Hurried Versus Languid

 Why is everybody in a hurry? Where are they going? And, if they are actually going somewhere in life, can't it wait a few minutes?

These questions always arise between 9 am and 10 am in the morning, and between 4.30 and 5.30 pm each working day, in my mind. After that, they vanish, to come back again at the same time, to bother me.

Research is needed, maybe, to figure out if we would achieve anything more if we were 5 minutes ahead of normal/usual. Will that stop global warming, floods, war, general nastiness and dictators clinging to power in more countries than one?

Will it lead to us smiling instead of throwing a tantrum at home or workplace? 

Partly, it depends on your mode of transport too. If you have a comfortable seat on a bus or a commuter train, you may not care about traffic conditions, or delays of some kind. They would be minor distractions for you. But in the driver's seat, it may feel different. 

So, maybe learning to relax and take a deep breath, and not rush in where angels fear to tread would be a good approach. What do you think?

Fun and Education

When you travel, it can be fun and educational at the same time. You learn by simply being there, observing what is happening around and challenging yourself to do things (eating included) that you might never have at home. I get this feeling every time. Here are some pics from a recent Thailand trip. Got to Golf a bit, after attending a conference, and saw a great initiative to help blind people.

1. An efficient public transport system helps the economy- Huai Khwang station, Bangkok MRT.
2. Trying out putting as part of the IIM Indore Golf Academy (Thailand extension) is Jayasimha (below)

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A training institute for the Blind Men teaches them massage. This (above) is a pic from the place, a great social initiative that makes them self-reliant. And below, learning about Retailing .. 😄

Pune Warriors

This is not about the short-lived IPL team supported by the ill-fated Sahara group whose chairman is going through bad times. This is about the everyday wars being fought by the Punekars on its roads, and so on.

Historically a culturally rich, progressive city, it retains (many) shades of it even today. But on one count, it falls short of expectations (to be fair, all Indian cities fall short here)- traffic and its management. Public transport needs huge improvement, because people seem to believe today (rightly) that a two-wheeler of your own is a must, if you want to get around and reach anywhere. Someone said that a city's public transport system is a mark of how civilised it is. I am beginning to agree.

Autorickshaws are expensive for daily commutes of any lengths. Parking is non-existent in most parts of town. A metro should have been built about 8-10 years ago, and there is no sign of it yet.

There are a lot of pluses in Pune, but lots of civic facilities seem on the verge of a breakdown. Urgent repairs needed, and mostly within municipal limits- pun intended. Let's hope Pune is not "Bangalored" in its road conditions.