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Nov 27, '08



I love Bombay over the years and at the same time I envy Bombay( I like it that way than Mumbai).
But what happened today was beyond words……I’m still trying..
I being a Delhi-ite I always wanted to compete with Bombay but today I want to be as close as I can to Mumbai (Yes I don’t mind as long as I close and closer)
I’m watching all those on TV now and I don’t like it.
For me Bombay was a place where I can get into taxi with someone from Allahabad and then get into a bar run by a Shetty from South or north western coastal Karnataka to being served great dinner by a Keralite. While in Colaba , I always had a great company of friends wanting to go to HaziAli before its too late. After Hazi Ali….its great to walk on the band stand and pick up your last drink packs from pinky wines..,
Then go to the sea front and pay few left fishermen families to cook you an authentic dinner which does not include anything more than a fish curry, a dry veg thingy and rice.

Where that Bombay which imbibed and accepted whatcame along.
I would love to announce Bombay as National Heritage if not UN Heritage ( I’m not waiting for it)

And can we have a proper home security plan and force in place….as I hear now we’ve some terrorists( I hate to type this word) in Taj Hotel. How are you going to flush them out?
Police is waiting for them for an hour now…pathetic…
I like Israel someway….I like Mosad..whom we trained in some aspects but…

So who all can say its my Mumbai……Aamchi Mumbai..its for all of us
Its my Bombay….long live Bombay with all its diversities.
That’s the way Bombay is Bombay..

So next time I’m in Mumbai….Bombay duck on me ( BTW I’m Vegiiee)









Oct 19, '08




Hello Good Morning.

What does it tell you? Not much huh?
But it all started with my first trip to Goa in 1995 ( it seems like 1995, it better be). We (me and bunch of eyes wide opened 18 something Uni boys) arrive at Margaon ( I prefer Mudgaon) and I jump out of the bus which took whole night to arrive in Goa, to the nearest sales stall to buy some …well something to eat ( we all skipped dinner last night to get to GOA) so I jumped down the bus to the shop, and I heard some one saying ‘ Hello Brother good morning how can I help you”? It was the first time someone called me as brother that too in perfect English…I loved it.

CUT to London: Hyde park my first day…and since it was next to my apartment, I went there for morning jog…the moment I entered. okay give it 20secs..I got a ‘good morning’ which was socking for me….noone wished me in my neighborhood back in India.
I also thought that this guy is mad….but years down the line and till last week..when I came back from ‘my’ London…I was greeted or acknowledged in Hyde park by many with either ‘good morning’ or ‘Hello’. Just a week before that I was in Australia for deep sea diving and snorkeling on great barrier reef..I was greeted without fail with a hello or a good morning on the beach by all strangers…..
At first I was like ‘Why are they saying Hello or Good morning to me’ ‘are they from press looking for an interview but I was in a secluded part of the world…so it can’t be.

So over time I’ve bumped into many Indians in London, Canada, Australia, US and in India….. I hardly find any Indian saying ‘Hello’ or ‘Good morning’ to anyone leave a fellow Indian ( they don’t even smile or acknowledge another Indian)
WHY?
Are we so ashamed to be an Indian?

So two questions:
1. Why can’t we open up and greet a stranger with a ‘Hello’ or ‘Good Morning’ or a Namaste’
2. While abroad, why can’t an Indian look into another Indian’s eye and say ‘Hello’ or ‘Namaste’?





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Sep 28, '08




Adios all

Yes, I’ve decided to say good bye to Fropper.
You’ll never ask me why, coz it doesn’t matter, thousands go and more come, but there are reasons:
1. I’ve met friends that I wanted and they’ll connect and will be with me.
2. I’ve communicated to few that I never wanted
3. To be ‘someone’ at fropper takes time, everyday, sorry my earning profession does not spare me enough time.
4. My family and my kids needs me first.
5. I find lot of people who are immature and try to be something else. Yes I hate hypocrisy and it is in abundance here. 
6. Sorry I think I was a mis fit here among people with masks....yeah multiple masks....

