This post has a connection to the previous post where I was trying to find patterns in history. The way US intruded in Iraq and Afghanistan and ended up creating Al-Qaeda. Lets look closer home.
LTTE was funded by Indian govt ,in the initial days at least, coz of the alleged pro-Pakistani posture that the Sri Lankan Govt had adopted. Who was leading India at that point of time? Indira Gandhi. So India did the same perennial mistake which somehow seems to be at the bottom of all major terrorism issues in the world today: Governments shud not interfere in the affairs of other countries esp by funding any organization that is armed! You do that and you have a virtual guarantee, it will backfire. Ask US. Ask Pakistan. And now I say, ask India.
LTTE then went on to assassinate Rajiv Gandhi. What would have happened if India had opposed LTTE all along? We dont know. But wouldn't it be fair to say then that a part of the blame for Rajiv Gandhi's death lies on Indira Gandhi? I at least cnt think of it in any other way.
But the problem with all of us is: We just dnt learn from our mistakes in the past! We just steadfastly refuse to do so.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Saturday, May 2, 2009
US gonna do it all over again...
First...whenever I am jobless, I conjure up a few stupid thoughts and then I see which one of them makes some sense...and then if I am still jobless, I sometimes write them up here if I dnt get to bore someone in person...So here goes another such thought...
I am worried abt the way things are going on in Pakistan. Someone might say why should I be when President Obama is taking such an interest? anyway who the hell am I? More to the point, isnt the job being done by the most competent people i.e. Obama ad his entourage? My take: Since they are looking into it, that makes me worried. Why? You just need to look into the history and u would know. They tried to set things right in Iraq and we saw what happened and is still happening. They ventured into Afghanistan ages ago against the Soviets and ended up creating the biggest menace we have ever seen. Isnt Al-Qaida US's own doing? Isnt US its own devil? And now they are trying to take a similar interest in Pakistan. In fact they already have been doing it for a while. They supported Musharaff. They fought Muslims just across the border of Pakistan from Pakistan. What would it have done? Naturally, it would have pissed the locals. Why? One, the locals are also Muslims! And religion has always played a profound role wherever we see. Second, wouldnt u expect two set of people to have some kinda connection when they live so close even though they are separated by national boundaries? Esp when you are talking abt Pak-Afghan border? Obviously, they thought US was interfering again! In Afghanistan, God knows what do people really think of US! They have been there perenially! With tribal borders and frequent movement of people, the same feeling would exist in Pakistan also. So there! US has got the right ingredients and mixture ready once again!
And now. Taliban have become active in Pakistan. Is that a surprise???? Noway! It was coming all this while! Just like in older Afghanistan, you had American army or parts of it in Pakistan. Guns, ammunition etc etc again pouring in. Will the thought of using second hand guns stop the people from venting their anger against the nosey US? of course not..! So the people react the same way once again. Once again US gives people a reason to hate them, gets its army there and follows it up with ammunition. Then they wait for it all to explode while acting as the perfect catalyst! Phew...
Where are we headed? We do know problem in Afghanistan could nt be solved. And theres good reason to believe then that the problem in Pakistan wouldnt also be solved! So we are in it for long! Say good bye to that notion of flimsy democracy in Pakistan! At least in the near future!
I am worried abt the way things are going on in Pakistan. Someone might say why should I be when President Obama is taking such an interest? anyway who the hell am I? More to the point, isnt the job being done by the most competent people i.e. Obama ad his entourage? My take: Since they are looking into it, that makes me worried. Why? You just need to look into the history and u would know. They tried to set things right in Iraq and we saw what happened and is still happening. They ventured into Afghanistan ages ago against the Soviets and ended up creating the biggest menace we have ever seen. Isnt Al-Qaida US's own doing? Isnt US its own devil? And now they are trying to take a similar interest in Pakistan. In fact they already have been doing it for a while. They supported Musharaff. They fought Muslims just across the border of Pakistan from Pakistan. What would it have done? Naturally, it would have pissed the locals. Why? One, the locals are also Muslims! And religion has always played a profound role wherever we see. Second, wouldnt u expect two set of people to have some kinda connection when they live so close even though they are separated by national boundaries? Esp when you are talking abt Pak-Afghan border? Obviously, they thought US was interfering again! In Afghanistan, God knows what do people really think of US! They have been there perenially! With tribal borders and frequent movement of people, the same feeling would exist in Pakistan also. So there! US has got the right ingredients and mixture ready once again!
