At Loss

Today 21st Nov 2014, 16:23 hours, I just read the news that the Supreme Court of India had rejected the PIL against dismantle/shatter INS Vikrant, following which breaking down of the iconic war ship has begun. Very heartening. The PIL is to preserve the vessel and convert it to a maritime museum.

Why is the government not inclined to preserve anything that will pave way to inspire or get to know about our history, however small or large the importance of it. While the argument against this PIL is that the Maharashtra Government don’t have enough money to maintain and museum’ise the warship instead court for its dem’ise.

For a country which spends so much on celebrating heroes (gender insignificant) why can’t it spend on preserving assets that made those heroes?

Some can say that it is not ‘that great’ an icon, it was just bought from British yada yada yada.. but why would you keep destroying any piece of history because someone thinks that it’s not really iconic because they can’t spend? Something is better than nothing.

My concern is not about INS Vikrant alone, we as a country (central and state Govt equally) do not consider history as a thing to be preserved in its tangible form. Wiki pages should not just be the way to find about things. INS Vikrant is only one such case, I also read about the “Ruined Alamparai fort” is being further ruined due to non-maintenance. Why people in power aren’t realizing the need to preserve history. In a way, it pays back, a revenue generator if you are thinking of returns.

Tons and tons of advice/chant about not to forget your culture, parents, respecting them for what they have done to you, their sacrifices for you, aren’t just valid for these things which in a way had been parenting the nation/city.

Caught at the wrong end

What exactly triggered me writing a post after a long time? An interview that I did for a techinical position for my current company.

Though I am only going to question and not answer, I was nervous with this particular interview. The uniqueness about this interview was that I had to evaluate a person who is hearing as well as speech impaired. Then my HR told me that there is a translator (an interpreter) alongside the gentleman appearing for interview and he will communicate back and forth. It was an added spice and a bit different (caution not using the word:awkward) because here is a person I need to have eye contact with, but he is not the immediate person who would respond to my questions.

I am not going to write about the candidate and the challanges he faces day in and day out (it is as explicit as Sachin's retirement due), my thoughts are about the world that interacts with him. To begin with, I had difficulties following the answers. The interpreter was too good (I assume he is non-technical) that it sounded like he knew the answers himself, but for me, I had to look at someone while I should hear from someone else. The thing that was running in my mind is that, by not having an eye contact with the interpreter (as well) am I disrespecting him? I had difficulaties following, but after the first 10 minutes I got used to it. I think because it was a one on one (one on two actually) I could start following after the first 10 minutes, but when in a group?

What about the challanges at the workplace? Should the employer provide a full time interpreter? should the employer provide only facilities for a full time interpreter? How should the co-worker get along? quite often the problem is being overly protective or overly sympathetic/empathetic than rude/in-human qualities. How should the Government work on protecting both sides of the coin, maintaining human values at the same time encourage business. I am not trying to demoralize/discriminate any one here. But just trying to flip the coin and see.

This raises one imporant question, why is God mercieless on us (all)? Why should there be an imbalance? I know there can't be a definite answer but to my the most closest one is that, it gives life a learning experience. Personally for me, the perseverence and determination of the gentleman, the effor and patience of the interpreter stand out. I know one thing for sure, I should develop, in abundance, PATIENCE (sorry everyone who is troubled by my impatience). In the end, this is yet another opportunity that is given to me to realize my disability and learn to overcome it. True, I was looking at the wrong side of the coin.

God, Tussi great ho!, but this isn't funny :-(.

Fearing Identity loss

Off late, I am getting a bit agitated when someone, including my wife, who takes up on people talking about 'Indian Culture'. This recent post of her's is a vent of the thought about 'Indian Culture'. I thoroughly disagree with her (for yet another time) albeit not completely.

Nope, I am not going to support that NUT, who said, wearing short dresses is a shame to Indian culture nor the person who asked 'what job did the girl from Guwahati had to do in the pub'. My questions are simple yet not trivial, complex yet not unanswerable.

1. What is Indian Culture?

2. Where do you find yourself in the Indian Culture?

3. If you say citing 'Indian Culture' is bull-something, is there anything equivalent?

4. What is your life style or the pattern of your lives?

To me Indian Culture is yet another chaotic thing as the Indian Language. Do you know that Hindi is not our national language as per constitution? The Constitution has given Hindi the status of the official language and not the national language. Hindi is an official language because majority of the population speak and understand (or atleast try and get there) Hindi. Since there are so many languages and many dialects with in each of the languages in India, arriving at a National language is akin to asking a lady to direct you to the right exit. I would compare the term 'Indian Culture' to something similar.

Indian Culture is something that you think IS YOUR culture and IS NOT everything you think is THE culture. So, according to me, if you can understand and project your Identity that is all the culture. Culture is not something we need to project when we go shopping or cinema or to a pub. Association towards your culture should be when there is a need to exhibit it. The need could be in the form of National presentations/representations, special occasions, days you wish to wear (mind you, wearing is just not dressing up :-)) your identity.

