A Trip Down Moscow Lanes

Naqshbandi & Shobig

I also know many people who studied in USSR during 70s and even early 80s. Everyone of them have attested that the standard of living was quite high as compared to what Western propaganda machinery led the rest of the world to beleive with their lies.

#16 Glad you liked it Naqshbandi sahib. The younger gneration, as I have stated in the article, is much more genial and welcoming compared to the older one. But I won`t go as far as saying they are polite, and my doing so could rather be attributed to my obliviousnes to their language and social gestures. Indeed, exceptions are everywhere.
I neither experienced nor witnessed any acts of violence throughout my sojourn, so can`t say much in that respect. There was one little incident I encountered on a subway, but even that didn`t have any recial undetone to it. However, since the economic conditions have declined abruptly and this fact is pretty conspicuous, I would naturally expect the crime rate to soar. One reason for this being that the police, much like the case in the subcontinent, is notorious for its co-operation with the criminals and its ripping apart of the tourists. But, speaking for myself, I walked alone on the alleys and in the subway stations until as late as 1 a.m., on most of the nights, with an SLR hanging around my neck, and still have managed to return in one piece.
The Moscow State University IS fantastic, nobody is doubting that, with all the facilities that you`d expect in a cosmopolis, but again it is not very well maintained. In fact, I developed the same notion about almost every thing there. It looked as if the Russians, as if in an instant fit of glorification, accumulated a lot of wealth and initiated a brisk wave of progress in every walk of life, but then suddenly, as if they lost interest it would seem, left everything in the middle, to look after itself. There`s everything there; it`s just outdated!

And Atif is spot on in #20 that Russians are some of the brainiest people in the world. They would venture into things in the fields of Mathematics and Physics that the rest of the world won`t even dare even tread close to. But the downward spiral has played its part here too, despite teh fact that they have managed to maintain some standards. For example, this conference that I went to, was the first one in Physics to be organised in Moscow in a span of about 30 years! That is a real tragedy for a country that has been the heart of excellence in pure sciences and whose pople have contributed more to its various deciplines for decades than perhaps the rest of the world combined!

An interesting account, and comparisons between old and new, organised and chaotic.
I like your writing - keep it up!

naqshbandi # 17 ``He said Moscow State University was fantastic and that living conditions were actually v. good despite Western propoganda``

although i have rarely seen any western propaganda about russian universities, i would say that I have met some amazingly brilliant students from russia. they are some of the sharpest people you find in the fields of maths, science and finance. despite the downward spiral that russia has been in for a while, they still seem to have sustained a decent standard in higher education.

also, i have learned that during the 60s and 70s quite a significant number of pakistanis would go to russian universities for studies. cost of studies in russia were / are much cheaper than in europe and north america. I think that trend fell off after the invasion of afghanistan and the ensuing hostilities between pakistan and russia.

but after seeing what sharapova has done to my emotional well being, i am beginning to give benefit of doubt to communist ideology.

I reckon I was there, atleast now :),
A comprehensive and genial insight to unveil some of the aspects, awesome buddy. I wonder the success rate as they launched “Superman Returns”, looking forward as much is still in airs waiting to settle down ;)
“I was allotted accommodation free of cost in the guest house of the Moscow State University. It was like a dream come true, for the main building of MSU has to me always been the most fascinating university building in the world”
When dreams commencing to wear the charm of reality, some believe it’s to start pack-up, anyways keep living your dreams and and and it never stops, having said that, there is something to halt everything.
Hope soon there will be something from you to compel me for visiting CHOWK and CHOWKIES!!!

I used to know a brother from Ghana who lived and studied engineering in Moscow during the 70s. He said Moscow State University was fantastic and that living conditions were actually v. good despite Western propoganda.

thanks for this article. i`ve always wanted to visit Moscow--the former capital of the other (ex)superpower. Also Russians in my experience are very polite and cultured people and their women are v beautiful (Sultan Suleiman the Magnificient fell for the charms of one such Slavic beauty--Roxana)--BUT according to the British news channels there is an alarming rise in racist violence in Russia at present and if you`re brown it is not safe. Is this true or is Sky exaggerating? One of my Farsi teachers was a beautiful Russian lady! My Iranian-ex lived in Moscow for a year....

You know, I sometimes feel nostalgic about the old USSR. At least then, with both the USA and the USSR locked in a MAD conflict, we had a balance of terror. Now, the US is too powerful and has no effective checks. Bring back the Soviets!

(Although the Russians still have a formidable nuclear arsenal it has to be said...)

#11 irony, ain`t it ironic that men have a huge capacity to be landed anywhere anytime throughout their lives ;)

#12 That`s an interesting question you ask scout. I`d ceretainly love to go there again, like I said earlier the place had certain feels and impressions exclusive to it; actually any place is good enough to visit at least once in a life time, as long as the visit is by choice and not by necessity. Because in the latter case, even the sweetest of joiurneys would appear burdensome. As for myself, the nomad in me would find it really hard to settle down at one place, just like my mind finds it hard to settle on nb, or aimie .... if you know what I mean! :P

#13 I certainly did, the only thing missing was a Bengali tigress`s company... :|

#14 Thanks Hiren. You can reach me at einsqad2@hotmail.com

liked ur piece. can we connect. how do we do it.
hiren

Looks like you had a good time, Shobig! I had no idea you didn;t really like red meat. I love the words-giganticness,vautingly..!

What a cute little travelogue... but would you ever go back?

#10 was it that obvious that shobig needed a landing!

I guess the tongue hanging out......at the sights......

sandhu #8 ``if only you had more time you could have landed a Russian girlfriend.``

actually, I would put it the other way around...if only he had more time, some russian damsel could have landed shobig payee :(

Re: # 8 You hit the nail on the head! Just a coupla more hours is all I needed...JUST A COUPLE! :(

Shobig,
Interesting read, if only you had more time you could have landed a Russian girlfriend.