[03/09/2005 12:44:33] | [mshinu@gmail.com ]
Plastic Ban-Belated reaction
At last, our government awakening to a plight that has been beleaguered Mumbai for last few decades. It took the government a loss of about 150 human lives and about 5000 crores rupees to react. Was it Plastic bags that caused the 26/7 flooding in Mumbai and the subsequent chaos? Wasn’t our over-burdened and century old infrastructure is not responsible?
Though the city’s Drainage network is century old, the main factor leads to the clogging of these are plastic bags. If you notice where open spaces are digging to lay a pipe or for a new building, under a few inches from the surface you can see a colorful layer. White, Red, Blue & Black. Little faded due to the dirt on them, but still bright and colorful. Imagine a scene after 200 years. Everything changes, but the little plastic demons will outlive all of us and our coming generations. 400 years, they stay intact. 27% of the total wastage Mumbai generates every day is plastic. This is inadvertently gets into the pipe network and clogging them. People carelessly toss these into their own backyard and they get buried under the earth and it blocks the rain water from getting absorbed by earth.
There is a lot of hue and cry from the manufactures of plastic. The reason: Lot of jobs lost. If a product is harmful to the society, it must be banished. If the government gives in to the pressure of plastic manufacture’s pressure tactics, the day is not far when manufactures of other banned substance like Gutkha will plead the same.
The only thing remains to see is how the government plans to implement this law. Proper steps must be taken before enacting it because two years back somewhat same law was passed and after the initial enthusiasm, it died a premature death. Plastic bags under 20 microns are still available freely. The people must be educated about the perils of plastic bag usage and encouraged to use other alternatives through massive awareness programs and stricter norms to control the spread of illegal use. May we are little late to react, but at least for the sake of our coming generations, let’s preserve what is left of our beloved mother Earth. Don’t choke her. Let her breath.
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Thursday, August 04, 2005
Indain Cricket-Good for other sports
Indain Cricket-Good for other sports
Te recent performance of our over-hyped, over-rated cricket team has generated a big cry from enthusiastic fans. Every conversation, be it in a crowded local train, restaurant or coffee-breaks revolves around this subject. There is a big disappointment about the whole thing. And drawing the most flak from public is our Captain Ganguly. Whatever the situation, or whoever to be blamed, I am glad that at last, our team is where they are deserved to be. At a lowly spot of 7 where the total number of countries that features in the list is a mere 11 as per latest ODI rankings of ICC. They were world beaters once. But now they are just a bunch of chokers. The only thing is still intact in our team is the egos of our cricketers. They still carry that inflated egos despite all the humiliating deafeats our team is subjected to. Despite all the beatings we take, they still sports that arrogant, devil-may-care attitude, which is annoying the most. I have recently spoke to about a 75 people, coming from different back-ground are were a die-hard fans. About 64 % of these WERE hard-core cricket fanatics, now turning attention to other spectator friendly sports like F1, tennis mainly because two Indians are involved in this, or watch interesting cricket like the current Ashes series. 36% are still what they were, watching cricket matches as they used to when India was performing big-time.
The recent slump in our cricketing fortunes is in fact a good thing, as I see it. If trends are anything to go by, the long-forgotten, long-neglected sports are fast catching up and if the cricketers continue their Good show for other sports they will be the new national interest in near future. Take the case of Khel Ratna awards this year and not a single cricketer made the cut. A Narain Karthikeyan and a Sania Mirza is catching more eye balls than a Sachin Tendulkar or Saurav Ganguly. These Overly-pampered, the self-proclaimed demy-god cricketers are facing the grim reality of being dethroned from their ivory towers. Another gleaming example is a particular Major Rajyawardhan Sing who won a Olympic silver medal in Shooting. He is a true national hero in every sense of the word. Anju Bobby George, the long jumper won many hearts. Gone are the days when corporates are jumping for cricketers as their brand ambassadors and looking for alternatives. Reports suggest that the same corporates who were reluctant to sponsor Narain Karthikeyan when he was looking for a seat in F1, now pumped up $19 Million to sponsor him. Only Hokey remains in the backyard now, but if the present administration is very adamant that it would never allow hokey to come forward and flourish by their dictator-like ruling and nefarious selection policies.
