AAP: Ada Assattu Pasanga Party

It happens only in India - Govinda's infamous song comes to my mind as I see the comedy show AAP. If anything AAP has achieved, it is that they have underlined their stupidity, in-experience and have made sure, no new party can rise to challenge of BJP & Congress for the foreseeable future.

I have expressed previously that I am not a great fan of Gandhi's "adam-pudikkum" non-cooperation movement, even though it helped us to get freedom. It is a bad practice and a bad example for not only kids but also for democracy. Anyway it worked in 19th/20th century, but it is not a valid tool anymore. Today for every other challenge one does a dharna in India. In the absence of an information medium, one man fasting and dharna created ripples, but today you have the instant judge and lightning fast judiciary arms such as 24x7TV, Twitters and FB's. If a message needed to be conveyed and acted up on, it can be made possible. Instead what does AAP do? Dharna!!! I digress...

Modi has been Gujarat's CM since 2001 and has successfully implemented some or other schemes (because the moment Modi's achievements are mentioned, someone will come with a % based statistic to disprove - btw % is one of the most abused measure). Except for a few, most would agree that he has delivered 24x7 electricity, Sabarmati re-furb and a few other schemes... More importantly no riots since 2002;  in addition he has convinced his party across multiple states (Gujarat, Goa, Maharastra, Bihar hmm actually, all of BJP's state functionaries) PM nominee and all these in highly charged hostile, step-motherly environment.

Compare that with this guy AK from AAP; An IIT-ian, and also an ex-IRI fellow. or Compare him with UP's CM...

In spite of the hostile environment, did Modi not participate in democracy? did he not go to all-CMs meeting? (Unlike JJ from TN, Modi never walked off  from the CM's conference or sent a second rank minister) did he not meet our MMS - 'Mutta Mestri' Singh and seek solutions for Gujarat? Even though he received very little help from MMS & Co. He has done something... Has he not? Instead of tearing up the letters from Centre (like our RaGa), Modi always engaged Central government and persevered. Think along these lines, one would see that Modi is a better democrat and a governor.

AAP and AK have taken Gandhi (I mean Mohanchand not Rahul) and applied his idea directly. It is akin to a developer copying code, without realising the context...(I have copied code, but will fully re-modify ;) )... The point is Dharna would take you only that far; Gandhi himself was well aware of its value and hence he went to the round-tables and other participative means to keep the conversation going. Also a less discussed fact that Gandhi was the power centre and he allowed other leaders to join the government, embed the party leaders into governance(even prior to Independence). If AK had truly understood Gandhi (Mohanchand & Sonia), he would have let Yogendra or someone else become the CM and remain as AAP's functioning party leader. Thus he could have kept the movement going (if it was his primary motivation). This guy has gone overboard and will soon lose his sheen, dampen aspirations further.

India needs better governors, not these Asattu pasanga...

Fellow Indians, Cricket and CSK Fans: It's the time to decide!

When news about Sri Srinivasan should have been making us proud, the other Srinivasan is shaming us all over. This blog is an urgent appeal to Indian youth and all, in particular to my fellow CSK fans.

We do not have time as the final is tomorrow and I am requesting you to do something that is going to be against what you all hoped for - Request CSK to NOT play tomorrow but more importantly make sure finals happen between MI vs. RR or MI vs. SRH.

Why? 
1. This is so-called 21st century of India belongs to 65% of Indians who belong to <35 under and most of them would follow IPL. So its time to show whether you like to follow rules and will be against corruption and/or  improbity.

The fight against corruption and malpractices start from you.

What is my logic?
Meyyappan was the CSK Principal till they "erased like a kid at school" the evidences all over the internet and that is an admission of guilt - Nobody can deny this.

I have seen some of my CSK friends post that why not arrest owners of MI/KKR for Vindoos' links, but a wrong cannot correct another wrong. So force the IPL governing body to follow the rules.

If you decide to take cover under technicality and let CSK play the finals - you fail a generation of fight against corruption and malpractices in India. History is watching you.

Finally, even if CSK wins, everyone is going to taint the win and do you need such a win? Instead choose the high road to call it off and to make sure cricket wins, force MI vs. RR or MI vs. SRH - by this option Cricket wins.

So its my plea - force the IPL governing body to change the finals.

Land of Seven Rivers!

