cartoon time !!!

TATA is India

You ask any Indian on the street which is the most respected Indian company their answer would be TATA. TATA’s have a history and JRD TATA was a remarkable man whom most people hugely admired, he was impeccable (no wonder he was Bharat Ratna). So to cast aspiration on TATA’s quality is an insult. American’s have an exaggerated view about themselves. Further the whole concept of globalization is ok for them if they are at the gaining end (this also true at the local, within nations). Obviously Americans have lot to gain, it’s the American MNC’s that you see around the world as symbols of globalization and modernization, in most cases. We haven’t really seen what happens if Americans are the receiving end of these. We have seen how they have gone against many international treaties to protect their ‘national interest’. We have seen them attacking other countries against all international laws and norms for their ‘national interest’. Americans probably have to get ready to be treated on equal terms. That is what globalization means. It always easy to talk about globalization to poorer societies when one is at advantageous position to exploit. So quite expectedly when they have started to loose their advantage they have resorted to devious and illegal means.

They successfully maligned Chinese toys without any substantial evidence, infact American media have successfully been able to put aspiration on anything Chinese, not only in America but also around the world. Maybe some Chinese products were defective but the damage has been done, majority of non thinking TV fed Americans have got their scapegoat. This is precisely American way of doing things which is being taken as case study in other societies for the powerful and moneyed to edge out others.

The statement against TAJ by American listed ORIENT Express Hotels is a case not only of blatant ignorance (which most Americans have about the world outside America) but smacks of arrogance if not racism. TAJ chain of hotels is the most respected. This is a very serious matter, the unfair trade practice shouldn’t be tolerated, an apology is the least expected. The statement by ORIENT is an insult on Indians.

Use Mozilla Firefox !!

This blog seems to open better with Firefox than Internet Explorer. With Explorer the whole page comes out quite distorted. Till recently I was thinking it is because of internet café !!. In some internet cafe it opens properly in some it doesn’t. I was not aware of different type of Web browser (geez I am quite seriously tech challenged), and was told about this by a teenager in a café!!. Finally I have got old enough to look at things in terms of generation gap!!. So in the same café where the Explorer opened my blog distorted, Firefox opened it normal!!. It must be the competition between these, he tried to explain, even Google doesn’t open properly in Explorer. If he is right then is it not unfair trade practice??.

Whatever techies may say, blogger may please download Firefox, it is quite easy and takes only few minutes. I though am still not very convinced sometimes my blog opens normal in Explorer in some café!!. I guess I have to acquaint myself with basics of internet, which I think I am woefully lacking!!

Is it Bourbon King??

Is Bourbon King the Best horse in India?. This question is being frequently answered in affirmative by most experienced punters in race courses around the country. The bay Indian gelding is invincible in all its outing wining prestigious Derby, 2000 Guineas (the snap taken after wining 2000Guineas at Mumbai the other day) and so on. This Ganapathy trained, Ramaswamy owned nimble feet is a sight to watch, it is almost flying. Stop betting and sit down and watch, this one is value for money and time!!. Another brilliant Indian Horse that had tremendous success in Dubai Race is Mystical (below photo of Mystical after winning Dubai International. Mystical is a Ramaswamy-Poonawalla owned gelding). Many punters hold that Bourbon King has to go a long way atleast as a distance runner, the staying power is being questioned, Dubai run has shown Mystical to be immensely superior horse (Australian races though are tougher, recently a Japanese horse created history)

I also try to catch up with equestrian events around the world through TenSport channel, Dubai race opening ceremony live telecast few months back was brilliant. Placement of camera in these races (as also races in Britain) are brilliant, race courses in India could learn lot from these they now work with four or five camera in archaic style. The race sometime looses the punch and excitement due to unimaginative handling, they could use remote cameras. This blogger also suggests much severe punishment for excessive whipping. Water logging during rains is another issue, I came across a site the other where they discussed new technology to reduce this problem. I have visited race courses at Mumbai (Mahalaxmi race course is quite big), Kolkota, Pune, Delhi (it is quite dirty. Shocking considering that it has one of the best known addresses includes PM!!), and yes Bangalore. But Mysore race course i consider best in India, its an incredible sight next to Chamundi hills (snaps taken by the blogger few months back, isn't it a incredible setting?). Punters at lower end in race course spit a lot, loosing money gives them another reason, it is terrible sight sometimes. Race course though actively promote smoking, wonder why they don’t get huge sponsoring from cigarette giants, atleast as token of appreciation!!

Condolences….and something about News

The other day I came to know that Newsreader of yesteryears Mr.Tejeshwar has expired. My condolences. He was an excellent newsreader, quite active in 80s. He also acted in a movie as a villain (Jalwa had some great songs). If I am not wrong he started Sage Publication, I really don’t know what kind of books they published since most of us don’t buy books based on publishers (who ever does that !!). He belonged to a breed of newsreader who read news and not anchored. They were credible in their approach, it is for the same reason I can still recall atleast few names like Salma Sulthan (the matching saree and flower!. She probably read the most significant of events in mid 80s), Neethi ravindran, Gitanjali Iyer (she did act in a TV serial if I recall),Sukanya Balakrishnan, Minu (big bindhi lady!!), Rini, Navin Andrews, Komal, then there was this guy with thick glasses (he probably was the first few, he was dead serious!! …we waited for him to finish so as to watch ‘picture ka baaki baag’), there was a maverick Damodharan and many more. You really cannot forget these people. Kadhapi nahi!!. Vinod Dua is one whom I always admired, he was and is brilliant . I also used to regularly catch up with News for hearing handicap on Sundays. I loved the way the anchor showed ‘people dead’!!. For 6-7 years I didn’t watch TV much ( got stuck in my little problems little life!!) so wouldn’t know what happened those years. Now of course there are hundreds of channels (Delhi based and state based- I abhor the use of the word ‘regional channel’. Placing oneself in Delhi or speaking in English doesn’t make one National that is an insult). News rooms now have become fiefdom of babalogs, some rare shades of brilliance here and there but mostly mediocre (I am not against them, every body has right to make a living!!).

