Important Summer

It’s the holiday time again for kids here. Another academic year is done and dusted with and we are witnessing heat all around. Summer is scorching so are elections. IPL season 7 starts today amidst raging controversies and credibility deficit. A world cup was lost in final where an ex hero turned into a villain. A plane is missing without any clues. There is a crisis in Crimea.

But nothing takes away an iota of attention from LS elections. It’s now or never situation for those who mean for India. Yes I can hear many accusing me to be right fundamentalist etc but asking my erudite friends if we have any choice. UPA 3 will be disaster for country.  The self proclaimed purists and agents of change who lived by media have been put to death by media (though some life is being infused from foreign shores in terms of support and money).  They had chance to create case study in Delhi but again individual ego and ambitions prevailed. Third front is nonexistent. If one believes in the pulse and the opinion polls, we will have NDA govt. But then Indian voting system is strange. It has sprung surprised in past and one should not rule out incumbent’s hold over systems and below the table practises. They have ruled of 60 years so they can still spring some surprise. You never know in India. Last night before voting is crucial especially in slums and rural areas where booze flows along with cash and kind incentives for poor people.  So as they say in Marathi ‘raatra vairya chi ahe jaaga raha’ (Enemy is around so be vigilant). This is true especially last night before election. Tomorrow we vote here in Pune. May 16 is month away.  So the things will get interesting every day till then. Growth which includes all and focus on basis infrastructure are the only things which will take India ahead and not some subsidies, wasteful schemes. I can also hear slogans from newbie party supporters that both NDA and UPA are same and corrupt. But are these newbie parties ready to deliver in 14. Come on, common sense should prevail and not idealism or pessimism of NOTA.

On cricket side, i felt BCCI has an opportunity to cleanse the system but power as they say blinds. Induction of Sunil Gavaskar is right step. Let Kumble, Ganguly and Dravid also join in ensuring no conflict of interest.  This is the time for gentlemen with honour to show these power hungry incumbents how to run the show. IPL thus is slow starter for me. On world cup loss, its combination of wrong selection by India (right from the start of tournament when they crushed everyone till finals) and excellent performance from Srilanka on day mattered most. But solace is only fact that we reached finals. The recovery phase in 13 again lost momentum in NZ. Now again it is the time for selectors to hone right talent and for youngsters (apart from Virat Kohli) to stand up and be counted.  Still the team is in transition.

On international front Crimea issue, MH370, China-Japan, Afghan elections offer intrigue for observers. Economy in US has improved. Now we look forward to world cup soccer in Brazil to catch imagination amidst lot of controversies later in June.

Interesting summer ahead, and very important one....

Modi, Moral rights and my take.....

I read an article opposing Modi on the grounds of moral rights owing to Gujarat riots (link below) with an extreme open mind from start till end. This was so typical of arm chair intellectuals deeply disconnected from India either living in india and abroad. In between being extremely one sided and myopic which is a result of authors own jaundiced view (which i can attribute the thought process to as liberal elitist with whom i fight on social media day in and out and winning handsomely  if public reaction is the parameter). Though i can hear a ‘fiberal ‘accusing this as jingoism from majority or in plain term mobocracy. (Fiberal is my term for people of this mindset. i am including a separate definition what i mean by term fiberal.)

But coming back to this piece of one sided commentary i tried again and again to bring forth valid points for debate amidst all venom.

1.       Theory of Justice for Gujarat: Author claims modi has no moral right to rule country due to Gujarat 2002.

2.       Even if he apologizes in that case he is incompetent to control riots how he can rule country

3.       Other proven performance parameters for last 12 years like economy, growth etc don’t matter so long as moral grounds of justice for Gujarat are upheld.

4.       Author thinks that Modi thinks like Hitler and India will be Nazi country.

I am discounting the comedy of point no 4. i am not answering that. Tomorrow i may think  AAP is funded by CIA. Thats my though process to which no one else can argue. So i am not getting into this idiotic point.

(pls let me know if i have missed any other vaid intellectual point from this jaundiced article, as with my limited abilities i am unable to. In case someone does i am game to debate on valid debatable points)

Point 1.

