From AAP to TU (Odd - Even is bound to FAIL)

I am planning to buy a car in the price range of Rs. 8 – 11 Lakhs. My best choice remains Hyundai Creta, an SUV. But given the latest stupidity of Mr Arvind Kejriwal of plying odd-even car numbers on alternate days, it might be better if I buy two hatchbacks in the price range of Rs 5.00 Lacs with one in odd number and the other even. But then I was just discussing with my friend, why the hell two cars for this stupidity and buy Creta from Haryana and you are good. Govt will not be able to track other States car coming in and out of Delhi.

Before I make my decision to buy new car, let’s take a look at the buffoonery of Arvind Kejriwal and his AAP Govt. in Delhi. I understand his predicament with Mr Modi and why and how Central Govt. is not allowing them to function the way they want to and their head is stuck in their asses. But if Modi has gotten Kejriwal’s head stuck in his own ass that does not give the right to Kejriwal to harass the people of Delhi. He may continue his fight in whichever way he feels comfortable with the PM but he can leave people out of it and not drag everybody into the mud.

Odd-Even Alternate alternative is done in the wage of standing attack against the Govt. of Delhi to not able to do anything to provide clean air to the people. The environmentalists have been sounding the bugle to do something for quite some time and this is what the Govt. can offer its people in lieu of the fact that Delhi’s air can be cleaned.

It seems Mr Kejriwal has still not gotten into the mode that he is the CM and not the protestor against the Central Govt. I mean he had no issues to get into the suit of the politician when he is fighting for rights and autonomy from Modi Govt. or hugging the messiah of masses/chariot of Fodder Scam, Mr Laloo Yadav to make political statement but CM suit is too big for his size.

If the said solution to control pollution is to embarrass the Home Ministry because Delhi Police is under Home Ministry then I guess he has struck bang on. Again a political statement but not for something for which their party, apparently termed AAP, got huge mandate to govern Delhi. Such stupidity or idiotic order is pretty difficult for Delhi Police to comply especially when there is shortage of staff, the VIPs they have to protect, keep a check on terrorist elements and last but not least protecting people of Delhi.

Implementing such an order will be an administrative nightmare for Delhi Police. What will be the happenstance of hundreds of thousands of people commuting from NCR to Delhi for jobs, work and business? Will this apply to them as well or only to vehicles with Delhi number plates. This order will wreak havoc on dealers/agents dealing in automobiles in Delhi and not to mention the revenue loss to Delhi Govt.

I understand and I stand with the environmentalists that we may send our kids to Moon but we will struggle to offer our next gen clean air and adequate water. The present generation has to set its foot in the door to try and jam the process. I am sure as a nation, as a State, as a person we can do better than odd-even number alternate days solution. There have been other nations where such formula was implemented but it failed.

In Singapore, Govt. has imposed such high taxes on cars that they discourage people to own cars due to paucity of space in their city country. But at the same time, the Govt. has provided an excellent metro network interconnected with Mercedes feeder buses and other shuttle services which uses single payment system, cards issued by Metro Authority, that one is really comfortable using their public transportation system. For people who enjoy driving on their own, there is alternate system of cars with red number plates which can ply on roads from 8 PM to 8 AM, Sundays and national holidays.

A nation is developed not when the poor can afford cars but when rich can use the means developed for the poorest. Mumbaiites have more resources than Delhiites but still they use public transport system because their feeder system is auto-rickshaws and kaali-peeli (black-yellow) cabs which are professional and efficient. They don’t waste their time and commuters time by haggling over fares instead honestly take the shortest route and charge you to the exact paise on the basis of the rates set by Govt. and hardly ever say NO to a customer, no matter how short the journey route may be. But in Delhi, Kejriwal’s vote bank are auto rickshaw drivers who will quote double or triple the fares or else take you on Delhi darshan for destination which is stone’s throwaway from you. Delhi’s autos and taxis hardly switch on the meter and worse they will ply on their favourite routes and not to commuters service.

