Farukh Shaikh, RIP

Farukh Shaikh, RIP....we will miss this gentleman actor

Motivational Quotes & New Year Resolutions...Bah!

Now that New Year is just round the corner, some people are going to flood the internet with 'Motivational Quotes' and 'New Year Resolutions'....Bah!

'Employer's salary' read as 'Employee's salary" ?

The learned Prosecutor read "Employer's salary" as "Employee's salary"...and slammed a case

Ha...ha....ha...ha

Let IAS offficers relax after retirement:

Let IAS officers not accept any post retirement jobs...it is good for their health and especially for their backbones....which will become straighter and stronger...None of us is indispensable..let the younger officers move up...Sit back and relax after retirement.

Written exams + interview for IAS aspirants from the state services...news

The reported decision of the UPSC to prescribe for induction, two written tests and an interview for the IAS aspirants from the state services is a welcome step.

April to be Sikh Heritage month in the provice of Ontariao, Canada- news

The Legislative Assembly of Ontario, Canada has decided to have April as the Sikh Heritage month in Ontario every year...

Oh, Balle, Balle ji....

Pappa, Pappu & the Aam Admi Party

Pappu: Pappa, now that the Aam Admi Party seems to have decided to form the government in Delhi, you would hence forth be busy taking important decisions and running the government.

Pappa: Why would I be busy? I have done my duty as a conscientious citizen and voted and then given my views on the referendum?

Pappu: But Pappa there would be many more decisions to be taken by you?

Pappa: Such as?

Pappu: Referendums to decide:(i) Who would head the government and be the Chief Minister?
(ii) Who all would be the Ministers?
(iii) Who would get which portfolio?
(iv) Which Minister would be allotted which room in the Secretariat?
(v) Allotment of flats to Ministers- which Minister should get which flat?
(vi)... ...

Pappa: Stop it atonce. Go and do your home work.

Pappa, Pappu & Mr. Preet Bharara.

Pappa: This is a problem. This is a serious problem.

Pappu: What is the problem Papa?

Pappa: You see, now that the Lokpal bill has been passed, the country has to look for a suitable distinguished person to hold this august position?

Pappu: Have you thought about Mr. Preet Bharara, Pappa?

USA & the Nannies ...

Shobha De' has come up with a good one in The Times of India....here is an extract:

“…Yes, about the nanny. She was underpaid! That is a major crime in America. You don’t underpay nannies! You can shoot people. Kill innocent school kids. Send drones. Bomb the hell out of unfriendly countries. Take hostages. But hey — when it comes to illtreating nannies…now, that’s another matter. We have a zero tolerance policy for that… …”

Read the full piece at: http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/politically-incorrect/page/authorProfile?page=authorProfile

Mr. Tarun Tejpal

Remember Mr. Tarun Tejpal? Where is this gentleman these days?

Most shameless person

Who is the most shameless person sticking to his post?

Yes, you don't need a second guess!

'Strip search reciprocation by India'

(Source: The Times of India, December 19, 2013)

Most arrogant country of the world...

Which is the most arrogant country of the world?

Yes, you don't need a second guess!

3 dynasties

Pappa: Let me test your knowledge of Indian history.

Pappu: Yes Pappa.

Pappa: Name three dynasties of the past.

Pappu: Gupta dynasty, Mughal Dynasty and Nehru-Gandhi dynasty!

Paapa: You naughty fellow!

Nelson Mandela RIP

As the old limerick says:

Of the gone and the dead,
Nothing but good shall be said!

I admire Nelson Mandela as every one else does...but I am intrigued that he could not get along well with any of his three wives...Oh please tell me that I am wrong!

Karnataka Innovations Fund

'K'taka creates Rs.20 cr. corpus to fund innovative ideas' (The Times of India, December 5, 2013).....Good initiative

Self styled Godman caught ...news

A self-styled Godman's son, who too is a self styled Godman was reportedly caught by police along with his aides near the Delhi border at around midnight, while trying to enter from Haryana disguised as a Sikh man......


Remember another self-styled 'Baba' tried to run away from police by disguising himself as a woman sometime back....


What to say?

Mangalyaan leaves earth's orbit...Bravo

Mangalyaan leaves earth's orbit...and starts racing towards the orbit of Mars..Bravo Indian scientists................

Gaddi chaldee chalangan mardee...

Word the day - Hubris

Hubris, derived from ancient Greek, means extreme pride or arrogance. Hubris often indicates a loss of contact with reality and an overestimation of one's own competence, accomplishments or capabilities, especially when the person exhibiting it is in a position of power.

Whip, physically castrate, shame & set up 500 special courts for rape accused.

Whip, physically castrate, shame the rapists and set up 500 special courts

I am angry and I am ashamed to read about more and more cases of rape. In my view the follo0wing actions need to be taken:

Whipping:
Our lawmakers are requested to seriously consider re-introduction of the Indian Whipping Act for the offences rape/molestation and eve-teasing (Remember that the British ruled us by freely using the provisions of this dreaded Act). The Indian Penal Code can be suitably amended. There should be provision of a mandatory minimum of 12 lashes to be given in a public place for proven offences of rape/molestation and say ten for eve-teasing.

Physical Castration:
Make castration of the offenders found guilty by courts mandatory, and I am not suggesting chemical castration. I would recommend such offenders be physically castrated. Do you know the difference between a raging bull and a calm ox? Physical castration. So physically castrate the rapists weather they are 17 years or 74 years old!


Photos of castrated rapists on TV:
Follow this up by showing photos of the castrated offenders faces on the TV.

Set up 500 special courts:
So in the meantime let Government set up 500 special courts to try the existing pendency of one lakh rape cases under the existing laws of the land. Hearing should be on a day to day basis and cases finished within 180 days. Imagine one lakh rapists (if proven guilty) getting stiff sentences within the next six months.

Data base of rapists in public domain:
Government had announced that it will prepare a data base along with photographs of those convicted of rape. One wonders what is the present status of such a preparation. One also hopes that such a data base would be in the public domain. And, imagine again, one lakh names and photos being added to this data base .


Tell me what would you prefer to see in India - women being raped/molested/teased in public or the offenders of such crimes being whipped in public, and castrated, following the due process of law? Now don't tell be that whipping in public would be uncivilised, barbaric and primitive as if raping, molestation and eve- teasing are less uncivilised, heinous and barbaric crimes!
(This post was put up by me earlier on September 1, 2013)

Anticipatory bail....

Anticipatory bail for the rich & the influential and anticipatory jail for the common man? Is the very concept of anticipatory bail amoral?

Snooping, Snooper & Snoopy

Late Madhubala, R.I.P.

Being a fan of the late Madhubala I was happy to come across a photograph of her on the net which I had not seen earlier. ...........R.I.P.

Chandigarh's Open hand symbol-Original & Copy

The first photograph below is of a tile showing 'Fatima's hand'. This is a common symbol used to ward off evil in Morroco, Spain & Portugal.

The second photo is of the much touted 'Open Hand Symbol' of Le Corbusier designed for Chandigarh.

I would be tempted to call it copying without acknowledging the source!

Hear...Hear....

ISRO seeking Lord Balaji's blessings before space missions is superstition: CNR Rao (news)

Heroes with feet of clay...

Last few days have been depressing...two of the 'heroes' of quite a few, have turned out to be mere mortals with feet of clay-with their interest in the opposite sex badly over shadowing all concerns for propriety....

Terrible planning by North Zone Cultural Centre & Chandigarh Administration

I saw three ads in yesterday's (20th November) The Tribune put up by the North Zone Cultural Centre, Chandigarh. These are short term tender notices for the following items/services for 10 days from 29th November 2013 to 7th December, 2013:

(i) setting up of food stalls showcasing foods of different states of India;
(ii) for providing food to 300 artistes for 10 days, and
(iii) for hiring of light and sound equipment etc.

What is quite amazing is that the last date for submitting the tenders is 26th November 2013 and the 'Mela' is to start from 29th November- after 3 days of the last date.

What does one call it- poor administration and lack of proper & timely pre-planning?
Terrible!.

Retirement from competitive sports....

French tennis player Marion Bartoli announced her immediate retirement from tennis in August 2013, after winning the Wimbledon Ladies singles. Bravo!

That is a graceful way of retiring rather than being pushed out when one is no longer at one's best.....

So much of Sachin!

So much of Sachin is giving me stomach problem!

Open hand symbol of Corbusier- a borrowed idea?

I am not a fan of Le Corbusier, and much less of his 'originality'.
In one of my earlier posts I had shown how he proposed the design of chimney on the Chandigarh Secretariat, with hardly any change, from the cooling tower of atomic power plants.

I had problem with another 'original' idea of Le Corbusier while visiting Morroco and Spain recently.

Please see the tile showing the open hand and compare it with the original and amazing contribution of Le Corbusier to Chandigarh- the 'Open Hand Monument'. It is an extremely common symbol in these countries signifying "Fatima's hand' meant to ward off evil!
How very original!

