A Life in Transit: Between Home, Hope, and Horizons

(This post was there in my draft for around 5 years :). Hold on....

 

The below text was somewhere in 2018. 

 

Pune - a city where I always wanted to be. I have never lived out of Delhi but now my work demands me to be in this city. I have come here 2-3 times but only for a short duration. But now in the next few years, I will be settling here. I am very excited but equally scared of going away from family. Though my wife and daughter will be with me but my parents and relatives lives in Delhi and North India. I will miss them. I want to thank them all for supporting me all this way and now for helping me out in taking this decision.

First of all the city's weather is awesome. Initially it was hot when I came here in Mid May but now there is hardly a day when it doesn't rain. I compare Pune's temperature/pollution with Delhi almost daily and feel relieved. The temperature is almost 8-10 degrees less as compare to Delhi and pollution level too is less. Thank You God for giving me this opportunity.

The one thing which I miss most is the North Indian sweets. Its been one month and I couldn't find a single shop selling those North Indian sweets. I miss Haldirams, Bikanerwala, Aggarwal Sweets, etc.

 

(This post was there in my draft for around 7 years now :) 

 

July 18th 2025  

Almost 2 Years after I left Pune 

 

Gone are the days when I was in Pune and was missing North Indian Sweets. Now I am in US and missing Indian sweets altogether. I miss even the Maharashtran food like Vada Paav, Misal Paav.

 

Life was started to settling down in Pune. But now this shift again a major one and now I am not sure where the life will take me to. In Pune, I was blessed with my second child. Just when he entered our lives, this change was also about to be arrived and at the end of 2023, I was in US. Now I am almost completing 2nd year here. Lot of things have been changed.

 

Paradox

In the West, we have built beautiful ship and in it, it has all the comforts. But actually the one thing it doesn't have is a compass.

We have wider freeways but narrower viewpoints. We have taller buildings but shorter tempers.
We spend money we havn't earned on things, we dont need to impress people we dont like.
And its phenomenal how the same technology that brings us close to those who are far away takes us far away from people that are actually close.
30 billion WhatsApp messages are sent per day, but 48% of people say that they feel lonelier in general.
The paradox of our times is that we have more degrees but less sense.
More knowledge but less judgement. More experts but less solutions.
The irony of our time is that we have guided missiles but misguided men.
We have gone all the way to moon and back but we struggle to start a conversation across the road or across the train.
Its amazing that Bill Gates was known as the top earner of 2015 with a wealth of $79.2 billion but one in four CEOs claim to be struggling from depression.

It seems that we have tried to clean up the air but polluted our soul.
We have split the atom but not our prejudice and we are aiming for higher incomes but we have lower morals.

The End is Same

It's very interesting to see that all religions (Hindu, Muslim and Christian) have the same end yet so differences in reality.

Hindu - Swarg or Nark
Muslim - Jannat or Jahannum
Christian - Heaven or Hell

Girls complain to husband

I am not a relationship expert but have noticed some girls complaining in their circle about their husbands.

Problem Statement : A very common crib is about how their would be husbands used to take them out for movies, shopping, outings, etc. But after marriage, it has changed and they rarely go out.

Result : I have tried to think over this situation and agreed that after marriage, situation does get change. But the main issue is about finding the reason that why this has changed.

Reason : I don't know whether it's true or not but the main reason behind this is that your Would Be Husband always wanted to spend time with you and not at all interested in those movies, shopping and outings. He is more into you rather than into external environment. Shopping, movies, outings, etc are just the ways of meeting you. After marriage, things gets changed because he is your husband now and always with you and he does not have to be out for meeting you.

Conclusion : Boys are better lovers, no matter what.

Conclusion 2 : People will think that this post is anti-feminine and I am anti-feminist.

My Best Friend - Mobile Phone

As you grow older, your circle of friends started to shrink. Its not like you loose them, but communication between us gets less frequent. I still remember the days when I use to spend almost everyday with my friends. But now its only work and home. Though we get busier and busier in our life, there is one friend which is always there with us. Yes that great friend is our "Mobile Phone". 

