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Monday, 4 August 2008

Politics of Immigration and Mumbai 1

"All ye Flamingos n others! from Baikal and other lakes and regions in Cold north. Listen up!
Don't come to India during this Winter. Our Local Birds are not getting enough of water and food. You simply eat and drink and leave after the winter ! What do you give in return ? Why should we protect you ? Go back to your havens in north and find some other place for winter !"
Nowadays, Many Mumbaikars are searching for a meter or calibrator that can provide instant data on how much Marathiness you have in you and how much of a Mumbaikar you are ? :)

Gone are the days when you would proudly strut around saying "Hey! I am an Indian!". Today You can be either 'Urban Indian'
or Bhartian (Rural India) or Uttar Bhartiyite (states of UP, Bihar,etc) or 'SOUTH Indian' or simply 'MADRASIS' (the re-casted state from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, AP, Karnataka), and what not ! Now even Mumbaikar!

This trend must not be mistaken with pride for one's motherland or local flavor. This is Parochialism in its best form! Motherland fervor is simply a tool being used to awaken up the dormant serpent of doom ! (Ok! i take that back!) but yes this is an issue which must be looked upon. I see high scope for high potential and high voltage 'danga-phasaad' (Riots!) in future over Parochialism.


This is the reaction i can think of :

(Ignorant+Idiotic+brainwashed) Mob + (Ignorant/non & innocent) People

Politicians + Dirty Politics
--------------------------------->

Death of Democracy + (Local suffering) + (immigration shifts to better safer place.)


  • Mob will react upon instigation and initial help from Catalysts - Politicians and attack the Common public.
  • The reaction will be Exothermic and Heterogeneous.
  • Undesired result is very high. So yield (for good product, as believed by some that parochialism will give) is low.
  • Result is, People lose hope on democracy creating extreme polarisation, the locals suffer the most as economy, culture bleeds while immigrants detour and go to other places with greener pasture!


Every month I hear of threats emanating from Raj Thackeray's fortress with words of threat to bash up people they consider outsiders - The Immigrants. After his initial tryst with law over his speeches, he has started giving speeches that don't cross the line but neither is behind the line!
Nowadays they are focusing on Bihiaris and Upites whom they collectively bunch as bhaiyyas living in Munbai. They bring out skewed data showing Biharis and Upites are the root of all problem for Mumbai.

solve ?
x - [ Sqrt ( Mumbaikars' problems ) ] = 0

Voila !
if, x = Bhaiyyas!


MNS(Raj Thackeray's party) and some other like minded accuse outsiders of making Mumbai inhospitable, inhumane and dirty. I am sure many of the Localities had their origin in migration during British raj and even before that. (In fact, Humans have migrated from Africa! So by that logic, all of us are migrants! Just a simple extrapolation). So, Which year, month, date and time are they setting for defining Migrants and Locals ? Many of my friends are also getting swayed or polarized by this new magnetic field. They feel only bhaiyya cab drivers are ruthless and rude. They alone spit and defecate on roads. They are the only people who bring corruption into Government machinery. They usurp all the jobs meant for locals. They don't pay taxes and take back all they can to their native places.

By stats, only 3% Indians pay taxes honestly. Rest it is all Swaha! I am also sure 3% of India's population is not Maharashtrians alone. Can't be! So discriminating along the basis of payment/non payment is unjust.
Now, majority of bhaiyyas are employed in menial jobs and work on contractual basis as laborers, carpenters, plumbers,etc. Their earning is very low to be even taxed. Still they live in a costly city like Mumbai and pay for food, clothing and shelter. They don't bring food,clothing and shelter from their states. They pay and avail many of the services. What does the MNS expect these people to do by asking them to spend more in the state? They have hungry mouths to feed back home. Should they splurge more on unwanted non basic stuffs in the city or send the money back to quell the hunger ?
Corruption. I must say the politicians must speak the least on this matter. Aren't they the alumni and visiting faculty of the University of Corruption ? I have seen corruption amongst all irrespective of his/her region. Well at least, one one point the country stands together !
Many usually grumble; Bhaiyya Cabbies are very rude. I must ask such fellas to under a glaucoma and cataract test for their inner eye. Their vision is getting diminished. I have had experiences of bad cabbies from all regions. Well Indians, have forgotten courtesy and the 5 golden rules while interacting with customers.
Many feel all the outsiders who come into Mumbai live in slums and shanties defacing the beleaguered city. You must accept that Mumbai is a growing city and this must reflect on its physical boundary as well. The government must develop and take up newer better plans rather than wait for the judgment day! The BMC must be tough on slum establishments. Nip it in the bud. Make the message clear that Mumbai wont allow slum dwellings.