While I strongly support A, that the generation cannot be such lame in shaming India with the 'Indian Culture' tag, on the other hand I do have my questions. I cannot stop from thinking that the war against culture makes us forget our identity. Often identity/originality is lost, let go, trying to define ourselves as someone else.

I am an ordinary Tamil Brahmin (no horns, no strings other than my poonal), my fear goes a long way in losing my Brahmin identity. I do enjoy the chorus of 'We will, we will rock you!', like I knew it the moment the album was released ;-), I also enjoy the chorus of 'Chittam Chirugalea.. Inburuvar embaavaai' (that is Thiruppavai by Andal) like I knew it when Andal penned it or the way it ends as '..Vayyam Sumappadhu Vambu'.

People (including my wife) would call me a priest, a pazham or whatever, but this is my identity and you may give names you want to. They say 'You will feel the importance of something only when you see it going away or gone'. For me that is the very fear. Though it is inevitable that these things keep changing generation after generation, you should give it to me that I can take a slow killing poison than a head shot!

Now that we are going to have our baby, I want to provide (and not thrust) all those that pertains (with in my reach and practicality and known to me) to our identity, to my next generation. Ofcourse, TO BE OR NOT TO BE would the next generation's wish, but who are we to stop providing?

To cover up my answer for the Q4 above, I feel culture is your Identity, root, practise. To maintain it, is difficult; to ditch it, is on a drop of a hat; to ridicule it, makes you think learned; but once you have lost it and when you feel it is not there, it would be a huge vacuum.

Why!

Not a moment passes by with out thinking "why can't I carry the baby instead of her".

It is not over yet!

As of my experiences of life, I always felt working your way from failure to success is the best thing that can happen in anyone’s life. You would know the meaning of life better and you will enjoy the success better. I believed in this until a couple of days back, but, not anymore. Sadly, I came to this conclusion after seeing my Dad.

We, as a family, had a very tough time (financially) to start off and then slowly worked our way saving, working extra hours, managing with limited resources etc., I am not justified to quote 'we' here because my parents had taken much of the pain in their 'periods of glory' to give me the glory of my life. [However even I have sacrificed a few of my toys and that’s the reason for the 'we']. Touch wood, we are in a better position now. My Dad had retired from his (official) services and he is gracing visits to his children’s' place, viz., me and my sister. All is fine.

However I see an uncomfortable silence in my father. He once used to be very jubilant, making fun of all relatives (even my friends), and everyone would say 'when V is around you are bound to get a good time', but then that is far gone now. Escaped like a smoke, disappeared like a mirage, washed away like a Tsunami, wretched by wind. But why is this change in him? Why has he gone down so much psychologically? why why why???!!!

While there could be many reasons for it, the prime reason that I see is, he is comfortable and secured now. There is no need for him to work hard to save the extra penny, no need to curtail his expenses to save more, no need to decide up on a choice, no need to manage money. Now that myself and my sister are independent (read: having own incomes and families) he doesn't have to decide up on what to buy for us, what to buy for the family etc., This very thought itself makes him feel that he has lost the charm in his life. He feels he is no more the essence of the family; he no more is the nucleus. Though, neither me nor my sister could help him change his thoughts, we feel really sorry for him. We want him back to his jubilant himself, but I have already lost hope.

Dad, it is not over yet, you are still the nucleus of our family, we respect and love you for what you have done so far, and we love you for ever. Things aren’t mounting big anymore for you because you worked so hard to make them small. Out of challenge does not mean, you have lost the race, it means you have won over everyone by miles.

My verdict has changed, a hard earned life only leads to more miseries, and it is just a bell curve which is going to dip eventually.

Daddy, it is definitely not over yet!

Is this the 'Western' Arranged Marriage?

For ages, the western world and including those with in the same territory (precisely Indians) who had resorted to love marraige, had taken more liberty to ridicule arranged marriage.

Well, I am not going to talk about which one is the best, I do know that it is all case based, some arranged marriages are unsuccessfull and some love marriages are successful as well. But what I am trying to find out the is what the west is drifting to a psuedo 'arranged marriage' style, only more technical and reasonable.

A week ago, the British Govt. sanctioned that any individual with reasonable purpose (marriage??) can get the history (character certificate :P) of another individual.

Click to see BBC Report

The MET office is allowed to share information relating to any domestic violence that the party in enquiry is involved. I am not sure if the if the outcome of the enquiry is a 'Yes' or 'No' or would it detail something else too, however you do have a way of life where you can get a character verification of a person you wish to marry/partner. Fair and I do support this change. Infact, a report says that there were 91 cases of women and 26 cases of men being murdered of domestic violence. If the information can save some ones life, why not? In simple terms, prevention is better than cure.

