More blots on the country...

Three news items today have compelled me to write this post:

• The Mangalore pub attack by Sri Ram Sene
• The Nashik school attack by MNS
• Sanjay Raut's bail
  

I was flabbergasted with the scenes of Sri Ram Sene activists felling blows on women and throwing them around. Yes, one guy actually flung a woman a few feet away. I now know what it feels when one's blood boils. Each of these incidents are utterly deplorable and are a blot on democracy. These parties seem to have forgotten that their primary duty is towards the masses and not use them as puppets in order to gain political mileage. It is a sad state of affairs that politicos (I am deliberately not calling them leaders) seem to enjoy every bit of publicity they get, even if it is negative.

Raj Thackeray is an apt example of one who gloats in this brand of publicity!

Whether in jail or on bail, we know Raj, your antics will never cease. Your public image just nosedived in the quicksand you already were in, when your folks beat up students, teachers and parents because they celebrated Republic day by singing Bhojpuri songs. How dare they? Do they not know that 15th August and 26th January are mere public holidays and not dates that celebrate India's independence and her sovereignty? You have shown the world how the MNS man (I don't mean mankind here, but the male species only) is an animal, not social but savage. It is absolutely despicable that you choose to hide your face and not come out in the public and condemn these acts. Oh, sorry I forgot! You are the mastermind behind this, so how can you venture out now! Had this happened to Maharashtrians anywhere else in the world, you would have raised a hue and cry and made it seem like the whole of India and the Maharashtrian culture were under threat by religious and political outfits. Just in case you did not realise, Nashik is in Maharastra, with a large Marathi speaking population. Aathvan aali tumhala?

We know you will soon show us your face during your inflammatory speeches just before the polls. Just so you know, Mumbai, Maharashtra and India has a larger educated mass than when your uncle brandished his brand of politics. He may have succeeded to a certain extent and achieved his ulterior motives, but it is foolish that you thought that the same strategy can be adopted to gain a political stronghold in Mumbai and Maharashtra.

Now with the nephew making headlines, is the uncle going to sit back and watch? Obviously not! His party MP, Sanjay Raut ensured Balasaheb and his party weren't left out of the game. Even so, I was shocked to hear Sanjay Raut bellow, "Mumbai is ruled by Shiv Sena and our orders HAVE TO BE OBEYED." My immediate reaction was, '#*@*#*@&#, tere baap ka raaj hai kya?' He adds that their agitation will continue in the same vein. Thanks Mr Raut, for the forewarning. We will continue to show you our heinie's so that you can whip us for your merriment. How the hell do such swines get bail? How come non-baillable warrants are never issued against politicians? And if is issued, these buggers somehow get out within a day or two.

I urge readers of this post and news channels like NDTV, CNN-IBN, Star News and the other mighty media persons to cover these events and enlighten masses with the same intensity that they possessed while covering the Mumbai attacks. This is yet another attack on our country - by these internal terrorists who masquerade as politicos. I hope the media uses its reach to highlight the atrocities of these fascist groups. Aaj Tak and India TV have spoken a lot to terrorists and made news items of aliens abducting cows. I think it is time to show some of the true power that the fourth estate is known for.

Isn't it high time we ban such parties who are a bloody disgrace to the very values and ethos of a free country like ours? I am beginning to get tired of this tyranny and my threshold is fast approaching. I have restrained myself with the choice of words in this post, and I still can't seem to show my anger and disgust enough.

I strongly harbour thoughts of forming a politcal party, whose leaders will uphold the responsibilities of an ideal party - one that exists to serve the country and not use her like a prostitute!

Saina vs Sania

My first post of 2009 had to be on Indian sports. With 2008 being a golden year for Indian sports, I thought this was the best topic to write on. The title would have given it away that I am comparing two sportspersons - the young and highly talented Hyderabadi girls, Saina Nehwal and Sania Mirza.

