Is it about the book or nationalism?

BC Khanduri writes to Rajnath over his ouster
Now, BJP hit by ‘Sudarshan chakra’
Vasundhara Raje given three days to quit her post
Nervous BJP hesitates to act against rebel Shourie
Jaswant’s Jinnah: Dividing India To Save It
I supported Advani when he praised Jinnah: Jaswant
Modi’s ‘budhiya’ remarks, Varun speeches caused defeat: BJP

It was quite disheartening to read such kind of news in newspaper. BJP is the only Hope of an ordinary Indian. They were the first organization to demonstrate running a coalition in India. It is the only party which can play the role of an opposition. There should always be an intelligent and healthy opposition in India to avoid the country running into autocracy. Moreover we know and understand that Congress is an autocracy only. Govt. is Congress. BJP definitely has to behave a little responsibly.

They are fighting cats and dogs out of the issue which is not going to affect India or even the prospects of their party whatsoever. They themselves are responsible for creating an issue out of a mole hill. Launch of the book on Jinnah by Jaswant Singh. I have not read the book. I do not understand what is so bad about hailing Jinnah as a nationalist, secular. Praising Jinnah over Gandhi is not a crime. I am quite sure it is not going to affect their vote bank either. Everybody knows all the important tasks that Mr. Nehru had undertaken in those times of which even his family feels ashamed.

As a true Indian concerned about their best interests, they should raise the voice if anybody bad is said about Gandhi. Though personally I don’t feel anything is wrong in that even. Its been sixty years since we have suppressed the reality behind the partition and creation of India, Pakistan and the roots of Bangladesh.

But the bull shit that BJP is running after. It is bringing their frustration onto the streets. They are throwing all the skeletons out of their closet. It is not a healthy stuff in the democracy. On number of occasions, politicians stage such fights themselves but this time it is leading to the direction of self-destruction.

BJP knows and understand the reasons for its debacle in elections. Keeping all things aside, they don’t have a national ace to project. After Mr. Vajpayee, everybody wanted something better from BJP. No party in India has a reverend statesman like Mr. Vajpayee.

Some of the quotes from newspapers after release of Mr. Jinnah’s book, which makes me feel sad. Our only hope of freeing ourselves from the clutches of INC. I believe more in Congress theories but still something new and different needs to be brought on the table. BJP possessed the capability for the same. But now it seems we were just dreaming.

Former union minister Jaswant Singh on Thursday said he had supported LK Advani, who nearly resigned as BJP president in the wake of internal criticism for praising Mohammad Ali Jinnah during his visit to Pakistan in 2005. “I had stood up against the treatment that was meted out to Advaniji because I believed that he had not said anything that was contrary to facts,” Singh told reporters on returning to Delhi from Shimla after his expulsion from the party. “I had stood up for the right of Advaniji to say what he had said,” he said.

“Various reasons for the defeat like personalised attacks on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, lopsided campaigning, projection of weak and shady candidates, and in-fighting among top leaders were discussed in detail,” the leader said. “Failure of the party to motivate the youth, debacle in the Delhi assembly elections and Varun’s hate speech were also the reasons for the party’s defeat,” the leader added.

An internal report of BJP has reportedly blamed senior party leader L. K. Advani, Modi and Jaitely, besides other top leaders for the BJP’s debacle in this year’s general elections. According to a report, there was a perceived lack of unity among the party leadership and the BJP squarely failed to advertise its agenda among the general public.

The report also says the projection of Modi as the prime ministerial candidate by certain members of the party and the personal attack on the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (which did not go down well with the people), were key factors in contributing to the BJP’s electoral loss.

The other factors responsible were: (1) The highlighting of the Varun Gandhi issue, which pushed aside the other main issues; (2) The party failed to assess the public mood in Haryana and conceded a virtual walkover to the Congress; (3) Elections were lost in Delhi even before campaigning began; (4) the BJP failed to corner the Congress on 26/11 and (5) Allowing the Congress and the media to corner the BJP on the Kandahar hijack issue.

A section of the BJP feels that the dilution of Hindutva had led to confusion in the party cadres and cost the BJP dearly in the recent Lok Sabha polls. It contended that Hindutva was “inclusive, representing the finest imprints of our cultural and civilisational ideas. This profound concept is the real inspiration for a resurgent India with which the BJP is proud to be associated.”

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Rajnath Singh on Tuesday asked senior Rajasthan leader Vasundhara Raje to quit as leader of opposition in the state assembly within the next three days.

“She wants a respectable exit. She has made three conditions to resign -- that she be given a plum organisational post, the suspension of the two MLAs should be revoked and the new leader of opposition be of her choice.”

Javadekar said, “This is not a show cause. Nor has he been sent a notice for explanation.” The exceptional caution in dealing with Shourie, who on Monday had fired a barrage of charges at the BJP leadership calling them a “humpty-dumpty” and an “Alice in blunderland” while making a strong pitch for an RSS takeover, came from a concern that he could well churn out a steady stream of embarrassing “truths”.

The former editor has provided more than a glimpse of this when he criticised party chief Rajnath Singh for sacking B C Khanduri as Uttarakhand CM and acting against Raje.

The world of books requires some chintan, but fortunately no chintan baithak. Who or what, then, is the story: Jinnah or the BJP? The two are not entirely unrelated, for the BJP was formed as a direct consequence of the creation of Pakistan. The umbilical cord still sends spasms up its central nerve.

Two questions frame the Jaswant-Jinnah controversy. Was Jinnah secular? Do Nehru and Patel share the “guilt” for Partition?

It does affect any Indian whether Jinnah or Nehru was responsible for partition? It is like asking who is WORST.

Some tips for Arranged marriage

Arranged marriage
There are times in a person’s life when he needs to take crucial decisions on his own. Marriage is one of them. Believe me, the decision on whom to marry is the most important decision a person will make in his life. After marriage, your wife is the most important person in your life. She can make or break your life. The mere thought of this is very frightening.

Some of the questions that crop up are –
 What sort of a girl do I marry?
 Will she adjust in my family?
 How can I decide on a girl by just meeting her for a few times?
 When should I get married?
 This is my life. So, I should choose the girl I marry, but then what if I make a mistake?
…. so on and so forth…
I will try to address these & many more questions in the following sections.

The Nine Rules of Arranged marriage

Rule 1 – Magic no. 28
In an ideal scenario, a girl goes to college at the age of 18. By the time she graduates, goes for her post graduation and/ or works for 1-2 years, she will be about 23- 24. This means that she has spent about 5 years away from her home. In the 5 years period, she would meet many smart guys at college or during her first few years on job. So, in all probability it would be difficult to find a good girl older than 24 yrs. Secondly, in Indian families there is lot of pressure on the girl’s to get married by the time they become 24-25.

Statistics says that there is a generation gap after every 5 years. So, in such scenario, one would prefer to marry a girl who is about 3-4 years younger to you. Thus, working backwards, an ideal age for a guy to get married is by 28. Earlier the marriage, the better it is.

Well, as we all know, in the current market scenario, there will never be stability in our career. So, I believe there is no such thing as, “I will marry when I settle down”.

Rule 2 -- Subset of marriage-able girls
At times you hear statements like, “I am not getting the right match, I will look after 3 months, I will find a better match then”. Well the truth is otherwise. The subset of unmarried girl looking for a match is fixed. From this subset, there would be girls who would get married & there would be new girls added who would be looking for a match. The net result is that at any given time, the variety & number of marriage-able girls are fixed.

Rule 3 – Competition for girls
Like all other facets of life, there is lot of competition for good girls. In my own case, I was rejected by girls. So, if you are looking for a girl who is post graduate, done her Engg, is working, very beautiful, smart, from a good family etc. etc, just think again. There are other guys who are also looking for similar girls & probably they are better off than you in terms of career, looks personality etc. Given a choice every guy would like to marry Aishwarya Rai, but then for all Ashs in the world, there are many Salman Khans who also want to marry them. So, set your expectations accordingly.

