VVS

The Govt of India wants to throw up the 450 million retail sector in India for Foreign investment. There are fears expressed that this move will spell a death knell to small traders. On the contrary the Govt. assures that the move would create ample employment. I read an article in THE HINDU which states that China which initially threw up 26% FDI in 1992 gradually increased it to 51%. Instead of swallowing the small traders the move indeed benefited the small people and they learnt to do business the way the big players do. So the move by Govt. of India would benefit our people also. We will have to wait and see what is in store for us.

After getting incarcerated for six months Kanimozhi the 2G accused and the daughter of the DMK patriach Karunanidhi returned to a rousing reception. There were drum beats. The entire air port was flooded with DMK supporters. A good show of strength. The entire show showcased how corruption is eulogised and sycopancy put on stage in Tamil Nadu.

Having won the first test at Kotla. India is heading for a second successive win. Dravid and Laxman and Dhoni have performed well with the bat. Yuvaraj is a failure. Ashwin and Ohja have done well with the ball. Sachin is under pressure to score his 100th 100. If he does not do now I think he has to forget it as it would be very difficult for him in Australia. Even Dravid and Laxman would find it difficult in Australia. India-Australia series would be very tough. Let us see whether we come back unscathed.

UP Assembly has passed a resolution for splitting Uttar Pradesh into four. Mayawathi has realised she can no longer rule UP and get defeated in the next elections to be held in the beginning of 2012. Whether the Centre would concur and Parliament approve such a split is a big question. Other parties would start weighing their chances of ruling one of the states. More states more expenditure more corruption. The present Govt. at the Centre does not act and this proposal would also meet the same fate.

With the demise of Nawab of Pataudi on 22nd Sep.2011 India has lost one of the finest crickters. He was a marvellous cricketer started his cricketing career playing with one eye which is unparalled. He had a cricket legacy with his father Ifthikar Ali Pataudi playing both for England and India. Fortune had it he Captained India at a very young age of 21 when the then captain Nari Contractor was injured on the head by bouncer from Charles Griffith. From 1962 to 1975 he was a force to reckon with. He played 46 test of which he captained 40. Though he had very few good knocks and not a remarkable average in Tests his leadership qualities were unmatchable. He was a brilliant cover fielder. He had a good cricketing brain. After his retirement from active Cricket he was associated with a sports magazine as its Editor. Recently the India England series played in England was for Patudi Trophy. India has lost a great and proud cricketer.

Ajay Maken the sports minister has done a wonderful thing by bringing the sports bill that bars persons over 70 years of age from heading any sports body. Bringing the BCCI under RTI. As usual our politicians like Sharad Pawar, Praful Patel, Farooq Abdullah have blocked it in the Cabinet meeting. Now the bill will have to undergo amendments. The PM though in favour of the bill is helpless. Though our PM is helpless on the things that go round him he happily sticks to power. Never bothers to do anything about it.

Anna Hazare initially said that he will not give up his fast till the Jan lok pal bill is passed. The Govt. said no. Then he said that the PM and the Higher Judiciary should be covered. The Govt. has not heeded. Then he said the entire bureacracy should be brought under the purview of Lok pal bill. The Govt. said it will consider. Then Team Anna said the bill should be put to vote. But the Govt. did not put it to vote. Instead it appointed a standing committee. The Lok Sabha passed a resolution and forwarded the same to the standing committee. Eventhough none of his demands has been met Anna Hazare called of his fast. In India Corruption is supreme.

There was much hype about the movie. It was explosive and it was anti reservation. Some Govts. banned it. The director went to Court against the ban. I saw the movie at a Theatre in Coimbatore when I went there. Scores of police personnel were deployed in front of the theatre as earlier the Vidhuthalai Chiruthai Katchi activists had torn the screen in the Theatre. The first half of the movie was gripping and the later was a masala one. I think the director's initial social commitment has been overtaken by commercialism. On the whole a movie to watch.

Earlier it was Jyothimoy Dey the interprid journslist was murdered in front of his house and now it is Snehla Masood a RTI activist from Bhopal. With the Govts doing nothing the criminals are emboldened. Nothing seems to get solved. One incident is overtaken by another. The politicians are busy politiking, the police have forgotten to police the people are indifferent. It is sad for democracy.