Listening to News was inculcated as something important, I was asked sometimes to tell what the News was, quite randomly, so I had to be very cautious. Later I took it quite seriously and in my teens graduated to BBC and Voice of America- it was difficult to understand, years of listening made me comfortable, I listened to it right till mid 90s- they had very interesting phone in program every night 10:30, they discussed international issues. In school during Morning Prayer there was few minutes of main News reading, I was chosen few times. Later in teens I had to write down News from Radio most Sundays for some official purpose. When in Kerala I found most people took News very seriously. Even in small tea shop they switch to News sharp on time. I was amazed. Now I get the News mostly from Net, sometimes from some TV channel.

Mass media has incredible reach and has been a source of fascination for me. My brush with Akashwani started when I was probably in 6^th std, we participated in ‘bachon ke liye vigyan’ in ‘Akashwani ka jaipur kendra’. It was a program that was telecasted on Sundays, the intention being to inculcate scientific temper among children I guess. The lady interacted with children and asked questions, later it was explained scientifically. The program was in hindi and I got to hear the word gurthavakrashan many times. It sounded quite good, quite later I came to know what it meant!!. In Chennai in mid 90s went for Audition test at AIR, given thumps down. Few years later I was back in AIR Delhi reading poetry. I did try to extend it to discussion programs (thankfully this was before RJs and related crap) didn’t work out, few years later there was an explosion in number of radio channels, I though had lost interest, its like ‘seen that done that’!!

TV was another area of interest, right after college I worked for few weeks in related field. Back in Kerala we thought of starting a quiz program, there was this girl who was absolutely convinced about the idea and she had lots of contact, in the meantime things had become worse for me. So had to leave and landed up Delhi. The very first thing I did was to find out about TV channels, and that is how I came to know about NDTV. Got the address and landed up in their office, I guess it is in GK(?!!). The person at the reception told that I got to write my ideas in paper as request ‘you cannot meet anyone by barging in’. The reception also was a space for babalog to smoke and chat. I absolutely had no means of contact so gave the phone no. of my house owner. Nothing came out of it, anyway my house owner at that time was a petty fellow.

During those days I had access to a phone booth cum computer centre, the fellow working there had become a friend, I could type right into midnight absolutely free. It was here I came to know a fellow we all called Bose, a man in his 40s. He had a skill for writing and had been a journo, he edited a tabloid that came out from Mumbai at that time. He was such devious fellow, he concocted interviews. Once he ‘conducted’ interview with Ghulam Nabi Azad (a congress leader) right in front of me!!. Asking questions and answering himself with an keyboard speed to match. He then showed me the complete interview and asked how it is??!!. There was nothing about him that could be trusted but still I lend him some money now and then, despite the fact I too was not very financially sound. He took money from lots of people in the vicinity and one fine day vanished!!. Few years later I met him in chandni chowk he refused to recognize me!!. Why I mentioned Bose is because he took me to Zee TV office (I guess it was in Noida film city). He tried to help and introduced me to few people. I kept in touch with them for few weeks and then it fizzled out. In the meantime I had got into something else. I guess the job in this sector needs some basic competence beyond that it is contacts. For an outsider to break in from the lower end is next to impossible. Now though I am immensely satisfied as an audience.

TV is a powerful medium but unfortunately it is mostly in the hands of some very mediocre people. The kind of things they do requires minimum of talent, they have more to thank technology. It is about contacts and positioning and they do it with tremendous ease. Brilliance is about, lets say, Austin Stevens or the dude with funny scarfs who makes incredible stuff for children in Pogo or the guy who comes in Man vs Wild (amazing fellow that one… unfortunately most indian channel has babalog talking about anything in the world, they lack passion, credibility, talent….but still carry on quite successfully) or asking hard and straight questions like Christiana Amanpour (BBC standards have fallen quite significantly in recent times). There is no agenda, there is no marketers or socialite activist to share thoughts, nothing chic when discussing serious issues. It is about hitting the reality. Unfortunately in India most in elite have more reasons to be grateful to their surrounding than talent. Even their best is mediocre, their good intention sloppy. It is mostly marketing gimmick.

What’s up at Bali??

I am sure most bloggers are aware of climate related summit happening in Bali (Indonesia). Bali climate summit under UN is the successor of Kyoto summit. It’s about taking mitigative steps against global warming at the international level. Obviously there is expected to be difference between developed and developing world (particularly India and china). The USA under the present leadership is immune to international opinion is well known, it probably will require a leadership change as happened in Australia till then the world would have to wait….at least for the binding policy changes maybe Copenhagen (2009) but we individuals can take small steps in our daily lives (isn’t it great that Australia even has a minister for climate change. I have become a big fan of PM Kevin Rudd). There definitely is an urgent need for environmentally effective and economically sustainable agreement. The future of the world depends on these.

