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Showing posts from September, 2010

'Nation Building’ or ' Nation Damaging' Media

I heard this comment 'Singapore media hardly reports any untoward mishap that happens in private condominiums but quick to report even frivolous incident that would occur in Govt housing HDB'. The logic behind this statement is ' Singapore Govt do not like to see private property market gets hit by bad publicity’. I am not sure about the validity of this argument but have had few instances of suicide and accidental deaths in our neighboring condominiums not being reported in the media compared to ones in HDB . Last week, I heard another comment from a person who is involved with Singapore Media 'we do not have any Govt censorship but as a “Nation Building" instrument, we practice a responsible behavior not to report anything adverse that would affect our nation' . The above comments stood in stark contrast to Indian media bashing of Common Wealth Organization. Indian media vied with each other to paint horrible picture of Commonwealth games in New Delhi. Twent

Mai Maushi - an embodiment of love and humility

No matter how mentally I am prepared for the loss of someone who is dear, the news of an inevitable sinks the heart and emptiness prevails. I feel numb as I hear the news of passing away of Mai Maushi. Life often is a topsy-turvy of fluctuating fortunes. However, with some, they swing and touch either extreme. Pinnacle of wealth to pitiable living conditions, from social adulation and recognition to a forgotten entity. Journey from ' Rags to Riches' is definitely soothing but would reverse be true? It is highly unlikely. More so, when one has got into the situation for no fault of own but others who one has relied and. depended on. How would such a person react to oneself and with the outside world? Most likely, the person would be upset, angry, cynical, and jealous and harbors ill will of the society around. Mai Maushi turned out to be the opposite that of common foible human traits. She remained an embodiment of simplicity, generosity and carried with her pots and

Mandarin Song by Akshta

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Rapist Men in India to Breastfed car drivers in Saudi Arabia

Chief Justice of India K.G. Balakrishnan remarked that “due regard” should be given to the wishes of a rape victim if she chooses to marry the rapist or have the baby conceived as a result of the crime. This means ' if a rapist gives consent to marry a woman he has raped, there lies an opportunity of rehabilitating victim in the society’. This is an example of a modern welfare mechanism of Indian Society whose ancient mythology cites rape as one of the eight forms of marriage called ' R akshas V ivah - devilish marriage '. In a vocal and argumentative India society, the views of Chief Justice were promptly denounced by woman organizations. In the space of a year, Official Saudi cleric proclaimed that if a woman breastfeeds another male, he become her son. Another debate followed - expressing shock, surprise on such a statement but this statement was smartly used by intelligent Saudi woman to substantiate their claims of letting them drive. Saudi woman are prevented from

A small story of simple Indian Farmer

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It has been an exhilarating and exhaustive experience to find a land for factory project in India. This exercise took me to Mahindra Industrial Park in Chennai, MIDC in Vile Bhagad - Raigad, Chakan -Pune, Shirwal - Satara, GIDC Jaghadia - Ankaleshawar, Sanad - Gandhi Nagar, Manesar- Haryana. Some of them were spanking clean with the entire industrial infrastructure in place while some with just barren land with dried grass and hard rocks. Both conditions made economic sense. But making a factory in a verdant landscape with rich black soil that has been already been tilled and sowed, ready to receive mansoon to make agricultural produce, intrigued me. Farmers in the vicinity seemed well off with motorbike reclining in the shadow of a tree. Village had plastered wall houses, eager students tucking along their mothers hurrying to reach school premises before the bell rang, a small grocery store with refrigerator and stocked every brand of cold drink and string of packaged munching ch

Ukadiche Modak

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There is saying in Marathi that if a girl could make ' Ukadiche Modak ' or ' Puran Poli ', she could preapre any cuisine. I tried my hand at Ukadiche Modak first time. Thanks to Khana Khajana with Bharati Acharekar , I managed to try it without a major fiasco. Jaggery had already turned into stone so it was difficult to measure its quantity in proportion to the coconut. It turned out bit more juicy, thereby making it bleed from the rice cover. We also had aluminium mold that could shape it like a modak but the fun was giving it a shape with fingers. It turned out with every conceivable shape from 'crispy chicken' to ' batata wada ' but it did taste like a modak . In my school days, there was a poem in Marathi named ' pola ' on a festival to honour farming companion bull. I had forgotten about this festival till our neighbour came with their son carrying wooden ' bailoba '. Its indeed nice of her to carry this indian rural trad

'Hare Rama' and 'Hari Raya'

' Muslim celebrate Hare Rama '. A statement that is as explosive as US pastor announcing the burning of Quaran. Akshta proclaimed this while informing us about her school today organizing a talk on ' Hare Rama '. What three and half year old Akshta could not decipher was the difference between ' Hari Raya' and ' Hare Rama' !

