Those were days when public men quit posts as the slightest hint of any accusation of wrong doing. Along with the general slide in the moral fibre of the nation persons developed different perspectives.
Two incidents have recently been reported in press.
First, a Union Minister had allegedly instructed his staff (of educational institutions owned by him) to insist on a minimum capitation fee for admission to medical college in blatant violation of Hon'ble Supreme Court's orders. This isssue died a natural death with TOI, which broke the news, itself failing to follow it up. They should atleast publish a denial and apology.
Second and more recent, a Union Minister had allegedly tried to influence the Bench in the case of granting bail. The Hon'ble Judge had gone on record though he stopped short of naming the individual.
During the debate in the Parliament, there is no reaction it appears from the Treasury benches. Though it is the absolute right of a Minister or Member to speak or not on a particular subject, silence sends wrong signals.
Where there is a gap between Law and Justice, Justice should prevail. Morality should be higher than mere rules and regulations. Either there should be a flat denial and vindication of the character of the individual and the will to face consequences so that truth prevails or there should be exemplary action. No need for a cumbersome enquiry. The pleasure of the President on the recommendations of the PM should be sufficient.
Otherwise credibility of the system stands to ridicule.
...ponder
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Are we secular?
Chidambaram goes to Kandhamal and apologises to those in refugee camps there. It is presumed that they are Christians. Why they are are still in refugee camps needs to be investigated. Are they still terrorised to go to their villages? Are they better off in these camps? or are they kept as show pieces of propoganda value? Naveen Patnaik should answer.
I hope Chidambaram will go to Jammu and apologise to the Hindu refugees there who have no hopes of going home even after decades.
What about victims of Congress sponsored and Rajiv Gandhi approved (when a tree falls earth shakes) anti-sikh pogrom?
Will our foreign minister apologise to the sikhs of Pakistan who pay tax to keep their hair for India's failure to protect them?
Will YSR apologise for the conversion activities going on in Gandhi Medical College?
Please read the report in today's Hindu.
...ponder
I hope Chidambaram will go to Jammu and apologise to the Hindu refugees there who have no hopes of going home even after decades.
What about victims of Congress sponsored and Rajiv Gandhi approved (when a tree falls earth shakes) anti-sikh pogrom?
Will our foreign minister apologise to the sikhs of Pakistan who pay tax to keep their hair for India's failure to protect them?
Will YSR apologise for the conversion activities going on in Gandhi Medical College?
Please read the report in today's Hindu.
...ponder
WILL SOMEONE CLARIFY MY DOUBT?
According to the Indian system of time division (calander) the bench marks are Year (samvatsaram), Ayanam (Uttarayanam/Dakshinayanam), Season (Rithu), Masam (Month), Paksham (Shukla Paksham/Krishna Paksham), Thithi (date - Padyami, Vidiya, Thadiya, etc). Exact time at a given point is fixed then according to the prevailing star (Nakshtram). It is significant to note that there is no day (Sunday/Monday, etc).
In our epics. where there is mention of a particular event like birth of Rama or Krishna, there is no mention of varam (day). In the ancient inscriptions also there is no mention of day.
It is my conjucture that this system of naming a day after celestal bodies is imported from west either through visitors are invaders. Will somebody clarify this? How come Indian names and English names exactly tally?
If it is a fact that there is no Sunday/Monday in Indian system, then what is this good day or bad day? Many people believe that certain things should be done only on certain days and certain things should notbe done. For example, a daughter is not sent from her maternal home to her married home on Fridays. How valid is this?
Also astronomy says sun is a star. Astrology is based on the presumption that sun is a planet. How can calculations based on such wrong premise go right? Will some knowledgable person throw some light on this too.
...ponder
In our epics. where there is mention of a particular event like birth of Rama or Krishna, there is no mention of varam (day). In the ancient inscriptions also there is no mention of day.
It is my conjucture that this system of naming a day after celestal bodies is imported from west either through visitors are invaders. Will somebody clarify this? How come Indian names and English names exactly tally?
If it is a fact that there is no Sunday/Monday in Indian system, then what is this good day or bad day? Many people believe that certain things should be done only on certain days and certain things should notbe done. For example, a daughter is not sent from her maternal home to her married home on Fridays. How valid is this?
Also astronomy says sun is a star. Astrology is based on the presumption that sun is a planet. How can calculations based on such wrong premise go right? Will some knowledgable person throw some light on this too.
...ponder
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Nothing National About it
Today's 'The Hindu' reports that Railways are planning to introduce "national" cuisine and Regional cuisine on their trains. I can understand a regional cuisine. But what is this "National Cuisine"?
Till Adishankaracharya united the whole sub-continent spiritually and the British united politically, this sub-continent was an amalgam of several nations. Even today there is the demand for recognition of different nationhoods. Karunanidhi will swear by Tamil nation which includes Tamil Srilankans. Ask Syed Sahabuddin, he will vehemently deny accepting physical boundaries for his Muslim nation. Kashmiris are de-facto separate nation what with thier separate constitution and other pharaphernalia not withstanding our professing soverignity and integrity. There is demand for separatism from different tribes in the North East.
