An Evening with Salman Rushdie in LA discussing his new book..Luka and the Fire of Life

An evening with Salman Rushdie in LA ( Japanese American Theatre)….in Conversation with Reza Aslan-   On his latest book : Luka and the Fire of Life

Salman Rushdie signing my copy

We were first among few to be in the theatre, and as the time got close to 8 pm on 30 Nov 2010, at the American Japanese Theatre in Los Angeles, I could see the admiration for an Indian born-British writer, Salman Rushdie. At 8 pm, the auditorium was full, and at the stoke of 8, the introduction began. After which Rushdie began reading few lines from his book, Luka and Fire of Life. Rushdie smiles and acknowledges that ‘Nobodaddy’ is not his own invention but had been stolen from a poem..and gives credit to the Poet…

Uma with Reza Aslan

Later, Reza Aslan, Iranian-American writer, and creative writing professor of University of California, joined him on the stage for the conversation of the evening. As Reza welcomed him back to LA, and asked him the thing he noticed in LA, Rushdie commented that in LA, people get back home at 9, but that’s when people go out in New York, that’s the major difference in these two cities.

As the discussion began, Reza kept his questions and dialogue in such a passionate way that Rushdie kept answering them with ease and the audience roared in laughter at the humor, the wit and the spontaneity of two great writers on the stage. Rushdie went on to explain… and also as part of the Q&A session from the audience….

Quotes from Salman Rushdie:

The best of Quotes from last evening with Salman Rushdie, I could not stop admiring the wit, the humor and the intelligence of a man who is the centre of controversies as a writer…..”Don’t mess up with Novelists” he smiled. ”Pen is mightier than Sword”., “Double standards is diplomacy, for you act one way in public and other in private”…..he smiled answering a question on wikileaks. He repeated twice that the ‘Man is born to burn the books’.

His current Project- His Memoir:

Taking about his current project, writing his Memoir, he said Memoir is tough like any other fiction, for they have to have these life characters woven in the story… Spicy and juicy events make it more reader interesting, but there are private lives involved and the boundaries of exposure have to be maintained respecting their privacy while writing autobiographies. He says that he is vary about talking more on his work in progress. Asked if he is finding it embarrassing to write about his own life, its most troubled incidents and moments, he said at least while writing it, he knows the story unlike in real fiction where creativity gives scope for newness. And he would answer to on the embarrassing part after 2 years when the work is completed. He said that it involves all the people involved in his life, including him and hence he had to exercise caution of to what extent he can reveal things of other’s lives. He called Mark Twain a smart guy, for he arranged to release his autobiography after several years of his passing away, so that he don’t need to take the controversies involved while telling the truth and hurt the sentiments of religions, governments, people etc and he is not there any longer to see the consequences of his writings and thoughts. But am sure, Salman Rushdie can never be a man of running away from controversies…

Children’s book?

He kept telling, ‘Man is born to be burning with books’ and Intelligence of storytelling differentiates man and animals. Asked if Luka and Fire for life is a Children’s book, he responded staying that there is nothing called Adult books and Children’s books. Most adults read children’s books. Children read adult books but interpret differently. Books have to represent literature, naturalism in fiction, fundamental intelligence and creativity with giving more emphasis on literature. Technically correct and grammatically strong books have larger reach, unlike the Twilight- teen love fictions which just don’t follow any of these rules…He made fun of the Twilight author stating that she doesn’t know to write …his pun intended…. Same time he appreciated so much of J.K.Rowling and other authors that the books give a chance for getting it within the system and injecting the essence into readers as they absorb the content of the good books. He mentioned that it is very difficult to please children., so children books are lot more challenging to write, for kids will not complete the books they don’t like…so writing a book that they would finish reading is important as a writer.

He went to say, that Life was difficult for his son, between 9-19, as his enemies threatened his life, but the strange thing is that they have a point and he hate to acknowledge it. He dismisses the claims that Luka and Fire of Life is a children’s book…He clarifies that when children read, they read that as a fiction filled with video games that they play every day….delighted, but when the same child reads the book as an adult, identifies the fact that life is filled with difficulties to overcome and not hurdles in the game…

Rushdie recommends that we read this book both as a child and an adult, for there is a child in each one of us that would have to unwind the imaginative and enjoy the creativity of a writer par excellence. He describes how the ‘NoBoDaddy’ looks divine, serene and beautiful …the reality that most of the people while dead look pleasant and peaceful than in life…worth a while to ponder. The fear of a child that his father may never return, is there is every child having an aged parent….No child can imagine the parents gone and they believe that they are there forever. He giggled and said that he too wished the same.

They way, he describes what happens you take two steps to your left and find yourself in a completely different world….Everything looks the same and real, but it is not the same and real….including Luka’s daddy…to me it represented a tactful way of letting us know that if we take even a step …there could be a different world altogether, may be for good or bad…may be for right or wrong…it emphasis the fact how important is a decision making to take that one step

Magical Fiction and Reality

Talking about magical fiction, he states that, Magic Realism was never interpreted correctly…people understand magic and forget Realism. Talking about death and Luka, the combination of reality and magical illusion of a world different from reality, Luka surrounds around the death as the central character. Yama is the god of death in Hindu mythology and Nobodaddy in the book is a reflection of the similar thing…death in its beauty and as the ultimate truth… The book gives a way to tell the reality of death to a child in the most easiest way possible for it is the reality. Luka and the Fire of Life has all the magical characters that a human mind can imagine, dragons, beasts, bears and dogs.. creativity running at its freedom best.

Children should understand that the video games have multiple lives, multiple replays, multiple points for saving a life etc.. but a reality is lot different. There are no multiple savings or multiple lives, so distinguishing reality from virtual world the children of today are living should be identified .

Story telling is an art and it needs to have a targeting audience. Huron was written for his first son Zafar and Luka was written for his second son Milan…so when something targeted at particular person, the passion of doing it is more and when it is done rightly becomes universal.

Magical journey into a enchanted world of Luka’s father..Rashid’s imagination…you see a reflection of Rushdie and his excellent skills of story weaving. The various cameos represented from different cultures show his ability to not only have great knowledge on the subject but also to use it at the right time and literary references that make us smile. He tells that though in his book, the video games are exclaimed as excellent and delighting ..in reality he tells that it limits one’s imagination. Reality gives more scope for creativity and imagination than the virtual world that the children of today are thinking as real.. Battle against time in the book, takes us to a different reminiscent wonderland where we find mythological creatures and surreal characters.

Referencing diety stories and the fact that the God not worshipped loses their power and disappears is a certain reality, especially where there thousands of gods in this world interwoven with the faiths….Rushdie sounds like a rational to whom every faith is a equal and it is the ultimate human intelligence that will win over the world and not the difference amongst

He talks about mention of the time travelers in his book… and he says that having Peter Pan, Mark Twain, Terminator and others was to the fact that they were great time travelers…So Luka had to travel along with the rest of the great time travelers….Children’s books amass audiences and interest readers with these great stories filled with time travelling. Dog, called the Bear, and the Bear called the Dog are Luka’s friends in the book.

On Wikileaks and Freedom of Expression:

On Wikileaks…he stated that he is excited that hypocrisy getting exposed and is a good thing….same time the life of the witnesses and sources are at danger…for the sources will not be just punished, or slapped on the face, they would be killed.  Freedom of expression is important provided it has its own set rules… Hate books don’t go great with people for they speak the truth….Freedom of expression and open journalism is appreciated as long as the perceptions and interpretations are clear and concrete.

On Fire of Life

Fire is represented as life, a passion, an energy and survival factor. Fire is represented in every culture of the world, be in Greeks, Native American, Russian, Turkish or any culture… Same is with the sky-god, there is a sky god in every culture of this world from Persian, Greeks, Romans and so on..for that matter any culture. The fire in actual life is the fire for survival, fire of passion, enthusiasm, fire for knowledge and wisdom, fire of intelligence and human excellence

The contemporary style of Novel writing filled with humorous puns and wonderful language makes it a package of Rushdie’s product and nothing less.

Dedication of Luka and Fire of Life to Milan, his second son:

As a poet myself, I cannot stop from being a great admirer of the words Rushdie writes as part of his dedication of the book to his second son Milan (Luka is his middle name)... See the First letters of each sentence that forms MILAN..

Magic lands lie all around

Inside, outside, underground.

Looking-glass worlds still abound

All their tales this truth reveal

Naught but love makes magic real.

There is a depth of love, for he mentioned in his discussion, that Milan was born when he was almost nearing 50’s and its an elder dad’s anxieties towards his little son, to whom he planned to write a book for from the time he was born. He cleared the speculation that the book was possibly written to tell his son that his dad is in 60’s and expect the unexpected….and preparing one to the only reality of any human being- death. Death is inevitable and will happen to everyone and it can never be predicted…but planning emotionally to handle such a torment in life is natural for elderly parents..There was a sincerity of a father in those words..

His wishes….

