Mr. Ponting, you need a break!

Just heard about Ricky Ponting's spat with the empire which is one of his many incidents of unruly behaviour on the filed. And the question asked was 'Is Mr. Ponting cricket's Mr.Shame?' which is of course, a very valid and reasonable question.

Was just wondering, that  a majority of the veteran cricketers and game experts agree that in the foreseeable future if there is anyone who has the slightest chance of  getting close to Sachin's record of maximum tons, its Ponting. And yet so much difference in the way people see these two cricketers who are undoubtedly the best in their business.

Some people are able to keep their feet on the ground despite their huge success, and may be thats what separates the greatest from the pack of greats. And the fact that Sachin was able to do it from an age of 16 is quite a remarkable thing and truly beyond words.

Confusing argument

Binayak Sen's life sentence has raised a quite a lot of eye brows. Some term it as pretty harsh and some, as complete failure of Indian judicial system.

I really don't know whether he is guilty, but the charge on him was of sedition which if proved right has to have a harsh statement. One can debate over the authenticity of the evidences and logic of the prosecution's argument, but once proved guilty, i don't think one has to expect any mercy for that serious charge.

And the argument that i get to hear repeatedly, is that why is he given such a cruel statement, when the rich and the powerful are getting away with their crimes.

Two things are to be noted here.

One, just because some people with influence are getting away, it makes no sense to let loose the less powerful people to what they want. No system is completely fool proof. We can work to improve it to catch the rich, powerful and the influential. But that doesn't mean we can turn our back on the smaller criminals till then. We need to keep filtering with filter that we have till we get a better one.

Two, the charge here was for sedition which is by far a very serious crime compared all the scandals the we ve had in the most scandalous year in the history of Independent India. The judgment has to be just and also act as deterrent for other people from joining enemy forces to conspire against the nation.

I only hope that if Binayak Sen innocent, he be freed with an apology. And if he is not, his sentence be upheld.

After dreaming for almost 8 years, I have finally my own bike. And trust me, it’s a wonderful feeling.

I finally have my Pulsar 180. Certainly not the most happening bike around, but definitely the most happening I could get in my budget!!

And also, once you own a bike, it’s like getting married. You have to love it no matter what. 

Though am not allowed to go above 55 kmph, am still loving it.

There were so many thoughts before I got the key in my hands. To buy or not to buy, 180 or 150, blue or red, but now with the key in my hands, am a happy man.

I remember it all started when Bajaj fellows aired the ‘Definitely male’ ad.  Those days, Plusar was by far the most stylish bike around with round headlight and a ‘raging bull’ look.

As a school going kid who had just learnt to drive a bike, I was completely fascinated by what this bike had to offer. And not just me, I guess it was on the wish list of all the guys in the neighborhood. 

8 years of waiting and I finally own one. Pulsar has come a long way since then. So have I.

Another stage of life completed. One more on the list of things to do before I die, accomplished.

I stand by you, Sir

I completely agree with Chidambaram’s statement about migrants in Delhi. Ignoring the facts completely to be politically correct is what Chidambaram refused to do and in my opinion, rightfully so.

I never saw any visual where he pointed to any particular community, yet Lalu comes up and says that his comments were an insult to Biharis is not just worth a ridicule but also very amusing. 

Chidambaram is by far the most elegant and well mannered minister India has ever had. He has shown his class in any portfolio he has handled, be it the Finance ministry or the Home ministry.

People like Sitaram Yechury and Lalu Prasad who have done basically nothing except giving ‘bhaaashans’  all their life ,don’t have any moral responsibility to point a finger on Mr. Chidambaram.

I d never to Manipal again, i would prefer Apollo

I am one of those guys to whom visting doctors is as tempting as it is for atheists to go to temple. But then at times, you are really left with no option. It was one such occasion and to minimize trauma, I chose to go to a hospital which claimed that ‘they care’. They had put posters everywhere outside the fences, just in case anyone didn’t know that some monthly had put them in the list of the best hospitals in India.

Yes am talking the famous Manipal Hospital, near Domlur in Bangalore. 

As I entered the hospital, it was quite evident that there was nothing good about this place, and unlike to their motto they really ‘didn’t care’.

Queues at the reception were empty though the main hall looked similar to a scene from HAL market. The lady at the counter, without even asking for my preference for the mode of payment, generated cash bills. When I said that I would have preferred payment through card, she said a loud and unapologetic ‘sorry’ as if she was telling me ‘get the hell of here and don’t teach me my job!’.

The file was given to me and I was supposed to carry this to the doctor. They also gave me card like one of those ATM cards. Till now I couldn’t figure out what purpose it served. For if it was just a proof of registration and nothing else, they could have done better with a plain bill. Those electronic cards can do a lot more than just use as registration card. May be the self proclaimed ‘India’s one of the best hospitals’ didn’t know that!

The experiences with the doc were no good either. Despite poking down my throat all the metal things that they had at their disposal, they couldn’t really find out what actually is my causing me discomfort. I wish they had only let me say it. They held my tongue with a cloth and asked me to say ‘eeeeeeeeeeeee’. 

How can u say ‘eeeeeeeee’ if your tongue is held by some one? And when I was almost on the verge of throwing up, she quiet efficiently transferred the blame of her inability to diagnose my problem on to my not being able to say ‘eeeeeeeee’ when my tongue was held by someone else!!  Its like Ashish Nehra saying that he couldn’t hit a century because somebody was walking by the side screen!

It cost me almost 890 bucks for the whole thing including blood tests which I had already done outside. And what did I gain in the end, nothing!

They send me home with a bunch of paper (Yes they kept the file with them). They could have at the least put all the reports in an envelope so that everything stays together.

