CM !

Look into the verbatim transcript of Our CM and Interviewee on BBC.

KT: Hello and welcome to HARDtalk India. My guest today is the Chief Minister of India’s southern state of Tamil Nadu. Just over three years ago her party won an astonishing 80% victory in the state elections, just over three months ago her party failed to win a single seat in the National elections. How does she explain this astonishing reversal of fortune? Is the Chief Minister misunderstood or has the Chief Minister made mistakes. That in a sense is the core question that I shall put today to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, J. Jayalalitha. Chief Minister, how do you explain that humiliating outcome in May, not a single seat for your party?

JJ: I don’t think it was a humiliating outcome at all. The results show that we have retained our vote bank. We got more than a crore of votes on our own which I think was a very good performance.

KT: But you got no seats.

JJ: Yes, but that is because we go by a simple majority system here.

KT: So the voting pattern of the country and the voting system went against you?

JJ: I would say that we retained our vote bank. There was no erosion in our vote bank. We did very well but there was a formidable alliance ranged against us.

KT: Let’s talk a little about the image the press has built up about you which many people believe has gone against you this time around. Over the last three years the press has variously described you as undemocratic, as irresponsible. They’ve even talked about you as irrational, vengeful and maybe even irresponsible. Are you misunderstood or have you made mistakes you can admit to?

JJ: I’m not irresponsible at all. That is totally removed from the truth. Yes I am misunderstood. As for all these tags that is because the media have been against me, not just for the past three years but ever since I came to politics. Perhaps it is because the whole world is a stage and everyone is acting all the time and I tend to be straight to the point. Hypocrisy is not my forte at all. That way I must say I’m a bit unconventional for a politician. The rule of the game seems to require considerable play-acting. I have acted in films before the cameras but I’m incapable of acting in real life.

KT: You mean your honesty and straight forwardness goes against you?

JJ: I’m honest. Let me be very honest with you. I prefer to play straight and I prefer speaking the truth. If I appear to be blunt, so be it. Yes, I am misunderstood and the media have a large part to play in this.

KT: Let’s explore that a little. You said that you weren’t irresponsible yet within five days of your party failing to win a single seat at the May general elections you reversed a whole series of decisions that you had taken over the last three years.

JJ: Let me explain. The changes made in May 2004 were termed by the press and the media as rollbacks and they made it appear that these were done in the wake of the results of the parliamentary elections. But that is not really so. What I was attempting was a major calibration of the process of structural adjustment which had to be undertaken after I assumed office in May 2001.

KT: But you did it just after you lost seats rather than earlier.

JJ: No let me explain. I will explain. You must remember that I was bequeathed a shattered economy and total fiscal chaos by the previous DMK government. To put it mildly the state treasury was simply not making payments. I inherited a whole pile of unpaid bills. The fiscal balance had to be restored and these needed structural changes. It was…

KT: (Intervenes) But forgive me Chief Minister the reforms include economic and fiscal reforms which you reversed.

JJ: Yes.

KT: So far from making structural changes you are reversing your own structural changes.

JJ: No I was just explaining that I inherited a whole pile of unpaid bills and fiscal chaos. I had to make the people swallow bitter medicine. By 31st March 2003 all the earlier payments were cleared and by the end of the fiscal year 2003-2004 Tamil Nadu’s fiscal heath was fully restored. As the fiscal situation turned from terminal decline to the pink of robust health I started making these calibrations even from January 2003, well before the parliamentary elections.

KT: Do you know what people say, the press says that Jayalalitha reversed her economic and fiscal reforms such as stopping power to farmers, such as stopping cheap access to easy grain for people earning over 5000 because she wanted easy popularity. She had lost, she was worried she would lose again.

JJ: That is not correct. You must remember that Tamil Nadu has been greatly affected by three years of continuous drought and people, particularly the poor farmers and agricultural laborers had to be insulated against the income shock caused by drought. In such a situation one cannot be dogmatic or opinionated. If change is warranted in a new situation, so be it. It has to be done.

KT: In which case why did you…

JJ: (Intervenes) I’m sure I have done well in protecting the farmers and the landless agricultural laborers and you must remember that Tamil Nadu has been free from starvation deaths and malnutrition deaths which have afflicted many other states.

KT: Chief Minister, why did you then reverse the anti-conversion bill? That was extremely popular when you first passed it.

JJ: That has nothing to do with economic reform.

KT: Yes but it was one of the reversions.

JJ: It was misunderstood and particularly it was blown up by the media.

KT: So in other words you buckled under media pressure?

JJ: No, not at all. It was misunderstood by many people. It was not an anti-conversion law, it was an anti forcible conversion law.

KT: But it was misunderstood for almost two years. You could have repealed it earlier, you didn’t. You only repealed it after you failed to win seats.

JJ: It has nothing to do with that. If you insist on giving this interpretation I can’t help it.

KT: What about the…

JJ: (Intervenes) As to why the media is biased, that is because I am a self-made woman. Politics has for long been a male bastion. Mrs. Indira Gandhi changed all that, but still you must remember that Mrs. Indira Gandhi had all the inbuilt advantages. She had the advantage of being born in the…

KT: (Intervenes) You’re saying that media picks on you?

JJ: I do think so.

KT: Because you are a woman?

JJ: You are not allowing me to finish anything I want to say.

KT: No, is it because you are a woman?

JJ: I don’t think it’s because I am a woman. It’s because I don’t have a background like other women political leaders of Asia. If you’ll allow me to complete a sentence, Mrs. Indira Gandhi was born into the Nehru family. She was the daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru. Mrs. Srimavo Bandaranaiake was the wife of Bandaranaiake, Benazir Bhutto was the daughter of Bhutto, Khaleeda Zia was the widow of Zia-ur- Rehman.

KT: What’s the point you are making?

JJ: Sheikh Haseena was the daughter of Mujibur Rehman. I have no such background. I’m a self made woman.

KT: And so you are picked upon.

JJ: Nothing was handed to me on a golden platter.

KT: But are you saying that because you are self-made you are picked upon?

JJ: I do not know the reasons. It’s the media who have to explain why they have been so biased.

KT: Okay. You say that you are not irresponsible, you say that in fact calibrated changes…

JJ: (Intervenes) If you knew my routine you would be surprised. I get up at 4 o’clock in the morning and I am awake till one the next morning and all my time, all my attention is religiously devoted to work, work and nothing else but work. I have no time, no time to think of vendetta or think of vengeance against…

KT: (Intervenes) You are saying you have no time… It is interesting that you should pick the word vendetta. You say you have no time for vendetta. The press point out that when you arrested your predecessor you did it at two in the morning, on a Saturday although the case against him had already been filed a day before.

JJ: If you allow me a few minutes…

KT: But can I finish the question and then…

JJ: I know what you are getting at. So, the DMK’s government foisted cases against me and threw me in jail. I languished in jail for twenty-eight days in a case in which I was ultimately acquitted...

KT: (Intervenes) So was it revenge?

JJ: When Mr. Karunanidhi did this the media gave him kudos for throwing me into jail portraying it as a triumph of good over evil. If only they knew the truth, later the people saw through Mr. Karunanidhi’s mean game and they elected me to power in 2001 with a thumping majority.

KT: (Intervenes) But when you arrested him…

JJ: When I became Chief Minister Mr. Karunanidhi was arrested in a corruption case. At that time his family channel Sun TV played a big hoax with a very cleverly edited footage…

KT: (Intervenes) Can I interrupt because I think the important thing Chief Minister…

JJ: (Intervenes) And at that time the entire media was…

KT: (Intervenes) You are reading a statement…

JJ: (Intervenes) I’m not reading. I’m looking at you and talking. You can check it in the camera.

KT: But I want to say…

JJ: I’m looking at you and speaking. I’m not reading.

KT: I’m want to put out a concern to you. People say…

JJ: (Intervenes) You have notes before you. Shall I say you are reading.

KT: I have questions in front of me.

JJ: Alright I have notes in front of me. Nothing forbids me from having notes.

KT: Chief Minister…

JJ: I’m not reading. I’m looking at you straight in the eye. I look everyone straight in the eye.

KT: You arrested a man who was 77.

JJ: Age has nothing to do with corruption.

KT: A former Chief Minister of 14 years standing…

JJ: I too was a former Chief Minister when I was arrested.

KT: So was it revenge? It was vengeance?

JJ: It was not vengeance. He was involved in a corruption case.

KT: You don’t regret the way it was handled?

JJ: I do not regret it at all because what was shown to the people was cleverly edited footage, it was a hoax played on the people. People in the media like you would not have seen through it, you may have taken it on phase value, but the people saw through it.

KT: Okay what about what the press calls your inconsistency and unreliability. They say that her relationship with Sonia Gandhi as an ally is an on-off affair.

JJ: I do not want to discuss Mrs. Sonia Gandhi in this interview.

KT: Why?

JJ: I have the choice to pick and choose the questions I want to answer.

KT: You have a choice to pick and choose the questions you wish to answer but don’t you think…

JJ: It’s my democratic right. I don’t have to answer every question you put to me.

KT: Except…

JJ: I do not wish to discuss Mrs. Sonia Gandhi.

KT: Except for the fact that people will wonder why you don’t want to talk about someone who was your ally in ’99, who you publicly spoke against as a possible Prime Minister of the country…

JJ: If you have other questions you may ask them. I don’t wish to answer these questions.

KT: Okay can I put one quote to you? The press say that she turned against Sonia Gandhi in 2003 to ingratiate herself to the BJP; today she is saying nice things about Sonia Gandhi because she wishes to ingratiate herself with Congress.

JJ: I have not said any such nice things. All that I said was I did not make any personal attacks and I have no reason to make any personal attacks. What happened during the parliamentary polls was an electoral confrontation and not a personal confrontation.

KT: Except…

JJ: (Intervenes) Now I’m looking you straight in the eye and you are reading from your notes.

KT: I’m reading a quotation of yours so I don’t get it inaccurate. In ’98 you said it would be a national shame if that foreigner comes to power. In 2003 you said it will be a crime shame and moral bankruptcy for the Congress to project Sonia Gandhi as Prime Minister.

JJ: My feelings on the issue of a person of foreign origin ruling the country are well known.

KT: And unchanged?

JJ: My statements are on record. There is no change in my stand.

KT: So you remain by your position?

JJ: Yes I’m quite consistent.

KT: That Sonia Gandhi should not become Prime Minister of India.

JJ: Not just Sonia Gandhi. Not just Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, any person of foreign origin.

KT: Let’s switch to another concern the media has. They say that Jayalalitha is undemocratic. In fact they go further. They say you are dictatorial. How do you respond to that?

JJ: I think people are the best judges.

KT: Why…

JJ: The media has never had good things to say about me. And you didn’t allow me to finish what I wanted to say earlier.

