i voice concern!!! Read the footnote

Learning lessons from Mangalore
Vir Sanghvi , source:yahoo news
Sun, Feb 8 01:40 AM
Most of us will have been encouraged by some of the political responses to the attack on pub-goers in Mangalore. Even Rajnath Singh, not usually perceived as a pillar of the liberal establishment, delivered a ringing condemnation of the assaults and most political parties joined the chorus of disapproval.
The politicians - and many media commentators - based their criticisms of the assault on two separate liberal principles. The first was: nobody can take the law into his or her own hands.
It is legitimate to strongly object to something but quite unacceptable to forego due process and take direct action. The second principle was the traditional liberal one of 'live and let live'.
I may disapprove of what you do but unless your actions directly harm me I have no right to stop you. This principle has been used to argue that even if the lunatics on the fringes of the Sangh parivar found the pubs objectionable, they had no business preventing those who liked the so-called 'pub culture' from enjoying it.
Both principles are strong and well-established and I can see why they have been quoted. They are usually used by politicians and editorial writers to condemn attacks on cinema halls showing Fire, on shops selling Valentine's Day cards, etc.
etc. But here's my problem: I think we need to go beyond the standard liberal denunciations of the Mangalore violence because the usual objections seem to me to be entirely inadequate here.
The real issues run much deeper. Go to the politicians who have condemned the Mangalore attack, ask them a few significant questions and see what responses you get.
Ask Rajnath Singh, for instance, what he thinks of the so-called 'pub culture'. My guess is that he will say that he disapproves of it entirely because it goes against Indian culture.
Ashok Gehlot has already been asked this question and delivered an attack on 'pub culture'. (Later, when it was pointed out to him that his response came off as toeing the Sangh parivar line, he quickly amended it to say that he was only against alcoholism - but by then, the damage had been done.
) Go further. Ask this question of L.K. Advani.
Of Lalu Prasad Yadav. Of Mayawati.
My guess is they'll all say the same thing: that going to pubs is against 'Indian culture'. That's my problem with the liberal position that is being used to condemn the Mangalore attacks.
Politicians will say they disapprove of the violence and shed tears over the incident. But they will still support the cause and agenda of the goondas.
This was brought out most clearly in the response of the Karnataka Chief Minister who issued the routine condemnation but then followed it up with a ringing denunciation of the 'pub culture'. He was a liberal, he said.
He did not mind if people went out to eat 'non-veg' (wow!). But it was against our very cultural traditions to go drinking in pubs at night.
My fear is that we will allow the politicians to fool us. Because they appear to making the right condemnatory noises, we do not realise that, in essence, their views are no different from those of the hoodlums, who attacked the pub.
It is only the methods that they are quibbling over. At the root of the against-our-cultural-traditions argument is a specious notion of what culture is.
What the politicians are saying is that culture is static; that it is the sum total of social practices at any given time. Any deviation from those practices represents a dangerous drift away from all the things that make us Indian.
This is so flawed an argument that it is plain silly. What is Indian culture, in this sense, anyway? Is it sati? That was an established practice once upon a time.
Is it untouchability? Is it dowry? Is it beef-eating? (We know that the Vedic Aryans ate beef.) Is it forcing widows to wear white? All of us would agree that none of these things represents Indian culture as we know it.
Yet, there was a time when all these practices were part of the cultural consensus. And deviations from them were vigorously opposed as being alien to our cultural traditions.
The truth is that culture is never static; it changes over time. If the BJP wants us to go back to the roots of ancient Indian culture then where do we stop? At sati? At wearing unstitched clothes? It is entirely legitimate for Yeddyurappa or Gehlot or other politicians to disapprove of bars or of alcohol.
But they have no right to define Indian culture or to claim that it should be frozen in time. They are not the custodians of our culture.
And my guess is that politicians don't even understand what culture is anyway. There is a second, worrying element to the Mangalore attacks that, despite Renuka Chowdhury's agitated response, seems to have passed without much comment from other politicians.
Have you noticed how every time male politicians jump up and down shouting about threats to our culture, the issue nearly always involves the freedom and choices of women? Think about it. When Sharad Yadav is in full flow, it is 'baal-katti' women he objects to.
When M.A. Naqvi protests about TV coverage of 26/11, he complains about women who wear lipstick. When R.R. Patil wants to shut down Bombay's beer bars (as he successfully did), it's not the beer he objects to but the women dancers.
When the Sangh parivar wants to ban Fire, it is because the film shows two women in a lesbian relationship. Nobody objects to the homosexual sub-text of Dostana - hell, they probably identify with it.
Similarly, when Hindu communalists attack the crew of Water, it is because the film shows how badly we treat our widows. Make a film about how badly we treat our adivasis or dalits and nobody will care.
Even moral policing, as we call it, is really about keeping women in check. Why do policemen and political hoodlums crack down on courting couples? Only because they think it is 'immoral' or wrong (or 'against Indian culture') for women to be allowed to display affection with men of their choice.
What angers me the most about the Mangalore attack is that the agenda is not really anti-alcohol or about any concern for India's cultural traditions. It is about controlling women.
The pubs had been going for a while but the hoodlums had never attacked them. When they launched their assault it was directed at the women in the pub.
It was the very presence of women, their exercise of their free choice to drink and their decision to sit with men that so angered the political goondas. All this is more worrying than the simple fact of vigilantes taking the law into their own hands.
Of course it is wrong to do that - as all the politicians have dutifully pointed out. But that's not the real issue.
The crisis within our society is not just about random acts of violent political protest. It is the unspoken agreement between politicians across parties that it is entirely legitimate to deny Indian women the same rights as men; that they cannot have any sexual or romantic choices of their own; and that if they dare enjoy themselves in the way that men do (in a pub, for instance), they will be punished and made to suffer.
The BJP holds forth about intolerance and about how women get a bad deal within the Muslim community. But does it have any right to complain about Talibanisation when members of the extended parivar do much the same thing and BJP Chief Ministers suggest that apart from the violence, they agree with these retrograde positions? These are the questions we need to ask - not just of the BJP, but of all of India's politicians.
Let's not be fobbed off with platitudes about how all violence is bad. Let's get to the core issues: what right do these jokers have to define Indian culture? And why do modern Indian women make our male politicians so insecure? Is it because they are even more inadequate than we realise?.


