Today is the first anniversary of the July 26 floods in bombay. I was one of those thousands
of people who were stranded that day. I had to walk for almost 7 hrs in the floods (many
places wih waist deep water and some places even chest deep). It is an experience I can never forget in my life. When I think of how I managed to walk for so many hrs in such terrible conditions, I am really baffled.I cant but thank the almighty for having given me such a courage to handle that day.

One year from that, now I am finding myself in another challenge, albeit of a different
kind. I had a slip disc in my back some time back and yesterday, doctors advised me a 24 hr
bed rest for atleast a month. From some one who walked for 7 hrs in floods, to someone who
is not even allowed to sit for more that 10 minutes is something really saddening. Here too, I am confident of bouncing back from this crisis and be back with renewed vigour in a months time. I am sure God will give me the courage to face this too and come out undeterred.

Last saturday, one of my batchmates, Reshma suddenly died of heart failure. She was a brilliant girl with amuzing maturity. That she died at such an young age is really something so saddening. I hope her parents get the necessary courage to come out of this grief and concentrate on the future. I also pray that her soul rests in peace.

Yesterday, we had organized a blood donation camp in our college. Since I head the forum responsible for this event along with 2 other students, I had the opportunuity of getting closely involved in this event. The event, coming as it does after the gruesome bombay blasts, has become a huge success thanks to the enthusiasm showed by the donors. The volunteers had a tough time controlling the people who had come to donate. The success of the event clearly assures us that as long as these souls are around, none of our enemies could take us for granted.

The incident also helped me learn a lot in terms of organizing such an event at such a short notice. The energy levels of the volunteers was so high that if next time such a project is given at an even shorter notice, events could be organized successfully.

Scene: Chennai - CM of the state says that he will withdraw support if NLC disinvestment is pursued.

Scene: Delhi - within hrs, an announcement by the PMO that all disinvestment plans are temporarily laid off.

These dramatic activities bring to the fore the compulsions of coalition politics. This is one of the cases which highlight the PM is totally not in control of the situation. Does the PM believe that Mr.Karunanidhi will withdraw support to the centre on this issue, which could mean loss of power for his grand-nephew at the centre and which could derail a lot of his plans? I personally do not think so unless there are some plans of some third front or so, which is highly unlikely given the current arithmetic and the acrimony between various potential 3rd front partners. Then, why is PM giving in to such pressures? He did stand firm just a month back during the fuel price hike.

Whatever be the reason, if this continues, it will be very difficult to pursue reforms, which could take the country forward with respect to the competition. If this is the case of this ministry, i really wonder what will happen if Congress and BJP further lose strength in the Parliament and there is a hung parliament or a third front. No decisions could be taken cohesively, there will be a lot of pulls and pressures and the country just cannot move on. The regional parties will think only regionally, without a national mindset and this is a dangerous trend for the country. We cant afford another disintegration of the nation and it is time the public and the national parties like Congress and BJP realize the seriousness of this and come to a status where only a 2 party dominance will be there. Lest, god save us. We will have Anbumani heading the AIIMS, Arjun Singh the IIMs and Lalu Yadav, the CBI.

AIIMS is in the news, again for wrong reasons. But this time, I think the health minister has taken things too far, thus proving that he is incapable of handling such issues. That an eminent person was sacked as head of such a prestigious institution unceremoniously smacks of the immaturity of this cabinet minister ( think we should call him sinister). When one reads various news items on the subject, he cant but feel sorry for the deposed director. The meeting did not have this as an agenda and the minister suddenly brings this in the agenda, asks the veteran to wait outside for an hour and at the end of it, says that he is sacked. This is certainly not the way to treat such a renowned cardiologist, who has served the institution for over 4 decades. He should have been given a chance to explain his stance, but was not given. That too, when an enquiry committee is set up to study the functioning of AIIMS. Agreed, there could be 2 opinions on whether the doctors can resort to strike leaving the patients stranded, for whatever reason it be, but that does not mean the director has to be sacked without being given a chance. After all, we are a democracy.

There are various reports that the minister has been consistantly interfering with the administration of this institute. The minister's party ( PMK) is known for its caste based politics in Tamilnadu and it seems he is trying to replicate the same at the national level. One only hopes that these m(s)inister designs are thwarted and the reputation of the institution is reclaimed. It is very surprising that these are allowed by the PM. It is time he take some tough stand against these ministers who do not seem to be in control of what they are doing.

First day of my MBA 2nd year at NMIMS was a big disaster, mainly due to the heavy rains and some confusion in the seating arrangements. Anyway, that incident and 2 continuous days of rain ensured that I have given complete rest to my ailing back.

Today, our classes have started and we had a lecture of Mr.AK Purwar (former SBI chairman). He has become our faculty now after retirement. This man really talks sense. His almost 40 yrs of experience at SBI really came out in the kind of examples that he gave. He had numbers at his fingertips and was able to quote various examples at ease. His answering of questions also were admirable. ( I think he is speaking very slow, but it is ok, as long as he takes students along with him). The way he made the class participate and demanded answers from anyone was interesting.

Sadly, he concluded that he will take at the most 2 more lectures this trimester due to his busy schedule. I wish he takes more lectures.

Whatever, I am sure having such an eminent person in the faculty list will add pride to the institute and its students.