Chow Vendor from Chamba

ACHIEVER SERIES - I

Zee's Sa Re Ga Ma is another reality show with crass display of emotions and stage managed theatrics. But one contestants story was inspirational enough to give me enough goose pimples to tickle my tear buds. Interestingly my ACHIEVER SERIES starts with Rajeev, someone whom I have not seen in flesh and blood.

Rajeev is a lad from sleepy Chamba. He wants to make it big as a singer. So he entered Zee's Sa Re Ga Ma contest. Before this he had tried his luck but lost out.

In Zee's Sa Re Ga Ma, none of the girls wanted to be paired along with him. Finally Rajeev was paired with a girl whose parents are settled in Egypt and in the opposite side of the money spectrum.

Rajeev happens to be the son of a music lecturer in H.P College, Chamba. The family of four just about survives. The roof of his house lets in water whenever the Gods in Chamba decides to pour.

For a living Rajeev runs a road side stall. He has a 6-7 yrs assistant who helps him out. That is his only source of livelihood. One look at the mapped distempered walls, the lone "lohen ka kadai" and a ram shackle stove will give a hint of his life in Chamba. During 6-8 months of the competition when he was staying in Mumbai his shop has remained closed. He said a lot was at stake for him.

Thus when he was booted out in the semi-finals I could'nt help feeling for him. He sang a departing song which showed he is a natural but scarily untrained. Its a voice that will make an established singer edgy.

Recently I came to know that some classical singer has taken him under his tutelage. It made me feel good.

But mind you! This is not about the reality show, its not about judging whether its all fake. I will take everything on face value. And I will salute the audacity of his dream. A dream beyond my capacity. And thats enough for me to feature him on my blog.

Introducing the ACHIEVER SERIES

At times we complain about life and how unlucky we have been. Most times these cribbings becomes the source of excuses that shield our lack of resolve.

Many individuals are born with golden spoons. Some of them make the most and add onto what they are already born with. Some waste it and end up in the negative. While there are some who are also rans.

For many days I have been wanting to write about those individuals who have impressed me by their ability to beat the odds. Individuals whom I have seen upclose, in flesh and blood. They comprise my achiever's list. Each have a compelling story to tell.

From time to time my blog will feature the ACHIEVER SERIES. Posts about individuals who are born with nothing. People who created a legacy for their progeny to multiply, or waste or sleep over.

So await my next post. It will be about someone who recently brought tears to my eyes. Oh yes! Men do cry.

2F the sandwiched class

The f letter reminds me of the f word. And in case of 2F more so.

The new income tax form is suitably named 2F. If you are part of the silent salaried class then you have one more pinch in the ass delivered by Dr. Singh's government.

From an visionary economist to a lame duck PM Dr. Singh has come far. His PC - the educated, respected and suave lawyer has strangely decided put us under the scanner. The new tax return form is not only lengthy but also asks for detailed break of your expenses & outgoings from the bank. Inspite of Saral, tax return was a pain. With 2F it will be like a bloody shovel pushed up the wrong side...

The so called middle class to which I belong comprises only 15-20% of the population. However the same middle class pay tax at source and pays them honestly. While some of the other classes know how to beat the law, some others thrive on interest waivers and subsidies.

We do not make a huge vote bank. So pinch us as hard as you can till our asses go red and we jump up and down. But we are maintainingthe government's balance sheet and I am sure our time will come.