The Year gone by...

There are times when one sits back to review the times gone by... At the end of the year is usually time for introspection and assessment of what has gone by and what is in store for the future..

Professionally, in October the opportunity to move back into HR came by in a big way.. Having gone through a rigorous round or two of interviews, the opportunity to lead a programme and be part of the Global HR organisation in a corporate environment came my way. This was something that gave me great pleasure while causing a bit of disruption.. Had to pack my bags and move to Paris from Lytham. So far so good..

Life in Paris has been pretty good so far and living in the middle of the city is a far cry from the times in Lytham. The Buzz and the crowd is reminiscent of being in London and not a quite outpost! At the same time, it has been great to be able to walk to historic points of interest during the weekends.

The year started on a promising note and seems to have gone well predominantly.. There was a lot to look for in 2010 and I have few regrets about any so far.. Times have been tough but enjoyable.. Challenges have been many both professionally and Personally but overcoming them has been fruitful.

I do miss the Rotary Fellowship and the Masonic meetings, but should be able to catch up on return to Lytham in the future. Friends are the biggest "transient Loss". Inability to spend time with close friends as much as I used to is a pain.. but the hope that is positive is in the view that they are there for you at all times..And an opportunity to find new friends in Paris..

One of the highlights of this year has been the fact that I have established contact with a couple of old friends from University. Just pray and hope I am able to continue to be in touch with them.

And more importantly established contact with an old friend and soulmate from Cambridge who has given me immense pleasure.. Just hope that again is a string which does not break..

As to the future, who knows what is in hold. But, I look forward to it with keen anticipation and positive faith. Surely it will go better and better is my optimistic view. While I am loath to believe things won't go wrong, I am confident challenges will be overcome. That is part of living life..

Thank you Facebook.. Thank you Twitter.. Thank you Linked in and more than everything thanks to people who stood by me and supported me through out the year. And continue to do so..

Snow & Ice

I never talk of ice
Or the snow that glitters nice
Or of the icy crunchy snow
Of that I do not know...

The crunch that sounds beneath my feet
As my sole and ice compete
When in the morning as I wake
I see more than a single white snow flake..

I look out of the iced window
The look out seems so very low
Because the snow fell all night
It has left behind its icicles of white!!

God's Sense of Humour in Facebook

Irrespective of your faith and beliefs — it seems you can now befriend God on Facebook. And he has a wicked sense of humour.

Impersonating people on online services isn't unique to Facebook — Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Steve Ballmer, John Howard and Barrack Obama have all had high profile fakers.

But when a deity appears on Facebook, one has to wonder who would dare risking the wrath of eternal damnation for the heavenly identity theft.

So, when I saw pictures of God's Facebook page floating round the internet, I figured he was connecting in via PG/IP (pearly gates / internet protocol).

Looking at His profile, I was shocked to discover He has a surprisingly wicked sense of humour.

"God is high like a kite… literally cuz I'm in da sky" reads one of his status lines.

"God is borrrrrrrrrrred lol" reads another.

God has been involved in creating many new groups on Facebook including Garden of Eden (with suitably paradisical iconography), and counts Adam and Eve among his top friends (note, Adam and Eve are listed as being in a relationship, tsk tsk).

With regard to the Garden of Eden, the group rules are "No shirt, no shoes, no sin, no problem! Stay away from the apples, seriously."

In a possible reference to Channel 9's Eddie Maguire, God sent Eve an online gift of a dummy, with the message: "it's the pain of childbirth! Hope that apple was worth it. Btw ur just a rib. Probably why Adam wanted to BONE you. LOL!"

Anyway, see if you can hit God up to become one of his friends. Right now, he's just "sittin' around being omnipotent." Trouble is, searching Facebook for "God" yields no results — perhaps He is being deliberately mysterious, or maybe it's just an invite-only party for now.

Truly the mysterious ways of the "Almighty" !!

Shudra Samrat and the modern day pilferage!!

I remember my dad once tell someone - In Karunanidhi's government, Money moved while in Jayalalitha's government, money moved & files moved. May his soul RiP.

How can a small and trivial matter of no national significance such as the Rs 100,000 Crores Spectrum Fraud ever come in the way of 'Shudra Samrat' (Emperor of Shudras!!!) expressing his heart-felt camaraderie to his able lieutenant Dalit Raja?