I bought a book just 10 days after it was published. It was destined. A friend of mine says to me always: "Books find us..."

It was early morning around 4AM in Bangalore Int'l airport strolling through shops, this book found me. I did not know the author, but one of my dream projects was to publish something like this book. So when I saw the book and an overview of contents, I was surprised and when i read about the author Sanjay Sanyal and his bio, I thought this could be a good work...

The book is Land of the Seven Rivers. I actually prefer to call it by the quote "a brief history of India's geography".

I strongly urge everyone to read this book (especially Indians). In fact I might buy a few copies and gift it to my good friends. I have mentioned in my previous blogs that I had witnessed a type of pogram (anti-Brahminical) at the hands of DK/DMK folks during my childhood and a bit of scarred memories still remain.

It made me resolute, strong and a seeker. The history I hear from my parents and seniors in the family show and shine a valuable, rich and civilized Vedic Bharath, but why do i hear another version in the streets? How do I resolve this?

The dilemma is very simple, if  we were indeed such an advanced civilisation, where is the place for low unethical things that I hear about Indians through DK (such as casteist/un-touchability etc. these are by the way still relevant topics). The point is, this childhood experience nurtured me to dream  a project to research and understand the past in order to clarify this dilemma and write a book that would help others too... This book is not about this, however the author in his research for understanding India's geography has helped me clarify a lot of things. So in a way my dream project has been completed by Sanjay... (I have some more dreams too...)

A lot of nationalistic Indians keep talking about yester-year  fame, technology like pushpak-vimanas (aeroplanes), medicinal advancements like plastic surgery, number systems, astronomy etc. However this book is not about such things and I don't intend to open up whats' in the book, anyway a few titbits:

1. Sanjay has also opened up some important questions about our weaknesses.  e.g. why were ancient Indians not good at Maps? In fact to very this day, we have not been great at mapping our towns (Google is helping us). Do Indians' have a feeling of Nationhood? What do we do with slums?

2. My dad has always talked to me about Sarswati river and evoked a sense of mystery and purpose. Sanjay has done a wonderful and coherent narration, bringing archaeological and Vedic view together. The write-up is simple, not superfluous and that makes it much more powerful.

3. Instead of purely dwelling on history, the importance on geography has been put forward and a first of its kind (to my knowledge)... The book takes swiftly from Vedic period through Alexender, Maurya, Guptas, Cholas, Tuqlaks, Mughals, British, Marathas, Hampi, what not - covering 1000s of years in the lens of geography and in the absence of maps...

4. Do you ever know that Robert Clive did his thanksgiving at Krishna temple after the victory of Plassey and not to a church? After learning World's history, I felt ah, much better we were ruled by British not by other imperial powers... e.g. the Mexican and South american histories make me think that British may have done a few good things...

5. I didn't know that World's 2nd Mosque was built in India in a temple style, and there are so many such small things. He has also brought the South Indian aspects of geograhpy and resolved some of my longstanding questions.

6. Defining and reviewing ancient Indian geography is such a difficult challenge and Sanjay has done a great work - In fact I would compare him to the 'Sanjay' - the Charioteer who gave a live account to the blind kind Dirudrashtra and this Sanjay has definitely taken lot of time and efforts to produce this account to us who are blind about our own history...

Shortcomings:
1. An account of Krishnadeva raya and his rule could have been really helpful, as I remember well from my History and Geography classes about his reign - this is missing

2. He has traveled to a lot of places to write this book, why not take some pictures and add them in? The narration was never a let down, In fact when he writes about the proclamation from Queen Victoria, it was like a climax of a movie and I concur with him that British understood our civilization and hence they chose to  share the proclamation at Allahabad not from Delhi, Kolkatta or Chennai... Hey but my point is he could have added some pictures and drawings to nourish...

3. His question on ancient Indian's not mapping their geography is interesting, In fact it didn't occur to me until he pointed out - we always talk proudly about our ancient knowledge, but mapping was never in the mix - was it? I can see the reasons: If Indians were so good at mapping night skies i.e. astronomy, would they not be interested in mapping earth? I guess the answer is in their approach to life i.e. the civilisation - they were interested in nationhood, but believed in living together - 'vasudeva kutambakam' (a favorite phrase 'world as a family'), hence they may not been that keen to map the earth!

