Train Journeys Then & Now

As a Mumbaite, train journey has been a part and parcel of my life since school days. In spite of the crowd, it was always fun to meet friends, chat and exchange interesting notes.
During vacations, we had to undertake atleast a day and two nights journey before we could reach our native town.
Exhaustive plans were made for the journey. We children collected maximum possible books, cards, board games etc. Mother was busy packing all the three meals. Other than a cup of milk, we were never indulged in outside food. Once we entered the train and our luggages were placed safely under the seats, we looked around in the compartment in search of company. During that one day's journey, children shared everything from books to food and spent their time together as if they were friends for long. The adults exchanged notes about their families and sometimes these friendships continued beyond the journey.
In contrast, today, people prefer to travel by air. Even if they travel by train, the moment they get in, if they are single, they keep sending messages on their mobile, or listen to music from an ipod or open up their laptops. Virtually there is no communication between the passengers. even if they travel for a whole day. Food is rarely packed from home. There is a continous stream of vendors selling all kinds of eatables from wafers to cutlets. There are children who would want to buy everything that crosses their seat and surprisingly quite a few parents give into it.

The only thing which still is part of a long distance journey is a poor child cleaning the compartment and asking for alms and most just turn their heads away.
Has technology erased the human touch in us?

Trip to Tirupathi

"Last weekend I went to Tirupathi". For almost everyone this could be a statement. But for me, it was an event.
Born an Iyengar, it may surprise many that I had not visited Tiruapathi, even once in my 52 long years. After umpteen failed attempts for the last 25 years, If I could visit Tirupathi, it cannot be called anything short of an event.
First time in '84, a well planned trip alongwith with my newly wedded sister and her inlaws, we took a train direct from Mumbai to Renigunta. (closest railway station to Tirupathi) The train was diverted from Guntakal (a station short of Renigunta).
Thereafter, I tried to join in with every possible person making a trip to Tirupathi. But it never materialised.
Sometime in the late 90's my husband casually said that he has booked a trip to Tirupathi by TTDC bus for the following morning. Probably, I was too exited about the trip and hada severe attack of asthma requiring hospitalisation.
I was so depressed that I just stopped planning or even thinking of a trip to Tirupathi.
Last weekend, without much plan, we set out to attend my sister's nephew's thread ceremony at Tirupathi.
And so finally, I set my foot on the seven hills and had a wonderful darshan not once but twice the same day - "Jab dheta hai to chappar phadke"

At the end of the trip, I can say, 'kurai onrum illai maraimurthy kanna'

Budget Blues

Finance Minister P Chidambaram was the man of the day on the 29th Feb. '08. He knew he had to keep in mind the coming general elections and present a budget to please all. One must admit, that the man is an expert at it.

All the news channels had experts to analyse and voice their opinions. Of course, the public on the street also had their share of the glare.

Going deeper into it, a couple of things which gnaws me is being overlooked by most. It is not likely to affect anyone in the near future.

Firstly, Rs. 6000 crore waiver of loans to farmers. Who or from where would this amount come from?
While I fully empathise with the farmers, I doubt if this would be a permanent solution.
How are they going to identify each of the farmer and pay off his debt? Has any plan been formulated ?If not, in this pre election year, it is sure to be misused in the hands of the politicians, corporators and local panchayat heads.

One need to understand as to why a farmer takes loan - for buying seeds and fertilisers.Would it therefore not be a better idea to have NGOs in local areas to assess the quantity and kind of seed requirement and let then distribute it. It is better to give in kind than in cash. Thereafter at harvest, make the farmers repay in the form of seeds for the next season A part of the harvest may also be bartered for the fertilizers for the next year.

Another probable solution is to form a co-operative society of the farmers like the Amul.
At least you would make the farmers self sufficient.

The second one is the income tax. This again would benefit the salaried class, a select urban population No doubt more spending power is a boost for the economy but at the same time, more two/three wheelers and cars is more pollution and traffic chaos.

I am a working women myself, but I still don't understand why they need to give a higher tax exemption limit for the women. We get the same pay as the men then why different tax structure?

There is a huge primany deficit and no one knows how this would be taken care of. Of course, that is the responsibility of the next Finance Minister.
Otherwise, this year's budget has nothing very interesting. No criticisms or protests.It was more or less on the expected lines.