Saina Nehwal, the younger of the two, was born on 17th March 1990 in the city of the Nizams. Currently, she is badminton's world number 10. She is the reigning national junior champion and is following the footsteps of her coach Pullela Gopichand, yet another illustrious son of India. In 2008, she won the World Junior Badminton Championship. Saina is the only Indian woman to reach the semi-finals of the Olympics (in the 2008 edition). She is also a Dronacharya award winner has also been named as the most promising player in 2008.

Sania Mirza, born on 15th November 1986 in Mumbai, spent her

 growing years in Hyderabad, just like Saina. She won the 2003 Wimbledon girls' doubles championship. 2007 was her best year, with her finishing 8th in the Australian Open singles. She fared better in the doubles (partnering Mahesh Bhupati) and mixed doubles (partnering Bethanie Mattek-Sands), reaching the quarters in both the events. In 2005, she became the first Indian woman to win a WTA championship. A recipient of the Arjuna award, Sania has been out of action in the recent times due to injury. Her rapid ascent to the top 50 in the tennis world gave her instant stardom. But her slump thereafter and injury has led her to remain off the court until the recent Australian Open, where she has lost in the second round of the singles event.

Now you wonder what led me to write this post. In a recent interview, the 18-year old Saina said that she currently is working towards being in the top 10 in the world by the end of 2009. Sania on the other hand, who has flattered to deceive seems scratchy and a fair distance from regaining the glory that she was once showered with. Circa 2006, Sania claimed that she will get into the top 20 in the next two years. Poor form coupled with an injury has hindered her progress.

Many sportsperson suffer for stress related injuries and the healing process takes considerable time. But those who have taken this time off their favourite sport and ensured their 100% fitness have come back stronger, fitter and better at their game. Zaheer Khan is a perfect example.

Initial success has to be backed by consistent performance. To sustain that performance, one needs to have the attitude of Arjuna, who could only see the eye of the bird. He was an  unparalleled archer and this he became by practice, and practice alone. Winning is a habit and it comes only with hard work and dedication. A Sachin Tendulkar or a Brian Lara did not become great players by just stating their goals.

I definitely see Saina working towards her goal, mainly because she seems intent only on playing her sport and not on featuring in newspapers and magazines as another celebrity. Sania, on the other hand, is usually visible in social and glamour dos than on the court. Even when she was injury-free, she made more headlines off the court than on it. The controversy of a muslim wearing a skirt and showing her legs was surely not her problem as much as it was that of the orthodoxy in the community. But her multiple losses after being touted as a world-beater was very much her own doing. Lack of intent and preparedness and probably a touch of overconfidence has brought about her to this downslide.

Being romantically linked with cricketers and models has not helped her in any way, and thankfully, Saina seems to be out of that net for now. If only the media spares her long enough to ensure she is able to concentrate on her sport, I am sure she will achieve the heights she has set for herself.

My angst is against those sportspersons who think they are greater than the game. Every sport, as those who have played at any level will know, has it's own way of bringing you crashing down to the ground, the moment you think you are the ultimate! Both the girls need to keep this in mind and not get overwhelmed with the eye of the media on them.

Play your sport well, practice hard and play hard. Once the world notices that you are a fighter, irrespective of you losing a game, you will win respect. That is what a sportsperson should play for. Respect, which ofcourse will grow if you win consistently, but we know that isn't a cakewalk, especially in global sports. An Australia did not dominate cricket forever. It's hard work through the 80s and 90s made it a top team for almost two decades. Michael Jordan did not become a hero overnight. Roger Federer did not have a two-year winning streak because of good luck. Dedication, hard work and single mindedness only pays! Sania could do well to concentrate only on tennis for the next few years in her life. A sportsperson's career is short-lived. They have to achieve a lot in very little time. There is time after it for everything else.

An interesting fact that I came across while I was looking for photographs of Sania and Saina to put on this post. I came across Saina's pictures, most of which were of her playing badminton. No glamour, no social dos, just plain, sweaty, in-action pictures. Pictures of Sania, on the other hand,  were mainly glamour shots, or shots on the court, which did not focus on her play as much as it did on her skirt and other features.

