(Self Style) Babas of India !

India can boost of another thing other than population - highest number of self style babas. And, more surprisingly large number of (blind) followers of self-style babas. It has become a way of earning (no tax) and respect (with little or no qualification) from all circles of life in the society. Babas owned hospitals, schools, colleges etc. but, none of us would dare to question how could they amass so much of property when they claimed that they had given up worldly pleasures.

When it comes to baba, Indian society are largely illiterate or ignorant. Everyone (including many of families and relatives) believe them so blindly that there is no point in arguing with them. From rings, necklaces, stones, poster etc. given by baba, many of the rooms were decorated. Many would give up the modern medication and treatment to go for those unscientific and unproven ways of treatment provided by self style baba. Some of followers won't mind dying for baba. Insanity at height.

But, it is good to see since last few days there were scandals and scandals (with shocking proof) coming out which was only allegations since past few years.

Pan India, many of babas are entangled in scandals. I hope this will be the eye opener to the public and put a lid to all those self style babas and the blind followers.

Reliance : a very money minded company

Reliance Electric Bill carries a number of guidelines and advisory for reduction of electricity usage. Previous month, my electric bill hit a roof top when my cousin and brother were at my place and every possible appliance was virtually on throughout the day. In that month’s bill, Reliance Electric Bill didn’t say anything about it.

That day I read on newspaper that a woman was complaining that the Reliance wrote to her when her electric bill was cut down by more than half due to efficient usage but, not in vice-versa.

At first, it was heard to believe until I saw the same message on my bill when bill was cut down to more than 50% than previous month as my cousin and brother had left. It is surprised and shocking to find the message in the column of ‘Important Message’.

Maybe they may something in their mind but to me (and many users) it shows how money minded they are.

Impact of Bindra !

Since the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics games, I had been fighting with my cable operator to increase the quality of reception of DD Sport (Sole Olympic telecaster of India) which was falling to the deaf ear. I complained and threatened him saying 'Mein Cable ban kar doonga' or 'Mein paise nahin doonga jab tak...' but, still he got one reply 'Company se aise hi hain'. So I had almost given up hope of catching Olympic actions as the current DD sports was too low quality to watch both in audio and video.

That morning I put on the TV before going to office to catch a glimpse of news. Somehow I could sense some kind of happiness and excitement to the news reader. Few seconds later I saw the scrolling news "ABHINAV wins GOLD".

To catch the action, I started changing channels to the DD sports where i didn't found none. Got so angry and switched to the channel which was telecasting ESPN and suprisingly found DD sport so clear and loud and repeatedly showing the white smiles of "BINDRA".

From that day, my cable operator is putting DD sports in the high quality channel making it a joy to watch.

Thanks to 'standing-ovation' achievement of Bindra.

Perhaps, this will change the outlook of Indian to the other sports. I hope the GOI will start looking sports as a serious affair rather than adhoc matter.


Many of the Indian medalist of World Champions are struggling to find a good square meal everyday. For little luckier ones, their career has been ended with some kind of clerical jobs in railways or petroleum or hell.

Time has come for every association to grow like BCCI because they can't wait for the government for everything as this is killing the career of many thousands. Many blame BCCI for senseless commercialization of cricket but, I respect them for giving good life to every cricketers in India thereby inspiring thousands more.

Well done Abhinav Bindra.

My In-Complete Novel : Atlas Shrugged

It is more than 6 months that I bought this famous novel "Atlas Shrugged". Normally, I buy all my collection of novels from Second Hand Shop only because I don't believe in keeping them after once read. I normally give them away to my friends, cousins or whoever asked for the same.

After a long and painful un-successful search in Second Hand Shop, I decided to buy it from anywhere even if it is gonna to cost me because I like the character "Howard Roark" in her novel "The Fountainhead" a lot. When I first saw the novel in the First Hand Shop nearby my house my hearts skipped a beat and immediately ended up paying Rs 300/- for the same. Never thought twice while buying it.

Six month have past but, I have yet to cross the half mark. In fact, I have forgotten the last page I read. Atlast Shrugged is not as good as "Fountainhead" till the page I read. Moreover, the internet, movies in PC is taking much of my time after the office. All these new things seem to be eating some of habit of reading. I ended up surfing / watching some movie almost everyday.

Someday, I'm gonna complete this. This is the thought which immediately come in my mind whenever I saw the novel in the morning laying by my bed while getting ready for office. Maybe never.

Guns !

Perhaps, the Govt. Of Manipur (GOM) has finally realized the gravity of the militancy problem due to which many innocent citizens are suffering every day due to extortion, ransom etc. The GOM has decided to empower the citizens with guns to make the fight lot easier. Perhaps, a wise move if implemented wise and ideally else this will lead to a kind civil war. The gun revolution is taking a final dive to reach the abyss for a better tomorrow.

Check the link below to believe your eyes

http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=1..030508.may08

http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080048667

No cheap Air-Fare

Perhaps, erstwhile Air-Deccan broke the mindset of common man by bringing down air fare to about Rs 750/- which I knew some 3 years for Bangalore-Delhi.

