The sky hasn't fallen yet, right?

The year was 1979. I had recently turned 15, just finished my Schooling (Those days Schools were only upto 10th Standard. You go to the College for the two year Pre Degree Course which is equal to the 11th and 12th) and had a vacation lasting nearly 3 months. Apart from attending the District Level Cricket Coaching Camp, there was nothing else to do other than read during the hot summer days.

 

I found my father reading Exodus by Leon Uris, a fat novel of more than 600 pages. An avid reader myself who was satisfied reading solid Malayalam Novels, English Comics, Enid Blyton, Biggles etc., I asked my father about Exodus.

 

"I am not sure you are old enough to read or understand Exodus, but I feel it is high time you start getting exposed to more serious novels, and this book shall provide a good exposure to the outside world for you". he replied.

 

I knew a bit about Israel and got involved in the book from day one. The story of the birth of Israel, their early struggles, their fighting spirit to succeed against all odds, the quest of the Jews to return to their native land for hundreds of  years inspired me no end. The protagonist Ari Ben Canan was a hero for me, as were his father Barak Ben Canan and even Akiva, who led the Maccabees and a complete antithesis to his brother Barak. I felt sad when I read India did not support the creation of Israel at the UN and couldn't understand why. I understood the incompetence and hypocracy of Nehru and Congress much later.

 

I must have read that book many times during the next 10-15 years and never ceased to amaze at the resourcefulness of the Israelis.

 

A couple of years later, I read a small book '90 Minutes at Entebbe' by William Stevenson, a book about the strategy and operations behind the one of the most heroic rescue operations in history. An exciting read on espionage and counter-terrorism, about how Israel's crack team rescued the passengers from the Hijacked Air France 139 Flight, at Entebbe Airport, Uganda, which was ruled by Idi Amin, who was supportive of the Hijackers and admired at their tenacity. Israel lost one soldier in that mission - Lt.Col. Yonatan Netanyahu, whose brother is the current Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu.

 

Thereafter I read a lot on Jewish Holocaust and the horrors, and how Israel hunted down every single perpetrators of the Holocaust much after WW II.

 

My Brother in Law who was working in Middle East made a visit to Israel, and gave me first hand information about the people and the country, which only reinforced my views about Israel.

 

As a young Management Graduate in late 1980s, I was keen on starting a Dairy Farm (30 years down the line, I still am) and always wanted to be an agriculturalist (still do). The amazing development Israel has made in these two fields have been followed by me over the years, and I have always wondered why Indians couldn't do what a small country like Israel do.

 

Maybe it has to do with understanding the value of their freedom, how much they cherish their country, their patriotism and their unending fight for survival despite being shunned by more than half the world.

 

They are not perfect, and at times their strong arm tactics are questionable. But being at the receiving end of cross border terrorism, as an Indian, I do feel that only their language of strength works. The passiveness of Indians have been taken for granted.

 

The vote bank politics, cowardice of the Congress Governments of the past meant we kept Israel at arms length, while supporting Palestine, who have always sided with our enemy. This was baffling to say the least. We did improve our relationship with Israel steadily over the years, but it was always on the sly, akin to a married man visiting his girl friend clandestinely during the night. And we missed no opportunity to vote against Israel at every opportunity at UN.

 

Israel has much to offer in many fields like Agriculture, Dairying, Defense. It is a great pity that it took a Prime Minister of India 70 years to visit an all weather friend, who has stood by us despite being insulted.

 

The warmth in the relationship, the welcome accorded to our PM during his visit to Israel should be an eye opener to all of us.

 

The scare mongers in the country shouted from roof tops all these years that India will be isolated if we have a robust relationship with Israel and Indian Muslims will be offended. Or in short the sky will fall on our heads -as the Guals fear in Asterix Comics.

 

Well, Modi has visited, laid the foundation for an excellent bi lateral relationship, and has invited Benjamin Netanyahu to India.

 

The sky hasn't fallen yet, right?

Finally, We have a Government that has taken the tough decision to Divest Air India. This was loooooooooooong overdue. Government has no business in running Airlines, and the only reasons why they do is for Politicians and Bureaucrats to wield their power, and of course to get fat commissions from Aircraft purchases. If you have doubt, just ask Praful Patel, the Civil Aviation Minister during UPA!

 

This post is not about Air India divestment though. This just triggered a thought process as to other things/persons we need to divest immediately.

