Travelicious

Once in a while something comes up and makes me come back and write. This time it's the British Indian movie Slumdog Millionaire. I would have to accept that my first impression of the movie was that it's was pretty good and real , and definitely not a feel good. (Tha't what everyone terming it) The movie shows the slums in Mumbai , children getting blinded for money , police beating up the suspects , riots on the streets of Mumbai, prostitution etc. How can such a movie be feel good. Oh ,then it stuck me. It's feel good for the people in west to see and realize how lucky they are , that the economic upheavals are nothing compared to the life in slumps of Mumbai or India in general. That's when i get convinced that the director didn't make a movie but actually a real life documentary and it should have been named "Poverty and Crime in India" not Slumdog Millionaire. It has not shied away from showing even a small detail that doesn't show India in ...

Modi's Speech and Interview at the Hindustan Summit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYD3fgqcmIQ - Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dg18zSr2PF8&feature=related - Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YauyALWBWnI&feature=related - Part 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V36f7w0EwHw&feature=related - Part 4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMZjvplDtcA&NR=1 - Part 5 I am a BJP supporter , but I was embarrassed by the Gujarat riots of 2002. And i think , Riots were one of the main reasons for defeat in 2003 general elections. But 6 years have passed since then , and it seems that the media is still not willing to forget and leave that issue. Gujarat since that time has changed a lot and has undergone many changes(for good) and we can't ignore Modi's contribution in that. For one there has been no riots since last 6 years(A record of sorts in Gujarat's history). Large amount of investment is coming into the state etc. It has been written and said milli...

So we finally have a F1 team , that's great news. And the name Force India sounds ok, atleast better then something like Indian Star or Indian Lions etc. Let's see how this goes as the name and idea are good. Looking forward to see them atleast beat the Super Aguri and Toro Rosso next season. Being in F1 will definaltely give Mallaya a much needed global audience . And with strong 500 million avid followers it will give good visiblity to the India GP slated for 2010. http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2007/10/7036.html

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From Lohri From Lohri

Ripe coconuts at my home. Dried leaves in my backyard.

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For a long time I was planning to write my view on this. But seriously there are some things you won't find people arguing your point. So it seemed no point in writing about it and moreover a lot already has been said and writen Here is an interesting case in point which I found amsuing and wanted to share with you guys. Just wanted to clarify that I am not against SC/ST's or OBC's and it's not at all my intention to hurt there feelings by this. But it's totally and clearly my intention to do that for the politicians who instead of providing them with proper education at primary level are spoon feeding them. I think we should have job reservations in all the fields. I completely support the PM and all the politicians for promoting this. Let's start the reservation with our cricket team. We should have 10 percent reservation for Muslims. 30 percent for OBC, SC/ST like that. Cricket rules should be modified accordingly. The boundary circle should be reduced for an...

Tomorrow I am going to Tirumala Tirupati , the most sacred place in South India.Its the first time I am going there. The ancient and sacred temple of Sri Venkateswara is located on the seventh peak, Venkatachala (Venkata Hill) of the Tirupati Hill, and lies on the southern banks of Sri Swami Pushkarini. It is by the Lord’s presidency over Venkatachala, that He has received the appellation, Venkateswara (Lord of the Venkata Hill). He is also called the Lord of the Seven Hills. The temple of Sri Venkateswara has acquired unique sanctity in Indian religious lore. The Sastras, Puranas, Sthala Mahatyams and Alwar hymns unequivocally declare that, in the Kali Yuga, one can attain mukti, only by worshipping Venkata Nayaka or Sri Venkateswara. The benefits acquired by a pilgrimage to Venkatachala are mentioned in the Rig Veda and Asthadasa Puranas. In these epics, Sri Venkateswara is described as the great bestower of boons. There are several legends associated with the manifestation of the L...

Bangalore is a name that has acquired global importance. Its the face of India .It has also brought wealth and prosperity to many (but not for those who were ‘ bangalored ’). I was just 7 yrs old when I first visited Bangalore. It was the garden city of India. And now after fifteen years I came back. But this time not as a visitor, but for work. I am working in an IT company (like many) and earning my livelihood here. But it was a big disappointment for me when I saw Bangalore .It has given a heavy price for being the IT center of India. It is perfect example of what other metro cities had been witnessing for so many years. The influx of non natives. Who come here the opportunities that a city life has to offer. The government has failed badly in coping to this pressure. The infrastructure has been badly neglected. My stay at Bangalore has seen many up and downs. One of the nightmares had been finding a good place to live. Being a north India and that too a Punjabi had me searching f...

Continuing from my earlier post I wanted to answer one more question which I strongly feel about. Why is India an undeveloped country even 50 years into Independence? At the time of our independence it was well accepted that for all of our misery,famines and poverty the British rule was responsible. As a consequence we developed a fear for all things foreign ( Xenophobia ). We adopted a policy which aimed at self reliance. Our exports which at the time of independence were 4.5% of world share dropped to .1 % in late 80’s. Gradually the standards of our industry had dropped to below world standards and even if we were to export our products were just not at par with other countries. All this time the government was sitting on its laurels of having made India a self reliant country in agriculture but it had all this time neglected education. This meant that many more generations even after independence will still be illiterate. Another fact in India being undeveloped has been our long he...

Recently I was reading a book called India Unbound by Gurcharan Das .It really hit me hard when I learned some blunders committed by our great leaders .These blunders have left us backward even 50 years into independence. I was always skeptical about the so called socialism practiced by communists. But the book really reinforces my belief that it was one of the major reasons for our backwardness. Nehru after independence had adopted a mix economy design where capitalism and communism would coexist. But it really was a flawed design. It is well said that when an individual fails the whole family fails but when a leader fails the whole nation fails. Later is the case with us. Socialism means equality for all. But what equality is it talking about. Equality of oppurtuninty? The answer is big no. It talked about equality in terms of our living standards, how much we earn when we grow. Let us take a simple example of this flawed theory. Two people are born at the same time. In a socialist ...