Yes, I would blame the media more than I would blame Sania for this, but there is never smoke without fire. Steffi Graf and Martina Hingis, both, infinitely clicked more than Sania, definitely were known more for their game than for their glamour and glamourous they both were.

Saina, it would be great if you continue to maintain your poise and win more glory and fame through your sport. Sania, I wish you do the same and win many more tournaments for India and regain our respect and love. And incase you forgot, your Russian clone Anna Kournikova - never won a major title in her short tennis career! 

Now is the time...to act!

It has been over a month since the Bombay attacks, and apart from increased pressure on Pakistan, a few PILs and some candle light marches nothing has changed.

 Well, that is not entirely correct. Some things have changed. People have moved on, expectedly. I obviously did not expect people to mope about this and not earn their daily bread. While we can, we have to catch our evening trains from VT station to get back home, or grab a beer at Leopold's. The Taj and the Trident have opened their doors to customers and people have yet again begun talking about the solidarity of the city and its ability to bounce back.

However, I am still anguished. I don't like this nonchalance. The new mantra - getting back to normal life is our answer to terrorism - is the poorest excuse I've known for us being unable to do anything significant.

Oh please!!! Like the terrorists will stop because of this! Do we honestly think they are going to feel it’s a waste of their time because Bombay was back on her feet in no time? Let us not be under any false notion that only Bombay has this ability!!

New York and London were back on their feet very quickly too. None of these cities can afford to sit on their bottoms and whimper. They are global financial hubs and world economy will plummet further if they did. So let's, for God's sake, stop producing such statements to hide our incapability and accept that we still have not done anything of significance to prevent the next attack.

What the US did post 9/11 is something that we need to do and in double quick time. We were and still are sitting ducks. We need to ensure that we have sufficient multi layered checks at different points of entry to all cities. Yes, I do understand that it is probably impossible to have a foolproof plan, but the least we can do is ensure strong vigilance and not provide easy access to these lowbred.

We need to fast develop a homeland security strategy. Indian technocrats need to fast update their skills and formulate a bird's eye-view level strategy and then zoom in to different levels, identify the issues and formulate strategies based on that. These could well form the cornerstone of the ground level operational strategies that was so found wanting during the recent attacks.

We need to develop a two-pronged approach - development and security. One cannot sustain without the other and we all know how developed we are. What development, you may ask - education, basic amenities, critical infrastructure, etc. We have a lot to do even now and the ever-expanding population is no help in this anyway. We need to up the ante on our investment in our people, our public health and education.

India needs to have stronger and real-time information sharing, quick decision making powers, no bureaucracy and redo our existing strategies. Having an NSG platoon in each of the metros in not a solution. They cannot restrict terrorism but merely counter it. A counterterrorism initiative needs to be a synergy between a various intelligence agencies.

Work with the international community - something we haven't done much of over the last few years. Well, we aren't entirely to be blamed in this regard, thanks to the chaotic neighbours we have around us. We need to strengthen relations beyond this region and the information and knowledge shared with these countries can only help us manifold. Terrorism is not just a national threat, but also a global one.

India needs to set higher standards for herself. Why? Because she needs to! We need to create postgraduate level courses in emergency preparedness. Right now, we can probably send some bright minds to other countries to learn and implement what they have from their experiences. We can then put it in a learning format for students in India and train them. Combat training is not the only thing.

It is not that the US is not a threat anymore post 9/11. It is very much a threat, but they are better prepared. India's regression variable is corruption. We need stronger systems and quick punitive action against those implicated.

The key word is speed - speed in thought, in action and implementation. We virtually have our backs to the wall and the only way from here is forward.

We have it in us to be a champion country. I end this post with the words of Vince Lombardi, "I firmly believe that any man's finest hour - his greatest fulfillment to all he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious!"

Let us work our hearts out, please!!

Less talk, more action...please!

I am sick and tired of everyone lashing out at politicians for the security lapse concerning the recent terrorist attacks on India's business capital. I am not backing the actions of politicians, but merely questioning the importance of this finger-pointing post the event. What is the rationale behind this so-called rational anger?

