Rambles of a Strange Mind

Us and Them: On World Market & India Story

2008-10-01T12:38:00.004+05:30

“So interwoven are all economies of the world that the sub-prime crisis in USA has affected not only the American economy but that of the world as a whole.”

What is this sub-prime crisis in USA? How is Indian economy tied up with that of the world? How will India be affected by this crisis? Will it have any impact what-so-ever on an average middle class household in India? Will ICICI Bank collapse!? Should I invest and buy more stocks now that the market is trading at such low levels? Should I wait and watch before buying gold? What will happen to the home loan EMI I am paying? Should I wait for a few months before buying any new land or house, so that real estate prices cool off? Will the diesel/petrol prices be revised further? Will LPG become dearer? Why is dollar increasing against rupee again?

Is there any connection between all these questions - apart from being the “Breaking News” on NDTV at different points of time?! Probably, a common thread called economics.

Ok. First things first – what is this sub-prime thing? Over the past few years, with affluence all around, the demand for homes in USA was very high. Everyone wanted a home, at any cost whatsoever. People needed home loans – banks provided those home loans, even when everyone knew that real estate was overpriced, even when the fact remained that most of the people could not afford to buy homes at such high prices. Banks did not check the credit worthiness correctly. There were mortgages and double mortgages taken against these homes so that people could buy another home! All these home loans and mortgages were then securitized by these banks.

But, what is this securitization? These home loans were pooled together, their worth combined and then divided into different classes or tranches based on the risk and payment analysis done by the banks. These classes or tranches were then sold as bonds in the market. Investment banks bought them, commercial banks bought them, hedge funds bought them, brokerage firms bought them, and probably a lot of high net worth individuals bought them as well.

Then what went wrong? Well, such high home prices were really not sustainable. Real estate prices started to nosedive. Suddenly, the assets for which people had spent their lives’ savings were worth nothing. Suddenly, they had no ways and means of paying back the annuities of exorbitant home loans they had taken! Their mortgage payments dried up, because the value of asset against which mortgage payments were being made had fallen as well. Why would I continue to pay you 5000 bucks a month for something which was worth 2 lakhs a year back and is not even worth a lakh now? I would find ways and means of renegotiating to get away with paying only 2000 bucks a month now! So, suddenly, all those home loan payments dried up. Banks did not have any means of making the payments due on account of those special bonds they had sold (tranches and classes!). They took ownership of homes for which loans were taken. But those homes were worth nothing really! Thus, the payments to investment banks, brokerage firms etc. dried up. So devalued were these bonds that nobody hoped to make any money out of it. Firms starting recording their value at current prices on their balance sheets, and this fall in asset values were formally “written off” by major banks – Merrill, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, Lehman etc. A lot of them ultimately went bankrupt or were bought over.

Then how does this affect us, in India? Well, many lucrative jobs have dried up for sure! B-School placements are expected to suffer because many top notch recruiters do not exist anymore or have limited their operations so much that they really do not need any new people for the time being. What else? As trading/brokerage firms, many Indian companies also had bought some of these special bonds from the major US banks. Obviously, all those have been written off as losses. Many of our companies had trading obligations with these major banks. Now with these banks going bankrupt, there is a speculation that these trading obligations might not be honored and hence, top-line of major Indian financial firms might suffer. ICICI is one of these firms with some exposure to international markets. Hence, the volatility in its stock price in recent times.

Is that all? Not really. Here is where macroeconomics comes into picture. As discussed above, in the USA, banks do not have money to lend – they are short of funds. That is why the term – credit crunch. Every investor, whether an individual or an institutional one (banks, funds etc.), there is trying to get as many dollars as possible at the earliest and build a kind of “war-chest” for times to come. Hence, they are selling heavily whatever holdings they had in Indian markets. Due to this heavy selling, a downward pressure on the market is built. Why? Suppose everyone around you wants to sell the laptop they have and you are the only one willing to buy (more sellers, less buyers). Obviously, you will try and get the best bargain, i.e. minimum prices. Stock prices thus, fell (not to say this is the only reason, but one of the significant ones), and so did the Indian stock market.

Another issue – dollar being a major currency (acceptable worldwide for all kinds of transactions) - foreign investors are selling rupee heavily in the exchange market. As above, if everyone around you is selling rupee, the value of rupee is expected to fall and that of dollar is expected to rise- precisely the thing that is happening now. And how is RBI trying to support rupee and prevent its free fall? By trying and maximizing the amount of dollars it can lure foreign investors to invest in India – by measures like offering higher rates of interests to foreign nationals and NRIs if they invest in India etc.

With lower credit availability and lower spending by firms abroad, there is a speculation that the revenues of our export industry (primarily IT) might suffer. No new projects, no expansion plans etc. Obviously, those involved in financial services outsourcing would see a dip since many of their clients have gone bust, but what happens in general, remains to be seen.

So, what we see here is that Indian firms have lost money and clients. There are pressures to cut costs and boost bottom-lines. People have lost jobs. Imported goods cost more (increase in dollar value). Inflationary pressures, which existed in the Indian economy earlier (due to high money and credit supply), have resulted in higher costs all around. To cut this inflation (reduce money supply in the market), interest rates have been hiked. Thus, EMI rates have gone up. People prefer not to take loans; they prefer keeping money in bank deposits, earning the higher interest easily available. Foreign investors are pulling out money, as discussed above. It becomes difficult for domestic firms to raise capital and make further investments (no foreign investors and borrowing in local market is expensive due to high interest rates) in such a scenario. Without further investments, maintaining high growth rates is really not sustainable. Hence, the talk of downward revision in GDP growth estimates for India – from near 9% to around 7-8%.

What happens in future is really an issue of macroeconomic policy. India is an internal demand driven growth story. Yes, there are dependencies on world market as a whole, but our growth is not entirely due to a surge in exports or something. We have a huge consumer base, that is getting increasingly literate and well off. It remains to be seen how long such high interest rates continue – depends really on the time it takes for inflation to cool off, which in turn depends on oil (external) and food (internal). With a worldwide credit crunch, one can expect prices to cool off (lower demand, hence lower prices – demand/supply curve) in times to come. One can then expect interest rates to be lowered. One can then expect the Indian juggernaut to roll on further. How much time will all this take? Well, that remains to be seen and there is no point speculating!

People on Wall Street might be used to saying “Greed, for a lack of better word, is good”. However, experience shows that it is best to live within one’s means, strive to expand one’s means and once that is done expand one’s desires and that it is best to live by the motto “Deserve before you desire”

Rest, as they say, is one’s own choice.

Adding "Oil" to the Fire

2008-09-20T11:24:00.003+05:30

"We might forget about lighting fires for now - the oil production seems to have "peaked". The D-day is not far, when we would walk to offices and come back, use solar energy to power air-conditioners on clear days, and wind energy on the not-so-clear days!" That is what the speculators who were and are bullish on oil might want the whole world to believe!

I am no oil-industry expert. Neither am I a financial market specialist, who, like fortune-tellers, can accurately predict whats gonna happen next. However, what I do believe is that such wild fluctuation in oil prices is something uncalled for. How can a resource, which was priced $31 per barrel a few years back (2003), was worth $150 a few weeks back, and now costs $90 odd? Is that reasonable by any yardstick?

I still remember those last few days of my IIT life, when, Mayank Jha, Priyesh Neema and myself had created a "demand" for biofuels on paper, working on a business idea, simulating scenarios when oil price would cross $70 per barrel, making bio-fuels economically viable. Never did we realise that biofuels compete for land (another limited resource) with food grains and a host of infrastructure projects. Too much of a digression - but I do not think bio-fuels are economically viable right now. Maybe fuel cells or some other technology that uses some unlimited resource (like water) is what we really need.

Anyways, a recent discussion with one of my colleagues, Shreerang Godbole, has inspired this post -a discussion triggered by the recent collapse of Lehman Brothers, the free fall of oil prices and hence, the realization that economics does affect day-to-day life.

What do oil prices really depend on? Traditional economics says - demand and supply. High demand, low supply implies higher prices. Simple.

But where is the demand from? Who are the suppliers? I am afraid I haven't done any due diligence here, but oil demand is really not stagnant world wide and is definitely growing. In the recent years, it might have been triggered by economic boom in India, China and other developing countries. It might also have been boosted by the Olympic Games in China last month! Another fact to be considered here is that oil demand might be elastic, but one suddenly doesn't start using more oil or less oil overnight (as compared to say, expensive clothes). If the price does rise, it takes some time for consumption to come down as businesses change strategies, and households change their lifestyles. Elasticity is over a longer term not over a very short term.

And the supply? OPEC countries - majorly Arab countries, some African countries, Russia, Mexico, countries around North Sea etc. Supply too has been increasing over the years, with better methods of exploration and extraction. Iraq invasion might have reduced supply from that part of the world for now. However another issue is that most oil producing countries are not very open about their production capabilities and reserves left. They treat oil as a 'national treasure'.

But, then what about things like speculation and dollar weakening? Well, yeah, coming to them - every major financial hub trades derivative contracts on oil. For the better part of last few years, number of people going long on oil have been much more than those short on oil (i.e. people expecting oil prices to rise have been larger in number). This implies that prices of call derivative contracts on oil would increase (i.e. value of contract which says that the price of oil would be 1.2X three months from now if the present price is X, would also increase - since number of buyers of these contracts is larger!). And hence, derivative markets expected oil prices to rise.

Now, combine this with the nationalistic pride of oil supplying countries. Agreed that derivative contracts are just paper contracts and settle in cash than in actual oil barrels, but consider a situation where you were an oil merchant and the market world-wide says that oil price will rise, and the market world-wide doesn't know how much oil you hold. What would you do? Obviously, you would sell in as small quantities as possible at prices as high as possible. That might have been the case all this while!!

What about dollar weakening? Well, that is akin to changing the scale. Dollar is a globally accepted currency to settle contracts, close deals etc. However, with the US trade balance worsening (imports increasing more than exports), demand for currencies other than dollars increases (a US importer would pay an Indian exporter in rupees). Hence, people want lesser amount of US dollars for trade and more of other international currencies. And therefore, US dollar value goes down with respect to other currencies. This only means that if we had a hypothetical stable universal scale of measuring value, called aana then although the price of oil remained X annas, since dollar value went down from Y dollars per aana to 2Y dollars per aana, the value of oil in dollar terms went up from XY dollars per barrel to 2XY dollars per barrel.

Then why did oil prices crash with the fall of Wall Street giants? Well, bears have outnumbered bulls in the financial markets for sure. Oil prices had been high for a decent amount of time. That would have resulted in demand elasticity coming into picture. Net growth in demand would have come down. All this leading to reduction in prices.

Thus, to me, it appears that supply uncertainty, bullish-bearish outlook in financial markets and international trade - all have a role to play in this oil price fluctuation.

I don't know what is in store for future. The best bet for us, and for the planet, maybe, is for us to live within our means (avoid credit crunch situations like the one we face today), accelerate ways and means of exploring & extracting oil efficiently, start saving energy in our own small ways, and wish that scientists make fuel cell/fusion/solar energy/wind energy solutions more economical soon!

Times: Now and Then ...

2008-04-21T07:28:00.003+05:30

I miss you,
I miss your voice.
Into a shell you've gone,
By your own choice ..

