Wednesday, February 6, 2013

When a SUKHOI flew over my head

SUKHOI-SB31 MKI


Hello Reader

I always hated the location of my college campus. Far away from the main Bangalore city, in midst of nowhere. Until, 2 years ago when I experienced my first Aero-India Show. The plus point of this location is that we have an Indian Air Force base across the road. Yes, just cross the road and jump over a boundary and you are on the Air Force grounds (of course, you might be shot for that though).
Two years ago, we found ourselves lucky to witness the Aero India Show happening right over our heads and now we are twice lucky as it has started again.

The thundering sounds reverberating the atmosphere leaves you with goosebumps and high heart-beat rate. Not once you feel like turning your head down when the brave pilots play around with aircraft, faster than the speed of sound, twisting or taking it vertically high and whoosh, they vanish into the blue sky.

The very enthusiastic first timers sprinted towards the hostel terrace, leaving their unfinished work and rooms unlocked as the engine ignited on the runway. And then to cheer the zealous crowd on our hostel terrace, the pilot took one round right over us as if he had just heard the masses lauding for him. For the first time, even the girls were allowed to climb up on the boy's hostel terrace for a better view of the air show. But even the girls failed to make the boys turn their heads when everybody was glued to the sky watching the show-stealer perform his stunts.
"It's an F-16, macha...",
"No dude, it is a Rafael, it has two engines...",
"It could be a Sukhoi too...",
"Can't be, it has two tail wings..."

Everybody was trying to be an expert.

The actual show is scheduled from 6th to 10th of Feb. But, the stir begins from the very first day of the practice session which begins about a week ago. The last day of the practice session, the final rehearsal day was a free entry for the Air Force families and with the help of one of my friend's father, who works there, I got a free entry too.
As soon as I stepped into the Air Force grounds, I somehow became too disciplined. I scanned the area around me, I was surrounded by uniformed men with their families. I walked through the security check and reached very close to the runway. People scattered according to their convince near the fence guarding the runway to get the best view. Some families had bed-sheets spread with lots of home-made food to enjoy with the show.
The vigilance team did their drill before the show began.

The show began with the display of Rafael aircraft. The pilot waved to the crowd from his cockpit before the take-off and the restless crowd waved back, whistled and applauded. And then, the engines ignited. Before I could move my eye lenses left to right to capture the whole motion, the aircraft had already took off with its lightening speed, leaving behind the roaring sound which hit my eardrums after a few seconds. As soon as he took off, the plane went straight up vertically and disappeared for a while. All heads were up, hands upon forehead to counter the sun, eyes shrunk , trying to figure out the jet's position. And then finally, he was back with a free falling motion and with a sudden throttle the plane was horizontal again. He continued to impress the crowd with amazing dare-devil stunts before finally resting.


RAFAEL 

Before the next jet plane, choppers entertained the crowd with different moves. Off all the choppers, team Sarang won hearts with their breath-taking stunts. The team of 4, flying red helicopters, leaves you open-mouthed when they fly so close to each other.



RUDRA
 SARANG TEAM performing stunts

The next jet that was displayed was Embryo used for refilling and RADAR communications, designed at HAL, not yet a part of Indian Air Force.

                         

 Other attractions that made eyes glued to the sky were F-16, Tejas and Sukhoi. Team Red Bull and others would be joining Aero India 2013 from 6th Feb Onwards.

An F-16 getting ready to take-off
Sukhoi ready for action. Can you see the pilot wave?




It was a fruitful experience for me to spend time at such an event and to see our fighter jets from so close with the families of Air Force officials, for whom it was not less than a picnic. Also, I got to learn a lot about these air crafts from very professional people (which later I boasted to my friends). By the end of the day, I was enlightened and full of patriotism.

Next morning, I woke up on my east-facing window-side bed as the sun rose. The sky was roaring again.  I rubbed my eyes to see a jet, tearing the sky, fleeting towards me. Every small thing around me was vibrating.
"It's a Sukhoi", I told myself as it flew over me. 
A hearty Salute to Indian Air Force.
And I dedicate these lines to all the brave pilots:

"Agar dekhna hai inke udne ka andaz, to aasmaan se keh do zara aur upar ho jaye..."

Monday, February 4, 2013

Fiction-55: The Footpath


After begging all day, he could earn a little to feed his two deprived kids. He bought some steamed curd rice packed in a newspaper scrap.
That was a delightful supper. With satisfaction, the man slept with his children, under a torn rug, on the roadside.
Next morning, the headlines said, “Hit-and-run case: 3 dead”. 