In case you are wondering about the Shudra Samrat - Recently I read an article that reflected and I quote “Pleased with Karunanidhi’s recent remarks questioning the “engineering qualifications” of Lord Ram, a group of backward and scheduled caste sadhus and mahants of Ayodhya have decided to honour Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M Karunanidhi with the title of 'Shudra Samrat' (Emperor of Shudras!!!). Mahant Jugal Kishore Sharan Shastri, Convenor of a social movement forum called Ayodhya Ki Awaaz said, a delegation of sadhus of the Shudra community from Ayodhya will go to Tamil Nadu after Gandhi Jayanti to felicitate Karunanidhi.”

Can the 'Shudra Samrat' think he can fool the country by talking about the ‘Divine’ Dalit-hood of A. Raja. To say that many people are making much of Spectrum Fraud only because A. Raja is a Dalit is not only foolish but also patently absurd. Luckily for the people of this country Nira Radia is not a Dalit, else Karunanidhi would have raised the same self-serving claim of Dalit-hood in respect of Nira Radia’s case too. Just as Raja and his DMK team in Chennai are for maximum corruption in the shortest possible time, without getting caught by the Police or the CBI, the Telecom Companies are pro-profit (maximum profit) and are neither pro-dalit nor anti-dalit.

The Dalit organizations in India that remain silent on the Spectrum Fraud of A. Raja and the politically filial comments of Karunanidhi on the Dalit-hood of Raja, have covered themselves with everlasting disgrace by giving a permanently wrong signal to the country as a whole that all the ‘Dalit’ Ministers in India are as a rule and by convention and habit, thoroughly corrupt

In this context I endorse the following acidic comment of Dr Subramanian Swamy(Though I personally do not hold him also in high esteem and see him as a self serving opportunist)...

“The absurd and ridiculous claim of the DMK leader Mr. Karunanidhi that action against telecom minister Mr. A. Raja on corruption charges is being sought by those of upper castes on the ground that Raja is a dalit, deserves to be condemned as typically hypocritical of him. When I was pursuing corruption cases against Ramakrishna Hegde and J. Jayalalitha, Mr. Karunanidhi had praised me. He did not raise the caste issue then. In fact he invited me to dinner once to congratulate me for pursuing Jayalalitha by filing cases. Mr. Karunanidhi's real fear now is that his family members are also on the take in this scam.”

“Mr. Raja has committed the most monumental corruption in the history of the world in the allotment of 2g spectrum. It has cost the nation Rs. 100,000 crores which is now confirmed by the recent auction going on in 3g spectrum. Once convicted for the corruption in 2g spectrum allocation Raja's name will find a place in the hall of shame for sure.”

In my view, Raja being a dalit has nothing to do with the issue of Spectrum Fraud. The fact of the matter is that in our nasty coalition politics of cold-blooded opportunism today anything goes and it means cost to the exchequer..

I hang my head in shame as an Indian and Tamilian..

Aussie Ashes?

The hype of the Ashes is quite overwhelming.. But, there are times I quite enjoy the hyperbole because it involves the incorrigible arrogance of the Aussies and the everlasting hope and wish list of the Poms. Well the 2010 Ashes has started with a bang..

After all the hyperbole and the statements in the press, Three telling statements have been made on the pitch...

At the first test, in the 2nd innings of the match, Numbers 1, 2 and 3 from England stood up and showed some spine.. and the Aussie Spearhead did a Harmison.

And in the 2nd test today, Anderson showed up the bane of modern day batsmen - inability to play genuine swing..

I think that this is enough to make you believe that Strauss will be coming back with the Ashes and also a small packet of fresh Ash - of the Aussie bulldog in Ricky Ponting. And all my cricket loving friends in Lytham am sure are begining to chuckle quietly and are rubbing their hands in anticipation..

Ponting is no Tendulkar and that is being shown up .. I believe it was not long ago after being battered in India that he said that if Tendulkar can score at this age, so can he. But, his inability to avoid lunging forward is putting paid to such hopes and makes his claims tall.. At the same time, let us not write him off. He is tenacious to say the least and does not want to give up his hold on the leash easily.. Anderson will have to make the ball talk a few more times in this series for the Jaws to loosen and the hold to fall apart..

Michael Clark has immense talent. No doubt. But, he is not fit nor does he have the discipline to make it really big in Test Cricket. He will be a good test player but never a great test player and this performance if not arrested soon will undo his captaincy hopes..About Markus North, the less said the better.

The Aussie 1 & 2 are all said and done makeshift and that does show up..

