HINDU TALIBAN

Slowly but surely India is following the foot steps of 'Musalman' Talibans with intolerance and violence being the key tools used to terrorise innocent targets.
Pramod Mutalik (probably insane due to his inability to face the reality of personal failures in life) representing himself as the self appointed Chief of a bunch of religious fanatics (mostly unemployable youth) collectively calling themselves 'Sri Rama Sene', has managed to project himself on the front pages of print media and prime time news channels by the cowardly act of man handling young liberated women enjoying at a Pub - usually perceived as 'soft targets' - in the name of protecting them from western influences. Molesting women and beating them in public is deemed 'safe guarding' Hindu culture by these hooligans and devils in male clothing!!
The disturbing fall out of this episode is frightening. Consider these facts.
1) Protectors 0f law and order (a.k.a. Police force) remained mute spectators for more than two days, while the politicians (a.k.a. Government in Power) calculated their options in terms of 'vote bank'.
2) The magistrates/judges (a.k.a. Judiciary to uphold laws) considered the culprits worthy of bail and released the 'animals' to uphold democratic rights and due process of justice.
3) The 'no fear of punishment' message conveyed to the scum of society by a failed system emboldened the hooligans to organise a "Victory Parade" to celebrate their release on bail while the police force ensured security at the venue.
4) At this victory parade they audaciously threw a challenge to society at large and the system of governance in particular by WARNING to unleash violent means to stop "Valentine's Day" celebrations through rabid statements in the name of 'Indian culture'.
5) The administration's soft pedalling is disconcerting as it allows the rogues to flex their muscles to infringe upon private and fundamental rights of citizens.
While writing this - there is a 'breaking news' on news channels - a young girl returning to her college from holidays is dragged out of a public bus along with a young male college mate.
They are beaten up mercilessly because a "Hindu" girl was speaking to a "Muslim" boy and the goons brigade considers it immoral and against Hindu culture?
The frequency and regularity of such incidents unleashed in the name of religion is dangerous for the country.
The administration is urged to nip this trend in the bud with a bipartisan approach before India becomes known as the birth place of "Hindu Taliban" competing with its infamous neighbour dreaded by the world for their "Muslim" Taliban.

SLUM GOD MILLIONAIRE

Watched SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE and rate it amongst one of the best movies to date (59 years + 10 days!!). Walked out of the multiplex with awe wanting to watch it again!!
I do not suffer from dyslexia (you are excused if you presume that from the title?) - it is deliberate. The idea is to convey reality. Facts cannot be twisted into hiding by being politically correct.
Sorry 'Big B' for ranting about depiction of "poverty porn" from the confines of upper strata's comfort zone in enclosed bungalows. I only hope it is not a fall out of 'sour grapes' syndrome that the success of the film has rattled him even though he happens to be indirectly present in the story line giving an autograph to Jamal covered in human excreta.
The film set amid the poverty of Mumbai and India's under belly is a hard hitting 'reality check' not only for our 'netas' but also the society at large that chooses to remain in denial.
The desire and right to dream belongs to one and all. The single minded determination to pursue a dream with perseverance is an object lesson to the less privileged who remain exploited by vested interest. The immense power of love and desire to connect is displayed touchingly. The A.R. Rehman touch is obvious. It is certainly worthy of Oscar recognition. Wish the entire Slumdog Millionaire team wins it hands down.
Don't miss this movie which will make you feel nice and grounded to the basics of human emotions which is time less and unrelated to ones current situation.

BURDEN OF EXPECTATION

Watching the installation of the 44th U.S. President on 20th January 2008 beamed live around the world was akin to being part of history. The human race appeared to have become one huge expectant mass irrespective of their location on the planet.
True to his reputation Barack Obama rose to the occasion by delivering his acceptance speech looking you in the eyes and mostly stating the things that the crowd around the world have been waiting to hear after the eight years of 'bull fight' performed by Bush!!
We the people - as world citizens - now have to rise above petty politics and partisan restrictive actions to rebuild the world. The coming together of billions of people needing to watch the Obama moment indicates that majority of the human race are capable of single minded resolve to make a difference.
The urge to become part of the 'Obama Moment' places immense burden on each one of us to carry through with a renewed sense of purpose in fulfilling the expectation of change which has become critical in varied aspects of our existence so brightly ignited by Barack Hussein Obama.
May God Bless The President and give us the power to make a difference.

