Mallya Does It Again!

Today I read the Mr. Vijay Mallya has bought and brought home the Gandhi items for a whopping $1.8 million... The incident took me back a couple of years...

When in wide eyed amazement we Kannadiga's saw a spectacle of a rich and fascinating Vijay Mallya hold the Sword of Tipu Sultan and Parade the Bangalore streets telling everyone that it was his tribute to the pride of Kannadiga's. As a prelude to the entire drama was this event was a lot oh hype that a mysterious Indian gentleman has bought the sword for a then atrocious / mind boggling 2 crore worth from London...

Soon after the sword parade the sword went t his personal collection and I seldom recollect having read about it again. We'll pride is a one time affair I guess... Its like going to Tirupati and washing away a life time of sins with one hefty tribute....

This was about the time when Mallya had replaced Subramanya Swamy as the President of Janata Dal! And soon after this Mr. Mallya grandly launched his own party!!! In the elections however the party was a washout with not a single seat under its belt....

But now Mr. Mallya is MR. MALLYA... whatever he wants he gets... soon he gets nominated to The Rajya Sabha as a MP.... Now that was a tribute to the voting sensibility of the Kannada voters...

Well now that he has repeated the gimmick and considering the fact that general elections are around the corner... so.... 

Tiananmen Square : Tribute :)

How They Created The Beijing Logo 

This was forwarded by a friend and is posted as a tribute to fellow students who turned Martyrs in Tiananman square... This cartoon shows how the created the Beijing logo. A innocent man was made to stand against the wall and shot to the graphic imitated... This is strip is funny. But, the reason I am posting it is to keep alive the atrocities committed by China....

Auto Complaint

One thing I have seen as a part of Take away from living in Delhi is you learn to haggle with the Autowalas to the Sabjiwalas. 

Well the autowalas in Delhi might be the rudest and toughest lot you might have been pitted against compared to my home town Bangalore where there is a polite extortion. But the best part of Delhi is that the rates are negotiable...

When I was coming to believe that this yeh hai Dilli mere yaar.... But there were times when the auto guys asked plain three times the fare when u were stranded pushing me to tears.... On one of these frustrated rants sessions on how atrocious Dilli autowalas are, my friend shared the auto complaint cell's number...

Well to my pleasant surprise the person who took the call was courteous, helpful and understanding. They do share the complaint number. And I believe it works because I have seen way to many auto guys talk sense after this chat with the cell.

How does it work?

Well You call 011 23010101 and then you need to give in you name and contact details. You need to give the auto number and the exact complaint.... example xyz auto is asking double fare to come from CP to Malviya Nagar.

Then you need to take down the complaint chalan number. A chalan of Rs. 2000 will be door delivered to the auto's registered owner and your number will be shared with them. 

Sketch Pad

Well a last couple of days have been a li'l distracted.... I'm working on thia other blog where I am trying to upload all my random sketches.

Reason:

 I have lost way to many sketches by misplacing and giving it around to people I half the times can't recall.... and Majorly because I do a lot of random spontaneuos sketchs which do not have a lot of artisstic value... so just digitaliing the entire thing for the sake of convinince ....

You can catch the updates on: 

http://shivaniramaiah.wordpress.com/

Mommaaa!

Mom's in different shape, size, colour and species too!!!

This is a nice forwardI received which was like aww... awwwww... AAAWWWWW... and Ouch moment!

Colours Of India - Photo Show

Well...stumbled across this amazing stuff on Slideshare :

Colours Of India - Photo Show

Serendipity!!!!!!

Far From the Maddening Crowd

Once Thomas Hardy wrote the novel Far From the Maddening Crowd. The famous title just popped in my mind as I received yet another forward probably the second forward this month, which very poetically says we are running around like headless chicken (this is soon becoming my favorite phrase!) in the race of life. Well I don’t know the author of this bit but well I know everyone who read this took a minute off to mull over the thought and very saintly agree with it... remember the dear ones make a resolution never to let this happen in my life and then take a deep breath and plunge back into the same mundane work routine! Well that’s what I did or do every time i receive a motivational or denominational wake up mails! 

