"I Drive Getz, What Drives you?" is probably the most wishy-washy tag line of all the recent ads. Every time I get to see this one, I wonder, why didn't the not-so-creative head, think of a statement with better English if not catchy. Even, "I Drive Getz, What do you drive?" or "Getz Drives me, What Drives you?" would have done justice! It becomes all the more dumb, when Sania has an expression of 'Am doomed! what dooms you?' on her face.
Well, the purpose of this post is not to indict the men behind this ad, but to elaborate on my remake of that statement!
"Scooters drive sardarjis, Sardarji drives Scooter"
(Though 'ride' is better English, I am retaining 'drive' to give credit to the original).
And, when I say scooters, I mean the Chetaks and Vespas. It is a known fact that scooter sales in Punjab, outnumbers the chappathis they make in a day. But, they retain this tradition when in other states as well! I had a Punjabi classmate who came to college in scooter! And today, I saw a sardarji in his brand new Chetak in the IT highway!
I am not against scooters. In fact, my first vehicle ride was in a scooter which dad owned in late 70s and early 80s. But, am just wondering, what drives the Sardarjis to buy one, even today.
Listing few probable reasons for this scooter craze:
1. Sardarji ancestors have been trained to use hand gear and have passed that knowledge to their heirs as well. Kids go to buy a bike, don't find the gear and end up buying a scooter
2. Junior sardar's top knot turban can hide the view if he's sitting on the fuel tank of a bike viz-a-viz standing in front in the scooter
3. Sardarjis believe their wrists are strong and needs regular exercise
4. Riding a 4-stroke bike and the speed could render them turbanless. They obviously can't afford to stop to pick 'em up everytime it flies
5. Sardarjis believe the bikes can die easily as it does not drink as much fuel as the healthy scooters do.
6. Sardarjis believe in Joint Family and only scooter ads feature sentimental values
7. Sardarini always wants a separate seat and bikes don't offer this feature
above all..
8. Whatever be the problem, Scooter starts if they are tilted and put to rest for sometime, but bikes don't!
P.S: This post is just to give a humorous touch to the affinity for scooters and is not meant to hurt or mock anybody
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
A Gentleman and Puffy logic
Last night, when I was leaving for the day, I met a senior colleague at the lift lobby. We started discussing about project and company matters. It was a 'walk the talk' session down Tidel entrance, until I looked for the car key inside my bag and couldn't find it. Now, this is the nth time, I am doing this, so, was pretty sure, I had left it behind. I excused myself in the middle of the serious conversation and he looked at me weirdly and waved goodbye.
I turned to get back, still digging my bag, and lo! the key was inside an inner compartment! Now, if that senior colleague noticed me walking a few steps behind him, he would think, that it was a gimmick to cut the conversation short. You can't expect him to believe that a car key could really get lost inside a 10" bag! To avoid this, I decided to catch up with him and continue the talk. But, to my dismay, he had lighted his cigarette and had started walking down.
Now, do I embarrass him by talking to him? or Do I just tip-toe behind him or Do I simply ignore and walk ahead? Thought for a few seconds and walked behind him. I thought, 'I better decide soon, he could turn any moment in the pretext of crossing and could notice me!' I decided to put the ball in his court. Leave the choice to him... So I called him out and told him, I found the keys.
Now, it was his turn to decide. Should he cut the conversation short and continue the puff? Should he sacrifice his unused cigarette and continue the conversation with the lady? or should he do both - talking and puffing?(and put the ball back in my court!! with an ace). I was wondering what he'd do?!
He hid the cigarette in his hands, and stood in the parking lot talking. I tried hard not to look at his hands. I was just getting curious. We were in the middle of some serious discussion, that he completely forgot the puff in his hands...It just burnt up and hurt his fingers. I noticed him dropping the bud with a shock and a slight 'ouch' expression in his face!
I didn't show any reaction, though I found the whole thing funny! He must have cursed me for making him waste a cigarette! But, he definitely is a Gentleman!
I got to the car with a chuckle and the satisfaction of saving his lungs from one cigarette ;-)
I turned to get back, still digging my bag, and lo! the key was inside an inner compartment! Now, if that senior colleague noticed me walking a few steps behind him, he would think, that it was a gimmick to cut the conversation short. You can't expect him to believe that a car key could really get lost inside a 10" bag! To avoid this, I decided to catch up with him and continue the talk. But, to my dismay, he had lighted his cigarette and had started walking down.
Now, do I embarrass him by talking to him? or Do I just tip-toe behind him or Do I simply ignore and walk ahead? Thought for a few seconds and walked behind him. I thought, 'I better decide soon, he could turn any moment in the pretext of crossing and could notice me!' I decided to put the ball in his court. Leave the choice to him... So I called him out and told him, I found the keys.