And now. Taliban have become active in Pakistan. Is that a surprise???? Noway! It was coming all this while! Just like in older Afghanistan, you had American army or parts of it in Pakistan. Guns, ammunition etc etc again pouring in. Will the thought of using second hand guns stop the people from venting their anger against the nosey US? of course not..! So the people react the same way once again. Once again US gives people a reason to hate them, gets its army there and follows it up with ammunition. Then they wait for it all to explode while acting as the perfect catalyst! Phew...
Where are we headed? We do know problem in Afghanistan could nt be solved. And theres good reason to believe then that the problem in Pakistan wouldnt also be solved! So we are in it for long! Say good bye to that notion of flimsy democracy in Pakistan! At least in the near future!
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Reliance Net Connect!
I know a senior manager in a company who rallied against ICICI insurence coz after his wife had delivered the baby, they got to know none of the expenses are covered in the insurance although such promises were made while signing the policy. ICICI dint pay and subsequently ICICI employee insurance was cancelled in that company. Such incidents can be infuriating and I can really understand. Coz something similar (not as big as ICICI fiasco though) happened with me as well.
It all started when during internship I needed to check mails and therefore went to Reliance outlet to get a Net connect card. They asked me where I lived and I told them I was in Mumbai for 2 months for internship and hence needed the card. The grand officer refused connection flatly and I wasnt amused. He explained that I needed to be a resident of that area if I wanted the card. Well, if I was living there, why in the world would I carry a wireless card that gives a measly speed! why not take a broadband instead? The whole idea of having a wireless card was to help ppl who travel arnd a lot and if I cnt buy such a card in India (and I was giving my passport as the proof), where should I go buy one? To Pakistan? But that guy dint give up. I was told I could get a letter from a local saying I am staying with him and then they will give me a card. Ok, so I got a local friend to write one such letter and marched again to Reliance outlet. Quite ridiculously, they went on to refuse again! This time saying, I have to take the card not in my name but in my friend's name! Then why the hell did they ask me to get that damned letter! I was pissed. Finally, my friend was kind enuf to take that card in his name and as a proud Indian I took the card (there was no other such dealership nearby,so reliance seemed an easy option earlier!). I used the card for those 2 months, came back to the campus to finish my degree.
Last week, having come back home after convocation, I again needed internet connection and I had the card this time. I just needed a recharge. So again I was off to the nearest Reliance outlet. And not surprisingly, I was told I cnt get a recharge on that old number? Why? Coz its old. Huh? Ok, so what next? We will give you a new number and u pay a lil extra. Ok, I have no choice. So gimme one. And this time since I was local, I could give my own papers!! I was thrilled that I am finally eligible to buy such an esteemed connection in my own name. anyway, I gave the papers and was told there wud be a guy coming down for verification of address and all that. I had no problems of course. Very next day, some guy came and confirmed that I indeed lived there and that my passport wasnt fake finally. I got a call on my cell and another one on the landline. Convinced finally that I was indeed the person I claimed to be, my connection was turned on. But then how can you possibly forget that its Reliance Netconnect after all. The very next day, while I was sending an email about some joining formalities to my employer, I realised my connection has been cancelled. Confused, I called the helpline. And guess what! It turns out theres a problem with my verification. Phew! They met me in that very address, I have lived there for 11 years, they called me on both the numbers I had given, my connection worked for one full day after that and now you are telling me that I am not what I claim to be! Honestly, if Reliance was asked to take care of our borders, I am quite sure, they will succeed in keeping out not only those Bangladehis and Pakistanis but also some of the Indians! They are just so Goddamned good! Pissed, I called the dealer I had taken the card from. He is also surprised! Now what should my reaction be! super surprised? anyway, he promises to find out the problem. The next morning I check again and I see that suddenly the connection is working. Now I dnt know whether to be happy or sad coz u never know when they will cut the connection again saying I am not the person I say I am. Its been a week now and so far so good. But knowing that its Relaince NetConnect, I wouldnt be surprised if one day they call me and say I am a suspected Taliban leader!