Whether to coax you out
Or, respect your choice?
I do not know what to do,
But I do miss your voice ..

Those long hours before sleep,
They were fun.
I'm sure the wait will soon be over,
Those times again, will come :)

Rest assured,
I'll wait.
Looking for you, forever;
across the gate ..

All I hope is, in the end
It doesn't become too late.
'Coz life's a journey,
And not indefinitely do flights wait ..

Sometimes, I wish ...

2008-04-04T00:08:00.002+05:30

It's that time of the year,
Romance, is in the air!

Lightnings glow
Cool winds blow!
Little droplets of elixir all across;
Life's so refreshingly slow!

Yeah! It's the time of the year,
When I wish YOU were here.

It's the time of the year,
When I wish WE were here.

Talking endlessly, all the way.
Walking all along the bay.
You, me - Us,
Just the cool breeze between us!

Sometimes I wish
It remains forever.
The time of the year,
When we are together!

Sometimes I wish
It remains forever.
This time of the year,
This amazing weather!

Dreams (Really) Unlimited!

2008-03-02T20:43:00.004+05:30

It has really been a long while since I wrote. The thoughts have been itching to be put into writing all these months! Just that they did not get an opportunity to be expressed. Anways, I guess it has more to do with procrastination than with anything else!

All this while, this aura, this feeling of hope, this feeling of enthusiasm all around in my India (you just cannot ignore it), have left me wondering. Anywhere you go, you can find people, especially those of your and my age, thinking, dreaming, planning and aiming for the big things in life - really amazing! And the whole feeling is so infectious. Just takes five minutes of interaction and the brain goes ga-ga over so many ideas. It seems that innumerable opportunities exist for each one of us to book our places in the pages of history. And finally, it seems that we - "the young turks" - will realise the destiny of India, that of being a self-actualized nation (more on this in a later post!).

I just hope all this continues. I guess the key to all this is dreams. We all dream about lifestyles, about power, about wealth, about being self-sufficient, about responsibility, about splendour, about greatness, perhaps! And it is these dreams that guide us, that make us act. And its these small acts that will eventually take us where we all belong to. I just wish that we all keep dreaming. For, as Abdul Kalam has said, it is only when we dream, that we generate thoughts. And only when we generate thoughts that we act. And it is these actions, each small bit of them, that will take us to our rightful place.

And I am sure no philosophy, no culture, no religion at its core does limit us from dreaming big. Lifestyle choice by no means is in any conflict with any kind of spirituality. Our religions only guide us to have faith, to be good to mankind and nature in general. They only ask us to remember that we are not supreme, that something somewhere is more powerful - something that is responsible for our creation. Okk! So I believe there is a supreme power, I have faith, I am good to other fellow beings - but all this while I might as well spot opportunities, capitalize on them and earn millions and billions (the right way, truthfully) and thus, live lavishly and comfortably. It only is a matter of my choice and liking, isn't it? No conflict, no issues :)

Mahatma Gandhi (truly a great person) had himself said - If you think you can, you will. But if you think you can't, you wont. The strange thing is that a man acquires the ability to do a thing the moment he believes he can do it, even if he did not possess the ablity to do it before!

So keep dreaming, keep believing, keep doing. Be hungry, be happy :D

Remembrance!

2007-10-02T02:09:00.000+05:30

It was great.
The time we had together.
I hate, to remember
The time we had together.

Can I bring it back,
I ponder.
So wonderful it was to wait for you,
I remember.

What was my mistake,
I don't know.
Guess it was made up in heavens.
To not be with you.

Those aimless ramblings,
short walks, long coffees.
I wish I could live again
those great chats
Over cakes and toffees!

Hope when I'm gone
you are never dreary and alone.
For your memories shall be with me
forever, in Paris or in Rome!

Career Gyan!

2007-07-10T19:43:00.000+05:30

This one's for the young ambitious turks just getting out of college. So many different job profiles out there, which one's what? Presenting a brief synopsis of the "hot" profiles in the market:

Consultant: A friend goes to him asking for a lollypop. He goes to the nearest mom & pop store, buys a lollypop, giftwraps it, gives it to his friend and charges for lollypop, freight charges and gift wrapping costs.

Financial Analyst: A friend asks him how to make money. He tells his friend to give one room in his house to him. Then, he rents out that room, pockets the 70% of rent, gives a miniscule share to his friend and charges him for the financial services rendered.

Logistics/Supply Chain: Tries to figure out how many trucks are there, where they are, what they are carrying & whether they have sufficient permits or not.

IT professional: A friend asks him to develop an application for a logic. The friend tells the logic. He goes to http://www.google.com, keys in the requirement & types what he gets. In case any problems arise, it is called a 'software bug'.

Project Manager: His friend asks him to construct a building. He calls up a contractor, arranges a meeting of his friend with the contractor & disagrees to work both with the design that his friend wants & the rates that the contractor asks for. Ultimately, the construction gets delayed, design is faulty and costs much higher than what the contractor wanted!

Enough blabbering about profiles now. I still wonder abt one thing: Bangalore is so cool (climate, I mean) & Saharanpur so hot. Then why do people in Bangalore have so much melanin & those in Saharanpur seem to lack it!?? Much has been said about generations of evolution, yet ...

Food for thought

2007-06-23T00:38:00.000+05:30

Either heard it in one of the movies or someone said this in one of those strange dreams:

There aint anything right or wrong.
There are things that you do, and things that you don't

Value Chain: Where do you stand?

2007-02-15T22:29:00.000+05:30

This one isn't for business geeks only. Come to think of it - it is your position in the value chain that matters and nothing else. That value chain might concern business, wherein the margins are the highest at the highest kind of services - finance, and lowest at the meanest kind of manufacturing - agriculture. It might concern your position in an organization, wherein the CEO shall only deal with matters of high value, prestige and not concern himself with the day to day activities and earning handsomely both socially as well as financially. On the other hand, the worker who involves himself deeply in the day to day problems barely earns minimum wages.

Similarly, in the social circle it is your position in the value chain that matters ultimately. The higher up you are, the more power you have, the more insulated you are from the day to day problems/issues of others, and the more respect you govern. Consider the head of a large family. He/She shall make major decisions regarding running of the house. However, petty matters like, maybe, housemaid turning up 10 minutes late etc. on a particular day shall not be of much importance for this person. But, precisely this is what shall always be a matter of concern for someone who has to coordinate with that housemaid and get the food prepared on time for everyone.

But then this does not mean one adopts a fast track approach and direcly aim to become a CEO or a family head on day one. For that, is highly improbably in the first case considering the number of competitors one shall have. Secondly, if one moves up without really understanding the issues that trouble one's juniors to such extent that one can solve them, one can land up into serious trouble. Under such circumstances, one would either quit, or would resort to barking like dog on one's juniors so that they never highlight their problems, do as they are instructed, never strive to improve, and the system ultimately stagnates. Hence, the importance of making one's way up the ladder. This is for all thos high flying youngsters who believe in being hired as CEOs on the first day of campus placements.

Now comes the issue of one's ability. It is one's ability to grasp things and one's attitude to deal with people and issues that largely determines his starting level in the value chain. If one is extremely sharp and has great people skills, he might as well enter the chain at a very high level, and yet be able to understand the issues and his people in a very short interval of time. Hence, gauging one's ability is primary to one's ambitions. Else, dreams shall continue to remain dreams and reality shall never strike you.

With all this comes a striking analogy of a startup. All startups are highly ambitious, and project great ROIs with almost no competition expected. However, one must not forget that even a startup has to go through this value chain grind. One cannot just expect to start a great services company without really understanding the manufacturing and the technology that goes behind those services. One just cannot start a real estate mutual fund without understanding the phenomenon governing land prices, and the issues in land acquisition and ownership in the area of interest. Similarly, a startup company in its initial phases just cannot hope to function like a seamless world class company. In order to be effective, it has to reach the masses first, go through the grind, prove its mettle. Only then can it hope to deal with all issues at its own pace.

All this goes to say that as one rises up the value chain, there shall always be a tendency to relax, to take it easy. A lot of big corporations seem to do that. Their quality of service is pathetic. However, because of the expanse of their infrastructure, they survive. Dunno, whether this is possible in the long run or not. But not many organizations which have slumped into this mode have survived very long.
Anyways, this seems to be like digressing too much from the topic.

Just goes to say that the mantra to one's success is realizing one's position in the value chain, understanding one's abilities and then working on either to plug any gaps that might exist!

Storms of Destiny?

2007-02-05T22:31:00.000+05:30

Once upon a time there was a boy. He used to work very hard at school. He was punctual, always neatly dressed, did his homework well on time, was obedient, and used to stand first in the class. He was the apple of every teacher's eyes. He never stayed back late in the school, used to start doing his homework as soon as he returned from the school, and then used to go to play for one or two hours in the evening. He kept everyone happy. His parents were more than satisfied and proclaimed him as a God's gift. His relatives never had anything to complain about him. He used to share his tiffin, play in the recess and in the evening, and helped his classmates with their studies by explaining them anything they could not understand or lending them his notebooks. His classmates also were happy with him, and never bullied him. They even let him play with them although he was never a great shot at any game. It was a perfect symbiotic world!

The same continued through his pre-college and college life as well, the only add on being a bigger circle (or rather, more concentric circles of relationships around the same center i.e the boy!) , and hence, greater complexities in the symbiotic relationships. The degree of such relationships began to differ and formed small clusters of similar intensity symbiosis. But, everything was peaceful, nice and calm.

However, as the maxim goes - "The good thing about bad things is that they come to an end. But, the bad thing about good things is that they too come to an end."

One day this silence before the storm had to end. Silence had prevailed for too long - more than two decades! It had to end. The storm had to come. And it came. Everything became haywire. Chaos. Confusion. All symbiotic cords seemed to have been cut. All connections disabled. Relationships forgotten in the haze, or covered in dust. Everyone around seemed to be sure of what they did. He, for the first time in his life, was not. He tried to work hard to understand what to do. But, the efforts did not yield much. He, as always, was punctual and obedient. However, different authorities gave clashing orders. He wasn't sure whom to follow. They said, "Form your own point of view." He said, "Ok". He did what he thought was right. Half the people believed in him. The other half became unhappy with him for not endorsing their stance. He started coming back late to his home. He lost connection, not only with his friends, but with his parents and relatives as well. His parents, for the first time, were not happy. Why? 'Coz they thought he didn't remember them too often! His relatives too, had a similar complaint - "Ki gal? Saanu bhul gaye?" And his friends? Well, they never said the same out in open, but he suspects, their case was not too different. Only, they chose to remain quiet on the issue.

And today, that boy, standing on a crossroad, confused, searches for a way forward. He works hard at learning this harsh lesson of life, and is trying to make amends and find a clear path now that the storm seems to be subsiding. Or is it that his eyes have got used to the stormy air, and hence can see things far more clearly than ever before. In any case, he shall try and reforge the lost connections, search for any loose strings and pull them until they are taut enough to bear the burden of close friendships once more. And then, the journey shall resume on full speed again!

But one series of sawaals tinkle his restless mind - Are these the storms of destiny? Are they some tests God puts us through to test our mettle? Is life like a series of laps, with each lap having one such test? And people falling off or giving up at different laps in the life's marathon?
Yes or No?

