Pick up the newspapers, one of the news items that invariably appears on the the front page will be on climate change. From RK Pachauri to George Bush to G20 Ministers to Lalu Prasad Yadav, all have voiced their opinions on this topic. It is also very much favoured for Group Discussions. But any discussion follows a very similar trail. Climate change - icecaps disappearing - sea level rising - Kyoto protocol and CO2 - Actions needed. Period.
I would like to present a slightly different case on climate change. I am born and brought up in coastal Kerala where the climate throughout the year is constant and decent. Mercury is always between 20 and 35. Job took me to Hyderabad where the temperature varies from 10 to 40 degrees. MBA brings me to Ghaziabad where it varies from 0 to 45. Foreign exchange program has taken me to Paris (Yes, the capital of France.. not the one in Chennai :D ) where the temperature varies from -10 to 25.
Probably because of the fact that I am brought up in Moderate climate but have to survive in Extreme Climate places there are multiple issues that ensue. The troubles include running nose, fever, allergy, cough etc etc. There is no world body to discuss and provide relief for these issues.
The worst of problems that I have been facing has been throat ulcers when winter starts. As Diwali and Dusshera generally coincide with the onset of winter I generally end up in bed during these festivals. The difficulties during throat attack are multiple. The first is that one has to survive on juices and salines as one cant swallow. Expressing ideas is not possible through sounds, one has to use actions to communicate. No wonder my body language has improved over the last few years. This essentially means that I dont make or pick up calls during the attack time.
This time round I had to face another hurdle. Till last time when I used to tell that I had throat ache I used to get sympathy and a lot of attention. This time the scene was different. As throat ache is a symptom of swine flu the moment I told that I had throat ache, people started isolating me. I was looked upon like a small pox vector. Barring a few well informed friends who did not know the symptoms of swine flu, I was deserted in the entire college. Shit happens in life.
Generally the ulcers stay for 3 to 4 days. This time round it troubled for longer. The doc tried a round of B-complex and then lactic acid capsules. For the bacteria they were like RP Singh deliveries - naive and innocuous. The doc finally had to resort to painkillers and stroooooong antibiotics to get me back to normal.
All because of climate change. Happy that the next change will be only in Feb/March!!
Monday, September 28, 2009
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Sir, gaadi gaayab!!
Sleep is most treasured during the exam season and there is nothing more satisfying than the sleep after a "night out" exam. During the latest season, after giving one of the toughest papers - Strategic Corporate Finance, I decided to take a nap even though it meant missing lunch. But I was soon to be disturbed with a call from Amitabho and all that he told was "Maninder kaa gaadi missing, come to the car parking". Realizing the urgency from his tone I ran to the parking. On the way I met Sony who was going to meet Mr M Singh, the college warden, to lodge a complaint. I went along and the first statement that Sony made was "Sir, gaadi gaayab". We asked the warden whether we can go ahead and file an FIR for which the reply was "Wait for an hour, I ll finish my lunch and come. We ll then decide". Me and Sony went back to the car parking where the preliminary search operations had been completed by - The Detectives-Pachan and Kajal, the local Bharat, the loser Maninder, her friend Hims and a very tensed Amithabho. While collecting the facts of the case I realized that Mani still had the car's key and the token needed to take the car out. There was also this revelation that the car was last spotted a week before and that it was last used by myself and Amitabho. I understood the imports of Amithabhos tension.
Sony meanwhile was using all his contacts to know the procedures to be followed in lodging the complaint. He was trying to get in touch with Mr R Singh, baap of Mr M Singh, to apprise him of the situation.
Probably we have been cramming a lot the last week or we have been watching a lot of movies in the last year there were some innovative and hilarious ideas that came up. The first was from Amitabho. He found out that there was another car in the campus that could be opened and started with Mani's keys which was clear indication that the owner of that car is behind the missing Mani's vehicle. Even the great Sherlock Holmes would have been proud of Amitabho.
Mani's best friend Hims was trying hard to console Mani. "Mani, last trimester I went to Case Cafe on Shruti's scooty and while returning I unknowingly tried to start an Activa instead of the scooty , and u know what the key actually went in". Losing the car would have felt lighter in front of this torture. Hims did not stop there. "Let's go and have lunch. The car would be here before snacks" was her next statement. I could not take it any more. I left the scene.
After half an hour we all assembled at the same place. This time Mani was ready with all the docs needed to file FIR. Not that she had many - the car neither had insurance nor any tax token. Luckily she had the Registration Certificate and the original keys with which it is meant to be opened and started. By this time Mani's boy friend had come and the gathering was bigger than what it was half an hour back. Vishal was still talking with the college security, Mr R Singh and the dean to get a go ahead.
"Y dont mani and boyfriend go to ccd or barista, chill in the ac and chitchat till such time tht the plan of action is clear" was another suggestion for Mani from the group. Wow, someone has seen "Love In the Time Of Cholera.
Mani, the frail girl she is, by that time was looking pathetic. I was thinking either we will get the car or will have to get an ambulance.
We were advised to wait for an hour before going to the police. I came back to my room and rested. An hour later I was going out of the lobby wen I found a smiling Mani standing in front. She said the car was back. Someone else had plans of going out with his friends car, for which he had the keys but did not know the number. He tried the keys on cars of similar make and Mani's car was the first to respond.
It was a very happy ending. Beaming most was Hims for her accurate prediction tht the car will be back before snacks.
Sony meanwhile was using all his contacts to know the procedures to be followed in lodging the complaint. He was trying to get in touch with Mr R Singh, baap of Mr M Singh, to apprise him of the situation.
Probably we have been cramming a lot the last week or we have been watching a lot of movies in the last year there were some innovative and hilarious ideas that came up. The first was from Amitabho. He found out that there was another car in the campus that could be opened and started with Mani's keys which was clear indication that the owner of that car is behind the missing Mani's vehicle. Even the great Sherlock Holmes would have been proud of Amitabho.
Mani's best friend Hims was trying hard to console Mani. "Mani, last trimester I went to Case Cafe on Shruti's scooty and while returning I unknowingly tried to start an Activa instead of the scooty , and u know what the key actually went in". Losing the car would have felt lighter in front of this torture. Hims did not stop there. "Let's go and have lunch. The car would be here before snacks" was her next statement. I could not take it any more. I left the scene.
After half an hour we all assembled at the same place. This time Mani was ready with all the docs needed to file FIR. Not that she had many - the car neither had insurance nor any tax token. Luckily she had the Registration Certificate and the original keys with which it is meant to be opened and started. By this time Mani's boy friend had come and the gathering was bigger than what it was half an hour back. Vishal was still talking with the college security, Mr R Singh and the dean to get a go ahead.
"Y dont mani and boyfriend go to ccd or barista, chill in the ac and chitchat till such time tht the plan of action is clear" was another suggestion for Mani from the group. Wow, someone has seen "Love In the Time Of Cholera.
Mani, the frail girl she is, by that time was looking pathetic. I was thinking either we will get the car or will have to get an ambulance.
We were advised to wait for an hour before going to the police. I came back to my room and rested. An hour later I was going out of the lobby wen I found a smiling Mani standing in front. She said the car was back. Someone else had plans of going out with his friends car, for which he had the keys but did not know the number. He tried the keys on cars of similar make and Mani's car was the first to respond.
It was a very happy ending. Beaming most was Hims for her accurate prediction tht the car will be back before snacks.
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