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Creating future on liberally expanding rational thinking. A mind fixated to past self destructs.

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Bhart Ratna for sportsmen

Bharat Ratna has lost its appeal. I feel pity for those who demand it for achievers who primerily excel for reasons of commercial gains (let's not forget this basic motive, collateral reason could be national pride). Similarly those who demanded this award for people of calibre like Subhash and Patel did injustice to them. If you check who all have received Bharat Ratna for political reasons it would be difficult to place Patel with them. Such honor should be reserved for very very exceptional persons and need not be given frequently but very rarely to maintian it's exclusivity. There are many more awards to choose from , for players, actors and politicians.

Mario Miranda



Mario Miranda shrunk cities in newspaper corners while creating stories in multidimensional visuals , one could even read the lips and eyes of the person caricatured most insignificantly among dozens of characters. You immortalized Bombay, you immortalized your unique style.There is no match to your art . Fortunately you made sure that you never die...RIP

Indira's grand wish from '71

In a war never had ever all happened as planned. We must count gains and determine that we won. When Pakistan invaded Indian airspace they were also not on suicidal mission . They must have been dreaming of checkmating Delhi . As Radio Pakistan used to announce (we used to hear from Radio Lahore during war as child and I still recollect) that Pakistan has taken over large areas including Amritsar, most of Punjab and are marching towards Delhi!!. But they actually and eventually failed to realize their dreams (Radio stories were reflection of those dreams only). It was a major victory for India, Indira's plans and expectations (incorporation into India southern part of Pak Occupied Kashmir, destroying Pakistani military for ever so that it should never pose any threat India in future- Indira being quoted by CIA cable to Washington ) from that war might have been too much and pleasant to expect from any war. Saying that the plans were leaked by an insider to affect the outcome is simplistic rationale to think of. This could happen anywhere even if true and it would be more of academic interest only. Setting up moles. is also war game.

"We are afraid that if nothing is done to stop it, East Pakistan will become a Bhutan and West Pakistan will become a Nepal."- Kissinger to Chinese Ambassador on December 10.

Things were not that very simple for such cables (above) to form or alter situation. This may have been one of many many resources which were determining course of action during those two weeks. It would be of interest to go through transcript of meeting on December 10 between Ambassador Huang Hua, Chinese Permanent Representative to the UN and Henry Kissinger (National Security Affairs Ambassador George Bush also there !!). The information and strategies were at far higher plane. Kissinger knew of surrender that day itself (Dec 10) as he informed Chinese.( on spy issue there is interesting part in this document Kissinger telling Huang "..We read that you brought a master spy with you... " 

Let justice prevail with equity...

So many politician are in jail these days, some even for taking bribe of mere 3 Lakh. That's good justice. Now, why leave those who perpetuate (and lead ) violence and indulge in fake encounters to settle political score. Why not those who appeared so evidently in jain hawala diaries...why not those who sold govt. hotels for peanuts and made Crores in resales...why not those who hobnobed with terrorists in full glare of TV in name of negotiations ...why not those who sold Govt companies and let them make millions in property valuations only.... why not those who first formulated spectrum policy... why not those who sold national pride by walking to hijackers to gain false glory...And why not those who gave opportunity to Pakistan to reveal its, so far only doubted , nuclear arsenal ( +1 ours) and turned them nuclear state in one silly moment...why not those who openly impose illegal censorship on media and cinema...

Pseudo-patriots

If sedition is to be defined in its correct perspective ( damaging interests of our nation), I am sure all jails would remain full for many years with pseudo Deshbhakts who claim to issue certificats of patriotism to others while themselves gnawing at very foundation of the nation.

Illness in service sector

Apathy towards customers services from companies like Airtel, which have wide network effecting vast section of populace , actually releases cat of suspicion among politicians on efficacy of Pvt sector to serve better. Had Airtel been an individual it could as well be in Tihar jail for fleecing customers in name of high-speed UNLIMITED (?) broadband for their arbitrary definition of 'UNLIMITED' .

Earlier I had BSNL but they have no customer service concept. If net works it would go on very well but if it has to go down, no one would attend for month. And you can't make them sit up and listen any way. Govt should not be in service industry.They should set up strong regulator which has powers to punish rogue service providers and we should have easier means to register complains. TIMES Now was asked to deposit 100crore recently by court for their misadventure of showing a citizen in poor light ...that should be norm rather an exception.

Their times , our end

This is India...It would be slap on face of majority Indians, farmers and middle class consumers, who make core of national economy. Everyone s()ucks them but no one stands by them . They are taken for guaranteed. So called leaders of farmers in India would forever be villains for having failed to stand by FDI in Retail . Their true political leaning stand exposed as they take their place alongside those who have been practically holding 99% Indians at ransom for centuries. And so they would continue with bigger vigor now and feed political class who helps them loot more with impunity .


We almost live in jungle with beasts sharing consumers without any control . Let order be brought in,let prosperity of resources be shared with equity, let hoarders, adultrators be tamed with fair competition -one can always give sermons to protect and promote marginalized ones later... Let present day retail system and it's supporter be 'marginalized' for once and forced to improve 

Retail maze: Who fills Ramlila ground ?

I always used to wonder who are the people who go to Ayodhya despite such charged atmosphere. Who has so much time. Who fills up Ramlila ground. I saw none in my neighborhood willing to do so. All have jobs in hand to do. Back in my village, farmers never ventured out for such amusing expeditions for they lacked time. Then who has so much time and value system to please particular political class. It's clear now those who are supporting their cause are only repaying ...