COMPUTERISED SHYLOCKS

This piece is based on a “TRUE STORY” and is intended as a polite warning to youngsters who tend to live beyond their means corrupted by the lure of easy credit and "free" life time offers by the banking sector (mainly the Private/Foreign as opposed to Nationalized Banks).
A qualified experienced young man decides to opt for VRS (golden hand shake) from the corporate sector and goes into a business venture along with a friend (who smartly retains his employment). Unfortunately, over a period of years it transpires that the friend (mini Ramalinga Raju!!) is a “Cheat” who wipes out the entire capital sunk by our young man and quietly disappears to concentrate on his executive job.
For obvious reasons the income stream gradually dries up but cash flow remains intact since the bunch of Credit Cards which this young man had obtained (while in employment and business) from various private/foreign banks continued to be swiped to maintain his life style in the hope that some gainful employment/business activity will soon take care of the credits.
Enter the “Debt Trap” skillfully set up by the banks.
For fear of default in monthly servicing of Credit Cards and its dire consequences (including being beaten up by bank’s panel of out sourced “goons” a.k.a. Debt Recovery Agents) our victim of circumstances is now offered convenient “UNSECURED LOANS” not only to service the existing cards but also to continue his life style in anticipation of the ‘light at the end of the tunnel’. Reinforced by Bank’s faith on his credit worthiness, Credit Card loans are sanctioned over the phone and accepted with apparently lucrative EMIs.
The bubble continues to grow. Fortunately, before the Debt ridden individual reaches the point of no return (usually suicide), his woes accidentally gets disclosed and efforts are initiated by family/friends to puncture the bubble by liquidating the loans.
This is when the murky under belly of the “Friendly Banker” gets exposed. The sensible decision to pool resources and seek pre-mature closure of the loans triggers extremely unfriendly interaction with a ‘faceless’ system working behind a barrier of phone calls and e-mails (thanks to the BPO Devil).
The amount determined for closure, after being made to run from pillar to post for weeks (which period also ultimately becomes part of interest calculation), gets inflated by penal interest (because the loan is being settled before due date?) and other charges way beyond the original amount which the borrower is forced to accept without any recourse to understanding the calculations and scope for negotiation. All efforts to contact a ‘Human Being’ are in vain. The telephone/e-mail interface threatens that any delay associated with efforts made to seek audience with any relevant bank official in blood and flesh will be at a price of “X – Rupees” per day of delay!! once they have declared the settlement figure.
Incidentally, there are no written and signed loan documents – but only “Voice” recordings in support of the loan transactions which in the first place are sanctioned and disbursed ‘OVER PHONE’ (perils of our HI TECH generation).
Similar frightening episodes are sure to be occurring in our society becoming nightmares for youngsters hiding behind false hopes. I caution them to avoid such fool hardy schemes to portray success. Parents, relatives and friends are also urged to keep channels of communication open to identify devastating “Debt Traps” into which their loved ones may unwittingly walk into.

THE WOMEN IN MY LIFE

A revealing insight struck me when I realized the impact of the greetings that poured in from early this morning on my 59th birthday and noticed that majority of them were from women!!
The sequence of the greetings as they actually occurred within a span of two hours this morning proves the point.
* Wife - with a hug and kiss!!
* Daughter - phone call from Mumbai.
* Mom - phone call from Mumbai
* Sister - phone cal from U.S.A.
* Daughter-in-law - local call.
* Sister-in-law - SMS from Nagpur
* Friend's wife - phone call from Kolkata
* Niece - local SMS
The first non female call came after the above sequence!!
The incidence reflects that women are more capable of expanding their influence in spreading joy and cheer through simple acts of love and caring gestures in our world.
May all the women of this world be Blessed for spreading joy and love around us by their inherent caring instincts.
I am by no means a 'ladies man' but it does feel nice to learn that so many wonderful ladies care for me !!
Thank you all (including the men!!).

IT CZAR TURNED SCAMSTER

The +Rs.7,000 crore Satyam Computers fraud raises serious questions about the capabilities of existing systems to protect stake holders in the much touted success story of 'India Inc.' largely attributed to the fairy tale IT/ITES sectors.

The audacity and extent of falsification undertaken by Ramalinga Raju is akin to crimes against humanity, considering the huge number of innocent lives that have directly/indirectly been shatterd by several years of 'cooking books' undertaken by a single mind with criminal intent.

The disclosures made on January 7th by the now famous 'letter of confession' reveals that Satyam was being run as a "Sole Proprietory' venture of Raju hidden behind and now largely ptotected by a 'Corporate Veil' along with a bunch of greedy incompetent Board full of cronies pretending to be professionals getting paid for attending picnics in Conference Rooms.!

The unpardonable and glaring failure of PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC) as auditors causes much anxiety because the common perception about the role of auditors stands completely demolished.

Nothing less than life imprisonment as punishment to all past/present Board Members along with senior executives of the company who ought to have known the sordid facts disclosed by Raju and banning PWC from India will satisfay the common citizen.

The Government along with all regulatory institutions must act swiftly and without fear or favour to salvage India's prestige and Indian's credibility damaged by the 'Sole Scamster' represented by a 54-year-old US MBA.

GATHERING OF SIBLINGS

On Christmas day boarded a train from Bangalore for a journey to Nagpur - the venue of the first annual 'seven siblings' gathering of Runu's four brothers and two sisters meeting at their last born brother's residence. The sibling connection commenced from Bangalore when three of the seven boarded the Mysore Jaipur Superfast on a twenty two hours journey!!
The arrangements made by the host and his family was excellent in every respect and it was an unique six nights of fun and frolic including ushering in 2009 with lots of music, dance, food and drinks.
The joy of being part of this gathering along with off springs of the siblings who could be present gave a sense of belonging and opportunity of bonding to one and all across generations and ages.
The next gathering will be at Pondicherry where the first born brother will be host.
Returned to Bangalore on 2nd January refreshed by the flavour of love and unity displayed by the siblings which rubbed off on those who were present to experience it.
God Bless the Roy clan for being such wonderful human beings and spreading their good genes down the line!!