Soon after Anna Hazare started to the fasting venue, he would taken into custody. Along with him Shathi Bhushan, Aravind Kejarwal and Kiran Bedi. Parliament has been adjourned as usual. What will be the result. The issue of corruption would take a back seat.Blame game would start. The present Govt. is insensitive and unresponsive to any issue. if an issue crops up it the Congress uses its mouthpieces like Jayanthi Natarajan, Singhvi, Manish Tiwari to side track the entire issue and dish out inane details about the opposition. Mumbai blasts are forgotten. Telengane issue is gone. Same way the anti corruption movement will go. The insensitive Govt. stays on

Team India has surrendered. They have been clueless against swing bowling. Their bowling has been very weak. They have surrendered without a fight. Among Sehwag, Sachin,Lakshman,and Dravid, only Dravid has shown his class. Others have failed. Sachin could not convert his good score to a match winning one. Age and fatigue are showing. The old guards can retire and a new Team India can be built.

Today the kerala HC has ordered a compensation of Rs.75 laksh to the victims of the air crash in Mangalore. How will the Air India pay? It has itself asked loan from the Govt.? It is not paying salaries to its employees. Pension cheques issued by it get bounced. The kin of the victims can get satisfied by seeing Rs.75 lakhs only on paper.

The mango festival in Karaikal symbolishes an event in history where Karaikal Ammaiyar the lone woman nayanmar gave away a rare variety of mango to a Saivaite saint. This festival has an interesting legend behind it. Karaikal Ammaiyar whose original name was Punithavathi was given two mangoes of rare variety by her merchant husband. Soon after a Shiva devotee came to her house in the form of mendicant and asked for alms. She gave one mango to him. When her husband came to dine she served him with one mango she had. When her husband asked for the other mango she was taken aback as she had given it to the beggar. Soon she prayed to Lord Shiva and a mango appeared on her hands. Seeing this her husband deserted her considering her to be a supernatural being. She then prayed to Lord Shiva to take away her beauty following which her skin dried up and she became a nayanmar and was known as Karaikal Ammaiyar. Every year on full moon day in the Tamil month of Aani it is symbolic in Karaikal to

Three blasts went off one at Zaveri Bazaar, one at Kabuthar Kahana near Dadar and one at Opera House on 13th July 2011 at Mumbai. Nearly 20 people died and more than 100 injured. Usual noises were made. The media went frenzy. The PM, Sonia Gandhi, LK Advani visited the injured. The ruling and opposition blamed each other. The people of Mumbai went back to their work as usual. Every one started appreciating the resiliance of Mumbaikars. the police say it is the handy work of Indian Mujaideen. The Govt. is non committal. The blast victims suffer in silence. Every thing is forgotten. A committee will be formed to look into the incident headed by a retired judge. The judge and his staff would be paid a fat salary. After months the Judge would submit a voluminous report running to hundreds of pages to the Govt. which would keep it in the library. There will be talk shows. All the while our nation fed on the poorest ration watch in sheer awe. Nothing changes life goes on. Aged insensitiv

At last Rajnikanth is back after treatment hopefully in normal health. While he was in India and in hospital so many rumors were floating. That he was dead. That he had contacted an incurable disease and so on. Thankfully the Superstar has battled all this successfully. Soon after his recovery I do not understand why he telephoned Jayalalithaa and told her that she saved TamilNadu and then to Karunanidhi to take care of his health. What is the need to keep them in good humour. Only Rajni can answer

The treasure found in the Padmanabha Swamy temple at Trivandrum is estimated to be Rs.1 lakh crore. We should appreciate the honesty of the then rulers who never touched the wealth and considered them to be Lord's possession. Now what will happen to this wealth is anybody's guess. Let the Lord's treasure be saved from our politicians.