He wished all of us there, that we enjoy the book, more than the way he enjoyed writing it… for to him writing it was a passionate experience. I have read so many books, and also attended many poetry reading and book reading functions, but the reason why this stands out is simply because it was read by the greatest Author of our times…and that’s the difference.

It was a great pleasure to watch the great scholar and writer, sitting in the first row watching him and Reza with awe and delighted to have got his book signed after the conversation and met him in person…It was wonderful, beautiful and most enthralling experience…. With the air filled with knowledge, truth, freedom , language at its best, humor at its radiance and a great respect to a great scholar.

Long live Rushdie…for you are the icon of freedom of expression and reinstated the fact the pen is mightier than sword… The controversial writer definitely have a human side and there could be less intentional controversies he created. Probably it all depends on how you interpret a writer’s mind. If you read something with a predetermined notions, I am sure you will find hundred reasons to raise a controversy…. If you can look into the truth with a sense of humor and practical reality, I guess it makes things better. As a Indian-British writer, Rushdie proclaimed that he supports the law that punishes any kind of racial discrimination. We are living in a world, a world of global outreach and yet, the levels of tolerance are limited, given the wide geographical and historical divide of the borders of various continents. And hence open journalism and open artists still struggle to survive..

I was amazed to the kind of applause he received from the western audience…and as expectedly, there were less than 1% of Indians…which was evident that we are more careful that we don’t end up appreciating or participating in anything that have a bit of controversy…and especially Salman Rushdie being not just a bit but with a whole lot of controversial cases around him… Yet, how can one stop from admiring the intelligence, creativity, boundless imagination, love for language and literature, knack of words and prose and poetry mixing up in his every line. Same time, I could not stop from thinking that the fact, that his controversies are his popularity…and had it not been for them, I guess there wouldn’t have been so much a wider fan following…..especially an Indian brain being admired, received, applauded, followed and closely watched by the western world.

Waves of Sea......Awakening Inner Thee!

Waves are reflections of my thoughts

The Candid one's that touch my life like rocks

they come, they touch, they go

leaving behind sands of truth to adore

the serenity of the calm filled sea

adores my inner self awakening me

looking at the vast horizons that never touch

the mergers of land, water and sky

that invade my waves and thoughts alike

crusading my peace, gushing thoughts

invading my happiness and inner peace

There, I sit alone, lost in my thoughts

looking at the unending waves of the sea

The depths so uncertain, just like our lives

But still we wander towards our horizons

just like the waves with hopes and dreams

Every time, I sit at the sea, I find myself again

for every waves takes away life's every pain!!!

Leaving behind the sands of love to gain,

And happiness and joys of life to regain…..

India's New Freedom Struggle

India’s New Freedom Struggle

It took several years for India’s freedom struggle from the British Rule to dawn on the Nation in 1947. But it is unfortunate, that the country today is thrown at the mercy of a rat race. Rat race for Power, Money and Authority with no people in thought. The so called Largest Democracy in the world ...in the name of “For the People, By the People, To the People”, today is nothing but a big joke. 60 years of Independence, and we as the Nation struggle for real freedom. Freedom of speech, Freedom of Governance, Freedom of Growth, Freedom for a Nation free of fear, free of poverty, free of unemployment, free of pollution, free of corruption and free of agitation and restlessness. Today, we the Citizens of India are proud of our achievements in the Global Stage. Same time, we are ashamed as part of the Nation, still struggling in the clutches of a fragment of society that dominates and destroys the Nation. There has to be a new revolution. A new struggle for Freedom. This fight is not against the miscreants of an external India. This is a fight against the internal thief’s. It is very easy to eliminate an external enemy, but it is very difficult to uproot an “Inte Donga- in Telugu” which means, a thief within the house.

Freedom of Speech -

Yes, I know it is our fundamental right and we Indians, are privileged to this right. But it is only when you don’t hurt the sentiments of your brethren. As a political fiasco, you can talk anything. Refer to Laluji’s English speeches in the Parliament, but if a sensible writer tells the truth., no wonder she is threatened to be jailed…I am referring to none other than Booker Prize winner Arundhati Roy.

Freedom of Revolt-

You have to be a RSS franchise or a Mangalore Babu’s to revolt. You cannot afford to be an ordinary citizen. How many times Medha Patkar had been arrested just because she is fighting for a genuine cause like Narmada Bhacho Andolan? How many times Sunitha Krishnan of Prajwala will be beaten up to death, just because she fights against the brutality of rape victims and rescue small children and women from the involuntary prostitution rackets? Close to 3000 children are rescued by her in the last several years, she being a 15 year old gang raped victim in the past. Why the hell cannot our governments do something about it??

Freedom from Equality-

Yes, I understand we are a secular and socialistic Republic???? But in what sense??? Are we not having a divide of Hindus, Muslims, Christians, right from the way the neighborhoods react to incidents, support and care? Are we not divided in the name of language within every 400 kms of the geographical landscape of the country. I am not talking about the secular freedom of equality. Freedom of equality in terms of how government react to various situations? Example: When a soldier sacrifices himself for the sake of National Security, we give his mother or widow , a medal, no use certificate and 1 lakh rupees and forget. Same way, when a illicit liquor consumer in a remote village dies, his family is also paid 1 lakh rupees and the victim gets a placeholder in the front page of newspapers and becomes a hero! If a cricketer scores 100 runs, he is paid 5 lakh rupees and given adversting revenue, government paid quarters, paid jobs which he never attends and what not? Why the hell I would I encourage my younger generation to ruin their personal lives to preserve our borders and die for our country? How many of our politicians or film stars are sending their kith and kin to fight against terrorism or protect our borders? Are they not eating the bigger piece of the apple pie??????

Freedom from Fear

If a politician is killed, or murdered or even die for natural causes, the whole place is turned like a war zone. People are scared to step out. Worst is when a politician is convicted in a court case, we just don’t know what repercussions will be there around? How can we forget the hard truth of Dharmapuri Bus tragedy, where three college students were burnt alive? Who will bring back those lives to their parents. How many shops were destroyed in Karnataka just because they had their hoarding and boards in English? How many churches were burnt in Kerala in the name of stopping spreading the preaching? Still the traces of the Pastor and his sons being burnt alive in the car remain? The notorious killing of Shivani Bhatnagar, a young journalist who did everything to gain information first hand for Indian Express do not fade our memories. We are still surrounded by Nithari’s and Rathores, and don’t dare to send our young girls alone outside? Where is the Freedom that Gandhi wanted???? To let the women walk with free mind at the midnight…Forget about midnights Babu, now your children cannot even dare do it in broad day light. Are we becoming a sex starved Nation? Are we becoming a Violent provoked society?????

Freedom from Retirement…

Common guys, now don’t take me wrong. You are to retire at the age of 60, if you are Peon, A Teacher, A Professor, A clerk, A Engineer and what not? But stop, you just don’t need to retire at all till your death if you are a politician. For politicians have this unique physical ability to make right decisions, run errands on economic development, do excellent planning, and commendable job on governance and execution and you know what, age is the wisdom factor for running our country. But guess what, to be a nurse or a ayyama in a school, you have to be not older than 60. Yes, you forget your basics to teach or support patients when you are 60, it doesn’t depend on your ability or individual strength. Then, again, for becoming an IAS officer in India, you should not be older than 28, older than 32 if your MBC or SC/ST. But there is no there is no Upper Specification Limit to be a part of the Indian Parliament. So all retired aunts and uncles, out there,, get ready for the next General Election, for that is the only place where you can still work…..

Freedom from rusted judicial system….

Our constitution can only be written once. I agree. We make amendments and pass bills and change provisions as deemed necessary. Thankfully the new Direct Tax Code has some breather for the age old Income Tax Laws of 1960’s…. But are the Laws of the Nation ever amended? Are they not written when people were under control and fear of British Raj. Are they not written keeping the economic and GDP of 1940’s in Mind. Today, one of the most enjoying community of holidays are our lawyers …they have winter sessions holidays, summer and spring holidays…Spring???In India? Ok, may be. Probably, I don’t think any other community of Professional enjoy that big a holiday in a single year….Not even teachers today…For I see the schools making them slog in holidays, correcting papers, preparing study material for next year, working on overall growth and improvement. How can a fine be just Rs.100 for a theft and Rs 5000 for a rape? Does it worry any of them committing those sins? Is there a fear any longer in our verdicts about the way the punishments are given???? Why do we encourage to appeal and appeal ever to high courts. Can you imagine that close 23 death penalties are lying on Madam President’s table for clemency petitions.

