Superb technology by microsoft .....
Friday, June 22, 2007
Vote for TAJ MAHAL
Visit New seven wonders site to vote via website India's TajMahal as one of the new seven wonders of World.
OR
To vote for the Taj Mahal by SMS send TAJ to 4567
The cost to send an SMS is Rs. 3 for all the following operators Prepaid and Postpaid: Airtel, Hutch, Spice, Tata Tele, Reliance Info, Reliance GSM, BPL. Exceptions: Rs. 1: MTNL Prepaid and Postpaid, BSNL Prepaid; Rs. 0.8: BSNL Postpaid. Only providers indicated above accept voting.
The telephone voting service in India is provided by IMCL, who have contracted with N7W to provide this service. N7W will accept and recognize votes provided by IMCL under the terms of the contract, and N7W reserves the right to reject any votes should any commercial or regulatory disputes arise.
OR
To vote for the Taj Mahal by SMS send TAJ to 4567
The cost to send an SMS is Rs. 3 for all the following operators Prepaid and Postpaid: Airtel, Hutch, Spice, Tata Tele, Reliance Info, Reliance GSM, BPL. Exceptions: Rs. 1: MTNL Prepaid and Postpaid, BSNL Prepaid; Rs. 0.8: BSNL Postpaid. Only providers indicated above accept voting.
The telephone voting service in India is provided by IMCL, who have contracted with N7W to provide this service. N7W will accept and recognize votes provided by IMCL under the terms of the contract, and N7W reserves the right to reject any votes should any commercial or regulatory disputes arise.
Monday, January 29, 2007
You are of which kind???
Recently I got this article from some website and found it good enough to share it with you all. I was told about the same kind of things by my uncle (Ishu kaka as I call him) and so it was like I got the something in softcopy of what I wanted to write since a long time now......
relax, read and give it a thought.... You are of which kind???
Who is being born:
According to the Buddhist Philosophy, there are basically 3 classes of people born in to this world. They are classified as " Tre Hetuka Prathisandika, Dwi Hetuka Prathisandika" and Eka Hetuka Prathisandika" (Ex.Like 3 star, Two star and One star) 3 Hetukas are the great beings they were already enlightened and come here or appear knowingly for the sole purpose of the benefit of others. Like Lord Buddha. Lord Krishna , Jesus Christ ect. A simplified example is that, they are like the Deans in Uni. faculty. Already having Ph.D's and nothing else to learn but to spread their great knowledge.
Dwi Heatukas are the people who come also knowingly (Means that they know where they are going to be born and can select where they want to be born and the purpose of their life) They are the people who have already progressed half way in the path towards enlightenment and not yet fully understood the reality. There purpose here is while working towards their own salvation, teach and help others on the same. (Like lecturers in a Uni. While they are doing their own Ph.D. Project, they teach a class of students).
The other group is "Eka Hethuka" they have very limited choice. Their birth is governed by past karma (Like students according to their VCE merits or marks they were sent to different faculties) And their purpose is working towards their own salvation by understanding the reality. Some may pass some may fail and if failed then have to come again after some time.
The purpose of birth:
Definitely the first category, "TreHethuka" is out of question for people like us. So It needs to be either the second or the third group. If you sit down for a moment to look back and reflect honestly to yourself that, how you have spent your current life:
Like, what you have learned about life, have you changed your attitudes , are those changes to the better side or worse, have you become more patient, more understanding , more kinder than before when you were in your youth or have you turned yourself in to a more impatient, irritable, possessive, jealous old creature. Have you noticed that, the life is short, fragile, delicate and impermanent. Have you noticed and registered in your mind at least a faint idea, that yours and others physical bodies are subject to disease, ageing ect. and similar to a putrid piece of meat which constantly needs to be fed clothed and washed. In spite of all that, it emanate bad odors and waste products, therefore is not a thing to be desired or be proud of. What purpose, (even it is very minute like helping your own child to be a good person) your life had served on the grater picture of things.
Once you answer these questions, without looking at stars for guidance, you will definitely come in to the correct conclusion about the Purpose of your life here. And also you will get a correct assessment about whether you were successful in achieving the purpose or whether you have strayed from the path leading towards the purpose.
It is not essential that you have to be materially rich with hefty bank accounts, large houses, acres of land, 9-5 job, degrees or titles to lead a purposeful life during the very short period of the life span of a person. You need only the correct vision. But how many of us have the correct vision is a question. When you are immersed in the delusion and rat race to be materially better than the next door neighbor with a quest for processing better house, a better car ect. Who has the time to think about after life ?.
When compared to the age of the universe or the age of the earth, or to take for an example, the age of a piece of a rock before you, the lifetime of a human being is amusingly minute and insignificant. In no time you will find that your jet black hair has started graying in places, your skin tone is loosing the healthy look it used to have and you are more closer to the grave than you were before and realize that you will not be able take any of the above said material processions to the other side with you. You were born empty handed and will go back empty handed. Will take only the good or bad karma's which were the results of your actions.
Predicting the previous and next births -The classical method in Vedic Astrology.
In regard to pre natal abode or the previous life:
Chapter 44 Sloka 42 of "Brihat Pararshara Hora Sastra" written by Maha Rishi Parashara the founder of VedicAstrology states the following:
O excellent of brahmins, the stronger of the two luminaries, Surya and Chander, occupying a dreshkan of Guru denotes the descent from the world of godes. If the stronger of the luminaries , Surya and Chander, Occupies the Dreshkan of Shuker or Chander the descent is from the world of Manes. If the stronger of the luminaries , Surya and Chander, is in the Dreshkan of Surya or Mangal , the descent from the world of Yama. If the stronger of the luminaries , Surya and Chander, is in the Dreshkan of Buddh or Shani the descent from the world of Hell.
Chapter 44 Sloka 43 -45 - Ascent After death or the Next Life:
If following Grahas are in 6,7 8, 12 houses the native will attain one of the different worlds after death, Guru : Heaven, Moon or Venus : Human world, Mars or Sun : Earth, Mercury or Saturn :Hell, In case said bhavas are not occupied the native will go to the world indicated by the stronger of the Dreshkan lords related to the 8 or 12 th Bhava. The natives graha's exhaltion ect. Will denote the high, medium and low status the native.
Therefore according to above rules, predicting the privious and next births are no big deals. The given method is so simple, un ambiguous and straight forward, you can easily design a computer program to predict it. The problem is not about the prediction but the verification of the prediction: Suppose you interpreted the chart according to the above said guide lines, then how do you test it ? No body has returned from dead to testify the correctness of the method or no body remembers where they have lived previously, and you are left with no choice, but to accept blindly the astrologers interpretation.
Predicting the previous and next births -The method shown by Lord Buddha.
Lord Buddha the son of King Suddhodana who lived in India 2500 years ago had given a very agreeable and more rational explanation about how to determine the next birth of a person.
"One day a group of monks approached the Buddha and wanted to know where, a person known to them was born after his recent death. Buddha showed them a nearby tree and told, Monks, suppose you go and cut that tree down, where do you think that tree falls. Monks answered O, Lord Buddha there is no doubt that the tree will fall in the direction it is inclined or leaned now.
Then the Buddha answered as same as that, a person's next birth is determined by the way he spends his current life. If he lives the life in a way a god is living in earth with kindness love ect. Then he will return to gods realm after his death. If he lived like a man then he will be born like a man, if he lived like an animal then will be born like an animal. That was Lord Buddha Answer."
