The Smiling Buddha!

2008-12-02T08:09:00.002+05:30

The English media can be very infuriating. In the aftermath of the Mumbai siege (whose horror cannot possibly understated), these guys have launched a concerted campaign aimed at depoliticizing India's polity. A blanket condemnation of the entire set of current politicians as no-doers is annoying enough, but what really ticks me off is what they propose to do about it. Among the 'gems' that have come from the exalted mouths of the pretty guys and girls from CNN-IBN, Times Now and even NDTV 24X7 is that we guys should stop voting, cast a 'no' vote in the elections and not pay taxes. Even more ridiculous thoughts are packaged as angry Mumbai's reaction - stuff like 'Kill Politicians'.
Stop voting? Vote for a 'no'? Why? Dont these anchors realise that we are a democracy? That if we feel none of our current politicians are good enough we are allowed to stand ourselves? Shying away from elections is merely an attempt to avoiding responsibility. We cannot expects our leaders to discharge their duties if we do not elect those leaders capable and willing to do the same. Frankly, the Mumbai siege is as much a failure of leaders as it is of us people. And running away is no solution.
Not pay taxes you say? Ratna Pathak Shah was kind enough to remind us of the non-cooperation movement. Thank you ma'am. But do you realise that British being colonial masters left us with few options. In todays India if you want a regime change of the kind our freedom fighters launched a hundred movements for, all you have to do is vote for a change. JP Narayan wanted Indira out. He launched satyagrahas. He got jailed. But what eventually caused Indira's ouster was not loud chest-beating by Janata Party guys but the power of the ballot. Rajivji legitimized Shah Bano's plight, opened the gates (should I say the floodgates?) of the Babri and closed his eyes to Quattrochi's dealings. But to oust him we didn't have stop paying taxes - all we did is vote. By airing such fringe thoughts and presenting them as legitimate 'solutions' the media is doing great disservice to the us all. Not paying taxes will just cause mayhem and anarchy - probably cause our defence budget to collapse. Will anyone tell this to Mrs. Shah?
Anger is not necessarily a bad thing. But when it results in irrationality of the kind we are seeing, it becomes destructive.

2007-12-25T18:29:00.000+05:30

Why Modi won't - and can't - lose
Narendrabhai's victory is, as Laluji kindly pointed out, spectacular. While many now claim that it was a foregone conclusion, few actually believed so. Nikhil and i certainly did so. Post-election analysis has thrown up lots of explanations. One of which I want to blabber about is - there was no strong Congress leader who could be projected as an alternative to Narendrabhai.
What is about Modi that so enamors the people of Gujarat? Simply put Modi rules, not as just a chief minister, but like a high king. A few examples will clarify this.
Take the case of the Modi government's grand celebration of festivals like Navratri, Uttrayan and, of course, Gujarat Gaurav Diwas (the foundation day of the state). Spanning over days, these festivals are about pomp, splendour and gaiety bordering on a decadence that, arguably, a democratic government can ill afford. A throwback to festivals that ancient festivals that Roman emperor's used to throw, u say?
The selection of city where Gujarat Gaurav Diwas is celebrated is also interesting. Narendrabhai, breaking with convention, decided that the foundation day would be celebrated outside the capital. This way he not just bring festivities to the homes of his subjects (like Vadodara) but also claims ancient legacy (like that of Patan - an ancient capital of Guajrat. Interestingly, the dynasties that ruled from here were the Solankis and Vaghelas. Ring a bell?).
The questionable diversion of precious water from Narmada in Sabarmati is a case point. Not really improving any water problems (which, to Modi's credit, is anyway far lesser than before), it serves merely one purpose - to show that Modi's Gujarat would have rivers full till the brim. Of course the diversion of waters was followed by a 'mammoth rally'. The diversion of Narmada into the former delta basins of Indus in Kutch was even better packaged. Admist a huge mela in Kutch, Modi declared that he had brought Indus itself to Kutch. He was hailed as the conqouerer of Indus by his supporters. Reminds one of Rajaraja Chola also known as Gangaikonda Chola (the Chola who conqouered Ganges), no?
The Modi masks are now farely well known. What is not known as well is the spread of legends and stories of Modi (variously his humility, extraordinary physical strength, bravery and even magical powers that control beasts!) is an integral part of the Modi campaign. These carefully scripted stories and legends remind me of stuff like Prithviraj Raso.
All this came to my mind when I was watching Final Solution. There was a guy being interviewed whose father and brothers were in jail for rioting. He claimed that he had done nothing and that local BJP leaders had framed his family so that they could escape. On being asked if he harboured any resentment against Modi he said he didn't and that Narendrabhai was above reproach. Much like that scene in Lagaan where the village Mukhiya says that 'राजाजी के खीलाफ़ कोई नही बोलेगा'.
It is not my claim that Narendrabhai is the first one to have built this cult around himself. Many others do have such cults around them, but none (save the Nehru-Gandhis) to the extent of Modi. Indian democracy is a relatively small chapter in India's long history and politicians do not yet have a place in its heirarchy. People fit politicians into existing cultural stereotypes depending on how they perceive them. Corrupt politicians are like the patwari - tolerated as long as their greed remains in check. Roiter-politicians are like local thugs - thrown out once they see a strong alternative. Gandhi was a saint - a Mahatma one could worship. Modi on the other hand is Huzoor Mai-baap Sarkar - whose rule is till God takes him away.