For more than a month Kanimozhi, the daughter of the former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi is in Tihar jail. Offence. She held 20% of share in Kalaignar TV and had taken about Rs.214 crores from a firm connected with 2G scam. She claims that it was a loan. But the facts were otherwise. It is a mystery that the maximum share holder in the Kalaignar TV Smt Dayalu Ammal is outside and has not even been questioned by the CBI. Justice demands that she should also be jailed. Or else Kanimozhi should be granted bail. It is felt that Congress is using the CBI and the courts to armtwist Karunanidhi who they feel has exploited the alliance to his advantage. By enjoying power solely in the State and also getting plum posts in the Centre. Now it is Kalaignar who is clinging on to the Congress and not the otherway round. He cannot withdraw his ministers from the Centre. If he does his son Alagiri and grand nephew Dayanidhi Maran would soon be behind bars. Now they cannot be touched beca

Reports are coming that 98 Kgs. of Gold 107 Kgs. of silver and some 11 crores of cash were found in Sathya Sai Baba's private chamber, Yajurveda Mandir. One cannot understand why so much of cash and jewellery were lying in his chamber. Baba could have avoided taking these valuables and cash. He could have donated all these towards his social activities. Why he did not do so remains a mystery

When Baba Ramdev went on a fast there were lot of people and politicians of various hue requesting him to give up the fast. Within seven days of fast the Baba collapsed and was hospitalised. His aide Balakrishnan was questioned about his assets. The Baba caputulated and gave up his fast. He could not withstand the fast for seven days. So much for his much touted Yoga. Had he been a true Yogi he should have fasted for days without getting tired! Contrast this fast with another. Swami Nigamanand also fasted. He fasted for removing the environment pollution around Ganges. He fasted for 114 days. Nobody even bothered to dissuade him to give up the fast. No politician was around. After 114 days he died. Even for fasting you need publicity and a big crowd around you. Long live democracy.

M.F.Hussain had died in exile in London. Of late whenever he took the brush to paint he always painted nude paintings of Hindu goddesses deliberately hurting the Hindu sentiments to obtain cheap publicity. The pseudo secularists always hailed him as a creative human being. As far as I saw his paintings I could not fathom anything. May be one has to be anti Hindu to fathom his paintings. Now that he is dead the secularists would try to find out some other painter to denigrate the Hindu Gods. May Hussian's soul rest in peace.

Anna Hazare started and it was followed by Baba Ramdev. Anna Hazare had an agenda it Lokpal bill. Baba Ramdev had none. He wanted to hog the lime light and when there was a midnight swoop on him he was taken aback. Then there was a Govt. onslaught on his assets which put him on the back foot and the Govt. successfully pushed the anti corruption movement back. As far Anna Hazare trouble started when he praised Narendra Modi. The Congress Govt. started attacking him as communal and he also went to the back foot and started criticising Narendra Modi's govt. Congress Govt. is steeped in corruption. The Prime Minister is a puppet. The President is lame duck. Sonia and her ilk control the administration. Corruption has pervaded in every walk of like. The politician, bureaucrat, businessmen et all. See the list of people who have been caught in their acts of corruption. Suresh Kalmadi, A Raja, Kanimozhi, and now Dayanidhi Maran not to speak about Sharad Pawar and Praful patel. Th

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Finally the DD day has arrived and the results are out. Jayalalitha has triumphed in Tamil Nadu.  There were expectations that she would win.  But the margin of victory was immense.  The people of Tamil nadu have shown the door for the people who have practised the politics of nepotism, corruption, misgovernance.  The people of Tamil Nadu have dispelled the perception of the rulers that money could buy votes. It was neck and neck in Kerala between UDF and LDF.  In Pondicherry N Rangaswamy who started his party just two months before the elections have won handsomely. In Assam the incumbent Chief Minister Tarun Gogai has scored a hattrick.  In West Bengal Mamta Banerjee has scored a thumping victory on the expected lines putting an end to the Left rule of 34 years.  For the UPA Govt. it is 50-50. Win in Three states and loss in two states. Let us see how the politics in Delhi is afftected by the results.

The man who shook the Great USA from its pride through the attack on twin towers on Sep.11,2001 has at last been shot dead by the US Navy Seals at his hideout at Abbottabad 50 Kms from Islamabad in Pakistan after nearly 10 years of search. This attack by the US had called the bluff of Pakistan's leadership who had constantly been saying that Osama Bin Laden was not in Pakistan.  This attack has sent shivers in the spine to another dreaded terrorist Dawood who has now shifted his son's wedding from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia.  Eventhough Osama is dead Al Queda remains and we can expect some vengeful acts from the outfit.  Osama's death has sent Obama's dwindlling ratings soaring and he can now expect a walk over in the next elections. Now that Pakistan's terrorist links have been exposed India can now put pressure on Pakistan through US and get the other terrorists like Dawood and the Chiefs of Laskar e Toiba, Jaish e Mohammad and bring peace to the beautiful state J&

