Month: June 2005

Categories
Thoughts

their confidence shakes me

Background:
1) This pair of love-birds have been together for quite a long time and understand each other so well that they usually complete each others sentences.
2) The guy is typical, indifferent with the fact whom he settles with. All he hopes that he should be the first love of his wife (unfortunately he is not her first love but he did not care that either)
3) The girl loves this guy; her parents do not reject this guy. However they say she deserves better (well he is educated and has a good job, attractive looking too. BUT you know parents… )
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I was tried to reason her against her decision of going for an arranged marriage.
I got a answer…..

1) Marriage is a relationship of 2 families and not just 2 souls.

2) Every relationship has ups and down. When there are good, you do not care about the world, but it is at the time of downs that you look forward for support. What I fear is that when I look forward for it, my parents might say “I TOLD YOU SO! I know this is going to happen ….” and his parents will not have that sense of belonginess for me. They might feel “ Sadak se ladka kisi ko utha laye tab bhi manna padta” (We are compelled to agree even if our son selects any random bride)

3) When two souls live together, love is bound to happen. I am sure within a few months I will forget all about “present guy” and devote myself fully to the husband.

The guy is adamant. He says, she has to take the decision and he will support and respect it as if it was his decision only. I cannot force my love on anybody.

Both of them are sure of what they are doing, but I am wondering “Is it a matured thought of these two love-birds or another relation is breaking prematurely.”

 

Categories
Thoughts

Nudity in ancient world.

‘Some say that the study of philosophy was of barbarian origin. For the Persians had their Magi, the Babylonians or the Assyrians the Chaldeans, the Indians their Gymnosophists, while the Kelts and the Galatae had seers called Druids and Semnotheoi, or so Aristotle says in the ‘Magic’ and Sotion in the twenty-third book of his ‘Succession of Philosophers’…

Those who think that philosophy is an invention of the barbarians explain the systems prevailing among each people. They say that the Gymnosophists and Druids make their pronouncements by means of riddles and dark sayings, teaching that the gods must be worshiped, and no evil done, and manly behavior maintained.’

In the ancient world, especially in Greece or Rome, nudity per se implied nothing sexual but a mere lack of status or inability to find the means to clothe yourself.

Slavery was common and it was up to the master to provide the clothes necessary and if no money was available, well, the slave just remained naked.

I think the concept of sin, shame and evil associated with nakedness arose after the male dominated christian hierarchy decided to propagate their views on what was acceptable or not.

Do you know that they still had a hard time, especially with the open display of phalluses everywhere, including the daily bread, which was usually phallic shaped.

They began retaliating by marking the buns or bread with a cross, the original hot cross bun, as if that would make the shape holy!

The Shivling worship is actually a worship of the act of copulation.

Most of the ancient idols showed nudity as a way of life, now even breast feeding in public is considered obscure.

It’s funny to think that 2,000 years later, we still cannot view the picture of a naked body without a ‘mature’ tag being associated with it.

Categories
Humor

Infosys + Sholay

Amitabh: Mausi ladka “Infy” mein kaam karta hai…
Mausi: Hai raam…

Amitabh: Aajkal allocated bhi hai…
Mausi: To kya kabhi unallocated (i.e. bench pe) bhi rahta hai????

Amitabh: Ab C rating waalon ka allocation itni asaani se kahaan hota hai mausi…
Mausi: To kya C rating bhi aati hai uski????

Amitabh: PL se ladaai karne ke baad A ya uske upar ki rating to nahin na milti hai mausi…
Mausi: To kya ladaaku bhi hai????

Amitabh: Ab onsite jaane ko na mile to ho jaati hai kabhi-kabhi anban…
Mausi: To kya onsite bhi nahin gayaa aaj tak????

Amitabh: Ab civil engineers ka Visa itni jaldi kahaan lagta hai mausi…
Mausi: To kya ladka civil engineer hai???? Engineering kaun se college se kiya hai????

