Indra Vihar-House no 297 Chapter 1 : Etiquette

The coterie of friends in the house only increased every weekend. House no 297-Indra Vihar, North Campus, Delhi University was a haven (can be read as heaven) for a many motley lot of Assamese boys that immigrated to Delhi for their 'higher' education. My first visit to the house was a pretense and also my initiation into the lives of many people who would go down the memory lane as great friends. Sajid, a friend, occupied the first room with another great guy- Som Pal. Bipin Gogoi occupied the room in the middle and Pemba occupied the the innermost room (I would like to refer to this room as the most interesting room and also the common room for all guys who visited with their girl-friends). The house would confirm itself to all expectations of the typical bachelor suite. The first time I entered, I was greeted by an intolerable stench from the bathroom. On a more intrusive inspection and query I learnt that Bipin had left some of his clothes in a bucket to be washed for a week.
"So?" I quizzed.
"No, he has left it to be washed and the maid who washes our clothes has quit," Sajid informed me.
"And we perhaps forgot to tell him about it," Sajid continued seeing the "So?" look on my face yet again.
"Perhaps!" I shuddered. The stench and the nonchalance with which, Sajid told me the reason mixed into a terrible cocktail in my head.
"How can Bipin be so callous about his clothes and how can these guys roll around on their beds without winching their nose in the stench which was only getting stronger," I thought to myself.
I restrained myself from probing further thinking it would be uncouth to do so.
Etiquette is a funny learning imbibed into us through our upbringing. While we swear by it when we age and climb into the more sophisticated layers of society, it certainly is a deterrent to friendship during your college years. This exactly was my case then, as I watched Sajid roll into the corner of the bed letting out a yawn. Cropped hair, Oval face, average height, charming smile (the kind which will allow you to be comfortable) Sajid is someone I knew through my earlier set of roomies- Allan Saugat and Asif.
At this moment, clad only in undies, Sajid was not the attractive self as described. I thought it was blasphemous to sleep in your undies alone. And here I am, seated next to someone who with his complete nonchalance to my thoughts was puncturing my paradigms of etiquette.
"Are you comfortable?" Sajid quizzes me, wondering where was I lost.
"Yeah, am fine," I replied snapping out of my philosophical reverie.

(So folks that is it for today. Next: "Bipin Gogoi"

Lonely Road

Today is a Monday. Yeah, correct and I have the proverbial "Monday Blues". I aimlessly was flirting with my mails, chatted up with friends and now finally am taping the board, wondering where will this lead me to. To my right Venkat is listening to "The Clash"-" a punk rock band from the "60's and the 70's". Before you marvel over my knowledge of this music, I guess I should set the record straight- I am not the real music buff, it's Venkat! Yeah, he is really into classic rock and I thank him for introducing me to new bands like the "Wolfmother" and (wait I can't even remeber the name of the others he had mentioned). Venkat hails from MICA- (Mudra Institute of Communication Ahmedabad- abrreviation for people like me who keep thinking the 'A' stands for Advertising). So he is the MICAn in our office and like many creatures from this 'land' he brings in, what I proverbially like to term as 'stoic bloc of knowledge.' Why 'Stoic?' Well, simply because they (these creatures), know a lot of what they ought to know. Pardon my 'foreplay' with the words but that is something that best explains people from MICA. Before I begin to dissect them I think I should get back to Venkat. (Pardon me pal, but I just thought to write about you in this entry. All cynical and 'not so called for statements' can be attributed to creative liberties and sensibilities)
Venkat looks after the web business of Music Today. His story for joining MT- "Online Marketing" and "NBD" (Well if you could peek into my mind and imagination right now , you can see me rolling in laughter. The reason would be 'politically incorrect' for me to state.) Now then, ofcourse I do not want to describe his job here. I would stick to describing him. Physically- 'hmmm,' he is like 6'5" (What???) Yes, thats him tall and lanky (I refrain from the word 'skinny', since it can hurt sensibilities ;)) He is quiet an enthusiastic guy with a jest for theatre and other related artistic activities, which allow my wavelengths to gel with his. Infact, he is also performing the role of the 'Madman" in "Accidental death of an Anarchist".
There is something about some people which make them interesting. Qualities like knowledge and good communication skills allows an involved audience and Venkat always has us all ears. So this is about his communication and before I forget, Venkat has also introduced to me good ol' Rajnikant and ofcourse he innumerable antics and stories of this actor. I was supposed to watch 'Sivaji' with Venkat as a translator but I missed it. ( Yeah!!!)
Does the above entry make you feel that I have held back in my dissection. Well, yes somewhere down the line writers like me, (hope there are not many) censor their emotions so that the reader is not offended. Talk about being politically right. Yes, that's what we need to be always-politically upright! My Bosses are. They are so right that I wonder if they can ever bend.
Sometime back I had composed a verse titled "Corporate Knightmare". I am attaching the verse below. It's always a solace for my heart to read it. And that's how I sign off for now... and "oh! Venkat- hey sorry dude, like you see/read- You were an excuse for me to arrive to this emotion. I used you as a filter to arrive to this. But the excuse for all this is as always- "creative sensibility"!!!