'Goa police to get training in Gujarat'- news... ...

'Goa police to get training in Gujarat'- news... ...

Relax Mr. Jerry Pinto, relax!

"Rock Garden should be placed in league of Taj Mahal" ... "amongst one of the greatest achievements of mankind" said Mr. Jerry Pinto in Chandigarh yesterday.

It is customary to praise the town where one is performing/ making a presentation (tumharay shehar ka mausam bada suhana hai..) but relax Mr. Jerry Pinto, one expects some moderation from a writer of your caliber!

IRON Sharmila

Irom Sharmila's fast has completed 14 years. IRON Sharmila!

Sachin hoopla-Kuch zaida hi ho raha hai..

I may be the lone voice on this, but let me say my thing....
All this hoopla about Sachin Tendulkar.....let us keep some sense of proportion and moderation....Kuch zaida hi ho raha hai....

Mars - some nitpicking & all that...

In our secular Constitution there is no place for invoking God- of any religion. The reports say that the Chairman of ISRO went to a temple to offer prayers for the successful launch of Mangalyaan....I have no problem so long as he went in his personal capacity and not as the Chairman of ISRO.

Those suggesting that Rs.450 crores should have been better spent for upliftment of the poor are quite quiet on over Rs500/ crores of firecrackers having been burst two days earlier...and Rs. 250/ crores announced to be spent on erecting a statue of Sardar Patel adnd Rs.100/ crores to be spent on erecting Shivaji's statue...not to speak of the UP Elephant Park and statues of Nehru-Gandhi family members.

Even the CNN, in its broadcast conceded with amazement that the Indian scientists have pulled it off at a fraction of the cost at which the other countries did it.

I am sorry that the views of Shri Harsh Mander, an honest crusader for the poor whom I admire greatly, are unduly negative on this achievement. Similarly the comments made by an Ex-Chairman of ISRO (under whose command the Chandrayan was successfully sent) are, I am afraid, not in good taste.

Let us enjoy our minutes of glory...Bravo ISRO

Mera Bharat Mahaan!

The Joys of Retirement

Newspaper reports indicate that the Ex-Home Secretary Shri Pillai has taken up an assignment....I regret that this gentlemen doesn't know what a care free retired life means!Something that one earns after a life time of slogging and tension.

Mera Bharat Mahaan!

Isro chief seeks divine help for Mars mission- news

We are an amazing country where the scientific and the spiritual go hand in hand...Mera Bharat Mahaan!

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Isro-chief-seeks-divine-help-for-Mars-mission/articleshow/25238936.cms

Ex-Cabinet Secretary's article 'Call of Duty'

Respected Ex- Cabinet Secretary Sir,

Reference your learned article 'Call of Duty' in the New Indian Express dated October 30, 2013 (http://www.indianexpress.com/news/call-of-duty/1188798/), I hope you are not suggesting 'setting up a strong independent authority' with a retired IAS Officer as its head! The service has already earned enough flak on account of its retired officers being 'accomodated' in cushy job.

May I request you to advocate that IAS officers should set an example and not accept any post-retirement job? The pension now being given by government is enough for leading a simple yet reasonably comfortable retired life.


Regards....KJS Chatrath

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel statue or hospitals for the poor tribals

The cost of building the tallest statue of Sardar Patel is said to be Rs.2,000 crores. One wonders how many good hospitals can be set up in the poor tribal areas with such an amount. Of course such hospitals could be named 'Sardar Patel Hospitals'.

One can try to find beauty anywhere... ...

I respectfully placed this blazing red leaf on this black grave in Monmartre cemetery in Paris last week and took this photo.

Roads will be safe for drunk driving ..Oh...Balley...balley ...Ji

'Roads will be safe for drunk driving (in Punjab)' (The Indian Express, Chandigarh, October 26, 2013)

Oh...Balley...balley ...Ji

Pappa, Pappu and treating animals

Pappu: Papa, Papa, Minister for Animal Husbandry Punjab has ordered his officials to treat 50 lakh animals...

Pappa: So what?

Puppu: What about providing good medical services to the common man?

Pappa: Shut up Pappu and go and finish your home work!

HP CM directs officials not to meet MLAs in rest houses....

http://www.samachar.com/CM-directs-officials-not-to-meet-MLAs-in-rest-houses-njsnNocdibd.html
Interesting... ...

Hold simultaneous elections to Parliament and State Assemblies.

Why should we not revert back to the earlier system of having the Parliamentary and state Assembly polls simultaneously? Just think of the enormous savings.As a starter why not impose President's Rule in the 5 states/UTs in November 2013 (which are schduled to go to polls in November) and have the Assembly elections there along with the Parliamentary elections in May 2014.

What a vision!

'Narendra Modi plans to build world's tallest statue in Gujarat' (ndtvnews)

'Anne of Green Gables'

Saw a report in a newspaper about a Canadian play 'Anne of Green Gables' being performed by students of a school in Chandigarh....I may sound parochial but wonder what relevance has this play to Indian conditions....surely there are many good plays in Hindi and other Indian languages which can be staged...

Set up 500 special courts ...

Government may do well to set up 500 special courts to quickly try and give justice to the 90,000 and odd trials of rape cases reportedly pending in the country. Imagine the fear of law if those 90,000 accused are given stringent punishments within the next six months, of course following the due process of law!

Pappa, Pappu & the next PM of India

Pappu: Papa who will be the next Prime Minister of India?

Pappa: That's a good question but frankly I dont know.

Pappu: It will be either 'Ramu, Shamu or Damu'

Pappa: Go and finish your homework.

Is this a JOKE?

NDTVnews website is inviting readers to vote for 25 Greatest Living Indians. They have suggested 25 names with photos, but one can add more.

The funniest is for NDTVnews to suggest the name of one Karan Johar in this list. Is this a JOKE?

This is surely anaap-shnaap!

Looking at the US President's predicament I am reminded of two references, one filmy and the other from literature- 'Phas Gaye Re Obama' and 'To be or not to be' (Hamlet)!

Common-sense test, the new International Law!

"Syria crisis: Proven link of Bashar Assad to gas attack lacking, admits US
However, White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough asserted, "The common-sense test says he is responsible for this." http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/syria-crisis-no-proven-link-of-bashar-assad-to-gas-attack-admits-us-416116?pfrom=home-world

Pray what wrong did I do...

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/pray-what-wrong-did-i-do-asks-atheist-teacher/article5080102.ece

This athiest is with you on this point Mr. Sanjay Salve.

Chemical weapons are terrible...

Chemicals weapons are terrible and no country or opposition should use those.....btw USA used Napalm bombs (a chemical weapon) in Vietnam quite extensively (Source Wikipedia)

"Fig leaf for an illegal war"

"Fig leaf for an illegal war"- Editorial in The Hindu, Chennai, September 7, 2013; http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/fig-leaf-for-an-illegal-war/article5101438.ece

Pappa, Pappu & Law of Estoppel

Pappu: Pappa what is 'estoppel'?

Pappa: I am so glad that you are not thinking of politics all the time and that you are now trying to learn Law.

Pappu: Thank you Pappa but tell me what is 'Estoppel'

Pappa: In law it is a rule of evidence whereby a person is precluded from denying the truth of a statement of facts he has previously asserted ...

Pappu: Does it mean that having said that he has never dreamt of becoming the Prime Minister, now Mr. Narinder Modi will be stopped by law from contesting for the post of P.M.?

Pappa: Oh no Pappu, you have come to politics again. Go and finish your homework.

Hear!...Hear!

"I have not dreamt of being the PM" says Shri Narendra Modi replying to a child's question.

If I were the Prime Minister of India... ...

If I were the Prime Minister of India, I would not have gone to attend the G-20 meeting but would have tried to tackle the domestic problems facing the country head on...

At Karnataka's 'water ATMs', 10 litres of water for Rs. 1

At Karnataka's 'water ATMs', 10 litres of water for Rs. 1....now that is innovative; http://www.ndtv.com/article/south/at-karnataka-s-water-atms-10-litres-of-water-for-rs-1-414071?pfrom=home-otherstories

Pappu, Pappa & Advani's prediction

Pappu: It seems that Mr Advani (has) predicted (that), "A non-Congress, non-BJP Prime Minister heading a government supported by one of these two principal parties is feasible".

Papa: You are again venturing into politics...

Pappu: Pappa, if that happens then 'Modi kay sapnay ka kya hoga'?

Pappa: I dont know...Go and finish your homework.

Whip, physically castrate, shame the rapists and set up 500 special courts

I am angry and I am ashamed to read about more and more cases of rape. In my view the follo0wing actions need to be taken:

Whipping:
Our lawmakers are requested to seriously consider re-introduction of the Indian Whipping Act for the offences rape/molestation and eve-teasing (Remember that the British ruled us by freely using the provisions of this dreaded Act). The Indian Penal Code can be suitably amended. There should be provision of a mandatory minimum of 12 lashes to be given in a public place for proven offences of rape/molestation and say ten for eve-teasing.