Rule 4 -- Understanding girls
You would have met a lot of people during your life. As we all know, its difficult to judge a person based on a few meetings. I am sure you would agree with me that in case of girls it is even more difficult to understand them in a few meetings. I am still trying to understand my wife… ;-)..

Understanding your spouse is a life long assignment. So, then how do you select a girl based on a few meeting? This is where you need to take the help of your parents/ friends & latest technologies like email/ chat to choose your girl.

Rule 5 – Society expectation
The selection process is tough on every one who is involved in the process. In arranged marriage, involvement of family & society is pretty high. You can’t meet a girl 3-4 times & then say no to her. It is bad for her future. So, you should have a good short-listing criterion. Meet only a few girls & be sure what you are looking for. It is for the benefit of everyone involved.

Rule 6 -- Marriage between equals
Unlike love marriage, in arranged marriage you also marry into the girl’s family. In arranged marriages, family support plays a major role in ensuring a successful marriage. This is where the compatibility of social status, family values & caste/ religion plays a major role. Its important to note that in case there is a perfect match between the two families, the marriage is destined to succeed.

Rule 7 – Know yourself
Unlike love marriage, in arranged marriage you first marry a person & then fall in love. So, it’s very important that you do a self-assessment on the kind of person you would love. They say, “Opposite attract”, while they also say, “Bird of same feather flock together”. So, you take a call on what sort of person you like. Take a pen & paper; write down the kind of attributes you are looking for in a girl. Say, she should ideally have the looks of Sonia, the style of Monica, the voice of Sheena, the patience of Rashmi. You will certainly not find the perfect girl, but then you would have a good idea of what you are looking for. The secret here is to set some minimum criteria for selection. Don’t forget rule no.3 here.

Rule 8 -- Girl’s Beauty
A girl’s looks attract, but then no one wants to end up marrying a dumb blonde. It is like buying your bike. When you initially buy it, you are crazy about the looks, but later on you love it for its reliability, fuel economy & comfort level. Similarly, a girl’s looks are important, but then it should not be the most important criteria. Later on it life, you will get bored of her looks. It is then that her personality & behavior will make all the difference to your marriage. I am sure your parents will be able to advice you a lot better on this topic.

Rule 9 -- Taking advice
As I have mentioned in the next rule, it’s very important that the final decision on whom to marry must necessarily be yours. However, don’t do the mistake of isolating yourself from the world while planning your marriage. Discuss with your parents & very close friends on this issue. They are your well wishers. Secondly, in such important matters its necessary that you analyze all possibilities. Remember, I am not suggesting that you follow others’ advice, but don’t forget to take their advice.

Rule 10 -- Own decision
All said & done, it’s your marriage & your life that is at stake. Once you are married, you & your wife are the only persons who will be facing the music. Don’t marry a girl just because your parents or friends asked you to do so. After marriage, if things don’t work out & you end up saying, “It’s because of my friends or my parents that I married you”, then your marriage is destined for disaster. If the girl is of your choice, it is you who will be responsible for whatever happens. That’s when the marriage works out perfectly. So, ensure that you marriage the girl of your choice.

How to approach the selection process?
From the day, a person decides to get married; the selection process takes a minimum of 3 months.

The whole process needs a lot of patience & commitment. The ideal steps to be followed are:
Definition phase -- Define the minimum criteria for the kind of life partner you are looking for in terms of education, physical appearance, social status, family values, future career plans.

Remember the Rule 3 here.
Lead Generation phase -- Place ads in various newspapers, magazines, websites, through friends, family friends, family societies & association etc. You need to exhaust all possible means of getting biodatas at one go. Remember the Rule 2 here.

Short listing phase – Based on your selection criteria, short-list the interesting biodatas. The general process followed for correspondence is as follows:
 The initiator sends a one page profile of himself/ herself
 Based on the profile, the receiver sends his/her one page profile along with request for detailed profile, photo, horoscope
 The initiator then sends the requested information along with a request for similar information
 The receiver send similar information
 If the biodata is selected, it is passed over to the next phase
 Casual interaction phase – Based on shortlisting, about 7 to 10 biodatas are taken forwarded to this phase. The next step to follow here is to exchange email/ chat ids. The guy & the girl then interact for 10 – 15 days to try & judge mutual compatibility through email/ chat.
 Family interaction phase – Based on the earlier phase, about 5 leads are taken for consideration in this phase. During this phase, the parents get involved & check the background information about the families to find mutual compatibility.
 The dating phase – Based on the earlier phase about 3 leads are taken forward to this phase. During this phase, the guy & the girl interact by going out alone for 2-3 times. The guy needs to prepare a set of simple questions like who is your favorite star, what are your hobbies? He needs to use his judgment to analyze the girl based on her responses.
 The D-day phase – Finally, the D-day comes when the guy has to select the girl he wants to spend his life with. If the process if followed systematically, there will be no ambiguity in deciding who should be your life partner.

Finally, my dear friends, marriage is all about compromises. In spite of all the planning that you do, there are a lot of uncertainties in a marriage. In fact this is the best part about marriage. Just remember that the person you marry must be of your choice. In such case, there would be no going back for both of you.

A few words of advice: To make your marriage a success; just believe in the age-old virtue,
“Never do anything to others that you don’t like for yourself”.
Enjoy the selection process, it is fun…. ;-) ..

Is Religion more important than a HUMAN BEING?

2.5-yr-old boy fasts for 40 hrs
Manan Sanghavi is the youngest Jain to accomplish feat

Is it a feat or a curse? We keep a child of 30 months old hungry in the name of God. A child has no religion. He has no faith or belief. A child is said to be demi version of God. How can you not feed the God? Of all the religions that I have known/understand, Jainism is one community which only believes in causing pain to its followers. They are forbidden from eating some of the finest foods in this World. What good a religion will do to its followers if they prohibit them from eating? All of them know and understand, we have reached the stage when its practically impossible to follow such religious practices. Nowadays all food stuff are adulterated.

From that point of view, Sikhism is the best religion that I have known. It’s a new religion and does not bent on the old age archaic farcical so-called customs or traditions which are the foundation of all the living practices in India. Although some debate it as a Style of Living. Well the Style of Living becomes the Faith for Living. I would say it’s a very healthy style of living.

Secondly it’s the parents, besides doing something exceptional for themselves in their lives. They give all their desires and failures to their children to achieve something. I am still wondering is this a feat or a CURSE?

Read the following news item which appeared on front page of DNA newspaper on 25th April 2009.

A two-and-a-half year-old boy has shot to stardom within his community by becoming the youngest Jain to fast for 40 hours. Manan Sanghavi, a "fickle-minded naughty boy", as described by family members, started the fast on the evening of August 15 and ended it on the morning of August 17 with nothing but boiled water for comfort.

"We did not force him. It was his will that got him to fast for such a long time. His mother asked him if he wanted to fast and he readily agreed," said Manan's father, Sohil Shah, a Mumbai Central resident.

"His sister, 8, had done it when she was around his age. That was when I thought of asking him if he would like to fast. I explained it to him and he agreed," said Manan's mother, Dipali.

Manan's fast was part of Paryushan, a 980-year-old ritual comprising eight days of fasting during which priests preach the teachings of Mahavira. The first fast is for 40 hours. Jains believe fasting purifies the soul, kills greed and allows one to attain spirituality. "We never thought he would be able to do it. He is fussy and naughty and has several mood swings in a day. We even attempted to feed him midway when we thought he was feeling hungry," said Prakash Sanghavi, the boy's grandfather. "Normally, he cries for milk at five every morning. But when we took him to Jinsundar Maharaj Saheb, our local guru, he refused milk saying he was fasting. That is when we knew he would pull th...

India as the New Plutocracy

As India is on its way to becoming a plutocracy, what implications does it have for investors in India?

