** 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 ??