What's wrong with that?

“What’s wrong in it?” – It is this simple question that was asked in the Parliament of India exposes the audacity of our politicians, the unabashed manner in which they perform the atrocities, flexing the muscles of the public sector and Government norms in the name of coalition, and above all it proves that our politicians are indeed worried about their personal interests than the interest of the nation. One wonders whether someone answered him or not for this question.

It all started with the 7 letters that were sent from the PMO questioning why the task (read favor) is not accomplished to Petroleum Ministry. Mr T R Baalu was hell-bent behind this task being accomplished. One might wonder, why Mr. Baalu, whose ministry is irrelevant to this is taking such a care, however as the saying goes, Blood is thicker than water, it is the parental care in Mr. Baalu had driven him to go for a overkill in this issue.

He is maneuvering the systems as to get cheaper gas for King Power Corporation and King Chemicals both are run by his sons. The worst part in this is one company does not exist at all while one is declared as a sick unit by BIFR. While the market rate is around $16 per mBtu, Mr. Baalu wants this gas to be supplied at $2 per mBtu to these companies.

ONGC and GAIL are in the picture and Mr. Baalu is flexing all his muscles to get the gas at such a rock-bottom price for his sons’ companies. For this, he has written to our Prime Minister many times (read threatened) and also paid visits to Mr Deora’s office. He had summoned Chairmen of both the companies and directed to work out a way as to supply the gas at cheaper rate.

The gas supply agreement was made when DMK was a part of coalition govt run by BJP and the agreement was made only with King Chemicals. The company, however, delayed getting transport contract and the agreement date elapsed. The company went to High Court of Madras reinstating gas link that went in company’s favor. Fearing a cut in the supply of gas (as to provide these companies), APM gas consumers approached the court that said the issue be resolved by Petroleum ministry. While BJP was blamed for taking revenge in cutting the gas-link, the papers showed that it is difficult to restore the link to a defaulter. As to supply gas at cheaper rate they worked on options that said, “Introduce a pro-rata cut on all consumers in that area” for which the ministry opposed. The other option was to relocate the power plant.

All these incidents indicate how the politicians in our country play with the systems. The rich is becoming richer at the cost of tax payers’ money. If the gas is to be supplied to the minister’s son at 8 times lower the market price and give them a business advantage, how to compensate the loss of the company? Why the tax-payer has to bear the burden for the mis-handling of affairs by these green-eyed monsters?

Adding insult to injury is the words Mr. Baalu uttered in the parliament. He said, “These shareholders (of King Chemicals) asked me to do something about them. A BIFR company has to be saved by the management. Accordingly, I put a word to my friend, the Petroleum Minister. What is wrong with that?”

Why can’t Mr. Baalu ask these shareholders to buy the gas at market price and do business on ethical standards?
Why can’t he simply tell the shareholders to resolve the issue with Ministry of Petroleum without involving much into it?
Will Mr. Baalu involve himself so personally if whoever goes to him with a problem?

Such incidents expose why the politicians do not want the public sector companies to be made public. They can’t get favors extended to them as they wanted even if it meant a loss to the company. They are interested in filling their pockets and draining the country out.

The irony is such scoundrels are ruling us and we are tolerating it. We claim we are the largest democracy but we could not remove such ministers from the cabinet despite knowing the fact that they are doing wrong at the cost of nation’s interest. There is nothing wrong with these politicians. The wrong lies with us, we do not protest, we elect such people, and we keep allowing such things happen. Mr. Baalu, I have an answer for your question, “We, the people of India are wrong”. You guys mint money as long as we are wrong!

Unifying teams

The slap of Harbhajan on the face of Sreesanth is shocking news indeed. Punjab XI could not even celebrate their first win in the IPL, courtesy the behavior of Bhajji.

Harbhajan, is notorious for his behavior on and off the field. Even when he was in the Australian Cricket Academy, he was sent back for his misbehavior in the night club. Then he was less than 19 years of age. Since then, Harbhajan, worked hard to prove repeatedly that his behavior is unacceptable to many a portions of the cricket fraternity.

