Everyone knows Acquired Immune Deficiency syndrome (AIDS). The more widespread one, the one equally devastating to your soul (if you are still left with one that is), is 'Acquired immune Sufficiency Syndrome'. I searched for the symtoms/signs in myself and relised that am heavily infected....
The common signs/symptoms in case you want to check out your status-
1. Total immunity to your favourite leader's promises....you know he is lying but you still need to vote for him for reasons known only to you.
2.Total immunity to the policeman who misbehaved with you..or misbehaved with another person in your presence...you just shrug and say- aapni polioce to aisi hi hai..
3.Total immunity to the child selling titbits on the traffic point- 'yeh log kabhi nahi sudhrenge' you tell your 12 year old sitting comfortably in your air-conditioned car.
4.Total immunity to the rubbish overflying from the municipality bin just outside the gate of your apatment colony- your home is clean, that is all that is needed.
5.This is specially for the Kolkata resident- total immunity to the largest redlight area in Asia. Yes it is Sonagachi (at last the best in something apart from Dada). Please also note-place has the distinction of seeing the highest number of human trafficking in world.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Why Inappropriate....
Why inappropriate logic? i was asked.
Isnot logic supposed to be just that- Inappropriate?And yes, it deserves a capital.
After all, the worst fear of the educated is- ' to not sound appropriate, or , in other words- inappropriate.'
Isnot logic supposed to be 'not appropriate'? let me ask the question in a simpler way for the more appropriate human beings- Isnot being appropriate the only virtue worth considering... and installing in our children ?
Isnot the only important thing when in a crowd is- to be able to blend (bend?) in; to ensure that not one word is uttered that goes against what the crowd had decided is right.......
And what does the crowd decide to be right? Of course whatever the strongest and the most vocal said was right is right.....how appropriate...and safe for everyone.
Isnot the girl who said that she enjoys sex a 'woman of loose character'- and the guy who says that he has had a dozen girls- the eternal smart guy?
And isnot the guy who says -'kill those who say our god their god is different'- the most popular guy?
So people, the moment I talked about logic, i had to make it inappropriate.
Isnot logic supposed to be just that- Inappropriate?And yes, it deserves a capital.
After all, the worst fear of the educated is- ' to not sound appropriate, or , in other words- inappropriate.'
Isnot logic supposed to be 'not appropriate'? let me ask the question in a simpler way for the more appropriate human beings- Isnot being appropriate the only virtue worth considering... and installing in our children ?
Isnot the only important thing when in a crowd is- to be able to blend (bend?) in; to ensure that not one word is uttered that goes against what the crowd had decided is right.......
And what does the crowd decide to be right? Of course whatever the strongest and the most vocal said was right is right.....how appropriate...and safe for everyone.
Isnot the girl who said that she enjoys sex a 'woman of loose character'- and the guy who says that he has had a dozen girls- the eternal smart guy?
And isnot the guy who says -'kill those who say our god their god is different'- the most popular guy?
So people, the moment I talked about logic, i had to make it inappropriate.
Monday, October 12, 2009
The true patriot
I am not considered a patriot, and I thank the heavens for that. Wasnot it Oscar Wilde who said- 'patriotism is a virue of the vice'. But who cares, Salman Khan/Amitabh Bacchan/Shahrukh Khan.....none of them ever said it...that makes it unimportant enough.
And no, it is not my being in the west that makes me a belong to the 'not patriot' category, a category of true minority.Believe me, the zeal/strength of patriotism of apna bhai/behens here is something I had never seen when was back in God's land. I amnot thought to be a patriot, because of, amongst other reasons- not expressing enough indignation at the facts that girls in the west marry more than once....and sometimes go on to have children out of wedlock......
Maybe if I had said that these girls should be made to fast on Navratri and wear Sindur like our great women back home, I would have become a patriot.
Lest you think my bhai/Behens here arenot a progressive lot, let me tell you- they drink wine openly together... no mean feat, considering my behens of course wouldnot smoke...that is something only Western women with their low morals can do.
Pre-marital sex? What is that? I probably have to go to graphic details, maybe self indulge a bit, to make my fellow bhai/behens understand what that means. These lowly western terms donot have any Deshi translation you see....