To control pollution, traffic regulation has to be studied and mined and mapped more appropriately so that halted vehicles and slow moving traffic do not pollute uncessantly on roads but the traffic has unrestricted flow. To follow Mr Modi, who is working so hard to generate the additional power required for the nation through solar and wind farms for which he is gaining laurels internationally. Modiji is offering subsidy/incentives to people building solar/wind farms. Individuals who are installing solar panels on their roof tops, incentivizing them to switch to clean energy.

More updates are coming for the policy, but my question is, so many people drive in from Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan everyday for meeting purposes to Delhi, will it apply to them as well? Women are exempt from this scheme, which means people will be clobbering into the cars of their woman colleagues. Worse if it applies to taxis and autos. Companies are already thinking on how to ensure their workers reach office without the convenience of driving in their own car which they own but is parked at home. Delhi is full of jugaadis, let’s see what innovation they bring to beat the Govt. for their stupidity. More so, second hand car dealers will rake in moolah and definitely the number of cars purchased will go up. In six months, we will be back to the same traffic and same pollution from cars if this scheme continues for long. 

The question and issue of Motorcycles/Scooters has not been brought into this article, that how much an aam aadmi will be harassed by the notification of Delhi Govt. run by Aam Aadmi Party.

Do we foresee accusation of hiked bribes by Home Ministry and Delhi Police by AAP?

Delhi Govt. can levy more taxes on diesel and reduce taxes on petrol as petrol is much cleaner than diesel. Removal of taxes on CNG kits so that more people shift to CNG, which is cleanest alternative and cheaper as well and increase accessibility and availability of CNG. Considerable reduction of taxes on cars running on batteries will be beneficial. Making your Pollution Check Centres efficient that they do not renew certificates of vehicles which do not pass the standards.

A person who is buying a car is already paying road tax upto 8% for roads and pollution in addition to the excise duty, sales tax on the vehicle they have paid and still Govt. has the audacity to show its stupidity. A person who owns a vehicle is paying approximately 25 – 30% as taxes to the Govt. one way or the other and the least the Govt. can offer is to allow them to drive their vehicle to their convenience on whatever conditions of roads the Govt. had provided.

But instead Kejriwal is working hard to prove Mr Jaitey right, that the experiment that Delhi’s people have undertaken with AAP will only be a hindrance to the people. Everything is a protest for Kejriwal and he doesn’t seem to understand the word or term, “Governance”.

Come January 1^st, we may see a bigger mess on Delhi roads.

Test Cricket will not die a Martyr

While watching IPL, I wondered or feared for the life and career of a bowler. Especially IPL taking almost three months of a year from the best international cricket players, their mindset will be structured around 20-20 and they would cease to play the traditional game of test cricket. Paresh Rawal makes a point in the movie, Cheeni Kum, cricket ko rang-birangi dress mein circus bana diya hai (Playing cricket in coloured uniform is like performing in a circus)….. Real Cricket is Test Cricket, Five grueling days to test the perseverance and talent. Or in other words, cricket will never be able to find out another of Rahul Dravid’s class in future.

In T20, the bowlers’ performance appears as Overs-Dot Balls-Runs-Wickets. Dot balls and sixes are the most important element of T20 cricket. Bowler emphasizes on the fact that he does not get hit big and not on the line, length or the swing, the surreal art of cricket is dying a slow death. T20 needless to say has made most millionaires in any industry in our country.

Test cricket matches are wrapped up in three days, so we may be moving towards shorter version of five day matches. Is it time, to take a call on the same as well? Maybe we may make the fourth version of the game popular as well. Rahul Dravid said, Test Cricket is different ball game, you have to take 20 wickets to be declared as winner. While in ODIs, you just have to restrict the other side.

Getting back to the current India – South Africa test series, Indians fans were fretting over the fact that Indian team offered a meager chase of 217 for fourth innings at first Test in Mohali to the mighty South Africans who have never lost test match series outside of their home in last 9 years. Just when Indian fans would have started screaming at Virat Kohli due to poor performance with bat and shopping with his Bollywood actress girlfriend, Anushka Sharma, Indian team bundled out the South Africans for 109. An Indian fan was very surprised at the Indian team’s bowling feat but in India, with spin bowling, Indians are able to perform.