Let us not celebrate the Ashes too soon and be lopsided about this.. I am not one bit convinced that the English Middle order is sound enough to survive a tight examination.. Petersen I have reservations about, Collingwood at best is a gritty fighter and Bell according to me is batting a little too low down the order..

At the same time, the Poms are a better bowling side and have more discipline and maturity.. This is important and will play the final call in the decision of the series. In Anderson and Finn, the Poms have a great bowling starting line and Broad does widen this net. Swann despite his slow start is afterall the world's most recognised spinner today..Against this the Aussies have babes with the ball..

But, beware of the Aussie spirit of never say die.. Play to your potential and come back with the Ashes tucked in your bags..

Life in Paris...

A city of Romance and love.. A place full of great art and museums.. a culture driven by Cafes & Fine wines with Gourmet food..Should one than complain about living in Paris?

Going into work at half 7 in the morning and not finishing till after 7 in the evening on an average doesn't really give you much time to sample the wares, does it? Even though one might enjoy the work truly, sense a professional satisfaction in what one is doing with ambition & drive to achieve more, there is a slight regret - that time in a day is too little to enjoy the sights and lights of Paris..

Making do with what time is available in the weekends with Deepika in Paris has enabled us to so far manage to catch the "Paris Eye" one night a couple of weeks back and tasting the samples of the Christmas Fayre in Champs Elysee has been all that we have so far managed in the evenings..

And yes the Cathedral of Notre Dame and the old Conciergie was caught last weekend.. The under renovation St Chapelle with its high stained glass windows was also visited..

Escaped the bitter chill and knee deep snow in UK, though it has not been any less cold in Paris.. Atleast it has been drier.

Ah I do miss Lytham.. my friends, Rotary and office in Ballam Road..I suppose you give up some to get something.. and I can always get my dose of the fix when I get to see them once in a while. The next trip being due on the 10th night of this month...

Au revoir pour le moment, et je serai de retour de goûter à la chaleur de Lytham et Lythamites bientôt ..

Missing companionship

Alone I walk the road..
Dark nights and cold winter sun
Leaves you yearning for warmth.
When sleep comes not
To dream of sweet companions close
Like Wine would pair with Diner's dishes

Lonely do these thoughts make me
That draw the blood of my precious life
Replace with ever flowing pain
To bless my life with coursing strife

Knowing that there out in the world is some one who cares and desires you but is through circumstances far away makes the yearning more poignant..but that is the way of life. Loneliness is always such and life is full of such challenges.. I suppose no one ever said that you get roses without thorns..

The "Common Disaster" games - New Delhi 2010

In today's newspapers, there was a lot of credit being claimed for India being the worlds 3rd most powerful Country. At the same time it was obvious that India and Delhi in particular has dismally failed to get the infrastructure ready for the forthcoming commonwealth games.

All claims of Advancement or being a modern day Economic superpower falls flat when you cannot build walk way bridges that stand up properly or get the residential premises ready in time.. Forget about hosting the games successfully on the track and field.

On top of this we have a minister supposedly claiming that the standards of hygiene are different between Indian expectations and Others. That is really shameful. Hygiene world over has to be of a standard that is acceptable and India cannot claim otherwise.

When one of the truly international sports personality from India, Saina N stated that India was far behind some of the other countries in her preparedness for hosting an international sporting event, it was rubbished and she was pulled up by one and all. Do the events of this morning not prove her right?

India has a long way to go before claiming to be a world super power - Economically or in any other form..as long as it does not live upto standard quality parameters on Infrastructure builds.

It is sad that India is still way behind other newer countries when it comes to pride in herself and focus on delivery of commitments. I truly hope we are not going to witness a country become a laughing stock in International Sports due to the failures of this Common Wealth Games. Hope it does not become a Common Disaster games...

CREATIONISM & EVOLUTION

Stephen Hawking has claimed in his latest offering "The universe was formed because of laws of physics and not divine intervention"... which has led to an uproar amongst the church and other religious entities which subscribe to the view of "Creationism".

I quite agree with him on this subject. It is not necessary to invoke God to light the blue touch paper and set the Universe going. Everything that is defined as illogical but real, has had a scientific and logical explanation come its way in due course. And it is only time before what is unexplained today is explained tomorrow..

I read somewhere that "Persistence and Determination" alone are omnipotent. If that is true, how can Creationism come into play? It has to be a persistant and irrevocable change to the physical and chemical dynamics seen on earth that has created new and newer life and geology. I cannot see any hand of GOD in this to be honest.

