Friday, January 30, 2009

Emotional FOOL - Thats ME....!!!


Almost four days..... Almost four days have passed since my last blog post. I took this time, not 'coz I was reluctant or busy or short of ideas and topics to write on. but 'coz i was missing something very very special.

Something which was mine for more than two years. Somthing which was my only companion during some of the toughest times, and some of the most beautiful moments of my life.
Lets not keep people guessing. Lets unfold the suspense. I have sold my cell phone..... Nokia N72.....

It was very painful to part with it.... Believe me.... it was like giving away a part of me. My cell (now not mine....) was something very very important to me.

I sold it on Jan 25th. I could not sleep that night. I was missing it like hell. It took me four whole days to recover from the 'loss'.

I, sometimes, act very kiddish. I know I'm very emotional. But I never knew that I could be so emotional about a non-living thing. May be 'coz I had many memories associated with it. May be 'coz it was my first cell phone.

Anyways, as a friend of mine, Akshay, said, "If old things don't go, how would the new things take their place...."

I, now am falling short of words, and can't explain the state of my mind now.

What ever !!! I'm an 'EMOTIONAL FOOL'..... Okay?

Monday, January 26, 2009

Patriotism


According to the Oxford English Dictionary Patriotism means “the character or passion of a patriot; love of or zealous devotion to one's country.”

Patriotism - it is not just celebrating two holidays every year... not just playing and humming patriotic songs on those two days... Patriotism is not just a word, not just a feeling which pops up when there's a war or a terrorist attack.... it is a feeling which is alive in your minds 24x7....

Today, partiotism is limited to just celebrating two days (which only a few do, others take it as just another holiday). Patriotism is not just showing your anger and emotions when the country is in the time of crisis (like war, terror attack, etc) but it is something that should make you shed the very Indian 'Chalta-hai' attitude.... One should be devoted to the country...

The number of people attending the Independence Day and Republic Day parades is decreasing every year. Most of us like to sit in the comfortable confines of our homes and 'enjoy' the parade on the TV. Most of us take it as just another holiday. The situation is even worse in the cities where these functions have a very little audience (as compared to the population of that city).

This may be because of the security concerns (both the fear of an attack and coz they don't want to be frisked by security personnel). But if there is a zeal within you, these issues do not matter. There must be an 'inner call' to attend such functions and show that you love India.

I do not doubt the patriotism of a common Indian. I do not say that they do not love their country. Its just that they do not show it.

India - a country with a population of more than a billion - should not fall short of audience in its 'National Functions'.

After all, the freedom fighters did not sacrifice for this day. They did not lay down their lives to see the Indians remaining ignorant about their sacrifices.

WAKE UP !!!

And yeah... wishing y'all a very HAPPY REPUBLIC DAY....

VANDE MATARAM

JAI HIND

Saturday, January 24, 2009

JAI HO....

This song has recieved the Oscar's nomination for the 'Best Original Song'....
Not only this, the movie 'Slumdog Millionaire' has recieved 10 Oscar nominations in all, including 'Best Film' and 'Best Direction' among others....
Just awesome.......!!!



Song : Jai Ho
Movie : Slumdog Millionaire
Music Director : A R Rehman
Singer(s) : Sukhvinder Singh, Tanvi Shah, Mahalaxmi Iyer
Lyricist : Gulzar

Jai Ho Jai Ho Jai Ho Jai Ho
Aaja Aaja Jind Shamiyane Ke Tale
Aaja Jariwale Nile Aasman Ke Tale
Jai Ho Jai Ho

Aaja Aaja Jind Shamiyane Ke Tale
Aaja Jariwale Nile Aasman Ke Tale
Jai Ho Jai Ho

Jai Ho Jai Ho

Ratti Ratti Sachi Maine Jaan Gavayi Hai
Nach Nach Koylo Pe Raat Bitayi Hai
Akhiyon Ki Neend Maine Phoonko Se Uda Di
Neele Tare Se Maine Ungli Jalayi Hai

Aaja Aaja Jind Shamiyane Ke Tale
Aaja Jariwale Nile Aasman Ke Tale
Jai Ho Jai Ho
Jai Ho Jai Ho

Jai Ho Jai Ho
Jai Ho Jai Ho
Chakh Le Ho Chakh Le Ye Raat Shahad Hai Chakh Le
Rakh Le Haan Dil Hai Dil Aakhri Had Hai Rakh Le
Kala Kala Kajal Tera Koi Kala Jadoo Hai Na

