Still in awe of the 1st 3D movie experience of my life ( if I disregard the sorry attempt of Appu Ghar way back in time ). Saw AVATAR yesterday and immensely liked it. Do not know whether it was Cameroon or his avatar, but whoever it was who spent all these years making the epic ( remember Titanic came out when we were still experiencing our teen infatuations )did not waster the time.
Many people have already talked about the movie in detail e.g. David Edelstein so I will not go into the technological wonder or the simplicity of the plot but will just touch upon the couple of things which struck me instantly.
The first of course being the fact that there is no limit to a human being's imagination. Left to dream without boundaries a human mind can conjure up limitless possibilities which can manifest themselves in fantasies as exemplified by Pandora. I really wonder why was it referred to as "a hell"! A land with floating mountains, synaptic trees, mystical creatures ( with surprisingly mundane tendencies though ), chiseled inhabitants with magical powers etc. cannot be a hell.
The other thing which came through was the emphasis on the purity of the pagan thinking - the balance of energy, the strength of heart, the purity of purpose all pointed to the times when man had not evolved a lot in his thinking but was probably more in touch with the ecological balance. Do science and progress always induce conflict? Does paganism always imply backwardness? These are questions which do not have easy answers.
Man, can destroy a perfectly good thing working :-)though if he / she puts their mind to it man can also achieve remarkable things.
Did anyone wonder as to why the animals in Pandora serve the same purpose as they do on Earth - the big dogs bite, the many legged horses are used as cavalry, the big birds fly, the big elephants charge etc.? And what would I give to have a body like that of a Nevi - leaving aside the tail bit, though.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Deal Struck?
Have not been able to get into the details of the Copenhagen accord yet but going by what I have heard in the various medias the deal seems to be a beginning hopefully towards bigger and concrete actions.
This is definitely positive as I do believe that finding a solution which is mutually agreeable for 191 countries is a daunting task and the usual methodologies will not work. Hence, probably non-binding targets based on voluntary decisions on the premise of equitable distribution of responsibility is probably the right way to proceed. As you would gather I am a proponent of individual action so the thinking seems pragmatic to me but I still wonder whether it will achieve what we all want by the time we want it.
Will have to read the text from Copenhagen in detail to understand it better
This is definitely positive as I do believe that finding a solution which is mutually agreeable for 191 countries is a daunting task and the usual methodologies will not work. Hence, probably non-binding targets based on voluntary decisions on the premise of equitable distribution of responsibility is probably the right way to proceed. As you would gather I am a proponent of individual action so the thinking seems pragmatic to me but I still wonder whether it will achieve what we all want by the time we want it.
Will have to read the text from Copenhagen in detail to understand it better
Friday, December 4, 2009
It's not so clear or is it?
The more we come close to Hopenhagen the debate around climate change becomes shriller. There is debate which is good however to question the basis of the problem is according to me taking a short sighted view of the situation. For obvious reasons all the "doctored" data about climate change studies is coming out just before the conference but what each one has to think is that there are certain facts which cannot be doctored -
1. Centuries old glaciers are melting
2. Weather patterns are showing increasing amount of unrest
3. The weight we put on our meager resources is increasing
4. Forest covers are decreasing
5. There is an ozone hole
6. Water level in our water bodies is rising etc.
Now yes we can claim that climate over time does change and it is a natural process but is the pace at which the change is occurring consistent with the natural process? I am not a scientist and neither have I done a detailed research on this topic but as a thinking human I do believe that to ignore the problem will be at our own peril. I am optimistic and I do believe that we have not yet reached the point of no return but to continue with our way of life without regard for our environment is a sure recipe for disaster.
The conference itself is going to be a very tough discussion. The bottom line is that we stand where we are because of the past "sins" committed by the developed world. Not that the developing world has not contributed to the mess but the percentage of "blame" would be higher on the developed world. The good thing is that everybody recognizes that we have a problem but finding a solution will be tough unless all look to the future and think what each one can do to make the situation better. China and India have led the way by announcing unilateral cuts in emission targets but it is understandable that growing countries cannot accept legally binding levels which impact their intention to develop and provide better quality of life to their citizens. It is also understandable that in a difficult economic environment where the developed world is finding it difficult to sustain their own high standards of living they are balking at funding the clean development of other countries. But maybe the solution lies somewhere in the middle of these two extreme stands and in acknowledging the fact that unless a solution is reached the impact of environmental disaster would be for all to suffer and not just the developed or the developing world. The stage is set for some of the leaders to become world leaders if they can break out of their set ideas and parochial views and come up with innovative solutions but I am sure it will not be easy. Maybe an approach could be that since carbon emissions is such a contentious issue the discussions could avoid the topic altogether and try to address the problem in a different way e.g. not have binding emission targets but encourage countries to achieve locally defined goals by facilitating easy loans from IMF, World Bank for the achievers, concessions in trade etc.
I do believe that the cause is altruistic however for it to succeed at the geopolitic level it has to be linked to economics in some way or the other. "Market will decide" is the adage which cannot be applied to addressing climate change but a judicious mix of market initiatives, policy initiatives and human will could just do the trick. In the end however it still remains an individual choice and whatever the leaders might decide if each individual can make small changes in his/her outlook and way of life there can be an enormous impact.
Maybe we all need to have our own Hopenhagen!
1. Centuries old glaciers are melting
2. Weather patterns are showing increasing amount of unrest
3. The weight we put on our meager resources is increasing
4. Forest covers are decreasing
5. There is an ozone hole
6. Water level in our water bodies is rising etc.
Now yes we can claim that climate over time does change and it is a natural process but is the pace at which the change is occurring consistent with the natural process? I am not a scientist and neither have I done a detailed research on this topic but as a thinking human I do believe that to ignore the problem will be at our own peril. I am optimistic and I do believe that we have not yet reached the point of no return but to continue with our way of life without regard for our environment is a sure recipe for disaster.
The conference itself is going to be a very tough discussion. The bottom line is that we stand where we are because of the past "sins" committed by the developed world. Not that the developing world has not contributed to the mess but the percentage of "blame" would be higher on the developed world. The good thing is that everybody recognizes that we have a problem but finding a solution will be tough unless all look to the future and think what each one can do to make the situation better. China and India have led the way by announcing unilateral cuts in emission targets but it is understandable that growing countries cannot accept legally binding levels which impact their intention to develop and provide better quality of life to their citizens. It is also understandable that in a difficult economic environment where the developed world is finding it difficult to sustain their own high standards of living they are balking at funding the clean development of other countries. But maybe the solution lies somewhere in the middle of these two extreme stands and in acknowledging the fact that unless a solution is reached the impact of environmental disaster would be for all to suffer and not just the developed or the developing world. The stage is set for some of the leaders to become world leaders if they can break out of their set ideas and parochial views and come up with innovative solutions but I am sure it will not be easy. Maybe an approach could be that since carbon emissions is such a contentious issue the discussions could avoid the topic altogether and try to address the problem in a different way e.g. not have binding emission targets but encourage countries to achieve locally defined goals by facilitating easy loans from IMF, World Bank for the achievers, concessions in trade etc.
