Last two days I have been wearing shorts and floaters to our office.
Being at the ground floor with a small lawn in front though has advantages in a hot summer day, but when it is monsoons it’s horrible.
The attendance drops by 80% and efficiency 100%. Everyone has reasons for not doing their jobs, factory is closed, dispatches are not possible, markets are inaccessible and payment can not be received.
It’s frustrating, and over and above they have climate change on the media menu these days, with opinions on both sides, and you also have Al gore telling us an inconvenient truth.
Well, I obviously do not like the water logged streets and bad sanitation, and I don’t think I can blame the climate for it, if there is anyone to be blamed, it is me, who is part of the society who has created a system of not cleaning drains, even after taking responsibility for doing so, and most of all after being paid for it.
Ice caps are melting and flooding the streets of Florida, Mumbai and even my own backyard. Calcutta will disappear in say 70 years and all of Bangladesh will be refugee I guess in my same flooded back yard.
New Zealand is getting tough on emissions norms as they have suffered the most of refugee problem.
If ours was not a socialist and welfare state, I would have welcomed the refugees, as they would have meant cheap labor for our factory and consumers of our juices and jams.
But then in a socialist country I will have to dole out higher taxes, to accommodate them, to provide cheap housing and free food.
Socialism makes me selfish to the tune that I am inhuman. Though, free market also makes me selfish, but I become more human to the needy.
Refugees though will be consumer to different kind of business people. Politicians, where I would be meeting with their tastes of pickles, politicians would be meeting their insecurities in form of religion.
However, does it really matter, that the ice caps are melting and climate is changing. It has been changing over a billion of year, even when humans were not there. Well Poor ol Al, has me convinced that we can do our bit, check emissions and all that, supposedly slow the process of global warming.
Well delay, till Al and you and I have gone past this place, but the truth remains that, climate change is inevitable.
Well the best that we can do is to invent good boats, and land that can float, energy that can be renewed and stored for a couple of hundred years, grow food in bottles and develop gills at the back of our ears.
I am doing my bit, I am preserving food, and you can eat as good even after 36 months of packaging.
I am told fantasy is different that fiction, which in turn is different than science in reality. But then every thing starts with a dream.
And why should we do it, if we can delay it, well the answer is for our children. They would call us fools and destroyers any way, but I guess we have to make them aware of the situation and get prepared for it.
As for now, my daughter loves this situation as holiday from school and playing in the puddle is what she says she can do all her life.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Hamey maaf करे
आपके आंखों मे है नमी
शायद मुझ ही मे है कुछ कमी
जो आपका दर्द न समझ सका
आपकी आँखों को न पढ़ सका
आसु, nadan कहा samjh sakey,
voh भी मर्द, जो इस पानी से darey,
आप आए apney को अलविदा कह के,
hamari zindgi को sawarney,
हम ने आप को संपत्ति समझी,
पर संपत्ति के sapne नही समझे,
अपने डर को gussa बनाया,
apko dhal अपने को तलवार बनाया,
hum nadan इतना न कर सके,
अपनी भूल को ख़ुद ही maaf न कर सके,
आप मे है ज़्यादा himmat,
आप ही धीरज रखे,
hamey karney दे गलती,
और hamey maf करे.
शायद मुझ ही मे है कुछ कमी
जो आपका दर्द न समझ सका
आपकी आँखों को न पढ़ सका
आसु, nadan कहा samjh sakey,
voh भी मर्द, जो इस पानी से darey,
आप आए apney को अलविदा कह के,
hamari zindgi को sawarney,
हम ने आप को संपत्ति समझी,
पर संपत्ति के sapne नही समझे,
अपने डर को gussa बनाया,
apko dhal अपने को तलवार बनाया,
hum nadan इतना न कर सके,
अपनी भूल को ख़ुद ही maaf न कर सके,
आप मे है ज़्यादा himmat,
आप ही धीरज रखे,
hamey karney दे गलती,
और hamey maf करे.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Zen and the art of driving
India is getting to be a Nation of drivers.