 

Let us start with some Constitutional Authorities. Will Modi bite the bullet and divest the President, Vice President and all the Governors please, on priority? India bears a huge cost for maintaining them and they frankly serve only a ceremonial purpose. We are maturing as a democracy and there is no place for dignitaries like President, VP and Governors.

 

Next in the line to divest are the Rajya Sabha, and all the Upper Houses (MLCs) of States wherever they exist. These were established similar to House of Lords in England, and was supposed to have matured individuals who shall provide the necessary guidance to the Loksabha MPs and Assembly MLAs but have become a den of unelectable politicians, goons, businessmen and rogues. And they are not accountable to the people directly but have the Veto right on decisions taken by People Elected Loksabha or Assemblies.

 

Can we also Divest most of the Ministers? Do we really need 80 Ministers to rule a country like India. There is too much interference in the running

 

We also need to divest Delhi of its Capital Status. It is a relic of the Mughal empire and has no advantage for being the Capital City. Government is spending thousands of crores on developing Smart Cities, and it should seriously look at building a brand new Capital City somewhere in the middle of India in Madhya Pradesh or Maharashtra, which is equi distant from all parts of India. At least it will get rid of the vested interests of the Lutyens, and for at least a couple of decades, till new power centres start coming up, it will be free of shady movers and shakers, who are undesirable.

 

 

 

Modi and Shah has the last laugh on Presidential Election

Modi and Amit Shah had the last laugh on the Presidential Election.

 

By nominating Ramnath Kovind, they sent the opposition running for cover, neutralized the antics of Shiv Sena and left the Mainstream Media idiots with mud on their face.

 

It was clear that post UP elections, BJP had done enough to get its man elected as President. The only purpose of the opposition putting up a candidate is to make a statement and create a solidarity movement that could have been the foundation for the 2019 election grand alliance.

 

All they had to do was to nominate a Dalit or a Tribal candidate of stature in advance, and taken the wind out of Modi and Shah. But what can you expect from a brain deficient Congress party or from an ideologically/politically negligent CPI (M), who cant even get one Rajya Sabha candidate elected from West Bengal? Of the others, Samajwadi Party is torn between father, uncle and the son, Mayawati is licking her wounds from the trashing she got from BJP in both Parliament and Assembly elections,  Lalu is at odds with his partner Nitish, while looking over his shoulders everyday as to when the next scam of his family will be revealed, the cantankerous Mamata is not liked by any one, and DMK is in the decline because of the ill health of Karunanidhi.

 

It is hilarious to note that it was CPI(M) and CPI (a party that cant get its deposits back in a single assembly seat anywhere in India, if it were to fight alone) who made the loudest noise. CPI (M) has 27,069 votes in the Electoral College, and CPI has 4,701 constituting less than 3% of the total votes and they are irrelevant. Why in the world, BJPs team went to meet Yechury prior to the nomination process is still a mystery. Both these parties are insignificant in the Indian Political context, get lot of air time because of their left leaning cronies in the English Main Stream Media, but are pests and has to be treated like one. In fact, BJP should not even have bothered to talk to Congress, CPIM or any opposition party at all.

 

The biggest take away from this election is the total isolation of Aam Aadmi Party, It is three days since Modi announced Kovinds candidature and no one has bothered to even ask Kejriwal what his opinion is, nor has he tweeted one. Like CPIM and CPI, AAP is a Grade 1 pest and has been finally put in its place. One hopes in future even the two Communist Parties are shown their proper place. The opposition did not even extend an invitation to AAP while having discussions on likely candidate! Karma is a bitch.

 

And finally the Media................

 

The pimps who goes around as Anchors must be squirming in their seats. They have again been exposed as news peddlers who hardly does any investigative journalism. Sitting in AC Rooms, they belted out names like Advani, Joshi, Sushma Swarajm Draupadi Murmu, Sumitra Mahajan, E Sreedharan, Rajanikant, Amitabh Bachan and even Narayanamoorthy till a minute before Shah announced Kovinds name in the Presser. It is amazing how BJP has plugged all the leaks in the Government, and the Media which made a living on the leaks from the Government during UPA regime, has absolutely nowhere to turn to for authentic news. They are totally discredited and now when they throw out possible opposition candidate names, even their servants (whom some of the anchors use as barometer to assess popular mood) wont believe them.

