Phool for a fool

Extreme reactions on websites on Katunanidhi's remarks about Rama and Hinduism. One reader on a leading portal went as far as saying 'Wish there is another Tsunami in TN and then the entire Rama believing north belt should show their middle finger to Tamilians asking for relief'. The sentence hits you as here is a countryman wishing that his fellow countrymen face a disaster and then be shown the door. What has brought about this?

Many would say BJP's stand on Rama Sethu but there was nothing divisive about it, at the best it can be called hypocrisy. But the man who has divided the country is none other than my favourite court jester, Karunanidhi (TN seems to have some taste when it comes to politicians). Not that he has practised athiesm all his life. Remember seeing pictures of his family washing Sathya Sai Baba's feet or him doing a havan before the last assembly elections.

He should be sent a bunch of flowers everyday and told 'You are sick, get well soon'. He surely needs a visit to the asylum for his actions which will have far reaching consequences.

Running a startup - The first 3 months

Ah.. Hayagreeva Consulting just completed 3 months. Been a journey. Highs and lows one after another and so frequent they are like playing hide n seek every few hours.

Business generation has been not a problem though closing the paperwork on contracts has been a nightmare. Partners have really helped in getting us noticed. Just this morning, closed the paperwork on 2 deals. Now the third one to close. Pipeline looks good. Though it's been a nightmare convincing the prospects to put faith into a start-up.

Office space and infrastructure has not been much of a pressure because help has come from the family. Now looking for a bigger space as more people join in October.

Recruitment has been a total disappointment. Can't fathom the lack of ambition, ethics and professionalism in many of the software engineers. Taking an offer, then not joining without informing or not taking calls or using the offers to get other higher offers.... good for individual short term benefits but a let down on all other fronts. I find this behaviour worse than politicians and goons. But then, that's the way the industry works. Inspite of this, have found ahve good guys ready to put their future with a start-up and I surely won't let them down. Whoever is on board seems to enjoy the kind of work because this is where they getting to learn the best technology and work on complex projects.

Spent few sleepless nights in last 3 weeks due to the uncertainty over the project contracts. Now that it's sorted, I want to sleep well tonight to start what I call the next journey for Hayagreeva - The journey towards growth and delivery

Castro & Guevara

I was watching a show on Fidel Castro last night on the TV and how different people involved with him either love him or hate him. Just wondered who and what was the real Castro? A pathbreaking revolutionary? A stubborn idealist? A bloodsucking dictator?

Went back to my books about Castro and Guevara. They both led one of the biggest revolutions in the modern history. Then when they reached a stage where they could meet their goals, Guevara moved on to fuel other revolutions and tragically died in Bolivia later while Castro went on to rule Cuba for decades. Who was right and who was wrong in them? Had Castro too left the task of rebuilding Cuba to others, he might have been as big a hero like Guevara but then won't that be 'turning ones back'? Would they have then blamed him for not completing his work? Is he being hated by many just because he chose to stay on run his country his way in process making him a dictator. Similarily, was it not requried of Guevara to join in the contruction process too after the revolution because revolutions are not only about a regime change, they are about a change in sociol, political, economic thinking.

All said and done, one just can't wash away the impact these two have had on generations after them. The more I read about Guevara, the more I wish I was born in that era and in that place where he fired people's imaginations with his idealism.

Who is steering us?

Writing this piece under some stress and sadness. One of my person very very close to me is in hospital and critical. Was thinking about my discussions with a friend over the weekend in Bangalore, while sitting at the hospital over the night.

Is there something wrong with our generation or is it just that the winds of changes have blown so fast that we haven't been able to react to it? We might be having a relatively more prosperous and successful careers, access to finances and luxuries. But then more and more around us including me have failed miserably when it comes to personal life and relationships.

Are there any rules to engagement? While we are ready to take on the world for our careers, why are we still hesitant when it comes to breaking shackles of social norms? Why are people suffocaitng their own pleasures and happiness just because society looks down on them? Why do relationships need a name?

This and many more questions as I battle them daily.

Mumbai on the boil?

