The New Normal- Work from home(WFH)

The world coined a new name last year : The New Normal- Work from home(WFH). Literally the world went to a complete stand still, roads , offices were lying empty, there were no people, no traffic, no roadblocks, no trains etc., just animals roaming around freely. 

Corona virus brought everything to a standstill, one will only hear sound of the ambulance sirens passing by, every now and then one or the other neighbor was getting infected, raising more fear amongst others. People had to keep their doors and windows closed literally, in the fear of catching the infection. The first initial months were literally hectic, timebound laws of keeping shops and markets open, just get your things as quickly as possible, keeping one self away from others, maintaining distance in between. Many vegetable markets saw queues which have never happened before. It was really good to see that we humans abided by the laws. The security agencies like the POLICE had a very grueling time keeping there vigil on for hours to maintain complete lockdown across the country rather I should say the world. 

As days passed by , the new normal started becoming a new habit, people started mentally settling down in their houses thinking that it would keep themselves safe. A slight miss can bring down a huge calamity in a family. Corona was that fearful. It was more fearful as because no one know about the virus, it was only found out that keeping yourself clean, maintaining social distancing and most important of all keeping ones nose, and mouth covered with a proper mask might keep the virus away. There was an unknown fear which gripped even the strongest Braveheart's. 

Hats of to those doctors and nurses and all medical personnel who spent hours and days in hospitals without returning home to their families. The death toll was increasing day by day, millions breathed their last, burning Ghats, burial grounds were running out of woods or space to cremate the ones who passed away. News of mass burnings like what happened during those world war days were prevailing all around. Even burning the dead was a big concern as the virus might spread underground also. The safest bet was burning as fire can kill any virus.  People were not even allowed to see their near and dear ones , bodies were put in huge gunny bags and sealed to avoid further infection. Those who dared to open the bags before cremation brought more infection around, such was the tenacity of the virus!

Inspite of all these can any service industry stop, better to say can any industry stop, how would companies earn if they stop working and here came the new working style: WORK FROM HOME. People started calling it the new normal. I remember in the initial days where corona had started wrecking its havoc we all were so perturbed, our families were tensed seeing us going out to work. People started talking with seniors as to what can be done and then finally the day came when it announced by my company that we need to come to office at a certain time to collect our PCs so that we can start work from home, there was a total chaos, IT departments of companies had a tough time aligning the PCs, getting them work ready out of the office network. Many of us didn't get their work stations on the same day, they were delivered later to their homes.

I wonder for companies like mine which are supposed to have a methodical approach to scenarios, who have a BAU approach at all conditions, also suffered then what happened to those organizations who are not. Many people lost their jobs after a couple of months as there was no business. Work from home was not possible for many. We working for white collar organizations were able to sustain but still there were many who were not able to .

Work from home was a boon to many and a bane to many too. 

Abhimanu Gaud-another prey of the drunk driving virus.

Abhimanu Gaud- the late corporal who lost his life in Kolkata recently not in a war but because someone was over speeding, broke all barriers in an inebriated state. Footage shows how he went past all barriers where army personnel were practising parade for the Republic Day. The road was cordoned off and inspite of that the guy decided to break it. We have his friend who was also part of his booze party confirming that they asked him not to drive but this guy decided not to. The other friends were asked not to enter the cordoned off area which they complied but this guy didn't. He sped from the area and even got help from the police how and which way to flee. 

Incidentally this guy is the son of a local politician of the ruling party who along with his son went on a run. They were not to be found. Local police failed to nab them immediately and when voices arose; when protests were galore they were found and arrested. 

This is not the first time we hear headlines of hit and run cases of drunk-driving. This has happened numerous times, we have examples of celebrities too. Drunk-driving has proved to be fatal countless times but we don't learn. It was sad of the police to bail this guy out instead of arresting him on the spot. Why the police failed to stop him and helped him flee? Weren't they aware one day or the other he will be caught? Why immediate steps were not taken by the government? Is it because the police were afraid of the political leader whose wrath they may have to face or the government felt that they are going to loose on their vote banks?

Sambia Sohrab: that's the name of the killer. My Facebook was rampant of photos of this guy and the clip of the CCTV footage of his zooming Audi. How come a 28 year old lad drives a vehicle like Audi? Did he earn it or was it gifted by his father. Did his father buy it through honest means or was it the other way round. 

