Another month.
Here I am, sitting between classes trying my best to think of what I can say. The last month was another where we made history. There were nearly 300 ip addresses that visited us and nearly 600 page views. thanks folks.

This month we are back. I try to call up on my patriotism or rather lack of it. I have no idea why but then i thought that this was a good topic this time around.

Anu-gya makes sense to me personally after a long time. Can anyone answer the question that she has asked. send in what you think about that to sibmmadmag@gmail.com and I may just post that on the next months issue!

Da macha, well he is getting to form. i cant get words that come close to describing what he is saying. Hopefully you will do a better job of reading than i did.

For all the people, especially the ones that smoke, NCC is heaven. Rahul takes a tongue in cheek look at the happenings in NCC. a breath of fresh air?

Sheetal, i have never been one to go into astrology. but looking at her article and then seeing the sequence of events, i think that this may have some weightage after all. My horrorscope said that i need to be wary of things that were Mad!! were do i go??

We have a new cartoonist on the blocks. Vijay catches the trend of indians in using their shirts to show their state of mind.

I have always thought that Irfan can do wonders when he sits and writes. i think that this aricle of his proves my point. One of the best poems that i have read for a long time.

Another first timer to MM, Richa, talks about what it takes for one to stand out from the crowd, what it takes to be a Bill Gates or Google. At this point of time, i will say that all i need to do to be like either of them is LOADS OF MONEY!!!!!!

Aditi, now what do i say. I think that there are things in her mind that are topsy turvy. Well that is the sign of being different. She has the ability not to be appreciated in her own generation - ala Picaaso, van gogh.I would give anything not to be appreciated in my own generation (aka phoebe buffet!!)

Phi, man you take me thoughts away. every month i wait for your article to decide what i am going to write. keep them coming....

~Aditya

In-depend-ence day?

This months issue was to be loosely based on the Independence day. That was when a team mate of mine said to me," Adi, this is too boring."
And know what, I agreed. The reason being that today, the meaning of that day, the day when we were freed from the shackles of being ruled by a power that was not our own, were broken, has lost its significance.
For me, like most people, this is another day, a holiday, to sleep late, to do the pending assignments, and to while away the time. I was thinking of what it ever meant to me. Ever since i was young, all it was to me was another holiday, to stay at home with pappa and do masti. NO school, no homework and that directly meant more time for cricket.
I guess that things dont change. Patriotism is another name for the desire to kill people that you have not met ever in life.
In todays truely global world, does it make sense to hold on to things that try to say that this is where I am and this is where you stand? Does it make sense to say that this was the day when I became totally free when the concept of freedom is becoming vaguer day by day?
I was not able to come up with an answer, so i shall stop (thankfully). Just thought that I shall end by saying, Jay Hi(ck)nd
~Aditya

Freedom to be - Anugya

Trapped. By yourself.

Now that’s the worst kind of helplessness there can ever be.

You are trapped by yourself, and there’s no way out. And only when you’re trapped do you realize what freedom means to you.

And now, give this freedom a context – one that is more immediate and closer than our Independence (which most of us meaninglessly celebrate because we’ve never known what it is like to not be free.)

“This is not a student driven institute anymore. This is a faculty led institute.”

“I will not give you the freedom to ruin the image of the insti in the corporate world. Our alumni have worked very hard to get us to the 4^th rank – do you think I will allow you to

change it?”

Freedom in this context is not just being able to give ‘feedback’. It is the knowledge and conviction that you are actually being heard. Anyone can go shout to the walls. Freedom is in knowing that what you have to say makes a difference.

And yes, the age old adage that freedom only comes with responsibility holds very true in every sphere.

Pointless rebellion never got anyone anywhere except in trouble, which though an enjoyable spot to be in sometimes, is certainly not an enviable place to be living in.

The point is, and I’d like to hear from all MadMaggers on this, exactly, how free are we? And no, I don’t mean to ask how jobless are we!

Anugya Punetha

Da Macha

It was like a bolt from the sky. This is treason. The scientists sitting in the International Astronomical Union have demoted Pluto to a dwarf status.

This has created widespread unrest among the general public. "This is casteism and planetary racial discrimination," roared Jayalalitha. People were confused. "Will Pluto be forced to change its orbit?" wondered some. "Isn’t it step motherly treatment? Will it be allowed to revolve around the Sun any longer? Would Pluto move to some other solar system after the shoddy treatment meted out here? If it decides to move to some other solar system, won’t this demotion reflect badly on its Resume? "

S. Chand publishers instead suggested that when all the planets are selfishly revolving around the Sun, our own Chand (Moon) is obediently revolving around our own earth. Therefore, it should be given a special planet status.

Astrologers were utterly butterly deliciously worried. Having relied on the glorious past of ancient India for so long, having claimed that astrology is too sacred to be fiddled with, to hide their own incompetence in making any advancement in Astrology now they are confused about the future of astrology without Pluto.

The movie ‘stars’ in the film industry was scared. If this is the treatment meted out our fellow planet Pluto, what about the distant stars in the Universe? "Indian Movie Planet Shah Rukh Khan arrives in New York." proclaimed a movie magazine. Superstar Rajnikanth hurriedly changed his title to Super Planet Rajnikanth.

Young De Basanti stormed the International Astronomical Union. They went on air and announced, "We will never forget what we learnt in school. Save Pluto. Mera Pluto Mahaan. Jai Pluto. Hamare Pluto ki Jai. Pluto here we come to save you.” The NASA Scientists tied these dudes to the Atlantis space shuttle and sent them to outer space. They were released in space. The astronaut kicked them out of the Space station and yelled, "Now you suckers, Go and save Pluto." As they floated in Space, Aamir Khan and Co held each other, tried to form a solid spherical shape, and pushed themselves in an orbit so that they can at least get the status of a planet as defined.

Our Hero Pluto was rolling in orbit laughing and said "How does all this matter to me anyway you jackasses out there on Earth. My right as a Planet is not yours to give" and continued to interfere with Neptune's Orbit ever after...........

NCC Canteen ---- A Cigaretterians Abode.

“Do they serve smoked continental food HERE???”

Eyes popping out, my friend stared at me in disbelief.

“Errrrrr……smoked food, yes they do serve that, but whether it’s CONTINENTAL or not is up to you to taste by yourself and decide,” I replied. A narrow set of steps, leading to a smoke filled cellar resembling the dungeons of most villains in Bollywood of the “Amitabh Bachhan era.”

Welcome to the NCC Canteen, Pune.

NCC Canteen—one of those irreplaceable spots in the city where no matter what you buy at any point of the day, you are sure to be awarded smoke for free. ABSOLUTELY FREE!!! Whether the food smells good or not, you definitely have the inevitable option of cigarette smoke to liven up your nostril buds, as well.

At NCC, it is a real heartening site for any “puffer” to witness so many patrons of the so called “KILLER ROLLS” or Cigarettes. Speaking from a marketer’s point of view, it is the ever growing demand of these KILLER ROLLS which is the USP of the NCC Canteen. And if any of you seem frightened of the statement that “passive smoking kills faster”, then chuck away your fears, and have a look at Chandu, the man in demand in NCC, especially among the female population.

The rate at which cigarette smoke invades him every day, according to all scientific calculations he would not have survived more than 36 hours. But the super cool dude is fit like a fiddle, with years to go, God wiling.

Finally, at the end of the day, a prayer, a silent one that too. If ever we, the men and women of SIBM get to be a part of the Lavale environment, let there be space enough for an NCC Canteen as well.