Some Little Known Facts about Jallianwala Massacre

  Very few people in India, perhaps none abroad, know as to why General Dyer ordered massacre of innocent men women and children on April 13 1919, the Baisakhi day. Here are some important little known or unknown facts which resulted in the massacre of more than 500 and serious bullet injuries to more than 1500, mostly citizens of Amritsar who had gathered there to listen to Gandhi and other leaders against what Gandhi called “Devilish” piece of legislation ie. two Bills under Rowlett Act.

 Arthur Herman, the author of Book “Gandhi and Churchill, describes the event before massacre of hundreds of innocent Indians gathered in Jallianwala Bagh as under:

‘ Winston Churchill told the House of Commons , “Never has there been a time when people (Indians) were more disposed to turn to courses of violence or show such scant respect for law and custom , tradition and procedure.” To ally the fears of men like Churchill Indian government officials decided to act.’

In February 1919, as the Defense of India Act was to expire six months after the war; two bills by Sydney Rowlett, reached the Legislative Council in Delhi; “an outery began. Even with every Indian member (of legislative council) voting against it the bills were passed in March and became law. The two bills contained two controversial provisions. One allowed judges to convict suspected terrorist or subversives without a Jury, the other sanctioned interning those same suspects without trial.”

Gandhi thought by supporting British war effort India would get independence (Swaraj) or at least Home rule. So Gandhi had enthusiastically supported the British Empire in their war against Germany. He even went so far as to recruit 20 able-bodied persons from each village in Gujarat and walked for hundreds of miles. At the end he could recruit only forty instead of more than a thousand. He justified his war effort to the annoyance of his close associate (Sardar) Patel, who refused to be a party to that effort of Gandhi, due to twist in his philosophy of Ahimsa- Annie Besant sarcastically called Gandhi “Recruiting sergeant” of British Empire. Even many villagers felt ashamed of their Gandhi’s support to British and left his meetings or showed their back.

Gandhi justified his pro British stand. Gandhi went so far as to say “Of all my activities I regard this (recruitment) as the most difficult and the most important.”

It is surprising that there is no mention of Gandhi being pro-British upto 1919 in the ‘Advanced History of India’ by Dr R C Majumdar and others, and also Gandhi going to many villages to recruit as soldiers for British-Indian Army and the sarcastic remark of Annie Besant, that Gandhi was “Recruiting Sergeant” for the British.

It is noteworthy that Gandhi’s pro-British views in 1914 to 1919 were in absolute contrast to Annie Besant’s views…. Annie Besant a British citizen who came to India and after seeing extreme poverty in villages and the conditions of vast majority of Indians, the repressive imperialist rule by the same British who were just and democratic in their own country, got so perturbed that she started ‘Home Rule India’ party. She wanted British to concede independence to India. She said “The moment of England’s difficulty is the moment of India’s opportunity.” But Gandhi differed with her and wanted India to support British war effort “unconditionally, spiritually and physically.” Lokmanya Tilak was released from jail after the 1st world war started in 1914. Tilak wanted like many other Indians British to concede ‘Home Rule’ to India, if not independence, just now. He therefore joined Annie Besant’s Party. As a result within one year, Annie Besant’s ‘Home Rule League’ had more than 60,000 full time members while “Indian National Congress had only 20,000 members.”

However after the end of war with Germany, British Government and in particular imperialist Winston Churchill went back from their promise of conceding Home Rule to Indians. This made Indian National Congress furious and Gandhi, too, felt betrayed by British. So he joined the independence movement of Congress and was going to address congress sponsored meeting at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar, just, adjoining the Golden Temple the holiest Sikh Gurdwara. But on way Gandhi was taken out of train before reaching Amritsar, arrested and taken to Bombay. Punjab Government, as well as the British Government of Delhi kept this and Jallianwala massacre and meeting as top secret and did not let anyone know for couple of months.

In brief here is sequence of Jallianwala Bagh Massacre on 13th April 1919: Dyer entered (Amritsar) city central with a convoy of Armoured cars, his troops following. With him was the Amritsar town “crier.” He was shouting Dyers order in Hindi and Punjabi, English and Urdu. “On reaching his temporary headquarters, he learnt that a demonstration was under way in Jallianwala Bagh. He became furious, rather lost balance, at the “deliberate violation” of his order and immediately marched with “ninety Baluchis and Gurkhas towards Jallianwala Bagh where thousands of citizens had gathered to protest against the ‘devilish’ provisions of Rowlett Act. With Dyer were only four British, two officers and two security guards. ‘Otherwise there were no white soldiers at all.’

Arthur Herman describes the order of Dyer as under:

“Dyer barked the order to open fire. For ten minutes Dyer encouraged his soldiers to keep shooting unless bodies carpeted the ground.” Dyer and his troops had marched off after completing the massacre in Jallianwala Bagh leaving about a thousand dead and more than 2000 wounded. “Cries of pain and moans rose to the roof tops, bodies lined the entire wall around the Bagh. In many places the eyewitnesses said, they were ten feet deep.”

Where an English woman had been pulled from her bicycle, “Dyer ordered every citizen of Amritsar to ‘crawl on all fours”. He also set up a whipping post where any ‘native’ who refused to crawl was to be flogged.

‘Gandhi did not hear of this massacre and cruelty at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar ‘until June’. For almost two months there was complete clampdown. But as the news of worst ever British tyranny trickled there were unceasing protests and cries all over India.

Jallianwala Bagh massacre united all Indians against British, for the first time. Rabindra Nath Tagore returned his knighthood in protest, Gandhi returned his Kaisar-e Hind medal that was awarded for his pro-British services in South Africa. Jinnaha relinquished his membership of imperial legislature. Motilal Nehru collected his British furniture, suits and ties and made bonfire in his home garden and started wearing hand span Khadi clothes.

“The evidence was harrowing. Eyewitnesses who had watched the Jallianwala Bagh killings from the rooftops had seen “blood pouring in profusion…even those who were lying down were shot….Some had their head cut open, others had eyes shot and nose, chest, arms or legs shattered.” Some witnesses had sat all night in the Bagh with dying husbands and brothers. Others remembered the bodies of those who had been shot, but managed to escape, being left in the street for dead-including the bodies of small children.”

 “At one point an entire wedding party had been flogged for failing to follow the crawling order.”

 The pain and cries because of more than a thousand deaths in Amritsar “united Indians as never before and after”. More than any other events “Amritsar and its aftermath solidified national support for Indian independence.

[Via http://hcsingh.com]

School books with beer drinking and smoking «Jesus» confiscated

The government in the Indian state of Meghalaya has confiscated textbooks showing pictures of Jesus Christ holding a cigarette and a can of beer.

A beer can and a cigarette has been added to the Catholic image of Jesus.

The book has been used for primary classes and has caused a furore in the north-eastern state, where more than 70 per cent of the population are Christians.

State Education Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh said legal action against the publishers was being contemplated. The company, based in Delhi, has so far not responded to the complaints.

«We are now considering legal action against the Skyline Publications of New Delhi who published the controversial textbooks», Mr Lyngdoh said.

