India- ESET. Elections se Election Tak.

If you have to read just one thing today, let it be this story from the economist. "After India election- Don't waste it"

In fact, only the first para is of significance. So if you are rushed, bored or not interested the minute one mentions 'Economist', then read only the first few lines.

Going further, considering often media links get deleted or broken after some time, let me give below what it says;

"About 27m Indians will be born this year.

Unless things improve, almost 2m of them will die before the next general election.

Of the children who survive, more than 40% will be physically stunted by malnutrition. Most will enroll in a school, but they cannot count on their teachers showing up. After five years of classes, less than 60% will be able to read a short story and more than 60% will still be stumped by simple arithmetic."

Think about it.

Discussion Forums

Discussion Forums : Started June 12, 2009

I recently read an article via twitter, about how twitter is not conducive to discussions. As most of you may know by now, blogging long posts have made way for micro-blogging as one of the reasons for lesser and shorter posts from my end. I end up posting on twitter that otherwise I'd write longer posts here. It is a win-win situation for me as after I post a tweet, if there are any readers who find it interesting they respond, ask a question, critique, agree or argue and if not, then it is left at that. Often within a few days or weeks, I am happy to see the thought picked by some writer or journalist and a more detailed story printed in the newspaper (of course there is never any credit or hat-tip :P ) and I 'm not one to do, 'look I predicted this here or pointed it out here now it is discussed here' etc.

While my blog is still alive and few people who read it sometimes share a thought related to the occasional posts; the twitter article on discussions and conversations got me thinking.

This post flags off a discussion forum for DeeplyDeeps. While twitter suits me well for for micro-blogging and some conversations, I do not always find it conducive to answer questions on twitter (unless of course the answer is a v. short one) due to it's 140 restriction and asynchronous nature. This I feel will also be helpful for readers who may wish to ask questions/debate the topic in general, not specific to any post.

If there is any question that you'd like to ask me or have me answer please use this to ask your question. I'll stick to answering questions here. Of course the questions will have to relate to only the topics that I have as tags (labels) in my blog.

World Environment Day 2009

A beautiful poster from the Ministry of Environment and Forests. Evangelize it!

The Ministry has equally great stickers encouraging messages to help, save and nurture the environment.

As the President has mentioned in her speech the shloka from the Atharva Veda,

"O pure Earth, May that we utilize your soil well, Without causing you injury or harm or Disturbing any vital element in you. " _//\\_

How are you celebrating World Environment Day today, or even everyday, in your life and your neighbourhood?

Mumbai says Meri Marzi on Election Day

There was this Govinda Song that went, "M.E.R.I. Marzi!"

For instance, "har chauraahe par main apni murti lagawau, news paper kaat ke apna suit main banawau". A very tongue-in-cheek, humorous, whimsical song defying definition.

Pretty much like Mumbai itself.

How does Meri Marzi translate into English I’m not sure but if I try - it means, ‘I will do as I please’ (or, Do your own thang)

While Mumbai represents a microcosm of India, in many ways it has also its own unique peculiarities, quite obviously not defined by geography but people.

Meri Marzi is a phrase that emerges from a live and let live approach and grows into something that is less statement more attitude (in a nice way mostly), culture and ethos – MYOB Mumbai.

A city that everyone loves or tolerates precisely for its qualities of freedom (to do your thing), opportunities and everything else that defines its tolerant, cosmopolitan, attitude, respect etc reflected in food, lifestyle and everyday living.

It also means that unless you have your finger on the pulse (or even via expensive surveys and studies) nothing can be predicted. I like to think I have my finger on the pulse and everyone I met or talked or heard since Nov- Rickshaw driver se lekar Ratan Tata tak- well, rickshaw wala in person and Ratan Tata as reported by TV yesterday :) - the feedback was ‘Poora ka poora mohalla’- "Iss baar hum vote nahin denge." Or, a peaceful, non-violent boycott. Let whoever wants gets elected to Delhi. Our life never changes so they (politicians) can go jump. Run the country as they wish. We are resigned to our fate.

Cut to my own life. Twitter, neighbours, friends, family. (Why I voted and How I decided who to vote for is a topic for another post)

1. Thanks to Agni, Jagore, citizen groups, celebrity endorsements etc entire complex and neighbouring ones were on voter registration drives. Most of it a huge success. Young, first time voters and old so far apathetic middle aged citizens all enrolled. Then what?

