#Sheena Bora case: Where is the media headed? Published in #The Hoot

Sheena Bora case: Where is the media headed?

http://www.thehoot.org/media-watch/media-practice/sheena-bora-case-where-is-the-media-headed-8884

For the last three days, the fanatical and kite-flying reporting in the media over the Sheena Bora murder case makes it seem as if there is no other important issue to discuss in India. What can we call it – yellow journalism, sensational journalism or is it journalism at all?

We are experiencing a kind of journalism that has thrown all media ethics, morality and laws to the wind. A kind of journalism where just about anybody and everybody are voicing opinions and turning investigative officers -- throwing about bizarre theories and allegations and the media is lapping it up for TRPs and hits.

TV channels are airing the topic as their main debate with panellists turning moral police on their prime time slots. Cameras are reaching everywhere, right from Guwahati to Kolkata, to Alipore, to Raigad to Dehradun and of course Mumbai -- the place of crime -- making life hell for friends, families and neighbours.

 Panellists from different fields are delivering their own judgements, sometimes referring Indrani as Lady Macbeth and sometimes propagating theories on why the murder took place. They think they are appointed by the CBI to solve the case.

One friend of Sanjeev Khanna was asked, does he think Khanna could be the murderer. As a friend why would he answer that?

Some even are showing dramatic representations of the sequence of events with cartoons or actors.

Some websites are going to any extent to increase readership, publishing all murky details like ‘if Sheena was pregnant?’ without even verifying the facts and writing about Indrani’s past life in Guwahati based on unnamed people.

The print media is not far behind giving too much space to the topic with almost half page on page 1 and two more pages inside with pictures of Indrani and Peter reading ‘once happy couple’. The dramatic saga is getting the same space even two-three days after it first came to light.

People from different media sections whoever was ‘once’ in touch with the media baron Indrani Mukherjea are now jumping in to get some footage. One top journalist made some startling and disturbing revelations about Indrani’s traumatic childhood and the print media readily lapping it up on the front pages without even following even basic journalistic norms. Do we have any reason to believe these bizarre, unsubstantiated theories? And why would we want to know so many personal details?

All sections of the media are busy creating their own theories about Peter Mukherjea’s statement that he did not know; how Rahul Mukherjea can remain silent about the disappearance of his girlfriend and how can Mikhail Bora be silent for three years, he being a brother.  A TV reporter also followed Mikhail on-board the flight he was coming to Mumbai to join the investigation. The media is also showing interest on the biological father of Sheena and Mikhail.

The number of marriages of Indrani has become the butt of jokes even on social media with Sanjeev Khanna, Indrani’s second husband also in the hook. First sister, then daughter is another hot topic.

The social media with no gate-keeping is also showing its really ugly and dangerous side with just about anybody saying anything.

Twitter and Facebook are full of such comments.

*At this rate, Arnab Goswami may soon replace ACP Pradyuman in solving murder cases #SheenaTruthOut

*Who killed Who. Who married Who. Who was in Relationship with Who. Enough of who. Lets find this who. #SheenaTruthOut

*Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi alleges that BJP govt is responsible 4 #Sheena murder & the coverup.INC would hv done a better job! #SheenaTruthOut

* #SheenaTruthOut Guys if any of you has been an ex husband of Indrani tell us now !!! No shocks later....

Some have turned detectives and are floating their own conspiracy theories.

*SheenaTruthOut The motive could be money(black) Better check the bank accounts of all concerned incl. Sheena's.

*In #SheenaTruthOut how come Upendra Bora, rapist has not been arrested? How come Peter, Rahul and Mikhail are not being charged complicity?

But then there some who seemed sensible and took on the media for the carpet bombing of Shena/Indrani stories.

*TIMES NOW don't you have better news to play ? too much on this. Let Police do the rest #SheenaTruthOut

*Horrible!The lengths you go to in the name of journalism. Some restraint & sensitivity next time? #SheenaTruthOut

I being a journalist am just thinking to what extent media can go to increase TRPs and readership. It seems the media has deleted the word ethics from its dictionary. Sometimes I feel pity for the reporters who are given the responsibility of round-the-clock coverage.