Kala Kala Kajal Tera Koi Kala Jadoo Hai Na
Aaja Aaja Jind Shamiyane Ke Tale
Aaja Jariwale Nile Aasman Ke Tale
Jai Ho Jai Ho
Jai Ho Jai Ho
Jai Ho Jai Ho

Kab Se Ha Kab Se Tu Lab Pe Ruki Hai Keh De
Keh De Ha Keh De Ab Aankh Jhuki Hai.. Keh De

Aisi Aisi Roshan Aankhe Roshan Dono Bhi Hai Hai Kya
Aaja Aaja Jind Shamiyane Ke Tale
Aaja Jariwale Nile Aasman Ke Tale
Jai Ho Jai Ho
Jai Ho Jai Ho



Hope that Slumdog wins Oscars....

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Shekhawat vs Advani?

Bhairon Singh Shekhawat - the former Vice-President of India, former Chief Minister of Rajasthan, former MLA from Bali, Rajasthan (which happens to be my constituency) - enjoys respect of so many people, which only a few politicians enjoy.

Fondly called 'Baabo-sa' (meaning Father or Father-figure in Rajasthani), Shekhawat now wants to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, provided his health allows. And this desire of his has set the whole BJP shivering. Shekhawat, who was a senior leader of the saffron party till 2002, when he won the Vice-Presidential elections as the NDA candidate. After the completion of his tenure as VP, he has not joined the BJP or any other party.

The BJP workers of Rajasthan have raised the slogan "Rajasthan ka ek hi singh.... Bhairon Singh.... Bhairon Singh....". Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, who has been a master of coalition politics in the BJP, has been the CM of Rajasthan thrice with each time managing minor governments successfully. Baabo-sa had settled many disputes at the national level in the NDA government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He was Vajpayee's favourite when it came to settling leaders like Jayalalithaa and Mamata Banerjee in the NDA government. He still remains Vajpayee's close friend.

Being a Vice-President, he was also the speaker of the Rajya Sabha. During that period, he got many friends in the political circles, cutting across party lines.

Bhairon Shingh Shekhawat still enjoys his own place in the hearts of people of Rajasthan. Its an irony that by all these virtues, BJP is denying a ticket to 'the man who has been on a constitutional post'. In BJP President Rajnath Singh's words, Shekhawat has done 'Gangaa Snaan' and he should now not wish to have a bath with well water.

The BJP leaders are suspicious that his move to the Lok Sabha might reopen the leadership issue within the party. One possibility migh be that, in case of a fractured mandate, many parties from the NDA and the 'Third Front' might prefer Shekhawat over Advani.

But the question here arises that why Shekhawat wants to crush the prospects of his one time friend Advani? The reason might be the tussle between him and Vasundhara Raje, who took a long time in finalising the ticket for Jaipur assembly seat to Shekhawat's son-in-law Narpat Singh Rajvi. The war got fierce when Raje called 'senior leaders' demanding LS tickets 'Khandahar' (meaning :: ruins). Shekhawat got back into action by demanding probe into the corruption charges levied against Raje's government. But Shekhawat got 'hurt' when Advani backed Raje despite of his word of caution against her. Now Shekhawat, who brought Vasundhara to Rajasthan, wants her to be out of Rajasthan.

But with Advani looking 'desperate' to become PM (coz this might be his last election.... he's already 82), he might try to resolve the issue and make peace with Shekhawat. With that, things might get back to normal in the BJP.

But a few questions pop up in my mind...
  • For how long will we have people who have crossed their 'retirement age' as our leaders? (almost all Prime Ministerial Candidates - Manmohan, Advani, Shekhawat, Sharad Pawar, etc etc etc - all are well above the 'retirement age' which happens to be 58 or 60)
  • Will we ever have a 'young' PM?
  • Can't we not set a 'retirement age' for our politicans too?

Well, I can see a ray of hope. With 70-year old John McCain being rejected by the US voters and here in our own country, 38-year 'young' Omar Abdullah becoming the CM of Jammu & Kashmir, the trend certainly is changing....

Monday, January 19, 2009

O-BA-MA... O-BA-MA...

(with inputs from friend Chetana)


The next 24 hours will mark a new chapter in the history of the USA, and of course, the world. Barack Hussein Obama will be sweared in as the 44th President of the United States of America, the first African-American (read :: black.... i'm not racist) to hold such a high post.