The Oxford Dictionary defines the word “Plutocracy” as a society governed by the wealthy. Accordingly, the “plutocracy” label is usually attached to countries such as present day Russia or to societies such as ancient Greece or the Republic of Venice in the 16th century. India is fast emerging as a heavyweight entrant of this club. Why do I say so and what implications does it have for investors? Let us focus on the “why” first.

Recently, the Asian Development Bank published a study (“India 2039 - an affluent society in one generation”) highlighting that that India has 50 billionaires who together control wealth equivalent to 20% of gross domestic product and 80% of stock market capitalisation. Concentration of immense wealth (and the power that goes with it) in the hands of a select few is one would think fairly commonsense criteria for entry into the plutocrats club.

Secondly, one of the features of the Indian stockmarket over the past four years has been the visibility and rising importance of realty, infrastructure and construction companies (loosely called “infrastructure” in this column). Infrastructure now constitutes nearly 20% of the BSE 500 by market cap, up from 13% five years ago. Whilst there are fundamentally sound reasons for this sector coming to fore, if there is one sector where politics and business works hand in glove to enrich each other, it is infrastructure. In our daily interactions with these companies and their financiers, we cannot but help notice how deeply embedded politicians and/or political power brokers have become in the Boardrooms of these companies.

Thirdly, there is the RIL-RNRL saga being played out in the full glare of the media. Leaving aside the vexed issue of which of the two companies is in the right, one cannot help being astonished by the sheer punch that each the Ambani brother packs in the corridors of power in Delhi. Add to that the sheer size of two Ambani empires (the Reliance companies in totality account for 14% of the BSE 100’s market cap and nearly 6% of the Indian economy) and one can safely say that we are looking at not just two of the wealthiest people who have ever lived anywhere in the world but also two of the most powerful people in India.

So if India is on its way to becoming a plutocracy, what implications does it have for investors in India? The first and obvious implication is that to be a large and successful investor in the long run, you have to have strong political connections. As a contact of ours in the Infrastructure sector says “apart from experience, political connections matter a lot in winning small to large infrastructure/ construction projects”.

Beyond winning contracts, political connections also give you powerful informational advantages as is evident from the successful “political consultancy” business that a friend of mine runs in Delhi – he specialises in helping investors stay on top of the latest thinking in high places on subjects such as the 3G licenses, Governmental infrastructure subsidies, Governmental spending plans, etc.

Secondly, if politicians are as important for investment success in India as I am making them out to be, it stands to reason that rather than being satisfied by a base fee they will want a cut of investment returns. So investors’ “carry” or upside assumptions need to be revisited accordingly.

Thirdly, since most politicians’ careers fluctuate, unless investors are able to associate themselves with politicians from across the political spectrum, their investment returns too will fluctuate in line with the fortunes of their political contacts.

Finally, to the extent that what I have described above is already part of the status quo but is not reflected in your investment strategy, you might want to dig deeper into the ownership of the subsidiaries of listed Indian companies. You might then find some very powerful non-businessmen holding large stakes in the subsidiaries of listed entities. To understand the true value of the listed entity, you could then knock off from it value of the powerful non-businessman’s sizeable minority stake in the subsidiary. If you were the person holding the regulatory keys to the biggest infrastructure contracts, I don’t think you would be attaching any sort of discount to the value of your stake in those projects. Astonishingly that is what many analysts assume when they attach attractive valuations to such infrastructure companies with undisclosed investors at the subsidiary level. So much for the efficient market hypothesis.

This write-up has been reproduced from WWW.VCCIRCLE.COM. Check the following link for the original
http://www.vccircle.com/columns/india-as-the-new-plutocracy

Shunted by LANDLORDS

Sorry, girlfriends and dogs not allowed

This one is the story based in Bangalore featured on www.msn.com. The landlords (owner of the flats) have put a strange rule to their tenants for not allowing girlfriends in. Or even if they do, than 6 PM is the time limit. No meeting of the friends/lovers can lost more than 30 minutes. Must be sounding weird and a laughing stock.

I can understand some of the things in the process. I have been living in Mumbai since last three years. The conditions these landlords come up with that makes them a laughing stock. Yes in Mumbai, can anybody believe it. The City which is an exception to the exception and to the whole of philosophy and existence of India, in every sense of the word. Still in Mumbai, they flat-owners’ come up with such crazy rules that one can only pity them.

One of the friends told his story; his landlord came to his house and said you can bring any girl you wish too. Provided you keep the door open when any female visits you. He wanted to punch his flat-owner right there on face. He wanted to answer. You guys can live like that, I belong to a small place and we still possess the decency to respect a female’s value in the society. If my female friends come to visit me, it does not mean I am banging that female after closing the door. I know in Mumbai, lots of people keep their front door open as it is the only source of Oxygen in shit holed places known as flats. But shelter is the biggest challenge in Mumbai than food, clothing, mobile, girlfriend, LOVE or SEX. He kept to himself and started look for another decent flat and flat-owner.

In one of my instances, I and my previous flat-mate had a meeting with the flat-owner in Parel area. The owner came and sat on the sofa opposite to our’s and was scanning our faces and body language for any untoward movements. Had we felt we belonged to a Jihadi Group or a mafia? I don’t know what we could/would said/done. After asking about our background, he jumps to the topic of girl-friend. Fortunately or unfortunately, none of us had a girl-friend at that time. My room-mate was planning to hook himself in the near distant time as he was talking to some girl on phone based in Delhi or some other place. The owner was happy to hear this. But then came the ultimate from him. Achha hai, mangta bhi nahi hai. My room-mate had his big frog like eyes bulging out and asked matlab. He explained, till you stay in my house, you will not be entering into any relationship. I was about to get up and tell him with a thumping fist, “bastard even my father cannot tell me such a thing”. But then my father taught me to show complacency and respects to other people’s (esp. if the other person is elder to you) ideas.

The irony is such rules are framed in the name of destroying the culture of the housing society. Can these Mumbaikars tell me what culture do they possess or what they are trying to preserve/protect?


Below is the piece of news, which intrigued me to share my experiences while looking for a rental place in cosmopolitan cities like Mumbai.

No entry for girlfriends in Bangalore apartment
Bangalore is India's IT capital and often makes it to the headlines for its achievements, uniqueness, the weather and politics. The city is often referred to as the Garden City and the Pub Capital of India. But occasionally, Bangalore also hits the headlines for the wrong reasons. No, we are not speaking of the A(H1N1) virus that is come to stay due to the salubrious climate.

The story is of an apartment. Yes, you read it right. An apartment is in the eye of a storm because it has brought in a strange rule by not allowing girlfriends in. But that is after 6 pm. During the day, girlfriends can meet their friends staying in the flats for a maximum period of 30 minutes.

The Majestic Residency in the upmarket area of Koramangala and near Forum Mall - a place where the young brigade of Bangalore hang out - has put up boards stating that girls are not welcome after 6 pm.

If girls have to visit their friends in the flats in the morning hours, they have to deposit their ID Cards, enter all details, including their cell number and sign a register. Thirty minutes later the security will ring them up and ask them to vacate the place. If they do not obey, the security will come up for a dirty knock on door or probably not remove his finger from the door bell to make the call really long and annoying.

The Majestic Residency is very near the famous Christ College and many boys have taken flats on rent in the complex. The association that has put up boards all over has justified their stand saying that in the name of `joint studies', the girls stay for long hours with boys and other flat owners have started objecting to this as it sends `wrong signals' to their children.

The association had first put restrictions on the entry of dogs. And the new restriction has not gone well with many. Girls are not amused by such restrictions.

What is this association? The Taliban, wonder the girls.

BATTLE OF THE SEXES

We have some very interesting conversations and discussion in our office. Knowing the fact that Capital Markets are not in an upbeat mode, so the topics generally range around the society and our magnanimous county, India. Today the topic of discussion was the man and woman and the treatment of both the sexes towards each other, the society and other related things we could squeeze in the limited time in office.

