POV

“The rest of India will feel what Assam has been feeling about Bangladesh. If something isn’t done, it won’t be long before Assam is overcome by Bangladesh” said my friend ,who is from Assam. She said there were parts of Assam in which people say this in a very matter of fact way.

This is in the aftermath of the Jaipur Bombings - where scores have died and where press reports seem to indicate that the bombers spoke Bengali. Already there is kb’s of stuff on the why’s and how’s of Bangladeshi terrorists as opposed to Pakistani terrorists.

A lot of the papers have spoken about Bangladeshi illegal immigrants - estimated at around 20 million, who could now become the target for increased security vigilance & deportation. Two questions arise here. a) how do you know that they are Banladeshi’s and not from West Bengal b) If you know that they are from Bangladesh and illegal immigrants, why are they still here ?

Why are there 20 million Bangladeshi’s illegally in India - because x thousand Indians have taken money to look the other way while they cross the border. y more thousand do not check papers before hiring because the illegal immigrant costs a fraction of local labour. z more thousand realise that they are illegal immigrants but choose to collude and keep quiet either because they feel sorry for them, couldn’t be bothered, or it benefits them in someway or the other. My sympathies are actually with the illegal immigrants of Bangladesh — they have come here because we have encouraged it, most of them possibly don’t even understand the concept of nation stares or international boundaries. they are here working at subsistence level and it is still a better life than what they left behind. .I would rather go after the Indians who are encouraging this sort of behavior.

I have been reading reactions from across cyberspace, where all options from sealing borders to invading the neighbours, cutting off water supply were suggested. While I am all for increased security, I think that at best it is latching the stable door after the horse has bolted. I think that in addition to these there need to be steps taken that attack the root of the problem .Since it seems to be suggestion time on national security, my two bits:

a) Make corruption a treasonable act : illegal stuff - whether it is immigration or adulterated medicines or drug smuggling (more on that later) or human trafficking or arms trafficking - happens because someone, somewhere has taken money under the table, to turn a blind eye. Make the act of taking a bribe or receiving a bribe treasonable and implement it across the board. Be it politicians, administrators or law enforcement officers or people who are bribe givers. Fast track the investigations. Publicize the investigations and let the public know the verdict. Include the scope of treason to include terrorism. In today’s time, treason goes beyond colluding with a foreign state. It needs to include trans national movements that seek at destablising nation states.

b) Make Aiding and Abetting Terrorists a Treasonable offense. People aren’t transporting themselves across international and state borders to specific cities to plant bombs. There is an entire chain of people than help them for a) monetary consideration or b) sympathy.

c) Derecognise Political Parties that buck the system and try and legalise ‘illegal immigrants’ as vote banks. Bar them from politics at any level for a 5 year period. If it seems that the political party/ politician has done this in return for monetary consideration then refer to a) above

c) Legalise Drugs - Since the 1980’s the sale of illegal drugs has substantially paid for terror across the world. India is no different. I find it stupid that we spend crores of rupees chasing narcotics unsuccessfully to put high profit margins in the hands of the terrorists. The simplest way of cutting down on the money available to terrorists would be to legalise drugs, tax it and maybe use the money to fight terrorists.

d) Modernize the Penal Code and the Judicial system - it is 150 years behind time. Digitize the system. set up a central data bank of cases. Invest in intelligence, and infrastructure. The game has changed and the system has to be given the tools to fight a different kind of war.

e) Ensure that the PUCL evloves into an ACLU kind of organisation and doesn’t end up trampling on human rights

Tags: Bombers, India, Indian, Jaipur, Murder, Rajasthan, terrorism, Terrorists

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If there is Youngistan, can MenoPauseLand be far behind …
The NYT reports :

Menopauseland is the invention of Amerifit Brands and its creative agency, BrandBuzz in New York, on behalf of Estroven, a supplement that is meant to help reduce the symptoms of menopause. A campaign with a budget estimated at $20 million is centered on the imaginary land where women of a certain age can celebrate a new stage of life.

Menopauseland “stands for the freedom, the liberation, that women felt at this point in their lives,” he adds.

That is conveyed with a light-hearted tone in the various elements of the campaign. For instance, in the TV commercial, an attractive older woman is shown emerging from a swimming pool. She is met by a hunky younger man with a towel and a six-pack — the abdominal kind, that is, as opposed to, say, a six-pack of Diet Coke — who massages her shoulders.

The woman is then heard speaking as if writing a postcard to a friend. “Dear Lynn, in all my travels, there’s no place more liberating than here,” she says. “Kisses, Kate.”

I wonder if geographically the two are next to each other … it opens up interesting possibilities….
I wonder if this is in the league of have a happy period

Tags: Advertising, gener, marketing, Media, menopauseland, target groups

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Stuff that made me - in no particular order - think, chortle, smirk, snigger , nod my head wisely. I shan’t identify which is what …coz it will be fun a year later to figure

a) Vatican Astronomers say that God may have created Aliens too….

