850 MILLION CHILDREN ON EMPTY STOMACH
(Feb. 17, 2007) News: According to UN Food Agency, out of 850 million children going to sleep on empty stomach in the world, 100 million are from India.
COMMENT: Indian PM Mr. Manmohan Singh was at the helm of affairs of Indian economy as the RBI Governor, Finance Secretary, Finance Minister taking credit for Reforms, and is now the PM.
Only he must be able to explain.
PRIME MINISTER OF ITALY LEADING A TRADE DELEGATION TO INDIA
(Feb 9, 2007): PM of Italy is bringing a trade delegation to India. According to news reports Italy ranks 28th as a supplier to India and 34th as a buyer from India. The Italian PM is reported to be bringing enterpreneurs owning medium and small businesses.
COMMENT: The PM of Italy is doing what the leaders of France, UK, Germany etc. have done earlier: Sell something or other to India, particularly weapons. Besides, he may try to use the good offices of Ms Sonia Gandhi, President of the ruling Party, who was an Italian girl by birth. There is nothing wrong in it, which is a part of human nature. If some Indian born person becomes a top leader in Italy (this may never happen), Indian industrialists may try to influence the Italian Government through such leader. Will Ms. Sonia Gandhi allow such nationalist or birthplace preferences? This is a question of individual character.
One hopes Italy will try to equalise its ranks both as supplier and buyer. It is also good that small and medium enterprises are encouraged in foreign trade.
Time will decide.
23RD JANUARY 2007. Nobody, except the Bengal Government bothered about commemmorating Netaji Birthday. Netaji was not just a leader of Bengal or India. He deserved to be the world leader.
Had it been a birthday of a person of Nehru dynasty, the whole Congress Party would have been agog. The media would have been on a rage. The PM would have been on his tenterhooks visiting Shaki Sthal or some other ghat.
REPUBLIC DAY PARADES ARE WASTEFUL
Annual Republic day Parade is a wasteful exercise consuming millions of Rupees and taking away the concentration of the Nation towards jumbories. Ministries and Departments spend at least one month rehearsing for the March. Then, ultimately what is shown? Stale dances. Outdated weapon systems. Owing to traffic jams created, people suffer greatly. Then the lawns of India Gate are trampled. In the world, only two countries India and Pakistan have this type of futile marches. Rajya Sabha member Shri M.S. Gill deserves all the praise for bringing the uselessness of the Republic Day Marches to the attention of the House.
IS INDIA A SUCCESSFUL DEMOCRACY?
(Dec 19, 2006) Ms. Sonia Gandhi, sitting on left, the Indian PM, Mr. Manmohan Singh declared that 'India has emerged as a successful democracy'
So-much-so for Indian democracy's maturity, we have a PM who himself does not think of and cannot get elected to the Lower House of the Parliament.
RULE OF LAW AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN INDIA
The PM with Sonia on the left declared: "... rigorously functioning democracy committed to the Rule of Law and respect for fundamental human freedoms..."
In spite of Land Ceiling Act and plethora of other laws, politicians in Andhra Pradesh could amass/buy/occupy thousands of hectares of land and hold on to them for decades. Where the rule of Law has gone? Fake encounters of hundreds of Maoists make a mockery of the Human Right Laws. If the A.P. Police are so efficient in shooting at sight, why they can never shoot armed robbers who rob places just a few meters from the Police Stations and leave before the wide eyes of the Police? How the Police become extremely efficient in forests and duds in towns and cities.
IF ALL ARE EQUAL WHY SHOULD BSNL SUFFER
The GOI wants BSNL to provide connectivity in Kashmir and North East. The private Telecom Companies are skimming the developed India. Then why should BSNL alone be asked to build towers in backward areas?
The GOI should change its skewed policy. Why should the private Telecom Service Providers hesitate to go to rural areas?
Wifebeaters and their spouses have a right of privacy. The media and the viewers/readers have to respect the right. There are hundreds of issues to be reported by media on priority basis. But media neglect them, they consider such issues to be not sensational and consequently not newsworthy.