Before we start, I as a male, believe female is the fairer Sex and they are a superior sex over male and have definitely a superior status in the Society. A male is banished from all the luxuries of life, right from the time he is born. He is used as a cushion throughout his life, first by his mother, sister, then second stage of girlfriend to wife (all the women they meet in between), then comes the big thunder in-laws and his daughter. Why a man always finds himself being cornered is a simple question? A man cannot survive without a woman and he learns to live with her tears. So you know, a woman only dumps all her things on the next man she finds, father, brother, boyfriend, husband and son and at times on daughter-in-law also (albeit the mode may be different).

At the centre of the discussion are two women and two men. All aged between 25 to 30. Women were two fair looking females with their Corporate Suits and there files open on PC. Men are two typically Indian males with dark wheatish complexions standing with the screensaver dancing on their PCs.

The whole setup signifies women are more committed to the work than men. Men are laid-back but can be doubly productive than women, if required so. Women are always attentive. So why the hell are men privileged? Said the fairest of all, who has a sibling sister. I said you don’t understand that women are privileged. She has never stepped into a kitchen. There goes a small sample, both men are good cooks but from two women, only one knows how to cook.

I know there are too many issues dealing around women especially in a country like India. We need that get into it. Right now we are talking about mind-sets’ of sexes.

She said, “the society was sad to my family when I was born. No boy, you have second daughter to my mother. My parents said, so what beta ho ya beti, in today’s age it makes no difference.”

Believe me, whatsoever one may call it. But it does make a difference. Indian society is still backward, may be we have not moved much. As the economy and the status of an average Indian improves, it may not make a difference. But parents know that daughters accept name of somebody else and son shares their name. Bull shit, yeah somehow I also feel. But still it is one thing, which is slowly and slowly losing its value. Second is they can call their son anytime they wish or seek to, but not their daughter. This is again bull shit, she countered. Ask your parents and youngsters like me, think about yourself when you will be 55 – 60 years old.

Vansh kaun badhayega, said the other female. She is not that stereotypical types. Its just another bent of mind of Indians. There are set of Indians who feel so. Common man, your lineage is not that brilliant to be carried forward. Everybody will be equally happy even if even your filthy mind-set is not taken reproduced or taken forward.

I, somehow, can really relate to all such things. My father is the only educated person amongst his siblings. He has quite open views about women. He always made me wait for things but not my sister. Unlike my relatives who showered everything on their sons’. I never ever felt under-privileged rather enjoyed it. Men have to learn and live with this in future. Our unthought and unsound commands should always be debunked and scoffed at and woman should get those rights.

In Punjab, it is really important for a man and a woman to bear a SON. Come what may? Bhroon hatya (female foeticide), I don’t know if any of my uncles/aunt have done so. Many of them do possess the potential for the same. It is the way women look at women, which is deteriorating the society not because of men. Education is one thing which can really bring in the change. We need to really educate our women, that they should appreciate their existence. Without them, this world will be more peaceful but very dumb. Women make the world around us beautiful.

Somehow I always wonder, why I have seen so many versions of women while men have so less to reveal/conceal about themselves. May be God has created man and woman like this.

Is it a regional or a religion issue?

Shahrukh Khan was detained in a US airport. So whats the big deal when hundreds and thousands of Muslims get detained travelling from any part of the globe in US. Everybody is talking about it. We have so many media modes (television, radio, newspapers, internet) and channels (hundreds of them) these days that everybody comes up with their own story and the whole essence of the story is lost. Every star, politician, citizen is commenting on the fact.

Some say, its nothing new, others its bad or its ugly. Shah Rukh Khan is upset. Upset has several reasons by different sources. “I am global celebrity”, a newspaper quoted. Well he may not be a global celebrity. Every Muslim star in India has been through a situation in an airport in USA, be it Zayed, Irfan, Kabir or any other Khan/ Malik or whosever it is. But has done enough in his life single handedly to be called KING. Definitely such people are global citizens. I had earlier reiterated the fact in my New York article. Salman Khan quoted because of this tight security check, they have avoided the threat of another 9/11. But I am sure next time any attack happens in USA, it will not be implemented by Muslims. They may be planners but will find somebody else to execute the plan. But the most disheartening fact is the way, we are marginalizing a community.

I am a huge fan of SRK personally. Not for his performance, which is at times is quite bogus. But for his thoughts and witty remarks. There are very few in this world who can or have been able to make such a name for themselves. He made a very wonderful point.

I will go to the US when work demands but I will limit my travels. I have no
complaints against the system but I wish it could be more streamlined and less
cumbersome.

Moreover USA has one of the most stringent process for obtaining a visa. If they have done all the checks at the time of visa with your background check and fingerprints and photograph on the visa. Plus it is updated on all their records at the embassy and the parent database in USA, when is the person scheduled to travel, the purpose of his travel and still they cordon off the Muslims with a cumbersome and a tortuous process of knowing about them. If America is so paranoid of Muslims travelling in USA. They can close down their embassies from the countries from which they have potential threat including India. An absurd idea, but never underestimate Americans.

But we live in a small world. Even superpowers cannot live in isolation. Globalization is shrinking the world.

It’s a very tricky situation we are living in. America is a very enterprising nation. One can think and do the thing. It is the Land of Possibilities. The country gives space to any person in the World. But their deeds to protect themselves is marginalizing the World from the USA. Neither USA can sustain nor does the World have the propensity for the same.

I wish SRK using his image can bring some change in the precarious situation/condition that the World is slumping into. Although it is something which is too ambitious that we are trying to put on him.

Are we looking at a new BOTTOM?

The above graph was cut a month back. I don’t know whether we are heading to it. But the charting analysis took decades to develop and then for decades it was tested. Few researchers in US analyzed that the wave lines drawn on chart conjoining the daily market movements, form certain kind of patterns on it. They studied and came out with sure movement which when started would move in that particular. Although save the intra-day movement. Then Japanese with their die-hard attitude and standards of research invented Candle Sticks and indeed indicate sure accurate patterns with their candle light patterns. But I hardly got to learn their patterns.

Then Mr. Elliot came and gave us the Elliot Wave Theory. Seems so fucking brilliant to have a theory in one’s name. Mr. Elliot studied the market and then gave a remarkable movement after a much thought/research had been conducted on these charts.

The above chart is making a movement like Elliot Wave Theory. Is that a big deal to follow the Elliot Wave Theory? But according to the theory, it is headed towards one of its most horrendous phases. The last leg called C is a nightmare for investors/traders. We are now looking or it seems likely that the Sensex may touch 9000 or 8000. That’s more than 40% loss from the current levels of 15000. Its hard to believe but it may be true. A pattern formulated on charts stretched over years is generally correct. In this case, the pattern has been formed over a period of last five years on monthly movements.

I really don’t know whether it will complete the last leg C of Elliot Wave Theory. Particularly during this time, when there are positive news coming from different corners of the globe. Indian economy is working its way up fast, global economy is recovering, Chinese and Obama are not doing anything foolish.

But looking at the theory it should. This month the market under most likely circumstances will close below the level of previous month’s closing and if it continues to do the same next month. Then by year end or beginning of 2010, we are heading towards a new low. Under the theory, it should fall below its previous low i.e. leg C goes lower than leg A.

Bulls may be trying to defeat this theory. Bears may be finding their way in.

Who wins and how is the question which can be decided when the time comes?

In the meantime, everybody will be hoping that Bull trumples the Bear to keep their smiles intact.
May Lord give the strength to Longs over the Shorts.

Bandra Worli SeaLink

A month after the opening of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link(BWSL), one of my colleagues got a chance to travel on BWSL, knowing the fact that he stays and works in South Mumbai and not of those adventurous types. He had a proud feeling in his smile and one could notice the chuckle in his eyes as he said, ‘Yesterday I travelled on Bandra Worli SeaLink’. What is so exceptional about the BWSL, I wonder.