Well this is the bit I received today: 

Har khushi Hai Logon Ke Daman Mein,

Par Ek Hansi Ke Liye Waqt Nahi.

Din Raat Daudti Duniya Mein,

Zindagi Ke Liye Hi Waqt Nahi.

Maa Ki Loree Ka Ehsaas To Hai,

Par Maa Ko Maa Kehne Ka Waqt Nahi.

Saare Rishton Ko To Hum Maar Chuke,

Ab Unhe Dafnane Ka Bhi Waqt Nahi.

Saare Naam Mobile Mein Hain,

Par Dosti Ke Lye Waqt Nahi.

Gairon Ki Kya Baat Karen,

Jab Apno Ke Liye Hi Waqt Nahi.

Aankhon Me Hai Neend Badee,

Par Sone Ka Waqt Nahi.

Dil Hai Ghamon Se Bhara Hua,

Par Rone Ka Bhi Waqt Nahi.

Paison ki Daud Me Aise Daude,

Ki Thakne ka Bhi Waqt Nahi.

Paraye Ehsason Ki Kya Kadr Karein,

Jab Apane Sapno Ke Liye Hi Waqt Nahi.

Tu Hi Bata E Zindagi,

Iss Zindagi Ka Kya Hoga,

Ki Har Pal Marne Walon Ko,

Jeene Ke Liye Bhi Waqt Nahi.......

Well this is my sagely Himalayan respite in a very materialistic life, those moments when I feel like quitting everything and settling in a hermitage, but well if everyone was living their Zindagi I’m not sure about how many of us would be Zinda... 

Holy Cow!

A friend of mine forwarded this link with such enthusiastic amusement, that I caught myself by surprise when i agreed with the content of the article in parts though the entire concept still sounds ridiculous to me. 

Ok well the article in short is about The RSS next big plan after rampaging the peace in most civilised societies to launch gau mutra or the urine of cow as the next competition for the Colas of the world!!!!

Article excerpts:

The bovine brew is in the final stages of development by the Cow Protection Department of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), India's biggest and oldest Hindu nationalist group, according to the man who makes it.

Om Prakash, the head of the department, said the drink – called "gau jal", or "cow water" – in Sanskrit was undergoing laboratory tests and would be launched "very soon, maybe by the end of this year".

"Don't worry, it won't smell like urine and will be tasty too," he toldThe Times from his headquarters in Hardwar, one of four holy cities on the River Ganges. "Its USP will be that it's going to be very healthy. It won't be like carbonated drinks and would be devoid of any toxins."

The drink is the latest attempt by the RSS – which was founded in 1925 and now claims eight million members – to cleanse India of foreign influence and promote its ideology of Hindutva, or Hindu-ness..... read on in the link below 

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/article5707554.ece

Well now if you are thinking I am either out of my mind or I am a right winger ( not there is much difference between the two :P ) I am bound to deny both.... 

Ok, let me explain its been known for ages that cow dung acts as a anti bacterial shield... think back to your grand parents house in the village, the ground before the house was always quoted with cow dung and mud slush. 

Well, I'm not sure about the entire country but I'm pretty sure that down south every time there is a havan or any sacred ritual a tiny quantity of cow dung and urine is mixed in the prasadam which is distributed. Well the first time I realised I had the force the prasadam down for the fear of offending the Gods... but well when i actually researched about it.. the vedas and ayurvedas actually recommend it and infact I have seen a booklet of medicines based on gau mutra. 

And probably the best uology to the cow dung was written by  a very famous poet in kannada... well I cannot lay my hands on a copy of the original text ( I am ashamed for not remembering it on the tip of my tougue) 

but it has the lines which roughly translate to say 

When I'm burnt I am the Vibuthi....

When I 'm dried I am fuel....

When I 'm felt alone I am manure....

Well cow dung in any form is soo useful, well isn't it holier then we humans ? who just use up the resources on this earth....

Ok, just summing it up... well I still love my Cola's better and I would make no attempt to purify my soul, caste or religion! But yes,  I would give the veda and ayurveda their due and respect the healing powers of cow dung. ...