During early 80's as a fresh agriculture graduate from the university I joined the Department of Animal Production and Health (DAP&H) in Sri Lanka as a Tropical Pasture Specialist. With me a number of new graduates joined the DAP&H. One of them, (I do not reveal the name as he is still working at DAP&H) was sent as a Farm Manager of a Goat Breeding Farm.
About one year passed and one day, I happened to meet him in a conference at the Head Office, to my surprise and astonishment, that his face had started to look like a goat's face not only me but many others had noticed the change. Even to this day, I can not find a rational answer to that except, coming to a conclusion that, he may have spent a whole year fully engrossed working and thinking about goats, and seeing goats every day, the features of his face had started to reflect his mind.
If he had died at that particular period of time, can you think of the realm he will be born ? what life form he will occupy and his place of birth ?.
It also illustrates the great dis-service people do to themselves by over the limit association with domestic and farm animals. Being kind to animals and helping them is one thing. Being kind and helpful is a godly attribute and developing that character is a way of getting close to the realm of gods. You should not confuse that aspect with totally immersing of yourself with the affairs of animals. Like treating an animal as your kith and kin or a child. By doing that you will gradually develop an affinity and liking to animal realm thus will be running a very high risk of being born as an animal, because your mind is set on direction towards the world of animals.
relax, read and give it a thought.... You are of which kind???
Who is being born:
According to the Buddhist Philosophy, there are basically 3 classes of people born in to this world. They are classified as " Tre Hetuka Prathisandika, Dwi Hetuka Prathisandika" and Eka Hetuka Prathisandika" (Ex.Like 3 star, Two star and One star) 3 Hetukas are the great beings they were already enlightened and come here or appear knowingly for the sole purpose of the benefit of others. Like Lord Buddha. Lord Krishna , Jesus Christ ect. A simplified example is that, they are like the Deans in Uni. faculty. Already having Ph.D's and nothing else to learn but to spread their great knowledge.
Dwi Heatukas are the people who come also knowingly (Means that they know where they are going to be born and can select where they want to be born and the purpose of their life) They are the people who have already progressed half way in the path towards enlightenment and not yet fully understood the reality. There purpose here is while working towards their own salvation, teach and help others on the same. (Like lecturers in a Uni. While they are doing their own Ph.D. Project, they teach a class of students).
The other group is "Eka Hethuka" they have very limited choice. Their birth is governed by past karma (Like students according to their VCE merits or marks they were sent to different faculties) And their purpose is working towards their own salvation by understanding the reality. Some may pass some may fail and if failed then have to come again after some time.
The purpose of birth:
Definitely the first category, "TreHethuka" is out of question for people like us. So It needs to be either the second or the third group. If you sit down for a moment to look back and reflect honestly to yourself that, how you have spent your current life:
Like, what you have learned about life, have you changed your attitudes , are those changes to the better side or worse, have you become more patient, more understanding , more kinder than before when you were in your youth or have you turned yourself in to a more impatient, irritable, possessive, jealous old creature. Have you noticed that, the life is short, fragile, delicate and impermanent. Have you noticed and registered in your mind at least a faint idea, that yours and others physical bodies are subject to disease, ageing ect. and similar to a putrid piece of meat which constantly needs to be fed clothed and washed. In spite of all that, it emanate bad odors and waste products, therefore is not a thing to be desired or be proud of. What purpose, (even it is very minute like helping your own child to be a good person) your life had served on the grater picture of things.
Once you answer these questions, without looking at stars for guidance, you will definitely come in to the correct conclusion about the Purpose of your life here. And also you will get a correct assessment about whether you were successful in achieving the purpose or whether you have strayed from the path leading towards the purpose.
It is not essential that you have to be materially rich with hefty bank accounts, large houses, acres of land, 9-5 job, degrees or titles to lead a purposeful life during the very short period of the life span of a person. You need only the correct vision. But how many of us have the correct vision is a question. When you are immersed in the delusion and rat race to be materially better than the next door neighbor with a quest for processing better house, a better car ect. Who has the time to think about after life ?.
When compared to the age of the universe or the age of the earth, or to take for an example, the age of a piece of a rock before you, the lifetime of a human being is amusingly minute and insignificant. In no time you will find that your jet black hair has started graying in places, your skin tone is loosing the healthy look it used to have and you are more closer to the grave than you were before and realize that you will not be able take any of the above said material processions to the other side with you. You were born empty handed and will go back empty handed. Will take only the good or bad karma's which were the results of your actions.
Predicting the previous and next births -The classical method in Vedic Astrology.
In regard to pre natal abode or the previous life:
Chapter 44 Sloka 42 of "Brihat Pararshara Hora Sastra" written by Maha Rishi Parashara the founder of VedicAstrology states the following:
O excellent of brahmins, the stronger of the two luminaries, Surya and Chander, occupying a dreshkan of Guru denotes the descent from the world of godes. If the stronger of the luminaries , Surya and Chander, Occupies the Dreshkan of Shuker or Chander the descent is from the world of Manes. If the stronger of the luminaries , Surya and Chander, is in the Dreshkan of Surya or Mangal , the descent from the world of Yama. If the stronger of the luminaries , Surya and Chander, is in the Dreshkan of Buddh or Shani the descent from the world of Hell.
Chapter 44 Sloka 43 -45 - Ascent After death or the Next Life:
If following Grahas are in 6,7 8, 12 houses the native will attain one of the different worlds after death, Guru : Heaven, Moon or Venus : Human world, Mars or Sun : Earth, Mercury or Saturn :Hell, In case said bhavas are not occupied the native will go to the world indicated by the stronger of the Dreshkan lords related to the 8 or 12 th Bhava. The natives graha's exhaltion ect. Will denote the high, medium and low status the native.
Therefore according to above rules, predicting the privious and next births are no big deals. The given method is so simple, un ambiguous and straight forward, you can easily design a computer program to predict it. The problem is not about the prediction but the verification of the prediction: Suppose you interpreted the chart according to the above said guide lines, then how do you test it ? No body has returned from dead to testify the correctness of the method or no body remembers where they have lived previously, and you are left with no choice, but to accept blindly the astrologers interpretation.
Predicting the previous and next births -The method shown by Lord Buddha.
Lord Buddha the son of King Suddhodana who lived in India 2500 years ago had given a very agreeable and more rational explanation about how to determine the next birth of a person.
"One day a group of monks approached the Buddha and wanted to know where, a person known to them was born after his recent death. Buddha showed them a nearby tree and told, Monks, suppose you go and cut that tree down, where do you think that tree falls. Monks answered O, Lord Buddha there is no doubt that the tree will fall in the direction it is inclined or leaned now.
Then the Buddha answered as same as that, a person's next birth is determined by the way he spends his current life. If he lives the life in a way a god is living in earth with kindness love ect. Then he will return to gods realm after his death. If he lived like a man then he will be born like a man, if he lived like an animal then will be born like an animal. That was Lord Buddha Answer."
During early 80's as a fresh agriculture graduate from the university I joined the Department of Animal Production and Health (DAP&H) in Sri Lanka as a Tropical Pasture Specialist. With me a number of new graduates joined the DAP&H. One of them, (I do not reveal the name as he is still working at DAP&H) was sent as a Farm Manager of a Goat Breeding Farm.
