Its an unpredictable world

A devout family man came across a mediclaim insurance policy . He went into that insurance office and picked out a policy which protects him and his family members from 75 deadly diseases. So, he immediately signed the papers and paid the premium thru credit card .

He was so much pleased that he had protected himself and his family members . The moment he came out of the office premises he was fataly knocked down by an incoming van.

How would one react to this incident? was it an quirk of the fate? or was it a reckless driving by the victim who was just rejoicing the insurance policy? Did the recently signed policy come to the rescue of the insurance holder? THINK....THINK....

It's an unpredictable world nothing is permanent everything is transient.

GOD PROPOSES MAN DISPOSES!

Unpredictable world

The world in which we live is always transistionary in nature. We always look for permanancy in the work we do. Actually, we think exactly opposite to the nature . look at this volcano which erupted under sea. So far, we only saw volcano erupting above the surface.And we have been told by our geography teachers that this 75% of the globe is surrounded by water.

Now, how come the volcano erupted under the water . I have been told by my sailor friends many mountains (sometimes, even taller than Mt.Everest ) have been submerged by the oceans.

36-18-33 @age50

On hearing this B MI, any woman crossing 30 would definitely have jealousy . NO BOT OX TREATMENT, No silicon implant (yet looking prim " ooh lalaaa") fulfilling the parameters of an "evergreen figure". Here I am not talking about any image rejig of a pop star. I am talking about the doll Barbie.

The doll makers drew inspiration from "Bild Lily" , a German doll manufacturer. The doll was named after the manufacturer's daughter Barbara. This doll became a "must have" possession for the last five decades.The average age of doll users comes around 40.

The doll drew flak from American Psychiatry Association for vulgar display of doll as it would have an effect on children mind. By seeing the "Structure" of barbie doll the users became anorexic as a result,their health got affected. Many Islamic countries have banned the sale of this dolls citing the clothing does not confirm to Islamic scriptures. The impact of Barbie doll created a pressure on males, as they wanted to look pretty to be associated with a girl like Barbie and this syndrome is called ken syndrome. However,there is no substantive evidence to this syndrome.


COME ON BARBIE! LET'S GO PARTY.

A gap of 30 years

The film "meendum kokila" was made in 1980. The tradition goes like this from the boy side the family makes a visit to see the girl's family . While on a visit, the enquire about family background, status and they also conduct some tests to find out whether they see any convergence between two families. They even ask girl to sing (because by remaining silent one may not know whether the girl is a dumb or not this is done to dispel that doubt ) and they even ask the girl to dance( this is done with a view to test whether the girl is a physically challenged or not).

By comparing the two foot ages above one could see the sea change in arranged marriage concept. The girls have transformed themselves.

IT IS A EVER CHANGING WORLD THERE IS ONE THING WHICH CANNOT BE CHANGED THAT IS CHANGE.

How you "FACE" it?

At a valedictory function a spiritual guru was delivering an important message to his disciples. He was explaining about how they should maintain their body language while addressing a gathering. He said " for example if you were talking on the topic of heaven you should bring heaven(ness) to your face by exuding confidence, emitting postive energy, the radiance from your face should pervade the surrounding from where you are lecturing". Suddenly a crooked student raised a question " Suppose if I were to talk on hell?. For which the guru's answer was "just show your face that is enough".

Health quotient not in vogue

Exactly a month ago, Ba rack Obama sworn in as the president of the United States of America around the same time the leader of the world's largest democracy was hospitalized for heart surgery.------yes! Prime Minister Manmohan Singh .

In the west, people are curious about the health status of the candidate they choose. They want an agile, athlete, robust personality to lead the country. That's why when the republican candidate John McCain chose Sarah Palin as a running mate to offset the image of being old. Eventually, the running mate became a counter productive one. On Obama side, he was considered to be a naive person in running the country's affairs. In order to bring in the experience to his camp he chose Joe Bi den as his running mate. Joe Biden has over 30 years of experience at US Congress and held various positions at foreign relation committees.