KT: Why do your M.L.As …

JJ: You’d be surprised to know my routine I said. I spend all my time devoted to work. I don’t do anything else. I work all the time for the development of Tamil Nadu, for the good of the people of Tamil Nadu.

KT: I accept that completely. But why do your M.L.As and your Ministers in public prostrate themselves in front of you?

JJ: They prostrate before other political leaders. They prostrate before Mr. Karunanidhi too. His MLAs and MPs do that all the time.

KT: But they are people…

JJ: Except that you choose not to notice it. Whenever there is any small incident involving me it is blown up beyond proportion. It is an Indian tradition to seek blessings from elders.

KT: In this fashion?

JJ: Yes it is an Indian tradition. I think you are an Indian. I think you know enough about Indian tradition and culture.

KT: But is it fitting for ministers of the state…

JJ: I have asked them not to do it.

KT: They don’t listen to you?

JJ: They do listen. They don’t do it nowadays in public.

KT: It’s been stopped?

JJ: It’s been stopped.

KT: When you say they don’t do it in public…

JJ: (Intervenes) I’ve given many statements to this effect. I have given public statements asking my party men and MLAs and Ministers not to prostrate in public. They don’t do it. They’ve not been doing it for the last three or four years.

KT: The media also points towards the fact that in slightly over three years you have reshuffled your cabinet, as the Deccan Chronicle points out, over fifteen times.

JJ: That I’m allowed to do, for administrative convenience.

KT: You mean to say that you need to do it so often for administrative convenience?

JJ: I know what I need to do for the good of the state.

KT: The press says…

JJ: If certain persons are appointed to certain posts and if their performance is not satisfactory, for the good of the state, for administrative improvement I have to make a change. I cannot refrain from making a change simply because their will be carping criticism from persons in the media like you.

KT: Except for the fact that the media all the way across the country says that Jayalalitha does it to keep them insecure, to keep them dependent on her.

JJ: If they keep on making such unjustified remarks I have nothing to say.

KT: Let’s talk a little about you. Your party the AIADMK is formally a part of the Dravida movement. The Dravida movement…

JJ: Not formally part of the Dravida movement, it is still part of the Dravidian movement.

KT: Except that the Dravidian movement is a rationalist, atheist, iconoclastic movement. Where do you personally fit into that?

JJ: It’s not an atheist movement, it’s not an atheist movement. You are totally wrong. You haven’t read Dravidian history.

KT: Periyar was an atheist...

JJ: Anna said, ‘ondre kulam oruvane devam’, that means there is only one God. So Anna recognized the existence of God, so it doesn’t mean atheism.

KT: Are you embarrassed by your belief in numerology and astrology?

JJ: Who said that I believe in astrology and numerology? You say it, people in the media say it. What is the proof you have of that?

KT: Don’t you chose…

JJ: (Intervenes) Why should I be embarrassed?

KT: Don’t you choose auspicious hours when you do things?

JJ: Many people in India do that. Have you asked this question of Mr. Vajpayee, Mr. Advani, many other leaders?

KT: I asked identical questions of Vasundhara Raje Scindia. The press says that Jayalalitha spends a lot of time propitiating gods, she spends a lot of time choosing auspicious hours. Are you superstitious?

JJ: I am not superstitious and I must say I am rather disappointed with the tone and tenor of this interview. You seem to preface almost every sentence, every question with the word the press says or the media says so. The press and the media have always been making uncharitable, unfair, unjustified remarks, comments without any basis. What do you expect me to say to all this?

KT: Can I ask you why did you believe in…

JJ: If people believed all that the media have said about me, have written about me, I couldn’t have won a single election, I wouldn’t be sitting where I am now.

KT: Except for the fact in 2001 suddenly you…

JJ: I’m sorry I agreed to do this interview. That’s all I can say.

KT: In 2001, Chief Minister, you changed the spelling of you name. Can I ask you why? You added an extra ‘a’.

JJ: It’s my prerogative to do so. I don’t have to explain. I don’t have to explain anything to you for that matter.

KT: No but I asked for a simple reason. As Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, you set an example…

JJ: I changed the spelling of my name before I became the Chief Minister again. That is my prerogative. Did you ask Vaiko why he changed his name to Vaiko from Y. Gopalaswami? Go and ask him that.

KT: So when the press depict you, as I began this interview by saying…

JJ: (Intervenes) You are doing a good job of it again now.

KT: No I’m putting a question to you. When the press depict you as irresponsible for reversing your policies…

JJ: (Intervenes) I’m not irresponsible. I spend all my time working. I deny it totally.

KT: When they say you are vengeful you deny that?

JJ: I deny that.

KT: When they say you are inconsistent, you deny that?

JJ: I do deny it.

KT: And when they say that her attitude to astrology, numerology suggests she is irrational, you deny that as well?

JJ: I deny that also. I’m a perfectly rational, sensible, sober, very responsible leader. I can say with confidence that no other Chief Minister in Tamil Nadu’s history has worked so hard for the development and progress of the state as I have been doing and as I am doing.

KT: Then let me put this to you. You face state elections in slightly under two years time in May 2006 at the latest.

JJ: Yes I am perfectly aware of that.

KT: Are you worried that after the problem you faced in May at the general elections when your party did not win a single seat that you will lose the state elections?

JJ: (Intervenes) I am not worried at all.

KT: But won’t this press image that is widespread across the country, not just Tamil Nadu, work against you?

JJ: It’s irrelevant.

KT: You are confident that you can reach out to the people above the press and convince them of the real Jayalalitha?

JJ: As I told you earlier if the people took seriously what the media persons have been writing about me and saying about me, I could not have won a single election.

KT: Except that you lost in ’96 and you didn’t win any seats at the national elections in 2004.

JJ: What about the ’98 that came immediately after ’96? What about the general elections then?

KT: But this is what I am saying. Your career in the last ten years, and particularly in the last three, has seen amazing roller coasters.

JJ: This is true of every political leader. It’s true of life itself. Life is full of ups and downs. The political career of any leader is full of victories and defeats. No one is consistently successful, no one is a consistent loser.

KT: You’ve also faced cases in court. Does it worry you that now you have to go to court not just in Tamil Nadu but…

JJ: I have been facing a number of cases since 1996. All these cases were foisted on me. I have never run away from facing these cases. I’ve been acquitted in 12 cases so far. What does that show? That the cases were false.

KT: In one of the cases, the Tansi case, where you were acquitted and exonerated by the Supreme Court, the same court, in its verdict said it asked you to ponder on whether you have done the right thing in breeching the spirit of the code of conduct…

JJ: (Intervenes) I never comment on any judgment of the Supreme Court. I have never done so so far, I will not do it now.

KT: Except for the fact that many people felt, not just the press this time, but the court was actually saying that legally you were innocent but morally you had a case to answer at least to yourself personally.

JJ: I told you I do not comment on any judgment of the Supreme Court, whether the judgment involves me personally or any other matter of public importance. I never have commented on any judgment of the Supreme Court, I will not do so.

KT: You are a very tough person, Chief Minister.

JJ: People like you have made me so.

KT: You said that you were misunderstood.

JJ: Yes.

KT: Do you think that you are badly treated by the press?

JJ: I do not wish to say anything more on this. Anyway your interview is not doing anything to help matters.

KT: My aim, Chief Minister, was to get to the core of the misunderstanding. You said that the press…

JJ: Your aim seems to have been to put as many unpleasant questions as possible and try to provoke me.

KT: Not to provoke you but to put to you the questions that have been discussed for the last three years and which in many ways may be responsible for the electoral adversity…

JJ: Haven’t you asked all of your questions? Have you got anything more to ask?

KT: I have come very close to the end of this interview, I have only one last question. Are you confident that you can see your electoral low point over with, and that you will win in 2006?

JJ: Wait and see. I told you already I don’t believe in astrology. I can’t predict what will happen in the next elections but you will be around I suppose. Wait and see what happens.

KT: Is that a yes, you will win?

JJ: I said wait and see.

KT: Chief Minister, a pleasure talking to you on HARDtalk India.

JJ: I must say it wasn’t a pleasure talking to you. Namaste

Obituary

God has the right to take the life and give. As human being we are here only to show our emotions, we cant do anything with his game. Once a person passed away from us we do remember him/her often for few years, after sometime we do forgot.

Chandru, one of my close friend passed away in the same day on 1998, I do remember him once in a week or twice, but I clearly make out that my sadness towards his death getting faded day by day till Oct-1. Then again it will get the full force to occupy my mind for 1 or 2 months. What else I can do for him rightnow rather writing a blog and dropping 2 drops of tears for him for today.

May his soul rest in Peace.

Kaverilirundhu Thames Varai

My Journey Started from Kaveri, going on through Thames now

Tamizh ennum oru Mozhi

Click here about Tamizh TodayTamizha Tamizha

Think About it

Once upon a time there was a rich King who had four wives.

He loved the 4th wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to the finest of delicacies. He gave her nothing but the best.

He also loved the 3rd wife very much and was always showing her off to neighboring kingdoms. However, he feared that one day she would leave him for another.

He also loved his 2nd wife. She was his confidant and was always kind, considerate and patient with him. Whenever the King faced a problem, he could confide in
her, and she would help him get through the difficult times.

The King's 1st wife was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and kingdom. However, he did not love the first wife.
Although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her!

One day, the King fell ill and he knew his time was short. He thought of his luxurious life and wondered, "I now have four wives with me, but When I die, I'll
be all alone."

Thus, he asked the 4th wife, "I have loved you the most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and
keep me company?"

"No way!", replied the 4th wife, and she walked away without another word. Her answer cut like a sharp knife right into his heart.

The sad King then asked the 3rd wife, "I have loved you all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?"

"No!" replied the 3rd wife. "Life is too good! When you die, I'm going to remarry!" His heart sank and turned cold.

He then asked the 2nd wife, "I have always turned to you for help and you've always been there for me...when I die, will you follow me and keep me company?"

"I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!", replied the 2nd wife. "At the very most, I can only send you to your grave." Her answer came like a bolt of
lightning, and the King was devastated.

Then a voice called out: "I'll leave with you and follow you no matter where you go." The King looked up, and there was his first wife. She was so skinny as
she suffered from malnutrition and neglect.

Greatly grieved, the King said, "I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance!"

In truth, we all have 4 wives in our lives:
Our 4th wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it will leave us when we die.

Our 3rd wife is our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, it will all go to others.

Our 2nd wife is our family and friends. No matter how much they have been there for us, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave.

And our 1st wife is our Soul. Often neglected in
pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the world.However, our Soul is the only thing that will follow us wherever we go.

Cultivate, strengthen and cherish it now, for it is the only part of us that will follow us to the throne of God and continue with us throughout Eternity.

