The tragedy of constitutional institutions

Despite their claim of being virtuous Congress party has been defrauding this country for the past decades. They have systemmatically destroyed all constitutional institutions or have bent them to suit their needs, which amounts to destroying them. Since they have ruled the country for more than 50 of the 62 years since independence, they are guilty than the other political parties, not that the others are any better.

Nothing illustrates this better than the state our judiciary is in. Indira Gandhi propounded the idea of committed judiciary, post Allahabad High Court Judgement. Though she didnt have her way totally, the much wonted judicial and police reforms are kept in abeyance, undermining the growth of the social structure.

Annointing rubber stamp Presidents, denying Constitutional Right to citizens through imposition of a needless Emergency, diminishing the value of the Rajbhavans by appointing troublesome Congress leaders as Governors, blatant misuse of Article 356 for dismissing legally elected State Governments, burying Commissions of enquiry findings to suppress the truth, rigging J&K elections that led to the peace process setback forever................. the list is endless.

This Government is doing no better. First, it had the temerity to go against the wishes of the whole Indian Public, who wanted to give an extention to the popular then President Prof.A P J Abdul Kalam, and worse putting a person with dubious track record in his place. Our Presidents ability to hold the constitutional posts is severely undermined with swindling charges against her and a murder case against her husband. Sonia Gandhi wanted a pliable person in the Rashtrapathi Bhavan post 2009 election, and that is precisely what Prathibha Patil is.

Then there was the case of Manmohan Singh becoming Prime Minister through the Rajya Sabha route. A fraud on the Indian people if there was any. A nation of our size cannot have a Prime Minister who is not popularly elected.

And the Navin Chawla case. It was the Congress Government that insisted on expanding the Election Commission to a 3-member body to clip the wings of T N Seshan, who was asking unpleasant questions. Navin Chawla, the current election commissioner and the next Chief Election Commissioner, is a known Congress crony and his family trust has received huge donations from the Congress party earlier. How he can hold one of the top constitutional post without being partial is anyones guess. He is to take over on April 20th and will be responsible for the election results. His actions in the election commission have already raised eyebrows with him taking blatant pro congress stand in the various state assembly elections. There are cases pending against him and now the CEC has suo - motto send a report to the President asking that Navin Chawla be removed as EC. This is unprecedented. Gopalaswamy's tenure has been an unqualified success. He has conducted elections in various states including Kashmir in an extremely fair manner. His concerns need to be taken seriously, for he alone with the other EC knows the behaviour and attitude of Chawla inside the Commission. If an existing CEO casts aspersion on his successor and reports to the Board, the Board has to consider it seriously. Even if there is a 1% doubt on Chawlas integrity, he should not be given the CEC post. The nation demands it. But nothing is likely to happen. The rubber stamp President forwards it to the PMO, who will sit on it till the current CEC retires. Once Chawla becomes CEC, he can only be removed by the Parliament through an impeachment motion. But the President can remove the other two ECs on CECs recommendation. The sordid issue in the case of Chawla is that the President has forwarded the CECs recommendation to the Government headed by Congress, whom Chawla is supposed to be favouring. And they are to suggest the future course of action. This is akin to asking the Fence who peddles in stolen articles to decide if the thief, who gives him stolen articles in the first place, is guilty or not.

The whole murky episode shows the democracy in the country and its guardians in poor light. And we the people are impotent

What makes a great professional?

The difference between a great professional and a good one


A tourist visiting a temple under construction saw a sculptor making an idol of the Lord. He also noticed a similar idol lying nearby.


Surprised, he asked the sculptor, “Do you need two identical statues of the Lord?”


“No,” said the sculptor without looking up, “We need only one, but the first one got damaged at the very last stage.”


The tourist examined the idol but found no apparent damage. “Where is the damage?” he asked.


“There is a scratch on the nose of the idol,” said the sculptor, still busy with his scalpel.


“Where are you going to install the idol?”


The sculptor replied that it would be installed on a pillar 20 feet high.


The tourist was incredulous. “If the idol is that far, who is going to know that there is a scratch on the nose?”


The sculptor stopped his work, looked up, and smiled. “I will know.”

Importance of Knowledge and Thinking

Small difference in ability can lead to enormous differences in results. The main aim in one’s career is to identify, acquire and develop these differences, which yield superior results.


Knowledge is important. Knowledge is cumulative. Once it exists, it grows. Every new piece of knowledge reveals connections with other areas of knowledge. Each breakthrough in knowledge creates new opportunities that expand and multiply.


Thinking is creative. You can create your world by the way you think. Situation and people have the meaning you give them. When you change your thinking, you are changing your life.


To take control of your life, you must take control of your mind. - Arthasasthra

Round up

Thief strikes VIP box at R-Day parade - A Japanese diplomat watching the Republic Day parade from the VIP enclosure was quietly relieved of all his valuables — contained in a small bag — by a deft thief. And this was from the most sanitized area, very close from where the President was seated (Well.................. The poor Japanese gets a first hand experience of what happenes when he gets close to our VIP Politicians. All along these politicians have been expert at looting OUR valuables in one form or another. Now they have started diversifying. Or is the suspect Madame President herself? Knowing her and her families antecedents, I wouldn't be surprised.)

US to continue missile strikes in Pakistan -US defence secretary Robert Gates has indicated that missile strikes in Pakistan will continue to root out al-Qaida members based across the porous border (How about a small nuke for a change? Will solve half the worlds terrorist related problems)


What's new in Internet Explorer 8 ? - Faster, Accelarators Features, Private Browsing Mode, Web slices, Compatability and MORE SECURE (Honest! I didn't make up the last one)


A man has been fired from his job - because he uses water instead of toilet paper (Again no joke. This happened to a Philippino employee in Australia. The employer said using water is Un-Australian. Now all those Indian employees in Australia who literally uses the biggest toilet in the world 'nature' to attend to 'natures call' are worried)

Lie another day

How many times have we tried to cover up our shortfalls with lies and brags? There are countless occasions when we spoke untruths, from telling a convenient lie in the house to impressing our managers. Often, there is no ill intent. I personally feel it is human nature to lie. Many a time we tend to say things to boost our profile and status in a casual setting.

Personally, I have lot of regard for people who are honest about their knowledge and capabilities. While recruiting people, I have come across many resumes where the job seeker has added lot of hype into his resume in order to clinch a job. And this had led to hilarious situations where the candidate was seen to be fumbling when queried about what is mentioned in his CV, as in the first place he had taken outside help to prepare his resume and had not even bothered to check what is written there. An interviewer can ask questions only based on what is present in the resume. So one is digging one's own grave while misrepresenting facts in the resume.

Even if you get a job based on this cooked up resume, there is a flip side to it. The impressive resume results in an increase in expectations by the employer. If the candidate fails to perform to that level of expectation, his employers shall get disillusioned fast.

