On 04/07/11 9:45 PM, Bhavin Dattani wrote:
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Anna Hazare has given an ultimatum to the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to enact stringent anti-corruption law – the peoples “Jan Lokpal Bill”! Jail to the corrupt must happen! We have been betrayed by those that are leading us!
When & Where?
From 5th April at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi.
Who is Anna Hazare?
A soldier, lone survivor in his unit in 1965 Indo-Pak war, Anna dedicated his life to the well-being of society. A bachelor, an ascetic, he has no possessions, no bank balance and lives in a temple. He is a living Mahatma Gandhi!
Anna stay at Ralegan Siddhi, a village on Pune _ Ahmednagar Road. ( Only 1 hour and 30 minutes to travel by road)
In Maharashtra, Anna has single handedly transformed barren and dry regions into green and food surplus areas. He has fasted unto death on several earlier occasions. He forced the Maharashtra government to dismiss the corrupt - 6 ministers and 400 officers. Due to his fast, the govt enacted the Maharashtra RTI Act. In 2006, when government of India tried to amend the Central RTI Act, he again went on an indefinite fast and forced the Indian government not to amend RTI Act.
Leaders, organizations and the common man from across India will be with him. This is a do or die moment – let us make it happen!
Across India, join Swami Ramdev, Sri Sri Ravishankar, Swami Agnivesh, Arch Bishop Vincent Concessao, Mahmood A Madani, Kiran Bedi, J M Lyngdoh, Shanti Bhushan, Prashant Bhushan, Arvind Kejriwal, Mufti Shamoom Qasmi, Mallika Sarabhai, Arun Bhatia, Sunita Godara, All India Bank Employees Federation, PAN IIT Alumni Association, Common Cause and many other prominent organizations and leaders, as India comes out on the streets! 100+ CITIES WILL RALLY BEHIND ANNA!
This is a defining moment for India that can give our children a better future! Let us unite and stand by him! Thousands will be there to support him. Will you be there? Anna’s appeal to the people:
When I sit on fast from 5 April, I urge my fellow countrymen to
Join me in fasting for one, two, three or whatever number of days you can comfortably fast.
Along with fast, please pray to God (whoever you believe in) for better and corruption free India. Collective prayers from all the people of India would definitely have a huge impact.
Write an impassioned plea to our Prime Minister that we look upon him to pass “Jan Lokpal Bill”, else we will be compelled not to vote for his party in next elections.
Remain calm and peaceful and develop the courage to go to jail, if required, in this next freedom movement. If possible, come and stay with Anna at Jantar Mantar for a few days from April 5th.
Would you like to stay updated about this movement? Let us know your contact details at
Salient features of Jan Lokpal Bill
Drafted by Justice Santosh Hegde, Prashant Bhushan and Arvind Kejriwal, this Bill has been refined on the basis of feedback received from public on website and after series of public consultations. It has also been vetted by and is supported by Shanti Bhushan, J M Lyngdoh, Kiran Bedi, Anna Hazare etc. It was sent to the PM and all CMs on 1st December. However, there is no response.
An institution called LOKPAL at the centre and LOKAYUKTA in each state will be set up
Like Supreme Court and Election Commission, they will be completely independent of the governments. No minister or bureaucrat will be able to influence their investigations.
Cases against corrupt people will not linger on for years anymore: Investigations in any case will have to be completed in one year. Trial should be completed in next one year so that the corrupt politician, officer or judge is sent to jail within two years.
The loss that a corrupt person caused to the government will be recovered at the time of conviction.
How will it help a common citizen: If any work of any citizen is not done in prescribed time in any government office, Lokpal will impose financial penalty on guilty officers, which will be given as compensation to the complainant.
So, you could approach Lokpal if your ration card or passport or voter card is not being made or if police is not registering your case or any other work is not being done in prescribed time. Lokpal will have to get it done in a month’s time. You could also report any case of corruption to Lokpal like ration being siphoned off, poor quality roads been constructed or panchayat funds being siphoned off. Lokpal will have to complete its investigations in a year, trial will be over in next one year and the guilty will go to jail within two years.
But won’t the government appoint corrupt and weak people as Lokpal members? That won’t be possible because its members will be selected by judges, citizens and constitutional authorities and not by politicians, through a completely transparent and participatory process.
What if some officer in Lokpal becomes corrupt? The entire functioning of Lokpal/ Lokayukta will be completely transparent. Any complaint against any officer of Lokpal shall be investigated and the officer dismissed within two months.
What will happen to existing anti-corruption agencies? CVC, departmental vigilance and anti-corruption branch of CBI will be merged into Lokpal. Lokpal will have complete powers and machinery to independently investigate and prosecute any officer, judge or politician.
JAN LOKPAL BILL will act as deterrent and instill fear against corruption.