2007-05-07T14:34:00.000+05:30

Of Leap Years and Lack of Holidays
Many know that the Hindu calendar is a lunar one. The lunar year (of 12 months) is about 354 days long. This means that there is a difference of 11 days, 1 hour, 31 minutes and 12 seconds between the solar year (followed by the western Gregorian Calendar) and the lunar one. Logically, this would mean that all Hindu festivals should keep shifting by 11 days a year, causing, say, Diwali to some year be in winter, other times be in summer. Yet this does not happen and festivals fall within one month range of the solar year. How does one explain this 'anamoly'.
Well, the answer is that the Gregorians aren't the only ones who thought of a leap year! There is one major difference though. The western calendar opts for an extra day every four years, while the Hindu calendar goes for an extra month every 2.5 years. Now, 11.06333 days * 2.5 years = 27.658333 days, but an additional lunar month would account for only 27.3 days. So what is to be done about the extra 8 hrs and 36 minutes that are piling up every 2.5 years? Well, the gregorian calendar too has a similar problem. The extra day every four years is a little longer than required, resulting in the 'leap year' being dropped in years divisible by 100, but not by 400 (so 2000 wass a leap year, but 1900 was not). Every 190 years, another month is added to the lunar year. Thus (8hrs 36 minutes * 190 / 2.5) = 27.3 days. Voila, the problem is solved!
The extra months are called अधिक मास। No festival falls during this month।
Those of you cribing about the unusual lack of holidays should know that an adhik maas beginning 17th March is to blame - all festivals have got postponed for a month!

2007-05-02T15:46:00.001+05:30

Hitesh has gone multi-religious (I prefer that to the politically charged 'secular'). On the occassion of Buddha Purnima, I bring you a few vignettes of Buddha's veneration by other religions.

Hinduism

Many (may be even most) schools of Hinduism recognize Gautama Buddha as the ninth of the Dasha-avataara (ten incarnations) of Vishnu.

Buddhists do not take this 'recognition' very kindly. Among the ones who oppose this most virulently are Nayayana Buddhists, also called Ambedkarite Buddhists, one of who's 22 religious vows includes opposing the belief that Buddha is an avataara of Vishnu.

Hindu faith in Buddha has produced interesting results. Since Buddha is considered a member of the Hindu pantheon of gods, many Hindus believe in offering puja to Buddha at the temple of Mahabodhi at Gaya. A shrada (offering) to departed souls performed at Gaya is considered a sure shot way of freeing the souls from the cycle of birth and death - which Buddha called Nirvana and Hindus call Moksha. Interestingly another of the 22 Ambedkarite Buddhist vows is to not perform shrada! The Mahabodhi temple is an interesting effort at religious pluralism, its managing board consists 4 Hindu and 4 Buddhist members each. Not that this enables running of the temple in a non-controversial manner thoughNot all Hindus accept that Buddha is an avataar of Vishnu. While some Vaishnava traditions (especially South Indian ones) consider Krishna to be the 9th avataar (with Big Brother Balarama being the 8th one), the Gaudiya tradition (founded by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and including ISKCON) considers Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to be the 9th avaatar.

