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Friday, December 26, 2008
Pakistan in Soup
The sole existence of the state of Pakistan has been towards countering India. Till recently, Indian policies have also been so unidimensional - which has been changing slowly. When you have such policy you are limited by your enmity. You have a reason to keep the enmity going since your source of power and control over your citizens depend on it.
After winning 3 wars and a skirmish, India has been confident and has concentrated on education and science research. Sure it is still one of the poorest countries, with majority poverty and health issues. But the positive advances in science and education will eventually get trickled down to thee poor. Do you mean the Europe in middle ages did not have any poors? As Dickens described the time of growth and change , "It was the best of time, it was worst of times" - your development should not wait for poverty to be eliminated.
Pakistan on the other hand, lacked the resources to increase and maintain its armed forces. So they trained and motivated militants to do the proxy war for them for 3 decades. This is a country where the military leadership has uprooted democracy 3 times since their independence some 60 years ago. Every time the going gets tough for the army due to soft political leadership, or they don't get enough funds for themselves, or when their authority is in question, they readily take control. There are some wild media speculation that the whole Mumbai carnage was a attempt by the army to re-assert itself. They wanted to withdraw from the western front and moved their troops to the Indian side. In other words, Pakistan is determined to start a war with India.
India has been walking a tight rope after the incident. On one hand the fuming public opinion for a strike against Pak, the other hand the Pakistan army which would readily dislodge the elected government in case of a war. Yet another facet is the US pressure to not go to war since it will affect their interests of Pakistan fighting on the Afghan border. As per Pakistani politicians, ISI director chief was supposed to travel to India, which the army quickly overruled.The Pakistani minister who was in India for the talks was airlifted/forced to leave early on a army aircraft. They has caught the chief of LeT, later they refused saying he is still at large. This lag between the fact and manufactured fiction clearly show the army pulling the strings. Meanwhile the Pakistan army has been using public hatred agaisnt India and reasserting itself with the people and the terrorists (going on for past 2-3 months). Then came the news from dear Mujahideen chief,who has been fighting with the Pakistani army all this time, that they would provide 15000 men to fight against any Indian aggression. All in all, Mr.Bush has been taken for a ride all this time - thinking Pakistan would really act against the Taliban or any terrorists. Also the links between the army and the militants are becoming clear. We Indians have been dealing Pak for quite sometime, so we know them
Another comedy that was played out was Zardari saying Pakistan wont be using nuclear devices first. Now his defense minister is repeating the same statement. Who are they kidding? they have no real power to command the army to not use the nukes! Pakistan has been arresting Indians linking them with their own bombings and asking India to close terror camps on its side - a meek act of desperation, doesn't hold any water. But one aspect is very clear - Pakistan doesn't want the military tension to subside though any diplomatic measure. They want a war at all cost. Reasons? I can think of few - their army consolidating public support and militant support, an hopeless collapsing economy, the Chinese pulling the string behind stage to stop Indian growth, etc. Indians have been very active diplomatically with all of world power, now it is reaching out to Pakistan's allies too to put pressure on Pakistan. A war may cost both India and Pakistan a lot in terms of military expenses, stock market crashes, loss of Foreign Direct Investments, possible sanctions, not to mention the risk of the conflict turning Nuclear and spreading beyond just India and Pakistan.
But I don't think it will get to that. Hope the allies (China, Iran and Saudis) talk some sense to Pakis. The change that India is asking is too great to come about in a few weeks or months - Pakistan cannot anger the very terrorists it is harboring. They bred a dangerous terror network and now would have to either dismantle it or go to war - either ways they have a major problem at hand. It is time Pakistan starts showing some responsibility as a nation - else it may have to switch sides from "War on terror" to "Axes of evil".
After winning 3 wars and a skirmish, India has been confident and has concentrated on education and science research. Sure it is still one of the poorest countries, with majority poverty and health issues. But the positive advances in science and education will eventually get trickled down to thee poor. Do you mean the Europe in middle ages did not have any poors? As Dickens described the time of growth and change , "It was the best of time, it was worst of times" - your development should not wait for poverty to be eliminated.
Pakistan on the other hand, lacked the resources to increase and maintain its armed forces. So they trained and motivated militants to do the proxy war for them for 3 decades. This is a country where the military leadership has uprooted democracy 3 times since their independence some 60 years ago. Every time the going gets tough for the army due to soft political leadership, or they don't get enough funds for themselves, or when their authority is in question, they readily take control. There are some wild media speculation that the whole Mumbai carnage was a attempt by the army to re-assert itself. They wanted to withdraw from the western front and moved their troops to the Indian side. In other words, Pakistan is determined to start a war with India.
India has been walking a tight rope after the incident. On one hand the fuming public opinion for a strike against Pak, the other hand the Pakistan army which would readily dislodge the elected government in case of a war. Yet another facet is the US pressure to not go to war since it will affect their interests of Pakistan fighting on the Afghan border. As per Pakistani politicians, ISI director chief was supposed to travel to India, which the army quickly overruled.The Pakistani minister who was in India for the talks was airlifted/forced to leave early on a army aircraft. They has caught the chief of LeT, later they refused saying he is still at large. This lag between the fact and manufactured fiction clearly show the army pulling the strings. Meanwhile the Pakistan army has been using public hatred agaisnt India and reasserting itself with the people and the terrorists (going on for past 2-3 months). Then came the news from dear Mujahideen chief,who has been fighting with the Pakistani army all this time, that they would provide 15000 men to fight against any Indian aggression. All in all, Mr.Bush has been taken for a ride all this time - thinking Pakistan would really act against the Taliban or any terrorists. Also the links between the army and the militants are becoming clear. We Indians have been dealing Pak for quite sometime, so we know them
Another comedy that was played out was Zardari saying Pakistan wont be using nuclear devices first. Now his defense minister is repeating the same statement. Who are they kidding? they have no real power to command the army to not use the nukes! Pakistan has been arresting Indians linking them with their own bombings and asking India to close terror camps on its side - a meek act of desperation, doesn't hold any water. But one aspect is very clear - Pakistan doesn't want the military tension to subside though any diplomatic measure. They want a war at all cost. Reasons? I can think of few - their army consolidating public support and militant support, an hopeless collapsing economy, the Chinese pulling the string behind stage to stop Indian growth, etc. Indians have been very active diplomatically with all of world power, now it is reaching out to Pakistan's allies too to put pressure on Pakistan. A war may cost both India and Pakistan a lot in terms of military expenses, stock market crashes, loss of Foreign Direct Investments, possible sanctions, not to mention the risk of the conflict turning Nuclear and spreading beyond just India and Pakistan.
But I don't think it will get to that. Hope the allies (China, Iran and Saudis) talk some sense to Pakis. The change that India is asking is too great to come about in a few weeks or months - Pakistan cannot anger the very terrorists it is harboring. They bred a dangerous terror network and now would have to either dismantle it or go to war - either ways they have a major problem at hand. It is time Pakistan starts showing some responsibility as a nation - else it may have to switch sides from "War on terror" to "Axes of evil".
Monday, December 22, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Test For Democrats
Democratic party of US is generally more appreciative of China than India. There are multiple instances where this trend is clearly set by many presidents. Now the recent closeness of Indo-US cooperation on the nuclear deal, weapon sales etc under the Bush administration may not be ever lasting. Obama has to be watched carefully for the next year or two to find out the true intention of US towards India.
Let us see a chain of event that happened before the Mumbai Attacks
Some things that are going shape immediate future of Indo-US relationships are the US intelligence community, US Economy and policies to correct the slump, How active China is in their diplomacy with US and how close they go to Russia. It is an increasingly multi-polar world with very complex interactions and vague and uncommitted relationships between nations. Obama is taking center stage, let us just wait and watch...
Let us see a chain of event that happened before the Mumbai Attacks
- Before the elections - Obama was talking for a finding a solution for the Kashmir issue between India and Pakistan. He was so keen he has meeting with Mr Clinton to get his experience and advice on this matter
- Pakistan gets invited to a secret meeting with the Chiefs of staff to discuss about the future role they should play in the war on terror.
- After winning the elections, Obama was rightly adviced by someone that Kashmir is too hot an issue to take up immediately after taking the chair. Every single US president who thought they are going to resolve Kashmir has learnt their lesson the hard way. There is too much sentiments on both sides of the border.... not advisable if you want good relationship with India
- Zardari is so open and soft when this meeting gets over. He was for open trade and free movement of civilians - without need for passports. (You have to remember the backdrop that infiltration by militants and bombing of innocent civilians on the Indian side makes it very difficult for India to suddenly start trusting pakistan
- Zardari call the infiltrators for the first time, as "Terrorists" in sharp contract to the official Pakistani position of calling them "Freedom fighters"
- Zardari goes a step further than that and said this ""I can assure you that Pakistan will not be the first country to use [nuclear weapons against India],..". Let me get this straight. So I believe China or someone else first nukes India, only then would Pak join the fight?
- The Pakistani president should be appreciated for the open steps he is taking. But is this his idea or Uncle Sam's?. Whatever be it, I think this guy is so radical that he will be assassinated soon.
Some things that are going shape immediate future of Indo-US relationships are the US intelligence community, US Economy and policies to correct the slump, How active China is in their diplomacy with US and how close they go to Russia. It is an increasingly multi-polar world with very complex interactions and vague and uncommitted relationships between nations. Obama is taking center stage, let us just wait and watch...
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
War Not An Option
War is not an option for India. We are having a golden streak of economic progress and growth (despite the global slowdown). The last thing that the Indian government would want is a war against Pakistan. So what are our options?There are at least four distinct "powers" inside the Terrorist State of Pakistan (TSP). The name-sake dummy democratic government (DDG) , the Army, the Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) and the religious extremists. Of these only two that agree with each other, occasionally, are the Army and the ISI. The Army is the most powerful of the four - it can overthrow the elected government, as it has in the past.
In the present globalized world, with so many nuclear powers, any small skirmish can potentially turn into a nuclear conflict. Especially when you ground forces are not equally matched. As any other asymmetric war, Pakistan would suffer heavier losses than India (due to our depth and numbers). Once it becomes desperate, there is no stopping them from using the Nuclear arsenal against India. But it will not - none of the conflicts we have seen after WW-II has been allowed to escalate to a nuclear war. Having nuclear capability does not serve as a deterrent against a conventional attack. With a no-first use policy of India (and recently TSP too..), I don't think a nuclear conflict is even remotely possible.
Diplomatic and international pressure on TSP
Both Uncle Sam and Chinks have spoken out against the TSP. China is tightening its borders with TSP to stop the terrorists crossing over to its territory. The Muslim militia inside China has been trained in Pakistan. Be it Uncle Bush or Uncle Obama, they are trying to find an strong ally in India. The international community should put pressure on the elected government to prove its authority. Downsize the ISI, providing the Indians with the wanted criminals they are harbouring, US should ask for usage reports of the F16s and military hardware that they have donated to TSP to fight the war on terror. And unless these things happen and we see the DDG getting some control over matters, sanctions should start on Pakistan
Asserting Intentions/Loyalties
TSP should be asked to declare its policies and success/failures in curtailing the terror outfits within its borders. There should be an international team - probably from UN - monitoring the arrests and outlawing of terror outfits. Every time the TSP outlaws an outfit, it assumes a new name and office, and continues to thrive. Pro-Islam extremists become passive fund-raisers for islamist all around the world - only to re-arm themselves. As we already discussed, there there are four distinct powers operating in TSP, loyalties are dispersed, non-existent. This would make the job very difficult in tracking of any ground results and stern anti-terror initiatives that TSP starts.
Even as a state, TSP has been opportunistic and uncommitted about its friends. It is probably the only country which is so close to China while maintaining an equally good relationship with the US. It gets international monetary and military aid from UK, US, France, Italy, UAE, China and still cribs about them in some manner. The glorious relationship between TSP and China has also been put under the Chinese microscope after findings that the Islamic militia inside China was trained by Pakistan. It is high time TSP comes out loud and clear about its association and friends. As of now the only clear policy they have is their anti-Indian mindset.
Unless they get a hold of themselves and declare their loyalties to the international community, they are going to further lose credibility, not that much of it is still left.
