After suffering from an overdose of wine yesterday, it was hard drying up today. Getting up in the morning I realized that ecstacy is better natural and not pushed by a stimulant. Perchance getting a high in an inebriated state creates the low in the sober state. Temperence does not gratify instantly but does not at least make life a rollercoaster ride.
Ergo, a word of caution to all tipplers will be fine if they carry it to excess at times. How good it would be if the breath of fresh air acts as an intoxicant in our daily lives. With due apologies to the metro denizens if the air is just not fresh!
It is surprising how we can create a virtual reality wherein a mind is transported to a different realm! Is it real if not surreal?
Resolutions are meant to broken like records. The willpower seems to intoxicated too and does not act naturally at times. The funda for the ensuing days will be to work lesser and party lesser as it offers a better substitute to me at this point of time.
It is rehab time folks.
All the best to myself!
Monday, January 28, 2008
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Is the Adelaide Test heading for a draw?
This is about a structured effort to outline what happened after the recent Perthquake test in which Australia lost to India after notching 16 Test wins in a row. Taking a lot from what I had previously wriiten, it is more about about Day 2 and Day 4 and the ripple effect it had on quite a few good men:
Perth Test 2K8, Day 2:
Every underdog has its day:
Talking of cricket, it was a great day 2 for India at Perth test match at the WACA stadium.
The crowd enjoyed real cricket bereft of any unsportsmanship antic. Aussies were skittled to a paltry score of 212 in reply to the India's first innings total of 330. Symonds was again threatening to be India's nemesis but fell short of that just in time. Gilly was also intimidating the Indian pace attack. He too did not last that long. In the end, the bowlers were able to mop up the tails.
This test will almost surely have a result if the rain gods do not intervene. However, the paradox is that in the attempt to play true cricket, the mighty Oz have crumbled, which brings forth the question if cricket is not just a mind game. Can true cricket be played without employing the mind game, so as to enjoy it in toto? Certainly sensationalism or sensitizing adds a wee bit of spice to everything. But the question is how far is too far?
All said and done, Aussies deserve kudos for behaving with such restraint and even if they lose the match, they will win so many hearts. With due respect to the Indian who have come as underdogs, they have been doing this since so many years.
After Day 4's historic win and the Indian selectors announcing the latest ODI squad:
BushWACA by Team India:
India has won the Perth test in a cliffhanger and without taking a cue from it the new ODI has been announced in which Dada and Dravid do not find a place. It has really been a bold but controversial decision of the selectors. Few have even gone to the extent of calling them names.
Yesterday, I was going through a World Cup TT match in which the young Indian side ousted the mighty Proteans in a tantalizing and gritty display of raw and fearless cricketing talent. It was a match in which Rohit Sharma from Mumbai excelled as a batter as well as a fielder. His devicing an impossible run-out was awesome. It made me realize that we need supple cricketers in the quicker format- the ODI's or TT. Dada has been awesome in the year 2007, amassing the highest ODI runs for Team India. However, he and Dravid do not carry the spark of Jonty Rhodes or our very own Dinesh Kartick, Yuvi, Robin Utthapa or for that matter Rohit Sharma. Fielding can be ignited by inspiration and if batting and bowling matter, let us not forget that fielding is given a short shrift. It also matters. Do not forget that catches win matches. Here, Team India has always been weak. For the first time, we have a team comprinsing the young blood that is raring to go for or after any shot in the stadium. We will have to supress our emotions for the larger good. A young and promising team is in the making. Personally, I idolize Sachin. However, for the sake of the larger good, if Sachin is axed once in a while to retun into fold later or take some rest temporarily, I will supress my love for the God of Indian cricket.
Let us think of a befitting team for the would be economic superpower-INDIA!!
A bit about the Adelaide Test 2K8:
It seems that the selectors have got the timing of announcement of the latest ODI squad wrong and Kumble seems to be right in pointing that. It has perchance played on the psyche of Dada and Dravid as they were out cheaply. Sachin and Kumble played like the virtuosi. A brilliant century (153) by Sachin, an ably lead example by Kumble who scored 85, and a scintillating batting diplay by the tailenders saw India amass more than 500 runs on the batsman friendly pitch. The Aussies are resilient and have started off quite well with Hayden scoring yet another century in the series like Sachin did and Ponting breathing down the neck of Sachin in terms of number of centuries. Hayden is not far behind too. More than 300 runs have been scored by the Aussies for the loss of 3 wickets. Ponting andClarke seem are consolidating the middle order. This seems to be a level playing field.
India can still take a sense of pride if this match draws in the worst case scenario. The Sydney match is not being seen as a genuine one because of bad umpiring in favour of the Aussies by Steve Bucknor, who is back to the Caribbean islands and it serves him right.
Despite Aussies being 2-1 up in records if this test is drawn, it should be perceived as a 1-1 draw in actuality by the honest blokes.
Let us see what happens.
Perth Test 2K8, Day 2:
Every underdog has its day:
Talking of cricket, it was a great day 2 for India at Perth test match at the WACA stadium.
The crowd enjoyed real cricket bereft of any unsportsmanship antic. Aussies were skittled to a paltry score of 212 in reply to the India's first innings total of 330. Symonds was again threatening to be India's nemesis but fell short of that just in time. Gilly was also intimidating the Indian pace attack. He too did not last that long. In the end, the bowlers were able to mop up the tails.
This test will almost surely have a result if the rain gods do not intervene. However, the paradox is that in the attempt to play true cricket, the mighty Oz have crumbled, which brings forth the question if cricket is not just a mind game. Can true cricket be played without employing the mind game, so as to enjoy it in toto? Certainly sensationalism or sensitizing adds a wee bit of spice to everything. But the question is how far is too far?
All said and done, Aussies deserve kudos for behaving with such restraint and even if they lose the match, they will win so many hearts. With due respect to the Indian who have come as underdogs, they have been doing this since so many years.
After Day 4's historic win and the Indian selectors announcing the latest ODI squad:
BushWACA by Team India:
India has won the Perth test in a cliffhanger and without taking a cue from it the new ODI has been announced in which Dada and Dravid do not find a place. It has really been a bold but controversial decision of the selectors. Few have even gone to the extent of calling them names.
Yesterday, I was going through a World Cup TT match in which the young Indian side ousted the mighty Proteans in a tantalizing and gritty display of raw and fearless cricketing talent. It was a match in which Rohit Sharma from Mumbai excelled as a batter as well as a fielder. His devicing an impossible run-out was awesome. It made me realize that we need supple cricketers in the quicker format- the ODI's or TT. Dada has been awesome in the year 2007, amassing the highest ODI runs for Team India. However, he and Dravid do not carry the spark of Jonty Rhodes or our very own Dinesh Kartick, Yuvi, Robin Utthapa or for that matter Rohit Sharma. Fielding can be ignited by inspiration and if batting and bowling matter, let us not forget that fielding is given a short shrift. It also matters. Do not forget that catches win matches. Here, Team India has always been weak. For the first time, we have a team comprinsing the young blood that is raring to go for or after any shot in the stadium. We will have to supress our emotions for the larger good. A young and promising team is in the making. Personally, I idolize Sachin. However, for the sake of the larger good, if Sachin is axed once in a while to retun into fold later or take some rest temporarily, I will supress my love for the God of Indian cricket.
Let us think of a befitting team for the would be economic superpower-INDIA!!
A bit about the Adelaide Test 2K8:
It seems that the selectors have got the timing of announcement of the latest ODI squad wrong and Kumble seems to be right in pointing that. It has perchance played on the psyche of Dada and Dravid as they were out cheaply. Sachin and Kumble played like the virtuosi. A brilliant century (153) by Sachin, an ably lead example by Kumble who scored 85, and a scintillating batting diplay by the tailenders saw India amass more than 500 runs on the batsman friendly pitch. The Aussies are resilient and have started off quite well with Hayden scoring yet another century in the series like Sachin did and Ponting breathing down the neck of Sachin in terms of number of centuries. Hayden is not far behind too. More than 300 runs have been scored by the Aussies for the loss of 3 wickets. Ponting andClarke seem are consolidating the middle order. This seems to be a level playing field.
India can still take a sense of pride if this match draws in the worst case scenario. The Sydney match is not being seen as a genuine one because of bad umpiring in favour of the Aussies by Steve Bucknor, who is back to the Caribbean islands and it serves him right.
Despite Aussies being 2-1 up in records if this test is drawn, it should be perceived as a 1-1 draw in actuality by the honest blokes.
Let us see what happens.
Monday, January 21, 2008
BushWACA by India!
India has won the Perth test in a cliffhanger and without taking a cue from it the new ODI has been announced in which Dada and Dravid do not find a place. It has really been a bold but controversial decision of the selectors. Few have even gone to the extent of calling them names.
Yesterday, I was going through a World Cup TT match in which the young Indian side ousted the mighty Proteans in a tantalizing and gritty display of raw and fearless cricketing talent. It was a match in which Rohit Sharma from Mumbai excelled as a batter as well as a fielder. His devicing an impossible run-out was awesome. It made me realize that we need supple cricketers in the quicker format- the ODI's or TT. Dada has been awesome in the year 2007 amassing the highest ODI runs for Team India. However, he and Dravid do not carry the spark of Jonty Rhodes or our very own Dinesh Kartick, Yuvi, Robin Utthapa or for that matter Rohit Sharma. Fielding can be ignited by inspiration and if batting and bowling matter, let us not forget that fielding is given a short shrift. It also matters. Do not forget that catches win matches. Here, Team India has always been weak. For the first time, we have a team comprinsing the young blood that is raring to go for any shot in the stadium. We will have to supress our emotions for the larger good. A young and promising team is in the making. Personally, I idolize Sachin. However, for the sake of the larger good, if Sachin is axed once in a while to retun into fold later or take some rest temporarily, I will supress my love for the God of Indian cricket.
Let us think of a befitting team for the would be economic superpower-INDIA!!!
Yesterday, I was going through a World Cup TT match in which the young Indian side ousted the mighty Proteans in a tantalizing and gritty display of raw and fearless cricketing talent. It was a match in which Rohit Sharma from Mumbai excelled as a batter as well as a fielder. His devicing an impossible run-out was awesome. It made me realize that we need supple cricketers in the quicker format- the ODI's or TT. Dada has been awesome in the year 2007 amassing the highest ODI runs for Team India. However, he and Dravid do not carry the spark of Jonty Rhodes or our very own Dinesh Kartick, Yuvi, Robin Utthapa or for that matter Rohit Sharma. Fielding can be ignited by inspiration and if batting and bowling matter, let us not forget that fielding is given a short shrift. It also matters. Do not forget that catches win matches. Here, Team India has always been weak. For the first time, we have a team comprinsing the young blood that is raring to go for any shot in the stadium. We will have to supress our emotions for the larger good. A young and promising team is in the making. Personally, I idolize Sachin. However, for the sake of the larger good, if Sachin is axed once in a while to retun into fold later or take some rest temporarily, I will supress my love for the God of Indian cricket.
Let us think of a befitting team for the would be economic superpower-INDIA!!!
Do the bones age faster than the mind?
It is bones vs mind for quite a few. Now what gets older fast is the issue. Weakness with passage of time in both is a given-gradual and inevitable. Can we have a technological paraphernalia that is able to quantify the strength quotient in both?
I have been around quite a few oldies who are suffering from osteo-arthritis and still have a very nimble mind. I wonder if old age has caught up with them just to decide how much sorry shall I feel for them. It goes without saying that on some other moments someone else will be contemplating a similar conundrum for me.
However, when I perceive the mental alacrity of these oldies I wish I could have returned into the fold similarly.
I have been around quite a few oldies who are suffering from osteo-arthritis and still have a very nimble mind. I wonder if old age has caught up with them just to decide how much sorry shall I feel for them. It goes without saying that on some other moments someone else will be contemplating a similar conundrum for me.
However, when I perceive the mental alacrity of these oldies I wish I could have returned into the fold similarly.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Every dog has its day!
Today was one of those usual days when I was left grappling for words and there was simply so much incoherence in my communcation. Rarely nowadays do I have a day when I am my usual self- verbally articulate. It is an anamoly that might be afflicting quite a few. A cricketer missing his hand-eye coordination is completely screwed. A person missing the heart and soul coordination is similarly screwed.
Talking of cricket, it was a great day 2 for India at Perth test match on WACA stadium.
The crowd enjoyed real cricket bereft of any unsportsmanship antic. Aussies were skittled to a paltry score of 212 in reply to the India's first innings total of 330. Symonds was again threatening to be India's nemesis but fell short of that just in time. Gilly was also intimidating the Indian pace attack. He too did not last that long. In the end, the bowlers were able to mop up the tails.
This test will almost surely have a result if the rain gods do not intervene. However, the paradox is that in the attempt to play true cricket, the mighty aussies have crumbled, which brings forth the question if cricket is not just a mind game. Can true cricket be played without employing the mind game, so as to enjoy it in toto. Certainly sensationalism or sensitizing adds a wee bit of spice to everything. But the question is how far is too far?
All said and done, aussies deserve kudos for behaving with such restraint and even if they lose the match, they will win so many hearts. The Indians have been doing that for so many years.
Talking of cricket, it was a great day 2 for India at Perth test match on WACA stadium.
The crowd enjoyed real cricket bereft of any unsportsmanship antic. Aussies were skittled to a paltry score of 212 in reply to the India's first innings total of 330. Symonds was again threatening to be India's nemesis but fell short of that just in time. Gilly was also intimidating the Indian pace attack. He too did not last that long. In the end, the bowlers were able to mop up the tails.
This test will almost surely have a result if the rain gods do not intervene. However, the paradox is that in the attempt to play true cricket, the mighty aussies have crumbled, which brings forth the question if cricket is not just a mind game. Can true cricket be played without employing the mind game, so as to enjoy it in toto. Certainly sensationalism or sensitizing adds a wee bit of spice to everything. But the question is how far is too far?
All said and done, aussies deserve kudos for behaving with such restraint and even if they lose the match, they will win so many hearts. The Indians have been doing that for so many years.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
gorkhanath baba ke khichdi chadain?
It was a great makar sankranti eve yesterday for me. I and my few engineering college juniors, with whom I am quite pally with, enjoyed everything esp the muskan sankritik samaroh...
the jhoolas were quite erratic and my usually skeptical self could not reconcile with the engineering ingenuity of the organizers. Still, I sat and thereafter got a shocker in my heart. Somehow I escaped and resolved that I have really grown old for such youthful antics.
Nonetheless, the crowd was largely from the rural fold but quite festive. It was a huge one too.
Khair, maja a gail bahut dher ohar....
the jhoolas were quite erratic and my usually skeptical self could not reconcile with the engineering ingenuity of the organizers. Still, I sat and thereafter got a shocker in my heart. Somehow I escaped and resolved that I have really grown old for such youthful antics.
Nonetheless, the crowd was largely from the rural fold but quite festive. It was a huge one too.
Khair, maja a gail bahut dher ohar....
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Why blogs are being debated?
Today there was a discussion going on NDTV on the blogs assuming a form of voeurism. The moderator was the quintessential modern day lady- the very very talented Barkha Dutt.
It was interesting to hear to diverse opinions. But by and large the majority stood by the relevance of blogs and the viewpoint more or less was that it is just another way of maintaining an online diary of yours and also a way of getting your presence noticed in the cyberworld.
Interestingly quite a few also maintained that it is another way of getting famous and who would not love that? The narcissist in us gets the upper of everything and it is too human a fallout. Which is why most of the bloggers, including me, flaunt their blogs in gmail or orkut or anywhere else.
Without fail, I have received zero coments in all but one of my blogs and my stats also say the same. Maybe they are not good enough. But that does not deter me from writing them.
Someone counteracted to the above rhetoric by saying that a blog rarely makes you famous.
Nonetheless, the blogophiles have discovered a forum where at the very least one can keep on writing-good or bad, just for the love of it. It keeps one in touch by and large with the issues- non-issues or burning issues because it is highly unlikely that a person writes crappy blogs just to flaunt them.
I guess a big shot from the company Blogworks said of among so many other things that content is the core basis of a book creation and this trend of book creation by dint of blogs hunting has still not started properly.
However, recent articles also suggest that even headhunters are seeking the help of blogs in searching new talents.
It was interesting to hear to diverse opinions. But by and large the majority stood by the relevance of blogs and the viewpoint more or less was that it is just another way of maintaining an online diary of yours and also a way of getting your presence noticed in the cyberworld.
Interestingly quite a few also maintained that it is another way of getting famous and who would not love that? The narcissist in us gets the upper of everything and it is too human a fallout. Which is why most of the bloggers, including me, flaunt their blogs in gmail or orkut or anywhere else.
Without fail, I have received zero coments in all but one of my blogs and my stats also say the same. Maybe they are not good enough. But that does not deter me from writing them.
Someone counteracted to the above rhetoric by saying that a blog rarely makes you famous.
Nonetheless, the blogophiles have discovered a forum where at the very least one can keep on writing-good or bad, just for the love of it. It keeps one in touch by and large with the issues- non-issues or burning issues because it is highly unlikely that a person writes crappy blogs just to flaunt them.
I guess a big shot from the company Blogworks said of among so many other things that content is the core basis of a book creation and this trend of book creation by dint of blogs hunting has still not started properly.
However, recent articles also suggest that even headhunters are seeking the help of blogs in searching new talents.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Tata's nano
It was the news of the day on the day of its launch two days before. It became a hot topic almost everywhere. People who are not car-freaks were also forced to know something about it so that they do not get excommunicated for the sheer ignorance.
The 'lakhtakiya' car as per the nickname given ought to be cheaper because taka is cheaper than INC.
Jokes apart, Ratan Tata's emotional connect with the Indian car afficiandos was a good pre-sales move. When he said that the Tatas have delivered their promise, the crowd was enthralled.
Business Standard says about Nano and Tata,
"It might have started as a widely misquoted dream of one man -- but Ratan Tata has ensured that he has turned it into an opportunity to take his firm to new heights."
Last heard that Ratan Tata is contemplating retirement from active business life after this venture.
The 'lakhtakiya' car as per the nickname given ought to be cheaper because taka is cheaper than INC.
Jokes apart, Ratan Tata's emotional connect with the Indian car afficiandos was a good pre-sales move. When he said that the Tatas have delivered their promise, the crowd was enthralled.
Business Standard says about Nano and Tata,
"It might have started as a widely misquoted dream of one man -- but Ratan Tata has ensured that he has turned it into an opportunity to take his firm to new heights."
Last heard that Ratan Tata is contemplating retirement from active business life after this venture.
Monday, January 7, 2008
XAT 2008 was not a shocker!
For those also interested in ca good b-school by dint of good score in XAT, this might not have come as a shocker as the level of toughness was not high vis-a-vis XAT 2007 or CAT 2007.
The surpriose element that was thrown in by XAT 2008 was the inclusion of questions based on decision making, which proved to be sitters. Maths copmprised easy to moderately tough questions.