When the world pushes you to your knees...You're in
the perfect position to pray. Think about it

Ganesha Namo Namo

vinayaga, originally uploaded by ilamurugusp.

Southall

Southall, a place where lot of Indians lives in UK, very difficult to see a single brit there. Check out the convesation between me and a brit(british Guy) about this place.

ILA: Have you been to Southall?
Brit: I think Brits require a VISA to enter the place.I dont have one.

SUPERNATURAL ...

There was this case in the hospital's Intensive care ward where patients always died in the same bed and on Sunday morning at 11 a.m., regardless of their medical condition. This puzzled the doctors and some even thought that it had something to do with the supernatural. No one could solve the mystery as to why the deaths took place at 11 AM.

So a world-wide expert team was constituted and they decided to go down to the ward to investigate the cause of the incidents. So on the next Sunday morning few minutes before 11a.m., all doctors and nurses nervously waited outside the ward to see for themselves what the terrible phenomenon was all about. Some were holding wooden crosses, prayer books and other holy objects to ward off evil........
Just when the clock struck 11...

SCROLL DOWN....

















and then..
Santa Singh, the part-time Sunday sweeper, entered the ward and unplugged the life support system & plugged in the vacuum cleaner.


After a long time as per my schedule I am posting this Joke, dont forget guys I used to post a Sardarji joke (if it is good) each per week
Thanks to Basu for forwarding this.

Jammy-Need to be Honoured

Cricket fans always appreciate and applause for the guys who opens or plays in slog overs or the match winner. Mostly they wont bother about the backbone of the team whos really made a clear innings. "If cricket is our religion, Sachin is our God"..mmhmmm thn what happend to the middle order batsmen. My favorite is always Dravid, watching each and every ball of 50 overs a keeper, consistency in most of the matches, never gone in rest for hurt, even not taken rest in the past 5 years. Why is he is not honoured or provided a man of the match(rarely he used to get).

I was thinking that he should honoured global wise. Today morning while watchig BBC-1 I got the news that Rahul Dravid was crowned Player of the Year and Test Player of the Year at the inaugural International Cricket Council (ICC) awards at Alexandra Palace here (london) Tuesday. I proud of these award because now he is honoured not only Player of the year also the test player. I am so happy than Dravid.

Go Head Jammy, get more awards!

Behind The Screen - Terminal

CHARLES DE GAULLE AIRPORT, France - Passengers at Paris's main airport who wander into the basement shopping section of Terminal One may spot a gaunt, moustachioed figure sitting amid a pile of boxes and scribbling fervently on a note pad. In the strange and timeless atmosphere of an international departure area, he pays little heed to the hordes who pass before him every day. He rises with the arrival of the first cleaner, washes and shaves in the public bathroom and eats takeaways from McDonald's.


If there is an air of permanence about him, that is not surprising. For Merhan Karimi Nasseri has been in the same spot for no less than 16 years. Caught originally in an immigration trap -- unable to enter France, nowhere to go - he has long since become psychologically dependent on his unusual choice of abode. He calls himself Sir Alfred, and this small section of airport parquet and plastic bench is his domain.

It is a peculiar story, and one which came several years ago to the ears of the Hollywood director Steven Spielberg. He saw its potential, and the result is "The Terminal," which opens in Europe and Asia next week after getting its European premiere Wednesday at the Venice film festival.

For Nasseri the film has meant tens of thousands of dollars (euros) reportedly -- but unverifiably -- paid over in royalties as well as a constant stream of gawking visitors and interested journalists. But life goes on unchanged, a movie poster above his arrangement of boxes and bags the sole concession to his new status as "the man who inspired The Terminal."

According to airport doctor Philippe Bargain, who visits him every week, Nasseri's physical health is fine, but his mental condition is another story. "He is on the same record as everyone else, just on a different track," he said. Thus details of his past life are hard to establish. It is known that he was born 59 years ago in Iran, and that he briefly attended Bradford University in Britain where he claims to have studied Slav languages. Returning to Iran he was imprisoned as a suspected dissident by the Shah's police and deported.

After that he was shunted between France, Italy and Belgium, trying unsuccessfully the while to reach Britain where he said his mother -- a British nurse -- was living. However today he denies this story. After periods of imprisonment for illegal entry, he parked himself at Charles de Gaulle airport in 1988. Though he says he dislikes his life at the terminal, he had the chance to leave in 1999 when he was granted refugee status. However seeing his name on the papers as Merhan Karimi Nasseri -- and not Sir Alfred -- he said they were forged and refused to sign.

Sir Alfred says he intends to live in New York -- indeed he claims the US visa is on its way -- but the truth is more banal. The man who inspired The Terminal is staying there.

Channels-UK

In Uk, we are getting 5 free channels as cable connection is too costly so we didnt opted for that, also we need telephone for cable connection.Here TV Serials are more popular than India, the only difference is serials are mostly likely like live relay.

Bigbrother, a super-dooper hit serial comes every year for 75 days in BBC-4. A group of guys and girls start living in a house as they like, managed by a voice(big brother), each and every week as per the vote from Viewers they remove one person from the group. The person who stays till end get a huge amount(65,000 pound).This serial comes once in a year.

Average Joe, same like our Suyamvaram, a beautiful girl dates with 4 good physically built guys and 4 average guys. same like Bigbrother each and every episode one guy will be thrown as per that girls decision. Finally.. mm, she is not going to marry the guy, just sleep with him for 2 days. Nalla enjoy panrangapppaa. Inge kanna kasakitu parkira velai ellam ille, just live and get money or enjoyment.

Advertisement are also good to watch. But the documetary's are tooo good here. enjoying my final week as a Bachelor after my marriage(my wife coming here next week:)).

Dhoom

Abhishek's has been assigned task to arrest a team of hi-tech theives who steals bank money in public with use of imported bike which goes 260 miles/hour. First half is really good. OOPs. Eesha, damn sexy girl, almost she tried to expose everything, succeeded too, good product of Hema. Udai, like a comedy hero helps in the bike technical technology, falls in love with Esha, done a very good job. Though Abhisek is in Hero roll, John is the real hero of the movie. He deserves, there is no surprise that Bipasa fell in love with him.

No logic only magic.
First scene itself they proved this. in the other part of a bridge not more than 300mts, they use a bomb to capture a truck, police doenst know from the other end of the bridge heheheh. that too the truck goes 20 feets up (thnx to rocket bombs)
Israel technology locks in the casino.. bla bla.
finally a senti climax with 007 type

Good masala, music, rich picturisation helps for the success of the movie
thanks for sub-titles in UK, since lot of brit's started watching Hindi movies.

John AbraDHoom.

Sujatha About Blogs

Sometimes we do agree with personalities comments, sometimes "No". As per my perception Sujatha(writer) is a intellectual guy, cinema spoiled his name though. I dont agree with these comment on blogs. Do you guys?

Life is Full of Sentiments & Emotions

Thanks for Raj for forwarding a beatiful story to me.

He met her on a party, she was so outstanding, many guys were chasing after her, while he was so normal, nobody paid attention to him.

At the end of the party, he invited her to have coffee with him. she was surprised, but as he was polite, she promised.They sat in a nice coffee shop, he was too nervous to say anything, She felt uncomfortable,she thought, "please, let me back home" Suddenly he asked the waiter: would you please give me some salt? I'd like to put it in my coffee. Everybody stared at him, so strange! His face turned red, but still, he put the salt in his coffee and drank it.

She asked him curiously: why you have this hobby? He replied: when I was a little boy, I was living near the sea, I liked playing in the sea, I could feel the taste of the sea, salty and bite, just like the taste of the salty coffee. Now every time I have the salty
coffee, I always think of my childhood, think of my hometown, I miss my hometown so much, I miss my parents who are still living there. While saying that, tears filled his eyes. She was deeply touched.That's his true feeling,from the bottom of his heart. A man who can tell out his homesick, he must be a man who loves home, cares about home, has responsibility of home.. Then she also started to speak, spoke about her far away hometown, her childhood, her family. That was a really nice talk, also a beautiful beginning of their story.

They continued to date. She found actually he was a man who meets all her demands: he had tolerance,was kind hearted, warm, careful...he was such a good person but she almost missed him! Thanks to his salty coffee! Then the story was just like every beautiful love
story: the princess married to the prince, then they were living the happy life...
And, every time she made coffee for him, she put some salt in the coffee, as she knew that's the way he liked ! it.

After 40 years, he passed away, left her a letter which said:" My dearest, please forgive me, forgive my whole life lie. This was the only lie I said to you----the salty coffee. Remember the first time we dated? I was so nervous at that time, actually I wanted some
sugar, but I said salt. It was hard for me to change so I just went ahead. I never thought that could be the start of our communication!I tried to tell you the truth many times in my life, but I was too afraid to do that, as I have promised not to lie to you for anything.

Now I'm dying, I afraid of nothing so I tell you the truth: I don't like the
salty coffee, what a strange bad taste. But I have the salty coffee for my whole life since I knew you, I never feel sorry for anything I do for you. Having you with me is my biggest happiness for my whole life. If I can live for the second time, I still want to know you and have you for my whole life, even though I have to drink the salty coffee again."

Her tears made the letter totally wet. Someday, someone asked her: what's the taste of salty coffee? It's sweet. She replied.
SOMETIMES YOU FEEL YOU KNOW THE PERSON MORE THAN ANYBODY ELSE ... BUT ONLY TO REALIZE
THAT YOUR OPINION ABOUT THE PERSON WERE NOT AS YOU DESCRIBED.JUST LIKE THE INCIDENT OF THE SALTY COFFEE ... LOVE MORE AND HATE LESSER .. CAUSE' SOMETIMES SALT TASTES BETTER THAN SUGAR ...

IAS & IFS

IAS & IFS should have some extra ordinary knowledge, after getting a post I dont know how are they are ? also how are they are allowed to be? Here I got few Q&A which answered for IAS toppers, Try yourself whether you are also knowledgeble or not.


How Clever our IAS Officers .. !
-----------------------------------------

Real life IAS i.e. UPSC Exam 1998 Interview Question and there Answer given by Candidates oh sorry IAS Officer now.