To me it sounds a bit like 'arraged' marriage. Though not completely. The term 'arranged' still sounds apt for these cases isn't it?

Homai Vyarawalla: Peek through her lens

For all those (like me) I din know about her till I found this article. I felt really ashamed and small that I did not know such a personality. Most of all, she was alive (until 15 Jan' 2012) and clicking.

I don’t think I am worthy of writing about such a personality. She is India's first woman press photographer. Her passion matured to an official photographer during World War II. While we are being filled by news channels with all the kurtas and boy-cuts and debate organizers, Homai Vyarawalla's lens did all the talking. Articles say she cycled around Delhi carrying heavy photograph machines (today also known as camera :P) wearing Sari. I am not trying to emphasis on 'Sari' though I read so many who are obsessed with 'changing what we wear'. I feel these are trivial things and what really matters is the message you would pass and Homai certainly passed her message and now no more.

My heart automatically goes on to blame the education system that decides on syllabus and contents of our academic books. Why isn’t such great people part of our books? Is it that hard to get a lesson on her? In my state, books have been issued with the then chief minister in one of the lessons. Well, I am not going to ponder on whether he should be in there (prose) or not, but she should definitely be there.

I might be yet another moron trying to blame others for my ignorance, but pride like these should have been carried across the borders. We (our country) lack the power to put out prides forward. We are only defending ourselves all the time. Example, the infamous Suresh Kalmadi's opening speech. There had been criticisms all over the world with news of the shortages in the CWG 2010, and on the opening ceremony it was very evident that this was a 'never before' experience. But the speech did not send a message. When you do that, you are just allowing more criticisms to flow in. Don't just pass a message; tattoo them on the criticizers mind.

AP Police chief, Fashionalble clothes, Slutwalk, this, that

Would the AP police chief have thought that he would become so popular? Nay... yet he is!! Unfortunately for wrong reasons.. yet again in India.

Before actually gettin in to what the AP chief spoke of, lets pan our browsers to another event that has travelled from west to East. The SlutWalk. I am very sorry to say that my country women have lost directions. You have become more emotional than tactical. Believe it or not my Jaan, you are being easily tricked, fooled and utilized of. Have you ever thought why a valentine’s day, mother's day, women's day etc., pick up so much on greeting card, gift sales? How long have these been in practise? I don’t think I need a special day to celebrate by mom or any mom would need a day to celebrate her motherhood. It is injected by someone who is making good benefits out of it and women just carry it forward not the moms. OK, so if you wish to celebrate mom's day and exchange gifts and cards, have you ever considered doing the same on children’s day? Does any mother/father really care to gift, exchange cards for children’s day? wake up and kick the smoke my dear ladies.

The idea of slut walk is to convey that modern outfits don't invite men to misbehave. And the ultimate goal is to reduce the violence, sexual harassment, rape, misbehaviour over women. How on earth would this walk deliver the message? Take it for granted 'Men do not get any message out of this'. Having got the media coverage, the sensation, the public ears you should perhaps use this to terrorise those men who resort to rubbish behaviour. Delivering some message that you will wear whatever you want is not worth it. Apparently, people who curtail your freedom to wear is within your house and home or with in your reach and not the general public not the people on Delhi high streets. Use this visibility to dictate strong terms to the Men who take women for a ride. For less important things you are perhaps better off to ask Anna Hazare to dedicate one of his fasting days.

Now to the AP Chief,

Ladies ladies ladies, have you lost the power to respond. You are only reacting. Can you tell me what wrong did the AP Chief cop say? Did he say, you should not wear modern outfit? I am interested in listening to the entire speech than to this infamous 1:21 minute video that even weather.com would publish to gain site visits. I am not ready to raise my flag for a half-baked video clipping. Coming to what he said, he says men are provoked because of the modern outfit. Why can't you believe it? It is bitter but it is TRUE. Telling a cat 1000 times that you are a tiger family will not stop it from drinking milk. The question is, does modern outfits provoke? simple answer is yes. The number of rape victims who were 'fashionable' is irrelevant. A provocation may not end on the person who caused the provocation. The vent would be on a more vulnerable woman who may not be modern. So your numbers of moderns woman don’t face the music is absurd.
To me, the Chief says, since there is this modernized outlook, men who had once been Jane’ less Tarzans have started to act like Brad Pitts. Given our public services system, expecting the cops to be around all the time and at all places is impossible. THE SPEECH ENDS THERE. He does not go on to say that women should not wear modern outfit. Perhaps the next set of words would or should have been, PLEASE BE READY WITH YOUR SELF DEFENSES, TRY TO DEFEND ATLEAST TILL THE TIME COPS OR SOME ONE REACHES OUT TO HELP YOU (IF AT ALL).

"Why would you want to be DRAUPATI expecting Krishna to give you the cover!!"

