Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Government to Monitor Toilet Use With iPads, Mobile Phones-news

'Government to Monitor Toilet Use With iPads, Mobile Phones'-news.

Phir to toilet jana bahut mushkil ho jayega!

'Rx. Extra strong cup of coffee for the New Year' by K.J.S.Chatrath

If you drank too much last night, or ate excessively or over tired yourself dancing or under slept - then what you need this morning is a strong black cup of coffee. Happy New Year.

Saturday, December 27, 2014

Senior IAS officers should learn how not to bend, stand erect and tall from IIT Delhi's Director

IIT Delhi’s Director Mr. K. Shevgaonkar has quit instead of reportedly acceding to two demands of the HRD Ministry- to provide the IIT ground for a cricket academy Sachin Tendulkar wanted to open and also pay nearly Rs 70 lakh to former IIT D faculty and now BJP functionary Subramanian Swamy as his "salary dues" between 1972 and 1991.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/IIT-Delhi-director-RK-Shevgaonkar-quits-over-demand-for-Sachins-academy-Subramanian-Swamys-dues/articleshow/45663599.cms

Bravo Mr. Shevgaonkar, you are my new hero.

Senior IAS officers should learn how not to bend, stand erect and tall from him.

'How to lose friends in the New Year' by K.J.S.Chatrath

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

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

I would love to know the views of my FB friends, and not the views of say Paulo Coelho..

Any day is as good as another for starting to improve one's life style...So let us not get into the 'My New Year Resolution is...' crap!

'It is raining discounts...' by K.J.S.Chatrath

Convicted actor Sanjay Dutt gets 15 days parole (News)

Late Jessica Lall's convicted murderer Manu Sharma gets 30 days parole (News)


'Some comparative budget allocations made this year by Govt of India' by K.J.S.Chatrath

In this year's budget, Govt of India has provided an outlay of Rs 50 crore for the safety of women in public transport. Besides Rs 150 crores were provided for larger cities.

The budget allcoated Rs 100 crore for ‘Beti Bachao, beti padhav yojana’, a scheme to protect the girl child and her future.

Government of India announced in July 2014, the setting up of a 'Rashtriya Gokul Mission' (for cows) with a budget this year of Rs.150 crores.

Govt of India announces a 20% cut on health budget in December 2014 (news)

Kuch na kaho, bus kuch bhi na kaho... ... ...
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Friday, December 26, 2014

'Today is Saheed Udham Singh's birthday' by K.J.S.Chatrath

Today is Saheed Udham Singh's birthday. He was born on 26th December 1899.

Let us bow our heads in respect.

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

'Christmas’ joys and killjoys' by Samar Halarnkar

"Today, as HRD ministry celebrates ‘good-governance day’, they might want to consider the effects of pigeonholing India’s diversities and setting a precedent for segregated celebration" writes Samar Halarnkar. http://origin-www.livemint.com/Opinion/FDh4BuT91nKGHoZgPb2WHP/Christmas-joys-and-killjoys.html?utm_source=copy

"Again, a white cop kills a black in US"- news


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/Again-a-white-cop-kills-a-black-in-US/articleshow/45634947.cms

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells... ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PgNPc-iFW8

"Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing."

"Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing."

Possible List of Good Governance Days

Here is a possible List of Good Governance Days (arranged alphabetically):

Baisakhi
Bijoy Dashmi
Christmas
Guru Nanak’s birthday
Idul Fitr
Idul Zuha
Krishna Janamashthma
Mahavir Jayanti
Pongal
Ramnavmi
Shivratri

With deep reverence and respect to all the religions in India.

Monday, December 22, 2014

Joe Cocker R.I.P.

Singer Joe Cocker dies aged 70-news

R.I.P. Joe Cocker- "You can keep your hat on... ..."

'Kids of Peshawar' bring silent tears in my eyes... ...

My dear friend Lalit Joshi has sent another heart rendering post. Thank you Lalit. May those kids lie in eternal peace.

Kids of Peshawar

SAD URDU POETRY AND GHAZALS

Kalam ro padi aaj meri

"Maa kaash mai aj school na jaata,
Shayad tumhe phir se dekh pata

Teri awaz sunney ko kaan taras rahe hai,
Dekho na maa baarudo ke gole baras rahe hai

Saare baache apni apni maa ko pukar rahe hai,
Maa ye log hume kyu maar rahe hai

Tiffin me di tumari roti bhi nai khaai hai,
Maa aaj golio ne meri bhuk mitaai hai

Papa se kehna ab mujhe school lene na aaye,
Dekh nahi paunga unhe mera janaza uthaaye

Mere jaane se apna hausla mat khona,
Maa mujhse bichhad kar tum mat rona

Mere khilone ,meri kitabe , mera basta,
Janta hu teri aankhe dekhti rahegi roz mera rasta

bhaiyya se uska sathi rooth gaya hai,
bachpan ka humara sath chhott gaya hai

Appi se kehna mere liye aansu na bahaye,
Roz meri tasveer ko chota sa phhol chadaye

Teri yaado me, khwabo me, zikr me, reh jaunga,

Maa mai ab kabhi wapas nahi aaunga…
Maa mai ab kabhi wapas nahi aaunga…




Sunday, December 21, 2014

'Alleged torture, anticipatory bail versus anticipatory jail' by K.J.S.Chatrath

Have you ever heard/read about any allegation of torture in police custody in India by any rich/politically abled/ film actor? No, I have not. Suspects belonging to these categories are politely asked if they would like to take a lie detector test.

