Tatkal booking in IRCTC - Benefit for the public and we also have some responsibility

Yesterday I read the news about Indian Railways income through TATKAL scheme, where tickets can be booked online 5 days before the journey. The revenue has reached upto Rs. 300 crores all over the country. Under this scheme, few trains have some reserved tickets quota which gets released on 5 days prior to the journey date and it can be booked by paying some additional cost ( Rs. 150 to Rs. 300) over the ticket charges.
Personally we have been benefitted by this scheme many a times and thankful to IRCTC online booking which can be done from home. It is an excellent scheme which reduces the burden and sometimes we can plan travel in a short time. Being away from the family in Delhi it is always a security which IRCTC has provided to us. Whenever we have some waitlisted ticket then we check the status 5 days prior to the journey and if not confirmed then book the same in Tatkal quota.
But we should understand the other side picture also and if we have some tickets booked in advance then all the unwanted tickets should get cancelled 5 days prior to the journey date so all the wait listed passengers should know the actual status on time and can book the tickets accordingly in TATKAL quota. If we cancel the ticket later then it will have no benefit to the waitlisted passenger as they book it through TATKAL quota.
Personally I experienced it twice that I booked the tickets in Tatkal quota and later my waitlisted ticket also got confirmed. It was frustrating but can't help. Although this is not the only reason as IRCTC also release quota of some tickets once all the Tatkal booking is completed till the end date and sometimes it gets confirmed while preparing the chart.
But all said and done, Tatkal is a good attempt from Indian railways and we should reap all the benefits of this. As a citizen we all can understand our responsibility and cancel all the unwanted tickets 5 days prior to the journey date :-)

P Chidambaram's view on Pak's procrastination views

So finally P Chidambaram has the same view as me and Tanay are discussing since many days. It is approx. 2 months now since Pakistan is denying on the proofs and taking it as mere information. It is not only saddening but frustrating also for the Indian Govt and other people having the same view.

Our neighbouring country is smart enough to avoid all the pressures and keep everyone in utter confusion. No proof is sufficient unless there is a willingness of action. After Kandhar hijack issue, it is clear that Maulana Masood Azhar is staying in Pakistan and enjoying his freedom. There is no proof needed in that case but nothing has happened and safe shelter is provided by ISI and Pak official. Many a times in the news this issue was discussed but all in vein. What's the use and what are we scared off. The only problem is that we are a peaceloving country and Pak is taking all the benefits of that. I am very happy to see PC's view of snaping all the ties, be it business, tourism, art or music or any other emotional ties of people. All should be cut off unless Islamabad takes a firm action on the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. Not only India but all the countries having same opinion on terror attack should not entertain any Pak national in their country. This will pressurise Pak Govt through its own people to take action at the earliest. As of now there is no deadline assigned for the action by the Indian Govt. but I hope this will help to take the issue one step ahead.

Our vacation in Kodaikanal - December 20-24, 2008

Some memories of Kodaikanal. Although not as pictureseque as Munnar but we had great fun near Kodai Lake. I cycled after 20 years and really had great fun. Manas and ajay had horse riding, cycling and boating. Here are some pics too

Congratulation Manas

I am so happy to share this with my friends that Manas has won his first inter-school competition ever. He participated in English Elocution organised in Christ College on Sunday. 30 schools and to name some are Christ Academy, Carmel Convent, Janak Vidyalaya, Christ School, Aradhana public school etc particitpated in the competition. Manas have enrolled on Friday for the competition and the topic was 'Global Economic Crises'. He had to speak for 4 minutes and 1 minute was question-answer session.
My first reaction was 'Why at the last moment you got enrolled' as we have very less time to prepare and from Thursday(12th Dec) is his mid-year examination. I actually scolded him and finally thought of taking some material from the internet. Thankfully Tanay took the responsibility. He started working on the material on Saturday morning and by 2 o'clock he printed out 3 pages for Manas to prepare the topic. Father and son sat whole afternoon together to understand the topic as it was important for answering the question after the speech. Manas found the topic really hard and obviously many adults are failed to understand the depth. How can we expect the same from a 13 years old child who has not even studied Economics till today. Anyways they both worked whole afternoon and finally at 7 o'clock Manas cried and confessed 'Mumma, I can't understand this. Please tell me what to do?' We left him alone at home and went out for coffee. During coffee session we decided to suggest him to withdraw his name. After coming back home, Tanay again sat with him and tried his best to convince and withdraw his name from the competition. But Manas is very adament by nature. He didn't agree for the same and sat again with the pages they both have prepared together. I was actually happy to see his determination. Around 9 o'clock he came to us with all the pages mugged up. Surprisingly he did well and we all slept with some hopes.
Next morning, I tried to wake Manas at 5:30am but all in vein. He got ready by 8:10 and we rushed to the school. The bus was almost ready to move towards Christ College. Around 11:30am he called to inform that he won the first prize in his elocution and then at 2:00pm he again called to inform that he and his team won the 3rd prize in skit also which was led by Manas. The day went well and Tanay's help in preparation was also commendable. Congratulations to both of them. I am attaching the article which Manas spoke about in the elocution.