Its only in match analysis, we got to know that the heroes were not our bowlers but the pitch for whom it was curated to perfection. So much so, that what happens to match on 3^rd or 4^th day starting happening on the first day. Our pacers who are always chewing their nails especially after T20 were left flabbergasted once again as the spinners raked in the moolah and they didn’t even get a chance to apply saliva on the ball.

To South Africa’ luck, second test was washed off and then came the third test. 12 wickets fell on first day, 20 on second, remaining 8 on third day for India to clinch the series. Virat Kohli’s magic is happening along with our able Director who strategizes well enough to beat the mighty South Africans.

Clearly again the pitch was the winner and Test Cricket was the loser. I mean, why is the CRICKET losing in this proposition? Similar happened to India in Johannesburg, 2 decades back and I guess it was experimental but this time it seems it may become the norm, a T20 match produces more runs that the third test match between Indian and SA. Ashwin, the magician with carom ball lashes out, if they can do it, what’s wrong with us doing it?

If pitch will perform for the players and then what are players doing on the field? India should have home advantage but that not is all the advantage and leverage and talent in the match. I mean, we want to see classy shots from Murali Vijay or few sixes from Dhawan or fiery batting of AB, some classics of Amla.

Cricket is about competition, about challenges on the field, improvisation according to the situation. But in this case, Ashwin has to demolish the opposition and batsmen have no chance to sweat on the field. Indian team is like a spoilt son of rich man. BCCI does not believe in the talent of its team, hence they have taken the task unto themselves to help them win.

During Mohali, we were still anxious as to what would happen but Nagpur, everybody was certain Ashwin will bowl them out, Jadeja and Mishra will be his sidekicks, it’s just a matter of time. There was a twist when Rahul Dravid’s spirit was hovering over Amla and du Plessis but Dravid pulled some classy strokes in between, while these two were just trying to hold onto the wicket and not win the match, because there was no chance.

I am glad at small element, in the era of T20 when fours and sixes rein and bowlers are merely present to bowl, no technique, no logic, just aim for dot balls, bowlers still have a life. Test Cricket gives them their due importance but like this, when the spinner has to bowl as they fall like a tower of cards but offers nothing for the batsman, only for the bowler. If other nations start emulating India’s strategy, Test Cricket will not even die a martyr but will be murdered by pitch curators and Cricket Board.

I urge Dravid and the likes to work with BCCI and other cricket associations to produce better pitches to allow the competitive game to be witnessed in every format. If Test Cricket has to die, it should die as a HERO and forbearer and the spirit of cricket but not a terrorist.

Kalam ko Salaam

Going back to the last week of July, there were two events which rocked the nation back and forth, passing away of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam and upstage drama leading upto Yakub Memon’s hanging. But before we begin, let’s take a peak into the dialogues of Akshay Kumar from the movie Namastey London.

• §  When we greet one another, we fold our hands in namaste because we believe that God resides in the heart of every human being.
• §  We come from a nation where we allow a lady of Catholic origin to step aside for a Sikh to be sworn in as Prime Minister by a Muslim President to govern a nation of over 80 percent Hindus.
• §  It may also interest you to know that many of the origins of your English words come from Sanskrit. For example, "maatra" becomes "mother", "bhratra" becomes "brother", "giamiti" becomes "geometry", and "trikonniti" becomes "trigonometry".
• §  We have 5,600 newspapers, 35,000 magazines in over 21 different languages with a combined readership of 120 million.
• §  We have reached the moon and back yet you people still feel that we have only reached as far as the Indian rope trick.
• §  We are the third largest nation in the world of doctors, engineers, and scientists. 
• §  Maybe your grandfather didn't tell you that we have the third largest army in the world. And even then, I fold my hands in humility before you because we don't believe that we are above or beneath any individual.