Time and again, Harbhajan was protected by the BCCI stating that opponents are biased against him fearing his bowling (while his bowling is not a killing factor at all). However, here the allegation comes from a fellow Punjabi – Yuvraj Singh himself. This recent incident comes as a shot in the arm of Australian cricket board for their stand against Harbhajan. This incident drives one to think that what Symonds said would have been true also. (Menu-ki as monkey sort of jokes are long forgotten now)

One can expect that BCCI will try to hush up all the things and push it under the carpet. Sreesanth will say, “It’s all in the game and we have long forgotten it” Bhajji would say, “I apologized to him” blah blah blah…. However, the fact that remains is Bhajji’s behavior is unacceptable and it is proven.

Perhaps, Harbhajan is not taught of the fact that “Success is not the destination but only a milestone”. It is agreed that nothing succeeds like success but this success should not rule one’s head. Bhajji was not taught of the ethics of the game or even the basic civic sense. Psychologically one might say the failure of Harbhajan as a person per se, is attributed to the fact that he is treated as a celebrity even at home.

Harbhajan said that he is missing Sachin. My advice to him is, “Do not miss Sachin in your team only for the sake of runs. You are missing him on the behavioral front also. Having been with the likes of Sachin and Dravid, how is that you have not learnt a characteristic called modesty?”

More than all these worries, the very concept of IPL is shaken. Everyone was talking of unification of teams and all differences will be buried and now onwards cricket will be played among friends and all sort of explanations were given. However, this incident is totally opposite to what they expressed.

How can now Bhajji, Sreesanth and Yuvi play in one team without differences? A crack in the mirror will remain a crack always. IPL that is supposed to unify the teams is doing reverse now!

Tragedy of Cheer Leaders

Cheer leaders! They are in the limelight for the past 2 days. The moral policemen of India have objected to the “cheering activity” of these cheer leaders – a new concept, a leaf taken out from the book of American Basketball!

Cheer-leaders means, skinny girls in skimpy outfits, express their cheer or motivate the crowd by dancing in front of them whenever a wicket is fallen or a boundary or a six is scored irrespective of the team does it. It is to be believed that they are cheering up the otherwise boring crowd!

Now, the Indian politicians or the so-called moral policemen of our society have objected to this cheering activity. It is reported that these girls are imported from US for adding spice to this popular form of game. The sports have become a business and all is fair in war, love and business.

The politicians object to the dance saying the dress is not good (or the same is missing) and the way they dance is vulgar. Some went to the extent of making a remark that they are dancing worse than the bar-dancers.

• I want to ask these moral policemen whether they had ever seen bar-dancers performing that they are being compared.
• If yes, why these moral policemen have to go to bar if they felt the activity is unethical?
• If no, how can they make a statement?

What is wrong with bar-girls? Are they doing anything different from the so-called elite actresses are doing? Why did not these men object to Mallika Sherawat, who, on the eve of New Year wore a dress that revealed more rather than covered? In fact that dress was more provocative than the skimpy skirts these cheer leaders wear! Why don’t these moral policemen object to the cine-stars who literally strip down in the song sequences of movies where they gyrating their hips & do pelvic thrusts in a vulgar manner? Invariably all movie award shows, these actresses dance in more vulgar way than this. Why don’t they object it? Mr. Sinha who is from the film fraternity did not object to these. Why?

One of the politicians showed patriotism in his objection. He questioned, “If they were to make girls dance, why did they bring them from US, why not our bar-girls be given a chance?” One is not clear whether these politicians want this dance show or they do not want Americans dancing (the kick in desi-stuff is unique, of course!)

Cricket is too popular in India and it does not require such gimmicks to woo the crowds, however, if this brings in change of mood to players and viewers let it continue. One has to take care of the camera angle (at times they are dangerous and seems intended) otherwise it is not vulgar. If cheer-leaders are to be banned, then Indian cinemas should be banned first.

My dear politicians, there is no dearth of sincere issues in India that is concerned with the welfare of Indians. Why don’t you concentrate on them? That will do a world of good to you, your party, the country etc., Why waste your energy on such trivial issues?

Overdose of Eulogy?

In all fairness, one has to agree that it needs guts to meet a murderer (or a conspirator) that too if the murderer has taken the life of your blood-relation. In that way, hats-off to the guts shown by Priyanka Vadra. However, what I fail to understand the eulogy praised by the media on her.