English was not that dicey too as the passages, though highly abstract ones were still doable and subjectivity was not the spoilsport in XAT 2008 as it was in the case of CAT 2006 and CAT 2007.
Well, the cat will be out of the bag tomorrow and quite a few will come out again in shining colours. A new year of manger-creation has started and it is one night of torturous wait for the talented ones.
Even for the average joe, percentiles will come like a breath of fresh air for performances in putative world's toughest examination will always relative.
The surpriose element that was thrown in by XAT 2008 was the inclusion of questions based on decision making, which proved to be sitters. Maths copmprised easy to moderately tough questions.
English was not that dicey too as the passages, though highly abstract ones were still doable and subjectivity was not the spoilsport in XAT 2008 as it was in the case of CAT 2006 and CAT 2007.
Well, the cat will be out of the bag tomorrow and quite a few will come out again in shining colours. A new year of manger-creation has started and it is one night of torturous wait for the talented ones.
Even for the average joe, percentiles will come like a breath of fresh air for performances in putative world's toughest examination will always relative.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Happy New Year 2008
Let the year 08 be gr8 for everyone. Yesterday even me and my team had a bash within our modest means. Celebrating a new year is a concept still alien to many and for quite a few it is momentous because it means another holiday.:)
For the lazy ones it is definitely a good day and for the workaholics it means nonsensical wastage of time and money.
In Gorakhpur, roads are not that much chocabloc with honking cars vis-a-vis any larger city. And that does not lead to the much desired road rage on this particular day. For quietude is not the hallmark of this day and people love to go berserk if not on a rampage. Brandon Mccullum, New Zealand batter, had a great day yesterday finishing off the year in style. He enjoyed the run feast by hitting 80 plus runs in just 28 deliveries, a blitzkrieg that comprised six towering sixes.
What was pardoxical for my hometown was the fact that light went away dot on 12 a.m., signalling the shape of things to come in 08. I got pissed off because of this and decided to stroll to see the ire in the streets. There was no reaction from the rich as they were snoozing off.However, the poor community was somewhat more energetic and quite a few were wetting up in their alcohol pouches and hurling expletives on the degenerating system. That meant that the momentum was there.
It was an unusually cold day. I was coughing a lot and got disturbed mentally that maybe it is a bad signal and is a result of heavy smoking since so many years.
The morning was better as I was not coughing that much. I resolved that at least on the first day of this year, lemme quit smoking, irrespective of the fact that the rot has set in or not.
Today is rather one of those rare peaceful days when the mind is not in a state of any complex. It has been a smooth sail so far with a lot of socializing. Old acquaintances have suddenly caught up leaving the mind feel more empowered. They have also been kinder and very encouraging, contrary to the kinds I was frequently meeting since the past so many days. I will not say that we have won over things. How can anyone do that?
Still, the mindset matters a lot. Things seem rotten because the eyes are not conditioned rightly to perceive them in the right perspective. One of my good friends has promised to come soon with a treat in the offing again. I can very well contrast the pessimism of the last night with the optismic shiny afternoon of today. Who knows it might again give way to the former? But at this moment, life seems beautiful. I am again getting flashes of good old memories when the green leaves were enough to stir the soul and morning mist was the soul food. I bear an allegiance to my wintry past as it has kept me aesthetically and emotionally overwhelmed. It is not to say that summers are aweful. I remember a good song from the movie 'Mausam'. The fast song 'Dil dhhondta hai' comprising a duet highlights the myriad hues of various seasons.
The new year starts with winter in India. Ergo, let us at least start enjoying the winter to savor the rest of seasons the entire year.
In the end, Happy New Year!!!
For the lazy ones it is definitely a good day and for the workaholics it means nonsensical wastage of time and money.
In Gorakhpur, roads are not that much chocabloc with honking cars vis-a-vis any larger city. And that does not lead to the much desired road rage on this particular day. For quietude is not the hallmark of this day and people love to go berserk if not on a rampage. Brandon Mccullum, New Zealand batter, had a great day yesterday finishing off the year in style. He enjoyed the run feast by hitting 80 plus runs in just 28 deliveries, a blitzkrieg that comprised six towering sixes.
What was pardoxical for my hometown was the fact that light went away dot on 12 a.m., signalling the shape of things to come in 08. I got pissed off because of this and decided to stroll to see the ire in the streets. There was no reaction from the rich as they were snoozing off.However, the poor community was somewhat more energetic and quite a few were wetting up in their alcohol pouches and hurling expletives on the degenerating system. That meant that the momentum was there.
It was an unusually cold day. I was coughing a lot and got disturbed mentally that maybe it is a bad signal and is a result of heavy smoking since so many years.
The morning was better as I was not coughing that much. I resolved that at least on the first day of this year, lemme quit smoking, irrespective of the fact that the rot has set in or not.
Today is rather one of those rare peaceful days when the mind is not in a state of any complex. It has been a smooth sail so far with a lot of socializing. Old acquaintances have suddenly caught up leaving the mind feel more empowered. They have also been kinder and very encouraging, contrary to the kinds I was frequently meeting since the past so many days. I will not say that we have won over things. How can anyone do that?
Still, the mindset matters a lot. Things seem rotten because the eyes are not conditioned rightly to perceive them in the right perspective. One of my good friends has promised to come soon with a treat in the offing again. I can very well contrast the pessimism of the last night with the optismic shiny afternoon of today. Who knows it might again give way to the former? But at this moment, life seems beautiful. I am again getting flashes of good old memories when the green leaves were enough to stir the soul and morning mist was the soul food. I bear an allegiance to my wintry past as it has kept me aesthetically and emotionally overwhelmed. It is not to say that summers are aweful. I remember a good song from the movie 'Mausam'. The fast song 'Dil dhhondta hai' comprising a duet highlights the myriad hues of various seasons.
The new year starts with winter in India. Ergo, let us at least start enjoying the winter to savor the rest of seasons the entire year.
In the end, Happy New Year!!!
Sunday, December 30, 2007
The day has begun
Tasks have started. Since yesterday, I am suffering from cough and cold. Being an inveterate smoker, there is always a fear of cancer curing my smoking. But then if I can quit, so far so good. If I meet a premature end, never mind.
Osho says that death is a celebration.
Easier said than done. But if that held sense for the majority then at least we could have endured the losses of lives. Time could have become a faster healer.
The transcedental is still missing from my life. Despite earning a pittance in a sinecure, I feel that the process of earning moolah has killed the human within me.
Maybe, it is a one-off case or another reason for escaping.:)
I know not but I will try to add some spice into it. I plan to go to Kushinagar very soon. It has a calming and nostalgic effect for me. There are a certain things that evoke these stimuli.
Osho says that death is a celebration.
Easier said than done. But if that held sense for the majority then at least we could have endured the losses of lives. Time could have become a faster healer.
The transcedental is still missing from my life. Despite earning a pittance in a sinecure, I feel that the process of earning moolah has killed the human within me.
Maybe, it is a one-off case or another reason for escaping.:)
I know not but I will try to add some spice into it. I plan to go to Kushinagar very soon. It has a calming and nostalgic effect for me. There are a certain things that evoke these stimuli.
Become a writing junkie!
Well, this addiction does not have a name and does not qualify to be callled an addiction. Where are the takers anyway? Despite all of this, we still believe that it is one good way of letting go of your self. That is the primordial essence. No facts. No data driven logic. No reasoning. No rules. No constraints.
Welcome to the world of child-dom. Writing can be childlike and yet carry a lot of gravitas. Ask them who wanna break from the sober-mover, class-conscious, money-spinner, derivatives-ruled, mundane-owned, etc etc etc lives!!!
Hey, no-holds-barred blokes!
Max ur mirth...
I believe in Zorba-the warrior. Whaddayasuggest?
I may not be that proficient in linguistics. But I do have the audacity to challenge it!!!
And if you can provide me a decent vocation, it will be sooooo kind of you.
Welcome to the world of child-dom. Writing can be childlike and yet carry a lot of gravitas. Ask them who wanna break from the sober-mover, class-conscious, money-spinner, derivatives-ruled, mundane-owned, etc etc etc lives!!!
Hey, no-holds-barred blokes!
Max ur mirth...
I believe in Zorba-the warrior. Whaddayasuggest?
I may not be that proficient in linguistics. But I do have the audacity to challenge it!!!
And if you can provide me a decent vocation, it will be sooooo kind of you.
Where do we stand in the pyramid?
It seems that even if we stand at the bottom of the pyramid with lots of grilling being done from the apex, we are mightily satisfied with our inflated egos that we are being grilled by the apex.
Entreneurship comes with a lot of tough calls. Firstly, one should learn to master the demons within and thereafter try to ward off the external negativity.
That is true with lives too. The personal life is in shambles because of the unleashing of inner demons. How one realizes it too late in life!
But if it not that late, one must strive to get back the original self- that of a pure and happy child by ignoring all the negatives and focusing solely on the positives. There is a lot of yin and yang around and the philosophy also underscores the presence of both stabilty. For what is positive but negative turned inside out?
Ergo, we have to treat both with equanimity.
A venture- big or small, in a metro or a village, in a booming sector or -not-so-happening one, full of recognition or lacking that etc etc is so fraught with criticism. And one must learn to take these in the stride. That is the first stage of it. Then again, it has to be carried out with full self-belief. A cause in which you are dispassionate or even if you are not is not a cause worth fighting for. For what has been achieved without passion?
I read somewhere that a singer is half a singer if he hates the audience. A cricketer is half a cricketer if he hates fielding. etc. etc. etc.
At the outset, we reduce chances of success by half if we have an apathetic attitude towards it.
Gandhi is now a brand because he believed strongly in his mission, irrespective of the fact that it almost an 'Ekla Chalo' solo effort intially from his side.
I agree that the majority who have tried to emulate Gandhi have perished untimely. How does it matter?
It is better to persih for your cause than to live in a cause that ypu do not believe in because that is another form of death and not life at all.
Philosophy apart, practically speaking any venture rquires capital and if you do not have one, accept the mistake candidly and do not take it as a bottleneck to impede further capital creation. Generate capital from whichever good source you can. Go berserk and overboard in that effort. The world is cruel. You also become ruthless in mental strategies for capital acquisition. Nothing will be offered on a platter. Opportunities can be identified and we are in such a booming economy that we can do that. Do not bother if you have to make any good bloke your ATM for a while. You can return back much more than what you have taken. Hence, become bold in that and do not shy away. Ask freely anyone and convince him of your plans. Make sure it makes solid business sense and it is not a whacky idea of a screwed brain. For that, prepare a roadmap so that you do not reduce yourself as a butt of anyone's joke when you talk of your plans.
Branding is also important and that too depends a lot on capital. However, the expenditure can be reduced by liaisoning, word of mouth, generating good-will, networking and executing.
Well, one can become one's own master and despite the fact that in India entrepreneurship in any field a stigma, we can break free from the shackles through positive thinking. And positive attitude can take one places no matter when one starts.
Okay, so I was convincing myself by writing all these. I feel more confident of starting a venture that will be my baby.
Entreneurship comes with a lot of tough calls. Firstly, one should learn to master the demons within and thereafter try to ward off the external negativity.
That is true with lives too. The personal life is in shambles because of the unleashing of inner demons. How one realizes it too late in life!
But if it not that late, one must strive to get back the original self- that of a pure and happy child by ignoring all the negatives and focusing solely on the positives. There is a lot of yin and yang around and the philosophy also underscores the presence of both stabilty. For what is positive but negative turned inside out?
Ergo, we have to treat both with equanimity.
A venture- big or small, in a metro or a village, in a booming sector or -not-so-happening one, full of recognition or lacking that etc etc is so fraught with criticism. And one must learn to take these in the stride. That is the first stage of it. Then again, it has to be carried out with full self-belief. A cause in which you are dispassionate or even if you are not is not a cause worth fighting for. For what has been achieved without passion?
I read somewhere that a singer is half a singer if he hates the audience. A cricketer is half a cricketer if he hates fielding. etc. etc. etc.
At the outset, we reduce chances of success by half if we have an apathetic attitude towards it.
Gandhi is now a brand because he believed strongly in his mission, irrespective of the fact that it almost an 'Ekla Chalo' solo effort intially from his side.
I agree that the majority who have tried to emulate Gandhi have perished untimely. How does it matter?
It is better to persih for your cause than to live in a cause that ypu do not believe in because that is another form of death and not life at all.
Philosophy apart, practically speaking any venture rquires capital and if you do not have one, accept the mistake candidly and do not take it as a bottleneck to impede further capital creation. Generate capital from whichever good source you can. Go berserk and overboard in that effort. The world is cruel. You also become ruthless in mental strategies for capital acquisition. Nothing will be offered on a platter. Opportunities can be identified and we are in such a booming economy that we can do that. Do not bother if you have to make any good bloke your ATM for a while. You can return back much more than what you have taken. Hence, become bold in that and do not shy away. Ask freely anyone and convince him of your plans. Make sure it makes solid business sense and it is not a whacky idea of a screwed brain. For that, prepare a roadmap so that you do not reduce yourself as a butt of anyone's joke when you talk of your plans.
Branding is also important and that too depends a lot on capital. However, the expenditure can be reduced by liaisoning, word of mouth, generating good-will, networking and executing.
Well, one can become one's own master and despite the fact that in India entrepreneurship in any field a stigma, we can break free from the shackles through positive thinking. And positive attitude can take one places no matter when one starts.
Okay, so I was convincing myself by writing all these. I feel more confident of starting a venture that will be my baby.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
The enslaved psyche!
'Freedom' is a dirty word. Career has usurped its importance. We live our ebtire life for the sake of recognition and do not give even an iota of consideration to freedom of choosing any task. The run-of-the-mill money making process is the de rigeur of the day.
For that there a few good men who toil for more than 12 hours a day and suffer severe chidings by the peer despite loathing that. Why do live like that against their natural likings? Perhaps recognition is a very strong concept today and what does take in a few cases. Repression of desires. And who says that to? Money can satisfy all desires. And the majority is cocksure about that.
These are the best of the times and these are the worst of the times. Dickens said that long back, but it is even more germane today. And that is perhaps the trouble.We get stressed because of this disconnect. We vacillate between the two. Lives have become a shuttlecock. The two halves of the court are our nemesis.
Noone respects a truly free man. Is there really one?
Man was born free but alas evereywhere he is in chains!
Sometimes we can resolve to break at least a few links in the fetters of the society. This does reuire a lot of guts and gumption as the mighty society is cruel on anyonewho dares even to think of it. And yes the brickbats will be received with a much greater frequency and that is where an individual has to headstrong in not minding them.
If we sensitize it in toto, the repurcussions will be so strong that the individual will simply perish. What is required is perhaps the respect of ideologies and a silent but steely resolve to continue waking on the road less travelled despite all the expletives being hurled by all and sundry.
Man was born free. Adam must have lived lesser but he probalby enjoyed evry minute of his life. He was not probably even concerned about the perils of living the life of a neanderthal man. When you are blissfully aware of the hazards, you enjoy them and perhaps come out a winner in a better way.
We are aware of the shortcomings of the life of a Neanderthal man but we are unable to enjoy our own cosy lifestyle. Throw insecurities and unsettle the settlement to enjoy life at times.
Settlement is always temporary if we view it from the philosophical perspectives.
I accept that it can be a case of 'Grapes are sour'. We have to do justice to our potential, talent, education, culture, and so on and so forth. The list is endless. Daily we need to report to the society and we have no time to report to ourselves. We can try to be the master of our lives. We can try for that.
For that there a few good men who toil for more than 12 hours a day and suffer severe chidings by the peer despite loathing that. Why do live like that against their natural likings? Perhaps recognition is a very strong concept today and what does take in a few cases. Repression of desires. And who says that to? Money can satisfy all desires. And the majority is cocksure about that.
These are the best of the times and these are the worst of the times. Dickens said that long back, but it is even more germane today. And that is perhaps the trouble.We get stressed because of this disconnect. We vacillate between the two. Lives have become a shuttlecock. The two halves of the court are our nemesis.
Noone respects a truly free man. Is there really one?
Man was born free but alas evereywhere he is in chains!
Sometimes we can resolve to break at least a few links in the fetters of the society. This does reuire a lot of guts and gumption as the mighty society is cruel on anyonewho dares even to think of it. And yes the brickbats will be received with a much greater frequency and that is where an individual has to headstrong in not minding them.
If we sensitize it in toto, the repurcussions will be so strong that the individual will simply perish. What is required is perhaps the respect of ideologies and a silent but steely resolve to continue waking on the road less travelled despite all the expletives being hurled by all and sundry.
Man was born free. Adam must have lived lesser but he probalby enjoyed evry minute of his life. He was not probably even concerned about the perils of living the life of a neanderthal man. When you are blissfully aware of the hazards, you enjoy them and perhaps come out a winner in a better way.
We are aware of the shortcomings of the life of a Neanderthal man but we are unable to enjoy our own cosy lifestyle. Throw insecurities and unsettle the settlement to enjoy life at times.
Settlement is always temporary if we view it from the philosophical perspectives.
I accept that it can be a case of 'Grapes are sour'. We have to do justice to our potential, talent, education, culture, and so on and so forth. The list is endless. Daily we need to report to the society and we have no time to report to ourselves. We can try to be the master of our lives. We can try for that.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Sachin the living!!!
I suddenly can recall the genius of Sachin Tednulkar- the god of cricket. He is the God of largest things!!!
If the fools require the testimonies, here are a few that would silence the impotent critics:
http://www.google.co.in/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=videos+sachin+tendulkar&meta=
http://www.ulinkx.com/video/31676/indian_cricket_sachin_smashing_the_aussies
http://uprightvideos.blogspot.com/2006/01/mindblowing-shots-from-sachin.html
http://www.geocities.com/bgana99/srtendulkarvideo.html
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=9175699262769547045
http://cricketvideojunk.blogspot.com/2007/01/sachin-tendulkar-at-his-best.html
We know that this is not required because a god needs not anything, but still we all must write an ode for Him i.e. Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.
If the fools require the testimonies, here are a few that would silence the impotent critics:
http://www.google.co.in/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=videos+sachin+tendulkar&meta=
http://www.ulinkx.com/video/31676/indian_cricket_sachin_smashing_the_aussies
http://uprightvideos.blogspot.com/2006/01/mindblowing-shots-from-sachin.html
http://www.geocities.com/bgana99/srtendulkarvideo.html
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=9175699262769547045
http://cricketvideojunk.blogspot.com/2007/01/sachin-tendulkar-at-his-best.html
We know that this is not required because a god needs not anything, but still we all must write an ode for Him i.e. Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Enough is enough. Benazir Bhutto is assasinated!
