370295

370295  is not a special zip code, neither is it a new television series like Beverley Hills 90210.

It maybe described as a dangerous inbred  double virus that has not  been discovered yet . If you need to find any one single thing that embodies everything that's is wrong with both India and Pakistan; look no further! The answer lies in this virus. Actually they are infected with differently charged particles of it. Indian virus is positively charged and the Pakistani version is negatively charged. But infected they both are.

Article 370 that provides a special status to J&K  sounds innocently positive and  some kind of an affirmative action; however it  has given nothing except serious headaches  to everyone. Even to kashmiri muslims who seem to love it . It has given nothing but an ever deepening sense of alienation that neither allows them to live in India nor does it allow them to leave it. Although most of them do not know their disease yet, this virus is what is causing it!  This stupid article was a populist measure that was expected by its architects to erode with time . In retrospect   that has proven to be entirely wrong. Its negative fallout has only gone from strength to strength as  time has progressed. Today we know that the act of bringing this article into life was  criminally short sighted and anti nation but are helpless to do anything about it.  it has taken a life of its own and with so many complex pressure groups ;interested organizations  and external governments involved in propping it up; it has created an extensive narrative ; self perpetuating super myths  and high voltage emotional charge around it . Ultimately proving a  very difficult virus to remove.  Like there is any political will to remove it ! It continues to eat into the vitals unchallenged.  So far It has tragically ended thousands of  human lives; made close to a million people refugees  in their own homes and absorbs  mind boggling amount of scarce national resources on a continuous basis. There is no relief in sight yet.

Distill all the problems of Pakistan and there it is . Article 295 ! The negatively charged particle of the virus.  The great embodiment of what is wrong with that country. This act gives special powers to a "Muslim" to kill someone legally just by branding him "non Muslim' and ''against Muhammad" ! Its supporters of course argue that the bill is against all blasphemy.  Although so far no one has been killed legally by the state; many have died a violent death at the hands of a lynch mob or a crazy  individual. Reality is that only non Muslims  or someone who is declared  a non Muslim have been caught in its jaws so far. To say that this article has been misused is stating the obvious. Everyone knows that  its architects  brought  it to legitimize their dictatorship in the eyes of the people as a pious  Islamic rule. Yet a mere suggestion of a need to amend it was reason enough to get  Governor of a province butchered in broad daylight. It is a cruel  joke of a rule but now has taken such a gargantuan life of its own that no one dares  to question it.  Anyone asking for a review is promptly branded an unbeliever and like the middle ages must be burned at the stake; so to say. The virus is  now so deep seated  in the collective minds that the killer was openly feted inside a court of law by lawyers; who should have known better. Besides the fact that killing someone just because you do not agree with him is reprehensible  and unlawful in itself; consider that the policeman murdered someone whose life was in his charge to  guard !! A policeman who does not believe in  the rule of law  is great ? How can that act of not doing your job be great?How can that act  of ultimate betrayal have any pious purpose? Showing mercy and compassion is great; pardoning  a sinner is greater. Since when has killing become great? Yet there are public demonstrations extolling the virtues of the killer and he has attracted a lot of mainstream support from all walks of society for this  murder. How can so many people become demented all at the same time if not for a virus epidemic?

What is most worrying about this  virus  is that it is affecting younger people more seriously. We see this in India where they come out and start throwing stones on police on one pretext or the other. They used to fire bullets which  is less frequent these days because it did not allow for mass participation.  Although from time to time their masters issue threats of going back to  the bullets strategy. Police of course retaliates as it is trained to do ;one thing leads to another and soon we have a couple of dead human beings. These deaths feed into another such skirmish with  the same disastrous result in an unending chain. Any time this chain breaks there are forces that will act as a catalyst and restart the reaction. Minds have become so confused  by the virus that no one is pausing to think even for a moment before acting violently. What is the aim of all this? What do we want and why do we want it ? Why are we indulging in violence and destruction? These questions have no takers. Least among youngsters who have a life ahead of them and who have to lead into the future.

