Visa Procedures

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when i say ghosts or spirits?? Most of us would think of some scary face, or a horror movie or something... Its not quite the same in Vietnam u won't..This month's issue of the Economist had an article on Vietnam.. I didn't pay much heed to it, thinking it just another random article.. just when i was about to flip the page, a line caught my eye... "Visa for the dead".. I didn't understand it initially, but later when i did, i flipped... i want you all to know this rather bizarre thing happening in Vietnam..


The Science and Technology Union of IT application office is a four storey building, which is by far the most busiest "embassies" in Vietnam.. But unlike normal people, the visitors, to this consulate are however all DEAD.. The office gives Visas to Dead people, to come here and talk to their relatives... Each day, this organisation helps about 100 people to find the bodies of relatives died in Vietnam's bloddy 20th century wars...


Most Vietnamese believe, it is vital to give a proper burial to the dead ancestors to ensure they become a guardian angel rather than a tormenting ghosts to the descendants.. Nearly, four decades after North Vietnam, defeated the American backed south, the bodies of the fallen Vietnamese soldiers are still missing..causing anguish and (many say) bad luck to the family..


Growing prosperity in this country, is fuelling demands for the services of spirit mediums and telepaths claiming to be able to locate the body of the fallen... Centres purporting to use spiritual powers to find remains have sprung up, some charging hefty fees..


Such activities are forbidden by core communists sating it to be " Backward superstitions", however, growing inequality, and social stratification in the country, are prompting those at the bottom of the heap to adopt to these traditional beliefs, and turn to the spiritual world fr solace..


As it is the case everywhere, there is always a fake for every original... in this case too, a sting operation by leading tabloids found a majority of fake spiritual rackets, there are only about 20 real spirit mediums in Vietnam, and hundreds of fake ones..! they locate about 5000-10,000 bodies every year free of cost..


The government has however asked the families to go for DNA testing to determine the origins of the remains they find... It has also launched a website "Honouring Martyrs" which lets users exchange information about possible location of fallen family members.(a rare example of govt endorsed crowd-sourcing in a state which often blocks social networking sites like Facebook)

Guardian Spirit or tormentor?

However, other than this, most people still are looking for spiritual help to locate the bodies of their families... Truly amazing, how in today's world of science and facts, people still hope and believe in spirits helping them in an hour of need.... Left me awe struck.......

An Open Letter to my Dad!

This article is written by the same girl who appears in my previous articles "The Last Night" & "Trust... Really???".. Today being Daughter's day, she writes a letter to her dad, with a hope that he reads it wherever he is right now.. If you have read, "The Last Night", you will understand the emotion behind this small and sweet letter by this girl to her dad! If u haven't read "The Last Night", please do, before you read this.....


Dear Dad,

Its Daughters' Day today. That's why I thought of writing a letter to you.

Its been a year & things have changed a lot. I'm using devices that distract me from studying, sometimes. (Blame mom for that :p) But I'm studying & changed my college too. The same college where you wanted me to go since the 11th grade. The college is okay, but I'm usually with my BCom friends. They're mad fun to be with. If you go to see, then I'm just surviving on luck in that college. (I'll give you the details some other time ;))

I've many wishes that I want you to fulfill.
1. Ask mom not to force me to eat.
2. Tell her that I'm responsible now!
3. Explain her our rule of 'Sleep & Let Sleep' on holidays, she makes me work! :(
4. Ask her to give me extra money for shopping! :p
5. And come back wherever you're! We need you.
6. If you're not coming, then don't ever let mumma fall. Although you know she's strong. :)
7. But no, I'm more adamant. So you've to come back.

I'll be waiting for you for the rest of my life.

Love you & miss you like crazy.

Your only daughter.

The Last Royal Tiger

RESPECT!! that is the first thing that comes to my head, when i hear the the name Mansoor Ali Khan 'Tiger' Pataudi.. One of India's finest captains, an enduring and yet so charming individual, passed away yesterday at Shri Ganga Ram hospital in New Delhi yesterday.. A sad day for the country, since, cricket is a  religion, and Tiger was one of its God..!