While I have no arguement against the belief on FAITH which can take place in multiple forms and different religious practices, I do not appreciate it when that starts to infringe on the realms of Logic, Analysis, Facts and Scientific deduction.. Please keep the 2 out of each other's hair and let each exist in its own realm..

Nostalgia - A true elixir of pleasure

Memories of a decade ago.. "the lazy mornings and carefree approach to life & relationships"

Opened by the tiniest of triggers to unleash a powerful emotional liberation that few are fortunate to experience..How the occasional detour down memory lane can give your spirits a significant lift. The keen anticipation, the pleasure of making an effort, the appreciations & joy in the eyes of the recipient and relaxed comfort of being in the presence of one who understands the other completely and supports the calls being made..

No alcohol or drugs and other artificial intoxicant can ever give you the lift..At the same time none of these substances can match the downward spiral, memories can lead you on to if you don't balance the 2.

Meeting someone from your past.. visiting some places where you have fond memories from.. tasting some food that you have not had an opportunity to eat for decades or reminders from your childhood.. hearing a voice from the past: each of these is worth its weight in gold and not to be lost..

The Highlands Holiday

Somewhere and sometime back I had read about the Scottish Highlands as being a pure and unadulterated terrain of stunning beauty and a land of Glens and Lochs.. I had the good fortune of seeing it firsthand this last week when I holidayed in Northern Highlands with my wife and inlaws and my co sister's parents.

We started off with a brief stop at the Lakes in Cumbria (Windermere) for some picnic breakfast before driving to Edinburgh along the scenic route. A great drive across northern Cumbria and Yorkshire before getting to Scotland. After spending a couple of days in Edinburgh, drove to a small village on the outskirts of Alness about 25 miles north of Inverness.

As Charles Nicole said,

Oh, Scotland fair. Land of the free,
Where we've got the Thistle so dear,
Likewise the Lily, the Hawthorn Tree,
An' the sparkling water so clear

Everywhere we went we saw a country full of sparkling waters, Thistles and Hawthorne trees that took our breath away. The drive up to Durness was stunning for the sheer geography of the terrain. The smoo Caves were stunning and though we missed our chance to explore the caves, we did get a view of the stunning waterfalls inside the caves.

Truly for me I quote
"An' tho' I yet may be from home,
However far that it may be,
Thro' all the places that I roam,
Scotland will still be dear to me"

Great Hosts - Suman & Rimpi

It has been a very pleasent stay so far in Oslo. Deepika's cousin Rimpi and his wife Suman have been exemplary in their warmth and sharing that it has made a difficult guy like me feel at home. Their willingness to reach out and offer most nay, everything to make you comfortable brings moisture to your eyes and lifts your heart.

For one who is very reluctant to stay in others places and prefers to stay in Hotels, it was a truly wonderful experience and they deserve the best of thanks and gratitude..

Fresh hot food on table, warmth of friendship and a uniqueness of humour.. keeps the days open. And despite sitting at home for part of the day when my head was screaming to go out and see more of the city, I found myself accepting the laid back flow of things..

May Rimpi and Suman have a great life and continue to be such good hosts to one and all... Best wishes to them..

The First Leadership Debate: Angry Dog Vs Boiled Lobster Vs Cheeky Tortoise

The Prime ministerial debate or leadership debate of the season and this election took place in ITV last night.

Contrary to most commentators, my view was that Cameron looked jittery and nervous, Brown arrogant and blustery while Clegg came across as a sauve and thoughtful individual.

Cameron was looking like a boiled lobster to be honest and did not show the confidence of the PM in waiting nor did he come across with assurance in some of the key issues debated.

Brown was over the top in terms of aggression and he seemed more like a bull dog chewing his chops as his jowls danced away to glory. He seemed more in stress than come across as the assured and exprienced minister that he is.

Nick Clegg was the best of the lot. He is coming across as the true third alternate to the big guns and seems to have answers. Though there were a few issues like Policing and Education where he did not have full answers.

Let us wait for the next couple of debates before making a call and it would be great for British politics if the LD win with their first full majority in the parliament riding on the back of the modest and careful Clegg.. As the saying goes, Tortoises do win!

Walks in English country side - Grindleford and Padely Gorge

The grass is always seen as green on the other side of the river. It is something that man has always lived with and believed in. After a few walks in England, I realise that one has to open our eyes and look in the immediate vicinity to realise that you do not have to cross the river to get a green pasture.