Main Link cost: Rs 750 crore Total cost: Rs 1,634 crore Initial cost for main link: Rs 434 crore Costs rose because fishermen complained their livelihood was being disturbed. Normally costs escalations in India range between 10-15%. But this one was exceptional project hence 30-40%.

The initial deadline was planned for December 2004 (later revised to December 2007 & December 2008) while Bridge completed April 21, 2009. All allied work completed on May 31, 2009 Delays caused by fisherfolk protests and payment disputes. Still only half of it is in operation. The other half is scheduled in 1st Quarter 2010. Going by their track record, it seems a little difficult to complete the structure on time.

It takes 35 to 38 minutes to go the 7.7-km distance between Mahim flyover and Love Grove Junction, Worli. The builders claim that travelling the 4.7-km main link will take just 6 minutes. On first day of its opening, the time took via Bandra Worli Sea-Link was an hour.

The famous Golden Gateway Bridge of San Francisco was stretched over two pillars in 1937 with length of three kilometers. It stands tall serving the purpose with its original design and colour after seventy years.

I wonder what pride we are trying to project and what we are trying to prove. That we are lethargic, we are incapable to perform our duties and activities diligently in the stipulated time. Any infrastructure project, it is blamed on the local revolt of the public, which most of the times is aroused by the local politicians. They are not ready for the change. Nobody is, we have to equip and train our mind to accept changes. These changes are happening for our betterment.

Some of you may be wondering, Why was this Bridge built et al. Especially after you read the Mumbai Mirror regularly. There was a big jam on BWSL on its opening day on 1st July 2009. One reason it was all brouhaha without substance. It failed to serve the purpose for which it is truly built. Then there are confusions and misconceptions and illiterate Indians (illiterate as most of us lack the civic sense).

As expected after completion, media and architect fraternity were lambasting the builders over the planning of the bridge. The way the bridge ends on the Worli side. The vehicle flow had to be routed through a long side to reach the main road instead of hitting it straight at the completion. The calm and serene atmosphere of Worli was destroyed as claimed by its residents due to Sea-Link. The security issues enveloped Sea-Link. The authority and the security issue was divided between State and Centre, Police and Navy. The toll collection system is not fool proof. It robs people of the time and adds to their frustration. The lovers schmoozing on the Bandra Reclamation are fumed for rummaging their place of romance as there is little space in this city to make love even.

All the leading news and societal columnists have lambasted their tryst with the Sea-Link. Every second day, the State authorities are implementing new and newer rules to ensure the effectiveness of this mammoth structure. They made it three lane for morning traffic from Bandra to Worli and vice-versa for the evening traffic. They couldn’t plan it in advance. The purpose of the Bridge was not to create another feature in the Mumbai Darshan List but to ease the traffic movement and the vehicular flow and to connect the Northern part to Southern part of Mumbai. Generally infrastructure projects should go and this one must have gone through intense detailing but still has gone horribly wrong.

Take a look at the above picture. It defines the brilliance of the work. It was constructed based on the assumption and study that, “During peak hours, around 7,000 to 8,000 cars are expected to use the sea link per hour”. One can imagine the things I have said above. We have built a marvelous Bridge and expect one car to exit every second. You have created space and utility on air and sea but it is of little help looking at the space available on mainland. There is not enough space on mainland to adjust one car exiting every second from BWSL. Therefore it keeps on building and develops a clog and stretches till the other side of BWSL.

My problem is why cant we plan a little too much?
They could have circled the Bridge around Worli to allow it to assimilate with the road and created two or three exits by building another flyover on the Worli end instead of opening the bridge perpendicular to the Worli front. Is that a rocket science or a stellar of an idea idea? Certainly not, pure common sense.

In Bandra the bridge assimilates with the road smoothly as if Reclamation was part of BWSL. But then the problem does not end there. Residents of Bandra are miffed at the way the approach to Lilavati area has been closed. The toll plaza has been created on that side. Toll is one of the most important sources of income for an infrastructure project especially in the developed economies. Wherein the developer recovers the cost from the toll collection.

The concept of toll started somewhere in 7th BC. But I feel creating toll within the cities is not a healthy idea. On highways such kind of concept is really revolutionary especially for Indians. But in clogged cities of India, the toll will only add to the woes of the commuters. In cities like Mumbai globally, the road tax, vehicle tax, parking tax, everything related to your mobility is taxed that too phenomenally high rates than the rest of the country. So the funds for the infrastructure should come out of those proceeds and not from the toll. On BWSL, it takes 30 seconds for manual payment, 20 seconds for swipe card (for monthly passes) and 10 to 12 seconds for on-board-unit electronic payment.

Critics may argue why punish all the public who may not use the Bandra Worli SeaLink. Well then those must have some other bridge/flyover built for their use in some other part of the city. We have to pay for enjoying the metropolitan life that we have chosen too.

Are we Independent?

Tomorrow is the Independence Day of India, August 15, 2009. Is it a big deal or any deal et al?

Probably countries which got freedom in last 25-30 years may be able to tell us something about it feels to be free rather than governed by an outsider. Iraqis can tell us better as many of them feel and believe it was better to be tortured and living in constant fear with curbed rights under Saddam Hussein than nuts like Americans ruling their lives. As the popular saying in India goes, a cruel, crooked son living under same roof is always better than an adoring, caring and lovely son-in-law under same roof.

Our generation or the generation succeeding us will not see it as any moment to celebrate. Do we still need to celebrate it? It’s a blasphemous thought. Had any politician reverberated such thought, it would have meant the end of his political career. Personally for me and I guess for many amongst us, that it is the day when we relax and have an assured holiday. Holiday also is lost this time as I have my Saturday off otherwise as well. A welcome break from our bored routine. The time when we can look for some real deal steals in the malls and shopping areas. But this time, the bloody scary of Swine Flu will keep shoppers off, esp. in Maharashtra. There are few guys like my pa, who have to get up early in the morning on Independence Day dressed in their finest to unfurl the Flag in their Institution, Organization. I really wanted to go for the ceremony during my University days but realized I was an hour late due to my sleep.

The only time of the Year when Indians realize that sixty-seventy years ago, this country was ruled by Britishers. What is the point of this freedom when we throw few intelligent foreigners out of the country in order to allow buffoons from our society to destroy (we cannot say, reshape over here) our lives? Now also India’s political and economic concerns in this globalized world where every big city has certain importance on the global stage can be handled and taken care off in isolation. But India still has to listen and comply to the diktats of the powerful western nations. The only right we have earned because of the independence is the right to shit and pee at the place of our choice. I don’t know or understand whether we are becoming complementary or supplementary to the world powers or are we losing our rights and our Independence (not as I am saying but as independence is perceived to be).

The only good point is that Indians get to hear their National Anthem, which we generally forget after our teenage days. Jana Mana Ga is one amongst few the common thread which stands amongst all the Indians. Rest everything has some kind of farcical thought attached to it. It is also the time when we lament on the fact what Independence meant for a Citizen in India?

The songs dedicated to the nation are played continuously throughout the day. Manoj Kumar always comes alive on screen on August 15. He is assured of his place in history. People realize saffron, white and green are sexy colours and you look good in it and the same time can promote the cause of saying, ‘I am Indian’, do you hear that (all the MCs, BCs standing across the bend of the street), “I am an Indian”. There are special features every year in newspapers, magazines and books released on what have we achieved in 55, 56, 57 ,58………….. this year it’s 62 years of independence. Do we have achieved? I don’t think much has been done at any point in last sixty years. The way India has grown socially, economically, politically. Socially the condition has only gone poor. Economically we are better because we had gone from worse to worst in first 25 years. Otherwise it is not remarkable. Politically we have deteriorated to the point of no return. We have more number of people without electricity than in 1947, we have more people falling under BPL (below poverty line) tha in 1947, we have increased food grains production but still falls short for a 1050 million mouth’s to feed. We have more buildings, highways, expressways but still more people living without a roof on their heads. We have more intelligent and educated people but still lesser jobs for them. The only area where India has made a significant progress is the POPULATION and burglary of the nation. Where nation becomes a country. Its like a body without a soul. I know it is not lost but we are not far from it.