The controversial picture of Jesus was discovered in cursive writing exercise books being used at a private school in the state capital, Shillong.

«We are deeply hurt by the insensitivity of the publisher. How can one show such total disrespect for a religion?», asked Dominic Jala, the Archbishop of Shillong. The Catholic Church in India has banned all textbooks by Skyline Publications from all its schools.

«We have told all our member schools across the country to ban this publisher»,said Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) spokesman Babu Joseph.

«Jesus Christ is central to Christian faith and Christian life. The attempt to tarnish his image is highly objectionable and goes against the spirit of religious tolerance in India», Mr Joseph said.

Source: BBC.

My comment:

According to the gospel of John, the first miracle of Jesus was to make water into wine. He also shared suppers with His disciples, who were drinking wine. The Jewish Apostles Paul instructed Timothy to take a little wine for his stomach problem. And Jesus him self might have taken quite a few drinks. And He might not.
Matthew 11:18-20

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.” ‘ But wisdom is proved right by her actions.”

So what is the fuzz?

The problem is that makers, promoters and defenders of images and idols are sinners. Such people claim to be Holy, but they mock God of the Bible, by breaking the second commandment. You can not tarnish the «image of Jesus», because the only valid «image» of Him is found in His Words. The Jew did not recognize Him neither by seeing His image, nor because they had seen a statue of Him.
Still thousands of Jews recognized the Messiah when He walked on Earth. How did they do that?

By reading the scripture, obeying the scriptures, and sharing the scripture with others. Thats why a blind man could cry out and say. «Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me».
Religious people who are offended by tarnished «images» of Jesus, please read:

John 9:41
Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.

[Via http://ivarfjeld.wordpress.com]

Fructe pentru suflet

Iata o carte pe care vreau sa o citesc:

‘Anotimpul fructelor de mango’ de Amulya Malladi

Am auzit numai lucruri frumoase despre aceasta carte, o poveste despre diferenta dintre culturi si despre lupta launtrica dintre traditie si nou, asa ca imi voi bucura sufletelul cu o noua carte azi ma duc sa o cumpar…revin cu impresii.

Sunshine

Ce spun altii:

„Fascinant… un roman tulburător, presărat cu detalii şi evocări pline de senzualitate ale vieţii din India.” – The Washington Times

După şapte ani petrecuţi în America, Priya Rao se întoarce în India natală. Doreşte să-şi anunţe familia că este logodită cu Nick, americanul pe care-l iubeşte, dar vestea frânge inimile celor din jur, care insistă ca ea să se mărite cu un „băiat bun indian”.

Vizita se transformă într-o experienţă copleşitoare. Tânăra femeie, care a cunoscut lumea occidentală, încearcă să aducă schimbarea şi în propria familie. Între două culturi profund diferite, între tradiţie şi modern, între generaţii diverse par să existe conflicte de netrecut.

[Via http://zuzele.wordpress.com]

Pakistan is fully prepared to give a befitting response to any misadventure from the eastern border: COAS Gen. Kayani

ISLAMABAD: Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has said the army is fully prepared to give a befitting response to any misadventure from the eastern border and there is no possibility of the adversary catching Pakistan unawares.

Responding to questions raised by members of the Senate standing committee on defence during a briefing at the General Headquarters, he said that India’s cold start doctrine based on hegemonic designs had not been taken lightly and the armed forces were capable of responding to the challenge and safeguarding the country’s geographical frontiers.

According to a participant, Gen Kayani said Pakistan had played an important role in the global war on terror and remained committed to combating the menace. But he added, long-term national interests would never be sacrificed on someone else’s short-term interests.

The Senate committee recently received briefings at the naval and air headquarters, but this was possibly its first meeting at the GHQ.

Director-General Military Operations Maj-Gen Javed Iqbal gave a detailed briefing to the committee on the role functions and organisation of GHQ, the state of preparedness in the wake of internal and external threats and counter-insurgency operations in the NWFP and Fata.

Gen Kayani made some brief remarks which were followed by a question answer session.

Although most of the members praised the army’s role in combating terrorism, according to sources, some of them expressed concerns over what they called an extension of the US-led war on terror and said that Pakistan was paying a heavy price for it.

The sources said that Prof Khursheed Ahmed of Jamaat-i-Islami said that time had come for Pakistan to review its policy on cooperating with the US in the war on terror.

Some members said there was a perception that the operations in the NWFP and Fata had been launched under US pressure.

They were of the view that steps should be taken to consolidate the gains.

The members asked questions about the future scenario in Afghanistan, the US troops surge, Pak-US relations and external threats faced by Pakistan. They observed that the army’s requirements should be fully met at this juncture to enhance its capacity to protect national security interests. They promised to raise the issue in the Senate.

The committee headed by Lt-Gen (retd) Javed Ashraf Qazi comprises Senators Waqar Ahmad Khan, Faisal Raza Abidi, Mian Raza Rabbani, Sardar Ali Khan, Maulana Mohammad Khan Shirani, Haji Mohammad Adeel, Raja Muhammad Zafarul Haq, Jan Mohammad Jamali, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Prof Khursheed Ahmed.

Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar is ex-officio member of the committee.

[Via http://thepeopleofpakistan.wordpress.com]

2010 Worldwide Medical Laboratories Industry Report-Aarkstore Enterprise

The Medical Laboratories Industry report, published annually by Barnes Reports, contains timely and accurate industry statistics, forecasts and demographics. The report features 2010 current and 2011 forecast estimates on the size of the industry (sales, establishments, employment) for the 47 largest world countries, such as Japan, China, India, Russia, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, UK, France, Germany, Italy and U.S.. The report also includes industry definition, 5-year historical trends on industry sales, establishments and employment and estimates on up to 10 sub-industries

For more information please visit:http://www.aarkstore.com/reports/2010-Worldwide-Medical-Laboratories-Industry-Report-37227.html

PH.NO. 919272852585

[Via http://aarkstores.wordpress.com]

Reply To Claimer of Enlightenment (Yaani Drucker Correspondence) Part 2

Continuing from: Reply To Claimer of Spiritual Enlightenment (Yaani Drucker Correspondence) Part 1 Posted by Barry Pittard on February 20, 2010 …. , my response to Jaani Drucker, who claims both in correspondence and on her website to be enlightened, and to: “Have truth, will travel”. In an email to me, she says:

“Baba demonstrates that He clearly manipulates the laws of physical reality, because He can”.

In another email to me, she says:

“Sai Baba has demonstrated powers of omniscience, omnipotence and omnipresence. I am convinced of His divinity and that everything He does is in the service of the uplift of all. He knows the past, present and future of each of us, and He knows how to transform the world into a world of peace, love and joy for all”.

She put the question to me:

“Is it necessary for a rape victim to receive professional counseling? This assumes that psychology/ psychotherapy has answers that ABSOLUTE TRUTH does not“.

————————-

Note: Ms Drucker writes that  “I am happy to discuss and debate issues. I have responded to every issue you raised”. But she has clearly not responded either in the spirit or the letter of this claim. There is no happiness. Despite the fact that she claims to be spiritually realized and gives workshops and writes on spiritual transcendence, there is no rising above the hebdomadal. Hers is an emotive and churlish reaction. The following is but a sample:

“You are simply not getting it. I have no stomach for defending myself against people who are threatened by my truth. I just have not time for it. If you had come to me without baggage we could hope for a debate. As only as you keep your junk on the internet in public view I will conclude that YOU are not open to honest dialogue”.

