vivek

Proud Indian. Proud Hindu first, secular later. Passionate about Travel, Wildlife, Cricket and a lil bit of Software :)

[Samhita @Samhitab4u]

Some days I wonder how broken our infrastructure really is.

Today, while travelling just 8 km in Bengaluru, I noticed at least 10 garbage pile-ups and 3 places where drainage was overflowing.

And all of this in what we proudly call the Silicon Valley of India.

We talk about AI, startups and trillion-dollar economies, but shouldn’t basic civic infrastructure come first?

[Vineeth K @DealsDhamaka]

For all people writing about leaving India for good quality of life abroad...

Just saying that, In India even a employee with 40-50K salary can afford a lifestyle with domestic help, support from parents in raising kids, affordable healthcare, quick services, and the convenience of having things get done. In the US, even the highly paid employees can't think of some of these benefits.

India has its challenges, no doubt. But when it comes to affordability, support systems, and everyday convenience, we often underestimate what we already have.

[vivek @hvivekw]

@Hardism This is not limited to @JioCare . Most service providers in India take their customers for a royal ride every day.

[vivek @hvivekw]

@nikhilnarayanan No idea why or how questioning the city's broken infrastructure is connected to one's love for the city? Why bring in Kerala here? Will anyone going back to Kerala fix the infra problem in Bangalore? Shooting the messenger does not fix the message being conveyed!

[vivek @hvivekw]

@ACTFibernet Do you realise that the ETR has expired 6 days ago? What is your grievance redressal mechanism? What is the new ETR for this ticket? Merely mentioning sorry and asking me to wait with no ETR is not acceptable at all.

[vivek @hvivekw]

@ACTFibernet Do you have any intentions of resolving this ticket SR 10280429807123? ETR on the ticket says 27 May and today is 4 June with zero progress or updates. Pathetic to say the least.

[vivek @hvivekw]

@blrcitytraffic @wftrps complete jam at gunjur since last 30+ minutes. Could you please help clear and regulate traffic flow please 🙏

[Muthukrishnan Dhandapani @dmuthuk]

I've already retweeted @Options_IndiaAB post.

Since I want this to reach lot of people, posting it separately too.

Here is the post:

I recently spent 2 weeks in China.

6 cities: Shanghai, Beijing, Xi’an, Zhangjiajie, Chongqing and Chengdu.

I went there with curiosity.

Like many Indians, I had heard a lot about China through media, social media and conversations. I expected to see progress, maybe discover some business ideas, and understand what the country is actually building.

I came back with a very uncomfortable feeling.

Not because I found a business idea for myself.

But because I saw 100 things that governments can do when infrastructure, tourism, transport, urban planning and civic systems are treated seriously.

I travelled within China by flights, trains, cars and local transport. The infrastructure was honestly stunning.

Clean cities. Smooth roads. High-speed trains. Well-managed traffic. Public spaces that actually feel designed for people. Tourist destinations that are built, maintained and promoted like national assets.

And then I kept thinking about India.

We keep comparing ourselves to China. Our media keeps telling us how India is catching up, how China is restrictive, how we are better in so many ways.

After spending time there and speaking to people, I realised how much of that narrative is just comfort food.

China is not perfect. No country is.

But on infrastructure, execution, tourism, civic discipline and quality of urban life, they are not 5 years ahead of us.

They are decades ahead.

The saddest part for me was the currency.

Everything felt expensive. Not because China was insanely expensive, but because the rupee has weakened so much that even normal spending starts feeling heavy. As an Indian taxpayer, that genuinely hurt.

We pay taxes. We work hard. We talk about becoming a global power.

But where is the quality of life?

Where is the civic sense?

Where is the infrastructure that makes daily life easier?

Where is the tourism vision beyond religious tourism?

I met travellers from other countries who were excited to visit China because they wanted to see its progress. When I asked about India, many had no real desire to visit. Not out of hate. India simply was not on their aspirational travel list.

That should bother us.

Even the so-called “closed internet” surprised me. We are told people there are missing out because they don’t use Google, Instagram, WhatsApp or Facebook.

But China has built its own digital ecosystem. Payments, maps, transport, messaging, shopping, everything works inside their own infrastructure. People did not seem to feel deprived. They seemed adapted.

Again, this is not a hate post.

I love India. That is exactly why this trip bothered me.

Patriotism cannot only be about saying we are great.

Real patriotism is having the courage to admit where we are falling behind.

China made me realise one thing very clearly:

India’s potential is not the problem.

Execution is.