About one year passed and one day, I happened to meet him in a conference at the Head Office, to my surprise and astonishment, that his face had started to look like a goat's face not only me but many others had noticed the change. Even to this day, I can not find a rational answer to that except, coming to a conclusion that, he may have spent a whole year fully engrossed working and thinking about goats, and seeing goats every day, the features of his face had started to reflect his mind.
If he had died at that particular period of time, can you think of the realm he will be born ? what life form he will occupy and his place of birth ?.
It also illustrates the great dis-service people do to themselves by over the limit association with domestic and farm animals. Being kind to animals and helping them is one thing. Being kind and helpful is a godly attribute and developing that character is a way of getting close to the realm of gods. You should not confuse that aspect with totally immersing of yourself with the affairs of animals. Like treating an animal as your kith and kin or a child. By doing that you will gradually develop an affinity and liking to animal realm thus will be running a very high risk of being born as an animal, because your mind is set on direction towards the world of animals.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Klueless is Back
Hey......
...... Klueless (remember the cryptic puzzle by iim-indore..) is back with new version.. klueless2
I am sure you will definately enjoy it as you enjoyed earlier version... I am still stuck at some level :o)
happy kluelessing....
...... Klueless (remember the cryptic puzzle by iim-indore..) is back with new version.. klueless2
I am sure you will definately enjoy it as you enjoyed earlier version... I am still stuck at some level :o)
happy kluelessing....
Friday, December 01, 2006
Resetting Linux password
Recently I installed Suse Linux 10 on my PC.... and after 2 days decided to change my boot settings but NOT to my surprise (as ususal) i was unable to recall my root password... was it ...this OR may be ..this.... damn!!!!
so Google came to rescue again ...
I came across a suse linix forum and got a How to... for resetting root password
by following the steps, I was not able to reset the password..
I tried hard this time and got about 5-6 different approaches to resolve the issue...
This is the one I tried...
On grub bootup screen:
You will see three options:
Linux
Windows
Linux failsafe
if Linux is selected press F2
You will see a space to enter boot options, follow the directions
1). add init=/bin/bash at end of line
2). Continue to boot
3). At prompt enter:
mount -o remount,rw /
cp -p passwd passwd.old (just in case)
vi passwd
remove 'x' in second column
wq!
mount -o remount,ro /
4). Reboot the system
5). Username: root
Leave password blank
6). Resync password file with shadow file (if applicable)
pwconv
7). passwd root
8). Change password to new one
9). Login as a normal user and su - to test the root password
10). Remove passwd.old if you're truly paranoid
so Google came to rescue again ...
I came across a suse linix forum and got a How to... for resetting root password
by following the steps, I was not able to reset the password..
I tried hard this time and got about 5-6 different approaches to resolve the issue...
This is the one I tried...
On grub bootup screen:
You will see three options:
Linux
Windows
Linux failsafe
if Linux is selected press F2
You will see a space to enter boot options, follow the directions
1). add init=/bin/bash at end of line
2). Continue to boot
3). At prompt enter:
mount -o remount,rw /
cp -p passwd passwd.old (just in case)
vi passwd
remove 'x' in second column
wq!
mount -o remount,ro /
4). Reboot the system
5). Username: root
Leave password blank
6). Resync password file with shadow file (if applicable)
pwconv
7). passwd root
8). Change password to new one
9). Login as a normal user and su - to test the root password
10). Remove passwd.old if you're truly paranoid
Monday, March 13, 2006
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
From Our President.......
Dr. Abdul Kalam's Speech in Hyderabad
This is a real strong speech from our president.
I hope we all can really contribute at least some time
to read it, if not implement it.
Quote: I have three visions for India. In 3000 years of our history
people from all over the world have come and invaded us, captured our
lands, conquered our minds. From Alexander onwards, the Greeks, the Turks,
the Moguls, the Portuguese, the British, the French, the Dutch, all of
them came and looted us, took over what was ours. Yet we have not
done this to any other nation. We have not conquered anyone. We have
not grabbed their land, their culture, their history and tried to
enforce our way of life on them.
Why? Because we respect the freedom of others.
That is why my first vision is that of FREEDOM. I believe that India got
its first vision of this in 1857, when we started the war of
independence. It is this freedom that we must protect and nurture
and build on. If we are not free, no one will respect us.
My second vision for India is DEVELOPMENT. For fifty years we have been
a developing nation. It is time we see ourselves as a developed nation.
We are among top 5 nations of the world in terms of GDP. We have 10
percent growth rate in most areas. Our poverty levels are falling. Our
achievements are being globally recognized today. Yet we lack the
self-confidence to see ourselves as a developed nation, self-reliant
and self-assured. Isn't this incorrect?
I have a THIRD vision. India must st and up to the world. Because I
believe that unless India stands up to the world, no one will respect us.
Only strength respects strength. We must be strong not only as a military
power but also as an economic power. Both must go hand-in-hand.
My good fortune was to have worked with three great minds. Dr.Vikram
Sarabhai of the Dept. of Space, Professor Satish Dhawan, who succeeded
him and Dr. Brahm Prakash, father of nuclear material. I was lucky to have
worked with all three of them closely and consider this the great
opportunity of my life.
I see four milestones in my career:
ONE: Twenty years I spent in ISRO. I was given the opportunity to be the
project director for India's first satellite launch vehicle, SLV3. The
one that launched Rohini. These years played a very important role in my
life of Scientist.
TWO: After my ISRO years, I joined DRDO and got a chance to be the part
of India's missile program. It was my second bliss when Agni met its
mission requirements in 1994.
THREE: The Dept. of Atomic Energy and DRDO had this tremendous
partnership in the recent nuclear tests, on May 11 and 13. This was the
third bliss. The joy of participating with my team in these nuclear
tests and proving to the world that India can make it, that we are no
longer a developing nation but one of them. It made me feel very proud
as an Indian. The fact that we have now developed for Agni a re-entry
structure, for which we have developed
this new material. A Very light material called arbon-carbon.
FOUR: One day an orthopedic surgeon from Nizam Institute of Medical
Sciences visited my laboratory. He lifted the material and found it so
light that he took me to his hospital and showed me his patients.
There were these little girls and boys with heavy metallic callipers
weighing over three Kg. each, dragging their feet around. He said to me:
Please remove the pain of my patients. In three weeks, we made these
loor reaction Orthosis 300 gram callipers and took them to the
orthopaedic centre. The children didn't believe their eyes. From dragging
around a three kg. load on their legs, they could now move around!
Their parents had tears in their eyes. That was my fourth bliss!
Why is the media here so negative? Why are we in India so embarrassed to
recognize our own strengths, our achievements? We are such a great
nation. We have so many amazing success stories but we refuse to
acknowledge them. Why?
We are the first in milk production.
We are number one in Remote sensing satellites.
We are the second largest producer of wheat.
We are the second largest producer of rice.
Look at Dr. Sudarshan, he has transferred the tribal village into a
self-sustaining, self-driving unit.
There are millions of such achievements but our media is only obsessed
with the bad news and failures and disasters.
I was in Tel Aviv once and I was reading the Israeli newspaper. It was
the day after a lot of attacks and bombardments and deaths had taken
place. The Hamas had struck. But the front page of the newspaper had
the picture of a Jewish gentleman who in five years had transformed
his desert land into an orchid and a granary. It was this inspiring
picture that everyone woke up to. The gory details of killings,
bombardments, deaths, were inside in the newspaper, buried among other
news. In India we only read about death, sickness, terrorism, crime. Why
are we so NEGATIVE?