Woman or Woe-Man

Recently we had a get-together and my friend S had this interesting question. It may be worth mentioning that S is a 'She'.

"Every woman would want to be born a man but the opposite is not true"

                                                               

The reasons according to her being, for the pain a woman undergoes (mainly physical), for the things she would have to forego in her life, for fulfilling numerous expectations, for playing multiple roles throughout her life. Should I mention my wife supports her??. Fair enough. Undeniable! however only for the women part.

I don’t see a reason why a man would not want to be born a woman in his next birth (never mind about the birth theories). Perhaps it is only that the societal pressure (which is nothing but our foreFathers’ and foreMothers’) or practise or belief or whatever has created us to think, "To be Man is a prestige, a privilege" that he cannot complain the form of his existence. Tell you what? Whatever privileges that you think man enjoys, he has lost the power to speak, express, complain and crib. Now it is dependent up on your perception to determine if these traits are "Virtue or Woe". Classic would be, when a boy cries, he is immediately given a bashing, why are you crying like a girl? From that day he loses the power to cry, power to express his desire to shed tears.

I definitely salute woman for the physical pain that she endures. There is nothing that man can bear or do to match it, however, for the rest there is an equal if not greater problems for a man too. As I said before, it still looks green here cos, we are not known. We have lost the power (or never had it) to say things out. We still are under the hood when it comes to discussing our problems even our parents, siblings, partner, wife, kids, friends. Perhaps it is the last resort.

Just a simple toss of the coin, does the Father enjoy the same affection and attachment as a mother? The way I have seen, it takes years for the baby to realize that he is not alien. The father has to prove his baby that he is part of the family and he adores, plays, cares. But for the mother it is there for the taking, written on the wall. Haven't you realized that every father would cry (unfortunately internally) that his baby is afraid of him? Isn’t it worth the pain?

Why Men Don't Ask for Directions?

Women would say: Twenty five million sperm is needed to fertilize an egg, cos only one would stop to ask for directions

Clearly I feel men have lost directions. They are caught in between a rock and a wall(hard place). Now don't ask me which of these is the women. If you are thinking that either the rock or the wall is the women then you are still dwindling in your innocence. Think different, think about the root cause, think a woman, the real women is the one who pushed you in to this situation or the one who pushed the rock when you were perhaps.. doing something against the wall. Women on the other hand had quadrupled their expectations (while the 50% of the blame is on men and the other 50% on women). Most importantly the expectations with in womanhood have grown to such an extent that expecting not to expect and expect to be expected are causing the real trouble.

As I said, part of the blame is on men because there was a time when they lashed women out for no reasons, those stupid men had clearly put the later generations in a big soup. Women on the other hand passed on their lessons to their next generations and they are nothing less than a big confusion. Now men do not know if he should think upfront for the women (because if you do so you will be ridiculed as one who does not let women experience things on her own) or leave it to the women to do it herself (because that would mean men don't care about the well being of women and blah and blah). Women who have become rebellious (for no reasons) are confused if they should take it on their own (and blame themselves) or leave it to the other (and ridicule). Now that men had come to respect women hood and praise them (atleast 50% of them), women are still on the other side thinking that men are still playing their NATAK to win women (all 100%).

Also what baffles me the most is, imagine, in a country like India, women have deterred in all possible areas and they sure have their tails up. But at the same time allow stupid political parties to gain advantage because they ensured women got 1/3rd majority, women president, reservation for women, saree for women, thaali for women. Now if you are succeeding on your own, why allow others to take pride out of it? why allow others to create a reason for your success? To me if these are left 'to the normal course time' it would have happened by itself. Now by enjoying these reservations and at the same time being rebellious you are degrading yourselves.

Yeah men do not ask directions, women do, but of no use cos, you knew your way and believe in it.

The Road Not Taken

Being an Indian, how can I miss out on Cricket and especially after a pulvirising tour to England. But hold on, I am not here to talk about why India failed and what could have been done to avoid it, nor about how can they play CLT, should they play IPL... these are already enough grounded and worth no penny talking about!!

What really amazes me is, despite a shameful performance in the Indian tour to England 2011, the Indian team is back home with out much of a fuss. no threats nothing. Wow, does this send a message to the Cricketing world that Indian fanatics have become gentle and matured enough to accept defeats? If you track back, there had been incidents where Mohammed Kaif's house had been attacked, because he did not perform in the tour to South Africa 2007, and other incidents of decorating the 'more than life size cut-outs' of the Indian cricket team with garland of shoes etc., Come on, we take pride in halting a world cup (loser) match at Eden Gardens (1996 world cup against Srilanka and the famous Kambli crying incident), riots in the India Vs Pak Test match 1999 again at Eden Gardens (after which the rest of the match was played with out any spectator in the stands) and many more such incidents. Baah, who ever called it Eden 'Gardens'.

