who had offered his seat to this liar, had got a place to sit. I saw that guy. 

After this incident I don’t think I can ever trust a person who comes up to me asking to help because don’t know whether it is genuine or not. Had I been at the other guy’s place who had offered his seat, would have gone back and asked him to vacate the seat as he is not ill. I am sure he would't have vacated the place then told him not to tell such fake stories to innocent people as it may hurt their sentiment and they will never help anyone in future even in genuine cases.

A rare gesture not to be found these days

Can anyone say no to money in today’s competitive world? Nobody would do so but there are few people who do it and open path for others to follow as well. Something similar to it happened to me last me and I was influenced to write about it. A gesture rare to be found these days.

My office bag’s zip has some problem, despite my best attempt I was not able to lock it. It began on Monday, since I carry laptop was bit scared as the zip of that particular pouch had problem. The weather here is such that, it rains in evening most of the time. It rains at the time when people are about to leave office after a hectic day at work. I had no option but to carry the bag in that position till weekend and get the zip replaced or switch to a new bag. 

I have one more bag at home but not was comfortable with it so preferred to use the same bag and tried to escape rain as much as possible. Friday post office I took it to a bag repair shop close to my house to get the old zip replaced with new one.  I entered the small shop and asked him to replace the zip. He took the bag from me and fixed the problem in 5 mins with the help a plier. Then he handed the bag back to me and said it is fine now. 

I asked him the cost for fixing the problem to which he said, not required . I insisted again but he said no.  Without much option I left the shop but was wondering, how much such people can I find in today’s world who actually charges people for genuine reasons? Had I taken my bag to any other shop, shopkeeper would have told me, replace the zip, without even checking, if it can used further and charged royally. 

I was thinking what made him say ”NO” to his charge, his shop was not that big even that he could forego the charges. Because he has put his effort, even though little, work is work.  It reminded of an incident which happened to be me in a super speciality hospital. 

My wife was admitted to a hospital following severe stomach pain and post diagnosis doctors told , she need to be operated upon for the situation at the earliest.  I was out of town then, called up my relatives and told them not to proceed with the surgery till I reach. Once I reached hospital, I said no to surgery and took her back home after settling the bills. 

Post that I consulted one more doctor an expert, and he asked us “Who told you for surgery? Just drink water and have proper food, you will be fine. I was shocked. Had I gone with the words of the doctor then I would have duped myself of my money for a cause which was not required at all and the health of my wife as well.

People who are passionate about their work and have confidence on themselves will never dupe people, rather guide them in the right manner. People who are not confident about themselves always think about duping people and make money.

I salute the gesture of people who are honest to their profession and follows ethics in life.