Wife beating is a habit which lasts a lifetime or at least the most active part of it. The beaten spouses have to get prepared for a vow of life-time secrecy. Under any circumstances, they should not again approach the media for publicity and public sympathy. Media cannot play the role of an agony aunt whose shoulders will be conveniently available for sobbing.
The legendary Sita of Ramayana fame was a silent private sufferer with elongated public image. Damayanti wife of Nala was another sufferer, but she solved her husband-made problems by her own intelligence. Draupadi, though not beaten by her husbands, had her own share of husband-caused woes. She was quite vociferous about them in Mahabharata. Tulasi w/o Jalandhara, Ahalya w/o Gautama, Renuka w/o Jamadagni, Rukmini, Jambavati, Nagnajiti and 16004 others (all wives of Krishna) stand as fine example of the Indian domestic framework. Hail! thy name is hypocrisy alias privacy.
FOREIGN RELATIONS
CHINA
The Chinese Ambassador in India sometime back said that Arunachal Pradesh was a part of India. Recently he said (as per Press reports) that secret border talks are in progress. Between the two statements, Indian Defence Minister said that Arunachal Pradesh was an integral part of India, and that it was beyond talks.
COMMENT
If what is stated by the Indian Defence Minister is true, the Chinese Ambassador must be exceeding his authority. China should have recalled him. Apparently, he has the consent of his principals. But, how can India make secret talks? Border disputes cannot be discussed and settled by bureaucrats in secret parleys. These are to be evaluated by the highest authority in the country (Cabinet and President), report placed before the Parliament and the Parliament has to give guidelines.
COMMENT
Govt. of India should appoint a committee of Opposition leaders, experts of history, army, a sitting judge of the Supreme Court, an MP, CMs of Arunachal and Meghalaya, to examine the whole issue. Transparency is required.
(Feb. 16, 2007): India and China released their joint logo of Taj and the China wall for the tourist promotion.
COMMENT:Indian Common people did not forget the treachery of China in 1962. The then Chinese Premier Chou En Lai used sweet words and praised Nehru. He did not hesitate to send his forces and occupy nearly 100,000 sq.km. of Indian territory. China has not so far returned the territory. A Nation which does not have "shame" cannot retain its freedom or pride for long.
FOREIGN TRADE
The Developed countries often accuse India and China of dumping their exports (Selling below their production price by providing subsidies) and levy countervailing duties. It will be prudent, if India stops exporting below production costs. Such practice causes national loss.
If India really wants to support its producers, it can subsidise domestic consumption. MERITS
1. Consumers benefit. 2. Standard of Living of people goes up. 3. Subsidy amount remains within the country. 4. People can save more and invest more. This boosts production. DEMERITS
People get addicted to subsidies and crave for them.
News reports show that Indian firms opened about 180 shops in Geongjhou (Canton City). India is yet to open its Consulate Geongjhou.
If India China territory dispute fails to be resolved and if a war like situation develops, the Indian businessmen will have to face severe losses. Why there are so crazy of China? Are there absolutely no opportunities in India?
INDIAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
NEWS:Porsche Car, costing about Rs. 10 million is going to fish in Indian Markets. Rolls Royce, the British Carmaker owned by BMW Germany, returned to India after a gap of a half century. Its Chairman and CEO is very much elated. He is sanguine of a double digit growth. Credit Suisse is agog that india will surpass China in GDP growth.
President of India is keen that India should have 10% growth.
OPINION
Have all the European car makers reached a stage where they should sell wheels to India and China, or perish en masse?
INDIA AND LARGE CARS
India ranks 10th in the world in production of cars. Foreign car makers invest in India to capture Indian Car Markets. Rarely do they export cars.
REDUCTION OF EXCISE DUTY ON LARGE CARS
which the Government of India is doing now, with the ostensible object of raising India's rank in global markets, does not cut any ice. Indian roads are narrow. Large cars guzzle fuel and cause traffic jams. Only neo-rich, super-rich can buy such cars for vulgar display of their ill-gotten wealth. Reduction of excise on large cars affects the demand for small cars (less than 4 meters length). The Govt. seems to be under pressure from producers of premium cars particularly MNCs and there seems to be a scam.