The job of media is to report the issue not to give judgements that too on a public platform and turn a simple reporting exercise into a slander campaign against someone. More than reporting a murder story, the media seems more interested in finding out sensational personal details that may help them give more TRPs and hits.

The rich can hide behind their high walls but the poor family of the driver, who was also allegedly an accomplice, is facing the brunt of our so- called society with everyone closing doors on their face.

I as a reader am fed up of reading all these unwanted and murky details and want to read some real issues. Let the police do their job and the law take its own course.  

East calling: Start with Bagdogra, Published in Maxposure group magazine 'Vistara'

East calling: Start with Bagdogra

Kakoli Thakur

If you have never explored east, you can always start with Bagdogra in West Bengal’s Darjeeling district. So the next time when you are tired of the hustle and bustle of your busy city life, visit this small town known for its serenity and tranquillity.

Located in the lap of the hills that lead to the mighty Himalayas, you can make Bagdogra the base and explore the exotic places around. The best part is the town has an airport that is well connected with Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.

 

Kurseong: Sixty km from Bagdogra airport lies the sleepy hill town of Kurseong. Once there, you can hear the whistling sound of the steam engine and see the toy train slowly snaking its way through the mountains.

Kurseong is also known as 'The place of white orchids' due to the abundance of rare flowers. There are beautiful tea gardens, lush green forests and year-round vegetation on the slopes. From some parts of nearby Kalimpong, you get resplendent views of Mount Kanchenjunga, Kabru and Jannu. The sight of the rivers Teesta and Mahananda just takes your breath away. Kurseong is an ideal place for nature walks where you can enjoy a slice of rural life.

Animal lovers, don’t forget to visit the Deer Park and Dowhill Eco Park, about 4 km east. Spread across a green patch of about 20 acres, it has a sparkling water fountain, a flower house and a number of rare animal species. Trekkers will love the secluded stretches and the scenic views. It is named after deer as large numbers of the animal was found in the area before deforestation and poaching set in.

 

Mirik: About 55 km from Bagdogra airport, is another ideal destination. The main attraction is the 1.25-km Sumendu lake surrounded by Dhupi trees on the western bank and a vast garden on the eastern bank. A floating fountain in the middle and a quaint little footbridge that connects the flower garden on the eastern bank to the heavily forested ridge with thousands of Cryptomaria-Japanica trees on the west make it a tourist’s delight.

If you are lucky, you may see a rare reflection of the Kanchenjunga in the lake waters. There are points from where you can see Kanchenjunga’s blinding snow-white peaks. This place is surrounded by tea estates, orange orchards and cardamom plantations. Short treks from Mirik are also conducted.

If you want to just laze around, stay in the Swiss cottages on the hill top from where you can have a panoramic view of the lake and almost all of Mirik.

 

Rameetay Dara: An ideal spot to enjoy the sunrise and sunset, it is famous for the pristine view of the plains and snow-clad mountains of Mirik. The pleasant weather throughout the year is such a relief. At a short distance is Kawlay Dara, known for the misty mountains. This peak provides a spectacular view of the lush green flora of the Himalayas.

Tourists can enjoy trekking, leisure walks or mountain climbing at these places. A number of interesting places are located in the vicinity of Kawlay Dara like Singha Devi Temple and Deosi Dara.

 

Deosi Dara: Located 1768 m above sea level, it is a perfect destination for nature lovers with a panoramic view of the Mirik Valley and is a heaven for photographers. Surrounded with emerald green pine trees and lush green jungles, it is popular among local picnickers too. Away from the polluted cities, one can enjoy the lovely sunrise and sunset.

 

Mahananda Wildlife sanctuary: Half an hour away from Bagdogra lies the sanctuary located between the Mahananda and Teesta rivers.

If you drive straight down the main forest road, you will reach the banks of the Mahananda. Regular day safaris are offered in the sanctuary from the Sukna gate in the morning and afternoon. But you need to take your own car, preferably a big one, and return before dusk.

If you are lucky, you can even spot Royal Bengal Tigers. Some 36 different species of mammals approximately exist, including Himalayan black bear, leopards, rare mountain goats (serow), etc.