Freedom from our own cruel Police Stations

Believe me, I am so scared to enter a police station. Just because I was not able to differentiate between those working there or those brought in there for investigation. They both looked similar in all manners. There could be exceptions and people who are sincere, more approachable, and polite to common man. I have witnessed a sad neighbor who was pulled to a police station after having been found in a drunken state in a local railway station. He was beaten up to death, his family was humiliated, and finally the frustration did never let the youth come out. He passed away few months after that incident. When a stray fire accident happened in my bed room, instead of finding the real culprits, the police dragged two of our lady servants who worked for several years. They showered suspicion everyone in the house too.. When a house was locked for several week, a thief tried to break it, and finally when all neighbors woke up and caught him, he spell the beans. He got the information of the locked house from a policeman who takes rounds in the nights in that area. The deal was to share the booty 30-70. Speechless.

Freedom from Terrorism

In Dec 2008, when I was travelling back from Detroit to India, a co-passenger was so considerate asking if it is safe to travel back to India. I felt sad…terribly sad. I have to fear travelling back to India, my country…and the constant images on the CNN TV in the Airport is the reason…showing images of burning Taj…continuously for the 4th days. Terrorists, Naxals, Moists, Jihad’s and the list goes on. Fear of terror is everywhere. Right from the serial blasts across the cities of Lucknow, Delhi, Pune and Mumbai ….till the struggle of Telengana region and never ending Kashmir menace….no where people feel safe and secure. The shades of terror is wide and vibrant. And victims suffering is endless. We still go easy on Kasab’s and Ajmal’s in the country even after the whole Nation witnessed their atrocities on CCTV and live televisions. Attack of Nation’s Parliament and Attack on Civilians in Mumbai is still cases of further appeal and mercy petitions???? No wonder, we can never curtail terrorism.

Freedom from Corruption

This is not the last, but the giant of factors that we want freedom from. One of my friend yesterday, reported on Face book, that he waited in the queue to get a receipt from Registrar office for Vehicles, and finally he could not get his job done without paying that damn bribe. I did it when I wanted extra copies of birth certificate for my child after running for 4 days, and hearing problems of the employee not being there, printer not working and what not, and everything worked the minute I paid him the “gift”. 16 year old drunken drivers in Mumbai, kids of rich dads, go Scott free after killing hard working day laborers sleeping on the pavements. A old aged lady have to pay for getting her pension clock start after her retirement in the Pension Pay office. Loans get sanctioned without even the supervisor visiting the sites….all for a price. Even for issuing a death certificate to a grieving family, our government office staff don’t function without taking that extra money. I know a Peon working in a commissioner office building a big bungalow in the centre of the city….and that’s because he is the binamy for collecting all these funds for a corporate pool that gets shared at the end of the day – everyday….No wonder, no body shouts or revolt for so low a salaries in the Government offices. For getting an electricity connection, you pay “that” or just be ignored. To get a College admissions, forget mark sheets…think about the ‘Building Fund”…for Professional College Admissions….remember “Capitation fee” , Management Quota, Donations….. and is there anywhere our kids scoring between 70-90 can get proper admissions??? Either your percentage have to be above 90% or your parents bank balances big enough to hold your dreams….Ridiculous. To me Tirumala had been my place of heaven on earth. But somehow, my devotion these days don’t get overboard to venture into this commercial hub now in the name of darshan. There were couple of times, I had to come back without proper darshan , after being victimized with ‘jaragandi, jaragandi’… and now I know to handle this ‘Jaragandi’ lot…the minute , I tuck a Rs 500 in one of the ‘Jurangandi-Move Move’ crew, I will be pulled behind them, and others get victimized for juragandi..and I am given 2 extra minutes to look at the deity, forget about worshiping amidst that mad rush….. I believe my Balaji will understand my plight and still take care of me, if I worship him from a distance, may be from my home Even the medical fraternity is no immune to this…and it is a sad state of affairs…Believe me, even to get justice, you have to bribe in our country and that is the sad part….And once again, I am only talking about small time corruption….for I am a small time writer who cannot dare to write about Mega Scandals and Shameless Scams that ruin my country from moving forward….

I am now tired, of writing this post….There is so many things that we want freedom from,,,like Freedom from Poverty, Freedom from Rich and Poor Divide, Freedom from Glass ceiling, Freedom from Craze of Foreign goods, Freedom from pollution, freedom from traffic…freedom from increasing costs….freedom from adulterated food grains….. and the list is longer than I expected when I started to write. I think freedom from British was much easier!!!!

My Experiences in Manufacturing Plants....especially Automobiles!

It was in the last year of my college, we had an opportunity to work as interns in a local factory called Crompton Greaves Igarashi Motors inside MEPZ (Madras Export Processing Zone) near Tambaram Sanitorium.  I was not only excited to earn few extra ruppes to buy books for studing ICWAI, but also to the fact that I am going to have first hand experience of a factory worker.   I had to report to work at 9 am to be taken as a daily wage worker, for a stipend of Rs.75 and a token of Rs.2 for a subsidised lunch inside the factory canteen.   I was longing to get the uniform that other girls on the normal employment used to wear, but the floor supervisor was fine to allow us in casual wear as we were college students.   We used to embark our trains at Tambaram Sanitorium after hanging on the footpath enjoying the metro electric train journey and catch the company vans to reach on time.  We used to undergo a security check and then leave our personal things in a pigeon hut provided and go to the shift on time.   There the fun begins.  
Few girls trained us on how to handle each manufacturing process at a time.  We were training on one activity for the day.  My job was to hold each rotor and put it in the machine that keeps running in circles and take it out with the correct precision of timing...just 10 seconds for each rotor.  CG Igarashi motors used to manufactur micro motors and rotors especially for use in automobiles,  power tools and house hold appliances.   Automobile industry uses close to 90% of its manufacturing output.  
One quality manager explained to me why the precision timing is important to the job I was assigned.  I felt like running away.  For simple reasons that I beleive it creates the circles inside the rotor for every second I hold the rotor in the machine, and cars use these rotos in the door locks.  So if the precision of the rotor is more or less, it creates an extra circle inside the rotor and it is a scrap during the quality check.  And for any reason, it slips and gets into the car manufacturing assembly line, the car itself would be considered having a faulty door locking system and the door assembled will have to be replaced.  For any reason, if it escapes the quality check of the Car Assembly line, a child sitting in the car seat may have a jerk of her or his life, when the car door opens up on drive.  I told the quality manager, that he scared me enough.  But a small mistake during my job that day can have dire consequences is the lesson of the day.    I managed to pull out close 600 routers that day at the end of my 8 hours shift and quality manager pattered me back and said that there were only 2 defects., which is quite common.  I gave the biggest sigh of relief.     At lunch, I chatted with the girls working in the factory for many years.  They were full of life.  I know they jobs were hard and their lives were on toes the whole day.  Especially Gayathri, a girl who worked in the chemical mixing division had a tough task of combining blue color chemical to create a paste kind of thing.   She said, only if that could be automated, her life would be better.  But during lunch, they all giggled, discussed movies, kids and marriages, love affairs,  and commented on an old supervisor.   I found a meaning of hardwork that day.  End of the day, they used to change to their casual clothes, board the train together, buy hot samosas or butter biscuits in the train and disperse.   The food in the canteen was not only nutricious, delicious but also fresh and economical.   I  know that most of the girls working there are not even tenth passouts, but the kind of attention, commitment and liveliness they bring in to the workplace is amazing.  Today after a decade of experience in IT, I still try to find a similar liveliness filled with unconditional acceptance of the quality need, kind of hardwork and commitment somehow missing across the industry.  Not ever one does like the girls in the factory used to do today. 
This manufacturing unit created jobs for semi-educated youth,.especially to more number of women providing employment, self- reliance and confidence.   I only wished more EPZ's are encouraged and give way for creation of more jobs to common people than to only those blue collared high tech workers.

