Its a small world n a weird one at that

I never believed in this theory that it’s a small world. I always thought that if you want to hide from somebody, you sure can since it’s a big world. But many a times things happen that make you think it really is a small world.

I am right now on a business trip to US and the best thing about people in US that I find is that every time you pass by a person, that person would definitely smile at you or wish you. These people do not care about race, caste, color, religion or anything at all. They will just plain smile and wish at you. Some of them might even strike a conversation with you, sometimes out of curiosity as to where you are from and sometimes just like that.

Should I be charged for this?

Recently the traffic police of Delhi had plans to increase the fine for cell phone use while driving from Rs. 1000 to Rs. 2000 which may or may not be combined with a 6 month jail. This punishment will also be applied on the drivers who use hands free devices to talk while driving.

I am not exactly against this law but I am having my concerns over this. Talking on a cell phone while driving is definitely a distraction and since I do it myself many times I can confidently say it can cause accidents (though I have not been in any till now, touchwood). But this distraction is a two way distraction – one, your mind is distracted and two, one of your hands is busy. The second part can be eliminated by use of a hands free to do the talking.

But how is talking using a hands free different from talking to a person sitting right next to you in the car? I travel with my family a lot and most of the time I am driving and a lot many times I am talking to my wife and kid while driving. Should I be charged for this?

If your answer is no, then why should people talking using hands free be charged?

And if your answer is yes, should listening to music while driving also come under this law?

Doodle 4 Google – makes me wonder!!!

We all know the Google Doodles. The Google homepage changes its Google logo on various events to celebrate special events.

Recently Google opened up a competition specifically for India ‘Doodle 4 Google‘. Any student of any Indian school between 1st and 10th standards can participate in the competition. The theme of the competition is ‘My India’ as in what the country means to everyone of us and has to be expressed in terms of a doodle.

The finalists Doodles from each category are available here to see and everyone of us can vote for the best Doodle which will be displayed on the Google India homepage on Children’s day i.e. 14th November.

If one browses through all the Doodles, one would be surprised at the creativity and the thoughts of these children. Some of my favorites are listed below:

Golden Soil of my India

Earthen pots have always been my favorites, dunno why and this Doodle depicts a potter doing his job very beautifully.

Mahatama Gandhi for Peace

No mention of India is complete without the mention of Mahatama Gandhi and peace and this Doodle by itself gives a soothing and peaceful effect to your eyes.

Bullock Cart to Chandrayan

We see bullock carts on the roads every now and then and we are also the ones to send Chandrayan to the moon (which by the way found water there).

Indian Icons

Lotus is the national flower, Mango is the national fruit, Peacock is the national bird, Tiger is the national animal, Banyan tree is the national tree and Hockey is our national sport. How many of these you were aware of? I didn’t know about the Banyan tree.

Land of Colorful Festivals

Can you guess the festivals? There is Ganesh Chaturthi, Diwali, Holi, Id and Baisakhi. The Rangoli signifies all the South Indian festivals.

All I could do was just keep staring at these Doodles and wondering about my school days when participation in any such competition was a matter of pride and now all we do is crib about our country and barely do anything to improve the country that gives us so much. Shame on us!!

Indian Politicians in Austerity Drive

All of a sudden Indian politicians are in an austerity drive. Headlines like Sonia Gandhi traveling economy class, Rahul Gandhi traveling in a chair seat in a Shatabadi dominated Indian media.

First of all its pathetic to see that this is a headline in Indian media. Secondly I agree it will save a huge amount of money but there are side effects of this.