BCCI, the controlling body of Cricket in India has done everything possible to speed up the demise of cricket in India. Ridden by crippling factionalism, they are more interested in raking in money even if it is at the cost of national interest. They even went to the extent of declaring in a Court of Law that the cricketers represent not the Country, but the board. I guess if that’s the case, we shouldn’t worry about our teams plummeting ratings. They are just a club, and therefore, doesn’t represent our nation. And they don’t have time for administration of the game. One Big patriarch at the head, even though in the shadows, controls the show by pulling the strings of a puppet President. They can’t even arrange preparatory camps before they embark on a tour, as was the case in the recently started Zimbabwe tour. Most of their time is spend in courts, defending themselves against various cases regarding Television right. The ineptitude of them leads to many legal tussles which was otherwise avoidable.
These are good signs that the nation is coming out the iron-like grip of cricket, the colonized mentality of ours, and are concentrating more on other true sportspersons. The true professionals, who sacrifice their family life, their other interests in order to pursue the greater height await them and our country. The professionalism of our Cricket captain is such that, he came to the tour party late in the evening, so that he can celebrate his wife’s birth day bash, when the coach asked them to report In the morning.
So move over the Tendulkars and Gangulys, other true sportspersons are here. Hats off, Narain, Mirza and others. Keep on the good show. The nation is behind you.
Te recent performance of our over-hyped, over-rated cricket team has generated a big cry from enthusiastic fans. Every conversation, be it in a crowded local train, restaurant or coffee-breaks revolves around this subject. There is a big disappointment about the whole thing. And drawing the most flak from public is our Captain Ganguly. Whatever the situation, or whoever to be blamed, I am glad that at last, our team is where they are deserved to be. At a lowly spot of 7 where the total number of countries that features in the list is a mere 11 as per latest ODI rankings of ICC. They were world beaters once. But now they are just a bunch of chokers. The only thing is still intact in our team is the egos of our cricketers. They still carry that inflated egos despite all the humiliating deafeats our team is subjected to. Despite all the beatings we take, they still sports that arrogant, devil-may-care attitude, which is annoying the most. I have recently spoke to about a 75 people, coming from different back-ground are were a die-hard fans. About 64 % of these WERE hard-core cricket fanatics, now turning attention to other spectator friendly sports like F1, tennis mainly because two Indians are involved in this, or watch interesting cricket like the current Ashes series. 36% are still what they were, watching cricket matches as they used to when India was performing big-time.
The recent slump in our cricketing fortunes is in fact a good thing, as I see it. If trends are anything to go by, the long-forgotten, long-neglected sports are fast catching up and if the cricketers continue their Good show for other sports they will be the new national interest in near future. Take the case of Khel Ratna awards this year and not a single cricketer made the cut. A Narain Karthikeyan and a Sania Mirza is catching more eye balls than a Sachin Tendulkar or Saurav Ganguly. These Overly-pampered, the self-proclaimed demy-god cricketers are facing the grim reality of being dethroned from their ivory towers. Another gleaming example is a particular Major Rajyawardhan Sing who won a Olympic silver medal in Shooting. He is a true national hero in every sense of the word. Anju Bobby George, the long jumper won many hearts. Gone are the days when corporates are jumping for cricketers as their brand ambassadors and looking for alternatives. Reports suggest that the same corporates who were reluctant to sponsor Narain Karthikeyan when he was looking for a seat in F1, now pumped up $19 Million to sponsor him. Only Hokey remains in the backyard now, but if the present administration is very adamant that it would never allow hokey to come forward and flourish by their dictator-like ruling and nefarious selection policies.
BCCI, the controlling body of Cricket in India has done everything possible to speed up the demise of cricket in India. Ridden by crippling factionalism, they are more interested in raking in money even if it is at the cost of national interest. They even went to the extent of declaring in a Court of Law that the cricketers represent not the Country, but the board. I guess if that’s the case, we shouldn’t worry about our teams plummeting ratings. They are just a club, and therefore, doesn’t represent our nation. And they don’t have time for administration of the game. One Big patriarch at the head, even though in the shadows, controls the show by pulling the strings of a puppet President. They can’t even arrange preparatory camps before they embark on a tour, as was the case in the recently started Zimbabwe tour. Most of their time is spend in courts, defending themselves against various cases regarding Television right. The ineptitude of them leads to many legal tussles which was otherwise avoidable.