End of the line
UAE, China and IMF from whom TSP has been borrowing a lot of money are now denying further loans. After the recent terror attacks inside TSP hotels hospitals etc, corporates and multinationals are leaving TSP for good. Uncle is increasingly siding with India. Other major economies like Japan, Brazil, South Africa etc wont be investing much in TSP. Only undecided factor is Russia. If for some reason China and Russia decide to support TSP, which I HIGHLY doubt, then there is a fresh lease of life for these A-holes. India should convince other international players for putting new sanctions on TSP. India should prove/convince the UN bodies that the loans given are diverted to purchase of military equipments. The marketing statement of India Inc., should change from "India Shining.." to "Pakistan Stifling..".
Personally, I would like to see the current Anarchy get worse in TSP. It is a state which has failed miserably to its own crooked policies. They started with a negative "anti-India" stance. They took up to train terrorists against India, without understanding the dangers. Now those same elements have an different agenda than their state - they started killing innocent Pakistanis.
Next few weeks would be interesting - like to see if India has the political guts and inclination to for cross border raids.
In the present globalized world, with so many nuclear powers, any small skirmish can potentially turn into a nuclear conflict. Especially when you ground forces are not equally matched. As any other asymmetric war, Pakistan would suffer heavier losses than India (due to our depth and numbers). Once it becomes desperate, there is no stopping them from using the Nuclear arsenal against India. But it will not - none of the conflicts we have seen after WW-II has been allowed to escalate to a nuclear war. Having nuclear capability does not serve as a deterrent against a conventional attack. With a no-first use policy of India (and recently TSP too..), I don't think a nuclear conflict is even remotely possible.
Diplomatic and international pressure on TSP
Both Uncle Sam and Chinks have spoken out against the TSP. China is tightening its borders with TSP to stop the terrorists crossing over to its territory. The Muslim militia inside China has been trained in Pakistan. Be it Uncle Bush or Uncle Obama, they are trying to find an strong ally in India. The international community should put pressure on the elected government to prove its authority. Downsize the ISI, providing the Indians with the wanted criminals they are harbouring, US should ask for usage reports of the F16s and military hardware that they have donated to TSP to fight the war on terror. And unless these things happen and we see the DDG getting some control over matters, sanctions should start on Pakistan
Asserting Intentions/Loyalties
TSP should be asked to declare its policies and success/failures in curtailing the terror outfits within its borders. There should be an international team - probably from UN - monitoring the arrests and outlawing of terror outfits. Every time the TSP outlaws an outfit, it assumes a new name and office, and continues to thrive. Pro-Islam extremists become passive fund-raisers for islamist all around the world - only to re-arm themselves. As we already discussed, there there are four distinct powers operating in TSP, loyalties are dispersed, non-existent. This would make the job very difficult in tracking of any ground results and stern anti-terror initiatives that TSP starts.
Even as a state, TSP has been opportunistic and uncommitted about its friends. It is probably the only country which is so close to China while maintaining an equally good relationship with the US. It gets international monetary and military aid from UK, US, France, Italy, UAE, China and still cribs about them in some manner. The glorious relationship between TSP and China has also been put under the Chinese microscope after findings that the Islamic militia inside China was trained by Pakistan. It is high time TSP comes out loud and clear about its association and friends. As of now the only clear policy they have is their anti-Indian mindset.
Unless they get a hold of themselves and declare their loyalties to the international community, they are going to further lose credibility, not that much of it is still left.
End of the line
UAE, China and IMF from whom TSP has been borrowing a lot of money are now denying further loans. After the recent terror attacks inside TSP hotels hospitals etc, corporates and multinationals are leaving TSP for good. Uncle is increasingly siding with India. Other major economies like Japan, Brazil, South Africa etc wont be investing much in TSP. Only undecided factor is Russia. If for some reason China and Russia decide to support TSP, which I HIGHLY doubt, then there is a fresh lease of life for these A-holes. India should convince other international players for putting new sanctions on TSP. India should prove/convince the UN bodies that the loans given are diverted to purchase of military equipments. The marketing statement of India Inc., should change from "India Shining.." to "Pakistan Stifling..".
Personally, I would like to see the current Anarchy get worse in TSP. It is a state which has failed miserably to its own crooked policies. They started with a negative "anti-India" stance. They took up to train terrorists against India, without understanding the dangers. Now those same elements have an different agenda than their state - they started killing innocent Pakistanis.
Next few weeks would be interesting - like to see if India has the political guts and inclination to for cross border raids.
Monday, December 01, 2008
Slap On The Face
Who other than our Indian politicians. The families of officers who laid down their life for the country, are showing their disgust at the politicians and their meagre "compensation" amounts.
Incident at Unnikrishnan's house..
http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=Cricket&id=7a915314-9119-4ad6-b6b7-56383bbcbb2b&&Headline=Kerala+CM+insults+slain+Major
Karkare's family dismisses the monetary help from Gujju CM.
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200811291543.htm
Nothing more shameful can ever happen to our politicians. This show the amount of frustration and the anguish that Indian public is under. The politicians have exploited this country, swindled billions of rupees, starved the armed forces of money and stifled their modernizations programs, disregarded the poor, bending to the wishes of the west..
This should come as a wake up call for these bl**dy politicians. The families of the martyrs are sending a message that they dont need the condolences and the puny compensation amount that they are providing. They are fed up with this press and the politicians creating a scene and disturbing the already troubled family.
Incident at Unnikrishnan's house..
http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=Cricket&id=7a915314-9119-4ad6-b6b7-56383bbcbb2b&&Headline=Kerala+CM+insults+slain+Major
Karkare's family dismisses the monetary help from Gujju CM.
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200811291543.htm
Nothing more shameful can ever happen to our politicians. This show the amount of frustration and the anguish that Indian public is under. The politicians have exploited this country, swindled billions of rupees, starved the armed forces of money and stifled their modernizations programs, disregarded the poor, bending to the wishes of the west..
This should come as a wake up call for these bl**dy politicians. The families of the martyrs are sending a message that they dont need the condolences and the puny compensation amount that they are providing. They are fed up with this press and the politicians creating a scene and disturbing the already troubled family.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Sending A Message
Look at the people targeted by this Terror strike... Leader of the Anti-Terrorist squad, encounter specialist of Mumbai police and other senior officers - The terrorists are sending a clear message...
They have clearly planned to whom to kill, when, where and what to do in India. It is simply amazing level of control and execution strength that they have displayed. It is an open challenge to the government and the officials. The bad thing is that they have been extremely successful in converting their plans to action. Where is the issue? Gathering intelligence? Taking action in spite of political constraints? Are the terrorist really getting smarter than the ones trained to nab them? In a country of more than a billions, isnt there enough eyes watching and reporting about the activities of these people?
Thing to look for is our government's attitude and way it is going to handle this crisis. The terrorists have the advantage as India is currently in the election process and the ruling part would not take any stern steps as it would loose the Muslim vote bank. Whatever is done from here on, the hunting of terrorists has suffered a huge blow and there is going to be no short term fix.
Hope none of the parties politicize this issue. Like to see some national integrity - a united face against terror. Please check some of the comments on NDTV. They represent a clear cross section of the Indian public opinion..
They have clearly planned to whom to kill, when, where and what to do in India. It is simply amazing level of control and execution strength that they have displayed. It is an open challenge to the government and the officials. The bad thing is that they have been extremely successful in converting their plans to action. Where is the issue? Gathering intelligence? Taking action in spite of political constraints? Are the terrorist really getting smarter than the ones trained to nab them? In a country of more than a billions, isnt there enough eyes watching and reporting about the activities of these people?
Thing to look for is our government's attitude and way it is going to handle this crisis. The terrorists have the advantage as India is currently in the election process and the ruling part would not take any stern steps as it would loose the Muslim vote bank. Whatever is done from here on, the hunting of terrorists has suffered a huge blow and there is going to be no short term fix.
Hope none of the parties politicize this issue. Like to see some national integrity - a united face against terror. Please check some of the comments on NDTV. They represent a clear cross section of the Indian public opinion..
Terror Attack Mumbai
Even your own pet DOG will take an aggressive position if you try to go near his food, leave alone beating or abusing. In India, we continue to tolerate these terror attacks for eternity.
Decades of the Chalta-he (its alright, let go) attitude of the Indian babus(IAS, IPS officers) and politicians have blunted our tools and dissolved our resolve to fight these infections. EVERY step of the fighting against these terrorists are reactive. Why do you allow these assholes to recuperate after you hit them? Why don't you continue to attack till they are completely eliminated?
Every time you talk of Indians being resilient and bouncing back to normal life, if breeds this compromising attitude. This has been our downfall. Pakistan which is one third our size has waged three full wars and Kargil misadventures. Because not being aggressive in this world is considered weak. Look at the West - US, UK. They seek out the source of terror thousands of miles away in Afghanistan and Iraq and wage massive wars. If you have to believe conspiracy theorist like Michael Moore, 911 itself was a planned implosion of the twin towers. And it is an established fact that Iraq never had weapons of mass destruction, even if they did, they did not possess the means to deliver it half-way across the globe to be counted as a threat. China recently crushed the Muslim rebels within its territory (while still holding the good relationship with Pakistan). Russians demolished Georgian military establishments to such an extent that it would take years to rebuild the infrastructure.
What all this proves is just one thing. Each of these country ensures the safety of their citizen, by PROACTIVELY engaging their enemy, even if that means moving troops and equipment half way across the globe. It is what defines your commitment level and resolve in solving your problems. Their actions come first and justifications come later, if at all. They don't give up until and unless the threat is completely wiped out. This is something Indians have to learn fast. What does not kill them, really DOES makes them stronger. The Anti-Terrorism-Squad, thought really well trained and equipped, are made to wait for the political and legal clearance - this is where the Indian system is slow - lacks a backbone to establish outgoing policies which go after these terror outfits. Currently though lot of the terror strikes are stopped from ever happening,obviously this does not seem to be enough.
There should be an active program to infiltrate these terror organizations from bottom up, put them on constant surveillance, go after any actionable intelligence, be it accurate or not. Anyone who is suspected to be terrorist should be tried with a specifically designed legal system - one that is a million time faster and always ends up in capital punishment. Losing a few Indians every week out of 1.1 billion of them may not be a major concern for the babus and politicians. They may be too afraid to loose the Muslim vote bank in India and not strengthen anti-terror laws. But somewhere you have to put you foot down and say THIS IS IT. For a country asking for permanent membership in UN Security council, country which is aspiring to become a superpower in 2020, a country which is aiming for the skies and stars, this is THE basic right it should start protecting - the right of innocent civilians to live.
Decades of the Chalta-he (its alright, let go) attitude of the Indian babus(IAS, IPS officers) and politicians have blunted our tools and dissolved our resolve to fight these infections. EVERY step of the fighting against these terrorists are reactive. Why do you allow these assholes to recuperate after you hit them? Why don't you continue to attack till they are completely eliminated?
Every time you talk of Indians being resilient and bouncing back to normal life, if breeds this compromising attitude. This has been our downfall. Pakistan which is one third our size has waged three full wars and Kargil misadventures. Because not being aggressive in this world is considered weak. Look at the West - US, UK. They seek out the source of terror thousands of miles away in Afghanistan and Iraq and wage massive wars. If you have to believe conspiracy theorist like Michael Moore, 911 itself was a planned implosion of the twin towers. And it is an established fact that Iraq never had weapons of mass destruction, even if they did, they did not possess the means to deliver it half-way across the globe to be counted as a threat. China recently crushed the Muslim rebels within its territory (while still holding the good relationship with Pakistan). Russians demolished Georgian military establishments to such an extent that it would take years to rebuild the infrastructure.
What all this proves is just one thing. Each of these country ensures the safety of their citizen, by PROACTIVELY engaging their enemy, even if that means moving troops and equipment half way across the globe. It is what defines your commitment level and resolve in solving your problems. Their actions come first and justifications come later, if at all. They don't give up until and unless the threat is completely wiped out. This is something Indians have to learn fast. What does not kill them, really DOES makes them stronger. The Anti-Terrorism-Squad, thought really well trained and equipped, are made to wait for the political and legal clearance - this is where the Indian system is slow - lacks a backbone to establish outgoing policies which go after these terror outfits. Currently though lot of the terror strikes are stopped from ever happening,obviously this does not seem to be enough.