The EU nations though are not amused with US. The whole attention seems to be the disagreement between the two. The proactive stand of is EU such a relief from the American cynicism. The developed countries per capita global warming contribution is astounding reflecting the consumption pattern of the society and how much it is burdening the world. Clearly without sustainable development things are going to be quite serious in the coming few decades. However one need to also see that countries particularly India is a major emitter. India with China is pointing to its developing status with lower per capita emission. Obviously developed countries cannot be equated to developing countries. An agreement on these lines is welcomed but there need to be a binding clause that looks at inequitable distribution and consumption pattern at the domestic level of these developing countries, domestic mitigation steps in developing countries should be made binding at the international level. There are lots of people who contribute quite substantially to the emission at the expense of millions of people in the poorer societies. Taking them as one block is an injustice.

An agreement if ever will work if it is binding at two levels: One is at the international level wherein the per capita factor is taken into consideration so the distinction between developed and developing countries. Second is a strong binding agreement on measure to be taken at domestic level. If India’s per capita is low doesn’t mean it is distributed equally there exist a layer whose carbon footprint could be much more than probably the most profligate of Americans, there is a gross inequity here. Millions of people cannot take the burden of these few just for the reason of geography. Don’t let the domestic laws on these matters to be left to the concerned nation to frame, these are powerful people they will scuttle it as American establishment is doing at the international level. What is happening at the international level happens at the national level. Any international agreement on climatic change will only work if the agreement is at these two levels. The disagreement between EU and USA shouldn’t be a reason to ignore this terrible anomaly existing within societies. The developing nation excuse on per capita is a subterfuge….

Watching liveva cricketva !!

The other day I went to watch the cricket match between India- Pakistan. It was a beautiful bright morning like any other morning in Bangalore (actually Bengaluru). The place has become polluted recently, the blogger hopes that no more new buildings (skyscrapers) are allowed within the city limits. There is lot of space in the outskirts and other nearby towns. Furthermore they have become a burden with unsustainable building, they cannot capitalize the beautiful climate (even now they use AC, I went to a mall yesterday that was airtight, even in the mornings they have to switch on the AC. What kind of development is this??). Why are these being allowed in Bangalore?. They have spoiled the place, it surely is arrogance.. The house I stay has no fans…there was no need for it till recently. Then the ‘development’ occurred, I am using a small table fan (Though the electricity bill rarely exceed 200 Rs a month). The way Bangalore is being vandalized is heartbreaking and they call it development.

So here I was watching an international test match after having bought the ticket paying triple the price from black (the man vanished without giving back the change is another story!. It was too chaotic). There were no chairs but cemented steps, the view though was great. The squeeze though was still on, everything cost double or triple the price. The reason given was ‘we have given big money to get this in’. BCCI doesn’t give a damn about audience at the lower end is not a secret (that is typically Indian). People though didn’t mind they came in their best dress, children painted flags of two countries on their cheeks and generally enjoyed the occasion, it was quite noisy. Every time a player came near the stand they shouted, very rarely the player condescends to look up. If he does there is another round of wide applause (Pathan though was quite sporty and did wave at the crowd)!!. In fact they shouted, screamed and used all kind of tactics to attract attention and rushed to the fence before the cops came down with sticks. It was quite a chaos. Remember in seventies the matches in West Indies the crowd used to rush to ground and congratulate the players?. I thought it was really funny, I love watching old matches in sports channel. Gavaskar, Kapil Dev….were hugely admired and we used to collect their photos (as also of movies) it came in small rectangle shape (as also match box pictures…at one point I had huge collection). We also used to play games chith ya pat with it. We used to have discussion on who is the fastest baller (similar to who is the strongest hero, so comparing different movies on who has hit whom. The face off between Amitabh Bachchan and Shatrugan Sinha in Kaala Pathar was a talking point on who is stronger!!). The logic was if the photo had bowler facing then he should be slow since it would be difficult to take photo at that angle since the photographer would be hit!!. The bowler who in the photo had side profile taken as he bowled obviously is the fastest. And I had Dennis Lillee to prove!!. First time I watched a cricket match on TV was probably when I was eight, we bunch of kids walked few Kms to a Officers Mess and sneaked though the window (it was in Delhi Cant), we were euphoric.

The game I had gone to watch had become quite dull, with initial euphoria of falling wickets dying down. In between there was a skirmish between Kumble and Yousuf, which excited the crowd, people around me whistled and jumped. I simply have no idea why they have to react in such juvenile fashion to something equally foolish! (It’s like clapping when two grown up people start to abuse each other in a traffic!!. Amazing, they also call it aggression!!). The guy sitting next to me happened to be a bhojpuri and he spoke loudly when couldn’t control his excitement ‘ek or outva hoi gayo re”. I enjoyed his commentary!!.

Misbah-ul-haq was a tough customer and was in no hurry. Anil kumble (he is legend around here, with a prominent junction named after him) tried all tactics but our man was not to be budged. I had already spent four hours, my conclusion is still same: Cricket is a boring game to watch particularly the test matches. When a player is out most people are not even aware, it happens so fast and suddenly, since not many track each and every ball. Some games (like some people!!) are good in TV only. Quite appropriately two white men with grim faces arbitrated the proceeding. They called them umpires.

