Sunday, March 30, 2014

'The Last Supper' by K.J.S.Chatrath (with apologies to Leonardo Da Vinci)


I am going out on a 20 day trip abroad tomorrow. I am proudly primitive in my food preferences and feel that Indian cuisine is the best in the world.

Before leaving I had my last supper a little while ago. Take a look:


Believe me, the very thought of this is going to sustain me for the next three weeks.

Mera Bharat Mahan.


..

Saturday, March 29, 2014

'Homage to the martyrs of Ajnala, Panjab, 1857' by K.J.S.Chatrath


Homage to the 282 Indian soldiers, martyrs of Ajnala, Panjab in 1857.

Shame , Shame on Frederick Henry Cooper, the then Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar and Colonel James George Smith Neil, responsible for this brutal and inhuman massacre.

'Journey Towards Soft Fascism' by Kanti Bajpai



Worth a read...
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Home/Opinion/Edit-Page/Journey-towards-soft-fascism/articleshow/32863642.cms

Friday, March 28, 2014

'Election Commission & samosas' by K.J.S.Chatrath


All praise must go to Mr Seshan who gave a new life to the Election Commission of India (ECI)- not so much by obtaining new powers for the ECI but by using the existing powers to the hilt- without fear or favour. Law has to be strictly enforced and obeyed was the message that he was also able to send down the line right up to the polling booths.

After him came a number of Election Commissioners, and it must be said to their credit too that they kept taking the ECI in the right direction. Now that no one even talks of booth rigging is a great compliment to all the Officers and men of the Election Commission.

Let me end by saying that there comes a time when one has to draw a line between issues and non-issues to be tackled.

In this connection the latest endeavour of the ECI in issuing orders that offering of tea, coffee and samosas during elections would be calculated as an expense seems non-serious. In attempting tostandardize samosas further into samosa with chutney at Rs.7/- and samosa with chaanay at Rs 10 per piece is getting into non-issues.

Respected Election Commission, Sir, please keep the focus on the core issues and dont get involved into trifling non-issues.

An enthusing comic- your views



http://ibnlive.in.com/news/bal-narendra-in-pics-comic-book-shows-fearless-young-narendra-modi-saving-drowning-boy-taking-on-crocodiles-bullies/460660-79.html


How much of this enthusing description do you think is true:
(i) 100% True;
(ii) 75% True;
(iii) 50% True:
(ii) 25% True; or
(v) 0% True (i.e. Totally false)

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

The God Delusion



Dawkin's 'The God Delusion' shattered my life long held vision of an old, white bearded chap sitting up there in the outer space, keeping a benign eye on us.... and who could be approached in time of need...Wish I had not read it...

'Come on wake up Times of India!' by K.J.S.Chatrath



Times of India, Chandigarh in its issue dated 26th March 2014 announces on the front page top
"Jab Jab Phool Khile' star Nanda dies at 85 after heart attack".

On page 7 of the same issue is a news item on page 7 reading "Hum Dono star Nanda dies at 75"

Come on wake up Times of India!

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

'Whom to vote' by K.J.S.Chatrath


Congress Party has given tickets to Mr. Bansal & Mr. Ashok Chavan- Totally unacceptable

BJP has given tickets to those accused of instigating Muzzafarpur riots- Totally unacceptable

AAP: Only indulging in theatrics sans substance- Totally unacceptable

Left Parties: No where to be seen


Whom to vote?

My late father's 'Indian Chief' by K.J.S.Chatrath


Seing an advertisement of re-introduction of a motor cycle named 'Indian Chief' in the Indian market, my thoughts go to my late father- 'Sardar Sahib' Gurbux Singh Chatrath.
(My father is in a white jacket & Turra turban and Lala Amarnath is in a black suit. This photo was taken at the time of the MCC's match at Amritsar circa 1950.)

He was born on 15th April 1905 in Sialkot. He studied at the famous Government College Lahore. My grand father was so pleased at his performance in studies and his becoming the Captain of the Punjab University Gymnastics Team, that he bought him a new 'Indian Chief' motorcycle.He then studied Law at Lahore.

Till his death he used to frequently tell us how he used to move around Lahore on his 'Indian Chief' during 1924-27 when there were not many such motorcycles on the roads of the city.

Happy birthday, dear father and here is your 'Indian Chief'!



Sunday, March 23, 2014

Amitabbh Bachan down in my estimation


Amitabh Bachhan has come down quite a few notches in my estimation for teaming up with Honey Singh for a song....You remember Honey Singh...he sang an obnoxious song & the case against him for obscenity is still going on in a court...

No, Mr. Bachhan we didn't expect this from you!

Saturday, March 22, 2014

M.S.S.


Heard on a TV debate last week that besides the 'R.S.S.', now there is a Modi Swayamsewak Sangh or the MSS!

Thursday, March 20, 2014

'The Nation wants to know' by K.J.S.Chatrath


Ladies and Gentlemen,

Not having seen him on the TV for a couple of days, I want to ask you, where is news anchor Arnab Goswami?