Journey!

2006-11-09T10:37:00.000+05:30

Its been a long journey,
Yet, there's a longer way to go.
A mile down
But another ton to go

The mind's young,
And body, not too old.
May they'll be fit enough
To tread the unknown road!

What lies there,
What lies beyond?
Who knows! A house ofgold?
A mud-filled hole!

Yet I run,
Yet I row
To cross the river
To reach the brow.

Its all wrong,
I might be told
But, I'm the captain of my fate
I'm the master of my soul

A treacherous run ahead
And a long way to go.
A treacherous run ahead
And a long way to go.

Purpose: Revisited

2006-10-15T00:59:00.000+05:30

Women talk about men's eternal search for a purpose in their lives. And their inability to mask it under the garb of something material. Well, men will be men. And they shall always continue to search. Else what does life mean? If there were no sense of purpose, each one of us would be lying around idly, relishing great ripe fresh fruits, or maybe some raw meat in a cave, shivering with fear of naughty flesh eating natural brothers of ours, and the cold fury of God.

Maybe, that is too much of an exaggeration. But, come on! How can one work for something if one doesn't even know what one is working for? Can one think of taking up a project without even knowing what it is all about, what its implications are, and what all inputs does it require? I guess, No. Then, life is much bigger and much greater than a project to be squandered that easily. Of course, this doesn't mean that one keeps on wondering about one's purpose in life and spends the whole lifetime wondering! One has to accept the fact that complete knowledge is a utopia which one can only dream about but never reach. Hence, do what you want to do. Please note, "what you want to", not "what is available" or "what you get".

People jump at the first opportunity where they see "more money" or "more international travel" or a more of gamut of factors. One sane person might have actualy realised that "money" is THE thing for him in life. But that doesn't mean the same yardstick applies to everyone else. His objective in life might be to become filthily rich. I'm not sure everyone carries the same ambition? Atleast I don't think I do, anymore! Too many people are stressed out in their jobs. Too many people keep trying frantically to switch jobs. Too many people just give up and lead the rest of their lives like zombies with all passion evaporating into thin air. The fact is "too many". And the question is, Why?

Isn't it because of the same reason. The whole world seems to have reduced to an array of mud-holes, with some cheese kept somewhere in one of the holes. And all of us are rats, indulging in a rat-race to get that piece of cheese. Each one of us seems to doing what the majority of our nearby people seem to be doing. But have we ever questioned why we are doing a particular thing? Do we have enough self-belief? Do we have enough conviction in ourselves?

Ultimately, whatever one does it is for his/her own happiness. This is based on the premise of selfishness which I guess is a grey idea everyone follows but chooses to deny! And is it that difficult a task to understand what gives happiness to oneself? If no, then why don't people seem to be doing it? Or is it that they choose the great path of "sacrificing their happiness" and follow a bhedchaal because they never had the conviction and self-belief to standby the ultimate truth of their lives?

As always, it is for each one of us to answer. I ain't no saint to provide answers!

There, Here, Somewhere!

2006-09-09T11:00:00.000+05:30

How quickly life changes! Here is a boy in Bangalore today, far away from his home, far away from any people he might have befriended over the past 20 years, not knowing where he shall be in another 20 days and yet, here he is, enjoying every moment of it. Credit to all his fellow colleagues, no lonely feeling has crept in yet! Flashback: April, 1987 – He distinctly remembers that horrible day his mom came to leave him alone with a crowd of similar-aged tiny tots and a sweet, nice looking young lady. How much he cried! Vividly he can recall that scene, when his mom promised that heart-broken soul an ice-cream, and promised to wait outside, and how that innocent soul believed all that, and promised to be a “good boy”!

How easily do human beings learn to identify with other fellow beings! How many times has it happened, when one befriends someone, only to learn that a school-change, or an entrance cut-off, or parents’ transfer, or placements have separated them both forever. Yet, new friends come one’s way, and “the show goes on”! Blossoms was the first school of this “good boy”. Although he used to dread going to school, especially after those long summer vacations, but once there, games like pakadan-pakadai, wish-amrit, chupan-chupai used to occupy his mind, and he used to forget all the bad dreams about school. He did make a few good friends – but only remembers and knows a couple today! He considers himself to be lucky to know them still. Anyways, as is the case in almost every child’s life, parents played villains, and decided to move him to a better school. He felt odd for a few days, but then got engrossed with clearing the “entrance exam” for that school, and forgot all about his friends and old school. A month down the line – and there he was, in a completely new environment, devoid of all old friends, classrooms, teachers and rickshaw-mates. Yet, it took only a few days before he started enjoying a new game with a brand new set of friends – playing cricket with aluminum foil made ball, and Tiffin box bat. And then began those wailings at home to pack lunch in aluminum foil!

Life seems to be a train-journey. We get a seat, befriend strangers in our compartment. Talk about things, until it is time for one of them to get down. Sometimes, some of them exchange seats. Sometimes, we have to exchange our seat and go to another compartment, meet new people (read: school change), and the whole cycle begins afresh! Sometimes, a few of them do not get seats, compartment gets overcrowded (read: new classmates), yet we adjust and befriend them and talk about stuff. Some become such good friends, that they continue to be in touch even after their journey assumes a path different from ours and they catch a different train (read: friends from old school). What is it that gives us this versatility, this adeptness to change so quickly? Then arises another question: Sometimes we take that extra step, to remain in touch with old classmates, friends - that extra mile to keep bonds with old friends intact. Why? Why not leave it to fate – if destiny has it, the different paths could meet someday, if not they might not meet ever?

Don’t curse me! I can’t live without raising questions and when have I given an answer to my own question! :P

On Hate, Violence & Aggression

2006-08-22T12:07:00.000+05:30

India has turned 59. Yet, the burning issue in 1947 continues to divide our people. So deep rooted are communalism and religion based hatred even half a century of democracy has not been able to palliate it. In fact, the years in between have been a witness to innumerable communal riots. Deep mistrust seems to have seeped into out psychologies. And politicians haven’t helped the cause at all. Vote bank politics seems to have, in fact, aggravated the animosity and differences.

The famous Mohammed Iqbal song goes like

"Saare Jahaan se achha Hindustan hamara ..
Mazhab nahi sikhaata aapas mein bair rakhna,
Hindi hain hum, vatan hai Hindustan hamara"

How many of us actually think in terms of country and not religion? How many Hindus do not have an inherent mistrust for the Muslims? How many Muslims do not inherently doubt the Hindus? Why such an attitude? Why have we allowed ourselves to be divided along religious lines? Is religion our only identity? Hard core Hindus tend to be critical of the rigid religious practices of Muslims. They pride themselves with the fact that Hinduism is flexible and open, and doesn’t require them to be so hard and fast with practices. What a farce! As soon as they are intolerant of other religions/communities, they stop being true Hindus! And, I’m sure even Islam doesn’t promote hatred between religions.

Now is the time for India to realize its destiny. The prerogative is on us to make the best out of this opportunity. Infighting, inherent suspicion, terror will not take us anywhere, as a country, and as individuals. Ok, people contend that Pakistan is the root cause of all our troubles! And that is reason enough to take tough military action and destroy terror camps in that country, thus, emulating Israel.

Well, my question to all the proponents of such a theory – Have we been able to sort out all problems in our own backyard that we attack another country? Are our goals & ambitions same as that of Israel? Israel is not a defender but an aggressor. History is witness to the way it arm-twisted Egypt and other Arab countries by illegally occupying Sinai Peninsula, Golan Heights, West Bank etc. And now trying to do the same in Lebanon on the pretext of destroying Hizbollah. Israel is a part of a bigger game for controlling energy at the world level. We’re clearly not on the same frequency as Israel in this regard, to the best of my knowledge!

Further, by constantly targeting a particular community for all acts of terror, we have not only succeeded in alienating that community but also have divided the whole nation along communal lines. When we do that, don’t we fall right into the trap that had been laid for us so beautifully by the people planning such acts! Is it so difficult to understand that sending Muslims specifically for the proxy war(s) is a part of a well thought out strategy! Why do we then add oil to an already raging fire, and burn the entire country?! People will now point out that globally Muslims have been found guilty of such acts. Well, do we ever try to find out the reason behind the same? Don’t we understand that it has been the Islamic community worldwide that has borne the brunt of imperialism?

Why, in India, do we develop a sense of dislike for Muslim traditions and culture, right from our childhood? Why is it that our education system is silently training us to develop distaste for that community? Who designed the whole education system? Wasn’t it the British? Lord Macaulay, didn’t someone mention? Who did they overthrow to take over India? Mughals? Who were Mughals? Muslims? Which was the most likely community to try and overtly fight the British rule? The ruling families – the Muslims? Why is it that Muslims did not receive modern education? Imperialistic dominance. World over, what was the case? Who lost because of the western imperialism? Weren’t most of the rulers Islamic? Wasn’t it the Islamic rule throughout that was challenged and eventually overwhelmed?

Why is it that we are so intolerant of others’ views and perspectives? Even at a personal level, we try and push our point of view. We try and impose our perspective on others. Why such aggression? What is it that we want to achieve by dominating others?

At this point of time, I really appreciate the way Mahatma Gandhi led our freedom struggle. Violence is not a tool for winning freedom! Freedom is not independence from foreign rule only. It has a wider meaning – we are free, when we become capable of managing ourselves as individuals, and as a nation. After 59 years of gaining independence from foreign rule, I seriously doubt whether we’ve really achieved freedom! Do we know how to manage ourselves? Are we capable enough to be tolerant of others’ views, understand them, and live in harmony?

Isn't it high time already for us to learn the virtue of tolerance?!

Seriously, Why?

2006-07-27T15:04:00.000+05:30

Long time since a post. Probably was taking my work too seriously! However, the ramblings did not stop. Had an interesting conversation, which couldn't go on for long though, on the "Survival of the Fittest". What is fitness? Physical? Mental? Ability to adapt? The last one seems to be one of the better answers. "The ability to adapt". How does that come about? I agree about the extinction of some races being attributed to their failure to come to terms with the changes in their environment. Innumerable tribals, religious communities would fall into this category. But is this exhaustive? Who decided the terms which changed their environment? Why were they able to do it? Is it always that one community or group dominates the other and sets the terms. If the other group fails to comply, it is lost forever. If it does comply, it takes a long time to gain power and ultimately tilt the balance of power into its own favor. Does it always have to be a conflict? A constant war-like situation?

Mumbai blasts, killings in West Asia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Phillipines, .. the list is endless. All this at a macro level. Corporates fighting with each other for sales. Who loses? The planet. Its resources get depleted! Fights over petty issues in colleges, streets. Why? Just to dominate? Because the "fittest" survives?! Adam Smith believed in the power of the invisible hand. He said that a free market, if left to itself, will always find the optimum. But, optimum for whom? For the customer and the supplier. What about the planet? Nobody cares! It is probably (for, I am not sure) with this philosophy that someone said that "Government regulation is essential". Yet, the government itself is a biased collection of people, representing some specific interests. WTO talks failed coz the Bush administration is being funded by the American Sugar Lobby. Peace doesn't prevail in West Asia coz of the Oil Lobby and the Jewish Lobby.

The free market is clearly not the best thing for the world, though it is the best in short term, for every resident of this world. But isn't our regulation another extension of the free market?! Food for thought!