What is happening to the world order? Another death blow to democracy has been struck. Despite all the differences in the subcontinent, we all are immensely shocked at what has happened to a person who has been by and large a liberal politician and has thus paid the price for it. On these moments we realise that we feel grieved not for a member of any particular community but that we feel grieved for the loss of humanity. The Frankenstein continues to terrorise humanity and we are but noble white-collared subservients to it. Pervez Musharraf is a hated man nowadays perchance even in Pakistan. He is defending a stance akin to that of George Bush in the US of A. Both seem to be hated for their anti-democratic policies.
Born on 21st June, 1953 to one of the elitest families of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto has met an end that somewhat strikes 'deja vu' for the Indian public that had been tormented in the past by the killings in the reputed Gandhi clan.
It is not the concern for the chotic Pakistan. It is a concern of the security all across the world. As of now, Pakistan seems to be the worst sufferer. Who knows who will will follow suit?
Nonetheless, the mournful mind still cannot reconcile with the fact that she is no more with us.
Born on 21st June, 1953 to one of the elitest families of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto has met an end that somewhat strikes 'deja vu' for the Indian public that had been tormented in the past by the killings in the reputed Gandhi clan.
It is not the concern for the chotic Pakistan. It is a concern of the security all across the world. As of now, Pakistan seems to be the worst sufferer. Who knows who will will follow suit?
Nonetheless, the mournful mind still cannot reconcile with the fact that she is no more with us.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Life is beautiful
I used to be under the charm of the evil genius of Hitler but yesterday when I saw the movie Life is Beautiful it dawned upon me that the trauma of the families who were executed en masse in his regime was far more than we recall in our prosperity. It is almost a similar situation nowadays with global terrorism raising its ugly head. I used to be somewhat antagonistic of american policies but the image of an americ war tank rescuing so many jews in the movie made me realise that it is a lesser evil. the only concern is that its publicity machinery is also gobbelean in nature and bush is being accused of behaving like another evil leader like Hitler. Without deterrants, use of power becomes atrocious. And that is sad whenever and wherever it happens.
Talking of the movie, I belong to the genre of the impressionable youths who get awestruck so easily. Ergo, I found Roberto Benigni and others in the movie awesome. He is the talented man who became famous also for his antics off the reel cinema.
I wish to paste excerpts from wikipedia about the dramatic but inspirationional.
As per the wikipedia about Robert Benigni:
His first experiences as a theatre actor took place in 1972, in Prato. During that autumn he moved to Rome where he took part in some experimental theatre shows, some of which he also directed. In 1975, Benigni had his first theatrical success with Cioni Mario di Gaspare fu Giulia, written by Giuseppe Bertolucci.
Benigni became famous in Italy in the 1970s for a shocking TV series called Televacca, on RAI2, by Renzo Arbore, in which he interpreted the satirical piece "anthem of the melt body" (L'inno del corpo sciolto, a hymn to defecation).[2] A great scandal for the time, the series was suspended due to censorship. His first film was 1977's Berlinguer ti voglio bene, also by Giuseppe Bertolucci.
Afterwards, he appeared during a public political demonstration of the Italian Communist Party, of which he was a sympathiser, and in this occasion he took in his arms and dangled the national leader Enrico Berlinguer, a very serious figure. It was an unprecedented act, given that until that moment Italian politicians were proverbially serious and formal (and Berlinguer was perhaps the most serious of them all). It represented a breaking point, after which politicians experimented with newer habits and "public manners", attended fewer formal events and, generally speaking, modified their lifestyle in order to exhibit a more popular behaviour. Benigni was censored again in the 1980s for calling the Pope John Paul II something impolite during an important live TV show ("Wojtylaccio", meaning "Bad Wojtyla" in Italian).
His popularity increased with another Arbore's show, L'altra domenica (1978), in which Benigni portrayed a lazy film critic who has never watched the film for which he is called to review.
Life Is Beautiful and beyond
Benigni is probably best known outside Italy for his 1997 tragicomedy Life Is Beautiful (La vita è bella), filmed in Cortona and Arezzo, also written by Cerami. The film is about an Italian Jewish man who tries to protect his son's innocence during his internment at a Nazi concentration camp, by telling him that the Holocaust is an elaborate game and he must adhere very carefully to the rules to win. Benigni's father had spent two years in a concentration camp in Bergen-Belsen, and La Vita è bella is based in part on his father's experiences. In 1998, the film was nominated for seven Academy Awards and Benigni personally won the Best Actor. The Best Foreign Language Film is awarded to the film itself, but Academy rules stipulate that the director will accept the award.[3] The score by Nicola Piovani also won an Oscar. Famously, in the midst of being so giddy with delight, he climbed on the back of the seat for his procession to the stage and applauded the audience after he was told he had won one of his Oscars. The next year's ceremony, when he read the nominees for the Academy Award for Best Actress, host Billy Crystal playfully appeared behind him with a large net to restrain Benigni if he got excessive with his antics again.
As per the wikipedia about Life is Beautiful:
Title
The title derives from Leon Trotsky's last testament; while in exile in Mexico, expecting to die shortly from high blood pressure (or from agents loyal to his rival Joseph Stalin), Trotsky wrote,
"Natasha has just come up to the window from the courtyard and opened it wider so that the air may enter more freely into my room. I can see the bright green strip of grass beneath the wall, and the clear blue sky above the wall, and sunlight everywhere. Life is beautiful. Let the future generations cleanse it of all evil, oppression and violence, and enjoy it to the full."
Plot
The first half of the movie is a whimsical, romantic comedy and often slapstick. Guido (Roberto Benigni), a young Italian Jew, arrives in Arezzo where he sets up a bookstore. Guido is both funny and charismatic, especially when he romances Dora (Italian, but not Jewish), portrayed by Benigni's actual wife Nicoletta Braschi), whom he steals – at her engagement – from her rude and loud fiancé. Several years pass, in which Guido and Dora have a son, Joshua (written Giosuè in the Italian version. Portrayed by Giorgio Cantarini). In the film, Joshua is around five years old. However, both the beginning and ending of the film is narrated by an older Joshua.
In the second half of the movie, Guido, his uncle, and Joshua are taken to a concentration camp on Joshua's birthday. Dora demands to join her family and is permitted to do so. In an attempt to keep up Joshua's spirits, Guido convinces him that the camp is just a game – a game in which the first person to get a thousand points wins a tank. He tells Joshua that if you complain for hunger you lose points, while quiet boys who hide from the camp guards earn points. He convinces Joshua that the camp guards are mean because they want the tank for themselves and that all the other children are hiding in order to win the game. He puts off every attempt of Joshua ending the game and returning home by convincing him that they are in the lead for the tank. Despite being surrounded by rampant death and people and all their sicknesses, Joshua doesn't question this fiction both because of his father's convincing performance and his own innocence.
Guido maintains this story right until the end, when – in the chaos caused by the American advance drawing near – he tells his son to stay in a sweatbox until everybody has left, this being the final test before the tank is his. After trying to find Dora, Guido is caught, taken away, and is shot by a Nazi guard, but not before making his son laugh one last time. Joshua manages to survive, and thinks he has won the game when an American tank arrives to liberate the camp, and he is reunited with his mother.
Talking of the movie, I belong to the genre of the impressionable youths who get awestruck so easily. Ergo, I found Roberto Benigni and others in the movie awesome. He is the talented man who became famous also for his antics off the reel cinema.
I wish to paste excerpts from wikipedia about the dramatic but inspirationional.
As per the wikipedia about Robert Benigni:
His first experiences as a theatre actor took place in 1972, in Prato. During that autumn he moved to Rome where he took part in some experimental theatre shows, some of which he also directed. In 1975, Benigni had his first theatrical success with Cioni Mario di Gaspare fu Giulia, written by Giuseppe Bertolucci.
Benigni became famous in Italy in the 1970s for a shocking TV series called Televacca, on RAI2, by Renzo Arbore, in which he interpreted the satirical piece "anthem of the melt body" (L'inno del corpo sciolto, a hymn to defecation).[2] A great scandal for the time, the series was suspended due to censorship. His first film was 1977's Berlinguer ti voglio bene, also by Giuseppe Bertolucci.
Afterwards, he appeared during a public political demonstration of the Italian Communist Party, of which he was a sympathiser, and in this occasion he took in his arms and dangled the national leader Enrico Berlinguer, a very serious figure. It was an unprecedented act, given that until that moment Italian politicians were proverbially serious and formal (and Berlinguer was perhaps the most serious of them all). It represented a breaking point, after which politicians experimented with newer habits and "public manners", attended fewer formal events and, generally speaking, modified their lifestyle in order to exhibit a more popular behaviour. Benigni was censored again in the 1980s for calling the Pope John Paul II something impolite during an important live TV show ("Wojtylaccio", meaning "Bad Wojtyla" in Italian).
His popularity increased with another Arbore's show, L'altra domenica (1978), in which Benigni portrayed a lazy film critic who has never watched the film for which he is called to review.
Life Is Beautiful and beyond
Benigni is probably best known outside Italy for his 1997 tragicomedy Life Is Beautiful (La vita è bella), filmed in Cortona and Arezzo, also written by Cerami. The film is about an Italian Jewish man who tries to protect his son's innocence during his internment at a Nazi concentration camp, by telling him that the Holocaust is an elaborate game and he must adhere very carefully to the rules to win. Benigni's father had spent two years in a concentration camp in Bergen-Belsen, and La Vita è bella is based in part on his father's experiences. In 1998, the film was nominated for seven Academy Awards and Benigni personally won the Best Actor. The Best Foreign Language Film is awarded to the film itself, but Academy rules stipulate that the director will accept the award.[3] The score by Nicola Piovani also won an Oscar. Famously, in the midst of being so giddy with delight, he climbed on the back of the seat for his procession to the stage and applauded the audience after he was told he had won one of his Oscars. The next year's ceremony, when he read the nominees for the Academy Award for Best Actress, host Billy Crystal playfully appeared behind him with a large net to restrain Benigni if he got excessive with his antics again.
As per the wikipedia about Life is Beautiful:
Title
The title derives from Leon Trotsky's last testament; while in exile in Mexico, expecting to die shortly from high blood pressure (or from agents loyal to his rival Joseph Stalin), Trotsky wrote,
"Natasha has just come up to the window from the courtyard and opened it wider so that the air may enter more freely into my room. I can see the bright green strip of grass beneath the wall, and the clear blue sky above the wall, and sunlight everywhere. Life is beautiful. Let the future generations cleanse it of all evil, oppression and violence, and enjoy it to the full."
Plot
The first half of the movie is a whimsical, romantic comedy and often slapstick. Guido (Roberto Benigni), a young Italian Jew, arrives in Arezzo where he sets up a bookstore. Guido is both funny and charismatic, especially when he romances Dora (Italian, but not Jewish), portrayed by Benigni's actual wife Nicoletta Braschi), whom he steals – at her engagement – from her rude and loud fiancé. Several years pass, in which Guido and Dora have a son, Joshua (written Giosuè in the Italian version. Portrayed by Giorgio Cantarini). In the film, Joshua is around five years old. However, both the beginning and ending of the film is narrated by an older Joshua.
In the second half of the movie, Guido, his uncle, and Joshua are taken to a concentration camp on Joshua's birthday. Dora demands to join her family and is permitted to do so. In an attempt to keep up Joshua's spirits, Guido convinces him that the camp is just a game – a game in which the first person to get a thousand points wins a tank. He tells Joshua that if you complain for hunger you lose points, while quiet boys who hide from the camp guards earn points. He convinces Joshua that the camp guards are mean because they want the tank for themselves and that all the other children are hiding in order to win the game. He puts off every attempt of Joshua ending the game and returning home by convincing him that they are in the lead for the tank. Despite being surrounded by rampant death and people and all their sicknesses, Joshua doesn't question this fiction both because of his father's convincing performance and his own innocence.
Guido maintains this story right until the end, when – in the chaos caused by the American advance drawing near – he tells his son to stay in a sweatbox until everybody has left, this being the final test before the tank is his. After trying to find Dora, Guido is caught, taken away, and is shot by a Nazi guard, but not before making his son laugh one last time. Joshua manages to survive, and thinks he has won the game when an American tank arrives to liberate the camp, and he is reunited with his mother.
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Love in the times of Cholera!
Perhaps I am able to recall the facts correctly. I have not read this novel but perchance remember (probably correctly) seeing it being read by Kate Beckinsale in the flick 'Serendipity'. I know not what it means. But the movie seemed to be pretty romantic, albeit tragic in the end. John Cussac dies a very different kind of end. It seemed to be an end that one can only fantasise of in true love, with dreams as rich as stars broken by the vulgar realities.
The first million in terms of money is very lucrative and indeed it should be. But what do we say about a life full of millions of desires besides that of accumation of power and pelf? Indeed, we are sometimes left with a dry life because with the onset of maturity, hedonism apart, desires are not as livid as they are in the reckless youth. With urbanisation spreading its tentacles almost everywhere, the greying of youth happens much earlier.
The pleasures of youth can be felt only in our heydays and we do not rue the loss because life offers an alternative to it- ambition.
Become the best rat in the race because ultimately rat is the winner. And who cares about the loser. Justifiably so.
However, the heart still meanders sometimes and fantasises of a dream land where fairies abound and angels make love with them.
it dreams of a land where a breath of fresh air is the ambrosia and one is intoxicated with life(too bad for the tipplers!).
The dreams sometimes create a hallucination about an Elysian where people are full of smiles and genuinely hug each other at their achievements; a place that is free of any ego trip because harbouring an ego requires lot of dissipation of one's nervous energy. Who has the time for it when the prime mover is love? Yeah, someone rightly said that loving is the most difficult thing to do in life and almost all of us are escapists and shun doing that. The heart is not dry and the body not a zombie. The greatest wish of life can be that let this life have a complete life. We are not content with anything less.
The first million in terms of money is very lucrative and indeed it should be. But what do we say about a life full of millions of desires besides that of accumation of power and pelf? Indeed, we are sometimes left with a dry life because with the onset of maturity, hedonism apart, desires are not as livid as they are in the reckless youth. With urbanisation spreading its tentacles almost everywhere, the greying of youth happens much earlier.
The pleasures of youth can be felt only in our heydays and we do not rue the loss because life offers an alternative to it- ambition.
Become the best rat in the race because ultimately rat is the winner. And who cares about the loser. Justifiably so.
However, the heart still meanders sometimes and fantasises of a dream land where fairies abound and angels make love with them.
it dreams of a land where a breath of fresh air is the ambrosia and one is intoxicated with life(too bad for the tipplers!).
The dreams sometimes create a hallucination about an Elysian where people are full of smiles and genuinely hug each other at their achievements; a place that is free of any ego trip because harbouring an ego requires lot of dissipation of one's nervous energy. Who has the time for it when the prime mover is love? Yeah, someone rightly said that loving is the most difficult thing to do in life and almost all of us are escapists and shun doing that. The heart is not dry and the body not a zombie. The greatest wish of life can be that let this life have a complete life. We are not content with anything less.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
liquid is solid beedu!!!
That is true when you talk of moolah nowadays. It is the age of commerce in which everything is commoditised. Everything means everything! For example, marriages have also become a novel examples of mergers wherein two smart alecks join forces to empower themselves financially so that they can flex their financial biceps later in life. The trend is not modern. It is rather a pragmatic way to live and is symbiotic too. In short, it is the only 'best' way to live after 30.
It has its antecedents in the ancient days. There was a corporate presentation in the B-school of IIT Delhi in which the ancient example of Draupadi in Mahabharata going for five husbands was taken to add a tinge of humour in the presentation. A classic example of tie-ups! However, we believe that it was taken as a good humoured joke and did not hurt the religious sentiments. And no working professional will love to trigger the debate of creative freedom not being bound by major constraints.
However, gone are the days of a 'kushal' grihani who is 'daksh in grih karya'. After all, what are the maids for? Nowadays, their KRA's extend far beyond the conventional tasks of cooking and baby-sitting. At best, sometimes they are also involved in the decision-making policies at homes. In the worst case scenario, if they are different they can act as concubines. But we have to perceive the glass to be half full. Lives are grey and we have to accept that.
In any case, rampant commercialisation bodes well for the 'maids' sector, which will flourish as India grows from strength to strength and establishes itself as an economic superpower in the decades to come.
Nursing is also an art and almost a gift of God. Munnabhai created a novel way of nursing and it created ripples in Bollywood. Robin Williams was also awesome in setting up an example through 'Patch Adams'. Ergo, it is high time we started giving due cognizance to any domestic help and tried to help ourselves more in our household chores if we got the time for it.
It has its antecedents in the ancient days. There was a corporate presentation in the B-school of IIT Delhi in which the ancient example of Draupadi in Mahabharata going for five husbands was taken to add a tinge of humour in the presentation. A classic example of tie-ups! However, we believe that it was taken as a good humoured joke and did not hurt the religious sentiments. And no working professional will love to trigger the debate of creative freedom not being bound by major constraints.
However, gone are the days of a 'kushal' grihani who is 'daksh in grih karya'. After all, what are the maids for? Nowadays, their KRA's extend far beyond the conventional tasks of cooking and baby-sitting. At best, sometimes they are also involved in the decision-making policies at homes. In the worst case scenario, if they are different they can act as concubines. But we have to perceive the glass to be half full. Lives are grey and we have to accept that.
In any case, rampant commercialisation bodes well for the 'maids' sector, which will flourish as India grows from strength to strength and establishes itself as an economic superpower in the decades to come.
Nursing is also an art and almost a gift of God. Munnabhai created a novel way of nursing and it created ripples in Bollywood. Robin Williams was also awesome in setting up an example through 'Patch Adams'. Ergo, it is high time we started giving due cognizance to any domestic help and tried to help ourselves more in our household chores if we got the time for it.
