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 !

Forty Nine Stones.

-Composition from "Aru's stone collection"

Every year millions throng the streets of Mina  in Saudi Arabia to perform a ritual - The stoning of  the Devil. In this case the Devil is in the shape of pillars which are also made up of stones. These faithful  throw at least 49 smaller stones during this mass event that includes all sections of the society- men;  women; teens everyone. The occasion of course is haj, a scared lifetime duty of Islam.

According to Islamic traditions , Abraham was ordered by Allah to sacrifice his son Ismael.  Abraham immediately prepared to cut Ismael's throat . Thrice the Satan tempted the boy to flee and Abraham to desist from slitting his own son's throat . But each time at the sites marked by those three pillars, the devil was answered back by stones. Satisfied with this display of faith and obedience Allah provided Abraham a ram for performing sacrifice .

This piece of mythology is critical in understanding Kashmir Valley's unrest. For reasons ranging from stupidity to being politically correct; commentators ,analysts and policy makers have ignored this . They have even tried to sweep it under the carpet. Is it any wonder that banner headlines declare that small children have got killed during these disturbances. Or women and children are a large part of this stoning mob. The reason anyone  is bewildered is because they fail to understand the psyche and motivation of these people. And of course because they do not remember the story of the 49 stones.


Kashmir's unrest stems from the fact that major centers of the separatist agitation lie in the valley . Demographically It is close to hundred percent Muslim by faith. Nearly all Hindu's have either been killed or hounded out by them since last two decades. Their properties are burnt down; their business , religious and cultural centers taken over or ran aground.  Every effort is made by both the general population and the entrenched partisan bureaucracy  that Hindu's  will not or can not return. As if that mattered! But that's another story. To cut a long story short Kashmir De facto is an Islamic enclave inside a democratic republic. Democracy  and Islam do not mix  very well.  It is not an anti Islamic propaganda since it has been proven again and again with various ethnic groups and in several geographical locations throughout the world . It would be unwise to forget this fact at any time much less now when radical Islam is the dominant faction that drives the world Islamic agenda.

India is an ancient and timeless civilization. Kashmir in the Indian consciousness and mythology is the abode of Lord Shiva. Kashmir valley itself took birth because of the efforts of Kashyap  Rishi.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashyap). That part of history and mythology finds no resonance with the stone throwers. In fact India is nothing but kufr for them. Kashmir is a typical example of the saying that "victors propaganda becomes the vanquished people's history." As these groups are in the thrall of Islam, their history , patterns of behavior and motivation is also Islamic in nature. They will identify with anything that has an Arabic connection. And if you find a parallel with the intifada of the Palestine ; you will be right.   So women will come out on the streets to throw stones at the "Kuffar". They will also send out little kids  in the streets even as disturbances are being precipitated by their fellow faithfuls. If these children are harmed  in the process ,maybe it is Allah's will or maybe Allah will send a ram instead!!!


I do not have a solution for Kashmir but whoever tries their hand would do well to remember those forty nine stones.

Leaking news!

Wiki leaks has admittedly an antiwar posture and it should not surprise anyone that it leaked those Afghan documents. So who is afraid of them? Most of what those documents say about inefficient conduct of war against Taliban by the Coalition forces has been evident for years. It is just that the documents provide a sort of proof that America can begin a war but it does not know how to end it.

To the credit of the Americans , they have managed to keep their cool despite the blowing away of the fig leaf that this report caused. Just a couple of denials and some hand wringing at  the irresponsible behaviour by the website that could endanger American lives and they  were back to the usual. Pakistani's have flipped a lid though. They would still like to maintain the charade that they are pristine ;specially their spy agency is above reproach. No one believes them yet ; and it would be comical if it was not so unnecessary. Pakistan is running with the hare and hunting with the hound. Russian intervention in Afghanistan did allow them to pursue their dreams of strategic depth against India. And they got addicted to the drug of low cost terrorist operations, ostensibly by "non- state actors"that proves very costly for their enemy- India. Everything that they are doing in Afghanistan is geared to save their country from the Indian threat . And if they are playing the field and making an ass of USA; kudos to them.

It would be all fine but there are many other dimensions to this picture. Firstly let me say that "The Indian Threat" to Pakistan is real and not a figment of their neurosis. Where they are making a serious mistake is not recognizing the nature of the threat. This threat is not a military threat that can get neutralized by  having a  nuclear device or six squadrons of f-16's to deliver it. Neither can this threat diminish by getting control of the Afghan hinterland for strategic depth or launching terrorist strikes in India. Pakistan has done all of it and yet today the "Indian Threat" is greatest than at any other time in history.  The fact is that the threat is included in the DNA of Pakistan itself. Their greatest threat is the Idea of Pakistan vs. The Idea of India. The fact is that Pakistan is  not a natural nation. Culturally , historically and mentally they are and always will be a part of India. To have a country at their disposal they need to continuously fight their own instincts and minds all the time. 

I know a lot of Pakistani's personally and I am amazed at how much knowledge they have about Indian shows and Bollywood movies and Lalu prasad yadav and what not. TV and Film are the only window they have available on their own roots .No matter how insipid and distorted these shows and movies are; Pakistani's consume it in copious quantities. No wonder to be seen as different from Indians they need to emphasize on their Islamic identity and overcompensate with their zealousness . Trouble is that  Islam does not constitute a  nation; otherwise OIC would not have 56 different countries. And over dependence on Islam has made them insensitive to religious extremists among them.