Born as Sathyanaraya Raju on 23rd Nov.1926, Sathya Sai Baba attained heavenly abode at 7.40 a.m. today(24/4/2011). For nearly 50 years Baba held sway over millions and millions of people all over the world through his miracles, teachings and services.  Many considered him as God. An avatar of Shridi Sai Baba.  His ashram at Puttaparthi in AP and another at Whitefield in Karnataka became a hub of activity for lakhs of his devotees. For the ardent ones each act in their lives were His blessings. For the non believers he was a trickster.  Whenever he vomitted Siva Lingam on Mahasivarathri day or when he produced sacred ash from thin air sceptics like Dr. Kovoor challenged him to produce pumpkin from thin air.  Magicians like PC Sorcar also imitated him and produced sacred ash from thin air dispelling people's beliefs.  Despite all this even his critics would grudgingly admit to his signal service of  bringing drinking water to the parched 750 villages in Anantapur Dist. and to Chennai

A devastating earthquake with a magnitude of 9.2 in the Ritcher scale rocked Japan.  It was followed by a Tsunami.  It was distressing sight to see.  Then the radiation threat.  Despite all these disasters the people of Japan maintained  calm.  Recently I read in the newspaper the interviews of two of the Indians who are working in Japan and who had come to Indian.  Both of them said the people of Japan were unperturbed.  When the Japanese Govt. distributed food packets, the people were orderly and took the food packets that were just enough for their family so that others can also get their share.  No grabbing.  No storing.  They came in queue.  No queue jumping.  No breast beating weals.  One restaurat where one of the Indians was staying gave food for free on that day.  When will this self discipline come to our country? Hope we will also learn.

In my earlier post I had mentioned about money playing a major part in the TN polls. Despite skepticism the polls went off peacefully.  It was surprising to have a huge turn out.  78.12% was the final percentage.  This is the highest electoral turnout since 1967.  Money dole outs have been curbed to a great extent by the vigilant Election Commission.  Kudos to the Chief Electoral Officer Shri Praveen Kumar and the Chief Election Commissioner of India Shri S.Y. Quireshi.  It was good to see no electioneering, no graffiti no big banners, no fleet of cars.  It was a quiet and well conducted election and refreshing one too. It is surprising how the Congress party has given a free hand to the CEC?  May be the Congress wants to teach Karunanidhi a lesson for using it to further his family interests and also bring a bad name to it. May be the Congress was given a less share in the Cake. Psephologists say that whenever there is a huge turnout in the elections, the ruling party suffers. But in

A few days back Anna Hazare went on a fast for including the PM and Judges in the Jan Lok Pal bill.  This triggerred a wave of support from all parts of the country. With News Channels giving a running commentary and with people with lit candles in their hands the whole country had suddenly woken up for an anti corruption crusade.  Seeing the support the Govt. bent and invited his representatives for talks.  Anna's team could extract an assurance from the Govt. to have a new draft committee on Lokpal. The Govt. formed a committee on Lok pal with representatives both from the Govt. and Anna Hazare's representatives. Personally speaking I have my own doubts about the outcome of the Committee.  Already the Congress satraps are making noises that Anna Hazare is pro BJP. They have questioned his praise for Narendra Modi. In this rhetoric the real issue will be lost. Both the Govt. and Anna Hazare's representatives may not see eye to eye and nothing would be the outcome of the

A few days back Anna Hazare went on a fast

India has won the World Cup after a gap of 28 years.  After the initial hiccups a tie against England and a defeat against South Africa it recovered to lift the Cup.  Our team's performance against Australia at Motera and against Pakistan at Mohali was commendable. Victories at Motera and Mohali culminated in the Cup win at Mumbai. It was heartening to see Dhoni click with the bat at last. Was it a coincidence that  for the years 1983 and 2011 the calender is the same? Victory in Cricket was good. Do we really need the pre match hype and post match "gifts typhoon" if I may call it so.?