President Obama is a fitness freak who plays basket ball at free times. His shirtless pose at Honolulu's beach became a big hit before elections.The doctor says the exercise body can mitigate the effects of long working hours, fatigue. Many past presidents were also fitness freaks .It is a PR exercise by the candidates to look chic before the voters. The frail image doesn't translate into votes.

Now, take the case of India we have politicians over the age of 70 visiting hospitals have become habitual affairs for them. The leaders seem to give a scant regard for health quotient. The elections are around the corner. The Indian mass going to witness whirlwind tours, massive rallies, street corner meetings of our politicians in the days to come. Almost 40-50% of the electorate are less than 35 years of age. Many of them are first timers and very eager to exercise their franchise.

The Obama campaign made our politicians re-position their strategies. The opposition leader, L.K.Advani, has started websites to attract the young voters. Even the leaders like Lalu Prasad without shedding his rustic image goes hi-tech by visiting various management schools.

How these strategies would help them nobody knows. To lead a country looking biologically younger does not guarantee the efficient running of the affairs. Within a few days of assuming office President Obama admitted his folly in appointing tax evaders in his administration. Experience matters.

what do you want a namasthe or a handshake

When you meet a stranger or any acquaintance we generally salute them (of course, at our place). In India, namasthe is the general form of saluting the guests. While offering namasthe we bring our both hands together which ultimately identifies with "jyothi swarup" (supreme being or brahmam). we convey a message to our guests that there is no difference between you and me. What is dwelling inside me is also dwelling inside you(meaning jiv atma). Another interesting way of interpreting namasthe is that joined hand signifies unblossommed lotus bud by offering namasthe we expect a friendship to be bloomed between us. The flower lotus plays an important role in our culture.We are both part of the same universal power. This creates a trust between two individuals. (How could I harm myself).And these are spiritual interpretations of the namasthe. The medical science says that the human hand carry dirt, bacterias since, we follow the dictum" adhithi devo bhava" so we keep our bacterias with ourselves we don't want our germs and bacterias to be transmitted to our guests. LET YOUR BACTERIAS BE WITH YOU . That is the message we send it to our guests.

When Indian civilization was flourishing the western countries were leading a barbaric life. There was a lot of infighting between one tribe and another. There was no trust . The act of extending one's right hand is to gain the confidence and trust of the other.In other words, he shows to the others that he has no weapon in his hand . (Significantly, when the right hand was extended the left hand was hidden behind this really showed that how people of that of the era had led a paranoid life).

Now, tell me what do u want a namasthe or a handshake?

5 years on , lalu on right track

When Lalu Prasad became the railway minister of the UPA government he was considered as a misfit carrying the baggage of being tainted in the fodder scam. The Indian Railway was not in good shape. With 91% of its earnings went for pensions and salaries. There was no scope of any development. The chamathkar of lalu made the railway a cash cow with earnings shot up to 50,000 crores .
While presenting the first budget lalu touched the chord of common man like introduction of kulhar cups, khadi blankets etc.
He has the distinction of not raising the train fares for the last 5 years. In fact, he had brought down the train fares considerably. This is the rarest phenomenon of Indian railways. The passenger sector remain untouched, introduced Garib raths commercialization of railway lands brought in huge revenue to the ailing railways.

The freight trtaffic shot up thanks to the booming economy. His adversaries accused him of playing pork barrel politics with earmarking all major projects to Bihar. This practice was there even before lalu became the railway minister. With his performance as a successful railway minister he rose to the level of a management guru. His success story of Indian Railway became a case study for management trainees When an question was posed to him how he made a turnaround in the railways's fortune?"the cow must be milch ed fully ,otherwise, it would fall sick" was his reply .