Her concerns are centered on herself, and certainly suggest the sort of narcissism referred to my very qualified and experienced psychotherapist friend who wrote:

… “My additional reaction to Yaani Drucker’s account of the rape is that if she can use her faith and spiritual references to overcome the trauma, then she is fortunate.  Such coping behavior is successful for her. (- not to imply that it would be successful for others). There is a psychoanalytic term, “Narcissistic Defense” which can explain how people turn  negative feelings into positive ones)”.

Jaani Drucker is a public person with a website, a book and a workshop schedule. Before I responded to her emails that came via this http://barrypittard.wordpress.com , I did a reality check and sent what I had written to several individuals of professional background, who are perfectly ready to criticize me if need be. I do not think any sensible and perceptive reader will perceive in at all the same terms as Jaani Drucker has perceived in her reaction to what I have written. She writes:

” I wonder whether you would consider removing your discrediting and unkind words? If so, perhaps there would be the possibility of an honest debate. Until then you demonstrate that you have already drawn your conclusion, that I am a dangerous energy that you need to protect others from, etc.”

My attempt was, in a polite way, to say that I thought her claims were excessive and to point out their consequences in the real world. If she wants to propagate her Truth, then she must expect that others will comment on it, and not necessarily accept it. She claims her good name is besmirched. But no,  if anything her good name is under question because of her support of Sathya Sai Baba, against whom evidence of many abuses (and not sexual ones alone) are subject to a great deal of evidence from many parts of the world. A world-class investigator, the BBC, in its many months of huge research for ‘The Secret Swami‘, interviewed many parents and others who alleged Sathya Sai Baba’s sexual abuse of young males, and other charges. The Assistant Producer, David Saville, told me that the researchers had found other primary witnesses of young male sexual abuse and that their names did not occur on our (extensive, international) lists.

Jaani Drucker defended Sai Baba on the formality that he has escaped justice. This is intellectually dishonest (though I get a sense that she does not mean to be). One would have though that, via her contact with India and many Indians, that she knows that the ashram officials and the entire Indian system of corrupt politicians and judges who worship Sai Baba have protected him from all accountability! As will later be seen, she says she only knows of “rumors” of Sai Baba’s sexual abuse. But she did not say whether she knows from her husband Alvin Drucker that many parents have complained to him of sexual abuse by Sai Baba. I pointed out to her that we have very reliable documentation. (I shall post what I cited to her). How can she expect those whom she once knew and respected as Sai brothers and sisters to respect her when she will not answer such questions properly?
She has yet more recently sent me documents showing that she is a good person, as if this were the issue. It is not. Again the self-absorption and unwillingness to entertain that the many who have questioned Sai Baba’s conduct are good people too. Of course, like any of us (though we do not claim spiritual realization), she can have good intentions, and heart and decency and yet all the while be wholly misguided, and unwilling to face inconvenient facts or reply to pertinent and honest questioning in a coherent way.

I entirely refute her implication that “honest debate” is not possible in the public arena. She would be correct, of course, in the case of communication with fools who are nasty, and I leave the reader to judge whether I am of that ilk.

To be continued ….

————————————–

Barry Pittard responds to earlier email of Jaani Drucker:

Can you understand how your website appears to promote a ’solution’ to the rape question - quite strongly – e.g., “Have truth, will travel“? Several people, including very qualified mental health professionals with long experience in the sexual abuse area, have observed how your website can be too readily interpreted as campaigning for recognition that rape and other terrible occurrences have an ideal answer. That is to say - if only people will follow what you hold to be truth. It may be that you cannot accept that you have – and I think without meaning to – promoted a very misleading ‘theory’ based entirely on belief. And this belief is one from which you may not be able to free yourself, for, if you were to free yourself without recourse to an in-denial situation, you would have to face the trauma.

You now explain that it was not to justify rape, but that it was to explain that rape is not really a problem if one will just recognize that one is not the body. This view goes against the fact that we all HAVE a body and violations of it have an extremely forceful effect on the psyche.

Jaani Drucker: It is something you would find in the Enquirer – I don’t know if you know what that is. It is a gossip magazine that digs up sensationalism to entice its readers.

Barry Pittard: I have heard of that appalling magazine. If you see mere gossip in what I have written, I think objective readers will not agree with you. I would make the same observation about the output of the most prominent writers critical of Sathya Sai Baba and his apologists - Robert Priddy, Brian Steel and the independent British author on religion and philosophy Kevin R.D. Shepherd or at http://barrypittard.wordpress.com or in the many who have left the Sathya Sai Organization (including major leaders). See:

The Late Leo Boogaard: A Dutch Voice of Conscience On Sathya Sai Baba

Stephen Carthew, A Voice of Testimony From Australia, On The Dangers of Cults

Sathya Sai Baba Critic Serguei Badaev: An Incisive Voice of Conscience From Russia

Letter from Stephen Carthew

Alaya Rahm’s Lawsuit vs Sathya Sai Society of America. (Joint Statement by the International JuST Group and the Rahm family (Al Rahm was one of the foremost of top leaders in the SS Org.)

Al Rahm’s Explanatory Letter To Sathya Sai Baba Internet Proxy Gerald Moreno

————————————–

Select Further Reading

Dangerous to Rationalize Rape. A major Sathya Sai Baba Follower’s Example

Barry Pittard Replies To Sathya Sai Center Rape Survivor’s Note To Him

Will the Real Professor Alvin Drucker Be Upstanding?

————————————–

Petition

Public Petition For Official Investigations of Sathya Sai Baba and His Worldwide Organization

There is a Spanish version available:

PETICIÓN PÚBLICA PARA ”INVESTIGACIONES OFICIALES DE SATHYA SAI BABA Y SU ORGANIZACIÓN A NIVEL MUNDIAL

Subscribe to Call for media and government investigation of Sathya Sai Baba

Subscribe in a reader

[Via http://barrypittard.wordpress.com]

Textures from Goa

Sand and water drawings on the beach in front of Elsewhere… Nature; the unbeatble artist.

“Water drawings”

Fish Scale drawings on the beach

“Rivers of Sand”

Sand glaciers

“Rippled Sand”

Rivers of sand II

“Sand & Water Encounter”

[Via http://yuyuse.wordpress.com]

How to write an application letter in Indian English

Pappu Patligali, our perennial hero, recently moved to India after spending years abroad working on various IT projects. Pappu studied in English-medium schools before completing his engineering degree from a state engineering college in Karnataka. In school, Pappu enjoyed reading novels written by Enid Blyton, but was not thrilled with studying English. He didn’t know why his teachers insisted that he study grammar from Wren & Martin, a book originally written for children of British officers in 1935 (during the reign of King George V) .

Pappu wrote in a very ornate style before moving abroad for higher studies. He soon learned how to write letters and emails in a more direct manner.