2. Aamir Khan on TV saying, 'Acche ko chuno, Sacche ko chuno.' Really? Yeh hai kahan? Aapko dikhay dete hain. Hame toh nahi dikhayi dete hai. Where are the good and truthful candidates.

3. For the constituency I represent, names- all unknown. Two eminent names- never visited or never lived in the area. Connect with the electorate? You must be joking. In the very last week/few days in an open jeep, with duppatta covered over head/hat they took one quick round.

Take other places in Mumbai. A candidate in his eighties! Senior-senior citizen. Does he even know or use email? Why will youngistan elect him? The choice if one votes for opposite party is another one who shifts and changes party and ideology, participates in reality shows and actively takes sides in one of the most controversial topics of migrants, which is clearly seen as divisive.

Will such candidates connect to educated, middle class expectations and concerns or youngistan aspirations?

Then you have south Mumbai candidates. Sophisticated but living in ivory towers. One who is a scion and inherited his constituency and other who do not meet a minimum requirement (what a voters heart desires) of knowing the local language or having a record of knowing the city as a whole/community service. Even job profiles have such minimum requirements and you would not recruit a person for your organization unless there is a skill and qualification fit but want that you should be elected just on other exemplary points in your bio.

The general feeling was ‘Yeh log, Mumbai ki nahin sochte hain toh desh ki kya sochenge?’ The exact feeling - We do not want politicians, we want leaders.

It was not easy to decide- either on party lines or candidates.

On Party lines- everyone knows how much the citizens feel betrayed by Congress. Really is there a congress at all. There is Sonia Gandhi, Rahul & Priyanka, Manmohan Singh. (& FM). The second choice- BJP. That alienated itself from youngistan over Ram Sene and Orissa.

All the Rest - Take a look. Ageing film stars & ex-cricketers, convicted criminals, verified goondas, budda- buddies (senior citizens, candidates born in 1920, 1930, etc).

1. Candidates who do not treat opposition candidates and parties with respect, and indulge in personal bickering instead of debate on issues;
2. Candidates who use money & muscle. (Dadagiri in the name of Gandhigiri);
3. Candidates who lie- about educational qualifications and assets;
4. Parties who function like corporate bodies on an inorganic growth path and apparently simply sell seats to highest bidders.

In brief, candidates who demonstrate no principles, take no stand on issues of values and national importance. Young Mumbai liked Shashi Tharoor but he is in TVM. We like to tell what is on our mind but look what happens if you speak up. Varun was simply thrown into jail. A young crowd that was eager to participate and make a difference were silenced and confused.

Hence Mumbai chilled. The people Mumbai elects don’t care about Mumbai. (Read this sad story of a South Mumbai resident). And UP and Bihar decides majority in Parliament. Fix the system first.

Add to that, the demographic profile and electoral process itself.

To quote TV. ‘26/11 protests were Face book crowd’. (hence, dimissive tone).

So what? They are real people too you know..

Facebook does not categorize you on domicile boundaries. Mumbai is half migrants (even white collar) which means young boys & girls who have families in other cities and live in Mumbai only for work.

How does a voting system that demands physical presence where you are registered work in real life for a mobile crowd? That too on a long weekend when they have a chance to go home. Add to that even election at home state/location may/may not match the dates. Employers or govt does not enable or allow any manner of support to vote. So they cannot vote anywhere.
- Why is the voter ID not the PAN card? A universal number and valid all over the country?
- Why it is that vote cannot be done via email?
- Why is 49-0 not available on EVMs?

Currently 49-0 is only for manual voting and even after that it does not register as a protest vote but only ensures attendance. Such that your absence is not misused. It does not help in active participation.

Even after that is used, is the electoral process equipped to deal with 49-0 results? Let’s say the whole country will use 49-0 and say 90% of candidates are rubbish. Does the process ensure that they are disqualified, new and better ones are available, re-voting, who pays for it, how does time spans work so many issues around a protest vote system to ensure that it works and does not get mired in judicial processes like candidates with criminal records standing for election using High Court, Supreme Court, etc etc. as merely delay tatics.

For systems to work it must be swift and simple to understand and implement.

What about so many registered voters who turned up but could not vote cos they did not find their name in the list! (See this slide show- it has a powerful quote, "we want leaders, not hooligans')

Slain cop, Hemant Karkare’s wife could not vote. A WTF moment.