A foreign whisky Corporate estimates Indian Brown Liquor (Whisky and rum) Market at Rs. 345 billion. Half of India's population cannot eke out two square meals a day. India solicits foreign investment to make brown liquors. What a shameful state of affairs!
COMMENT
That means every Indian Citizen should spend Rs. 345 per annum on brown liquors.
ISKU SINGH LOSKU SINGH
I get a deep pain within to nick name our PM Mr. Manmohan Singh, as Isku Singh or Losku Singh. But it has become a compulsion, though not obsessive. Isku Singh: Because he speaks only to Indian School of Business (ISB). Losku Singh: Because he speaks only to the London School of Economics (LSE). He also speaks to elite industrial Mumbai Club like FICCI, ASSOCHAM, CII etc. He does not have the wherewithal to speak to bidi making women, fishermen, farm workers, or weavers. Recently, while speaking to LOSKUE, he made a fervant appeal to the Western World to recognise that India and China are rising. He found that India's share of GDP in the world GDP doubled.
FLAWS IN THIS ARGUMENT1. India's share in the world trade is hardly 1%. 2. At least half of the population is so poor that they get less than $2 a day. 3. We import wheat, pulses, oil seeds and edible oils (our food), textiles (clothing). 4. Poverty forces our rural women to sell their children soon after their birth. So much so for our child and women welfare. 5. Every day farmers commit suicides. Every week small traders commit suicides. Hence, what is there to coo about?
He has taken his liberalisation and globalisation to such a level that this country cannot any longer be called a Sovereign Republic. Proof: France sells Wine to India. India levies import duties on the wines. France is pressurising India to reduce/scrap them. If not amicably settled, its threat extends to approaching arbitrators. India is promising a favourable settlement and earnestly appealing to France not to approach arbitrators. Now, can we call ourselves a Sovereign country? Are we not worse than a Banana Republic? A country which cannot decide on its own what taxes it has to levy, cannot be really independent. Why should Indians drink French wine at all? There are hundreds of millions who do not get a square meal a day. What did Gandhiji tell us? Before taking every decision, we should keep in mind the poorest person in India and assess how it is going to benefit him. What is the use of celebrating birthdays of Gandhi and garlending him? It is high time for Indians to take stock of what is happening in their Mother Land.
Judges are appointed by the President of India, with the consent of CJI, on the recommendation of the Cabinet. Basically, they are appointees and not electees. Within their inner echelons of mind, some of them mayl be carrying a sense of gratitude to the persons responsible for their appointments. They are accountable to the Presidents and not to the People of India or any constituencies. The MPs are accountable to people and have to approach them quite frequently. The consequence of this divergence is MPs tend to be people friendly and be afraid to take decisions which hurt people. Judges tend to carry their attitudes and opinions derived from their past professional experience, which need not necessarily be people friendly.
There are some flaws in the functioning of our Parliament. Good laws may get halted, if there is a slender majority for the ruling party. Bad laws may get hastened, if there is steam roller majority. Either way, these flaws are to be corrected by the Parliament itself. Supreme Court can advise/suggest. But, it cannot make law and take it into its own hands. Today, there may be well-meaning, well-behaving, ethically high standard judges and they may not misuse the judicial activism which has reached its peak. But the precedents created will last Centuries. Some unscrupulous judges may misuse. Hence it will be in the fitness of things if judges leave the law making to Parliament.
SAI BABA AND PRESIDENT
Our President Mr Abdul Kalam , spoke at Puttaparti about creating a Knowledge Platform integrating Information Technology, Biotechnology, NanoTechnology and Robotics. He assured the nation that the Knowledge Platform will lead to innovations. His speech is full of rhetorics, like a platform speaker.
Before the Presidential Innovation of a Knowledge Platform, Shri Satya Sai Baba made his own innovation of creating gold chains and diamond rings from a vacuum. Recently, he did this feat before the Brand Ambassador of a Globentrotter Entertainment Foot Ball Team. He created and presented a gold ring to the Brand Ambassador who happened to be an American Citizen.
Baba showed his omniscience by pointing out to the visitor that his wife had five children, including a misscarriage; that his wife lost her diamond ring a few months back. Baba produced a diamond ring and presented to him. The visitor was very much mesmerised (or appeared to have been) about the superhuman powers of Baba. President of India may not be knowing the knowledge powers of Baba.