Stop Grinning Start Thinking !

I always envied my Advertising counterparts for the simple reason that they seemed sooo content with their work. They always seemed to be standing on a high pedestal of morality as we mere mortals seemed to dog through the drudgery work we didn't seem to like.... 

Then today I came across this article in the Indian Express.... I really don't envy Grey Worldwide for this one! 

The Report reads : 

Maya gets ad films made on self, spends Rs 5 cr

 Lucknow: Ostensibly cleared by the UP Chief Minister this time, the long-awaited four-minute ad film on the "overall development of Uttar Pradesh" under the Mayawati Government was telecast on various TV channels on Wednesday.

The film is one of the 13 that the state Government has got made in view of the next elections, by Grey Worldwide, an advertising agency. The films were to be released on January 15, Mayawati'sbirthday. But during a special screening on January 14, she had raised many objections on the content, and the project was shelved.

"Her basic objection was that the film was focusing more on heritage and culture of the state, whereas she wanted the film to revolve around her," said a Governmentofficial.

She had reportedly asked the filmmakers to go through the films the Information Department had made in the past, including documentaries made by professionals. A committee was also formed to screen the content of the films.

So, the haste to make up for the delay was palpable as the four-minute ad film was distributed to prominent television channels on Wednesday, and the airing began immediately.

The visuals – Mayawati in the backdrop of her project blueprints and layout – said it all. Although these are termed the UP Government's advertisement films, the budget of Rs 5 crore, according to sources, and the cast are good enough for a feature film.

There is Kailash Kher who has lent his voice to spread Mayawati's message. "Kyunki mere pas aawazhai, mere pas unka saath hai (I've got the voice and her company)," he says.

Names like Kiran Deohans, director of photography for Hrithik-Aishwarya starrer 'Jodhaa Akbar', and his filmmaker wife Abaan Deohans are associated with the film. The lyrics are composed by SandeshShandilya of the "mauja hi mauja" fame.

Of the films, the longest is of 11 minutes, say government officials, which showcases the overall development of the state. Four films of four minute each show projects in different sectors. Eight others, varying from 45 seconds to one minute, are on topics ranging from education, health and infrastructure.

The film on infrastructure, to be aired on business news channels, is yet to be released.

Later, the films will be released in cinema halls and sent to other states, for which the party will soon formulate a strategy.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/maya-gets-ad-films-made-on-self-spends-rs-5-cr/422593/

 The Postmortem 

Well.... they seem to have laughed their way to the banks, but the entire procedure of writing a script, to getting it shot for a narcissist CM and with the Sarkari Babus breathing down your neck is not exactly my dream job. 

Apart from my sympathy for the Grey guys, I cant help but wonder... We laugh as we read this article, but somehow, the self indulgent act of the CM becomes acceptable after being lampooned, as though we silently say ' Yeh paise nahi udaenge tho kaun udayega? '  Well hope we soon realize that the 5 crore which Grey is happily pocketing is the tax payers money ... SO, stop grinning and start thinking !

How It Changed

Just received A forward from a friend ... and by the end of it all that was left in my mind was a big " TRUE".

Just yesterday I was telling someone, that in class 12 I received a pocket money of Rs. 20 and never really had wanted anything more... now the day I have Rs. 20 in my pocket and a day ahead I will hit the panic button! I always blamed it on the cost of living but deep down I know the costs were half the story the wants were the other half... Well a nice forward...Reading it was like humming the tune of Country Roads Take me Home to the Place where I belong ....

Here i am sitting in my office @ night… 
Thinking hard about life 
How it changed from a maverick collage life to strict professional life…... 

How tiny pocket money changed to huge monthly paychecks  
but then why it gives lesss happiness…. 

How a few local denim jeans changed to new branded wardrobe 
but then why there are less people to use them 

How a single plate of samosa changed to a full Pizza or burger 
But then why there is less hunger….. 

Here i am sitting in my office @ night… 
Thinking hard about life 
How it changed….. 