I know I have digressed a lot here, but what can I do? I haven't been able to control my thoughts yet! But why do I take my thoughts so seriously? Why do I take myself so seriously? Why do I take everything around me so seriously? What is my purpose? What is the objective of my life? What is the objective of anyone's life, for that matter? I have no answers, and I'm still looking for a way to find it. But then, why should I care to find these answers!?

Whose world is it anyway?

2006-07-12T08:35:00.000+05:30

Isn't it a wonder so many people support vehemently the causes, and express strong opinions for issues not their own. The so-called issues do not, atleast on surface, affect their lives in any way. I mean, c'mon, how does Narmada issue affect Aamir Khan or Arundhati Roy or Medha Patkar? Or for that matter, how does the plight of poor in this country affect any of the so-called snobs of middle class? If we belong to a set of people, shouldn't we fight for our own cause than of others? And even if we do fight for their cause, do they accept us as one of their own? I seriously doubt this!

Historically, it has been a few "learned" people from middle/upper classes, who have extended support to the lower strata of society and tried to uplift them. But my point is, isn't this similar to the so-much despised "spoon feeding" in schools and colleges? Isn't this something opposite to what Darwinian Theory of Evolution suggests? I know I could come out as being very strong-opinionated and anti-social in a way. However, I fail to see the gain from indulging in such activities. Mahatma Gandhi had also supported the ideal of service. But, unless the subjects whose cause one supports, are not themselves aware of the implications of issues, what help can one extend? It is because of such unwarranted helps that politics threatens to strangle our society today. Politicians make election issues out of such causes, win elections, and then sit back in their air-conditioned offices and cars and helicopters, and forget about the real issues. Does that help anyone? Yeah, the politicians and babus do garner a handsome return in those five years!

And yeah, it also helps alienate certain sections of society from the others. Creates permanent vote banks. Roots of all evil that threaten to kill this nation slowly. Reservations, Ram Mandir, Narmada Issue, Kaveri Issue, Bangla immigrants, LTTE, Brahmans, Thakurs - you name it, root cause is the same. Unless people themselves do not realise the root issues affecting them, and fight for justice on their own, no good can come out of it. Let them earn and let them earn the right to earn. Satisfaction from an earned success over a success thrown upon you is something that each one of us must have experienced. Why then, depend on others? Why then, make others dependent on you?

Maybe I am too naive to realise the importance of service. Maybe I am not mature enough. Maybe not thoughtful enough to empathise with the problems of others. Maybe I am yet another selfish person to desecrate this holy planet! Maybe!

The God of all Places

2006-07-07T18:30:00.000+05:30

A long time since my last post. Much water has flown down the Ganges ever since. But, the nation (atleast AIIMS) still rages under quota fire. Director, AIIMS suspended. Courts reprimanding Govt. Parties threatening to differ. Strikes galore. All this happens as I watch the holy water of Ganges flow by into the vast expanse of Bangal ki Khaadi here in God's own state of Bihar.

Much has been said about Bihar. General perceptions of gundagardi are not too far removed from truth. But, this place is nice! I haven't ever seen such pure water in a river ever in my life (coming from the state of rivers - Punjab, that is some irony!). I haven't seen natural beauty so untouched and unexplored by the mankind (maybe Kashmir, but of that I am not sure). The white sand beach created by the Ganges, surpassed every beach in Mumbai and Goa that I have seen.

Life's never been so good. Spending the day in factory, embroiling oneself with huge machines producing the God-forsaken product, followed by a lawn tennis routine, a badminton set, a stint in Gym, a glass of Nimbu Paani, with some Snooker, and then dinner and slumber. All this punctuated by weekends, with soccer tournaments, visits to places of pristine beauty, some activities of social work and of course, general timepass! And of course, doing the work one gets the salary for - project reports, and all that value-added jazz to eliminate muda.

And yeah, the gupp sessions, a few of which led to CBJ's rechristening as the Mango-Boy and Butter-Man, singing the Nanha Munna Rahi song in an extremely special fashion. How can I forget the ice-cream cake with honey topping, for our special Renu, on his birthday. And all this, in this God's own state of Bihar. Oh yes, by the way, this place is making a lot of news these days, on account of fake currency and illegal arms bazaar. But that is just some background noise, begging to be ignored!

So, life continues! As Govt reels under the quota pains, we await the rains.

Quota Issue: Some views

2006-05-19T12:09:00.000+05:30

Some food for thought:

1. Would a sane ruler implement reservations or any such policy, knowing that it is not the best way to ensure equal opportunity?

2. What credentials does the Govt have to prove that increasing reservations will benefit the right people? Has Primary Education (which is free and compulsory for all), reached everyone? Has the Govt taken sufficient steps in that direction to justify this action?

3. Why is it that it is only India where there have to be strict "laws" for everything? Are there strict laws for environment-friendly processes in industry? No. Yet, you see companies trying to incorporate the same in their processes today! Why cannot the Govt. associate a similar kind of "incentive" with educating backward classes, if it is so SINCERE in its efforts to improve their situation!

Does anyone have ANY answer to all these queries? Does Govt. have any answer? Does our honorable economist PM have any answer?

My motherland burns: Again

2006-05-14T14:48:00.000+05:30

The Mandal Ghost is back. After burning the entire country nearly more than a decade back, the politicians are back to playing their dirty game with the lives of lakhs of innocent youth, and the students are again up against the disciminatory policies of the government.

A lot has been said by both sides for and against the reservations. But a few poiints worth noting:

1. Social Equality is required for the country to develop fully.
2. Reservations is NO means of alleviating social discrimination or economic poverty or lack of education among certain sections of the society.
3. Reservations, on the other hand, enhance social discrimination.
4. Reservations, on the other hand, also ensure that the much-known trickle down effect of economic growth, is limited to the top few strata of the society.

A few points that the government must consider before going ahead with the move:

1. Is India essentially a backward society, and a proud one at that too! I mean, should I be proud to say that "Yeah, man, I'm an Indian. 70% of us are OBCs."
2. Is the government serious in its efforts to retain the best talent in the country? I mean, if moves like these continue, why would a sane individual ever work in this country, where even his job or next promotion or his kid's education is not ensured, and marred by 50% reservation in each insitute. Why should I stay in this country?
3. Government talks about IIT education being subsidised. C'mon man, more than us, it is the education of SC/ST students that is subsidised. They do not pay any tuition fees. Even their mess food bills are paid by General Category students. And I'm sure (though generalizing), that their parents do not even pay the complete Income Tax. Who the hell then pays for them? And now, we must help them by sacrificing our seats even! WHAT A FORM OF JUSTICE! Good. I guess most sane youths of this nation will get better justice far away from their motherland!

The government, the propogants of reservations and the old polticians of this nation have to realise that reservations is an idea which is much past its prime. It is like a bad apple which is spoiling the whole bunch. They must realise that as responsible youth, we are for social equality, and they must also realise that we, as educated youth, also know that reservations will never ever lead to social equality.

I really hope that the fire that has been ignited by a misplaced conception of the rulers, does lead to a mass youth movement, and is followed by an active youth participation in the nation's politics. Only then can this nation hope for a bright future. What can otherwise happen to a country that does not even realise the needs of its citizens!

IITB Students' Stance on Reservations

2006-05-02T00:08:00.000+05:30

In the wake of the 104th amendment to the constitution of India, it is now possible for the Central and State governments to enforce up to 49.5% reservation in public and private colleges across the country. On April 28th, 2006 the Congress-led emocratic Front government in Maharashtra has quietly approved a draft ordinance that will bring in a staggering 50% reservation in private professional institutions. It is only a matter of time before similar quotas are ENFORCED in colleges across the country and the corporate sector.

Students from colleges across the country have decided to hold a nation-wide protest against the 104th amendment on May 2nd, 2006. As members of the student community of IIT Bombay, we express our solidarity with this cause and shall join the protest march at Azad Maidan, Mumbai. Over 2000 students have already signed a written petition against this increase in reservation. We would like to clarify however, that this stance is not subscribed to by IIT Bombay in an official capacity. The Government of India is pursuing a policy of blatant appeasement that needs to be checked. The aspirations of hundreds of thousands of students are being quashed in the interest of votes. The IITs have an acceptance rate of 1%, among the lowest in the world. Similar statistics hold for most seats of higher education in the country. Meritocracy has propelled the nation forward, and keeping a non-merit based reservation, especially as high as 49.5%, goes against this principle. The IITs have an intake of around 5000 students. Increasing reservations by 27% would cause 1350 deserving students from the general category to lose out on IIT education. Similar effects would filter down to all colleges in India. This would leave deserving students no option but to either seek undergraduate education abroad or in the absence of adequate monetary resources settle for a lot less than they deserve. We are in strong opposition to any such move.

Reservation exists at every level of education in India. The government has neglected the implementation of existing policies to promote social equality. Primary education is neglected. Facilities for education at the school level are both insufficient and poor. It is only through a strengthening of the grass root educational infrastructure that the needy sections of society can adequately avail of higher education and benefit. Rather than pursue these existing initiatives, the Government of India has chosen to take the easier option of changing policy.

Such policies will benefit only the ‘creamy layers’ of the reserved categories and will not reach the intended beneficiaries. It is a well known fact that affluent families have exploited reservation generation after generation. It is these families that have no need for reservation that will continue to benefit from the 104th amendment. The Government of India is lulling the poor into a false sense of security and subjecting able and deserving candidates from ALL classes and castes to undue competition, frustration and stress. 49.5% reservation will NOT benefit the needy. We assert that the 104th amendment is an attempt to mislead the nation’s people and vehemently oppose it.

Reservation represents an assumption that marginalized communities can never make it. It is a policy that inspires dependence not the emancipation and independence of communities. It is time that the Government of India realized its responsibility to empower these marginalized communities with good primary education, better infrastructure and opportunities so they may compete with the so called ‘upper castes’ and not against them. Reservation will only cripple these communities and give them crutches they can’t outgrow. As members of the student community we urge the nation to raise its voice so it may be heard above the din of political hogwash.

Reservations: Good, Bad or Ugly?

2006-04-18T02:13:00.000+05:30

For the last few days, ever since the reservation moolah has gripped the country, memories of childhood, of those students rioting against Mandal Commission, of V P Singh et al, come back.

I guess many of the people are fundamentally opposed to this quota system. Not to say that I'm not, but the idea behind them is not particularly wrong. When we oppose reservations, isnt't our behaviour as elitist as the brahmins of ancient India who thought that only they deserved any access to education. It doesn't take any rocket science to realise that people from well-educated families will tend to perform better in any exam, and hence any institute based purely on merit is bound to have only people with such background only. And this means that the fruits of development tend to get divided unequally.

The only issue with reservations is that they politicize the complete education sector, and take away any incentive that people might have towards working hard to earn a degree. The complete process is reduced to a mere game of knowing right people at the right times. And unfortunately, with such a diverse society that India is, every class of people would want their own share of reservations. This breeds corruption and furthers dirty caste/class/religion based politics. This further leads to class struggles, and promotes the Naxalite problem/separatist tendencies raging majority of our states today.