I was thrown into a bad flu on Tuesday, my wife and this book nurtured me back to health... Thanks to Sanjay Sanwal. Now I am going to buy his first book The Indian Rennaisssance. I can see why India will rise after a 1000 year of decline... Indeed there is lesson from this book, Saraswati dried up, what if Cauvery dries up?

NB1: I wish I could make a Sunday prime-time TV show based on this book, may be I will... A good quality graphics with the same narration this could be the best thing that could happen to Indian TVs...

NB2: When I landed in US in 2001, I remember getting a tap on my head from my friend +Manoharan Duraisamy that i see the map and learn to use it - In fact I am very comfortable with maps these days...

NB3: Now I know the reason why UK schools instill the sense of map making for kids right from the very early days of schooling - I wonder if they know the reason consicously or is it just continued as a practise? anyway my little boy draws a lot of maps every day! I am sure he will rule the roost :)

हिन्ढी हमारा राष्ट्रबषा !

Born in Tamilnadu, a part of estwhile Madras presidency turned into Hindi bashers mainly coz' of DMK's politics to manipulate electorate and come to power. In that context, there was an anti-Hindi sentiment and in addition, anti-Brahmanism was all-time high as well. Generally Brahmins were supposed to patronise Sanskrit and for DMK followers they were fighting a twin-cause: against Hindi and Brahmins.

I remembered an incident from an early part of my life - when I was 8 years old or so. My parents always noted that I always played/befriended senior school boys and girls. In this event, I used to move around with a chap - Karthik who was probably 5-6 years elder to me. He was an all-rounder and was looked up to by many. I was one among them. So I wanted to emulate Karthik and apparently convinced my parents to put me in Prathmik class an elementary course to learn Hindi. I spoke to Karthik, however he didn't want me there, coz' I would be bugging him in front of his mates... Anyway, I convinced him and he took me to the same class. Hindi teacher conducted just one single class irrespective of the age group - In fact Steven Harrison recommends that this is actually a better method of imparting education in the happy child. May be in this instance it did a bit more damage to me...

Karthik's classmates started making fun of me and the teacher for some reason always called me Baskar - God knows why! So I decided to call it quits almost nearer to the exams... No it was not the exams, coz' I did well in Hindi... its actually funny that a lot of Tamilians excel in Hindi exams like Prathmik, Praveshika, Rashtrabasha and Pandit - but when you try to converse, they defend to the skies that indeed they are worthy of that Hindi qualification, but not necessarily required to speak in Hindi... in essence they were literate but cannot communicate! Anyway, my Hindi learning stopped right there...

Almost 12-13 years later, a good friend Aarthi Murali knew I had the basic Hindi skills, but had a bit of inhibition when it came to matters of conversation. She kept pressing me and I consistently ducked. One day in a bus commute, she decided on her own that, from that moment on, she would only converse with me in Hindi. She got me by surprise and I was stunned actually... In my own stride, I tried dismissing it in vain... so for a few weeks our विचार - विमर्श were all in Hindi... I coped!

Then a few years later, another good friend Veena almost did the same!! quite unbelievably, she used the same technique (Veena and Aarthi did not know each other)... So my Hindi became functional... quote and quote - functional, I can survive! It was altogether a few weeks of Hindi, then later when I moved out of India, ironically in US, Hindi helped me out!

Today again ironically in UK, after many many years - Hindi has saved me a lot of money! (a good sum I should say)... I am currently converting my loft into a third en-suite-bedroom and a Punjabi contractor who speaks very little English is building it for me! Thanks to Aarthi and Veena... 

PS: don't ask a commission girls ;) (What are friends for...)

Mahathir is Mahawrong!

Sampling the comments for the article, I can very well see people will ignore what Mahathir said. But to emphasize, I wish our people/media reflect more on the positive aspects of Indian growth story and relax. I have often said to my friends that we (Union of India) are just 60 years old... Growth should be natural and democracy should evolve but not forced upon. 

India is like an elephant. An elephant's gestation period is 22 months (!) and goes on to leave for another 60 years. It has a gait similar to running but walks at a pace and can max to 45KM/H. Its proverbial to say "walk before you can run" yet its true! US of A took more than 250 years to where it is today.  I prefer not to emulate the US model of growth too. There should be an Indian way! Look how pathetic we have been in dealing with our North East states? I am ashamed that I did not know about Irom Sharmila until very recently. Look at the way we deal with Mullai Periyar dam? FDI in retail could be a shot in the arm, but in my view its not going to solve the fundamental infrastructure issues. There is no leadership or vision.