It seems that the media has gone overboard in claiming, “she wanted to meet with them as she wanted peace (none knows whether had she give her the peace of mind); height of compassion (as they sought mercy in changing the capital punishment to life term); the sacrifices(?) of the family to the nation….”

I may sound cynical but all I want you to just consider my view points:

• If the visit is personal, why can’t they stop the media (they can if they wanted) from airing all these nonsense reports.
• Even if one purchased the argument that an over-enthusiastic lawyer filed a RTI on this regard and hence it leaked. With the political gimmicks being played around, one is driven to think even the RTI is stage-managed by themselves.
• Given the timing (with elections around), is the party trying to corner sympathy?
• If the family wanted peace of mind, why they had not met even a single Sikh family of the numerous families who were literally burnt alive in Delhi when their father was made the PM and the media (run by the Govt) thoroughly blacked out the happenings?
• Why the family thought it is necessary to meet the family of the soldiers who had lost their lives in the IPKF deputed to Sri Lanka (that resulted in their fathers’ murder too)?
• Why Priyanka Vadra felt it is not necessary to meet the soldiers’ family who lost their lives saving the so-called leaders of Indian when they were assembled in the Parliament?
  
  

I fully agree that it requires enormous guts to digest the sudden loss that too in a ghastly manner and to meet the very same person who were the reason behind it. My question is why to make it so obvious and still claim it is personal?

My cynical mind also thinks that they sought the life term for Nalini because they wanted to keep this issue alive as it would reap them some sympathy? This may sound weird but one cannot rule out such possibilities given the nature of Indian politicians.

My anger is what happened to the media? Why do they do so without even giving it a thought? In the rush of covering an issue fastest, they allow the reasoning to fly in air. Cover the news but do not thrust your opinion. The reports went on eulogizing their sacrifices (which in reality is not a sacrifice at all) and it brought me the memories of Late Mr HKL Bhagat, the then information & broadcasting minister who kept on airing the life of Indira Gandhi and kept mum on the burning lives of Sikh families.

When will the Indian media learn to behave? When will they shun the sensationalism? When will they start acting in responsive manner? God Knows!

United States of India?

As a daily routine, I peeled off the top layer in my daily calendar indicating that one more day has gone in 2008. “We are progressing towards future” – Perhaps, this is what one is supposed to think while doing this act. However, the news that flashed in the newspaper column makes one worry as it brought a worse feel of déjà vu.

The lawyers of Maharashtra had submitted a petition demanding that judges from other states should not be transferred to their state.

What is happening to India? The Eurpoean countries have formed a union and also have a common currency among them. The globe is shrinking to the size of the ball, courtesy, advanced technology and broad-mindedness among the people and their understandings. We, boasting ourselves as a sub-continent, claiming Unity-in-Diversity, keep ourselves dividing on the base of religion, region, caste and creed? Where are we heading to?

I, still, could not understand what they mean by this submission. They maintain that proper justice is not being made. What has justice to do with language? I simply cannot digest such news at all. At the outset, such petitions should be rejected in outright manner and should not be encouraged in future.

One can understand such gimmicks being played by the politicians but lawyers? They are supposed to be educated or learned ones. If law-makers have such attitude, what shall we expect from them in future? It is unfortunate that most of the law students aspiring a career in politics rather than in the judicial arena.

History makes it clear that Indians can never be united as every one of them is plagued by the disease EGO. EGO is nothing but Edging God Out of oneself. This is not understood by us despite the fact that India gives birth to the most successful spiritual leaders of the world. Courtesy, British, we were politically united and they were intelligent enough not to compartmentalize ourselves on the basis of languages.

It was the idea of the so-called learned men of India under the leadership of Mr. JM Nehru, our country is divided on the basis of languages. He was black-mailed by the fast unto death by Potti Sriramulu, who wanted a separate state for Telugu speaking Indians. That was the time; Mr. Annadurai demanded a separate country for Tamils.

Now, we are facing the repercussions for this deed. People are not ready to share water, resources and now it has come down to sharing of people also. We are not Indians but we are Maharashtrians, Biharis, Gujjus, Tamils, Kannadigas. We have already isolated our north-eastern states from the mainstream by such activities only. Now this has spread into all states.