So, upon his return to India, he applied to join the local Housing Cooperative with the following letter:

Dear Sir/Madam:

My name is Pappu Patligali. I’ve recently moved into the neighborhood and I’d really like to join your Society as a full-time member. I’ve enclosed a completed application form along with all required fees. I’d really appreciate your help in expediting the process.

Please feel free to contact me if you need any further information. I look forward to meeting you in person!

Thanks in advance,

Sincerely,

Pappu Patligali

On submitting the letter, Pappu was told brusquely that he didn’t know how to write in English and that he needed to resubmit in triplicate with full particulars per the approved sample proforma letter. Of course, there was no use telling the Society’s members that the National Council of Educational Research and Training now publishes a textbook recommending that letters be written in a modern style.  Pappu just ended up showing his NRI ignorance.

Ultimately, Pappu followed the prescribed proforma and sent the following letter in triplicate:

Respected Sir:

Respectfully, I beg to state that I am Pappu Patligali, son of Sri Jhappu Patligali currently domiciled in Nayaghat within PS- Kotwali in District Uttar Dinajpur under the jurisdiction of your esteemed Society.  My permanent address is Village Rampur, of aforementioned District and police jurisdiction. It is hereby requested forthwith that I may please be enrolled as a Member of your Society under the provisions of Bye-laws and State Act of 1962 the Rules framed thereover and thereunder.

Therefore, I seek to humbly request herewith to deposit the prescribed amount as payment in cash the membership fee and the entrance fee today for which kindly money receipt from branch-office near Hanuman Mandir may please be issued on paper in my favour. Further, I am to forthwith state that I shall endeavour to solemnly and most faithfully abide by the rules and Bye-laws of the Society as Member of the Society with my firstborn forfeit and under pain of death (as per provisions articulated in Byelaw No. 221 Part C dated Jan 20, 1962).  Moreover, sir, it is my heartiest and most humble entreaty to you to kindly and most generously look into the matter and do the most needful at your earliest convenience.

I remain, yours obediently,

Full signature of Pappu Patligali

Place :

Date :-

(s/d attestation of first-class gazetted officer)

Needless to say Pappu’s letter is currently in a file under a stack of similar letters awaiting review by the Secretary of the Society.

Footnote: Although I’ve written both letters specifically for this post, I’ve been heavily influenced in the second letter by actual examples on the internet including this one.  If you have time, take a look at question 17 of the 2009 UPSC General Ability Test which asks test-takers to look at the following sentence: “Respectfully I beg to state that I am suffering from fever for the past fortnight.”

© 2010-2012, Anirban

[Via http://milkmiracle.net]

On children at the market

I went to Anjuna market again today – not particularly to shop (there are only so many sarongs, pashminas and necklaces that one woman needs) but to say hello to the El Shaddai team, drop off my used paperbacks for their bookstall,  soak up the atmosphere and take photos.

I travelled via boat – not an experience that I’d recommend or will be repeating.  It was a small,  six seater boat with an outboard motor, piloted by two psychotics who thought it was fun to gun the boat into 20’ high waves. To be fair,  there were five other people in the boat with me – young “up for it” Russian tourists who loved it; cue much screaming and arm waving as if we were at Big Splash Mountain (or whatever it’s called).  The journey is only a mile or so,  but it took twenty minutes,  due to all of this water based chicanery.

So of course,  we arrived at the market completely soaked – I was absolutely sodden from head to toe, hair to flip-flops, and staggered up the beach as if I were re-enacting the Normandy landings.

To continue the analogy, I then had to fight them on the beaches and fend off the ministrations of the hawk-eyed female beach sellers,  who take up residence on a rock and wait for soaked tourists to drag themselves ashore.

“Hello madam! Oh you are so very wet. Come, come, I help you get dry.  Come to my shop [stall], relax, buy lovely new dry clothes.  My name is Nikita,  what is you? Where you from, how many children you have?”

Etc.

However, the amount of child beggars and performers at the market continues to depress me;  apparently,  people travel from all over western India to participate in this huge orgy of tourism,  and that includes children.

At the market this morning,  I witnessed tiny children performing on a tightrope in front of a paparazzi like array of camera and camcorder wielding western tourists, who then filled the begging bowl which was passed around by the adult ringmaster.

(For obvious reasons … I don’t have any photographs of this event – I actually felt so nauseated by it that I couldn’t bring myself to be part of the throng – but here are, I assume,  the parents,  setting up the tightrope first thing).

What do these visitors think when they get home and show their friends and family that film footage of a tiny child,  perhaps five years old,  balancing on a tightrope – how cute? Isn’t she clever?

Or: “why isn’t she at school?” Or: “what future can she ever have if this is how she spends her time as a child?”

This week,  there are more Western children than usual in evidence,  as it’s the British school holidays, and so the contrast between the children that one sees is particularly pronounced – some are in Ben 10 t-shirts and are on holiday with their parents … others are working or begging,  or both. I was staggered (and disgusted) to see one tourist filming the child performers and then sending his seven-year old son down to the beach to pay the children – with no apparent sense of the irony of this act,  as far as I could see.

Goa seems to be such an economic magnet to so many people from other India states,  particularly Karnataka.  If western tourists stopped making it appear to be so economically advantageous to be either a child who begs or to have a child who you can send out to perform (thus making your child a resource) then perhaps the influx would cease or at least slow down?

I truly believe that every time a tourist gives a child money,  be it for either begging or performing,  they reinforce the notion (to both child and adult) that begging is an economically viable way of spending time and that it is,  in every sense of the word, “worth” it to be on the beach or at the market rather than at school.

The Goans are constantly telling me that their state’s infrastructure (water supplies, electricity, the road system, food supplies, accommodation) can’t cope with this influx of workers from other states and that the Goans disapprove of the children who beg – but yet I don’t see any evidence of the powers that be challenging it – for example,  policing child beggars/performers and/or the adults who visibly control them.

I think I need to go back to Rainbow House again tonight (I’ve been going to see Renuka every few days) in order to remind myself that there is another way and that it’s possible, through the work of El Shaddai and other charities, for children in Goa to have a different, brighter, more hopeful future.

[Via http://thegenderblog.com]

Throat chakra (13 Feb 2010)

I sing the Gayartri Mantra
The entire plane ride into India
I may be singing for enlightenment

But really I’m subduing the little patterings of fear

India. Holy Mother, I’m entering into
The domains of destruction
Dancing with Shiva

With a man who kisses his feet
(The intoxicated devotee that he is)
And he rides the fastest bike in town

I confess; I love an adventure

He and I are an illusion
In love, out of love, in love
I fall completely free

To say I love you
Has a quality that sounds
Redundant. Love

Is all there is before the object (him)
And subject (me) ever existed
Take us out of the equation; I and You do not sustain

Truth. And I confess, the crakes
Are showing; it’s difficult to take
Myself as a known quantity

I am patterned, I can see that
(It plays out in my heat)
And I am strikingly independent

A Palm Reader who I have a crush on
Tells me I’m special; destiny is waiting
I see truth and contradictions in his reading

I see truth and contradictions in my beliefs
(mainly contradictions)
And when I stop for just a moment

Stop talking about Me, that is
I learn that rather than being left with
Nothing to say

It leaves me with Everything to express

[Via http://squashedmosquito.wordpress.com]

Being Paul Harris...