I digress, but the point is, let us grow in our own pace and let us ensure we grow together... 

On a different note, I see Venky at his best. I like the way he has constructed this article. Budding journos should learn from this article. Journalism changes too! especially in the web 2.0 media age, this apt for the modern day readers i.e. brings many issues (China Model, Malaysian issues, Indian context, devolved governance and more importantly disagreeing to Mahathir's idea)  through the article and attaches links to it, so a reader can get the crux quickly and browse the underlying articles in leisure. 

Regular Breaker Rahul

I grew up hearing stories about Rahul's dad Rajiv how he wanted to change India and how he is to lead the country into a super-power. However I also heard stories that how he is interested more in technology than in politics and as a matter of fact not interested at all in entering into politics. But the Congress Chamchas' had to have someone with blue-blood to keep their interests secure. So Rajiv was made and sadly missed. Today 'they' understand the nuance that with Power comes more Responsibility (as Spiderman says...). How to be in power and limelight, but shrug responsibilities.

One section of media has a regular section on security breaker Rahul Gandhi. I don't understand what he is doing up there. I am told he strengthens grass roots and he plays wisely. btw why do we always paint politics as a game of chess and a matter of high canniness?

I was quite annoyed about the recent security breaker in UP and a second-class sleeper travel with 10 commandos. I was searching in google for such news in the past two years and actually he has been consistently doing this for the last 2-3 years.

Exam question: If one aspires to be a 'leader' of the nation (he will not be a direct PM but a remote PM), is it actually sensible to belittle your security teams by giving them a run?

What is the purpose of this hide and seek?

What if you actually stumble upon a situation that the 10 commandos around you couldn't help?

Let me analyse it purely from a security perspective:
I am about to play naive and assume that Rahul's intention is to break away from hassles of security and VVIP, that he doesn't fear life - that's easy: Write to the government and break free! No more security, no more news and you go free, wherever you like...

or let us assume that Rahul understands the need for security, but would like to mingle with crowd and understand the grass-root issues: This could also be done by arranging for spot Q&A with very little time for chamchas to massage the news - that is ask the local cong leader on the spot to assemble pockets of people who could be checked by security and allowed to interact, so the 'leader' could understand local issues. - in my defense, he has actually done this a few times where he meets students in locked up auditorium (why a locked up session?) and in Mar 2010 with a very short notice, he arrived at a wedding where the minimum security was given.

Over to Alternate thoughts...
or let us assume Rahul is interested in media-management: Hence break free especially when kids are around or in second class sleeper trains where 10 commandos are with you to protect etc.

or let us assume Rahul is actually dumb and doesn't understand the challenges of security and breaks once in a while. - if this be the case, then can't help an argument.

I can think of a few worthless scenarios, anyway not for today.

In the grand scheme of politics, one can only assume its media-management. Unfortunately the power of media and information is too great, so the alternate scenarios of his stunts come out very well. I can think of only one proverb in tamil 'Puli varadu, Puli varadhu ngra kadai oru naal unmaiyya puli varapohuthu' - (one day the tiger might actually come and get its prey). On a serious note, if he seriously aspires for the future of Indian premiership, this is quite worrisome as these acts highlight his IQ & EQ and what might be in store, if he becomes one.

News in 2030:

• Rahul gives a miss to Cabinet meeting!
  
• Parliament Finds Rahul sitting with Backbenchers
• Today Rahul lands a suprise, dressed as a security guard and standing next to speaker!
• Rahul does it again, his ministers complain to Sonia-Ji...
• Young (just 60+) Rahul's journey to Parliament was a surprise...
• Rahul breaking protocol leaves UN fuming
• Chinese delegation searches Rahul as he travels by world's fastest train (slept under the seat and missed the stop)
  

His chamchas will continue to say, what a rebel he is... Unfortunately gone are those days! (Hopefully, or we will find similar headlines about India)

Jog, Run and Kashmir...

