India is a great country of tolerant people and I wish people in the other countries realize this. We don’t bother anyone, and don’t want any one to bother us, still with our tolerance all our neighbors except a couple are hell bent on irritating us. These dictators and one party ruled states assume by this they can control India. India has its problems of governance and infrastructure. Politics is a national pastime. Like others, I also like to follow the national level politics on daily basis and like others can see through the double rather N-numbered standards followed by Indian politicians. Everyone wants power and all these principles are only for others. At a drop of hat, they would ditch their long term associates and just play people against each other and favour their own families. BSP considers itself as champion of dalits yet till date this woman has not shown a single original thought by which we can say she is a great leader. All she is interested in erecting Ambedkar’s statues and foul mouth others and hoard money and cut cakes on her birthdays. Ditching BJP three times and she is thinking of herself becoming PM – http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/01/mercurial-mayawati.htm . Things have so bad that not only common man even celebrities need to protect themselves from this class -  http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/03/save-yourself-from-politicians-in-a-political-way.htm . They just occupy these positions and don’t realize governance is on auto pilot and whether they are there or not, it does not matter. Just like a hoarder, they act like a rent seeking money lender. - http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/02/lazy-governance.htm. I do feel BJP should have got more chance to govern, even though these regional parties are taking it for a ride - http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/10/what-bjp-should-have-done.htm. At least they had some vision to think beyond the conventions. They went for nuclear test to declare to the world, that India is a nuclear power. They had a vision to start this highway project of connecting all metros with one way traffic and later with North – South, East – West Corridors. Congress under Indira Gandhi did give us priceless jewels like her go ahead for first nuclear test by India in 1974, and victory over Pakistan and creating of Bangladesh in 1971; yet her many decisions turned out to be too controversial like her declaration of emergency in 1975, nationalization of banks and later Punjab problem. http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/10/incompetent-leaders.htm .

India is improving and one of the biggest factors in there is reasonably fair elections. T N Seshan the election commissioner of 1990s’ showed us the way and suddenly one gets amazed that politicians and elections commissions don’t try to get in each other’s way. http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/01/polling-more-options.htm . I wish I could do something. I mean it. Somehow the leadership has always failed me. I don’t know whether people feel insecure in my approach to work or they found my ideas too lofty. I want to contribute to the society and if empowered would have tried these concepts -  http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/02/online-data-keeping.htm or made India gone for - http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/10/construction-army.htm . I do feel there are many solutions possible for our problems if there is someone who has vision to try the same. Water problem can be partially solved by harvesting rain water http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/10/rain-water-harvesting.htm . I wonder why people are not paying attention to the sea the way we should - http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/12/conquer-the-seas.htm and we can apply some thought on managing our wastes - http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/10/solid-waste-management.htm and seeing the scarcity of greens and people getting away from farming it is time for everyone to think about recycling - http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/11/recycling-i.htm and I feel farmers should also try some innovative things - http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/10/indian-farmers.htm

I want to see India to have its position in at least in top countries like 5 countries that have veto power in UN. Barring a couple all neighbors of India are hostile to it; why it is so because India comes out as a soft country and this single party ruled China or dictatorial countries Pakistan, Bangladesh keep on nipping at India. It is time India to start asserting itself. Why Pakistan is being allowed to get away with instigating terrorism against India is beyond my comprehension. http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/11/lessons-from-india-for-mushrraf.htm Suddenly Russia is has also started acting tough with India. Not only they increased the aircraft carrier price by whopping $ 1 billions, they are increasing price for defense equipment - http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/11/russian-winter.htm

I don’t know why India does not take a tough stand on any thing. Barring a few all countries treat India as dirt and it is time India should also paying back in the same coin – India should have a principle of reciprocity and it should behave nicely and keeping a distance as many hostile countries treat India - http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/12/reciprocity.htm

Our evergreen politicians are so power hungry and law breakers that any small incident by any bureaucrat or a government official has shown a bit of spine, I feel very good. T N Seshan, as Election Commissioner was first such guy who suddenly showed to us what a powerful position or body EC is. I hate these red lights on their vehicles and their brandishing multiple vehicles in the tow when CMs move. I came across one news item and posted this entry - http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/10/well-done-inspector.htm  in 2007.