Q.How can you drop a raw egg onto a concrete floor without
cracking it?
A.Concrete floors are very hard to crack! (UPSC Topper)

Q.If it took eight men ten hours to build a wall,how long would it take four men to build it?
A. No time at all it is already built. (UPSC 23 Rank Opted for IFS)

Q.If you had three apples and four oranges in one hand and four apples and three oranges in the other hand, what would you have?
A. Very large hands.(Good one) (UPSC 11 Rank Opted for IPS)

Q. How can you lift an elephant with one hand?
A. It is not a problem, since you will never find an elephant with one hand. (UPSC Rank 14 Opted for IES)

Q. How can a man go eight days without sleep?
A. No Probs , He sleeps at night. (UPSC IAS Rank 98)

Q. If you throw a red stone into the blue sea what it will become?
A. It will Wet or Sink as simple as that. (UPSC IAS Rank 2)

Q. What looks like half apple ?
A : The other half. (UPSC - IAS Topper )

Q. What can you never eat for breakfast ?
A : Dinner.

Q. What happened when wheel was invented ?
A : It caused a revolution.

Q.Bay of Bengal is in which state?
A : Liquid (UPSC 33Rank )

Q: what is the opposite of Nagpanchmi?
A: Nag did not punch me

Q:now what is the inverse of Nagpanchmi? Come on..
A: I punched the Nag. (is somebody obsessed bout naags?)

Q:Chintu's mom has three sons.What is the name of the other two?
A:Chin-1 & Chin-3 (Phew!)

Cheers my dear IAS officers ... (hoping that you would have
guessed )

Japan Vs USA

This continous of Japan VS USA quality. Perhaps everyone knows this story, Thanks for Arun for sharing this incident a long back

Apparently, the computer giant decided to have some parts manufactured in Japan as a trial project. In the specifications, they set out that they will accept three defective parts per 10,000.


When the delivery came in there was an accompanying letter.


"We, Japanese people, had a hard time understanding North American business practices. But the three defective parts per 10,000 have been separately manufactured and have been included in the consignment. Hope this pleases you." .

Bicester & Brighton

Bicester Village is managed by Value Retail, Europe's leading outlet village operator. Bistor, as pronunced here. It is 61 miles away from Center London. We went on the Jazz festival(Jazz music will be played in the streets for public entertainment). Can see the most branded outlets are there with reasonable discounts. All brands has their outlet shop in this village. Reebok, FCUK gives you the best price comparing to the market value. Remaining shops does the same as increase the price and give discount.

Brighton , 66.3 miles away fron London -heathrow terminal, 95 mins by land. Its a coastal area, one of the few man made beach in UK. Few amusement parks are built on the sea. Its a heavy traffic to reach the place when i have been there.

Poll

Why USA attacking Najaf?
	To demolish Holiest places?
	Remove the the control of Moqtada over the city?
	Continuation of Iraq War?
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USA-India

Funny Pic I have got thro mail, will it be added to Arun's? Blog

Click here to See the picture

Box of Kisses

I always dont want to make cut & Paste to the blog, even for sardarji jokes I do some corrections. Today I have read this story and found I cant make correction even a singel word in this story. Might Master Card have used this as an inspiration for their Advertisement.


Some time ago, a man punished his 3-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and he was furious when the child tried to decorate a box. Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, "This is for you, Daddy." He was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, but his anger flared again when he found the box was empty.

He yelled at her,"Don't you know when you give someone a present, there's supposed to be something inside it? The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and said, "Oh, Daddy, it's not empty, I blew kisses into the box. All for you, Daddy."

The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little girl, and he begged for her forgiveness. An accident took the life of the child only a short time later and it is told that the man kept that gold box by his bed for many years and whenever he was discouraged, he would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there.

In a very real sense, each of us as humans have been given a gold container filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children, friends, family or God. Even our pets! There is no more precious possession anyone could hold than love.

Azhad Kashmir

Do we really occupied Kashmir? why we are spending billions for this state? do the Kashmir wanted to join with Pak ? Lot of upcoming question. How many times both the countries spoke regarding the same, started today also. While I was roaming in Internet for Kashmir I found a officila website for a group which is a working(?!) to recover Kashmir from India, after going through the web, I was so much confused that India was occupied or not.

Oxford

I have been to Oxford last saturday. It is 37 miles away from the London, having lavish green all the way. I had a mind set that Oxford university will be in a single campus like India, even I was searching the campus. Finally I found that there is no campus as like. Some around 16 colleges in Oxford called as a University, Christ Church is the top among those colleges. Mazhaikalathulaiyavathu pallikoodam pakkam odhunganumnu periyavanga solluvanga, its raining here.

Oxford is meant for Antique, sculptures, paintings .etc. Ashmolean Museum is the most beautiful museum which we seen. Can found year-1900 BC items there. I found a girl's sculpture made up of White marble, in the second floor, I forgot the name, that is most wonderful sculpture have ever seen in my life. Museum has the collection of all countries when the conquered at that time, found 3 indian items too, from Rajastan. I have missed Modern Art museum as we were running short of time. will travel to the same place again to visit the missed places.

Daily Menu

I was thinking to update about my UK's menu in the blog. Dont think the menu is having burgers, breads, cheese creams.... No No nothing like that. It is also reply for Venkat's yesterday's comment.
Morning : Kellogs or cornflakes.
After noon: any variety rice with Curd rice(Arun, make a note)
Night : Mostly Roti and paratha with sabji (for reply on venkats comment), yesterday it was a yummy Idly with coconut chutney.

Who will be the next president of USA?
	George W Bush
	John Kerry
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SoutHall

Southall, a place in London. Me and my friends have been to that place on last saturday for purchasing for our party. I thought that name is SouthAll, after then I realise that it is not soutall, it is SoutHall. I Wondered when I reached that place. Becoz I havent seen any brit there, Indians,indians everywhere. We can get all Indian products here, even Beatels , puliyotharai mix, Idly cooker, puttu mix, pickles...etc. Already there is a comment about London that, this is like a Mini Punjab. All most 30% of the cab drivers are punjabi's, we can find lot many pakistanis too.

Dont miss this place, when you are visiting London.

Kalyanam Panniyum Brahmachari

When I started my blog I made my mind not to write about my personal life here, however sometimes I have to revert it back to express to my thankful thoughts. It is very hard time for me when I left my family to UK after 1 1/2 months, yeah it should be, for all. Now I beleive every one can understand the title reflect my feelings.

My collegue Chandru and his wife planned for a get together on Sunday, also we can watch Asia cup finals(sri lanka Vs India). He arranged for the cable channel for us(even though it is costly). My friends prepared wonderful Payasam, pancha amirtham(really tastes like Amirtham) and Vada to make constructive from our side(my contribution is very little in these preparation). Finally we started our watching hoping India will win easily as they have the target of 229. Though we lost the match, I dont felt that it is a great loss for us, Zaheer's sixers convinced that Indian tail enders too fight well. In between we had our tasteful breakfast and lunch.

Chandru and deepa made the title was wrong, I felt like in a family though I am away. Thanks for Srinath and Anil for Payasam and Pancha amirtham.

Now I felt that title is somehow wrong in another way.

Middle Class and Infy

I have read this article about Nandhan Nilekani written by one of his friend Vir Sanghvi, I thought of sharing with you how a middle class guy came up in his profession

I don’t often use this column to say good things about my friends but I’m going to make an exception this week. Part of the reason is that the friend in question is now, deservedly, nationally famous. But mainly, it’s because of the things he represents and the values he embodies.

I first met Nandan Nilekani in 1980 because he was going out with a friend (and colleague) of mine — they have since married. At the time, he was a young IIT-trained engineer working, if I remember correctly, for Patni Computer Systems.

It was clear then that Nandan was very bright and that he would go far, but none of us, including Nandan himself, realised quite how far he would get. As the years went on, I watched his rise with admiration. The gutsy decision to strike out with a few colleagues and start Infosys. The years spent in America, working for clients. That first public issue (you can add my name to the list of idiots who did not buy the shares he offered us then), and the slow rise to success within India. Nothing had prepared me, however, for Infosys’ global success, for the Nilekanis’ entry into the billionaires club (Nandan and his wife Rohini both own large quantities of Infosys stock) or for the kind of esteem with which Infosys is now regarded.

In recent years, I’ve visited the Infosys campus in Bangalore, chaired seminars there and had a chance to meet many of Nandan’s colleagues and have always been struck by the extent to which Infosys represents a third model of Indian  corporate governance. The first two models are easy to identify. The first is the traditional family-run business even though most successful family-owned companies are increasingly professionalised. The second is the multinational business run by MBAs who love jargon and worship marketing.

Infosys is the most successful  example of a third — uniquely Indian — kind of company. None of its founders — including Nandan — has an MBA. Its management structure is entirely collegiate — can you think of a single multinational where somebody like Narayan Murthy would voluntarily step aside and actively promote somebody like Nandan as his successor? And as Nandan says, none of the founders (even though they are all billionaires now) would ever put his ego ahead of the company’s interests.

Add to this the traditional Infosys values: no corruption under any circumstances, no billing personal expenses to the company (Nandan lives in his own house and drives his own car, for instance), no asking for political favours etc. And you have a very different kind of Indian company.

I’m sure there are other — lesser known — companies that also embody Infosys’ values, but here’s my point: almost all of them will probably be run by first generation entrepreneurs and none of them could have succeeded before the 1990s or so. (Five years ago, when I interviewed Narayan Murthy, he said publicly that had it not been for the Manmohan Singh reforms of 1991, Infosys would have failed).


My view — and I’m no expert on company structures — is that the success of Infosys comes from the background of its promoters. None of them comes from a big business family. They are all essentially well-educated, middle class boys who set out to build a company on the values  that they had been taught by their parents — solid middle class values of putting knowledge first, of paying no bribes, of working hard and of not showing off your wealth.

To my mind, the success of Infosys has always been a triumph  of Indian middle class values; proof that if you are good at what you do and work hard and honestly, you can compete with the best in the world.
Though the founders of Infosys struggle to play this down, they now are all phenomenally wealthy individuals (Rohini, for instance, is one of India’s ten richest women). I wondered, as I saw their wealth increasing, what the money would do to them. Would they lose sight of the values on which they had founded their company? Or to put it differently, would they become like every other super-rich Indian?
Two things that Nandan has done over the last five years have gladdened me — and have prompted this column. The first is that he and the other Infosys founders give away most of their earnings. Nandan and Rohini, for instance, give something like 50 per cent of their earnings to charity or to worthy causes.
Nandan’s reasoning is simple. He believes, he says, that the market is a far more efficient way of allocating resources than, say, a centralised bureaucracy. But, he also adds, there will be times when the market will make certain individuals incredibly wealthy, not because they are necessarily the very best but because they happen to be in the right place at the right time. So it is, he says, with Infosys. The vast wealth it has earned does not mean that Murthy, Nandan and all the others, are that much better than the rest of us. All it means is that they were in the right sector at the moment it took off.
In such a situation, Nandan argues, anybody who makes so much money because of a quirk of the market system, has an obligation to give much of it back to society. He says that he’s not suggesting anything unusual or revolutionary. In the US, for instance, nearly all the first generation entrepreneurs gave chunks of their fortunes to public causes: the Mellons, the Carnegies, the Rockefellers, the Morgans and even mean old Henry Ford. It was only because they showed themselves willing to share their wealth with society that capitalism and the free market won the faith of the rest of the American people. Till then, all the first generation millionaires had risked being seen as robber barons.
Nandan’s perspective is interesting because it touches on the central crisis of the Indian middle class at the start of the 21st Century. Most of us — let’s be honest — have never had it so good. The shops are full of fancy new products and we now have the money to buy them. All this may persuade us that India is Shining but the reality is that middle class prosperity does not extend to the rest of India. Even as the CII was feting Chandrababu Naidu, farmers were committing suicide in Andhra. The reason most middle class people — especially the media — got the election results wrong was because the gap between the middle class and the rest of the India has become a complete disconnect.
As the most successful Indian company to be based on middle class values, Infosys and its founders are actively working to bridge the comprehension gap. As Nandan says, “if the market is seen as benefiting only those at the top, reforms will never be accepted.”
There’s one other thing that Nandan has done over the last five years that has impressed me greatly. He says the thought came to him while driving out of Infosys’ immaculately maintained campus. Why, he asked himself, should I have to leave this wonderful environment for a badly maintained road? It isn’t as though I’m not paying for the road. All of us are — we pay up to a third of our income in taxes. Then why do we care so little about what happens to the money? Why do we demand so little accountability from the government? Why are we so content to accept the worst infrastructure?