 

Ramnath Kovind has come up the hard way, is learned, has been a two time MP, SC lawyer, PA to a PM, Governor and has devoted his life to the upliftment of the poor. He is Clean as a Whistle, despite being in politics for 40 years! He has an excellent track record as Governor of a tricky state like Bihar.

 

He fits perfectly with the profile Modi looks for while selecting key people. Low key, under the radar, clean, hard working and one who doesn't rock the boat.

 

Shri Ramnath Kovind will win easily with nearly 70% of votes with all the support that has been assured to him so far, and with many more to come.

 

Only in India can such a poor person from humble origins become the 1st Citizen of the Country.

 

Let us be proud of that.

 

Hamara Bharath Mahan!

Fix the biggest Crook and rest will fall in line

I was a young Sales Officer handling 36 Petrol Pumps for Hindustan Petroleum in a District in Tamil Nadu in 1989. An idealist, then and now, fresh out of my MBA, I had my task cut out in tackling adulteration and other corrupt practices.

 

I was just 25. The Sales area had never seen a Sales Officer who was less than 45 years old. And to boot, I had inherited Petroleum Dealers who were old enough to be my father, who had operated when the parent Companies were either ESSO or CALTEX, prior to nationalization. My earlier Sales Officers, who were on the verge of retirement turned a nelson eye to the rampant adulteration that was going on in their Sales Area.

 

HP Petrol Pump (Figure for illustrative purpose only)

Of the 36 Dealers, about 8 were known crooks, another 10 honest guys, and balance fence sitters who didn't mind adulterating if they got a chance, but didn't want to get on the bad side of the Sales Officer.

 

As Sales Officer, we had immense powers. We were Inspecting Officers too, and had the authority to suspend Sales if we found any discrepancy.

 

Proving adulteration was difficult. We had to do a spot test, then take three samples, and send to our laboratory in Eranakulam for testing. And the lab almost always returned a 'a no adulteration report', reason being obvious. They were influenced and samples changed. The Sales Officer who sent the samples ended up thus with egg on his face.

 

But we had other aces up our sleeves. Those days Motor Lubricants prices were controlled by the Government. So a SAE 40 oil 5 litre tin price was fixed. The dealer got a small margin, and he had to issue a bill. All the dealers overcharged on lubes and gave bills as such. We  let this by, as we knew their margins didn't even cover their cost and didn't deem it to be a serious offence to warrant a suspension of sales. But Lube Overcharging penalty was 15 days suspension of Sales, and the proof was the carbon copy of the bill, which is easy to seize.

 

I was determined to root out adulteration, which was going beyond limits. One of my colleagues from a nearby Sales Territory, who was slightly older to me, gave me the following advice;

 

"Get hold of the biggest crook and fix him, and you will have a smooth ride till the end of your 4 year tenure".

 

The biggest crook was a charmer. Well connected politically, he was also a darling of my Superior officers in the Region, and also of many in our Corporate Office in Mumbai. He used to take care of their 'needs' whenever they visited the Sales Area. He was a VIP in the area.

 

I warned him 3 times to stop adulteration. Every single time he will smilingly deny that he adulterated, and I could see him mock me.

 

On 4th of January (10 days before the Pongal Festival), I landed up at 10 am in his Petrol Pump, and started my inspection. I noticed massive adulteration, but didn't record it. I asked the Manager, a Brahmin boy, for the Lubricant Bill Book. He was shocked, as the practice was to just tick the column in the inspection sheet. Reluctantly he showed the bill books, where he had clearly overcharged on lubricants. I seized the books as evidence, sealed the Retail Outlet and stopped Sales for 15 days. The Manager pleaded with me not to do. But I turned a deaf ear and told him " I am suspending the sales officially for Lube Overcharging, but the real reason is Adulteration, which I am sure I wont be allowed to prove".

 

All hell broke loose by the time I reached my HQ. Those were days before the mobiles. My landline never stopped ringing. I got calls from my Managers, Regional Manager asking me to lift the ban immediately. I was threatened by the dealer and his henchmen, telling I would not be allowed to live. I got news that the dealer had gone to Mumbai to put pressure at the highest level, as he lost his face in the town. The Dealers Association President came with a delegation. I sent them out with a flea in their ears.

 

Regional Manager personally called me and ordered me orally to revoke the ban. I stood my ground, and told him to give in Writing. He threatened me with dire consequences, but he was afraid to overrule me in writing.