So all award winning journalists take a chill pill. Then take a deep breath, go back to the editorial table and draw a map of how and what are the issues you will address in the next episodes instead of yakking about, ‘Did Mumbai deliver' on your prime time slot. Mumbai is officially just one of the constituencies in Lok Sabha elections. It displayed the national average and just cos we are blasted to our deaths you expected some miraculous turnout. Why? We are being killed since 1993. What was new about this years bomb blasts that any thing new should emerge.

On the plus side, even after such a mood, 49% turnout was registered. The number of young citizens and first time voters have swelled thanks to various e-democracy projects, web-sites devoted to candidate information have been developed and are being studied. The glitterati and chatterati (celebrities) have endorsed and got involved in the process- speaking and meeting groups; the elections went peacefully and there was no official boycott or untoward incident.

This is a great opportunity for political parties, candidates, people who design software systems, and citizens to reflect on what next. Get off their backs, travel, meet each other (citizens and elected representatives), discuss and debate issues, and take steps to make it a robust process of citizen and civil participation.

I also think ( hope?) that it may well mark the return of values like integrity, principles and issue based ideology in the Indian system of politics. History and time will tell.

Good Friday

I happened to see this picture today and felt it was particularly significant for Good Friday so I thought I'd take a picture (taken on a nokia phone) and share with others.

It reads, 'I asked Jesus how much do you love me? "This much," He answered. Then he streched out his arms and died.

Though twitpic and twitter is the norm, since I hadn't updated my blog lately, decided to post it here.

Akal Badi ki Bhains

Yesterday on Twitter my friend balu @chupchap posted a link to an interview with a rabble rousing person in India of pub attack fame and urged me to read it.

Past experience had told me that it would be ravings & rantings and hence I told Balu I will not read it and expend any time on it . Also do people like this - who in normal life I’d say need intervention – need more publicity?

At the same time I was pulled in another direction that said media needs to expose people like this for who they are and what they stand for and do or don't do.

Such interviews and exposes also brings into focus and contrast what other parties- political, religious or administrative and people have to say and how they deal with such issues.

For instance, who an Indian marries is decided by him/her/family/law. Normally, in that order. Not a self professed vigilantte who has a ‘sena’. Hence any other views are – or should be - completely useless in this country.

What is important however, in the Mangalore pub incident and other such cases attacks on girls in Bangalore, are the views of the other people in the society (families of affected people or who wish to talk); community (voters and people who live in the city) ; state officials (administration like law keepers, police, municipal authorities, justice etc) and, if it affects any legislations then, politicians.

Here is my view;

A. Show people for what they are with interviews and exposes.

However,

B. Do not lose focus. Highlight the REAL issues. Detailed interviews with other people involved are also required.

Like;

1 .The issues of families and girls involved. For instance, in this interview the chap says that the mother of the girl, a Mrs Shetty was ‘grateful’ that he daughter was ‘saved’. I’d love to see media do more interviews with her and families like her. The log kya kahenge, Biradari mein hamri izzat issues. What is izzat, what is biradari, how much is it important, how does it affect you, why do you support people like sene, etc.

We know that in certain countries ruled by religious paries, excommunication can take extreme measures. Hence the fear to comply. But in India?

At one end of the spectrum, we have families who encourage their daughters from mofussil towns to distant cities to participate in dance and MTV reality shows on television as they see it as an opportunity to some fame, fortune and better future. On the other end we have outright ‘honour killings’ for daring to fall in love and/or marry with a person of another caste/community.

Trapped between the two we have this category of families who do not really know, explore, or accept possibilities and change. In other stories gone wrong, instead of ending in a pub attack, they end with suicide or murder. But yet, parents pretend or refuse to accept reality as is (happening) and ‘thank’ vigilantes.

Then, I’d like to see media direct attention on issues such as why do people not file FIRs. The issue of how difficult and tiring the process of seeking legal aid is in India. How to overcome and improve these systems and processes. Alternatives, suggestions, options?

Third, the chap says he has hundreds of people working for him. Including a 'womens' wing. Gasp! Imagine. Arresting him will be of little or no use cos there is one like him in almost every Indian family.

So I’d also like to see more interviews with at least few of the hundreds and thousands of youth (and women) who join such ‘causes’. These are the vigilante armies being trained. Why do the youth choose to opt for this route instead of focusing on improving their talent and skills for other (what we think is more productive) use. How do the women brigade feel about reversing all the hard work Mahatma Phule and Ram Mohan Roy did.