Christianity

Buddha is also said to be the St. Josaphat, who is venerated as a saint by many christian traditions. The life story of the two is identical and St. Josaphat was Indian.

Islam

Some noted Mulsim scholars like Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and Hamid Abdul Qadir believe that the prophet Dhu'l-Kifl mentioned in the Quran is non other than Buddha. This is however not universally accepted. Most scholars believe that Dhu'l-Kifl refers to the biblical Prophet

Baha'ism

Buddha is a named prophet in Baha'ism along with Krishna, Zoroaster, Jesus, Mohammed and .

Shintoism
Shintoism has blended so well with Buddhism that the two are nearly indistinguishable in Japan. Many a Shinto diety is considered a manifestation of some Buddhist diety or other (a task simplified by the numerous Bodhisattvas up for grabs!).

By the way, today is not universally recognized at Buddha's birthday. By Chinese traditions Buddha's birthday will fall on May 24th (8th day of 4th chinese month).

Also Gautama is not the only Buddha, neither is he the first. He is said to be the 28th Buddha. Buddhist tradition two talks of another visit by the divine. Maitreya would be the 29th Buddha.

2007-04-30T13:46:00.000+05:30

We live in weird times. While on one hand there so much हल्ला about ex-beauty queen Aishwarya's marriage, there are others who have achieved much greater things, yet have received little publicity. Here is a link to Miss India 1979 Swarup Sampath's doctoral degree award for her research on dyslexic children. She received her degree a few weeks ago.

2007-04-23T11:47:00.000+05:30

Most of my school time friends, having been brought up in Bangalore, often remark that the city has changed. It has, and in more than one way. One is the proliferation of eunuchs in Bangalore. Also called Hijras, Chakkas, Ombods, they are to be seen everyway nowadays, even places like Brigade Road. Their prescence has been acknowledged by history and mythology. Shikandi was a eunuch, as were most of the imperial guards in the fabled Forbidden City. But let me start from the begining.My odd tryst with the 'third sex' started with Friday's episode of Colgate MaxFresh अन्ताक्षरी - हर अक्षर पे खेलागा इंडिया (too लॉन्ग अ नामे). As usual the episode begun with Anu Kapoor singing a song, only this time he was accompanied by 5 eunuch's. The song (predictably) was चुनर घोटे में from Mehmood's कुवारा बाप. The eunuch's played their part well - gaudy clothes, incesstant clapping and yelling, all the standard quirks of their kind. This was followed later in the show by another of their anthem's - तय्यब अली प्यार का दुश्मन हाय हाय! If this episode was it, it wouldn't merit a blog post - there was more. On Saturday I decided to watch 'Meet the Robinson's' at Inox. Shitanshu came along - no he is not a eunuch. When walking down Brigade Road, we met a pack of them. Oddly, they were not troubling anyone. They seemed to be on a shopping spree (had lots of bags from one of the Levi's stores of Brigade Road). They were having a nice time, one hungry look towards an innocent male, and he near-faints. I tell this by personal experience.When I came across somemore of their ilk on Sunday it got really errie. Thankfully they behaved like their stereotype - called me Raja, manhandled me, extorted 10 bucks... normal ones would have freaked me out! जाते जाते they blessed me a happy married life, complete with a fertile wife and a zillion kids. Muhahahahahaha, my scheme of world-domination is gonna come true!