 In India the virus has local pockets of infestation but the situation in Pakistan is worse. Whole country is being ravaged by it. Even the most ardent supporters of the country have to admit that bulk of the young foot soldiers of Islamic terrorism carry a Pakistani passport. It is not  a great achievement and neither is it  very progressive or very pious for that matter . If a young man born in 1985 , working in  an elite law enforcing unit ; living in the most progressive and prosperous province of Pakistan feels compelled to become a terrorist ;something is  seriously wrong! The killer of Salman Taseer was not an illiterate who could be easily led astray .He was not hungry or unemployed that could induce him to take to an illegal path. He was not persecuted by anyone nor was his religious freedom constrained in any way that made him erupt in violence against his own. I am not an Islamic scholar so I will let them decide if wanton killing fits any Islamic ideals.   Pakistani society must decide  if compassion is more pious than punishment and who will decide  what punishment is apt for what crime. Is it up to any individual to  act upon his ideas of what is right or wrong? Or is there some uniform law that shall govern society and individual behavior. It is a difficult choice  for them because the slippery path that society has embarked upon does not allow them any revision or opinion or amendment. Anyone brave or foolish enough to attempt it will attract unsavory attention. There is  very little room for maneuvering . They  may have to continue their descent till the end. The  monstrous mindset that created 295 also unleashed the ideas that has landed them in this strait jacket. 

IMMIGRANTS !!

City, where I live presently has a two tier driving license system in place. You write a knowledge test of rules of the road and if you pass; in about a year you will be allowed to pay for a road test that will allow you to get behind wheels conditionally. You have next five years to go for the final road test that will actually give you the license to drive. This system is geared for a youngster who will start learning in grade 10 and by the time they finish high school they are able to drive to get to work. 

As I was in a drive test location the other day  with a friend; I realized a majority of its clients are actually adult immigrants of darker skin tones. The system does not recognize their previous driving experience unless it is from a European country or from USA. So even though they might have been driving for decades, once they immigrate they  are considered to be at a skill level of a high school kid. They need to start all over again from zero.  Although I do not have statistics to back me ; one reason why there are so many immigrants at a drive test all the time  is because they  keep visiting the place  often as they fail both levels of road tests more than once . Reasons for it is something I will leave unsaid ! obviously it takes  a lot of time and energy to get a license , not to mention a lot of money. Money that an immigrant is really short of. Money that he can earn only if he can get a job. Job that he might get if he can convince his boss that he has the means to get to work on time. Which means driving  in this car based society. And that will need a license to drive . The same license  that he does not have !!! It is  a vicious circle. This is only one situation and an immigrant goes through many such obstacles trying to stay afloat.  Simple things like getting a credit card is a complete revelation in itself.  Some of it is because of a  different system and because it is a different country and  a different  culture. A lot of it is sheer prejudice against an immigrant. It is certainly very hard to be an immigrant. Yet  International Organization for Migration says that there are 200 million migrants in the world today . According to a  Gallup poll another 700 million would like to immigrate if they had a chance.  USA, Canada, Australia , New Zealand and Israel, are countries almost entirely made up of immigrants. Yet each new group faces same or more severe prejudices as the group that passed before them. Violence  against   Indian students in Australia is a glaring example. Here is a group of people who are paying into the Australian economy through their nose by paying hefty  tution fees . They rent  & they consume things by paying for it. This money is generating jobs for Australians .The students are simply gaining education and new skills. A lot of  the time these new skills are used to contribute to and work in the local economy. So they are a net gain to Australia.  Yet they are seen as enough of a threat that merits  them being murdered on the streets as a result of hate crimes!

Canada reportedly lets in the highest per capita number of immigrants every year. A significant number of them are highly educated , experienced and skilled professionals. Yet it does not surprise anyone to find out that the  immigrant cabbie who  is driving you into the city from the airport is in fact a  qualified doctor !

Historically speaking Roma who originally migrated to various parts of Europe from India many many centuries ago are still not considered europeans. In fact Nazi regime killed more Roma people than Jews as their " final solution". Considering that millions of jews were killed on record;  one can only imagine the catastrophe these immigrants have faced since records for them are very sketchy . Even today  these Roma are unwelcome everywhere. They live friendless on the fringes of society and are the first suspects in any murder or theft especially in eastern europe. "Gypsy" is still a word of dishonour.