Obama beat Hillary Clinton (former US President Bill Clinton's wife) for the Democratic Party candidacy. And then he went on to beat veteran Republican leader John McCain by 53% of the popular vote and a wide electoral college margin.

For quite some time, we have been hearing only bad news from the USA - recession, bankruptcy, job cuts, liquidity issues, etc. And this, for a 'change', is a piece of good news, not just because a person from a community which has been exploited for years, is going to be sweared in as the President of that very country, the world's strongest nation; but because he is the man who won the elections by promising a 'Change'.

All preparations have been made for the swearing in front of the White House at Washington DC. Around 3 million people are expected to be wittnessing the ceremony at the venue amidst high-pitched security. Cell phone and internet companies have installed portable towers in anticipation of colossal calling coverage and cell phone picture transmissions. Obama's address is supposed to making the kind of history as President Franklin Rossevelt, John F Kennedy, Abraham Lincoln.


I wish Mr Obama loads of luck in the office.

Friday, January 16, 2009

Corporate India bats for Modi as PM

From being tagged as the most hated politician in the country post-Godhra carnage to being seen as the future Prime Minister, Gujarat CM Narendra Modi has come a long way.

As the curtains of the fourth Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors' Summit drew to an end on Tuesday in Ahmedabad, major corporate big-wigs hailed the BJP leader and his leadership skills, and went to the extent of calling him 'PM material'.

R-ADAG (Reliance - Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group) chairman Anil Ambani said :

"Narendrabhai has done good for Gujarat and what will happen if he leads the nation. Gujarat has seen progress in all the fields under his leadership. Now, imagine what will happen to the country if he gets the opportunity to lead it. Person like him should be the next leader of the
country."


Recalling his father, the late Dhirubhai Ambani's assessment of the Gujarat CM, Anil Ambani also said :
"Modi lambi race ka ghoda hai."

Bharti (Airtel) Group CMD Sunil Bharti Mittal said :
"Chief minister Modi is known as a CEO, but he is actually not a CEO, because he is not running a company or a sector. He is running a state and can also run the nation."

Tata Group boss Ratan Tata was also impressed by Modi and his 'style' of work. He said on the inaugural day of VGGIS :
"I have to say that today there is no state like Gujarat. Under Mr Modi’s leadership, Gujarat is head and shoulders above any state."
He added :
"A state would normally take 90 to 180 days to clear a new plant but in the Nano case, we had our land and approval in just two days."

If you think that the Modi-mania has spread just in India, let me tell you that its not just the 'desi' corporates who were falling over each other in lavishing praise on the Gujarat chief minister, Mr Modi got the thumbs-up from the international community too.

Sri Lankan Tourism Minister M Moragoda said his country had also signed an MoU with the state government for development of mutual tourism. He went to the extent of saying that he highly appreciated Mr Modi’s 'vision and foresight.'

The 'West', which had till now been circumspect about the Gujarat chief minister, too appeared to be shedding its reservations. British MP Barry Gardiner, going a step ahead of Mr Tata, said :
"Gujarat can lead the world."
Well.... why not? In fact, what Gujarat is today is all because of Narendra Modi. After the earthquake, the Godhra carnage and its aftermath, no other state could have bounced back so fast. Even Gujarat could never achieve this sans Modi.
Lets hope that India gets this dynamic leader as a PM soon.....

Monday, January 12, 2009

An observation

I got a text message on my cellphone from a good friend of mine. This is what it reads....

13 May - Jaipur

June - X

26 July - Ahmedabad

August - X

13 September - Delhi

October - X

26 November - Mumbai

December - X

13 January - ???
Where next?

Pls be careful in the week of Jan 13. This is just an observation of the sequence of terror attacks in India. There's no harm in keeping ourselves alert.

Take care n spread the msg. Be safe.



While the intention of the message and the sender was great, I am sure the terrorists (read :: Pakistan-sponsored terrorists) wouldn't dare to have an evil eye on India, except in case they want a war.

Well, its more or less evident that it does look like a sequence. So could Jan 13th be the next chosen date? With only one day to go, God and terrorists (and hopefully our intelligence agencies) alone know if another attack is under way.

God forbid another attack on India. We have had enough of them. We can't take it anymore. My prayers for India and Indians. Hope this is just a co-incidence and not really a sequence. Please do pray guys !

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Silence.... I KEEL YOU !!!

Achmed - The Dead Terrorist !!!