On a not too wet and windy Easter weekend, we decided to have a hike in the Peak district of England bordering Derbyshire and Yorkshire. The choice fell on the Grindleford Walk and around the Padley gorge area. A place of pristine green Oaks and native wild life with barely formed walk ways.

We started the walk from "wood Pole" car park and took to the trails down hill and kept walking through boulders and rough hewn rocks that led one along the sides of the brook and litte streams. As the waters gathered to become a full and freely flowing book, the dry and rough country side evolved into a green belt and through our walk, we were entertained by the singing of the birds and the gurgling waters as it found its own way through the hills. It was to say the least soothing to the ears and pleasing to the eye.

At the end of the walk, we wanted more of a holiday in the UK and have decided to do more UK holidays this year..

Migration - Friends departing

Immigrant population creating a social chaos in the UK is a very touchy and highly debated subject today. More so as the general elections is around the corner.

The influx of East Europeans and Asians and Afro Carribeans or Africans into the UK, impacts us not much apart from the fact that we get cheaper labour to deliver some key maintenance work on our properties currently.

But, what does impact us is the fact that some good friends are looking for greener pastures away from the Green Island and some are planning a return to their home land in India.

Lytham and the local Ethnic Asian community will be loosing some great characters in the Beauty and charm of the 2 little ones - Rhea and Vidhushi as they move with their parents to newer lands, in Neha a literary genius and in Vinay a quite and calming presence around chaos and hidden talents in play acting. In Hitesh the local community will loose a great bufoon with a talent to make others laugh and more so laugh at himself and well Gargi has some time to move on and so we shall keep an ode to her for another time..

The last 24 months of association with each of them individually and as families has been very fruitful, energising, happy and great fun. Like all friends time has not always passed by soothingly as each of are individuals with a mind of our own, but the meetings have always ended with a warm hug and a desire to meet again.

Where ever you guys move, may you have a great time in future and remember to be in touch with the close knit lytham family of friends.

All the best.

Bal Thackeray - A Bully

Bal Thackeray is probably the most senior of all active politicians in India today.

Though he has been around for over four decades, Thackeray has never once propounded a progressive agenda for Maharashtra or laid out his vision of how the state can flourish.

All his agenda has always been to rid Bombay of the communities that he claimed were oppressing the Maharashtrian people: South Indians and Gujaratis. Contrary to what he may claim, even Thackeray’s own family is not from Bombay, the Shiv Sena treated them as its natural constituency.

Since those early beginnings, Thackeray’s agenda has hardly wavered. It has been based on telling Maharashtrians that they are being discriminated against and that only the Shiv Sena will fight for their rights. All that changes are the targets of Thackeray’s ire. He forgave Gujaratis fairly early on but till the late-70s was still aggressively anti-South Indian. In the 80s, he sensed the makings of a Hindu backlash and promptly shifted to an anti-Muslim agenda. That drove the Sena closer to the BJP but in recent years as diminishing returns have set in on that agenda, Thackeray has decided to pick on people from UP and Bihar who, he claims, are stealing the jobs meant for Maharashtrians.

It is instructive that at the end of over four decades in existence, all of them with Thackeray as its supreme leader the Shiv Sena still has no positive agenda to inspire Maharashtrians.

Despite 40-plus years of presence, no matter how much Thackeray raves and rants, political power seems far away. Worse still, as his age catches up with him, his legacy (such as it is) also seems in danger of slipping away. When Thackeray does ultimately dies, the Sena will wither and die. Its place will be taken by the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, the breakaway organisation founded by Thackeray’s nephew Raj.

One reason why Raj succeeded in making a relatively strong showing at the last election was because he adopted his uncle’s old strategy. He appealed to unemployed Marathi youth and capitalised on the frustrations of the Maharashtrian middle class. Had Maharashtra been left behind? Were Maharashtrians being marginalised in Bombay? Had North Indians taken all the jobs? And so on.

Stung by his nephew’s success and dismayed by the failure of his son and heir apparent, the generally soft-spoken Uddhav, to mobilise the Marathi masses, Thackeray decided that the Shiv Sena needed to return to the intimidation of old.

The question is: can the Congress government in Maharashtra guarantee law and order in Bombay? Can he stand up to the sort of bullying that we have come to know so well over the last 40 years? History shows us that each time Thackeray has found an opponent who fights back, the Sena backs down. The only language Thackeray understands is strength.