I am not saying that one riot is better than other. But genocide is where all victims are of one community or group of people. In Delhi, not a single hindu was killed where as more than 2000 sikhs were butchered. So does that give congress right to rule county by authors logic. Author himself states that more than 200 hindu were killed in Gujarat 2002. How were they killed? By police. So that means that administration was atleast doing something though they were unsuccessful. Lastly Supreme Court has given clean chit to modi for his individual involvement. If you don’t believe in courts of India, pls do so in US as US is not granting modi visa which he has not even applied for. In Delhi there is not a single conviction but at least Gujarat govt has ensured accused to be brought to justice. Not a single congressman was brought to justice in Delhi. Now forget Delhi, what about riots in Mumbai in 1993? Do you remember who cm was then? I would give a small gift to someone who does. It was sudhakar naik, is he being accused of perpetrating violence in Mumbai 1993? So that means anybody from congress does not have moral right to rule country. Now what about Tarun Gogoi aasaam riots in 2012 and muzaffarnagar riots in 2013 under akhilesh yadav. Why no one is singled out? I will explain what makes modi different for media and fiberals in my corollary.

Point no 2 and 3:

Congress has apologized for 1984 by appointing Sikh PM and PM himself has said so.  Author says even if Modi does that he does not feel him to be competent to handle issues of India.  Now author has forgotten that Gujarat is the safest state in India for women. Crime rate is lowest. Terrorist are dealt with as they should be. We have proven case study for last 12 years.  So by the same logic, crime against women, law and order is worst in Delhi right under congress nose. So does that make competent.

All other matters don’t count unless basic issue of justice is resolved.  So who delivers justice? It is the Supreme Court in India. And it has given clean chit.  So pls cry in front of US embassy for final justice. And what matters most for common man in India is to be part of growth story which was given by P V Narsinha Rao (most maligned leader of congress and he was most away from congress mentality)and A B Vajpayee (BJP). What we are today are thanks to these two gentlemen. If you disagree, then all the best for wasteful subsidies like MNREGA, FSB, RTE. But then for fiberals, Justice for Gujarat is more important than having better life for everyone.

If that doesn’t convince remain at 3-4% of India growth story and India will be taken back in old license raj of 70s. And i can also hear someone from opposite thought process accuse me of jaundiced view from other side. But then let’s only discuss points, not the personal views.

Thanks

Corollary:

Fiberal: Is the liberal minded, English educated, socially elite Indian who has been benefitted by system for being close to establishment. This establishment of elites are part of admin, media, politics and education. This establishment replaced the British at Luytens after independence. British had reasons to promote minority interest to sustain divide and rule policy. So these are leftists, elitist always bark about minority rights. His group has voice in established english media, they travel abroad and have lot of clout in other government. They are now scared that an outsider like Modi who comes from vernacular, non elite background to replace their interest. Thats why Modi is different from other CMs i named under whom worse riots have taken place.

Link to original article:  http://qz.com/178362/india-crosses-the-moral-line-of-no-return-if-narendra-modi-becomes-prime-minister/

New Innings

Another year passed by as we enter crucial year of 14. Hope we will be in much better shape as a nation than we are today while we celebrate New Year party for 2015.

AAP is the most talked about event. They rode on anti establishment votes, Anna agitation and nirbhaya ordeal. And as i had predicted they played spoil sport to BJP cutting seats and votes. I have hotly debated that leftist idealism bordering on naxalism and aided by outsiders and incumbents is something we define as AAP won’t work as they never have in history. I don’t buy arguments that they have changed system as yet. But as demanded by many let us give them time. But they seem to be men in hurry as they plan to contest 400 seats. My advice for them is to focus on job in hand without cutting anti incumbency votes. End of the day the will create anarchy by means of hung parliament which will further dent us a nation. Then opportunist like nationalist, socialists, re-constructionists etc will have field day. It’s high time for development and Modi is only hope for now which was validated by much publicized interview of Raga.

For me more cause of worry is state of beloved Maharashtra and city of Pune. Both have no chance with tussle between NCP and congress leading us nowhere. There no one to lead. Opposition is in total disarray and disunited. As demonstrated in toll agitations, no one is ready for transparency. Lets hope we will have change for 2014.