Just as there are multiple forms of life on earth, so there could exist intelligent beings in outer space created by God. And some aliens could even be free from original sin, he speculates.

Somewhere out there is a species of intelligent fern.…

b) Mounting Inflation and the Common Man - and the IHT article on the impact.

The government tried to take shelter behind the plea that inflation in India was part of global inflation. During the short span of eight months between August 2007 and March 2008, the global price of coconut oil has risen by 61 per cent, groundnut oil by 71 per cent, maize by 54 per cent and Thai rice by 72 per cent, US wheat by 74 per cent, bananas by 76 per cent and sugar by 35 per cent. According to the World Bank data, between August 2007 and Mrch 2008, low and middle income countries have witnessed 73 per cent rise in the prices of agricultural products, 88 per cent in foods, 71 per cent in fats and oils, and 105 per cent in grains. But all this was cold comfort for the poor people and the plea of the government did not cut much ice.

c) Farewell to a True Heroine - the life and times of Irene Sendler.

The word ‘hero’ is grossly misused today. Sports figures who score a thrilling goal or touchdown; public figures who use their position in the spotlight to advance a particular charity or cause; these and many others are called ‘heroes’. They’re not.

Did people with conviction happen only then…. or is it that they simply don’t get noticed now ?

d) Indiana Jones & the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull … a whole bunch of pics are up. Aah, Nostalgia ! remember watching Raiders of the Lost Ark not so long ago when it just released

i guess, that if you can get older so can iconic characters !

e) First there was You Tube, now there is God Tube - religion as always is great business, and Jesus is possibly one of the biggest organized brands. And, to think that the man had thrown a fit at the prospect of temples being used for commerce !

f) The joys of conflict of interest - The Congress NCP Maharashtra Government - NCP boss Sharad Pawar is also the patriarch of BCCI, which in turn has franchised out IPL - waives 25% Entertainment Tax on IPL.

Tags: God, God Tube, Indiana Jones & the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, IPL, Irene Sendler, Links

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About a year ago we decided not to buy any food or toiletries at the mall.
My folks were fairly clear that the reason to stop was

a) the quality - especially on dal and rice, my mom kept cribbing.

b) the cost - while the goods themselves may have been cheaper, the tendency to buy a lot of non essential ‘pretty things’ at the mall are huge.

c) the volumes - buying 30 cakes of body soap because there is a good deal, and then figuring that there is no place to store it at home

d) the Convenience - the ‘corner’ shop delivers home, gives credit, and is open from 8 in the morning till 10 at night, and everyone knows the folks and the folks know everyone.

e) the ‘values’ - dad and mom believed that the corner shop is under threat and that they too need to be encouraged. And, this is their way of making sure that jobs and traditions are saved.

They still use the mall — for a nice afternoon of wandering in the AC’d comfort topped by a coffee . I still use the Mall - primarily for book shopping, but most of my other purchases are from the old style shops. But, as such the amounts we spend in the Mall is very specific and very limited.

So every so often we either trudge to Vile Parle (East) market or Kalina Market to buy veggies, fruits, greens, linen etal. Andheri (my parents declare) is far too nouveau rich and the prices are all too high and the quality is not too good.

Yesterday, amma and I went to Vile Parle to shop. And, it seemed that everyone was out shopping for greens, oranges and other assorted colours

Tomatoes are half the price here than they are at Andheri. or in other words if you get tomatoes at “8 rupees a pav’ in andheri, you get them for ‘8 rupees for half a kilo at Vile Parle’ (or atleast you did yesterday)

Somehow in the summer, the colours are enhanced and the greens look thoroughly sexy.

And its not just oranges and lemons to eat that people are buying, the roadside clothes shops were doing a lot of brisk business

And of course, there was the junk food stall … Deep fried & Yummy

Finally, i grew up in Vile Parle (East). At that time it was a sleepy little suburb. Not much has changed about it. It still remains one of my favourite suburbs in Mumbai .. and just as for a lot of people buying a sea facing flat in Bandra is an ambition/aspiration, for me home is an apartment in Parle.

Tags: India, Maharashtra, Malls, Market, Mumbai, Suburbs, Vile Parle (East)

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Sarah Vaughn in the classic Summertime, from Porgy & Bess.

Summer is here… and there is no escaping from the heat in Mumbai. In fact, Mumbai, with its heavy dose of humidity this year feels terribly like Chennai. And, since I am spending the latter part of this month in Chennai - for my patti’s 85th birthday - I think of the heat here as a practice session to get my body attuned for the heat and humidity in Chennai.

Last weekend we escaped to the house in Lonavala. It wasn’t exactly cool, but it wasn’t as hot and muggy as Mumbai either. And, of course i played with my new toy.