 

I have seen people when they have no one to talk and nothing to do, they start checking their mobile phone. Though there is no message or alert but still we like to see our Mobile Phone almost every hour. A good mobile phone can easily pass your time when there is nothing to do. You may have not talked to your friend for long time, but you can always check what he/she is up to through social networking sites. Our real friends are now shrunk into one gadget. There are many applications/games which you can always go to when not doing anything. I have a phone which fulfills my requirements and is best among various specifications and functionality. HTC One, though its not available anymore but its a very good smartphone. Its battery is superb (Non-removable Li-Po 2300 mAh battery), a very fast processor (Quad-core 1.7 GHz Krait 300) and a very good camera (4 Ultra Pixel). Its upgraded versions are now available which are even better.

The idea behind writing this post is just to give more thought on how/why "Our Best Friends" are now turned into "One Single Friend" i.e. Mobile Phone.

Indian Summers - Rising Heat

More and more people are reported to be affected by heat waves across India. The reason given is a El Nino effect. The rising temperature has truly made life miserable. Some of the photographs I collected from an article truly represents the plight of people in India.

Indian Jugaad - Plastic bottle used as a tap

-Ajit Solanki/Associated Press

Avail Free bath with every Indian Railways Ticket

-Prabhat Kumar Verma/Zuma Press
 

 Wow.. What a style

-Narinder Nanu/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

Road side vendors using every thing they can find on Indian roads

-Chandan Khanna/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

Modern Art on Indian Roads by a well known artist

-Harish Tyagi/European Pressphoto Agency

Icy Cool Rickshaw

-Narinder Nanu/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

PDC - Public display of coolness

-Sajjad Hussain/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

Cement Advertisements can be glamorous too!

Every few days, I am amazed by the creativity these advertisement guys show. This time it is about a Cement. Who would have thought that Cement advertisements can be glamorous too. Couldn't find the agency who gave birth to this idea. Watch it!!

Friends Lunch Box

City life is tough in Mornings especially for office goers. Everyday we use to jostle here and there in the morning. Whether you are driving or in a metro you always push yourself to be in a comfortable position. Its been 8 years now I am living this life. Initially I was not used to taking lunch from home but after sometime I realized, its better to take home cooked food. Though its not a big problem to carry a lunch box with you everyday as an additional bag but sometimes you do feel your hands should be free when you are in a Metro especially when you are also carrying a laptop bag.

I started with a Tupperware lunchbox as everyone in office was carrying a branded lunch boxes but it also mean that I have to carry an additional bag which sometimes I feel is bit uncomfortable in Delhi Metro. After few days my Mom brought me a Friends for Life .....! lunch box which I can put in my laptop bag itself. It has a 2 set of Soft Plastic containers which can be used to carry a curry or cooked dry vegetables or Chapatis. My biggest problem it has solved that I can put it in my Laptop bag and now my hands are free. The two containers can be used in microwave as well.

State Bank of India Home Loans - Wastage of Time, Effort and Money

If anybody wants to apply for a home loan from State Bank of India or any other nationalized bank, I will suggest you not to waste your time and money on them. Instead apply for a home loan from any private sector bank. Though you might find interest rate bit higher than the nationalized bank but you will save lot of time and effort. The above statement does not hold true, if you are a employee of any Nationalized bank because employees enjoy home loan facilities without any conditions and at very low interest rate.

The incident happened to me and it can happen to anybody, so beware and don't think that Nationalized bank do not follow malpractices. I started inquiring about home loan from State Bank of India in December 2013. I got the reference of an employee from SBI and started conversation with him. He told me to submit many documents which I did as per the requirements. It took me around 10-15 days to put together all the documents. I also paid the processing fees through cheque. My home loan was approved after 1 month of waiting time and lots of inquiries. I visited the branch twice during this period to get the status of home loan. At each visit, the attitude of employees was unsatisfactory. They keep on transferring their duties to each other.