Physical Castration:
Make castration of the offenders found guilty by courts mandatory, and I am not suggesting chemical castration. I would recommend such offenders be physically castrated. Do you know the difference between a raging bull and a calm ox? Physical castration. So physically castrate the rapists weather they are 17 years or 74 years old!


Photos of castrated rapists on TV:
Follow this up by showing photos of the castrated offenders faces on the TV.

Set up 500 special courts:
So in the meantime let Government set up 500 special courts to try the existing pendency of one lakh rape cases under the existing laws of the land. Hearing should be on a day to day basis and cases finished within 180 days. Imagine one lakh rapists (if proven guilty) getting stiff sentences within the next six months.

Data base of rapists in public domain:
Government had announced that it will prepare a data base along with photographs of those convicted of rape. One wonders what is the present status of such a preparation. One also hopes that such a data base would be in the public domain. And, imagine again, one lakh names and photos being added to this data base .


Tell me what would you prefer to see in India - women being raped/molested/teased in public or the offenders of such crimes being whipped in public, and castrated, following the due process of law? Now don't tell be that whipping in public would be uncivilised, barbaric and primitive as if raping, molestation and eve- teasing are less uncivilised, heinous and barbaric crimes!

(Based on and in continuation of two of my earlier posted blogs)

One of my earlier compilations.

Glory...

Both the Congress and the BJP have covered themselves with glory in the Asaram case....

A ray of hope...

"Onion prices drop in Nashik, likely to stabilise next week"- news

A spoof on American invasion of Iraq

A couple of months ago I saw an English film on tv...it was a hilarious spoof on American invasion of Iraq. The story went something like this- two American soldiers- one fat and the other sloppy looking who were to have gone to Iraq, get dropped over Mexico by mistake.

The soldiers of course think that they have landed in Iraq. So the first group of locals they see are interrogated by them about 'where the weapons of mass destruction' have been hidden. What follow are a series of funny situations. One of the soldiers falls in love with the daughter of a local tribal Chief etc...etc...

Unfortunately I could see only a part of the film and could not catch the tittle.

I would love to see the full film. Would any friend be knowing the name of this movie?

Elusive 'weapons of mass destruction'......

It was such a treat watching on tv the debate in the House of Commons last evening. What civility! What dignified way to disagree! (Even though the subject was the elusive 'weapons of mass destruction'....)

Manmohan was 'Singh' in Parliment today

Manmohan was 'Singh' in Parliment today....

Et tu, Ms. Durga Shakti?

"Durga meets Mulayam; may be reinstated: .... ...It has now emerged that instead of challenging her suspension in either High Court or Supreme Court, the 28 year old officer has taken recourse to political intervention by meeting the party patriarch...."
(News source: August 30, 2013)

No, no, no....I hope it is not true...

"Sources say the 28-year-old officer has met Mulayam Singh Yadav, the chief of UP's ruling Samajwadi Party, to present her case." (ndtvnews)

I do hope that the above news is not correct. Why should an IAS officer call on the head of a political party?

Karan Thapar & Modi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXYlS41n4zs

Karan Thapar & Modi....

Take a look.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHS_eSoOBzg

Some icons these...Shame..Shame!

* English players allegedly urinated on the Oval pitch after winning the series against the Australians.

* Actor Om Puri booked for allegedly beating up his wife.....

Some icons these....Shame!...Shame!

Et tu, Mr. Narayana Murty?

'Mr.Rohan Murty son of Mr. Narayana Murty to become Vice-President of Infosys (news)

Et tu, Mr. Narayana Murty?

Pappa, Pappu & Yatra

Pappu: Pappa is it true that the BJP is thinking of taking over yatra.com ?

Pappa: I dont know Pappu!

'Ayodhya priest slams VHP'

"... ...Acharya Satyendra, the priest of the makeshift Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya where the 16th century Babri mosque was razed by Hindu activists in 1992, slammed the VHP's yatra, calling it an attempt to polarise votes and whip up a nationwide campaign to garner support for the BJP ahead of the 2014 polls... ..."
(http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/vhp-yatra-hindu-religious-leaders-divided-ayodhya-priest-slams-vhp-410042?pfrom=home-lateststories)

Yatra....

'Yatra is fundamental right (emphasis supplied) of every citizen: Sushma Swaraj'..Well...well...well....

Indians in Singapore

Today's Tribune reports:
"Singapore: Indian-origin man jailed-S**** S****, an Indian -origin Singaporean, has been jailed for 12 years and given 12 strokes of cane for raping a 16 year old girl in the back seat of his car."

While looking for this news item in Google' I was shocked to find the following punishments meted out during the last 3-4 months.


• Indian-origin man jailed in Singapore - Latest News on Indian-origin ...
zeenews.india.com/tags/Indian-origin_man_jailed_in_Singapore.html‎
17 hours ago - Indian-origin man jailed in Singapore - Get latest news on Indian-origin man jailed in Singapore. Read Breaking News on Indian-origin man ...
• Indian-origin man jailed in Singapore for housebreaking - Times Of ...
articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com › Collections › Singapore‎
May 30, 2013 - SINGAPORE: An Indian-origin man was on Thursday sentenced to 15 months in jail here for assisting in a housebreaking plan and theft of ...
• Indian-origin man jailed in Singapore for selling drugs - Economic ...
articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com › Collections‎
Jun 7, 2013 - SINGAPORE: An Indian-origin man has been sentenced to eight years in jail and ordered to be given five strokes of the cane for selling ...
• Indian-origin jailed for harbouring prostitutes in Singapore - India TV
www.indiatvnews.com/.../indian-origin-jailed-for-harbouring-prostitutes-...‎
Jul 30, 2013 - Indian-origin jailed for harbouring prostitutes in Singapore. ... Indian-origin man jailed in Singapore for selling drugs • Singapore court jails ...
• Indian-origin man in Singapore jailed - Yahoo! News India
in.news.yahoo.com/indian-origin-man-singapore-jailed-100051410.html‎
May 17, 2013 - 'Indian-origin man in Singapore jailed' on Yahoo! News India. Singapore, May 17 (IANS) A Singapore court Friday sentenced a 45-year-old ...
• Indian-origin man jailed in Singapore in road rage case - The Pioneer
www.dailypioneer.com/india.../indian-origin-man-jailed-in-singapore-in-...‎
May 10, 2013 - A court in Singapore Friday sentenced a 38-year-old Indian-origin businessman to one month in jail for punching a man in a road rage case.

Shame....Shame...What is wrong with us Indians?

'अभी तो मैं जवान हूँ...'

पाँच साल पहिले जब मैं नौकरी से रीटायर हुआ तो लगा मानो मैं आज़ाद हो गया हूँ. सेहत ठीक ठाक थी और मैने सोचा की 'अभी तो मैं जवान हूँ...'. उड़ीसा से आकर पंचकुला में पांचवीं मंजिल पर एक फ्लैट ले लिया. सामान खोलते मिटटी से जुकाम और ज्वर हो गया. फ्लैट की घंटी बजी और मैने दरवाज़ा खोला. सामने खड़ा सज्जन मुस्करा रहा था 'सर जी मैं राजू हूँ और यहाँ कूड़ा एकता करता हूँ. मेरे नाक से पानी बह रहा था और चेहरे से परेशानी साफ़ थी. राजू ने कहा 'सर जी बचपन बचपन है, जवानी जवानी है और बुढापा बुढापा है'. कल फिर आऊंगा जी कहकर राजू तो चला गया पर उसकी बात से मेरी सुन कर मेरी हालत और भी ख़राब हो गयी. मैने पहिली बार अपने आप को प्रश्न किया की क्या मैं बुड्डा हो गया हूँ. धीरे धीरे मैं यह घटना कुछ भूल सा गया.

एक साल बाद मैं एक त्रेच्किंग ग्रुप के साथ गढ़वाल पर्वतों मैं रूपकुंड के रहस्यमयी तालाब के लिये निकल पड़ा. बाकि सभी सदस्य तो जवान थे लेकिन मैं भी जोश से उनके कदम से कदम मिलाकर चलता रहा. तीसरे दिन जब हम कठिन रास्ते से जा रहे थे तो ऊपर से गुजरों का एक दल अपनी भैसों के साथ नीचे उतर रहा था . गुजर लोग तीखे शकल सूरत के थे और उनकी औरतें तो अति सुंदर थी. मैने एक गुजर को कहा 'सलाम औ लेय्कुम'. उसने हाथ हिला कर उत्तर दिया 'वा लाय्कुम सलाम' और कुछ क्षण बाद मुझ से पूछ 'बुड्ढा ठीक है'. मेरी तो हवा ही निकल गयी. मैने उपने आपको समझाने की कोशिश की की वेह एक सीधा सदा गुजर था और उसने तो शिष्टाचार के नाते मेरा हाल ही पुछा था. पर यह बात मुझे चुभ ही गयी.

