Tax them like crazy

I was recently reading an article on this low cost car and the thoughts are worth pondering over. I am sure the Tatas and Bajajs will be successful in bringing out a cost effective car that will make this prestigious mode of transport more affordable to the ever increasing middle class population. It will open a lots of business opportunities to the auto ancillary sector and will have a huge impact on the way we live.

All are fine, but at what cost?? Are we prepared to handle this in terms of infrastructure, petroleum availability and other connected loads?? With the existing traffic already choking most of the Indian roads, where is the space for all these cars to ply?? Will they fly?? Where is the fuel?? What will be the impact on our economy on multiplying our dependence on oil imports?? What will happen to our air quality??

There is a limit to imitating west. In fact, as Thomas Friedman wrote in one of his articles, we should not imitate his country which has become a harbinger of pollution and is incurring billions on health care. We should first build roads, build flyovers, improve the public transport system, and make it more efficient so as to dissuade people from using their own vehicles.

Government should tax such low cost vehicles like crazy. Being employed in the automotive industry, I shouldn’t be suggesting this, but if the future is to be at least at today’s level, if not better, there is no option. The Government should use the tax solely to improve infrastructure and promote fuel efficient techniques. There is already lot of infrastructure tax money available with the Government. This tax shouldn’t go that way. It has to be vested with some Infrastructure Corporation, headed by eminent persons from the Government and Industry, should be free of political interferences and should finish the projects taken in a time bound manner. Based on the level of infrastructure growth, tax can be brought down. Government cannot abdicate its responsibility and forget the infrastructural needs of a growing economy.

What if...??

Developments in the medical world are simply astonishing. So many advanced technologies and equipments have made it possible to scan each and every part of the body inside out and understand the problems. Not only diagnosis, but these equipments also end up helping in the ultimate cure of the disease. Operations are done without piercing the body. Patients can walk home freely after the operation, in a span of few days. No bed rest, no hospitalization…. One can soon expect cure for the dreaded Cancer and AIDS.

Not only this, even other forms of medicine like Homoeopathy, Siddha and Ayurveda are doing a great service to the mankind by their sheer efficacy.

It’s a different matter that as we advance in such medical technologies, the numbers and kinds of diseases also keep increasing. We are increasingly bonded by our own lavish lifestyles. Eyesight problems, back pains, spinal cord issues, mental tension, BP, Cholesterol, Diabetes.. the list is endless…

It looks like a mega race. On one hand, we end up discovering more medicines to cure our diseases, and on the other hand, we end up getting afflicted to more diseases to make use of these medicines. Only time will tell who is going to be the winner.

All said and done, we would have definitely saved you if only you had fallen ill now, rather than 15 years earlier, Appa.

Sorry....

I am taking all arable lands away, converting them into plots and making money. Just don’t care about what you will do for your survival.

I am drying out the potable water resources and don’t think long term while planning my water usage.

I pollute the environment in the best possible way I can. Automobiles, industries, coal, petroleum et al.

I release all possible hazardous chemicals into the land, unconcerned about your living conditions.

I let my ego do the talking when it comes to relationship with other countries, when it comes to respecting other religions, when it comes to listening to sensible advises. I am making your era more war prone.

I refuse to understand climate change, completely selfish when it comes to global warming and its repercussions, the glaciers melting, cities submerging….

I am just unconcerned about excessive urbanization, the loss of forest cover, the pollution of rivers, the death of farmers…..

I indulge in all possible bad habits and take excess work load, intoxicated by the hefty salaries I get, forget about my health and the resultant impact on my near and dear…

I am eating into your share of the earth. I am making your life more unstable. I genetically pass on to you more diseases than what my parents have passed on to me. I am living in the glee of the present, knowing well that I am depriving you of a decent life.

I am extremely sorry my dear successor generations…. I am still trying my best, talk a lot about greenhouse emissions nowadays, give Nobel Prize to activists working on the area, working on rain water harvesting…. Please behold…

'Autograph'

I refused to beat her with a stick for talking in class. I was in 3rd standard then and was the class leader. I was more generous with others when it comes to corporal punishment in class, but not with her. My friends used to taunt me at this, but I never cared. Get lost you morons, you don’t understand my feelings.

That was village life. Then my life path changed, I came to city, joined English medium school. Now I met her. She was junior to me. I was the only one in my class to have taken up Hindi, and so was she. This was enough for my impish friends to take me on. And I gave in. I thought I liked her. She never even looked at me. She was a mallu. She started haunting me in my dreams; I felt I got my girl. And all these when I have not even dared to look at her face, forget about talking to her. After all, it was the beginning of my youth. I was in my 12th standard. Even before I could muster all the courage to talk to her, my exams got over. I had left the school, and then joined work and my life changed again.