note:
IF I CAN MAKE ATLEAST A COUPLE OF YOUTH AND RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS OF INDIA UNDERSTAND THAT INDIAN CULTURE IS NOT ALL ABOUT VANDALISM AND DEMORALISING WOMEN BY RAISING THE CULTURE AND "BHARATIYA NAARI KA SAMMAN" FACTOR EVERY TIME, THESE SO CALLED MORAL POLICE OFFICERS DO,THEN I THINK I HAVE DONE JUSTICE TO MY COUNTRY.

WHY DO THESE BUNCH OF FOOLS FORGET THAT WE ARE NOT ONLY INSULTING THE WOMEN BY GENDER BUT ALSO ARE IN A WAY AFFECTING THE GROWTH AND SECURTIY OF THE COUNTRY INTERNALLY BY TALIBANISING OUR CULTURE...SO CALLED INDIAN!

WERE THERE NO MUJRAS OR DANCE GIRLS IN TIMES WHEN KINGS USED TO RULE US?
IF PLEASURES AND LEISURES THEN CAN BE ACCEPTED,THEN WHY NOT NOW? ITS FREEDOM NOW THAN SLAVERY THEN......

THIS IS MY VOICE.... I VOICE VIR SANGHVI....HOW ABOUT U? THOSE WHO EVER READ THIS ARTICLE.....FORWARD IT WITH YOUR NAME AND THE SLOGAN "THIS IS MY VOICE....."