Friday, December 21, 2007
We the living
We the living have to be a non-profit organization that serves other nonprofit organizations and information consumers worldwide. We should focus on serving non-religious organizations involved in Education, Environmentalism, Humanitarian Relief, Fighting Disease, Homeless Issues, Crime Control, Political Freedom, Government Reform, Consumer Protection, Youth Issues, Addiction, and other like-minded, non-legislative causes. By providing free services to charities we can help them save money and become more efficient all around. In turn, they can provide additional benefits to their constituents. Our opinions and ideas are not influenced by any corporate, political, or religious affiliations. We should also have nothing to sell and should not accept any advertising. On most organizations you can’t count on that level of objectivity. We should have no interest in being politically correct, only factually correct to the extent possible. When faced with no other options, we have to believe in aggressively promoting a solution, which is the “lesser of two evils”. We the living’s work is benefiting hungry, oppressed, uneducated, and other ailing people more and more each day. A central issue We the living seeks to address is education. We must believe that formal school education is the best route to educate the masses. However, informal education, such as reading reliable information in print or online, also greatly enhances ones ability to understand important issues facing society. Armed with knowledge, citizens can then take action to improve their lives and the world around them. Every ailment in the world can be lessened if educated people commit themselves to the task. If you want a government that is more responsive to the needs of common citizens you can read about civics and government reform initiatives. If we want to assist with humanitarian relief worldwide, we might want to study international economics and culture, so we can be of more use in the field or in the nonprofit office. If one needs a good job to pay for health insurance and housing they need to be able to read and write well enough to fill out a job application effectively, not to mention to manage their jobs. The point is that education is ultimately the only sure answer to reduce global suffering, whatever its cause. Humans face an increasing threat of extinction due to mismanagement of the environment. The pace of environmental harm is unlikely to take the lives of the current generation. But, if left unregulated, global corporate interests are certain to cause us additional harm and perilous risk. We must enact tougher environmental laws in the world, employ the best environmentally friendly technologies, and perpetually push the global community towards environmental preservation. Using more renewable resources, like solar energy, and fewer fossil fuels, like oil, is a good start. Moreover, we must further limit the harmful byproducts of industry. Enacting more financial advantages for good corporate citizens and additional financial disincentives to large polluters will further improve the environment. If the custodians of the Earth (us) were to sit on the sidelines during this critical struggle it would be negligent. Many invisible chemicals in the air can cause lung disease or possibly cancer. These poisons readily get in to our food and water supply and harm every form of life. And sewer overflow and runoff from farms and city streets threaten our waters, wildlife, and our health. You should promote strong federal laws and regulations to lessen polluted runoff, raw sewage discharges, and factory farm wastes. Electric power plants and automobiles are the largest source of the pollutants that cause acid rain, poisoning in our lakes and rivers, and global warming. Regulating their discharges and promoting newer and better technologies is the best bet to improve the quality of our air and water, and to lessen environmental harm from global warming. Please learn more about current and threatening environmental hazards and work for a cleaner, healthier Earth. Unfortunately, the lesser developed parts of our world are plagued by famine, malnutrition, poor water quality, and poor sanitation, as well as AIDS, TB, malaria, and other deadly diseases. These problems frequently overlap in the poorest regions of the world. In many cases, corrupt government leaders and civil war significantly contribute to this suffering, since it prevents third world economies from developing and therefore prevents the building of self-sufficient, healthy nations. Plus, corruption and war often keeps humanitarian workers away from many of the worlds neediest areas. And prospective aid donors will often shy away from regions with governments that are unwilling or unable to protect their humanitarian relief investments. Corrupt militants and government officials frequently steal aid destined for the poor to fund their own causes – even if their cause is plain greed. Also, extreme weather conditions greatly harm the global poor. A region with drought or flood conditions will be unable to effectively grow crops and oftentimes the starving citizens will even resort to eating their seed stocks – hurting the next year’s planting season, and reinforcing the cycle of poverty and suffering. Weak educational systems also greatly contribute to suffering. People who lack a basic education will generally remain poor and will be unable to contribute to the well being of their society at large, since they will likely have trouble merely feeding their own families. They may lack sexual education or nutritional education, which could be contributing factors in acquiring AIDS or becoming malnourished, for example. If they lack civic education, they are unlikely to be able to support the reform of their governments. If they lack math or language education their illiteracy will likely prevent them from gaining meaningful employment. Education for all is key to global survival, and its costs are vastly lower than the cost of ignorance. The Western world for the most part only reads about or sees these horrific humanitarian situations on TV – but they are everyday reality for many millions of our fellow humans. And these people suffer real pain, the same as all other humans. Therefore it is our responsibility to take assertive action in attempt to lessen this suffering. One can try to ignore the suffering but it will still exist. The world can not realize its positive potential unless we commit ourselves to working on behalf of the least fortunate among us. Humanitarian relief is an extraordinarily complex subject and therefore we can’t address it in great detail in this forum, but please decide how you can best help. However, if we lack time, we can all donate at least a small percentage of our earnings to some of the organizations below, who are in the field every day saving current or at-risk hungry people, diseased people, war victims, and/or the uneducated masses. Famine, malnutrition, poor water quality and sanitation plague many parts of our world. This often leads to terrible diseases such as TB, malaria, cholera and AIDS. New but deadly diseases such as SARS remain in the minds of people worldwide. We must remember, however, that diseases are not caused by a single factor but by many. These factors fuel each other and interact together in such a way that not one solution can possibly solve or eliminate a disease altogether. Nevertheless, as global citizens we need to take an active part in the fight to eradicate disease. The cost puts pressure on healthcare, social support, worker productivity and profit margins. Of course the most dreaded cost of disease is death which is why we should never give up in our fight. Overpopulation leads to overcrowding which also fuel disease. When there are too many people, basic necessities such as food, water and housing become scarce. These resources become expensive and unaffordable. Children are even more susceptible to disease where clean water and sanitation are serious issues. Due to poverty and the widening income gap, many poor families often choose paying utilities over spending money on basic necessities such as food, clothing and medical care. Air pollution contributes to disease causing asthma, bronchitis and lung cancer. Household cleaning agents contain pollutants such as solvents that can cause dizziness.
Abundant exposure to asbestos has been found to lead to lung cancer. These are everyday dangers that we take for granted or of which we may not be aware. We should let our voices be heard by writing to our elected representatives, urging them to work together with leaders worldwide to control pollution and educate global citizens of its dangers to health. The destruction caused by war also often results in disease. War brings damage to essential infrastructures that provide electricity, water, food and employment often plunging its victims into poverty and displacement. In crowded refugee camps, poor sanitation, lack of water, food, clothing and electricity make these camps breeding grounds for all kinds of diseases. In addition, medical supplies and medicine are often not easily attainable. War diseases such as TB, leprosy, malaria, cholera took the lives of many. Countries in war devote much of their monetary budget to the war efforts, depriving funding to areas such as healthcare, housing, disease prevention and education. In war, our volunteers brave the war fronts by delivering medicines and administering medical care to war victims. To those of us who can afford to, support such organizations through your donations. Healthcare access is an ongoing concern that affects our fight to eradicate disease. For those living with financial hardships, not having access to medicine and medical care makes them more prone to poor health. Quick treatment and strong prevention measures are important factors needed to stop disease and having easy access to healthcare facilitates this. Some cultural practices lead to disease. Many of the blood donors are not told of the health risks associated with selling their own blood. Antibiotics continue to be used in animal and plant farming in three ways: treatment, disease prevention and growth promotion. The concern is that if the use of antibiotics outside of treatment is prolonged, the drugs will lose their ability to fight disease as bacteria gains resistance to the medicine. Lobbying at the expense of people. This causes financial hardship for those living in poverty, many times denying them access to badly needed medicines. Consequently, diseases often go untreated and continue to spread and bring hardships to people all over the world. To repay loans borrowed from the IMF and World Bank, through structural adjustment programs, debtor countries are required to make a major shift in their spending budget. Cash-ready resources become the focus of spending instead of socio-economic programs such as healthcare, job creation or disease prevention. Countries spent more in repaying their foreign debt than on spending money on healthcare, disease prevention and education on their own people. When healthcare and disease prevention takes a back seat like this, disease will continue to flourish. Global warming continues to pose many problems to our environment, which contributes to disease.
Call for action
You can see how the interaction of critical factors contributes to disease and sickness. There is no one solution that we can undertake to eradicate disease but a collective global effort is needed to suppress it to the best of our abilities. For those of us who can afford to, funding is always needed for hospitals and medical laboratories across the world in order to continue research so that our medical doctors and researchers can find new cures to battle and defeat disease. Please donate, if you can, to foundations and relief agencies. Let your voice be heard, speak out and urge our elected representatives to give healthcare to the people that don’t have it. This will help in our fight to both prevent and eradicate disease. We need to take notice of the power and influence that lobbyists have over our elected representatives and understand how this affects our health and us. We need to let our representatives in congress know how we feel about this alarming trend. Remember that one person cannot do this alone. It needs to be a collective effort! Let us help promote the knowledge of disease. Many diseases such as STD’s, heart disease and flu can be prevented. By learning about the disease and its causes, we can refrain from activities that place us at greater risk of acquiring these diseases. This way, we are able to proactively prevent the disease from spreading and help the push towards its eradication. Homelessness can be caused by a variety of problems. The main cause is unaffordable housing for the poor. Secondary causes include mental illness, physical illnesses, substance abuse, lack of incentives to work, poor work ethics, and, like most social issues We the living seeks to address, lack of decent education. A missed paycheck, a health crisis, or an unpaid bill can easily push poor families over the edge into homelessness. It has been reported that the types of assistance homeless adults felt they needed most were help finding a job, help finding affordable housing, and help paying for housing. However, the main types of assistance they usually received were clothing, transportation and help with public benefits. Few homeless actually receive help finding housing, likely because caregivers know it’s unaffordable or otherwise unattainable for people of their social status. A minority of the homeless population is capable but unwilling to work – they may resent the minimal wages they would receive if they could find work. It would be irresponsible if we did not consider that a minority of the homeless may be inherently “lazy”, or substance abuse has made them so. In these cases the there is little help the system can offer that will bring about positive social results. In general, we recommend a “tough love” approach wherein able people must work in some capacity to receive the benefits they seek. There is often a gray line between those who are mentally ill, substance abusers, and other disabled homeless. Therefore it is not easy to classify them in to benefit categories or to understand their labor capabilities. Moreover, there is no one comprehensive system to manage the myriad of services for the homeless, their benefits, and their reintegration in to society. We recommend the states move towards a fully integrated computerized system, which would make delivering benefits and getting people off the streets more cost effective. Even though documenting people’s’ lives in detail verges on an invasion of privacy, we feel if the taxpayers need to foot the bill, which they ultimately do, there is no alternative but to build an efficient system with subjective inputs, in order to provide benefits and opportunities based on need. Most people, including the homeless, are not inherently lazy. But the economic system does not adequately support those at the lowest skill levels, even if they are willing to work – leading to unemployment and millions of “working poor”. For mayors, city councils, and even homeless providers it may seem that placing homeless people in shelters is the most inexpensive way of meeting basic needs. This is deceptive. The cost of homelessness can be quite high, particularly for those with chronic illnesses. Because they have no regular place to stay, people who are homeless use a variety of public systems in an inefficient and costly way. Preventing a homeless episode, or ensuring a speedy transition in to stable permanent housing can result in a significant overall cost savings. Hospitals, prisons, lost opportunity, and emergency shelter is all very inefficient. Crime is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as an act or the commission of an act that is forbidden or the omission of a duty that is commanded by a public law and that makes the offender liable to punishment by that law. Laws are designed to protect us and ensure our safety in all aspects of our lives: physical, financial, psychological and social.
Yet not a day does go by that we don’t hear of crimes taking place in our city or state. When a crime is committed, public safety becomes endangered and specific individuals or groups may feel violated. While we would like to avoid such events, they take place all too often. Corporate crime exists on both ends of the continuum, where the workers continue to be victimized and their rights violated. Another major type of crime is terrorism.
Social and Economic Problems Caused by Crime.
Our social and economic problems are often a direct result of crime. In a vicious circle, these problems can fuel crime even more. For example, those who commit theft and burglaries often do so because of their need for money. These individuals may be unemployed, incapable of finding work, homeless, sick or impoverished. These crimes become a tempting way to quickly acquire money. Unfortunately, when left unpunished, these individuals get the misconception that crime pays. It is this thinking that encourages some individuals to continue their criminal ways, discouraging them from finding other activities that would give them some normality and stability in their lives. This way of thinking reinforces crime. Another crime, prostitution, is frequently associated with drug addiction. Many prostitutes find it difficult to change their work because of their drug addiction. Drugs require significant cash and prostitution provides this, faster and easier than legitimate work.
Prostitution often will lead to other crimes such as people trafficking, sexual abuse, and rape. Those who exploit women often have no regard for people’s lives. This disregard often leads to physical abuse and even murder. In addition, prostitution can increase the spread of diseases such as AIDS, other STD’s and hepatitis. On a larger scale, drug addiction fuels the illicit drug industry. In organized crime, you will find other violations related to drug trafficking. These include money laundering, smuggling and illegal sale of weapons, credit card fraud and counterfeiting. Poverty often leads to the problem of homelessness. Those who live on the streets often experience hunger and disease making them more likely to resort to committing theft and burglary as a means to eat or to obtain medicine. Out on the streets the homeless are exposed more to the risks of drug addiction and other unwanted social behaviors. All of these factors fuel crime.
Solving the Root Causes of Crime
In order to eradicate crime, we need to address the root causes. These include, but are not limited to, greed, inadequate corporate oversight, poverty, lack of education, homelessness, drug addiction, racial hatred, and lax gun laws. Education is one of the biggest factors that play a role in what becomes of an individual in their adulthood. Those who have an education possess the training and skills needed to make them marketable to potential employers. Indeed, even for jobs that pay only a minimum wage, employers likely will prefer interviewing candidates with a decent education over those without. Thus, many of the uneducated may find themselves unemployed, living in sub-standard housing and in impoverished conditions. And as money becomes scarce, many of them might be tempted to engage in criminal activities. At We the living, we encourage everyone to pursue formal education and stress the importance of governments and universities helping make it accessible to all. We strongly believe that every citizen deserves an education and it’s especially important to make it more available to those families who are not able to readily afford it. Education can help eradicate poverty, which will in turn reduce the crime rate. Poverty often pushes children to drop out of school. Those children who do not attend school may end up roaming the streets, exposing themselves to criminal elements and activities. This is why it is imperative that communities provide safe places where children can gather inside, away from street life. These include school clubs, youth clubs, and sports and recreational centers where children and youth are given support and supervision through educational and developmental programs.
Without alternatives to schools, children can easily get involved in petty crimes such as shoplifting, residential break-ins, car theft and vandalism. After the petty crimes, these children may graduate into the more serious crimes of drug trafficking, sexual offences and gang violence. Crime can also be related to the probability of being caught and the extent of possible sentencing. On our Sexual Abuse Journals, we present information showing that most rapes and most acts of sexual abuse are committed by individuals with whom the victims are related or otherwise acquainted. Such relationships can discourage victims from reporting incidents to law enforcement agencies, thus failing to bring the culprits to justice. Part of the underreporting problem is the social stigma that is attached to these victims. Although they are victims, they are often blamed for the crime, labeled as being promiscuous and loose. This allows the real offenders to get away unpunished, leaving them free to offend again. As citizens, we need to adopt laws and reporting procedures that will give full physical and psychological protection to victims who report crime. Let us not allow offenders to get away with their crimes, giving them an opportunity to repeat. Corporate crime is becoming increasingly global and its consequences can be devastating. Consumers are defrauded. Our environment (soil, air and water) is often compromised. Our personal safety can be placed at risk by lobbyists who buy influence but do not have the interest of the greater majority at heart. We must also work to curtail corporate greed. The practice of “influence buying” needs to be stopped. We call for greater transparency as well so that irregularities in accounting practices can be detected early to mitigate any damages. The practice of corporate disclosure needs to be widened. This will allow consumers and shareholders to become fully aware of corporate records on the environment, human rights, worker safety and financial matters. It will also allow us to know about corporate criminal records and litigation records. Multiple functions within consulting firms need to be severed and made independent from each other to prevent conflicts of interest.
As law-abiding citizens, it is imperative that we live our lives according to the rules of our land. It is also our civic duty to report any crimes that we witness. The reasons are simple: our laws are meant to preserve the quiet and peaceful enjoyment of living in this great country. Anytime a law is broken, it can compromise the safety of our citizens. What makes our nation so great is the freedom given to us by our forefathers: our freedom of speech, of religion, of protest, to vote, to get an education, to go to work, to information and many more! These freedoms are valuable and precious to all of us.. Although the costs of these battles are plenty, the rewards are worth it.
Abundant exposure to asbestos has been found to lead to lung cancer. These are everyday dangers that we take for granted or of which we may not be aware. We should let our voices be heard by writing to our elected representatives, urging them to work together with leaders worldwide to control pollution and educate global citizens of its dangers to health. The destruction caused by war also often results in disease. War brings damage to essential infrastructures that provide electricity, water, food and employment often plunging its victims into poverty and displacement. In crowded refugee camps, poor sanitation, lack of water, food, clothing and electricity make these camps breeding grounds for all kinds of diseases. In addition, medical supplies and medicine are often not easily attainable. War diseases such as TB, leprosy, malaria, cholera took the lives of many. Countries in war devote much of their monetary budget to the war efforts, depriving funding to areas such as healthcare, housing, disease prevention and education. In war, our volunteers brave the war fronts by delivering medicines and administering medical care to war victims. To those of us who can afford to, support such organizations through your donations. Healthcare access is an ongoing concern that affects our fight to eradicate disease. For those living with financial hardships, not having access to medicine and medical care makes them more prone to poor health. Quick treatment and strong prevention measures are important factors needed to stop disease and having easy access to healthcare facilitates this. Some cultural practices lead to disease. Many of the blood donors are not told of the health risks associated with selling their own blood. Antibiotics continue to be used in animal and plant farming in three ways: treatment, disease prevention and growth promotion. The concern is that if the use of antibiotics outside of treatment is prolonged, the drugs will lose their ability to fight disease as bacteria gains resistance to the medicine. Lobbying at the expense of people. This causes financial hardship for those living in poverty, many times denying them access to badly needed medicines. Consequently, diseases often go untreated and continue to spread and bring hardships to people all over the world. To repay loans borrowed from the IMF and World Bank, through structural adjustment programs, debtor countries are required to make a major shift in their spending budget. Cash-ready resources become the focus of spending instead of socio-economic programs such as healthcare, job creation or disease prevention. Countries spent more in repaying their foreign debt than on spending money on healthcare, disease prevention and education on their own people. When healthcare and disease prevention takes a back seat like this, disease will continue to flourish. Global warming continues to pose many problems to our environment, which contributes to disease.