It is my view that with this kind of journalism and reporting, the country will awaken to other and more substantial issues ( such as parenting, education, youth, opportunities & social structures (or lack of it), public & civic governance, insecurities and how they breed etc instead of merely polarise sections of society based on religious beliefs, moral stances and political affiliations. I think what I am saying is I want the people to be interviewed who are neither of ‘Sene’ or ‘Pink chaddi’ brigade. The people who keep quiet and need to find a voice, an expression.

We need a country where each person should be free to practice all the above three (religious beliefs, moral stances and political affiliations ) freely with no fear of reprisals and have law, order and justice prevail.

Only after typing this post did I realise it is International Womens day today. Co-incidence or what! So, this is my Womens Day post. Vive le difference as I love to say.

As for the title of this post. 'Akal Badi ki Bhais' is a well known old hindi idiom that loosely transalated suggests, "use brains" or THINK!

I also came upon this site with some funny pixs which I am linking to just for a few laughs. God knows I feel the need for it after thinking of the madness that threatens the very fabric of our India.

Get involved

Always wanted to suggest or do something for the locality you live in Mumbai, but did not know where to begin or what to do.

I just posted over at my tumblr page a post on how to submit or enquire about projects for development or beautification of your area.

With barely twenty days left for the deadline, it does not leave much time and does not help that the mail is so late in the day. But it serves as a useful reference point and maybe more if you want to be the person who makes a difference.

If you are not a resident of Mumbai, whichever place you are a resident of in India, enquire with your local body, municipal corporation or equivalent and get involved. An active involved local community will result in safe, healthy and better places to live in.

Good luck!

Equilibrium

Here is my first post of 2009 - which is actually a short round up of 2008 :)

2008 for me was in a manner of speaking, the best after many years and as close to wish fulfillment as it could probably get, relatively of course. It does not mean that I bought that dream house or that Roger Federer *drool* asked me out on a date - nope :D . And a short break at year end, by the sun, sand and sea close to Mumbai was the only holiday or vacation I had in last two years. No other worthy acheivements at all. Yet, it was simply great by its very averageness (is that a word?) . The year began with me giving up my full time job after many years in corporate life and taking the plunge into the world of self appointed goals. It helped maybe that I had planned for it so it wasn't as stressful or scary as I feared. I have been thinking that in fact, given job losses, financial scams & other situations, the timing for me was a blessing in disguise. During the first half of the year I painted and renovated my home, started and completed two writing projects. A collection of articles on.. what.. life? and even a book of poems. While I thought I was getting the writing 'bug' out of my system in some strange way it only made me realise how much more I had/want to write. So it is there but on the backburner.

What I thought I'd miss and felt I'd feel 'lost' if not at full time work, were the interactions with so many people- the emails, the links & articles shared, news bites & gossip, exchange of pictures & daily life, debates & discussions & thoughts, insights - into brilliant minds, average minds, just minds- which is where twitter stepped in. On twitter , I have been been connected to the global brains, hearts and life of people and not for a single day did I miss what I had feared. I have learnt and laughed and loved so much with this crowd, it is amazing. At many points I have been inspired and encouraged to think and do more. I am now struggling with a new blog. The place holders (both on blogger & WP) has been there since last year now and I've used only to share some notes with family and friends. I hope to make it live hopefully soon. That is one of my 2009 resolutions. The other being to complete 48 pieces of art.

If you have been one of my blog or twitter friend over the past few months, then thank you for all your support so far. You are always in my mind and prayers and as we go into 2009 I wish you a 2009 filled with good health, much happiness and success any which way you define it.

Update : I changed the title of post after feedback I got that the previous one was not like the ones I choose normally. So here it is in one word what 2008 represented to me. If I was an accountant I'd choose balance, but as I am a libran, I like this word too. Both mean the same of course!

Is desh ka neta kaisa ho

Five states in India declared the assembly election results today.

Everyone in Mumbai hates politicians and political parties right now. The fact that the CM and HM ousted over their ineffective handling of the terror situation have paved way only for others with equally and more frightening records as criminals and crooks, makes it no better. Mumbai watches helplessly as it is not able to even have an elected Mayor.

Hence it is that while ‘party workers’ celebrated in a vulgar display of loud drums, fire-crackers and red powder/ gulal (as if it is festival of Holi) at party headquarters, the common man sighed and just went on with the day.

It was fun to watch and hear the ‘seasoned and astute’ political comments.

#comment 1- Congress won Rajasthan because of Rahul Gandhi -the youth heir apparent leader who was partying in a farm house near Delhi while Mumbai was held hostage to terror- his campaigning, and ticket allocations he did. Friends, Congress won cos BJP lost Rajasthan the day the first shot was fired at the Gujjar agitation.