 Story of  forced migration of the African people is too well known to recount here. Although over these centuries they have given up their original names; original beliefs  and conciously attempted to merge in  the society. People of colour are still far from equality. Obama is a just a window dressing.

The numbers of people who migrate from one country to another  is very high. Several times more numbers migrate from one part of the country to another. Internal migrants face the same barriers as external migrants although the emotional pain is more severe since they expect to be treated better in their own country. Sadly they are not.  Migrants who went to Pakistan from India over 60 years ago ,are still pejoratively referred as "mohajirs" and by all accounts are   untrusted second class citizens in their own country . A country they created themselves. At the time of Partition of India an estimated 12.5 million people migrated from one part to another. Even today just in India alone it is estimated that about 100 million people are internal migrants. Some of them are circular migrants  while others are more permanent. Migrants facing problems while renting homes , getting their children admitted to schools  and even facing open hostility is a common complaint in India. Mumbai , a most vibrant and forward looking city has  paradoxically a strong movement against migrants. They want Mumbai for the locals only. What is laughable is that Mumbai as it stands  today was made by Gujarati traders ,Parsi businessmen and workers from outside.A bulk of them from other parts of India. All of them were migrants to the city . Most of the north India uses the word "Bihari" for a migrant individual from  the state of bihar and eastern UP in India as an "insult" !! As if this was not shameful enough even Indian Home minister  has recently isolated migrants as a source of "crimes"!! Talk about prejudice and we all thought Enoch Powell was dead !

Even in a controlled and restricted society  like China there are an estimated  150 million internal immigrants . This figure is expected to rise to 200 million very soon. Although they live in a " worker's paradise". It is common for  migrant women workers to get fired if they become pregnant. Despite accounting for 40 percent of the urban labor force, China's migrant workers face major inequalities in the cities because of China's two-tiered hukou--or household registration--system. Established in the 1950s, the hukou system kept people tied to where they lived by making government services contingent on their occupation and place of residence. Migrants receive  next to nothing since they are not residents .

People have been migrating from one place to another  since mankind set foot on the earth. Sometime geograpical changes forced their march; sometimes political and social upheavals were the forces. At times it is just the need to earn a living that forces them. Overall I think  in today's world economic reasons are paramount .  I however  suspect there is some  kind of  suicidal in - built urge in a human being to explore , see and risk everything. Just so he can be what he can ! Otherwise  that  struggling cabbie who is a doctor would not be ferrying passangers from the airport. He would be taking the first flight home !

Problem of Plenty !

In a world plagued by acute shortages of  almost everything one needs - access to education; employment opportunities;  affordable housing; health care; food; petrol........... even fresh air to breathe is a little  hard to come by ;it is surprising how there are things in ample abundance. I am faced with one such problem of excesses. Blogging supposes that you will have some subject to blog about.  However there are days when you have nothing to say .  Mind is bereft of ideas . Thanks to  Indian scamsters today  I have  too many subjects to rave and rant about . Trouble is that there are so many  of them I am unable to decide which ones to take up and which  ones to leave alone.

Bollywood is not  exactly famous for any  incisive foresight or  brilliant imagination. Usually they like to lift their  music , storyline and  some times even titles from others - remember 'hari puttar". However this time round  the name  of a movie produced in 1980 titled "Choron ki Baarrat ( Grand Parade of Thieves)" may have  predicted the future with pinpoint accuracy. It is  uncanny that  the movie was  actually made by "citizen" pictures.  It  providentially   summed up my idea in one shot so I  have to acknowledge that  as a source of inspiration . Although an earlier movie with the same title was made in the sixties.

It is really a grand parade of thieves that is looting  the people . Just get these numbers. Let's just say that there are 110 crore Indians. That's 1100000000. Just the 2 G  spectrum scam is believed to be  Rs.1.76 lakh crores. That is Rs. 17600000000000. If we divide this number by the total number of Indians; every single Indian alive has been  cheated  of Rs. 16000 -  just in this scam alone! Believe me that is the number-  do the math yourself and find out how much your family lost . An average family of five has  been defrauded of Rs. 80000.  This fraud has happened  during the watch of arguably the most honest prime minister ever. One shudders to think if this is the situation under the most honest what would happen if he is  in fact less than 'most honest'!!

