Anna != Gandhi

Anna does not equal to Gandhi.

Team Anna Hazare and many others are comparing this anti-corruption protest with the FREEDOM FIGHT against Britishers. Let us just think and assess. If we consider the Britishers as the ruling entity, let us consider the Government of India in the same context (mind well, there is no similarity in attitude, intensions and actions of these two). So both of the entities are the receivers of the protest.

PROTEST FOR WHAT:

 

Freedom	Anti-Corruption
Freedom fight was the protest against Britishers who were outsiders and they were exceptionally insensible and unjust towards the people and the country. The expected outcome was FREEDOM, may be the issue of highest rank for a country and countrymen. Very serious protest!	Fight against corruption is an issue within our own country and receiving rulers are the Government of India which is also our own, a Government which is elected (and not imposed) by us. This is not the sole point to be made to justify the Government’s action. This is just a mandatory and factual assumption. The issues are very serious to but smaller than the fight of freedom.

Freedom fight was a one point agenda and was the sole issue for which the entire nation has one voice, one belief. Fight against corruption is not the sole agenda of the country, countrymen or the Government of India to tackle and to deal with. Corruption is one of the major issues along with inflation, poverty, human rights, communal harmony, terrorism and many others. Yes, it could be a one point agenda for Anna Hazare and team as they have decided to concentrate to work in that one sole area. Appreciated! No complains for that.

So, there is a huge difference between the CAUSE of FIGHT in terms of seriousness and size.

PROTEST WHY:

 

Freedom

Anti-Corruption

A century long battle with Britishers was not an overnight product of mere dissatisfaction of people. The chronic penetration of British rule in each corner of India was a long drawn pain. Inhuman conditions and the heights of tolerances were encountered before it burst out into a historical protest to win our own freedom. Only if we consider Gandhi’s return to India (in 1915) as an actual trigger point of Indian struggle for independence, it took 32 more years to actually get the freedom. The reason is already justified here and now but the reasons for Anna’s protest have to be drawn.

Not before the beginning of 2011, Anna Hazare took the baton of Jan LokPal Bill in his hands. On March 13, 2011, a group of Delhi Residents drove around the city in white clothes to support anti-corruption campaign and passing the Jan LokPal Bill. And the original protest of Anna (as he calls it a Satyagraha) began on April 5, 2011. Within 5 months, Anna, his team and some other people have started comparing it with the half-century long, exceptionally sacrificial struggle of freedom. Neither the objective nor the reasons are anywhere near to the freedom struggle of India.

 

PROTEST HOW:

What triggered this article is the song of Jan LokPal Bill (http://soundcloud.com/avnish-avi/lokpal-song-india-against-corruption) forwarded by one my colleagues – Arpan. The actual soulful meaning of the protest was being felt while listening to this song. It reminded the way songs were written while India’s freedom struggle.

 

Freedom

Anti-Corruption

Despite of intolerable conditions and despite of being the victims of most unjust incidents of the history, people were creative, artistic, full of heart and so much in the actual mood of protest. Most of them hardly held agony, hatred and negativity against Britishers. Rather they had a deep faith in those humans who lived within those Britishers as well. FAITH is the key when something is expected from someone.

With the least faith, bitter mind set, harsh statements, stubborn and agitated approach – this team of Anna Hazare is expecting overnight law from the bill which has been lying there from 1960. Taking an advantage of this agitation, opposition has jeopardized the Parliamentary sessions. All these may sound theoretical but Parliament is the most important place of country’s politics and it is the most important time when the sessions are held to discuss bills, issues and problems of the country. Not letting it function is not going to help anyone!

If Government did not accept the draft of Anna, there could have been rallies in all over the country. Peaceful marches could have take place, with such beautiful songs which could wittily and sensibly bring in more and importantly fundamentally strong support to this protest. Current support to Anna has no soul. It’s a temporary, comfy and situational support. Anna negotiating the length of fast doesn’t make any sense. When in the life, did we hear about the length of fast being negotiated? This is also an entirely different debate.

There is the least similarity between the fight for freedom and fight against corruption. Comparing it with the emergency situation is also irrational. There are many other activists who are fighting for many such causes on state level, going into remote villages who also have practiced fasting, protested, blocked roads – they also have been arrested, kept in custody and released.