Yes, we have suffered casualties and we should mourn them. However, let us remind ourselves every day that we cannot afford to have repeat telecasts of this gory episode.

By blaming the establishment, we are giving them the upper hand and letting them continue to believe that we need them for our safety and well-being. We don't!! The politicians of our country should be made to realise that they are dispensable and they are! After all, aren't the cemeteries of the world are full of indispensable men?

That Narendra Modi came to south Bombay, and was also followed by Vilasrao Deshmukh has become a furore. That L K Advani and Manmohan Singh came separately instead of coming together has become a talking point in most of the channels.

What is the point of all this now? What was the point of all this even when the commandos were fighting it out? We know we have elected an incompetent bunch and that even the other parties have leaders who seem more interested in getting to those coveted chairs, but not in doing anything to make it worth each vote that helped them get there.

Time and again, politicians have been an easy target of public ire but their thick skin prevents our pain from tugging at their hearts. So let us not waste our justifiable anger, energy, time and even thoughts on these angels with a facade.

Rather, the need of the hour is a focused approach to channelise this energy and wrath to bring out practical solutions to ensure that we don't have to endure such barbaric incidents again. What we also need to do is ensure that India and Bombay (I still love to call her Bombay) regain their true cosmopolitan nature and not be coerced by a radical who today wants to create a divisive Bombay or others who have forever played religious politics.

I do not know what the pragmatic solutions are. I hope this post generates a discussion where people contribute ideas to make this country a better place to live in. My suggestions might sound naive, but I want to list my thoughts here with the hope that a group of people capable of making these decisions, stumble on this blog and strive to create a difference.  Let me assure you that my contribution towards making a positive difference will be unrelenting!

Here are some of the questions that need answers:

• Is private governance a possibility? What are its pros and cons?
  
• Why not let corporations handle various cities or at least parts of cities like the Tatas manage Jamshedpur?
  
• Isn't it high time we amended our constitution after having almost entirely absorbed the British constitution in 1948?
  
• Can we have a judicial system that will deliver speedy justice?
  
• Can we have a sound law and order system that will ensure that the guilty are indeed brought to the book and not circumvent the long winding legal system?
  
• National security is of paramount importance. Will it be given in the hands of someone capable?
  
• Can we finally move towards ensuring that the real needs of the masses are met, rather than playing religious and vote bank politics?
  
• Can we please have a plan to address various concerns plaguing our country today?
  
• Can we also have people accountable for their duty?
  
• Can we have deadlines for all that we plan to do and actually be transparent about their completion or otherwise?
  
• Can we have better infrastructure and not build bridges and transport systems that take decades to complete?
  
• Can we please have less talk and more constructive action?

It is high time!!!

Mumbai kiske baap ka hai?

I thought long and hard, whether I should even write this post. But the relentless acts of terrorism drove me to vent my feelings. Recently, to A N Roy's comment that "Mumbai kisi ke baap ka nahi hai," Raj Thackeray said, "come to the road after you take your uniform off and you will see Mumbai kiske baap ka hai."

Sorry Raj, you couldn't be further from the truth. Apart from a few of the local Mumbai cops who probably are Maharastrians, Mumbai's security is today being handled by the Army and the NSG, in addition to the RPF and other security agencies. The dadagiri of his Marathi manoos mob was nowhere to be seen. He sure realised they would not have the impact on the terrorists that they usually have on the hapless yet tolerant Mumbaikars.

At the time of writing this post, the Taj has been evacuated with one injured terrorist still in and firing rounds. Parts of the heritage building has been ablaze for long and restoration of its splendour will take quite some time. However the burns and scars on the psyche of the average Mumbaikar will take a long time to even begin healing.

Questions have been raised on how the 20-25 terrorists entered the city and how they have managed to survive for so long. 

However the imperative questions are:

• When are we (Mumbai and India) going to be well-equipped to handle a crisis?
  
• Are we so spineless that we believe we are condemned to such an inept polity?

