** Happy New Year : 2009 **

There are quite a lot of people who touched my life in the year 2008 and helped me in becoming a better person. I thank everyone of them ... Thanks, Thanks and Thanks a Lot.

I wish you and all your family members a very very happy, prosperous and a healthy New Year. May God Bless you with success & joy.

புத்தாண்டு நல்வாழ்த்துக்கள்.

** Tamil Nadu (aka) Dharmashala **

It seems, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, MK Karunanidhi has decided to take the State's financial status to the worst ever seen by any Indian State !! He keeps inventing new freebie schemes. Free TV, Free Land, Rice for Re.1 - those were his elections promises. He did not stop with that and is continuing this madness throughout his present tenure as Chief Minister. His latest is the Rs.2000/- as flood relief to the people of Tamil Nadu !! Those who did not even see a drop of water during the heavy rain last month are going to take the free gift of Rs.2000/- for nothing. Mr. Karunanidhi, did not stop his "tamasha" with that and his latest announcement is the biggest joke - "The government will distribute ingredients required to make 'sweet pongal' (chakarai pongal) for free to the people for the forthcoming 'Pongal' festival !! My God !!! When will all this madness stop ???

** Voting **

In India, even if just 50% of the people vote in general elections, it is considered as a very high voting percentage !! Isnt that a pity?? We need to find a way out of this mess. That, in my view, can be achieved if we make voting 'online' and make it possible for the people to vote through SMS!! It is not something that is impossible. Estonia has made 'online' voting possible way back in 2001 and is introducing voting through cell phones for their forthcoming Presidential elections. If the Estonians can - Why not India? With very high cell-phone penetration in India, the possibility of online/SMS voting should be taken up - atleast for a technical feasbility study. If we can operate our bank accounts (which is more precious than voting!) online - then, why not 'voting'?? If our voting system goes online, I am sure, we will see a higher percentage of voting, lesser queues at polling booths, choice of NRIs to vote .... the list of advantages keeps growing !!! Isnt that wonderful??

** Value of Life ? **

In the past few days, two suicide incidents (amongst many) attracted my notice. A school going girl committed suicide as her bicycle was stolen (the bicycle was issued under the "Free bicycle to students" scheme by the Govt). In another incident, a lady took her own life for she lost Rs.500/- that her husband gave to her for safe custody !! I was overwhelmed with pity and thought on how so little means so much to a lot of people.

** False propoganda on Hindu Terrorism **

The so called secularists of India have, at last, very eagerly pounced on a rare opportunity (Malegaon Blasts) and have gone on to meticulously brand it as "Hindu" Terrorism. I am of the view that this one mistake by one or two individuals should NOT be equated to the violence that the Muslim terrorists perpetrate across the whole world. Unfortunately, this is India and this sort of pseudo secularism is what most of the political parties in India thrive on, as it sells very easily and also gets votes. What else do these political parties want ??

Well, I read a nice piece of article on the subject - I am producing the same below.