Sadly, that is not a language that many speak. And Bombay pays the price.

Lack of skilled workers - Social Impact

We keep seeing that the unemployment rates continue to rise, there are still over 2.5 million jobs unfilled in the US and well over 4 million in Europe because of a shortage of skilled workers.

These problems cannot be resolved without improving the mobility of skilled workers through international standardization of education and training is crucial to addressing this shortage. In the absence of international standards, companies are in a position to create programmes to qualify employees and their counterparts around the world, but fail to do so at it hits the lower strata of priorities while money is short.

Raising high school standards and graduation rates is equally important to addressing the skills gap at all levels in the organization, but we need to tighten the way schools are run and ocational training is provided to ensure that school leavers have jobs to go into.It is essential to clarify the lines between technical training and education.

This needs redressal at a political level by making sure that Immigration policies in the affected countries are transparent and takes into consideration the protection of the local working population while meeting the infrastructure and social necessities. Otherwise, progress will not happen.

TIGER TRADE

Only 350 wild tigers remain in Asia's Mekong River region, according to a new report from the conservation nonprofit WWF, which says the loss is being driven by trade in tiger parts.

The violence and selfish Man has carried the myth of Tiger power in his physche and gone about killing such wonderful animals. It is essential that we leave them to roam in the wild and in the process destroyed one of the most majestic animals on Earth..

There is nothing more beautiful and magnificent than to see these big cats roaming wild and living their life in the natural environments. Seeing them hunt their prey and share a meal with the group.

The numbers of tigers in the wild in Southeast Asia have dropped by more than 70 percent in a little more than a decade.

WWF says there were an estimated 12-hundred tigers in the Greater Mekong region during the last “Year of the Tiger” in 1998. Today, WWF estimates there are only about 350 there.

Wild tigers have even been wiped out in several reserves set up to protect them.

The Greater Mekong region includes China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. The reason for the drop? WWF says the tiger crisis has developed because of deliberate and large-scale illegal hunting of tigers for body parts, mostly for use in traditional medicine. Here, tiger parts are seen displayed for sale on a street in Bangkok.

Enforcement of poaching has had limited success, such as these scenes from Vietnam where illegally poached tigers and carcasses were confiscated by authorities. The WWF hopes to raise awareness and funds to stop the poaching.

According to the Chinese Zodiac, 2010 is the Year of the Tiger. And later this month, ministers from 13 tiger range countries will meet in Thailand for a conference on tiger conservation. It’s hoped the governments will agree on future needs in protecting this big cat from extinction.

AVATAR

Just got back home after watching the highly talked about film AVATAR. Wish I had sent my AVATAR to watch it.. Personally found it highly unimaginative and full of cliched fantasies.. More like the dreams of a young boy growing up with comics and not serious reading!

Having said that, I must admit that most Bollywood films are no different but made less professionaly and the special effects are not as good. I really freaked out on the effects of the background - Nature than the actual actions in the film.

I found splendour of the forests and the mountains far more inspiring than the juvenile releases of the testosterone pumped up war mongers.

But, the message that the film released in terms of "living in harmony with nature" should be remembered and not lost..

India is for Indians

This ridiculous controversy abouut Mumbai being for Maharashtrians is one of the worst regionalisms I have come across in India. This is quite alike saying that Bangalore is for Kannadigas and Calcutta is for Bengalis and Madras is for Tamilians etc.

If it were not for the fact that the matter is painful, I would laugh at such pathetic sentiments. Let people not forget that the Nation and Patriotism comes above any other consideration. To turn around and play politics with National Unity is worse than having criminals in the Indian Political arena. Or further criminalisation of the Indian Political agenda and shows a total lack of intellect..

People like the Thackerys deserve to be treated with contempt they deserve and any one who propogate narrow & regionally biased politics need to be banded together and tried for sedition and put behind bars.

Where is the sense of National Pride in a country which is seen world over as "Religiously Tolerant" and where "Diversity is bringing Unity"?

Let Shiv Sena and their cohorts not forget that the big metropolis in India have their nuts and bolts made up of the Biharis, Bhaiyas, Tamils, Gujaratis and so on so forth. If we were to move them to respective states, Mumbais, Chennais, Bangalores will cease to exist.

For God's sake see reason..

Perfect and Imperfect

Is life really black and white? Do we really see a person as perfect or imperfect or do we have the ability to accept that there is always a blend of both..