Boys from the village … Nangargaon, Lonavala


The plants are in full bloom, and none look prettier than the wild flowers that grow everywhere….

The little garden around the house is in full bloom with sprays of bougainvilleas, roses, tomatoes, capsicum, petunia, papaya etal

All in all, the flora and the fauna are basking in the sun and reveling in its glory … even if you and I are getting a bit baked !

Technorati Tags: Mumbai, Chennai

Tags: Lonavala, Oympus E-510, Photographs, Photography, Summertime

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The day after news channels and politicians got their combined knickers in a twist about George Bush’s comments on India’s food consumption contributing to rising prices some interesting stats :

Figures released by the US Department of Agriculture for 2007 say each Indian eats only 178 kg of grain in a year, while a US citizen consumes 1,046 kg.
Likewise, milk consumption per person per year is 36 kg in India, while in the United States is 78 kg. While each American consumes 45.5 kg poultry meat per year, an Indian takes in only 1.9 kg.
Besides, while the US per capita grain consumption rose from 946 kg in 2003 to 1,046 kg in 2007, India’s per capita consumption remained static during this period.

I am too lazy to do primary research. I am sure that Arab News has not made up the figures and it comes from the correct primary source. (aside - ToI carried a similar piece yesterday, here.

I also think that while Bush is an ass and a moron, he has been taken out of context and hammered, and this is not a new phenomenon for the Indian media. They did that to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh not so long ago when they went to town with ‘PM says that Musllims must have first claim on resources. ‘

Tags: Food Crisis, George Bush, India, Media, Media Bias, Media Hysteria, Sensationalism

19 Comments »

The 1950's and 1960's possibly had the best in terms of musical talent in the Hindi Film Industry. The kind of music that was created was superlative by any standards. And, there was choice - there was classical, rock, jazz, folk, fun, … the lot. Amongst the greats of this era was Manna Dey. Not as prolific as either Mohammed Rafi or Kishore Kumar, he managed however to sing some of the best songs in Hindi films. May 1st was his birthday. Here are some of my favourite songs from his repertoire.

a) Yeh Raat Bhigi Bhigi - a lovely romantic duet from the film Chori Chori, starring Raj Kapoor & Nargis. sung by Manna Dey and Lata Mangeshkar, the music is by Shankar Jaikishen & lyrics by Shailendra. Although Mukesh was considered the definitive voice of Raj Kapoor, the duets by Manna Dey were all superaltive. There are two other songs from this film - Jahan Mein Jaati hoon vahi Chale aate ho, and Aaja Sanam Madhur Chandini Mein hum, and two from Shree 420 - Pyaar Huva Ikraar Huva and Mud Mud Ke na Dekh … which are in my list of top songs of all times.

b) Na to Karvan Ki Talaash Hai - My favourte Qawalli from Hindi Films. Manna Dey, Asha Bhonsle, Mohd. Rafi and others. The song runs for almost 10 minutes. Manna De opens the classic piece and Rafi ends it… both are at their best in this song. Roshan Sahab (the father of Rakesh & grand father of Hrithik) composes a masterpiece, lyrics are by Shailendra -

c) Zindagi Kaise Hai Paheli - Manna De in the film Anand, singing for Rajesh Khanna. the muisc director is Salil Choudhary and lyrics are by Yogesh. The film is about a cancer patient, who has no hope of survival and the joy that he brings to people in his life. Possibly Rajesh Khanna’s best performance. The soundtrack is full of gems - Na Jiya Lage Na, Meine Tere Liye Hi saath rang ke sapne chune, Kahi Door Jab Din Dhal Jaye

d) Kaun Aaya Mere Dil Ke Dwaare - Manna Dey sings for Anoop Kumar (trivia - Anoop Kumar is the brother of Ashok Kumar & Kishore Kumar) for the film Dekh Kabira Roya. The film, despite its name, is a comedy. A story of three struggling men and their quest for their muses. Music in the film is by Madan Mohan and lyrics by Rajendra Kishen

e) Pucho Na Kaise Man Rain Bitaye - the film is Meri Soorat Teri Ankhen, the song is picturised on Ashok Kumar. The music is by S.D.Burman and lyrics by Shailendra. The story is about an disfigured abandoned child, who grows up to be a disfigured singer (Ashok Kumar). And, then he falls in love with Asha Parekh !

f) Ketaki Gulab Juhi - a duet with Pandit Bhimsen Joshi. The song is a competition between the two singers, and in typical Hindi Film ishtyle … Pandit Bhimsen Joshi loses. If your mind can overcome this fact… listen to the song…

The other great Manna Dey number from this film is Sur Na Saje, Kya Gaoon Mein.