In the days of corporate knights,
No round tables but Claustrophobic cubicles.
The monotonous humdrum of air-conditioners
Cool us, the perpetual sinners,
Some arses are licked,
Some arses are kicked,
When the young ones whine and grind,
The elders take the shine.
Some wait for a bone to be thrown,
Some snatch the achievments alone.
When the lady flips or slips,
Knights with hankys arrive to rip.
Growth is a mundane term.
Manipulation is the norm.
"Look there is a rainbow outside"
A fresh look and its a screen saver's light
Yet I slogwork like a dog,
At the end of the day,I know I am away from all that lot;
Happy in my plateau(no promotoin you see)!
I still say on face that my elder is an empty top!
I lay the rules,
Questioned by fools,
Accepted by the top shots,
As my elder's thoughts.
I still do not care,
My wit and thoughts will have its share.
I am no Iago,
Neither am I willing to be Othello.
I rather be the king
Of my own ring
And when they shall know the truth
I will be the man with the boots.
No hurry to reach the summit
I will be there without skipping my heart beat.
"You'll not be in the race," some say.
I will not follow the pied piper into the bay!
His music might not lure me,
Its my grail that I only see.
If you follow the words above
there will be no miracle, no olive leaves, no dove.
But an oar you will see,
And in an island of your own, you shall be!
Binodan (23rd Nov)

Fierce Grace

Aha This is something that Priyanka Nandy aka Tania had asked me to write about sometime back and I kept denying myself the pleasure and the orgasm of composing lines for such a lovely oxymoron. But just as things would be and with no definite explanation of why I want to write about the same, on a continuous note of my stream of thought the composition begins:

The darkest hour of the night,
Streamed by the distant moonlight.

My overladen heart,
Pierced by the most insignificant dart.

The calmest breeze across the ocean,
Unfurl my deepest blue emotions.

And yet I ask why
The mind laments ?
No dewdrops of solace,
But a gripping tale of fear and disgrace.

A history of inconsequential events,
Trace my being and presence.
No thought precedes the other,
Every speck of emotions takes the mind further.

Did He hear what I have to say?
Or Is it just a picture to whom I pray?
Across the window there is a room,
I can see the gay spirits and hear the tune
Not the one of the lady blowing into the flute
The lonely tune,
My mind is mute.

Galloping from far away,
A sound pierces the dreary night
The silhouette of a wild horse,
Now rise above the sky.
The streams of the dawning sun,
Break my solitude bare.
The wilderness of her flying mane,
Caress my dying shame.

In her pursuit I start yet again amazed,
haunted,
By her Fierce Grace.

Cheers!!!

Theatre Ahoy!!

"Now that is quick," I can actually feel that you are saying this considering that this post is immediately after my yesterday's. Yes, that I am not the active kind in blogging, this will be indeed regarded as quick. However, we all have spurts of emotions and this present log is associated with the most inherent passion of mine-Theatre.

Oh yes, theatre! (and thanks to some pesky and noisy friends like Venkat and Sameer, I was stuck on the latter phrase for two mins and thought to drag you-my esteemed readers into the same emotion of the 'pause' and 'wait'. Cedric Watts terms this as a delayed decoding process) Aha I will return and begin after the smoke ( I really dont know how to decode this in the blog) ................................................................................................................

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I intentionally have left a trail of dots to signify the hour-long smoke cum lunch break that I took on behest of Sameer. "Mighty irritating." Is that what you are thinking? Well you should not because if I were you, I would be wondering why am I not talking about thetare as the title suggests.