At the time of disbursement of loan amount, I showed them all my transaction details. Suddenly, they brought up the rule of not providing home loan on premium amount. Premium amount is the seller's profit. If an home owner wanted to sell his/her home which is under construction, obviously the seller will sell the home on profit. State Bank of India officials told me that they do not give home loan on the premium amount but on the actual amount of the home on which seller has bought it from the builder. This whole statement from them does not made any sense and in the end I had to choose private bank. The whole documentation, approval and disbursement process took only 2 weeks and I got the home loan. It is not about that I have been charged processing fees but it is about my effort and time which is wasted by SBI.

After few days, I wrote an email to Chairman of SBI and CCed it to few other people including guys from RBI regarding this matter. Chairman of SBI forwarded my mail to DGM of SBI and DGM of SBI forwarded the mail to AGM of SBI. The AGM of SBI replied me with a simple statement that they do not provide home loan on the premium amount. Thank you Mr. AGM, but that thing I already know. I want to know the reason that why private banks are providing home loans on this amount but State Bank of India, do not. Below is the mail which I sent to the SBI and their reply. 

Desi Discount

Below is the sparkling price difference in daily items that people in Indian cities consume with two most costliest cities of the world.
 

Item	Tokyo	Manhattan	New Delhi
Movie Ticket	$17.53	$13.99	$5.50
Lunch	$15.00	$27.03	$13.20
Washing Machine	$1,141.30	$1,001.08	$556.46
1 Kilo of Rice	$8.61	$5.38	$2.93
Soft Drink	$1.63	$1.68	$1.13
Dozen Eggs	$5.47	$4.37	$1.96
Toothpaste	$3.51	$4.11	$1.54
Women's Jeans	$149.82	$76.06	$80.50
A Beer at the Bar	$9.90	$8.64	$8.24
1 Kilo of Bananas	$5.21	$2.06	$0.82
Milk	$2.67	$2.72	$1.08
Bread	$7.66	$6.92	$1.90
Dry Cleaning	$7.62	$7.76	$2.90
Women's Haircut	$77.07	$82.78	$22.87

The difference between the prices of these commodities/services is huge but still Indians consider these as costly.

The main reason behind this is the difference in earnings of the people of India and these cities. People in New York and Tokyo consuming these items still find them manageable/middle class but here in India these items are considered for higher income group.

Blogger's Confession

No matter how many blogs you read and go through, you will always find a post mentioning - "Oh its been long time, I missed my blog. Now I vow to write my thoughts regularly". Even I have one - http://dixitvarun.blogspot.in/2012/04/missing-my-blog.html. It is amusing.

Petrol/Gasoline Pricing in India

Here is an important piece of information that I found on web.

The below table shows how the price of petrol/gasoline is adding up and hitting consumers. A litre petrol which costs India Rs. 45.22 is actually selling at Rs. 71.41 to end consumers.

Aviation and Aerospace Industry

Aviation and Aerospace Industry is going through a very rough patch recently. First, all the accidents which are currently in News.

1. Malaysia Airlines Flight 370
2. Boeing 787 Dreamliner Emergency Landing
3. IndiGo Plane Catches Fire on Landing

Such news always scare you every time you board a flight. Well the accidents rate in aerospace industry is lowest. But still, it scares you out. The purpose of writing this post is not accidents but the prices offered by Airlines these days.They have come out of discounted prices during off-season. How many of us are really influenced by these discounted prices? First time travelers will certainly find this option pretty good. But people who travel only when need arises are not going to look at this as a big opportunity. Rather they will prefer paying regular prices and spend money only when they really want to go and not when they find cheaper tickets.

In India, population who haven't traveled through airlines is large and hence, such schemes surely give them the purchasing power and business to the airlines. I am wondering whether such schemes are also offered in Western countries?