Call for action
You can see how the interaction of critical factors contributes to disease and sickness. There is no one solution that we can undertake to eradicate disease but a collective global effort is needed to suppress it to the best of our abilities. For those of us who can afford to, funding is always needed for hospitals and medical laboratories across the world in order to continue research so that our medical doctors and researchers can find new cures to battle and defeat disease. Please donate, if you can, to foundations and relief agencies. Let your voice be heard, speak out and urge our elected representatives to give healthcare to the people that don’t have it. This will help in our fight to both prevent and eradicate disease. We need to take notice of the power and influence that lobbyists have over our elected representatives and understand how this affects our health and us. We need to let our representatives in congress know how we feel about this alarming trend. Remember that one person cannot do this alone. It needs to be a collective effort! Let us help promote the knowledge of disease. Many diseases such as STD’s, heart disease and flu can be prevented. By learning about the disease and its causes, we can refrain from activities that place us at greater risk of acquiring these diseases. This way, we are able to proactively prevent the disease from spreading and help the push towards its eradication. Homelessness can be caused by a variety of problems. The main cause is unaffordable housing for the poor. Secondary causes include mental illness, physical illnesses, substance abuse, lack of incentives to work, poor work ethics, and, like most social issues We the living seeks to address, lack of decent education. A missed paycheck, a health crisis, or an unpaid bill can easily push poor families over the edge into homelessness. It has been reported that the types of assistance homeless adults felt they needed most were help finding a job, help finding affordable housing, and help paying for housing. However, the main types of assistance they usually received were clothing, transportation and help with public benefits. Few homeless actually receive help finding housing, likely because caregivers know it’s unaffordable or otherwise unattainable for people of their social status. A minority of the homeless population is capable but unwilling to work – they may resent the minimal wages they would receive if they could find work. It would be irresponsible if we did not consider that a minority of the homeless may be inherently “lazy”, or substance abuse has made them so. In these cases the there is little help the system can offer that will bring about positive social results. In general, we recommend a “tough love” approach wherein able people must work in some capacity to receive the benefits they seek. There is often a gray line between those who are mentally ill, substance abusers, and other disabled homeless. Therefore it is not easy to classify them in to benefit categories or to understand their labor capabilities. Moreover, there is no one comprehensive system to manage the myriad of services for the homeless, their benefits, and their reintegration in to society. We recommend the states move towards a fully integrated computerized system, which would make delivering benefits and getting people off the streets more cost effective. Even though documenting people’s’ lives in detail verges on an invasion of privacy, we feel if the taxpayers need to foot the bill, which they ultimately do, there is no alternative but to build an efficient system with subjective inputs, in order to provide benefits and opportunities based on need. Most people, including the homeless, are not inherently lazy. But the economic system does not adequately support those at the lowest skill levels, even if they are willing to work – leading to unemployment and millions of “working poor”. For mayors, city councils, and even homeless providers it may seem that placing homeless people in shelters is the most inexpensive way of meeting basic needs. This is deceptive. The cost of homelessness can be quite high, particularly for those with chronic illnesses. Because they have no regular place to stay, people who are homeless use a variety of public systems in an inefficient and costly way. Preventing a homeless episode, or ensuring a speedy transition in to stable permanent housing can result in a significant overall cost savings. Hospitals, prisons, lost opportunity, and emergency shelter is all very inefficient. Crime is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as an act or the commission of an act that is forbidden or the omission of a duty that is commanded by a public law and that makes the offender liable to punishment by that law. Laws are designed to protect us and ensure our safety in all aspects of our lives: physical, financial, psychological and social.
Yet not a day does go by that we don’t hear of crimes taking place in our city or state. When a crime is committed, public safety becomes endangered and specific individuals or groups may feel violated. While we would like to avoid such events, they take place all too often. Corporate crime exists on both ends of the continuum, where the workers continue to be victimized and their rights violated. Another major type of crime is terrorism.
Social and Economic Problems Caused by Crime.
Our social and economic problems are often a direct result of crime. In a vicious circle, these problems can fuel crime even more. For example, those who commit theft and burglaries often do so because of their need for money. These individuals may be unemployed, incapable of finding work, homeless, sick or impoverished. These crimes become a tempting way to quickly acquire money. Unfortunately, when left unpunished, these individuals get the misconception that crime pays. It is this thinking that encourages some individuals to continue their criminal ways, discouraging them from finding other activities that would give them some normality and stability in their lives. This way of thinking reinforces crime. Another crime, prostitution, is frequently associated with drug addiction. Many prostitutes find it difficult to change their work because of their drug addiction. Drugs require significant cash and prostitution provides this, faster and easier than legitimate work.
Prostitution often will lead to other crimes such as people trafficking, sexual abuse, and rape. Those who exploit women often have no regard for people’s lives. This disregard often leads to physical abuse and even murder. In addition, prostitution can increase the spread of diseases such as AIDS, other STD’s and hepatitis. On a larger scale, drug addiction fuels the illicit drug industry. In organized crime, you will find other violations related to drug trafficking. These include money laundering, smuggling and illegal sale of weapons, credit card fraud and counterfeiting. Poverty often leads to the problem of homelessness. Those who live on the streets often experience hunger and disease making them more likely to resort to committing theft and burglary as a means to eat or to obtain medicine. Out on the streets the homeless are exposed more to the risks of drug addiction and other unwanted social behaviors. All of these factors fuel crime.
Solving the Root Causes of Crime
In order to eradicate crime, we need to address the root causes. These include, but are not limited to, greed, inadequate corporate oversight, poverty, lack of education, homelessness, drug addiction, racial hatred, and lax gun laws. Education is one of the biggest factors that play a role in what becomes of an individual in their adulthood. Those who have an education possess the training and skills needed to make them marketable to potential employers. Indeed, even for jobs that pay only a minimum wage, employers likely will prefer interviewing candidates with a decent education over those without. Thus, many of the uneducated may find themselves unemployed, living in sub-standard housing and in impoverished conditions. And as money becomes scarce, many of them might be tempted to engage in criminal activities. At We the living, we encourage everyone to pursue formal education and stress the importance of governments and universities helping make it accessible to all. We strongly believe that every citizen deserves an education and it’s especially important to make it more available to those families who are not able to readily afford it. Education can help eradicate poverty, which will in turn reduce the crime rate. Poverty often pushes children to drop out of school. Those children who do not attend school may end up roaming the streets, exposing themselves to criminal elements and activities. This is why it is imperative that communities provide safe places where children can gather inside, away from street life. These include school clubs, youth clubs, and sports and recreational centers where children and youth are given support and supervision through educational and developmental programs.
Without alternatives to schools, children can easily get involved in petty crimes such as shoplifting, residential break-ins, car theft and vandalism. After the petty crimes, these children may graduate into the more serious crimes of drug trafficking, sexual offences and gang violence. Crime can also be related to the probability of being caught and the extent of possible sentencing. On our Sexual Abuse Journals, we present information showing that most rapes and most acts of sexual abuse are committed by individuals with whom the victims are related or otherwise acquainted. Such relationships can discourage victims from reporting incidents to law enforcement agencies, thus failing to bring the culprits to justice. Part of the underreporting problem is the social stigma that is attached to these victims. Although they are victims, they are often blamed for the crime, labeled as being promiscuous and loose. This allows the real offenders to get away unpunished, leaving them free to offend again. As citizens, we need to adopt laws and reporting procedures that will give full physical and psychological protection to victims who report crime. Let us not allow offenders to get away with their crimes, giving them an opportunity to repeat. Corporate crime is becoming increasingly global and its consequences can be devastating. Consumers are defrauded. Our environment (soil, air and water) is often compromised. Our personal safety can be placed at risk by lobbyists who buy influence but do not have the interest of the greater majority at heart. We must also work to curtail corporate greed. The practice of “influence buying” needs to be stopped. We call for greater transparency as well so that irregularities in accounting practices can be detected early to mitigate any damages. The practice of corporate disclosure needs to be widened. This will allow consumers and shareholders to become fully aware of corporate records on the environment, human rights, worker safety and financial matters. It will also allow us to know about corporate criminal records and litigation records. Multiple functions within consulting firms need to be severed and made independent from each other to prevent conflicts of interest.
As law-abiding citizens, it is imperative that we live our lives according to the rules of our land. It is also our civic duty to report any crimes that we witness. The reasons are simple: our laws are meant to preserve the quiet and peaceful enjoyment of living in this great country. Anytime a law is broken, it can compromise the safety of our citizens. What makes our nation so great is the freedom given to us by our forefathers: our freedom of speech, of religion, of protest, to vote, to get an education, to go to work, to information and many more! These freedoms are valuable and precious to all of us.. Although the costs of these battles are plenty, the rewards are worth it.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Why superstars are special?
Of late, I had become skeptical of the iconic status being accorded to some hyperactive overacting superstars like SRK and Big B. However, I amused myself by saying that they are reaping a harvest from their glorious pasts. Yesterday, I got a glimpse of that when i was watching Amitabh Bacchan's flick. 'Namak Halaal'.
The artificial and overconscious Amitabh of taday with a made-up baritone voice is a far cry from the sponteaneous, jovial and natural genius that he used to be in his heydays. He is well past his prime insofar as his natural genius is concerned. He can find a kindred spirit in Sachin Tendulkar who is still in awesome touch but the world rues the loss of his reckless youth.
Talking of 'Namak Halaal', Amitabh was at his comical best. He made us realise how his presence overshadowed that of any stand-up comedian. It goes without saying that he made many comedians jobless because he was able to enact simply anything. The starting of the movie is in itself a different one in which a fantasising Amitabh is awaken from his slumber by his daddu and he reacts in a novel naive way, "Daddu tum?".
The genius reflected again when he almost recited a cricket commentary in front of the villain Ranjit. The flow was awesome, barring the made-up vernacular diction, and the problem was that there seemed to be no grammatical mistake in his commentary. This is how lives are in rural India where good speakers are not kept to the pedestal because they do not doff their uniforms.
Analyse this. The morphed Amitabh has become Big B and is now a commercial actor who probably overdoes everything from advertising to acting. His performances still remain forces to reckon with but in no way are they naturally driven. There seems a management-ish perspective lurking behind his acting nowadays. He is now a brand and that has killed his natural genius. His peformances in KKKG, Mohabbatein, Aks, Ek Ajnabee, Viruddh, Baghban, Lakshya etc were all godd but still not fitful for a person like Amitabh who could sway the audience earlier by his 'real' voice and liguistic skills, esp the command on 'Awadhi'in a market full of bhaiyas.
I reminisce the legend Dilip Kumar giving up to overacting is his later years.The sober Yousuf Khan from the former frontier estate of Peshawar created ripples in Bollywood with his most natural acting skills in various movies like Mela, Amar, Madhumati, Andaj, Devdas, mughal-e-ajam et al. He unfortunately met decadence in the later years with a developed propenisity for overacting in movies like Karma, Vidhaata, Suadagar and many others.
The living legend SRK is still painfully manifesting that. Who will forget the awesome protrayal of Mohan Bhargava in the movie Swades? It required a staid direction by Ashutosh Gowarikar that brought out the latent best in SRK. That is also the SRK we pine for. We got to see a tad of that magical touch in Chak De. Contrast them with his unnatural albeit commercially succesful performances in candyfloss tearjerkers like Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Dil To Pagal Hai, Mohabatein etc.
The artificial and overconscious Amitabh of taday with a made-up baritone voice is a far cry from the sponteaneous, jovial and natural genius that he used to be in his heydays. He is well past his prime insofar as his natural genius is concerned. He can find a kindred spirit in Sachin Tendulkar who is still in awesome touch but the world rues the loss of his reckless youth.
Talking of 'Namak Halaal', Amitabh was at his comical best. He made us realise how his presence overshadowed that of any stand-up comedian. It goes without saying that he made many comedians jobless because he was able to enact simply anything. The starting of the movie is in itself a different one in which a fantasising Amitabh is awaken from his slumber by his daddu and he reacts in a novel naive way, "Daddu tum?".
The genius reflected again when he almost recited a cricket commentary in front of the villain Ranjit. The flow was awesome, barring the made-up vernacular diction, and the problem was that there seemed to be no grammatical mistake in his commentary. This is how lives are in rural India where good speakers are not kept to the pedestal because they do not doff their uniforms.
Analyse this. The morphed Amitabh has become Big B and is now a commercial actor who probably overdoes everything from advertising to acting. His performances still remain forces to reckon with but in no way are they naturally driven. There seems a management-ish perspective lurking behind his acting nowadays. He is now a brand and that has killed his natural genius. His peformances in KKKG, Mohabbatein, Aks, Ek Ajnabee, Viruddh, Baghban, Lakshya etc were all godd but still not fitful for a person like Amitabh who could sway the audience earlier by his 'real' voice and liguistic skills, esp the command on 'Awadhi'in a market full of bhaiyas.
I reminisce the legend Dilip Kumar giving up to overacting is his later years.The sober Yousuf Khan from the former frontier estate of Peshawar created ripples in Bollywood with his most natural acting skills in various movies like Mela, Amar, Madhumati, Andaj, Devdas, mughal-e-ajam et al. He unfortunately met decadence in the later years with a developed propenisity for overacting in movies like Karma, Vidhaata, Suadagar and many others.
The living legend SRK is still painfully manifesting that. Who will forget the awesome protrayal of Mohan Bhargava in the movie Swades? It required a staid direction by Ashutosh Gowarikar that brought out the latent best in SRK. That is also the SRK we pine for. We got to see a tad of that magical touch in Chak De. Contrast them with his unnatural albeit commercially succesful performances in candyfloss tearjerkers like Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Dil To Pagal Hai, Mohabatein etc.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
my overall favourite books (assorted) and not formatted:)
Catalogue of some of my favorite assorted books:
Category
Book Author
Management
M1 Marketing Management Bowdy and Peter
M2 Financial Management
(i) Khan & Jain
(ii) T.M. Pandey
M3 Management of Information Systems Griffin
M4 Management
M5 Mathematics for Business Studies Dr. J.K.Thukral
M6 You Inc. Hedges
M7 Iacocca An Autobiography Lee Iacocca
M8 Straight from the Gut Jack Welch
M9 Knowledge Management Strategies Microsoft
M10 Business making skills Simon
M11 Architect of Quality Juran
M12 Management Peter Drucker
English Literature
E1 Atlas shrugged Ayn Rand
E2 Fountainhead Ayn Rand
E3 Eools Die Maria Puzo
E4 The Da Vinci Code Dan Brown
E5 Half a Life V.S. Naipaul
E6 Harry Potter
(a) and the order of phoenix
(b) and the chamber of secrets J.K. Rowling
(c) and the prisoner of Azbakan
E7 Five point Someone Chetan Bhagat
E8 Goddess of small things Arundhati Roy
E9 To Sir, with love E.H.Braithwaite
E10 David Copperfield
E11 Great Expectations Charles Dickens
E12 Oliver Twist
E13 Tale of Two Cities
E14 Lord of the flies William Golding
E15 Haiku for lovers Manu Bazzane
E15 The Canterbury Tales Chaucer
E16 The Beloved Anarchist by P.R Taikad
E17 She Rider Hoggard
E18 The Mayor of Casterbridge Thomas Hardy
E19 For from the Madding Crowd Thomas Hardy
E20 The Trumpet Major Thomas Hardy
E21 One Hundred Years of solitude Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
E23 Sons and Lovers D.H. Lawrence
E24 Mother Maxim Gorky
E25 The Artamanovs Maxim Gorky
E26 Dead souls Maxim Gorky
E27 Anna Karenina Vol 1 & 2 Count Lev Tolstoy
E28 Notes from the Underground House Dostoyevski
E29 Short Stories Chekov
E30 Lady Windermere’s Fan Oscar Wilde
E31 Death of Dr. Faustus Christopher Marlowe
E32 Short Novels & Stories Anton Chekov
E33 Gone with the Wind Margeret Mitchelle
E34 Pygmalion G.B. Shaw
E36 Candida G.B. Shaw
E37 Decline and Fall of Roman Empire Gibbon
E38 Uneasy Money P.G. Woodehouse
E39 Jane Eyre Charlotte Bronte
E40 Silas Marner George Eliot
E41 A Circle in Time Jean Walton
E42 The Portrait of a Crack V. Finnel
E43 Poetry Thomas Gunn
E44 Selected Essays Steven Rawlinson
E45 The Great Remakes of Nature J.V.Michurina
E46 Life’s Handicap Rudyard Kipling
E47 Wings of Death Toyoll
E48 Stories Mikhail Sholokes
E49 The Devil’s Alternative Fredrick Forsyth
E50 Around the World in Eighty Days Jules Verne
E51 Zamindar V. Fitzegerald
E52 Father’s & Sons Ivan Turgenev
E53 A nest of the Gentry Ivan Turgenev
E54 Henry IV Part I William Shakespeare
E55 The lovely Bones Alice Sebold
E55 The American Leslie Walter
E56 Rising Tides Nora Roberts
E57 Middle March George Eliot
E58 The seventh secret Truing Wallace
E59 The Fire and Rain Girish Karnad
E60 The Fall Make Richard Gordon
E61 A stranger in the Mirror Sidney Sheldon
E62 The Prodigal Daughter Jeffery Archer
E63 The City of Joy Dominique Lapierre
E64 The Diary of a young Girl Anne Frank
E65 Adam Bede George Eliot
E66 When Eight Bells Toll Alistair Maclean
E67 The Idiot Fyoder Dostoyesky
E68 The Winters Tale William Shakespeare
Hindi Literature
H1 Rag Darbari Srilal Shukla
H2 Suhag ke Nupur Amrit Lal Nagar
H3 Godan Ek Vivechan
H4 Meri Priya Kahaniyan Rajendra Yadav
H5 Rekha Bhagwati Charan Verma
H6 Jhalak Shivani
H7 Viragbahu Sharat Chand
H8 Hindi Kahani Mela K.N. Shukla & Dr. B. Mishra
H9 Premashram Prem Chand
H10 Godfather Mario Puzo
H11 Abhinav Ekanki saptale Dr. Upendra & Pt. Sharma
H12 Tulsidas Jeevan Katha
H13 Hum Log Manohar Shyam Joshi
H14 Kurushetra-2 copies Dinkar
H15 Gainda Shivani
H16 Karmbhumi Premchand
H17 Sanskrit Bharti
H18 Apue-2 Ajnabi Agyeya
H19 Shekhar 1 & 2 Agyeya
H20 Andhere Me P.Kumar & N.K.Vaidya
H21 Kohra Shailesh Matiyani
H22 Saneha Satani Shanker Prasad Yadav
H23 Chairman Satyakam Vidyalankar
H24 Bharat Bharti Mathilisharan Gupt sahitya
H25 Kashinath Sharat Chand
H26 Kala Jal Shani
H27 Pratinidhi Kahaniyan Rajendra Yadav
H28 Kohra Rabindra Nath Tagore
H29 Lajja Taslima Nasreen
H30 Adina Rahul Sanskrityayana
H31 Nirmala Premchand
H32 Sur Rasayana Dr. Santa Singh & Dr. J.P. Srivastava
H33 Nagarjuna Bhumija
H34 Pratinidhi Kahaniya Premchand
H35 Hindi Sahitya Ka Itihas Dr. Jai Kishan Prasad Khandelwal
Polity and Sociology
PS1 The Poverty of Philosphy Karl Marx
PS2 Articles and Speeches
PS3 About Lenin Lenin
PS4 On Imperialism & Imperialists – 2
PS5 Selected works 1 & 2
PS6 Down Pages from a Life of Struggle Yuri Akestine
PS7 The British Cooperative Movement Jack Bailey
PS8 My Experiment with truth M.K. Gandhi
PS9 When freedom is menaced Lal Bahadur Shashtri
PS10 Champaran Movement Singh
PS11 Geopolitical Relations & Regional Cooperation Dr. K. Gopal
PS12 H.P.S. Menon A Tribute by (Edited) Menon
PS13 Sardar Patel
PS14 Bhikaj Cama
PS15 Six Essays in Cooperative Sociology Andre Beteille
PS16 The USSR and Developing Countries Progress Publishers
PS17 The Glowing legend of Sri Syed S. Ziaurahman
PS18 Society and the Environment of a Soviet
PS19 Nations Rise and Fall – Why.
