GuruSpeaks

Racist..Who?

2009-06-03T23:06:00.006+05:30

...the legend of early days America goes as saying that "America will have a black President only when pigs can fly"! Pigs flying indeed!

To say that Racism doesn't exist would probably be synonymous to "pigs can fly"!
But I really see no pigs flying! Meaning Racism is very much here and will remain!

Marginalizing Native Americans and Afro Americans, and slavery are those pages in their history, which the Americans do not want to read. To say that they have evolved would be politically correct, however so, they needed stricter laws to actually allow the Blacks into mainstream life and resource sharing.

Germans of the past would boast that they took more Jew Refugess than the EU State Members combined, and so how they can be called Racist? However the state of Refugee camps was once quoted as "..one where even animals would be unhappy..". This tells a story in itself of utmost disregard and poor treatment.

That my very own society has Biharis, Bhaiyyas, Southies, and Ghattis being called so in very poor light. I learned history chapters with Harijans, Dalits and Brahmins.

Why, we always had specific kids at school and selected college-goers to pick at?

Was'nt this done only because they were either weak personalities, soft targets, just different, a dull guy or simply not good looking?!

My argument:
The racism what we see today is an outcome of we Humans who harbor a feeling of "superiority over fellow beings".

Society was always divided and shall remain so, because we humans politically enjoy this at the very deep sub-conscious level. Even though most of us are compassionate and respectful of everyone , we inadvertently want to remain elite in some way or the other!
And if divisions and layers are formed, naturally there is hierarchy that is originated.
With Hierarchy comes an instinct of domination over the "lower layers" or let us just call it as "lower groups".

Isn't this purely a human tendency even within ones own companies, large families, even organizations? Isn't the "power of domination" in whatever way it comes a subtle boost to ones ego, if not the obvious one?

Well Racism is an off-shoot of this phenomenon.

When similar individuals come together, the individual ego now transforms to a "collective ego". Within the same group, they would have their sub-divisions however, collectively they seem coherent and wrest a larger power. A larger control. A larger superiority over the others.

A very popular College or School Gang by virtue of being rich kids or "academically brilliant kids" or just "jazzy ones" would always appear arrogant and disregard the others!

Racism is a form of "disregard" when it comes to communities and Nations at large.
The disregard unfortunately manifests itself in violence or in form of slavery historically or in any other way of expressing hatred. It is an amplified expression of hate by a select few.

Even if most of us come to terms with coexistence, and in true sense accommodate "various groups" there remain a handful which shall engage in the act of racism against those.

I touch a tricky subject here.
India as a society within itself has the maximum "disregard" for one another purely on the variety of diversity we inherit.
That a common cause and conditions that still keep us united, that is in noway makes us lesser racists.
We are a nation whose history is full of slavery and harijans and "higher caste" and "lower caste".
We are absolutely in love with an obsession of proving one's own self as the "absolute" and not accommodate another's opinion as well!
We accommodate by force rather by good heart.
We are on one hand excellent hosts who go beyond to perform "atithi-devo-bhav", while even refuse to greet our neighbor should in case he come along!

Racist attacks on Indians in Australia past month and a half have to be condemned, but also it is an opportunity to introspect within.
Is it a boomerang of sorts of what we really are?

Just why Bhenji won’t make it National…

2009-04-16T15:34:00.006+05:30

I was in disbelief when the Left Parties tried pulling the plug from the Congress Govt by withdrawing support and proposed a Third Front with Mayawati as the PM candidate! I was momentarily saddened with a possibility of it coming true.

On some introspection, the feeling was thankfully short-lived.

If Mayawati has any qualities of being a leader of this nation,

· It’s the decisiveness with which she usually achieves what she wants. Always a pre-requisite.

· It’s also a portrayal of Mayawati being a force rather than her party. Usually successful leaders across the ages of mankind need that later quality.

I can only come up with these two and nothing else! That’s it? Only two. And that too these are “mediums” of achieving the “intentions”, and not qualities of intentions itself.

But God’s sake, I cannot but see Mayawati as a politician who wants power at all odds, and the worst she openly admits to it. Her’s is not a determined or an audacious effort in the Indian politics, but rather it’s very close to being a “shameless” stake to power which reflects from the way she is conducting herself!

She promised she would have UP get rid of Mafia Raj, and in turn hands over the State Alcohol Trades to some Ponty Chaddha (Gurpreet Singh), and fields the most preposterous gangsters of Uttar Pradesh in the General Elections. Imagine we have some 40 odd Members of Parliament with “many” charges of Serious Crimes enjoying the guests houses and foreign trips on our tax-money!

And should one of them be a Union Minister with a Serious Portfolio, it would be an apologetic scene seeing a Mafia shaking hands with foreign Investors and diplomats! Kudos to our Democracy.

I am sure she would continue to do well in the UP this election, as Mafias of that land have been doing well to satisfy their deep penchant for politics. And it is also true that gives her the leverage as well at Delhi.

As one newspaper quoted, Abu Salem’s village Azamgarh heralds him as a hero and it thrives on imported goods smuggled into the country. Azamgarh is so prosperous by selling Smuggled Electronics that you would find the latest top of line fancy gadgets before they ever reach the Malls! For the fact of the matter, Abu Salem even publicly said that he would love to contest Elections from Azamgarh!

It is this caricature of UP as a state of “thugs and goondas” and BSP further bolstering their political ambitions by awarding them tickets, which will fall in the face of the party.

It is sad but true that you need the “muscle” to create a strong Political party. However, it is disastrous if your party in itself is the party of only “muscle”.

It is rather unfortunate, that a movement by Kanshi Ram to uplift the Dalits, which in itself is a noble cause in our society, has been hijacked by Mayawati with a prime motive of getting to Delhi on all odds!

Start to read between the lines.

BJP last had majority in UP during the tenure of Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 1999. BJP as a matter of fact was sweeping through the Constituencies of Uttar Pradesh throughout the 1990s. Absence of any big UP leader post Vajpayee, has seen the party's downside.

Ever since being snubbed by the Yadavs in 1991 UP Elections, Congress struggles in the UP. While Rai Bareily and Amethi are the only safe seats which are “reserved” for the Gandhi family, there is nothing more than pulling crowds that they can do elsewhere. All cacophony with no substantial impact.

Enter the “Goondagiri” as I call it. Yadavs and the Mayawati!

I the lack of Leaders in the National parties as the only reason Uttar Pradesh has become the “heartland of Criminal Politics”

Look elsewhere and I can think of only Bihar.

I am a big fan of Nitish Kumar, in the way he presents and conducts himself. We all know his exploits in reducing Lalu’s fiefdom in Bihar.

Point I am driving here: Nitish’s rise in Bihar is as much in governance as in his Clean image. A politician is as good as the people think of him to be. Clean / non-Corrupt / Hard Worker!

Not a “goon” by any means.End of Lalu’s Reign proves that even if Oratory and rhetoric can get you votes and power, it doesn’t keep you there!

Even Sharad Pawar has not done “tones” of being in “Parallel Power” in Maharashtra for over 2 decades now. But never has been ever seen as thief or in bad light by public at large. Sharad Pawar as a PM is acceptable to any Indian Citizen than Mayawati as even a Tourism Minister!

It is this skill of these Statesmen Politicians that despite being in the “muddy game” of politics, still stick their neck out and are seen as clean.

Mayawati can campaign all years along, but won’t go places outside the UP too far to ever stake a claim of her’s being a truly National Party.

For that,

· she needs to actually give tickets to prominent Dalit leaders, if she is REALLY fighting their cause.Re-live Kanshi Ram.

· She needs to stop publicly celebrating her birthday’s with extravagance with the money we all know from where it comes. You can celebrate it privately. There are other issues to be done in Official Duty Hours bhenji.

· She has to shed Social Engineering as a tool to manipulate the electorate. There is no other state like UP, Bihar or even Orissa for that matter where “goondagiri” has any takers.