So all, thanks for the nice time, I loved it and I take with me few friends that are for life time.
I cannot thank you enough fropper.
Cheers
Vinay



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Sep 26, '08



You are a true fropper-ite if you:
1. you do not acknowledge hits,
2. If you stick to your friend circle
3. if you are an expert on forwarding those “my friends asked it’ and ‘if you don’t forward it to next 30’ kinda mails
4. You don’t like scrap postings on ur brothers blogs or zone and u write back asking it to be removed ( need examples? Ask me, I’ve)
5. you can’t take a sexist humor
6. You can’t stand being ignored and you flood my inbox
7. You’ve not still learned how to send a single message about you new photo uploads….yeah all of the 89 photos together.
8. Last but not the least you expect a HIT for a Hit and a message for a story
9. Oh yeah you expect every blog writer to send u a personalized message or a HIT for every comment of yours ( I’ll do it for ya..try me)

Cheers



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Sep 01, '08



I’ve been watching the progress and derailment of the talks around TATA’s Nano plant in Singur, West Bengal with interest over last few weeks.
This has come as a sad and very learning chapter for every investor. This also teaches us what our political framework can do to reduce any entrepreneurial aspirations to ashes.
I’m with Sunil Mittal, Ambani and now hordes of every business man of India who are speaking out.
What happened and is happening at Singrur is SAD.
What went wrong
? Nothing..but political aspirations and chances.
Farmers and land owners were consulted before about the price at which they agreed to sell their land and got their money. Govt of Bengal converts that land into an industrial zone and selling a part of that land to TATA.
Why TATA did went there in first place:
For the unmatchable tax holidays.

What TATA should do?
Move it to existing facility at Pantnagar and roll out Nano as per schedule. Even if this is at a reduced capacity which can be build over a time frame. Look out at Haryana and Rajasthan who are leaders in Automobile manufacturing base and with more than 50% contribution to the combined Automobiles produced India. And with a solid base of suppliers/vendors.
Teach Bengal a lesson, teach India a lesson that not only you but we can kick ur ass too.

What’s in store for Singur:
Nothing if this continues.
No employment and the land cannot be transferred back to the farmers. This has also set a precedence for others and no one would come and invest in this zone. So end sufferers are the poor farmers and their families who have sold their land to forming this industrial hub (in dreams now).
So who gains out of it:
No One..not even the Trinamul Congress and their leader….. they are all are paving their road to doom.
If I was Ratan Tata, I would have started on my plan B and have started executing my plan of rolling out Nano from Uttrakand with a ban of selling Nano in West Bengal. 

Here is the part II:
The latest news says that the plant remained shut for Monday too and TATA has evacuated its employees from Singur. Mamta Devi has now planned to take on the retail industry and large retail chains like Pantaloon, Big Bazar, Spencer etc. This is clearly politically motivated and using just common sense anyone can read between lines to feel ashamed of the way political parties/leaders play with thousands of human lives to fullfill  their personal political aspirations.

* Please ignore the typo errors.


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Aug 24, '08



Yes when I joined I asked the same question to myself and now I’m being asked the same from some of my friends at Fropper.
I had my answer ready before I joined, do you have yours?
I believe in talking true, and I’ve not lied since I was 5, I believe in honesty and integrity. I just wanna say to the young crowd or to young-at-heart crowd, even if you are sleeping around, do it with conviction and with heart.

This is not a full blog but I’ll continue on this later depending on the responses and kind of responses.
(as long as you’re in virtual world, its okay to open up) 


Here is the continuation:
I’ll like to take you all one step back about why and how this question came to my mind.
Once day I got an email inviting me to visit one of my friend’s zone on fropper and out of curiosity I clicked on the link and to view it, I registered. Once in I decided to hang around to know more about fropper. Social networking sites are big no-no on my list hence I was surprised at myself that I stuck around for that day.
And I asked this question what am I doing here and first answer was “Hey it’s a cool place to unwind for 15 minutes just reading blogs and profiles during high pressure situations at work” Its like going for a smoke to relax or disconnect what’s happening around you. It also aroused my interest to know what all this social networking is all about and what is this young generation is upto.
Few days into and I really got sucked into fropper. A busy person like me was spending at least 2 hours of combined time here everyday. This continued even while traveling.
Then I started making friends, chatting to friends (most of the time) and many times to unknown persons online and even posted a blog post ..Gosh!!!!
One weekend I was sitting with my friends in an up market lounge and discussion over the drinks drifted to internet usage patterns in India and I mentioned social networking sites and announced boldly that I’ve joined one called Fropper. There was a huge and loud burst of laughter around me, I was zapped and embarrassed at the same time, did I say something wrong or did I utter any #$%&% words. Every one of my 7 friends were of the opinion that I’m not made for social networking site, coz I’m too straight forward, honest, blunt guy with no free time. According to them, to enjoy a social networking site, one has to be clever, manipulative, camouflaging his identity and personality and out of work with tons of free time 24x7. These sites are for:
1. Young guys and girls who are looking for a short term GF/BF.
2. Young kids looking to kill time in meaningless talks with someone of the opposite sex
3. Someone looking for one night stands (which is growing in number as per the statistics)
4. Someone who is depressed with no one to talk to.
5. Someone who wants to prove to peer group that I’m there too (mostly young kids)

And I do not fall in any of these categories and my friends have given me 3 week before which either I’ll be kicked out for speaking my heart or friends would leave me.