I remember when I went to USA a couple of years back for a training sponsored by the client; we went to one of our client’s house for dinner. We were accompanied by another man from the same team, He was offered drinks, and he refused. My colleague from India who was with me took the offer and I was a teetotaller. Why did this man refuse the drink? He had to drive back home his wife, us and himself. That's the thought, should be embedded in every one’s mind. If I have to drink outside my home I should make sure that I am not driving, I will ask my friends to drop me if they are sober or else take a taxi. 

  

The Corporal who lost his life doesn't drive an Audi, instead he makes sure that the city is safe. I really hope that his perpetrator gets his correct due and no political influence is paid heed to by the judiciary. 

Why can’t the government start implementing some strict rules across the country against drunken driving? 

A report from Times of India: 

 In a bid to check drunkdriving, the road transport ministry is pushing for five-fold increase in finefor first-time offenders while repeat offence will attract stiffer penaltybesides imprisonment ranging from six months to one year and impounding of thevehicle for one year.These will form part of the rules once the proposed Road Transport and SafetyBill become law. The road transport ministry has circulated the latest versionof the proposed bill vetted by the law ministry to all state governments fortheir feedback.At present, the fine is up to Rs 2,000 or jail up to six months for first drunkdriving offence. The new provision proposes Rs 10,000 fine for first timeoffenders.

Rs 2000, that's it and we are still waiting for the amount of Rs 10000 to be accepted by all states!!! Why such a lackadaisical attitude against implementing such rules. Why so much time wasted. So many lives lost. I am sure this is not just one case, there are many. Surprising is hit and run cases have increased but conviction rates have decreased. 

There is a strict law about wearing helmets in Kolkata which I haven't seen much anywhere, which I have appreciated every time when I tell this to my colleagues in my present place of stay. Then why not against over speeding and drunk driving???? When will our governments start taking prompt actions and instead of fearing for their vote banks?

Should India wait any more for AJMAL KASAB to be hanged ?

Ajmal Kasab is doing the headlines today as he was gifted with the death sentence today. Well, this man have made headlines many a times though He made himself famous with his pics in the CST in mumbai when he attacked the civilians with a AK47 in hand.

He was also accompanied by another militant Ismail khan who died in cross firing and Kasab was captured alive by a constable who took 5 bullets still held on to Kasabs gun so that he can be captured alive. I still remember that day, every news channel was showing LIVE the CST, Tajmahal hotel and other places hit in the attack, police, firemen were here and there trying to douse the fire. So many people lost their lives including police officers and security personnel.

The next few days the headlines had only details of the Mumbai attacks, news of people who lost their lives, news of security personnel who braved all odds. It was a black day in our country. Every body mourned the deaths of the ones who braved their lives for the safety of others.

Kasab if that's his actual name as there were many confusions on his name too initially because of language difference. India have spend close to 50 crores for the safety of the man who according to the courts of India waged war against the country. He was responsible for multiple innocent deaths and loss of millions of money.It was told that the government had to construct a special cell for him which cannot be destroyed by RDX too.

So why are we waiting to hang him to death. The government have got enough time to take out information from him. Initially Pakistan denied his existence as a Pakistani but later even Pakistan agreed that he is from Pakistan when many reporters traced him to his village faridkot in Pakistan.

We spend a lot of money in petting these dreaded terrorists who take our country as a place where they can do anything. Our judiciary system being slow indirectly makes the country loose more money in keeping these people alive. Moreover the almost abolishment of capital punishment have made things more worse. The judiciary should have a special system for people like KASAB. No further choices should be given for appealing to a higher court. There should be a fast pace system of coming to a judgement for these people.

AS the present uproar in the country says that KASAB should be hanged soon, I completely agree to this as no further taxpayers money should be wasted for people like this. Of course chances can be given to live and improve but to those who feels guilty about their deeds but people like KASAB don't. There were instances where he went on record saying that what he has done is for the good. He agreed to the ideas of the militants who derived the plan of bombing mumbai.

People like Kasab should never be given a chance to live , only then it might bring in changes to the ones who still idol worship him. Exceptions should be given to those who understands their guilt and seeks forgiveness.