His answer was that part of it was just an information problem. As far as we are concerned, our taxes go into a vast black hole. Which of us knows how much money has been allocated for roads? Do we care how it is spent? How much each fly-over costs? What the cost over-runs are?
Why, asks Nandan, do we expect lower standards of disclosure, transparency and accountability from government than we do from, say, a public limited company?

His solution is that technology can be used to create greater transparency. In Bangalore, the last Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna, supported the idea of a task force which put local budgets on the internet, which monitored where the money was going and kept track of how it was being siphoned off or wasted. Every six months or so, officials in charge of say, roads or water supply would face citizens and answer questions on how they had spent tax-payer’s money.

Nandan was in Delhi last week to sign an e-governance agreement with the Delhi government which has enthusiastically embraced the Bangalore experiment. He believes that it is possible to place more and more information in the public domain thanks to rapidly advancing technology. He doesn’t pretend that it will solve our problems, but he reckons it is a start. And a measure of accountability in government, he argues, is better than what we have now.

I think he’s right. But I know that all the vested interests — corrupt politicians, inefficient bureaucrats, etc — will oppose it. If the idea is to work at a national level, it needs top-level backing. Fortunately, India finally has a technocratic, middle-class Prime Minister whose own success story also embodies the values that created Infosys.

So, who knows, perhaps the time is finally right for some accountability in government?

Long days

Here the days are too long, sunrises at 5:00 am and sets at 10:00 pm, that is why I am also working more in these days(:(). This week I dont have enough time for getting poll's code and paste it here. So no Polling for this week, however this is the sardar joke cracked by one of my room mate today.

To sardarji: Sardarji where were you born?
Sardar- Punjab
To sardarji: which part?
Sardar- oye part part kya kar raha hai,whole body born in punjab.

Shuttle Badminton

Always I am interested on playing shuttle badminton, where ever I go i insist people to play shuttle badminton. It happend reverse here, people are already playing (both indoor and outdoor), they insisted mehere to play in evening time(8:00 pm to 9:00 pm, sunsets only after 10pm here) . I beleive a great game is waiting for me.

 

Julie, FrnHt9/11

 Seen Julie on friday, states how a girl is being forced to be a prostitute due to her situation. Every theof also have a background story to become. Same way they have written a screenplay. climax is goodenough, they tried to make this documentary as a commercial film. confused...
An average commercial film.

Farenheit 9/11.
Michel Moore, a great thinker,no need to say more about him, he deserves. he waited 5 years to complete this movie, travelled 7 countries, met 6000 people and above,.. oh god, I cant imagine the efforts for this movie.
He concentrated on
1. Election results confusion(Gore Vs Bush)
2. Bush energy business with Saudi after & before
3. Bush vacation trips, emotion of Bush when got the news about WTO on 9/11
4. Local terrorism , which not taken care by USA Govt, instead their care about Saudi.
5. Army people selection
6. USA embassy in Saudi
7. Cost cutting in USA
8. Soldiers & their parents emotions(Tearful tragedies)
9. Congress politicians willingness to save Iraq
10. Saudi & Afganistan war

 Arun , if you want to shoot a documentary,  make  like this for this world, your name will be scripted in Stone as well as in our soul.

Poll Day

Has sadam to be punished?
	Yes
	No
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Reached Aandavar Boomi

is that possible to have a day with 29.1/2 hrs?

When started from india it is 7:40pm and reached-london.Uk at 7:45am, totally 18 hrs night time, yesterday for mine is 29.1/2 hrs. confusing huh..

Anyway finally i have reached london in the morning, settled down easily with help of my friends. came to office and as usually not working ,, hahhahaha.

Why Aandavar boomi, aandavar=ruled ,not god. UK people ruled more than a century, thats why I  called UK as a aandavar boomi. Yet to browse london ..

Bon Voyage

I am leaving for Uk-London tomorrow.  I am pretty excited to visit Uk which was one of my dream to visit UK, it all are started when I watched movie "Kathal Kavithai"  few years back.
Will be back on September 30 as per plan.  I am going for honeymoon(but alone, thani moon hahahaaha). I dunno whether I can blog from UK office or not, anyway lemme try to update blog. God bless me to visit Australia as it my great wish and dream.

Burnt Blossoms

Kumbakonam-special for Maha Magam & temples. 12 years back hundreds of people were died in the eve o Mahamagam. I was happy this time nothing happend during Mahamaga, however it happend but very badly now. 90 kids were killed in a school fire accident.
What ever reason they give for fire accident is not at all accpetable now. Amma immediately ordered to cancel the approval for the matriculation school which are all having thatched roofs. Thats Okay Amma, is it only applicable for Matriculaiton schools, how about Government Schools?  Still 100s of Govt school are working under Thatched roofs, single teacher schools.. etc. 

Prevention is the better than cure...

Thursday-Poll Day

I like to have the schedules like this.

Thursday-Poll
Friday-Sardar Jokes

Vote to win..

Who is your favourite music director?
	ilayaraja
	AR Rahman
	MSV & co
	Harris Jayaraj
	Deva
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Donation Please

I started this blog in Memory Of Satyendra Kumar Dubey, 1973-2003 Killed For Fighting Against Corruption In Gaya, Bihar.

Satyendra K. Dubey, the son of Bageshwari Dubey and Phulamati Devi, was born at the village of Shahpur in the Sewan district of Bihar, India.

Until the age of 15 he studied at the Gang Baksh Kannaudi High School and then he went to Allahabad for higher education. He wanted to pursuit a career in Engineering. He admitted to the Civil Engineering Department of the IIT Kanpur in 1990. He graduated with excellent marks in 1994.
After his graduation he entered the Indian Engineering Service (IES), before he was employed by the Ministry of Surface Transport in Delhi. In July 2002 he was employed by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).

Soon after his affiliation with NHAI, Dubey became the Assistant Project Manager at Koderma, Jharkhand, responsible for managing a part of the Aurangabad-Barachatti section of National Highway 1 (The Grand Trunk Road) in the Golden Quadrilateral Corridor Project.

He worked there until August when he was transferred to Gaya, where he exposed mishandling of funds by the engineers. At this time he also became the Deputy General Manager of the National Highway Authority of India.

S. K. Dubey had written some letters to NHAI and to the Prime Minister, reporting misuse of financial resources.

As the S. K. Dubey Foundation reports, after his arrival at Gaya railway station in the early morning, he was found dead by his driver, and the police suspects somebody who didn't want Dubey to be director eliminated him. Some people, though, maintain the view Mr. Dubey's death was a case of simple robbery gone bad.

Satyendra (Dubey, an IIT Kanpur graduate) was an honest and upright engineer working on the Golden Quadrilateral Highway project. Outraged by the corruption he encountered, he took on the construction mafia pulling up contractors for shoddy work and notifying superiors. Frustrated with inaction, he finally wrote to the Prime Minister urging action. Requesting confidentiality, he detailed the "loot of public money" and "poor implementation".

Immediate Goal
Family of S. K. Dubey will need financial support (initial estimate is around Rs. 10 lakhs) as he was the sole earner of the family. This is primarily intended to:

* Help in the marriage and education of his two sisters

* Support the study of his younger brother who is pursuing his study at IT BHU and

* His parents future

Guys please help !!

Payable to: Satyendra K Dubey Memorial Fund*
Chairman, Satyendra K Dubey Memorial Fund
Department of Aerospace Engineering
IIT Kanpur, 208016

(IIT Kanpur, as an organization, is in no way associated with this Foundation. Their name and address are listed to facilitate the donation for the family)

*Donations to S.K. Dubey Memorial Fund is for family and for other projects as determined by IIT Kanpur.
*Please pay by Cheque/DD only.

For more details

War Against US

Philippine withdrawing troops from Iraq ignoring White house warning for a Truck driver.

The Philippines started withdrawing its troops from Iraq, ignoring a White House warning that an early pullout would ``send the wrong signal'' to terrorists threatening to behead a civilian Filipino hostage. What else US need now, it seems they wont bother about te lives in Iraq, only their need is to their troops to be Iraq, their people to govern. I was shocked a to see that recorded relay of a korean refugee has been killed. Oh god how their family felt on that time seeing their guys killed in front of them.

"The Philippine contingent of 51 troops was reduced to 43 today, Foreign Secretary Delia Albert said in a taped statement aired on ABS-CBN News Channel and other Manila media networks. She didn't say when the remainder would be pulled out. Her spokesman Gilberto Asuque declined to elaborate.

The withdrawal, a month ahead of schedule, comes after terrorists threatened to behead fuel-truck driver Angelo de la Cruz if Philippine troops weren't withdrawn. The abductors have twice extended the deadline for executing the 46-year-old father of eight, who was seized last week in Baghdad.