Conversely, consider another situation where a job seeker admits to his shortfalls, but lets the employer know he is willing to work hard to improve. The employer might give him a chance to try out the job, and with hard work, the employee is likely to surpass the employer's expectations.

Let people recruit for what you are. If you dont meet the requirements, it is fine. Anyway you wont be happy in a job where your skills cannot be used.

While working in the Direct Investment Division of an Investment Company, I got a call from a head hunter for the post of Financial Controller. The headhunter had barely noticed that I work in an Investment Company and assumed that I am competent to handle the FC post.

I listened to her patiently as she was trying to sell the post to me in right earnest and then said " I do not mind taking up the post. But kindly check with the prospective employer whether they would prefer to have someone as Financial Controller who do not know the difference between Debit and Credit".

After a stunned silence, she burst out laughing. Since then she keeps calling me once in 2 months to find out if I am in the job market and has given me an assurance that whenever I need a job in Kuwait, she will fix one up for me in less than a week.

I would also recommend that the senior be honest with their staff always. If you do not have an answer to a question, just admit that you do not know, but will get back with an answer soon. I do it while teaching. If I dont know, I tell that upfront but always take the pains to find the answer and revert to the student within the deadline I have given him/her. Bluffing when you dont know the answer is the surest way to lose respect. And respect once lost is difficult to regain.

I am an Indian and I am second to none

Let us rejoice the fact that we are a Republic. Let us take a vow not to take our hard fought independance and freedom to choose our own rulers for granted. Let us do what we can for our great country, however little it may be.

It can be refusing to pay a bribe, raising our voice against injustice, maintaining high ethical standards, teaching one underprivileged child, keeping our surroundings clean, reducing pollution, mentoring a colleague, passing on our knowledge ------- the options are endless. But let us get started now

Let us have pride in our nation and its ancient culturally and intellectually vibrant civilization. Let us hold our head high and say with pride "I am an Indian and I am second to none"

Scrap and Reinvent Republic Day Celebrations

Tomorrow we celebrate another Republic Day. Another parade that is supposed to showcase the military and cultural might of the Country. But is this not a vulgar exhibition that had relevance half a century ago, but is no more relevant today? Of course, it has its moments of poignant importance when the Martyrs are honoured. But it is a symbolic sham. The way our country has treated our martyrs is deplorable to say the least. Compensations due to them are delayed, their family left to suffer and these martyrs who laid down their life so that their fellow countrymen live on will be squirming in their coffins wondering for what did they lose their lives for?

Before the advent of television, it was estimated that up to 5,00,000 people flocked to see this spectacle and it was common to hear about thousands of ordinary folks without the privileged entry pass that is so required today spending the night before in the unreserved enclosures to find a place to see the parade. Both republic day parade in the Rajpath and independance day flag hoisting in Red Fort used to be for the common man. That has changed since 1980s. Today the common man is not allowed within 10 kilometer radius of the events. The audience is manufactured and more often that not we can see well decked men and women from the delhi elite sitting frankly bored or school children who were forced to attend to make up the numbers. In the days of Doordarshan alone TV airwaves, we used to be glued to the TV sets. But today, hardly anyone watches it on their TVs for they are more keen on the filmy masala that is dished out by the various channels. People do not even hoist flags in their houses. So much for patriotism.

The Republic Day parade was an apt symbol of national integration. Unity in diversity was the leitmotif of the imposing parade, where religion, language and ethnicity were sought to be subsumed under the overarching pan-Indian identity. It was required in the early years to show the skeptics who predicted India disintegrating soon after independance, that we are a mighty unified country. But is it needed now?

In its current format, the parade is more about the might of the military and the might of the state and the focus is on the VIP. From the president's mounted bodyguard column to the fly-past and the innumerable security cordons, it symbolises the vulgar power of the State and the babudom. It also puts the Delhiites to considerable incovenience for one month. Also, the Republic Day parade is a highly visible terrorist target.

We can and should find other means of celebrating the Republic Day. It is time to involve the common man once again. A week long cultural activities spread across the country to celebrate our cultural diversity could be one option. We can do a rain check on the unfortunate dependants of the Martyrs every year and help them out. The military can have its own private ceremonies. Programs on Patriotism and Constitution awareness can be conducted in schools, colleges and offices. We can conduct exhibitions across the country on the history and future of our nation. We can create Republic Day talent clubs for children and organize activities all over India. And please let us scrap the national holiday. Let us work EXTRA on these to days as part of nation building. We need some zing and zest that involves all. It should be a solemn day. A day of introspection and reflection. After all being independant and being a republic are something that we take for granted but should not.

And finally, how many of us know what is meant by a Republic? I have been asking this question to my MBA students in Kuwait for the last two semesters. My students are in the age group of 22-50. All Indians. Sad to say, none of them knew the answer. This despite the word Republic of India stamped boldly in golden letters in the cover of their passports. That alone should be sufficient to make you realize the futility of having Republic Day parades and its failure to convey the proper message

Hear and there!

Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan on Friday said the Oscar awards should not be considered as the "ultimate recognition" for artists. "Oscar has its own place...we do not disrespect it.... If they wish to give us an Oscar they can do it...if not, it would be even better", said he.......................... Mmmmmmmmmmmm Grapes are indeed sour Mr.Bachan.

Pranab Mukherjee could stand in when Manmohan Singh goes for Coronary Bypass Surgery.......... Manmohan Singh will have his heart in his mouth when he goes under anaesthesia. Pranab has had his eyes on the PM chair for a while now.

"It is not words or sympathy, India needs action, India needs results," the Defence Minister A K Anthony said, commenting on the responses of the world community to the Mumbai attack............... Hello, my dear Anthony! How about some action by India. Is it not written somewhere that only those who have not sinned should throw stones?

City court on Friday rejected market regulator SEBI's plea to interrogate Satyam founder Ramalinga Raju and his brother Rama Raju................. Well what else did you expect from our corrupt judiciary? Satyameva Jayathe!

Anger (Mis)Management and Me

I am known to possess a violent temper. Though age has mellowed me a lot. My HP dealers from 1990's say I am unrecognisable from the Rajan they know two decades back. I really used to be wild. And I have regretted many of my actions.

When my anger was proving to be self destructive, I made a conscious effort to control it. And I can myself see the difference (I see a smile of incredulity on some of my students faces when they read this, but then you didnt know Rajan 90. You have only seen Rajan 08).

Still I dont feel anger is bad. What is not acceptable is uncontrolled anger. Controlled anger has its own advantages. It conveys the message that you are unhappy with the other person. Sometimes it is required to shake the other person out of complacency. There is task orientation and people orientation. The 9-9 in the grid of a guy who is both highly task oriented as well as people oriented is an utopian concept. To be effective one has to be task oriented, but not of course at the expense of the person. But when it comes to a crunch, task takes precedence. Being empathetic is nice. But that doesnt mean that, one has to be so understanding to accept and understand substandard performance. People need to be made to understood that there is a goal to be achieved. Controlled anger serves as a tool for preventing deviations from the norm.