Last week I started getting back to good health. I am on my sixth day of running. I couldn't believe myself as i struggled to run just few hundred yards, indicating my stamina. Today after a bad sinus headache, I decided to lay down for a good sleep. I was cranky after that nap and dull, but i decided not be a broke!

I hit the roads again and today i ran well and i was quite comfortable and completed probably a mile. A shame for regular runners but not for me. I was proud of myself. I overcame my sluggishness and procrastinations! I have been through a tough year mentally and physically. First 3-4 months of 2010 was a lot of flu and then later guests, travel etc. On top, I had my office chores and MBA. A lot to take on. I feel 2010 is almost over; mainly because at office, the plans for next 2-3 have been in progress for a while and it feels 2011 already.

Things have started looking better! My friend just called me over the weekend to say, he might buy his family home near mine which is great news to us. October feels a lot chilly comparatively for this time of an English year and weather. My in-laws are here and its some family time too.

These days not many things bother me, but a few things still do. Especially what i read in the paper (especially political sections). Having said that, Ms. Roy's comments are certainly not welcome. I acknowledge freedom of speech, but everything depends on comments and circumstances. If you drink grape juice in a vineyard, with very little or no doubt, one would say that you are tasting a wine not a grape juice. Same here, if Ms. Roy had aired those comments a few days back or later, or even when there was a lot of chaos (a few weeks back), it would have been okay. Sharing the dias, Ms. Roy shared her thoughts with a separatist. In this circumstance I pronounce her irresponsible and attention-seeker, limelight-grabber etc. She goes on to say that many people in Kashmir say that, yes many in Pakistan say that; however a lot more in India think otherwise. It is not about the number of people. Pakistan, India + Kashmir, Bangladesh share some cultural roots. It is a delicate issue, if you are a responsible journalist, why not do things in-camera with an outcome in mind? Why grab limelight?

Gandhi (I mean Mahatma) just did not talk! He had an action plan and delivered it. I am so frustrated with her as i see this as her trend. She did a similar thing with the naxal problem. She spent a day with them, narrated a dramatic story to the media and poof! Disappeared into ether? What was your value add? what was your contribution? at a time, where media is just momentary in its news and value, I see her sharing the same 'momentary' basics. No strategy, no action, plain talk! If you intend to play just a journalist, then so be it, but if you aspire for Suu Kyi, then play big. Don't just talk and aspire to play big.

Reminds me of a proverb - "Empty vessels make more noise" !!

"He is just a Phenomenon"

Sharad is a great guy, he has some fabulous records under his belt in the domain that he works. He is a regular guy to the office, doesn't crave for attention, at the same instance not a push-over - he fights for what he believes, a cool head and has been a saviour many times in his 13 long year career. He took roles what his team demanded and gave 200% always irrespective of what others said. People around him wondered if he had any emotions at all.

I will pose a scenario; Imagine you give 200% to your team and sweat every bit, yes literally sweat to success, but you have a contemporary in the office who is just a genius and hogs the limelight; still you do your job and give your best - isn't that a great character? One day he was given the top job in the office and he takes that as well with humility and leads through a difficult time. When every thing was going well, (not really well though - results weren't as expected but not poor at the same time) he threw the hat in, but did not quit, and went back to be a soldier and still led from front.

Isn't he a great example for leadership? C'mon imagine if you go through such a shiny career, can you keep cool head and can you be composed in such a way that people wonder if you are a wall or a man? This man is a big big role model for me. Words can't describe this guy, he is just a phenomenon.

I take the occasion today to salute him as he reaches yet another milestone in the office! I am sure you will be interested to know him.

Click here to know more about Sharad

Proceeds of dogs sales, don't bark!

That's a proverb in Tamil; What the old folks mean is if you sell a dog, the cash proceeds don't bark... i.e. you may steal a dog, sell it and no one would know the source of the income... Proverbs seldom turn false. Yesterday i witnessed it. Liquor tycoon Mallya bought Gandhi's personal artifacts in an auction, gifts to Indian government! Gandhi who stood against three things, drinks, deceit, non-veg food would have definitely disliked Mallya buying his artifacts in the auction. He was so anti to drinks and a liquor baron has bought and gifted the items to government but has done so coz' he is Indian. Bull!

I think its one another publicity act... My blog titles that thoughts never belong to one individual and the writer in the article i linked above, has expressed a similar view on this subject. or is it the hundredth monkey phenomenon?