India's economic clout  is big and getting bigger. It can not be wished away .  Hillary Clinton will continue to say that Osama is hiding in Pakistan and Pakistan's  rulers know about it. David Cameron will say that Pakistan exports terror. Pakistan can not belittle them as a hair brained woman and an inexperienced leader of a third rate power looking for trading concessions in India. They have to realize that ISI's pet terrorists are  terrorists too and will lead them to destruction.  Indian threat is real but Pakistan's answer to it is unfathomably self destructive.

They are "The Indian Threat" themselves and sooner they realize it sooner they can find a better answer to this threat.

Well Done!

Politician Ram Vilas Paswan's son Chiraau is breaking into acting. Someone asked Paswan as to why  his son is going for acting and not for Politics. Paswan answered ," there is no difference.They are just performed on  different stages."  For once  I have to agree. Although  Politicians have proved terrible actors; actors on the other hand have  acquited themselves better as politicians. 

 Recently I saw two very forceful examples of politicians acting and actors making a political statement. Firstly some politician from India went to Pakistan and participated in a joint venture with a local politician in the show called "let us pretend talk". It was a farce that as expected turned into a tragedy. All actors in the play  willfully forgot their lines and finally said all kinds of things that were not in the original script. Show failed as a drama but  the actors did address their respective political constituencies by their grand standing and  their complete neglect of all  norms of civility and diplomacy.  In the end both the audience; actors and  the US show management company ; all nodded their heads , patted each other on the back and went home to prepare for another similar stage show for later sometime.  This  edition of the venture of course got thrown into a well. How I wish that well could vanish.

As if on cue a friend lent me  his copy of "Well Done Abba". The movie about about a vanishing  well .  vetern director Shyam Benegal has directed the movie and as is his won't made a lot of socio -political statements. Film is a director's medium but I must say that all actors in the movie starting with Boman Irani in a double role have been a force multiplier to Shayam Benegal's directorial effort. Very surprisingly even Minissha Lamba has done great justice to her role as a spunky  young woman.  This film is a satire primarily highlighting  corruption in implementing social  programs. The story  has been told in a refreshingly humourous tone and Shayam has avoided dark and heavy tear jerking treatment that mars such works.  In the movie eventually Lost wells are finally found back. A la bollywood style although in real life it is not easy to get such justice. Anyway It is really a movie of hope and comes with the message that we can achieve things and we can correct things if we decide.  Very good stuff! His other sub texts about  importance of Girls education; problem of sham marriage of young Indian girls to doddering Arabs; futility of of using your birth religion as your identity; are all very important statements that are made as a matter of fact.

Things that I did not like so much were a sub conscious attempt by Shayam to avoid showing Politicians in their correct avatar. He has made the officialdom the villain of the piece. In reality the politician is the fountainhead of corruption. Another jarring piece  is the engineer's  character. The fact that he is recently married  with his wife's charms  rather than his job on his mind got established in the first instance .Too many scenes of his conjugal bed were probably a little "peeping tomish".  

But hey I am not the director of the movie and there is something called commercial demands, so we'll let that slide. Even though there is a surfeit of political and social commentary ;Overall it is a movie that's well done! 

 Someone should tell the politicians that there is a difference between well done and burnt! At least they should watch this movie.

Buridan's Asses!

 Jean Buridan was a French priest who is most famous for his thought experiment named " Buridan"s ass". that goes something like this:

There was  a hungry donkey standing equidistant from two identical piles of hay. The donkey tried to decide which pile he should eat first and finding no reason to choose one over another, starved to death. This paradox didn't originate with Buridan -- it's  found back in Aristotle's time. A hungry and thirsty man cannot decide whether to drink first or eat first  and dies of both hunger and thirst. It is believed that  Buridan, in his commentaries on Aristotle, chose a dog, but his critics, in their parody of Buridan, turned it into an ass.

This paradox illustrates  a situation that demonstrates the impracticality of decision-making using pure reason, especially a situation involving two equal choices. It does not mean that reason has no role to play in decision making, just that reason alone is not enough ; you need feelings and emotions too. For that matter emotion alone is not enough either . In fact it can  sometimes be  fatal as we see in Kashmir where one death follows another. Since everyone is taking decisions based on pure emotions .And  negative ones at that.


 In the first place people of Kashmir valley have to decide which pile they'll eat from. They can not  choose a democratic government  first and than proceed to take every measure  to  undermine it by supporting one violent separatist demonstration after other.I am not sure whose benefit it  serves , certainly it is not the people's benefit. This is exactly what  ass's paradox is about. 

Government  on the other hand is another classic case of buridan's ass. They do not know if they want to use velvet gloves or the iron fist. Both look attractive . In their confusion they actually do nothing until a violent horde starts attacking public property . And than they start firing live bullets. Time and again we hear of the rubber bullets being used by the  security forces. Question is why are civilian fatalities so high then ? In a country where everything is spurious these rubber bullets are proving very potent indeed!!! More effective than the real  ones. Or is it someone else who is firing live ones on the crowd to keep people  confused, angry and agitated.

I guess it is time for the government to let people smell one of the pile. The pile of independence or self management . Let them see what "independence" is like . Stop funding infrastructure projects; stop rebuilding  destroyed public property. Move all troops to muzzafrabad LOC on one side and across Jawahar tunnel on the other . Let Kashmir police handle things in the valley. Suspend all financial subsidy. Let them spend what tax they collect and If they want to send their fruit  to Pakistan, let them. Let them eat what they grow and let them pay for what they import. Let Kashmir division manage  its economy ,and politics for next five years on its own.  It is the only way to save the ass. It must know which pile stinks.


Can it happen ? Unfortunately government is clueless, gutless and without any ideas. A bigger buridan's ass that will do nothing !