At 21, MAK Pataudi  was the youngest person to captain India, and under his unique leadership, India won its first series away from home..Out of the 46 tests he played overall, he captained India in 40.. Indian spin bowling became a strong weapon under his leadership.. The likes of Bishan Singh Bedi, S. Venkatragavan, were first introduced by Tiger.. The Indian team of that time, would be happy to salvage a draw, and would wish for the 5 days to pass..But with Tiger it was different. He taught the team to play for a win.. His charismatic approach rubbed off on the team, and that was the beginning of what would be a  revolution in the coming times..


Nawab's carrier hit an early road block in the tour of West Indies.. A lethal West Indian pace battery launched a series of bouncers targeting his body. One such bouncer, hit him in the face and he lost complete vision in one eye.. Who would have known, at that time, a man with one eye would mark his comeback and rock the world and with such elegance and grace... He once said, after his return.. " I have only lost an eye, not my vision..." My god, i got goosebumps when i heard this.... He did something, that even God would be proud of.. What a great man, what an enchanting personality. what an ambassador of sport, and a what a great human being.... 


Even though, i haven't   seen  him play, or ever met him personally. i am just happy to have shared space in the world with him, in his era.. His story, is such an inspiration to the youth like myself.. A man, born in a royal family, a Nawab himself, gave up his family business, and  followed his heart to  his passion... And this burning ambition, made him one above the rest, and took him to heights, few people have seen.. having lost an eye, he still dint give up.. Guess, that is how he got the nick name 'Tiger'. A never say die attitude, and an endearing personality, made him retain his aura even after retirement..


His dashing looks and his aristocratic leneage, gave him a heartthrob status... His then love interest and eventually his wife, Sharmila Tagore, was the inception of 'Cricket weds Bollywood".. The much celebrated love gave birth to three children, Saif, Soha and Saba... And MAK's fans still believe, he is a bigger and brighter star than son Saif...

His sad demise came as a shocker, since he was seen in the recently concluded India England series, where he looked hail and hearty.. My condolences to the family, for he was indeed the Romance of Indian Cricket...... Nawab saab, you will be missed......... May you find peace.... 

World, Hold on...!

This article is coming up after a while. Sorry, had been tied down, due to busy schedules.. 


I have been travelling a lot these days, it was interesting to observe different people, their lifestyles, the way they talk and behave.. The recently concluded Ganesh utsav had restored a sense of faith and a dream of a ray of hope for better times... At least that is what most would have prayed for to their favorite God. But i guess, Inflation was too much for our Bappa to take care of.. Inflation rose, so did the fuel prices.. Probably, the Government is playing a game of its own! 


The other day, i saw this kid, begging on the street, while a rich kid in a BMW, watching him and having a hearty laugh. It was such a pitiful sight. A clear show of the rich-poor divide. The so called great heritage of this country couldn't solve this age old problem. Two kids of the same age, one begging to salvage a meal, and the other, spoilt for choices over the variety of food.. That sight Almost brought tears to my eyes..!

This song by Simple Plan comes to my head, which says about, how people are going crazy and how, the  lifestyles of people are changing.  The lyrics of the song are so damm true and this is how the world is changing and falling to pieces.
Traditional value system doesn't hold good anymore.  People are too busy starring into their iPad and blackberry to spend time with their children. It looks like, all they care about is money.


The pace with which the world is degrading, i guess, we all are falling in a big dark pit. And the fun part is, we are actually enjoying the ride... 

This is it..

This one is very personal to me... Recently, my girlfriend of 2 years broke up with me.. V had a relation, which people to idealize.. A dream relation of 25months and 10 days, came to an abrupt ending, when she dumped me sighting various absurd reasons.. Well, i guess, if this beautiful relation had to end, this was how it could... I miss her at times, but i guess, life has to move on... This is a small poem about my break up..!
i wanted to write the entire story, but i don't want people to hate her by knowing every event of the break up...





He met a girl, thought she was different,




She loved him, he did too,
Everything was grand for a year and two,
Then it all, came unglued..

Things getting blurry
The picture was turned
She started acting absurd
And everything got weird

He asked her about this
But she couldn't explain
And hence she asked Not to complain..!

