SEZ : Dreams and Nightmares

It was just another day in college. VM submissions and we were all ready for it. Some people were in the habit of going back to their homes for lunch or may be just a quick nap, which comes as a necessity for us NIFTians. The class was about to start and then someone walked in, all perplexed and restless. (I’m so sorry; she was supposed to be from a junior batch, so I didn’t know her name at that time)
Inquisitiveness on our part and further probing led us to understand what she referred to as riots and a word which rules – ShivSena. She exclaimed about buses being burnt and stones being pelted. We somehow started feeling secure being in Room No. 111. But, that’s not all, we were just 7 or 8 people there and soon phones started ringing and we got to know about our classmates who were stuck up at different places. The sight of vehicles all lined up at the highway seemed disorienting.

Somehow, most of us managed to get to the class except Yash, who was stuck at Belapur. The incident made him a representative of the common man during our debates and discussions about the buzzword called – SEZ, where S for ShivSena stands for Special and the abbreviation reads ‘Special Economic Zone’.

The day went by and we moved on. The following days saw a Mumbai Bandh and along with it, a Navi Mumbai Bandh by the ShivSena. That gave us a new topic to ponder over in our regular DM class. It was SEZ’s turn as our new assignment. We had to debate among ourselves and that’s not all. We divided ourselves in groups of three and discussed thoughts, not only the incidents... The discussions began. The ShivSena’s role was questioned…a catalyst in a deadly reaction or just another initiator posing as the voice of the “Aam Janta”?

Incidents and experiences kept on popping up among us. We tried to kindle that fire that had touched us. The pictures that appeared in newspapers, the helplessness of the people and then the laughter of the monarchs. It didn’t take us a long time to arrive on media and then everyone looked at me. Just because I have been there, doesn’t make sense. Yes, I am a part of media, but along with me, you too are a part of the media, in fact, we all are components of the media. Going by the ways and means these so-called leaders use, we constitute a much stronger and influential media. While HT claimed certain other figures and statistics, TOI obviously dived in another direction. Samna, ShivSena’s mouth-piece made statements which were contradictory to everything else and placed Bal Thackrey next to God. I personally feel that it’s a re-incarnation of the role he played during the 1993 bomb blasts. Same newspaper, same idol, but different victims.

There are around 7 Special Economic Zones in India. The extension of Mumbai on the lines of Maha Mumbai will be the largest one so far. Over 9000 Acres of land, spreading across 45 villages, and it has got many more elements to it. Homes are being relocated, destiny is being rude and then added to it is violence. Things are getting tough for the farmers and the people who have an emotional attachment to the places concerned. Being born over there, having taken their first faltering steps on that land, the homes they built there, the squealing of their newborns, the death of their elders…and a lot more. Money is powerful, but it can never buy back any of these things, even if you shower them with all the gold and silver in the world.

India is not the only nation that has been caught on its back foot as far as SEZs are concerned. History has got proofs for it. While Winston Churchill was the Prime Minister of England, the Industrial Revolution’s traces of continuation were felt in the 19th century too, as a result of which similar problems came into light. He decided to move that proposed zone to a place which had meagre resources. This move calmed down the farmers and he promised more money as compensation to the farmers. Apparently there were no obstacles in the path of progress and the government decided to take on the burden of losses in terms of transportation.

We as humans are linked amongst ourselves and don’t want to be part of the process of experimentation. We need to remain tied to another person and that very person can become the breaking link. Reliance, with its money power, got manipulated the circumstances and opportunities -- the element that pulled political factors into the scene. PWP came into light and its leader got jailed. He was soon set free. Agitators were beaten up and arrested too, but nothing concrete happened and they are still roaming at large.

Victims have their own say and perhaps they have written the entire story with tears which never cease to dry. One Bandh followed by another. Agitation here and there and here we are. We look up to our chosen leaders for the values they promised and now they have put our faith on stake and are making deals out of it. The S party is calm now because of some mutual understanding with the ruling party. May be they now have got the share divided or perhaps have settled for a better deal. The SEZ trail follows and now the CIDCO employees are scared of the insecurity and raising their voices.

It’s an endless story but an eye for an eye will make the whole world blind. We torch the buses if they don’t run on time, we stop the trains if they are late but we never make up for it. After all, it’s never the perpetrator, but someone else, that bears the brunt of it all.