I do believe that the cause is altruistic however for it to succeed at the geopolitic level it has to be linked to economics in some way or the other. "Market will decide" is the adage which cannot be applied to addressing climate change but a judicious mix of market initiatives, policy initiatives and human will could just do the trick. In the end however it still remains an individual choice and whatever the leaders might decide if each individual can make small changes in his/her outlook and way of life there can be an enormous impact.
Maybe we all need to have our own Hopenhagen!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Something to cheer about
Even before the start of Hopenhagen oops...Dispairhagen....oops the Copenhagen climate summit most of the expectations of sane behavior from our world leaders have gone for a toss however the following headline in the daily paper brought a smile to my face -
India’s forest cover rises to 21%
Read the article -
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Client.asp?Daily=TOIBG&showST=true&login=default&pub=TOI&Enter=true&Skin=TOINEW&GZ=T
And you would realize that it is in no ways a rosy situation but in a dim scenario it is good to see at least some light.
India’s forest cover rises to 21%
Read the article -
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Client.asp?Daily=TOIBG&showST=true&login=default&pub=TOI&Enter=true&Skin=TOINEW&GZ=T
And you would realize that it is in no ways a rosy situation but in a dim scenario it is good to see at least some light.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Change - agent? first learn to understand it - Part 3
Being in Bangalore after almost a year gave me a chance to re look at certain things which I didn't pay too much attention to or ignored or took for granted or cribbed about.
This is going to be surprising but I really felt that the traffic situation had changed slightly. Things were as chaotic on the road in terms of following the rules but still traffic seemed to be moving better.
I still found the eateries everywhere but observed that footfalls seemed to be lesser. Though, I did see all of the usual places I haunted, still existing which brought a smile to me. Recession didn't seem to be wreaking a havoc as in some other places and maybe keeping our economy slightly disconnected was not a bad thing after all.
Infrastructure projects showed progress - metro, flyovers, elevated roads etc. were progressing. Actually I was surprised to see the good preparation which had been made to facilitate road usage on the Bellandur junction while the fly over construction goes on.
Still found empty apartments but many apartment projects which were lying vacant showed signs of life. Surprisingly, I didn't see any huge ongoing apartment projects but maybe that was just because I probably didnt venture into areas where the projects were on.
Found people taking time out to look after their health - running, cycling are all in vogue it seems.
Volvo buses were doing well and lots of people including me were using it regularly. Maybe that's helping the traffic.
I saw lot of traction on public-government joint initiatives. People becoming aware, getting involved in activism, taking up responsibility from small things to bigger objectives - my very good friend D as always inspired me by not the usual ability to manage time but also giving an insight into how he is involved in a movement which is trying to make changes at the grass root level.
Last but not the least, I met a BBMP official / clerk who refused "chai / paani" money. A young man who clearly said "I dont need it Sir!". Was gladdened to the bottom of my heart to meet this young man. "Congratulations to you Sir".
The list is longer but I go now to have my "chai / paani" :-)
This is going to be surprising but I really felt that the traffic situation had changed slightly. Things were as chaotic on the road in terms of following the rules but still traffic seemed to be moving better.
I still found the eateries everywhere but observed that footfalls seemed to be lesser. Though, I did see all of the usual places I haunted, still existing which brought a smile to me. Recession didn't seem to be wreaking a havoc as in some other places and maybe keeping our economy slightly disconnected was not a bad thing after all.
Infrastructure projects showed progress - metro, flyovers, elevated roads etc. were progressing. Actually I was surprised to see the good preparation which had been made to facilitate road usage on the Bellandur junction while the fly over construction goes on.
Still found empty apartments but many apartment projects which were lying vacant showed signs of life. Surprisingly, I didn't see any huge ongoing apartment projects but maybe that was just because I probably didnt venture into areas where the projects were on.
Found people taking time out to look after their health - running, cycling are all in vogue it seems.
Volvo buses were doing well and lots of people including me were using it regularly. Maybe that's helping the traffic.
I saw lot of traction on public-government joint initiatives. People becoming aware, getting involved in activism, taking up responsibility from small things to bigger objectives - my very good friend D as always inspired me by not the usual ability to manage time but also giving an insight into how he is involved in a movement which is trying to make changes at the grass root level.
Last but not the least, I met a BBMP official / clerk who refused "chai / paani" money. A young man who clearly said "I dont need it Sir!". Was gladdened to the bottom of my heart to meet this young man. "Congratulations to you Sir".
The list is longer but I go now to have my "chai / paani" :-)
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Change - agent? first learn to understand it - Part 2
Continuing my observations regarding change and its various aspects an important realization which I made was as much as change is difficult to initiate and manage a connected complication of the same is conflict management. Many times good initiatives fails because of inadequate conflict management and resolution plus the tendency of the change initiator to play the role of the change consultant - always occupying the high ground and preaching what should be done.
This realization dawned on me when I spent some quality time with my parents at my ancestral home after a long gap. The daily routine in my house has remained so for years and both my parents strive tirelessly to retain it like that. The only problem is that age is catching up with them and so things which were done easily take double the time and triple the effort. On top of that my mother's dubious health makes simple tasks tiresome. The focus on task completion and the inability to do it in as good a way as it was initially done leads to frustration and ultimately more strife and tension in the house. The end result being that the parents are not happy.
Me, recognizing this, tried my utmost to make them understand that the insistence on this daily routine was ruining their quality of life - water management, plant management, bathing Alex ( pet dog ), cleaning, keeping the big house in order etc. were all things which were secondary to health and peace of mind. This led to more strife and conflict in the house and didn't serve the purpose which I was trying to achieve - ensure happiness of my parents. I left home unsatisfied having failed in my objective but have been thinking of how the could it have been managed better.
I don't have all the answers but some of the things which have dawned on me is that foremost I was naive in believing that i could give happiness to my folks, happiness cant be given, one can facilitate it but ultimately one has to be happy - I can't make someone who is unwilling, happy. Secondly, I was really behaving like a change consultant - a guest - who was making observations, applying management jargons and more interested in proving points rather than explaining the points. The result being I came across as a preacher and not a partner in this endeavor to improve a situation which subsequently led to my folks and I taking opposite sides. Change could possibly be better managed in a cooperative environment.
The thinking is ongoing but at least I have discovered two aspects which I need to keep in mind the next time I am at home. I am also happy that over the past few days of my stay I actually contributed in doing some of the more difficult house chores so that at the bare minimum some of the things could be off their mind for sometime.I also got rid of some the junk in the house. Actually what all I got rid off would be an interesting write too :-)
This realization dawned on me when I spent some quality time with my parents at my ancestral home after a long gap. The daily routine in my house has remained so for years and both my parents strive tirelessly to retain it like that. The only problem is that age is catching up with them and so things which were done easily take double the time and triple the effort. On top of that my mother's dubious health makes simple tasks tiresome. The focus on task completion and the inability to do it in as good a way as it was initially done leads to frustration and ultimately more strife and tension in the house. The end result being that the parents are not happy.