Also why target only Biharis and Upites ? when reports show majority of new comers to the city are from Rural Maharashtra. Over the years the Rural Maharashtra influx into Mumbai has exceeded Northies and Southies. I personally feel, Mumbaikars are completely dissatisfied with the lack of basic needs,infrastructure and other vital facilities and resources that any growing city needs. The political party MNS can sense this discontent, but instead of channelising it to pressurize the government to go on over drive with the pending projects, the party is blaming the outsiders over the issues. The party is trying to play the Marathi Asmita Card and divide the Mumbaikars as Localities and Outsiders. One thing must be accepted that, it is the contribution of Gujarati and Marwari Businessmen/women, Parsis' Entrepreneurship, South Indian Office and clerical staff, Bihari and UP carpenters, plumbers, watchmen, etc along with the Locals that gives the city its color. The city would not be where it is today without their contribution. MNS must stop poisoning youths. As city grows, people who cannot keep up wither away. Well thats the Natural Law of 'Only the Fittest Survive'. So If MNS feels Locals are loosing edge over others, I ask MNS to come forward and take up the initiative to educate/train Localities for the present scenario. Do what Shiv Sena once did ! Train Local Youths so that they can compete with others in all sectors. Make the facilities available to them.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mumbai was a city developed (I must say joined & developed) by Britishers during British Raj with a vision for acceptable number of years. But then, after Independence years of Red -tapism, babudom (that's what i call going 'merry-go round' around Government babus and their offices), lack of vision, lack of urgency, corruption etc, Plans after Plans lay under and above heaps of more plans and recommendations in government offices. The government seems not in a hurry to undertake major overhaul of its infrastructure even though its Roads, Rail are bursting to its seams. Local Trains are really worse than the Hitler's Concentration camp transportation wagons. Every year, BMC speaks of flood less monsoons. This year the first rainfall itself showed the otherwise. Potholes are getting bigger so are the pockets of rich and holes in the poor. Man Holes remain open while BMC vehemently deny any such stuff and admonish US embassy over its travel advisory for Mumbai!
This city is going no where! The CM can enjoy luxury of his new posh jetliner while Mumbaikars are stuffed every day into Local Trains just to reach their office. The Government can envisage installing one more C.Shivaji.M. statue, this time in sea while Waterways remain closed for commoners.
The government has failed over security n times. People simply have become numb over this issue. This is the grim story of Mumbai (Maharashtra it is worse, maybe next time). MNS is simply exploiting the poor tired Mumbaikars !
Alas! People consider his fiery speeches as nice. God !

Wednesday, 9 July 2008

LEFT has Left !

Left has finally left the Congress led UPA after years and years of threats to pull out. After all, there is a limit to how much you can nag and black mail. No wonder, the stock market showed very little concern over this issue. In fact the market heaved a little sigh of relief and went into positive The LEFT policy of "Support from outside to UPA "after the Lok-Sabha election became clear to be "Oppose from Inside". Seems like the LEFT had done their English grammar homework well ! Had Chanakya been alive today, he would have been happy to add one more chapter to his treatise - Arthashastra on
"how efficiently you can make the ruling party inefficient by supporting them rather than sit out as opposition party."
The LEFT has withdrawn from the UPA as UPA went ahead with the Nuclear Deal against the wishes of LEFT. It blames the UPA government of giving more importance to Indo-US Nuclear Deal while neglecting spiraling inflation, commodity prices and others. I simply cannot understand, were they not part of the government ? Isn't it part of their responsibility to help government chalk out a plan to curb the crisis affecting India and government. Left simply tells this is wrong, that is wrong! but when it comes to action plan they turn their faces away! They simply want to act as deterrents within the government. They speak the language of Opposition party in the skin of Supporting party! Was it this that the Lakhs of voters who voted for Left wish to see ? A party with no action plan but with advisories. Left must have the spine to accept responsibilities and also most importantly adopt an optimistic attitude!

My coldness towards the Indian LEFT is chiefly because they hardly think and when they think it is too late. They simply make decisions with their heart and never use their brains. Their policies towards US are obsolete and irrational. The simple fact that other Left induced nations are progressing and accepting the principles of capitalism hardly triggers anything in their head. Years of LEFT rule in W-Bengal and Kerala has hardly alleviated the sufferings of poor. The popular saying is that LEFT requires poverty to survive. It is quite funny that Left Government in W-Bengal is literally in arms against the poor peasants over the Singur issue. I was surprised to see gundas and henchmen owing allegiance to Left raping women and killing peasants who oppose the Singur Deal. Today the Left is failing miserably to adapt to the new world and is still stuck in the age old principles which are irrelevant today. They must understand "Change is the only thing that doesn't change.Change is imminent". Left must change its approach towards the western nations. It must understand no country out there wishes to be our ally without any personal gains. Hence the party must keep the National interest over idealogical issues to extract the deals which are useful for India.