Jihad against ‘Jugad’ and ‘Chalta Hain’

'Emotional Empathy' and 'Pecuniary Gain' are two potent forces to get the work done and achieve something in India. But it's not necessary to use these forces in absolute manner. Very often, a ' promise or assurance ' is good enough to get the work kick-started. Mutual expectations are never spelt out in the beginning nor work accomplishment schedule. All that is agreed is a overwhelming desire to help each other in the spirit of friendship or 'dostana 'As things stutter, as they often do after initial euphoria, both parties deviate from their assurances but maintain sketchy friendship enough to throw respective names for future transactions with prospective clients. With this scenario pervading all over, it has opened new careers that few management graduates may have envisaged. Breed of consultants, PR managers, Fixers galore and shine as the desperation sets in to match deadlines of projected activities. I am experiencing the above scenario as we

Kabhi Yun Bhi Aa... Dr Bashir Badr

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Both these rendering are so exquisite that its difficult to choose either as a favorite but as I listened to both , words enamored and in the process I learnt about Dr Bashir Badr , a prolific gazal writer. Socha Nahi, Accha Bura, Dekha Suna , Kuch Bhi Nahin is another creation. Kabhi yun bhi aa meri aankh mein ke meri nazar ko khabar na ho Mujhe ek raat navaaz de magar uske baad sahar na ho [navaaz - to grant] Vo bada raheem-o-kareem hai mujhe ye sifat bhi ataa kare Tujhe bhulane ki duaa karun to duaa mein meri asar na ho [raheem-o-kareem - kind & generous; sifat - talent] Mere baazuon mein thaki thaki , abhi mahav-e-khvaab hai chandni Na uthe sitaron ki paalaki, abhi aahaton kaa guzar na ho Ye Gazal ki jaise hiran ki aankhon mein pichhali raat ki chandni Na bujhe kharabe kii roshani, kabhi becharaag ye ghar na ho Vo firaaq ho yaa visaal ho, teri yaad mahakegi ek din Vo gulab ban ke khilega kyaa, jo chirag ban ke jalaa na ho Kabhi dhoop de, kabhi badaliyan, dil-o-jaan se dono

Killing me Softly with his Song

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Y'day Roberta Flack performed in Singapore at Esplanade Theater and Asha Bhonsle be here on Saturday. Both concerts I won't attend. Just to hear one song ' Killing Me Softly' for S$6o plus may not be worth it and listening to Asha at Suntec would not be as memorable as it was at Dubai world Trade auditorium or at Esplanade. I would rather enjoy it on You Tube.. along with the version of Perry Como .. what a rich voice. Strumming my pain with his fingers Singing my life with his words Killing me softly with his song Killing me softly with his song Telling my whole life with his words Killing me softly With his song... ooooo.... I heard he sang a good song I heard he had a style And so I came to see him and listen for awhile And there he was this young boy A stranger to my eyes... Strumming my pain with his fingers Singing my life with his words Killing me softly with his song Killing me softly with his song Telling my whole life with his words Killing me softly With

Two weeks, Three Countries and Seven Cities

Two week travel in three countries is defintely tiring when its a business travel. A measure of that is felt when sleep comes without any effort and lack of desire to do any physical exercises. Visit to ' Gadget Capital of the World' ' Sex and Spiritual Capital ' and 'Population Capital' gave a chance to see contrasting lifestyles that are slowly fading in this global era. All in one Wash basin - Remote sensing water, foamed soap dispenser and dryer. A new gadget in the realm of Toto - a ubiquitous name in Japan Toilet Industry. Hotel Toyo at Osaka is now Ramada but it abandoned old refrigerator that housed cans in horizontal position . Would there any technological marvel that has surpassed my observation of previous visit of 5 years ago ? Visit to Yodobashi in Osaka rekindled the memories of previous visits. It used to be TV era , then came Walkman era , DVD and PlayStation era ans now ? It is struggling to keep interest with US gadget iPhone and 3D displ