The blast verdict is out. The voices (rightly so) are heard for verdict on 92-93 blasts again. The Muslim organisations are taking out a huge protest march next week. Shiv Sena, the right wing political party has said in it's newpaper that this thing can increase communal passions. This is a kind of indirect warning. Waiting with bated breath for next week and just hoping that both the sides don't ignite communal passions for their narrow gains. Mumbai certainly cannot afford another divide.

Priya Dutt and D P Yadav - is there any difference?

One is an uneducated mafia turned MP who is using all powers and methods possible to keep his son away from the punishment for his involvement in criminal acts.

Another one is an educated MP representing a metro city like Mumbai and knows the power of media and political affiliations and uses that to get her brother out of the jail.

The question is both are abusing their powers and so how can Priya Dutt be presumed any better than D P Yadav?

Does life turn you on?

I was asked this on Monday. What turns me on the most and I said the sheer pleasure of being in the world turns me on. The highs of despair and the lows of happiness. Isn't it a turn on when life shows you the entire range of colours it has? Life surely is the best weed and I love to be high on it

World without passports and visas

Just as I was collecting my visa for Singapore trip, I was glancing through the newspaper which spoke about international terrorism. This might sound distorted to the 'nomral' ones - Terrorists don't use or need passports and visas to travel across the globe and create terror. Then why are the peace loving humanists required to carry this piece of paper?

God certainly did not stamp a visa on our ass when we were born. Then what gives a right to the establishment to decide what piece of paper I should carry. Why can't the world be without passports and visas? Why control the cultural exchange that comes when people meet each other freely.

I really want a world without passport and visa

Lal Masjid issue

One can blame General Mushharaf of many things but there is 1 thing one needs to admire him for and that he surely has more guts that most Indian leaders till date. Just as the news of the death of the radical leader Abdul Rashid Ghazi in Lal Masjid comes in, one piece of news surprised me and that was Muslim clerics from Mumbai welcoming the incident. Now, is this the sign of changing times or just an exception. Weren't these the same clerics who opposed when Indian Army laid seige to Charar-E-Sharif or Hazratbal?

It is indeed welcome if this shows that the times are changing but if it is an exception, then it raises serious doubts about them.

Spiritual or Religious

India has always been known as the place for spiritual experiences. But aren't the times changing? More and more Indians seem to be indulging in relligious symbolism and radicalism. And symbolism and radicalism never had any place in spiritualism. Spiritualism is more about connecting with one's soul while religious is about connecting with 'God'. Spirituallism rarely or never has been a cause of any conflict nationally or internationally but religion is the biggest cause of violence in the world today. In such scenario, world will look towards India for guiding them to spiritualism but then things here too seem to be changing as religion is taking the centre stage on socio-political life

Sleeping pills for Manmohan Singh?

It seems Manhmohan Singh who has slept very well after the Mumbai train blasts, Malegaon blasts, Nandigram and Singur carnage, farmer suicides in Maharashtra and other parts,, has suddenly lost sleep over the state of the parents and family of the Indian docs accused and arrested for the terror play at Glasgow.

Our dear SMS (Sardar Manmohan Singh) badly needs some sleeping pill. Or is the Madam making him lose sleep over the votebank politics?

National Joke

One thing is for sure the current generation won't miss the antics of Zail Singh or Fuckruddin Ali Ahmed by much as the current President in waiting, Pratibha Patil surely seems one who can bring us lot of laughter with her statements. She certainly is a national embarrasment and joke.

The 1st heavy showers

26/7 or not, don't I love the heavy showers. And this time luckily I was on the sea front when it started pouring cats and dogs. Throwing caution to the winds (which has resulted in a damamged mobile), just went out in the open and got wet. Can a rainy evening be complete without some Old Monk, Kebabs and some great ole weed? Had a wonderful weekend with all the above and few close friends. How much we all cried as we remembered the good ole days when we did not bother about loan repayments, heartbreaks, financial planning, professional road ahead!!! Ah nostalgia filled the heart, mind and eyes. It was wonderful meeting old friends after years.

Pratibha Hu?

Meet the new to-be-President of China ooops India.. Pratibha Hu?

After seeing Deve Gowda, Inder Kumar Gujral become PM, Pratibha Patil becoming President.. one thing is sure, there is always hope in Indian democracy if you know how to crawl when asked to kneel and which door to became a slave at.