Those who aspire a career in politics could not find a noble cause but such sensational issues and are hell-bent in dividing the country. The basic reason – we did not have a link language among us. We accept English a foreign language but are not ready to accept Hindi as our national language and politics is made out of this.

We do not see Indians in our brethren but their region. No longer the Pledge of the country is recited in schools where we claim, “All Indians are my brothers and sisters” The learned have no time to concentrate on such issues and the illiterate has nothing to lose in this. So, the scoundrels (read politicians) have started to divide our country as everyone of them want to rule a place even if it is a small one.

It is no longer the Republic of India but divided States of India.

At the cost of Cricket

You may call it a prejudice or a mental-block however, this is true that nowadays whenever I watch cricket games being played, I get a worse feel of watching a well enacted drama.

There is no space for talent any longer. In the name of “Playing to your strengths” blatant cheating is stage-managed in the form of cricket. Slowly the charm of cricket, its talent is being lost. Surprisingly, we give an excuse to every wrong activity we do.

As soon as we were bundled out for less than a hundred in the first innings of Ahmedabad Test, messages were passed onto Khanpur curator as to make a spin-friendly pitch. Then, the selection of the team emphasized the fact that the match will played on a spin-turf.

As I mentioned in my earlier blog, India had won this Test match and the series is leveled. It was a nice illustration for a “win-win” theory. Both the teams won and they ensured that their share of money is not lost in the business. The ICC is now turning a blind-eye to all the activities going on here?

In what way preparing a pitch that suits the local team is different from match-fixing? The act of MS Dhoni, the stand-in captain, after the win, leads to many unanswered questions. He has paid a cash reward of Rs10,000/- to the curator for facilitating a win for India.

Does this not commit to bribing a curator? What precedent the future captain is setting. Will not all the curators follow suit and blunt the talents of young cricketers in India. Mr. Ajit Wadekar did this a decade ago and we lost good batsmen in Vinod Kambli who was conditioned to play in such a worst conditions.

The ball never raises above knee level, it is too slow that one can have a tea and go for strokes, the pitch would crack and turning is too effective. India have lost a handful of matches on such pitches to sub-standard spinners from South Africa and England let alone facing Murali or Saqlain or Mushtaq.

We can give excuses that this money is a contribution from every player and I am sure that BCCI would compensate in multiples this amount to players. If they are ready to contribute the curator here, had they penalized the curator of Chepauk pitch that traditionally used to be spin-friendly pitch?

One can understand a tip being paid. However, if the amount of the tip is more than the substantial amount, it needs to be answered. Will BCCI, MSDhoni take pain in answering this question as this act would lead to blunting the talents of upcoming Indian cricketers.

My Words - Your Meaning

Many a times, I used to wonder. Why in the earth I need to blog? What is blog per se? Should we say web-logging? If so, what is it? What am I supposed to log- my daily activities, routines, or my personal issues, musings, my opinions, scribbles? What should I log? If the matter is unimportant, why I should log them in a web-page? Why can’t I do this in my personal diary? Why I want my personal diary to be an open-book?

Perhaps, I am doing this (blogging) because my ego wants to identify those who appreciate my views, those who accept my points and those who are like-minded spread around the globe. If that were not the case, one will not find the numerous war-of-words in the name of comments in the comment column. My ego is getting satisfied when I see that my blog is viewed by more numbers or whenever my blog receives more comments. Perhaps, I want more people to see my blogs. It is irrespective I address to mass or class! Whether they understand what I meant or not!

Communication is such a powerful tool that it has shrunk the entire globe to a size of a ball. One becomes friends without meeting each other. The only identification is their avtar or their blogs. Communication is a vast subject & I am not here to discuss or analyze it. However, communication has some limitations. Interpretation! Whether what I wrote is read in the same wavelength of mine? Do the reader empathize me? Does he ever misinterpret what I meant? What is the role of perception in this sort of communication? Is there a chance that the reader is biased to the author of the blog?

“My words – Your meaning” This seems to be a small phrase but has a very deep meaning to it. Of course, this is coined by none other than Rajneesh of OSHO. The vast subject of communication is simplified in this pretty small phrase.