Amitabh: Bas uska pataa lagte hi hum aapko khabar kar denge!!!!!
Amitabh: To kya main rishta pakka samjhun mausi??
Mausi: Bhale hi hamaari ladki call center waale se shaadi kar le, par Infy waale se kabhi nahin karegi…….

Categories
Thoughts

Reliance cont….

Reliance cont:
The irregularities I mentioned in the earlier post were:

1) The split decision was taken without taking the 4 important stake holders into confidence: the regulators, the creditors, the investors and the employees.

2) The FM, SEBI, DCA all sat over the various controversies that came into light for more than 7 months and in the end gave a clean chit to the Ambani bros.

3) For India to be a Super-Power, we need dozens of mega conglomerates who have the scale, the size, market influence and purchasing power of any International capacity. Splitting the industrial houses after every generation (happened for Birla too) is doing the reverse.

4) Indian companies esp. the multi billion dollar ones should be professionally managed by a competent board of directors and not bow at the whims and fancies of the individual promoters.

5) There should be lot many professionally managed companies. The only notable one in India was L&T (it also faced 2 hostile takeover attempts and in the second one lost its entire cement division) It is observed that most of the family run business fail be remain attractive by the end of the second generation and the third generation actually sees the downfall. In comparison most of the professional driven well diversified enterprises last longer and generate better returns in the long run.

6) BJP, had it had overcome the internal fighting and interventions from the RSS, could have gained a lot of mileage from the way FM’s statements of giving a clean chit. Alas, the top leadership is senile and the second generation is not just ready.

7) Transparency is the only solution for good corporate governance. Each shareholder has a right to know where his/her money goes and what the roadmap of the company is. Unless the board is made stronger, answerable and filled with some independent directors more and more shareholders wealth will get eroded. Most of the times these predation come to the limelight during the troubled times and often it is too late, and the common investor is left with some bits of paper and a shattered confidence.

What was shocking is that Reliance was considered among the best managed Indian corporate which delivered fantastic returns year after year.

 

Categories
Thoughts

Development of NE

During my visit to the region last year, I noted down a few observations which I thought will be important for the development of the NE.

1) Infrastructure: Currently most of the infrastructural spending esp. for roads and communication lines is dictated by the defense forces. For any state to develop, basic facilities should be there.
2) India should understand that the region is more geographically connected with the neighbors than the main-land and open road and rail links. Before independence the passes and road links were well connected. There were border markets. (Markets at the LOC where small traders of both countries can freely cross and buy/sell goods.) But with the deteriorating international relations these channels of commerce were closed and it was logistically expensive to transport the goods to Calcutta/ Silligudi (the two nearest markets).
3) There has to be a shift from raw materials to manufacturing units and help the economy to move up the value chain.
4) It’s ironical that most of the time we discuss about the hydro electric potential of the region, but most villages do not have micro-hydro power units and use DG sets and burn diesel for meeting the lightning needs.
5) The cooperative movement has to be supported to enable the local population get access to credit, technology and also increase the sense of community and the negotiating power.
6) The scenic beauty, flora, fauna, and diversity of cultures found there is not found anywhere else in India. Promote tourism; it’s the fastest way of earning good revenues for virgin lands like these.
7) A campaign has to be run to remove the mindset of people that NE is troubled land, region of conflict instead of land of peace and growth.
8) Encourage a sense of citizenship and democracy. Revoke the “Armed Forces Special Powers Act.”
9) Discourage the Jhum (slash- burn agriculture/ shifting agriculture) it leads to a lot of soil erosion and make the natives aware of the modern plantation method like step agriculture, drip irrigation.
10) It’s ironical that the awareness level of various schemes is very low. The poor don’t know the subsidies and support govt. provides and the most of the development assistance funds lapse year after year.
11) Get a banking system in place and remove the postal banks. Govt. opens up the postal banks in every nook and corner of the country and all the deposits that they mop up is send to Centre for funding the deficit. The local saved money should be reinvested there only and various micro credit and community loan schemes should be started to spur up the economic activity.
12) START COLLECTING STATE TAX: The people have enjoyed enough of a tax holiday. The state govt. should start collecting taxes no matter how miniscule it is.