The maximum allegations of torture come from the very poor,rickshaw pullers, petty thieves etc.

As some say mockingly 'It is anticipatory bail for the rich and the influential and anticipatory jail for the poor'!

Friday, December 19, 2014

सुना है जंगलों का भी कोई दस्तूर होता है (There is some etiquette even in the forests)

The massacre of children in Peshawar, Pakistan was, so terribly sad. May the little ones rest in peace.

My great friend Lalit Joshi has sent a very touching and timely link. Thank you Lalit.

Take a look:


सुना है जंगलों का भी कोई दस्तूर होता है ... पाकिस्तान की शायरा ज़ेहरा निगाह की मशहूर नज़्म।


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_ndBVveDYQ

Sunday, December 14, 2014

'Cliches, cliches and cliches'' by K.J.S.Chatrath

I read an article by a senior journalist in a newspaper yesterday. I found the following concluding paragraph as very interesting. It reads:

"Jammu and Kashmir is ready for an all-new chapter in its tortured history and the key players must seize the moment and work towards a grand vision that would bring the long needed peace and prosperity to the state, the nation and the region." (Emphasis supplied)

My take- Cliche's, cliches and cliches!

Friday, December 12, 2014

The entire IAS fraternity across India is looking at Bihar Chief Secretary...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome/indianews/article-2701963/Court-rescue-Bihar-babu-took-builders.html

Mr. Chief Secretary Bihar, Sir, the entire IAS fraternity across India is looking at you!

'Public Interest Litigations...' by K.J.S.Chatrath

Wouldn't the Hon'ble Courts get more time to dispose off old pending cases with them if they stopped entertaining the 'Public Interest Litigations'?

The 'so-called' Public Interest litigations could be filed before a Special Forum, say something like the Consumers Forum, and only cases referred by such Fora could go to the Hon'ble Courts... ...

'Another white cop kills a black man in US' by Chidanand Rajghata

This happened in Phoenix, Arizona . (Times of India, New Delhi, December 6, 2014)

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Malala Yousafzai

"I am pretty certain that I am the first recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize who still fights with her younger brothers."- Malala Yousafzai

The speech writer has surely done a good job!

Gita as the 'National Book'?

Shri Gopalkrishna Gandhi, Ex Governor West Bengal and Ex-President IIAS, Shimla is quoted in today's Times of India as having said: "A country which is in the process of making a holy book as the national book is tinkering with the loom of India's diverse republic'

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

'Death be not proud etc.etc.' by K.J.S.Chatrath

At 71, I know that I am inching towards death. I am not afraid of dying (till now) though I do not know how I would behave when the time actually comes.

But one thought definitely perturbs me. Being so used to a morning cup of hot tea, how would I manage in Hell?

'Sorry. No bed tea in Hell', I was informed when I checked up its website (www.GoToHell.com) which added, 'it is served only in Heaven!'

So let me enjoy my morning cuppa while I am still here!

'Forgive me Lord, for I am a foolish ignorant old man' by K.J.S.Chatrath

Watched Mr. Kailash Satyarthi on the TV last evening coming out with phrases which earlier used to make the likes of the UN Agencies happy. This time these seem to have found favour with the Nobel Prize Commiittee also.

I am happy that an Indian has made it to the top of this List but I still do not know the wonderful work for which Mr. Satyarthi is being given the Nobel Prize.

Or may be when it comes to India, the Committee makes mistakes. It made the first one by not honouring Mahatama Gandhi and maybe has now made the second mistake by choosing Mr. Satyarthi!

Forgive me Lord, for I am a foolish ignorant old man! (With apolgies to William Shakespeare)'

'Raman Lamba, R.I.P' by K.J.S.Chatrath


Late Raman Lamba

The sad demise of the Australian cricket player Phillip Hughes reminds me of a similar loss that India faced in 1998.
Raman Lamba (2 January 1960 – 23 February 1998) was an Indian cricketer who played in four Tests and 32 One Day Internationals, mainly as a batsman. He also represented Ireland in unofficial One Day International matches. Lamba died after slipping into coma due to internal haemorrhage, three days after being hit on the temple by a cricket ball while fielding in Bangladesh's league cricket.

R.I.P.

Sunday, December 7, 2014

'Gau Mata' by K.J.S.Chatrath

Government of India announced in July 2014, the setting up of a 'Rashtriya Gokul Mission' with a budget this year of Rs.150 crores (news)

Saturday, December 6, 2014

Cabinet Secretary gets another extension- news

Mr. Cabinet Secretary, Sir, I wish you had said 'No, Thank you!' The entire IAS fraternity would have admired and respected you all the more for such a stand.

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

'Intrude or Transgress?' by K.J.S.Chatrath

"Chinese troops did not intrude, but transgressed: Parrikar" (News..The Tribune, 3/12/2014)

Playing with words, Mr. Minister, Sir?
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