Special Thanks to Nitin Kulkarni Sir.

Written and Co ordinated by : Piyush Singh

With Inputs, Voices and Opinions by : Bandana, Disha. Gayatri, Ibadariakor,Namrata, Shikha, Shrikumar, Sonal G and Vrinda.

The original blog link : http://www.you-n-sez.blogspot.com/

Image Credits : http://www.worldproutassembly.org/

So Long Dad…

Nightmares, that's how people would refer to unwanted and dreaded dreams. 20th June 2007, was one morning when I woke up just to find one of my most dreaded nightmares coming true. Churning up deep inside with me were the things which I think I would say to my Dad when he comes out of the ICU or in that case, comes back to Lucknow. Now, he never will.

This happens to be my final tribute to him and perhaps for the last time people are going to see my name on the chic pages of HT We. Perhaps some things never come back. Neither would he, nor I. I have been dreaming too long knowing that he had laid a path ahead for me. There sleeps the man, all in white, who filled colours into my live many a times. For once he wasn't sleeping in some cozy bed; instead he was in the chilling freezer of a mortuary.

Ever since he went far away, I have seen people walking up to me and telling me that I can do it and ultimately the difference between the past and present will fade away. I wonder whether it can.

His coffin on his way back to his home read "Human Remains of LATE Mr. A.K.Singh", that's where the difference is my dear people. The word LATE preceded his name and now it is going to haunt me through out my life.

Being the eldest son, I am expected to carry forward the legacy and I wasn't even allowed to cry. I just sat there holding the dead hands of my dad while he lay there straight without any movements.

Things flashed by and the lifeless hands were the most painful things ever because these used to be my pillar of strength and a lot more. I might have held his finger with my hands ages back when he was teaching me to walk on his and now he himself needed four shoulders.

He never preferred shortcuts. But somehow, one of his last wishes was about his cremation which he wanted to be by the electric furnace. We put him at the tip of the furnace, he didn't move. I put the pieces burning camphor up his chest, neck and other parts, he didn't react. Finally I pushed him in the furnace and switched it 'On'. I burnt my own father. Despite of the fact that nothing meant more to me than his gentle kiss on the forehead for every good literary work or a good deed.

I hear the words echoing deep inside me which remind me of the tricks he wanted to teach me and every time I would walk up to him and tell him that I wonder whether he has me. He always told me to sleep till I am fresh enough because once I am awake I have got to face the blues. I have been fooling around with my funny dreams but I have to aim higher because he wanted me to.

For once I started envying those people who have got Fathers. This Fathers' Day when everyone was busy celebrating the day, I was praying that some more days be added to my father's life but things didn't work out. I have lost my friend philosopher, guide and my Santa. Coincidently, I started with HT writing about the Real Santas and putting full stop to my journey with HT We writing about my Santa.

Here is me and the wishing wells are drying up. The lands are parched and there is no hope. Open windows, let the rain come in. You feel alone and you have got no one to blame, say it to me. The temple bells still chime, and this is me the little boy who is left in his little world.

Seems like time gets lost in space. So, you know, how far you'll be

P.S.: I would like to thank Trinity, even if she doesn't reads this blog, she knows at some corner of her heart that how grateful am I to her. I would also like to thank the members of the band Menwhopause for putting in the words I know I have heard a million times, but I wasn't getting them at the right time. Thanks a lot Sarab and Randeep. You have been doing wonders for me, unintentionlly or intentionally. There were people who stood by me wishing and praying for me to be all fine, but I would like to tell them, that the journey has just started. One person who helped me see through it was Shikha S, then comes Suvarna, Aaishwari, Bijal, Roli and a lot many more along with a couple of relatives and now they mean the world to me. Thanks to you as well Rishi. Sera, you too deserve my vote of thanks.