I become impatient and lose my temper only for attitude related issues and when I see a blatant injustice being done. I have a high pitch voice and a sharp way with words. Many mistake my normal speech for anger.

In a way I inherited the temper from my father. Also, in our household it was the norm for all of us to talk bluntly. We called a spade a spade. And if someone is wrong, we told him on his face that he was wrong. This had a profound impact on my behavioural style.

I am not justifying my behaviour in any way. I cant wear a mask. I am what I am. There is good and bad in me. But I do make a honest effort to modify my negative traits always. I can assure one thing. My temper tantrums are aimed at the overall good. That gives me some solace.

Why I am not enthused about Obama?

Everyone and then his Aunt are writing about Obama. It would be amiss if I dont add my bit.

I somehow dont go gaga over Obama becoming the President. Though I am aware of the racial prejudism that exists in USA, despite their claims to the contrary, that makes it extremely difficult for an Afro-American to become its President, it is worthwhile to note that Obama HAS NOT become the President through a social movement.

During my time I have seen major events happen that has had a profound influence on a country and even the world at large. The collapse of the Berlin Wall, the disintegration of USSR and the dismantling of the Aparatheid regime in South Africa. At a less important level, the replacement of monarchy with an elected government in tiny Nepal.

Obama's election pales in comparison to this. His only virtue is that he is half black. The blacks have rather adopted him after the event. He has never led them nor is he representative of them nor has he a track record of doing anything for them. So if the blacks are going to assume that Obama presidency will change their life, they are sadly mistaken. This is akin to the Dalits in UP thinking their life will undergo a sea change if one of their own ilk, Mayawati, becomes the Chief Minister. And we know her track record.

To tell the truth, Obama has won by default. George Bush had become so unpopular (with the economic crisis being the final nail in his coffin) that if the Democrats had fielded a Broom instead of Obama, it would have won convincingly. McCain just did not stand a chance. And Obama's rhetoric about change will remain just that, a rhetoric. Appointment of Hillary Clinton as Secretary of States and retention of Robert Gates as Secretary of Defence is indicative of his reluctance to take on the system. He got a golden opportunity to make a clean break from the past, but he has not opted to do so. And it shall be increasingly difficult for him to do in the future once he gets into grip with the nitty gritty of governance.

The initial noises Obama made about Kashmir, his focus of Afghanistan (which naturally means more aid to Pakistan) and the Democrats known antipathy towards outsourcing has made him wary in the eyes of India. It is not likely to be a smooth sailing for India, unless we decide to stand up and be counted. But then will we?

The genius of O Henry

O.Henry has always been a favourite short story writer of mine. There is always a twist in the tail in all his stories. There is an element of pathos in his writings. 'Gift of the Magi', a classic from him demonstrates what love and sacrifice is all about.



One dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all. And sixty cents of it was in pennies. Pennies saved one and two at a time by bulldozing the grocer and the vegetable man and the butcher until one's cheeks burned with the silent imputation of parsimony that such close dealing implied. Three times Della counted it. One dollar and eighty- seven cents. And the next day would be Christmas.
There was clearly nothing to do but flop down on the shabby little couch and howl. So Della did it. Which instigates the moral reflection that life is made up of sobs, sniffles, and smiles, with sniffles predominating.
While the mistress of the home is gradually subsiding from the first stage to the second, take a look at the home. A furnished flat at $8 per week. It did not exactly beggar description, but it certainly had that word on the lookout for the mendicancy squad.
In the vestibule below was a letter-box into which no letter would go, and an electric button from which no mortal finger could coax a ring. Also appertaining thereunto was a card bearing the name "Mr. James Dillingham Young."
The "Dillingham" had been flung to the breeze during a former period of prosperity when its possessor was being paid $30 per week. Now, when the income was shrunk to $20, though, they were thinking seriously of contracting to a modest and unassuming D. But whenever Mr. James Dillingham Young came home and reached his flat above he was called "Jim" and greatly hugged by Mrs. James Dillingham Young, already introduced to you as Della. Which is all very good.
Della finished her cry and attended to her cheeks with the powder rag. She stood by the window and looked out dully at a gray cat walking a gray fence in a gray backyard. Tomorrow would be Christmas Day, and she had only $1.87 with which to buy Jim a present. She had been saving every penny she could for months, with this result. Twenty dollars a week doesn't go far. Expenses had been greater than she had calculated. They always are. Only $1.87 to buy a present for Jim. Her Jim. Many a happy hour she had spent planning for something nice for him. Something fine and rare and sterling--something just a little bit near to being worthy of the honor of being owned by Jim.
There was a pier-glass between the windows of the room. Perhaps you have seen a pier-glass in an $8 flat. A very thin and very agile person may, by observing his reflection in a rapid sequence of longitudinal strips, obtain a fairly accurate conception of his looks. Della, being slender, had mastered the art.
Suddenly she whirled from the window and stood before the glass. her eyes were shining brilliantly, but her face had lost its color within twenty seconds. Rapidly she pulled down her hair and let it fall to its full length.
Now, there were two possessions of the James Dillingham Youngs in which they both took a mighty pride. One was Jim's gold watch that had been his father's and his grandfather's. The other was Della's hair. Had the queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his treasures piled up in the basement, Jim would have pulled out his watch every time he passed, just to see him pluck at his beard from envy.
So now Della's beautiful hair fell about her rippling and shining like a cascade of brown waters. It reached below her knee and made itself almost a garment for her. And then she did it up again nervously and quickly. Once she faltered for a minute and stood still while a tear or two splashed on the worn red carpet.
On went her old brown jacket; on went her old brown hat. With a whirl of skirts and with the brilliant sparkle still in her eyes, she fluttered out the door and down the stairs to the street.
Where she stopped the sign read: "Mne. Sofronie. Hair Goods of All Kinds." One flight up Della ran, and collected herself, panting. Madame, large, too white, chilly, hardly looked the "Sofronie."
"Will you buy my hair?" asked Della.
"I buy hair," said Madame. "Take yer hat off and let's have a sight at the looks of it."
Down rippled the brown cascade.
"Twenty dollars," said Madame, lifting the mass with a practised hand.
"Give it to me quick," said Della.
Oh, and the next two hours tripped by on rosy wings. Forget the hashed metaphor. She was ransacking the stores for Jim's present.
She found it at last. It surely had been made for Jim and no one else. There was no other like it in any of the stores, and she had turned all of them inside out. It was a platinum fob chain simple and chaste in design, properly proclaiming its value by substance alone and not by meritricious ornamentation--as all good things should do. It was even worthy of The Watch. As soon as she saw it she knew that it must be Jim's. It was like him. Quietness and value--the description applied to both. Twenty-one dollars they took from her for it, and she hurried home with the 87 cents. With that chain on his watch Jim might be properly anxious about the time in any company. Grand as the watch was, he sometimes looked at it on the sly on account of the old leather strap that he used in place of a chain.
When Della reached home her intoxication gave way a little to prudence and reason. She got out her curling irons and lighted the gas and went to work repairing the ravages made by generosity added to love. Which is always a tremendous task, dear friends--a mammoth task.
Within forty minutes her head was covered with tiny, close-lying curls that made her look wonderfully like a truant schoolboy. She looked at her reflection in the mirror long, carefully, and critically.
"If Jim doesn't kill me," she said to herself, "before he takes a second look at me, he'll say I look like a Coney Island chorus girl. But what could I do--oh! what could I do with a dollar and eighty- seven cents?"
At 7 o'clock the coffee was made and the frying-pan was on the back of the stove hot and ready to cook the chops.
Jim was never late. Della doubled the fob chain in her hand and sat on the corner of the table near the door that he always entered. Then she heard his step on the stair away down on the first flight, and she turned white for just a moment. She had a habit for saying little silent prayer about the simplest everyday things, and now she whispered: "Please God, make him think I am still pretty."
The door opened and Jim stepped in and closed it. He looked thin and very serious. Poor fellow, he was only twenty-two--and to be burdened with a family! He needed a new overcoat and he was without gloves.
Jim stopped inside the door, as immovable as a setter at the scent of quail. His eyes were fixed upon Della, and there was an expression in them that she could not read, and it terrified her. It was not anger, nor surprise, nor disapproval, nor horror, nor any of the sentiments that she had been prepared for. He simply stared at her fixedly with that peculiar expression on his face.
Della wriggled off the table and went for him.
"Jim, darling," she cried, "don't look at me that way. I had my hair cut off and sold because I couldn't have lived through Christmas without giving you a present. It'll grow out again--you won't mind, will you? I just had to do it. My hair grows awfully fast. Say `Merry Christmas!' Jim, and let's be happy. You don't know what a nice-- what a beautiful, nice gift I've got for you."
"You've cut off your hair?" asked Jim, laboriously, as if he had not arrived at that patent fact yet even after the hardest mental labor.
"Cut it off and sold it," said Della. "Don't you like me just as well, anyhow? I'm me without my hair, ain't I?"
Jim looked about the room curiously.
"You say your hair is gone?" he said, with an air almost of idiocy.
"You needn't look for it," said Della. "It's sold, I tell you--sold and gone, too. It's Christmas Eve, boy. Be good to me, for it went for you. Maybe the hairs of my head were numbered," she went on with sudden serious sweetness, "but nobody could ever count my love for you. Shall I put the chops on, Jim?"
Out of his trance Jim seemed quickly to wake. He enfolded his Della. For ten seconds let us regard with discreet scrutiny some inconsequential object in the other direction. Eight dollars a week or a million a year--what is the difference? A mathematician or a wit would give you the wrong answer. The magi brought valuable gifts, but that was not among them. This dark assertion will be illuminated later on.
Jim drew a package from his overcoat pocket and threw it upon the table.
"Don't make any mistake, Dell," he said, "about me. I don't think there's anything in the way of a haircut or a shave or a shampoo that could make me like my girl any less. But if you'll unwrap that package you may see why you had me going a while at first."
White fingers and nimble tore at the string and paper. And then an ecstatic scream of joy; and then, alas! a quick feminine change to hysterical tears and wails, necessitating the immediate employment of all the comforting powers of the lord of the flat.
For there lay The Combs--the set of combs, side and back, that Della had worshipped long in a Broadway window. Beautiful combs, pure tortoise shell, with jewelled rims--just the shade to wear in the beautiful vanished hair. They were expensive combs, she knew, and her heart had simply craved and yearned over them without the least hope of possession. And now, they were hers, but the tresses that should have adorned the coveted adornments were gone.
But she hugged them to her bosom, and at length she was able to look up with dim eyes and a smile and say: "My hair grows so fast, Jim!"
And them Della leaped up like a little singed cat and cried, "Oh, oh!"
Jim had not yet seen his beautiful present. She held it out to him eagerly upon her open palm. The dull precious metal seemed to flash with a reflection of her bright and ardent spirit.
"Isn't it a dandy, Jim? I hunted all over town to find it. You'll have to look at the time a hundred times a day now. Give me your watch. I want to see how it looks on it."
Instead of obeying, Jim tumbled down on the couch and put his hands under the back of his head and smiled.
"Dell," said he, "let's put our Christmas presents away and keep 'em a while. They're too nice to use just at present. I sold the watch to get the money to buy your combs. And now suppose you put the chops on."


The magi, as you know, were wise men--wonderfully wise men--who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents. Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication. And here I have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. O all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi.

Titbits again

Railways will soon run bullet train _ Lalu ( oops! read it as BULLOCK TRAIN. Associatio nof ideas. Bullocks/Buffallos and Lalu go hand in glove from his days as CM/CM husband in Patna)

Presidents rule imposed in Jharkhand - (Pratibha Patil's famous (notorious) husband of the Sugarmill scam must be wringing his hands in glee at the prospect of the mineral rich Jharkhand under their control)

Nations's supporting terror must pay a heavy price - India - (Thought we had kicked out Ekta Kapoor serials. This looks like a megaserial. Nothing much changes)

Kalyan Singh's son can contest in Samajwadi Party Ticket - Mulayam Singh Yadav ( As if Kalyan Singh is interested. He might be if it is Madame Kusum Rai)

No blogging for the day

Network problems at work means my schedule for the day has gone for a six. So bear with me. No blogging for the day. Shall be back tomorrow

Melancholy

Woke up with a melancholic heart. Don't know why. Just one of those days. As I sit in my office, looking out at a cloudy sky and a slightly turbulent grey sea (normally it is blue in all its magnificence) , the feeling of melancholy increased. With a start, I remembered the Solitary Reaper by William Wordsworth, a poem that had a profound influence on me in my younger days. I had and still have a special fondness for the second last stanza starting with "Will no one tell me what she sings?"........................... God never gave me the gift to string words so wonderfully together as Wordsworth did, but I am thankful to God for at least giving me the ability to appreciate it. I just thought this beautiful poem had to be shared with you.


BEHOLD her, single in the field,
Yon solitary Highland Lass!
Reaping and singing by herself;
Stop here, or gently pass!
Alone she cuts and binds the grain,
And sings a melancholy strain;
O listen! for the Vale profound
Is overflowing with the sound.

No Nightingale did ever chaunt
More welcome notes to weary bands
Of travellers in some shady haunt,
Among Arabian sands:
A voice so thrilling ne'er was heard
In spring-time from the Cuckoo-bird,
Breaking the silence of the seas
Among the farthest Hebrides.

Will no one tell me what she sings?—
Perhaps the plaintive numbers flow
For old, unhappy, far-off things,
And battles long ago:
Or is it some more humble lay,
Familiar matter of to-day?
Some natural sorrow, loss, or pain,
That has been, and may be again?