Another question: Why are we, as a nation so obsessed with foreign
things?
We want foreign TVs, we want foreign shirts. We want foreign technology.
Why this obsession with everything imported. Do we not realize that
self-respect comes with self-reliance?
I was in Hyderabad giving this lecture, when a 14 year old girl asked me
for my autograph. I asked her what her goal in life is: She replied: I
want to live in a developed India. For her, you and I will have to
build this developed India. You must proclaim. India is not an
under-developed nation it is a highly developed nation.
Allow me to come back with vengeance. Got 10 minutes for your country?
YOU say that our government is inefficient.
YOU say that our laws are too old. YOU say that the municipality does
not pick up the garbage.
YOU say that the phones don't work, the railways are a joke, the airline
is the worst in the world, mails never reach their destination.
YOU say that our country has been fed to the dogs and is the absolute
pits.
YOU say, say and say.................
What do YOU do about it?
Take a perso n on his way to Singapore. Give him a name - YOURS. Give him
a face - YOURS.
YOU walk out of the airport and you are at your International best. In
Singapore you don't throw cigarette butts on the roads or eat in the
stores.
YOU are as proud of their Underground Links as they are. You pay $5
(approx. Rs.60) to drive through Orchard Road (equivalent of Mahim
Causeway or Pedder Road) between 5 PM and 8 PM. YOU comeback to the
parking lot to punch your parking ticket if you have over stayed in a
restaurant or a shopping mall irrespective of your status identity. In
Singapore you don't say anything,
DO YOU?
YOU wouldn't dare to eat in public during Ramadan, in Dubai. YOU would
not dare to go out without your head covered in Jeddah. YOU would not
dare to buy an employee of the telephone exchange in London at 10
pounds (Rs.650) a month to, "see 0r to it that my STD and ISD
calls are billed to someone else."
YOU would not dare to speed beyond 55 mph (88 kmph) in Washington and
then tell the traffic cop, "Jaanta hai sala main kaun hoon (Do you
know who I am?). I
am so and so's son. Take your two bucks and get lost."
YOU wouldn't chuck an empty coconut shell anywhere other than the
garbage pail on the beaches in Australia and New Zealand.
why don't YOU spit Paan on the streets or Tokyo?
Why don't YOU use examination jockeys or buy fake certificates in
Boston?
We are still talking of the same YOU. YOU who can respect and conform to
a foreign system in other countries but cannot in your own.
You who will throw papers and cigarettes on the road the moment you
touch Indian ground. If you can be an involved and appreciative citizen
in an alien country why cannot you be the same here in India.
Once in an interview, the famous Ex-municipal commissioner of Bombay Mr.
Tinaikar had a point to make.
"Rich people's dogs are walked on the streets to leave their affluent
droppings all over the place," he said. "And then the same people turn
around to criticize and blame the authorities for inefficiency and
dirty pavements. What do they expect the officers to do? Go down with a
broom every time their dog feels the pressure in his bowels? In
America every dog owner has to clean up after his pet has done the job.
Same in Japan. Will the Indian citizen do that here?"
He's right.
We go to the polls to choose a government and after that forfeit all
responsibility. We sit back wanting to be pampered and expect the
government to do everything for us whilst our contribution is totally
negative.
We expect the government to clean up but we are not going to stop
chucking garbage all over the place nor are we going to stop to pick a up
a stray piece of paper and throw it in the bin.
We expect the railways to provide clean bathrooms but we are not going
to learn the proper use of bathrooms. We want Indian Airlines and Air
India to provide the best of food and toiletries but we are not going
to stop pilfering at the least opportunity. This applies even to the
staff who& nbsp; is known not to pass on the service to the public. When
it
comes to burning social issues like those related to women, dowry, girl
child and others, we make loud drawing room protestations and continue
to do the reverse at home.
Our excuse? "It's the whole system, which has to change, how will it
matter if I alone forego my sons' rights to a dowry.
" So who's going to change the system? What does a system consist of?
Very conveniently for us it consists of our neighbors, other households,
other cities, other communities and the government. But definitely not me
and YOU.
When it comes to us actually making a positive contribution to the
system we lock ourselves along with our families into a safe cocoon
and look into the distance at countries far away and wait for a Mr.
Clean to come along &work miracles for us with a majestic sweep of his
hand.
Or we leave the country and run away. Like lazy cowards hounded by our
fears we run to America to bask in their glory and praise their system.
When New York becomes insecure we run to England.
When England experiences unemployment, we take the next flight out to
the Gulf.
When the Gulf is war struck, we demand to be rescued and brought home by
the Indian government.
Everybody is out to abuse and rape the country. Nobody thinks of feeding
the system our conscience is mortgaged to money.
Dear Indians, The article is highly thought inductive, calls for a great
deal of introspection and pricks one's conscience too.... I am echoing
J.F. Kennedy's words to his fellow Americans to relate to Indians.....
"ASK WHAT WE CAN DO FOR INDIA AND DO WHAT HAS TO BE DONE TO MAKE INDIA
WHAT AMERICA AND OTHER WESTERN COUNTRIES ARE TODAY"
Lets do what India needs from us.
This is a real strong speech from our president.
I hope we all can really contribute at least some time
to read it, if not implement it.
Quote: I have three visions for India. In 3000 years of our history
people from all over the world have come and invaded us, captured our
lands, conquered our minds. From Alexander onwards, the Greeks, the Turks,
the Moguls, the Portuguese, the British, the French, the Dutch, all of
them came and looted us, took over what was ours. Yet we have not
done this to any other nation. We have not conquered anyone. We have
not grabbed their land, their culture, their history and tried to
enforce our way of life on them.
Why? Because we respect the freedom of others.
That is why my first vision is that of FREEDOM. I believe that India got
its first vision of this in 1857, when we started the war of
independence. It is this freedom that we must protect and nurture
and build on. If we are not free, no one will respect us.
My second vision for India is DEVELOPMENT. For fifty years we have been
a developing nation. It is time we see ourselves as a developed nation.
We are among top 5 nations of the world in terms of GDP. We have 10
percent growth rate in most areas. Our poverty levels are falling. Our
achievements are being globally recognized today. Yet we lack the
self-confidence to see ourselves as a developed nation, self-reliant
and self-assured. Isn't this incorrect?
I have a THIRD vision. India must st and up to the world. Because I
believe that unless India stands up to the world, no one will respect us.
Only strength respects strength. We must be strong not only as a military
power but also as an economic power. Both must go hand-in-hand.
My good fortune was to have worked with three great minds. Dr.Vikram
Sarabhai of the Dept. of Space, Professor Satish Dhawan, who succeeded
him and Dr. Brahm Prakash, father of nuclear material. I was lucky to have
worked with all three of them closely and consider this the great
opportunity of my life.
I see four milestones in my career:
ONE: Twenty years I spent in ISRO. I was given the opportunity to be the
project director for India's first satellite launch vehicle, SLV3. The
one that launched Rohini. These years played a very important role in my
life of Scientist.
TWO: After my ISRO years, I joined DRDO and got a chance to be the part
of India's missile program. It was my second bliss when Agni met its
mission requirements in 1994.