Now, it was his turn to decide. Should he cut the conversation short and continue the puff? Should he sacrifice his unused cigarette and continue the conversation with the lady? or should he do both - talking and puffing?(and put the ball back in my court!! with an ace). I was wondering what he'd do?!
He hid the cigarette in his hands, and stood in the parking lot talking. I tried hard not to look at his hands. I was just getting curious. We were in the middle of some serious discussion, that he completely forgot the puff in his hands...It just burnt up and hurt his fingers. I noticed him dropping the bud with a shock and a slight 'ouch' expression in his face!
I didn't show any reaction, though I found the whole thing funny! He must have cursed me for making him waste a cigarette! But, he definitely is a Gentleman!
I got to the car with a chuckle and the satisfaction of saving his lungs from one cigarette ;-)
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Outdated!
So much said and fought about generation gap and wavelength mismatches with parents and grandparents, it is quite a revelation to know that I am already a generation behind! Most of my cousins are school/college goers and I keep myself updated by discussing current affairs with them!
Listing a few things that you might have to be enlightened about, to stay updated:
1. Just when I thought that I've finally mugged up all the "Evolve forms" of Pokemon, it is outdated..My cousins don't discuss Pokemon, Pikachu, combat characteristics any more!
2. I am usually the silent observer of their discussions and this time, I heard about 'babe laid' and was aghast! What a nasty world!! K-I-D-S..talking about the excitement of 'babe laid'!!! Finally, killing all my ego, asked them, "Err...What is babe laid?" Lo! Chotu, the smallest one of all, shows me the new gameing gear - Beyblade! It is a top like thingy which again has different forms I guess.
3. School management conducts raids in all classes - Starting 3rd to 12th. The articles seized vary in all these classes
3rd, 4th, 5th - Cheetos stickers, tattoos, pokemon cards, dolls, beyblades, etc.
6th, 7th - The above ones + occasionally CDs, film posters, Vijay masks, etc.
8th, 9th - Game CDs, movie CDs and some undisclosed CDs, occasionally credit cards(mostly the outdated ones)
10th,11th,12th- CDs, Credit Cards(parent's expired ones and new), Cell phones and sometimes drugs!
They use the word 'Trading' for exchanging all these! Well, we used to trade books, CDs, etc. but never did it got to the extent of bothering the management!
4. SMS trend.. Well, "You are more than a loved one" in a forwarded SMS, just is another forwarded SMS and does not convey any emotional feelings. You are respected by the number of forwards you get/send and not the content of it!
5. Maya teacher for Physics in a famous school in Chennai...just fits the name! She looks so much like Kaaka Kaaka, Jo, that her students exclaim 'Avanga solli kodukaradhu puriyaati ennada? avangalai paathute irukalam!'
6. Kids, (should I use this word?), start teasing friends with classmates of the opposite sex as early as 6th or 7th std.!
7. Teachers do use words like 'boy-friend', 'dance-floor' in class. I studied in a convent and teachers/sisters were saintly those days!
Am not saying, we were naive, but it just looks like the kids are atleast 5 to 6 years ahead.
God save the innocence!
Listing a few things that you might have to be enlightened about, to stay updated:
1. Just when I thought that I've finally mugged up all the "Evolve forms" of Pokemon, it is outdated..My cousins don't discuss Pokemon, Pikachu, combat characteristics any more!
2. I am usually the silent observer of their discussions and this time, I heard about 'babe laid' and was aghast! What a nasty world!! K-I-D-S..talking about the excitement of 'babe laid'!!! Finally, killing all my ego, asked them, "Err...What is babe laid?" Lo! Chotu, the smallest one of all, shows me the new gameing gear - Beyblade! It is a top like thingy which again has different forms I guess.
3. School management conducts raids in all classes - Starting 3rd to 12th. The articles seized vary in all these classes
3rd, 4th, 5th - Cheetos stickers, tattoos, pokemon cards, dolls, beyblades, etc.
6th, 7th - The above ones + occasionally CDs, film posters, Vijay masks, etc.
8th, 9th - Game CDs, movie CDs and some undisclosed CDs, occasionally credit cards(mostly the outdated ones)
10th,11th,12th- CDs, Credit Cards(parent's expired ones and new), Cell phones and sometimes drugs!
They use the word 'Trading' for exchanging all these! Well, we used to trade books, CDs, etc. but never did it got to the extent of bothering the management!
4. SMS trend.. Well, "You are more than a loved one" in a forwarded SMS, just is another forwarded SMS and does not convey any emotional feelings. You are respected by the number of forwards you get/send and not the content of it!