YOGA classes

Since last 2 months I am attending Yoga class thrice a week. My main objective at that point was to loose some weight. But amazingly I have not lost a single kg even after being so regular in my classes :(
Yoga has so many other benefits which generally go unnoticed but everybody should do some exercise in any form - Aerobics, Playing outdoor games, Yoga, swimming etc.
I have found many changes like Inch loss, good and positive mood, active in my house chores, less body pain, sound sleep, clear skin and active mind etc.
Pranayam is an essential part of Yoga specially for us who are in late thirties, as it gives mind relaxation. Most of the times we are overstressed. I hope I will continue Yoga in future also......

Movies in last few days

Ah....finally I am coming out of those emotions which I experienced while Mumbai attacks. I was feeling completely trapped during those 70 hours. Did not switched my TV off for at least 18 hours a day and watched only news - specially TIMES NOW, Zee news, CNN and BBC.

I watch three movies last week - EMI. Yuvvraaj and Dasvidaniya.
EMI is a story of 4 people who took loan and later unable to pay and how the things rolled out and finally settled. Nice time pass movie with a sensible message. Sanjay Dutt is looking quite aged and Urmila is gorgeous as always. Overall a watchable movie.

Yuvvraaj - Can't even understand how to define. Movie has nothing to admire. A family drama with pathetic story. Not recommended at all. Only music is good and that too just one song 'tu hi to meri dost hai'...

Davidaniya - My friend has recommended this movie on Sunday and I could not resist myself - so watched on Monday. It is a good movie. Vinay pathak is superb. The message is really sweet which says - that we should take out time for our dreams to realise. All the time we understand and complete our duties and forget small joys which can make us worthy living. Overall must watch but with patience as the flow of the movie is slow.

Life is moving ahead

Even the moon smiled and said "Here is the new day to smile with me." Are we ready to smile or smile is so grin that moon could not recognise it.

Everytime I watch news my heart is filled with different feelings. Yesterday night I watched NDTV and some celebrities with Barkha Dutt - Simi Garewal, Kunal Kohli and some more - everybody seems to be awakened as the tragedy happened in a 7* hotel. They all could feel it very near. They all are realising that danger can be on them as well. Where were all of them when these blasts were happening on the roads or in trains or central parks or markets. They were not heard or they were so meak and nobody could see or feel that. Who are we blaming - the politicians. I feel like smiling like yesterday's moon. Congress speaker is commenting " Ye do chaar log tie pahankar or lipstick lagaakar aa jaate hai aur kahte hai ye janta ki awaaz hai( These few people comes with make-up and tie-coat and comment as it is public voice) all is fake. For me it is hard to decide what is fake - these celebrities or the politician. But question remains the same. How general public can voice their opinion. We want to vote to the right person but where is that 'right person'. They are all playing dirty politics. Who is right 1. BJP - who blamed Hemant Karkare about his investigation 2. Congress - Who doesn't listen criticism even after this kind of attacks and comment upon reporters who are reporting the incidents tirelessly 3. UPA - Who is abusing soldier's father if he is not in the state of meeting a CM to take his fake condolences. We are so helpless and confused. Should we vote - the obvious answer is "YES" but whom should we vote - where is the obvious answer.....I'm searching for that....