Reply
Friday, April 08, 2011
Sunday, February 07, 2010
Kolams
If there is something that I admired from chldhood, that is Kolam. The simple dots and curve/straight lins combination with thr myriads of combination use to fascinate me a lot (as a teenager, those who made the Kolams were the intersting objects..that is a different story)
When in Kochi, I read a paper in a journal about Kolam and Maths expressions. Curious though, it did not catch my attention except for the fact that solutions for some mathematic problems can be solved/ interpreted through complex designs of Egyptians, Assyrians and the South Indian Kolam. I did not know much about Kolam and so simply dropped the idea of reading it further.
Recently, in a geometric puzzles book, I found a pattern of kolam (3*3 matrix) used to explain the problem and how that can expand to multiple rows & columns matrix to include several smaller kolam dimension. The amazing fact was that Kolam is a symbolic representation of an expanding challenge with solution given by geometrical interpretation. In one snap, you see the whole picture of the problem and the solution itself in it. Haven't we heard that 'problem have solution in itself'?
The logical deductions follows the use of symmetry and curves (some finite and some infinite) . Any problem solving technique involves
1. Breaking of the challenge into chewable pieces
2) Representing the problem into something more basic and understandable and
3) Finding solution by the representing object,s physical rules. This is based on core logic and reasoning.
If you see how the elderly ladies of the house approach a problem, you can see the pattern. The emotional angle is their expressive media( cut that out for a moment). Their logic works on the rules of the practical world. They use a lot of similies and comparisons for a solution. They 'picturize' the problem mentally and offer solution based on historical data. I now believe that credit goes to their Kolam and carnaric music.
When in Kochi, I read a paper in a journal about Kolam and Maths expressions. Curious though, it did not catch my attention except for the fact that solutions for some mathematic problems can be solved/ interpreted through complex designs of Egyptians, Assyrians and the South Indian Kolam. I did not know much about Kolam and so simply dropped the idea of reading it further.
Recently, in a geometric puzzles book, I found a pattern of kolam (3*3 matrix) used to explain the problem and how that can expand to multiple rows & columns matrix to include several smaller kolam dimension. The amazing fact was that Kolam is a symbolic representation of an expanding challenge with solution given by geometrical interpretation. In one snap, you see the whole picture of the problem and the solution itself in it. Haven't we heard that 'problem have solution in itself'?
The logical deductions follows the use of symmetry and curves (some finite and some infinite) . Any problem solving technique involves
1. Breaking of the challenge into chewable pieces
2) Representing the problem into something more basic and understandable and
3) Finding solution by the representing object,s physical rules. This is based on core logic and reasoning.
If you see how the elderly ladies of the house approach a problem, you can see the pattern. The emotional angle is their expressive media( cut that out for a moment). Their logic works on the rules of the practical world. They use a lot of similies and comparisons for a solution. They 'picturize' the problem mentally and offer solution based on historical data. I now believe that credit goes to their Kolam and carnaric music.
Friday, February 05, 2010
W(hy)ah Taj?
W(hy)ah Taj?
I love Taj. It is an ineffable beauty. No one can deny that. But, hold on... We have something beautiful too.
Incredible India is a campaign that is surfeit with Taj photos - camels on dry Yamuna patch to some Rajasthani guys with big bright colored /pagdis and bigger moustaches. Does India start and end in Delhi airport- with a car ride to Agra?
What about the Big Temple of Thanjavur or the glorious Puri/ elegant North East or the meandering beaches of Kerala/ Konkan coast? Delhi decides what one should have as an image of India. That is dangerous.
in Air India flights(which I seldom take), the screen starts with .... you guessed it, the Taj. That too some lady posing for a family photo. Can't AirIndia afford a decent professional photography?
This type of stereocasting a nation would make the other deserving states think differently. Already the UP/Bihar resentment is on the rising. It is not for just political gains the shoutings are heard.
I hope to see India in it's own diversified glory. Even shah jehan would be sick of watching the Taj by Govt ads. Really Incredible India and an equally incredible Indian Government!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
The Reunion
It has been 21 years ..Just I tried to re-check my poor arithmetics. Not wrong by a large extent… it IS INDEED 21 years. How come I could not meet any of them? Puzzled as I was always , I asked the same boring question back to me. This time, it was a bit stronger and stirred me as well. Not sure what triggered. Not that I care now.
“Retrospection is not regurgiation” reminded someone from some corner of my mind. True. Most of the time, we intent to do an retrospection and we look back with some emotional bias that spoils the scerenity of retrospection. Cautiously, I tried to retrospect this time. No pleasant/unpleasant memories... just a retrospection and a tryst to find them again.
First came Cyriac . Google is something that you can use for almost anything you have lost – including the car keys and the beautiful girl who boarded the non-descript townbus in an equially non descript town. Anyone is traceable at any time.