Local retailers have been hated by public for centuries mainly for their arrogance and lately greed which is reflected in hoarding, adopting dubious means, escalation, adulteration what not. They can only be tamed with stick of efficient competition. Otherwise in a democracy voice of majority prevails and I am sure beneficiaries are several folds more. Margins will come down so the prices. If I am not happy I can write on fb, twitter, blog and make them listen to me or make them unpopular but I just can't make my local sabjiwala listen to me if he sells me artificially colored Capsicum.

It's time to expose what really plagues this nation. These are the people who corrupt low paying Govt officials to get petty contracts and make inferior supplies and then stand with Anna to appear clean. They color your vegitable and mix urea to milk, sell spurious medicines and still show you utter arrogance. They mark up price of commodities many fold and make vulgar profits . Marginalizing this class should be national aspiration.

Beware of Pied Pipers and Puppeteers of Doom

Taliban, Hitler, Mussolini, Idi Amin , Khmer, successfully titillated the masses and received applauds and welcome in beginning, only to lead their nations to destruction and suffering later.They all touched weak nerves to instill false pleasure and passion and people gave in and followed blindly. Deja vu looms, seeing so many being led away by Pied Pipers of Evil today in this nation to the same path.

No one  usurped power in India. Those who rule today are the ones we chose and we will have option to remove them soon. Those who are in haste are the ones who know they can't get past the rule book, so want to subvert the systems. If jackals enter my fields I am not going to light the crop. I am very sure majority of Indians will never hand over strings to puppeteers of doom. They will listen, learn and decide.


Political plays

Were, as it appears now, Cash-for vote, 2G, Anna - all hullabaloos apparently well story-boarded, thoughtfully scripted plays (ok, receiving applause for excellent enactment)? Isn't it time to gather all behind the scene thinktanks-directors, script writers , to the stage in finale to let public decide?

In eighties we had an ‘independent’, highly acclaimed ‘editor’ and an equally independent ‘economic analyst’ writing in alleged public interest for months on corruption in Govt and shaking it out. Both later turned out to be core brains for a political ideology and took formal positions in that organisation.We had constitutional and Govt functionaries who while in office took stands which rocked the Govts and later these gentlemen were quick to reveal their leaning and join their masters for gains .

Prancing kids on political arena....

A few rogue children have been pushed to play in the backyard, running amok these novice imps have been damaging every door and window of the house. They fight among themselves and call names. Those who had brought these kids up and had left in backyard , clap and rejoice from other side at the plight of broken window panes. It is time for firm action to pull their ears and ask them to shut up and leave and to go and hang around on branches at the other side.

Let faith be in heart and rationality in head.

Parsees were never Hindus. We must not assimilate them? Why do some think this land belongs to those only who fall/ fell into present day definition of Hindus? India is because of the reasons of GEOGRAPHY and HISTORY not because of faith. Where are Shuns and Kushans ? Millions of army from central Asia which came down to this land never returned. Where are they gone? Where from Mongoloid races of northern hills, northeast and Bengal ( !!) came from ?This is a complex nation and that's its beauty. Let's cherish that.

Let faith be in heart and rationality in head.

Faith has nothing to do with being Indian

My wife teaches very small children at Noida and , coincidentally , just a week back she shared an incident of organising fancy dress competition in her class . Parents were free to decide what they wanted their child to be. While many children came dressed like birds and animals , it was surprising that a Muslim child turned up as Krishna.

Indians are like this only for ages always. Some times, in their belief, they were Vedic , sometimes pagans , sometimes Bodh, Jains and atheists, sometimes Muslims ,as well - they were never different from one another. This incident is normal and nothing unusual . Unusual would be refusing to accept even a headgear presented as an honor just because it is also worn by people of different faith. Fortunately such people are real minority in this great nation.

Petrol Price Hike: Hypocrisy of certain vocal class

Vegetables, provisions had been scaling new heights every now and then without any rationale mainly to cater to greed of middle businessmen. Oil price hike , though due to sufficient evident reasons , makes whole media cry at rooftops...In past decade petrol price has only TREBLED but average family incomes have gone up 10 times minimum, even beggars settle for no less than 10 Rupees !! Cell Phone expenditure per family is in couple of thousand !! AC expenditure runs into thousands... But petrol price hike is NATIONAL DISASTER !! And cooking should be within Rs. 400 cost of gas cylinder per month !!

Hypocrisy of certain vocal class ( who actually make maximum out of every paisa hike in fuel-rationalizing it on collateral escalating effect ) is unparalleled in this country.

Petrol price hike actually affects car owners who incidently are most vocal part of society. Govt. is as such unable to manage public perception about its activities and is leaving vacuum for rogues to play spoilsport. I would love to get tank full at 30 a litre but so do I want a house at 10 lakh which now a days cost 70 to 80 lakh ( who explains that) . Fuel price needs to be deglamourized ,there are worse sore points elsewhere. Fuel price should be decontrolled way to petrol pump level.

Patel vs Nehru

There is fallacy in pitching Patel against Nehru. They were never opponents. Without Nehru's support Patel could not have achieved anything. In fact it has been bane for this nation that collective achievements are credited to individuals because of the position they hold. Manmohan Singh is repeatedly credited with Reforms'90 as if Narsimha Rao never existed who revived retired career professional and brought him to politics and provided opportunity to excel by extending his support. If you like to dig deeper you won't be able to ignore V. P. Menon who was real practical 'instrument' making possible integration of 500 states into Union and actions at Hyderabad and Junagarh . I remember my father telling us story about the eloquence of Menon at capital of Sirmur State , Nahan, when he asked Raja, in a public gathering (where he was present), to sign instrument of accession . Who gives credit to this man ? NONE. There are numerous examples where collective achievements were credited to individuals. That does not mean to lower esteem of leaders like Patel, Nehru or Ambedkar. In fact they themselves would have laughed at so much of faith for every,otherwise collective act, put on them. They were great leaders who provided steam to the engines which traversed the success path . But we should not create illusions by looking at history with bias of our personal liking.