PS20 A short History of the world H. G. Wells
PS20 Socialist Bulgaria
PS21 Selected Works 1 & 2 Marx & Engels
PS22 The Road to Communism
PS23 The Children who sleep by the River Debbie Taylor
PS24 The Making of India’s Foreign Policy J. Bandhhopadhaya
PS25 The International working class movement
PS26 Ireland and the Irish Question Marx and Engels
PS27 Maxim Gorky
PS28 Os ki Jhilmilati Bund
PS29 Antarastriya Communist Andolan Lenin
PS30 Rastriya Niti Lenin
PS31 The first Indian war of Independence Marx & Engels
PS32 Marshal of the Soviet Union G. Zhukov
PS33 Kala ke Vacharik aur Saundaryetamak Pahlu Abner Jees
PS34 Das Capital Karl Marx
PS35 Communist Manifest Karl Marx
PS36 Indian Constitution D.D. Basu
PS37 History Romilla Thaper
PS38 Bhartiya Sabhyata Evam Sanskriti Ka Itihas
PS39 Tulnatamak Shashan and Rajniti Dr. V.P. Singh
PS40 Sanyukt Rajya America ka Itihas
PS41 Anterastriya Vyapar Tatha Lokvitt Dr. S.N. Lal
Economy, Psychology, Philosophy and others
MISC1Macro Economics Dhingra
MISC2When you sell that counts Donald L. Cossidy
MISC3Making money on the stock market S.S.Graubl
MISC4A Manual of foreign exchange Pither
MISC5Indian Economy survey
MISC6The interpretation of dreams Sigmund Freud
MISC7I’m OK – You’re OK Thomas A. Harris M.D.
MISC8Over the Top Zig Ziglar
MISC9Get set go Swati-Shailesh Lodha
MISC10Nityakarma Priyaprakash
MISC11Sri Jatakam
MISC12Sri Ramcharitmanas
MISC13Srimad Bhagwat Gita
MISC14Science of self realization
MISC15Gyanyog
MISC16Sakshi Krishna and Raslila Osho
MISC17The secret of Janmyoga
MISC18Thus spoke Zarathustra Frederick Nietzsche
MISC19The way of Power Sohan Blifield
MISC20Purushottam Mahatamya
MISC21Rise of the modern West Minakshi Phukan
MISC22Workbook of History.
MISC23Itihas ke Bare Mein Lal Bahadur Verma
MISC24Bhartiya Vastukala Ka Itihas Krishn Dutt Bajpayee
MISC25Bhartiya Puratatva ke Pristh Dr. Shivswaroop Sahay
MISC26Ballia Mein Byalis ki Janakranti Durga Prasad Gupt
MISC27Vedic Mathematics Jagad Guru Swami Shree
MISC28Alochana
MISC29Prem Sandesh
MISC30Yugpurush Mahant Digvijay Nath
MISC31The Third Eye T. Lobsang Rampa
MISC32The Yoga of a Yogi T. Krishnamacharya
MISC33Science, Religion and Peace S.N. Prasad, Suman Shukla
MISC34India-Vietnam Relations Ganesh Sharma
MISC35Corporate laws and Social practice G. K. Kapoor
MISC36The Universal History of Numbers Georges Ifrah
MISC37The Evolution of Khasi Music Lakynshai Syiem
MISC38Let us Create a New India in the
21st century M. Ganeshan
MISC39Nationalist Movement in South India M.S.R. Anjaneyuvulu
MISC40Powerful Media Words K. Khaja Mohideen
MISC41J. Krishnamurthy demystified Kalidas Joshi
MISC42Stars speak Fortune in our hands K.S. Mangesh Kumar
MISC43The Everyday Politics of Labour Geert De Neve
MISC44Social Demkocracy in Practice
MISC45Socialist International Pradip Bose
MISC46Beyond Shirdi K. Venkataraman
MISC47Buddhist Centers of Orissa B. Bandhopadhyay
MISC48What happens to Gods and demons H. N. Verma
MISC49Cultural Tourism Management Vishwas Mehta
MISC50Walking the Tightrope Rehana Ahmed
MISC51The Great Mortality John Kelly
MISC52The lost dreams Mohd. Salim
MISC53Nobel Prize Winners in Pictures-
1901-2003
MISC54The Rama Saga P. K. Pandeya
MISC52Essentials of Buddhism and Jainism K. N. Neelkandan
MISC53Identity and Image Management Rajendra Ghuje
MISC54Promising Professions Mamta Ghuje
MISC55Brand-wise Leveraging People
MISC56To Build Powerful Brands Jyothi Menon
MISC57Advanced Accounting V. K. Saxena
MISC58Mahashwetha Sudha Murthy
MISC59Majority People's Right for
MISC60Preferential Participation Jawahar Nessan
MISC61Cancer Made me Kasthuri Sreenivasan
MISC62Forget Kathmandu- An
Entry for Democracy Manjushree Thapa
MISC63Folklore, Public Sphere and Civil Society M.D. Muthukumarswamy, Molly Kaushal
MISC64Energizing Rural Development
through Panchayats Bibek Debray, P.D. Kaushik
MISC65Without a Second Sheela Balaji
MISC66Dalits, Land and Dignity V. B. Rawat
MISC67Prevention of Blindness T. Selvaraju
MISC68I want my son back Uma Eyyunni
MISC69Understanding Islam Frithjof Schuon
MISC70A matter of taste Nilanjan S. Roy
MISC71Dreams and their interpretation made easy Dr. Francis Menezes
MISC72India and Japan- Blossoming a
new understanding Rajaram Panda, Yoo Fukuzawa
MISC73The 8th Habit: From effectiveness
to greatness Stephen R. Covey
MISC74The Marketing White Book 2003-2004 Businessworld
MISC75The Intelligent Investors Benjamin Graham and David Dodd
Science and Engineering
SE1 Unix Sumitabha Das
SE2 VHDL Navabi
SE3 Modern Control Systems Nagarath Gopal
SE4 A+ Complete David Broth
SE5 Internet Complete Sybex
SE6 C++ Robert Lafore
SE7 Modern Physics Resnick, Halliday and Walker
SE8 Quicker Mathematics M. Tyra
SE9 Advanced Engineering Mathematics Kreyszig
SE10 Test Book of Ear, Nose & Throat Chris Desouza
SE11 Meningitis Karen l Roos
SE12 Thermodynamics Ug. Brumer
SE13 Problems in General Chemistry N.L. Glinka
SE14 General Studies Thorpe
SE15 Maths, Physics, Chemistry All Books of Inter, B.Sc., M.Sc., B.E. and N.C.E.R.T.
Category
Book Author
Management
M1 Marketing Management Bowdy and Peter
M2 Financial Management
(i) Khan & Jain
(ii) T.M. Pandey
M3 Management of Information Systems Griffin
M4 Management
M5 Mathematics for Business Studies Dr. J.K.Thukral
M6 You Inc. Hedges
M7 Iacocca An Autobiography Lee Iacocca
M8 Straight from the Gut Jack Welch
M9 Knowledge Management Strategies Microsoft
M10 Business making skills Simon
M11 Architect of Quality Juran
M12 Management Peter Drucker
English Literature
E1 Atlas shrugged Ayn Rand
E2 Fountainhead Ayn Rand
E3 Eools Die Maria Puzo
E4 The Da Vinci Code Dan Brown
E5 Half a Life V.S. Naipaul
E6 Harry Potter
(a) and the order of phoenix
(b) and the chamber of secrets J.K. Rowling
(c) and the prisoner of Azbakan
E7 Five point Someone Chetan Bhagat
E8 Goddess of small things Arundhati Roy
E9 To Sir, with love E.H.Braithwaite
E10 David Copperfield
E11 Great Expectations Charles Dickens
E12 Oliver Twist
E13 Tale of Two Cities
E14 Lord of the flies William Golding
E15 Haiku for lovers Manu Bazzane
E15 The Canterbury Tales Chaucer
E16 The Beloved Anarchist by P.R Taikad
E17 She Rider Hoggard
E18 The Mayor of Casterbridge Thomas Hardy
E19 For from the Madding Crowd Thomas Hardy
E20 The Trumpet Major Thomas Hardy
E21 One Hundred Years of solitude Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
E23 Sons and Lovers D.H. Lawrence
E24 Mother Maxim Gorky
E25 The Artamanovs Maxim Gorky
E26 Dead souls Maxim Gorky
E27 Anna Karenina Vol 1 & 2 Count Lev Tolstoy
E28 Notes from the Underground House Dostoyevski
E29 Short Stories Chekov
E30 Lady Windermere’s Fan Oscar Wilde
E31 Death of Dr. Faustus Christopher Marlowe
E32 Short Novels & Stories Anton Chekov
E33 Gone with the Wind Margeret Mitchelle
E34 Pygmalion G.B. Shaw
E36 Candida G.B. Shaw
E37 Decline and Fall of Roman Empire Gibbon
E38 Uneasy Money P.G. Woodehouse
E39 Jane Eyre Charlotte Bronte
E40 Silas Marner George Eliot
E41 A Circle in Time Jean Walton
E42 The Portrait of a Crack V. Finnel
E43 Poetry Thomas Gunn
E44 Selected Essays Steven Rawlinson
E45 The Great Remakes of Nature J.V.Michurina
E46 Life’s Handicap Rudyard Kipling
E47 Wings of Death Toyoll
E48 Stories Mikhail Sholokes
E49 The Devil’s Alternative Fredrick Forsyth
E50 Around the World in Eighty Days Jules Verne
E51 Zamindar V. Fitzegerald
E52 Father’s & Sons Ivan Turgenev
E53 A nest of the Gentry Ivan Turgenev
E54 Henry IV Part I William Shakespeare
E55 The lovely Bones Alice Sebold
E55 The American Leslie Walter
E56 Rising Tides Nora Roberts
E57 Middle March George Eliot
E58 The seventh secret Truing Wallace
E59 The Fire and Rain Girish Karnad
E60 The Fall Make Richard Gordon
E61 A stranger in the Mirror Sidney Sheldon
E62 The Prodigal Daughter Jeffery Archer
E63 The City of Joy Dominique Lapierre
E64 The Diary of a young Girl Anne Frank
E65 Adam Bede George Eliot
E66 When Eight Bells Toll Alistair Maclean
E67 The Idiot Fyoder Dostoyesky
E68 The Winters Tale William Shakespeare
Hindi Literature
H1 Rag Darbari Srilal Shukla
H2 Suhag ke Nupur Amrit Lal Nagar
H3 Godan Ek Vivechan
H4 Meri Priya Kahaniyan Rajendra Yadav
H5 Rekha Bhagwati Charan Verma
H6 Jhalak Shivani
H7 Viragbahu Sharat Chand
H8 Hindi Kahani Mela K.N. Shukla & Dr. B. Mishra
H9 Premashram Prem Chand
H10 Godfather Mario Puzo
H11 Abhinav Ekanki saptale Dr. Upendra & Pt. Sharma
H12 Tulsidas Jeevan Katha
H13 Hum Log Manohar Shyam Joshi
H14 Kurushetra-2 copies Dinkar
H15 Gainda Shivani
H16 Karmbhumi Premchand
H17 Sanskrit Bharti
H18 Apue-2 Ajnabi Agyeya
H19 Shekhar 1 & 2 Agyeya
H20 Andhere Me P.Kumar & N.K.Vaidya
H21 Kohra Shailesh Matiyani
H22 Saneha Satani Shanker Prasad Yadav
H23 Chairman Satyakam Vidyalankar
H24 Bharat Bharti Mathilisharan Gupt sahitya
H25 Kashinath Sharat Chand
H26 Kala Jal Shani
H27 Pratinidhi Kahaniyan Rajendra Yadav
H28 Kohra Rabindra Nath Tagore
H29 Lajja Taslima Nasreen
H30 Adina Rahul Sanskrityayana
H31 Nirmala Premchand
H32 Sur Rasayana Dr. Santa Singh & Dr. J.P. Srivastava
H33 Nagarjuna Bhumija
H34 Pratinidhi Kahaniya Premchand
H35 Hindi Sahitya Ka Itihas Dr. Jai Kishan Prasad Khandelwal
Polity and Sociology
PS1 The Poverty of Philosphy Karl Marx
PS2 Articles and Speeches
PS3 About Lenin Lenin
PS4 On Imperialism & Imperialists – 2
PS5 Selected works 1 & 2
PS6 Down Pages from a Life of Struggle Yuri Akestine
PS7 The British Cooperative Movement Jack Bailey
PS8 My Experiment with truth M.K. Gandhi
PS9 When freedom is menaced Lal Bahadur Shashtri
PS10 Champaran Movement Singh
PS11 Geopolitical Relations & Regional Cooperation Dr. K. Gopal
PS12 H.P.S. Menon A Tribute by (Edited) Menon
PS13 Sardar Patel
PS14 Bhikaj Cama
PS15 Six Essays in Cooperative Sociology Andre Beteille
PS16 The USSR and Developing Countries Progress Publishers
PS17 The Glowing legend of Sri Syed S. Ziaurahman
PS18 Society and the Environment of a Soviet
PS19 Nations Rise and Fall – Why.
PS20 A short History of the world H. G. Wells
PS20 Socialist Bulgaria
PS21 Selected Works 1 & 2 Marx & Engels
PS22 The Road to Communism
PS23 The Children who sleep by the River Debbie Taylor
PS24 The Making of India’s Foreign Policy J. Bandhhopadhaya
PS25 The International working class movement
PS26 Ireland and the Irish Question Marx and Engels
PS27 Maxim Gorky
PS28 Os ki Jhilmilati Bund
PS29 Antarastriya Communist Andolan Lenin
PS30 Rastriya Niti Lenin
PS31 The first Indian war of Independence Marx & Engels
PS32 Marshal of the Soviet Union G. Zhukov
PS33 Kala ke Vacharik aur Saundaryetamak Pahlu Abner Jees
PS34 Das Capital Karl Marx
PS35 Communist Manifest Karl Marx
PS36 Indian Constitution D.D. Basu
PS37 History Romilla Thaper
PS38 Bhartiya Sabhyata Evam Sanskriti Ka Itihas
PS39 Tulnatamak Shashan and Rajniti Dr. V.P. Singh
PS40 Sanyukt Rajya America ka Itihas
PS41 Anterastriya Vyapar Tatha Lokvitt Dr. S.N. Lal
Economy, Psychology, Philosophy and others
MISC1Macro Economics Dhingra
MISC2When you sell that counts Donald L. Cossidy
MISC3Making money on the stock market S.S.Graubl
MISC4A Manual of foreign exchange Pither
MISC5Indian Economy survey
MISC6The interpretation of dreams Sigmund Freud
MISC7I’m OK – You’re OK Thomas A. Harris M.D.
MISC8Over the Top Zig Ziglar
MISC9Get set go Swati-Shailesh Lodha
MISC10Nityakarma Priyaprakash
MISC11Sri Jatakam
MISC12Sri Ramcharitmanas
MISC13Srimad Bhagwat Gita
MISC14Science of self realization
MISC15Gyanyog
MISC16Sakshi Krishna and Raslila Osho
MISC17The secret of Janmyoga
MISC18Thus spoke Zarathustra Frederick Nietzsche
MISC19The way of Power Sohan Blifield
MISC20Purushottam Mahatamya
MISC21Rise of the modern West Minakshi Phukan
MISC22Workbook of History.
MISC23Itihas ke Bare Mein Lal Bahadur Verma
MISC24Bhartiya Vastukala Ka Itihas Krishn Dutt Bajpayee
MISC25Bhartiya Puratatva ke Pristh Dr. Shivswaroop Sahay
MISC26Ballia Mein Byalis ki Janakranti Durga Prasad Gupt
MISC27Vedic Mathematics Jagad Guru Swami Shree
MISC28Alochana
MISC29Prem Sandesh
MISC30Yugpurush Mahant Digvijay Nath
MISC31The Third Eye T. Lobsang Rampa
MISC32The Yoga of a Yogi T. Krishnamacharya
MISC33Science, Religion and Peace S.N. Prasad, Suman Shukla
MISC34India-Vietnam Relations Ganesh Sharma
MISC35Corporate laws and Social practice G. K. Kapoor
MISC36The Universal History of Numbers Georges Ifrah
MISC37The Evolution of Khasi Music Lakynshai Syiem
MISC38Let us Create a New India in the
21st century M. Ganeshan
MISC39Nationalist Movement in South India M.S.R. Anjaneyuvulu
MISC40Powerful Media Words K. Khaja Mohideen
MISC41J. Krishnamurthy demystified Kalidas Joshi
MISC42Stars speak Fortune in our hands K.S. Mangesh Kumar
MISC43The Everyday Politics of Labour Geert De Neve
MISC44Social Demkocracy in Practice
MISC45Socialist International Pradip Bose
MISC46Beyond Shirdi K. Venkataraman
MISC47Buddhist Centers of Orissa B. Bandhopadhyay
MISC48What happens to Gods and demons H. N. Verma
MISC49Cultural Tourism Management Vishwas Mehta
MISC50Walking the Tightrope Rehana Ahmed
MISC51The Great Mortality John Kelly
MISC52The lost dreams Mohd. Salim
MISC53Nobel Prize Winners in Pictures-
1901-2003
MISC54The Rama Saga P. K. Pandeya
MISC52Essentials of Buddhism and Jainism K. N. Neelkandan
MISC53Identity and Image Management Rajendra Ghuje
MISC54Promising Professions Mamta Ghuje
MISC55Brand-wise Leveraging People
MISC56To Build Powerful Brands Jyothi Menon
MISC57Advanced Accounting V. K. Saxena
MISC58Mahashwetha Sudha Murthy
MISC59Majority People's Right for
MISC60Preferential Participation Jawahar Nessan
MISC61Cancer Made me Kasthuri Sreenivasan
MISC62Forget Kathmandu- An
Entry for Democracy Manjushree Thapa
MISC63Folklore, Public Sphere and Civil Society M.D. Muthukumarswamy, Molly Kaushal
MISC64Energizing Rural Development
through Panchayats Bibek Debray, P.D. Kaushik
MISC65Without a Second Sheela Balaji
MISC66Dalits, Land and Dignity V. B. Rawat
MISC67Prevention of Blindness T. Selvaraju
MISC68I want my son back Uma Eyyunni
MISC69Understanding Islam Frithjof Schuon
MISC70A matter of taste Nilanjan S. Roy
MISC71Dreams and their interpretation made easy Dr. Francis Menezes
MISC72India and Japan- Blossoming a
new understanding Rajaram Panda, Yoo Fukuzawa
MISC73The 8th Habit: From effectiveness
to greatness Stephen R. Covey
MISC74The Marketing White Book 2003-2004 Businessworld
MISC75The Intelligent Investors Benjamin Graham and David Dodd
Science and Engineering
SE1 Unix Sumitabha Das
SE2 VHDL Navabi
SE3 Modern Control Systems Nagarath Gopal
SE4 A+ Complete David Broth
SE5 Internet Complete Sybex
SE6 C++ Robert Lafore
SE7 Modern Physics Resnick, Halliday and Walker
SE8 Quicker Mathematics M. Tyra
SE9 Advanced Engineering Mathematics Kreyszig
SE10 Test Book of Ear, Nose & Throat Chris Desouza
SE11 Meningitis Karen l Roos
SE12 Thermodynamics Ug. Brumer
SE13 Problems in General Chemistry N.L. Glinka
SE14 General Studies Thorpe
SE15 Maths, Physics, Chemistry All Books of Inter, B.Sc., M.Sc., B.E. and N.C.E.R.T.