Lifestyle East vs West vs West - are you having fun?

I used to say to my Indian friends that all whites are not whites! (not in a racist sense). Generally in east, any white man is considered English i.e. Brit. This confuses a lot of people who step out for the first time to either US, UK or Europe. Nature has made some differences in the human race, though we all have commonalities. Go east or west, the animalistic behaviour is same... Every one has both Yin-Yang in them.

Last week one of my family friends had been here from US, on an official trip. We met after long time - should be a few years. As it happens the topic turned over to US vs UK vs India. I mentioned in my opening statement about a confusion which people normally have. At a point in my life, I had that too. Fortunately or not, I lived in US for a considerable period of time and i moved to UK. I had this assumption, that whites are whites and continued my lifestyle as i would do in US. Later i understood the people dynamics of UK and things look different to me. I was chasing all along up to that point, then stopped for a brief period, started thinking! - I am a think tank :). I still chase, but do it smartly. That's what UK has done to me and i immensely thank them. Part of journey, some people realise there is a window to world only when the journey is about to end. In my case, I am very happy that i have found the window quite early. This is my earnest attempt to people around the world to stop them and think for a while... Its not about which is better, but about why are we here (in the Planet Earth) and what is better?

The question is, should we as an animal, enjoy as well as earn bread or should we work hard and yearn to enjoy?

In US to be a part of mainstream is a still a dream for many though the country by itself is termed as 'land of immigrants'. Where as UK has worked well in this particular aspect where irrespective of race, the polity is present (remember Yin-Yang is everywhere in UK as well). Having said that, i have observed that if your mind-set blocks you cannot be part of mainstream anywhere in the world, even in your own home turf. Raised in an Indian conservative background, turning into a liberal through experience, I can vouch for Britain's multi-cultural-ism, albeit they work hard to preserve the native culture and traditions as well.

When people talk about the US, they talk about rule of law and freedom of thought as fundamental constitutional cornerstones. How does it apply to a common man is a question one need to answer. Calling itself a secular, democratic and capitalistic country, US questions Obama's religions. Why/How does it matter if he is a half-Muslim? But the largest democracy India has got itself elected a Woman prime minister, president and a president, a prime minister from religious minority... US intervenes in Ports authority and such deals, but calls itself truly capitalistic. On the other hand UK has sold its key energy component to EDF (French), Water, airports etc have also been taken up by non-UK companies. These policies have impact on common man as it gives him price differences and quality of service.

Today people have forgotten some fundamental principles of politics and what it means to be a socialist, a communist, democrat or a conservative...

As i normally do, it would look that I have digressed from the topic of lifestyle. No, there is a subtle and strong link to the principles of governing party and the subjects of that government... coz' 'As the King So the People'. In terms of lifestyle i feel and think that UK has got a few fundamental things pretty much correctly and the US has got those on the wrong end. Especially medical benefits, benefits from national insurance/social security, holidays and lifestyle. (these views are subjective but will turn into objective as you go up the chain of philosophy).

Sometime back in FT i read how George W Bush spends one-fifth of an year in vacation and his subjects take just 3-4% of an year as vacation and in UK it is little tilted, the subjects take 25-30 days an year and the Prime Minister spends 40 days an year. India up to the 1970s followed some key aspects of British culture, now trots a lot on American footsteps... Work hard 5 days and spend the rest 2 days crazy... as things changed in US lifestyle rather work-style, work all 7 days, little family time etc, same followed here, Importantly Indians from software background have started following the trend.

End of the day we have forgotten that our base is from animal and some of the animal instincts take a beating and turns evil into the society and an increase of animal behaviour in the society... It all comes to our mindset, be where ever you are, stop for a moment and think, ask yourself are you having fun and enjoying in planet earth?

Happy Diwali To All

India is most often referred by western world as a package of surprises and puzzles. We have many things that are rich in value which we ourselves don't know. Before i continue further, let me wish all readers a happy and prosperous Diwali. Across India and world people celebrate Diwali day for quite a few reasons. Some call it New Year, some say it as Narak-Asura's demise day and a day for celebration of good winning the evil etc. North of India celebrates Diwali on the New-Moon Day and it's a start new year. For South it's tomorrow or the 14th day of the lunar cycle. Unity in diversity.