…apparently means that the day after getting excoriated in print by a famous cricket blogger, you rewrite history by setting a new record for the most wides sent down by a single bowler in a Test match innings (10, to be precise) while Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar frolic past on scores of 143 and 87 respectively.

Bloody hell.  I don’t particularly like Harris, but I almost – almost – want to give him a hug.

Also: that whole, hey-we-can-just-get-DeVilliers-to-keep-wicket-and-drop-old-man-Boucher thing is working out fabulously for South Africa, isn’t it?

…oh, wait.

Damn. Who came up with that one, again?

[Via http://longwayoff.wordpress.com]

Chapter 2: Don't Build A Car When You Need a Bullock Cart

Idea/Product can’t be applied universally: Even though we are in 21st century and in a global market an idea/product can’t be taken from place/country “A” and applied to place/country “B” without any understanding of the place/country “B”. Chapter: 2 in the book talks about Hindustan Motors Rural Transport Vehicle that was targeted to India’s rural segment, Tata Nano and other examples. Each of these examples is successful because the companies promoting them spent considerable time, resource and energy in understand the need of the market based on utility, price and need. It is also important for companies to know that compromising on product and quality will always fail whether the product is launched in developed or developing market. That is the reason companies like HM and M&M even though had vast experience in automobile industry still preferred to work with foreign companies to launch products targeted to specific segments.

Consumer Behavior: Understanding consumer behavior is very important when a company is trying to either enter a country for the first time with a product/products or when an established company is trying to launch a new product in an existing country of operation. As illustrated with examples of Amway and Domino’s Pizaa in developing countries consumers can either take a promotion or assurance in either positive or negative way that can have a bearing on the company. Again to restate it is important for a company to know firsthand who its consumer is and what kind of consumer culture they have. Based on that knowledge the company should provide offerings and/or educational programs to compensate.

Respect Power of Religion and Culture: Countries like India are very good examples of how diverse a population or target market can be. It is very important for companies whether multinationals or local to come up with offerings that don’t disturb religion and culture fabric. The book talks about McDonalds severing hala chicken products in Detroit and even McDonalds do sever Indian customers with halal and pure vegetarian products. McDonalds is a very good example of how a company has adopted itself to different cultural and religious fabric in developing countries. In India McDonalds severs its customer’s pure vegetarian and halal food and desist from serving beef products because of religious sentiments of consumers.

[Via http://mbagrad2010.wordpress.com]

Hindus gather for the Kumbh Mela at the Ganges in India and Maha Shivaratri in Nepal

Thousands of Hindu holy men, some naked and smeared with ash, took dips in the chilly waters of the Ganges river while surrounded by cheering, dancing supporters, on one of the most auspicious days of a festival expected to attract more than 10 million people

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/worldnews/7222387/pictures-Hindus-gather-for-the-Kumbh-Mela-in-India-and-Maha-Shivaratri-in-Nepal.html

[Via http://wotab.wordpress.com]

Will You Be My Valentine!!!

Another Valentine’s Day. Does not make any difference to folks like me, however wish to send across affectionate message to some people and some sections of mankind.

According to me, Valentine’s Day is about celebration of Love and Love is a serene Energy and just as Energy is in different forms like Solar Energy, Wind Energy, Kinetic Energy, Potential Energy, Nuclear Energy and all…..Love is in different forms like Love towards Parents, Love towards Siblings, Love towards Teachers,  Love towards friends, Love towards partners( if at all those creatures exist), Love towards nature and all.

However, I wish to send my valentine day wishes to the below people with a special message:

1) Sonia Gandhi ji :

Dear Sonia Aunty!!! You are personification of Grace. Love you loads. I really admire you for your leadership qualities and the way you manage UPA by having right people in right position. We are relieved to have a stable Government at the center under your effective leadership. However, I have an issue to discuss – Food Inflation. Food Inflation is 18%, prices of basic food products like rice, toor dal, onion and all are very high. If the prices further, it would be tough for majority of people in India to have proper complete meal in a day. Please do something more effectively to bring the prices in control.

Happy Valentine’s Day once again!!!

2) Sushma Swaraj ji :

Dear Sushma Aunty!!! Who deserves better valentine wishes than you who is celebrating birthday on valentine’s day. You are personification of Elegance. I have grown up watching your classy debating style. However, I have an issue to discuss. BJP is such a development oriented party and it brought excellent improvement in telecommunications and infrastructure in India during Shree Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s Prime ministership.  However, BJP is crumbling these days and this so sad. Indian Democracy needs a strong opposition party. Please make much more efforts to strengthen BJP in all the dimensions. It would be nice if BJP concentrates more on people’s issues rather than religion.

Happy Birthday and Happy Valentine’s Day once again!!!

3) Meira Kumar ji:

Dear Meira Aunty!!! Its very nice to have you as the speaker of Lok Sabha. You have done excellent job as an IFS. However, I have an issue. We send our MP’s to Parliament with lot of Hope and faith. We expect them to discuss them to discuss all the issues related to our development. Hope you ensure that in this 15th Lok Sabha MP’s are given proper time to discuss ‘useful issues’ and hope you ensure that they do not waste precious time during parliament proceedings in petty issues.

Happy Valentines Day !!!

4) Sabitha Indra Reddy ji:

Dear Sabitha Aunty!!!

Its very nice to have you as First Woman Home Minister of Andhra Pradesh. In fact, this is the first time that a woman is appointed as Home Minister for an Indian state. However, I have an issue to discuss. Because of the agitations in the state common people, daily laborers and  students are suffering.  It would be nice if you are more assertive and would like you to use your expertise to the maximum level.

Happy Valentine’s Day!!!

5) Karthika Reddy ji:

Dear Karthika Di!!! We are proud to have you as the First Woman Mayor of Hyderabad(GHMC). We are glad to have a a post-graduate in sociology as a Mayor. Indeed you are inspiration to all of us. However, I have an issue. Please make Hyderabad  much more better place. Please coordinate with the city police to control the traffic jams in the city.  Some of the roads in the city are really problematic. Please check all these issues and am hopeful that you will do all these successfully.

Happy Valentine’s Day!!!

Ok. First I need to draft emails for above ladies to ask “Will you be my Valentine”. It would be really my privilege to have a coffee with these powerful ladies of India.

Cheers,

Prasanna Rayaprolu

[Via http://rayaprolu.wordpress.com]

Let The Blame Game Begin

Oh Lord Shiva: how about a wicket?

After going through the pains of the 90’s, India’s journey to the top of the cricket world has been greatly satisfying. But yesterday, we were reminded of those pains all too well.

Dale Steyn unleashed his awesome skills on the Indians and was rewarded with a 10 wicket haul for just over 100 runs. Hashim Amla batted for 2 days and scored 20 more runs than the entire Indian team in the 1st innings. So what happened to the much vaunted Number 1 test team in the world?

Poor selection happened.