Its all how u listen

The students created an absolute confusion inside the class room. They deliberately bunked the class meant for their board exam. Thus leading to the frustration among the teaching staff. In order to "pep up" the class atmosphere and enforce a discipline the teachers had a brainstorming. Ultimately, they came up with the idea.
They informed the students that there will be a class on sex.......... before completing the sentence the students started dancing , shouting etc. On D-Day, the class had a full attendance the students were maintaining pin drop silence. ( The atmosphere suggested that the dogs awaiting a meaty feast)
At the inaugural session a sanyasi was asked to handle the class. The students got surprised " why a renounced person came to talk on a carnal pleasure". The sanyasi proceeded with the topic why one should refrain from having sex. He elucidated with mythological references and asked the students to maintain a celibate state . At the end of the session, students got agitated thinking that the sanyasi can only talk in that style.
Then came the sexologist . This time the students expected some "steamy" experiences to be shared by the Doctor. Some even anticipated "audio-video demonstration". On the contrary, he talked about how not to have sex and its ill-effects on immoral sex. He was talking ST D's elaborately creating a psychosis on the minds of the students about sex. This time students got angry with the administration what really happened why they were to made to get "screwed up" by attending this "preachy" session?
This time the principal came (presumably, the concluding session) he warned about the immoral behavior among the students community and he talked about how one could lose their future for a few moments of pleasure. He listed out the punishments and fine . He even cited penal provision of the law and ended the session.Literally, the students lost their cool and dared the principal to ask a few questions. One student asked" you said there will be a class on sex". No, principal said. "We only said there will be a sex education class but you pupils didn't allow us to complete the sentence". That's why it is said to practice patience to become a successful one in life. Listen first then put forward your ideas just jumping the gun won't really solve the problems.

Slum tourism on anvil

Incredible India(athulya bharat) is the tag line given to the Indian Tourism Development Corporation. We have various types of tourism like Eco-tourism, marine tourism,coastal tourism, rural tourism urbane tourism spiritual tourism etc.
The movie, slumdog milionaire is getting closer to win the oscar awards.Though the movie is not a bollywood movie but ingredients are fulfilled by the Indians. Hence, one could argue the portyal of the Indian poverty and their problems in a bad taste. The music composer,A.R. Rahman won award for his music in slum dog millionaire. The story is about a boy from a slum in an Indian metropolis makes his way to win on a quiz contest(Kaun banega crorepati). It is always nice to hear a story of rags to riches because we all toil in our life to come up in our life.But, do we really help those who are struggling to come up in his/her life? actually, they don't need our sympathy after all, they all need our empathy. Do we really deliver empathy? in reality, we place all sorts of impediments on their path to success .

Now coming back to movie, every time a movie from India is showcased to western audience we exhibit our negative sides, by doing so, we get their applause. In this slum dog millionaire, an urchin life is depicted and squalid conditions around which millions of Indians are having their livelihood. Is this way we project ourselves to the world audience? We have sown the dream of becoming a super power by the year 2020. Does any would-be super power project itself in such a fashion? Even in earlier films like salaam Bombay, city of joy , lagaan we showcased either our slums or poverty. Otherwise, we try to exhibit the violence against women be it Bandit queen, Fire, Water kind of films. It seems the filmmakers of the west or the home-grown ones always dabble it in the negative format so that they could be hailed as ''intellectuals'' by the media.We are yet to recover from the colonial hangover.

To become a super-power we all should keep the following in our minds '' One should command respect,one should not demand it''.

Evey adverse condition provides an opportunity .The BAPUS at the government can formulate a package tour like one day at dharavi or one night at sonagachi so that visitors can feel the "real" India. One man's hardship is always considered as another man's joy. There is always a little bit of voyeurism in everyone of us. The western world always considers India as a land of snake charmers , land of ebony fever, floods,famine and above all, Indians have a poor toilet habits. A shrewd administration can cash in on all negative points by converting our ''open latrine '' practice into a bio-friendly nature saying this method actually helps in enriching soil.(you know something human waste is used as a manure for the cultivation of potatos,carrots and tubers). When a power station at san antonio in the US is powered by Human Waste why not project our practice as an Eco- friendly one? Next time when you munch potato chip don't give a thought to the manure used or when you take a carrot juice never think of its place where it was cultivated.