PS : Leftists please take a page out of China's policies and their progress chart.

Sunday, 18 May 2008

Borivali Platform No 8 Train Time-Table

(Click on the pic for enlarged view)


Hi there, Borivali Railway Station commuters ! How many times have you fretted and fumed when the Western Mumbai Local Trains terminate at Borivali Station Platform 8 ?

Majority of Borivali (W) Commuters come from LT Road, Chandavarkar Road or from SV Road (Dahisar Side). Its really time consuming and taxing to walk from Platform 8 then 7 and finally 1 before touching the road. It takes almost 10-15 minutes to cross. It is always better to catch the next train which arrives upon platform 1 / 2 / 3 / 7 than one that touches 8th platform.

Platforms 8,7,1 (South to North) lie one after the other like bogies of a train. The start of Platform 8 is the end of platform 7 and start of platform 7 is the end of platform 1. (See diagram)
Platform 8 is almost in between the Kandivali and Borivali (platform1) stations. The only direct west exit for the 8th platform is at the beginning of the 8th platform ie. end of 7th platform. Outside this exit point some autos can be seen parked. However only some agree to take passengers. Also its a wastage of money to take an auto from there! Hence many continue the great walk onto the 7th platfom. 7th platform has another exit point at its start. This happens to be opposite to Anupam Stationary and much nearer to LT Road than earlier exit. Some end their walk here while many continue towards the First Platform.
The walk is approximately same as walking from Borivali Adidas Showroom(near Fly-over and Mc-Donald's Restaurant) to Chandavarkar Road. (Almost entire Borivali stretch along SV Road !)

To make things worst, by the time we have finished crossing 8th platform and reached 7th. Another Local Train touches there. Suddenly the platform is crowded and chok a block as everyone want to exit from 7th platform entry or from platform 1. After successfully managing to reach platform 1, we find oneself caught in same situation on platform1. Another Train arrives on Platform 1 and its hell broke loose!

Put yourself in this situation. It is the Evening Peak hour and very hot and humid. You have struggled to catch a train to Borivali. The train is jam packed. You are crushed like anything and sweating profusely! You just wish to reach home as early as possible. The Local Train from Churchgate side arrives at Borivali much to your relief. However you relief soon turn to disappointment as the train stops at platform 8.

I have collected some data related to train which end up at Borivali Station Platform 8 and incorporated it with the Railway Time Table. As and How I get more data it will be uploaded ! Users and surfers wishing to help in would be gladly accepted. As a mark of courtesy their names will be published!




The given Data is to the best of my knowledge. However no one can be held responsible for errors occurring in the data. If any, plz let me know. It will be rectified !


Sunday, 4 May 2008

Ending of the Semester !

Yup! Thats an engineering student towards the end of semester !

The semester is ending and study leave will start ! Nay man! still no respite! In fact this is the tightest time of the semester. Daily Oral Examinations, Experiment Exams, Journal Certification, Submissions and what not!

Everyday, notice-board vigil is kept. Any day the examination dates and Practical exams n vivas can be displayed. Its also the time when the empire strikes back ! Professors start displaying Attendance Lists and Defaulters' List is proudly highlighted . Those who fall short of attendance (75%) can be seen running from pillar to post.

Everyone assumes the role of Note Scouter . Every suspicious page or bundle is assumed to be some study note and charged upon. Photocopying shops are crowded with every thing possible being photocopied! Libraries are noisy with paratroopers creating strategies on which book to issue and where it probably lies! Intellectuals fail to safeguard their study notes and Copyright fails to look right!

This is the worst time to pick a fight with Lab Assistants and Peons.

Why is it some people find pleasure in other's hardship and pain? What causes them to play brother to devil ? Sadistic Pleasure is what they seek. How much i abhor them! Engineering Colleges play host to many such two legged sadists. Most of them are the Lab Assistants and clerks . Every day we face their tantrums. A greeting fails to bring smile on their face. At most expect a grin! Sarcasm are the vowels in their language. Asking for apparatus or college utility or urging them to carry out their work is considered sin. They consider themselves elite, in fact many professors don't dare to come in their way! Practical examinations are when they lash out at students who have rebelled against them. Cross their path once and you will be marked forever. They will go out of the way to put hurdles in your path. Project and Semester File submissions are made Hell. I am fed up of being nice to them !

This time of the semester, Engineering seems more of paper work and HR management. This is surely MBA where marks are our sales target; projects, files and assignment are assets to be safeguarded and Peons, Lab assistants are the people to be buttered up to achieve Perfect Sales!
Still got some more semesters before I pass out! Profits are to be Maximised and Pangas (Fights or Tiffs) are to be minimized! Got to hold my nerves intact and put up a smiling face !