The DMK has promised every thing under the sun.  Mixie, Grinders, Laptops. 35 Kg. rice et all. They want to win the elections by hook or crook.  Ms.Jayalalithaa is aiding them.  She released a list of candidates without consulting her allies thus hurting them.  Then reversed the list.  In the process she detached an ally who had been with her for the past six years swallowing the insult of incarceration--Vaiko.  Now with no party to go Vaiko has decided to boycott elections.  This decision of his is not a mature one as all his trusted lieutenants would leave his party soon. DMDK would not fare as expected.  AIADMK leadership by sheer arrogance would come a cropper and DMK is expected to romp home despite corruption charges and despite a strong anti incumency wave.  It is not democracy that is in rule in TN but Moneyocracy and mobocracy

Just before 19th March 2011 there were reports that moon would be nearer to earth on 19th March and that there will be high tides and chances of another Tsunami was likely.  Came 19th March.  Nothing came about.  The day came and went.  One was able to see the splendourous moon a big one that is all.  Nowadays astrologers have become purveyors of terrorising news.

I produce herebelow an article by Widney Brown from the website "almasryalyoum.com" on the International women's Day. One hundred years ago, more than a million people marched in streets across Europe on the first International Women’s Day. They called for an end to discrimination and for women to have the same rights as men to work, vote and shape the future of their countries. One hundred years on, the reality is that women are still much more likely to be poor and illiterate. They earn only 10 percent of the world’s income but perform two thirds of the world’s work. They produce up to 80 percent of the food in developing countries but own only one percent of the land. In many countries, they are still told what they can do, or even what they can wear. Women in Saudi Arabia, Chechnya and Iran face harassment if they don’t observe conservative religious dress codes. In contrast, Muslim women in Belgium, France and some parts of Spain may soon break the law there if the

Both the DMK and Cong have now inked a deal.  Under this arrangement Congress will get 63 seats which the Congress has been demanding without insisting on power sharing. DMK had had its way on that account. So it is a no win situation.  Behind the deal I suspect that Kanimozhi who is under the CBI scanner may not be called in for questioning.  For the past seven years DMK has enjoyed all power and the DMK partriach's family had amassed immense wealth.  It cannot afford to antognise the Congress. Lest the Congress will use the Govt. Agencies and indulge in character assassination. On its part Congress cannot antoganize the DMK for Congress is a party of leaders and not workers.  It needs the DMK cadre to work for them during elections. Who knows Raja the jailed Minister may spill the beans and speak the truth indicting the Congress leadership!! For the past two days it was high drama.  The DMK chief asking his ministers at the Centre to resign but not submit the resignations. On its

The budget is pro corporate. For the salaried class the Finance Minister has increased the threshold limit by just Rs.20000/-.  There are no concessions for women employees.  Men whose annual salary is Rs.180000/- now have not to pay any tax.  Similarly women whose annual income is Rs.190000/- need not pay any tax.  The FM has introduced a new concession for persons who are 80 years and above.  They need not pay any taxes upto Rs.500000/-.  I do not understand why this concession has been introduced.  It is stated that only15000 tax payers would be benefited. Instead of this concession he should have increased the threshold limit to Rs.200000/-.  The Finance Minister has not said a word as to how he would tackle inflation.  He has nothing to say about the black money that is stashed in tax havens eventhough the Prime Minister had committed that he would bring back the black money within 100 days from his assumption of office.  May be 100 days has not yet come.  As usual the Opposition

It all started in Tunisia, a tiny country.  When a young boy was selling vegetables in a street corner, a policeman objected and threw all his vegetables in the street.  Hurt the boy set himself ablaze which ignited the people to rise against the Govt and ultimately President Ben Ali had to flee Tunisia. On April 6, 2008 Industrial workers in Egypet called for a strike.  Two youths Ahamed Maher and Ahmed Salah wanted to support the strike.  They could not tolerate the repressive measures of the Govt and were against the corrupt practices of the Govt led by Hosni Mubarak, who came to power after the assassination of President Anwar Sadat in 1981, and  also they could not come out in the open against the repressive Govt.  So they used Face book and Twitter to muster support for the workers.  Slowly it gathered momentum.  So started the April 6th movement.  These youths through their Face Book, Twitter called for a mass demonstration on the 25th of January 2011 against the Govt. None of