RBI to break Savings of Millions of People in India

First of all, I want to talk about the RBI's decision to phase out currency notes which are issued before 2005. Though this is a very good decision as per them it will counter black money and help weed out fake money circulating in system.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/currency-notes-issued-before-2005-to-be-withdrawn-post-march-31-rbi/articleshow/29210580.cms

Now, I want to present a picture of the traditional saving instrument which is used by Millions of people in India domestically. This is called as "Gullak" (Indian Piggy Bank).

 

Now this Gullak will required to be broken. I have one of this, in which there are only currency notes and now I have to break it. Why such decisions by these Institutions always have the bearing/inconvenience on people who are saving their money legally.

counter black money and help weed out fake currency circulating through the system

Read more at:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/29210580.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

counter black money and help weed out fake currency circulating through the system

Read more at:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/29210580.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

An Open Letter to Arvind Kejriwal

To

Mr. Arvind Kejriwal                                                                                    Date: 20th January 2014

Chief Minister of Delhi

God knows where you live (Do you live in Delhi?)

Subject: Common man is suffering with your way of governance and your so called Aam Aadmi Party.

Dear Mr. Chief Minister

I am born and brought up in India's capital, New Delhi. Its been 23 days now, of your governance here but I am afraid to say that its in no way a governance. Its a situation of chaos, callousness and confusion among people of Delhi. You have become a subject of mockery and jokes. I hope you read few of your jokes on internet and feel ashamed for what you are doing. I am not a supporter of Congress but the way you are ruling the state, its worse than the Congress government. Today, I feel a need of writing this letter as I have seen my Mother suffered because of you. Your so called Dharna has affected her commute and she had a horrendous time traveling to home. Due to your Dharna, she has spent two and a half hours of traveling on Delhi roads. This is not just happened to my mother. There are many other Mothers, Fathers, Sisters, Sons, Daughters who have suffered because of you. The irony of this Dharna is that you are doing it for Woman's safety.

I find your actions similar to Rakhi Sawant. You are one of that publicity whore who always wants to be in the news. I don't think this is what you have been taught in IIT, Kharagpur. Do you think you are doing justice to your education? And if this is what IIT, Kharagpur teaches then I have lost respect for the Institution. I am sorry to say Sir, your priority is not Delhi. It has been changed beyond Delhi now. I know where it is going, Loksabha Elections, right? 

Earlier, I was of the opinion that giving a chance to youth is better than giving it to people having some experience. But now I have changed my opinion. I can say this openly that majority of people who have chosen you are the first time voters who doesn't know the ABCD of politics, just like you. I am not blaming them, I appreciate your way of influencing them. But it would have been better if you have influenced people who knows something about politics.

I have few questions to ask you. Why you do not stay on the things which you say?

1. You said you will neither take support of Congress nor give them. What happen? Gajini?

2. You said you will not fight Lok Sabha Elections but now you say that you will, if your party wants. Are you out of your mind?

3. You said Police should work independently. Now you want to control Delhi Police. Just want to abuse you on this.

4. Why are you not taking any action on Congress Government's scams, just because you have been supported by them. Giving only assurances, does not make any sense.

After you formed government, 3 people wearing your Party's topi came to our area and listened to the problems faced by public. But that was the day, after which no one has come to deliver what have been asked. I know you will now say that atleast they have come to listen. What's the point of listening when you cannot fulfill any of the demands. I must tell you the demands were not something which cannot be fulfilled. Its a will and commitment that need to be there while choosing political career.

Being a Chief Minister, you cannot do what you want. You have to sit on Dharna in your own State to get your unrealistic demands fulfilled. Though you got the seat of Chief Minister but you haven't progressed in this career. You are still at the same place i.e. Dharna which you were doing before elections.

"With great power comes great responsibility". You have behaved in such a irresponsible behavior. I am disappointed, lost all hopes and ashamed of you and Delhi. Keep sitting on Dharna, keep running government from there.

