My country,Ind(ia)yha ha ha ha ha!!

My love my country!

2006-09-16T01:38:00.001-07:00

I miss my country, my city and everything about home as I am in Switzerland where things run like clockwork(swiss watches!), nature, life is valued; if a car touches u when u r crossing the road u can sue the car owner and get minimum compensation of around 30,000 Swiss francs. Here the trains, buses, shops and everything is precise on time. Time is money and the people and government know that. The government back home does nothin, just money one everyones mind. People are loosing lives like leaves on a tree, but who cares! However it is but its still my home.

I say I love my country, some of the people but I absolutely hate the government, any government!

My love my country!

2006-09-16T01:38:00.000-07:00

CDC - Avian Influenza (Flu) | Questions and Answers About Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) and Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus

2006-02-18T10:56:00.000-08:00

People, in India esp. around and in the state of Maharashtra, the avian(bird) flu has hit this area. do take the necesary precautions and do visit the following link, pass on the info or any other if u come across.

CDC - Avian Influenza (Flu) | Questions and Answers About Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) and Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus

Take care!!

Ganguly is no GOD of the Game? Nor he is greater that his country??

2005-12-18T03:15:00.000-08:00

The recent exclusion of ‘Maharaj’ from the Indian cricket team is getting too much attention. He is not a permanent member of the team nor does he owns the team. Many good players have been previously excluded from the team, it was not hyped this much. Firstly, when Ganguly was just asked to step down from captainship he should have accepted it gracefully. It was just his captainship and not his place in the team. Ganguly’s own stupidity and his statements have caused him his place from the team now. Why is the coach there for? Do the players know everything about the game? If yes then there is no need to appoint a coach when his decisions are not going to be respected at all. If at that time, he had just stepped down and proven his worth by playing the game and not by taking the whole matter into the press, which eventually was and is presently hyped beyond comparison. Well I would just like to ask the press/media, what do you people try to achieve by giving so much coverage to these insignificant things and make a huge issue out of it? You have enough guts to publish the frauds, misdoings of big people and the problems common taxpaying citizens are suffering from. Will that be a major loss for your paper or channel if you cover them till they are solved?

Anyway, one should always remember that no player is above the game or the team. Our National team for instance. Many people in this case think the opposite. I think Ganguly does too. Where is the spirit of the game? Where is the honor of playing for the country?

Also, cricket not everything. There is more to life (and sports) than cricket, movies and politics in India. What about other sports like Hockey(our national sport in which we are not good at all), football, rugby, swimming and more? Shouldn’t we worry about the fact that a country having a population of nearly 2 billion could not produce many Olympic or Asian games medalists or any record holders or excellent athletes in any sport since Independence? It should be shameful that less populated countries and those having very poor sports infrastructure are producing world-class athletes.

Lastly, BCCI is not a government-controlled organization. Therefore, technically the government should not interfere with it. Then how and why this issue was taken up in Parliament, when the whole country is suffering from many problems way worse than cricket. Instead of tackling problems and finding solutions to those like terrorism, inflation, etc. and locally bad roads and traffic, electricty shortage, pollution and many more. Well no importanc eis given to these problems and on the other hand too much importance is given to Big B's hospitalisation, Ganguly's selection, and many such petty problems. This shows how lame and hopeless the whole system is.

Again coming to the old point, where are our good roads which were ‘promised before Diwali’? Our MP says it will take 3 more years for proper roads. As the roads are just being patched up as of now, get ready for the same problems during the rains next year.

There are many more ‘basic’ problems to look into and write/show about. Isn’t that important?

Where is the press/media hype now?

Renaming of Lohegaon Airport(Air Force Base), Pune

2005-12-02T18:58:00.000-08:00

Recently our MP (who never seems to be in the city or concerned about the city's problems actually) suddenly surfaces and comes up with an announcement that the Lohegaon Airport be renamed after Chhatrapati Shahu (of Kolhapur). Even the Minister for Civil Aviation has agreed. Some other groups are turning up, suggesting to rename the airport after Mahatma Phule or the Peshwas, Saint Dyaneshwar or Tukaram, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, etc. How many people know our history? The names of these great people are just used, as we all know who benefits from them. How many people actually respect their ideologies and go by it or preach it? No one actually does. This is an insult to their names and their work.