Obama is fighting his battle with US congress. US system is much complex and i hardly care. Only thing i care about his protective polices hampering Indian IT and his empty political rhetoric. His healthcare reforms is something closely related to what we do. Thus keeping my fingers crossed. China vs Japan positioning is intriguing. AfPak policy targeted by Obama in 14-15 will also impact us.

We will see World cup soccer in 14. Indian cricket team needs to find its feet overseas and for ICC world cup in 15. I somehow feel these young guys have it in them as momentarily displayed in south Africa to lose the series thanks to one bad session. Lets see if they resolve ODI bowling issues.

Life has entered second innings in December 13. As in a test match, batting in second innings is always tougher than first. Pitch gets deteriorated. There is a pressure of first innings lead/debit. You need to score quickly if you are ahead. You need to hang to salvage a draw or you need to attack to achieve target. Now age of 40 may be defined as end of first innings or for some life can be ODI .till now it was net practise and match begins now. Various people have various takes on same. For some it can be even 20-20. Do or die. I still remember the old Marathi song sung horribly by Sunil Gavaskar in early 80s called “He jeevan mhanje cricket raja, hukla to sampala”(Life is like cricket, one who misses is finished).  That’s on personal note. But then had some wonderful surprises to see videos of old friends and partied with closed ones. Last 35 years so flshed by satrating with old sadashiv peth wada till ownership flat, XIIth , Purshottam, Kharagpur, Jobs, Entrepreneurship roller coaster rides in India and abroad, houses, travels, family, friends.  I still need to come to reality of the message or landmark of 40. Or is 40 just another number. Life begins at 40 as many say. 

There are new hopes and challenges for 14. Let there be new start. I have taken my stance and guard as I face the fast balls or spinning deliveries by destiny. Let the play begin...

Greetings

Change is inevitable as they say. 13 is almost behind us and  has promised us that 14 will define a change. Each changeover promises same yet very few
promises are delivered. Nevertheless journey continues. Now is time to fulfill promise. Lets all be happy, healthy and helpful to others in 14. Signing off 2013.
Pls promise to be in touch in 14.
Happy Holiday season.

Half cooked year

13 started with slogans that this year belongs to you (saal tera hain.) Year started with outrage over Nirbhaya. Obama took over his second term. Indian economy sluggish and Govt at helm paralyzed. What has happened over the year? Year of 11 was revolution. Year of 12 was year of failures. I would define this year as semi cooked. We had semi finals of elections won handsomely by opposition and has given rise to another uncooked player called AAP.  Government tried to be decisive but again failed on all fronts the situation being undercooked. BJP has shown hope in declaring PM candidate who definitely will mean business irrespective of empty rhetoric of unacceptability around him making him appear semi cooked again. Year 14 will be landmark as we will see finals and finally someone will complete the process.

On International front, Obama took over his second reign which took severe beating during standoff on healthcare reforms which were found undercooked, Snowden snooping accusations. But then did some diplomacy with Putin and Iran over Syria and Iran nuclear. Thankfully US economy has shown signs of recovery due to inherent basics. China continues to be aggressor across East Asia and had unstable issues with India. Though Chinese growth story is not impacted by global recession as it has Indian story but some sheen veered off. Also basic issues of freedom and separatism impacted it internally. Arab revolution countries continue to be unstable like Egypt, lybia. Syrian crisis now has taken serious turn. European economy has done very little to show signs of recovery though Northern countries remain solid as usual. Pakistan the perpetual migraine had elections and Nawaz Sharif returning but with imminent afgan pullout things stand fragile and its warning for India as well. SAARC neighbours had their set of problems where India has to be very careful especially in Bangladesh, Srilanka and Maldives. The ASEAN movement participation was the only positive for India.