People not knowing the battles and struggles within their own home, want to romantically support Anna Hazare and wear ‘Topi’s. Thanks to Media and thanks to the money Anna and team is having who can stage such big events. Same size of events and protests have been taking place within Gujarat for various serious reasons including the protests against nuclear plants, unjust land distribution and natural resource protection. They don’t have 1.5 crore rupees to build a Steven Spielberg fasting stage.

Where is the Sensitivity???

 

I had this usual discussion with my collegues in office, and after 4-5 years this is my observation that if you speak anything against Narendra Modi (which is actually a rational opinion about the way Gujarat is being developed), you get victimized and you might be mobbed. Well fortunately, I was not beated but I would like to share that how disappointing it is know how people think and how they see the world around them. My head is filled with so many painful questions!!!

Whoever it is about, but the mindsets of these friends have become stagnent. Has the faculty of thinking completely dried up? OMG, Why? Why can’t they think? If they do think, why can’t they understand? If they understand, why can’t the choose what is right?

Why can’t they switch off the air condition, open the drapes, open the window and look outside the window? Please look around, it’s not only them. there are millions of other people, citizens, in other cities, villages and everywhere!

All these friends of mine seem to be concerned with the roads through which they commute to their offices, the flyover they have to cross, the cinema & the mall they go to each weekend and some facilities they get in daily life. NOTHING more than that! I asked what should be the priority of the state administration?

Answer: Safety (safe from what? communal riots?), Employment (employment means 25k job for them – nothing less is good because they are getting it), Development (malls, flyovers, buildings and IT companies), Image of State (state should be attractive for the outsiders). These are not my interpretations but their explanation.

Do we have enough understanding of the social priorities? Haven’t we studied about the basic needs of humans in primary school? Haven’t our parents taught that we should be sensitive towards others too!?

Guys please… it is not about any Modi or Singh. It is about being sensitive to our counterparts.

Sachin and his 100th ton!

 (Image source: CricInfo, Getty Images – I thank Getty Images for taking this picture)

“Sacchhhin… he is on! Put the match on!”

20 long years! Not even the CEO of hs own company may not remain on the for 20 long years. But he has. Consistently… Meticulously…!

Today, on the 2000th test match of cricket history, and on the 100th test match between the legacy cricket playing countries – INDIA and ENGLAND, Sachin Tendulkar has walked down on the lush LORD’s pitch, in the spotless weather of England, in the white test match attire – white like Egrets, looking calm, composed and treating each ball with clinical excellence.

Stage is set for the most memorable, actually one more memorable achievement for the maestro of all time! When I ask my heart it says, HE WILL and when I ask my mind, my heart intrudes and tells my mind that HE WILL!!!

He still drives the BILLION INDIANS with the same spirit. It’s just a bliss to watch him!

Mumbai Bomb Blast Incident Trail

Scene: House of an educated Indian Family

JULY 13, 19:05

wroom wroom… Finished work… Go home… Watch TV…
BOMB BLASTS IN MUMBAI…

JULY 13, 20:13

Open FACEBOOK.. THROW UP….

“We can’t fight terrorist”

“Our Government is impotent”

“Manmohan Singh should wear bangles”

“Our police is useless”

JULY 13, 20:35

Open Twitter.. Throw up again…

“We need AK47”

“We need anti-terrorism law”

“We should shoot Kasab now!”

“We should attack and destroy Pakistan”

JULY 13, 20:45

“Honey, is the dinner ready? What do we have? Oh, Enchilladas! Wow… Let’s have it”

JULY 13, 21:41

“It was a hectic day honey, had clients, had meetings!…”

“Yes, I too had to drive 10 km to find the new beauty parlour!”

JULY 13, 23:29

“Ice cream was really nice today…” “Yes, it was organic!”

“Good Night!” – “Good Night”

My Name is Khan! I don’t want to meet Mr. CM :D

“Yaar, aaj to Ready ki tickets nahi milengi! Yeh Ahmedabad hai, Modi se jyada Salman ke fans hai yahan par…”

I just hope that this remains the reality and people love Being Human instead of in-humans. 🙂 Some office chaps talking about today’s release of READY. Salman Khan is still a hot pick when it comes to masala movies! Expected to be an entertainer this time.