Strange Interesting Facts 1                      Bone is five times stronger than steel. 2                        It would take 1,200,000 mosquitoes, each sucking once, to completely drain the average human of blood. 3                        Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone, never telephoned His wife or mother because they were both deaf. 4                        A normal person will die from total lack of sleep sooner than from starvation. Death will occur about 10 days without sleep, while starvation takes a Few weeks. 5                      Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing. 6                      The only 2 animals that can see behind itself without turning it's head are the rabbit and the parrot. 7                        Humans use 14 muscles to smile and 43 to frown.   So keep smiling always. 8                      The average person has 100,000 hairs on his/her head. Each hair grows about 5 inches (12.7

A recent book on India by Patrick French is titled “India: An intimate biography of 1.2 billion people”.  The reviews earned by the book are mixed. But I found an episode narrated by the author in his preface very interesting. It runs as follows: An Indian man walks into a bank in New York City and asks for the loan officer. He tells the loan officer that he is going to India on business for two weeks and needs to borrow $ 5,000. The bank officer tells him that the bank will need some form of security for the loan, so the Indian man hands over the keys of a new Ferrari parked on the street in front of the bank. He produces the title and everything checks out. The loan officer agrees to accept the car as collateral for the loan. The bank’s President and its officer all enjoy a good laugh at the Indian for using a $250,000 Ferrari as collateral against a $5000 loan. An employee of the bank then drives the Ferrari into the bank’s underground garage and parks it there. Two weeks later,

Karmapa Clan is older than Dalai Lama.  Soon after the demise of the 16th Karmapa.  Two contenders emerged as 17th Karmapa. Ogyen Trinley Dorje and Trinley Thaya Dorje.  The former commanded more followers and was backed by China.  In 2000 he sneaked into India through Nepal. Then there was lot of controversy.  People started talking about him as spy of China. Soon it died down. The 17th Karmapa has since been travelling to China and back.  Now the Karmapa has embroiled himself in controvery.  Currencies of different countries worth Rs.6.9 crores have been found in his Monastry in India.   Will action be taken against him or he will be let off to have good relations with China only time can tell.  All Godmen are rolling in money whether in India or in Tibet or China or in any part of the world and have ample political clout. Pity the people who follow them.

Earlier post I wrote about the former CVC Shri N.Vittal an upright and honest man.  The present CVC is a tainted man.  He had been chargesheeted in a palmolein case some ten years back by the Kerala Govt.  This fact the Govt. shamelessly admits before the Court that it had concealed before the selection panel for CVC. Despite mounting pressure from the Opposition and the Court the CVC refuses to resign and the Govt. is defending him.  He is also involved in the 2G spectrum scam.  At that time he was the Telecom. Secretary.  The Central Vigilance Commissioner is the Corrupt Vigilance Commissioner.  By refusing to quit his post he can at best be described in the words of Late Shri Rajiv Gandhi, Limpet.

Sometime back I happened to listen to Shri N.Vittal, Former Central Vigilance Commissioner's lecture.  He said any new proposal goes through what he called as RAMA factor.  When a proposal is mooted there is resistance (R).  Then there is annoyance(A) when the proposal is insisted .  After some time and after much thought things get mellowed down(M) and at last the proposal is accepted(A).  Interesting isn't it.

Of late there is a fashion for the heros to dance with their lungis lifted which is nauseating.  The dance directors seem to have gone bereft of fresh ideas and hence have lifted the steps from the dancers dancing in front of any dead body and imported it to their films and get paid in lakhs. The directors also have a penchant for this lungi lifting dances.  Our Tamil cinemas are thriving on vulgarity what with the powerful Sun pictures taking over entire distributionship and doing a marketing blitz often showing these dances frequently corrupting young minds.  Hope this trend will change for the better. 

Year after year for 61 years we have been showcasing our military might on 26th Jan.  Whether this exercise is needed at all? What a colossal waste of money?  It was good immediately after we became republic.  Now after six decades we can do away with it.  Only cultural programmes can be held.  Will our administrators think?

Our whole society is a male dominated society.  The wife prostrates before the husband.  Sometimes eats only after the husband completes eating.  The wife always take a back seat.  Even the religious poojas are male oriented.  Whether it is KarvaChuth in the North or Garuda Panchami or varalakshmi vritham in the South it is the wife who prays for the welfare and longivity of the husband.  Why can't there be any puja where the husband prays for the welfare and longivity of his wife?  Now I think there is some change.  Let this continue.  Both the husband and wife are equal there should be no oneupmanship.