 

The officials pleaded helplessness to the Dealer. The other dealers were like "If Rajan can do this to XXX and get away with it, imagine what he will do to us, if we indulge in adulteration!. Let us better lie low and run our business honestly till he leaves"

 

The day before Pongal, the suspended dealer came to meet me finally, and humbly requested me to lift the ban, as it was festival time and promised not to adulterate again. A week had passed since my action, and I felt he had been punished enough. I took an undertaking from him that he had indeed not only done lube overcharging, but has indulged in adulteration, and he regretted  his action, and an assurance to run his business honestly in future.

 

Then I lifted the ban.

 

Surprisingly, he never held it against me, and held me in high esteem. And adulteration in my area came down drastically.

 

A year down the line, he was involved in a major criminal case, and at that time all my Superior Officers asked me to terminate his dealership citing Security reasons, as the public was up in arms against him.

 

But I refused, as the agreement said, we can terminate only if he is proved guilty in the court, and at that stage he was only an accused in hiding. I camped near his Petrol Pump for a week, took protection from the Police and ran it till situation became normal. All his other businesses - Movie hall, bus, factory- did not operate. Only his petrol pump did. His family, parents and relatives disowned him.

 

He surrendered later, and got out of the charges 'somehow'. Once he was acquitted, he came to my house and cried. He thanked me profusely, as my action of allowing the Petrol Pump to run, helped him save his face, according to him.

 

I did only what was right both the times.

 

And that is how I fixed the biggest crook and had a smooth ride during my 4 year tenure.

 

I was reminded of this phase of life when I read how Prannoy Roy of NDTV was raided by CBI. The guy is the biggest, sophisticated crook in the Media for a long time, and by going after him the CBI and Government has taken the correct step.

 

My only wish is that Government will stand their ground, as I did and not chicken out.

Time for a Hindu Rashtra

As a practicing Hindu of a Country where a whopping 0.97 Billion people follow the religion, it is natural for me to expect Hindu Culture gets not just an equal treatment as compared to minorities, but a special place.

 

However, be it pertaining to managing our places of worship, or running educational institutions, or practicing our religious events unhindered and with pride, the history of India is littered with incidents of Hindus and their feelings being trampled upon.

 

Congress which ruled for majority of the post independent India, has pushed a version of secularism, which is blatantly anti-hindu. One would have expected the pro Hindu BJP to at least correct this trend.

 

But three years into Modi Government, we have hardly seen any initiative being taken. Our Children still study the rubbish of Nehruvian left leaning Social historian rubbish that glorifies Islamic Invaders and speaks highly of Christians who later took over the country and looted it. We hardly read about our proud past, or about Raja Raja Chozhan or Rajendra Chozhan who ruled over a vast empire from Gangetic Plans to Srilanka to Indonesia a thousand years ago or about the glory of Vijayanagara empire under Krishnadevaraya or the Travancore King Swati Tirunal, to name just a few. Does any Indian kid know that Travancore kings rule on behalf of Lord Vishnu, as Anantha Padmanabha, and own nothing of their own?

 

The offerings of Hindu Temples are controlled by the Government and if you have an atheist Government like we have in Kerala, then you can guess what happens.

 

Admittedly Modi required some time to settle down, and the focus has to be on Development of the nation and reversing the declining Governance standards witnessed under the previous regimes.

 

But this war has to be done on  multiple levels. The threat to our culture has to me  met head on.

To start with,

 

1. Completely overhaul the Syllabus from Primary Section to +2. Throw out all pseudo secular trash at one go. Limit the number of Minority run education to the % of their population. If a Minorities population strength is 2%, then their religion backed School should be capped at 2%, and their Syllabus to be vetted to ensure religious hatred is not spread through these schools. Open thousands of veda paada salas. Learning Vedam and hindu sacred books will never make you a fanatic or a threat to the world. It will make a person more holistic in thinking. 
2. With immediate effect, return Administration of Hindu Shrines and their wealth to Hindus. There should not be any Governmental interference. At the same time, monitor foreign funding that is flowing into many of our religious institutions, especially minorities. Even foreign funding to Hindu institutions should come under the radar. Ask each of the religious institution to register as a Trust, and ensure Audited Balance Sheets are filed every year. Ruthlessly close down those that are unaudited and found in violation of laws. Religious organizations whose duty is to direct their followers to the path of virtue have no right to violate law themselves.  
3. Implement Uniform Civil Code. People need to understand Nation comes first, second and third, and all have equal rights.
4. Abolish all Religion based Reservations.