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The Hindu Rate Of Wrath

-By Francois Gautier

Is there such a thing as 'Hindu terrorism', as the arrest of Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur for the recent Malegaon blasts may tend to prove? Well, I guess I was asked to write this column because I am one of that rare breed of foreign correspondents-a lover of Hindus! A born Frenchman, Catholic-educated and non-Hindu, I do hope I'll be given some credit for my opinions, which are not the product of my parents' ideas, my education or my atavism, but garnered from 25 years of reporting in South Asia (for Le Journal de Geneve and Le Figaro). In the early 1980s, when I started freelancing in south India , doing photo features on kalaripayattu, the Ayyappa festival, or the Ayyanars, I slowly realised that the genius of this country lies in its Hindu ethos, in the true spirituality behind Hinduism. The average Hindu you meet in a million villages possesses this simple, innate spirituality and accepts your diversity, whether you are Christian or Muslim, Jain or Arab, French or Chinese. It is this Hinduness that makes the Indian Christian different from, say, a French Christian, or the Indian Muslim unlike a Saudi Muslim. I also learnt that Hindus not only believed that the divine could manifest itself at different times, under different names, using different scriptures (not to mention the wonderful avatar concept, the perfect answer to 21st century religious strife) but that they had also given refuge to persecuted minorities from across the world-Syrian Christians, Parsis, Jews, Armenians, and today, Tibetans. In 3,500 years of existence, Hindus have never militarily invaded another country, never tried to impose their religion on others by force or induced conversions. You cannot find anybody less fundamentalist than a Hindu in the world and it saddens me when I see the Indian and western press equating terrorist groups like SIMI, which blow up innocent civilians, with ordinary, angry Hindus who burn churches without killing anybody. We know also that most of these communal incidents often involve persons from the same groups-often Dalits and tribals-some of who have converted to Christianity and others not. However reprehensible the destruction of Babri Masjid, no Muslim was killed in the process; compare this to the 'vengeance' bombings of 1993 in Bombay , which wiped out hundreds of innocents, mostly Hindus. Yet the Babri Masjid destruction is often described by journalists as the more horrible act of the two. We also remember how Sharad Pawar, when he was chief minister of Maharashtra in 1993, lied about a bomb that was supposed to have gone off in a Muslim locality of Bombay . I have never been politically correct, but have always written what I have discovered while reporting. Let me then be straightforward about this so-called Hindu terror. Hindus, since the first Arab invasions, have been at the receiving end of terrorism, whether it was by Timur, who killed 1,00,000 Hindus in a single day in 1399, or by the Portuguese Inquisition which crucified Brahmins in Goa . Today, Hindus are still being targeted: there were one million Hindus in the Kashmir valley in 1900; only a few hundred remain, the rest having fled in terror. Blasts after blasts have killed hundreds of innocent Hindus all over India in the last four years. Hindus, the overwhelming majority community of this country, are being made fun of, are despised, are deprived of the most basic facilities for one of their most sacred pilgrimages in Amarnath while their government heavily sponsors the Haj. They see their brothers and sisters converted to Christianity through inducements and financial traps, see a harmless 84-year-old swami and a sadhvi brutally murdered. Their gods are blasphemed. So sometimes, enough is enough. At some point, after years or even centuries of submitting like sheep to slaughter, Hindus-whom the Mahatma once gently called cowards-erupt in uncontrolled fury. And it hurts badly. It happened in Gujarat . It happened in Jammu , then in Kandhamal, Mangalore, and Malegaon . It may happen again elsewhere. What should be understood is that this is a spontaneous revolution on the ground, by ordinary Hindus, without any planning from the political leadership. Therefore, the BJP, instead of acting embarrassed, should not disown those who choose other means to let their anguished voices be heard. There are about a billion Hindus, one in every six persons on this planet. They form one of the most successful, law-abiding and integrated communities in the world today. Can you call them terrorists?

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(The writer is the editor-in-chief of the Paris-based La Revue de l'Inde.)

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** Sabari Malai **

I am just back from Sabari-Malai, Kerala. This is the second year in succession that I have been on pilgrimage to Sabari Malai (swimmig alongside an elephant was a wonderful experience this time :) ) . Kerala, no doubt, is definitely a wonderful place - but, from what I saw, the State - on the whole - is designed for thin population. Poor (or nil?) Industries has spared (?) most of the State of its old and natural beauty (Should we rejoice this aspect ?) Tourism and Ports are the life lines of Kerala - if we discount Agriculture.

Well, getting back to our topic - Sabari Malai - every year, the crowd keeps increasing. It would probably be a guiness record for the number of people who visit this temple in the short span of around 60 days in Nov-Dec-Jan every year. While excellent crowd management methodologies are in place - the place grossly lacks accommodation and other public facilities. With the temple's revenue generation running into crores - what stops the trustees/Govt from providing superior public facilities is one of the many clueless question that you face in India.

** A Wednesday **

"A Wednesday" - a must watch Hindi film !! Great story, wonderful narration, great picturisation, classic dialogues and some wonderful acting makes this movie a power packed one. Nasruddin Shah and Anupam Kher have played their role to perfection. This is an interesting and racy movie from start to end without any stupid song or dance sequence (that are part and parcel of Indian movies). The movie, "A Wednesday", at the end not just leaves you satisfied but also makes you to think. Don't miss it !!