Consider this:

• When these VIPs are on the move anywhere, traffic around them is stopped and roads are cleared so that they can travel without any issues (read traffic snarls/jams). Consider what would have happened when Rahul Gandhi traveled through ordinary compartment. Was the platform emptied? Was there anyone else allowed in that compartment? As it is Indian trains are full to their maximum potential. There is always a mad scramble to enter a compartment and there is always a risk of someone else taking your seat. How smooth the ride would have been for the ordinary passengers?
• Sharad Pawar says that MLAs/MPs do most of their paper work (termed movement of files) during their travel time. The reason: there is nobody to disturb them. And I think he has a very valid point. Let me explain. We Indians (including me) always have an opinion on everything. We are always ready for an advice no matter what the situation is. Need a proof? You are right now reading an opinion. We just need a way to vent out that opinion, that frustration. It could be through blogging, through chatting with someone or through talking to a stranger sitting right next to us while traveling. We just need a way. Now imagine this ordinary Indian person sitting right next to the MLA/MP, he/she would be thinking what a chance to voice my concerns and provide solutions. And there won’t be just one Indian in that compartment. I agree most of us think that these politicians don’t work (so do I) but we all also know that out of 100 probably 2 really do some work.

For those 2 who really do some work and the convenience of ordinary people, these politicians should not be traveling economy class and in ordinary compartments.

It does save money but I am sure there can be other means of saving money.

How many cars are used when these politicians move? Move all of them to CNG. Reduce their kafillas. Reduce their security. Reduce their trips. Use video conferencing instead. If I can give a presentation to my client in US through video conferencing why can’t these politicians.

These savings might not be as big as the savings while traveling economy class but it would not hurt the already ailing ordinary people.

And the learning for myself through this post: I will not ever give advice/solution to anyone unless asked for. No unnecessary ramblings to others. Will continue posting my opinion through this blog though

Dynasties and families….

I seriously don’t understand the Indian mentality on relatives taking over their relatives’ places in various fields.

The best example would be the Indian National Congress. Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and now Rahul Gandhi. Is he really the best leader available to Congress? Rahul Gandhi has himself said that Congress are too dynastic-ally driven.

Other examples include Dhirubhai Ambani being followed by Mukesh and Anil Ambani. Tatas have always been run within the family.

Even in government jobs, after the death if an employed parent, the employee is liable to give the job to their son/daughter. In other words, if one person from the family has got a government job, the job passes on to the next generation regardless of the fact that the person is capable enough, qualified enough for the job.

Tatas have always been run within the family and they have been run well till now. But there is nobody left after Ratan Tata. What next?

Reliance Industries were split by the two brothers after their father’s death. Was this a good move? Would it have been better if the business was passed onto some trust or probably qualified people with the two brother holding small stakes? No one would ever get to know.

Take the example of Infosys Technologies Ltd. Narayan Murthy has reduced his personal holding in the company to single digits and passed on the mantle of running the business to other people who are good at it. He hasn’t forced his family into the business by any means. If they are capable enough to run the business, they would get into the organization on their merit. This is probably the only example I have seen where family matters were not brought in front of the organization.

It happens the most in Indian politics. One politician dies, his wife, son or daughter will contest elections and generally win on sympathy votes. Why? Why do people only look for sympathy? Why not look at the actual credentials of the person? It is not necessary that a person’s family members would be like the person. They could be better or they could be bad. Then why this stereotypical behavior???

I don’t know the answer and I am sure if I’ll find out in my lifetime….

Jaswant says BJP is Ku Klux Klan

Jaswant Singh was recently quoted saying that BJP is Indian version of Klu Klux Klan. What amazes me is that he has realized this after being expelled from the party. Not during his 30 year stay with the party.

Agreed that he was expelled wrongfully for expressing his opinion in his book but why this sudden realization. Wasn’t BJP Klu Klux Klan when he was in the party? If yes, then why didn’t he come out and say it then to the media. If it wasn’t, then what has changed all of a sudden in two days after his expulsion?

Its like one keeps working for an employee as long as they are paying them well but as soon as they fire them, they start uttering all the bad things about them.

This entire fiasco shows two things:

• BJP are very biased about who they take action against for expressing their opinion.
• Indian politicians change their words at whim. They say what suits them not what is right.

What credibility does this give to the party as well as to Jaswant Singh? If I read his book, would I be able to trust his comments? I don’t think so.

I wonder whats the future of Indian politics after seeing such people in action.