A haven for bird watchers, there are approximately 243 different species of birds, including Himalayan pied hornbills, peafowls, racket tail drongo, etc.

Several watch towers have been set up: one in Laltong on the Teesta river bank, astounding for watching elephant migration; another has been created in the Gulma railway station using a train's cabin and is used to watch deer, Indian bison, etc.

 

Gorumara National Park: Located on the flood plains of Murti and Jaldhaka rivers, Gorumara is famous for the Asiatic one-horned rhino. Just two hours from Bagdogra, the meandering ride to Gorumara through tea gardens is just splendid.

Tourists can go for jungle safari to have a sight of elephants, rhinos, Indian bison (gaur), etc. You have to book forest safari with the forest department and take an authorised guide along to the watchtowers. Trespassing is illegal and can be dangerous. The common safaris include the Jatraprasad, Methla, Chukchuki, Chandrachur and Chapramari watchtowers.

Visitors need to obtain a special permission to enter its interiors. The Gorumara national park has approximately 48 species of carnivores and herbivores, 193 species of birds, 22 of reptiles, 7 of turtles, 27 species of fishes, etc. Birds include minivets, pheasants, hornbills, etc. During winter, migratory birds including the brahminy duck, ibis, teals, etc., can be seen. The night hunters are the owls and the nightjars.

Access points

From Bagdogra Airport, it is easy to explore West Bengal’s hills (Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Chalsa, Dooars etc.) and Sikkim (Gangtok, Pelling, North Sikkim etc).

Another plus point is, the airport also has direct flights from Paro (Bhutan) and Kathmandu (Nepal). The nearest railhead is New Jalpaiguri.

 

Attractions in Bagdogra

Bagdogra is very rich in culture and tradition. The best season to visit is October to March. Some of the major festivals include Gangasagar Mela, Kenduli Mela, Jalpesh Mela and Naba Barsho.

Naba Barsho is observed as the New Year according to the Tibetan calendar and is celebrated with great zest.

You can also spend a day in local sight-seeing and visit the Kali Mandir, HYPERLINK "http://www.holidayiq.com/ISKCON-Temple-Bagdogra-Sightseeing-773-9460.html"ISKCON Temple, Science City, Coronation Bridge, Surya Sen Park, Salugara Monastery, HYPERLINK "http://www.holidayiq.com/Madhuban-Park-Bagdogra-Sightseeing-773-9461.html"Madhuban Park, HYPERLINK "http://www.holidayiq.com/Savin-Kingdom-Bagdogra-Sightseeing-773-9463.html"Savin Kingdom, HYPERLINK "http://www.holidayiq.com/Umrao-Singh-Boat-Club-Bagdogra-Sightseeing-773-9455.html"Umrao Singh Boat Club.

Exploring Bagdogra

Why you must visit Alleppey

Alluring Alleppey

    Alleppey is famous for its backwaters but we always think of something unique. During our trip, we enjoyed both the backwaters and the beach. Don’t forget to read our trip plan at the end of the article

A trip down south was long due and when we were planning our holiday destination during our son’s summer break, the first name that came to mind was Kerala. We decided to take the train one way as we wanted to enjoy Konkan railway’s scenic route that meanders its way through lush monsoon greenery and the captivating and mystical ghats. We were lucky tickets were available on the Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani Express. Feedback from friends, locals and reviews on the net helped us zero in our destination. The journey was quite long as we crossed several states starting with Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and finally landed in Kerala. The scenic beauty was equally breath-taking and enamouring, especially after we entered Maharashtra with greenery in abundance, long tunnels, misty waterfalls and vast water bodies – all soothing to the eyes.

Goa with its mountains on one side and the sea on the other was just sublime and exhilarating. The wet, muddy and moist smell in the air gave such a sense of reprieve from the heat and dust of Delhi’s mundane life and the urban morass. As we passed by the tiny Canacona station, we recollected our last trip to this tourists’ delight and the fun-filled moments on the pristine Palolem beach, lazing in front of the roaring waves from morn to dusk, doing nothing. Karnataka was equally awe-inspiring with its greenery and the sojourn through the majestic ghats.