THREE: The Dept. of Atomic Energy and DRDO had this tremendous
partnership in the recent nuclear tests, on May 11 and 13. This was the
third bliss. The joy of participating with my team in these nuclear
tests and proving to the world that India can make it, that we are no
longer a developing nation but one of them. It made me feel very proud
as an Indian. The fact that we have now developed for Agni a re-entry
structure, for which we have developed
this new material. A Very light material called arbon-carbon.
FOUR: One day an orthopedic surgeon from Nizam Institute of Medical
Sciences visited my laboratory. He lifted the material and found it so
light that he took me to his hospital and showed me his patients.
There were these little girls and boys with heavy metallic callipers
weighing over three Kg. each, dragging their feet around. He said to me:
Please remove the pain of my patients. In three weeks, we made these
loor reaction Orthosis 300 gram callipers and took them to the
orthopaedic centre. The children didn't believe their eyes. From dragging
around a three kg. load on their legs, they could now move around!
Their parents had tears in their eyes. That was my fourth bliss!
Why is the media here so negative? Why are we in India so embarrassed to
recognize our own strengths, our achievements? We are such a great
nation. We have so many amazing success stories but we refuse to
acknowledge them. Why?
We are the first in milk production.
We are number one in Remote sensing satellites.
We are the second largest producer of wheat.
We are the second largest producer of rice.
Look at Dr. Sudarshan, he has transferred the tribal village into a
self-sustaining, self-driving unit.
There are millions of such achievements but our media is only obsessed
with the bad news and failures and disasters.
I was in Tel Aviv once and I was reading the Israeli newspaper. It was
the day after a lot of attacks and bombardments and deaths had taken
place. The Hamas had struck. But the front page of the newspaper had
the picture of a Jewish gentleman who in five years had transformed
his desert land into an orchid and a granary. It was this inspiring
picture that everyone woke up to. The gory details of killings,
bombardments, deaths, were inside in the newspaper, buried among other
news. In India we only read about death, sickness, terrorism, crime. Why
are we so NEGATIVE?
Another question: Why are we, as a nation so obsessed with foreign
things?
We want foreign TVs, we want foreign shirts. We want foreign technology.
Why this obsession with everything imported. Do we not realize that
self-respect comes with self-reliance?
I was in Hyderabad giving this lecture, when a 14 year old girl asked me
for my autograph. I asked her what her goal in life is: She replied: I
want to live in a developed India. For her, you and I will have to
build this developed India. You must proclaim. India is not an
under-developed nation it is a highly developed nation.
Allow me to come back with vengeance. Got 10 minutes for your country?
YOU say that our government is inefficient.
YOU say that our laws are too old. YOU say that the municipality does
not pick up the garbage.
YOU say that the phones don't work, the railways are a joke, the airline
is the worst in the world, mails never reach their destination.
YOU say that our country has been fed to the dogs and is the absolute
pits.
YOU say, say and say.................
What do YOU do about it?
Take a perso n on his way to Singapore. Give him a name - YOURS. Give him
a face - YOURS.
YOU walk out of the airport and you are at your International best. In
Singapore you don't throw cigarette butts on the roads or eat in the
stores.
YOU are as proud of their Underground Links as they are. You pay $5
(approx. Rs.60) to drive through Orchard Road (equivalent of Mahim
Causeway or Pedder Road) between 5 PM and 8 PM. YOU comeback to the
parking lot to punch your parking ticket if you have over stayed in a
restaurant or a shopping mall irrespective of your status identity. In
Singapore you don't say anything,
DO YOU?
YOU wouldn't dare to eat in public during Ramadan, in Dubai. YOU would
not dare to go out without your head covered in Jeddah. YOU would not
dare to buy an employee of the telephone exchange in London at 10
pounds (Rs.650) a month to, "see 0r to it that my STD and ISD
calls are billed to someone else."
YOU would not dare to speed beyond 55 mph (88 kmph) in Washington and
then tell the traffic cop, "Jaanta hai sala main kaun hoon (Do you
know who I am?). I
am so and so's son. Take your two bucks and get lost."
YOU wouldn't chuck an empty coconut shell anywhere other than the
garbage pail on the beaches in Australia and New Zealand.
why don't YOU spit Paan on the streets or Tokyo?
Why don't YOU use examination jockeys or buy fake certificates in
Boston?
We are still talking of the same YOU. YOU who can respect and conform to
a foreign system in other countries but cannot in your own.
You who will throw papers and cigarettes on the road the moment you
touch Indian ground. If you can be an involved and appreciative citizen
in an alien country why cannot you be the same here in India.
Once in an interview, the famous Ex-municipal commissioner of Bombay Mr.
Tinaikar had a point to make.
"Rich people's dogs are walked on the streets to leave their affluent
droppings all over the place," he said. "And then the same people turn
around to criticize and blame the authorities for inefficiency and
dirty pavements. What do they expect the officers to do? Go down with a
broom every time their dog feels the pressure in his bowels? In
America every dog owner has to clean up after his pet has done the job.
Same in Japan. Will the Indian citizen do that here?"
He's right.
We go to the polls to choose a government and after that forfeit all
responsibility. We sit back wanting to be pampered and expect the
government to do everything for us whilst our contribution is totally
negative.
We expect the government to clean up but we are not going to stop
chucking garbage all over the place nor are we going to stop to pick a up
a stray piece of paper and throw it in the bin.
We expect the railways to provide clean bathrooms but we are not going
to learn the proper use of bathrooms. We want Indian Airlines and Air
India to provide the best of food and toiletries but we are not going
to stop pilfering at the least opportunity. This applies even to the
staff who& nbsp; is known not to pass on the service to the public. When
it
comes to burning social issues like those related to women, dowry, girl
child and others, we make loud drawing room protestations and continue
to do the reverse at home.
Our excuse? "It's the whole system, which has to change, how will it
matter if I alone forego my sons' rights to a dowry.
" So who's going to change the system? What does a system consist of?
Very conveniently for us it consists of our neighbors, other households,
other cities, other communities and the government. But definitely not me
and YOU.
When it comes to us actually making a positive contribution to the
system we lock ourselves along with our families into a safe cocoon
and look into the distance at countries far away and wait for a Mr.
Clean to come along &work miracles for us with a majestic sweep of his
hand.
Or we leave the country and run away. Like lazy cowards hounded by our
fears we run to America to bask in their glory and praise their system.
When New York becomes insecure we run to England.
When England experiences unemployment, we take the next flight out to
the Gulf.
When the Gulf is war struck, we demand to be rescued and brought home by
the Indian government.
Everybody is out to abuse and rape the country. Nobody thinks of feeding
the system our conscience is mortgaged to money.
Dear Indians, The article is highly thought inductive, calls for a great
deal of introspection and pricks one's conscience too.... I am echoing
J.F. Kennedy's words to his fellow Americans to relate to Indians.....
"ASK WHAT WE CAN DO FOR INDIA AND DO WHAT HAS TO BE DONE TO MAKE INDIA
WHAT AMERICA AND OTHER WESTERN COUNTRIES ARE TODAY"
Lets do what India needs from us.