Occupy Wall st: Real malice, India must identify, control and check as primary deed of nation building.

Occupy Wall st.: 'When companies, which place profit over people, self-interest over justice, and oppression over equality, run our governments....' all sounds familiar. While whole nation in India for an year,is running ( hunting -if not precisely witch hunting) after Govt. , Govt. servants and ministers only, the real culprits, the greedy companies , banks, traders and shopkeepers wearing sheep's clothing, are becoming bolder. For every act of corruption it's some businessman/company, who is key player and benefits most , thousands times more than what he pays as bribe. And same business man organizes free water/food for anti-corruption protesters !! And runs TV channels castigating some greedy individual who fell for them. Or sells magical remedial concoctions in name of religion and evades tax. Makes you pay for mobile services you never ordered. Sells you products/groceries with 10 times margins added. Escalates transportation tariffs 'hundreds of times-at many stages-overall' every time even a rupee is added to fuel cost by Govt.-and people are goaded to throw stones at Govt. also. They pay thousands time more than what comes out, as bribe which goes undetected because 'projects' are successfully completed favoring all stake holders-it's only if the contract fails there are queues of whistle-blowers. This is malice, India must identify, control and check as primary deed of nation building .

Women, you are brains not body....!!

Media( advertisement, news,films,print) has been giving us what THEY want and then rationalize it as if that's what WE want !!! That's the biggest myth they themselves evolved and spread. If I am tickled I am bound to laugh but that does not mean I WANTED it first place ...!! Media projects women as toys without brains, where body is all important ..and this is gonna happen in reality , if we continue to let them run amok !!

Remembering Dr. Shankari of Nanavati Hospital ..

Dr. Shankari, used to be gynecologist at Nanavati hospital at Parle, Mumbai in eighties and  nineties, I don't precisely know why I remember her suddenly today. She used to invoke such fear or rather awe among us husbands that most of us, who used to accompany their wives on visits to her, used to dread the thought of the appointment day itself. 

Two decades back this lady, I recall, used to come driving her Maruti-800 car, at that young age of 70 and used to silence the crowd waiting for her with her mere presence. 

Her advices to the would-be moms were certainly worthy however she used to give those long lectures to the husband on how they must treat 'delicate' wives well. The sessions were grueling for men. 

But in end, I, like many of my friends always feel proud of this fact that we went to Shankari !! She was an iconic doctor. 

I wish her well wherever she may be...

(Both my son Siddharth( 1992) and Soumya (1995) were born in Nanavati in her care)

If you are Indian you can't be above Indian Constitution. Are you?

Individuals are supreme in Jungle not in any civilized developed society. Even family has rules, nations have more formal rules. Those who are calling for individual supremacy above constitution are digging at foundation this nation stands on and is a dangerous premise which should warn at least those organizations who have been supporting them.
I am afraid Kashmiris and NorthEastern separatists are going to be jubilant on such trash irresponsible postures of popular leaders like Anna.

It is time Electronic Media understand that it has itself created need for impartial and independent control over its misuse

Unlike newspapers,where individual news goes through some process of inside controls and filtered through 'theme' ( every newspaper has a 'color' of its tradition and ownership), Television news has emerged as uncontrolled media which is steered mostly by irresponsible shouting anchors spewing views on any damn subject under the sky on their own. The format itself doesn't leave much chance of inside 'organisational' control . There must be outside system to check it and punish delinquency. Control may be independent of Govt but should be capable of punitive action and not mere symbolic.

One who died today, Steve Jobs, enabled millions find new opportunities to live

The one who died today was instrumental in creating thousands of job opportunities for comfortable living of millions of people across the globe who otherwise would have lived in poverty, this number would exceed those who are still unfortunate and are not able to come out of the confinement from crass politics which survives on seeing them dying of hunger.

Why do Indian companies need to buy shale gas acreages abroad?

Exporting gas is capital intensive industry and would require huge investments for creating terminal facilities. Are we ready to commit such investments if we acquire shale gas blocks abroad and want it to be exported to India?

Economics will have to be worked out because gas, though cheaper locally, may become quite expansive if imported due to add-on cost of liquefaction. India, considered one of the largest holders of the shale gas energy would be ready field for local companies to venture .

Why is it necessary for companies like ONGC to get into shale business abroad unless it is pure business and not an energy security proposition? Other companies venturing out to buy into shale gas blocks may be doing so to get techno-commercial expertise before bidding starts for Indian shale reserves.

Businessmen behind corruption in India

Never had been so nakedly cheated as today at Indirapuram IBP Petrol Pump on NH24. Fuel was delivered but never reached my tank. The gauge hand stood firm where it was.

Nothing was pumped though display showed. No argument could make rogues manning station yield and I was made to retreat. Though whole premise of Corruption and fight against it, is based up conduct of 'public servants', it has been for centuries rotten one among 'businessmen' ( and in abundance !!) who had been sucking society with this tool in India with use of every trick to make money even corrupting low paid Govt officers. Spurious drugs, adulterated milk, thugs running public buses and autos, LPG dealers running black market syndicates, it's this community which keeps 90% of the margin between producer and consumer.