Independence was not an easy process, it was probably the most painful process. Bharat gained independence sans its limbs to be called India. It was a moment for political revolutionaries, there motives and wishes were fulfilled. But ordinary Indians were wailing and mourning. Somehow I don’t know why I feel more. May be because I belong to Punjab where you still meet people who say their grandfather had spent the good years of his life in Lahore, where they were caught into ambush fires against Britishers not for drawing a line across the Earth. But for the exit of Britishers from the mass piece of land called Bharat.

SWINE FLU

Only the pig must be happy. Rest everybody in India is stressed with the term ‘Swine Flu’. Swine otherwise is an abuse and it is really coming up as an abuse to every Indian. Mr. Azad, the Health Minister in Manmohan Singh Govt. must not have expected his ministry to be the stressed out the Ministry in first 100 days of the Govt. when there are whole lots of issues to deal within India.

Day before yesterday and Yesterday were the most stressed days when the death toll has been increasing by every hour and the number of infected has swelled to hundreds. Now everybody fears it may run into 1000s. A chemist, a Mumbai housewife, Pune school going boy and above all doctor contracted the disease and died while looking after the patients, such cases are harrowing.

No matter who dies an old man or the kid. It’s not a big deal to die in a country with 1050 million people living on a small piece of land in earth. But then it exposes the vagaries of the System and their inability to tackle a situation which has the capacity to develop into an Epidemic. It has held the entire country into a hostage. Its not few terrorists who have captured few people and the moment you kill those terrorists everybody is safe. Sneezing and coughing have become a crime in a country like India. Our freedom is not lost but again held hostage by a Swine (Flu). We are not in America, where everything is done according to the Law.

Only the pharmaceutical companies are the individuals which are happy but then they are also not able to keep up with the supplies that are required. Personally I have myself become sick of it. Everybody in office is talking about it. There are so many forwarded mails on Swine Flu, SMS jokes, etc. etc. Everybody has covered his/her face with masks, dupatta, handkerchief, hands, tissue papers, bare hands. The whole idea of our inability to fight a disease is so sickening.

We are planning to launch 3G services to empower Indians with the small piece of gadget in their hands. People like Nandan Nilekani have been appointed for UID (Unique Identification Development Project) to give a unique identity to every Indian. On the other side, Indians are losing their identity to the dreaded disease, from which we have failed to contain ourselves.

The loss to the business and the economy of India cannot be ascertained. Schools have been closed for a week to keep children who are not able to understand the gravity of the situation because of their kind little gentle souls of innocence. We have lost all the innocence, Mr. Azad’s remarks tell you the story.

Now cinema halls, all the malls, commercial complexes have been shut. People are advised not to congregate in numbers. I live in Mumbai and please somebody tell me where in Mumbai is the place/space for isolation. The whole Mumbai is choked with people. The auspicious festival of Janmashthtami with the tradition of Govinda aala re will not be celebrated with the usual euphoric and cheerful mood.

Don’t expect Mr. Azad to do anything?

He failed in his Home State (Jammu & Kashmir) to do anything. What can you expect out of him as the Health Minister of India?

His predecessor Dr. Ambumani Ramadoss channelized all his energies against tobacco companies and smokers. Only one motive that useless doctor had on his mind rather than improving the health system in India.

Why is it that India as a country always wakes up after the thief mopes the place? Why can’t we equip ourselves beforehand to prepare and fight such a menace? Do we lack a reason or conviction?

Why I killed Gandhi

Ever since my childhood, somebody told me that Nathuram gave a very good reason for killing Gandhi. But then whatever reason one may give, killing somebody cannot justify such action.

Read the piece below, somehow you will realize it was the best thing to be done at its times.

Nathuram Godse gives a very compelling reason why he killed Gandhi. It questions our very existence, our belief, our societal and thought process. How we read Gandhi lessons in our school is correct? Probably the answer lies like OSHO said, we need to throw all the things, systems, practices that are old. As a new generation, new society, new country, new person, new thoughts start something new. But then I always say, "Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi will be banished and forgotten as the essential parts of our life. Once the bloody hypocritics, laughing filthy face is removed from our Currency Note. That is when a foundation for new India shall be laid."

Gandhiji's assassin, Nathuram Godse's Final Address to the Court.

Nathuram Godse was arrested immediately after he assassinated Gandhiji, based on a F. I. R. filed by Nandlal Mehta at the Tughlak Road Police staton at Delhi. The trial, which was held in camera, began on May 27, 1948 and concluded on February 10, 1949. He was sentenced to death.

An appeal to the Punjab High Court, then in session at Simla, did not find favour and the sentence was upheld. The statement that you are about to read is the last made by Godse before the Court on the May 5, 1949.

Such was the power and eloquence of this statement that one of the judges, G. D. Khosla, later wrote, "I have, however, no doubt that had the audience of that day been constituted into a jury and entrusted with the task of deciding Godse's appeal, they would have brought a verdict of 'not Guilty' by an overwhelming majority"

WHY I KILLED GANDHI

Born in a devotional Brahmin family, I instinctively came to revere Hindu religion, Hindu history and Hindu culture. I had, therefore, been intensely proud of Hinduism as a whole. As I grew up I developed a tendency to free thinking unfettered by any superstitious allegiance to any isms, political or religious. That is why I worked actively for the eradication of untouchability and the caste system based on birth alone. I openly joined RSS wing of anti-caste movements and maintained that all Hindus were of equal status as to rights, social and religious and should be considered high or low on merit alone and not through the accident of birth in a particular caste or profession.

I used publicly to take part in organized anti-caste dinners in which thousands of Hindus, Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas, Chamars and Bhangis participated. We broke the caste rules and dined in the company of each other. I have read the speeches and writings of Ravana, Chanakiya, Dadabhai Naoroji, Vivekanand, Gokhale, Tilak, along with the books of ancient and modern history of India and some prominent countries like England, France, America and Russia. Moreover I studied the tenets of Socialism and Marxism. But above all I studied very closely whatever Veer Savarkar and Gandhiji had written and spoken, as to my mind these two ideologies have contributed more to the moulding of the thought and action of the Indian people during the last thirty years or so, than any other single factor has done.

All this reading and thinking led me to believe it was my first duty to serve Hindudom and Hindus both as a patriot and as a world citizen. To secure the freedom and to safeguard the just interests of some thirty crores (300 million) of Hindus would automatically constitute the freedom and the well-being of all India, one fifth of human race. This conviction led me naturally to devote myself to the Hindu Sanghtanist ideology and programme, which alone, I came to believe, could win and preserve the national independence of Hindustan, my Motherland, and enable her to render true service to humanity as well.

Since the year 1920, that is, after the demise of Lokamanya Tilak, Gandhiji's influence in the Congress first increased and then became supreme. His activities for public awakening were phenomenal in their intensity and were reinforced by the slogan of truth and non-violence which he paraded ostentatiously before the country. No sensible or enlightened person could object to those slogans. In fact there is nothing new or original in them. They are implicit in every constitutional public movement. But it is nothing but a mere dream if you imagine that the bulk of mankind is, or can ever become, capable of scrupulous adherence to these lofty principles in its normal life from day to day.