These are good signs that the nation is coming out the iron-like grip of cricket, the colonized mentality of ours, and are concentrating more on other true sportspersons. The true professionals, who sacrifice their family life, their other interests in order to pursue the greater height await them and our country. The professionalism of our Cricket captain is such that, he came to the tour party late in the evening, so that he can celebrate his wife’s birth day bash, when the coach asked them to report In the morning.
So move over the Tendulkars and Gangulys, other true sportspersons are here. Hats off, Narain, Mirza and others. Keep on the good show. The nation is behind you.
Monday, July 25, 2005
Gujarat-Some deliberate Mistakes
Gujarat-Some deliberate Mistakes
Gujarat is again in the news! As usual for all the wrong reasons. This time, it is for making a new rule, making parental consensus mandatory for court marriages. And those in the-know will admit that; in India 90% court marriages are love marriages. It is goes without saying that most of these marriages are without parental consensus. So what is the exact purpose behind this draconian rule? If you are watching the developments in Gujarat for some time, you can see a pattern is evolving. Very ruthless one.
There is a very conscious effort to make the gap between two communities wider. Ever since Narendra Modi is elected second time as the CM, this effort has been more profound. A string of measures are introduced in the state to further alienate the minority. The attack on Christian Priests, continuous rioting, and now a new regulation to prevent inter-cast marriages. This is just to name a few. The agenda of the Gujarat Government is clear as crystal. They want a Hindu state. Rid of Muslims or any minorities. When the Ayodhya makeshift temple was attacked, there was a Bandh in Gujarat. Who had benefited from it? In fact the terrorists. Ultimately they were successful in spreading the terror one way or other and bring life to a standstill. There is a growing intolerance towards the minority. In a case, a hindu procession allegedly threw vermillion into a mosque and that sparks another riot. The violoation of Human rights in this state is so widespread that none of them considering it as human right violation. It has become a norm there. Now once L.K. Advani resigns as Party Chief, it is widely believed that Mr. Modi will be outsted as the CM of Gujarat.
In it’s attempt to gain popularity among investors, Gujarat CM Narendra Modi has downplayed the significance of The Genocide and put it just as a mere riot. The truth is it wasn’t a riot and selective killings. The hawks in the state machinery were looking for an opportunity and it was a heaven-send excuse, the Sabarmati carnage, for them. Till today the real perpetrators of that crime has not been caught, but there are strong doubts regarding who (read which community) was behind it. Ever heard of an old adage sacrificing our own to achieve better goals? Forensic experts say somebody from outside poured an inflammable liquid, like kerosene or petrol, into the ill-fated compartment and set it ablaze. It’s just that the location was close to a Muslim dominant area the majority was made to believe that it was Muslim’s handiwork. This started a widespread riot. Instead of controlling the riot and asking for military assistance, the local government started it’s vengeance and purging. If it wasn’t a Genocide, then how come that all sufferers belongs to the minority? An MLA and some prominent personalities were killed in these incidents but there was not a single enquiry and no convictions. The best publicized case, the Best Bakery case, is still in the court but seeing the see-sawing nature of the prime witness, Zahira Shake, we could be assured about the outcome of that trial too.
After the riot there was sporadic incidents reported from Gujarat but no one paid much attention to it. Then came the elections, and much to the surprise of Human rights activists, Narendra Modi came back to power with a thumping majority. Was this verdict is an approval for his well-known role in the killings? If you dig deep, there was a lot of rumors about minorities prevented from voting and widespread fake voting.
Times of India July 23, 2005
Parental Consensus need for Court marriage; Gujarat
Hitler glorified in std 9 & 10 text book. Holocaust removed and glorifying remarks such as fierce nationalism, self-pride atc.