Driving in all senses is being in control, not just your self but to an extent in control of others too.
Being denied control of one self, it is an obvious reason why Indians in hordes are picking up the skill.
First it was nature that was in control of all human kind, and then came religion, kings and then governments.
Something that guarantees freedom in the future is technology. But then one needs skills to master it, Or you become a slave of the machines, as we have, now become slaves of democracy and governments supposedly chosen by us, which were at some point perceived as emancipators.
Driving for Indians is freedom and being in control of the machine.
Indian government through their various pro poor schemes, like PMRY- Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Yojna and Kisan credit cards, provide cheap and subsidized loans to purchase auto rickshaws and tractors. And time to time they waive of the loans too, this time it has been a whooping Rs. 75000 crores
Direct beneficiary to all this money are obviously, the auto and tractor companies. But somehow, the poor loanee feels that he is actually the beneficiary.
Truth is perception.
The important thing is that he can drive himself and a few more people to their required destination.
See places and know more about machines. He is getting ready for tomorrow.
But, then where does one drive? Where are the roads?
If you have good roads, guess one can see ahead a few hundred yards, and plan maneuvers.
In my district, Vaishali, a 16 km stretch takes a full hour, and while driving all I can look ahead to, is the bonnet of my car. I just can’t go beyond it. One pot hole and the other.
Well that is the problem. If you can’t have good roads, you can’t look ahead, you can’t anticipate, you can’t plan, you are at the mercy of all eventualities in life.
If I do not have a basic infrastructure, how do I plan, all day, I just run around to manage electricity, fuel, banking and basic fundamental services which are being denied by a failed state.
Gujarat and Maharashtra are shouting at the top of their voices that, they pay maximum taxes and their money is being spent in useless places like Bihar. They are absolutely right.
Modi Bapu, I will tell you a secret that even Newton could not discover.
It was the Hen before the egg.
Invest in Bihar, give them good roads, and all the drivers will see all the way to Gujarat. Then Gujarat will not have to drive anymore, as Bihar will do so, and all Gujju bhai’s can see further, till US of A. and some Americans will go to the moon and some to Afghanistan. Gujarat will rule the world, by just building the roads in Bihar.
But then you like Thackeray get bothered about Bihari’s building roads in your state and can’t see beyond the obvious.
Driving in all senses is being in control, not just your self but to an extent in control of others too.
Being denied control of one self, it is an obvious reason why Indians in hordes are picking up the skill.
First it was nature that was in control of all human kind, and then came religion, kings and then governments.
Something that guarantees freedom in the future is technology. But then one needs skills to master it, Or you become a slave of the machines, as we have, now become slaves of democracy and governments supposedly chosen by us, which were at some point perceived as emancipators.
Driving for Indians is freedom and being in control of the machine.
Indian government through their various pro poor schemes, like PMRY- Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Yojna and Kisan credit cards, provide cheap and subsidized loans to purchase auto rickshaws and tractors. And time to time they waive of the loans too, this time it has been a whooping Rs. 75000 crores
Direct beneficiary to all this money are obviously, the auto and tractor companies. But somehow, the poor loanee feels that he is actually the beneficiary.
Truth is perception.
The important thing is that he can drive himself and a few more people to their required destination.
See places and know more about machines. He is getting ready for tomorrow.
But, then where does one drive? Where are the roads?
If you have good roads, guess one can see ahead a few hundred yards, and plan maneuvers.
In my district, Vaishali, a 16 km stretch takes a full hour, and while driving all I can look ahead to, is the bonnet of my car. I just can’t go beyond it. One pot hole and the other.
Well that is the problem. If you can’t have good roads, you can’t look ahead, you can’t anticipate, you can’t plan, you are at the mercy of all eventualities in life.
If I do not have a basic infrastructure, how do I plan, all day, I just run around to manage electricity, fuel, banking and basic fundamental services which are being denied by a failed state.