 Thankfully  IPL 3 was organized well so you got a bang for your buck. Even then there was a  huge falling out of thieves. Otherwise you would never have come to know who is making millions by  investing only "sweat  equity'' and who is milking billions by owning teams by proxy. Actually you still do not know the real story as the commissioner has flown the coop .Other beneficiaries   of course have  closed ranks  and shut the lid tight on the deals.  Undesired ex captains have been fired from all committees . Some names are only whispered  with trepidation and abject fear of  swift reprisals. So "pawarful" are the hidden masters of this scam. 

CWG is another Pandora's box. Skeleton after skeleton is tumbling out of it. This scam is so  masterfully convoluted that  there is no possible number that can be put to it.  There are several agencies involved and monies have been  made to pass  through multiple layers of  many  government departments and sub contractors  of  their indirect contractors. It will be impossible to trace who spent what in which account. Business Today magazine estimated that the Games cost  Rs 300 billion. That is  Rs.300000000000.  This was your money. So each Indian  paid roughly Rs. 275 for this extravaganza.  Jog back your memory and you'll remember how the organizers made every Indian hang their head in shame by their bungling and atrocious mismanagement in  the run up to these games. You will remember that items that cost 1 rupee in the open market were purchased  by them for 3.   That means on an average  2/3 rd  of our money has been siphoned off. where did all  of our money go? who has it?  Some minions are being questioned  now because of  intense public pressure but the main actor of this fraud  has been  allowed to go abroad . Mind you this is not a typical season for traveling in Europe. Summer is long gone and skiing season is far away. In fact he is still abroad  at the time of writing. I strongly suspect he was allowed to go  away freely in order to facilitate  the  total obliteration of  the money trail  in   the labyrinths  of safe tax havens . He will be back  only when you can no longer prove any thing in any court of law ; provided your chosen  government has any interest in finding your lost money for you. Which I doubt. This  is  the same guy  who has plans to "organize Olympics" with your money next ! He will do it too!

Adarsh society where politicians and generals got together and hoodwinked martyr's families out of their  homes is just the tip of the iceberg. Many  other  adarsh societies are yet to come to light . What has come out  in the open  though is the housing finance scam. Initially estimated to be Rs1000 crores. It is still unfolding and you will soon know how many more zeroes you should be adding to it.  There is no end to these scams and this list  goes on and on. Mining scams in karnatka ; dubious  public land grants to family and friend of the people in power . Lands that are all very difficult to put a dollar figure on.  Everything is  drastically under valued in the  archaic land record books . In reality it is several times that valuation. But it is public property  all the same and hence it is  public money that is being looted here. Have no doubts.

There are other kind of scams . Scams that robbed people of their faith  in  the institutions and their trust in the system . Democracy works because state power  is balanced between  it's different organs; judiciary is independent and constitutional rules are followed. If all else fails there is  a free press which informs  truthfully , educates  evenly and takes up cudgels on behalf of the people. Unfortunately scamsters have taken over this last bastion too! Journalists are regularly placing  false stories in the media on behalf of their masters. Editorials are dictated by commission agents.  Interviews are rehearsed  and  answers stage managed to give out only a sanitized version of truth. TV studios are used to broker power sharing deals  and promote the brand image of their political masters. Lobbyists decide who can or can not become a  cabinet minister.  It is hard to decide who is a lobbyist , who is an advertising agent ; who is a journalist and who is pimping his profession. Lines have blurred between them.  Imagine if  a Maneka Gandhi decided to invest in a  KFC franchise!!!!! Nothing wrong in itself but how does it sound to you? And that's  exactly how   influential and powerful media stalwarts have behaved.  They have posed  to us as journalists but acted as brokers and commission agents. My apologies to both brokers and agents ; they are honest  people and comparing  them to these crass apology of a journalist is an  unintended insult to them. Paid news is called  a commercial; biased information is called advertising; using your reach and position to influence events and public opinions  is called lobbying ; being a go- between two parties to form an alliance that will be beneficial  to all three is called brokering.  It is not journalism .  Not by a long chalk. They should not take the public for idiots. I wonder if the advance commission for  that brokerage was in the shape of an undeserved civil honour?  Remember these awards are given in your name .  Do you agree with them? These scamsters want you to believe in their paid commercials as gospel truth. Thankfully this scam has come to surface by  sheer chance.  But check how these people  then ganged up to orchestrate a complete blackout  of this expose' in  both print and electronic media; just so they can  deny you the truth and continue to befool you. Although again it  is just the tip of the iceberg  but now that you  have heard the tapes  and read the transcripts ; what has become of your faith in  the media?

