My Dad, P. Srinivasa Sarma ( Retd. Joint Director of Works & Accounts) has successfully completed his MA (Philosophy) from Osmania University; his long-awaited dream fulfilled. At the age of 65 (at which it’s a difficult task holding a pen and writing hours together), he outperformed youngsters with his ever-lasting zeal to explore knowledge.

Love you Nanna!

This pic was taken when Nanna was looking at the magazine in which my Article got published.

Prime Ministers of both the nations – Pakistan and India, and the high-profile people like Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Bollywood stars and Business Magnets were present at the marvelous show. A  rare occasion! It was such a delight watching it.

Nonetheless, Cricket fever affected the poor who have to necessarily work everyday to feed themselves and their family.  Their business was the worst hit. One chikoo seller today looked very disappointed as his Maal was not sold and he had to sell them at a lower price than what he usually gets. Probably, these are the people who hate Cricket.

Rest all – people who are associated with corporate world, retired people, children…almost all have got good entertainment.

Sriram (5 and half years old) got to know that it’s a India Vs Pak match and was so elated that he wanted to hear the result and only then go to bed. That was the kind of hype he heard from everyone around him for the match.

All in all, Congratulations Team India and all the Cricket lovers.  All the Best for the finals!!

Certainly, India has been in an ever-increasing focus for its competencies and there by put under check by the developed nations. Is it not an appropriate time for familiarizing slums (only) in India on Oscar stage?

An episode analogous to this:  In 1927, Katherine Mayo, an American journalist wrote a book Mother India highlighting the plight of women in India. It described Mayo’s belief that India was not ready for independence either. It became a bestseller. But in India, it created a storm of protest. Around a dozen of books were published with titles like Father India, Sister India, A son of Mother India Answers,………….. all in retort to Mayo’s report. Number of rebuttals floated up focusing western culture. There were protests all over. She was blamed for painting India in a bad light.

I’ve gone through few pages of the book. Definitely, the modern Indian woman can not just digest the then realities of her intimates (if at all those were the facts). But, one can perceive the intentions with which the book was written. Personally, I feel the whole ignominy (though) did some good to Indian women. It was an eye-opener and the minimum age for marriage was raised to 14 for girls and 18 for boys after the release of her book.

Again India is through global lens for some different stories. Times have changed.  Now, Indians have grown more broad-minded. They can easily adopt western cultures, yet adapt themselves for revolts too. They definitely can not tolerate interference of Ramsena in their lives and start a campaign against it and can popularize very much.  No issues with that campaign. However, I feel this issue also needs another such campaign. Just an idea… to the leaders of that campaign.. I congratulate them on their success.. and request them to take up this issue too…  But, I wonder how many of them really feel the pain that India is shown in negative light and for the usage of objectionable word in the title?

The film’s screenwriter Simon Beaufoy said in interviews that he just liked the word… ‘Slumdog’; Just like the word? And used the word ‘dog’?

No doubt, our competencies have also been recognized internationally. I certainly congratulate the award-winners.

The other day, as part of my routine I was browsing through net and really taken aback by few realities….

US dumps toxic waste in Indian ports..

For five yrs, this massive toxic oil pile is sitting in a Mumbai port - –

Britain dumps its garbage on Indian soil

India Becomes Dumping Ground along with few other developing nations for UK’s Toxic E-Waste

Who is responsible for all this? Developed nations impose all weird conditions on developing countries like India for their safety, to get over their insecurity, and to continue their supremacy for decades.. if possible for centuries together. Keep your countries very clean, throw the dirt on others, and then make movies and money throwing few dollars/pounds.

Hmmn.. A bit relief: There is an SMS in circulation.. “credit of oscars must go to congress, because without congress, there would not have been slums in India after 62 years of Independence”; and a news too that congress takes the credit for SDM’s success. Think about it…

BTW,  I wish all women,  “Happy International Women’s Day 2009!”

Bombay terrorist Attacks

Brida by  Paulo Coelho

The worst financial crisis of the decade – its upshots

Veronica decides to die by  Paulo Coelho

Satyam fiasco

Ramsena and the…campaign

And, then.. Slumdog Millioinaire

The list is long. All these could have been posts of this blog..  but, change is there everywhere.. in my interests, perceptions,  responsibilities and preferences too.   I’ve been writing everyday… but not here in this blog.. Wanted to update it, my first space online, with happenings of life and my interests..

Coming to the list again… summing up life in 2008 – I avoided deliberately.., the first thing stuck in mind was… Raju’s death…

Colleagues for just 3 or 4 months, we did not interact much.. Still, the way his life ceased…  made an impression.. even today, when I see a baby girl, our last conversation about his daughter’s first year birthday plans – come to my mind. An sms.. related to his sudden illness is still there in my mobile..I have not deleted it.. till now..