I could be mistaken to be a case of a High-Society citizen by virtue of birth who is opposing for a Dalit leader to be given a top job. However, I beg to differ that it is not Mayawati’s Dalit-ness that has a problem, but it is approach she has undertaken to reach Delhi, which is simply unacceptable to me.

Yes, Mayawati is the fantasy of every Dalit in this nation, because we are a “representative society” and connect with leaders who are of our own clan. But it is fallacy to believe she is the Obama of India as CNN-IBN calls her regularly!

Please, I cannot see Mukhtar Ansari sitting in Ghazipur Jail, and courts continue to reject his bail as I write, be the one standing alongside Pratibha Patil and taking the oath to be Minister of Human Resource Development, held by Murli Manoher Joshi in the previous Govt! Atleast Joshi is a Ph.D from Allahabad University.

World War - III

2009-03-10T15:09:00.008+05:30

I recall, way back in mid 1990’s when I was still a school-going one, the predictions of one Clairvoyant called Nostradamus! His well publicized predictions were often the talks in the lunch breaks over the benches in the classroom.
The most popular being course about the “3rd Edition” of the World War!
Redundant to say, it continues to be speculated when…

To follow it up years later, I came across a wonderful caption;
“…far away from what the seers could ever see, Religion has emerged over centuries not just as a way of life, but perhaps the ONLY reason to fight…”

Indeed nothing else, but religious fanatics’ would eventually lead us to that imminent WW-3!

However, there seems to be a few factors which could delay the manifestation of Nostradamus’s Prophecy by another decade by a minimum!

--Economically weak Pakistan.
Pakistan to me, like many others, would be the epicenter of the next major violent catastrophe. A safe haven for extremists, neighbor “enemy” states, excessive Taliban influence and historic jehadi movement are few major factors amongst many others.

However, Pakistan knows for sure that in any eventuality they would be bombarded back to Stone-age like Afghanistan is. Else why Pakistan would be only sponsoring a “non-state” terrorism and not a full scale war with India?

Also, Pakistan’s crumbling economy. All their “unofficial” money today comes from
• Possible Arrangement with Opium traders from Afghanistan through the ISI.
• Probable Backend support from sympathetic Arab world.
• Well established network of the under-world.

The official money being dependent on Foreign aid from US/IMF/World Bank. Trade and commerce were never heard of, while the economy more or less remains self-contained and cross-border trade is nothing to boast about.

The pressure remains on Pakistani administration (sometimes democratic but largely military) to avoid a full scale confrontation as they WERE NEVER and WILL NEVER be ready for it economically. The rhetoric will continue, but to the point of never really wanting to go to war.
No matter how much the Pakistan administration openly romances China, theirs is only a “courtship” and not a “marriage”. China needs to take a stance in Asia contrary to the Indo-American Status quo and hence the “affair”.
I doubt with all my intellect that China would EVER sponsor a terrorist State!

--Crisis ridden US.
I read a wonderful reference in article;
“…Few months before the 9/11 tragedy, China was awarded the 2008 Olympics. In the next 7 years, China transformed from being an Asian Dragon to being a World Power in terms of superior infrastructure, manufacturing and phenomenal economic growth. While the US engaged in the bloody battlefields of Afghanistan and then Iraq…”
Interestingly its China who is the single largest American Govt Securities holder! In other words, China has more Foreign Exchange Reserves in US$ than the US itself!

America went on spending in Wars, China in development. Almost a decade later, US is facing its deepest recession, while China is still just about holding up in the current times.

The adventures which were infamously dubbed as the “shock and awe” approach to the enemy have in the EXACT same way to their exchequer! “Shock and Awe” on the US Treasury!
Even though the Bush administration has managed to secure the “Oil of Iraq”, the scale to which the billions were drained, there is little cheer.

The United States has completely shifted its focus "internally". Jobs, Economy, Homes, Wall Street!
When your house isn’t in order, you cannot really fly down seven seas to mess into enemies home.
Also, geographically, USA is away from the epic-centre. The American population, at least hitherto is immune to large scale damage.

Obama administration also could be the perfect opportunity for the American Foreign Policy to deviate from its for past. Under the guise of failed republicans and using the Charm of their new Mr. President, I am pretty much certain the US would rush into burying many a failed policies. Read: Afghanistan, Iraq, Indonesia, China, Tibet, and Russia and Pakistan! The Arabs!

US has NO TIME and resources engage into war at least till the recession is truly over. And you bet, they would overtly turn down any hostile attempt by the Taliban or Chinese or even Russian mischiefs to pumping Pakistan!

--Emergence of Asian Powers to World Affairs.
With the advent of India and China not just as Asian Giants, but as World Pillars in economic growth the Global Politics is about to go through a sea-change!
BRIC countries will increasing their say on major World issues like the Global Warming, War on Terror, Protectionist Regime, and Capital Market Accountability.
Dalal Street and Shanghai would probably be next to Nasdaq as indicators of World Economy.

Europe has scars too deep from the first 2 wars. UK probably is the only country hit by terrorism largely, apart from mild attacks in Spain and other places.
They would by an large tip-toe the US on foreign policy on Military decisions.

Also the Arab World wouldn’t want to engage itself and are largely neutral to Indo-Pak confrontation.

Russia is no longer a major economic or a political power, and will need time to recover from lost glory. The recent Oil drop and successive Record Currency corrections don't help its case either.

All of these adds to the Stability!

---Indian Democracy.
There isn’t a single Indian leader I see who really has it to bite the bullet of war, should in case the proxy war of Pakistan really push India to the limits. At best what our leadership has shown us, that they run to the International Community, complain and create a huge hue and cry and use what they now call "Coercive Diplomacy". I wouldn't it is just only the Congress, but even the BJP dared not cross the LOC, while the Kargil infiltration to seek that so called "International Accolades". Just look at Israel, and for that matter Sri-Lanka!

Use a thorn to remove a thorn!

The realistic Prime Ministerial Candidates for the next elections: Man Mohan Singh, L.K.Advani & Mayawati. None of them would ever press hard for full scale military operation. Advani himself won’t ever commit to attack first, leave alone our Finance PM or Maywati, if she pulls off a mother of all surprises by become the PM.

The year 2014 Elections would be the year of Rahul Gandhi Vs Narendra Modi!

If there is anybody in the world, Pakistan should fear, it is the BJP’s Gujrat King and not Uncle Sam! But a Coalition Govt is really like a tied down bull! Only grunt and snort, but little action.

The year 2019 to my view, would be the year when India would return to Single Party rule. We would have been absolutely "FED-UP" with regional goondas and hooligans and vote one of the National Parties to power. Probably then, there is an outside chance of the Indian Govt deciding to "Attack First" and route out terrorism and initiate a full-scale war! Even that to me is VERY far-fetched!

For another 10years, you probably would see conflicts, hopefully not to the scale of 26/11. But you WONT see an Iraq or an Afghanistan.

Untold "Sense" of Pakistan?

2008-12-15T23:15:00.004+05:30

Lets just for a moment look into Pakistani Angle.

Pakistan as a Nation was formed of, on a principle of “walking out” with a section of society into a separate state based on being a Muslim.

Apart from the British Rule Legacy of Divide-Rule policy, birth of Pakistan also has roots in the “Political Ambitions” of Muslim Leaders.

These leaders who well knew that even in a Secular India; they would always be second-rung politicians.

Of course the reason being, Independent India also had as much scars of the Moghul rule as of the English! Sad testimony to the fact remains that we never had till date a non-Hindu Prime Minister!

Formation of Pakistan emerged from Bloodshed and massacre. It was formed out of hatred, out of animosity from fellow beings and next door neighbors. In comparison, “Free” India was formed out of hatred towards the “ruler”. Pakistan desired a separate state only to be recognized differently from Hindus, since the then politicians believed India would be a Hindu state.