Being a democracy, and being one of the fast growing countries of the world at the moment, India not only needs to keep growing at a scorching pace, but also needs to ensure equitable development for all classes of people, to render stability to the complete system. With this background, what is an effective way of ensuring both social equality and high growth rate? Is there a long term solution at all? Or, will temporary local patch-ups, as always, serve the purpose?

The "Reservation" Animal

2006-04-09T20:02:00.000+05:30

Ah! So the reservation animal has once again arrived on the national stage, and is intent on grabbing an even larger share than anytime before in the history of the country. Btw, any of my expressions here are not borne out of any hatred towards the OBCs and the SC/ST people, they are mere meek efforts to respond to the outrageous HRD and reservation policies followed by our HRD ministers from time unknown.

I still cannot understand how can any rational person allow such blasphemous policies to be formulated. I mean, ok, there is a vote bank out there. But still, reserving 50% of seats in all academic institutes for that chunk of the population that does not even constitute 25% of our total population! Does that make sense?

The arguments of meritocracy in professional and academic institutes, to oppose this policy, is too well-known, so I will not delve into that, although I am an ardent supporter of the same.

But why is this being done? Why, time and again, HRD ministers resort to this political gimmick, and play with the futures of lakhs of youths? Why is it that it has been 60 years since independence, and yet the reservations continue to haunt our system? Why is is that the political leaders do not see any advantage in not resorting to, or not opposing such moves and games? If it is the vote banks, then why are they not afraid of the so-called "General" Class?

Well, the reason is simple. The General class is so pseud and has so many other better things to do in life, that they do not have any interests in this "dirty" game of politics. They will call this game dirty and do nothing about it. They will not bother what their political leaders do in their entire tenure, they do not concern themselves with petty matters such as voting and taking an active interest in the running of their country, state, city, locality or whatsoever. Why? Because they have better things to do in life! Only when a bombshell like this, or something like MIG crashes or Kargil happens, do they wake up to the (mis)deeds of their leaders, and start cribbing about what dirty souls these leaders are!

As if, by mere wishing, all the leaders would turn into Barbie Dolls and do whatever they wish! As if, by not voting, and not concerning about anything remotely associated with politics, they will get all the leaders of their choice, who will run the country according to their wishes! What is the use of such fancy crying if you are not even concerned about who runs the system.

Why would political leaders care about the general people, when they know here is a vote bank that will never vote. That here is a set of people who will never ever want to get their hands "dirty" by being in politics. Still if all this does not motivate people to take an active interest in this game, and be a part of it, for their own betterment, I do not know what else can! Maybe today it only concerns the academics of their children. Maybe if tomorrow even the jobs in private sector have reservations, then they will start caring about such things. If not even then, then maybe this is a set of people "jinhonein choodiyaan pehen rakhi hai haathon mein, aur paayalon ne inke pairon ko baandh rakha hai."

Lets hope this bill doesn't get through, and the larger set of our population does not have to learn its lessons the harder way. Jai Hind.

Strange Dilemmas of a Democracy

2006-03-30T03:54:00.000+05:30

Democracy is supposed to be a government by the people, of the people and for the people. Nobody can, ofcourse, question its efficacy and the philosophy behind it as a political system. However, democracy does present its own unique set of dilemmas, which seem to be similar to the case of a free market, which might inch towards local optima while never realizing the global optimum without any external government regulation.

Consider the case of democracy. What is its philosphy? Representation for all people. Why? So that each set of people is equally empowered to ensure their own best interests. What does this lead to? Caste-based, religion-based politics. Vote Banks. What does that imply? Poor remain poor. Because their poverty is the reason behind their voting patterns. Rich become more rich. Because that is where their primary interest is, in voting for a particular faction. The gap widens. This breeds nothing but hatred, and more of such politics. A vicious circle.

What else? This ensures sensitive issues never get sorted out. Why? Because the day they are sorted, a large vote bank disappears!

Another peculiarity. What is the principle behind democracy? The one with maximum support is the representative. What does this imply? All social measures such as family planning are unlikely to ever achieve success in large vote banks, namely the underpriveleged. What does this mean? 10% of the people holding 90% of the country's wealth. Conspicuous inequalities again!

No, this is not over yet. What about states which do not have large populations? That means lesser representation. That means, lesser focus by the central govt. That means development in those states suffers. That means, inter-state rivalry becomes even worse. And what does that lead to? Naxalite problem raging most of the states of the country today.

All these problems. And why? Because of a simple principle named "democracy". Is democracy really a farce? Or am I being too pessimistic and ignoring the positives? Or is there is a way to resolve these apparent dilemmas? No answers with me!

Of Minorities & Associated Dilemma

2006-03-26T09:39:00.000+05:30

India is a vast country, with a commendable record of being a democracy, despite such diversity in the kinds & minds of people. However, the undercurrents of divisions along caste, religion are not too weak to go unnoticed. The day might not be far when these undercurrents turn into tides and wash away all hard-earned goodwill in international community.

The issue of minorities is really a serious one. Caste-based politics, religion-centric electoral campaigns raising their heads doesn't bode well for India. One must remember that it was something similar to all this that led to the massive human migration & manslaughter half a century ago. And one must not disconunt the fact that the presence of pan-Indian leaders at that time really prevented a civil war from raging the country. However, the point is: What is the issue? Where is the dilemma?

At the time of independence, our leaders thought that for the upliftment of socially and economically backward classes & other minority communities, it was a nice idea to ensure "reservation" for them in not only the decision-making bodies, but also academic institutes, public sector units etc. It was envisaged that within 10 years, the inequalities would be done away with & all sections of the society would be equally empowered. However, nothing of the sort seemed to have happened. Rather, a select few from these communities reaped all advantages, leading to even starker inequalities in the society. The same policy has not had any effect, whatsoever, at allievating any of their problems for the past 60 years. Clearly, it is not the right way of ensuring empowerment. Further, it has bred an increased amount of hatred for minorities among the majority population, who are obviously disgruntled, since meritorious candidates from majority communities get passed over, due to this policy of reservations.

Then what else? One might say: Let us remove all such "reservations". Well, that is easier said than done. Even if one was to take steps in that direction, it would be playing into the hands of the majority community. In such a scenario, little power and attention that the minorities attract because of "reservations", would also be gone. Who would then care about them, when all one cares to get is a larger vote-bank to end up in the parliament?

This presents an apparent dilemma for any democracy. However, our case is unique, since the diversity in terms of number of communities, is just too large! Most of the countries around the world have 3 or atmost 4 different kinds of peoples (though globalization trends might change that as well!). In India, my estimate would be somewhere around 500, which might turn out to be pretty conservative! Then, what can the leaders of our democracy do, to ensure that we are able to sort out this problem, and take huge strides in the global arena in the decades to come? It is pertinent that if we are to emerge as a global power to reckon with, our internal problems must all be taken care off first.

One step likely to give better results, is to do away with formal "reservations" gradually, and increasingly, through policy, stress upon better education for all minorities. There is no dearth of job opportunities in India at the moment. The best way to empower the disadvantaged would be equip them with sufficient skills, to make the best possible use of the "Great Indian Economic Boom". This might take a large time to produce results, and might even require the political parties to do away with many of the present vote-bank based populist policies, but I guess, the time has come for our leaders to show some amount of maturity and take some serious incremental steps in this direction. Let us not focus on ultra short term gains (5 yrs!), but atleast short term gains atleast (15 yrs). Education is a great equalizer. Let us use it to its full advantage.

It is also important to tackle this issue with utmost urgency in view of the terrorism becoming more and more global with each passing day. I'm sure Islam has nothing to do with terrorism. Terrorism is merely a backlash by a community exploited economically and socially for the past century by the West, for realizing its own political & economic ambitions. It could well have been the Jews, had the policies of West been aimed at exploiting them. Let us not embrace their problem! Let us ensure that the minorities live with dignity and pride in this country. Let us make India a great power.

Believe & Belief

2006-03-24T00:55:00.000+05:30

Observation:

There is a "lie" in "Believe". "Beliefs" really cannot get rid of the "lie", come what may! Strange are the ways of the English Language :P

What to do?

2006-03-17T14:24:00.000+05:30

*Dept. Placed
*ChEA Symposium over
*Holi came and went
*Webaroo work not enough to satiate the hungry workaholic spirits
*Medical reasons prevent any physical exertion
*Batch treat seems to be a faraway dream
*Finally finished Atlas Shrugged week before last
*Have read the Glass Palace & The Goal II, ever since

What to do?
Never before has such a state been experienced. Not laziness, not lack of any spirit. Plain, just no interesting work around! Yeah, Dept. Elections. They too will come and go. Such boredom.

Whatta state! Dont even know what to write about. Wanted to write something about conservatism and Indian philosophy. But might have sounded too opinionated. Wanted to write something for my father. But this aint the place for all that! Wanted to write something on passion & work. But that would have made the blog so monotonous. Wanted to write something about maintaining the right balance. But that needs some soul-searching and self-questioning before it crystallizes. Wanted to write about the press hysteria on placements. But that might have sounded ironical.

Anyways, doctors will be doctors. Their duty to advise me not to exert. To "ditch" with their advice. High time to play some squash!

Necessity: The mother of invention

2006-03-17T14:02:00.000+05:30

Throughout the history of human civilization, it has been necessity that has always fuelled new & better & more sophisticated inventions, and has instigated some of the best minds of our race to frantically search for alternatives in almost every field. That, I guess, has always been looked up as something to be respected, with the achievers being lauded as successful home-returned knights of the medieval age. But, is that all? Do we keep searching for better methods and hope that Nature will keep plotting for our success?

Guess, the time has come to realize that some moderation is required in every facet of our lives to strike some balance.

The whole world seems to be aware of the imminent energy crisis. Everyone knows about the environmental implications and its ramifications on our day-to-day lives. Media keeps blabbering on the whole issue, enterpreneurs keep making money by fashioning newer and better plans for satisfying this amazing hunger for energy, and intellectuals keep searching for novel sources of energy for future generations. Chinese, Russians, Americans, Indians, Europeans, Arabians, everyone is engaged in the so-called "Energy Diplomacy". But has anyone ever taken enough care to reduce our energy requirements in daily lives? Does anyone care about the amount of electricity we waste each and every day? Does anyone notice the water that goes down the drain and pollutes ground water, and requires additional energy for recycling? Isn't it high time we strike a balance in our lives, rather than running after the Air-Conditioners/Heaters/SUVs/Luxury Cars and an entire gamut of energy-intensive devices?

Am not too convinced about this whole issue & had actually initially opposed the whole philosophy behind this vehemently, when someone had discussed this for the first time. However, now I'm not too sure. Extrapolating this to a person's life, it is similar to the kind of rat-race almost everyone is indulging in nowadays. Fat pay cheques. Running after stock markets. Working for the sake of money, and then burning out and then not realizing what to do off those green notes! Is all this rational?

The words of my Mom echo everytime I think about this. "Beta, try and achieve some balance in your life. This life is not about money only. It is not a race with your peers. It is your own. Enjoy it. Relish it. Live it so that you wouldn't have any regrets about anything."

My philosophy in life is, supposedly, almost opposite to what my Mom has to say. I have always believed in stretching the limits, not setting them. But, after this brief discussion with this friend of mine, I'm not too sure. Maybe, he and my Mom have a point. Yet, I cannot swallow the fact that their way of life actually teaches me to make compromises. It asks me to not be fully committed for all tasks I undertake. Cannot really take that at its face value.