No one can say that they did not have their 15 seconds of fame in the digitized world. Got the University address first, tracked and got a phone number of Nandakumar, the super senior who surprisingly remembered me even after these many years. He promised to send Cyriac’s cell number by SMS. Was not my belief that I would not be remembered just after these 2 years except for my asthmatic episodes and horrible Malayalam?
I awaited patiently.. not more than 10 minutes I could hold on. Sent him a nice message on his cell and gently reminded him to send the phone number. If I could wait for 24 years , could not I wait for another 24 minutes? No, I chided myself. Sometimes, there are no fairer games – especially when it mattered friends. Came in the sms atlast. I thanked him tersely on a reply message and prepared my self for giving sheer surprise calls to all the long last friends.
With a grin on my face and imagining how the faces would be on the otherside of the phone, first , I plugged in my cell phone in the charger. The old Nokia E 61 is as good as a landline for me with a constant need of charging. Anyway , it served it’s purpose today , when Cyriac ansered on the other side with utter confusion over the name “ Sudhakaran” as the caller. Fyriace, ninde Folid Ftate Fyffif engane undu? , got him to the memory lane. The sheer laugh and total loss for words were all that needed for us to get started .
Sometimes words are impediments in a conversation. To have a true conversation, you need not think coheretnly, put the right words in a logical sequence, conditiion that with your consciousness of the society acceptance on the expressions and words.. All these miliseconds delay in arranging words are too much for minds and hearts struggling to burst out and enjoy the sheer moment of happiness – of getting something long last.
“Talk slowly and in medium pitch” said my boss in a softskill development workshop some time ago in Singapore. He raised this point again and re-instated, “You should not offend the audience with your expressions and body language which is very subliime and potentially lethal than words”. For once, I did not care. I know the audience. It was not Cyriac. It was ME. I enjoyed the conversation and I enjoyed all the stammering and staggering and incoherent utterings of me and that of Cyriac. Who cares what we talked? It was talking that mattered.
After 20 minutes , we became aware of what the hell we were talking. The sheer awareness brought in the consciousness and our talks became more or less “normal”. He volunteered to send the ppt with all the contact information except a few –just pulling my legs again. What he did not know was that I had already fallen!
When I was done with the phone, I realized the unfinished ppt and the demo scripts with workflows in the new Virtual Machine. Damn… deadline is Monday. Got to my feet on work again. Monday would be the D-day.
Atlast got the mail from Cyriac with the ppt around 8 PM Sunday. Will write about each call in coming days.. Just to bore you all and make you configure the Spam mail settings to accommodate my email id in there. Neverthless, the assault would continue.
“Retrospection is not regurgiation” reminded someone from some corner of my mind. True. Most of the time, we intent to do an retrospection and we look back with some emotional bias that spoils the scerenity of retrospection. Cautiously, I tried to retrospect this time. No pleasant/unpleasant memories... just a retrospection and a tryst to find them again.
First came Cyriac . Google is something that you can use for almost anything you have lost – including the car keys and the beautiful girl who boarded the non-descript townbus in an equially non descript town. Anyone is traceable at any time.
No one can say that they did not have their 15 seconds of fame in the digitized world. Got the University address first, tracked and got a phone number of Nandakumar, the super senior who surprisingly remembered me even after these many years. He promised to send Cyriac’s cell number by SMS. Was not my belief that I would not be remembered just after these 2 years except for my asthmatic episodes and horrible Malayalam?
I awaited patiently.. not more than 10 minutes I could hold on. Sent him a nice message on his cell and gently reminded him to send the phone number. If I could wait for 24 years , could not I wait for another 24 minutes? No, I chided myself. Sometimes, there are no fairer games – especially when it mattered friends. Came in the sms atlast. I thanked him tersely on a reply message and prepared my self for giving sheer surprise calls to all the long last friends.
With a grin on my face and imagining how the faces would be on the otherside of the phone, first , I plugged in my cell phone in the charger. The old Nokia E 61 is as good as a landline for me with a constant need of charging. Anyway , it served it’s purpose today , when Cyriac ansered on the other side with utter confusion over the name “ Sudhakaran” as the caller. Fyriace, ninde Folid Ftate Fyffif engane undu? , got him to the memory lane. The sheer laugh and total loss for words were all that needed for us to get started .
Sometimes words are impediments in a conversation. To have a true conversation, you need not think coheretnly, put the right words in a logical sequence, conditiion that with your consciousness of the society acceptance on the expressions and words.. All these miliseconds delay in arranging words are too much for minds and hearts struggling to burst out and enjoy the sheer moment of happiness – of getting something long last.
“Talk slowly and in medium pitch” said my boss in a softskill development workshop some time ago in Singapore. He raised this point again and re-instated, “You should not offend the audience with your expressions and body language which is very subliime and potentially lethal than words”. For once, I did not care. I know the audience. It was not Cyriac. It was ME. I enjoyed the conversation and I enjoyed all the stammering and staggering and incoherent utterings of me and that of Cyriac. Who cares what we talked? It was talking that mattered.