समय गुजरता रहा और मुझे अपने बुढापे का धीरे धीरे अहसास होने लगा. गत सप्ताह मुझे दिल्ली में एक कार्यालय मैं किसी से मिलना था और मैं समय से करीब पंन्द्रह मिनिट पहिले ही पहुँच गया. क्यों न तब तक एक कप चाय का पिया जाये, मैने सोचा, और पहुँच गया साथ के टैक्सी स्टैंड के पास जहाँ एक व्यक्ति चाय बना रहा था. जब मेरी चाय बन गई तो चायवाले ने प्याला ला कर जहाँ मैं एक पत्थर पर बैठ था मुझे दिया. मैने उसे धन्यवाद कहा. पहली चुस्की लगाते ही मैने पाया की चाय बहुत अच्छी थी और मैने चायवाले को चाय की प्रशंसा की. थेंक्यू जी, उसने कहा, बस आप लोगों की सेवा करने बैठे हैं. मुझे यह सब बहुत अच्छा लगा. चायवाला टैक्सी स्टैंड की और गया और अपनी जगह एक छोटे लड़के को छोड़ गया. मैं बैठा रहा क्यों की मुझे अभी भी पाँच मिनिट गुजरने थे. कुछ समय बाद टैक्सी स्टैंड के पीछे से चायवाले ने चिल्ला के लड़के से पुछा "अरे क्या बुड्ढा पैसा देये गया है'. और उस लड़के ने उतनी ही ज़ोर से चिल्ला के कहा 'नही बुड्ढा अभी बैठा है.'

इस बार यह मुझे बिल्कुल बुरा नहीं लगा और मैं मन ही मन मुस्काया. ठीक ही तो कहा है उसने की मैं बुड्ढा हूँ - तो क्या हुआ?

(This was written 5 years back and was published in the Hindi Tribune)

"Marriage Ability Certificates"

Do you know that in Punjab "Marriage Ability Certificates" are issued to those who apply and fulfill the criteria- after publishing a notice in the newspapers?

Mukesh Ambani picks up stake in Epic TV

‘…Epic TV will be Mr. Ambani’s second broadcasting venture, as he already owns a considerable stake in the Network18 Group.
In January 2012, a shell company floated by Mr. Ambani had agreed to invest close to Rs. 2,000 crore in Network 18 and TV18 Broadcast, which runs channels such as CNBC TV18, CNN—IBN, and Colors, among others…. …’. http://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/mukesh-ambani-picks-up-stake-in-epic-tv/article4895242.ece

Faith and rocket science hand in hand

I always look at science by excluding all elements of faith. I admire those who are blessed with faith. But I have already felt that what is required is scientific approach and not blind faith.

I overlook that there could be other valid view points and that science and faith can also co-exist in harmony.

A news item in today's The Hindu (GSLV-D5 replica placed at Lord's feet)is what prompted me to write this. It reads:

The replica of Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle GSLV-D5, scheduled to be launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota rocket port on Monday, was placed at the feet of the presiding deity of Lord Venkateswara.

Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) K. Radhakrishnan carried the facsimile of the rocket along with him to the temple during the Suprabhata seva performed in the early hours of Sunday. Mr. Radhakrishnan, who spent the night atop the temple town, proceeded towards Sriharikota in Nellore soon after the darshan of the deity. http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-newdelhi/gslvd5-replica-placed-at-lords-feet/article5036693.ece


Mera Bharat Mahan....I love my India.

Bitter 'karelas', mother's recipe and mobile phone...

I love karelas (bitter gourd). But every time my domestic help cooked it, I found it to be too bitter. Then I remembered that my mother was once telling someone, maybe sixty years back, to peel the karelas and put salt around them and leave them like that for some time, then wash and cook. So I repeated it to my domestic help. She dutifully did that. But I found the karelas to be still bitter. Maybe I forgot some step from my mother's recipe.

Then it was the turn of my domestic help to do some research. She used her mobile and rang up her mother in the village who advised her to soak the karelas in curd water before cooking. It was done and last night I had an excellent karela bhaji for dinner.

By the way when I was a child I used to think that 'ek karela doosra neem chara' meant that the vine of karela climbing up on the neem tree would make the karelas even more bitter...till I was told that 'neem' in this phrase meant half...

Bachpan kay din bhi kya din thay... ...

Papa, Pappu & USA visa

Pappu: Pappa USA is unlikely to give visa to Mr. Narendra Modi.

Pappa: So what but why are you getting involved in politics again?

Pappu: No please tell me Papa why is Mr. Modi so very keen to visit the USA?

Pappa: I dont know Pappu. Now enough...go and finish your homework.

Hide spoon in underwear...

Women who fear being forced to marry abroad told to hide spoon in underwear: Charity advises women and young girls to set off airport metal detectors to give them more time to seek help from authorities….(http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/15/women-forced-marriage-spoon-underwear)

German Chancellor

I did not know that the present German Chancellor Her Excellency Ms. Angela Merkel was born, brought up and educated in what was then East Germany....

Independence Day.

I wish we could elect persons like Mr. Ratan Tata, Mr. Sridharan, Mr. Narayan Murty, Mr. Rahul Dravid & Mr. P Gopichand to lead the country....


The wrongdoers, the corrupt and the communal must not be voted in.


Please do not circulate/re-circulate emails denigrating India as a country.


Garv say kaho ki ham Indian hain...

Google & the circular Indian flag....

I have a feeling that the way 'Google' is showing the Indian flag (in a circular form) is against the Indian Flag Code......

Du Pont, Newshour Tonight & Arnab Goswami

I generally find Arnab Goswami to be taking a fairly independent line on various issues in the programme 'Newshour Tonight'.Therefore I am puzzled, if not disappointed, on learning of 'Newshour' announcing a joint programme 'Shunya' with Du Pont Multinational, howsoever interesting and useful the programme might be...

No, I am not a Modi fan... ...

No, I am not a Modi fan... ...

Bravo Ms. PV Sindhu...

Bravo Ms. PV Sindhu...Give it to them hard and get the Winners Cup...

Paulo Coelho....

I would be very, very happy not to see any spiritual/inspirational quote from Paulo Coelho for a few days....kuch zaida hi ho raha hai....

On piligrim's path to Badrinath, July 2012.

Government, Panchayat, the loud mouthed NGOs....please do something...

RBI makes it easier to report fake notes to banks

The next time someone passes on a fake currency note to you without your knowledge, you need not palm it off surreptitiously. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday directed banks to accept all fake notes over the counter from customers and pay them back the full amount. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/RBI-makes-it-easier-to-report-fake-notes-to-banks/articleshow/20825157.cms

Arise, awake.... ....

Generations of Indians have been inspired by the exhortation of one of the greatest Indians, Swami Vivekanand: 'Arise, awake and stop not till the goal is reached' ....

I am a little confused with the chronology of these ideas.......Should it not be "Awake, arise and stop not till the goal is reached?"

Nimuda, nimuda, nimuda!

Modi & Rahul....

"Modi has no clout outside Guj, Rahul has no great future", thus spake the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Orissa Shri Naveen Patnaik (The Times of India, June 12, 2013)

Cricket Quiz

Do you know in which area of cricket did the following gentlemen excel in during their cricket playing days?

Mr. Srinivasan - Batsman/ Bowler/Fielder /All rounder

Mr. Rajiv Shukla - Batsman/ Bowler/Fielder /All rounder

Mr. Arun Jaitly - Batsman/ Bowler/Fielder /All rounder

Mr. Anurag Thakur - Batsman/ Bowler/Fielder /All rounder


Now this is a tough one....




...

A cottage to die for....

A cottage to die for ...(Somewhere in Romania, not far from 'Dracula's Castle')

A quiet walk...

Hush...Let us go for a quiet walk, you and me, hand in hand..

Pappa, Pappu & Prof. Amartaya Sen

Pappu: Papa whose views should one take more seriously- Prof. Amartaya Sen's or Mr. Chandan Mitra's?

Pappa: By the way, who is Mr. Chandan Mitra?

Which is the worst movie that you have seen

I always find the question 'which is your favorite movie?' very hard to answer because there are quite a few movies that I like very much.

But no body has ever asked me 'which is the worst movie that you have seen?". After seeing 'Matru ki Bijlee ka Mandola', I am ready with a clear, unequivocal answer.

"Sen and insane: Criticise Modi, lose award?"

'Sen and insane: Criticise Modi, lose award?... ...Since when has criticism of Modi become a disqualification for holding an award... ... ...One shudders to think of the culture of intolerance that could prevail in the country if the BJP comes to power with such extremists piggy-riding Modi's popularity."

See the full write-p at: http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130727/edit.htm#3

Pappa, Pappu & snacks...

Pappu: Pappa please give me One Hundred Rupees?

Pappa: One Hundred Rupees? Why do you want so much money?

Pappu: So much money? No Papa I only want to buy some snacks and a cold drink.

Pappa: Do you know one Congress leader has claimed that he can have a hearty meal in Mumbai for Rs. 25/- and another one has said that he can have a full meal for Rs.5/- in Delhi and you want One Hundred Rupees for snacks!

