On Sunday our parliament celebrated 60 years of parliamentary democracy and many lofty speeches were made by our politicians about democracy and how we have matured over these six decades. However if one tried to do a reality check he will find that we have only gone regressive, and with each passing day we are going even more backwards. Have we failed Democracy or has democracy failed us? I don’t know, but both seem to hold true.
Before this day, on Saturday and on Monday we saw our parliament debate on a 63 year old cartoon of Dr. B R Ambedkar claiming that its inclusion in school textbooks degrades the dalit icon. If Dr. Ambedkar were alive today he would have shamed this entire bunch who are trying to make political gain by using his name. This issue was raised first by Mayavati who is still licking her wounds from the drubbing she got in the recent elections and is now desperately looking at some short cuts to regain her vote bank and this issue proved to be a handy one. Then everyone else jumped the bandwagon, making merry while the sun shines and thus make a mockery of the parliament. Precious time was wasted time on a frivolous issue when the nation is facing so many difficulties like inflation, poor health care, farmer suicides, corruption etc.
I saw the cartoon myself and found nothing objectionable in it. None of the senior learned men and experts who were called up for discussions on Television found anything objectionable. Only a small bunch of misled fools were making noise and trying to drown every voice of reason. Had Dr. Ambedkar been around he would have used a whip against them. The students who were interviewed were seen laughing more and ridiculing the politicians for wasting precious parliament time on such a frivolous issue. A small 12 year old child seems to be more mature than our stupid politicians.
A leader like Yashwant Sinha is worried that such cartoons degrading politicians, and showing them in poor light will affect children and the children will grow up to hate politicians. Has Mr. Yeshwant Sinha ever cared to sit down and introspect as to why politicians are looked upon this way and have become a laughing stock today. Nobody talks bad about Nehru, Sardar Patel, Dr. Radhakrishnan, La Bahadur Sashtri and politicians of that generation, the way today’s politicians are talked about. If fact every one revers them. Why then so much change has come about in the last 60 years in people’s perception of politicians. People from every walk of like agree that they are the root cause for all the nation’s ills. Almost half of our MP’s have criminal records. Each one of our MP’s or MLA’s, since getting elected has increased his/her bank balances a thousand fold. Nobody has answered from where the windfall came from. They are involved in crimes like extortion, land grabbing, corruption, blatant misuse of power to suppress those who are weak. None of them seems to be interested in the country and its welfare and progress.
How then can one have any respect or sympathy for these politicians? If the common man was given an opportunity to have his way each one of them would have been lynched. When asked some of the heads of political parties say that criminals are given tickets because they win elections for the parties concerned and therefore cannot be ignored. Thus the poor voter from rural areas is blamed because he is uneducated and sells his vote and therefore these criminals enter parliament. If that is the case why does nobody blame our so called intellectuals and well educated people who still vote for a corrupt Kalmadi to the post of Olympic committee president. The same Kalmadi who is undergoing so many enquires, is named by the CBI and has spent time in prison is still being voted, not by poor uneducated rural voters but by well educated and learned people from across cities serving in various sports and games committees. Are they also not falling prey to Kalmadi’s lavish parties in five star hotels where expensive liquor flows when our sportsmen do not get facilities to train and a healthy diet during camps. Why is nobody questioned when such a thing happens?
I must say that our politicians are themselves responsible for the plight they are in, however they are too shameless to accept this fact. Everyone is to be blamed except themselves. Redemption however is not so easy because the rot runs too deep. They need to take that long and painful walk backwards from the cesspool of corruption and everything that is evil that they have walked into so far. I do not think that any politician of my generation will even try to do this. Power has corrupted each one of them so much that life without power simply terrifies them. Therefore they will only try to save their skins by blaming others and in this instance the cartoons, and maybe tomorrow something else. Encroaching upon our freedoms that are guaranteed by our constitution seems to be one easy way. They find objection in an innocent cartoon on Dr. Ambedkar, yet find nothing unusual in trampling upon the very constitution that Dr. Ambedkar gave us. What Irony?. Today it is cartoons in text books and tomorrow it could be cartoons in newspapers and magazines and then newspapers themselves, something Mamata Banerjee has started in Bengal by banning all newspapers that are critical of her in government libraries.
One ray of hope however, during the debate in parliament was the voice of Jaswant Singh who went against his colleagues and others as the only voice of dissent. He spoke as to how hilarious he found the cartoons and he had a large collection of them. He said these cartoons helped him realize whenever he had made mistakes in his political life. He said that his eleven year old grandson had so many other things that could influence his mind rather than some innocent and funny cartoon. All other politicians too should follow his example. First correct yourself and reform. Jaswant Singh needs to be applauded here for his stand.
Finally, too all politicians of India, I have this humble advice: Be an honest leader who is loved by the masses. Be mature in your thinking and not a fool with little matter in the head like a Mayavati and others like her. Your vote banks should be the masses across all castes, creeds, religions and regions. People will watch and appreciate your honesty, transparency at work and your good deeds and you will be rewarded by their blessings and good wishes. Remember the good wishes and blessings of a destitute and hungry countryman far exceed in value all the money that you have accumulated and all the monetary rewards that you have acquired. Remember that you are elected and sent there not to waste time, agitate and stall parliament, but to legislate, discuss the ills that are plaguing the country and help rectify them. After this see how the perception of the common man towards you changes for the better.
Please leave our cartoons alone !!!!!!!!!!!.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Follow up to Terrorism & Maoism
Within a couple of hours after I published my earlier blog came the news that the bullet riddled body of a Sub Inspector of Police kidnapped earlier was found in Odisha.
Dear Swami Agnivesh how to you explain now the greatness of your naxal friends?
Please remember that this menace can be put down only through brute force. The people who have taken up guns are not marginalised tribals nor the ones who want to fight for their causes. These are plain and simple thughs and murderers. The sooner people like you and Arundathi Roy realise this the better.
Maoism & Terrorism
I read a news article today wherein I found Swami Agnivesh describing Mr. Chidambaram as a terrorist worse than the Maoists. In this article he has gone to discuss the character of the Maoists as great as if they are the embodiment of non violence. In the end I did not know whether to laugh or to cry.
Swami Agnivesh must be expressing his frustrations here, as he was a mediator between the government and the Maoists some time ago and failed in bringing about a compromise which would have made him a celebrity across the country. Having failed in this exercise he finds in Mr. Chidambaram an easy scape goat. Was he that stupid to think that he could bring about a change in heart among the Maoists whose only aim is to grab political power by force?
The targeting of Mr Chidambaram first started after he began going after what is now described as saffron terror. Since then he has been targeted by the RSS, VHP BJP and the entire right wing politicians as also by unemployed people like Subramaniam Swamy a person with zero relevance in Indian politics. He has been targeted by Naveen Patnaik who calls him a person wanting to destroy the federal structure and Jayalalitha who sees a rival in him in Tamil Nadu politics. Now we see him being targeted by the Swami Agnivesh. Until he began going after saffron terror it is the same BJP and the right wing parties that described him as one of the best Home Ministers of independent India.
Coming back to Swami Agnivesh, he talks about how the Maoists in their greatness released all their hostages recently which include the two Italians, the MLA and the District collector. He has however conveniently forgotten the two security guards of the collector who were butchered for simply doing their duty. He has forgotten all the ordinary policemen who have been killed in their hundreds, the local people who have been abducted and killed on suspicion of being government spies. What about them? Don’t they matter to Swami?. Are their lives as citizens of the country less important to him? What about these great maoists who extort money from business houses and then indulge in rape, molestations and even burning down of hospitals and schools.
I would have been a little happy if corrupt officials and ministers had been the targets of Maoists. Yet I find only ordinary tribals ( for whom the Maoists claim to be carrying the banner) being butchered and a reign of terror imposed in areas under their control. Also, they only target those young officials who have opted to work in these tribal areas and bring in development in those areas. They very well know that after crying hoarse for years complaining about the neglect and lack of development in tribal areas and creating sympathy for themselves, it is the development measures taken by the government and the people who implement them are their enemies. They know that if schools, hospitals, roads, electricity, water etc. are provided to the tribals, they the Maoists will lose their relevance and their power. Therefore they want to avoid development at any cost. The Maoists have only one interest and that is to grab political power through the barrel of a gun.
There is only one solution to this menace. Anyone who questions the might of the state and takes up arms against it needs to be crushed and crushed so badly that they never raise their head again. So far our governments have been very weak and soft towards the Maoists and have sought appeasement. It is now time to crush them with whatever means that are necessary. Be it the para military or the armed forces themselves. Today Naxalism is a greater enemy than the Al Qaida terrorists and it is growing by the day. Mr. Chidambaram is perfectly capable of doing so, but for this he needs support from all sides. Our narrow minded politicians are trying their level best to derail his efforts. Sometimes I even wonder if these might be on the payroll of the Maoists.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
The Turmoil
Our India has changed significantly over the past few months. Every other day a new scam surfaces and each one seems to have originated at the highest levels of the government. Then we have a hyper active media who has become the accuser the prosecutor and the judge. Then we have our so called representatives from civil society trying to hold the government at ransom at every opportunity. We have a judiciary which wants to take over the executive powers from the Executive and legislature and then we have the government which seems to be in shell shock. Ministers are in limbo and because of the turmoil the governance seems to have come to a standstill. On top of all these problems we have the common man’s woes like rising fuel, gas and food prices.