A lot of Indians are in awe of this speech, its does actually makes Englishmen think and take notice. India is more than land of KamaSutra and Yoga or the land of snake charmers as mentioned in the movie. But for me, the particular line of interest is the second bullet point. Such an event would have been possible without Dr. Kalam.

The press has been mentioned as “presstitute” after the last week of July as they gave more coverage to Yakub Memon’s hanging than the uneventful death of Dr. Kalam and eventful celebrations of the genius’ simple life. The greatest irony in the whole situation was the fact a Muslim, a scientist, a Gandhian missile, an OBC category national hero (who in India can possess such traits) died what he believed in most that is changing the mindset or influencing or motivating the future of the country, the students; and a Muslim, a terrorist (or may be not), a Chartered Accountant, a person who was the link (strong or weak, we can keep arguing) between the perpetrators of Bombay ’93 blasts (Mumbai was Bombay then) was hanged to death.

Yakub Memon should be hanged or not, his petitions, plea reached the highest offices of the country in 72 hours prior to his hanging. Nobody processes files in Indian Govt, Office of the President or the Supreme Court in such urgency, which admitted the petition at 9PM on Wednesday for hearing at 2AM Thursday morning, yet he had to meet the Allah and hence files moved with an unknown alacrity.

The sampradayak political shenanigans started buzzing, Yakub Menon is hanged because he is a Muslim or other such notorious stuff which has no relevance to the facts of the case or the fact of the situation. Crime or the law does not see the religion of the person. Maybe, of course they did see a political opportunity to make themselves felt or needed for the community and the result, they may be projected as bigger and better leader.

Probably he belonged to upper/middle class, otherwise dalit sambandhi group would have also raised their flag, that atrocities are taking place against the backward/poor Dalits in the land of Bhim Rao Ambedkar, who created an equal Constitution of India for everybody and yet we are discriminated, that too when we are nearing 70 years of Independence (Modiji refers to 60 years of Congress rule but actually we are nearing 70 and BJP also ruled for 6 years).

If there is a controversy or something new, then only its news, otherwise press is just disseminating the information. Yakub Menon offered more to chat and discuss then Dr. Kalam.

But here comes my moot point, Why is Dr. Kalam not mentioned as a Muslim first? Why didn’t no big/giant Muslim leader offer a passionate speech for Dr. Kalam to inspire people of their own religion (because they believe they exist to protect and harness their minority religion only for their own political leverage)?

Instead he was the only person in the country, who had no religion for people to judge? He was an OBC category scientist but no Dalit came forward and said, I am proud to belong to the Dr. Kalam’s caste and we will achieve more than what he had achieved and we will not use our Caste Card for it.

Dr. Kalam was made President by accident as well. BJP led NDA Govt. was in power, Mr Vajpayee literally fought a no-confidence motion every year during his six years of tenure. BJP wanted to nominate a President of their choice and they were facing issues from every angle, every nook and corner. A party which is often referred to as soft terrorists or hard Hindutva (I don’t understand those terms much) nominated Dr. Kalam.

Every party person lined up behind Dr. Kalam. Every two words that come to describe the magnanimous personality of Dr. Kalam are exact opposites of each other like a Gandhian missile man. We will find few Muslims in this country who will admit that they believe in Gandhian philosophy. Dr. Kalam has designed and delivered the Agni Missile Programme for the nation and yet he is Gandhian (who believed in non-violence).

No Hindu or other leader of this country has been respected as Dr. Kalam and loved, so much so that all the parties irrespective of their ideology or issues, attended his funeral done with full state honour. More so, his quotes and life philosophy continues to aspire the students of a nation like India.

My moot point remains, why is it important to highlight the religion of a terrorist? Why doesn’t the national hero’s religion is of no importance for the people of his religion?

Is it about NEWS or SMARTPHONES?

In today’s Digital Age, I have stopped reading newspaper but do not forget to track the news via Internet or regular updates on my Smartphone. But that hasn’t stopped us from ordering newspaper especially when the bill only goes to $ 2 – 4 a month. The front page of the newspaper tells us the pulse of the nation, what thrills the people or what are the issues the nation is grappling with or what are the achievement of the country.