Be it the regular floods during the monsoon, or the several dastardly acts of terrorism - why are we willing to put up with the inefficiencies of the government and lead a normal life the very next minute? Time and again the media has hyped the 'spirit of Mumbai' and many of us will feel proud that we are part of it.

Who are we fooling? The false sense of pride we possess just because we got back on our feet and headed to our workplaces, schools and colleges immediately is ludicrous. I have a request to the media: please don't extol the spirit of Mumbai anymore. We don't need it.

What we need is a mass awakening! One that shakes the very roots of this country's democracy and gives her its true meaning with purposeful politicians at the helm. Our national security has become a joke and with an imbecile in Shivraj Patil as the home minister and a seemingly impotent prime minister - who I think is best suited to only being the finance minister - I fear for our country!

Make no mistake, I am not anti-UPA or pro-BJP or for or against any other party. All I want is a good samaritan who will not let us down when in despair. Today, we are stuck between the devil and the dead sea with no credible options in sight. We live in perpetual hope that the next government will make things better and each time we are disappointed. I am almost despondent with our current state of affairs and there is truly a need for a messiah!

I know for a fact that in a day or at the most two, Mumbai will be bounce back to normal! But I don't want her to. Public memory is known to be short, but I want the scars to remain fresh for a really long time. Only then will we even act. We need to do something to show our solidarity but enough of the subtlety. No, I am not propogating violence to achieve this, but the educated folks can definitely think of dignified and innovative ways to let our anguish be known. If we show that Mumbai and India wont take nonsense anymore from our leaders, they are bound to take notice and behave themselves better and actually do some good sooner rather than later.

Let us not be selfish and look only to our lives. Let us work towards building a better tomorrow for ourselves and the others around us. The US could do it after 9/11 and I am sure we can do the same if we are selfless and want to live in a city that deserves a lot more than it gets now.

My heart reaches out to the families of the martyrs. It is also noteworthy that the employees of the Taj and the Oberoi epitomised the spirit of the hospitality industry and ensured that their guests were safe as much as possible. I thank all of you on behalf of this magnificent city.

AN Roy's words still ring in my ears - "Mumbai kisike baap ka nahi hai." He meant it differently in a separate context, and he is right - I feel Mumbai is that orphan for whom nobody cares!

Some doubts

With the world in financial turmoil, it is said that all nations are in debt. What I am unable to understand, if everyone owes someone else money, where did all the money go?

I recently went to a Food Bazaar and lost my way to find myself in the pets area. My eyes immediately went to a packet of dog food. It said, "new, improved and tasty". I ask, who tests it?

Late this Sunday evening, I decided to watch the Leonardo DiCaprio movie, the Aviator. I was reminded of the fact that the black box of an aircraft is indestructible and cannot be damaged during a plane crash. Why did no one think of making the entire airplane of that material?

With IPR (Intellectual Property Rights) gaining prominence in recent times, this is an interesting thought. Who copyrighted the copyright symbol? © I think I should copyright this ingenious question!!

Somebody please help me with this; beats me! Is it possible to cry under water?

A pack of stray dogs in my colony are invariably lazing and basking in the sun. They probably are the laziest of all animals (Apologies dog-lovers, this is just an observation). Isn't it then unfair that people say, "you have been working like a dog," when all these faithful friends do, is sit around all day?

I would love some answers....you got any?

Wonder phrases

With not many throwing rotten eggs and tomatoes on me, I once again take the risk of putting up few more ‘Wonder Phrases’. You would have heard the more common, “If money doesn’t grow on trees, why do banks have branches?” Here are some more in the same genre.

• Is it fruitless to have vegetables?
  
• Ever wondered why funeral starts with the word fun?
  
• Can you enjoy a party fully?
  
• Can you expect a high-rise of flats?
  
• Why doesn’t lipstick do what it is meant to?
  
• If a deaf person were summoned to court, would it still be called a hearing?
  
• How is that you are still sitting, when you already sat?
  
• Why is it called a building when it is already built?
  
• In a stadium, why do they call it the stands, when you sit there?
  
• Is a dyslexic poet inverse?