Baba spoke that a person should live for TRUTH. But he himself is the obstruction for discovery of truth. He does not allow the world to know how gold chains and diamond rings could be made from vacuum. He does not permit the world to prove how a person can be omniscient about things happening in Los Angeles or San Francisco.
Baba speaks of love and tolerance. If somebody in his University refuses to sing the songs of prayer addressed to Baba, will his University tolerate? The student will be driven out.
His Universities, SuperSpeciality Hospitals and buildings, everything are just show pieces, intended to collect donations. There is no proper audit or taxation for the funds received by him in the names of various tests. Already, there are news reports of internal conlicts for succession between his relatives-cum-legal heirs and the coterie of devotees who manage his affairs.
If Presidents, Governors, Judges, Chief Ministers and other top functionaries can be misled by showpieces, when will truth really come out?
Jan. 23, 2007:
Baba again produced a gold chain from vacuum on the stage and presented to Karuna Nithi, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Occasion: Special felicitation function to Baba on the occasion of completion of Drinking Water supply Scheme from A.P. to Chennai. Sad thing: The recipient of the chain claims to be an atheist. But he will not bother to order an investigation into magical powers of God Persons.
AMRITANANDAMAYI AND PRESIDENTS OF INDIA
Dec. 21, 2006: NEWS : The POI (President of India),
Mr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, is again at the feet of God Persons. This time, it is with Mata Amritanandamayi, at the inaugural function of Amrita Setu, a bridge linking the Tsunami hit Alappad Island with the main land Kollam District, Kerala.
COMMENTS:
1. It is good that God persons spend a part of their money on public works. But it is not clear why thy often need the Presidents, Governors and the CMs at their Asrams. Last year, President was at her Asram, presumably for her birth day.
2 At Trissur, POI gave a call to youth 'Work, Work, and work!' The crowd also responded positively. That means, the crowd has confessed that they were lazy hitherto. Before hearing the POI's speech, the youth were going to Gulf countries because there they could get more opportunities to be lazy.
The President of India said on Nov. 16, 2006: "Sops, subsidies have stunted competence. The SEZs (Special Economic Zones) forcibly introduced by his Government carry sops and subsidies of Rs. 100,000 crore or USD 5 billion over a five year period. Is he really trying to advise his cabinet on the right path?
This party is not an exception in craze for statues. The statues of its deceased leaders Bhupesh Gupta and Indrajit Gupta are awaiting installation in the Parliament House.
AIDMK wants the statue of MGR to be installed in Parliament House. The statue is waiting in Delhi. DMK wants the statue of Dayanidhi Maran in Parliament House.
CJI (Chief Justice of India) said on Nov.16, 2006: "The PM should not be within the purview of Lokpal. ... If the PM comes under a cloud, the country cannot function. There is a political process to get rid of a PM who should not be there."
Comment: Did that political process ever work? We have seen some corrupt Prime Ministers. In fact, some alleigance of some MPs was purchased to vote against a No Confidence Motion against the Government
Republican Party of India MP, Shri Ramdas Athawale said on Nov. 23, 2006 in Parliament: "Greg Chappel is not fulfilling his responsibilities. The defeat has brought disrepute to India."
The Indian MPs and the Cabinet have also failed in the defeat of this country in all fields except cricket. For example, in the field of Health, India emerged as No.1 in HIV-AIDS. India ranks among the most corrupt countries of the world.
INDIAN ARMY'S JOINT MILITARY EXERCISES WITH CHINESE ARMY
"We are getting to know each other better. We conduct exercises with US, Singapore, Russia and Britain and there is no reason why we cannot have exercises with China." Thus said, the Chief of Army Staff, India, to reporters on Nov. 24, 2006 at Bangalore.
India entered into an agreement of Defence Co-operation with China.
In this world, who can do better than India? Here is a country which has occupied nearly 30,000 sq. miles of its territory (Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh). Here is a country which got as gift another 20,000 sq. miles from Pak Occupied Kashmir (Aksai Chin Area). Its Ambassador in India declares almost arrogantly, that Arunachal Pradesh is their territory.