Hillarious act by JEFF DUNHAM !!!

Must watch guys..... and remember "SILENCE......... I KEEL YOU !!!"

Enjoy....

Thursday, January 8, 2009

SATYAM to ASATYAM - multicrore fiasco


Satyam Computer Services founder-chairman B Ramalinga Raju has resigned from the IT major's board after admitting a multi-crore fraud in the company’s accounts. The scent of a scam has been in the air since mid-December last year when Satyam's bid to buy the family-owned Maytas Properties and Infrastructure failed.

In the regulatory statement, Raju said that the company had fraudulently incorporated a non-existent cash component and inflated the bank balance to reflect Rs 5,040 crore (Rs 50.4 billion) as against Rs 5,361 crores (Rs 53.61 billion).

''No board member had any knowledge of the real situation. Accrued interest of Rs 376 crore in books is non-existent. About Rs 1,230 crore was arranged to Satyam, but was not reflected in the books,” he said.

Reports say that the account manipulation started years ago. "It was like riding a tiger, not knowing how to get off without being eaten," Raju said in his resignation letter to the company’s board of directors, in which he listed major financial wrong-doings over the years to inflate profits.

"I sincerely apologise to all Satyamites and stakeholders, who have made Satyam a special organisation, for the current situation," said Raju. "I am now prepared to subject myself to the laws of the land and face consequences thereof."

Shares of the company plunged by over 40 per cent soon after the resignations. Satyam, considered a ripe proposition for acquisition, was pushed into crisis after Raju was forced to abandon the acquisition of Maytas Infrastructure and Maytas Properties promoted by his son. (MAYTAS, thats SATYAM spelt in the reverse order).

Satyam is the country's fourth largest IT firm and has over 51,000 employees.

Here is the chain of events leading up to Wednesday's admission.

December 16, 2008: Satyam Computers announces it is buying 100 per cent stake in two companies owned by Chairman Ramalinga Raju's sons - Maytas Properties and Maytas Infra. The $1.6 billion dollar deal comes in for severe criticism from investors and analysts, dubbed one of the worst corporate governance events in India.

December 17, 2008:
Under pressure Satyam does a U-turn and 12 hours later, the deal is off.At that time, Ramalinga Raju said, "I would like to make this clear to every one that reason we are calling off the deal is totally on account of he fact that the reaction of the sum off the investors to the diversification has not been favourable and that is the whole reason." But the damage was already done. The company's shares were pounded on the bourses and it lost $2 billion on the New York Stock Exchange.

December 23, 2008:
The World Bank confirms it has banned Satyam for eight years for bribery and data theft.

December 26, 2008: The Maytas deal takes its first toll - independent director Mangalam Srinivasan resigns.

December 29, 2008:
Three more independent directors resign.

  • M Rammohan Rao, Dean of ISB, the man who chaired the board meeting which cleared the controversial Maytas deal.
  • Pentium chip inventor Vinod Dham.
  • Krishna Paleppu.

The company's board meeting is defered to December 10.

January 7, 2009: Ramalinga Raju resigns, admits to fraud. He says the company's cash and bank balance sheet has been inflated and fudged to the tune of Rs 5,040 crore.

But the major question arises is that "Where is B Ramalinga Raju?" Everyone is trying to find an answer to the question after the chairman of Satyam Computers resigned on Wednesday confessing to a Rs 7,000 crore fraud.

A team of officials from market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) will arrive in Hyderabad on Thursday to begin a probe amid speculation that police might arrest Raju, but nobody knows his whereabouts.

Raju became incommunicado after sending a letter to the Satyam Board of Directors on Wednesday morning. There was utter confusion after a TV channel reported that he had left either for the US or Dubai. Raju is believed to have met nobody in the last two days. It is also possible that he might have handed over his letter to company officials before becoming incommunicado. The Hyderabad police were also reportedly trying to find the whereabouts of Raju. Some police teams were also sent to Satyam offices in the city to find Raju's whereabouts but they were unsuccessful in tracing him as well.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

India... Stop Begging, Start Demanding

India has provided Pakistan with fresh evidences of involvement of Pakistani 'elements' in the Mumbai attacks. Not only Pakistan, but India has provided the same evidences to the officials of the foreign countries whose citizens were killed in the attacks.

These evidences include information on the weapons, records of calls made to Pakistan using satellite phones, mobile phones and via internet, videos and transcripts of interrogations of the caught terrorist Aamir Ajmal Kasab.