 Kerala is known for its hills and tea gardens but as we are from Assam, these are not new to us, and so we chose Alleppey to experience the enchanting backwaters and soak ourselves to the bone in the Kerala monsoon. We reached Alleppey early morning and the first thing we noticed were lungi-clad men and women in saris with flowers in hair. We took a taxi and in a few minutes we could view the sea, and we knew our resort was near. Though he charged an exorbitant fare for the short journey, the driver was decent enough to return the change one hour after he dropped us. We had booked a cottage at a sea-facing resort; the first look itself was impressive with the fresh morning air blowing in from the sea. We thought that since check-in time was 11 am and we reached quite early, we would spend the time frolicking at the Alleppey beach. But the resort guys let us in, in the early hours without charging anything extra.

 The cottage was very well maintained and as we stepped inside, we already got a homely feeling. Though we thought we would hit the sack for a while but after we freshened up, we had other thought with the sea beckoning us. We could see and hear the surging waves from our room and could not stop ourselves from letting ourselves loose on the white sand. With monsoon at its peak, the sea was at its roaring best and the white sand was complementing it too well. The umbrella was a must-carry for locals whether it was rainy or sunny. We were already famished and we discovered a small food joint where we relished on Kerala porotha with lip-smacking ghugni (we could not find out the Malayali name as the man knew little English). When we asked for a dosa, he said, ‘no dosa’. We realised how people in other parts of India had a misconception that people in the south eat only idlis and dosas. Dosa is served as a snack, mainly in Tamil Nadu, and not so much in Kerala. For lunch, we returned to our resort bang opposite the beach. We devoured the spicy Kerala fish curry and steam rice and it was simply yummy. We were also served Kerala papad while we were waiting for the lunch to arrive; it had a different shape but it was again delicious.

 

We enquired about the backwaters at the reception and finalised a shikara ride for four hours the next day. Staying on a houseboat for 24 hours would have restricted us, as anyways they park the houseboat after sunset. Being sea lovers, we would definitely prefer to come back to our resort for the rest of the evening.

 We were given a spa brochure and we thought that being in Kerala, we should definitely try the herbal famous Kerala massage.  With little hesitance, I and my husband went for it and at the end of it we found it relaxing. In the evening, sonny enjoyed a camel ride on the beach, we already had the experience in Udaipur so didn’t try this time and instead we enjoyed mouth-watering pakoras. This time we did not forget our umbrellas and sonny’s raincoat, as the drizzle was playing hide and seek. People generally were seen in traditional attire so I went for Indo-western outfits.

On day two, we had a quick breakfast of poori-bhaji, upma, some fruits and our taxi was ready to take us to the shikara parking spot. When we reached, our boat was already waiting for us. We stepped into the shikara and our journey started from a backwater canal that extended to lakes and then rivers. Lines of houseboats had just started their day or about to start with enthusiastic tourists clicking endless pictures of the astounding backwaters. The view was awesome with water till our eyes could see. ‘Water, water everywhere…’ as Coleridge had said.

 

Both sides of the canal were dotted with small, freshly painted houses where people were busy in their daily chores. One thing that caught my eye were traditional women busy in both household as well as outdoor activities such as fishing, managing small shops, giving a helping hand to their husbands in sailing boats and even building small embankments.

 

Our driver was a chatterbox and was constantly  charting out information about where the annual boat race starts, where houseboats are mended, paddy fields, and what not. After each information, he would instruct us ‘click picture, click picture’! He showed us the long boats used in the annual race in August and the place where men were trained. After two-hour ride, our driver parked the shikara at a home restaurant where we had scrumptious prawn and basai fry masala. We also saw a man climbing a coconut tree, making preparations to make homemade beer from toddy. 

We bid adieu from the family and our boat driver rode us to Vembanad Lake. The backwaters extended to the lake. It is the longest lake in India and the largest in Kerala. It is also known as Punnamada Lake. It covers an area of 2033.02 sq km, making it the largest wetland system in our country. It enjoys rich biodiversity and is home to several marine, bird and animal species. It also witnesses the annual snake boat racing every year. And then finally we started our return journey towards the town.