2007-04-16T10:28:00.000+05:30

Its taken me over 9 months to write a new entry! I had almost abandoned it, but then I got a message from someone empathizing with my dislike of b-schools (look at the post below for why)! Well, I have moved on, and the junta here has shown other facets of the personality! Without going into greater details I would simply say that I am prone to making hasty judgements. Sometimes they are incorrect.One year done, another to go. I am interning in HP Bangalore right now. It feels great to be in Bangalore for a period longer than 10 days. For all the poor roads and horrendous traffic, Lalbagh and April showers are things that no other megacity in India can match.My parents went to a ज्योत्शी (astrologer) yesterday. I wasn't pleased by this abject display of lack of trust in the family seer (me!). But its ok, I guess. Astology is afterall somewhat scientific, unlike the foundationless musings of seer (to find out the difference between the too, let me know). वेद पंडित शंमुखानंद (VPS) made predictions for the my father, mother and sister (I made my parents promise that they wouldn't show him my जन्मपत्र). He had some interesting things to say. First he said that my father, sister and I have all had a 'साड्डे-साती ' (a period of time when Saturn is in particularly foul mood and decides to leave you in a similar one) running since 2000. I jumped at this: they showed him my chart! Father then went into a monologue about how he has my best interests at heart, blah blah. Whatever. As can be deduced from its name 'साड्डे-साती' lasts for 7 1/2 years, which means till later this year. That means... we're gonna be wealthy soon! Time for the hurrays, eh? Father certainly thinks so. VPS also said that within six months of the dawn of the non- साड्डे-साती (poorly put, sorry!) period, we would have a house of our own, millions of rupees in wealth and what not! Then things became interesting. VPS told my father that any property he buys, he should register mom as the owner. Mom was listening :) She can't stop gloating ever since, and if my grandad wasn't a jyotshi himself, my dad would have had some choicy words for the entire ilk! VPS went on to say that four years from now, both my sister and I would be married. My sis wasn't amused (see is barely 18 right now). My dad was surprised too, he always planned to send her packing at a much later date. He (according to my mom) was immediately enveloped with the bharatiya baap's greatest fear - dear beti is gonna elope! VPS assured him that this wouldn't happen and that both of us will have arranged marriages. Whether he saw this in the charts or whether my father's hysterics made him chuck his professional ethics aside, we would probably never know. Anyway, it was my mom's turn to display her set of insecurities - VPS assured her that her bahu would maintain cordial relations for I will always remain with them in a joint family (I can't see the relation, Ekta Kapoor's soaps show how 'joint' is not the same as 'cordial'!). Mom then asked if I would ever work abroad. VPS said yes, for atleast 3 years. Dad was shocked - beta to gaya haat se. He made my mother promise not tell me the same ('he will get ideas'). Nevertheless, much to my mom's consternation, he told the same himself. He then told me that I had an opportunity to prove that my grandpa was the only good panditji ever - not go abroad and prove VPS a fraud. I (quite cheekily) said that I wouldn't do that, for an attack on him would be an attack on ज्योतिष itself. Placing my hand on my heart, I said that I couldn't do this to ancient Indian heritage! Besides, who are we to challenge God's idea of pre-determination? Dad nearly slapped me! VPS also said that after a few years of work for a company, I would start my own 'business'. Now that is strange. Why would I leave the comfort and security of a regular job? That would be very out of character of me. He also said that the business would be an imort/export of computer stuff (wonder which new planet suddenly appeared in the 50s to enable astrologers to assign this new business to clients) and that I would then become filthy rich (hehehe). He ended it all by saying that we would have good times ahead. Frankly, that sounds more like a signing off statement than a prediction! Mom probably had a dream where I refused to return from America and Dad had one where my sis eloped for the 10th time or something - stupid astrologer!

2006-08-09T00:04:00.000+05:30

Some more rants... sorry!
I wonder why things have to be this way. Before the reader reaches a conclusion that I am not liking it here in IIMK, let me clarify - I am. But still, I have a major issue with the way things are. For starters I detest the idea that running of each and every club/committee/SIG is decided, not (just) according to the volunteer's talent, but by a vote. This wouldnt have been a problem but for one thing - a month into the insti how much would anyone know about all? Would a vote for or against a person be correct in such a case? Besides all this is the strong undercurrent of politiking... it doesnt help!
Talking about politics, the conception of friendship here is strange. Most guys (and gurlz for that matter!) are here to build a 'network'. While this may not be a problem at first look, it is. People are constantly making judgements about you - how gr8 a manager you would be, would you become a 'big man', what use you could be of. An oaf like me, with no great skills or talents, usually ends up being a useless 'contact'. With this belief goes any chance that anyone is gonna take you seriously. There are a few expections (they are the ones who keep me here!), but would it be better if they were the rules?
I have many more things to say... someother time, I gotta complete a worthless assingment...