I claim I am successful in communication whenever the reader reads my blog in the same wavelength of mine. If it does not happen, perhaps I am a loser! Mind it! Perception is more than reality. It is the perception of the reader decides the success of blog (or communication). It is like colorless water (rain) originated from black clouds takes the color wherever it reaches. If it falls on red sand, it becomes reddish, if it falls on sewage it turns black, etc., It is the readers’ perception decision. How I gage the perception makes me a successful blogger.

Another aspect is misinterpretation. India Press Media is notorious for this. For illustration, a small story:

A seer visited Paris, famous for its night-life. A reporter asked the comments of the seer on Paris’s night-clubs. Now the seer is in a fix. He cannot give negative remarks to a place where he is a guest. He cannot comment on the subject which is alien to him. He replied, “Is it? Are there night-clubs present here?” The seer thought he had handled the situation well till he saw the headlines next day. It read, “Are there night clubs in Paris?- Seer’s first question on landing”

Press is notorious for this. Mr. Advani had experienced this when he remarked on Jinnah. When Mr. Advani quoted from what Mr. Jinnah had said in the Parliament, it was misinterpreted as if Mr. Advani is giving a certificate to Mr. Jinnah.

This episode explains two limitations of communication. This is not a communication failure. It is the result of the biased listener. First it is a classic example of misinterpretation. Next is the bias part. Unfortunately, we are taught to listen to people and not to the subject. We never concentrate on the subject being delivered but on the person. If the presenter is your favorite, you would accept even what he said is wrong and vice versa. This plague of favoritism blunts the power of communication.

However, Blog is above these. In blogging, you are not person oriented. All you identify the person is by his blogs or the subject of his blog. Blogs are doing a major task pretty easily – Mass communication. Just by keying in on one screen, I communicate to numerous people spread all over the globe. Whether they accept what I say or contradict is a separate issue, but I reach whom I had never ever imagined.

I got the answer. I do blog because I like it. I communicate to those faceless personnel. My sayings cannot be misinterpreted but can be misunderstood. That is not my problem. There will be no bias as the receivers are unknown to me! I am above such limitations of communication. Happy blogging!

Dont discard the punching bag

The sudden love and affection towards the Marathi Manoos knows no bounds. If the elections are around the corner, one does not even know what are they speaking or demanding. If it was the Chatt pooja in the month of February, it is the turn of reservation for employment. Raj Thackrey has demanded 80% reservation in employment for Marathis in private firms of Maharashtra.

Some suggestions to Raj Thackrey if he feels he is running out of issues for this upcoming election:

• Why Marathis have to work for others (read bow head to others)? All those non-Maharashtrians who are running a firm in Maharashtra has to sell out them to MNS at the rate MNS decides.
• The non-Maharashtrian river Tapti will be blocked and not be allowed to flow inside the state.
• The rivers Godavari and Krishna will not be allowed to flow into other states even if Maharashtra is drowned by its floods.
• Non-Marathis cannot buy any property in Maharashtra.
• Products produced in Maharashtra will not be sold to non-Marathis
• Non-Marathi trains will not be allowed to run through Maharashtra

Imagine Mr. Raj, all these things happen, what will be the status of Maharashtra? Are these things possible? Why have you demanded reservation only in employment? Why not in entrepreneurship? Are Marathis not good entrepreneurs? Can’t they run a firm? Do you want Marathis to be workers all the time? If all the non-Marathi entrepreneurs vacate the land and move out of the state, what will be the status of your state? How would you balance the immediate debacle? Did you ever think of this?

It is my money, my investment. I know how to produce and how to sell? All I have to do is to abide by the rules of India. However, to employ whom in my firm is my sole consent. If I have to make money, I will give importance to meritocracy because I need not cheat people in the name of religion, region or caste.

Imagine what all mentioned here happens, what will happen then? Whom will you blame for any debacle that happens? If you tax, you will be taxing Marathis, for whom you are shedding tears now? Can you run a government without taking tax from Marathis? Mr. Raj, you need a punching bag that needs to be punched often (even if it happens to be a dummy act) that would keep you alive in the politics arena. If you drive them out, your political career will be doomed. So, don’t go overboard or do a over-kill of this issue.