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Photographs Taken By Me
Monday, February 20, 2006
Sketch of a Woman
Fellows,
I found a very good link .....
great flash work.. creating sketch of a woman ... starting from the bones....
take a look
Sketch of a Woman
Tanul Karkare
I found a very good link .....
great flash work.. creating sketch of a woman ... starting from the bones....
take a look
Sketch of a Woman
Tanul Karkare
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Monday, January 23, 2006
Addicted to Wikipedia
I revisited my blog after so many days...
actually I am deeply involved with wikipedia nowadays and can't refrain myself from updating/ reading editing the wikis.....
There is a speacial song on the lines of Hotel California which goes like this:
On a dark office evening,
Sat down in my chair.
Sharp smell of stale coffee
Circling round in the air.
Suddenly on the webpage
There came a flickering light.
My head grew heavy, and my sight grew dim;
I had to stop for the night.
There it was in the link list:
"Edit page; you'll do well"
And I was thinking to myself
This could be Heaven or this could be Hell!
Then it lit up the quickbar
And it showed me the way.
There were pages begging clean-up;
I thought I heard them say:
Welcome to the Hotel Wikipedia
Such a lovely place
So much empty space
Plenty of work at the Hotel Wikipedia
Any time of year
You can find us here...
Many links in the Portal
Disambigs won't suffice
And users said,
We are all just prisoners here
Of our own device.
And in the Most Requested
The list of pages increased;
They edit with their steely knives
But they just can't kill the beast.
Last thing I remember,
I couldn't take any more.
I had to find the passage back
to the life I had before
Relax, said the Rambot,
We are programmed to receive.
You can log out any time you like
But you can never leave.
Welcome to the Hotel Wikipedia
Such a lovely place
So much empty space
They're typing it in at the Hotel Wikipedia
Things that you can do—
Revert vandals, too—
actually I am deeply involved with wikipedia nowadays and can't refrain myself from updating/ reading editing the wikis.....
There is a speacial song on the lines of Hotel California which goes like this:
On a dark office evening,
Sat down in my chair.
Sharp smell of stale coffee
Circling round in the air.
Suddenly on the webpage
There came a flickering light.
My head grew heavy, and my sight grew dim;
I had to stop for the night.
There it was in the link list:
"Edit page; you'll do well"
And I was thinking to myself
This could be Heaven or this could be Hell!
Then it lit up the quickbar
And it showed me the way.
There were pages begging clean-up;
I thought I heard them say:
Welcome to the Hotel Wikipedia
Such a lovely place
So much empty space
Plenty of work at the Hotel Wikipedia
Any time of year
You can find us here...
Many links in the Portal
Disambigs won't suffice
And users said,
We are all just prisoners here
Of our own device.
And in the Most Requested
The list of pages increased;
They edit with their steely knives
But they just can't kill the beast.
Last thing I remember,
I couldn't take any more.
I had to find the passage back
to the life I had before
Relax, said the Rambot,
We are programmed to receive.
You can log out any time you like
But you can never leave.
Welcome to the Hotel Wikipedia
Such a lovely place
So much empty space
They're typing it in at the Hotel Wikipedia
Things that you can do—
Revert vandals, too—
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Its just an Ad.....
These four classified ads appeared in a local newspaper on four consecutive days. The last three hopelessly trying to correct the first day's mistake.
MONDAY:
For sale - SK Shah has a sewing machine for sale. Phone 2555-0707 after 7PM and ask for Mrs Mani who lives with him cheap.
TUESDAY:
Notice: We regret having erred in SK Shah's ad yesterday. It should have read,
"One sewing machine for sale cheap. Phone 2555-0707 and ask for Mrs Mani, who lives with him after 7PM."
WEDNESDAY:
Notice: SK Shah has informed us that he has received several annoying telephone calls because of the error we made in the classified ad yesterday. The ad stands correct as follows:
"For sale - SK Shah has a sewing machine for sale. Cheap. Phone 2555-0707 after 7PM and ask for Mrs Mani who loves with him."
THURSDAY:
Notice: I, SK Shah, have no sewing machine for sale. I smashed it. Don't call 2555-0707 as I have had the phone disconnected. I have not been carrying on with Mrs Mani. Until yesterday, she was my housekeeper but she quit.
MONDAY:
For sale - SK Shah has a sewing machine for sale. Phone 2555-0707 after 7PM and ask for Mrs Mani who lives with him cheap.
TUESDAY:
Notice: We regret having erred in SK Shah's ad yesterday. It should have read,
"One sewing machine for sale cheap. Phone 2555-0707 and ask for Mrs Mani, who lives with him after 7PM."
WEDNESDAY:
Notice: SK Shah has informed us that he has received several annoying telephone calls because of the error we made in the classified ad yesterday. The ad stands correct as follows:
"For sale - SK Shah has a sewing machine for sale. Cheap. Phone 2555-0707 after 7PM and ask for Mrs Mani who loves with him."
THURSDAY:
Notice: I, SK Shah, have no sewing machine for sale. I smashed it. Don't call 2555-0707 as I have had the phone disconnected. I have not been carrying on with Mrs Mani. Until yesterday, she was my housekeeper but she quit.
Sunday, July 03, 2005
Quick Exercise for the Mind
Carry out this test; it's quite bizarre......
Just follow the instructions as quickly as possible but only one question at a time. Do not carry on reading the following questions before you finish the previous one.
You do NOT need to write the answers OR remember them - just do it using your mind.
You'll be surprised by the result.
How much is:
15+6
3+56
89+2
12+53
75+26
25+52
63+32
I know! Calculations are hard work but this is the real thing!
Come on a few more.
123+5
QUICK! THINK ABOUT A TOOL AND A COLOR!
You have just thought about a red hammer, haven't you?
If this is not the case, you are among the people who have a "different" if not "abnormal" mind. Most folks answer a "red hammer" while doing this exercise.
If you do not believe this, pass it around and you'll see.
Just follow the instructions as quickly as possible but only one question at a time. Do not carry on reading the following questions before you finish the previous one.
You do NOT need to write the answers OR remember them - just do it using your mind.
You'll be surprised by the result.
How much is:
15+6
3+56
89+2
12+53
75+26
25+52
63+32
I know! Calculations are hard work but this is the real thing!
Come on a few more.
123+5
QUICK! THINK ABOUT A TOOL AND A COLOR!
You have just thought about a red hammer, haven't you?
If this is not the case, you are among the people who have a "different" if not "abnormal" mind. Most folks answer a "red hammer" while doing this exercise.
If you do not believe this, pass it around and you'll see.
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
My Israel visit.....
Last weekend I went for a trip to Eilat which is the southern most (almost) part of Israel. Surrounded by Jordan and Egypt ... the borders are really close ..
U can enjoy different water sports like paragliding, sailing, surfing , scuba diving etc...
Eilat is also famous for the marine life there ... u can see all kinds of corals and underwater life in the red sea.
There is a very good underwater observatory...
U can enjoy different water sports like paragliding, sailing, surfing , scuba diving etc...
Eilat is also famous for the marine life there ... u can see all kinds of corals and underwater life in the red sea.
There is a very good underwater observatory...
Monday, June 20, 2005
Israel....
Presently I am on a visit to Israel, and it has a lot of spots to visit....
A view near the hotel
![]()
here's a cool pic of a water fall at yahudia natural reserve in north east of israel.
![]()
and a beautiful view of bahai gardens at Haifa
![]()
A view near the hotel
here's a cool pic of a water fall at yahudia natural reserve in north east of israel.
and a beautiful view of bahai gardens at Haifa
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Letters of Kids to God
Very cute letters............... These are actual letters that kids have written to God. This was done in a Sunday School class and were too cute to miss.