And then there are a few other silly things that I keep talking about...you know , things like about 80% of Indians subside on below 2 $ a day...and that Maoists go around blowing up bridges and killing police....that for almost every investigation that the noble Doctors order, they get/expect a commission....that the majority really/really cannot afford to go to the Apolos and the Batras......that little kids still die because their dads do not have money to get the hole in their hearts repaired, and worse still, those dads arenot brave enough to stab a millionaire and get the money that the holy doctors need to repair their children' holes in their hearts....and worse of all, that I actually say that I wish that the educated in india would realise that being educated doesnot mean ONLY getting a car/plama TV/flat....it ALSO means, caring for the people around you, for taking the weak's hand and helping him......now that is nasty of me...isnot it?
All these, and the fact that I actually keep saying that once I have trained myself well enough, I will go back to the hills in Himachal ( isnot that stupid? I mean going back...and even if I were to go back, not planning to work in the Apolos and Batras..)....all this makes me the true non-patriot.
Am happy to be branded so though......makes me know the that fire has still not died...and it probably will never die.
And no, it is not my being in the west that makes me a belong to the 'not patriot' category, a category of true minority.Believe me, the zeal/strength of patriotism of apna bhai/behens here is something I had never seen when was back in God's land. I amnot thought to be a patriot, because of, amongst other reasons- not expressing enough indignation at the facts that girls in the west marry more than once....and sometimes go on to have children out of wedlock......
Maybe if I had said that these girls should be made to fast on Navratri and wear Sindur like our great women back home, I would have become a patriot.
Lest you think my bhai/Behens here arenot a progressive lot, let me tell you- they drink wine openly together... no mean feat, considering my behens of course wouldnot smoke...that is something only Western women with their low morals can do.
Pre-marital sex? What is that? I probably have to go to graphic details, maybe self indulge a bit, to make my fellow bhai/behens understand what that means. These lowly western terms donot have any Deshi translation you see....
And then there are a few other silly things that I keep talking about...you know , things like about 80% of Indians subside on below 2 $ a day...and that Maoists go around blowing up bridges and killing police....that for almost every investigation that the noble Doctors order, they get/expect a commission....that the majority really/really cannot afford to go to the Apolos and the Batras......that little kids still die because their dads do not have money to get the hole in their hearts repaired, and worse still, those dads arenot brave enough to stab a millionaire and get the money that the holy doctors need to repair their children' holes in their hearts....and worse of all, that I actually say that I wish that the educated in india would realise that being educated doesnot mean ONLY getting a car/plama TV/flat....it ALSO means, caring for the people around you, for taking the weak's hand and helping him......now that is nasty of me...isnot it?
All these, and the fact that I actually keep saying that once I have trained myself well enough, I will go back to the hills in Himachal ( isnot that stupid? I mean going back...and even if I were to go back, not planning to work in the Apolos and Batras..)....all this makes me the true non-patriot.
Am happy to be branded so though......makes me know the that fire has still not died...and it probably will never die.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Mosquito Coast
I have always associated Harrison Ford with a particular style of acting....more so because he always seemed to play a particular sort of character- the nice but tough uncharismatic guy...leaving aside of course the Star Wars.
And then I saw Mosquito Coast- Ford plays an American, who is a genius and firmly convinced that nuclear war is going to wipe out the big countries...this and his disgust with the average American"s wasteful materialism makes him take off (with his four children and wife)for Mosquito Coast, a place which is in S.America. On way, he makes enemies with the priest who is based in that area with the aim of "LIBERATING THE LOCALS". Our hero and his family, upon reaching the place realise that it has nothing to offer...its a marshy and bleak place on the edge of the river. Not to be supressed, the whole family, with the aid of a few locals works hard, clears the jungles and makes a sort of a farm.
The movie traces the ups and downs of the family, which is linked with the fate of the locals as well....slowly, as circumstances start to become worse, Harrison Ford turns into a man so obsessed with his need to keep his family in that area, that he almost turns into a demon.
It is a great performance by Ford, I think probably his best. He is credited with having starred in nine of the twentyfive all time top earning movies.....and Mosquito Coast was his only movie that didnot recover its money.
This is what he said of the movie after it was declared a flop- It's the only film I have done that hasn't made its money back. I'm still glad I did it. If there was a fault with the film, it was that it didn't fully enough embrace the language of the book (by Paul Theroux). It may have more properly been a literary rather than a cinematic exercise. But I think it's full of powerful emotions.
And then I saw Mosquito Coast- Ford plays an American, who is a genius and firmly convinced that nuclear war is going to wipe out the big countries...this and his disgust with the average American"s wasteful materialism makes him take off (with his four children and wife)for Mosquito Coast, a place which is in S.America. On way, he makes enemies with the priest who is based in that area with the aim of "LIBERATING THE LOCALS". Our hero and his family, upon reaching the place realise that it has nothing to offer...its a marshy and bleak place on the edge of the river. Not to be supressed, the whole family, with the aid of a few locals works hard, clears the jungles and makes a sort of a farm.