** Mumbai - unanswered questions !! **

Finally, the Govt claims that the terrorists have been flushed out of the Taj, Oberai and the Nariman House. But there are quite a few unanswered questions....

a) Were there just 10 terrorists - as the Govt claims - who were involved in this whole terror act ?? How many managed to escape ??

b) Why is Shivraj Patil being allowed to continue as Home Minister despite his repeated failures as Home Minister?

c) It is well documented that Dawood has used the sea route during the 1993 Bombay attack. What has the Govt done, in the past 15 years - to plug that loop hole??

d) Leave aside the intelligence report about the attack from sea - does the Govt need such a report to be prepared for such an eventuality??

e) When will the Govt learn to treat terrorists as terrorists - than concentrating on the religion that they belong to ?

f) How long are we going to suffer the Govt's total ineptitudeness in handling terrorrism ??

g) Will the Govt now STOP discussing the oil pipe line from Iran through Pakistan??

** Mayhem in Mumbai **

I was too busy for the past few days and had to stay away from blogging. On getting back - the Mumbai Mayhem takes precedence than anything else. Just 10 men has managed to hold our nation on hook for more than two days - thanks to the training that the Pak's ISI gave (I have no doubt on that) and to the spineless Govt that India has at the centre !! At first, I wish to register my deepest condolences to all the departed souls.

While a few brave lost their lives fighting the terrorists - in the next few days, we will be able to see and hear quite a lot of people queuing up to stake claims for what all the departed did !! Victory has so many fathers !! At this time, if the Govt ever cares to act, it should take some stern measures against terrorism - than shelling out empty promises. But - the big question is - Is our present Government capable of that ??

** Deepawali Greetings * 2008 **

May the Festival of lights brighten up your life even further and bring more health, wealth and happiness to you and all your family members.

With Warm Regards,
Gowri

** LTTE & 'POWER' Politics - DMK Strategy **

DMK and its chief Karunanidhi are always masters of cheap politics. The whole of Tamil Nadu is reeling under the worst power crisis. Urban areas face a minimum of two hours power failure and rural areas are without power for most part of the day & night. Industrial units are 'warned' not to take power from the grid during peak hours. What does the DMK Government do ? They took the 'Sri Lankan Tamil cause' !! Stage managed its MPs to submit their resignations to their chief, Karunanidhi (not to the Lok Sabha speaker!). The highly politicised film industry was instigated to organise a rally supporting the cause of Sri Lankan Tamilians. So, for the time being and for the n-th time, DMK has succeeded in the cheap diversionary tactics to gain political mileage. Given the situation - Power crisis - is going to haunt the DMK party in the forthcoming elections. But, again, by then, they will have another cheap tactics (as like the free TV campaign during the previous elections). You see, we never learn our lessons and curse ourselves by electing such cheap and mindless people to govern us.

** Sachin **

Sachin, is now the highest test runs scorer with 12,000 runs in his kitty. It took 19 years for Sachin to complete this stupendous feat. His mastery, sincerity and dedication reflects well in this achievement. But, above all - he has his head firmly on his shoulders and did not allow fame to get in to his head, The new gen kids who let their tongues wag after just one century should learn a lesson or two from Sachin on behaviour. Sachin, no doubt, is God's gift to Cricket and I consider myself lucky to have witnessed some of his wonderful innings. He has given so much joy to the huge fan followers of the game cricket. Sachin is a Legend and his records speaks volumes about the man's calibre. Kudos to Sachin on his 12000 runs feat !

** Poison Vs Poison **

Do you believe that a poison can be cured by another poison??  Well, the Indian Govt believes so !!  We all know that India has been the target of numerous terrorist activities - especially at a higher intense level in the recent past.   Home Minstry is the department that deals with internal terrorism.  Home ministry has a Minister (Shivraj Patil) and is assisted by three Minister of States in the present Congress Government.  One of the Minister of States for Home is Mrs. Radhika Selvi.    

Here, we should know more about this person, Radhika Selvi.  She belongs to the party DMK - well, that is irrelevant to our subject.  What is more relevant is that she is the wife of Venkatesh Pannayar - who was a big time rowdy element (a Dawood Ibrahim of a smaller zone).  He was killed in a Police encounter in 2003.   Now, she is a Minister of State for Home Affairs of the Government of India.   Can you find a more suitable person for the portfolio ??  I suggest that we sack the present home minister and make the wife of Dawood Ibrahim as the Home Minister of India.  You see, a poison can be cured only by another poison !!  Don't you believe that ??  Well, our Govt does !! Jai Hind !!