The one day I met someone on fropper in the chat room, she was much younger than me and was mostly talking non sense like my height, body type etc then moved on to how often do I come to Delhi (I live in Gurgaon), Do I have any GF (I said I’m married). Next question a bomb, Am I satisfied with my married life and with my wife?..wow wow… I asked “Are you taking a survey for a publication?” She said “no I and my friends are looking for friends to sleep with” WHAT ..I was speechless for few seconds. She must be 18 or 19 and I’m 34. I decided to carry on for some more time and asked “Don’t you think I’m bit too old for you girls” She said “yes, but married guys are cool and safe”.
I excused myself and said ‘I’m not interested” trying to sound as much cold I can. She said “Don’t worry its only for once. We find new guys every time and we do not repeat the same guy”. I asked “How can you sleep with someone you don’t know?” She said “I’m not here to marry anyone”. I logged out of the chat room and went back to work.

Later this did not leave my mind and went back to thinking about the young kids. For them heart, conviction, feelings, lust, passion, friendships, and love are separated in water tight compartments. No two meets at a time. Friends are to chill out with; BFs are for going around watching movies, shopping etc. Partners are to sleep with.
The more I discussed this with my friends, I hear that this is very common and it seems no one has any problem with this. Why I’ve a problem? Well Now I think I shouldn’t lose my sleep over it and if things are like this and going to be like that, let it be…

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be.
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.

And when the broken hearted people living in the world agree,
there will be an answer, let it be.
For though they may be parted there is still a chance that they will see,
there will be an answer. let it be.

This led me to ask myself again why I’m here. When I came, I had no expectations and today all I expect is just handful of good friends all across the nation. Few but good friends

Disclaimer: Sorry for typo errors and spelling mistakes if any




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Aug 19, '08



Just got back from my probabaly 12th visit to Uttranchal. a state I love to go back again and again.
Yes, its beautiful, green, still not very commercial but the best thing I like is the people of Uttranchal. They are still pure, friendly, hard working and above all honest. 
While I was there last weekend, I was walking towards a local village in the evening and I felt that I've lost my way. So I asked a lady who was walking behind me. She was around 60, still fit and strong and had a thoothy smile. She said that she too is going that way and I can come with her. Soon we started talking, or I shall say I started asking questions. She was very easy to talk to and told me about how bad the rains have been to their crops and fruit plantations, about how young people in the villages do not like farming anymore, rising crime rate (yes they had one robbery last year, when someone 'stole' few boxes of packed apples), fast diappearing local varities of vegetables and fruits..... so this went on for 20 minutes and we soon reached the village. I said thanks and wanted to move on, but she insisted that I come with her to the village and meet her family. I couldn't say no. She introduced me to her sons, grandkids, and to her cattles. with-in 5 minutes I was served tea with parle-g biscuits. We talked and talked about the village, life, cricket and yes Indian gold medal( yes they knew about it).
Soon I realized that its fast getting dark and it is not very safe to walk back alone to my hotel as it is near to a dense jungle. I got worried and asked for leave and wanted to hurry back to hotel. Luckily I had some candies and choclates which I gave to the kids and got up to say good bye. But the lady insisted that one of her sons would accompany me till the hotel in the dark and asked me to stay back till dinner.
I once again thanked her and explined that I need to get back to hotel as others would be waiting for me. She then asked her son to go in the village and find out if there is a motobike available to drop me back. Son immediately climbed up the roof and gave a nice big shout, someone from not very far shouted back and he came down. He said one of their neighbours would drop me on his motorbike. I was in a state of loss of words, all I felt was gratitude and at the same time I wanted to leave this place as soon as I can.
So rest was easy got dropped back on the bike.
But it left an impact on me and forced me to think, how many times, in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, or medium sized town, one would invite someone they met on the road, to their home ?
We don't even care to say hello to the next person on the street, many of us don't even know the name of our next door neighbours, forget lending motorbike or car to them...

Truely Uttranchal is God's abode, (Dev Bhoomi) where god lives not only in the temples but in the hearts of the people.











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