Enough is enough! The world is shrinking to size of a ball and you filthy politicians are trying to create a division among people in the name of religion, region and caste. Shame on you! Stop such cheap tactics. Just brainstorm with your colleagues on how to bring back Maharashtra to the top rank in industrialization. Votes will follow you!

Sensational Slap

Shriya, an upcoming south Indian actress, slapped a youth at Tirumala Tirupati last afternoon. This news had its own share in the Indian TV Channels beamed across all over India. The youth was brutally beaten up by the so-called escorts of the actress in front of the huge crowd gathered around and it was neatly(?) video graphed and beamed on the channels.

Later Shriya told the media that the youth tried to molest her. The youth said, “All I wanted to do is to shake hands with her!” One is not sure who tells the truth but I have some questions pertaining to this incident that bothers my mind repeatedly.

• Is this incident so important to be covered by the so-called news channels?
• How can it be possible for a youth to molest an actress who is surrounded by her escorts?
• In all fairness, the actress should have lodged a compliant with the police and should not have allowed her escorts to beat a man in public. Who gave her this authority of beating someone?
• What was the purpose of the youth’s visit to Tirumala – too see the Lord or Shriya?
• What will he gain if he shook hands with her?
• In what way Shriya has become more important to this youth than the Lord?
• What are the outstanding accomplishments and contributions of Shriya to the society? All that she did is to strip her clothes and gyrate her hips in front of a camera for the sake of money?
• When will we, the Indians, realize that celebrities are also ordinary human beings and there is no special feature in their organs nor they do have any special organs?

I am aware I will not get answers to such questions. It is a pity that even most of the educated lots behave in this manner whenever they come across a celebrity particularly female celebrity. We can say we are progressed only when we stop reacting in such fashions.

Gods of Modern Days

The most scintillating news since last evening is the proposed “privilege motion” by our Rajya Sabha MP on a “glorified driver” of an aircraft. While there is not dearth of issues in our country that needs to be debated and discussed in our Parliament, I fail to understand why should we waste the tax payers’ money in discussing such issues that is caused by ego-clash between two persons?

The story is more popular than our epics by now. The MP was asked to alight from the flight he was supposed to travel because he came late. The MP did so but not before creating a scene and when he got down he explicitly told the public that he is not ordinary man and his powers will be demonstrated as to teach a lesson for those who stick to their guns in terms of duty and not obliging politicians – self-calimed-Gods!

There are versions of stories told in this episode. One says the pilot summoned the airport manager and the other says MP took him to the flight. The MP waiting for the delayed air-craft decided to take revenge on the same by delaying to board the flight despite getting the boarding pass for the same. When he was refused, his ego hurt him and he behaved in the usual manner our parliamentarians are notorious for. He barged into the cockpit, abused, and coined a new name for pilots – “glorified driver”. If we have to buy the argument that the MP took the airport manager, then this is because he wanted to display his strength by garnering people with him and force the pilot.

• Had he taken the boarding pass well on time, why then he delayed to board the flight? – Did he want to teach the Pilot to wait because the MP waited for long?
• Does not the MP know that if he had availed the boarding pass, he should own the responsibility of keeping the track of flight and enter as to avoid unnecessary security agonies?
• Does not the MP own a responsibility not to delay the flight further from his part?
• Would MP have allowed the flight to wait if a common man delayed to board the flight (due to the traffic jam created by his political brethren)?
• If a pilot is a glorified driver then what is he – a representative, self-glorified servant?
  

The MP is a rich person and all the party needs his support. He is from a minority group that gives him a special status. He owned a Satellite Channel that was a mouthpiece of CPM. When his nomination was questioned (stating him as an NRI), those seasoned politicians were silenced and all of us knew that is because he had all the powers – money, channel on his side.

These had made him to behave so. He thinks that he is above everything because he is an MP who can flex muscles with politicians. If he thinks that he is privileged, are the citizens of India under-privileged? It is a fact that the politicians think that they are above law and they can get away with anything.

Such things will continue until we develop a system of accountability for these representatives. The tax payers’ money is wasted and they do not gather and discuss important issues that can do a world of good to our country. A leader is supposed to lead by example. Alas! One should be an idiot to expect such qualities from the present day leaders of India.