How a bike always in reserve changed to bike always on 
but then why there are less places to go on…… 

How a small coffee shop changed to cafe coffee day 
but then why its feels like shop is far away….. 

How a limited prepaid card changed to postpaid package 
but then why there are less calls & more messages…… 

Here i am sitting in my office @ night… 
Thinking hard about life 
How it changed….. 

How a general class journey changed to Flight journey 
But then why there are less vacations for enjoyment…. 

How a old assembled desktop changed to new branded laptop 
but then why there is less time to put it on………. 

How a small bunch of friends changed to office mate
But then why we always feel lonely n miss those college frnz.…. 

Here i am sitting in my office @ night… 
Thinking hard about life
How it changed….. How it changed…….. 

Lizard Tales

Lizards...

I feel the creeps even as I write this! I feel a yuck! eeews ! A kind of feeling in my head and my toes already feel something creepy... Well, this is how half the world views the lizards. My moms voice pops up in my head " That small lizard would not be able to kill you! Considering it has never bitten anyone in my knowledge". She chides as I refuse to get into the bathroom, which has a petrified me in one corner and a equally petrified lizard on the opposite corner!

Well yesterday, the same small lizard almost killed my roomie with a partial heart and partial panic attack. This made me wonder what is it about lizards that petrifies us so much?

First, I remembered the good old house lizards which colonize our house and terrorize our souls. Well there are two reasons I can think of why I don't like them : 

• Lore says that these tiny things are poisonous and it they fall into your food well that could well be the ' The end ' of the people who consume it! When i checked the net now no such fact was confirmed... but I still trust the gyan given by my ancestors and chose to believe the lizards are poisonous 
• The lizards pee is acidic! well I have to accept I have never seen a lizard pee in gallons from the top of the ceiling but well I could give my ancestors some credit and chose to believe them 
• The lizards and squishy squashy ( the feeling I get... nothing to do with their constitution... they are vertebrates for those who are susceptible to get misled) and give me goose bumps 
• They run over the ceiling , so they petrify me with the threat of falling on my dear head... OK they are not cows that can kill by dropping dead on you.... but nevertheless not a very nice idea.
• Though I deem them far less dangerous than a rat or a cockroach which stray into the house, I still am biased to hate the lizards the most. Ya, for one you cant kill them....

That reminds me though I have seen some firang friends throw a shoe and squash a lizard or two . I have not seen any such act by Indians.... Back home I'm pretty sure it is a sin! If you even accidentally crush a lizard to death it is a unwritten law to visit the temple of Kanchi and pay penance to the golden  lizard statue there or at least wash the feet of some one who has touched the golden statue. 

spring you the picture of orginal lizards.... this is the holy golden statue in Kanchi 

By the way That reminds me when the lizards make a kick kich kind of odd noise, people read omen into it... I have heard good and bad omens of it... so no clue which one to follow... Or, u might simply be in North India where the lizards are visibly larger in size compared to their south Indian counterparts but are noticeably more silent . A few of my north Indian friends refuse to believe lizards make noise at all. But ya on a personal level I see the north Indian lizards are visibly larger but very slow and silent almost lazy .... in winters they vanish ( hibernate) and in summers they simply dangle it corners like dd coloured paint melting off the walls.... So I perceive them less dangerous then their south Indian counterparts which dart around the house like hyper active children!

Check D India

I was quite surprised when I read that women’s cricket world cup started well 2 years before the men’s event started! But it’s kind of weird to see the stark contrast in the popularity of the men’s and women’s cricket in India.

Now the 9^th ICC Women's Cricket World is starting from 7^th of March in Australia. You are thinking ‘So what?’… Well... the India women’s team reached the finals last year, this year they are marked to be one among the favorites!

Now the remarkable team is captained by a captain equally remarkable: Jhulan Goswami: She was the ICC woman cricketer of the year in 2007and is the fastest woman bowler in the world averaging 120kph! Man oh Man!

Now India being India, and cricket being cricket her appointment as captain got reported on 3^rd Feb while the actual appointment happened on 1^st February . Well Ashley Cole’s girlfriend’s dress or the lack of it finds the print but well women’s cricket can of course wait!  But, of course we are an empowered nation we have a women president who rubber stamps out decision! 