When you sit back and try to analyse each of these events, one is not sure if to derive good or bad from these developments. In the past umpteen scandals have taken place, corruption has been rampant, yet one has not seen any action taken against the offenders. We would hear of a CBI raid or an income tax raid or a Lok Ayukta raid only to later find the concerned official back in business, after a few months once the public memory had faded. However, this time some of the guys (ministers and businessmen) at the top who until recently seemed untouchable and above law are now cooling their heels in jail. Some say they are unfairly detained without bail whereas others insist that they are detained correctly, so that they do not influence the investigations. Once they are prosecuted we will know the truth and the depth of their involvement or innocence in the many scams. It is due to the media which has played a major role in exposing these scams that these individuals are today behind bars. The media did a good job by keeping up the pressure on the government, law enforcement agencies and the judiciary to act and also in keeping public memory alive. Many praise the media, yet others are very critical. Some say that the media has overstepped and gone too far.
Coming back to our judiciary, they seem to have taken over the administrative powers from the government. There seems to be a gross interference in administration and they pass everyday orders to the government on what it should do, how it should function and what it should not do. Is this really the role of the judiciary as per the constitution? I would like to believe it is not. Yet sometimes one feels that the government has willingly let the judiciary take up its role for fear of censure from the public and the media. I do not think this is good for our democracy where each institution has its own role cut out and for our democracy to function we need all pillars to work in cohesion, smoothly, independently without encroaching on each others’ powers and responsibilities.
Agitations and fasts by the so called representatives of the civil society seem to be the latest fashion in India. These self appointed representatives take great pleasure in holding the government at ransom. They claim to be representing the whole of civil society, whereas I would like to state categorically that they do not represent me and I do not support many of their demands. There are millions of silent citizens like me who are watching these unfolding events with great disgust. The motto of these leaders is MY WAY IS THE HIGHWAY and anyone who differs from their point of view is looked upon as a lackey of the corrupt government or a person with vested interests. If you look at the background of these leaders, we will find that all of them have an axe to grind with the government. There are bringing forth these prejudices from the past and using the weapon of the common gullible citizen to get even with the government. Their latest demand is for a Lok Pal with extra constitutional authority. They say that the government is corrupt, the Prime Minster is corrupt, the judiciary is corrupt, law enforcement agencies are corrupt and so they want a Lok Pal to sit on top of all these institutions. I would like to ask who this Lop Pal is ?. Is he going to be a super natural being sent from the heavens? I guess not unless these guys have made a deal with God. The Lok Pal will be another person from amongst us and so what guarantee do we have that he will be clean and neutral. What guarantee do we have that he will not come with his private agenda and go about doing a witch hunt?. WHO WILL THEN LOK PAL THE LOK PAL?. What kind of checks and balances will be put in place on this extra constitutional authority. Do our self appointed representatives have an answer?.
We also saw many celebrities jumping the bandwagon and dancing on stage extending their support for this anti corruption drive. Since this is the latest fashion and everyone wants free exposure, so why not?. Unfortunately many of our stars have been raided or sent notices for tax evasion or income tax default in the not so recent past. Is it not easy to preach to others when you do not follow what you preach. You don’t mind paying a bribe to the tax official to reduce your house tax, your land tax, your income tax as long as it benefits you, but then you go out and slam the government, the public officials for practising corruption. Little do you understand that prevention of corruption is a responsibility of each and every citizen and it begins with you and from your home.
Unfortunately due of all these unfolding events governance has taken a back seat. The ministers do not want to take any action as they are scared to act because of the scrutiny from the media and civil society. It is believed that hundreds of files are lying unattended as no official seems to be interested in taking any action as each and every action when taken is deemed suspect and motives are attached to every action. Just look at the PIL filed against the Telcom minister last week. It reeks of vendetta. The litigant is one of the self appointed representatives of civil society and has brought forth his private grudge against the minister in this PIL. That the Supreme court has set it aside is another matter.
The ministry has been reshuffled now and the Prime Minister seems more purposeful now and hopefully governance will once again take predominance. With time I hope that this love for agitations and confrontations will end and both the civil society and the opposition parties will understand their responsibilities. As of the now the opposition has ceded its role to the self appointed civil society leaders. The media too has to be irresponsible sometimes. However, there are several instances of good being done by the media in waking up the dormant public conscience. It has made both the government and judiciary act decisively on many issues. It now needs to step back a bit and restrict itself to its assigned role of creating awareness and not passing judgements and ordering the established institutions on what they should do and what they should not. Each has a role to play and if that is understood then there is nothing to worry about the future.
When you sit back and try to analyse each of these events, one is not sure if to derive good or bad from these developments. In the past umpteen scandals have taken place, corruption has been rampant, yet one has not seen any action taken against the offenders. We would hear of a CBI raid or an income tax raid or a Lok Ayukta raid only to later find the concerned official back in business, after a few months once the public memory had faded. However, this time some of the guys (ministers and businessmen) at the top who until recently seemed untouchable and above law are now cooling their heels in jail. Some say they are unfairly detained without bail whereas others insist that they are detained correctly, so that they do not influence the investigations. Once they are prosecuted we will know the truth and the depth of their involvement or innocence in the many scams. It is due to the media which has played a major role in exposing these scams that these individuals are today behind bars. The media did a good job by keeping up the pressure on the government, law enforcement agencies and the judiciary to act and also in keeping public memory alive. Many praise the media, yet others are very critical. Some say that the media has overstepped and gone too far.
Coming back to our judiciary, they seem to have taken over the administrative powers from the government. There seems to be a gross interference in administration and they pass everyday orders to the government on what it should do, how it should function and what it should not do. Is this really the role of the judiciary as per the constitution? I would like to believe it is not. Yet sometimes one feels that the government has willingly let the judiciary take up its role for fear of censure from the public and the media. I do not think this is good for our democracy where each institution has its own role cut out and for our democracy to function we need all pillars to work in cohesion, smoothly, independently without encroaching on each others’ powers and responsibilities.
Agitations and fasts by the so called representatives of the civil society seem to be the latest fashion in India. These self appointed representatives take great pleasure in holding the government at ransom. They claim to be representing the whole of civil society, whereas I would like to state categorically that they do not represent me and I do not support many of their demands. There are millions of silent citizens like me who are watching these unfolding events with great disgust. The motto of these leaders is MY WAY IS THE HIGHWAY and anyone who differs from their point of view is looked upon as a lackey of the corrupt government or a person with vested interests. If you look at the background of these leaders, we will find that all of them have an axe to grind with the government. There are bringing forth these prejudices from the past and using the weapon of the common gullible citizen to get even with the government. Their latest demand is for a Lok Pal with extra constitutional authority. They say that the government is corrupt, the Prime Minster is corrupt, the judiciary is corrupt, law enforcement agencies are corrupt and so they want a Lok Pal to sit on top of all these institutions. I would like to ask who this Lop Pal is ?. Is he going to be a super natural being sent from the heavens? I guess not unless these guys have made a deal with God. The Lok Pal will be another person from amongst us and so what guarantee do we have that he will be clean and neutral. What guarantee do we have that he will not come with his private agenda and go about doing a witch hunt?. WHO WILL THEN LOK PAL THE LOK PAL?. What kind of checks and balances will be put in place on this extra constitutional authority. Do our self appointed representatives have an answer?.
We also saw many celebrities jumping the bandwagon and dancing on stage extending their support for this anti corruption drive. Since this is the latest fashion and everyone wants free exposure, so why not?. Unfortunately many of our stars have been raided or sent notices for tax evasion or income tax default in the not so recent past. Is it not easy to preach to others when you do not follow what you preach. You don’t mind paying a bribe to the tax official to reduce your house tax, your land tax, your income tax as long as it benefits you, but then you go out and slam the government, the public officials for practising corruption. Little do you understand that prevention of corruption is a responsibility of each and every citizen and it begins with you and from your home.
Unfortunately due of all these unfolding events governance has taken a back seat. The ministers do not want to take any action as they are scared to act because of the scrutiny from the media and civil society. It is believed that hundreds of files are lying unattended as no official seems to be interested in taking any action as each and every action when taken is deemed suspect and motives are attached to every action. Just look at the PIL filed against the Telcom minister last week. It reeks of vendetta. The litigant is one of the self appointed representatives of civil society and has brought forth his private grudge against the minister in this PIL. That the Supreme court has set it aside is another matter.
The ministry has been reshuffled now and the Prime Minister seems more purposeful now and hopefully governance will once again take predominance. With time I hope that this love for agitations and confrontations will end and both the civil society and the opposition parties will understand their responsibilities. As of the now the opposition has ceded its role to the self appointed civil society leaders. The media too has to be irresponsible sometimes. However, there are several instances of good being done by the media in waking up the dormant public conscience. It has made both the government and judiciary act decisively on many issues. It now needs to step back a bit and restrict itself to its assigned role of creating awareness and not passing judgements and ordering the established institutions on what they should do and what they should not. Each has a role to play and if that is understood then there is nothing to worry about the future.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Bury the scoundrels !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have a very nice suggestion, in case the CWG games are called off, and that is to fill up the J.N stadium to its capacity and in full view of a packed stadium bury both these scoundrels Kalmadi and Bhanot up to their necks in concrete, and let them rot there. By this noble act the full shame that these two corrupt crooks have brought on our nation will never go away, but at least those of us who are seething inside will find some peace with the sense that at least some justice is being done.