Some of Indian festivals have many reasons for celebration, but the common underlying theme is to celebrate and share with others. One such in South of India is observed during the full moon of summer - April and it's referred in our literature as a festival organised by the then Pandya king to revive the economy. What a simple but fantastic lesson for the economic sector today. The literature's notes that he ruled with Madurai as his Capital and the economy was in bad shape; so he came up with ingenious idea of organising a festival during the summer full moon - 'Chithra Purnima'. All newly wed couples were meet in the river bed of Vaigai and spend the evening with all fun & frolic. Obviously newly weds, so would spend a lot money in meeting the demands from their spouses... So a way to channel money out!

Diwali is a time when money rolls literally rolls in India out of all sections of Indian society. If your ignore all the religious reasons, this one reason is indeed a great reason to go out and have fun. I will pick up this thought to another blog one day.

Today it's more of Diwali. I spent this evening with a few friends and we talked about our Diwali celebrations when we were Kids. Traditionally on the day of Diwali, we used to wake up early hours around 2:30 to 3:30 and the whole family would place all the sweets, savouries, new clothes, fireworks and a spicy Diwali medicine called 'Legiyam'. This is a mixture prepared out of different spices and ghee. Since it's festival time, we would obviously eat a lot and will get into gastric related problems. The aforementioned 'legiyam' is a medicinal mixture which will cure the gastric problems. Given that all the sweets and savouries have a lot of sugar, ghee and other saturated fats, you are sure to get a bit of Indigestion at the very minimum.

Anyways once all the items are placed before God, then the parents would smear a bit of oil , turmeric, sandal and kumkum on the family members; When the mother smears the oil, she would say 'ashvthama, balih:, chirnjeevi' - its a way of wishing good health and prosperity to the person who gets smeared. Then the head of family lits the first firework to start the celebration.

Then everyone takes a good oil bath followed by a steamy hot water bath, and a powder from Shika-kai is used to wash the oil and cleanse. After such a steamy bath, we would all get dressed up in new clothes and dash off to burst fireworks and crackers. The whole thing would take an hour or two before starting of firework celebration. So we would get up at 2-3AM. These celebrations include sharing of sweets, playing fireworks together etc. We would see which house has burst the most number of fireworks, by checking the amount of cracked papers and rubbish from fireworks leftovers. We had fireworks such as the 'Train', Lakshmi, Bijili, Elephant, Country, rockets, 100 wallas, 200 wallas, 1000 wallas (these are for the upper middle class), sparklers, chakras, flowerpots and many many types of fireworks. This whole fireworks may bring a lot of noise and air pollution - but a sizable number of families lived coz' of this economic activity.

The celebrations went on for 2-3 days as a matter of fact, even starts a week early. Schools, colleges, parks, where ever people met, they talk about Diwali. Ladies would chat about the silk saris they would have bought, Men talked about the wallets that lost the rupees, still proudly mention the cost spent in fireworks or the special sweets their missus made. Children would talk in lenght about the new type of firework that would have introduced just that year etc etc. For more than a fortnight people talked just Diwali.

In a decade if i read/say this to my son, who is just about to be one year, he would say i am just lying! Coz' if you go in today to a Indian city, people wake up around 7, just crib about oil bath and smear a bit, would have bought sweets the day before, new dresses did not make a conversation - coz' people buy new dresses just for any occasion - a decade back, new dresses were just for a special occasion like Diwali or Pongal. So people take a quick shower with Pantene or 'Head and shoulders' shampoo, dress up, make a big fuss about diet and still have a plate full of sweets and savouries; Switch on TV and watch the shows whole day, do a firework just as a mark of formality. That's it... Call up people on phone and wish (or their ties would be less sought after and may be considered a liberal or a rebel)... Who cares about economics or the reason behind Diwali. So in 10 years down the line, if it becomes much more a Diwali in virtual world i won't be surprised.


Changes are always constant... But i still haven't lost the fun and frolic, even though I am home alone, i have taken enough pains to go out and carry out the celebrations - I wish my type of fun carries over and the next generation shares it as well. So Happy Diwali, Have a safe firework.

What Indians Shun, World takes it forward...