Story idea : courtesy Abhipedia 

Bell Bajao! Rings a Bell :)

After a long time I came across a campaign, which is pitched so well, that you can connectwith it. The break through initiative connects right at the begining with the tag line Building human rights culture.... seems to have got it right :)

What's best about the campaign is that it does not cringe and plead for your attention. Most of the social campaigns I have see give rise to a sense of helplessness, like watching a tragic horrifying movie which you would rather forget or flip channels . The Bell bajao campaign instead tells us what we can do. The suggestion is simple and their portal http://www.bellbajao.org/ is interactive, lively and definitely not depressing.

Diamonds are for Life! De Beers Story

De Beers

Whenever you think of a diamond you think of this company. It’s maybe like a xerox in photocopy world, absolutely peerless, anyways interestingly both uses carbon in one or the other form.

Most of us think that there must be some CXO type of post which was and is being held by some Mr. De Beers. The fact of the matter is that there in no Mr. De Beers (whom I can marry off to get all the diamonds) De Beers brothers owned a kimberlite field which was later bought by Cecil Rhodes( yes the guy who went snooping around Africa discovered have of it and owned a quarter ( that’s my perception and may be highly exaggerated but its not inaccurate… you would recognize if you were half awake in your history class)  

But this hunky dory tale of diamonds dint last long with the setting in of the second world war their markets slumped drastically as no one saw the need to make a lavish buy with the world burning. But two things change the scene:

One, the war ended and there was a surge in the marriage market as people looked for reasons to celebrate in an otherwise devastated world or men out on war for long wanted to seal their wedding after seeing in death in close quarters. 

Two, DeBeers came up with brilliant marketing campaign of ‘A diamond Is Forever’ (yes that line which makes every guy and girls in the world go red – of course the former as he sees a hole in his pocket and the later with the blushing joy of a bride ).

With the booming wedding bells everyone wanted to have or give a diamond ring on their left ring finger. The market went from good to great in the famous post was baby boom era.

By the way for those still wondering who the hell was Cecil Rhodes! He was the founder of the state of Rhodesia, which was later bifurcated into two African nations Zambia and Zimbabwe.

*Almost forgot the story idea: courtesy Abhishake Diarhea 

When the Fence ate the Field

Beli edu hola meydante ( kanada) means when the fence meant to protect eats the feild whom do we run for protection? Thats the first thought that came into my head when I was reading Karnataka Chief Minister's reaction to the entire Managlore pub incident. Some of the classic perspectives given by the CM: 

• The decision that though the incidents are condemnable the need is to stop the pub culture from seeping in to Karnataka.
• Banning Shri Ram Sene is not the solution for the problem
• The Leader Promod Mutalik need not be arrested! ( When he was initially arrested it was on charges of distributing inflammatory pamphlets - which actually called for volunteers for a Hindu suicide squad! - and not instigating mindless violence in the city) 

Just in retrospection what culture is the CM trying to protect? A culture where women can be molested by goons in the middle of the street, the media watches the tamasha , records it and sell their TRP and the CM is worried about the pub culture when women are being battered in broad daylight! heavens that was some culture! He would probably arrest the famous vachana sahiti 'Akka Mahadevi' for obscenity in public!!! Today pubbing might be wrong tomorrow working, dayafter steping out of the house. The list goes on till they replace women with slaves in the society. 

Secondly, if any other religious group had gone on a rampage would this be the reaction? If Pak Taliban was not banned in Afghanistan we call it uncivilised! 

Finally if we don't arrest the unapologetic leader of a psychotic group of vandals what message are we sending out to the public?

That's how it feels when the protectors turn attackers, there is a saying in kannada which means when the fence eating the feild situation 

This just reminded me that in colleges there were these rules prohibiting girls from wearing jeans as it was provocative!!!! If a goons eve teased a girl at worst times even raped the girls  the reason given "the girl dressed provocatively!" well what a defense! Maybe that was the reason for the molesting the women in the pub... 

