I am a victim of Racism: Mizoram CM

25 06 2009

” I am a victim of racism, claims Mizoram CM.”

Perhaps there may not lie any credibility or truth in his claim but the larger issue that people from north-east India are discriminated on the basis of their race is true and cannot be denied.

In a country where any person from south of India irrespective of whether he/she is from Tamilnadu, Kerala, Andhra or Karnataka is called as ‘Madrasi’, and likewise, a north-east Indian is being forced to put-up with being called a ‘Chinki’, it is amusing when we find ourselves crying foul when discriminated on the same basis elsewhere in the world.

While we ourselves are so racist, I fail to understand the reason for such extreme kneejerk reaction to the much hyped media-generated concerns on the racial discrimination against Indians in Australia.  I suggest that we first clean up our houses and then may be turn our attention to other people’s trash.





Is the media scared of Vijay??

15 06 2009

Vijay in my opinion is the most over-rated actor in Tamilnadu (never mind, he is not even known outside Tamilnadu).  Despite his mediocre looks and more mediocre acting, Vijay has been hailed as a successful actor and is even given the title ‘Ilaya Thalapathi’. All this possible perhaps due to the reason that he is the son of SA Chandrasekhar, a well known producer-cum-director and  is rich enough to ensure that Vijay movies gets its piece of cake of the movies released in any given year. 

All that is fine, but what is amazing is the amount of control which SAC/Vijay exercise over the media.  It sometimes gives a feeling that the media is shit scared of writing/showing anything that would criticize Vijay.  Vijay’s lack of tolerence of criticism is very apparent with the way things have been going on over the years. The first is his confrontation with Lollu Sabha Producers & Vijay TV for telecasting the most amazing Lollu Sabha episode ‘ Bakery’, a direct take on Vijay’s so-called ‘’superhit’ movie ‘Pokkiri’.  Perhaps people would agree that ‘Bakery’ made for a much better viewing than Pokkiri.  The apology from Lollu Sabha was perhaps not sporting, unacceptable and not in good taste.

The most recent being Vijay’s shouting at the media persons, who were questioning the reasons of his mega flop movie Villu.

Right from Gilli to Tirupachi, from Pokkiri, Adi, Pokkiri to Villu, aparts from the change of heroines to change of a few lines in his songs, nothing has changed.  I wonder why the media is scared to write (criticize) about Vijay.





Varun Gandhi misbehaves yet again

20 05 2009

The ever polemic Varun Gandhi ever since making the much publicised hate speech in Pilbhit, has been subject to a lot of bias from sections of the Indian media.  Whatever he says or does is now looked upon with suspicion and is perceived to be controversial.  The latest news pertains to his run-in with a journalist in Pilbhit.  The media, as ever, has diligently reported the journalist’s side of the story and makes the article to appear as if journalist did nothing wrong and Varun Gandhi was so jobless that he was hell bent on ‘misbehaving’ with that journalist.

Journalism and journalists these days suck. With the advent of hundred’s of news channels in India, anyone who is fresh out of college with a degree in journalism and hold for themselves a camera & mic in their hand, calls himself/herself a journalist. They proclaim themselves to be the ‘guardians of law’ and feel it is their ’sacred duty’ to ‘fight for justice’ by ‘investigating’ and ‘bringing out the truth’ to the public.  Under the guise of investigative journalism, they go about creating sensation with largely untrue and exaggerated facts.  No doubt politicians are one of the ‘filthier’ creatures in the earth, but in India, the journalists are definitely more filthier than our politicians.





Badami trip

24 04 2009

Badami is a small historical town situated in the north of Karnataka is the District of Bagalkot. It is predominantly accessible by road although one could also access Badami vide trains coming from Gadag and Bagalkot, the frequency unfortunately being extremely low. Badami was once considered to the capital of the Kingdom of Chalukyas who happened to rule this city thousands of years backs. The structures especially the temples are to say the least spectacular.

We approached Badami from Gadag. We took a train (Chennai-Dadar Express) from Chennai to Guntakal (in Andhra Pradesh), which journey is about 8 hours. From there we took a connecting train (Hubli Express) from Guntakal to Gadag (in Karnataka), the journey being around 200 Kms, the train however took an abysmal 4½ hours to cover it. From Gadag we took a bus to Badami. We however got down at Banashankari, which is around 8-10 Kms ahead of Badami.

Banashankari is a famous temple near Badami. Banashankari, ‘Bana’ meaning forest, is named after Goddess Banashankari, considered to be a goddess of the forest and widely regarded as a powerful deity. People across India, especially Maharashtra and Karnataka throng the temple. The temple though not so huge, is however well built and is beautiful.

The temple apart, Badami is an excellent tourist attraction. The Badami caves, is the star attraction of Badami. This place is more famous for the scenes shot in Manirathnam’s  Guru shot.  For more pics, you may please visit my flickr album

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The other attractions in and around Badama include the Durga Devi Temple at Aiholi,  Pattadakkal and the Mahakoota Kotilinga.  The Durga Devi Temple is the ancient remains of the temples built by the Chalukyas.  With the temple no more, this place is an excellent toursit attraction.

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Pattadakal is perhaps the photographers’ paradise.  Pattadakal, situated 32 Kms from Badami is another temple remains of the Mallikarjuna Temple. Though much similar to the temple remains at Aiholi,  this place is perhaps better maintained.

