India: Young at the age of 65

Namastey (Greetings), 

I am India, a 65 years young country. Well my my actual age is few thousands years in terms of civilization but I was reborn 65 years ago from my ashes created by colonialism, losing some feathers in the process. To introduce myself, I am the worlds largest democracy, one of the oldest civilization, birthplace of four major religions of the world followed by a quarter of world's population and I house around 17.5% of world population. 

Historically, I was one the worlds first urban civilization, first country  to have developed counting, zero and decimal. The civilization I cradled was the first to start a university, a proper language and grammar system and was among the first one to know that the earth revolves around the sun. Perhaps one of the few countries with more than five kings titled "the great".  I was the richest country in the entire world before I was captured and killed and was called the Golden Bird, or the Jewel of British Crown. 

Well enough of history. Today, I have the second largest army, fourth largest air-force and navy. One of the most modernized air-force in the world. My navy in the only "to be Blue water navy" in Asia. I am one of the few recognized nuclear powers on earth, one of the five countries to have a lunar mission and  only 2nd with a lunar landing mission. I have the second fastest growing economy across the world. When the big power reduce their research  budgets I double them. There are only two countries in the world that generate more number of scientists and engineers than I do. The world is being cured by the doctors and nurses I trained. I own, the 2nd largest railway network, largest communication network. I have 8 of world's 100 richest people.  

My people claim that we never attacked any country, but thats not true, Indian kings attacked and ruled Srilanka and parts of old Persian empire, and my people still continue to attack within the country in terms of caste, religion, region and language. Most of the attack on me were the invited by my own people be it Moghuls or British.

No boasting around anymore, lets go to the irony. I have about one third of poor people of the world and $2 Trillion of my money illegally lies in other countries.  Though, I started the university system in the world, a quarter of my population is illiterate. I provide doctors across the globe but I have 0.7 hospital beds per 1000 as compared the international requirement of 3.96 and so is the trend in number of doctors. Some of my kings planted trees around the roads and today I am among the worlds highest CO2 emitter. We have a sex ratio where males outnumber females, a result of aborting female child although many of my people worship female Gods.  I import more than we export, even after such growth of economy. My national animal tiger is endangered in my own lap. I have a high desertification rate a lot of people do not get clean drinking water. Concretization of land has led to reduction in ground water recharge.

But all is not lost. I turn 65 today, I have many years of life ahead.  I believe my people can generate more wealth, fight to get back the trillions. Respect female child with equal rights, educate people, develop infrastructure without disturbing ecological and natural balance. Some of the efforts have already started paying. I am the one considered among the top countries in harvesting renewable sources of energy. The emissions are being cut in an ordered way, methods of enginnering a more eco-friendly infrastructure is evolving. People who left me for a better future want to come back. My people own some emperial companies. I am striking back. Hopefully the illegal flow of money and legal flow of Brain will slow and ultimately stop one day in near future. 

You know good thing about my people that they always hope positive no matter what the situation is. And, I am still young enough to enjoy the fruits from their efforts.

Have a great week ahead,

India

Stupid or Super Smart Government...

Most of our childhood bedtime stories started with "Once upon a time, there was a king..." That is the tagline seems to be inspiring our politicians. They don't want the future kids to listen to the stories that go like – "Once upon a time, there was a democracy, with elected representatives who were answerable to the people through the electoral process, the courts and the Lokpal." They just want to insert a big and bold "....not answerable..." in the story. 

In our civics lecture during school we learnt India is a Democracy. Well, they taught many other things but so what? A lot of it was myth. You know education ruins. Politicians want us to enjoy our confusion about India and do all sorts of hoodwink tricks. The latest salvo from it is that MPs and the PM should be kept out of the bill's purview, which in turn renders the bill impotent and pointless even before it is enacted. The issue is not the bill or the government. It is simply what you can do in democracy or what are you allowed to do in a democracy. 

The action happened last night; government's use of force on peaceful protesters, while they were asleep was stunning. No matter how outlandish Baba was, he was within his rights. Teargassing and assaulting at 1am is not what democracies do. No government takes such a ridiculous decision. What inspired them ? If they are not using this strategy properly for their political mileage I see them in deep trouble. They might have to pay a hefty price for their 'karma'. It can lead to many such protests and then it will aggravate the problem.  Opposition just getting another opportunity to get under government's nerves. A sense of displeasure that it has created among people may lead to bigger threats to the government. That's about democracy, you cannot escape people, you have to at least keep deceiving them. I know everyone involved here in the issue has something to do with politics making it hard to comment on. They are perhaps the smartest people on earth tricking billions all around the globe. But, over smartness kills.