Mr Modi met Amitabh Bacchan, Sunil Shetty, Ajay Devgan & many other celebrities. Why are you not meeting any of the Khans, dear common man? Bloody Biased Being!

An Open Letter to Maruti Motors

Date: 27-05-2011

Ahmedabad

http://www.marutisuzuki.com/Maruti-joins-hands-with-the-Gujarat-Government-to-set-up-Driving-and-Technical-Training-Institute-for-Tribal-Youth.aspx

Dear MARUTI,

As a leading car manufacturer of India, we are undoubtedly proud of you and we are deeply attached with the brand and products of Maruti with the stories it has spelled over the years and years now.

With the sheer concern and with the respect towards Maruti, I would like to bring your attention to a serious matter. As it has been read in all newspapers and on your own website, Maruti is coming to Gujarat to establish an automobile training institute. Well, many congratulations! It is a very good news. Being an open-eyed citizen of Gujarat and having seen the tide of awareness in Gujarat being spread by some authentic leaders, I would like to bring your attention to a few things which you must check, verify and confirm before you land into this huge initiative:

• The present Gujarat government has been involved in a random land distribution to the industries and businesses **2 with the least concern to the owners of those lands, environmental safety and also overlooking the legitimacy of the transactions. Hence, firstly it is very important that the land acquisition taking place by Gujarat government for Maruti is legal and more importantly, moral.

• It is also important that whatever clearances and certificates Maruti receives from government or relevant departments, it is necessary to verify that it has been provided to you it all of its legalities and maturity.

• As the initiative is mentioned to be a part of Maruti’s social responsibility, it is strongly recommended that the CSR team visit and assess the land situation and people’s concern wherever the training institute is going to be located.

• The issues may range from forced land acquisition, underpaid purchasing of land, type of land (fertile lands cannot be used for industrial development) **1, employment of local people, pollution and other environmental hazards affecting the local people, the portion of water and other natural resources used by the training unit and if that affects the overall need of the local people.

If all these issues are addressed and if all the clearances from the Environment department are proven and well assessed, you are more than welcome in the throbbing land of Gujarat. Gujarat is rich with its agriculture and farmers in hundreds of villages, enriched with remarkable and beautiful natural resources in remote places in all over state. We and I am sure, you too would like to preserve these natural resources, preserve the livelihoods of people and preserve the human integrity wherever you are, or we are.

Recently, Supreme Court has rejected the clearance of environment safety for cement plant of Nirma in Mahuva, Gujarat. After two years of agitating protest of farmers and people of Mahuva, who were about to lose their livelihoods which majorly relies on the fertile lands and water resource around Mahuva. MoEF has advised SC that Nirma has to move the cement plant from their current site to save the natural resources. In the entire circus, even if we forget everything, Nirma is going to lose several crore rupees of investment because of this decision from MoEF.

Nirma tasted the sweetness when they got the clearance from environment department and also got the wetland for very good price, but at the end they suffer a huge loss. This can happen to any industrialist and any business if they do not chose the right path. One would not be able to blame government who helped them grabbing all good lands and natural resources for cheap prices. People are waking up and they are ready to act.

With all due respect to Maruti, it is the only small request of mine that please consider the nature, people and farms before presenting projected graphs of fantastic social responsibility work.

Kindest Regards

Sneh

Email: sneh@red-em.com

Phone: 9979506249

Some Links to refer:

**1 http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Nirma-cement-plant-has-violated-green-norms-SC-told/articleshow/8232346.cms

**2 http://www.livemint.com/2011/03/16223138/A-land-policy-debate-unfolds-i.html

http://www.inewsone.com/2011/03/27/no-more-forced-land-acquisition-says-buddhadeb/38584

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-05-25/india/29580895_1_land-owners-urgency-clause-public-purpose

http://deshgujarat.com/2011/03/18/sc-orders-formation-of-8-member-committee-on-nirma-issue/

APPLEification!