Pappu: Dont you think yeh kuch zyada he ho gaya hai....Anyway if you dont want to give me One Hundred Rupees you can just say 'No, instead of narrating such amazing stories to me!

Don’t want Modi as my PM: Amartya Sen

Don’t want Modi as my PM: says the Nobel Laureate Amartaya Sen:

Amartya Sen "As an Indian citizen I don’t want Modi as my PM... He has not done enough to make minorities feel safe,” he said.


On being asked why he did not want so, Dr. Sen said, “He could have first of all been more secular and he could have made the minority community feel more secure.”
“No, I don’t approve of it... I don’t think the record is very good. I think I don’t have to be a member of the minority in order to feel insecure... We Indians don’t want a situation where the minority feel insecure and could legitimately think that there was an organised violence against them in 2002. I think that is a terrible record and I don’t think Indian Prime Minister as an Indian citizen... Of who has that kind of record. No, I do not.” … …


‘He could have also taken both of the facts that Gujarat record in education and healthcare is pretty bad and he has to concentrate on that’...

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/dont-want-modi-as-my-pm-amartya-sen/article4941075.ece

Pappa, Pappu and the baby of Duchess of Cambridge

Pappa: Pappu, Pappu, have you heard the latest?

Pappu? No, what has happened?

Pappa: Duchess of Cambridge has given birth to a baby boy

Pappu: So what?

Pappa, Pappu & Baba Ramdev

Pappu: Pappa if BJP comes to power in 2014..

Pappa: God forbid...any other party but BJP!

Pappu: That is not fair Papa, you did not even let me finish my sentence.

Papa: Sorry Pappu, please go ahead.

Pappu: If BJP comes to power in 2014, what would Baba Ramdev become?

Pappa: Why, Cabinet Minister in charge of Yoga and Indigenous Medicine.

'UnMade in America....' by Chidanand Rajghatta'

'UnMade in America-India must beware of snake oil salesmen selling solutions that are sinking the US' by Chidanand Rajghatta'
http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ruminations/entry/unmade-in-america

'Inspirational quotes'- bah!

I often wonder if the 'inspirational' quotes, quite often from little known foreigners (mainly Americans), circulated by some friends on the Facebook, are of any use... ...

Barso Ray... ...

Bravo..Once again the Indian Met Deptt. has been proved right...

And thank you Rain Gods, we have been missing you...

Very disturbing information, if true

Very disturbing information, if true.http://www.indianewsheadlines.com/post.php?id=213704

Dont travel so much... ...

Sharapova hires Connors

Sharapova hires Connors....headline on the CNN

Pappa,Pappu & Puppy

Pappu: Bah- the 'puppy' controversy...

Papa: Are some people not reading too much in the 'puppy' remarks?

Pappu: How?

Pappa: Does it not show the compassion of the leader?

Pappu: Yes - compassion towards the animals!

'Vannakam'

Wishing a respectful 'Vannakam' to the cut-out of Amma at the Marina beach, Chennai.

Papa, Pappu & Wimbledon....

Pappu: Now that after 76 years, UK has got Wimbledon men's singles title, should they not relax for the next 76 years....

Papa: I dont know Pappu!

Pappa, Pappu & Kedarnath tragedy

Puppu: Papa, Papa, is God omniscient?

Pappa: Yes.

Pappu: Is God kind and benevolent?

Papa: Yes, of course.

Pappu: Then why did he kill all those persons who had gone to pray to him at Kedarnath?

Papa: I dont know Pappu!

Think out of the box

Papa: Who do you think would be the best PM for the country in 2014?

Puppu: Papa, Forget about the names being mentioned...think out of the box....Why cant we have Mr. Ratan Tata as the next PM?

Papa: I dont know Puppu!

Pappa & Pappu

Papa: If you were to choose between Advaniji and Modiji, whom would you vote for?

Pappu: You are surely joking Papa ji....Neither of them! Thank God I am a kid and don't have a vote.

Obama's picture on admit card for Junior Engineer's exam

Let us move away from Advanis and Modis to the lighter side of life. Today's newspaper reports:
'Man stunned to see Barack Obama's picture on his admit card for engineer's exam, one he did not even apply for!'(http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/obama-as-engineer-junior-engineer-lalu-lal-meena-staff-selection-commission/1/279441.html)

Have a rainy day!

Hitler, Mussolini & Bhisham Pitamah

Mr. LK Advani's latest blog has, as reported by the press today, used three interesting words - Hitler, Mussolini & Bhisham Pitamah....

What does he mean by these references?

Don't ask me!

Salutions to Indian women

Salutations to the twin sisters from Dehradun- Naungshi Malik and Tashi Malik who have became the first Indian twin sisters to conquer Mount Everest..

fatherson.com?

Like every father, Mr. Narayan Murty too loves his son... ...

Cheers to that!

'Burgundy makes you think of silly things, Bordeaux makes you talk of those and Champagne makes you do them' says a Frenchman (who else!)....

Summer vacations for Hon'ble High Courts

With courts, cars and houses air-conditioned, why do HCs need summer vacation? PIL asks: http://m.timesofindia.com/articleshow/20171558.cms

I cant stop laughing...Ha...Ha...Ha

Today's Times of India reports:"CSK bag Fair Play Award".............Ha...Ha....Ha....
By the way, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are owned by Mr. Srinivasan proprietor of the ACC (and, as some allege, by his 'enthusiastic' son-in-law Mr. Gurunath)

How 'fast' are the 'fast-track courts'?

Wonder what is the present status of the case against the accused in the horrible incident of rape and killing in Delhi in December 2012?

Feel vertically challenged....

Do you know that Nicole Kidman is 5ft-10-1/2 inches tall and Maria Sharapova 6'-2"...

Mr Ratn Tata as PM of India.....

Why not have Mr.Ratan Tata as the next PM of India....

Ah, that Karan Johar...

Let me take it off my chest.

I cant stand Karan Johar.

Yes he directed some very sweet films at a rather young age. But then started the problem. He tried to do a mid course career correction and tried to become a Tv presenter. His "Coffee with Karan" episodes were just passable.

Thereafter, instead of improving, he started deteriorating. His programmes on the 100 years of Bollywood are just awful. He has a mistaken notion that he is very charming , handsome, well dressed and possesses a great wit. Unfortunately neither of these is true.

Mr. Karan Johar, take the advice of this old man and return to directing films.....

P.S. I love the Nescafe ad where Deepika Padukone's young unknown neighbour puts him in his proper place. Of course hats off to Karan Johar for agreeing to get exposed in that ad.

In praise of 'jugaad' by K.J.S.Chatrath

'The Joys of Old Age' by KJS Chatrath

Did something today....something that I should have started doing the day I crossed 70....I managed to loose my car keys, inside my house...


Tense, worried, upset? Hell no....


I promptly cancelled my appointment with the dentist, have switched on the TV and am watching an old Julia Roberts film sipping some lassi...

Yes, I am in no hurry to find my car keys....

Women are the superior sex

Remember the shocking case of a lady young athlete who was thrown out of a running train for resisting chain snatching about two years back...sadly one of her legs had to be amputated..

Now she has shown the world what Indian women are made of....She has become the first Indian and the world's first woman to to have conquered Mt. Everest with a prosthetic leg...

Bravo Ms. Arunima Sinha!

He is a jolly good fella...

The visiting Chinese Prime Minister smiles here and cracks a joke there and we are swept off our feet and conclude that he is a jolly good fella... ...

More on Le Corbusier...

Yet more on Le Corbusier(the highly over rated architect)in The Times of Chandigarh, 18.5.2013....when will we grow up...Enough is enough...

A view from Badrinath

A view from Badrinath...May 16, 2013.

Advani & yet another 'rath yatra'...

Advani flags off yet another rath yatra....this time in Chattisgarh........

Rest........

Having eradicated corruption in the country with his simplistic methods, I presume 'the self styled Gandhian' is now taking a much needed rest.....

Food to die for....

Fashionable foreign food...just unpronounceable fancy names of dishes that are boiled/half-cooked/bland/grilled/....NO. Thank you...

Indian daal-roti-piaz da jawaab nahi...

'At 70, who cares...' by K.J.S.Chatrath

Crossing 70, made me do a little bit of confused thinking today. Surely my life is almost over - well almost. So what is it that I would like from life in the remaining days?

My foremost wish, like every one else's, is to have, when the time comes, a quick, and as painless a death as possible.

The second wish needs some explaining. I have been a great admirer of Erich Von Daniken, Carl Sagan and Steven Spielberg. I find the idea of alien life extremely fascinating. And this brings me to my second wish - I would love to see, or at least read the confirmed news of aliens, looking not quite like us, arriving on earth during my little life that is left.......

The third wish is to see my son get married and raise a family.

I know there is a problem of lack of consistent logic in these three wishes, but then at 70, who cares!