Me, recognizing this, tried my utmost to make them understand that the insistence on this daily routine was ruining their quality of life - water management, plant management, bathing Alex ( pet dog ), cleaning, keeping the big house in order etc. were all things which were secondary to health and peace of mind. This led to more strife and conflict in the house and didn't serve the purpose which I was trying to achieve - ensure happiness of my parents. I left home unsatisfied having failed in my objective but have been thinking of how the could it have been managed better.
I don't have all the answers but some of the things which have dawned on me is that foremost I was naive in believing that i could give happiness to my folks, happiness cant be given, one can facilitate it but ultimately one has to be happy - I can't make someone who is unwilling, happy. Secondly, I was really behaving like a change consultant - a guest - who was making observations, applying management jargons and more interested in proving points rather than explaining the points. The result being I came across as a preacher and not a partner in this endeavor to improve a situation which subsequently led to my folks and I taking opposite sides. Change could possibly be better managed in a cooperative environment.
The thinking is ongoing but at least I have discovered two aspects which I need to keep in mind the next time I am at home. I am also happy that over the past few days of my stay I actually contributed in doing some of the more difficult house chores so that at the bare minimum some of the things could be off their mind for sometime.I also got rid of some the junk in the house. Actually what all I got rid off would be an interesting write too :-)
Change - agent? first learn to understand it - Part 1
My recent visit back home has been a catharsis of sorts. How? well let me share some perspectives over a series of writings all connected to the same theme.
I attended the quarterly meeting of the Lucknow Club where the topic of conversation was Acrobatics of Change. This is a new book written by Mr. Moid Siddiqui and Mr. R.H. Khwaja. I was fascinated by the topic and the fact that older people would be meeting to talk about change. Well, as you would have gathered I was skeptical of this discussion as I am convinced that it is the younger generation which is the harbinger of change and that the older generation is the one which steadfastly opposes it. Mr. Khwaja's speech and the following conversation was much more than what I expected. To get an opportunity to listen first hand to a person who managed change in an organization which employed over 5000 people and led to a transformation of not just a district but a complete national business entity was intriguing. Since my professional job involves encouraging change, managing it and at times initiating and leading it I was able to relate to the conversation and also contribute to it.
It was fascinating for me to get first hand insight into how good governance tends to be a change incubator and how an individual amongst the bureaucracy having the opportunity could break through the logjam and push reforms through. In fact come to think of it in my skepticism I had started overlooking the fact that in a country like India ( this would also hold good for world in general ) over the past many decades in spite of all the failures there have been many positive instances of massive change initiatives which have been successfully managed by the governments of the land.
We the young who are so steeped in the corporate culture and life tend to overlook the fact that change is the permanent aspect of the growth of a country and there are various arms of the establishment / system , a term which is a synonym for stability, which are trying every day to ensure the balance between preventing large scale disruptions and rapid development.
I attended the quarterly meeting of the Lucknow Club where the topic of conversation was Acrobatics of Change. This is a new book written by Mr. Moid Siddiqui and Mr. R.H. Khwaja. I was fascinated by the topic and the fact that older people would be meeting to talk about change. Well, as you would have gathered I was skeptical of this discussion as I am convinced that it is the younger generation which is the harbinger of change and that the older generation is the one which steadfastly opposes it. Mr. Khwaja's speech and the following conversation was much more than what I expected. To get an opportunity to listen first hand to a person who managed change in an organization which employed over 5000 people and led to a transformation of not just a district but a complete national business entity was intriguing. Since my professional job involves encouraging change, managing it and at times initiating and leading it I was able to relate to the conversation and also contribute to it.
It was fascinating for me to get first hand insight into how good governance tends to be a change incubator and how an individual amongst the bureaucracy having the opportunity could break through the logjam and push reforms through. In fact come to think of it in my skepticism I had started overlooking the fact that in a country like India ( this would also hold good for world in general ) over the past many decades in spite of all the failures there have been many positive instances of massive change initiatives which have been successfully managed by the governments of the land.
We the young who are so steeped in the corporate culture and life tend to overlook the fact that change is the permanent aspect of the growth of a country and there are various arms of the establishment / system , a term which is a synonym for stability, which are trying every day to ensure the balance between preventing large scale disruptions and rapid development.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Just by 0.01 Degrees...
Today while going through the daily News I came across this headline -
"Global warming? Avg temp rose just 0.01 Degree F since ’99"
I was shocked to see it, to say the least! The article mentioned that the skeptics are pointing out that since in the last decade the global temperature has increased by just 0.01 Degree F all the doomsday prophecies and the concerns regarding climate change are not really relevant. We as a human race have a control over this problem.
What would convince everyone that we have a problem at hand which could reach catastrophic proportions? Usually one would say a "disaster" would set people thinking but in this case we tend to be so blind to the issues at hand that irregular weather patterns, increased instances of atmospheric turbulence, disappearing ice masses, disappearance of complete species etc. does not register. We still would like to debate and argue about whether "global warming is serious or not".
The other day I was thinking that carbon management is becoming big business and then it stuck me that maybe carbon management was getting more impetus and focus BECAUSE it is becoming big business. I am no leftist and don't claim to be non-materialistic but I found it strange that we as a race need materialistic aspects to attract our attention to something which is intrinsic to our existence.
Our world leaders have convened to discuss the climate problem at the behest of the UN but I was so disappointed to still see the same old rhetoric being repeated and the same games being played - yes the developed world has contributed to the present situation but in the future the developing world is going to make the situation worse as they progress. The solution does not lie in trying to find out who should do/scarifice more or should do/sacrifice less but in working together as ONE to address this beast of a problem. Progress has to be sustainable and the developed world could help the developing world by partnering in this endeavor.
"Global warming? Avg temp rose just 0.01 Degree F since ’99"
I was shocked to see it, to say the least! The article mentioned that the skeptics are pointing out that since in the last decade the global temperature has increased by just 0.01 Degree F all the doomsday prophecies and the concerns regarding climate change are not really relevant. We as a human race have a control over this problem.
What would convince everyone that we have a problem at hand which could reach catastrophic proportions? Usually one would say a "disaster" would set people thinking but in this case we tend to be so blind to the issues at hand that irregular weather patterns, increased instances of atmospheric turbulence, disappearing ice masses, disappearance of complete species etc. does not register. We still would like to debate and argue about whether "global warming is serious or not".
The other day I was thinking that carbon management is becoming big business and then it stuck me that maybe carbon management was getting more impetus and focus BECAUSE it is becoming big business. I am no leftist and don't claim to be non-materialistic but I found it strange that we as a race need materialistic aspects to attract our attention to something which is intrinsic to our existence.