My second experience was again related to manufacturing plant... this time a pure automobile plant of Ashok Leyland Manufacturing and Assembly unit in Ennore.  Experience was quite different from what I experience as a student intern.   As a IT specialist, I had a different challenge.  This time, without knowing I had lot of complaints unlike the girls of CGI.    May be because, we in IT are used to some royal treatment.  Unlike my parents who worked all their lives sitting in wooden chairs with a pedostal fans in office and having racks of paper files pilled with dust and aging around them and a tea walla bring in tea twice a day, we are used to fully airconditioned sophasticated cushion chairs , rolling.  Tea vending machines and full furnished rest rooms.  So when I was assigned to this plant to be on my first "Onsite" model project., no doubt I showed some resistance.  Today after 3 years, I feel bad about it and would surely apologize for my expectations.   But same time, I overcame all my inbuilt insecurities working at a place, close to the borders of Tamil Nadu, dominated by men....what dominated, just filled with men in uniforms.  The only two ladies I used to see in Ashok Leyland Ennore plant were the middle aged receptionists and one day who worked in the ERP and who never spoked to me.    So to see a young IT worker was a feast to all those men, who used to look at me and other 2 girls who joined later in my team as if were are some aliens.  I used to sometimes enjoy the attention and sometimes get frustrated.  It wasnt like a usual IT office where you go in what ever you like to.  I had to wear sandals that dont make noise, wear fully wrapped salwars with duppatas or sarees, no jeans or shirts allowed.   Though it had been my usual way to work, somehow when someone puts that as a protocol or restriction, we restrain...thats nature I guess.  I used to get all respect for the good work from senior IT managers there and they used to respect my punctuality and work.   I used to be the first one to get on board of the car pooling Qualis, and call each one in the line to be ready as we reached near their houses and  get them on boards and with the ongoing construction of Padi Bridge, Anna nagar flyover, Koyembedu trafffic, I used to feel like a conductor of a bus.   My manager used to joke that there is lot of similarity between me and Rajnikanth...somehow, sitting between 6 men in the car, they used to joke on everything on the road, which I failed to see.  They used to giggle saying, after all, its boy's matter!.  
Fun apart, coming to the work at Ennore plant. , there buses and lorries used to be assembled.  known for its eco-friendly engine technology,  and as the largest commercial manufacturing unit in India,  for commercial vehicles that include trucks, buses, emergency vehicles (fire trucks) and militiary vehicles.    They also manufacture and assemble engines for industrial and marine needs.  The factory used to be largest job creator since 1948 when it first started.  Even today, many people look upon the Ennore plant for employment.   Ennore plant also keeps its technology updation on track.  They aim at catering to the modern day needs., provide economical and competitive advantages to their products and aim at quality deliverables.  The scrap garage is a witness on how the company respects quality.  The road test centre opposite to the plant where we used to park our cars, is a sheer joy to witness the first rides of many buses and trucks.  Driving for 4 hours a day to the plant up and down, amidst the Chennai harbour bound trailers wasn't fun always.  We witness so many so road accidents, careless driving, drunken drivers, and eve teasers.  But to us, improving their ERP division and provide IT support was the key agenda and everything around looked small in front of our gigantic task to  be part of the technological revolution happening in the company.  I used to love watching the men, transported in the company provided busess numbered from 1 to many... to all corners of the city.    They used to sleep, sing, talk politics, cinema, families, cooperative society that allowed them to buy provisions and groceries at cheaper rates,  education, IT, and the company's progress.    This wasnt much different from the girls of CGI.   All these men used to work overtime and on holidays when ever possible to earn few extra ruppes... to support their families.   I saw wonderful fathers, brothers and sons in them.   Who are responsibile, consistent and wonderful.  I still remember the day, one Mr.Vaithyanathan who worked in IT Finance came and showed me a Pen he bagged as a token of appreciation for 25 years of service.  To me, it was the day of amazing understanding of being loyal and committed to the organization.   He was so elated that he and his friend got the same in the same function as their families were also welcomed to be part of the function.   They were humble, sinciere, loyal and modest and nothing in par....  And bang came the Dussera celebrations...the whole factory was lighted up in the festive eve... the decorations using paper banners and colors was a feast to the eyes...We were welcomed to the celebration where every machine was worshipped as God on the Ayudha puja day.  I stood spell bound with the beautiful and dedicated singing of NC, their Chief officer who mesmerised the audience with his songs and devotion...not just to the god, but the work they have been doing for years.
I also had a collegue who was named Ashok, just because his dad worked their since his marriage...I had no words
Here too we had the privilege of having the company provided lunch,..along with all their factory workers.  To me those were the best of lunch times, for I used to see the comraderie, sinciere care and consideration to fellow workers, unity amogst them, their participation in the Union and addressing issues, their cooperation to the local adminsitration, their consideration to Nature and waste management discussions.  To some of us today, it is a topic for Speech in AC halls.  But to the ordinary factory worker, it was an every day topic, to be considerate, responsive and reactive to the needs.   And during factory elections, we used to see Obama's there.   Orators who spoke with so much zeal and enthusiam, so much knowledge and understanding of people's problems and needs., constructive thoughts on innovation, technology and expansion projects.   This is what is called grassroots empowerment.  Enablement at the ground level.  Governance at the best.    

These were very transforming experiences and gave me knowledge and awareness that no book or teaching can bring...You have expeirence it, feel it and realize it for better You.    As I travelled from Ennore to Pontiac, another hub of automobile revolution, in midst of Detroit called as the Global Automobile city, I had more experiences that gave me better insights of manufacturing plants.  Will write my thoughts and experiences in the GM plants in my next post...till then, thanks for reading

Why Manufacturing is Important for any Economy's Growth?

Today, the biggest challenge of Super Powers like USA and UK, are the declining trend of their manufacturing and assembly facilities.   Same time, Countries like China, India and Brazil have their drivers as Manufacturing Industries.  Today, China seems to be the single largest nation termed as the "Manufacturing Hub of the world" and there are very large amount of products manufacturing only in China today.   90% of computer and laptop parts are produced in China.  70% of world's subsidiary and ancillary production is happening  in China and India.   Yet the irony is that these countries are still to get into the spectrum of realistic development coined with the people's growth inside the countries.  But surely in the next few years and less than a decade.. these countries will enrich in to the global trajectory of growth as Economic Super Powers.  

Amidst all the hype of media and acceptance of world Nations, both India and China have a long way to go in terms of internal improvements, creating a greater infrastructure, taking the innovation and human intelligence to new parlance, and promote agricultural revolution and industrialization at grass roots.  Export is not the only key to the growth of the country.   Doing away with the greater disparity between Rich and Poor, overcoming Poverty and unemployment,  creating a harmonious society away from the turbulence's created in the name of language and religion,  and strong control on the local governance free of political corruption have to be brought to the front burner to make these countries sustain their transforming economic growth.  

Today, as a Nation, we have challenges of large scale corruption, political power play, rural and urban divide and still existing unemployment and education needs.  Despite all the challenges, today the human intelligence of India have widespread and created jobs across the globe.   The reason behind being the manufacturing potential of India and China.  Yet, there is a long way to go to sustain indigenous products, create a reverse brain drain that can bring in technical competence to build our own scientific and advance nuclear machinery and airplanes that will put India at par with other advanced nations.    The nation have to address the infrastructural needs, which in turn would create manufacturing needs and accelerate the growth of the country in the right direction..   

This is a sure chain reaction.   Export is a blessing and export creates manufacturing needs providing quality and competitive production houses.   These production houses create technology and innovation., and create jobs for the education urban lot.  The penetration of the growth to rural areas is the only solution to combat the increasing struggles of urban population in terms of housing, infrastructure, transportation and sustainability.  So cities expand creating more housing needs, creating transportation needs and bringing in more opportunities to expand our railways, roadways and industrialization.   Mariamalainagar near Chennai is classic example of how the manufacturing would pave to expansion of cities and bring in larger transformation.    These increase the need of indigenous industries that caters to the needs of steel, cement and wood, paints, and labour.   Construction industry grows.  With increased transportation needs, the need to build buses and trains grows.  Slowly the movement of population from rural to semi-urban areas start to meet the demands and needs.  This increases potential increase of opportunities of good education to rural students and bring in a change.   There is equal needs to build schools and roads in rural India.  As corporates expand outside the cities, they adopt villages to lay roads and provide voluntary services like evening education, mobile health facilities, awareness to combat social issues  and bring in a dynamic awareness.   The need for sustainable food facilities and self-reliance emerges to combat the growing cost of living expenses.    This brings in a need to encourage farmers to use technology in agriculture, promote agriculture with the cooperative society and government help.   The backbone of the Nation is Agriculture and it sustains from perishing.  Farmers need education and awareness to manage crops damage, creation of integrated water systems and this creates a need to bring in a Nehruvian policy of building dams and reservoirs, there again creating a job market.   Self-reliance in food grains and agriculture growth paves way for people to invest in education and technological revolution...there by significantly impacting the economic well being at grass roots. 

The bottom line, is every Nation should create a need for growth of the manufacturing facilities, at the same time, transfer the bit of growth and combined energies to the grass roots of the Nation, then alone, the Nation can be called a Developed One.   It is not multi-storied building of metroes that would make a Nation developed, it is the common man's struggle finding an end and ease towards better living and people of these countries free themselves from the political fiasco and power play, and are able to live a decent and uplifted lives.  Then alone, we can be called DEVELOPED.   So, it is the time to invest and energize our manufacturing plants and factories and spread their growth to the grassroots of the Nation. 

Atomic Model of Silver

After spending hours of a weekend to come up with my daugther's school project- to create a Atomic Model of Silver, I thought this would be helpful to lot more mothers out there looking for some ideas to create any such model

--------------------------------------------
Introduction:

Silver is a metallic chemical elements found by man in the ancient civilization. The discovery year and location are unknown as it is ancient to mankind. The name originates from the old English word seolfor (silver) and symbol from the Latin word argentums (silver) . Silver is widely used as jewelry, in photography and as an electrical conductor. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal. The metal occurs naturally in its pure, free form (native silver), as an alloy with gold and other metals, and in minerals such as argentite and Chlorargyrite. Most silver is produced as a by-product of copper, gold, lead, and zinc refining.