Now work life, quite a hectic one. And now, she visited my house for a function. She was the daughter of one of my distant relatives. I now again felt I have got my girl. Alas, there is a talk of such a thing from their side too?? How lucky I am? I started dreaming as of we had been seeing each other for months and the families have come together without any issues. All these ended in a day. She went back, there were some technical hassles in our coming together and things became normal once again.

Then came Bombay college life. One of my friend’s girlfriend told me that her classmate is a tam bram and I would be lucky to have her. And again he woke up in me – I decided that this time, I am gonna have it. Who knows, what you did not get in Chennai could be obtained in Bombay. After all, fate is never known. I scrapped her in Orkut, introducing myself, wishing to be her friend, bla bla bla. Nothing happened, I was in orkut almost round the clock waiting for her reply, which was not to come. I came to know after a few weeks that she already has a boy friend. This is precisely the reason I hate Bombay - every girl is committed there, right from childhood.

Now I am back in Chennai, started working again. My folks have found a girl for me, we are getting married in a few months. I don’t think about any of the above characters anymore. I have FINALLY got my girl. My life of infatuations is over. I am back into reality. I have clearly realized that all these school life thoughts help one in becoming happier for the moment. When I recollect these thoughts after so many years, I feel surprised about my weakness to fall into the trap of infatuations. Not once, but multiple times.

All said and done, it is not without reason that Cheran’s ‘Autograph’ won the best movie providing wholesome entertainment. After all, most of us connect to it.

Weekend goof-ups

It was an interesting weekend. Mr.Karunanidhi’s ability to perform somersaults even at 84 needs to be appreciated

‘There is no proof that some one like Rama existed - The question of demolishing Ramar Sethu does not arise - Ravana is better than Rama - But Rama never existed, the issue is not about Rama but about the Sethu Project - Lets not drag Rama into the picture - Why drag poor Rama into these controversies, let him be left alone - There is no proof that Rama existed’

Did some one understand the above?? I definitely have not…

How is a strike going to help things?? Other than paralyzing the lives of crores of people and depriving millions of their livelihood. Will closing of shops help faster dredging?

One of my colleagues had an apt point – If Rama is a myth and hence Ramar Sethu can be demolished, then even Silappadikaram ( A Tamil Classic) is also a myth. Why make hue and cry when Kannagi (one of the central characters) statue is removed from the beach??

Secondly, if strike is a solution to the problem, why did not Kalaignar TV (patronized by Mr.Karunanidhi’s DMK) go off air on the day of the strike?? Does it mean its employees can come to work on that day, relay normal programmes, earn crores of revenue thru’ advertisements and sponsorships but others have to suffer??

I don’t think people can get away with these mediocre mindsets now as they did 2 or 3 decades back. Literacy levels have gone up and people will not be mesmerized by emotional blackmails.

Enjoying Moments

What an awesome match it was… A fitting finale to the enthralling competitive event. Both India and Pakistan deserve accolades for the way they have come back after the humiliating loss in the 50 over world cup.

Dhoni’s men have shown that they will not buckle under pressure. I really enjoyed the match till the last moment. It would have been a complete show if only some team members had shown some carefulness while holding the Tricolor after their victory.

123.... Never ending....

There are a lot of articles on this 123 agreement, its pros and cons and ifs and buts and then and there’s and whys and why not’s. But one thing is clear - I don’t understand ABC of it. The discussions are too technical for me to have a clue on what is happening. My only wish – Government doesn’t consider it as an affront on its ego to study what its critics are saying. After all, most of the critics are no-nonsense guys who have extreme knowledge on the subject. They have been with the industry for decades, highly contributing to its growth. Let it handle it professionally and in an unbiased manner. After all, nuclear energy is expected to contribute much lesser than the other sources.

'You'

You opened up this world for me.
You have undergone so many hardships for my sake.
You lost peace when I didn’t turn up from office on time.
You have protected me from lots of difficulties by taking them upon yourself.
You have sown the seeds of my growth.
You have given me my most precious asset, my education.
You taught me honesty and integrity.
You taught me the nuances of life.
You always ensured my preferences got prioritized over yours.

These are just a small portion of what you did for me. What am I going to do in return for you??