(And if Rajasthan has succumbed to charisma it is question of time. Simply in terms of voter turnout, even a state like Kashmir has opted for development finally defying the extremists calls for boycott of elections.)

#2-Chattisgarh - BJP after a neck-to neck race with Congress chugs to victory. - I wish they had strangled each others necks along the way. Whether BJP or Congress- these are the ‘leaders’ who have in the past two decades handed over 1/3rd of the country to naxals; and the ruling govt. had to run the elections with help of Indian army and special forces; alienated tribals and done little to nothing for eradicating poverty. Is it any wonder that ‘rice and dal’ wins votes. Development in this state of hungry stomachs is not defined as highways and IT .

#3- Madhya Pradesh ; Add a little , subtract a little from the above two scenarios and it gives an idea of what election in any state means where these two ruling majority parties dominate . Now that the new CM has won because of his 'clean image' , can we hope that justice will be done in Prof Sabharwals case. But wait, that was transferred OUT of Madhya Pradesh. So much for track records.

Mizoram is a win for Congress. The far-east states are now a congress strong-hold. One more instance of how and where local leadership has failed. Of local populace fed up with greedy leaders and opt for a change in the HOPE that things will change. Hoping against hope. I’d love to see the record/profile of each candidate here who has worked to make a difference in development so it can be used as an example. But as they say, for other parts of the country, the seven sisters do not exist.

Delhi! The capital and the nation’s success story for infrastructure projects. Of course, never mind safety of young journalists, criminal justice system that cannot apprehend killers of arushi, bomb blasts, rising prices, etc etc. What I hear - Sheila Dixit for three consecutive terms is a vote for development. After all, she is the only CM who McKinsey has covered. I wish the population voting for BSP would vouch that. BSP has made significant inroads in percentage terms (if not in seats secured) as it said it would. What does it say for topics like development and upper-middle class votes is a matter of dispute even as it is a city than has seen less than 50% voting and has logged what I think is the first documented invoking of 49-0.

The last time I heard these lines used for Sheila Dixit, it was used for Chandrababu Naidu. Remember, the CM with a laptop which could not connect to the farmers suicides.

While the TV anchors mentioned Sheila Dixit as the only one after Jyoti Basu to have done ‘Hat Trick’, they seem to have forgotten Modi who the populace of Gujarat have elected back into office repeatedly.

So, Is desh ka neta kaisa ho. How should the leader of the nation be.

1. Humble
-Vasundhara Raje is the one example in this election but by no means is she the only one.
2. Of professional integrity and one above corruption
-With so much IT and software tools at hand this should be one of the easier things to ascertain- where can a common citizen view the candidate’s record of public service, development, funds
3. Spirit of service and not entitlement
-the people elect the politicians into seats of power and yet the results are barely declared than they are seating on lawns and accepting flowers garlands. Poor people stream in a line, touch their feet, offer flowers as if they are ‘God”. Mai- Baap.
4. Where age (being young or old) is a asset and not a liability
I won’t elect Rahul Gandhi because he is cute or charismatic and won’t reject Manmohan Singh merely because he is old.
5. Who has his finger on the pulse
which means one who shuns VIP culture, stays involved in issues at ground level and not one who hits the campaign trail only when it is election time

While we work towards a scenario where more people who can be judged and evaluated against these parameters get elected, we must understand that the electoral process is one that is slow, once in five years, complex and at varying levels of maturity in the country.

While changes and interventions in this process is required and will take place, a simultaneous and immediate, urgent need is one to ‘Monitor’ the elected representatives.

It is time to move away from a scenario of “Hoping” that the elected reps fulfil their roles and responsibilities and to move to a scenario of “accountability’. After all, at work, no boss or business owner ever works on mere ‘hope’ that his team will deliver. Hisab Kitab dekha jata hai. Books are checked, time and money accounted for, and attendance monitored. Rewards & recognitions and punitive measures. All are used.

Time to do the same at least in the cities and urban areas . What are the methods available to citizens to monitor how the money that the local corporators are allotted for development is used ?

This is a huge gap currently at least in Mumbai and I hope one which is plugged soon.

Oh..Muummm..baiii..

We'll be singing...when we're winning..

In what the media has called, 'unprecendented' show of strength, citizens and Mumbaikars came from all walks of life last evening to rally at the Gateway of India- the scene of the horror that took place last exactly one week ago -last wednesday.