One thing all these crooked scamsters share is a very thick skin. Nothing fazes them.  They  still strut about  and are parading without fear. They are without  any remorse at their attempts in making a fool out of you and have  absolutely no intention of returning a  single red cent.  Just listen to their explanations and you'll be amazed  at what a low opinion they have of people's intellect. They have no respect for  you  because they know you have a short memory and elections are far away. They are  so successful because they have banded together and you are a lone voice they can smother  easily or you are  just keeping quite. They wield the  political power; they wield the power of their media and they wield the punishing stick and they have the money - your money! You only have your voice-  so scream;   your vote-  so vote , do not sit at home; your mind-  so think! What is it that you can do to take back what clearly belongs to you? Just remember the Bollywood movie "Choron ki Baarrat ( Grand Parade of Thieves)" that inspired this blog was made by "Citizens" and you  as citizens will also be complicit if you allow this real parade of thieves  to go unchallenged by your inaction. You then must become the rain that stops this parade in its tracks and have them running for cover.  Each  one  of us is just a drop  but there are 110 crore drops ;  together that'll become a downpour on this parade if you wish it. That was your money ; that was your future ; that was your faith ; that was your innocence ; and that was your hopes they robbed. The scamsters are mocking you . The scamsters are  still laughing at you ! You have to become that rain! You must!!

One big ass mistake!

Very soon after Obama got elected  president  of the USA, his republican rivals started calling it "One Big Ass Mistake America"!  A spoof  with racist overtones on  Obama's name and the fact that  donkey (ass) happens to be the democratic party's symbol . Few months into his presidency later a lot more  Americans have started agreeing with this and all of them are not republicans. As his recent electoral reverses show ; people are  just not convinced that his throwing billions at wall street has got  them anything in return. According to a survey 58% Americans are not sure if they can make their next mortgage payment. That is a very very scary  number indeed!  On top of that he is as lost in Afghanistan as he ever was. America has shovelled another  bunch  of billions  into  the bottomless pit that is " Rent-a-Army Pakistan ". All that money has disappeared  too with no  worthwhile results to show against the  Islamic terror machine.   In fact  a large part of these funds  routinely get routed to Pakistan's favourite terrorist groups .  Obama's Secretary of State Ms. Clinton is saying so but US is unable to do anything about it . It is that helpless! America is  forced to fund a war against itself.  Obama's election slogan "Yes we can " is sounding more like " No I can't".  

During the first great war it was considered unlucky for three soldiers to light their cigarettes with the same matchstick. Since battle ground wisdom dictated that when the first soldier lit  his smoke the  enemy saw it ; when the second soldier did  it the enemy aimed his rifle at the light and when the third did - boom; enemy fired at the light.

To be fair to him , Obama is the unlucky  third man on the light. He inherited  this economic/ political  time bomb that was planted during Bill Clinton's presidency and ignited during George Bush's.  Even If we  discount his over promises as an electoral necessity  and under performance as a reality check  ; the fact remains that he is dancing in a mine field and every  bumbling step he takes, some mine or the other blows in his face.  Here is one guy who  can use  a lot of help himself -  Now ! Do not think what Obama can do for you ; think what you can do for Obama!

 That is the reason I  find it strange that so many people in the Indian sub-continent are looking towards him to find solutions for their problems. It was very comical to see the separatist Kashmiri Muslim groups collect signatures in boxes to be presented to Obama ; asking for his intervention on their behalf. I was unable to find in the media what if anything came of this large  meaningless exercise.  Most likely He was probably bringing in a bigger signature campaign of his own from  the  teeming American unemployed asking for an intervention from Manmohan Singh on  their behalf!