That reminds me of a joke that was cracked after a debacle tour of India (I was too young to remember which one) the joke goes like this, Ravi Shastri was pecked by his wife to get to the market to buy some groceries. Shastri, who feared the reactions of the angry Indian fanatics, decided to disguise his identity by wearing a saree. He then gets on to the road and is on his way to the market. When he is at the market, there is this lady who keeps following Shastri. Shastri  afraid of being caught starts to walk faster, leap, sprint.. but the lady followed all his steps.. finally she narrows down on Shastri and catches him red handed. "Tell me now, aren't you Ravi Shastri", Shastri accepts his identity but pleads not to reveal this. The lady replied "I would have, had I not been Dilip Vengsarkar".

Coming back to the real, now that the Indian players are back and there aren't any visible (or audible) tantrums thrown at them. Fair enough. I take it that people have gone beyond being crazy. But much of the talks are about how the future unfolds. While it is the same old process of identifying a talen, nurture the same, Bring him under the lime light, earn money (the board) through him and the process goes on and on and on, aren't we missing something more to it?

I have a simple question to BCCI, why isn't India producing any world class Umpires? Almost all the test playing nations have one (or more) umpires in the current Elite umpires pannel. Why are all veterans choosing commenting over other jobs of the game? Imagine a match where Saurav Ganguly would be one of the field umpires? [can't stop thinking that, when 3rd umpire upholds decision he wouldn't dare to take off his shirt and chant F**k that F**K that]. Imagine Dravid umpiring with his unintimidating looks and smile. I haven't seen any domestic/international (Indian) player aiming to be the umpire after losing hope of playing for the country. Isn't umpiring after a tenure of say 10 years in the game is a job half done? Is it the pay? is opening an Academy easier than umpiring? Now dont talk about Venkataraghavan, how long can you ride on a old horse? I know Srinath did Match referee job, but why not umpiring?

Would this change our fortune? Of course! Imagine BCCI comes up with a rule that, all players after their retirement should umpire domestic matches for a minimum of 2 years. On field umpires have got the best view of any player's technique. They can make recommendations about the players to watch for, to the respective zonal selection panel. wouldn't there be logic in identifying the talent pool. Aren't umpires ambassadors of the game as well? Who can forget Dickie Bird, David sheperd, Steve Bucknor, Venkataraghavan? Given the economy I am pretty sure that no one would consider umpiring as their sole profession (starting from the scratch). We are too caught up with the fame, franchise, positions, etc., and in the process forget to build a concrete base and derive pride.

Osama's killing- a Pride or Prejudice??

In the wake of 9/11(2011), US of A had released the documentary video of their pursuits and the success story in the killing of Osama bin Laden. While many of my friends felt that US had been really intelligent in their operations, been ridiculously determined, risking SEAL lives for killing the terror king, to me US of A had been thoroughly unprofessional, unethical and is just an emerging dictator but for its economic crisis.

In case you have not watched the video yet, US had been spying its suspicious country's airspace using a custom made air plane vehicle (unmanned) and this vehicle was responsible for sending footage and images it would hover around. What is so special about this instrument? Well, it will not be picked up by the radars operated by (suspiciously) any of the countries. Basically its a stealth mode of entering and spying any country. This flies at a height of 50,000 ft. Once the target is (well actually half) confirmed to be living in the spying area, it took about completing the mission of 'Killing Osama bin Laden'. Fair enough, especially when considering the loss incurred by losing twin towers, not just the wealth but more importantly innocent lives. Now comes the second part of unethical behavior. US loads its 2 custom made helicopters (which is akin to the spying vehicle I mentioned above that it will not be picked up by the radars) with its esteemed SEAL team to kill Osama Bin Laden. The mission is completed successfully. However, one of those helicopters had crashed and hence is unable to make its way back to US of A. Hence they detonate it so that no country will be able to decipher the components of this aircraft.

The fact that US of A had been involved in an unethical behavior of intruding in another country's airspace (with out their permission) and no country had raised their voice against it, beats me. While there had been many conspiracy theories on the very 9/11 attack itself, how can this act be left unquestioned? The poor developing country (the victim country) could not do anything because of political reasons, nor could any of the neighboring countries raise a voice. And the fellow developed countries and the UN is all just awe-struck on the bravery of the mission. How can any country be spared for doing this?

Is it all fine if the performing country feels that it is justified in doing such an act? Hypothetically, what would be US's reaction if India sends such an undercover troop to lift (or kill) Warren Anderson whom they are protecting from extradition? India is justified and has all documentary evidences to prove that he was behind the sufferings of atleast 20,000 dead and 40000 still alive victims of the Bopal Gas leak! (20000 lives is lesser than 2700+ killed in 9/11?) If India takes that mission will US and other developed countries and the UN be silent spectators? So, is any country allowed to do that as long as they can prove to the world that the intended person or his acts had caused loss of life or lives? While, India is still requesting US to interrogate David Coleman Headley, Pakistan to jail Hafiz Muhammad Saeed. Is it fine if we too follow US's way? Will the world accept?