After 20 minutes , we became aware of what the hell we were talking. The sheer awareness brought in the consciousness and our talks became more or less “normal”. He volunteered to send the ppt with all the contact information except a few –just pulling my legs again. What he did not know was that I had already fallen!
When I was done with the phone, I realized the unfinished ppt and the demo scripts with workflows in the new Virtual Machine. Damn… deadline is Monday. Got to my feet on work again. Monday would be the D-day.
Atlast got the mail from Cyriac with the ppt around 8 PM Sunday. Will write about each call in coming days.. Just to bore you all and make you configure the Spam mail settings to accommodate my email id in there. Neverthless, the assault would continue.
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Educated idiots
"Well, you can jump out- if you want to.. " The last words spoken to a mother of two who leaped out of 14th floor two weeks ago in a Mumbai suburb. She was found in a pool of blood by the apartment security - too late for any first aid . She had left two kids who could not believe that their mother was gone - forever. This was the news in the 4th page in the Hindustan Times some days ago. I could think of it on my way to HongKong - as I put aside the headphones on the JetAirways whose noisy engines prevented me from getting engrossed in a old "Hope" serial.
Young Lady... Hope you are resting in peace.
I don't know what the quarrel was. I don't care either. It is all about sense and sensibility. What kind of husband you had had for the past 11 years? Why simply you could not walk away with the kids?
Sure, you have the social pressure of rearing two kids alone.. and have to tolerate the ugly passes that men make at times , when they know you are alone. But, Mumbai society does not have time to think about you. Neither you had time to think about yourself/ your kids before you jumped out.
How the kids would receive your body soaked in blood? Could you not feel the younger one screaming at your feet? Will you wake him again tomorrow morning with a glass of hot milk? Who will fix his favorite breakfast?
I am not blaming you squarely.. your husband is equally a partner in the crime. May be his more criminal than you; but the fact is your ( both ) irresponsibility has orphaned two kids. Who and when would answer that?
I see lot more stress in the Mumbai life.. blame it on the globalization and the BPO call centres who work 24/7. You were working in a BPO.. didn't you? Maybe , someday, I would ponder about your colleague's mental health and jot a few words. But, for now, I reserve my sympathies for your kids.
One phone call to a friend, one shriek on your husband, one bang on the door would have evaporated your anger/ frustration and prevented this horrible act. What stress you have gone through in life before? Have you ever stayed for 3 days without food while in college? Have you ever dropped out of an elite course just because you could not fund that?... I know some guys who have gone through all these and yet alive till today ... I can show one in my mirror.
It is not about boasting.. it is about sharing and commitment and resolution to fight back. May be one day , we need to talk about life more than the etiquette of taking a call from San Jose, we need to talk more about positive energy than positrons ; we need to discuss more about fighting back for life than bandwidth allocation. Our colleges produce more intelligent robots than wiser men and women.
I sound too much of a priest in a Sunday Sermon. May be it is time to get some sleep.
Young Lady... Hope you are resting in peace.
I don't know what the quarrel was. I don't care either. It is all about sense and sensibility. What kind of husband you had had for the past 11 years? Why simply you could not walk away with the kids?
Sure, you have the social pressure of rearing two kids alone.. and have to tolerate the ugly passes that men make at times , when they know you are alone. But, Mumbai society does not have time to think about you. Neither you had time to think about yourself/ your kids before you jumped out.
How the kids would receive your body soaked in blood? Could you not feel the younger one screaming at your feet? Will you wake him again tomorrow morning with a glass of hot milk? Who will fix his favorite breakfast?
I am not blaming you squarely.. your husband is equally a partner in the crime. May be his more criminal than you; but the fact is your ( both ) irresponsibility has orphaned two kids. Who and when would answer that?
I see lot more stress in the Mumbai life.. blame it on the globalization and the BPO call centres who work 24/7. You were working in a BPO.. didn't you? Maybe , someday, I would ponder about your colleague's mental health and jot a few words. But, for now, I reserve my sympathies for your kids.
One phone call to a friend, one shriek on your husband, one bang on the door would have evaporated your anger/ frustration and prevented this horrible act. What stress you have gone through in life before? Have you ever stayed for 3 days without food while in college? Have you ever dropped out of an elite course just because you could not fund that?... I know some guys who have gone through all these and yet alive till today ... I can show one in my mirror.
It is not about boasting.. it is about sharing and commitment and resolution to fight back. May be one day , we need to talk about life more than the etiquette of taking a call from San Jose, we need to talk more about positive energy than positrons ; we need to discuss more about fighting back for life than bandwidth allocation. Our colleges produce more intelligent robots than wiser men and women.
