60TH MILESTONE

Official member of the “Senior Citizens Club” – entitled to enjoy certain age based privileges which accrue to Indian citizens!!
The journey so far has been fantastic with few road bumps and some unexpected turns mixed with many joyous peaks.
The flow of greetings from midnight urges me to want to acknowledge Thakur’s immense Blessings along with the love and support of all those who touched my life in a million different ways. I feel blessed to have so much love from relatives, friends, and acquaintances.
In the unlikely event that any one holds unknown grudge against me – I humbly seek forgiveness for any unintended wrongs that may have been committed along the way.
Thank you one and all. Love you. God Bless.

NO MR. (EX) PRIME MINISTER

Times of India headline -

FORMER PM GOWDA CALLS CM YEDDYURAPPA A BLOODY BASTARD

In case you are not aware of who is swearing in public at whom, they are the ‘WHO’S WHO’ of Indian leadership entrusted with governance - Gowda is the perpetual political manipulator and Yeddyurappa is the current CM of BJP led government in the state of Karnataka.

Gowda's claim to fame is that he once lost his way in the maze of political manipulation and by default became Prime Minister of India for a few months. Since then he has graduated to shameless display of greed for power and demand for respect by flaunting his undeserved qualification of "Ex-PM". (We happen to pay for this person's security based on the Ex-Status!!)

If at all one were to look for a classic example of a person without moral values in public life the prize for it will go hands down to Deve Gowda.

Incidentally he has the distinction of siring a distinguished line of sons who are as (un)worthy if not more than "Paa" in the dirty political arena. Jungle law has been efficiently 'downloaded' to the family members.

One of his unworthy sons has already obtained the qualification of "Ex- CM' to flaunt his style of greed for power and desire to stay in the limelight. This political beast has come to his father's rescue trying to justify the 'bastardly' outburst as a case of - “He had no choice but to use the language. He was angry as injustice is being done to farmers etc……..” – Incidentally ‘Daddy’ was so angry that the English expletive was reinforced by ‘gaali’ in his mother tongue which translates to s.o.b.!! Can you imagine the audacity this attitude displays in our politicians?

It is the existence of such undignified persons in public life that restricts India’s potential to greatness. We need reforms to disqualify persons without minimum sense of decorum from becoming visible in public domain. Pedigree checks similar to determining a good race horse or a pet dog must become mandatory to hold public office.

The democratic space made available to “Netas” is systematically abused by manipulative individuals to fulfill their personal agendas at the cost of development and solving real problems.

The apparent provocation of angry “Papa” is a long standing war of wits related to completion of an important developmental infrastructure project in the roads sector. The “Ex-PM/CM” considers himself above the law and indulges in cheap political circus often defying court orders to occupy public space. No real issues are involved. Drama and abusive language is resorted to by an elderly person disrespecting all norms of decency to instigate unsuspecting deprived citizens from their own future in the benefits of development. I strongly suspect that the promoters of this project did not grease the family's dirty palms is what Ex-PM is angry about!!

The government must and should punish such disruptive elements and ban them from creating nuisance which involves diverting tax payer funds to manage such self indulging disturbances disguised as public service.

As a citizen I’m outraged and want Gowda and his family punished for disrespecting and abusing the Indian Constitution under which the Chief Minister of Karnataka holds office.

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!!

YEAR AFTER

A year after the horrific siege of Mumbai by Pakistan based terrorists actively assisted by worldwide terror cells - has India as a nation learnt any lessons?
‘NO’ – is the answer if we consider:
1) Status of investigation and court proceedings despite having to feed ‘gost biryani’ to a captured terrorist from Pakistan.
2) Vinita Kamte widow of martyr Ashok Kamte of Mumbai Police alleges being stonewalled in her quest to find the truth leading to her husband’s death. She had to resort to RTI Act to get facts for her tribute to bravery contained in a biography of her husband titled ‘To The Last Bullet’.
3) Politician’s like Thakerays are stuck in their ghetto mentality for political space based on regionalism, violence and intolerance. Personal animosity spills on to public domain and thrust upon common citizens by invoking ‘Marathi Manoos’.
4) Naxalite terror tactics with threat to life and property is spreading while regional politicians indulge in ‘blame game’.
5) The sacked Home Minister of Maharashtra is reinstated on the eve of 26/11 first anniversary having displayed incompetence and insensitivity to the tragedy a year ago.
6) Soft peddling with Pakistan in spite of clinching evidence of ISI involvement in the well planned ruthless execution of the Mumbai terror plot.
7) The much promised Police and criminal justice reforms not initiated.
8) Home Ministry has been unable to introduce robust infrastructure and systems for gathering and sharing intelligence to pre-empt attacks. We still stumble upon vital information more by chance than by design since the left hand mostly does not know what the right hand does. State level politics takes precedence over national security.
9) Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs lack basic co-ordination with a loose discretionary visa system being abused by terrorists around the world to gain multiple accesses with free unrestricted movement within India.
10) Corruption in procurement of equipment and accessories for law and order wings. The ‘failed’ inferior quality bulletproof jacket that killed police officers in Mumbai has disappeared along with records of their procurement.
11) Citizens have failed to exercise their franchise for seeking accountability and transparency from the government.
12) Last but not the least, a fractured opposition busy fire fighting to save their politics of irrelevant issues, has miserably failed to set aside partisan politics to make the nation more secure.