I wish mankind had the ability to accept faults and live with that rather than make the mistake of putting people on pedestals and make the fall very painful to live through. No one is perfect and all of us carry the ability to work on our failings while building on our goodness. But critical for that to happen is the need for self realisation, more so by the others around you. And give you a lifting hand. I wish the world had more people lending a hand to lift and less to put hands on your head to keep you down..

Unfortunately the biggest culprits who fail in this are ones professing value systems drive by the "Gita" and hiding behind their own inabilty to be gracious in accepting apologies and showing compassion through forgiveness. These people tend to see only the blacks around them and not the whites and carry judgemental prejudices. They suffer and make others suffer along with them.

I pray to the whole world and mankind that we try and climb out of this morass and try to be more generous about sharing to the wider community and not just immediate circle, be more kind and forgiving in principle. Look to help people live life fully and not in hurtful remorse but enlightened from learning from earlier mistakes.. May we try and live life moving forward...

16 & counting

If there is royalty in the sport of Tennis, I suspect that Roger Federer would be the Emperor undoubtedly. He has a presence about him and is the most popular of champions. The way he went about winning his 16th Grand Slam was almost unassuming and to the point of disdain for his opponent. But that would be far from truth. He is just such a great all round player and his supreme confidence in his ability to use his devine skills with the raquet that he comes across as someone who is almost arrogant on the court.

He played on the patience of the young Pup barking at his feet wanting nudge him over and on the G points, hit the lines unerringly. Never was he fazed about loosing his game and was comfortable in breaking back without much fuss.

If he continues to play this way for another 12 months, he could well be into 20 Grand Slams and over and let us not forget that all of them would be in singles - Unlike Evert or Navaratilova who have over 20 inclusive of doubles.

Over the last 3 decades we have seen some great champions - Ice man Bjorn Borg, Genius of McEnroe, Relentness of Sampras, Mercurial Agassi, with the greats like Lendl, Edberg, Wilander, Becker and others.. But none of them come close to Roger in terms of being human on court and warm as a sportsperson. And a diplomat to the core.. with the greatest of sportsmanship.

May your reign continue till you are ready to move on with other interests.

Belgian Challenge returns

Kim Clijsters and Justin Henin have proved something to the world of womens tour in ATP and also to the world at large about returning to competition after a break.

One won the challenge on return and the other almost. But both are winners in my mind and in the minds a major percentage of sports fans. Because they broke stereotypes. One returning as a mother and the other after finding life outside Tennis.

This years Australian Open finals for once was not the usual one sided affair with the William sisters domination. We have now seen Henin take Serena to the edge and the true champion that Serena is, she pulled through. But there is no doubt that the rest of the Grandslams going forward in 2010 won't be a cake walk for the world number 1 with the Eurasians and the Belgians given the Williams sisters a run for their money. That is defenitely good for the game.

A True Pillar of Post Independent Indian Politics has fallen!

In a world dominated by limited choices when it comes to character and integrity in the body of Indian Politics, there stood giant in Jyoti Basu. In his death, we have lost one of the strongest pillars of integrity and political decorum in the world of Indian politics. Politics which is mired in corruption, nepotism, criminalisation and dynastic practices.

From the time he entered the world of politics post his education in London he has stood for all that is there to admire in terms of commitment to the political party he was affiliated to and steadfast in his beliefs even though at times it looked very dogmatic and narrow.

Though he was a colossus who strode across the Indian political scene for more than half a century and had an unparalleled distinction of holding on to the reins of power continuously for over two decades in a turbulent state, his deportment was gentle, amiable and even sweet.

May he rest in peace.

Being too long out of touch

I met with an Old friend of mine after 1990 last week. I have not made the effort to be in touch with him and others since and never realised what I had lost in the process. A lot is said and written about how one gets busy with the mundane business of leading a life and working to make ends meet after you get married..or otherwise when you leave University and move on.

When I got to meet him in Mumbai last week, I realised how idiotic and senseless I had been in not having made efforts earlier. I cannot blame others for this as I am the one who has not been at one place for people to get in touch with.

It was great to catch up with my old friend and get to know about the others in our crowd and I came back with contacts for Jo, Viju and Tamal at the end of the day. Very Fulfilling.

My new year resolution is to keep in touch and make sure that we meet up as often as possible. Thank you Sai for a great evening and wish it had lasted longer..