I pose you four questions this morning:

Question No. 1: Is he unwell and is on sick leave?, or,

Question No. 2: Is he on a long sabbatical?

Question No. 3: Has he resigned from his job?, or

Question No. 4:
Has he been sacked by the Channel?

Ladies and Gentlemen, THE NATION WANTS TO KNOW!

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Saturday, March 15, 2014

We, the filty abusive men....by K.J.S.Chatrath


Look at our day to day language- it is full of filthy abuses. Are these signs of manhood? No, NO. On the contrary it shows how we men are crude, vulgar and insensitive. I had been thinking of writing about it, but have been lazy.

I am happy to read an excellent article by Ms. Mallika Kaur on this subject in The Tribune of today.Do take a look: http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140316/spectrum/society.htm

Friday, March 14, 2014

'I am no longer bald or old'- by K.J.S.Chatrath


I saw this rather provocative & optimistic advertisement in 'The Punjabi Ajit' of today. Let me translate it for those who can not read Gurumukhi, and I quote,"I am no longer bald or old: When you see silky black hair on the head of a sixty year old person who has been totally bald for a few years, you are bound to be astonished. Yes it is absolutely true.The entire population of ten thousand of the village Kariam of district Nawashahar was taken aback when when after the use of Naz Hair Up Oil and capsules, the well known sixty year old businessman Buta Ram's head had jet black silky hair...'

No, I am not going to try it out.

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Gujarat's average monthly income lower than national average for 2000-2012, reports The Times of India


“Punjab, Haryana topped economic growth in 2000-12: … …Surprisingly , in Gujarat, a relatively developed state both in terms of agriculture and industry, the average monthly income of Rs.2,472 per person was lower than the national average… … Between 2000-2012, Gujarat has slid down the rankings because its rural income grew at 14% per year compared to a national average of 15% and its urban income grew at 12% compared to 13% nationally.”, The Times of India, March 13, 2014. (Emphasis supplied)

AAP & Anaap-Shnaap


'Pappa, Pappu & Preet Bharara' by K.J.S.Chatrath


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

Pappa: No Pappu, what is it?

Pappu: US Court has rejected the case against the Indian lady diplomat Ms Khobargade.

Pappa: Thats good news.

Pappu: Ab tera kya hoga Preet Bharara!

Pappa: Quiet...Go and finish your homework.

'Beauty of nature' by K.J.S.Chatrath




I went to the Panchkula Annual Flower show last week and was swept away by the beauty of nature....photo article coming soon on my website http://traveltalk.co.in/

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

"Modi's turf flops on edu, health..." reports The Times of India



'Modi's turf flops on edu, health: Enrolment of boys in class I drops by 24% over a decade/ Healthcare delivery flounders as shortage of specialists at Community Health Centres zooms to a staggering 94%- Tribal areas suffer the most... ...' says an article in the Times of India dated March 11, 2014.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Narendra-Modis-turf-flops-on-education-health/articleshow/31814890.cms

'Pappa, Pappu & tasty jail food' by K.J.S.Chatrath


Papa: What have Tarun Tejpal, Asaram, Sai and Subrata Roy in common?

Pappu: Simple Papa...All of them are relishing tasty jail food these days....

'I am Modified'....


http://qz.com/178362/india-crosses-the-moral-line-of-no-return-if-narendra-modi-becomes-prime-minister/

Monday, March 10, 2014

On Wendy Doniger's 'The Hindus: An alternative History'


Wendy Dongier could almost foresee some disagreement with her views on the history of Hindus. Very early in the book (The Hindus: An Alternative History) she writes:

‘… …Nowadays most non-Hindu scholars of Hinduism strike the familiar religious studies yoga posture of leaning over backward, in their attempt to avoid offense to people they write about. But any academic approach to Hinduism, viewing the subject through the eyes of writers from Marx and Freud to Focault and Edward Said, provides a kind of telescope, the viewfinder of context, to supplement the microscope of the insider’s view, which cannot supply the same sort of context. Always there is bias, and the hope is that the biases of Hindus and non-Hindus will cancel one another out in a well-designed academic study of any aspect of Hinduism… …’

And she goes on to add:

‘So too, in our scholarly approach, we need to consider the history of Hinduism first from a Hindu viewpoint, then from an academic one. …. ….’

Now can you quarrel with that?

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Greetings and salutes to all women on the International Women's Day



Greetings and salutes to all women on the International Women's Day

'Shame on us Indian men' by K.J.S.Chatrath



'Indian men spend 19 min. a day on housework- sleeping and eating take up to 11 hours..."
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Indian-men-spend-a-mere-19-minutes-a-day-on-housework/articleshow/31636967.cms

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

'Negative votes for candidates ' by K.J.S.Chatrath


Besides the right 'Not to vote' for any of the candidates, the ballot box should also have a button to cast a 'negative vote' against a candidate. This negative vote should be deducted from the total votes polled by that candidate. Well?

Monday, March 3, 2014