I sound too much of a priest in a Sunday Sermon. May be it is time to get some sleep.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
IS Hindi the National Language of India?
I live in Mumbai - a pot- pourri of multi-cultural , multi-ethnic and multi-linguistic populace. Local politicians try their hands on whipping the old horses of regionalism, liguistic chauvinism occasionally; but, the city has grown and matured beyond all these trivia.
The recent incidence of an actress Jaya Bachchan calling herself an " UP wala" ( North Indian) and she does not know the local tongue Marathi was not just viewed as a casual remark by the local politicians. Had it been a mere provocation and responded well by a local politician, I would not have bothered to write this - especially after such a long time.
There has always been a story that Hindi is the National Language of India. This is found in the school books, some well recognized websites as well. Many people have told as if it is a fact like Sun Rises In the East.
I could not find any substantiating evidence ( officially ) for this statement. The Indian Constitution ( article 343) merely states that Hindi in the Devanagari script is the official language of Union Government. Official language is different from the National language. At the national level , a few have been accepted and that will be respected in all the states - regardless of the State's whims. For example, the National Anthem is in Bengali . A Tamilian, even if he cannot understand a word of it, has to sing the anthem and respect that. He cannot say that it is not in his mother tongue. So is the case with National Symbols like Ashoka Chakra , national bird, animal , game etc.
But, the constitution does not speak of a National language. It merely talks of the official languages for the Central Government ( English and Hindi) and the State Governments ( States can take their own decision for it's official language).
From where the fallacy of Hindi as a National Language has come?
It could be a fallout of a Hindi Propaganda to make the non-Hindi speaking to embrace Hindi as a communication medium or a popular belief out of the extensive use of Hindi in the Central Government's communications and it's control over the mass media like TV and Radio till the days of globalization.
Whatever the cause, Indians are forced to believe a false statement of a National Language. I am not against Hindi. At the same time, I am not for a statement to make everyone to believe that Hindi is the national language. Leave the decision of learning a language to the common man. He would take what is required for him. If he is an Assamese going to Tamil Nadu, he does not need to learn Hindi. English and Tamil will do.
We don't need a National Language - even by false propaganda.
The recent incidence of an actress Jaya Bachchan calling herself an " UP wala" ( North Indian) and she does not know the local tongue Marathi was not just viewed as a casual remark by the local politicians. Had it been a mere provocation and responded well by a local politician, I would not have bothered to write this - especially after such a long time.
There has always been a story that Hindi is the National Language of India. This is found in the school books, some well recognized websites as well. Many people have told as if it is a fact like Sun Rises In the East.
I could not find any substantiating evidence ( officially ) for this statement. The Indian Constitution ( article 343) merely states that Hindi in the Devanagari script is the official language of Union Government. Official language is different from the National language. At the national level , a few have been accepted and that will be respected in all the states - regardless of the State's whims. For example, the National Anthem is in Bengali . A Tamilian, even if he cannot understand a word of it, has to sing the anthem and respect that. He cannot say that it is not in his mother tongue. So is the case with National Symbols like Ashoka Chakra , national bird, animal , game etc.
But, the constitution does not speak of a National language. It merely talks of the official languages for the Central Government ( English and Hindi) and the State Governments ( States can take their own decision for it's official language).
From where the fallacy of Hindi as a National Language has come?
It could be a fallout of a Hindi Propaganda to make the non-Hindi speaking to embrace Hindi as a communication medium or a popular belief out of the extensive use of Hindi in the Central Government's communications and it's control over the mass media like TV and Radio till the days of globalization.
Whatever the cause, Indians are forced to believe a false statement of a National Language. I am not against Hindi. At the same time, I am not for a statement to make everyone to believe that Hindi is the national language. Leave the decision of learning a language to the common man. He would take what is required for him. If he is an Assamese going to Tamil Nadu, he does not need to learn Hindi. English and Tamil will do.
We don't need a National Language - even by false propaganda.
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Shame on the Uniform
The real face of the Mumbai Police has come to the limelight again yesterday in Azad Maidan . No amount of follies by the Police department can justify the blasphemous acts they have done.
All started with the brutal and uncivilized force that the police used to clear the protesting students out of Azad maidan. In the name of providing security to the masses, the police has shown utter disrespect to the democracy and the silent protestors.
Whatever be the cause of protest- the police should have showed that they are a disciplined force first. If not what is the difference between them and the thugs on the streets?
I got the shock of my life when the media shows the police beating the medical students - who were protesting silently ( They were not creating any nuisance to the public or damaged any property - unlike many other protests and processions which Mumbai is used to ), the Police Commissioner A.N.Roy had denied the lathi charges.