Whate'er the theme, the Maiden sang
As if her song could have no ending;
I saw her singing at her work,
And o'er the sickle bending;—
I listen'd, motionless and still;
And, as I mounted up the hill,
The music in my heart I bore,
Long after it was heard no more.

Is there no honour amongst our leaders and artists?

50 days has gone by since the Mumbai Attack. We have still not arrested anyone other than the lone gunmen. Surely, an attack of this magnitude could not have been carried out without local support. Why is it that no one is talking about this?

People, including the Honourable External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and the PM, have been crying hoarse over those who might be arrested in Pakistan (fat chance of that happening!) being handed over to India so that they can be sent to trial here. One small issue everyone seems to have forgotten. India DO NOT have an EXTREDITION TREATY with Pakistan. In the absence of an extredition treaty, no one arrested in Pakistan can be handed over to India - Simple as that. All these hot air talks are for the gullible public consumption.

On top of it India wants Prabhakaran of LTTE to be extredited to India for plotting the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, provided he is captured by the Srilankan Army in the first place. Prabhakaran has committed more crimes and assassinations in Srilanka than the one of our late Prime Minister. Also, Prabhakaran is in his 50's. He will welcome the idea of being made to face the Indian courts than the Srilankar courts. He can prolong his trial till he is into his late 70's. Even then, if he is finally convicted to death, he can give a mercy petition and people like Vaiko will take care of the rest. If you have any doubt, ask Afsal Guru.

Did you notice the psuedo secularists popping their head up again protesting against the attack by MNS goons on the Pakistan comedian in the Zee TV set. I dont believe in the methods of MNS or Shivsena. But is it not ridiculous that, having known the public sentiments, Zee TV should have the galls to invite a Pakistani Artist to perform in India? And that person did indeed accept the invitation and performed, for a fat fee of course. Is there no honour amongst our media and artists?

Nation comes first, second and last. When people realize that, India will be once again the proud civilization that it was once.

History Repeats

At a time when the talking point is Corporate Responsibility, it is worthwhile to note what the great sages said many centuries ago in Vedas. One shall speak the truth. (Satyam Vada - Taittiriya Upanishad i-11). One shall follow the path of righteousness. (Dharmam cara - Taittiriya Upanishad i-11)One shall do what he speaks and what he thinks. (Taittiriya Aranyaka i-90)One shall not sin against his neighbor or a foreigner. (Rig Veda Samhita v-85-7)One who does not work is a social evil. (Rig Veda Samhita x-22-8) - In short, the Vedas require people to be honest, follow the path of Dharma and in short take the righteous path without succumbing to tempations. Is that not what we are asking of the top management of the Public Companies?. The Vedas are also clear about the way to create wealth. Wealth has to be won through deeds of glory (Rig Veda Samhita) .Wealth has to be earned only through fair means and one should put in his best efforts to acquire wealth through ethical and moral practices. The ancient wisdom, as represented in Vedas, puts high emphasis on performing one's dharma in a honest and ethical way. It is strange that we are reinventing the wheel after all these years.

We might be tempted to believe that unethical practice in the Corporate world we are witnessing today is a thing of recent origin. This is not true. It is only that they are highlighted more because of the domination of the economy by these Corporate Organizations in the Services economy. The feudal landlords of the last century, who controlled the agrarian economy then, were equally bad. They exploited the small land dwellers, never paid fair wages, indulged in hoarding, acquired land through illegal means etc. In short, they never practiced individual and corporate social responsibility. Look where they are all now!. The feudal system is all but dead. Most of them have become paupers. Some of them migrated to become industrialists (like Ramalingam Raju) and continued their nefarious practices there. We are seeing history repeating.

Of Makara Sankranthi and Rebranding

Today is Makara Sankranthi.

Makara Sankranti has special geo-agri-economical significance to people of Indian Sub-Continent. Today the Sun crosses above India on its northward journey (Uttarayanam). The earth goes through a cycle of 6 months each of Uttarayanam and Dakshinayanam. Uttarayanam starts on Makara Sankranti day and is identified as a period of enlightenment, peace, prosperity and happiness. Makarasankranthi is also associated with the commencement of harvesting of the Rabi crop in many parts of India. In a country where 60% of the people depend on Agriculture, this is very very significant.

The day prior to Makarasankrathi denotes Bhogi. People discard all old things on Bhogi day with a view to make a fresh beginning on the Makarasankranthi day.

Maintaining this wonderful tradition, this blog also decided to discard its old name 'Raja's World'. Being a marketing man, I was never comfortable with the title of the blog from inception. It was too generic.

The rebranding takes place effective today.

The Blog will now be called 'RAJADHARMAM'

Perils of stretegizing without analyzing the consequences

Back to Panchatantra...........

A big banyan tree was home to a number of cranes in a forest. In the hollow of thattree lived a cobra, which used to feed on the young cranes which did not yet learn to fly. When the mother crane saw the cobra killing her offspring, she began crying. Seeing the sorrowing crane, a crab asked her what made her cry.

The crane told the crab, “Every day, the cobra living in this tree is killing my children. I am not able to contain my grief. Please show me some way to get rid of this cobra.”

The crab then thought, “These cranes are our born enemies. I shall give her advice that is misleading and suicidal. That will see the end of all these cranes. Elders have always said that if you want to wipe out your enemy your words should be soft like butter and your heart like a stone.

Then the crab told the crane, “Uncle, strew pieces of meat from the mongoose's burrow to the hollow of the cobra. The mongoose will follow the trail of meat to the cobra burrow and will kill it.”

The crane did as the crab advised her. The mongoose came following the meat trail and killed not only the cobra but also all the cranes on the tree.

If you have a strategy, you must also know what the strategy would lead to. Many managers consider only the plan but not what would follow and they have to face the consequences.

This is seen around us. The current UPA government had adopted a policy that is soft on terror throughout its tenure, without realizing the dreadful consequences this policy entails. They have also been soft on illegal immigration of Bangladeshis. Today, the already trouble North East is a big national security threat. The Bangladeshis have changed the demographics of the region causing considerable resentment amongst the indigenous population. This is a potential time bomb. Also, government turning a nelson eye to the illegal immigration for vote bank politics has created a society that thrives on smuggling, cattle thievery and serves as a recruitment centre for hardcore militant groups. We reap what we sow

Highest Standards of Business Ethics (sic) of Azim Premji

Wipro Technologies on Monday announced that in June 2007, the World Bank had banned it from contesting for its contracts till 2011 because the company had offered shares to the Bank's employees during its US IPO in 2000.


"We have always prided ourselves for setting the highest standards of business ethics in our dealings with all our stake holders" - Azim Premji .


Well, Well, Well! I guess keeping the World Bank Ban SECRET for 18 months from the self same stakeholders constitutes HIGHEST STANDARDS OF BUSINESS ETHICS in Premji's books.