The movie traces the ups and downs of the family, which is linked with the fate of the locals as well....slowly, as circumstances start to become worse, Harrison Ford turns into a man so obsessed with his need to keep his family in that area, that he almost turns into a demon.
It is a great performance by Ford, I think probably his best. He is credited with having starred in nine of the twentyfive all time top earning movies.....and Mosquito Coast was his only movie that didnot recover its money.
This is what he said of the movie after it was declared a flop- It's the only film I have done that hasn't made its money back. I'm still glad I did it. If there was a fault with the film, it was that it didn't fully enough embrace the language of the book (by Paul Theroux). It may have more properly been a literary rather than a cinematic exercise. But I think it's full of powerful emotions.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Schindler's List
Schindler's List is a 1993 American drama film about Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who saved the lives of more than a thousand Polish Jewish refugees during the Holocaust by employing them in his factories. This guy was a womaniser, lover of good wines and a Nazi party worker. He initially employed Jews as workers in his twin factories as they were the cheapest ones to hire in Nazi germany........and somewhere along the line, I guess the brutality of it all made him turn into one of the bravest men in the world in those times. Twice he was jailed, but having been quite a charmer in the higher social circles of Germany, his friends in high places helped him get out. By the time the war ended, he was penniless, having lost all his money bribing the Nazis and German officials to keep them away from his Jew workers. Liam Neeson gives the performance of his lifetime, and Ben Kingseley is great as usual.
And to think that we have the resident joker in Mumbai who loves to say that Hitler is his idol.People of Mumbai, he gives a bad name to all of you.........
How is it possible that six million Jews were killed in those six years and entire Germany stood by and watched? Well, not just watched, but helped Hitler and his goons to do that..........
And to think that we have the resident joker in Mumbai who loves to say that Hitler is his idol.People of Mumbai, he gives a bad name to all of you.........
How is it possible that six million Jews were killed in those six years and entire Germany stood by and watched? Well, not just watched, but helped Hitler and his goons to do that..........
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Air Farce
1.. In 1982, the Indian Air Force identified the need for advanced jet trainers for its pilots.
2.It then took the air force five years to spell out its requirements to the ministry. In 1987, the IAF told the government that it needed 66 advanced jet trainers
3.However, it was not until 2004 -- a full 22 years after the need was felt -- that the government signed a contract with BAE Systems
4.Here's the CHARMING part: The government signed a contract for 66 trainer aircraft, 24 of which were to be supplied in the fly-away condition and the rest license-manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautical Limited.Sixty-six is the number of trainers that the air force wanted in 1987. And 66 is the number of trainers that the government orders in 2004. No study was conducted to figure out the increase in the IAF's requirements in the 17-odd years that took for the government to act on it.
5.In the CAG's words: 'It took 22 years to finalise contracts towards fulfilling the felt need for inducting an aircraft to meet essential training requirements of the IAF pilots. The supply and production of the aircraft was based on air staff requirements that were not reviewed since their issue in 1987. The restriction in utilisation of aircraft would compromise operational and training requirements.'
6.There is more: 'Because of software and integration problems, the IAF cannot utilise 40 per cent of the flying time. Due to pending integration of electronic weapons suite, the aircraft could not be used for tactical weapon training, limiting the operational use of the aircraft.'
2.It then took the air force five years to spell out its requirements to the ministry. In 1987, the IAF told the government that it needed 66 advanced jet trainers
3.However, it was not until 2004 -- a full 22 years after the need was felt -- that the government signed a contract with BAE Systems
4.Here's the CHARMING part: The government signed a contract for 66 trainer aircraft, 24 of which were to be supplied in the fly-away condition and the rest license-manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautical Limited.Sixty-six is the number of trainers that the air force wanted in 1987. And 66 is the number of trainers that the government orders in 2004. No study was conducted to figure out the increase in the IAF's requirements in the 17-odd years that took for the government to act on it.
5.In the CAG's words: 'It took 22 years to finalise contracts towards fulfilling the felt need for inducting an aircraft to meet essential training requirements of the IAF pilots. The supply and production of the aircraft was based on air staff requirements that were not reviewed since their issue in 1987. The restriction in utilisation of aircraft would compromise operational and training requirements.'