While India wanted to free from “invaders” and “traders”! India went on to become a Secular Democracy.

No, I am not trying to say formation of Pakistan was illegitimate. My point here being, the formation was attached with more intense emotion being bred by wrong "propaganda" of Anti-Hindu. The British in my mind orchestrated this to perfection!

And as many borders disputes around the World, was born the Kashmir issue.

Well when we can’t have Ambani brothers of 21^st century India amicably settle a partition, how on earth do you expect 2 Nations to settle borders so easily!

There are enough instances in World History that border disputes are intrinsic nature of Human Civilization.

Since inception Pakistan has always seen India guided by a Democratic Government and leaders of high repute to quickly bury the “fate of being ruled” to the one of progress.

The political situation in India was the one of “taking care of too many”. Princely states, few hundred cultures, a few thousand dialects, a few million Gods! Secularism WAS the only way to accommodate every fraction of this magnanimous society!

While Pakistan went on to become as it was intended to be, a Muslim State.

In comparison of the two, secularism in India has empowered every State member and thereby bringing true progress and freedom.

While a “Hardliner” State of Affairs backed by excessive interference of its self-styled Islamist “preachers” has brought about an obvious dictator like governance in Pakistan.

Religion must and must be left to society as a conduct to choose from, rather than influencing Foreign Policies of Nations.

Day one of Independence, was also born Pakistan’s Insecurity.

Pakistan has a Giant neighbor in India with whom it just de-merged out of, a neighbor who is politically more correct, diplomatically stronger, and more resourceful in terms of administration, leadership and People who want to progress! This is not what India has come to be, rather what India was envisaged to be by our Democracy.

This is the point in history, where those “ambitious” leaders of Pakistan were exposed.

It was easy to create a state, but there wasn’t any leadership to guide Pakistan to modernism. Pakistanis wanted a State of Progress which couldn’t be given by their leadership. Those “ambitious” ones lacked vision of the future. Lacked administration, lacked governance.

Hence the Leaders kept strong the “artificially” created “insecurities”. They "prophesied" that survival of Pakistan is under threat from its neighbor.

Instead of taking the country over the "hangover" of independence to the one of prosperity, the then Pakistani Leadership continued with “sentimentally” and “emotionally” rhetoric against India.

They have stayed in the Hangover over protecting the border TILL DATE.

All this has contributed to the born an Ideology in Pakistan, that India is their “Enemy”, while in reality India only protected herself from this notorious neighbor Government and continued to progress. An obvious reality that Pakistan has NOW finally realized.

Pakistan like India was depending on Foreign aid to progress. Aid wouldn’t come for war. But how to keep fueling the “war” and the “real reason” of “Independent Pakistan” justified to the people of Pakistan?

Hence was born the extremists! They needed a Government backing, else who would fund them? And this role was taken up by ISI!

The Madrassas whose real purpose was to educate beautiful Islam began to get infiltrated by jehadis and found a strong root in the country. Matters were made worse, by “close ties” with the neighboring Taliban.

All Armies and Intelligence Agencies thrive being “Actively” involved in confrontation rather than being “passively” present. That is the purpose they are for! You cannot blame a soldier to “relish” being part of the “real Government”! That is Human Nature to say!

How on earth would you justify the HUGE proportion of Pakistani budget going into their Defense System?! Read “offense” and not defense!

It’s easy isn’t it; you call the jehadis as Freedom Fighters, justify their cause, classify them as independent “actors” and win over an average Pakistani’s heart and his “undocumented” vote to keep the jehad going. The average Pakistani never knew what is being transpired!

Once in a while, Pakistan elects Democratic Government which is called for by the “real People of Pakistan”, since they so much wanted the CHANGE!

They wanted to move ahead!

They wanted to move on!

Under all such Democratic set-ups the Political view of Pakistan slightly deviates from the original “ambition” and begins to reflect the mindset of the MODERN Pakistanis.

The Government pushes harder for development, trade and commerce.

All of a sudden the “original ambition” seems fading.

In comes the ISI and the Army reminding the country of the same, by staging those coups and the routinely sabotaging successive Governments. Always being backed by the Extremists calling for every Democratic Head of State's "soul" in the name of “National Security”

By now, the “originators” of Pakistan have long gone and the “Ambition” had now transferred from the Political Leaders to the Pakistani Army!

“People of Pakistan” don’t approve of this set-up, however, understandably so, they are sympathetic towards the Army, the ISI and of course the jehadis.

Pakistan today has more complex nature than 1947.

They are paying the price of their Original Creators and their illicit and wayward political egos. Had peace been declared on 15^th August 1947 and no “artificial insecurities” and “boundary expanding ambition” harbored, the Sub-Continent would have had 2 strong economies rather than 1!

Today’s Pakistan Government indeed wants to rid itself from the “baggage” it carries.

People of Pakistan want to live a life the rest of the World does.

They want to educate themselves and go about their lives with an absolute sense of freedom.

The Government though, is in a situation of “sea on one side, cliff on the other”. It cannot get rid of Extremism which are the creation of the Political Situation, and also have to keep feeding the Extremists for its own survival.

My prediction:

Violent jehad which is not the true character of Islam. It is a manipulated theory fantasized by those handful elements of the Pakistani Society for their vested egos and those shortsighted clerics and self-styled protectors of Islam. It has been taken forward from years to its current dangerous forms purely because illiterate and ignorant youth is inspired by misinterpretation of History.

BUT Yes, Terrorism will end!

It shall either be Pakistani Government or by World War-III.

I say the Pakistani Government, because they are on the brink of not only diplomatic isolation, but also Social and Cultural isolation. An average Pakistani is looked at by the World much differently. Even more than a Palestine or LTTE Tiger is.

If not, I have no doubts; India will engage itself into bombing Pakistan after a few more terrorists’ attacks.

That is sad, but Indian Government won’t act till a few more bizarre incidents.

That will be the saddest day in Human history.

A Disturbing Encounter - Ramesh Ramanathan in MINT

2008-11-21T13:20:00.003+05:30

(Ramesh Ramanathan is co-founder of Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy)

My wife Swati and I were in Dubai last week, attending a conference. This piece isn’t about the conference; it’s about a disturbing conversation that we had with a taxi driver in Dubai.

He was a short, slim, nondescript man wearing a white shirt and a loosely knotted tie. I asked him his name, and he replied, “Shakeel.”

If the system lets you remain bad, actually makes things worse and forces you onto the wrong path, where’s the hope?

   “Where are you from, Shakeel?” Swati asked, and continued, “Pakistan?” Most of the help in Dubaiare South Asian-mainly Indians and Pakistanis.

“No, India.”

    “Kahan se, India mein?” I asked, switching to Hindi. He relaxed visibly, and the rest of the conversation was in Hindi.

“Hyderabad, sir.”

“Do you like Dubai?” Swati asked.

    “Haan, madam. It’s a good place. Very safe. You can walk around with a lakh of dirhams in your pocket and nothing will happen. If you leave something in a taxi, you need to make just one call and the item will be returned in 15 minutes.”

    “So why did you leave Hyderabad?” I asked. He was non-committal, saying he had family problems. “Do you like the life here, or are you here to make money and return to India?” we asked, given that many others had expressed this sentiment.

    “I am happy here. I will keep working here, no problems.” He glanced in the rear-view mirror at us, to emphasize his commitment to the city.

    We pushed him on why he liked to stay in Dubai when many of those doing the manual and service-level jobs had said they didn’t really like the quality of life.

    “What is not to like here? Things work very well. There is no crime, everyone is subject to the same laws, you can even go up to the Sheikh and shake hands with him. Can you do this in India?”

    “But what about democracy?” we asked, “Don’t you feel...daba hua, oppressed...that the city has someone called a ruler, or that you can’t criticize him?”—the standard argument about places that “work” better than India, but compromise on civil liberties and free speech. We were cruising down one of Dubai’s modern highways, with manicured green belts ribboning the sides.

