'Govt's latest austerity measures' by K.J.S.Chatrath

Pappu: Pappa, Pappa. You had worked in Govt of India and in a state government for 36 years, did you ever come across such tough austerity measures- No travelling by First Class when going abroad, no fresh purchase of cars, no holding of meetings in the five stars hotels, 10% cut in non-plan expenditure, no creation of new posts etc. etc.

Pappa: Dozens of times. In fact it used to be a yearly exercise.

Pappu: Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose (The more things change, the more they remain the same)

Pappa: Yes Pappu!

"Chandigarh a 'heritage' city? You must be joking!" by K.J.S.Chatrath

Every now and then there is an attempt by some to talk about Chandigarh as a heritage city.

Heritage generally refers to practices or characteristics that are passed down through the years, from one generation to the next.

What is so special about Chandigarh? Rows of identical square houses? I understand there are many towns in eastern Europe where square, identical houses were built during the Soviet area. And what is special about Chandigarh?

Open Hand symbol? Unfortunately it is a copy of the wellknown symbol of 'Fatima's' hand' found everywhere in the Middle East, as the photo below shows.

Fatima's Hand.


Chimney design atop the Secretaiat? It is a copy of the chimneys of Atom Power plants.

Chimney of a power plant.

Chandigarh a 'heritage' city? You must be joking!

''Pistorious-Pistorius'- western media should stop making a hero of a murderer' by K.J.S.Chatrath

'Pistorious-Pistorius'- western media should stop making a hero of a murderer.

'Silly non-news' by K.J.S.Chatrath

'Is Varun Dhawan Dating Lisa Haydon?'...shrieks an NDTV news headlines.

Who cares!

'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan & Sucre'- the capital of Bolivia' by K.J.S.Chatrath

I was in Sucre', the capital of Bolivia in the last week of September. I read on the internet about the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan to be soon launched in India .

Early in the morning I went for a walk in the main park of the town. I noticed a lot of activity and saw a number of municipal helpers cleaning up the place.

It was surely a special occasion or a VIP was coming to the park, I told myself. I requested our Spanish knowing guide to ask one of the workers what was the special occasion for the cleanliness drive and weather the President of the country was to visit that park during the day.

The reply that I received put me in my place. No there was no special occasion and it was just the daily cleanliness routine, I was told!

'Shatabadi going down the hill' by K J S Chatath

I travelled by Shatabadi Express Ex Class on 22nd Oct. from New Delhi to Chandigarh.

A few minutes after the train left the station a smartly dressed young man in a coat and tie followed by an attendant carrying rose flowers, went to each seat and gave a rose to each passenger. I refused to accept the flower as I feel that the amount spent on it can be better spent by railways in many other ways, or price per ticket reduced.

I understand that these two gentlemen have no other role or duties assigned to them except of distribution of roses. If this is true then the cost per rose per passenger works out to about Rs. 500/....

By the time the train neared Chandigarh station a serving attendant with a tray circulated from passenger to passenger saying 'Happy Diwali' and collecting money...

Shame....

'Diwali, Goddess Lakshmi and Athiesm' by K.J.S.Chatrath

On the one hand I profess to be a non-believer in God and in all religions and on the other hand I also feel that participating in mass religious festivities is a part of our cultural heritage.

Yesterday was Diwali. I had a very quiet day. Having just returned from a trip abroad, I was half asleep and trying to get my household back on the move.

At around 5 pm I went to the nearby depot of Vita Milk to buy some,milk and juice. Having paid the money and collected the packet as I turned back, I saw a ten rupee note, a five rupee note and a coin of two rupees lying in front of my feet.

I quietly picked up the money and handed it over to the shop-keeper. No Sirji, you keep it, he said. No, Lakshmiji has come to your shop today on Diwali day so you must take it, I insisted.

Incidently this is a about a dozenth time in the last ten years or so that I have found money lying in front of me- no big amounts just ten rupee notes... ...

To believe in Goddess Lakshmi or not? I am confused.

'By God' by K.J.S.Chatrath

After a 42 day tough trip in South America, I reached Chandigarh by Shatabadi train at around 9 pm. Tired and exhausted my first worry was to look out for an auto or a taxi. I was also dying to have a decent Indian meal after surviving for weeks on boiled/half cooked stuff called Western Food

Then suddenly a lady addressed me, is some one receiving you? That was my gracious neighbour from the next apartment who had spotted me....she had come to pick up her daughter coming by the same train...she gave me a lift...

And on reaching my flat she sent me a few excellent apples, a biscuit pack...water bottles and dinner....peeli daal, chappati and paneer bhaji...Alas! I still dont believe in God....