The government of President Gloria Arroyo last week said it wouldn't bow to terrorists and would keep its troops in Iraq until their scheduled departure on Aug. 20. It stressed the troops were serving in non-combat roles such as construction, food service and distribution of medical supplies"

Poll-1

Guys I am trying for the web poll to make initiative in Blogs, please vote and lemme know if there is any problem

Will India be the IT giant in another 20yrs?
	Yes
	No
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Good and Failures

Tamil cinema had lot of block buster movies, silver jubilees and lot of flops too. Flop movies always under estimate people, having with more masala, sothappal scripts, 0% story...let we have look at this movies which came in social thought, want to change the people, also flops.
1. Yuva(Aayutha Eluthu)
2. Pudhiya Mannargal
3. Pudhumai Pithan
4. Nayak

All these movies are concentrated on Politics, needs good politicians for our country. I watched Ayutha Eluthu last weekend. Mani is always favourite. He done a good job, he wants students has to be in political, will make it worth for country. I dont know why this film not able to listed in Box office hit, even it has good moral, no masala (obviuosly mani wont do that). Thiruda thirudi is a greatest hit and Ayutha eluthu is a flop. Mani would have done something to make it hit, now he failed as a commercial man, but he never fail.
People Arise Awake(atleast to watch movies)

Friday Special(Sardar Joke)

Sardar went to the appliance store sale and found a bargain. "I would like to buy this small TV," he told the salesman. "Sorry, we don't sell to SARDARs," he replied. He hurried home removed his turban and changed his hair style, and returned to tell the salesman "I would like to buy this TV." "Sorry, we don't sell to Sardars," Salesman replied. "Damn, he recognized me," he thought. he went for a complete disguise this time, haircut and new hair color, new outfit, big sunglasses, then waited a few days before he again approached the salesman. "I would like to buy this TV." "Sorry, we don't sell to Sardars," he replied. Frustrated, he exclaimed "How do you know I'm a Sardar?" "Because that's a microwave," he replied.
*********************************************
A Santa Sing went to US & had a meeting with George Bush.
Bush : I want to show you the US advancement. Come with me. (he takes him in a deep forest)
Bush : Dig the ground. (Santa did it)
Bush : More..more..more... (Santa went upto 100 feet)
Bush : So now , try to search something.
Santa : I got a wire.
Bush : You know, it shows that even 200 years ago we used to have telephones.
Santa became frustrated. He invited Bush to India.
NEXT YEAR Bush VISITS INDIA
Santa : I want to show you our advancement. the same, he takes Bush in forest .
Santa : Dig it .. (Bush does)
Santa : More ..more ...more ........... (Bush goes upto almost 400 feet..)
Santa : Try to find something. (Bush tries)
Santa : Did you get anything ?
Bush : No
Santa : Now know about India,even 400 years ago we used to have WIRELESS.

Western Vs Eastern Culture

Harry Potter, Spider man were banned in China, reason they said is" Spoil our culture, also we don’t want to Western culture influence our culture". Why Indians were not initiated this a long back, As eastern culture means "Indian culture" , that is western people think now. Why we are moving forward to western culture, I suppose.

Eastern vs. Western Culture
The following is a list of attitude and value differences between eastern thought/culture and Western thought/culture. It has been adapted from a list provided by Rev. Tran Binh Trong, Vietnamese Apostolate, Richmond, VA.

East
• Live in time
• Value rest
• Passive
• Contemplative
• Accept what is
• Live in nature
• Want to know meaning
• Freedom of silence
• Lapse into meditation
• Marry first, then love
• Love is mute
• Focus on self-abnegation
• Learn to do with less
• Ideal - love of life
• Honor austerity
• Wealth & Poverty - results of fortune
• Cherish wisdom of years
• Retire to enjoy the gift of your family

West
• Live in space
• Value activity
• Assertive
• Diligent
• Seek change
• Live with nature
• Want to know how it works
• Freedom of speech
• Strive for articulation
• Love first, then marry
• Love is vocal
• Focus on self-assuredness
• Attempt to get some more
• Ideal - being successful
• Honor achievement
• Wealth/Poverty - results of enterprise
• Cherish vitality of youth
• Retire to enjoy the rewards of your work,

I will go ahead collect few documents regarding Western Vs Eastern, will get the result ASAP.

Not a sardar Joke

Message from the beyond:

A man checked into a hotel. There was a computer in his room, So he decided to send an e-mail to his wife. However, he accidentally Typed wrong e-mail address, and without realizing his error, he sent the e-mail.

Meanwhile.....somewhere in Houston, a widow had just returned home from her husband's funeral. The widow decided to check her e-mail, expecting messages from relatives and friends.

After reading the first message, she fainted. The widow's son rushed into the room, found his mother on the floor, and saw the computer screen which read:

To: My Loving Wife
Subject: I've Reached
Date: 16 May 2002


I know you're surprised to hear from me. They have computers here now, and you are allowed to send e-mails to your loved ones.

I've just reached and have been checked in.
I see that everything has been prepared for your arrival tomorrow.
Looking forward to seeing you then!
Hope your journey is as uneventful as mine was.

Railway Budget-2004

Yesterday Laloo has submitted the railway budget, with no hikes in fares, which gives got more appreciation to him. Also Sensex raised to 100 points in one day because of these budget, without doing anything in this.

I m really appreciate him for following reasons.
1. Increased sensex
2. Removed plastic and paper cups in Railways stations
3. Made a rule to use kadhar in trains.

Let we welcome these types of things, which can be observed only by the poor people. Anyway Laloooo is not a poor man, I believe.
Also he said few days before that "Indian Railways are the responsibility of Lord Vishwakarma,' said Laloo Prasad Yadav.
'So is the safety of passengers. It is his duty [to ensure safety], not mine.' "

Sardar Ver 7.1

I am in thought of posting a sardar joke every friday, version 7.1 is nothing but the month and week.

A Sardar died and went to heaven. When he got to the pearly gate Saint Peter told him that new rules were in effect due to the advances in education on earth. In order to gain admittance a prospective heavenly soul must answer two questions:

1. Name two days of the week that begin with "T".
2. How many seconds are there in a year?

The Sardar thought for a few minutes and answered...

1. The two days of the week that begin with "T" are Today and Tomorrow.
2. There are 12 seconds in a year.

Saint Peter said, "OK, I'll buy the Today and Tomorrow, even though it's not the answer I expected, so your answer is correct. But how did you get only 12 seconds in a year?"

The Sardar replied, "Well, January 2nd, February 2nd, March 2nd, etc...."

Saint Peter lets him in without another word.

SadDamn, president of Iraq?

I was shocked when I was watching (TV) the conversation between the Judge and Saddam held in the Court in Iraq, the answers by Saddam shows that he is in his own country, leader still, as the report said that he co-operated with US Army when he got arrested few months back.

Judge: What is your name?
Saddam: I am Saddam Hussein, the president of Iraq."

The judge insisted Saddam was the former president -- and Saddam responded that he still is president.Saddam insisted on being referred to as the "president of the Republic of Iraq."

"This is all a theater by Bush, the criminal," he said in a courtroom that once was part of a palace built for him.

I dont want to discuss these law, think of a saddam as a human. He built a palace for him, lived as a king there, now he was being enquired in the same palace as a courtroom. This will be really hurting him.

Happy Family Man

I used to spend 20 hours in office when I was a bachelor, spent mostly on browsing, blogging, reading blogs and work with Photoshop, sometimes I do work(believe me guys). Now as per my family commitments, I wake up at 6:30am to get milk from milk store(I never seen 6:30 am when I was in delhi) and I rush to my house before 7pm, after then we used to go for purchasing for our daily survival.

Yesterday I was carrying one bag full of provisions in one hand and in another I was carrying vegetable bag, infact my wife also carrying a bag in street. Its a pleasant thing that fulfilling the commitments.WOW, this is the first time I felt that I am a family man, though I was with my parents I never felt that. Bachelors! make a note,I am a satisfied family man....

Have a hangover? Try extract from cactus, study suggests

When I am going through one of a health website, I found a good report that says the remedy for handover. see a part of the report.
An extract from the prickly pear cactus helps relieve nausea, dry mouth and appetite loss when taken ahead of time, according to a study published Monday in the Archives of Internal Medicine. The risk of severe hangovers was cut in half.

However, there was no statistically significant improvement in headache, soreness, weakness, tremulousness, diarrhea or dizziness.

Depending on their body weight, volunteers drank between five and 10 drinks of vodka, gin, rum, bourbon, scotch or tequila. Those who drank liquor containing more impurities, such as bourbon, had worse hangovers than those who drank clear booze, such as vodka, with fewer impurities.

Hangovers are believed to be caused by poor sleep, dehydration and the body's immune response to something in the alcohol, perhaps the impurities. It appears prickly pear interferes with this immune response, said lead researcher Dr. Jeff Wiese of Tulane Health Sciences Center.

The study included 64 adults aged 21 to 35. Hangover symptoms were rated on a 0-6 scale, with 6 the worst. For example, volunteers who took prickly pear rated their nausea an average of 1.0, while those who took a placebo rated it 1.8. The total score for all nine hangover symptoms was 14.9 in the placebo group and 12.2 in the prickly pear group.

The study was funded by the manufacturer of HPF Hangover Prevention Formula, an extract of the fruit of the prickly pear cactus.

Prickly pear extracts are available in some health supplement stores. The brand used in the study, HPF, is available on the internet or by calling (800) 720-2970. It costs $24.95 for 10 capsules; it takes one capsule for each 130 pounds of body weight.

Researchers acknowledged concerns that making hangovers less miserable might encourage binge drinking. However, hangovers have "never been shown to effectively deter alcohol consumption," they wrote.

And the best cure, they added, is to not drink in the first place.

Bill Gates could join the ranks of bloggers

Yes, the world's richest man may start his own blog, one of those online diaries that have been the rage among techies for the past three or four years

David Gristwood has posted on his blog- 21 Rules of Thumb – How Microsoft develops its Software 21 Rules of Thumb on how MS develops its software. Pretty interesting stuff, particularly the focus on teamwork and the need for continuous assessment. Quite an interesting read for anyone in dev or in tech mgmt.

Why BPO jobs?

Call center and ITES renovated Indian IT market better in the last year. I found a article which shows how BPOS jobs are better(?!) to join, with my comments.

First, ten reasons why you should join a BPO.

1).One can earn a quick buck and lots of it. The companies provide excellent remuneration packages compared to other industries. Freshers get anywhere between Rs 8,000 and Rs 18,000 per month depending on how much he/she can negotiate with the HR. Salaries sky rocket from Rs 10,000 to anywhere above Rs 35,000 if one decides to stick for three to four years

2) No technical qualification required (here fresh graduates fits and get jobs)

3) No investment needed to upgrade yourself unlike many other professions.

4) One’s communication skills can be greatly improved. Many shysters end up as articulate dudes.The call centres run Personality Development Programmes free of cost along with regular product and voice training. If you want to do it on your own, it will cost you at least Rs 8000.

5) You can actually imbibe a lot of knowledge depending on the industry you are working for, i.e insurance, finance, accounting, telecom, auto, computer hardware etc. The companies also provide international certifications for the industry trained in.(to show to their clients that they have qualified people)

6) You may be made to undergo the six-sigma and other quality control programmes hugely in demand in the corporate world.