Recently I saw a photograph where an office bearer of AIADMK fell flat at the feet of Ms.Jayalalitha to seek her blessings.  The concept of falling at the feet of somebody does not go well with me.  Why should people fall at the feet of somebody?.  After all we are all human beings and all are equal .Why fall at another's feet.?  If at all we should prostrate it should be only before God not anybody else.  If somebody falls at our feet our ego gets bloated. Let us give our ego a go.  Let us change.

I do not understand why Shri A.Raja, former telecom minister did not get the award.  He did great public service by making people aware of the massive scale of corruption in Telecom. People have become aware of the magical figure of Rs.176000 crores.  For creating awareness among the public Shri A. Raja should have been honoured with Padma Shri.

By burning alive the Additional Collector of Nashik District Yashwant Sonawane the oil mafia has once again proved that they are above law.  Earlier in 2005 in Karnataka an officer Shri Manjunath was burth alive.  Shri Sathyendra Dubey was murdered by the land mafia in Bihar.  The Governments both at the State and the Centre are clearly in efficient.  They do nothing except raise the usual noises.

BJP leaders march to J&K to hoist the National flag at Lal chowk has come as a damp squib.  The leaders well know that they would be stopped and just to get political mileage marched to Lal Chowk.  As expected they were stopped and kept under custody.  The leaders have got their mileage required.  By stopping these leaders the Congress has also got political mileage.  They have proved to the Muslims in Kashmir that they would always support them.  Omar Abdullah and Mahbooba Mufti by condemning this march have showed that they are solidly behind the extremists in Kashmir.  On the whole nobody works for the people for Kashmir.  At this rate the Kashmir problem will go on till this world exists.

Snake Myths and Facts Myth: Rat Snakes are poisonous. Fact: Rat snakes are Non-poisonous, rodent-eating Reptiles. Myth: Rat Snakes mate with cobras. Fact: Rat Snakes or any other snakes will not mate with any snake out of its own species. Cobras eat other snakes so a mating between a Cobra and a Rat snake is not possible.       Myth: Snakes drink Milk. Fact: Snakes drink water and do not drink milk, neither can they digest it properly. They are reptiles and have no association with milk, only mammals who have mammary glands can produce milk and thus a liking for milk in non-mammals is unlikely. But in a crises when severely dehydrated, a snake might drink any liquid available.       Myth: Some Snakes grow a beard as they get older. Fact: Snakes are reptiles and do not have any hair on their bodies let alone a beard. It is impossible for them to have beards for their bodies do not have any ability of growing hair.       Myth: Snakes carry a diamond in their forehead.

The mobile number portability has been introduced on 20th of Jan.2011.  I do not know whether there will be any big exodus from one operator to another because many use only pre paid connections.  Most of the youngsters switch from one operator to another by throwing away one sim and put ting another depending upon the offer from the operators. With dual sim jugglery is being done.  This MNP may benefit post paid connection holders. Let us wait and see the response.

The Kerala High Court has asked the Travancore Devaswom Board to tell whether the Makara Jyothi was man made.  The Jyothi which flickers and vanishes above a hillock east of the temple is considered to be sacred.  The Board can never give a satisfactory reply to the Court it will definately give a meandering reply to maintain that the jyothi is a miracle.  In this scientific age miracles seldom happen.  Like the Tiruvannamalai Deepam the Sabarimala temple authorities should also come out and show how the jyothi occurs so that the devotees are not cheated.

One good thing about the cabinet reshuffle is that Praful Patel has been shifted from Civil Aviation.  In fact throughout his tenure he has been favouring the private airliners.  He was solely responsible for the drift in the income of Air India. The employees of Air India do not get their salaries regularly. He saw to it that the prime time is given to the private airliners.  In fact Air India was doing well in the Chennai-Colombo sector.  He got it cancelled and it has been given to spciejet, where the Marans have a huge stake.  I do not know whether the new incumbent Vayalar Ravi would stem the rot or he will also be a spectator to the drift.  Only time can tell.