By his stupid remarks on television watched by the whole world, Bhanot has confirmed that he pisses in his own living room and sleeps on beds soiled by dogs. That is his standard and personal life style and he is very smug and happy about it. We the nation of India do not have any objections to his life style and his standard of living, but saying that his standard of hygine is the same as the rest of India is disgusting. He should be hanged for this. He has announced to the world that we proud Indians are filthy and live the way that he does.I don't think anyone of us can ever forget him for this.
The rest of the world has already written of the Commonwealth games and for all of us Indians it is the tragedy of this century, when all of us helplessly watched a small group of men swindling crores and crores of rupees, enhancing their personal wealth and putting all of us to shame.
By his stupid remarks on television watched by the whole world, Bhanot has confirmed that he pisses in his own living room and sleeps on beds soiled by dogs. That is his standard and personal life style and he is very smug and happy about it. We the nation of India do not have any objections to his life style and his standard of living, but saying that his standard of hygine is the same as the rest of India is disgusting. He should be hanged for this. He has announced to the world that we proud Indians are filthy and live the way that he does.I don't think anyone of us can ever forget him for this.
The rest of the world has already written of the Commonwealth games and for all of us Indians it is the tragedy of this century, when all of us helplessly watched a small group of men swindling crores and crores of rupees, enhancing their personal wealth and putting all of us to shame.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
When Judas' rule the day
Once upon a time in ancient times
Lived a man named Judas
Seemed Humble but was wily,
Was always there ready to please
Joined the Lord and played his wiles
And became one of the chosen twelve.
As one of the chosen twelve
He lived and shared life with the Lord
Always professing love and eternal devotion
He followed him wherever he went
And, to all around there was no one
As devoted and as humble as he.
But, all the while his heart was cold
Scheming and making plans to betray,
His master and Lord, in the most heinous way
For a few pieces of silver
He did it in the end
With just a HUG and a KISS.
Just a hug and a kiss mean so much
To so many in this world today
True love and feelings of loved ones
Who mean and care so much
Are swept aside and forgotten when the Judas’
Encircle you with hugs and kisses.
Oh ! these sweet hugs and kisses of betrayal
Seem to blind so many around us
While true love and feelings from their loved ones
That are so profound and true are ignored.
But true love sustains in the end
From all these assaults of hugs and kisses.
Why do bonds of love and relationships
Have to go through such pain and sufferings?
Why not the victims who are our loved ones ever realise
The existence of so many Judas’
Who lure and blind them today, will tomorrow
Will only betray with a hugs and a kisses.
As he once did our Lord.
Lived a man named Judas
Seemed Humble but was wily,
Was always there ready to please
Joined the Lord and played his wiles
And became one of the chosen twelve.
As one of the chosen twelve
He lived and shared life with the Lord
Always professing love and eternal devotion
He followed him wherever he went
And, to all around there was no one
As devoted and as humble as he.
But, all the while his heart was cold
Scheming and making plans to betray,
His master and Lord, in the most heinous way
For a few pieces of silver
He did it in the end
With just a HUG and a KISS.
Just a hug and a kiss mean so much
To so many in this world today
True love and feelings of loved ones
Who mean and care so much
Are swept aside and forgotten when the Judas’
Encircle you with hugs and kisses.
Oh ! these sweet hugs and kisses of betrayal
Seem to blind so many around us
While true love and feelings from their loved ones
That are so profound and true are ignored.
But true love sustains in the end
From all these assaults of hugs and kisses.
Why do bonds of love and relationships
Have to go through such pain and sufferings?
Why not the victims who are our loved ones ever realise
The existence of so many Judas’
Who lure and blind them today, will tomorrow
Will only betray with a hugs and a kisses.
As he once did our Lord.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Conspiracy theories
The Pakistani match fixing scandal story is running on expected lines. Their High Commissioner based in London is on a fast track mode to destroy whatever little credibility is left. The disease of cover ups, be it in politics, on terrorism and now in sport seems to only spread rather than subside. Every utterance coming out of the mouths of the Pakistani officials only makes the world laugh. Unfortunately sane voices of people like Imran Khan and others who played the game with passion and pride are quashed. I do not think any international side would like to play cricket with Pakistan any longer because the cheats seem to have taken over the game there. With each passing day the number of suspects in the team is rising and the officials instead of addressing the issue are burning the midnight oil to come out with innovative theories of international conspiracies against Pakistan. They don’t realise that these silly cover up stories have gone stale and nobody believes in them any longer. The High Commissioner would have been better off writing suspense thrillers instead of being the country’s diplomat.
As usual the first finger is always pointed at India and in this case also at the ICC, and the rats which had all drowned in the recent floods have re surfaced in the High Commissoner’s closet, as he has stated that he is smelling a rat.........hahahahaha.. He is yet to understand how deep this crisis is for Pakistan cricket is and therefore should be immediately removed from any position involved in conducting enquiries and investigations related to this scandal. Each minute of his continuing will take Pakistan another step downhill. People like Imran Khan, Sarfraz Nawaz, Abdul Khadir should be immediately brought in with instructions to come down on all those guilty with a iron hand. Never mind if the entire team is sacked. It is no longer a situation of being innocent until proven guilty, but guilty until proven innocent. That is the one and only hope for Pakistan cricket or else it is goodbye. And this would also destroy all sport in Pakistan.
As usual the first finger is always pointed at India and in this case also at the ICC, and the rats which had all drowned in the recent floods have re surfaced in the High Commissoner’s closet, as he has stated that he is smelling a rat.........hahahahaha.. He is yet to understand how deep this crisis is for Pakistan cricket is and therefore should be immediately removed from any position involved in conducting enquiries and investigations related to this scandal. Each minute of his continuing will take Pakistan another step downhill. People like Imran Khan, Sarfraz Nawaz, Abdul Khadir should be immediately brought in with instructions to come down on all those guilty with a iron hand. Never mind if the entire team is sacked. It is no longer a situation of being innocent until proven guilty, but guilty until proven innocent. That is the one and only hope for Pakistan cricket or else it is goodbye. And this would also destroy all sport in Pakistan.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Conspiracy theories
The Pakistani match fixing scandal story is running on expected lines. Their High Commissioner based in London is on a fast track mode to destroy whatever little credibility is left. The disease of cover ups, be it in politics, on terrorism and now in sport seems to only spread rather than subside. Every utterance coming out of the mouths of the Pakistani officials only makes the world laugh. Unfortunately sane voices of people like Imran Khan and others who played the game with passion and pride are quashed. I do not think any international side would like to play cricket with Pakistan any longer because the cheats seem to have taken over the game there. With each passing day the number of suspects in the team is rising and the officials instead of addressing the issue are burning the midnight oil to come out with innovative theories of international conspiracies against Pakistan. They don’t realise that these silly cover ups have gone stale and nobody believes in them any longer. The High Commissioner would have been better off writing suspense thrillers instead of being the country’s diplomat.
As usual the first finger is always pointed at India and in this case also at the ICC, and the rats which had all drowned in the recent floods have re surfaced in the High Commissoner’s closet, as he has stated that he is smelling a rat.........hahahahaha.. He is yet to understand how deep this crisis is for Pakistan cricket is and therefore should be immediately removed from any position involved in conducting enquiries and investigations related to this scandal. Each minute of his continuing will take Pakistan another step downhill. People like Imran Khan, Sarfraz Nawaz, Abdul Khadir should be immediately brought in with instructions to come down on all those guilty with a iron hand. Never mind if the entire team is sacked. It is no longer a situation of being innocent until proven guilty, but guilty until proven innocent. That is the one and only hope for Pakistan cricket or else it is goodbye. And this would also destroy all sport in Pakistan.
As usual the first finger is always pointed at India and in this case also at the ICC, and the rats which had all drowned in the recent floods have re surfaced in the High Commissoner’s closet, as he has stated that he is smelling a rat.........hahahahaha.. He is yet to understand how deep this crisis is for Pakistan cricket is and therefore should be immediately removed from any position involved in conducting enquiries and investigations related to this scandal. Each minute of his continuing will take Pakistan another step downhill. People like Imran Khan, Sarfraz Nawaz, Abdul Khadir should be immediately brought in with instructions to come down on all those guilty with a iron hand. Never mind if the entire team is sacked. It is no longer a situation of being innocent until proven guilty, but guilty until proven innocent. That is the one and only hope for Pakistan cricket or else it is goodbye. And this would also destroy all sport in Pakistan.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Match fixing and cricket
Over a decade ago the match fixing scandal in cricket almost destroyed the game. A lot of prominent cricketers like Azharuddin, Jadeja, Manoj prabhakar, Salim malik, Hansie Cronje to name a few saw an abrupt end to their careers. Since then slowly the scar seemed to have faded and the game of cricket seemed to have come out of its worst ever crisis. The ICC formed an anti corruption unit and these retired law enforcement officials appointed by the ICC seemed to keep a close watch on all matches and players, and have things under control.
Yet every now and again murmurs were being heard and fingers were being pointed mostly at the Pakistan players and at times others like the West Indians. Various investigations have being held now and then, the most serious being the one after the death of Bob woolmer, when a section of the world press said that he was done away with since he knew too much. The Pakistani board more than once conducted investigations of their own, suspended many a player , only to bring them back a few months later citing lack of evidence or misunderstanding or language problems.
