DECADE THAT WAS

It is last day of the first decade of the second millennium that started with the Y2K bug scare?

Here is a random list of events during the decade that we lived through.

2000 - world's longest serving elected communist leader Jyoti Basu retires as the Chief Minister of West Bengal.
Former KGB Chief Vladimir Putin becomes President of Russia.

2001 - Calcutta officially becomes KOLKATA and Gujarat quake kills over 30,000.
Osama announces the arrival of lunatic terrorists by attacking Twin Towers in New York - the world changes forever!!
US led forces invade Afghanistan.

2002 - A P J Abdul Kalam becomes President of India (one of the best), and New Delhi becomes second Indian city to have a Metro ( Kolkata was the first in 1984).
Sourav Ganguly, arguably the most aggressive captain this country's ever had - announced the arrival of a more confident India when he took off his shirt and whirled it in the air at the Lord's to celebrate a famous win!!

2003 - India loses ICC World Cup finals to Australia.
US led forces begin invasion of Iraq to topple Saddam.

2004 - Manmohan Singh becomes Prime Minister after the ruling NDA is stunned as Congress led UPA emerges a surprise winner.
The year ended with one of the worst natural disasters when TSUNAMI struck South Asia.

2005 - George W Bush starts second term as US President; Lalu raj ends in Bihar.

2006 - Terror strikes Mumbai commuter trains during busy evening hours.

2007 - India beats Pakistan to win first ever ICC World Cup Twenty20 in South Africa.

2008 - Ratan Tata unveils world's cheapest car NANO at New Delhi Auto Expo and Tata Motors buys two iconic auto companies JAGUAR & LAND ROVER.
Iconic Mumbai sites attacked by terrorists.

2009 - Barack Obama takes oath as 44th US President.
Congress led UPA retains power with clear majority in General Elections.

Foot note - though set up by two Stanford students in 1998, 'GOOGLE' is the phenomenon of the decade.

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND A HAPPIER DECADE AHEAD TO ALL.
LOVE YOU.

HOPENHAGEN

Copenhagen UN Summit on Climate Change is the 15th such conference. The futility of 14 previous such gatherings ‘to party’ are a heavy price already paid by the world at large.
It is symbolic that this conference is depicted as the ‘HOPENHAGEN' SUMMIT to signify the ‘HOPE’ being placed on the leaders of participating nations to ‘STOP TALKING’ & ‘START ACTING’.
Talking without intent has already caused huge damage. Ongoing deliberations at this summit may be the only realistic opportunity to attempt sustainable apolitical decisions along with unselfish economic sacrifices that could unite billions to live safely on ‘ONE’ SAVED PLANET.
The distinction between rich & poor, more polluting & less polluting and all other 'vested' stand points will soon loose relevance if this summit fails to arrive at a consensus to share the blame for causing damage along with accepting responsibility in reversing and halting further damage.
Our existence on the planet is at stake and the time to score brownie points by negotiators to cater for narrow national interest is over.
The only escape route to survive lies in statesmanship and consensus for stringent actions to save our planet for mankind as opposed to nation-kind.
THE LEADERS OF IMPORTANT NATIONS HAVE A DUTY TO BE ACCOMODATIVE TOWARDS OTHERS WHILE THE NOT-SO-IMPORTANT NATIONS HAVE TO BE GRACEFUL IN ACCEPTING APPARENTLY ‘UNJUSTIFIED’ RESPONSIBILITIES FOR A LARGER CAUSE.
CONSENSUS @ COPENHAGEN = HOPENHAGEN.

INDIA ONE

INDIA is the numero uno Test playing country as per ICC rankings.
It is significant that the venue of the game which catapulted the nation to prominence was the historic Brabourn Stadium in BOMBAY - (sorry Bala &/or Raj)!!
In the expression of victory over Sri Lanka and justified celebrations around the country – there was no sign of the ‘Maharashtrian doggies’ laying claim to Mumbai over India in the name of the ‘Marathi Manoos’.
It is significant to note that the ‘stray dogs’ lie low when VICTORY is the theme.
The goon brigade does not have moral courage to growl because it knows that the happy Indian will exercise its power to break their brittle parochial bones.
Naked duplicity does not permit shameless regional chauvinists to celebrate national achievements and they remain isolated from the joy of the moment. It is a shame that the need to play politics deprives certain section of Indians from enjoying national glory as they are forced to remain hidden due to their history of past bad conduct.
Three cheers INDIA and INDIAN CRICKET TEAM.

AFTER SALES SERVICE

NEWS HEADLINE: "Hinting at possible retirement after middle of next year, DMK patriarch and Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi has said he would leave politics and ministerial posts to devote more time to work for the poor and oppressed communities."
At 85 the senile speaks of 'serving the people' - what a joke on the people of TN and India? Indeed we should thank God that it has at last dawned on a politician that there are no more personal avenues to fulfill his and the extended family's 'get rich and powerful' ambitions.

Publicly stated intention to "come closer to the people" will ensure that there are enough shoulders on his forthcoming last journey which cannot be far away considering 'best before date' has long expired!!

Son M K Stalin is already annointed as Deputy CM so the family domination is assured while 'grandpa' branches out to serve the people!!