Anyway, baba says he is continuing his fast with many more joining them, even the British didn't leave us after one protest and  demonstration, sounds good. And before my blog gets teargassed and traumatized by Delhi Police, love to all and off-course Peace. There was always a happy ending to all these bedtime stories. 

Ref: Few sentences in the Blog were taken from Chetan Bhagat's latest TOI column

I, Raavan

Here I lie, waiting for death on the land that belongs to the Kingdom, The kingdom; I won with my power, expanded and glorified with the my efforts. I know the history will always consider me as an antagonist. The future generation will call me a devil, an anti-god. No one will ever look at the positives, no one will appreciate how I struggled to be a king and found a great empire, how bravely I fought all my enemies and how I died, fighting my combatants, my kingdom’s foes. History will commemorate this as moment of victory of good over evil. 

Born to a brahmin father (A class of people responsible for religious and scholarly works), I had opportunity to learn different domains ranging from art of fighting, music, medicine and politics. I proved myself with all these. I grabbed this opportunity with both the hands. Yes, I was ambitious and was ready to fulfill them with my efforts. My father’s background did not provide me with such opportunity but, my grand father set the right background for this. Is it really so wrong if I want to use my knowledge and skills to establish a kingdom. People say I snatched the kingdom from my brother, but didn’t I do better as the king . How much was Lanka’s glory in Kuber’s time. I asked and challenged Kuber for the kingdom as I could do better and did it, in time. Every child takes qualities from its parent so did I and did the best in what I was taught by my parents. 

I worshiped Shiva, I devoted myself to Brahma to get their blessings and powers. I was a normal man not a God or their reincarnation unlike Rama. Why should the history present me as an Apollyon? Who at my time was a more devoted worshiper of these gods? People call me polygamist and blame me for exploitation of women, king Dashrath “The father of Ram” was also one. But he is the father of their hero Ram. Leave alone Dashrath who was a human, just think of the so called Gods. Shiva himself had had clandestine coitus with Madhura in absence of Parvati. Why is he a God and I am a demon?

I was a good king I know that. Its glory speaks of it. There was only one golden empire and it was Lanka not Ayodhya. A small island kingdom had surpassed the hero’s kingdom in terms of glory. Lanka although a small island but was a greater kingdom.

Source: daniel.oblak.dk

My people were happy, my city was more prosperous, I had more victories under my belt, but, history to be written in future will  present it in another way. 

I faced wars and faced them with full courage, valor and bravery.  I lost wars as well but never cheated my enemy. I lost to the king of Kiskindha; Vali but never attacked at his back. Ram killed him while hiding behind him. If these are the traits of the gallantry, I happily admit I am not the one. If the so called Gods like Ram wins and kills in this way, he should not be called as a God.   If I would have taken Sita as my lady forcibly what Ram could have done. I had enough time and opportunity to do that. I didn’t do that. Sugriv accuses his brother Vali of being partial and for taking his wife after exiling him from the kingdom. But what did Sugriv himself did after killing his brother, took the kingdom and his wife. Today even I am dying because of my dear brother Vibhishan. I would have never been killed or defeated, if my dear brother had not been a traitor. He perhaps did for the kingdom, making another Sugreeva out of him. Oh my Brother Vibhishan, I would have sacrificed the kinghood if you would have asked for it once. Betrayal and god gelled together to bring me to death. Should I really call him a God?, Anyway I will be declared a demon by history in the future, I am happy dying like a warrior while defending my land, from the hands of Rama or more appropriately my brother, because Rama could never kill me.  I was never defeated by the so called God.

Tour Italiano

Hi Folks,

I am back here to discuss you about my Italian trip (almost 50 days ago). Well I am late but, because it took some time to overcome the trauma one usually faces in Italy. To introduce you to Italy I would start with the definition for heaven and hell:

A heaven is a place where the Police is British, chefs are Italian, engineers are German, romance is French and it is all organized by the Swiss. Whereas, the hell is a place where police is German, chefs are British, engineers are French, romance is Swiss and "its all organized by the Italians".
I would say any possible combination if organized by an Italian can be hell.