LETS WAKE UP!!!!!

I wanna be everythin that i can be

wanna be someone everyday!

wanna be a scholar for a day,teaching all the life lessons in a go.
wanna be a star shining in the crowd like the sun in the clouds.
wanna be the oceans,calm and serene,unidisturbed....
wanna be like a twister,weeding away the baddies
wanna be a lightning,reaching all in a flash
wanna be gigantic,like the Everest,for the rest.
wanna be anything and everything,cool and best!!!!

Yes. Thats what i feel like everyday. I want evceryday to be a new dawn with a new avatar! Same me,same face,same work,same talk! yuk! It feels bored to be the same everyday.....why not try different?

Am different though-much to think,less to do and more to worry!!

Ha ha ha :)
Wanna be everything that I can be!

lay offs- a blessing in disguise

Taken from the economictimes.com,this article gives us an encouraging veiw about the opportunities knocking t the door,which at one point of time,we might have missed. The last job is not the last-there are many,the only thing is that we need to come out into the open and search for the talent within us. Let us see what Priya C.Nair has to say in her article:

"Whether you call it a lay-off , downsizing or cost-cutting , the entire process can be quite traumatic for the laid-off employee. Although it’s acceptable for him/her to experience different emotions, it’s more important to move beyond the emotion and utilise the available time, constructively , to kick-start the beginning of a new phase in one’s life; one that is optimistic and enriching. Because even if it takes a little while, you can still bounce back. Industry experts suggest utilising this time to figure out your priorities while also being positive and goal oriented, for you may never know how it will turn out to be a golden opportunity in disguise.

“View a pink slip as a temporary hiccup in your career. It’s a good time to get introspective by asking yourself questions that will help influence your long-term decisions like what kind of a job do I want, where do I want to work, where do my strengths lie, should I change my area of specialisation, etc., ” opines Mujtaba Merchant, Team Leader, Peopletree HR Services Pvt Ltd. A pink slip can also be viewed as an opportunity to explore other career avenues as well. “This period offers you an opportunity to study, research and explore new industries, markets, job roles, etc. Utilise this time for selfevaluation , fine tune your skills by enrolling for training/refresher courses, pursue temp jobs or freelance projects as you need to even look at earning as well, during this period,” adds Merchant.“Reflecting on what one has - like good health, supportive spouse, parents or friends, etc, compared to others helps creating the much required positive attitude,” says Marcel Parker, Chairman, Ikya Human Capital Solutions.

Always keep an updated resume handy that is accessible to friends and recruiters. Also, networking through social networks plays a big role towards fetching a job that suits your qualifications.“Also, a person must be a little flexible during such times about compensation structures as companies wouldn’t be able to offer you pay packages, as per your expectations,” suggests Anupama Parthasarathy, Founder & CEO Global Executive Talent. For a downsized employee this tumultuous time can actual ly offer an array of career-en hancing opportunities. All you need is an optimistic approach and a willingness to learn!

Prepare an updated resume and send it to organisations you believe would hire someone with your qualifications and work experience. Even if you get only one response, use that as an opportunity to explore further. Be well networked with colleagues, head hunters and executive search firms and do a regular followup , even though there are no immediate openings. Update your skills by investing in short-term training courses. Try to get a mentor who could advice and guide you, during times of distress. Analyse your financial situation and prepare for hard days, in advance."

WELL....doesnot that come as a breather?

I am one of those who have been a victim of these winds since last 20 days. I would like to share what I have as plans in the time gap that I have really got as an opportunity.

Registering for Ph.D ,I plan to go ahead with my passion for teaching and look forward to establish myself as a Professor in the field of Financial institutions and markets. This is because having an experience of nearly 2 years in the field of mutual funds,gives me an idea and a chance to explore this upcoming industry and hence,this decision.

Though I am searching for a job in the field of finance,I have my interest in teaching,forget about the package-I need to gain experience first so that I get good breaks in the coming months.