Even on the run hooked on to Internet via laptops, tablets, phones still front page of the newspaper catches our fancy.

What do we see on front page everyday in India? A move, a movement, a philosophy, an ideology that every Indian must possess a smartphone in a country where 40% of the population cannot read the newspaper, where 60% of the population cannot afford the newspaper, where 65% is living with the minimum living standard of $ 2 – 4 everyday.

I really miss the scam stories or aura surrounding around or the deep mystery which is ready to be unfolded by the same person who has created and designed mysterious paths of scams. Like latest IPL scam or crime or whatever is missing on front page of newspapers. The interesting or buffoon remarks by our genius politicians, whether its BJP, Modi, Mayawati, Mulayam Singh, Lalu Yadav everything has vanished from the front page.

Instead what we see is four global goliaths fighting to outdo themselves not each other. Samsung, Nokia, iPhone and now Blackberry has also joined the race. Another piece on their strategy will be coming up later.

But my point of contention here is why are newspapers acting as advertising agents. Advertising is one thing because of which we are able to receive our newspapers at Rs. 2, 3, 4 and not like Pakistan where newspapers don’t have liberty and still cost Rs. 10 – 25.

Newspapers freedom to write defines the Rights granted by a country to it people. Newspapers help in shaping the thought process of the public at large. It makes and takes us to unusual places, unusual people, unusual stories. Instead what they are feeding us is an open war amongst four leading phone giants or trying to be giants.

Can they help us get to our good old days of real news and real masala especially on front page.

Slapped, Kicked and Butted

SANJAY DUTT – I am freaking getting bored of this name. Every newspaper, news channel is giving some or the other update every hour after his appeal has been withheld. It is not going to stop, when he gets to jail, there will be everyday news, who is meeting him, what is he eating, his clothes, his water, his toilet schedules, every thing will be discussed. TV is not provided to Sanjay Dutt, Sanjay Dutt is distributing his DVDs for free in jail. Another level of stupid absurdity will be played in Indian Media.

Debates are programmed, right or wrong, good or bad. Indian Legal System is lethargic or stupid, whatever. Sanjay Dutt is a good Bollywood actor, whose father allowed beggars and street peddlers to live on street. His mother died of cancer in early 1980’s when scientists were trying to define cancer. Maybe his influential and fearless deceased father is the reason. Whether or not he is a victim of political rivalry.

Is he the only one in our Indian system? Or is he the most underprivileged child or man in this country? Let’s assume he is innocent, so a lot of people get punished even if they have not committed the crime. His case is wrong place at the wrong time, perhaps. But he himself admits, I was young and I was stupid. So he is praying the price of his stupidity.

Sanjay Dutt is an Indian citizen who has been sentenced to 5.5 years of imprisonment. Period.

Actor Sanjay Dutt, who has been convicted under the Arms Act for his role in the 1993 Mumbai bombings, said Thursday that he would surrender when the time comes and would not be seeking pardon. Speaking out for the first time since the Supreme Court ruling last week, Sanjay appealed to the media for privacy and said: “...When I am not going for pardon, there is no debate.”

An emotional Sanjay, who broke down while addressing the media, said he had the highest respect for the court. “This a very, very tough time,” he said. “Just let me be in peace till I go in.” He said he would be completing his work commitments. He was accompanied at the press conference by his sister and Congress MP Priya Dutt.

I enjoy his acting, particularly his Munnabhai character. I am saying this. One of our leading Judge, the man who words become law, Justice Markandey Katju said Sanjay is a good actor and he entertained, hence he should be pardoned.

Lets say if I commit a crime and I say, I am a joker in my face so on those grounds, kindly pardon me.

Sanjay Dutt today only some miracle can keep him prison. What is this crap?

A reminder, this sentence was earlier granted by a Special Court which has been appealed at the Higher Court and Higher Court upheld the verdict. Sanjay himself, I believe in the Indian Justice System, then what’s there to make a fuss about?