I hope you will excuse me for my emotional showdowns on this blog but there is a lot more to come when it comes to my father.

just for you Piyush...

at 9.20 am on 20th june, i receive this message frm piyush.. i was happie to c him in ma inbox but i didnt know the happiness wsnt here to last for long.. the message said..

my dad expired this morning and i couldnt do anything. he gave up after fighting for over 12 years. there were so many things i wanted to say but... may his soul rest in peace...

this message left me shocked.. i suddenly felt the local train compartment lacked air and i was strggling to breathe. it took me sometime before i knew i should reply back to this.. before i could actually believe and accept this message.. while texting him back, all that came to my mind was 'i wish this message ws just a joke..'

although i dunno much about the kind of relationship piyush shared with his dad, but i know it was a special one and he really valued it. his dad wasnt well for a very long time and i always had this in the back of my mind, that he wil get well soon..

after 20 minutes or so, i was supposed to meet a common friend between me and piyush-ilashree. she called me and even she was like, did you recieve piyush bhaiya's message? and all i could say was yeah.. and then, didnt know wht else should i add?

i just hope everyhting's well with piyush and his family.. may uncle's soul rest in peace..

piyush who always was soo full of life.. so open to humour, sounded like a lost man when i chatted with him today.. i was blank, didnt knw how to react! he said - i couldnt even hold the hands of the man and cry who held my hands during the most toughest times of my life... this just shivers me to death.. i hope no one experiences something like this eva ... although this may sound foolish and stupid, but yeah.. i truly wish this!!

piyush, i just wanna tell you that we are all here for you. your dad has made u a strong man, so you need to prove this to the world. u need to take care of aunty and ur bro. u need to be strong as you will now be looked up on for advices, help and ofcourse, support!

hoping to see a new you yet the same Piyush who we know, no matter what is really strong mentally and emotionally...

god bless you dear!

Freedom : Pause and Play

Things are never as simple as they appear. It is a feeling euphoria that is seeing me through all these days. The official and the unofficial vote of thanks should go to a bunch of amazing musicians and add to that list an amazingly cool friend (Randeep) and perhaps the most enchanting song writer and vocalist, Sarab. Last two weeks have been damn good for me professionally while I am still trying to cope up with a lot of things personally. Let that stuff for some other post in the blog.

I read in one of the most famous and much hyped book called ‘The Alchemist’ that the most simple things in the life are the most extraordinary. It is so true. Two of my decent ‘friends’ rocked my city and my people while I was in the bliss of strange melancholic ecstacy. Prestorika was good, they performed better than my expectation and parikrama was even better. Catching up with the people, chilling out, setting up the drums, though I wasn’t supposed to handle that show but still couldn’t help assisting Robert and that poor soul was having tough time doing it all alone.

This time, the moments I spent with parikrama were more enriching than the ones I have spent earlier and somehow I was keen on experimenting with different genres of music. Couldn’t satiate my hunger with all that I had and the ‘heard over and over again’ type of songs so ended up asking for music here and there. Suddenly while refreshing my mail account I saw this mail by this guy called Randeep Singh and I was surprised to see that mail. He sent me song titled ‘The Doll Is Mine’ by some ‘Blonde Redhead’. That’s not the issue anyhow. The name of the person who sent me the mail did the trick and I recalled, Oh Cool! Even this guy has a band called Menwhopause (MWP) and I fortunately I had their first album Home on my PC. I have heard it several times before and I have conveyed my compliments to the band as well.

There was something strange that particular night. The breeze carried the fragrance of someone I love and then I felt my eye lids getting moist. I was at home but yet far away and all of a sudden a voice, mingled with melody started singing –

Home

Mother, I’m waiting

Patient, you’ve been so late

I’m alone



Son, you’ve been gone too long

I’ve been waiting

Say that you’ll be

Home again soon



Home, is where, where I’ll be

HomeIt’s been raining shadows

The sun’s out

It’s clear enough for me to see the light



And I know it’s right for me to be moving on

I’ve beenLosing the battles I’m playing

With my mind

I need to let it go

Let it go

Move on



Home, I’ll sing a song, I’ll write a tune for you my

HomeI'll miss you, I'll miss you

So someday soon

My home

My home



Home

My home

My home

It was Sarab and I knew I have heard these words earlier but I just wasn’t getting them. I started listening to them and I was taken away by the same breeze itself. I landed up at some place which I don’t even know. That had no name and it was located somewhere with red walls around. All I could make out was that I am somewhere in my own heart and trying to recover. I was trying to recover from the hope, despair and melodies which added many unsung tunes to my memoirs.