Yes ,Theatre. I have been always into it and though for very long the calling has been keeping off, destiny was not far away. I heard the 'calling' again when Kanika invited Venkat and me to be a part of a theatre group, she was in the process of establishing. Disowning all the personal and physical (sin of sloth) hurdles I did manage to attend the first meeting one Saturday, at a Cafe Coffeday, in Janpath. While I was driving myself to the rendezvous, I kept thinking to myself whether I am actually ready for this. On a very sublime level I knew that theatre is very interesting and will shape my creative curiosities into something concrete. But deep down I was being nagged by the fact that might govern so many of us when we try to place ourselves into a situation of responsibility-"Will I be responsible enough". Many traffic lights later, as I manouevered and parked my Discover into the parking lot, I was telling myself-"No wishy washy promises, Binodan. If it's theatre then you better be in it"

Kanika, Venkat and I met, we discussed and we proposed( as in ideas!!!! duh) and after some points I suddenly realised that 'it' was happening. Though I did not exactly dig the script but I was for it. Very soon by the next meeting I realised that more people were wanting to be involved in it and that was really a good sign. But the acid test was to observe sustenance. And the test began from the very next meeting. (By now we had already decided to do a a ready script and since we were focussing on subversive theatre the obvious choice that I had was "Dario Fo's" "Accidental Death of an Anarchist"). In this third meeting I saw new faces and a few old ones. People spoke of problems with time,venue and commitment. Sigh! The ghost of Khalsa was revisiting me. Yes, we faced the same problems in Ankur-the dram soc of Khalsa. This time, however, I was determined and perhaps in the face of this theatre group I was fighting my own battle of incosistencies. So when we met last Sunday in Lodi gardens for our first reading, even though the presence was less- (only six of us) I went ahead with the reading without losing hope. I can sense it-I have entwined myself to this fatal attraction of the stage with vociferous sentiments, and I plan to stick to it for long.



The extra space above is deliberate again. I guess the whole entry was getting emotional.
This is what I love the most of creative sensibilities- the crescendo, the pitch, the thrill which gives you goosebumps and a chill through your spine. Aha from my ship I can indeed see the stage- " Theatre Ahoy!!!"

30th May

I know it has been long and like stated earlier-Yes I have been too lazy and preoccupied to punch into my blog. I even broke the promise to myself that I will be regular but what the heck. Here I am again and I begin off with a little 'long' ago memory of my birthday. Oh yes 30th May was my birthday. "How old" did you ask. Well, I have walked 26years on this earth. (25 to be more precise considering that one year I was cradled in arms). Oh yes, there were celebrations and thanks to Orkut, there were wishes from all quarters. Birthdays allow one to feel ery special and I guess mine was no exception. Be at home or at office all stood by my side, sang for me and also polished cake on my face. (Some pics below will certify that). I always get a little philo about birthdays and celebrations but being human I enjoy it tremendously. The evening was with Simmi and it could only get better. Now, when I come to think of it everyone who made me feel special shared the emotion that "Yes Binodan we care and we want a party", Cheeky, yes, and yes many parties are due but like I always say... Parties happen always and so it will for all the well wishers!!!!

A highlight of the Orkut wishes was a thank you note that I very egotistically take pride of of showcasing hoping that the poetic skills are appreciated. I have laced it along with this post and reiterate my thanks to all!



"Thanks



So that was my day,Some butts and many hugs to say.

Thank you Simmi for being the first to begin my day

Abhishek the beers are for you still there

Purbasha, my lovely sis you indeed scrapped before anyone dares

And from Dubai, Abhi you also made me special all the way

Leena thank you in the proverbial way

So also to Riaz in the Australian bayMadhushruti

Ofcourse the party is due

Pallavi friends like you are few

Ratnadip you are indeed of the langotiya yaars and years (pun intended)

Rahul Mathur- of the best NIILM dosts and yaars

Roshni- a double whammy my sis, message and scrap and the 10p call

Arushi, Meha might have missed it but not you-the real friend of them all

Priyanku-missed the 26 pegs but loved your skull

Sudarshana from JNU-you make the wishes and chat more fun

Pratik wished me the bottles of beers,to you I say I say cheers!

Anmol I am fine and loved your thoughts dearLata- For your feelings-Thanks you

Bubbly ba wished me from Bangalore, with a "dog named Boo" [;)]

Sharmee-My black velvet lady-Special wishes 4rm u

Barnalee bou, will celebrate with you all tonight, Apu you can also be a part of the Assamese cuisines delight!

Kartik-Your guitar and smile rocks my scrap book

Akshat-your wishes aerodynamic made my day fly off all hooks

Nadeem You remembered, a long wish-

Thank youMerlvin my mate . my sherrif and 'the voice'-

Your energies were with me day and night

Isha- a lovely message a lovely scrap and ofcourse my digital designs dear

Jasmine- A wish from you and tweety was more than just mere

Allan- Big wishes from the big man, you are a sonuvagun

Gunjit-main kaha ji thank you ha jee,

Kameene mera B'day mein last wish kiya ha jee

Pooja- legal wish from the legal eagle

Mitasha-grace defined, Patiala Peg thanks the Red wine

And lastly Bijal you are not late

Your wishes were always in my plate

Swati a day late but your wishes count a lot, mate!

So thats it, I think I have not given anyone a miss

And so I thank you all and promise you that I treasure you all!!"