And they get protection from 'Annas' because it is this community which fills their public meeting as they see some mean opportunity in it.

Who should own Company Intranet Portal?

The intranet web site I manage for our company (of about 35000) is now a decade old. Immediately after it was set up in 2001 the portal became a hit and was touted as a breakthrough innovation for employees engagement. The content owners had remained always Corporate Communications ( I am from that) but the platform management for first first 5 years was outsourced directly by CC through third parties but later IT department created a platform and made CC move intranet website to that . There started the problem.

The popularity declined and content quality deteriorated as less and less of employees started coming forward to share and contribute, mainly because IT Department created platform was purely built on concept they thought was technologically manageable by them. Obviously their thrust was on 'convenience of maintainability' not 'user-friendliness'.

The soft-information architecture for the distribution of content which CC felt best meets organization needs was not 'fitting' into hard - technology they offered. Loser was the organisation having unpopular Intranet, even forcing some of the geographically separated divisions to start running their own intranet thus defeating the very premise of cohesive organization wide one portal as was mandated initially.

The intranet portals must be owned by Corporate Communications as they are the ones delegated to handle communication best suited to management's perception and needs. Also the IT should manage the back-end platform and provide 'hosting' services to CC to run the portal . What would be IA, 'look and feel' of the website and how content would be sourced and hosted is all what should be job of CC.

IT , as service provider, should provide best fit required for meeting needs of CC not other way round. CC may create channels/subsites ( moderated/or independent ) delegated to various other divisions( operations, HR etc) for meeting overall mandate of management or may run part or whole centrally . IT should strictly work to meet user requirement of CC as managers/owners for the Intranet Portal.

Stop and think...

Sloganeering does not make one nationalist .All deeds which damage national interest would be called strictly anti-national , when this country would sit on Judgment Day ruing on its fragments one day in future.Few months hence , I am very sure , when the natural gullibility of Indian public subsides , Anna and his brigade will get what they are worth , from the same public. One can fool some for some time not all time. One day he is giving legal notice to one politician who has already apologized on camera , next day he wants public hanging for some culprits. He has already tried to subvert parliament now he is trying to take over role of courts. It is time that people realize the folly of blindly supporting this gentleman and dump him for creating unnecessary and uncalled for anarchist situation in country.

TV Anchors setting National agenda

Media now is predominantly electronic but the saddest aberration is that it is being driven by several 'anchors' who have views on every topic under the sky.Newspapers have been 'institutions' where news and views get different treatment . Eminent editors and intellectuals providing analysis and news is just plain news. 

Now these, many blatantly irresponsible, 'anchors' are setting the agenda for Govt. , public and opposition. This is not freedom of expression. Can eminent media houses running these channels admit that what their 'anchors' are saying is their views?How are they delegated to speak anything on any topic at their wish?

Why Rahul , Gadkari can also be PM.

It's unfortunate that Rahul would be chosen successor by HIS Mother to lead Congress but this is not North Korea that he will be PM. Here he must pass the muster of getting majority in Parliament.

The present National President of BJP had all along been an unknown entity ( quality of his public appearances-less said the better). When their 'mother' imposed him on those who had been struggling for political space for decades, in their own right and ability, there was meek acceptance immediately. Don't be ashamed of such happenings though. We are still an evolving democracy and it will not be unusual to have Gadkari and Rahul at helm.

Let every one be tested at elections, that would be fair. Gadkari can also be PM. So can self made Mamata whose Mother was not a public figure !!

I am proud of Manmohan Singh

What a fall....during nuclear debate he was hero. After elections he was called 'Singh is King' by same TV channels who suddenly started campaign against corruption couple of months before C'wealth games. What those channels were doing, seeing and waiting for 4years when so much public wastage was being done in full view. They were probably waiting for some booty to land in their laps till very last days . When it didn't come their way, corruption became an issue larger than routine governance which is to be sacrificed. 

Had the lead TV channels spearheading present movement, started the campaign when all of were watching it happen, it could have stopped much damage early. Illegality of Govt. Servent's deeds only can't be termed corruption. Mafia like vice over public expenditure by private institutions is much bigger form of corruption. NGOs, media houses, listed companies, service industry all are sucking the nation dry. It is these who send allurments to those in govt who are morally weak and corrupt. Irony would be if genuine and impartial Lokpal is ever created , first one to be behind bars might turn out to be those who are appearing loudest supporters of present chaos on streets.

Manmohan Singh is Prime Minister of this nation who led his party to win last election and most of those voted for UPA voted because of him and for his clean and efficient image. If one is not good public speaker he can't be called joker as some had been calling him on social media circles. Many are cracking Sardar jokes on him. That way, the one who sells chooran in state transport buses should be PM for no one would match his eloquence.  

There are political formations where public speaking is taught in their regular doctrinal classes but that does not make them national leader despite their attempts to wriggle in to power with help of disgruntled friends. Ask some one from up north what used to mean by 'bangala' and 'bangalan' not very long ago, but we should not call Pranab or Mamta that way. Why Sardar should be a joker? 

I am proud of Manmohan Singh for his intellectual supriority and human maturity and also because he is Sikh.