Basic Information- Atomic Model of Silver

 Chemical Symbol: Ag

 Atomic Number: 47

 Atomic Weight/Mass: 107.8682 amu

 Standard State: Solid, at 298 Degrees Kelvin ( 77 degrees Fahrenheit )

 CAS ID: 7440-22-4

 Group Number: 11

 Class: Metal, Transition

 Melting Point of Silver: 961.93 °C

 Boiling Point of Silver: 2,212.0 °C

Atomic Structure of Silver

 Number of Protons & Electrons: 47

 Number of Neutrons: 61

 Crystal Structure of Silver: Cubic ( face-centered )

 Density @ 293 K: 10.5 g/cm3

 Atomization: 284.09 kJ mol-1

 Fusion: 11.3 kJ mol-1

 Vaporization: 257.7 kJ mol-1

 Molar volume: 10.335 cm3 mol-1

 Electrical resistivity: 1.59 µ-ohms/cm

 Thermal conductivity: 429.0 W / m / K

 Mass magnetic susceptibility: -2.27e-9

 Number of Energy Levels/Valence Shells: 5

 Ground state electron configuration: 4d10 5s1

Silver Atom and its orbits

The silver atom has 5 electron orbits (energy levels) with a total of 47 electrons. Beginning with the orbit closest to the nucleus and working outward, the number of electrons per orbit should be: 2, 8, 18, 18, 1. Of course, the nucleus contains 47 protons and 61 neutrons.

Silver Nuclear Magnetic Resonance ( Nuclide 107 ): Frequency: 4.046 MHz ( Ag+ )

Silver Incompatibilities:

Acetylene, Ammonia, Hydrogen Peroxide, Bromoazide, Chlorine Trifluoride, Ethyleneimine, Oxalic Acid, Tartaric Acid

Conclusion:

Silver has long been valued as a precious metal, and it is used to make ornaments, jewelry, high-value tableware, utensils (hence the term silverware), and currency coins. Today, silver metal is also used in electrical contacts and conductors, in mirrors and in catalysis of chemical reactions. Its compounds are used in photographic film and dilute silver nitrate solutions and other silver compounds are used as disinfectants and micro biocides. While many medical antimicrobial uses of silver have been supplanted by antibiotics, further research into clinical potential continues.

****Now comes the Process for Making Atomic Model of Silver ******

1) Make the inner circle of by bending the wire (about 5 inches Diameter). Connect the wire ends together to complete the circle with small piece of wire. Best is to get a metal circle available in the market.

2) Count out 47 of the silver beads and set aside.
3) Next make the 5 outer circles or orbits as they are called. (Or you can buy an circled object as shown in the picture)

4) You will need one of each of the following diameters 6 inch, 7 inch, 8 inch, 9 inch, 10 inch. Don’t tape the ends together yet to complete the circles. Just bend them for now to make the basic circle size.
5) String 2 sliver beads on the 5 inch circle (First Energy Level) and tape ends together. String 8 sliver beads on the 6 inch circle (Second Energy Level) and tape ends together. String 18 sliver beads on the 7 inch circle (Third Energy level) and tape ends together. String 18 sliver beads on the 8 inch circle (Fourth Energy Level) and tape ends together. String 1 sliver bead on the 9 inch circle and tape ends together.

6) Doing one circle at a time, arrange the beads in pairs of 2 and spread out along the wire circles. Tie the beads in place so the sticks to the wire. Give one last check to make sure the beads and grouped and spread like the in picture

7) After the beads are stuck in place, you need to use some more wire to connect the orbital circles together if they are not already connected. Cut three straight wires slightly over 1 inch for each circle. Make sure the straight wires are the same size!

8) Starting with the center 5 inch inner circle, use a small strip of the silver or black duct tape to connect the 5 inch circle to the 6 inch circle using three straight pieces of wire (stagger them to make is stable).

9) Repeat the connecting process of the other rings.

10) After all the rings are attached. Use a sharpie or small bottle of model paint to mark a negative sign “-“ on each bead as in the picture. These 47 beads are negatively charged electrons!

11) Take the center of the circles with a circle object and insert 47 same color beads for Protons and 61 same color beads for Neutrons and connect it to the 5 orbits or to the stand of the atomic model.
12) Attach some strings for hanging and place the object on the stand as shown in the picture.

Poetry Chain Started....Da Rain, Da Heart!

Da Rain, Da Heart!

Da Rain...Midst the warm winds of showers!

Into the paradomic rainfall of tears

The woman in a vulnerable trans little home

Awaiting that one hand, to rescue and solace

Da Home, Da Heart, will you be mine
To make HER feel warm, calm and fine?!

Where is the woman looking for sunshine
Looking for the solace in the tears of moon
Da home , Da heart will always be fine......
B' cause you are always mine..
(Manasi...)

I come to thee, oh lady!
A bright and shining beam;
Amidst the deep dark sky
Go ahead! Dare to dream……
(Sharmila.....)

we rejoice, the victory of creation
the woman in me, thy renunciation
Yet, begetting all the traumas of the world
I cry in silence as the seasons unfold....

Da Rain...Midst the warm winds of showers!

Into the paradomic rainfall of tears

The woman in a vulnerable trans little home

Awaiting that one hand, to rescue and solace

Da Home, Da Heart, will you be mine

To make HER feel warm, calm and fine?!

The nip is in the air
The smoke and dust is thick
Another winter morning
The city is quiet
A feeling of gripping restlessness
(Mita's line)

Across the smoky mountains
I heard the Winter breeze
Yet behind those tempting brooks
I could see the Sun Shine Again
Letting me shout aloud
...The City has to awaken again!
(Uma....)

.....thanks to Manasi, Mita and Sharmila, my friends who added lines to these verses:-)....I will update as the chain continues....

Deivam Thantha Veedu- Kannadasan - With my English Translation

It had been a 12 hour day at work, and then I surely needed something to take off my day's stress...and I found none other than my love for Kannadasan overwhelming me to sit for 10 mins and try one of his ever green lyrics for my level of English translation....I should tell...it wasnt easy...for its too difficult to get equal words that match the depth of original lyrics by the great legend.... hope my attempt is little best than before!

deivam thandha veedu veedhiyirukku


indha oorenna sondha veedenna njaana pennae

vaazhvin porulenna nee vandha kadhai enna

God’s created home is my street

Whats there in the town, whats there in my home

Oh knowledgeable girl!

Whats there in the life’s valuables? What’s the purpose of your life?

naan kaettuth thaaythandhai padaitharaa

illai en pillai enai kaettu pirandhaanaa

dheyvam seydha paavam idhu podi thangachi

kondraal paavam thinraal poachu idhudhaan en katchi

Was I born to my parents with my consent?

Or was my child born after I asked for it?

Are these are god’s plays..oh my little sister!

Sins of killing for food are gone with consuming…

And this is my philosophy

aadhi veedu andham kaadu

idhil naan enna adiyae nee enna njaana penne

vaazhvin porulenna nee vandha kadhai enna

Beginning at home and ending at grave

Who am I or you in between., oh wise girl?

Whats there in the life’s valuables? What’s the purpose of your life?

deivam thandha veedu veedhiyirukku

indha oorenna sondha veedenna njaana pennae

vaazhvin porulenna nee vandha kadhai enna

God’s created home is my street

Whats there in the town, whats there in my home

Oh knowledgeable girl!

Whats there in the life’s valuables? What’s the purpose of your life?

verum koavil idhilenna abhishaekam

un manam engum therukkooththu pagal vaesham

kallikkenna mullil vaeli poadi thangachchi

kaatukkaedhu thoattakkaaran idhudhaan en katchi

kondadhenna koduppadhenna

idhil thaay enna……manandha thaaram enna njaana penne

vaazhvin porulenna nee vandha kadhai enna

Buildings called temples with stone idols in worship

When inner self is hidden in fake dramatic piece

Thorns fencing not for the weeds; go away my little sister!

Where the need for gardener for the forest, this is my view of life

What is that we brought, and what is that we take (When we die)

So in between, why the difference between mother or a wife..oh wise girl!

What’s there in the life’s valuables? What’s the purpose of your life?

deivam thandha veedu veedhiyirukku

indha oorenna sondha veedenna njaana pennae

vaazhvin porulenna nee vandha kadhai enna

God’s created home is my street

Whats there in the town, whats there in my home

Oh knowledgeable girl!

Whats there in the life’s valuables? What’s the purpose of your life?

thelivaagath therindhaalae siththaandham

adhu theriyaamal poanaalae vedhaandham

mannaith thoandith thanneer thaedum anbuth thangachi

ennai thoandi nyaanam kanden idhudhaan en katchi

unmai enna poymai enna

idhil thaen enna kadikkum thael enna nyaana penne

vaazhvin porul enna nee vandha kadhai enna

deivam thandha veedu veedhiyirukku

When everything is clear and known, it’s a canon

When something is unknown, it’s unclear scriptures

Digging earth in search of waters…oh beloved sister

Delving within myself, discovered my eternal wisdom,

This is my view of life 

Where is the truth and where is the false?

