Passionate About India: Paralysed courts are facilitating perverts to rape...:
Massive scams, election booth rigging through muscle power, murders in broad daylight and rapes of women on streets, in complete disregard of law and almost daring it... each of these is possible continuously and blatantly only due to one reason – the paralyzed judiciary of our country. It’s not the dearth of law but the dearth of the hand of law reaching the criminal, goon, politician, scamster and rapist.
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Thursday, 20 December 2012
Thursday, 13 December 2012
Typos: WHAT’S THE POINT OF IT?
Typos: WHAT’S THE POINT OF IT?:
So there I stood leaning on the hood of the Mahindra 550DP GPV after a ride through the rugged bone jarring trails of the sanctuary, moping while sifting through the handful of pictures I had managed to take that morning, when another Mahindra 550 - the rover of choice on these car killer trails- drove out of the sanctuary and parked next to the tea stall where I had parked.
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: E-MORAL SCIENCES
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: E-MORAL SCIENCES:
With cybercrimes being attempted at every other home, it’s imperative to introduce the same at age (and in the way), schools introduce other criminal and unethical behaviours. Around 1,630 arrests were made for cybercrimes (under the Information Technology Act, 2000) in 2011 alone, which is a sharp increase from 2010 by almost 100 per cent. With emergence of smart phones and mobile telephony, cybercrimes have seen a paradigm shift .
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With cybercrimes being attempted at every other home, it’s imperative to introduce the same at age (and in the way), schools introduce other criminal and unethical behaviours. Around 1,630 arrests were made for cybercrimes (under the Information Technology Act, 2000) in 2011 alone, which is a sharp increase from 2010 by almost 100 per cent. With emergence of smart phones and mobile telephony, cybercrimes have seen a paradigm shift .
Read More....
Passionate About India: How patents are anti-poor and are harming essentia...
Passionate About India: How patents are anti-poor and are harming essentia...:
Anyway, once she was admitted to the ICU at Apollo and we got talking to the doctor, and wondered how in such a big city such few beds were available for burn victims, his answer shocked us further. He said that a burn injury is a poor man’s injury and ergo didn’t have many hospitals as takers. Before this incident, it had never struck me that this was the case. It should have been quite obvious actually: it is the poor woman – and not really the man – who gets burnt when her saree catches fire from the kitchen stove kept on the floor.
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Anyway, once she was admitted to the ICU at Apollo and we got talking to the doctor, and wondered how in such a big city such few beds were available for burn victims, his answer shocked us further. He said that a burn injury is a poor man’s injury and ergo didn’t have many hospitals as takers. Before this incident, it had never struck me that this was the case. It should have been quite obvious actually: it is the poor woman – and not really the man – who gets burnt when her saree catches fire from the kitchen stove kept on the floor.
Read More....
Thursday, 6 December 2012
Passionate About India: Could the China-Japan tensions initiate an economi...
Passionate About India: Could the China-Japan tensions initiate an economi...:
There is, of course, nothing new in the conflict between Japan and China. Through centuries, these two Asian neighbours have been brutal to each other – politically, economically and militarily.
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There is, of course, nothing new in the conflict between Japan and China. Through centuries, these two Asian neighbours have been brutal to each other – politically, economically and militarily.
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Sutanu Guru: UNDERESTIMATING THE INDIAN VOTER AGAIN AND AGAIN A...
Sutanu Guru: UNDERESTIMATING THE INDIAN VOTER AGAIN AND AGAIN A...:
The so called mainstream media is at it again – making a fool of itself and displaying unending contempt for the native intelligence of the Indian voter. Once again, we are being told by pundits and sycophantic and servile courtiers masquerading as columnists that the Congress and the UPA have got their mojo back and look set to win the Lok Sabha elections due in 2014. The reasons offered are many. For one, the BJP is in a mess and has failed to capitalize on the serial scams haunting the Congress since 2010. Then again,
Read More...
The so called mainstream media is at it again – making a fool of itself and displaying unending contempt for the native intelligence of the Indian voter. Once again, we are being told by pundits and sycophantic and servile courtiers masquerading as columnists that the Congress and the UPA have got their mojo back and look set to win the Lok Sabha elections due in 2014. The reasons offered are many. For one, the BJP is in a mess and has failed to capitalize on the serial scams haunting the Congress since 2010. Then again,
Read More...
Typos: THE SWINGER'S CLUB
Typos: THE SWINGER'S CLUB:
That mace is staring at me from across the room even as I type these words, as it leans against the wall and seems to taunt me. “Come, don’t be shy… lift me up if you dare. You lift weights, don’t you, bragging about all the tons you can pull in the deadlift ? Then why are you running away from me.. I wouldn’t be 25 kgs from head to toe?”
Read More....
That mace is staring at me from across the room even as I type these words, as it leans against the wall and seems to taunt me. “Come, don’t be shy… lift me up if you dare. You lift weights, don’t you, bragging about all the tons you can pull in the deadlift ? Then why are you running away from me.. I wouldn’t be 25 kgs from head to toe?”
Read More....
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: ATM PIN GOES PUBLIC
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: ATM PIN GOES PUBLIC:
The expression of risk in banking/financial fraud is as grave, if not more, in India as in other developed countries like US and UK. It is because of loopholes in our regulations and greater propensity to outsource services by our banks. For instance, allotment of bank account, credit/debit cards, cheque books, ATM PIN And other such details are dispatched to the customers through outsourced sources increasing the risk of misuse.
Read More...
The expression of risk in banking/financial fraud is as grave, if not more, in India as in other developed countries like US and UK. It is because of loopholes in our regulations and greater propensity to outsource services by our banks. For instance, allotment of bank account, credit/debit cards, cheque books, ATM PIN And other such details are dispatched to the customers through outsourced sources increasing the risk of misuse.
Read More...
Thursday, 29 November 2012
Passionate About India: When weapons are to be tested, the Gazas become th...
Passionate About India: When weapons are to be tested, the Gazas become th...:
War, has always – especially in recent history – been a tool to display a nation’s military might. It is a way of flaunting newly developed state-of-the-art weaponries and defence technologies. War today provides a platform for selling arms in the open market.
Read More...
War, has always – especially in recent history – been a tool to display a nation’s military might. It is a way of flaunting newly developed state-of-the-art weaponries and defence technologies. War today provides a platform for selling arms in the open market.
Read More...
Passionate About India: When weapons are to be tested, the Gazas become th...
Passionate About India: When weapons are to be tested, the Gazas become th...:
War, has always – especially in recent history – been a tool to display a nation’s military might. It is a way of flaunting newly developed state-of-the-art weaponries and defence technologies. War today provides a platform for selling arms in the open market.
Read More...
War, has always – especially in recent history – been a tool to display a nation’s military might. It is a way of flaunting newly developed state-of-the-art weaponries and defence technologies. War today provides a platform for selling arms in the open market.
Read More...
Typos: BEAR WITH US, PLEASE…
Typos: BEAR WITH US, PLEASE…:
Land of the tiger? Yeah ok… Land of the tiger too, but is the Royal Bengal Tiger our largest, most imposing predator? Well, not really… That crown sits not on the head of the tiger. Nay, it isn’t even the regal and mighty Asiatic lion but the massive head of a giant that lumbers his way across the mountain slopes of the high Himalayas, way above the tree line that wears this crown. More than seven feet tall and weighing in at close to 300 kgs, the Himalayan brown bear towers over its other more media friendly predatory rivals. But of all the thousands who flock to the tiger reserves with their shiny new SLRs, and XL camouflage jackets, trussed up in their luxury resort jeeps and SUVs, how many have ever trekked up to the mountains to catch a glimpse of this magnificent monster? In my defence, I must insist that I did go up to Gushaini, the gateway to the Great Himalayan National Park where walks this great beast, but circumstances stopped me from pursuing the tracks of this giant then… But I will go back!
click here to read more........
Land of the tiger? Yeah ok… Land of the tiger too, but is the Royal Bengal Tiger our largest, most imposing predator? Well, not really… That crown sits not on the head of the tiger. Nay, it isn’t even the regal and mighty Asiatic lion but the massive head of a giant that lumbers his way across the mountain slopes of the high Himalayas, way above the tree line that wears this crown. More than seven feet tall and weighing in at close to 300 kgs, the Himalayan brown bear towers over its other more media friendly predatory rivals. But of all the thousands who flock to the tiger reserves with their shiny new SLRs, and XL camouflage jackets, trussed up in their luxury resort jeeps and SUVs, how many have ever trekked up to the mountains to catch a glimpse of this magnificent monster? In my defence, I must insist that I did go up to Gushaini, the gateway to the Great Himalayan National Park where walks this great beast, but circumstances stopped me from pursuing the tracks of this giant then… But I will go back!
click here to read more........
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: GREEN IS THE NEW BLACK!
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: GREEN IS THE NEW BLACK!:
In the same light, the Supreme Court has recently floated a proposal to impose “a green tax on new and existing private diesel vehicles to check pollution in the National Capital Region.” The bench proposed to tax diesel vehicles with a green tax that would be 25 per cent of the cost of the vehicle. This is to make sure that the subsidy being offered in form of lower diesel prices comes back to the government.
Read More..
In the same light, the Supreme Court has recently floated a proposal to impose “a green tax on new and existing private diesel vehicles to check pollution in the National Capital Region.” The bench proposed to tax diesel vehicles with a green tax that would be 25 per cent of the cost of the vehicle. This is to make sure that the subsidy being offered in form of lower diesel prices comes back to the government.
Read More..
Thursday, 22 November 2012
Passionate About India: Will the Supreme Court please clearly define the t...
Passionate About India: Will the Supreme Court please clearly define the t...:
Having said that, it is shocking how a professor can be arrested in Bengal for forwarding a cartoon on Facebook; how a cartoonist can be arrested for making a cartoon on the government; and unbelievably, how a young girl – Shaheen Dhadha – can be arrested for posting something as basic as: “With all respect, every day, thousands of people die, but still the world moves on.
Read More...
Having said that, it is shocking how a professor can be arrested in Bengal for forwarding a cartoon on Facebook; how a cartoonist can be arrested for making a cartoon on the government; and unbelievably, how a young girl – Shaheen Dhadha – can be arrested for posting something as basic as: “With all respect, every day, thousands of people die, but still the world moves on.
Read More...
Typos: BRAVEHEARTS AGAINST THE APOCALYPSE
Typos: BRAVEHEARTS AGAINST THE APOCALYPSE:
The ‘Academy’ never happened. Some of us studied engineering, others management, and all those women who couldn’t see beyond men in uniform settled down happily with power dressing executives and one of them even a psychiatrist.
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The ‘Academy’ never happened. Some of us studied engineering, others management, and all those women who couldn’t see beyond men in uniform settled down happily with power dressing executives and one of them even a psychiatrist.
Read More...
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: IITF IS STILL AN INFANT
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: IITF IS STILL AN INFANT:
The trade fairs, unlike consumer fairs, do not have any restrictions to curtail the entry of the general public. Thus, the hype that surrounds the event invites the participation of not only professionals and company representatives but also the intrigued public. The large trade fairs are gala affairs that attract an onslaught of advertisements and media frenzy that is, even sometimes, carried on as developmental strategy for the host city.
Read More...
The trade fairs, unlike consumer fairs, do not have any restrictions to curtail the entry of the general public. Thus, the hype that surrounds the event invites the participation of not only professionals and company representatives but also the intrigued public. The large trade fairs are gala affairs that attract an onslaught of advertisements and media frenzy that is, even sometimes, carried on as developmental strategy for the host city.
Read More...
Thursday, 15 November 2012
Passionate About India: Lessons on inner-party democracy from the American...
Passionate About India: Lessons on inner-party democracy from the American...:
The root cause for such a contest of attrition of democracy is that our Constitution does not enforce a structure for inner-party democracy and does not account for the fact that the electorate should have the right to choose the leader of every political party
Read More....
The root cause for such a contest of attrition of democracy is that our Constitution does not enforce a structure for inner-party democracy and does not account for the fact that the electorate should have the right to choose the leader of every political party
Read More....
The Fascinating World of Marketing: DO YOU HAVE MUSCLES FOR MICROMARKETING?
The Fascinating World of Marketing: DO YOU HAVE MUSCLES FOR MICROMARKETING?:
Bharti Airtel handles around 8 billion calls daily generating humongous amount of data. Based on this it has divided its customers into nearly 100,000 segments to whom it offers customised products based on their usage pattern. Right now it is working to provide at least three services to each customer, to improve stickiness, working on the insight that customers for multiple services tend to stay on longer than single service users. Further, due to call drops it was facing the problem of churn. At nearly 40% it was a huge number. When it analysed the data it found that a customer was most likely to switch to another service provider if six or more calls dropped in a day
Read More...
Bharti Airtel handles around 8 billion calls daily generating humongous amount of data. Based on this it has divided its customers into nearly 100,000 segments to whom it offers customised products based on their usage pattern. Right now it is working to provide at least three services to each customer, to improve stickiness, working on the insight that customers for multiple services tend to stay on longer than single service users. Further, due to call drops it was facing the problem of churn. At nearly 40% it was a huge number. When it analysed the data it found that a customer was most likely to switch to another service provider if six or more calls dropped in a day
Read More...
Business is Marketing: BOOTSTRAP YOUR WAY TO SUCCESS!
Business is Marketing: BOOTSTRAP YOUR WAY TO SUCCESS!:
The term is attributed to a story written by Rudolf Erich. The story titled The Surprising Adventures of Baron Munchausen is based on a series of tales narrated by the Baron about his travels, with some impossible feats and daring escapes.
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The term is attributed to a story written by Rudolf Erich. The story titled The Surprising Adventures of Baron Munchausen is based on a series of tales narrated by the Baron about his travels, with some impossible feats and daring escapes.
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Wednesday, 14 November 2012
Typos: AND BUDDHA CRIED
Typos: AND BUDDHA CRIED:
Just hours ago, Buddha had been walking towards his tutor’s house, when he heard a familiar voice… “ Buddha, wait… !” Looking up, he saw a head dart in from a first floor window. It was Babu, his friend, a fellow ‘gang member’. Babu could not contain his excitement. “Come, I have a plan!” What happened next was still a bit of a blur for Buddha. The tuitions forgotten, the two reached the parking lot of a theatre and ‘got to work’, stashing their newly acquired ‘loot’ in the satchel that contained Buddha’s unused notebook.
Read More...
Just hours ago, Buddha had been walking towards his tutor’s house, when he heard a familiar voice… “ Buddha, wait… !” Looking up, he saw a head dart in from a first floor window. It was Babu, his friend, a fellow ‘gang member’. Babu could not contain his excitement. “Come, I have a plan!” What happened next was still a bit of a blur for Buddha. The tuitions forgotten, the two reached the parking lot of a theatre and ‘got to work’, stashing their newly acquired ‘loot’ in the satchel that contained Buddha’s unused notebook.
Read More...
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: GRAFT THE DRAFT MANIFESTO
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: GRAFT THE DRAFT MANIFESTO:
India’s political outfits have time and again exploited the short memories of poor and illiterate (or at best the semi-educated) masses that forms the basis of the country’s electoral pattern.