It was a completely self-managed turnout and amazed the politicians and police and public officials in it's disciplined and yet powerful show of emotions. The kind of crowd that'd have been the envy of politicians, film-stars and cricketers. It had no agenda but to express grief, respect the memory of those who died and voice complete disgust with the corruption and self-serving politicians.

What started at 5 00 p.m went on till almost 9- four hours during which people expressed feelings in all kinds of ways. One person played his guitar and sang a self composed song; others held prayers; others held banners made - very very creative ones. Posters that said, 'ZEROS (politicians)/HEROS(martyrs)' or 'All dogs are welcome to my funeral, no politicians'. Fliers, posters, charts of all sizes home made and printed. Cartoons and pictures; photos and cloth. Street plays performed -'Bharat hamari ma hai- Baap hamara hijra hai' which demanded public to examine the situations. A wall of grafitti and petitions; advocating electoral reforms; venting against stupid statements by politicians, cricketers, celebrities-you name it- it was there.

Young, old, school children, housewives, students, film stars, poor, rich, middle class, from far & near, grief -stricken, distraught, militant. Fully able and differently abled- they all showed up. As seniors shared their voices of wisdom, the youth loudly affirmed their power. Main stream media, citizen journalism, civic rights organisations, resident welfare societies. Just normal average people. After school, college and work streamed in- placed flowers, lit candles and simply stood or walked in and joined in what was a slap in the face of terror. Shoot us we do not care. We will drive you out and everyone who supports such evil - was the message if any -of the evening. Hindus, muslims, christians, speaking every language spoke as one. Every voice that could speak, spoke up even as fellow brethren in other cities of Delhi, Kolkata, Jaipur, Bangalore and Ahmedabad joined their voices.

So technically it is not unprecedented. Many many years ago, in August Kranti Maidan, people in erstwhile Bombay gathered and declared a war against the British. On Dec 3, 2008, once again people declared war- against terror and against corruption.

There is a little disquiet too- I hope people do not get led astray by people promising the silver bullet. Not paying taxes, 49-0, only two party system etc are not ideas that can be bandied lightly. Every idea, every thought now need to be presented and debated publicly. Examined rigourously and this is the junction at which leadership is required. The momentum and traction needs to be gathered and expanded to all parts and all corners of the country.

Even as we face the prospect of war and, skeptics, naysayers, citizen deshdrohis( they were there during time of british, they are still around now) and such others. To who I say, Lead, Follow or Get out of the way!

Hoping and praying that the spark Mumbai showed yesterday burns at the very roots of all divisive forces and the horror of world terrorism. Never mind how slow or long it may take.

Mumbai RIP

This post is just a placeholder for a date in history. (Or it may be titled, if the city was a human)

I am not really in the frame of mind to write any blogpost. So this is not a blogpost as much as a tombstone. A graveyard marker -though in Indian thought and as hindus, we cremate and do not bury the dead. The idea being to set the soul free. Not hold it back with any physical reminders or emotional ones.

So who died. Well my city, Mumbai. Armed gunmen and terrorists held the city to ransom, randomly shooting and killing innocent citizens for no rhyme or reason while the administration and other citizens helplessly watched. Kinda like the school campus shootouts we read in the news that happens in US of A. And even as I type this the attacks and hostage situations are still on.

Now Mumbai is no longer this little seven islands town reclaimed to a city and populated by a happy vibrant migrant population with a legendary attitude and spirit. Today Mumbai shed it's humble origins and garb and joined the likes of Tokyo, London and New York. A global city -which wears terror attacks like a badge.

I hope all the politicians and the people who wanted to make Mumbai a global city are happy and proud. I can almost hear them posturing- People dead? Building burnt? Jobs lost? These things happen. It is a small price to pay for what we want to acheive!

Maybe if I shed 'old-fashioned sentimentality' for the city of my birth, I will celebrate too. But not today. Not yet.

Cos if we slip and slide away from the India shining story- then Mumbai will just join the legion of cities around the world known for bombings, terror and poverty.

This is death. And it may well be the re-defining moment for a re-incarnation. Based on past Karma- will it be re-born lower or higher is the question.

RIP Mumbai. I loved you. More than I expressed. More than words can ever say.

Update 1 : Home Minister of Maharashtra says almost to the T what I predicted in my post. "Bade bade Shaharon Mein Aisa Hota Hai."