The blame is directly pointed at Kris Srikkanth and his band of inept morons. They dropped a season wicketkeeper in Dinesh Karthik for the uncapped Wriddiman Saha for no explainable reason. The morning of the 1st day, both Laxman and Rohit Sharma were deemed unfit which left the team management no choice but to include young Saha.

Saha was out for a duck in the first innings, his nervousness getting the better of him against a fiery in swinging ball. Why Virat Kohli, the best young batsman in the country, had no place in the squad despite his recent successes in the one-day game remains a mystery.

Then, to prove their ineptness to the world, the selectors picked four fast bowlers ven though India had no intention of changing from their 2-seamer-2-spinner strategy? One of the selectors told Ravi Shastri that Abhimanyu Mithun was picked because they “wanted to have a look at him.” All this when we desperately lacked a quality batter.

Damn this was easy!

Is this sport or a beauty pageant?

Saying that, the team is in desperate need of a bowling overhaul. Ishant Sharma labors in like a camel after a long Sahara sojourn and Amit Mishra’s spin is as threatening as a schoolgirl bowling underarm. And then there’s Harbhajan Singh. He can consider himself lucky for picking up 2 wickets. His bowling was pathetic.

Saying that, credit to the Proteas for their performance. They outclassed the hosts and pushed them into an embarrassing loss. With just 1 test match left and Steyn troubling batsmen with both conventional and reverse swing, there is little hope for India to walk away with a 1-1 draw.

And *poof*! There goes the much vaunted Number one ranking.

[Via http://catch14.wordpress.com]

"Body's Revenge", and "Oats Fight Back!"

Grrrr….angry, aren’t ya?

I’m convinced my body is still punishing me for the way I treated it this past weekend on my trip to Montreal with Alexis and Jessica…let’s just say some things that I normally do not go NEAR entered my body in large quantities at a fast rate! (To clarify: I am not referring to any illegal substances. ha!)

And, rightly so. I’ve been treating it very well the past couple months and so clearly this would be a shock to the system! However, I had no idea that this “detox” would go on for so many days, but I really think my body’s weirdness lately has had something to do with it!

Saturday night = Groggy, tired. Stomach blahs. Tossed and turned in bed.

Sunday = Sick to stomach. No appetite. Tossed and turned in bed.

Monday = Woke up at 6:40am. Sore knees. Fatigue. Tossed and turned in bed.

Tuesday = Woke up at 4:40am. Fatigue. Major blahs and icky food cravings.

Did you see that? I woke up at twenty to five in the morning. Attempted to sleep, but felt too twitchy. Decided to lay in bed an listen to my ipod in the hopes of falling back asleep. At 5:15 I was still awake and my tummy was rumbling. Ugh!

Got up. What else am I going to do? I thought I might as well get an early start and maybe try and cram some work in before I went to school to meet Milena (to talk about yoga/india!) at 9:15.

Clumsily made steel cut oats. Really clumsily. I dropped a few things, spilled stuff, cracked my egg yolk into the white and had to try and spoon it out….ugh. Tried the “pumpkin pie” twist – adding in canned pumpkin and spices.

It was super ehhhhrwwwhrhehhh. And that is my expression to state that it was pretty…bleeehhh…the pumpkin made the texture….pumpkiny. It was too much of the wrong texture and the pumpkin taste was too overpowering. And it made SO much. Again, my 1/4 c oats, 1/2 c almond milk and pumpkin expanded to over 2 cups of oatmeal! I think this has something to do with soaking the oats overnight – they expand a LOT more.

Anyway, I ate it, and felt ok as I fininshed, but afteward started to feel super full, my belly felt all distended and gross!Looks like my body had perhaps finally said: “TOO MUCH OATMEAL!” (Isn’t it ironic?)

I was starting to yawn again though, so I tried rolling back into bed at about 6:30. Finally…SLEEP!

I woke up again at 8AM when my alarm went off. Still felt gross.

Since then today has just been super off! I haven’t had much of an appetite but have been having all these weird food cravings (ie. popcorn, curry) that I don’t normally have.

I went to the gym in the afternoon but after a 30-min full-body workout on the True Total Body Trainer (which, by the way, make you look like a total idiot as you stand on the sides and push/pull the handles…oh man….)….I was DONE. I wrapped up with a few quick pushups, crunches and stretches, and then I essentially let my mind melt for 20 minutes in the sauna. That was nice.

Tonight has been uneventful. I have to get cracking on my work. I just have no motivation whatsoever. It’s the worst feeling. I’m going to have to start isolating myself at St. Paul’s library again…it’s so nice and quiet and small, and walking distance to my house…it’s the only thing that works!

Okay. I’m going to post this, close my window, and bring up my good ol’ media coding sheets. Waaahhhh….

Oh, and for the record, tomorrow I am not having oats. I think I’m going to go for a good ol’ bagel with pb instead. haha.

*cross your fingers my body decides to stop hating me. soon.*

[Via http://briogusto.wordpress.com]

The Pooh-Pooh of Maharashtra Politics [2]

Every newspaper around the corner is busy criticizing Shiv Sena. We as part of the so called educated middle class of India safely stick to the words “Equality, Liberty, Rights, Duties, etc” written in our constitution. Let us not forget that the laws are formed by men and where you find the laws most numerous, there you will find also the greatest injustice. It astonishes me to find that most of my countrymen are not able to see both sides of the problem.

According to me migration is the mother of all problems. If Bihar is not able to employ its uneducated youth, then why should Mumbai bear the grunt of excessive population and poverty. Mumbai, the great metropolitan of India, is slowly disintegrating into slums as a result of 300-400 families entering into it on daily basis. How are we planning to support them? Aren’t the resources and the overstretched infrastructure already eaten up? Are we not facing huge traffic jams on every nook and corner of the city? What happens if all the Biharis enter into Mumbai one day and take up all the menial jobs which were once kept for the undereducated Marathi youth? And what about the development of Bihar which will ultimately be devoid of its labor force? Why are we trying to make Mumbai a power house of everything while leaving Manipur or Nagaland to develop on their own? These are the questions we must ask ourselves before criticizing the basic ideology of “Mumbai for Marathis”. We just can’t afford to sacrifice one state in order to protect the other. So, I see nothing wrong in supporting Thackeray’s cause but certainly I don’t believe in his methods.

When we say migrants – we are mainly talking about the uneducated class who come into another city in search of a better job. It is important to understand that when a worker who comes all the way from UP to Mumbai, he is ready to do a work for a much lesser pay which otherwise would have been offered to a similar uneducated unemployed Marathi youth. So it is certainly a bad time for the Marathis. There is much unemployment already in India and to add to this if someone kicks you out of the job just because another person is doing it for a lesser pay, then surely this becomes a social problem which calls for a serious solution.

So, the migration has to stop and laws have to change. There must be some inter-state VISA laws in place just like the US. There should be work VISAS for a stipulated time or may be something like that which keeps a stringent check on the migrating labor. There has to be some development in each state. India just can’t move in a direction where the GDP of one state is almost 100 times that of the other. What I am talking looks like an Utopian philosophy since there is no such law even near to it. In fact some time back there was a buzz about separating Mumbai from Maharashtra and thus making it an independent state. The philosophy behind the separation was that Mumbai alone eats up the state budget whereas the other cities have to remain satisfied with a smaller amount. Don’t you think we are maintaining double standards when we say that?