After being handed over such concrete evidences, Pakistan initially said that it will look into the matter. But it seems to be in no mood to act on the detailed evidences provided by India.

Strong proof exists in the evidences handed over by India, but despite that mounting evidence, Pakistan continues to indicate that it will not take any action against terrorists.

Wajid Shamsul Hasan, Pakistan's High Commissioner to the UK, is trying to blame India instead. He said, "As far as the India allegations are concerned, they are much similar to the past. we have been telling them that we are willing for a joint investigation, setting up a joint commission for looking into the charges and allegations. But so far we have not received any positive response from India. As a matter of fact, they continue with their jingoistic language."

Much of India's evidence against the terrorists comes from interrogations of Aamir Ajmal Kasab, the only terrorist to survive the attacks. He has reportedly told authorities that he and his nine other attackers were Pakistani, he was trained in Pakistan, and his handlers are still there. But Pakistan has said it has no record of Kasab as a Pakistani citizen.

Well.... in my personal opinion, there's no point in giving Pakistan more evidences. What happens is India keeps providing evidences and Pakistan, on the other side, finds new excuses not to act on the terror outfits. Enough of pleading to such a useless country for our own security. Stop begging, start demanding. Why can't we just make a move and finish all the bloody scoundrels (read :: terrorists) in Pakistan?

Let us take the example of Israel. A small country, yet it does not spare the attackers. Although the comparisons are unreal, yet there's a point in comparing the two very different countries. Indian government only talks and never delivers, Israel delivers what it promises as action and that’s what excites Indians. But the fact is also that Israel enjoys the immunity of the world community and not one American politician has dared to speak about what’s happening in Israel now.

The difference between India and Israel is the vote bank. India has a large number of Muslim voters and no political party would like to hurt its 'vote bank' by making first move (read :: attack) on Pakistan (a Muslim country). This doesn't mean we should keep mum on this very sensitive issue. Politicians should stop playing with religious sentiments. Get over the vote bank politics and act tough now. No doubt, India's Muslim community will stand against Pakistan.

PEACE !!! (but if Pakistan wants WAR, let it be.....)

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Ghajini


FINALLY.... Yeah finally.... Finally I watched 'Ghajini' yesterday.... Yeah !!


Awesome movie..... Fabulous acting by Aamir Khan and of course, Asin.... Great story, great cinematography....


You guys might have heard of films being named after a hero's character or a heroine's character. But this was a movie, named after a villain.... 'Ghajini' was the villain of the movie....


One of my friends told me that the original Ghajini (in Tamil) has superb acting by Soorya and Asin. After watching the remake (Hindi), I have decided that I'll watch the Tamil one too.... Although I won't be able to understand a single word, forget a dialogue, I am gonna watch it....


Till then, have a good time....

Friday, January 2, 2009

Waqt Nahi....

Happy New Year folks !!!


Actually due to lack of time, I couldn't post anything on the first day of '09. But I am posting some quality stuff for the heart as well as mind for people like me, who say they have 'lack of time' ;p... I read these lines somewhere and it comes out of my collection. I did not write it. Have a look...

Har khushi hai logon ke daaman mein,
Par ek hansi ke liye waqt nahi.
Din raat daudti duniya mein,
Zindagi ke liye hi waqt nahi....

Maa ki loree ka ehsaas to hai,
Par Maa ko 'Maa' kehne ka waqt nahi.
Saare rishton ko to hum maar chuke,
Ab unhe dafnane ka bhi waqt nahi....

Saare naam 'Mobile' mein hain,
Par dosti ke liye waqt nahi.
Gairon ki kya baat karein,
Jab apnon ke liye hi waqt nahi....

Aankhon mein hai neend badi,
Par sone ka waqt nahi.
Dil hai ghamon se bhara hua,
Par rone ka bhi waqt nahi....

Paison ki daud mein aise daude,
Ki thakne ka bhi waqt nahi.
Paraye ehsaason ki kya kadr karein,
Jab apne sapno ke liye hi waqt nahi....

Tu hi bata ae zindagi,
Is zindagi ka kya hoga,
Ki har pal marne walon ko,
Jeene ke liye bhi waqt nahi....


Wasn't it 'heart-touching'??? Well, for me, it was. Have a good 2009.


Signing off with some of 'best' pics (I'm not photogenic at all :(...... huh !!) of '08....


PEACE....