7) You get good food for free and lots of recreational activities like gym, swimming pool, billiards, Internet for free. Also, one gets free home pick up and drops in AC cabs.(away from rush and sweating in bus travel, dont want to loose perfume smell till office)

8) The work environment of most of the international call centres is truly world class. Also, most of the international BPO firms insure their employees for free. Plus, there are parties and get togethers at excellent hotels and discs on weekends all paid by the company. Camping tours are also arranged by the companies at hill resorts. (to enjoy the youth)

9)There open feedback sessions during training which help you to know your strengths and weaknesses. You also learn team building skills and management.

10) Working in a BPO also helps while applying for a Visa to a foreign country . It gives you added points and helps if you are planning to immigrate as you are already familiar with their culture.

Yes, I know it sounds too good to be true

10 reasons why you should not work in an international call centre-

1) The calls become monotonous after some time and you cease to enjoy your work. It gives little value addition to one’s personality after some time.

2)The life cycle gets topsy turvy. It becomes very difficult to adjust the body clock if one has worked in the night shift for over an year. If the shift is changing on a weekly basis, it is yet more difficult to adjust. One may develop several health problems which may persist over a long period((I dont like night shifts, as Call center operated mostly in night time accordingly to US day time)

3)Culture is totally changing to western model, loosing our traditional, dating are very casual in these profile(I give more importantance)

4) Along with training for a foreign accent, the trainers also encourage you to mould yourself into a particular culture. This may create deep psychological imbalance. It is difficult to lead a dual existence without uprooting oneself from the past.

5) One may get used to a foreign accent absolutely. It may sound vague and funny if spoken outside. Peers may think you are showing off and even worse if you are going for an interview in some other sector. (pete vidathan)

6) Experience in a call centre counts for little in other industries. One may find it difficult to change careers or even pursue higher studies.

7) The increasing pressure to achieve targets along with the changing body clock may develop long term stress and hypertension.

8) Easy money without any technical qualification may crush the impulse to educate further. This may create difficulty while trying to change industries. The easy money also makes one accustomed to a luxurious lifestyle.

9) The racial discrimination and abuses experienced from foreigners during calls may seriously affect one’s ego. (only for who works in call center for inbound and outbound calls)

10) A worst thing we are taking someone's job in US or UK for our survival :(

Girlfriend

How to make a movie hit, without advertising, press report. Yes! You can in India. Give news to the safron parties that you have a movie is going to be released with "objectionable and against Indian culture." They will do the needful things to make the movie Hit.


check out the report

Yahoogroups fanclub for SunTV tamil serial "Metti Oli"

I have found many yahoogroups that are dedicated to superhit English serials, mostly comedies, such as Friends, Seinfeld, etc.

Imagine my surprise when I found one yahoogroup run by fans of the superhit Tamil serial in SunTV, that goes by the name of metti oli (the sound of the metti) (metti is a ring-like jewel worn on the index finger of the right foot of a woman, indicating that she is married - this is more of a Tamil tradition)

It features episode summaries, title song download, pictures, links to interviews of cast, polls about future twists in the story, and so on. Recent discussions on what is happening in the story are pretty good. (Due to the constant pestering of one of my room-mates, we are forced to watch this serial without any option between 9 and 9:30 pm every week night.)


I guess tamil serials have finally met the digital age. :-)

You can access the group here.

Interlinking rivers

Drought, made government up and down. My native place people we suffered in shortage of rainfall for past 2years. I read a article of Mr. A Vaidyanathan, The writer is Professor Emeritus, Madras Institute of Development Studies, Chennai. "The belief that interlinking is necessary to ensure adequate and safe water supply to everyone and everywhere is wholly misplaced" he said.

Found that the politics are playing game with this (BJP,Rajni are all used this word in elections, failed though). Just check out the report by him (Courtesy- The Hindu)
THE CONCEPT of interlinking rivers is evidently appealing to considerable sections of the general public and to policy-makers. More than three decades ago, K. L. Rao proposed the linking of the Ganga and the Cauvery. It was followed by Dastur's plan for a garden canal, linking all the major rivers in the country. Both the proposals attracted considerable attention. But due to widespread criticism of their feasibility, desirability and viability, these were shelved.

In the 1990s, the Government appointed a Commission to examine the strategy of water resource development, including the possibility of interlinking rivers. Its report — which is not available to the public — is understood to have given cautious support, subject to a careful examination of all relevant aspects, to the idea of link canals to divert surplus waters from some selected rivers to the water-short basins and regions.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court, on a public interest litigation, directed the Centre to draw up and implement by 2015 a programme to interlink major rivers. Subsequently, the Prime Minister announced the Government's decision to act on the court directive and appointed a task force to ensure the implementation of the project by 2015. The task force headed by Suresh Prabhu is now active.

The popular appeal of interlinking rivers is based on the understanding that an enormous amount of water of our rivers flows into the sea and that if only this is prevented, and water transferred from water-abundant rivers to water-deficit areas, there will be adequate supply for everyone in every part of the country. At another level, the project is seen as promoting national integration and a fair sharing of the country's natural water wealth. Both these presumptions are far too simplistic.

Whether the linking of rivers will promote integration or generate more disputes and tensions is a moot question. Besides, several obvious, but prima facie important, questions about the concept, and the feasibility, desirability and viability of the proposal need to be clarified before its implementation can be considered seriously. The belief that interlinking is necessary to ensure adequate and safe water supply to everyone and everywhere is wholly misplaced. Domestic use currently accounts for a mere five per cent of the total use of water harnessed through canals, tanks, wells and tube-wells.

The requirements are no doubt growing rapidly but will still be relatively small compared to those of other uses. Interlinking is hardly justified as the solution for this problem. Even if interlinking were justified for other reasons, it will not be possible to reach the water to all the habitations without huge investments in a centralised distribution network. Decentralised local rain-water harvesting, by reviving and improving traditional techniques, can meet essential requirements for domestic purposes more effectively and at a far lesser cost.

By far, the largest user of harnessed water is agriculture. Currently, more than 85 per cent of water from canals, tanks and wells and tube-wells is used for irrigation. The demand on this account is growing and will continue to be, by far, the biggest claimant on available supplies. There is much scope for increasing the efficiency of the irrigation systems in place by reducing waste and through better water management. Measures needed for this purpose — by way of investment in physical improvements and institutional reform — are not receiving due attention.

The need for irrigation arises in regions and seasons when rainfall is inadequate for raising crops and obtaining optimum yields. The total rainfall is adequate to meet crop water requirements in the kharif season over large parts of the country. Irrigation is required essentially to tide over inadequate soil moisture during dry spells within the season. There are, of course, some areas — especially in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, parts of Gujarat, Tamil Nadu — which need irrigation during the kharif season. Practically everywhere, including the northwest, irrigation is essential between November and June. So far, these imbalances have been met by constructing storages to store monsoon surpluses for use in the dry season and by exploiting groundwater. Some areas, such as Tamil Nadu, have exhausted the potential for harnessing the surface flows. In several others, the possibilities for constructing storage are limited. Groundwater resources are already under a severe stress. The scope for expansion is limited. In many areas, the problem is to check expansion and contain the rate of exploitation. It is in this context that interlinking is seen as a way out.

A closer examination of the interlinking idea raises several questions: First, it is based on the presumption that there are large surplus flows in some basins and that the physical transfer is feasible in terms of physical engineering, and can be accomplished economically without creating any adverse impact.

On what basis and who determines the surplus basins and the magnitude of the surplus? The volume of flows during the flood season is misleading as a basis for judging surpluses. Nor can the regions where floods occur be considered water surplus. Most of them may have floods in the monsoon but have inadequate water for use in the dry season. Substantial tracts in these regions do not have the benefit of irrigation. Estimates of surplus made by Central agencies such as the National Water Development Agency are hotly contested by the States.

A more serious difficulty arises from the fact that most of the flow in practically all rivers occurs during the southwest monsoon. Published data from official sources show that 90 per cent of the flow in south Indian rivers occurs between May and November. Data on the Indo-Gangetic and Brahmaputra river basins are classified. Being perennial, the proportion of the total flow occurring during these months may be somewhat smaller but not all that much smaller. For instance, over 80 per cent of the annual flow in the Kosi is between May and November; and almost three fourths between June and October.

The monsoon happens to be the season when rainfall in the aggregate is adequate for crop growth. Of course in some regions, such as Rajasthan and parts of Gujarat and the Deccan, even the kharif rain is far too low and variable for productive agriculture. In some others, more water could help switch to more productive crop patterns. These "deficit" regions are far from those considered "surplus" requiring transport over very difficult terrain and long distances.

Moreover, since the surplus occurs in the rainy season and the demand is in the dry season, it is not enough to merely carry the water from one point to another. Large storages will be necessary. One needs to know the quantum of water to be stored, and whether and where potential sites on the required scale are available, and their likely impact on environmentand human displacement.

All we have to go by are some maps published in the media, purportedly from the Hashim Report, indicating from which rivers and at which locations surpluses will be diverted and to which river(s), and at what points in these rivers the divertedwater will be taken. There is no information on the quantum of water to be transferred through different link canals; the extent and location of the area to be benefited at the receiving end; and the distribution system through which water is to be distributed to this area.

The maps and the sketchy accounts in the media and official pronouncements tell us little on these aspects. If these maps accurately reflect the concept of the interlinking projects sought to be implemented, it will only mean that instead of the surplus flows flowing to the Bay of Bengal via the Ganges and the Brahmaputra and the Mahanadi, they will flow to the sea through the Krishna, the Godavari, the Pennar or wherever!

ENTHUSIASTS OF interlinking of rivers tend to be dismissive of the concerns over the environmental and human consequences of the project. They claim that these fears are vastly exaggerated or argue that they are unavoidable costs of "development" and that they should not be allowed to hold back the project. One has to be extraordinarily insensitive not to recognise the consequences of ignoring these aspects in our water resource planning in the past. They are reflected in the callous manner in which displaced persons have been treated, land degradation due to misuse of water, depletion of groundwater and the growing pollution of water sources. The experience of the Indira Gandhi Canal is a stark example of the problems arising in the wake of bringing in vast amounts of water without adequate understanding of and concern for its impact on the fragile desert ecology.

There are also good reasons to be sceptical about the state of preparation for the interlinking projects. Anyone familiar with the planning of projects such as Bhakra Nangal and Sardar Sarovar knows that the detailed investigations and site surveys preparatory to the design and the analyses and studies needed for the actual design take many years of intensive effort and expense by a large body of experts in diverse fields. A mega project of such complexity as interlinking of rivers calls for preparatory work of far, far greater dimensions. Moreover, the quality of preparatory investigations and surveys for many, if not most, of the irrigation and water resource projects leave much to be desired. Inadequate investigations, changes in scope and design, huge cost escalations and inordinate delays in completing projects are all-too-familiar features of irrigation planning in the recent decades.

Under these circumstances, it is difficult to believe that the interlinking programme has been worked out in sufficient detail to qualify for serious examination, leave alone immediate implementation. The best way to counter this scepticism is to make all the studies, analyses and reports available for public scrutiny.