CHEERS!

Visit my new blog finansmart.blogspot.com and put in queries in finance to be answered by expert faculties.

Jagannath Dham Commercialisation!

Sad but true!

Today,I went to Puri,to have darshan of Chakka Dola (one of the names given to Lord Jagannath which refer to his circular(chakka-refering structure of the wheel) eyes(dola)) after a gap of one year. The moment our vehicle entered the city,I could see the changes. Traffic posts,cleaner roads,planned flow of traffic and planned busses to ply from the parking lot to the temple premises-just the way it was in Chinna Tirupati near Vijaywada.

Jolly well in a devotional swing as I was,I entered the Singha Dwara(the enterance to the temple) and was greeted by a whack from one of the pundits....." sacred whip",but the sacred whip is not that sacred. It is backed by a monetary motive which these Panda's eagerly wait for. If this is just a sample,walk with me to know more.

Now,I have started walking the first few steps of the "Baisa Pahacha"(22 steps), and there are Pandas trying to make a deal with me- "give me Rs.10 and I will take you to the altar for a closer darshan". Similarly many more swarmed in to strike a deal and unable to bear with them, I gave in to the one I found justified and followed him in (Puri was not a new place to me,but,given these eagles prying around-it was and will never be possible to have a peacefull darshan of the Lord). This was not the end. Previously,Bhog(offerings to God) were available in the open market in Anand Bazar( where you can savour dry food items as well as the Arna( rice prepared with pure ghee) at a reasonable price,served fresh and hot))but, today we have to buy them from special counters where nothing is available below Rs.50 or Rs.100. what the Panda gets here is the commision for the sale done. Good. there will be a process,beneficial to the Pandas,customer and the trust as well.

walking ahead,I entered the main temple and there starts the process of looting you every inch you try to budge closer to have a clear glimpse of the Lord Jagannath. Aarathi is free but not the Tirtham(divine water which is given as Prasadam to every devotee in any temple-small or big for free),when i asked for it,he said with a difference"dakshina nahin diya to nahin milega". ( make donation and take the Tirtham). Now when did this sacred water become a commodity exchanged for few coins or a paper note validated by the governor of RBI? Ridiculous! Isnt it?

And then, there are dallals hovering around asking questions"want a closer darshan? Pay Rs.10 and you will be allowed" and if you pay the guide less than Rs.10,you will hear something like these"aajkal Rs.5 main kya aata hai sir? Those Panda's near the Ratna Simhasan(the altar of the God) get to earn but what about us?" It seemed to me as if I were in a stock exchange and not in a temple- deals were every where,every nook and corner of the temple in every form!

I would rather advice anyone not to go,if at any cost you wish to go then have a pocket and purse full of cash or a bag full of arguements-these are the only two ways you can have a darshan!

Any how after dealings and settlements in Puri stock exchange,I had a darshan and moved towards Anand Bazar to savor the varities. "Bhai,yaade aaso....Arna garam!"(brother come here ..., rice is hot and fresh),echoes in the air from every direction you can make out. People from all the classes can be seen in this open restaurant of the God. Panda's of all the sizes can also be seen-rotund,thin,slim and stylish,ugly..... it is a unity in diversity here.....as every one there in the sales had only one motive-how to extract the maximum from the devotees!

I had,along with my friends,had a sumptous meal at around 4.30 in the evening and decided to take home a parcel of the fresh Arna and dalli(dal). Now be aware anyone,once you decide over a quantity and price-the contract is fixed! you cant cancel it and I faced a situation similar to that. I had run out of cash and was searching for my friends who seemed to have headed for the exit with out informing me..the momenyt i started searching them ,the shop owner had a doubt that I will not be paying for it and started a brawl.... it took me 10 mintues to make him understand that I had no intentions to cheat him. he said"why do you carry purse when you dont carry money?" Well,a question million dollars worth!!! they scan you every where and are the best eve teasers you can find any where..... be care ful when you try for a darshan....

there still is a place of respect for the place but to be frank,the commercialisation and greed exhibited by the Pandits made me change my mind- never ever to come to this place.