Obama's official hosts; the government of India on the other hand had prepared a large wish list of their own. Starting with rollback on H1B visa fee hike to declaring Pakistan a terrorist state. It was  a long list with a lot  of other stuff in between. Except for some flowery prose about his support for India's UN Security Council bid , which will take a long time  to happen if at all ; I did not come across anything specific  that Obama might have conceded.  It is nothing short of hilarious that you are asking him to charge you less money when he is in an economic downturn and can use every cent and dime. Even more  stupid is India asking him  on  their behalf to deal with that very Pakistan   which is  smartly making an ass out  of America  day in and day out and getting paid for it  in the bargain!

Pakistan was not invited to these discussions ; so they decided to hold a discussion among their army and  their civil government. All to present a wish list  to Obama of their own. Starting with '  scale back India's role in Afghanistan'; to 'do not back India for UNSC'; and' tell them to give up kashmir'; and  'we also want a civil nuclear deal ........ It was arguably the biggest wish list amongst all. They continued a constant litany of their woes  throughout  Obama's visit to India but were hampered by the fact that  nobody was  paying any attention.

A witticism on the net goes like this,'' Neither God nor Obama can produce a birth certificate but  God does not think he is Obama'.  Jokes apart , Obama is not God ! not even close. The trouble with people is that we do not wish to take ownership of our own problems . We want a peg to hang our worries . That's the reason  why we are constantly searching for a messiah who will come and deliver us.  It is like  not even wanting to spend a dollar on buying lottomax and hoping to land the jackpot.  What are the chances? Also  since God is  fresh out of stock on messiah's   we   tend to deify  anyone we can . Even just barely better than ordinary people  are given the mantle and  then  we expect them to solve things  for us. Obviously these "chosen ones"  are not able to deliver instant nirvana. We the people are  even quicker to condemn them and go on to find another shoulder to cry upon. Obama  just happens to be  the current  "soup of the day".

Although  many people have commented on how Obama  has got some of his wishes during  his Visit to India and how he gave out stingily himself . They have commented on the respective benefits to  the participating countries and who won , who lost . They questioned the usefulness  of such jaunts or the lack of it . The best  commentary was by Jaswant singh. As a former Indian minister for external affairs his understanding of how these processes work is less than none.  I agree with his take   that  these trips should not be made "destinational" ; rather it should be " directional" . Essentially   manage your expectations;do not expect big results. As long as you are  deepening mutual understanding  and finding common ground , it is worth it.

Obama  is on a help finding mission for his own problems ; Just do not expect   him  to give you solutions to your problems.  Now that would be  one big ass mistake; "mother of all mistakes".

Super Babe!

About 32 years ago Oldham town in The UK had the honour of entering the record books as the birthplace of world's first  test tube baby. Baby Louise brown was conceived in a glass dish, although she finally arrived in the world by Cesarean section like countless others and was declared to be a Super babe .She is now married and has children of her own. At no time has her life  been any different from anyone else that was conceived naturally.

Actually it is not necessary to be a test tube baby for becoming a test tube baby!  So let me explain! Technically speaking a test tube baby can have an unknown biological 'donor' father ; an unknown biological 'donor' mother and this baby can be carried to term in the womb of a "host" mother ; separate from the donor.  A different set of donor's can team  up for the next baby , who can then be carried by the same 'host' mother; who could  possibly be married to a third person -  entirely unrelated to any of the donor fathers. This will throw up an interesting situation in later life. We will have a 'mother' who is not a 'mother' in real sense and we will have  her  children who are actually someone else's  offspring.  We will have  a father who has fathered no one ; and we will have siblings who are essentially not related  to each other. Siblings who are strangers for all practical purposes ! Well to be absolutely correct  , since they share the same 'host'; one is as much related to the other as two  kids ; who happen to be born  in the same labour room in the same hospital - in different years ! It would not be inconceivable that all those   relations would be a little dysfunctional.