Dear God... Instead of letting people die and having to make new ones, why don't you just keep the ones you have now?
Dear God... Who draws the lines around the countries?
Dear God... I went to this wedding and they kissed right in church. Is that okay?
Dear God... Thank you for my baby brother, but what I prayed for was a puppy.
Dear God... It rained for our whole vacation and is my father mad! He said some things about you that people are not supposed to say, but hope you will not hurt him anyway.
Dear God... Please send me a pony. I never asked for anything before. You can look it up.
Dear God... If we come back as something, please don't let me be Jennifer because I hate her.
Dear God... I want to be just like my daddy when I get big, but not with so much hair all over.
Dear God... I think about you sometimes, even when I'm not praying.
Dear God... I bet it is very hard for you to love all the people in the world. There are only four people in our family and I can never do it.
Dear God... Of all the people who worked for you, I like Noah and David the best.
Dear God... If you watch me in church Sunday, I'll show you my new shoes.
Dear God... I do not think anybody could be a better God. Well, I just want you to know that I am not just saying this because you are God already.
Dear God... I didn't think orange went with purple until I saw the sunset you made on Tuesday. That was cool!
Dear God... Instead of letting people die and having to make new ones, why don't you just keep the ones you have now?
Dear God... Who draws the lines around the countries?
Dear God... I went to this wedding and they kissed right in church. Is that okay?
Dear God... Thank you for my baby brother, but what I prayed for was a puppy.
Dear God... It rained for our whole vacation and is my father mad! He said some things about you that people are not supposed to say, but hope you will not hurt him anyway.
Dear God... Please send me a pony. I never asked for anything before. You can look it up.
Dear God... If we come back as something, please don't let me be Jennifer because I hate her.
Dear God... I want to be just like my daddy when I get big, but not with so much hair all over.
Dear God... I think about you sometimes, even when I'm not praying.
Dear God... I bet it is very hard for you to love all the people in the world. There are only four people in our family and I can never do it.
Dear God... Of all the people who worked for you, I like Noah and David the best.
Dear God... If you watch me in church Sunday, I'll show you my new shoes.
Dear God... I do not think anybody could be a better God. Well, I just want you to know that I am not just saying this because you are God already.
Dear God... I didn't think orange went with purple until I saw the sunset you made on Tuesday. That was cool!
Monday, March 14, 2005
The Way to get Educated
This is a mail by first year NITIE ( one of the leading Institutes for Management education in India) student:
O yes dear! Degrees do differ a lot. Engineering keeps us busy with Kirchoff¡¦s laws, Laplace transformations, Distribution curves blah blah blah. Sadly, we never use them on anything beyond pieces of paper. In contrast, a MBA is an excursion to reality; a confrontation with hideous facts.
Dear friends, in my 7 months of MBA education so far, I¡¦ve come across plenty of quite-disturbing truths. Each of these has a potential to stir a thinking mind. I wanted to document some of those and share them with you.
I hope you can spare a few minutes for them.
I hope you can spare a few minutes for them.
@ My first lesson was like a ¡¥wake up¡¦ alarm. Without ever realising it
I¡¦ve always lived on foreign brands. Right from the Farex which my mom
fed me many moons ago to the Reeboks I now wear; from the Colgate with
which I begin my day, to the Mortein which burns after I fall asleep,
hardly anything is Indian. Ditto for you.
I¡¦ve always lived on foreign brands. Right from the Farex which my mom
fed me many moons ago to the Reeboks I now wear; from the Colgate with
which I begin my day, to the Mortein which burns after I fall asleep,
hardly anything is Indian. Ditto for you.
¡§Wah Wah Globalisation¡¨ some might utter. But go a step below that
rhetoric and you¡¦ll notice the fact that we don¡¦t have a single truly
global brand of our own except Kamasutra and Yoga. Why?
rhetoric and you¡¦ll notice the fact that we don¡¦t have a single truly
global brand of our own except Kamasutra and Yoga. Why?
I¡¦ve identified some of the culprits. It¡¦s us ¡V the so called best
B-schools of the country. We slog day and night dreaming to be picked up
by the Goldman Sachs¡¦, McKinseys, E&Ys and other blue chip companies. We
follow the system too soon, forgetting to question it when required.
Perhaps we need a Munnabhai MBA who can think different. And until that
happens we will continue to eulogise dynasties like Tatas, Birlas et al,
but never see an entrepreneurial genius like a FedEx, a Dell or a Google.
B-schools of the country. We slog day and night dreaming to be picked up
by the Goldman Sachs¡¦, McKinseys, E&Ys and other blue chip companies. We
follow the system too soon, forgetting to question it when required.
Perhaps we need a Munnabhai MBA who can think different. And until that
happens we will continue to eulogise dynasties like Tatas, Birlas et al,
but never see an entrepreneurial genius like a FedEx, a Dell or a Google.
@*@ The next time you come across the ubiquitous blue coloured Parachute
Coconut Oil dabba, notice it carefully. Though majority uses it as hair
oil, it never mentions ¡¥hair oil¡¦ on the package. That brings us to our
next lesson -Play with the rulebook. It pays.
Coconut Oil dabba, notice it carefully. Though majority uses it as hair
oil, it never mentions ¡¥hair oil¡¦ on the package. That brings us to our
next lesson -Play with the rulebook. It pays.
Edible products are exempted from excise duty and also enjoy benefits on
sales tax. Therefore Marico/HLL officially promote their Coconut Oil
brands as edible products ONLY. By doing this they avoid paying excise
duty (16%) which maximises their profits.
sales tax. Therefore Marico/HLL officially promote their Coconut Oil
brands as edible products ONLY. By doing this they avoid paying excise
duty (16%) which maximises their profits.
@*@ Now some trade news. I assume you know that 95% of India¡¦s trade
happens through sea. We have 12 major ports in India. As per the last
Indian Ports report these 12 ports have TOGETHER handled 287.6 million
tonnes of cargo in fiscal 2001-02, which is lesser than a single Singapore
port (325.6 million tonnes) or a single Rotterdam port (320 million
tonnes).
happens through sea. We have 12 major ports in India. As per the last
Indian Ports report these 12 ports have TOGETHER handled 287.6 million
tonnes of cargo in fiscal 2001-02, which is lesser than a single Singapore
port (325.6 million tonnes) or a single Rotterdam port (320 million
tonnes).
Now you¡¦ll easily agree that we indeed contribute less than 1% to total
world trade.
world trade.
@*@ Manufacturing has lost its pride. Today a Babulal & Sons manufactures
the goods, a Ghanshyamji Brothers Ltd packages it and then passes it to a
Nike/HLL. These guys offer it to you with the w-i-d-e-s-t artificial smile
and rob you off thousands in the name of ¡¥customer delight¡¦ and other
concocted management jargons.
the goods, a Ghanshyamji Brothers Ltd packages it and then passes it to a
Nike/HLL. These guys offer it to you with the w-i-d-e-s-t artificial smile
and rob you off thousands in the name of ¡¥customer delight¡¦ and other
concocted management jargons.
You might think the profit pie is shared equally between all partners.
Take this. ..
Take this. ..