6.There is more: 'Because of software and integration problems, the IAF cannot utilise 40 per cent of the flying time. Due to pending integration of electronic weapons suite, the aircraft could not be used for tactical weapon training, limiting the operational use of the aircraft.'
corrupt? who me?
Few days back was listening to my friends talk about how Bollywood has moved away from shwing the angry young man-hero.....because (I am holding my breath here again)- corruption in India has gone down from what it was........really ...??
In Kolkata, to retrive my suitcase filled with my medical books from Customs, I spent 5-6 hours with no avail. And then, I bribed a person sitting in the office of the Superintendent (where I had gone to lodge a complaint), and job gets done in an hour.
I dont know for sure how much corruption has gone down, but I know that it is an acceptable part of life now.Middle class has money, so money isnot a huge problem, unless I guess the bribe asked for is huge. Last time when I went to Silchar, my Medical College boys who had failed the PG entrance test were quite nervous as to how much of the money they had paid as bribe (before taking the exam) would be refunded.......well yes, everyone had paid there....It was I am told, to ensure that if you did a good exam, your scores are not tampered with.
Please read this carefully- it concerns all of us.
The CAG report talks about the 'inadequate assessment and management of risks associated with the acquisition of aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov.'
In simpler terms, the report damns the defence ministry for allowing the cost of acquisition to double in four years to Rs 7,207 crore ($1.82 billion)*.The report says that the delay will also, in effect, mean that the Indian Navy will get a second-hand ship with a limited life span. And to top it, the navy is acquiring a second-hand refitted aircraft carrier that had half the life span of and was 60 per cent more expensive than a new one.
What is even more glaring is that India is now under immense pressure from Moscow to increase the price by Rs 9,700 cr ($2 billion)* more than the initial price of Rs 3,856 cr ($974 million)*.
And all this after two naval delegations visited the Sevmash shipyard in 1995 and 1998 and reported that the 'carrier's condition was deteriorating.'
Further, the CAG report says the following: Out of the total 2,500 compartments spread over nine decks on the ship, 1,650 would either be newly created or extensively modified. Thus, almost two third of the ship would be renovated.
In conclusion, the report says: 'The objective of induction of the ship as an aircraft carrier in time to bridge the gap in the Navy's capabilities has been defeated. In sum, the government has paid $407.05 million (August 2007) and is now faced with an additional demand for $1.2 billion (November 2007) for a second hand carrier whose delivery schedule is uncertain. The matter was referred to the Ministry in September 2008; their reply was awaited as of January 2009.'
In Kolkata, to retrive my suitcase filled with my medical books from Customs, I spent 5-6 hours with no avail. And then, I bribed a person sitting in the office of the Superintendent (where I had gone to lodge a complaint), and job gets done in an hour.
I dont know for sure how much corruption has gone down, but I know that it is an acceptable part of life now.Middle class has money, so money isnot a huge problem, unless I guess the bribe asked for is huge. Last time when I went to Silchar, my Medical College boys who had failed the PG entrance test were quite nervous as to how much of the money they had paid as bribe (before taking the exam) would be refunded.......well yes, everyone had paid there....It was I am told, to ensure that if you did a good exam, your scores are not tampered with.
Please read this carefully- it concerns all of us.
The CAG report talks about the 'inadequate assessment and management of risks associated with the acquisition of aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov.'
In simpler terms, the report damns the defence ministry for allowing the cost of acquisition to double in four years to Rs 7,207 crore ($1.82 billion)*.The report says that the delay will also, in effect, mean that the Indian Navy will get a second-hand ship with a limited life span. And to top it, the navy is acquiring a second-hand refitted aircraft carrier that had half the life span of and was 60 per cent more expensive than a new one.
What is even more glaring is that India is now under immense pressure from Moscow to increase the price by Rs 9,700 cr ($2 billion)* more than the initial price of Rs 3,856 cr ($974 million)*.
And all this after two naval delegations visited the Sevmash shipyard in 1995 and 1998 and reported that the 'carrier's condition was deteriorating.'
Further, the CAG report says the following: Out of the total 2,500 compartments spread over nine decks on the ship, 1,650 would either be newly created or extensively modified. Thus, almost two third of the ship would be renovated.
In conclusion, the report says: 'The objective of induction of the ship as an aircraft carrier in time to bridge the gap in the Navy's capabilities has been defeated. In sum, the government has paid $407.05 million (August 2007) and is now faced with an additional demand for $1.2 billion (November 2007) for a second hand carrier whose delivery schedule is uncertain. The matter was referred to the Ministry in September 2008; their reply was awaited as of January 2009.'
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