The play list progressed and so the songs. I was lost in time and space. I wanted to move but sat there on the chair like a lifeless carcass. The music took over and I am perhaps the biggest admirer of the band now. I rushed through the trees, I swam across the biggest of the oceans, I jumped into the river and the music made me do it. Free, Sarab filled the vocals with soul and life and I never ever wondered ever before that free is such a powerful word. I then realized that even if I am nothing, the worst and the ugliest person, I know what I have got and I can cherish that for the lifetime and this is Freedom.

Receding down my own self and then I suddenly felt the pain which I knew that it has been burning deep inside me. With a Shotgun, I wish I would wake up one morning and would find myself dead someday dead. While she weeps on my side with a shotgun in her hand. The body that’s no where to be seen, with blood strained sheets of clothes is now flying high in the skies of eternity. I always knew that death is beautiful but Sarab made me realized that it has beautiful manifestations as well.

Things were going fine and then all of a sudden something come up which was so me and if someone deep with in me have been telling those things –

Little boy you've been dreaming too long

Don't you know I laid a path ahead for you

You're fooling with your funny dreams

Aim higherDon't you know I need you to

Born again, my little one

You're squealing but I got a song for you

Go sleep until you're fresh enough

Awaken now, you've got to face the blues



I, have I been wasting time?

I, have I been wasting time?



Been wasting all my time on you

Been hoping you would learn a trick or two

And now you're walking up to me

You're saying you don't know if I have you



I, have I been wasting time?

I, have I been wasting time?


I wish I can write the band’s name high on sky. I just feel like a flower in the desert rain and I know I can’t stay for long. The aura of the members speaks volumes and this is by far the best band I have heard and trust me, I have heard a lot of them. Parikrama is an exception though. Randeep has always been a good friend and he finally managed to get me tripping over the words like “Sahi Hain” and “Kaafi Sahi”. This is one piece of dedication I would like to put forth to these guys. I feel so helpless compromising at points when I want to paint the sky red and blue with their praises. I have mailed the song to over 400 people in last three days and I m still counting. The reason is that I cant help myself making others to listen to that awesome track.

Randeep thinks that I am helping them out with their PR, but this is just a token of respect, love and friendship I share with these people and all those basics Sarab taught me about the Ad World and ‘ideation’. I wish I can climb up the tallest building in India and scream out your name. These guys with their music have re defined my life and I dedicate my life to the feelings and attitude these guys have instigated into me. Way to go MenWhoPause and yeah, Randeep, as you say play and pause are the part of one single button. So now you know what to do, eh?

Writing Credits : Piyush Singh
Editing Credits : Aaishwari Chouhan
Image Credits : MenWhoPause

Rock, Rock, Rocking Season of Summer

Once again in the city was Lucknow, the winds blew harder, strong enough to blow off the tents and the backdrop which read “Samanway – 07” and “PRESTORIKA”. The band Prestorika started off their third performance in city among lots of chaos and “bloopers”. Oh No! The band was not responsible for these.

It was the concluding day of the annual festival of amity Lucknow, ‘Samanway’. Feedback, or the other Feedback or the ‘Lucknow-wala’ Feedback as they may be called was supposed to open for the Delhi based band Prestorika. In an untidy turn of event which was categorized as sound malfunctions and power related problems, Prestorika ended up ‘opening’ for our own commercial sellable band known as Feedback.

Delayed flight, delayed sound setup (lets call it, ‘Incompetency of the Sound system’) and power failure resulted in a delayed show. Prestorika took stage and they were raring to go. The crowd was lovely as Vasav Vashisht, lead vocalist of the band likes to put it, “The crowd was fabulous, atleast those who were there for us”. Seems like quite a diplomatic sentence. Throughout the Prestorika’s performance, the less ‘rock mature’ members of the crowd kept on holding the posters high up which read something like “We want Atif”, “Tere Bin” and many other ‘commercially sellable tracks’.

Others who were too lazy to hold their hands up against the gravity were keen on getting themselves involved in scuffle and brawl with their fellow crowd members and things even went beyond words when a couple of lens men caught a couple making out and that too in the front row. The band kept its calm despite the fact that they have to leave the stage thrice during their unfortunate short performance because of the technical issues of electricity and sound.