'Sad stories of three stunningly beautiful actresses' by K.J.S.Chatrath

I am puzzled at some of the similarities in the lives of three stunningly beautiful actresses of our times - Madhubala, Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield. All were extremely beautiful, popular, had sad personal lives and died unnatural deaths in mid 1960s when two of them were 36 and the third was only 34 years old.

First Madhubala. She was born on February 14, 1933 – the date in February that is now celebrated as the Valentine’s Day.The legendry Madhubala was the Goddess of Love of her times.She was 5'-4".

Her range of portrayals was amazingly diverse- as an Anglo-Indian club dancer in Howrah Bridge, a tribal belle in Phagun and the most memorable as Anarkali in Mughal-E-Azam, just to give three examples.

The beauty of Madhubala had an ethereal quality about it. She had a sad personal life. She is said to have pined for love during her short life There were stories that she wanted to marry actor Dilip Kumar but the marriage could not be fixed as her father reportedly had objections to it. Then she was discovered with a serious medical ailment- a hole in the heart that could not be set right in that period when heart surgery was still to develop. She ultimately married singer actor Kishore Kumar who was more interested in his singing career than looking after his ailing wife.

She died, on 23rd February, 1967 and was buried in the then Bombay’s Juhu cemetery. Though we kept on remembering Madhubala and her films, but overlooked her final resting place. The news came in February 2010 that her grave had been disposed off and tomb demolished.

One does not know what is the status today but does she not deserve to rest in peace? Would it not be possible for her numerous admirers to chip in to ensure her a grave and a decent memorial?

Had she been alive, she would have been 80 this year.

Marilyn Monroe

The second young lady, Marilyn Monroe was perhaps the most popular of these three at the international level. She was born on June 1, 1926. Her nude photo was featured in the first issue of the Playboy magazine in december 1953. She had a perfect figure of 35-22-35 and was 5’-5” tall.

She received a Golden Globe Award for her performance in Some Like It Hot (1959). Monroe's last completed film was The Misfits (1961), co-starring Clark Gable with screenplay by her then-husband, Arthur Miller.Some of her other films were; Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, How to Marry a Millionaire and The Seven Year Itch.

She married thrice and had no children. She died on 5th August 1962 at the young age of 36. It was a case of suspected suicide by drug overdose. She has had her share of rumours and conspiracy theories abound her ‘real’ cause of death.

She lies buried at the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery, in Los Angeles, U.S.A.
Had she been alive, she would have been 87 this year.

The third sad tale relates to Jayne Mansfield. She was born on 19th April 1933 and died in a fatal car accident on June 29, 1967 at the young age of 34. She was 5’-6” tall. She was known for her stunning vital statistics: 40-21-35. Yes, an incredible 21 inches waist.

Sophia Loren (L) giving a surreptitiously admiring look to, should we say, Jayne Mansfield’s (R) dress?

She featured as a playmate in the Playboy magazine and a few years later, some of her nude photographs from her film “Promises-promises-promises’ too were published in the same magazine. Some of her famous films were....The Girl Can't Help It, Too hot to handle and Promises-Promises-Promises. She was a good singer too.

She married thrice and divorced thrice and had 5 children.

Had she been alive, she would have been 80. In fact today is her birthday, since she was born on 19th April in 1933.

Jayne Mansfield's grave

May God rest these beautiful ladies in peace!

Environment degradation is human rights violation?

'Environment degradation a human rights violation' says one Pof RB Singh reports The Tribune.........Come on Sir, don't overdo it....

Sartorial elegance of North Korean lady soldiers

I detest politics.So let us look at this photograph which has appeared in the newspapers and on the net yesterday, from a different, totally non-political angle.These are the North Korean lady soldiers on patrol in Sinuiju near the Chinese border town of Dandong. Would you not join me in admiring their sartorial elegance - never mind if it would be difficult for them to perform their soldierly duties clad in high heels...

The Baghpat fiasco

Anna ji- the self styled Gandhian reached Baghpat in U.P. yesterday to address a rally.
There was not even one person in the ground to listen to him....

Anna Sir, please take care of your health and dont strain too much during the summer months...May be you should go back to your village Ralai Gaon Siddhi and rest there.

Btw where are the other Anti-Corruption leaders- the Bhushans (Sr & Jr.), Retd. Hon'ble Justice Hegde, Ms Kiran Bedi, Baba Ramdev ji? Only Arvind Kejrival somehow continues to make it to the media...

Sau choohay kha kay billi Haj ko chalee?

Ref. news in today's newspapers about the current plan of a particular gentleman....Sau choohay kha kay billi Haj ko chalee?

Che' Guevara

I generally bring a map of the country that I travel to, get it framed and put it in on the wall of my living room. As you see, I made an exception in case of Cuba.

The great Indian invention.....

A retired life... ...

Australian cricket team

My God what arrogance did the Australian cricket team have all these years!....Next time this team comes to India for a test series, we may do well to request them to play with our Under 19 team first....

'The Historic General Post Office building, Lucknow' by K.J.S.Chatrath

May I invite you to take a look at my latest post: "The historic General Post Office Building, Lucknow" by clicking at the following site:

http://www.fiftyplustravels.com/?p=3820

Le Corbusier's 'Governor's Palace, Chandigarh'

I was amused to read the article "Chandigarh's Unbuilt Monument" in The Tribune, January 10, 2013. The article talks about and provides a photograph of a model of the 'unbuilt' Governor's Palace kept in the City Architecture Museum, Chandigarh.

As a layman, the model looks to be just terrible! The nearest in aesthetics that I can think of is Shri Mukesh Ambani's multi-stored house in Mumbai.

Personally I am so glad that some one put his foot down and tax-payer's money was not wasted and that the 'Palace' was 'unbuilt' before it could be 'built!

This was a casually taken photo in Karnataka in January this year. I am really happy with the shadows that got caught in the frame.

CAG and the powers to adjudicate on basic human rights

The CAG has now observed that in Punjab jails, prisoners are being denied the basic rights to celebrate festivals (Times of India, March 20, 2013).

I do not think that the framers of the Indian Constitution wanted to give such judicial powers to the CAG.

Please, Mr. CAG, Sir, stick to the Constitutional duties of the Comptroller and Auditor General. Let the Executive and Judiciary do their respective jobs.

'Horse meat & cholesterol' by K.J.S.Chatrath

"Horse meat can be best bet in cholesterol fight" says an item* in the Times of India .........Boaaah...

(* http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-03-18/science/37813382_1_horse-meat-bad-cholesterol-fatty-acid)

Ides of March- March 15

According to Plutarch,a seer had warned that harm would come to Julius Caesar no later than the Ides of March. On his way to the Theatre of Pompey, where he would be assassinated, Caesar passed the seer and joked, "The ides of March have come," meaning to say that the prophecy had not been fulfilled, to which the seer replied "Aye, Caesar; but not gone."[14] This meeting is famously dramatised in William Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar, when Caesar is warned by the soothsayer to "beware the Ides of March." (Source: Wikipedia)

"Hand of God"

"Hand of God" brings Argentina pope, Maradona says

Religion & top postions in India

'A tweet from Pakistan: Sikh Army chief, Anglo-Indian Air force Chief, Hindu Navy Chief, Christian Defence Minister, Muslim Foreign Minister, Sikh Prime Minister... ...Maybe, tokenism, but from here it looks and feels great' (Source: Jantar-Mantar by Anita Katyal, The Tribune, Chandigarh, November 5, 2012)

'Ganjing & Kebabing' in Lucknow by K.J.S.Chatrath

I am almost ashamed to admit that I have never been to Lucknow....So to wipe out this embarrassment, I am off to Lucknow - for taking lots of photographs of the city that is synonymous with culture and 'tehzeeb'....and to do a little bit of 'Ganjing' and 'Kebabing'...

Iron Sharmila

Irom Sharmila?.........No, no........She is Iron Sharmila.

Stop deifying Le Corbusier and Jeanneret- please

Now some one has come with a preposterous suggestion that Le Corbusier and Jeanneret should be awarded the 'Bharat Ratna'......Come on, get serious and stop deifying these departed architects who designed a totally unIndian city ....

'Caution! Vandals at work' by B.G.Verghese

Caution! Vandals at work by B.G.Verghese (http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20121205/edit.htm#4)

You may or may not agree, but I have never read a more scathing article written by Mr. Verghese. (Mr. B G Verghese is a veteran journalist and a recipient of the Magsaysay Award in 1975)

'A nice meal at Kanyakumari' by K.J.S.Chatrath

Sometimes one comes across a nice meal when one is least expecting it.I loved this 'thali' meal at Tamil Nadu Tourism Dev. Corpn's hotel at Kanyakumari two years back.

Mera Bharat phir bhi mahaan hai

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-02-27/science/37330261_1_app-demonstration-mission-orbit

Inspite of widespread corruption & poverty, and total absence of civic sense, Mera Bharat phir bhi Mahaan hai...