Let's see what life has in store. Maybe, it 'll have its own ways of guiding. As of now, the "fight" continues. Can't really help it :D

Barca all the way!

2006-02-23T15:44:00.000+05:30

WHat a match. Own Goals. Awesome playmaking. Awesome defending. Awesome tackles.
Awesome fouls!

A star-studded Barcelona, with that nimble-footed giant from Brazil, Ronaldinho showed the world what a game of football in a Champions League Quarters is meant to be like. Such casual attacks into the Chelsea penalty area throughout those 90 minutes! Kudos to Terry too, for those two breathtaking saves from the goal-line, holding the final frontier after the wall was breached umpteen times. Unlucky though, to concede an own goal once, while managing the defense almost single-footedly (if I may put it tht way!).

Not that Chelsea played or attacked badly. Lampard, Robben and GudJohnsen, all upto their jobs. But, nobody to give that final punch in the end. Sad. And putting up sucha a brave face after being reduced to 10 men, Chelsea did after all live upto their reputation of being great fighters. The never-say-die, gun-ho spirit up for display throughout the game yesterday. How many times did they save the game from their own penalty area, with almost half the Barca team in the D. How many times did Mekalele win the tackles in midfield! Bravo Chelsea. But, kudos Barca!

Such an awesome game. Casting black shadows over the game played by Real at home. Long passing. Losing balls. Literally, gifting the ball to Arsenal midfield, who btw, should have won by a mile rather than a foot, as they did finally. Zidane is getting too old. Beckham doesn't seem to know how to head, and changing flanks every now and then isnt the same as changing hairstyles every fortnight. Ronaldo, maybe, has gone into a hibernation. And Roberto Carlos, apart from tht one great free kick, doesn't seem to know how to control the play. And the best of them all, Robinho! Less said the better!

Wonder though, what has happened to teams this time around. Losing at home seems to have become a phenomenon across all sports. Chelsea, Real, Liverpool - all losing at home. Pakis being handed a beating by the Men in Blue, in cricket. Maybe Proteas will lose to Aussies soon!

Anyways, win or lose. The fun is on. Life is peace, turn the sports ON!

Bird Flu and Chicken Boy Junior

2006-02-21T23:10:00.000+05:30

Bad things happening in the world. All forces conspiring to deny Chicken Boy Junior his share of chicken. Involvement of foriegn intelligence agencies is suspected. More so, the strain of deadly virus is curiously H5N1, and has hit the state of Maharashtra specifically. Hostel 5, Non veg 1? Is it? Coincidences couldn't have been closer. The most prolific non-vegetarian in Hostel 5, is under attack. However, the superhero has his eyes wide open too. Mortals of the world needn't worry. Their superhero has decided to play a waiting game, ready to ambush the perpetrators of this heinous crime as and when they come out of their burrows. Until then, Chicken Boy Junior shall conserve his energies and go into a vegetarian hibernation. Regular consumption of milk shall be his top priority, since this dairy product is a rich source of proteins; next only to the avian flesh, and the superhero would need to maintain a healthy balance of nutrients in his diet to ensure that the members of public live a life devoid of any crime.

A message from the superhero himself, given during a recent Press Meeting, went as follows .. "O Common Man. Thee needn't worry. This is a planned crime whose perpetrators will not go unpunished. Meanwhile, rest assured. Thy CBJ is in the pink of his health, and zenith of his spirits. No anti-social element shall be allowed to take advantage of this temporary situation."

Politics, Corruption & Philosophy

2006-01-30T11:11:00.000+05:30

India Shining. India Awakening. The words of Swami Vivekanand still echo. "Arise, Awake! And stop not until the goal is reached." India is being hailed as the next "big" thing. And a young population, with all its zeal and enthusiasm, is a major reason, supposedly. And then we have our own Bollywood coming up awe-inspiring stuff like Swades, Lagaan, Legend of Bhagat Singh, Yuva, and now Rang De Basanti. All motivating the young-guns to fire! Even the cricket team has started to bring in so many youngsters. The days of yore, it seems, are over. And future beckons. The so-called "SMS" generation has not left politics untouched even. We have our own Milind Deoras and Rahul Gandhis. Anyways, what is the connection between all this and the topic of this post? Frankly speaking, I don't know!

But movies like Yuva and Rang De Basanti, coupled with the fact that youth participation in national politics is no longer a fantasy, it is pertinent that the youth, the drivers of Indian bandwagon to the future, must take actions that ensure that we do not fritter away this Golden Chance (as happened in mid 60's), accept it with both hands and eyes open!

While watching Rang De.. for the second time, it rankled me how corruption has become an integral part of Indian politics. And how helpless can a common man be, while at the mercy of the big lords busy heating up their own "hot" seats. But there has to be an ideology, a line of thought for the youth to pull politics out of the gutters and restore some sacntity to it. Only then can we hope to be among those who count in the next century. But what can they do? Is killing and murdering the right track? I beg to differ.

I still believe one has to do what is best for oneself. Doing something for others' good makes no point. If one does something for others' benefits, it is because one stands to gain oneself. Imagine what would happen if we all sacrificed our own interests on the altars of selflessness. Who would be happy? Who would have achieved whatever he/she ever desired? The first step needed is to accept the bare fact that whatever a person does, it is because of his/her own selfish motives. Then, we have to start doing things that we want and like. Only then can the sparks of innovation fuel our huge energy-guzzling machine. And we must understand this quickly, lest we are lost into oblivion again.

Counterpoints can be raised. One can argue that if everyone did everything for their own interests, corruption would be rampant. But, that, dear friends, is another misconception. If one did everything for one's own interests & accepted this bare truth in its entirity, do you think anyone would ever dare to indulge in underhand dealings again? If one was responsible for every action one took, do you think anyone would, in his/her own best interests, ever accept bribes and be accountable for it too? The only thing required is a FIRM belief in these simple thoughts, work for oneself, live coz the life is one's own, and be proud of whatever one did.

This brings us back to the actions of Bhagat Singh & other revolutionaries. They were no mere "terrorists" blowing up public places, looting government treasuries and assasinating public figures. They had a firm belief in their actions & accepted whatever they did, with pride. Honor was theirs! Unlike the rebels of today, who demand independence, but have no ideology whatsoever, to support their actions. Unlike the politicians of the day, who, day-in and day-out, reject & denounce their own actions! Unlike the members of the so-called "high society", who purportedly, approve of a particular event and then go on to denounce it in public.

If there has to be a change, it has to come this way.

For long have we been suppressed.
For long have we been depressed.

For long have we been full of disbelief.
For long have we relied on others for relief.

Time has come,
Something needs to be done.

What comes to mind is the often used phrase, probably in situations lot different than this. Yet, this seems apt. "Be Yourself!" Self-belief & accountability is the name of the game, honey!

Favoritism et al

2006-01-23T02:11:00.000+05:30

Is favoritism bad? Is it an evil? Does it need to be chucked out of the Civilized Human Society?

Well, after spending a few precious moments on the subject at hand, I ve come to a conclusion that like everything else, favoritism as well, is a necessary evil. The world cannot be "human" unless such an element is not attached to any activity we pursue. Ok, granted that it might not, in some cases, allow the real talent, the actual meritorious candidates get what they deserve. But misuse of any kind of "power" does have its side-effects. Consequences of atomic power falling into wrong hands & "heads" is already well known and well publicized.

The issue here is, is it possible to identify "deserving" candidates for anything, objectively, on the basis of a few metrics defined by us, the humans. Is is "correct" in the first place to judge fellow beings on the basis of a few well-defined criteria? Ain't it possible that a truly deserving candidate misses out on one of those criteria & hence, does not get the opportunity he/she deserves?

In such a case, isn't it perfectly ethical for a person in power, to actually favor such a person, and give him/her that single opportunity to show the world his/her true potential? Then why are people who do put such means to practice, criticized and looked down upon as "corrupt" officials?

Well, there might be an answer to that as well. It is perfectly "ethical" to give truly deserving candidates a chance. However, being a relative of a person in power is no criteria to deserve such an opportunity. The person with power at his disposal, must use it with utmost discretion, providing only the deserving ones the coveted chance. Only when there is a gross misuse of power that not only the person but also the practice earns such a bad name.

Haven't there been 'n' number of cases in this world, where given such a back-door chance, truly bright people have influenced the course of history? Ok, the opposite cases are much more commonplace! Granted. Which brings us to the same point again.

IS it more important to ensure "good" with certain "bad" events happening as a side-effect? Or is the prevention of "bad" the only thing? It seems the second case is true of the present world, and maybe, the world since it came into being. Which then, raises another point. Are we all, by default, pessimists, always expecting the "bad" things to happen, and devoting most of our energies to its prevention, rather than focusing on "improvising" and making the "good" things happen at the expense of a few "not-so-good" things occuring.

Guess, it is just a matter of interpreting a glass of water as being Half-full or Half-empty.

Goal: What is it?

2006-01-19T03:52:00.000+05:30

Went home last weekend. Had nothing special to do while traveling. Ended up thinking about what am I doing with my "precious" little life! And realised I didn't know what I would want to do with it at all!

Rewinding to the Good Ol' School days. The only aim I had in mind was to get that coveted first position in the class, come what may. Once that came along easily, the next aim was to improvise further, and get that "first" tag in each subject. That too came along, in most of the subjects. Then what? Mom urged to take part in the other activities. Thus began a relentless journey into the world of elocution & debating. Ended my school career as the unchallenged orator. But then what?

One fine day, I hear about a senior from school cracking the toughest exam on earth, the IIT-JEE, and getting all kinds of accolades & media coverage for that! Didn't know what it meant, but eyes were set on the next goal! And thus started the two year journey of mad-man like study, and there I was, with four years at IIT-B staring at me. Wow! So far so good. But what next?

There was the usual brain-washing session on the first day by seniors, rubbishing all academic achivements, and going ga-ga over organizational activities and whatever. Then came the first dilemma. What to do? Acads? Extra-currics? Dunno! Kept doing what I was best at. Mugna, as it is said, for the better part of first two years. All of a sudden, an urge to do something different, kuchh alag!.

And thus entered the arena of "organizing" events. Before I knew, there was an internship with ITC staring at my face, the most coveted internship by the job-mongers. Somehow, managed to get that as well! A dream-run. Then, the US 0f A came calling. Stories of greener pastures abroad doing rounds in the wing. What to do! Took GRE. Ha! Now what? Internship time draws closer. The senior junta getting all nbd in life coz of placements. The funda of PPO is brought into the picture, and ITC is hailed as one of the fathers of this God. Come Bangalore (Bengaluru for some, eh), Come Kolkata. And then there it was. The PPI.

Fast forward to current time. There it was. The PPO. All tensions put to rest. Nothing more to achieve in life! All efforts of getting into the IIT paying rich dividends, eh. Ha!

And now here I am, wondering what is it that I want to do with this life of mine? Make money? Yeah, that would be nice. Leave a mark in the history of mankind by doing something memorable? Yeah, but doesn't each one of us want to do that? Then what?