Monday, December 3, 2007
Aao paden aur gaon chalen:)!!!
Let me seek recourse to the cliche that the real India lies in the villages. At best, this gives respite to the metro-phobic graduates me who love any vocation in in the agrarian counterparts. I forgot a big enterpreneur's name trying his hands in farming. It becomes news na!!!
We are not supposed to forget these tid-bits.
We are not supposed to forget these tid-bits.
Friday, November 30, 2007
It is raining marriages these days!!!
Just the other day, I got the priviledge to attend a birthday party of a friend's daughter. It was a great culinary adventure for me.
I also served a bit for the friend. I remember something funny happened in the past when a friend of mine joked with us in a baraat dance, "Nancho be nahin to khana nahin milega." However, it is not because of any deja vu that I served a bit. It was spontaneous.
It was certainly an experience of a different kind. To stagemanage is difficult. To manage is even more difficult.
The biggest hurdle in managing everything was the presence of few senile elders who kept on poking noses in the midst of everything. They were not happy with everything being okay. I kept on reiterating that if it ain't broke, don't fix it. When they did not get the due reverence, they waited for any opportunity to say, "abhi to launde hain, musibat fansi to ayenge humare paas". hahaha
Jokes apart, the pair looked like it was made for each other. It was delightful and highly satisfying to see another match all set to journey the roads of life together in happiness and sorrow.
I also served a bit for the friend. I remember something funny happened in the past when a friend of mine joked with us in a baraat dance, "Nancho be nahin to khana nahin milega." However, it is not because of any deja vu that I served a bit. It was spontaneous.
It was certainly an experience of a different kind. To stagemanage is difficult. To manage is even more difficult.
The biggest hurdle in managing everything was the presence of few senile elders who kept on poking noses in the midst of everything. They were not happy with everything being okay. I kept on reiterating that if it ain't broke, don't fix it. When they did not get the due reverence, they waited for any opportunity to say, "abhi to launde hain, musibat fansi to ayenge humare paas". hahaha
Jokes apart, the pair looked like it was made for each other. It was delightful and highly satisfying to see another match all set to journey the roads of life together in happiness and sorrow.
Monday, November 26, 2007
The Human Capital through education
Ten years down the line, India can be a different if not a happy or sad story. We may take a cue from Das Kapital when we research more about the human capital which is grossly deficient in India at the expense of a few good trainers. Analyze this. The government of India still fails to recognize the education sector as an industry. Even the best managed private training institutions shy away from being called a corporate. The working in quite a few is almost similar, albeit with a difference in comparative paypackets. The corporate chauvinists also label these as pesudo-corporate and do not love to flex muscles with them because they are not on an even keel as per them.
So much for the attitude. The bottomline still remains that if we keep on ignoring quality education, ultimately the graduates, post-gradiates or the phd's that we will churn out will not be employable. With all respect to the employed ones, then end up doing a shoddy job. Long term vision is forsaken at the altar of short-term profit.
Even insofar as prinamry education is concerned the situation is pathetic. The teachers are perpetually or habitually absent. There is a lot of brouhaha over the mid-day meal scheme but no emphasis on quality in primary education. Our roots are week and the stem seems to be prima facie strong at least as of now. The roots can hold sway and bring down the entire tree of our economy. if this happens we will not be able to branch out but will gradually phase out from the neo-cashrich sectors. Our cities are bursting at its seams. They are costlier and expatriates are finding it tougher to relocate to India. Almost all the metros and tier 2 cities have grown costlier as per a recent renowned agency survey. Cost apart, the infrastructure is creaking. Mr. Naik, CMD L&T, pointed out this issue by saying that IT is taking the sheen away from other sectors. His take was a good one and not biased. If you take away 8 out of 10 civil engineers, who will take care of the infrastructure? That same notion, I guess, applies to other sectors too. The flip side is that if you are not a part of a cashcow corpus, the 'grapes are sour' allegation bogs you down to critique on anything. Collectivism takes over and the individual gets damned. Ugly-goliath annihilates the real-life david with consummate ease.
However, the road less travelled can be a good one and it is optimism that is the prime mover in any perspective.
I wish that Indian economy looks up in the years to come and keeps on consistently clocking 10% approx GDP growth rate, below 3% inflation and what not. It should try to remove the greay areas as well so that nothing proves to be the nemesis.
By,
The Indian.
So much for the attitude. The bottomline still remains that if we keep on ignoring quality education, ultimately the graduates, post-gradiates or the phd's that we will churn out will not be employable. With all respect to the employed ones, then end up doing a shoddy job. Long term vision is forsaken at the altar of short-term profit.
Even insofar as prinamry education is concerned the situation is pathetic. The teachers are perpetually or habitually absent. There is a lot of brouhaha over the mid-day meal scheme but no emphasis on quality in primary education. Our roots are week and the stem seems to be prima facie strong at least as of now. The roots can hold sway and bring down the entire tree of our economy. if this happens we will not be able to branch out but will gradually phase out from the neo-cashrich sectors. Our cities are bursting at its seams. They are costlier and expatriates are finding it tougher to relocate to India. Almost all the metros and tier 2 cities have grown costlier as per a recent renowned agency survey. Cost apart, the infrastructure is creaking. Mr. Naik, CMD L&T, pointed out this issue by saying that IT is taking the sheen away from other sectors. His take was a good one and not biased. If you take away 8 out of 10 civil engineers, who will take care of the infrastructure? That same notion, I guess, applies to other sectors too. The flip side is that if you are not a part of a cashcow corpus, the 'grapes are sour' allegation bogs you down to critique on anything. Collectivism takes over and the individual gets damned. Ugly-goliath annihilates the real-life david with consummate ease.
However, the road less travelled can be a good one and it is optimism that is the prime mover in any perspective.
I wish that Indian economy looks up in the years to come and keeps on consistently clocking 10% approx GDP growth rate, below 3% inflation and what not. It should try to remove the greay areas as well so that nothing proves to be the nemesis.
By,
The Indian.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Is your CAT-meter ticking?
It was again a strange CAT again this time. This time many faces lost colours because of its changing colours. The biggest wonder was the absence of LR (reasoning). DS bounced back and DI was not given the shorter shrift. Quantum was a tad tough again because of high level of diffculty and more emphasis on algebra. Number systems, which does not require much reading, was not significantly there and thus did not give respite to those who hate reading in quantum. Language section was not a cakewalk as it comprised few easy and objective questions. The close call and subjectivity in RC passages played the spoilsport for a few good men. All said and done, it has been touted by the experts as a very tough one and small wonders CAT is considered to be the toughest examination in the world.
But the feeling still remained for few that the number questions was somewhat less to guage a wannabe manger's potential and did not give any leeway to the majority.
The test apart, what is the enthralling is the national euphoria over it nowadays.
But the feeling still remained for few that the number questions was somewhat less to guage a wannabe manger's potential and did not give any leeway to the majority.
The test apart, what is the enthralling is the national euphoria over it nowadays.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
my choice of good books (sorry for not formatting it)
Please forgive the lack of formatting:
Category
Book Author
Management
M1 Marketing Management Bowdy and Peter
M2 Financial Management
(i) Khan & Jain
(ii) T.M. Pandey
M3 Management of Information Systems Griffin
M4 Management
M5 Mathematics for Business Studies Dr. J.K.Thukral
M6 You Inc. Hedges
M7 Iacocca An Autobiography Lee Iacocca
M8 Straight from the Gut Jack Welch
M9 Knowledge Management Strategies Microsoft
M10 Business making skills Simon
M11 Architect of Quality Juran
M12 Management Peter Drucker
English Literature
E1 Atlas shrugged Ayn Rand
E2 Fountainhead Ayn Rand
E3 Eools Die Maria Puzo
E4 The Da Vinci Code Dan Brown
E5 Half a Life V.S. Naipaul
E6 Harry Potter
(a) and the order of phoenix
(b) and the chamber of secrets J.K. Rowling
(c) and the prisoner of Azbakan
E7 Five point Someone Chetan Bhagat
E8 Goddess of small things Arundhati Roy
E9 To Sir, with love E.H.Braithwaite
E10 David Copperfield
E11 Great Expectations Charles Dickens
E12 Oliver Twist
E13 Tale of Two Cities
E14 Lord of the flies William Golding
E15 Haiku for lovers Manu Bazzane
E15 The Canterbury Tales Chaucer
E16 The Beloved Anarchist by P.R Taikad
E17 She Rider Hoggard
E18 The Mayor of Casterbridge Thomas Hardy
E19 For from the Madding Crowd Thomas Hardy
E20 The Trumpet Major Thomas Hardy
E21 One Hundred Years of solitude Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
E23 Sons and Lovers D.H. Lawrence
E24 Mother Maxim Gorky
E25 The Artamanovs Maxim Gorky
E26 Dead souls Maxim Gorky
E27 Anna Karenina Vol 1 & 2 Count Lev Tolstoy
E28 Notes from the Underground House Dostoyevski
E29 Short Stories Chekov
E30 Lady Windermere’s Fan Oscar Wilde
E31 Death of Dr. Faustus Christopher Marlowe
E32 Short Novels & Stories Anton Chekov
E33 Gone with the Wind Margeret Mitchelle
E34 Pygmalion G.B. Shaw
E36 Candida G.B. Shaw
E37 Decline and Fall of Roman Empire Gibbon
E38 Uneasy Money P.G. Woodehouse
E39 Jane Eyre Charlotte Bronte
E40 Silas Marner George Eliot
E41 A Circle in Time Jean Walton
E42 The Portrait of a Crack V. Finnel
E43 Poetry Thomas Gunn
E44 Selected Essays Steven Rawlinson
E45 The Great Remakes of Nature J.V.Michurina
E46 Life’s Handicap Rudyard Kipling
E47 Wings of Death Toyoll
E48 Stories Mikhail Sholokes
E49 The Devil’s Alternative Fredrick Forsyth
E50 Around the World in Eighty Days Jules Verne
E51 Zamindar V. Fitzegerald
E52 Father’s & Sons Ivan Turgenev
E53 A nest of the Gentry Ivan Turgenev
E54 Henry IV Part I William Shakespeare
E55 The lovely Bones Alice Sebold
E55 The American Leslie Walter
E56 Rising Tides Nora Roberts
E57 Middle March George Eliot
E58 The seventh secret Truing Wallace
E59 The Fire and Rain Girish Karnad
E60 The Fall Make Richard Gordon
E61 A stranger in the Mirror Sidney Sheldon
E62 The Prodigal Daughter Jeffery Archer
E63 The City of Joy Dominique Lapierre
E64 The Diary of a young Girl Anne Frank
E65 Adam Bede George Eliot
E66 When Eight Bells Toll Alistair Maclean
E67 The Idiot Fyoder Dostoyesky
E68 The Winters Tale William Shakespeare
Polity and Sociology
PS1 The Poverty of Philosphy Karl Marx
PS2 Articles and Speeches
PS3 About Lenin Lenin
PS4 On Imperialism & Imperialists – 2
PS5 Selected works 1 & 2
PS6 Down Pages from a Life of Struggle Yuri Akestine
PS7 The British Cooperative Movement Jack Bailey
PS8 My Experiment with truth M.K. Gandhi
PS9 When freedom is menaced Lal Bahadur Shashtri
PS11 Geopolitical Relations & Regional Cooperation Dr. K. Gopal
PS12 H.P.S. Menon A Tribute by (Edited) Menon
PS15 Six Essays in Cooperative Sociology Andre Beteille
PS16 The USSR and Developing Countries Progress Publishers
PS17 The Glowing legend of Sri Syed S. Ziaurahman
PS18 Society and the Environment of a Soviet
PS19 Nations Rise and Fall – Why.
PS20 A short History of the world H. G. Wells
PS20 Socialist Bulgaria
PS21 Selected Works 1 & 2 Marx & Engels
PS22 The Road to Communism
PS23 The Children who sleep by the River Debbie Taylor
PS24 The Making of India’s Foreign Policy J. Bandhhopadhaya
PS25 The International working class movement
PS26 Ireland and the Irish Question Marx and Engels
PS27 Maxim Gorky
PS31 The first Indian war of Independence Marx & Engels
PS32 Marshal of the Soviet Union G. Zhukov
PS34 Das Capital Karl Marx
PS35 Communist Manifest Karl Marx
PS36 Indian Constitution D.D. Basu
PS37 History Romilla Thaper
Economy, Psychology, Philosophy and others
MISC1Macro Economics Dhingra
MISC2When you sell that counts Donald L. Cossidy
MISC3Making money on the stock market S.S.Graubl
MISC4A Manual of foreign exchange Pither
MISC5Indian Economy survey
MISC6The interpretation of dreams Sigmund Freud
MISC7I’m OK – You’re OK Thomas A. Harris M.D.
MISC8Over the Top Zig Ziglar
MISC9Get set go Swati-Shailesh Lodha
MISC14Science of self realization
MISC17The secret of Janmyoga
MISC18Thus spoke Zarathustra Frederick Nietzsche
MISC19The way of Power Sohan Blifield
MISC21Rise of the modern West Minakshi Phukan
MISC22Workbook of History.
MISC31The Third Eye T. Lobsang Rampa
MISC32The Yoga of a Yogi T. Krishnamacharya
MISC33Science, Religion and Peace S.N. Prasad, Suman Shukla
MISC34India-Vietnam Relations Ganesh Sharma
MISC35Corporate laws and Social practice G. K. Kapoor
MISC36The Universal History of Numbers Georges Ifrah
MISC37The Evolution of Khasi Music Lakynshai Syiem
MISC38Let us Create a New India in the
21st century M. Ganeshan
MISC39Nationalist Movement in South India M.S.R. Anjaneyuvulu
MISC40Powerful Media Words K. Khaja Mohideen
MISC41J. Krishnamurthy demystified Kalidas Joshi
MISC42Stars speak Fortune in our hands K.S. Mangesh Kumar
MISC43The Everyday Politics of Labour Geert De Neve
MISC44Social Democracy in Practice
MISC45Socialist International Pradip Bose
MISC46Beyond Shirdi K. Venkataraman
MISC47Buddhist Centers of Orissa B. Bandhopadhyay
MISC48What happens to Gods and demons H. N. Verma
MISC49Cultural Tourism Management Vishwas Mehta
MISC50Walking the Tightrope Rehana Ahmed
MISC51The Great Mortality John Kelly
MISC52The lost dreams Mohd. Salim
MISC53Nobel Prize Winners in Pictures-
1901-2003
MISC54The Rama Saga P. K. Pandeya
MISC52Essentials of Buddhism and Jainism K. N. Neelkandan
MISC53Identity and Image Management Rajendra Ghuje
MISC54Promising Professions Mamta Ghuje
MISC55Brand-wise Leveraging People
MISC56To Build Powerful Brands Jyothi Menon
MISC57Advanced Accounting V. K. Saxena
MISC58Mahashwetha Sudha Murthy
MISC59Majority People's Right for
MISC60Preferential Participation Jawahar Nessan
MISC61Cancer Made me Kasthuri Sreenivasan
MISC62Forget Kathmandu- An
Entry for Democracy Manjushree Thapa
MISC63Folklore, Public Sphere and Civil Society M.D. Muthukumarswamy, Molly Kaushal
MISC64Energizing Rural Development
through Panchayats Bibek Debray, P.D. Kaushik
MISC65Without a Second Sheela Balaji
MISC66Dalits, Land and Dignity V. B. Rawat
MISC67Prevention of Blindness T. Selvaraju
MISC68I want my son back Uma Eyyunni
MISC69Understanding Islam Frithjof Schuon
MISC70A matter of taste Nilanjan S. Roy
MISC71Dreams and their interpretation made easy Dr. Francis Menezes
MISC72India and Japan- Blossoming a
new understanding Rajaram Panda, Yoo Fukuzawa
MISC73The 8th Habit: From effectiveness
to greatness Stephen R. Covey
MISC74The Marketing White Book 2003-2004 Businessworld
MISC75The Intelligent Investors Benjamin Graham and David Dodd
Category
Book Author
Management
M1 Marketing Management Bowdy and Peter
M2 Financial Management
(i) Khan & Jain
(ii) T.M. Pandey
M3 Management of Information Systems Griffin
M4 Management
M5 Mathematics for Business Studies Dr. J.K.Thukral
M6 You Inc. Hedges
M7 Iacocca An Autobiography Lee Iacocca
M8 Straight from the Gut Jack Welch
M9 Knowledge Management Strategies Microsoft
M10 Business making skills Simon
M11 Architect of Quality Juran
M12 Management Peter Drucker
English Literature
E1 Atlas shrugged Ayn Rand
E2 Fountainhead Ayn Rand
E3 Eools Die Maria Puzo
E4 The Da Vinci Code Dan Brown
E5 Half a Life V.S. Naipaul
E6 Harry Potter
(a) and the order of phoenix
(b) and the chamber of secrets J.K. Rowling
(c) and the prisoner of Azbakan
E7 Five point Someone Chetan Bhagat
E8 Goddess of small things Arundhati Roy
E9 To Sir, with love E.H.Braithwaite
E10 David Copperfield
E11 Great Expectations Charles Dickens
E12 Oliver Twist
E13 Tale of Two Cities
E14 Lord of the flies William Golding
E15 Haiku for lovers Manu Bazzane
E15 The Canterbury Tales Chaucer
E16 The Beloved Anarchist by P.R Taikad
E17 She Rider Hoggard
E18 The Mayor of Casterbridge Thomas Hardy
E19 For from the Madding Crowd Thomas Hardy
E20 The Trumpet Major Thomas Hardy
E21 One Hundred Years of solitude Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
E23 Sons and Lovers D.H. Lawrence
E24 Mother Maxim Gorky
E25 The Artamanovs Maxim Gorky
E26 Dead souls Maxim Gorky
E27 Anna Karenina Vol 1 & 2 Count Lev Tolstoy
E28 Notes from the Underground House Dostoyevski
E29 Short Stories Chekov
E30 Lady Windermere’s Fan Oscar Wilde
E31 Death of Dr. Faustus Christopher Marlowe
E32 Short Novels & Stories Anton Chekov
E33 Gone with the Wind Margeret Mitchelle
E34 Pygmalion G.B. Shaw
E36 Candida G.B. Shaw
E37 Decline and Fall of Roman Empire Gibbon
E38 Uneasy Money P.G. Woodehouse
E39 Jane Eyre Charlotte Bronte
E40 Silas Marner George Eliot
E41 A Circle in Time Jean Walton
E42 The Portrait of a Crack V. Finnel
E43 Poetry Thomas Gunn
E44 Selected Essays Steven Rawlinson
E45 The Great Remakes of Nature J.V.Michurina
E46 Life’s Handicap Rudyard Kipling
E47 Wings of Death Toyoll
E48 Stories Mikhail Sholokes
E49 The Devil’s Alternative Fredrick Forsyth
E50 Around the World in Eighty Days Jules Verne
E51 Zamindar V. Fitzegerald
E52 Father’s & Sons Ivan Turgenev
E53 A nest of the Gentry Ivan Turgenev
E54 Henry IV Part I William Shakespeare
E55 The lovely Bones Alice Sebold
E55 The American Leslie Walter
E56 Rising Tides Nora Roberts
E57 Middle March George Eliot
E58 The seventh secret Truing Wallace
E59 The Fire and Rain Girish Karnad
E60 The Fall Make Richard Gordon
E61 A stranger in the Mirror Sidney Sheldon
E62 The Prodigal Daughter Jeffery Archer
E63 The City of Joy Dominique Lapierre
E64 The Diary of a young Girl Anne Frank
E65 Adam Bede George Eliot
E66 When Eight Bells Toll Alistair Maclean
E67 The Idiot Fyoder Dostoyesky
E68 The Winters Tale William Shakespeare
Polity and Sociology
PS1 The Poverty of Philosphy Karl Marx
PS2 Articles and Speeches
PS3 About Lenin Lenin
PS4 On Imperialism & Imperialists – 2
PS5 Selected works 1 & 2
PS6 Down Pages from a Life of Struggle Yuri Akestine
PS7 The British Cooperative Movement Jack Bailey
PS8 My Experiment with truth M.K. Gandhi
PS9 When freedom is menaced Lal Bahadur Shashtri
PS11 Geopolitical Relations & Regional Cooperation Dr. K. Gopal
PS12 H.P.S. Menon A Tribute by (Edited) Menon
PS15 Six Essays in Cooperative Sociology Andre Beteille
PS16 The USSR and Developing Countries Progress Publishers
PS17 The Glowing legend of Sri Syed S. Ziaurahman
PS18 Society and the Environment of a Soviet
PS19 Nations Rise and Fall – Why.