At around 2:30 I decided to leave, resold my ticket!. Left to the race course and enjoyed the incredible sight of galloping horses. No comparison here, accentuating the thought that how dumb Test matches are, I even add that it is a violation of human rights. Test matches are torture on people. I recall in school we used to play leg cricket!!. Since we didn’t have bat we used take one leg as bat, of course rubber balls were used and the bowling was underhand-the one referred to as surra in normal cricket, anything above knee was no ball. It was very exciting and contested quite keenly. We also had one-tip-one-hand-out, also ‘baby over’!!

Future is about 20-20 and also One dayers. The guy to watch out for in Indian team is Yuvraj Singh, the dude is brilliant when in flow. But our man has a very disturbing behavior of celebrating milestones with abuse words. Freud would have lot to say on that!!

Post Script: it was shocking the incident of shooting in Euro international school in Gurgaon. The availability of gun is the grievous part, USA is definitely not a role model. I think most kids below the age of ten are basically attracted to violence. Most kids of this age group love violent movies (we would shout when shetty’s name came on the screen, since it assured fight. He was bad guy in movies of seventies. Wonder what happened to him?) it though vanishes in teens as they become circumspect and subtle in their relations. Fights in the teens are serious and can go out of hand. It is nothing new so the discussion on whether kids are becoming violent is absurd. This happens in all the schools but they don’t get the gun. Most children enjoy WWF, it is the adults who encourage these need be questioned. I recall when I was in fourth or fifth (in delhi) there was a kid who was unfortunate to have Padua as his surname. We used to call him padhu. So every time anyone farts in the class they used to beat him up (I too joined sometimes). Just like that. It might seem funny but in retrospect I am extremely distressed (photo from Net children 'playing' with toy guns).

Donate your snake !!

This I came across in one of the ancient temples in Rameshwaram (also referred to as benaras of south). You can donate a statue of snake- installed in the premise with name and date!. This is new to me, I know of whole pond being devoted to snakes like ‘sarpa cavu’ where I have seen scores of snakes. I have encountered cobra in my hometown, one even on the bed in the old family home, it was a relatively big ancient house with wooden panels with huge storing spaces where nobody dared go, unfortunately demolished and sold in pieces and replaced by small brick house as people went through serious financial problems.

Snakes till recently I considered as mysterious and dangerous creatures but thanks to some excellent programs in TV Channels like National Geography, Animal Planet they are fairly demystified. They are simply amazing. So you have King cobra- it is magnificent, to aggressive Russell viper- that kill lots of people in subcontinent, new info for me, then you have snakes from other region like cotton mouth, copper head, spiting cobra (charming snake that one), inland taipe- the most venomous but shy Australian snake. But the snake to watch out for is black mamba of Africa. This snake really has some character, they are fast and quite menacing, even watching them on TV gave me quite a shiver. Then there is of course huge non poison variety that kills by constricting like python, and yes anaconda (they have even made a movie, adding bit of animaltronics and animation).

King cobra though remains my favorite, there is something majestic about it. It is for no reason that forefathers saw them as God and gave them so much respect. Cobras were rarely killed-atleast the older generation severely reprimand any such attempts. Of course this was not for environmental reason but mostly associated with myth and superstitions. The fact that finally the end result has benefited sustainability is to be noted. Clearly there were some smart wise people who realized this in ancient times itself and tried to inculcate this into psyche of people. It is a tribute to them that ‘cavu’ are existing even today. The flip side is superstition used for manipulation and fooling people in the name of faith. But yes I do hope even if people are educated and rational a certain bit of myth doesn’t losses out (Theory of evolution may explain lot of things in our surrounding but it is not a complete theory-it is true to a large extend and cannot be denied. There is a space of creationist belief if we put things in perspective they really shouldn’t be any dispute).

Things have changed though in last few decade, I recall I was traveling in bus some years back in south Kerala and sitting next to the driver and this snake (it looked like a rat snake-that characteristic yellow belly) was trying to wriggle through the highway, the driver without much thought squashed it.

Post Script: …continuing with Romila Thappar, it was when I finally came across Osho that things got clear. These vandals in Right or secular fundamentalists of Left will never get it. The game is about power and clout, they know what works what don’t. It is about licking as the situation demands and trying to influence the west. Government needs to make laws stricter when it comes to religious symbols on the lines of national flag. Ideas can be disputed (hence creative space) not symbols. There are things sacred for millions of people, if stifled with can cause severe reactions, taking things out context for market consumption will be resisted. Babalog (city based activism) might say in America they make bikini out of Flag, yeah precisely you shouldn’t be here, try migrating!!. Afterall vandalism is American way of life very much being demonstrated in Iraq.

When Bush Chomsky met Toba Tek Singh !!

It was only yesterday that I came to know that Chomsky (the high priest of commies) had infact given a clarion call to people of Nandigram!!. I don’t know what it really was (the fellow who told didn’t elaborate much) but the gist seems to be: don’t divide the commies since they have bigger mission like protecting Tehran from US. Don’t know whether Governor of Bengal communicated these sacred thoughts to people of Nandigram yesterday (Budhadeb and his cabinet in the meantime must been celebrating Dada’s century, Nandigram where?!!).

When the brain gets gangrened certain kinds of thought start infesting and that is precisely what is happening with Chomsky. These superstructure manifestations in his thinking see people as pawns for bigger cause. It is part of systemic response. It is an affliction with commies particularly armchair types who help in the sucking of common people (so where is Amartya sen babu??. It is the season of migratory birds...time for visits and talks on primary education, PHCs, microcredit and so on!!. Also for Turd to get intellectually horny. I guess it is the climate!!).

