Inspired...

I believe that inspiration to a person can come from anything, whether living or non-living. There have been many people whose paths have crossed mine, and have inspired me. I have also been inspired by writings of many.
Whenever I think of inspiration, the first thing that comes to my mind is "If" by Rudyard Kipling.

If

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!

- Rudyard Kipling

Inspired and motivated, the journey continues…

Mumbai Local- Mera Naya Teacher

Mumbai Local Trains have provided me with unmatched experience. With 50 minutes at my disposal one way, I have quite a lot of time looking at other faces in the cramped up First Class Ladies Compartment. A lot has been said and written about how people travel in these trains. My experience has not been very different. I have seen women praying, reading books, reading newspapers, reading 'Mid Day', listening to FM through their cell phones (a great blessing for daily commuters). Some tired faces staring out of the window, most of them just dozing off.
In a typical morning rush hour train, ladies standing are always more than twice the number sitting. When stars favor me I catch a seat from the starting station (yippeee!). But the eyes all around stare as if I have committed a sin by sitting! Do they want to say that I had no right to sit, while they were standing?
Local trains have taught me more about body language than my b-school lectures! I wonder if seasoned travelers have microscopic lens fitted in their eyes. How they are able to notice the smallest of signs that a sitting lady may have shown is still a wonder. Grabbing a seat is the sole mission (Mission Impossible for me!!!)
In this sea of people, I have forgotten about what personal space is. Here, it is not more that area of about half an inch radius around your body. One cannot even dare to shift weight from one foot to another, leave alone move a limb to rest the aching one, lest you may come in contact of someone else... And if you dare to 'intrude', God save you!!. All mannerism expected of a 'lady' traveling in first class is lost. At times I have wondered if second class travel is better!
But, as optimist as I am, it has taught me self-control in a different manner. I have now learnt the art to resist an urge to shake a numb arm or a foot, or wipe beads of sweat off my forehead! My skills at reading body language have improved drastically, and the mission "Seat" is no longer impossible. From a long haul, it has now reduced to near misses.
Whatever said and done, I feel Local Trains are still the fastest mode of commuting in Mumbai. It takes a ride in taxi, BEST bus or autorickshaw, to realise the worth. Not just a mode of transport, it is a small hypermart in itself. You can shop fruits, bags, clothes, stationary, and a lot more. Customer relationship is at its best here. Commuters place orders with salespeople, and get their stuff delivered. The day and time of train being key here. The aspiring Sales associates of Retail chains can take a lesson or two from them.
An institution in itself, the Mumbai Suburban Railway network keeps the city going. As for me, the mission is still on. Good luck to me!

Mumbai...a new chapter in my life

While writing this blog I was thinking what could be the title...Mumbai: the city of dreams or something else. It has been over six months since I landed in Mumbai. When I took up a job in Mumbai, my flatmate in Delhi told me that I was going to the swapan-nagari or the city of dreams, as Mumbai is known as. I wondered if taking up this job was indeed a step towards realising my dreams. I should wait and watch, I thought. And, with several thoughts about life in a new city, here I came. But six months later, I am still not sure.

The first month just whizzed past. I was staying in South Mumbai. Walks along Marine Drive. Sunset beyond Gateway of India. Shopping at Causeway. Bhelpuri and Paav-bhaji at Chowpatty... I was enjoying. And I succeded in avoiding the legendary Local Trains!

And, then I started looking for a house!
The hunt started...a 50sqft room for Rs10500 pm... I was suddenly thinking, if this was a dream or a nightmare!

Somehow I managed a decent accommodation in Suburbs. Wow! I won a battle!

But the path from suburbs to town was through another battlefield-the suburban railway network a.k.a. the local trains. Phew! I was thinking again...

For the last five months, I have thought a lot, and I am still thinking... whether this is a city of dreams.

A couple of months back, I came across a taxiwallah who echoed my thoughts. I was riding a taxi, along with a friend, when the taxiwallah asks us, "Madam, aap Dilli ke ho kya?" I replied in affirmative, and he poured his heart out. Apparently, this guy hailed from a small town in UP, and recognised the dialect in which me and my friend were conversing. He had been working with Indian Army, when he thought of making more money and trying his luck in the swapan-nagari. He quit his job and landed in the city, with dreams in his eyes and thoughts in his mind. I reached my destination wondering will this guy be successful?

All of us do think a lot about our dreams and how to realise them. We do act towards that in our own different ways. I have done the same, and so has that taxiwallah. My thoughts go back to him as I recollect his voice full of sadness and regeret, and I wish the city does fulfill his dreams.

As for my dreams, it is a long way to go...

A Modest Beginning

Thoughts...this is what I have titled my blog. My thoughts on various things that I come across in my daily life. This is just a beginning and I think it will go a long way.
Happy Blogging!!