Bangladesh, language et al

It’s been a very long time since I have filled up my blog. May be a month now? Well, Its been a very long time since I finished my second overseas assignment. It was good indeed to have a feel of the neighbouring Bangladesh, after the brief visit to the West Indies. West Indies experience was not so pleasant though. Considering the fact that India did badly in the World Cup and came back in the first round itself.
I must tell you my experience in the Bangladesh. Yes, the food, the people apart. The language people speak there should not just be a concern for the travellers who go there, but also for the country as such as to allow itself to grow in the new world. The technology, the IT, the new media and what not. Everything needs English. Gosh, there’s nobody who can at least understand the English language on the streets. Please don’t get offended if you either have a soft corner or you are from that part of the world. But, I am happy if you have read this. Because, it is you who can try & make a change.

No matter whatever the country can boast of. But, if there are no much communication skills around, then the whole purpose is lost. Even if one wants to enhance the number of tourists, then also one must have the communication skills better than what it is now. I met none who could speak or understand proper English in a hotel, throughout my 20 days stay there.
Enough of that. Bangladesh is not that bad at all in terms of a travel destination. There has been no work done to improve the beautiful travel spots here. May be you can speak of Cox’s Bazaar beach, the longest in the world. Or you can also speak about the beautiful temples in the capital city of Dhaka. Dhaakeshwari Temple is a beautiful temple one can visit. But, the two thousand year old Buddha Vihaar , and the Rama Temple near that Vihaar situated right in the Cox’s Bazaar is an interesting place to visit.
One thing I missed is, visiting some of the beautiful places in Chittagong. The 1857’s martyr’s tombs, and the Foy’s lake, are the places I couldn’t go to. But, one big accomplishment is the interview of Sheikh Hasina. It was a life time opportunity for me. I should consider myself very lucky for that.
Enough of biographical notes, one must visit this country to get the feel of a south Asian countryside. And of course, don’t forget to get a feel of the Cycle Rickshaws. One wonders how a million of the Rickshaws crisscross around the city of Dhaka, which takes care of 30 per cent of the total commuting of the city. Yes, you read it right. A million of them. But, it’s high time that the authorities controlled the number of the Rickshaws and may be they can go for the tried and tested CNGs, as they call it.

Just tell me how was the experience of reading this. If you have either been to Bangla or a resident of that country, do let me know your thoughts about what I have written here...

‘Beautiful’ Country

I am in Bangladesh, the neighbour of India. I should not be saying the neighbour, Bangladesh is a younger brother (or a sister? I m sure many will have their own reasons for their arguments!) of India in all respects. Well, having said that, I have given a good to my write-up about my journey to this land of rich culture and sweltering heat! The first thing an Indian notices when he reaches this country is its humid weather. May be since we reached in the month of May we got the opportunity to experience more of it. But, I am sure even in the other season, the country would have more hot days than cool ones.

This country has a lot of beautiful things to know about. But sadly, that’s not one gets to see in the beginning itself. In fact even after being here for more than 4-5 days, I haven’t been able to see the beautiful part of it more. But, the first thing one would experience here is the way the people here are and the vehicles behave!
There’s a reason behind bringing in the traffic part of it. I think this is the only place on earth where you can find ‘anything possible’ crisscrossing the roads. Anything means anything. I had the terrible experience on the second day of my Dhaka stay itself that I had to travel by keeping the life in my hands.
Hmmm, now that I am heading to the south part of the country, the beautiful Chittagong, I am expecting a lot fro that city. I am sure, I will not be disappointed. Its 12.25 a m (Bangladesh Time). My journey would start in another 20 minutes. Wish me happy journey!

Caribbean Reality- Almost!

It has finally happened. After a wait of over ten days and more, now am on my way to the Caribbean Islands to witness the war of the bigwigs in this Cricket Bonanza. Though it was unfortunate that the journey had to be late and had to miss the Opening ceremony, Opening match and the first match India played in the event, I find myself lucky to be a part of this mega event.
Well, that’s about the dream and the realization of that dream. But, the journey itself is very eventful. I am at the Gatwick Airport in London now. Which is the final airport I will be waiting before I land in the Caribbean Islands. Hmmm, in fact the flight from Hyderabad to Mumbai got delayed, had to wait in Hyderabad, the flight to London also got delayed, another few hours in Mumbai airport and now waiting in to go to Antigua.
Okey, but my stay at London was really eventful. It will surely be in my memory for the years to come. Yes, this is how my night here was spent. I somehow met somebody who hails from India. And, as the destiny had it, I spent the whole night talking with them. What I got is similar to a sight of a beacon when you are in the deep sea. A person who was supposed to look for a hotel room right outside the airport got somebody to share his time inside the airport itself.
Finally, the time has arrived. We will be boarding the flight in a few minutes. Lets hope India does good!!!

