Anurag Singh

अवसरवादी || Tolerant

[Anurag Singh @_Anurag_S]

@E20Party #e20

[Jugal Mistry @holy_photon]

Here's my nostalgic story of first-time dealing with customs bribe back in 2012. I was casually browsing eBay for random deals and found a listing for iPhone 4S, unlocked, from US, for just $375 (~₹20k back then).

Almost half the price it was available in India and that too without any network lock. Dad's bday was approaching so this would make a great gift; the seller looked legit; I wanted to tinker around with the whole unlocking and jailbreaking bit so I took a risk and bought it.

Man, I miss the good old days of eBay. The seller promptly replied stating that he is not sure if the "worldwide" unlock would work in India and we exchanged some emails to figure out ways to make it work. We were both curious and were willing to pay the price of curiosity equally so he shipped it via USPS.

After about 10 days, finally the USPS tracking shows my parcel has arrived for clearing in Customs. I was excited. Eagerly waiting for our regular postman to come bearing dad's bday gift. But another 10 days pass and I hear nothing and I see no movement on the tracking page. Deadline was approaching so I called up the Mumbai Customs office and some babu said "this parcel cannot be delivered to your home, come here and collect it".

I go to the Kalina office, prepared with all the rules and import duties and due process. There are signboards everywhere warning visitors about corruption and bribery. A bit too many of them. I figured this must be a big-time importers' problem, not mine. But as soon as I ask the information desk about my parcel, there was a whole another due process here, arranged like clockwork. The clerk knew exactly what to do: walked me to one officer who took my tracking ID and nonchalantly called up his boss; "Hajun ek liha" ("write another one") he said and gave the tracking ID. Smashes the phone down and says "8 thousand" without even making eye contact. I tried to inquire if it's import duty and if so, at what percentage and all. The officer gestured his hand to shoo me off and the clerk insisted I step out. Clerk was more direct "Pay 8k cash if you want your parcel".

I wanted to fight. I wanted to call the number on the warning sign about corruption. But I also wanted the parcel in time since it was a gift. The clerk sensed my hesitation so he slyly made the box appear and kept it on the officer's table. "Some other day", I thought. Went to the ATM, exchanged valuables right on the official desk, went home thinking it's still a decent deal but some day I will write about this.

[Anurag Singh @_Anurag_S]

@itsPopGlory @TheCineprism Shawshank Redemption

[Anurag Singh @_Anurag_S]

@TheCineprism October

[Anurag Singh @_Anurag_S]

@thevirdas 'From Plassey to Partition' by 'Shekhar Bandopadhya' (Chapter 8 - Freedom with Partition)

[Press Trust of India @PTI_News]

VIDEO | "The Haryana Government has always stood with farmers and has decided to give the right price (MSP) to the farmers,” says Kurukshetra DC Shantanu Sharma on farmers demanding MSP for sunflower seeds.

[ANI @ANI]

#WATCH | Haryana government has always stood in support of the farmers. CM has agreed to increase MSP for sunflower crop: Kurukshetra DC Shantanu Sharma

[Vikas Trivedi @1vikastrivedi]

शाहरुख़ ख़ान फै़ंस को विदा कहकर मन्नत के अंदर लौटने लगते हैं.

अब @iamsrk की पीठ फै़ंस की ओर है और फ़ैंस की पीठ जिन लोगों की ओर है, ये कहानी उन्हीं लोगों की है.

क्योंकि ''बड़े-बड़े शहरों में ऐसी छोटी-छोटी बातें होती रहती हैं...''

रिपोर्ट: https://t.co/CyGpOVDSYr

[Anurag Singh @_Anurag_S]

@beastieboy07 Tried ordering from Shillong - says not deliverable to the selected address.

[Anurag Singh @_Anurag_S]

Budget 2023-24 Expectation: National MSME Policy can provide framework for growth, development of sector https://t.co/oWx33TNkMM

[PeepulTreeWorld @PeepulTreeWorld]

#DidYouKnow that this egg-shaped wonder in #Patna is a reminder of the region’s darkest times? The #British pitched it as the solution to crippling famines in Bengal and Bihar in the late 18th century. It’s called Golghar (Round House) and it’s a granary. 1/5
#Architecture

[Conrad K Sangma @SangmaConrad]

Cabinet today approved the Meghalaya Tourism Policy 2023. The Tourism Policy will give shape and structure to adapt to the necessary changes required to boost the sector & will also look into aspects of sustainability.
@kishanreddybjp

[Bharat Sundaresan @beastieboy07]

It’s a conversation I didn’t fancy having. It’s a piece that I didn’t enjoy writing. But I’m glad I did because the first step to dealing with racism is calling it out, however uncomfortable it is to do so. Thanks to @theagesport for letting me have my say https://t.co/2YlMaqxETn

[Prashant Singh @pacificleo]

A multi part thread on empathy and its importance in product design. 🧵

[Conrad K Sangma @SangmaConrad]

Proud of our culture .. condemn those who disrespect us …

[Conrad K Sangma @SangmaConrad]

GI tagged Khasi Mandarin (locally called Rongsu Oranges) of Meghalaya continues to go global!

Trial shipment of Khasi Mandarin sent to Lulu Group International, Abu Dhabi, by GoM in collaboration with @APEDADOC from Gangga IVCS

More power to our farmers!
@narendramodi @nstomar

[Piyush Goyal @PiyushGoyal]

मेघालय के खासी मैंडरिन संतरे पहुंचे दुबई,
Geographical Indication टैग मिलने से किसानों के जीवन में ख़ुशियाँ आई।

[Mithali Raj @M_Raj03]

Her longevity as a fast bowler in women's cricket is beyond belief. We have played together since our Under-19 days & @JhulanG10's commitment to the game & her eternal optimism are lessons for all. The Indian jersey will miss you. Best wishes for your future endeavours, Jhulu.

[Jairam Ramesh @Jairam_Ramesh]

This was the letter that launched Project Cheetah in 2009. Our PM is a pathological liar. I couldn’t lay my hands on this letter yesterday because of my preoccupation with the #BharatJodoYatra