Anyway, Lets begin with the story. The chaos in fact started from Germany itself because of the snowfall.
I reached the airport 15 minutes after the scheduled take-off but thanks to the airlines they were waiting for us ( :-) ). Last person to board into the plain. Because of us the flight was delayed by almost 2 hrs. So we had a lot of curses from the fellow passengers.  Well on reaching Rome Fiumicino airport at 2230, I had a feeling of a domestic airport (By no means an International Airport, forget about the airport of an European capital city). 

Famous sledges in Cricket

The incidents that appear in this text has been sourced from Yahoo Cricket (link appears at the end)


1. Rod Marsh and Ian Botham : When Botham took guard in an Ashes match, Marsh welcomed him  with: 'So how's your wife and my kids?' to which Botham shot back: 'The wife's fine, but the kids are retarded.'


2. South Africa batsman Daryll Cullinan   and Aussie spin wizard Shane Warne: As Cullinan was on his way to the wicket, Warne told him he had been waiting two years for another chance to humiliate him. 'Looks like you spent it eating,' Cullinan retorted


3. Robin Smith of England and Australian fast bowler Merv Hughes: Hughes said to Smith after he played and missed: 'You can't ******* bat'. Smith to Hughes after he smacked him to the boundary: 'Hey Merv, we make a fine pair. I can't ******* bat and you can't ******* bowl.'


4. Merv Hughes and Pakistan's Javed Miandad: Javed called Hughes a fat bus conductor. A few balls later Hughes dismissed the Pakistan star: 'Tickets please', said Hughes as he ran past the departing batsman.


5. England's James Ormond had just come out to bat and was greeted by Australia's Mark Waugh  Waugh from the slips: 'What are you doing out here? There's no way you're good enough to play for England.' Ormond: 'Maybe not, but at least I'm the best player in my family.'


6. Warne and Sri Lanka skipper Arjuna Ranatunga : Wicket-keeper Ian Healy believed he knew a way of tempting the portly Ranatunga out of his crease - 'Put a Mars Bar on a good length. That should do it.'


7. Sunil Gavaskar  of India and West Indies' Viv Richards: Gavaskar, normally an opener, had decided to bat at number four, but Malcolm Marshall dismissed Anshuman Gaekwad and Dilip Vengsarkar for ducks, setting the stage for Gavaskar to walk in at 0-2. Richards said: 'Man, it does not matter where you come in to bat, the score is still zero.'


8. Viv Richards  and England fast bowler Greg Thomas: Thomas: (Describing the ball) 'It's red, round and weighs about five ounces, in case you were wondering.' Richards: (Having smacked said ball out of the ground) 'You know what it looks like, now you go and find it.'


9. England captain Douglas Jardine and Australian counterpart Bill Woodfull during the notorious Bodyline series: After Jardine complained that one of the Australian players called him a b******. Woodfull turned to his team, pointed to Jardine and asked: 'Which one of you b******* called this b****** a b******?'


Source :  http://cricket.yahoo.com/photos/Ten-of-the-best-worst-sledges_12973135905794#1


On Italian trip "Tour Italiano" to appear soon

The New Year Column

Happy New Year, oho wait..!  well let me take this opportunity to wish something bigger "Happy New Decade!" Writing a column at this onset can take two ways, either I write what happened during this year (or decade) or write what can happen in coming days within a length that does not test your reading patience. Daunting, isn't it ? Talking about history does not make sense as I know, "the only thing we can learn from history is that we don't learn anything from history" (Not my words).  

Images: www.goodreads.com and www.enlightenedredneck.com 

I will tell you about an incident that I came across this new year party. Two personalities meeting and greeting each other, one looks very tired, consumed and aged, the other one is enthusiastic, energetic and young. It is a farewell evening for one and welcome for the other.

The aged one greets the younger "Hi buddy I am the decade 2001-10", "It is a pleasure to meet you Sir ! I am your successor 2011-20" replies the younger. 

"I promise you to do far better than you did" says 2011-20 with sarcasm. 


"Thats will be stupendous pal, hope you match your promise. Moreover, I promised the same to my predecessor 1991-00 and I do not know where do I stand on the verge of my retirement." replies the 2001-10. 


With an arrogant smile the other replies "At the abyss sir. What you have given during your tenure is just war, catastrophes, disputes, crisis and problems." 