Sometimes I wonder why these borders are there and why individuals can’t go to any part of the world at its free will. http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/10/global-citizen.htm

USA due to its world power status gets singled out a lot of passionate discussions. Every other person criticizes USA and especially the communists, Arabic nations and if one probes deeper one can come across children of all these left leaning politicians studying or working in USA. Whatever one says – bulk of the innovations, management trends, business movements, systems, controls, changing with times theories emerge from USA. It does not mean I don’t have issues with USA government policies, on the contrary I have problem with their policy of ‘their interest first’ implying for the good of their nation, they don’t mind working with dictators, tyrant one party countries or propping up banana republics. Whenever I had visited them I have discovered some thing new or other aspect of their working and thinking. http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/04/what-is-service.htm

Government becomes the natural target of all ills in the world. Well! If I am paying more than 45% of hard earned income to the government -  (http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/11/income-tax-you-pay.htm), naturally one is more skeptical of the goings. This is the money which gets distributed free as loan waiver or down the drain like keeping these public sector companies afloat where workers don’t want to work and get entitled for every 10 years pay commission fruits. I many times wonder why can’t government go for simplicity ( http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/10/indian-financial-year.htm) and take proactive actions to cut down the fruitless subsidies – http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/10/cut-these-subsidies.htm  

I am paying my taxes regularly since 1980’s and till date there (touch wood) there has been no query. Earlier salaries were so low that ITax officials took the plea if a guy is filing his returns he is clean and now a days I Tax officials are getting overwhelmed by so much tax collections that don’t bother who files taxes. Still, I feel the way Finance minister P Chidambaram treats tax payers need to be improved. Compared to the kind of governance we are getting we are paying taxes through our nose. Check out how I feel we are being fleeced - http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/10/income-tax-compliance.htm  and on top of this whoever pays his taxes on time still dread this notice from I Tax department because this would mean wasting of time in going there and pleading in front of these feudal lords. The way government officials behave, the way they speak to you, one feels like why the hell people behave like this with their country men. Even Mukesh Ambani (Reliance Chairman) was not spared when he requested for tax relief and in reply P Chidambaram smirked to say only poor people and Mukesh Ambani ask for tax relief. These tax officials should put a system in place where collection is done by default.  http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/04/boosting-tax-collection.htm . They think they are only intelligent people who know how to govern.

Life is a mystery to me and I wonder what is the purpose of life - http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/10/what-is-the-purpose-of-life.htm and I it surprises me that we call ourselves invincible but in fact how vulnerable we are - http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/10/vulnerable-species.htm  and how long we live, if one sees in final analysis we don’t have much time at our disposal - http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/11/36500-days-that-s-it.htm

I don’t like people fleecing us left and right in the name or copyrights . Microsoft  is one company who keeps on demanding money but all its products become obsolete in 2 – 3 years or the way we are told. I wish someone could demand from them their copyright money.   (http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/11/copy-rights-iprs-myths-and-what-not-i.htm and http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/11/iprs-copy-rights-chuck-them-away-or-ii.htm).

Indian business fascinates me a lot and even I have tried my hands in the same and I understand how difficult it is, yet I also know if funds are there many new things can be tried like this retail revolution in India - http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/10/retail-revolution.htm. With these low cost budget airlines, I would introduce point to point service - http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/10/point-to-point-service.htm. I fail to understand in a country of 1.2 billions how these handful of companies start talking about there is a talent shortage in India - http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/12/talent-shortage-and-other-excuses.htm . We behave like a crowd and run towards a formula in a clichéd way.

Indian movies is another market which is under exploited and if I have funds I would try to serve this market in better way. I would promote movie anthologies http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/10/need-movie-anthologies-now.htm introduce serious academic studies on various artists and different eras of movie industry. At present so much we are missing as faithful translation of regional movies is not available - http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/10/wish-they-could-dub-them-in-hindi.htm

India is a vast country and we need to find our own solutions. Everyone wants 9 – 5 jobs (Monday to Friday) with 20+ holidays and 30+ personal leave thrown in. India economy can do much better if our working hours are extended - - http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/02/7-x-24-working-required-in-india.htm. India with its linguistic states, government of India should encourage integrating India - http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/12/integrating-india-attempts.htm

And promote more languages learning -  http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/11/wish-they-adopt-four-languages-formula-now.htm

India scene changed in late 1990’s when people started seeing more money in their hands due to increase in monthly salaries and because of competition prices start falling. It became more pronounced in 21^st century - http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/11/time-for-mega-portions.htm

I like to drive and travel. Personal driving appeals to me, especially car driving and it was my earnest desire to own a car as soon as possible. In my engineering salary even after 10 years of service to own a Maruti 800 was an issue, but in the second decade the situation improved. Even before driving well in India, I drove mostly in UK and USA - http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/04/driving-in-usa-i.htm , http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/04/driving-in-usa-ii.htm  and later in India also I could get my own Maruti - http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/11/driving-in-delhi-2.htm . This job of mine and kids in school don’t allow me the required freedom. Still, a few places I have been and everyone in the family liked this trip to Rajmundary via Warangal (http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/01/hyderabad-to-warangal.htm , http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/01/warngal-to-rajmundry.htm, http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/01/rajmundry-to-hyderabad.htm ) . One thing which comes to my rescue always is my travel checklist – http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/01/travel-checklist.htm ). Later I have explored these two weekend joints near Hyderabad Nagarjuana sagar - http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/04/a-weekend-trip-to-nagarjuna-sagar.htm and Srisalam - http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/04/exploring-srisalam.htm .