** Honking & Indians **

Yesterday, I read an article on the honking habits of Indian drivers.  It went on to describe about the level of sound pollution and the rude behaviour of Indians (honking is considered rude in most of the other countries!!).

Probably the author of that article is not aware of the basic difference between honking in other countries and in India.  While in other countries they honk to seek 'right of way' -  in the crowded Indian roads - we honk for numerous reasons -

- to warn the person who jumps traffic signal and heads our way on the wrong side,
- to warn the pedestrian who jumps the road median to cross the road,
- to warn bicyclists from taking a casual stride across the road,
- to warn those animals that take a casual strode in the middle of the road,
- to warn the pedestrians who share the small strip of road along with plying vehicles,
- to warn the drivers who have obtained driving license by paying few bucks,
- to warn the person who may appear as a flash in front of you from numerous blind roads,
..... the list is endless.

In India, alteast in the 'so called' metro cities, it is impossible to drive without honking, especially during peak hours.  Those who talk about sound pollution and 'rude manners' should be punished to drive in Indian roads without honking for ten days (Just ten days!)  - without hitting any one or being hit by any one !!!  He he he....

Yes, I do honk !! ;)   

** Birthday Gift **

   On the occasion of his mentor and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister (Late) Anna Durai's Birthday, Karunanidhi - the present TN CM,  has ordered release of more than 1400 life convicts from prison (Those who know about Indian judicial system would vouch that life sentences are not handed over that easily in India and it involves years and years of trial process !).   Worst, the High Court did not stop this, despite an appeal filed to stop the release of prisoners.  The High Court in its ruling, stated that the prisoners can be released after obtaining a bond from them - the bond that is going to hold no value and at best can be used as toilet papers !!  The release of prisoners comes at a time when the State's crime graph is on the rise !!  I do not know what the real achievements of both Anna-Durai and Karunanidhi are, but can, without any doubt, say that Karunanidhi, in this tenure as CM of TN, has taken oath of destructing Tamil Nadu in every domain and sphere !!  Tamil Nadu will soon be the next Bihar of India !

PS :  The names of those to be released, it is said, also includes those who were convicted in Tha.Kirutenan's murder case.  Karunanidhi's son, Azagiri's hand was suspected in the murder case and it is said that all of Azhagiri's hench-men were involved in the murder of Kirutenan due to inner party feud/politics.   This is just what I read somewhere and I cannot authenticate on this claim.   But, Indian politics is capable of such things. 

** Whats thrown up comes down **

 When there were bomb blasts all over Gujarat, the congress Govt at the centre said that it had given advance warning and intelligence reports to the State Govt on the impending attack and wahsed off its hands of any responsibility stating the policing is under the State Govt's domain.  The idea of the congress Govt was to squarely blame the Gujarat Govt and put him in a fix - and they succeeded to a fair extent.    Later, Modi, Gujarat CM, immediately after the interrogation of one of the top suspects (whom the Gujarat Police arrested in UP) had met Prime Minister, Mr Manmohan Singh and had informed of Delhi being one of the next targets.  And that is what has happened exactly.  Delhi,  as a State is being looked after by the Delhi State Govt - and also, in the capacity of it being the Nation's capital is directly under Centre's Home Ministry -  both under the Congress regime !!  So what did they do with advance warnings ???

   Well, arguments apart - it is very easy to place a bomb in any place in India.  With huge population and proportionately poor police strength, it is next to impossible to screen each and every one in importat market places, railway stations and other crowded places.  etc.   However, an analysis of ALL the bomb blasts in India will reveal "muslim" hands in every one of it  !!   While I will NOT blame the entire muslim community - there is no denying the fact that muslim fundamentalism is the root cause for all the blasts in India.  And the Congress Govt is hell bent upon pleasing the muslims and is NOT going to do anything about this "muslim" terrorism.  This Govt's attitude of soft pedalling on SIMI, the terror organisation that is stated to be behind all the bombings in the recent past,  speaks volumes about its capacity on controlling terror.   Also, as is being widely discussed, we do not have stringent laws to handle terrorists - courtesy the scrapping of POTA by this very same Congress Govt.  To add more fuel to fire, even those who are convicted are not executed beceause they happen to be muslims (Afzal Guru of the Parliament attack!!).