There should be an active program to infiltrate these terror organizations from bottom up, put them on constant surveillance, go after any actionable intelligence, be it accurate or not. Anyone who is suspected to be terrorist should be tried with a specifically designed legal system - one that is a million time faster and always ends up in capital punishment. Losing a few Indians every week out of 1.1 billion of them may not be a major concern for the babus and politicians. They may be too afraid to loose the Muslim vote bank in India and not strengthen anti-terror laws. But somewhere you have to put you foot down and say THIS IS IT. For a country asking for permanent membership in UN Security council, country which is aspiring to become a superpower in 2020, a country which is aiming for the skies and stars, this is THE basic right it should start protecting - the right of innocent civilians to live.
Monday, November 24, 2008
The Philosophy of Hinduism - Mission Successfully Aborted!
The more data I try to collect, and try to encapsulate in one blog, the more difficult it is. These philosophies work as a system and not providing full details leaves it inaccurate/incomplete - Its like Binary - either 0 or 1 - nothing inbetween. I dont have the time to research everything that each school of thought has to say. Here are some links...
Wikipedia just scraps the surface - sometimes inaccurate too, but cant have a simpler starting point..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samkhya
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raja_Yoga
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyaya
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaisheshika
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mimamsa
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advaita_Vedanta - Detailed, but still only touches basics
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishishtadvaita
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dvaita
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddism - Pretty complete, with focus on evolution beyond India
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jainism
Wiki covers miniscule portions of the entire system. If you are interested, please download the following book – don't worry, they are so old that they are out of copyright. Worth their weight (or bytes I should say?) in gold.
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Most comprehensive series - by Surendranath Dasgupta (1922)
http://www.archive.org/details/indianphilosophy01dasguoft
http://www.archive.org/details/indianphilosophy02dasguoft
http://www.archive.org/details/indianphilosophy03dasguoft
http://www.archive.org/details/historyofindianp04dasguoft
http://www.archive.org/details/indianphilosophy05dasguoft
I have finished volume 1 and going strong on Vol2 - pretty lucid and simple style
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Swami Vivekanada's work - Major proponent of Advaita and Yoga philosophies
http://www.archive.org/details/completeworksoft029662mbp
http://www.archive.org/details/speecheswritings00viveuoft
http://www.archive.org/details/themysteriesofm05meaduoft
http://www.archive.org/details/vedntaphilosop00viverich
http://www.archive.org/details/inspiredtalks00viverich
http://www.archive.org/details/notesofsome00viveuoft - Nivedita about Swami Vivekananda
On Yoga
http://www.archive.org/details/vedaantaphilosop00viveuoft
http://www.archive.org/details/raajayogabeingle00viveuoft
http://www.archive.org/details/yogaphilosophyle00viverich
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Max Muller
http://www.archive.org/details/sixsystemsofindi005498mbp
http://www.archive.org/details/CollectedWorksOfTheRightHonFMaxMullerVolIX
http://www.archive.org/details/TheosophyOrPsychologicalReligion
http://www.archive.org/details/ThreeLecturesOnTheVedantaPhilosophy
http://www.archive.org/details/ramakrishnahisli005303mbp - About Ramakrishna Paramahans
http://www.archive.org/details/lecturesonorigi00mullgoog
Apart from this there is a series called "The Sacred Books of the East" many volumes of which are available for download from archive.org
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This should be a good open-source reference for people who are interested in Indian philosophy, and would hopefully change the perception of people who think ancient Indians were not as rich is philosophical thought than the ancient Greek or Romans or Europeans. As for me, other interesting things happening with global politics and economy that hard to neglect! More over, I would be more in-line with philosophy when I am 60, than when I am at 26...
Happy reading!
Wikipedia just scraps the surface - sometimes inaccurate too, but cant have a simpler starting point..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samkhya
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raja_Yoga
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyaya
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaisheshika
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mimamsa
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advaita_Vedanta - Detailed, but still only touches basics
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishishtadvaita
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dvaita
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddism - Pretty complete, with focus on evolution beyond India
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jainism
Wiki covers miniscule portions of the entire system. If you are interested, please download the following book – don't worry, they are so old that they are out of copyright. Worth their weight (or bytes I should say?) in gold.
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Most comprehensive series - by Surendranath Dasgupta (1922)
http://www.archive.org/details/indianphilosophy01dasguoft
http://www.archive.org/details/indianphilosophy02dasguoft
http://www.archive.org/details/indianphilosophy03dasguoft
http://www.archive.org/details/historyofindianp04dasguoft
http://www.archive.org/details/indianphilosophy05dasguoft
I have finished volume 1 and going strong on Vol2 - pretty lucid and simple style
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Swami Vivekanada's work - Major proponent of Advaita and Yoga philosophies
http://www.archive.org/details/completeworksoft029662mbp
http://www.archive.org/details/speecheswritings00viveuoft
http://www.archive.org/details/themysteriesofm05meaduoft
http://www.archive.org/details/vedntaphilosop00viverich
http://www.archive.org/details/inspiredtalks00viverich
http://www.archive.org/details/notesofsome00viveuoft - Nivedita about Swami Vivekananda
On Yoga
http://www.archive.org/details/vedaantaphilosop00viveuoft
http://www.archive.org/details/raajayogabeingle00viveuoft
http://www.archive.org/details/yogaphilosophyle00viverich
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Max Muller
http://www.archive.org/details/sixsystemsofindi005498mbp
http://www.archive.org/details/CollectedWorksOfTheRightHonFMaxMullerVolIX
http://www.archive.org/details/TheosophyOrPsychologicalReligion
http://www.archive.org/details/ThreeLecturesOnTheVedantaPhilosophy
http://www.archive.org/details/ramakrishnahisli005303mbp - About Ramakrishna Paramahans
http://www.archive.org/details/lecturesonorigi00mullgoog
Apart from this there is a series called "The Sacred Books of the East" many volumes of which are available for download from archive.org
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This should be a good open-source reference for people who are interested in Indian philosophy, and would hopefully change the perception of people who think ancient Indians were not as rich is philosophical thought than the ancient Greek or Romans or Europeans. As for me, other interesting things happening with global politics and economy that hard to neglect! More over, I would be more in-line with philosophy when I am 60, than when I am at 26...
Happy reading!
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
The Philosophy of Hinduism - An Intro (continued..)
My initial though was to get some one lined definitions for each of the different schools of thought in the Indian system. But will never do justice to the depth and breadth of the knowledge and thinking applied by the founders and followers of the respective schools. To say that this would be a herculean task is an understatement.
The bottom line is that readers familiar with western philosophies should appreciate that the Indian counterpart is quite different. In the west, most of the philosophies have been built upon earlier thoughts - a sequential, progressively more complex and complete system emerging from simpler systems. Evolution in west often brought forth the development of more coherent types of philosophic thought, but in India, though the types remained the same, their development through history made them more and more coherent and determinate. Most of the parts were probably existent in the earlier stages, but they were in an undifferentiated state; through the criticism and conflict of the different schools existing side by side the parts of each of the systems of thought became more and more differentiated, determinate, and coherent.
This complicates the learning process as one text will refer to, refuse, compare and contrast with other systems. Reader is supposed to know the other system to put things in perspective.
Vedas did not have much philosophical thoughts. Same goes with BrAhmanas and Aaranyakaas which immediately followed them. Vedas however, set the theme of Henotheism as the strong basis for Hinduism. Real philosophical thought came with the Upanishads (prose dating 700 BC to 500 BC). It is probably for this reason they were called vedanta ("veda-anta" meaning both 1. A trailer to the vedas and 2. A culmination of the vedic thought). Around 500 BC Buddhism also took root. Jainism, though slightly older than Buddhism, maintained a non-confrontational, non-influential parallel existence with Hinduism. The following are the major sects of philosophical thought within the Hindu system
The bottom line is that readers familiar with western philosophies should appreciate that the Indian counterpart is quite different. In the west, most of the philosophies have been built upon earlier thoughts - a sequential, progressively more complex and complete system emerging from simpler systems. Evolution in west often brought forth the development of more coherent types of philosophic thought, but in India, though the types remained the same, their development through history made them more and more coherent and determinate. Most of the parts were probably existent in the earlier stages, but they were in an undifferentiated state; through the criticism and conflict of the different schools existing side by side the parts of each of the systems of thought became more and more differentiated, determinate, and coherent.
This complicates the learning process as one text will refer to, refuse, compare and contrast with other systems. Reader is supposed to know the other system to put things in perspective.
Vedas did not have much philosophical thoughts. Same goes with BrAhmanas and Aaranyakaas which immediately followed them. Vedas however, set the theme of Henotheism as the strong basis for Hinduism. Real philosophical thought came with the Upanishads (prose dating 700 BC to 500 BC). It is probably for this reason they were called vedanta ("veda-anta" meaning both 1. A trailer to the vedas and 2. A culmination of the vedic thought). Around 500 BC Buddhism also took root. Jainism, though slightly older than Buddhism, maintained a non-confrontational, non-influential parallel existence with Hinduism. The following are the major sects of philosophical thought within the Hindu system
- Samkhya and Yoga
- Nyaya and Vaisesika
- Mimamsa (Purva Mimamsa)
- Vedanta(Uttra Mimamsa)
- Advaita and Vishitadvaita
- Dvaita
- Madhva/Smartism
- Bhagavat Gita - Karma and other philosophies
- Jainism and Buddhism
Friday, October 24, 2008
The Philosophy of Hinduism - An Intro
My earlier post on Hinduism.
This series should take a lot of reading to even start. Well, where do I begin? This is a tough one. Explaining something also complex as Hinduism, I immediately start admiring the likes of Richard Feynman and one of my college professors (who explains complex laws by finding parallels between thermal engineering, mofussil buses and Indian buffaloes and what not... brilliantly talented teacher) If only I could give down-to-earth examples and real-life analogies like them...
Sanskrit is generally regarded as a difficult language. But no one from an acquaintance with Vedic or ordinary literary Sanskrit can have any idea of the difficulty of the logical and abstruse parts of Sanskrit philosophical literature. A person who can easily understand the Vedas, the Upanisads, the Puranas, the Law Books and the literary works, and is also well acquainted with European philosophical thought, may find it literally impossible to understand even small portions of a work of advanced Indian logic, or the dialectical Vedanta.
The problem is due to use of highly condensed technical expressions, and hidden allusions to other doctrines of the time. Having a Guru explain and elaborate the text is the only way to learn it. This might have helped the ancient Indians to keep the secret meanings from the undeserving and immature of people. In modern times, many greats seers have published elaborate documentation and commentary to these texts in hopes to revive the language(Sanskrit), the philosophies and the ideas of the time. Again I want to reiterate that I am no expert in any content I quote here. This is just my latest fling with something I want to know more about. I keep reading stuff and the present topic is Indian philosophy. All my writings here are from books, websites - may be re-worded. But all sources are either in public domain or old enough to be out of copyright (~100 yrs).
This series should take a lot of reading to even start. Well, where do I begin? This is a tough one. Explaining something also complex as Hinduism, I immediately start admiring the likes of Richard Feynman and one of my college professors (who explains complex laws by finding parallels between thermal engineering, mofussil buses and Indian buffaloes and what not... brilliantly talented teacher) If only I could give down-to-earth examples and real-life analogies like them...
Sanskrit is generally regarded as a difficult language. But no one from an acquaintance with Vedic or ordinary literary Sanskrit can have any idea of the difficulty of the logical and abstruse parts of Sanskrit philosophical literature. A person who can easily understand the Vedas, the Upanisads, the Puranas, the Law Books and the literary works, and is also well acquainted with European philosophical thought, may find it literally impossible to understand even small portions of a work of advanced Indian logic, or the dialectical Vedanta.
The problem is due to use of highly condensed technical expressions, and hidden allusions to other doctrines of the time. Having a Guru explain and elaborate the text is the only way to learn it. This might have helped the ancient Indians to keep the secret meanings from the undeserving and immature of people. In modern times, many greats seers have published elaborate documentation and commentary to these texts in hopes to revive the language(Sanskrit), the philosophies and the ideas of the time. Again I want to reiterate that I am no expert in any content I quote here. This is just my latest fling with something I want to know more about. I keep reading stuff and the present topic is Indian philosophy. All my writings here are from books, websites - may be re-worded. But all sources are either in public domain or old enough to be out of copyright (~100 yrs).