Now look all around you ! Do you see any 'test tube baby'? Every time I look in the mirror I  am able to see one. Physical distance; diverse perspectives on life; separate financial and personal interests are all ensuring that we  constantly keep morphing into a 'test tube baby'. At least in our family and personal life. Just see how many personal friends you continue to have for any length of time.? Has any loyalty lasted for twenty years? Ten ? Five? Two? Or has you drinking buddy changed because you changed jobs? How many 'girl friends / boy friends' have come and gone?  Think about What  has become of those promises of "undying love"? Why do you think   your parents , your children or your siblings will fare much different ?

Given a choice most children would want  more understanding parents; maybe richer parents ;definitely less strict parents who see things their way. Most parents however wish for more caring children; more successful children; more intelligent children and definitely more obedient ones. Although nobody is likely to get all  of their wishes fulfilled ; sometimes some wishes are realized. Families do become a little dysfunctional ; relations do become strained and painful at times.  Still a modicum of decency is maintained . It is very rare for these relations to become abusive. Arundhati Roy is one such  rare child .  She is successful; famous;  fairly rich; and if you trust the  decision making abilities of the Booker prize committee; she is intelligent  too! Although based on how she has conducted herself ; devious; cunning and self aggrandizing are the words that come to mind - not intelligence.

Probably it is the sign of the times we are living in that we are all becoming "test tube" children in varying  degrees.A little aloof; a little uncaring; a little self centered.  Unfortunately ms. roy  has turned into such a super  shameless test tube babe that she has only "pity" left for her motherland.  A "Motherland" she has already rejected since she is " a republic of one".  A motherland she is  either clueless about or feigns ignorance about .   Most likely she  is telling  premeditated lies  and half truths about   it to suit her own  self promotional ends.  Isn't it a wonder  that she does not know  who her mother  is or  What is the geographical , historical and political  origin and expanse of her mother ?  Only a"test tube baby" can  say such a thing with any plausibility ! Isn't it a wonder that She feels "proud' to lend credence and join  the forces  that wish to decapitate her mother.  She has no   qualms  with calling her  mother by inventively derogatory names  as long as she receives prominent notice . Maybe they will give her some other international prize since she is very unlikely to get another Booker for these non -literary  efforts. Or maybe she will bag one. "Bin Laden" prize - perhaps !!!  See for yourself  what kind of rabble rousing, " Secular Democrat"  is she is a cheerleader  for:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLkE92TpRTE&feature=related

 Her "Mother" ,has yet to become entirely a "host" mother. She is  making   some unhappy noises but still hoping for some semblance of filial duty from her child. Mostly she is wishing like countless other mothers for a more  caring child; who speaks in a softer tone. A child who may not be obedient enough for mother's liking but at least does not actively aid and abet her  mother's killers.  Only thing is that I am afraid this rancid 'one book wonder'  is no longer salvageable. She has travelled  too far down the road to becoming a complete "Test Tube Baby". To turn back now would be impossible for her! She is for  nobody and she does not care for anybody . She belongs to no one but her own self;  deluded that people care about her  putrefying half truths aimed at subverting the democracy she is masquerading as a champion of . They only really "pity" her ; except those that want to institutionalize her up or gift her a one  way ticket  to  Pakistan where she can practice her azadi speeches. "God of small things" has finally become "Devil of large matters".

Gilani for President !

Commonwealth Games are finally over . I decided to hold my counsel while  the whole world and their uncle was castigating the games and writing off India and Indians in general. Now that these games have closed on a high note and even Fennel has expressed satisfaction at its conduct. It is time that a serious evaluation is done of this mega venture.  Luckily Indian athletes performed above expectations and brought back the glory and honour  frittered away by the organizers and managers of the show so there is something to be happy about. 

Firstly we need to learn to be honest with ourselves and realize that a lot of criticism thrown at us was well deserved.  Although part of the harsh reactions  originated because of western arrogance,  borderline racial prejudice and a definite  sense of fear  rising India is generating; we can not afford to hide behind these apologies. Fact remains that we screwed up badly  in the run up to the games and what is worse we did not even know it. I design exhibitions, which then have to be fabricated and constructed on the site. I have done this in several countries of the world;  some of them in India's  poor neighbourhood. Only  and only in India  trade workers are still working right till the very last second the site has to be opened to public. No body knows if the work will be completed or not and at times it is not .  This situation is created willfully because  by keeping everyone guessing and worrying till the last  moment people are greatful for whatever final result is achieved. No one wants to question the  quantity ,quality and actual  work done vis a vis work that was meant to be done.