Don't throw stones from outside

By raising voice one doesn't prove that he is right. It's cacophony made out on cyber space to give an impression of 'large support'. Even Ramdev had been saying crore people would be protesting with him at Ramlila Ground. What we saw was no more than 20 thousand. A humble MLA also gathers a lakh in India on drop of hat. The present movement is not by Anna . He is being used to create impression of anarchy by those who fail to tread path of constitution and law.
The way Anna is being dressed, made to sit and being showcased on convenient TV channels is nothing but attempt to create a brand. Methods seem to be part of well thought out strategy coordinated by some professional politicians from behind.
We are a democratic country there are ways to put forth your views. We are neither Egypt nor Jordon. Not even Pakistan. I am very sure if people like Kanshi Ram had taken this path as of Anna there would have been genuine crisis seeing his support base. But did't he succeed by following constitutional means and fighting elections and mobilizing support base for winning? He proved , that way, to be a better and responsible leader. Didn't Dravid leaders follow constitutional means to get better empowerment for State?
If you want change come into the same arena, don't throw stones from outside. Follow path of law. Be reasonable with demands. Have zero tolerance for corruption , kick Govt out next elections BUT shun those who are taking you for ride for their political agenda.Be mature a citizen.

I am not with Anna

I hate corrupt politicians but for practical reasons I hate more: the corrupt cop at street crossing, the official who visits our home checking credentials for passport, the Electricity utility official, the LPG distributor, corrupt officials at municipality and the courts...something needs to be done quickly to address this thugi. And I am with Anna Hazare only for the common concern we may share, but his methodology and the company he tags along, is actually complicating the issues and is juvenile and would only lead to self-defeatism.

I wonder how many people in India had known such remote places as Champaran,Vardha till Gandhi used these for his mission. Can Anna do that to Ralegan Siddhi? Despite having favorably inclined TV channels at his disposition? He can't.Anna must understand that if masses are with him he could as well do his 'fast' at Ralegan Siddhi and gather million people for Govt to take notice and submit to him...Why he need to come to Delhi ?

What Anna is doing is sheer base politics. His methodology is not an iota different from any other political party and motives of his Team are same i.e. to gain popularity and authority but he is doing so using means which are not even constitutional.Why can't he bring his views before Parliamentary Standing Committee? Even Jaiprakash was better leader: he brought in political amalgamation of diverse ideologies which fought election and threw away Indira. Can Anna do that? Fighting elections and bringing change? I can disagree with most what Sibal says but I too firmly believe Annna is not alone...there are hidden dark forces behind him who are goading him for creating chaos. And like always public is gullible and emotional.

We must pay attention to leader called Kanshi Ram. Probably no leader not even Ambedkar would ever match his practical endeavors to actually DELIVER empowerment to his followers. One may dislike him , his party, his views but it would be difficult to ignore that he attained a difficult task through constitutional means only.That is praiseworthy. Slogan shouting, social media misuse, mass texting even restoring to advertisements -what Anna is doing- would not be able to keep steam blowing for long. One needs maturity and depth which Anna and his team lacks. For genuine movements we will have to wait for mature leadership to emerge not Ramdev and Anna.

Schism within Muslims in India

1947 was defining moment . It didn't result in as much schism between Hindus and Muslims as it was with in Muslims. Most of the Muslims who used to be opinion makers and used to carry political and economic weight left for Pakistan and suddenly one of the largest Islamic community of the world , this side, was left vulnerable to alleged hatred and isolation. The balance was not only disturbed but harmony of centuries was reduced to sharp differences and suspicion.

My faith

We may not always have faith in what others believe, but, since we all share common earth and resources we need to respect intellectual space each of us occupy. There must be something attractive about Islam that almost half of human population follow it. There is something very binding about Hinduism that millions follow it and have stood with their faith despite options of several new beliefs thrown at them, which had emerged much later.

Every religion has a backyard which has illogical and irrational dogmas unpalatable for others. It is this part of religion which is highlighted by few rogue followers and detractors to sully the particular belief. However it must be admitted that compared to other religions, majority followers of Islam have always done very little to make others understand the real goodness of their faith and have thus let rogue elements propagate those dogmas which should be better ignored and left out as aberrations. Islam is seen to be what these rogues project. Of course this also gives convenient and powerful opportunity to the unscrupulous elements of other faiths to deride Islam. That's way Sufi tradition was one with deepest penetration into other faiths like Hindus and helped bring harmony in both communities.


Media balance

There has been 'so much' of freedom available to Indian media but to source news they hardly ever venture out beyond that 'convenient'' territory of geographical or political demarcations which earns them popularity and keeps them within safe confines of self-assumed but selective , high ground of morality. A alleged rape/molestation in Delhi is immediately 'confirmed' by media and the accuser is loudly and repeatedly pronounced culprit, his reputation is sullied and person is almost finished without a single sitting of trial. And if this happens in far flung , insignificant place, news of 'some allegation' may sometimes emerge which would be dubbed mere 'accusations' if it is alleged custodial happening.

Halal vs Jhatka



Any killing is inhumane. However word 'jhataka' has always baffled me. On many dhaabas and meat shops,across nation you will find 'jhataka meat served here'. Islam distinguishes on way an animal is to be killed for it to be HALAL or PERMITTED. But does Hindu scriptures write about how it is done? Word Jhatka is also no way opposit of halal. There can be nothing halal or haram for Hindus once someone decide to eat meat. Jhataka word only symbolizes our deep concern to appear different from each other. 

