** Swine Flu **

A friend of mine sent the below photo to me - taken in a marriage ceremony in Pune, the city that has seen most of the Swine-flu deaths. ( I was impressed by the matching coloured masks that the bride and groom are wearing) :)

(If the image is small, click on it and see a bigger one)

** Our Culture **

Today, on the way to my office, I noticed hundreds of posters put all along the way, wishing one Mr. Pachamuthu on his birthday. I learnt that this man is the chancellor of the SRM University. He was eulogized with very many words in all those posters. Well - this person may have the money and would like to celebrate his birthday in a grand manner flouting all norms of decency. What this man aims by such self advertisement is not known !! May be he is aspiring to become a MLA or MP !! Well, that is his wish - but having his banners and posters all along an already narrow Ramapuram road, is undigestable.

The posture culture has reached monstrous proportions that we need to curb it as soon as possible. You cannot name any other single element that spoils the city/state as worse as this posters. Even if one of the political bosses passes by car through an area, the local "chamchaas" (a nice hindi word) - display 'n' number of posters all along the way. The local "chamchaas" ensure that they prominently have their own (ugly) faces printed at the bottom of the poster, so that the 'boss' is impressed by the loyalty shown by the individual. You name any occasion and you can see a poster pasted somewhere in this dirty city (Chennai).

No political 'leader' in India can win a seat merely based on his/her credentials. Its the rowdyism, money power and 'star' value that decides the winner and loser. All these makes me wonder on what sort of 'culture' do we have?? What sort of culture do we intend to pass on to our next generation?? Lets try to list a few -

(a) Cell phone culture - where every girl on the street wont walk without a cellphone stuck to her ears - talking and laughing madly (and sometimes loudly) to someone;

(b) Dance culture - where parents feel so happy seeing their kids dance in scantily clad dresses in front of hundreds and thousands;

(c) TV culture - where every festival is being celebrated in front of TVs and daily soaps consume most of the people's time.

But, no change is worse than the decay in political standards. We, as always, keep bragging about "Tamil/Indian" culture - thoroughly forgetting to remind ourself that there is no use in living in the past. What our present day culture is a deep cause of concern - for, we are heading in a direction where we are setting nothing but filth and waste to the next generation.

** Vinayaka (Ganesh) Chathurthi **

I remember this festival being celebrated in a calm and serene atmosphere during olden days. Not just this, but almost every festival had some real 'festival' touch in those days. It is hard to digest to see what has happened to all our festivals nowadays. 'Political' mileage has become the underlying goal of all our celebrations/festivals. We have this new found idea of erecting huge Ganesh statutes in every street corner (copy of Marathi culture). You may ask - whats in it ? Well, its not the common man or the local area association that put up these statutes. Its the people who like to earn big money in politics who do all these things. NONE of the sincere devotees are members or part of any of the Temple committees - its always the local politicians !! The erection of Ganesh statutes is only the beginning of a bigger 'tamasha'. These Ganesh statues remain at the street corners for one week and after that they will be taken in procession to the ocean where they will be immersed during the week end. The procession and the route that it takes are other sensitive issues. Right from erection till its immersion, this festival has all the political contours and NOT an iota of 'bhakthi'. Religion has become a victim of politics. At one end, we have/had people who benefitted by talking against religion (read Hinduism) and at the other end, we do have people who use occasions like Vinayaka Chathurthi to fulfill their political ambitions. Either way, we should realise that we are being 'used'.

** Rights and Ex-Servicemen **

I am a member of a yahoo group, "ex-iaf". Recently there was a discussion on taking up the case for allowing ex-airmen to wear uniform on selected occasion. I wrote so -

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Regarding wearing uniform after retirement - first of all, let me place on record my appreciation for people like Sri. BVR Murthy who just dont keep talking but take up the initiative in going about knocking the doors and fighting for rights. It is because of people like Murthy that we aall are left with one or two privileges. Having said that, I think, NOT allowing the non-officer community to wear uniform or medals after retirement is nothing but hypocrisy and smacks of "British" attitude towards "Indian sepoys".

We all have seen and witnessed such things during our Service life. I dont have to elaborate. The situation got far worser after 1996. They started taking the best of everything, leaving the bone pieces to us. Starting from medical facilities and extending upto canteen facilities - it can be witnessed everywhere. Once, I had been to MH for a courtesy call on one of my station officer admitted (one of a few gentleman officer). He had a spacious two room facility + TV + everything. While walking back, I saw many soldiers lying on floors in verandah (as beds were not available). Why this disparity ?? Why separate Qs for Officer in Canteen ?? Why separate doctors for Officers and their "more-than-precious -families" even in ECHS ?? How come their "sickness" more serious than yours and mine ??? The worst case is allotment of higher allowances for officers in hard terrain areas - Is the terrain more difficult for officers than men?? Does the snow bite them harder than the 'jawans'?? I can and we all can quote thousands of such hypocratical rules, regulations, activities, orders, facilities and everything. Thats the way it has been and that is the way it will be.

This "Saab" community took all that suited them from the Britishers and never allowed Independence to reach the "Soldier" community !! Do you all know that last month the Defence Minsitry (meaning on strong recommendation from Officer community) refused to accept the Parlimanentary Committees recommendation to abolish "Bat Man" in Army ??? Many soldiers languish in the houses of "Saabs" as "Batman" washing their clothes, watering their gardens and taking their dogs on evening walks. If you do not agree with me - just take a evening walk in Delhi cantonment area and see for yourself !! (Lucky, we didnt have that in Air Force!). Even today, you can witness "jawans" stading as 'ceremonial guards' during evening time parties in Officers mess, as their "Saabs" dance to soulful music with their beloveds. The "jawan" would be standing in full ceremonial dress (in peak summer) at the gates to enhance the "status" of his boss having a tot inside!! If you dont believe, go and see those things for yourself happening even today as you read this mail.

Well, why am I stating all this here now ??? - It is because, we all should realise that "Officers" will NOT allow us the priviliges that they enjoy !! They will NOT allow us to be treated at par with them even after retirement - for, they live in an illusionary world, thinking that they served the nation more harder than what you and I did !!! It is on these lines that they will NOT allow men to wear uniform after retirement, but they will continue wearing it. It is on these lines that they will NOT allow oursleves to be called as JWO ABC (Retd) - but only as Ex-JWO Sepoy!!! They will remain as Gp Capt/Major/Admiral. Kings (Retd). ("Ex" means, you are OUT of it, while they are still "IN" it)!! The decorations that you earned is not higher or more valuable than what your "Saab" earned and hence YOU CANT WEAR IT after retirement!! ! All our claims to earn the rightful privileges will be taken up at "appropriatelevel" - and rest assured, at the "appropriate level" - it ALL WILL BE struck down. Leave Groups as like ours, even Parliamentary Committee recommendations can NOT stand in front of this "ego" wall !! Let us accept such realities.

Jai Hind !!
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** Beauty of Nature **

The below are photos of a beautiful parrot like flower, which is a protected species in Thailand and has been banned from being exported.

Who but nature can do this ??

** Online Grievances Redressal mechanism **

Yes, it is happening in India. The Government has setup an online grievance form. You can lodge and track your complaints at http://www.pgportal.gov.in The site gives various details on how your grievances will be handled. Such initiatives goes on to show that we do have some smart people working in our Govt offices. This is an excellent initiative and deserves all the appreciation. How effectively does this get implemented will have to be watched. I pray that this gets implemented with all integrity, transparency and sincerity. But, for that to happen, the Govt (read as - the ruling party and other political parties of our nation) needs to adhere to the noble principles - integrity & sincerity !! Will they ??