In most case they are similar to the carved out adversary, they have just split the territory. Both live in idealized world of absolute freedom in their own term. The reason why absolute freedom without any responsibility strike such a unique cord here (ask Bush Chomsky). With market encroachment (even of villages) things have become volatile, sophistication of social relation and responsibility have given way to market quick fix and superficialities.

This blogger is strongly for ‘Freedom of expression’ provided each person has the equal access and means, it should be level playing field otherwise it is an instigation that will be reacted and yes manipulated. Romila Thappar mentions in her book that late Gupta period was age period of indulgence, and so Khajarau (this offcourse as a reaction to Golden age theory-influenced by Right). How the recent attempt on vandalizing sacred in the name of art not indulgence by the same logic. If indulgence be freedom of expression then reaction will be as vicious. By definition indulgence lacks responsive behavior, it is the basics through which market gets foothold- the reason why market is in forefront of freedom of expression, and its belligerent posturing in recent times. Left is only flip side of the coin. It is what they say ‘power struggle’. There are lots of intellectual pimps doing the round in this war zone for our sake who not very often indulge in licking the putrid puss of left bins, some have even condoned the killings another exmaple is that of artist Von Gogh. Murder as reaction can be tolerated and justified when by islamists!!. And in this world view islamists are closest cousins of Left against Bush & Co. Chomsky would argue killings as part of ideological and geographical dislocation. Under right ideological and geographical framework a killing is sacrifice, murder an act of bravery. Nation State will agree, fundamentalists will support and yes commies will celebrate. Chomsky has finally achieved what he always theorized: Manufacturing consent!!.

So what did Toba Tek Singh tell Chomsky?

‘Opar di gurgur di annexe di bay dhiana di mung di daal of the laltain’. What else!!

So what did Toba Tek Singh tell Bush?

‘Opar di gurgur di annexe di bay dhiana di mung di daal of the laltain’. What else!!

Bush and Chomsky instantly understood what he said and replied in unison ‘mung ki daal of the laltain.....oye chak de patte’

Why doesn’t this man speak??

The Bengal government has messed up the Nandigram issue. It is just an indication of much deeper malaise. It has more to do with the arrogance of the ruling elite. They have lost touch with reality, and the problems of common people. Three decades of power has given rise to a breed of self serving politicians who gestate out of stagnant society that lacks any form of social mobility. Every social indicator is skewed favoring the elite, below the national average meaning common people particularly the marginalized live in abject conditions. In the meantime the ministers were busy discussing cricket and subtleties of English poetry!!. Comrades brown sahibs have since learned lesson, arrogant CM doesn’t open his loud mouth much these days. How is Left holding to power in this State for last few decades need to be studied, also the polling process needs closer scrutiny. Left ideologues seem to have entrenched into State machinery and that’s detrimental to democratic functioning, it is a fact noted around the world that Left finds it difficult to relinquish power and soon it is controlled by a coterie.

Further Left is also known to have no qualms in using goons to serve their purpose after all Marx never ruled out violence to capture power, it could even be ‘bloody’. The dedicated cadre is always ready to follow. The Red brigade is responsible for carnage in Nandigram is no secret.

This blogger is not entirely against Left I have met some admirable and committed people (among elder genration) but CPI(M) surely has started to loose it. Like what is happening in Bengal in Kerala too they have lost credibility among the civil society. There are some committed people in the Left and they are definitely not in CPI(M), atleast at the top level they are just power brokers with intellectual mask. For every Achuthanandan there are ten scoundrels like Pinrayi Vijayan. They have recently isolated mostly peaceful Christian community by their arrogant utterings, again they are very much responsible for communalizing the society. Bravo to that. Christians particularly in the coastal region have traditionally associated to Left, the scoundrels have fractured that too. I welcome the move by Christian 'sabha' to isolate Left. The power hungry leaders in CPI(M) should learn from the older generations and past leaders. I recall when i was a kid it was election time in kerala, and Baby John was hugely admired figure. He rarely lost elections, his party was RSP (Revolutionary Socialist Party), was quite popular. We used to run after the vehicles that threw pamphlets and join the shout “Baby john Zindabad”. He was a respected leader. RSP later split to RSP(Bolshevik)-geez are we Soviet!!. Incidentally the recent bad mouthing of Lenin by Bush was foolish, he needs to acquaint history better. Lenin remains one of the significant and admirable leader (same of course cannot be said about Stalin).

The Left at national level and Bengal (and recently in Kerala) represented by CPI(M) is elitist. Not only that they also are known to bully the smaller factions like CPI, RSP, Forward Block and so on. With little power they are making their intentions clear just imagine what happens if they get more power and influence. The smaller parties need take stand against this big brother functioning of CPI(M) coterie and put them in their place, the realities of the power base they represent. It is not surprising that Maoists and Naxals are getting credibility and acceptance among the most marginalized. CPI(M) surely is becoming a liability for the Left front.

There is one man who till recently was a spokesperson for Bengal government, part of ‘incredible Bengal’ campaign!!. Amartya Sen babu is known to perform bit of gymnastics when it comes to Left in Bengal. A Nobel Prize winner is seen with lots of respect by people all around the world, and views taken seriously. They are like elders with sane and sobering advice, and are expected to stand for what is true. But Amartya Sen is one of those typical armchair types who wouldn’t mind taking the bite out of falling crumbs and keep the Masters in good humour (comrades in CPI(M) do prefer tail wagging- it is the ‘adda affect’. I do like his writing though, his books are interesting read). So when Bengal is in serious trouble with Nandigram burning and people coming out in streets to protest our man refuse to open his mouth. That is much better than intellectual pimping I guess. Right comrade?!