Justice M. Katju

https://www.google.co.in/search?q=even+the+chairman+has+the+freedom&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:unofficial&client=firefox-aurora#q=even+the+chairman+has+the+freedom&hl=en&client=firefox-aurora&hs=Lhd&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:unofficial&source=univ&tbm=nws&tbo=u&sa=X&ei=q8ItUcXRFM2OrgeRu4H4Bg&ved=0CDEQqAI&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.42965579,d.bmk&fp=1e23df85327cb514&biw=800&bih=467

My admiration for Justice M. Katju keeps on increasing.....

Stunningly arrogant and uncouth

I sent a post from my website www.fiftyplustravels.com to the website of a group of Senior Citizens in a particular country.

I mentioned that in case they were not interested they should click at the given url in order not to receive any further mails. Presumably they did not like my email but also did not click for removing their address.

So the next mail from my website praising Indian food also went to them. And this is the response that I have got:


"I wish you would stop sending your ****ing rubbish emails.
Thank you. No, we are not interested at all.

Rgds...."

You would surely be able to make out what the offending alphabets are which I have replaced by astericks. I am equally sure that you would also be able to correctly guess the country from which this stunningly arrogant and uncouth mail has come.....

After promptly removing that email address from my mailing list, I have decided to let the matter lie here.

Cutie Singh....

Came across this photo of a little turbaned Singh on the internet...

'Faith of the faithful' by K.J.S.Chatrath

"ISRO chief seeks divine blessings ahead of Monday satellite launch" The Tribune, Chandigarh, Feb 25, 2013.

While being a self-proclaimed, hardcore, athiest, I still can not but admire and salute the faith of the faithful...

'Kohinoor is ours, wont be returned'- British PM

Was it was found while digging the ground for construction of the Buckingham Palace?

'All the perfumes of Arabia...'

Justice M.Katju's article in The Hindu recently:

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/all-the-perfumes-of-arabia/article4415539.ece

Lo phir basant aayee... ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyRdXrokvVM

Today, February 14 is the Valentine’s Day. This is the day that legendry Madhubala was born in on 14th February 1933. She is said to have pined for love during her short life. She was diagnosed as having a hole in her heart which could not be set right in that period when heart surgery was still to develop. She died, on February 1967 and was buried in the then Bombay’s Juhu cemetery.


Though we kept on remembering Madubala and her films, but overlooked her final resting place. The news came in February 2010 (http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-02-11/mumbai/28121815_1_ground-islamic-law-new-graves)that her grave has been disposed off and tomb demolished.



One does not know what is the status today but does she not deserve to rest in peace? Would it not be possible for her numerous admirers to chip in to ensure her a grave and a decent memorial? I for one would be willing to make a small contribution.

2020 Olympics ...crazy...

Wrestling is reported to have been deleted as a sport....Badminton is also going to be removed from the list, if the newspaper reports are to be believed... But hang on, that silly 'sport'- beach volley ball, is retained as an Olympic sport!

Kabhi hum bhi tum bhi jawan thay... ...

Kabhi hum bhi tum bhi jawan thay, tumhay yaad ho kay na yaad ho....(Photo taken in Chile, South America)

'Caste it away'

"The Bihar government decision to dismantle police barracks and kitchens segregated by castes- and so set up specialised units drawing personnel from all castes and communities- is welcome" (The Times of India, October 23, 2012). It is shocking that such things have existed so long. Other states may do well to look inwards.

Respecting the cow

"RSS chief says rearing gau mata will prevent attacks on women" (The Times of India, December 29, 2012.

Bravo Ladies of Uttarakhand!

I had gone to visit my son working at Simayal in Uttarakhand. He took me to see a nearby roadside shop. It turned out to be perhaps the only truck and car tyre puncture shop in the world being run by a lady mechanic. Here she is:

Here is her husband coyaly giving her moral support.

Bravo ladies of Uttarakhand!

Remnants of a Royal Chattri at Bhuj, Gujarat

Remnants of a Memorial Royal Chattri in Bhuj, Gujarat. A photo article on the 'Royal Chattris of Bhuj' coming soon at my website www.fiftyplustravels.com

From Metcalfe House to Charleville

“Mussoorie - sweet & sour" by K.J. Chatrath

I cleared the Central Services 1966 examination and was allotted the Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax). I joined the Academy at Mussoorie for the Foundational Course in the first week of July and left in early November. Next year I made it to the I.A.S. and, after four months of district training in Orissa, joined the Academy for the professional IAS training. What is narrated below is from those two stints in the Academy.


Those days there used to be a direct early morning Delhi-Mussoorie bus starting from Delhi. I, along with my classmate in the Delhi Law Faculty and friend V.N.Singh from the IPS (who later on rose to become the Police Commissioner Delhi), were at the bus stand on time. In the bus we met another would be Probationer - Bhupinder Singh Pawar - who was going to join the IPS. So this motley crowd of three reached the Library Point bus stand in Mussoorie around the evening. Tired, yet excited and with a black trunk and a holdall, each being carried by the porters in tow, we started our march towards the Academy and a new life.

Suddenly we saw a very distinguished looking gentleman in riding gear smartly trotting towards us (I learnt the difference between a trot, a canter and a gallop a few days later from Nawal Singh Saab) on a horse back coming towards us. “Hello” said the rider, “Are you going to the Academy?”. “Yes” one of us said rather curtly. “Welcome to Mussoorie and welcome to the Academy” wished the rider. Out of the three of us, Pawar was the most confident one, so he took it upon himself to speak for the group and said “Thanks” and put a counter question. “Are you from the Academy”? This time it was the rider’s turn to say “Yes”. “Do you teach there”, was the next question from Pawar, which was too met with a “Yes” and one could notice a smile on the rider’s face. Pawar, a soon-to-be Police Officer, was still not satisfied that he had extracted all the information out of the rider. “What do you teach there?” was the next question. And the response was an unforgettable gem, “Well, I teach everything there. You know, I happen to be the Director of the Academy”. The three of us had no place to hide. Seeing our embarrassment, the Director said, “See you in the Academy gentlemen and once again welcome to Mussoorie”, and rode away.

On reaching the Academy a little later, I was allotted room 67 in the Happy Valley Block to be shared with an I.A.S. Probationer. But more about him later. I felt that I had “arrived” and wanted a long, long sleep and rest. Oh I am a late riser, I told my room mate, I will get up very late tomorrow since I am very tired, I added. Just then their was a gentle knock on the door and the room-bearer allotted to our room came and introduced himself and politely wished us. “I will come with the bed tea at 5.10 in the morning” he said. No, that is too early, I told him, come after 7.30, I suggested. But Sir, the P.T. starts at 5.30 a.m. he informed. O.K. we will see, I said, and he left. He thinks I am going for the P.T at 5.30. am?, I laughed derisively. That night, in spite of the tiredness and a good meal, I could not sleep and kept tossing in the bed. It was around 3.30 a.m. by the time the sleep came. And soon there was a knock on the door, which I ignored. With each passing second the knocking seemed to grow in volume. I looked at my watch and found that it was already 5 am. Must be that chap with the tea, I mumbled to myself. Let me ignore him and he will go away. How wrong I was. After persistent and loud knocking I finally gave in and opened the door and found the room bearer smiling with a “Good Morning, Sir” on his lips and the tea tray in his hand. After taking the tea, I changed and starting climbing down for PT asking myself, ‘is this what I had slogged for?’

Half way through the downhill walk I met the Director crisply walking up, clad in white shorts and sports shirt and greeted him. On reaching the P.T. ground and talking to the PT Instructor, Mr. Gaikwad, I realised that the Director was the first person to come down to the ground do his P.T. After finishing the P.T., I climbed up to my room, changed to the riding gear and started going down towards the riding ground. I again met the Director half way through, in breeches and riding hat, climbing up after having finished his daily dose of riding. All my resistence to P.T. and riding broke down once and for ever. For me this was the best training in leadership - doing first what one asks others to do! And I became a Pimputkar fan and he my role model. After 5 p.m. Mr. Pimputkar would be different and a more relaxed person. He regularly played bridge with the Probationers and would stop and talk to you if you happened to come across him. But during the office hours he was a tough no-nonsense officer.

After the Foundation Course was over I joined the next part of the training at the Income Tax Officers Training College at Nagpur. Months later the Civil Services results of 1967 were out and I, along with 6 others, including C. S. Rao, who later became the Finance Secretary Government of India, in that batch of the Income Tax Service made it to the I.A.S. The seven of us instantly became a Group. The formal communication received from the U.P.S.C. required each selected candidate to confirm that he accepted the offer and that he would be joining the service for which he was selected. I remember with great amusement that the seven of us decided to save money and we sent a joint telegram of acceptance to the U.P.S.C. mentioning all the seven names as senders. The U.P.S.C did not find fault with our corner cutting and confirmed our acceptance individually.