The Philosophy of Hinduism - A series
Planning a series on the worlds this most populous "way of life". Without going into the religious aspects of it, would try to cover some scientific and philosophical aspects of this great idea. Very few people know enough about the ancient Indian philosophies in the global arena. Even 90% of Indians don't know how versatile the concept of Hinduism is.
We think of ancient India, we think of math, astronomy, invention of zero, chess, extravagant use of gold, diamonds etc. Little do people read and write about the rich Indian ideas, intricate and complex philosophical thought, sound foundations, the open-architecture with which Hinduism embraces and appreciates newer practices, the various streams of Vedanta, Yoga, the thought process of why the things are the way they are. It may take a lifetime to even list down gists of all the philosophies of Hinduism, let alone learning them or mastering them. So I will try to just give an birds-eye view of the concepts here.
This is not anti-AnyOtherReligion, in-fact it is not even about religion, though I would try to compare and contrast philosophical differences. Hinduism is colossal in its continuity(>5000 yrs), withstanding the rise and fall of Buddhism, Jainism, Islam and Christianity in India. More importantly it has let all these other religions thrive in India, while maintaining its own integrity and flavor.
We think of ancient India, we think of math, astronomy, invention of zero, chess, extravagant use of gold, diamonds etc. Little do people read and write about the rich Indian ideas, intricate and complex philosophical thought, sound foundations, the open-architecture with which Hinduism embraces and appreciates newer practices, the various streams of Vedanta, Yoga, the thought process of why the things are the way they are. It may take a lifetime to even list down gists of all the philosophies of Hinduism, let alone learning them or mastering them. So I will try to just give an birds-eye view of the concepts here.
This is not anti-AnyOtherReligion, in-fact it is not even about religion, though I would try to compare and contrast philosophical differences. Hinduism is colossal in its continuity(>5000 yrs), withstanding the rise and fall of Buddhism, Jainism, Islam and Christianity in India. More importantly it has let all these other religions thrive in India, while maintaining its own integrity and flavor.
George Bernard Shaw
Another one of my most influencial writers. I like the radical and revolutionary. So here goes some of my favorite quotes from GBS.
- You see things as they are and ask, "Why?" I dream things as they never were and ask, "Why not?"
- All great truths begin as blasphemies.
- The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.
- As long as I have a want, I have a reason for living. Satisfaction is death.
- The only time my education was interrupted was when I was in school.
- The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it.
- The secret of success is to offend the greatest number of people
- There is no love sincerer than the love of food
- War does not decide who is right but who is left.
- Shaw: Am reserving two seats for my show. Come bring a friend - if you have one. Winston Churchill: Impossible to be present for the first one. Will attend the second - if there is one.
- When two people are under the influence of the most violent, most insane, most delusive, and most transient of passions, they are required to swear that they will remain in that excited, abnormal, and exhausting condition continuously until death do them part.
- People are always blaming circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them.
- Optimistic lies have such immense therapeutic value that a doctor who cannot tell them convincingly has mistaken his profession
- Death is for many of us the gate of hell; but we are inside on the way out, not outside on the way in.
- Life does not cease to be funny when people die any more than it ceases to be serious when people laugh.
- The novelties of one generation are only the resuscitated fashions of the generation before last.
- I have to live for others and not for myself; that's middle-class morality.
- Independence? That's middle-class blasphemy. We are all dependent on one another, every soul of us on earth
- Animals are my friends ... and I don't eat my friends.
- Both optimists and pessimists contribute to society. The optimist invents the airplane, the pessimist invents the parachute
- America is the only country that went from barbarism to decadence without civilisation in between
- The only man I know who behaves sensibly is my tailor; he takes my measurements anew each time he sees me. The rest go on with their old measurements and expect me to fit them.
- What we want is to see the child in pursuit of knowledge, and not knowledge in pursuit of the child.
- The Indian way of life provides the vision of the natural, real way of life. We veil ourselves with unnatural masks. On the face of India are the tender expressions which carry the mark of the Creator's hand.
- The main difference between the opposition of Islam to Hinduism and the opposition between Protestant and Catholic is that the Catholic persecutes as fiercely as the Protestant when he has the power; but Hinduism cannot persecute, because all the Gods - and what goes deeper, the no Gods - are to be found in its Temples.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
Legalizing live-in relationship - My thoughts
This court decision has created such a row. I am not against this rule, but would demand that a lot of polishing be done before the rule turns law. What exactly the court said is
1. A woman in a live-in relationship for a "reasonable long period" automatically gets the status of a wife (legally)
2. Such a woman can claim same rights like alimony etc on a break up.
This issue is controversial because it tests the cultural and moral fiber of every Indian. is OK to be afraid of commitments, it is also fine to try out many people before settling for special someone. But where do you decide to draw the line? Where do you put your foot down and say that my life partner should have this much sanctity or chastity when-and-after she/he marries me? Being open-minded is one thing, being law-less is quite another, the latter is very easy. The current age is such that any new idea finds immediate following - another "-ism" starts; people are proud to the called themselves so-and-so "-ists".
Living with anyone for any amount of time and quietly getting separated is not living. It is surviving - I don't see any major difference between such a human and an animal. One argument is that people who live-in are taking a step towards a marriage or may eventually get married - so why talk of a break-up or alimony got by the girl etc? Look at the positive side...
My answer: Initial flair in any relationship is exploring each others qualities, likes, dislikes etc. You are trying to get together and hence all you look for is common ground. As time goes on, you take for granted the "good" qualities and all that shows up are differences. The differences may even be complementary to your own shortcomings - but UNLESS there is a social necessity to stay together to explore those differences and compromise, the the general tendency is to move away. Why need a marriage, if you explore everything in it without actually getting married? What are you achieving that you are so proud of?
Some of the f*cked up legal and logical knots I could think of due to this new liberalization:
1. Law is clearly one sided. Girls are encouraged to actively look for short term relationships, without any real incentive to "settle down". In fact, the more breakups they have, more alimony they get! Poor Guys, they are actively discouraged from getting into a live-in situation!!
2. Extreme difficulty in proving a live-in relationship due to lack any official/government document linking the man and the woman before marriage.
3. Guys are assholes. They think with their d*cks. The term "reasonably long period" has to be precisely defined. Once it is defined too, they will start breaking off 1 day before the "reasonably long period".
4. Polygamy which is illegal by current law, would be legalized now, if this is applied to the already polygamous.
5. I am not calling any women as a prostitute. But actual prostitutes can use this loophole to legalize themselves as wife of someone. Hence prostitution indirectly becomes legal.
6. Any government document like ration card, child's birth certificate, passport, insurance etc which requires your marriage certificate cant be obtained. Till the "reasonably long period" you wont get a marriage certificate, till you get that, you can get the other documents - vicious cycle
7. There can be two first sons for a guy. One who is born the first married, or the one who is born first. Numerous civil disputes which are currently settled, would be re-opened.
8. Once the relationship of "Husband" or "Wife" reduces in importance, logically, kids will become unnecessary burden. Kids have to be grow up on their own till the court cases are settled on who is to support them.
9. One women can get alimony from two or more guys for life. (Man I should have taken birth as a girl in this country)
10. Imagine the social plight of orphaned kids, wives who cannot live with the shame of their husbands having other "legal" wives, number of legal cases and necessity for DNA testing etc.
Road to hell is laid with the best intentions. Same way, this law came in to protect the rural women who have been cheated by men who are already married - trying to provide them same legal rights etc. There is a fundamental flaw in our thinking which has to change. We assume that the female is a helpless, gullible, economically dependent, weaker sex. Some of them are. But this law will not help as much as it helps the educated folk, who can exploit its weakness.
We Indians have a knack of working the holes in the law and this new law is build with holes alone.
1. A woman in a live-in relationship for a "reasonable long period" automatically gets the status of a wife (legally)
2. Such a woman can claim same rights like alimony etc on a break up.
This issue is controversial because it tests the cultural and moral fiber of every Indian. is OK to be afraid of commitments, it is also fine to try out many people before settling for special someone. But where do you decide to draw the line? Where do you put your foot down and say that my life partner should have this much sanctity or chastity when-and-after she/he marries me? Being open-minded is one thing, being law-less is quite another, the latter is very easy. The current age is such that any new idea finds immediate following - another "-ism" starts; people are proud to the called themselves so-and-so "-ists".
Living with anyone for any amount of time and quietly getting separated is not living. It is surviving - I don't see any major difference between such a human and an animal. One argument is that people who live-in are taking a step towards a marriage or may eventually get married - so why talk of a break-up or alimony got by the girl etc? Look at the positive side...
My answer: Initial flair in any relationship is exploring each others qualities, likes, dislikes etc. You are trying to get together and hence all you look for is common ground. As time goes on, you take for granted the "good" qualities and all that shows up are differences. The differences may even be complementary to your own shortcomings - but UNLESS there is a social necessity to stay together to explore those differences and compromise, the the general tendency is to move away. Why need a marriage, if you explore everything in it without actually getting married? What are you achieving that you are so proud of?
Some of the f*cked up legal and logical knots I could think of due to this new liberalization:
1. Law is clearly one sided. Girls are encouraged to actively look for short term relationships, without any real incentive to "settle down". In fact, the more breakups they have, more alimony they get! Poor Guys, they are actively discouraged from getting into a live-in situation!!
2. Extreme difficulty in proving a live-in relationship due to lack any official/government document linking the man and the woman before marriage.
3. Guys are assholes. They think with their d*cks. The term "reasonably long period" has to be precisely defined. Once it is defined too, they will start breaking off 1 day before the "reasonably long period".
4. Polygamy which is illegal by current law, would be legalized now, if this is applied to the already polygamous.
5. I am not calling any women as a prostitute. But actual prostitutes can use this loophole to legalize themselves as wife of someone. Hence prostitution indirectly becomes legal.
6. Any government document like ration card, child's birth certificate, passport, insurance etc which requires your marriage certificate cant be obtained. Till the "reasonably long period" you wont get a marriage certificate, till you get that, you can get the other documents - vicious cycle
7. There can be two first sons for a guy. One who is born the first married, or the one who is born first. Numerous civil disputes which are currently settled, would be re-opened.
8. Once the relationship of "Husband" or "Wife" reduces in importance, logically, kids will become unnecessary burden. Kids have to be grow up on their own till the court cases are settled on who is to support them.
9. One women can get alimony from two or more guys for life. (Man I should have taken birth as a girl in this country)
10. Imagine the social plight of orphaned kids, wives who cannot live with the shame of their husbands having other "legal" wives, number of legal cases and necessity for DNA testing etc.
Road to hell is laid with the best intentions. Same way, this law came in to protect the rural women who have been cheated by men who are already married - trying to provide them same legal rights etc. There is a fundamental flaw in our thinking which has to change. We assume that the female is a helpless, gullible, economically dependent, weaker sex. Some of them are. But this law will not help as much as it helps the educated folk, who can exploit its weakness.
We Indians have a knack of working the holes in the law and this new law is build with holes alone.
Legalizing live-in relationships - Excerpts
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/009200810110384.htm
Some Good Comments from TOI:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/opinions/msid-3178050,curpg-1.cms
Samarasimha, Toronto, says: So let me get this straight, the state will tell you if u r considered married or not because u lived together? So you don't need any consent from the man or the woman? What is this, we are kids now that need the gov't to tell us how to live our lives?
N Anand, Hyderabad, says: Maintenance should be payable by either partner if the other walks out. This will ensure protection against exploitation. People should realize that the Hindu marriage does not require sanctification through Mantra's or mangalsutra. Manusmriti describes many forms of marriage. Gandharva Vivaha is a form of marriage where two consenting adults come together in conjugal relationship. You only have to look at Mahabharata for Arjun and Bheem's examples. Nobody stayed with his partner for long. The girl does not get anything except the father's name and gothra for the child. However, in modern times, maintenance will help complete breakdown of justice.
Awareness498a, NCR, says: No rights without marriage. Any girl can claim that she has been in a live-in relationship without even meeting the boy even once. Live-in can't be precisely defined or easily proved. No legal terrorism, please.
avi, Bangalore, says: Lets take some scenarios. 1. If a man has multiple livin-relationships, then multiple women can be given legal status of wife. Then why no make marriages with multiple wifes legal. 2.If a man has wife as well as mistress, then he cannot be charged for adultery as the mistress is now promoted to wife.