    “Kya democracy, saab? What is the purpose of democracy if people don’t feel safe?”

    As we pushed him on his arguments, he suddenly fixed his eyes on us and said, “Dekhiye, main aap ko batata hoon, main India mein khoon karke aaya hoon. I have killed a man, stabbed him to death.”

    I felt the air rush out of me. Sitting in the back of the quiet taxi, it seemed unreal that this unassuming driver could really be a killer. I didn’t turn to see Swati, but I could sense that she was also in shock. Breaking what was becoming an awkward silence, I asked, “How? Why? Whom did you kill?”

    “It was a family feud, there was some disagreement, so I killed him,” he said somewhat matter-of-factly.

“But why would you kill him, wasn’t there some other way out?”

    He shook his head, as though mulling some thoughts, and after a few moments, said, “OK, let me tell you, I was a goonda in my area. We would commit all kinds of crimes, we were part of a bigger gang. I was in charge of my neighbourhood. At election time, we were the ones who took care of the voting issues as well. I can admit it now, I was a rowdy-sheeter with the police.

    “After I killed the man, I was in trouble. I needed to leave the country, but I couldn’t get a passport and visa. But India mein, paise se sab chalta hai. I paid money, bribed people in various departments, got my papers and came away to Dubai. Now, I go back to India every year—I can stand in front of the same police people, and they can’t lift a finger to touch me. They just look the other way. What democracy! When you can bribe for everything, when you can get away with anything?”

    “But this is strange, are you blaming India’s democracy for you being a criminal? You are the one who committed the crime. So they should have caught you and put you behind bars, is that your complaint?”

    “Yes! How can people get away? Here, if I had done anything similar, I would have lost my life. Maybe if they had caught me when I was doing petty crimes, I wouldn’t have slid down this path.Dekhiye, we all want to live good lives, but majboori hai. We need to know that the system works.Bura insaan bhi sudharna chahta hai. Everyone wants to reform and live a clean life. But if the system allows you to remain bad and actually makes things worse and forces you to take the wrong path, where is the hope? Here, I live an honest life, drive the taxi, get my wages and tips, and I am happy. No crime around me, no crime for me. Tell me, if democracy can’t guarantee that, what’s the point of having it?”

    Of all the debates we have had about the challenges of democracy, few have been as disquieting as the one we had with this Indian taxi driver in Dubai.

------------------------

Niliesh-

Lets accept that if Democracy is giving you the various rights as we learnt in Civics at school, it is also at the same time empowering social evils with those very same rights at the same time.

Democracy unfortunately cannot distinguish between good and bad, because it gives en equal status to all. It is right in doing so. So then do we really cry foul of its inefficiancies?

Repeated adjournements, several hearing dates, lack of concrete evidences, statements and anti-statements, rather in a gist trying to accomodate every "tom dick and harry" clauses within itself, isnt even our Democratic Juduciary tied down securely with conviction coming ABSOLUTELY ONLY WHEN you present before the Court of Law "MOther of all" types of evidences?

I wonder if this will change and law EVER will be stricter to prevent more Shakeels.

Yes "He" can...And us?

2008-11-06T16:34:00.010+05:30

Carrying a middle name of Hussein and a colored skin, Barack Obama has done what very few others have in history.
Stand up, and stand strong against the conventional and being successful!

Well, I am here trying to draw parallels (or perpendiculars??) between this historic politician and our beloved Ram-Rajya Mantris!

For donkeys years now, Indian politicians always resort to mudslinging during elections, calling names a times completely out of context. Bulk of the “talk” time is “spend” on glorifying what the previous Government could not achieve. While the incumbent stick to what the Government has achieved!
What about the manifesto?
Oops! Start scratching their heads and release a “CD” or a “Corporate Presentation” (err Catalogues!). Come on, do we ever get to see that? Of-course not! No one really cares to read a Manifesto! Okay, I will correct myself; the opposition sure reads that! They need issues to attack the other during the next 5 years don’t they!

The way in which Obama guided American Voters to believe that there is something he could do to bring about that “change”, is nothing different from what an Advani or a Sonia Gandhi does. Politics, in its very nature BEGINS from rhetoric BUT has to conclude at delivering the Governance.

However, it is the grace in which Obama managed to garner the respect of the voters across the races. Colored and White skins together! Apart from his personal Charisma and oratory, most of the grace comes from the system of American Politicians to conduct themselves.

• Obama - McCain did very little of attacking each other, rather each of them claimed to be better equipped to handle American Issues better.
At our end; Congress MP Rajesh Khanna attacks Vajpayee questioning “We may have to ask the Prime Minister how, without being married, he has a son-in-law. Who is married to whom?”
And our dear George Fernandes responds to Sonia Gandhi “``what is her contribution to the nation? The two children she gave birth to.'' A BJP leader in Gujarat even called Sonia a bar-girl who danced in an Italian nightclub!

• Obama - McCain argued on Taxation, Outsourcing, and Health Care since these are the current issues America is fighting.
While we only heard “Reservations” and “Free TV’s!” “Free Electricity” and “We are for YOU” war cries!
This time though, I am sure we have “Marathi Vs Biharis” added “to taste”, just like you add salt “to taste”.

• Agendas keep changing in the US. While Bush argued Afghanistan and Iraq War, since USA could afford to do so that time. Obama went all out to end it. Bush Argued in his time for Homeland Security, Obama – McCain pressed the need of economic resurgence.
Too sad we end up listening to stories of ending Corruption for past 50years! Roti, bijli sadak are promised every year since Independence. Wonder when these are coming! Agree they are being delivered in small quanta’s, but when are we going to move on? Will issues ever change?

• Every Presidential candidate has an option to use the funds from the Federal system, which allows every American to donate 3$ from the Tax he pays to the Fed to the Election Fund. Of course Obama went all out to secure the funds from the public who paid the donations “legally” through the Internet!
Now, I wonder who is funding our politicians!??
The last Obama – McCain election campaign raised an estimated 1Billion US$ i.e. around Rs.4600 Crores. American population being 300million, and hence indeed works out to 3$ per capita donation!
What if we were to allow 1$ or say Rs.50 from every Tax Payer to the election fund on an Avg, cant we raise Rs.5000Crores? End to Corruption forever? Meaning, no party to spend on Winning Elections, hence no “recovery” during 5years of power and hence better governance?

• It is remarkable how Presidential Candidates sit across the same table and argue on National Television on they would get things right. There is a mark of respect to each other despite the dog fight! It is all in good taste and dignity.
"Beloved" Prakash Jawdekar, BJP and "Admirable" Abhishek Singhvi, Congress (both respective Spokesperson) make a mockery of our constitutional “Right to Freedom of Expression” by going absolutely at each other every time NDTV or IBN-7 gives them a phone call! Grow up guys!
Please stop insulting our intelligence!

It is remarkable how Presidential Candidates and their politics are given at least a clean colour, despite all the dirtiness behind it. The very sanctity of the coveted chair is kept in high moral ground and respected.
And it is just about time the Indian Democracy realizes that we are no longer just a large country with the second highest population and an extremely buoyant growing economy. We are a responsible and significantly important political power in Global Politics.

Obama proved he can. He let go of petty politics and called for America to Unite. He called for an end to political division at the hour of crisis. To add to this glorious moment in history, even McCain responds that they are Americans in the end and will need to resolve issues together!

At least, to start with we can try to a bit more “decent”? Parliament listening?

Somnath Pulls a Stunner!

2008-07-26T01:10:00.004+05:30

When was the last time we heard of a “speaker” of our version of the “house of commons” (read Lok Sabha) on the front page headlines for almost a fortnight! ?