Those whose knowledge source used to be limited to paperbacks sold at traffic junctions and now improved to whatsapp, never got truly educated. Halal is not how you slaughter an animal but what’s permissible to a Muslim. That’s nothing to do with Hindus and they need not create rules in exclusion to what Muslims follow. Animal once killed is just meat and if you are ok consuming it why to make issue out of it. If you witness killing it's always cruel- few seconds more or less depending on the way one butchers. In fact pro-halal intellectuals too have come out with explanations arguing that it is jhatka which causes more pain for longer duration than halal which cuts carotid arteries instantly rendering animal unable to feel pain. Jhatka is more messy and mostly requires multiple attempts and could be considered more cruel. Any case both methods are 5-10 seconds this or that side of giving that deathly pain to animal. If you eat meat does that 4 second matter? Most important, if muslims or jews eat halal or kosher, which is defined and ordered in their rule books, why Hindus must eat Jhatka, a neo-lexicon which is nowhere defined or mentioned in any text or even in tradition of Hindus? Go vegetarian rather. 

Some times slaughtering happens on some community occasions and becomes part of festivity ( and debate !!). Otherwise more than 150 Billion animals are slaughtered every year, only minuscule can be religious sacrifices. 

Most of us are enjoying the meat products, religion or no religion, without remorse. If you are concerned, go vegetarian. It's fine.

Ayurvedic concoctions

On efficacy of modern ayurvedic medicines I have doubt. Without making comment on what is written in classical ayurvedic books, I am of the view that present day ayurvedic business is big fraud and must be exposed . It takes couple of decades of research and tests to get permission of marketing modern medicines and here we allow people to grind powders in makeshift pharmacies and sell 'no side effect' formulations with exotic suggestive names. Even religion and pseudo patriotism is used to market these and to take sheild behind.

This is too is corruption and fraud.

Red shadow on civil society

Those who were die hard facebook/twitter, supporters of these disgruntled elements, some of whom even were making pun at those who were rationally warning of what would ultimately come off it, are silent now. I pity 'rightists' parties who have found new leadership from such esteemed sadhus like Sri Sri, Murari, Ramdev even Kripalu maharaj... whose only achievement is successful promotional videos aired on the channels, most of the times owned by themselves !!!
Lastly the real thing, never feel surprised if the true forces stoking this game emerge from Jungles of central India( and their friends found occupying daises at Jantar mantar and Ramlila ground) who are gaining maximum from this anarchy in urban India and for whom spreading chaos is tested methodology to improve support base. The kind of street drama we see today has been enacted several times in many countries before it turned bloody- 'red' . Discrediting parliament and democracy , as being done by Hazare and party echos exactly what I mean. Let's be warned.

Crowd pulling power of yogi

One important issue which emerged but went unnoticed or untalked was, Ramdev had been crying from rooftops for past almost six months that he will bring lakhs, sometimes saying crore followers to Delhi. I have heard him particularly after Cairo incident. But lo..watched how many he could manage?-30-40 thousand only mainly from his home state Haryana and few unemployed activists. Even a humble MLA from Jhumritalaiya, Balunia, or karaikal will gather bigger crowd at drop of hat. Then he exhibited his magical yoga power by falling sick within few days of fast. Why give him importance.

Politico-kids are out mocking Indian democracy on streets

Sitting far off, if one happens to get hold of all Indian media- is Times of India - one is sure to get colored in anti-Govt., pro-BJP( surprising change for Grand Old Lady of Boribander) bandwagon nauseatingly out to not allow even a gasping space to struggling Govt which has been doing best in regards to corruption what no other Govt. ever did. Thugs and small time politico-kids are out mocking Indian democracy on streets. These elements are supported by those who have themselves had such low of corruption weaved into their ideology that even their National President was caught on TV taking bribe !!

On Lokpal , keeping PM out ,is not conspiracy by Manmohan but many senior intellectuals and legislatures have given similar views. As such it is still being debated and not finalized. Most of trhe corruption being discussed is of legacy which Indian political system had been grooming for years. What's happening for past one year is that corrupts are finally being caught and arrested. Had Govt been that undemocratic or weak it could have evaded this too like all previous Govt ( BJP too) did. Let's keep pressure on Govt. but not put fire on the streets to score points. Section of Media has too been out to disservice the nation. Beware.




Not always draw fuel from past to fire our present

People who lived at different times had different ethics and rules for society and governance. Religion was also ritualized quite differently at different times. What was ethical 500 years back may not be today. Even norms change in 10-15 years. Corporal punishment was so well entrenched part of Indian school system when we were studying, but now it will put teacher in jail. If Babar demolished temple it might have been accepted norm those days . The society was still barbarous and should not be compared with today's more evolved cultures. We will be going back centuries behind if we continue to speculate what was before Taj or Babari Masjid. I think we,  led by intellectuals with global progressive vision, must move ahead and look at past only from academic point of view. Learning from more progressive nations like South Africa we should never forget that this country belongs to one particular nationality which is uniquely identified, irrespective of religions. When last I went to Egypt people used to recognise us and call us smilingly 'Indian, India, Amitabh, Sharukh.'...but no one ever called me 'hi Hindu'.

We are too obsessed with Islam. Never forget Islam is almost 50 percent of the world population. I can't believe we can wish it away. Also do we mean to say that 50 % of the population which inhibit is MISGUIDED?
We must not always draw fuel from past to fire our present.

Cooking cheap rhetoric !!!