Khalid Khan, Bangalore, says: We have been aping everything that the west has been doing. Now comes the Institution of Marriage. India is a country dsepite all the different religions and cultures the sanctity of the institution of marriage is still intact. By giving this status we are encouraging live in relationships. what are we looking at in another 20 years is a nation of Kids at school where a law will be made that the NAME OF THE FATHER NOT BE ASKED.Should we not denounce this culture and work towards making the situation more conducive to the sacred institution of marriage rather than ransacking KFC and the like.
Pratap, New York, says: Dear Mr. Editor: Then what is the point of promoting a marriage institution. We should waste no time to abolish these institutions as it leads to wastage of resources too. Advantages of promoting Live-In relationships are: 1) Less Wastage of Resources, less marriage expenses. 2) No Dowry, no Divorces. 3) Private life. No objections. Free to do whatever one wants. 4) Free society. No emotional baggage. No commitment Disadvantages (or, More Advantages for some): 1) No extended family. 2) No need to have government to descipline society as everyone is self-desciplined now. 3) No Karwa Chauth, no navratris, 4) No wedding ring, no mangal-sutra. 4) More sell of goods such as Viagra. 5) Promiscuous society. And many more...... Happy go lucky world ?
Dinesh, USA, says: If the NCW is so concerned about women then it should pay maintenance from its budget. After all, WCD gets 33000 Crores ruppes per year for women welfare from the taxpayer money (82% are paid by men). Why should the men be treated like ATM? It is clear that NCW wants to break home, create chaos in the society by providing financial motivation to women It is sad that NCW and WCD are creating inhuman environment for men which will ultimately destroy the indian society which we are proud of so much.
BharathiKumar, Chennai, says: Character has become the first scapegoat for these findings of National Commission for Women.This is one of the evils of movies and teleserials where that character is assasinated and show the badwomen as paragon of virtue.
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One interesting blog by Aquarius(Vineeta):
http://februarygirl.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/08/live-in-relationships-is-it-testing-the-waters-before.htm
A decade back when I was studying in Pune....the concept of live-in relationships had just started emerging. Many of my classmates were in one and few of those relationships eventually culminated into marriage.
There are conflicting views on this subject. Just today I was having a chat with "Shipra" a friend of mine who had no qualms about being in one. Her only condition was that both the partners should be unmarried and should be equally devoted to each other.
I beg to differ, I feel that a live in relationship takes away the zest and spice. In a marriage, its all about discovering new things about your life partner and even adjusting to it. Its a life long commitment.
In a live in relationship, I feel people are scared of commitments and so they need a testing period. The margin for error and tolerance levels are very low. They are already in doubt whether this relationship will work or not. These relationships are fragile. Most people enter into a Live -in relationship to test for compatibility or convenience. Studies have shown that people who Live-together before they marry have a higher tendency to get divorced.
A marriage gives so much of security to both partners. Both work towards making the relationship successful. There is stability and also financial security.
No strings attached is something which does not work for me. Test driving a relationship without the binding of commitment seems so pointless.
I feel that even though not all marriages end in happily- ever- after, the choice of going for a commitment like marriage in itself is a step towards lasting Happiness.
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Some comments:
Marriage is something more than relationship.The word Chastity or being faithful to each other is solemnised at the marriage function.
Until marriage one is only choosing (not yet chosen ) and both partners have freedom to break - it is not very desirable in the absence of commitment there won't be an element of sacrifice - or living your partner - an the relationship will be more of selfish nature.It has to start in a relationship and end in marriage then live in - this should be the order.May be I am a little old fashioned,but I want both partners to be safe and the children to know the name of both parents.
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I would like to differ on this ...its better to breakup before marriage then after ..before only two people are hurt, afterwords...lots of them ..marriage is not btw two individuals its btw two families ..and if a kid comes in picture ..its more worse....
So it has to break ..it can break anytime ..before or after marriage ..marriage these days do not guarantee a life long endless commitment...and as such it should not ..if two ppl are not compatible ...then why to just stay together for the heck of it ...daily hurting each other ...
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I don't know whether one should marry at all? To me it is rather an encroachment on my possibilities and freedom. I don't think I have tolerance for others short comings especially their baggages.
----------------
Some Good Comments from TOI:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/opinions/msid-3178050,curpg-1.cms
Samarasimha, Toronto, says: So let me get this straight, the state will tell you if u r considered married or not because u lived together? So you don't need any consent from the man or the woman? What is this, we are kids now that need the gov't to tell us how to live our lives?
N Anand, Hyderabad, says: Maintenance should be payable by either partner if the other walks out. This will ensure protection against exploitation. People should realize that the Hindu marriage does not require sanctification through Mantra's or mangalsutra. Manusmriti describes many forms of marriage. Gandharva Vivaha is a form of marriage where two consenting adults come together in conjugal relationship. You only have to look at Mahabharata for Arjun and Bheem's examples. Nobody stayed with his partner for long. The girl does not get anything except the father's name and gothra for the child. However, in modern times, maintenance will help complete breakdown of justice.
Awareness498a, NCR, says: No rights without marriage. Any girl can claim that she has been in a live-in relationship without even meeting the boy even once. Live-in can't be precisely defined or easily proved. No legal terrorism, please.
avi, Bangalore, says: Lets take some scenarios. 1. If a man has multiple livin-relationships, then multiple women can be given legal status of wife. Then why no make marriages with multiple wifes legal. 2.If a man has wife as well as mistress, then he cannot be charged for adultery as the mistress is now promoted to wife.
Khalid Khan, Bangalore, says: We have been aping everything that the west has been doing. Now comes the Institution of Marriage. India is a country dsepite all the different religions and cultures the sanctity of the institution of marriage is still intact. By giving this status we are encouraging live in relationships. what are we looking at in another 20 years is a nation of Kids at school where a law will be made that the NAME OF THE FATHER NOT BE ASKED.Should we not denounce this culture and work towards making the situation more conducive to the sacred institution of marriage rather than ransacking KFC and the like.
Pratap, New York, says: Dear Mr. Editor: Then what is the point of promoting a marriage institution. We should waste no time to abolish these institutions as it leads to wastage of resources too. Advantages of promoting Live-In relationships are: 1) Less Wastage of Resources, less marriage expenses. 2) No Dowry, no Divorces. 3) Private life. No objections. Free to do whatever one wants. 4) Free society. No emotional baggage. No commitment Disadvantages (or, More Advantages for some): 1) No extended family. 2) No need to have government to descipline society as everyone is self-desciplined now. 3) No Karwa Chauth, no navratris, 4) No wedding ring, no mangal-sutra. 4) More sell of goods such as Viagra. 5) Promiscuous society. And many more...... Happy go lucky world ?
Dinesh, USA, says: If the NCW is so concerned about women then it should pay maintenance from its budget. After all, WCD gets 33000 Crores ruppes per year for women welfare from the taxpayer money (82% are paid by men). Why should the men be treated like ATM? It is clear that NCW wants to break home, create chaos in the society by providing financial motivation to women It is sad that NCW and WCD are creating inhuman environment for men which will ultimately destroy the indian society which we are proud of so much.
BharathiKumar, Chennai, says: Character has become the first scapegoat for these findings of National Commission for Women.This is one of the evils of movies and teleserials where that character is assasinated and show the badwomen as paragon of virtue.
---------------------------------------------------------------
One interesting blog by Aquarius(Vineeta):
http://februarygirl.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/08/live-in-relationships-is-it-testing-the-waters-before.htm
A decade back when I was studying in Pune....the concept of live-in relationships had just started emerging. Many of my classmates were in one and few of those relationships eventually culminated into marriage.
There are conflicting views on this subject. Just today I was having a chat with "Shipra" a friend of mine who had no qualms about being in one. Her only condition was that both the partners should be unmarried and should be equally devoted to each other.
I beg to differ, I feel that a live in relationship takes away the zest and spice. In a marriage, its all about discovering new things about your life partner and even adjusting to it. Its a life long commitment.
In a live in relationship, I feel people are scared of commitments and so they need a testing period. The margin for error and tolerance levels are very low. They are already in doubt whether this relationship will work or not. These relationships are fragile. Most people enter into a Live -in relationship to test for compatibility or convenience. Studies have shown that people who Live-together before they marry have a higher tendency to get divorced.
A marriage gives so much of security to both partners. Both work towards making the relationship successful. There is stability and also financial security.
No strings attached is something which does not work for me. Test driving a relationship without the binding of commitment seems so pointless.
I feel that even though not all marriages end in happily- ever- after, the choice of going for a commitment like marriage in itself is a step towards lasting Happiness.
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Some comments:
Marriage is something more than relationship.The word Chastity or being faithful to each other is solemnised at the marriage function.
Until marriage one is only choosing (not yet chosen ) and both partners have freedom to break - it is not very desirable in the absence of commitment there won't be an element of sacrifice - or living your partner - an the relationship will be more of selfish nature.It has to start in a relationship and end in marriage then live in - this should be the order.May be I am a little old fashioned,but I want both partners to be safe and the children to know the name of both parents.
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I would like to differ on this ...its better to breakup before marriage then after ..before only two people are hurt, afterwords...lots of them ..marriage is not btw two individuals its btw two families ..and if a kid comes in picture ..its more worse....
So it has to break ..it can break anytime ..before or after marriage ..marriage these days do not guarantee a life long endless commitment...and as such it should not ..if two ppl are not compatible ...then why to just stay together for the heck of it ...daily hurting each other ...
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I don't know whether one should marry at all? To me it is rather an encroachment on my possibilities and freedom. I don't think I have tolerance for others short comings especially their baggages.
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Sunday, October 05, 2008
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
NDTV and its english
http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080064436&ch=9/7/2008%2010:12:00%20PM
I wonder if Kalam's english is that bad or this is some reporter's shorthand notes published as it is!
I wonder if Kalam's english is that bad or this is some reporter's shorthand notes published as it is!
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Causations and Correlations
The effect may be due to the cause, but may not be due the cause alone. They may even be totally unrelated, or related enough to the termed the cause and effect.
One day you see an article which talks about how someone eating a tomato everyday over 3 months has much less chance of catching a cold or developing resistance to a certain kind of cancer. The very next day you see an article in the same paper which details how consuming excess tomatoes result in kidney stones. By this time our reader is totally confused. Same goes for alcohol - the french paradox which argues that wine reduces the risk of heart ailments, someone else says alcohol leads to brain,liver and neural damage. We are continuously bombarded by conflicting information.
Our obsession with seeing a pattern is so much that we naturally correlate and declare one as the cause for the other. Per the famous phrase - Correlation does not imply causation, the reason we see a pattern between A and B does not mean that A is the cause of B. I had one interesting argument with my friend the other day. In US, the insurance companies have proved statistically that a person owning/driving a red coloured vehicle has to pay more for car Insurance. Why? Seems that they are statistically and psychologically more prone to accidents. This is because, many of these companies would have invested millions of dollars on this research. If you call the most credible expert and pay him/her enough money, he/she can prove or disprove anything for you. When I heard about this insurance rule, it sounded ridiculous.
What if I prove, by some weird statistical/Psychological model that anyone eating french fries on Friday evenings are more prone to accidents on Tuesday mornings? There are two more tuesdays in 2008 than 2007, so a million people would have to pay more insurance!! Well the real reason I started writing about this is, the more hours I put in my job, or the more money I make doesnt always cause more peace or happiness. Cause of happiness is correlated with my making money, but money-making is not the happier part of it..
One day you see an article which talks about how someone eating a tomato everyday over 3 months has much less chance of catching a cold or developing resistance to a certain kind of cancer. The very next day you see an article in the same paper which details how consuming excess tomatoes result in kidney stones. By this time our reader is totally confused. Same goes for alcohol - the french paradox which argues that wine reduces the risk of heart ailments, someone else says alcohol leads to brain,liver and neural damage. We are continuously bombarded by conflicting information.
Our obsession with seeing a pattern is so much that we naturally correlate and declare one as the cause for the other. Per the famous phrase - Correlation does not imply causation, the reason we see a pattern between A and B does not mean that A is the cause of B. I had one interesting argument with my friend the other day. In US, the insurance companies have proved statistically that a person owning/driving a red coloured vehicle has to pay more for car Insurance. Why? Seems that they are statistically and psychologically more prone to accidents. This is because, many of these companies would have invested millions of dollars on this research. If you call the most credible expert and pay him/her enough money, he/she can prove or disprove anything for you. When I heard about this insurance rule, it sounded ridiculous.