Gujarat and Maharashtra are shouting at the top of their voices that, they pay maximum taxes and their money is being spent in useless places like Bihar. They are absolutely right.
Modi Bapu, I will tell you a secret that even Newton could not discover.
It was the Hen before the egg.
Invest in Bihar, give them good roads, and all the drivers will see all the way to Gujarat. Then Gujarat will not have to drive anymore, as Bihar will do so, and all Gujju bhai’s can see further, till US of A. and some Americans will go to the moon and some to Afghanistan. Gujarat will rule the world, by just building the roads in Bihar.
But then you like Thackeray get bothered about Bihari’s building roads in your state and can’t see beyond the obvious.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Movie Review
Weekend was movie time, and this is what I learnt.
Jab We Met: Karina is as jovial as ever, Shahid imitates Tom Cruise, it gets kind of difficult to see Tom in a Hindi flick. His, anguish of having lost Kareena, is Visible through out the movie.
Two Lovely Songs. But then there is a problem with all these movies, the lady being denied love by one, has to find another by the end of the Show. Not Done. Why Cant she just walk into the sunset alone, with a big smile on her face. Why Do these movies try to preach empty moralities to the society, all middle class women would think eventually that, one has to have a man in her life to be happy. Nonsense.
A Good Year : Great Movie, I would someday want a house like that and life like that. Best line, " My lips find, joy in unusual places".
Thoda Pyar Thoda Magic: Crap movie, Rani looked like as if she was not paid for the film. One good song.. Lyrics actually..meaning.." ever since I have seen you, My life makes sense, Twisting of Lips is called smile, falling water is rain... etc. etc.". Amisha Could be that Hot, I never imagined.
Moral: Never ask for less from God, He Grants a few people whatever they ask for at least once in their lifetimes. it is just that it could be any day of your life. Not all beings can Cry.. and feel good about it as well.
Jab We Met: Karina is as jovial as ever, Shahid imitates Tom Cruise, it gets kind of difficult to see Tom in a Hindi flick. His, anguish of having lost Kareena, is Visible through out the movie.
Two Lovely Songs. But then there is a problem with all these movies, the lady being denied love by one, has to find another by the end of the Show. Not Done. Why Cant she just walk into the sunset alone, with a big smile on her face. Why Do these movies try to preach empty moralities to the society, all middle class women would think eventually that, one has to have a man in her life to be happy. Nonsense.
A Good Year : Great Movie, I would someday want a house like that and life like that. Best line, " My lips find, joy in unusual places".
Thoda Pyar Thoda Magic: Crap movie, Rani looked like as if she was not paid for the film. One good song.. Lyrics actually..meaning.." ever since I have seen you, My life makes sense, Twisting of Lips is called smile, falling water is rain... etc. etc.". Amisha Could be that Hot, I never imagined.
Moral: Never ask for less from God, He Grants a few people whatever they ask for at least once in their lifetimes. it is just that it could be any day of your life. Not all beings can Cry.. and feel good about it as well.
LEARNINGS
Last evening I learnt a few things
Threre are two ways to survive a massive storm.
One is to become a bigger storm and scare the strom away or become like the himalyas and stand arms crossed against your chest, braving the gails. I have been practicing theese two over last few years.
The Second one is to become like the tiniest grass, , the stormiest winds cant blow the grass, he just enjoys the wind. ofcourse there are chances of being trampled upon and eaten at the top. but I observe that, the grass just grows back and the roots get stronger.
If you get attracted to the sun and try to get close to it, you will burn yourself. If you maintain a distance, life will prosper on you.
Being Mr. Liberty, I am trying to focus on rights of the fairer sex. One can understand the obvious bent. It makes good commercial sense as well. First I am trying to sort out issues at home front, most important.
Threre are two ways to survive a massive storm.
One is to become a bigger storm and scare the strom away or become like the himalyas and stand arms crossed against your chest, braving the gails. I have been practicing theese two over last few years.