Our world leaders have convened to discuss the climate problem at the behest of the UN but I was so disappointed to still see the same old rhetoric being repeated and the same games being played - yes the developed world has contributed to the present situation but in the future the developing world is going to make the situation worse as they progress. The solution does not lie in trying to find out who should do/scarifice more or should do/sacrifice less but in working together as ONE to address this beast of a problem. Progress has to be sustainable and the developed world could help the developing world by partnering in this endeavor.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Please define the Aam Aadmi or Aurat
The Congress government returned to power with a clear mandate in the last general elections on the Aam Aadmi plank with a promise to work for the greater good of the common Indian and the country as a whole.
Since then all the ministers have been raising the right noises about working for the people or worried about the problems faced by the man on the street etc. but somehow the ground realities are not reflecting the intention ...
1. Fuel prices have increased after the elections.
2. Food prices are at a record high with Tur/Arhar daal being sold for Rs.90 / kgs
3. Interest rates are feared to spike too.
This when most of the rest of the world is facing deflation. The idea everywhere is to stimulate demand but if prices of essential commodities rise to such levels how will people save money to invest on other commodities?
Which Aam Aadmi is this government working for? The budget laid focus on this persona increasing social outlays ( which I don't dispute ) but where is the money coming from? All the plans for economic reforms are still on the back burner though the "Left has been left behind". With rising fiscal deficit we would soon be in the mix of inflation and then how does the government plan to help the common man - by giving out more doles?
Since then all the ministers have been raising the right noises about working for the people or worried about the problems faced by the man on the street etc. but somehow the ground realities are not reflecting the intention ...
1. Fuel prices have increased after the elections.
2. Food prices are at a record high with Tur/Arhar daal being sold for Rs.90 / kgs
3. Interest rates are feared to spike too.
This when most of the rest of the world is facing deflation. The idea everywhere is to stimulate demand but if prices of essential commodities rise to such levels how will people save money to invest on other commodities?
Which Aam Aadmi is this government working for? The budget laid focus on this persona increasing social outlays ( which I don't dispute ) but where is the money coming from? All the plans for economic reforms are still on the back burner though the "Left has been left behind". With rising fiscal deficit we would soon be in the mix of inflation and then how does the government plan to help the common man - by giving out more doles?
Friday, July 10, 2009
Economic Belligerence
Over the past few days if you have been following news coming out of China sample this -
1. 4 Rio Tinto employees arrested on charges of spying in China.
2. China has closed down all mosques in the disturbed areas.
3. China suspended the words democracy, freedom etc. from the TV feeds during the Tiananmen Square anniversary
4. China being asked to support the sanctions against North Korea
and so on...
Reading the above snippets don't you get the impression that China basically does what it decides to do with nobody questioning it. My analysis - this is just because of the economic might of the country.
G8 countries made a statement yesterday that they will push for renewed call for CTBT and ensure that NPT becomes prominent again. I believe it was not so subtle a hint to India the only non NPT nation present at the meeting to get its act together and join the NPT. Without debating whether India should do so or not ( thats for another blog )I can bet that if in place of India it was China which was a non signatory to NPT the world could do nothing about it.
North Korea has been threatening the world with its missile tests, nuclear tests and aggressive posturing towards its neighbors namely Japan and South Korea. Sure it has been slapped with even tougher sanctions but its not widely known that inspite of these sanctions the North Korean economy is still growing - some estimates say by 4%. Ever wondered how is this possible? Ever wondered who is the biggest trade partner of this rogue nation?....China and it is this tacit support which is allowing North Korea to cock a thumb at all. Now the question is why is China able to get away with this? again because of the economic power it has.
In order to fund the 1 Trillion Dollars stimulus package which US has introduced the Treasury has been forced to issue more of the Treasury Bonds. These Bonds have been bought in large numbers by China. Hence if tomorrow China decides to offload these bonds in the world market, US economy could be crippled. In addition, over the years China has emerged as the factory of the world. In such kind of a situation is it a big surprise that everybody looks the other way irrespective of whatever this big nation does?
1. 4 Rio Tinto employees arrested on charges of spying in China.
2. China has closed down all mosques in the disturbed areas.
3. China suspended the words democracy, freedom etc. from the TV feeds during the Tiananmen Square anniversary
4. China being asked to support the sanctions against North Korea
and so on...
Reading the above snippets don't you get the impression that China basically does what it decides to do with nobody questioning it. My analysis - this is just because of the economic might of the country.
G8 countries made a statement yesterday that they will push for renewed call for CTBT and ensure that NPT becomes prominent again. I believe it was not so subtle a hint to India the only non NPT nation present at the meeting to get its act together and join the NPT. Without debating whether India should do so or not ( thats for another blog )I can bet that if in place of India it was China which was a non signatory to NPT the world could do nothing about it.
North Korea has been threatening the world with its missile tests, nuclear tests and aggressive posturing towards its neighbors namely Japan and South Korea. Sure it has been slapped with even tougher sanctions but its not widely known that inspite of these sanctions the North Korean economy is still growing - some estimates say by 4%. Ever wondered how is this possible? Ever wondered who is the biggest trade partner of this rogue nation?....China and it is this tacit support which is allowing North Korea to cock a thumb at all. Now the question is why is China able to get away with this? again because of the economic power it has.
In order to fund the 1 Trillion Dollars stimulus package which US has introduced the Treasury has been forced to issue more of the Treasury Bonds. These Bonds have been bought in large numbers by China. Hence if tomorrow China decides to offload these bonds in the world market, US economy could be crippled. In addition, over the years China has emerged as the factory of the world. In such kind of a situation is it a big surprise that everybody looks the other way irrespective of whatever this big nation does?
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Back to Black
I have an imaginary list of music acts I would give anything to watch. The list looks something like this - Led Zepplin, The Doors, Pink Floyd, AC/DC, Queen, Metallica, Rainbow, Deep Purple, Iron Maiden, Dire Straits, Robbie Williams, Uriah Heep, Rolling Stones, The Beatles and I am trying to get as many ticks on it as possible.
On May 22nd I was able to tick off AC/DC. The legends played the Hockenheimring and believe me they literally played the ring. I dont know how many people were there in actual numbers - the next few days I got to hear figures between 70,000 to 90,000 but one needed to be there to appreciate the scale. For better measure, S and I actually went the previous day to check how the arrangements were proceeding and to our surprise actually saw that outside the Ring people were camping and partying while inside the Ring people were busy as a bee working the long hours to get the show ready. Going the two days helped in getting the right perspective in terms of what goes into preparing a show outdoor specially by a mega band.
AC/DC was supported by The Answer ( a band which impressed ) and Claudia Cane Band ( a band which didn't impress ). We waited for hours for the band to rock but when they did all the wait was worth it. The kind of energy Angus Young brings onto the stage is euphoric. One needs to see it to believe it. The concert began with a whole frigging steam engine coming onto the stage and ended with a 30 minutes guitar solo by Angus half of which he played on top of an elevated platform, erected on a projection ramp which brought him so close to where I was standing that I could almost touch him with fireworks going all around.