But then, if you are one of the richest men in India, you can think of getting away with some foot in the mouth disease.

Random news with comments

Random news with my comments............................

"Recession due to lack of spirituality. Lack of spirituality and culture is the main cause behind the rampant corruption in the world. People have become selfish and materialistic, which has led to the economic slowdown," Dalai Lama - (Excuse me your Holiness! I thought more materialism means more demand for goods, which in turn means economic growth. I just am not able to follow your logic).

"I was not aware of the fraud as I blindly signed the documents given to me" - Vadlamani Srinivas, disgraced CFO of Satyam Computers. Srinivas pointed fingers at his assistant Rama Krishna who has been working him for about ten years. "Prior to quarterly board meetings Ramakrishna will prepare balance sheet with the assistance of his team with internal employees. I do not pay much attention to the details of that balance sheet. (ha ha, he he, ho ho......................What does he take us to be? Idiots?)

Two persons have been suspended for allegedly selling a Tricolour in Rajasthan. - But what is wrong in selling the Tricolour. Khadi Gramodyog Bhavan does that. I buy from there. So should we be prosecuting them also?)

Congo V-P accused of using rape to intimidate civilians - ( Sssshhhhhhhhhhhh. Please don't give such ideas to our Politicians. They will queue up to emulate the honorable Congo Vice President)

Laughter is the best therapy for obesity - ( Fat people have generally a better sense of humour. They laugh more. So the result of the above study cannot be true. If you have doubt, all you have to do is have a look at me. Anyway, this means that I dont have to diet or struggle in the Gym. Just sit and laugh. Hope they dont take me to Kilpauk or Oolampara)

"We will not handover any Pakistani to India" - Pakistan authorities commenting in connection with Mumbai blast ( Hello! how about handing over a guy called Dawood Ibrahim then?)

Satvic to Rajassic to Tamassic

In an earlier blog I had talked about Satvic, Rajassic and Tamassic traits in human beings. At various times in one's life each of these traits takes precedence over our actions either to our benefit or to our detriment.


In Bhagavat Gita Krishnan tells Arjunan,

Sarvadwareshu Dehe Asmin
Prakasa upajayathe
Gnanam yada thada vidya
Dwivardham Sathvamithyuma.

When our Five senses are utilized to find the truth then Satvic trait is deemed to be predominant. (Maybe Ramalingam Raju had a predominant Satvic character when he launched Satyam Computers all those years ago. The intentions were noble and the path chosen ideal )


How do we know whether Rajassic Trait is dominating our behaviour?

Lobha pravrithirarambha
Karmanamasama Spruhya
Rajasyethani Jayanthe
Vivrudhe Bharatharshabha

When Rajassic trait increases, one is never satiated. One indulges in new ventures with an aim to make profit. Mind and senses will not be under control. There will be an increased affinity for materialistic pleasures. (The growth period of Raju, his aggessive diversification into real estate business, phenominal growth of the company and greed for making it bigger and better during late 1990's and early 2000's could be symbolic of this)

Then Tamassic trait took over,

Aprakaso pravrithischa
Pramado Moha Eva cha
Thamsyethani Jayanthe
vivrudhe kurunandana

One knows if this trait is more when one notices the inability to distinguish between right and wrong, act recklesslessly, take short cuts, not doing anything, being lazy etc. ( The first three were what Raju indulging in during the last four years)

This a classic example of a human being moving from Satvic to Rajassic to Tamassic state and see how it affected not only him but the society as well.

(Please note that the English translations of the slokas are not done verbatim but contains the essence)

A nice lady from a long time ago.

When I was a fresh MBA finding my feet in the Corporate world, many have contributed to my development as a professional and a person.

I still remember a visit by our very likeable General Manager, V.K.Singh of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation. Vikky was a true gentleman and hailed from Punjab. All of us, both sales and operations staff, were having dinner at the nice Annalakshmi hotel in Coimbatore (more about this hotel- a unique concept in another blog). Me and our Operations officer Raghumani were close friends and we both hailed from Kerala. During the dinner, I cracked a joke it Malayalam to Raghu, who had a hearty laugh. Vikkys wife sitting near us gently chided me. She was a very polite and well groomed lady who had a genuine affection for us younger staff. She told me quietly, "Rajan, it is not fair to speak in a language that others dont know, when you are in a group having people from differenct cultures. You might be talking about something else, but those who dont know the language might take offence that you are making fun of them". The manner in which she told me this had a profound influence on me. I have been very careful after that, though of late I noticed that I am falling back into that trap. This is to remind me that I need a course correction.


She was also the first person who pointed out to me that I had the ability to handle totally different issues simultaneously - multi tasking you might call. It was the same dinner. I was talking animatedly ( I always do, dont I?) to Raghu. There was soft music, Mandolin by U Srinivas, on the background. I was apparently oblivious to the music. Vikky's wife called out to me and said. "Son. Do you know that you are enjoying the music subconsciously while engaged in an animated discussion with Raghu?. Because I hear you appreciate the music by saying 'aha' every other minute". I built up on this and have since made a career out of this strength of multi-tasking.


Certain people you remember fondly, even a couple of decades after you have last seen them

Thoughts from Panchatantra

Without effort, you can achieve nothing.

Without cause there is no effect.

Even if you get a good meal as a result of a good deed in the past, you have to use your hand to eat it.

Wealth comes to a person who toils.

There is no point in chanting the name of God.

You must do your bit first.

If you are not successful despite your effort, you are not to blame - Panchatantra

Theatre of absurd

The theatre of absurd continues...............


Shibu Soren of Jharkhand Mukthi Morcha took over as Chief Minister 4 months back when he was not a MLA. He lost the bye election by 8500 votes two days back. He has to get elected within 6 months of becoming CM. Instead of resigning graciously, accepting people's verdict, he clings on to the Chair trying to find out how he can continue. Well, anything can happen in Jharkhand, knowing the history of the State where an Independant was once made the CM. (What surprises me is how Shibu Soren lost. Any CM who cant win a bye election in a corrupt state like Jharkhand must be the biggest idiot and SS is a smart cookie, apart from being a master of Suitcase politics for which he was convicted (he was, but then got out)


Sanjay Dutt, who should have been in jail for criminal activities but for our stupid judiciary, is planning to contest the next Lok Sabha election on a Samajwadi Party ticket from UP. And dont be surprised if he is elected also (Remember Navjodh Sidhu?). Now we know why you and me wont be MPs, because we dont have the guts to kill and maime.


The Asatyam saga continues. Dont be surprised, in a day or two, Ramalinga Raju complains of a heart attack and gets himself admitted to one of the top private hospitals in AP. About a month back, K S Raju of Nagarjuna Finance was arrested. Ramalinga Raju met YSR, CM of AP and pleaded on his behalf. And presto, within 2 days Raju of NF got admitted complaining of Cardiac problems and remains in the hospital. There is a precedence............. Dont be surprised if Ramalinga Raju floats a political party and becomes the CM of AP one day. Stranger things have happened in our country.