Thackeray is demanding nothing but just that. He is supporting a Maharashtra for Marathi people. He wants it to be separated from the rest so that it could develop by its own, on its own and for its own lower class people amongst others. But at the same time we have to be critical of his means to achieve that. We can’t see the beating and killing of people coming to Mumbai for a Railway Exam. We can’t listen to the unreasonable insults done to our stars who have done nothing but maintained a politically correct stand on certain issues. We cannot bear the hate speeches made in public by the so called Sainiks against our North Indians. But may be one day it leads to some change in the policies. May be 5 or 10 years down the line, we have a law which checks on migration. And we begin to witness the laws which have a moral basis and have an inner compelling force for every citizen to obey.

[Via http://smellinghorizons.wordpress.com]

Incredible India

It isn’t as if I was unaware of the way India functions in reality. Having been born & brought up there for over two decades I knew all the pros & con’s of this developing country. But living in the beautiful state of J & K I wasn’t much aware of how life is for a visitor. However during my recent 2 day visit to Agra, I got to see India from the eyes of a tourist. 

 On leaving the Indhira Gandhi International Airport I was well aware of the fact that the rest of Delhi wasn’t as developed as the airport. The moment we boarded the pre paid taxi, the reality of being in India started sinking in. The hotel we had booked was in Safderjung with Kamal Cinema being a nearby attraction. The moment we reached Safderjung, the taxi driver started showing his reluctance in looking for the hotel. We had to make him stop the taxi, enquire about the location & then move on. In spite of this he was clueless about which direction to choose & he had the audacity to blame us for not knowing where we had to go. Thankfully a scooterist had to go to the same place & he agreed to accompany us. Had he not been around, we might as well have spent the day arguing with the nut of a driver.

 Finally we did manage to reach our hotel in one piece. The next day we had to reach Fatehpur Skirl at the earliest so we booked the TAJ EXPRESS which would be leaving at 7:30 am from the Nizamudin Train Junction. Now for those of you who haven’t been to India, a visit to this junction is a nightmare. People, luggage, kids, beggars-you name it, everyone is everywhere all the time. People waiting for their trains which are running late by even 10 hours; people saying goodbye to their loved ones or coming to receive their loved ones. Its Jam packed. Luckily for us, it wasn’t much of a shock for we already knew what to expect. Our train got delayed & arrived at 8:30 am. Thankfully our A/C boogie was very comfortable & we enjoyed the four hour journey.

 We reached Agra Cant by about 12:15 pm. The moment we stepped on the platform we where hounded by taxi drivers, rickshaw wallas & beggars. They did everything in their power except pushing us into the taxi/rickshaw. Walking & bargaining with us till we reached the pre-paid taxi stand (which seemed to be more like run by the taxi wallahs than by the government). We booked a taxi to take us to Fatehpur Sikri; one of the worst travel decisions we made in this trip.

 The taxi wala had a second hand vehicle which he drove at a uniform speed of 60km/hr. Imagine our plight-without lunch or water we where in a taxi which had no A/C on the road. Our pleas to the driver to drive a bit quickly met with no response. He could sense that we where hungry so he stopped at a road-side restaurant (dhabha) which he was advertising all through to be the best in Agra. That’s when we realized we where being exploited for the dhabha was less of an eatery & more of a tuck shop. We refused to get down & asked the driver to drive on. Very reluctantly he drove on.

Finally as if after an eternity we reached Fatehpur Sikri.That’ when another surprise greeted us. The taxi couldn’t go up to the Buland Darwaza. According to our driver the government had restricted the entry of taxis in view of the pollution they can cause to the monument. Fair enough we thought till he added that an auto would take us there! Autos don’t cause pollution?!?We where absolutely furious but he was unfazed. The moment we got down from the taxi we where again hounded by the auto Walla’s (something we had started getting used to). They wanted us to pay 50 Rs for the small almost wakable distance from the taxi stand to Buland darwaza. It was because we paid no heed to their walking alongside us & bargaining that they finally agreed to take us there for 15 Rs. I couldn’t but imagine what the foreign tourists are charged. They don’t even know the language.

 

 We finally reached the Buland Darwaza, after a satisfying lunch at a local restaurant. Once we set foot inside, we where again hounded by self proclaimed guides who where claiming to be government employees / local students (obviously they would charge bakshish at the end of their tour). The sheer absence of any government guide/body around the monument was appalling. This was Fatehpur Sikri, which dates back to 1570 AD.

 The visit to the dargah of Sheikh Salim Chisti was very refreshing & soul enriching. After that we went to Jodha Bhai’s Palace. Here we saw how suspicious Indian’s can get. The ticket collector took us to be foreigners but our Urdu confused him. He however gave the tickets. The palace is a dream in red for sure. The Diwan-i-aim is truly a sight for the sore eyes. It has greenery, parrots, shade & the finest of architecture. One can easily picture how life would have existed for Jodha bhai back in time.

 Finally at about 5 pm it was time to head back to the taxi. We had to escape from hounding sellers who wanted to sell us necklaces, tavees, budding poets who would charge us just 5 Rs for each couplet & what not. We finally reached the taxi & left .En route the driver again began sympathizing with us telling us we better stay at a hotel which was just near the Taj with the best facilities (we happened to talk amongst ourselves about getting a hotel near Taj). At the same time his boss called him & he told us to talk to him. We refused to talk to his boss who was talking about arranging a hotel for us. This seemed to anger the driver but we held our ground. It was indeed funny to see him angry & us singing Hindi songs to infuriate him even more.

 In the middle of traffic his car broke down & we had to push it for some distance before it started. When we did reach around Taj we where again hounded by hotel owners who wanted to strike a deal. Finally we decided to finalize one hotel; from nowhere the driver came out & began negotiating with the hotel owner. As we looked on he did manage to lower the price by about 100 Rs, act as our well wisher & of course earn his commission.

 We went to sleep straight off to wake up by 6 am the next day. It was like a dream come true-visiting the Taj, a dream in white marble. There where separate ques for Indian’s & foreigners. It was interesting how local self-proclaimed guides where nearly stalking foreign tourists. My camera stand was not allowed inside the Taj for reasons best known to them. Perhaps I might have used it to break some pillars!!

An American standing next to me was fuming too. His videocam had inbuilt mike (like all videocams) & because of that he either had to remove the mike from the cam or leave the cam outside! How hilarious can the security folks get? This is one of the wonders of the world for its architecture, beauty & history not because of the moronic security reasoning. I do hope they realize it sooner though.

 Once inside we left all the bad vibes behind. The Taj has a mesmerizing effect on everyone. It was truly worth the trouble. Be it the ambience, architecture, eye to detail, location, peaceful environment et al. The exterior decorations have been emblazoned by Quranic passages in line with the Islamic prohibition against the use of anthropomorphic forms. Everything is just perfect. I was moved to see the tomb area. Though it was full of people, the moment we entered the iwan (an arch-shaped doorway) we found how peaceful a grave can be.