There are many small enterprises in Bombay who manufacture toothbrushes
and sell it to the big FMCG companies for anything between Rs.1.75 to Rs
4. These toothbrushes are then ¡¥brandedised¡¦ and sent to primary market
with a price tag ranging between Rs 11 to Rs 20. Can you visualise the
easy profits after removing the advertising and distribution costs? It¡¦s
whopping!! Btw, this toothbrush market is alone worth Rs 2000 crores in
India.
and sell it to the big FMCG companies for anything between Rs.1.75 to Rs
4. These toothbrushes are then ¡¥brandedised¡¦ and sent to primary market
with a price tag ranging between Rs 11 to Rs 20. Can you visualise the
easy profits after removing the advertising and distribution costs? It¡¦s
whopping!! Btw, this toothbrush market is alone worth Rs 2000 crores in
India.
@*@ Does price of a good always reflect ¡¥added value¡¦ inside it? Or is
the poor ignorant customer paying for something else? Let data answer this
question.
the poor ignorant customer paying for something else? Let data answer this
question.
Most premium goods use raw materials which are imported. They pass through
our ports which are grossly inefficient. The importers have to make a
freight payment which is a proportion of the total import value. The world
total freight payment is 6.2%. In India the figure is a terrifying 12%.
This obviously gets added to the basic price.
Also, we are always over-staffed. Mumbai port alone has 23, 600+
employees. Their salaries and wages amount to 77% of its operational
earnings.
our ports which are grossly inefficient. The importers have to make a
freight payment which is a proportion of the total import value. The world
total freight payment is 6.2%. In India the figure is a terrifying 12%.
This obviously gets added to the basic price.
Also, we are always over-staffed. Mumbai port alone has 23, 600+
employees. Their salaries and wages amount to 77% of its operational
earnings.
Who pays for these inefficiencies? The customer of course!!
@*@ After several years of deliberation a good thing is finally happing in
Indian Taxation System ¡V implementation of VAT. A little reading revealed
some interesting facts. VAT was first introduced in Morocco (1962) and is
being currently used in about 120 nations. In spite of many advantages
like general reduction in prices this bill faced huge resistance from many
traders. Guess why?
Indian Taxation System ¡V implementation of VAT. A little reading revealed
some interesting facts. VAT was first introduced in Morocco (1962) and is
being currently used in about 120 nations. In spite of many advantages
like general reduction in prices this bill faced huge resistance from many
traders. Guess why?
Because VAT mandates complete transparency. It requires traders to
maintain records of the transactions they make. Simply put, it makes pay
their income taxes which they have been evading since ages.
maintain records of the transactions they make. Simply put, it makes pay
their income taxes which they have been evading since ages.
@*@ How urban are our cities? Does urbanisation mean constructing
commercial centers, malls, theme parks or iMax theatres? What about
sanitation, public health, transport? Forget the cities, why can¡¦t we
ever ¡¥urbanise¡¦ an Indian? Why do men treat this country like an
open-air toilet?
commercial centers, malls, theme parks or iMax theatres? What about
sanitation, public health, transport? Forget the cities, why can¡¦t we
ever ¡¥urbanise¡¦ an Indian? Why do men treat this country like an
open-air toilet?
This is my first stay in Bombay and I¡¦m enjoying the love-hate
relationship with it. This city is the true microcosm of India. I¡¦ve seen
grandeur which can make any middle class guy gape. I¡¦ve also seen gauns
(villages) right here which made me chuckle. You¡¦ll be surprised to know
that in a mega-city like Bombay the distribution of kerosene still happens
through bullock carts. Yes, bullock driven carts fº Click this link.
relationship with it. This city is the true microcosm of India. I¡¦ve seen
grandeur which can make any middle class guy gape. I¡¦ve also seen gauns
(villages) right here which made me chuckle. You¡¦ll be surprised to know
that in a mega-city like Bombay the distribution of kerosene still happens
through bullock carts. Yes, bullock driven carts fº Click this link.
@*@ India got independence in 1947. Israel, a year later, in 1948. In the
last 50 odd years they have fought more wars than us. Had more bitter
enemies (Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon and Syria) than just China and
Pakistan. Terrorism never let them breathe peacefully. Add to it severe
shortages of water, land and capital.
last 50 odd years they have fought more wars than us. Had more bitter
enemies (Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon and Syria) than just China and
Pakistan. Terrorism never let them breathe peacefully. Add to it severe
shortages of water, land and capital.
Today, they are irrefutably more advanced than us in most departments. We
take their help in Agricutute (drip irrigation), Weather (artificial
rain), Defence (Phalcons, Tavor rifles) and even peacetime reconnaissance
(advanced UAVs).
take their help in Agricutute (drip irrigation), Weather (artificial
rain), Defence (Phalcons, Tavor rifles) and even peacetime reconnaissance
(advanced UAVs).
Where did we go wrong?
@*@ Lemme end this list with that fact which pushed me into writing this
mail. Every year, the World Bank comes out with a compendium ¡¥World
Development Indicators¡¦ which has rankings of all nations on various
parameters.
mail. Every year, the World Bank comes out with a compendium ¡¥World
Development Indicators¡¦ which has rankings of all nations on various
parameters.
The 2004 edition of the same has the World income map on its inside cover.
The map pictorially categorises 210 nations into 4 slots ¡V Low income,
Low middle income, Upper middle income and High income. Guess where we
stand?
The map pictorially categorises 210 nations into 4 slots ¡V Low income,
Low middle income, Upper middle income and High income. Guess where we
stand?
Low income; alongside nations like Ethiopia, Rwanda, Togo, Cameroon, Sudan
and other no-so-glorious names. How does it feel? Doesn¡¦t it feel worse
than losing the World Cup finals to Australia?
and other no-so-glorious names. How does it feel? Doesn¡¦t it feel worse
than losing the World Cup finals to Australia?
My dear reader, I can go on like this forever, but I¡¦ll stop here. I hope
you have got the gist of what I¡¦m trying to say. It will be a shame if
you think my sole purpose was to criticise or mock the system. NO. I am as
much a part of it as anybody else. My only motive was to make you aware of
the malaise around us. To make you ¡¥think¡¦ over some basic issues. God
willing, one of us will probably solve a few of those.
A departing note ¡V A country as great as India cannot be judged solely on
a few hiccups like mentioned above. Agreed, these are some aspects which
make us feel uncomfortable. But the fact that this nation braves to fight
this cancer is what makes us all proud. On some other day, I¡¦ll tell you
about innovative projects like Tripura¡¦s Rubber Parks or mighty moves
like the Iran-Pak-India pipeline, Kochi¡¦s Hybrid Port etc which have the
potential to affect even the last common man.
a few hiccups like mentioned above. Agreed, these are some aspects which
make us feel uncomfortable. But the fact that this nation braves to fight
this cancer is what makes us all proud. On some other day, I¡¦ll tell you
about innovative projects like Tripura¡¦s Rubber Parks or mighty moves
like the Iran-Pak-India pipeline, Kochi¡¦s Hybrid Port etc which have the
potential to affect even the last common man.
Before I sign out, I¡¦d like to thank my college for making me capable enuff to write this mail.
Praveen Gattu
First Year, PGDIM
National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE)
Mumbai.
(praveenk.im11@nitie.edu)
PS: This mail is going to a lot of people from diverse fields. I¡¦d love
to know the ¡¥weak-links¡¦ in your part of the system. Thanks.
to know the ¡¥weak-links¡¦ in your part of the system. Thanks.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)