What if I prove, by some weird statistical/Psychological model that anyone eating french fries on Friday evenings are more prone to accidents on Tuesday mornings? There are two more tuesdays in 2008 than 2007, so a million people would have to pay more insurance!! Well the real reason I started writing about this is, the more hours I put in my job, or the more money I make doesnt always cause more peace or happiness. Cause of happiness is correlated with my making money, but money-making is not the happier part of it..
Monday, September 15, 2008
Apathy and Lethargy
http://features.ibnlive.com/chat/view/166.html
I read that question answer session and felt so pathetic to call myself an Indian. If it was Israel or US or even Sri Lanka there would be more reaction than just empty rhetoric. What the hell is wrong with our government?
I don't blame the intelligence agencies as much as I blame the government. We are looking impotent against these kids with a few kilos of fertilizers and nuts/bolts. Why is the individuals right to live such a costly commodity to ask for? Is it because we are second most populous nation? How long do you think it will take these terrorist to swap ammonium nitrates with rdx and other higher yield explosives? Those B-tards are sending a message - they are capable of striking when they want, where they want. And what does the government do? brush it under the carpet and congratulate the people for being so resilient.
"this is what is expected of us - live like a common man, bear it like a common man, die like a common man. Our resilience is taken for granted.......... We are resilient by force, not by choice" - quote from movie A Wednesday.
Holding militants in jails till his cousin brothers hijack a plane to Kandahar, and make you like a jack-ass. Banning an organization that has suspected terror links and lifting that ban (Because of f*cking political reasons and minority vote bank; Not even the dumbest of countries would do it) and against reinstating the ban. Here too, the court is thinking hundred times whether to reapply the ban - f*ck the decision is being contested for god sake!!! Do they even care about an individuals well being? May be not. A few bombs here and there may not be much. But wait till the corporates and multinationals associate India with bomb blasts. May be THAT will turn a few heads.
From that above interview, I learnt that the intelligence agencies don't have jurisdiction for arrests etc on domestic areas. These guys gather intelligence, and they have to wait for the local police to make the arrests. How ridiculous is that? We have this bad habit - we just look at this terror strikes on TV, papers etc, feel sorry for the ones involved and then get on with our lives as though nothing happened. Unless you are personally affected, they is an everlasting apathy and lethargy when it comes to other people's suffering. Is that what we should wait for? for our relative or friend to die due to terrorism before we start considering it OUR problem?
"For various reasons, we are operating in a defensive mode. There is a need to have a re-look at overall strategy to tackle terrorism. - Ajit Doval"
Situation is already way out of hand. It needs some kind of mass disinfecting to be done pretty soon. The attitude of submission, tolerance and compromise should be banished when dealing with terrorists. Anybody found a threat to national security or abetting terrorists, should automatically deserve death penalty - no conformance to established civil laws and human rights. They have just earned their tatkal first class ticket to their afterlife...
I read that question answer session and felt so pathetic to call myself an Indian. If it was Israel or US or even Sri Lanka there would be more reaction than just empty rhetoric. What the hell is wrong with our government?
I don't blame the intelligence agencies as much as I blame the government. We are looking impotent against these kids with a few kilos of fertilizers and nuts/bolts. Why is the individuals right to live such a costly commodity to ask for? Is it because we are second most populous nation? How long do you think it will take these terrorist to swap ammonium nitrates with rdx and other higher yield explosives? Those B-tards are sending a message - they are capable of striking when they want, where they want. And what does the government do? brush it under the carpet and congratulate the people for being so resilient.
"this is what is expected of us - live like a common man, bear it like a common man, die like a common man. Our resilience is taken for granted.......... We are resilient by force, not by choice" - quote from movie A Wednesday.
Holding militants in jails till his cousin brothers hijack a plane to Kandahar, and make you like a jack-ass. Banning an organization that has suspected terror links and lifting that ban (Because of f*cking political reasons and minority vote bank; Not even the dumbest of countries would do it) and against reinstating the ban. Here too, the court is thinking hundred times whether to reapply the ban - f*ck the decision is being contested for god sake!!! Do they even care about an individuals well being? May be not. A few bombs here and there may not be much. But wait till the corporates and multinationals associate India with bomb blasts. May be THAT will turn a few heads.
From that above interview, I learnt that the intelligence agencies don't have jurisdiction for arrests etc on domestic areas. These guys gather intelligence, and they have to wait for the local police to make the arrests. How ridiculous is that? We have this bad habit - we just look at this terror strikes on TV, papers etc, feel sorry for the ones involved and then get on with our lives as though nothing happened. Unless you are personally affected, they is an everlasting apathy and lethargy when it comes to other people's suffering. Is that what we should wait for? for our relative or friend to die due to terrorism before we start considering it OUR problem?
"For various reasons, we are operating in a defensive mode. There is a need to have a re-look at overall strategy to tackle terrorism. - Ajit Doval"
Situation is already way out of hand. It needs some kind of mass disinfecting to be done pretty soon. The attitude of submission, tolerance and compromise should be banished when dealing with terrorists. Anybody found a threat to national security or abetting terrorists, should automatically deserve death penalty - no conformance to established civil laws and human rights. They have just earned their tatkal first class ticket to their afterlife...
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Twin Extemes
I have two friends, but don't wish to name them. Each is a mirror image of one another when it comes to matters of love..
The first guy, lets call him A is totally outgoing. He is a typical North Indian, cares a lot about good looks, dances well, parties a lot etc. I don't know how serious he meant it.. but he used to propose to every beautiful girl he could find. Thats not a problem as long as these girls don't know each other. If they are all working in the same office with him, it is a little difficult. Needless to say, mostly his requests will generally get a negative response (you know, girls like to talk about guys, so word gets around pretty quickly). But our hero is unperturbed by setbacks - much like Gazhni Mohammad (it is an honest complement.).
The second guy, B, is the exact mirror. More conservative, introvert types. He too finally found the love of his life, had some fun times. Then there came a breakup. Now he is all sad, philosophical and against marriage. He is too scared to commit or get married. Fortunately for him, he has other responsibilities which are delaying his marriage for the time being. But I do not think this kind of trend is healthy.
I am just perplexed by the complexity of their characters. How similar incidents invoke entirely different reactions from two different people. For me, I just like to observe people. Hence I am a good listener, very keen in reading signs, analyzing them, generally gravitating towards complex/sophisticated characters. But some matters of the heart always elude me...
The first guy, lets call him A is totally outgoing. He is a typical North Indian, cares a lot about good looks, dances well, parties a lot etc. I don't know how serious he meant it.. but he used to propose to every beautiful girl he could find. Thats not a problem as long as these girls don't know each other. If they are all working in the same office with him, it is a little difficult. Needless to say, mostly his requests will generally get a negative response (you know, girls like to talk about guys, so word gets around pretty quickly). But our hero is unperturbed by setbacks - much like Gazhni Mohammad (it is an honest complement.).
The second guy, B, is the exact mirror. More conservative, introvert types. He too finally found the love of his life, had some fun times. Then there came a breakup. Now he is all sad, philosophical and against marriage. He is too scared to commit or get married. Fortunately for him, he has other responsibilities which are delaying his marriage for the time being. But I do not think this kind of trend is healthy.
I am just perplexed by the complexity of their characters. How similar incidents invoke entirely different reactions from two different people. For me, I just like to observe people. Hence I am a good listener, very keen in reading signs, analyzing them, generally gravitating towards complex/sophisticated characters. But some matters of the heart always elude me...
Nuke Deal - A Recap
Well, now that most of the drama around the deal is complete, the following are the possible repercussions.
- For all practical purposes India cannot test a nuclear device from here on
- China's true color showed. More than India getting the deal, a strong message was sent that Pakistan would never get a similar deal.
- US goes back on said terms calling it legally non-binding. Totally expected, India need not care or worry.
- Dual use technologies can be freely imported. Good for our space industry, military research and nuclear efficiency. Implications are profound - India will leap decades and would be able to catch up with others
- France has offered fuel with re-processing rights also. US should realize that it is a customer driven market now. Obviously US companies are ones who will lose, thanks to the Hyde Act. Ironic that USA's Hyde is against the free market philosophy of Capitalism
- India's promise that they wont sign agreements with other countries before 123 gets through the congress must be broken. US didn't hold up its end of the bargain, we are not bound to hold up our end. It should not be legally binding on India.
- The IEAE and NSG are international bodies, US did help abolish the nuclear apartheid. hence we should show some loyalty. But it is important to realize that further co-operation should be multi-pronged, not US centric.
- Well, we also become the only country, who has a active nuclear weapons program, not part of the NTP or CTBT and still enjoying international nuclear trade. Also we do reserve the right to keep specific research reactors out of IEAE's supervision.
- 123 or no 123? Potentially, India can back out of 123 now, which for all practical reasons, is not advisable/smart. So this wont happen.
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
There It Is - Next Step In Mobility
http://www.informationweek.com/news/hardware/desktop/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=210600653
A HP laptop which runs for full 24 hours..
A HP laptop which runs for full 24 hours..
Sunday, September 07, 2008
A Wednesday - Hindi movie
I am not a big fan of Hindi movies, but do try to cover really good ones. On my friend's suggestion, I watched "A Wednesday". I should say my respect for Bollywood is slightly increased.
93 minutes of no-nonsense, no-songs entertainment of the highest caliber. For all those of you who are bored with the "usual masala" movies with the same formula, and those who complain that movie as a media is doing nothing constructive or thought=provoking, can watch this one. As an industry, Bollywood has a lot to catch up with Hollywood. But we are showing the right signs - we are getting there, though slowly. I believe India has sophisticated audience, who can accept and appreciate radically different stories (than the usual hero loves heroine, has trouble with villain, 5 songs, 4 fights and 3 sentiment scenes with a climaxing in bombs destroying of huge sets).
As the movie is a thriller, and as I hate reviewing, I am not going into the story. With Anupam Kher and Nasruddin Shah doing the lead roles and every actor playing their part to perfection, it is a treat to watch. Do not miss this one!
93 minutes of no-nonsense, no-songs entertainment of the highest caliber. For all those of you who are bored with the "usual masala" movies with the same formula, and those who complain that movie as a media is doing nothing constructive or thought=provoking, can watch this one. As an industry, Bollywood has a lot to catch up with Hollywood. But we are showing the right signs - we are getting there, though slowly. I believe India has sophisticated audience, who can accept and appreciate radically different stories (than the usual hero loves heroine, has trouble with villain, 5 songs, 4 fights and 3 sentiment scenes with a climaxing in bombs destroying of huge sets).
As the movie is a thriller, and as I hate reviewing, I am not going into the story. With Anupam Kher and Nasruddin Shah doing the lead roles and every actor playing their part to perfection, it is a treat to watch. Do not miss this one!
Friday, September 05, 2008
Famous Alumnies Of Madras University
Source: Hindu
C.W. Thamotharam Pillai was the first graduate in 1858. A Tamil scholar, he served as a judge.
Abusha Bibi Marikar was the first Muslim woman to be awarded an MBBS degree in the university.
S. Radhakrishnan started the long list of Indian Presidents who came out of the University of Madras.
C. Rajagopalachari studied at Law College and was the first Indian Governor-General of independent India.
Neelam Sanjiva Reddy was India's sixth President and first Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.
C. Subramaniam served as State and Central Minister and is acclaimed as a father of the Green Revolution.
R. Venkataraman India's eighth President took his Masters degree in Economics and later Law from the University.
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam India's eleventh President, studied at the Madras Institute of Technology.
C.W. Thamotharam Pillai was the first graduate in 1858. A Tamil scholar, he served as a judge.
Abusha Bibi Marikar was the first Muslim woman to be awarded an MBBS degree in the university.
S. Radhakrishnan started the long list of Indian Presidents who came out of the University of Madras.
C. Rajagopalachari studied at Law College and was the first Indian Governor-General of independent India.
Neelam Sanjiva Reddy was India's sixth President and first Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.
C. Subramaniam served as State and Central Minister and is acclaimed as a father of the Green Revolution.
R. Venkataraman India's eighth President took his Masters degree in Economics and later Law from the University.
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam India's eleventh President, studied at the Madras Institute of Technology.