 I was surprised to know that the actual graves are in a relatively plain crypt beneath the inner chamber with their faces turned right and towards Mecca as Muslim tradition forbids elaborate decoration of graves. Then we strolled around the Taj & within an hour we left this mausoleum of royal love.

 My experience of just 2 days as a tourist in India where enough for a years time. India is a beautiful,developing country with a rich, multi cultural past & a vibrant present. If only its managed properly it can well be a major tourist attraction.

This time I saw  bargaining, stalking, getting frustated, hounded, taken for granted & what not but as I sat in the train on my way home only one tune was coming to my mind—-India, Incredible India

[Via http://kubramubashshir.wordpress.com]

India is on the road of anti-satellite capabilities: DRDO

India is making the “building blocks” of the technology to develop anti-satellite capabilities as part of its space security measures according to DRDO chief V K Saraswat .He was responding to queries on India’s plans to develop capabilities to destroy satellites in space while speaking on the sidelines of a function to sign MoUs between DRDO laboratories and private industries to commercialise technologies developed by the defence research organisation.Asked about the developments in the indigenous Ballistic Missile Defence programme, he said, “the (BMD) test is going to be conducted in February.” DRDO is working on the BMD programme, under which it is developing a system to destroy incoming enemy ballistic missiles both in space and in earth’s atmosphere.

read it here

[Via http://rashidfaridi.wordpress.com]

Upgrading Software

I downloaded and installed the windows 7 RC last year and it is the first windows I actually like. It just runs sooo well. I have it on the leveldesign machine and it will run out this year. I also put it on Mum’s new Compaq and she likes the OS too. Had to install Ubitmenue for her 2007 Office (3 licences for 3.000 Rupees – have to be activated in India though). Now I found out that the RC does not upgrade normally. You have to go and install the whole thing new. That is ok for me but not for Mum since I won’t be there to do it, so I looked on the internet and I can do it like this:
You buy windows7 ultimate to have a valid key. Then I take the files from the RC iso and change a value in the cversions.ini file located in the sources folder – The MinClient value needs to be below 7100. Done. Burn the iso to DVD or run Setup from the HD – you can now upgrade windows to the Final version (has to be ultimate) and type in the key from the bought Version. All this only to avoid backing up her files to an external harddrive (which she does not have) and bringing them back in again. … still risky. Might find a better solution.
Raghu is going to treat me with dinner in a location I choose – will pick his Cafe (wireless he he). And he promised to bring his credit card so we can setup an apple ID for him … about time.

[Via http://butterbaerchen.wordpress.com]

Hockey World Cup 2010 Schedule

Awesome! The countdown has begun. I am super-excited about Hockey World Cup 2010, being held in New Delhi, India and I am doing everything I can to promote it around my circle. Finally, those thirsty-for-hockey crows in India (like me) will have their thirst quenched.

Here are the teams and all the fixtures and match schedules you might want to remember.

Note: All matches will be played at Dhyan Chand National Stadium, New Delhi and the timing given for each match is according to IST( Indian Standard Time)

POOL TABLE:

POOL A POOL B Germany
Netherlands
Korea
New Zealand
Canada
Argentina Australia
Spain
England
Pakistan
India
South Africa

MATCH SCHEDULE:

28 February 2010
16:35 South Africa v Spain 28 February 2010
18:35 Australia v England 28 February 2010
20:35 India v Pakistan 1 March 2010
16:35 New Zealand v Canada 1 March 2010
18:35 Germany v Korea 1 March 2010
20:35 Netherlands v Argentina 2 March 2010
16:35 South Africa v England 2 March 2010
18:35 Pakistan v Spain 2 March 2010
20:35 India v Australia 3 March 2010
16:35 Canada v Germany 3 March 2010
18:35 Argentina v Korea 3 March 2010
20:35 New Zealand v Netherlands 4 March 2010
16:35 South Africa v Australia 4 March 2010
18:35 England v Pakistan 4 March 2010
20:35 India v Spain 5 March 2010
16:35 Korea v New Zealand 5 March 2010
20:35 Germany v Argentina 5 March 2010
18:35 Netherlands v Canada 6 March 2010
16:35 Australia v Spain 6 March 2010
18:35 South Africa v Pakistan 6 March 2010
20:35 India v England 7 March 2010
16:35 Korea v Canada 7 March 2010
18:35 New Zealand v Argentina 7 March 2010
20:35 Germany v Netherlands 8 March 2010
16:35 Spain v England 8 March 2010
18:35 Australia v Pakistan 8 March 2010
20:35 India v South Africa 9 March 2010
16:35 Germany v New Zealand 9 March 2010
18:35 Netherlands v Korea 9 March 2010
16:35 Canada v Argentina Play off 11th\12th Position 11 March 2010
15:35 POOL A 6th v POOL B 6th 9th\10th Position 12 March 2010
15:35 POOL A 5th v POOL B 5th 7th\8th Position 12 March 2010
18:05 POOL A 4th v POOL B 4th 5th\6th Position 12 March 2010
20:35 POOL A 3rd v POOL B 3rd Knockout Stage Semi-finals 11 March 2010
18:05 Winners of Pool A Match 31 Runner Up of Pool B 11 March 2010
20:35 Winners of Pool B Match 32 Runner Up of Pool A Third place play-off 13 March 2010
18.05 Losers of Match 31 Match 33 Losers of Match 32 Final 13 March 2010
20.35 Winners of Match 31 Match 34 Winners of Match 32

[Via http://voice2revolt.wordpress.com]

Praying to the God of fertility by the Bay of Bengal & shoe shopping!

Tuesday February 2nd

This morning marked a major triumph for me and my computer. After three evenings, over 9 hours on skype, speaking with  19 individuals from Microsoft, 6 different hotline phone numbers,  one return and repurchase, my Microsoft programs now work again!  I have never been so frustrated in my life or wished that I had taken a computer class during college.

Today we visited the temples of Mahabalipuram and lounged in the afternoon. (Well everyone else lounged and I caught up on this blog). I must admit that sitting in a lounge with the ocean to my left, fabulous scenery all around, and a glass of sweet lime juice was pretty fantastic!

Mahaballipuram was a very small town lined by the ocean on one side and stone carvings on the other side. The temperature was warm and the sun shone strong. Thanks to a lovely cool breeze, I was in heaven.

Today’s guide was the first poor guide that we had. Unfortunately, I could not understand most of his discussion. The few tidbits that I did understand with regards to these temples –

These temples were built during the 7th and 8th Century AD. They depicted many scenes of the King and his girlfriends. The people that once lived here prayed to the gods asking for fertility for their women to bare many sons. I realize that these sentences do not explain much. I will have to do some further research. Until then please enjoy the photos from my walk around.

Can you imagine if church was beside the sea? Perhaps more people would attend more often!

 

  

 

 

 

What trip to visit temples wouldn’t be complete without buying a pair of sandals!  Everywhere in this town were men making beautiful leather flip flops …I couldn’t resist!

 

Dinner in town tonight at Moondancers: King fish steak cooked in butter garlic sauce, chips, and white wine.

[Via http://curlyrobin.wordpress.com]