"Buddy I have also given development, advancement and solution to long lasting problems. " Says the older one with a sign of politeness hiding the anger. 


"As long as I can see sir, from your very childhood you have given wars, killings and hatred that still continues. 2001 started with the twin tower incident and the after effects are still there. you had Iraq war, Afghanistan war, terrorism, climate change, economic crisis all sorts of problems. Who can rate you as a decade of achievements, you just carried the thousands of year civilization into a plunge." Says 2011-20 aggressively.


"But I also brought development see mars rovers, decoding life, internet use telecom technologies so many things. I also had the emerging powers at the world's stage. The poverty reduced. And the negative things you are talking about was was in some way inherited from my predecessors." Claims 2001-10 with anger


"And thats why you aggravated these inheritances and passed on to me. You are providing me with a thorny couch and ask me to do better. But believe me, I am going to change it." Shouts 2011-20


This triggers the anger in the outgoing decade and is ready to lock horn with the upcoming decade. Before it could get worse, I interfere with a laughter. "Hi poor fellows you are fighting over an issue that is a folly. Well before I tell you further, let me introduce myself. I am a representative of the world, a human representative."


"Could you elaborate your intentions ?" says one of them 


Yes off course my dear (with nefarious smile) I said. "I am here to tell your exact role. You guys are into some kind of illusion. What makes you believe that you control the world, you can take it on the course you like? Just wake up folks, its we who are on the driving seat. You are merely the witnesses. You can just feel the course we steer on, we create war make peace, we love we hate. If we want war we wage it, we create crisis and sometimes even disasters. You cant even close your eyes to avoid watching them, you are just witnesses and we keep the records of our deeds within you. So stop bandying with and grab a drink enjoy the evening. We need you for the future."


Their heads went down and I said 


"Happy new year, happy new decade.. and went deeper into the party with my drink."


cheers,

Nostalgia

Eight years! siting on the window seat of train I was just getting myself anxious. The train stopped and I managed to get my slim body out of the door through the crowd rather easily. It's 4.30 AM, January morning with chilling breeze around. Feeling the cold I made myself shrink in my warm jacket. My unfolded fist wandered inside the pocket looking for the mobile. I dialed dad with freezing fingers to know if someone is coming to pick me up. After a short conversation I was asked to wait for sometime. I thought of satisfying my anxiety with a look outside the station. It was a changed city with new building structures and more of cars than rickshaws but people still looked the same. Starting off their day early in the morning even at 3 degree Celsius with freezing wind and visibility limiting fog. I reached near the temple which was unchanged and still looked new, separated by a street from a mosque; both crowded for morning prayers. In the flower shop the keepers were busy in handling the customers and occasionally sprinkling water on the flowers to make them appear fresh. I reached the narrow street there.

The street with which I share some pleasant memories. Two teenagers, a boy and a girl, The girl is looking at the flowers in the shop and the boy is waiting for his mom outside the temple. My mom never asked me to enter the temple as I used to make fun of her so called GODS. We looked at each other and exchanged a smile. Both of us had some hesitation to approach and talk to each other. Now the funny irony was we studied in the same school same class and don't need unnecessary introduction. Well, the hesitation did not last longer than 2-3 minutes. 
"Hello Ayesha, how come here?"
As if I did not know that she must be here with her dad offering fajr prayers after morning aajaan inside the mosque. She smiled and gave me the answer I already knew. Now I did not know how to continue with our conversation. 
She came to rescue me out of it, by asking "how come you in a temple? As far as I know you are an atheist, with a sarcastic smile."
This took me by surprise,. I did not expect her to know this part of me, as very few of school-mates knew this, at least not her. I could easily hide my inner expression of surprise with a short laugh. 
"That's why I was forced to stay out of the temple by Mom, I said. And you are busy looking at these flowers," 
I asked to continue with the conversation, she answered yes and these red roses are my favorites. We barely had talk for few minutes as it seemed to me at that time, I saw mom coming out. Honestly speaking, I was not very glad to see her coming out so soon. Anyway I introduced Ayesha to mom and she greeted mom in by touching her feet. It is a usual of greeting elders in India. In turn she got a hug from my mom and some blessing with the sweets from the temple. After a short conversation between mom and Ayesha we had to say goodbye for the day and I moved towards my car with mom, but did not forget to wave my hands before throwing myself at the driving seat. I was 15 at that time but could drive without hesitation. This is one  of the awards of being related to the city police chief in India.