g) Tu Pyaar Ka Saagar Hai - I always had a crush on Balraj Sahani - and in a way I still do. Everytime I see him on screen, my heart flutters, it truly does. And, it flutters a lot more in this song than in his other on screen appearances. Although, this song is sung as a Bhajan, for me it was a love song … which Balraj Sahni is singing to Nutan. Music by Shankar Jaikishen, Lyrics, Shailendra.

h) Laga Chunri Mein Daag - the film is Dil Hi to Hai. Music by Roshan & Lyrics by Sahir Ludhianvi. The song is picturised on a very bearded Raj Kapoor. The film is about mistaken identity, honour, love and misunderstandings … in short it could be any Hindi film except that Roshan’s music lifts it above its own mediocrity.

i) O Meri Zohra Zabeen - the Film is Waqt - the first of the last and found sagas …. The song is picturised on Balraj Sahni (be still my fluttering heart),the music is by Ravi and lyrics by Sahir Ludhianvi.

j) Phir Kahi Koi Phul Khila - the film is Anubhav - a complicated tangle of marital relationships. It has a wonderful sound track. Other classics in this film include the brilliant number by Geeta Dutt - Mujhe jaan na Kahon, meri Jaan. The film stars Sanjeev Kumar and Tanuja as the newly married couple with more than than their share of problems.

k) Mud Mud ke Na Dekh Mud Mud Ke - Asha and Manna De in this fabulous number from Shree 420. Picturised on Nadira & Raj Kapoor. The music is by Shankar Jaikishen and lyrics by Shailendra. The film is about a young idealist Raj Kapoor, who is seduced by wealth, fame and fortune - represented by Maya (nadira) … and brought back to the straight and narrow (not to mention poverty) by Vidya. The song marks the turning point in the film when Raj Kapoor goes over to the evil side….

And, here is Raj Kapoor with Vidya (Nargis) in one of the most famous songs of Hindi Films

Technorati Tags: Hindi Film Industry, Manna Dey, Mohammed Rafi, Kishore Kumar, Salil Choudhary, Madan Mohan, Balraj Sahani

Tags: Anand, Anubhav, Barsaat ki Raat, Basant Bahar, Chori Chori, Dekh Kabira Roya, Dil Hi to Hai, Hindi Film Music, Hindi Films, India, Indian, Lata Mangeshkar, Manna De, Manna Dey, Meri Surat Teri Aankhen, Mohd. Rafi, S.D.Burman, Salil Choudhary, Seema, Shankar Jaikishen, Shree 420, Waqt

3 Comments »

Like most inhabitants of Mumbai, I too have a window garden. Every so often I go to Kalina and pick up plants at the nursery … and when the flowers grow, I move them to the house in Lonavala.

This is the one spot of greenery and colour in an otherwise concrete neighbourhood.  

But, sometimes plants don't make it, for whatever reason. This is one that didn't make it…  

Tags: dead, Photographs, Photography, still life

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Dr.B.R.Ambedkar in the Annihilation of Caste, 1935

The effect of caste on the ethics of the Hindus is simply deplorable. Caste has killed public spirit. Caste has destroyed the sense of public charity. Caste has made public opinion impossible. A Hindu's public is his caste. His responsibility is only to his caste. His loyalty is restricted only to his caste. Virtue has become caste-ridden and morality has become, caste-bound. There is no sympathy to the deserving. There is no appreciation of the meritorious. There is no charity to the needy. Suffering as such calls for no response. There is charity but it begins with the caste and ends with the caste. There is sympathy but not for men of other caste. 

The Indian Express, today :

In a chilling reminder of caste divisions that still run deep in rural Uttar Pradesh, an upper caste youth, pursuing a masters in social studies, has been arrested by the Mathura police for allegedly hurling a six-year-old Dalit girl into a pit of burning waste after she “trespassed into a Thakur area of Tarauli village. The child, Kamlesh, who sustained 50 per cent burns on Tuesday evening, is being treated at the Swarn Jayanti Samudaik Hospital in Mathura. Sunny Thakur, who is said to be in his early 20s and is the son of Ashok Thakur, has been charged under IPC Section 307 (attempt to murder) and under the SC/ST Act. He has been put behind bars.

Technorati Tags: Dr.B.R.Ambedkar

Tags: Ambedkar, Annihilation of Caste, Caste, Dalit, Discrimination, India, Uttar Pradesh

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The Dogess with a sense of humour albeit a warped one ! 

Lurking …. That's what she does best.

Yes she is gorgeous.  No, she is definitely not friendly. No, No, even if you are good with other dogs … she is still dangerous. Seriously. Not dangerous maybe…. just paranoid with a tendency to attack first and ask questions later. No, she will be very apologetic….. It's cool. it's only three injections in today's day and age. No, No, not 14. Yes, I have had a dose of injections. …. my hand got in the way of her teeth

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