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Sorry friend. I am too busy now.

3 04 2009

The whole world has become too busy that people do not find time to talk to each other.  Some people are genuinely busy. Some people are kept busy, probably due to the recession-caused job insecurity, unrealistic targets at work, boss pressures etc.  These people allegedly do not find any time for their families and friends.  

I had a similar problem (well, actually not a problem, a small complaint) with a few of my friends, who are too busy to call or even perhaps too busy to reply to calls or emails.  There is no point blaming them, since it is the circumstances which force such behaviour. 

Interestingy,  I happened to come across this article on  NYT on being ‘too busy’ . The analysis is very subjective and might not be applicable in all cases. Nevertheless I found it very  interesting. 

The author of the article illustrates reasons why some people are too busy, viz.. 

  1. It is a kind of high
  2. It is a status symbol
  3. We’re afraid we’ll be left out if we slow down
  4. We do not know how not to be busy

Its quite natural that people tend to relate themseves to one or some of the above reasonings and come out stoutly in their defence. In my opinion, in most cases, it is the ego of the person that makes him act very busy and in a case where he does not proclaim himself busy, he is afraid of being left out.

P.S. This is just my opinion and I would request my friends who know me and read this article, not take this personally.





When lawyers strike

16 03 2009

Issue 1: The Judiciary vs. Executive stuff has been going on for quite some time and this in my opinion is a never ending tussle. 

Issue 2: Political parties in Tamilnadu have been pushing and pressurizing the central government into interfering in  Sri Lanka’s internal affairs of dealing with LTTE. Apprehending ‘genocide’ and ‘injustice to tamils’, these political parties want the Indian government to interfere and put an end to the war.  All this under the guise of fighting for ‘tamil cause’ not just in India but wherever tamils are there. Malaysia had once asked them to shut-up, but the story with Sri Lanka seems to be something different. 

In this regard, this article by Dr.Subramanian Swamy hits the nail on the head. 

Ok, now the link between Issue 1 and Issue 2.  The LTTE issue and the protest by lawyers in Tamilnadu.  While the political parties found a convenient way of protesting against Sri Lankan “attrocities”, the lawyers have utilized this opportunity to put the entire judiciary in Tamilnadu to ransom. 

I was recently invited to sign on an online petition to ’save judiciary’.  While agreeing that the Judiciary in India was in certain ‘danger’ and that we need to ’save the judiciary’, I felt the actions of the advocates was wrong. This is what I had to say regarding this - 

In my opinion the advocates of Madras High Court got what they deserved. It is shameful that the courts had been functioning only for some handful of days during the last three months. These advocates under some pretext (mostly political reasons) had put the litigants, under trials and other needy citizens to ransom. These advocates have brought the entire legal profession to disrepute. By this I however do not intend to justify the acts of the police, which was equally bad and condemnable. These Advocates in consonance with the political forces have put the Judiciary to ransom. Right now we need to Save the Judiciary from these forces.

In other words, we are familiar with ‘criminalization of politics’, but this ‘politicization of judiciary’ should not be allowed at the expense of the common man.





How much does a miracle cost??

22 02 2009
I read this somewhere and was really touched by this Story. Here it goes-

Story told by Azim Premji Wipro Chairman during IIT Madras Convocation Speech

An eight-year-old child heard her parents talking about her little brother. All she knew was that he was very sick and they had no money left. They were moving to a smaller house because they could not afford to stay in the present house after paying the doctor’s bills. Only a very costly surgery could save him now and there was no one to loan them the money.

When she heard daddy say to her tearful mother with whispered desperation, ‘Only a miracle can save him now’, the child went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jar from its hiding place in the closet.

She poured all the change out on the floor and counted it carefully.

Clutching the precious jar tightly, she slipped out the back door and made her way six blocks to the local drug Store. She took a quarter from her jar and placed it on the glass counter.

“And what do you want?” asked the pharmacist.

“It’s for my little brother,” the girl answered back.

“He’s really, really sick and I want to buy a miracle.”

“I beg your pardon?” said the pharmacist. “His name is Andrew and he has something bad growing inside his head and my daddy says only a miracle can save him. So how much does a miracle cost?”

“We don’t sell miracles here, child. I’m sorry,” the pharmacist said, smiling sadly at the little girl.

“Listen, I have the money to pay for it. If it isn’t enough, I can try and get some more. Just tell me how much it costs.”

In the shop was a well-dressed customer. He stooped down and asked the little girl, “What kind of a miracle does you brother need?”

“I don’t know,” she replied with her eyes welling up. “He’s really sick and mommy says he needs an operation. But my daddy can’t pay for it, so I have brought my savings”.

“How much do you have?” asked the man.

“One dollar and eleven cents, but I can try and get some more”, she answered barely audibly.

“Well, what a coincidence,” smiled the man. “A dollar and eleven cents the exact price of a miracle for little brothers.”

He took her money in one hand and held her hand with the other. He said, “Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your parents. Let’s see if I have the kind of miracle you need.” That well-dressed man was Dr Carlton Armstrong, a surgeon, specializing in neuro-surgery.

The operation was completed without charge and it wasn’t long before Andrew was home again and doing well.

“That surgery,” her mom whispered, “was a real miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost?” The little girl smiled. She knew exactly how much the miracle cost one dollar and eleven cents .. plus the faith of a little child.

“Perseverance can make miracles happen “