Khana Kashmir se Kanyakumari tak

This pic has been doing the rounds of email forwards and it is quite likely that you may have seen this. Recently a chat about a journey around India reminded me about posting this to my blog.

I have no idea if the picture belongs to someone or is copyrighted. If you know, or it belongs to you then do notify me via the comments feature or drop me a mail and I will be happy to credit it rightly or take it off as the case may be.

But in the meantime, travel around India and enjoy some of the flavours it offers. Remember to Share the food too! :D

While your devour this, I will mull over my dream to start my own food show- not a Nigella Cooks, or Kylie Kwong....but, oh well, I have no ideas at all....any help welcome!

Bombay becomes Bihar - well almost.

Diwali day, a festive day- and what do I see/hear - BEST bus no 332 hijacked in Kurla.

For a fleeting moment, Mumbai became Bihar.

The range of flabbergasted reactions that the news got went something like this,

*BEST* ? bus hijacked in kurla?
BEST *bus*? hijacked in Kurla
BEST bus *hijacked*? in Kurla?
BEST bus hijacked. in *Kurla*?

you know, lets face it…the only hijack attempts and guns Mumbaikars see - as in Really see- are, in the movies. (give or take a mad-man scenario ever so once in a way)

On screen. And on TV. Again, in movies and serials- CID, Haadsa, NYPD blue, Prison Break etc etc or when Tulsi, a very self-righteous mom in a soap materialises one out of thin air and shoots an errant son who has done some horrific misdeeds like rape a young girl or such. A gun is not our daily fashion accessory, so far at least. Then, there are those random reports one only reads about -the shootout at lokhandwala types. Question a cross section of average mumbaiker – no one has actually witnessed one- –encounter killings and such.

Hence, contrary to what the rest of the country thinks, the average mumbaikar leads a very average life even when he his bomb blasted and rioted. Say ‘On the run’ and you will get the response- local trains. Excitement is provided normally by a new purchase or sighting a film star.


(Before I forget, I also saw guns on TV when the election coverage of UP and Bihar were shown.)


So when an adult man takes a gun and threatens passengers in a public transport, the police after some tense moments for all around, fire shots and he is dead. Well, maybe in an ideal world, (a.k.a. movie’s) he’d put his arms in the air and surrender. Or a Bruce Willis commando style black cat chap would climb on the roof and immobilize him. But it wasn't a flim set. It was Kurla. And an Andheri-Kurla bus route that connects the two railway stations I think.

I am aghast at the tragedy, but frankly I don’t care much for such romantic notions a above. I know that I travel by bus a lot and even if I had not died by a stray bullet of the shooter or the police, I’d have died of a heart attack by the sheer fear & stress. And I am a strong person relative to small school kids, heart patients and other patients, old people, pregnant women etc all who do the daily commute. To work, to hospital, to visit loved ones, back to home.

So when I see politicians making mileage out of it and youth in Bihar on the rampage the following thoughts come to mind;

1. Guys, if you had done this rampage much earlier on for development issues, the poor would not have to migrate in the first place.

2. Instead of finding fault with a chap in a far off state, question your own leaders- what have they done for creating jobs and opportunities

3. With floods and thousands dead and in need of rehab, really can you afford to march to Delhi to meet PM for ‘inquiry’ and ‘ban’ of MNS? Wow, if only such unity was shown by political leaders in previous years- there would not be so much death and disaster.

I am aghast at the touchy feely sentimentally brush strokes being given by some 'select' channels. The chap had come to Mumbai looking for a job- which one? That of a hit-man? that he needed a gun? Is no one questioning, where did he get it and how? He was asking for a phone to call who-Thackeray? He owns a gun but not a mobile phone? where exactly did he come from again?

Bali ka bakra to usey banaa hi diya. Like a suicide bomber, he came, he hijacked, and he died. Like all good children, if only he had listened to his mom. Eat your vegetables, study and work hard & acche bacchhe bandook se khela nahin karte.


And last but definitely not the least, the whole crux of this post. The Bihar politicians are very aghast at a youth who was killed while hijacking a public transport bus in broad daylight and terrifying passengers and putting innocent public at risk. Wah! Taaliyaa!!! *Applause*

Remember Satyendra Dubey?

Well, he was also someone’s son, brother and breadwinner. And a citizen of this country.

On his death (killing, assassination, cold-blodded murder- take your pick of term) if you had marched to Delhi as one, asking for a probe into this young, upright, educated, citizen who was only doing his job and exposing rot, then Sirs, I would not be writing this post. I’d be campaigning for you for your win in the next election. But, as matters stand. FAIL!