Mr. Somnath Chatterjee, sitting MP of the current Lok Sabha

He has remarkably been elected to the Lok Sabha in all successive elections right from his first ever in 1971! That talks a lot from the constituency he is elected from and the kind of trust his “subjects” endow on him.

He was of course elected to be the Speaker of the House unopposed after the UPA Govt was sworn in May 2004 and a staunch Leftist for 40 years on a trot!

What he has done for the past fortnight is quite out in the open. My introspection remains on the possible outcomes if I were to be allowed to speculate on the a few political events that might come along!

To start with, let’s admit that it is a brave act to defy the party line and perform an unpopular act. And at a time, which is the evening of an illustrious political career!

But this one was for the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
But was it really such a brave decision or a canny one?

...the Left comrades are a distant lot whose predominance has been in the West Bengal and Kerala. The party or the lets put it that the “Left Ideology” in itself has disgruntled voters over decades now.

I would be speculating immensely, but firmly believe that the current West Bengal Govt could be the last “ever” Leftist Govt for that state!!

Anti-incumbency was never a factor, since 3 decades is long for a singular rule! So lets that out.

While the emergence of Mamta Banerjee with the Trinamool Congress at some point very soon will challenge the Left in its backyard and of course the natural successor to the throne, it is incumbent Left at the Centre itself that spells doom for itself!

Left’s stint at the Centre has been characterized by perhaps being the single largest opposition to the Ruling Alliance itself.

Lack of political vision and strategies seemed the very obvious reasons for its opposition to most of the Govt’s initiatives.

Opposing FDI in retail, Disinvestment in PSUs, Isurance reforms, etc etc, and of course the most talked about N-Deal! Guys we need that nuclear fuel!!

If I were an illiterate Bengali voter, I would see the developed states with investments, opportunities, changing outlook, lifestyles!

I would see “my” Left comrades being laughed out at as the “real” opposition.

I would finally see that the Left despite being a member of the ruling coalition sitting right outside the Govt with not a single Portfolio, and that too demanded it so!

I see some Mr.Prakash Karat , who has never won an election and a non-Bengali become what is known to be the Left face!

I finally acknowledge that post the Trust Vote, the Left has been thrown out of the corridors of New Delhi, not because of political rivalry purely, but primarily because of political “behaviors”.

I reconsider my vote, the next time a Comrade comes to my little village for votes, because despite the entire “circus” nothing has really changed outside my courtyard.

I am finally fed up as even Jyoti Basu is talking about reforms, and the rest of the pack doesn’t even understand what Reforms mean.

Now back to the real me, I predict that the Left will lose the next election in the state and shall not form a Govt in Bengal for a long time, while at the Centre they would bag no more than 20 MP’s from the current 60 something they managed!

And THIS, I firmly believe was one of the many things running through Mr. Chatterjee’s mind!

Mr.Somnath’s Chatterjee could not have achieved anything beyond what he already has in his political career a fortnight ago.

Another fact. Unlike the Chinese comrades, the desi version has too much of an inertia getting out of its own mould. Communists in the Indian Democracy are done with and cannot be revived beyond any tiny stubborn factions. We need something happening afresh with Dark Spectacle framed, white starched Kurta clad Leftists.

Resigning from the post of Speaker would make him vulnerable from the diatribe of UPA and NDA alike. And indeed would have twisted the turn of events even more than it already had done. A Trust Vote without a Speaker! Maybe the Rajya Sabha Speaker would have been roped in, but some kind of “Political Stigme” he would have had to face after the UPA has won, would have blotted his long public life.

UPA win or loss, the Left was anyways out of the Ruling Coalition.

And perhaps though, their last EVER stint in the ruling coalitions for decades to come, unless of course some drastic change of events in the “mentality” of Leftist in this country.

Somnath Chatterjee has pulled off an absolutely amazing act, by staying on as the Speaker to convene the Trust Vote.

He maintained the sanctity of the post of the Speaker in its truest sense.

He has all of a sudden become politically “independent”

And most importantly not being included in the most “hated” lot for the time being. (Read THE LEFT)

His party might go to ditches back in West Bengal next elections, but he has won some political accolades in New Delhi. This in turn is his “own” political survival which was otherwise doomed just like his party’s.

A possible influence could be by being the Speaker of the Lok Sabha; the duty itself needs to be discharged quite impartially. Hence, some kind of moral ground being held by him personally against the Party Ideology. It indeed would have been one scene, if he would have to vote in case of a tie. My take, he would have voted for the UPA.

He now becomes an independent, Speaker of the Lok Sabha and truly demonstrated as being the rightful custodian of the Parliament. And at the moment has become everybody’s darling! I am sure the Left is kicking its own for having to “compulsorily” remove him from the party membership.

All this, I speculate he could be the contender for the next President of the India! Proposed by none another but both the BJP or the UPA, whichever is power next! And that time around though, there would be no "foreign hand"!

Lemuria

2008-04-09T13:21:00.001+05:30

How many of you have felt this?!!

Living with Differences

2008-01-17T18:04:00.001+05:30

Evolution of society the way it has, has influenced humans for the way we think and the differences we harbor, especially the communal ones. The reasoning lies deep into our psyche not as a personality trait, but as a part of fundamental upbringing we are brought up with. Political scenarios of various ages, though have been primarily responsible in reinforcement of these differences and creation of vast nations, states and hence communities. Our history from the ancient past stands testimony to this argument. In spite of those inevitable differences, if we are to continue to live and not coexist, we must learn to willfully and respectfully accommodate the other. The “forces” shall remain opportunists to every event of “differences”… But indeed they are nothing but a reflection of society and hence of you and me.

-Niliesh Gurnani

The evolution of society might have well lied in those innumerable events that went unrecorded in any of those historical manuscripts. An “act”, subconscious or deliberate in intent, by any of the constituents of society would have had a reaction from the others. The succeeding chain of events would have began with introspection, conflict within, leading to the formation of “group”ism, ambition to overcome the other, and finally a “resolution” leading to creation of history what we know as. These events often must have decided destiny of clans & communities, regions or even nations. Theses events were most often than not, resulted out of difference of opinions and egos of men and clans obsessed with their fundamentals of the “right way”.

This by no means is purely an educated speculation of the communal nature of human society but the most logical reasoning of the vast number of communities, sects, and why leave alone nations, being formed. Will give due regard to natural inhabitants of a particular mass of land, and their right to ownership of that piece of land. But divisions amongst EVEN them must have been formed on the very basis of fundamental “differences”!

If one were to ponder over the divisions of society that mankind has been successful in creating within itself, the introspection will reveal one nation as a standout from the rest. Yes, I am talking about India if you still didn’t guess the obvious. We continue to divide ourselves, as late as the years of the 2000s and one wonders if it stops here! Some would argue that we ourselves are one sixth of World’s Population, and such a large number of divisions are bound to come. Even China, harboring more the other sixth, has a history of innumerable clans which today co-exist in modern state, just like India. So the “numbers” make up for themselves and the number of divisions well justified.

Even politics of Louisiana continues to be largely communal with the fact that, a third of population is Catholic. Bobby Jindal, the first Indian-American Governor, is always credited with victory to the fact he departed from Hinduism in his young phase, changed his first name from ‘Piyush’ to ‘Bobby’ to sound like the one of the land. Shias and Sunnis continue to hold ground against each other world over, the infamous Capitalists Vs Communists, and lines always divided passionately between the fans of a Manchester United– Liverpool league game. Even though sport is always never looked at from this point of view and slated only to be a matter of passion, the passion indeed arises out “regionalism” of one’s team, hence of various communities of people.

But we as a country have far more reasons of divisions within, than just the boundaries of a state or our religions. When there are more than 800 dialects for the language of Hindi, this manifests itself into an enormous number of communities and ways of life our 1.2billion population are divided into. This in turn, no doubts, builds our rich culture and heritage as there might be more than ten thousand ways of preparation of even dal-rice, but results in more than a million Gods, and religious beliefs we so staunchly stand by. These in turn create the stubbornness in our very unique way of life, which is precisely what defines us quite distinctly from the rest of the world.