2006-07-28T14:04:00.000+05:30

Mono-dialogue II:
"You just need to realize that people care that you exist."
"But they don't," I said pointedly. My voice was firm, no such thing as trembling.
"Fascinating," he drawled.
“I keep having this recurring dream," I began. "Incessant knocking on my door, the barking of a dog, sometimes a child screams, but there is always a noise loud enough to get me out of bed. In the dream, you see, not in reality. And when I get up, I am face to face with a burglar, all in black. But it’s her; nothing has changed. And I spin her around as though we were waltzing, and I can feel her. Like a goddamn earthquake, I can feel her. And I want nothing more. This is funny because I’ve never had sex, and to tell you the truth, I find the woman downright repulsive. I don’t want her in my home, but some how I want her.”
"And you know why that is, don't you?"
"No," I replied, firm again.
"Because you have a repressed desire for anyone to enter your life - as long as that person is alive."
"Oh, good one!" I said. That was a new low!

2006-07-25T19:47:00.000+05:30

I draw inspiration for this post from a similar one from our good friend, the irrepressible Vamsi (http://tweakyscorner.blogspot.com/2006/04/some-things-i-find-really-irritating.html). The people mentioned below are for real, and all this happened during this time's short but eventful summer vacation...

One day I was walking down the road with some friends when one of them shouted, "Look at that dead bird!" Another looked up at the sky and said, "Where???"
…
While looking at a house (yup, Mr Mohanlal Bohra - our till recently 'gracious' landlord - has asked us to find a new house), my father asked the real estate agent which direction was north because, he explained, he didn't want the sun waking him up every morning. He asked, "Does the sun rise in the north?" When my father explained that the sun rises in the east, and has for sometime, he shook his head and said, "Oh, I don't keep up with that stuff."
…
This friend of mine works in technical support for a 24/7 call center. One day he got a call from an individual who asked what hours the call center was open. He told him, "The number you dialed is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week." He responded, "Is that Eastern or Pacific time?" Wanting to end the call quickly, he said, "Uh, Pacific".
…
My uncle has a lifesaving tool in his car: it's designed to cut through a seat belt if he gets trapped. He keeps it in the trunk...
…
Upon reaching Indira Gandhi International Airport (the hows and whys of that is a long story in itself) I couldn't find my luggage at the airport baggage area. So I went to the airlines office and told the woman there that my bags never showed up. She smiled and told me not to worry because she was a trained professional and I was in good hands. "Now," she asked me, "has your plane arrived yet?”
…
While at a pizza parlor (on Cunningham Road in B'lore) I observed a man ordering a small pizza. He appeared to be alone and the waiter asked him if he would like it cut into 4 pieces or 6. He thought about it for some time before responding. "Just cut it into 4 pieces; I don't think I'm hungry enough to eat 6 pieces.”

2006-07-20T22:24:00.000+05:30

Like my zodiac lord Gemini (or is it more like Janus?!?!) I often have two faces of my self (what a nice way to say I am two-faced!). Often we both (we me?) engage in 'deliberations' which usually need to nowhere. Why blog all this you may wonder? Ah, because I have decided that the readers of my blog need to be subjected to my eccentricities every now and then (the definition of which I decide!).

So here goes Mono-dialogue I:
"Is there a cure for humanity?"
"I don't think so. I don't really even think there's a cure for depression," came the reply. "Oh," I said, sniffing viciously as my fingers brushed my nose as a makeshift Kleenex. "That sucks."My voice squeaked.
God, I hated that. You can only wear sunglasses for so long before your tears slip past your cheeks and reveal your secrets."Because I don't really know how much longer I can deal with this," I blurted out. He hadn't asked me for any explanation. "This whole 'sadness' thing. I don't like getting angry, I don't like thinking about it. I want to push it out of my mind. And I was so good at it for so long. You could have put me in Cambodia and I would have smiled at Pol Pot. It was that easy. But it won't go away, damnit."
"You're just human," he said, plain and uncomforting.
"That's exactly the goddamn problem!"