But over the past week the scandal seems to have returned with a vengeance like the plague of ancient times. Nobody now knows where all this will lead to. To cricket lovers like me the whole thing brings a very bad taste in the mouth. I don’t know which one of the matches that I have passionately watched over the years sometime losing sleep, sometimes missing work, sometimes missing holidays are real and which ones are fixed. If all the matches that I have watched have been fixed then I would be better off switching to watching WWF wrestling on TV from now on. It also builds a rage within that me and I am sure with all the other cricket lovers across the world that we have been taken for a royal ride by these fake stars, who in my opinion will not hesitate to sell their own mothers for a few additional pennies.
Look at the wages and the endorsements that each one of them are getting these days, look at the life style of these cricketers in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and West indies where the majority of the population lives below poverty line.They live in lavish bungalows, drive about in the latest cars and yet they have to sell their own souls for a few additional bucks. In my rage sometimes, I seem to blame the whole lot of players, but deep within I would still like to believe that the Gavaskars, Tendulakars and Dravids whom I have worshipped all these years are beyond this. But again if there are one or two worms in a team of 11, it will reflect on the entire team and taint the country.
The Aussies today are sympathizing with some of these crooks and passing statements like their culture has driven them to do it. Is it not shameful to come upon such comments? A country that came into existence just around 200 years ago, pointing at our culture which began with the Indus valley civilization. We who first civilized the world now have to listen to lectures on culture and upbringing from these upstarts and descendants of re settled convicts.
I fully endorse the summons issued by the Lahore High court and filing cases of treason against these tainted players. Their act is nothing less than treason and should be dealt with severely. However, going by previous instances one does not see anything positive coming out of it. Some of the ministers in Pakistan have already begun working on conspiracy theories to ward of public opinion and anger. This as always is the most convenient excuse. Whenever there is an internal problem, blame it on external conspiracies and hide the dirt under the carpet. Unfortunately for Pakistan the dirt has become a mound and may soon grow into a mountain. Don’t be surprised if you see these players suspended for a few months and then brought back next year for the world cup to play more havoc in the cricketing world. In a land of adjustments and percentages anything can happen. Not so long ago the current president himself had a nickname of Mr. 10 percent.
Yet every now and again murmurs were being heard and fingers were being pointed mostly at the Pakistan players and at times others like the West Indians. Various investigations have being held now and then, the most serious being the one after the death of Bob woolmer, when a section of the world press said that he was done away with since he knew too much. The Pakistani board more than once conducted investigations of their own, suspended many a player , only to bring them back a few months later citing lack of evidence or misunderstanding or language problems.
But over the past week the scandal seems to have returned with a vengeance like the plague of ancient times. Nobody now knows where all this will lead to. To cricket lovers like me the whole thing brings a very bad taste in the mouth. I don’t know which one of the matches that I have passionately watched over the years sometime losing sleep, sometimes missing work, sometimes missing holidays are real and which ones are fixed. If all the matches that I have watched have been fixed then I would be better off switching to watching WWF wrestling on TV from now on. It also builds a rage within that me and I am sure with all the other cricket lovers across the world that we have been taken for a royal ride by these fake stars, who in my opinion will not hesitate to sell their own mothers for a few additional pennies.
Look at the wages and the endorsements that each one of them are getting these days, look at the life style of these cricketers in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and West indies where the majority of the population lives below poverty line.They live in lavish bungalows, drive about in the latest cars and yet they have to sell their own souls for a few additional bucks. In my rage sometimes, I seem to blame the whole lot of players, but deep within I would still like to believe that the Gavaskars, Tendulakars and Dravids whom I have worshipped all these years are beyond this. But again if there are one or two worms in a team of 11, it will reflect on the entire team and taint the country.
The Aussies today are sympathizing with some of these crooks and passing statements like their culture has driven them to do it. Is it not shameful to come upon such comments? A country that came into existence just around 200 years ago, pointing at our culture which began with the Indus valley civilization. We who first civilized the world now have to listen to lectures on culture and upbringing from these upstarts and descendants of re settled convicts.
I fully endorse the summons issued by the Lahore High court and filing cases of treason against these tainted players. Their act is nothing less than treason and should be dealt with severely. However, going by previous instances one does not see anything positive coming out of it. Some of the ministers in Pakistan have already begun working on conspiracy theories to ward of public opinion and anger. This as always is the most convenient excuse. Whenever there is an internal problem, blame it on external conspiracies and hide the dirt under the carpet. Unfortunately for Pakistan the dirt has become a mound and may soon grow into a mountain. Don’t be surprised if you see these players suspended for a few months and then brought back next year for the world cup to play more havoc in the cricketing world. In a land of adjustments and percentages anything can happen. Not so long ago the current president himself had a nickname of Mr. 10 percent.
Monday, August 30, 2010
The story goes on
Back in January 2010 about 8 months ago, I had written on the pathetic state of Indian sport. Looking at the situation with the CWG today my posting came in 8 months too early.
Since January things have not improved one bit, instead have deteriorated further. We have an 80 plus lady heading Hockey India, simply because the controlling mafia does not want to see change and bring in a new person who could expose the skeletons in the cupboard. The Hockey coach has put up his hands in surrender saying that he has lost and our corrupt system has won. Suresh Kalmadi the chief destroyer of Indian sport shamelessly continues in his post and also keep interfering in every other sport. The country has been put to shame by the actions of Kalmadi and his chelas and internationally we have become laughing stocks. He will never quit his post until he physically dragged and thrown out.
Anyway why should he?. As a businessman he combines his personal foreign business trips along with those of the Olympic association and puts to use the money supposed to be spent on the welfare of sport for his personal needs. Expensive wine flows at the sports annual meets in five star hotels while at the same time the athletes do not get paid their wages and allowances. They do not get proper diet in camps. Millions of dollars have been siphoned off during the past few years which were meant for infrastructure development for the CWG. Everybody in Kalamdi’s group has made money and are sitting cosy.
Last year our minister of sports proposed limited tenures for heads of sports bodies. This was a right proposal and everyone should have supported it. Kalmadi started screaming and crying then, but no other MP came forward in support of the sports minister, because lots of politicians cutting across party lines are heading various sports bodies and they too did not want to lose their positions. Even though I am not a great fan of Mani Shankar Aiyar, I must agree that what he says about the CWG and Indian sport is true. Be very clear that these games will in no way help improve Indian sport. They will only succeed in making Kalmadi and his chamchas richer. In the end we will be left with sub standard infrastructure which will eventually rot and wither. Kalmadi and his chelas will continue ruling Indian sport and taking it further and further down.................what a waste.
Since January things have not improved one bit, instead have deteriorated further. We have an 80 plus lady heading Hockey India, simply because the controlling mafia does not want to see change and bring in a new person who could expose the skeletons in the cupboard. The Hockey coach has put up his hands in surrender saying that he has lost and our corrupt system has won. Suresh Kalmadi the chief destroyer of Indian sport shamelessly continues in his post and also keep interfering in every other sport. The country has been put to shame by the actions of Kalmadi and his chelas and internationally we have become laughing stocks. He will never quit his post until he physically dragged and thrown out.
Anyway why should he?. As a businessman he combines his personal foreign business trips along with those of the Olympic association and puts to use the money supposed to be spent on the welfare of sport for his personal needs. Expensive wine flows at the sports annual meets in five star hotels while at the same time the athletes do not get paid their wages and allowances. They do not get proper diet in camps. Millions of dollars have been siphoned off during the past few years which were meant for infrastructure development for the CWG. Everybody in Kalamdi’s group has made money and are sitting cosy.
Last year our minister of sports proposed limited tenures for heads of sports bodies. This was a right proposal and everyone should have supported it. Kalmadi started screaming and crying then, but no other MP came forward in support of the sports minister, because lots of politicians cutting across party lines are heading various sports bodies and they too did not want to lose their positions. Even though I am not a great fan of Mani Shankar Aiyar, I must agree that what he says about the CWG and Indian sport is true. Be very clear that these games will in no way help improve Indian sport. They will only succeed in making Kalmadi and his chamchas richer. In the end we will be left with sub standard infrastructure which will eventually rot and wither. Kalmadi and his chelas will continue ruling Indian sport and taking it further and further down.................what a waste.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
The pathetic state of indian sport
We have just now witnessed the war between the Indian hockey players and the association, wherein the players finally won. They won not because of the magnanimity of the association, but due to the huge public outcry and the contributions made by some business houses to pay the players dues. If not for the public outcry the association would have continued to bully the players and then chosen a Z grade to represent India at the world cup. Who in the association cares as long as he / she gets his airlines tickets, 5 star hotel stay and daily parties wherever the association meetings are held. They have money for all this, but have nothing to pay the players.
What the players did this time was perfectly right and perfectly timed. Crudely we can say that the players had the association by the balls. It is also highly commendable that the media and the public stood behind the players and put and end to this nonsense quickly.
This particular situation is not restricted only to Hockey. All Indian sports including athletics, wrestling, archery, boxing, football suffer from the same. A few years ago when Mr Shahnawaz Hussain was the sports minister glimpses of a party of the athletic association of India in a five star hotel were shown on TV. Most of the attendees were having a gala time drinking expensive liquor and posing blatantly in front of cameras. Yet this same association said that they did not have the money to pay for the athletes food and milk while they were undergoing training in camps. There are no modern stadia anywhere in the country, no infrastructure, and not even the basic needs of the players and athletes and sportsmen are met. Nobody is able to answer as to where the millions of rupees sanctioned in the annual budget towards national sports go. And nobody cares to find out.