Caribbean Dreams

It has been a very long wait... 23 loooong years. Every Indian Cricket Team Fan is saying the same thing. And yes, even the Indian Cricket Team has been coming near the cup and has been failing to win it. The quadrennial event that is the dream of every cricketer has come back now and yes, its being held in the Caribbean Islands. The conglomerate of various Island Nations are coming together to conduct this event. Considering that the small islands and the amount of infrastructure required for this mammoth event, nobody is sure how far the Caribbean island is ready for it. One comment has already come from the African continent, which conducted the last world cup. Shaun Pollock has expressed his displeasure about the way the arrangements have been made for their nets and also the other basic amenities. If this was not enough, the blast at the Team hotels has raised the concerns of no only the teams which were there, but also the other participating teams. The issue of sending a special sixteen member team from India to give security to the Indian team also had raised many peoples' eyebrows. Hmmm... So much about the general preparations at the Caribbean. An estimate says more than 400-500 cricket crazy go to the Caribbean from Bangalore itself. If this is the number from the Garden city alone, imagine the amount of cricket fans arriving at the Islands. But, the accommodation is going to be a very difficult task, since the islands do not provide enough of it. So, lets see. They have been the champions in the first two editions of the event. And have come up as favourites in this edition, after winning the Champions trophy in 2004 and coming till the finals last years. And also, their team is looking good with the way it is now, though there is a lack of the champions they had in the earlier days. Lara thought, is confident of breaking he record and bagging the Cup though being a host nation, which ha never happened earlier. Lets see. If Lara's fellows prove themselves or not. But, the basic question is now, if the event is run smoothly. Let us hope for the best!!!

How the mind works!!!

Well…
I think that is how our mind works. You always keep thinking of what you are given the responsibility of. Same thing happened this morning. When traveling to Mumbai. The station where our train stopped for some time had a room with a board saying ‘station engineer’. This mind doesn’t read that, instead, I see it as ‘Selection engineer’ from where the hell did this Selection in place of Section?!!!
That’s what I called the work of the mind. I am on the way to Mumbai to attend and cover the Team India selection committee meeting. Well, there the word!!! SELECTION!!!
You might I am crazy isn’t it!! Well, may be I am! But, hey, I am sure, it must have happened to everybody. One will agree to it if they are honest at least to themselves!!!
Hmm… I am on the way now…Looking forward to the stay in Mumbai. Its going to be a hell of an experience I am sure. Going there after at least 8 months gap. But, the life and the times have changed drastically now. I am no more the Student Pradeep who had gone to Mumbai last time. It’s the assignment I am give to accomplish that has made me travel to the Business Hub of India this time.
Hope to have a rocking time there.

Not Just Cauvery

Well... Looing at what I have written till now... Dont think its just this. Its not that i am going to write dow only serious stuff. So... There going to be some spice and some fun...
Soon
will get back later then...

Cauvery... Enough is enough

Is the thing we are doing now is enough?
Some may say yes, some NO.
But, I would say, It is ENOUGH. Bloodbath is not the only solution for everythng. That reminds me of Mahatma Gandhi's words: 'An eye for an eye will make the world blind'
And this is exactly waht is happening around the world. The WTC is attacked by the Osama Bin and party, and the whole of Afganistan is burnt completely, byt the US forces. Is the terrorism over now? Not at all. But still the Emperor Of USofA is emphatic about his victory there. And, he becomes another dictator when he hangs the emperor, atocrat of Iraq, Mr Saddma Hussain.
Stil, is the peace prevailing in the country of Iraq?
No...
Sad isn't it. That, the blood is flown on the banks Cauvery, when the water flows calm and quiet. The riots of 1991 brings all the sad memories of the controversy. Has the controvrsy ended? It is very much there and moe importantly is going tobe there for years from now.
May be, it will end when the river stops flowing, or the human race sucks the wole water out of the holy river.
Lets see... Which comes first.

Cauvery Row: What is in store for Karnataka

Cauvery Tribunal Verdict has not flamed out the amount of tension and violence it was thought to have. But ye, the issue is not going to end here itself. Because the issue has just gotten the support of all the associations and the leaders in the state. The bund called by the various association has been postponed by 4 days to the 12th of February.
So, the state will, in all probability, remaincalm untill then.Yes, of course, small incidents here and there will surely flare up the violence.
But, the real question is, what is the verdict saying?


In the Interim Order givn by the Tribunal in 1991 asked Karnatak to release 205 tmcft of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. And the final verdct given on 5th February asks Karnataka to give 192 tmcft of water each year. Nut, the real factor lies here. The water to be gven according to the interim order shoud be measured from the Mettur area. But, the new order says the measuement should be donefrom Biliundlu, some 20 kms away towards Tamil Nadu. This also means that the water collected along this 20 km lenght should be given to Tamil Nadu, which measures at around 25 tmcft every year.
Tis is the stark reality.
Karnataka is shown in the main verdict to have been given some respit. But the reality is Karnataka now is forced to give 12 tmcft more to Tamil Nadu every year.
And some more facts here:
* Karnataka had asked for 456 tcft. But it is given just 270 tmcft of water.
* Tamil Nadu is given 419 though it had asked for 562 tmcft of water.
* Kerala got 30 while Puduchery got 7 tmcft.
* Another interesting fact. The commitee which had been give the work to assess the amount of water hich can be awarded to the various states had said that Tamil Nadu be given around 395 tmcft of water while Karnataka was entitled around 230-240 tmcft of water. But, the tribunal has been kind enough to give more water than the assessed amount.

Well, forget about the facts, Karnataka will be up in flames in the coming days for sure.
So... hold your breath.