On domestic side, country remains indecisive, paralysed and corrupt. On defences matter we remain weak as our soldiers were killed and mutilated. On foreign policy we remain weak. We had new scams and old scams returning. We have dual power centres: MMS vs Gandhi family. We had corrupt UPA allies having their pound of flesh. We had good for nothing ministers. In any other country, this kind of performance had no chance of returning to power in 14. But in India, things work differently and our voting patterns, politics we cannot say that for sure. BJP won in 4 states (I include Delhi as its largest party). System has shown what good meaning executives can do. People like them. I don’t say BJP is incorrupt but Nation had done well from 99-04 under Vajpayee and UPA1 reaped benefits before destroying economy since 09 under UPA2. AAP is new entrant and its largely driven by individual egos. The success in Delhi can be attributed to situation in Delhi which saw public anger during Anna agitation and Nirbhaya protest (13 saw more cases like Gudiya etc). But their agenda seems more flawed than communists and even UPA in terms of free lunch promises. The idealism can sound good but my advice to AAP is to be more mature and wait till 19)

Indian economy has gone worse and if you add impact of faulty UPA promised of food security, RTE etc, 2014 sounds worse. Only hope is elections and reforms which can be as a part of election agenda. Also RBI under new leader remains firm against politics. Slowdown has impacted various sectors. IT industry has taken up new challenges in cloud, mobile, healthcare.  Many new products are emerging from India. Good reports out of silcon valley also help us indirectly. Education though suffered thanks to political intervention. Aviation industry has some new hope after kingfisher debacle in form of tata ventures. World business has some new paradigms opened by internet 3.0 Analytics, Big data and social media 2.0. Core manufacturing, clean and non conventional energy have taken centre stage

Environment continues to suffer and we have seen more catastrophes in 13 than any other year. In India we had a semi man made disaster in Uttarakhand where thousands of people lost lives. Worldwide Hurricanes and earthquakes pounded people. It’s high time people do something to mitigate and help future generations.

On sports side, to start with cricket we had God retiring. Cricket will never be same. Nostalgia hit us when we actually realized that how we have evolved along with Tendulkar as a country. Of course in 12 we had seen lowest point of home defeat against England. 13 saw revival which again is half cooked. We won at home vs Aussies. New team India won champions trophy and few odi series. But the real test (or final) will start in SA during Dec 13 and later in Eng, Aus, NZ in 14. But new generation has sown some promise. Bowling continues to be a worry. On world scene Aussies are reviving and England seem on decline. SAF continues to rule but unless they have some ICC silverware they will not be treated as champions.  Viswanathan Anand’s reign ended in Chennai. Leander amazed everyone by winning US open doubles at the age of 42. Saina struggled. Hockey team struggled. Politics and drug again hampered other sports. Lance Armstrong was disgraced and corruption in soccer and tennis also saw its ugly head. IPL in India was disgraced by spot fixing as well.  Federer had an ordinary year when Joker , Murray and Nadal shared the spoils. All look forward to big year for Indian cricket with away series, ICCT20 and biggest soccer carnival in Brazil .

On cinema, again new directors and genres tried but stars and half cooked idiotic comedies in 100 crore school ruled. Hollywood also continues to have vampires and werewolves to rule though there is new trend of cinematic dramatization of classics. Marathi drama saw top actors performing but we lost many stalwarts. Art and Music saw some new entrants with promise.

On state front, even in later of 14 we will have finals.  Its really time to change this governance where there is corruption, law and order situation is so grave that activists are murdered in broad daylight even i city like Pune. What can you expect from such team of self serving leaders? Do we have option? New parties again serve interest of their leaders with large egos. Opposition is totally divided. Its high time people unite and provide stong option. Thankfully 13 saw good monsoons as compared to the draught situation in 12. Hope irrigation scams wont impact in 14.

City of Pune saw man made tragedies like Shindewadi. BDP, new DP, BRT, Metro, water situation remain unchanged. City lacks leadership and hope in 14 we have one. Expessway and National highways around pune continue to be death traps. We wish real change in 14

On personal side, this year saw a landmark birthday celebrated in that stature. I had change in address which again was landmark. I was able to do some service to society and IIT almamater. Professionally and personally things went well though hectic towards end, though some issues remain uncooked for 14. Need full attention, intent to make those fully cooked in 14 which seems to be the final frontier on all counts.