Thank you Mom…

Learnings

It has been a long time since I published a post - have been supposedly busy at work and with chit-chatting with fiancee. But the reason is simple, I just did not plan my time well. For all the so-called pressures, I could have easily written some 10 articles in the last 20 days. If I do a time study, I realise how much time I end up wasting in a day, (excluding work hours and the lovie-dovey part of course).

That brings me to the topic of work pressure. I am actually in a high pressure environment, where most of the times people have to be on their toes. I found it difficult initially, ( still feel so btw), but on the positive side, it gives lots of learnings. The art of prioritization is taught here. Unless you do so, you are doomed. You are fired indiscriminately, which severely affects your ego. On the other hand, on the personal front, it helps you in various areas like proper planning, communication, delegation ( this is the most difficult one I say) and above all, forces you to concentrate on the right things at the right time. I have observed that but for these mental pressures, one just doesn't prioritize and ends up delaying activities. He may be ruthless, but I like him for the fact that he follows what he preaches and helps me in my personal development. Thank you Sir...

'Nice One"

" The only thing that overcomes hard luck is hard work" - Harry Golden (Courtesy: Deccan Chronicle)

So much for worklife...

I normally lock my laptop at office after working hours. Sometimes when I have some work or when I hadn’t checked my mails properly in office, I take it home. Yesterday was one of those days.

It was then that I read an article in ‘The Hindu’ (published originally in Guardian Newspapers) about the addiction due to devices like blackberry. It is very well written and clearly highlights the negative impact of technology in our life. Thomas Friedman mentions this as ‘The age of interruption’, be it thru’ mails, cell phone calls or blackberry messages. We are gradually losing our privacy. We are getting addicted to technology and end up screwing our personal lives. The statistics given about Americans are shocking. 83% check mails on vacation, 60% check messages while on bed and worse, 37% reply to messages while driving.

Only after reading this article did I remember certain vows I had taken 3 months back after I left college. I wanted to come home on time, spend enough time with family, improve my reading habits and consequently, my language. I wanted to write more in my weblog. But now I realize how far I have gone away from my vows. I haven’t touched by blog for over 2 weeks now. I don’t even read newspapers regularly, haven’t even seen the cover of the book I bought some 2 months back.

Not all these can be blamed on technology; I have other reasons to get distracted. But I have to admit that after work, I get too tired to be able to concentrate on my other itineraries. Prioritization is the need of the hour.

But I hope I will improve now on… – while I brought the laptop home to read my mails, after reading the article, I ended up writing this blog :)

Why?

Why is life so chaotic?? There is no method in the madness. Human beings make simpler things more complicated and in the process of resolving the complications, end up screwing everything. Perfection is never there. Life is ad-hoc.........

But why am I sounding so negative?? Why can't I see the positives?? Why are simpler things looking complicated to me??

???????

Sad day

Today is 62nd anniversary of Hiroshima atomic bombings, that killed lacs and indirectly affected many more. My prayers are with thousands of affected innocent civilians, who are still suffering as a result.

I have no guts to even see the pictures of the devastation. That this sort of an attack is carried out in a so-called developed world is unimaginable. We are developing technologically, but our mindset is just growing backwards. We behave as of we have nothing called sixth sense. We are just like any other animal - no, certainly much worser.

Even after seeing the extent of devastation, another bomb was dropped at Nagasaki. And the cruelty just did not end there, it is still continuing in one form or the other in other parts of the world, without an iota of remorse.

Where are we heading??

Lessons

I saw him today, after a long time. I first saw him may be more than a decade back. I was in 10th standard then and a regular traveler in suburban trains.

He used to sell pop corns. He is handicapped, no right hand. With the handicap, he used to run around the platform and compartments, trying to sell his pop corn, which he sold for 50 paise apiece.

Now he sells water packets, costing 1 rupee each. He hasn’t changed. The same level of enthusiasm, running around… Of the 15 minutes I was observing him, he was hardly idle for a second.

Despite being a handicapped, he chooses to earn his living like any other person, there was no sign of weariness on his face, no losing of patience when no one in the bus-stand bought what he sold. He kept on trying, hoping he will finish his quota and make his ends meet.

A thing or two to learn.

Good One

"How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live"

- Henry David Thoreau

(Courtesy: Deccan Chronicle)

Next week, by this time we will have a new President. It is more or less sure now that its gonna be 'Rashtrapatni'.

Now on, according to our politicians, all problems facing the women will be solved at one go. They will be at par with men in all the areas. Thousands of women destitutes who suffer everyday will now be let free by their tormentors because the country has a women president.