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India’s political outfits have time and again exploited the short memories of poor and illiterate (or at best the semi-educated) masses that forms the basis of the country’s electoral pattern.
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Thursday, 8 November 2012
Passionate About India: Why BJP can't afford to lose Gadkari!
Passionate About India: Why BJP can't afford to lose Gadkari!:
In fact, they have been also busy digging their own grave! Every time a state-level leader with a mass following becomes powerful in BJP and acquires a stature, the big guys in Delhi seem to be too intent to kill that rise.
Wednesday, 7 November 2012
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: JOBS APART
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: JOBS APART:
The part-time jobs’ credo provides an answer to the unsettling poverty and unemployment through rapid urbanisation in which there is better chance in poverty reduction. The urbanisation actually hasn’t taken off in India in last two decades.
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The part-time jobs’ credo provides an answer to the unsettling poverty and unemployment through rapid urbanisation in which there is better chance in poverty reduction. The urbanisation actually hasn’t taken off in India in last two decades.
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Typos: AN EDEN IN MY BACKYARD
Typos: AN EDEN IN MY BACKYARD:
The other dark desire I harbour is a little more primal. I hope to catch two blue-bulls (male nilgai) lock horns in a battle for the right to love. I have heard a lot about the spectacle where rival males go down on their front knees as they wrestle for supremacy. And do not blanche, it is usually a bloodless affair which involves a lot of parrying and thrusting but little blood-letting.
Read More...
The other dark desire I harbour is a little more primal. I hope to catch two blue-bulls (male nilgai) lock horns in a battle for the right to love. I have heard a lot about the spectacle where rival males go down on their front knees as they wrestle for supremacy. And do not blanche, it is usually a bloodless affair which involves a lot of parrying and thrusting but little blood-letting.
Read More...
Wednesday, 31 October 2012
Typos: FAITH IN THE FALLEN
Typos: FAITH IN THE FALLEN:
It really isn’t a question of who is clean and who is tainted on the Tour but more a case of who gets caught and who doesn’t. I’m not defending Armstrong for having used drugs to gain an unfair advantage.
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It really isn’t a question of who is clean and who is tainted on the Tour but more a case of who gets caught and who doesn’t. I’m not defending Armstrong for having used drugs to gain an unfair advantage.
Read More..
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: WELCOME STARBUCKS
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: WELCOME STARBUCKS:
APMC Acts require the agricultural produce to pass through the channels of authorized middlemen before it reaches the end users, portending financial loss for the farmers. Further, Essential Commodities Act, too, is a restrictive instrument that put caps on the volume and distribution of the farm produces, ratcheting the farmers’ despair. Despite some serious efforts by the government, it has failed to bring about any major changes in the APMC Act, as any effort to trim the middlemen attracted strong opposition of state’s traders lobby in the fear of putting their employment at risk. An integration of supply chain is needed that can be transformational in the way agricultural distribution is carried on in the country since independence;
Read More..
APMC Acts require the agricultural produce to pass through the channels of authorized middlemen before it reaches the end users, portending financial loss for the farmers. Further, Essential Commodities Act, too, is a restrictive instrument that put caps on the volume and distribution of the farm produces, ratcheting the farmers’ despair. Despite some serious efforts by the government, it has failed to bring about any major changes in the APMC Act, as any effort to trim the middlemen attracted strong opposition of state’s traders lobby in the fear of putting their employment at risk. An integration of supply chain is needed that can be transformational in the way agricultural distribution is carried on in the country since independence;
Read More..
Thursday, 25 October 2012
Passionate About India: The unfortunate social costs of Coalgate and such ...
Passionate About India: The unfortunate social costs of Coalgate and such ...:
here have been waves of protests in most of the coal mining states – particularly socially conscious Maharashtra – against pollution, environment hazards, and land acquisition... but nothing much was done. Land procurement is done by the government, and also by the private coal mining companies, which have very little respect for the laws, and who have very little good-faith negotiations with the land owners! And mind you, these activities are on since decades, even before any coal scam was discovered.
Read More...
here have been waves of protests in most of the coal mining states – particularly socially conscious Maharashtra – against pollution, environment hazards, and land acquisition... but nothing much was done. Land procurement is done by the government, and also by the private coal mining companies, which have very little respect for the laws, and who have very little good-faith negotiations with the land owners! And mind you, these activities are on since decades, even before any coal scam was discovered.
Read More...
Typos: THE PRICE OF FAITH
Typos: THE PRICE OF FAITH:
It is that time of the year again when the Kash flowers sway in the autumn light and the Probashi (non-resident) Bengali spirit gets a second wind. It is that time of the year when the Mother Goddess returns to Pandals and homes across the country for a four-day-long celebration of divinity and cultural character – it is the time for Durga Puja. Every year, there is a child in me who waits for these days of the Puja like a farmer waiting for the rain, and yet for the last two years though, I must confess that my celebrations have always been tempered with a tinge of guilt.
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: THE DIRTY BUSINESS
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: THE DIRTY BUSINESS:
The mafias are in thick in their strive to control the garbage knolls in the country’s national capital too. The prerogatives and the style of operation in Delhi by the garbage mafias are ditto to Bangalore. Th at is the reason, why Delhi government is trying to endorse the privatisation of the business so that mafia-recruited 3.5 lakh waste pickers (mostly children) can also be dealt with simultaneously.
Read More...
The mafias are in thick in their strive to control the garbage knolls in the country’s national capital too. The prerogatives and the style of operation in Delhi by the garbage mafias are ditto to Bangalore. Th at is the reason, why Delhi government is trying to endorse the privatisation of the business so that mafia-recruited 3.5 lakh waste pickers (mostly children) can also be dealt with simultaneously.
Read More...
Thursday, 18 October 2012
Passionate About India: Is even Aroon Purie not worth defending?
Passionate About India: Is even Aroon Purie not worth defending?:
A colleague then sent me a clip of the press conference where the Law Minister is clearly telling a journalist that he will see him in court. My fault, but once again I thought that this was more entertainment than news. But I did sit with my father and switch some channels that night, and I did read the newspapers more carefully the next day. And I was horrified. Louise Fernandes Khurshid, the wife of the Union Law Minister and the person who actually runs the Zakir Hussain Trust, has filed a Rs 100 crore civil defamation case against the two channels Aaj Tak and Headlines Today. Nothing surprising about that, for every Indian has the right to file a defamation case if he or she feels aggrieved.
Read More...
A colleague then sent me a clip of the press conference where the Law Minister is clearly telling a journalist that he will see him in court. My fault, but once again I thought that this was more entertainment than news. But I did sit with my father and switch some channels that night, and I did read the newspapers more carefully the next day. And I was horrified. Louise Fernandes Khurshid, the wife of the Union Law Minister and the person who actually runs the Zakir Hussain Trust, has filed a Rs 100 crore civil defamation case against the two channels Aaj Tak and Headlines Today. Nothing surprising about that, for every Indian has the right to file a defamation case if he or she feels aggrieved.
Read More...
Wednesday, 17 October 2012
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: LET THE WATER FLOW!
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: LET THE WATER FLOW!
:
Kaveri river dispute in India is not at all a new agenda. But what is actually surprising is the age of this dispute. Decades have passed, but this one dispute is still as fresh as its inception. The refusal to drop the claims of Kaveri water by Karnataka and Tamil Nadu has been major bumps on the road in a long standing stand-off that is yet to be resolved. The infighting revolves round the contention of Karnataka’s demand for more water, as they feel they are deprived of its due share, and Tamil Nadu’s counter claim that 3,00,000 acres depend directly on Kaveri’s water and millions of farmers will lose their livelihood if their allotted share is diverted.
Click here Read More:
:
Kaveri river dispute in India is not at all a new agenda. But what is actually surprising is the age of this dispute. Decades have passed, but this one dispute is still as fresh as its inception. The refusal to drop the claims of Kaveri water by Karnataka and Tamil Nadu has been major bumps on the road in a long standing stand-off that is yet to be resolved. The infighting revolves round the contention of Karnataka’s demand for more water, as they feel they are deprived of its due share, and Tamil Nadu’s counter claim that 3,00,000 acres depend directly on Kaveri’s water and millions of farmers will lose their livelihood if their allotted share is diverted.
Click here Read More:
Thursday, 11 October 2012
Passionate About India: Six years of The Sunday Indian and six defining ch...
Passionate About India: Six years of The Sunday Indian and six defining ch...:
These have been truly turbulent years. Between then and now, we have seen Mayawati sweep Uttar Pradesh and then lose it badly. Between then and now, India has miserably lost the Cricket World Cup and then won it handsomely. Between then and now, the Indian economy has changed from being a rampaging elephant to a caged tiger once again. Between then and now, the three Khans of Bollywood have further cemented their supremacy over the box office. Between then and now, Rahul Gandhi has been transformed from being the latest Great White Hope to a question mark and an enigma. Between then and now, the loot and plunder of natural resources through crony capitalism have gathered momentum. Between then and now, Ratan Tata has endured the disgrace of Singur to fade triumphantly into retirement.
Read More....
These have been truly turbulent years. Between then and now, we have seen Mayawati sweep Uttar Pradesh and then lose it badly. Between then and now, India has miserably lost the Cricket World Cup and then won it handsomely. Between then and now, the Indian economy has changed from being a rampaging elephant to a caged tiger once again. Between then and now, the three Khans of Bollywood have further cemented their supremacy over the box office. Between then and now, Rahul Gandhi has been transformed from being the latest Great White Hope to a question mark and an enigma. Between then and now, the loot and plunder of natural resources through crony capitalism have gathered momentum. Between then and now, Ratan Tata has endured the disgrace of Singur to fade triumphantly into retirement.
Read More....
Wednesday, 10 October 2012
Typos: ON A WING AND A PRAYER
Typos: ON A WING AND A PRAYER:
My friend, the struggling illusionist, has this story he bandies around to impress the ladies, and as a prelude to his tricks – magic tricks, as he likes to call them. The story is about Khoko, or some such gent, from the land and days of the pharaohs. Bored with climbing pyramids and swimming the crocodile infested waters of the Nile, Khoko came up with an idea to entertain his fellow villagers. So, on a pleasant winter noon, Khokho trudged up to the village square with a chicken trussed under his arm. The square was bustling with activity… hawkers selling their wares, the elders trading smokes and tales and children playing tag.
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: LET THE WATER FLOW!
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: LET THE WATER FLOW!:
Kaveri river dispute in India is not at all a new agenda. But what is actually surprising is the age of this dispute. Decades have passed, but this one dispute is still as fresh as its inception. The refusal to drop the claims of Kaveri water by Karnataka and Tamil Nadu has been major bumps on the road in a long standing stand-off that is yet to be resolved.
Read More: http://prasoonsmajumdar.blogspot.in/2012/10/let-water-flow.html
Kaveri river dispute in India is not at all a new agenda. But what is actually surprising is the age of this dispute. Decades have passed, but this one dispute is still as fresh as its inception. The refusal to drop the claims of Kaveri water by Karnataka and Tamil Nadu has been major bumps on the road in a long standing stand-off that is yet to be resolved.
Read More: http://prasoonsmajumdar.blogspot.in/2012/10/let-water-flow.html
Wednesday, 3 October 2012
The Fascinating World of Marketing: POWER PLAY
The Fascinating World of Marketing: POWER PLAY:
First, listen only callously. Actually try to monopolize all the opportunity to talk; don’t allow the other person to speak, especially when he is narrating events from his own life. It is fine to ask inane question: “How’s your family?” But the moment an answer is forthcoming start looking over his shoulder or peer into the screen of your ultrabook which may at that moment might actually be displaying the picture of Snoopy, your pet dog. Second rule is about e-mails. Actually there are three sub rules here. Get other people to send your e-mails for you.
Read More: http://kk-srivastava.blogspot.in/2012/10/power-play.html
First, listen only callously. Actually try to monopolize all the opportunity to talk; don’t allow the other person to speak, especially when he is narrating events from his own life. It is fine to ask inane question: “How’s your family?” But the moment an answer is forthcoming start looking over his shoulder or peer into the screen of your ultrabook which may at that moment might actually be displaying the picture of Snoopy, your pet dog. Second rule is about e-mails. Actually there are three sub rules here. Get other people to send your e-mails for you.
Read More: http://kk-srivastava.blogspot.in/2012/10/power-play.html
Sutanu Guru: WHY THE NUMBERS ARE STACKED AGAINST THE CONGRESS I...
Sutanu Guru: WHY THE NUMBERS ARE STACKED AGAINST THE CONGRESS I...:
t’s an old cliché no doubt, but elections often are about numbers, mathematics and cold calculations. Yes, charisma, ideology, policies and campaigning strategy do matter. But at the end of the day, it really boils down to numbers. That is the reason why the Republican challenger Mitt Romney looks all set to lose badly to Barack Obama on November 6 when Americans vote for a new President. He is losing despite the terrible economic situation in the United States since Obama took over in January 2009. Obama should have lost, but it is numbers that are working for him. Republican ideology, particularly the hard line attitude of the faithful,
Read More: http://www.sutanuguru.com/2012/10/why-numbers-are-stacked-against.html
t’s an old cliché no doubt, but elections often are about numbers, mathematics and cold calculations. Yes, charisma, ideology, policies and campaigning strategy do matter. But at the end of the day, it really boils down to numbers. That is the reason why the Republican challenger Mitt Romney looks all set to lose badly to Barack Obama on November 6 when Americans vote for a new President. He is losing despite the terrible economic situation in the United States since Obama took over in January 2009. Obama should have lost, but it is numbers that are working for him. Republican ideology, particularly the hard line attitude of the faithful,
Read More: http://www.sutanuguru.com/2012/10/why-numbers-are-stacked-against.html
Business is Marketing: CHAINED TO SUCCEED!
Business is Marketing: CHAINED TO SUCCEED!:
Her aunt saved her and inspired her to live her life on her own terms. That day, this 16 year old Kalpana made a promise to herself to live her way. She went back to Mumbai and started working at Rs.2 per day. She worked 16 hours a day. Soon, she started her own business. Subsequently, as luck would have it, she got a chance to run a metal engineering company - Kamani Tubes - which was in massive debt.
Read More: http://rajitachaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/10/chained-to-succeed.html
Her aunt saved her and inspired her to live her life on her own terms. That day, this 16 year old Kalpana made a promise to herself to live her way. She went back to Mumbai and started working at Rs.2 per day. She worked 16 hours a day. Soon, she started her own business. Subsequently, as luck would have it, she got a chance to run a metal engineering company - Kamani Tubes - which was in massive debt.
Read More: http://rajitachaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/10/chained-to-succeed.html
Wednesday, 26 September 2012
Typos: HERE BE MONKS TOO
Typos: HERE BE MONKS TOO:
Read More: http://prashantobanerji.blogspot.in/2012/09/here-be-monks-too.html
Two hundred years later, during World War I, a Russian soldier is captured by the Austrians while trying to escape. His progress through the snow was slowed down by the weight of his injured horse on his back… he didn’t want to leave the bleeding beast behind. But what good is astrong will against stronger chains and so he remained shackled to the wall of an Austrian prison for days weeks and months.