Next week we met in the school bus. Our houses were not very far so we used to travel through the same bus to school. But today it was different we were not just exchanging smiles but worded smiles. 
She suddenly came with a question, 
"You were surprised on that day when I called you an atheist, weren't you ?" 
Ah! I don't how the hell girls can know something even if you try your best to hide it from them. I think that makes them a better spy (Mr. Ian Flemming your movies should have a female bond). I just smiled with acceptance. She laughed and told the reason was Priyanka (Only my good friends and anti's knew about this quality). It was enjoyable to know that she used to talk about me before.  For the first and last time I was happy with what Priyanka did. She was an annoyer for me before. I just thanked her without blabbering a word. During the next days we talked more often than ever, with words and without words. Once in the school park she told me again that she loves red roses perhaps for the 9th time in 10 days. To admit, at that time I was stupid enough to not understand the meaning hidden in her words, and I continued to be idiot for next few days.

The entire class was on an excursion to the city zoo, few of the students got intentionally lost from the troop during the visit., and fortunately we were a part of this lost bunch. We in pairs then departed from each other before reappearing in more or less an hour. After jocund excursion and the better one hour (When she got a red rose finally) we came back to our homes. I was talking to sis (the way I address my elder sister) I told her about Ayesha. And next morning it was a teasing day. Sis and Big B had entered a collaboration to banter me. Well anyone will love doing this if a 15 year old boy says he is in love. I was embarrassed, but had to bear it anyway. By evening Mom and dad had joined the collaboration, and I had no savior. Mom started saying I met my daughter in law and I support my little son. I don't care about the religion stuff. And then she laughed at me. I was peeved, blushed and irritated simultaneously with their remarks and tried to show that I am getting angry. Anyway, it continued with a slow decrease in its intensity through the days.


Eid- Ul- Fitar invitation brought a reason to meet her parents. I was determined to behave in the best possible to impress way. I did not need a lot of change or rehearsal as I was already a well behaved boy. Believe me I did more just accomplishing the job in my hand. The impression that I left that day won me the freedom to meet and talk to her more often than I used to enjoy before. But it was because their parent still took us as kids. This is probably one issue that has never been resolved and will never get resolved. All the parent take their kids to be kids even if they turn into grand parents.


That morning she came and without saying even Hi moved into the lecture room. The teacher was inside so verbal communication was difficult. I thought of playing the postman game. The game was very simple and efficient way to communicate in presence of teacher. The sender writes something on a piece of paper and the paper passes to the person you want to communicate with, through class mates, hiding beneath the desks and tables.
 "What happened? Why are you not talking to me?" I asked. 
After a long journey of 11 people it came back to me. 
"Khaalaa jaan saw us yesterday and she told mom about us", was the answer. 
The news was not good but like a fearless lone warrior engulfed in enemies den I wrote 
"so what?" 
She wrote that we will talk after the lecture. 
As soon as the lecture was over I rushed towards and almost screamed at her, 
"so what if Khaalaa saw us ? Its still the same we love each other". 
She, without saying anything started crying and now I was down. 
Trying to console her I said, "why do you worry its not a big issue". 
In sobbing voice she replied "no, its not possible to continue with this anymore. Mom slapped me yesterday. Look I come from an orthodox muslim family. My parents will never accept anything like this and that too with a hindu boy". 
"What the hell? don't you think its just stupid and nothing else?" 
She came closer and then said 
"we would continue to friends but it cant continue in the same way anymore". 
"Friends! shut up" I barked. This is very typical of girls first carry you to a stage where they call you more than a friend and suddenly freeze with this kind of end. It was all getting to an end very suddenly and awfully


I somehow managed to attend rest of the lecture came back home and cried for sometime hiding in a blanket. Then onwards I met her everyday for next 30 days or so but no talks, just  staring and hiding from each other. Board exams came and went. I went to a different school to continue with studies and then moved to the medical school. Next two years of study and preparation for medical school never gave me enough time to remember or forget Ayesha. Dad was transferred from that city, so never had a chance to visit this city of good old memories. Today after 8 years just trying to remember incidents that had happened, getting deeper into nostalgia. From the street I could see two teenagers who started with a story here.
I was so drowned into all these memories suddenly the mobile vibration woke me up and without looking at the call I asked 
"yes dad where are you?"  
Oh I can see dad's car coming, gotta go.....