Life,Genetics and Death

One fine gentleman named Gregor Mendel discovered the wonderful world of genetics which threw open a wide world of possibilities for us.When i studied genetics for the first time it seemed to be so exciting that I decided I'll be in someway or the other will always be associated with biology.I took up as an subject of interest but a few days earlier I realised how practical genetics is in daily life.We fail to notice it but its there.What I might write may be completely unrelated to what I am writing but it doesn't matter.

A few days back my grandfather expired.He was a man of few words always in his own world.He seemed so much detach from the real world.He had no materialistic possessions to speak of except for a 1950 tissot gifted to him by his dad on becoming a doctor. His children had grown up married of or doing pretty well.My mom was the youngest and the most adored child of her dad. As a result among all my cousins I also was the most adored grandchild. He wanted me to become a doctor which I didn't become and when I told him I haven't cracked any med school he wasn't perturbed a bit.When I told him I am doing my M.Sc he made me see reason in going for an PHD.

Now that he has left this planet I have realized how important his role was in shaping me as a person. I have inherited his sense of aloofness to an extent. I remember making fun of him at times and he never cared. I have inherited that .I have inherited many traits like being always positive no matter how tough it becomes, his self-deprecating humor and I don't know how many other traits .He had grown old so he had to go someday or the other but now that he has left I have realsied that he will never leave atleast for me. Thanks 'dadu' for whatever you have done for me.I won't ever forget you giving me money in the evenings to eat 'fuchka' ,buying me 'aam-shotto' or just telling me what I should do.

All my grandparents Have shaped my personality, except for my maternal grandma all have left. What saddens me more is they never got to see the product of their self-less efforts. Death is such a big full-stop that no one can erase it.

BYE BUYE Chetak

Bajaj motors recently announced that they are stopping all production of scooters.The news was expected but I don't know why I felt bad.My dad had a scooter which was named Priya but was produced in a factory owned by Bajaj.I remember the yellow scooter when my dad got it in 1990.I was so excited and always asked my dad to stand in the front when he was riding.Going out to visit other people safely tucked in between my dad and mom.It was such a thrill standing in the front feeling the wind hit my face .wow man...I remember my dad getting all the groceries of the month loaded on to his scooter.

I got my first driving lessons on that scooter.I still remember the thrill I had riding.When I drove that scooter I felt I am a man now graduated from the cycle to scooter but my dad never let me take it outside our lane because I was underage.It caused a lot of resentment in me at that time but I am glad my dad didn't buckle down because some rules should be enforced.When my dad disposed off the scooter I was sad I didn't want it to be disposed.I wanted it to be snazzily painted with chrome linings to preserve it basically but the problem in staying in delhi is space.We didn't have the space to keep it.

Some days back the news of bajaj came in and and I went through those good'ol days when scooters were symbols of fledgling middle class prosperity.

Letters Letters wheres are you????

About even 10 years ago I used to see my dad buying huge bunches of Greeting cards around the new Year time and make regular trips to post-office to get postage stamps,inland letters and postcards.Even I used to wait for the greeting cards from my cousins and friends.I used to even write letters to my cousins ,to my grandfather and even to some old friends.I remember how eagerly I used to wit for my granpa's letters because he had this wonderful handwriting which resembled calligraphy while my writing was kind of industrious no reflecting lack of artlessness.The last time I guess I wrote a letter was in 2004 to my friend who was in NDA because mobile phones were not allowed.But after that no letters.
The greetings,the letters remind me of a different era altogether.No sms's ,no emails,even STD calls were few and far in-between.Till the mid 90's STD calls were rare because either you had topay exorbitant rates for those calls at the PCO's or you had to book calls on you telephone only to be charged without having a meaningful conversation.I remember there were contests on TV which asked people to send in the post cards with the correct answers and after 2-3 weeks afe=ter the contest opened we used to wait with bated breath in front of the TV just to see if we had won.Now these postcards have been replaced by SMS's.
I miss those days because letters played a very big role in shaping the way I write,improving my language skills.My Grandpa used to write such beautiful letters and the letters inadvertently contained interesting snippets from his life.He had such wonderful command over the language I doubt I can ever achieve that level.SMS's have reduced the writing skills to pathetic levels.It's now even reflected in the e-mails.
Sadly there are only a few greetings and letters which I have preserved and I feel sorry that I didn't preserve all of them.I never anticipated what once was a way of life would become a thing of the past so soon.

HOCKEY!!!!!!!!!!!!Is it back???????

I am actually very much enthused by all the buzz that the Hockey world cup has managed to create this time round in our country.The India-Pakistan match was an cracker of an contest(The subsequent beating was an aberration I hope).Frankly speaking I have been to a few football matches at the ambedkar stadium and few hockey matches in the National stadium.Sadly whenever I have gone its because I got the tickets for free but never paid for it.So today I ask myself why are the crowds missing from these two games which are literally more popular than cricket throughout the world(I also believe Cricket can never match upto the popularity of these two games,Just look at the dismal crowds turning up for test matches at most of the places).
I have zeroed in on 2 probable reasons for the decline of these two sports in our country.
Firstly both Hockey and Football require much more discipline and stamina than cricket.Yes that is a fact no-one should refute and I also agree that modern day cricket is much more competitive but still the kind of energy and endurance required for a game of football or hockey is unmatched.Also Indians are usually bad in physical games as most Indian parents would like their kids to play something gentler as football or hockey players are more prone to injuries/(A case in point my dad broke his hand while playing football for the Air force team and after that my grandma forbid him to play football at all).

Secondly Hockey performance start going down at the time the T.V made a foray into the homes.India won the cricket world cup while the hockey team started their spiral downwards.Our new national sport was Cricket because we were the underdogs and still we managed to become the world champions.While in hockey we were The ginats and we performed like the underdogs.Underdogs have a special charm which a giant can never have.