These are not a lone incidents. These are precursors to the change that is about to happen in Gujarat. Deliberate mistakes made to test the water. It is time that the secularists in this country should awaken to these demons to fight and save our beloved land.
Gujarat is again in the news! As usual for all the wrong reasons. This time, it is for making a new rule, making parental consensus mandatory for court marriages. And those in the-know will admit that; in India 90% court marriages are love marriages. It is goes without saying that most of these marriages are without parental consensus. So what is the exact purpose behind this draconian rule? If you are watching the developments in Gujarat for some time, you can see a pattern is evolving. Very ruthless one.
There is a very conscious effort to make the gap between two communities wider. Ever since Narendra Modi is elected second time as the CM, this effort has been more profound. A string of measures are introduced in the state to further alienate the minority. The attack on Christian Priests, continuous rioting, and now a new regulation to prevent inter-cast marriages. This is just to name a few. The agenda of the Gujarat Government is clear as crystal. They want a Hindu state. Rid of Muslims or any minorities. When the Ayodhya makeshift temple was attacked, there was a Bandh in Gujarat. Who had benefited from it? In fact the terrorists. Ultimately they were successful in spreading the terror one way or other and bring life to a standstill. There is a growing intolerance towards the minority. In a case, a hindu procession allegedly threw vermillion into a mosque and that sparks another riot. The violoation of Human rights in this state is so widespread that none of them considering it as human right violation. It has become a norm there. Now once L.K. Advani resigns as Party Chief, it is widely believed that Mr. Modi will be outsted as the CM of Gujarat.
In it’s attempt to gain popularity among investors, Gujarat CM Narendra Modi has downplayed the significance of The Genocide and put it just as a mere riot. The truth is it wasn’t a riot and selective killings. The hawks in the state machinery were looking for an opportunity and it was a heaven-send excuse, the Sabarmati carnage, for them. Till today the real perpetrators of that crime has not been caught, but there are strong doubts regarding who (read which community) was behind it. Ever heard of an old adage sacrificing our own to achieve better goals? Forensic experts say somebody from outside poured an inflammable liquid, like kerosene or petrol, into the ill-fated compartment and set it ablaze. It’s just that the location was close to a Muslim dominant area the majority was made to believe that it was Muslim’s handiwork. This started a widespread riot. Instead of controlling the riot and asking for military assistance, the local government started it’s vengeance and purging. If it wasn’t a Genocide, then how come that all sufferers belongs to the minority? An MLA and some prominent personalities were killed in these incidents but there was not a single enquiry and no convictions. The best publicized case, the Best Bakery case, is still in the court but seeing the see-sawing nature of the prime witness, Zahira Shake, we could be assured about the outcome of that trial too.
After the riot there was sporadic incidents reported from Gujarat but no one paid much attention to it. Then came the elections, and much to the surprise of Human rights activists, Narendra Modi came back to power with a thumping majority. Was this verdict is an approval for his well-known role in the killings? If you dig deep, there was a lot of rumors about minorities prevented from voting and widespread fake voting.
Times of India July 23, 2005
Parental Consensus need for Court marriage; Gujarat
Hitler glorified in std 9 & 10 text book. Holocaust removed and glorifying remarks such as fierce nationalism, self-pride atc.
These are not a lone incidents. These are precursors to the change that is about to happen in Gujarat. Deliberate mistakes made to test the water. It is time that the secularists in this country should awaken to these demons to fight and save our beloved land.
Friday, April 01, 2005
Goa-Tha land of Fun
Wondering where to go this vacation? Well, pack your bags and go to Goa, the land of sun, sand and Churches. But not necessarily in that order. It’s up to your preferences. Or priorities. But God gave these three things to Goa in abundance. One should have a great appetite to get all of it.
I always wanted to visit, but all the time one or other commitments stopped me from being there. But by the time I was ready to go back, I thought my wait was worthwhile. “Sabr ka phal meetha hota hai!!” The fruit of Patience is very sweet. Even though I only got to see the capital and places around it, I think like, the things I saw are beautiful, those I didn’t are magnificent. It makes me want to go back there soon.