PS20 A short History of the world H. G. Wells
PS20 Socialist Bulgaria
PS21 Selected Works 1 & 2 Marx & Engels
PS22 The Road to Communism
PS23 The Children who sleep by the River Debbie Taylor
PS24 The Making of India’s Foreign Policy J. Bandhhopadhaya
PS25 The International working class movement
PS26 Ireland and the Irish Question Marx and Engels
PS27 Maxim Gorky
PS31 The first Indian war of Independence Marx & Engels
PS32 Marshal of the Soviet Union G. Zhukov
PS34 Das Capital Karl Marx
PS35 Communist Manifest Karl Marx
PS36 Indian Constitution D.D. Basu
PS37 History Romilla Thaper
Economy, Psychology, Philosophy and others
MISC1Macro Economics Dhingra
MISC2When you sell that counts Donald L. Cossidy
MISC3Making money on the stock market S.S.Graubl
MISC4A Manual of foreign exchange Pither
MISC5Indian Economy survey
MISC6The interpretation of dreams Sigmund Freud
MISC7I’m OK – You’re OK Thomas A. Harris M.D.
MISC8Over the Top Zig Ziglar
MISC9Get set go Swati-Shailesh Lodha
MISC14Science of self realization
MISC17The secret of Janmyoga
MISC18Thus spoke Zarathustra Frederick Nietzsche
MISC19The way of Power Sohan Blifield
MISC21Rise of the modern West Minakshi Phukan
MISC22Workbook of History.
MISC31The Third Eye T. Lobsang Rampa
MISC32The Yoga of a Yogi T. Krishnamacharya
MISC33Science, Religion and Peace S.N. Prasad, Suman Shukla
MISC34India-Vietnam Relations Ganesh Sharma
MISC35Corporate laws and Social practice G. K. Kapoor
MISC36The Universal History of Numbers Georges Ifrah
MISC37The Evolution of Khasi Music Lakynshai Syiem
MISC38Let us Create a New India in the
21st century M. Ganeshan
MISC39Nationalist Movement in South India M.S.R. Anjaneyuvulu
MISC40Powerful Media Words K. Khaja Mohideen
MISC41J. Krishnamurthy demystified Kalidas Joshi
MISC42Stars speak Fortune in our hands K.S. Mangesh Kumar
MISC43The Everyday Politics of Labour Geert De Neve
MISC44Social Democracy in Practice
MISC45Socialist International Pradip Bose
MISC46Beyond Shirdi K. Venkataraman
MISC47Buddhist Centers of Orissa B. Bandhopadhyay
MISC48What happens to Gods and demons H. N. Verma
MISC49Cultural Tourism Management Vishwas Mehta
MISC50Walking the Tightrope Rehana Ahmed
MISC51The Great Mortality John Kelly
MISC52The lost dreams Mohd. Salim
MISC53Nobel Prize Winners in Pictures-
1901-2003
MISC54The Rama Saga P. K. Pandeya
MISC52Essentials of Buddhism and Jainism K. N. Neelkandan
MISC53Identity and Image Management Rajendra Ghuje
MISC54Promising Professions Mamta Ghuje
MISC55Brand-wise Leveraging People
MISC56To Build Powerful Brands Jyothi Menon
MISC57Advanced Accounting V. K. Saxena
MISC58Mahashwetha Sudha Murthy
MISC59Majority People's Right for
MISC60Preferential Participation Jawahar Nessan
MISC61Cancer Made me Kasthuri Sreenivasan
MISC62Forget Kathmandu- An
Entry for Democracy Manjushree Thapa
MISC63Folklore, Public Sphere and Civil Society M.D. Muthukumarswamy, Molly Kaushal
MISC64Energizing Rural Development
through Panchayats Bibek Debray, P.D. Kaushik
MISC65Without a Second Sheela Balaji
MISC66Dalits, Land and Dignity V. B. Rawat
MISC67Prevention of Blindness T. Selvaraju
MISC68I want my son back Uma Eyyunni
MISC69Understanding Islam Frithjof Schuon
MISC70A matter of taste Nilanjan S. Roy
MISC71Dreams and their interpretation made easy Dr. Francis Menezes
MISC72India and Japan- Blossoming a
new understanding Rajaram Panda, Yoo Fukuzawa
MISC73The 8th Habit: From effectiveness
to greatness Stephen R. Covey
MISC74The Marketing White Book 2003-2004 Businessworld
MISC75The Intelligent Investors Benjamin Graham and David Dodd
Monday, November 12, 2007
The trainer's dilemma
Just the other day, I came across an article that read the survey of Indian Labour Agency. (I guess this is it only:))It was about the plight of Indian industry grappling with the shortage of skilled manpower. It said that 90% of Indian graduates are unemployable and out of those that are, more than half earn a pittance. The problem is rather grave-lack of training. The roots of the problem have dug deeper into the malice of the parochial perception of the Indian society- the stigma associated with something that is sublime in deeds. The concept of training unfortunately still remains western. The traditional respectable 'guru' has finally become a jobless man devoid any good opportunity and forced to live the life of a teacher. That is the perception and the society cannot be blamed fully for it. That is the way practicality speaks. It is a rarity to find a technical or that matter even a graduate taking up the vocation of training for the love of it. Art for art's sake funda does not apply here.
But the gap between skilled and unskilled workforce can be bridged with the help of training. We surely never expect the conventional University or school model to work properly in India. The are not to be blamed fully as they earn a pittance vis-a-vis their other equally cometent counterpart and live a life of anonymity or sometimes call it quits in frustratuion and try to seek greener pastures.
But the paradox is stark. It is a catch-22 situation. The industry will eventually lose out to the competition because of lack of trainers and the industry will never recognise the trainer. The government spends only 5.2% of its GDP to education. Despite all of this, we need a few good men who can rise beyond the hype and hoopla and become proactive to bring certain grassroot level changes. The training pedagogy demands a sea change. The primary education has to be targeted and any effort to improve it must be properly recognised, if not incentivised. There disappears the truant, serious, dull professor devoid of even the working knowledge of his subject. And here pitches in the new-age professional who knows how to corporatize the unorganized industry. The real trainer has to set the extra mile in his life's marathon. He can inspire only by leading from the front and not just by feeling victimised and underperforming at the cost of the students. We need an army of trainers. Even training industry is undergoing metamorphosis. The signs of changes have started showing themselves and the trainer has started realising that his bootcamp has begun. Only thereafter can he can initiate a bootcamp for the protege. I will love to post more later.
But the gap between skilled and unskilled workforce can be bridged with the help of training. We surely never expect the conventional University or school model to work properly in India. The are not to be blamed fully as they earn a pittance vis-a-vis their other equally cometent counterpart and live a life of anonymity or sometimes call it quits in frustratuion and try to seek greener pastures.
But the paradox is stark. It is a catch-22 situation. The industry will eventually lose out to the competition because of lack of trainers and the industry will never recognise the trainer. The government spends only 5.2% of its GDP to education. Despite all of this, we need a few good men who can rise beyond the hype and hoopla and become proactive to bring certain grassroot level changes. The training pedagogy demands a sea change. The primary education has to be targeted and any effort to improve it must be properly recognised, if not incentivised. There disappears the truant, serious, dull professor devoid of even the working knowledge of his subject. And here pitches in the new-age professional who knows how to corporatize the unorganized industry. The real trainer has to set the extra mile in his life's marathon. He can inspire only by leading from the front and not just by feeling victimised and underperforming at the cost of the students. We need an army of trainers. Even training industry is undergoing metamorphosis. The signs of changes have started showing themselves and the trainer has started realising that his bootcamp has begun. Only thereafter can he can initiate a bootcamp for the protege. I will love to post more later.
Monday, November 5, 2007
How far is too far?
Sometimes there are certain happenings in life when you pause to shudder at what worse could have happened if you proceeded the wild way you live your life. It is a wild fear that you might do some harm to your near and dear ones because you cannot quit something.
It is high time all the spoilt-brats did something serious about rehab.:)
The subtle inferences are because of certain happenings that disturb you so much and you cannot even substantiate why that happened because of the stigma involved. Destiny conspires in such a way and you are left with plain regrets and keep on living in the fear that you cannot mend your ways as you have gone too far to return back.
It is high time all the spoilt-brats did something serious about rehab.:)
The subtle inferences are because of certain happenings that disturb you so much and you cannot even substantiate why that happened because of the stigma involved. Destiny conspires in such a way and you are left with plain regrets and keep on living in the fear that you cannot mend your ways as you have gone too far to return back.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Mukesh Ambani is the richest man in the world because his DAD was an ATM!!!
Welcome to the new-age rich man's son. Unlike Prince Harry, the new-age rich man's son believes in multiplying dad's moolah and not in dividing it. Gone are the days when it was fashion to have the satire emblazoned on your t-shirts, "My dad is an ATM." No longer does the riches of dad remain a legacy meant to be inherited and not to be utilized. Money attracts money. That is the bottomline. Rest is well nigh hogwash. Barring a few, majority live in the fool's paradise of becoming a succesful enterpreneur by starting a business from the scratch.
However, it is heartening to see that people are born with a silver spoon but want to die with a golden spoon. Mukesh Ambani, Shishir Bajaj, Aditya Mittal, Anil Ambani, Hritik Roshan, Amir Khan, Shahid Kapur, Kajol, Rani Mukherji et al.
However, it is heartening to see that people are born with a silver spoon but want to die with a golden spoon. Mukesh Ambani, Shishir Bajaj, Aditya Mittal, Anil Ambani, Hritik Roshan, Amir Khan, Shahid Kapur, Kajol, Rani Mukherji et al.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
An excerpt from an interview with S. Shandilya, Chairman Eicher Group:
Despite my dislike for the corporate, I have a fancy for corporate honchos’ take on so many things- good vs bad, private vs public, employer vs employee, India vs the US of A, retention vs attrition, Monday blues vs Friday revelry, application side vs the non-application one, demand vs supply, number churning vs useability, urban vs rural governance, rupee vs dollar, employee vs entrepreneur, stress vs professionalism and so and so forth. In short, I love their views on anything and everything under the sun. Not to mention, this exclusive interview by Mr. Shandilya on a channel was a delight to watch and listen to.
He opines that demand has far overtaken the supply and the graduates that are being churned out by the current education system are not employable in the strictest of sense. However, low cost jobs have to be outsourced and end-to-end solutions have to be provided. Which is why, corporate has no choice but to recruit and boast of recruiting in hordes. The solution that the corporate has taken recourse to in order to counter lack of competence in any definitive skill-set is to train the unemployable employee at the outset. This results in a huge drain of time, money, resources and the other intangible assets too. The worst facet of all this is that the trainee more often than not utilizes the training expertise somewhere else and if not, then the trainee does not utilize it anywhere at all. Ultimately, it becomes a zero sum game for the training company.
The discussion veered to the attrition monster, which is the corporate bugbear. Mr. Shandilya’s take on attrition is not a critical one. He analyzes the pros and cons of it. It is wrong to decry attrition outrightingly without realizing that normal attrition per se is okay. It is when attrition reaches the height in sectors like IT/ITES where growth rate is one among the best the alarm bells start ringing. But then the reason can be manifold. Many of the times higher growth does that (people switch over at the drop of the hat for a measly salasy hike of Rs. 1000 per month), on other times the missing role clarity does the harm (people are confused as to what exactly is their profile and change because they spot the disconnect between the initial offer and the actual project work being done) and sometimes higher stress level is the bane (You ask, “Oh my god, even the Senior Project manager is working like hell. Is there any respite even few years down the line?). There are many other reasons. But the demand outstrips supply and not-so-effective remedial measures can be benching, temping or going for legal contracts that are many a times not legally enforceable and not recognized by law.
The root problem still remains that the grass-root educational level still remains an impregnable fortress for the corporate because it requires a massive effort and where is the time for it? ITC’s e-chaupal initiative can be a one-off case in the point. The public-private-partnership is still in its infancy in India. Ultimately it results in unskilled manpower being churned out the educational factories. The Ram Gopal Verma’s Factory is doing the same in movies because it believes that audience wants a large number of movies no matter if they are devoid of quality. That is analogous and metaphorical as it almost a similar scenario in the education sector. The industry-academia interface is not proper and CII is upping the ante against the same. Then again ‘Train the trainer’ module can be effective provided the trainer is paid well and the cliché that is associated with it that training is a part-time career has to be discouraged.
I will love to post more on this later.
He opines that demand has far overtaken the supply and the graduates that are being churned out by the current education system are not employable in the strictest of sense. However, low cost jobs have to be outsourced and end-to-end solutions have to be provided. Which is why, corporate has no choice but to recruit and boast of recruiting in hordes. The solution that the corporate has taken recourse to in order to counter lack of competence in any definitive skill-set is to train the unemployable employee at the outset. This results in a huge drain of time, money, resources and the other intangible assets too. The worst facet of all this is that the trainee more often than not utilizes the training expertise somewhere else and if not, then the trainee does not utilize it anywhere at all. Ultimately, it becomes a zero sum game for the training company.
The discussion veered to the attrition monster, which is the corporate bugbear. Mr. Shandilya’s take on attrition is not a critical one. He analyzes the pros and cons of it. It is wrong to decry attrition outrightingly without realizing that normal attrition per se is okay. It is when attrition reaches the height in sectors like IT/ITES where growth rate is one among the best the alarm bells start ringing. But then the reason can be manifold. Many of the times higher growth does that (people switch over at the drop of the hat for a measly salasy hike of Rs. 1000 per month), on other times the missing role clarity does the harm (people are confused as to what exactly is their profile and change because they spot the disconnect between the initial offer and the actual project work being done) and sometimes higher stress level is the bane (You ask, “Oh my god, even the Senior Project manager is working like hell. Is there any respite even few years down the line?). There are many other reasons. But the demand outstrips supply and not-so-effective remedial measures can be benching, temping or going for legal contracts that are many a times not legally enforceable and not recognized by law.
The root problem still remains that the grass-root educational level still remains an impregnable fortress for the corporate because it requires a massive effort and where is the time for it? ITC’s e-chaupal initiative can be a one-off case in the point. The public-private-partnership is still in its infancy in India. Ultimately it results in unskilled manpower being churned out the educational factories. The Ram Gopal Verma’s Factory is doing the same in movies because it believes that audience wants a large number of movies no matter if they are devoid of quality. That is analogous and metaphorical as it almost a similar scenario in the education sector. The industry-academia interface is not proper and CII is upping the ante against the same. Then again ‘Train the trainer’ module can be effective provided the trainer is paid well and the cliché that is associated with it that training is a part-time career has to be discouraged.
I will love to post more on this later.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Dusshehra in Gorakhpur
The festival season has just begun. It has been a mandate for me for so many years to visit durga badi in Gorakhpur, U.P., India at least once during dusshehra festival. It has been almost sacrosanct for me not because I am a devout Durga ma bhakt but because of a few good teenage memories. As usual after waking up, I was there. The ground was buzzing with festivity as usual. Soon I found myself among the multitude vying for the coveted thali of ‘prasad’. The traffic irked the distributors of the ‘prasad’ umpteen number of times but still with smiling faces they chose to ignore many who ran away with the thali more than once. The motley crowd seemed to be relaxed. Each seemed to have different reasons for that. There could be seen various faces: bong beauties, bespectacled Software Engineers chilling out after a back-breaking sojourn abroad, veterans who have developed a near six sigma expertise in event management, truly reverent ‘sadhaks’ hoping for a good future, busy and business-like sindhi’s overlooking a food stall, dandies and darlings seeking a partner and what not. It was a nice gathering. In particular, the housie game kept the majority engaged. The big fish normally won and the small fry went back vanquished. A section boasted and hooted a lot when anyone reported bogus claims. The funny anchor was at his best in giving names to numbers. I, for one, found my description in the ‘ Seekiya pehelwan’ number 1.
However, it was a tad surprising to find so many Bengalis and it was as if a ‘mini-assansol’ had been created over there. It was a nice cross-cultural exchange. Few typical localites resented this overwhelming presence of a particular community by trying to mock at the jamboree. Few were regretting that nowadays celebrations are not as good as they used to be earlier. A regret that never ends and has almost become clichéd! All said and done, it is nice sometimes to be an ‘up-country’ mofussil boy.
However, it was a tad surprising to find so many Bengalis and it was as if a ‘mini-assansol’ had been created over there. It was a nice cross-cultural exchange. Few typical localites resented this overwhelming presence of a particular community by trying to mock at the jamboree. Few were regretting that nowadays celebrations are not as good as they used to be earlier. A regret that never ends and has almost become clichéd! All said and done, it is nice sometimes to be an ‘up-country’ mofussil boy.
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