Friday, November 29, 2013

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.

Thursday, November 28, 2013

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)

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Monday, November 25, 2013

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.

Sunday, November 24, 2013

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)

Thursday, November 21, 2013

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....

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

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!.

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

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.....

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Monday, November 11, 2013

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!

Saturday, November 9, 2013

'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!

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

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.

Saturday, November 2, 2013

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