In fact, honour, duty and love of one's own kith and kin and country might often compel us to disregard non-violence and to use force. I could never conceive that an armed resistance to an aggression is unjust. I would consider it a religious and moral duty to resist and, if possible, to overpower such an enemy by use of force. [In the Ramayana] Rama killed Ravana in a tumultuous fight and relieved Sita.. [In the Mahabharata], Krishna killed Kansa to end his wickedness; and Arjuna had to fight and slay quite a number of his friends and relations including the revered Bhishma because the latter was on the side of the aggressor. It is my firm belief that in dubbing Rama, Krishna and Arjuna as guilty of violence, the Mahatma betrayed a total ignorance of the springs of human action.
In more recent history, it was the heroic fight put up by Chhatrapati Shivaji that first checked and eventually destroyed the Muslim tyranny in India. It was absolutely essentially for Shivaji to overpower and kill an aggressive Afzal Khan, failing which he would have lost his own life. In condemning history's towering warriors like Shivaji, Rana Pratap and Guru Gobind Singh as misguided patriots, Gandhiji has merely exposed his self-conceit. He was, paradoxical as it may appear, a violent pacifist who brought untold calamities on the country in the name of truth and non-violence, while Rana Pratap, Shivaji and the Guru will remain enshrined in the hearts of their countrymen for ever for the freedom they brought to them.

The accumulating provocation of thirty-two years, culminating in his last pro-Muslim fast, at last goaded me to the conclusion that the existence of Gandhi should be brought to an end immediately. Gandhi had done very good in South Africa to uphold the rights and well-being of the Indian community there. But when he finally returned to India he developed a subjective mentality under which he alone was to be the final judge of what was right or wrong. If the country wanted his leadership, it had to accept his infallibility; if it did not, he would stand aloof from the Congress and carry on his own way.

Against such an attitude there can be no halfway house. Either Congress had to surrender its will to his and had to be content with playing second fiddle to all his eccentricity, whimsicality, metaphysics and primitive vision, or it had to carry on without him. He alone was the Judge of everyone and every thing; he was the master brain guiding the civil disobedience movement; no other could know the technique of that movement. He alone knew when to begin and when to withdraw it. The movement might succeed or fail, it might bring untold disaster and political reverses but that could make no difference to the Mahatma's infallibility. 'A Satyagrahi can never fail' was his formula for declaring his own infallibility and nobody except himself knew what a Satyagrahi is. Thus, the Mahatma became the judge and jury in his own cause. These childish insanities and obstinacies, coupled with a most severe austerity of life, ceaseless work and lofty character made Gandhi formidable and irresistible.

Many people thought that his politics were irrational but they had either to withdraw from the Congress or place their intelligence at his feet to do with as he liked. In a position of such absolute irresponsibility Gandhi was guilty of blunder after blunder, failure after failure, disaster after disaster. Gandhi's pro-Muslim policy is blatantly in his perverse attitude on the question of the national language of India. It is quite obvious that Hindi has the most prior claim to be accepted as the premier language. In the beginning of his career in India, Gandhi gave a great impetus to Hindi but as he found that the Muslims did not like it, he became a champion of what is called Hindustani.. Everybody in India knows that there is no language called Hindustani; it has no grammar; it has no vocabulary. It is a mere dialect, it is spoken, but not written. It is a bastard tongue and cross-breed between Hindi and Urdu, and not even the Mahatma's sophistry could make it popular. But in his desire to please the Muslims he insisted that Hindustani alone should be the national language of India. His blind followers, of course, supported him and the so-called hybrid language began to be used. The charm and purity of the Hindi language was to be prostituted to please the Muslims. All his experiments were at the expense of the Hindus.

From August 1946 onwards the private armies of the Muslim League began a massacre of the Hindus. The then Viceroy, Lord Wavell, though distressed at what was happening, would not use his powers under the Government of India Act of 1935 to prevent the rape, murder and arson. The Hindu blood began to flow from Bengal to Karachi with some retaliation by the Hindus. The Interim Government formed in September was sabotaged by its Muslim League members right from its inception, but the more they became disloyal and treasonable to the government of which they were a part, the greater was Gandhi's infatuation for them. Lord Wavell had to resign as he could not bring about a settlement and he was succeeded by Lord Mountbatten. King Log was followed by King Stork. The Congress which had boasted of its nationalism and socialism secretly accepted Pakistan literally at the point of the bayonet and abjectly surrendered to Jinnah. India was vivisected and one-third of the Indian territory became foreign land to us from August 15, 1947.

Lord Mountbatten came to be described in Congress circles as the greatest Viceroy and Governor-General this country ever had. The official date for handing over power was fixed for June 30, 1948, but Mountbatten with his ruthless surgery gave us a gift of vivisected India ten months in advance. This is what Gandhi had achieved after thirty years of undisputed dictatorship and this is what Congress party calls 'freedom' and 'peaceful transfer of power'. The Hindu-Muslim unity bubble was finally burst and a theocratic state was established with the consent of Nehru and his crowd and they have called 'freedom won by them with sacrifice' - whose sacrifice? When top leaders of Congress, with the consent of Gandhi, divided and tore the country - which we consider a deity of worship - my mind was filled with direful anger.

One of the conditions imposed by Gandhi for his breaking of the fast unto death related to the mosques in Delhi occupied by the Hindu refugees. But when Hindus in Pakistan were subjected to violent attacks he did not so much as utter a single word to protest and censure the Pakistan Government or the Muslims concerned. Gandhi was shrewd enough to know that while undertaking a fast unto death, had he imposed for its break some condition on the Muslims in Pakistan, there would have been found hardly any Muslims who could have shown some grief if the fast had ended in his death. It was for this reason that he purposely avoided imposing any condition on the Muslims. He was fully aware of from the experience that Jinnah was not at all perturbed or influenced by his fast and the Muslim League hardly attached any value to the inner voice of Gandhi.

Gandhi is being referred to as the Father of the Nation. But if that is so, he had failed his paternal duty inasmuch as he has acted very treacherously to the nation by his consenting to the partitioning of it. I stoutly maintain that Gandhi has failed in his duty. He has proved to be the Father of Pakistan. His inner-voice, his spiritual power and his doctrine of non-violence of which so much is made of, all crumbled before Jinnah's iron will and proved to be powerless. Briefly speaking, I thought to myself and foresaw I shall be totally ruined, and the only thing I could expect from the people would be nothing but hatred and that I shall have lost all my honour, even more valuable than my life, if I were to kill Gandhiji. But at the same time I felt that the Indian politics in the absence of Gandhiji would surely be proved practical, able to retaliate, and would be powerful with armed forces. No doubt, my own future would be totally ruined, but the nation would be saved from the inroads of Pakistan. People may even call me and dub me as devoid of any sense or foolish, but the nation would be free to follow the course founded on the reason which I consider to be necessary for sound nation-building.

After having fully considered the question, I took the final decision in the matter, but I did not speak about it to anyone whatsoever. I took courage in both my hands and I did fire the shots at Gandhiji on 30th January 1948, on the prayer-grounds of Birla House. I do say that my shots were fired at the person whose policy and action had brought rack and ruin and destruction to millions of Hindus. There was no legal machinery by which such an offender could be brought to book and for this reason I fired those fatal shots. I bear no ill will towards anyone individually but I do say that I had no respect for the present government owing to their policy which was unfairly favourable towards the Muslims. But at the same time I could clearly see that the policy was entirely due to the presence of Gandhi.

I have to say with great regret that Prime Minister Nehru quite forgets that his preachings and deeds are at times at variances with each other when he talks about India as a secular state in season and out of season, because it is significant to note that Nehru has played a leading role in the establishment of the theocratic state of Pakistan, and his job was made easier by Gandhi's persistent policy of appeasement towards the Muslims. I now stand before the court to accept the full share of my responsibility for what I have done and the judge would, of course, pass against me such orders of sentence as may be considered proper. But I would like to add that I do not desire any mercy to be shown to me, nor do I wish that anyone else should beg for mercy on my behalf. My confidence about the moral side of my action has not been shaken even by the criticism levelled against it on all sides. I have no doubt that honest writers of history will weigh my act and find the true value thereof some day in future.