These divisions seem perfectly fine, as we exercise the one of its kind morale of Unity in Diversity. We have large amounts of migrating population, which in a bid to live more prosperously move towards “supposedly” better states just like Bihairs migrating to the “Rajdhani’s”, the South Indians to the north, vice versa. We have festivals celebrated unilaterally, social organizations being made up of all kinds of people, shanty hutments beside multiplexes, cricket matches! You couldn’t ask for a better harmonious model of human existence than this!

So then, where does it all go wrong? Are we truly living peacefully with the differences born within or just about hanging on the edge, waiting for an opportunity to lash out, at the other? The fact that we continue to be divided, rather communalized historically, by the “forces” and not by the “will of the masses” is my point of introspection.

By “forces” I don’t just mean the political ones of today’s multi-party democracy, but our entire “social engineering” existing from the ancient past. And off-course all these were political in nature. Often under the pretext of having a representation of the masses, these “forces” have acted to their best vested interests and termed it as the “will of the masses”. It’s far too obvious that social rules, regulations, laws and hence divisions were formed not by the masses, but by parliaments, elected representatives, religious heads, darbari’s, birbal’s and wise men with “power” in hand.

Countless number of Princely States and an equal number of power centers, frequent battles within, wars to take over states, the Harijans, the Rajputs, the Brahmins, the Kshtriyas. All suggest our politics and social engineering historically seems to be routed deep in the divisions and creating newer ones. Irrespective of the nature of the era they belong, political origin, party they belong, and history they carry, they all constitute together what I call as the “forces” of the Great India Diversity.

These “forces” often comprise of men with “patriarchal” intellect and commanding “personas” who so often possess those skills of “mass persuasion” and hence successful in creating those divisions, mostly arising out of their own ambitions and the so called manipulated or rather “projected” will of the masses. It would have been no different in 1550s as it is in the 2000s, as our fundamentals have remained the same. It’s only the “dynamics” that seem to have moved far ahead.

As human society has evolved in the way it has, we have by our birth right the liberty to maintain our opinions and views, and further an undisputed right of expression of the same. These opinions often turn emotional and sentimental in nature when they are in the context of one’s religion or community. Exercising the Right of Expression needs to be done with caution when you tread on those lines. Harmony doesn’t arise out of coexisting with the differences between any two, rather being respectful to and accommodating the other. Often, the “expression” is responsible for erratic events more than any other reason.

Harmony indeed is lost, when we talk about reservations to a particular community. It is lost when a kid is made to realize and write his caste and religion on the enrolment form in school, maybe for the purpose of census. It is lost when a Godhra or Gurjars-Meenas clash occur due to the will of the “forces”. Harmony is lost, when Ram Setu becomes a subject of debate, rather than one’s personal matter of faith!

Unfortunately, violence is the most natural outcome of any kind communal spat. Its potential is well known to the “forces”, while the “subjects” inflicting the violence on the other have a sadistic satisfaction out of the same. It’s how we humans have come to evolve. Violence has been the most walked path when ever there is a need of protection of “self”. This is a reality and it’s another fundamental aspect of a human mind. This is more profound when it is communal, because religion is often regarded so sacred, that protection of a community, even if it is supposedly “projected” by the “forces”, is taken up by many as a self-imposed purpose of life.

Without getting into details of every incident of communal violence, as it is beyond the scope, there cannot be a “mass movement” without a method, or an able and organized leadership supporting it. “Herds” don’t possess the collective intellect or sort of direction, as it is only a force which has potential only when it receives able direction. And hence, “forces” are well placed through their influence to “guide” the “herds” either towards the harmony, or igniting the passions further. If only communal riots and violence were born out of itself, would it have been fairly easy to curb by the administrators. Because it is NOT, it percolates to every corner of habitation like a forest fire.

The incidents of violence not only affect the direct “participants” and “the organizers” but they affect the communities as well. The incidents invite widespread opinion and reaction. Sentiments begin to seep in from “fellow” mates and often succeed over intelligence and common sense. All of a sudden Love thy neighbor becomes a sin. And this is where all the harmony that was achieved prior to the incident begins to be lost.

The part of the population that never directly gets involved in the violent acts begin to form stronger opinions, reinforce the age old theories of hatred and is thus divided more deeply. These form stronger ideologies either, For or Against, a particular community. Over time, which could be as short as the incident itself, the ideology spreads, and the lesser influential community is “labeled” and becomes what we today politically know as “minority”. Minorities always and will exist, but it is the way the minorities are handled by the governing system with a tremendous amount of bias, that is inviting my flak.

The active involvement of the “forces” in these “differences” is what gives the entire façade a strong reasoning, logic or reality notwithstanding. Communities have a platform to justify all that happened, and further pursue the cause in the name of religion. The movement is sustained for ages, and kept fresh & alive in every successive generation by the “forces” as if it were a part of mandatory and essential education! How would we be free of the divide? Where do we find the harmony? Or our history is so much reflecting in our attitude that we fail to differentiate between rationalism and fanatism? Would we “live” or simply “coexist” in the guise of living with the “differences” that is so inevitable in nature?

On the very positive side, our upbringing involves in it cultural values, and a faith towards ones religion and community. The numbers of deities itself manifests the various aspects of the Indian way of life and is unique unlike any society. Various avatars of “Krishna” himself provide the understanding of various philosophies of life. Religion always teaches one to respect and accommodate, and try to do away with the human instinct of superiority over others.

Somewhere in the process of following ones religion and the subtle patriotism towards ones community, is born the “stubbornness” and over time converts to “intolerance”. These are human tendencies which are inherited, and preaching to get rid of such traits, are best left to the satsangis. However, these traits are real, natural and harbored further by the environment we live in, and finally reinforced by history and the “forces”. Rajnish Osho famously said “don’t try to destroy with the darkness, instead light up new candles”.

We shall live harmoniously perhaps only if the “intolerance” remains superficial and not deep within, being restricted to ones opinion & judgment within the personal domain, and doesn’t culminate into an ambition of elimination of the other “opinion”. We indeed live in harmony with these differences, if you and I agree to disagree on each other ways, but still eventually travel together, side by side. The “forces” are opportunists which thrive on such communal ambitions, and History itself is the proof of such events of intense differences!

Taking a leaf out from an animated motion picture Lion King, where it famously explained the vicious circle of life “the goat eats the grass, the lion eats the goat and when the lion dies, it becomes the grass”! There cannot be a better anecdote to summarize how to live with the differences!

Reclaim your Life!

2007-12-12T18:57:00.001+05:30

2007-11-28T18:33:00.001+05:30

[[listen to it with speakers ON]

...well these comments indeed took some while to come, but I "always wanted" to write on the above piece of video! a subtle urge to appreciate the very best!

The above commercial sure provides ample inspiration for one to own an SUV. A mind-boggling compilation! I wonder if there has been ever a commercial like this, which will make you watch it over and over again...somewhere surely it satisfies the "adrenaline" that it creates!

Even though advt far "exceeded" the product itself, it nevertheless gave a boost to the dying Tata Safari a few years ago!

Commercial advts beamed into living rooms, are often regarded as the most critical marketing ploy when it comes to consumer products. They more often than create a sentiment of "purchase" and drive the sales. Tata's Safari was always a non-starter ever since it was born! Nagging issues, poor fit -finish, "drawn down saggy" engine, "not so great" ride quality, and practically everything else with the SUV seemed to be wrong...And every time they had a variant coming, it was no more than the same old wine in a new bottle!

Getting back to the advt, its a flawless work of thoughts put together!
The one thing that makes this advt a masterpiece indeed is the content, way the "content" is put across and off-course along with the sound-track that runs in the background. Though its inspired from the number "Summer Overture", its been re-creating quite differently and almost to perfection!