Isn't this invasion of another county's space a kind of war? Just because we being a developing country (well there again I have my doubts. Have any of you in your life time heard or seen a country upgrading from a developing country status to a developed country status? its political again) we have to give way for all acts of the developed countries? Do they convey a message that they have superior technology? Definitely not. I can vouch that my (any) country can produce a similar device which can get unnoticed (even by God), but it is the ethics that bind them all. US of A, by breaking that ethic is passing a wrong message to the world. While my country which is honoring human rights is still considering the Rajiv Gandhi's assassins mercy plea, US is going about killing people (one of the women in the house was shot as well). I think Osama should have been punished legally and not unethically. The biggest joke of this documentary is US of A is being proud to say that they performed the death ceremony as per Muslim rituals. Who cares?

So next time when you spot something in the airspace, don't even think that it is an UFO from another planet, it could as well be an UFO (US Flying Object) from your neighbouring country spying you.

Digression is Transgression

It was 13th July when there happened yet another Mumbai bombing. This was when the 2G Scam drilling was at its peak (really!!) and hazar Hazare's were evolving. I was telling Arpita that there is all chances that this could as well be a political set up to shake the  public attention on the on-going 2G Scam, if it is not, then there is certainly something bigger coming up to suppress the 2G Scam. Now with all the BASELESS (in exact terms 'mindless') chants about 'I am Anna' I can't stop thinking that this is indeed the bigger DIGRESSER.

There is this wonderful saying "past is past". Well, we are too good in taking it to our heart (and mind). We have forgotten everything right from Kasab to Warren Anderson to Kalmadi and now started off with 'Anna Hazare'. Who actually turns the table every time? It’s the media, a bunch of sporadic wannabe patriotic mushrooms and all the citizens of India (why? because we all are lending to it). Whoever called it a "channel", infact they are channelizing the people (mind) and it’s not the other way round.

Why do I say that the 'Anna Hazare' could be a staged one? cos we have lost track of the other on-going matters/issues. Who knows there could be 10 more people sailing in to the country while the coast guards are starving (in support of Hazare) or perhaps watching the news channels about the DEVELOPMENTS between Anna and the Government. If you did not notice, the 2G spectrum has switched on it indicator already, it is turning to the wrong direction with a wrong indicator (Anna Hazare).  Mr. Raja, Ms. Kanimozhi are now counter arguing that 'there is no scam or fraud or forgery or whatever' if we prove that the Government is not at loss. Who will they prove this with? The Prime Sinister, the then Finance Sinister, the now Telecom Sinister (oops read as Minister). Wah! what a game!! A bribe is not often a loss to one of the parties. Consider this example, I need my passport processing to be quickened (I am not using Thatkal cos I can't spend for a day's returns) so I bribe the local police personnel to quicken the verification process. I regard (carefully chosen word) the police personnel with Rs 200 and my job is done. Now let’s do the calculation. The Government is not losing anything cos they are still getting the passport application fee. The Police are not at loss (obviously) and I am saving my Thatal money. So can I claim that there is nothing illegal here? This is exactly what is happening at the 2G case now. Who cares about the possible money that they Government would have made had this short cuts were unavailable and Thatkal is the only way.

We are still not in our high school (at least not the entire nation) to just think that the Government is not at loss. The Government has LOST a GAIN. Coming back to the 2G game, First of all, the aforesaid honourable Gentlemen decided that the Government will not auction 2G instead it will allocate licenses to the ELIGIBLE (for what???) operators. And hence they did it. So where is the corruption? Where is the loss to the Government? Now let’s dig deeper, one of the vendor [Malaysian based Maxis] was ALLOCATED licenses even before receiving the payment for it. How and Why? Because the company pledged to pay (in business terms invest) Rs 6,00,00,00,000 (shows the magnitude. That is 600 Cr. Rupees) in to their own business. What were the deals? 1. The licenses will be issued (free will) 2. They will buy a mobile company (may be at a throw away price) who originally did not budge to invest nor was allocated any license. Had this not happened and if the 2G licenses were auctioned may be the Malaysian company would have invested Rs 6,00,00,00,000 (even a percentage of it is Rs 6,00,00,000) to the Government and possibly provided a competitive infrastructure too.

We can’t afford to forget the past anymore. All the wrong doings are dwelling based on this featured character of ours. May be that’s whey they rightly coined us as a country with 'Unity in Diversity'. We can be fooled as a one single unit.