2006-07-18T21:01:00.000+05:30

My first post (dated 11/03/2005) is so valid even today. Its very unfortunate...

2006-07-01T13:10:00.000+05:30

The last two weeks have been the shortest two weeks of my life. It began on Sunday, 18th June with my Kingfisher flight to Delhi. Bang in the middle of the night I was in MDI Gurgaon, looking forward to a new life as a ManDevIan. I started attending the pre-induction classes (and the horrible open houses of seniors - equivalent to SVNITian calls). Things were settling down soon, although in hindsight I must admit I wasnt too happy about being there (always felt I deserved more than MDI PGP-HR). Out of no where I get a message from Sahu on Wednesday - "Flash News: Hitesh Sharma crack IIMK!". That message redefined the meaning of shock-of-my-life! You probably think that I must have been very happy that day. Well not really. So as to join MDI, I had convinced myself that MDI is better than IIMK, I, L (although deep within my heart I always knew that an IIM is after all an IIM). Setting all that self-convincing aside wasnt so easy. It was only on thursday night that I finally decided that IIMK is the place to be. On Saturday, 24th June I was back to Bangalore (by an Air Sahara flight). By Sunday morning I had arrived in Kozhikode. Once there I knew, Sharmaji aapne must decision liya. From that day on I have never once regretted leaving MDI. Beautiful campus, scenic backdrop, great profs, excellent seniors - IIMK is truly God's Own IIM!
(Top left: MDI Gurgaon. Top Right: IIM Kozhikode)

2006-02-05T14:45:00.000+05:30

I saw him then, sitting as still as stone before me, his small, concise features usually so impassive, contorted now into an expression of mocking disdain. He's laughing at me, I know it. He loves nothing more than to mock those he flees. Always one step ahead. So motionless, yet still so far out of reach. But he cannot be caught. After all, the entire world is searching for him fervently without success. Why should I and how could I be the one to claim him? Bu I did have him once. I am not quite sure how I let him escape. For certain I had not the faintest idea of his value. Not that it matters now.
I make a grab for him, his unbridled arrogance in the face of my distress becoming too much to withstand. But he is too quick, he is always too quick. My frustration only seems to fuel his evasions. Heinous, flighty creature! He cares not who he blesses with his presence, from the purest saint to the vilest wretch he will grace them for a time until the fickleness of his spirit bids him leave. He will obey it every time, no matter how you think he loves you, no matter how you believe that he will never desert you. He will obey it every time and he will take from you more than he ever gives. Will leave you desolate and wanting. Such a small, simple thing he seems, yet so huge, so complex.
So cherish him while he lingers, he may not favour you much longer. Be sure to tell those that tempt him to rest with you a little longer just how much they mean to you. I was foolish. I pushed them aside in a selfish attempt to be closer to him. Now he loves me no more. He only laughs. I hate the damnable creature for leaving me with no explanation, yet I adore him as I look upon him. Scornful as it is, his countenance glows with a bliss that I long to know again. But he is uncatchable and I have nothing to lure him back with. I have shunned the very ones that would help me reclaim him in my own desperate hunt. He will revel in the irony, I know.
I make another grab for him. He dodges again.
Its funny how far people will go to attempt to catch the uncatchable. Silly really. Futile certainly. He cannot be bribed, nor blackmailed. He will ignore pleas and your threats will fall upon deaf ears. His one secret weakness, I have belatedly discovered, lies not in the foolhardy chase, but in method and patience. His fondness is not for gold or silver, nor for fear or power but for his bosom companion, selfless Love. If first you find Love, he will come to you of his own accord and bless you many times over, bringing your World to light and your dreams to life. Its as ridiculously simple as it is tragically difficult.