The above is a good beginning to establish the HINDU RASHTRA.

Hypocrisy at its Worst

Today is being touted as Mother's Day.

 

Rubbish!

 

We don't need one Sunday a year to remind us to show love to our mother. This is a pure Western concept, where they don't have time to think of their mothers, and need a mothers day to remember them. That all these 'Days' are a Marketing Gimmick of the Greeting Card Companies like Hallmark and Archies is an open secret.

 

Our respect and love for mother is year long. This is what Hinduism teaches us.

 

Lot of absurd influences, practices and terms are creeping into our life of late.

 

When did we ever begin to have these Candle light marches to show our respect to a murdered person or a slain soldier? Why should we blindly follow Western practices? Can we not organize a common prayer, which is what Indians do?

 

I have utmost sympathy for anyone who gets raped, and worse gets murdered in the process. Mere hanging of the guys who do this atrocity is not enough. They should be made to die inch by inch, suffering pain all the way.

 

But to label a woman who was raped 'Nirbhaya' is the worst thing that can be done to her. Nirbhaya means one who is not afraid. For God's sake, the woman must have been scared stiff when her modesty was being violated. Please do not add insult to injury.

 

Another term loosely used for such a woman is 'Braveheart'. What is so 'Brave' about getting raped?

 

This is akin to glorifying a raped woman, which is just not acceptable.

 

Is it not better to just say 'Unfortunate Victim' or 'Unfortunate Woman'?

 

The saddest part is that everyone talks about the rape for a week and then promptly forget about it. Even then there is a bias. A woman is a Nirbhaya or Braveheart only if she is from Delhi. No one gives a damn about the Rapes or attempted Rapes happening in other parts of India, especially the smaller towns.

 

Hypocrisy at its worst!

Oh for a Hindu Bharath!

Something has changed in India, post BJPs resounding win in Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections. And this change has long lasting consequences.

Since Modi won in 2014, there were many like me, who hoped against hope that Hindus will get justice in a land where they have a majority. 60 years of insipid anti-hindu rule by Congress Party (Even BJP under Vajpayee didn't do much for Hindus) made us hang our head in shame. Our Temples were run by the Government, We were not allowed to have our own personal law while others could, they could have their educational institutions while we couldn't, special privileges to them but not to us, they had the first right on all resources but not us............ the list is endless.

Though I backed Modi in his quest to bring a semblance of Governance in a Country notorious for lack of it, I was quite unhappy that he didn't do much for Hindus. The School Text Books still have rubbish contents glorifying Islamic Invaders, while making no mention of the advances made in Mathematics and Science during the Vedic Era, Kids learned how 'great' Akbar was or even the tyrant Aurangazeb was, but not about the mightly Cholas whose Kingdom extended upto Bihar, and then to Far East till Indonesia. A clearly distorted version of Independence struggle is still being dished out to our kids, glorifying Gandhi and Nehru, who were at best 'Useful Idiots Indian Leaders for the British', and whose antics post independence still affects us, as seen in Kashmir and minority appeasement all over. True, Modi did not shy from propagating Yoga, visiting temples, or not overtly pampering the minorities but that was not enough. We wanted him to do something, anything for Hindus.

Now by appointing Yogi Adityanath as UP CM, he has sent out his first clear message that India will soon be Bharath, where Hindus voice will be heard first and foremost, as it should be.

This is not enough. We need to see Temples released from Governmental Control, we need to get rid of this rubbish which certain schools are following that students should follow strictly 'pseudo secular' way in the School. I recently heard a student who chose a lovely story about Kalidasa, Shiva, and Parvathi to illustrate the importance of Self Confidence, denied a prize because 'the student spoke about Hindu Gods!'. What can be more absurd than this. A Principal in an Indian School in Muscat lost his position 3 years ago because he put Swamy Vivekanandas picture in the School Diary, though the same diary had Mother Theresas picture which no one objected.

We need the Government to initiate plans to revive the glorious traditions and thought process of Hinduism, Vedic Studies, Propagation of Sanskrit and ensure there is a climate in the country where we can say with our heads high "I am a Proud Hindu, and this is My Country - Bharath"

For a beginning, can we change our Contry's name to BHARATH?