The band played some of the brilliant compositions and in the most enchanting manner. The initial start made sure that Prestorika is going to rule the night but then the sound went kaput and so were the lights on stage. The band had to leave the stage for some time then and this happened thrice. “It is difficult and yeah obviously uncomfortable to leave the stage again and again while you are performing but we did our best to make sure that we come back with greater energy and into ‘it’ everytime we left the stage”, claims Nitesh Vasandani, the Prestorika drummer.

With songs like Trooper, Wicker Man, Sweating Bullets and much more, the evening was just a rendition of Iron Maiden and in such an awesome manner. Four out of 10 tracks were by Iron Maiden and Lokesh Bakshi, lead guitarist quips, “The hangover is still on”, referring to the recent Iron Maiden tour of India.

Their set list for the day also compiled songs like Knocking on Heaven’s Door, Enter Sad Man, Fear of the Dark, Don’t Die and their Prestorika originals like Sycopanth, Lost in You and the brand new rocking track, Not My Way. At the end of the show, Vasav admitted, “We wanted to play our tracks like 447, Fuck the Politics and Hoist My Soul because Lucknow loved them the last time but things on stage didn’t allowed us to do so. I guess this city has to wait till we are around for the fourth time”.

People could not get enough but there were some heroes of the day. The first one was the band Prestorika itself for not acting finicky with the sound and light arrangements and did their best to keep the crowd entertained and they succeeded as well. They were seen sweating it out on stage but didn’t give up. Just four of the measly twenty four power cans were put to use and they were all yellow. They left the people spell bound with music.

The second one was Gaurang, officially a class 12th student at La Marts and unofficially the whole and sole of the rock show. He got his reward when the band dedicated one of the songs to him on stage and he innocently claims it to be a big learning experience. The credit also goes to Sidhu (Prestorika Sound Engineer) to give what ever best he could out of the things he was given.

Finally Prestorika winded up their performance and the next band to go on stage was Feedback and what a disappointing performance. Gaining in the advantage of the local home crowd, the band couldn’t even hold the fraction of whatever was left. The performance which seemed lousy at the beginning ended up being even lousier. They played ‘Teri Diwani’ and ‘Ashayen’ after the previous band have covered bands like Iron Maiden and MegaDeth which in turn proved suicidal for Feedback’s performance.
The guitar solos were more like Saxophone solos and the crowd had no idea what they were there for. They kept on encouraging Aditya (Lead vocalist, Feedback) all through out but things weren’t just getting in place. They decided to play their original composition later in the slot and if they would have done that a bit earlier then there would have been a different story at all. The clock struck 10 and it was Aditya’s turn to announce that the time is up.

All in all, it was a good day at work for Prestorika while Feedback failed to make hay while the sun shone. It was an excellent sight when the breeze made its way through the stage while Prestorika ruled the mind and the hearts. Vasav won many a hearts and an equal number of female fan-following. He shyly admits that the most memorable thing of the trip has been the beautiful girls and beer. The band is working on the album which is supposed to be released later this year.

One event is winded up and another one is brewing up. The next band to rule the Nawabi skies is the undisputed God of Indian rock, Yeah! You guessed it right – Parikrama. On being contacted, Subir Malik, Manager and Key boardist of Parikrama said, “We all are excited about playing in Lucknow this time because it’s been 10 years since we have played in this city apart from IIM”. The 27th of April is waiting for another chapter to be added in the history of this rocking city. Hope the crowd gets its rock etiquettes right this time.

for snaps related to these gigs check out -
www.flickr.com/photos/piyush_nift

Writing Credits: Piyush Singh
Editing Credits: Aaishwari Chouhan

Talking about Death…

We often hear that although we may die someday, but our souls are immortal. They are not affected by deadly weapons or heart attacks. When the body decides to leave the planet, the soul finds another body and thus, continues its existence here.

After getting rejected twice by Piyush, I gathered myself again for the third time. And hopefully, this one won’t be turned down by him. Feels as though it’s been ages since I posted on my blog and I feel so sorry about it. A big apology to Piyush first, and then to all our blog visitors.