Most of the heads and administrators of these sports bodies have had nothing to do with sport in their lives. They are politicians who have somehow sneaked their way into these bodies and hijacked them, to gain status, free foreign trips with families, eat, drink and make merry in 5 star hotels all the while when Indian sport has been dying a slow and painful death.
Even though the cricket board is rich with tonnes of money, its board members do all kinds of nonsense except promoting the game of cricket. They have turned the sport into business as the Income Tax commissioner has herself pointed out in today’s newspapers. Where is the effort by the board to promote test cricket which is the purest form of cricket. In fact if they have their way, no test cricket will be played in 5 years time. Our heroes in the board will see to it.
A wrong perception has been spread around by vested interests saying that former sportspersons cannot run the game because they lack administrative and management skills, but the state of Indian sport clearly shows as to how the so called people with administrative and management skills have destroyed all sport in the country over 60 years. Yet they don’t want to give up.
However all is not lost yet and we can change this negative situation into a positive one. We have a media today which is alert and active and this hockey episode conveys a very positive message that the general public along with media support can change things. We must somehow all join together and with the help of the media sweep away all these parasites that are running Indian sport today. They simply are not fit to occupy these positions. It should be seen that senior sports men from the past who have represented the country occupy all important positions in all sports bodies. They can hire professionals to manage money and administration. This will bring back passion and interest. Strong sports bodies who have sport at heart will surely encourage young people to take up sport seriously. With proper management and accountability industrial houses will surely come forward and contribute towards the betterment of Indian sport. Today they are discouraged in doing so because they see their money going down the drain, as it is being swallowed by corrupt officials. If all this happens we will surely see a positive change happening in Indian sport is less than 5 years. I for one am 100% sure.
What the players did this time was perfectly right and perfectly timed. Crudely we can say that the players had the association by the balls. It is also highly commendable that the media and the public stood behind the players and put and end to this nonsense quickly.
This particular situation is not restricted only to Hockey. All Indian sports including athletics, wrestling, archery, boxing, football suffer from the same. A few years ago when Mr Shahnawaz Hussain was the sports minister glimpses of a party of the athletic association of India in a five star hotel were shown on TV. Most of the attendees were having a gala time drinking expensive liquor and posing blatantly in front of cameras. Yet this same association said that they did not have the money to pay for the athletes food and milk while they were undergoing training in camps. There are no modern stadia anywhere in the country, no infrastructure, and not even the basic needs of the players and athletes and sportsmen are met. Nobody is able to answer as to where the millions of rupees sanctioned in the annual budget towards national sports go. And nobody cares to find out.
Most of the heads and administrators of these sports bodies have had nothing to do with sport in their lives. They are politicians who have somehow sneaked their way into these bodies and hijacked them, to gain status, free foreign trips with families, eat, drink and make merry in 5 star hotels all the while when Indian sport has been dying a slow and painful death.
Even though the cricket board is rich with tonnes of money, its board members do all kinds of nonsense except promoting the game of cricket. They have turned the sport into business as the Income Tax commissioner has herself pointed out in today’s newspapers. Where is the effort by the board to promote test cricket which is the purest form of cricket. In fact if they have their way, no test cricket will be played in 5 years time. Our heroes in the board will see to it.
A wrong perception has been spread around by vested interests saying that former sportspersons cannot run the game because they lack administrative and management skills, but the state of Indian sport clearly shows as to how the so called people with administrative and management skills have destroyed all sport in the country over 60 years. Yet they don’t want to give up.
However all is not lost yet and we can change this negative situation into a positive one. We have a media today which is alert and active and this hockey episode conveys a very positive message that the general public along with media support can change things. We must somehow all join together and with the help of the media sweep away all these parasites that are running Indian sport today. They simply are not fit to occupy these positions. It should be seen that senior sports men from the past who have represented the country occupy all important positions in all sports bodies. They can hire professionals to manage money and administration. This will bring back passion and interest. Strong sports bodies who have sport at heart will surely encourage young people to take up sport seriously. With proper management and accountability industrial houses will surely come forward and contribute towards the betterment of Indian sport. Today they are discouraged in doing so because they see their money going down the drain, as it is being swallowed by corrupt officials. If all this happens we will surely see a positive change happening in Indian sport is less than 5 years. I for one am 100% sure.
Monday, January 11, 2010
I sympathize with Mr Devegowda & family
The recent outburst by Mr Devegowda against Mr Yeddi the Chief Minister of Karnataka is understandable and one ought to sympathize with him.
A man who held power for long either directly or through proxy is somehow not able to digest the fact that he is no longer in power and not able to influence anyone either in the state or at the national level.
Even though he and his family have accumulated enough wealth over the years both through fair and foul means, these days the money making machines have run dry and without money the Gowda family does not know how to run the party ar create trouble in the state.
He had banked hopes first and was very confident on being a king maker at the national level with his single digit number of MP's and was making loud noises at the time of the general elections. He was very confident that the congress would come to him with a begging bowl for support. In the end all his plans bit the dust. His son was seen sneaking into Mrs Sonia Gandhi's house covering his face, the purpose of which was to beg for a ministerial berth. The congress plainly said NOTHING DOING.
The next plan was to bring down the Yeddi government through some crooked means and with the congress support. But this venture too seems to have failed after how the Gowda gang backstabbed both the congress and the BJP the last time. The congress is in no mood to extend any support to the Gowda clan as they have seen enough of this family in the past.
Today this family has become untouchable and a laughing stock in the state. Added to this is the likelihood of losing large chunks of illgotten land along the Bangalore Mysore corridor if the project goes ahead, has simply driven the senior Gowda out of control and he does not seem to have control over his senses.
Therefore i fully understand his outbursts and what is going on within him. After decades in politics failure stares at him during his final years, and he is simply not able to digest this fact. The ghost of Ramakrishna Hegde seems to be haunting him now.
It is therefore time for him to quit politics and retire and also for his sons and family to follow him. There are many other business opportunities available in today's progressive India and they should choose some other option for themselves and not politics. Their presence in politics has only brought misery upon themselves and the citizens of Karnataka.
A man who held power for long either directly or through proxy is somehow not able to digest the fact that he is no longer in power and not able to influence anyone either in the state or at the national level.
Even though he and his family have accumulated enough wealth over the years both through fair and foul means, these days the money making machines have run dry and without money the Gowda family does not know how to run the party ar create trouble in the state.
He had banked hopes first and was very confident on being a king maker at the national level with his single digit number of MP's and was making loud noises at the time of the general elections. He was very confident that the congress would come to him with a begging bowl for support. In the end all his plans bit the dust. His son was seen sneaking into Mrs Sonia Gandhi's house covering his face, the purpose of which was to beg for a ministerial berth. The congress plainly said NOTHING DOING.
The next plan was to bring down the Yeddi government through some crooked means and with the congress support. But this venture too seems to have failed after how the Gowda gang backstabbed both the congress and the BJP the last time. The congress is in no mood to extend any support to the Gowda clan as they have seen enough of this family in the past.
Today this family has become untouchable and a laughing stock in the state. Added to this is the likelihood of losing large chunks of illgotten land along the Bangalore Mysore corridor if the project goes ahead, has simply driven the senior Gowda out of control and he does not seem to have control over his senses.
Therefore i fully understand his outbursts and what is going on within him. After decades in politics failure stares at him during his final years, and he is simply not able to digest this fact. The ghost of Ramakrishna Hegde seems to be haunting him now.
It is therefore time for him to quit politics and retire and also for his sons and family to follow him. There are many other business opportunities available in today's progressive India and they should choose some other option for themselves and not politics. Their presence in politics has only brought misery upon themselves and the citizens of Karnataka.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Narendra Modi's proposal
I am not a fan of Narendra Modi, and feel that he should be made answerable for the Gujarat riots where he had direct responsibility. However, I wholly welcome his latest proposal to make voting compulsory for elections to local bodies.
A couple of months ago immediately after the general elections, I had written on my blog on the low voter turnout in major cities in the general elections. Our armchair citizens who find fault with everything and anything related to government affairs and politics, spent the election day holiday in attending picnics and parties instead of going out and voting. Their don’t care attitude is the biggest blot on our democracy.
To put an end to this nonsense what Mr Modi is suggesting should be welcomed by all well meaning citizens of the country. Democracy is not a joke, and the rights and liberties that it gives should be respected and cherished by all. An eligible voter who opts to stay away from voting should be imposed a hefty penalty. There are many types of penalties that can succeed in putting sense into the heads of our non caring citizens and make them responsible for the state of affairs of the country.
Globe trotters could have their passports confiscated for 6 months as punishment. People belonging to the middle income and low income groups who do not exercise their franchise could have their monthly rations cancelled. Non voters should also be prevented from availing any government services for a fixed period as penalty. These are some of my suggestions if Mr Modi is listening.
Political parties who oppose the BJP and what Mr Modi is trying to implement should seriously sit together and see as to how quickly this law could be implemented nationwide and applies to all state and national elections. Today they are simply opposing the idea because it has come from Modi, and this is wrong. Instead of opposing the idea, it should be supported fully.
A person who does not vote is indirectly an enemy of the nation, as he does not participate in nation building by helping elect the right persons to govern the country. A person by not voting is indirectly helping criminals, goons and corrupt individuals to gain power and destroy the nation. Such a person is a turncoat in my eyes and therefore should be penalized. He has therefore no business to find fault or complain. He loses all his rights in the process.