It's height of absurdity how TV channels and disgusted politicians make us look at changes in  prices of energy inputs and create Tsunamis of artificial collateral crises about to finish the middle class prosperity. During past decade income levels and salaries have jumped several folds. In cities people are happily paying average electricity bill of Rs  10000 for using luxuries of air-conditioning but for MOST IMPORTANT survival activity, the same multi-salary household, cries foul if asked to pay meager Rs 400 for cylinder of gas running full one month for whole family !!! During same decade prices of petrol too has wavered between Rs 45 and 65 but the prices of all luxuries went up many folds without complaints and also the incomes have multiplied several times during these times of high growth. But TV news channels never discussed prospering Indians. One of these 'responsible' pillar of democracy was recently seen interviewing a student driving a large car who was complaining, that it will be very difficult for students like him to survive on limited pocket money with present petrol prices. The car borne  'student' was lecturing on inefficient Govt , on prompt from TV anchor !!!The story should have been actually, how Indians are becoming rich to afford such expansive SONs !!! What a joke !!! 

Footprints In The Bazra

Nabina Das's "Footprints In The Bazra" is fictional entertainer,anecdotal accounts of several characters and ideologies however aimed at particular readership having no knowledge about reality. Episodes of hinterland appear fictionalized out of Newspaper clippings. Unrealistic appearing journey of central characters from remote tribal village to New York,unbelievable linguistic skills of villagers look comical sometimes. Novel is though Interesting if read for entertainment,but not recommending to buy it.


Books are not primarily written for shelves only, otherwise why  these are sold so aggressively.Even if a Book's  purpose is only to 'communicate' and be a reference or resource, "Footprints in the Bazra' can't be seen to be representative of  anything that truly happens in rural India. Characters fictionalized in the story don't exist even if one wishes them to be.


In hinterlands there are poor , illiterates who may be getting  exploited for that very reason  by different over zealous proponents of variety of  ideologies, but they can't be influenced if they had been capable of churning  out  intelligent quotes from Byron, Shakespeare, Angeles , Lenin and Mao on drop of hat. The story here is far from reality but nevertheless it is good fictional work and may actually turn out to be a good screenplay material. But sorry, if intellectuals in US need to visualize the reality of Indian countryside , this book can not be a reference.That would be unjust.

छलावरण


निराशावादी तो मैं भी नहीं हूँ किन्तु मेरी सोच में एक बात  पैठ गयी है की अतीव अतिवादी विचारधाराएँ (वामपंथी हों  या दक्षिणपंथी) देश के लिए आज सबसे बड़ी चुनौती बन गया है. इन तत्वों की जीत का रास्ता बन्दुक से नही बल्कि  कैसे भी देश में अराजकता फ़ैलाने में है. वर्तमान शासन प्रणाली को, जनता की नज़रों में गिरा देना उनका सब से बड़ा कदम होगा. और कहीं  भी कम्बोडिया, विएतनाम,चीन, ईरान, अफगानिस्तान  में बन्दूको से तो सिर्फ अंतिम धमाके किये गए, शासन तो अराजकता फैला कर ही पलटा गया. और किया जाता है.

हम सब को विशेष रूप से सरकार को ये सुनिश्चित करते रहना होगा की ऐसे निरापद दिखने वाले आन्दोलन किसी बड़ी सोची  समझी चाल का हिस्सा तो नहीं. मंच पे जन सम्रथन का आनंद उठाते नव नेताओं को भी कहीं  भ्रम से कोई अपने बड़े नाटक का पात्र तो नहीं बना रहा. ये तत्त्व सक्रिय हैं और वो ऐसे  छलावरण  से घातक प्रहार भी कर सकते हैं.

मैं चाहूँगा मेरी समझ गलत रहे.

Lokpal, India and future


All of sudden surge of cocktail of mostly Left with hint of mischievous Right brandishing simplistic single window solution for complex public issues, could also apparently be, an invitation of backdoor entry to creation of parallel power center awaiting to be usurped and  misused by unelected occupant if not implemented with balanced guarantees through constitutional means. 


Extreme judiciousness will be required before such a constitutional institution as Lokpal, is created. Political prudence has to be ensured through elected repersentatives only. We can't paint all politicians with same brush( like we can't call all social  activists 'Maoist")?

The idea appears glamorous particularly in backdrop of current scandals, earning enough public support .But even if some parliamentarians are inefficient and corrupt, seats of democratic governance can't be yielded to chaotic streets. Sacrificing constitutional governance to this kind of pressures from unelected self proclaimed activists, would definitely lead to anarchy whatsoever noble the cause they proclaim to champion for.

Also it is alarming to note presence of several such activists in this present movement who had been seen not in very distant past, openly coming out supporting antinational elements from hinterland even doubting very idea of this nation. Their agenda of change, for these subversive elements, would not necessarily be implemented through guns which many of us believe, but could also be  through camouflaged fronts taking advantage of public gullibility,juvenile euphoria  and weak governments. Caution is required.

Punish these rogues on street, quick and severe, corrupt PM, CM, minister or MP no more bothers me...


The corrupt gas agency owner who operates gangs to sell cooking gas in black and harasses households, the cop who holds you at traffic for sole purpose of warming his own pocket, the public bus operator who runs over children every day and gets away, the auto rickshaw driver whose business is part of organized mafia, the touts at passport and transport offices, the thugs who call themselves shopkeepers, the street eatery operator nearby who spits and pisses at same place, the Govt. bank clerk who thinks you are begging when you withdraw your own money, unsolicited caller on cell, THESE are people who must be caned in public, if not shot dead out rightly, till it cripples them. 

Romanticism of howling at corruption at high places does not excite me. 

The top-down method to fight corruption has been tested and failed again and again. Thinking that when people at higher places will be caught everyone will be scared, is like living in false hopes. Do you think once PM is held, auto rickshaw will behave like mouse? That can go on, but get these everyday rogues off my back immediately I am tired...