What makes me to praise Goa so much? Is it the white, pristine beaches? Or the bud-tickling taste of sea food? Or yet the easygoing natives? Imposing monumental structures? Or that night cruise? Guess I’ll debate that for the rest of my life without any answer. The only drawback, or what Goa lacks is night life. Most of the bars & hotels shut their gates around 10:30 or 11. As a Mumbaikar, I am used to go to a hotel and get my food even at 12:00 or later than that.
I have visited the peninsula of Dona Paula, Miramar beaches. The view from the top of the structure at Dona Paula is breath taking. And then Fort Aguada, the old Jail, the greenery, everything is fantastic. Landscape apart, what I found most interesting in Goa is the discipline while driving. I was mildly irritated when my friend stopped his vehicle at every corner, look out at the intersection then go on. Here in Mumbai, I never remember anybody ever done that. What amazes me is that it’s not only him, but taxis and Rickshaws, and even youngsters did that! Can you imagine an autoriksha stops at an intersection in Mumbai and wait for a cyclist to pass?
One other thing I must mention is the state of the roads. The new highways and roads and gleaming! I was thinking most of the time about Mumbai’s pot-hole filled roads and how they dig the roads right after they mended it. Here I give you an advice. If you got a Ferrari or Renault, then take it to Goa and the highways there won’t break it! Not one pot-hole, no protruding manhole lids nor dangerously close-to-the-road hutments. One must laud such development in such a small state.
And the last but not least, Bike Taxis. These guys weave through the traffic, (not like Mumbai’s choc-a-block traffic) taking you to your destination within minutes. I was little afraid when this cabbie (can I call him that?) was negotiating curves through the right side. But that was his trust in the system. It was a one-way road and he was sure no one will come the wrong way. In which other city, one can be that assured? I think may be in Europe or US. Not in India.
So what are you waiting for guys? Pack your Back-Packs, don’t forget to take that camera of yours and get there!
I always wanted to visit, but all the time one or other commitments stopped me from being there. But by the time I was ready to go back, I thought my wait was worthwhile. “Sabr ka phal meetha hota hai!!” The fruit of Patience is very sweet. Even though I only got to see the capital and places around it, I think like, the things I saw are beautiful, those I didn’t are magnificent. It makes me want to go back there soon.
What makes me to praise Goa so much? Is it the white, pristine beaches? Or the bud-tickling taste of sea food? Or yet the easygoing natives? Imposing monumental structures? Or that night cruise? Guess I’ll debate that for the rest of my life without any answer. The only drawback, or what Goa lacks is night life. Most of the bars & hotels shut their gates around 10:30 or 11. As a Mumbaikar, I am used to go to a hotel and get my food even at 12:00 or later than that.
I have visited the peninsula of Dona Paula, Miramar beaches. The view from the top of the structure at Dona Paula is breath taking. And then Fort Aguada, the old Jail, the greenery, everything is fantastic. Landscape apart, what I found most interesting in Goa is the discipline while driving. I was mildly irritated when my friend stopped his vehicle at every corner, look out at the intersection then go on. Here in Mumbai, I never remember anybody ever done that. What amazes me is that it’s not only him, but taxis and Rickshaws, and even youngsters did that! Can you imagine an autoriksha stops at an intersection in Mumbai and wait for a cyclist to pass?
One other thing I must mention is the state of the roads. The new highways and roads and gleaming! I was thinking most of the time about Mumbai’s pot-hole filled roads and how they dig the roads right after they mended it. Here I give you an advice. If you got a Ferrari or Renault, then take it to Goa and the highways there won’t break it! Not one pot-hole, no protruding manhole lids nor dangerously close-to-the-road hutments. One must laud such development in such a small state.
And the last but not least, Bike Taxis. These guys weave through the traffic, (not like Mumbai’s choc-a-block traffic) taking you to your destination within minutes. I was little afraid when this cabbie (can I call him that?) was negotiating curves through the right side. But that was his trust in the system. It was a one-way road and he was sure no one will come the wrong way. In which other city, one can be that assured? I think may be in Europe or US. Not in India.
So what are you waiting for guys? Pack your Back-Packs, don’t forget to take that camera of yours and get there!
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