After reading this one would get a thought about rephrasing the tourism motto can I say it is '' INCORRIGIBLE INDIA''.

The entire system is based on "trust"

The culture plays a very important role in the development of the society. The collapse of the banking industry in the US says one thing extending of credit to sub-prime category led to the system crumbling. On the contrary, the south asian countries are doing fantastically in the credit management by lending money to the sub-sub-prime category by way of microcredit. the recovery rate of microcredit is 98% . Moreover, the system is so simple as the borrowers are from economically under priveleged class. This process doesn't require any paperwork as it is done purely based on trust. No collateral is required no lawyer is required as no document is required to be signed. Muhammed Yunus, father of micro finance , started this venture in the late 1980's . The conventional banking system is out of reach for the large chunk of the population as a result the poverty plagued the population. The main aim of the micro finance is to make extending credit to everyone. It should be regrded as a matter of Human right.Grameen Bank, a product of Muhammed Yunus, started for this category of people. Bangladesh was the first country to give mobile phones to beggar s to market the product .
In south asian countreies,taking credit is considered as an extra burden failure to repay the debts will attract isolation from the society. In order to avoid such a situation people in this part of the world repay the debts promptly. In the western countries living in credit is the way of life. Filing insolvency is regarded as a fashion . At the time of financial collapse, the developed nations should look into this microfinance product seriously. In India, many nationalised Banks have taken this concept in their portfolios. The system works like this any five member form a self help group approach a bank for a financial assistance the bank lend the money to the group with the initial amount of Rs15,000/-. The group leader will be responsible for the repayment of loan. Timely repayment will augument the credit limit of the group. The Reserve Bank of India has issued a notification any non-repayment of loan should not be regarded as NPA. This system is gaining momentum in the rural areas.

When a cardinal rule is flouted.......it's a mess

In the eighties and early nineties the grocery shops had the habit of extending credit to its customers. The owner of the shop do not extend to the newcomer. H e has to be vouched by the existing "good" customer. Even then, the owner of the shop would not get satisfied he would send one of the helpers to "inspect" (Ghar ki haal) the house to test their credit worthiness. The prompt and timely payment ensures credit limit gets extended. Any sign of dilly-dallying curtails the credit limit. This is the situation of an ordinary grocery shop.
Look at the nation which had extended credit to the habitual defaulters in pursue of buying homes. For this practice, Two nodal agencies of the state stood guarantee for the loans disbursed. Actually, these institutions went to the extent of disbursing NINJA loans (NO INCOME,NO JOB &ASSET) as a result, the entire economy taken a beating. The individuals associated with this practice were not ill literates , they were MBA'S, financial wizards (compare this blokes with our grocery shop owners) they just tossed every rule in the books of credit extension.

The country which strives on "TOMMORROW'S INCOME" OBIVOUSLY, differ from the country which benefits from yesterday's saving. The country which made hue and cry about excessive government controls does the same at its own backyard when its very house is set on fire. The sector after sector seeks govrernment bail out package. Its an ironical world.

When there was no matrimonial site.........

The other day I was reading a book on Osho literature. Osho was answering queries raised by his devotees. A particular query was raised about the Lord Krishna's marriage and his role in his sister's marriage. Lord Krishna abducted Rukmani to get married. He even played instrumental in his sister's marriage(SUBHADRA) as he had helped Arjuna to elope with his sister(aisa saala kaahan milaega).

Osho's reply was it is not right to compare today's world with that era. In those days, arranged marriages and horoscope matching were irrelevant. To prove one's masculinity, man would abduct the girl with her permission even girls of that era accepted such abductions. Suppose, a girl was not abducted it was considered as a slur. Even today, girls like the "comments" made by the guys sitting on the parapet of the wall of course, they would not accept it openly but they like these comments discreetly. Every girl likes to be taunted every man likes to make aggressive move this is nothing but natural phenomenon.