There is little authenticated information on the likely cost of the programme and its various component projects. Figures as high as Rs. 5,600 billion are mentioned but no details are available. This is about 50 times the total allocation for the ongoing water resource development projects in the Tenth Plan.

In a situation of severe resource scarcity, the question of the relative priorities to be accorded to the improvement of existing facilities and the expeditious completion of viable projects on hand as against mega projects based on questionable premises is particularly relevant. This issue ought to be debated seriously. Questions about the sources of funds for interlinking tend to be dismissed cavalierly. The notion that private sources can be attracted is the height of naivete and wishful thinking. A Government already saddled with huge public debt, and whose precarious fiscal situation continues to deteriorate rapidly, can hardly expect the financial institutions to fork out such large sums for a programme, the content and economic viability of which have not been assessed.

There are also important institutional and legal issues to be sorted out. There is no provision for any mechanism to deal with matters concerning inter-basin transfers. The Centre has no legal authority to decide on this and no State will agree to vest the authority with the Centre. There is talk of deciding these matters through consultation and consensus among the States. One can hardly take this seriously, given our experience with the working of existing laws and procedures for dealing with water allocation between the States within the same basin. The allocation of water among riparian States even within a single river basin has so far been determined by law through negotiated legal agreements and treaties, and by judicial and quasi-judicial mechanisms such as tribunals. We know from experience how contentious, prolonged and difficult this process is. The awards themselves have so far been accepted as binding on all the States concerned and the Centre. But the implementation of these awards has given rise to innumerable inter-State conflicts, which the Centre, despite the powers given to it under the law and its financial clout, has been unable to prevent or settle. These disputes and conflicts are the subject of numerous litigations. The courts have been cautious in dealing with these cases and have instead suggested that they be settled through mutual discussion, arbitration, Central mediation and other extra-judicial mechanisms.

This caution is both wise and understandable, given the complexity of the issues involved and the fact that courts have no means to enforce the judgments and the record of compliance by Governments is at best mixed. No judgment or award can satisfy all the interested parties. Indeed, of late, the States are pleading their inability to enforce court judgments on grounds that they are unfair and likely to cause unmanageable law and order problems. Instances of Governments condoning blatant violations of their own rules regarding allocation of uses of water and acquiescing or even permitting the violation of established rules regarding the rights of access and use are distressingly widespread.

These questions are pertinent and basic to a considered assessment of the river-linking programme. In the absence of satisfactory answers, criticisms of the decision to go ahead with the implementation of the project are reasonable and legitimate. The current discussions in the media and on public forums hardly focus on these issues, much less help allay the apprehensions. That would call for a serious, open and informed debate based on facts and analyses. Regrettably, apart from a few sketch maps purported to be taken from the Hashim Commission report, very little information on the specific schemes envisaged, details of their design, environmental impact, displacement, and likely costs and benefits is available in the public domain.

Even the main report of the Commission, though claimed to be a priced publication, cannot be obtained from either the Ministry or the Publications Division. The annexure to the report, in which the details have reportedly been discussed, are considered secret.

Time was when the opinions of the Government's irrigation establishment were accepted without much question. Times have changed. There is much greater awareness now that there is more, much more to water resource development than constructing dams and canals, that the process of scrutiny and appraisal is at once too narrow, too lax and too secretive, and that there is now a sizeable body of knowledge and expertise on water resource management outside the Government. The assessments of the engineering establishments are no longer taken as beyond challenge. Hardly anyone takes seriously, much less accepts, the claim that "the National Perspective Plan (linking rivers) has been drawn up by a scientific and professional organisation, conceptually and technically upheld by the Technical Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Water Resources, the Central Water Commission and the National Commission on Integrated Water Resources Development Plan... " and that "... the studies have been ratified by engineers, sociologists and economists". If this is so, why should the details of these studies and appraisals be a closely-held secret, instead of being made public to facilitate informed discussion?

The least that Suresh Prabhu, head of the task force on interlinking rivers, can do is to make all the relevant reports and documents available to the public and provide an opportunity for various interested "stake holders" to voice their concerns.

Indian software giants Infosys Technologies Ltd and Wipro Ltd have been ranked amongst the top 100 infotech companies in the world, according to a BusinessWeek Survey of the world's best IT companies.

While Infosys has been ranked the 27th topmost IT company in the world, Wipro takes the 62nd slot.

http://www.businessweek.com/pdfs/2004/0425_it100.pdf

Yahoo & Gmail

Everyone knows that GoogleMail is providing 1 Gb for each users and Gmail got a good response for that, gmail got 1.3 million users till date. As a result Yahoo is trying to convince their users to 100 Mb. I remember, onemonth before Yahoo was providing 30Mb for $10. Now it is the way to competition, anyway users getting more facilities. What Hotmail is going to do as they are providng only 2 mb for their users?

I like this blog because the way he used chennai slang, also the mentality of a person who writes the blog. Please go through the blog if you know TAMIL

Kosappettai.Kuppusamy

Iskcon Temple

My family really wants to go around some places in Bangalore and so I discussed with one of my close friend for a right place. We planned to go ISKCON (The International Society for Krishna Consciousness) temple and MG Road. We started to temple, which is near to Yeshawantpur (I am not aware of this place before even I didn’t browse before going to this place). Both the couples reached there at 6:30 pm. The first sight of the temple shows this temple is well organized. In the entrance for temple we got a card, which has HARE RAMA HARE KRISHNA mantra in multiple languages. Also the card requests us to chant audible to the person itself in each and every step.

Inside temple, we had a look into Prabhupada's history, lot of shops and a big canteen (we have to cross this canteen while exiting the temple), so it insists us to have something after a long walk in temple. As per my concern I feel this temple is well constructed, planned in religious way, the trust want us to know about ISKCON and they want to make money also, which made this temple as a commercial tourism place rather a religious place. Finally they are providing a free prasadham for all(tasty pongal we had on that day)

IndraGandhi Fountain Museum

After ISKCON Temple my friend drove car to fountain museum which is in ALIASKER ROAD, as we postponded MG Raod trip for someotherday. We reached the place at 7:40 and we got ticket, which cost 10Rs per adult. It has 1/2 hr program, 3 shows daily that starts at 7:00 daily. Show started exactly at 8:00 pm as scheduled with vante mataram musical song. Colourfull Water started dancing as per music. WOW it’s really a good experience for me to watch this type of show after a long time. They are playing few kannada songs also. Great place to visit in Bnglr.

A forwarded mail from my friend, which brings out the greatness of Superstar.

Rajini or Jaya - Who is having more popularity?

There is a popular story saying that wherever you go, you will find a rajinikanth fans

Rajinikanth was bragging to Jayalalitha one day, "You know, I know everyone there is to know. Just name someone, anyone, and I know them." Tired of his boasting, jayalalitha called his bluff, "OK, Rajini
how about Tom Cruise?"

"Sure, yes. Tom and I are old friends, and I can prove it." So rajini and jayalalitha fly out to Hollywood and knock on Tom Cruise's door, and sure enough, Tom Cruise shouts, "Thalaiva! Great to see you! You and your friend come right in and join me for lunch!" Although impressed, Jayalalitha is still skeptical.

After they leave Cruise's house, she tells rajini that she thinks rajini knowing Cruise was just lucky. "No, no, just name anyone else", rajini says. "President Bush", jayalalitha quickly retorts.

"Yes", Rajini says, "I know him, let's fly out to Washington". And off they go. At the White House, Bush spots Rajini on the tour and motions him, saying, "Rajini, what a surprise? I was just on my way to a meeting, but you and your friend come on in and let's have a cup of coffee first and catch up."

Well, jayalalitha is very shaken by now, but still not totally convinced. After they leave the White House grounds, she expresses his doubts to Rajini who again implores her to name anyone else. "The Pope", Jayalalitha replies. "Sure" says Rajini "My folks are from Poland, and I've known the Pope a long time." So off they fly to Rome.

Rajini and jayalalitha are assembled with the masses in Vatican Square when Rajini says, "This will never work. I can't catch the Pope's eye among all these people. Tell you what, I know all the guards so let me
just go upstairs and I'll come out on the balcony with the Pope." And he disappears into the crowd headed toward the Vatican.

Sure enough, half an hour later Rajini emerges with the Pope on the balcony. But by the time Rajini returns, he finds that jayalalitha had a heart attack and is surrounded by paramedics. Working his way to jayalalitha' side, Rajini asks her, "What happened?"

Jayalalitha looks up and says, "I was doing fine until you and the Pope came out on the balcony and the man next to me asked, "Who's that on the balcony with Rajini?"

Jan-15-2002 & Santosh

Santosh! A friend mine who joined with me in Aptech and became so closer very soon. At that time he was so innocent and funny guy. Netians is our group name, (Santosh, Senthil, ILA, Shanker) done our MCSE+CNA course there in coimbatore. His home was very close to my place, so he often comes to my house especially for exams.

On that time I was not eager on preparing for my examinations; he made that and helped me to get CNA which gives way to my profession. Life has it own wave, we went along with it and we used to meet once or twice in a year in Chennai shanker's home. Now I am a computer professional and he is a Medical Transcriptionist/DJ in US.

It’s all about day before my birthday; we started our journey with countable/very less money and lot of expectations. We just gone to the ticket counter and shocked, due to pongal event rush we were unable to get tickets in Counter where train about to start in 10mins. So we decide to talk with TTR for arrangements. We paid (ethics) the fine before starting our journey and started traveling to Salem from Chennai in reserved coupe at 5:00 am, but all the way by standing. We started talking, commenting on others and site viewing. As a human being hungry started torturing us, though we had only 10rs more to spend for us. So we have decided to purchase 2 idly and a vada as breakfast, that’s all we can purchase for 10rs. Obviously, the idly and vada is in budgeted size and no where it is going to fulfill our firing hungry. No other go, we shared it, even though it is not enough for us we satisfied with one idly and 1/2 vada. This is the right time to remember that wonderful journey, I cannot forget it. We got down in Salem and took the bus to my village. When we get down in my village we had only 1.25 Rs in our pocket. Now we are earning in $'s, still that journey made us the unforgettable friend’s journey.

Hats off Santhosh and we really miss you in my marriage. Shanker and senthil also felt that. I am expecting your presence machan....

Back to Greencity

comeback to Bangalore after my marriage. Lot of news are there to update.

Thanks to all my friends who wished for my marriage and came from long distance to attend my marriage.

Thanks to Saravanan, Suresh, Satish, Vengi, Balaji, Nana, Basha, Thirumalai, Joe, Shanker, Senthil, Raghu, Punniya Murthi, Thiyagu and surprised from Sutherland Guys(Raghu, sowmi, Arun & Adhi.

I miss Saran and santosh.