 

On day 3, we spent some time chilling out at the resort pool and spent most of the day at the beach as it was our last day. Our last supper was quite elaborate and we scanned the whole menu and ordered everything authentic whatever we haven’t tasted. The next morning, reluctantly we stepped out and took the taxi to the airport. On the way we saw shops lined up selling hammocks and as it is difficult to find one in Delhi, we couldn’t resist from buying one.  The towns were clean and developing fast. Kochi was bustling and the airport was quite impressive.  

 

While we were waiting for our flight announcement, we heard some commotion and saw actor Rana Daggubati and a Tollywood actress. I could recognise Rana as I saw him in Baby. Fans were approaching them for a selfie moment and they too were obliging. In another row, I saw Baichung Bhutia engrossed in his mobile. I could recognise him immediately as I interviewed him a few years back, but only a very few football buffs could recognise him. At last we bid adieu to God’s own country and reached Delhi after four hours. Though Delhi was hot and humid, but we had a feeling of homecoming.

Our trip plan

If you go by flight till Kochi, two nights are enough. But we decided to take the train one way to enjoy Konkan Railway’s scenic route. We took the Thiruvananthapuram-Rajdhani Express from New Delhi railway station. We crossed several states — Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and finally landed in Kerala.

We reached Alleppey early morning after two-night journey. We took a taxi and reached our sea-facing resort. You can enjoy breakfast in the hotel or explore outside. We went out for breakfast and relished on Kerala porotha with ghugni (we could not find out the Malayali name as the man knew little English). When we asked for a dosa, he said, ‘no dosa’. Dosa is served as a snack, mainly in Tamil Nadu, but not much in Kerala. For lunch, we devoured spicy Kerala fish curry and steam rice at our resort. We were also served Kerala papad; it had a different shape but was delicious.

We were given a spa brochure and we thought that being in Kerala, we should definitely try the famous herbal Kerala massage.  You should also try one. In the evening, sonny enjoyed a camel ride on the beach while we enjoyed pakoras. Don’t forget your umbrellas or raincoats, if you travel during the monsoons as the drizzle plays hide and seek. We went in June.

On day two, we had a breakfast of poori-bhaji, upma, fruits and took a taxi to the shikara parking spot. We stepped into the shikara and our journey started from a backwater canal that extended to lakes and then rivers.

After a two-hour ride, our driver parked the shikara at a home restaurant where we had scrumptious prawn and basai fry masala. We also saw a man climbing a coconut tree, making preparations to make homemade beer from toddy.

We booked the shikara ride for four hours as staying on a houseboat for 24 hours would have restricted us, as anyways they park the houseboat at one place after sunset. Being sea lovers, we preferred to come back to our resort near the sea.

On day 3, we spent some time chilling out at the resort pool and spent most of the day at the beach. For our last supper, we ordered everything authentic whatever we haven’t tasted.

The next morning, we took a taxi to the Cochin International Airport. On the way, we saw shops lined up, selling hammocks, and we bought one. Kochi city was bustling and the airport was quite impressive. If you want to spend a day in Kochi, you can give it a try. 

You can also visit if you have time in hand:

*Marari Beach

*Ambalapuzha Sree Krishna Temple

*Revi Karunakaran Museum

*Alappuzha Lighthouse

*International Coir Museum

*Krishnapuram Palace (built by Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma in the 18th century)

*Alappuzha Beach

*Mary Forane Church

*Triveni Floating Market

*Alappuzha Zakariya Market

 

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Anecdotes from #Delhi Police #self-defence camp

Fighting back

 

One day while turning the pages of a newspaper, I came across an ad on self-defence. It was about a women’s summer camp conducted by the Special Police Unit for Women and Children (SPUWAC), Delhi Police. When I saw that the starting age was 13, I was little indecisive. Still I went ahead and registered myself as there was an online option. One month was left for the camp and with each passing day, I was in two minds -- to go for it, or not to go. Two days before the camp, I even went shopping and bought myself track suits and T-shirts.