Read More: http://prashantobanerji.blogspot.in/2012/09/here-be-monks-too.html
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: DEMOCRATISE RADIO
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: DEMOCRATISE RADIO:
To put an end to the years of government monopoly in radio services, the Supreme Court of India, in February 1995 decreed that “airwaves are public property” that allowed the operations of private radio stations, albeit under a number of conditions.
Read More: http://prasoonsmajumdar.blogspot.in/2012/09/democratise-radio.html
To put an end to the years of government monopoly in radio services, the Supreme Court of India, in February 1995 decreed that “airwaves are public property” that allowed the operations of private radio stations, albeit under a number of conditions.
Read More: http://prasoonsmajumdar.blogspot.in/2012/09/democratise-radio.html
Monday, 24 September 2012
IIPM Review: Review on IIPM
IIPM Review: Review on IIPM:
The IIPM programme is today regarded as the only course with a wider coverage than MBA courses taught anywhere else in the world because of its integration with National Economic Planning and a compulsory Marketing Specialization making it the most intellectually stimulating course in India. In the light of globalization, IIPM aims to create a new generation of entrepreneurial managers, who can face with confidence emerging challenges of international markets
Read More: http://iipmreviews.blogspot.in/2012/09/review-on-iipm.html
The IIPM programme is today regarded as the only course with a wider coverage than MBA courses taught anywhere else in the world because of its integration with National Economic Planning and a compulsory Marketing Specialization making it the most intellectually stimulating course in India. In the light of globalization, IIPM aims to create a new generation of entrepreneurial managers, who can face with confidence emerging challenges of international markets
Read More: http://iipmreviews.blogspot.in/2012/09/review-on-iipm.html
IIPM Review: Company Speak and Review on IIPM
IIPM Review: Company Speak and Review on IIPM:
IIPM being a leader in Academic excellence is a part of this growth and is serving its better than the best MBA graduates to biggest names in India Inc. over the last 32years of its presence. Our students can be found in every function of an organization in Fortune 500 companies with no geographical boundaries.
Read More: http://iipmreviews.blogspot.in/2012/09/company-speak-and-review-on-iipm.html
IIPM being a leader in Academic excellence is a part of this growth and is serving its better than the best MBA graduates to biggest names in India Inc. over the last 32years of its presence. Our students can be found in every function of an organization in Fortune 500 companies with no geographical boundaries.
Read More: http://iipmreviews.blogspot.in/2012/09/company-speak-and-review-on-iipm.html
IIPM Review: IIPM Review: Honoring stalwarts of modern literatu...
IIPM Review: IIPM Review: Honoring stalwarts of modern literatu...:
IPM India recently felicitated some leading literary figures from India and Bangladesh at the Surama Chowdhury International Awards ceremony for 2012. This is the highest literary award of Asia with the prize money amounting to $100,000 (approximately 60 lacs). Sunil Gangopadhyay,
Read More: http://iipmreviews.blogspot.in/2012/09/iipm-review-honoring-stalwarts-of.html
IPM India recently felicitated some leading literary figures from India and Bangladesh at the Surama Chowdhury International Awards ceremony for 2012. This is the highest literary award of Asia with the prize money amounting to $100,000 (approximately 60 lacs). Sunil Gangopadhyay,
Read More: http://iipmreviews.blogspot.in/2012/09/iipm-review-honoring-stalwarts-of.html
IIPM Review: Review on IIPM MBA Course
IIPM Review: Review on IIPM MBA Course:
What perhaps is the most difficult part of the IIPM progaramme to be explained in words is the tremendous change in personality and life on the whole the IIPM course brings about thanks to its special focus on Executive Communication which is a 4 credit per trimester course running throughout the course duration.As a part of this course students typically have to participate compulsarily in more than 40 competitive debates and extempores under the eagle eyes of IIPMs world-class communication faculty members.
Read More: http://iipmreviews.blogspot.in/2012/09/review-on-iipm-mba-course.html
What perhaps is the most difficult part of the IIPM progaramme to be explained in words is the tremendous change in personality and life on the whole the IIPM course brings about thanks to its special focus on Executive Communication which is a 4 credit per trimester course running throughout the course duration.As a part of this course students typically have to participate compulsarily in more than 40 competitive debates and extempores under the eagle eyes of IIPMs world-class communication faculty members.
Read More: http://iipmreviews.blogspot.in/2012/09/review-on-iipm-mba-course.html
Thursday, 20 September 2012
Passionate About India: Why nobody believes that this government is bold, ...
Passionate About India: Why nobody believes that this government is bold, ...:
The thing is, I have repeatedly said that India is awash with unnecessary and unsustainable subsidies. I have repeatedly said that we have to both reduce and eliminate subsidies that often end up being gobbled up by the rich instead of the poor for which they are meant.
Read More: http://arindamchaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/09/why-nobody-believes-that-this.html
The thing is, I have repeatedly said that India is awash with unnecessary and unsustainable subsidies. I have repeatedly said that we have to both reduce and eliminate subsidies that often end up being gobbled up by the rich instead of the poor for which they are meant.
Read More: http://arindamchaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/09/why-nobody-believes-that-this.html
The Fascinating World of Marketing: BRAND SALMAN, ENDEARING AND ENDURING
The Fascinating World of Marketing: BRAND SALMAN, ENDEARING AND ENDURING:
It was actually Salman who reminded us that the ‘alternative’ (to multiplex variety) was still desired. Salman co-starred with Govinda in Partner, a movie that presented the viewer the worldview of the lower middle class. In his last few hits a new star persona has evolved which is closely linked to his off screen image. His muscular shaven physique remains central to the male working class ideal of the body.
Read More: http://kk-srivastava.blogspot.in/2012/09/brand-salman-endearing-and-enduring.html
It was actually Salman who reminded us that the ‘alternative’ (to multiplex variety) was still desired. Salman co-starred with Govinda in Partner, a movie that presented the viewer the worldview of the lower middle class. In his last few hits a new star persona has evolved which is closely linked to his off screen image. His muscular shaven physique remains central to the male working class ideal of the body.
Read More: http://kk-srivastava.blogspot.in/2012/09/brand-salman-endearing-and-enduring.html
Advertising - Big Idea: AMUL GIRL
Advertising - Big Idea: AMUL GIRL:
Great – but times, they-are-a-changin’! As this template steps into its golden year, what are the new challenges that confront it? In the restless, promiscuous and impatient times that we live in, when nothing is sacred, everyone/everything is up for sale, and cynicism is the ruling mood, will the charm, gentleness and innocence that graced this brand-story be able to resonate with youngistan and today’s blasé junta?
Read More: http://monojitlahiri.blogspot.in/2012/08/amul-girl.html
Great – but times, they-are-a-changin’! As this template steps into its golden year, what are the new challenges that confront it? In the restless, promiscuous and impatient times that we live in, when nothing is sacred, everyone/everything is up for sale, and cynicism is the ruling mood, will the charm, gentleness and innocence that graced this brand-story be able to resonate with youngistan and today’s blasé junta?
Read More: http://monojitlahiri.blogspot.in/2012/08/amul-girl.html
Business is Marketing: IT’S COMMONSENSE SILLY!!!
Business is Marketing: IT’S COMMONSENSE SILLY!!!:
If you watched the Olympics, you would not have missed the neon green shoes on the feet of some 400 athletes. Well it’s not the first time that athletes have worn Nike shoes during the Olympics, but it is definitely the first time that they have worn this color.
Read More: http://rajitachaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/09/its-commonsense-silly.html
If you watched the Olympics, you would not have missed the neon green shoes on the feet of some 400 athletes. Well it’s not the first time that athletes have worn Nike shoes during the Olympics, but it is definitely the first time that they have worn this color.
Read More: http://rajitachaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/09/its-commonsense-silly.html
Typos: GAME FOR MORE
Typos: GAME FOR MORE:
The world T20 World Cup is here, and let Test cricket be the great battle it is for the purists of the game. Let it be the rite of passage that gives a player the membership card to the hall of everlasting fame. Honestly, half the world couldn’t care less, and let the other half call us vulgar plebeians for wanting to see gladiators go to battle, for rooting for raw emotions, for flying wickets and slashed sixes, instead of gently clapping for gentlemen being civil in their cover drives, but as far sporting spectacles go, this really is a no-contest.
Read More: http://prashantobanerji.blogspot.in/2012/09/game-for-more.html
The world T20 World Cup is here, and let Test cricket be the great battle it is for the purists of the game. Let it be the rite of passage that gives a player the membership card to the hall of everlasting fame. Honestly, half the world couldn’t care less, and let the other half call us vulgar plebeians for wanting to see gladiators go to battle, for rooting for raw emotions, for flying wickets and slashed sixes, instead of gently clapping for gentlemen being civil in their cover drives, but as far sporting spectacles go, this really is a no-contest.
Read More: http://prashantobanerji.blogspot.in/2012/09/game-for-more.html
Wednesday, 19 September 2012
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: HAPPY POVERTY!
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: HAPPY POVERTY!:
Mother and younger sister dependent was something that I could still understand, what I could not understand is how could two brothers, elder to him, be dependent on him along with their respective families. On asking him, he said that his brothers have never worked for a livelihood and would never do the same in future too. However, the reason sounds more intriguing – they have three BPL cards – one for the mother and the other two for the other two families respectively. And on account of the BPL (Below Poverty Line) card, they get enough free food from the government under various poverty eradication schemes.
Read More: http://prasoonsmajumdar.blogspot.in/2012/09/happy-poverty.html
Mother and younger sister dependent was something that I could still understand, what I could not understand is how could two brothers, elder to him, be dependent on him along with their respective families. On asking him, he said that his brothers have never worked for a livelihood and would never do the same in future too. However, the reason sounds more intriguing – they have three BPL cards – one for the mother and the other two for the other two families respectively. And on account of the BPL (Below Poverty Line) card, they get enough free food from the government under various poverty eradication schemes.
Read More: http://prasoonsmajumdar.blogspot.in/2012/09/happy-poverty.html
Thursday, 13 September 2012
Typos: CHARLIE’S DEMONS
Typos: CHARLIE’S DEMONS:
Push the hatch open and wait for your eyes to adjust to the darkness. The shadows fade into the walls, empty and gray, and to the floor, more gray concrete and then you see it, in the center of the cell, a cage, just big enough for a large man to stand straight, lie down or walk a few paces. And then you see him, a dark naked silhouette, massive shoulders and chest, a thick bull-neck merging into a broad barn-door of a back you could break a good sized tree on, sweeping thighs that reminded one of the coiled springiness of a thoroughbred and ankles shackled in chains and clamps. The giant falls to his hands and starts doing push-ups, one…, two…, three…, thirteen…, he carries on quicker than you can count, like a giant piston pumping away. He must have done a hundred odd while you tried to keep up, and then he rises, bringing his face closer to the bars of his cage and it catches a solitary sun-beam as it squeezes through the skylight.
Read MORE : http://prashantobanerji.blogspot.in/2012/09/charlies-demons.html
Push the hatch open and wait for your eyes to adjust to the darkness. The shadows fade into the walls, empty and gray, and to the floor, more gray concrete and then you see it, in the center of the cell, a cage, just big enough for a large man to stand straight, lie down or walk a few paces. And then you see him, a dark naked silhouette, massive shoulders and chest, a thick bull-neck merging into a broad barn-door of a back you could break a good sized tree on, sweeping thighs that reminded one of the coiled springiness of a thoroughbred and ankles shackled in chains and clamps. The giant falls to his hands and starts doing push-ups, one…, two…, three…, thirteen…, he carries on quicker than you can count, like a giant piston pumping away. He must have done a hundred odd while you tried to keep up, and then he rises, bringing his face closer to the bars of his cage and it catches a solitary sun-beam as it squeezes through the skylight.
Read MORE : http://prashantobanerji.blogspot.in/2012/09/charlies-demons.html
Passionate About India: An intolerant and irrelevant government's draconia...
Passionate About India: An intolerant and irrelevant government's draconia...:
The Indian government is becoming a joke by the day! Now The Economist, my favorite magazine, has written about the irrelevance of Rahul Gandhi in an article asking, “What’s the point of Rahul Gandhi?” Before that, TIME magazine had dubbed our Prime Minister as an underachiever! The harsh truth is that the term ‘underachiever’ is such a mild word to use for a politically comatose man who has been literally sleep-walking in his monotone voice over his two stints.What a letdown for a democracy and the electorate, for never has India had a worse and more inactive man as its Prime Minister. And then, of course, Washington Post came down heavily on him. And what was the Indian government’s reaction?
Read More: http://arindamchaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/09/an-intolerant-and-irrelevant.html
The Indian government is becoming a joke by the day! Now The Economist, my favorite magazine, has written about the irrelevance of Rahul Gandhi in an article asking, “What’s the point of Rahul Gandhi?” Before that, TIME magazine had dubbed our Prime Minister as an underachiever! The harsh truth is that the term ‘underachiever’ is such a mild word to use for a politically comatose man who has been literally sleep-walking in his monotone voice over his two stints.What a letdown for a democracy and the electorate, for never has India had a worse and more inactive man as its Prime Minister. And then, of course, Washington Post came down heavily on him. And what was the Indian government’s reaction?
Read More: http://arindamchaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/09/an-intolerant-and-irrelevant.html
Monday, 10 September 2012
Sutanu Guru: HOW DR. MANMOHAN SINGH BEATS V.P. SINGH HANDS DOWN...
Sutanu Guru: HOW DR. MANMOHAN SINGH BEATS V.P. SINGH HANDS DOWN...:
The most important reason is that he has presided over an insidious process that has transformed India into a total banana republic. Nothing has been left untouched in this era of loot and plunder; nothing is sacrosanct. Just a few examples will suffice, though the tales of crony capitalism written in his tenure would fill up entire books. BSNL and Air India have been systematically run to the ground and destroyed through incomprehensible policies and decisions. I am not saying that the Prime Minister personally took the conspiracy call to do this. That is childish. But the fact is that private sector players have immensely benefited from the troubles of these two public sector giants. And I won’t be surprised if – as the cacophony over Air India gathers momentum – the two are eventually “privatised” at throwaway prices, their assets and value eroded deliberately. It is in this era of Dr. Manmohan Singh that India has thrown up more dollar billionaires than even China.
Red More: http://www.sutanuguru.com/2012/09/how-dr-manmohan-singh-beats-vp-singh.html
The most important reason is that he has presided over an insidious process that has transformed India into a total banana republic. Nothing has been left untouched in this era of loot and plunder; nothing is sacrosanct. Just a few examples will suffice, though the tales of crony capitalism written in his tenure would fill up entire books. BSNL and Air India have been systematically run to the ground and destroyed through incomprehensible policies and decisions. I am not saying that the Prime Minister personally took the conspiracy call to do this. That is childish. But the fact is that private sector players have immensely benefited from the troubles of these two public sector giants. And I won’t be surprised if – as the cacophony over Air India gathers momentum – the two are eventually “privatised” at throwaway prices, their assets and value eroded deliberately. It is in this era of Dr. Manmohan Singh that India has thrown up more dollar billionaires than even China.