P.S.: Lest you think this is Hitesh 'uncloseting' himself, the 'he' here is Happiness!!! No guy would mind being 'gay' and happy, would he ;)

2005-11-08T20:38:00.000+05:30

I fear what future holds for India. First it was the Mitrokhin archives and now the Paul Volcker report. While corruption in arms and petrol pump deals have are as frequent as the deals themselves, these take the country to a new low. Never before has the saleability of Indian foreign policy (which till recently was said to be 'independent') been so publicly displayed. As if these dealings with the likes of Saddam Hussein were not enough, we have been witness to desperate, embarrassing attempts by the said the foreign minister to save his chair. First Natwar Singh(NS) questions the integrity of the head of the UN commission, Mr. Paul Volcker. Its strange that Manmohan Singh(MS) didn't comment, being the RBI head when Volcker was Fed Reserve head he should know better. Then NS goes on to talk about American imperialistic designs and their hatred for NS the anti-imperialist crusader. When someone spoke about the contradiction between this stand of his and the support his government has given to the Iraqi govn propped up by the US 'imperialists', he goes on to dismiss the new Iraqi govn as one 'without credibility'. To endear himself to the left, he mourns the 'unfortunate' collapse of the Soviet Union. I am sure the Czech president (who is in Delhi as of today) will have a lot to say about how 'unfortunate' his countrymen think the loss of Soviet control over the Czechs is. He goes on to say that India should reverse its vote on Iran in the IEAE. Wasn't this same minister gloating over how India's vote had actually saved Iran. He proposes a India-Africa axis to contain American imperialism. Whatever happened to the nuclear deal we signed with the US? Consigned to the flames of NS's whims?

What should a PM do to a minister who uses something as sacred and crucial to a nation as its foreign policy as a weapon to fight his personal battles. He should dismiss him. And what does MS do? Takes away his portfolio to make him a Minister-without-portfolio(MWP)! Why? Of what use is a MWP? How much salary does he get paid, how many secretaries does he get and how much do his perks cost the national exchequer? And why is this money gonna be payed at all, when he is not gonna do any work? To top it all MS's aides 'leak' his thoughts to us. We are told that the PM wanted NS out, that he is outraged, that he would have preferred a CBI inquiry to the judicial one ordered. What is expected from us? Should we celebrate the fact that our PM cannot even dismiss a minister from his own party? Are we expected to sympathize with MS for his complete lack of spine?

To add to all this, this self-confessed Nehruvian relic keeps harping about the support he has from Sonia Gandhi. Really? Has Mrs. Gandhi's 'inner voice' abandoned her? Does this oil deal go down deeper than NS? Hopefully, former Chief Justice of India RS Pathak will have the answers within my lifetime.

2005-11-04T10:42:00.000+05:30

Yesterday I crossed an important milestone in my life. I rode a bike on a busy road for the very first time! OK, it was just mama's scooty, not a hayabusa or anything, but using even that to go to Bhatar Road is a big thing! I was, as should be expected of a person like me, scared that I may not come back to the hostel in one piece. Rather I was confident that bhaiyaa aaj to ram naam sat hona hai. Decided that I won't 'pass away' alone. Ayan was the perfect bakra, he agreed to come with me. Of course, that he thought I was a pro-motorist helped him make his decision. I encountered many hitches. Firstly the scooty would not start. The push-button was not working, and I had never kicked a two-wheeler to life. After lots of pathetic attempts at starting that monster, Ayan showered me with his mercy and kick-started it (Let me make it very clear, that's all he knows about driving a two-wheeler). I started out well, slowly Ayan started smelling something fishy. Mama wanted me to fill 10 bucks worth of petrol. I took it to a pump and tried to lift the seat-lid without inserting a key. The incredulous look on Ayan's face was worth seeing. Then we started off towards parle point. Phir aaya bloody right turn. I've been scared of those! To top it all the road was full of vehicles, the holiday crowd swarming from all over. How I took the right turn no one knows, but it was done. Every vice of the average Surti motorist, driving on the wrong side of the road, overtaking from the left, parking in the middle of the road was troubling me that night. I somehow reached Maakhan Bhog, purchased the sweets and came back in on piece. The best part of this great adventure was when Ayan remarked that I was a somewhat rash driver. He has no idea!