Once the mindset is broken and common man are open to the leisures, safety and misc of flights, the airlines including Deccan have shoot the prices spirally. It's true that things got worst for them also but, in the matter of 2 years or so the hike that put to the common man is more than 200%.

They still claim that tickets are cheap except for the taxes which comes to 200% or so. For a ticket worth Rs 500/- you ended up paying nearly Rs 3000/-. But, the people have to pay for the both. And, look at the kind of services and delays associated with so called cheap tickets.

Prologue : There is no cheap air-tickets.

Read this which come in www.ibnlive.com

http://www.ibnlive.com/news/dont-get-fooled-there-are-no-cheap-airfares/63145-3.html

Perhaps, it is high time we need to teach a lesson or two to these so called cheap airlines for all the charges which is not worth.

So many times I travelled in Lalu's train which is light in my pocket also for which some of my frens branded me as "kanzoos."

Twist and Turn of Events

Finally, the much hype DefExpo is now over. The preparation which I did for the expo did make much of the meaning at the end as almost all the VVIPs didn’t have time to see everything. The visit of Ratan Tata in my stall was the highest point of the excitement. We were simply amazed by enthusiasm and interest shown by him unlike the other VVIPs. Anyway, everything ended in good note. It was indeed a very good experience to interact with so many nationalities. An experience worth remembering throughout the life-time.

My plan to meet MYF-Delhi members didn’t happen as I was extremely tight up in the hectic schedule.

Luckily, the cold-wave receded the moment we landed in Delhi. I love roads of Delhi for being so well organized unlike Mumbai where you can find jams everywhere. Except for the extremities in weather, Delhi is a place to stay. Delhi is ahead of Mumbai in almost every respect except for auto where you need to fight for every ride for justified fare.

My soar neck didn’t subside through-out the expo. So it was a real painful experience for me standing in a fix position through out the whole day.

My Sony Cyber-Shot fell down and became non-functional when I needed it the most. Blame it to the static electricity which make it to fell when I was about to take from my friend. Anyway, I had given to the service centre for servicing. Now, I’m realizing the worth of that few more pennies which I paid for getting the warranty while buying it.

The return flight from Delhi was really painful. Blame to the Jetlite for provided such a pathetic service. The flight was delayed for more than an hour. Add to it, the food was hopelessly bad and the seat couldn’t be slight back so sitting for little more than 2 hours was really painful which compounded my soar neck.

Due to the extreme difference in weather of Delhi and Mumbai, the body is now taking some time to get adjusted again. About to catch fever. Came home little early from office and planning to take a day off t’row.

Hopefully, the twist and turns will be over by Monday.

Rule of Life

You become the victim of your own success. Perhaps, this line is very true and you could always find it everywhere and it's applicable in your daily life and in office also if you observe it carefully.

The more you do there is always more work. Things grow proportional to the point where you could not take anymore ie become a victim of your own success.

You can see this thing in office also. The more you slog in office there is more work and responsibilities waiting for you. And, for those who keeps on avoiding the work always get lesser work and so does responsibilities. Finally, you become the victim of your own success.

The same thing applies to places also. The more develop is the city there is always more need for more infrastructure because of the outburst of the population. This never gets to an end.

This explains why Mumbai is always crowded no more how many new trains, buses are introduced everyday. No matter what new infrastructures are developed there is always need for more. Perhaps, this applies to all those cities which is growing. This cycle is never ending till the city becomes the victim of its own success.

This is my 100^th post to this blog. Have come a long way since 2005 since I posted my first one. Perhaps, I will find more reasons to blog and more often.

Perhaps, this is the rule of life.

Being R!

Yesterday, it was pretty late when my dad called me up to ask to whether I’m in touch with my younger brother on phone. My dad was not happy to hear my answer that “it was quite sometime.” He wants me take care of him on a regular basis. But, I follow a different approach of keeping and taking care of him. Perhaps, there may be lost of love, understanding and some respect between us but, I would rather prefer him to be more responsible(R) as he grows rather than be in my shadow.

I got some quite a few friends who got a very a very dominating elder brother. Their brother keeps on tagging for every move now and then. They live in constant fear of their elder brothers. This is the way how they had been brought up. They had been used as pawn all throughout without a single major responsibility. Now, even after crossing 25 years (a quarter of your life-time) I still find them to be the same. Still a pawn. No sense of responsibility. They would always try to sneak away given a slightest chance. They still can’t take a decision of their own. They still live in the shadow of their elder brother and fear. I genuinely doubt about their respect also. Even for a minor decision their parents would not bother to get an opinion or view. I wonder what will happen once he got married and tries to be independent.

I would rather prefer my brother to grow up in his own. Taking and owning up responsibilities and also risking them also. This is the way he should learn the way of life. This would make him a better person and independent at the same time. And, this would again be the same way I would prefer my kids to grow once they reach certain stage.

Trying to make him Being Responsible® is the reason why I try to tag him lesser and lesser.