Following is the setlist -
1. Rock N' Roll Train
2. Hell Ain't a Bad Place to Be
3. Back in Black
4. Big Jack
5. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
6. Shot Down in Flames
7. Thunderstruck
8. Black Ice
9. The Jack
10. Hells Bells
11. Shoot to Thrill
12. War Machine
13. Dog Eat Dog
14. Anything Goes
15. You Shook Me All Night Long
16. T.N.T.
17. Whole Lotta Rosie
18. Let There Be Rock
19. Encore:
19. Highway to Hell
20. For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)
It was one of those concerts where I knew each and every song. Guess so did lots of others and its one hell of an experience where thousands and thousands of people shout, sing or dance together. The show went straight to being one of the top 3 shows I have ever seen. It has such a profound effect that when I went to see The Eagles a few weeks later I had trouble enjoying the performance as AC/DC had just raised the bar way too high.
On May 22nd I was able to tick off AC/DC. The legends played the Hockenheimring and believe me they literally played the ring. I dont know how many people were there in actual numbers - the next few days I got to hear figures between 70,000 to 90,000 but one needed to be there to appreciate the scale. For better measure, S and I actually went the previous day to check how the arrangements were proceeding and to our surprise actually saw that outside the Ring people were camping and partying while inside the Ring people were busy as a bee working the long hours to get the show ready. Going the two days helped in getting the right perspective in terms of what goes into preparing a show outdoor specially by a mega band.
AC/DC was supported by The Answer ( a band which impressed ) and Claudia Cane Band ( a band which didn't impress ). We waited for hours for the band to rock but when they did all the wait was worth it. The kind of energy Angus Young brings onto the stage is euphoric. One needs to see it to believe it. The concert began with a whole frigging steam engine coming onto the stage and ended with a 30 minutes guitar solo by Angus half of which he played on top of an elevated platform, erected on a projection ramp which brought him so close to where I was standing that I could almost touch him with fireworks going all around.
Following is the setlist -
1. Rock N' Roll Train
2. Hell Ain't a Bad Place to Be
3. Back in Black
4. Big Jack
5. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
6. Shot Down in Flames
7. Thunderstruck
8. Black Ice
9. The Jack
10. Hells Bells
11. Shoot to Thrill
12. War Machine
13. Dog Eat Dog
14. Anything Goes
15. You Shook Me All Night Long
16. T.N.T.
17. Whole Lotta Rosie
18. Let There Be Rock
19. Encore:
19. Highway to Hell
20. For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)
It was one of those concerts where I knew each and every song. Guess so did lots of others and its one hell of an experience where thousands and thousands of people shout, sing or dance together. The show went straight to being one of the top 3 shows I have ever seen. It has such a profound effect that when I went to see The Eagles a few weeks later I had trouble enjoying the performance as AC/DC had just raised the bar way too high.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Ulta Pulta
The other day my tenant told me that he is planning to look out for another apartment as he finds the present rent too high.
That triggered a thought in my head - though I own an apartment I have always stayed in a rented one ( don't ask me why - long story ) and I always used to worry that the landlord will ask me to vacate. Now when I am the landlord I am worried that the tenant would leave.
Ulta..pulta
That triggered a thought in my head - though I own an apartment I have always stayed in a rented one ( don't ask me why - long story ) and I always used to worry that the landlord will ask me to vacate. Now when I am the landlord I am worried that the tenant would leave.
Ulta..pulta
Are we maturing?
This Indian election has been as fascinating as all the others with its usual non-surprises :-
1. Overall the voting percentage was 60% which is good but I am sure majority out of that is from rural areas. So the apathy of the urban voter towards this exercise continues.
2. A horde of parties contesting, celebrating the concept of the largest democracy
3. A large number of independents trying their luck
4. Casts still playing a dominant role etc.
However, one thing which came as a pleasant surprise to me is the projected results in Bihar and Andhra Pradesh. Now before you jump to conclusions that I am happy because I am a supporter of a specific group let me clarify my point. It is projected that in AP, Congress and its allies would do well while in Bihar it is BJP+JD(U) combination which is supposed to do well. Further in TN it is expected that DMK led alliance would not do so badly as initially thought. Why was it a surprise? it is so because all these results show that the electorate are recognizing the good work which is being done by the local governments and they are reaffirming their faith in the present ruling setups. This is a welcome change from the tendency of voting for candidates based on caste or regional lines. In AP for example the incumbent CM comes from a caste which is not a majority but still he is doing well. I am not saying that this concept has disappeared from the Indian elections but I am just hoping that these elections show a small light of hope that we are moving towards issue based politics where the actual credentials of the candidate and the past record counts. Its a long journey though.
1. Overall the voting percentage was 60% which is good but I am sure majority out of that is from rural areas. So the apathy of the urban voter towards this exercise continues.
2. A horde of parties contesting, celebrating the concept of the largest democracy
3. A large number of independents trying their luck
4. Casts still playing a dominant role etc.
However, one thing which came as a pleasant surprise to me is the projected results in Bihar and Andhra Pradesh. Now before you jump to conclusions that I am happy because I am a supporter of a specific group let me clarify my point. It is projected that in AP, Congress and its allies would do well while in Bihar it is BJP+JD(U) combination which is supposed to do well. Further in TN it is expected that DMK led alliance would not do so badly as initially thought. Why was it a surprise? it is so because all these results show that the electorate are recognizing the good work which is being done by the local governments and they are reaffirming their faith in the present ruling setups. This is a welcome change from the tendency of voting for candidates based on caste or regional lines. In AP for example the incumbent CM comes from a caste which is not a majority but still he is doing well. I am not saying that this concept has disappeared from the Indian elections but I am just hoping that these elections show a small light of hope that we are moving towards issue based politics where the actual credentials of the candidate and the past record counts. Its a long journey though.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Have you ever seen this before?
Has anyone seen this thing before? I even loathe to call it an automobile or vehicle. This travesty of something with wheels and engine is known as the Actyon and the contraption is hammered together by a company named as Ssangyong.
I initially thought I had finally seen a Chinese automobile but later figured out that it is a Korean brand. The company was founded in 1954 ( can you believe it?? )
This is what the official company website says -
In 1986, when the SsangYong Group acquisitioned Keohwa Motors specialized in manufacturing jeeps with the brand of Korando, and launched a full-scaled investment in automobile manufacturing. In 1988, it developed a compact 4WD SUV, Korando Family, which was the first SUV manufactured in Korea, opening the era of SUV. Since then it has established its reputation for innovation, leadership, and quality in the SUV field in Korea.
WOW! Are not Hyundai and Kia the other Korean brands which we know of? I mean they are much better known and are really making a concentrated effort to improve their image in the world market with good products, decent quality and after sales service initiatives. Still they are not looked at in the same league as the other manufacturers from Europe or US.
And to top it all up Mercedes Benz has done a strategic investment in Ssongyang. Now coincidentally I saw a SLK and a Actyon standing next to each other. I only have one question to ask - what the hell was Mercedes thinking?
Beauty and the best???