Finally the D-day arrived and with lots of doubts in mind, I reached the venue on time. There was a long queue for the registration number and I was relieved to see quite a lot of women of different ages along with young girls. The numbers were definitely encouraging and the camp started at 9 am sharp. A few women officers were present to train us and the introduction was very encouraging -- ‘women can do anything’, ‘we all have strength, we just have to utilise it when in need and for that we have to know the right technique’, ‘there is no age to learn anything’.

Then began the vigorous warm-up sessions that loosened every muscle and bone in my body. I was already tired but I was happy that at the end of 15 days, along with learning some self-defence techniques, I would shed a few kilos. While some women had enrolled for the training along with their daughters, there were a few who just accompanied their wards and remained mere spectators. The instructors repeatedly requested them to enrol but they didn’t budge; I really pity those women. There was a woman who was above 60 years, and I salute her for her enthusiasm. A senior woman officer came and gave us a very encouraging speech and we were all charged up. After two hours on Day-1, we already knew a few moves and I was smiling ear to ear when my husband came to pick me up.

Our instructors had warned us not to try our moves on our family members but yes of course, we had to practise to master it. But there was this irresistible urge to do so and after reaching home each day, I would practise my moves on my husband. Not literally, of course! I would say ‘grip my neck, hand or hair’ and he would say ‘NO’ every time, but gave up finally.

In one of the classes, we were being taught what to do if someone grabs our hair; the fourth move was to pull down the attacker. A few girls got so excited that they started pulling down each other and there was laughter all round. Our instructors sternly warned us that we can only do so when we practise on mattresses, so that nobody gets hurt. And that we would waste our energy if we laugh, instead there should be aggression and anger on our face.  

The next day, we finally got the chance to show our prowess on mattresses with our partners. We practised how to defend ourselves if someone attacks us from the back, and pulled our partners down. They pulled us down in the next round. Each and every one got the opportunity and the practise was indeed exciting. 

In another class, a girl got hurt in her hand because she got too close to a stand fan. Since an ambulance was present at the venue, she was given first-aid immediately. So, there was relief that all precautions had been taken.

Though we learnt many tricks, we were not told which self- defence technique we were being taught. My journalistic mind started asking questions and to calm my inquisitiveness, I searched on net with all the key words that I heard at the camp. I looked for all forms of martial arts but the terms were not matching ours. So the next day, when we got our 5-minute break, I approached the senior officer. I was little apprehensive as he was almost 6-feet tall. He told us that those were moves specially created by Delhi Police to make Delhi women self-reliant and strong.  

When the first Saturday came, our two-hour class got over half-an-hour early and we were told it was masti time and anybody can show their talent on stage. Some shared jokes, some sang songs, some even danced and I got nostalgic and went back to my favourite school days.

Our 15^th day was the closing ceremony at Siri Fort auditorium. We were taken to the venue in buses and we made a queue for everything like school girls. Commissioner of Delhi Police Bhim Sain Bassi was the chief guest. A movie on self-defence was screened where the actors were all Delhi Police personnel. The surprise was that most of our women instructors were seen onscreen and there were cheers from all the students seeing our gurus in a different avatar. Mr Bassi took direct questions from students and most of his solutions focussed on essential self-defence training for girls. When questions poured in non-stop, Mr Bassi said, “I know you all got bored from me and now say with me BORE.” And there was an echo of loud ‘NOooo’ from the students.”

We received our certificates the same day and I got another designation in the certificate. Instead of journalist and counsellor, I was mentioned as a teacher; not bad!

Hope more people enrol in such camps and women in Delhi are no more scared to venture out even at odd hours.  When I enrolled at the camp, many laughed at me and were sarcastic, but I didn’t give a damn. And today after completing the course, I am a new person with renewed energy with loads of confidence.

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Life without #Maggi

Life without Maggi

When the news first broke a couple of weeks back that it’s not safe to have Maggi as the masala contains lead -- and some news even said it contains monosodium glutamate -- we had just one packet of our favourite snack left. We immediately had that before getting any further news. My seven-year-old is a Maggi fan and it’s a custom for him to have Maggi every Sunday as we had told him it is not advisable to have it every day as it is junk food. But of course, we gave him the healthy wheat noodles instead of the maida one. He is very conscious as they are taught in school only to have healthy food. He even says ‘No’ to pizza and burger but when it comes to Maggi, he loves to argue that it’s not junk.