Message 4 Amar : Amar Sudhar Ja! Before It is too Late !

Tuesday, 15 April 2008

CRT Colors and Dog napping Photos

Check these interesting pictures!

(a) A macro photo taken of CRT Monitor Screen.

The Image1 can be seen to made of combinations of Red, Blue and Green in Image 2.
Click here for original Image (you can see better resolution. size around 2Mb)


Image1



Image2




(b)I hope the dog does not fall off !

Malayali New Year - Vishu






Photo: Vishu-kanni (click for enlarged pic)
[ early morning in between the brahma muhurtam 4am-6am, vishukanni is seen. Vishukanni is seen in the light of oil lit lamps. Photo taken without flash to show how it looks. ]



M
alayalis all over the world celebrated Vishu - "Spring Harvest Festival or New Year Day Festival" on April 14th. It marks the start of the Malayalam astronomical calendar's first Month, MEDAM. Though Official Kerala(govt.) New Year starts with Chingam, many still consider this as the New Year Day. The festive day is also shared by Bengalis, Punjabis and Assamese.

The day begins with parents waking you up early morning.
Wait! that's not the end.
You will wake up with eyes closed and parents will guide you to the Visukanni (Vishu-kanni). Slowly-slowly you open your eyes adjusting to the lights of the oil-lamp. Placed before you will be the Lord's Idol (Bala-Gopalan - Krishna as a child), "valkannadi" (symbolizes Devi) along with the "Urli" arranged with Vegetables, Fruits and Flowers especially "Konna Poov". Coconut cut into halves with cloth "kiyyhis" dipped in oil placed inside them are lit. Malayali's favourite item - Gold also manages to find a place among them. All items symbolic of prosperity will be displayed. It symbolizes prosperous New Year.

This is followed by receiving blessing from Elders. This is the best part!
In childhood days, we used to wait for this moment with eager breath. After falling on their feet, we would get "Vishu Kai-nettam" - a small amount of money from our elders. In my father's days, he used to get a "anna" or "rupee". Then hierarchy played an important role and decided how much you will get. My father being the eldest Male son used to get a little higher than other siblings. In my childhood, I remember getting 10 rupees or moret from each of the elders. My cousins and myself would pester the elders to give more till they yield. The money accumulated would then go into buying Ice-creams!

There are pujas or prayers and hymns are sang praising the Lord. Food for Lord Ganapati - Vigneshwara is served . Its a Hindu ritual to serve food to Lord before commons. Then comes the afternoon "Sadhya" - the grandeous meal. This is one day when I get to eat Malayali delicacies on plantain leaves. The other days being my birthday and Onam. These are days when Chappatis wont be made in my house. My sadhya favourites are Avial, Olan, Thoran, Mooru-Kuttan, Ingi-tair and Papadam. (Kerala Papad). Paysam(Kheer) is served as desert at the end of the lunch.

Vishu and Onam Sadhyas meant a lot to my father and his brother-sisters during their chidhood. These sadhyas brought happiness and joy and helped them forget their poverty for a day. For a day, they could feast and have many things to eat! It was a day when they would get to have Papadam and payasam and get a change from Kanji or sometimes nothing!

Today, Kerala like many other Indian states have very less agricultural land and many few people pursue agriculture. Today, Vishu may hardly look like a Harvest or Spring festival and more like a Gold or Silk Sarees purchase festival. Also as Inflation and Food Scarcity hits the market, Vishu may have lost its traditional essence; however, for many N.R.K. (I mean Non-resident Keralites) like me, it helps me connect myself to the Malayali Culture. Its one festival I enjoy every year.

This year Maharashtra government has declared a state holiday on account of Ambedkar Jayanti. This has helped many Malayalis like me to stay at home and enjoy the festival. Thanks to the Government!

Other Photos :
(1) With Flash (unfortunately the flash has masked the Lord's face)
The "Konna puv" flower can be seen near the Lord's photo.

(2) The "Urli" (utensil's name). Vegetables, Fruits and Flowers filled Urli. (I tried to maintain symmetry while placing the fruits n vegetables in the "Urli" for Vishukanni ! The small metal item in front is called "Valkannadi". It means hand-held mirror(kannadi).

(3) This time I decided to keep some of my favourite Foreign Coins along with the usuals.
I have kept Briton's 2Shilling, US Quarter, Euro 50Cent, Belgium 5Francs and Saudi 0.1Riyal.

(4)

Check the wikipedia site for more info on how others celebrate Vishu.

prashant maxsteel. Get yours at bighugelabs.com/flickr


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