Sethu Samudram controversy - Our classical secular system

The classical secular system is back in action. The same set of people who have huge issues when a dargah or a mosque is to be removed for development work have come with a project which affects a stretch of land believed to be Rama's bridge by Hindus.

Raam Sethu or Adam's Bridge is the stretch of land which connect India with Sri Lanka. Currently the water there cannot be used for transportation due to the stretch of land which as per Hindu beliefs was created by Lord Rama's army to march into Lanka. To reduce the time and cost of connecting the east coast with the west coast, Govt of India decided to destroy the stretch of land and allow waterway passage.

Sethusamudram Project plans for three fishery harbours and one shipping harbour. Rameshwaram will become one of the largest harbours in India at the end of this project.
The strategic advantages to India derive from obtaining a navigable sea route close to the coast, with a reduction in travel distance of more than 350 nautical miles (650 km) (for larger ships). The project is expected to provide a boost to the economic and industrial development of coastal Tamil Nadu. The project will be of particular significance to Tuticorin harbour, which has the potential to transform itself into a nodal port. The State Government has announced its proposal to develop 13 minor ports, including Ennore, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Thondi, Valinokam, Kolachel and Kanyakumari.

If the project benefits India then I am sure, even Lord Rama won't mind the project. But will our political class show the same kind of single mnded devotion when it comes to removing a Non-Hindu place of worship for development? Why do they then cry hoarse over the 'alleged communalism' as they did in case of Baroda dargah removal incidents.

The issue here is not 'if religious structures should be removed for better of the people' coz the answer is a resounding yes. But the point is 'why can't we treat all religious symbols and sturctures equally and remove them for development irrespective of which religion they belong to?' And to those who think and say that Rama Sethu is a piece of mythological fantasy without a proof, I would say that the same holds true for the beliefs of other religions too as there is hardly to no proof.

Dynastic Politics

The dynasty is at work again. Rahul Gandhi badly needs a tutor in history and diplomacy if not anything else. He seems to not know about scores of Indian freedom fighters who fought for Indian Independence nor does he know about the scores of Indian soldiers who dies in 1971 war. But then princes rarely are taught the right history coz for them sun shines out of the crack of their and their ancestors asses.

Seeing the amount of mileage media is giving the Gandhis makes one wonder if Congress if going to sweep the UP polls. Never ever seen 4th ranked 'also rans' being given such media space. It's like Zimbabwe getting more coverage during the World Cup than Australia or South Africa. Just because of the last name (which too is a borrowed one) 'Gandhi'?

If being son or daughter of a national leader enough of qualification to lead the nation, then Late Harilal Gandhi (son of Mahatma Gandhi) won't have died in abject poverty in some red light area of Mumbai. It's high time the media stops repaying the Gandhi family for their 'kind acts' and 'briberies' of the past and treat te Gandhis as just another set of blood sucking politicians.

Ya Rabba

Just love this song from Salaam E Ishq. Thought it was one of the best lyrics in last few years.

Pyaar Hai Ya Saja,
Aai Mere Dil Bata
Tootata Kyon Nahi Dard Ka Silsila
Is Pyaar Mein Hon Kaise Kaise Imntihaan
Ye Pyaar Likhe Kaisi Kaisi Dastaan
Ya Rabba De De Koi Jaan Bhi Agar
Dilbar Pe Ho Na, Dilbar Pe Ho Na Koi Asar
Ho Ya Rabba De De Koi Jaan Bhi Agar
Dilbar Pe Ho Na, Dilbar Pe Ho Na Koi Asar
Pyaar Hai Ya Saja, Aai Mere Dil Bata
Tootata Kyon Nahi Dard Ka Silsila

Kaisa Hai Safar Wafa Ki Manjil Ka
Na Hai Koi Hal Dilon Ki Mushkil Ka
Dhadkan Dhadkan Bikhri Ranjishein
Saansein Saansein Tooti Bandishein
Kahi To Har Lamha Honton Pe Fariyaad Hai
Kisi Ki Duniya Chaahat Mein Barbaad Hai
Ya Rabba De De Koi Jaan Bhi Agar
Dilbar Pe Ho Na, Dilbar Pe Ho Na Koi Asar
Ho Ya Rabba De De Koi Jaan Bhi Agar
Dilbar Pe Ho Na, Dilbar Pe Ho Na Koi Asar