For how long will we be the victims to this social perversion? 

Things are to be used and people are to be loved. But in today's world people are used and things are loved...

Dutch, India aur Sensex

I always thought America the great Juggernaut of modern day capitalism was the first one to have a stock exchange or may be the great Britain, But when I got to know that it was Amsterdam which has the credit for the first stock exchange I was surprised. 

A little of jogging my head reminded me the Dutch were the super power before the Anglo Saxon domination over threw them.

Yes, coming back to the Stock Exchange it was formed in 1602 by the Dutch East India Company for dealing in printed bonds and stocks. It also has another first : It was the first to begin trading in securities. 

The oldest Building were not available but the picture is of the building which hosted the Stock Exchange before it merger in 2000

The stock exchange has changed names several times from Bourse to the Brussels Stock Exchange when it merged in 2000. Then it became the Paris Stock Exchange and it is currently merged with the Euronext.

Birthday Celebration

For the First 15 years of my life Birthday was such a red letter day in my calender. It meant all friends would be home and I would blow a candle and cut the cake, get a new dress, plus gifts and we would play endlessly. It was the planning and anticipation which was sooo much fun!

But as we grew older Birthday parties started seeing a change... it meant friends would gate crash at 12, there would he those painful birthday bums ! It would be one treat for which you would save money for like months together.... and of course if you are lucky to co incidentally have a friend with birthday around the corner it would mean pool in. But it would mean hours of logistic about where to we go out and eat and have fun.... but parties were more of a friends and family celebration held separately....

The B'day gal in her new dress 

Then I grew up further ( Wow! that's news ) and started working, birthdays became a formal social calender event with some cake cutting, formal cake smashing and nice dinners..... now with family friends and colleagues. With a visit to the temple thrown in! 

But, last Sunday we decided to bring the good old Birthday Party back home on my Roomie's Birthday. Well after months of planing which had her parents come in from Kolkata... we had all the classic bits like a B'day cap, Balloon filled with glitter which were suppose to be burst at the stroke of 12 ( but due to a malfunction kept blowing up as weird timings...) and a huge " Happy Birthday" wall hanging, cake with candles on it, Friends standing all around with gifts in hand (well it was a gifts must bring event).....

After ages it felt great to be blowing balloons and putting up decoration in the house, deciding the menu took more time then the finance minister takes to draw up a budget.....

If you are wondering whats special in all this ? No no it was not a surprise party, but still the joy of celebrating just like when we were kids was fun. After a long time we had something to look forward for with childish enthusiasm , unabashedly looking forward for gifts and goodies.... It was nice to be a child again. 

It doesn't take a lot to be Happy :) And... Happy Birthday Arpita Mukherjee...

Jai Ho! Long Live Our Dreams...

We were on a Delhi Yatra this Sunday. As kids who work away from home we were proud and eager to show out visiting parents the grandeur of Delhi.... And what better time then the Grand Republic Day celebrated at the very heart of Delhi? 

Well one Day before the Republic Day( 25th Duh!!! also a Sunday) when the patriotic fervour we decided to visit the Red Fort, when we went there we realised it was closed for visitors with disappointment oozing out of our faces we decided to stroll down the lazy streets of Chandini Chowk. Then with a never say die spirit we decided to move on to the India Gate.... But, well here we saw stretches of deserted streets.... so we moved on to what I loving call the museum of Gods or Akshardham which was of course open with a few instructions like :

• In the list of things you cant take inside with things like bullets, blades and alcohol was a another item drunkards!!! Well I like the spirit of not recognising the human status of drunkards :P

Then after braving at least a dozen frisks and checks... by the time we reached the entrance we had the done with the teertha yatra feel. And, on why I call it the museum of Gods? Well It has these magnificent looking statues of Excessively hunkish six packed Gods... no nicely displayed I forget prayers and end up gaping at the beautiful architecture. 