Red More: http://www.sutanuguru.com/2012/09/how-dr-manmohan-singh-beats-vp-singh.html
Thursday, 6 September 2012
Passionate About India: America's Great Game and the shameful ruin of Syri...
Passionate About India: America's Great Game and the shameful ruin of Syri...:
In politics, they say, history repeats itself! In July last year, by a 326-90 vote, the US senate passed a critical military spending bill, thereon allocating more than $600 billion for defence and military purposes. The bill specifically allocated money for training the US military for war with Iran. Furthermore, the bill included specific plans on mobilization of fighter aircraft, arms & ammunitions for war against Iran by all possible routes viz. sea and air.
Read More: http://arindamchaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/09/americas-great-game-and-shameful-ruin.html
In politics, they say, history repeats itself! In July last year, by a 326-90 vote, the US senate passed a critical military spending bill, thereon allocating more than $600 billion for defence and military purposes. The bill specifically allocated money for training the US military for war with Iran. Furthermore, the bill included specific plans on mobilization of fighter aircraft, arms & ammunitions for war against Iran by all possible routes viz. sea and air.
Read More: http://arindamchaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/09/americas-great-game-and-shameful-ruin.html
Typos: THE SILENT EXTINCTION
Typos: THE SILENT EXTINCTION:
The vulture in India was an accidental victim of administrative oversight and lethargy but the otter is being clubbed , speared and shot to death for its pelt in huge numbers across the country and no one seems to have noticed. Khaled is one of a notable few who have researched the matter and written an indicative paper on the plight of these delightful little creatures.
Read More: http://prashantobanerji.blogspot.in/2012/09/time-for-tiger.html
The vulture in India was an accidental victim of administrative oversight and lethargy but the otter is being clubbed , speared and shot to death for its pelt in huge numbers across the country and no one seems to have noticed. Khaled is one of a notable few who have researched the matter and written an indicative paper on the plight of these delightful little creatures.
Read More: http://prashantobanerji.blogspot.in/2012/09/time-for-tiger.html
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: SENSE OF CENSOR
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: SENSE OF CENSOR:
According to Jairam Ramesh, the proposed amount is a Planning Commission’s recommendation made in 2011, with further addition of allocation that will reach the total cost to Rs 80,000 for hilly areas and another Rs 9,000 needed to construct toilets should be incorporated in the IAY budget. And he left no stone unturned to convince the MoF that it’s not his economic propaganda but an indepth research made by Central Building Research Institute, Roorkee, published in 2009. However, despite such plans, nothing much was done. IAY is riddled with leakages which lead to huge cost and time overruns
Read More: http://prasoonsmajumdar.blogspot.in/2012/09/outsource-bpl-housing.html
According to Jairam Ramesh, the proposed amount is a Planning Commission’s recommendation made in 2011, with further addition of allocation that will reach the total cost to Rs 80,000 for hilly areas and another Rs 9,000 needed to construct toilets should be incorporated in the IAY budget. And he left no stone unturned to convince the MoF that it’s not his economic propaganda but an indepth research made by Central Building Research Institute, Roorkee, published in 2009. However, despite such plans, nothing much was done. IAY is riddled with leakages which lead to huge cost and time overruns
Read More: http://prasoonsmajumdar.blogspot.in/2012/09/outsource-bpl-housing.html
Thursday, 30 August 2012
Passionate About India: The government should immediately ban the word 'Ch...
Passionate About India: The government should immediately ban the word 'Ch...:
The government on its part banned bulk messages for 15 days, as well as multimedia messages of over 25 KB throughout the country. The government also blocked a total of 310 web pages, which provided, in one form or the other, morphed images of riots in Assam which had been instigating hate sentiments among over 60 million Indian net users. The banned web pages include specific pages from Twitter and Facebook as well – it’s estimated that 36 million in India use Facebook and 15 million use Twitter. Our ruling elites have perchance presumed that banning SMS texts and some social networking sites is enough to stem the trouble – these in reality are actually the tip of the iceberg of a much deeper-rooted problem.
Read Morement-sh : http://arindamchaudhuri.blogspot.in/2ould-immediately-ban.html012/08/the-govern
The government on its part banned bulk messages for 15 days, as well as multimedia messages of over 25 KB throughout the country. The government also blocked a total of 310 web pages, which provided, in one form or the other, morphed images of riots in Assam which had been instigating hate sentiments among over 60 million Indian net users. The banned web pages include specific pages from Twitter and Facebook as well – it’s estimated that 36 million in India use Facebook and 15 million use Twitter. Our ruling elites have perchance presumed that banning SMS texts and some social networking sites is enough to stem the trouble – these in reality are actually the tip of the iceberg of a much deeper-rooted problem.
Read Morement-sh : http://arindamchaudhuri.blogspot.in/2ould-immediately-ban.html012/08/the-govern
Wednesday, 29 August 2012
Business is Marketing: JUST DO IT!
Business is Marketing: JUST DO IT!:
In today’s world, where we live in an environment of clutter, chaos and confusion, the person who is able to de-clutter and simplify his life is the one who can achieve the maximum. Most of us are doing too much – speaking too much, connecting too much (thanks to Facebook and other networking sites), multitasking too much, aiming for too many goals, filling our workday with too many commitments, and the list goes on. It’s time to hold back, think, and simplify things.
Read more: http://rajitachaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/08/just-do-it.html
In today’s world, where we live in an environment of clutter, chaos and confusion, the person who is able to de-clutter and simplify his life is the one who can achieve the maximum. Most of us are doing too much – speaking too much, connecting too much (thanks to Facebook and other networking sites), multitasking too much, aiming for too many goals, filling our workday with too many commitments, and the list goes on. It’s time to hold back, think, and simplify things.
Read more: http://rajitachaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/08/just-do-it.html
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: SENSE OF CENSOR
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: SENSE OF CENSOR:
The real focus of the complaints are not merely the content but also the holistic impact that it will bear on the viewers' minds, especially on the children, if the objectionable content is not aired during restricted hours. A frenzy of television programs depicting crime against women and their victimisation, along with obscenity, forms the core domain for the scope of BCCC censorship.
Read more: http://prasoonsmajumdar.blogspot.in/2012/08/sense-of-censor.html
The real focus of the complaints are not merely the content but also the holistic impact that it will bear on the viewers' minds, especially on the children, if the objectionable content is not aired during restricted hours. A frenzy of television programs depicting crime against women and their victimisation, along with obscenity, forms the core domain for the scope of BCCC censorship.
Read more: http://prasoonsmajumdar.blogspot.in/2012/08/sense-of-censor.html
Thursday, 23 August 2012
Passionate About India: Why the UID card should be made every citizen's co...
Passionate About India: Why the UID card should be made every citizen's co...:
The importance of such data in this age of information needs no mention. No nation today can come out with holistic and feasible developmental policies without taking into consideration the real picture of the economy and the society. Neither can a government infer the effectiveness of its policies without reading the right data. Imagine the consequence of those policies that our policy makers draft based on dated reports or even non-available data.
Read more: http://arindamchaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/08/why-uid-card-should-be-made-every.html
The importance of such data in this age of information needs no mention. No nation today can come out with holistic and feasible developmental policies without taking into consideration the real picture of the economy and the society. Neither can a government infer the effectiveness of its policies without reading the right data. Imagine the consequence of those policies that our policy makers draft based on dated reports or even non-available data.
Read more: http://arindamchaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/08/why-uid-card-should-be-made-every.html
Sutanu Guru: ARE WE HEADING AGAIN FOR THE SHAH BANO, BABRI MASJ...
Sutanu Guru: ARE WE HEADING AGAIN FOR THE SHAH BANO, BABRI MASJ...:
It started with Gopalgarh in Rajasthan where communal violence and police firing led to many deaths. Predictably and parrot like, we blamed the RSS types for it. Then communal violence erupted in Hyderabad, which has an inglorious history of communal violence. We again blamed the RSS types for it. Then came communal riots near Mathura in Uttar Pradesh soon after the ‘ultra-secular’ Samajwadi Party came to power. Incidentally, both Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh have Congress governments. Then came communal riots in Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh. And now we have communal riots in Congressruled Assam. I won’t be surprised to hear the likes of Digvijay Singh foaming at the mouth that the RSS types have instigated Bodo tribals, who are largely Hindu, to riot against illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, who are largely Muslim. In between all this, we have seen Digvijay Singh offer the moon, the sky and the stars to Muslim voters in the recently held assembly elections in UP. Of course, we had Salman Khurshid allegedly claiming that the Empress of India had actually cried after alleged terrorists were shot dead in the Batla House encounter.
Read more: http://www.sutanuguru.com/2012/08/are-we-heading-again-for-shah-bano.html
It started with Gopalgarh in Rajasthan where communal violence and police firing led to many deaths. Predictably and parrot like, we blamed the RSS types for it. Then communal violence erupted in Hyderabad, which has an inglorious history of communal violence. We again blamed the RSS types for it. Then came communal riots near Mathura in Uttar Pradesh soon after the ‘ultra-secular’ Samajwadi Party came to power. Incidentally, both Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh have Congress governments. Then came communal riots in Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh. And now we have communal riots in Congressruled Assam. I won’t be surprised to hear the likes of Digvijay Singh foaming at the mouth that the RSS types have instigated Bodo tribals, who are largely Hindu, to riot against illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, who are largely Muslim. In between all this, we have seen Digvijay Singh offer the moon, the sky and the stars to Muslim voters in the recently held assembly elections in UP. Of course, we had Salman Khurshid allegedly claiming that the Empress of India had actually cried after alleged terrorists were shot dead in the Batla House encounter.
Read more: http://www.sutanuguru.com/2012/08/are-we-heading-again-for-shah-bano.html
Typos: THE SILENT EXTINCTION
Typos: THE SILENT EXTINCTION:
Every now and then, articles appear in newspapers and magazines about the seizure of skins and bones of wild animals. Tiger and leopard skins, bones and organs, ivory, and rhino horns grab attention and headlines. These flagship species evoke strong reactions from the government, conservation groups, the media and the public at large. Task forces are set up, grants sanctioned, even governments toppled and candlelight vigils held, and I am glad that we care enough for these chosen few for us to be able to hang on to whatever numbers that now remain in our protected forests.
Read more: http://prashantobanerji.blogspot.in/2012/08/the-silent-extinction.html
Every now and then, articles appear in newspapers and magazines about the seizure of skins and bones of wild animals. Tiger and leopard skins, bones and organs, ivory, and rhino horns grab attention and headlines. These flagship species evoke strong reactions from the government, conservation groups, the media and the public at large. Task forces are set up, grants sanctioned, even governments toppled and candlelight vigils held, and I am glad that we care enough for these chosen few for us to be able to hang on to whatever numbers that now remain in our protected forests.
Read more: http://prashantobanerji.blogspot.in/2012/08/the-silent-extinction.html
Business is Marketing: NEVER NEVER NEVER GIVE UP
Business is Marketing: NEVER NEVER NEVER GIVE UP:
She was born into a family of jhum cultivators of Manipur. She helped her parents till the fields and looked after her siblings. Brought up in such a modest background, she never imagined that she would one day win a medal for her country at the Olympics. The woman I am talking about is Mary Kom, a true winner who, without any formal training and money, has won six gold medals at World Championships. This year, she made India proud by winning a bronze for the country. While better and more popular athletes crashed out, this woman put up a tough fight and achieved victory. Her story is the story of a woman who never gave up.
Read more: http://rajitachaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/08/never-never-never-give-up.html
She was born into a family of jhum cultivators of Manipur. She helped her parents till the fields and looked after her siblings. Brought up in such a modest background, she never imagined that she would one day win a medal for her country at the Olympics. The woman I am talking about is Mary Kom, a true winner who, without any formal training and money, has won six gold medals at World Championships. This year, she made India proud by winning a bronze for the country. While better and more popular athletes crashed out, this woman put up a tough fight and achieved victory. Her story is the story of a woman who never gave up.
Read more: http://rajitachaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/08/never-never-never-give-up.html
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: PEACE IN THE ECONOMY
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: PEACE IN THE ECONOMY:
The challenges India faces, in terms of threat of a peaceful existence by riots, are well known as modern India has never been a peaceful coexistence between communities and religious groups. Between 1950 and 1995 an estimated 1,186 separate riots have spooked the population killing approximately 7,052 individuals. However, it is being vetted that higher growth rates and satisfactory economic performance has an inverse relation with incidence of riots.
Read more: http://prasoonsmajumdar.blogspot.in/2012/08/peace-in-economy.html
The challenges India faces, in terms of threat of a peaceful existence by riots, are well known as modern India has never been a peaceful coexistence between communities and religious groups. Between 1950 and 1995 an estimated 1,186 separate riots have spooked the population killing approximately 7,052 individuals. However, it is being vetted that higher growth rates and satisfactory economic performance has an inverse relation with incidence of riots.
Read more: http://prasoonsmajumdar.blogspot.in/2012/08/peace-in-economy.html
Thursday, 16 August 2012
Passionate About India: Why the UID card should be made every citizen's co...
Passionate About India: Why the UID card should be made every citizen's co...:
The importance of such data in this age of information needs no mention. No nation today can come out with holistic and feasible developmental policies without taking into consideration the real picture of the economy and the society. Neither can a government infer the effectiveness of its policies without reading the right data. Imagine the consequence of those policies that our policy makers draft based on dated reports or even non-available data.
Read More: http://arindamchaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/08/why-uid-card-should-be-made-every.html
The importance of such data in this age of information needs no mention. No nation today can come out with holistic and feasible developmental policies without taking into consideration the real picture of the economy and the society. Neither can a government infer the effectiveness of its policies without reading the right data. Imagine the consequence of those policies that our policy makers draft based on dated reports or even non-available data.
Read More: http://arindamchaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/08/why-uid-card-should-be-made-every.html
Typos: UNDONE BY THE UNBEARABLE LIGHTNESS OF BEING
Typos: UNDONE BY THE UNBEARABLE LIGHTNESS OF BEING:
He ran into me at the market, introduced himself, asked me where I was from and then said he had something rare and beautiful to show me. I had time to kill and so I took the bait and followed him up a narrow flight of wooden stairs into a small room that sat on top of a restaurant. The room, washed white and blue, in bands, like a flag, had no furniture. Just a rack at the back, with shawls and scarves and bed-spreads and a carpet, stretched wall to wall, on the floor. A window opened onto the street below.
Read More: http://prashantobanerji.blogspot.in/2012/08/undone-by-unbearable-lightness-of-being.html
He ran into me at the market, introduced himself, asked me where I was from and then said he had something rare and beautiful to show me. I had time to kill and so I took the bait and followed him up a narrow flight of wooden stairs into a small room that sat on top of a restaurant. The room, washed white and blue, in bands, like a flag, had no furniture. Just a rack at the back, with shawls and scarves and bed-spreads and a carpet, stretched wall to wall, on the floor. A window opened onto the street below.