JAI HIND

Hypocrisy of the Media

Ramu’s sick joke
Must have read the above story on August 4, 2009 in Mumbai Mirror, in which the media objects to the marketing strategy of the upcoming movie of Ramgopal Varma (RGV), Agyaat as a Sick Joke, wherein the producers have hung a dummy of a dead man on the posters of their movie, Agyaat. People thought it’s a dead body and complain to Police about the same. Police remove the dummy man from the poster and only then they realize it’s a dummy. What can you say about RGV, who is a self-confessed Howard Roark? Who has made his to the top his way and who still likes to follow his way and believes every person should follow his/her own way in life rather than aping others. Such path is said and taken by people who are genius. Yes they are, they do pose a danger to the society. Although I personally do believe in what RGV says.

Last Thursday, July 30, 2009 Mumbai Mirror published the story on the negligence of the construction companies in Mumbai and how badly it had damaged the eye of one of the passers-by on the road near the construction site. The scam these construction companies are running in Mumbai is out of the question. Mumbai Mirror may or might be doing some stories on them. Well what can you say to the construction companies to take care of the amenities in and around the site and need to show civil obedience and corporate responsibility while undertaking such tasks? They are not able to provide protective gear to their workers which is mandatory under different legislations like Factories Act and Workers Act. It will be inappropriate from our side to expect that they will maintain the civil obedience.

The most disturbing element was not the contention of the Story but the cover page Picture. The cover Page Picture is so disturbing and sickening that children might get frightened looking at the image. Media should act responsibly and take some responsibility for their actions. They cannot hold the whole nation to the ransom to their vested interests.

The picture of the same female in the inner sections of the page is not that harrowing. I can understand her pain and suffering. In other ways, some people may appreciate the photography quality and idea of the picture to show the pain she is going through and the injustice and indifference shown by the industrial/construction companies towards the common public.

If you feel or believe that media was justified in its action/reaction to Ram Gopal Varma. We need to think about ourselves and our nation. Media owes a responsibility to the society for its actions. It creates the perceptions in the society.

But then what do we make out of the hypocritic attitude of media, which uses any person/incident to its fancy. The way they can mileage and score few brownie points.

Mumbai - Pedestrians

Last weekend, I was crossing the road after consuming a sumptuous lunch headed to my home near Jacob Circle (popularly known as Saat Rasta). I was crossing the road at the end of bridge which leads to Mahalaxmi Station. Generally as a pedestrian, I play by the rules and always try to cross the road at the earliest maneuvering through the traffic without waiting for the signal.

I am just moving across and the traffic comes to a grinding halt. In all the hullaboo and the jammed traffic around the huge circle, the traffic stops. I can bet anybody there is no city like Mumbai. You will not notice such kind of Civil sense. The signal shows Red Light for vehicles and Green Light for pedestrians. I know when we crazy Punjabi’s drive our cars in Punjab. Its not all the Sardar jokes that we skip every red light. But we would have shown little or no sense for stopping our vehicle for pedestrians to pass.

Luckily I don’t own a motor in Mumbai. I have all the regards for the motor(vehicle) owners in Mumbai, who show such high level of respect/chivalry to their fellow citizen on foot.

Cheers Guys to the City of Love, Fame & Money………..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mumbai

Credit Card: A monster or a Service

Day before yesterday I received this message from one of the leading foreign bank majors present in India. I had used their card for more than a year. In the month of May, some scrupulous and duping amount of Rs. 1200 was charged extra to my account, which I declined to pay. Before proceeding further, read their message below:

“Please pay at least the minimum amount due on ABC Card to avoid defaults. A poor CIBIL score can deny you credit cards and loans in future. Ignore if paid.”

A poor CIBIL score. Does anyone understand what the hell is that? CIBIL stands for Credit Information Bureau (India) Limited. I belong to the investing and financing community, so I know what the hell is CIBIL. If your name features in CIBIL, you cannot take any loan from any bank, whatsoever. Although some NBFC may take upon the high risk of offering you a loan that too at a high interest.

Fearing CIBIL should I pay the amount or not?
First look at why the amount has been charged?

Firstly the amount was charged for late payment of my Bill, which I always pay on time or a day or two prior to that. The due date of the ABC Card is 23rd of every month and I make it a point to drop the cheque on 22nd or 23rd of every month for the amount due. Generally I make the payment in excess of my Credit Card amount, rounding it off to the nearest hundred.

Why do they put all such charges on your account without any fault of yours’?

Frankly speaking they have to, they don’t have any choice. It is like their bread and butter. It is the most essential part of their business model. The revenue part. Credit card companies are only spending there money on their customers. You can imagine the huge costs, the credit benefit, courier charges of bills and others, cheque processing, 24x7 call centre, tie-ups for promotions and others. It’s a costly affair and you don’t earn anything against it. The only way you can earn is when your customer defaults and they charge huge late payment charges with phenomenally high interest rates (normally 3% on monthly basis – annualized 36%).

In the month of April, I had dropped in the Cheque for the amount due on time. I was travelling so they requested me to arrange for the minimum amount of Rs. 150 by Cash to avoid late payment charges, as they found it difficult to trace my Cheque. Living with a friend in Mumbai, it was difficult to arrange for a person at my place to catch with up with the Bank person to collect Rs. 150. Knowing it was weekend and my flat-mate was also supposed to be travelling that day. But fortunately or unfortunately, his scheduled trip was delayed by a day. But then he was away arranging his tickets. Luckily we had one of the best landlord’s to be found in Mumbai, who was living in the same building, who paid the amount on my behalf.

Guess what? Next month, I am charged for the late fee with the interest and a service charge of Rs. 150 for Cash payment. Rs. 150 was the additional amount that I had paid over and above the amount due for the month of May. Look at their generosity; they settle this Rs. 150 towards all the bull-shit charges they have charged me with.

I wrote a mail telling them, I am not liable to pay all that stuff that you have charged me with. They always make a request to pay three days in advance to the due date. For orderly processing of the same by the due date, then why the hell the due date exists? They cannot bring down their due date down on paper due to regulations and the competition from their peers.

At times, this whole of theory and application of CAPITALISM sucks. I know we would have been worse off under Socialism.

I wrote abusing mails to them. I know most of the customers of any bank, store, mobile phone services behave as if they own those multi billion dollar company. But then that is how the dynamics of the market have emerged. I pity their employees, those guys are quite courageous to be working in such profile and an organization where everyday they encounter people who are yelling, screaming and abusing them. I would have definitely walked out from it the very next day. But then we do many things in our life, which we don’t like or don’t enjoy either.

Their modesty and patience level is appalling. They still write to me always in a humble and modest manner. Look at the following last week’s message:

“Dear customer, your ABC Card payment Rs. 240 is overdue. Pls pay immediately to avoid further service/finance charges. Call us on 022-________. Ignore if already paid.”

But they never threaten to cancel my card. Like my mobile phone provider says in absence of payment, we may hold up your services. A credit card company will never say you, Sir I am blocking your card from making any further transactions. Such are the dynamics of the money lending business. They continue to service me like any regular customer. If you banish your customer in money lending business, you may not see him forever. You always need to maintain the relationship with them. You need to lend more to recover your previous defaults. I am not a defaulter here.

I spoke to one of my friends working in the global bank (my credit card bank). He advised me to stay away from it. He said, “don’t worry, due to poor quality of service, they are planning to shut their Indian office and operations.” Its difficult to eliminate India for any MNC for its global operations. The other astonishing fact he quoted was,

The card you are holding belongs to some primitive scheme. Primitive means anything which is more than 12 months old. They have been instructed not to service the old scheme customers. Get them onto the new product then you may be able to get my share of due. This pace of dynamism in Capitalism is quite disturbing.

I just wish one change in their policy, you shut the doors on the customers you are not happy to serve.

At the end of all this, what should be my stand. I may looking for a car loan in few months and a home loan few years from now, what are the options that I have?

I know one thing they are not going to block card. The matter will linger on like that for couple of coming months. They they are going to break in my door and ask for one time settlement, which will be compounding from the base of Rs. 1200 to say Rs. 3000, 4000 or 5000 depends on the time. Coz as I said, it’s the compounding effect.