Which India we want....


Hameed was my elderly colleague in Mumbai, nearing his retirement. During 1993 days when even city like Mumbai got into communal frenzy rarely heard of earlier,  I asked him to be careful while travelling. Hameed had been travelling every weekend to Baroda to be with his family. He showed me a 'Janeo'(Yagyopveet) which he had been carrying all his life !! I felt ashamed that our own people had to be so scared of us in their own land. 

When Hitler was after Jews, others were relaxed and some even rejoiced that it is 'they' not 'us,' but later none was spared and heat reached every one who opposed him. Herein Bombay we have seen this happening to south Indians, Gujaratis, Muslims now Biharis... it will go on as religion has nothing to do with this , it's greed and passion for hatred and the power which flows through that. This is how FASCISM works. They will not stop at one community or culture. It's wolf and lamb story and lambs must guard themselves with widsdom and rationale not emotions, lest it is late.

There is another version how we Indians, perhaps, keep the country one. During  Mumbai riots of 92/93 , we used lived at Borivali. It was disgusting and scary to hear that people had been carrying municipal records in hand locating and killing even those who had Muslim sounding names. Many Parsi elderly people were assaulted for that sake. However it was the spirit of Bombay a secular , business and humane city, that the most male residents of our building used to guard whole night during those  riots. That was just for one Muslim family in our building with 100 plus flats. There were many similar stories from those days. 

My friend Lalit used to live in Meera Road amongst predominantly Muslim neighborhood and I was generally worried about him and his family. Somehow I could make contact with him after 4 days during that dark period and he managed to visit  us. I told him to shift to our house till normalcy returns. Lalit said that he has no worry. The local councilor , a Muslim, with his sons and friends visit him almost every day and assure him that no harm will come to him. He said they had formed a committee of youth which patrols at night to guard Hindus living in that locality !!!  

Let  spirit of Bombay rule the nation ...

Muzzling Blogs…

Could attempts to throttle blogging and internet discussions,restricting and spying phone conversations be seen emanating from possibly low level of technical expertise at disposal of Govt? 

It is obvious that no high end IT technologist would love to join Govt. services these days. Since they can’t match the earnings compared to those who are recruited by private IT biggies, they would seek comfort in empowerment. It will be matter of debate that many of the irrational decisions and debates at policy level could be result of this aberration . 

These novo-‘experts’ like old time bureaucrats may love to see themselves behind new genre of public ‘controls’ imagining themselves to be eyes of IT policing and enjoying empowerment. 

Even one of the reason ( beside greed) for the enigma behind seasoned politicians getting sucked into billion rupees scams could be IT brains feeding crisp (and possibly vendor driven) presentations to graying and technologically handicapped politicians and bureaucrats. 

Vendor driven technologies may be introduced at huge costs, usefulness of which even auditor would hardly question due to same lack of knowledge at their end. 

These mediocre technocrats could be one and possibly a serious reason behind the gullibility to which otherwise seasoned decision makers fall for. And also behind some irrational policy discussions .

Dishonesty of political bias appears clear on some TV channels


Couple of English news TV channels have been unashamedly  provoking  and challenging  invited guests leaders for certain behavior in parliament as per the wishes of the anchor.

It is becoming nauseatingly uneasy to digest that all this is sans any private agenda of certain media. Parliamentary democracy is being  reduced secondary to farcical drama being played at TV channels. These channels seem to always have ‘documentary evidences’ for all malignancy our systems has  and that too ‘exclusives’.  Investigating agencies appear to have abdicated their role to TV journo. It was so easy to investigate then why we have millions of pending cases? 

Cosmetically this all looks very appealing where anchors shout down all reasoning while getting supporting applause from 'chosen' guests to make it appear true beyond questioning. Govt. might have failed to pin corrupts down or maybe they are doing it now (gulping bitter pill for good of the country bad for present Govt),but what and how it is being played at TV channels in evenings, is fast track to political anarchy . 


Dishonesty of political bias appears clear on screens of these channels and the way anchors are seen tutoring ‘dos and don’t’ to MPs is a dangerous trend. This must stop. 

The Distance


‘The Distance’  by Saborna Roychowdhury

It was merely a hunch that made me pick this book up from Flipkart, of course on cue from a facebook friend.  
One who has walked past Esplande , New Bazaar, Saltlake, only  a couple of times, would feel such proximity to this city that smell of fish and Bengali sweetmeats would cover me with so much of nostalgia ,  was unimaginable till I finished the last page. ‘The Distance’  eventually emerges as possession worthy to show off.

Mini  was not just ordinary middle class girl , she was strong and decisive young woman. She did what she decided. Always.  Saborna sketched not just the life of Mini with quick broad strokes , she drew a ‘Google  street map’  with micro-details that overwhelmed me with déjà vu of sort as I was made to live her life riding on story form drawn so beautifully . That too with such  concise,  compact style !

Saborna appeared  as if she shadowed some real Mini for years living in her soul and capturing her aspirations ,  noting down her bold acts and pain. Story telling ability of Saborna  is definitely of a seasoned writer and held me captivated till last page.  Angry youth revolutionary Amitav or IITian expat Neel had their version of what life should be about, but it was tales of  women of Calcutta struggling to emerge out from cocooned middle class battles which Saborna narrated with distinctive  élan, that  book is actually about .

Mini epitomized that struggle with mind of her own.And I ended up loving her wishing to fill the vacuum left by Neel and Amitav. That's success of Saborna.