Go on Narendra Modi………….Even though I do not like you personally for your role in the riots, I wholeheartedly support you on this issue
A couple of months ago immediately after the general elections, I had written on my blog on the low voter turnout in major cities in the general elections. Our armchair citizens who find fault with everything and anything related to government affairs and politics, spent the election day holiday in attending picnics and parties instead of going out and voting. Their don’t care attitude is the biggest blot on our democracy.
To put an end to this nonsense what Mr Modi is suggesting should be welcomed by all well meaning citizens of the country. Democracy is not a joke, and the rights and liberties that it gives should be respected and cherished by all. An eligible voter who opts to stay away from voting should be imposed a hefty penalty. There are many types of penalties that can succeed in putting sense into the heads of our non caring citizens and make them responsible for the state of affairs of the country.
Globe trotters could have their passports confiscated for 6 months as punishment. People belonging to the middle income and low income groups who do not exercise their franchise could have their monthly rations cancelled. Non voters should also be prevented from availing any government services for a fixed period as penalty. These are some of my suggestions if Mr Modi is listening.
Political parties who oppose the BJP and what Mr Modi is trying to implement should seriously sit together and see as to how quickly this law could be implemented nationwide and applies to all state and national elections. Today they are simply opposing the idea because it has come from Modi, and this is wrong. Instead of opposing the idea, it should be supported fully.
A person who does not vote is indirectly an enemy of the nation, as he does not participate in nation building by helping elect the right persons to govern the country. A person by not voting is indirectly helping criminals, goons and corrupt individuals to gain power and destroy the nation. Such a person is a turncoat in my eyes and therefore should be penalized. He has therefore no business to find fault or complain. He loses all his rights in the process.
Go on Narendra Modi………….Even though I do not like you personally for your role in the riots, I wholeheartedly support you on this issue
Monday, November 16, 2009
National unity A gift from the British
The language issue is again being raised in Maharastra. Vande Mataram is again a subject of debate. The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh first says that Biharis and UP citizens are not welcome in Madhya Pradesh and then retracts his statement under pressure. We then talk of national unity, patriotism, communal harmony, and yet religion, caste, languages and social status continue to divide us. Some groups keep harping about Hindutva and each rightist organization depending on the level of extremism it practices gives a different meaning to Hindutva. A moderate has his view and an extremist his. Nobody has yet been able to give a unanimous view or opinion on this subject.
History being my favourite subject since school days, an interesting thought crossed my mind a few days ago. Having read Indian history from ancient times, I realised that India had never been united from the times of the Indus valley civilization until the British arrived at our shores. We have had dynasties ruling the sub continent like the Mauryas, Kushans, Guptas followed by the Khiljis, Tughlaq’s and the Moghuls, just to name a few. But at no time in history was our country one in terms of territory. Even rulers like Shivaji whom many look as the symbol of unity ruled a small portion of the subcontinent. The entire subcontinent consisted of various kingdoms ruled by different rulers who spent most of their time fighting against each other in trying their increase their land area, and no dynasty however powerful lasted more than a couple of hundred years.
Things only changed since the British arrived at our shores. It is they who began annexing territory after territory vanquishing the local kings and lords and uniting the entire land mass from Afghanistan to Burma and beyond and from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, except for a few enclaves that were held by the French and the Portuguese. They streamlined the administrative and the taxation system, built roads and railways, improved connectivity and thereby united the entire sub continent into one India.
I definitely will not say that this unity was brought about by the British out of love for India. They did it out of their own self interests and for better administrative purposes. Yet this arrangement sowed the seeds of unity and helped our leaders of the freedom movement take forward their resistance towards foreign rule. It united the people of the entire sub continent as one to fight for independence. The very instruments of state which were created by the British helped our leaders intensify and finally win the struggle for independence. The British who were always known for their policy of divide and rule, unwittingly unified a nation and invited defeat upon themselves in the end. Just imagine what it would have been today, had the British sat back as overseers, just collecting dues and royalties and had left the administration and rule to the hundreds of Kings and Nawabs in the subcontinent. Some of us would still have been under british rule and others would have been part of a nation called a Tamil Nadu, a Bengal, a Mysore, a Maharastra, a Punjab and so on. Would that have been better? Would we still have our communal divisions? Would we be having frequent wars with each other?. Very difficult to say, but very easy to assume, with our inborn skills of fighting with each other for no rhyme nor reason at times.
The present scenario too does not give out any positive vibes. Each day we hear stories of more divisions. None of us think about the nation, nor do we care. We follow our respective religions like fanatics, trying to impose our wills on the next person and branding any person who does not follow our practices as a fanatic and an enemy and not as a fellow Indian. Each of us thinks of our own local language is superior than that of others, and beat up the guy next to us if he happens to speak in another language. We equate patriotism and nationalism simply to singing a song and call a few others who don’t happen to like that song as traitors. Some of our elected leaders who happened to be children of sweepers just five years ago, seem to possess wealth worth Millions of Dollars in foreign banks today. Nothing wrong in being a sweeper’s son, nor in becoming rich, but it is the way in which this wealth has been acquired We do not ask them from where all of it came from. Just a few people with political connections loot our mineral and forest resources with blanket permissions from our governments. We do nothing, but simply sit back and watch all this happen. For politicians or a party, only the number of votes they can secure in the next elections matters and towards this end religion, caste, languages etc are used as weapons to divide and polarize people. Our enemies from across our borders need to hardly invest any time or money is destroying us. We ourselves are very busy doing that.
For how long will our nation be united? It is very difficult to say, but our collective and over zealous efforts seem to be hastening that possibility. But there is no need to worry. The British or the Americans can once again be called back to re-unite us. Has not history proved that?
History being my favourite subject since school days, an interesting thought crossed my mind a few days ago. Having read Indian history from ancient times, I realised that India had never been united from the times of the Indus valley civilization until the British arrived at our shores. We have had dynasties ruling the sub continent like the Mauryas, Kushans, Guptas followed by the Khiljis, Tughlaq’s and the Moghuls, just to name a few. But at no time in history was our country one in terms of territory. Even rulers like Shivaji whom many look as the symbol of unity ruled a small portion of the subcontinent. The entire subcontinent consisted of various kingdoms ruled by different rulers who spent most of their time fighting against each other in trying their increase their land area, and no dynasty however powerful lasted more than a couple of hundred years.
Things only changed since the British arrived at our shores. It is they who began annexing territory after territory vanquishing the local kings and lords and uniting the entire land mass from Afghanistan to Burma and beyond and from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, except for a few enclaves that were held by the French and the Portuguese. They streamlined the administrative and the taxation system, built roads and railways, improved connectivity and thereby united the entire sub continent into one India.
I definitely will not say that this unity was brought about by the British out of love for India. They did it out of their own self interests and for better administrative purposes. Yet this arrangement sowed the seeds of unity and helped our leaders of the freedom movement take forward their resistance towards foreign rule. It united the people of the entire sub continent as one to fight for independence. The very instruments of state which were created by the British helped our leaders intensify and finally win the struggle for independence. The British who were always known for their policy of divide and rule, unwittingly unified a nation and invited defeat upon themselves in the end. Just imagine what it would have been today, had the British sat back as overseers, just collecting dues and royalties and had left the administration and rule to the hundreds of Kings and Nawabs in the subcontinent. Some of us would still have been under british rule and others would have been part of a nation called a Tamil Nadu, a Bengal, a Mysore, a Maharastra, a Punjab and so on. Would that have been better? Would we still have our communal divisions? Would we be having frequent wars with each other?. Very difficult to say, but very easy to assume, with our inborn skills of fighting with each other for no rhyme nor reason at times.
The present scenario too does not give out any positive vibes. Each day we hear stories of more divisions. None of us think about the nation, nor do we care. We follow our respective religions like fanatics, trying to impose our wills on the next person and branding any person who does not follow our practices as a fanatic and an enemy and not as a fellow Indian. Each of us thinks of our own local language is superior than that of others, and beat up the guy next to us if he happens to speak in another language. We equate patriotism and nationalism simply to singing a song and call a few others who don’t happen to like that song as traitors. Some of our elected leaders who happened to be children of sweepers just five years ago, seem to possess wealth worth Millions of Dollars in foreign banks today. Nothing wrong in being a sweeper’s son, nor in becoming rich, but it is the way in which this wealth has been acquired We do not ask them from where all of it came from. Just a few people with political connections loot our mineral and forest resources with blanket permissions from our governments. We do nothing, but simply sit back and watch all this happen. For politicians or a party, only the number of votes they can secure in the next elections matters and towards this end religion, caste, languages etc are used as weapons to divide and polarize people. Our enemies from across our borders need to hardly invest any time or money is destroying us. We ourselves are very busy doing that.
For how long will our nation be united? It is very difficult to say, but our collective and over zealous efforts seem to be hastening that possibility. But there is no need to worry. The British or the Americans can once again be called back to re-unite us. Has not history proved that?
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Air India : The pride of India, Or is it shame?
Over the past month one has been reading stories about the pilots strike in Air India and the drama being witnessed each evening on all national news channels with both the Management and the pilots talking tough and finally the Prime Minister and the civil aviation ministry intervening to sort out the problem. All the while the losses were piling up and the staff did not seem to have a care in the world.