(A)satyameva Jayathe!

(A)Satyam Computers founder and chairman Ramalinga Raju has resigned from the Satyam Board.

Raju has written a letter to the board giving details of the balance sheet. Balance Sheet has inflated cash balances of Rs 5040 crore and accrued interest of Rs 376 crore is non-existent. Rs 1230 crore was arranged to Satyam and is not reflected in the books.

"As per the revelations, second Quarter numbers were inflated to Rs 2700 crore vs Rs 2112 crore actual numbers. No board member had any knowledge of the real situation of the books.

I cant believe this. What were the Auditors (it is Price Waterhouse Coopers or the legendary PWC. So much for the efficiency and integrity of the BIG 3)) and the Board of Directors doing? The financials have to be approved by the Board. How can the Board members claim that they had no knowledge of this? And remember, this is the company that got an award for Corporate Governance 2 months back. What a joke!

My worry is not about Satyam. Is this the tip of an iceberg? How many of our top companies are cooking up balance sheets and misusing funds? I am sure this is not a one off case. In any other country, the Government and the monetary regulatory agencies would have commenced a serious investigation into not only Satyam but other companies as well. They owe it to the small investors. But our Government/opposition is so weak kneed and so obligated to all these companies for election funds, apart from being bribed to the eyes, that they just do not care. The whole system is rotten

Nations developing competitive advantages

I have been closely following the Israel-Palastine imbroglio. I am not competent to comment on it for I do not have the full knowledge of the historical, current scenario.

But what struck me as significant is the groundwork laid by Israel prior to attacking Gaza. They have been planning this for two years, has done some intense lobbying with friendly governments and even non friendly governments over the past year. The muted reaction to their incursion is a victory for their diplomacy. How did they pull it off?

Someof it has to do with historical facts. But for a nation, that has more enemies than friends in the world, to pull this off means we can learn from them. They had decided long time back that they have to have US as their supporters. Towards this they worked solidly with the rich jewish lobby in Washington over the last 6 decades (ironically Israel became a reality around the same time India got independence). This lobby ensures continued support for Israel irrespective of who comes to power. Secondly, they developed a core competence in manufacturing world class weapons. They are, if I remember correctly, the third largest suppliers of weapons in the world. This puts many other countries in world at their mercy, for antagonizing Israel means these countries military becoming weak. Finally, they were never apologetic about what they do. Their objective is clear. Israels interest comes first, second and last. Towards this they will do anything. Believe me when I say that I do not approve of what they have done to the Palestinians, but you need to give credit to the Israelis. Despite all the hullaboo by muslims world over, did you notice one thing? The major Arab nations - Saudi, Egypt, Kuwait, Jordan etc has been very very quiet at the Government level.

Take Pakistan. They also go independence the same time as India. Their only core competence is that the country has a location that is a dream geo politically. Borders with China, India and Afghanistan makes Pakistan a vital ally. They threw in their lot with Americans during cold war, and despite being the nerve centre of jihadis, they are so important to USA that they will pump in billions of dollars to support them. And Pakistan leverages this and the fact that they are a nuclear power to the hilt. Also, they have developed a terrific competency in manipulating the western media. Indians need to take some lessons from Pakistan on how to use the media. How many times have they been the attackers and how many times have they managed to end up making the world believe that they are the victims. Even the idiot of a Prime Minister we have (who now bleats that the terrorists had Pak support), went so far to say that Pakistan and India BOTH are victims of terror. Need I say more.

That leaves us. We, as a nation, lives in the past. Yes, we do have a glorious past. But during the past 6 decades, we never created any core competency or levers that can be used when the time comes. Nehru went in for non-alignment, though subtly supporting Russia. Since we did not align fully with Russia, this didnt give us much advantage. And typical of anyone who places two legs in two boats, we sunk when one of the boats sprung a leak. We could have become an economic giant in 1980's. But skewed policies prevented us from becoming one. We opened up the economy 20 years too late, missing a golden chance to become an Asian super power. Even the current economic status is more wishful thinking. Though we are emerging as a strong economy, we do not know how to use that to our national good. We are considered to be an unworthy ally in international arena. We are humiliated time and again in international forums (Sashi Tharoor fiasco in UN is still fresh in mind). We have lofty ideals, but very little capability to follow up with action. China flexes its economic muscles to check US and the Western countries. Ditto Japan. See how Russia uses its oil to make a roaring comeback after the disintegration of the USSR. It took them all of 10 years to become an important player once again. But we dither. We dont take the lead. The global financial crisis, where we were not affected that much really, was a great opportunity for us to take the lead. We could have engineered a coup in the various financial institutions. But we let it slip. We could have used our IT prowess to control the whole cyberspace (at least a major chunk). But we never thought that way. We have one of the largest army in the world and we are a nuclear power. But we let even tiny Nepal, Burma and Bangladesh to cock a snook at us. We have lost our respect in international arena, despite the bravado of our successive rulers. We are still suffering from the hangover of the colonial era. We are still subservient to the white skinned. See how Manmohan Singh pampers and dances to American tunes. More than anything else, we dont have the steel in us to stand up and be counted. When the need of the hour is to be a bully (only that language works in the modern world), we are the worst of the cowards.

A few days back Pranab Mukherjee talked about India not hesitating to use all options against Pakistan. This reminded me of a story,

Once a namboodiri was very hungry in an alien place. He went to another namboothiris house and asked for food (those days it was a practice to give food). But unfortunately, the house belonged to a stingy namboodiri, who refused to give him food. His pleadings fell on deaf years. By then a small crowd had gathered. Our namboodiri finally raised his voice and said

"So you wont give me food? then i have no choice but to use the last resort. But believe me, it has far reaching consequences".

Now everyone was intrigued. Even the stingy namboodiri was shaken up. He was advised by the crowd to offer food, lest the namboodiri do something that will be harmful to all. The namboodiri was given food.

After he had eaten, one guy asked him with respect

"Namboodiri, may I know the last resort that you threatened with?".

The namboodiri smiled and replied,

"Oh! I would have just walked off to the next village and tried my luck there. What else could I have done?. That was my last resort"


Need I say more about what India would have done or will do?

Panchatantra -3

Panchatantra is full of philosophical vignettes that are extremely practical (I have highlighted the relevant part). Most of the readers would have read these stories but without attaching importance to the philosophy/advice behind it. It is actually these advices that was the intention of Panchatantra and makes it a wonderful book to read,


Three fish lived in a pond. Their names were Anagatavidhata, Pratyutpannamati and Yadbhavishya.

Some fishermen passing by the pond wondered, “Hey, we have never seen this pond. It seems to be full of fish. It is now evening. Let us come at dawn tomorrow and bag as many fish as we can.”