Fiction-55: The Surprise Gift

It was her fifteenth birthday. She left for school merrily. 
“Be back soon, there’s a surprise for you”, her mother had said.
All day she was eagerly waiting for the day’s last school-bell to toll.
Bell rang. She returned home to find some strange faces.
“Meet your new family”, her mother declared.
Her smile faded.  

Saturday, February 2, 2013

What is Liebster Award?



Hello Reader,


No, I am not here to answer this question. What is Liebster Award? I really do not know. But, I just got to  know from a fellow blogger Kavya Venkatesh (http://cantstoponychophagy.blogspot.in/) that I have been nominated for this award. Later, I also found my name on Nandini Deka's list of nominees. And I guess I have to follow some protocol. So let me begin with that and do what I am supposed to...following are the instructions given:

a. Post 11 things about yourself
b. Answer 11 questions set by the nominator
c. Choose 11 deserving bloggers meeting the criteria
d. Set 11 questions for them.
e. Inform the nominee by commenting on
 one of their posts.


a. Post 11 things about Yourself 


1. I am an Electrical Engineer (final year student). A back-up if I fail to be a good writer.
2. I hate sleeping. I feel it is a waste of life-time to sleep for too long.
3. I am a proud bookworm. I just love the smell of books. I wish I could wear it as a perfume.
4. I am a music addict. I can also play a little bit of Piano. I really love my headphones.
5. I stay in a hostel with my two room-mates and a Rat.
6. I love dark humor.I am not a racist.    
7. People get scared of my anger despite of my weak physic.
8. I have a patriotic alter ego.
9. I underestimate myself. I am not sexy and I know it. 
10. I hate routine life. I want everyday to be something else.
11. I want to adopt a child when I grow up. India is too populated for even 'hum do humare do'.

b. Answer to my nominator's questions:


1. What made you start your blog?


I started this blog in 2009. It was a trend then. Everybody from Amitabh Bacchan, Shahrukh Khan etc had their own blogs. And I followed the trend. 

2. What would make you to stop blogging?


Either internet dies or I die. 

3. Who is your favorite blogger?
I don't want to name one. But I really like Valli's blog a lot(poetrymyfeelings.blogspot.in). The theme, background music and of course, her poems and haikus.

4. Which according to you is your best blog post?
I personally like this poem a lot: Zero Mile (http://koncern.blogspot.in/2012/02/zero-mile.html)

5. Who is the first person you told about your blog?

My high school friends. 

6. Who was your first blog follower?

Shashank, a friend of mine.

7. How long do you usually take to write a post?

f the post is well framed in the mind already, then it doesn't take much time to paste it on the blog. Otherwise it does take a long time... it could be even a whole day.

8. Are you concerned about your page views?
No. I don't believe in page counts. It can easily be altered. Appreciation for your blog from even one person is good. 

9. Does having less than 200 followers bother you?

No. Number of followers doesn't matter to me.

10. What is the best part of blogging?

You can showcase your thoughts and share it to the world. 


11. Do you encourage others to blog?
Yes. Indeed one of my friend got encouraged and started a blog.


c. Choose 11 deserving nominees:


1. Sudha Shashwati (http://thelidislifted.blogspot.in/)
2. SaroSena (http://thisgreenplate.blogspot.in/)
3. Meenakshi Malhotra (http://beyondwoman.blogspot.in/)
4. Meoww (http://meowwsmusings.blogspot.in/)
5. Rajni Sinha (http://rajni-rajnigaqndha.blogspot.in/)
6. The Mango Chronicles (http://mangocomics.blogspot.in/)
7. Himani Agarwal (http://itjusthappenandthen.blogspot.in/)
8. Surya Murali (http://theradiantisotope.blogspot.in/)
9. Fatima (http://duskndawn-fatima.blogspot.in/)
10. Jahid Akhtar (http://jahidakhtar.blogspot.in)/
11. Gracy D'souza (http://www.gracydsouza.com/)

d. My 11 questions to them


1. Who is your favorite author?
2. What is your profession?
3. Apart from blogging, your hobby?
4. How many hours do you spend on blogging?
5. What/who inspired you to write?
6. Do  you feel, you could be a writer in the near future?
7. Choose one: Money or Fame. Why?
8. Are you socially active?
9. What came first egg or the chicken?
10. Why is the word dictionary in the dictionary? 
11. Why is Liebster award so obsessed with the number 11?

e. Inform the nominees by commenting on their blog posts:


Okay. Done.

Now tell me where do I collect the award? :P
Leave your comments.