Thinking about it, what is it that life exists for? For living, of course! Do ants have any purpose in life? Doesn't seem to be so. Or for that matter, did our great great ancestors, the so-called Early Men, have any purpose in life? Nothing, except "living" per se, I guess. Well then, so I guess, it is decided. My goal in life is to live.

To Live. Ha! Live life, king size! The pre-requisites? Money, power, fame (maybe). So, maybe then, in a way, the money, the power we crave for is not an end in itself. Just a means to achieve the end. The Road to Redemption. The Ultimate Goal, remains, to "live"!

To Whomsoever This May Concern

2006-01-19T03:15:00.000+05:30

Have been a part of many teams. Have realized that nothing is more important than mutual trust between the team members. As long as all stick together, no matter what comes, the sun always dawns after a long gloomy night. However, just when there appear cracks in the great wall of trust, all hell breaks loose.

Guess the same happened with the Great Indian Cricket Team under Ganguly. Mistrust, cross-talks, disrespect - all found their way in the wake of constant rebuking of Dada. This is not to say that Ganguly deserved to be a part of the team. But infights within the team just made matters worse.

Therefore, the first GOLDEN RULE of Organizations: TRUST, COME WHAT MAY!

Another thing that worries me the most, is of a team handling a social responsibility. Ok, the team took up the challenge, burnt midnight oil in a relentless pursuit to get where nobody had dared to go before. Ok, they took up the responsibility of people many times in number than their own strength. So, doesn't that mean that the team has to take decisions for the betterment of majority of people, even if they might have to cross swords with a small part of the same junta?
Isn't that the mandate they have earned? In that case, why is it that even a small blot can ruin the reputations of all team members, something that they have earned over the years, by never giving up? Why is it that a small step taken by the team, in the best interest of a larger mass, ends up backfiring? Just because a small class of people, or even a single person in some cases, was at loggerheads with them? Does the team have to ensure the best for a larger mass, or does it have to prevent the worst from happening for every "person" in that "people"?

I had always thought the goal of a team was defined in a positive sense. But certain recent happenings have put in enough doubts in my mind!

Have always believed in putting in the BEST efforts, for the BEST, come what may. So what if some rules had to be bent? Who created those rules in the first place? What was the basic objective of framing those set of rules? Wasn't it to ensure the BEST for the junta? It is fine when that BEST happens under the cover, and is not public knowledge. But why are questions raised on the "ethics" of the team as soon as those dealings are discovered? And that too, when team members had nothing to gain from those deals personally! All efforts going down the drain! A futile pursuit to give the best and ensure the best for the junta! Puts in enough doubts in my mind! Why the heck should I care about the people, if they don't care about the team? Just frame draconian rules and follow the RULE-BOOK, and ensure that the worst does not happen! That wont achieve any good, accepted. But that wont let anything bad happen either. Ha! No risk no reward!!

This again reminds me of Atlas Shrugged. The book is really great. Guess all the team members should follow the example set by John Galt, and quit. Let the leech elements in the junta do what they can without the "blood-filled" motivated members of the team. Why endure the pain of Hank Rearden? But no. All that matters in the end is Personal Satisfaction. We have done our best. So what if the people object? Let them do so. Atleast we know we have given our best. Atleast my "Karma" wont have any blemish. The others are just too insignificant. It is "me" that must matter to me.

GOLDEN RULE two for teams: BELIEVE IN WHAT YOU DO. Take all criticisms in your ride, and keep working to achieve the goals!

They said, " With great power comes great responsibility."
I say, " With great responsibility comes greater criticism. Play with it, and thou shalt succeed. Jump into it, and thy burns shalt not be cured."

O God, what do You want?

2005-11-21T14:13:00.000+05:30

Never have got anything on a platter.
Never have won a battle while on the saddle.
Making me toil hard.
Making me fight,
like a fallen knight, for a honor
So tough to guard.

O God what do You want?
Making me do things
the way You want?
Losing all on the platter,
Is that my destiny, for that matter?

Any higher motives You have in store?
For this was the latest and the biggest in my life,
The Bore.
For if there are not, why do I do
what I do?

Perseverance is a quality, they say
Patience a virtue.
Sweet are fruits of hard work, they said.
Expectations were great. Efforts not far behind.
What went wrong? Who is to blame?
Nobody except me, destiny they say,
Plays a very big game.

Selfless Love

2005-11-10T20:26:00.000+05:30

Selfless Love! The quest continues. Is there anything such as a purely "selfless" love? Love that "loves" the beloved, love that doesn't care for the "self". Can there be any selfless love? Why do people love others? Why is it that some people come to mean so much in one's life, that nobody else does one care about?

As mutual as it has to be, come to think of it, the concept sounds illogical. But does everything have to be logical? Can everything be explained? Is there a reason for whatever happens?

Nothing ain't matters when
to thy world do I come
O! Selfless Love
The end of an eternal quest
A state of blissful rest
thou are, O! Selfless Love

My "logical" self cant help delving a li'l more into this, forgive me eh! There has to be a logical self-focussed reasoning for the above behaviour. Come to think of it, as much may we want it to be true, nobody is purely selfish or purely selfless. It is like "selfish" is "black" and "selfless" is "white", and all we humble creations of the Almighty are different shades of grey. And that too functions of time as well as space!
It is just when two of these infinite functions assume similar values on a quantized bitscale, irrespective of time and space, that "true", "pure", "selfless" love, results. And ofcourse, the Quantization level determines the longevity of such a relationship. Might sound far-fetched! But, is it?

Strong is that love finer is whose quantization. Selfish we might be, each one of us needs someone to be there, if not al the time, most of the time, for us. Finer the quantization level, lesser the noise, lesser the probability of error, more likely the "one" would be the "one" in most situations!

Arbit, huh! Geeky, ha! Maybe. Who cares! Atleast a curious mind has been satiated. Atleast a thirst has been quenched. Atleast a model has been formulated. Atleast science has conquered the hazy and fuzzy world of human emotions!

Selfless love, how pure you are,
do you know? How much I need thou,
do you see? How true to thy self,
you are! Satiating human spirits,
the ultimate ecstacy, an eternal bliss;
The end of my quest, a feeling
better than most of the rest.

Life?

2005-11-10T04:22:00.000+05:30

Power, fame, money
Is tht life O! dear honey?

Contacts and name
Is life only this game ?

Broken Friendships
Shattered Glasses
Blatant Infamy
Just to earn some money ?

What is life ? What is its goal?
Is it only mine
Or is it for the world as a whole ?

"One step for man
But a giant leap for mankind."
said the man the first to land
on moon.

Is that the truth? Or
was that a lie ?
Are my actions for the world,
Or are they just mine?

Selflessness Revisited

2005-10-28T23:56:00.000+05:30

Selflessness: Thinking of others' interests before one's own

Guess, there are two kinds of selfless people in this blue world of ours.
The first category being a highly conceited breed, living under the mask of selflessness. The ones at the highest pedestal of selfishness. The ones who actually act as "selfless" because of their own selfish motives, to earn the "goodwill" of people around them. Conceited to the core. The cowards.
The second. Well, do they actually exist or is it just an "ideal" case so often assumed by the academia. The ones who do put others before themselves. The ones who act in ways that completely defies conventional thinking and philosophy. The impossibles.

Come to think of it, the cowards are undesirable. Yet, their attitude is most sought after. The impossibles are not required, though having a few of them would do no harm. Their role would be the one like vultures in the ecosystem. Loathful, yet necesary. Smoothening the rough ends of a society. Preventing the undesired elements to rule the roost. Hell, do such people exist? No.

A paradox 'tis
World full of undesirables 'tis

Conceited selfless stuff
Deeds full of bluff

Caught in the boat in between
Selfless on the cream
Selfish in their spleen

Selflessness is an ideal. So is selfishness. None is bad. Their excess, though, is bad. One under the garb of the other, is evil. What is required is a balanced mix of selfless and selfish personnel in our society. What we have is people of one kind, showing off as the other kind. What we have is a disequilibrium. An unstable system. A system racing towards self-destruction. What is required is people who think what they do, and do what they think. People who 'think'. People who act on their words. People who are truthful to themselves only at least. People who are selfish and are proud to be so. People who are selfless and are proud to be so. Not the selfless conceits of the day.

Time to call
a chicken a chicken,
a fish a fish,
a bird a bird,
and this life,
a dream.

Sounds of Silence

2005-10-25T01:33:00.000+05:30

'The Graduate' Soundtrack. Real awesome. 'Sounds of Silence'. 'Scarborough Fair'. Nice to listen especially if one is down and out. Or out and inebriated :)

God movie as well. Pretty old. But nice, simple and straight. Captures the mindset of many a youth to a large extent I guess. The way the protagonist fights for the lady of his life. Very motivating. Never give up. Never lose hope. Keep trying until not everything is lost. However, don't give in to the desires too easily. Wait until you find the one you really want. You surely will.

Hello, darkness my old friend
I ve come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping

And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the
Sounds of Silence

Silence, an eternal bliss. :)

Dreams Unlimited Inc.

2005-10-23T21:02:00.000+05:30

Dreams unlimited
Dreams galore;
As we do
Don't they ripe and grow?

When a child I was
A night-watchman there was;
Frightened to hell by his sight
I dreamt of making him fright

But that was then
And then I grew
Came along the pilot
with a mighty bird he flew

But now as I sit
and wonder
What do I dream?
What do I desire?

A Merc?
A BMW?
A private Jetliner?
or, is it to give this world
a cracking one-liner?

Sky is the limit
they say;
Dream to the hilt
and thou shalt a part of
what you pray

Business, life, family
All I descry!
Achieve everything
Have the world at your feet
Almost like a warcry!

Dreams Unlimited.
Dreams galore.
That is all I have.
Nothing less and unfortunately,
nothing more.

I, Me, Myself

2005-10-23T09:29:00.000+05:30

Wonder sometimes. Why is it always about the 'I'? Not with me. But with everybody. All people of the universe seem to be interested in themselves alone. Well, nothing wrong with it. Guess that is what 'objectivism' really is - at the core of its heart. But then, how does such an attitude sustain us?

All day long
I think about myself

All night long
I dream about myself

Days gone by
Filled with my actions

Weeks past
Sweet memories of mine last

Months, years, every aeon of time
Is all only a realization of mine

How is it that each one, caring only about thyself, creates an ambience of a society? How is it that conversations begin and last? Is 'socializing' a farce - another creation of mankind? "Man is a social animal." How?

Too Many Questions
Some answered.

A far too many
left alone

They say
Ask Questions

But Why don't they answer?

Too many questions
they say

Questioning Dementia
they label

A disease, a disorder
A pain in neck

Digression
I am sorry

But I too have
About myself to worry

Chicken Boy Junior and the Golden Goose

2005-10-22T01:01:00.000+05:30

Ok. Everyone knows about the poor old farmer and his golden goose. Everyone knows about the series of events ultimately leading to the demise of the precious goose. Everyone knows how the old farmer rued his luck. And the world never saw those golden eggs again.

So, where does Chicken Boy Junior come into picture? What does our young hero have to do with the fable of old and the gold? Well, as it happens to be, the "good" never leaves the world. Demise of one is preceded by genesis of the other. Isn't it but natural that Chicken Boy Junior owe his existence to the benefactor of a well-known story!