Read More: http://prashantobanerji.blogspot.in/2012/08/undone-by-unbearable-lightness-of-being.html
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: PERENNIAL BLACKOUT
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: PERENNIAL BLACKOUT:
The populist government largesse has put the SEB's under siege with a combined debt of Rs 200,000 crores. Th ere are states, like Punjab, which provide free electricity to the farmers, raises important policy questions. Where are these subsidies coming from? Shockingly, it's not coming from states' exchequer – which should have been the case – but from the coffers of SEBs – turning them into junks that cannot be easily salvaged
Read More: http://prasoonsmajumdar.blogspot.in/2012/08/perennial-blackout.html
The populist government largesse has put the SEB's under siege with a combined debt of Rs 200,000 crores. Th ere are states, like Punjab, which provide free electricity to the farmers, raises important policy questions. Where are these subsidies coming from? Shockingly, it's not coming from states' exchequer – which should have been the case – but from the coffers of SEBs – turning them into junks that cannot be easily salvaged
Read More: http://prasoonsmajumdar.blogspot.in/2012/08/perennial-blackout.html
Thursday, 9 August 2012
Typos: THE GREATEST!
Typos: THE GREATEST!:
She’s old now, about 77, and lives in a little town called Semenovskoye in Russia. If you go there when the sun is out and the air is warm, you might find her tending to the vegetables in her garden. The veined freckled hands that pluck weeds with grace today once helped her vault into space at the Tokyo Olympics in 1964. And by the time she tumbled, turned and somersaulted her way back to earth on her dainty little feet, she had around her neck a total of 18 Olympic medals across three Olympic events. She is Larissa Latynina - the woman whose record Michael Phelps broke to win the most medals in Olympic history.
Read more: http://prashantobanerji.blogspot.in/2012/08/the-greatest.html
She’s old now, about 77, and lives in a little town called Semenovskoye in Russia. If you go there when the sun is out and the air is warm, you might find her tending to the vegetables in her garden. The veined freckled hands that pluck weeds with grace today once helped her vault into space at the Tokyo Olympics in 1964. And by the time she tumbled, turned and somersaulted her way back to earth on her dainty little feet, she had around her neck a total of 18 Olympic medals across three Olympic events. She is Larissa Latynina - the woman whose record Michael Phelps broke to win the most medals in Olympic history.
Read more: http://prashantobanerji.blogspot.in/2012/08/the-greatest.html
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: RIOTERS’ ADVANTAGE
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: RIOTERS’ ADVANTAGE:
The communal clash in Kosi Kalan town in Mathura district, just preceding Assam violence, is another embarrassing reminder of police inefficiency. The large scale vandalism, destruction and damage to properties to the tune of Rs.50 crores crippled the town with no ‘timely’ strong measures from the police to control the same. In fact, the situation in Kosi Kalan spiraled out of control mainly because of delayed police action, which otherwise could have been prevented. Two decades ago a similar happening took place in Mumbai which had all the makings of a horror movie with 900 people dying in the incident.
Read more: http://prasoonsmajumdar.blogspot.in/2012/08/rioters-advantage.html
The communal clash in Kosi Kalan town in Mathura district, just preceding Assam violence, is another embarrassing reminder of police inefficiency. The large scale vandalism, destruction and damage to properties to the tune of Rs.50 crores crippled the town with no ‘timely’ strong measures from the police to control the same. In fact, the situation in Kosi Kalan spiraled out of control mainly because of delayed police action, which otherwise could have been prevented. Two decades ago a similar happening took place in Mumbai which had all the makings of a horror movie with 900 people dying in the incident.
Read more: http://prasoonsmajumdar.blogspot.in/2012/08/rioters-advantage.html
Passionate About India: From Wisconsin to Aurora, Colorado: The American g...
Passionate About India: From Wisconsin to Aurora, Colorado: The American g...:
I had written this after the Virginia Tech shootout and I write again – capitalism is a great slave, but a pathetic master. This truth unfortunately gets lost in our chase for that elusive dream... especially in America, the land that has been marketed as the land of dreams – the Great American Dream.
Read more: http://arindamchaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/08/from-wisconsin-to-aurora-colorado.html
I had written this after the Virginia Tech shootout and I write again – capitalism is a great slave, but a pathetic master. This truth unfortunately gets lost in our chase for that elusive dream... especially in America, the land that has been marketed as the land of dreams – the Great American Dream.
Read more: http://arindamchaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/08/from-wisconsin-to-aurora-colorado.html
Thursday, 2 August 2012
Typos: THE LITTLE BROWN DOG
Typos: THE LITTLE BROWN DOG:
I held up my hand towards oncoming traffic and moved closer towards the dog. Its hind legs seemed ok but were splayed at an odd angle. I could see a little blood but the wounds seemed superficial. I wanted to move the dog away from the road but was worried about further damaging the dog’s condition. Also, one must ensure that the dog’s mouth is secure during such maneuvers because a creature that is both scared and in pain might just snap and bite in fear and frustration. I realised I would need help… I raised both hands and asking for help as I stood beside the dog and soon enough a kindly biker stopped and parked his bike right in front of the dog to create a barrier of sorts between the dog and the traffic.
Read more: http://prashantobanerji.blogspot.in/2012/08/the-little-brown-dog.html
I held up my hand towards oncoming traffic and moved closer towards the dog. Its hind legs seemed ok but were splayed at an odd angle. I could see a little blood but the wounds seemed superficial. I wanted to move the dog away from the road but was worried about further damaging the dog’s condition. Also, one must ensure that the dog’s mouth is secure during such maneuvers because a creature that is both scared and in pain might just snap and bite in fear and frustration. I realised I would need help… I raised both hands and asking for help as I stood beside the dog and soon enough a kindly biker stopped and parked his bike right in front of the dog to create a barrier of sorts between the dog and the traffic.
Read more: http://prashantobanerji.blogspot.in/2012/08/the-little-brown-dog.html
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: POLITICS OF ILLEGAL COLONIES
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: POLITICS OF ILLEGAL COLONIES:
The regularisation of unauthorised colonies seems to be a very potent vote catcher. Parkash Singh Badal knew it too well when he announced his regularisation drive that was the tipping point ahead of this year’s assembly election, that he won. The decision was taken in December by the incumbent government – chaired by him – where he declared that local municipal institutions will curve out identification and demarcation process which will be followed by regularising them and their development programmes will be treated at par with other localities.
Read more: http://prasoonsmajumdar.blogspot.in/2012/08/politics-of-illegal-colonies.html
The regularisation of unauthorised colonies seems to be a very potent vote catcher. Parkash Singh Badal knew it too well when he announced his regularisation drive that was the tipping point ahead of this year’s assembly election, that he won. The decision was taken in December by the incumbent government – chaired by him – where he declared that local municipal institutions will curve out identification and demarcation process which will be followed by regularising them and their development programmes will be treated at par with other localities.
Read more: http://prasoonsmajumdar.blogspot.in/2012/08/politics-of-illegal-colonies.html
Passionate About India: Privatise and outsource our prisons!
Passionate About India: Privatise and outsource our prisons!:
One needs to be a Sanjay Dutt to fetch lakhs in auction for his work, and that too while serving his jail term. For other prisoners, even a few hundreds is a boon. Indian prisons are still more like Nazi-era concentration camps than being places for correcting the guilty. With over 3 lakh prisoners packed across 1200 plus jails, the government is shamelessly unable to manage these centers and has reduced our prisons to human slaughter houses, where self-respect, dignity and morale are butchered at every single moment.
Read more: http://arindamchaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/08/privatise-and-outsource-our-prisons.html
One needs to be a Sanjay Dutt to fetch lakhs in auction for his work, and that too while serving his jail term. For other prisoners, even a few hundreds is a boon. Indian prisons are still more like Nazi-era concentration camps than being places for correcting the guilty. With over 3 lakh prisoners packed across 1200 plus jails, the government is shamelessly unable to manage these centers and has reduced our prisons to human slaughter houses, where self-respect, dignity and morale are butchered at every single moment.
Read more: http://arindamchaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/08/privatise-and-outsource-our-prisons.html
Thursday, 26 July 2012
Passionate About India: As the only national party left with mass leaders,...
Passionate About India: As the only national party left with mass leaders,...:
The death of mass leaders in Congress started from the times of Indira Gandhi when the inner party democracy – that at one point elected Lal Bahadur Shastri as the PM – gave way to dynastic politics. Indira, at least herself, became a mass leader; but by the time Rajiv became the Prime Minister purely on sympathy, the mass leaders started finishing off.
Read more: http://arindamchaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/07/as-only-national-party-left-with-mass.html
The death of mass leaders in Congress started from the times of Indira Gandhi when the inner party democracy – that at one point elected Lal Bahadur Shastri as the PM – gave way to dynastic politics. Indira, at least herself, became a mass leader; but by the time Rajiv became the Prime Minister purely on sympathy, the mass leaders started finishing off.
Read more: http://arindamchaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/07/as-only-national-party-left-with-mass.html
Typos: ARE YOU STRONG ENOUGH TO BE MY...?
Typos: ARE YOU STRONG ENOUGH TO BE MY...?:
Speaking of love, it’s not like I go back to that book every day, so my memory’s a little fuzzy on that front but as much as I can remember, the venerable Kamasutra mentions the bull man – a man known for his muscular build, steadfastness of spirit and projecting a general aura of indomitable strength – as the most desirable of men. Here, I must make clear that the bull man isn’t a mere man of strength in the way a power-lift er or a bodybuilder might be, but more in the mould of a battle scarred soldier.. A man who acquired his strength not in pursuit of vanity, but valour. Such is the strength, that makes a bull of a man.
Read more: http://prashantobanerji.blogspot.in/2012/07/are-you-strong-enough-to-be-my.html
Speaking of love, it’s not like I go back to that book every day, so my memory’s a little fuzzy on that front but as much as I can remember, the venerable Kamasutra mentions the bull man – a man known for his muscular build, steadfastness of spirit and projecting a general aura of indomitable strength – as the most desirable of men. Here, I must make clear that the bull man isn’t a mere man of strength in the way a power-lift er or a bodybuilder might be, but more in the mould of a battle scarred soldier.. A man who acquired his strength not in pursuit of vanity, but valour. Such is the strength, that makes a bull of a man.
Read more: http://prashantobanerji.blogspot.in/2012/07/are-you-strong-enough-to-be-my.html
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: BETWEEN THE BLACK AND THE WHITE
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: BETWEEN THE BLACK AND THE WHITE:
The products sold at grey markets are often illegally imported from places like China, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong and Nepal; with huge margins which are so high that even after visiting those places and bringing in the products, the retailers are still left with decent profits! The premium watches, gaming consoles and digital cameras are the main product categories that flood the grey markets. The market share for premium watches through grey markets are almost 50 per cent of total market size of Rs.1,000 crores, in console gaming it is 30 per cent of the full size Rs.400 crore market, and 25 per cent of Rs.2,000 crore digital camera market. The excessively high tax and import duties have a cascading effect on the prices creating differentials between authorised and grey markets.
Read more: http://prasoonsmajumdar.blogspot.in/2012/07/between-black-and-white.html
The products sold at grey markets are often illegally imported from places like China, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong and Nepal; with huge margins which are so high that even after visiting those places and bringing in the products, the retailers are still left with decent profits! The premium watches, gaming consoles and digital cameras are the main product categories that flood the grey markets. The market share for premium watches through grey markets are almost 50 per cent of total market size of Rs.1,000 crores, in console gaming it is 30 per cent of the full size Rs.400 crore market, and 25 per cent of Rs.2,000 crore digital camera market. The excessively high tax and import duties have a cascading effect on the prices creating differentials between authorised and grey markets.
Read more: http://prasoonsmajumdar.blogspot.in/2012/07/between-black-and-white.html
Friday, 20 July 2012
The Fascinating World of Marketing: THE OLD FOX WITH ITS NEW TRICKS
The Fascinating World of Marketing: THE OLD FOX WITH ITS NEW TRICKS:
In the recently released movie Cocktail Deepika Padukone plays Veronica (remember Archie Comics?): glamorous, sexy, yet feminine and stunning at all times. For her, the dress mantra is: the skimpier, the sexier. All the time, she shows off one or the other part of her body to her advantage. Her hair is of an auburn/coffee shade and is puffed up with a volumizer. Her body is always glowing with a bronzer. As a fashion trendsetter she mixes & matches patterns, adorns adventurous silhouettes and chooses unusual designs & labels. All accoutrements – from her hair clips to handbags to shoes – make a style statement by standing out in colour and design.
Read more: http://kk-srivastava.blogspot.in/2012/07/the-old-fox-with-its-new-tricks.html
In the recently released movie Cocktail Deepika Padukone plays Veronica (remember Archie Comics?): glamorous, sexy, yet feminine and stunning at all times. For her, the dress mantra is: the skimpier, the sexier. All the time, she shows off one or the other part of her body to her advantage. Her hair is of an auburn/coffee shade and is puffed up with a volumizer. Her body is always glowing with a bronzer. As a fashion trendsetter she mixes & matches patterns, adorns adventurous silhouettes and chooses unusual designs & labels. All accoutrements – from her hair clips to handbags to shoes – make a style statement by standing out in colour and design.
Read more: http://kk-srivastava.blogspot.in/2012/07/the-old-fox-with-its-new-tricks.html
Business is Marketing: TALK TO ME
Business is Marketing: TALK TO ME:
Humans are the most social of all animals. We love to talk and interact with others. It is one activity we crave for and if are deprived of it, we could sometimes lose our sanity too. Well, advertisers are realizing this fact too; i.e., if they do not interact with their consumers, they could lose their market share to those who do so! The latest development in TV ads is helping advertisers do just this. Technology is being used to change ads from being a one-way communication process to two-way. It’s time that companies realized that not many are watching their ads. Think about it. Every time there is an ‘ad break’, we use it for a ‘loo-break’ or a ‘mobile checking break’ or a ‘what’s-on-in-other-channels- break’!!! This is making many big advertisers turn away from TV.
Thursday, 19 July 2012
Typos: HE WON’T BE GONE WITH THE WIND
Typos: HE WON’T BE GONE WITH THE WIND:
The man I met yesterday had died long ago, in an internment camp in Weihsien, China. It must’ve been a cold and grey February day. Maybe it was raining too. 21st February, 1945. Liberation was just a few months away, but for now the Japanese held the camp.
Read more: http://prashantobanerji.blogspot.in/2012/07/he-wont-be-gone-with-wind.html
The man I met yesterday had died long ago, in an internment camp in Weihsien, China. It must’ve been a cold and grey February day. Maybe it was raining too. 21st February, 1945. Liberation was just a few months away, but for now the Japanese held the camp.
Read more: http://prashantobanerji.blogspot.in/2012/07/he-wont-be-gone-with-wind.html
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: ARE WE BEING TESTED, RIGHTLY?
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: ARE WE BEING TESTED, RIGHTLY?:
The Supreme Court of India most recently rapped the Union Government and the Madhya Pradesh Government over the knuckles for failing to save lives corroborated by clinical trials of drugs carried on rampantly and sometimes illegally. The data revealed by Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) under RTI shows some shocking statistics. According to the DGHS, 1,600 people have died over the span of only two years between 2008 and 2010 by the clinical trials conducted by the multinational companies.
