Blog@GraceJunction

The news that I read today was the second of its kind coming out of the U.S as a result of the Global economic crisis. Another one of the non resident Indian brutally killing his family, this time it is Lakshminivasa Rao Nerusu. Originally from Andhra Pradesh, Lakshminivasa had lost his job a few days ago and was in a state of depression. He brutally killed his 37 year old wife, 14 year old daughter and 12 year old son. He had inflicted grievous injuries to the head and neck areas of his victims, sadly they were also his loved ones.

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The newspapers were covered with spine chilling images and reports of the city’s riots and happenings, however another caption that’s been flashed thru the journals was “End of Season Sale, upto -70 % off”. This I guess must have brought a smile on the readers face as they can now buy their favorite brands at such a discounted price.

I believe the end of season sales is the time when the product pricing hits reality. It’s the time when all the glam and glitter of the brand, the brand value, the snob and air around the products hit reality and the prices reflect the actual worth of the products.

Ain’t it true? There is always a time in life when the season ends and things hit reality. The products which were being displayed on real-life like mannequins, the classy jingles, the promises/claims which make it highly desirable and instill a vacuum in our lives, adorned and kept under the glamorous lights within matter of seconds fall down in value. The price tags are cancelled now, the discounts highlight on them. (more…)

16 april, 2008

6.10 am, Bodeli, Gujarat. A state transport bus carrying approximately 50 people is travelling towards Dabhoi. Out of the total passengers about 45 are school children going to give their final exam.

6.15 am, the bus reaches the Narmada Canal overbridge and tries to overtake a truck that is already almost there on the bridge and so he speeds up. 

6.15 am, Right front wheel of the bus hits the foot-path on the bridge at great speed, snapping a thick metal rod connecting the two front wheels and the steering wheel. The wheels froze at the angle at which it hit the foot path. With the connection between the wheels and the steering rod snapped, the driver had no control over the bus anymore. He was not a driver anymore, just a mere spectator, albeit for a few seconds more! The bus jumped the foot path, burst through the concerete railings and plunged 60 feet into the canal. (more…)

Who or what is Jebar?

TOI today reports of stampedes in villages (in Thorad and Vav talukas) in northern Gujarat. No, it is not a stampede of devotees rushing down a hill, but a stampede of people rushing to ‘fresh water’ tankers that come into their village.

In fact what starts as aggressive jostling often leads to fights and sometimes to stampedes! Not that there are thousands of people at the epicentre of the event! A few dozens, or perhaps a few scores, and yet in the past few years at least four girls have been killed in stampedes!

Now this doesn’t happen only when tankers come, but also when some water starts flowing through their taps installed in the villages by the government. And this supply is irregular, infrequent and unpredictable. (more…)