Ok! Back to the point... Every Republic Day and Independence Day we celebrate about out country being free, in fact on the Republic Day when we many years ago so daringly declared Independence and a day when the best of our armed forces salute to their chief in command two things hit me harder then anything else the President who was taking the salute with all due respect to her seat did not in anyway inspire any confidence in me... I did not see a commander of armed forces I saw the face of an old women wrapped as much in a saree as by the influential political powers in the back ground!

Secondly, I saw that ironically on the days preceding our display of strength people preferred staying indoors out of fear more then anything else I heard out at least a paranoid friends and relatives who advised me to stay in so sure that I would be blown up to pieces by a terror bomb otherwise. It felt weird that we had more confidence in their capacity to blow us then our capacity to hold them off.... That left me wondering if we would have ever won over the great ( sarcasm for those to didn't notice) British Empire if our Freedom fighters were to be cowed down and preferred staying in? 

In short this Republic Day I wished for an India where people stop waiting for the messiah to walk in from the skies and find independence on the streets, but that does not mean we can make do with a compromise Presidential Rubber stamp. I pray for the Wings of Fire ( with tribute to its author) that will soon provide us with the strength to fly our country high.

When will Ram get a human Sena?

Well a couple of Yuga's ago there was The Prince Ram who defeated Ravan with his army of vanars of monkeys well but I can bet my last breath on the fact that the vanar or the army of monkeys were more human then their name sakes who beat up women for ruining the Indian culture in Mangalore. In short the monkey's then seem more civilised the the humans today.... or would i rather the humans today seem more beastly then the brave vanars then... (I guess Darwin would have redone his evolution theory if he saw these incidents ). *

On a more serious note...

Every time there is an attack by the fundamentalists or so called the religious brigade it is on women be it the bar dancers or the burqa draping. I don't know if I sound like a  feminist venting out a frustrated rant but the fact that women are at the receiving end of these barbarous whims is wrong. 

But a lot of times I wonder if I see a closet satisfaction in the masses when an incident like this happens... Just a couple of days ago there was an incident where kids celebrating a birthday party got beaten and abused for spoiling the culture of the locality by none other then the hooligans in the area. 

Just think back every time there is a call for protection of the culture the barbarians who quite literally hold the cudgels are the guys who would sit on street corners whistling at girls making cat calls and lewd comments.

In all probability the maniacs who attacked the girls in Mangalore were frustrated souls who were denied entry, and hence made a vengeful attack! I refuse to take a stance on does our society need dance bars... but if a set of hooligans were to attack women in them name of Ram I wonder how Ram would react.... maybe not too strongly for the man himself banished his wife heeding to words of a washerman.... Being a women I guess I would best love the Ram Rajya in a TV soap.

* But due to the immense respect and reverence I hold for the brave warrior race of vanars I extend my due apology to them for even making the comparison.... 

Bamboo, Rats and Famine

Long back in a family dinner I remember my parents telling me the when the bamboo flowers emerge it brings along destruction. The red flowers which is said to erupt together all over India at the same time brings looking more like forest set ablaze. 

The flowers are known to attract rodents which feast on these flowers and multiply at startling rates. The increased rodent population means the next to fall is the food stock bring with it wide spread famine. Its not just the famine they are suppose to bring along immense bad luck which is said to have destroyed kingdoms and countries. 

I remembered all this while reading a forwarded mail a friend sent across in which a similar belief was echoed in Mizoram.....

The mautam of Mizoram is a cyclical event that occurs once in 48 years when the Melocanna baccifera, a species of bamboo, blossoms. This attracts a particular species of rats, whose numbers increase rapidly. Last time this happened in 1959, and after having the feast, the rodents turned their attention toward the crops and granaries. This created a famine situation. This was also one of the reasons why India had to look towards west for food grains. One of the US dailies reported that Indian PM comes begging. 

Though this famine actually strengthened India and then came the revolution in food grains, known as the Green Revolution. 

While the situation in Mizoram turned other way round and saw the formation of Mizo National Famine Front which later took up arms as the separatist Mizo National Front. This resulted in separate statehood.

Though last year was the year of mautam, the Mizo National Front suffer defeat in the recent Nov-Dec 2008 elections. This time rats were also defeated thanks to better planning, tribal support and the Indian army.