With whole lot of options to flash a new OS in my HTC HD2 from WP7 to Android froyo, the rat race is to bind the user. In none of these latest operating systems we can easily connect the phone with the PC, neither we can access the files on the phone. We can also NOT do a lot of other things which we could simply do in older and less advanced systems.

I don’t need a dual OS on my phone. I need a rather simpler access to files, contacts and synchronization with my PC.

Well, dear WP7 and so called dear Android – You have disappointed me to the core. All these personalization is the result of APPLEification of the market.

Due to this rat race, a lot of techie bloggers have some work to do.

Not even addressing you un-dear APPLE!

Do not giftanyone with dishonesty!

Fortunately, I haven’t come across many dishonest people (at least to me) and hence that could be the reason that I feel very discomforted when I get confronted with naked dishonesty! One of the recently delivered works of mine and my wonderful group has been labeled as someone else’s!

When such thing occurs from a sensible and well educated professional, it’s an utter shame! There is always a good chance and opportunity where you can show some honesty! You lose it, you ain’t going no far!

God bless them and restrain my nerves from discomfort!

Know Your Neighbourhood…

21st century woke up with the dawn of extraordinary inventions and also horrendous issues within the society, environment and economy. Where does the right solution lie? INDIA has enough financial resources to empower the poor section! We do not lack infrastructure and arrangements to bring up the problems on the board!

India today, does not seem to be unable to deal with the serious issues we have! Our NGOs, our wealthy industries and businesses, the pool of young, intelligent & talented population and increasing awareness through media and technologies – these are the few of those able sources which can make a difference. Having said that, what can the individuals do?

It is more appropriate to touch upon some questions than answering them right now, because most of us may not think enough about it! Are we Mahatma? I guess, no. Are we Abraham Lincoln? Are we Dalai Lama? No, we are common people with constrained ability, access and power to the resources which does not motivate our intensions and turn our inner zeal into practice. But there is something we all have and that something we do not know. We could be no different than any great personality only if we identify our own ability though limited.

Watering the roots should make the tree grow up and high! Roots have to be very strong to survive a long life. Three major institutions of the society, family, schools-colleges and friends-family (let us call it ‘the neighbourhood’). I have to acknowledge one of my acquaintances who helped me to vocalize this word which was roaming inside of me somewhere! Families pour the substantial values, schools and colleges teach public behaviour and manners whereas what is more important is NEIGHBOURHOOD which remains with us, keeps changing us for the major part of our lives. Hence the first thing is to be aware what is happening around us and then to think of doing something about it!

How can a business/IT professional make a difference? How can an accountant who is just making his/her livelihood, help someone in day-to-day life? Apparently, these people may have least time to spare to conduct a camp, to volunteer in a public service or to join a protest against injustice. As said, there are organisations and nowadays corporate social responsibilities to do that. We all are small time people with our little ability to help others. But often we help a person who meets with an accident on a street, who needs a quick lift to somewhere, who needs a little help with their electric fuse and many other ways.

We apply our hands when we get confronted by our own swoon values or our human responsibilities. We hardly know that what our neighbours are up to! We least know about their profession, their views about others or us, their interests and sort of problems they face in public life. Technically speaking, a piece of information is always helpful! Knowing about your neighbourhood can solve a lot of issues itself. A computer professional can fix someone’s minor problem in minutes! Two neighbours have to travel long to work but their offices are so close to each other, can share a car while going to work every day – which eventually saves money and precious fuel on this earth. There can be so many other major things as well which can be worked out! So again, it is about being aware of neighbourhood and being proactive to know.

Recently, some religious issues got surfaced regarding acquiring a residence in Mumbai and also in Ahmedabad.  Most people do prefer to live in equated communities and we do resist residents from other cast, religion and even language. Again, when we do not know much about our neighbours we know WRONG about them! What do we know about Muslim or Jain religion? Most of us can only give the name of their prophet and their holy book! We wouldn’t know more than this and still we have strong presumptions about their religious practices. Our most opinions are based on incomplete information and our resistive attitude. We are far too busy in blaming government and authorities. One of the recent movies, YEH MERA INDIA (YMI) did try to convey a simple and basic message which is still very deep and worth understanding. There are always good things and bad things; it is up to us what we remember. Resisting the human nature, which is more intolerant about negative things, is the foremost thing we could consider.