Its time for me to make arrangements for my elopement helo! any krishna out there to help me out......

Make a mountain out of a mole hill

The human beings have the habit of peeping into others lives. No matter they want to "feed" with one gossip or another. If you look closely they find "mirch masala " in other lives. I know many by-lanes of mylapore and triplicane in chennai city, particularly the aggrahaharams are known for gossip factories. The old ladies just make or break the person's character with their tongue lashing. Almost everyone , no matter their social status have the curiosity to look into others. Some may pose like Mr.CLEAN but they gather all gossips from their spouse. They normally do not indulge in such activities directly because it affects their personality.

The two important gossips that play havoc in human's life.
Financial related matters.
Human relations matters.
FINANCIAL RELATED MATTERS
"You know your next door Mr.X lost his job because of EMBEZZLEMENT says one mami". No.No. Actually, Mr.X. had a "keep" in his office when this thing brought was to light he was fired from the office "says another mami. (this is how financial related maters can be turmed into a human related matters). The fact of the matter surrounding is Mr.X has started his own manufacturing unit in the outskirts of the city. But, these mamis played "basketball" on Mr.X LIFE. very dangerous mamis indeed.
HUMAN RELATED MATTERS
Who slept with whom is the crux of the issue. Yellow journalisim provides this kind of issues making public to get their "graduation" . For example, the boys meets the girl is the simple meeting but to our gossip-mongering blokes it is more than simple meeting they add all spices like boy was seen at medical shop buying some contraceptive pills, immediately another gentleman would say no.no.... girl already had several relationships before this boy. The girl has a child studying in an ooty convent this information was considered as a scoop says a citizen-journo. This talks not only damages the reputation but also lowers our esteem in the society. Sometimes , half fed gossip makes some of us to suffer insomnia. The syndrome pushes us to any extremes to gather the (untold)half information we don't mind chatting to "gate crasher" once, the info is collected we shut off the "connection".
We all think (presume) our affairs are kept under the carpet as if noboby is gossiping about our affairs. This positioning only substantiate our stance that we are "living in fool's paradise". Shall we say ignorance is bliss.

Different India indifferent acts

We have different Indias within this INDIAN NATION. Namely, cultural india, uncultured india, intellect india , urban india, rural india , violent india , peaceful india etc.... Let us EXAMINE two indias to see how different in their lifestyle: 1. INDIA WHINING SECTOR

1. LOCATION: Intersection of an arterial road . SCENE: A complete Indian citizen unmindful of lying on the road with his clothes barely covers his necessities REASON: He is under the influence of country-made-liquor as he is not in a position to buy foreign made products.
2. LOCATION: A dark alley SCENE: Three or four teen agers sitting under a poorly lit municipal lamp sniffing gum petrol to get to the "high" world. REASON: poverty, abusing parents juvenile crime etc..
3. LOCATION: A shanty hutment GENDER: Woman ACTIVITY: sex trade REASON: Poverty to help the aged parents or to help the disabled siblings.

INDIA SHINING SECTOR

1. LOCATION: Just outside the flashy pub SCENE: Unable to distinguish his girl friend and others girl friend enters into a brawl bruising the nose lying unconsciously on the pavement REASON: Work load , just to show-off.
2. LOCATION: Again a flashy pub. SCENE:attending a rave party by the children of the elite class representing vibrant India of tomorrow REASON: to beat the solitude because their parents are away in safeguarding their "future".
3. LOCATION: A sea resort. Scene: "Customer satisfaction" GENDER: Woman ACTIVITY: cast-couching REASON: To clinch the "deal" at any cost , to maintain the status, to "shoulder" the husband's burden. (which wife, Whose husband that is a different story altogether)
   

If we analyze the problem plaguing the Indians they are almost identical . Nevertheless they lead their lives as per their wishes activities wise you will not see major differences between whining and shining sectors. All one could say as of now, INDIA DIM"MING".