In addition, why most of the things in India should be named after politicians or people related to politics. Is it a rule or what? The politicians are or were not the only ones present in the country. There are many great people in various fields and have done much greater work than the politicians have. As for Pune, it has a large number of great personalities not related to politics, after whom the airport can be renamed like P.L. Deshpande, Shantanurao Kirloskar, Dr. B.V. Rao, R.G Bhandarkar, and many more.

Well the debate should stop. Why don't we keep the name of the airport as it is or as far name it ‘Pune International Airport’? Who in the world is going to remember where 'Chhatrapati Shahu International Airport' is apart from us? Where as ‘Pune International Airport’ will be instantly recognized by anyone. Pune is well known all over the world, let us keep the identity of our city intact. We, the citizens of Pune, should decide not the politicians.

(Originally published in the Maharashtra Herald, on Sunday 27th November 2005.)

Daily Herald : Passage from India--Another of Gopal Godse's interview.

2005-11-25T09:34:00.000-08:00

Well I came across this story originally published in the USA, in the Daily Herald,USA. What do u say! Comment!!!

Daily Herald : Passage from India

India is progressing…but going nowhere

2005-11-24T08:44:00.000-08:00

India, the world’s largest democracy, a so called ‘secular’ republic, land for all seasons and the land where, if anyone has a good amount of money, can get away with anything. Well it brings us back to the same intriguing question. Why is India the way it is? The government claims India is progressing and moving ahead. That is nice. The question is in which direction are we going exactly? Are we really on the move? I don’t think so. It’s like an illusion created by the government, an illusion that India is progressing. Well when things are bound to happen, they happen. That is not termed as progress or taken credit for. Well in general, it is but look at the grass-root level. Forget that, just look at the ordinary people and you will know.

So many factors affect them. We can write all of them down, but in fact, the list is never-ending. Moreover, they are all connected and affect each other. It’s puzzling.

Castes and the reservation saga: Part 1.

India has a rich history. In the olden days, there were castes and all that stuff. No one knows exactly how the people were treated. Still all managed to co-exist. Every literate person knows that causing rift among the castes, religions, etc. was a plan of the British people, a part of their ‘Divide and Rule’ policy. They were successful and the rest is history. IT IS HISTORY. So why do people (politicians and their goons especially) still follow it now? Why discriminate between the people now? It was the idea of a person who was the Chairman of the committee, which was writing our Constitution. Just to give the lower castes a better chance in the newly born free India, the clause of giving those benefits and reservations made its way into practice. This was to continue for the next 15 years and should have been stopped much earlier thanks to our power and vote thirsty politicians.
Nowadays people are treated equally nearly everywhere except in few parts of the country, where mostly illiteracy prevails. They are also termed as ‘minority’ some times. For such a small thing, why should most of the population (open or higher castes) suffer? Why do these people need reservations in every aspect of their lives? Sadly, their numbers are rising. In addition, the government nourishes them as their illiterate vote-bank. Even their festivals and birthday celebrations of their leader are financed entirely by the government. Well actually from our own pockets.

Now the thing is, the number of people (minority) benefiting from these reservations and in turn helping the country in any way possible, is very low. For example, consider the caste and women (minority?), handicap, military, etc. reservations in education. So many seats in colleges are reserved for the minority, that for the open category, very few seats are left. This turns the open category into the minority, so shouldn’t they have some kind of reservation. That’s the case nearly everywhere now. Recently the chief of the RSS said that we should give birth to three children instead of two to avoid being a minority religion/caste in the future.

When will the politicians and other decision-making people understand that everyone should be given equal opportunity regardless of his or her castes, religion, etc? Well as per the constitution, every citizen has the right to learn or educate him/her self. It does not say that only the people from the higher castes have the right to learn or anything about the reservations. Any person well qualified or qualified, willing should learn. Here their origins, religions or castes should not interfere in providing education. No quotas should be given and the admissions should be made on ‘merit’ alone irrespective of other factors. Except for the handicaps. Equal opportunity. This is what I think. Leaving out the very poor people, everyone can afford basic education. Govt. schools and programs are the solution. Basic education also helps a lot.

Well even if the reservations are claimed, they are of no use. How many brilliant minds do these reservations create? I mean how many of those people really want to learn. I’m not singling out anyone, please. How many actually complete their education and start working in good jobs? How many of the reserved category people work in high power jobs? If you know the answers please do tell me. The only thing it does is, it keeps away persons who really want to learn (from both categories), who are genuinely brilliant and can really do good for the country or in their respective chosen fields. In addition, many from the open (higher) castes are deprived of proper education. Now many people who do get education from the reserved category do not have the willingness to work. They are so used to getting these kinds of benefits because of their castes and stuff, that no one really wants to work properly. Everything for them becomes easy and they want all the good things in life, easily. As no one is wiling to do their jobs; bribery and other related offences make their entry thus screwing up all the things related. As for the others, they really go ahead in everything and succeed.