Anna Hazare could make it Hazardous

Well, I support the movement, the cause and definitely this is good... but I am not very specific about Lokpal or Lokyukta.. maybe we (as a citizen seeing the nation going down on corruption) are emotional and desperate for something to happen than correcting/rectifying whatever is.. my reasons being

We are only creating an ancillary solution, a new system, the control of the nation (I am just looking at a larger picture) is going to lie with 2 parallel systems. In Software terms if the software is buggy we fix it and redeliver it and not recreate everything. OK, I can sense that some of you say that there are migrations from legacy systems to open systems and newer technologies, but in the migration the older system will be scrapped. Do we have that?

The Tug-of-war in future would be not just be the ruling party.. but then about becoming a member of the Lokpal. I do think that people (as a major part politicians and to a minor part we citizens) become corrupt, only when they are in the system. It is not true that corrupt people are politicians, but it is true that the politicians are all corrupt. So the first blame would be on the system to not to publish the profile of the candidate who are competing in the elections and levying stricter eligibility criteria, and the second and most important would be on we citizens who vote for the corrupt (cos for us the option we think is if not Congress then BJP.. it is just a swinging pendulum and not a rotary movement) having known about their history (by ourselves or through social/public media).

Having said that, how can we ensure that the Lokpal will be corruption free? I am not demeaning any of the good hearts that is working towards it, but what after them? if Lokpal says even a Lokpal member would come under the bill then it is just like our current scenario where Lokpal claims that the judges are never brought under the purview because it needs the permission of the chief justice to start any proceeding against his fellow judges

I see the Lokpal as an aftermath and not a way to stop corruption. Come on, Lokpal says any corruption charge should be scrutinized and completed within 2 years... and what happens if 2 years is passed without proving it? Does it extend to 2 more years? Aren’t the smart (A*S) already smart enough to delay things? Can’t they do that again? Or does the case die there after?

To me it is yet another top to bottom approach. The prudent way would be to go a bottom-top approach where we make every people responsible for the corruption that has happened. Start with the grass root level (like traffic polices and Govt. hospital wardens) make them not to seek money.. and if they are clean and confident that nothing can happen to them.. they can even question their officers [this may be ambitious]. Why are we riding in the same school of thought? Simple thing is the fine for the traffic violation. We say if there is a violation then you will be fined 500/1500Rs.. so what really happens? the traffic police says.. gimme 100 you don’t have to pay 500 at the office.. we are smart too.. we are making a 400 (opportunity gain). Who is at loss ultimately? ‘The Government’. I say make the fine Rs50. at least the Govt. would gain something rather than nothing. We are not violating the rules because it is lesser money to pay, but because we are not made responsible for it. To me it starts at that level. It all starts at that level. Again don’t chant the slogan of rich get richer and poor get poorer. We do not get poorer because we pay more fine and bribe less.

All I want to say is make the system robust and transparent if it is not rectify it, modify it do not add a parallel system.

Dumb A(ss)d

Partha: Hey did you check this ad? Kanthilal?

Arpita: Nope, whats so special about it?

Partha: Let me keep it short! There is this Grandpa who tells his grandson that is the place, his then girlfriend (now wfie, spicing things up ooooohhhh!!!)  was kissed unauthorised (Naaaahiiiiiiiiiii) by Kanthilal. All his efforts to take a revenge on Kanthilal has gone waste. He could never find Kanthilal (Jolted!!).  The grandson vows to find out kanthilal.. gets the Vir Tilak from the Pithamah (read as Bhesshma) and is on a mission. He then searches (Animated) on Facebook for Kanthilal and with some help from other valiant warriors (like Nakhul and Sahadev) finds out kanthilal. What happens after he finds out kanthilal is the actual story.. [OK, this is not a box office opening for a movie and I am not reviewing it, the rest of it is irrelevant for this discussion.... well.. not until later part]

Arpita: Well, I cant imagine Facebook can get in to such cheap publicity!!

Partha: aah thats the catch, it infact is an ad by Airtel.. but for Facebook..

Arpita: Why would Airtel do an advert for Facebook? Get to the point silly, dont go around fooling around in the name of being 'humorous'

Partha: OK.. this is an ad by Airtel (I dunno who approved this) to publicise that they have a great 3G connectivity (not sure about their connectivity on the 2G sc..a...m ooouch..!! dont nudge me!!). What amuzes me is, how can they take on Facebook to publicize their data connectivity?
Arpita: Come on, dont make it complicated. It is as simple as this, "Doctors log on to facebook to see if his patient is still alive" (like, comment??!!). Hence the ad about data connectivity and high availability.

Partha: Agreed, with you around I am not going to argue about FB's influence. But here I am talking about a negative publicity. While Facebook is being accused of exposing all the personal 'details' and statuses, this could be their chance to make something out of its negatives.

Arpita: hmm interesting!!