Apart from endemic corruption a fair lot of it has to do with our attitude to work and professional ethics. During the final phase of an exhibition vinyl cut graphics and signs have to be put. Usually this is the very last work scheduled. All these years I have given explicit instructions on how this work should be done by the Graphics person. He has to  carry a waste bag with him when he peels the backing of these graphics and throw  this waste in this bag before applying the graphics on the exhibits. Alas the only time this is done  such way in India is if I am standing there on site and  resort  to intemperate language . Otherwise this waste is strewn all over the floor for a sweeper to clean up after.   As you can imagine just before the show has to open everyone is trying to  clean up  this mess in addition to other and mostly succeed in only  partially hiding the garbage under the carpet.  Sounds familiar; doesn't it? The logic given is that a Graphics person will not be seen carrying a garbage bag. It is beneath him. He does not for a moment think that just by carrying this polythene  bag with him he will enhance his professional output.  I know ; I have  tried to make this  small improvement for many years with only limited success. Our attitude is a big problem and I was not surprised to see pan stained wash basins and dog waste on beds . Pan chewing plumber who fitted the wash basin would not think for a second before spitting in the basin because someone else will clean up after him; not he himself.  He got away with it because  the Junior Engineer who supervised him was busy in his own version of "spitting in the basin''; and the  JE got away because his boss is doing the same. This "spitting "continued on a bigger and bigger scale as it moved upwards till it reached Kalmadi and beyond. They "spitted" big time We have to realize that this is actually a spit in our own collective face!

Because these kind of things happen all the time both in our personal and professional lives  we have developed an immunity to them. The world does not condone such shoddy work.  If we accept such standards  in others and  if we also keep these low standards ourselves; It is our mistake.  Do not expect any accolades. And just because we do not wish to be held accountable to a decent level of performance ourselves;  we  have continued to allow crooks and thieves to go Scot free  even when they have brazenly looted the common wealth. Everyone who has  booed and objected to Kalmadi and his cohorts looting or mismanaging the funds must not keep silent  now just because the games are over. Remember if you do not speak up his kind will find other games to loot your wealth ,honour, dignity ,and your rightful place in the world.

I would not be surprised if Kalmadi  now pats himself on the back and a pliant government  decorates him instead of auditing him. Maybe instead of landing in Tihar he will arrive at Rashtrapati bhawan as  India's next president.  Honestly India will be better off with Syed Ali shah gilani instead. At least you know he is a self declared Pakistani and an extremist; bent on opposing and harming India.  So you can deal with it.  People like Kalmadi have betrayed public trust , looted and cheated us ; all the while posing as great sons of the nation toiling day and night in public service. Those kind are difficult to handle once they are in power. You must keep the pressure on the government to order an honest audit.

Like Indian athletes who performed  brilliantly in spite of the shenanigans of the powers in questions; People of India have in them to win the gold at  the world stage - in all fields. It is up to us if we prefer to have a sincere enemy or a backstabbing friend! And for God's sake if we have to learn only one thing from these games let us learn not to " spit in the basin" - in whatever  job we are doing!

Loose your way in three easy steps !

Let us face it; I do not exactly have technophobia but I can not be considered a great lover of technology. Even then I have started using a GPS device and have become totally dependent on it to navigate . This was driven home today as I was coming out of the airport after picking up a guest. I must have driven dozens of times in the area but still I managed to loose my way. Simply because I was not carrying my GPS device that I had will fully left at home.  

There are several signs that lead you out of the airport and on to  the highway. Honestly it is quite difficult to take a wrong turn , but I have so gotten used to listening to that synthetic voice command from the GPS that seemingly I have forgotten how to read clear, big ,bold and precise signs that could have easily led me to the right path.

I also have a  superbly printed and deadly accurate city road map in my car that I did not even think of consulting. I virtually refused to believe it existed and when faced with a road that divided in two; I took the wrong one in an attempt to hit a short cut  home. Well the result was as expected.  We finally came out miles from home  and that too in the  opposite direction. Lost!

It felt like India in Kashmir !