India is going to give China business of USD 40 billion by 2010.
What a marvellous forgiveness! Or forgetfulness!
In Mumbai, the Chinese President visited the home of Dr. Dwarakanath Kotnis who served as Doctor in Chinese-Japanese war between 1939 and 1942.
The Chinese President should have visited the homes of 20,000 Indian soldiers who were slain by Chinese invasion in 1962.
The CEO of a top tobacco Company gets a remuneration of Rs. 20 lakhs per month and a performance bonus of 100% salary. Perquisites at Company's expense both overt and covert are numerous. His remuneration may be a pittance when compared to what the top executives of Western Corporates earn or other elite Companies earn in India. In spite of such high remuneration, Private Sector Corporate Executrives are not free from stains of corruption, a la the lowly paid Bureaucrats and Public Sector Managers.
While the corruption of Bureaucrats is susceptible to public discussion, the rot in the Private Corporates nobody bothers. There is no personal liability or responsibility for the top paid executives. In India, except in Information Technology and Petroleum Exploration Sectors, most top management tasks do not need much technological expertise and skills. For example, to distribute atta supplied by contractor small scale units, what technological skills will be required?
Today's Private Sector Corporates cannot claim to be beyond public social equality parameters and pay astronomical remuneration to some favored top executives. After all, when the Companies become insolvent, who will be on the roads? Low level employees, small share holders and the public. The executives hop to greener pastures or just retire to bungalows with mem sahebs and dogs in the toe.
DADABHAI NAUROJI--JAMSHEDJI TATA--GANDHI--TAGORE-MANMOHANSINGH
Shri Bharat Jhanjhanwala, noted columnist, wrote a beautiful piece comparing the views of Gandhi and Nauroji on 'development'. Here is a brief review based on a Telugu translation. Full text of the article can be seen in Indian Newspapers of Nov. 2006.
Dadabhai Nauroji wrote in 1901 in a book of his on poverty. According to Nauroji, Britain should raise the purchasing power of Indians. If every Indian per capita buys British goods worth Pound 1, British exports to India will be equal to its exports to the rest of the world. British colonial power on India would be mutually beneficial. Gandhiji did not agree with this view. He felt that the goal of economy should be to create employment and livelihood to poor without sacificing their self-respect. He felt that nobody should depend on Government largesse for survival. Gandhiji believed in Svadeshi.
Gandhiji felt that the goal of economy should be to create employment and livelihood to poor without sacificing their self-respect.
Gandhiji--Jamshedji Tata: Tata felt that Parsis should be grateful to the British for the prosperity of the Parsis in India. Gandhiji did not agree with this.
Gandhiji-Rabindranath Tagore: Tagore felt that Indian people will not bother whether the exploiter is an Indian Industrialist or a foreign industrialist. Gandhiji viewed that a domestic industrialist will retain his profits in India. A foreign industrialist investing in India will remit profits to his own country.
Gandhiji-Manmohan Singh: Manmohan Singh tours several foreign countries seeking foreign investment, assuring them free repatriation of dividends
Gandhiji felt that the fruits of new technologies should be passed on to all the countries of the world without inhibitions. The WTO is promoting TRIPS which hinders flow of technology to poor countries. It zealously guards the affluent nations Manmohan Singh is an active supporter of TRIPS.
Manmohan wants to benefits from the injustices and inequalities prevailing in world economy and world markets, treating them as opportunities. Gandhiji never thought of such exploitative ideas.
MANMOHAN SINGH'S PROMISE OF DIGNITY WITH SELF RESPECT
Nov. 3, 2006
PM, Manmohan Singh, speaking at Manipur promised dignified life with self respect.,
Does Manmohan Singh know the meaning of dignity and self-respect. His PMship itself is acquired by prostrating at the sanctum sanctorum of the deity of the Congress Party. He is promising dignity and self respect to millions who have been impoverished and reduced to the extreme ignominable state of commiting suicides, at the alter of his Liberalisation, Privatisation and Globalisation.