I still remember when we heard about the name for the first time in school in the ’80s and Maggi packets were distributed free for promotion. At that time my mother was not at home, so my father served us boiled Maggi. I didn’t like the taste then.

But after marriage, Maggi became a good option as an evening snack and after much experimentation with onion, egg and even chicken, I got the perfect taste and I joined the bandwagon of Maggi fans.

When I conceived, I used to have Maggi almost daily as a ritual; maybe my son developed the taste from the womb. Whoever heard about it scolded me, but my son was born fit and fine.

My office colleagues liked the way I made Maggi, and I often got requests to bring Maggi for lunch. So Saturday I generally took Maggi, as I was dead tired after five days of office and didn’t have the energy to make anything else. So Maggi was such a relief and saving grace.

One of my friends even made a future plan with me to open a Maggi stall at Delhi University campus and she would say it would definitely sell like hot cakes. And she would join me as a cashier. What a plan!

Last year when we visited Goa, my husband made a plan that when we would grow old and our son would fly from our nest, we would open a shack in Goa and a Maggi stall, in case our restaurant idea didn’t work.

But today morning when I read the news ‘Delhi bans Maggi’, all our plans remained a dream forever. Leave aside the ‘grand plans’, now we can’t even have Maggi at the comfort of our homes.

And how can we forget the Maggie ad “Mummy bhuk lagi hai….do minute”.

Sad the 2-minute wonder is past now and another chapter of our life has been closed with nostalgic Maggi moments.

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Shaky weekend

Shaky weekend!

 

Well this was the first time we experienced a major shake on the eighth floor and my first reaction was, ‘something is wrong with my health, my head is spinning’. A few seconds later, my husband also felt the same, and then we noticed the fans and lights in our drawing room moving and there was no hint of wind outside. And we echoed together EARTHQUAKE! My son was watching his favourite cartoon and it was difficult to explain him why the hell the earth was moving. My husband quickly took his purse, ATMs and house keys. The first thought that came to my mind was, I cannot go out in my nightwear in case I have to stay in a camp, as flashes of such severe occurrences that I watched on Discovery and news channels came to my eyes. In such a scenario, my jeans and T-shirt were the most handy and comfy.

Well, it turned out to be a serious issue as the quake was 7.9 on Richter scale and that too the epicentre was in our neighbouring Nepal, the biggest one to hit that country in eight decades. But as we went outside, a few observations around made me smile even in such a serious scenario. One of my neighbours shared with me the same thought, ‘even she changed her dress’. Someone said even UP has been hit, I felt like saying ‘We are also in UP though we call it Delhi-NCR and Delhi and UP are neighbouring states’ but controlled my tongue. By then almost everyone from our 12-floor apartment was downstairs and discussions were on whether our building was earthquake-resistant. No matter what the discussion was, deep inside everybody knew there is no way of escaping in case a major one hit us, as Delhi is located in seismic zone 4. Meanwhile rumours were doing rounds on social media; the irony is that educated people do not stop themselves from forwarding such messages even knowing nobody can predict earthquakes.

As we returned to our daily chores, the first aftershock came and again we had to run outside. This time nobody was in their night wears and some women even managed some touch-up. Well, women will be women after all! 

Once I was in office and the moment someone said ‘earthquake’, the whole office was outside. But I was on my seat trying to feel the earthquake, whether it was a real one. As I belong to Assam and earthquakes are quite a common occurrence there, we are too lazy to move out before a major shake.

This time one of my journalist friends messaged sarcastically, ‘hope our boss does not ask us to do a campaign -- Stop earthquake’. Well, journalists will be journalists always.  On a serious note, seismological experts are saying there will be a more aftershocks, especially near the epicentre and after that the magnitude will recede gradually, as this is how the earth reacts after a major shake. Till then hope we all are safe from such tremors and realtors build earthquake-resistant buildings only as it is said earthquakes do not kill people buildings do. And hope there is more awareness about what to do in case of tremors in the future.    

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