The Second one is to become like the tiniest grass, , the stormiest winds cant blow the grass, he just enjoys the wind. ofcourse there are chances of being trampled upon and eaten at the top. but I observe that, the grass just grows back and the roots get stronger.
If you get attracted to the sun and try to get close to it, you will burn yourself. If you maintain a distance, life will prosper on you.
Being Mr. Liberty, I am trying to focus on rights of the fairer sex. One can understand the obvious bent. It makes good commercial sense as well. First I am trying to sort out issues at home front, most important.
Friday, June 27, 2008
FUTURE BRIGHT
Amrendra works for us as a food technologist, his sister was married to Anil around a year ago. Anil used to work in one of the gulf countries in an oil company. Both Anil and Amrendera’s families belong to eastern U.P and it was an arranged marriage. It is usually perceived that marriages like this never go wrong, due to family and social pressures.
Anil lived in Mumbai before moving to gulf, his wife stayed back, waiting for her passport, visa and other documents to arrive.
It had been a few months since Anil were gone, that his wife got a call from Anils brother who used to work in the same company as her husband. Anil was critically ill and he wanted her to come over at once. As no one in the family, living in India had a passport, and also being an employer to her brother, I was at once entrusted the job of arranging the passports. Just as I was managing things, I got a call that Anil is no more and his body is being flown into Bombay and then Lucknow, nearest airport from his village.
Anil’s wife was advised by her in-laws to go to her parent’s house and not to come to Anil’s ancestral House. Initially it was perceived that, this might be in consideration of the trauma that Anil’s parents must be going through and that the widow could be better handled at her own home.
But very soon it was realized that, she was immediately shunned from the family. Anil’s two brothers and his parents connived to keep all the wealth that Anil had created. Keeping his widow out of her right and only source of survival perhaps.
House in Bombay, postal savings, fixed deposits, life insurance, ornaments.
She was disallowed to enter the Bombay house; even her educational certificates and clothes were searched before packing her bags.
It is well known that, in these days, it is not so difficult to get these people behind bars quite easily. But then, there are a lot of people who are willing to take it lay back, and in a moment of grief, all these things seem trivial to the sufferer.
Traditional Hindu girls once married do not look at their parent’s wealth. Though law provides enough guarantees, but society does not work like that.
Even though parents of the girl would surely have a soft corner for their child, siblings usually object, citing that already much must have been spent on the wedding itself.
So now this girl has no where to go.
Girls get a B grade education compared to their male counterparts; in situations like this they are left with so much of uncertainty that their lives could be made miserable.
Just when, the girls family was contemplating legal course. A long torn battle and the miseries of Indian legal system. Something unexpected happened.
They got a mail from the oil company that Anil was working with.
The company had insured him for an approximate of Indian Equivalence of Rs. 1 crore.
And the beneficiary is his wife, by default.
Now, with all the property that Anil’s parents must have illegally possessed from the girl, must be not more than 50% of what she was about to get now.
She would have to though wait for a while, and prove her heir.
But, now I guess even her in-laws must be crying over spilled milk. They could have been smarter. Kept the girl at home, got all the money, legally and then showed their true color.
But then goose giving golden eggs was already cut open.
I guess slowly, she would be able to get her confidence back, though her loss could not be made up.
I was not very pro insurance till a few months back. One of my friends told me a nice anecdote.
He said, ‘what if you were to die tomorrow, would you not want your wife to marry again and be happy”. I said, “I guess so”. “Then would you want her to marry for money or for love” he asked. “Obviously Love” I was prompt. “But then if you don’t leave her enough, she would have to marry for money”.
I got the point.
World is not getting to be such a bad place after all.
Anil lived in Mumbai before moving to gulf, his wife stayed back, waiting for her passport, visa and other documents to arrive.