In this, where is the honey, or the scorpions bite?..oh wise girl

Whats there in the life’s valuables? What’s the purpose of your life?

God’s created home is my street…..

Common Wealth Games 2010: Is it a Red Project turned Green? Or Just a Failed Attempt?

Common Wealth Games 2010 was in mind as the Post for a long time now, and I know this is the right week to write it with a 360* view.
 
Like all Red project that teach us, bitter but better lessons, CWG., had also been a tremendrous, noteworthy project for India.  Here the only difference is that the PMO was our Prime Minister's Office instead of Project Management Office.

Leaving behind its curtains, all the scandals, media hype, adverse situations, infrastructure delays, haphazard things, and hundred other things that shook the CWG with corruption, lack of integrity, red tape, imperfection, missing deadlines, improper organizing, lack of adequate health and medical facilities.. the Opening Ceremony was like the First Tolgate.  Which the Project called CWG 2010... crossed successfully as planned on the D-Day with much cherished cultural display of India's -The Best.

Now, it is saddening to see the CWG Events Stands -  Almost 80% vacant... Where did the spirit go?   Trying to buy the tickets-  Sorry they are all sold...Then, where are the people???? Mystically, the whole project which suddenly looked Green, is now again looking Grey :-(   

3 more days and its all gone...leaving behind an exchequer deficit of 50000 crorers... atleast hope that this is a good lesson for us to handle such massive sports events going forward as a Nation.  Hope this event atleast showed the world our best of talents and a solace is the Winning Medals .... Jai Hind! India! 

Father of India's Green Revolution- Dr. M.S.Swaminathan.

Proud moments of Inner Wheel Club of Madras South to have had Dr M.S.Swaminathan in one of the Club's cherishing charity projects.  With their fullest permissions, here are the pictures. 

Inspired by Mrs.Sarada Ramani's blog post on M.S.S, here they go:-)


Link to Sarada Akka's blog about M.S. Sir.
http://saradaramani.blogspot.com/2010/10/father-of-indians-green-revolution.html

Refined Judiciary is the need of the hour

Last couple of Media hyped cases have seen a tremendous change in the way the verdicts have been pronounced in the Indian Courts.

When the whole world applauded Ayodhya verdict, and subsequent verdicts that proved that finally Indian Judiciary is taking its realm towards better judgement...there are string of cases especially those of Women Rape and Murder cases where the acquitted are most from the effluent and powerful backgrounds...where there seems to be no Justice Attained.

It was in 1999, for the first time, I started following such cases., with that of Journalist Shivani Bhatnagar being strangled to death in her Delhi flat as her 10 month old child crawled to her dead body and cried.   Senior politicians and Delhi police commissioner being involved in the case., it took one complete decade even to proclaim Sharma as the main accused and convict.

Priyadarshini Matoo,  Pratiba Murthy, Arushi Talwar, Scarlet Keeling, Jessica Lal,  Ruchikha, and lot more Indian girls have been harassed, brutally and sexually abused and violently killed.   Most of these high profile cases saw famous and rich kith and kin involved and escape from the judicial purview.  What are the main reasons for such loopholes in the system and where is the solace to this?

Witness Security:    The first and foremost reason is that people not coming forward to be witnesses in the case.   Witnesses not only face coercion, strong emotional trauma and physical harassment, they are also threatened to be killed and troubled for life to them and their families.  There is absolutely no security to the people who want to fight for justice and come forward for helping others.   Witnesses being confidential is the only way to prevent witness harassment and this would enable most people to come forward.

Loss of Forensic Evidence:   In the United States, the minute crime happens, the whole place is sealed for any kind of movement.   The forensic evidence remains in tact for the investigation authorities to take the right steps in the right direction.  It is exactly opposite in India, where people get emotional and in the traumatic moments, we act hysterical and destroy the whole valuable evidence that is very much need to crack these cases.  Arushi Talwar case is a classic example.

Misuse of Authority by Police and Administration:    The rich and affluent always escape as the local police are easy to handle.   FIR are not filed immediately, and people under suspicion are not taken into custody until someone really forces them to do so.  This is worse when the people involved are politicians or from the rich background.  Police instead of being a protective force acts in vested interests, there by delaying the whole process of justice.

Prolonged time frame to resolve cases:    Many middle class people do not even find it relevant to fight the legal battles., which are not only costly, time consuming and emotional trauma.   The kind of questions asked in courts, the kind of harassing police investigations, the kind of lawyer fees and running behind hearing after hearing,., the victims find it more easy to leave the fate to God, and leave their destiny to time to heal the injuries in life.    Imagine it took 5 years for a fast court to resolve and convict Pratiba Murthy's killer.

Red-Tapism at highest peak:    The jails in India are filled with 25% of people awaiting court judgements... they are just suspects or they are proxies to the real convicts who happily live in the outside world.   Thousands of cases are pending in courts at every level, and if all the lawyers and judges work sincerely for a year, without taking Winter Session Holidays, Summer Session holidays like school children, and work with appropriate paper work, clear hearings and quick judgements, at least 10% of the cases will be resolved.   Justice delayed is Justice denied.   Unfortunately, here Justice is almost dead

Public Prosecutors and Age old law books:     Look at every famous case, where the convict gets less punishment or escapes one, it is because of their strong defense lawyers, who are not only uptodate and have classical cases as examples, and good library of world judgements to refer to and good amount of junior lawyers to do good research and find loopholes.   Public Prosecutors are government servants who act like any other.   To them, that day the court hearing has to go.  They are not worried about justice, who wins, who losses or what punishment.   Defense lawyers very easily prove that every crime is not the rarest of the rare to result in Capital punishment

Changes to appeal to higher courts:    If the entire judicial system is following, the Indian Penal Code, and if the entire lawyers are well versed and strong in their subjects,. why are we giving chance for people to appeal and appeal and appeal to the higher courts and finally the capital punished people to file mercy petitions with President of India.  There why the lower courts.   It is not the time to de-centralize Supreme Court, but the amount of cases piling up at Supreme court can never ever be redressed.  Moreover the higher courts ruling away the judgement of the lower courts just by saying that the case is in favour of the convict, is a sham on the system.  Mattoo Sr felt the judgement disgusting but the convict thanked his stars.

In small projects we have deadlines., fear of not finishing on time., quality ., customer service and what not as professional.....Nothing like that to Professional Lawyers and Judges.... Are they just like the age old Judicial laws written during Independence Era and based on British Rule and Judgement. 

What a shame when Rathore escapes with Rs 10000 fine and 6 months prison after harassing a teenage talent to death by molesting her.    Why the hell our system is not instilling the fear in the people who think that they can do anything just because they have law in their hands?    There are thousands of Ruchikha's silently suffering in this world.  Where is the Women Empowerment we are talking about?  There are hundreds of girls silently tolerating the harassment in industries, factories and offices and homes of India??? What is the enablement of Women we have achieved?  

There is a need to Refine the Indian Judiciary System., People to go fearless to the Police Stations, File complaints, Fight court battles, bring in Media attention and finally fight for Justice.   Will we get ministers who can bring in this change?   Youth who would boil down to the justice denials happening all around....Will our Citizens feel empowered to bring in Crimeless Society and Fearless Nation to live????   

Gandhian Principles and Vivekananda's inspiration unfortunately just remains in our History Books!!! Wake up India , Wake Up!!!!

One Population, One Database ! UID Project Aadhar... A Grand Phenomenon begins

India is one of the largest democratic Nation's in the world with the Second Largest Population, most diversified in terms of economical status, religion, education, langauge, food habits, culture, traditons and so on.   To bind this entire Nation,  with a uniformed structure is no small task.   I think in terms of the Project Strength, this would be the World's largest Project involving the largest number of stakeholders....Entire India!     This enormous and most ambitious project headed by Nandan Nilekani, is not only the most wanted project but also the most difficult project to accomplish.    

First time ever in the History of India, a Government database will not be divided in the name of Caste or Geographical diversity.   Personal details like date of birth, name, finger prints, IRIS records and photograph will be included in the Unique Identification Card that will be issued to every Indian probably over the next few years.   It is estimated that it will take close to next 5 years to get every Indian in the database.  Every person above 15 years will be issued the UID card as per the Aadhar Project. 

Key Highlights of this project are:

1. Every Indian will have a Unique Indentity with 10 digit number
2. Entire population will be recorded with its biometric scans, face, name and finger prints
3. Project Aadhar will enable the economically backward and rural India to gain its own identity
4.  Irrespective of the socio-economic conditions of the person, there will be a common thread that binds the nation
5.  Government initiatives to support the economically weaker sections of the soceity will get its bigger focus
6.  Historical steps to help the Rural India and Poor who need banking and other infrastructure access
7.  Development programmes initiated by government  and unemployment support initiatives will find better access by the common man
8. Usage of the UID in every transaction and banking operations, will bring in more of the black money to market
9.  This should be the first step to stop the misuse of government funds and grants
10.  Long run, UID, should create a tracking database to end corruption and bring in more stablization of the money flow in the country.