Compare this to Apollo Hospitals (Not the Sagar Apollo)

You register; the file is taken by the secretary of the doc whom you want to see to them. You wait  for your turn in a very clean and neatly maintained lounge. When you are done with the doc, you file automatically reaches where you might have to conduct your tests. You don’t really have to know anything. At the end of visit, they hand you over a very neatly filed diagnosis report for the next follow-up.

Not just about the process they follow, they have excellent doctors. I went to Apollo for almost the same reason I visited Manipal.  For lesser cost, Apollo gave me quality service and what’s even more important, a lot more better treatment!

I swore that day, if I have to I would never ever go to Manipal again. 

The 'panchayathi' verdict

"I am proud belong to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance. We believe not only in universal toleration, but we accept all religions are true."

In the September of 1893,Swami Vivekananda's address to The World Congress of Religions in Chicago had opened the doors of India's philosophy to the western world.

Afer hearing the Ayodhya verdict and the reactions of the so called guardians of Hindutva, i wonder if this the same religion that Swami Vivekananda preached. 

A place of worship was vandalized. Instead of bringing the culprits to the book, Indian judiciary  try a compromise formula so that every one is happy. And some say, the court have shown 'courage'. i unfortunately cannot see any courage in verdict.


Funny that people kill to reclaim the land that they believe is 'Ram Janmabhhomi' and forget to follow the concept of sacrifice that the Lord symbolized. On the contrary, some of them go on record asking the Muslims to surrender even the 1/3rd of that land that has been allocated to them.

Many learned people have already commented on the unjust nature of the verdict, but what gets my goat is the fact the jury of the so called "wise men" took 16 years to deliver this "panchayathi" formula. Even an ordinary Indian housewife would have delivered this verdict in a week's time.

As a Hindu, i believe that all religions are true and all of them lead to The merciful. Vandalizing a place of worship is a crime not just by my faith but also by the rules of my land. The crime was witnessed by more than a million people on their TV sets and still the so called wise men of our society are bothered about the temple which may or may not have been demolished at a time when the Indian constitution itself did not exist. What about the demolition of the mosque?

As an Indian am disappointed and as a Hindu at heart, am ashamed. Because my religion teaches me to respect others' beliefs as much as i respect mine.

On this Independence day....

How many people here think that democracy is the best form of government??

I don't.

Democracy is perfect form of governance in a ideal sense. By ideal scenario, i mean where people are mature, intelligent,patriotic and economically sound enough to understand whats good for them as a nation.

Does a  real democracy exist in the current world?  

No it doesn't!

Is India not a democracy?? 

Yes it is, but not a complete democracy.

The president isn't elected.Neither are the governors! Even the election commissioner is not elected!!  There is still a provision for invoking emergency. There is a provision for invoking President's rule.

Is 100% democracy achievable??

It might be, but its not very practical

Then what is the best form of government?

I would say democratic dictatorship!

For example: US is a perfect example of democratic dictatorship. You elect the dictator and he is answerable only to a another select few dictators.

These are elected representatives, then why are they being called as dictators?

Because once they are elected, they become dictators till next elections. They are not punished for not following the manifesto, they can only be 'not elected'.

Once they are elected, people do not have any power to remove them unless there is a next election.

Which means, that if they want they can go on free run. But then they are elected and can be removed in the next term. But still they have powers till next term.

Is India an example of democratic dictatorship??

No, India is an example of dictatorial democracy.

Oh really?? so who is the dictator here?

There are many dictators here. Caste system is one dictator, Religion another. Corruption,Poverty,illiteracy, unemployment are other dictators. Similarly there are more less powerful dictators here and there.

Ha ha ha ha ha.....how can you call these as dictators?? They are just some of the problems that we face. These are the problems that any third world country would face. They are not dictators!

Yes they are. And they are more powerful than any other dictators the world has ever seen.

They are dictators, because its on the basis of these factors that we vote. We rarely dare to rise to disobey these dictators and think as a nation. We cry for our jawan when the nation goes to a war at Kargil. Our blood boils when our national symbols are taken hostage. Just when we think, we are going to break free from these dictators, they strike back. And ultimately they win. And we.....we forget all these and get busy with our daily chores!

They are dictators because they dictate the voters' mind. The guy from the backward caste votes for the guy who promises to increase their quota at the cost of merit. A religious die hard votes for the guy who promises to build temple on the disputed land. An impoverished labour who doesn't have enough money to serve his family a day's meal votes for the person who gives him 500 rupee note on an election rally!!

If these are not dictators, what are they??

Oh really, then how do we break free of these dictators?? You think these dictators can ever be eliminated??

Not unless we try.

Try....Try...huh? Do you think corruption can ever be eliminated??

No.

So you mean to say that these dictators will always be there??

Yes

So as per what you say, we can never be a perfect society?

No

So what can we do??

STRIVE

Strive to achieve a perfect society. Corruption cannot be eliminated. It can only be brought down. Bring it down. Resist whenever possible.

Educate people to think ahead of religion and caste.

Of course like the Rang de Basanti guys, you cannot go and shoot at corrupt politicians or organize a mass gathering.

Use the skill that you are gifted with, to do your bit.

Writers write blogs and books encouraging people to think as a nation. Painters, paint beautiful and meaningful pictures showing how good it be if can conquer these ghosts. People with good speaking skills, talk....talk talk till ur throat is dry on how we can play our role in nailing these evils.

Similarly people with other skills, do your bit.

Do something,

Even if its something as elementary as creating a facebook page, do it! Even if one guy is inspired out of it, he can be a source of inspiration to others.

And last but not the least, follow what you preach!

Perfection can only be pursued. It may never be acheived, but its definitely worth giving a try!!