Press reports, he is overworking and trying to complete his commitments, which man or person wouldn’t finish or try to finish his/her commitments before going to jail. Besides Sanjay Dutt has already spent 18 months in prison in early 1990’s, so he has only four years left to do his time in prison.

There are laws in a country. Anybody who defies it, should be punished. In India, whosoever gets caught gets punished.

Sanjay Dutt should be fighting for the cause that he had whatsoever no hand in any of the bomb blasts that took place in Bombay.

In India, whenever media starts drumming the story, the cause or the purpose is always lost.

Sanjay Dutt may or could have found a way to avoid jail for some more time but once the media takes over, they take away your happiness and the genuine concerns, which need to be highlighted get lost in the high profile drama like a Bollywood Movie’s plot.

Brief on LIFE

I love Shah Rukh Khan (SRK), the King Khan of Bollywood, there cannot be an entertainer like him. When I am referring to his entertainment credentials, it’s off screen and not on screen. Here I am not referring to the latest hype created around his Wankhede row. SRK, truly is a man who is democratic, who can charm his way to people’s hearts. A man who made it on his own, this big in life and in an industry where decade is considered to be a career and a lifetime. But SRK is and continues to remain strong for last 25 years. He is best performer, entertainer, media grabbing of his team, Kolkata Knight Riders and the most profitable as well. In a country where Cricket is Religion and Sachin is God, there the owner of the team is the HERO.

 

The most amazing part about his personality is his charm and his sense of humour. Whatever he says is a QUOTE, it’s a CLICHÉ. “SRK said it”. The way he can make fun of himself, always. Couple of years back, Pakistan’s cricket team was visiting India after a long hiatus and SRK is hosting the show for welcoming both the teams. What better man to represent both India and Pakistan. He says, I don’t feel anything whether India wins or Pakistan wins. My mother came from Pakistan and father from India. So if Pakistan wins, I say Ammi jeet gyi and if India wins, I say walid sahib jeet gaye.

 

Anyway this post has nothing to do with SRK, Cricket or Bollywood. A couple of quotes/words have come out of SRK’s stable after his team won the IPL-5 title that actually touch your soul and the way he has put it, we all feel something like this, not many times in our life. It is not fun from the funny man. Rather when funny people talk serious, it showers rains. Like Charlie Chaplin said, “I enjoy walking in rain coz nobody can see my crying”.

 

Follow the news story as it appeared:

Shah Rukh Khan is not elated, thrilled or vindicated by his team's victory over Chennai at IPL 5 this year. He even penned a quiet soliloquy to himself at 5 am the next day, after the post-match party on May 28.

He reveals his pre-match frame of mind, saying, "I have never been in a zone where I have prayed so much. I pray a lot, but on that day I was praying a lot more. I had to make this happen in my head and heart. I write whenever I am alone, and don't know what else to do..."

But post the victory, it was a different feeling for Shah Rukh. "I didn't feel anything after the win, so I tried to put across what I was feeling on paper. I was feeling empty inside. Any of the things I thought I would feel after winning the IPL were missing. I've realised I have never been able to learn cold-blooded objectivity. I'm extremely subjective — good, bad, selfish, self-centered. I don't behave how people think I should — a role model."

He says he's also realised that people exist in very small boxes of judgement and limitation. And they hurt him. "For years they have hurt me, though they have no power over me. Whenever I see those people, I react because I am honest and they symbolise my hurt. Why? I am a middle-class guy and I have wanted nothing more than to be accepted and seen as a good actor. I have always wanted to be universally loved. That's an issue. I have always given and they have always taken. Then they have asked for more and again I have given... When they asked as an entitlement, I gave them again. In the last six months, a few people close to me have hurt and betrayed me by their actions... I am not scared of anyone, but I have given because I have felt that I will be liked by them all the time. And yet they don't see it because I remind them of the things that they didn't have the capacity to do themselves. And now my anger has passed..."

After the win, he was going to jump off the balcony of the VIP section and he genuinely felt he could fly! "People will think I am narcissistic to talk like this, but it's not that. I am one of the few people in the world who has been made to believe that I can do this!"