As an eminent doctor from IMA has commented " Either he is blind or he is a blatant liar". Is it needed for a Police Commissioner to be excoriated like this in public? Why he could not discharge his duties unbiased? Is there any pressure from the political corridors to keep an upper hand on those protesting against quota? Is he not to be a person - away from political parties to discharge his duties? Given this mess, Is he not the first person to be fired out of the force?
There were female protestors in the group. Not a single female constable was there to regulate the situation. All these female students were dragged and beaten by the thugs in uniform. I have no words to call them as police constables. There were guys NOT IN UNIFORM, but beat the protestors with lathi. Who were they? Why they were not in uniform? To which force they belong? Any answers , Mr.Roy?
How come , those who ordered the lathicharge did not see that the women in the group are to be handled by women? Why do they have a women wing in their force? The students were beaten and were detained for 4 hours -no reason given. Later, in the night they were released "without " any protection. Can they just tell, where the female students would go in this insecure Mumbai- where the police cannot even be trusted?Will they do, for their own children?
What can you expect from a police force which rapes the women in the police chowkies? Today it is the medical students.. tomorrow it can be anybody - you , me , our brothers and sisters.
Are we having a tyrant like General Dyer as the police chief ? Is this a police or a force trained for political suppressions?
Where is the Chief Minister? He has not spoken a single word about this incident.
The IMA has given 24 hours to the government to respond . It is high time for the Governor and the Chief Minister to sense the gravity of the situation and respond.
I am ashamed that I still live in this city - where the rules are twisted for political gains, where there is no respect for democracy, where there is no rule of law.
Is there any taker for a family of three to move in- as refugees?
disillusioned,
K.Sudhakar
All started with the brutal and uncivilized force that the police used to clear the protesting students out of Azad maidan. In the name of providing security to the masses, the police has shown utter disrespect to the democracy and the silent protestors.
Whatever be the cause of protest- the police should have showed that they are a disciplined force first. If not what is the difference between them and the thugs on the streets?
I got the shock of my life when the media shows the police beating the medical students - who were protesting silently ( They were not creating any nuisance to the public or damaged any property - unlike many other protests and processions which Mumbai is used to ), the Police Commissioner A.N.Roy had denied the lathi charges.
As an eminent doctor from IMA has commented " Either he is blind or he is a blatant liar". Is it needed for a Police Commissioner to be excoriated like this in public? Why he could not discharge his duties unbiased? Is there any pressure from the political corridors to keep an upper hand on those protesting against quota? Is he not to be a person - away from political parties to discharge his duties? Given this mess, Is he not the first person to be fired out of the force?
There were female protestors in the group. Not a single female constable was there to regulate the situation. All these female students were dragged and beaten by the thugs in uniform. I have no words to call them as police constables. There were guys NOT IN UNIFORM, but beat the protestors with lathi. Who were they? Why they were not in uniform? To which force they belong? Any answers , Mr.Roy?
How come , those who ordered the lathicharge did not see that the women in the group are to be handled by women? Why do they have a women wing in their force? The students were beaten and were detained for 4 hours -no reason given. Later, in the night they were released "without " any protection. Can they just tell, where the female students would go in this insecure Mumbai- where the police cannot even be trusted?Will they do, for their own children?
What can you expect from a police force which rapes the women in the police chowkies? Today it is the medical students.. tomorrow it can be anybody - you , me , our brothers and sisters.
Are we having a tyrant like General Dyer as the police chief ? Is this a police or a force trained for political suppressions?
Where is the Chief Minister? He has not spoken a single word about this incident.
The IMA has given 24 hours to the government to respond . It is high time for the Governor and the Chief Minister to sense the gravity of the situation and respond.
I am ashamed that I still live in this city - where the rules are twisted for political gains, where there is no respect for democracy, where there is no rule of law.
Is there any taker for a family of three to move in- as refugees?
disillusioned,
K.Sudhakar
Saturday, December 31, 2005
New Year Resolutions
WISH YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Sending greetings by email, mobile and all possible communication media kept me busy for half a day ( from 31st night to 1st morning). Searching through the phone numbers in 05 diary, trying to relate the number to the name ( how many Kannans I have to deal with ?) , 'Oh , sorry, This used tobe my friend's number six months ago' - excuses for those lazy chums who have not updated their new numbers... fun and exhilarating.
Perai Srini has taken a new year resolution-- visit the temple and don't offer in Hundi. He has his reasons for it. I have been asked by my wife several years to take a resolution. which I cannot fulfil. Probably, I should tell her to take a resolution - not to ask me to take one. That too will be a resolution for me - knowing her intransigence.
One list in Hindustan Times captured my attention. Just a simple list. Nice to have them. It will be very nice to execute as well. One I liked " DO SOMETHING GOOD TODAY TO OTHERS WHOM YOU DON"T KNOW." This brings back a memory of a timely help in Mysore I received by one pastor on my way from Kochi. Will write about that one day.