Post script: It is the same arrogance that prevents Budhadeb Bhattacharjee from resigning despite months of simmering discontent.His incompetence is proved beyond doubt. His allies have accused him, the Court today has expressed the same, Governor has come out and pointed the wrong-unprecedented in recent times, the opposition has called his bluff, civil society have dissociated from him, finally the people of Nandigram as well as in Bengal and around the country are showing horror and disgust as details of carnage unfolds. If he has any shame, decency, or respect for people of Bengal, he should quit immediately. His strategy of offensive is misplaced and foolhardy, shows only how out of touch with reality he really is. If he is accusing Maoists then that is also his responsibility he is CM. Excuses won’t work. Budhadeb Bhattacharjee’s days are over he should resign gracefully. Otherwise it’s leading to President’s rule in State, that is not bad at all.

People protest against Coca Cola Plant in Ballia, UP

This report taken from http://www.indiaresource.org/news/2007/1054.html , people of Sinchachawar village, Ballia District of UP took out a peaceful protest march against exploitation of Coca Cola in Ballai village of UP State.

Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, India (October 25, 2007): Over 600 people marched and rallied against the Coca-Cola bottling plant in the village of Sinhachawar in Ballia district in India yesterday, demanding that the plant be shut down permanently.

The community has accused the bottling plant of pollution and also illegally occupying land held by the village assembly. A visit by community members to the factory premises in May 2007 found the bottling plant indiscriminately dumping its hazardous waste inside and outside the factory premises. In 2003, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) of India assessed the sludge at eight Coca-Cola bottling plants, and found them all to contain excessive levels of lead, cadmium or chromium. As a result, the CPCB ordered the Coca-Cola company in India to treat its waste at all its bottling plants as industrial hazardous waste, and deal with it accordingly. Four years later, the Coca-Cola bottling plant in Sinhachawar has failed to follow the orders. In particular, the dumping of such hazardous waste violates the Hazardous Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 1989 from the Ministry of Environment and Forests of India.

"We are demanding that the Coca-Cola bottling plant cease its operations permanently because they are destroying our land and water, the very source of our livelihoods," said Mr. Baliram Ram of the Coca-Cola Bhagao, Krishi Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, the main organizer of the protest.
The Coca-Cola bottling plant in Sinhachawar has also built its boundary walls encompassing some land that is owned by the village assembly. In December 2005, villagers noticed that the Coca-Cola bottling plant had blocked access to a public road that went through the bottling plant. The villagers forcibly removed the gates placed by the bottling plant on either side of the road. The community is alleging that the Coca-Cola bottling plant illegally occupies another 1.5 acres of village assembly land.
The community is also concerned about water shortages in the area as a result of the extraction of water by the Coca-Cola bottling plant. The area is already experiencing water shortages, and the villagers point to other communities in India around Coca-Cola bottling plants where the water crises have been severely exacerbated as a result of Coca-Cola's operations

The bottling plant in Sinhachawar is a Coca-Cola franchisee owned unit operated by the Brindavan Bottlers Limited, which is owned by India's largest bottler of Coca-Cola, the Ladhani Group of Companies. The bottling plant is in the process of being bought by the Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Private Ltd, the subsidiary of the Coca-Cola company. The protest at the Coca-Cola bottling plant came a day after another demonstration at the District Magistrate's office in Balia on October 23 where community members presented their demands to the District Magistrate.

The bottling plant has come under increased scrutiny after the community visit to the plant which confirmed that Coca-Cola was carelessly and illegally dumping its waste around the factory premises and into the surrounding fields. The head of the village council, Ms. Chinta Devi, has led the campaign to permanently shut down the plant. Last month, the union of village council heads in the district passed a resolution against the Coca-Cola bottling plant, insisting that it be shut down. The protest at the Coca-Cola bottling plant ended after community members lodged a police report accusing the plant of pollution, illegal land occupation and theft of water.

The Coca-Cola company's operations in India have been challenged by various communities across India who are experiencing severe water shortages as well as polluted water and land as a result of the company's practices. The Coca-Cola bottling plant in Plachimada, one of the company's largest in India, has been shut down since March 2004.

The local campaigns to challenge Coca-Cola in India have found tremendous support internationally, and particularly among college and university students in the US, UK and Canada. Over twenty five colleges and universities have taken actions against the Coca-Cola company.
The full report of the May visit to the Coca-Cola bottling plant with images can be found at http://www.indiaresource.org/campaigns/coke/2007/cokebaliafact.html, in Hindi at http://www.indiaresource.org/campaigns/coke/2007/baliahindireport.pdf
For more information, visit www.IndiaResource.org

Know your Yahoo

Yahoo has been found to use its technology to track and give information about dissidents to Chinese government. Many champions of freedom in China are now in detention thanks to sleuth work of Yahoo. That in Business terminology it is referred to as ‘strategical understanding’. How much ‘investors are happy’ one doesn’t know (incidentally investors are gods in this cozy little world) but yes top Chinese commies are not complaining. Capitalists of world unite you have nothing to loose but your ethics. That’s Chinese trap for you!! (a kind of counter McCarthyism and as part of tradition Yahoo is too happy to oblige).