Lets hope 14 brings all those changes and cook the broth fully. Bit it comes with warning that if cooked more it will be burnt. And thats a possibility as well.

Time to change

Another Diwali celebrated. And we are all ready for more celebration in this season.  Isn’t life all about celebrations? Though some ‘I am superior than thou’s will find Diwali too generic and short term to celebrate.  They dislike crackers agreed its more problem than we think: noise and air pollution, safety hazards etc. But each Diwali we find that society is changing though some diehards aka foolhardy don’t. But let’s hope they will change some day. Apart from crackers i don’t find these souls have anything to complain. At least mere mortals like me don’t find anything sad in meeting of friends and relatives , exchanging greetings (though hackneyed and customary without real emotions as they complain), buying things, helping needy, lights, decoration, food, killas,  rangolis, deepotasavs ( in IIT kgp we had splendid ilu festival still memories are fresh), cultural programs, outings, vacations . In fact i have enjoyed Diwali since chid good and same this year as well. And please don’t say that i celebrate 365 days so i don’t need these 4 days. You are self contradicting sirs. Enough of footage to these know it all, but just can help pointing contradictions. But then few of them are good friends so did not want to take them on publically to an extent i wanted, thus using my own platform to express. Those who want to debate on this, please do so here.  I am all game.

It was fun week and now back to work after short time out.  Elections are just round corner in 5 states. As semi-final to 14, they will give enough indicators to trend. I have been vocal against AAP and MNS to fragment opposition votes acting in the hands of ruling party. Both these parties may have strong justification in opposing all others. But now it’s time to make change and not support continuum else suffer weak economy, lack of development, vote bank uneconomic policies, terror, and corruption for next 5 years. At least give yourself an option. I know many will argue that  all the politicians are same but we have strong example from 91-96 under PVN and 99 to 04 under Vajapayee when economy revived . A well meaning govt can make impact for sure. Lets hope Delhiwalas show the incumbents and so called aam aadmi muazzins their place. Rest states are heading in right direction if you want to believe opinion polls. Congress wants to ban those polls. But will anyone take that party seriously whose election policies rely upon one night before actions leading to election victories as we all know in cities and villages. So there is lot of room to dis believe the opinion polls but congress can do wonders 24 hrs prior to elections as they have since independence. But for all those who care about India, Time to change.

Another controversy has rocked putting sardar patel vs Nehru. It’s a known fact that those opposing to Gandhi Nehru family within congress have been always sidelined in congress. So any defence of congress that sardar was congressman etc is just an empty rhetoric. Sardar showed nation way of unification and restoration of somnath temple out of public participation. Wish we had more of him.

Pune enjoyed Diwali with many cultural programs, less noise and pollution, deepostasavs etc. But spirit was somehow spoilt by tragic accident and loss of 4 lives on highway that leads to mahabaleshwar, konkan and goa. These are spots frequented by most including yours truly during Diwali and other occasions. One pays Rs 250 as toll to reach Kolhapur. But then highway state is pathetic and needs support. This calculation of toll and who benefits is taking sinister turn. Its high time a well meaning government comes out clean. But then when did Maharashtra had well meaning government esp with big barons at helm. But this is the a time to change that as well in 14.

As we enter final tests for sachin, euphoria is all around as i still remember my Diwali vacations in 89 while returning from Mumbai to Dombivali i read that a 16 year old Mumbai boy was selected in Indian team for Pakistan.  And that was 24 years back. Those were some days. Just had a trek to Rajgad back in 89 and this year also had a chance to visit Rajgad. Some places amaze you, and Rajgad does that to you every time. Isnt that another coincidence involving 89 and 13?  24 years have gone by. Then i was std XI student now i am on the brink of 40.  Many things have happened in these years. Lets prepare for a change ie  life watching cricket without sachin as we already have changed watching virat, Dhawan, and rohit exploits in ODI. Romanticism of life has given way to pragmatism. Life has taught you many lessons. It has shown you man great moments.  There is more to look forward from your next generation.  Time for them to form their memories, teachings, experiences. More interesting times ahead..... Time to change.