Some even more significant names that were left out..
Nobel laureates
Sir C.V.Raman
Subramaniam Chandrasekar
One more president - VV Giri
Film Icons - M.G.Ramachandran and Mani Ratnam
Politicians (restricted to few) - M.G.R, Rajagopalachari, Chidambaram Subramaniam (CS) and P.Chidambaram (current FM)
Completed 150 proud years in 2007-08.
Nobel laureates
Sir C.V.RamanSubramaniam Chandrasekar
One more president - VV Giri
Film Icons - M.G.Ramachandran and Mani Ratnam
Politicians (restricted to few) - M.G.R, Rajagopalachari, Chidambaram Subramaniam (CS) and P.Chidambaram (current FM)
Completed 150 proud years in 2007-08.
Monday, September 01, 2008
Move Slow...
Sometimes I feel if there is a strong relationship between how fast we live and how soon we die. It is like everyone has a certain number of tasks to be completed in his lifetime after which the battery runs out....
Consequently, people who walk/talk faster, act faster, work faster etc seem to die faster. People travelling faster are more prone to die in accidents. Those trying to achieve more, rise and fall faster in life. It is like superimposing multiple personal temporal frames - one for each individual. Those belonging to a slower frame seem to be relaxed and calm about their actions - naturally. Hence they have less tension, directly or indirectly lets them live longer. But most of us fall somewhere in-between - but always aiming to fit the faster time frames
Even in animals, slow movers like tortoises, whales and elephants have the maximum life spans. Consider one generation previous to your own. Those people did not live is such a fast paced life as you and me. They tend to age more healthier and live longer than us. No doubt the generation before them lived even longer/healthier. It is ironic that people trying to get more out of the allotted 24 hours end up lesser multiples of those 24 hours.
Who doesn't want to live longer? Some for doing good to others, some for good being done to them. Anyways, the current software engineer's lifestyle needs a lot of slow down. So started taking things more slowly.. for a start, a few minutes of Yoga into my daily routine. As Brad Pitt says in the movie Fight Club, " You know why they put oxygen masks on planes?, Oxygen gets you high. In a catastrophic emergency, you're taking giant panicked breaths. Suddenly you become euphoric, docile. You accept your fate. It's all right here. Emergency water landing - 600 miles an hour. Blank faces, calm as Hindu cows." (Sorry, I have seen so many movies, now I can't finish a blog without a movie quote)
So decided to test that theory, no drugs, with just some deep breaths - even if it doesnt help me slow down, it will get me high.
Consequently, people who walk/talk faster, act faster, work faster etc seem to die faster. People travelling faster are more prone to die in accidents. Those trying to achieve more, rise and fall faster in life. It is like superimposing multiple personal temporal frames - one for each individual. Those belonging to a slower frame seem to be relaxed and calm about their actions - naturally. Hence they have less tension, directly or indirectly lets them live longer. But most of us fall somewhere in-between - but always aiming to fit the faster time frames
Even in animals, slow movers like tortoises, whales and elephants have the maximum life spans. Consider one generation previous to your own. Those people did not live is such a fast paced life as you and me. They tend to age more healthier and live longer than us. No doubt the generation before them lived even longer/healthier. It is ironic that people trying to get more out of the allotted 24 hours end up lesser multiples of those 24 hours.
Who doesn't want to live longer? Some for doing good to others, some for good being done to them. Anyways, the current software engineer's lifestyle needs a lot of slow down. So started taking things more slowly.. for a start, a few minutes of Yoga into my daily routine. As Brad Pitt says in the movie Fight Club, " You know why they put oxygen masks on planes?, Oxygen gets you high. In a catastrophic emergency, you're taking giant panicked breaths. Suddenly you become euphoric, docile. You accept your fate. It's all right here. Emergency water landing - 600 miles an hour. Blank faces, calm as Hindu cows." (Sorry, I have seen so many movies, now I can't finish a blog without a movie quote)
So decided to test that theory, no drugs, with just some deep breaths - even if it doesnt help me slow down, it will get me high.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
Another Blunder By India..
http://www.hindu.com/2008/08/25/stories/2008082560211600.htm
Look at how beautifully China has us surrounded - Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Srilanka and now it is Nepal. This is how you plan - this is how you grow. Not by tugging ur tail between your legs and calling your self non-aligned.
Present day India is not even close to calling itself non-aligned. It is growing fast, ultra-ambitious. But we still dont know how to make relationships, friends in the military quarters. We stop with cultural, economic, trade and tourist relationships with countries. Never take it to the strategic/military levels. There lies our weakness. China has used everyone around us by investing in their country, providing favours, improving infrastructure, military aid etc. This is where I see a stark different in the foreign policy. We have a uni-dimensional and defensive foreign policy whereas China (much like US or Russia) has an active and proactive policy.
They get out and try to make military allies. If we ever aspire to becoming a super power, we need an outward looking, active foreign policy with considerable man power dedicated to creating new friends. Also needed is a think-tank that can plan the next 20 years of strategic relationships, make the moves from right now to reach the goals.
Look at how beautifully China has us surrounded - Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Srilanka and now it is Nepal. This is how you plan - this is how you grow. Not by tugging ur tail between your legs and calling your self non-aligned.
Present day India is not even close to calling itself non-aligned. It is growing fast, ultra-ambitious. But we still dont know how to make relationships, friends in the military quarters. We stop with cultural, economic, trade and tourist relationships with countries. Never take it to the strategic/military levels. There lies our weakness. China has used everyone around us by investing in their country, providing favours, improving infrastructure, military aid etc. This is where I see a stark different in the foreign policy. We have a uni-dimensional and defensive foreign policy whereas China (much like US or Russia) has an active and proactive policy.
They get out and try to make military allies. If we ever aspire to becoming a super power, we need an outward looking, active foreign policy with considerable man power dedicated to creating new friends. Also needed is a think-tank that can plan the next 20 years of strategic relationships, make the moves from right now to reach the goals.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Change
Early morning... sudden random thought train....
"Change is constant, change is good, change is tough... and change is hard to get..
To change is to progress. To enjoy the better quality of life, appreciate the advantages of the change(be it scientific, political, social) and embrace it with the society. You will be seen as one of advanced, sophisticated individuals, who is face/forefront of the change. How intellectually sound you are... to accept the changing times and adapt yourself to best fit it. Then you get on the general platform with lot of others sharing your view - critically arguing, cross-examining and finally reassuring yourselves the good that has come out of it.
Then there are these "others" who don't change immediately. In their view, the change is either unnecessary, evil or unjust (by some older established code). Generally this bunch will have some ulterior motive and personal advantage in the olden ways prevailing, or they are too used to the older system to actually change. The last category is the bunch which really has some logical argument against the new systems. But together, they would still be minority, declared as some kind of villains - old fashioned, opposing the general view, unwilling to change etc.
All this is true, but so is the fact that these people form some an essential spin control for the society. They slow down the transition to make sure issues are ironed out. They make very good critics. Criticism that will eventually help improve on areas where the change IS really bad.... Change..... badly....Change..... need Change badly..."
Zooooooming out to the real world, I was still searching my wallet to tender "exact" change...... for my trip from home to office. Found it. The bus starts moving...
"Change is constant, change is good, change is tough... and change is hard to get..
To change is to progress. To enjoy the better quality of life, appreciate the advantages of the change(be it scientific, political, social) and embrace it with the society. You will be seen as one of advanced, sophisticated individuals, who is face/forefront of the change. How intellectually sound you are... to accept the changing times and adapt yourself to best fit it. Then you get on the general platform with lot of others sharing your view - critically arguing, cross-examining and finally reassuring yourselves the good that has come out of it.
Then there are these "others" who don't change immediately. In their view, the change is either unnecessary, evil or unjust (by some older established code). Generally this bunch will have some ulterior motive and personal advantage in the olden ways prevailing, or they are too used to the older system to actually change. The last category is the bunch which really has some logical argument against the new systems. But together, they would still be minority, declared as some kind of villains - old fashioned, opposing the general view, unwilling to change etc.
All this is true, but so is the fact that these people form some an essential spin control for the society. They slow down the transition to make sure issues are ironed out. They make very good critics. Criticism that will eventually help improve on areas where the change IS really bad.... Change..... badly....Change..... need Change badly..."
Zooooooming out to the real world, I was still searching my wallet to tender "exact" change...... for my trip from home to office. Found it. The bus starts moving...
Monday, August 18, 2008
Corporate Gyan
Some of my own tried and tested corporate fundas. From books, personal experience from the receiving end and some as the orchestrator.
- Person asking questions, automatically grabs his right to deserve an answer.
- Acting sad or depressed automatically increases the sympathy and care towards you
- Acting pissed off or angry automatically puts you in a position to judge/command others - Rather puts the others in a position to soothe you. But don't over try.
- Be nosy about other peoples tasks. Finishing your job well in time is the first step. Helps you poke around and learn what others are doing. Information is power.
- No acting can substitute for actual listening. Read a lot of crap on body language and act naturally (i.e. what those books term as natural).
- Over usage of repeating part of speech, generally means you are taking that time to think - which is bad. So is taking a long time to think between words.
- English(Technical) to English(Managerial) translation of your colleague's work to you manager, puts you above them in his book.
- Effort:Result=GuyFinishingTheWork:GuyReportingTheCompletion. Who reports the completion of a task automatically takes credit for doing it - or at least looks like the guy who brings you the news - the next leader.
- With Indian managers, even if you are mediocre, working late hours help.
- If you are generally perfect in your job, the occasional mistakes can be made to look like innocence.
- Under promise and over deliver - universal mantra to happiness. Commit carefully - don't take pita (pain in the a**) jobs. Best case would be no complaints, worst case is losing your reputation.
- Surprises work best when things are at their most normal.
- Corollary of 12 - You will be the clearest thinker, if you can successfully confuse everyone else - remember you need not be right, just make them think (I mentioned this last because, this is generally means of escaping sinking project without getting trapped yourself. Keep it for the worst case scenario as you can't play this frequently)
Monday, August 11, 2008
Dishoooooooooom
Hip hip hurray !!!!!!!!
India got a gold medal in a singles event in Olympics after 108 years!!!
Congrats to Abhinav Bindra for shooting his way into record books. The 17th seater's well deserved win will prove encouraging for people pursuing games other than cricket (Chess,Tennis, Hockey everything has suffered because of cricket).
Good to see other sports getting media exposure, highlight and most importantly, sponsors- Hoping to see another medal in women's badminton. Also like to see funding and sponsorship for different sporting events. We have commercialized education, health etc, why not Sports?
India got a gold medal in a singles event in Olympics after 108 years!!!
Congrats to Abhinav Bindra for shooting his way into record books. The 17th seater's well deserved win will prove encouraging for people pursuing games other than cricket (Chess,Tennis, Hockey everything has suffered because of cricket).
Good to see other sports getting media exposure, highlight and most importantly, sponsors- Hoping to see another medal in women's badminton. Also like to see funding and sponsorship for different sporting events. We have commercialized education, health etc, why not Sports?
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Saturday, August 09, 2008
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Nuke deal - Has India Sold Herself?
There has been a lot of talk about India becoming a puppet in the hands on US, if the nuke deal should go through. It does appear so at the first glance. But think again.
Visible Signs:
1. India did not give in to US pressure to cancel the IPI pipeline
2. India went against US and fought on the WTO conference, finally walked out too. (Bush called Manmohan thrice in a single day to back off from WTO talks, India did not. Also a supreme court judge wrote to the PM not to bend under pressure). Kamalnath finally walked out..
3. India raised strong objections against Israel or America commencing a military offensive against Iran. It is different matter that EU also seconded India's opinions on this affair.
4. We are still a strong Non-Aligned country and are placed in a unique position. We are keeping Russia and US at a equal distance, making them obligated to impress us.
5. India will become the only state that would be exempted from NTP and CTBT, and still get international fuel and technology. The risk for Americans is that India will never actually involve in trade with them after 123 and NSG clearance. We have France and Russia, whom we feel are more trustworthy.
Behind the Scenes:
1. US has been a cold-war ally of Pakistan and we may never feel too comfortable with them. Who knows, down the lane, Pakis may also get their bite of an 123
2. US needs this more than India does. Our reactors have been running fine for these many decades with Russian, Canadian and French assistance. What difference could this agreement or walking out of it do?
