Thoughts in general

I am going to specifically direct this blog post to Narendra Modi & Amit Shah.  Being a huge fan of both, I would like to point out a sense of disillusionment creeping in in the Aam janta.  There are various perceptions amongst people, some true and some untrue.  Let me highlight a few of those: Narendra Modi is only moving in foreign lands, giving speeches to NRIs and ignoring the Indians in India Narendra Modi is saying that we have achieved almost zero corruption in government offices, that things in India are already awesome in the first 18 months etc Congress is going to town saying that this government is more for corporates than for the Aam Aadmi and I know of many BJP supporters who are actually believing it Narendra Modi promised to bring back black money but I don't see any results on the ground Frustration amongst BJP supporters that opposition propaganda is not being countered effectively No people have gone to jail for corruption which was the ma...

I was 16 yrs of age, having just graduated from 12th, when I first visited the US. Memory is fuzzy about the events more than 20 years back. However, re-living past memories is sometimes fun and this is the primary reason for starting this multi-part series of my experiences in the US. Let me set up some of the events that happened prior to the start of the long trip to the US from India. I underwent hernia operation, got my 12th results and went through a visa interview.  Between advices given by well wishers about what to expect and what to do in the US, I was a confused lot. I am shy by nature (or at least I was at the time) and hence, a bit apprehensive about how I would be received by my relatives there.  I supposedly had met briefly in India, but didn't recollect much. Having studied in Porbandar and having gone through my school primarily talking in Hindi, I was a little embarrassed by my command over English.  In hindsight, I think my doubts over my command o...

Sometime on May 23rd, I received a call from Priti bhabhi regarding a get together for Mama and Mami on June 7th.  It was sudden but I was super excited to go.  It would be after a long time that I would be able to meet so many family members.  Kashyap was going to come from Pune and this was the 1st time in a while where we didn't have our families with us.  It felt like old days where we could hand out a little. I reached couple of days early on Friday.  As is always the case, Bharati mami had made all my favorite things - Rotli, bateta nu rasa vaadu shaak, cut mango etc.  I am always amazed as to how she always remembers all that I like.  I never have to ask...anything I desire is always there. I sat with Kanu mama for a while that day discussing politics, finance, environment & whole gamut of issues.  When I was young, I used to write postcards to Mama. It was partly to improve my English writing. I used to get the postcards back in...