Its just absurd the way some companies work. I understand you gotta ensure that in a post paid connectio the company doesnt lose money but does it mean u will stop giving connections to ppl who are in a city for a few months? Why not have sm initial deposit instead? Do you really think someone will buy a dongle worth 2700 and then not pay a bill of what 300 bucks??? Knowing fully well that he cnt use that card for any other company again! And why would you cut the connection after all the verifications! Its senseless. I just dnt know what to call them!
I dnt think Reliance NetConnect ppl can change the dumb way they work. But I do hope not many companies in India would follow their policies!!
It all started when during internship I needed to check mails and therefore went to Reliance outlet to get a Net connect card. They asked me where I lived and I told them I was in Mumbai for 2 months for internship and hence needed the card. The grand officer refused connection flatly and I wasnt amused. He explained that I needed to be a resident of that area if I wanted the card. Well, if I was living there, why in the world would I carry a wireless card that gives a measly speed! why not take a broadband instead? The whole idea of having a wireless card was to help ppl who travel arnd a lot and if I cnt buy such a card in India (and I was giving my passport as the proof), where should I go buy one? To Pakistan? But that guy dint give up. I was told I could get a letter from a local saying I am staying with him and then they will give me a card. Ok, so I got a local friend to write one such letter and marched again to Reliance outlet. Quite ridiculously, they went on to refuse again! This time saying, I have to take the card not in my name but in my friend's name! Then why the hell did they ask me to get that damned letter! I was pissed. Finally, my friend was kind enuf to take that card in his name and as a proud Indian I took the card (there was no other such dealership nearby,so reliance seemed an easy option earlier!). I used the card for those 2 months, came back to the campus to finish my degree.
Last week, having come back home after convocation, I again needed internet connection and I had the card this time. I just needed a recharge. So again I was off to the nearest Reliance outlet. And not surprisingly, I was told I cnt get a recharge on that old number? Why? Coz its old. Huh? Ok, so what next? We will give you a new number and u pay a lil extra. Ok, I have no choice. So gimme one. And this time since I was local, I could give my own papers!! I was thrilled that I am finally eligible to buy such an esteemed connection in my own name. anyway, I gave the papers and was told there wud be a guy coming down for verification of address and all that. I had no problems of course. Very next day, some guy came and confirmed that I indeed lived there and that my passport wasnt fake finally. I got a call on my cell and another one on the landline. Convinced finally that I was indeed the person I claimed to be, my connection was turned on. But then how can you possibly forget that its Reliance Netconnect after all. The very next day, while I was sending an email about some joining formalities to my employer, I realised my connection has been cancelled. Confused, I called the helpline. And guess what! It turns out theres a problem with my verification. Phew! They met me in that very address, I have lived there for 11 years, they called me on both the numbers I had given, my connection worked for one full day after that and now you are telling me that I am not what I claim to be! Honestly, if Reliance was asked to take care of our borders, I am quite sure, they will succeed in keeping out not only those Bangladehis and Pakistanis but also some of the Indians! They are just so Goddamned good! Pissed, I called the dealer I had taken the card from. He is also surprised! Now what should my reaction be! super surprised? anyway, he promises to find out the problem. The next morning I check again and I see that suddenly the connection is working. Now I dnt know whether to be happy or sad coz u never know when they will cut the connection again saying I am not the person I say I am. Its been a week now and so far so good. But knowing that its Relaince NetConnect, I wouldnt be surprised if one day they call me and say I am a suspected Taliban leader!
Its just absurd the way some companies work. I understand you gotta ensure that in a post paid connectio the company doesnt lose money but does it mean u will stop giving connections to ppl who are in a city for a few months? Why not have sm initial deposit instead? Do you really think someone will buy a dongle worth 2700 and then not pay a bill of what 300 bucks??? Knowing fully well that he cnt use that card for any other company again! And why would you cut the connection after all the verifications! Its senseless. I just dnt know what to call them!