Read more: http://prasoonsmajumdar.blogspot.in/2012/07/are-we-being-tested-rightly.html
The Supreme Court of India most recently rapped the Union Government and the Madhya Pradesh Government over the knuckles for failing to save lives corroborated by clinical trials of drugs carried on rampantly and sometimes illegally. The data revealed by Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) under RTI shows some shocking statistics. According to the DGHS, 1,600 people have died over the span of only two years between 2008 and 2010 by the clinical trials conducted by the multinational companies.
Read more: http://prasoonsmajumdar.blogspot.in/2012/07/are-we-being-tested-rightly.html
Passionate About India: Road accidents or preventable and predictable mass...
Passionate About India: Road accidents or preventable and predictable mass...:
I was watching a movie in the first floor of our house that fateful afternoon of '94 when that call came and changed our lives forever. It was my mother who had called from the ground floor of our house to inform me through her uncontrollable tears that she had just then received a call that my younger brother had died in a road accident. I rushed down hoping against hope that it was someone else. My dad was sure it wouldn't be someone else – as I drove our car frantically towards Gurgaon where the accident had happened – and advised me to drive slowly. He had done his maximum possible to see to it that we never developed a fascination for motorbikes. An avid reader of about a dozen papers everyday, my father was definite that a motorbike was a sure-shot route to disaster on Indian roads. So the soonest he could, he bought a car for us. I still remember that day in 1993, after he had bought a fifth-hand 1977 model Toyota, he entered the house, lay down on the bed in a relaxed manner and told my grandmother, “I have put a "kavach" (a shield) around my children today.” Unfortunately, that was not to be.
Read More... http://arindamchaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/07/road-accidents-or-preventable-and.html
I was watching a movie in the first floor of our house that fateful afternoon of '94 when that call came and changed our lives forever. It was my mother who had called from the ground floor of our house to inform me through her uncontrollable tears that she had just then received a call that my younger brother had died in a road accident. I rushed down hoping against hope that it was someone else. My dad was sure it wouldn't be someone else – as I drove our car frantically towards Gurgaon where the accident had happened – and advised me to drive slowly. He had done his maximum possible to see to it that we never developed a fascination for motorbikes. An avid reader of about a dozen papers everyday, my father was definite that a motorbike was a sure-shot route to disaster on Indian roads. So the soonest he could, he bought a car for us. I still remember that day in 1993, after he had bought a fifth-hand 1977 model Toyota, he entered the house, lay down on the bed in a relaxed manner and told my grandmother, “I have put a "kavach" (a shield) around my children today.” Unfortunately, that was not to be.
Read More... http://arindamchaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/07/road-accidents-or-preventable-and.html
Thursday, 12 July 2012
Passionate About India: Courts for the rich Amar Singh and Abhishek Manu S...
Passionate About India: Courts for the rich Amar Singh and Abhishek Manu S...:
It is inhuman! It is outrageous! And it is disgusting! The manner is which Pinki Pramanik, a national athlete who brought laurels for the nation at various international sporting events, is being sullied by all and sundry. Thanks to media, today she has become a household name, more infamous due to the controversy on her gender, than due to the gold medals she won at the Asian and Commonwealth Games. Pinki’s sporting achievements include a team relay gold medal at the 2006 Asian Games, another gold at the 2005 Asian Indoor Games, silver medal in the 2006 Commonwealth Games, beside many other medals at national and international levels.
Read more: http://arindamchaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/07/courts-for-rich-amar-singh-and-abhishek.html
It is inhuman! It is outrageous! And it is disgusting! The manner is which Pinki Pramanik, a national athlete who brought laurels for the nation at various international sporting events, is being sullied by all and sundry. Thanks to media, today she has become a household name, more infamous due to the controversy on her gender, than due to the gold medals she won at the Asian and Commonwealth Games. Pinki’s sporting achievements include a team relay gold medal at the 2006 Asian Games, another gold at the 2005 Asian Indoor Games, silver medal in the 2006 Commonwealth Games, beside many other medals at national and international levels.
Read more: http://arindamchaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/07/courts-for-rich-amar-singh-and-abhishek.html
Thursday, 5 July 2012
Passionate About India: Why the CBI, like the CAG and EC, must be made an ...
Passionate About India: Why the CBI, like the CAG and EC, must be made an ...:
On the other hand, CBI is regularly manipulated to ease the cases filed on the government. CBI, in its charge-sheet, claimed that Jasbir Singh, who is supposed to have heard Tytler inciting a mob to kill Sikhs, could not be examined as he had settled in America and his whereabouts couldn’t be traced. The CBI’s claim got falsified when media telephonically located Jasbir Singh in no time. After the case was ordered to be re- investigated by the court, CBI reportedly submitted that Jasbir Singh’s testimony cannot be relied upon and asked the court to close the case. The entire incident happened to save Tytler, who has had close ties with the ruling government. Similarly, the CBI tried to save Sajjan Singh;
Read More: http://arindamchaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/07/why-cbilike-cag-and-ec-must-be-made.html
On the other hand, CBI is regularly manipulated to ease the cases filed on the government. CBI, in its charge-sheet, claimed that Jasbir Singh, who is supposed to have heard Tytler inciting a mob to kill Sikhs, could not be examined as he had settled in America and his whereabouts couldn’t be traced. The CBI’s claim got falsified when media telephonically located Jasbir Singh in no time. After the case was ordered to be re- investigated by the court, CBI reportedly submitted that Jasbir Singh’s testimony cannot be relied upon and asked the court to close the case. The entire incident happened to save Tytler, who has had close ties with the ruling government. Similarly, the CBI tried to save Sajjan Singh;
Read More: http://arindamchaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/07/why-cbilike-cag-and-ec-must-be-made.html
Sutanu Guru: TONGUE IN CHEEK: HOW THE NAC CAN SAVE THE UPA IN 2...
Sutanu Guru: TONGUE IN CHEEK: HOW THE NAC CAN SAVE THE UPA IN 2...:
The Rajiv Gandhi Naani Yaad Dila Denge Act: Since the father immortalised the term “Naani Yaad Dila Denge” along with something called Bofors, it is befitting that this wonderful law be named after him. This is quite a straightforward law and will help India rebuild the great institution called the Indian family. Any Indian who even mistakenly says or writes anything critical about either India or the Family (It’s the same thing really) will be required to spend quality time with maternal grandmothers. This way, the institution called the family will be saved, the Family will not be embarrassed and secular warriors like Mani Shankar Aiyar will launch a series of television soap operas where the arch villain will be Narendra Modi and his arch henchman will be Baba Ramdev. Anna Hazare too will put in guest appearances.
Typos: THE ROADS TO RAGE
Typos: THE ROADS TO RAGE:
Two rules still to go, and yet I must take a break and tell you a little story; there’s half a moral lurking in there I’m sure… The other night, I hurried off to make a pending payment to my long suffering cell-phone service provider. The night was calm and so was I… must have been the yoga workout that or the conversations… I rushed to the payment booth, but it wouldn’t take a card. I asked around for an ATM booth and the kindly security guard, reeking of hooch and sweat swayed in, waved his arms in all four directions and mumbled something incoherent in a language enriched by the dust from the cow belt… And so I went out of the doorway, got into the car and drove around for a while till I found an ATM booth, withdrew money and still steeped in that ‘I’m in love with the world’ reverie, took a u-turn towards my profoundest lesson in road-rage…
Read More: http://prashantobanerji.blogspot.in/2012/07/roads-to-rage.html
Two rules still to go, and yet I must take a break and tell you a little story; there’s half a moral lurking in there I’m sure… The other night, I hurried off to make a pending payment to my long suffering cell-phone service provider. The night was calm and so was I… must have been the yoga workout that or the conversations… I rushed to the payment booth, but it wouldn’t take a card. I asked around for an ATM booth and the kindly security guard, reeking of hooch and sweat swayed in, waved his arms in all four directions and mumbled something incoherent in a language enriched by the dust from the cow belt… And so I went out of the doorway, got into the car and drove around for a while till I found an ATM booth, withdrew money and still steeped in that ‘I’m in love with the world’ reverie, took a u-turn towards my profoundest lesson in road-rage…
Read More: http://prashantobanerji.blogspot.in/2012/07/roads-to-rage.html
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: MURDER LEGALISED
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: MURDER LEGALISED:
The Supreme Court in 2006 gave a landmark judgment aiming at a major police reforms. Some important directives include the state police must be purged of political influence by setting up a State Security Commission, a new Police Establishment Board will look after all transfers, promotions and posting for below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police personnel and many more. Many states didn't comply with many of the directives. Moreover, these directives didn't address the plight of low ranking personnel’s living conditions, who are the main perpetrators of a culture that ignores the abuses that happens inside the police stations often culminating in custodial deaths.
Read More: http://prasoonsmajumdar.blogspot.in/2012/07/murder-legalised.html
The Supreme Court in 2006 gave a landmark judgment aiming at a major police reforms. Some important directives include the state police must be purged of political influence by setting up a State Security Commission, a new Police Establishment Board will look after all transfers, promotions and posting for below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police personnel and many more. Many states didn't comply with many of the directives. Moreover, these directives didn't address the plight of low ranking personnel’s living conditions, who are the main perpetrators of a culture that ignores the abuses that happens inside the police stations often culminating in custodial deaths.
Read More: http://prasoonsmajumdar.blogspot.in/2012/07/murder-legalised.html
Thursday, 21 June 2012
Passionate About India: The American Dream: Rajat Gupta symbolises this mo...
Passionate About India: The American Dream: Rajat Gupta symbolises this mo...:
Rajat Gupta has hogged headlines over the past twenty odd years – he has championed that art. While his educational background without doubt has been exemplary, his consulting advisory was not necessarily so. McKinsey & Co.’s way of focus on core competency – and divesting from diversification strategies – necessarily has been one of the most debatable strategies that he represented during his tenure at the firm. Actually, it is one of those strategies that have given consultants the reputation of being people who take your watch and tell you the time; there is no strategy in this strategy. McKinsey’s consultants, of course, have championed such strategies and theories which are arguably of no great significance or research. I’m reminded of the book In Search of Excellence by Tom Peters and Robert Waterman – two McKinsey consultants – written on the basis of research that Tom Peters himself later admitted was concocted. Rajat’s stint post McKinsey has been clearly far more controversial due to the more obvious frauds. And now that he has been found guilty of insider trading, the Indian media in particular is hell-bent on portraying it as an example of a perfect ‘American Dream’ gone sour. The question is, is that so?
Read More: http://arindamchaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/06/american-dream-rajat-gupta-symbolises.html
Rajat Gupta has hogged headlines over the past twenty odd years – he has championed that art. While his educational background without doubt has been exemplary, his consulting advisory was not necessarily so. McKinsey & Co.’s way of focus on core competency – and divesting from diversification strategies – necessarily has been one of the most debatable strategies that he represented during his tenure at the firm. Actually, it is one of those strategies that have given consultants the reputation of being people who take your watch and tell you the time; there is no strategy in this strategy. McKinsey’s consultants, of course, have championed such strategies and theories which are arguably of no great significance or research. I’m reminded of the book In Search of Excellence by Tom Peters and Robert Waterman – two McKinsey consultants – written on the basis of research that Tom Peters himself later admitted was concocted. Rajat’s stint post McKinsey has been clearly far more controversial due to the more obvious frauds. And now that he has been found guilty of insider trading, the Indian media in particular is hell-bent on portraying it as an example of a perfect ‘American Dream’ gone sour. The question is, is that so?
Read More: http://arindamchaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/06/american-dream-rajat-gupta-symbolises.html
Wednesday, 20 June 2012
Typos: WILL YOU DANCE WITH ME ON THE CRYSTAL BALL?
Typos: WILL YOU DANCE WITH ME ON THE CRYSTAL BALL?:
There was a time when work meant survival. It meant hunting, fighting and scavenging. It was not something one chose. One’s very existence depended on it. And up till the 90s, at least in this country, ‘work’ had remained at best a variation of the original theme. But then the economy slithered out of its strait-jacket and opportunities grew like fungi in the rain forest. Today, what I do defines me, my character and my choices. Undeniably pertinent markers all.
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: WATER WOES
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: WATER WOES:
The Delhi Jal Board water supplies are meant to reach the end users, free of cost, yet water theft and non-supply from DJB is the unfortunate reality. The supposedly free water, which is a basic of any civilized society across the world, is sold at a price tag between Rs.400 and Rs.1, 000 for 1,000 litres. The price can reach up to Rs. 4000 on peak days. The connivance between DJB officials and private mafias set the negative tone for the water starved Delhites. The problem is particularly grave in South and South-west Delhi, with no easing of haggling with the water mafias, as they continue unabated extraction of water, which is illegal in the city, and magnify the agony of the residents as DJB pumps dry up! Delhi’s woes seem minuscule compared to Gurgaon, which is living amidst the terror of water mafias. The water there is selling at Rs.1,500-2,000 per tanker as the mafias on an average are spinning a staggering Rs.90 lakhs a day!
Read More: http://prasoonsmajumdar.blogspot.in/2012/06/water-woes.html
The Delhi Jal Board water supplies are meant to reach the end users, free of cost, yet water theft and non-supply from DJB is the unfortunate reality. The supposedly free water, which is a basic of any civilized society across the world, is sold at a price tag between Rs.400 and Rs.1, 000 for 1,000 litres. The price can reach up to Rs. 4000 on peak days. The connivance between DJB officials and private mafias set the negative tone for the water starved Delhites. The problem is particularly grave in South and South-west Delhi, with no easing of haggling with the water mafias, as they continue unabated extraction of water, which is illegal in the city, and magnify the agony of the residents as DJB pumps dry up! Delhi’s woes seem minuscule compared to Gurgaon, which is living amidst the terror of water mafias. The water there is selling at Rs.1,500-2,000 per tanker as the mafias on an average are spinning a staggering Rs.90 lakhs a day!
Read More: http://prasoonsmajumdar.blogspot.in/2012/06/water-woes.html
Thursday, 14 June 2012
Passionate About India: After giving the killer blow to CPM, is Mamata goi...
Passionate About India: After giving the killer blow to CPM, is Mamata goi...:
mamata banerhjeeThe communists desperately needed to sit in the opposition to realize that good ideals simply on pen and paper are not good enough. Power corrupted their ideals beyond recognition and they had become a party of goons, riggers and fascists. And if removing them was not good enough, doing it without any bloodshed is Mamata’s biggest achievement. But it doesn’t end there. She has also done what Nitish in Bihar and Raman Singh in Chattisgarh have failed to do. She is the first and only leader in the country to have tamed the menace of the Maoists in the Junglemahal area of Bengal by genuinely giving access to food to the poor there. And she could do it all due to one reason – her determined will to do good for the poor in the Junglemahal area. And finally, she tamed the Gorkha problem in the hills of Bengal immediately after taking power. None of these two issues could be resolved by the CPM in their years of power. And these three things are landmark and historical. While the mainstream media focussed only on the CPM issue, that too without really highlighting the immense value of it, it completely has ignored her other two very, very crucial achievements.