One thing for sure. A resolve to take a resolution itself is half job done. Perhaps the execution has to do a lot with the commitment and determination. Resolutions are good to imbue the spirit of getting orderliness out of chaos. It is like getting the house cleaned once an year - in the name of festivals. As long as the memoirs and habbits don't give a hangover of last year, New Year resolutions are fine. Whatever that be.
Sending greetings by email, mobile and all possible communication media kept me busy for half a day ( from 31st night to 1st morning). Searching through the phone numbers in 05 diary, trying to relate the number to the name ( how many Kannans I have to deal with ?) , 'Oh , sorry, This used tobe my friend's number six months ago' - excuses for those lazy chums who have not updated their new numbers... fun and exhilarating.
Perai Srini has taken a new year resolution-- visit the temple and don't offer in Hundi. He has his reasons for it. I have been asked by my wife several years to take a resolution. which I cannot fulfil. Probably, I should tell her to take a resolution - not to ask me to take one. That too will be a resolution for me - knowing her intransigence.
One list in Hindustan Times captured my attention. Just a simple list. Nice to have them. It will be very nice to execute as well. One I liked " DO SOMETHING GOOD TODAY TO OTHERS WHOM YOU DON"T KNOW." This brings back a memory of a timely help in Mysore I received by one pastor on my way from Kochi. Will write about that one day.
One thing for sure. A resolve to take a resolution itself is half job done. Perhaps the execution has to do a lot with the commitment and determination. Resolutions are good to imbue the spirit of getting orderliness out of chaos. It is like getting the house cleaned once an year - in the name of festivals. As long as the memoirs and habbits don't give a hangover of last year, New Year resolutions are fine. Whatever that be.
Saturday, December 24, 2005
Tsunamika - messenger of Peace , Love and Hope
Tsunami hit one year ago -exactly. Lives were lost in numbers. Families decimated and entire villages wiped out. No word would be sufficient to cover the depth of devastation it had brought to families who had survivors.
One thing stood out... The human values of support and optimism. Auroville had worked with the fisherwomen . Out of the unfathomable sadness and
despair, the energy of keeping the world alive emerged. It was so strong and
so voluntary, it had spread it's wings across the world as a messenger of
humanity and love - like the major religions who took ages to spread the
message.
The symbol of the spirit is a doll Tsunamika. It is a rag doll made of wasteclothes and small items found in houses. The people get Tsunamika with the
passion and love and give it to other fellow men to spread the message
"Peace and Love". In return, one can give money to the people who make the
dolls - which is purely voluntary. No fixed limits of sum is advocated.
Anything out of love is accepted. What can be the best way to spread Love
and Peace in the world which cannot be benchmarked with money?
You can have a look at the www.Tsunamika.com and decide what you want to do - as a human.
One thing stood out... The human values of support and optimism. Auroville had worked with the fisherwomen . Out of the unfathomable sadness and
despair, the energy of keeping the world alive emerged. It was so strong and
so voluntary, it had spread it's wings across the world as a messenger of
humanity and love - like the major religions who took ages to spread the
message.
The symbol of the spirit is a doll Tsunamika. It is a rag doll made of wasteclothes and small items found in houses. The people get Tsunamika with the
passion and love and give it to other fellow men to spread the message
"Peace and Love". In return, one can give money to the people who make the
dolls - which is purely voluntary. No fixed limits of sum is advocated.
Anything out of love is accepted. What can be the best way to spread Love
and Peace in the world which cannot be benchmarked with money?
You can have a look at the www.Tsunamika.com and decide what you want to do - as a human.
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Plastic Ban
There was such a hue and cry after the "day of deluge" in Mumbai to ban the plastic. Society ,cutting across all social and political barriers welcomed this decision. People had even prepared to move in the market with their own bags.
Just then, the curse of democracy prevailed. Anyone can challenge any damn thing here. Political pressure came heavily on the decision makers. The delay in implementation of the ban was a clear indication.. This time too, this is going to die.
It is now official. The decision on the ban is deferred. You can see the celebration of the dirt on the road side. Ugly colored thin plastic bags inflated in the dusty winds fly happily on the roadside corners and decorate the gutters.
Who has ever said that slum dwellers would not comply with laws if the plastic ban comes to effect? Ask a slum dweller. He would tell a different story. No way to carry the things to his home. That is logistics.. not to do with the convenience of plastic. They are also aware of it's ugly side. But, there is no alternative.
The NGOs need to look at this problem from a different paradigm. Instead of just focussing on Plastic ban, let them try to educate people to move away from plastic and use the alternate sources of carry bags. This will be more pragmatic as the plastic lobby is as strong as the cigarette lobby. No money is sufficient to fight with them. Socially ostracize the habbit .. that would work.
Just then, the curse of democracy prevailed. Anyone can challenge any damn thing here. Political pressure came heavily on the decision makers. The delay in implementation of the ban was a clear indication.. This time too, this is going to die.