This is not the first strike and will not be the last. We have had the cabin crew, ground staff and the other Air India staff going on strikes at the drop of a hat in the past, with little care or consideration for the millions of flyers who opt to fly this airline. No staff is ever allowed to be disciplined by the Management for any misconduct. They seem to think that they are above the law and keeping going around doing whatever they please. Since it is a public corporation the people working here take their jobs for granted. Not even a single employee cares for the welfare of its flyers. They think that by working for Air India they are doing a service to the nation and do not hesitate for a moment to blackmail the Management and the public as per their whims and fancies. All the while from within they try every possible means to suck the airline dry. Their families fly for free everywhere and see that they get upgrades while flying at the cost of other paying passengers.
The attitude of the cabin crew and the ground staff at airports makes you feel sick. You don’t see any welcoming smiles, but scowls and sulking when you draw their attention.
In January this year while flying from Mangalore to Dubai, I swore to myself that even if Air India remains the last and only airline in this world I would rather walk or swim, than fly this good for nothing airline again. The reason for my anger is this. My wife and I were flying and we had 20 kilograms check in baggage each and a little above 14 kgs, but less than 15 kgs of the allowable hand baggage. I pulled out two novels from my bag and showed them to the check in clerk. He refused to let me take these 2 books and instead asked me to pay for 1 kg of excess baggage. When I requested him again, he called in his supervisor who had a nasty and unpleasant scowl on his face and he looked at me as if I was some kind of rabid and stray dog and did not even bother to listen to me insisting that I pay one kg excess baggage. I pulled out the books and handed them over to my brother who had come to the airport to see me off, because I was in no mood to pay a single nickel in excess baggage. I informed the check in clerk that the day was not far away when this airline would close down and that I was eagerly waiting to see the 32,000 miserable employees of Air India walking on the streets with begging bowls, and they could expect no sympathy at all from the Indian public at the mess that they had created for themselves and other honest tax payers..
He did not seem to bother with what I said as he seemed to think that he was a government employee with a permanent job which nobody could take away from him and that he and his fellow staff could continue holding the entire nation at ransom whenever they pleased. I waited for a while and saw people who were friends of this supervisor carrying excess baggage and being checked in without any problem. I was very keen in creating a scene then and there, but I was pulled away by my wife, who said that I would be only ruining my mood and health by taking on people who were simply thick skinned and beyond reason. They have one set of rules for their friends and relatives and another set of them for the rest. I would have been extremely happy if no exceptions were made and all treated equally as Air Arabia and Jazeera do.
Another instance was when I travelled with my 2 years old nephew about 8 years ago from Dubai to Bombay. The poor boy was hungry and wanted food. Even after many requests the crew took their own sweet time and when they did finally come up with the food, the boy had gone to sleep, just eating the biscuits that I had with me. The coffee served after meals was cold and when my colleague requested for some hot coffee he was rudely asked to sit down and take what was offered. He being one of a mild nature just let it go, while I was simply boiling inside.
I remember a couple of years ago when all the social organizations in Dubai were working overtime to persuade the civil aviation ministry to start flight services between the Gulf countries and Mangalore. Even today organizations in Saudi Arabia are working on introducing flights between Saudi Arabia and Mangalore. The people from Mangalore working in the GCC and already thoroughly disappointed with the service and the fares and how badly they are swindled by the airline during the last 2 years. When you call yourself a budget airline, you only charge budget fares which are same as other budget carriers like Air Arabia and Al Jazeera. In case of Air India express the fares charged are that of a regular full fledged airline, but the service provided is that of a low class budget airline. Even basic snacks are either not provided and when provided even a hungry dog on the streets would not bother to touch them. Again the passengers are not given baggage allowances as other airlines and even when some consideration can be shown the staff simply wait to pounce on helpless people and empty their wallets.
Today everybody is eagerly waiting for the new terminal to be inaugurated so that other airlines can begin to fly Mangalore and the people are released from the clutches of swindlers from Air India once and for all. The Mangalore route is a cash cow for the airline and therefore they are trying their best to delay this. Once other airlines begin operations, I don’t think they could find any flyers, because there has been no goodwill created by the airline and one only feels a deep hatred towards Air India and its entire staff.
I was keenly following the newspaper articles and the news on the strike. I was very happy when the CEO was planning to declare a lock out. I wanted this airline to simply close down and put an end to our national shame once and for all. The people working here have not learnt anything over the years. The recession and the woes of the industry mean nothing to them. They are so self centred and selfish that they seem to care only about themselves and their families. As far as they are concerned the rest of the world can go to hell and that includes the millions of Indians who used to once think that the airline to be the pride of India.
As I am writing this piece, I read in today’s papers of another shameful episode which occurred 30,000ft in the air while overflying the territory of Pakistan on a Lucknow bound flight from Sharjah. Throwing safety to the winds the pilots and the cabin crew went is for a free for all sessions beating up each other while all that the shocked passengers could do was sit back and watch in horror. Is this not another feather of shame added on to a long list by our illustrious servants of Air India. They may demand an extra bonus from the Management for this act.
Everything about this airline stinks. Whenever I fly Jet Airways or Kingfisher my heart swells with pride at the class we get on offer. This really makes me proud to be an Indian. I see fellow passengers of other nationalities looking on with unbelievable wonder in their eyes at the service, courtesy, professionalism that they witness and experience while flying on these private Indian airlines. I also heard that there are other carriers like Indigo and Go-Air too are equally good. And when we have such wonderful choice who needs this stink called Air India, to shame us Indians the world over. But the fattened staff of Air India will fight on a dirty fight and put many a hurdle before the private airlines, to see that they incur losses and they have their supporters inside the government too, to help them continue with the con act.
This is not the first strike and will not be the last. We have had the cabin crew, ground staff and the other Air India staff going on strikes at the drop of a hat in the past, with little care or consideration for the millions of flyers who opt to fly this airline. No staff is ever allowed to be disciplined by the Management for any misconduct. They seem to think that they are above the law and keeping going around doing whatever they please. Since it is a public corporation the people working here take their jobs for granted. Not even a single employee cares for the welfare of its flyers. They think that by working for Air India they are doing a service to the nation and do not hesitate for a moment to blackmail the Management and the public as per their whims and fancies. All the while from within they try every possible means to suck the airline dry. Their families fly for free everywhere and see that they get upgrades while flying at the cost of other paying passengers.
The attitude of the cabin crew and the ground staff at airports makes you feel sick. You don’t see any welcoming smiles, but scowls and sulking when you draw their attention.
In January this year while flying from Mangalore to Dubai, I swore to myself that even if Air India remains the last and only airline in this world I would rather walk or swim, than fly this good for nothing airline again. The reason for my anger is this. My wife and I were flying and we had 20 kilograms check in baggage each and a little above 14 kgs, but less than 15 kgs of the allowable hand baggage. I pulled out two novels from my bag and showed them to the check in clerk. He refused to let me take these 2 books and instead asked me to pay for 1 kg of excess baggage. When I requested him again, he called in his supervisor who had a nasty and unpleasant scowl on his face and he looked at me as if I was some kind of rabid and stray dog and did not even bother to listen to me insisting that I pay one kg excess baggage. I pulled out the books and handed them over to my brother who had come to the airport to see me off, because I was in no mood to pay a single nickel in excess baggage. I informed the check in clerk that the day was not far away when this airline would close down and that I was eagerly waiting to see the 32,000 miserable employees of Air India walking on the streets with begging bowls, and they could expect no sympathy at all from the Indian public at the mess that they had created for themselves and other honest tax payers..
He did not seem to bother with what I said as he seemed to think that he was a government employee with a permanent job which nobody could take away from him and that he and his fellow staff could continue holding the entire nation at ransom whenever they pleased. I waited for a while and saw people who were friends of this supervisor carrying excess baggage and being checked in without any problem. I was very keen in creating a scene then and there, but I was pulled away by my wife, who said that I would be only ruining my mood and health by taking on people who were simply thick skinned and beyond reason. They have one set of rules for their friends and relatives and another set of them for the rest. I would have been extremely happy if no exceptions were made and all treated equally as Air Arabia and Jazeera do.
Another instance was when I travelled with my 2 years old nephew about 8 years ago from Dubai to Bombay. The poor boy was hungry and wanted food. Even after many requests the crew took their own sweet time and when they did finally come up with the food, the boy had gone to sleep, just eating the biscuits that I had with me. The coffee served after meals was cold and when my colleague requested for some hot coffee he was rudely asked to sit down and take what was offered. He being one of a mild nature just let it go, while I was simply boiling inside.
I remember a couple of years ago when all the social organizations in Dubai were working overtime to persuade the civil aviation ministry to start flight services between the Gulf countries and Mangalore. Even today organizations in Saudi Arabia are working on introducing flights between Saudi Arabia and Mangalore. The people from Mangalore working in the GCC and already thoroughly disappointed with the service and the fares and how badly they are swindled by the airline during the last 2 years. When you call yourself a budget airline, you only charge budget fares which are same as other budget carriers like Air Arabia and Al Jazeera. In case of Air India express the fares charged are that of a regular full fledged airline, but the service provided is that of a low class budget airline. Even basic snacks are either not provided and when provided even a hungry dog on the streets would not bother to touch them. Again the passengers are not given baggage allowances as other airlines and even when some consideration can be shown the staff simply wait to pounce on helpless people and empty their wallets.
Today everybody is eagerly waiting for the new terminal to be inaugurated so that other airlines can begin to fly Mangalore and the people are released from the clutches of swindlers from Air India once and for all. The Mangalore route is a cash cow for the airline and therefore they are trying their best to delay this. Once other airlines begin operations, I don’t think they could find any flyers, because there has been no goodwill created by the airline and one only feels a deep hatred towards Air India and its entire staff.
