Murgi Tales

If we have to divide the whole mankind in only two parts, then there is no better criteria than Vegetarians and Non-vegetarians!!!

Since time immemorial, this great debate as to  what is more nourishing to humans as food,  must be going on. And perhaps it will continue till our planet is inhabited by our species.

Lunch time at office is one great place to kick-off such a debate......and one took place today. The stage was set and the first round gong went off when I remarked "Wow! Aise mausam mein, garam garam murgi curry khane mein kitna maaza ata."  Thats it! Out of four eating on the same table, two were hardcore veggies and two of us were, well kind of people will devour any creature as long as it is palatable. The veggies sneered at the thought of eating "garam garam murgi.....you are all paapi log......pata nahi kaise khate ho....etc.....etc....and the regular stuff came out of their munching mouths. I gave a glance at my partner and taking cue we both ferociously went into argument defending our turf with all the curry and spice we could muster from ourselves!

It goes without saying, we had high energy level for this kind debate. Obviously, all the high protein, high fibre diet from years have made our skins tough as leather for such situations. 

The veggies kept on ranting : Why?!? Why??? is there any need to kill birds, animals and fish to keep you going on. Can't you guys just be happy with green leafy vegetables and all the wonderful variety of fauna growing on surface of mother earth??!! Why commit the crime(??) of killing innocent fellow creatures??!!?? After the initial few rounds, the veggies were looking quite cheerful at the bashing, until the final round started......

I took a deep breath and set off as cool as a refrigerated chicken......

I said "Well folks enough of spinach and potatoes from you." "Just stretch your imagination a bit and presume for the moment that this world is full of pure vegetarians who will lovingly cuddle every chicken that crosses the street and not mentally strip them of all its feathers and see it kept temptingly on a platter." What will happen then? If all the murgi's are allowed to hatch their eggs which keep coming at regular intervals,  shortly there wont be any place to keep them or feed them. Then where do you think they will head for.  All the grain stored on this earth will not be enough to feed them even for a week. And what about goats. If all of them were allowed to live their full life span, your lovely farms will vanish before your eyes before you say Aaloo-Gobi. The same goes for more voracious meat providing animals who thrive on grass for their meals."

These bird and animals multiply very fast and very shortly every town will be filled with them. So in fact the non-vegetarians are doing a great favour and keeping the balance of nature and prevent a great mayhem on this earth. Veggies are getting their food, because the farms have survived from slaughter from mouths of these grass eating animals. And to talk of sea food, the water bodies will not even feel the pinch if a fraction of them are cooked and eaten by humankind.

After receiving this, I think we did'nt have to wait for the final gong and the announcement of result of the bout. Clearly, they were licking their wounds. One of them even looked like he will not refuse a piece of Chicken Tandoor if it was offered to him next time.

I am sure that the topic will never be raised again on that table for long long time.

Long live Murgi's, and of course, Murgi eaters and their kind!

Zooming above waves from Bandra!

For years, Mumbaikars were glued to the this particular spot under the flyover between Bandra and Mahim. The place from where the work of Bandra-Worli Sea Link (now dubbed BWSL even though Hon Minister for Agriculture proposed to be named after Rajiv Gandhi). Gradually the structure took shape and four years beyond the scheduled time, one side of this link is officially declared open on 30th June 2009 by Chairperson of UPA Smt Sonia Gandhi.

The city was buzzing from morning of the day of her arrival. Cops were standing in attention at all major traffic junctions, all clean shaved, shoes shining, uniforms pressed (maybe twice  to get the perfect crease). I have to cross the airport on the way to my office and was unfortunate to get stuck for good 20 minutes near the signal near my office to allow the convoy of wailing vehicles to pass through to receive her at airport. 

The tall structure of the link from which n number of cables webbed out and spanned a good part of the bridge, could be seen from the upper floors of my office. Whenever I happened to be on upper floors, I would gaze seaward and imagine myself zipping on a bike on this marvelous engineering feat on a bike with a pillion rider (definitely not a male one ! ) with the breeze wizzing on my face and the long hairs of my pillion rider flapping madly.

The Times of India dedicated quite a few pages of their 30th June edition for this historical event. The bridge is designed by a 77 year old gentleman, Mr. Sheshadri Srinivasan, who has to his credit several landmark bridges across the globe. The famous  Jamarat Bridge in the holy city of Mecca, is also designed by him.  

We are seeing the almost completed structure now. But I can imagine, how Mr. Srinivasan must have first picked up his pencil and started on a blank sheet. He must have perhaps stood at a window or on the promenade somewhere in Bandra/Worli and let his imagination run riot. Several images must have flashed in his mind and finally a visualisation of the current structure must have taken root in his mind. A set of rough thoughts in form of impulses in his brain. Wow! It surely takes lot of creativity, coupled with conviction to finalise the design of such a fabulous structure which is meant to stay for years and years and withstand the elements of nature. It has to withstand the fierce heat of Sun, the coldest winter days, the winds, rains, thunder and also the sea in all its varied moods, sometimes lapping gently on its foundation or raging against it ferociously. Above all this, the bridge will bear the brunt of the main purpose for which it is there in first place, the millions of vehicles which will gleefully zoom across its lanes day in and day out to reach their destinations.

I am sure in all this cacophony, perhaps the one who must have got the most satisfaction for a job well done, must be Mr. Sheshadri Srinivasan. Not forgetting all the thousands of others involved in the creation, like the unskilled labour just there to haul the heavy equipment and tools, the boatman who made thousands of sorties to and fro from the shore to site, the qualified engineers of various hues who must have strived in yellow helmets gazing up at scorching sun or moonlit nights with a smiling full moon on them, like the various chiefs-of-this department and that department who must be yelling orders and directions........the list will be endless. My hats off to these beings who let their small hands in creating this mammoth structure. 

Lastly, I have no words for the politicians who are basking in its glory like its is because of them that BSWL has seen light of day.........