Koi Na Sune Sisakati Aanhon Ko
Koi Na Dhare Tadapati Baahon Ko
Aadhi Aadhi Puri Khwaishein
Tooti Footi Sab Farmaaishein
Kahin Shak Hain Kahin Nafrat Ki Deewaar Hai
Kahin Jeet Mein Bhi Shamil Palpal Haar Hain
Ya Rabba De De Koi Jaan Bhi Agar
Dilbar Pe Ho Na, Dilbar Pe Ho Na Koi Asar
Ho Ya Rabba De De Koi Jaan Bhi Agar
Dilbar Pe Ho Na, Dilbar Pe Ho Na Koi Asar
Ho O O Pyaar Hai Ya Saja, Aai Mere Dil Bata
Tootata Kyon Nahi Dard Ka Silsila

Ho O O O Ho O O O
Na Poocho Dard Bandon Se
Hansi Kaisi Khushi Kaisi
Musibat Sar Pe Rehati Hain
Kabhi Kaisi Kabhi Kaisi
Ho O O O… Rabba, Rabba Ho O O HoRabba Ho O O, Ho O Ho Rabba

Misplaced patriotism?

The country reacts when Shilpa Shetty is allegedly 'abused racially'. It is deemed a national insult when our cricketers are called something not so nice. There are protests when some of our leaders are called names.

But no protests when farmers commit suicide. Hardly a murmur outside Nithari. And we are patriotic.... hahahahahahaha, my neighbour's balls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lagey Raho India Lagey Raho.........

Quotes revisited

I came, I saw and I conquered
I saw, she conquered and I came

Give me blood and I will give you freedom
Give me blood and I will give you 3 glucose biscuits

What Bengal thinks today, India think tomorrow
What Bengal debated and vetoed today was what India thought yesterday

To be or not to be
To bat or not to bat

Love thy neighbours
Love thy neighbours but dont leave your pants behind

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction
For every action, there is more than equal criticism

Where there is smoke, there has to be fire
Where there is smoke, there has to be an auto or a cab

The Chappells Speak

I don't understand why such hue and cry over what the Chappells have spoken? Are our cricketers some holy cow that they can do no wrong? This is my take on what both the Chappells have spoken.

Greg - Yes, I do agree that he has failed as a coach and there can be no excuses about that but why is the entire country up in arms when he says that the deniors in the team are to be blamed? Is it that Indians don't indulge in team politics or is it that we are so blinded by our paper tiger heroes that we feel they are a bundle of virtues and no vices. Why is it not possible that Ganguly would have indulged in groupism and waywardness to score a point over Dravid and to have one more shot at captaincy? Why is it hard to believe that Sehwag out of his insecurity would have really played a traunt with the younger players? Same thing with other players. Do we expect our cricketers to be super human and not have common vices like greed, envy, insecurity? Or is it easier to attack Greg just because he is not an Indian?

When we take potshots at Greg, we forget that he possibly knows more about cricket than most of our heroes (except maybe Sachin and Kumble).. Don't forget that he was as astutue cricket mind and a great batsman considered at par with Gavaskar and Richards in the 70s and 80s. Do we all forget how it was Greg who helped Ganguly out of a wretched period in 2003 with tips on batting and how to face Aussies in Aussieland. And when that helped, we thought Greg was a reasonable man with his love for cricket at the right place. Now he is a devil... Interesting, isn't it?

Ian - So finally someone had the guts to say the obvious and that is - Sachin is visibly tired and needs to reduce the pressure of expectations. He seems to be playing neither for the country nor for himself (maybe for the moolahs and the ad men). And Ian said the obvious. Is Sachin the first person, Ian has been honest and blunt with? No.. Bradman, Steve Waugh and Mark Taylor to name a few have been at receiving end of his blunt speech.

But we take it as a national insult and question Ian's assessment and understanding of cricket. Hahahahahaha.... Time to grow up and smell the coffee. Our heroes are human beings too and like all human beings, they will fail sometime and they too will fade away. High time, we accept that Sachin needs to really start planning his post-retirement plans. And high time, he works on it before even his ardent fans start hating him.