The built up to the peak, is quite dramatic. The phrases like "I always wanted to quit on Monday morning", "I always wanted to chase the rain"! "Always wanted..."

...doesn't leave anything to be said!

...so how ridiculous are they?

2007-11-02T19:29:00.000+05:30

For a hypothetical situation, if politics was indeed a subject of fine “arts”, and there was a university directly under the jurisdiction of a Private Body named Association of Former Member of Parliament, we would have had parliamentarians with graduate degrees like B.Tech (Mud-slinging), Post Graduate Diploma (“Mass” Communication) or maybe some thing like a Ph.D. (“Denial” Practices)!

The most important course offered by such a hypothetical university shall indeed a Management Training Program (read short term crash courses) in the event of a "new" fellow being accidentally elected. This will be on topics like
“Committee Formation”,
“Handling situations by recourse to Inquiry Commissions and Resignation Demands” or something like

“How to handle Law and Order Situation, when your party is in opposition”!

There have been various incidents comical debates between our elected politicians, which quite evidently reveal the obvious even though the denial is pursued till an event of the representative changes his party in the future time. This kind cacophony our Honourable Ministers indulge in, provide more entertainment than governance.

A few of them which I can recollect:

=== “Hamari desh ki Bhasha mein bolo!” by the now, Hon Minister of Railways Mr. Lalu Prasad “ji” Yadav! In his typical theatrical performance demanded that BJP’s Yashwant Sindhi, then the Finance Minister addressing the Parliament on the Budget, should be done in Hindi and not in English! Someone please ask Lalu, if he knows what “inflation” is called in Hindi! I for one have no idea! Off course, Lalu would have forgotten about it, since he was then in the opposition. And it is forbidden by the “laws of politics” to remember any issue which had prevailed during the time when you were in the opposition!

===The ever so confused Mr.Vilasrao Deshmukh has only himself to blame. During every issue he is caught on the wrong foot. When farmers were committing suicide, he was somewhere else. When Bal Thackeray was being mentioned in the Mumbai Riots case, he accidentally mentions that “There is no evidence against Balasaheb”. He must have had a phone call from Delhi, reminding him that it is Narayan Rane who has left Shiv Sena and not Bal Thackeray. Our man immediately corrects himself saying “I have been misquoted and ShreeKrishna Commission has already put in place, and report will talk”. Wonder if BJP-Shiv Sena said this to Congress “Listen guys, you keep quiet on ShreeKrishna and we keep quiet on the Bofors!”

===H D Dewe Gowda, perhaps is the most revered err remembered PM of this country. He seriously was so bored, that he would take long naps in the middle, and would simply sign on Bills, and Acts. Well, now that he has lost his sleep, I sure know why. His son Kumaraswamy definitely must have got a blank cheque signed from HD senior! No wonder father-son seemed to have distanced themselves light years apart in the near past!

I can safely assume that there isn’t any embarrassing moment than to see your own photo on cover page fast asleep. And if you happen be to the Prime Minister, the feeling can just get worse!

===Wonder whether Rabri Devi ever read any “paper” leave alone a “document” when she ran Bihar from her kitchen! Did she ever sign? I have my doubts. Even she did I believe she must have used her thumb impression on Day 1. Lalu must have heard this, and had a rubber stamp of “Rabri L Devi” home delivered! Otherwise why would have you such “respected” Public Figures being called Rubber Stamp Chief Ministers?

===The very recent incident, which I was amazed of, was again with the Gowdas! Kumaraswamy packed off all his MLAs to a Resort! This is not the first time he did that, but second in 6months! Now first, the purpose is to treat the MLAs for their “contribution” to the party. And the real reason being, so that his MLAs could not defect! He is a smart man though, with the fact that he even got mobile jammers installed all over the Resort, so that no other party member could even reach his MLAs. What about the land-phones?

===Our Advani once went to Pakistan. He was so overwhelmed by the welcome he received, that he was all at sea how to thank the Pakistanis. Guess he forgot that such welcomes are a part and parcel of political visits. Nevertheless, Advani wanted to still thank Musharaf so he began to praise Jinnah, assuming Musharaf would understand the indirect reference to him. Or was it? I am sure Vajpayee must have called up Advani and told him “Advaniji, (pause) Muslim vote (pause, pause) Pakistan mein nahi (big pause) Gujarat mein chahiye”!

===This one is fresh from today’s front page. And ridiculous of ‘em all! On the occasion of Indira Gandhi’s Death Anniversary some Madhu Koda said “Today is also Sonia Gandhi's martyrdom day...”! Err he accidentally misplaced Indira with Sonia! You can’t blame him, since his mind was perhaps on counting the number of people attending the gathering. But then the explanation comes "Apna aadarniya neta ke naam to haar waqt leteh hein (I often take her name (Sonia Gandhi), and naturally it slipped out”. Now was that required?

I wonder how and when our politician just about turn so ridiculous, that even personal image is then at behest of rhetoric they practice. There isn’t any substance left, while all they can see, if “recovery” of the money invested by their respective parties for the last election.

Off course the logic goes like this, since we invested for the election “amongst” the people, we indeed need to “recover” it back, with some “reasonable” margin, so that we are back again with fresh investments 5years later! I think such “investments” need to be made legal and rechristened as PIIs, Political Institutional Investors! Is Damodaran hearing?

...it's a classic!

2007-09-25T13:16:00.003+05:30

It wouldn’t be too wrong to mention that sportsmen live like an "Alice in Wonderland"...Every move, every act, every word is tracked and finds its way to morning breakfast tables...If this pressure is real, then we have super humans living amongst us in those great sporting heroes...Pressure often is not for the performance, rather for a reputation, pride of a nation, or simply the unwillingness to lose...

Whatever it maybe, we have a new bunch of 11 young kids hailed as the new "guardians" of Indian cricket!
Cant bet on the number of legends in the making from the current playing 11, but what it does is create an amazing “competition” now for full fledged 50overs ODI game.!

What is more important, are the games that followed before the “theatrics” of the final. The manner in which the Ranchi guy, rubbed salt on wounds of many.

It was the game versus England that set it all up. How many times you have the over reading 6-6-6-6-6-6 in international cricket?! For the record it has been done only 4times in world cricket in over a century of history.! It just sets up the tone of the game, and the ones to follow! And out of the corner of your eye, you can see the new Anglo-Indian rivalry in the making!

Beating South Africans in their own game was something special! The chokers stood so strong to their reputation! South Africa is an unfortunate side, since they have perhaps the best team combination for every major series in world cricket, everytime led by an outstandingly courageous skipper who is always at helms of their affairs.

As Harsha Bhogle put it, India out ”fielded” South Africa! These are brave words, but there is no reason to see it otherwise…

Aussies came as they always do…tough on everything and seriously can make world class bowlers look ordinary. I have always rated Australia as the strongest batting lineup in the past decade. This is even above our “decorated” middle order! Putting the Aussies out of match, where they couldn’t chase a target is something not done too often for long now. An aging side? I dont think so, considering the fact that Matt Hayden still ended up the highest run getter! And chasing in T20 was considered easier! I believe Aussies got it wrong in their bowling throughout that tournament (ok SriLanka was a freak game)...I am sorry Ian Chappel, but taking wickets is not always the best way to win...its not that 1 magic ball, but the remaining 23 on the perfect spots, that gets you there...

Spare a thought for Mr.Misbah! That flick was almost finding its way over Shri’s head to the boundary rope. Its one of those “fairytale” classics, which this young lad will have to live with. Wonder, if he will get a chance to redeem himself!

For the time being, its Chak de India!

How about our farming?

2007-09-19T18:13:00.000+05:30

It has been some time since I last read about anything spectacular about Agriculture in this country..