3. China has so much control on the US market, they can "potentially" blackmail the already crumbling US economy. Only thing stopping them is it will be self detrimental at the moment. There will come a time when the Chinese economy becomes more powerful than American. India wants to reduce their dependency on the US economy too. This is just a stop gap measure to save ourselves and keep the US satisfied.
4. The 123 has vaguest description of what India or US will do in case there is a breach of contract by either. In long term, this provides more advantages to us than to USoA
5. We are already self-sufficient in technology, though not as efficient. As for fuel, more effort has been started on Uranium and Thorium exploration. In another 10-15 years, we wont need the 123. We would be perfecting the Thorium based designs(we have world's second largest thorium reserves - good for another 350 years). My understanding is that this agreement sends a political message of our growing ties with US. A warning sign to China - nothing else.
6. There is no factual basis - but there is an argument that certain US equipments are outdated compared to our own and European designs.
Every anti-123 argument in India is based on the speculation that India will lose the ability to conduct further tests and lose her Image in the International arena. But looking at the entire picture of what will happen if India should conduct a test in the future, the impact seems minimal. We have nuclear stockpiles for next 30 years and still identifying more mines. We have already shown that we can oppose US on major issues like Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline and WTO. One thing that worries me though is buying their military hardware without technology transfer. They are notoriously well known for stopping spare supplies,know-how etc. We'll have to wait and see if India accepts a waiver with "conditions". I still expect a few slips between the cup and lip..
Visible Signs:
1. India did not give in to US pressure to cancel the IPI pipeline
2. India went against US and fought on the WTO conference, finally walked out too. (Bush called Manmohan thrice in a single day to back off from WTO talks, India did not. Also a supreme court judge wrote to the PM not to bend under pressure). Kamalnath finally walked out..
3. India raised strong objections against Israel or America commencing a military offensive against Iran. It is different matter that EU also seconded India's opinions on this affair.
4. We are still a strong Non-Aligned country and are placed in a unique position. We are keeping Russia and US at a equal distance, making them obligated to impress us.
5. India will become the only state that would be exempted from NTP and CTBT, and still get international fuel and technology. The risk for Americans is that India will never actually involve in trade with them after 123 and NSG clearance. We have France and Russia, whom we feel are more trustworthy.
Behind the Scenes:
1. US has been a cold-war ally of Pakistan and we may never feel too comfortable with them. Who knows, down the lane, Pakis may also get their bite of an 123
2. US needs this more than India does. Our reactors have been running fine for these many decades with Russian, Canadian and French assistance. What difference could this agreement or walking out of it do?
3. China has so much control on the US market, they can "potentially" blackmail the already crumbling US economy. Only thing stopping them is it will be self detrimental at the moment. There will come a time when the Chinese economy becomes more powerful than American. India wants to reduce their dependency on the US economy too. This is just a stop gap measure to save ourselves and keep the US satisfied.
4. The 123 has vaguest description of what India or US will do in case there is a breach of contract by either. In long term, this provides more advantages to us than to USoA
5. We are already self-sufficient in technology, though not as efficient. As for fuel, more effort has been started on Uranium and Thorium exploration. In another 10-15 years, we wont need the 123. We would be perfecting the Thorium based designs(we have world's second largest thorium reserves - good for another 350 years). My understanding is that this agreement sends a political message of our growing ties with US. A warning sign to China - nothing else.
6. There is no factual basis - but there is an argument that certain US equipments are outdated compared to our own and European designs.
Every anti-123 argument in India is based on the speculation that India will lose the ability to conduct further tests and lose her Image in the International arena. But looking at the entire picture of what will happen if India should conduct a test in the future, the impact seems minimal. We have nuclear stockpiles for next 30 years and still identifying more mines. We have already shown that we can oppose US on major issues like Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline and WTO. One thing that worries me though is buying their military hardware without technology transfer. They are notoriously well known for stopping spare supplies,know-how etc. We'll have to wait and see if India accepts a waiver with "conditions". I still expect a few slips between the cup and lip..
Friday, August 01, 2008
Ubuntu Cleanup
For anyone who is running Ubuntu and wants to retrieve some disk space. For my own future reference too :)
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=140920
http://www.stchman.com/cleanup.html
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/ubuntu/clean-up-ubuntu-grub-boot-menu-after-upgrades/
http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/7735/
http://tombuntu.com/index.php/2008/04/25/10-tips-for-after-you-install-or-upgrade-ubuntu/
http://tombuntu.com/index.php/2007/10/17/remove-ubuntu-kernels-you-dont-need/
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=140920
http://www.stchman.com/cleanup.html
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/ubuntu/clean-up-ubuntu-grub-boot-menu-after-upgrades/
http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/7735/
http://tombuntu.com/index.php/2008/04/25/10-tips-for-after-you-install-or-upgrade-ubuntu/
http://tombuntu.com/index.php/2007/10/17/remove-ubuntu-kernels-you-dont-need/
Thursday, July 31, 2008
(Un)Natural Selection
Humans are unique. Unlike other animals, they have a consciousness or understanding of the theory of "Natural Selection". That makes the theory void for us, humans.
We are arguing about genetically modifying ourselves - some fear it as unethical and artificially toying with nature.. Mankind has negated natural selection for a long time. Apart from physical properties and biological traits, many other things determine who survives. Selection of a mate and propagation of our species is based on - money and property, external beauty(artificial cosmetics, perfumes etc), fame, physical prowess, family heritage, bravery, brains, power etc. Someone who is good in one of the above stands a good chance to propagate his/her genes - though biologically inferior.
Higher human traits like compassion, religion, loyalty, reciprocating goodwill etc may also influence selection. When we provide medical aid for genetic disorders, we are artificially extended a defective gene-pool, helping him/her passing on their defective genes. Present social context may place you is a moral high ground for that. But the point is that we are not only working against natural selection, but have comprehensively outgrown it. The next logical step is the genetic engineering(and selective breeding) of ourselves like the drought-resistant plants and high-yield animals around us.
FYI, selective reproduction in humans is not a new concept. Hitler gave grants and money to pure aryan males and females who bring more pure blooded kids into this world. As we are capable of the concept of religion, science, slavery etc, (which no other animal is) we are also capable of genetic engineering. It is just another tool with the same potential and destructive power of any other.
We are arguing about genetically modifying ourselves - some fear it as unethical and artificially toying with nature.. Mankind has negated natural selection for a long time. Apart from physical properties and biological traits, many other things determine who survives. Selection of a mate and propagation of our species is based on - money and property, external beauty(artificial cosmetics, perfumes etc), fame, physical prowess, family heritage, bravery, brains, power etc. Someone who is good in one of the above stands a good chance to propagate his/her genes - though biologically inferior.
Higher human traits like compassion, religion, loyalty, reciprocating goodwill etc may also influence selection. When we provide medical aid for genetic disorders, we are artificially extended a defective gene-pool, helping him/her passing on their defective genes. Present social context may place you is a moral high ground for that. But the point is that we are not only working against natural selection, but have comprehensively outgrown it. The next logical step is the genetic engineering(and selective breeding) of ourselves like the drought-resistant plants and high-yield animals around us.
FYI, selective reproduction in humans is not a new concept. Hitler gave grants and money to pure aryan males and females who bring more pure blooded kids into this world. As we are capable of the concept of religion, science, slavery etc, (which no other animal is) we are also capable of genetic engineering. It is just another tool with the same potential and destructive power of any other.
30 Year Old Baby - The Arjun
Hope you have all heard of the infamous "Arjun" main battle tank project that our scientist have been working for past 30 years. In relatively recent times(las, the tank has made amazing progress. It has matured as a world class machine, much better than T-90 we import from Russia.
But not without its set of problems. It has been criticized time and again for increased time and cost overruns. As always media reports amplified the negatives. Now after proving itself in army trials, there is so much "residual stress" between the Army and DRDO that they are refusing to place further orders than 124 tanks.
Again the media has got something to chew and blow into a big bubble. But this time Arjun will be worthy of the praise since all the defects have been ironed out by DRDO. Check these links
ajaishukla.blogspot.com
livefist.blogspot.com
http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/videopod/default.aspx?id=16903
But not without its set of problems. It has been criticized time and again for increased time and cost overruns. As always media reports amplified the negatives. Now after proving itself in army trials, there is so much "residual stress" between the Army and DRDO that they are refusing to place further orders than 124 tanks.
Again the media has got something to chew and blow into a big bubble. But this time Arjun will be worthy of the praise since all the defects have been ironed out by DRDO. Check these links
ajaishukla.blogspot.com
livefist.blogspot.com
http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/videopod/default.aspx?id=16903
Friday, July 25, 2008
Bang Bang....
Bomb blasts in many major cities. What is RAW doing?
So many bombs, one city after another, day after day - what the hell is wrong with the intelligence bureau and RAW? Some of the following may look notorious/too irresponsible, but here it is
So many bombs, one city after another, day after day - what the hell is wrong with the intelligence bureau and RAW? Some of the following may look notorious/too irresponsible, but here it is
- Why are these low intensity blasts? believe me they could have as easily set and major explosion killing hundreds.
- What is it with the timing of these blasts? UPA wins a very controversial vote and then bombs are going off in BJP ruled states. Does BJP have a hand in it themselves? Or did the center not inform the state of the attacks? or is the cong and BJP closed their eyes and let this happen for closeness to US?
- Looking at the global scenario, UK, US news is all filled up with terrorism and anti-terror initiatives. India wants to join the west - the quickest way is to showcase a common enemy. What better timing than just before the SAARC meetings?! India appears to be a wounded Hero and steer the meetings
- Pakistan starts firing at the same time these blasts were going on. And then, they lodge a complaint of un-provoked firing from the India side. What is it with the timing again?To save the tarnished image of ISI? Did they know that the blasts will keep the Indians busy? Did they ever know that they will be happening?
- Identity of the new outfit: May be Manmohan's goverment was not watching closely.. but how in the world can such co-ordinated efforts take place without RAW knowing about it?? There is a huge conspiracy behind this. Damn ugly one too..
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Nothing Personal..
How many times do we hear these words in the corporate/professional environments...!
Whenever I hear these words, I am immediately reminded of the masterpiece "GodFather" by Mario Puzo. The Don uses this statement a lot of times - It is not personal, it is business. Later on in the novel, his son, Michael Corleone tells his brother how it was always, and all about being personal.
Every decision your senior/manager takes in a professional setting, good or bad, has a huge personal impact on your state of mind. If machines were to do work and they get an overhaul every few months, then may be there is "Nothing Personal" about that. Whenever a human is involved, things are always personal. Every word said, every smallest action and body language has "PERSONAL" written all over it. How can you so easily and completely remove emotional dimension from decisions that change your life?
Most of the times, competition is cut-throat. As much effort must go into portraying/illuminating your work as that put into the doing it. Building a rapport (a.k.a licking your bosses boot), nudging others(even friends) out of the way becomes necessary for you to climb. Blame game, evaluating performance non-objectively, undermine other's efforts etc. Above all,you got to balance your relationships with superiors, equal colleagues and subordinates and keep them well oiled. Most of these actions are so morally degraded, that it is impossible not to hide behinds "professionalism" or the "nothing personal" rhetoric.
Whenever I hear these words, I am immediately reminded of the masterpiece "GodFather" by Mario Puzo. The Don uses this statement a lot of times - It is not personal, it is business. Later on in the novel, his son, Michael Corleone tells his brother how it was always, and all about being personal.
Every decision your senior/manager takes in a professional setting, good or bad, has a huge personal impact on your state of mind. If machines were to do work and they get an overhaul every few months, then may be there is "Nothing Personal" about that. Whenever a human is involved, things are always personal. Every word said, every smallest action and body language has "PERSONAL" written all over it. How can you so easily and completely remove emotional dimension from decisions that change your life?
Most of the times, competition is cut-throat. As much effort must go into portraying/illuminating your work as that put into the doing it. Building a rapport (a.k.a licking your bosses boot), nudging others(even friends) out of the way becomes necessary for you to climb. Blame game, evaluating performance non-objectively, undermine other's efforts etc. Above all,you got to balance your relationships with superiors, equal colleagues and subordinates and keep them well oiled. Most of these actions are so morally degraded, that it is impossible not to hide behinds "professionalism" or the "nothing personal" rhetoric.
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