Yeah I know you all would say that I am biased because of the looks of the vehicle but heck I am talking about viewing this thing in the land which makes the "best automobiles" in the world so who can blame me for loathing something which is so ugly to look at.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Very slow
Wondering whats happened to me these days. I have always enjoyed reading and have been a voracious reader for ages but over the past few months I have noticed that my speed is going down.
Its been months and I still am trying to finish Shantaram. Agreed it is a big book but I finished Lord of the Rings in 3 weeks so not completing a book for months is something which I cannot explain. Maybe the changes in life have something to do with this.
By the way, I came across something very interesting yesterday - "Peace causes the biggest cut." So true isn't it? We all know war does not achieve anything but do we also know that peace could cause "cuts" too? Found it to be thought provoking.
Over the weekend bought couple of new books though. Will let you all know when I get to them.
Its been months and I still am trying to finish Shantaram. Agreed it is a big book but I finished Lord of the Rings in 3 weeks so not completing a book for months is something which I cannot explain. Maybe the changes in life have something to do with this.
By the way, I came across something very interesting yesterday - "Peace causes the biggest cut." So true isn't it? We all know war does not achieve anything but do we also know that peace could cause "cuts" too? Found it to be thought provoking.
Over the weekend bought couple of new books though. Will let you all know when I get to them.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
The most efficient concert yet?
Last weekend I had the privilege to drive over to Saarbrucken and see one of the legends of our time perform. Considering that I drove for around 130 kms after running for 15 kms with uphill stretches it can be safely assumed that I was really looking forward to the concert.
The show started dot at 8:00 pm and ended dot at 10:00 pm. the artist arrived ontime, played efficiently, focused entirely on his performance, didnt feel the need to unnecessarily try to connect to the audience by talking to them or talking about the beautiful spring weather etc., left exactly ontime and despite the full house clapping for an encroe didnt return. Guess the artist's name....
Guesss....
Guesss.....
Guesss....
Guesss....
you are right, Bob Dylan!
So yeah the concert was ok...I have seen better but the opportunity to see him perform was something which I couldn't let go.
The setlist -
1. Gotta Serve Somebody (Bob on keyboard)
2. Lay, Lady, Lay (Bob on guitar)
3. The Levee's Gonna Break (Bob on keyboard)
4. Every Grain Of Sand (Bob on keyboard)
5. Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum (Bob on keyboard)
6. Beyond The Horizon (Bob on keyboard)
7. Honest With Me (Bob on keyboard)
8. Sugar Baby (Bob on keyboard)
9. Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again
(Bob on keyboard)
10. Po' Boy (Bob on keyboard)
11. Summer Days (Bob on keyboard)
12. I Believe In You (Bob on keyboard)
13. Highway 61 Revisited (Bob on keyboard)
14. Like A Rolling Stone (Bob on keyboard)
15. All Along The Watchtower (Bob on keyboard)
16. Spirit On The Water (Bob on keyboard)
17. Blowin' In The Wind (Bob on keyboard)
In the end I do think it is probably the most efficient concert I have seen to date.
The T-shirt was nice though!
The show started dot at 8:00 pm and ended dot at 10:00 pm. the artist arrived ontime, played efficiently, focused entirely on his performance, didnt feel the need to unnecessarily try to connect to the audience by talking to them or talking about the beautiful spring weather etc., left exactly ontime and despite the full house clapping for an encroe didnt return. Guess the artist's name....
Guesss....
Guesss.....
Guesss....
Guesss....
you are right, Bob Dylan!
So yeah the concert was ok...I have seen better but the opportunity to see him perform was something which I couldn't let go.
The setlist -
1. Gotta Serve Somebody (Bob on keyboard)
2. Lay, Lady, Lay (Bob on guitar)
3. The Levee's Gonna Break (Bob on keyboard)
4. Every Grain Of Sand (Bob on keyboard)
5. Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum (Bob on keyboard)
6. Beyond The Horizon (Bob on keyboard)
7. Honest With Me (Bob on keyboard)
8. Sugar Baby (Bob on keyboard)
9. Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again
(Bob on keyboard)
10. Po' Boy (Bob on keyboard)
11. Summer Days (Bob on keyboard)
12. I Believe In You (Bob on keyboard)
13. Highway 61 Revisited (Bob on keyboard)
14. Like A Rolling Stone (Bob on keyboard)
15. All Along The Watchtower (Bob on keyboard)
16. Spirit On The Water (Bob on keyboard)
17. Blowin' In The Wind (Bob on keyboard)
In the end I do think it is probably the most efficient concert I have seen to date.
The T-shirt was nice though!
Monday, March 23, 2009
Slumdog - sure, but why?
So yesterday I saw Slumdog Millionaire again - twice over the last two weekends but still the questions which elude answers remain - "why did the movie become such a big sensation?" "what's so different from any other usual Bollywood movie?". I watched the movie the second time mainly to try to see if I missed something the first time but unfortunately I am still clueless.
All my western friends love it and I also find the film an interesting one just that I can't seem to figure out why any other similar movie was not even nominated let alone win the big prize.
Rahman won the Oscar for the musical score as well as "Jai Ho" which is great news for him. I do believe he really deserves the accolades but again I felt he has provided much better scores which were not acknowledged earlier so what was so special about this piece of work from the master?
Maybe as is mentioned in the movie towards the end -
D. It is written
All my western friends love it and I also find the film an interesting one just that I can't seem to figure out why any other similar movie was not even nominated let alone win the big prize.
Rahman won the Oscar for the musical score as well as "Jai Ho" which is great news for him. I do believe he really deserves the accolades but again I felt he has provided much better scores which were not acknowledged earlier so what was so special about this piece of work from the master?
Maybe as is mentioned in the movie towards the end -
D. It is written
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Allowed to Drive!
After my board exams the most I have studied is for the driving tests which I cleared in February.
For the past few weeks before the 19.02 - both Sats and I - would be talking only about the driving rules. We had resorted to using sign language to communicate with each other so that we get used to paying attention to signs. Spending quality time meant sitting together and doing the mock tests - we had a package of 60 odd test papers and we each of us did each paper around 2-3 times. The people who had given the test earlier had convinced us that the actual questions are from these papers so we tried to mug 1800 odd questions and of course it was a Herculean task, phew!!
We also found the following website very useful link
For a driving license in Germany one needs to pass a written test and then clear a driving test. We cleared the written test on the 19.02 and then the driving test on the 27.02. The driving inspector told me that he is giving me the license but "I am a fast driver. Do be careful". Whatever! for a person who got his driving license home delivered in India without appearing for a test to clear the strict procedures in place in Europe on the first attempt is a big achievement :-P.
Now I look forward to the delivery of my car!
For the past few weeks before the 19.02 - both Sats and I - would be talking only about the driving rules. We had resorted to using sign language to communicate with each other so that we get used to paying attention to signs. Spending quality time meant sitting together and doing the mock tests - we had a package of 60 odd test papers and we each of us did each paper around 2-3 times. The people who had given the test earlier had convinced us that the actual questions are from these papers so we tried to mug 1800 odd questions and of course it was a Herculean task, phew!!