    Another aspect of this situation is the faith of muslims over their religion.  They place religion above nation - and due to this aspect, muslim terrorists exploit the religious feelings of fellow muslims for its all its operations.  Accommodation and logistics to muslim terrorits are no big deal in any part of the nation - as all they have to do is to locate a muslim dominated area and a masjid.  Rest is a cake wake.  Integrity based on religious faith is only sowing seeds for diversion.  Such acts takes the muslim community far away from the national stream.  It is best that Muslim leaders realise this and start speaking to their people in a tone and meaning that is against terrorism.  The muslim schools, "madar shahs", should be brought under Govt scrutiny as it is these schools that happens to be the fountainhead of hatredness and religious fanaticism.  Muslim clerics should realise that it is regligious fanaticism that has forced terrorists to the extent of  placing a bomb near children's play area, which however was fortunately diffused.  This is time for introspection - both to the hapless and spineless Congress Govt and to the Muslim leaders.

Jai Hind. 

** Sports & Chennai **

     I was of the opinion that everything is available in a walkable distance in Valasaravakkam, Chennai - well, atleast till last week.  I came in for a rude shock when I went in search of a sports shop for buying a swim shorts.  Not just in Valasaravakkam, but in a huge radial, which includes some of the posh localities, I could not locate a single sports shop.   I was told that barring one street in Paris, Chennai and another one near Mount Road, there are hardly any sports shop in Chennai.   Surprised... aren't you ???

Well - it brings forth a few important aspects - 

a)  The facilities available for a sports person in Chennai (India?).

b)  The level of Chennites interest in sports. 

c)   If this is the state of affairs in a metro city, what about the rural areas?

and above all...

d)  I am gonna start swimming...  ;)

** Olympics 2008 **

China has definitely set an example by successfully organising the Olympics with very high standards. Organising an event of such huge magnitude calls for involvement from every sphere of the nation - and by conducting it successfully, China has proved its mettle, calibre and growth in every sphere. The inaugural and closing ceremony were simply fantastic. Facilities and resources left everyone astounding. Credit goes to China !! This only proves that "population" is NOT an impediment to growth. It is the 'discipline' that we Indians lack and which puts hurdle in the growth path of our nation.

** Sports & Facilities **

Indian wrestler, Sushil Kumar, who won the bronze medal for India in the just concluded Beijing Olympics made all the Sports ministry officials talk high. But, what is the ground reality?? One of the TV Channels showed the living condition of Sushil Kumar in Delhi, where he was staying and practicing. It was a small dingy hall will full of cots. Around ten were staying in that hall - where, not a single more could be accommodated. Cots were put next to each other without even one centimeter of space. A person living in a road side hut would have had more living space than that. Cant the sports ministry select atleast the top few and provide them better amenities?? All the three boxers who reached the quaterfinals and the wrestler have proven credentials even before the Olympics and yet the facilities provided to them were awful !! That speaks volumes of what the Sports Ministry does. Thats the exact reason that the value of the medals that these men have brought for India is worth more than what it appears. We will NEVER be able to up with China - not just in sports !!

** Kill and Walk Free **

RK Anand and IU Khan are two eminent High Court lawyers (one of them is an ex-MP). They were caught on camera influencing a witness to depose in favour of the prime accused in a sensational BMW hit-and-run case which resulted in the death of six. The witness is the main witness (sole?) for the whole case and if he back-tracks, the prime accused, son of a rich arms dealer Nanda, will walk free.

Well, now that the lawyers were caught obstructing the justice on camera, you would expect harsher punishment. No, NOT in INDIA !! All they got was a four months suspension from appearing in court and a fine of Rs.2000/- (those lawyers servants may be getting more than that as monthly salary!). This only sets a wonderful trend where anyone can obstruct justice and all they get is a mild punishment, if at all they were caught.