Unfaithfully Yours'
Real Aam Aadmi

Nation First or Family First

This is again going to be one of the most controversial/debatable post of mine. Previous one (North Indians Vs South Indians) has been severely criticized by few of the people from online community. Though no hard feelings for them as you cannot hide facts and truth is always bitter. There are chances that people will going to abuse me in the comment section in this post as well but I am ready. I am not taking any side. I am just giving views on both the fronts i.e. Family or Country. This thought is provoked by the incidence of Mr. Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister of Delhi who swear on his children that he will not give or take support from any other party. But in the end, he took support of Congress and formed the government in Delhi.

Nothing against Mr. Arvind Kejriwal, but when he swear on his children, it was proved that the most important thing in his life are his children. But he still took support of Congress. So what does this prove? Country is more important to him? May be.

It is expected from a soldier that for him Country comes first. Moreover, its his duty and he is paid for that. Will the same soldier if not paid, will have the same kind of commitment. Doubting a soldier's commitment in itself is very bad and talking about them is easy. We should ask this question to ourselves. I cannot say about me whether I will choose Country over my Family. But yes to some extent, I will. It depends on the situation.

Indians had been on war with Pakistan and China. Our soldiers showed courage and bravery in all the wars. If these soldiers would have chosen Family over War, then there would be no one to fight from India and we would have faced defeat without a fight. Same things applies to soldiers of Pakistan and China. Now, if Pakistanis and Chinese men had taken their families first things would have been great. There had been no war. But since they didn't, I'm glad Indians responded in kind.

My perspective on this is that by being deployed on border, a soldier is not choosing between Family and our country but rather because of his loyalty to Family and wanting to ensure that our family and other families of our country can live in safety, he serves willingly.  Yes, this is a personal decision for each person but it does not have to be a choice between the two if the values of both are the same.

Delhi's Cold and Goa's Beaches

Its 21st December today and already its so cold out here in Delhi. I am wondering how much temperature will gonna drop further around Christmas and New Year. Though I like winters but still feel like going at some warmer place. Goa is a perfect choice these days as there will be a nice weather over there. Moreover Christmas and New Year is coming, so all the party lovers will gonna hit that place. One must choose a right hotel and bookings should be done well in advance so that any last time rush can be avoided. I remember my vacations over there in 2010. I have chosen Goa as my honeymoon destination as it was matching to my budget. I have never seen a sea/sea beach earlier so it was my first experience and I was very excited.

I have chosen a hotel "Whispering Palm Beach Resort" after thorough research. I considered following factors while choosing this hotel.

1. Distance from Beach
2. Price
3. Facilities
4. Room Size
5. Location
6. Meals

On all these 6 factors, I found this hotel to be perfect. I checked its location on Google Maps and found that it is only few meters away from one of the beach at Candolim. I checked the room's images on its website and found them very neat and clean and well maintained. For price, I compared its prices at different websites like makemytrip.com, yatra.com, etc. But after checking its price, I decided to talk to them directly over phone. There is one Mr. A***l (dont want to take the name as it will be a privacy issue) who is in sales department came up with a excellent deal. After some negotiation, I confirmed my bookings.

It was a nice flight without any hiccups and after reaching Goa Airport, I saw a person holding my name tag in his hands. It was a nice ride in Toyota Innova car and we reached hotel well in time. They welcomed us with a drink and we were sitting on a sofa. A lady came to me and told me that all the rooms are full and they will provide me a upgraded room in a different hotel. I agreed to it and boy, they have provide me a superb room. Though we stayed there for two days and came back to Whispering Palm Beach where they have provided me equally great room. Moreover, I found a beach to be just a walking distance from a hotel. There was swimming pool in the hotel and every evening there is some cultural event going on in a hotel area around swimming pool. One will love the performances by some great artists/groups and enjoy the dinner side by side. Food was excellent and there was a buffet system where you can fill your tummy with all the delicacies. You can find fitness and spa facilities as well in the hotel. They have provided me one candle light dinner which I enjoyed with my wife.

I stayed there for three days and I loved my stay. I have recommended this hotel to few of my friends who recently got married and they too stayed over there. I must say do plan your vacations and book your hotels well in advance. I was lucky to get the hotel which was one of the best in Goa.