2005-11-03T02:04:00.000+05:30

Day 1: Terror strikes Delhi!
Day 2: Resilient Delhi returns to normal; people flock to markets that were attacked.

Many people, Indian and world leaders included, have praised Indians for maintaining calm and showing restraint. Many talk about how the India has shown to the world how response to terror attacks should be, defiant, one that tells the terrorists that they will not succeed in their devious plans.
Is it really so? Are we resilient or are we complacent? Is is our defiance or our lack of value for lives that causes us to return to normal? In a country of our size, the value of life is little. For many sixty five dead is not a big deal, more die in road accidents. Terrorists attacks are viewed as an ordinary happening and as long as its not happening in one's own backyard, it is not too much of a problem. The PM says that terror will not defeat us. But with the kind of 'mature' response which both the government and the people have given what needs to be asked is whether we will ever defeat terror. It is said that a stronger response will derail the peace process, but of what use is a 'peace process' when such attacks continue to take place. When the source of this attack is well known, why does the Indian government hesitate to name its aiders and abbetors. Why does embarrassment about the identity of the attackers emerge from the government when outrage about their continuance and support should be expressed?
Maybe I've asked too many questions, may be I've left most unanswered. But in this world when everyone is praising the passivity that's being passed off for calm and restraint, one has to speak out. That we are viewed as a soft state is a known fact, but to celebrate it, that too when such dastardly acts take place is untenable. If we want to change things, we need to change ourselves first.

2005-11-01T00:36:00.000+05:30

The biggest problem I faced when starting this blog is what my first post should contain! Have decided that a short story (a fable of sorts) should be good enough.

Destiny and Chance have intimate discussions over green tea. Destiny jokes about how foolish people take his name in vain, much like that of God, and they laugh together. Chance whispers takes credit for 90% of the goings-on of human life, death, love, loss and discovery and says "You see what we fail to realize is that life is like a game of chess, played by two opposing forces each wanting to undo the other and come out as the victor. Instead of 'Thank God' falling from the lips of people; I would love to hear 'Thank Chance', for it is due to merely chance, that everything that happens in life. Reflect upon this story for a moment.
A boy drops his keys and stops to pick then up, in the process bumping heads with a girl picking them up for him. Their eyes meet and he stammers hello and she smiles softly and says hello in return. Two years later we see this same man/boy, nervously picking out a ring for the girl he feels has been the 'one' and he finally found her."

Chance nods her head and whispers "Yes i did that!"
Destiny muses and raises a question, "Suppose that same boy dropped his keys further along the sidewalk, thus in turn missing the girl completely. He walks on and goes about his day completely oblivious to the fact that miss right just passed him by. 2 months later on a blind date gone wrong, he smiles up at the pretty hostess and sheepishly grins, not knowingwhy but divulging the details of his date to her, she slips her number to him on the receipt. They go out hit it off and once again two years letter the scene above replays."

Destiny laces his fingers behind his head and happily sighs, breathing out and saying "See it was me all along".
Now it is chance's turn to disagree, as she changes the scenario. "A middle-aged man, the father of 3, devoutly religious, faithful to his wife of 25 years, is driving home. he stops at a stop sign and continues his daily trek towards his house. John is a heavily intoxicated person, perturbed by daily life, and convinced that 'the man' is out to get him. The man glances down to change the radio station and doesn't see the vehicle in front of him, nor does he notice the fact he is in the path of oncoming traffic, until he hears the crash. The middle-aged man dies immediately from the force of impact, his head hitting the steering wheel, while John walks away unscathed. Was it chance... or was it his destiny?" she smiles and stares up at him.
Another voice cuts in, and startles the two. "You're both wrong, it isn't chance or destiny, it was simply a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, they were victims of Circumstance." Chance and Destiny frown and say stoutly nearly in unison "I don't recall inviting you to this tea, Circumstance." He smiles a crooked, sideways smile and replies, "As in life, i just insert myself". He tips his hat and says "Good day lady and gentleman."