5. Maya teacher for Physics in a famous school in Chennai...just fits the name! She looks so much like Kaaka Kaaka, Jo, that her students exclaim 'Avanga solli kodukaradhu puriyaati ennada? avangalai paathute irukalam!'
6. Kids, (should I use this word?), start teasing friends with classmates of the opposite sex as early as 6th or 7th std.!
7. Teachers do use words like 'boy-friend', 'dance-floor' in class. I studied in a convent and teachers/sisters were saintly those days!
Am not saying, we were naive, but it just looks like the kids are atleast 5 to 6 years ahead.
God save the innocence!
Friday, January 06, 2006
Manager Musings
Vasudevan got his promotion and was posted as the Branch manager of Unison bank of India. He was taking charge of a brand new branch. This means a lot of opportunities, fresh accounts and huge transactions as that was the only bank in the town - Bommikuppam. Those were the days, when computers were unheard of and banking was based on trust and understanding. It was a powerful, esteemed post for the managers and Vasudevan was welcomed by the Panchayat heads. He enjoyed the honor and respect.
In the initial few days, he had more visitors than customers and Vasudevan thought 'Today's visitors, tomorrow's customers'. Moreover, almost all visitors brought gifts for the manager - Milk, sugarcane, jaggery, home-made sweets, etc. Since Vasudevan realized that it was more out of respect than bribe, he accepted them with a smile.
Soon, all the hype withered out and Vasudevan realized it is not an exciting job after all! If there were 3 customers a day, Vasudevan would call it a 'busy day'! Work was getting mundane and spending time became tougher as his family also had gone on a vacation. He made it a habit to talk nicely and spend more time with his customers.
On one such not-so-busy day, Ramasamy came in to open an account in his name. Vasudevan checked the ration card and residence address. Ramasamy signed a few papers and the account was created in a jiffy. On the next day, Ponnammal, came into the bank, bringing her ration card with a request to open the account. Vasudevan smiled and told her 'You are very special! You are the first woman to open an account here'. When almost all the formalities were over, Vasudevan told her, 'Bring your photograph and give it to me and I'll open the account for you'. Ponnammal went back with a puzzled look.
After some time, Ramasamy walked in with the Panchayat head. It was obvious, that Ramasamy was angry and would pounce on Vasudevan any time. Vasudevan was perplexed and before he could open his mouth, Ramasamy yelled, 'How dare you ask my wife for her picture? I came in yesterday to open an account and you didn't ask! And you tell her, she is special!' Panchayat head, an old man, looked sourly at Vasudevan and asked, 'What is all this Sir?'
Vasudevan, started explaining with a sorry face and finally, Ramasamy and the Panchayat head smiled! Ramasamy shivered in embarrassment. Vasu, sighed in relief.
What do you think could be the reason? Well, it is not rocket science. But just thought I will let the readers guess for sometime. Post in the comments and I will give the answer next week.
In the initial few days, he had more visitors than customers and Vasudevan thought 'Today's visitors, tomorrow's customers'. Moreover, almost all visitors brought gifts for the manager - Milk, sugarcane, jaggery, home-made sweets, etc. Since Vasudevan realized that it was more out of respect than bribe, he accepted them with a smile.
Soon, all the hype withered out and Vasudevan realized it is not an exciting job after all! If there were 3 customers a day, Vasudevan would call it a 'busy day'! Work was getting mundane and spending time became tougher as his family also had gone on a vacation. He made it a habit to talk nicely and spend more time with his customers.
On one such not-so-busy day, Ramasamy came in to open an account in his name. Vasudevan checked the ration card and residence address. Ramasamy signed a few papers and the account was created in a jiffy. On the next day, Ponnammal, came into the bank, bringing her ration card with a request to open the account. Vasudevan smiled and told her 'You are very special! You are the first woman to open an account here'. When almost all the formalities were over, Vasudevan told her, 'Bring your photograph and give it to me and I'll open the account for you'. Ponnammal went back with a puzzled look.
After some time, Ramasamy walked in with the Panchayat head. It was obvious, that Ramasamy was angry and would pounce on Vasudevan any time. Vasudevan was perplexed and before he could open his mouth, Ramasamy yelled, 'How dare you ask my wife for her picture? I came in yesterday to open an account and you didn't ask! And you tell her, she is special!' Panchayat head, an old man, looked sourly at Vasudevan and asked, 'What is all this Sir?'
Vasudevan, started explaining with a sorry face and finally, Ramasamy and the Panchayat head smiled! Ramasamy shivered in embarrassment. Vasu, sighed in relief.
What do you think could be the reason? Well, it is not rocket science. But just thought I will let the readers guess for sometime. Post in the comments and I will give the answer next week.
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