Tourist friends - its but a request,please donot pay them the exact amount whatever they ask for. God never has set the rule of "pay for my Darshan". It is a shame that in the name of God,these people make a living by unfair and unjust means. Discourage them by avoiding payments at every stage. then only can the temple's sanctity be preserved.

Jai Jagganath!

a decider!

NO POSTS!
.....unlike every other month,this month saw the least number of posts from my end..... caught up in some tensions and whirlwinds,I found lesser time to devote to blogosphere... well, what happened when I was not blogging?

Not a great issue to be discussed but not the one to be kept in wraps either.

New year resolutions every year went vague with some promises not to be kept but this year things were different. By the end of the last year I had decided to see changes in my personal life and thought about many things including my professional life. Working for a prestigious organisation was a dream for any one-fat pay,good work atmosphere,designation wise respectable and so .....but there was something which did keep my interests at bay. The job that I was doing was even being done by a graduate for a lesser pay and much effectively. why was I sweating out? was the objective of my life to be a relationship manager,wait for promotions,bonus and nod to my seniors for everything they said-right or wrong! Being a yes boss even after spending two years in my organisation to someone who didnot have a grasp of the subject was not my cup of tea. I needed to change. Time was the deciding factor as quiting jobs at this point of time when the markets are playing spoil sport was unwise,but I dared to think against the tide because for the first time I had something clear to forecast.

My life was not going to be under the directions of someone who didnot care to know what I cared or craved for. They who dont know or are not able to read your abilities have no right to rule your life.Atleast,I would not allow this. Hence,this year I decided to say quits and follow my heart... to a land where I can be free to show my abilities,express myself more clearly and enjoy my job.

Change is inevitable! this is one thing which has to be constant and rest all changing. I found my destination which i was not clear about since the day I became a professional. I felt somehow that I was not doing justice to the MBA certificate that I hard earned.

What I wish to say in this yawning post is that,dont blindly follow someone who doesnot know you. Rather,have an insight,peep into your self and come clear over your abilities so that you enjoy what you do.

Steer away from those islands which are tempting and promising but are a mirage for you. I made a decision today which is gonna help me change my lifestyle,my thinking and help me achieve my goal of pursuing Doctoral studies in the subject I have been associated with for the last two years.

"Reach to the brim in academics,so that you donot repent later. Opportunity comes once."

what an idea sir ji!

Creativity....changed life and changed the styles- in short,it changed the life styles of the people in and around us. some ideas are worth and mean a lot while some are hair raising and some weird!!!!

a weird idea from my friend

EMPLOYMENT FOR THE HANDICAPS
I think it is one of the novel ideas which cud have ever come to any one...... but the thought that follows this thought is some thiing different...... jindagi badal de!!!!

One day when I and my friend were chit chatting,suddenly he hit upon the idea of providing jobs to the handicapped.but what gave me a jolt was his idea of "their creation"!!!! it bounced..... i know! i will explain........

choose two young people from each family,disable them by a hand and a leg and then provide them a job in the "viklang/handicapped category"!!!!

No head of the state would have not even come across this thought of employing his umemployed youth this way as my frnd has thought...... it sent me shivers for a second and the other minute I was rolling with laughter then, a bit serious thought and explanation from him said it was justified.....he had a double edged sword.....employment for the youth as well as work for those who illegally break bones and go behnd the bars. This would help the governments in power as it would help them in providing 100% employment,thus eradicating poverty!

Good Idea dear,but this would help them even more selfish.....one more chance to garner votes for thier party(s) by showing sympathy towards their own victims who would not be knowing their predator...once again reservations and chaos...... think abt the scenario and it will be a cycle very big......

Well,talking on this issue,let me share a real life incident...