I was keenly following the newspaper articles and the news on the strike. I was very happy when the CEO was planning to declare a lock out. I wanted this airline to simply close down and put an end to our national shame once and for all. The people working here have not learnt anything over the years. The recession and the woes of the industry mean nothing to them. They are so self centred and selfish that they seem to care only about themselves and their families. As far as they are concerned the rest of the world can go to hell and that includes the millions of Indians who used to once think that the airline to be the pride of India.
As I am writing this piece, I read in today’s papers of another shameful episode which occurred 30,000ft in the air while overflying the territory of Pakistan on a Lucknow bound flight from Sharjah. Throwing safety to the winds the pilots and the cabin crew went is for a free for all sessions beating up each other while all that the shocked passengers could do was sit back and watch in horror. Is this not another feather of shame added on to a long list by our illustrious servants of Air India. They may demand an extra bonus from the Management for this act.
Everything about this airline stinks. Whenever I fly Jet Airways or Kingfisher my heart swells with pride at the class we get on offer. This really makes me proud to be an Indian. I see fellow passengers of other nationalities looking on with unbelievable wonder in their eyes at the service, courtesy, professionalism that they witness and experience while flying on these private Indian airlines. I also heard that there are other carriers like Indigo and Go-Air too are equally good. And when we have such wonderful choice who needs this stink called Air India, to shame us Indians the world over. But the fattened staff of Air India will fight on a dirty fight and put many a hurdle before the private airlines, to see that they incur losses and they have their supporters inside the government too, to help them continue with the con act.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Away for a while
Friends, I have been away for a while and have resumed work today. Will try to be regular from now on with new postings
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Sambhar - For bachelors
Ingredients
2 – 3 drumsticks
50 grams toor dal
50 grams masoor dal
One large onion
3 green chillies
One inch ginger
2 medium sized tomatoes
20 – 25 curry leaves
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
3-4 teaspoons sambhar powder
1 teaspoon Rasam powder
Half teaspoon bafat masala powder*
One table spoon oil
Salt to taste
Vinegar – 1 teaspoon
Half bunch coriander leaves, chopped fine ( optional)
Method :
Wash the toor and masoor dal, add two cups of water and pressure cook for 5 minutes ( after the first whistle).
Clean and cut the drumsticks into one inch pieces and keep aside
Finely slice the onions, slit the green chillies and finely cut the ginger and keep aside
Cut the tomatoes into large pieces and keep aside.
In a vessel heat the oil on medium fire and add the mustard seeds. Once the seeds start sputtering add the curry leaves, then the sliced onions, ginger and green chillies and fry for one minute. Next add the drumsticks, sambhar powder, rasam powder and the bafat masala powder and cook for 2 minutes. Stir all the while so that the masala does not catch the bottom and burn. Then add the pressure cooked dal, 3 cups of water, salt to taste and vinegar. Cook for about 20 minutes until the drumsticks become soft. You may keep adding water if required or leave it as it is if you want the sambhar to be thick.. Once the drum sticks are cooked add the tomatoes and cook for 2- 3 more minutes. You may now add the chopped coriander leaves, but this is optional. Check the salt and vinegar and add more to suit your taste if required.
Enjoy the sambhar.
* Bafat powder is popular with the Mangalorean community. This gives the sambhar a better taste. If not available where you are, you may do without it.
2 – 3 drumsticks
50 grams toor dal
50 grams masoor dal
One large onion
3 green chillies
One inch ginger
2 medium sized tomatoes
20 – 25 curry leaves
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
3-4 teaspoons sambhar powder
1 teaspoon Rasam powder
Half teaspoon bafat masala powder*
One table spoon oil
Salt to taste
Vinegar – 1 teaspoon
Half bunch coriander leaves, chopped fine ( optional)
Method :
Wash the toor and masoor dal, add two cups of water and pressure cook for 5 minutes ( after the first whistle).
Clean and cut the drumsticks into one inch pieces and keep aside
Finely slice the onions, slit the green chillies and finely cut the ginger and keep aside
Cut the tomatoes into large pieces and keep aside.
In a vessel heat the oil on medium fire and add the mustard seeds. Once the seeds start sputtering add the curry leaves, then the sliced onions, ginger and green chillies and fry for one minute. Next add the drumsticks, sambhar powder, rasam powder and the bafat masala powder and cook for 2 minutes. Stir all the while so that the masala does not catch the bottom and burn. Then add the pressure cooked dal, 3 cups of water, salt to taste and vinegar. Cook for about 20 minutes until the drumsticks become soft. You may keep adding water if required or leave it as it is if you want the sambhar to be thick.. Once the drum sticks are cooked add the tomatoes and cook for 2- 3 more minutes. You may now add the chopped coriander leaves, but this is optional. Check the salt and vinegar and add more to suit your taste if required.
Enjoy the sambhar.
* Bafat powder is popular with the Mangalorean community. This gives the sambhar a better taste. If not available where you are, you may do without it.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Grilled chicken
Ingredients
a) 6 – 8 whole chicken legs or 10-12 chicken drumsticks
b) One and a half teaspoon whole black pepper
c) 1 teaspoon cumin powder
d) 8-10 cloves
e) One inch cinnamon stick
f) Pinch of turmeric powder
g) juice of 4 small limes
h) 4 green chillies
i) One small onion
j) half bunch coriander leaves
k) 12 mint leaves
m) half inch ginger
n) 6 flakes of garlic
o) salt to taste
p) two tablespoons butter ( melted)
Method
Pull out the skin of the chicken, wash apply a few cuts with a knife and keep aside.
Grinding :
Powder items B to F in a mixer / grinder
Add items from G to O and grind them all together into a thick paste. Add water while grinding only if required. Apply this paste well to the chicken legs / drumsticks and keep the vessel inside a refrigerator for marinating for about 6 – 8 hours.
Grilling :
Before beginning the grilling process in your electric or gas grill, please microwave the chicken for 2 minutes (This is required because during grilling the meat on the outside of the chicken tends to get cooked, while the meat close to the bones remains uncooked and raw. Microwaving for 2 minutes before grilling ensures that the chicken is evenly cooked).
Once the gas/electric oven is hot, place the chicken legs / drumsticks evenly on the grilling tray, and apply the melted butter on to the chicken with a brush and begin grilling. Keep turning sides and keep brushing the chicken with butter.
Depending upon the oven the grilling process will take up to 20 minutes. Keep watch so that you don’t burn the chicken. Remove once done and serve. You may squeeze some limes juice if required while serving
a) 6 – 8 whole chicken legs or 10-12 chicken drumsticks
b) One and a half teaspoon whole black pepper
c) 1 teaspoon cumin powder
d) 8-10 cloves
e) One inch cinnamon stick
f) Pinch of turmeric powder
g) juice of 4 small limes
h) 4 green chillies
i) One small onion
j) half bunch coriander leaves
k) 12 mint leaves
m) half inch ginger
n) 6 flakes of garlic
o) salt to taste
p) two tablespoons butter ( melted)
Method
Pull out the skin of the chicken, wash apply a few cuts with a knife and keep aside.
Grinding :
Powder items B to F in a mixer / grinder
Add items from G to O and grind them all together into a thick paste. Add water while grinding only if required. Apply this paste well to the chicken legs / drumsticks and keep the vessel inside a refrigerator for marinating for about 6 – 8 hours.
Grilling :
Before beginning the grilling process in your electric or gas grill, please microwave the chicken for 2 minutes (This is required because during grilling the meat on the outside of the chicken tends to get cooked, while the meat close to the bones remains uncooked and raw. Microwaving for 2 minutes before grilling ensures that the chicken is evenly cooked).
Once the gas/electric oven is hot, place the chicken legs / drumsticks evenly on the grilling tray, and apply the melted butter on to the chicken with a brush and begin grilling. Keep turning sides and keep brushing the chicken with butter.
Depending upon the oven the grilling process will take up to 20 minutes. Keep watch so that you don’t burn the chicken. Remove once done and serve. You may squeeze some limes juice if required while serving
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Why Pillar of Hercules?
Many of my friends have been asking me about the name Pillar of Hercules. No specific meaning or reason should be attached here. As i was growing up i had taken a liking for Greek and Roman mythologies and would always look for stories to read on these two great mythologies. Later on in college i opted for English literature as my major, and had to study the Iliad and Odyssey as my major subjects. Hercules / Heracles was my first hero while i was a kid and that is why i opted for this name for the blog.
The two mountains at the entrance of modern day Gibraltar are named as the Pillars of Hercules and they were created by Hercules to guard the straits of Gibraltar from the monsters who would have otherwise entered the Mediteranean. These pillars were also used to indicate the entrance to the rest of the world by the Spanish, as a gateway to the new Spanish overseas colonies in the Americas. It seems that the Spanish coat of arms also bore the images of the Pillars of Hercules. Additionally the cover page of Sir Francis Bacon's Instauratio Magna ( Great renewal) bears the image of the Pillars of Hercules and the motto at the bottom of the page when translated into english means MANY WILL PASS THROUGH, AND KNOWLEDGE WILL BE THE GREATER.
Pillars of Hercules denotes both the entrance and the exit..........Therefore what i write here could be an entry for new thoughts, or an exit for old and outdated ones.........You readers and visitors please decide and let me know through your comments.
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