"Economic Times" usually does the round around the end of summer to predict the rainfalls and hence the Farm Produce. Politicians keep crying foul on the need to improve the condition of Indian Agricultural conditions and its "sustainability"...and then there are suicides...and the figures so easily seem to fluctuating as if it were an exchange controlled scrip price.

Is Agriculture as a sector in India headed towards something gloomier than it is now?

Or is it just a phase, where most of us seem to have taken for granted that the "food grains" will be kept supplied irrespective of how much attention we paid to it as a country? Only to wake up one day, when the import bill would have become over the roof?

There was a discussion posted on apnirai.com suggesting Agriculture being India's key to growth and this piece of writing is basically in response to the same. Can India's "agriculture" be treated at par with IT and Manufacturing as one of the pillars of our GDP?

Most bearcats in public life talk only about Self-Sufficiency when it comes to the Agri Industry as such. Terming the industry as a potential "out performer" for this country would seem as irrelevant and vague as talking about Indians learning to play baseball... For those who think India should look up to on "Agriculture" to boost and become a sector as IT and Services to be a dominant part of our GDP, please have a look ..

India and Brazil have much in common, (except the people off course) and hence are comparable at most times. China is perhaps the next tall boy of Global Economy while the US still remains as on date the largest one to Benchmark.

India's share of Agriculture in our GDP interestingly is the highest amongst the four. Standing at 18.3% its contribution is significant. Well that's sometimes obvious, since we need to feed a 6th of the World's population. And we are traditionally an Agricultural dependant Economy (off course not anymore!)

China has a higher produce (nearly double!) to feed another 6th, and off course end up having a huge surplus and command a cool 3.5% of World Agricultural Export Trade.

US has a marginal 1% of its GDP as Agricultural Produce and is almost equal to that of India's Produce, which gives you an idea how big the US economy is.

The US ends up commanding an alarming 10% of World Agricultural Trade. Even though there are huge imports into US, but that shows how much balance of trade the US maintains.

We have given up most land for Agri Purpose, which is as high as 60%, the highest amongst the comparison countries.

Off course, we hardly export Agri Produce, least amongst the competition.

We have an alarming lowest Per Capita Agricultural Produce, being at 1/4th of the US!! 1/3rd of Brazil!! ½ of China!! That’s our efficiency for you!

India’s key is to reach Self Sufficiency, and then begin to target Agriculture as a significant GDP component again. Rising population is keeping the pressure on the demand, while huge development projects meaning giving away land for Infrastructure.
And off course, our systems ensure huge surplus being wasted in Warehouses further diminishes hope of making money on the food we produce.

We seriously getting nowhere with 3% increase in Agri Produce while sustaining a whopping 2.13% increase in population!!

For all those who think, India has a good outlook for Agriculture being a dominant part of our booming economy, think again!

Method in the Madness...

2007-09-14T18:50:00.001+05:30

Isn’t it interesting to note that how often the ignorance of not knowing an art is as justified as it were a few chapters you deliberately skipped during school!

Strange enough, there is a "particular" art, rather a skill, often regarded as being anti-social. People possessed with this art being so popularly labeled as manipulators, operators, riggers! If it still doesn’t ring any bells, well then, I am talking about of the "art of investing in Stock Market"

Those bulls and the bears stories. Playing in these “bourses” is like being a “matador” in those Spanish bull fights. For those, who possess this art, “happy investing”, for those who don’t, might as well read on...
What is the Sensex? and what does it really indicate? Sensex (Sensitive Index) was formed in 1979 with a base of 100 and always governed by 30biggest companies as per Market Capitalization (MCAP), taken across the board of all sectors.

MCAP? That is the number of shares of the company multiplied by the share value. In short, if you were to buy any company, that is amount of money, you have to pay.

But that is not all. There is something called as Free-Float in the market. This is amount of shares which can traded on the exchange.

Because off-course, shares held by Directors, Owners, Preference Share Holders are never traded on the exchange. These are held by them and never traded by "matadors" in the bull ring..! Only those shares which are alloted to the public to raise the initial amount of money are traded on the exchange. So now you have Free-Float MCAP.

The Free-Float MCAP of 30 biggest companies was then considered and taken as base in 1979 and the index was given a base of 100...And the weightage of each company on this index depends on their individual MCAP.

So when a share price of any of these companies increase, so will the MCAP and so will the Free Float MCAP. But what about the index figure?

It’s a representation of how much that “100” has grown into today! If MCAP of 30largest companies then was 100, today it 15,000!

In practical sense, if you put 1lakh Rs. in Sensex then, today you would have made 1.5Cr.Rs.!

So, there could be a mixed day, when Reliance share will charge 5%, and say reliance contributes 10% weightage to the index, the Sensex will move up by 0.5% due to Reliance, and so on for the other 29 largest listed companies.

For the number game though, today the Sensex has a Free Float MCAP of around

1.03 Million Crore Indian Rupees!

1 point swing means roughly around 65 Crore Rupees of liquid cash on the line!

Tequilla Vs Scotch Whisky

2007-09-06T16:34:00.001+05:30

...who ever has ever had a few shots of tequila down the throat will know what I am talking about...more than the alcoholic kick, the whole process of having it, there is a feeling of being "raw"..having the "shotz" is something like a wild act...
...come down to having a fine scotch of 12-18years, and suddenly realize that its all about being classy...rich with spending a lifetime maturing in those barrels before flowing magically through your gullet...

...the very reason for drawing a comparison of this nature on Sachin Tendulkar, past and present, is the fact that both are absolutely enjoyable, thoroughly effective and each capable of delivering a punch! ...what differs is the mood..
you associate a 'scotch on the rocks' in your coach of your living room, perhaps so because you would know the elements of the drink only when you concentrate on it rather than gulp it down like you would do with a shotz of tequila...

Sachin Tendulkar no longer is the 'Superman' of cricket, rather the adjective could justified as the 'Lord of the Rings'...If there cricket were truly a "Hindu Religion", he would have been the "Shankaracharya"...

He is an epitome of batsmanship in cricket, whos legends will be recalled decades down the line...would be rightly said that he is the 'Soul' of Modern Indian Cricket...But is the 'Mortal' withing slowly being revealed? Just when he began to show glimpses of what he had been, slowly unearthed cruel reminder...

the little man seems aging...the reason I say it seems, is not for his age, but for the time he has spent in the middle...I wonder what playing 600 something International Innings actually mean with 25,000 something runs off that willow!! would be a mind boggling figure if someone were to estimate the number of times a cricket ball has hit sachin's bat!

...as Harsha Bhogle rightly pointed out instantly after Sachin's pull shot, something didnt seem right about it...the innings truly characterized a sort of an "enigma" around Tendulkar...he probably has the same "engine" beneath but somewhere the tuning has been changed...
Sachin has alot of to give to the game as yet, and I wouldnt be suprised if he were to hang around for another 2 years, post the current series..the man is good enough to be in any World XI, truly by the instinct he has, but somewhere he seems dragging his muscles too far...

...maybe still trying to gulp down tequilas, when he knows he can do no more than couple of pegs of fine Scotch..

Finally here..

2007-09-04T20:29:00.000+05:30

blog (n). (blŏg)
intr.v. blogged, blog·ging, blogs
an online diary; a personal chronological log of thoughts published on a Web page; also called Weblog, Web log

...I dont quite think, this word existed a decade ago...should be one of those "new entrants" into the English Language Dictionaries, being modified from eternity..to be honest, I would have been looking for a dictionary myself if asked for such a kind of a "word" less than 3years ago..

I guess, this is the Orkut age and that kind of time seems like a mini-generation..trust me on this again, that I would have struggled to reach to this precise "dictionarized" meaning , had'nt I read the above..

ahh, but didnt we engineers always feel, its more important to know the concept rather than the formulas..! So what's in the dictionary meaning, I always knew its some kind of individual writings's on the Web..

Just wanted to make sure, the "equations" are in place, before I set out writting the concepts..