Three Cheers to Nandan and his team for having shouldered this enoromous project and Wish Project Aadhar a grand success!

Ayodhya Verdict: Babri Masjid Vs Ramajanamabhoomi...Need to look beyond

Another tense day in making towards the History of India...ripping the social secular fabric of the Nation.  Are our minds so narrow and maturity so conservative that we are living in a pre-civilized thinking!.  Is it not time to ponder over our past and create a better future for our children of the Nation.... Too many things to think and react

Any sensible Citizen of the country would understand few facts

1.  Over centuries India had the history of foreign invasions and lot of other religious people destroying Hindu temples and building over had been prevalent.   They exploited the temples for the precious treasure and artistic excellence that the Hindu community possessed ages ago.   Even Taj Mahal is disputed and debated over years, as a old shiva temple called as Tejomahalaya.... does it mean that now we will break it to see what is under the main edifice?  Tolerance had been in the blood of Indians, and over the years, this started to slowly diminish.    So the chances of the Hindu temple broken and buried under the structure of mosque in Ayodhya is quite possible and we have to leave it for an archaeological survey and debate.

2.  Demolishing Mosque in the name of finding a temple remains, is any day not the right thing.   Respecting the faith of other religions is the only way of salvation.   So, what ever happened in 1990 Dec 6th is bleak in the history of India.   Time to repent, and take steps not to repeat.    

3.  Today Ayodhya and its people, both Muslims and Hindus are living in peace and harmony.   The fire, riots and bad memories have only united them and media's any kind of negative debate, portrayal, will only kill this peace lasting since last decade.   Media have to maintain utmost sensitivity in the way the news is telecasted and events are portrayed, as it is not Ayodhya that will burn, but whole of India, will there be any kind of unnecessary triggers.

4.  Lastly, towards an amicable solution,.  If I were, to provide this judgement, my verdict would be to leave the place as is, make it a heritage spot., build a University for Students of India, for Arts and History, similar to something of IIT for Engineering and IIMs for Management, and preserve the dignity of the place with honour.... and then, provide abundant space on either side, one place for Hindu's to move their Rama lalla and Sita Mata idols and begin worship and on the other side, a site for Muslim's to build a mosque and allow them for peaceful worship.      

We have spend 700 crores for Common Wealth Games for getting the worst of Inputs from the world over,  every election costs us close to 500 crores both official and unofficial,   and the whole of the above given project, may not take even 100  crores.  In one way, this project would give employment opportunities to the local people driven and living in fear, and frustration over the years,...Provide world class education, reliving the similar glory of Nalanda, the first university in the world,  and same time, respecting the sentiments of both the communities involved.  

Forget about the differences and look at the similarities of Hindu-Muslim unity and friendship over centuries now in India,  and this is one opportunity for us to proclaim, our long lasting song of "Unity in Diversity"  ...Jai Hind.

let rest of India, continue its business as usual.... I think only jobless people have time and tide to make a mole out of mountains and make issues, become National Calamities...... Lets learn to live in harmony...

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Extract from IBNLive on the "All you want to know about Ayodhya dispute"

Ayodhya title dispute

December 1949: Idols of Ram Lalla & Sita Mata appear 'miraculously' inside the Babri Mosque.
Hindus claim lord Ram has appeared in his birth land, hence land belongs to Hindus.
Total of five title suits filed before the courts claiming ownership of the land.
Two title suits clubbed. Now there are four title suits pending before the courts.
First suit filed on Jan 16, 1950, seeking permission to worship deities in the disputed structure, second suit filed in Dec 1950 by Head of Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas, seeking permission to worship deities, first two suits clubbed together by Civil Judge in Faizabad.
Third suit filed in Dec 1959 by Nirmohi Akhara seeking to take charge of the 'temple' from a rival.
Fourth suit filed by Sunni Central Boards of Waqfs, UP, in Dec 1961 seeking removal of idols & possession of mosque.
In April, 1964, all three suits filed by Hindus and the one filed by the Waqf Board are consolidated.
In 1989, petition on behalf of Ram Lalla filed by retired HC Judge claiming ownership of disputed land.
In 1989 Allahabad HC rules that a special three-judge bench will hear all five suits in the lower courts.
HC directs all parties to maintain status quo at the site till matter is finished.


Babri land dispute
1528: Babri Masjid is built, Hindus claim the land was built after demolishing a temple.
1859: British erect fences to separate Hindu, Muslim areas of worship.
1949: Hindus & Muslims file title suits claiming the land, the government takes over the disputed site.
1994: SC orders status quo on all cases till the title suit is settled.
December, 1992: Babri Masjid is razed by kar sevaks, 2,000 people die in post-demolition riots.


Attempts at amicable settlement
Dec 1990: Meeting between Babri Masjid Action Committee & VHP
Hindus: Muslims should respect sentiments
Muslims: Issue can't be dragged backwards
Dec 1990: Hindus & Muslims meet in presence of Mulayam Singh, Sharad Pawar & Bhairon Singh Shekhawat
Hindus: Excavations reveal a temple under the mosque
Muslims: No evidence that temple was destroyed to build mosque
Jan 1991: Meeting between Babri Masjid Action Committee & VHP
Hindus: Remains of temple under the mosque
Muslims: No evidence that temple was destroyed to build mosque

Honour Killing is a disgrace to humanity

We are living in a world which is a global village. Yet, we are so influenced by the so called social imagery that we do not realize that the world around us has move ahead of the 21st century. Let me put it with a right example. The minute you travel to the other side of the planet, what happens, is the fact that you are identified as an Asian First (Based on the continent and color). The minute they realize that you are from South Asia, you are regarded with your country….here all Indians Unite…we look for Indian neighborhoods’, search for temple, look for cultural associations and good schools….here what matters the bonding is ‘Indian-ness’. Then, people speaking one language unite over the social events, calling themselves as Telugu Associations, Tamil Sangam’s, Bengali Unions, Gujarati Temples… and then we bring in the divide which we had back home in India…yet there is unity. Here the language unites.

Over the borders, and besides the transformation, the identity in the name of Religion and Caste fades away. Slowly even this generation of regional identity is ignored, and the communities based on professions emerge…like doctors club, engineer’s wing and auditors lounge… so there is no time or reason to keep up the fake social image any longer based on caste or religion.

As such the world is getting divided in the name of Religion to a greater extent influencing in all wrong reasons possible. This honour killing is just a fancy term eating away the fruitful younger generations. Every adult have a right to marry or love the person of his or her choice and fundamental rights of India, provide freedom in all means possible to its citizens. In the name of fake prestige, honour and caste, we are killing the very fabric of secularism. Do the relatives or the society around such orthodox parents have time and thought to worry about this issue when there thousand other things to take care of. Society should come out of the rigid and useless sentiments in the name of caste and community. The real honour lies in acceptance of a person from a totally different religion, faith, community with warm hands to welcome and bond with tolerance and consideration, to bring in a fruitful society.

Killing people in the name of honour is just a media –fiasco and more and more people want to get into a limelight making this a new social issue. The humiliation will end to those victims with death, but to the parents and families, the trauma is for lifetime. For media, it is yet another breaking news, so the best way is ignore it and bring in a amendment to laws that would punish people involved in such incidents and do not give it a national coverage. Stringent laws and implementation of those laws, and providing protection to those who seek the help of law and order, would end this menace very soon. It is not just a disgrace but it is beyond comprehension to kill our own kith and kin in the name of social prestige. It is the time to think beyond and look at the longer horizons of truth and end this unnecessary social evil.

Awareness about Character Building

“Character maketh a man”. We have been growing all these years hearing this adage, and all the moral values that our long heritage and traditions have taught us. Despite all the upbringing, the big bad world out there is easy to provoke us towards an easy character assassination and many times, people get succumbed to it even without realizing it. Many of the people who lost social respect, self-esteem, confidence and bigger goals, are those who first failed in their character.

Is character just a social image? It was. It is no longer a social image, but an inner discipline that guides us and leads us through a virtuous path of living. Character is not built in a day. It is like building a city. It takes years, and also a long effort to maintain it. It takes years to build a process of self-discipline and it just takes one stray incident, one vulnerable moment and one odd circumstance to ruin it.

Character building begins at home. It begins with every mother. The very way, how we act, behave and endure certain things over certain period of time, influence our children without saying. As elders, we have the utmost responsibility to maintain ourselves in such a fashion that children, will learn from us, and would be following us. Then comes our teachers, society and the people around at large who could influence. Limiting the time and programmes of what children watch and keeping a guard on their activities on internet, brings in a sense of security in children though they may find it frustrating at the beginning.