This happened to me when i was playing cricket 6 years back. An accident due to lack of common sense on my part!
......a fielding done,a throw from the deep,a hit and an accident in the eye! Awwww!!!!

I should have ducked when the throw came my way but I didnot. The ball did what it should have done....it hit the obstruction,fell down and made me writh in pain for a minute before the game stopped!

It hit my right eye,the ball being a tennis ball fit right into my socket and made me nearly blind for sometime before a Doctor intervened and played the role of the Almighty. The only ridiculuous thought that passed me while in pain was :an eye lost is a job gained in governement sector! absolutely ridiculous-isnt it? :)

Those who are living with handicap know the pain more than me who did play a joke cruelly like this. Being a handicap is not a boon but its not even soemthing to be disheartend... they have the capacity to turn things around for where there is will there is a way!
It may seem to be a crap for many...but sorry for those who find it in a bad taste.

Comments pls.

so the year starts like this

Welcome 2009!!!

I expected the year 2009 to start without any negative news but it happened. Murphy's law application seemed to be imminent- markets were positive and things seemed to be fine when the Satyam case dropped a bombshell....and BOOM! things crashed!

This is the first news of the year which had a deep impact as per my knowledge. I dont know what prompted him to do so but things have not only gone wrong for him..... the macro effect can be seen. ..... i dont need to stress on that.

In other case,India has proved successfully that Pakistan had supported the terror attacks in Mumbai and has won the confidence universally. Its good to know that there is concern for the cause but is that the end? what will be the next step in eradication of terrorism? What will happen of Kasab? will he be sentenced to death or will he be held in jail till some one hijacks a plane or creates havoc enough to let the Indian Government free him? there are many events where such things have happened and we have some how been responsible for the mayhem being caused by the so called jihadis or call them by what ever name ....these fanatics are a creation which should be destroyed in the bud itself!

Had it not been that vote bank politics and games were not introduced in our so called democartic country where democracy seems to be in the books of the constitution,law and schools,there exists no real thing as democracy and freedom within! why do we have sections of the society which crave for reservations? why do we have considerations for castes when it comes to jobs? I dont think terrorists need to be educated in Madrasas or in our neighboring country but with such differences created by our political demi gods its but an automatic process of transformation!!! till the time these selfish creatures of the political world are done away with,there wont be a law which can hold us united. Other wise every law created will have a fissure and let the terror and corruption seep in to finally break the barrier and create panic,havoc and what ever adjective we can use to describe terror.

Sorry,that was a drift from the topic but it has got a lot to do with our GOvernments which we select. There may be many cases happening this year like Satyam or many more massacres like that of Mumbai last year but these need an intervention from the people who really are responsible for indifference in their attitude towards problems which are bulging in magnitude today!

So,we were talking about the great 2009 scam. nothing more to talk on that. Now lets see some PILs being filed by some real concerned mothers and "Indians" who bellieve that some movies like Ghajini can do damage to the morality and attitude in a child by pointing to some example of a three year old boy having tattoed his body with words like REVENGE,thus replicating Aamir.

I have one very simple question to this Motherly figure who doesnot mind being mindless at times to get noticed publicly with her so called concerns..... What is your answer to the cartoon channels like Cartoon network,Jetix and other such channels which show some violent shows including some obscene type cartoon creations of female charecters which are not animations for the children but for our ages?

where goes the thought of morality and the children getting spoiled or influenced by such shows? the impact of these shows is rather much than the Ghajini which will fade in some days. Technically speaking the top of mind impression created by these cartoons is more than what Aamir can create by his eight packs,tattoos and his hair styles! who uses the bayblades and cartoon tatoos? who encourages the toys purchase of transformers and other jetix charecters???
Madam it is not Aamir.....it is the unconscious Ghajini in you and every other parent which is silently sowing the seed in them....let the moral education begin at home!

so this is how the year started....though many more are there I thought these are some issues which have caught my attention and let me tap in on this blog....whats your view?