5th membership verification for BSNL is to be held on 1st Feb.2011.  Nearly 15 unions are fighting the elections.  Some under the alliance of United forum some under BSNL Workers Alliance and some independently. Present recognised union BSNLEU is making all efforts to retain its hold despite its systematic failures.  NFTE which lost its hold six years back is trying to regain its hold. FNTO wants to prove its strength.  Both BSNLEU and NFTE are claiming victory. What I feel is the strong force of non executive technical employees who account for nearly 1,85,000 will hold the key.  If a large chunk votes for NFTE it will romp home.  I feel that NFTE has a slight edge as the recognised union has failed in all fronts and will soon toe the line of the administration if it is re elected. But BSNLEU with its committed voters can also be the winner.  A recognized union which has failed in all fronts should be shown the door. Let us see what 4th Feb.holds forth.

Cho in his speech delivered on the 41st anniversary of Thuglak has jousted the DMK and its chief.  He has lambasted the Govt. and portrayed its failings in his own humourous way.  He has openly advocated his support for Ms.Jayalalitha and forcefully pleaded for a change of Government in the next elections to be held in May 2011..He has also advocated AIADMK alliance with DMDK led by actor Vijayakanth.  But what one fails to understand is how Vijayakanth who in a meeting held recently came fully drunk and could not even make his speech allign with AIADMK? Further the DMK is adept in the art of cash for votes method and would successfully deploy it in the elections.  Further they can even tamper the EVMs.  Only a miracle can bring AIADMK back to power. Cho's wish is my wish.  But who knows people's wish.

The Congress has now trained its guns on the CAG.  Actually the CAG and his team of auditors should be complimented for bringing to light a mega scam which would have been buried.  The team of auditors under the CAG had diligently worked out the loses and showed to the nation the true colours of the present dispensation.  The auditors have functioned as the watch dogs of democracy and the Congress is attempting to treat them as underdogs.

More than 100 people had been killed when the jeep in which pilgrims were travelling met with an accident due to mechanical fault.  This in turn led to stampede which claimed the lives of lot of people.  What one fails to understand is why so many thousands of people visit the temple.at a particular time.  God is with us.  Why search for him elsewhere.  Any place of worship where thousands of people visit becomes a centre of commercial activity.  Once commerce creeps in all other vices follow suit and the sanctity of the religious place goes for a toss.  People should learn not to rush to places of religious worship at the cost of their lives.

During Tiruvalluvar Day on 16th of Jan 2011, Tamil Nadu State Govt. awards were distributed.  The two awardees worthy of mention are Smt. D. Yasoda and Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan.  Smt. D.Yasoda was awarded Dr. Ambedkar award and Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan, Kamarajar award.  One cannot understand what contribution they have made to society to be conferred these awards.  The only contribution is that both of them are congress members and The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu wants to cement his relationship with the congress during election time that too at Govt. expense.  Long live democracy.

In South India during Pongal festival Jallikattu or bull fight is held.  Men folk try to tame the bull.  Each bull carries a price.  A person who tames the bull gets the prize money.  The bulls are trained in such a way that they become ferocious their horns are sharpened.  Many youth get injured during this event.  Some even succumb to injuries.  This happens year after year.  This year it was reported that chilly powder was sprinkled into the eyes of the bull to increase its ferocity.  And lot of youth were injured in the event.  Despite Supreme Court's intervention.  This practice is going on.  We do not know when this will stop.  It is believed that taming the bull is the sign of manliness.  What foolishness.  There are so many ways to show manliness.  Poor animal. Bizarre practice.

MUMBAI: Market regulator Securities & Exchange Board of India (Sebi) on Friday barred two Anil Ambani group companies, Reliance Infrastructure (R-Infra) and Reliance Natural Resources Ltd (RNRL), from investing in the secondary markets till December 2012 for alleged unfair market dealings. Ambani and four senior executives face a similar ban that ends this December. In addition, a penalty of Rs 50 crore was imposed on the companies, the executives and Ambani. The executives include Satish Seth, S C Gupta, J P Chalasani and Lalit Jalan, Sebi said in an order posted on its website. The regulator said the companies and the executives paid the penalty "without admitting or denying the charges". An R-Infra spokesperson said the Sebi order did not bar the companies from raising money from the market through equity or equity-linked instruments, but these companies could not invest in stocks of other companies. Also because RNRL has since been merged with R-Power, th