‘Total’ an oil giant want to keep sucking in Burma their argument is enlightening ‘if we don’t do it someone else will do it’. Such commitments and dedication to their job, we mortals have to learn a lot.

So next time you use Yahoo forget not to appreciate the sacrifices they are doing to maximize their profit. It is the ultimate act in the globalized world. World will be a better place to live if we emulate them in our daily life, individually and collectively. Yahoo will of course justify that ‘it has nothing to do with business it is a political matter’. If only drug peddlers could use the same subtleties.

For politicians Politics is Business, for fund raisers (read businessmen) Business is Politics. For Yahoo, Business is not Politics but Service, profit is just incidental!!. For Chinese, Politics and Business are Service it just that commies are thick headed when it comes to be bothered about people- the reason why capitalism can flourish unhindered in commieland, it is better option than democracy. The irony is hard to miss and as Marx should have put it so rightly “bloody the dissidents comrades, the dialectics of materialism starts in Beijing”.

Should this be confined to US Congress only? Shouldn’t international community take action against unethical practices followed by Yahoo??.Privacy is as important particularly of common people, probably more important than much hyped freedom of expression. State or corporate has absolutely no business to intrude into privacy of people.

What’s the problem with our neighbors?!!

It sometimes shocks you the kinds of things happening in the neighborhood. So Pakistan again is spinning down. Sri lanka is in civil war with LTTE even using air strikes. Nepal has somehow managed to stay put after years of uncertainty, a fragile truce in Bangladesh, military junta in Burma. China is not democratic-meaning rights of citizens curtailed (but is a member of UN Security Council!!), so is the case of Bhutan. Nearby Afghanistan is in serious problem, Thailand too is under martial rule. Phew !!. Not that India doesn’t have problems but rarely it threatens the nation, it is generally confined to few pockets.

The most tragic case is that of Sri Lanka, I have a strong liking for this country and have read lot about this island. At one point I took out around 3-4 months to read fiction and non fiction, as also movies from this region, I also knew some journalists who had come for training at Mass Com, as also artists through exchange programs. It saddens me immensely when I see pictures of violence and killings from this beautiful island. Elitist policies probably triggered through linguistic arrogance escalated into ethnic conflict now almost a civil war, isolating the North-east region. Now though it is the ego of leaders involved. Peace is very much possible provided new and younger people are involved, they are now pawns in the hands of people trying to settle their own scores. Sri Lanka has had its share of violence I guess it is time to try peaceful means to solve the problem. It cannot go on like this. Buddhist monks representing majority Singhalese should take the initiatives and show an egalitarian approach to the problem. This blogger has yet to come across an incident or effort on the part of monks to reach the Tamils. The role of religion-community leaders in creating peace is immense (south Africa is good example). Monks in Sri Lanka have a huge responsibility, it is time they intervened.

Pakistan’s problems have its roots in lack of sufficient mobility in society, it still is very much feudal and the demarcation is stark as is the case in most of North India. Socio-cultural and political elite come from same stock, most have spend time in Britain and other places. The common people are mostly absent from the scene. Add to this, mullahs as alternative- disappointed, most people seem to be gravitating to this possibility. Feudal nature of the society is very much reflected in the presence of strong Army in matters Civilian. The establishment fed the zealots with active support from US of A ostensibly to dislodge Soviet commies from Kabul, commies left but the genie wouldn’t go back to the bottle, now it is ready to engulf. Ditto what Indira Gandhi did with Sikhs, it did immense damage and many innocent people lost their life. Sikhs are small community and geographically confined, the reason why the genie didn’t do much damage, but it was worst phase in independent Indian history. This not true with muslims who are in absolute majority in Pakistan, with changed equation vis-à-vis terrorism around the world things may go out of hand as fundamentalists are quite effectively playing the victim role-majority of people have started to empathize. With USA, Britain and other powers loosing credibility even good intention will backfire, most common people don’t have any trust for these foreign powers, intervention would be seen with suspicion, playing into the hands of fundamentalists.

So there things don’t look rosy in Pakistan. It is entirely the result of selfish people at the helm, the feudal elites saw to it that the democratic institutions don’t establish itself. What flourished in Pakistan in last many decades was Army, as also the fundamentalist. Till recently they worked in synergy (since the West wanted it that way), now they oppose (again due to reasons very much originating in West). So guess who will replace Army?. Obviously for USA, Army is the best bet otherwise it is over for them in this ‘strategic region’. It also means Gen Musharaff may be dispensable (remember what happened to Gen. Zia?), a coup within the Army would help USA immensely since all the fingers are pointing to Musharaff, he goes means all the blame will be taken care, a new dictator can take the baton and give some hope till it wears out. That is American realpolitik. That is the tragedy. Whatever said Gen Musharaff’s days are numbered but Army is here to stay for a long time to come, under a puppet government is immensely desirable for the outside powers. Keep an eye on developments in this part of the world…hopefully sanity prevails.