Read More: http://arindamchaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/06/after-giving-killer-blow-to-cpm-is.html
mamata banerhjeeThe communists desperately needed to sit in the opposition to realize that good ideals simply on pen and paper are not good enough. Power corrupted their ideals beyond recognition and they had become a party of goons, riggers and fascists. And if removing them was not good enough, doing it without any bloodshed is Mamata’s biggest achievement. But it doesn’t end there. She has also done what Nitish in Bihar and Raman Singh in Chattisgarh have failed to do. She is the first and only leader in the country to have tamed the menace of the Maoists in the Junglemahal area of Bengal by genuinely giving access to food to the poor there. And she could do it all due to one reason – her determined will to do good for the poor in the Junglemahal area. And finally, she tamed the Gorkha problem in the hills of Bengal immediately after taking power. None of these two issues could be resolved by the CPM in their years of power. And these three things are landmark and historical. While the mainstream media focussed only on the CPM issue, that too without really highlighting the immense value of it, it completely has ignored her other two very, very crucial achievements.
Read More: http://arindamchaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/06/after-giving-killer-blow-to-cpm-is.html
Passionate About India: After giving the killer blow to CPM, is Mamata goi...
Passionate About India: After giving the killer blow to CPM, is Mamata goi...:
mamata banerhjeeThe communists desperately needed to sit in the opposition to realize that good ideals simply on pen and paper are not good enough. Power corrupted their ideals beyond recognition and they had become a party of goons, riggers and fascists. And if removing them was not good enough, doing it without any bloodshed is Mamata’s biggest achievement. But it doesn’t end there. She has also done what Nitish in Bihar and Raman Singh in Chattisgarh have failed to do. She is the first and only leader in the country to have tamed the menace of the Maoists in the Junglemahal area of Bengal by genuinely giving access to food to the poor there. And she could do it all due to one reason – her determined will to do good for the poor in the Junglemahal area. And finally, she tamed the Gorkha problem in the hills of Bengal immediately after taking power. None of these two issues could be resolved by the CPM in their years of power. And these three things are landmark and historical. While the mainstream media focussed only on the CPM issue, that too without really highlighting the immense value of it, it completely has ignored her other two very, very crucial achievements.
Read More: http://arindamchaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/06/after-giving-killer-blow-to-cpm-is.html
mamata banerhjeeThe communists desperately needed to sit in the opposition to realize that good ideals simply on pen and paper are not good enough. Power corrupted their ideals beyond recognition and they had become a party of goons, riggers and fascists. And if removing them was not good enough, doing it without any bloodshed is Mamata’s biggest achievement. But it doesn’t end there. She has also done what Nitish in Bihar and Raman Singh in Chattisgarh have failed to do. She is the first and only leader in the country to have tamed the menace of the Maoists in the Junglemahal area of Bengal by genuinely giving access to food to the poor there. And she could do it all due to one reason – her determined will to do good for the poor in the Junglemahal area. And finally, she tamed the Gorkha problem in the hills of Bengal immediately after taking power. None of these two issues could be resolved by the CPM in their years of power. And these three things are landmark and historical. While the mainstream media focussed only on the CPM issue, that too without really highlighting the immense value of it, it completely has ignored her other two very, very crucial achievements.
Read More: http://arindamchaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/06/after-giving-killer-blow-to-cpm-is.html
Wednesday, 13 June 2012
Typos: HOW GREEN IS MY VALLEY STILL?
Typos: HOW GREEN IS MY VALLEY STILL?:
The still waters of the Dal rippled ever so lazily while the shikara drifted along, past a colony of sleepy lotuses. An arm’s length away, a lone coot poked around the pads,. Beyond the lotuses rose a rickety fence enclosing a small cucumber patch and a bearded billy goat staring meditatively at the water through half closed eyes. It was a little past dawn and I was still sleepy as I stretched into a long, slow yawn…“Good morning sir!” I turned and looked for the owner of the chirpy little voice… “Ah Zahid! Good morning!”, I said. “You live here?”
Read More: http://prashantobanerji.blogspot.in/2012/06/how-green-is-my-valley-still.html
The still waters of the Dal rippled ever so lazily while the shikara drifted along, past a colony of sleepy lotuses. An arm’s length away, a lone coot poked around the pads,. Beyond the lotuses rose a rickety fence enclosing a small cucumber patch and a bearded billy goat staring meditatively at the water through half closed eyes. It was a little past dawn and I was still sleepy as I stretched into a long, slow yawn…“Good morning sir!” I turned and looked for the owner of the chirpy little voice… “Ah Zahid! Good morning!”, I said. “You live here?”
Read More: http://prashantobanerji.blogspot.in/2012/06/how-green-is-my-valley-still.html
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: THE LOTTERY OF BPL CARDS
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: THE LOTTERY OF BPL CARDS:
The issue of access to food supplies at subsidised prices for people below the poverty line is being addressed by India’s federal government through their much touted Below Poverty Line (BPL) cards. In the same light, Food Minister KV Thomas attempted a turnaround last year by introducing a key National Food Security Bill to be enshrined as law. Apart from food grains, BPL cards promise to provide subsidised kerosene through 500,000 fair prices or ration shops across the country. The food subsidies have carved a massive 10 per cent of total government expenditure (Union Budget 2011-12) – a gigantic increase from 2 per cent in 1990s, which is linked with BPL cards.
Read More: http://prasoonsmajumdar.blogspot.in/2012/06/lottery-of-bpl-cards.html
The issue of access to food supplies at subsidised prices for people below the poverty line is being addressed by India’s federal government through their much touted Below Poverty Line (BPL) cards. In the same light, Food Minister KV Thomas attempted a turnaround last year by introducing a key National Food Security Bill to be enshrined as law. Apart from food grains, BPL cards promise to provide subsidised kerosene through 500,000 fair prices or ration shops across the country. The food subsidies have carved a massive 10 per cent of total government expenditure (Union Budget 2011-12) – a gigantic increase from 2 per cent in 1990s, which is linked with BPL cards.
Read More: http://prasoonsmajumdar.blogspot.in/2012/06/lottery-of-bpl-cards.html
Thursday, 7 June 2012
Passionate About India: Run!!! The merchants of death are angry!
Passionate About India: Run!!! The merchants of death are angry!:
I can easily cite scores of such examples from reports on miserable conditions existing in hospitals all over India. Although examples of the opposite nature are becoming rarer by the day, there are sparkling exceptions; and it gives me immense pleasure to write about one such example – the Shramjibi Hospital in Belur, West Bengal. When they admit a patient, they never ask him/her to deposit any money. Patients are almost always surprised to receive a very low bill (almost always one-fifth of the amount charged in other hospitals) when the treatment is over. For example, a coronary bypass surgery for heart costs Rs.25,000 at the hospital, inclusive of pre-and post-treatment charges. In the unfortunate case of the patient expiring during treatment, the management of this hospital never presents any bill to the relatives of the patient. Elsewhere, a bypass surgery may cost upwards of Rs.100,000 to Rs.350,000. Honestly speaking, since the surgery in a hospital and other services are not burdened with any transport and distribution costs, charges to be paid by patients for such surgeries should not exceed 100% of basic costs. But charges these days on operations are unfortunately 500% to 1000% of basic costs, and patients also can easily be blackmailed because of the prevailing threat of death. I am aware and proud of Shramjibi Hospital. Yet, on the other hand, services rendered by many private doctors and by private/public hospitals are of such miserable standards that one can even label them with the choicest of invectives; one reason I get the impression that these places are infested with ‘merchants of death’.
Read more: http://arindamchaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/06/run-merchants-of-death-are-angry.html
I can easily cite scores of such examples from reports on miserable conditions existing in hospitals all over India. Although examples of the opposite nature are becoming rarer by the day, there are sparkling exceptions; and it gives me immense pleasure to write about one such example – the Shramjibi Hospital in Belur, West Bengal. When they admit a patient, they never ask him/her to deposit any money. Patients are almost always surprised to receive a very low bill (almost always one-fifth of the amount charged in other hospitals) when the treatment is over. For example, a coronary bypass surgery for heart costs Rs.25,000 at the hospital, inclusive of pre-and post-treatment charges. In the unfortunate case of the patient expiring during treatment, the management of this hospital never presents any bill to the relatives of the patient. Elsewhere, a bypass surgery may cost upwards of Rs.100,000 to Rs.350,000. Honestly speaking, since the surgery in a hospital and other services are not burdened with any transport and distribution costs, charges to be paid by patients for such surgeries should not exceed 100% of basic costs. But charges these days on operations are unfortunately 500% to 1000% of basic costs, and patients also can easily be blackmailed because of the prevailing threat of death. I am aware and proud of Shramjibi Hospital. Yet, on the other hand, services rendered by many private doctors and by private/public hospitals are of such miserable standards that one can even label them with the choicest of invectives; one reason I get the impression that these places are infested with ‘merchants of death’.
Read more: http://arindamchaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/06/run-merchants-of-death-are-angry.html
Wednesday, 6 June 2012
Typos: FRIENDS?!
Typos: FRIENDS?!:
Having said that, there are times in every relationship when passion ebbs just as much as it flows, when physical desire waxes and wanes, and that might have something to do with that whole oxytocin serotonin withdrawal business. It’s nature’s way of pushing a healthy individual towards new potential mates to ensure greater genetic diversity. This is the point where couples start doubting their love for each other, spend more time with the television and get disillusioned with their own dreams and give up on their expectations from love. ‘It’s different now! We’re married!’ they tell themselves, and the fabric of love comes undone as the hands of the clock meet and the grand wagon becomes a pumpkin again. I have seen umpteen marriages lose colour and flavour and descend into ordinariness when couples accept the waning of that rush to be the new nature of their old relationship.
Read more: http://prashantobanerji.blogspot.in/2012/06/friends.html
Having said that, there are times in every relationship when passion ebbs just as much as it flows, when physical desire waxes and wanes, and that might have something to do with that whole oxytocin serotonin withdrawal business. It’s nature’s way of pushing a healthy individual towards new potential mates to ensure greater genetic diversity. This is the point where couples start doubting their love for each other, spend more time with the television and get disillusioned with their own dreams and give up on their expectations from love. ‘It’s different now! We’re married!’ they tell themselves, and the fabric of love comes undone as the hands of the clock meet and the grand wagon becomes a pumpkin again. I have seen umpteen marriages lose colour and flavour and descend into ordinariness when couples accept the waning of that rush to be the new nature of their old relationship.
Read more: http://prashantobanerji.blogspot.in/2012/06/friends.html
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: TUNING THE TUTOR
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: TUNING THE TUTOR:
There is no denial that supplementary education has its own merits, but then it also questions the very verity of formal education. These coaching centres not only highlight the discriminatory education system of the nation but also distort mainstream education. However, it is also true that this sector is providing employment and mode of earning for many who fail to make it through the conventional education system, due to red-tapism, regulations and not so attractive salary structure. So, on the hindsight, it seems a win-win situation for both teachers (as they can earn extra bucks!) and for those who cannot make it through the mainstream school system! But, on a deeper analysis, the picture would not seem so very attractive. In the veil of coaching centres, teachers (school teachers) are virtually forcing kids to attend their own private classes post-school hours. Thus, using the school children as their captive market and teaching-hours for their personal business development activities. No wonder tuition centres suddenly have become a full-fledged market, more so, in the absence of controls and lack of any regulation. Republic of Korea has prohibited any kind of private tutoring. Likewise the Government of Mauritius and Hong Kong has regulations in place to limit the negativity of the business.
Read more: http://prasoonsmajumdar.blogspot.in/2012/06/tuning-tutor.html
There is no denial that supplementary education has its own merits, but then it also questions the very verity of formal education. These coaching centres not only highlight the discriminatory education system of the nation but also distort mainstream education. However, it is also true that this sector is providing employment and mode of earning for many who fail to make it through the conventional education system, due to red-tapism, regulations and not so attractive salary structure. So, on the hindsight, it seems a win-win situation for both teachers (as they can earn extra bucks!) and for those who cannot make it through the mainstream school system! But, on a deeper analysis, the picture would not seem so very attractive. In the veil of coaching centres, teachers (school teachers) are virtually forcing kids to attend their own private classes post-school hours. Thus, using the school children as their captive market and teaching-hours for their personal business development activities. No wonder tuition centres suddenly have become a full-fledged market, more so, in the absence of controls and lack of any regulation. Republic of Korea has prohibited any kind of private tutoring. Likewise the Government of Mauritius and Hong Kong has regulations in place to limit the negativity of the business.
Read more: http://prasoonsmajumdar.blogspot.in/2012/06/tuning-tutor.html
Thursday, 31 May 2012
Sutanu Guru: EIGHT YEARS OF UPA AND EIGHT & A HALF LESSONS
Sutanu Guru: EIGHT YEARS OF UPA AND EIGHT & A HALF LESSONS:
The third lesson that the UPA could have learnt was from the failure of the NDA in managing allies. It was the loss of “allies” like National Conference, AGP, Telugu Desam, BJD, Trinamool Congress and the DMK that cost the NDA both power and a possible future. And yet, UPA managers have persisted with the folly of either treating allies disdainfully or bowing and scrapping to their whims and fancies. It is only the lure of power and the fear of elections that is keeping the allies in the fold. The moment they sense that the BJP – despite its suicidal tendencies – is going to benefit big time from a backlash against this regime, the allies will scatter like a flock of birds. Strangely, ally management still seems to be a huge headache for the UPA despite 8 uninterrupted years in power.
Read more: http://sutanu-guru.blogspot.in/2012/06/eight-years-of-upa-and-eight-half.html
The third lesson that the UPA could have learnt was from the failure of the NDA in managing allies. It was the loss of “allies” like National Conference, AGP, Telugu Desam, BJD, Trinamool Congress and the DMK that cost the NDA both power and a possible future. And yet, UPA managers have persisted with the folly of either treating allies disdainfully or bowing and scrapping to their whims and fancies. It is only the lure of power and the fear of elections that is keeping the allies in the fold. The moment they sense that the BJP – despite its suicidal tendencies – is going to benefit big time from a backlash against this regime, the allies will scatter like a flock of birds. Strangely, ally management still seems to be a huge headache for the UPA despite 8 uninterrupted years in power.
Read more: http://sutanu-guru.blogspot.in/2012/06/eight-years-of-upa-and-eight-half.html
Sutanu Guru: EIGHT YEARS OF UPA AND EIGHT & A HALF LESSONS
Sutanu Guru: EIGHT YEARS OF UPA AND EIGHT & A HALF LESSONS:
The third lesson that the UPA could have learnt was from the failure of the NDA in managing allies. It was the loss of “allies” like National Conference, AGP, Telugu Desam, BJD, Trinamool Congress and the DMK that cost the NDA both power and a possible future. And yet, UPA managers have persisted with the folly of either treating allies disdainfully or bowing and scrapping to their whims and fancies. It is only the lure of power and the fear of elections that is keeping the allies in the fold. The moment they sense that the BJP – despite its suicidal tendencies – is going to benefit big time from a backlash against this regime, the allies will scatter like a flock of birds. Strangely, ally management still seems to be a huge headache for the UPA despite 8 uninterrupted years in power.