We also found the following website very useful link
For a driving license in Germany one needs to pass a written test and then clear a driving test. We cleared the written test on the 19.02 and then the driving test on the 27.02. The driving inspector told me that he is giving me the license but "I am a fast driver. Do be careful". Whatever! for a person who got his driving license home delivered in India without appearing for a test to clear the strict procedures in place in Europe on the first attempt is a big achievement :-P.
Now I look forward to the delivery of my car!
Friday, February 13, 2009
Coffee on Demand
We bought a Braun Tassimo coffee machine last week. This is how it looks
and this is what the official site has to say about the machine -
With the TASSIMO machine and the TASSIMO Discs you can make the hot drink you want, when you want it. No fuss. No bother. It's truly amazing. The same machine that makes a real espresso and freshly brewed filter coffee from some of your favorite U.S. and European brands, also makes real milk-based latte & cappuccino, cafe crema, tea, hot chocolate - something for everyone. Each cup is freshly brewed to celebrate its true character and gives you the taste you love, every time. Tassimo lets you enjoy a cup of exactly what you want, right now. Simply insert your choice of T-DISC, select the right cup for your drink and press the button. In about a minute you'll savor an exquisite cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate. You can brew your next delicious cup right away, knowing it will be as fresh and delightful as the one before it. No mess, no grounds and no waiting. Just pure pleasure, one cup at a time.
I was impressed by the size of the whole setup since it is very compact but to be very frank with you I was more impressed with the price. Though the new machine is available for I think around 130 bucks, a person in office( God bless him )was offering it for 35 and it was only half a year old. Since we really wanted to have a coffee machine but not spend too much on it we decided to go ahead with it.
On putting the contraption to test we found the whole thing very easy to use. A jar fitted to the machine was to be filled up with tap water and then we needed to put something known as a coffee disc which looks like this
into the top of the device and press the button to get the latte. That simple! The discs are usually sold in a package like this
and this is how our latte looked like in the end
Now we can offer a host of drinks to anyone visiting our house - Vodka, Wine - Red and White, Sekt, Gluwine, Rumm, Bailey's, Campari, Beer, Indian tea, Europent tea, South Indian filter coffee, Latte Macchiato, Cappucino, Konning, Cafe Crema - anyways I guess you get the picture. Pretty impressive eh? I am the designated coffee maker in the house and I really look forward to "brewing the passion".
So yes its simple, effective and impressive and the only drawback I can think of is the fact that each of these disc packs are at least 4-5 bucks and if one is a heavy coffee drinker one needs to get a packs every couple of days. However, considering we got the machine for 30 bucks and we, as of now, use it sparingly I think its a prudent spend!
So everybody is invited for a nice cup of coffee....
and this is what the official site has to say about the machine -
With the TASSIMO machine and the TASSIMO Discs you can make the hot drink you want, when you want it. No fuss. No bother. It's truly amazing. The same machine that makes a real espresso and freshly brewed filter coffee from some of your favorite U.S. and European brands, also makes real milk-based latte & cappuccino, cafe crema, tea, hot chocolate - something for everyone. Each cup is freshly brewed to celebrate its true character and gives you the taste you love, every time. Tassimo lets you enjoy a cup of exactly what you want, right now. Simply insert your choice of T-DISC, select the right cup for your drink and press the button. In about a minute you'll savor an exquisite cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate. You can brew your next delicious cup right away, knowing it will be as fresh and delightful as the one before it. No mess, no grounds and no waiting. Just pure pleasure, one cup at a time.
I was impressed by the size of the whole setup since it is very compact but to be very frank with you I was more impressed with the price. Though the new machine is available for I think around 130 bucks, a person in office( God bless him )was offering it for 35 and it was only half a year old. Since we really wanted to have a coffee machine but not spend too much on it we decided to go ahead with it.
On putting the contraption to test we found the whole thing very easy to use. A jar fitted to the machine was to be filled up with tap water and then we needed to put something known as a coffee disc which looks like this
into the top of the device and press the button to get the latte. That simple! The discs are usually sold in a package like this
and this is how our latte looked like in the end
Now we can offer a host of drinks to anyone visiting our house - Vodka, Wine - Red and White, Sekt, Gluwine, Rumm, Bailey's, Campari, Beer, Indian tea, Europent tea, South Indian filter coffee, Latte Macchiato, Cappucino, Konning, Cafe Crema - anyways I guess you get the picture. Pretty impressive eh? I am the designated coffee maker in the house and I really look forward to "brewing the passion".
So yes its simple, effective and impressive and the only drawback I can think of is the fact that each of these disc packs are at least 4-5 bucks and if one is a heavy coffee drinker one needs to get a packs every couple of days. However, considering we got the machine for 30 bucks and we, as of now, use it sparingly I think its a prudent spend!
So everybody is invited for a nice cup of coffee....
I am no chicken.... but a penguin?
Most of the first European winter as a resident here has been spent trying to settle in so winter sports opportunities have been limited. However when Sats mentioned that ice skating was possible close by we along with another friend decided to give it a try.
Now I have never done roller skating, roller blading .. in fact the only thing which i have done close to having external medium supporting my feet for enabling motion is to walk using stilts. So of course you can imagine the situation i found myself when i put on the skates - People....skating REALLY HURTS! Both physically as well as emotionally. I could not keep myself up straight on the rink while everyone else including little kids were gracefully moving around me. The other thing I learn't is that it is difficult to keep oneself up on the rink but it is even more difficult to get up once one has fallen. A skating rink is a good teacher, teaching an important lesson - when down be down!
Anyways, swallowing whatever little pride i had left I took help of a "skating assistant" - a wooden figurine of around 3 ft in height in the shape of a penguin with skates as webbed feet and started navigating gingerly the contours of the rink holding its ears :-O. The penguin didn't make me an expert but it helped me in not plonking myself on the ice or bumping into people. By the end of 2 hours I was in a position to slowly walk around without assistance and though I fell around atleast 10 times and had bruises in all sorts of mentionable and non mentionable places I do intend to go back again and make progress without depending on my friend the "penguin".
Now I have never done roller skating, roller blading .. in fact the only thing which i have done close to having external medium supporting my feet for enabling motion is to walk using stilts. So of course you can imagine the situation i found myself when i put on the skates - People....skating REALLY HURTS! Both physically as well as emotionally. I could not keep myself up straight on the rink while everyone else including little kids were gracefully moving around me. The other thing I learn't is that it is difficult to keep oneself up on the rink but it is even more difficult to get up once one has fallen. A skating rink is a good teacher, teaching an important lesson - when down be down!
Anyways, swallowing whatever little pride i had left I took help of a "skating assistant" - a wooden figurine of around 3 ft in height in the shape of a penguin with skates as webbed feet and started navigating gingerly the contours of the rink holding its ears :-O. The penguin didn't make me an expert but it helped me in not plonking myself on the ice or bumping into people. By the end of 2 hours I was in a position to slowly walk around without assistance and though I fell around atleast 10 times and had bruises in all sorts of mentionable and non mentionable places I do intend to go back again and make progress without depending on my friend the "penguin".