In this week, about 4 days back, strangely.. when I opened my gmail..(not gtalk) in the chat window, raju_narsingoji@……….com (the only id of him I have.. to which I sent my sister’s wedding invitation which took place on March 2nd of 2008) … was the only id appeared..  the entire list was filled with only one id.. but, multiple times.. scrolled the cursor up and down.. no other id was there.. I just did not care.. and refreshed the page… and, then it was normal. Then, it happened for the second time in this week – yesterday… as usual, I refreshed the page.. and then it was normal…. Suddenly I thought, let me check once..why did it happen..?   I  scrolled down.. to my surprise.. his id was not at all there in the list… I checked it again.. and again.. but, the result was same..

Probably, a technical issue.. which I  do not understand.. but, I felt strange..

Will stop here.. my mind is filled with questions… about life and death and life after death..

Will continue… with other things…

Happy New Year 2009!

Courtesy: Karunakar and Sateesh

Courtesy:  Karunakar, my colleague. (As I wanted to wish some of my friends on this occasion, he prepared it on my request. Thank you, Karunakar!)

For the time being, I don’t want to jot down all my thoughts. I prefer to freeze them for some more time. In a single sentence, it’s closure of an episode and a fresh beginning. I am hopeful that my career would flourish in my new shell. Now, I am on my way to enjoying the change.. Sometimes, in the waves of change, we find our true direction.. I believe I am proceeding in the right direction.

Yesterday, while returning from office, we were totally drenched in the heavy rain. It took almost 2 hrs to reach home. In this city, if it rains though not heavily, traffic jam is the common scene wherever you go. By the time I reached home it was 10pm. Again, got up early in the morning, got ready to go to office, but there was no conveyance as heavy rains have caused havoc in Hyderabad.

On last Sunday, we thought of spending our time differently from routine. We went to watch a movie, Ready, in a nearby theatre. Movie was good, an out and out comedy flick. Alas, our moments of joy did not last long. Coming out of the theatre, we saw traffic jam right in front of the theatre due to rain. It took almost 40 mins to find our way to the home.

The other day, it was raining heavily resulting into traffic jam for kilometers together and I got late to the office by 20 mins, for which my salary was cut. In such different conditions too, these kind of things do happen in my esteemed organization.

Traffic jam has become sort of irritation these days. Something happens be it rain, a procession or another. The first thing ensues is – traffic jam. A minister goes along with his convoy on roads; traffic is stopped at any cost, consequently causing heavy traffic jam which in turn causes whatnot, any thing might happen in that time.. I leave it to ones imagination. The other day, there was news covering the whole page about traffic jam in Hyderabad. But, our office HR and the concerned people couldn’t realize the same. How difficult it would be for an employee who commutes 20 Kms on one way to the office in such conditions? They don’t empathize. No flexi timings. And, office does not provide any conveyance; the total onus is on employees. They simply cut the salaries. They excel in performing such duties. Penny wise and Pound foolish! Today, if I had gone to office by hook or by crook, and reached late..the same would have happened again…

I realize that digression has taken place! Anyway, now please stop performing rituals like ‘Maha varuna yagnam’. I think, already, Varuna, the rain god had shown his contentment to the ritual conducted by TTD to a greater extent. He is creating mayhem. Let him take rest for some time…. Aren’t there any other rituals to stop him from showing his prowess?

Name: Mrs. Rabri Devi

Qualifications:

1. Speaking whatever comes to her mind
2. Anything for her husband
3. Mother of nine children
4. The lover of Litchis (fruits which look like strawberries)

Designations:

1. Ex-Chief Minister of Bihar (just for namesake)
2. Wife of Mr. Laloo Prasad Yadav, ex- Chief Minister of Bihar
Recent Achievement:

Exhibiting her fondness for Litchis & Mangoes (fruits of those trees she had planted) in a press meet and accusing Chief Minister Mr. Nitish for not sending a single fruit to her family this season. She said,

“Litchi season is now coming to an end, and Nitishji did not send a single fruit to us”

“humne lagaya tha, humko bhi milna chahiye tha”

Remuneration:

What should be given???????
The story behind:

Mrs. Rabri Devi, during her stay in 1, Anne Marg – the official residence of Bihar Chief Minister, planted Litchi & Mango trees there. Mr. Nitish, current Chief Minister and occupant of the official residence, last year sent litchis and mangoes of those trees to Rabri & family, considering their liking.

As Mrs. Rabri has not yet received fruits this year from Mr. Nitish, resorted to sharing her agony with the media. On top of all, Mr. Nitish has given a clarification saying that, “The litchi trees were infested with pests.” He also said that fruits would be sent to Rabri when they become ripe.

How ridiculous?? Moreover, Mrs. Rabri devi claims, “At least I have a right to fruits from trees I planted with my own hands.” In that case, I fear the value of properties Rabri has right over in Bihar!!

However, It’s explicable in case of Rabri, who had never understood or tried to understand a single file she signed, and would say ‘saheb se puchhiye’, when asked by anyone about any file, but Nitish, who should be working for the people as Chief-Minister of Bihar, is also conversing about such inane issues.

Apt Quote:

We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office. ~Aesop