 

Character essentially does not mean to follow sentiments and orthodox ways of living. It has to be a right blend of modern thoughts, dreams of future, a focused path of growth and a guided faith. Here the faith is in the future of the upcoming generations; generations free of doubt, fear and intimidation and filled with truth and real moral fiber built with right attitudes and respectful character personalities. Let us rebuild our societies with good moral values, human virtues of friendship, tolerance, care and concern and empathy…to bring in a world of peace, harmony and brotherhood…ending wars of Nations, religions and materialistic greed.

The Pursuit of Happiness... A Real Story unfolded today:-)

An year ago, when I watched the movie "The Pursuit of Happiness', I found one inspirational father, struggling to make a living for him and his son, the troubles, the perseverance and the happy ending. ....

Today,  when our friend in the neighbourhood Glendale Church of Brethren invited us to help us with dinner serving in one such shelter, a home for the homeless people searching for jobs,  I had little to think to extend our help.  

When me and Raghu, joined other 4 people and got the dinner tables ready for close to 40 people, of whom nearly more than 10 were children.,, I just had this movie rolling in front of my eyes.  

With the every plate I served, I only wished that they find work soon, could afford a home and go back to a permanent living at one place..   I wished each one of their lives' would change and reflect that of real Chris Gardener.   The children were so happy, not only to find a home cooked meal, good cookies, but also the real happiness of having a shelter to sleep,.... As we kept serving, we noticed more and more people walking in carrying their hand luggage filled with clothing and other essential stuff.

They were provided with a row of beds, a common  kitchen, decent sanitary facilities, a television and play area for kids, couple of computers to browse for jobs and big thank you board where people while leaving for good have left behind inspiring messages and thank you notes and job postings.  

Amidst all the day to day struggles, they would be going through, for they have to leave the place every day morning and return after 5 in the evening,  still I could see a true sense of gratitude and smiles on their faces.   That shows their optimistic look towards life and definite faith in the good things to come. 

We left the place with fullest gratitude to God, for having given us all good things and also enablement to help others in the smallest ways possible.   I have participated in lot of charitable work back home, but being part of such an endeavour here in States,  I have no words.... Except thankfullness to God....its my real pursuit of happiness...This day made a difference for sure.... I only wish, God takes care of every child who got our meal today :-) 

New Direct Tax Code- Indian Govt Financial Reforms...Quick View

It took close to 40 years to bring in changes to the much cherish Income Tax Act of 1961 and Wealth Tax Act of 1957 to pace with the growing economy.   Of course new course content to Economics Students and Accountants to handle these changes :-)

The New Direct Tax Code will implemented from April 1, 2012.  But it is a good news and this waiting period will help Auditors and Accountants to understand the new regulations that give solace to an ordinary tax payer in India.

Highlights of Direct Tax Code Bill

• First Amended law after Independence that scrapped exemptions to women based on gender... as a woman,  I applaud this decision.  
• The Income Tax Exemption extended from Rs.160000 to Rs. 200000 with no additional exemption to women
• Tax incentives on Leave Travel Allowances (LTA) is scrapped.
• Housing loan interest exemption up to Rs.1.5 lakhs retained....cheering Real Estate markets
• Income between 2- 5 lakhs will pay 10% tax
• Income between 5- 10 lakhs will pay 20%
• Income above 10 lakhs would attract 30%  (additional savings of around Rs 40000 for income over 10 lakhs as against the current slab)
• Marginal increase to the exemption on Senior Citizens from 2.4 to 2.5 lakhs per annum
• Corporate Tax to be flat 30% (against current 33.34 %)
• Wealth Tax exemption limit increased from Rs.15 Lakhs to Rs.1 Crore as against the proposed Rs.50 crores.
• Wealth tax imposed as 1% where as Non-profitable organizations are exempt from wealth taxes
• Exemption on Pension, Provident Funds and gratuity to be Rs.1 lakh, where as Rs 50000 pure exemption is now available on tuition fees and insurance products including health insurances
• Existing provision of zero tax on long term capital gains to continue...
• Revisions made to short term capital gains
• Income between 2-5 lakhs, would pay 5% on short term capital gains (as against current 15%+2%Cess)
• Income between 5-10 lakhs, would pay 10% on short term capital gains
• Income above 10 lakhs, people would pay 15% on short term capital gains
• Dividends on Unit-linked Mutual funds and ULIPS attract 5% tax on these investments
• MAT increased from 18% to 20% on the book profit to the companies

Insinuations of this proposed Bill on Direct Tax Code

• Housing market will breathe again with exemption on the interest on housing loans continued.
• Middle class marginal savings would be increased as investment in approved funds and insurance is increased from 1.2 to 1.5 lakhs
• Regulations on wealth tax will see more of compliance as many properties would fall within the limit set by the government.
• Boost investment flow into long term capital gains for country's infrastructural needs
• Special Economic Zones will enjoy special tax benefits to boost economy empowerment
• Profit linked deductions to SEZ units will have an adverse impact, but have to be rationalized
• Increase in MAT will balance the benefits received in lowering the corporate tax
• Enhance Foreign companies operations in India,  promote foreign institutional investors and global mergers and acquisitions
• Right to equality to women, have first time achieved in reality. Once we earn, we pay the taxes, no matter who we are by gender.
  

The Best Part of this Direct Tax Code bill is that we don't need to wait for the Finance Budgets coming in every year from the Finance Minister's tables and await changes as these would no longer be part of the Country's Annual Finance Bill.  

This firmness and reformed tax structure will enable tax payers and accountants to follow these guidelines moving forward.The power of the Tax Authorities under the General Anti-Avoidance Act remains the same.

Yet, there is a long way to go as far as regularizing the income tax payers in India, bringing in the rich, rater rich to pay more and help the economic ambitions of the country to fulfill.    90% of our Direct Tax payers are in the middle income group and fall under salaried class and only constitute around 30% of tax revenue to the government, where as the 5% of the high income cream layer of the country constitute 70% of the Tax revenues to the government.   Now it is the time to put a reality check on this 5%....are the richer-rich of the country only constituting 5% of tax payers..... are we not accounting our politicians, film fraternity and business world,...... may be time of Tax Payer Reforms and Regulations :-)  Dr Singh, are you listening....?

Made in .............. The Reality of the US Consumer Market

After reading N.S.Ramanathan's article in IBNlive from Forbes India, one 'Indian techies working abroad on choppy waters'..... I found a new topic for my post.

Disclaimer: This post has no correlation to me being in US now or at on site on a Project....but the writer's thoughts on the realities I have witnessed over the years...   This also have no reference to my organization or its employees....

Now towards the reality....

The fact is that the grass is always greener on the other side.    Lot of the comments to the original post, says that the ultimate loser in the game of globalization, outsourcing and new visa reforms, is the common  IT worker..this includes both Indians and Americans..

One side countries try to take cost advantage, use shared services, improved data centres and focus on cloud and other computing technologies that enhance the utility services... there by creating innovation, technology and new platforms for emerging markets.....

The other side, creeps in the economic imbalances, financial downfalls,  manufacturing industries struggling to make domicile decisions and countries suffering from self-reliance.     What every American today feels is what every Indian  felt in 1940's.....Swadesh!.... We have read in our history, how the Nation boycotted foreign goods and called in for Indigenous products and industries to relive its original glory....Today, forget about the IT industry... at least 7 out of the 10 products that people buy in United States today is not manufactured here....Which means that it has become a buyer's market where close to 70-80% of consumer spending is driven towards a different country manufacturing the product.  So it is not just the IT industry but the overall, consumer market have to be re looked just in case they do really want to bring jobs back and bring in more of consumer spending go back to the American grassroots....to rebuild economy, and go back to globalization than going towards centralization in States....

Enterprise Project Management - Methodology

Projects are driven by people who efficiently manage projects using right tools. 

Organization over the years build Enterprise Project Management methodology to handle a suite of projects with a uniformed governance.  This method helps them to have a structure to handle all projects for all customers in an organization to handle from inception to closure.

A structured process attempts to solve most of the Project Management problems in a proven process, at the same time, there is a need to have a customized approach to handle project specific issues. 

EPM ensures there is a structure providing guidelines, templates and checklist for every stage of Project.  Same time, there should be an adequate provision for Tailoring and Waiver and extensively used by Project Managers using their logical thinking, project specific needs and expert judgement.

Decision Making, problem solving and effective attention to management of details should be inclined with the EPM and also consider the big picture of the Organizational Goals and Objectives.  Tool should help project managers achieve their objectives and not complicate the process. 

Hence EPM should be looked as an effective management tool than a cumbersome process built over the years in an Organization.

How to move folders in Sharepoint?

Go to the Action Menu on the sharepoint and click on the Explorer View. 

In the Explorer view, you can drag and drop folders/ files to other locations or cut, copy and paste as needed.

Or use the "Content and Structure" tool in Site Settings

***IT tips are small tit-bits that usually hinder our quick work flow, and thought could help many people who use Sharepoint on regular basis****