I dont intend to demean Ms.Patil or women hood here. One would have really appreciated if a woman was nominated in the initial stages after consensus. It is not as if the 'Super woman' or her protégés in the Government did not know of the existence of a woman called Pratibha Patil. In fact, it is a slur on Ms.Patil’s face that she was brought in at the last stage as a face saving for the ruling elite. It is definitely not out of respect for women that any of these ‘Saviors of Women’ have brought her in. Just opportunism.

The other matter is that for the first time, we are going to have a President against whom so many allegations are raised and who is not able to satisfactorily justify her point of view. And from next week, she will be under Presidential immunity. Is there no other non-controversial woman, if only the motive of our rulers is to bring in equality of sexes??

I feel a Karan Singh or a Gopalakrishna Gandhi would have made a good President, if the ruling combine did not want to go with the current Vice-president.

Whatever it is, the ‘Super woman’ is gonna have a nice time in the case of a hung Parliament in 2009. Long live democracy!! Jai Womanhood!!

"Wonder'ful

I was chatting with one of my colleagues about the recently announced seven wonders. I hadn’t applied my mind into the topic till then. But the points he mentioned were quite logical.

Taj Mahal was built a few centuries back. I haven’t seen it, so cannot comment on its eligibility for being considered for this poll. But don’t we have any other wonder better than Taj Mahal? We have built temples thousands of years back on hill tops when there were not even proper approach roads. Many heavy structures were built with single rocks with unbeatable architectural excellence. They contained beautiful paintings, awesome sculptures and impeccable construction methodologies were used. Vaishnodevi, Amarnath Cave, Ajanta and Ellora Caves are few examples.

I am sure there are many more such structures (not only temples) which could have at least been shortlisted for these polls. At the end of the day, mobile phones and internet have made wonders. May be we had become too emotional with one structure that we did not go beyond it.

Weekend visit

Last weekend, I was on a mini pilgrimage to various temples in and around Kumbakonam, a temple town some 250 kms from Madras. It is an awesome place, to say the least. I have never seen a place which is surrounded by so many temples (and covers almost all Gods worshipped in Hinduism:)). The serenity of the place I am sure can be attributed to these temples.

But sadly, most of these temples are commercialized and many a time, leaves distaste in the minds of the pilgrims. Not to mention the high handedness of some people who think they are above others when it comes to having a closer darshan of the Lord (Sadly, I was part of one of such teams and I just couldn’t do anything about it – I have no right to criticize others :(). But the solace was the fact that in a few temples, the Archakas refused to accept money offered to them directly. Integrity still has some takers.

The visit also brought back old memories. It was in this area that I began my career. I was employed with the Indian Railways and spent around 15 months there. How can one forget his first job?? Especially, the times when he bunked work and escaped to the nearby agricultural fields to play with the kids there and have an awesome bath in the pump-set waters. The places remain unchanged, except the demographics. (I am not elaborating further on this. Secular brigade might get angry).

Along my way, one thing I observed was the real estate boom, even in semi-urban areas near Kumbakonam. Lots of construction activities and land mapping activities. But the sad part of the story is that it looks as if many fertile agricultural lands are being converted for real estate construction. It was apparent in many places. Even areas near lakes weren’t left out. I was told by my brother-in-law that this is the case in most of the places. What a sad state of affairs? Who is controlling all these constructions?? Aren’t we having a long term plan to preserve such agricultural lands? What will our future generations do for survival??

Music

Music is indeed the savior many times. One of the major contributions of my college life is inculcating in me the habit of listening to music. It also brings in some unforgettable college memories. I don’t restrict myself to Tamil songs; I now have a good collection of English and Hindi songs, which help me in warding off my boredom in the evenings when I am back home early. Its not just a medium of time pass, it gives you such a soothing effect that you tend to forget all the work or personal life pressures that you have. I somehow am not attracted towards Carnatic music. I only wish I get interested in it, for it is supposed to have much more effect in bringing in calmness to one’s mind.

Friends

It was an extremely drowsy day at office yesterday. May be it was a Monday, and I was still down with the Sunday syndrome. Whatever be the reason, I was finding it difficult to concentrate on my work.

Then came the evening. Spoke to a couple of my ex-classmates currently employed in IT companies in Pune and Bangalore. Caught hold of a lot of friends when I was online for over 2 hrs subsequently. Spoke to some more friends after dinner.

After all these interactions, my mood was completely changed. I was on cloud nine and drowsiness completely drifted away. ‘To the soul, there is hardly anything more healing than friendship’. What an apt saying….