So he took it all inside
Coz he'd do anything
To keep it alive
He didn't want it to die

He tried, tried & tired,
but in the end
He just gave in, and cried

He was all alone
Waiting for her again,She wanted to talk,And he wanted to too,

She called him, to their favorite place,
Asked him not to be late,
He reached there earlier, jus to curse his fate,
He stood there for an hour, hoping she'd come,
but, she was just sleeping, and that was not done..!


If only she could hear those 3 words
Even if it was outta the blue
If only he could tell her
I LOVE YOU!

Now, Things are not how they used to be,
He played his part, and she played her game,
They don't talk, not do they meet,
That's his story, as you see,
He Learned his lesson, and so did she,
Now its over, and he's glad,
cause he's a fool for all he's said...

Losing My Religion.

Religion? well, when people hear this word, the first thing that flashes in their head is GOD.. Religion, after all, is a man made set of rules to be followed if u worship a particular person, or a divine figure, some call them God, some prophets, some they just call him a savior... So, GOD? who is he after all?? where is he?? 


I am born and brought up in a Tamil Bhramin family. By nature my parents are very religious, very spiritual, and very methodical and precise while doing their daily poojas to the periodical havans (a ritual using fire) and donations to temples and places of god's worship.. Naturally, they have inculcated this virtue in me as well.. And being an obedient boy, i have always accepted what ever they want me to learn n practice. So this childhood habit has become a value for life for me.


But, i always thought to myself, what the world would have been, if the boundaries of religion not existed.. Countless people have died and millions are still  fighting over this limitless boundary called Religion and God.. When all that religion says is Love one and all.. Krishna, Buddha, Jesus, Allah, all came to this land, and all of them got the message of love..Yet, fanatics spread terror in the name of God. 


Sometimes i wonder, how many lives would have been saved and how many could have lived another day, had God not Existed at all....?!!! i also think, is God blind to all the misery in  the world.. 25000 people dying of hunger EVERYDAY in the world..! what is God doing??? the so called 'cursed' land of japan, Tsunamis and earthquakes have claimed billions and billions of lives there.. The nuclear bombing on Hiroshima Nagasaki, killed not only a million people, but also deformed their  future generations. In India, more than half the population is below the poverty line. People are so poor, they have to eat their own feces for a meal..how pitiful is that Innumerable suicides, babies, infants, being killed, women being raped, child killing his mother, mother murdering her daughter, countless divorces.. Now tell me,  WHERE IS GOD??????????????????


Every morning the headline of a tabloid is corruption, arrest, rape,death,loss in business etc... i don't even remember, when was the last time i read something happy or that brought a smile to my face in morning headline. corrupt government officials who loot the general public, the gangsters and burglars who roam the streets, the bureaucrats and politicians who cheat people to accumulate their personal assets, the terrorists causing mayhem are all living life king size...! is this your GOD????????? 


Give all that u can, to the biggest scoundrels, let them live their lives so royally and on the other hand, give nothing but more and more pain and suffering to the poor and modest class.... Even if these rascals are brought to justice some time in the future, they have already lived their lives so happily, any punishment would look small for them, on the contrary, the other class of people, they would be praying to never take birth in this planet with  such a cruel God.. 

I being so religious from childhood, and a strong believer in god, needed his help or rather his grace in a defining moment in my life... And guess what, God was apparently  absent that day... The land beneath my feet slipped...i was in a state of complete shock... in my conversation with God, i told him,"i gave u all that i had, believed in you, worshiped you,never lost faith in you, then why didn't you help me??" i never got an answer from him..! And since that day, i have been losing my faith in him... i am losing my religion...! I want a few answers to my questions....

People say, whatever is to happen will happen.. it is not in our hands etc...well, i don't really understand, what good in this misery? can the world get any worse?? will the sun ever rise in this world?? Will i get what i deserve? will the world be a better place? will our children too suffer the same fate?? If there is any God up there.... ANSWER ME..!!!!!!!

TRUST! Really?!