We should not aggravate the sensitive situation either by stupid loose talk or ham handed attempt to lump together different cultures. We should accept the fact that we are a melenge of different cultures, habits, ethos, but still one Nation. We just dont have a National cuisine just like we dont have a National Language or a National Dress. Try imposing Tamil Nadu brand 'Veshti' on Nagaland or make Hindi the official language of Kashmir.
It is a manifestation of the mindset of some to try to impose one language, culture and habits on all which has played havoc with our country. Let people who matter be careful with their thinking and talking.
...ponder
Till Adishankaracharya united the whole sub-continent spiritually and the British united politically, this sub-continent was an amalgam of several nations. Even today there is the demand for recognition of different nationhoods. Karunanidhi will swear by Tamil nation which includes Tamil Srilankans. Ask Syed Sahabuddin, he will vehemently deny accepting physical boundaries for his Muslim nation. Kashmiris are de-facto separate nation what with thier separate constitution and other pharaphernalia not withstanding our professing soverignity and integrity. There is demand for separatism from different tribes in the North East.
We should not aggravate the sensitive situation either by stupid loose talk or ham handed attempt to lump together different cultures. We should accept the fact that we are a melenge of different cultures, habits, ethos, but still one Nation. We just dont have a National cuisine just like we dont have a National Language or a National Dress. Try imposing Tamil Nadu brand 'Veshti' on Nagaland or make Hindi the official language of Kashmir.
It is a manifestation of the mindset of some to try to impose one language, culture and habits on all which has played havoc with our country. Let people who matter be careful with their thinking and talking.
...ponder
Friday, May 29, 2009
Could religious activities be allowed in Secretariat, the seat of State administration?
This of late has become a major debating issue among employees, especially with those who want its “bureaucratic serenity” not to be disturbed. While the staff are expected to work by clearing files and help in solving the problems of people in the State, many whom are still wallowing in abject poverty, several of them these days seem to be practising their respective religions right in their work spot instead of their houses.
As there are no set rules and procedures touching upon this aspect, employees are tending to construct prayer halls within the premises.
A Christian prayer hall has come up behind the ‘L’ block where employees regularly go for prayers attended by a pastor, treating it as a church. A new multi-storeyed mosque is being constructed at a cost of Rs. 32 lakh adjacent to the ‘C’ block where the office of the Chief Minister is located. This is in addition to an existing mosque in the ‘D’ block. A temple is also already located in the heart of the premises near the dilapidated ‘G’ block.
The trend is disturbing to a large number of employees belonging to all religions. They want this “spiritualism” to be reflected in the work. Speaking to this correspondent on condition of anonymity, a senior employee lamented on Thursday “This is a work place and not a religious place. The government should take a policy decision on this aspect.”
Another employee expressed dismay that the newly sworn in ministers were entered their chambers by following ‘vaasthu’ and fixing ‘muhurthams’. All this is nothing more than humbug and ab exercise in pseudo secularism.
Work alone should be worship.
(Based on report in THE Hindu 30.5.2009)
As there are no set rules and procedures touching upon this aspect, employees are tending to construct prayer halls within the premises.
A Christian prayer hall has come up behind the ‘L’ block where employees regularly go for prayers attended by a pastor, treating it as a church. A new multi-storeyed mosque is being constructed at a cost of Rs. 32 lakh adjacent to the ‘C’ block where the office of the Chief Minister is located. This is in addition to an existing mosque in the ‘D’ block. A temple is also already located in the heart of the premises near the dilapidated ‘G’ block.
The trend is disturbing to a large number of employees belonging to all religions. They want this “spiritualism” to be reflected in the work. Speaking to this correspondent on condition of anonymity, a senior employee lamented on Thursday “This is a work place and not a religious place. The government should take a policy decision on this aspect.”
Another employee expressed dismay that the newly sworn in ministers were entered their chambers by following ‘vaasthu’ and fixing ‘muhurthams’. All this is nothing more than humbug and ab exercise in pseudo secularism.
Work alone should be worship.
(Based on report in THE Hindu 30.5.2009)
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Election Results
The results are out. These could mean different things too different people in different states/situations. Some of them are:
1. Bad strategy by BJP. Instead of ensuring the defeat of its main rival Congress in places where other parties were strong, it contested elections there knowing fully well it will definitely lose and thus splitting anti-congress vote.
2. Vociferous projection of MMS as Prime Ministerial candidate of Congress paid off handsomely.
3. Hindutwa is a dead horse. Where people voted for BJP it was as an alternative to Congress and not for Hindutwa. I think there was no voting on communal lines.
4. Chiranjeevi ensured the success of Congress in AP. There appears to be a tacit understanding.
5. Telangana issue is rejected in AP and buried atleast for next 5 years.
6. Tails waggers given royal drubbing. See Pawar, Lalu, Paswan, Fellow Travellers, Mayavati, Jayalalita. Their chests were puffed up with self importance.Their true forms stand revealed as if the coroset has been removed.
