Abhivyakti

Its over 9 days now:- 1. Most of the nearby ATMs are still dry. 2. Queues, although short from earlier days, are present. 3. Over 33 or so people have been lost. They could have still been there. 4. Number of rumours have been floated creating confusion and chaos among people. Social media is front runner in this act. 5. Bank staff is too occupied with the work, at times harassed also. 6. By every passing day, govt. announces new course correction which again falls to be inadequate. 7. Gramin bank in my hometown offers Rs. 10/- coins on withdrawl. It is still waiting for new currency. 8. Money hoarder employ people in line to convert their money, thus exploiting the system. We have to ink our own people. 9. Rs. is in free fall. Market loosing... Retailers without exchange... 10. Through media, its is very hard to know how biased it is in reporting. 11. Opposition, as usual, is involved in playing trumphet. 12. Govt. is juggling. What was the actual planning? What was govt...

A presentation by Harshi:

Voting has finished. Results are 1 day away. All are waiting and guessing. Meanwhile, although election commission should be congratulated for successful conduction of largely free and fair elections. Its efforts to reach each and every corner of the country irrespective of demographic constraints are commendable.  Yet there are certain issues related to the handling of elections. And, these issues need to be addressed if we want active and substantial participation of public in the electoral process. During these elections, there have been many complaints of erroneous voting lists. People's name are missing, though already registered. Take the example of Mumbai and Pune. In these two cities alone, almost half a million voters are missing from the list. What about rest of the country? People have not been added to the list despite submitting valid applications. There have also been cases of transfer of votes from one place to another, people have not found th...

This is election year. For 2014, stakes are at their highest point. Every politician and political party will do anything, will go to any extent to be able to raise the toast of power. Both sides, in-power and in-opposition, are leaving no-stone-unturned in their quest to outsmart each other and turn the tide in their favor. It is often said, we are a mature democracy now and elections are issue-based exercise now. So will be the case with next election. One may think, gone are the days of polarization, casteism, communalism etc. and next election will be fought on the basis of bad governance of current government, inflation, corruption, national security, worst situation of economy etc. But, it is wrong. Corruption was never going to be the core issue for Congress and BJP both. It runs in their veins and put them in uncomfortable position, when questions are asked. Same is with other issues also. So, what to do? Best thing for any politician or political party is to distract and dis...

एक वो दौर था - "गुमी हुई आज़ादी की कीमत सबने पहचानी थी, दूर फिरंगी को करने की सबने मन में ठानी थी, बूढ़े भारत में फिर से आई नई जवानी थी, चमक उठी सन सत्तावन में वो तलवार पुरानी थी, खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वो तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी|" एक ये दौर है - "जनता के पैसे की कीमत सब नेताओ ने पहचानी है, जम कर घोटाले करने की सबने मन में ठानी है, बूढ़े नेताओ में जागा ये कैसा लालच है, और देखो, चमक उठी सन बारह में यह महंगाई तूफानी है, जिससे लड़ रही जाबांज, यह भारत की जनता वही पुरानी है|"

Some poet has said:- "राजनीति की मंडी बड़ी नशीली है, यहाँ दीवानों ने मदिरा पी ली है| कमरबंद हैं पुख्ता सिर्फ दलालों के, आम आदमी की तो धोती ढीली है|" And whatever we are seeing, listening to these days about the morality of our overall democratic and ecomomic infrastructure, these above lines seem totally fit. Now, we can proudly say that corruption is in our blood and we breathe it and practice it with our full efficiency. In this very confusing environment, it is very hard to say who is speaking truth and stands like "Angad" on moral surface. It appears that morality of each & every individual in this country, whether he/she belongs to corporates, politicians, judiciary, army, b ureaucrats or a simple common man, is at stakes. There have been many instances of loose morality in recent times in every walk of life. It is now becoming clearer day-by-day that there is and has been a dirty and unholy nexus between some parts of politicians, b ureaucrats and...

Few days back, I was hearing a news on NDTV India. It was about the mysterious death of an army officer named "Cap. Sumit Kohli". As per the bulletin, he received "Shourya Chakra" in March, 2006 for his bravery in killing 4 militants in J & K. And, in April, 2006, he was found dead in his barrack. Since then, it is not known precisely what were the actual reasons behind his death. Army's statements in the matter have been contradictory in all these 4 years. One time, they said that he had committed suicide and on another time, they cited some other reason. In all these times, his family has been on suffering end. Unable to bear the shock, his father died of heart attack within one month of his death. And, remaining members of the family, his sister and mother, are trying to unearth the actual reasons of the tragedy from the insensitive bureaucratic establishment. Point here is why a person who received a medal for his bravery a month ago would commit suicide...

Today is another 26/11. Change? Figure in the year column of date has changed. Now it is 09 instead of 08. Remember same date one year ago? Mumbai and India saw the deadliest terror attack with surprise and agony that lasted almost 60 hour. Hundreds dead and wounded! Jawans shahid for Matrabhoomi! I also felt in the same way as thousands others. 365 days have been passed since then just like sand particles through a tiny hole. From morning newspapers to all-day news bulletins, all are filled up with the stories related to 26/11. Has something really changed in a year? Doesn't seem so. Some quotes: "I would prefer Sandeep to be at home." "When I went to Taj to see the spot where Sandeep died, the highest executive of Taj asked me, who Sandeep?" -Father of Late Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan "Why we? Why were we targeted? Who is responsible for this situation?" - Wife of Late Inspector Vijay Salaskar (As noted from Jindagi Live program on IBN7 dated 26/11/20...

Tommrow morning (of 22.07.2009) will witness the longest solar eclipse of this century. In India, this will start around 5:30 a.m. and will reach to totality around 6:30 a.m.. The total solar eclipse ( 3 min. 30 sec.) will be seen in a belt starting from western part of India to the distant north-east . This includes Surat, Vadodara, Indore, Bhopal, Varanasi, Patna, Darjeeling and Dibrugarh. In rest of India, it will be partially visible. Right now, I am in Mumbai (where % will be 96.6) and its raining here. So, in the early hours whether I will be able to see it, only clouds will tell. I am keeping my fingers crossed. However for online coverage, check on http://mashable.com/2009/07/21/solar-eclipse-online/ This eclipse will be the longest seen in India since Aug. 18, 1858 and the next big one will be on June 3, 2114. In this way, it is a once-in-the-life opportunity. Still today, there are many superstitions are associated with this normal celestial event, about which I have written...

Three points come to my mind for the possible subject of this post. All three relate to quite different domains. First is : the possible impact of new 10 Rs. coin in the buying behavior of Indian consumers. Second is: the surprise retirement of Andrew Flintoff from test cricket about which I came to know, when I switched on the television listen to the news this evening. Third is: the total solar eclipse on 22nd of this month and how it is being considered in India. I wanted to write on all three. But, third seems more appropriate. Although, solar eclipse is a common phenomenon, but in India, centuries old superstitions still exist. This eclipse is of its own kind as next one will be in 2034 in India, twenty five years later. Hence, most of us have one possible last chance to see it in their life times. As, this may be a good experience to watch. But important is, still in 21st century, superstitions are deep rooted in Indian society. Psychologically, everyone fears from any kind of lo...