Tracking Pani chors Coca Cola Pepsi at Mehndiganj

It was on a very sunny bright morning that I decided to visit Mehndiganj, the site of protest by villagers against Coca Cola plant that has seriously depleted the groundwater of the region like anywhere else where these exploitative products have set up their shops --please go to My blog to know about miseries in Kaladera in Rajasthan, Plachimada in Kerala as also Gangaikondon & Shivganga in TN. It is shocking that common people have to pay more for water which is for basic needs and survival than these MNCs for luxury product not consumed by most people of the region (inset photo of Coca cola Pepsi man!!). It is equally shocking that there are no laws to prevent these exploitations. Till recently there was no much concern about land being taken from poor people for ‘development’, many had to sacrifice their life to make the government hear. Thousands of people have recently taken out a march to Delhi so as to force the complacent government to formulate laws. The ‘rising india’ with sensex touching 20000 doesn’t have a land policy (don’t even mention land reforms!! I really would like to know the ginni coefficient of India). And the PM I am told is ‘embarrassed’ over nuclear deal not being passed and the commies are ‘not very embarrassed’… all for the nation sake, the kinds of sacrifice these leaders do!!. There are no concrete laws regarding exploitation of natural resources for profit, it is a non issue when GDP and investments are bench marks of progress.

Pepsi- Coca cola have recently taken up the cause of water harvesting, teaching us mortals on these subtleties of conservation is joke gone too far. Many marketers who have gained from these and other exploitative and demeaning products/ads have also taken up ‘causes’ having fatten themselves, this is a new trend ‘the give back thing’, kind of PR work!!. People are not amused they want stricter laws not patronizing gestures by armchair intellectuals and the city based ‘activists’ with specific aim of stampeding studios and public space or some incentives from the government-its about building the clout. What shocks me is why is that people from these backwards region living in abject conditions have not become Naxalites and blown up these exploitative plants, Coca cola Pepsi have no business sucking public water. People in this part of the world have amazing tolerance, it is straining though (It is gladdening that Coca cola is kicked out of plachimada. Hurray for that). There is a need for policy on natural resources particularly water that forms the most basic need and therefore fundamental right. And the policy be very well the Law- transparent and understood by people.

Mehndiganj story is no different. Located at about 20 Kms from ancient city of Varanasi, it is a small fertile village few Kms inside the main road. There is no transportation to the village, I had to hitch hike a two wheeler already occupied by two people, the youngsters were quite glad since I had asked for Nandlal Master. Nandlal Master is a weaver who took up teaching children of the area and has since spearheaded the cause; he is a prominent and respected figure (also coordinator and founder of Lok Samithi. Email is napm_up@yahoo.com) and has also trained many youngsters for employment. After a bumpy ride I was dropped in front of a newly painted modest house. I had expected a elderly if not middle-aged man but Nandlal turned out to be a young man in his twenties, he had too many incidents to relate of how people expected him to be older!!.

Nandlal Master explained that the issue in Mehndiganj is multifold apart from exploitation of groundwater and pollution, there is a case of illegal occupation and evasion of taxes by Coca Cola. The Coca cola plant at Mehndiganj was bought from Parle in 1999, till then the extraction of water was ‘within limits’. After Coca Cola bought this plant it has been withdrawing 5Lakh liters of water per day using heavy duty borewells. According to a study the water table of the region has dropped by as much as 9feet, in a recent study the table has drooped further to 18feet (till 2006). The hand pumps with no or less water has increased from 7% to 43% in last few years. Also read Thanda- Hearted Matlab: Coca Cola in India by Shira Wolf (April 2005), Marching in the spirit of Gandhi –A case study into Gandhian elements of Lok Samithi movement in Mehndiganj (Dana Van Breukelen).

Second is the issue of pollution, the hazardous sludge from the factory has seriously affected the productivity of land in the region, frustrated by lack of accountability by the government agencies the villagers dumped the sludge at UP pollution control board office. Later the test conducted by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has shown it to contain high level of lead (up to 538mg/kg), cadmium (up to 86mg/kg) and chromium (134mg/kg). Here in the photo Mr. Nandlal shows the sludge provided by Coca cola to Pollution board (which the protestors got hold of through RTI, after denied) and how it is different from the sludge they dumped. Coca Cola true to its character did try its best to scuttle the issue. Since then the Coca cola is dumping its waste in a nearby village (bikharipur- I bet this village is inhabited by SCs & other impoverished people, coca cola got its caste card right!!).

Third issue faced here is the illegal occupation of land by Coca Cola. Court has found it guilty and has issued notices to vacate. In 2005 the pradhan of Mehndiganj, Ram Jivan Patel was dismissed by DM of Varanasi for illegally handing over the land to Coca Cola, he was bribed to sign the documents by Coca Cola (lucky fella since in Gangoikondon they killed the panchayat president- of course will never be proved).

Later that day after tea and home made savories, Mahendra a young man who also volunteers for Lok Samithi took me to Coca cola premise on his bike. As I was taking photos the guards warned me of dire consequences. Mahendra kept the engine running so that I could get away. But I decided to confront the burly guard ‘if I have the freedom to take the photos of Rashtrapathi bhavan why can’t this damn factory? Is it holding national secret?”. The guard, poor man, requested not to create problem for him. And so we moved on and I was dropped to the bus stand. No boondh boondh kushi kushi here!!.

Post Script: it is interesting that some metro based NGO(dealing with education) tried to buy Nandlal and his NGO (of course they were shown the door). This is precisely how they function usurping the hard work of common people and their commitment, dedication…and package it for their gain and clout. It is a huge business in cities, adept in their game they work with remarkable dexterity. They sniff for saleable, media attuned, chic issues that also has an international audience. AIDs, even issues of women are elitist to elicit western response, Discriminations in west of 'people like us' ...are trendy issues. Then of course there are those poor people our heart beats for but no, no mudding hands, we drop in for photo op or we could discuss (surely an event- they are even ready to fly to different cities!) them in our sanitised backyard!!. So where is the menu chef?!!