And thank you for the invite, but no I will not be attending the shinding you parade as pooja on juhu beach. Which so far, I thought like all other sravajanik pooja functions in Mumbai was open to all and all citizens were invited, welcome and could participate. I will prefer to attend and perform the pooja with great devotion and love in Bihar when it is safe for me to travel there. Or, when you do it in Mumbai after you have won the hearts of all mumbaikars ( Did that even occur to you as a choice? I wonder). And, in case I forgot to say it, no thank you also for dividing our bollywood which till recent times were a beacon of solidarity and secularism. No Thank you also for creating rifts and calling names to my family members in our home.

So the powers in charge will announce and conduct a probe. A chowkidar, havaldar, inspector, driver will get suspended. Some leave will be granted, some transfer will be effected. Maybe some human rights, sarva dharma sammelan, society for prevention of cruelty to bus passengers of kurla all will make some gestures.

In the tradition of the best hindi film dialogues, - Yeh lacchan kuch acche nahin. Hum keh dete hai. Haan.

Winter is in the air

Winter is in the air and this one by John Donne seems appropriate today.

Death Be Not Proud
by John Donne(1572-1631)

DEATH be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadfull, for, thou art not so,
For, those, whom thou think'st, thou dost overthrow,
Die not, poore death, nor yet canst thou kill me.

From rest and sleepe, which but thy pictures bee,
Much pleasure, then from thee, much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee doe goe,
Rest of their bones, and soules deliverie.

Thou art slave to Fate, Chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poyson, warre, and sicknesse dwell,
And poppie, or charmes can make us sleepe as well,
And better then thy stroake; why swell'st thou then;
One short sleepe past, wee wake eternally,
And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die.

Blog Action Day 2008- Poverty

Today is Blog Action Day and hence a post on the topic this year- Poverty.

Living in India, born and brought up here, poverty is a daily feature of life and yet there is no denying the fact that it is next to impossible to get desensitised to this issue. It stares at you in the face, shouts at you on the roads, and haunts you when you sleep.

A large number of blog posts here in Deeplydeeps are to do with India, Mumbai, Society, Development, ICT and KM- and I have often posted on the topic of poverty- this one - A day in the life of an Indian-is of my favorites simply because- it speaks of two things that to me represent this issue;

1. One, the glaring and increasing divide caused due to super conspicuous consumption and,
2. Two, the growing attitude of apathy of the educated, young Indian to recognise that simple living (and giving) is the need of the hour. That, debt, new fancy gadgets and having a great time is not necessarily an outcome of 'being rich' and vice versa.

It is ironic that even as I write this, at least three cases of Indians who have committed suicide due to the fallout of the economic crisis have been reported only in one week.

While poverty is a topic discussed ad nauseaum, and the world struggles with the millennium development goals, what I'd really like to again emphasise if I have not said it adequately or clearly enough in my other posts in this blog is this;

Poverty as it relates to money, wealth, material comforts- food, clothing, shelter, work, debt and other daily conveniences is one thing. The other, what I'd really like anyone reading this, is to reflect a little, on poverty of spirit.

Poverty of spirit is being mean minded, placing a premium on competition over co-operation, forgoing the good Samaritan spirit for selfish pleasures, being rude, petty behaviour, road rage, being unforgiving, malicious, not generous to fault, indulging in criticism for the sake of it without doing anything to 'light the candle', fighting needlessly over trivial matters, refusing to apologise when wrong and sometimes even when right. Not coveting what is not yours and other such matters that quite often one learnt even as a child.

While I debate and discuss the topic at work and as a professional, as a yoga student and teacher, I also believe that it is the matters of the spirit which is what matters.

Unless we develop a generosity of spirit, you will find that generosity will not follow in things. The other name for this is -Love. The need of the hour. Whether you give a penny, a rupee, a dollar, a meal, a hug or even all of your life - Make Giving a habit. Make love a habit. Make service a habit. (or it simply degenerates into an ego trip).

Grows into a larger consciousness. Greater awareness.

Nurture your spirit with as much care as you nurture your investments portfolio. As the Chinese saying goes, if you are down to your last two pennies, spend one on a loaf of bread and Buy a lily with the other.

I loved this post for the charity begins at home theme -it echoes my thoughts.

And to all who plan on changing the world, I urge you to read one of my favorite posts from Occams Razor.