Villagers in India led contented lives even in the midst of hardships and rigors of subsistence agriculture and ravages of nature. This was in spite of hundreds of invasions from the NorthWest right from the Aryans to the British. Their needs were few. Their needs were met from the agriculture and the rural artistry. Though there was some toil in the fields working the with the bullocks, his freedom (dignity+self-respect) was never in turmoil. The rural economy was by and large self sufficient, meeting all its needs from the local fairs.
Today, under the threat of globalisation, he is forced to produce for the world markets, particularly for the consumption of the West. They pay a pittance for his toil. Today everything has become a compelling business for the villagers. They have to hire tractors and agri machinery for tilling, sowing and every conceivable agri operation. They have to buy chemical fertilisers and pesticides at exhorbitant prices. In the subsistence agriculture, the farmers were producing for domestic consumption, and if there were surpluses he was selling as an option. There was no coercion for him to sell.
Now, that inputs are purchased investing huge amounts, and then there is competition not only with the immediate neighbour but with the entire world, he can never forecast/guess how much he will get. Since he is investing large amounts borrowing at market rates of interest, he cannot wait the release of his output in the market, as interest costs will go up. When he takes his crop to the market soon after the harvest, the prices shrink. He loses his dignity, sleeps on the piles of the grain or cotton in the market yard in fog, awaiting his turn to weigh the produce or begging the traders to buy his oranges or tomatos or cotton. In the mean time, some China or US will dump its output into Indian ports and the markets will be in flame.
Manmohan and his team members exhort the farmers to become globally competitive. The entire mechanism of Support Price is a hoax. Nobody will buy from the farmer direct. Only intermediaries can sell to the Government Corporations.
CORRUPT AND CRIMINAL DECISIONS
In most countries, accused in a criminal case is regarded as 'innocent' till convicted by a competent court. A criminal case becomes active when a Magistrate frames charges against accused after finding that there is a prima facie case. Hence, an accused before framing of charges and after framing of charges stands on a slight different footing, though in both situations he is regarded as innocent.
In India Prime Minister at the Centre and Chief Ministers in the State admit persons accused of criminal offenses into their cabinets and allow them to take administrative/executive decisions involving billions of Rupees. In case, the accused Minister is found guilty later and convicted, what will happen to the decisions made by him? Technically, the Govt. can always argue that the decisions will be valid. OK, they may be valid.
Solutions: 1. Tainted persons can be kept away from cabinet. This also leads to injustice. If the accused is acquitted later and his innocence is established, he would have been denied a life-times opportunities in his career path. Hence, this is injurious. 2. Concurrent evaluation of decisions made by accused Ministers, by appointing a Committee of three retired Judges.
But, what will be their moral validity? The offense for which the Minister was convicted, had been committed prior to his joining the cabinet. That means his hands were already dirty. His conscience is not clean. The dirt is not known with certainty. During the currency of the case (usually some years), if the incumbant minister takes key decisions affecting the future of the people, what will be their fate? It is true, that reopening of all the decisions will open a pandora box and lead to great to confusion, since some people/parties might have invested large funds or made some other decisions which cannot be reversed. If the criminal minister had made some corrupt and injurious decisions, should innocent persons suffer owing to the highhandedness of the minister.
Solutions: 1. Tainted persons can be kept away from cabinet. This also leads to injustice. If the accused is acquitted later and his innocence is established, he would have been denied a life-times opportunities in his career path. Hence, this is injurious. 2. Concurrent evaluation of decisions made by accused Ministers, by appointing a Committee of three retired Judges. Though this may hurt the ego of the accused ministers, they may still accept it as a via media method.
The awful state of affairs prevailing in the media business, portends an ugly scenario. Today, the print media is unable to sell even a page of its creations, without the photos of the Big B, Abhishek and Aisvarya Roy appearing on top. TV channels cannot run a news window without showing the trio. For the purpose, the TV crew chases the celebrities to temples and the toilets. If the celebrities spit on them, they wipe off and continue. The joke is, media pontificates to the Govt. and the public on what they should do and should not do.
The media sings a sololoquy 'We are doing our best in the given business environment. Running media is business. The Govt. does not subsidise us. There is no place for ideals and social changes. We are not here to reform the society. etc.'