The Golden Goose, on laying the first of its Golden Eggs, knew it was doomed. "Profit Motive" and "Selfishness" being the buzzwords of the day, her end, she knew was near.

"The gifted never last long."

"The talented are needed more in God's Kingdom, than His simulacrum playing havoc on His Creations."

"With great power comes great responsibility."

Such were the wise words she heard in her dreams on laying her first golden egg. Dreams have made men wise overnight, and she was a Goose at that! Assessing her situation and viable options, a conclusion she reached. A Sensible Judicious Judgement, displaying rare traits that mark the bloodline of super-heros and their ancestors.

That day the Sun did rise, but from the West. That day, the hens of the world did not wake up their masters. That day it was a night in the day, and a day in the night. So , the farmer slept in the day, and slept in the night. Our goose (pretty young in those heydays of hers) laid that first precious egg in such an ambience. Greetings from the Lord Himself to the Super-Hero of days to come.

Then came the shock, with all its after-shocks. Earth cracked. As if Lords of Underground conspired with the Lords of Over-Ground to nurture the Super-Hero of the Ground. The mud parted, out came a warm-gaping hole in Mother Earth, dressed with yellow haystack and incensed with splendid aroma. Camouflage rendered. The Little CBJ rested inside. After-shocks undone. Shocks undone. Earth glued. Sun setting in the West. As if Nature had made gross mistakes and was repenting the same.

Out came the Sun. From the East this time. Hens woke up their masters. The old farmer rose. The Golden Goose laid another pair. Dollars in our old man's eyes, and the story unfolded itself like a cascade ending into a placid brook.

Meanwhile, the egg hatched. Out came our little Hero on-road-to-be-a Super-Hero. Little did he know of his genesis. Little did he realise his humble origins. Little did he know that the first blood he drew was of his progenitor. Little did he understand the first meat he had was the same belly he owed his origins to. Little did he know that the Chicken Boy Junior was a Chicken product itself.

Little did he know, what a tragedy it was.

O! Chicken Boy Junior

Strange 'twas
The first night of your life
Strange 'twas
To eat the same belly
that owned thy shell once
Strange 'twas
the way thee inherited thy
mater's bloodline
Strange 'twas
for thee to devour thy mater
to become the super hero

Strange was thy destiny
Strange is thy luck
'coz thy mater did thee eat
to become
The Savior of His Creed

Atlas Shrugged!

2005-10-21T01:36:00.000+05:30

Atlas shrugged. Why? Was this an isolated event that can be found somewhere in the annals. Or does it happen everyday, each moment of our lives? Why did it happen, and why does it happen? Is it due to the ever burgeoning weight of human population? Or is it the pot of human misdeeds and misdemeanors that caused Atlas' shoulders to budge? Who is/was Atlas anyways?

Atlas is someone of this world. Not a superhero, not a God. But a human being, a man who still thinks. And thinks rationally. One may wonder whatever happened to the rational thinking ability of the general mankind? Well, yeah. Does everyone in this world think? Yes. Does everyone think rationally? Well, what is rational thinking? A man, who strives to give his best, his everything into anything he does, for his own good (mind you, there is no "selflessness" involved here), and does so within the realms of ethics, is a rational being. A fitting choice for being the Atlas. Or rather, an Atlas. For sharing the load of this earth. For being responsible to carry the world ahead. For being responsible of protecting and helping the civilization progress and prosper.

Then arises another question. Did one say ethics? What are they? Who defines them? Or, fundamentally, what is good and what is bad? Well, ethics are those principles which guide a man to take actions ensuring his survival, but not at the cost of another living being. Killing/Looting for survival would not qualify as ethics. Thus, in a nutshell, any man who pursues actions for his own survival, without endangering another being, and continues to think all the way, is an Atlas. A load-bearer.

Why then did Atlas shrug? Why does he shrug? Expectations. Ironies of the world. The ones making this world a better place, the ones making a difference to others' lives, are the ones viewed with utmost suspicion. The ever increasing misdeeds of fellow beings, under the pretense of "selflessness" or "common good" or "to each according to his need, from each according to his ability", makes the weight too much to be borne. Further, being perceived as enemies of people, acting for their own good, they are loathed, viewed with abomination.

All these and many more, cause the existing Atlases to break. Also imposes a high entry barrier to this Monopoly! Thus, the weight increases. The weight bearers continue to dwindle. Result, Atlas Shrugged!

What is needed, or are needed, are people with high intrinsic motivation, with extreme sense of determination to bear the vagaries of the world, undertake their mission and take it to completion. Needed are people with such strong determination to bear any weight and yet not buckle. To be stronger than Rearden Metal, yet be lighter than a feather.

All Atlases of the world
Here's inviting thee
Come, share the load
Rise from the sea
Hold our hands
Liberate us free !

The Man and The Machine

2005-10-08T03:17:00.000+05:30

No, this is not about The Matrix. Nor does this revisit the world of Terminator. This is now, the present, the world of today.

What has man done to his life? Aeons ago, whence was created the Mankind, hasn't it always strived to increase its comfort level, reduce the dependency on vagaries of Mother Nature. But what has this endless, incessant pursuit for a better life brought us? More anxiety, more troubles, more stress, more discomfort, more discomfit? Why? What is the reason?

Campus placements have begun. Not really, but yeah, companies have started pouring in with their Pre-Placement Talks. Every other firm talks about "constant improvement" - "adding value". But why? Haven't we achieved too much already to create trouble for this earth. Haven't we already stretched it too much beyond from its equilibrium state? Isn't it too much of a risk to stretch earth more? What if the elastic limit is crossed? It might never be able to sustain life anymore! Worse, what if the yield point is crossed? No earth! A void - a black hole in the solar system. Atleast Mankind would have left its mark then. Ha!

Man of today is no less than a Machine. Working 70 hours a week is not a joke. Working! Then, account for a typical travel time of 2 hours daily. That makes it well above 80. And how many hours per week? 168, a mere 168. Take out the weekend. That leaves us with 120. That is, 40 hours of "lukkha" time for the weekdays. One has to sleep, eat, drink, bathe, rest, socialize, spend time with family, do household chores in all these 40 hours. A mere 8 hour per day. Whoever said that a 8 hour sleep per day is ideal for a healthy body.

Health complications? Well, then let us work even more, get some real great medical breakthroughs, and increase the "health" of mankind. Make it more efficient. Make it more "machine". Help it work more. Increase its throughput. For what? Why?

This seems akin to a typical unstable system encountered so frequently in control theory. A system with poles on the positive s-axis. A system with ever increasing amplitude. A system that keeps on driving up its power, until the underlying support-mechanism collapses altogether. A world pursuing endless materialistic gains, ever increasing material demands, will surely end only with the end of the ecosystem - the biosphere - the earth itself. So what! We have Mars and the Moon to go to! Why bother? Earn millions and billions and zillions. Hoard everything. Get every "luxury" in the life. But lose the most important resource for enjoying those luxuries - the Time.

What a sham! Why isn't anyone designing a PID controller? Why isn't anyone aiming for a pole-zero cancellation? Why isn't a single human being trying to move this and his world towards stability? Why is it that we are bothered about work and the quantity and the quality of work? Why not the quality of human life?

No answers. Only questions. Someone did say, raising questions is much more important, for humans, being rational and logical beings, can always find a solution for the questions raised. Hai koi jwaaab inn sawaalon ka?

Chicken Boy Junior: Chapter I

2005-10-06T02:33:00.000+05:30

Who is Chicken Boy Junior? Who is John Galt? Who am I? What is common in all these? The "Who" ofcourse!

How did Chicken Boy Junior come into existence? Why was the concept needed? Is his existence needed today? Or, is he superfluous? A burden on an already overbent spine of mankind?

Chicken Boy Junior, the SuperHero. Chicken Boy Junior, the Savior of the World. Chicken Boy Junior, the last hope of the mankind. Chicken Boy Junior, the upholder of values and ethics of mankind. Chicken Boy Junior, a man and much more. Chicken Boy Junior, the one who realised his potential. Chicken Boy Junior, the one who allowed the "forces" to conspire and help him achieve his dreams. Chicken Boy Junior, who never gave up. Chicken Boy Junior, the one and only!

A lot of questions might arise, some of them valid, others not so much in the same "ivy" league. Is Chicken Boy Junior a reality or an abstraction? Is Chicken Boy Junior a "boy"? Does Chicken Boy Junior eat animals? All valid queries - a result of inquisitive nature of the mankind.

Why is Chicken Boy Junior a superhero? How does Chicken Boy Junior manage to achieve feats he does achieve? What all has Chicken Boy Junior done? Answers to these, my dear Watson, would be "elementary". Plain "elementary". No discussion. No debate. Chicken Boy Junior is one of us, is among us, yet not quite like us. Chicken Boy Junior has achieved miracles, yet not publicized his feats, for the want of privacy. Chicken Boy Junior, who has perfected the technique of identifying and letting his dreams lead him on to achieve each and every objective.

Did Chicken Boy Junior ever fail? Does Chicken Boy Junior have any vices? Answers to these and many more. Keep watching this space for the adventures and biography of Chicken Boy Junior. "An Ode to a SuperHero".

The Objectivist

2005-10-05T21:01:00.000+05:30

Another term to the wide gamut of nice sounding an heavy looking words out there already? The capitalists and the socialists, the leftists and the rightists. An occasional centrist as well. So, why this new "objectivist" !?

Not a new term this is, mind you. An archaic, antediluvian term popularized by the one and only Miss Rand. But what does it mean? Do we really know what it is? An upholder of capitalist philosophy certainly. A firm believer in the "free market" and the "invisible hand" for sure. But is it only that? A strong advocate of selfishness. But, what is it?

A philosophy which supports our innate desires, our "rational" selfish motives. A philosophy that is, if I may borrow a term from CSE terminology, object-oriented! An OOP (Object Oriented Philosophy).

An OOP that tells us to follow our dreams. That asks us not to get bogged down by what the society imposes on us. That tells us "Go, understand ur passion, follow it, do not bother about the people around u." Further, "If u take care of urself, and each one in this world takes care of itself, there is no scope for charity". "Charity is a sham, for not only it undermines the so called beneficiary, but also destroys the fruit of hard work by the benefactor". That, strictly, is an extension of the captialist theory into the realm of philosophy and life. There is no need of a central authority to tell what is good for us and what is not. We, as rational human beings, will always take actions that ensure our existence in the best possible way. And that, in turn, would be the best for the society, the world and the universe.

Talking about ethics, does one need ethics for the betterment of this world? NO! Ethics are required to ensure our own existence. They are our governing principles, the guiding lights. In science, people talk of a "Grand Unified Theory" that will make life simpler. Why not make philosophy simpler as well. Why so many moral/social/legal/political ethics? One can do without all these. Only a single, grand, unified ethic is probably required - the one that ensures every rational being works for his own best. That is it. No more, no less. And the world would function like a well-oiled machine does and sustain itself.

Do you think we have advanced, and reached the pinnacle of civilization by guiding our energies towards "social" or "charitable" causes. Have all discoveries/inventions/radical changes occured because of them? Or is it because of a continued series of individual brilliances, that have accrued over centuries and millenia, to produce a world that is as brilliant and shining as it is today?

Wont delve on this further at present. Probably, when I find time next, I shall write more on what has seemed to become my favorite topic.