He goes on to add that while he has the influence to make people happy, he is anything but a role model. "I don't tell my children to be what I am. A role model is someone who can take on the onslaught of being in the public eye and still stand for correctness. He plays a role. Sachin Tendulkar is what a role model should be,.. He's the perfect human being and I am not. I don't want to be. I will never be a God of reality... I only sell dreams. I will do a cartwheel or tear off my clothes when I am happy if I feel like it."

Everyday, when some news comes out about him (like the Wankhede stadium fracas), he has to make a joke out of it. "My kids need to know that it's not serious. I have to reassure Suhana and it's very difficult. I get angry and disturbed then... but why do I feel empty now? Winning the IPL is perhaps the greatest thing, it is my victory but this is not the happiness I worked for. I don't feel vindicated, or like a champion or winner!"

Man, do read it over and over again.

(One of the rare photographs when SRK looks down and out, always smiling and smoking)

Toffee/Candy as a Currency

Last week, I was paying 75 bucks for my beer against payment of Rs. 100 bill and the vendor returns two Rs. 10 bills and a packet of bhujiya (snack), manufactured in the backyards of Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazar or some other shady industrial/trading area of New Delhi. That was too much for me, one rupee coin has long been replaced by toffees/candies/chewing gums, everybody has understood the concept and nowadays at times, even I trade toffees/candies. In case some shopkeeper offers me toffee/candies for a rupee or two, I try to give it back to him or other shopkeeper (in case he is offering toffees/candies as a currency replacement). The only argument from my end is always, if you are offering toffees instead of coins, then you can accept it also.

But five bucks took me by a jolt, not in the sense that five bucks is very crucial to my existence but then I believe, first I don’t want that packet of bhujiya and second as a legal contract he is bound to pay me five bucks. Third shopkeepers are cornering tidy profits by offering their wares as currency.

One of my friends, who runs wholesale drugs (medicine) shop, has a big box candies in his drawer. He puts his hands more in the candy box then in his cash box during the day. Not that he is fond of toffees/candies. He clarifies, “One to four rupee leftovers are made in terms of toffees/candies. It’s difficult to obtain coins from the banks and to manage coins is another hassle.”

It sums up the state of the Economy of the world’s largest secular democratic nation in the world. The central bank is not able to print/float/manage enough currency in the market. Whatever the reasons are?

On the contrary, it’s not about the efficiency/inefficiency of central bank. A large part of the coins printed/floated in the Indian economy are offered as service to Gods, beggars control a significant amount of coins. Even beggars don’t appreciate who offer coins, they want rupees. But then they are not saving/spending completely in coins, a lot can be said and heard about the same, perhaps we need some study to figure out the dilemma, functions, operations and issues around the same.

India is a developing nation, perhaps second nation with a consistent growth level achieved globally. There are new classes emerging in India, from low, middle to upper to very poor, poor, middle, middle burgeoning, middle splurging, rich, urban rich, rural rich, newly rich, techie rich, idea rich, filthy rich, freaking rich, globally rich. Compared to America, we are still an anna size economy, but still it knows, understands and respects the value of 1 cent, the smallest denomination of their currency (Dollar). And India, a land of feudals and tribals has discarded the value of One Rupee. So much so, it is totally into extinction and the value of the same is lost.

In the same vain, Rupee Five Currency Notes is not in print and RBI plans to replace Ten Rupee Currency Notes with coins. The heavy steel coin encased in a copper shell, what is the point of floating such heavy currency in the market. It’s difficult and cumbersome to carry and trade with such heavy coins. In developed nations, we find such a wide range of coins and currency and never once would find 1 cent, 1 Yen will lose its value, the way it has been discarded in India. A day will come when toffees/candies will become currency or is it already so? Keep thinking what will toffee/candy manufacturers might become?

Toffee and candies have taken the position of One Rupee and One Rupee is lost in the glitter of our so called and ultra famed burgeoning booming economy of India.