It is now official. The decision on the ban is deferred. You can see the celebration of the dirt on the road side. Ugly colored thin plastic bags inflated in the dusty winds fly happily on the roadside corners and decorate the gutters.
Who has ever said that slum dwellers would not comply with laws if the plastic ban comes to effect? Ask a slum dweller. He would tell a different story. No way to carry the things to his home. That is logistics.. not to do with the convenience of plastic. They are also aware of it's ugly side. But, there is no alternative.
The NGOs need to look at this problem from a different paradigm. Instead of just focussing on Plastic ban, let them try to educate people to move away from plastic and use the alternate sources of carry bags. This will be more pragmatic as the plastic lobby is as strong as the cigarette lobby. No money is sufficient to fight with them. Socially ostracize the habbit .. that would work.
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Killing The Cats
Twelve tigers were killed in Rathambore in two years.
Twelve?.. Is this in the same ratio, that the Maharashtra govt declared on the number of people died on 27th August? Govt wants a consistency in its statistics you see.. It could be much more.
What is more pitiable is the ignorance of what is being wiped out. The community which revers the Tiger as the seat of Godess Durga , mercilessly kills it for some Green bucks.
In Nagpur, a villager simply poisoned a tiger in a personal vendetta. It killed his cow.
The difference between killing for survival and killing to show who is the mightier is not understood by that poor man, despite the harmonious living the villagers had with the wild beasts for ages.
Just wishing that the tribals and villagers in the borders of jungles know how to live there, is disasterous. Probably they don't know anymyore.
We have poisoned the villagers enough with the ugly display of new found wealths in media. It is quite natural for a man to be greedy. What he would turn to.. when he can get more money for just killing a beast which endangers his livelyhood?
A proper media campaign in these areas is a must. NGOs who can take this excercise can be helped by those who have expertise in dealing with tribals.
If we fail to do immediately, probably one more news you would read very soon " Tigers Extinct in India".
Satellite Radio- a pain reliever
More Sting Operations... more exposures of corrupt politicians on video.. More of them gobbling the airtime of Breaking News on prime time news channels. Surfeited and bloated with the sickening news , I just turn off the TV and turn on the satellite radio. Bereft of advertisements on new and improved sanitary napkins, the radio is a solace many a times.
I am not an avid radio listener. Neither am I a music afficanado. I cannot even tell a symphony from an opera. Rocks and country are fine for me for 5 minutes or so max.. Drifting a lot, my bad habbit of switching channels in a TV , just follows happily in the satellite radio routine too. The scanning addiction is one way a blessing in disguise.. I tumble across on nice programs in different channels which suddenly captures the mood perfectly.
Amore is a good channel to get famiarized. The India specific (?) channels of regional languages and classical music channels are at best ,a compromise , appealing to the surface level expectations of an average music afficianado. Still, something is different in these channels. The quality of delivery/ absence of advertisements/ selection of songs ...? dont know for sure. May be a mix of all.
If I go with my experience of Tamil channel, I can extrapolate that all regional channels should be utter disappointments to those who want something different from the shreiking FM channels. Full of banal and vapid programs,they do not appeal me at all. My car is always driven in absolute silence when I dont have the selected cassetes or CDs. FM is turned ON to check your time and adjust my watch.
Perhaps, FM has to be that way to keep your expectations unfulfilled sothat they just remain expectations. The satellite radio can relieve the pain you get by listening all these noises of FM.
Try this paracetamol /ibuprofen. Just see that you dont get acidity.
Happy listening
I am not an avid radio listener. Neither am I a music afficanado. I cannot even tell a symphony from an opera. Rocks and country are fine for me for 5 minutes or so max.. Drifting a lot, my bad habbit of switching channels in a TV , just follows happily in the satellite radio routine too. The scanning addiction is one way a blessing in disguise.. I tumble across on nice programs in different channels which suddenly captures the mood perfectly.
Amore is a good channel to get famiarized. The India specific (?) channels of regional languages and classical music channels are at best ,a compromise , appealing to the surface level expectations of an average music afficianado. Still, something is different in these channels. The quality of delivery/ absence of advertisements/ selection of songs ...? dont know for sure. May be a mix of all.
If I go with my experience of Tamil channel, I can extrapolate that all regional channels should be utter disappointments to those who want something different from the shreiking FM channels. Full of banal and vapid programs,they do not appeal me at all. My car is always driven in absolute silence when I dont have the selected cassetes or CDs. FM is turned ON to check your time and adjust my watch.
Perhaps, FM has to be that way to keep your expectations unfulfilled sothat they just remain expectations. The satellite radio can relieve the pain you get by listening all these noises of FM.
Try this paracetamol /ibuprofen. Just see that you dont get acidity.
Happy listening
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