Read more: http://sutanu-guru.blogspot.in/2012/06/eight-years-of-upa-and-eight-half.html
The third lesson that the UPA could have learnt was from the failure of the NDA in managing allies. It was the loss of “allies” like National Conference, AGP, Telugu Desam, BJD, Trinamool Congress and the DMK that cost the NDA both power and a possible future. And yet, UPA managers have persisted with the folly of either treating allies disdainfully or bowing and scrapping to their whims and fancies. It is only the lure of power and the fear of elections that is keeping the allies in the fold. The moment they sense that the BJP – despite its suicidal tendencies – is going to benefit big time from a backlash against this regime, the allies will scatter like a flock of birds. Strangely, ally management still seems to be a huge headache for the UPA despite 8 uninterrupted years in power.
Read more: http://sutanu-guru.blogspot.in/2012/06/eight-years-of-upa-and-eight-half.html
Passionate About India: SRK: The unabashed and rocking symbol of decadent ...
Passionate About India: SRK: The unabashed and rocking symbol of decadent ...:
That’s the intellect and spirit that sets the King Khan apart from all his contemporaries. While it often seems he is torn between going the Amitabh way of completely dignified existence or the Salman way of brashness, the fact is that he is just himself! As his supporters vehemently tweeted after the Wankhade stadium incident that he is most caring and soft spoken, specially towards children.. He most certainly is. Till he is poked and irked for no reason, he really is the symbol of dignity. His words, like Amitabh’s, are most articulate, well chosen and educated – proof of his education and continuous reading. The way he cares for his kids only people close to him know and others would have got an idea in the way he had his daughter next to him throughout the tournament and not just post Wankhade.
Read more: http://arindamchaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/06/srk-unabashed-and-rocking-symbol-of.html
That’s the intellect and spirit that sets the King Khan apart from all his contemporaries. While it often seems he is torn between going the Amitabh way of completely dignified existence or the Salman way of brashness, the fact is that he is just himself! As his supporters vehemently tweeted after the Wankhade stadium incident that he is most caring and soft spoken, specially towards children.. He most certainly is. Till he is poked and irked for no reason, he really is the symbol of dignity. His words, like Amitabh’s, are most articulate, well chosen and educated – proof of his education and continuous reading. The way he cares for his kids only people close to him know and others would have got an idea in the way he had his daughter next to him throughout the tournament and not just post Wankhade.
Read more: http://arindamchaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/06/srk-unabashed-and-rocking-symbol-of.html
Wednesday, 30 May 2012
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: THROUGH THE LENSES
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: THROUGH THE LENSES:
A few days back, I was watching this movie called 'Karate Kid'. No doubt that the movie is a masterpiece. However, what caught my fancy was not merely the plot or the way it was shot but actually the place it was shot. The movie subtly showcased China’s scenic beauty in the most picturesque manner possible. Be it the way they shot the Great Wall of China or the Forbidden City or the Taoist temple in Wudang Mountain or just that small play depicting a Chinese folk tale. Apparently, it was the beauty of China and the portrayal of Kung-fu that forced me to plan a short vacation to China, in may be near future. What is the lesser known fact about the movie is that it is not a sole Columbia Pictures production but a joint production of China Film Group Corporation and Columbia Pictures!
Read more: http://prasoonsmajumdar.blogspot.in/2012/05/through-lenses.html
A few days back, I was watching this movie called 'Karate Kid'. No doubt that the movie is a masterpiece. However, what caught my fancy was not merely the plot or the way it was shot but actually the place it was shot. The movie subtly showcased China’s scenic beauty in the most picturesque manner possible. Be it the way they shot the Great Wall of China or the Forbidden City or the Taoist temple in Wudang Mountain or just that small play depicting a Chinese folk tale. Apparently, it was the beauty of China and the portrayal of Kung-fu that forced me to plan a short vacation to China, in may be near future. What is the lesser known fact about the movie is that it is not a sole Columbia Pictures production but a joint production of China Film Group Corporation and Columbia Pictures!
Read more: http://prasoonsmajumdar.blogspot.in/2012/05/through-lenses.html
Typos: A LITTLE BIT OF US...
Typos: A LITTLE BIT OF US...:
The way this works is that our shared experiences which have shaped our partner have now become a part of them. So there’s a little bit of me in my partner and vice versa. So if I become a little careless or take the relationship for granted, and my partner begins to drift away, and towards other people, our shared experiences will remind her of what we have shared. And indeed, if our shared experiences have been truly unique, and have indeed shaped her, then those experiences will remind her that what she has with me is irreplaceable and worth working on… And it’ll buy me time to get my act together and reassure her that what we have is still as beautiful and special as it used to be…
Read more: http://prashantobanerji.blogspot.in/2012/05/little-bit-of-us.html
The way this works is that our shared experiences which have shaped our partner have now become a part of them. So there’s a little bit of me in my partner and vice versa. So if I become a little careless or take the relationship for granted, and my partner begins to drift away, and towards other people, our shared experiences will remind her of what we have shared. And indeed, if our shared experiences have been truly unique, and have indeed shaped her, then those experiences will remind her that what she has with me is irreplaceable and worth working on… And it’ll buy me time to get my act together and reassure her that what we have is still as beautiful and special as it used to be…
Read more: http://prashantobanerji.blogspot.in/2012/05/little-bit-of-us.html
Wednesday, 23 May 2012
Typos: RULES OF THE GAME -I
Typos: RULES OF THE GAME -I:
Love and God are similar concepts, not in the Bollywoodian sense of one leading the seeker to the other but because both are a consequence of personal experience; impossible to prove to others through the pseudo scientific process of experimentation, extrapolation and observation and yet either is as clear as Diane Kruger’s complexion under the soft light of a setting South African sun to the believer and the beloved. It’s a bit like the way Cartier-Bresson saw poetry etched in his maid’s wrinkled hands, or the way Patty Jenkins had the temerity to find an Oscar winning monster in the angelic eyes of Charlize Theron. If you don’t have the eye, or the heart for it, you just wont see it.
Read more: http://prashantobanerji.blogspot.in/2012/05/rules-of-game-i.html
Love and God are similar concepts, not in the Bollywoodian sense of one leading the seeker to the other but because both are a consequence of personal experience; impossible to prove to others through the pseudo scientific process of experimentation, extrapolation and observation and yet either is as clear as Diane Kruger’s complexion under the soft light of a setting South African sun to the believer and the beloved. It’s a bit like the way Cartier-Bresson saw poetry etched in his maid’s wrinkled hands, or the way Patty Jenkins had the temerity to find an Oscar winning monster in the angelic eyes of Charlize Theron. If you don’t have the eye, or the heart for it, you just wont see it.
Read more: http://prashantobanerji.blogspot.in/2012/05/rules-of-game-i.html
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: THE AFRICA IN INDIA
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: THE AFRICA IN INDIA:
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child states that this exposure of children in war operation is mostly mothballed in India because of Naxalites and insurgents operating in North-East. These outfits heavily recruit children as Child Soldiers to fight against the country’s establishments. The Human Rights Watch recently released a report, named "Dangerous Duty: Children and the Chhattisgarh Conflict" where it talks about Naxalites’ drive to recruit children for all sorts of battles. This position is particularly prevalent in the strife torn states like Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, J&K, Manipur, Nagaland and Assam. The recent Maoists’ operational machinations have mostly been in forming a Child Liberation Army (CLA). These children (around 300 of them) are trained under the cover of dense forest of Dhanbad and Giridih in Jharkhand and are provided with crash course in small arms. Apart from using arms, the children are also used as espionage by monitoring movements of security forces. The spokesperson of Jharkhand Police, SN Pradhan confirmed that with a plain message, "The Maoist rebels use children in their propaganda war against the government and security forces."
Read more: http://prasoonsmajumdar.blogspot.in/2012/05/africa-in-india.html
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child states that this exposure of children in war operation is mostly mothballed in India because of Naxalites and insurgents operating in North-East. These outfits heavily recruit children as Child Soldiers to fight against the country’s establishments. The Human Rights Watch recently released a report, named "Dangerous Duty: Children and the Chhattisgarh Conflict" where it talks about Naxalites’ drive to recruit children for all sorts of battles. This position is particularly prevalent in the strife torn states like Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, J&K, Manipur, Nagaland and Assam. The recent Maoists’ operational machinations have mostly been in forming a Child Liberation Army (CLA). These children (around 300 of them) are trained under the cover of dense forest of Dhanbad and Giridih in Jharkhand and are provided with crash course in small arms. Apart from using arms, the children are also used as espionage by monitoring movements of security forces. The spokesperson of Jharkhand Police, SN Pradhan confirmed that with a plain message, "The Maoist rebels use children in their propaganda war against the government and security forces."
Read more: http://prasoonsmajumdar.blogspot.in/2012/05/africa-in-india.html
Thursday, 17 May 2012
Passionate About India: Rekha and Jaya's Silsila, and the complete decay o...
Passionate About India: Rekha and Jaya's Silsila, and the complete decay o...:
The only issues highlighted by our media are very, very high profile corruption cases... that too without any follow-up. For example, it is almost a decade since the Ghaziabad PF scam came to light but who cares about following it up? Many witnesses have died mysteriously and keep dying regularly in each and every high profile case and how... Yet, there is hardly any follow up coverage in the media. Because – as I wrote in my earlier editorial – just like no lost child can wake this country up and change laws or school rules, similarly, no killed witnesses will wake this country up or change laws for their protection! And while our mothers keep dying at childbirth and our children keep dying before the age of 5 (in both these counts, our figures are shamefully comparable to those of sub-Saharan Africa while China’s are comparable to the most developed nations of the world), our media will keep our masses busy, feeding them the ‘Silsilas’ in our Rajya Sabha.
Read more: http://arindamchaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/05/rekha-and-jayas-silsila-and-complete.html
The only issues highlighted by our media are very, very high profile corruption cases... that too without any follow-up. For example, it is almost a decade since the Ghaziabad PF scam came to light but who cares about following it up? Many witnesses have died mysteriously and keep dying regularly in each and every high profile case and how... Yet, there is hardly any follow up coverage in the media. Because – as I wrote in my earlier editorial – just like no lost child can wake this country up and change laws or school rules, similarly, no killed witnesses will wake this country up or change laws for their protection! And while our mothers keep dying at childbirth and our children keep dying before the age of 5 (in both these counts, our figures are shamefully comparable to those of sub-Saharan Africa while China’s are comparable to the most developed nations of the world), our media will keep our masses busy, feeding them the ‘Silsilas’ in our Rajya Sabha.
Read more: http://arindamchaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/05/rekha-and-jayas-silsila-and-complete.html
Thursday, 10 May 2012
Typos: CAN I KISS AND TELL?
Typos: CAN I KISS AND TELL?:
CB was single. He wrote poems in English and Bangla, sang ballads and painted with an abandon – strange forms, vaguely human, but alive, writhing on that canvas that gave them life yet kept them trapped, framed. Zahira was intrigued. Eduardo was a friend, a lover, a partner, and yet there were recess in Zahira’s heart that had remained untouched, unloved. Th at beating beast was alive now in a way she had never known it to be. Or maybe didn’t remember it to be… Was this love, too? Or was this that love? Real love? The one she had been waiting for? The one we all wait for, till we know we’ve found it.
Read more: http://prashantobanerji.blogspot.in/2012/05/can-i-kiss-and-tell.html
CB was single. He wrote poems in English and Bangla, sang ballads and painted with an abandon – strange forms, vaguely human, but alive, writhing on that canvas that gave them life yet kept them trapped, framed. Zahira was intrigued. Eduardo was a friend, a lover, a partner, and yet there were recess in Zahira’s heart that had remained untouched, unloved. Th at beating beast was alive now in a way she had never known it to be. Or maybe didn’t remember it to be… Was this love, too? Or was this that love? Real love? The one she had been waiting for? The one we all wait for, till we know we’ve found it.
Read more: http://prashantobanerji.blogspot.in/2012/05/can-i-kiss-and-tell.html
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: THE DARK SIDE OF LIGHT
COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: THE DARK SIDE OF LIGHT:
The 11th Five Year Plan picked up the cause of power generation reforms as an utmost need to sustain 8.5 per cent economic growth. There have been a number of tryouts over the last decade but none have been overtly successful. Most of these failed due to flawed doctrines while others lacked practicality. Even ex-World Bank President in 2002 criticized India’s loss making power plants as the basis for poor power supply scenario in India. Such malaise not only adversely impacts the power sector but creates huge negative externalities for all connected sectors.
Read More : http://prasoonsmajumdar.blogspot.in/2012/05/dark-side-of-light.html
The 11th Five Year Plan picked up the cause of power generation reforms as an utmost need to sustain 8.5 per cent economic growth. There have been a number of tryouts over the last decade but none have been overtly successful. Most of these failed due to flawed doctrines while others lacked practicality. Even ex-World Bank President in 2002 criticized India’s loss making power plants as the basis for poor power supply scenario in India. Such malaise not only adversely impacts the power sector but creates huge negative externalities for all connected sectors.
Read More : http://prasoonsmajumdar.blogspot.in/2012/05/dark-side-of-light.html
Thursday, 3 May 2012
Passionate About India: The shameful case of Fair and Lovely Indians!
Passionate About India: The shameful case of Fair and Lovely Indians!:
Just back from a lecture tour of American universities, there is so much to write about. But what I wanted to share this time is something about which I have had strong feelings quite a few times in the past, but never as strong as I have now! Crisscrossing the US of A twice from the West Coast to the East Coast, I met one after the other Indians and their families over lunches, dinners and other meetings. And I do feel sad to say that perhaps the only thing that I found common between most of them was their hidden bias against the Blacks in America. A number of times in the past, I had heard my friends from the US speak derogatorily about the African-American population, often even pejoratively referring to them as Negroes and saying that they wanted to stay in a locality which had no Blacks. I couldn’t really accept this sentiment as a normal phenomenon, and rather used to wonder whether it was mere coincidence that I had so many friends with such an unabashed bias. But after this American journey, I am sure it was never a coincidence.
Read more: http://arindamchaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/05/shameful-case-of-fair-and-lovely.html
Just back from a lecture tour of American universities, there is so much to write about. But what I wanted to share this time is something about which I have had strong feelings quite a few times in the past, but never as strong as I have now! Crisscrossing the US of A twice from the West Coast to the East Coast, I met one after the other Indians and their families over lunches, dinners and other meetings. And I do feel sad to say that perhaps the only thing that I found common between most of them was their hidden bias against the Blacks in America. A number of times in the past, I had heard my friends from the US speak derogatorily about the African-American population, often even pejoratively referring to them as Negroes and saying that they wanted to stay in a locality which had no Blacks. I couldn’t really accept this sentiment as a normal phenomenon, and rather used to wonder whether it was mere coincidence that I had so many friends with such an unabashed bias. But after this American journey, I am sure it was never a coincidence.
Read more: http://arindamchaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/05/shameful-case-of-fair-and-lovely.html
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