Knowing about your surroundings may lead you to be a little helpful to others and there is no university of social services, NGO or public bodies you have to go to. I trust our humane instinct that with some more awareness about the people next door will surely do wonders!

Amen…

Visit  www.snehism.com to view the site.

Social Networking or Socially Exposing!

 

Business minds know what people can fall for! They are called marketing gurus in this era of “anything is saleable with correct marketing”! Emails and chats are still thrilling for people in this time of VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol- which provides cheap internet calls in all over the world) and video conferencing! We like to feel the anxiety. Social networking sites have poured in last five years and still the market is wide open to this domain, because people are blindly falling for those!

It was an amazing thing just before a few years, to see our own picture onto a computers screen. We used to shuffle drives, floppy disks and scanners to get ourselves on to that cathode ray tube! But now it’s on your finger tip to upload photos in a minute and share with the friends! All fair, until it is played fair. But the commercial ideas behind this sites have not yet come to the light. They have been sensed by the experts of the industry. Over the time it is learnt that the power of data (which can easily be transformed into organized information) is phenomenal. Hence the plethora of information being uploaded by the users can never go without being utilized at the end. And it has just stared what we call it an information age. Essential is to be cautious while being on internet as you never know where you have been tracked and observed!

Social networks are a step ahead, which lure you to enter, submit, share and send information, pictures, videos openly to the world. The kind of information social networks store create a pattern of your activities. Sites like MSN and Facebook are clearly recording your activities as we like to update ourselves on internet every hour! At first sight, it wouldn’t seem that serious, but the first disadvantage is the addiction it creates. In one case, a middle aged relative of a girl signed off from the her network and as a result the girl got into serious depression for not finding that online friend for days! This was an emotional side of it.

Technical hazards are far more serious than this. Recently, Facebook’s terms created a firestorm, as it said that social network site claims the ownership to the contents and photos even if the users delete them.

But then they strategically changed to this…

“Consumer advocacy blog The Consumerist phrased Facebook’s fresh policy as “We Can Do Anything We Want With Your Content. Forever,” pointing out that Facebook’s ToS spruce-up removed several sentences in which the company said its licenses on user content expired upon account deletion.”

Source: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13577_3-10165190-36.html

Please do not miss to view these links,

http://www.therawfeed.com/2009/02/facebook-thinks-youre-stupid.html

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=27381690528&topic=3981

http://themcode.wordpress.com/2008/03/14/facebook-privacy-policy-youre-exposed/

Well, this is something we can even see in the corporate policies and seek legal help. But what about those threats that we cannot even imagine about. There are huge networks who forge pictures and publish them on various sites! We are among the millions who post their information and pictures on such sites so the chance of being a victim is fraction of a per cent, but we cannot deny the chance.

Just for fun, to play a prank or may be just to take a little revenge against the you by your friend, your information and photos can be misused at any extent. With the perspective of uncertain human behavior, we cannot ignore this fact. It has been observed that most of the criminal and abusive instances take place as the result of spontaneous provocation or reaction, and that instance would not be of more than 10-15 seconds! But the victim may suffer the life for that.

Now the social networkers range from 12 years old to more than 80 years old. There are millions of groups like, ‘I don’t like doughnut’ Group to ‘Vote Obama’ Group. Countless hours are being spent on social sites nowadays! Many people do have more than 4 social network profiles. One more important issue which is the prime threat is social disconnection and isolation from social communities. Youngsters like spending more time on “Online” world, and what is more interesting is, they call the real world, an “Offline” world! It was quite dreadful to hear that word. The real world associations, friends, connections are all slowly slipping away. Even in offices, employees spend their hours in front of the computer, they laugh, feel sad, feel excited, get angry – looking at the computer screen without having a word of conversation with their acquaintances. More you share and access the information, more it is likely to complicate your relations and your own nature. That is an experience learnt!

What we all need to do is, just be aware and alert to what we are doing. It is great fun to see our pictures and share those with friends on internet, but is equally hazardous as well. Use your own senses and discretion!

Happy Networking!!!