Cont…..Next will be a post of the naxalites.

 

Categories
Thoughts

Khalistan Movement

On June 06 of this year during the anniversary of the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Singh as well as that of Operation Bluestar in the Golden Temple once again the shouts for Khalistan came up. Akali leader Simranjit Singh Mann and Jagjit Singh Chauhan lead the procession of separatists who captured the stand and started demanding for the independent state of khalistan. We also had the bomb blasts in Delhi which are now being attributed to the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). Weave them together there is the danger of khalistan movement starting up again.
Golden Temple – Demand for the Khalistan Movement
Operation Bluestar
So where are we at present?
What will happen if the khalistan movement raises its head again. The militancy in Punjab may again come to the forefront. With friendly enemies all round us.
The Panthic Times
Khalistan Affairs
The biggest problem however is that is khalistan the view of the majority of the people in Punjab or just some random separatists. Interesting to note however the demand for the separate state dies out as soon as the political party dedicated to its formation comes to power. I mean the Akali Dal of course.

 

Categories
Humor Photography

windows boot wait

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Categories
Humor

getting lost

Back in the day when cockpits had flight engineers and navigators, a crusty old-timer captain got a brand new navigator. He reached into his briefcase, pulled out a .38, laid it on the glare panel and asked his new navigator, “Know what this is for, son?”
“No, sir,” replies the newbie.
“I use it on navigators that get us lost,” the captain explained, winking at his first officer. The navigator then opened his briefcase, pulled out a .45 and placed it on his chart table. “What’s that for?” asked the surprised pilot.
The navigator replied, “Well, sir, I figure I’ll know we’re lost before you will!”

Categories
Thoughts

Siachin Glacier ( useless sacrifice)

The beauty of the region was that when the Shimla agreement LOC was drawn, armies on both side thought it would be ridiculous to draw and monitor a front there. The area is inhospitable round the year and hence no question of a dispute. Like most glaciers, high unfathomable mountains, this area was also not divided.

Pakistan started promoting it as a tourist destination and tons of tourist started coming there (from the Pakistan side) in search of virgin ice. None of the forces from both the sides were having bases. It was widely accepted that the terrain was too dangerous for any infiltration/smuggling. Some tribal/ shepherds from the Indian side spotted the tourists and reported their presence to Indian army which immediately sends patrol parties to the glacier. The tourists reported the army presence to the Pak rangers and the militarization started.

Now this frozen desert has become a major prestige issue, both sides proudly proclaim it to be the highest battle-field. Well battles should be like flash floods… you come and you should sweep/conquer and not the ones we are fighting. The only people who lose are the faceless soldiers who get killed in hundreds each year on both sides… not due to shelling, but due to the terrain/ avalanches.

 

Categories
Humor

wait in the queue

I was at Denver airport last weekend on transit when returning to California. Another crowded United Airlines flight (it was the Memorial weekend) was canceled. A single agent was re-booking a long line of inconvenienced travelers. Suddenly an angry passenger pushed his way to the desk. He slapped his ticket on the counter and said “I HAVE to be on this flight and it has to be FIRST CLASS.”

The agent replied, “I am sorry, sir. I’ll be happy to try to help you, but, I’ve got to help these folks first, and I’m sure we’ll be able to work something out.” The passenger was unimpressed. He asked loudly, so that the passengers behind him could hear, “DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHO I AM?”

Without hesitating, the agent smiled and grabbed her public address microphone, “May I have your attention please” she began, her voice heard clearly throughout the terminal. “We have a passenger here at Gate 14 WHO DOES NOT KNOW WHO HE IS. If anyone can help him find his identity, please come to Gate 14.”

With the folks behind him in line laughing hysterically, the man glared at the United agent, gritted his teeth and swore “F*** You!”. Without flinching, she smiled and said, I’m sorry sir, you’ll have to get in line for that too.”