7. Decent politicians like Nitish Kumar and Naveen Patnaik swept into reckoning. Good auger.
8. Congress and BJP should take the polity forward into a 2-party system which people are really craving for.
9. Was it a vote against building a Ram Mandir sometime in year 3009?
10. Was it a vote against pub culture in Karnataka? Moral policing up up.
11. Does conservative Rajasthan continue to punish Vasundhara for her public lip lock?
12. Is it a vote for family incorporated in Tamil Nadu?
13. Bengalis have solidly voted against modernisation and industries it appears.
14. In AP corruption, suicides, power cuts, etc were no big deal. PRP ensured that.
15. In TN, one friend of Prabhakaran is gloating while another has bitten the dust. What is the Pattern?
The dance of democracy is indeed colourful vibrant and satisfying. The real winner is Indian democracy. Nepal, Bangldesh, Pakistan, Mynamar could learn some lessons.
...ponder
1. Bad strategy by BJP. Instead of ensuring the defeat of its main rival Congress in places where other parties were strong, it contested elections there knowing fully well it will definitely lose and thus splitting anti-congress vote.
2. Vociferous projection of MMS as Prime Ministerial candidate of Congress paid off handsomely.
3. Hindutwa is a dead horse. Where people voted for BJP it was as an alternative to Congress and not for Hindutwa. I think there was no voting on communal lines.
4. Chiranjeevi ensured the success of Congress in AP. There appears to be a tacit understanding.
5. Telangana issue is rejected in AP and buried atleast for next 5 years.
6. Tails waggers given royal drubbing. See Pawar, Lalu, Paswan, Fellow Travellers, Mayavati, Jayalalita. Their chests were puffed up with self importance.Their true forms stand revealed as if the coroset has been removed.
7. Decent politicians like Nitish Kumar and Naveen Patnaik swept into reckoning. Good auger.
8. Congress and BJP should take the polity forward into a 2-party system which people are really craving for.
9. Was it a vote against building a Ram Mandir sometime in year 3009?
10. Was it a vote against pub culture in Karnataka? Moral policing up up.
11. Does conservative Rajasthan continue to punish Vasundhara for her public lip lock?
12. Is it a vote for family incorporated in Tamil Nadu?
13. Bengalis have solidly voted against modernisation and industries it appears.
14. In AP corruption, suicides, power cuts, etc were no big deal. PRP ensured that.
15. In TN, one friend of Prabhakaran is gloating while another has bitten the dust. What is the Pattern?
The dance of democracy is indeed colourful vibrant and satisfying. The real winner is Indian democracy. Nepal, Bangldesh, Pakistan, Mynamar could learn some lessons.
...ponder
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Social Etiqutte
Of all those behaviours that are encompassed as 'Soft Skills', social etiquette is most important because it is an unspoken communication giving away what a person is without need for opening his mouth. It makes a strong impression.
The way houses are built today. there is little privacy nay little protection from visual assaults from others. Same case with work places.
People may safely skirt the issue saying that social etiquette, table manners etc are for the elite and snobs. I beg to differ. I notice our rural folk have better habits and manners than the urbanites.
Picking nose, biting nails, cleaning eyes with bare hands, not washing hands with soap after using wash rooms are some of the obnoxious habits which do not need a finishing school to rectify. It should be inculcated by parents from childhood. It could be quite appalling for a person sensitve.
Another thing that makes me shudder is the tendency to borrow things. Cell phones, vehicles, shaving kits, hand kerchiefs, clothes to mixies, systems, and there is no end to the list. Hostel bullys do this with impunity and carry it further throughout their life.
Unless a person is brutally candid, it is very difficult to escape this assault.
Parents should be careful. Grooming should take place at home. If not, it is taught brutally outside.
Standding in a queue for one's turn, offering help to the needy, not embarassing others in any manner, not seeking to use others' things should come naturally.
My repeated abnoxious habits will turn a saint into devil and I will lose a friend.
...ponder
The way houses are built today. there is little privacy nay little protection from visual assaults from others. Same case with work places.
People may safely skirt the issue saying that social etiquette, table manners etc are for the elite and snobs. I beg to differ. I notice our rural folk have better habits and manners than the urbanites.
Picking nose, biting nails, cleaning eyes with bare hands, not washing hands with soap after using wash rooms are some of the obnoxious habits which do not need a finishing school to rectify. It should be inculcated by parents from childhood. It could be quite appalling for a person sensitve.
Another thing that makes me shudder is the tendency to borrow things. Cell phones, vehicles, shaving kits, hand kerchiefs, clothes to mixies, systems, and there is no end to the list. Hostel bullys do this with impunity and carry it further throughout their life.
Unless a person is brutally candid, it is very difficult to escape this assault.
Parents should be careful. Grooming should take place at home. If not, it is taught brutally outside.
Standding in a queue for one's turn, offering help to the needy, not embarassing others in any manner, not seeking to use others' things should come naturally.
My repeated abnoxious habits will turn a saint into devil and I will lose a friend.
...ponder
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