It had been a few months since Anil were gone, that his wife got a call from Anils brother who used to work in the same company as her husband. Anil was critically ill and he wanted her to come over at once. As no one in the family, living in India had a passport, and also being an employer to her brother, I was at once entrusted the job of arranging the passports. Just as I was managing things, I got a call that Anil is no more and his body is being flown into Bombay and then Lucknow, nearest airport from his village.
Anil’s wife was advised by her in-laws to go to her parent’s house and not to come to Anil’s ancestral House. Initially it was perceived that, this might be in consideration of the trauma that Anil’s parents must be going through and that the widow could be better handled at her own home.
But very soon it was realized that, she was immediately shunned from the family. Anil’s two brothers and his parents connived to keep all the wealth that Anil had created. Keeping his widow out of her right and only source of survival perhaps.
House in Bombay, postal savings, fixed deposits, life insurance, ornaments.
She was disallowed to enter the Bombay house; even her educational certificates and clothes were searched before packing her bags.
It is well known that, in these days, it is not so difficult to get these people behind bars quite easily. But then, there are a lot of people who are willing to take it lay back, and in a moment of grief, all these things seem trivial to the sufferer.
Traditional Hindu girls once married do not look at their parent’s wealth. Though law provides enough guarantees, but society does not work like that.
Even though parents of the girl would surely have a soft corner for their child, siblings usually object, citing that already much must have been spent on the wedding itself.
So now this girl has no where to go.
Girls get a B grade education compared to their male counterparts; in situations like this they are left with so much of uncertainty that their lives could be made miserable.
Just when, the girls family was contemplating legal course. A long torn battle and the miseries of Indian legal system. Something unexpected happened.
They got a mail from the oil company that Anil was working with.
The company had insured him for an approximate of Indian Equivalence of Rs. 1 crore.
And the beneficiary is his wife, by default.
Now, with all the property that Anil’s parents must have illegally possessed from the girl, must be not more than 50% of what she was about to get now.
She would have to though wait for a while, and prove her heir.
But, now I guess even her in-laws must be crying over spilled milk. They could have been smarter. Kept the girl at home, got all the money, legally and then showed their true color.
But then goose giving golden eggs was already cut open.
I guess slowly, she would be able to get her confidence back, though her loss could not be made up.
I was not very pro insurance till a few months back. One of my friends told me a nice anecdote.
He said, ‘what if you were to die tomorrow, would you not want your wife to marry again and be happy”. I said, “I guess so”. “Then would you want her to marry for money or for love” he asked. “Obviously Love” I was prompt. “But then if you don’t leave her enough, she would have to marry for money”.
I got the point.
World is not getting to be such a bad place after all.
Comment on Comments
Property rights are not limited to Land or some physical Structure. Even knowledge is Property.
Migration is the essence of human evolution and all other evolutions. You are right Mr. Hunter, that the intellect of man sometimes, lets him forget the basics. One does get insecure, lazy and would like to stick his butt to a place, forever. But then there is no such time as forever.
In a way I agree with Mukri, matrimonial relationships should not have anything in hiding. Even Adultery should be convincing.
But then men are from mars and women from wherever.
Humans are not always rational and there are so many other dimensions to a relationship. No relationship is frozen in time and can not be seen in isolation.
Try answering this Question, with any women you care for.
“How do I look?”
Neha is my Wife you Moron.
Yes I am in love.
With all the women of the world.
Migration is the essence of human evolution and all other evolutions. You are right Mr. Hunter, that the intellect of man sometimes, lets him forget the basics. One does get insecure, lazy and would like to stick his butt to a place, forever. But then there is no such time as forever.
In a way I agree with Mukri, matrimonial relationships should not have anything in hiding. Even Adultery should be convincing.
But then men are from mars and women from wherever.
Humans are not always rational and there are so many other dimensions to a relationship. No relationship is frozen in time and can not be seen in isolation.
Try answering this Question, with any women you care for.
“How do I look?”
Neha is my Wife you Moron.
Yes I am in love.
With all the women of the world.
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