My first time in the plane was an international flight to Amsterdam and later Birmingham. Those were the days – http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/12/birmingham-days.htm

There were times I used to play cricket in my school days and I used to like to open and as my father used to allow me to take transistor to the school, my class fellows used to man this transistor in turns. Later TV came and game changed a lot. I had seen live (on TV) India’s historic win over West Indies in 1983. On Cricket affairs I also have a view http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/10/what-bcci-should-do.htm and feel ICL did bring some originality in the game. I also think other sports can be promoted in methodical way in India. http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/10/national-games.htm .

Sometimes I find we in India don’t take independent decision. We need everything to be vetted by someone; especially if it is from west. Many times I have faced issues at college, work and in personal life as individuals act as if you need to accept them rather than this being a reciprocal thing. All of us are trying to eke out a living in this competitive world  - http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/01/poor-fox.htm

Schools these days are acting like a tyrant. No control on school fees and no vision to help children who are not doing well in studies. With so many distractions for a child, people pay lip service and do talk of doing something after watching Taare Zameen Par, yet games continue - http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/10/games-schools-play.htm

I am sick of these articles and these comments by celebrities about women are finding it tough in the men’s world. One just quotes lots of things out of context - http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/10/no-comaprisons-required.htm and it is high time women to come out of this sissy mode and work their way up as men do. There is no short cut.

I dabble in to cooking and can cook for long term whenever required. After the college, earlier it was necessity as I worked in many cities and was on my own and later abroad as well. I like food and do realize many are excellent cooks, still I do feel if one experiments a bit and devotes time to it one can turn out to be a good chef. I discovered some tips in my trials - http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/10/generic-dish.htm  and http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/05/generic-dish-ii-greens-and-browns.htm .

Going abroad or working on a different city is fine, but one finds himself quite alone in real sense. Different states, region, country and then one realize the meaning of alien, regional affiliation, the meaning of us and them. Somehow I felt the way people from north (where I hail from) easily try to mix up with people from different regions, it is not reciprocated. I felt alien in Kolkatta (Calcutta on those days), Mumbai (Bombay in those days), Chennai (Madras in those days) and abroad England and USA. I am mentioning these cities/countries where I spent quite long time at a stretch (running in to years, except Kolkatta where it was for 6 months) working for a company. At present Hyderabad I don’t feel it so; but it may be because I have a family now. Still, with these experiences I am able to live alone and I realize there is no need to cultivate a companionship/friendship; if it is not reciprocated and these days life has become so fast and there are so many distractions that one does not realize when the weekend is over - http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/11/weekend-binges.htm

Life can be summed up, childhood, gaining consciousness, high school, college, work, marriage, family, growing up, aging. One needs to work, earn to live and in working life I came across games people play  - http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/10/white-collar-frauds.htm

I do feel Hindunism being a tolerant religion is being squeezed. From these Christianity (missionaries) in their soft persuasion and Islam by the hard way (agitation) with a soft governance by Indian state one just takes everything as it comes - http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/11/diwali-and-crackers.htm

Many writers have impressed me. This book Catch 22 by Joseph Heller is a classic. In Hindi Sri Lal Shukal is one writer I admire the most – His Raag Darbari is in the genre of Catch 22 (http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/12/blogging-in-hindi-and-hindi-fiction.htm). Tolstoy’s War and Peace was another big tome which was some book. P G Wodehouse is all time favorite and Amitav Ghosh is another icon who keeps on surprising me with his style and range of books. His Circle of Reason, Glass House were engrossing and his thriller Calcutta Chromosome was so impressive that I would have gifted this book a number of times for folks to read the same. J D Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye is good prose and hits you somewhere. Salman Rushdie’s mid night children was a good commanding read. This Freakonomics by Stephen Dubner and Steven Levitt and Black Swan by Nassim Taleb were an eye opener. There are lots and lots of books and I would keep on adding in here. Let me know how do you find this story - http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/06/bonnie.htm .

And finally like the World Wide Web, my Web would also evolve. Structure would change and juxtaposition of paragraphs and URLs would alter depending on what is coming in future; yet I intend to keep adding links to my posts.  Stay tuned. -

http://mytake.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/05/my-web.htm