I dnt think Reliance NetConnect ppl can change the dumb way they work. But I do hope not many companies in India would follow their policies!!
Elections!
Lemme start with a confession. I am one of those to-be-blamed Indian citizens who have never voted. Every time something or else came up. But I cnt help but study the hysteria they create. And yah, this time I do intend to cast my vote.
Of course, I am no expert but I do like to listen to those "expert analysis" on TV and occasionally in my favourite newspaper TOI (:D). These elections must be one of those where it seems there is no big issue at all over which it is being fought! Instead everyone seems to be busy fighting over hate speeches and challenging others to point less TV debates. Is there nothing else to talk abt really? No "Change" is needed in India? I wonder.
And then you have those side kicks who suddenly become the heroes merely coz of the coalition plague. Imagine Mayawati asking if she can be the CM for so many times then why not PM? Esp when shes a Dalit? I mean really, is this the qualification to become PM? That you have to a Dalit CM a couple of times and thats it? I mean who the hell is she outside UP? Phew....and if you havent noticed, just glance through her tax returns. You will know the kind of money she rakes in. Of course Taj corridor has been easily forgotten.
BJP has always been weird to my mind. I have never understood why does a Babri Masjid and a Godhra happen only with BJP? Of course you can counter argue that 1984 Sikhs riots were associated with Congress. I concede that. But the nature of 1984 wasnt communal. I wnt get into that debate but we all know that Babri and Godhra incidents were tinged with communal hatred and maybe, Godhra and Babri Masjid demolition are related events. Anyway, you cnt help but appreciate the fact that Advani was associated with Babri and Modi with Godhra. Both now the two most visible faces of BJP. If I were a Muslim, maybe I wudnt have voted for them just because of this. I mean, why in the world would I vote for a party whose clarion call is Hindutva? BJP claims to be "THE" party coz its young. OK, but you got the oldest person in the fray as a prime ministerial candidate. What about him? Laughably, they raise the question why wasnt a capable economist like Manmohan Singh not able to control inflation! Well, you got a better idea then why dnt u say it?
Then theres SP who thinks computers and English are secondary to manpower and Hindi. Interesting. Given a choice, would Amar Singh want his son to learn English or Hindi? At least I am quite clear abt what my choice would have been. Between computers and manpower? lemme just say that I am a comp science engineer.
And finally the Congress. I agree Manmohan Singh hasnt got the charisma or the personality of a PM. He is a economist, whos become PM by chance! I understand when BJP alleges that real power emanates from 10, Janapath. But if Advani wasnt the PM candidate, the same would have been true for BJP also! but anyway, it is not as of now. Congress has its own set of issues. Tytler has been given clean chit, Rahul Gandhi is still a useless speaker(Priyanka is way better than him!), they handled 26/11 stupidly, they dnt have any charismatic mass leader and frankly, I hate it when power gets concentrated in a family when we are supposed to be democratic.
All said and done, whom should I vote for? Sidhu stands from Amritsar as a candidate. We know his criminal record. I cnt recall his major achievements as sitting MP. And I dunno what the candidate in opposition is going to do! So should I vote for the lesser evil knowing fully that with my limited knowledge, I may end up voting for the bigger evil? How do I decide when no one seems to be doing anything worthwhile? Whats the real reason why so many ppl dnt cast their votes? Why is it that all retired actors, criminals, cricketers etc etc suddenly become politicians? Is it so easy? Is there a lot of easy money in it? (Mayawati apparently paid over 20Cr merely in taxes!!) But if I dnt vote, that would mean someone else(the other voters) are deciding for me. And how well informed are they? I guess theres some case for casting your vote after all.
Of course, I am no expert but I do like to listen to those "expert analysis" on TV and occasionally in my favourite newspaper TOI (:D). These elections must be one of those where it seems there is no big issue at all over which it is being fought! Instead everyone seems to be busy fighting over hate speeches and challenging others to point less TV debates. Is there nothing else to talk abt really? No "Change" is needed in India? I wonder.