We have heard a lot of people say, "Trust.. That is the only hope left in the world". Yes, I agree to some extent. Trust is essential in everyone's life, and one must always have trust.. But, how far and importantly how well can you really trust a friend..??

Read the real life story of a 18 year old girl (then 14), who is a very dear to me, she paid a heavy price for trusting her friends!

August 2007

One week before the plan:
A group of friends were scheduled to meet after 2 long years. These guys are childhood friends and have known each other for 6 years. Rishi, Nitin & Jennifer (names changed to protect identity). As decided, they were to meet at Rishi's place for a reunion.

2 days before the plan:
She was the youngest in the group. Rishi asked her to meet him at his place & promised that Nitin & Jennifer would come over too. She didn't bother confirming the plan with them because she trusted Rishi. And naturally so, because she had known Rishi all her life, grew up wid him, not in her wildest dreams she would have known what was in store for her..

On the planned day:
She reached Rishi's place in the afternoon as decided. To her surprise, there was no one but himself in the house. She asked him where Nitin & Jennifer were, he said they would reach in no time. They waited for them. She waited anxiously, while he was pretending to wait. Who would have guessed what happened next?

Rishi tried to get close to her. She felt uncomfortable. And tried to push him away. But he held her tight against the wall & started to strip her. She was trying to refrain, but he was too strong for the helpless girl. He kissed her forcefully, all she could do was pray and hope for some help..she got none! No one came to her rescue. Not even God..! She was crying! She was in pain. He forced her to the bed. In her self defense, she bit him hard on his forearm, hit his testicles, grabbed her shirt & ran out of the house..

Weeping on her way back home, she called up Jennifer to ask why didn't she come. And to this girl's disbelief, she learned that, Jennifer and Nitin, both weren't aware of any plan of a reunion....
That girl couldn't take it, she felt so cheated and heart broken.. So much for trusting an old friend...?? She felt sick, she wanted to die. She paid a heavy price for trusting someone who ended up assaulting her sexually.. She tried to end her life several times after the incident and was under heavy medication to control her depression..

For many of you, this may sound like a bollywood mega hit, All this happened to a person who is so dear to me... I feel like laughing, when anyone says "Trust me.."


Trust is good... Too much of it, is bad.. How much to trust a person, well, that is an individual's call... I hope this story would be a lesson to my readers..

The Last Night!

August 8, 2010 (Sunday)

11.30pm
I was angry with him over a petty issue. He came home late from his friend's place & I was waiting for him. I gave him blunt replies for everything that he asked me. We spoke to mom over the phone before sleeping, she was in Jaipur for her office trip. After talking to her, we went to sleep...

August 9, 2010 (Monday)

1.00am
I thought he was snoring, but it sounded very unusual. I woke him up & asked him to sleep properly. There was silence for a few seconds & it started again. It was something weird. I put on the lights & saw him gasping. He was struggling to breathe. He put all his fingers in his mouth to open it, so that he could breathe. He was in pain & sweating a lot. And I panicked. I got him a glass of chilled water, he didn't drink it. He was unconscious. I wiped his face with a napkin, trying to be calm. But deep inside, I was scared just like anyone else of my age would be. I felt helpless. All I could think at that time was to inform my mom about it. She further informed her brother & in-laws.

But he shut his eyes. His body was cold & pale. He stopped breathing. It was over, within a few minutes my world came crashing down. MY FATHER WAS DEAD! He was lying dead right in front of me & I was sitting helpless next to him.

1.30am
My relatives came over. But it was too late for anything to be done at that time. I knew it was over, but I was still hoping for a miracle.

2.00am
My relatives & dad's friends took him to the hospital for a shock treatment. Its been an hour since he died. Everyone knew how much we loved each other. He loved me more than his wife. No one wanted to confirm the news to me, but I was adamant to know.

2.30am
Everyone returned home silent! Then came his body. I felt my soul died. My life came to a standstill. I couldn't imagine a day without seeing/talking to him. Spending the rest of my life without him was like living an aimless life.


Since that day my world turned upside-down. Nothing seemed to be right. I still search for the same love & affection. I miss him a lot & no

one can replace him ever. . .