Coincidently the case is that where lower not proper where higher somewhat proper. Don’t you think that’s the case. For example: Consider the State Power Board, the PMC you know what you will find where as consider organizations like Bank of Maharashtra or Air India, JNPT to name a few and see for yourself how they are functioning.

More on this and other issues in the next part.

TIME Asia--'His Principle of Peace Was Bogus' | 2/14/2000 - Gopal Godse

2005-11-08T11:04:00.000-08:00

Friends here is the interview which was originally published in Time magzine in the year 2000. Well the edition was pulled out immediately after it's release, thanks to some odd-minded people who were so concerned about the person -MKG- & I'm sure none of them actually respect him. Reality bites! So much for the 'right to express oneself freely' in a democratic country. Do read ASIANOW - TIME Asia | Web-Only Interview: 'His Principle of Peace Was Bogus' | 2/14/2000
Please comment!

Paris Riots & Racism

2005-11-08T10:42:00.000-08:00

J. Francis Lehman--->Riots

Above is a which link I came across. Just read it. I agree with both the points the author has made. But I am more inclined towards the first one. Isn't it the case in India too? Let alone India isn't it the case in many parts of the world? And as long as the 'racist' thing goes, many of us go through it mostly, when we are out of our country. Why?

Well thats all for now. More later.

Breaking the news, law or necks!

2005-10-01T20:45:00.000-07:00

All of us know what is or will be the most talked about issue in the next few days. Read the following

Helmets:

Well the state government has vowed to enforce them through out from 1^st October.Well it didn't turn out that way only 222 were fined out of around 2,50,000 or more two wheelers. But why? What do they want to achieve exactly? Why are the people being compelled or forced to wear them? They are not kids; most of us know what is wrong and what is right and if the RTO gave us a licence to drive we can surely take care of our own self! I think, next the government will decide and enforce what we all should eat!Or even better, why not make condoms compulsory? Enforce the rule by going in and fining them when people are doing it!! I mean this is so ridiculous, those who care about their life will wear the helmets and those who do not want will bloody die. It is common sense right. Do not we all wear sweaters when it is cold or is it made compulsory?

Ironically, a few days ago, the police and the youth wing of a political party in the city, charged the person who is one of the main helmet campaigners, one of the few who filed PIL for this absurd law. Even he knows what they did is ridiculous! Ha ha ha ha.

Anyway, if helmets made compulsory, no problem, we will do our part and obey it. However, shouldn’t the administration keep their part of the deal? Like making the roads better and free from the potholes (sorry the word is inappropriate; hereon please read ‘wells’ or ‘craters’ or any other word u feel is appropriate) and not just patching them up, making them ‘plain’! Shouldn’t they improve the traffic conditions, change the broken lights on the signal posts, bring some discipline on the roads and most importantly improve the local bus system for easy commuting? Well they are not doing what they should do, the basic things, and why the people should bear all the brunt as it is they are the only victims of the anything the government does anyway. Why can’t the administration take care of this? What are they doing then?

Well the present condition of the roads with the brilliant combination of helmets will cause more injuries especially sprains to the neck. When there are knee-deep, ditches on the many roads heck will the traffic move? If the traffic rarely moves smoothly, how will there be any accidents? I do not get the connection of getting hurt in this sort of traffic.

In addition, I will ramble on again about the roads. Why can’t the road contractors make repairs to the whole road instead of patching it up and giving lame excuses? Even beggar’s clothes have fewer patches on it. Look at Jangli Maharaj Road. It was built about 25-30 years back and still almost all of it is still in great shape. When asked why we cannot get roads like these they shamelessly say we cannot, just cannot. If these kinds of roads are built, how will the contractors and all who are connected get (eat) the money?

Aaaargh!!! Enough spilling my thoughts (anger to be perfect). If you have voted or paying taxes and you are not noticing these things, something is really wrong with you. When will all the things related to administration and governing function smoothly in this city and not to forget the country? No one knows anything that is going on or simply do’t care, not even those in charge? However, I will say this again; as God exists, this country at least is functioning.

More (reality) next time.

Pune Tourism : Travel destinations:-Potholes
Education and Politics

Road between potholes & Pune in it!!!