A few more words here about the morning P.T. For P.T., we were initiated into the 5BX Exercises. The 5BX programme was developed for the Royal Canadian Air Force by Bill Orban and was very popular those days. 5BX meant the Five Basic Exercises. One was required to finish these set of exercises in 11 minutes but almost all of us took a considerably longer time. Incidentally the Royal Canadian Air Force discontinued these exercise as a part of their training almost 25 years back. Riding classes were as ‘unpopular’, to borrow a word from Aldous Huxley’s title “The Unpopular Essays”, as the P.T. Anyway we soon got into the rhythm of the riding classes and the loud and clear commands of Nawal Singh Saab. Every Probationer who has gone through riding training in the Academy would remember his lament, “Ghora nahi sambhalta, district kaisay sambhalogey”. The second Riding Instructor, Ajaib Singh Saab, was low key and perhaps a better rider.

I planned my own strategy to survive the riding classes and pass without dishonour. I chose the most docile horse named ‘Laila’ and would make it a point to ride the same horse daily. And I thought our chemistry started working and that fear and awe of riding gradually vanished. Unfortunately my ‘Laila’ ditched me on the day of the test day. It was reported that she was sick that day. Crestfallen, I had to befriend and woo another horse in just half an hour. The bottom line was that I managed to pass the Riding Test in the first go.

As the story went, before joining as the Director of the Academy, Mr. Pimputkar was the Establishment Officer in Government of India and became known for his honesty, discipline, insistence on observance of rules and procedures and a no-nonsense approach. On being suddenly transferred to the Academy, he is reported to have remarked, “These people think that they are getting rid of Pimputkar. They don’t realize that where I am going I will produce 300 Pimputkars every year!”

Punctuality was the flavour of the Course. The Lecture halls would be closed as soon as the Professor/Speaker entered and God help those who got left out! Mess doors would close after five minutes….One of the beneficiaries was Hari’s Canteen. The two Deputy Directors - Mr. R. P. Khosla and Mr. C. S. Sastry - ably assisted the Director in imparting his style of training. Both of them were very firm yet very polite. I recall that on noticing a Probationer chewing ‘saunf’ in the class, Mr. Khosla ticked him off very elegantly. He said, “I suggest that in future you finish off your breakfast before coming to the class”. On another occasion, I was myself witness to Mr. Khosla standing near the Billiards Room stopping a Probationer with a little stubble on his face and sending him back to his room with an advice to go and shave first! At the same time if a Probationer went to see Mr. Khosla or Mr. Sastry, he was treated with courtesy and great civility like a fellow officer and not made to stand like an errant student before a Principal.

During my Foundation Course stay in the Academy, N. N. Khanna, known as “Nippy Khanna”, from the 1966 batch of the I.A.S., was my room mate. He was a brilliantly sharp officer with impeccable manners. During the very first week of my stay, I decided to start preparing for the IAS in the right earnest. However, I encountered a problem. In the evenings, about 4-5 friends of Nippy Khanna - from the IAS and the IFS - would gather in our room for the evening session. They would continue discussing various things till past midnight. One of these Probationers was Ronen Sen from the I.F.S., who was till recently India’s Ambassador to the USA. I found it impossible to sit and do my cramming with so much noise in the room. ‘They have made it to the IAS/IFS and they have a right to their evenings’, I argued with myself. So I decided on a simple solution. I got some cotton-wool from the dispensary and stuffed my ears with it before starting my evening studies. A little later Nippy and his friends came and soon got into serious animated discussions. I found that I could hear hardly anything and my solution worked as I was able to concentrate on my study. None of them noticed my ear plugs. However the next evening Nippy noticed it and asked if I was having any problem with the ears. Not wanting to embarrass him and his friends, I explained that it was an old habit of mine and it helped me in concentrating. But they were very smart people and saw through my explanation. They did not say anything but from the next day onwards they started meeting in different rooms in the evenings and the turn of our room would come only once a week.

Amongst us was a young officer from Bhutan named Dorjee, who was said to be related the Royal family. He was very athletic and took part in every available sport but he genuinely loved riding and ultimately topped in the riding test. He had brought a jeep from Bhutan as his local transport. It looked like the snowmobile that we see these days in snowbound areas. He was very friendly to all and seeing my interest in his jeep, gave me long rides once in a while. I tried my hand at different games too in the Academy. The Billiards Room was not far from my room and I decided to learn the aristocratic looking game. I went there one evening and waited for the ongoing game to finish. My colleagues, who were playing, and who all looked to be very good players, agreed to give me a few lessons on how to hold the striking cue, how to hit the ball etc. However, my first shot itself was a disaster. I somehow half closed my eyes and hit the red ball with the ‘danda’ in a typically Panjabi fashion. There was an uproar in the room as I almost tore off the green cover of the table. My colleagues politely showed me the door and good humouredly banned my entry in the Billiards Room for the rest of my stay. I was luckier with table tennis and badminton. I managed to become the Table Tennis singles champion that year and also won two prizes in badminton.

One of the Probationers belonging to Orissa, who was allotted the West Bengal Cadre, was given the responsibility of teaching Oriya to the Non-Oriya Probationers allotted to Orissa Cadre. While my colleague, M. K. Purkait had the advantage of knowing Bengali, my other Cadre mate, D. C. Gupta, who retired as the Finance Secretary in Government of India, was serious about mastering Oriya and was very studious too. In earnestness I too subscribed to the Oriya newspaper “Samaj”, which would arrive in the pigeon-hole everyday. Of course, I hardly got to see the paper as all the Oriya Probationers, and this includes my teacher, were more interested in reading it than me. The Oriya teacher was such a thorough gentleman that I got to learn very little Oriya. Later on in the service career he was awarded the Padma Shri for his distinguished work and I was mocked at all through, for my poor knowledge of Oriya! Later on in life I could mange the conversation in Oriya quite competently but in retrospect, I deeply regret having missed a good chance to learn writing in Oriya.

Though never expressly or even indirectly mentioned, the impression that I got from the training at Mussoorie was that the politician was someone to be careful of as he was there to get things done in his favour in contravention of the law and the rules. It took me almost twenty years of service to shake off this skewed notion that I had developed about the politicians from my Mussoorie training. I gradually saw my mistake and realised that the M.P.s and the M.L.A.’s represented the people of India and that they are entitled to all the courtesies and consideration. One has to listen to them and give due consideration to their suggestions though one might not always agree with them.

Something which I would have loved to be trained in at the Academy was the basic file handling. After all we are not called ‘Babus’ for nothing! Years later, on my first stint in the Central Secretariat, I found myself diffident in the art of file handling. A brief introduction to arranging papers in a file noting, drafting, writing an Formal/Demi-Official letter and preparing a Report are some of the things, which can be usefully introduced to the Probationers in Mussoorie Training. Another important input which I missed was some training in public speaking. As an officer, one has to address a variety of gatherings and confidence in public speaking helps. Decades later when I became, after repeated written requests to the State Government, the Director General of Orissa’s A.T.I., I introduced these elements in the training of the State administrative service officers and the feed back was very positive.

No reminiscence of the Academy is complete without talking about the Mess. Mr. Furtado was the Mess Manager. Formal Dinner meant western meals of cutlets filled with half cooked minced meat, the usual soup, salad and bread. And what did one do to survive? Obviously miss that meal and eat outside at “The Whispering Windows”, the “BDS” (Bhai Dhian Singh) or the inescapable but lovable “Hari’s”! On a more serious note, I have had the privilege of visiting the Academy a number of times since 1967, but I have noticed that one thing that has not changed in the Mess is the quality of ‘chappatis’. They remain as under/over cooked now as they were 40 years ago!

And continuing on the negative note, the physical environment of the Academy has been badly battered over the years. The hostel buildings constructed after the fire accident do not merge with the environment and remind one of the Soviet era buildings in Eastern Europe. And if that were not bad enough, the small piece of central lawn is gradually getting smaller and smaller because of various constructions creeping in and cluttering it.

A word about the medical facilities in the Academy at that time. During my stay in the Academy there used to be one Medical Doctor assisted by a para-medic staff to look after the health of the Probationers, the Faculty, staff and their families. The more serious cases were referred to the local hospital. And the system seemed to be working well at that time even though the on going joke then was that the medical set-up was meant for the horses of Nawal Singh and, for the Probationers, only if time permitted.

Now one finds that a building has come up for the medical services with various facilities. I have no quarrel with these. But what one can’t digest is that this building has totally blocked the view from that side. One only hopes that the authorities would put a stop to further constructions in that area and make any further construction elsewhere in the premises.

But having said that, one must compliment the construction of the Type V Quraters near the Kalindi Guest House. These are well conceptualised, fully respecting and retaining the view of the mountains. These are some of the sweet and sour notes of my stay in the Academy. Looking back at life, my stay in the Academy was the best time of my life. I wish the LBSNNA all the best in the decades to come.  

K.J.S.Chatrath IAS (Retd),1967 batch,Orissa Cadre. (This article is from the book "From Metcalfe House to Charleville- Memoirs" published by the Lal Bahadur National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie on the occassion of its Golden Jubilee in 2010)