Continuing on the topic of death - Unfortunately, people don’t give death a lot of thought and importance. They spend their lives worrying about absurdities and put things off. They fail to notice the important moments. They avoid taking any risks, because they find it dangerous to do so. They crib a lot but are scared to take any action as it may affect their future. They want everything to change for the better or the other way round, but somewhere they themselves are afraid of the changes and hence, are not ready to change themselves.

If death got a little more importance in our lives, we would probably never hesitate to confess our love to that someone special, we would never fail to lose touch with someone really good, we would take up all the risks in life, we would act a little more crazier and be a little more of ourselves. Materialistic things may then take a back seat and so would be the run for money. Peace and sharing the best of oneself with others are all that would matter to us.

When people retire, they often want to see the whole world. They want to live a more carefree and light life. This is because they have spent all their years earning some decent cash and living a decent lifestyle which they weren’t really happy about. Now that they know that death is nearing them, they want to do all that they wished for throughout their lives. If the realization - that death being just next to us and could embrace us at any point of time creeps into our head, I bet everyone will be a different person then. No longer will people put on fake accent or behave irrationally. No longer would they crave for branded clothes or wish to meet some Bollywood film star.

The ones satisfied of their life often say, “Today is as good a day as any to leave this world.” But a wise man would say, “Death is always sitting by your side so that, when you need to do something important, it will give you the strength and the courage that you need.” I was really foolish as I was shitt frightened about death. But now, I am sure that one day or the other, everyone has to leave. And only those who accept this fact are prepared for life.

I would like to thank Piyush for helping me realize this and preparing me for my life. I would call him insane earlier whenever he wanted to write on death or suicide. But now I think, sometimes a billion people can be wrong against one level headed individual!

Kudos to you Piyush!

Writing Credits: Aaishwari Chouhan
Editing Credits: Piyush Singh

Speaking Tree

We first met on a website that stays on as our addiction even today. Although, I knew him as a senior earlier but to him I was just a new prey coming in… to entertain.

A few days after I arrived at the jungle, let me make it very clear here itself that I consider NIFT as the jungle. So, a few days after I arrived at the jungle, I got to know that the same guy was trying to contact me. After exchanging contact numbers online, I finally met him one fine day. He was just like another lion in this wild jungle; and I say so because I had met the other one a few days earlier. And if you trust me, then i will take the opportunity to open out that today they both seem like pussycats. Anyways, after a meet with the second king of the jungle, I had a fair idea of how this place works (or not works). "NIFT is a political mess" were my exact words to the second king. Fortunately, the king took it positively and did not bitch or back bite me about this issue or for that matter of fact, any other issues too. I respect and appreciate all the pains he took to explain how NIFT is NOT a political mess (but somehow I still feel- it really is). From then on, the king met me and my friend almost everyday, not to rag but to encourage to participate in the upcoming college fest.

The fest came and went by in a snap. And during this course, I grew closer to the king. But a day arrived when the king took the decision to rule at some new place because there was just one more king coming in. That day, when fate was to decide what would happen, I realized how close I was to him, how much did I regard him as someone really close to me in this big wild world. He was like a family away from family. He made this jungle a home for me, and I was happy…

I was in my class, unable to concentrate. There was a weird sense of stillness in the air and equally weird was a sensation in my heart which felt as though someone was twisting it... knotting it. My phone vibrated ‘One message received’. Without much interest, I read those words "I have decided to stay” I-HAVE-DECIDED-TO-STAY… which meant that he did not leave. Mann, I was so glad! The knot that had been squeezing my heart out since morning lightened a bit. I felt extremely happy.

A few days later, “Kal rakhi hai, kya tum mujhe rakhi bandhogi?”

Love you Bhaiya - always and forever you have been to me what no one has, to me you are my world, my life. I find it difficult to breathe if you are not breathing with me… There ain't a moment inf my life that has passed by without your thought nor has there been any occasion that I wished to celebrate without you.
Love you Bro! You are the best!

Writing Credits: Roli Gaur

Roli - she has been one lady who has been discussed a lot in between me and Piyush. She is an absolute sweetheart and the best sister any brother can have. Caution: 'Looks can be deceptive' cause you may find her subtle and kiddish, but nah! She is really a mature girl and can work out things in a better way as compared to the other girls of her age. Roli you rock! And thanks so much for this post.
-Aaishwari Chouhan