And unless we stop comforting ourselves with comparisons and start demanding better infrastructure, better governance, better tourism, cleaner cities and a higher quality of life, we will keep celebrating the idea of progress instead of actually living it.

[Bharat Mata ke Sewak @CountryGulshan]

A woman had deposited nearly ₹10 lakh in a Fixed Deposit at HDFC Bank money that represented her lifelong hard-earned savings and financial security.

When the FD matured and she approached the bank to withdraw her money, she was shockingly denied access to it.

Despite carrying her passbook, ATM card, identity proofs, and all the required documents, she was repeatedly sent back and made to run from one counter to another for days under different excuses.

If the customer possesses every valid document and proof, then the obvious question arises — where has her hard-earned money gone?

Ordinary people place their trust in banks by depositing their life savings with the belief that their money will remain safe and accessible when needed. But if, even after maturity, a customer is forced to struggle endlessly just to receive her own money, how can public trust in the banking system survive?

Such incidents raise serious concerns about accountability, transparency, and the treatment of common citizens by financial institutions.

[vivek @hvivekw]

@newbatsman Urvil is a high risk, high impact player. If you are retaining him, give him all 14 games. Else just release him and pick someone else who you will back the entire season. Constant chopping & changing helps neither the player nor the team

[Prasanna @prasannalara]

It’s not about winning or losing. It’s part of any sport. Surrender attitude is not something known for a team like CSK. It really hurts.

[vivek @hvivekw]

@kartik_kannan I cannot agree more. I was working in RMZ Eco World for close to 10 years but stayed in Sarjapur and preferred to drive down instead of staying at the epicenter of a concrete jungle.

[kripal amanna @kripalamanna]

Hey Bob's Bar Bengaluru, why must customers key in their phone number and validate it via OTP before they can even place an order?

A beer and a bite shouldn’t require surrendering personal data.

The Government of India’s Department of Consumer Affairs has already advised businesses not to insist on mobile numbers as a mandatory precondition for sale or billing, and that such data should only be collected with express consent.

[vivek @hvivekw]

@ashwinravi99 Our batting which was supposed to be our strength heavily underperformed. The bowling department stood out. With a few more runs from Gaikwad, Dube & Brevis and Akeal playing all games, this season could have been better. Keep faith in the franchise. Yellove! Cheers!

[vivek @hvivekw]

@SergioCulerCSK Frankly speaking content that were able to get to this stage in the tournament with the players they had left after this injury prone season. Dube & Gaikwad underperformed with the bat, Akeal could have been better utilised. No knee jerk reactions necessary imho

[Mama @SriniMaama16]

I just don't understand Ruturaj's reluctance to bowl spin. Akeal has just bowled 2-0-15-1, got the wicket of Abhishek, looked good. Why don't you continue with him, let him get him, but he's your main bowler! He's got in the dibbly dobblies of Dube delivering at a cute 117 KPH & gone for 12 changing the momentum. Just don't understand.

[Ashwin 🇮🇳 @ashwinravi99]

I know a lot of fans would be gutted, but the way CSK have turned this around with a young squad is commendable.

The change of approach hasn’t given a play off birth but “FLEMING AND RUTU” have flicked the switch on.

Patience and perseverance with these boys and this could be a lethal team.🤝

[vivek @hvivekw]

@ChennaiIPL pls consider playing Akeal against SRH, keeping so called match-ups aside 🙏

[Prasanna @prasannalara]

Leftarm spinner to Left hander that too in power play and a wicket 2nd ball. Is this allowed ? 😁

[Muthukrishnan Dhandapani @dmuthuk]

What happened to the 20 Pakistani tankers US asked Iran to allow? That news died without any follow-up.

What happened to the US pilot or pilots rescued from Iran at a heavy cost for US? Why no details are published about him? No photos. No meeting President Trump.

Why Google Map is blurring US bases attacked in gulf? Many sources say US bases in gulf are severely destroyed and are even beyond repair. Since Trump was good in counting planes during Operations Sindoor, why he is not doing now? Looks like lots and lots to count.

[vivek @hvivekw]

I think CSK will be able to form a playing XI with just injured players!! Why are there so many injuries & breakdowns? Can anything be done better by the medical team and physios? @ashwinravi99 @prasannalara @Vijaykarthikeyn

[Chennai Super Kings @ChennaiIPL]

OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:

Ramakrishna Ghosh sustained a fracture to his right foot during the CSK v MI match at Chepauk.
He will take no further part in IPL 2026.
Get well soon, Rambo.