2005-09-22T09:41:00.000-07:00

As everybody in the Pune city knows that when there are rains, the traffic in the city just goes haywire. Why? Well the standard of roads, especially the main roads, no proper signals to tame the traffic on the busiest roads or junctions and when the police are helping to better the situation no one seems to take notice and or cares. This in turn leads to air and sound pollution, stress and related problems, anger just to name few. All this happens in one of the best cities to live in India, one of the most literate I guess and an upcoming business destination. I wonder what the city roads are made of, sugar or something! Whenever rains fall the tar on the roads just seem to dissolve leaving the moonscape behind. Who are the road contractors who build these roads using the taxpayers’ money? I am sure if the contractors ever come face to face with the people, they surely will be beaten for the atrocious job they have done over the years. Well it is common sense.

The solution to the traffic and related problems is just good roads. If the roads are plain and leveled especially the big squares (chowks) and many main roads like Laxmi road, Karve road, which probably carry some of the biggest traffic loads at any time of the day in the city, the traffic would move at a constant pace. Is it difficult to make good roads like the Jangli Maharaj road? Wouldn’t the whole city benefit from good roads?

In addition, there is only one easy link through the city connecting Kothrud; the Law college road. Traffic jams have been plaguing that road for the past 4-5 years. There is a dire need to find and alternate route to Law College road just to ease the traffic I think Apart from that instead of the making helmets compulsory some strict action should be taken on the people disobeying traffic rules, also on polluting vehicles both private and those owned by the government.

I think all this would drastically help to improve the situation. Let's hope.

Well after the original article was written, everyday the papers published deadlines by officials to repair the roads, many views and writeups on the condition of the roads in Pune. But what do you think, will the roads ever be made better? I don't think so. The roads will still be patched up instead of laying them all at once. And during the rains next year the same old bloody story.

(Part of this article was published in the Times of India dated September 1 2005.)

More later!

India!!!

2005-06-08T04:27:00.000-07:00

So India did come a long way hasn’t she? We have in some aspects but that is not enough. Well after 50 years of freedom, where do we stand in our own views? How the hell is this country still running with so many problems? Many questions can be asked but not that much time to answer them here. India has problems in everywhere involving mostly everyone. How did these things start and what sorts of problems are plaguing us?

Well it would be easier to put down these in points, random points, and my own thoughts in my own language. Will be more neatly written in the near future I guess. Most of it will never matter to you but it really does.

Why is this happening? Why do the people behave like this? What is the matter with us all? The whole country is in a fiasco. Well I am not getting sentimental or something but that is the case, the fact. Terrorism, corruption, poverty, crime, illiteracy are some of the basic ingredients that makes us so unique. In addition, the cherry on top, bandit & illiterate politicians, bad roads, water and electricity; which are the most important factors in a developing nation are very scarce. People are suffering because of high taxes and inflation. Inequality is prevailing. In the country that was supposed to be, secular, constant differences because of religions take place. In this ‘secular’ country 50%, reservation is given to a certain religion in a certain University. Moreover, if the people of the ‘other’ (not so favored religion in India you can say; still most people belong to it; the oldest one in the world) religion stand against it, they are ridiculed and are termed as hardliners. What do you think?

Before and during the time of Independence, India was virtually ruled by an old bald, stubborn bloke Gandhi, Nehru and some like-minded people and later into the present by the Nehru-Gandhi and presently a woman is trying really hard to just keep up the name so that the family and the forthcoming generations can be demigods in the future. They did everything for power, for themselves and not for the country or for the people just pretending that they did everything for the people. The ruling government even takes credit for the things that were eventually bound to come about. For example, they have taken credit for bringing computers to India, better methods of agriculture, etc. In India, the bloody politicians are blindly followed irrespective of their negative exploits. Leaders or thinkers like Bose and Savarkar were termed as terrorists and the present leaders, what are they? They do nothing, rob people of their well-earned money, etc. still they are termed clean and are not even reprimanded. The Media will print an article about a security guard working on nominal pay sleeping on duty but will not print anything worthwhile on the swindles and stuff and these people (politicians involved). So much for fair, just journalism.

Well I think India is being carved hollow constantly by these anti-national elements and no one is doing about it. Every one says but no one does. People have the ‘Chaltaa hai’, ‘Jaane do’ (Better understood in Hindi) attitude which will never help and which is prevalent in our country.

Please comment if you want otherwise 'Jaane do'.More later...