Saturday, February 7, 2009
St. Obama - yes we can! can we?
The only English language NEWS channel which comes on TV is CNN and over the past few months I have been a fed a daily diet of Obama to the extent that I have started calling him as St. Obama because he is supposed to set right all the ills of the world by twirling a magic wand. Nobody can blame our American friends of not going the whole hog about something but to expect a man and I emphasize again a man to fix the problems we face today is totally fantastical. Anyways, I dont want to write about Obama and what he means to me or to my friends and how I am tired of listening to him air some similar views as to Bush but being categorized as a "change agent" but what I admire is that he has been able to achieve what he has inspite of his humble beginnings. I also admire that he is so young and dynamic that he has ignited the imagination of people world wide.
What I want to write about is whether we could have a similar churn in our elections which are due for the summer months. I read somewhere that the main challengers for the PM post are Mayawati (:-O), Manmohan Singh and LK Advani. Mayawati is the youngest of the three and she does have humble beginnings but she as a PM would be a disaster because of the fact that the only ideology she believes in is "opportunism" while the other two are aged patriachs who have the experience to lead the nation but probably no energy to take the problems we face head on. The last few elections have shown some new, young and educated leaders breaking out but will the Indian polity allow one of them to come fore? I do believe that in the present times we need fresh, innovative ideas to recharge as Indians. I had really admired Rajiv Gandhi when he became PM as the young face of India but I have a feeling that unless it is Rahul or Priyanka nobody else of the young generation would be acceptable to their parties. Is this a reflection of our polity or our society where we don't seem to trust the younger generation to lead unless they have a Gandhi surname?
What I want to write about is whether we could have a similar churn in our elections which are due for the summer months. I read somewhere that the main challengers for the PM post are Mayawati (:-O), Manmohan Singh and LK Advani. Mayawati is the youngest of the three and she does have humble beginnings but she as a PM would be a disaster because of the fact that the only ideology she believes in is "opportunism" while the other two are aged patriachs who have the experience to lead the nation but probably no energy to take the problems we face head on. The last few elections have shown some new, young and educated leaders breaking out but will the Indian polity allow one of them to come fore? I do believe that in the present times we need fresh, innovative ideas to recharge as Indians. I had really admired Rajiv Gandhi when he became PM as the young face of India but I have a feeling that unless it is Rahul or Priyanka nobody else of the young generation would be acceptable to their parties. Is this a reflection of our polity or our society where we don't seem to trust the younger generation to lead unless they have a Gandhi surname?
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
One cant be serious about this!!
Technological wonders of streaming video enable me to follow the domestic news channels regularly. The morning newspaper on the pot routine has been replaced with the laptop on the pot routine but without getting more graphic I think you get the idea that I am well connected with what is happening back home as well as rest of the world -
So the rest of the world is grappling with the worst ever global depression or actually the first real global depression; with the ever worsening situation in the Gulf, Afghanistan and other hot spots; with a new American president ( topic of my other blog ) trying to put the pieces in place to recover from the mess we all find ourselves in; economic leaders getting together in Davos to take stock of where we stand; pilots landing on frozen rivers etc. what I see on domestic new channels is this nonsense of "moral policing" being played again and again.
Yes, lets accept the fact that our country is a country full of contrasts and contradictions like any other country. Yes we have these idiots who want to control where women should go and where women should not go. This is not just one bunch of idiots but we also have more people who want to control what should be portrayed in our cinemas and what not, people who want to control what should be available as content on our media and what not, people who want to control what should be sold in shops and what not and so on....there is no reasoning to this but if one really tries to analyze why we have so many of these lunatics floating around one could come to the conclusion that like any other society which underwent churn India is going through a "coming of age" syndrome. We as a country are progressing and progressing rapidly but chunks of Indians are being left behind or feel left behind in the change which is enveloping India as a whole. It is from these disgruntled and envious sections of the society the executors of this foolish disruptive and repressive agenda emerge.
Don't get me wrong I am in no way making the case of condoning these loonies by pointing out the social churning but I am questioning the wisdom of focusing on the actions of these few, 24/7 on different news channels. Absolutely ridiculous questions like "Who will protect the respect of our women" form the basis of talk shows and discussions where eminent personalities come and either support or disapprove these actions / questions. Does anyone have the time and the patience to listen to this nonsense? Don't by overplaying these aspects we provide with these people cheap publicity ( which was probably their intention in the 1st place )? Don't we run the risk of making these lunatics appear as heroes to some section of our society encouraging more people to resort to hooliganism?
I really would like to see one hour of positive news one day! Yes we are a nation which sends an exploration mission to moon but can't ensure safety of women who go to a pub. The solution doesn't lie in talking and having talk shows about this but by taking concrete actions in the short term by not giving these people publicity, upholding rule of law etc and in the long term trying to make our progress more pervasive.
So the rest of the world is grappling with the worst ever global depression or actually the first real global depression; with the ever worsening situation in the Gulf, Afghanistan and other hot spots; with a new American president ( topic of my other blog ) trying to put the pieces in place to recover from the mess we all find ourselves in; economic leaders getting together in Davos to take stock of where we stand; pilots landing on frozen rivers etc. what I see on domestic new channels is this nonsense of "moral policing" being played again and again.
Yes, lets accept the fact that our country is a country full of contrasts and contradictions like any other country. Yes we have these idiots who want to control where women should go and where women should not go. This is not just one bunch of idiots but we also have more people who want to control what should be portrayed in our cinemas and what not, people who want to control what should be available as content on our media and what not, people who want to control what should be sold in shops and what not and so on....there is no reasoning to this but if one really tries to analyze why we have so many of these lunatics floating around one could come to the conclusion that like any other society which underwent churn India is going through a "coming of age" syndrome. We as a country are progressing and progressing rapidly but chunks of Indians are being left behind or feel left behind in the change which is enveloping India as a whole. It is from these disgruntled and envious sections of the society the executors of this foolish disruptive and repressive agenda emerge.
Don't get me wrong I am in no way making the case of condoning these loonies by pointing out the social churning but I am questioning the wisdom of focusing on the actions of these few, 24/7 on different news channels. Absolutely ridiculous questions like "Who will protect the respect of our women" form the basis of talk shows and discussions where eminent personalities come and either support or disapprove these actions / questions. Does anyone have the time and the patience to listen to this nonsense? Don't by overplaying these aspects we provide with these people cheap publicity ( which was probably their intention in the 1st place )? Don't we run the risk of making these lunatics appear as heroes to some section of our society encouraging more people to resort to hooliganism?
I really would like to see one hour of positive news one day! Yes we are a nation which sends an exploration mission to moon but can't ensure safety of women who go to a pub. The solution doesn't lie in talking and having talk shows about this but by taking concrete actions in the short term by not giving these people publicity, upholding rule of law etc and in the long term trying to make our progress more pervasive.
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