And then you have those side kicks who suddenly become the heroes merely coz of the coalition plague. Imagine Mayawati asking if she can be the CM for so many times then why not PM? Esp when shes a Dalit? I mean really, is this the qualification to become PM? That you have to a Dalit CM a couple of times and thats it? I mean who the hell is she outside UP? Phew....and if you havent noticed, just glance through her tax returns. You will know the kind of money she rakes in. Of course Taj corridor has been easily forgotten.
BJP has always been weird to my mind. I have never understood why does a Babri Masjid and a Godhra happen only with BJP? Of course you can counter argue that 1984 Sikhs riots were associated with Congress. I concede that. But the nature of 1984 wasnt communal. I wnt get into that debate but we all know that Babri and Godhra incidents were tinged with communal hatred and maybe, Godhra and Babri Masjid demolition are related events. Anyway, you cnt help but appreciate the fact that Advani was associated with Babri and Modi with Godhra. Both now the two most visible faces of BJP. If I were a Muslim, maybe I wudnt have voted for them just because of this. I mean, why in the world would I vote for a party whose clarion call is Hindutva? BJP claims to be "THE" party coz its young. OK, but you got the oldest person in the fray as a prime ministerial candidate. What about him? Laughably, they raise the question why wasnt a capable economist like Manmohan Singh not able to control inflation! Well, you got a better idea then why dnt u say it?
Then theres SP who thinks computers and English are secondary to manpower and Hindi. Interesting. Given a choice, would Amar Singh want his son to learn English or Hindi? At least I am quite clear abt what my choice would have been. Between computers and manpower? lemme just say that I am a comp science engineer.
And finally the Congress. I agree Manmohan Singh hasnt got the charisma or the personality of a PM. He is a economist, whos become PM by chance! I understand when BJP alleges that real power emanates from 10, Janapath. But if Advani wasnt the PM candidate, the same would have been true for BJP also! but anyway, it is not as of now. Congress has its own set of issues. Tytler has been given clean chit, Rahul Gandhi is still a useless speaker(Priyanka is way better than him!), they handled 26/11 stupidly, they dnt have any charismatic mass leader and frankly, I hate it when power gets concentrated in a family when we are supposed to be democratic.
All said and done, whom should I vote for? Sidhu stands from Amritsar as a candidate. We know his criminal record. I cnt recall his major achievements as sitting MP. And I dunno what the candidate in opposition is going to do! So should I vote for the lesser evil knowing fully that with my limited knowledge, I may end up voting for the bigger evil? How do I decide when no one seems to be doing anything worthwhile? Whats the real reason why so many ppl dnt cast their votes? Why is it that all retired actors, criminals, cricketers etc etc suddenly become politicians? Is it so easy? Is there a lot of easy money in it? (Mayawati apparently paid over 20Cr merely in taxes!!) But if I dnt vote, that would mean someone else(the other voters) are deciding for me. And how well informed are they? I guess theres some case for casting your vote after all.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Its been a while....
Its been a while....sang Staind. Cnt help thinking of the song as boredom drives me towards blogging again after two years. Its been two long and tough years. I managed to complete my masters(MBA) and called it a day as far as studies were concerned. As I look back, I remember very clearly when I started thinking seriously about MBA.I had worked for abt 2 years and had started to get bored. I dint know what I wanted to do in life. Honestly speaking, I dint even know how would an MBA help! But then logic dictated that its gotta help if you spend time with some smart people for 2 years and of course,you learn new stuff. So I chased CAT and GMAT. But after MBA, and given the limited choices in recessionary times, the problem has only become more profound! Yeah, I have a job. It helps that I had done my internship there. But is this why I had done the MBA? I guess only time will that.
The thing about higher studies or for that matter learning more is that it only goes a long way in making things more complicated. You know more, you think more, you debate more. All the while, odds of making the right decision remain the same even after you study or learn more. phew!
With a few days off at home before I join, I thought might as well scribble a few words here. Its always fun to look back at one's thoughts after a while :-)
The thing about higher studies or for that matter learning more is that it only goes a long way in making things more complicated. You know more, you think more, you debate more. All the while, odds of making the right decision remain the same even after you study or learn more. phew!
With a few days off at home before I join, I thought might as well scribble a few words here. Its always fun to look back at one's thoughts after a while :-)
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