Partha: Yeah, imagine I dump you (ok ok or you dump me) and we find out eachother (using FB) ?? How bad can that be (now you know why I am not up to date of FB!!!). While there are emails spreading out saying 'Anti-social elements' utilize facebook to identify if people are out on a vacation and take advantage of it... how can Airtel, air and tell such a message?

Arpita: You dumping me!! never before me!! ok, your point is valid. There has to be some 'discipline' in the ads. First thing quality of ads, Gosh can't stand some of the stupidest ad (HeroHonda dhuk dhuk go!). We had seen competitors being slashed in ads(pepsi/coke), but this is totally unacceptable.

Partha: Absolutely, looking at this I would rate the Maruti Wagon R (Ten lakh 25, starring a lousie hopper and a 'Why me' dog) ad super good.

Arpita: OMG!!. However, just being curious what was the climax of the ad?

Partha: OOh well... They find kanthilal (thanks Facebook!!).. The Grandpa says, 'Kanthilaaaaa.....al...' kisses his wife.. and runs away!! I can sense your question. "Is that a revenge at all?" I mean I am sure Kanthilal would not mind such a revenge after (all) 45 years... infact neither would Kanthilal's wife..

Arpita: Stop it I Say!

Partha: you wanna check the ad, watch cricket match..and this annoying ad is aired in between the annoying performance of India (First 2 tests, India Vs England 2011)
Arpita: ok, here I go.. here opens my Internet Explorer..

Partha: Internet Explorer!!! read this... Internet Explorer users are dumb!!??

Argument on "The British phone tapping case and the subsequent shun of News of the World"

Partha: Hey did you hear to this shocker? This news agency had been tapping all the phone calls since .. many years.. now that the Met is also under threat... supposedly many high officials have sold sensitive information..
Preethi: ooh really!! are we talking about a developed country? a western province? The British!!
Partha: No wonder so many questions. Yeah seriously, this is a perenial problem isn't it? So many high profile personnel giving away information for pounds.. now that I feel the local bribes of (100 and 500 rupees) in India is legal.
Preethi: Now come on.. lets not get in to the Hindustan part of it. A crime is a crime no matter how much money involved and whatever be the sensitivity of the information leaked.
Partha: Just for the records, British say, these corrupt police officers (if proved) could be charged with 6 years imprisonment. But there are some petty cases before where the guilty officer was given a 12 months imprisonment. So it also depends on the publicity of the crime? Anyways coming back, no one would have thought that such a thing could have happened isn't it? its a shame isn't it? I am not surprised at all from your reaction.
Preethi: I think you got it all wrong. My shock was because, there was an (news) agency, who could tap phone calls and emails of various people which is totally unacceptable. What is the price that one could pay to enter in to some one else's private life? This is ridiculous and be punished with more than the 6 years of imprisonment.
Partha: Really!! what about the officers who were at fault? Dont you think, this will put all those (crooked) minds in tremour from commiting any such crime in future? Dont you think it will give way to a corruption free environment? Dont you want it to be so?
Preethi: Ofcourse, but not by letting anyone (and everyone) to get in to others private space. It is against law to itercept mobile phone voicemail. From a defending point of view "It is illegal to gain access to another person's phone under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.  There are also offenses under the Computer Misuse Act 1990. The UK's security services can apply for warrants to hack phones@ [ref: Evening standards: 07/07/11].
Partha: So you are unmoved by the allegation and only worried about the hacking? I feel the Govt. is just trying to shift focus by blaming the hackers. What about the integrity of the Govt.? Who will have a check on the personnel?
Preethi: I agree that allegation is valid and should be strictly condemned. At the same time, the Govt. should also ensure that no such hacking would be done in future. Prosecute the hackers accordingly. If you think about it, even at an official level there are matters that of concern to higher caders. A secrecy or a controlled information is inevitable in all aspects of the society, be it personal or official. What about you and me? can't we have a personal conversation over phone? what is personal in this world then? With all the long distance relationships, numerous travels, telephone and emails have become an inherent part of everyone's personal life. Any hacking (be it sensitive or otherwise) should be strictly banned.
Partha: Then how can we ensure that there is no such officers at fault?
Preethi: That is a real good question and the answer (I cant think about many options now) could be that you should make the system transparent. By transparent I dont say that everyone should know everything, but everyone should be made aware of what information one would hold. There by, if there is a leak in the information it can be tracked down to individuals (or a narrow group) easily.
Partha: May be, I am not sure if that is the only solution.. but considering your disclaimer I take it. Meanwhile, just thought will mention this, Yahoo today has announced that they are going to snoop in to everyone's email.. (no no.. dont give me the same cliche expression). This is to attract better advertisement opportunities, a trade Gmail had mastered. Can this be with out oppositions? Nope. For many who were holding sensitive information on yahoo and give away google for junk, here is a turn around. Resort back to paper diaries I say!!. Anyways, you can disable this feature of yahoo by visiting http://info.yahoo.com/privacy/uk/yahoo.