The media should try to wriggle out of the self-made trap, without injuring itself. It may have to evolve its own code of conduct and implement it earnestly. Bigger sharks and media-barons may not co-operate, because it is they who started the rat race. They hate a community discipline and will do everything to vitiate healthy disciplined codes.
L K ADVANI'S ADMISSION IN PARLIAMENT
'It was the normal practice of the police or the investigating authority to book the leaders of such movements' - Shri L.K. Advani, BJP leader and former Home Minister in Parliament, about the case pending against him about demolition of Babri Masjid.
Comment
If a finger presses trigger and the pistol fires, who is to be booked? The person owning the finger and the pistol or the pistol itself?
What is fashion? Is it displaying one thigh and hiding the other?
The photo of Salman Khan and Priyanka Chopra displaying the fashion created by Vikram Phadnis at the music release of their film 'Salaam-e-ishq' in Mumbai, is ugly. What is fashion? Is it displaying one thigh and hiding the other? Why the male companion should be in full suit? Instead, he can ware a burqua.
Dark colors often symbolise dark deeds. Bollywood's links to the crime world are well known. Why did the hero and heroine wear black clothes? Dark horror of Mumbai?
MANMOHAN'S PRIORITIES AS PER HIS SPEECH'
"The component plans for SCs and STs will need to be revitalised. We will have to devise innovative plans to ensure that minorities, particularly the Muslim minority, are empowered to share equitably in the fruits of development. They must have the first claim on resources," Singh said.
Does this mean that Muslim minority will have first claim over SCs and STs?
BJP WANTS INDIA TO REJECT NUCLEAR DEAL
According to news reports, BJP wants India to reject the nuclear deal entered by it with US.
COMMENT: Had BJP been in power, it would have entered into a worse Nuclear Agreement with US. Let BJP top leaders look into mirrors or ponder over their consciences at midnight
PAKISTAN INDIA VISA LIBERALISATION
INDO PAK RELATIONS
India quite frequently accuses Pakistan of cross-border terrorism. India also often complains about infiltrators across the borders. India is not in a position to identify the foreigners who overstay their visa periods. India is like a billion crowd of sheep in which it is difficult to catch sheep X.
Now India and Pakistan are liberalising their visa policies and procedures. Will India stop accusing Pakistan? India is putting cart before the horse.
It is common for Indians to boast abroad, about their country. Right from the PM to a Village Sarpanch trumpets that his country and China are going to World's Super Powers. Description of its scenaric spots, architectural monuments, sculpture, the spirituality abounds everywhere. When I visited mylot.com recently, I found some boasts of these sorts. I was tempted to write some truths, though I may appear to be cynical, pessimistic and sceptical.
What else you can see in India?
1. All villages: Farmers committing suicides, unable to get reasonable price for their output, after agriculture has become uneconomical owing to globalisation and liberalisation of import of agri. commodities.
2. All cities: Orphan children searching for left overs in dust bins, while the neo rich relish ice creams in honda vans.
3. 93 out of 540 members of Lower House of Parliament facing criminal charges.
4. Without bribing, we cannot get a place even in grave yard.
5. India is reaching top in HIV-AIDS.
6. Half of the people toil to make two square meals every day.
7. You can buy Coke and Pepsi everywhere, but not a glass of clean water to drink.
8. Dharavi (Mumbai) is the largest slum in Asia and probably the world. Million people live in a stretch of just 175 acres. Every Indian city has equaly dreadful slums.
9. In Chennai and Lucknow, stampedes took place when Government distributed sarees to women and dozens of women died. Women suffer scarcity of sarees to cover their bodies with.
10. Tirupati Venkateswara the richest God in the world after Vatican, gets tons of gold. Around 30 million people visit the place every year. Most of them are poor.
11. Christian missionaries are on a prowl to convert starving people into Christianity by offering money.
These are the harsh realities which we cannot hide behind a rosy facade. Yet, people are miraculously happy because they live with contentment and tension-free, even if be there is no meal for tomorrow. Bulk of people's minds are not corrupt with commerce. Hence, INDIA is visit worthy. About contentment and commerce of an Indian villager, a good narration can be found in the novel 'Mysterious Stranger' by Mark Twain.
Hey,
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Presentation is as important as the content sumatii.
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