Hearing the fisherman, Anagatavidhata (the one who foresees a danger in time) called a meeting of all the fish and told them, “Haven't you heard what the fishermen were saying? We must move out of this pond tonight itself. As the wise men have said weak men should flee when a strong man invades or seek refuge in a fort. There is no alternative.”

“The fisherman will come tomorrow. I think we should not be here for even a moment more,” said Anagatavidhata.

“That's true. I endorse your suggestion,” said Pratyutpannamati. “Let's go elsewhere. Those who are afraid of foreign lands and those who are bound to their soil will die in their own country. He who can prosper anywhere does not die in his own land clinging to sentiment.”

Loudly laughing, Yadbhavishya said, “Your plans are not good. Why should we leave this pond, ancient home of our forefathers, because the fishermen have evil intentions. If it is destined, we cannot escape death even if we go elsewhere. Everything is in the hands of God. You cannot dispose what he proposes. Without his blessings people will die even if they have protection. With his blessings nobody can kill them even if they do not have protection.

Unable to convince him, the other two fish left the pond. Coming the next day, the fishermen took a big catch of fish in the pond. Yadbhavishya was one among them.

Those who foresee the problem and those who deal with the problem when it arises are always victors and those who trust their luck are the losers.”

Oh! for a real Chanakya as our ruler

Indian's preach tolerance and ahimsa as a way of life, forgetting the fact that the scriptures always held that the enemy has to be annihilated. The base krithi of hinduism 'Devi Mahatmyam' speaks of Devi in Satvic, Rajassic and Tamassic forms protecting the innocent by taking the Asuras head on and killing them. In Bhagavat Gita, Krishna says that 'whenever there is "dharmachyuthi", he will return to protect the innocent'. I had written in an earlier post that Gandhiji adopted Ahimsa because we were then without arms and it was the ideal weapon against the British. Had it been Hitler and Germany or Stalin and Russia, Gandhiji would never have advocated Ahimsa, for it would not have worked. There has to be horses for courses.

Once upon a time, on the banks of river Ganges, stood the city of Pataliputra, where lived a brahmin. He was humiliated by the then kings, Nandas, while sitting down for food. He took a vow to destroy the Nandas. Then one hot afternoon he was walking in haste. In his hurried walk, he stumbled on a stump of grass (Dharba reed which can be sharp) and was about to fall. He became very angry. The roots of that type of grass go deep into the earth. But he was undeterred. He wrath would brook no opposition. He sat down right there in that burning sun, removed that grass and the ones around that to their roots from the earth, and then resumed his journey. A young man was watching all this. He was impressed by the tenacity and the sense of purpose of the brahmin. The young man went up to the Brahmin and seeked his help to achieve his objective. The rest, as they say, is history. The young man was Chandragupta and the brahmin, later went on to become the renowned Chanakya.

Our politicians are quite fond of calling themselves the modern Chanakya, without an iota of his qualities. It will be worthwhile for them to understand Chanakya and his terrific qualities. Then and only then, shall we able to weed out the terrorism, that is a blot on our country.

Oh! for a real Chanakya as our ruler.

Indian Government to take a leaf out of BCCI book

I would have loved to start the blogging in the new year with positive things. But I am afraid, I may have to go back to the Mumbai attack or rather the post Mumbai attack scenario.

The Mumbai attack has seen the end of Shivraj Patil's reign. Chidambaram has started off reasonably well under the circumstances. The necessary laws have been tightened, NSA has been established and an internal security advisor has been appointed. It will take a while for the changes to come into effect, if at all. But at least it is a small step forward in our fight against terror.

What is galling is the absolute lack of abdiction of responsibility with respect to the Mumbai blast. It is true that Pakistan terrorist were behing the blast. It could also be true that Dawood Ibrahim was behind the blasts. But, such an attack could not have happened without local support. It is worthwhile to note that the Government has been very silent on this, and the people have accepted this hook, line and stinker.

Also, as a citizen of a proud nation, it is utterly reprehensible that we have abdicated the responsibility of the investiation in favour of the FBI. It is as if our responsibilty ends with giving the data to FBI. What a shame! Today P Chidambaram has declared that he is flying with evidence to show to US. This baffles me. Are we an independent nation or are we a vassal of USA? Are we telling the world that 60 years since we got independence, we dont have the polich machinery and the judicial system to bring the culprits to book and that we want others to do the dirt job for us?

USA is never going to back us again Pakistan. Their geopolitical interest is tied too strongly with Pakistan for them to ditch them. It is not as if USA or other Western powers do not know that Pakistan is a rogue state. They have known this for decades. But they need Pakistan to get a foot hold into Afghan, which in turn borders Iran. Also Pakistan is close to China. This makes them turn a blind eye to whatever Pakistan does. The Pakistan hand in the London blasts were very clear. Even there, USA did not do much to help its closest ally Britain. Then what chance do we have?

The paradigm of external threat has changed. This threat cannot be tackled using conventional army or conventional intelligence operations. We need to be aware of this. What we need is a network of agents (assets) across the rogue nations who will tip us off in advance of any attack. We need small, quick strike forces that will strike terror into the hearts of the enemy. These forces shall fly in the sly, attack terrorist camps and neutralize them. We need a zero tolerence towards any indian citizen who supports terrorism. The law should be swift and separate. Take them in, try them and hang them. Internal intelligence gathering should be tightened. The onus should be on prevention, rather than post attack evidence chasing.

Finally, what to do with Pakistan? Certain people understand only certain languages. We can and should isolate Pakistan locally and internationally. We can start with SAARC countries, who knows which side of the bread is buttered. Blackade Pakistan, cut off trade, show them we can hit them where it hurts most, economically. And take a leaf out of Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI)'s book. It took BCCI nearly 2 decades to take the reigns of ICC. Today the financial clout of BCCI makes everyone grovel. We need to do this. We are the emerging economy. Create a strategic plan to take over World Bank, ADB and IMF, through sheer economic clout. Then, then we can turn the screws on rogue nations like Pakistan and Bangladesh. Let us start now. At least the next generation will be free of these pests.

Back on Sunday

Blog takes a couple of days break. Shall be back on Sunday

Om Shaanti Shaanti Shaanti

Twameva Mata, Chapita Twameva
Twameva Bandhu, Cha Sakha Twameva
Twameva Vidya, Dravinum Twameva
Twameva sarvam mama deva-deva

Om Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah
Sarve Santu Niramayah
Sarve Bhadrani Pushyantu
Maa Kaschid Dukhabhaag Bhavet
Om Shaanti Shaanti Shaanti

Shubhamastu…Kalyaanamastu…
Aishwaryamastu… Udayostu… Udayostu


(Loose Translation in English

Oh Lord! You alone are my mother, father, brother, friend, the knowledge and wealth.
You are everything to me and the God of all Gods.

May everybody be happy. May everybody be free from disease. May everybody have good luck. May none fall on evil days. Peace, peace, peace)