Recently one of my friends pointed a fact that a school in London compulsorily teaches Sanskrit and has published a separate link to clarify the reasons. Just by fanning fervour about using mother-tongue, many dravidian states in India have ousted Sanskrit out of the curriculm. The Indian government in an attempt to appease minorities, in the name of secularism (read pseudo) has long forgotten what the roots of a its society and just concentrates in running the coalition with no clear aims. Many indians who normally accept views when proposed by western world, would they wake up and pick this one as well?

India-Pensive Day!

Phew, a busy month has kept me away from blogging and all other activities... Today is the day 60 years back alien rule of anarchy ended and a self-rule of anarchy started! But nationalism has not gone dry. People still holiday and celebrate with interesting TV shows, new movies and also hoist a flag and self appraise the growth by comparing Pakistan, Bangladesh or appreciating how our IT services shine and how Naryanamurthy's Infosys or Azim Premji's Wipro do etc... Remember months back i blogged that I wouldn't show my pessimism? I still stick to it, trying to wear a brave mask...but my fingers are not able to...

I opened the papers with a deep sense of nationalism to see the tricolour majestically fluttering, but couldn't find one single pic in any of the top Indian newsletters. I kept refreshing the pages minutes before typing this blog, nothing yet! But my day was made by BBC - The British Broadcasting Corporation - exactly at 7:14 this morning they showed PM unfurling the tricolor and the rose petals softly falling down... That sight and single moment has no match!!!

I am not sure how the Indian media handled the I-day back home, but in Britain the people who divided and ruled us for at least four centuries handled gracefully, honestly and with grit... The last couple of weeks' prime time were all about Ind/Pak related actuals - as is - how both the countries are today, positivity ebbed; in spite of a busy schedule i seldom missed those shows but yesterday it was about partition, self admission: as to what mistakes the contemporary brit officers did, how the transfer of power was mis-managed etc etc. That needs real guts to openly accept and self-criticise that too 60 years after the event.

I have recorded a few off those shows, i think its really essential for us to understand the roots of problems and the unbiased history... This will put us in best place to understand contemporary issues and aid in dealing them better.

Some pictures to celebrate the day!

The pot calling the kettle black

Starting the new year blogs with a bang!!! No prizes for guess about the subject, its obviously about Shilpa Shetty & Big Brother. Some jealousy feelings brimming and words are frothing in BB. Thats the whole fun of BB. 'Racism Cries'!! Both the governments involved (UK & India). Nice one for politicians. Should they need one better chance to show their oneupmanship in battle against Racism?

Anyways coming back to the crux of the issue: Who calls who as racist? Indian Gov to inquire about the claims??? The govt that intends to provide religion based reservations, caste based reservations, the one who cannot protect its own citizens going through racial abuse internally, the gov that watches like big brother when its fellow states fight each other on names of culture - Dravidian parties etc? We have created states on lines of lingusitics and call names on neigbhouring states, do we have right to speak against racism? are we not hypocrites?

What do i call on the 'Fair & lovely' ads? What shall i say when cricket tests have Whitewash & Blackwash wins? As a country of men who tend to use Fair & lovely, we don't qualify for this game. I am sorry. Let the Pot not call Kettle Black. World, please read the article that Monty had to take stress therapy for the fear of racist calls in aus? Why wouldn't the Indian gov fight against these issues? B***ks. Shilpa is happily going to win BB and earn 3 crores but we all are going to end up fighting for nothing. Above all, please let us understand that these are inherent erroneous human qualities. Yes until the day we have countries, boundries and similar dividers, racist feelings are going to be there.

Man by inherent nature sees things in positive and negative shades, so he will see differences and comment about it. In the modern society unless untill it becomes a case of real abuse (Cruel or inhumane treatment) hyping up things like these would create further fissures and divisions in society. Compared to yesteryear world, its a lot better place to live, please don't overhype and do more damage. It also shows how suppressed we have been, deep in our hearts; thats why even a slightest provocation is enough for us to pounce on such issues. We have been suppressed for 400 years plus, so it is fair enough on our side of the population to call foul on such things (even though we belive in ahimsa) and worst of all we do the same thing to our own fellow Indians and others. Thank God! India had Ambedhkar & Periyar, lest some upper caste houses would be burning. Calm down my friends and chill-out, look shilpa is reaping riches and she is going to go back to bollywood and be happy with more films on the horizon. A good actress indeed!!! Losers are the commoners as usual...